#literally no one else is in a healthy relationship as far as hes aware

[neiptune]

the pull of you

cw: 1.7k wc, female reader, NSFW, highly suggestive, hinata is your closest friend natsu's younger brother, on a night out you end up learning he grew up to become ever the charismatic flirt who's always kinda had a thing for you :)

The first time you see Hinata Shoyo again, you’re both older but he’s much different.

It’s not that you haven’t thought about him ever after high school. His bright, juvenile presence came to mind whenever you’d text or meet up with your best friend, the memory of the afternoons spent in the room adjacent to his still so dear to your heart. Natsu, ever so proud of her little brother, never missed a chance to update you on his life either. The adventure in Rio and beach volleyball, all the efforts put in understanding an entirely new, different version of the sport he’s always loved. How he accepted a part-time job as a delivery guy, tried his best to learn a difficult foreign language, all while trying to juggle homesickness, inexperience, a distant roommate and a shift in his reality that almost made him drop everything and book a flight back to Japan.

But then Shoyo adapted, just like you and Natsu guessed he would. Because it’s what Shoyo did. And now he shines bright for Tokyo, Japan, the entire world to see.

When your best friend demanded you’d be ready as she was going to bring a surprise, you never would’ve guessed her little brother was going to be it. Last time you saw him, he was a 5’4 teenage boy jumping around with nothing but volleyball on the brain. While apparently his height hasn’t exponentially grown, everything else sure as hell did.

The rounded table is far too little for three people to be sitting around it and while this was supposed to be a regular friday night out with Natsu (drinks on her), it’s turning out to be something completely different.

Hinata is sitting close enough for his knees to be touching yours and at every subtle bump you can’t help but think of how hard and thick the legs wrapped in those dark jeans seemed right before he sat down. Everything else you don’t really have to imagine, it’s pretty much laid out for your eyes to see: his shoulders look scandalously strong in a plain t-shirt, chest oh so wide, swollen biceps and muscles all over that keep bulging and swelling at each subtle movement. And then there’s his smile, a charming grin or one barely outlined crescent, filled with beaming confidence and dangerously flirty.

Because he is flirting.

Eyes shamelessly fixed on you as the conversation between you two just flows. And Natsu doesn’t seem to be the least bit worried about her annoying little brother (who used to also kinda be your annoying little brother) being so interested in asking you questions and ignoring whatever gossip she has about her perfect boyfriend.

“I’m just sayin’” Natsu sways in her seat a little, cheeks pink and a few tangerine strands escaping her bun only to stick to her forehead “the secret to a healthy relationship is communication. And great sex”

“Natsu” you gracefully push a glass of water toward her but it gets brutally ignored as she takes another sip of her drink “may I remind you that your little brother is literally sitting here? He can hear you”

“We talk about everything” he shrugs “I always know every disgusting detail in sickening accuracy”

Your friend giggles. “True. And I do too. You see” she winks at you “he’s not so little anymore, is he? How’s your girlfriend, Sho? The one we could hear”

“Jesus, I’m not drunk enough for this conversation” you bring the beer to your lips and take a generous swig, condensation cool against the pads of your fingers.

“We broke up” for some reason, he’s looking at you as he replies and relaxes back into his chair.

“Aw, what a shame” Natsu’s cheerful tone doesn’t quite match her pout “that makes two of you”

“Thanks a lot” you grimace. So much for the confidentiality of the secret shared a few days back, one not even your own mother is yet aware of. It's your fault for letting her drink, really: the years spent with her in college clearly haven’t been a fruitful lesson.

“Nothing to be ashamed of” she clicks her tongue in disapproval “he was an idiot. Who the fuck refuses to…”

“Don’t”

“… pleasure their girlfriend?”

“Oof” Hinata tries to drown the chuckle into his own bottle “that’s why you broke up with him? Fair game”

“Since apparently we’re sharing everything” you sigh, exasperated “he broke up with me”

“Asshole” Natsu shakes her head in disbelief “you were together for so long, too. High school sweethearts. Remember him, Sho?”

“Ah, yeah” he cocks his head a little “Sasaki, was it? Wouldn’t have guessed it went on, that guy never seemed to be a great match for you”

“Man, you used to hate him” Natsu mischievously hides her chuckle behind her hand when she turns to look at you to whisper “Shoyo had such a devastating crush on you!”

“Natsu!” he groans and this time you’re not the only flustered one at the table, as crimson blossoms on his cheeks you finally get a glimpse of the Hinata you remembered. You offer a lenient smile.

“I knew”

His eyes are on you in a second, lips parted and brows knit in surprise “what? Really?”

“Yes, Shoyo” it feels good to utter his name somehow, it weighs comforting and familiar on your tongue “you weren’t exactly great at hiding whatever was on your mind back then”

“Still bad at that” there’s something in the way he says it, in the way he holds you level in his serious stare that makes you all too aware of his knees still warmly pressing to yours. God, he’s attractive. And the worst part is that he clearly knows.

“I need to go to the bathroom” Natsu interrupts the brief staring contest between you two “please keep an eye on my drink” she rises from her seat, a little unstable. You reach out to support her by the elbow.

“Let’s go together, I can-”

“I need you to keep that safe” she indicates her half empty glass “he’s already thinking of stealing my drink, I can feel it” Natsu narrows her eyes at her brother and he raises his hands in defense, amused. You sigh as you watch her stumble toward the back of the pub, where the bathroom is.

“I never understand if I need more alcohol or less, whenever I go out with her” Hinata’s good natured comment makes you chuckle.

“You could’ve spared yourself the agony, tonight. I’m used to it by now” you absentmindedly drum your fingers on the side of the empty bottle you’re still holding.

“I’m glad I came” he takes a sip from his own beer “I haven’t seen you in so long. You haven’t changed”

You scrunch your nose at that. “Really? I was a teenager the last time you saw me”

“Yeah” Shoyo agrees with a little smile as he quietly takes your features in, gaze lingering on your lips as he replies “you’re still just as beautiful. Always wasting your time on people who should be thanking their lucky star you’ve as little as glanced in their direction”

There’s no reasonable way to explain the shudder that runs down your spine, the tense sensation tugging at your stomach when you lean closer to him over the table.

“And you grew up to be such a charmer” the smile you toss at him is incredulous and maybe a little teasing. As if he was waiting for that, Hinata bites and leans closer in turn.

“What is it that he didn’t want to do?”

You scoff but it’s playful, evokes a smile. “C’mon, you can tell me. It’s just me”

“He never went down on me” your tone is almost challenging, as if you’re daring him to laugh or take the piss.

However, Shoyo remains serious, with only genuine surprise evident in his hazel irises.

“But” he tries to make sense of the absurdity you just shared “he’s the only boyfriend you ever had”

“Correct”

“Does that mean no one has ever…”

“It means exactly that” you shrug, attempting to play off embarrassment as indifference “he thought it was gross. I never asked again”

­In the end, Shoyo does laugh but the sound is unexpected, incredulous more than it is mocking. “Natsu was right. What an absolute loser” he smiles, confident in a way that is ridiculously attractive “some would kill for that opportunity”

You snort out a laugh in an attempt to mask how fast your heart is really beating “I think that’s a little extreme, I don’t know a single man who would kill to-”

“I would” Shoyo tilts his head as he studies your flustered features, imagination already running wild as he asks himself if you’d look the same while straddling his face.

“You don’t mean that”

“Oh, I mean that. I think you know exactly how much I mean that. I’m terrible at hiding what’s on my mind, after all” he gently unclasps your hand from around the beer bottle, places it on the table and turns the palm upwards, thumb tracing lazy figures on your wrist “I’ll tell you, if you want to know”

He’s not hesitating, only granting you a way out of the conversation. But do you want a way out? No one’s ever looked at you like that, with fierce determination burning behind warm, genuine affection. You know Hinata, he’s never been a liar and you doubt he’s grown to be one.

“I want to know” you find yourself murmuring, entranced by a stare that holds you hostage in the best way. He smiles, rough thumb applying the slightest pressure to your skin as it moves in circles.

“I’d first have you on my knees and against the wall. I’d want to see you, find out what makes your legs give out the quickest. I’m afraid that’s all the patience you’d get from me” his other hand sneaks beneath the table and closes around your knee, wide and warm “I’d turn you around, eat you out from behind until you can’t stand anymore, until I’d have to carry you to my bed and have you sit on my face to take what you need from me. I could go all night, have you cream on my tongue, on my face, over and over again. I’d make up for all the years you spent with that jerk, in one single night” and then maybe you’d never want to leave, he mentally adds. “I know you’d want that too” he says instead, mischievous glint in his eyes. Your mouth feels so dry.

“What makes you think that?” surprisingly, you manage to string five words together. Hinata smiles and he looks as beautiful as ever underneath the golden, dim lights of the pub.

“I can feel how hard you’re clenching your legs right now”

[zxombii]

💉🫀🦴 ︵ " Crazy Lovin' "

( ♡,, › ｏ‹ ,, ) — ❝ for u lonely ppl ❞ mimi says.

︶︶ . ˚ ticci toby relationship headcannons ⑅

— gender non-specified. warning for obsessive/possessive loving, slight one-sided love, hint of murdering/yandere behavior, unhealthy relationship to a healthier one, scars, suggestive (?), lowkey corny im sorry

— contains ticci toby, mentions of clockwork.

words of affirmation. giving and receiving. he needs to be aware always that u love him or he can get distant and almost moody, overthinking that ur love for him is non-existent. pls reassure him and he will be back to being silly.

^^ i also like to think about him liking physical touch! he is very touch starved obviously, but just denies it. he doesnt know exactly why he denies it as there is no reasoning to do so, but he just. feels embarrassed. like, "oh yeah btw pls touch me cause i never was loved as a kid and touch actually makes me feel appreciated and cherished". WHO WANTS TO ADMIT THAT REALISTICALLY. (literally the same with words of affirmation. he needs to know he is loved and just touch or praises have him on his knees) (<- not really meant sexually but. ok.)

since he is very busy most the time, dont expect the most love from him. he may need love alot from u, but u wont get alot in return. some ppl might be mad at me for not making him the most amazing loving silly courageous out-going person ever who loves u sm but. cmon. he is a literal killer. yes, he loves u, but he cant always show it considering hes on missions more then half the time. he will smother u in love when he can. i can assure u he feels bad though.

^^ pls be able to suffice having long periods of time alone cause he is not gonna be around alot im srry

really protective. unsurprisingly. he is scared to lose u, and just knowing that he doesnt and isnt able to show his love often, just further worries him that u will leave him for someone else. when he is actually around, he is attached to ur HIP, constantly near u to make up for all the time he wasnt.

^^ when someone flirts with u he swears he physically feels his blood boil and he just cant help it. hes bad at hiding it aswell. like. his hands clench quickly into fists, literally having to remind himself that u wont leave him. if the person isnt one of the proxies, they likely wont be speaking to u again (if u catch my drift).

at the beginning of the relationship, he was very awkward. it was extremely one-sided love, not knowing how to treat u. he felt so bad cause of this. when finally warming up to u he would Never let that leave his mind, occasionally just saying sorry even if in the past. it wasnt really his fault either, never have dated anyone except clockwork but he literally did nothing with her. i have stated in a previous post that he still proceeds to say he has never dated anyone despite dating clockwork for a little while.

knows little to nothing about healthy relationships. healthy? normal? dont know her. what do u expect from a guy who kills practically daily. im sorry but if u think that ur guys relationship is gonna be cupcakes and rainbows, ur so wrong. the beginning of ur guys relationship was awkward as said before, and he was likely weird. and yeah.

^^ chances that u guys met because u wanted to go into the forest (cause ur lowkey dumb /j) is so high. but idk and i dont want to go to indepth incase i make a post on how u met some of the proxies anytime soon.

trauma dumping. u or him. pls just talk he loves listening i promise. really good listener. i kinda headcannon that he is like, 20% deaf in one ear, but anyways um. still a really good listener if ur speaking next to his good ear (sorry)! if u like to listen, he will trauma dump. thing is, he doesnt know when to stop. of course, his skittish and awkward self wouldnt start trauma dumping far into the relationship.

after maybe 6+ months, he will finally showcase his face. when traumadumping, he never mentions his face. like a surprise. but a horrific one. he was obviously scared to lose u and was so scared to show u his mouth, or just his face overall. his eyes have been the only thing u have seen these past 6 or more months. when u accept his facial gash and say it was fine, pls dont be surprised if he cries. might clutch onto u and sob into ur shirt if u allow him. will show u other scars of his if ur comfortable with that, expecting body praise. pls praise him he just wants love

^^ hes still that touch starved, possibly depressed, teen on the inside.

although a little unrealistic (I DONT CARE LOWKEY!!) i think he is very loving further into the relationship. bringing u on dates when he has time, having just time alone to smother u with cuddles and stuff. y'know. the normals. he really does try to be the best boyfriend he can, being aware that he isnt always around to provide the normal amount of affection that should be exchanged between normal couples. of course, u two werent a normal couple. he was a literal murderer and u were.. u. no other way to describe ur relationship other than abnormal which was obvious.

^^ "I d-do luh-love—ghk—you. I pruh-promise. It's just.. h-hard to sh-showcase." he would say to u occasionally.

— i do not allow my work to be translated, stolen, or anything similar. everything i write is made by me and only me unless i say differently on that post. credits to zxombii on tumblr. i have no side blogs.

[the-sage-libriomancer]

Shigure's relationship with Kyo drives me crazy. he doesn't hate Kyo in the slightest - in fact, he pities Kyo, and not in the condescending "oh you poor little boy, cursed to be a horrible, disgusting monster" sort of way that everyone else does. Shigure pities Kyo for the reason he should be pitied: he's just a kid caught up in a system so inhumane it can't possibly be survived without some seriously unhealthy coping mechanisms.

and it drives me crazy because - listen, Shigure is the only zodiac member who's emotionally aware enough to see the other zodiac members as exactly what they are. he knows Yuki is a severely traumatized kid who projects all of his self-hatred on a single convenient target. he knows Akito is really a scared little girl with a raging god complex (literally) and no concept of a healthy relationship. and he knows Kyo is a regular-ass human being who doesn't deserve to be locked up for the rest of his life just because some arbitrary system says so. he KNOWS it's stupid. he KNOWS it's ridiculous and unfair. and he has to share a house with Kyo knowing that Kyo is living with a sword over his head, hating himself and hating others in perfect tandem because he has no other way of coping with the insane amounts of negativity he's had to deal with his entire life.

but the thing about Shigure is that he KNOWS all of this, and the same time he doesn't really CARE. he feels sorry for Kyo, but an apathetic sort of pity, a disinterested "this is how it is. such a shame." sort of pity. in some ways he's worse than the other zodiacs because he DOES see Kyo as a person, someone he likes being around even, but he still considers Kyo below his attention because all his focus is on Akito and breaking the curse. and sure, once the curse is broken Kyo will theoretically be set free with the rest of them, but that's more of a coincidental side effect than anything. despite being in a much more dangerous and precarious mental space AND comfortably in Shigure's reach, Kyo is about as much a priority for Shigure as Ritsu or Momiji.

and it drives me CRAZY because i think Shigure does start actively caring about Kyo as the series goes on, but it's hard to tell when that happens and to what extent. when Kazuma told Shigure he planned to reveal Kyo's true form and Shigure said he was going too far - whose sake was it for? was Shigure trying to protect Kyo, who would be hideously traumatized/emotionally scarred by such a cruel betrayal? was he trying to protect Kyo and Tohru's relationship, which was still formulating and might, under such severe testing, ultimately end up damaged beyond repair? was he only trying to protect Tohru, who wasn't ready to be burdened by such a horrible aspect of the curse so soon, or perhaps simply didn't deserve it? or was it all for the sake of himself, trying to protect his still-forming plans of using Tohru's positive effect on the Sohmas to break the curse?

Shigure cares about Kyo, but they're not close and Kyo clearly isn't a priority. he treats Kyo like a person - offering him genuine advice, teasing him like he teases anyone else, even speaking up on his behalf once or twice - and yet he's too entrenched in the long game to spare much active interest in Kyo. for a very long time, he doesn't care about Kyo the way he cares about Yuki or Tohru, and it's never made clear when exactly that changed. and the thing that gets me about this whole situation is that right from the start, Shigure is in a position where he can meet Kyo at his level - as equals, just one human being to another - but he doesn't, because Shigure is a chessmaster, Shigure is someone who observes and calculates, Shigure never steps in unless one of his chess pieces makes a wrong move and he absolutely has to.

it drives me crazy. Shigure drives me crazy. this series drives me so so crazy.

[wickmitz]

How do you think about Frepper? I'm neutral about this ship, but the fans Frepper attitude towards confuses me, Ivy and Freckle have only been dating for a week and know each other superficially, but everyone already thinks that by the end of the comic they will get married, I think differently, I think that in the end they will break up with each other because they are too different personalities, I literally can't imagine that both of them will be happy with each other in marriage, Ivy is assertive and active, on the other hand Freckle is passive and just agrees with Ivy, this is not a guarantee of a healthy relationship where a partner completely dominates the other, plus to all that, I will not forget how their relationship started, Ivy just decided that they were dating, and without asking Freckle's permission, she just KISSED him, again without his permission, Frepper fans think that it's cute, but when I saw it, I thought "what the hell did I just see?", in general, it's strange for me that Frepper fans are okay with such things, of course later Freckle shows attraction to Ivy, showing that he likes her in some way too, but I still won't forget how their relationship started and how Freckle used to try to escape from Ivy when she squeezed his hand tightly and forced him to her …

I'm not against Frepper, but I don't understand his fans who don't see these issues and who treat other points of view on their relationship (like mine) as … um, as nonconformity? Fans from reddit are just obsessed with Frepper, I don't know about other networks but that's how it is on reddit, I think there are people who have my opinion but are afraid to say it because of fans, of course, I met Frepper fans there who normally accept such an opinion, but still there is a feeling that such a opinion cannot be told

Simply put, Ivy and Freckle are a couple that will eventually break up with each other unless there's an event between them in the comic that changes my opinion of this couple, but that's how I feel about Freckle for now. I didn't plan to express my opinion, but it happened that way, I hope you don't mind it

first and foremost, i don’t mind seeing someone express their opinion in my inbox! you and anyone else are free to do so, even if i may disagree. this blog’s entire existence was made for me to share my opinions ( and love! ) for lackadaisy, as well as engaging with other fans, because what else is the point of a fandom blog? and as far as i’m aware, this is unpopular opinion central! most of my thoughts aren’t exactly the ones with the most voice behind them i’ve found, so i welcome all manner of different views. every fan is entitled to their own perspectives and opinions, and should be allowed to share them as they please! but with that disclaimer out of the way, i’m more than willing to discuss frepper in its entirety.

for me, there’s little confusion i carry where it concerns this ship’s popularity amongst the fandom. freckle and ivy, if we are to strip them down to their bare essentials, are a rather stereotypically ‘cute’ relationship : people enjoy opposites ( see zibwick or vikdecai for example ) and there’s an endearing quality found in puppy love dynamics. seeing ivy wear the pants and drag a shy freckle around by his ankle makes for quality content in a way! think the ‘excuse me, but he asked for no pickles!’ meme … ivy and freckle very much fit that sort of mold, and it helps that most fans are too scared to ship them with other characters in the cast too, due to what they perceive to be a lack of options. thus, frepper is an extremely ‘safe’ ship! you cannot get in trouble for enjoying something that is not only canon, but is relatively adorable ; and so i don’t believe a lot of the fans are actually thinking too deeply about the likely endgame of it all. most don’t! it’s fun to ship, and that’s all they really need i think. it’s also very easy to dismiss ivy’s forwardness as a quirk of being a young girl who’s of her temperament, recklessly boycrazy although still carrying sweet intent. this behavior is easier to hand wave when neither ivy or freckle are experienced at the dating scene as well … freckle due to his extremely religious upbringing and hermit nature, and ivy because of viktor’s constant meddling, which would hold her back more than you’d think. with that said, i don’t think any of this is excessively complicated. some shippers are rather simple minded and do not care for details and characterization all too deeply. enjoying dynamics is, at its core, supposed to be fun -- which makes simple ships like frepper prime targets for a very vocal and tight knit fanbase. there are other things i could speculate about why these two may hit so pleasantly for others, like how there’s an underlying queer theme to it ( what with ivy being the pursuer and freckle the shy, blushing flower ) or that it’s tropey enough to hit the right spots for others … though it all boils back to mere speculation. perhaps they still have time to escape this gangster lifestyle and live happily ever after? and that appeals to the lackadaisy fans who still want some sort of happy ending? it’s all a combination of frepper being easy, i think, and containing two young cats who still haven’t done anything particularly ‘unforgivable’ yet action wise. this is a ship you can root for without an ounce of worry in your heart, and so on and so forth.

but although i understand why others are so vocal about them, i don’t exactly agree with fanon’s views either! while i heavily enjoy frepper, i enjoy them as they are, and that includes their looming flaws and inevitable tragedy. they are bound to break each other’s hearts a lot on their current path ; even if they were entirely perfect for one another, this lifestyle isn’t kind to anyone, meaning if they don’t separate, they could always be forced apart via bullets and such anyway. they are young and woefully inexperienced in a manner of things, the last thing they need is the stress of a rumrunner life driving their every action, you know? i know people see them getting out together, and that is likely on the table! i do see that in many ways, but i’m also of the opinion that ivy and freckle will diverge onto different paths at some point and temporarily call it quits. from where the comic currently stands and given my view on ivy’s arc, i see her growing disillusioned with where she is and the honor and fun she saw within it as a royal spectator will fade ; she will become wary, fearful, and her resilience will die … meanwhile freckle will embrace it, similar to his cousin, fully understanding what it is and what he’s getting into ( like rocky, again ) but being unable to leave his refuge. i know lots of people think freckle will leave the lackadaisy first, but given his old concepts and former title as one of mitzi’s ‘trouble boys’, i think he will become lost in the sauce for a myriad of reasons. frankly i enjoy that twist on their relationship! since i believe ivy’s character development will revolve around maturing, changing as time stretches forward, because her character is ever growing, what with her entire schtick being the fact she’s everything a 1920s girl was during those times. she embodies that unladylike youth and manipulative sweetness, so i’d imagine a lot of her path is falling from such naive thrill seeking and stumbling upon a harsh reality. she will mature, and the very thing that should make their relationship stronger will be what divides them indefinitely. everything they have is founded on this bloody, varnished soaked ground after all … they are young adults who are experiencing what closeness feels like outside of family or platonic friends for the first time, so naturally they will overindulge in their own amateur games ; find respite in the boogie and kiss like couples do on the silver screen, laugh about it, talk about everything and nothing at all … relish in each other’s warmth and stupidly loyal protection. i’m sure frepper will grow closer before any falling out, because as it stands, it’s one of the few things they have in such a scary situation that feels comforting and kind. they will impact each other in the fundamental ways first relationships do and, to move towards your biggest gripe, do things they’ll regret or allow things to happen to them that they’re not entirely okay with.

ivy is very forceful with freckle initially, albeit in her typical saturated way ; and i can see why that would be hard to parse! especially when freckle spends a majority of their first scenes together squirming away and hiding, trying to duck her affections and bolt for it. there is a lot of boundary crossing between them! but not in a necessarily malicious way … like most things with frepper, this circles back to their mutual inexperience and how, in a lot of ways, this is their first ‘serious’ romantic relationship ever. and it’s rather common for such firsts to involve gray areas, since neither party is entirely sure of what their own boundaries are just yet! while freckle did appear frightened by ivy at first, it’s important to note that tracy’s mentioned him having a flight response whenever girls flirt with him … he is prone to run away instinctively, which if you consider his extremely religious upbringing, isn’t exactly a surprise. nina would no doubt look down upon freckle engaging with girls his age due to what most girls his age are currently doing in the roaring 20s they’re living in. sneaking out and engaging in illegal activities, dancing in a way that would disgust most of the more traditional and older generation, casually engaging in any manner of sexual activity before marriage, etc etc. and this isn’t even listing freckle’s cagey nature due to an incident we know was bad enough to send rocky packing for years, and fundamentally changed freckle himself at such a young and impressionable age. he is … very troubled! and rather scared of himself and the world around him … at this stage in life, freckle is perpetually unable to make any progress towards anything he may want, and so i have little problem myself with ivy mostly taking the lead. when left to his own devices and allowed to choose outside of influence, freckle did in fact sneak out of his mother’s house to go to the lackadaisy, surely well aware that ivy’s intention had been romantically inclined. so, to me, he has always liked her ; perhaps found her cute, in a shallow way, saw her eccentric behavior as endearing and frightening in equal measure, and while he’s still wading into this whirlwind pool unsteady and shaken, he -- wouldn’t mind it if ivy pushed a little more, or moved him around to her ( and what she perceives to be, their ) liking. perhaps this dynamic is familiar enough to him that it becomes comforting, since rocky was very much the same way in their adolescence. tugging freckle around and pulling his tail for whatever rocky wanted them to do, with little care for whatever his baby cousin desired at the time, ignoring his protests and chasing him ; nobody’s at fault here either, kids are extremely self absorbed and this is a flaw they’ll usually mature past, and while ivy and freckle are adults during the comic, i don’t think ivy’s outgrown this linear view on things just yet. she is extremely entitled! she is used to being the apple of everyone’s eye at the speakeasy due to her jazz baby status as atlas may’s goddaughter, and this gangster connection excites and awes the ladies she attends classes with at her university too. ivy pepper is used to getting her way and this has only fueled her determined attitude, her ‘pull it up by the bootstraps’ mindset, and in many ways, this is something of a flaw for her. it’s not bad to be confident and headstrong, although when you add that into a dangerous mix of rumrunning and gunslinging, it may become a problem rather quickly. but i digress! point is, ivy and freckle are hardly at fault for the awkward way they handled the start of their relationship, when it’s so new and fresh to them both.

neither of them have boundaries at this moment, as they either have no clue what those are or simply haven’t realized they should set them. so, in turn, there are things that the other may do that could cause their partner discomfort … and it’s mostly done out of obliviousness and good intentions and your classic dose of intense affection. doesn’t mean it isn’t messed up to a degree, but i think it’s rather realistic, and is a hard truth that comes with many first relationships of that sort. sometimes you don’t know how to say ‘no,’ or you agree and regret agreeing later, or perhaps you simply don’t understand there’s certain things you aren’t ready for or genuinely just don’t like. again, it’s a very muddied area, and the two of them are vaguely navigating what is mostly foreign to them. they’re bound to mess up! so i ivy some slack here, and applaud tracy on the realistic writing more than anything usually. young love also happens to be a great device to use for inexperienced characters finding themselves, through the good and bad of their relationship, and frepper is all about that. maybe freckle will inevitably bring up how he feels like he would’ve preferred it had ivy asked him out properly, or gave him time to court her in a traditional fashion … and she will be surprised ( and a little wounded ) by this, since she had never considered it before … too used to her way of things to realize there’s another path they could take. i think this aspect of the relationship is important, and i can understand wishing that more frepper shippers would view it as such, or comment on it's morally gray nature without just calling it ‘cute’ and leaving it at that.

tldr : they will most certainly break up at some point, maybe even multiple times! tracy has said before that they both have some serious maturing to do if their relationship is to be long lasting, and i doubt that maturing will happen to them both at once … since they have different things to work on emotionally. but they will probably strongarm some major personal development within each other, as well as love one another with a fierceless abandon that most kids do. i could see them getting married, i could see them not, but i agree that if they were to be wed happily, they’d have significant hurdles to overcome. but personally, frepper is something i adore mostly due to the impact they’re bound to cause each other, and even if they are to separate and find someone new and more fitting, they’ll always remember one another -- perhaps fondly, and sadly, and with some anger. a time they’d like to forget, but a person they’d like to remember … which is my cup of tea overall! they much more interest me as they presently are anyway, where i can fiddle around with their budding romance and friendship bonding. and as lackadaisy grows in popularity, i do hope there’s more frepper fans who see their complexity and flaws and explore them with all of it in mind.

anyway! i hope this was coherent, and that it was obvious that i agreed with you for the most part. i haven’t really talked about frepper before with anyone so many of these thoughts sort of burst out of me! and i feel like i have more to elaborate upon, but for the sake of simplicity i kept this short. oh well! surely this is enjoyable and informative regardless.

[wormlips]

The way I got into Thramsay, I was frightened at the thought of reading ff about them, even though I shipped the guys from Killing stalking — arguably not as whumpy. But, they were the most toxic pairing I’d shipped, up until that point. I had only ever watched GoT too, till recently. I thought the fanfiction would be darker, I think. But I was still intrigued, cause I did draw them on one occasion. Then like 5 years later, I came to check this tag on a whim, and had such a visceral reaction to some fanart on here. Long story short, I now strangely ship three pairings where one half of the ship kidnapped (“kidnapped”) the other. And two where one character has .. lost some bits. *whispers* how are there two?? 💀

Yeah it's funny how you can tell yourself 'im just going to take a quick look' and then fall head-first into things. like you never saw it coming but suddenly it's a part of your life

or dismissing a thing only to return years later and realize that it was right up your alley all along

Your ask made me write even more because like you I hadn’t shipped anything on thramsay's level before so i didnt have a good frame of reference what it might have been like but i were intrigued too and it's cathartic putting into words what i think makes them so captivating to me

I definitely had interest in toxic relationships with abusive and dark elements in it long before but none where one of them had literally removed body parts from the other. I think Ive always been on the softer side so I need (needed? Idk if i do currently) some sort of mutual feelings even if it is irrational or non genuine like people who cant help but still love someone who hurts them or the reverse - loves someone but cant keep from hurting them. The DA fic kind of pushed that to its limits but it contained some sort of lingering sentimentality amidst graphic descriptions of flaying and i was thinking you can do that??? Though in that fic the torturer had been corrupted by magic so their relationship had been normal at one point which separates it from thramsay. but it had been proven to me that ppl could justify* ”love” in horrible conditions that is interesting to read and i should stop writing but i went into thramsay fics to find out if someone had done so (also whatever else, i was fucking around to find out)

It just hits the spot i ❤️ characters being conflicted about their lover and i want to be unable to tell if the ”love” they feel for their counterpart is actually something else

even though i'm not particularly into show-verse thramsay anymore the best example i can give is the infamous bathing scene where ramsay asks if reek loves him and reek says of course with full conviction and it's like obviously it isn't true though reek might feel like he does because he has conditioned himself to have that response, he brainwashed himself to cope and for safety because he has to believe so ramsay can't find out he's lying but then if he thinks he feels it so much that he does............? how do we define real vs fake love an-... whatever i'm going too far we don't need a philosophical discussion of this rn

you can make it worse by switching between him being self aware of all this to fully believing he's always been ramsay's, the way he slips back into theon's thinking patterns in the book from reek's and anything inbetween until you have toxic sludge on your hands and furthest thing from a normal, healthy relationship

and even more fun if you do the same to ramsay, it doesn't have to be real love but it's such a clingy obsession and dependency, mutual belonging and the idea that he will always return so his closeness, his whispers will be likened to that of a lover because what else is there to compare it to *there's probably a better way i could put it but by justify i mean the author writing something that makes sense from the character's point of view. i don't want to be misconstrued

[festivalofthe12]

just ahhhhhhh it's so INTERESTING when it comes to like Yuki and masking and external perceptions because like

He grows up thinking that his one value in life is being the Rat. It's what makes him useful to his parents, and what makes him Akito's golden child. That's all. Everything he has is conditional on that one specific thing.

And he internalises all of that. He has to act in ways befitting of the Rat, or his parents will reject him - just like he sees with Ayame. He does what Akito wants or Akito will get mad, and pleasing Akito is the best thing ever, right? Being close enough to feel Akito's love first-hand? To be special?

Of course he grows up to be cripplingly self-conscious. To be borderline obsessed with how other people expect him to act and how he can live up to those expectations. To bury any real feelings so deep down he doesn't even know how to admit them to himself, let alone express them outwardly. He has outlets - Kyou is a societally (and Sohma-ly!) acceptable subject of his anger. But he is his performance: underneath that, what is there?

And yet... what he gets from all this isn't even good. His parents suck and never really cared about him anyway. Akito, too, was far more harmful than helpful to him. And he doesn't like being who he acts like. He doesn't want the fangirls to coo over 'prince Yuki'.

He's trapped in this prison that feels like it's of his own making, because he's one acting like this, following this role, even long after it's stopped serving him. And he's in some ways aware of that. But he doesn't know how to stop.

Over and over, he internalises. He suffers in silence and tells himself he's not. He's stressed out all the time with the effort of keeping up the act and that leaves him irritable in the few situations he doesn't need to. He desperately wants to please people, but doesn't trust anybody.

He doesn't expect anyone to truly care about him, aside from what he Is or what expectations he's able to fulfil, because for years he begged for help and received none of it. He's long since stopped believing that things can really change for the better, even after he escapes to live with Shigure. Even at high school, he's still falling into the same patterns. The best he can hope for is that people are impressed with him and think he's really Special. The idea of people not thinking that way about him triggers that childhood anxiety of abandonment and worthlessness. But he also hates it.

He's so very, very lonely. He just wants to be like somebody else. To connect. But until Tohru, he never really properly got that. (Yes, Haru tried really hard, but he was still too tied up with the Juunishi and the Rat and the Cow to truly break through it all.) He literally never got to make friends and have healthy relationships modelled for him. The world, as far as he has experienced it, is transactional: he is Special, and thus he is kept.

Of course he's so distant and inscrutable and cold. Of course he acts 'like he's better than everyone else'. Of course he struggles to accept that Ayame really does sincerely care about him. (He sure didn't act like it for fifteen-odd years!!!!) He's been masking for so long he doesn't know where the pretending ends and where 'real Yuki' (whoever that even is) begins.

[lancerious]

Gimme any of your King thoughts you have rn

Good heavens

Uhhh I'll just list a bunch of random thoughts I have that I hope are fresh and not repeated a thousand times over lol

I imagine Spade King suffers from something called separation anxiety disorder, or SAD. If he doesn't have SAD specifically, then he at least has some general anxiety. There are a few parts to this, mostly involving theorizing and speculation. First, we have no idea what happened to Spade King's parents, though I headcannon that said parents passed away when their son was still fairly young. Regardless whether the parent/child relationship was healthy or not, they were still separated somehow. The same goes for Queen; we don't know the specifics of their relationship--though it likely was far from perfect, given how they're divorced--but they were separated regardless. I feel like this is most important with Lancer, as it's the one person Spade King likely holds in high enough regard. Given how the relationship between them is a bit...messy, with characters like Susie only making it worse, there's bound to be some anxiety from that. This is without mentioning how Spade King's presumed first interaction with Lightners ended abhorrently. I feel like all of this adds up to there being at least some anxiety in Spade King, perhaps it's mostly contained within him at the moment, even if he does lash out at times. This was a long one lol, but I think it's an important idea and likely has some footing.

Don't ask me why but I headcannon Spade King as having some Scandinavian accent, ofc we don't have an actual voice for him but I think a Scandinavian accent would fit him lol.

I like to think Spade King always had--and still has--a very wild and active imagination! I imagine he would daydream a ton, often to escape the likely not-so-pleasing reality he found himself in. Maybe he even wrote some of those said daydreams down when he was younger, but has since given it up.

I have the idea of Spade King--and the other overthrown kings by extension--knowing Jevil & Seam since he was a child. It's not entirely unlikely this is the case, as both Seam & Jevil are likely two of the oldest Darkners we know so far. We can only speculate, though I bet younger Spade King saw Jevil & Seam perform for the then-current monarchs, whoever they may be. Maybe Spade King found it entertaining, or maybe he wished he was doing anything else lol, who knows.

Another headcannon, I think Spade King is generally suspicious of Rouxls Kaard. There is some merit to this idea: first, Rouxls Kaard seems a bit out-of-place amongst the other Chapter 1 Darkners. Even if he fits the general theme of cards/puzzles/whatever, he still stands out. I imagine his introduction to then-Card Kingdom is akin to Sans & Papyrus from Undertale, what with them randomly popping into existence one day with no given explanation. Second, the idea of Rouxls being the "Duke of Puzzles" despite his much-blatant incompetence is a bit, well, odd. There were literally Darkners in that very area who specialized in puzzles, so why replace them with someone who seems horribly unfit for the job? See, I think there's a lot more to Rouxls, a lot more potential, and he's attempting to hide it by acting incompetent. That, or he genuinely doesn't know how to grapple with his large amount of power. Either way, I suspect Spade King was, and still is, aware of this to a degree. Perhaps he was trying to get Rouxls to snap out of it, or wanting to see how the notorious Duke would thrive in a position of authority. Who knows! It's just a theory I have.

Bit of a random thing, but if there was any Darkner from Chapter 2 who would have a decent chance at getting along with Spade King, it would be Swatch. First, Swatch runs a café. If Spade King does love to cook/bake, which is what I and clearly others think, that's already a good start. Second, Swatch has a very laid-back, professional, and overall "proper" personality. I think that sort of personality would go well with Spade King's--I doubt Swatch would get on his nerves often, if at all. I could probably think of more things, but still! I can see Swatch & Spade King being decent buddies, or at least tolerating each other, which is already impressive for Spade King lol. Though Swatch being loyal to Queen is a stumbling block now that I think about it, but hey, everything else works! Yaaay...lol.

This one's a bit out there and has nothing to back it up, but I like the idea of Spade King having resided in what is now Lancer's room when he was a child. Room inheritance! I guess you could say this works by process of elimination given what we know about Card Castle's layout, though it's possible said layout was different in the past. I dunno, I just think it's a sweet idea!

Whelp that's it lol, that's all my scatterbrained mind can think of for this post. It's difficult to think of things to say without being given proper guidelines lol but I have something!

[acatinafancyhat]

Watched Chess Netherlands today because... well, I can 🙃 It was surprisingly not all horrible. Definitely flawed and problematic but it had some parts I really liked! Of course I had lots of thoughts again so here is me venting them. 99% sure no one else cares about Dutch Chess but what the hell, tumblr is for screaming into the void right? ✨️

Act I

- You can instantly tell this is a Dutch production because the championships take place in what looks like a school gym. I mean we do our rubiks cube tournaments there. Is fine for chess, no?

- Explaining chess to the audience bc that's what the show is really missing

- Many Svenska Vibes

- Anatoly with an i is the most Dutch Soviet Russian i've ever met. Just, no nonsense. 'go take care of my children woman.' Calling each other names is how we show affection <3

- I will say the boys (Anatoli's kids) playing chess during the opening is a nice touch

- Story of Chess also has very to the point lyrics. "chess requires reticence so u don't kill each other" see now this actually sets up the show real well :)

- Awkward humor no one laughs at ✅️

- Anatoli's kind of a downer

- Freddie's sort of charming but his relationship with Florence is gonna be garbage i can tell

- strike 1: ableism

- (honestly he just reminds me of every Dutch white guy on tv)

- strike 2: assault

- Florence is already so done with his shit good for her

- also "with me there, he is brilliant" tru tru

- Singing Nobody's Side while random people have a lil party behind her?

- oh it's an excuse for karaoke ONIB

-Are they really gonna do the whole song though do we really need that

-lol Freddie pushes karaoke guy off stage so he can finish the song. honey this is a little early in the show to be getting this drunk what are you doing she hasn't even left you yet

- Arbiter leads morning exercise... ok well why not

- No dancing during the chess game. It's cool we can just watch two guys play chess from a distance for a couple minutes. Fun times.

- Freddie sticks his gum under the table real subtle like he hasn't got multiple cameras pointed at him right now

- Actually on second thought i think the chess game might be better without the dancing. Characters are doing interesting things. The contrast between Anatoli sitting stiffly at the table while Freddie is prancing around fistfighting the cameras is Most Amusing :)

- Did he just try to make Anatoli's move for him omg 🤣

- Freddie @ arbiter "uh it might be time u keep things under control around here" and off he runs HE'S SUCH A LITTLE SHIT ngl i kinda love him here

- However Florence's defense of him just seems completely unreasonable considering toli literally just. sat there. the whole time.

- Anatolyi gets the 'i'm ridiculous' monologue like in Svenska

- 'Hey my people killed your people oops now let me sing a song in the language you probably don't remember and it's somehow romantic and not creepy or overstepping any boundaries at all :)'

- Running away from Molokov in a shittier version of Svenska. Meh. But again they are aware of the lack of embassies in and around Merano which I do appreciate bc i'm pedantic like that

- Freddie: hey what's she doing with that Russian

Freddie: hmmm idk

Freddie: they're definitely talking abt me tho 🤨

- Flo & toli have a healthy conversation about the fact that he just left his kids behind i support that!!

- However this timing/setting for Anthem sucks. He's just singing it to Florence. And it's literally about how he misses his family? Weak. This needs to be an epic declaration of love for his homeland to all the world not whining to your girlfriend. Ugh can't believe they fucking ruined Anthem!

- So far all of this strikes me as discount Svenska but without the investment in Flonatoly and the only thing it's really got going for it is a handful of good lines BUT we'll see about act 2...

Act II

- Why the fuck would you start your second act with Merchandisers?

- Nice audience interaction though, it doesn't completely not work

- But following it up with Heaven Help My Heart is hmmmmmm really not ideal pacing-wise.

- Freddie's woman verse is even more cringe in Dutch i can't accurately translate it but it's so..... yikes..... The word he uses instead of "woman" ("popje") literally means "little doll/puppet" (but with slightly different connotations). It's sometimes used as a term of endearment but in this scene it is very much derogatory and ew.

- "here I stand wondering / if I ever knew you / have I ever really known who you are?" I like this translation!

- Pity the Child pulls no punches (does it ever?) He's so pathetic, he's such an asshole, and as a teacher I weirdly feel this one (at one point he talks about how no one ever noticed him at school either and just... oof don't get me started). Also the desperate rapid-fire chess game he plays against himself in the musical break and during the final verse--that needs to be in more versions holy fuck go watch this bit it's GOOD!!

- The Deal but without a political angle. Fascinating.

- No

- no. no no no i hate this i hate this Freddie wouldn't sacrifice his game not even for Florence NO. CANCELED.

- Interestingly instead of honey/parner, Freddie uses the same word as in the woman verse when he's talking to Florence during The Deal but this time it's the endearment variant. That's a little bit problematic.

- Molokov's plan is still to bring Flo and Sveta together even though Anatoli is now supposed to win 🤷‍♂️

- Anatoli casually downs several shots of liquor (vodka?) during Soviet Machine. not sure this will help him win the game but at least he sleeps through Russian Guy screaming that final whoooooooo high note in his ear

- Florence tests Freddie's chair... demands they bring a different one... is she still working for him? idk. I'm guessing it's meant to be sweet but it just looks silly to me idk

- Fuck reverse I Know Him So Well honestly. "he wants me / no he wants me" boo fucking hoo. You two deserve each other.

- Oh! Oh! Talking Chess, yay! 😁

- Gosh this is actually really cute?!? Freddie literally just came to discuss this random chess gambit he came across and thought was interesting? Nothing even to do with their current game just 'hey found this thing i thought you might like and i like and can we be friends now i really like chess 😶'

- Unlike in Svenska and RAH, I actually don't know for sure who is going to win this game. They do a good job of making this really about chess in the end. I like it.

- Freddie reminding toli it's about chess even during their match now that is the freddie i came to see!

- He calmly sips his water as Sveta and Florence are physically removed from the premises

- It is Quite Unfortunate that this production hates women...

- Really they seem to only be here to get in the men's way. Ugh.

- I don't support any of the relationships except Freddie and Toli being pen pals and playing long distance chess for the rest of their lives.

- Ending feels a little OOC but still nice to see some healthy Freddie & Flo interaction for once 😌

tldr; not the worst production out there, worth watching if you've already seen Svenska and don't mind Freddie being the most likeable character. (okay likeable is not the right word he sucks but, you know. He reminds me of RAH Freddie but slightly more yike.) PTC and Talking Chess are highlights!

[moe-broey]

Oh, hey. I might have been the one with the Grandpa Askr tags that I deleted because I wanted to rephrase things and then didn't. Oops. Anyway, the thing with him is that (iirc) Gustav mentions encountering Hel as a Wild Youth and his dad taking the bullet for him instead. (Which is why he knows he can take the curse for Alfonse.) This is causes him to change from reckless and more Alfonse-like (as Henriette mentions, I think) to his current disposition. I don't think there's anything more specific about Grandpa, but I do kinda wonder if he's not the one Gustav got the...stern (abusive-y) behavior from. Gustav kept berating Alfonse for not being detached and rational "enough" with Gustav being the implied model for such qualities. (Because neglecting your heir, the Mcf*ckin' Crown Prince of your Kingdom to the point he doesn't know more than basic statecraft--in theory!-- over a bit of teenaged self-establishment is a detached and rational decision. ...Don't get me started.) So, it could be another parallel with Harsh Father/Headstrong Son, or Gramps was fine and Gustav's trauma started making his relationship decisions. ...Now I kinda wonder how often Hel ends up murdering Askran royals. Like, is this a regular thing?? Geez.

OH NO WAY!!! They were such good tags I thought about screenshotting and adding/and or making a new post about it, but. I. Seemed to have forgotten too LMFAO (maybe for the best if you weren't happy with the wording though HAHA 🫡)

MAN. I. Can't believe I literally just. Forgot All Of This (then again it has been a few years). I did remember the bit of lore about Gustav being more reckless in his youth, and then doing a 180. I think, because I forgot important details, I assumed it was another cycle -- especially because, Alfonse himself can be reckless.

So in my mind it looked like: Gustav has previous experience being reckless in his youth -> He sees this quality in Alfonse, and to "spare" or "protect" him, he tries to snuff that quality out. Terrified of history repeating itself, but lacking the self-awareness that he, himself (Gustav), is both a product of a cycle AND perpetuating it. (Also a side note: Gustav trying to "protect" Alfonse by ensuring that he doesn't make the same mistakes, without realizing that course of action would only stifle and shelter Alfonse. Some things are only learned through first-hand experience -- no amount of warning or shielding will ever have the same effect.)

So it seems in some areas I had the right idea, I was just. Missing EXTREMELY important details that re-contextualize the entire situation LMFAOO

So maybe it's more like: Gustav has previous experience being reckless in his youth, AND a personal encounter with Hel due to that recklessness -> His father, Grampa Askr, protected his son from Hel by taking the fall for him. Which probably led to a few things: Feeling responsible for his father's death, instilling a need to protect his loved ones (just, unfortunately, in a maladaptive way). Also, depending on the type of guy Grampa Askr was (if we're assuming he was Gustav's picture-perfect ideal of a father and king), a need to live up to him. -> After all this set up, he sees Alfonse taking after him in ways that scare him -- and so everything else follows as it does.

The missing context ALSO explains why Gustav was so quick to give up on Alfonse when he learned that he was struck with the curse. Dude is probably having flashbacks about it.

And I guess... that's the thing that gets me about Gustav, actually. I hate him, I think he sucks, whenever I see him It's On Sight LMFAOOO. But so clearly, I think he captures what it's like. When you can see, at one point, there was a person in there -- who was vulnerable, who got traumatized, and who ended up developing a way to cope with that trauma, but. Not in a great way. And you just Know, he's the type of guy who's far too stubborn and set in his ways to ever address what happened in like. A healthy way.

And none of this is to woobify him or moralize getting help. Really... the entire Askr family is like a case study. To me.

Which is why I would have LOVED more details on Grampa Askr actually LMFAOOO, LIKE. Is he part of the cycle, like I imagined? Did Gustav get it from him? Or did Gustav just. Do all that on his own. And made it everyone else's problem LMFAOOOO

ALSO AGSKHSJSHSJAJ.................. THAT BIT ABOUT HEL PERHAPS ROUTINELY MURDERING ASKRAN ROYALS............. honestly makes me think about that Paralogue where Alfonse is dropping fucked up folklore on Sharena HSKSHSKS AND LIKE. It's got me thinking, actually. In a world where gods are physically tangible and right in front of you, where fairies and changelings Do exist -- if people do still try to teach moral lessons/warnings of danger through folklore, fairytales, and allegories, would it be like? Difficult to parse out fact and fiction? Much to think about tbh... (esp w Alfonse's interest in such subjects!) (That said I do feel like we often see Alfonse approach things with an open mind on a case by case basis, but. It's still funny to think about!)

Btw!!! Thank you for sending this!!! I really appreciate being able to staple this to my blog now LMFAOO 👍🎉🎉🎉

[hypnotisedfireflies]

Hi ! First of all, I love your fics, thank you for creating the amazing Driftersverse !

I was wondering, how would Joel react if someone was hitting on/flirting with Tess in Jackson ? Or how would Tess react if someone was hitting on Joel in Jackson ? 🤔 Just someone trying to shoot his shot even if they know Tess and Joel are "partners" 🤔

Hi anon!  Thank you for a fun ask. :)

It’s really funny because the jealousy/possessiveness trope is actually one of my favourites to both write and read about but I just don’t feel it for them in this story.  I think it’s because I wanted to establish this bond between Tess and Joel, this thread of total trust in all things that they actually feel so secure in their relationship they have literally zero fear of anyone else being a credible threat.

Tess used Keisha for the lulz in Sioux Falls, frequently leaving Joel to his own devices to suffer awkwardly:

“You are so sure of yourself that I wouldn’t – can you not be a little jealous, Tess?”

“No,” she laughed. “She’s not your type.”

The only time she did feel jealous was at the situation, not of Keisha herself:

Nothing Keisha had done so far had made Tess feel even the smallest twinge of jealousy. But today, sitting in the stupid diner with her sister-in-law’s broken heart and pretending even harder than usual that there was nothing romantically substantial between her and Joel - performing that there was nothing romantically substantial – she experienced a stab of jealously powerful enough hurt.

For Joel’s part, the only time in the story he has any doubts is when he finds Tess’s secret cache in Dusk.  He’s confused by the presence of a romantic poem that he’s never seen before and is obviously precious to her:

“Are you jealous?”

“I don’t know. Never felt jealous when it came to you. Never had a reason not to trust you.”

Lachie even presumes Joel might have been jealous of his time with Tess, which Joel shuts down without anger or pause:

 And no. I did not fuck her, because I'm sure that's crossed your twisted -"

So really, for all the messed-up codependency and thrall they have one another in, Tess and Joel really do trust one another so implicitly in Driftersverse that being jealous of the other isn’t something that even crosses their minds.  So at least that’s healthy?  Lol.

"You're not her type."

Would people hit on them in Jackson?  Probably, yes.  Jackson is a small pool of people and let’s face it, they’re both hot af.  (Everybody in Indy was fucking one another by the time they escaped, with the exception of them, because they were all trapped with each other and had basically nothing else to do.)

Tess would still make a game out of it.  If it got to the point where the person didn’t get the picture or they became too aggressive she’d be like, “Okay, fun’s over, you need to get the fuck out of here now.”

Joel would miss it entirely if it was a woman flirting with Tess.  I seriously do not think he’d pick up on that.

Historically, people left Tess alone and didn’t flirt with her because Joel was scary and he (and sometimes Tommy, when he was still present) kicked the shit out of anyone who got close as a preventative measure – something Tess had no idea about until much later.  Joel was acutely aware of the dangers that faced her, as a woman, in a lawless world. From The Knight of Cups:

"You ever think what people like him will do to someone like her?"

His motivations for those preventative attacks were rooted in fear for her safety as opposed to jealousy.

So while he would not necessarily hold fears that Tess would be reciprocating any flirtation, he would probably struggle not to go back to that old way of dealing with interest in her.  You can bet Tommy has put the hard word on him that he cannot do that kind of thing in Jackson.  So Joel would be giving these people his asshole eyes from across the room and lbh, that’s probably enough to scare them away anyway. 

I hope that answers your ask, anon!  I am plotting an AU Outbreak-didn’t-happen-they-still-meet story and the jealousy trope does play into that one in a big way – different circumstances, I can work with it this time! So yeah, that’s a thing, whenever I can get there. :D

[bl-bam-beyond]

THE PROMISE (2023, THAILAND)

A COMPARISON STUDY

This is basically for myself, I got enamored with this pair with the airing of PHUPHA (AUGUST 2022) and NANFAH (NOVEMBER 2022) on the DEVONTE296 OFFICIAL YOUTUBE CHANNEL. Thinking that was all there was to be until at the end of the NANFAH mini an announcement for an upcoming series.

Now in the NANFAH mini Phupha has already left after being unable to confess to Nan after seeing Nan with Gigi in what he thought was Nan becoming a couple with Gigi. But Nan and Phu's landlady made Nan aware of Phu's feelings so Nan began a 10 year search for Phu.

This series is comparable to many series in my opinion like My Only 12% (because of the close friendship from childhood except See-iw and Cake were basically together since birth) or Our Dating Sim (where one ran away from the other for multiple years except Lee Wan confessed then ran because it seemed to be a rejection)

At the end of the 2 minis Nan came to realize he was in love with Phu. But the series didn't pick up with that, it instead chose to go back to the close friendship even after Phu's disappearing act.

So this story wasn't a story at all, it seemed to be a commercial for Devonte Skincare for Men and two reunited friends promoting this brand as it was Nan's job and soon to be Phu's job as he was pursued as a presenter or brand ambassador. Until the end of Episode 5 when Nan learned Phu lied about his whereabouts for 10 years. Then the drama ramp up as Nan declared I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN YOU LYING DECEIVING DUPLICITOUS ASSHOLE.

Then a Hiatus until April 19...a month away

What was expected upon the return, Phu trying to explain why he ran off for 10 years or at the very least groveling at the feet of Nan begging for forgiveness but no it came back to Nan still stressing as Phu ran to check on his grandmother making Nan think he lost Phu once again and literally suffering because of it.

If that didn't prove how much Nan loved Phu what else could. Because Nan had options. But he could not and did not let go of Phu mentally (when Phu wasn't there) or physically (when he was there)

Nan never got an apology even when he asked for one when he went after Phu after their Episode 5 blowup.

Then there is the bombshell that Khunkhao (another guy in love with Nan) and Phupha are half brothers as they share the same mother but they don't know that.

So the series throws out that Nan doesn't believe in dating a friend because it would ruin the friendship so this further pushes Phupha into his shell as far as a love confession.

It further pushes Phu into this shell when he watches as Party confesses to Nan and Nan reiterates that to him friends are just friends.

Furthermore Nan and Phu are two healthy grown men and neither had a relationship with someone else in the entire time of being apart? That's pining.

Phu seemingly disappointed Nan over and over and he had a chance with a stud like Party and and Khunkhao yet he did not show the slightest interest.

Then Episode 9..Phu's Confession was so out of character. Phu is an introvert. He keeps all his feelings inside (think Khabkluen in STAR IN MY MIND)

Phu doesn't like social interaction. He has crippling stage fright in front of people yet he confesses to Nan in a club in front of their friend Joe and ALL of Nan's work colleagues and the brother he never knew. If that isn't out character.

Then Phu learned his grandmother has died. For Phu he has only been close to 3 people. His father, his grandmother and Nan.

So one episode left. But the story such as it is, is over what else is left.

My prediction is...Phupha meets Khunkao in their official capacity as Brothers. Perhaps including Phu and Khunkhao's mother. And the actual lovemaking of Phu and Nan for the first time. And possibly Nan deciding if he's moving to China for this promotion with Devonte. May 24 ends The Promise pushed back from May 19. Will WeTV and Devonte show the last episode on the same day?

[mannatea]

Break Open the Sky, a Tales of Symphonia ‘fic (Chapter 6)

Current Word Count: 43,035 Summary: What kind of “Hero” of Regeneration would she be to leave an infant to fend for itself? Someone had to have left it here for a reason. The question was, of course, why? But as she lifted the little thing carefully into her arms, the motion reminding her of nights so far in the past, now, the why seemed almost tragically clear: this baby was of mixed blood. Chapter Summary: First night in Altamira! Also, we get Regal's POV. Pairing/Characters: Raine, Original Characters, will also feature Genis, Regal, and Sheena. Endgame is Regal/Raine. Extra Info: This is technically an Accidental Baby Acquisition story, but I liken it more to “Doorstep Baby” literature because it sure ain’t cute. Rating: Mature, for themes. Genre: Eventual romance, gen, family, character study.

The title is the link to Ao3 for Chapter 6! If you read it please feed me a little comment. I love you x6. 🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍

Not too many notes this time but they're under a cut! (And not very organized.)

This chapter is kind of long and rambly but I consider it a necessary evil for the sake of the story.

--

Finally I got to write Regal's perspective, and it was very difficult because he has no idea what's going on.

Going off of the knowledge he had, he was literally assuming this could be a really terrible situation. I didn't go into the types of things he was thinking about exactly because there were too many to really cover, and I don't think Regal's the kind of person to jump into the deep end over speculation. That said, he's relieved the issue is as simple as "a baby was abandoned into Raine's care and she adopted the girls to get them away from a poor living situation in an orphanage" and not something like "running from an abusive partner" or "saved these children and/or herself from a trafficking situation."

--

What could be better than Regal running around shirtless all the time? Regal wearing a shirt. With the sleeves rolled up. Oh, and cooking.

--

The hardest part about this chapter was writing that awkward first few conversations. It's been 2.5 years since they've seen one another in person and she's just showing up out of nowhere to beg him for help in a bunch of little ways. Raine feels guilty and weird about it; Regal's just happy to see her (and eager to be useful).

I think if she was a lot healthier none of this would be so awkward (I think she'd just be straightforward about it) but she's unwell and struggling to keep it together. This makes her over-aware of asking him for things. I feel like the older you are the more this specific awkwardness will make sense to you. No matter how easy your relationship with someone is, it's at least a little healthy to be aware of if you're taking advantage of someone or not. Yes, Regal asked her if she would stay with him, but she knows he's asking because he knows she doesn't have any money or anywhere else to stay. So it's still a bit like her asking.

--

The mere idEA of a half-elf having to call anyone "master" gave me an anxiety nosebleed in real life. I felt like I had to acknowledge it because I feel like it would occur to Raine since George does call Regal "Master Regal."

--

Speaking of nosebleeds, Raine's having fun with those, and after writing about her getting nosebleeds I got a bunch of them too, so that was cool. (It was extremely uncool. After the period+nosebleed combo on the ship I got hit with that same one-two punch IRL and it's a 0/10 do not recommend situation from me. This was just a coincidence though.)

Obviously for Raine they're stress-related, if that wasn't obvious. Like, there's a medical/physical reason this happens too, but her current stress is triggering it. Regal's memories of her getting them in the past are also from stressful situations (mostly trying desperately to save someone's life and putting herself into a mana deficit while doing it).

--

Regal's house has a more or less high-ceilinged front rooms (living room, kitchen, entryway) and lower ceilings at the back of the house (for the dining room, for example) to make space for the upstairs rooms. The bedroom/bathroom setup is what we would commonly call a "jack and jill bathroom."

Like this maybe (thrown together to give a visual):

In other words, it's pretty fancy without being crazy. After all, Regal doesn't employ staff here inside the house and has to clean it himself; I don't think he'd want bathrooms for every bedroom even if he can afford it lmao.

--

The clothing situation: yep, it sucks. But the kids wearing Regal's huge shirts is such a funny image. You know they'd be so dwarfed.

Also, did you think Raine could escape the Meltokio party when she's sleeping in a bed in Regal's house and wearing his clothes? Heck no. She's gotta dream about it again. Maybe this time it's a bit more comforting, though.

[bonesandthebees]

I’m already at 8 asks so I need to start wrapping this up. After the fight, Wilbur goes to the bathhouse. He only starts putting thought into Tommy’s words once Tommy is away and no longer directly pushing his agenda. Wilbur does that a lot. Processing things on his own. He needs a lot of time to think and shift his world view. Wilbur is at least aware that he has emotions. The bird is representation of that. Though it kinda got engulfed by the flames of anger and now it’s a little numb courtesy of being overwhelmed (again).

It’s also interesting that Wilbur's train of thought always seems to block up at the idea that Clara made a mistake. Goddesses don’t make mistakes. Still, Wilbur think she chose wrong. He still doesn’t understand why she picked him. That’s probably what messes with their connection. He can tell himself that she has a plan for him all he wants, but he doesn’t get why, if he doesn’t believe it should be him, he’ll never be able to properly (blindly) follow it. The fact that he blocks up at the idea of Clara making a mistake also shows that he’s still not ready to freely question his believes.

Then there’s the irony of Wilbur’s conversation with Tubbo interlinked with flashbacks to the fight they just had. Wilbur’s care for Tommy, admired without hesitation vs. How he just hurt Tommy. It sums up their relationship pretty well. They care about each other a lot, but they keep hurting each other. Intentionally or not. It’s not healthy.

You know what else isn’t healthy? They don’t make up! They just skip over the fight because Tommy wants to prove his point that Wilbur won’t run and Wilbur isn’t the type to back away from a challenge and it’s such a stupid idea and it causes them so much damn stress. Why are they like this? Idiots. The both of them. Both of them are still angry too. This feels like something that’s going to come back to bit them one way or an other. Either because they get caught or because all of this gets dragged back to the surface in a later fight since they never actually talked it out.

Anyway, our favourite dumbasses go to the night market by bribing Charlie. Which was overshadowed and set up really well. Also, Charlie is very loyal to Quackity (too bad he’s more loyal to whatever weird bine thing he has going on, or is he?).

There’s also more irony in Tommy not realising how overwhelmed Wilbur would get. If he knows him so well he would have realised that. Same with Tommy not knowing Wilbur had never been on a hoverbike. There’s a lot he still doesn’t know no matter how much he claims he knows Wilbur. There’s also the potato pancakes. First of all, Wilbur instantly going for the least expensive thing. All that childhood trauma comming back to hit him like a brick. I wonder if Tommy picked up on that or not. Wilbur did bring up the price again at the noodle place. Secondly, Tommy again has this idea in his head of what is best (he’s probably right this time, but that’s not the point). There’s also the confidence that Wilbur will like the food he picked.

(8/10)

-🌲

when you're literally questioning your faith that you've been told is the reason for your entire existence you definitely need some time to process what's going through your head

it can only go so far though before he has to stop. because yeah, goddesses don't make mistakes, but he doesn't feel connected to her. and the connection between a deity and their believer is a two way street. so you open up an interesting question, spruce. wilbur has held onto the belief that clara made a mistake choosing him since he was 12 years old. even if he was told otherwise and internalized that, the doubt has always lingered. has that effected his ability to connect with clara? food for thought.

lol yeah i had a fun time interspersing the fight with wilbur telling tubbo how much he cares about tommy. they hurt each other because they're so close. they fall so easily into their routines with each other that wilbur doesn't even hesitate in saying how much he cares for tommy even though they've just had a horrible argument. and this in turn leads to them both just disregarding the fight. they fall back into their routine with each other and ignore the resentment and anger still sitting inside both of them.

they're both so stupid but also it's not like wilbur learned conflict resolution skills while being treated like a literal deity, and tommy is an 18 year old terrorist heretic who lives underground. so, yeah.

man i love glass!charlie he's so fun

yup. no matter how much tommy claims to know wilbur, not only is he not a mind reader, he's also only known the guy for a few months. but tommy likes to believe he knows wilbur better than anyone else, so he just jumps into situations like this without actually taking time to think of how it can go wrong. he just assumes it'll be fine because he knows wilbur, right?

oh tommy definitely picked up on wilbur trying to choose the cheapest food at the market. he was a street kid too, so that's why he dragged him away and picked out a spot himself so wilbur wouldn't feel pressured by the prices. also, as far as picking out food for wilbur, that was less tommy trying to be a know it all about wilbur (although it definitely ties into it) but was again tied to the price thing. if he let wilbur choose, he knew wilbur was going to get too worried about the prices even if he reassured him, so he just figured deciding for him would make it easier (which was something phil did with tommy when he was a kid)

[depressedhatakekakashi]

What about Sakumo and Yua? (and maybe how Tsunade would fit into their dynamic too, and if Kakashi woukd have thoughts about it 👀)

Hatake Sakumo

Sexuality Headcanon: Bi af

Gender Headcanon: Gender fluid

A ship I have with said character: Sakumo/Yua and Sakumo/Tsunade

A BROTP I have with said character: Sakumo and Jiraiya! Also Sakumo and Dai i think would be good friends if given a shot

A NOTP I have with said character: Sakumo/Orochimaru. Sakumo has standards and child abuser is far below them

A random headcanon: Sakumo is a morning person who wakes up at 5am sharp and does all of his chores before his lovely, beautiful wife is even cracking her eyes open XD

Also loves to roll around in the dirt with the dogs, much to Yua’s horror

General Opinion over said character: I love him. He did one screw up leaving Kakashi being at the tiny age of five, but otherwise good man who clearly loved his son so damn much

Hatake Yua

Sexuality Headcanon: BI BI BI

Gender Headcanon: Cis (don’t tell the weirdo’s they might start asking me dumb questions again)

A ship I have with said character: Yua/Sakumo, Yua/Tsunade, Yua/Kagami (in au’s)

A BROTP I have with said character: Yua and Jiraiya (the screwed once and jiraiya knew his pride and body could not handle a second round)

A NOTP I have with said character: Yua/Orochimaru. Again, standards. She hates orochimaru.

A random headcanon: Yua is very confident in her gender and has zero belief in ‘gendered jobs/gendered items’. Girl spent her formative years training as a samurai, as the only girl in a whole house of boys. She has explored every option for who she is and has come to the conclusion that she is very female and capable of doing anything and everything the boys in her class could do (often better than they could do it). Woman gives Kakashi flower’s, makes him flower crowns, teaches him to care for his clothes (unless in battle. Clothes don’t matter in battle)

General Opinion over said character: she is literally my baby. I made her. I love her

How Tsunade fits into it all

Tsunade is legit a part of the family. In any scenario where yua and sakumo both live, Tsunade is somehow a part of them

If it were anyone else Kakashi would be angry. He’s get between them and his parents and glare at them until they left

But Tsunade is his aunt and sort of like a second mom. She visits at least once a week, can be found sleeping in bed with Yua and Sakumo, and has a very solid healthy relationship with her take no shit nephew. They respect and love each other.

I have a few fics in more modern au where kakashi is very aware that his mother is head over heels in love with Tsunade and bugs her about it at every opportunity (with support and help from her loving husband sakumo lol)

[lawful-evil-novelist]

From the character solidifying asks for Kimmuriel if you’re into it? 2, 4, 23, 33, 35, 46, 49

2. Their mother? How do they think of her? What do they hate? Love? What influence - literal or imagined - did the mother have?

So, this is going to be a two-part conversation about firstly, his relationship with K’yorl, and then I’m gonna roll over into discussing Kimmuriel’s relationship–or lack thereof–with functionally an OC I made that is Kimmuriel’s mother, playing on an old headcanon of mine that a lot of the psionic commoners adopted into the house are descendents of House Masq’il’yr that sought refuge in House Oblodra after it was destroyed (and I do run with this headcanon as if Kimmuriel is one of those descendants).

K’yorl is, as far as I’m aware, not actually Kimmuriel’s mother, but in essence he understands her as his mother and their relationship holds similar parent-child complexities.  I think Kimmuriel hates K’yorl, but sometimes he struggles to really come to terms with the notion that she has, in her own way, profoundly damaged him and his mental health.  It’s kind of a natural throughline of how he feels about House Oblodra as a whole, not helped by the fact that K’yorl clearly favored him above her natural born sons.

As for his biological mother…He doesn’t know her.  That was the stipulation for House Oblodra fostering him, Kimmuriel’s mother could never see or speak to her child again.  She’s part of where he inherited his talent and while she harbors the same raw power as him, she lacks the control–she’s a wilder.  I don’t think Kimmuriel would have any interest in meeting his mother.

4. What type of discipline was your character subjected to at home? Strict? Lenient?

Strict, extremely strict.  Kimmuriel was, firstly, not born of K’yorl, though he does have blood from the main family imo.  Secondly, with the hc I run with, his psionics are borne partially from a line of wilders, meaning his psionics could, in K’yorl’s mind, have the propensity for overflowing and causing problems.  Kimmuriel likely doesn’t remember any discipline he underwent particularly fondly.

23. What do they want from a partner? What do they think and feel of sex?

I think Kimmuriel craves understanding above anything else.  He doesn’t want someone who looks down on him or hates him for what he can do, but is willing to understand and respect him.

As for sex, I think Kimmuriel likes it fine, but I don’t think it’s in any sense a priority in his world.

33. Do they drink? Take drugs? What about their health?

I’ve always contended that Kimmuriel rarely drinks, and likely associates strong drugs with childhood punishments.  Things that impair Kimmuriel’s psionics are likely things he tends to avoid.  In the same vein, Kimmuriel likes to keep physically healthy because it aids his ability to control and use his powers.  Psionics require, on some level, an amount of balance and wellness and Kimmuriel likely keeps on top of that as best he can.

35. Do they always rationalize errors? How do they accept disasters and failures?

Kimmuriel definitely rationalizes errors, and I feel he’s fairly calm in the face of disaster and failure, even if he’s screaming internally the whole goddamn time.

46. Is your character tall? Short? What about size? Weight? Posture? How do they feel about their physical body?

Kimmuriel is goddamn tiny.  I headcanon him as being around 4’11”-5’0”, with his weight being fairly solidly on the lower end.  I think there is some muscle definition, but it’s mild and he’s mostly just very thin.  Kimmuriel also has pretty good posture when standing, but that tends to go out the window when he sits (Kimmuriel slouches and likes to lay across couches and armchairs rather than sit properly).  I think Kimmuriel is…just okay with how he looks.

49. What about voice? Pitch? Strength? Tempo and rhythm of speech? Pronunciation? Accent?

So I’ve mentioned I do have a VA headcanon for Kimmuriel (Patrick Pedraza).  I think he’s on the lower-end of a tenor, and keeps his voice fairly level.  It’s not monotone, he’s just not showing any particularly strong emotions.  He speaks quietly but firmly, and despite being very good at speaking Common, still has a slight accent when he speaks it.  He also has a light accent when speaking Drow that’s common among psionicists of House Oblodra and House Masq’il’yr where there’s a slight upward accent on certain vowels and they roll their Rs, especially at the end of sentences.  It originated in House Masq’il’yr, formed from how they said Ghaunadaur’s name in Deep Speech, but it flowed into House Oblodra from association.

[childlikegoblinqueen]

Writing Notes

I have ONE more chapter planned before I go on vacation but I am sooooooo spent from the last one I wrote. I have a bit of the next chapter mapped out and know where I want it to end, but I feel like I need to unload a bit about the last one, how I wrote it and why I head canon Bard Hunter.

Don't read anymore unless you have read Chapter 26 of Sweet Child O' Mine, and if you haven't read it yet, check it out :D It nearly killed me.

Spoilers below!

First, Why Bard Hunter? I will write another post later on regarding writing the actual fight scene and how music choices played into it.

So, while Hunter was in the Human Realm we pretty much see that he is creative. The sewing has been often noted as a way for Hunter to stay "close to Darius" since his "father figure" is far away and/or possibly dead, but he goes beyond learning how to "neatly sew".

After Camila shows Hunter how to use the sewing machine, he creates! His shirts and curtains etc. are chaotic! Patches every where! Very grunge/punk! We know that in the castle he had expressed curiosity which was constantly stamped out because he had a purpose and a path that he was not supposed to stray from or else ....

So being a music person myself I imagined that all the children would need MUSIC in order to heal fro their trauma, and there are likely a slew of popular bands/artists from the BI, but I would imagine that Hunter had not been permitted anything but whatever was Belos approved, which coming from a Puritan, was likely not great. Maybe some somber hymns to the Titan or to the emperor himself? Especially since Belos seemed to want to mold the grimwalkers into his ideal version of Caleb ("better version of an old frend". What an ass thing to say about a literal child!)

It has also been noted by some that when Raine seems to look back at Hunter during the scene in the castle where Hunter is ignored by the other Coven Heads, Raine seems low key concerned that this kid needs to get out of that place.

I do hope that Raine survives WAD. Part of my inspiration for Raine teaching Hunter how to mold Bard music is that not only are they both creative, but they are also the only two that have been possessed by Belos. In writing this scene and building their relationship, I thought about a simple way two people with shared trauma could communicate and heel without actually talking about the trauma. Music is perfect for that.

Eventually we will see how Hunter uses music to communicate in other ways, but we've already seen how he and Willow play a game where they try to guess the band and song based on a small portion of lyrics. They communicate non-verbally, but Willow realizes that Hunter is deeply depressed living with Darius, while living through the trials and dealing with the press. Likely Hunter doesn't realize this himself. Willow notes that Hunter is only playing while using Nirvana lyrics and having lived with him for months in the human realm, she’s aware that he listens to Nirvana when he’s depressed. Really, he's going through the motions and trying to appease someone he looks up to.

A lot of this story is about Hunter's own anxieties about becoming a parent, as well as the figures in his life who have parented him for better or for worse -- as well as parental figures like Odalia who are toxic, and Alador who knows that he messed up.

That was a flashback to the past. In the current timeline we know that Hunter and Willow have developed a healthy romantic relationship. He has strong bonds to his adoptive family of Camila, Luz, and Vee (his guitar belonged to Manny). He enjoys a good relationship with others in the Owl House universe. He has accomplished a lot, but prefers to stay out of the spotlight due to many things that took place both during his tenure in the castle and how he was treated by the public in the aftermath.

The thread about Perry's supposed protege, who alerted Hunter to other students trying to exploit a relationship with him during his first weeks at Hexside will be picked up again. I really try to leave bread crumbs without revealing too much upfront.

We also know that Dell has mentored him in palisman carving, and that he has somehow developed a healthy working relationship with Lilith who still works at the Supernatural History Museum.

I would hope that post Belos, the idea of "the savage ages" and "wild magic is evil" is a thing of the past as would be tracks at Hexside. So having Raine -- again being the only other one who hopefully survived possession -- teach Hunter to use the guitar he was gifted from his chosen family (Camila, Luz, and Vee) to generate magic was something I wanted to explore!

Which leads me to writing that dang scene.