#otps: should've been

[malinaa]

if i think about the hunger games in peeta's perspective i WILL start sobbing

[notmoreflippingelves]

Actually going insane over the implications of Jason asking Dick to be the Robin to his Batman in Battle for the Cowl.

Like I initially took it at the purely surface-level of Jason wanting a partner in the general sense. Which made sense, it's a huge responsibility and a lonely one so an assistant/sidekick/partner seems a no-brainer if you can get one.

But then I really thought about it, because Jason is not asking Dick to be his partner in the general sense; he's not even asking Dick to be his Nightwing. He's asking Dick to be his Robin.

And they both know exactly what Jason means: "Be the light to my darkness. Be the smile to my scowl. Be the hope to my fear. "

He's saying "Be 'Robin'; be the embodiment of Love and Justice and Goodness. Be the exceptional person that you have always been. Be the slightly-less exceptional person that I was when I wore your colors. Be the person that I was in the process of becoming and might have been (or might still be), if only Joker hadn't clipped my wings."

He's saying "I am prepared to become vengeance, become the Night. And I will go further than Bruce ever dared to, because it is what is needed. I will be the necessary evil. But you don't have to be. If Batman is Gotham's curse, Robin has always been its blessing. I will be the brutal punishment to our world, and I am asking you to be its incandescent gift."

He's saying, "Be for me, what we were for Him. Be my anchor, my comfort, my hope. Remind me what it's all for, why it's all worth it. And remind yourself as well."

He's saying "Be 'Robin' again--for both of our sakes."

[liam-summers]

Angel the Series | 1.08 | I Will Remember You

[thequeenofsastiel]

Honestly I think I'd have a much harder time shipping Loumand if Sastiel hadn't taught me how to handle shipping a rarepair that'll never become canon

[unfilteredcurse]

SAVIOUR

[nikkiruncks]

"Look, I just realized you're about to leave for Africa, and I won't get a chance to say good-bye in person. That makes me sad. I mean, you've always been very special to me."

Jackie & Eric [That '70s Show]

[Inspired by @sulietsexual's gifsets. Plus I just really love JE lmao.]

[worshipfulmercy]

cuddy and wilson are so in love with each other throughout the series its actually kind of crazy. and they were both so fail about it too

[illusionindelirium]

It really sucks how the writers tried to make Dan just another obstacle for Piper & Leo to overcome. Problem is, he is THE BEST Charmed partner out of all seasons. He didn't even know the big secret and yet he was so kind and patient whenever Piper had to dip. Don't be fooled, he's still human and it aggravated him but he never held it against her. I can see why he was jealous of Leo, especially after "Awakened," but I truly wish Piper had just kept Leo at an arm's length and just stayed with Dan. I think he would've been fine with the big secret.

[youngpettyqueen]

🎲 + traphawk?

youve rolled... 28! a kiss in parting... how intriguing... I could be very sad and angsty about this but instead im gonna set it during Aid Station!

Trapper couldn't explain the impulse even if he tried, really. They've said their nervous goodbyes already, saying what can be said without outright voicing the fear hanging in the air between them, offering up weak promises to sound optimistic. There isn't anything else left to say that wouldn't feel like hammering a nail into Hawkeye's metaphorical coffin.

But he still moves to the door, anyways. Still takes Hawkeye's arm when he's halfway out and pulls him back in.

Hawkeye turns back to him, looking bewildered. "What are you-"

There's nothing left for Trapper to say.

So he pulls him in and kisses him.

It's not a sweet, tender thing. It's sudden, impulsive, a bit rough and desperate. Hawkeye goes rigid for a second, just a second, before he melts forward and leans into it. Kisses him back, just as desperate.

They break apart quickly, only because they have to. Hawkeye's breathing's a bit laboured. Trapper's heart is doing a tap dance.

"You better be back for more of that." He blurts out. It's all he can think to say.

Hawkeye doesn't say anything for a second. And then he doesn't say anything at all- his hand shoots out to grab Trapper by the collar and this time he's the one pulling him in. This one is short but by no means sweet, even rougher than the first, his stubble scratching at Trapper's chin.

Then he lets go. Flashes Trapper a grin. "One for the road." He reasons.

And then he's off, leaving Trapper stunned in the doorway.

[iristial]

[purpleinkdrinker]

the tags slowly devolve into hell beneath the dead meme which i conjured up from the cauldron of idiocy within my empty skull

[ghostwise]

Ain't it a gentle sound, the rollin' in the graves? Ain't it like thunder under earth, the sound it makes? Ain't it exciting you, the rumble where you lay? Ain't you my baby? Ain't you my babe?

[flydotnet]

WHUMPTOBER 2023, DAY 6: “Do or die, you’ll never make me; Because the world will never take my heart.” Recording | Made to Watch | “It should have been me.”

It's not a monthly collection of unrelated oneshots if I don't get experimental and #deep on AO3 at least once! There's just something about "it should have been me" as a sentence that resonates with my younger self and the fact my cardinal sin is Envy (surprisingly, it's not Sloth), so I wanted to interpret that in a way I don't see often. I guess the "normal" interpretation of this prompt is also present here, somehow. I do think my idea was good, but the execution is wonky. Funky football manga brainrot has made things harder in my day-to-day life, I'm certain of that unfortunate fact of life. Life is not daijobou.

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It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better

Summary: You didn't think your life was fair; until it then was. (But now, someone else thinks you should've gotten better things).

Fandom: Pokémon Black & White

Relationship: DualRivalShipping/ChereBeru

Word Count:

AO3 version available here.

Content warnings for implied serious injuries and depictions of gender dysphoria.

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Your parents have another child and she gets all of their attention. She gets all of the compliments, the words of reassurance, and all you get is being told be patient, she’s just a baby, and you’re a big kid.

Big kid or not, you never wanted the sister, and you just want your parents to pay attention to you again. For her not to be the talking point of everyone around you.

When she’s in the same room as you, it’s like you don’t exist. When you’re not in the same room as her, it’s also like you don’t exist, because there’s nobody else in the room with you. You’ve been relegated to scolds and crumbles of compliments.

You do quickly understand you’re not meant to be a kid anymore. When the grown-ups scold you, they use words like bratty, impolite or childish. They tell you, you should be better, you should know better. If you cry, you’re bad, because you shouldn’t cry in front of your sister.

But when they do praise you, they call you quiet, mature, responsible. They never say you’re cute, they never watch you draw with greasy crayons and say it’s wonderful when it doesn’t look like anything good.

No. You’re supposed to be quiet, reliable, and mature now. You’re met to set an example, and example can’t be bad, so you have to be a grown-up too.

Despite that, and all the pride you should have in being such a good boy, when you see how loved and pampered she is, you have nothing but jealousy. Because you don’t want to be quiet, reliable and mature. You want your parents’ attention, but you just don’t get it anymore; and she does, always, because she’s a baby and you’re not.

It should’ve been me, you tell yourself as you walk away and sulk off.

(It was never Melina’s fault).

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There’s a new neighbour in town and she gets all of the attention.

This time, however, you don’t feel mad. At least, not at first: she’s kind, she’s outgoing and you’d even go as far as to say she’s pretty. She’s blonde, and she has green eyes, and unlike you, she doesn’t wear glasses.

She’s a bit shy, at first, yet you end up hanging out together because there isn’t much else to do in the village. You don’t dare touch the tall grass right outside the borders in fear of the adults, but you do get lost in the woods once and it’s a big adventure. You hold her hand and guide her through what you know of the trees and treacherous paths.

You both scolded your heads off when you do manage to get out of there, of course. It’s not a surprise, you’ve dreaded it, Bianca was crying about it before you were even safe; yet it still stings, because Dad has a loud voice and Mom only pours salt into the wound by reminding you this would set a bad example for Melina, not to mention, you put yourself in harm’s way.

Despite this, Bianca is congratulated for her courage, for not panicking when she was lost. All merits stem from her parents, and yours don’t say anything of the calibre.

It should’ve been me, you spit out in frustration, to nobody but yourself.

(You’d decide, a couple years later, that courage is overcoming your fears; and Bianca did that a lot more than you did, that day).

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There are twins, now, in your village; and the loop repeats.

You’ve way past the point of being jealous of anyone existing. You’re at peace with Melina receiving more attention and Bianca being considered a lot more approachable than you are. After all, you’ve more intelligent, and stronger at strategy games, and also, you know a lot more than everyone else about Pokémon.

They’re not identical twins: Hilbert is a boy, Hilda is a girl, and they physically can’t be mistaken for the other. However, there’s a similar flame that pulses through their body, the passion for Pokémon battling even on TV and a never-ending thirst for adventure and thrills.

You all grow up together, enjoy each other’s presence, dream of big journeys throughout Unova, or at least to the next city or two. Hilda talks about mastering all sorts of types and hitting hard, Hilbert prefers cold-blood strategizing and planning the next move ahead. Bianca would rather pet the local wildlife. You? Oh, you’re a future Master. You’re the future Champion of the Unova League.

You want to be strong. You’ll be the strongest. That’s the one way you’ll prove you’re worth something to the world. That’s how the great in the world have defined their identity and you intend to follow in their stead, even if it alienates your friends.

You’ll never admit it to anyone except yourself, but seeing Hilbert grow up has sent you through another spiral of envy that’s gotten out of your control. Bianca tries telling you it’s fine, you’re just a little different from the other boys; but she doesn’t get it, neither does Hilbert. You don’t grow up fine when your body is a girl and your brain is a boy, because you’re your brain and your body is only half yours.

But they don’t get that frustration. They don’t get that you can’t be loved like a normal boy. No girl will never love you back the way you love her as soon as she knows you’re weird, even now, even through your adventures. Even if you don’t look too different from normal boys.

(You’re still occasionally mistaken for a girl).

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So you look at Hilbert more and more in envy, rather than genuine friendship. Hilda notices it, tells you to can it, or at least to spit out your problem. Bianca isn’t clumsy enough to spill the beans out, for once, and it’s your sole relief; but it’s become clear that you can’t let it out at any cost. You’re not the strongest yet. You need to get stronger, manlier. You need to become Champion and prove Alder wrong.

And so you look at Hilbert in envy, because his sister and he are the strongest people Unova has ever seen, the ever-so-enigmatic N only sees worth in them and nobody else, Bianca admires them and not you; and also, Hilbert has a normal body. He has no fight against the mirror and it’s just not fair!

It’s not… it’s never been fair to you!

And so, once more,

It should have been me,

But it sounds different,

that was should have been normal!

(Hilbert didn’t choose your chromosomes, neither did you).

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Hilbert and Hilda compete for the title of Champion in Unova among themselves and nobody else. They’ve both beaten N and Alder. The only logical course of action, for them, for the entire region in fact, is to see who’s the strongest of the mighty twins that have reminded so many of the legends of the Twin Dragons.

And you’re out of the run, but it still hasn’t registered as a new normal. You’re still full of frustration, envy and self-hatred. It’s not going anywhere soon, unfortunately, and so you lash out. That’s what you did before growing up did a number on you, but no matter how much it spills, it never feels good, and you don’t know why.

Bianca has been trying to console you, with clumsy, somewhat flat reassurances. She tries her best, as usual, even as she too goes through her own personal grief with how this isn’t what she wants, coming to terms with her shortcomings. Deep down, perhaps you have similar issues, both of you, and if you were any sort of fair, you’d be able to relate.

But no, as the terrible friend you’ve been, you can’t hear her. Her words never reach your heart, too stubborn to accept anything but what you want to hear, that things aren’t fair and you deserve so much better than to be the Champions’ loner, weirdo friend.

“It should’ve been me!” You finally spit out to someone else.

Bianca steps back, startled, and the way she looks at you is heartbreaking. She’s either scared or pitying you, and at the moment, neither is good.

You run off before she can reply, guilt and a startling realization dawning on you.

(You’d soon fall ill and discover why, this day, her tear-stained face hurt so bad).

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You’re at peace.

You’re a bit cold, your already pale skin now looking more like porcelain that it has ever done before.

But you’re at peace.

It’s a bit of a freak accident too, the sort of things you don’t see often: a feral Pokémon that isn’t from this region, trying to attack Bianca in some sort of messed-up self-defence reflex. If you hadn’t stepped in and taken the hit for her, you’re sure she’d have gotten more seriously hurt than you are right now, possibly even dead.

But that didn’t come to pass, fortunately. You did the right thing, for once: you thought about someone other than yourself, your dearest person in fact, and gave them the chance to live a longer, better life. Isn’t that beautiful?

You don’t really worry about everything flashing by, surprisingly. Perhaps you’re too numbed to your own pain, you own demise, to truly realize how horrifying it should be to leave this Earth with so much unfinished.

On the other end, unfortunately, it’s not the same sense of frigid serenity. Bianca’s voice is shattered. Her face is stained with ugly, ugly tears that keep on coming, like the untiring wave.

“… It should’ve been me…”

You grab her wrist, and despite how weak your pulse has gone, she notices.

“Hey… Don’t say that…”

You spit a bit of blood out. Damn perforated lungs.

“But you’re hurt! It wasn’t you that this Scolipede was attacking, it was me!”

Your hand is trembling. It’s so weak it can’t reach her face to dry her tears like you’d used to, when you were kids.

“It’s fine,” you say. “Even if I die today… It’ll be for the right reasons.”

“N-no! You… You’re not dying today! Nor anytime soon, in fact!” She loudly sniffles. “In fact, I called for help, so… Don’t die on me, dummy!”

You try smiling wider. It’s harder than it has to be, with frozen lips.

“I won’t,” you reply.

Well, come to think of it, you don’t really want to die. You’re just… not upset about it. Yes, sure, you’re freezing in your own pooling blood, your broken ribs wish harm on you, and you just wish you could fall asleep right here and there; but knowing why you’re here to begin with makes it fine.

Or does it? Is it still unfair? Have you just gotten numb to the pain of it all? Who knows… Who knows. Life is a bunch of mysteries and, even if you got to live a hundred years more, you still wouldn’t solve all of them.

Hearing her weep does hurt – almost as much as your ribs; but you find you can’t quite speak anymore. Your throat is parched and blood bubbles inside. Well, that means you must make the most of your last words – for now or forever, who knows – and she deserves them, just as much as you deserve to tell them.

The sound of nearby sirens does alleviate your heart, like it alleviates her expression. It’s time to come clean, at long last, and finally free yourself of your biggest secret. (It’s strange, how for no amount of time, you ever doubt her response could hurt).

“Sorry, this is… a bit of a terrible timing, but can I confess something to you?”

“Yes…?”

“I love you,” you tell her as everything finishes to melt around you.

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You didn’t plan on waking up again, but when you do, it’s to Bianca’s tears – they’re distinctly more relieved, this time.

She kisses your forehead and, for a moment of blissful delusion, it’s better than any painkiller you could’ve ever been administrated.

[thequeenofsastiel]

Not me sobbing at 3 AM thinking about how Castiel never once gave up on or abandoned Sam the whole time they knew each other and vice versa. They loved and accepted each other unconditionally always 😭😭😭😭😍😍😍😍😍

[sunsetagain]

what my otp's evil ending should've been UwU

[nikkiruncks]

I wish I could un-recall

How we almost had it all

Dancing phantoms on the terrace

Jeric/Forkhart - loml (Taylor Swift)