#room 302 books

[garadinervi]

«Ear» Magazine, Vol. 6, No.5, Edited by Charles Doria, Charlie Morrow, and Armand Schwerner, New Wilderness Foundation, New York, NY, Cctober/November 1981 [room 3o2 books, Ottawa]. Cover Art by Susan Howard & Mark Melnicove

Feat. Jonathon Albert, Rafael Barreto-Rivera, Henri Chopin, Paula Claire, Jean-Paul Curtay, Charles Doria, Paul Dutton, John Erickson, Four Horsemen, Michael Gibbs, Bernard Heidsieck, Dick Higgins, Susan Howard, Penny Kemp, Steve McCaffery, Mark Melnicove, Stanislaw Mlodozeniec, Greta Monach, bpNichol, Michael Peppe, Jerome Rothenberg, Ernest Robson, Piotr Rypson, Armand Schwerner, Hilda Shum, Chuck Stein, Mathew Tyson, Larry Wendt, Dennis Williams, Ellen Zweig

[herrscherofinsanity]

Web of Hearts

Spider!Jimin being as subtle as a neon sign.

Fluff

Yu Jimin (Karina x fem!reader)

Word count: 5.6k

____________________

In the bustling city of Seoul, where towering skyscrapers touched the sky and the pulse of urban life echoed through every street, a new kind of hero emerged. Clad in a sleek red and black suit, Spiderwoman swung from building to building, keeping a watchful eye on the city she vowed to protect.

Yu Jimin, a seemingly ordinary woman by day, carried the weight of a secret identity. By night, she embraced her extraordinary abilities and became the guardian of Seoul. As Spiderwoman, she effortlessly swung through the cityscape, her agility and strength unmatched.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Jimin perched atop a high-rise building, scanning the city for any signs of trouble. Her enhanced senses picked up on a distant commotion, and with a graceful leap, she swung into action.

Down on the streets, chaos ensued as a group of villains wreaked havoc, terrorizing innocent civilians. Without hesitation, Spiderwoman descended upon the scene, her presence casting a shadow over the criminals.

"Looks like the party's over, gentlemen," she quipped, her voice laced with a confident edge.

The villains, startled by the sudden appearance of the city's masked guardian, prepared to face off against the formidable Spiderwoman. The confrontation unfolded in a series of acrobatic moves and swift strikes, showcasing Jimin's mastery of her newfound abilities.

As the last villain was apprehended, Spiderwoman turned to the gathered crowd, her mask concealing the determined glint in her eyes. "Fear not, citizens of Seoul. Spiderwoman is here to ensure your safety."

Word of the mysterious heroine spread across the city, capturing the imagination of its inhabitants. While Jimin navigated her daily life as an unassuming individual, she couldn't deny the thrill that came with her nightly escapades as Spiderwoman.

In a city where shadows concealed both villains and heroes, Jimin grappled with the responsibility that came with her extraordinary abilities. The balance between protecting the city and preserving her personal life became a delicate dance, and as the night sky witnessed her silent struggles, Seoul remained oblivious to the identity of its mysterious guardian, Spiderwoman.

____________________

It was move-in day at the college dorms, and the hallways buzzed with excitement and nervous energy. yn, lugging a heavy suitcase behind her, scanned the room numbers until she found hers: Room 302. With a deep breath, she pushed open the door and stepped inside.

The room was small but cozy, furnished with two twin beds, desks cluttered with textbooks, and a large window overlooking the campus grounds. yn's eyes landed on her new roommate, who was unpacking a box of books with an infectious smile on her face.

Jimin looked up and flashed a warm grin at yn. "Hey there! You must be my new roommate. I'm Yu Jimin. It's nice to meet you!"

yn returned the smile, instantly feeling at ease in Jimin's presence. "Hi, Jimin. I'm yn. Nice to meet you too."

And with that simple introduction, the bond between Jimin and yn began to form, setting the stage for the adventures that lay ahead. What yn didn’t know was that her quirky and endearing roommate held a secret that would change both of their lives forever.

____________________

After their initial meeting, Jimin and yn quickly settled into their roles as roommates. Jimin's bubbly personality and penchant for nerdy jokes brought a lightness to their shared space, while yn's calm and grounded demeanor provided a sense of stability.

As days turned into weeks, yn couldn't help but notice a peculiar pattern. Jimin seemed to have an uncanny knack for getting injured. Whether it was tripping over her own feet or accidentally bumping into furniture, Jimin always seemed to have a new bruise or scrape to show for it.

At first, yn brushed it off as Jimin just being incredibly clumsy. She would tease Jimin gently, offering band-aids and ice packs whenever Jimin came back from another misadventure.

But as time went on, yn couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more to Jimin's frequent injuries. She noticed the way Jimin would tense up whenever yn asked about how she got hurt, quickly deflecting the conversation with a laugh or a joke.

yn's curiosity grew, and she began to pay closer attention to Jimin's behavior. She noticed how Jimin would sometimes slip out of their dorm room in the middle of the night, only to return hours later looking exhausted and worn out.

Despite her suspicions, yn didn't confront Jimin about her weird midnight escapades. Instead, she quietly observed, but the more she observed Jimin, the more confused she felt.

What on earth could her dorky roommate be up to?

____________________

Amidst the bustling city streets, chaos reigned as a gang of masked criminals wreaked havoc, their nefarious intentions casting a shadow of fear over the unsuspecting civilians. Amidst the chaos, a lone figure swung gracefully through the air, her lithe form a blur of crimson and black against the night sky.

Spiderwoman, as she was known to the citizens of the city, moved with fluid precision, her keen senses alert to the danger that lurked around every corner. With effortless grace, she leaped from building to building, her web-slinging abilities propelling her forward with astonishing speed.

As she closed in on the scene of the crime, Spiderwoman's senses tingled with anticipation, her heart pounding with adrenaline-fueled excitement. With a deft flick of her wrist, she shot a web line towards a nearby lamppost, swinging around it with practiced ease before landing gracefully on the ground below.

With a swift and decisive movement, Spiderwoman sprang into action, her movements a blur of acrobatic prowess as she dispatched her foes with precision and finesse. Her spider-like agility and lightning-fast reflexes left the criminals reeling, their futile attempts to strike back thwarted at every turn.

As the last of the criminals lay defeated at her feet, Spiderwoman allowed herself a brief moment of satisfaction before turning her attention back to her true objective. With a confident smirk, she shot a web line towards the nearest rooftop, launching herself into the air with a graceful leap.

Minutes later, Spiderwoman landed silently on the rooftop of the college dormitory she shared with yn, her heart racing with exhilaration from the night's events. With practiced stealth, she slipped through the window and into the darkness of her room, her secret identity safe for another day.

____________________

One evening, as yn was studying in the shared dorm room, she heard a loud crash coming from the living area. Startled, she rushed out to find Jimin sprawled on the floor, clutching her ankle in pain.

"Jimin, are you okay?"

Jimin winced as she attempted to sit up, her face contorted in pain. "I think I twisted my ankle. It hurts like crazy."

yn hurried to Jimin's side, helping her to sit up and inspecting the injury. Sure enough, Jimin's ankle was swollen and bruised, a clear sign of a sprain.

yn tried to be as gentle as possible with her injured roommate, "let's get some ice on that ankle. I'll grab a cold pack from the freezer."

As yn tended to Jimin's injury, she couldn't help but notice how frequently her roommate seemed to get hurt. It was as if Jimin was a magnet for accidents, always finding herself in precarious situations that resulted in bumps, bruises, and sprains.

Despite her curiosity, yn didn't press Jimin for details about how she got hurt. Instead, she focused on providing comfort and support, knowing that her roommate needed her in moments like these.

As Jimin winced in pain, yn couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Jimin's injuries than met the eye. But for now, she pushed aside her suspicions and focused on helping her friend heal.

____________________

One afternoon, as yn returned to their dorm room after class, she absentmindedly pushed open the door without bothering to knock. To her surprise, she found Jimin standing shirtless in the middle of the room, a towel draped over her shoulders.

yn's eyes widened in surprise as she took in the sight of Jimin's bare torso, but her attention was quickly drawn to the large cut spanning across Jimin's back.

"Jimin, what the hell happened!? You're bleeding!" the younger girl shrieked.

Jimin jumped in surprise, hastily grabbing the towel to cover herself as she turned to face yn.

Jimin stammered, trying to come up with a reasonable explanation. "Oh, uh, it's nothing. Just a little mishap while I was... uh, working out." Nailed it.

yn could see the discomfort in Jimin's expression as she hesitated to explain the true cause of her injury. Without another word, yn grabbed the first aid kit from their shared bathroom and motioned for Jimin to sit down on the bed.

"Let me take care of that for you. It looks pretty deep." Jimin felt herself freezing up at the soft look yn sent her way, she obediently walked towards her roommate.

As yn carefully cleaned and bandaged Jimin's wound, she couldn't help but notice the nervous energy radiating from her roommate. It was clear to yn that Jimin was hiding something, but she didn't press for answers, respecting Jimin's privacy.

As they sat in silence, the air thick with unspoken words, yn couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Jimin than met the eye. For now, she focused on helping her friend heal, unaware of the deeper feelings brewing beneath the surface.

As she finished wrapping up Jimin’s wound, yn couldn’t help but break the silence that enveloped them.

“You know…” yn began “you don’t have to tell me what actually happened, but I hate it when you get hurt. Please try to be more careful from now on, I can’t bare to see you in pain”. With those words yn got up to put away the first aid kit.

Jimin didn’t say anything, but she couldn’t deny that yn’s words had affected her in a way she couldn’t really describe. She couldn’t keep ignoring the butterflies she felt every time she locked eyes with yn.

____________________

Despite her best efforts to be subtle, Jimin's attempts at dropping hints about her developing feelings for yn were about as inconspicuous as a flashing neon sign. Whether it was lingering glances, awkward attempts at flirting, or fumbling over her words whenever yn was around, Jimin's attempts to express her affection were anything but discreet.

yn, however, wasn't oblivious to Jimin's antics. In fact, she found them rather endearing. She couldn't help but smile to herself whenever Jimin stumbled over her words or blushed furiously whenever their eyes met. yn appreciated Jimin's efforts, even if they weren't exactly subtle.

Despite her awareness of Jimin's feelings, yn decided to play along, enjoying the playful banter and the budding friendship between them. She didn't comment on Jimin's less-than-subtle approach, opting instead to let her roommate express herself in her own quirky way.

As they navigated the delicate dance of friendship and budding romance, yn couldn't help but feel a warmth blossom in her chest whenever she thought of Jimin. Maybe, just maybe, there was something more than friendship brewing between them, and yn was eager to see where their journey would take them.

____________________

("What do you think of superheroes?"

"Um, they're pretty cool, I guess. Why?"

"Oh, no reason. Just curious."

"Okay... Anyway, what's on your mind?"

"Oh, nothing important. Just, you know, hanging out with my favorite person."

"Smooth, Jimin."

"I try my best."

"Uh huh. Well, keep practicing."

"Ouch, right in the ego."

"Hey, you're the one who asked for honesty."

"True. Thanks for keeping me grounded, yn."

"Anytime, Jimin. Anytime.")

____________________

On a random afternoon as the two girls lounged on the couch, idly flipping through channels, they stumbled upon a news report about Spiderwoman. Jimin's heart skipped a beat as she watched, her secret identity suddenly thrust into the spotlight.

"Wow, Spiderwoman is so cool," yn commented, her eyes fixed on the screen. "She's pretty hot too..." she muttered more-so to herself, Jimin still heard her comment though.

Jimin tried to suppress the surge of excitement that bubbled up inside her at yn's words. She felt a blush creeping up her cheeks, her heart racing as she struggled to maintain her composure.

"Yeah, she's... uh, pretty cool," Jimin managed to mumble, her voice betraying her nerves.

As the report continued, Jimin couldn't tear her eyes away from the screen, her mind racing with a million thoughts. She stole a glance at yn out of the corner of her eye, her heart swelling with affection for the oblivious girl sitting beside her.

In that moment, Jimin realized just how much she cared about yn, and how badly she wished she could share her true identity with her. But the fear of rejection still held her back, casting a shadow over her burgeoning feelings.

As the news segment came to an end and the TV screen flickered to black, Jimin was left grappling with the turmoil of her emotions, uncertain of what the future held for her and yn.

____________________

("Are you made of copper and tellurium?"

"Uh, no? Why?"

"Because you're Cu-Te!"

"Oh, Jimin, that's... something."

"Yeah, I thought it was kind of nerdy but cute. Like me."

"Definitely cute. And modest too."

"Thanks. I'll take that as a win.")

____________________

“Hey Jimin? Do you think you can help me out with this subject?”

The question was innocent enough, nothing was supposed to happen between Jimin and yn, right?

Jimin and yn sat together in their cozy dorm room, the soft glow of the lamp casting warm shadows across the room. They had been studying for hours, their textbooks forgotten as their conversation drifted to more personal topics.

As the evening wore on, their proximity seemed to amplify the crackling tension between them. Jimin's heart raced as she stole glances at yn, her features illuminated by the gentle light. yn's laughter rang out, filling the room with its melodic cadence, and Jimin found herself captivated by the way yn's eyes sparkled with amusement.

With each passing moment, the air between them seemed to thicken with unspoken desire. Jimin's gaze lingered on yn's lips, the urge to lean in almost overwhelming. She could feel the heat of yn's breath against her skin, a tangible reminder of their closeness.

yn's fingers brushed against Jimin's hand, sending a jolt of electricity coursing through her veins. Their eyes met, a silent exchange of longing and yearning passing between them. In that fleeting moment, it felt as if the rest of the world had fallen away, leaving only the two of them suspended in time.

As Jimin and yn found themselves drawn closer together, the tension between them palpable, it seemed as if the world around them faded into the background. Their gazes locked, inches apart, their lips mere moments away from touching in a long-awaited kiss.

But just as they leaned in, on the precipice of that anticipated connection, Jimin's heightened senses kicked in. A familiar tingle crept up her spine, a warning sign that duty called. A new crime awaited Spiderwoman's intervention, pulling her away from the brink of intimacy with yn.

With a heavy heart, Jimin reluctantly pulled back, the disappointment evident in both their eyes. Yn's expression mirrored Jimin's own sense of longing, the momentary promise of closeness snatched away by the demands of Jimin's secret life as Spiderwoman.

Their interrupted moment hung in the air, charged with unspoken words and unfulfilled desires. Though duty called Jimin away, the memory of their almost-kiss lingered, a tantalizing glimpse of what could have been, leaving both girls yearning for the day they could pick up where they left off.

--

Somehow the almost kiss made Jimin even more awkward than she already was. Jimin didn’t know how to behave around yn. Should she keep her distance? Should she seize the day and kiss the girl? One thing was for sure, she wanted her roommate badly.

Jimin's heart skipped a beat as yn emerged from the bathroom, clad only in a towel. She tried to focus on her textbook, but her eyes kept drifting back to her roommate's figure. yn seemed oblivious to Jimin's internal struggle as she nonchalantly rummaged through her wardrobe for something to wear.

Jimin cleared her throat, attempting to regain her composure. "Uh, yn, do you need help finding something?"

yn turned to her, a playful grin on her lips. "No, I'm good, thanks. Just trying to decide what to wear for tonight." yn knew perfectly what kind of effect she had on Jimin and she planned to use it to her advantage.

Jimin nodded, unable to tear her gaze away. "Right, yeah, you look... um, nice."

yn giggled, seemingly unfazed by Jimin's flustered state. " In nothing but a towel? Wow. Thanks, Jimin. You're sweet."

As yn finally settled on an outfit and disappeared into her room, Jimin let out a shaky breath, grateful for the temporary reprieve. Being roommates with yn was both a blessing and a curse, especially when moments like this left her feeling more than a little flustered.

____________________

("Are you a magician, yn?"

"No, why?"

"Because whenever I look at you, everyone else disappears."

"Smooth, Jimin."

"I try my best. So, do I get a round of applause for that one?"

"You definitely get points for creativity."

"Well, I'm glad you appreciate my efforts."

"I appreciate the entertainment, that's for sure."

"I'll take what I can get. Maybe next time I'll pull a rabbit out of a hat or something."

"Looking forward to it.")

____________________

As the night enveloped the city in its dark embrace, yn found herself walking alone, lost in her own thoughts. Unbeknownst to her, danger lurked in the shadows, waiting to strike. Suddenly, a group of masked assailants emerged from the darkness, their intentions menacing and clear.

yn's heart pounded in her chest as fear gripped her, her instincts urging her to flee, but before she could react, a figure swooped down from above, a blur of red and black, swiftly dispatching yn's would-be attackers with a flurry of punches and kicks.

In the chaos of the moment, yn barely registered what was happening, her mind consumed by a whirlwind of confusion and fear. But as the dust settled and her assailants lay defeated, she found herself face to face with her savior, the enigmatic figure who had appeared out of nowhere to rescue her.

Spiderwoman stood before her, her mask concealing her identity but her presence radiating strength and reassurance. yn's eyes widened in astonishment, a mix of awe and gratitude washing over her as she realized the magnitude of what had just occurred.

"Spiderwoman...” yn began, her voice barely above a whisper “You saved me."

"Are you okay? Did they hurt you?" Spiderwoman replied in an incredibly gentle tone. yn couldn’t shake off the fact that her gentleness felt familiar. Maybe it was a superhero thing.

yn shook her head, still reeling from the adrenaline rush of the encounter. Spiderwoman's concern was palpable, her eyes searching yn's face for any signs of injury or distress.

"I-I'm okay, thanks to you. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't shown up." The girl was clearly shaken, but she still tried to voice how grateful she was.

"Just doing my job. Stay safe out here, alright? And remember, if you ever need help, I'll be watching over you."

With that, Spiderwoman vanished into the night, leaving yn standing alone in the aftermath of the encounter. Though shaken by the ordeal, a newfound sense of reassurance settled over her, knowing that she had a guardian angel watching over her, even in the darkest of times.

--

As yn stepped back into the familiar surroundings of their dorm room, her heart still racing from the adrenaline of the encounter, she found Jimin sitting on her bed, a book in hand. Jimin looked up as yn entered, her eyes immediately drawn to the dreamy expression on her roommate's face.

"Hey, everything okay?" Perfect execution, Jimin!

yn, still caught in a daydream, replied to the best of her ability, "Oh, Jimin, you won't believe what just happened. I met Spiderwoman!"

Jimin's eyes widened in excitement, a grin spreading across her face at yn's words. She set her book aside, leaning forward eagerly as yn recounted the thrilling encounter with the mysterious superhero.

"No way! What was it like? Did she say anything to you?" You really are the perfect actress, Yu Jimin!

yn launched into a vivid retelling of the encounter, her words animated with the lingering rush of adrenaline and awe. She described Spiderwoman's swift intervention, her unwavering bravery in the face of danger, and the sense of reassurance she had instilled in yn with her presence.

"It was incredible, Jimin. I've never felt so safe and protected in my life." yn let out a dreamy sigh.

Jimin listened intently, her eyes shining with excitement as she hung on yn's every word. She couldn't help but feel a swell of pride at yn's reaction to meeting her alter ego, knowing that she had played a part in protecting and wooing her roommate.

"That's amazing, yn. I'm so glad you're okay. And hey, if you ever want to meet her again, just let me know. I might be able to arrange something." Smooth, Jimin! She’s finally yours!

yn smiled at Jimin's offer, grateful for her roommate's unwavering support and excitement. In that moment, as they shared the thrill of yn's encounter with Spiderwoman, their bond grew stronger than ever, united by a shared sense of wonder and admiration for the extraordinary hero in their midst.

However, yn didn’t know that this was only the first of many encounters she would share with Spiderwoman.

____________________

As yn made her way home through the quiet streets, the late hour casting elongated shadows across the pavement, she felt a sense of calm settle over her. She was lost in her thoughts, unaware of the vigilant figure watching over her from the rooftops above.

Suddenly, a familiar figure descended gracefully from the darkness, landing before yn with a quiet rustle of fabric. yn looked up in surprise, her eyes widening as she recognized the unmistakable silhouette of Spiderwoman.

"Spiderwoman! What a pleasant surprise." yn let out, she would be lying if she said she hadn’t been dreaming about this very moment.

"Hey there, yn. Just out for a stroll?" Spiderwoman said as casually as she could.

Wait… yn?

yn froze, her heart skipping a beat at the sound of her own name slipping past Spiderwoman's lips. She turned to her companion, her expression a mix of surprise and confusion.

yn nodded, feeling bewildered, returning Spiderwoman's smile as she fell into step beside her mysterious companion. They walked together in companionable silence for a while, the only sound the soft shuffle of their footsteps against the pavement. However, yn couldn’t brush off her surprise.

Why does she know my name?

Eventually, yn couldn't resist the urge to strike up a conversation, her curiosity piqued by the enigmatic figure at her side.

"So, Spiderwoman” yn said in an overly casual tone, “anything exciting happen tonight?"

"Oh, you know, the usual. Just keeping an eye on the city." Spiderwoman said, trying her best to sound cool.

yn nodded, content to enjoy the peaceful camaraderie of their impromptu encounter. Still, she made sure to keep a close eye on her companion. Maybe she’ll let her guard down.

"So, yn..." Spiderwoman made a mistake. Again.

I got you now.

“Can I ask you a question, Spidey?”

Jimin is embarrassed by how fast her heart started beating after hearing yn refer to her by a nickname. “Sure, what’s up?”

“How did you know my name was yn? I never told you”.

Spiderwoman's mask hid the flicker of panic that flashed across her features at yn's question. She scrambled for a plausible explanation, her mind racing to come up with a convincing response.

"Um, well, you know, I, uh... I just happened to overhear it somewhere. Must have slipped out accidentally."

yn studied Spiderwoman's masked visage intently, a lingering sense of suspicion nagging at the back of her mind. However, she chose to let the matter drop for now, unwilling to push her mysterious companion any further. She is sure she’ll get her chance sooner rather than later.

"Ah, got it. Well, thanks for the company, Spiderwoman. It's always nice to have someone to walk with." She smiled in a way that gave Jimin a heart attack for a million different reasons.

"Anytime, yn. Take care on your way home." Nailed it.

With a final wave, Spiderwoman melted back into the shadows, leaving yn to ponder the intriguing encounter as she continued on her journey homeward. Despite the unanswered questions lingering in her mind, she couldn't deny the sense of comfort and reassurance that Spiderwoman's presence had brought her on this dark and lonely night.

--

yn stepped through the door of the dormitory, her mind still reeling from her encounter with Spiderwoman. As she entered the familiar surroundings of their shared living space, she was greeted by the sight of Jimin sitting on the couch, a playful glint in her eye.

"Hey there, yn! How was your walk?" Jimin said cheerfully.

yn's lips quirked into a knowing smile as she regarded her roommate, her suspicions about Spiderwoman's true identity suddenly crystallizing into certainty. She decided to play along for now, relishing the opportunity to keep Jimin's secret while she plotted her next move.

"Oh, you know, nothing out of the ordinary. Although I did run into someone interesting on the way back." A slight smirk playing at her lips.

Jimin's eyes widened slightly at yn's cryptic remark, a hint of apprehension flickering across her features before she quickly masked it with an easy grin.

"Oh yeah? Who'd you meet?"

yn leaned against the doorframe, her expression enigmatic as she met Jimin's gaze head-on. Let’s see you try to get out of this one, Spidey.

"Let's just say she's someone who knows how to keep the city safe, even late at night."

Jimin's breath caught in her throat, a surge of panic coursing through her veins at yn's words. She struggled to maintain her composure, her mind racing to concoct a plausible explanation for her alter ego's unexpected appearance in their conversation.

"Ha, lucky you, running into interesting people all the time!” Jimin let out an awkward laugh. “You'll have to introduce me sometime."

yn's smirk widened into a knowing grin as she watched Jimin squirm under the weight of her unspoken revelation. She made a mental note to bide her time, waiting for the perfect opportunity to confront Jimin head on.

"Oh, don't worry. I'm sure you'll meet her soon enough." With that tantalizing promise hanging in the air, yn sauntered off to her room, leaving Jimin to grapple with the unsettling realization that her carefully guarded secret might not be safe for much longer.

Maybe you’re not the perfect actress, Yu Jimin.

____________________

Okay, time to do something stupid!

yn stood defiantly in the dimly lit alley, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for the inevitable. She knew she was treading on dangerous ground, playing a dangerous game of cat and mouse with her roommate-turned-superhero. But she couldn't resist the thrill of the chase, the exhilarating rush of adrenaline that coursed through her veins as she knowingly put herself in harm's way.

As she glanced nervously around the shadowy confines of the alley, she caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of her eye. Seconds later, Spiderwoman materialized out of the darkness, her lithe figure cutting a striking silhouette against the night sky.

"yn, what are you doing here? It's not safe!" Spiderwoman exclaimed, her voice dripping with concern.

yn met Spiderwoman's concerned gaze with a defiant glint in her eye, her resolve unyielding as she faced the repercussions of her reckless actions head-on.

"I knew you'd come. I needed to prove a point."

Spiderwoman's brow furrowed in frustration, her voice tinged with exasperation as she chided yn for her foolhardy behavior.

"You can't go around doing stuff like this, yn! You're putting yourself in unnecessary danger. What if something had happened to you?" Spiderwoman said, her frustration skyrocketing. “What if I wasn’t her to protect you, huh? You’re acting like a toddler”.

yn bristled at Spiderwoman's stern tone, her own temper flaring as she pushed back against the other girl's unwavering concern.

"Yu Jimin, enough! Stop treating me like a child. I know exactly what I’m doing."

What?

The words hung heavy in the air between them, a palpable tension crackling with the weight of unspoken truths. In that fleeting moment, Spiderwoman's mask of stoicism slipped, revealing the vulnerable girl beneath the facade.

Spiderwoman's eyes widened in shock at the sound of her real name on yn's lips, her heart skipping a beat as she grappled with the sudden shift in dynamics between them. In that brief, poignant moment, the boundaries that had once defined their relationship blurred, leaving behind a lingering sense of uncertainty and unspoken desires.

Jimin's heart pounded erratically in her chest as she watched yn's expression soften, her eyes brimming with unspoken affection. She couldn't believe she had let slip her secret identity, couldn't fathom the repercussions of her reckless actions. But as yn's gaze met hers with unwavering warmth, Jimin felt a flicker of hope ignite within her, a glimmer of possibility in the midst of uncertainty.

"How... How did you find out?" Jimin’s voice barely above a whisper.

yn's smile was gentle, her voice infused with a quiet reassurance as she met Jimin's gaze with unwavering sincerity. "I noticed the little things, the way you always seem to disappear whenever trouble arises, the injuries that miraculously heal overnight. And then there was that slip-up with my name."

Jimin's shoulders sagged with relief at yn's honest confession, her heart swelling with gratitude for the other girl's unwavering acceptance.

"I'm sorry, yn. I never meant to keep this from you. I just... I didn't know how to tell you." Jimin felt like she could cry, she was feeling too much at the moment. Oh brother, I need to lie down.

yn reached out to gently cup Jimin's cheek, her touch tender and reassuring as she offered the other girl a small, understanding smile.

"It's okay, Jimin. I understand. But from now on, let's promise to be honest with each other, no matter what." yn’s smile gave Jimin hope. For the first time, Jimin felt like everything was going to be okay.

Jimin nodded fervently, her heart overflowing with gratitude for yn's unwavering support. As the weight of secrecy lifted from her shoulders, Jimin felt a renewed sense of longing blossom within her, a newfound courage to embrace the vulnerabilities that lay bare between them.

"Thank you, yn. How can I make it up to you?"

yn's smile widened into a mischievous grin as she reached out to delicately trace the contours of Jimin's mask, her touch sending shivers down the other girl's spine.

"I think I have an idea." yn lowered her voice, a smirk on her lips.

With a deft motion, yn carefully pulled away Jimin's mask, revealing the vulnerable girl beneath the facade. In that moment of unspoken intimacy, Jimin felt the walls that had once separated them crumble away, leaving behind an undeniable connection that transcended the boundaries of secrecy and fear.

As their lips finally met in a long-awaited kiss, the world around them faded into obscurity, leaving only the raw, unfiltered emotion that pulsed between them. In that fleeting moment of shared vulnerability, Jimin and yn found solace in each other's arms, daring to believe that love might just conquer all.

____________________

It was a lazy Sunday afternoon, and Jimin and yn had decided to spend the day together at their shared dorm room. As they lounged on the couch, Jimin scrolled through her phone while yn leaned against her, idly playing with Jimin's hair.

Suddenly, a breaking news alert flashed across the screen, announcing Spiderwoman's latest heroic feat. yn glanced up, a mischievous twinkle in her eye, as she nudged Jimin playfully. "Looks like your alter ego is making headlines again."

Jimin chuckled, leaning into yn's touch as she replied, "Yeah, she's always stealing the spotlight."

yn grinned, her fingers tracing lazy circles on Jimin's scalp as she teased, "I bet she's just trying to impress her girlfriend."

Jimin's cheeks flushed pink at the playful jab, but she couldn't suppress the smile that tugged at her lips. Wrapping an arm around yn, she pulled her closer, pressing a kiss to her temple.

"Well, she's lucky to have such an amazing girlfriend." Jimin whispered against her girlfriend’s temple. Tease me all you want, at the end of the day you still agreed to be mine.

yn grinned, leaning into Jimin's embrace as she retorted, "Flattery will get you everywhere, Spidey."

The two of them dissolved into laughter, the playful banter a comforting reminder of the easy chemistry they shared. As they snuggled together on the couch, Jimin and yn savored the simple joy of being together, grateful for the love and laughter that filled their lives.

With Jimin's arm wrapped around her and the warmth of their shared affection enveloping them, yn couldn't help but feel like the luckiest person in the world. And as they basked in each other's company, they knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, as long as they had each other, they could weather any storm.

____________________

("Are you a time traveler, yn?"

"No, why?"

"Because every time I look at you, I feel like I'm going back in time. To the moment I fell in love with you."

"Jimin..."

"Gotcha."

"You're ridiculous, you know that?"

"But you love me anyway, right?"

"Always.")

____________________

A/N: Here we go, spider Jimin! I had this sitting on my drafts for the longest time, but here it is. Thank you so much for reading!

I'm working on some requests and I might add a Valentine's Day special as well. It all depends on my schedule, I'm getting a new one tomorrow so we shall see how it goes. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this, if you want to request something, feel free to let me know.

[lancermylove]

MC is Scared of Them (Scenario)

Fandom: Twisted Wonderland

Pairing: Malleus, Rollo with gn! Reader.

Warning: Angst

Requested by: Anon

Prompt:  I’m here with the mild angst baybee. Could you possibly write a scenario where Rollo and Malleus (separately) have a crush on someone (GN) who is absolutely terrified of them? Like “one wrong move and they’ll book it” type of terrified of them? How would the boys try to coax them, or do they at all? Tysm ☺️

A/N: Malleus's got a bit more angst than I meant. ><

Word Count: Malleus (454), Rollo (302)

———————————————

Malleus

Your existence was nothing less than intoxicating to him. Like a moth to a flame, his attention was always on and for you; if you were nearby, he would study your every movement; if you were nowhere in sight, his eyes would eagerly search for a glimpse of you. It was evident to everyone that Malleus had a crush on you, except you.

To you, he was nothing more than the most powerful mage in that world and the future King of Briar Valley, and his title and power terrified you. Throughout your many encounters, Malleus had discerned you were frightened of him, but this did not deter him from attempting to win your trust and, eventually, your heart.

Seeing Malleus approaching you again, you nervously shifted your gaze to your feet and mentally reminded yourself to stay calm. Your attempt to avoid his gaze was futile, as his attention was firmly placed on you. His gaze seemed to pierce through you as if looking deep into your soul; his green eyes took in your every flaw, yet he saw no flaw.

"Do you fear me, Child of Man?" His firm voice held compassion and a yearning so deep that it was almost primal.

His patience wore thin when you refused to answer his question. Everyone on campus could see how enamored the Prince of Briar Valley was with you, so why could you not see his feelings? You suddenly felt his long fingers brush against your jawline before gently grasping your chin. Malleus tilted your head to look up at him and studied your wide, dilated pupils.

"Do you believe I could harm you?"

A hint of desperation and sadness coated his stern voice as his emerald eyes searched your face for the slightest hint of trust in him. Much to his despair, the dragon prince found nothing but trepidation.

"Tell me, Child of Man. Why do you fear me? Do you believe I am a cruel monster, much like those on this campus?" The desperation and softness in his voice grew as he spoke. "Why do you hold reservations about my intentions?"

Your lips parted slightly as if you were prepared to answer his question, but you swatted his hand away, spun on your heels, and ran as fast as your legs could carry you. Malleus was unprepared for your actions but gave you the space you desired. As the sound of your feet faded into the distance, he sighed deeply and momentarily lowered his head.

"All I ask is for you to grant me the privilege to show you my true self."

Turning in the opposite direction from where you ran, the prince stood motionless and stared into the empty horizon.

Rollo

Rollo refused to admit it aloud, but an overwhelming sense of warmth and pain captured his heart whenever you were near him. Though he may not have been obvious, Rollo favored you over everyone else at Noble Bell, which showed in his leniency toward you.

Was it his poker face or his strictness? Maybe his habit of shutting everyone out or covering his face with his handkerchief as if he was disgusted by every living being around him. Fear. That was what you felt when you were in Rollo's presence. As he approached, you drew in a deep breath to prepare yourself for the uneasiness that was about to ensue.

His piercing gaze bored into your soul, causing a wave of uncertainty to wash over you. Your body froze against your will, but you managed to lower your gaze. Much to your relief, Rollo did not stop to speak to you and continued to the room at the end of the hallway.

Upon arriving at the room, he paused briefly at the entrance and turned his head in your direction as you quickly walked away. He was aware of your fear. Despite his efforts, you never comprehended the depths of his feelings for you, but it was for the best. Succumbing to emotions such as love would act as a distraction from his academic and future pursuits. Yet the flame in his heart refused to extinguish.

An unexpected tenderness briefly flashed in his pale green eyes as your form vanished in the distance. Rollo returned his gaze to the classroom interior and rested his hand over his tightened chest. It was a mere crush and naught more. He did not have the time or luxury to love or pursue the selfish desires of his heart. That was all Rollo could tell himself.

"I am a fool."

———————————————

➣ Twisted Wonderland [1][2] ➣ Main Masterlist

➣ Buy me a Ko-fi? ➣ Commission: Open ➣ HC/Scenario Requests: Closed || Quick Ask Requests: Closed || GIF Requests: Closed

[jodithann827]

He Said What?!?

Rated: General / Posted on Ao3 / @today-in-fic

Summary: What would happen if he heard something he wasn’t supposed to?

Huntsville, Alabama

December 18th, 1998

Motel 6

The slow and steady hum of the radiator vibrates across the cramped confines of the not quite dingy, but not quite pristine motel room. The sun, having set hours before and taking what little warmth the day offered with it, left the room dark, save for the two beside lights and the standard desk lamp which emits a soft glow. The sound of water gargling flows through the closed bathroom door while Assistant Director Walter Skinner sits on one bed, waiting to wash the stink of the day off. Shaking his head slowly, he thinks back to the previous morning. His commute had been a breeze, his secretary was finally back after a detestable stomach flu had held her captive the week before, the Director of the Bureau was in a relatively good mood, and all of the agents under his watch were performing as needed. Yes, it had been the perfect start to the day. Perfect until Fox Mulder barreled into his office (he really needs to put a stop to that) spouting off about alien abductions and mysterious disappearances. The day went so well until 9:48. Why he entertained Mulder’s crazy ideas is beyond his comprehension. Well, that’s not entirely true. As strange as Muder is, Skinner genuinely likes him—not that he would ever divulge that tidbit of information—and, crazy or not, Mulder has proven himself to be an exceptional agent.

As Mulder spouted and Skinner listened, removing his glasses ever so slowly and rubbing his temples at the thought of the impending headache, he thought back to the previous weeks. Weeks in which Mulder killed a man and faked his death, only to reemerge and blow one giant metaphorical hole right in the center of a government conspiracy. That’s not to mention the almost-death and then amazing recovery of Agent Scully, which Skinner still isn’t sure he understands. He’s just thankful that Agent Scully is at home recovering, and will be ready to get back to work in a matter of weeks. Unfortunately, he knew he wouldn’t have the same luck taming the beast that is Fox Mulder as Scully would.

When Mulder finally got to the point and asked Skinner to sign off on the 302, Skinner could hear Scully in the back of his head. Don’t let him go, Sir. He shouldn’t go alone, Skinner. You know what’s going to happen if I’m not there. He found himself nodding at her words, though Mulder mistook his nodding as permission granted. He profusely thanked him and, with the look of a kid on Christmas morning, mentioned something about booking the first flight out and going home to pack before Skinner realized what had transpired. So, out of respect for Agent Scully and a concern for Agent Mulder, that’s what brought him to Huntsville; a crazy X-file with an even crazier agent. Of course, Mulder’d booked the trip so quickly that the only vacant motel in the area had one room, which is how Skinner finds himself with a roommate.

The bathroom door opens, tugging Skinner from his thoughts. Mulder walks out, thankfully dressed in plaid pajama pants and an old shirt, as puffs of steam follow him.

“Bathroom’s free,” he announces, striding over to the black duffle bag placed haphazardly on the side table chair. He rummages around for a minute, then steps back and falls onto his motel bed.

“You know I could have handled this one on my own, Sir,” Mulder insists, as he had the whole plane ride to Alabama, the car ride to the local station, and again on the way to the motel. Skinner glances in his direction and makes a weak attempt to raise his eyebrow like Scully does, which Mulder of course doesn’t notice..

“Two days, Mulder. I’ll give you two days,” Skinner responds, once again shaking his head, as he gets up and departs for the bathroom.

***

Later, as they lay in their beds, not quite ready for sleep, Skinner looks up at the pale white ceiling of the motel room and sighs. “I know you could have handled this on your own, Mulder,” he admits. Even though it’s dark and he isn’t looking in his direction, he knows Mulder is smiling.

“You promised Scully you’d go with me,” Mulder half asks, half states. Skinner chuckles, or at least as much of a chuckle as he’s willing to emit in front of an agent. “I understand, sir,” Mulder assures him. “I know she worries when she can’t be there to have my back. I know I sometimes make rash decisions…” he pauses when Skinner huffs. “Okay, maybe a lot of the time. Thank you, sir, for being willing to come with me instead of denying the case. I appreciate it, and I know Scully does as well.”

“How’s she doing?” Skinner asks, carefully, as he doesn’t like to speak of agents who aren’t present.

He’s been concerned about her since her remission. She called him a week and a half after her discharge, indicating she was fine and ready to be back at work. Skinner had to bite his tongue from saying something he would regret, like Have you completely lost your mind, and then told her in no uncertain terms that she is not to grace the doors of the Hoover building for at least another four weeks, and only then with a doctor's note. She’s still so weak, physically. Even when she returns, he knows she won’t be ready to be in the field right away. He makes a mental note to check for any upcoming conferences he can send them to upon her return, maybe ease her back into work.

“She’s getting stronger every day. I’m pretty sure she kicked her sweet and well-meaning mother out of her house by the second week of her recovery,” Mulder laughs.

Skinner is amazed and wonders how the agents accomplish anything, being two of the most stubborn individuals he has ever had the pleasure of meeting.

“That’s good,” he tells him, then adds, “It’ll be good to have her back. Well, goodnight, Agent Mulder.”

“Goodnight, sir.”

***

Hours later, Skinner awakens to a sound. Unable to identify it at first, he lies motionless, straining his ears. He hears it again. After a few moments, he realizes it’s Mulder, whimpering in his sleep. Recognizing the agent is dreaming and they aren’t in imminent danger, he rolls to his side and tries to go back to sleep. As he’s about to doze off, Mulder’s whimpers become more frenzied.

“Please, no,” Skinner hears from the next bed. He raises his head a bit, checking to see if Mulder has woken up, but the man’s closed eyes and pained expression assures Skinner that he is very much asleep. Unsure of how much longer Mulder’s dream will go on, Skinner attempts to sleep, but is incapable.

“No… can’t. Please… understand,” whines Mulder. Skinner wonders what is going on in that brain of his. He’s using a voice Skinner has never heard. He sounds scared, young, unsure.

“Mm lost,” Mulder continues, and Skinner hears a hitch in his voice. He wonders if Mulder will start crying in his sleep. Maybe he’s dreaming about his sister.

“Without you,” Mulder states.

Nope, Skinner immediately knows who Mulder is thinking about, and he longs for sleep. Of course, he’s suspected it for years. But without evidence, he never wanted to make a big deal out of it. He knows there are tons of wagers and bets floating around the bureau regarding the status of Mulder and Scully’s relationship, but he usually doesn’t pay too much attention to those things.

“Need you,” Mulder's voice pulls Skinner from his thoughts. “Best friend… No die. No happen”.

Skinner realizes Mulder is thinking back to the cancer. He wants to wake him, tell him it’s all okay; Scully is fine and she’s not going anywhere. But he also doesn’t want to startle him or cause him any embarrassment, though there isn’t anything to be embarrassed about, at least not yet.

“Promise me,” he mumbles, followed by a string of gibberish from Mulder’s dream-induced mouth. “Scully… please…love you… me.” Skinner prays sleep takes him that very instant. He knows more than he needs to, more than he should. Apparently, something in Mulder’s dream has calmed him, which Skinner doesn’t care to know, nor does he want to speculate. He realizes Mulder’s breathing has evened out and he is slumbering once more.

Unfortunately, Skinner is now wide awake and can’t get his agents out of his mind. Now that he knows, even though he tells himself there really isn’t anything to know, he quickly decides not to do anything about it. Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, as much of a pain in the ass as they—well, he— can be, are his best agents and their dynamic is something not to be messed with. He rolls over again, imploring that he’ll forget every word by morning, but knowing the sounds are burned into his brain forever.

***

Skinner wakes the next morning, wishing and hoping it was a dream, but upon seeing Mulder exit the bathroom, dressed in his suit and ready for the day, he knows it was anything but.

“How did you sleep, sir?” asks Mulder, a look of complete innocence on his face.

“I never sleep as well on the road as I do at home,” Skinner replies, sitting up and stretching. The morning sun is attempting to peek through the drawn curtains. Well, now or never, Skinner thinks to himself. “Hey, Mulder,” he says, his voice strong, but slightly tentative, as if testing the waters. Mulder looks in his direction, eyebrows knit, waiting for him to speak. Oh to hell with it, he thinks. “Mulder, did you know you talk in your sleep?”

Mulder’s eyebrows reach so high they almost touch the top of his forehead as his eyes bulge from their sockets. I’ll take that as a no, Skinner muses. Mulder stares at his boss for a minute, and Skinner almost feels sorry for him seeing the terrified look of pure dread adorning his face.

“What did I, uh… did I say anything, uh…” he fumbles over his words, trying to find the right ones to ask.

Skinner smiles slightly and decides that as much fun as this could be, he’ll go easy on Mulder, just this once. “You said a few words and mumbled a bit. I’m surprised no one has mentioned it to you before. I just thought you should know.”

Lifting himself from the bed, he staggers toward the bathroom to get ready for whatever this ridiculous day has in store for him. He turns slightly to look at the younger man. They’re idiots, these agents of his, but they’re his idiots, and for now, Mulder's secret is safe with him. He’ll be ready whenever Mulder feels free enough to talk about it.

[orange-cheetah]

[N1A1] Chapter 1: Mash Burnedead and the Forest of Forewarning

(from Mash Burnedead and the Book of Adventures) Choose what Mash does next! Poll under Read More.

[masterlist]

▷Aー1

“Where is this?”

It was a dark forest blowing with a damp breeze.

The presence of living things could be felt everywhere among the trees and flowers growing thickly in search of sunlight. However, only darkness could be seen when one turns to look.

“Just, where on earth……”

Mash Burnedead runs with his jet-black robes fluttering and his mushroom-shaped black hair flowing. He is a first-year student at Easton Magic Academy, a school near this forest.

Night falls early in forests.

Surely this place, too, will soon be swallowed up by the darkness.

Of course, there is a reason why this young man is running alone in the forest at this hour.

A few hours ago―

*

Easton Magic Academy is located at the top of a steep mountain with strangely-shaped rocks that reach for the sky.

After finishing class, Mash Burnedead returns to Adler House, one of the three student dormitories under Easton that symbolizes "courage and conviction."

The reason why he returned a little later than the other students is probably because he was off shopping somewhere. As proof of that, look, he has a paper bag in his hand―

"......?"

As Mash reaches out to open the door, he notices something.

The paper bag that should’ve been in his hand until just a second ago is gone.

"Huh?"

Mash flaps his long robe, taking it off a little and turning it inside out to search through it, but he can't find it anywhere.

"Why?"

It contained freshly-baked cream puffs that he had gone all the way into town after school to buy. He ate most of them on the way back to the dormitory, but he did save three as tomorrow morning's snack―

Mash, who is looking at his empty hands in wonder, hears a small noise.

"......!"

Turning around in a second, Mash sees it.

A small black creature crawled into the bushes beside him.

Wait, that creature is holding the paper bag containing the three cream puffs!

Clenching his fists, Mash was about to follow it when he heard his name called from behind.

"Mash-kun, what's wrong?"

"Ah, Finn-kun."

Turning his head in a matter of seconds again, he found his roommate, Finn Ames, who lives with him in Room 302 of house Adler. Finn, wearing the same Adler dormitory robe as Mash, asks in confusion.

“Your neck seems to be spinning; are you okay?”

"I'm not okay."

“Ehh!? Can I have a look?”

As he told a worried Finn that “it's not my neck,'' Mash sat down on his knees in disappointment.

"They took away…… cream puffs……"

"Eh, who did!?"

"A small creature, about this size, and black……"

Mash holds up both hands as though holding a cat and repeats “about this size.” Finn crouches too, saying “about this size?” and moved his hands like he’s holding a cat in the same way.

“No, maybe it’s more like this.”

“Eh? Isn’t it the same?”

“No, it feels a little bigger.”

Finn, who has gone along with Mash's particularity, corrected himself with an “about this size, right.'' Looking as though he’s reminded of something, he says:

"Ah, then it might be the work of a troll. There are rumors that trolls have been appearing around here lately, you know."

“Troll?”

"Yeah, it's rumored that even though it's small, it's a big eater. The other day, the cafeteria’s foodstuff went missing as well. Maybe Mash-kun's cream puffs too..."

Before Finn could finish speaking, Mash, who had been slumped until a moment ago, flew out.

"I'll go get them back."

*

Furthermore, there was something unfamiliar here.

It's a square mound of earth. Although it is only a few dozen centimeters high, it measures 6 or 7 meters square and looks like a small stage. But, it's only dirt.

Looking closely, one could see that a perfect circle has been drawn on the mound with straw or something.

Two short lines are in the center of that circle.

Just as he was wondering if this was a bit too simple for a magic circle, a small black shadow appeared without a sound in the center of the circle.

"!"

It's the troll.

The troll he had been looking for was beckoning Mash from the top of the mound.

●　It was convenient for the troll to come out, so approach it as invited　》》　To Ａ―７

●　This is a trap. Let's observe the situation without going up on the mound　》》　To Ａ―２４

[Notes: The circle seems to be a sumo wrestling ring.

My initial plan was to have the poll up for two days, but apparently polls on tumblr can only be set to either one day or one week. I'm going with one day for now; we'll see how it goes!]

[kasunex]

Hello! I found you in the TCOAAL tag, hope it doesn't bother you lol, I just enjoyed reading your opinions on this game.

Since I saw you questioning Andrew in the Decay route, I wanted to offer you my two cents about it, and why Andrew is so snappy at Ashley there: you can enter the Decay route in two ways, if either of the siblings fails to commit to the other and don't break away from their unhealthy coping mechanism.

If Ashley refuses to let Andrew watch over their parents, she is giving in to her own paranoia and mistrust. Her controlling tendencies towards Andrew stem from her fear that he doesn't really love her (because she is fundamentally impossible to love, that's what everyone told her), and if he has a choice he'll always pick the other choice. No matter how much Andrew commits to her, she is always scared - this is what causes the big fight in the room 302. So her solution is to simply cut out the other choice. She let Nina die, she harassed Julia into breaking up with Andrew, and now, she won't let him talk with their parents. This is the same "Leyley orders Andy around" dynamic that Andrew wants to desperately break free of, and the very reason he despises the nickname Andy - which Ashley keeps using in this route to exercise control: "I love you, Andy. I love you, I love you, I love you". If you choose this option, Ashley ruins their relationship further by caving in to her insecurity, the fear that Andrew would lie to her, abandon her for anyone, and that he really gives her nothing (read: not the all-encompassing love she craves, since she's "no pretty lady he can fuck"... also, sidenote, Ashley's obsession with sex and what it says about her selfworth is fascinating). Of course Andrew would be mad that no matter what he does, it's never enough for his sister, and she will always try every dirty trick in the book to keep him under her thumb.

If Ashley trusts Andrew with the parents, but Andrew accepts their offer to leave Ashley behind and live a normal life, Andrew sinks once again into denial. He is a normal person, really! He could live a normal life! But he is stuck with Ashley. It's all Ashley's fault for pushing him around. It's all Ashley's fault for ruining his life. Andrew is her doormat, and nothing more. Like this, Andrew builds up resentment and resentment, choosing to put all the blame on Ashley's shoulders instead of admitting to himself, like he does if he refuses, that he's just as fucked up as Ashley is. Case in point: in the Decay route he's disgusted when chopping up his parents, a normal reaction which makes Ashley smile, while in the Burial route he's completely detatched, which worries Ashley because this isn't the weak Andy she knows and loves.

So it's not that Andrew in the Decay route is OOC, I think. You, player, simply choose to exarcerbate the issues between the two siblings, whose relationship was already strained by that point, mostly by Ashley still calling Andrew "Andy" which symbolizes her not wanting to move on from the relationship they had as children. The Burial route allows them to say "fuck it, it's us against the world" in their own way: Ashley by accepting that she can slightly let go the leash she put on Andrew because he's her ally, and Andrew by stopping pretending he's just a victim of circumstances.

Sorry for the long rant lol. Have a nice day ^^

No worries at all - in fact I'm posting this publicly so it can be seen by more eyes. It's very well put and does a good job of explaining.

I had my concerns about the route splitting, but I am curious to see how the different routes ultimately play out. Especially because, to be honest, I don't know what the best path forward for these two is.

The part of me that is playing as them, empathizing, thinks they should just embrace their degeneracy and enjoy burning in Hell together - a la Burial - and the part of me that is watching and judging thinks they deserve to drag each other to the grave for all the awful sins they have committed - a la Decay.

Sans the "less incestous" Burial route. That one seems passable.

[take2intotheshower]

Endless List of Why I Ship Jane & Kurt - Part 7 (by @kate-dammit-run)

(re-posting to preserve this list, which was originally created and posted by @kate-dammit-run, whose account was deactivated in 2023)

302. Because she was disappointed when she found out she was not pregnant. 303. Because starting a family and having a child together is something they both want. 304. Because Kurt was already so in love with Jane he refused to accept the isotope test. 305. Because when she’s away on a case without him, he cannot help but send her a ridiculous amount of adorable texts telling her how much he misses her 306. And because when she comes back all he wants is to spend some sexy times with his wife 307. Because her being sick absolutely terrifies him 308. Because no matter who she is, she will always trust him to take the shot and save her life 309. Because even as Remi, she could not use the poison needle 310. And because even as Remi, she sought comfort in his arms 311. And because even as Remi, she held on to him tightly when she thought they were going to die 312. Because he is so proud of the work she does in the field and wants everyone to know it 313. Because she’s important not only to him but to the whole world 314. Because she’s the strongest person he knows 315. Because he will stay by her side the whole time 316. Because she’s the strongest person I’ve ever met, and considering everything that she’s been through, she’s still compassionate and kind. 317. Because she was never a damsel in distress 318. Because she’s the love of his life and he will never stop fighting for her 319. Because he can’t lose her 320. Because he’s not giving up on his wife 321. Because he can’t imagine his life without her 322. Because she needs to fight for her life and she needs him by her side 323. Because when she’s lost in the darkness of her mind, he’s her anchor and her connection to the real world 324. Because he doesn’t question when she asks him to go into battle with her 325. Because all her happy memories are with him 326. Because she will never stop trying to save him 327. Because even when she knows it’s not real, the thought of losing him crippled her 328. Because he doesn’t care what she’s done all that matter is that she’s back 329. Because his fire is one of the things she loves about him 330. Because all he cares about is having his partner back 331. Because they are adorable 332. Because they are everyone’s favorite FBI power couple 333. Because he’s willing to walk through fire to save her life 334. And because she won’t let him do it  335. Because she likes him better alive 336. Because he will never ever give up on her 337. And because she loves hearing him say that 338. Because they both agree she belongs in the field doing good 339. Because she knows she has a man who will walk through fire for her and with him by her side they can do absolutely anything 340. Because of sweet stolen moments in the gym 341. And beautiful heart to hearts in the locker room  342. Because he would never ask her to stop being herself to please him 343. …he just wants her to do what is best for her and trust her own instincts 344. Because she gets to tease him about him being a crime novel fanboy boy who read two books on their honeymoon 345. and he just laughs about it 346. Because even in an alternate universe, they’re still as badass as they really are 347. And Winston Pear couldn’t help but write about them 348. Because they glove each other  349. Because all Jane needs is for him to talk to her to keep her calm 350. Because he can make her laugh in the most terrifying moments 351. Because even if she can’t see how worried he is, she can feel it 352. Because hand on heart, again… HAND ON FRIKKIN HEART!!

[bnhaobservation]

BNHA Observations, speculations and assorted info: Todoroki Mansion (Part 6: TV room)

So, in order to write my fic, I spend much time observing canon scenes, comparing the manga and the anime version, take note of details, translations and info in them as well as finding out how are some things called.

Since what I noticed/speculated/found out can be of use for other fic authors I thought to share as well.

Resources:

Chap. 39 “Todoroki Shōto: Origin” (轟焦凍：オリジン Todoroki Shōto: Origin) Chap. 206 “Match 3 Conclusion” (第 (だい) ３セット決 (けっ) 着 (ちゃく) Daisan Set Ketchaku) Chap. 301 “The Wrong Way to Put Out a Fire, Part 1” (火の不始末 後編 Hi no Fushimatsu Zenpen) Chap. 302 “The Wrong Way to Put Out a Fire, Part 2” (火の不始末 後編 Hi no Fushimatsu Kōhen)

Ep. 23 “Todoroki Shōto: Origin” (轟 焦凍:オリジン Todoroki Shōto: Origin) Ep. 130 “The Wrong Way to Put Out a Fire” (火の不始末 Hi no Fushimatsu)

OBSERVATIONS, SPECULATIONS AND ASSORTED INFO:

The Tv room in the Todoroki mansion is a peculiar one as it has come characteristics of a washitsu (和室), which means "harmony room" but which is the name used to mean "Japanese-style room", namely the tatami flooring (Tatami (畳) is a type of mat used as a flooring material in traditional Japanese-style rooms)...

...and the Fusuma door (Fusuma (襖) are vertical rectangular panels often painted)...

...but the window is a western one with curtains instead than a Shōji window without curtains.

We don't know where in the house is located, if in the first floor or in the ground floor or how to reach it.

Whatever, let's just observe it.

IN WHICH SCENES WE SEE THE TV ROOM?

For start let's establish when the TV room is shown.

The manga helps us with this as it keeps the same furniture each time it shows it, while the anime... messes up things. But let's go with order.

I'll put the scenes in the order in which they're shown.

The first time it's when Shouto watches All Might on TV with his mother.

The second time it's when Touya and Fuyumi are watching tv (notice the TV screen is the same and so are the clock on the wall and the furniture below the TV plus in both scenes we've a couch in front of the TV).

The third is when Enji is watching TV (even though it's hard to see it clearly there's the two-door wardrobe with 3 drawers next to the Fusuma door and the TV, plus Enji is likely seated on the couch).

The anime tried to suggest Natsuo being shown to his siblings also take place in the TV room, but the manga doesn't give us any visual element to confirm it. It can be, it can be not.

The last time is when Enji beats Rei (we can see the two-door wardrobe with 3 drawers next to the Fusuma door and Rei is between the shadow of the small table and the couch... also it's possible that the library near which Fuyumi and Natsuo are is the one below the TV... though I'm not 100% sure about this as Shouto was meant to be kept away from his siblings and he normally was kept away from them... so it feels weird they were in the same room).

Actually there could be another scene that shows that room... but the window is a Shōji one with no curtains and small Shōji windows above it... while the furniture below the tv is slightly different.

In theory it's possible that there are 2 TV rooms, one for the family and one for Shouto. That or Horikoshi forgot about that small panel and decided to change the room structure.

We'll never know.

Now the room doesn't even present traditional Japanese furniture, even the two-door wardrobe with 3 drawers seems a western one as well as the couch.

The three best visuals of the room which better show it's structure and the furniture in it are the following.

In the following image we can catch a glimpse of an extra furniture on the wall opposite to the TV but it's hard to guess what it is.

THE FURNITURE IN THE ROOM

Next to the Fusuma door we've a two-door wardrobe with 3 drawers.

Against the wall on the right there's a wall mounted flat tv screen, an exagonal clock and, below the TV a shelve with many books, boxes and... a dvd player?

Hard to say.

In front of the tv, a carpet and, above it, a long table on top of which there's the TV remote and a couch.

Of the wall in front of the Fusuma door as said before a glass window with curtains.

On the wall to the right there's probably a furniture that's not shown.

THE COMPARISON WITH THE ANIME

The anime didn't really portray things in a way that's close to the manga. In fact, for example, in the first scene the TV isn't anymore wall mounted

As the manga didn't fully show the background of the scene the anime decided to add a curtain on the right of the TV (when it was meant to be on the left), paint couch and shelve grey, don't have tatami but wood on the floor, places a furniture and a plant behind Rei (we can't quite see what).

The second scene is portrayed much more faithfully and we even catch a glimpse of the furniture on the wall to the left. They however changes what's on the shelves and even the colour of the furniture compared to the previous time that showed the room.

If back then everything was grey, now the couch is a grey/violet and the shelve is brown.

For some weird decision they didn't place the next scene in the tv room but gave Enji another room in which he had a not wall mounted flat tv screen, a furniture to rest the TV which is not a shelve and... training equipment instead than the table and the cough while the door is a Shōji one instead than a fusuma one.

You can see a better image of the room here.

Why the anime felt the need to make up an extra room is beyond me.

Instead the anime decided to place in this room the scene in which Touya and Fuyumi met baby Natsuo.

We can notice the tatami flooring, the same Fusuma doors and the couch.

As for the last scene... there's some sort of furniture near the Fusuma door but the room is so weirdly dark it's hard to see it. As for Fuyumi and Natsuo the shelve against which they're hiding is clearly not the one below the TV. Even Enji's voice came to them somehow muffled, which seems to remark how they aren't in the same room...

So well, it's again a scene different from the original and, while I agree that it works better if Fuyumi and Natsuo aren't in the same room as Shouto because IN THAT SAME EPISODE it was said Shouto wouldn't be allowed near to the children so it wouldn't make any sense for them to be in the same room... and the fact Shouto didn't get to interact with his siblings is confirmed by how Natsuo complained he wasn't allowed to interact with him and by "School Briefs" also remarking this... I'm not sure why the anime had to do the room so dark and make unclear it was that room the one in which Enji hits Rei.

But whatever, that's all we have for the TV room.

[cananmelia-blog]

Mashle OC

just some silly sketch my daughter Ilma Bellartrix.

Right is the first day and left is the current Ilma, yeah too tired ...totally but slowly she more honest to her own feeling than before.

Blood type: O

Dominant Hand: Right

Foot size: 24 cm

Good Subjects: Potion, and deductive

Bad Subjects: Physical strength development

Hobbies: making potion, photography (new and current hobby she found after school break), complaints and protesting to Rayne.

Favorite Food: cookies, ochazuke

Favorite word: -

Favorite type of opposite sex: someone who is reliable and kind

Dislikes: something that cannot be explained logically and unexpected, study, training, her father and herself.

Frequently visited school spots: dormitory kitchen, forest, Adler Dormitory Room no. 302, library and workshop.

E.g. of spending money: Ingredients for potion, gems, photography needs, and books.

How to spend holidays: study, training, making potion, sometimes visit an orphanage or friend's home

anyway new update chapter XD

[marvel1012]

Sins of the Father - Pt. 3 "Sam"

Synopsis: AU 3rd season episode of The Bear. Carm makes a startling discovery, and must navigate the fallout.

Warnings: cursing, mostly

Word count: 3,170

Author's note: The epic conclusion to our saga! Enjoy!

Part 1 | Part 2

________________________________

It took Carm a week to put together a list of halfway houses in the greater Chicago area, and the better part of another week going building to building, looking for Sam. On his third try, he noticed the name “S. Morris” on the directory outside the door. Number 302. 

“No time like the present,” he whispered under his breath, and rang the buzzer. 

“Whaddya want?” His biological father’s tinny sounding voice coming through the ancient speaker. 

“It’s Carmen. I wanna talk.” 

Silence. Nothing happened. A breath, two breaths. Then, the sound of the door to the building buzzing. He quickly grabbed the handle and swung it open, stepping into the foyer. The room was illuminated by a single bare bulb hanging from the ceiling, and the dingy tile looked every bit as old as the intercom outside. One whole wall was composed of numbered mailboxes, and looking ahead, through a second door, he saw the stairwell. 

Of course he’d be in some shitty walk-up. 

Carm started the climb up to the third floor. By the time he reached the top of the third flight of stairs, his heart was pounding. Maybe he’d been skipping out on the gym a little too much lately. Apartment number 302 was the first door on the left from the top of the stairs. He knocked, and the door swung open a moment later. Sam didn’t say anything, just beckoned him inside. 

Carmen followed Sam into the shabby studio apartment, passing a tiny kitchenette to their right as they made their way to the combo living and sleeping area. When they got to the end of the short hallway and emerged into the open space, two things struck him simultaneously– the place was mostly empty, practically devoid of furniture and personal items, but the walls were covered with some of the most breathtaking still-life drawings he’d ever seen. He actually gasped as he took them all in. There were a few figures, mostly bare backs and disembodied hand studies, but what really grabbed his attention were the more traditional pieces. Over by the window, shiny fruit spilling out of a bowl onto a table, and there, a vase filled with exquisite flowers, their petals so detailed they seemed like they could pop right off the page. 

Sam realized he had stopped in the doorway, so he turned. He followed Carm’s gaze to the walls and nodded, “Oh, yeah. Those. I used to doodle a lot as a kid, but I picked this up while I was away. The prison library actually had a book about drawing fruit and shit like that, if you can believe it. I think it kept me from goin’ crazy,” he smirked and shook his head, “well, crazier.” 

Carmen was at a loss for words. All his life, he’d wondered where his talent for art had come from. Growing up, Donna had yelled at him for spending his time in class drawing instead of taking notes. Mikey and Richie had teased him mercilessly about his clothing sketches. Nat had liked to look at his drawings, but the best she could ever manage were stick figures with circles for heads and birds in flight that looked like stretched out M’s. Now a long held, secret hunch had been proven right in the most shocking and unexpected way. He’d always wanted to believe that he’d inherited his artistic gifts from Jerry. Now he knew the talent had come from his father, just not the one he thought.  

Carmen realized Sam was watching him, waiting for some kind of response. He pressed two fingers to his lips and nodded, “I draw some, too. Your stuff is good.” 

The corner of Sam’s mouth twitched up in a smirk at the complement. He walked over to a cheap black futon pushed into a corner against the far wall. Apparently he had been using an overturned plastic milk crate as an end table and nightstand– he quickly cleared off the top and moved it out into the middle of the room, then he settled onto the futon and indicated that Carm should have a seat on the crate across from him. “Have a seat.” 

Carmy did as he was told. The sharp plastic on the bottom of the crate pressed through the fabric of his pants and into his skin as he settled onto it. His nerves were jangling and tight, and he couldn’t help but bounce his right foot rhythmically against the side of the crate. He slid a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket, craving a smoke to clear his mind, but before he could get the cig to his mouth, Sam shook his head. “You can’t smoke in here, there are rules.” 

Carm sighed and returned the cigarette to the pack, stuck the pack back into his pocket. Now what? “I, ah, did what you said.” 

“What’s that?” 

“I went to see my mom. I asked her about you.” 

Sam’s eyebrows flashed. “Oh, yeah? She give you an earful?” 

“Guess you could say that.” He bit his lip, peeling a little bit of chapped skin off with his teeth, not really sure how to proceed. “She, ah, said you guys had a one night stand, and that’s how, well, I mean,” he trailed off, visibly uncomfortable at the implication. 

Sam was staring intently, enjoying watching Carm squirm. A cold grin spread across his face. “That’s what she said, huh?” He sucked his teeth, laced his fingers around the back of his head and leaned into the futon, stretching out fully and crossing his ankles in front of him.

“Did you believe her?” 

“Huh?” 

“Don. Did you believe her story? About me?” 

Carmen pursed his lips. He didn’t like the sound of his mom’s nickname coming out of this stranger’s mouth. He decided to let it go, this time. “Maybe some of it? But not really.” 

Sam nodded, still smiling. “So you came to me. You wanna know what really happened.” 

This jagoff is having the time of his life. What a sick fuck.

Carm shrugged, “Sure.” Who else could I ask? 

The older man sniffed and shrugged back. “Alright, here’s the deal. Jerry and I worked together for a while, before he opened the restaurant but right after he, Jimmy, and Lee started the KBL front,” he chuckled, “talk about the three stooges, amiright?”

Carm just stared, nonplussed. 

“So, ah, anyways, your mom helped out in the office sometimes, doin’ billin’ and shit, I dunno. I didn’t really care, all I remember is she had cans like you would not believe. And those skirts she would wear, with the panty hose? That little black line up the back of her calf? Jeeezus fuckin’--” 

“Hey! I get it. I get it, alright? That’s my mom.”

Sam cleared his throat. “Well, let’s just say she knew what she was doin’. We were together for months before you came along. Jerry made it sooo fuckin’ easy, too. He was always runnin’ from job to job, tryin’ to look legit while he was screwin’ around with those other two assholes, playin’ at bein’ gangsters. Ha! Ain’t that some shit. Fuckin’ Jimmy is Polish.” 

Carm rolled his eyes, tried to steer the conversation back to the point. “So my Da– Jerry. He didn’t know?” 

“Fuck, no. I mean, he figured some of it out when Don got knocked up. By that point they hadn’t touched each other in so long, he knew she was fuckin’ around on him with somebody. Had ta be.”

“And then what?” 

“Yer mom had you. And you came out lookin’ just like me.” That soft, malicious laugh again. “I couldn’t believe it, you had my eyes and everything. Right there in fuckin’ Jerry Berzatto’s face. You were like a blinkin’ neon sign, kid.”  

Carmen felt his chest tightening up. He really didn’t want to have a full blown panic attack in front of this douche bag. He took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. 

“And?” 

Sam unlaced his hands and sat forward on the couch, arms draped over his knees. He was leaning in toward Carmy now, studying him. It felt like being sized up by a man eating lion. 

“He couldn’t fuckin’ handle it. He tried to take care of you for a while, and Don told me to get lost. She wanted to fix things, she said. I think we all know how that went.” 

“What do you mean?” 

“I mean, Jerry couldn’t cut it. There you were, a tiny reminder of what Donna and I had done. He finally had enough of her bullshit, I guess. And you were just the straw that broke the camel’s back.” 

Carm’s brows furrowed. “What are you saying?” 

“Kid. Come on. You’re related to me so I know you can’t be that fuckin’ dense. You’re the reason Jerry finally left. He had put up with so much from Don over the years, hand to God the dumb fuck tried, but in the end it wasn’t enough. With a broad like Donna, it never is.” 

Oh, shit. It was happening again. Carmen pressed a fist to his sternum and stared at that singular point, trying to focus on his breathing. Not right now, don’t do this now. 

“Y-you’re…that’s not…” 

“Not true? You think I’m lying? Why would I? Jerry Berzatto was a sleaze bag and a criminal that let another man fuck his wife for months, then he split when he couldn’t deal.” Carm couldn’t see it, but Sam was rubbing his fingers across his top lip, considering his next words carefully. 

“When I saw what a shit show that house turned into, after he left, I knew I had to take you away from it. Away from her.” 

All at once, the world screeched to a halt. Carm sat there, frozen, burgeoning panic attack stalled out, so still he didn’t even bother to breathe. Finally, he looked up at Sam from under his mop of curls. Their eyes met, and there was that predatory stare again. 

“You– what?” Carmen whispered. 

“I tried to take you away from all that– that– chaos, that Don created for everybody around her. I know you don’t remember any of that, you were so little, but when Jerry left, shit really hit the fan. And I wasn’t gonna just walk away. No fuckin’ way. You were mine.” 

“You– kidnapped me?” 

“That’s what they put me away for. Even tacked on an extra 15 years, because I had a gun under the passenger seat of my car. I never fuckin’ touched the thing, forgot it was even there. Shitass detectives doubled my time over that stupid gun. Aggravated kidnapping my lily white ass.” 

Carm was still struggling to process the idea that his birth really had caused the destruction of his parents’ marriage, a confirmation of the guilt that had hidden all these years in the darkest recesses of his heart. The news that his biological father had kidnapped him just wouldn’t compute. He didn’t know what to say. He ran his hands through his hair and held his head practically in his lap. 

Sam kept talking, trying to fill the loaded, awkward silence. “I slipped into the house one afternoon. Donna was passed out on the couch, she didn’t even realize I was there. You were napping in your crib, so I just picked you up real easy and carried you out to my car,” this time, his smile was kinda sad, “I even had a car seat for you. Me. A fuckin’ car seat.” 

“How did I—?”

“Get back home? Jerry.” 

Carmy’s head snapped up, his eyes wide with surprise. “My dad?”

The older man’s expression darkened. “Jerry. When Donna woke up and couldn’t find you, she called him. He knew what kind of car I drove, so he reported you missing and gave the cops a description of you, me, and the car. Pulled us over on the I-94.” 

“My dad– saved me?”

Sam leaned over and poked Carmen hard in the chest. “Jerry Berzatto is not your father! I am your father, you call me Dad now.  You’re mine and we belong together. We always have! You’re not like them, and you know it.” 

Carm absentmindedly rubbed the sore spot on his upper chest where Sam’s finger had dug into his skin, barely paying attention to the other man’s proximity. His eyes were fixed on a sketch on the wall, a hand study– he knew it was impossible, but he could almost swear they were Donna’s. Donna’s hands on Sam Morris’s wall. 

And still, Sam kept talking. “We should have been together all of those years. You and me, kid, we’re two of a kind, I just know it. But we can be that way now, Carmen. Make up for lost time. You and me, we don’t need anybody else. You don’t need Don, or Natalie, or that little prick Richie that was always hangin’ around your house,” he gently reached out to cup Carm’s cheek, turning his head so they were face to face once more, “let me be your family now, Carmy.” 

From somewhere in the dimmest shadows of distant memory, there was a flash of something, some impression that he could barely put his finger on. It was the vague notion of a voice, and the smell of cooking grease, sweat, nicotine. Strong arms holding him tight and the voice was saying, “Carmy Bear”. No, wait, maybe it was “I gotcha, Carmy Bear.” 

“Carmy Bear,” he breathed. 

“Huh?” Sam looked confused, not entirely sure what he’d heard. 

“Carmy Bear.” Carmen slapped Sam’s hand away from his face and jumped to his feet. “My name is Carmen Berzatto. I have a family, and I don’t need anything from you.” 

Sam stood now too, looming a full head taller than his son. “You don’t belong in that family and you know that’s the truth. Every time Jerry looked at you, he saw me. Every time Donna looks at you, she sees me. They took care of you, but they don’t love you like I do, Carmen.They never have, and they never wi–” 

Carm shoved Sam hard in the chest, knocking him back onto the futon. He sat there, momentarily stunned, as the younger man stood over him, practically shaking with rage. “You think you’re smart because you exploited the weakness in another man’s marriage? You think there’s something special about you because you took advantage of someone who was lonely and sick? You think you’re some kind of fuckin’ hero because you stole a child?” 

“Carmen, I-” 

“No! You’re nothing to me! Nothing!” He turned away from his father and ran his hands through his hair again, drowning in the waves of emotion breaking over him– anger, sadness, longing, love, hope, and pain. 

Sam was saying something, but Carmy was too far away to listen. He was suddenly overcome with scenes from his childhood, flashing before his eyes like one of those old photo slide shows. 

He was 8. A brief period where Donna was completely sober. The smell of blueberry pancakes on the kitchen table before they left for Mass. Her smile. 

He was 10. Hiding behind some bushes in the backyard after they switched Lee’s ginger ale with mouthwash— Nat’s dark blue eyes shining in the afternoon sun as she kept a hand clapped over her mouth, trying so hard to be quiet and not to giggle. 

He was 14. The first time Richie called him “Cousin”. 

He was 17. Cooking with Mikey, helping him perfect the spaghetti recipe that they’d use at The Beef. Laughing at his crazy stories, experimenting with flavors, not a care in the world. 

He cut Sam off mid-sentence. “I know who I am. And I know where I belong.” He turned to face his father. “I never want to see you again. Stay out of my life, or I’ll make you wish I had never been born.” 

“Mission fuckin’ accomplished,” Sam spat. 

“Fuck you,” Carm muttered as he marched out of the apartment. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do if Sam pursued him, but thankfully that didn’t happen. He practically ran down the stairs and through the foyer, hitting the push bar with enough force that he stumbled onto the sidewalk. Once he’d recovered his balance, he shoved his hands in his pockets and marched toward the train station, breath misting in the chilly air. 

__________________________________________________________

When the doorbell rang, Pete and Natalie gave each other puzzled looks across their dining room table. Nat’s eyebrow raised in a silent question, and Pete shrugged. “I’ll go check.” 

He definitely wasn’t expecting to see Carmy when he opened the door. He smiled, clearly thrown. “Oh, hey Carm. Uh, whaa–what’s up?” 

Carmen still had his hands jammed into his pockets, and he didn’t return Pete’s smile, only gave him an apologetic shrug. “Hey Pete. Is Nat here?” 

“Sure, yeah, she’s in the kitchen feeding Antonia her lunch. Come in.” 

As the pair turned the corner into the eat-in kitchen with Pete in the lead, he tried to cover the awkwardness of the unannounced visit by acting excited. “Hey, look who’s here, Nat! Carmen dropped by!” 

From her perch in front of her daughter’s high chair, Natalie looked up, swiping a strand of hair out of her face and inadvertently leaving a smear of sweet potato baby food on her forehead. She was so surprised to see her little brother that she didn’t even notice. 

“Carm? What’s wrong? Is everything okay at the store?” 

Carmen made a simmer down gesture with his hands. “Yeah, everything’s fine, Sugar. I just needed to see ya.”

Well attuned to the usual antics of his wife’s family members, Pete could immediately sense some Berzatto drama incoming. He headed over to grab Antonia. “We’ll just go, and leave you guys to it.” 

“No, Pete, if it’s alright, I’d like her to stay. And you, too.”  

Pete glanced at Nat, who gave the tiniest of nods. He settled into one of the dining chairs. 

Carmen reached down and picked up his niece. Cradling her to his chest, he inhaled deeply. She smelled like Johnson’s baby shampoo and sweet potato puree. As she looked up into his face, he could see so much of Pete in her features, but her earnest expression was all Sugar. He smiled down at her, just taking her in for a second, and then sat down in the nearest chair. 

Natalie could tell there was something weighing on him. And it was freaking her out. She saw Carm looking stressed all the time at work, but this was different. Whatever this was, it was really heavy.  

She leaned toward him, that same serious look on her face that Antonia had. “Carm. Are you okay?” 

Carmen looked from his niece, to his brother-in-law, to his sister, and nodded as if he’d just made up his mind. 

“Sug, there’s somethin’ I gotta tell ya.” 

Fade to black, credits roll…

[nakatomi-ayumu]

odd jobs | patrick & ayumu

for: @patoconnor location: ware

Another day saw yet another human who failed to repay the debt they owed Ayumu and he was left cleaning up their mess. The ancient spirit had a little business of loaning money to the desperate, but it was not without a significant interest that many could not repay. It was funny how the ones who desperately needed money could be driven to such lengths that they would seek such a ridiculous deal with Ayumu, the proverbial devil in these parts.

This one had been gambling the night away and booked out a room on the third floor of Ware the night before. After a spectacular losing streak, Ayumu decided to send one of the newer animal spirits to go and check in on him just to see what they would do, but they ended up attacking the spirit out of desperation. The ancient spirit let out a disappointed sighed as they wandered down to the front of the bar to look for a certain bartender.

"Clean up in Room 302, O'Connor. Say, you were human once. Tell me, when will your kind learn to stop gambling so much? Or to stop being so jumpy?" Ayumu could not blame the poor animal spirit for reacting in self-defence and the human met their untimely demise in the process.

[ariaste]

I have just spent the day reading your book and it is AMAZING AND FANTASTIC. this is like, kind of beside the point, but also thank you for having an explicitly ace character it’s always a little (good) surprising when there’s an ace character in a book and also a character who can be perceived as alloaro and neither of these is their entire personalities it’s just. Really nice. Also the worldbuilding is so!! VERY impressive I am impressed

Thank you so much! :) I'm on the ace spectrum myself (and nonbinary and generally queer), so of course I am always putting thought into worldbuilding around sexuality and gender. I think it's sort of boring to just replicate the gender binary over and over when there's so much room for creativity about every other aspect of a fantasy setting. Anyway, if you like my books, I have a fandom discord with a lot of really awesome folks in it -- come join us if you'd like to! :) Either way, thanks for your support and all your kind words!

[the-francakes]

I posted 1,871 times in 2022

That's 1,871 more posts than 2021!

323 posts created (17%)

1,548 posts reblogged (83%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@the-francakes

@mxlfoydraco

@scatteredstrings

@a-maidens-fantasy

@schmem14

I tagged 302 of my posts in 2022

#dramione - 57 posts

#draco malfoy - 41 posts

#microficmay2022 - 31 posts

#hermione granger - 25 posts

#harry potter fanfiction - 24 posts

#drarry - 23 posts

#hp fanfiction - 22 posts

#harry potter - 19 posts

#dramione fanfiction - 18 posts

#thefrancakes birthday pancakes - 16 posts

Longest Tag: 137 characters

#are they dating are they fucking or are they something in between that? i dunno but you say the nasty shit in bed and its fucking awesome

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

“It’s Zabini’s birthday this Friday. Stop by for drinks?” Draco asked.

“Friday? But that’s Valentine’s Day,” Hermione blurted out. No idea why. It’s not like she had a date; she and Ron had ended things months ago.

“True,” Malfoy hummed almost to himself. Then he looked at her, those soft eyes moving to the dark metal. “Are you free?”

“Yes. I’m free."

CUPID. on AO3

48 notes - Posted February 11, 2022

#4

@microficmay Day 9: ferocity

“Albus Severus is a stupid name!” 

“And Scorpius isn’t?!” 

Neither man was backing down. Again.

“I think my water broke,” Luna said softly. Both father-to-be’s didn’t hear and continued yelling with fury. She grabbed her go bag and headed to the fireplace; they’d notice she was gone eventually.

50 notes - Posted May 16, 2022

#3

Hi! Here’s my rec list of 22 fics to share with everyone. thank you for such a fun year and more to come in such a loving community! These are in no particular order except laziness because i don’t want to put them in ABC order... I also did not have banners for all of these cause i lost track of time so... that’s pretty much on par with me actually i have no excuses. 

MAIN POST

Far Be It From Me by @riptey

voici mon secret by secretpersona

What is this, fucking Jeopardy? by @lumosatnight

The Letter of Intent by @aauroraluna

Doppelgangland by damnedscribblingwoman 

A Dress with Pockets by @pacific-rimbaud

Seeker’s High by @corvuscrowned

All’s Fair in Love, and War, and Paintball by @schmem14

8 Simple Rules For Loving A Vampire by @simplifiedemotions 

Lemon Colour, Honey Glow by trishjames 

Ab Intra, Ab Extra by @arrisha-ao3

 Choices by MesserMoon

The Mirror of Ecidyrue Series by starbrigid 

Isolation by bexchan 

Not Friends, Some Benefits by devdevlin 

Vis-à-Vis-à-Vis by @vukovich

[Podfic] The (Third) Worst Year By TheFrancakes by @ellamcsmellbella 

favourite crime by Anonymous (this was a gift for me and i still dunno who it is but !!! dramione if the drawing room incident went very wrong!!!) 

Secrecy by @Shadowmu

just lovers (like we were supposed to be) by @zeppazariel

Warm Bodies by Betty_Hazel

Rewrite the Stars by KenzieSpenc (this is my cousin and im SO PROUD of her starting to write!!!) 

50 notes - Posted September 22, 2022

#2

me: ughhh i dunno what to write

my wips: (ง •̀_•́)ง 

89 notes - Posted November 21, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

@microficmay Day 28: epilogue

Draco closed the book and scoffed loudly. “Pure trash.” 

“What is?” Harry asked, wrapping his arms around his husband’s middle. 

“The ending,” Draco leaned back, still annoyed. “She wrote that you married Weaslette and that I'm balding.”

“Trash,” Harry agreed, kissing Draco’s shoulder. 

“Right?” Draco muttered, “balding? As if.”

181 notes - Posted May 28, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Douglas Todd

Published: Apr 15, 2016

Canada is a place where gender stereotypes remain unusually strong. Few seem able to hear that women can be as violent as men in domestic disputes.

UBC psychology professor Don Dutton, who is about to retire at age 72, has never had a strong desire to be the centre of attention, let alone be infamous. To his mind, he just follows the evidence.

But the expert on forensic psychology ranks high for controversy, at least in Canada.

Dutton has written hundreds of peer-reviewed articles, more than eight books and textbooks, won dozens of grants and served as an expert witness in scores of legal cases, including appearing for the prosecution in the 1995 murder trial of former NFL star O.J. Simpson.

The more than 250 students who take Dutton’s courses each year learn about everything from the reliability of eyewitness accounts to personality disorders, from the roots of genocide to what makes serial killers tick.

But on one subject, now known as intimate-partner violence, Dutton has become too hot for many Canadians to handle.

That may be why outspoken Senator Anne Cools has asked Dutton to speak to the Senate in Ottawa next Thursday, where he will outline how most domestic disputes involve “bilateral,” or mutual, violence.

Sitting in the living room of the Kitsilano home that he shares with his wife, Marta Aragonez, Dutton explains his research is readily received in many places outside Canada.

The author of Rethinking Domestic Violence and The Domestic Assault of Women (both published by UBC Press) has already spoken to the World Bank, the University of Washington law school and many other institutions.

His books have been published in several languages, including Japanese and Dutch. Scholars around the world have formally cited his research more than 7,000 times.

But Canada is a place, he says, where gender stereotypes remain unusually strong. Few seem able to hear that women can be as violent as men in domestic disputes.

Dutton didn’t always think so. He started out his UBC psychology career in the 1970s, offering court-mandated psychotherapy to husbands accused of battering their wives.

“In those days,” Dutton says, “I thought it was just the men who were doing it.”

By the 1990s, however, Dutton realized many husbands were telling the truth when they said, “My wife is violent, too.”

Mutual violence emerges when “couples don’t know how to stop”

American researchers were discovering the same reality. Daniel Whittaker has found the most common form of domestic violence is mutual: Up to 75 per cent of victimized women were also aggressors.

“Couples get into screaming matches that get physical,” Dutton says. “They are under stress and insult each other. And they just don’t know how to stop.”

The second most-common form of intimate-partner violence is perpetrated by females, according to Whittaker and others. The third most-common form, known as wife battering, is perpetrated by males.

Weapons, despite being rare in domestic violence, are gender-neutral, including scissors and boiling water.

Why is such data so little known in Canada?

A key factor, says Dutton, is technical, at least on the surface. Statistics Canada’s widely used domestic-violence data is based solely on criminal reports ��� and women make the vast majority of complaints to police.

Canadian researchers don’t take the extra steps that American and European researchers do: They don’t ask each partner if they contributed to the violence.

When U.S. scholar Deborah Capaldi has asked such questions, she’s found that in 87 per cent of the cases in which the man was arrested, the woman admitted she had shown prior aggression.

In his presentations, Dutton also cites a study by Denise Hines, who followed 302 men who called a New Hampshire hotline that had been established for men involved in domestic violence (a rare public service). In three out of four cases the men had been injured. But when those same men sought followup help from another domestic-violence program, 64 per cent were told they were the “real batterer.”

In one case, a husband called police after his drunken wife attacked him. The police found the man with a knife sticking out of his body. They still arrested him.

Most police officers that Dutton knows, male and female, are already aware that gender stereotypes about domestic disputes don’t hold up. But he says police feel their hands are tied by public perceptions about violence against women.

Unlike many, Dutton has no desire to politicize domestic violence. Despite accusations hurled at him, he doesn’t belong to any sort of men’s rights movement. Still, he’s taken considerable lumps.

The case of Fariba Mahmoodi

Among other things, Dutton was devastated by the national attention given to 35-year-old Iranian student Fariba Mahmoodi, who convinced a B.C. Human Rights Tribunal he had created a “sexualized atmosphere” when she came to his Kitsilano home in 1994.

Despite the tribunal learning Mahmoodi had stalked Dutton and lied at least three times to advance her career and her finances — and despite the B.C. Civil Liberties Association supporting Dutton by saying the ruling brought a new “chill” to freedom of expression on campus — Dutton emphasizes most “people do not know how bad it is” to be subjected to such a concerted public attack.

The Mahmoodi nightmare dragged on for years, but Dutton notes no other woman ever came forward to complain about his behaviour — “because I don’t do that kind of thing.” He has no idea what’s happened to Mahmoodi.

SFU criminology professor Ehor Boyanowsky believes it’s a shame Dutton’s work, especially on intimate-partner violence, is not more appreciated in Canada.

The problem, Boyanowsky believes, is that Canada is home to more liberal, “well-intentioned” people than most countries.

“They follow their unanalyzed prejudices based on what they think is the right thing to do — rather than looking at the data and acting appropriately for harm reduction.”

Describing Dutton as brilliant, but personally “timid,” Boyanowsky said the UBC psychology professor overcomes his cautiousness by working tremendously hard and doing deep research.

“He challenged the paradigm that men are the perpetrators and women are the victims in almost all cases. He follows the evidence. He’s a scientist.”

SFU professor emerita of psychology, Kim Bartholomew, also admires Dutton.

“He’s been courageous in maintaining his intellectual integrity in a field in which ideology is often more influential than data, and in which there are strong pressures against challenging the ideological view.”  

For his part, Dutton believes Canadian politicians, from both the left and right, have fallen into a gender trap.

Liberal-left politicians and activists have turned domestic violence into solely a women’s rights issue, often defining the entire category as “violence against women.”

Conservative politicians don’t get the picture either, he says. Since they want to appear protective of women, they appeal to religious supporters by framing partner violence as a lack of “family values.”

There is a significant reason Dutton wants policy-makers, including the senators he’ll meet on Thursday, to overcome their stereotypes and recognize men and women are similarly violent in relationships.

If public officials understood the realities, Dutton believes they would realize the harm of domestic violence could be reduced by courts mandating both partners take part in couples therapy.

As he prepares to retire from UBC after 47 years, however, Dutton is not optimistic Canadian politicians will accept the evidence.

“I don’t see it turning around.”

[ Via: https://archive.ph/0GlB7 ]

==

This is what happens when I tag "violence ag" and let it suggest. If you wonder why I'm posting on this topic, this is as good a reason as any.

[softness-and-shattering]

I posted 13,762 times in 2022

That's 13,762 more posts than 2021!

163 posts created (1%)

13,599 posts reblogged (99%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@/borinquenaqueer

@/vaspider

@/pinnacle-ferring

@/hadeantaiga

@/on-my-way-to-lesser-things

I tagged 2,908 of my posts in 2022

#ntn spoilers - 302 posts

#nona the ninth spoilers - 152 posts

#the locked tomb - 132 posts

#nona the ninth - 130 posts

#nona save - 127 posts

#find later - 125 posts

#saveforref tlt - 111 posts

#tlt spoilers - 108 posts

#harrow the ninth spoilers - 106 posts

#nona spoilers - 97 posts

Longest Tag: 140 characters

#plus the whole background of medical terms being used casually + negatively waters down the meaning + makes it insulting rather than neutral

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

I appreciate Wendell and Wild for saying ‘deadnaming isnt just some Special Snowflake trans issue, its shitty to call anyone a name they dont like.”

73 notes - Posted November 24, 2022

#4

Ok so Hexum is smuggling same-sized crates that come from Wildemount.

Hytroga has what is meant to look like a damaged beacon.

Ashtons memory goes fuzzy from the moment the box opened.

Ashton seems to have their rages influenced by Dunamanctic powers.

What if Hexum is transporting Beacons?

Possibly Ashton is consecuted and like, came back to himself at that moment.

More interesting, maybe, what if they have a piece of Beacon lodged in their skull?!

Furthermore, this is wild conjecture, following the consecuted theory, maybe when the old soul started showing itself is when they started turning to rock? I dont remember if the soul comes back/makes itself known around puberty, or if its younger.

What if he has a piece of a beacon in his head y'all? He does always describe the head crack as the place the rage-specific colours come from.

With the help of @pinnacle-ferring

96 notes - Posted April 27, 2022

#3

Let Me Further Break Your Heart - Gideon the Ninth Structure Analysis

Some Gideon the Ninth analysis by way of writing analysis, just for fun. No spoilers for Harrow the Ninth or Nona; for current purposes Im essentially treating Gideon as a stand-alone. Spoilers all the way through for Gideon the Ninth though. This is your enormous spoiler warning. 

Intro:

Im slowly slowly getting back into writing after being very into it for a long time which was followed by a long break in which I was too disabled/tired/brain-fogged to write. So Im poking back around Writing Excuses and Im reminded of this* concept of (I think) Mary Robinette Kowal’s, that treats pacing a lot like programming.  

The concept being, when you end a conflict, the timing of that resolution has to match the timing of when you introduced it. The example they use is an A-plot B-plot detective romance.

If the detective walks into the room, inspects the evidence, then notices a hot journalist also in the room, thats an A-whodunnit and a B-romance. The first conflict is the mystery, the second is the romance,  therefore the romance needs to be resolved before the mystery is solved.

[requisite disclaimer that the rules exist as guides and you can always break them if it works better for your art, and that something does not have to be intentionally written a certain way for meaning to be drawn from it, within reason]

If the detective walks into the room, spots the cute detective, then examines the evidence, thats an A-romance and a B-whodunnit. That means the mystery needs to be solved before the relationship is confirmed.

And this works with as many plot/character/mystery threads as you have in a story, not just two. 

Enter The Locked Tomb:

What I just discovered while pulling that quote was that my original framing was that Gideon escaping was the first conflict, and the epilogue is simply an epilogue, a teaser for the next book, and exempt from the bracketing system. But actually no, the first conflict, broadly speaking, is “Who the heck is this Lord, what the heck is this setting?”.  And our final scene is finally meeting god and the promise of learning more about the world than just the Ninth and Canaan House. Huh.

So because my mind is in Locked-Tomb-Blorbo-Land, my mind immediately goes to the first line of Gideon the Ninth: 

“In the Myriadic year of our Lord - the ten thousandth year of the King Undying, the kindly Prince of Death! - Gideon Nav packed her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and she escaped from the House of the Ninth.”

Simple. Harrow is the Ninth. She is literally 200 sons and daughters of her house, their entire future. She is their youngest generation, the youngest person full stop, and their heir, their leader, their Reverend Daughter. 

Back to Gideon:  She’s a fighter, she’s practical, and well, she’s horny, and her objective is to get away from the Ninth. We soon learn this is her 33rd attempt of her lifelong objective to leave, because she absolutely loathes this place. If she doesn’t leave there will be no escape even in death, as her body will be used to work and clean and grow wilted food. 

And yet, the last we see of her in this book is sacrificing herself, a ghost of herself helping Harrow, and then she’s dead and gone. How does that solve her wanting to leave the Ninth?

I was just listening to @onefleshonepod, episode 5, “What’s With The Skulls”, wherein Kabriya and Bailey point out that by Chapter 10, when Gideon rescues Harrow from the lab with Palamedes and Camilla, she’s thinking of Harrow as “her necromancer”, and does all in her power to save Harrow, even while thinking to herself that she would delight in Harrow’s death. She’s growing attached, but she is far from ready to admit that to herself. 

And in the beginning, Gideon absolutely loathes Harrow, a feeling which is mutual. She hates the Ninth, she hates its heiress, she wants nothing to do with any of them. 

But the thing is, with a story hook, it can go one of a few ways in resolving satisfactorily. The hook is that Gideon wants to escape. Possible resolutions are:

1.  She physically escapes and has a life with which she is content.

2. She physically escapes but never psychologically is able to leave it all behind.

3. She does not escape and is doomed to eternal misery (that would be a straight-up tragedy)

4. She does not escape, but rather becomes content or happy with the status quo. 

And number 4 is exactly what happens. 

And they fight together seamlessly, proudly and aggressively of the Ninth, totally in sync with each other.

The pool scene is of course the central turning point, when Gideon finally has all the information it takes to truly understand Harrow, and to forgive her. Then of course by the battle with Cytherea in the lobby, Gideon is back with the trusty two-hander that she stashed away, and we get from Harrow “I said a necromancer alone. I have you. We bring hell”, followed by: “Nav, show them what the Ninth House does”

“We do bones motherfucker!”

And then, as she is about to sacrifice herself for Harrow, believing that this course of action was the only sensible thing left to do, we get this passage:

‘She mentally found herself all of a sudden in front of the doors of Drearburgh-four years old again, and screaming-and all her fear and hate of them went away. Drearburgh was empty. There was no Crux. There were no godawful great-aunts. There were no restless corpses, no strangers in coffins, no dead parents. Instead, she was Drearburgh. She was Gideon Nav, and Nav was a Niner name. She took the whole, putrid, quiet, filth-strewn madness of the place, and she opened her doors to it. Her hands were no shaking anymore.

 ‘WHAM-WHAM-WHAM. The structure bowed and creaked. Big chunks were falling away now, letting in wide splotches of sunlight. She felt movement behind her, but she was faster.

See the full post

120 notes - Posted May 29, 2022

#2

I really want Asmodeus to be genuine. If he's playing Zerxus, thats a character and story we've all seen a million times before. A genuinely caring devil who possibly misunderstood what effect his gift would had, or thinks the effect is what he intended and is for the genuine benefit of humanity, who really truly believes that; thats a character Ive not seen before. Thats a different kind of tragedy. Someone trying to help and being scorned forever because his gift wasnt taken in the spirit it was offered. And thousands of years later he's still reviled, but he's not evil. Id really like that to be the story being told here.

131 notes - Posted June 5, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

The Gau Dreshari Head Druid, around a century ago, to the head of the Magisterium: Look, I may or may not trust you personally but I certainly dont trust the wizards of your city as a whole. I will not answer anything more about the Arboreal Calix, please stop asking, thanks.

Laerryn Coromar-Seelie, who literally wants to stop the Calix doing its thing because its taking up "her" energy and throwing off her calculation of extraplanar travel (which may in fact be the entire purpose of the Calix): Im different, they would definitely trust me, Im worthy.

Patia Po'rco, granddaughter of the legendary wizard who raised the city, keeper of the Librarian Incatatum, owner/keeper of the Palazzo Po'rco, the family home/historical city monument where all the most important people in the city are currently partying; who earlier in the day had one of the seven rulers of the city with his apprentice fondly and confusedly recounting stories of her grandfather and showing personal interest in her work: People who've had everything handed to them dont know what its like to fight, so theyre weak; we have fought, we are worthy.

Look if theres something you can say about our wizard women, its that they have absolutely zero self awareness. Love that for them. Gaslight Gatekeep Girlboss Ghor Dranas!

422 notes - Posted June 4, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[girlboydotjpg]

hiiiiiii, it’s me, best friends live sex celebration anon!!! My pc stopped working for a bit but I’m back now with part 2.5 (because writing what is essentially a barebones fic takes more time than I expected, considering I’ve never written fanfiction before and I’ve only read it)

So truck are now v publicly in a relationship (oc complains about pda in interviews and such but he talks to kris about how happy he is for them when he takes breaks from staring at kris's legs because mmmmmm yummy).

TIMESKIP !!! (for plot reasons)

We reach day (insert good tag milestone here)) ((the longest reign is 302 days thats almost a fuckin year jesus christ)) and tony goes to the bfs “do you guys wanna do something special to celebrate?” and the boys are like “yeah, we’ll think of something”

So they're getting in their gear (and by gear i mean the rainbow tracksuits) and chuck has a eureka moment because he's just thought of something incredible and unique and wwe would never so he turns to trent and asks “hey what if we had sex on televison?” “like edge and lita?” “exactly like that” *cue oc loudly clearing his throat and leaving the room to go hang out with kris (and gawk at her unabashed with his glasses on)* trent considers it, goes “okay, we should clear it with the boss” so they go talk to TK who says “no” then truck go “but it’ll be tastefully censored” and then TK goes “okay fine”

It’s (insert either Wednesday or Friday here) ! You know what that means… BWOW BWOW BWOW BEST FRIENDS! they head the ring and about their title reign and how meaningful its been to them "butttttt, we are gonna do the one thing people want, the one thing kenny omega would never do.... AND THATS GO FULL HOG BABY THATS RIGHT!!!" says chuck taylor to the audience, who are now chanting "full hog" at him

commentary are confused, twitter and reddit are confused, TK does a line of cocaine in his office and stares at his booker of the year award and thinks "god this wrestling shit is so easy to book" and the best friends head to the back.

Join me for part 3, where I want kris statlander in a carnal way (she is god and I am only her silly little lesbian follower) and continue to project that onto orange, and when I finally make truck have sex on live tv :]

anon you are a fucking visionary