#sometimes u just gotta yell about things that have no consequence

[breadandblankets]

Duke: "So then Ra's went-"

Damian: "You know that's not grandfather's name right"

Duke: "Hm?"

Damian: "that's not his name it's a title, you're supposed to say the whole title, his name isn't 'Head'"

Duke:

Damian:

Duke: "She give me Ra's on my Ghul til I…"

Damian, sighing, unsheathing a sword: "Thomas, I know you will survive this, so I will not be holding back"

[ringmyheart]

hey, i was wondering if i could hv headcanons with how to fight characters? maybe when their crush's parents scold them for getting bad score at school, like that time at the end of the semester. pls do it with seong taehoon and jiyeon woo. thank you! 🥺

SEONG TAEHOON

The first thing he’s gonna do honestly is tell u to fight ur parents. U tell him about how u got a bad score and how it’s the end of the semester and the test/ur overall grade was important and he’s so used to living life the way HE wants he tells u to just. Fight them

And you’re first thought 2 say is idk how to fight? Bc what he said is just so sudden and kinda preposterous and ur upset and he’s like okay, I’ll teach u then and ur like I’m not fighting my parents 😭 and he goes okay then I’LL do it

And u have to rlly reiterate like” NOBODY is fighting my parents” first and foremost and after that he kind of just goes silent because he has no idea how to help you or what to do and u have knocked every idea he’s offered out of the park

Truthfully I don’t think he cares about grades too much for himself and this extends to you too. He doesn’t get why you’re so concerned, and his dad (I’m pretty sure form what we’ve seen so far) is really nice and laidback so it’s not like he’s ever being reprimanded so he’s also partfully angry at your parents bc they made u upset

Like rlly angry LMAO and as ur ranting to him ab how they yelled at u for bad grades he’s just like one day… one day he’s gna fight them 😐 he doesn’t make exceptions. He might tell u to tell them to watch out LMAO but he says it so dead seriously and u laugh but wonder if he’s even joking ?

He’s like okay well have u considered: running away

And u quickly dismiss that idea too bc u have nowhere to go and it’s literally just them scolding u ur like it’s not THAT srs... I’m just upset and he’s like u have a place to sta... nvm he’s not gonna b sweet if it’s not like absolutely necessary LOL

Bc of his lack of understanding or just overall interest in this kind of stuff, he just listens to u bc his advice clearly wasn’t cutting it for u.

He asks to see the grade and u hand him the test or the grade folder and it if ur grades weren’t even that bad, he’s gonna get frustrated w you and be like u have gotta b kidding me this is what ur stressed about 😐 what ur parents yelled at u for?? And he smacks u on the side of ur head and is like please tell me ur joking these are good. Anything above a C in his eyes is still really good

If ur grades were a D, he’s like neutral like okay yeah it was kinda bad but not the worst, don’t stress about it I’ve gotten tons of D’s.

And if it was an F he’s like oh okay yeah it was pretty bad like I get it. But this would just make things worse and ur like ur right I did so baaad and he’s like nonono oh no it’s not like that and he like stiffens and goes quiet when u get misty eyed I guess and wonders once again why this is so serious to you?? Who cares about grades?

He probably gets mad ur letting other ppl control ur life. We’ve seen that he hates other ppl living their lives for others or by others rules and he’s kinda frustrated at you and wishes he could just take over u for a day or something and tell ur parents off and ur talking about it and he’s narrowing his eyes at you but ur clearly upset so he’s not gonna yell at u rn. When u feel better ab this he probably will tell you to stop living by others standards but for now he’s kinda lost

He tries to convince u to rise up against ur parents and is like “are u gonna keep letting people in ur life control u?!” And it’s like a motivational pep talk and ur like “no!” And he’s like “are you gonna let THEM yell at you and hurt YOUR feelings?! Cause I sure as hell am not!” And ur getting more energetic and r like “me neither!” And he’s like “are you gonna let ur own PARENTS talk to YOU like that?!” And u go “no!!” Nd he’s like “we r sick of it!!” And u go “ya we r 😭” and then he thinks ur on board so he’s like good!! Let’s go beat ur parents

And ur like “what” and he realizes u weren’t on the same page the entire time so he eventually bedgrudginly will lie that idea go

And he tells you this, like he says it won’t matter in seven years, right?? So why does it matter? Pls cheer up and be doesnt outright say this but he’s like “don’t worry ur pretty little head about it” or something to cheer u up

If it works and he successfully consoles u he is rlly happy and doesn’t show it but he’ll shove his hands in his pockets and go “see?? I told you. I’m good at this advice thing.”

If it doesn’t, he’ll try to take ur mind off it and he probably just shows u his spinning back kick or something LMAO or take u to the dojo so u can either do stuff w him or just watch

But if u tell him what ur upset about isn’t grades but ur parents, he’ll listen to u tell him what they told u if it was mean or strict and if it’s rlly bad his eyes will go bloodshot and he’ll roll up his sleeves and be like okay let me at them then

Literally don’t even JOKE ab him beating up ur parents he will do it 😭😭 and worse thing is he’ll WIN. Don’t even be like “yeah I wish u would beat them up for me” bc he doesn’t draw the line between u joking and him actually doing it probably. Even if he knows ur joking, which he will bc he’s not dense he’ll use it against u and be like u have me permission and suddenly ur the instigator

He listens to u rant about them if u just want a listener and he can probably tell by ur body language… like If ur clearly wanting advice, he’ll offer u the best he can and will tell you to stick up for yourself or, if you’re really upset he’ll even consider talking to them for u. No fists to his chagrin but he’ll advocate for u and he won’t plan beforehand at all he’ll just say “I think u need 2 be nicer to ur child.” And will be like “this shit doesn’t even matter anyways” and will rip the test paper in front of them so this option is obviously not even a choice for you

If u start to cry he’ll first awkwardly do that thing that people do when they don’t know how to console someone and rub your arm and he’s like “Uhh, do u want water?” Bc he’s sad bc UR sad and doesn’t know what to do and it’s like what he’s doing isn’t that helpful but the tone in his voice is v consoling and comforting bc he’s suddenly kinda quiet 4 once

If ur sobbing he’ll hold u and u cry into his shirt and later he’ll talk about how you got it all wet but like when he goes home in the mirror and sees the tear stains it reminds him ur hurt and breaks his heart

He will study with you. And by studying it’s just him like sitting with you while you study. He doesn’t think you should study but if that’s how you want to solve this and feel better he’s down. He won’t read anything but if u have flash cards he will read them back to you and ask u questions and he doesn’t know the right answer himself (unless it’s math he’s probably rlly rlly good at math.) so u have to write them on the back. But he’s pretty good at helping u study

And if ur doing flash cards, he won’t tell u the answer until u guess it and he’s good at hinting to it and he gets annoyed VERY easily when ur not saying the answer u wrote on the back but bites it down

If ur parents make u stay home more and study as like a consequence of gettig a bad grade, he won’t have any of it

He will either confront ur parents and that either makes things somewhat better or incredibly worse

So if that’s what happens he’ll text u a lot and face time u in secret and call u a lot so even tho ur not together, every time u come home from school and open a book ur phone is hidden in the bend of it and ur fting and sometimes u don’t even talk he’s just FaceTiming u so u won’t b alone while u study and bc he misses u

Overall, he really couldn’t give a shit about grades but if need be, he’ll help u with urs, he’d be the best math tutor if ur looking, if ur parents lock u up a lot to study more bc they’re mad he will use any other option to see u, and he’ll try his best to console u despite not being that knowledgeable or understanding why you’re upset. His go to comfort option is distraction, but if it’s futile he’ll do whatever it is u wanna do. If u thank him for helping u he’ll kick something and will b like “yeah whatever I was just sick of u moping around.”

JIYEON WOO

He understands what’s going on with you all too well. When you tell him ur parents scolded u bc u didn’t do so hot in a test or ur overall grades this semester, it’s like his heart is a weight that drops into his stomach and ties his intestine into a huge knot. Like he feels the dread set in

He’s takes a muuuuchhhh more calm approach than Taehoon tbh, like while ur talking he won’t say a word and will listen. He is SUCHHH a good listener and especially now he’s just staring at you and nodding his head to let you know he’s listening to make sure u know that like he is there and present and if ur sad he’s sad too like u guys r a “team”

While ur venting, if u begin to cry he’ll let u and he’s more of a “rub-ur-back-soothingly” type of consoler so he’ll do that and if u half hug him he’ll continue do it but he’s looking at u w the saddest eyes in the world ☹️

Doesn’t rlly know what to do at first besides listen and b nice

He might even get misty eyed with u too bc he understands so much. But he won’t bring up his home situation at ALL, it’s like ur stage and he’s just a listener, he won’t make u feel like he’s comparing ur pain

His fist clenched at his side because he’s angry at your parents AND his and he’s imagining what ur parents said in his mind and even if it wasn’t that bad, he’s fuming

He might even offer to run away w u too and he “knows a place” 😭and ur like omg it’s not that bad but after reminiscing on his own home life he just assumes you’re as sick of it as him

If you’re his s/o, you obviously know about his YouTube streams, so that week at the end of every stream he’ll take a risk and unmute it and go “and don’t worry about grades too much, guys :)” and ur “guys”

Either that or he’ll do something so he will stop streaming completely for that week bc it might make u feel like he’s rubbing it in ur face how much he studies nd how studious he is and yes it gets him in trouble w his dad but when u start to feel better ab ur grades and u smile and he’s like “I thought u were upset?” And u say “oh, yeah… I’m feeling better now :)” it’s all worth it

Since he’s so consumed w streaming if u weren’t able to ever meet in person, and u had to FaceTime or text him, he probably spams u and u guys have to text at like 3am bc he’s studying all other hours of the day so he’s under his covers and reading or calling u

Like it goes

‘My parents got mad at me bc I got bad grades :(((‘ and then he sees the text he reads it and then again and is like oh no bc is it like his situation???

And then u go get a snack or something and go MIA during texting but he doesn’t know that so he spams u bc he thinks that maybe ur parents took ur phone and r locking u up like his did him so he’s like

‘Are you okay?’

‘Hello…?’

‘Where did you go? :(‘

‘Are you okay?’

‘Please be okay…’

‘(Y/n)?’

And if he suspects ur parents took ur phone and r gonna read this he sends things a very lengthy and persuasive text that explains why this is cruel and unusual and to PLS give u ur phone back and then it says seen and ur like it’s still me :)) I’m okay but thx for worrying 😭❤️

And he’s like ‘thank god…’

Since he’s a part of that newtube company (XY or something? I forgot HAHA), he has connections honestly??? So if you’re that torn over this grade he might try and pull some strings to improve your grade, make classes easier or to reach your parents even. Like he affects his parents’ boss which then butterfly effects to you

Assures you that grades aren’t that important, or tries to, but it’s so horrible coming from him because he has such good grades and it always is gonna feel like he’s just saying that no matter what

If he could he’d fail a test too to make u feel better and like ur in it together but his dad would MURDER him. So he just tries to tell u it’s okay and graders aren’t that bad

If ur mostly upset over the bad grade, he’s like it’s fine, and even if it’s a grade he genuinely considers bad he’ll look at it like “...” before going this is fine too!! :) and in his mind he’s like if I got this my dad would kill me but would NOT tell you that EVERRR. He’s gonna do anything to preserve ur feeling rn and the next few weeks he’s especially nice to u

Will study with you to make you feel better but it’s hard because he’s really far ahead tbh :(( like he explains assuming u already have some ground knowledge. BUT he’s really good at being patient so if ur like I don’t understand and get frustrated he’s like “oh I’m sorry!!! Here, I’ll go over it again.”

U guys start spending time at the library and when his dad questions him he’s like I’m studying and he really is and it’s like a study date and it actually ends up being RLLY fun

Might even print u worksheets and stuff and leaves nice notes on them when he gives them to u like every chapter has another ‘u can do it’ of ‘ur already here?! Omg! Ur far ahead keep going!’ And lots of smiley faces and hearts in the margins

He is not above helping u cheat. He will give u answers in school, risking being caught nd getting in trouble, like he’ll find a way to sit as close to u as possible in class and “drop” his pen besides u that just happens to have a paper inside with all of the answers!!!!

And when you see it you’re so happy and you look at him and wink trying it be inconspicuous and it’s so obvious and he’s like omg (y/n) pls… but he’s happy ur happy and ur grades improve so much bc he gets every answer right and so of course you are getting them right too

But u both plan on u getting a few wrong to avoid suspicion and he’s so happy when ur happy bc ur grades improve so he’ll start sending u the HW, too

Will send u just study notes if u don’t want to cheat and they r so good and he’ll also send u his flash cards and everything and lend u notes from the past

He knows ur YouTube username so if u start to study a lot more bc of ur parents’ scolding and watch his streams to “study” w him despite the million viewers it’s like it’s just u nd him and when u comment like “here bc my parents yelled @ me and now im trying to improve my grades” he is simultaneously v happy ur there but also heart broken

If it’s mainly ur parents scolding u ur upset about, he’ll listen to u talk about it for hours on end over text, FaceTime, call, etc.

Makes a joke ab sending ur parents to the nursing home he volunteers at to cheer u up 😭😭 it either makes u son harder or laugh

Overall, he cares LOTS about grades, but his not urs. And if ur worried ab getting a job he’s like dw I’ll cover u in the future :)) and he’s very understanding bc he’s in a very similar situation and hates seeing u suffer like that or go thru that even if it’s genuinely not that bad. If u cry his works just SHATTERS and he’ll listen to u rant and cry for hours on end. And if ur grades were actually considerably bad, he won’t tell u that, and he’ll help u improve them bc THATS his solution to it and he’s good at helping u study. If ur not up to it he will help u cheat despite the danger of getting caught, so he can see u happy again :(( he’s rlly so sad ur going thru the same thing as him and will do anything to make it better. Won’t offer to fight ur parents but if need be he might rough one of them up if things escalate to really like mentally abusive-like proportions. But if it wasn’t that bad, he’ll just console u and help u to feel better no matter what !!

(Unedited)

I hope this came out well!! I’m so happy I’m getting how to fight requests tysm for that, <3 also it ended up kinda long and I lost my train of thought a few times but this felt like an emergency request and when I read those I like when they’re rlly long bc it distracts and comforts me. If it was one I hope ur okay and know u r more than ur grades!!!! ❤️❤️ ty for ur request :))

[tigerdrop]

i have a lot of trouble writing benrey in my fics— how did you experiment with his characterization until you were satisfied with it, and what other benny interpretations do u enjoy from other fic writers? i love the way you write him, his dialogue feels so authentic and believable.

AW thank u......it always makes my day to hear something nice about the way i characterize ppl......there were a lot of things i did to try to nail how he talks and thinks. thank u for asking this b/c i have a Lot to say about this subject

the first thing is, obv, watching the series. i have to include this one b/c i feel like quite a few ppl in this fandom.....like.....havent. there is a certain way of characterizing him as an Epic Mischievous Gamer that is, uhhh, very much a fanon thing that ppl see on tumblr and imitate and flanderize all to hell. but, like, im an obsessive little weirdo who will rewatch things over and over again to take notes on characters’ behavior and dialogue and i really gotta recommend just sitting back and listening to how benrey talks.

hes not dropping gamer references constantly. hes not making every single sentence out of his mouth some obnoxious quip. hes slow on the uptake and drops conversations entirely if he doesnt care about them. he has never once said “cringe” before and whenever i see a fic that has him doing it multiple times i feel minutes shaved off of my lifespan. the #1 tip i can give here is to not have benrey talking in fucking 2010s gamer lingo every time he opens his mouth. please

(i feel partially responsible for the spread of this kind of characterization. my first 2 fics have him doing stuff like that every once in awhile. sometimes i debate going back and changing them, but like, benrey saying “poggers” one time aside, i think they hold up pretty good. so i havent. something something historical accuracy)

the more i wrote about him, the more i tried digging into the aspects of his character that i found the most appealing. some people are really into his polite side. i am really into his bullying side. so i would watch the bits where benrey really has his “gordon bullying” mode cranked up to 11 and make note of how he acts, how he talks. trying to replicate it. “benrey saying epic random shit to piss gordon off” is much less his vibe than, like, demeaning gordon, and i feel like the bathroom skit is the ultimate manifestation of this. it is genuinely my favorite bit in the whole series b/c its so ideally representative of their weird-ass dynamic. this fuckin high school bullying LARP in the middle of a public restroom. god in heaven

the less you lean on the crutches of “gamer lingo” and “wacky non-sequitur”, the more it forces you to think about how he behaves. what motivates him. and generally, like, he operates on his own wavelength. he doesnt fully understand everything thats going on around him and selectively chooses what he tunes into. and, most importantly, he just wants to play games, man. benrey likes goofing off with the science crew and playing mind games with gordon. he fails to understand the gravity of his actions a lot of the time b/c hes not human, and hes not operating under the same social guidelines.

(this is the part where people like to speculate exactly what kind of non-human he is, and i think this can be helpful for setting up his motivations! me, personally, i am of the opinion that hes just a video game guy made real. kind of like a live-action cartoon character. so hes operating on video game logic a lot of the time, and doesnt grasp that consequences for actions are different for normal people who cant noclip or respawn. a kind of lack of empathy that manifests in him being capricious, indifferent, detached......purely oriented around “getting his job done” and “chilling” and, naturally, “fucking with gordon freeman“.)

ultimately it boils down to distilling just what i like out of their interactions and trying to Manifest it repeatedly. i go crazy about their actual canon interactions and i want to write things that hit the notes i like: two guys who are mutually kind of obsessed with one another, for better or worse, and engage in a lot of play fighting (and, you know, genuine fighting, too) as a sublimation of it. best frenemies, if you will.

i think that a lot of the problems people have in writing benrey is that they kinda just project whatever attributes they want in a lover onto him. like, man, i like cute shit as much as the next guy, but do you really think that the dude who bullies gordon freeman while hes having a panic attack is gonna tenderly stroke gordons hair and wipe his tears and tell him that everythings gonna be okay? no, dude. even when benrey expresses any kind of concern, he does it in a way that communicates that he doesnt understand the gravity of whats going on and he doesnt “get” why gordons lying on the ground yelling, or why gordons howling in pain after getting his arm cut off. he is not an empathetic guy. hes actually kind of a creep!!! a lil freakjob! the weirdness and the lack of humanity are what make him hot!!!!

and this is what makes it own so hard on the rare occasions he does show empathy! its the same reason why its so cute when gordon stops bitching for 0.5 seconds and tries to be nice! theyre earned moments, not character defaults. and cutesy/lovey-dovey shit with these two is definitely doable, but i would love to see more of it take into account the fact that these are two dudes who fucking suck and who especially suck at being emotionally open with each other.

as far as characterizations that i really like........okay. full disclosure. the biggest reason ive been losing my shit over the catmaid freemind fic is b/c the author is one of the few people who really taps in to what i like about benrey, and what i like about his relationship with gordon. hes teasing. he likes to use his perceived authority to bully people. hes weirdly protective of gordon. but hes also just, like, a chill dude who wants to play video games. and he legit likes gordon and expresses affection for him in some of the most in-character ways ive ever seen

like. deliberately spilling milk on the couch and flatly going like “oops.” b/c he wants gordon to sleep in his room......playing nurse by doing fuck-all apart from giving gordon powerade while hes sick and keeping the volume on his video games low......kicking barmey under the table for making fun of gordon being dogboyed.......it is all exceptionally cute shit and its delightfully in-character. i feel so bad for the author b/c im a frenrey head and i am primarily reading it for those two. but god they do it so well.......im hooked. im obsessed

thank u again for asking this and for the lovely compliment ^q^ i hope this answered your question......i have spent entirely too much of my life thinking about my favorite half life funny guy

[financialinstability]

uni!roger taylor & brian may - car ride one-shot

my first fic!! wooo!!

word count:  1365

warning: angst! a lot of maylor (but its platonic bc i know who god is sis)!! there might be grammatical errors or stuff like that since english is like my third language lmao, mentions of violence tag: @benmydickhardy @fckmeroger-ina (i sent u an anon) 

----------------- It was the eary hours of morning and the lack of Brian shouting at him was quite concerning. Usually by now he would’ve gotten a real handful of what consequences he could get for his behavior and how it would affect the band - if they ever made it big. This time, it had gone too long since they had spoken, and it seemed as if neither of them wanted to touch the subject.

The silence in the car was deafening and the roads were empty only lit up by the occasional street lamp. “Honestly, Roger you’re un-fucking-believable - how many times do I have to pick you up from these things?” Brian calmly breaks the silence.

Roger sighed and looked out the window. He hated it when he got confronted like this, but he wasn’t surprised.

“I can’t have it on my conscience. The people at the top have to listen and end that dreadful war” He answers, trying to keep the conversation calm.

Usually it would be a lot of screams and accusations of lack of empathy and how silence strengthens the enemy but tonight was different. Roger knew that he shouldn’t have called Brian who had a huge exam in a few days that he was nervous about passing.

Which is highly unusual for Brian, but the usual feeling for Roger when it came to uni work.

---- 4 hours earlier

“Roger it’s fucking 2 am, this better be good” Freddie hissed through the phone.

“Listen Fred, you’re the fifth person I’ve rang - you’ve gotta come pick me up. I am in Liverpool” Roger answered, his voice low and anxious.

If Freddie didn’t come - he would have to call Brian and disturb his studies. Roger would probably have to endure another lecture on irresponsibilities and “what ifs” with the worst case scenarios.

Roger was used to going to demonstrations and he was used to getting arrested since the police now seemed to recognize him from previous events. It was important to him to be a part of the masses and send the messages of demand to politicians and their kind. This time he had gone to one against the Vietnam war, in Liverpool. 4 hours away from where he lived and the only thought that had hit him was “fuck it, they need to know that we won’t stop until they get out”. Surprisingly out of all of the demonstrations he had been at for this cause, he had only been arrested 4 times. “Holding cells get filled up quickly I guess” he thought since luck had left him when it came to clashes with police.

He loves Brian, but sometimes he kept treating him like a delicate flower - especially when he went to marches and demonstrations. He remembers clearly the time he had to get bailed out because of a protest for the cuban revolution. It was the first time he had called Brian to get him out, usually it had been his sister or freddie. Hell, he once paid Mary to come get him out.

Brian yelled at him for being irresponsible and getting arrested. He even told him to stop provoking cops which he gladly responded with “acab” which earned him a playful smack to the back of his head. After that it became a regular thing. Brian getting a call, often very late from Roger who was stuck somewhere far away and needed a ride back. At first Brian liked hearing Rogers opinions, mainly because they never discussed politics but it also fascinated him that Rog didn’t mind the “commie” label. Hell that man would fucking insist on you using it and force you to explain why it’s a bad thing. Brian would never admit it, but it was amusing to observe at parties when some political science majors asked questions or just people you could see were conservative. You’d have to look for a long time to find a more colorful reputation than Roger Taylor, and the man knew it very well.

“Roger, that’s a 4 hour drive one way. You’re fucking mad if you think I’m coming to get you” Freddie answered with muffled voices in the background. Roger was sure that he was rolling his eyes and tried to explain to Mary what the late call was about. “I have places to be tomorrow, can’t you get arrested somewhere closer?” he continued with a small laugh. Roger smirked “you know me, I need to explore the kingdoms holding cells”.

The annoyed cough of the cop made him remember that he couldn’t keep bantering with Freddie and actually had to find someone to come and get him. He sighed and said goodbye to Freddie.

“Is your mate coming?” The cop didn’t even bother to hide his annoyance with the blonde boy in front of him. “I’m getting really tired of seeing your face.” Roger knew that he could react and probably get punched or he could do what he had been doing for the past hour - pick up the phone and dial a new number again. Sure, the cop got even more annoyed because it technically wasn’t allowed, but he’d been in this situation enough times by now to know that he would annoy them more if he didn’t do it.

It took one ring for Brian to pick up the phone so Roger knew he didn’t interrupt any sleep. Not too surprising considering that exam was right around the corner, but he swallowed his pride as he said the words that he had said so many times now. He felt shame as he disturbed his friend with this, again.

“Could you pick me up? I’m at the police station in central Liverpool”

There was a silence before he heard Brian sigh and accept the mission. Jokingly he had asked him to try to avoid any more trouble.

--------------------------------------------

“I promise, this is the last time I’ll call to pick me up from these things. I tried to get someone else I swear” Roger said, not daring to even look in the other man’s direction. “I know that you don’t agree with the way I do things politically and how I express my opinions.” He felt his insecurities build up and it felt just like the feeling when he stood in the crowd and chanting demands for change and action. Never had the blonde man felt so alone in the world. What if he one day gets killed while “on duty” as he liked to say it? Would anyone bother to care and come looking for answers? Hell, he didn’t even know if anyone would give a damn enough about him to demand justice if he got unfairly treated by cops or if anyone would believe it to be unprovoked. The thoughts alone scared him, but he didn’t want to share the vulnerability with someone he knew he had majorly screwed over by asking him to drive for 4 hours to come pick him up from yet another police station.

Suddenly the car stops, and the man beside him turn to face him, for the first time in hours. Brian’s brown eyes look into his baby blues. Roger could see the worry in Brian’s eyes and he was pretty sure that Brian could see his anxiety in his.

“Please don’t.” The other man said and looking down as if to hide something “I need you to call me in these situations so that I know you survived.” He was fickling with his hands as if he was holding something with his head still looking down. The serious note lingering as he raises his head to say “Don’t make me think that you’re a part of the rising number in casualties” while mocking the sound of a newscaster telling a story of a lethal railroad accident. Both men burst into laughter. “Thanks, I’ll try my best” Roger said and signalized to get back on the road. They had a bit left before they were home. Brian started the engine and quickly got back to the road. They continued the road trip home in a comfortable silence. Roger could finally relax, knowing that he isn’t the bother he once thought he was.

----

please let me know what you think!!

[actualbird]

been a while since ive recced some fics but here are some new stuff ive read and LOVED lately (previous fic rec lists | bmc fic rec page)

boyfs

Protector by DivineProjectZero

With Michael, he feels safe.

(wherein Jeremy Heere is scared of girls and Michael Mell is his last line of defense.)

okay this entire rec list is jenny’s fault because she just finished protector and i wanted to yell about it more than i already have. i know ive recced this before but now it’s COMPLETE AND YOU SHOULD ALL GO READ IT, FUUUUUUCCK.

ive been screaming about this fic ever since it started. it’s a fantastic, well written, hilarious, GUT WRENCHING masterpiece with all the fun things that makes a fake dating fic a joy to read + 10000 more incredible things. i have laughed out loud reading this fic. i have shed real fucking tears reading this fic. i nearly threw my phone out the window of a moving car, one memorable moment. please. just. if on the off chance you havent read this fic yet, please do. it’s a long, lovely journey that’s wonderfully written with fantastic characterization and chapters that have u clawing for MORE. im tryna stay vague about describing this fic bc i f i went into detail, this post would be too long.

read this fic. please. you will thank me, but u gotta thank jenny first for creating all of it.

It Don’t Mean a Thing (Cause He Ain’t Got That Swing) by AMRV_5

Jeremy loves jazz, but really, really, really can't play it. After a disastrous recital, he swears off jazz forever and gives up his dreams of performing to major in music education... until a fateful scheduling issue forces him into a jazz and improv class. There he meets Michael Mell, an insufferably cool bassist who doesn't know how talented he really is. Together, they have the potential to create something incredible. That is, if they can get along for even half a second.

okay so it takes A Lot for me to get into a WIP but holy SHIT im fucking obsessed with this fic!!!! it is exactly what is says on the cover and so much more. this fic is PHENOMENAL. i know nothing about music, but the way it’s written makes me not just understand whats going on but feel just how charged that scene is too. I DIDNT KNOW DUETS/QUARTETS COULD HAVE THIS MUCH FUCKING TENSION, BUT THIS FIC DOES IT, and i dont even know what any of the technical shit means!! just. it’s execution is done so so well, im fucking floored. like. this entire fic is very well written, but the music scenes are dripping with skill. if im not making sense, i guess youll just have to read the fic to get what im talking about //eyes emoji

another thing among Many Things that knocks it out of the ballpark in this fic is the characterization. jeremy. oh god, jeremy. i wont spoil, but this version of jeremy is by far one of the most interesting interpretations ive ever seen and it’s  pulled off fantastically. our boy has a lot more bite in this fic and i love it. it’s so good. god. everybody in this fic is so good. god. looks like you’ll have to read the fic to get what im talking about //eyes emoji but more intense

JUST!! READ THIS FIC!! START FOLLOWING THIS FIC!!! it’s got Pining and Slowburn and Misunderstandings and some of The Most engaging scenes ive read in a long time. this whole fic is so clever and so crisp and each update has me fucking screaming.

a little unsteady by starlithorizons

Michael's hidden domain has always been the rollerskating rink - a home away from home. Jeremy isn't so suited for the environment.

Maybe he can fix that.

OHHHH gosh this. this fic is so good?? it’s like the ideal fluff imo??? like, it’s not all Perfect and happy but that little conflict that happens just kinda emphasizes how these boys can always work to make things Better and Happy and it just warms my heart lots. the pov here is so lovely to read because it’s michael “hearteyes” mell and it’s Beautiful. the jokes r in this fic are hilarious and land so well. this is such a prime feel-good fic i Love It Lots.

flash point by Kalopsia

you know what they say, jeremy heere. those who play with fire are bound to get burned.

(Jeremy kisses Michael on a worn red leather couch the summer before their junior year. Then he takes the Squip, and it’s all ablaze from there.)

i HONESTLY do not have words to either praise this in the way it deserves to be praised which seems to be a mcfcuking trademark for emma’s writing hksjfdshh. but god. this fic is a breathtaking read with fantastic imagery and beautiful overarching metaphor hhhh!!! the emotions are so clear and!!! //aggressive gesturing!! just read it!!!!

a crimson headache, aching blush [series] by pondify

He supposes that it began, as it always does, with Michael.

a series of short yet HEARTBREAKING fics. every fic is a study of jeremy’s pining while he’s in a fwb relationship with michael and. jesus. this series is a testament to how much punch you can pull in short scenes. fucking incredible writing right here.

-

meremine

Gewissensbisse by Nymm_At_Night

Old rumors get a new lease on life, high school is shit, and Jeremy, Christine and Michael learn to make it a three player game.

AAAAGGGHHH GOD THIS FIC WAS SO FUCKING GOOD. this fic does not shy away from so many issues and consequences that happen post-musical, and reading it hurts so much at times but it all comes together and it’s ridiculously satisfying. this fic is super well rounded cuz it’s got so much and it’s all done AMAZINGLY?? characterization and writing are INCREDIBLE here. the humor in this fic is so well done i was clutching my sides wheezing at times. and overall, just watching jeremy go through everything +++ being in love with TWO people is such a ride. such a fantastic ride. 

-

pinkberry

sweet like vanilla is by loveinamaltshop

Brooke didn’t deserve to love someone like her. She deserved the complete opposite of Chloe—kind and maybe a little shy and nerdy but was constantly and needlessly good to her. Someone constantly smiling like she is, too. Someone like Jeremy.

She looks at Michael, who’s so close to passing out and wonders if she looks exactly like he does right now. Tired and pathetic. Rubbing at her face, she decides she definitely does.

— In which Chloe and Brooke are both insecure in ways they'll never admit to the other.

THIS FIC HURTS BUT GOD, IT’S SO DONE WELL. multipov with phenomenal characterizations for every character, this fic is a heartbreaking peek into tiny tragedies. the scenes in this fic are simple yet brutal and yet so undeniably real and human. this fic is beautifully written, and if you can handle unrequited feelings pain, you definitely need to fucking read this.

when i'm close to you (we blend into my favourite colour) by sulfuric

statistically, most people don't take more than five seconds to say something to their soulmate after realizing the universe has paired them together. brooke and chloe take approximately six years, but better late than never, right?

soulmate au!! this fic quite literally one of the most gorgeous pieces ive ever read. the writing is incredible and the imagery is so vivid at the soulmate universe, something im not usually a fan of, is turned into an incredible setting for a riveting love story. the character povs are incredible and every emotion is conveyed so well. sometimes too well bc hjhksdfhshh pain but really, this fic is a masterpiece, jesus. JESUS!!

happy reading everybody! leave comments and kudos on fics u liked!! fic writers are So Good and we’re So Lucky

[mirajens]

sandbox bullies

paring: laxus/mirajane rating: k chapter 2 of the rockabye series found on ff.n

Laxus teaches kindergarten. lms if u agree

Jesus, kids were cruel. It wasn’t the first time the thought had crossed Laxus’ mind. Maybe before his surprising career in early childhood education took off, he’d never given much of a shit about the mannerism or general existence of anyone under 10 years old but now, with an almost regular exposure to them, he could say a lot of them were a nasty bunch. They were kids, he knew, and they might outgrow being bullies but it didn’t make tolerating any injustice in his class any easier.

Yukino Strauss was a girl that was tiny in every sense of the word: a small child with a small voice and a small self-esteem.  There were kids in every faction of his kindergarten that especially liked to pick on her and make her do their share of classroom chores.

Minerva, a chief in her austerity, was particularly troublesome in this regard. She had a rich father and thought she could do as she pleased and there would be no consequences. Minerva’s unkindness ran the gamut from breaking Yukino’s pencils to putting dead squirrels into Yukino’s lunch box. Mean, mean, mean kid. More than Laxus cared for, he’d caught Minerva making young Strauss do all the cleanup work by herself as the assigned group just watched. Laxus spent a good fifteen minutes of his lunch with his ulcer simmering as he told them off and sent them to do their work.

“Yukino, come here,” Laxus called from the nap corner just as everyone was vacating the class room. Yukino was always the last to go, always terrified of the shit she’d have to deal with in the playground. Laxus was just about at his wits end trying to figure out to put a stop to it without making more trouble for the girl.

Yukino approached, her steps short and quiet, about as unimposing as a gentle breeze. “Sorry, Mister Dreyar.”

Laxus sighed. He hated the sad look in her eyes and couldn’t bear to look at it. He sat on the ground with his legs crossed instead of crouching or bending because deny it as he might, his neck had kinks on top of kinks. He hated it much like he hated how he had to wear reading glasses orhow he had to take baby aspirin now. “You have to say no to them, okay? I know they’re making you do it and they’re being mean about it. I’m going to do my best to put a stop to that but you gotta help me, okay? You have to tell the mean kids no. You have to say no when you want to.”

He’d sent her off and left the matter alone for now. He could see Yukino being joined by Sting from the other class, a sulking Rogue in tow. She’d be safe until the bell rang.

Mirajane tried to make things work. Sometimes, she told herself, that was the absolute best you could do. Maybe before she got pregnant and had to raise a child all by herself, she had time to do her hair or do more than wash her face for skincare or use fabric conditioner on her sheets. Maybe before she gave the boot to her scumbag of an ex, their combined incomes would allow them to hire some help. Maybe if she didn’t insist on moving to the other side of town away from her family, she’d have a better support system. It was a lot of maybes. A lot of could’ve beens, too.

So far, Mirajane doesn’t mind all those maybes and could’ve beens. She liked her new life here. God knew she needed this job paying an associate salary since having a child was only bound to get more expensive as the days passed. Working on a standard auditor’s schedule was better, too. It was eight hours and you clocked out. No overtime, no fixed schedules. She made her rounds when she wanted to, as long as she clocked those eight hours in. Mira worked like a dog, but not enough to complain. She never gave herself the indulgence of self-pity, since she had bills on top of bills to pay.

She knew Yukino, too, struggled to adjust and it damn near broke Mirajane’s heart to see her so, but she was confident they would find their footing. No great things happened when people stayed in their comfort zones, anyway. This was going to be a good move for them. No more drama, no more of just barely scraping by.

Mirajane watched Yukino finishing her dinner in breakfast nook. Did other parents just look at their child all the time and never get sick of it? Mira thought she could watch Yukino sleep a whole 8 hours, and then the rest of the day seeing every frown, every tentative smile, every glossy-eyed yawn and not tire of it. Yukino was a peach. Even from birth, she never gave her mommy much trouble. Now Mira only worried because Yukino wasn’t making any friends in her class and the other kids were bullying her. Just today, Mirajane got an email from Yukino’s teacher to meet at any convenient time tomorrow so they could discuss it. She’d make time for it, and they’d work on a solution for it. Her child was there for an education, not harassment.

“Sweetie, will you finish your beans so we can clear the table and do the dishes? You need to be in bed soon.”

“I don’t like beans, mama.”

You and every other child in the planet, Mirajane wanted to say, but she shook her head instead. Yukino knew she couldn’t get up until she cleared her plate. “Finish your vegetables or you’re not leaving the table.”

Mira could see Yukino’s lower lip tremble.  She was always so quick to cry when she thought her mother was upset with her. “I don’t want to.” Yukino said in a voice so quiet, Mirajane almost missed it.

“Well, you have to. I don’t want to argue, baby. You know you need to eat your veggies.”

For a while, Yukino didn’t open her mouth again, and Mirajane thought that was that. But after a moment of what looked to be contemplation, Yukino spoke again. “No.”

“What do you mean ‘no’?”

“NO!”

Mirajane’s eyes widened. She couldn’t say she heard that word much from Yukino, who always did as she was told, despite not liking it. “Oh no. You’re not going to sass me over veggies, missy.”

“No! Mister Dreyar said I have to say no when I want to.”

There was a time when Mirajane Strauss was called a demon for the expression of cold rage her face made when she was angry. Mister Dreyar was Yukino’s teacher. She’d meet him tomorrow and give him a piece of her mind. Right now, she was too tired for any arguments. “I don’t want you to yell at me again Yukino. That’s not nice. Eat your beans and then get ready for bed.” Mira rose from the table, collecting dishes for the wash and food for the tupperwares. By the sink, she could see from periphery Yukino stuff the beans into her mouth, chew ruefully, and chase it down with some water before leaving the table with a grimace.

She’d scheduled the parent/teacher meeting for after class so she could pick Yukino up and take her to the supermarket in one go. She’d met Mr Dreyar before, but not long enough to have a personal conversation like this. He always did look out of place among toys, alphabet posters and toddler-sized tables and chairs and that opinion didn’t change now, as he let her into the classroom, to his desk smartly facing the floor to ceiling window that gave them a view of the playground where Yukino played with the two boys from the other class.

“Right, I know you’re busy Mrs Strauss, so thanks for coming down.” Laxus said the moment they were seated.

Mirajane appreciated the no-nonsense tone. “I’m not busy enough for this. You said you had progress on the bullying?”

“Yes.” Laxus took a form out of his desk drawer, a carbon copy from the registrar’s office. “I want to move Yukino to the other class. She has friends there, and they’re good boys. They stick up for her and make her laugh. It won’t be very awkward for her to transition into the new class with friends like that. The other teachers and I are on the same curriculum so she won’t be behind or ahead. We’ve discussed it, and they’re willing to take her in and keep an eye on her just in case.”

Not quite expecting such an efficient solution so quick, Mirajane could admit that this was a pleasant surprise. “And the bullies?”

“I have more meetings with their parents this week to discuss punishment. Believe me when I say I won’t stand to see the kids undisciplined, Mrs Strauss. I will update you on what actions have been taken as soon as the parents sign off on it.”

Nodding, Mira stowed the reg form into her purse, ready to move on to another topic. “Last night, Yukino yelled at me. She’s never done it before, so it surprised me. She didn’t want to eat her vegetables and yelled ‘no’ and said that you told her to say no.”

Professional enough not to say the ‘what the fuck’ that was on the tip of his tongue but not enough to keep the frown off his face, Laxus replied, “I never told your daughter to not eat her vegetables or yell at her mother, Mrs Strauss. I told her to start saying no to kids who toy with her.”

All the fight just bubbling up in Mira’s throat died down. That’s what she got for being strung out and jumping to conclusions. “Oh. I suppose I didn't get the context...”

Laxus rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sorry if she misunderstood. I just didn’t want her to let the other kids push her around, Mrs Strauss. I don’t teach my kids to disrespect their parents.”

“It’s miss.”

Laxus barely heard the small admission. In that moment, she reminded him so much of her daughter, how they spoke low when abashed. “I’m sorry?”

“It’s miss Strauss. You keep saying missus.” Mirajane waited a breath to see the realization in his eyes. “I’m not married.”

“My apologies.” Damn it. Keep up, Laxus. He squashed down the nervous impulse to scratch at the back of his neck again. “I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Mirajane nodded. A momentary silence passed before she spoke. “If you don’t mind me saying so, you don’t really look like a teacher.” Much less a kindergarten teacher.

“I get that a lot. I have a good background in education. I used to think I wanted to teach Ukranian lit like my mom did. I guess the wind just blows you places and you have to ride along with what it has planned for you.” Laxus shrugged, not particularly bothered about it anymore. “It’s not like it was a very tough decision anyway. I like kids.”

It made Mirajane smile, how easily he admitted to that. She disliked men who hesitated when proclaiming their fondness for children. “So do I. Do you have any?”

“No. My grandfather keeps reminding me how he wants to spend all his retirement money spoiling babies before he dies, but I think it’s not my time yet.” The memory made Laxus grin. Makarov just started being wheelchair bound three months ago and already he was making noise about how he was going to die without any great grandchildren.

“I think you’ll be great at raising children.”

“You’d think that, seeing as I teach them. But I go home every day feeling more out of my league trying to teach kids the basic concepts of human socialization through papier mache group projects than I did writing my dissertation on the Bukovyna Women’s Movement.” Struck by immediate relief and a sense of security, Laxus decided to end the meeting before he could say something stupid. “In any case, thank you for coming down today, Ms Strauss.” He offered his hand as both of them rose. She shook it in a firm grip.

“Mirajane, please.” She brushed wrinkles off her slacks and hefted her handbag. “I do appreciate all the help. I hope you’ll keep me apprised of any progress?”

Mirajane. It rang so lovely, even in his mind. “Of course. We can also integrate Yukino into the other class as soon as the paperwork gets done. The principal’s administrator will be calling you about that.”

When she smiled at him, he could feel his expression mirror hers. He felt too old to be experiencing this kind of pulse-raising when a pretty girl smiled at him. Get it together.

Thankfully, he showed her out without opening his big mouth and embarrassing himself. But one of these days, he’d have to figure out a way to ask miss Strauss out.