#then here and later she even “punished” house for avoiding it

[thankstothe]

[pennyold]

behavior | j.m

Summary: a small correction from your best friend's father will help you avoid being a badly behaved girl.

Warnings: plot then filthy shi, public exhibition, flirting, arguing, suggestive language, car sexism, fingering, oral (male receiving), choking, swearing, size kink, and orgasm denial.

w.c: 1,623

a/n: what yall think about this one? I fucking loved it, enjoy it !!

main masterlist ↲

peace and love, penny ★

Tess's phone started ringing in my hands, she was unconscious in front of me; I sat her in a chair, looked at her phone, and the name "dad" glowed on the screen, it stopped ringing and I felt relieved, I wouldn't know what to say about this. He called again, and I started thinking about what to invent in a message, I couldn't let him hear my voice.

"Hi, Dad," minutes later he replied, "Why don't you answer the calls, Tess? Are you still with your friend? Are you okay?" I answered each of his questions, and he responded calmly, his next message left me stunned, "I'll arrive in ten minutes, I can take my friend home. I don't like that place, and especially because you are being alone without someone to accompany you." I bit my lip thinking of a response, I answered and blocked the phone, putting it in my pocket.

Ten minutes later, I was outside the establishment with Tess in my arms. In the distance, I saw her dad's pickup truck, and my heart was pounding; I was very nervous. When he parked in front of us, he got out of the car, almost breathing fire as he walked towards me and Tess. "What the hell were you thinking?" He looked at me, and I just stared at the ground, feeling embarrassed. "Tess drank too much and has thrown up twice," I said. He shook his head and picked up Tess, carrying her to the back seat. "Get in the car. I'll take you home.”

Without saying a word, I got into the truck, buckled my seatbelt, and stayed silent until Joel got into the driver's seat, my skin prickled at the sight of his serious face; he was angry. I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye during the ride, visualizing the scenery through the window when I saw the street of my house. I was about to speak, but I noticed how Joel tightened the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. I was screwed. 

Finally, I spotted a familiar street; we were near his house. He parked outside the house and unbuckled his seatbelt. "Wait here," he said. I grabbed the edges of my skirt and said, "Okay." He took Tess from the back seat and brought her into the house; it took him a few minutes to return, I watched as he took firm strides, got into the truck, and looked at me, "Are your parents home?" I nodded, "Do your parents know I'm taking you home?" "Yes," he nodded. "Perfect." He started the truck.

During the ride, I noticed that he was dissatisfied and I wanted to apologize; I never meant to bring problems to either Tess or him. "Joel" without looking at me spoke "Yes?" I looked at my skirt, still held in my hands. "Sorry about earlier, I didn't mean to lie to you and cause problems for Tess," he laughed. "I don't have problems with Tess, I do with you." Shit...

I looked out the window before speaking; I was cooked, if I said something wrong, it would be my end. I saw that I was not even remotely close to my home, it looked like a construction site about to be finished. I noticed how he moved the gear shift, and the truck stopped. "Joel..." he looked at me without any expression "You know what it means, darling.” I swallowed hard and quietly opened the door, but I couldn't leave because Joel grabbed it and slammed it shut. "Are you trying to escape from your punishment?" I shook my head in denial and shrank into the tiny space between the door and Joel's body. "So? Where would you go? Here, no one will listen to you, nor will they find you," I looked at him, pleading for mercy. "Don't look at me like that, you brought this on yourself," and he was right, I had done it, and I knew what the consequences would be.

Joel and I had agreed to please each other whenever the opportunity arose, as long as Tess and my parents didn't find out. One day, like today, I went out with Tess and lost her because I was with a guy. Joel showed up and asked me about her, and I didn't know where she was. He got angry just like today, and I got a punishment, painful, but I was very turned on.

I straightened up in my place and accepted my fate, I was being a brat by not accepting the punishment I deserved. "Good girl, always pleasing me," he looked me from head to thighs, as far as he could see. "What panties are you wearing?" "White lingerie," he smiled at me and sat up in his seat. "Take them off." I obeyed and took them off, allowing him a glimpse of my wet pussy. I slid the lingerie down my heels and handed them to him. He took them and tucked them into his pants pocket.

He patted his crotch; he wanted me to sit there, so I did. I felt my pussy brush against his bulge while adjusting myself, and Joel opened my legs, parting the folds of my core. I moaned and rested my head on his shoulder. "Joel," his breath grazed my neck, and I shivered when he brought his mouth close to my ear. "I didn't bring you here to please you, darling, relax." I bit my lip and nodded.

He rubbed my clit, and my legs trembled due to the sensation of his large fingers on my folds. I bit my lip again to avoid letting out a moan, and I felt his middle finger travel to my entrance, stimulating it. I couldn't resist and moaned, writhing in Joel's lap. "Stop moving," he said. I obeyed, and due to the effort, my legs were trembling; I couldn't resist it.

He inserted his finger and pumped my entrance, making me writhe more and my legs contract due to my effort not to move. He pumped his finger quickly, and I felt I was close to cumming, and so was Joel; so he stopped, and I could feel my pussy contract due to the lack of attention, I whimpered. "Joel,” he pulled my hair, making my neck twist back "Please, let me cum” he shook his head, tightening his grip on my hair "Bad girls like you don't deserve to cum" he threw me into the passenger seat and started unbuttoning his pants, I watched each action in detail, waiting for his orders.

He asked me to come closer with his hand, and I did. I leaned towards his pants and saw how he pulled the glans out of his underwear. Joel's cock is huge and thick, with prominent veins and the tip dripping pre-cum. I adjusted myself and Joel grabbed my hair again, guiding my mouth to the tip of his glans. I leaned in and slowly sucked the tip, then pushed it deeper until I couldn't fit it anymore.

"Suck it all,” I tried, but I choked, so I only sucked it as far as I could, Joel, unsatisfied, made me take his entire glans into my mouth, I choked again, and saliva dripped from my mouth, now he was controlling my actions. The tip of his cock hit my throat, and I couldn't take it anymore, a tear fell from my eye, causing me to swallow it with his dick.

I felt his cock start to twitch inside my mouth; he was about to cum, so I sucked it as hard as I could. While he grabbed my hair, making quick movements, he groaned as he felt his arousal approaching. "I'm gonna cum in that pretty mouth, darling, and you're going to swallow it, right?” I moaned, feeling myself choke more and more, feeling his cum spurt down my throat. Joel made me swallow it, keeping his cock in my throat. "Shit, did you swallow it, darling?" I nodded. "Everything?" I nodded again and showed him my tongue. "Good girl," I watched as he adjusted his pants and put on his belt. "Now, I want you to touch yourself until you cum, while I take you home. Could you do that for me?” I nodded and slightly opened my legs, placing my hand on my pussy, and massaging it to stimulating it a bit. "Yes, that's right, don't stop doing it until you cum, baby.”

I rubbed my clit with my arousal, I bit my lip holding a moan; I wasn't satisfied, I wanted Joel's fingers fucking my pussy. "Mmh, I want your fingers, Joel." He shook his head and said, "You don't deserve it. Get yourself off, and I'll see if I can please you next time." I whimpered and proceeded to insert a finger, but it wasn't what I wanted, so I went back to rubbing my clit, trying to reach my climax. "Shit, shit, Joel, I'm gonna cum.” He glanced at me with a smile, "Cum, princess, I want to see that pretty pussy dripping your juices." I opened my mouth, letting out the breath I didn't know I was holding "Oh my... shit!" my pussy started to contract and pulse as I rubbed it gently "That's it, so obedient" I looked ahead and noticed the traffic light was red, I took him by the face and kissed him desperately.

"Still needy? Huh?" I nodded, "Tough luck, princess, now you’ll have to wait. I hope you understood your lesson, I don’t want to be rude, but I won’t respond if you don't behave next time." I grimaced, and apart from him, he was very mean and cruel sometimes.

divider: @/enchanthings-a

[respectthepetty]

The Heart Killers' Colors? - Ep. 5

I'm traveling this week for very American Christmas reasons (i.e., football), but thankfully I'm a thot, so when I, in perfect health, look at my travel buddies and tell them I have a headache while rubbing my throat, they don't question where I disappear to for two to three hours, so here I am using my slutty excuse that only can be used once on this trip to watch my little gay show in peace!

And it was worth it just so I could see Pepper Keen tell JJ Thanon that he'll punish him later!

Keen better stop making heart eyes at Thanon on company time though because I don't think this will simply be an HR violation. No! Mother knows best, and her best is MURDER! She'll kill all these boys right where they sit as she is truly the only thing between these two who balance each other out (in white and black!).

I'm also glad I used my be-a-thot-to-get-out-of-group-activities pass on this show because Style was looking delicious trying to fight his good sense and his attraction to Fadel.

But I've been in love with this Black Brooder since the pilot trailer, and I too have slept with criminals, so I'd keep screwing this man if I was Style. Just like me, Style might not be the smartest, but he also isn't stupid!

Unlike his best friend!

This twink is going to be the death of him.

In multiple ways. (God, all these men are so beautiful!)

But Kant did do one smart thing and that was avoiding the camera outside of Bison's house by using a foam block to jump the gate, even though he didn't think about the very real chance there was a camera in the hidden room.

Which is why I NEED to know what Kant's true color is!

I'm still in the Kant-is-yellow-or-green corner like his spa key, but the people behind this show said he was dark blue like his cup.

And regardless of what Bison says, he is a Red Rascal, so either his favorite color is blue, and he turns red when needed,

Or he is picking up on Kant's true color and just playing the part of a docile boy as I suspect.

Bison noticed Babe's bruises, realized their female target would be more into Fadel, and knew James was following him, so unlike Kant who only noticed the exterior camera, Bison is far more observant of people and inner workings.

Every time Kant sees Bison's red side, he looks terrified, and we know he didn't actually date this Red Rascal, but only slept with him.

So I think Bison is attempting to tone down himself and his color by appearing blue.

He cares about this alleged (dark) Blue Boy.

Which is why I think he is trying to be what he thinks Kant would be interested in.

But the red is always there.

It's always around Bison, which is why I feel confident that he is a Red Rascal no matter what he wants to be.

And I think Kant is actually into it because red is always somewhere near him.

He smiled while looking at his phone when texting Bison and his shirts always have red on them, but, once again, red is also always around him in small ways!

So since he knows Bison's real color (because he does know he is a hitman), does he love him despite it?

I think he does and that these two besties are in the same swan-shaped love boat with their oddly colored couples' shirts.

Because it's clear that this (light) Blue Boy is in love with a criminal Black Brooder.

Not only did he explicitly state that he has feelings for this Black Brooder to his best friend,

But he also stepped into his true blue color this episode.

Blue Boys are loyal. They are trustworthy and provide a sense of safety, security, and calmness. So regardless of the circumstances, these two are actually in love since they are already exchanging colors.

Fadel told Style he wasn't that deep yet and he could get over Style easily, but Blue Boy Style already has Black Brooder Fadel baring parts of himself that he has had covered and buried for years. I stated Style was all flesh before, and I appreciate that the boy who doesn't mind being nude is the one to strip Fadel and expose his secrets.

Because just like his best friend, Style now knows exactly who Fadel is, yet unlike his friend who struggles with finding himself liking Bison despite Bison being a killer, Style seems to like Fadel MORE because he is the only one who finally gets to see what Fadel hides from everyone else.

So the tiny fact that their softest and most intimate moments happened at Style's place, an auto repair shop, the place where he restores beings by getting under the hood and repairing the broken parts isn't lost on me. Style wanted Kant's classic car, but he is realizing Fadel is the real classic. Style just doesn't want to get Fadel's engine revving; he wants to treat him the way a classic should be cared for.

Because a mechanic knows a classic never goes out of style.

[hannyoontify]

casual - yoon jeonghan [teaser]

member | childhood best friend!jeonghan x fem!oc

genre | fluff, angst and angst and lots of angst, childhood best friends to ????

teaser word count | 1k (full fic est. 12k)

synopsis | throughout her childhood, jeonghan was the one constant in jeong-ah's life. he was her rock and she was his, but there was always an unspoken tension between the two, something that made jeong-ah's stomach flutter and her pulse race. was it casual, like jeonghan said? or was there a possibility of being something more?

warnings | none (in teaser)

notes | inspired from this post i made a while back! bc this was inspired by events that happened irl, i had to make it an oc so that things made sense (like their names) read the fic here!

“You should ask me why we’re in here instead of sleeping like everyone else.”

I let out a sigh that ended in a laugh. “Okay, Jeonghan. Why are we in here instead of sleeping like everyone else?”

Jeonghan immediately straightened his back and turned his body to face me, and I mirrored his movements. The way he looked at me with shining, excited eyes reminded me of the same 5-year old who enjoyed pulling on my pigtails and playing hide-and-seek.

Despite growing a lot in the past decade together, there were still some parts of Yoon Jeonghan that never seemed to change. For example, that mischievous look on his face whenever he was about to do something he wasn’t supposed to. 

“Wait here.” Jeonghan disappeared outside and I couldn’t help but smile at his excited, almost child-like demeanor. Resting my head against the wall, I looked up and saw the sloped ceiling decorated with glow-in-the-dark stars.

The door soon opened again and Jeonghan reappeared with a single cupcake, a match, a candle, and two mini party hats. “I know we all got in trouble with our parents today so we can’t celebrate New Year’s, but I still wanted to do something for you. I know how much you love New Year’s celebrations.”

It was true. When all six of us had gotten in trouble earlier that evening because Jeonghan convinced all of us to try and help him set up a booby trap in his grumpy neighbor's backyard involving popping firecrackers, I was greatly disheartened when our parents decided that our punishment would be a bedtime of 9:30 and no New Year’s celebration.

I was particularly more upset than others because my parents had promised me a year ago that this New Year’s celebration would be the year where I finally got to try champagne.

“Jeonghan, I-” I faltered. I couldn’t find the words to describe how grateful I was to have him at that moment. 

Jeonghan scrambled to sit in the empty spot next to me. “You can thank me and be impressed later, just put this hat on. We only have a minute left.” He snapped on his own party hat before sliding its identical piece over my own head.

With a shaky hand, Jeonghan struck the match and lit the candle that was stuck atop the cupcake. We had made these cupcakes earlier today, with the help of our siblings. It had always been a tradition of ours.

My family would go over to the Yoon family’s house for the New Year’s and we would spend the night. Jeonghan, his older brother, and I were the older ones so we usually resorted to playing video games, board games, and baking while our younger siblings played with toys or watched TV. Our time together was always fun and a big highlight of my winter break every year.

But two years ago, when Jeonghan and I kissed in the summer, something changed. Our conversations became more stiff and awkward and he seemed to avoid me and my text messages more often.

When I consulted my mother about this situation (minus the kissing part), she had laughed and told me, “It’s because both of you are going through puberty now. It’s okay, it’s natural! Your relationship is going to return to normal in no time.”

Albeit it did take two years and a global pandemic for the two of us to be back on speaking terms again, but I was thankful to have my best friend back.

Jeonghan looked at me with a bright smile as he softly began to count down, his phone propped up against the wall so we could keep an eye on the clock. The single flame of the candle seemed to reflect the hundreds and thousands of stars that Jeonghan held within his eyes. His long lashes fluttered against his pale cheek bone and that tear-shaped mole on his right cheek that I had always been fond of. 

“Five… four…” I joined him in the count down, our hands holding the small cupcake together. 

I’d grown to accept the fact that Jeonghan wanted to pretend that kiss never happened. I did a lot of thinking and reflecting to realize that it was our silly pre-pubescent emotions that had gotten the best of us in that moment. It never meant anything.

“Two… one! Happy new year!” Jeonghan cheered. “One, two, three!”

11 years of friendship helped me to immediately recognize Jeonghan’s intent when he began counting again.

When he reached 3, the two of us blew at the single candle and the flame flickered for a moment before it disappeared, leaving a small trail of white smoke in its wake. Jeonghan pulled the candle out of the cupcake and I dipped my finger into the frosting and smeared it across my best friend’s cheek.

Jeonghan smiled with a mischievous glint in his eyes before dipping this thumb into the white frosting and spreading it across my forehead. “Simbaaaaa.”

We both erupted into a fit of childish giggles as I tried to smear another glob of dense, sweet frosting onto his face, but he dodged my hand successfully. But because Jeonghan was blessed by the genetic gods and had much longer arms than I did, he was able to reach over and smudge another spot of white frosting onto the top of my nose.

“Ewww!” I cried loudly.

Jeonghan tried to shush me but it was too late. We heard a door upstairs opening, and a pair of footsteps moving down the stairs. Jeonghan and I held onto each other with bated breaths and when we heard the footsteps slowly fade away, we let out a quiet sigh of relief.

“Maybe they’re just grabbing water or some-” As Jeonghan whispered into my ear, the doorknob of the small door rattled and opened, revealing Mrs. Yoon, half disheveled with a face mask.

I clamped a hand over my mouth to suppress the giggle that was threatening to erupt as Jeonghan fumbled to find the right words. “H-hi, mom. We were just-”

“Out. Both of you. Now.”

Uh oh.

PLEASEEE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK

and as always, reblogs and feedback is always appreciated ^-^

[romanestuffsposts]

Hi! I like your stucky x little stories. And I was wondering If I can make a request?

Maybe the reader got into trouble and the and bucky and Steve are extra mad at her and punish her. And when they come check in her, she avoids them for a long time, even if they aren’t mad anymore.

I like these sorts of stories of yours, but I feel like they get off to easy (in my opinion). So, maybe some extra angst for them cause I’m not the kind of kilter that forgive easily.

Hi there love! 💜

Yes I know some of you don’t like when it’s too much while others want to see more so don’t hesitate to ask! I’m here to write what you wanna see! ❤️

I hope you like how I wrote it, sweetie! <3

Enjoy <33

****

Warnings : snapping, argument, yelling, cries, punishment, apologise, making up, comfort, mad, pet name

Pairings : Daddies!Stucky ; Daddy!Bucky x Papa!Steve x Little!Reader

Summary : you just wanted to relax after a day inside

****

You just got out of work, it’s the end of the day and you’re surprisely still in a good mood. You were inside a little room the entire day and feel like you hadn’t seen the world today so you decide to walk through the parc on your way home.

It’ll take you more time to go home but at least you would’ve clear your mind in the nature.

You hadn’t saw the time passing as you sat on a bench to watch little ducks on the water in front of you. It’s been already two hours that you finished your work and you hadn’t said anything to anyone as to where you were.

You decide to cut your walk short and go back home, you have the rest of the week home so you’ll have lots of time to come to the parc.

Not too long after leaving the parc, you open the door and step inside of your house. You thought you’ll be greeted by the smell of food or at least your men but none of those are home apparently. You don’t see their shoes inside nor their coat so you assume they’re still at work or something.

You decide to go relax in a warm bath, you put in your favorite soap and don’t lose a time before stepping inside. You groan at the hot water that’s warming up your cold body.

You enjoy your bath for a long and when you get out, your Daddies still aren’t home. You decide to call Sam to ask if they’re almost finish with work and when this one answer the phone after the first ring, you hear relief in his voice

‘’You’re home ? Please tell me you’re home little bird ?’’ He asks. You frown and explain that it’s been an hour now that you’re home and you wanted to know if their work will take them times or if you could prepare dinner.

You don’t really understand what happened after, you just know that Sam screams at someone that you were home and then there were nobody behind the call anymore.

A few minutes later you hear the door opening violently and loud and quick steps on the ground. You watch as your Daddies run toward you and it doesn’t take long for them to wrap their arms around you and hold you tight against them.

Their heartbeats were really fast and they felt out of breath, what happened ?

Before you could even ask questions, your Daddy pulls back, keep an hold on your shoulders with his hands and stare down at you with many emotions in his eyes that you don’t understand

‘’Where the hell were you ?’’ His voice is harsh and it made you flinch, you didn’t noticed they were mad at you ‘’do you know what a phone is used for ?? It’s for when you’re going to be late at home. You text, call or send an email, I don’t fucking care but you tell us that you’ll be late’’ he practically yells now.

‘’You know how worry we were ?’’ Your Papa adds ‘’it’s been hours that we’re looking for you outside. We disturbed the entire city just because you can’t using your goddamn phone!’’

You open your mouth to talk but nothing comes out, you know what you want to say. You didn’t wanted to worry them, you just needed to be outside a little and got lost in time. You wanted to apologies because you know you’re in the wrong here but it’s like the words are stuck in your throat.

‘’Next time think less about yourself and text us so we don’t worry’’ your Daddy snaps making you tear up.

Were you selfish ?

You really did worry them but that was an accident. You didn’t mean to.

‘’Go to your room’’ your Daddy says, his voice is calm now but he sounds really disappointed and it made things worst.

‘’But Daddy I-‘’ he cuts you off with a harsh movement to melt you stop walking to him ‘’I said go to your room. Do you understand or do we have to explain how to go upstairs in silence like we have to taught you respect ?’’ He snaps again this time.

You swallow your pain and go upstairs, they watch you until you close your door.

You look around your room and shiver in fear, it’s been a few nights now that you don’t sleep here because one night you had a nightmare and you are scared to be in this room alone.

And he knew that but he still sent you here.

You had spent the evening and the night in your room. They brought you dinner but they didn’t even glance at you or dried your tears. They just give you your food, your water and they came to get it back.

Not even a good night kiss or a glance of reassurance. You had to fall asleep with the only comfort of the memories of the little bird singing in the parc earlier.

The next morning you woke up with a note on your nightstand, they had to go to work but they wrote that the punishment was over and that you did good. They said they loved you and that they’ll be back later.

Seeing this writing instead of hearing it from their mouths feel fake. It feels like they didn’t meant it. You throw away the paper and walk downstairs, a second note in the kitchen tells you that they left your favorite breakfast for you in the fridge. They tell you a second time that they loved you before signing.

You don’t touch the breakfast, you take a glass of water and go in the couch. You spent your whole day laying in the couch and thinking about yesterday. To make it short, you had a bad day.

You wanted to go outside but since how it ended up yesterday you decide to not take the risk.

After a few hours you hear the front door opening and closing. Before you can see them entering fully in the house you get up from the couch and run upstairs.

You know it’s your Daddies but you don’t wanna see them just yet. You need to show them that you’re still mad.

What hurt you the most is not the fact that they yelled at you, you understood that they were scared and worried and from all of their emotions mixed up together they ended up yelling but you knew they were more relieved than angry.

But what if something really happened to you ? What if you were lost or what if you were held something against your will ? What you needed wasn’t hearing scream, what you needed was comfort if that happened. They didn’t even asked.. that’s what hurt you the most.

You close the door shut and sit on your desk to keep drawing your draw. After some minutes you hear a knock on your door. You don’t answer which cause you to hear a second one ‘’sweetie ?’’

‘’No’’ you say loud enough for them to hear. You don’t hear anything after so you thought they left but after some second of silence they knock again ‘’please baby, can we talk ?’’

‘’no’’ you say again, going back to your drawing. You hear muffled talk and then nothing. You sigh in relief that they respect you by letting you alone like you asked.

You almost finish your drawing when it’s dinner time and you at the same time, you hear knock again ‘’sweetie ?’’ Your Papa gently says

‘’We- dinner is ready’’ he waits for a second to see if you’re gonna say something but when it’s silence, he talks again ‘’we made your favorite food’’

After minutes of nothing, he was going to leave even tho he doesn’t like the fact that you don’t wanna eat but he hears and sees the door of your room opening.

You don’t look at him nor speak to him, you walk past him and down the hallway. You make your way downstairs, followed by your Papa. Your Daddy is waiting on his seat and his eyes light up when he sees you, he thought you wouldn’t got out of your room but apparently you’re too hungry for that.

You do the same to him that you did to your Papa, you don’t give him attention. You grab your plate, put food in it and then go back upstairs to your room.

You know your Daddies don’t like it when you eat upstairs but today you don’t care. You thought they would’ve said something to you about it but you hear nothing.

After eating you lie in bed and close your eyes.

~

Gentle touch are felt on your scalp causing you to coming back to reality. It took you a moment but you finally opened your eyes.

You turn around and see your Daddies sitting on your bed. You turn back around as soon as you see them and get up from bed quickly.

You hear your Daddies standing up too as you approach the door ‘’wait please’’ the sad voice of your Daddy make you stop. You’re facing the door but you stopped walking.

‘’We’re sorry about yesterday’’ he says ‘’we were worried sick from the second we saw you weren’t at home and when we couldn’t find you we-‘’ he takes a shaky breath ‘’I thought my heart was ripping apart’’

You look down but keep your eyes wide open as you listen to them talking. "we shouldn't have yelled at you yesterday but we didn't thought about our reaction, we just let all out and i think we wanted you to understand how we felt."

"but it was in a bad way" your Papa adds after your Daddy "we should've said it in another way. We're sorry we went too far and yelled like that, we're really really sorry"

Nobody talk for some seconds but then you start to turn around, with tears in your eyes. They stand up and go to comfort you but stop because they don't know if they can come to you or not

"can we... can we hug you ?" your Daddy asks with an hesitant voice "please" your Papa adds.

You stroke your eyes causing the tears to fall and lift your arms up, nodding your head.

The next second, you feel two pairs of arms wrapping around you and you feel nothing else but the warmth of their bodies and the comfort they send to you.

"what were you doing before coming back home yesterday ?" Your Daddy asks as he stokes your hair.

"Parc. Watching bird" your mumble, as you snuggle closer into them.

"you want to go back to the parc tonight ? We can grab some bread to give to birds and ducks if we saw them" Your Papa proposes.

You sniff and nod your head, you wanted to go back there all day and maybe going back with them can be as relaxing a than going alone.

"Alright, let's get prepared then" Your Papa kisses your forehead and helps you standing up "we can even go take a breakfast outside, what do you say ?"

You nod your head and take their hands in yours to lead them toward your closet to get prepared. It'll be a great day, you're sure about that fact.

[ljblueteak]

Thinking about Chase and how one of his characteristics is that he generally tries to be fair (according to what he considers fair).

One major time we see this is in House Divided (5x22) when House expects him to be angry about having been tricked into inserting a cochlear implant the patient didn't want:

Chase: We need to talk about the bachelor party. House: Excellent topic choice. Surgery’s so boring and my lying to you is just so yesterday. Chase: It’s my fault for letting you talk me into the implant.

He also responds to House's "Guess I deserved it" apology in Ignorance as Bliss (6x09) by...not accepting it because what House said— "Give me something, or I'll get your ex-smarter half on the phone and ask her" —wasn't why he punched him. You'd think Chase would be over the moon about House saying he deserved getting punched for that, but:

Chase: Sorry about the nose. And the eye. And the, uh... eyebrow. House: Guess I deserved it. Chase: Well, if I thought that, I wouldn't be apologizing. House: Your fist slipped? Chase: Everybody kept bugging me, asking if I was okay. House: So you busted my nose to keep people off your back. Chase: Pretty much.

It also comes up in Open and Shut (6x19) when Chase and Thirteen are talking about the couple with the open marriage:

Thirteen: You seem pretty mellow about this couple's deal. Thought you'd be first in line to shake a finger. Chase: They're still married. I'm not.

In Kids (1x19) he also basically accepts House's post-Vogler punishment of doing research, replying "It's no problem" when House says, "Torture combing through all that stuff, ain’t it? Real dull. Awful." Sure, that's also about not wanting to let on that it's getting to him, but I think he also thought it was deserved (and later in the episode he thinks it's *not* fair that House told Foreman to do the transcranial ultrasound because it was Chase's idea). I'm also basing this in part on his "I can't believe I did that" in Control (1x14) regarding the "angio on the wrong leg" incident. He didn't try to somehow blame the resident or anybody else.

When Foreman says, "You owe me this" to get Chase to help with the patient after he and Cameron quit in Teamwork (6x08), it's an appeal that works on Chase. He knows he owes Foreman for Dibala.

You can also see it in his relationship with Cameron. From 4x10, It's a Wonderful Lie:

Foreman: You tell Cameron everything? Chase: Hah! No. Foreman: You think she keeps secrets? Chase: If I knew, they wouldn't be secrets. I hope she does. People have a right to a little privacy, even from the people they love.

He has his secrets and he hopes she has her own. He also doesn't think it's fair for Cameron to blame House for Chase killing Dibala and takes full ownership of that.

He also feels like he deserves *some* penance for killing Dibala, but not jail because in killing Dibala he also saved people (Teamwork and Brave Heart). In terms of what he thinks he deserves, he says to House "You don't think I should be fired?", suggesting he thinks it would be justified even though it's something he tries to avoid, but House doesn't think he should be. It's interesting to compare it The Mistake (2x08), where Chase's sense of justice almost leads him to throw away his career until House explains the family of the patient will still get enough money to save their home if Chase explains the mitigating factors.

Also, there's this in Moving the Chains (6x13) when House accuses Chase of orchestrating the pranks in House and Wilson's apartment:

Chase: Why would I? House: Because you hold me responsible for breaking up your marriage. Chase: I was here all night with Thirteen, monitoring our patient's IV blood thinners.

Chase doesn't say he doesn't blame House here, but...he never actually does blame House, iirc. Sure, in one of his conversations with House in Teamwork he asks, "Why are you trying to screw things up," but he realizes that House's "Things are already screwed up" is correct.

In terms of why he's like this, I have some half-formed ideas that aren't quite ready to share yet but would also love to hear anyone else's theories!

[sewinrat]

If you are/replace Sebastian includes;

*Reader is female mentioned but I could care less, you just have to be human. Have I done something like this before can't remember...

Oh you poor soul. You don't even know how you got in this mess. You were one day suddenly locked up in a plastic cage and this strange man bought you for an even stranger boy. Now you're stuck with them forever.

The closest you act to in terms of 'first meet' is close to Pomni. And yes you have went into the UNKNOWN and Luther had to pull you back but in this case, the unknown is much more dangerous.

And now you're trying your best to hide and run away from all of them in their weird crazy house of nonsense. Unfortunately you can't even hide well because Randal's dolls will always find you. Luther is another thing. You can't act out in front of around him or else you'll be a 'bad pet' and "that's not how girls supposed to act." His words not mine. Even if you've been put in the ridiculous jester outfit. You'd prefer if they put you in those discipline outfit forever if it means to leave you alone. It doesn't matter if you lose your body.

You got a high chance into being part of the family because Luther might want a little sister but let's not go there. This time.

The other two 'people' in the house, Nyen and Nyon, you thought you could trust but apparently not. You try to avoid them both, mostly Nyen because of the times he threatened you. Although Nyon doesn't do much, it's best to not engage in any way. Why am I describing things like this is your diary?

Actually you might have a diary. But hide them well or else everyone and I mean EVERYONE will read it if you misplaced it anywhere. Randal loves to snoop especially around you. Luther says it's to get to know you better but like a parent, he's a liar because if he reads anything he doesn't like, he'll punish you accordingly. Nyen can use it to manipulate you and make fun of you but Nyon reads it... And that's it. He doesn't do much about it but he's bold so he will gave it back to you even if it's open and in the middle of reading it.

After maybe weeks or even months if time manages to slip later because if you cannot make sense of time, how can you even know the time - you're getting use to it. Not comfortable of course but it's to the point where you aren't actively scared to even look behind you.

You know what, you should be just a little bit grateful that you are Randal's 'friend' while also being under him by being a pet because if you remember in Lucid 14, it shows that Randal likes to keep parts of his 'friends' as the bible recruiter dudes were leaving(But it could also imply that it's his first time doing it while alive or smth). So yeah that's one way to lose skin.

Ranfren Characters thoughts on You(ooc);

Randal: "Oh you met my friend?? Did she escaped again if you knew em... Eh impossible but since you know her, I KNOW YOU~!! A friend to my pet is a friend to mee now come here and let's have some funn." How did you get in touch with her- actually doesn't matter to Randal, more friends the merrier.

Luther: "Hm. Troublesome at first but oh well she's just getting use to her new home that's all so I won't blame them for that. Getting docile but still needs precautions." Somehow he treats you more of an experiment than a pet. Maybe you're those last options regularly people would consider to.

Nyen: He exited the interview because a reaction of the 'new' pet of the house from him is a waste of time to him. You're not worth his trouble. But he did said something about how fun watching you struggle when him and or his master catch you escaping.

Nyon: We couldn't find him to get an interview so we came to the conclusion that he has nothing to say about you. Maybe a little pity. That's all.

Bonus? Tsukada Satoru: "Ah she's quite cute but should keep a certain distance away from Randal. Hm? Jealous? In what way or to who exactly? Randal? Oh I could never. Randal is my best friend, I'm just protecting him away from her." Maybe if you play his heart well, he'll take more of a fancy to you.

[brokenxanas-ooc-zone]

/February28th wrapup post

alright! So the majority of that arc has been taken care of now

it's been a lot of fun having people nudge Silas fate around, and through the collective effort of everyone, the bad ending was avoided.

Major props to everyone involved, Lus, Beedrill, Mylah and Shilo maybe THE MVP's for getting Silas on this path.

SUMMARY OF ARC

Silas learns of a parade on February 28, 2025 and uses the evidence he collected 7 years ago to construct a video to ruin chief of police, Victoria Heralds, entire career.

He is caught, and murdered the same day, Victoria later impersonates him to locate his allies before she herself is put under house arrest. A funeral is held leaving to Silas to be buried.

During all of these events, Azelf (who goes by A) has been sending cryptic messages, trying to guide people to make Silas want to live, so that he might finally be a suitable Chosen.

Once Silas is buried, Azelf joins Silas other alters and together they all escape the tomb.

CONCEPT ART

way back last February(2024) and stuff is when I first started designing the different guys, whimsy vengeance, willpower and Deduction. WHIMSY was the hardest one for me to design.

and this one, relates to one of the scrapped ideas that I had while brainstorming this arc (as well as a "flower" design I mentioned on discord) as well as some images of Ozzy

SCRAPPED IDEAS

so one of the ideas was that after Silas passed away, Ozzy would be the one to get his blog for a little bit until Silas was revived. The main reason this was scrapped was that I am NOT good at playing kids and much less a grieving one

another idea that got scrapped was really digging into the idea that Silas would have been stuck reliving the moment of his death, that would have been a punishment he once would have thought suitable but after all the talk of fighting to survive it didn't make sense anymore.

At one point, I was going to make sprites for Silas (Similar to ghost trick) but that animation took up every single minute of every day.

Also there is a version of the story where Silas went out of his way to kill Victoria, but I couldn't think of a way he could do it very easily, especially since he had the goal of escaping.

another one was Azelf claiming Silas body for it's own use, since its own body was deteriorating. the idea didn't vibe with me so I decided to go to referencing the biggest piece of inspiration to Silas as a whole

INSPIRATIONS

Disco Elysium plays a massive part in Silas story, from the artstyle I used to depict his alters to the entirety of the reason Silas is a cop in general to the overall theme of like, redemption and regret. in my (still) incomplete play-through back in 2023 I came to love like the melancholy feeling of the game and that's when I first got glimpses of this arc.

Metal Gear Solid. If it made any sense at all, Victoria and Silas would have had a fist fight to the death to finally rid each other of themselves. Metal Gear is a highly influential series to me, with my favorite in the series being both 2 and Peace Walker. The way I depict Azelf is entirely based off of the ending sequence of Metal Gear Solid 2 with Azelf even directly quoting some of the lines in this video, as well as a quote from (EPILEPSY WARNING)Ben 10 Alien Force.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

I appreciate everyone in this community, I would not have been inspired to have worked as hard as I have on this arc without the people I have met making it very very worth it. Silas next big character thing will be in July and although it will have lasting impressions on how he is as a individual, it will not nearly be as dramatic at this arc you can NOT make me make another animation again.

Here are the playlists associated with this arc.

Escape from the parade!

March 3rd (funeral playlist)

Silas Playlist.

I look forward to what the future has in store, have a good night y'all!

alsSO THE SLASH IS ON PURPOSE IT'S A URL

[sonny201818]

Millie & Sebastian’s First Kiss (One Shot Below)

*End Of 6th Year*

Sebastian trudged through the Slytherin dungeons, head hung low. It was his third detention in a row. On a Saturday. And the cherry on top?

It was the final Quidditch match—Slytherin vs. Ravenclaw.

He was the team's trusted Beater, but instead of being on the pitch, he was stuck in detention. Tonight's punishment? Cleaning the bloody Floo Flames. A pointless task, really—someone would use them in no time, undoing all his work. Clearly, this was meant to torture him.

Turning the corner, he nearly crashed into someone.

His heart stopped when he saw who it was—Millie.

He'd been avoiding her for the past two days. Not because it was her fault he was in detention—no, that was entirely on him. But she certainly hadn't helped matters.

Millie looked like a Thestral caught in carriage lights, stammering an apology. But before she could step away, Sebastian grabbed her shoulder. He'd been awful—dodging her, refusing to talk. It wasn't her he was avoiding, though. It was his own temper. He was angry all the time these days, and the last thing he wanted was to snap at her.

She didn't deserve that.

But now, standing in front of her, dressed in her skin-tight Quidditch uniform, her long brown hair pulled back into a ponytail—his favorite—he couldn't help but soften.

He smiled at his best friend. "Good luck, Millie. Crush some Ravenclaws, yeah?"

Millie's cheeks flushed, but she grinned instantly. "Of course! ... See you later?"

Sebastian nodded. "Yeah. Later.

~~

Later, in detention, he choked on soot as he scrubbed the cursed Floo Flames, bitterly replaying how he ended up here.

It had been Wednesday. Imelda had set up a mock match with Ravenclaw.

Kale Maverick—seventh-year, Ravenclaw's Seeker, and resident flirt—had been there. Like Millie, he played Seeker. Unlike Millie, he made it his mission to flirt with her every chance he got.

Sebastian missed the early Hogwarts years, when it was just him, Anne, Ominis, and Millie. Back when boys didn’t look at Millie like that. She had always been a bit reserved, sticking to their small circle.

But now? Now she was the Hero of Hogwarts. A formidable witch. Seventeen, at the end of their sixth year, and grown into a strong, beautiful woman.

Of course guys flirted with her. And of course, it drove him mad.

The entire match, Maverick wouldn't shut up, tossing teasing remarks her way. It took everything in Sebastian not to smash his face in with a Bludger. But he held back—if he was going to do it, it would be in front of the entire school on Saturday.

His patience, already stretched thin, snapped during a time-out.

They were all suspended on their brooms, floating in the air when Maverick leaned in close to Millie, whispered something in her ear, and made her giggle.

Sebastian didn't think. He just acted.

He smashed a Bludger straight at Maverick.

Millie barely managed to throw up a wandless Protego in time.

Imelda yanked him from the match immediately, but it was too late. Professor Kogawa had seen everything and sentenced him to detention for the rest of the week—including the night of the final.

~~

Scrubbing the soot-covered fireplace, Sebastian exhaled sharply.

It wasn't Millie's fault. She wasn't flirting—she was just friendly. That's who she was. And he knew for a fact she didn't look at anyone, talk to anyone, or touch anyone else the way she did him.

If only he'd man up and do something about it.

~~

By the time he trudged back to the common room, still choking on soot, he was covered in grime. All he wanted was a hot bath and sleep. He didn't even know if they had won.

At first, he told himself he didn't care. But then he realized he did. He wanted Millie to be happy.

As soon as he stepped inside, the roaring cheers and the sheer number of students—Slytherin and even some from other houses (not Ravenclaw, obviously)—made it clear.

They'd won.

He pushed through the crowd, determined to shower first before finding Millie, but Imelda intercepted him.

"Bloody hell, Sallow, you look like absolute shite."

He tried to shove past her, but she wouldn't let him.

"We won, if you give a damn."

"I gathered."

Imelda smacked his arm. "If you don't make Grey your girlfriend, I'm going to."

Sebastian raised a brow. "Yeah?"

Imelda grinned as she launched into a dramatic retelling—Millie pulling off a Wronksi Feint, sending Maverick into a near-crash, making him look like an idiot. Then, in a flawless finish, she caught the Snitch and secured Slytherin’s victory.

Sebastian beamed and turned immediately.

He needed to find Millie.

She wasn’t hard to spot. She was at the center of the celebration—where she belonged.

Of course, she didn’t care about the attention. She cared about him.

Bloody hell, why hadn't he done this sooner?

He shoved through the crowd. Millie's eyes widened when she saw him, surprised. She was cut up, as always, from her reckless playing, but beautiful nonetheless.

Her lips began to form his name—

But he didn't wait.

He cupped her face and kissed her.

The common room erupted in cheers.

He could feel her face burned under his fingers, but she grabbed fistfuls of his dirty shirt and kissed him back just as fiercely.

When they finally pulled away, he vaguely heard Imelda mutter, "Bloody finally."

But all Millie registered was Sebastian—his messy hair, soot-streaked skin, ruffled shirt, the way his dark eyes burned with something deep and unspoken. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen.

She felt like she might faint.

She stood tiptoe, brushing her cheek against his as she whispered, "Wanna get out of here?"

Sebastian smirked. But before answering, he tugged her closer, squeezing her waist, pressing her against him. She groaned faintly, still sore from the match, but didn't pull away.

Then he leaned back just enough to say, "Of course."

He took her hand, and together they weaved through the crowd—finally getting alone together. Finally ready to be honest with each other.

Finally ready to stop holding back.

~~

A/N: clearly this is heavily inspired by Harry Potter Book 6. Poor Seb has had a rough year 6th year, but things are getting better. Solomon is still in a coma, but shows signs of waking up. Anne is in contact with Millie, and though she won’t talk to Sebastian she asks about him. And even though he didn’t play, Slytherin won the Quidditch cup and he finally confessed his feelings to Millie and she shares the same.

Sort of a quick write. I wrote it in one sitting at night and sort of edited a bit when I woke up, so don’t mind the lack of detail ig lol.

[cloudwhisper23]

I have been very late with the latest chapter of Back in the Nightmare, but in my defense, @pixlokita drew an art, and I just absolutely needed to write fanfic regarding the art, and color it. Luckily, this is still in relation to Back in the Nightmare. It's just further along. Hope y'all enjoy! (fic below the cut)

Evan could tell Cassidy was feeling down after Charlie’s birthday party. How could he not? She’d clung so close to him before, and after Michael brought her out of the rain with his skin paler than a sheet of paper, she’d seemed almost distant.

She still listened when he spoke, but she no longer offered any opinions. Cassidy just seemed… off. There had to be something he could do to cheer her up, right?

Evan wanted to go to Fredbear’s for once because of the whole thing. Charlie said it was a great place to make friends and hang out, and with the atmosphere at home lately, it would be best if he could avoid hanging out there. Elizabeth bickered with her group on their project every night, and it always put their father in a bad mood.

Cassidy plus his father never seemed to end well, as both of them were perfectly polite to each other in a vicious way. Cassidy probably had been right about his father not wanting him to have friends after all, it seemed. Maybe that was why Mike used to scare them off?

Shaking the thought away, Evan fiddled with the strap of his backpack uncomfortably. Mike was grounded, and Lizzie was going to Susie’s house, which meant Evan was also supposed to be going home. Father didn’t like them staying unsupervised, after all.

But Evan wanted to do something nice for Cassidy. She had to run home right after school, not elaborating on why, but it did give him a perfect chance to get her a gift.

He still hesitated though. If his father found out he hadn’t gone straight home… Well, he just had to avoid getting caught then. Evan checked that Fredbear was still hidden at the bottom of his backpack, and then set off for the diner.

The prize corner always had a wide variety of things to win, but Evan had no idea where to even start on a gift for Cassidy. Yet again, he found himself hesitating.

“You have your eyes set on anything in particular?” Evan startled at the boy who’d appeared next to him. Gabe Simmons. Someone who didn’t usually talk to him.

“Uh, well, not for me. I want to get a gift for a friend.”

“Cassidy.” Gabe shot him an amused look as he pointedly looked away. “It’s not a secret that she’s one of your only friends, dude.”

“If she’s one of my only friends, why are you talking to me?”

“I’m bored. And Charlie won’t be here until later.” Gabe shrugged. “Do you have any idea what she likes?”

“Well…” Evan trailed off. What did Cassidy like? She’d seemed interested enough in his Fredbear plushie, once he’d been forcibly given it back. She’d wanted a favor regarding her hair, desperate enough to ask Michael of all people to fix it. Something like that, maybe? “I was thinking about that hair clip.”

He pointed to the row of animatronic themed hair pins and clips. “She likes Fredbear well enough.”

“That’s hardly worth the effort,” Gabe replied, wrinkling his nose. “You could get that easy.”

“I’d rather get her something she actually likes than something she wouldn’t like that’s worth more,” Evan replied quietly.

Gabe regarded him curiously. “I think I misjudged you in the past, Afton. You’re not as bad of a guy as I was expecting.”

“Thanks?”

Gabe wandered off without another word.

Weird. Still, Evan needed to get the clip fast if he wanted to get home before he got caught.

He did not succeed. Despite the fact that Evan hadn’t spotted his father once at the diner, and he’d beaten him home, somehow he still found out that Evan hadn’t come straight home.

Evan gritted his teeth as he faced his punishment, determined not to scream. Still, the ruler stung against his bare arm, and Evan knew he was going to be wearing long-sleeved shirts for at least a week or two after this.

“Behave,” his father said sternly, gesturing for Evan to leave and close the door on the way out.

“Yes Father,” Evan answered quietly before going to his room.

Tomorrow is another day.

The hair clip burned in Evan’s pocket as he looked around before school the following morning. He wanted to surprise her with it, but he never usually had luck finding her before school. Today was no different. His mouth twisted downward, but Evan did not feel tears welling up. This was expected, after all.

The morning was chilly for once, and Evan felt a bit relieved that he’d been forced to wear longer sleeves today. The wind stirred the trees at the front of the school as Evan waited for the bell to ring.

He went through his classes in somewhat of a daze, not really paying much attention to anything. It struck him briefly that he didn’t really have any classes with Cassidy. None in the morning anyway.

His arm ached as he went from class to class, despite how carefully he was trying to carry his things without jarring it. Evan carried on the only way he knew how: by thinking about anything else.

Today’s distraction topic was, unsurprisingly, Cassidy. The way she normally hung on his every word with a faint smile, the way she checked in with him constantly and gave people a hard time if they tried to mess with him. It gave him a warm feeling to think about her, grateful that she’d decided to be friends with him, even if he still suspected he was some kind of pity project.

Lizzie liked to tease him about having a crush on her, but the thought didn’t bother him so much. If he had a crush, then he had a crush. And if considering the thought that he had a crush on Cassidy made his cheeks burn, then so be it. He wouldn’t be the first boy in the world to have a crush on a girl.

Thankfully, Evan only had to wait until lunch to talk to Cassidy. She seemed just as distracted as before, and it made Evan’s heart ache. Still, he forced a smile to his face and greeted her brightly.

She smiled back, a weaker smile than his own and poked at her food with disinterest. Cassidy hardly looked at him.

“Cass, are you feeling okay?” he blurted out. He hadn’t asked before, thinking that she probably hadn’t wanted to talk about it, but after remembering how she used to smile and talk to him, he couldn’t help himself.

She looked startled by the question, dropping her fork back onto the tray. “I-“

“You’ve just seemed so occupied lately, and I know I should mind my business and wait for you to be ready to say something, but I’m worried about you.”

“Oh…” Cassidy’s eyebrows creased at that, and it was the first time she’d seemed to actually absorb his words since Charlie’s party. “I guess I… Well…” Cassidy struggled to gather her thoughts. “I’ve been having nightmares. I didn’t want to say anything because I don’t think they’re as big of a deal as yours, and I didn’t want to devalue your problems.”

“Cassidy, we’re friends. Just because I have constant problems doesn’t mean you can’t talk about yours at all. Besides, I’ve been doing better since Mikey started letting me sleep in his room again.” Evan put his hand on her arm reassuringly. “I’m here to listen, if you need to share.”

Cassidy smiled weakly. “Thanks, Ev. It’s probably stupid, but when I was at that party, I thought I heard something outside, and I went to go see. When I tried to get back in, the door was locked. And then…” Cassidy trailed off, her left hand twitching before resting on top of Evan’s. “Well, this car started coming up the alley way, and I just felt so scared, scared like I’ve never felt in my life, and I ran away from it, but it felt like the car was chasing me. So I’ve been having different dreams where I do get caught by the car, and sometimes I die, sometimes I watch other people die, and… yeah…” Cassidy squeezed his hand tightly.

Evan’s eyebrows scrunched tightly. “Have you told anyone besides me?”

“No,” Cassidy admitted. “But I don’t want to worry anyone.”

“Maybe at least tell your brother? I’m sure he’d want to know if you’re struggling to sleep or focus, Cass.”

Cassidy shrugged. “It won’t change anything. Travis would just worry. And he’s not tiny like you and your brother. If I tried to sleep in my brother’s bed with him, I would fall off the bed and hurt myself.”

“I’m not that small!” Evan protested, but he saw Cassidy’s point. Weirdly enough, it presented the perfect opportunity for him. “But, I may have an idea for you.”

“Yeah? Is it to get a ratty old Fredbear plush and carry it everywhere?” Cassidy asked skeptically. “Because I don’t think that works for everyone.”

“That implies that I do it because I want to,” Evan muttered to himself, but he shook his head at Cassidy, digging into his pocket. “No, I was thinking something a bit more your style.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, something like this.” Evan pulled the hairclip from his pocket. “I went to Fredbear’s yesterday and won it at the prize counter. Think of it as a way for me to defend you from your nightmares.”

Cassidy blinked at him, her mouth opening like she wanted to speak. Then she closed her mouth and blinked again. It took Evan a moment to realize she was speechless. And about to cry?

“It’s, um. If you don’t want it, it’s no big deal-“

“No, that’s very sweet actually,” Cassidy interrupted him, pulling her arm from under his hand. “Can you help me put it in? On the right side?”

“Oh, sure.” Evan fumbled with the hairclip, and Cassidy laughed lightly as he got to his feet to put the clip in her hair. “Like that?”

“A little further up,” Cassidy guided his hands, and Evan was sure his face was on fire. “Right there.”

Evan sighed in relief as he retracted his hands. His sleeve had slipped a little ways down his arm, and he quickly pulled it back down. Not fast enough, apparently, as Cassidy frowned.

Her eyes fixed on his sleeve, and she reached out to grab his elbow. Evan let her push his sleeve back to reveal the raw, bruised skin. “What happened here? Did-“

“I got in trouble.” Evan bit his lip and glanced away. “Mike is grounded, and if I’m not supervised, then-“

“Your dad did this?” Cassidy’s voice seemed tight, but Evan squeezed his eyes shut instead of looking at her expression.

“Yeah. But it’s better to face smaller fears than big ones, right?” Evan replied weakly.

Cassidy fell silent again. Her grip tightened on his elbow, and she let out a quiet sigh. “You’re unbelievable.”

“In a good way, though. Right?” Evan finally turned back to Cassidy. She seemed on the verge of tears as she looked at him.

The faintest smile came across her face. “Of course. Of course, Evie.”

She dragged him into a tight hug, and Evan hugged her back, unable to make himself care about how things looked to the rest of the room.

Everything was going to be just fine.

[hrizantemy]

Feyre Archeron is a complex character in A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR), especially when it comes to the dynamics of power and how she wields it differently depending on who she’s interacting with. When it comes to her sisters, Feyre displays a certain comfort in exerting control over them—making decisions on their behalf, often without their input. However, when it comes to the Inner Circle (IC), her approach is much more hands-off, and she often emphasizes their bond as friends rather than asserting any authority over them. This contrast reveals some troubling inconsistencies in her character, which warrant further exploration.

Power over her sisters

From the moment Feyre becomes High Lady, we see her holding a significant amount of power over her sisters, Nesta and Elain. Feyre’s attitude toward her sisters is often tinged with an uncomfortable willingness to violate their autonomy, especially when it comes to the use of her powers or Rhysand’s. Throughout A Court of Mist and Fury and A Court of Wings and Ruin, Feyre frequently contemplates going into her sisters’ minds or letting Rhysand do so in order to force them to comply with her wishes. This becomes particularly troubling as it reveals how easily Feyre is willing to use—or at least consider using—her position of power to control those closest to her.

Later on, in A Court of Frost and Starlight and A Court of Silver Flames, Feyre exerts even more direct control over Nesta. Instead of offering support or understanding, she forces Nesta to go to the House of Wind and start training, under the guise of helping her heal. Nesta is given little agency, and Feyre dismisses her sister’s autonomy in a way she never would with the IC. Feyre’s actions here suggest she’s comfortable holding power over her sisters when she deems it necessary, using their well-being as justification for her actions. Yet, it’s clear that this forceful approach often does more harm than good.

Reluctance to hold power over the IC

In stark contrast, when it comes to the Inner Circle, Feyre is adamant about not asserting power over them. She often talks about their friendship and her respect for their choices, despite being their High Lady and, in theory, having the authority to lead. This reluctance is especially evident when it comes to Rhysand, Mor, Cassian, and Azriel. She defers to Rhysand’s decisions and avoids challenging the group dynamic, even when it might be in her best interest to do so.

For instance, rather than confronting or holding accountable those who kept her in the dark about the significant risks of her pregnancy—choices that were made without her knowledge and had serious consequences for her life and future—Instead of addressing the people who withheld such vital information, she directs it towards Nesta, punishing her for revealing the truth.

This response not only deflects blame from those responsible but also reinforces a cycle where honesty from those outside the Inner Circle is met with hostility, rather than the support or understanding it deserves. Feyre frequently frames her lack of intervention as respect for her friends’ autonomy, but this mindset comes across as inconsistent, given how comfortable she is intervening in her sisters’ lives.

The Double Standard

This double standard in Feyre’s treatment of her sisters versus the Inner Circle highlights a major flaw in her character. On one hand, Feyre is willing to force her sisters into difficult situations, making decisions on their behalf without fully considering their feelings or autonomy. On the other hand, she’s unwilling to assert herself when it comes to her friends in the Inner Circle, even though she’s in a position of power and could challenge them when necessary. This difference raises the question: why does Feyre feel more comfortable controlling her sisters than holding the IC accountable?

One possible explanation is that Feyre feels an overwhelming sense of guilt and responsibility for her sisters, especially after their shared traumatic experiences. She might believe that because she failed to protect them in the past, she must now control their futures to ensure their safety and well-being. However, this misguided sense of protection strips them of their autonomy, especially in the case of Nesta, who is constantly infantilized and silenced.

In contrast, Feyre views the IC as equals, or perhaps even superiors in some ways, especially given her deep admiration for Rhysand. This leads her to place herself in a subordinate role in that dynamic, unwilling to challenge or question them, no matter the consequences. Her desire for their approval and the comfort of friendship outweighs her willingness to confront them or wield her power as High Lady.

Conclusion

Feyre’s contrasting treatment of her sisters versus the Inner Circle speaks to a deeper inconsistency in her character when it comes to power and control. She’s comfortable wielding authority over her sisters, forcing them into situations for what she believes is their own good, yet she refuses to assert any power over her friends, claiming that they are equals. This dynamic reveals an uneven approach to leadership and relationships, where her protective instincts toward her sisters manifest as control, while her loyalty to the IC manifests as passivity. This raises important questions about Feyre’s understanding of power, friendship, and family—and whether she truly knows how to balance these complex relationships.

[ad-astra-per-aspera-1389]

So, I mentioned my Agent Cuddy AU before, and by that I mean...

Gregory House fought in WWII. He was a decent soldier, but a better spy, however, he was sent back out into the warzone for mouthing off too much. He lost his leg in the war, leaving him with a shoddy prosthetic, a cane, and a limp. [Yes, he’s like if Sousa was an asshole. Also I gave him his cane instead of the crutch, because, like in House MD canon, House is knowingly punishing himself, so of course he’d go with the cane instead of the more practical and comfortable crutch like Sousa had.]

Lisa Cuddy worked alongside Project Rebirth during the war, even allegedly becoming romantically involved with Lucas Douglas, aka, Captain America [yeah yeah, I know. Not my fav place for him either, but I think it fits. He’s a dorky little guy and he’s genuinely good, so, you know, it works well enough]. She was one of the best agents they had, but after the war she was put back into the SSR, forcing her to earn their respect all over again.

James Wilson is the butler to young, rich, and insanely brilliant Dr. Robert Chase. James often finds himself caught up in Lisa’s cases and adventures, proving to be a loyal and helpful friend in even the most complicated and dangerous of situations. He is married to Julie Wilson. [because this is the 1940s, she can’t really cheat, get a divorce, and be alright financially right away, so in my mind she doesn’t cheat here. I would have him be married to his first wife, but then we’d have Sam Wilson, and that’s already a mcu character and I’d like to avoid confusion]

Eric Foreman also works for the SSR. He follows his orders, whether he agrees with them or not. He later takes over as chief.

Dr. Robert Chase is a brilliant, young, rich, somewhat insane weapons inventor. He met and befriended Lisa during the war, but afterwards, he recruited her to clear his name. See, Dr. Chase had indirectly killed a (different) genocidal dictator, and the SSR is out for his arrest.

Allison Cameron is a waitress who quickly becomes one of Lisa’s closest friends and allies.

Remy Hadley, known only as “Thirteen” in the spy circuit, was trained in the Red Room. She proves to be one of Lisa’s biggest adversaries, but also turns out to be useful later on.

Amber Volakis is a brilliant actress who later gets caught up in something bigger than herself. She aims for genius, but ends up in unhinged territory.

Jessica Adams is a nurse Greg meets while in Los Angeles. She proves to be a valuable ally when Lisa is injured.

Lawrence Kutner, Jeffrey Cole, and Chris Taub are all part of the 107th, which are still active even after the war.

Dr. Travis Brennan [...whatever the fuck samberly was good for lmao. It can’t be taub bc samberly gets no bitches and taub very much somehow gets bitches]

Chi Park is Lisa’s connection at the phone company.

[purplemninja]

My understanding of the Nowhere's 'Residents'

(This is the other of the two theory posts that'll lead up to a more recent theory I made that I'll post some time later. Evidently, this one was made after TSON was released)

~

This is an analysis of how the 'Residents' of the Nowhere work, what makes a person a 'Resident', and as future reference for another theory post I'm working on that involves how 'Residents' function.

I've previously made a theory about this exclusively for the Thin Man: https://www.tumblr.com/purplemninja/763255990963617792/thin-man-theory?source=share

But I'll be focusing on all of the 'Residents' here instead of just him.

When asked about the Hunter and Teacher, David Mervik said this:

From what I can gather from this, as well as the behaviour of other monsters in the games, the Residents seem to have a 'base instinct' that is basically their identity and they follow it with no motivation or goals. Essentially being 'thralls' or 'zombies' to whatever their base instinct is, without goals, motivations or any regard for morality or even their own survival (except for one case at least, but that's for the previously mentioned future theory post).

The Hunter is simply bloodthirsty simply for the sake of being bloodthirsty. He has a lot of dead bodies in the traps he laid around the forest, including a child (the one with the yellow rain hat) in one of the cages, and a few taxidermied on display in his house. It's unclear if these people were a threat to him or not, but the child surely wasn't so killing the child was unnecessary outside of purely bloodlust.

And when he has Mono and Six cornered in the shed, he shows no reaction whatsoever when sees them pointing a shotgun at him, not seeming to be concerned about his own survival despite seeing that they're about to kill him and tries to still get at them anyway.

The Teacher teaches children made of porcelain. They're never going to grow up, so it's pointless to teach them anything since they'll never become adults who use the knowledge they learn in school to get jobs and stuff. She's also seen toying around with biology-related items like dead frogs, organs and playing a piano, but she's not teaching these things. We don't see any set-ups in the rooms for teaching these subjects to the bullies, so it looks like she's doing these things in preparations for lessons she's never going to teach, ever.

Her base instinct being to teach, even if the children she teaches aren't ever going to grow up or finish the school, and she also shows no regard for morality as she uses physical punishment with a ruler and there are some bullies walking around with broken heads, yet no attempts to fix them have been shown.

The Doctor is a doctor strictly for the sake of being a doctor, and not really to help make people better since all of his patients are incomplete and seemingly also being used for experiments, again, with no goal. And he's willing to chase Mono into a furnace with no concern that he might get trapped inside it.

The Viewers just watch TV, and will even kill to do so. And they also show no regard for their own survival as they're willing to walk straight off of buildings to get to a TV. And when they can't find a TV, they either go attack Mono or fall of buildings to their deaths.

As previously mentioned in my Thin Man theory, he searches and searches and searches, for nothing in particular. Even when has Six, he continues to search, leading to him kidnapping the Toddler afterwards, again for no reason by the looks of it.

The monsters of the other games seem to fit this as well:

The Craftsman never tries to make the dolls sturdier or not out of kids. The Butler obeys the Pretender without complaint when he could easily make an example out her with his telekinesis, and the Pretender constantly needs more and more dolls as she keeps breaking them, not seeming to even try to handle them more gently to avoid breaking them in the first place, and the dolls being made out of slaughtered children instead of fabric or plastic and modelled to look like children instead.

Roger being super hellbent on catching Six, even when he can sense the cage under the closing door threatening to break and allow the door to cut off his arms.

The chefs adding Six to the menu if they manage to grab her (and while she's still alive and conscious), not even preparing her properly (maybe except for the chopping board death).

The guests eating and eating and even being willing to jump out of their seats to chase Six to eat her. Even sacrificing each other's lives to try and catch her (i.e. the one that falls off the table at the end of when Six is chased by a massive wave of them).

The Lady having a bunch of mirrors despite the fact that they're her weakness and running the Maw despite all of the suffering and death it causes.

Now, the official LN Twitter did say that there is a protection from becoming a resident: a person's 'inner child' (If someone can give me a link to that tweet so I can screenshot it for use in the future theory post it'd be appreciated).

I've tried looking up what exactly a person's 'inner child' is and these were the top results:

From the looks of it, a person's inner child is their original self. And if someone in the Nowhere were to lose their 'original self', they'd become vulnerable to the Nowhere's corruption that turns them into zombies that act purely on instinct with no goals, motivations or concern for their own survival or morality.

Did the Residents of the Nowhere previously experience trauma similar to that that they inflict on others now? Is whatever they do for their base instinct their way protecting themselves from abuse they went through but lost themselves in the process and became Residents? This would certainly fit into the whole theme of 'cycles of abuse'.

Mono wears a paper bag on his head to try to forget the fact that the Nowhere hates him and wants him to fail, and when he's injured and the Thin Man is standing between him and the tower where Six is being kept, he's had enough of the Nowhere's BS and sheds the bag, along with his child-like innocence and chooses to stop running and hiding and instead fight. Leading to his most badass scene of defeating the Thin Man and pulling the tower towards himself.

But when Six drops him, it seems to cause him to revert back to his pre-paper bag self and saw that he can run, hide or even fight all he wants, the world still hates him and wants him to fail, so he loses his 'ignore the hate' (with a paper bag) self, making him susceptible to the Nowhere's corruption, coming around to the Tower's way of thinking 'like all sensible children', and becoming the Thin Man, a Resident. His base instinct and identity to search and search and search either for 'revenge' or a 'second chance', ever unsuccessful and continuing the cycle in doing so.

This theory may need some work, especially the meaning of what a person's 'inner child' is, so I welcome tweaks and tips that could help with this theory, but I do strongly believe that Residents are (essentially) zombies that mindlessly follow whatever their base instinct is that is also their identity, with no goal, motive or regards for morality or survival.

But hey, that's just- [Cut off prevention]

~

(Other theory post needed to understand my more recent theory)

[satureja13]

After Jeb and Kiyoshi finally came back to consciousness, the Boys went to Porto Luminoso. Since they're already here and the members of the Council scattered to the four winds, the Boys could as well cherish their time here before their meeting with athena and Ms Coombes tomorrow afternoon.

And since the Bond wasn't able to join Ji Ho and Vlad beyond the Veil and it's finally, finally allowed to run free (No curse! No spell! Nothing to hold it back anymore!) it's grimly determined to get its share! It's feeding off of the love shared between Ji Ho and Vlad and it's been starving all these years! Ji Ho and Vlad felt the pull from their Bond. It wants them alone. And close to each other! And they decided not to act up, since the Bond already hates Vlad (for trying to kill it - twice!) and they are afraid it would punish him again, should they not obey ö.ö' Vlad: "Eh, Ji Ho and I..." Jack laughed: "Got it! See you later for dinner at Porto Azzurro! And: don't do anything I wouldn't do!"

The others went over to Porto Azzurro. Sai and Jeb fell behind because Sai was drawn towards 'Moda Capoliveri', the fashion store. To give Jeb and Sai some alone time too, Kiyoshi said: "Jack and I are going jet skiing. See you later!" Jeb was flustered, being alone with Sai after all those months apart is still a mine field, but answered: "Uhm, ok..." Jack was proud of Kiyoshi making a bold move like this: "You're totally my kind of scum. Fearless and inventive." And off they went.

It still feels awkward between Jeb and Sai. They agreed to start over again but Jeb is afraid if he says the wrong thing, it would all go downhill again... But Jeb didn't need to talk. Like the Bond, Sai is grimly determined to make it work this time. Sai: "Do you remember our first date? Tomorrow it's two years ago. You also took me to a fashion shop." Jeb laughed: "It was just the Thriftea ^^' But of course I remember." They didn't have money to buy anything since they're already deep in dept for their tutoring, but Sai loves it to browse for new ideas for Noxee and his fashion store Strawberry Cake Fashion.

Jeb sensed how tense Sai is and how much he dreads their meeting with athena and Ms Coombes tomorrow. Jeb: "We will be able to pay back the school fees and of course Ms Coombes will give us a loan. Vlad, Kiyoshi and I worked hard over the weeks you've spent at the beach house and we even payed back Rubyn and the others and were able to put some money at the side. Don't worry, hm?" Sai: "Gods, while we wasted our time with that stupid game and the tin can!" Jeb: "Don't say that. This game helped us a lot and it is going to help others too (Jeb sensed that Sai wanted to scream and disagree, but he kept on talking). Sai, the Therapy Game was worth the trouble. And our stay at Verdantis was worth it too. Look on the bright side, hm? We got amazing tutoring and improved a lot and the game helped us to overcome some of our hardships. I feel we're able to face anything now. You did a great job keeping us together and making us stronger." Sai smiled at Jeb, he always knows to say the right things to him. Then what Jack said earlier came to his mind (about Jeb trying to avoid woohooing with Sai) and so he tried to nudge Jeb in a different direction... Sai: "Since we improved a lot, will we also be be able to put our relationship to the next level? We could ask the owner of Hotel Elvis for a free room, since we chased the Council away from Tartosa again ;) We've spent our second date here, do you remember?" The Little Goats: 'Yes, yes, YES!'

But Jeb didn't find it fair to the others (they are supposed to sleep at the campsite tonight to keep their money together) and does not want to exploit the hotel owner, so he declined Sai's offer... Or maybe he really tries to avoid getting physical because he does not want to hurt Sai should he want more...

'She: You know, sometimes I ask myself: What is this a kind of fear to lose you? What is inside of you that makes you unique And makes me fall in love with you?

He: I like to spend days teasing you With phrases that I get old And, perhaps, your impossible character Makes me fall in love with you

Cosa Sei - Ricchi e Poveri

'A volte, sai, non so perché, mi trovo a chiedermi cosa sarà questa paura che ho di perderti. Che cosa c'è dentro di te che ti fa unico e mi fa innamorare di te?

Mi piaci sempre e passo i giorni stuzzicandoti con frasi come «Sto invecchiando sopportandoti» e forse è proprio il tuo carattere impossibile che mi fa innamorare di te.'

From the Beginning 🔱 Underwater Love 🔱 Latest

Current Chapter: 'Here comes the Sun' from the beginning ▶️ here Last Chapter: 'Who killed Jack?' from the beginning ▶️ here

📚 Previous Chapters: Chapters: 1-6 ~ 7-12 ~ 13-16 ~ 23-28

[bluegekk0]

how did dirtmouth deal with those sick from the infection? did they lock them in their houses or uh... put them down?

elderbug is the oldest, so was he basically the de-facto leader of the town?

I think for the most part, the infection primarily stayed underground. I think it's mentioned in the game that a lot of bugs would travel underground and then never return, so I'm assuming it wasn't as widespread on the surface.

This is just an idea for the reason why, but I've been thinking about gods and their laws at some point, as a worldbuilding thing while working on the world map (which I still have to finish, I've been neglecting it 😅). Tangent incoming but I will get back to the point, I promise.

Basically, the world map has two continents. However, many years ago, the continents were connected. That was until the war between two gods of the neighboring territories that happened many thousands of years ago. The gods were powerful and did not care for the mortals that died in the process, and eventually the two continents split as a result of their battles. After this event, the other gods of Godhome have decided that such events should never happen again, and formed a council and laws preventing all the gods from interacting with the physical world to such destructive degree.

The gods also agreed to avoid conflict between each other, and any god who'd break this would face trial and possible banishment from Godhome. This connects to the backstory between Grimm and The Radiance, where they fought and she banished him herself, and then later told the other gods that he was a threat, which they bought. That's why a lot of them don't trust him, and why any attempts at finding a way to reverse his (arguably) unjust banishment are met with dismissal. In their eyes, Grimm broke the law and this was his punishment, as all the evidence they found pointed to that being true, even if the situation was far more complicated than that.

But this is besides the point of this ask. I mentioned the first law about destroying the mortal world, which includes terrorizing the mortals and other similar crimes. Well, it just so happens that The Radiance kind of broke it with her infection. The first wave was eventually stopped, and she was trapped by the Hollow Knight, so the other gods decided they did not need to intervene anymore. But the infection returned, and The Radiance took over the Pantheon of Hallownest, preventing contact between its gods and Godhome. Unn was too weak to fight it, The White Lady disappeared into her cocoon, and Grimm was still treated as an outlaw, so no one was able to seek help from Godhome. And to prevent the news from spreading and catching the attention of Godhome, the infected bugs would not wander to the surface and outside of Hallownest. They remained underground, hidden from the surface world and from the sight of the other gods of the continent.

It wasn't until The Shade Lord invaded Godhome and killed The Radiance that the rest of the gods realized the situation in Hallownest was a lot more dire than they previously thought. But she was dead, there was no need for a trial or punishment anymore, and they once again had no reason to intervene. There's definitely a pattern here haha

Of course, this is still a very early draft of this part of the worldbuilding, I'm definitely going to change some details since there's bound to be plot holes and inconsistencies. But I think it would be interesting if the idea I had for the Godhome laws connected to the infection like this. And I love the idea of the Godhome council being kind of incompetent and ignorant of what's actually happening, so it figures that they would be too busy minding their business to intervene in time.

But coming back to the question. I mentioned that the infection was only underground during the second wave. But what about the first? Dirtmouth had to have dealt with the infection somehow, both for its own safety but also to prevent the infection from spreading outside of the kingdom. I like to think there is an old jail somewhere in the town, so I could see the infected being held there. What would happen to them afterwards? They acted like mindless beasts and posed a serious threat, so unfortunately they were likely treated as such.

Since you mentioned Elderbug; would he be around to witness that? It's been ten years since the infection ended for good, after 35 years of the second wave, which followed a period of peace that lasted around 15 years. That's 60 years in total, so if he was around during the first wave then he must've been very young. I go with the idea that the bugs age about the same as humans, so him being in his 60s is plausible. But he would be far too young to be the leader of Dirtmouth at the time.

That changed after the second wave started and Dirtmouth became essentially abandoned. He wasn't elected, though, and he wasn't an actual official leader at that time. He was simply one of the very last residents of the town, and very respected due to his age, so others started treating him as such. Consequently, when the infection ended and Dirtmouth started coming back to life, he officially became the town's elder, someone who represents the town, organizes all the community votes and such. Not exactly the leader with complete power, but someone who's highly regarded with an important position.

[rynnthefangirl]

Okay, so I finally got around to watching Fall of the House of Usher, and I have so many thoughts. I especially loved all the cool ways that the deaths of the siblings play into their individual characters, and I may or may not eventually do an analysis for each of them. But for right now I want to talk about one of my favorite stories and deaths in the show, Leo's.

So with Leo, everything with the cats is symbolic of his own sins plaguing him. Specifically, like many of the Ushers, Leo expects to get what he wants without bearing any responsibility for his actions, and this is exemplified by his relationship with Jules. He clearly wants to be in a relationship with Jules, and I think he does get more out of it that just sexual pleasure. However, he only cares what HE can get from the relationship, and doesn't consider his partner's desires and feelings. Leo regularly cheats on Jules, a betrayal he knows would hurt Jules but he simply does not care as long as he gets away with it. He values drugs more than he does his partner, and ignores or shuts down any discomfort or concern Jules has with his drug abuse. He won't even properly acknowledge Jules as his partner by bringing him around to meet the family, an action that would give more seriousness to their relationship and perhaps raise the expectations for how Leo should behave.

Leo's hallucination of killing Pluto is a subconscious manifestation of his failures as a boyfriend. It parallels his infidelity: he does something horrible that would break Jules' heart (fittingly as a result of drugs), and instead of feeling remorse for what he has done, he is more preoccupied with how to avoid getting caught. Except now it's no longer a girl that he can hide out on a balcony, but an irreplaceable beloved pet. Despite this severity of the situation, Leo persists in trying to hide his sins, to prioritize his own comfort and desires over honesty and trust.

So Leo goes to the pet store to find a replacement cat, and Verna is waiting for him. And this is where his test comes in, the chance to change his fate that Verna gives all the siblings. Option 1 is to leave with another cat who needs a home, and resign himself to the consequences of his crime. Had he done that, he certainly would have found that Pluto was actually unharmed, which may perhaps (although I could be excessively optimistic here) have even served as a wake up call that the drugs are becoming a problem. He would've died regardless, but he could've died peacefully and somewhat redeemed, instead of traumatizing himself and his boyfriend. Option 2 is to take the easy way out, the way that avoids all responsibility, and use his wealth and power to get the perfect replacement kitty Verna tempts him with. Leo of course, chooses the second option.

In fitting irony, Leo's attempts to avoid consequence straps him with the biggest consequence of all. The cat is seemingly out to get him, hissing and scratching as if she's directly punishing him for his choices. Interestingly, the cat herself also seems to mirror Leo. Leo satisfies himself with drugs and women, bringing them into the home he shares with Jules with no concern for Jules' feelings; the cat satisfies herself by killing small animals, bringing their corpses to the apartment with no concern for Leo's discomfort. Considering the animals as a symbol of Leo's infidelity, it's fitting that the first one is found in their bed as Jules is performing oral sex on Leo and that the discovery of it results in them being interrupted and Jules being hurt. The cat also explicitly stares down Leo in this scene, as if in judgement for him enjoying his boyfriend while he himself is unfaithful and gives nothing in return. Verna later herself explicitly draws a connection between cats and Roderick Usher, saying that they both destroy to fulfill a deficiency in themselves. The same could be said for any of the Usher children however, Leo included.

Of course, being tormented by a manifestation of his sins (combined with the drugs) begins to drive Leo insane. We see further parallels between the cat and Leo, as both suffer eye injuries at the hands of the other. Leo eventually tries to kill the cat with a hammer, which is naturally as fruitless an endeavor as taking a hammer to the abstract idea of personal failure. All he manages to destroy in his rampage is the home he shares with Jules— yes, the cat is a literal homewrecker.

I don't think Verna's choice in which cat to bring home was actually Leo's point of no return, but simply the last moment that she herself will try to intervene and convince him down another path. Even without Verna talking him down, Leo has two moments of near clarity during his rampage, both of which center around Jules. One is early on in his delusions, when he realizes that what he's seeing is crazy and muses that maybe Jules was right about the drugs. The second is when Jules comes home, and Leo realizes first that Jules cannot see the woman and cat in the wall and then that there is no woman and cat in the wall at all. In both these moments, Jules could serve as a lifeline to Leo, but to take hold of that lifeline Leo would need to put aside himself and his obsession, to ignore the cat taunting him and instead put his focus on his boyfriend. Admit that Jules was right about the drugs, admit that Jules can see more clearly than him. But Leo cannot do this. He sees the cat on the balcony, and all thoughts of Jules are wiped from his mind. He HAS to get the cat, he HAS destroy the symbol of his sins so he can continue to live free of consequence. And that final decision, that refusal to listen to Jules and put aside his immediate selfish impulses, dooms him. He flings himself right off the building, not only killing himself but emotionally destroying his boyfriend, as he was always going to do.