#there are things missing from this but i just wanna post it before next episode and i need to go to bed i have to work tomorrow bye (bi bi)

[beets]

baby, bi bi bi

[curvykittyyssmutfics]

Dad's Best Friend ft. Kishibe

dbf!Kishibe who's been your father's bff for over 25 years and loves you more than anything in the world: Coddles and shows you a gross amount of affection, like you're not a whole grown ass woman. Let's you plop in his lap evertime he comes over for a drink, ignoring your father's taunts bout your neediness. Dark eyes glued the tv, absentmindely rubbing circles on your back as you nuzzle into his neck. Ignorant to the sheer will it takes you not grind onto his soft cock. "Okay there, sweets? You keep squirming.. Won me ta hold you closer?" You nod, warmth spreading through your body when Kishibe tightens his embrace.

dbf!Kishibe isn't big on conversation but thinks it's adorable how you ramble on about any and everything to him: Just random shit. From your favorite celeb gossip to simple girl talk, you keep his attention for hours. Only his girl can get him caught up on the most recent trash reality tv shows that he never intends to watch. Unless you ask him to of course. Kishibe lends a honest ear, asks questions, and provides commentary when needed. "Baby, I can't be the only person you got to talk to right now. Its 2am. Know I have work early in the mornin." He groans from his end of the phone. "Yeah, but I haven't seen you inna few days. I miss youuu. Wanna hear your voice." Kishibe sighs. He knows that's only a half truth. Also knows he won't be gettin off the phone anytime soon. "That right? Think you just wanna tell me what happened on the next episode of.. What was it?" He teases. "It's called Baddies! See? You never listen!" Kishibe rolls his eyes. "Uh huh. That must be why you on my line right now. tsk. Go on and tell me what happened on ya lil show before I go to sleep on yo ass." "Okay, okay! Geez.."

dbf!Kishibe has always treated you like his princess, but you're older now, and very aware of his Queen treatment: All begins when he notices you real down for a few days. Doesnt wanna pry so he starts wakin you up to compliments and affirmations through text. Even as a man of few words, he thinks it's important you know how smart, kind and pretty you are. You're worth simply can't be measured to Kishibe, and he needs you to understand that. Doesn't care if your dad's around or who hears how special he thinks you are. "Fuckin aced my exam!" You exclaim one late afternoon, slidin through the kitchen after gettin back from uni. Kishibe and your father wait for you, posted at the breakfast bar. Kishibe arms squeeze tight inna hug while your dad opts for high five and small tickle to your side. "So fantastic, sweetheart! Knew you could do it. Always been too smart for your own good." Kishibe chuckles at your pout. "Know what? Let's go out. We gotta celebrate our girls milestone." But your dad scoffs. "Milestone? It's just a test, Kish. She takes em all time." "Dad, it's not just a test. I studied hard as hell for this one. It's a large chunk of my grade." Kishibe slings an arm round your shoulders, holdin up your exam papers before chiming in again. "Come on, old man. She passed with flying colors. Our girl could be a doctor or some shit. Never know. I say she deserves some special treatment." "Then you take her. Work drained all this old man's energy. I'm goin to sleep. Great job again, y/n. Proud of you." With a kiss to your forehead, he's off to bed. Kishibe doesn't let you wallow though. Pulls you in close to whisper in your ear. "Three's a crowd anyway, sweet thing. Go put on somethin black and tiny. Let's go do somethin fun tonight."

dbf!Kishibe only pretends to be oblivious to your little crush on him: He doesn't mind his gorgeous girl's longing stares or subtle flirting. Teases the fuck out you by purposefully acting clueless. Wants to see how far you'll go with your little infatuation. And it's a full time job. So Kishibe finds any reason to sleep over whenever he can. "Babygirl?" He calls for you naked and wet through the cracked bathroom door. "Bring me my towel, please. Left it on the bed." You comply, not realizing the treat you're in store for. Jaw dropping seeing his pretty dick for the first time. It's not hard but it's still so thick. A nice medium toned flesh colored shaft, mushroom tip dark pink and flaring wide. Its fuckin perfect. "H-here.. Here you go." "Thanks." Kishibe takes the towel, sexy grin appearin how your gaze never wavers from his cock. He's startin to stiffen- and drip more than water from your lusty stare . "Careful, honey. You're wakin the beast. Can't do that when your dad's around."

dbf!Kishibe loves to spoil you rotten: Takes you shoppin, gets your nails and hair done, puts gas in you car. Whatever you desire is at your finger tips. All you gotta do is flutter your lashes and pout your full lips and Kishibe is bending to your every will: "The fuck you need this for?" His words a nasty growl when you interrupt him workin on your dad's car to shove your phone into his face and show him a skimpy lavender lingerie set. "Thought you said pretty girls deserve pretty things." You whine, stomping your foot when Kishibe scoffs and bends under the hood to resume his task. "I'm not buyin that shit for you to show some lil fuck boy in your class, y/n." How dare he! You were absolutely repulsed by your first taste of fuck boy and only have eyes for him. "Not for anyone, Kishi. Just thought it would look good on me. Don't you?" He glances up, eyes raking over every inch of you. Fuck yeah, he does. Plus, Kishibe just can't take the soft vulnerable face you put on once he meets your gaze. Or the thought of that flimsy scrap of lace wrapped round your frame. "Fine, y/n." He takes his wallet out and tosses it to you. "You better get one in my favorite color- nah. Scratch that. Get one of each. And do same day shipping. I want a picture of it on you by tonight."

dbf!Kishibe does random pop ups when your left home alone for extended amounts of time: Knows your father works hard and promises to take good care of their little girl when he's away. Though this time, you don't expect him anytime soon since Kishibe texts he'll be comin by late tonight. When he finally does arrive, his idea of surprising you with your favorite dish doesn't quite go as planned. He let's himself in with the spare key and tip toes to your room but your not there. After a quick search, he finds you in the guest room and is stunned into silence. You're tangled in the sheets on your hands and knees, hardly covered in that damn pastel purple scrap of lace, slowly fuckin your puffy chocolate puss with a pink dildo. Clearly you hadn't washed the covers from Kishibe's overnight stay the way you inhale them, arch deepening and puttin your most delicate areas on display to his greedy gaze. The little show you put on has his girth raging stiff for you in record time. "Uhn! Oh, Kishibeee! Uhh, uhh, uhh! Stuff me till I can't take it. Need your fat cock to ruin me, Kishi!" His ears burn hot listening to you as he stares intently between your beautiful brown thighs, mouth watering for a taste. Swollen cock won't stop twitchin, precum already drippin in anticipation. "Yeees! Feed this pussy that dick, give it to me! So fuckin wet for you, know it'll slide right in." Your brows pinch, nose scrunching as you fuck yourself a bit quicker. Little puss drooling from the stretch, squelching loud from the swift pumps. "Wish you were here.. Ahh! Don't wanna -mmm- wait anymore. Want you to h-hold me down.. Fuck me like onahole, Daddy!" The fuck?! Kishibe groans quietly at your slutty pleas. Fuck, you're askin for it. His dick throbs widly from how feral you're behaving, even though the dildo's barely half way in. "Ohfuh- Kishibe!Fuckfuckfuck! 'S so big, splitting me in half! Fill me up just like that.. Haah, so close! Gonna cum so much, Kishi!" Kishibe's mouth drops open, grip on your dinner involuntarily loosening a bit as his groin pulses intensely. He's stuck frozen in place, totally entranced, ready to burst at the seams from the erotic visual. "Yeees.. Oh God, gonna wet up that big dick.. F-fuck me, Kishi! Fuck this pussy till I cum, make it yours Daddy! Ohmy- cummiiing! So good! Haahshit! Feels so fuckin goood!" Witnessing you gush all over your toy and sheets is his demise. Kishibe's gotta bite his bottom lip to muffle his grunts as he nuts. Pent up cock spurting cum like a fire hose as he watches you shiver, swearin and callin out to him while you fuck yourself into overstimulation.

dbf!Kishibe can't stop his dick from chubbin when your in his presence anymore, so he spends less time with you: It's always been a challenge to look and not touch but how can he do that when he hears your beautiful filthy fuckin sobs of his name ringin in his ears 24/7? The image of you cummin ingrained in his mind so fiercely, he's officially rubbed his dick raw. Thinks his hiatus will save you before he does somethin he can't take back. But then you show up on Kishibe's doorstep, hair inna messy bun, dressed in one of his old hoodies and the tiniest pair of jean shorts he's ever seen. Pretty y/e/c eyes rimmed red and teary as you yell at him for ghosting you. "..so what, replace me that fast? Can't answer my calls or texts? At least coulda responded to my fuckin email- I begged you to tell me what I did wrong! You're a fuckin piece of shit, Kishibe!" You tire yourself shoutin and bangin on his chiseled chest. End up right back in his lap, on his couch this time as he tries to console you. "I know sweetheart, I'ma fuckin jerk. Asshole like me don't deserve a perfect girl like you. Didn't do anything to me. How could you? Ain't nothin a sweet thing like you could do to push me away, you know that. Its.. It's all my fault." "Then why, Kish? Why'd you leave me? Told me.. Told me I'm you're favorite girl, that you'd always be here for me. So why can't you just tell me what's goin on? I don't get it.. Or at least my dad. He's your best friend." Kishibe sighs, shakin his head. "Yeah, I know that. But how in the hell do I tell my best bud that I watched our girl fuck her own brains out while screamin for me to use her like a onahole? Hmm? And that I actually almost did. Was two seconds from pushin your head into the sheets so I could breed that inexperienced lil pussy all night long." You tense on his muscled thigh for the briefest of moments. "Had to stay away, y/n. I went too far.." The fuck he did. Didn't go far enough. And how could you not realize he saw the lewd display? Even with pretendin to arrive a good while after, he couldn't take his gaze from you the entire evening. Finally.. At last it feels like your advances are gettin you somewhere. "And?" You stand up, lookin down on his fine ass. "And? Wha- ... Fuck you mean and?" Kishibe stares up at you incredulously, tongue swipin over his bottom lip when his eyes do a swift dart to your smooth mocha thighs.

"Did you really think we'd just endlessly flirt forever? Geez Kishi.. Don't make me have to spell it out for you. Supposed to be this big strong devil hunter." You pull off your hoodie, revealing your bare chest. Undoin your bun, messy 30 inch waves tumble down your shoulders and back. "Y/n, baby, wait. Let's talk bout this." "Looks like you wanna do more than talk, Kish." Fuck, your right. Kishibe's so fuckin hard. Even though that should be impossible after how much he's nutted to you these past 2 weeks. But your tits are so damn pretty and he really wants to play with the cute cherry piercings dangling from your stiff dark peaks. Still, Kishibe attempts one last play at 'the good guy' when you go to push down your shorts. "Don't." It's a weak protest. "Please, babygirl. Don't do this.. I'm only a man." Your bottoms hit the floor as you giggle, pussy clenchin at his dick visibly beatin against his slacks. "And I'm a woman, Kishibe. Your woman." He groans a low "Fuck yes." fists balling when you crowd him, settin your painted toes on the edge of the couch; the angle spreadin your glistening cocoa cunt for him. "You know.. Lately, you don't listen to me very well, Kishi. And we've both know I've always been very concise about my wants and needs." Two fingers creep to move in and out of your hot lil snatch, free hand fisting at his short blonde tips as you effortlessly fall into a slow deep rythym. "So I need- mmm.. Need you to listen like you used to.. You can do that for me, yeah?" Kishibe's dying to replace his digits with yours. Swallows hard watchin you scissor your fingers before strokin your coochie a bit quicker. The generous amount of slick provides a nice wet plap plap to fill the air. "But you hear me now, right Daddy?" Fuck it! He can't fight against it anymore. Lips dam near teleportin round your poundin clit, eyes closing in bliss as he nods and nurses your sensitive nub. "Kishibe!" His big hands grab your ass and hold you against his incessant mouth, dick ready to buss from your shrieks and the taste of your creamy cookie. Yeah, Kishibe hears you all alright.

[reduxulousoctopus]

X-Men '97, Post-Episode 7, ~2500 words Morpherine established relationship, missing scene (unless the show actually does explore what happened during that fight, in which case boy is there egg on my face).

I follow established show canon by referring to Morph as he/him in diegetic works (fanfic and fan art) and they/them in non-diegetic works (my episode analyses and reblogs), because that's the stupidest option and, like Morph, I am also an enby with a terrible sense of humor.

Now come watch me struggle to write two whole lines of dialogue for one of my favorite characters in the series, Beast, because Me Too Stupid to Write Smart Talk Good.

--

“You wanna explain what the hell happened back there?”

Although he considers pretending he didn’t hear the question, Morph reluctantly glances across the center aisle of the Blackbird to see Logan glaring back at him with an expression as hard as the adamantium underneath it. Although it’s a look he’s seen plenty of times before as an innocent bystander, Morph has only been the target of that glare on a handful of occasions. Usually when he’s severely fucked something up. Or when Logan is completely out-of-his-mind, cuckoo-bananas worried about him.

Morph suspects that this time, it’s a little Column A, a little Column B.

A wiser person might realize they were in a hole and stop digging; Morph smirks and asks, “What, the Summers Family Reunion? Well, you see, when a man and the clone of his wife love each other very much…” Morph chuckles. “By the way, this might be a bit creepy to say as one of his honorary uncles, but Baby Nathan grew up to be a serious hottie—emphasis on serious.”

No laugh. Okay, maybe that wasn’t his best material, but not even a lip twitch? Logan must be pissed.

Morph sighs and slouches in his seat. God, he doesn’t want to talk about this right now. Or maybe ever. He can feel his throat literally closing up to stop the words from coming out.

When enough time has passed that what little patience Logan had left in the tap completely runs dry, he goes right for the jugular: “I thought you were dead. Again.”

Morph winces.

“I saw that… ‘Trask Sentinel’ blow your goddamn head off. Then, next thing I know, you’re up and walkin’ around like nothing happened.”

“Not that you’re complaining, right?” Morph asks with a weak attempt at a laugh. “You know what they say about gift horses. Although, you’d think the lesson from the Trojan War would be that you should look gift horses in the mouth.”

From the seat behind him, Morph hears: “Although it’s a common misconception, that phrase actually has nothing to do with the Trojan Horse. The proverbial ‘gift horse’ is a literal, living horse, and to look it in the mouth—”

“With all those books you read,” Logan grumbles, “I thought at least one of them would've taught you it's rude to eavesdrop.”

“It would be difficult not to overhear, given the two of you are speaking quite loudly in a confined space while surrounded by people,” Beast points out. “Have you considered that this perhaps isn’t the best venue for a private conversation?”

“He is a super-genius. We’d better listen to him,” Morph tells Logan. “We’ll talk later, okay big guy?”

The stubborn set of that heavy jaw says Logan knows damn well ‘later’ means ‘never,’ and he isn’t gonna let Morph weasel out of this that easy. “If you ever want me to let you off this plane, you’ll talk now.”

“Let me?” Morph scoffs. He transforms into Quicksilver, puts on his best smug speedster grin, and says, “Just try and stop me, slowpoke.”

To his shock, Logan actually flinches. It’s a subtle thing, Morph might not have even noticed if he didn’t know Logan so well. The cause eludes him, however—until Morph remembers that he looked like Maximoff when the Thrask Sentinel… when everything went dark and quiet for a few seconds.

Funny. There was a time when Morph, blinded by youthful naivety and hero-worship, would have insisted Wolverine wasn’t afraid of anything.

Returning to his default form, Morph mutters out an apology. He tries to imagine what it would be like to see Logan die, only for him to get up a few seconds later and act like nothing happened. With that healing factor of his, they’ve gotten damned close to that exact scenario more than a few times.

How much worse would it feel, if Logan had kept his quick-healing abilities secret and Morph had to find out the hard way?

Morph takes a breath, looks out the window at the black clouds rushing by, and starts from the beginning.

“You know how most of us don’t know we’re mutants until we hit puberty, and our powers manifest? Well… I didn’t have to wait that long. Problem is, since I was just a baby, I had no idea how to control my powers—no more than a normal baby is born knowing how to walk or talk.

He holds out his hands with his palms cupped together to form a shallow, makeshift bowl.

“When I was born, I looked like a wriggling lump of white clay, about yay-big. No arms or legs, no face, no ears, no eyes. Just a mouth that would appear somewhere on my body whenever I was hungry or wanted to cry.”

Whatever Logan was expecting to hear, from the look on his face, it clearly wasn’t that.

“But even at that tender age, someone clearly recognized my star potential. I was only two days old when I made my media debut: Severely Deformed MUTANT Born In Pittsburgh Hospital.” Morph shrugs. “Not the most positive review, I’ll admit, but you know what they say: all publicity is good publicity. After all, that’s how the professor found me.”

Logan’s frown returns, more confused than angry. “You told me you didn’t meet Xavier until you were thirteen—after your mom passed.”

“That’s when I moved to the Institute. Turns out we actually met quite a lot earlier than I remembered, which is pretty embarrassing. Ideally, you don’t want to meet your future high school principal, college instructor, mentor, and world famous civil rights leader while wearing a diaper. Even worse, I was wearing a diaper, too—and I told him, mister, one of us is going to have to go home and change his outfit and it sure isn’t going to be me.”

That gets him a smile and a huff of a laugh, which would be an encouraging sign if he didn’t know how the story ends.

“So Xavier talked to my parents, explained the whole ‘mutant thing.’ Dad wasn’t happy. Then again, I’m not sure he ever was. He would have been disappointed to have a girl—a sentient lump of polymorphic biomass was right out. Thankfully, Xavier was able to use his telepathy to coach me through my very first transformation. He showed me how to turn into a normal baby boy, who would eventually grow up to look like this.”

Morph transforms into his old default, the one he still uses whenever he wants to pass: pale (although not that pale) skin, brown eyes, brown hair, hooked nose, pointed chin, gaunt cheeks, arched brows. Not exactly Fabio, but it’s the face Logan used to know him by—the face he sometimes worries Logan might secretly still prefer.

“Then he put some psychic blocks in place to limit my powers to something a bit more… manageable. Don’t give me that look. It sounds shady, but the professor messing with my head was the only reason I got to have a normal, happy childhood with my parents. God only knows what would have happened otherwise—if I’d even be alive now.”

The worry and suspicion that appeared on Logan’s face at the mention of psychic tampering grudgingly fade away. “When did you find out?” he asks instead.

“A couple months after the professor… y’know,” Morph sighs. “I hacked his personal files. Since he wouldn’t be around anymore to help you recover your memories, I hoped that maybe I could find something small he overlooked, some clue that might give us an idea where to look next.”

Logan’s eyes widen and his mouth goes slightly slack. “Morph…”

“I didn’t find anything, before you get excited. Not about you, anyway. Sure found out a lot about myself, though—a lot more than I was bargaining for.”

“That’s when your default form changed,” Logan realizes.

“Yeah. It was kind of hard to think of this,” Morph replies, gesturing at the face of his human-passing form, “as my ‘real’ face after that. Not that my new look is any more real, of course.”

“Who else knows?”

“Other than our friends listening to this conversation right now?” Morph asks pointedly, causing an entire plane full of X-Men to each make their best attempt at looking busy. Nightcrawler’s method of peering thoughtfully at the radio controls with one hand on his chin is particularly masterful—Logan mentioned he used to perform in a circus, so it’s no wonder he’s got such a good instinct for stage-business. “I told Hank and Moira not long after I found out. Seemed like a bad idea to keep that information from my doctors. Especially when one of them is also my therapist.”

At receiving a glare from Logan, Beast develops a sudden and convenient fascination with the view through the Blackbird’s window.

“But you didn’t want anyone else to know.” Logan could accept that, even if he doesn’t like it. Nothing personal. A man’s business is man's business, after all—even for a not-quite-man like Morph.

Too bad it wouldn’t be the truth; no more ‘real’ than any face that Morph wears.

“I didn’t want you to know.”

Morph can handle Logan’s anger, no problem. That’s almost charming, after all these years. But it’s the flicker of hurt, just like that little flinch earlier, that really cuts him to the quick.

“Not because I don’t trust you, or want to keep things from you or anything, it’s just… I didn’t—I couldn’t—”

He sighs and looks away again. He transforms back into his new default: smooth white skin, mask-like face. Obviously inhuman.

Still a lot more human than he looked when he was born, though.

“So, yeah. That’s why I’ve apparently gained the ability to survive having my head blown off. It sure would have been handy to know that my organs were optional the last time a Sentinel put me down. Now, instead of being out of commission for two years I’ll never get back, I can just squish myself back together and keep on keepin’ on.”

Logan doesn’t respond, and slowly, the mutter of other conversations step in to fill the void. Morph stares at nothing, sick with nerves. It’s deeply unfair that he can still feel nauseous even though he doesn’t have a stomach anymore.

He would say it’s all in his head, but if he can survive without one, maybe he doesn’t have a brain, either.

Badum-tch.

Good line. Hopefully he’ll remember it after the existential horror wears off, in the brief window when things will be funny again before the heartbreak sinks in.

Because there’s dropping a bombshell on a relationship—then there’s dropping a fucking nuke.

Oh God. There isn’t going to be a window, is there?

“Morph. Look at me.”

Although he considers pretending he didn’t hear the command, Morph reluctantly glances across the center aisle of the Blackbird to see Logan looking back at him with an expression as soft as the heart he usually tries to hide.

“No matter what you look like, there’s one thing you’ve never been able to change,” Logan tells him. “That’s real enough for me.”

A wiser person might realize they were in a hole and stop digging; Morph can’t stop himself from opening his big stupid mouth. No wonder that was the one feature even Baby Morph knew to give himself. “There are more blocks Xavier left behind that I haven’t pushed through, yet. Maybe I’ll even figure out how to change my scent, someday.”

From the look on his face, Logan clearly hadn’t considered that possibility. Morph immediately wishes he could take it back, feeling like he’s just tarnished something sacred.

It’s always been strangely intimate, the way Logan can recognize him by scent alone. Even from the beginning, when Morph decided to pull a prank on the grumpy new recruit, only for Wolverine to sniff him out mere seconds into his planned routine—it was as if, like the Emperor’s New Clothes, he suddenly realized he had been naked the entire time.

Another, smarter shapeshifter might have avoided Logan after that; Morph couldn’t get enough.

One-sided pestering turned into an unlikely friendship, turned into friends-with-benefits, turned into… whatever they have now. That which dares not speak its name.

The thought of losing that connection, the idea that someday he may be able to change himself so thoroughly that even Logan won’t be able to recognize him anymore… It’s too awful. Cursed knowledge. Like learning about the solar cycle when he was a kid, and suddenly having the horrible realization: if even the sun is going to die someday, what makes him so sure Mom will get better?

Out of the corner of his eye, Morph sees Logan’s hand start to move, stop, then start again, reaching across the aisle towards him. For a insane, terrifying moment, he thinks Logan’s about to hold his hand, outing them in front of God, the other X-Men, and everybody—but of course, that enormous, rough mitt lands on his shoulder instead. Perfectly platonic, approved for all audiences by S&P.

Though they’re shooting through the air at supersonic speed, under the heavy weight of that hand, Morph feels rooted to stable ground. He closes his eyes and takes a few slow breaths he doesn’t actually need, with lungs he only has when he remembers to make himself some.

If there are any people left when the sun finally burns out in a few billion years, they’ll still be telling each other jokes as they go into that endless good night. Just think of the money we’ll save on sunscreen. Maybe, but you know the light-bulb companies are gonna take us to the cleaners. Ha ha, freeze frame, theme song, end credits.

Even as her body slowly wasted away under the combined onslaught of cancer and chemo, Mom always laughed at his jokes, no matter how many times she heard the one about the chicken who crossed the road. His most appreciative audience, to the very last curtain call.

The world is pretty fucking scary right now, and only getting scarier. Sinister. Genosha. Losing Gambit. Sentinels again, in all new and even more monstrous forms. Even worse: total war between humans and mutants looming over the horizon, shaking the ground with each step, getting closer and more inevitable every time someone mentions it, like a demon whose power grows every time you says its name.

But just because things are scary doesn’t mean the world's turning into a horror movie, and just because things are sad doesn’t make it a tragedy. Everyone gets to choose the genre of their life story—and Morph will always pick comedy.

He gives the hand on his shoulder a friendly pat, and uses the motion to disguise a slightly more-than-friendly squeeze. “I’m alright, just a little airsick. I think it’s making me maudlin.”

As he pulls his hand back, Logan frowns a little in confusion—he knows Morph is experienced enough in the air that he shouldn’t be getting nauseous over what are, for the Blackbird, barely above pleasure-cruise speeds.

“How unfair is that, by the way?” Morph asks. “I don’t even have a stomach right now.”

Logan chuckles. Nah, baby, don’t give it up for me that easy, Morph thinks, fighting a grin. You gotta make me work for it a little…

He needn’t have worried, though. When he does make it to the punchline, Logan laughs so hard that he snorts, the laugh-lines Morph has personally carved into that seemingly indestructible face creasing and growing deeper still. And as their friends who Definitely Weren’t Eavesdropping join in—even Rogue, so teary and congested that her laughs would sound like sobs if she wasn’t smiling—Morph knows all their attempts to hide their relationship have been for nothing, because there’s no way that all the love he feels for Logan in that moment isn’t writ large all over whichever face he's wearing right now.

That’s real enough for him.

[shijiujun]

OFFICIAL NOVEL: Kiseki Dear to Me Rundown From Start to End (A PRETTY LONG POST)

I briefly shared a brief read through of the last two chapters (and also what we can expect will happen in episodes 9-13) for Kiseki Dear to Me yesterday, and now that I have a bit of time, here's a slightly more detailed look through the novel! The drama was adapted from the novel so I think we can more or less expect some of these details in the novel turn up in the drama as well, although I've already seen some differences, mostly due to timing.

Also another thing to note is that the novel's protagonists were clearly Bai Zongyi and Fan Zherui, so the others really don't feature in terms of deepening relationship at all, but disclaimer that I'm still doing a skim through for now, haven't had time to read every word ;-;

Title: Kiseki Dear to Me (same name) Total: 1 Prologue + 10 Chapters + 2 Extras + 1 Special Feature (?) Author: Lin Peiyu, who's behind quite a number of well known TW BLs, including H3T

NOVEL SPOILERS IN FULL BELOW

(1) Prologue

Ai Di curses as he and Bai Zongyi leave the prison, and he makes the mistake of looking back as it's considered a taboo for released prisoners to look back at their place on incarceration (because it means you're gonna go back)

BZY: Well if you obey the law from now on you won't have a chance to come back, and Ai Di goes: Who the hell do you think I am of course I'm going to get into trouble and how can you say that to me, I protected you for a year!!

Chen Yi picks Ai Di up in a sports car and Ai Di scolds Chen Yi because how's he gonna give BZY a ride in a two-seated but Chen Yi doesn't want to bring BZY any more potential negative trouble, and drives off

Ai Di is like why is it so depressing when I should be happy and Chen Yi said: That your damn problem and Ai Di is all: We haven't seen each other for a year and you're still so nasty to me

(2) Chapter 1

Mostly the same as the drama, BZY meets FZR who's injured for the first time, Ai Di goes crazy hitting people when they lose FZR

Chen Yi teases Ai Di saying if he smokes any more he's not going to grow taller to which Ai Di says, "Are you so damn great just because you're 180cm?!"

FZR cooking > All these are the same, the only thing is they packed eps 1-3 all in the first chapter

In the car when FZR is picked up by Ai Di and Chen Yi, they talk a bit about how FZR is someone that Chen Dongyang passed to Chen Yi to protect and that's why he puts so much attention on him, and FZR is like "oh so anyone who matters to Chen Dongyang you'll protect? oh, i forgot, except for Er-Ye (second boss, Zhou Minglei) and ISTG Chen Yi is so damn wild?! He goes, "He's (Zhou Minglei) is still alive, that's as much as I am tolerating him" (because he's jealous he gets to be with Chen Dongyang) > THIS IS WAY MORE OBVIOUS HERE THAN IN THE DRAMA

(3) Chapter 2

Technically when FZR leaves BZY's house and intends not to see him again, they next meet in the school in drama with FZR as a teacher, but in the novel, FZR comes back to the house drunk with BZY cuz he missed BZY unconsciously and also because BZY was working at the place he got drunk at, and also got into a fight at

Ends with scared-of-the-rain scene with FZR comforting BZY

(4) Chapter 3

WHEN THEY WAKE UP IN BED THE NEXT DAY THEY ARE ALREADY GETTING SMEXY WITH EACH OTHER like cuz they're in the same bed from FZR comforting BZY who was scared of the rain the night before, and when they wake up, they couldn't help it and FZR basically pounced on BZY - they don't go all the way tho, strictly hands only until Ai Di calls and interrupts them

Ai Di treats FZR's wounds and we can really see how great friends they are because Ai Di is lived as hell that FZR is hurt and cursing up a storm and FZR is all "if I die, do you wanna bet you'll be the saddest out of everyone?" LMAO

And we get the student framing scene, but FZR is not a teacher AT ALL he's there as BZY's cousin, and he comes to school all decked in like riches and everyone is like OMG IS BZY A RICH BOY

After that we get the same thing i.e. FZR asking BZY if he did well at defending him, the hug and the likes

Difference is BZY gets home that night and gets a fever because he was burnt by the chemicals from the incident in the classroom with the girl who framed him after not handling rejection well

FZR takes care of him really well and they're really attracted to each other and can feel that deep connection and are super drawn to each other idek how to put it

Ai Di ends up at a "part-time job" without telling Chen Yi

(5) Chapter 4

Gangster boss meeting NOT in the bathhouse but in a regular meeting room and everyone is present, and obviously Zhou Minglei is scolding Chen Yi but Chen Dongyang is obviously protective over Chen Yi and excusing his actions (same as drama)

Chen Dongyang tries to convince FZR to go back to his family

FZR goes back to BZY after a while (at least a few days or weeks because everytime they reunite in this chapter and past few chapters, FZR makes a comment about how he's now taller etc.)

BZY confesses, and wishes to grow up faster so he can have FZR

(6) Chapter 5

FZR avoids BZY and asks Chen Yi why they all keep asking him to go back to the Fan family (same as drama), then he runs back to BZY's place because of the rain and BZY is hurt (same as drama too)

And then yes same the drama they sleep together for the first time (and a few times after lol)

(7) Chapter 6

The morning after, unlike the drama, they do get their second morning round in

And then some time after BZY actually gets to orientation at med school, and somehow finds out that FZR might have something to do with the Fan family, and realises he's not FZR's match in terms of status

FZR talks about his past, and then BZY tells him again that he loves him for him, and then FZR says "you're my man" and BZY goes insane obviously

After they confirm their feelings again, FZR decides that he can't keep living the half-gangsta life and decides to leave the gang and head back home

He bids farewell to Chen Yi and Ai Di quite formally like with a cup of tea and they don't say goodbye because from today onwards their paths are different and will never cross again (WTS?!?!! drama much?!)

Chen Yi tries to look for Zhang Teng

(8) Chapter 7

BZY's fam comes to visit, and then they stay over

FZR suggests that BZY moves in with him and same as drama, all the sweet promises and trying to build a future together

While they're rolling in the sheets, FZR threatens BZY and say if he dares to break any promises to him he would kill him LOL

(9) Chapter 8

Chased down by Zhang Teng's men just after they move in together

There's no backstory for Zhang Teng and FZR either, ZY just plain hates Chen Yi and co, and the same thing where he ends up dying too

As FZR is undergoing surgery, BZY asks Chen Yi and Ai Di if they're cops or gangsters and Ai Di is like oh the latter, and then FZR's grandpa, dad, younger brother and mother come

They meet but don't say much to each other and then afterwards BZY is no longer able to see FZR, and FZR's parents sell the house and tell BZY not to cling onto FZR anymore etc., and FZR basically realises what a shitty ass home FZR lived in and why he wanted to run away and join the gang

BZY's dad ends up in the hospital and he's at the hospital when Chen Dongyang finds him and convinces him to take the rap for FZR, and BZY himself realises what grandpa Fan is doing, he wants to break them up

But he agrees anyway because if FZR wakes up and turns himself in it might be a death sentence

Chen Dongyang is super unhappy he had to pass the news to BZY like this under grandpa Fan's requests, who he owes a favour too, and really hates and regrets that he ruined BZY's future, and he scolds Chen Yi and tells him that they would forever owe BZY one till the day they die

Ai Di goes to the hospital, sneaks in and whispers the news to FZR hoping it'd wake him up, so turns out Zhang Teng went after FZR because he realised he was from the Fan family (wtf is the link idk, they don't really say it here) after FZR's third uncle let the news leak to him

He tells him BZY is in jail and what grandpa Fan did to him and FZR finally reacts, but he asks who Ai Di is after he wakes up

Ai Di: SERIOUSLY?!

(10) Chapter 9

BZY gets out of jail, returns home to his dad and sister, and poor bb is depressed af. They urge him to go back to med school since he doesn't have a record anyway, but he tells them that he hurt his head in jail and has severe short term memory loss, like he can be saying one thing one moment and forgetting it the next and saying it again, he needs his notebook to help him remember

They both know why he went to jail and dad is guilty af and angry af at FZR but BZY told him he doesn't regret doing it for the person he loves

Dad tries to creep up on BZY but BZY reacts very badly, because he had to protect himself in prison from terrible people

And while his brain can't handle med school anymore, BZY takes the money that grandpa Fan and Chen Dongyang promised his four years ago and opens a dessert shop to sell the desserts he promised FZR he would make for him

FZR at this point is getting scolded by his grandpa, and his younger bro, heir to the Fan family, is speaking up for him

Once FZR leaves the room, grandpa Fan tells younger bro to make use of FZR and squeeze him dry because that's all the use he is

But once the younger bro leaves his grandpa, he meets FZR outside and tells him not to give too much of a shit about what grandpa said, and that's when it's revealed that FZR has NOT lost his memories

Younger bro has been hiding it for him all this while and they're working together - FZR wants revenge against third uncle and also his grandpa a little, while younger bro doesn't want to sit at the top of the family but still be subject to grandpa's control

Younger bro was also the one who told him all about BZY and what grandpa did to him the moment he woke up from the accident four years ago, and that's how he managed to pretend to be amnesiac in time

FZR is filled with guilt and self-blame and pain because where BZY is that's his home, but now he's ashamed to see him, but he still can't see him either because he needs to revenge first, makes sure it's safe

A new cafe opens near a university, and BZY makes the best desserts - his sister asks him why he doesn't go find FZR, and he just doesn't dare to anymore because of the way he is now, broken - AND SIMULTANEOUSLY FZR and his younger bro are seated in a car outside the bakery and younger bro is like "miracles don't happen just by you sitting on your ass here" and FZR also doesn't dare to go in and see BZY

He threatens his bro and makes him go in to buy desserts for him, and tears up when he realises all the desserts are familiar to him, that BZY was keeping his promise, but still doesn't go in

BUT SNEAKY LITTLE BRO!!! On the note he gives BZY, he writes a message "FZR didn't lose his memory, if you wanna see him come to xxx place tomorrow"

And BZY is convinced by his dad to take the leap

BZY goes to the address as stated the next day and realises he knocked on younger bro's door, and younger bro is like he's NEXT DOOR thanks

BZY goes in and sees FZR asleep, and a bottle of sedatives next to the bed. He wakes him up, and FZR thinks he's a figment of his imagination in his dreams because FZR, through the four years, has been using sedatives to fall asleep because that's the only place he sees BZY

They sleep together, FZR still thinking it's a dream, and only a bit later when he feels pain he realises that FUCK IT REALLY IS HIM

THEY ARE FINALLY WHOLE!!! THEY open their hearts to each other again and tell each what they're thinking and how scared they are etc., and they've found their way back to each other again

(11) Chapter 10

FZR and BZY are seeing each other again with FZR running between Taipei and Taichung, and then he finally runs into FZR's dad again

He's apologetic and regretful and ashamed, but dad is now understanding and gives his blessings

On the TV, news of Taiwan's imminent gay-marriage bill is on and BZY plans to propose and marry FZR, and FZR promises that in the future, he'll write in his notebook for him, he'll remember and make memories for them both

BED TIME! Happily ever after

(12) Extras + Others

Extra 1 is the scene in the drama where BZY's sister sees them kissing in FZR's living room

Extra 2 is between FZR and his brother, and his younger brother basically tells him that he's always known what FZR's mother was doing but he never cared about it because no matter what she or FZR did, whether he acted stupid or smart or whatever, FZR's brother's status at the heir would never change, and FZR is like wtf bro firstly, that's hurtful, secondly, you're telling me I could have just been less emo all these years, and then FZR's bro drops a bomb that HE IS GAY TOO and he's seeming someone and FZR is like "omg is grandpa Fan going to have a heart attack you've got two gay boys here huh"

Special Feature is just a routine day between dessert maker BZY and busy businessman FZR, a sweet, sweet day <3

-----

ALRIGHT AND THAT IS IT!

Okay I'm honestly not at all surprised at the loopholes in the writing in the novel it's quite characteristic of quite a number of the authors' books LOL and I'm so damn happy the drama decided to take it up a notch and give colour to Ai Di, Chen Yi, Chen Dongyang and Zhou Minglei because DAMN the novel treated them like third-class citizens ok barely like a handful of mentions I'm like WHY DO YALL EVEN EXIST HERE IF NOT TO BE GAY AND BECOME CPs

Sad Zhang Teng too, he was literally just a token villain CAN U IMAGINE

HAPPY WATCHING THE REST OF THE KISEKI DEAR TO ME DRAMA YALLLLLL <3 No need to be scared of extended dual amnesia plot pain UNLESS we get a drama canon deviation

[transmascutena]

Hey hey, I forget if you've ever posted about this, but one thing that fascinates me about Utena is the food side of everything. How Akio bakes, how Anthy basically only successfully makes shaved ice, and how Utena talks about the food going bad from lack of refrigeration. How it's not the job of the Rose Bride to cook. How Wakaba being able to prepare food makes her a good wife. I have thoughts about this, but I'll avoid saying too much because I wanna hear what you have to say too

i have gotten an ask about anthy's cooking before, where i talked about the ability to make food as a symbol for agency/freedom/independence, and how anthy can cook certain things like festival food, shaved ice, rosehip jam, the cantarella cookies, but not really anything that counts as a substantial meal (the curry is a bit of an outlier here. i guess it shows that her agency is mainly expressed through messing with nanami?) anthy says she wants to get better at cooking, and i'm inclined to believe her. i think she has the potential to be good at it too, but that akio has.... discouraged her from trying, as a way to make her more reliant on him. although, i actually can't recall if akio ever does anything in the kitchen other than (allegedly) bake that cake to impress utena, so maybe i'm way off. or maybe that's another piece of symbolism i haven't quite figured out.

you bring up a good point about gender roles here in regards to wakaba too. cooking is traditionally a woman's role in a lot of cultures, which makes it interesting that anthy, who as the rose bride is supposedly meant to be the ideal bride/wife not only cannot cook very well, but, according to touga, should not cook at all? i guess that ties back to the agency thing, though. but does wakaba have a lot of agency? she has a certain degree of freedom, at least, that comes with not being tied up in the main narrative most of the time. i'm not sure. i think food and cooking is one of the (many) things within this show that does not have one specific meaning that can be used to interpret everything related to it. i suppose my conclusion is that cooking can be both a limiting role if it's forced on you (in the sense of "you need to cook well to make for a good wife which is of course something you should want to be"), and something liberating if you do it for yourself. it's also just kind of a necessary survival skill, which is why it's so telling that anthy doesn't have it.

surprisingly enough i've never really posted about utena's food talk in episode 33 or how it may or may not play into this symbolism, so i guess i'll take this as an opportunity to do that. first, during the othello game, she talks about messing up measurements when cooking, and about the flavor coming out wrong. "you can't undo it once it's done." this shows her worries about what is happening/what will happen, and is already hinting at her regret afterward. it's a metaphor, but it also kind of ties into the agency symbolism. it tells us that utena is not very good at cooking either, and hints at the similarities between her and anthy. later she talks about what to make for lunch the next day. she's rambling, trying to distract herself, dissociating, and i don't tend to read a lot into what specifically she's saying. that's not really what's important. however, i do think it's signicant that she's bringing up anthy, for one, but mostly that she's talking about something urgent she needs to do that isn't here. she's making excuses to go home, to stop. if you buy the cooking as agency thing, utena's worry about the food going bad could once again reflect her worries and doubts about the whole thing. is there symbolism to the fact that she specifically brings up salmon and eggs and asparagus and sandwiches? maybe. but i think it's too easy to get caught up in all the little details and miss or ignore the bigger picture of what actually matters (very vaguely referring to an analysis of this scene that i hate. if you know you know.)

[da-mous]

My thoughts on Walnuts & Rain

Hello burgers, fries, and everything in between! I didn't think I'd wanna write another Adventure Time post so soon, but I remembered Walnuts & Rain and really wanted to talk about it. Unlike Puhoy, nobody really talks about this one, but it's actually among my favorite episodes believe it or not! Both settings in this one really capture my imagination, and I like how the whole thing feels kind of like a fable. It's full of the kind of potent, unexplained weirdness you get in old fairytales, and I think that's cool!!

So, as a refresher, this episode has Finn & Jake falling down two different holes and ending up in two different situations that explore class disparity and the dangers of getting too comfortable

Finn falls into the Huge Kingdom, which seems to just be this one big room with food lining the walls, where the Huge King forever sits in his throne, constantly fed big food by little food boyz and excitedly anticipating the hourly chiming of his big cuckoo clock in an endless loop

The Huge King of course embodies absolute wealth and fortune. He never has to lift a finger. His servants bring him all the food he'll ever need, and his clock not only provides entertainment, it gives him something to anticipate, like a long cooldown timer in a predatory mobile game

The Huge King seems to idolize the concept of waiting. Almost everything he could want comes to him in time, and he doesn't seem to be aware that this isn't a universal law--it's a product of his privilege. But I did say almost everything...

Next to the Huge King's throne, Finn is put in a second throne half the King's size, but still way too big for Finn. It feels to me like the king had a companion at one point who left, or maybe he never had one, but he's been waiting all this time for one. Either way, when he tries to prevent Finn from leaving with force, it starts to seem clear to me that the Huge King is lonely

In this way I think he's as trapped as Finn is. He isn't fully satisfied here, but how could he ever think about leaving? Here, he's as fed as he'll ever need to be, and the clock provides an endless distraction from what he's missing

This is the lotus flower island trope I talked about in the Puhoy post played straight

Despite the tragedy of his situation, the Huge King is not really a character I want to sympathize with. He may come off like he doesn't understand the ethics of subjugating the food boys to endless labor, but I think on some level he does. His clock, which I imagine he commissioned since it's his size, says "in toil we krimber." People use weird words all the time in Adventure Time, but even Finn doesn't seem to know what "krimber" is. The message feels like deliberate yet meaningless propaganda glorifying labor to the food boyz

Further, the throne next to him is only half the size of his. Even his ideal companion would be beneath him, and I think his attempts to trap his new companion Finn show us why

The situation Jake falls into is in some ways the opposite of Finn's and in some ways the same. Having been knocked out before he fell, Jake wakes up on this platform that this bear dude is living on, parachuting endlessly in the dark pit. The bear dude, 7718, has been stuck down here waiting to reach the bottom so long he's lost track of time and forgotten his given name, but he's been able to survive off of the occasional walnuts and rain that fall into the pit. He passes the time playing Freecell, a spinoff of Solitaire--a much more active hobby than the King's

Despite his absolute poverty, 7 is like the chilliest dude ever. While he convinces Jake not to try to leave, it's only because he thinks Jake would be climbing so long he'd die of starvation. And, even though his gaunt appearance suggests the walnuts aren't even quite enough to sustain him, he doesn't even consider not sharing with Jake

While, like the King, 7 was completely alone until Jake arrived, he seems not to want for anything more than what he has. When Jake suggests they could play some two-player card games, 7 says he forgot games like that even existed, as if he never even imagined he might have a friend down here. The one book he has, "Dividing the Day", seems to me like a book about structuring your day efficiently. Despite all the nothing going on, I get the impression 7 makes the most he can of every day

Interestingly, like the King, 7's food comes to him through no action of his own. It comes only occasionally, is very sparse, and walnuts are pretty tough to crack, but all 7 has to do is wait and crack nuts

7's situation is one anyone would reasonably want to escape, but it seems hopeless to try. There's really nothing he could do besides jumping and hoping to land in water or something... but his needs are almost kindasorta met here, and maybe one day he'll finally reach the bottom, so how could he ever think about trying?

In both wealth and poverty, it can be easy to find a relative peak of comfort and stay there forever, never questioning or challenging the system that keeps you forever unfulfilled. It can be easy to put off worrying about fulfillment at all, trusting that the system around you will bring it to you one day, when in reality, it likely never will. Not without action

The cruel twist is that 7 was never falling. He's inside the exhaust tunnel from the hood of the King's stove, perpetually kept running to prepare the King an endless stream of food, creating a persistent updraft that keeps 7's platform floating in place. Considering that the walnuts seem like not quite enough to sustain him, 7 could have starved in obscurity and poverty, with the change he was waiting for simply never coming

While 7 could truly have done nothing to change his situation, Jake, with his stretchy powers, is technically able, but he believes it would be impossible because he thinks the hole is much deeper than it is

The King could fix everyone's situations, but he's content enough with his own, he doesn't want to let Finn go, and he isn't even aware that his constant stream of food is causing 7 and Jake's situation

Finn, not satisfied trapped in the life of the King, is the only one to persist in his desire to escape the hand he's dealt. He forms a completely off the wall plan that would free only himself by using the resources afforded to him by the Huge Kingdom, but he changes his mind halfway through executing it and instead decides to disrupt the order of things by destroying the King's clock

In destroying the thing that traps the King, Finn inadvertently knocks over a pot whose water puts out the flames on the stove, finally ending the updraft that kept 7's platform in place and freeing him and Jake, despite Finn not even knowing they were there

Finn didn't need a rock solid plan, a thorough understanding of the system, or any idea of what he would do next, in order to change the majority's lives for the better just by disrupting the order set by the ruling class. He avoided the danger of getting too comfortable

Thanks for reading!!

Once again, I have a lot more to say about this one beyond broad, thematic analysis, so I might follow this up with another list of odds, ends, and little things :) I'm super happy people liked my Puhoy post! I'm not the most experienced writer or analyst, but I hope my thoughts come through clearly enough and ring true to people. I think I'll keep writing these every now and then as long as I keep feeling like I have something new to say!

[cowandcalf]

Feeback Fest 2024: H50 Fic Recs

For International Fanworks Day, February 15 (for more information see this post by @transformativeworks)

Thank you, babe @stephmcx because of your great fic rec list I noticed this amazing Fic Rec Day! I'm not often on Tumblr anymore scrolling and discovering interesting things and I miss the interaction with other fandom folks. And here you are, posting a great fic rec list of the most epic OTP ever: Steve and Danny.

I have my McDanno 'go-to' fics I love dearly but for this list I put together a different number of McDanno stories from my bookmarks. I hope some of you haven't read them already. Maybe there's a chance you find an unknown great McDanno story. All of my recommanded stories always act like a large safety net of love I let myself fall into when I need those special, unique, and most magic McDanno vibes.

1.Blue Shorts and Gloves by WeirdoOfTheCentury - Summary: Danny... well Danny is Danny. Stella is a protective Sister and both Steve and herself wanna commit a crime when it comes to Danno. @shadowhunterdownworlderhybrid

2.Touch My World With Your Fingertips by kristen999 - Summary: Danny has plans for Steve when he returns home from his reserve drill.

3.More Than Words, Part One by Candy_A - Summary: The first chapter in a series based on the events that follow Danny's rescue from Colombia (Episode 5.17). In this installment, Danny returns to Hawaii and he and Steve begin to cope with the reality of Danny's ordeal there. (Nine parts belong to this outstanding series)

4.See You Tomorrow by bgharison - Summary: "When we were leaving the office, I said, ‘see you tomorrow’ to Chin and Kono, and they said, ‘yeah, see you tomorrow'. I said, ‘see you tomorrow’ to you, and you said, ‘goodnight’, And 'goodnight' sounded like 'goodbye', okay?""I wasn't saying goodbye," he said, finally. But he kept his eyes fixed on the water.

5.Why don't you try me? by azziria - Summary: Steve and Danny both want the same thing, they just don't know it yet.

6.Back To Back (They Faced Each Other) by harrycrewe - Summary: Danny didn’t even realize that Steve was a sentinel when they first met. That probably said a lot right there about what kind of a guide Danny was.

7.Like Death and Taxes by ariadnes_string - Summary: "One of these days," Steve growled, voice low and rough and filthy, "I'm gonna rip this thing off you and gag you with it." (That's my very first McDanno fanfic I read.)

8.Moments In The Skript by joannereads - Summary: Hello all! So, over the last few years I have dreamed of a few scenarios before, during and after the events of The Script. I wanted to add to it, but never found the time, so now I'm making a point of doing it. I'll add to this as and when I have time or the muse is singing. Some of the stories will be teen and up, some explicit. Hope you enjoy! (RPF)

9.Close To Me by joannereads - Summary: Danny Williams is 17. Steve McGarrett is 26. They all live in Hawaii. And their lives are about to get really, really messy. Because Steve? Steve's his brother's best friend.

10.Sock Monkey by Cattraine - Summary: He’s late; he’s running late when the call comes in. One minute he’s sitting at a traffic light on a perfect day on his way to work, bemoaning his lack of coffee and the next he’s screeching the Camaro’s tires towards the accident, heart pounding, keeping perfect time with the chant in his head. No, no, no. It can’t be.

[mrs-monaghan]

It doesn't mean JK doesn't trust Jimin

Proceeds to write an essay which only means JK doesn't trust Jimin with RM at all. Oh and should I remind you RM and Jimin and living in same apartment complex???? While JK is living in whole another place ???

Tbh IF jkk are a couple I can die on a hill to prove Jimin will never be unfaithful to JK but things you all write these days are just not it. For any reader it strikes as JK is too insecure about Minimoni's relationship. All while it's obvious RM is someone Jimin respects deeply and RM is always ready to help Jimin with anything. Their bond is strong because both are very mature people who mutually respect each other.

People like you who lack reading comprehension skills really do my head in. If you don't understand something come and ask me. I am MORE than happy to explain and clarify.

First of all, anyone with eyes can tell JK has never truly settled in Brunnen. People make jokes about him living like a frat boy because of how empty the place looks. It's coz that's not his home. His home is where Jimin is. Them fighting on that run episode was not for naught. First the lamp

then the couch and TV

That seemed way too natural. Like they've done that many times before. Jimin knew they would have different opinions coz its happened b4. And JK has great taste btw. Him and Jhope are the neatest members so I expect his actual home looks very stylish and very well furnished. Nine-one is their shared home so Minimoni being neighbours is irrelevant.

When exactly did I say Jimin has ever been or would ever be unfaithful to JK??? I see its come for Shaz day, today. I have said over a million times Jikook have been with each other and only each other since day one. I have also said many times all members not just Minimoni love and respect each other. But I guess u didn't see those posts, huh? How convinient.

My post was about one particular topic and that topic was the only one that I addressed. It had nothing to do with how Minimoni are outside of Jikook.

You saying that post was about how JK doesn't trust Jimin is fucking bull. JK being possessive and territorial over Jimin has nothing to do with trust. I've said it before, but if Jikook were not hiding, if they were public, JK wouldn't act the way that he does. He wouldn't need to claim Jimin.

things you write these days are just not it.

Nigga no one is forcing you to be here. Unfollow or block, you don't gotta see my shit! You're coming off like you don't believe that JK gets bothered or annoyed which is just lies Jikookers tell themselves for what reason, idk.

This man used the wrong fucking entrance just so he would be the one sitting next to Jimin and not Suga. Riddle me why he would do that? Please.

I'm guessing you also ignore the tongue in cheek thing he used to do when bothered or annoyed? Well then explain to me why he does it here when he hears that Jimin, V and Jin went hiking together.

Last but not least this anti Minimoni moment where JK touches RM but when Jimin reaches for him JK prevents that from happening. It's very subtle and easy to miss but it's been kindly zoomed in for us here with dramatic music to boot

(Watch V watching JK's hands and see for yourself that that really happened. V sees everything) Here is the original thanks to @chim-chim1310 as always 😘😘 It makes sense that JK did that since everyone was just praising RM in that moment. 🤭🤭

But my point is this is just a JK thing that has nothing to do with him not trusting Jimin. From what I've gathered its actually normal in SK for men to be this territorial about their other halves.

I know it's taboo among Jikookers to talk about this side of Jikook. But just because I came along and I ain't afraid to bring up this sensitive topic doesn't mean u can come for me and call me a liar. You don't like me, block me. You wanna stick around then bloody get used to it.

Normalise discussing Jimin and JK being bothered by certain things when it comes to eo.

Oh! And should I remind you RM and Jimin and living in the same apartment complex????

With 4 question marks. Bitch please! As if we don't all know about this account that sells beds and only follows Jikook.

Jikook were rumoured to be seen walking into a furniture store only for this account to follow them not long after. Now they're only following Jimin but that's because Mr. Rebel deleted his IG. Jikook live together anon, so don't talk to me about Minimoni being neighbours. It means fuck all in relation to the topic at hand.

Next time fix your tone when you need clarification from me or keep your damn reservations to yourself.

[rottentiger-art]

I am interested in hearing your take on this I’ve been thinking a lot about this since the trailer dropped . Something I’ve been analyzing is the relationship differences between Quinn/Mark vs Quinn/Logan. Quinn was always looking for more from Mark and he never could give it. When they start dating it her wanting to date him ( I don’t think he even knows her name) radio episode because he won’t kiss her. She is always looking for more intimacy. So she would get upset and he would like kinda give into her. Then they fell into this boring relationship. The moment he found what he actually wanted he left.

It was such a 180 to see her with Logan because it was like “oh I wanna kiss you all of the time.” There was this passion that a teenage relationship should have. She’s finally getting like a real high school relationship. Logan is finally seeing that knowing someone before just making out with them makes you want them more. Also looking back he’s the one making moves in the sense of him comforting her and he’s the one that said I love you first. He was choosing her and I think that was something she always wanted.

In the trailer we see that their relationship hasn’t dimmed he still wanting to touch her all the time and be close to her. He just seems so glad to have her and Quinn deserves that kind of treatment. I really hope they show the growth of the relationship and not just have them as the comic relief… I hope that they show that Logan just got carried away with the wedding because he wanted it to be perfect but when she runs away he realizes that he just needs to choose her and so they go back to their root and get married at PCA. Sorry this is super long I’ve just been obsessing over this.

Don't apologize, I love long rants about my ships.

Warning: I may be looking too much into a teen's show

I've been re-watching specifically Quinn and Mark's episodes as well as Quinn and Logan's, because I wanted to have a better understanding of both relationships. I hadn't seen all yet and been doing it more at random, so feel free to add more if you want.

Like you mentioned, Quinn and Mark's relationship started because she wanted it and the whole time he seemed quite uninterested on it/her. It's not that he was mean to her or a terrible boyfriend (save for the cheating, I'm side-eying you there, Mark), it's just that he just wasn't as into it and her as Quinn, I don't remember him telling her he loves her (like I said, I'm still rewatching, it might not have happened, or I must have missed it).

Let's see the differences between Logan and Mark when it comes to being Quinn's boyfriend.

Affection:

Mark:

Like you mentioned, in my rewatch I also noticed Mark didn't give her affection unless she requested it, it wasn't just the kiss, it's details like her holding his hand in the scene where she was directing towards the violinist and him dropping it as soon as he could. He just didn't seem interested in doing those things with Quinn.

He is seen holding Brooke's hand when Quinn catches them and he seemed happy to do so

So it's not that he doesn't like affection, he just didn't seem to like giving it to Quinn.

Logan:

Logan, however, is as clingy as her (maybe a little more, even). He has no problem giving her what she wants without having to being asked for it. Their very first scene post kiss starts with him telling her she "has the prettiest eyes" and them sharing an eskimo kiss, both happy and giggling. After they decide to "stop" (not even they believed that lol) he ask her for one more eskimo kiss before they go.

Then, on their next scene they're kissing again, unable to stop. Something that catched my attention was when Quinn was trying to get him to tell her what was bothering him, she got it once she used the "no telling no kisses" threat, and Logan's face too! He was like "tfym no kisses :("

Like, it's amazing to me, they've been dating for seconds and she already knew her kisses had an effect on him, and he folded so easily as soon as she said that, like they both knew he did not want the make out sessions to stop. Her confidence about it is a point I'll bring later on.

He's also the one requesting kisses, whenever they finished discussing something and he knows they have time he pops the "wanna make out?" question, and that's so funny, but also so cute, like you said, he's all like "oh I wanna kiss you all of the time".

He's also the one that said "I'm not sure I wanna stop" when Quinn said they're not making a good job in stopping those secret meetings. When Quinn said "if neither of us wants to stop they I guess..." and she seemed nervous about even suggesting it, still he completed with "we're dating?" , but he didn't look put off, he said it smiling, which feed my headcanon that he really wanted her from before the bench, he looked hopeful when he asked it (does that count as him asking her to be his gf?), so another first move.

Hanging out:

Mark:

Maybe it's because Mark is just... boring? but he doesn't seem to enjoy spending time with Quinn, most of the times we see them together, she is making experiments with him or dragging him around. Sometimes I felt like he enjoyed hanging with her friends more than her. He definitely seemed happier hanging with his own friends than her. I don't remember seeing them on a date besides their first, which he didn't know was a date, or actively seeking alone time with her.

He was always like "I guess" to her suggestions and efforts to being a normal couple.

But again, it seemed to be just with Quinn, he liked hanging out with Brooke and is seen on a date with her. He is still as boring as he was with Quinn, since Brooke left him because of that, but he seemed more into it with her. In one episode he showed more interest in Brooke than he ever did in two seasons with Quinn. And that made me feel so sad for Quinn.

That same episode random extras or minor characters showed more interest in Quinn than Mark in two seasons. What's worth noting is that Quinn didn't care about the attention she received for other boys, she wanted Mark to react like that. She cares about those things if it's coming from the boy she loves, and she would never get it from Mark.

Logan:

Before dating, despite still being a bit of an asshole towards her, Logan seemed fine with hanging out with Quinn, on the last season they became friendlier (again, despite him being still an ass), and post kiss he loved spending time with her, they were always finding moments to be together and alone, enjoying each other's company.

this scene was so fucking cute, while their friends were hanging out, they found a little hidden corner where they could keep kissing and be together:

When it comes to dates, Quinn didn't really demanded or asked him to, she said she wished they could have dates like normal couples do. And what I love of this scene is that his reaction wasn't "ugh, okay" or "I guess...", instead his reaction was more like (for me) "I'm just happy being with you wherever we are, but if you want more, we can totally do more" and he immediately thought up a solution, a place where he could take her and he even seemed excited about it (with how quickly he came up with it, I bet he has thought about it before too, getting her wined and dined and all that)

On the date he was as happy as Quinn to be there, and as annoyed when it was interrupted. Logan is the type to boast his wealth and stuff, but I don't think that was his motivation to take her there, I think he wanted to give her the best date possible, he wanted it to be special (if the theories are true, that might be the case too when it comes to their wedding, but that's for another point)

15 years later, he still clings to her and looks as happy to be around her as he was then.

"I Love You"

another immense difference between the too.

Mark:

Like I said, I don't remember him ever saying those three words to her. But wherever he said it or not, I don't think he did. I genuinely don't think he loved her. I'm not saying he didn't hold any emotional affection towards her, he just wasn't in love.

The way he broke up with her once he had the opportunity to be with another girl (thought I believe Quinn mentioned he had been acting weird for 15 days, so he might have been cheating on her for that long or less) is very telling. Like I know Mark is emotionless, that's his trait, but even then, he didn't seem sad at all about the break up.

And when she tried to get him back he rejected her quickly, making it clear he just didn't want that, even telling her how he felt about Brooke, and it's worth noting he never described Quinn like that, never said they had a connection or something, because they didn't, it was a very one-sided relationship.

Not wanting to kiss your girlfriend of two years until she starts bothering you about it is very telling to. Like I know aromantic/asexual people exist, but I doubt he had the same treatment with Brooke.

And honestly, despite the cheating, I felt bad for Mark, he seemed exhausted by that relationship. Like I said, Quinn was always dragging him around and experimenting with him. Plus, she was clingy, something that just didn't resonate with him (which makes me wonder: if him and Stacey are still together how did that worked out? since she is clingier than Quinn). I understand him leaving as soon as he could, it was a bad relationship for both.

Logan:

Like you pointed out, Logan was the first to say "I love you", and he did it publicly, he screamed it at the top of his lungs in front of a crowd, to her. But the first time he said it was to Stacey, and I really love his response to "why don't you want to kiss me" wasn't him telling her he didn't like her (which obviously he didn't), what came naturally to him was "because I love Quinn!", and it's so cute because he said in on accident, so it was the truth, that was his main reason that het slip, he doesn't want to kiss another girl because Quinn is the one he loves, the only one he wants to kiss from now on.

It was such a grand and meaningful gesture, a huge contrast to her previous relationship. This boy, unlike Mark, loves her so much he doesn't want to be with anyone else, he doesn't want to keep hiding their relationship, not if that means having to pretend to be interested in someone else, I love how he confirmed it again, with no regrets despite the guy behind him asking judgmentally "you love Quinn", like as soon as the words came out of his mouth he realized it was not worth hiding it, it didn't matter anymore if people were going to judge him (and for someone like Logan that's a huge step).

It was a very beautiful scene, it not only showed his love for her was bigger than his concern of what people would think, bigger than his ego, in a more subtle way it also showed he rather deal with that than being disloyal to her, even if it's just pretending, and that says a lot of how how different he is as a boyfriend.

I also do believe on that headcanon that he loved her (or at the very least was crushing on her) before the bench scene, just in denial.

And it's kinda funny, how Mark seemed inoffensive yet he cheated and Logan was seen as the womanizer, yet he was loyal to Quinn.

Quinn's Jealousy Issues:

Many years ago I read the take that Quinn didn't love Logan as much because she wasn't jealous like with Mark, and I honestly disagree.

I believe jealousy roots from insecurities, and Quinn is a very confident girl, so I get why people wouldn't agree her jealousy stems from that, but hear me out.

Like it was mentioned above, Mark wasn't very affectionate and didn't seem interested in Quinn, maybe he thought she didn't need it, but for someone like Quinn, who is constantly seeking romantic gestures and cuddlings/kisses/just any kind of intimacy, it's clear she does. I found it interesting how she knew how many days he had been acting weird, it showed she is attentive to details, she notices and cares for those things. I know it could be attributed to just a quirky thing of hers, but I don't think it is.

I think Mark's lack of, well, participation on the relationship did affect her confidence on their relationship and herself, so that's where her jealousy comes from, she's a smart girl, deep down she must've known he wasn't as into her as she was into him, so she feared someone would take him away (and she was right!), I think her jealousy came from the insecurities the one-sided aspect of that relationship. It was also his poor communication skills, he was always like "yea... I guess... uh..."

With Logan though, she seemed chiller about it. She still got jealous about him taking "make out Mandy" to prom, but I think that was it. It was just, like, normal jealousy, for lack of better words. And I think that's for how attentive Logan was, he showed his interest constantly, he was affectionate, he cared, their relationship was built on good communication, he made her feel wanted and loved, something she didn't feel with Mark, it's hard to feel wanted and loved when someone doesn't want you nor love you.

She didn't have to drag Logan along or force him to show his love, he came to her and he was doing all that willingly, like you said he made the first moves from the bench scene, stopping to confort her and staying despite being told by her to leave was the first move.

Telling her what he really think of her was a first move too, I just can't stress enough how special it is to me that Logan was the only one that said he prefers her as herself.

Ever from the bench scene he rebuilds her confidence, and he does it by just loving her and showing her with his actions and words, not on purpose, he just does it, he just loves her so much he can't help letting her know. And I think that's why Quinn is not as jealous with Logan, because she doesn't have to fear someone taking him away, not when he's clinging to her side and when she is on a healthy relationship based on reciprocate love and good communications.

Overall, Logan not only loved Quinn, he also liked her, and had no problem letting her know that.

Jealousy from their part:

There's not much to say about Mark here, so I'll just jump to Logan.

The "well, he's not [Quinn's boyfriend] anymore!" scene and him not letting her invite the shirtless guy to prom may not be the only times we've seen him jealous. If we take into consideration that he might have been into Quinn before the bench kiss, we can see his treatment of Mark in a different light. Like we all know Logan was a jerk, but he seemed to specially dislike Mark, making fun of him, not caring at all if he was injured/injuring himself (I really wish I had a gif or at least a pic of when he threw that frisbie at Mark, you can see in his face he did that on purpose and enjoy it), like he generally disliked him.

I do believe he was jealous, and seemed to calm down once he had Quinn.

The Relationship:

I'll make this point short because it's basically repeating what I already said.

Quinn-Mark relationship was one-sided, with Quinn doing most of the emotional and physical labor, Mark either reacted to her or was forced to reciprocate, but rarely even initiated intimacy, they had poor communication skills from his part. Overall, he wasn't into it as she was.

Quinn-Logan relationship was fully reciprocated, with Logan doing as much emotional and physical labor, he willingly spend time with her, showed affection and love, meeting Quinn's expectations and both parts communicated perfectly, working as a team to solucionate any problem they may have. Overall, Logan was an active part of the relationship and was very much into it an her, just as much as Quinn.

TL;DR: In a shocking turn of events, Logan turned out to be the most boyfriend material of the cast. The boyfriend Quinn dreamed of.

now, to answer the rest of the ask.

I also hope Logan got carried away on the thrill of giving Quinn the perfect wedding, making their day as especial as possible.

I love love love that you wrote "Logan is finally seeing that knowing someone before just making out with them makes you want them more" because yes! this is new for him too, this is his first relationship and it was so cute how he was like "alright, I love this, I'm never letting go" (don't even bring up that "they break up at least once" hc, I refuse to believe it, let me live in denial)

I also hope they're not just background comic relief, I hope they treat this beautiful ship with the respect it deserves, hope they don't forget they're the most loved couple for a reason and actually the reason why 90% of ppl will be watching that movie

I may be forgetting about more points, but I can always reblog later. Do share your thoughts please

also, now I'm sorry for having making this so long lol

EDIT: Ugh, I had to delete a few pics examples and gifs or it wouldn't let me post it.

[todomemolesta18]

I think people are overreacting when stella in circus episode just revealed tormenting stolas just because she want to or she enjoyed it. The episode itself it's bad they try to make stolas is always innocent but that's just come off make him more annoying than it has to be. The scene he supposedly stand up just seem he whining marry to stella and blame all that problem on her

Stella character is never treated with respect not from the show and not from the fandom. If the fandom actually can give much more proper backstory for stella why she end up being abuser do i have to explain in more further of how she wasn't even a character at all from the show. Also why is people react differently when loona being abusive they don't said anything but when stella did you talk how she is irredemable

I missed the days when the show felt complex and mature by having Stolas doing a big mistake by cheating on Stella and hurting Octavia... *sigh*

When I watched The Circus ep when it came out, my reaction was "whatever". I didnt care about Stolas and the abuse he had because Stella was so freakin cartoonisly evil. Another thing that bothers me is people acting like Stella screaming at Stolas because he cheated on her in their own bed it was a sign that she is abusive.

Bro... Even before we knew about her abuse... Like, I still tough it was a normal reaction! Stolas cheated on her on their OWN BED! And then after he has no shame!

Also, the double standard, yes. When Stella does it, she is a bitch, but when is Loona "aw, she had a sad backstory and has trauma QwQ" oh, so, if Stella had a sad uwu backstory too then you would excuse her abuse too?

I wanna clarify something here. Right now. Im not a fan of Stella. She is unidimensional, and an evil person because. The depth she could have was taken so Stolas was excused from his actions. Is not right what she is doing, but at the same time, is freakin hard to care for Stolas when the whole situation is so cartonish.

LOOK, if they wanted her to make an abusive wife, PERFECT. I do think is important to show that woman can be abusive too! But first:

-The show didnt hint at all. Her screaming and being angry doesnt mean she is abusive. In that moment it made sense that she was, I would be too. Hiring and assasing isnt abusive eather, or is a clue that she is. Ms Macberry did it in the first ep FOR THE SAME REASONS and fans LOVE HER. Stolas did the same thing, but they defend him because the show wobified him. Neglecting dad? Arranged marriage? Abusive wife? The man he loves doesnt love him back? He has depresion? Oh god...

-As I said, they did it so Stolas was completely innocent. Thats why lines like "i would be sorry if i hurt you, but we both know I didnt do that" or "cheating implies there was a betrayal; this woman never gave two shits about me" makes me so freakin annoyed. Because is where is more obvious why they did the abusive stuff. Not to add complexity or to send a message, no, just to excuse Stolas.

Aha, sure she didnt care; thats why she was angry and screaming at you, and trowing stuff, and calling you a cheater, and also hired an assasing because you cheated; NOOOO SHE DIDNT CARE, OFC NOT.

-Stella is a caricature of an abusive person.

In a different show, in a more mature one, like Bojack horseman or Tear along the dotted line, they would accept that the character is flawed. But here, is so... extreme. In the sense that Stolas has done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG.

And the Stolitz stuff? I will talk about that in my next post.

Sorry if this was long, thanks for the ask, anon.

[blue-rick24]

FINALLY SAW THE NEW EP AND OMG????

SILLY SMITHS EVEN FOR A BRIEF MOMENT

THE GUN BIT

MORTY MORTY MORTY

GRANDPA RICK BEING SO SWEET

THE WHOLE BETTING RICKS AND I NEED TO SCREENSHOT THAT PART THERES SO MANY RICKS

And I think most of all what really gets me is that Rick is fully aware what Morty is trying to do which is to cheer him up. He appreciates it so much. Their dynamic is so healthy (M: I don't like the way he talks down on you)

AND MOST OF ALL LIL LABRADOODLES DOGGY MORTY HE'S ADORABLE

This is such a fun silly episode and I'm glad we got it after such a lore heavy episode!

(WE ARE SEEING SUMMER NEXT I CANT WAIT I MISS HER SO MUCH THIS SEASON)

RICK (cartoon) GORE SCREENSHOT INCOMING. . . . (also, general rickfucker horniness) (and a MASSIVE post LOL!)

YEAHHH LET'S GET A MASSIVE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR BOY LABRADOODLE MORTY!!!!!!!! OMFGHHH I CANNOT GET OVER THAT.. FUCJVCNB

AND OMG YESSS I AGREE SO MIUCH DHSFJ I'M SO HAPPY WE HAD A VERY NICE RICK AND MORTY-CENTRIC EPISODE 2NITE... THIS WAS SUCH A REFRESHING ONE AFTER ALL THE NONSTOP RICK EPISODES PLUS 3 SOMEWHAT EMOTIONALLY-HEAVY ONES IN A ROW XXDD (with increasing weight)

AND AWW YEAH!!! THEY WERE SO SWEET TO EACH OTHER IN THIS EPISODE I LOVED EVERYTHING SDHFDJ!!!!G --BUT STOP GIVING THAT BOY GUNS DEAR LORD !!!XDDD

LOOK HOW HEALTHY THEY'RE BEING!!!! LMFAOOO (such a cute frame). ...MONCH !!!!

(OH AND ALSO I LOVE THIS FRAME OH MY GOD XXXDDD [its_hot.png] ..what a drama queen...PLS WHY DO I WANT TO MESS WITH HIM WHILE HE HAS HIS ORGANS OUT NO--)

also Rick literally gutted himself JUST to win a bet and show off to... OTHER RICKS?? This is so weird for him, ahah!!! I can't recall seeing him ever actually hang out with other Ricks and enjoy their company XDD

I was surprised last Saturday (the night before unmortricken LOL) when, in "Close Rick-counters of the Rick Kind", I heard Rick say he was going to call like 10 other Ricks about Doofus Rick & Jerry being friends XXDD LIKE, what Rick friends does Rick fucking have?!?! LOL

THIS WHOLE SCENE MADE ME SCREAM XXDD BASTARD(S) HAHAHAH (There's the screenshots for you guys, though!! !;D)

I CAN'T HELP BUT LOVE HIM THOUGH HE LOOKS SO HAPPY AND PROUD JUST BASKING IN THE ATTENTION. YOU NEEDY BOI. . .. FUCK

also OH LORD DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THIS

EVIL MOTHERFUCKER.!!!! I ALSO SOMEHOW THOUGHT THIS SCENE WAS CUTE CUZ HE WAS BEING REALLY GEEKY ADORABLE AND SCIENCE-OBSESSED FHD. I love him showing interest in, well, his special interest XXXDD

His eye twitched here if you watch closely. This shot with him finding the the foil-wrapped roasted corpse increasingly appetizing was actually super attractive. No i am not a necrophile and no I will not explain further XXXDD LMFAOISDFUID

COULD HE REACH FOR MY UNMENTIONABLES LIKE THAT PLeASEDFHJFG

FUCKING INSANE EVIL BASTARD GONE OFF HIS ROCKER PLEASE KISS ME

ALSO. GAWD PLS, THERE WERE SO MANY DIFFERENT INSTANCES OF DRUNK AND/OR SLEEPY RICKS IN THIS EPISODE ITS CRAZYSHDGJK BRRR FUFILLING JUST WHAT I WANNA SEE RIGHT HERE. IVE BEEN ASKING FOR THISSFGHJG

POOR MORTY FOR HAVING TO DEAL WITH THI S FUCKING BABYMAN. OH GOD. but honestly if he ever gets tired of it I think i would want to be there in a heartbeat HHFGDHDF.

he got his borgor though.. EAT UP DRUNK BOY . . . . . I loved him talking like he is completely out of his mind here. Like completely has his brain drowning in alcohol fucking swimming. FHSHF he didn't even sound like himself here and even HE is shocked!!! PFF XXXDD

like "WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT??!??!1?!"

but okay really, this episode, broh... ITS ON SOME OTHER SHIT!...GAH..MY EEMOTIONS !!!! *sob*

" Morty, I appreciate what you were trying to do... with the punch cards... My whole 'groove' thing. "

THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO HAVE THIS BUT THEY DID. THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT BETWEEN THEM HERE AND THE SLOW HEALING / MOVING ON EXHIBITED FROM RICK.. jjst ..FBFBJS.FHJ..

SO SWEET I GOT CAVITIES!! AGRHH!!!!!!! so wonderful to put our minds at ease a little after that mid-season excitement.. FOR NOW (im positive he is not done getting better Lmfao)

AND YES, I'M SO HAPPY ABOUT THE SUMMER EPISODE NEXT!! I PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER LAST WEDNESDAY ABOUT IT AND I ENDED UP BEING RIGHT TOO

(since, if my puppy theory was right, the Summer episode would have been some of the only clips left and I knew it definitely had to do with the memory escapes XD) ALSO HSI FACE ABOVE LMFAOO THE GASP I CAN FEEL IT

SHE'S SO BADASS LMAO XXDD I absolutely adored this scene of Rick being picked up and I was also so happy to see that I was right about it being a real scene (hence the lip-sync they animated on Rick here XD)

AND OH GOD!! HE LOOKS LIKE A FUCKING PUPPY OOFGHFHGFHJVHFB

I;M ACTUALLY OBSESSED WITH HIS fucgign BLINK BROH..HDFVHDFBHG HE GOES FROM LOOKING LIKE A CAT IN THE LEFT TO ACTUALLY SLEEPING ON THE RIGHT ODSFJDHGBJ AHAHAHAHA

ALRIGHT, THATS ENOUGH LOL-- THANK YOU FOR READING MY MEGAPOST, EVERYBODY!! AND MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT #LABRADOODLE MORTY (PLSS?🥺 XD)

[gt-jar]

About your recent post, I first wanna say that I’ve been obsessed with Two Worlds Among the Stars ever since I first discovered it, and even if chapter 8 is a filler episode I’m sure myself and many others will still love it!

I don’t have too many ideas, but something I’d like to see in the next chapter is Noah’s true feelings starting to shine through, even if just barely. Maybe Noah could begin to realize that he can trust John, even if he doesn’t realize that he realized it yet (that probably makes no sense but I’m not sure how else to phrase it lol). It makes sense (to me at least) for it to be a chapter of slow new beginnings. Some of the stuff I mentioned might work well as a focus for chapter 9, so chapter 8 could be leading up to it.

Also, I completely understand the frustrations that come with having no idea what to write for the next part in a series, it can be VERY annoying. I hope you’re able to overcome this though, and good luck on writing the next chapter! I’ll be looking forward to it, even if it takes longer than usual.

Before I get into detail, let me just say that I'm gonna treasure this ask forever. Everytime I read something like this from one of my readers I want to hug that person so bad, because I'm just so thankful.

Like I said in this post, I don't care if my story isn't seen by hundreds of people, literally doesn't matter to me if my story has 20 or 2000 readers. I care about what my readers think of my story (like every writer) and ofc I'd like to know what they think.

So again...

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SENDING ME THIS!

It's a shame that you sent me this as anon (though very understandable), but just so you know... I wouldn't mind seeing you in my dms :)

I also wanna thanks everybody else who left a comment under my last post!

I didn't reply to any of those yet, because here is what I wanna do...

I'm going to list every idea and leave my two cents and... just ramble a bit? You won't believe how much rambling helps when I'm having trouble to write a chapter.

1. Anon:

When it comes to writing the change in Noah's (and John's) character, I like to sorta... sprinkle in little pieces of those changes. Like Noah secretly yearning for affection in chapter 7.

And I think that's exactly what chapter 8 is missing, because in chapter 9 (and the one after that) there's going to be a major shift in Noah's and John's relationship because... stuff happens and things get revealed :) You're in for some sweet hurt/comfort mixed with some fluff. (Super excited to write those two chapters, but being stuck at the one before that aaaaaaahhhhh)

But this shift needs to feel natural. So like you've said Noah's more vulnerable side needs to shine through, but I just... Dont! Know! How! Because while I want/need to sprinkle in one of those small soft moments, it can't be anything major.

For example: Noah yearning for affection -> John figuring that out right away and just giving it to him -> too rushed, doesn't feel natural, boring

So yes everything you've said is true, I just don't know how to write it :')

2. @da3dm:

Someone wandering in and discovering Noah is still alive.

Veeeeeery unlikely. The people from Noah's village don't care about him. He's just another orphan, it's not like they don't have enough of those already. And even if there are some people who took pity on him in the past, they certainly don't care enough to put their on life in danger. All of them "know" what happens when they cross the river, so no one in their right mind is gonna do that anytime soon.

2. @coffehbeans:

John questioning if he is doing the right thing.

Oooohhh boy, trust me John is questioning all of his life choices that led up to this point. He knows their situation is less than ideal, but what other choice does he have? (-> John's pov in chapter 4). He's already going behinds his chief's back by keeping Noah a secret and not immediately informing him about the situation, he won't dig his hole even deeper by bringing the human back and risking that more humans come to his place (or giant territory in general). He's doing damage control, but mostly he's trying to maintain the little control he's left. And let's forget that he's very much sailing uncharted waters.

John encounters someone that will make him question his decision.

I'm curious, who are you thinking of? Because like I said that someone being a human is off the table and a giant standing up for a human? One of John's tribe, that is hiding from Noah's kind? That doesn't care about humanity at best? Most of them might be against killing humans, but that doesn't mean they wanna mingle.

Introducing a character that actually cares about Noah.

I think I need to question all of my writing decisions, if you think John doesn't care :'D

He may not care about Noah on a personal level yet, but he definitely cares about his well-being, even though Noah doesn't get that (yet).

3. @mabelisthebatman:

Someone stops by to visit John.

Let's just say someone is going to visit John (but not in chapter 8), but the situation is not gonna unfold in the way you described. All I'm gonna say is, there can't be comfort without hurt :)

4. @small-but-oho:

John and Noah avoiding each other as much as possible.

Before I start I wanna say how much I enjoyed following your reading process :3 It's always fun to watch someone read my story "live". Absolutely love seeing a user leave a like on every chapter every few minutes, but it's even better when they reblog it aswell and leave a comment in the tags. Also really loved your insight and acknowledging that they both are overwhelmed and deal with raw emotions right now (would love to talk more btw). I think no one else on tumblr pointed that out yet.

As for your suggestions: That would be soooo in-character for them! Noah... for obvious reason, and John just doesn't know how to handle the situation and doesn't want to make it worse. If Noah wasn't sick this totally would've happened, after their "fight" in chapter 6.

I don't know if you read the 7th chapter, but with Noah being sick and acting so different in comparison to his usual self, John is worried and tries his best to help him, because even though they aren't on good terms John doesn't like to see the kid in pain.

To be clear I DON'T wanna belittle any of your ideas, I loved reading every single one of them! I just wanted to ramble (helps me a lot with getting a feel for my characters again after a long writing pause). Sadly I don't get character related asks very often, so I don't have many opportunities to just ramble/infodump/etc.

So again...

THANK YOOOOOOUUUUU!!!!!

Didn't really make much process on chapter 8 though. It's still missing something. But I finally figured out where I'm going to place a specific scene (chapter 8) and I thought of something I want add to chapter 9, so I count this as a win^^

[bewilderedbuck]

Devi vs. David: aka a comprehensive list of every single time ben gross has referred to devi as one or the other (season two edition)

first and foremost: if you missed it, please go check out part one where i talk about devi vs. david in season one. i also want to refer you to these posts: x, x by @catty-words, because they are very well-worded and also very relevant to what i'm about to talk about. i will be referencing some of what cori said in those two posts as well. once again, this is a list of every single time in season two that ben has called her either devi or david, with context + insight, and i am creating this post for myself more than anyone else. expect a season 3 edition in the future; likely sometime next week.

anyways. here goes.

"Devi, I'm all-in."

the first time in season 2 that he refers to her at all,  he calls her devi — he’s opening up to her, telling her that what they have is real and that she makes him better, literally tells her that he stood up to his parents for the first time in his life because of her. he is all-in, even if it means long distance. he wants to be with her, but he is also giving her time to think about it. the use of devi as opposed to david here shows that he’s being vulnerable, that he is serious about her. 

obv we don’t see much of his short-lived relationship with devi, and while i personally believe he did still throw around the david nickname with her (teasingly, lovingly), it does make sense that he wouldn’t use it with her friends while she isn’t present. so, devi.

the way his eyes light up when he sees her. his whole body language changes. he perks right up the second his eyes land on her and the “come here” motion he makes i still have not gotten over and it has been over a year since i saw this scene for the first time. anyways. i mentioned in part one that david belongs to ben and devi and no one else. and here i feel like that shines in a new light. he calls her devi here because they’re in front of people, but more importantly in front of paxton. the last time ben referred to devi in front of him, he called her david (in 1x08, if you were wondering). he was jealous back then, crushing hard and knowing she’s got a thing for pax. but here? he’s secure in their relationship (haha just wait like…ten minutes ben lol then you’re going to be shattered). he thinks she is his. he doesn’t need to take control of the situation by calling her david here.

okay, so obv he’s calling her devi here bc 1) he’s talking to paxton and 2) paxton also just referred to her as devi. but i wanna talk about his tone here. his voice goes up like…three octaves. cracks at the end when he says her name. because as opposed to the last instance he called her devi, he’s nervous here. knows that pax is this ladies man that had caught devi’s eye before, and he’s worried that he’s going to catch her eye again (give it literally two minutes, ben, and then you’ll find out, lol). being around paxton without devi present pulls on his insecurities, because he can’t look over at her and think, “she chose me. she chose me.” (again, she didn’t, but that’s beside the point right now)

“There should only be one choice..."

oof. this stings, tbh. cori mentions it in her posts as well, but here you can see him using her real name as a way to distance himself from her. he says it like it’s a curse, like it’s the most vile thing that could come out of his mouth. he’s hurt, obviously. he was all-in for her! and i think this here helps prove my theory that he’s had feelings for her for far longer than we’re made to assume — like yes, obviously you’re going to be hurt if your significant other cheats on you regardless for how long you’ve been together or how long you’ve really, truly cared about them, but ben is absolutely devastated. i’m not saying paxton isn’t upset, because he is! this is during paxton’s pov episode, so we do hear from miss hadid here that he was upset about the whole two-timing thing. but ben? it absolutely crushed him, because he was that much more invested in devi than pax was. we aren’t sure of the exact timeline, of course, but since they’re still in the first semester of school at this point it’s safe to assume that it’s likely been maybe a month or so since ben and devi started actually being friends. ben’s reaction runs so much more deep than someone who’s only had romantic feelings for that short a time period. (i also want to point out that the scene immediately following this one is where paxton coins the term “crazy devi,” though that’s not particularly relevant to this post.)

"...At the party, you followed him, and you left me behind.”

OUCH. if the last one stung, this one is a punch straight to the gut. using her real name to hold her accountable for her own actions. to show her that she hurt him and that they aren’t okay. i mean, his exact words: “We’re not even. We’re not even close to even.” back in 1x06 he uses david as an attempt to return to their version of normalcy, and here he uses devi to show that they can’t return to that.

okay, obviously i’m going to be referencing this post by cori because she talks specifically of this instance. this is the first use of david we see in season 2, and we are already halfway through the season. while i don’t believe for a single second that ben has moved on from the two-timing incident, he is trying to move on from devi at the very least. as cori says in her post, we only see him refer to her as david after he and aneesa start flirting with each other. i really like how she worded it in her post: “it’s a relic from their rivalry, which makes it both an insult and a way to preserve their years of shared history.” he’s not ready to be best buds just yet, obviously, but he still cares about her.

once again linking cori’s other post that dives into this episode’s use of devi vs. david as well as 2x08’s. here, he’s obviously defaulting to devi because they’re in front of her family, but there’s also the way he says her name in this scene. like he’s using it to hold her accountable for her own actions. his tone after she tries to be lighthearted with, “I don’t know. She could spin that into a pretty good essay,” is disappointed because she keeps messing up. he wants to believe in her, but she isn't giving him any reason to.

 just like cori says in her post, he goes back to david when her family isn’t around. while he is using the nickname as some form of familiarity & closeness, he is still so disappointed in her, because he wants to believe that she’s capable of doing right by aneesa. the wording of “use your brain” here comes off as their usual banter if you don’t take into account ben’s tone, sober and serious. he wants her to do better, not just for him, and not just for aneesa, but for devi, herself, too.

aaand here we are back with another term of endearment david! he’s genuinely pleased with her that she managed to pull off not only the apology, but in securing aneesa’s spot at sherman oaks — not just so he can ask her out, obviously, but because it means 1) aneesa doesn’t have to go through transferring schools again, because ben does care about her well-being and mental health, but also 2) it means devi is capabale of doing good and righting her wrongs. obviously, he doesn’t know that her main motivation was getting ben back, but still, in his eyes, she was able to hold herself accountable and fix her mistakes. not only that, but we are reverting back to banter here! this is such a huge turning point for them this season, giving a good headstart to what i am affectionately going to be referring to as their “besties era” in season 3.

not much to say here, really; just his use of david being an indicator of friendship. however what is interesting is…

"She's, like, super flighty and unstable, and throws away a good man for no reason."

okay, first off, obviously, this is a huge dig at her for the events of 2x02, which i can’t blame ben for, but it’s also so snarky that it comes across like their season 1 pre-friendship banter which is an era of their relationship i genuinely love (mostly bc it all comes across as thinly veiled flirting, but i digress). what is really interesting to me is that he doesn’t call her david in front of aneesa. he doesn’t do it even once. i have said it once and i will say it a million fucking times: david belongs to ben and devi and no one else. he uses it to both 1) take back control of situations when he is feeling uncomfortable or insecure, and 2) when he wants to establish a closeness to devi. the former isn’t relevant here, and he can’t exactly refer to his ex-girlfriend with their version of a fucking pet name in front of his current girlfriend. yeah, you can argue that maybe he just doesn’t want to explain the whole david thing to aneesa, but i think it’s deeper than that. he doesn’t want to establish that closeness with devi while aneesa is present because it starts blurring lines and crossing boundaries in his head.

the next time they’re together, aneesa isn’t around, and he reverts back to david. not even two whole seconds later he opens up a serious conversation, asking about devi’s feelings in regards to working with ben and aneesa. despite the fact that devi was the one to hurt ben! david here, once again, being used to establish closeness, familiarity, friendship. this is also just one of my favorite scenes of theirs, ever, because their smiles are so sweet and so genuine. you can tell how much they care for each other, despite the the events from earlier in the season.

“Devi, when are you going to realize that that dick doesn’t deserve you?”

(okay, i know it doesn’t show him saying devi in the captions, but he does.) BATHROOM SCENE MY BELOVED. this is my number one duo scene of theirs for so many reasons oh my god. the use of devi here, when it’s just them is so significant because during their friendship era, he has consistently referred to her as david when they’re alone. but not here. here she is devi. because he needs her to know what she is worth. he needs her to listen when he tells her that she deserves better than paxton, and he gets her to listen with the use of devi.

[indigoraysoflight]

43. "I don't want to argue with you." for Caryl, please! (and probably more to come xD)

Okay, this is a tough read. I'm sorry IDK why my brain does these things. I've tried to stay true to Carol's headspace post 'Find Me'. And I tried to frame this as sort of an anticaryllel to the scene in the dumb arc following this episode where L3ah betrays him making him realize he fucked up. Aka some people are worth saving and others aren't. Hopefully, it's worth the wait. Thanks for the prompt! (psst I'll share a new list soon lol)

Missing scene from 11x01 / Acheron I

~

From the Ashes

The walk back from the military base was quiet. Carol looked down at the extra MREs she’d grabbed and realized what a close call it had been for her. Doesn’t matter. I need to fix this.

She felt his eyes on her as he trailed behind on their way back. 

His gaze seared into her skin from the moment he locked eyes with her on the roof – and it followed her everywhere. He's watching me like a hawk, so I don’t run away. She had to bite back her frustrated sigh. But she made no attempt to hide her stiff, angry stride since he was so interested in watching her.

You wanna run? RUN. I won’t stop you this time. 

His words at the cabin echoed so fast and cut through her so quickly that her breathing got harsh, and her gait faltered.

Maggie gave her a concerned look. Carol shook her head and smiled. “Just a little winded; I’ll be fine.” Thankfully her voice was steady because her eyes had already started burning. Maggie nodded, glanced behind Carol, and turned away.

“Here, let me carry the bag.”

His voice was so earnest that it rumbled through her – summoning tears to her eyes. But she held on to her anger. Anger was better, safer. It reminded her that their luck had run out. It kept the hope out and held her walls strong. It kept her heart from breaking again. 

“I’m fine,” she responded coolly without glancing at him because she absolutely did not want him to see her cry. 

The steady growling that emerged from their right was a welcome distraction. Aiming her bow, she shot the walker right between its vacant eyes and noticed a crossbow bolt embedded next to her arrow in its head before it collapsed. 

Carol's eyes locked with Daryl's for a moment before they made their way to it. She didn’t have to wonder where his mind was because hers went there too.

I had that one!

He slowly inched towards her. Trying to close the distance between them.

Well, you’re supposed to call it.

Carol inched away.

You didn’t call it.

Daryl’s speed faltered in her periphery as a response to her.

I don’t wanna play with you anymore if you cheat all the time.

She heard her chuckle echo from that sunny day at Oceanside as a wayward tear ran down her cheek. 

I’m not cheating!

They were in lockstep again, and she realized she’d unconsciously readjusted her pace to match his. Carol wanted to laugh despite the grimness of the situation. After years of walking with him, her body protested to leaving him behind.

“We’ll catch up,” he called out to the rest. Carol wondered if she imagined the slight hoarseness in his voice as she yanked the arrow and the bolt out of the walker's head. When the silence grew heavy, she sensed what was coming, and she really wasn’t in the mood for it. With a quick glance, Carol returned the bolt to him and started walking away. Daryl bristled in her periphery.  

“Why would you do that?”

And there it was. 

“Why’d I do what?” Carol evaded and kept walking.

“You know what,” The sharpness in his voice took her back to the cabin.

And that's what matters. You bein' right.

She stopped. Her heart started pounding. A heavy rock settled into the pit of her stomach, but she still turned to meet his eyes.

"I don't want to argue with you."

She was tired. She didn't want to fight with him anymore. Didn't want to watch what was left of their dreams burn, wither, and turn into nothing right in front of her eyes. 

“I ain’t arguing.” 

“Then what are we doing, Daryl?”

“Why’d you go back for the MREs?”

Carol furrowed her brow. “We need all the food we can find.”

She glanced in the direction of the group. “And even that won’t be enough to feed everyone for long.” They had more mouths to feed, and the idea of Alexandria falling terrified her.

“I couldn’t get 'em all. They were herding. They almost got you.” His voice cracked.

She looked into his eyes and remembered – the sounds of his bolts clearing a path for her, his eyes heavy on her trail, and the sharp whistles of his knives as they saved her life at the right moment. Reaching for him when they reeled her up as his steady arms clutched her and held her close, his eyes raking over her desperately to check for injuries.

The fear and exasperation she saw in his eyes when she handed him the knives reflected back at her now. 

You couldn't handle the guilt. So you made it my problem.

Guilt seeped into her veins when she realized why she felt confident about going back for the MREs. Daryl always had her back. She knew he would try to keep her safe. Somehow, she'd managed to make her decisions his problem again after he’d told her off about it. 

“I didn’t mean to make it your problem,” Carol managed to whisper before walking away – eager to get away from him now. 

“It ain’t that-” Daryl sighed, and her pace quickened. “Carol, could ya stop runnin’ for one fuckin’ minute and talk.” 

She stopped, flipped around, and met his gaze levelly. Her eyes welled up, but she didn't care.

I stopped ya from runnin', and I shouldna.

The words lodged in her throat since the cabin now ached to break free.

“If I wanted to run, Daryl, I would’ve done it at the cabin.” She kept her voice even. “I intend to stay and fix what I broke. Because I do know where I belong.”

Daryl looked stricken but met her gaze with shimmering blue eyes. “Going back for a couple of MREs and almost gettin' yourself killed ain’t fixing it. They ain’t gonna make that much of a difference.”

Daryl stepped forward, closing the distance between them. A small part of her thought – wished – he would hold her hand and pull her into his arms. Hold her, let her breathe him in, and forget about their fight. Forget that their luck had run out – their bond severed, and their dreams withered to ashes.  

“Every bit counts.” Carol met his gaze, but her voice shook.  

“Not if it costs your life, it don’t.”

His words were a balm to her soul but her past actions still weighed heavily on her, and she struggled to believe him.

“I’d do anything to protect our family. If it fed the kids, if it fed everyone, it would..." Carol sighed and looked down. "It would be worth-” 

“No,” Daryl interrupted. His voice was so firm and strong that it pulled her eyes back to his. “No, it wouldn't," he reaffirmed softly.

The conviction in his voice washed over her, and she let herself believe him. Let herself hope that they could salvage what they had. It carried her to that sunny day at Oceanside when they wove dreams of New Mexico as he wove her a bracelet. When they got lost in the idea of just the two of them running away together. An endless road ahead of them, sun kissing their face, wind sifting through their hair, her arms wrapped around his waist, his warmth pressed against her heart. 

And for a moment, as they gazed at each other, she felt like she always did. Safe, seen, held, warm…loved. She let herself see him – his fringe wasn’t covering his face, his eyes were soft blue and glassy, and his lips were chapped. His eyes lingered on her lips and then flicked to her wrist. She realized she was fiddling with her bracelet and dropped her hand. 

"Better get back," she said quietly, peeling her eyes away.

He walked to the front of the group – his gait heavy and shoulders slumped. Her heart ached to reach out to him, to hold his head to her shoulder, but she stopped herself. 

Daryl turned back one last time, and their eyes locked again. He chewed his lip and stroked his chest pocket unconsciously before looking away. 

We got luck on our side, right? 

His voice resonated in her heart and her eyes locked on him as he went up to lead the group. And just like that, her anger dissolved, and her resolve crumbled. I broke it, I'll fix it, Carol thought as she clung to the ashes of their withered dreams greedily and held them close to her heart.

“Everythin’ ok?” Maggie asked softly when she fell into step beside her.

Carol nodded, never taking her eyes off Daryl, who was a few steps ahead of them.

“We got luck on our side," she whispered.

When Daryl’s shoulders relaxed and he lifted his head, Carol felt something new sprout from the ashes of their withered dreams. 

[willshipanything-blog]

Breaking the Rules- Chapter 14

Surprise early posting! Been getting these out every couple of weeks, but this was short and sweet and got done quickly, so enjoy! Y/N needs some advice, so turns to Max- who else does she have?

As usual, minors DNI for content in other chapters, full tags can be found on AO3, along with the fic if you wanna read here.

Complete chapter index here.

Enjoy lovelies 💜✨✌️

Chapter 14- Lay It On The Line

“Yell-lo?”

“Hey Max, it’s me, how’s it going?”

“Scout! Great timing, I just got my phone set up this morning. Ya know, if I’d have known you were gonna miss me this much I wouldn’t have moved out so soon!”

“That’s rich! What was it, one full day before you came back to visit?”

“Ah, touché. Thanks again for dinner. I’d ask for that lasagna recipe, but me trying to make it wouldn't end well!”

“Aw, that’s ok Max. I’ll make double next time so you can take some home.”

“Awesome, you’re the best! So, er- how you doing?”

You weren’t ready to answer that question yet. Mainly because you weren’t really sure of the answer. After pacing restlessly in front of the phone all morning, you finally snatched it up and dialed Max’s new number without really thinking about what to say. 

You did want to catch up with him, see how he was getting on in his new place, and you knew he was off work today. And, despite it only having been three days since he’d vacated the spare room, and only two since you’d last seen him, you missed him. You forgot how lonely and quiet the house could be during the day. No long walks with Samson, no lively (though somewhat incessant) conversation on every topic that came to mind. Max was just so easy to talk to, and you hoped his breezy conversation and effervescence might rub off on you. Still, you dodged answering his question with more of your own:

“I was just ringing to see if you got settled in ok. Are you and Samson liking the new place?”

“Oh sure, those four cardboard boxes were a real workout to unpack. You know I do appreciate Al letting me have some furniture from our old room. It feels… weird, having my own place. But it’s been great so far! But you didn’t answer my question, Scout. How’re you? You sound a little- down?”

Max really was sharper than he looked. Despite his disheveled appearance and hopeless track record on all the 'Jeopardy!’ episodes you’d watched together, he could always sniff out if something was wrong emotionally. Even with a few miles between you, it was like he could sense the disquiet down the phone cord.  

Truth be told, there was another reason you’d rang Max. You wanted to talk about things, and you couldn’t do that with Al. Not right now. You’d looked deep into those soft blue eyes the other day, wanting to ask so many questions- and you’d crumbled, toppling like a house of cards when confronted with those steel blue eyes full of fear. Those unasked questions still hovered on the horizon, like an approaching black cloud, distant but inevitable. You needed a few more sunny days with Al yet, before that storm hit. 

Not that Max would know any secret his brother was harboring (aside from some wonderfully embarrassing childhood stories), but he did know more than most: about who you were, that young woman from the missing posters and the newscasts that most people thought of as a runaway, or else dead and buried somewhere. Max at least knew of some of your anxieties and the emotional strain you’d been through. Even if what he thought you were hiding barely scratched the surface of the secrets between you and his brother, reaching far deeper than he could possibly imagine. 

As long as you didn’t mention anything too specific, surely Max could offer you some solace from your worries about Al. And maybe from your own guilt too- the guilt of staying despite what Al had done, the fact that those things were so easily forgotten when you lost yourself in the intimate asylum that you and Al inhabited. No, if you talked in vague terms, Max might just see those worries as a rocky patch between you and Al- a lover’s tiff, not awful fears about those dark, arcane truths that even you hadn’t quite delved to the bottom of. 

“I’m- I’m ok, Max. I just feel a little funny sometimes. I don’t really have many people to talk to about everything."

“Sure, sure, I get that. You’re meaning the things about you on the news, right? Your family history? I guess that kinda stuff must be tough to try and process?”

“I mean, it’s not just that, though. The situation with me and Al. People wouldn’t understand.”

“Oh, ‘cause of the age gap? It’s no big d-”

“Not that. It’s- well, it’s all just a little fucked up. It’s sorta hard to explain when it’s all so- so wrong.”

“Wrong?”

Shit. Had you said too much? You tried to recollect what you’d said in the last couple minutes, analyzing whether any little phrase or wording might have Max questioning the sheer insanity and potential truth behind your relationship with his brother. Trying to replay the conversation in your mind, you must have zoned out when Max filled the silence that stretched across the coiled phone cord. 

“Hey, um, Scout- this isn’t about those masks, is it?”

Your heart dropped in your chest. The cream phone nearly slipped out of your grasp and you felt your face blanch at Max’s bombshell. You’d been pacing with the phone, carving trodden circles in the shag carpet, but that question stopped you dead in your tracks. You were too winded to let out any response other than a shaky, whispered “What?”. As far as feigning ignorance went, it wasn’t wholly convincing, but Max could tell how much that revelation had shocked you, and began backpedaling immediately, racing to explain himself in his hasty, bumbling way.

“Oh, shit, please don’t be upset Scout! Look, I know I shouldn’t have been snooping and I’m sorry, ok- but it was when I had a job interview, I was running late and outta clean shirts, so I went to borrow one of Al’s and I couldn't ask you because you were in the shower-”

“Oh, god. Max…”

“But it’s ok, really! Please don’t be embarrassed. I mean, it’s just sex stuff, right? I don’t want you to think of it as ‘wrong’ just because it’s a little, um, what’s the word…. unorthodox?”

Max hadn’t equated those devilish masks with the Grabber. And why would he- who even knew that the Grabber, the shadowy specter that no longer haunted the streets of Denver, even wore such a disguise? The masks had  never even appeared outside, Al only having chosen to sport those masks inside the house: the ghastly smile; the deep-set frown; the unreadable blank mouth; the horns that crowned each of those wicked expressions. As gruesome as they might have appeared to Max, he’d only linked them to the salacious games that you and Al reveled in. After all, you figured, they were stashed away with Al’s box of tricks, right beside the rope and handcuffs and other little toys Al had picked up over the months…

You were almost too relieved by Max’s assumptions to feel mortified by his discovery of some of your most intimate, shameful games. He wasn’t entirely wrong, after all- he just wouldn’t know the previous role the masks had played for Al’s dark persona. As you thought about the misunderstanding, you wondered if you could use it to your advantage. If you could speak to Max about your guilty conscience, but have him think it was about your unconventional love life rather than your unforgivable choices. Just like you’d planned, where talking in vague terms might still end up with Max consoling you, providing some relief to your sullied conscience.

“Uh, thanks Max. I guess that’s a part of it, you know? Like, sometimes I feel I’m doing the wrong thing, like I should stop.”

“Do you want to stop, or do you want to be there?”

“I want to be there, but-”

“Then that’s all there is. That’s your decision. Not anyone else’s, okay?”

“You’re right. But if other people knew, they’d judge me, or think I was sick or something.”

“Fuck other people, Scout! You can’t live your life doing what other people expect is the “right thing” to do. Otherwise I wouldn’t have slept with half the people I have!”

“Huh?”

“Come on Scout, you saw those photos. I… I like women and men, alright? There’s plenty of people around who think that’s wrong, but honestly I don’t give two shits about other people’s opinions in general. Neither should you.” 

The silence was so palpable you could practically hear the electricity buzz down the telephone wire. You were floored by Max’s admission, even if it did make sense, given those photographs he’d mentioned. Perhaps he’d had the comforting distance of the phone line between you to tell you that fact. Regardless, a small part of you was touched that he’d trusted you with that admittance. But mostly, you just felt even more guilty now. 

Max had made that heartfelt confession on a misgiving, thinking you were wracked with guilt about your own sexual activities, comparing it to his situation, and how people would always hate what they didn’t understand. But they weren’t similar; they weren’t even in the same fucking ballpark, because you’d had to once again skirt around the truth to talk to Max. It felt as if you’d tricked that information out of him. You weren’t really talking about sex, but how was Max to know that? Once again, Max broke the silence.

“You, uh, you still there Y/N?”

“Sorry, yeah. I’m here. I didn’t know that Max.”

“Well, I don’t advertise it to everyone, ya know? I thought it might help you- I don’t want to feel ashamed at doing something that small minded people think is wrong, when that’s just bullshit.”

“Thanks, Max, for telling me. For trusting me with it. Does Al know?”

“Nah- it’s never felt like the right time, and I’m not a hundred percent convinced he’d understand.”

“Oh, ok. I won’t tell him or anything, because it’s not my place to. But Al’s maybe not as… old school as you might think.”

“Yeah, no shit ya kinky fucks!”

“Jesus, Max!”

After that, Max swerved the conversation to lighter topics, even beginning to arrange his next visit to the house (which, thankfully, would be in just a few days- Max had Saturday off to spend with his two favorite people, he’d said). You suggested he bring groceries, and you’d teach him how to cook a few basic dishes, so easy even Max might not mess it up completely.

“Sounds good, Scout- but how do I know you’ll be home?” 

You wondered if Max could hear your eyes rolling sarcastically on the other end of the phone. Of course you’d be in- when weren’t you? Even if Max still didn’t know the exact reasons why that was the case, when he joked about it, it somehow made it feel more normal, less weird and suspicious than it actually was. Strangely, you welcomed the lighthearted teasing about it, but of course had to meet his ribbing with some of your own:

“Don’t worry Max, I’ll be right here and waiting for you- unless you skip town on us before then.”

“Oof, guess I shoulda seen that one comin’”.

“Hey, you made fun of me for being a hermit, I can joke about you being flaky.”

“I guess we all have our flaws, huh? I’ll see ya soon, Scout. Miss you.”

“I miss you too, Max.” 

I miss you too, Max. At least you’d told him one truthful thing.

The dial tone flatlined as Max hung up, and you slowly lowered the phone into its cradle on the side table, still pondering the advice Max had given you. 

You felt simultaneously shittier and better after the phone call. 

Shittier, because you’d wanted some reprieve from all the suspected mistruths surrounding Al, yet had only fallen deeper into your own deceptions with Max. Once again, Max was opening himself up, laying bare his vulnerabilities to assuage your own. He’d opened up about his own sexuality to quell your own doubts about being perceived as ‘weird’ or ‘wrong’ in other people’s eyes. And you’d allowed him to think that your situations were similar, your heart panging in your chest at another necessary lie. Like weeks ago, when he’d told you about the abuse suffered at his father’s hand, telling you about his past after assuming your own family had hurt you when he saw remnants of the scar carved below your collarbone. When you continued to use your damn doublespeak to avoid revealing too much of the real truths, it made you feel dirty. It made you feel like a bad friend, and Max didn’t deserve that in the least. 

But some of what Max had said really had helped, despite him not knowing what had really been bothering you these last couple weeks. Regardless, his advice still seemed sage- it was your decision to stay, and you confirmed that you did want to. Those choices were given freely these days- though a ridiculous part of your brain actually wondered if it would be easier if they were taken away, like before. When Al had removed the choice, you didn’t have to make any impossible decisions. But that was madness, and you weren’t under the illusion that things had been better when you’d resided in the basement against your will. 

Freedom meant making difficult decisions, then. You loved Al enough to make those tough choices. For now, he’d given you no cause not to believe him about the house across the street. That worry was only an itch in your brain, a tingle up your spine. No proof, no evidence that he was lying, even with his villainous distractions. After all, Al had always liked to concoct new games to keep things interesting. Perhaps it was time to initiate one of your own, if only to keep your mind from straying into dangerous territory again.

[wooltoesocks]

things i want to get answers to in the remaining episodes of four leaf: a very comprehensive list that must be missing some things i just cant remember at the moment (also soilers for up until ep 139):

just in general evrything about the bells, and more especiall like how is lina giving lupe her bells (because that is 100% gonna happen i think) gonna affect them, for example if they'll get lina's bell as like their own, and if that bell being kinda broken is gonna be any problem

will that be a permanent change, is lupe gonna give the bell back to lina after they deal with the wolf

what's gonna happen to cricket if they really do deal with the wolf? or how will tehy come to some wsolution that doesnt harm anyone

CARLA!!! is she gonna be okay? that wound looks very nasty. i hope they'll be able to cure it somehow, and if not, then chopchop there goes a leg :/

talking about carla, is she gonna give er bells to someone like she mentioned in 138? that is only in case she wont be able to continue, but it loks very bad rn, so my question is, is it gonnna be mercy? or in general, who is it gonna be?

also about the bells, i really wanna know how many bells each witch has!! it''s just something i think would be interesting to analyse. (i looked through all the episodes where a witch has their bells out buut i still now only know for certain the number of bels like 7 witches have (before 137 and emma giving up her bells): Erica 1, Emma 2, Socks 2 (most likely, unless she got mor after the prison break, that's when she at least shows only 2), Alishba 3, Linda 3 (both of whose bells were shown during the prison break), Carla 20, Lina 21.

also also (i use that word so much), the names of the witches! we now know there are 17 witches in the red hoods (+lupe +lina so maybe 19 but oh well) and of those 17 we know the names of 12 (episode 133)

what i wanna know too is like which bell belongs to which witch? we've seen some, for example in the flashback of when they first appeared, and also in the festival of roses we see some, but like i wnna knowww (ye sit's very trivial but that's what makes it fun i think)

the mom. what happened with her in the 8 months that have passed since lupe was last in their original world? did she just continue on like normal, or did she actually regret some of the things she's done? will lupe go see her again?

the inevitable. the thing i've been waiting for for like 2 years. the KISS! alvar mentioned the witch loking very mad and the also saying he's the kinda guy to ask twice before a first kiss and what i think will happen is that he is gonna ask. like he's just the kinda guy. but the thing lupe (most likely) will be "mad" about is just that al didnt tell about it (even tho he was gonna tell you lupe, you just didnt want him to). or they arent mad, but just like very confused/fristrated and Al just interpreted it wrong? i dont know. we'll see (hopefully tomorrow in 140 but at the evry least in 141?? like i dont think it will take so long that it would be 142? (i am delusional). also looking at the future chapter thumbnails (not a fast pass reader), it looks like someone is using some kind of reddish/pinkish magic / teleporting right next to him)

okay this isnt a theory or anything, i just know lupe's dad is gonna be so smug learning about lupe and al's relationship when they do get into one like judging from ep 116 and the "crush" i jut know

okay wow this is a long post but i need to get these out of my head and scream into the void and wait if it screams back

back to the bells, they'r gonna give everyone their own one back right? if they deal wit hthe wolf, there shouldnt be any need to hoard all the power, and i dont think it would be very fair to let 72 people just go on about life without really even knowing what's going no just because you wanna levitate. i know it's probably more complicated than that but yeah

also (fuck, this word again) what's gonna happen to the witchs' craving of gloom? is it gonna go away if there is no wolf (okay this is assuming that it's dealt with and they wont come to a peaceful comclusion but if that happens i just really hope cricket will be okay)

are other witches gonna wanna get rid of their bells and become human like emma?

i would like some more information about the different worlds, although i think it's unlikely tha will come up in the chapters themselves, but maybe as some bonus content somewhere?

okay so i already wrote about like if Lina's bell being broken is gonna have any effect on lupe, but will it affect Lina herself? i would assume not, but you never know

just in general, i cant wait to see how everything comes to a conclusion and how the ending is gonna be (even tho i would love for it to go on for longer). are we gonnna see another time skip?

man i just remembered there are alaso civilians in Garua at the moment too like the redhoods are gonna get the to safety right? maybe that will also help a little with the public's fear of the witches, the news that hey maybe they're not bad through and through (even tho that was never the case but most people still thought that so)

fuck this is long how many words even is this... 1005???? man that's like 2/3 of the essays we had to write in high school. yea it's easier to just put stuff from your mind into bullet points but this has taken me like maybe 45 minutes where as those essays took at least 5 hours. i bet i could make one from one of my interests in like 2 hours and i would be much better than any of those monstrocities i wrote

anyway back on track

actually those are the main ones i remember now, maybe i'll update this once more come to mind, but for now this is enough for today

pictured above is me falling for this series

wait one more thing: is it stated anywhere how much the bells weigh? i would assume they're more like incorporeal so they wouldn't hve any mass, and i fell like should know this i've read this series 5 or 6 times. but if they do infact hve mass, do the witches have to actively levitate them or are they jsut funky like that