#these all feel really on the nose for me idk

[sincerelybubbles]

It's a Date part 2

warnings: fluff, descriptions of being touch starved (? idk) not really edited oopsies

synopsis: things go well after f!reader and spencer's date, spencer helps reader see that she's wanted and deserving of affection

part 1 || masterlist

⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 .𖥔˚⋆.˚ ᡣ𐭩 .𖥔˚

“Sorry, it’s messy,” you say, wringing your hands as you walk through the door. You hear Spencer laugh out through his nose, a quick burst of air that has you spinning around to watch him latch the door. 

He’s shaking his head, hair falling in front of his eyes, nose bridge crinkled. 

“What?”

“You’re acting like I’ve never been here before.” He twists the deadbolt and walks over to you, shaking his head one more time before slipping off his shoes and heading into the kitchen. 

“I don’t know, I guess it feels different, somehow, now that …” Neither of you has tried to put a label on this. It’s been weeks, coffee dates squished between hectic work schedules, yawning absences while he chases cases with the team, and one movie night at his place that had you listening to him rant about the inaccuracies of a historical drama you picked out. It’s been lovely, you adore his tendencies to go off on tangents, enjoying simply watching him light up and trip over his own words to get everything out. It feels like he’s racing to say whatever he can before you interrupt him. You never have, something he commented on during your second date. 

“You know you can just tell me to shut up when I go off about stupid stuff like that. Everyone does, I’m used to it, I don’t want to bore you.” “Why would I? It’s not boring or stupid — it’s stuff you care about and I like hearing what you care about.”

“Now that, what?” Spencer asks, settling his back against your counter and resting his hands on the edge behind him. 

He’s still in his work clothes, tie loose, gun at his hip, hair behind his ears. 

One thing you didn’t expect from him? Confidence. You knew he had to be confident in some ways — he’s never doubted his intellectual ability that you could tell — but it only took a short time for him to gain his comfort around you. No longer did he blush and bumble his way through sentences, struggling to meet your eye. Your first kiss actually seemed to clear that up quickly. 

It happened feet away from where you’re standing, outside of your door, after dinner. He reached forward to brush an eyelash on your cheek as you said goodbye, you leaned into his hand and, after a moment and with a burst of adrenaline that fueled your forwardness, you leaned up and toward him, a hand on his arm, and brought your lips to his.  He was hesitant, fingertips brushing your cheekbone, but he came to life as you pulled away to ask him if this was alright, palm meeting your cheek fully and bringing you in for a proper kiss.  Excitement was evident by the way he pressed closer to you, stepping nearer and putting another hand on your waist, locking you in place. Under the excitement was a tenderness you’ve never felt before. He kissed like he wanted to take all the air from your lungs but he held you with the sort of care that made your lungs ache for a reason entirely seperate from the kissing. 

“I don’t know,” you say, chickening out from asking for the hundredth time, going to meet him in the kitchen. 

“Hey,” Spencer says, catching you by the waist and pulling you to come stand near him with one hand on your hip. “Ask,” he says, tucking his chin to grin down at you, nudging your foot with his.

“Why don’t you?”

“I’m afraid to scare you off,” he says with a smile. Behind his eyes, though, you can see the truth in it. 

He called you the morning after your date. Young sunlight caught in your eyes and caused you to squint as you searched for your forgotten phone, spots dancing and dust creating a kaleidoscope as you pressed answer.  “Hello?” you asked, confused. It was Spencer, wishing you a good morning. He went quiet when you asked why he called, if everything was okay.  “Everything is fine, sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you.” “It’s okay, I need to be up soon anyway. Why’d you call, though?” “I just couldn’t get the thought out of my head last night that I must have done something to mess it all up. I wanted to call and make sure I hadn’t.” “You could never, Spencer.”

You know the uncertainty still rears its head, even with the confidence that’s fostered with time. 

“It feels incredibly juvenile,” you say, rolling your eyes and smoothing your hands up his chest to rest on his shoulders. 

“Ask,” he whispers, “I’ll say yes. All you have to do is ask.”

The week after your first date, Spencer showed up at your office, panting, a bag in his hand. You stood up, shocked to see him at the station, and hurried out to meet him in the lobby.  “You said you wanted lunch from the Chinese place down the road because you forgot to pack something,” Spencer said by way of explanation. You had mentioned it, briefly, in a text. “I was just complaining, you didn’t have to spend your lunch break on this,” you said, eyes welling up with tears. You reached forward, ignoring the bags, and pulled him into a hug. “You’re entirely too sweet to me. This was too much.” “Nothing is too much, all you have to do is ask.” 

“When I call back my friend later,” you start, determined to ask while looking in his eyes, drowning as you do it, face heating, “can I tell her my boyfriend came to spend some time with me?”

It’s sort of a cop-out, of course, and Spencer catches it — you’re not directly asking, but he nods anyway, then laughs, leaning forward to kiss you. 

The kiss is messy, he’s laughing and you’re smiling, but you appreciate it all the same. 

“Why are you laughing?” You ask, leaning back and catching another kiss on your nose and then your cheek. 

“There’s a few reasons. I never thought I would have this, for one, and I guess I’m just happy.”

“You guess?”

“I know.”

You wind up in bed. Nothing nefarious, not yet — both of you understand that space to breathe and grow together is much more important and that awkwardness needs to settle into comfortable familiarity before crossing that specific line. 

Spencer drags his finger across your cheek, tracing your bone structure. His other hand is tucked under your side, holding your hip and keeping you close. 

The feeling in your chest is heavy, pressing up into your throat and capturing any words you could dare to think. 

“Are you okay?” Spencer asks, voice a whisper, breath fanning across your face and causing little hairs to prick up across your arms. 

You nod, looking him in the eye and signaling the truth. His nearness wasn’t causing you distress but the unfamiliarity of it is hard to not become consumed by. 

You squeeze your eyes closed, nose scrunching and fight tears. 

“Are you sure?” Spencer asks, voice hesitant, fingers leaving your face and arms pushing to give you space. Space you don’t want. Space that makes your eyes snap open, searching for him, afraid he might waltz off any moment. 

“Yes,” you say, voice certain and hand snapping out to grab him before he can go too far. 

Tears well up in your eyes, against your internal fighting. You huff out an embarrassed laugh, leaning forward to press your forehead into his shoulder. His arms tighten around you, hesitant around your waist and cradling the back of your head. 

“Tell me what’s wrong, please,” he asks, voice soft, begging, an undertone of a demand that you adore. The sense that he would do anything to ensure that you feel better washes over you. It makes the sweetly-sick feeling well up into you further, drowning your senses. 

“Nothing is wrong,” you say, cuddling into him, slipping a foot inbetween his and tangling yourself tighter, “it’s just been a while since I’ve felt … wanted. And I do, now, with you — feel wanted. At least, I hope I am.”

“You are,” Spencer interrupts, reassuring. 

“It’s nice but I don’t really know what to do with it.”

“It?”

“The feeling, I guess.” You shrug. “I suppose touch starved is the right word, but it feels like more than that.”

His grip tightens as your tears come with a faster frequency, to your own annoyance. 

“I’m sorry, this is a really nice moment, I’m beyond happy, I don’t mean to ruin it.” You attempt to pull away to wipe your face but Spencer doesn’t let you. 

“Did you know that some studies show that a lack of connection socially is more detrimental than obesity or smoking? We literally need to feel connected to other people. And that’s just social connection — when left alone without any type of physical connection, specifically physical connection from someone you care about, depression, stress, and physical health can deteriorate. It’s natural to feel overwhelmed when you’re finally getting what you need — what everyone needs.”

“Touch starved,” you whisper, allowing him to hold you tight, relaxing further into his hold.

“Sorry?”

“Touch starved — I’ve heard people call it touch starved.”

Spencers hand moves to stroke your hair, picking up strands and twisting them before smoothing it down again. 

“That feels like an apt term for it.”You fall asleep like that, warm and pressed into his side, listening to him softly tell you about his week, feeling secure and wanted in a way you never have before.

taglist: @0108s22m @bowerfeithwk @screechingphantommaker @cultish-corner @doigettokeepyou @izukuwus

note: i really intended on this being more so please forgive me -- let me know what you think! i welcome constructive criticism as well as any and all thoughts you have!!

now that i've finished this, i might attempt another part to give u guys more but i also am taking requests/thinkin' of new things to write!! more spencer to come, as well as possibly some hotch, so keep an eye out

ily all and tysm for the support 3

[lilspacewolfie]

How do you think Copia would approach a quiet, relaxing evening when you’ve both been stressed and need some distractionless quality time? ♡

Thank you Ibi! I think we’re all in need of some tlc right now! This can be read as Papa Copia or Cardinal 🖤

Content: ??? words (idk im so tired lmao), gn!reader, soft copia, pastina!, reader and copia are as exhausted as I am right now lmao, a lot of softness it’s killing me, tired idiots in love, bullet point format.

Please note my Copia is written as unrelated to the other Papas, Sister or Nihil.

So you’re both exhausted and stressed tf out. Ministry life has been busy as hell.

Desperate times call for pastina!

You get back to Copia’s apartment and start on it right away, using what spoons you can spare.

When Copia finally makes it back not too long after, looking disbelieved and about ready to collapse, he brightens a bit at the smell of your home cooking.

Pastina is his favourite, and while you might not make it exactly how his Mama used to, the effort doesn’t go unappreciated.

He leans on you over the stove, arms wrapped about your middle, his head buried in your neck and kisses you all over.

You don’t even need words, really. You’re both just exhausted and soaking up the precious time of being in each others arms.

When you knock your head gently against his, he lets out the *biggest* ‘old man sigh’ and deflates against your back, holding you a little tighter.

He keeps kissing your neck, behind your ear, whispering in soft mumbles how grateful he is and how much he loves you.

You love him too, you tell him, stroking his hands that are laced on your tummy.

When the foods ready, you both collapse on his bed; half dressed, shoes vanquished, cassocks undone, shirts or pants off and flung away because clothes are really awful when you’re trying to get comfortable.

Eating makes you both feel a little better, a bit more awake enough to shower off the tiresome day.

You know Copia doesn’t talk much when he’s stressed, and he looks even more weary than normal.

When you reach out and stroke your thumb over his brow, across the creases of his forehead and down the side of his face, he offers you a weary smile and a slow blink of his beautiful eyes.

You coax him to move, pulling him up by both arms.

You shower together, nothing sexual, just relaxing and leaning on each other. Skin on skin, chest to chest, just breathing in sync for a while.

Eventually you lather up his freckled skin and let him wash your hair, trading slow kisses and nose nuzzles.

You both don’t even bother drying your hair fully once you’re done.

Copia air-dry’s while you open up the windows in his room and run a towel over yourself. It’s a bit stuffy in his room what with the humidity of summer finally making itself known.

And finally, finally you both collapse properly into bed as naked as the days you were born.

You sink into a mess of tangled limbs and sweet smelling skin, damp hair, soft pliable bodies and the physical comfort of each other.

You run your hand through his chest hair, wiping away the few jewels of dew that cling to his chest hair.

In the quiet comfort, he offers a few things he’s happy to do if you’re still up for anything. He likes to read to you in bed sometimes, or if you’re too tired, you watch him play games on his ancient games console.

But when you lift your head from his shoulder and look at him, the man is barely awake. He might as well be sleep talking.

Turning his face towards you, fingers caressing his jaw, you kiss the corner of his mouth and it gets him to smile sleepily. His white eye cracks open a little, full of love and affection.

He nuzzles his nose against your forehead and wraps his arms around you.

You don’t need anything else right now. Just him. Just knowing he’s comfortable and taken care of.

You fall asleep in each other’s arms, satisfied, with full bellies and fuller hearts.

[ragamuffingunnar]

@all-rock-and-roll-is-homosexual tagged me to list five favorite songs by some of my favorite bands

The Dear Hunter

Mustard Gas

Blood Of The Rose

His Hands Matched His Tongue

Mandala

Wait

Lost Dog Street Band

Can't Get Away From Yourself

Oblivion

What Keeps Me Up Now

Oh Dear Brother

Terrible and True

Silver Mt Zion

Mountains Made Of Steam

American Motor Over Smoldered Fields

Built Than Burnt (Hurrah! Hurrah!)

Fuck Off Get Free (For the Island of Montreal)

Take Away These Early Grave Blues

and one more because I'm insufferable;

The Decemberists

The Bagman's Gambit

The Hazards Of Our Love 4 (The Drowned)

Sleepless

My Mother Was Chinese Trapeze Artist

The Legionaries Lament

do it if you want etc etc @marklanegan, @discogoth, @flamejob, @mustybooksmelll, @hickorywind, @nitebloom, @beckierubin, @kingon33

[spidvrbatz]

Comfort Moodboard 💕 - For me

x - x - x

x - x - x

x - x - x

[toorurii]

Why do you hate people "copying" your art style? Pretty sure people don't do it with malicious intent and probably for practice

When did I said I hated it baby😭 I said that if you reference my art HEAVILY it would be nice if I was just credited somewhere 🫶🏽

The only time I’m really uncomfortable or frustrated is when my stuff is very clearly referenced (bar for bar, like hold the pieces up side by side VERY CLEARLY referenced and I’m not talking about poses or compositions bc ofc people don’t own stuff like that. I don’t like assuming things or jumping to conclusions but sometimes it’s right there without a doubt) and I’m not really… acknowledged at all..? Even then I’m not gonna rly cause a scene over it and just curate my space so I don’t have to see it 😭

I understand that I’m an artist with a larger following on twt, so the last thing I want to do is badger folks with smaller followings who do heavily reference my stuff w/o credit because I know it’s sick and twisted (for ME to get on other folks /srs) and once again inspo is how folks grow. That’s why I just keep it moving and stay in my lane👆🏽 I’m still human though so I think I’m allowed to feel and express my feelings on the matter if asked though, just like in the ask abt this previously.

[soldier-poet-king]

Had dinner at my parents and even just like 2 hrs there....the Miasma....the mental horrors......nothing even happened wrt arguments or whatever it's just......FUCK I am SO much better off not living there

[steakout-05]

i drew these Data and Lore sketches for a project and i thought they looked really nice so here you go :)

+ some bonus wip photos

i love Lore's cheeky shit-eating smirk in that second-to-last wip lmaooo

[dootznbootz]

opinions on helen of sparta being compared to prey animals? blink blink

*blink blinks back* Then immediately sits like this because of the question.

It's a good question that I'm happy to answer! It just makes me mad.... I sincerely hate the wording of "prey" being used to describe her.

SHE IS A VICTIM! THAT DOES NOT MEAN SHE IS "PREY"!

I can...see how people in ancient times may have used that word and still meant it in how she is a victim... but modern-day English-speaking people calling her that??? (considering how in different languages the word "prey" could have different meanings.) I'll just say that as someone who has been "prey" herself at one point, I REALLY hate that word as a descriptor. Just say victim or survivor. 👍

Honestly to call ANY victim "prey" is so fucked up. "Prey" to me, feels like "it's meant to happen." "Prey" are part of the food chain and so that's what happens. And to compare that to abduction and SA? Almost as if "that's our place"? It also kind of implies something being "eaten" or killed... Helen SURVIVES. She's traumatized and definitely needs healing and support but it's not like she can't find joy or peace ever again. Prey just feels so fucking gross.

Also, if someone calls victims "prey", I hope they know that Moose, Elk, Boars, Bovine, ZEBRAS, etc. are technically "prey". And these are VERY aggressive animals while still being "prey" for some other animals. And also that doesn't mean that "Oh, they're powerful! Clearly they should've been able to stop it." That's victim blaming :P

She is a clever, determined, caring woman who was ripped from her home for YEARS because Paris was a dipshit who decided he needed the prettiest woman in the world despite already having a wife. He didn't care about the fact that Helen didn't want to be there and was already married. He is so selfish that he will not let her go back even when THOUSANDS have died in the war! EVEN HIS BROTHER HECTOR AND PRIAM DO NOT BLAME HER! Granted, we do not know if Aphrodite would have let him undo their deal of "I want the prettiest woman" if he DID end up feeling bad for Helen and he wished to let her go home (I doubt it based on his personality though).

"Oh, if she is so independent/strong, then why didn't she just kill Paris and leave?"

AGAIN! Victim blaming!!! First thing, people who ask that have media literacy that is piss on the poor. You also have no idea about the political implications that would have happened if she DID kill Paris. She literally cries about staying there and argues with Aphrodite about seeing Paris, only to get strongarmed by Aphrodite as, guess what? A GODDESS WILL ALWAYS OVERPOWER A DEMIGOD. (This isn't Percy Jackson where he "killed" Ares as a 12 year old (Percy, you were my childhood, but that's bullshit.))

Even confined in Troy, she ARGUED with APHRODITE about going to see Paris! She is not some meek woman who just does as she's told with no pushback! She argued with a GODDESSS! Very few survive doing that!!!

She's not "Prey to fate", she's a "VICTIM of Fate".

[fabdante]

i just want to extend a sincere thank you to all of you who follow my art and such, from anyone lurking to anyone whos ever reached out and left a kind word. it really means the world and it really keeps me going when my brain is bad. like, you are all so kind and lovely i truly appreciate it

[sereniv]

is it normal to not fully recognize someone with like, just a shirt change?

Like an actor. I mean like i know its the actor, i know its the same person, i technically recognize them, but its like....aome part of my brain is confused?

where i can almost say it feels like 2 different people which duh, acting. but i dont always get that feeling whether its good or bad acting

it just seems random? maybe? idk

but it feels weird. its kind of like the feeling i get when i look at myself in the mirror (usually when im off my meds)

like i know thats me. i look familiar. i know its a reflection. but also, thats not me

kind of hurts my head sometimes 😭

[queeriboh]

holy shit I did so much laundry today lol

[mixelation]

Idk if you have watched she hulk but I wanna know, do you think they sexualized her a lot. I can’t help but think that

i think once you accept that she-hulk as a concept is supposed be an otherwise conventionally hot giant green woman (be she a mediocre cgi lady or a comic book lady), she's not really.... more sexualized than any other woman in the MCU? like i think you could argue making a "female hulk" a ten foot woman with perfectly coiffed hair and a ""yoga body"" and luscious carefully cgi'd eyelashes is like. you know, goes into that shitty "all females of the humanoid fantasy species are Sexy, even though the men are not" trope, which I'm not a big fan of. but i kind of like jennifer walters mostly scuttling around in an oversized suit and/or her PJs, and i did kind of dig she-hulk's first big "fight" being NOT a bunch of black widow-style sexy flying take-downs, but rather a ridiculous sibling wrestling match with hulk (i may have also been drinking with my own sibling when i watched it lmao).

like there IS an entire episode about how men on a dating website think she's hotter as she-hulk than as jennifer, but that was mostly played as social commentary (not necessarily GOOD social commentary, mind you), followed by an episode where she's forced to trot out all her dates in front of a judge, which I have mixed feelings about. and i guess there's a comedic bit where she twerks? so i'm not saying she's NOT sexualized, just that it doesn't really feel super egregious compared to some other media

[monpalace]

there's this to.

[hyunin]

.

[blujayonthewing]

part of my problem as a cosplayer is that I'm, personally, really particular about accuracy, so the trouble with being fat is less body image problems and 'fat people can't/ shouldn't cosplay' and more 'I wanna look EXACTLY LIKE THE CHARACTER but I CAN'T >:('

[dragons-and-yellow-roses]

I want a new tattoo and also a piercing but those cost money and are also painful :( Want to pierce my nose tho and I have some type of idea for the tattoo(s) I want.