#they're so normal guys. they're so normal.

[evilminji]

Okay, so maybe it's just me? Projecting my new Tea Phase?

Cause for med reasons, no more energy drinks, only Teeeeeeaaaaa~☆

But honestly? Now that I am an adult and ACTUALLY KNOW HOW TO MAKE IT? Really digging it! Am enjoying the Teas. Mmmmmmm~ leaf broth. I like the fruity ones.

So! IMAGINE~☆ If you will:

Danny. 14 and his parents are LOUD AS FUCK (CRASH BANG SMASH BANG WHIIII-) dispite it being, once again, a school night. This has been going one For Years. That STUPID fucking machine. All God damned hours. Crashes and bangs and powertools. Explosions.

When will it ever end!

He's... he's honestly used it.

Unknowingly? This is is a skill that will come in handy later. Living and functioning while sleep deprived. Healthy? Fuck no. But it's USEFUL. He IS the ten year old downing Monster drinks in the parking lot before school.

It makes him a jittery weirdo. Twitchy. Too much caffeine, not enough sleep, his parents either blew up or TOOK APART the washing machine AGAIN. He... he never stood a chance. It's a miracle the indoor plumbing hasn't been compromised yet... AGAIN.

His blood is more sugar, caffeine, and guarana or whatever those other things in the can are, then actual human blood. He doesn't CARE. He just needs too get decent grades, graduate, and become an astronaut. It's... it's FINE. This is normal. They're FINE.

(If they weren't... someone would have noticed, right? Would have DONE something. Cared. So it HAS to be fine. His family's just weird. It's FINE.)

But THEN...

The Accident.

And his biology CHANGES. Green goo, wrapped vicious and loving, around his very DNA. Like Kintsugi of the body and soul. In green, Green, GREEN. It... it's a lot. Everything changing all at once. Maybe that's why it takes him so long to notice.

Why he thinks "oh, I'm just tired cause I'm running more then usual. Fighting and flying. Doing ghost stuff."

When... when honestly? Some part of him always kinda KNEW. From the very moment he stumbled out of the portal. The aftershocks. The pain. Sam and Tucker crying, scrambling to help him up the stairs. Sam tearing her bag apart looking for her cramps medicine. Because... because pain medication is pain medication.

"It's gonna be okay, Danny. Please. Please god, just take it! I promise it's gonna be okay!"

How do you look your panicked, crying, strongest-person-you-know best friend in the eyes and tell her... you can FEEL it dissolving in your throat. Like the pills were dumped in a human shaped pot of acid. That... that the pain isn't changing... and you... you don't think it's going too.

When you're scared. Might be dying. And you can already tell they think it's their fault. W... when you're all just KIDS. And all you can think is... you can let them know how bad... how bad it hurts...

They'd never be able to live with that knowledge.

Yeah. Yeah, Sam. Thanks. T... The pills helped a lot. He feels better. You really saved the day. He lo... loves you guys so much.

...

.....

He thinks about that moment A LOT. About how much he realized and knew, before the denial kicked in. Before he got so... Tired. Fresh of all that energy. And? You'd think he realize. The mood swings. The irritability. The headaches that disappear the SECOND he goes ghost. That he's in caffeine withdrawal. But? Nope.

He kinda blames the constant ghost attacks for distracting him.

But see... Sam? Doesn't drink tea. Goes against her diet. Tucker was where he GOT his illicit borderline illegal energy drinks. And his sister? Big on flavored sparkling waters. Which are gross to him.

His PARENTS drink a thick tar they insist is coffee. It might be liquid fudge. Zone knows its nearly the same consistency. It's horrifying. No thanks, he wants to LIVE.

It's? Ironically? Mr. Lancer and his constant detentions, that help Danny realize somethings up. Because Mr. Lancer shares. If he makes a cup for himself, he'll make one for you. It's how he was raised. And, yeah, the after school detentions? Those were herbal blends. No caffeine.

But...

But they tasted nice. Were warm. The classroom was quiet and as frustrating as it was? The tea itself? Was always... the one exception to how shit the situation was. So Danny finally broke down and asked about it. Learned Mr. Lancer knew a? Surprisingly LOT about tea. Huh.

Then one day he gets SATURDAY detention. Oh joy!

Bright and early. One of the few times he could be trying, desperately, to be sleeping through his parents cacophony. Catching up on his desperately needed Zzz's. Here he is... getting a handed a new cup of different tea?

Breakfast blend? And a bagel..

N...none hostile breakfast? A quiet space to catch up on his homework? No Dash? Just... just a quiet classroom, some tea, and the sounds on a peaceful morning outside?

......oh.

It's the best time he's had in school in... God, in YEARS. He gets so MUCH done. For once can concentrate. And? Actually, now that he thinks about it? Feels... awake? Or at the very least, not as sleepy. And being a Fenton, whom to the LAST are a genius if eccentric family, it's pretty damn easy to put two and two together.

Tea.

He felt more awake after having Lancer's breakfast blend tea.

He obviously asks about it. Then, after detention is done. Calm packs up. Goes home. Drops his back in his room. Goes ghost. And SHOOTS for the Far Frozen with his phone and an energy drink. Because clearly he's missing something and it's time to ask.

The good doctors of the Frozen are... gently horrified. Clawed hands steeples infront of their mouths as they try to tactfully figure out how to word "Great One, WHAT THE FUCK!?!? Why would you DO THIS TO YOURSELF!?" Because that... is not professional. Breathe. In, out, in, out. We can do this.

They get the most patient and restrained of their elders to... CALMLY, very VERY Calmly, ask some medical questions. Listen. Without judgements! Because they are medical professionals. Who do NOT want to scream, forever, into the void. Certainly not. So Calm! (They are going to BURN THAT CAN IN-)

Which! Huh. Yeah, that explains the constant exhaustion. He was poisoning himself. Kinda. Not so much the GHOST but the human half. Putting to much strain and too much trace chemicals, minerals, and buckets of sugar. General "mmmm :/ Don't Like THAT ™" energy from the Goo causing it too try and constantly burning it all out of existence. Endlessly.

The more he put in, the more there was to burn. The more there was to burn, the more tired he became. The more tired he became... well, the more he put in. It was a slowly lethal starvation cycle. Big Yikes.

The TEA on the other hand? Those are leaves. The good recognizes leaves and water. Other various plants, dried or otherwise. It ignores them as "fine" until they reach a "problematic" threshold, apparently? So... *blank look at the doctor*

*sighs in medical professional*

Tea? Good. Satan Can of Halfa Poison? Bad. Please drink tea.

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

And it's like MAGIC. He's suddenly BACK, baby! Ha ha ha! Skulker you fuckin THOUGHT?! Oh it's 2am? Well SUPRISE bitch! He's bright eyed and bushy tailed! His grades are up AND he's beating you like a drum! He has ice breakers for old people discussions now!! The local Tea Shops have NEVER been so well protected.

He actually manages to graduate with not just decent grades? But GOOD ones.

And the second. The INSTANT. He is legally his own man? Has his important paperwork squirrelled away and the go bags safely WELL outside of Amity. It's time. He meets OUTSIDE the house, because he's not an idiot. He's been practicing his Clones and has them ready to grab his parents so he can get out of there alive. Jazz is on video call from Star city.

His parents... suspected. Not at first, but as goofy as they are? They aren't ACTUALLY idiots. They've been watching, going over old research. Trying, failing, to get in touch with the League to have THEIR team test their research. Peer review is critical after all. They... they had been so certain. Are still somewhat certain.

But their research doesn't exactly ACCOUNT for this "halfa" phenomenon. So, there is a very real chance they are missing something. The one thing the DO know? Danny is their son. Stuck in some eternal mortally wounded state or not, he is a hero. And they weren't there for him.

They can't change their beliefs on a dime. But they've clearly missed a great deal. And refuse to fall to academic bias. The very thing that got them LAUGHED AT for decades. Mocked and belittled. This is their life's work. By God they WILL find out the truth.

It's? Better then he could have hoped. Not perfect. But better.

He helps set up safeties and a security check point at the portal. Both sides. He's kinda a big deal these days, mom, dad. Ghost scientists eager to work with them. A whole TEAM under their command. It certain endears ghosts to them a whole lot more. Then?

Copy of the blue prints, go bag turned into normal bags, Danny's off to college.

Bounces from major to major. Nothing really capturing his interest. As he aged, he's need less sleep. Gotten stronger. Grown into his father's height and grandfathers build. Tucker keeps calling him a dorito. Danny retaliates with Ancient Egyptian Cyber/Pharoah Twink allegations. According to SAM they are both dumbasses.

She's not WRONG... but hey D:<

Eventually? A really niche botany seminar run by Pamela Isely catches the attention of Tucker, who forwards it to him n Sam. Nice ™. It's being held in her Murder Park! Cool! Obviously they have to go. So off to Gotham they go. And? When they get there? Sam is APPALLED.

She may HATE landlords as much as the next activist.... but LOOK at all these run down, foreclosed, rotting buildings! Beautiful gothic infrastructure! Those could be businesses or homes! Danny, busy with signing them up, makes the mistake of tuning her out as she rants in fury. She does this some times. Needs to vent. Uh huh, you're very right. You should contact somebody. I agree. Mmmhmmm.

Hey, Sam, Ms. Isely needs your-....

Sam?

Oh FUCK ™.

By the time the Seminar come around? Sam has violently kicked in the door of more then a feel reality offices. Owns QUITE a few buildings. Danny is sweating. She... she's doing the THING again. The "gimme your Ghost Crew, I KNOW you have a highly specific Ghost Crew, don't you DARE lie to me or I take your knee caps, Danny" stare.

>.> Sam you can't keep doin- *stare intensifies* Yes Ma'am. *Pulls out Fenton phone* and so? Here come the renovation crew. The ONLY honest building Crew in all of Gotham. They cut no corners. Can't be threatened. Gangs, villians, and even local government office try to arrange... accidents on the build sites.

Nothing. Nada. In fact, it turns out more dangerous for THEM then this crew of outsiders!

Wtf!

Then? After these two College age weirdos finish Poison Fuckin Ivys HIGHLY SUSPECT biology seminar? Manson fucks off to who knows where! Leaving what HAS to be "the muscle" behind. Cause I mean? Look, at the guy! He's huge! And what does he do?

Goes building to building. Rents them out to low income families. Honest, hard working shop keepers. And? Eventually decides to settle smack dab in the middle of Gotham, in the shadow of Wayne fuckin tower, spitting distance from the Space museum..... and open? A tea shop? The FUCK?

"The Zone".

In a weird shade of green. With little ghosts, wearing crowns, because and I quote "it's funny"? Certainly crazy enough for Gotham. But like, it's loud as FUCK here. Crowded. There are gas attacks and shit. It'll never las-....

It stays untouched for MONTHS.

Sometimes being the ONLY building near it to be untouched. Gas NEVER getting in. The damn place a BUNKER. And? Despite looking like it's two floors? It's three. You enter and your actually on the second floor. No one's even sure where the fuck the guy LIVES, since he never seems to leave.

Not only THAT. But it... it's like one of those old school apothecaries. Big ol bank of drawers. Guy'll mix up your blend for you right as you watch. Tea nuts are actually risking COMING to Gotham to try his stuff. Writing articles. Apparently he has some pretty rare shit in those drawers.

Some UNKNOWN shit, according to one guy on ViewTube.

There's this whole debate on if it's Ultra Super Rare or that means it's just super cheap knock off crap. Some of them he won't make for people, even if they ask. There's a rumor it's for Meta's with specific diets. Or alien blends. But no one can verify that. Cause like?

Anyone who tries to cause trouble?

Can't fucking FIND the place. And if you're already inside? You just... drop. Stone cold unconscious. It's definitely magic but no one knows if it's HIS or Manson's? You know? He won't talk. Gets annoyed when harrased.

Which off course!

Leaves Only ONE gentleman for the job. An elite special forces trained expert. Polite, dignified, enjoyer of fine Teas. Alfred "Why do you chucklefucks keep forgetting I was in the Queens Service and a Registered Badass" Pennyworth.

After all! He DOES have the days shopping to do.

@babbling-babull @the-witchhunter @hdgnj @legitimatesatanspawn @lolottes

[yesimwriting]

a/n challengers changed me, so have this drabble <3

----

the soft sound of rubber soles making their way across the court startles you more than it should. it's bad enough that you're running so late you had to change in the library bathroom and that you're still putting on your tennis shoes. you don't need anything else making you seem un-together.

"you know..." patrick's closer than you thought he'd be, his racket dangling by his side, just barely scraping the ground you're sitting on. you let your fingers rest between your ankle and the back of your shoe as you look up at him. "you took so long we started to think you were standing us up."

the sentence feels lighthearted, but that doesn't keep unease from prodding at you. your friendship with patrick and art is still new enough that the wrongness of being late feels sharper.

"oh, no," you shake your head slightly in an attempt to emphasize your point. you straighten an arm to rest it on your bent knee. "no, i--the lunch with my sponsors ran long, and i had to change and--" patrick lets you ramble as he bends a knee, slowly moving to sit across from you. he sets down his racket with all the patience in the world, watching you with a lightness behind his eyes that radiates good humor. "and you were joking."

he leans back on one arm before lifting a shoulder in a halfhearted shrug. "a little, but that sponsorship thing..." patrick angles his head to one side in what feels like mock contemplation. "that sounds important, we should consider ourselves lucky that we made it onto your schedule."

his tone leaves your face feeling a little warmer. you let your attention fall back to your shoe. "no, not like that at all."

"well, i feel lucky," he says, "art, do you feel lucky?"

you turn your neck to look back at art. he's closer than you remember, the toe of his shoe so close to your leg that you'd only have to stretch a little to reach him. he lets out soft sigh before sitting next to patrick. "extremely."

the word borders on flat, a pinch of something you can't quite interpret bleeding into the syllables. his attention shifts away from you and towards patrick. maybe you weren't meant to fully understand. after all, they're life long best friends. and while normally encroaching on that kind of dynamic makes you feel like an intruder, with them, everything's always been comfortable.

"don't." you refocus on your shoes, pulling the laces taut between your fingers. "i'm the lucky one, you guys are great."

"and you're amazing." art breathes out the compliment in a way that feels concrete. real. the words don't feel like a necessary step in a polite exchange, they feel genuine. it's the kind of unabashed praise that's hard not to fluster at. "seriously--your backhand, i've never seen anything like it."

you let yourself smile, ignoring the warmth crawling up your chest. "thanks."

before you can dwell on the exchange, patrick leans forward. his fingers carefully bend around your ankle. patrick watches you expectantly as he extends a leg. you release your laces, letting him lift your foot onto his lower thigh.

"patrick."

"what?" patrick's gaze briefly flickers towards art as he crosses your shoe laces. "i'm helping out our girl." he tugs on your laces, neatly looping them. "ignore him, he's jealous."

you squint at him curiously, feeling like you're missing out on some kind of joke. "really? you think he wants to tie my other shoe?"

"i think," patrick secures a snug knot into place, "he wants to do whatever you want him to."

patrick settles a hand over your ankle. you let out a sound that's more a puff of air than a true laugh. "shut up." you lift your foot in a pretend kick. patrick makes a show of releasing your leg, holding up his hand as if to convey innocence. you pull your leg back. "don't make him sound so lame."

"yeah," art echoes, leaning towards patrick, "don't make me sound so lame."

patrick grins as he shoves art's shoulder. he pushes himself to stand with no warning. "c'mon, let's play."

you reach over for your other shoe before bending your leg. it takes no time for you to pull on but before you can adjust the laces, art's by your side. he pulls on your laces until your shoe feels secure. "too tight?"

with the way he's studying you, it takes you a moment too long to react. you shake your head once. "n-no, that's good."

he angles his head downwards, attention returning to your laces. "good."

art smiles as he squeezes your upper calf in an almost startling display of affection. he pushes himself to stand before offering you his hand.

——

lmk if you liked this, i have so many thoughts about them

[ribbonprincess]

Note: After seeing @sadfury texts(which I highly recommend) about triplet dad Rafe I decided to give it a little Drabble

⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡

"they're creepy" Rafe's whisper in your ear,eyeing the three babies as if they were about to jump him with guns in their tiny chubby hands. "stop saying that...they're just 8 months old, Rafe and they're not being creepy. They're looking at you normally... you're their dad after all"

The three babies squeals,clapping their hands as If understanding what you're saying.The two little boys have a copy of Rafe's ocean eyes while the little girl has a perfect mix since birth. She came out of the womb with heterochromia,her left eye is blue while the other is a copy of her mommy's. "Watch them for a second while I clean their bottles" "wait- I'll clean them!Just don't le-" Your husband tries to protest but you're already out of the living room before he can finish.

"well...'s just me and you hm? Soo,you guys still hungry?" He asks with a raised eyebrow,sitting on his knees in front of the three swings, currently still since they just had a bottle of milk each. The oldest one(by two minutes) copies Rafe's expression,furrowing his blonde brows as he looks at his dad with starry eyes "what little guy? Why are you staring at me like that for...you wanna fight me?" "RAFE! STOP THREATENING THE BABIES!" The older Cameron shakes his head before focusing back on the triplets "your mom is not fun you know...when you three were in the womb I played fight with you all the time while she was napping. You always kicked whenever I laid on mommy's tummy too,guess my head was heavy."

You walk back to the Livinroom,standing in the doorway to look at the scene. "And you always made me get up at the crack of dawn for food...You were super into weird sh- food,like pickled cucumbers and mayo. It was really weird,but your momma was happy soo" he shrugs his shoulders with a small smile "but now you're here and you're not even fun to play with...you just drink milk,poop and nap. You can't even talk yet,but best believe...you'll say daddy first,I'll give you 100 bucks each if you say it before mama" "rafe! Are you serious?? They're eight months old,for god's sake" You roll your eyes,sitting back down before leaning in his side as you smile softly at the babies "you telling them stories hm? look at you...and you were so afraid,you're doing great rayray" Your hands find their way over his prickly head as you press a kiss to the tip of his nose "help me put them down for a nap?"

[lexirosewrites]

Heeeey, Slick Sunday ask.

I was reading a fic and I was thinking about late presenting omegas, who are late because they don't feel safe enough to present.

So, Steve, in the aftermath of Vecna, thinking he's just a beta bc he didn't have a presentation, learns that his parents are dead, and that he's their sole hair for the Harrington fortune.

And just. Presents. On the same day he finds out

It's his first heat, so thankfully it's more about physical changes that it is about sex, because his body is very much torn apart and he isn't ready for that kind action—

So anyways, because he was in the hospital when it happened the Party finds out almost immediately, and they soon make sure he's got an arm full of things that smell like his family, and Robin, another Omega, makes sure he's prepared for everything he needs because she knows his parents suck (but not that they're dead. Not yet.)

But Steve still feels guilty about it, normal people would be sad about it, not relieved to know they wouldn't be a disappointment anymore.

Everyone else just chalks it up to being an upsidedown thing, and doesn't ask. Steve doesn't correct them.

And maybe later on Eddie winds up being the first to find out. Maybe they'll be hanging out and Steve, incredibly drunk in Eddie's scent (and a bit of weed, maybe some beer) ends up confessing to it. And Eddie is immediately shaken because, how'd it take everyone so long to notice?

And that's what I have for now.

The angst?!!!! You guys spoil me💕

[ystrike1]

Shojo to Yakuza - By Okonogi happa (7.5/10)

A loyal dog gets pushed to the limit in this one. Originally he was a good and loyal boy. The perfect young yakuza, but then the leaders niece fell for him. He fell into a sweet life with her, and possessive feelings eventually conquer his need to be perfect!

Yanagi has rich girl problems. Boohoo bodyguards follow her everywhere. Nobody treats her like she's NORMAL. Everybody in her life knows she's one of the resident wealthy young ladies, but she doesn't WANT to flaunt it. Nope. It's totalllyyy not her fault. Her doting uncle made her go to school with a driver and bodyguards.

How embarrassing.

BooHoo.

After all of her horrific suffering with no privacy and too much money she finally gets her freedom. An apartment with a boyfriend her uncle approves of. Kazuma is perfect. A mild-mannered and devoted yakuza with a handsome face and a desire to impress his leader. He honestly loves Yanagi too!

They're so perfect....but they haven't done the deed yet.

Her school friends think he's scary....but awww he's such a sweetie.

He's totally not holding back at all.

She tries to seduce him sweetly at first.

When that doesn't work she lies and says she's going out with boy-friends. Potential love rivals. It's cringe and obvious and she knows it, but she wants to sleep with him already.

She wants to indulge in her freedom.

Yanagi is lying about the boy party, but it doesn’t matter one bit. Even the idea makes Kazuma rage. He almost tortures a guy to death because he's so frustrated.

He's scared that Yanagi will see him differently, but he wants to be honest. His real personality isn't as gentle. He doesn't want to be a prim and perfect butler around her. He's just afraid of change, and losing Yanagi's love.

They're so toxic and codependent how cute!!!

He admits he's super jealous.

She LOVES it. She's eats that shit up like candy. Kazuma starts telling her to stay home more and he tells her no when she says she wants to join a study circle. The story ends right when the yandere jealousy shoots up, but it's there and we love a consenting couple.

They're enjoying their honeymoon phase.

[sabh0]

"If you want me to talk solely about the manga vs anime skk"

I do, actually.

Please.

Pretty please with a cherry on top.

PART 1.

Aight!! I will be just pointing out some differences/stuff that was deleted from the anime.

Under the cut

THE DUNGEON SCENE:

-When they first meet again in the manga, they throw some silly jokes at each other (like Dazai asking Chuuya if he's hiding a bald spot. And Chuuya just taking his hat off to show him he's, in fact, not balding)

-In the manga when Chuuya calls Dazai the youngest mafia executive, in his mind Dazai is wearing his ADA clothes but keeps the black coat and the bandaged eye. I think it's a very silly detail

-In the anime, in anger Chuuya actually cuts Dazai's cheek with his knife. In the manga, the moment he starts getting angry he jumps away from Dazai and then throws the knife to the floor, not touching him at all

-Manga Chuuya falls to his knees (basically standing on all 4s), having a lil crisis after realizing Dazai only stayed in the dunegon to meet him. He gets up in a while, just to yet again squat on the floor after Dazai yapps more

-Obviously the pigeon-stand scene: in the manga Dazai is laughing to tears at this, while in the anime he stays silent. (Tho i must say i find it funny that Chuuya gets angry over Dazai not laughing,, like he tried so hard and this guy just :| him)

LOVECRAFT FIGHT:

-This is not about skk but lord yall know that panel where Chuuya ie standing on all these Guild ppl being all like im gonna beat ur ass next. He's just standing normally on the floor in the anime. Aughhhhh this panel is so good aughhhh. Ok anyway back to skk

-When Dazai nullifies John's ability, in the anime Chuuya just kicks Steinbeck from behind. In the manga, skk perform that silly move where Chuuya jumps from behind Dazai. It just shows how even after 4 years of not working with each other, they instantly work together as well as before

-Skk arguing about who's walking next to who like some preschoolers ('dont walk next to me' 'its you who's standing next to me' typa thing) then deciding that they're gonna stay at least 2 metres away from each other

-The manga clearly shows Chuuya's expression when he's talking about 'being happy when Dazai left'. He definitely doesn't look very happy. (In the anime we just get some background drawings)

-Manga Chuuya's lil blush when Dazai compliments his taste in shoes 😭😭

-When Dazai asks for Chuuya's knife, in the manga Chuuya just goes 'oh sure lemme find it' and is actually ready to give him the knife. In the anime? Chuuya doesn't search for the knife, instead he just gets annoyed

-Anime deleted the scene where Dazai talks to Chuuya about recording Kunikida while he was cursed with Q's ability. Chuuya going bruh he also annoys ppl in the agency

-those two idiots calling each other stupid nicknames for half of a page

-Chuuya mentioning keeping a track of women Dazai made cry and threatening him with sending them Dazai's address????

-Dazai telling Chuuya that his intelligence will be consumed by his hat (im currently looking at my polish version of the manga so the translation may be a bit off but anyway)

-Before activating Corruption, they yet again call each other a bunch of stupid nicknames (ahah consider this a silly form of goodbye if anything happens)

-Remember my post about Dazai keeping his eyes on Chuuya at all times during Corruption in the manga? In the anime he looks either at John or at Lovecraft, no puppy eyed loser

-Just a mention that in the manga we see Chuuya sleeping while he's sitting, he doesn't flop passed out to the ground (until later)

Well i will stop there for now bc it's past midnight and umm this is gonna be long af if i continue with the rest so,, i will add the differences in the next skk interactions tomorrow or something muah

[timkontheunsure]

Queer secondary adolescence and Stolas

(I keep forgetting to put this up here)

Ok, so Stolas being teen dad is one of the reasons I get annoyed when people say he's too horny with Blitz. Or that his relationship is too dramatic and teenager-y.

He's a queer guy who never got to be a teenager, didn't get to have a first boyfriend, or explore who he was. Or do any of the normal stuff most straight teenagers get to do.

His family stuffed him in the closet, forced him to have child, and gave him an abusive wife as jailer.

(He around 36, with a 17 year old daughter. 36−17=19 when Octavia was born. Likely married at 18).

He's got some chatting up to do.

Up till now his whole life's been about Via, and mitigating Stella's abuse to hid it from Via.

That's left him barely hanging on, taking an increasing amount of antidepressants; and singing lullabies about not being sure he'll make it till Via's grown up.... 🙁

There's this thing called second adolescence that alot of queer people experience, when they come out later in life.

It happens when they're weren't allowed to do normal teenage things at the right age. So things like having crushes, go on first dates, have extremely anxious dramatic relationships. As well just be a normal horny teenager.

Stolas got to do none of that. So he's doing it now.

He's also pretty obviously an autistic guy (separate post), who didn't get well socialized as a child.

Blitz appears to have been his first and only really friend.

Stolas is not great at social cues. (He's so happy to be able to help with his special interest, but does realise his tone is upsetting Ozzie).

Even with Via he struggles to understand her. She needs to tell her dad flat out what she needs.

When she tries to be subtle, and snark he assumes it's just her being a moody teen. And that she'll enjoy loo loo land when she loosen up a bit.

Because of this lack Stolas mostly fills in gaps in his social experience with masking.

Such copying Gabriel hairstyle from helluva novella to get ready for his first ever date.

Following Blitz's lead of what to do in an uncomfortable situation.

And trying to match the energy of how Blitz first came on to him.

(He's definitely getting better at it from Blitz reaction).

There's also an idea in CBT called reparenting your inner child. Which about giving yourself some the support, and experiences you missed out on because of abuse.

Stolas needs to go through his secondary adolescence as part of his recovery from his abuse.

So let Stolas be a little horny weirdo. 😛

PS this one will brake you heart. Stolas is standing fully in both these pictures.

You can see how much he's grown by her light switch.

Kid hasn't even reached his full adult height yet when he had to have a kid.

[scoonsaliciousupdates]

5.3 Lily

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Fem!Reader

Summary: Lily McIntyre, trainer for new SHIELD recruits at the Avengers Tower, has been in love with her best friend, Bucky Barnes, from the moment she met him. She's been content with her role of the #1 girl in Bucky's life, even if it means she has to sabotage a romantic relationship or two. It'll be worth it when he realizes that they're meant for each other, right? There's just one small problem: Lily McIntire never expected Bucky Barnes to fall for You.

Warnings: (For this part only; see Story Masterlist for general Warnings) Language,

Word Count: 500

Previously On...: Bucky got a call from Lily, wanting to know where he was. He lied to her, of course. That definitely won't come back to bite him in the ass.

A/N: Sorry this is so late going up! Had a last-minute Mother's Day dinner with the family, and then some quality time with @cazellen, and when you add on an hour+ drive each way, it ended up eating my entire evening. But! I wouldn't leave you hanging, so here is today's update, just... six hours late :(

Also, PLEASE NOTE: There is one more section of Chapter 5 to go up tomorrow, and then I will be taking a one-week break from posting so I can focus on writing. So, Chapter 6 will start on Sunday, May 19th. I probably will not be as active on here as I normally am, so if you send me a message and I don't respond right away, it's because I'm busy making more content for you!

NOTE! The tag list is a fickle bitch, so I'm not really going to be dealing with it anymore. If you want to be notified when new story parts drop, please follow @scoonsaliciousupdates

Thank you to all those who have been reading; if you like what you've read, likes, comments, and reblogs give me life, and I truly appreciate them, and you!

Lily clutched her phone to her chest, shocked. Something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong. He had lied to her. She couldn’t believe it. Her best friend had lied to her about what he was doing and who he was with. 

She hadn’t planned on coming to the Compound that night– she’d realized she’d forgotten some files in her office that she needed to look over before she went back to work on Monday, and had just stopped in to pick them up. She figured, since she was there, she might as well go see what Bucky and Sam were up to. She didn’t want to crash their boys’ night, per se, but if they happened to invite her to join them? Well, how could she refuse such an invitation?

That’s why it came as such a shock when she rounded the corner to the rec room and saw Sam and Steve, in front of the large television, watching football together, and Bucky nowhere in sight. She hung back for a few moments, giving him the benefit of the doubt, that maybe he’d been in the bathroom, or in the kitchen grabbing snacks. But when fifteen minutes went by, then thirty, and Bucky still hadn’t shown himself, she began to worry.

She was about to barge into the room and demand answers from Sam and Steve, when she heard them talking during a commercial break.

“So, how do you think the date’s going?” Steve asked Sam.

“Knowing Tin Man, I’d usually say ‘terribly,’” Sam said with a laugh, “but this girl seems to actually like him, so who the hell knows? I guess it depends on what time he comes home tonight… or tomorrow morning, doesn’t it?” 

Lily brought a hand to her mouth to stifle her gasp as she backed away from the entrance to the rec room. 

No. No, no, no, no, no, she thought. He wouldn’t do this, wouldn’t just start seeing someone without telling her, warning her, would he? 

So, she’d called him. 

“I promised Sam we’d do guys’ night,” he’d told her at brunch, the lie coming so smoothly off his lips. But she’d heard a woman’s voice on the line with him.

Lies.

And then, he’d snapped “I already told you what I was doing… You don’t have to keep checking up on me.” He’d never used that exasperated tone with her before. Never. And to just hang up on her, without even a proper goodbye?

She felt hurt. She felt betrayed. In their years of friendship, Bucky had never lied to her before, had he? And why? Why now? Who was this girl, and what was so fucking special about her that Bucky felt the need to lie to his best friend about her? 

Lily felt like she was going to be sick.

She needed to find out who this mystery woman was, immediately. And she needed to do everything in her power to make sure Bucky never saw her again.

<- Previous Part / Next Part ->

[bambi-kinos]

Let It Be (film) thoughts

Watched Let It Be an hour ago. Some thoughts.

The camera does focus on Paul a lot but I think it's because he was the most energetic through out. The film is doing John a kindness by keeping him out of the shot, he looks like absolute roadkill and they didn't use the blue sweater footage where he had showered.

George gets a surprising amount of focus and he's quite energetic through out. I wonder if his depiction in Get Back was a response to LIB.

They're still so in tune that they only have to play a few notes and the rest immediately jump in and pick it up. Note the flawless three song segue starting with Kansas City.

Paul and George come off as mildly bickering siblings here.

Ringo is barely in it which is brutal. Lovely to see him and George messing around.

Paul's babbling about if George says "no to films" makes absolutely no sense, it's a one scene wonder. Kudos to John for sitting through that so patiently.

I actually appreciate Yoko and John kissing, its like it provides context for them dancing to I Me Mine.

My dad just said the entire thing has a dark reputation because the divorce drama was happening in the background, otherwise it's just kind of. Normal?

But there's really no hiding how run over John looks. Poor guy.

Whenever they're on the roof Paul is making googly eyes at John. John cried through out the entire movie but I have to imagine the rooftop concert sent him into hysterics. When Paul watched Get Back's version, he admired it because he could watch John perform. "I can see him from every angle." The thing is John could see the same thing, he could finally see Paul perform in a way he had never seen before because they were on stage together. John saw something he never saw before: Paul staring at him with that face while performing. I'd start wailing in a movie theater too.

[alcalystrasz]

So Milevens say that the way Mike took care of El in S1 was romantic. Like, just cause he fell in love with her at first sight, he took care of her properly etc.

But if THIS is romantic... Then how Mike taking care of Will in S2 isn't?

Just because he's a guy? Just because they've been friends for so long? So what, just because a random girl pops into Mike's life means he's gotta love her is that so?

All I see is a person taking care of the people he cares about. When he stumbled on El in the woods, like he said to Will, it's not fate, it's not destiny.

"But the truth is, when I stumbled on her in the Woods, she just needed someone. It's not fate. It's not destiny. It's just simple dumb luck. Like, one day she's gonna realize that it was just a random nerd that got lucky that Superman landed on his door step."

He said this to Will, someone he's really connected to, someone who understands him. He knew he'd understand. Because he just answered back "You're scared of losing her". He responded what Mike was trying to say.

But in this monologue, Mike said bullshit because he knew that will save El. But she isn't stupid.

She's devastated when she hears him say "I love you" for the first time. And when he says his life started the day he met her. She isn't devastated because she's hurting. She can laugh, she did when he said that she was wearing a big t-shirt that almost swallowed her whole. The words she's been waited for so long, destroyed her.

Remember, that Byler is comfortable with each other, there's no stress, we already saw that in S2 when Will told everything to Mike about his visions.

"Please don't tell the others okay, they won't understand."

Meaning they can understand each other. Meaning this:

And this:

Isn't bullshit to them. Even when they try to hide it, they understand their feelings for each other. They're not idiots, remember? They just can't admit it.

So, no, when Mike took care of Eleven in S1, it wasn't because he loved her for the first time. It's because she needed someone, she needed help. She was almost naked, she had buzzed hair, she needed real help. And Mike gave that to her, he's actually the only one who was acting normal. Dustin and Lucas just thought she was crazy at first, then Dustin considered she's a human, then Lucas did in the end.

And by the way, the fact that Mike said "Superman" to Will instead of "Supergirl" or "Superwoman" is so relevant. He already called her a superhero before

And she already looked devastated here.

Mike is the only one who still calls her Eleven. When she's being arrested, when he's talking to Will in the desert on top of a car... The only reason he's the only one calling her Eleven is because he admires her. He doesn't love her as in a romantic way, he admires her in a platonic one. He says it himself.

He told her that she's a superhero twice and once to Will calling her "Superman" because she looked like a boy when he saw her in the Woods that night.

[tearsofcalamity]

Boothil has me on a chokeholdI want to fuck him so bad.Maybe install a few softwares, up his sensitivity, play with his mind.. Or maybe a lewd virus.. Make him so horny and needy, his head can literally think of you fucking him so good..Or him accidentally plugging the wrong USB, thinking it's his usual data after rebooting, but it's your USB and it messed with him.. I want to fuck his pretty hole so bad

hi anon this is tasty oml

imagine his sensitivity's been all off, some kinda glitch maybe from an incident during one of his missions. one moment it's been too low, and the next (just like now) it's way, way too high. for every other touch it's just annoying, but every time you've brushed past him today, he's failed to mention his issue with just how aroused he feels himself getting. it's different when it's your touch.

when he finally bucks up and admits that he's been having issues, you're so caring, so much more considerate of his senses (he wishes you wouldn't be - he really just wants you to fuck him dumb every time you so much as graze him) as you set out a few USBs and ask him to wait while you go grab some other tools to fix up his sensors. he asks what they're for, and when you tell him they're various types of sensations compiled into USBs to better test each type of touch, he figures he might as well just get a jumpstart with the testing so he doesn't waste your precious time.

he opts for the USB sitting the furthest away. the fool, he hadn't even asked you what sensation each one was before trying it out. it could've been pain, a ticklish feeling, but no, he got arousal. it was like he was overwhelmed like an animal in heat at once, his eyes shooting open as his cock strained against his trousers painfully. images of you involuntarily flashed through his mind, and he had to fight to keep himself breathing normally, but it was no use...

you get back to find him practically humping the air, strands of black and white hair sticking to his forehead as he pants and moans and begs for your help. you're concerned until you see the USB sticking out of his port and realize at once what he's done, lightly chastising him (horrendous torture for him in this state, surely, to have your breath so gently tickling his ear as he suffers) on not touching your tools without asking you first.

unfortunately, it'd be too risky to go in and fix this via his inner wiring while he's this worked up... it might burn you with how much he's overheating. so the only solution is to fuck his brains out until he's at least semi-conscious enough to cool down. good thing you made sure he'd be able to fuck in any way a normal man could when adding his sensitivity! giving him all the facilities is coming in handy.

poor guy doesn't even have the time or mental faculties to ask why the hell you had an arousal USB among the testers present.

ooooh, maybe use a toy on his cock while you pound into him... it'll give you a nice view of his face while he's being completely overwhelmed, his eye filled with hearts, rolling back as his tongue sticks out from behind those pretty lips of his. a nice, slick onahole should do wonders to cool him down after one, three, five... maybe more orgasms, even as he begs you to stop despite his hips continuing to rut into the gadget. the fun thing about fucking a robot is that he can go a lot more than a human can, and as much as boothill tosses his head from side to side, actual tears beginning to spill, you can also see the drool beginning to fall from his lips, his lolling tongue as he groans your name over and over.

he's got a pseudo-prostate that you make sure to nail with precision every time your strap slides inside of him, the impeccable design of his insides allowing you to slip in and out with ease. you remove the onahole from his weeping cock (another feature that aids the toy and your current activities as a whole), pushing his legs up and folding him in half into a mating press, just to see if he can cum only from his prostate. and cum he does - his voice coming out higher and higher pitched as he wails in both euphoria and humiliation at your treatment of him.

finally, you slow when you realize he has indeed begun to cool. his eyes are rolled back, hair messy and splayed across the table, harsh scratches made by his metal nails into the steel table (somehow). he's not quite unconscious, but he certainly can't form any further words, his breathing heaving with small, scattered moans as he tries to regain himself. his emergency cooling procedure had kicked into high gear at last, aiding you in fixing up his sensitivity.

oh, but perhaps leave that special USB lying around. mark it clearly, and pretend not to notice when boothill digs through your messy desk to find it and plug it back in, acting for all the world that he didn't mean to use that special little one on himself again. he's got too much pride to admit it, after all. oh well, it seems you'll have to help him once more!

[the-catboy-minyan]

idk if this is helpful but I'm sending this bc I saw a comment you made about the eurovision result being proof that the antisemitic pro-pal crowd is a loud minority (something to that effect). Obvs I'm speaking anecdotally but I'm in the UK and yeah, that's v much the case I think. like p much everyone I know who cares about the subject, no matter how critical of the military campaign in Gaza they are (to the point of conspiracy), are still sympathetic towards Israelis and Jews. like please don't look at the London protests (London generally has been a cesspit for antisemitism these past few months) and think the worst parts of them are representative of the entire nations feelings, they're really not. most of us are normal about you guys.

(im not talking about broader antisemitism, this is ultimately a Christian country w all that entails, but just in relation to this issue, people are usually normal. is what im saying.)

I think the fact that we gave 12 points to Eden in ev was ultimately a small show of solidarity for the shit she faced and the bigotry that's been on full display recently. most are deeply critical of it. the separation of people and government is the norm. if any of this is any comfort.

anyway, sorry for rambling, hope you're having a nice day 🌞

thank you so much for this, have a nice day too! 🫶

[chiikasevennn]

(this has topics of murder and yandere.....and stuff PLS DELETE IF URE NOT COMFY IM SORRY HUHUHU)

haia omg i have no idea if you're still open or no but i really like whenever writers dive into the more darker aspects of a character or how especially when a process of basically ascending to something what you would consider non human (monarch in this case) and how this affects a character like does this make them less humane or posssiblllyy twist their morals??

like as we can see with jinwoo his morals is err well yeah there but we can see times where he is willing to commit crimes if the time calls it (often the system forcing him to it) but like what happens when he finally swallows the system as a whole?? LIKE since now there is no third party to force him to do murder or what not will his way of thinking change too? like i imagine when he first murdered the guys in the cave very early on in the series you think that maybe he thought that it wasn't that bad..??

I can honestly see it more if it was another scenario and we add in the aspect of the reader or I'll call [name] whwhw.. I feel like Jinwoo is the type to actually lose his sense of humanity just for the sake of [name] or keeping them safe like the two probably was close but had to separate in their own ways but when they meet again [name] can barely recognzie Jinwoo and i dont mean physically or what not it's more like he lost his warmth and seems more... unsettling.. like do you know the feeling of watching those analogue horror or watching anything eerie and you get that feeling that somethings off in a scene that seems normal but you know something is OFF. yeah i feel like that's what [name] would feel ✊.

I just wanna hear your opinion on a more screwed up Jinwoo because as muchhh as i love the fluffy cutie jinwoo i also love delving into the topics of jinwoo just going batshit insane 🤯🙏

-🌟🎀

ABSOLUTELY!

Jinwoo x Reader

Your wish is my command, pookie bear.

Warning(s): YANDERE, nothing much, maybe too short? Not a fic or oneshot lol js my crazy thoughts

Also guys ples comment and say something ...

^⁠_⁠^

Jinwoo himself was already prepared to walk through fire just for his family, and that was just platonic love. Imagine how insane he'd be for a significant other that he loves way too deeply.

Hello???? Like I feel his dedication and love for darling would be higher than the heavens especially if they're already there for him during his lowest part in life.

My hunch is he's a chill yandere; he adores you and wouldn't pull any outrageously crazy stunts directly at you. Instead, he might convey lessons through various means, like allowing uncomfortable scenarios to set up, then emerging from the shadows he casted beneath your silhouette to rescue you.

Like a "savior" yandere. Your knight and sole protector.

He'd be more possessive ig if his crazy fans found out about you, particularly if they desire him to be romantically involved with Hae-In in the name of being a power couple. Jinwoo literally and genuinely didn't give a damn when they trash-talked him.

But hey, fans can be krezi

ALSO HELLO LIKE WHAT IF THOSE CRAZY ASSHOLES START HARASSING YOU ON WORK OR IN SOCIAL MEDIA (like leaving you death threats or rudely demanding you to break up w him bc apparently according to them, you don't deserve him)? Lol he'd be willing to do something about them, so good luck reasoning against him if you don't want bloodshed!!!

He'd convince you to not work anymore if that was in store for you.

"... Woo, you know I can't just quit work like that and have you become the breadwinner for the two of us. You're getting financially better and I'm proud, but I can't jus—"

"Shh," He'd tenderly cup your cheeks with his eyes overflowing with love and concern, every bit of his attention dedicated to you. "Is it so bad for me to want no dangers coming to you?"

"You're also being unintentionally put into unavoidable situations whenever you're in public. Love, you remember what happened last time, right?" He'd add. With a kiss on your forehead, he said, "I'll provide for you, you don't have to work. I can't stand how they're looking at you."

Jinwoo would mumble the final words gently before pulling back. He'd whisper them solely for your ears, aware that you wouldn't interpret that knowledge negatively anymore—it would now simply reflect his worry for your welfare and highlight his character as the tender and loving partner he was.⁠ ♡

[dailynoodlezz24]

Ok, i had the thought (since i love werewolves and vampire stuff, liches, all that-- I blame Skyrim and its unhealthy amount of beautiful mods-- and Dungeon Meshi just seems so perfect about it with its races and stuff) what if Marcille's a dhampir, basically a human vampire crossbreed, who seeks to become fully vampiric in order to be able to sire in lieu of the dungeon lord/universal longevity plot. (Spoilers: she still doesn't get it in the end lmao) Falin is a longtime friend of hers through a backstory I still haven't made up yet, and Marcille's introduced as a new addition to the main cast, who are a party of hikers (or for some sort of venturing activity). Month in, Falin's gone and had herself eaten by some weird dog described in only folklore, which Laios would later excitedly incite as a "lycanthrope". (They tried to call emergencies for a missing person, but they came up with nothing. Everyone thinks Laios is going insane when he concludes that the sight they saw after Falin became officially missing, blood trails and offly wolfish tracks fading off to somewhere, was the work of a wolfman, or a werewolf, and suggested going to search for Falin themselves. Namari and Toshiro leave promptly) Chillchuck and Marcille stay with him, one determined with his navigational skills and the other fully believing in this supernatural theory. They decide it's best they start camping in the forest, deeper and closer to the wilderness, prompting them the idea: hunt for their share. Which may or may not be illegal :shrug They meet Senshi, one hell of a wildchef man. (Marcille's total disgust with the idea of eating out in the wild stems from the fact she doesn't want to survive off of squirrels again. But this food is pretty good, and she's eating other animals than small rodents this time. Chillchuck just doesn't want to hear about the weird ass facts about how skinwalkers might be related to humans and their horrific hunting tendencies while eating.) The deeper they go, the more strange and bizarre this forest becomes. First normal, unassuming, then the ravens start speaking and the rabbits have horns. And if you peer into it close enough, your eyes might just find company in where the campfire doesn't reach. So on and so on, they find Falin's bones in the corpse of the creature, and suddenly there's a little guy with white hair and crazed, purple eyes(thistle), who beats them all off with a stick(not actually lmao). Last they see is Falin's remains being reanimated with the dripping blood of the stranger. (Marcille had tried in desperate attempt to revive Falin with her own blood/bite, but to no avail, revealing herself in the process. The only thing she can note is the awful taste of something doglike, aka the lycanthrope disease circulating in Falin's bones-- since they were chomped before she died RIP.) Now they're against a highly aggressive abomination under the servitude of someone out to get them. And the opps are on them(canaries) Now I'm just thinking abt whether or not to make Marcille also a werepyre? Considering it would make sense for her to also get her human-half infected into something "full-fledged" in the way she hadn't intended, and still come up without the ability to sire(she wants to make a cauldron for company, a cauldron being like a vampire made family, due to the same motives of keeping her loved ones). Thank you for reading my ramblings, I am brimming with ideas for this AU.

[ask-the-amph-greater-universe]

I just realized that the cupboards and cabinets and stuff in the LL guys house is probably sized for them, which means h Solar is going to be too short to reach most of it without a stool. Which is so funny to me

Hehe. Oh yeah they would be. They probably have to have a little kidy step stool so he can reach them. They didn't exactly mean to have everything so ignoramishly giant for him. They're just really big. Even if it is somewhat normal in their universe.

[dr-futbol-blog]

Poisoning the Well

Poisoning the Well (S01E07) is a Beckett-centric episode so we get less interaction between Sheppard and McKay.

It is noticeable at the very outset, though, that they are getting to know each other pretty well. Sheppard is able to communicate a complex idea (this culture is clearly more primitive than ours but they are so proud of their accomplishments and we are trying to make friends so you need to curb your need to be right and just go with it) to McKay just by saying his name using a certain voice. Sheppard has his back turned so his tone of voice is actually the only cue McKay gets. This suggests familiarity.

However, it's actually more striking that McKay actually seems to understand John's meaning. Just in the previous episode, Childhood's End (S01E06) McKay seemed unable to understand that when someone asks whether he has chocolate on him, they actually want to have some. That is, he has trouble understanding social cues and interprets things very literally which is on par with fictive representations of geniuses.

This tells us two things: 1) Sheppard has observed McKay enough to be able to anticipate what he's going to do (cf. previous episode for Sheppard keeping a keen eye on everything Rodney does) and 2) McKay must be trying really hard to understand Sheppard, which is something he would not normally bother doing.

Further, Sheppard keeps exhibiting signs of attraction. He seems to sense McKay's movement behind him (physical awareness), his eyes automatically go to him, he aborts the movement once he catches himself but then looks anyway because it would be silly to keep himself from looking at his entirely platonic team member.

Also, McKay places himself close enough to touch and not only does John pull away, he pushes back into him (accidentally-on-purpose-touches).

He glances at McKay when he thinks that he's not looking:

In the episode, we are once more reminded of the importance of looks and subtextual information carried therein with this exchange:

Weir: Major, have you made any progress with your prisoner? Sheppard: Well, not yet, but he just blinked. McKay: He blinked? What does that mean? Sheppard: It means he's still holding on but he's indicated to me that he may break soon. McKay: And he indicated this to you by ... blinking? Sheppard: Yes.

The episode also marks the start of Sheppard antagonizing the wraith by giving them human names. He later names Todd after a pale guy a knew in college which makes one wonder if all the names he comes up with are from people of his past. One would venture that he would give the wraith names of people he didn't particularly like but then, there is this strange erotic undertone to his taunting of the wraith. Could the sources of the names be exes or former crushes?

Further, when they're walking side by side, Sheppard actually turns his entire body toward McKay:

Also, while the licking-his-lip thing seems to be a nervous tick, something that Sheppard does when he's not sure what to say or to deal with some emotion (here, McKay reminds him that he's the one responsible for waking the wraith), he does it twice here in very short order. One of them was wraith-related, the other was purely McKay-related.

Also notable: John clearly blames himself for waking the wraith, and he could easily have interpreted the look McKay throws at him when the topic comes up as blaming him. But once alone, McKay actually tries to alleviate Sheppard's obvious guilt with "You haven't told them that we practically woke the Wraith from hibernation, have you?"

For a socially inept dude he certainly is able to pass as a human being for this man and this man only.

Also, this exchange:

McKay: Reminds you of Area 51, doesn't it? Sheppard: Circa 1918. Ford: I don't think Area 51 was around in 1918, sir. Sheppard: Well, the area was.

Commenting on a topic that you hope will interest your crush. Teasing reply. Someone else jives in, you do a complete 180 to defend the comment of your would-be boo. This is textbook stuff.

There's innuendo in Sheppard's "Weapons come in all shapes and sizes, lieutenant," especially as it is paired with a shot of a phallic vial being handed to him with a suggestive look from the chancellor with a drawled "Major Sheppard, I think you'll find this intriguing."

Through Sheppard and McKay's discussion with Beckett on the planet, we establish that when someone is not a part of the military, Sheppard can't give them commands. For some reason we, as the audience, really needed to be reminded of that during this time.

This episode also marks the start of several references to Star Trek. It's actually Sheppard that brings it up with "He's worse than McCoy!" completely unprompted, albeit Rodney seems to catch the reference right away. Over the seasons we see further examples of Sheppard revealing what a complete and utter geek he is where McKay just keeps not noticing this fact in spite of their frequent geeky conversations. Also, since Beckett is Bones, and McKay thinks that Sheppard is Kirk, although it is never mentioned, that probably would make McKay Spock. Kirk and Spock being the OG sci-fi television relationship with homoerotic undertones, which were also more or less confirmed by the creators.

According to creator Gene Rodenberry, "I definitely designed it as a love relationship. And I hope that for men… who have been afraid of such relationships… that they [Spock and Kirk] would encourage them to be able to feel love and affection, true affection… love, friendship and deep respect. That was the relationship I tried to draw. I think I also tried to draw a feeling of belief that very few of us are complete unto ourselves. It’s quite a lovely thing… where two halves make a whole."

The introduction of Perna is interesting. When she arrives, Sheppard's gaze first completely slides over her, finding the back of Beckett's head to be more interesting. But a polite fellow, he introduces himself in response to her introduction with a polite smile, then turning to introduce his team and when he's about the introduce McKay, Beckett chimes in, obviously captivated by her.

He's looking at her intensely, starts macking right away. And it's only then that Rodney jumps in with what can only be described as a need to compete with Beckett for the attention of the lady. And John seems pleased as a peach when the Hoffan scientist only seems to have eyes for Beckett.

They are in contrast. Sheppard is uninterested. Beckett is immediately and completely taken. McKay's interest is perfunctory. The pretty lady is the trophy of a competition that he just lost.

Perna and Beckett get real close, real fast working side by side together. While this is obvious to the audience, since it is taking place between a man and a woman, the romantic nature of their relationship isn't actually explicitly stated. It is played out through gazes, positioning, intimacy of their rapport. We naturally read this as romance. Everything that takes place between them also takes places between Sheppard and McKay, only spread over several episodes. It's funny how that is.