#this scene made me legit scream into my hands

[syn0vial]

YES. YES. YEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.

[wataksampingan]

Spoilers for Ep 69 COZ OF COURSE I'M SCREAMING (as well as Ep 70 and beyond coz I apparently hate myself and spoiled myself on Naver Webtoon. Again.)

It's a SUPREMELY interesting choice of translation in that scene where Theo has to pretend he knows how to behave like a normal loving husband. The English line the translator chose is "Isn't that right, Pereshati?"

Which is fine, coz 1) he doesn't call her anything different, and 2) this is a far more subtle shift - Theo only says her name in highlighted moments (e.g. when he fell off the bed, when he noticed her a little unsettled by his ferocity in the last chapter). Otherwise, his dialogue doesn't use her name at all. So this is him trying to emphasise their closeness... by using her full name (Lord love you Therdeo Lapileon, you hopeless dork)

However. In the original hangul, he outright calls her 부인 (buin) - 'wife'. Just to hammer in the awkwardness of "HI YES HELLO WE ARE EXTREMELY MARRIED, YES THIS IS MY TRUE, LEGIT WIFE, NOTHING ELSE GOING ON HERE" (the Webtoon comment that called him "an underrated comedy king" should be one of the top comments of the YEAR coz it's truer than we could've ever hoped)

Anyway, in modern usage(?) apparently its considered impolite to refer to your own wife as "buin" (someone better versed in Korean, please enlighten me)? It's more appropriately used to refer to another person's wife. But technically speaking, MILAOWM is set in some... 18th-19th century world so I would argue it could be okay to use...?

It's possible that it could be an equivalent to the way "madam" was used in the Regency era when men would and did call their own wives "madam". It was considered a proper term of address back then so I can only suppose "부인" in this regard can act the same way. But, I also recognise it would be a pain in the ass to translate it as "isn't that right, madam?" and then have the entire fanbase go berserk over why he's calling her something we mostly recognise as a formal term for strangers these days.

The... unofficial, let's say, translation went with "isn't that right honey?" which, while it would have achieved the same effect as 부인on the readership, also isn't quite the most accurate read on the line.

Literally speaking, the translation would have been: "Right, wife?"

...which would have been hilarious, but also WAY too close to Borat and just... undermines his dignity as a ML, possibly to irreparable extents (maybe? I don't think I would have minded coz there is really no fooling us at this point: Theo can do cool things if he puts his mind to it, but his default is Socially Awkward)

But because I'm biased: just you wait, Perry. We're all waiting with you for the time he smiles at you with his whole heart and you MELT - JUST WAIT.

Anyway, I thought that was just interesting and just makes me determined to keep Google Translating my way through the Naver versions. Also reading it on Naver is how I found the April Fool's 4koma and let's not go there coz I'm already thoroughly distracted.

The hand holding is just icing on the cake. Theo shattered me into pieces for a variety of reasons, but the hand holding is just *chef's kiss*. At this point, this is all progress on Theo's part ("if it's Pereshati, it's okay also I'm in love but no one say anything about that yet") it'll be another long wait until she figures out that she's fallen for him (so we hope) We are all Vicountess Otiz at this point.

We are also all Gloria Lapileon. MADAM. YOUR GRACE, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING.

That determined LOOK on her face in Episode 70 after she sort of denies Daniel a chance to play Cupid since Theo clearly hasn't made any progress in wooing Perry. That is the expression of a Grandmother with A Plan to Help Her Awkward Grandson Win the Hand of the Fair Lady who Saved Her Great Grandson/Family. I know she's been given the idiot ball to hold this whole time with regards to her own family and their household, but I love this matriarch and I wish her every success.

Meanwhile, the other current love of my life, Pereshati - is so tired of shenanigans and having to worry about so many people. I'm crying. She literally mutters to herself, "Why am I surrounded by weak* men?" and the bodyguard nearby, in utter shock, thinks to himself 'd-does she mean even the Grand Duke?'

[*the 'weak' here can refer to physically weak in hangul]

Just to preempt the "PERESHATI DON'T BE MEAN" comments, look at this from her perspective:

Count Jahardt: been sickly most of her adult life

Theo Lapileon: has just recovered from seizures, severe blood loss and a 3 day coma, and is honestly more fragile than he lets on

Adeus Potson: has been hurt twice, looks like a puff of air could blow him over

Celphius Lapileon: probably not included in her list, but he's still a wee babby, also full of toxic blood, and must be protected at all times

She's just so tired, guys. Exhausted by everything. Men, essentially (the women are also exhausting but they're not as fragile).

Also she doesn't have the full picture of the kind of demons Theo has been fighting/Adeus' true motives (though that is about to come SHOOTING OUT THE LEFT GATE) so we'll see how this shakes out eventually if/when she finds everything out.

I am not ready for Ep 75 being the season 1 finale. Truly I am Not Ready, but it must be done of course. I don't know how seungu is doing but I hope they're able to rest and recuperate and take care of themselves so this series can continue fucking me up being lovely and the target of my current obsession.

Shout out to Islette and Phineas - please let this father-daughter side relationship be given a spin-off/side stories coz poor Islette has been subjected, undoubtedly, to Phineas' unceasing tutoring coz he's a well-meaning worrywart and probably wants her to get up to the level of literacy she should have at her age (regardless of the trauma) and I just want to see how Phineas learns and grows to become the most whipped papa in the world

Honestly: who run this world? Girls.

(Okay, girls AND Marvin and Celphi, coz that map foreshadowing is heavy; why is Schwartz not considered a vassal state of Castor, despite having been defeated recently? HMMM.)

[demonslayedher]

Things that went through my mind while watching this episode:

--Tanjiro had told Inosuke that the reason Zenitsu didn't pull out his sword on him was because it was against Corp rules. Evidently, Zenitsu doesn't actually care about this rule.

--I know there is discomfort with Zenitsu chasing Nezuko around the room and pointing out that it wasn't in the manga, but like... the basis for it was there. ZenStans (and I am one) point out how the anime made him seem worse for how they added this chase scene and took out the later scene of Zenitsu talking to Nezuko in her box, but... the conniptions and uncomfortable attitudes towards girls do come straight from the manga. Zenitsu still had a lot of growing up to do (and given material that came out after the manga ended, in some ways, he never does). On first watch, I really wasn't being won to the ZenNezu cause... heck, I don't think it was until after the manga ended that I grew positive feelings toward ZenNezu instead of just "sigh, OK." (If you follow my blog, you've probably guessed by now that I do truly enjoy shipping ZenNezu now.)

--I also didn't have positive feelings for Inosuke yet at this point, I found him hopelessly unreasonable. But me now? LOOK AT THE BABY, BEING MOTHERED BY A HUMAN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER 14 YEARS.

--In my digest of the last episode I said we get the joy of watching Inosuke explore his humanity, and that makes me see his perplexity at "live proudly" in a very different light. He has joined a pack (the Corp) and he wants to be a part of it, as beasts do, which makes him receptive to the rules. Oh, no swords? My bad, got it. Live proudly? What does that mean? Precisely, how? What's that weak old lady's position to be able to say this? Inosuke was so willing to go along and learn all these new things that he DID put on the full Corp uniform when he received it (but, according to the fanbook, didn't like how it felt and then demolished the top half). Look at how quick he changed into new clothes after Hisa-san brought him some new ones. He accepted it so quickly, whether just for a natural inclination to obedience or because it did feel nice on his sensitive skin.

--I wish the good-luck sparks lit against their backs would had been an ongoing thing. I love that touch so much.

--"Go bu-un wo" (good luck in battle) in a phrase that goes through my head a lot, and there are LINE messenger stickers of Hisa-san saying that as she makes sparks. A friend sent it to me before my first Nerd Test attempt and I felt very encouraged (and then I failed that time, but that's besides the point. I passed the following year).

--It's not stated anywhere how long they stayed at that mansion having a peaceful recovery (as peaceful as Zenitsu and Inosuke can allow it to be), but... this may be some of the longest Zenitsu has had people around willing to just chill out with him (as Kaigaku was never willing), the longest rest Tanjiro has gotten ever since his family was killed, and the longest Inosuke can ever remember sleeping under a roof.

--Watching that Corp member get sucked back into the trees as he screams for help? Legit terrifying. I love that they still show Tanjiro feeling scared enough for his hands to shake. Also, as an animation detail, Tanjiro does so much thinking with his eyes and the CG works so well to show this (it's like he's got some Rengoku in him).

--Inosuke just... stabbing spiders

--Murata!!! --Murata... I... I looked, but I didn't find relevant content in my blog to reblog in honor of his appearance.

--But, uh, look, Murata! It's the boy you took care of at the Final Selection! He's a Pillar now!

--AND THERE'S MY QUEEN NEXT TO HIM

--I don't know how long the Kamaboko boys were in recovery, but long enough for Kanao to do laps on them in jumping ranks through the Corp. She's exceeded Murata already (she was a Tsumonoto by this point, according to the first fanbook).

--Sorry, Murata... you're doing your best, I know. And I'm really sorry you had to witness your comrades killing each other. Murata deserves more credit for how much he's been through over the years, and how much he's struggled through with meager innate talent. Murata is proof of the merits of hard work. Let it be remembered that even when he had permission to give up on Himejima's strength training, he stuck it out (not likely successfully, but he deserves credit for effort).

--Love the sequences of the spider family throughout the forest, they set up Mother Spider to be a truly terrifying presence by coming last after Father being forebodingly large and still, Brother peeking at you, and Sister kicking her legs in time to the creepy music while she sits up in the tree tops.

--And later on we get our first Rui appearance. Forget wanting to "eat people and get stronger" as demons are tasked with, or even looking for the Blue Spider Lily, Rui truly does just want to play house and be left alone. Special treatment from Muzan, indeed.

--I hope the animators had fun on Spatial Awareness, zooming in to his hand at the end like he's grabbed hold of Mother Spider? Excellent.

--I HAD NO RECOLLECTION OF ZENITSU AND CHUNTARO DOING THE TAISHO SECRET TOGETHER. UKOGI LOVES RICE??? WHAT WASTED POTENTIAL FOR BIRD FIC.

[fortpeat]

I don't even know where to start with this episode LIKE OMGGGGG I LAUGHED I CRIED I CRIED SOME MORE AND I CRIED AGAIN AND THEN LAUGHED AT THE END. THE EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER I WENT ON 😭😭😭😭

P. S These are my thoughts and nothing you can say can change my mind so if anyone disagrees please move on. 🤗

Pai gushing about Sky 😭😭 OMGGG I WAS SMILING LIKE A COMPLETE IDIOT LIKE THIS MAN FOUND THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE AND HE CANT STOP THINKING OF HIM 🥹🥹 SKY DESERVES SOMEONE JUST LIKE PAI 😭😭

(Also I legit went to heaven seeing Pai in that Green shirt )

Okay back to episode

PAI YOU LITTLE SHIT YOU ARE SUCH A MENACE IF SKY HEARD THIS HE WOULD HAVE GIVEN YOU A SMACK ON THE HEAD 🤣🤣🤣

Their cute bookstore date and then having Lunch together like Pai is one step closer to literally using a megaphone and announce it to the whole world that he's gonna be Sky's husband 🤣🤣🤣 Man has no control AND I LOVE IT.

To the party (the condo scene is another post of its own) 🤣

I keep seeing everyone blaming Prapai for not moving away from the guy who was pursuing him. But from my point of view it looked like Pai was trying to be polite in a public setting and didn't want to cause a scene and disrespect the guy. He politely told that guy that he was taken and had to literally pry the guys hands away from him. Sometimes it's kind words and actions that make people back away instead of insulting them or pushing them away forcefully.

I was telling at my screen for Sky like BABYYY PLEASEE DONT MISUNDERSTAND HE LOVE YOU PLEASEEE

THE SCENE THAT MADE ME BAWL MY EYES OUT 😭😭😭

When you see a guy who's ALWAYSSS been smiley and jolly and occasionally angry (with reason) CRY LIKE LEGIT TEARS STREAMING DOWN THEIR FACE CRY. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HANDLE IT TRUST ME. YOU CANT. ITS HEARTBREAKING ON ITS OWN.

AND MY GOD FORT DID DELIVER 🫡🫡🫡

THE SCENE TO TALK ABOUT THE WHOLE SCENE I WAS SCREAMING AND CRYING FOR IT TO STOP.

There is a bit of conflict with this scene but looking from both sides I can understand why Pai did what he did. Was he right to enter Sky's dorm without his permission and look through his personal belongings. No. It was the actions of a desperate man trying to make sense of why he got his heart broken. Pai has always been someone who pushed and pushed until he got the answers. And why Sky was not giving him the room to explain or understand Pai's POV it's pretty obvious why he did what he did. And yes Sky was distraught at the idea of Pai reading through his journal and he asked it to be stopped but looking back I think Sky needed that push to understand that Pai was not playing and that he's in it for the long haul and that a few deeply hurting words isn't gonna push Pai away. Sky needs someone who would fight for him and with him to make him understand that Pai is not going anywhere. It's a bit of a grey area. But completely understandable. We are all humans and when emotions get the better hold of us we turn blind and let those emotions control us.

To be continued ❤️

[milaswriting]

mila hi i know this is super late but i finally played chapter nine and PLSJSJWISBWIZNZKSHZJ IM SICK IN THE HEAD WHAT WAS THAT 😭😭😭😭😭 IM NEVER BEATING THE WHORE ALLEGATIONS

no cause p’s rooftop scene made me so ill like “which part, the fact that we’re here together or you’re the first person i’ve ever brought here?” ??????? P WHY WOULD SAY THAT TO ME AND EXPECT ME TO BE NORMAL 😭😭😭😭 and at the party when you fix their collar and they hold your hands in placeemsjejdjwkxjwkwjsk 💘💘💘 p top tier ro fr no one’s doing it like them

and the library scene with k “you’re an all right vampire” “you’re an all right human” infhdhdjsbsjs giggling twirling my hair kicking me feet i usually go for the shy flirt options but that was just too good i’m a huge sucker for banters like that 😭😭😭 and when i tell you that as soon as i saw the choice to fix their curls i’ve never picked an option so fast LMFAOOO that is literally my dream interaction with k 🥰🥰 also my heart broke a little when they apologized for the compulsion again :(((

also b being an empath and absorbing emotions….. 💔 i realized i haven’t used kirsten in a b-only playthrough so i did this time and realizing that they both have a tendency to be a people pleaser highkey made me sad 🥲 and not to hc dump but mid to deep friendship stage i think maya would make blaze promise not to absorb her emotions ever again and just let her be sad

but anyway !!!! b not turning around in the necklace scene was so fucking insane of them like “it’s easier and more polite to compliment you when i’m looking at you” ok????? so kiss me????? 🙄 and when they pull mc in for a dance dnejakqKEKAKWKSJSBAKA “is that coupley enough for you?” “you know the answer to that is a yes” B SHUT UP SHUT UPPPPPPPPPP 😣😣😣😣

that said, i think a owned me this chapter KSKDKSKS no cause i legit didn’t know what to expect in the flirt scenes with them. their route def gave more than it was supposed to give 🤭🤭 and maybe i just missed it in the prev chapters but is this also the first time a addressed mc by their first name?? 👀 but yeah i did something right by making loren bold as hell because THE BOLD FLIRT OPTIONS WERE SO SCRUMPTIOUSJSJSNS when you give them a rose and they say you’re the first one to do that and the training room scene when you tell them you wanna get to know their talkative side more and they go “maybe you’ll get lucky” 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 “i’ve seen humans go to the grand royalton looking much worse” LIKE A BARE MINIMUM COMPLIMENT GOT ME BLUSHING IM SICK!!!!!!! also when a was like “oh” at the party and mc just goes “oh? OH?” PSLDJSJ THAT WAS FUNNY

also i love zeren sm <333 as soon as she mentioned she knows tristen i made sure all my golden girlies dated him for the extra drama 🤭 but yeah chapter 9 was too good i can’t stop thinking about it hssznjsbwjaj i’m literally so in love with all the ros i can no longer live one more day being single

I’ve read this like 6 times this morning, and I’ve taken screenshots of it so I think that shows how much I love this ask! I really love the fact that you liked chapter 9, and I love getting your reactions to stuff that I write, it genuinely makes my day—I could and will read them like the morning news. Ooo, alongside all your headcanons too!!! I love reading those, they very much change my brain chemistry, like tell me everything single goddamn thing about Loren, Lira, Kirsten and Maya !!!

Alsoo, Zeren was very much a last minute character that was created and I love her, and I’m glad someone else likes her because I personally think she’s a delight <33

But yeahhh, here’s my screaming about you and my ocs, and thanks so much for reading the latest chapter. I hope to bring another one very soon <333

[viothewolx]

Got to watch the Mario Movie with friends and 0/10 not enough Luigi /j But legit though, I REALLY like small details, so y'all already know how I felt with all the music and game references (majorly noticeable ones or not) And the voice acting, man did they do so good (Jack Black, Seth Rogan and Charlie Day (of course) being my favorites)

!! Spoilers under the cut !!

Jack Black did SO GOOD AS BOWSER EXPLECIALLY IN THE SINGING SCENES (Not to mention tHE ANIMATION WAS SO GOOD THEN TOO FOR NO REASON), Seth Rogan was a great pick for DK, I loved the delivery of the lines, and Charlie Day was Charlie Day, enough said (and I honestly totally forgot about Chris Pratt voicing Mario while I was watching the movie) But I gotta talk about the lack of Luigi scenes in the movie. I know I'm biased towards him (He's the Babygirl Ultra Supreme™, who's isn't?), but they showed him a lot in the trailers, so I feel like it was kinda misleading. Sure, it was nice at the end when he also got to use the Star and Throw Hands™, but I feel like that's the only plot important thing he did, other than being Mario's brother. But can we talk about the end credits scene in the sewer? I thought it as gonna be a Luigi's Mansion movie teaser considering they played the jingle in the movie (and the pipes made me think of the basement level in LM3, along with some other stuff), but it's freaking Yoshi instead (ofc Yoshi is still good, but it could've been the bbg himself) And yes I did scream and beat the life out of the nearest object every single time he was on screen thank you for asking

(Ok rant over lol)

[victoria1676]

You can not tell me that in the soft au everyone doesn't worships Readers builds.

Terraforming? "Yes thank you your Grace! For this wonderful view!!"

New buildings like Villages? "Oh my Grace thank you for this wonderful home you have given us!!"

Draining part of the ocean for an epic building in the middle of the water? "Of course it's only our holyness that can accomplish such wonders!!"

Everyone in Teyvat is in awe for Readers builds and landscape. And of course if there is anything our Grace needs for their builds it will be there immediately or perhaps our Grace needs more helping hands and useful visions? No need to ask twice they are there at your feat!

Basically Reader going all out Philza style and everyone loves it. The crows are quite helpful too but more there for moral support and to bring random items

-Crow Anon

You guess it right Crow Anon! UwU ✨💕

Soft Au is gonna be a complete fluffy and Comedy of Chaos I assure you ;3

But yes Reader following her dad's footsteps and using her skills that are from dad and also of her own design with her own ideas UwU

Although I think she would definitely not sleep since we all know how in-game minecraft every player don't sleep sometimes and Philza's character just keeps building and never realizing they need to sleep but there are times he does go to sleep since we Minecraft players know how Annoying the Phantoms are if we don't get a good sleeping schedule in the game sometimes 💀😂

I can imagine one if the acolytes (Probably Barbara) Screaming behind reader who was so startled by the scream that made everyone looking at the Deaconess in confusion until she told them of reader hasn't been sleeping for 2 weeks.

Reader: But it's only 2 days?

Barbara: NO YOUR GRACE! YOU HAVEN'T BEEN SLEEPING FOR 2 WEEKS!

Reader: What??

Legit if anyone remember that scene of the dream SMP where Philza thinking to rescue Techno IN three months when it was supposedly on 3 days and people made fun of Philza either being old or he couldn't read since he can only can read and understand Galactic (Enchantment table) language. There's also the one which I might actually use where because how old Philza is being immortal he forgot what 3 days was like or 3 months was 3 days XD

Legit that's how reader is like since we all know in-game minecraft it's common for people to have non-existant sleep 🤣🤣

Draining the ocean will be a huge sight to the acolytes and I wonder how will Osial and His wife react to this since reader basically is draining the ocean and they are sealed in the ocean 😭😂

But honestly Reader would make or remake alot of stuff in her own design since Teyvat is gonna be here server then she'll add and make her buildings to prove that this world is hers 😂😂

[minalblood]

Ok so my brain decided to deepen its own damage last night as I was rewatching The Winchesters (season 1) finale so buckle up it’s a long one fellas.

So I was listening and when I heard Keep on Rambling come on during the bar scene with Joan, my mind went huh, I wonder where this is placed in the album. So I went and checked. Mainly I was curious cuz usually an album tells a story and Jensen made it pretty clear that unlike the previous two albums where they were just trying shit out, this one was meant to be more consistent and have a clear throughline. So as I said, I checked.

It’s the 6th song btw, the 1st of the 2nd half of the album. I kind lost it after that tbh. Let me explain why ok:

So if we go by the logic that the album tells a story and we tie it to Dean (and destiel cuz duh tbh) we have this shit happening: Right Kind of Trouble - you can tie this to SPN directly, this is Dean realizing that Cas is basically it for him despite the constant fights they’ve been having and more so allowing himself to acknowledge that. Basically this is the Purgatory apology. Like legit this song is to me what Dean really wanted to tell Cas, that Cas didn’t allow him to. This is a love confession itself, one that says I know I fucked up, but If you give me a chance again I will do so much better cuz you’re it for me, we match. Like look at this shit guys:

Like this is pure divorce era Deancas and you can’t tell me otherwise, but more specifically, Dean thoughts as he eventually apologized in 15x09 The Trap.

Then we got Forever ain’t Long. This for me can of course still be about the divorce era, sure, but more so it feels like 15x18 Despair and regretting having gotten to this point and now it being too late to change anything cuz Cas is dead. Like how much clearer can it be? Like it’s literally a plea for time to turn back and for the relationship to go back to being as it was before all the mess Chuck and just the divorce era caused, but cannot since Cas is dead (Take me forever/forever ain’t long). And also, just this song screams Despair to me, it’s one of the saddest ones on the whole album, it reeks of grief. And it’s a direct call for Cas with the heaven line off the bat:

Also this part? This is mindspace for sobbing on the floor and 15x19 vibes for me.

Next is Every Light, the ultimate Dean song right? Well specifically this ties into 15x19 - telling Chuck he can just have his ending, just bring Cas back - and more importantly, and it’s also something I think we all heard, it’s about what shall not be named, the fucking 15x20 finale. I don’t need to bang on too much here but like, it’s even more than that. Because with TW 1x13 we find out he decided to stray from heaven while we were still mid ep 15x20 which means these are him going, hey I need to do sth about this, I need to figure out what’s wrong here, make sense of it and make it right cuz fuck this, I ain’t just taking this shit hand I’ve been given. Like I could literally put the whole song here but like imma put just some:

This is pure intergenerational trauma banging around in his head.

Ain’t no telling is next on the list and this is now heading into Winchester territory a bit, but not quite fully there. I see it as a continuation of the above aka I don’t want to go, but now that I’m gone and it’s not good, why is it not good, who am I after all, does anyone really know and does it really matter? And by anyone I do mean Cas tbh cuz like yea, it would make sense. The song literally says hey, you love me through all of it, despite me not always being sure who tf I am or how far away from each other we are, but we are still going to take advantage of every second we have. Basically this to me feels like a retrospective of the divorce arc put into context by the confession and this restlessness and need to find something Dean gets while in heaven. Like the 1st verse if soooo Dean I just can’t.

Ok now we get into shady waters a bit because You make me Blue is a bit of an outlier tbh, which considering I think this was written just by Steve, it makes sense, buuut I can still fit it in here seamlessly like this: this is sung to Chuck. This is the realization or resolution to the question posed by Ain’t no telling essentially. This unsureness of self isn’t lying with Dean alone, this was brought on by Chuck and his machinations so the anger in the song matches perfectly. Again, all of this til now has been gearing up to leave heaven but still on the road so to speak, still matching the 15x20 set of events, but his mind is running and trying to make sense of things. And what do we get with this song? We get “I’m finally happy being free/me”. We get a concretised sense of self once it’s been made clear in Dean’s mind just how much Chuck fucked with him (and if you’re a Chuck Won truther like me, how much Chuck is still doing, has the realisation that maybe Jack isn’t quite Jack here cuz sth is clearly wrong, but it doesn’t matter anymore, he knows who he is so Chuck/Jack’s influence can’t affect him anymore). And again this is the one song that matches least, but if we take it to be Dean having trusted Chuck to not be the villain (see him going to shoot Jack for that and promising to bring Mary back), then this still fits for me.

And now that we close this chapter we get to our 1st offender again: Keen on Rambling and the 1st one that is without any doubt taking place during The Winchesters. Like the whole song states everything that we’ve just been told happened throughout season 1. Like ok, verse 1 is deciding to leave heaven even though heaven is meant to be a place to rest (find peace whatever). Then verse 2 is giving the AU he finds himself in with the Akrida a nudge in the right direction (I’m sorry with the calvary in tow??, headed southbound for the season???)  And finally we get to the last one which to me is meeting the Core 4 but especially Mary and John and giving them the journal (I have a story to tell — do tell). So yea, but he’s not done tho. The song is constantly saying to keep on rambling so there’s more to do to get to where he needs to be, he’s still restless. But it is the beginning of this next chapter and the beginning of the second half of the album like I said. It matches soo fuckign well tbh and I’m going a bit insane here so take all this with a grain of salt tbh.

Ok so now that we’ve reached the current point in the Dean story we have 4 more songs. Which to me is basically where Dean needs to get to. 

And honestly a bit of Sweet Escape still fits into the finale for season 1 of TW so let’s get to it. This one is very much saying I’ve been caught red handed and people are trying to keep me contained but I refuse to stay put cuz there’s still shit I need to do/find. Like this is where my Chuck Won truthing hits worst tbh, but it could just be the Jack’s non interference thing too as well tbh, but the other voices that need to be drowned out are def Jack here, who took him back to heaven at the end of 1x13 of TW so this is basically saying you may have gotten me back here, but I’ll break outta the inclosure anyways, you can’t stop me, I’m not done. And with the 1st verse’ ending it feels like not only is he not done, but there’s a plan in motion here. Also I CANNOT overstate how much the 2nd verse makes me think of the Empty.

Return to Me is self explanatory tbh, but I’ll ramble a bit here too. This one answers the question of what he’s searching for, why he can’t stop moving, what’s missing for him to be happy. And what’s missing is a person that he lost aka Cas. Like I really don’t even need to say much here, this song is literally Dean going hey this is what I need to be happy, this is how that can happen. It fucking has the lakeside and raincoat mentions, it’s blatant tbh. And moreso, the last verse is just a reiteration of what we all lost our shit about with Watching over Me aka how did I not know you loved me back, how did I miss that until it was literally too late. 

Restless Man is a prayer to me basically and also the song I relate to the most tbh. So I’ll try not to get lost in the meanings here. But basically it’s Dean asking Cas to give him the space and reason to slow down. Not stop, because it’s still Dean and he can’t do that, but to give him a place or person where he can feel safe to take a break, where he can just be, where he can learn how to just be instead of constantly needing to do everything for everyone else. To have a place where he can just focus on himself a bit and what he needs and wants and how to embrace being happy. And more than just that, it’s saying that he’s finally ready to allow someone to take care of him for a bit, to have a place where he doesn’t need to be constantly on guard.

And it wraps up with Velvet Sky which in this case is the happy ending. Happy not because there’s “peace when you are done” like Jack says, but because now they have a place of their own to go to whenever they are weary of the road. The 1st verse to me is referring to Dean travels through the multiverse - literally seen all the land, every beach and grain of sand  because he literally went and saw all the possibilities for things, saw the wide expanse of the multiverse in search for this place and this person that he can now be with. And it’s not peace here, the sea is angry still, but it’s what works for them. It’ll never be perfect and it doesn’t need to be, Dean just needs this place and person to be free to just be himself and that no one else can reach or affect again, have his story be his own. 

So yea, this is the insanity my brain concocted last night after rewatching The Winchesters season 1 finale and having a random thought about Radio Company. And like I could’ve left it be and not traced any connections, but they fucking used the song in the show and then used Ramble On as the song to send the episode off. I couldn’t just ignore the relevance of that. 

But anyway, none of this could be accurate at the end of the day, but I had to get it out cuz it was stuck on repeat all night. Let me know what you guys think.

[bluehwale]

SO I was like travelling in bus for my.classes nd im usually a person in public transport who is like quiet minds my own business nd doesnt talk to anyone cuz maybe either om too sleepy or using my phone nd yesterday in saw this guy on my bus he was wearing all black suit nd he had his ear pierced (cuz men over here dont like to pierce their ears cuz its feminine 💀) nd that guy was standing in front of me I was like observing him like I liked men black tuxedo okay cuz they look so good 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵😮‍💨😮‍💨nd I was thinking of completing his outfit nd I was like contemplating whether should I or should I not nd I was get so FUCKING anxious 😭😭 like me who has never complimented a stranger (not even a women is going nd complimenting a MAN ITS A BIG THNG ND IM LITERWLLY MY MIMD EAS SO BUSY DESPITE RUNNING ON 4HRS OF SLEEP) nd ykw im the end I ended up complimenting him nd before my stop I said ur outfit looks really good nd I like ur bag too nd he was literally smiling ear to ear so cite nd before he could say smth my stop came I was literally SCREAMING THE WHOLE WAY UNTIL I FOUND MY SENIOR 😭i jad to pull my my shit together nd talk to him ndi after I finished talking to him I was literally screaming nd sending voice notes to my frnd (hey sending voice notes r a BIG THING nd I never send voice texts unless I cant type.out my thoughts nd to arrange them properly im a text message nd I couldn't call the fuck.down I LEGIT WENT TO RESTROOM ND SCREAMEDDDDDD WELLL im becoming more loose like ND WJEM I COMPLIMENT ITS LIKE I DESCRIBE EVERY ASPECT OF IT ND TELL IT TO PPL ND IT ENDS UP WITH THEM BLUSHING ND I WAS Literally TRYIJG MY BEST NOT TO STUTTER 🥴🥴ND I ENDED UP GWTTING SHT AFTER GIVING THE COMPLIMENT 😭😭😭💀💀LIZ IT WAAS LIKE A ROLLER COASTER ND I TOLD ANT THIS TO 3 OTHER FRNDS ND THEY ALL HAD fucking diverse opinions like 😞😞😞imma cotinue it in the next ask 🥴🥴

olay so I told abt my adventure to 3other frnds one of then whom I told first thought I jad a crush on the gut like a fleeting crush who im never gonna see again (sue was genuinely.confused olay so o said I just liked how he dressed up nd yes black tum 💀🥴🥴im on my knees okay )

another frnd I told (she is the most logical one) she said guys get less compliments than girls nd u just made his day nd said when u get dressed up nd someone acknowledges it u are jiet over the moon nd she was also proud of me for implementing a stranger cuz it takes alot of courage

thw last.frnd I told she said u go on doing this nd make.every guy fall for.u 😭 im like im an over exaggerator who compliments in a very descriptive way nd I cant change it cuz it what it is nd imo descriptive compliments >>>>one line compliments (idk why I prefer it )

anw liz have a good day taake care of urself.ilyyy (2/2)

MISS DIORWOO!!!! IM ALWAYS THE HAPPIEST GIRL WHENEVER I HEAR FROM U <33 (my response is under the cut, u better bUCKLE UP !!)

HI HELLO SORRY IM??? ON THE FLOOR??? ALL BLACK SUIT WITH HIS EARS PIERCED???? PHEW 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨 U BETTER SIGN ME UP BCS I ALSO LIKE MEN IN BLACK TUXEDOS rawr (also i’d probably simp for u if i ever see u in a bus BCS U GIVE OFF THE MYSTERIOUS QUIET VIBES😵‍💫sorry oops off topic!! ANYWAYS) SMNDNDNDNS RUNNING ON 4 HOURS OF SLEEP BUT U STILL HAVE UR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT MHM I KNOW THATS RIGHT !!!!

ANNDNDB. FBDBDBSBSJJSJSS KYAAAAAAAAWQAAASSS WHEN U COMPLIMENTRD HIM OMGG FNDNDHDJ 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 HIM SMILING EAR TO EAR !!!! 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 HELLO THIS IS LIKE THE START OF A ROMANCE MOVIE ?????? A SCENE OF THIS (ghibli style) IS LITERALLY PLAYING IN MY HEAD RN I CAN SEE THE VISION OMG AND 😭😭😭 STOPPPPP HE DIDNT GET TO SAY ANTUTHING BEFORE U GOT OFF UR STOP OMGMDNDHDHD IM SO UGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH THIS WOULD BE A HOLLYWOOD HIT ISTG 😭😭 also

u: *internally screaming and dy1ng* 🧍‍♀️

ur senior: 😃👋 (HE WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND WHAT U JUST WENT THRU!!!!!)

ALSO URE RIGHT VOICE NOTES ARE A BIG THING!!! JSNSJSJJSHS I WOULD ALSO DO THAT IF I WERE U BCS MY HANDS WOULD BE SHAKING AND I WOULDNT BE ABLE TO TYPE 😭😭😭 (im hoping no janitors were traumatized in that toilet </3) ALSO YEAH UR COMPLIMENTS ARE SERIOUSLY THE BEST ITS PEAK BCS I BLUSH BEHIND MY SCREEN ALL THE DAMN TIME !!! JWBDJSJSJ

A FLEETING CRUSH WHO U WILL NEVER SEE AGAIN???? PLS DONT BREAK MY HEART NOOOO 💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔😞😞😞😞😞 (im gonna manifest that u’ll meet him again soon I HAVE MY PRAYER CIRCLE READY !!!!! 🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️) honestly,,,,, so relatable i too would get on my knees for any man who dresses well and esp in black (the bar is so low its IN HELL)

NAH BCS IM GONNA GO WITH UR LAST FRIEND BCS IM PRETTY SURE HE FELL IN LOVE WITH U !!!!!! WHEN U COMPLIMENTRD HIM AND UR GAZE MET HIS, THATS WHEN HE KNOWS !!! ITS U !!!! U’RE THE ONE HES BEEN LOOKING FOR (sorry im obv over the mOON THIS IS TOO CUTE) but yeah im also so 🥺🥺proud🥺🥺 of u for complimenting a stranger bcs that takes balls that i dont hv I MEAN IVE NEVER ATTEMPTED TO DO IT BUT IK I WOULD GET 😨😨😨 *sweats* 😨😨😨 AND “hi i just wanna say that i rlly like ur outfi- well would u looK at that cat over there!! aHaHahah” WOULD PROBABLY COME OUT OF MY MOUTH INSTEAD SNBDDNNSNS (i hv 0 rizz) but anyWAYS IT PROBABLY MADE HIS WHOLE DAY AND I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT YOU’VE BECOME “THE GIRL IN THE BUS” TO ALL HIS FRIENDS BCS HE WOULD FOR SURE TELL EVERYONE THAT HE GOT A COMPLIMENT FROM U </333333 (im suffering thats so cute) U’RE IMMORTALIZED IN HIS HEAD AND IN HIS STORIES !!!!!

i loVE the way u give compliments u’re literally the sweetest and i know hE thinks that too </3 im hoping for another adventure of u meeting that guy OR ANYONE ELSE IN PARTICULAR REALLY BCS EEEEEK THIS MADE MY WHOLE DAY I LOVED THIS SM SNSBDBDNSBNSS 😭😭😭😭

thanku sm for sharing this adventure of urs !!! 🥺🥺🥺 i missed u and i love u and i hope u have a great day as well !!! take care always <333

p.s. I NEED UPDATES IF U EVER SOMEHOW MEET THIS GUY AGAIN👹👹👹👹 UNIVERSE !!!! DO UR THING !!! 👹👹👹👹

hashtag my current mood:

[foreverdolly]

Elvis!austin saying “do it to me, come on. take us home.” during the vegas rehearsal drives me absolutely FERAL

for me it was the trouble scene. specifically when he’s laying on the ground, screaming into the mic. his sweat is just dripping down onto the wooden stage, and his eyes are just wild. and then when they have him laying in the back of the cop car, and he’s staring up at the fire works? the realization that he just made one of the most important decisions of his entire career is just sinking in- AHHHHHHHHH. AHHHHHHH. AHHHH. i’d suck that man’s toes any day of the year, month, mother fuckin’ week.

can’t wait for the next update of “my bestest girl” that’s all i’m gonna say. cause shits about to go down.

god. he looked too scrumptious during the vegas rehearsal. i would love to take you home, ep. right on home. like there was just something about how long his legs looked, and his waist? slut slut slut. i’d crawl over broken glass on my hands and knees if it meant he’d hock a loogie at my face.

i can’t wait until things really heat up in the fic, and elvis starts becoming more comfortable with the reader in the bedroom (and other places 🥴) legit this shit is about to pop off, and i’m salivating just thinking about it.

[bakingkai]

First of all...💦💦💦

Like, wtf how is he so hot and sexy it literally kills me every day! I have never ever been more attracted to a human male than I am to this man. There aren't enough words in the English language to describe how much he has me in a fucking choke hold! Screaming, crying, throwing up, etc. over the fact that he'll never be mine tbh. I'm legit in love with a Korean man I've never met but have known for about 5 years or some shit like wth man I can't!

Sorry for the rant, but he's unbelievable. Anyways...

I find myself imagining Huening as a horseback rider like one of those fancy, posh pompous guys who do competitions in dressage, show jumping, and shit. He'd look so gorgeous and hot atop a horse, I think. I imagine him being so smug and stuck up, saying he's gonna win that blue ribbon and shit. He eyes you from across the riding course, and his glare sends shivers down your spine and your pussy. After the competition, he finds you, and it's like a slow-motion scene where he just walks up to you and grabs you by the chin and kisses you and then says. "That doesn't mean that I like you, loser." He smirks when he sees how hard you're blushing and how flustered his kiss made you. He goes to an all boys school and you an all girls so you two meet up in secret and fuck. Omg I actually need to stop 😂 Idky. This fantasy is everything, lmao. That's just one of my many ideas that I have yet to put into a full story. I also randomly like the idea of airplane pilot Kai, bully Kai like enemies to lovers, I guess, and also really possessive bf Kai.

Also, for some reason, in all of my imaginings, Taehyun hates me like fr, and it's hot lmao like he just straight up is cold to me and doesn't want anything to do with me. Soobin is definitely businessman vibes like wearing a suit and briefcase and a fancy watch and corporate office and shit. Back to Terry, tho me and that man have had mad beef for like 3 years or something lmfao I feel like he'd throw hands, and I'd just let him tbh. Beomgyu and I... we aren't really compatible. He's not unattractive, but I've legit never had a fantasy about him before ever, so Idk, man. Now Yeonjun is a definite baddie like bad bitch like girl gimme fashion advice and tell me the gossip tho but he also good looking. He's the guy you meet in Paris or Italy and have that sexy fling with and then find out he's a big-time model and whatever. Anyways, thanks for reading this 5AM random rant/hard thoughts ish. I do take requests and all that shit but it'll take me a lil bit to write stuff because my life is a chaotic wonderland 😂

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[im-no-jedi]

writing down my thoughts as I rewatch “Pabu”, this is the most incoherent I’ve ever been, be prepared ROFL

what planet are they on in the opening scene? how long have they been hanging out with Phee? has she been in regular contact with them ever since “Entombed”? I NEED TO KNOW

love that Omega was at the table with Phee the whole time, and Phee used the excuse that she was teaching Omega her trade, we love to see it 🥰

I RECOGNIZED STEVE BLUM’S VOICE INSTANTLY AND NEARLY WENT FERAL

Phee handing that poisoned drink to Omega was really funny to me for some reason LOL

Hunter and Wrecker. HUNTER AND WRECKER. LORDY HELP ME. as if I wasn’t already in love with those two... D A M N 😍😍😍

nah fr Hunter flinging his blade at that worm was LITERALLY SOMETHING I WROTE IN MLWTBB OVER A YEAR AGO WTF

I just need that entire fight sequence embedded behind my eyelids plz, it was SO good \o/

TECH PLAYING SOLITARE ON TOP OF GONKY, I DIED 🤣

all of Phee’s comments about Omega, gurl knows what’s up (and Hunter totally agreed with her)

why was that message from Cid so freaking ominous??? ma’am??? where did this animosity come from all of a sudden??? srsly I feel like the “Cid is a villain now” thing came out of nowhere (despite what happened in “Faster” but I digress... idk it just doesn’t sit right with me ok lskjdfgklfdkj)

they’ve been away for THREE WEEKS doing what exactly???? hanging out with Phee??? traveling to nowhere in particular???? I NEED ANSWERS PLZ

I can NOT believe Pabu is literally just Palma Flora (a city in Wildemount that I set my DnD campaign in 2 years ago). literally the events that happened in this episode were VERY similar to that adventure from the Wildemount guide, and I am cackling about it haha

Phee literally being female space Indiana Jones was not on my bingo card, but I’m not complaining about it, good for her \o/

NOT WRECKER WITH THE “you’ve got some competition!” TO TECH I LEGIT LOST MY MIND OMFG

SERIOUSLY I CAN’T BELIEVE TECH/PHEE IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING I THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE LSKJFGUIHGLFKDJ

the way Tech stopped when Phee started walking to the museum.... BRUH. DOES YOU HAVE A CRUSH MAYHAPS 👀

Omega immediately befriending Lyana made me SO happy, she finally has a friend her age (which I KNOW Phee thought of on purpose, she brought them all there for OMEGA’S sake, I KNOW IT) 🥰

“do you know everyone here?” “of course! we’re all like family!” YOU DON’T SAY 👀👀👀

THE MONKEYS. they’re so cute and I want 20 of them thanks 🥰

“I... have not heard her laugh like that in some time” *SCREAMS INTO MY HANDS*

to no one’s surprise, I’ve been monitoring Hunter like a HAWK, and I’m pretty sure that man never stopped smiling from the moment they landed on Pabu OMFG. I know everyone is talking about Omega’s happiness, but HUNTER WAS HAPPY TOO. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. AAAAAAAAAAAAA

speaking of...

“as a father, you couldn’t ask for a better place to raise a child”

*INHALES SHARPLY*

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

literally I was SHAKING after that line, I am a WRECK and I will NEVER RECOVER

ALSO

“a little stability might do you all some good“ I HAVE LITERALLY BEEN SAYING THAT THE ENTIRE TIME THANK YOU PHEE

it’s not just for Omega, they ALL need this, they ALL need a safe place where they can just live life and not have to worry about anything, PLEASE they need it so bad 😭

space sushi is canon. SPACE SUSHI IS CANON. HALLELUJAH \o/

the way Hunter told Omega to “have fun”... MY DADGUM HEART. SIR. I’M ALREADY IN LOVE WITH YOU PLZ 🥺😭💙

“I’m full! I am NEVER full!” STOOOOOOOP. this poor man has never had a decent meal in his LIFE, I am SOBBINGGGGGGG

and then Tech “I will note the date and time to commemorate such a momentous occasion” PLZ SLKFJGHGLFKDJS

crying actual tears at Omega out on the boat, smelling the ocean, feeling the sun on her face, and reminiscing about Kamino... MY SWEET BABY 🥺🥺🥺💙💙💙

and then Lyana with “doesn’t that get lonely” after hearing that they’ve never stayed in one place for very long... GURL. I FELT THAT. I LIVED THAT. O O F 💔

Phee practically dragging Tech over to the corner to see the lights; she even grabbed his wrist, the menace. she’s got it BAD for him, and he totally feels the same way, I LOVE THEM 🥰

Hunter noticed the monkeys were acting weird, but I KNOW he also felt the vibrations in the earth before anyone else. my man is just that good ok 😌

are tremors common for islands like that? I have no knowledge on the subject. my initial thought was OMG THE ISLAND IS ACTUALLY A DORMANT VOLCANO because of the shape of it?? idk LOL

Hunter ABSOLUTELY could feel the vibrations. “I don’t think it’s over yet” HE KNEW. HE COULD FEEL IT. HE’S THAT GOOD 😤

the fact that it’s been 30 YEARS since the last sea surge, and another one just so happened on the same day TBB showed up. @jam-n-ham and I joked that they brought a curse to the island ROFL

the warning alarm sounding like a foghorn was a nice touch 👌🏻

all of that water receding so quickly was TERRIFYING 😰

Hunter quickly taking charge and telling everyone what to do in his usual calm demeanor, my GOSH I love this man 😩💙

Wrecker sticking with Shep while Phee stuck with Tech, no surprise there 🤗

Omega sounded so scared when she called Hunter, oh my poor baby 😭💔

Tech and Phee with the grappling hook 👀😏

Wrecker immediately picking up the old guy and running off with him, I love him so much 😂

this episode marked the THIRD time we got pilot Hunter, and I am LIVING for it. Tech, please give him the wheel more often 😍🥰

also, I am suddenly reminded of “why is Omega hanging off the ship?!” after rescuing the girls; how’s that for an unscheduled study break? 😝

Wrecker putting the old guy on his back and climbing up the ladder like it was NOTHING 🥵

honestly, one of the most heartwarming things was seeing all the people helping each other during this crisis. when Wrecker came up the ladder, several people grabbed the old guy and helped him up, then several more grabbed Wrecker when Shep was about to fall. Shep was right, the whole island is like one big family 🥺💙

that shot of the island from the following day was devastating 💔

Tech and Phee still hanging out; he literally is just following her around now 😁

WRECKER OMEGA AND LYANA SLEEPING UNDER THE TREE 🥺🥺🥺💙💙💙

absolutely OBSESSED with that moment between Tech and Phee when she stops him, what am I saying, I’m obsessed with all the moments between them, I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS IS CANON FR LDKFJGHJUIGOFLDK

Hunter wanting to stay so they can help rebuild the damaged homes 🥺 as if he needed another excuse to stay amiright 😜

“I had the same idea” “did’ya now?” SLDFJGHIOHGLFDKSJHD

SRSLY THEIR SMILES AT EACH OTHER HELLO??????? YOUR HONOR THEY’RE IN LOOOOOOOOOOVE 🥰🥰🥰

the fact that Shep reiterated that they’re welcome there... y’all they finally have a HOME 😭😭💙💙

and that’s it! end of the episode. man. just pure serotonin from start to finish 💙

and yeah, I know we all have the same thought. “it’s not gonna last!!” WELL MAYBE THIS TIME THINGS WILL BE DIFFERENT HUH, EVER THINK OF THAT???

I honestly think we’re meant to assume the worst, but it’ll end up being ok. sure, Omega getting captured by the Empire is absolutely still going to happen. but I think Pabu overall is going to remain a safe spot for them to return to, similar to Ord Mantell. they’ll finally have a real home. and it would be completely dissatisfying to have that all taken away just for the sake of ✨drama✨. let this show be the ONE time everything turns out ok in the end, please Jen and Brad, I am BEGGING you 😫🙏🏻

[not-close-to-straight]

Oh boy, this could get long (I already apologize in advance) but I had thoughts while reading the new chapter so here we are.

Heather is alive and could be ok??!!!! Oh please, I hope so!! I hope so for her and also for Billy because Billy will need a goddamn friend!

“Don't.” Will picked at a loose thread on his jeans. Didn’t look up and couldn’t quite meet anyone’s eyes as he whispered, “Don’t say that. Don’t uh-- don’t think about the most likely scenario. We don’t want that.

I think I'm in love with this version of Will. I just ADORE him! I also love his relationship with Steve that we saw bits of during the story. 😍😍😍

I love Hopper in this universe too. How he says 'I'm sorry about your brother, I really am' to Max and how Hopper and El interact before the adults go away. They are sweet together and I love it.

“We can’t halt an entire operation cos the hunky Ken doll is missing.” 👍👍👍😂😂😂

“But if Steve is flayed, he will use his bat to turn us into DND flavored pancakes!”

“That doesn’t even make any sense! Hed never hurt us, possessed or not!”

This warms my heart. How they are so sure of Steve. How they trust him so deeply that they just know he would never hurt them. The love between Steve and the kids is so huge and sometimes even overwhelming but I love every second of it. They've all been through a lot and Steve is their rock/their anchor and they would go to hell and back for each other.

ROBIN IS MY GIRL!🥰 Spelling out some harsh truth to Jonathan. I know I talked about the love the kids have but Steve also needs someone like Robin, who will put his wellbeing first and who will be a rock for Steve when he's having a hard time. (And boy, will he have a hard time after all this).

starcourt mall in the furthest edges of his consciousness, lit up with fireworks and shaking with the sound of screams. billy straightened up and dropped eleven’s hand. Pushed her behind him gently, firmly, promised with all the certainty of a boy not afraid to die, of a man too tired of living, “stay behind me. i won’t let it get you. i’m gonna do one thing right. one thing right and then i can-- then i’ll just--”

Billy ready to give his life to save El, to save them all. What a great moment! It was so powerful, even more so with us seeing all those memories, all those glimpses of sadness and pain in Billy's life. Eleven did amazing

“she was pretty.” eleven whispered. “really pretty. and you were so happy. you look like her when you smile…”

THIS WAS PERFECT!

And the ending. Billy and Steve moving their fingers, reaching out to each other... That was a movie worthy ending of the chapter. I am so damn impressed!! It was BRILLIANT, you are BRILLIANT!

I actually saved Heather cos one of the commenters on AO3 asked me to. Like she was legit gonna die but then… I’m tweaking canon this mush, what’s a little more? Plus it’s less guilt Billy has to feel later if they can say “your friend survived”

Listen. Hopper is the first guy I ever saw with a dad bod that made me go 👀. He is far from perfect but good gravy is he just incredible. I adore everything about his character arc and personality— everything.

The memory walking with El and Billy. That was one of those scene where I could see it in my mind so so crystal clear and on a TV it would be fairly simple to execute but man it was difficult trying to get it right on paper. But el telling him “you look like her when you smile”

Please. My heart. It shattered

[madraleen]

Demon Slayer - Season 1 Rewatch "...And then I cried": A Commentary

-nnngh, i'm excited, it's been too long. but i still remember the opening 'cause it made me sit up and pay attention.

-oh shut up, i'm tearing up, i've missed tanjiro. HE LOOKS SO YOUNG :')

-GIYUUU

-eyyy, the way tanjiro and nezuko jump out of the manga in the taisho secret is so cute!

-i hadn't realized how lonely and isolated it all was in the beginning, when there were no hashira around. sort of like missing a home base

-SABITO AND MAKOMO! hello yuuki kaji, we meet again <3. there's few characters with so little screen time/page time that have left such an impression on me as these two

-i understand it's their job, but how, how does yuuki kaji go from blue exorcist konekomaru and black butler finny to this, how!

-you could say i like demon slayer, yes. i'm tearing up every other scene. it's just so damn engaging!

-dude i'm tearing up, the fact that urokodaki keeps giving the same masks again and again to protect his children that all get eaten...

-oh god, i was legit crying and i didn't even realize, okay (after tanjiro beat the urokodaki children-eating demon)

-i remember thinking on my first watch, "zenitsu's va must have had so much fun voicing him," and now, knowing it's hiro shimono, i'm 5% more certain that he actually did

-kind kind kind, gentle gentle gentle. tanjiro's such a perfect mc for literally everyone in the cast

-SHE WAS THE BEAUTY OF OUR HOMETOWN! OUR NEZUKO!

-tanjiro and nezuko are just the best siblings, they're so lovely

-FINALLYYY, WE'RE MEETING THE BOYSSS

-i remember feeling quite overwhelmed by zenitsu on my first watch, but now i find him so amusing

-see, that's one of the things i love about tanjiro that i think makes him an interesting good guy mc. he can appreciate and congratulate a strong blood art technique AND strike down the demon. he can understand and empathize AND still cut them down ruthlessly, without holding back not even a little. he can pray for them AND not forgive them. he's more than just "the good mc." and also, nothing is just handed to him, ever. he's fought and struggled for every single thing he's gained.

-no, i love zenitsu too, because he's, well, zenitsu, but he's also protective and loyal and in conflict with himself and-

-i really do believe the kny characters are much more complex than one would assume at first glance, all of them.

-WE'RE GOING TO RUI, WHEEE

-GIYUUU, SHINOBUUU <333

-lol, zenitsu is a one-man show

-have i mentioned i love hiro shimono's work? 'cause i really do

-aw bb zenitsu, he's so strong :")

-dude i love shinobu. sweet-presenting but incredibly deadly

-i'm screaming, the way giyuu says "mizu no kokyuu" compared to tanjiro IS SO CALM, ASKFNJD, "unbothered" king!

-tanjiro: *doing the hinokami kagura* me, who knows how he's come to know how to do that: *bawling my eyes out*

-GIYUU'S ELEVENTH FORM WAAAH

-everyone in rui's demon family look like humans except the big brother and the father, like what happened there, did rui go through a phase

-not me crying for rui

-THE HASHIRAAAAAAA

-not me letting out a reflexive small scream at muichiro's/aventurine's voice

-mui-kun's little feet compared to gyomei's omg

-OBANAI MY LOVE

-he's so young, i want everyone to know how young ubuyashiki is because i don't think it's clear at all, he's only 23, okay?! :'( HE'S YOUNGER THAN GYOMEI, OKAY?!

-AOI <3

-i've been listening to some genshin voiced lyney stuff along with demon slayer and i have to say, it's a pretty big contrast switching between the lyney and zenitsu voices

-i love kanae, kanao and shinobu, okay, i love everyone in this cast

-NOOO, don't send them on the Infinite Train mission :'(((

-NOOO, DON'T GO ON THE TRAIN, DON'T GO ON THE DAMN TRAIIIIIN :'(((

[icharchivist]

Oh ouch

That's pretty mean

Bad Final Fantasy

and keep in mind (spoilers from the main game)

that then Cloud forgot!! he forgot everything!! this whole thing was so traumatizing to him, having to watch his FRIEND who did everything to protect him, die in front of him, that he not only got amnesia, but also just replaced all the memories he had of Zack with himself playing Zack's role in his head. He was so fucked up by this he did became his living legacy like he wanted, just to an extreme where he forgoes his own identity while at it.

all while Aerith meets him and sees Cloud has Zack's sword with him and he sometimes behaves like Zack and like!! what!!!

Nothing beats going to Zack's parents house in the Original game with Aerith and Tifa and they see Cloud and they say "oh you're Soldier?? do you know Zack, our son, we haven't seen him in forever" and Cloud is like "mhm. never heard of this name. Weird because if he was in Soldier i probably should know him" and then the two girls leave the house and you have to find them again because Aerith has a meltdown over being reminded of her ex boyfriend who just disappeared one day, and Tifa has a meltdown because earlier in the game Cloud had recalled a story that happened to Zack and Tifa but described everything Zack did as what Cloud did, and Tifa therefore had been having lowkey of a meltdown thinking she imagined Zack up to that point because Cloud's memories is too vivid, only to run into Zack's parents and think "holy shit he fucking existed once what the fuck is going on"

all while Cloud Strife, paragon of Stable Mental Health, is like "idk what's going on you guys are good?"

and all of this is building up to a point where Sephiroth locks Cloud and Tifa into a hallucination from said time Tifa and Zack spent together and actually show them Zack and tells Cloud "this is what actually happened, it wasn't you, because you never actually existed." and Cloud, in full freak out at this point, turns to Tifa because SHE can tell Sephiroth is wrong right, SHE knows Cloud was there, right, like he remembers! .... and then she doesn't and she's just as freaked out and this is the last thing that breaks Cloud completely on the spot.

And then when Cloud finally remembers Zack he can go back to the labs they've been experimented on and he can see the messages Zack left for him in said lab to say he was going to protect him no matter what. and he did. And Cloud forgot. Zack did the ultimate sacrifice for Cloud and Cloud forgot!!

*burries face in hands* i've never recovered from this whole plotline man.

Like i legit got into the saga bc a friend made a bet with me that if i cried after she showed me a scene i'd have to play it, and i did smugly so bc back then i was brainwashed into thinking video games couldn't tell heartful stories, and then i cried my eyes out during this scene and she smiled to me and said "and then Cloud forgot!" and i've never been the same ever since.

so yeah it's a lot. it's really a lot. It changed my life and i've never been the same ever since, bad final fantasy but also *burries face in hands and screams*

thank you for listening

[helenaheissner]

Magical Girl Exorcist Squad (Issue #2: First Day on the Job)

FIVE YEARS AGO, when the first demonic infestation of the modern age occurred, when somebody had informed Cass that a giant comic book monster was rampaging down the streets of Providence, she had said, ‘which one? Aren’t there all sorts of those in comics?’

To which the panicked civilian next to her had replied, ‘no, a comic book itself has come to life, become gargantuan, and is running down the street spraying corrosive ink at people.’

At which point Cass, all of thirteen years old at the time, had laughed with her mild-mannered, understated chuckle, right up until a ball of said corrosive ink volleyed into the panicked civilian next to her, instantly dissolving his back half, exposing bare spinal column and brain from behind. At which point Cass had screamed, right up until she realized she didn’t want this to be how she died. She ran up to the giant, bipedal comic book- it was some sort of humanoid abomination on two legs made of layers and layers of cheap newsprint comics, screaming in sound effects. It was uncanny, but it still looked like a man, so she punched it in what she assumed were its nuts. Her hand had glowed white light, and then the comic book was back to being an ordinary monthly issue of a beloved but underselling title. Cass looked around, then took the issue for herself and ran home.

When two priests had arrived at her house that night, she’d assumed it was because she’d stolen the comic book from what was ostensibly a crime scene. But in reality, they were there to explain that she’d exorcized a demon, and the church was considering declaring her a saint. Cass had groaned when the priest, Father Roberts, said that- she was sure it would result in her mother putting even more pressure on her in school than she already did. 

But then that turned out not to be the last demon attack. Or the last exorcism. And Cass turned out not to be the only girl with the power. It took two years of solo-act heroism before Amy arrived on the scene, and another two before Debbi and Heather did, but soon Cass found herself a part of a team and getting offered a full-ride scholarship to a university in Boston. Her mother hadn’t let her say no- Cass was going to be the first person in their family to go to college whether she wanted to or not. 

That was how Cassandra ‘Cass’ Ortiz had found herself sitting at a coffee shop a block from Back Bay with her friends, teammates, and upperclassmen Debbi Donahue and Heather Hanazawa. She thought of that day often, and she was thinking of it at that very moment, as she retraced the path her life had led her to this singular, intensely awkward moment.

Debbi and Heather were doing that thing they often did where they talked at the same time wicked fast. Cass’ eyes darted back and forth between the two as she struggled to keep up with two entirely distinct monologues. 

Debbi said, “So anyway, Elliot did that thing again in class where he was staring at me and then when I asked why he was staring at me he said nothing. And I knew that was horseshit, I know that he’s into me, so I decided to just turn it around on him and ask him out. Except as soon as I was about to, Vincent walks up and asks if I wanna go out with him, and that’s the guy who took me on that lousy date to the hot dog stand where he just ranted about politics the whole time, so I was not about to do that, but I knew that if I did anything I would look like a total bitch in front of Elliot-”

Heather said, “I’m so loaded up on classes right now that I legit barely have time to do anything else. It’s only the first month and I’ve already got four English essays due for three classes! I’ve not been able to make any progress on my novel, which is bad because I didn't get nearly as much of it done over the summer as I wanted to because the day job and the night job both kept me wicked busy-”

Cass thought, I wish I knew how to have a normal conversation because I can barely understand what either of you are saying right now. She started to open her mouth to say something, but instead she just sighed. 

Then an explosion sounded a block away. Thank God. 

Cass was the first to get up and run into an alleyway while the other two girls groaned at having their hangout interrupted. They soon followed her, and they raised their hands up high. A spring of power welled up between Cass’ fingers, and a column of crimson light jetted outwards. Her broomstick appeared in her hand, heavy and solid. Above her, a heavenly choir sang Ave Maria while red ribbons surrounded Cass’ dancing form. It was a dance she could not name, and dance she knew instinctively, a dance she’d had to teach herself. The broomstick hadn’t come to her immediately- it was five or six demon battles before that had appeared and she performed her first full transformation. And since then, she’d taught herself a dance of pure joy, to celebrate the most wonderful part of her strange little life. She tore free of the ribbons, and when she did, she wore a knee-length red dress with a matching pointy hat. She hopped onto her broomstick, and flew forward with her companions in Violet and Green. 

Amy joined them mid-flight, muttering something about having had to duck out of class. But they’d barely arrived on the scene before they found that the killing blow had been stolen from them, and somehow, a man seemed to have done it. 

“WHAT?!” all four of them belted out simultaneously. Cass did so only to avoid feeling left out- her heart wasn’t truly in it. 

Cass was the first person to power down. The red light engulfed her again, and the ribbons all reappeared around her body. They snipped away, fell to the ground and faded into ruby sparkles. 

“What?!” Debbi and Heather both exclaimed as they gestured at her. 

Amy rolled her eyes and powered down herself, revealing Cass’ oldest friend and confidant: a stunning brunette in a yellow sundress. Amy glared at the other two, her half-sister Debbi with her massive mane of curly hair, and her friend Heather with her broad shoulders and pronounced biceps, until they powered down as well. All four of them stood in civilian garb before the young man.

“Yeah, that’s what I figured,” the young man said. 

“What is?” Cass asked, squinting. 

“You’re those four girls I saw in the commissary earlier!” the young man exclaimed. “You were all screeching at each other.”

Cass put a hand to her chin and thought about this. That made sense- she had seen a young man who looked like this one in the cafeteria. She’d assumed he’d just been checking one of them out- probably Amy. Guys were always drawn to Amy, which was a shame for both them and Amy given how often that ended in tears.  

“That was you?!” Amy sneered. Oh no. Oh, that was a bad sign. 

Debbi put a hand on her half-sister’s shoulder, exhaling in a low, soothing burst until Amy’s sneer melted into a more standard scowl. Debbi started to move her left hand to do the same to the young man, but he flinched and shied away. Debbie held the hand flat, and said, “Hey, hey, we mean no harm. We’re just gonna need you to come with us. Because you, uh, seemed to have something you shouldn’t.”

He flinched again, and started staring intently at his shoes. What was that about? “Okay,” he said, like he was confessing to some sort of crime. “I’m Nick, by the way.”

“Debbi,” the purple-clad girl said. 

“Heather,” said the tall girl in green. 

“Amy,” said the grumpy girl in yellow. 

“Cass,” she whispered. 

They led him back to their headquarters: St. Joseph’s Church, the campus chapel. 

“Wait, you guys are based out of here?” Nick asked as they climbed the stone steps. 

“Yeah. Why?” Amy asked. “You got some sort of problem with us being based out of a church? Is it because we’re witches? Because that’s an ugly stereotype- not all witches are Satanists you-”

“What? No! Of course not,” Nick said. “Just, uh, small world, ya’ know? I’ve been going to school and probably Church with you guys for at least a year now. Ya’ know?”

“‘Ya’ know?’” Amy mouthed, rolling her eyes. Debbi shot her a dirty look. It was always something with those two- it was why Cass was grateful she was an only child. 

The doors closed shut behind them, and Bishop Roberts came shuffling up to them, his collar loose and his eyes tired and his shoulders slumped. The man needed a break- that was what everyone else kept telling him. Or at least, that was what they used to tell him before hearing it started to infuriate him and led to him throwing objects about wildly. People were so perplexing, never doing what was good for them. Made no sense.  

“Nicolas? What are you doing here, my son?” the Bishop asked. 

He opened his mouth and said, “Well-”

“He has the power,” Cass finished for him. 

“The- the POWER!?” the Bishop said. “Impossible- only women have the POWER!”

“Yeah, that’s what we figured too,” Debbi said, raking a hand through her long, impressive hair. She and Heather sat next to each other in one of the pews, while Amy got down on one of the kneelers a row ahead. Cass remained standing next to Amy, while Nick stood in the center pathway facing the altar with his head bowed. 

“Is it possible we were off-base about that?” Heather asked, running a hand through her short, managerial hair. She spread her legs, knocking her knee against Debbi’s, resulting in a raised eyebrow from the other girl. Heather held her hands up in an apologetic motion and crossed her legs. 

“Yes,” the Bishop said. And then a light returned to his eyes, a rightness to his posture, a vigor to his words. “Yes, yes, of course! That must be it! Why, this is wonderful, simply wonderful! Finally, a man who can use the power. Oh, this is fantastic! I’ve waited so long for something like this! I’m so glad I won’t have to rely solely on-”

He stopped when he saw Amy glaring at him from her kneeling position. He did a double-take when he saw Heather and Debbi were doing the same. People had the strangest biases- they made no sense to Cass. She’d been exposed to the ones in the church from a young age, and while they didn’t bother her as much as they did others… This wasn’t a great look. 

“Ahem,” the Bishop continued, “Nicolas. How do you feel?”

“I feel great!” Nick said. Cass took stock of him- he was doing remarkably well given he’d almost died. Then again, most of the city Boston almost died at least once a week, and they all seemed to be doing fine. And they were the people who hadn’t just found out they had superpowers. “Does this mean I get to be a superhero?”

“A magical girl,” Amy said reproachfully. 

“A magical boy,” Cass said, raising a finger. Nick winced when she said that. Weird.

“Yes, if you’ll join,” the Bishop said. “Will you join?”

“Ayuh, obviously I wanna help out. I can’t possibly stomach women in danger,” Nick said with a big, earnest, stupid smile on his face. Even Cass could tell he was being sincere right now, which made it a hundred times worse. “I’d be more than happy to join up!”

It was kind of amazing how he managed not to register all four girls giving him death-glares at the same time. 

***

Nick woke up in his actual bed the next morning, grateful for the monster attack having broken up the marathon party in Ditko Hall. He scratched at his chest, which was strangely itchy, and a squealed with inner delight. He was a superhero! An honest-to-gosh superhero! He was gonna fight demons and be a part of a team and save people! This was the best thing to ever happen to him! Sure, his life would be in mortal peril every seven-ish days or so, but that was what God had asked of him. Who was he to question God? 

Nick found his way to class, Medical Ethics with Professor Waid. He took his usual seat on a swivel chair near the back of the room, next to Aidan, a tall, broad-shouldered young man with olive skin and charcoal black hair who suffered from a chronic case of wearing sunglasses indoors. Nick wondered if that was an affectation or if he was just hungover every time he saw him. At this school, that could really go either way. 

Then someone who Nick had apparently seen several times already walked through the door: Debbi Donahue. He was baffled that he hadn't noticed her until now. She was a good-looking girl: strong cheekbones, great hair, impeccable fashion sense. That day she wore a light purple top with white polka dots and tight jeans, her hair tied back in a ponytail, golden hoop earrings hanging from her ears. And then, to his astonishment, she waved and walked over, then sat down next to him. 

Nick balked. But not as much as Aidan did- he got up and walked away. What the heck was that- had they gone out or something? Nick shrugged. He’d ask Debbi about it later. 

“Morning,” Debbi said. 

“Hi,” Nick said. “I’m gonna be honest, I didn’t realize we had this class together until I saw you just now.”

She gave a light wave of her hand. “Neither did I. And I think we got off on slightly the wrong foot yesterday.”

“Was it the ‘women in danger’ comment?” Nick said. 

She raised an eyebrow. “Yes. Yes, it was.”

“Yeah, I thought that as soon as I said it.”

“Couldn’t have guessed that from the look on your face.”

Nick broke out into nervous laughter. “Well, okay, I actually didn’t think of that until an hour after I said it. My bad.” 

Apparently, Debbi found that funny, because she started laughing as well. They laughed until class started, and when it was over they walked out together.

“We probably shouldn’t do this every class,” Nick said as they left side by side. “People might think we’re dating.”

“Eh, well you could certainly do worse, white boy,” Debbi said, poking him in the shoulder.

Nick scowled, evidently harsh enough to make Debbi cringe. 

“Sorry,” Debbi said. “You, uh, really don’t like people touching you, do ‘ya?”

“Yeah,” Nick said, looking at his shoes as they traversed over each inch of pavement leading out the building. “Dunno why. Just always been this way.”

“Fair enough. Well, I’m sorry. I will respect that going forward.”

“And, uh, once again, I’m sorry for the ‘women in danger’ comment. It was-”

“Chauvinistic and gross? Fed into the Bishop’s incredibly, weirdly, tellingly enthusiastic reaction to having a magical boy to work with now?”

“Yes, that- what was up with that?”

“Honestly,” Debbi said, “the Bishop has always been a little… Regressive in his views on gender. I mean, he’s in the Church, so that’s not exactly out of the ordinary, but still, I’d say he has a bit of a complex about it.”

“Wait, seriously?” Nick said as they left the building behind and walked out into the concrete expanse of campus. 

“Yes indeedy,” Debbi insisted. “I’ve heard sermons he gave back when he was still just a priest. He loves to talk about how women should be deferential to men and bear them children and all that stuff- and don’t get me wrong, I’ve no problem with a girl who wants to do all that, but I’m not crazy about it when men tell me how it’s what I should be doing.”

“Fair enough,” Nick said, chewing on all that. Had the Bishop really said those things? It couldn’t be- the Bishop was a good man. Maybe Debbi was misremembering. Or maybe you’re just biased and have avoided looking at what you don’t want to see, rang a voice inside his head, the voice Nick preferred to ignore, the voice which told him dangerous things like… Well, like that. 

“So what are you up to now?” Debbi said. 

“Oh, uh… Well… I was gonna…”

“Jerk it?” Debbi said with a wry grin. 

“What?! No! Blue blazes!” Nick blushed. 

“My God,” Debbi laughed. “I’m joking. I was actually gonna go to the comic book store, wanted to know if you’d like to come with? Figured if we’re gonna be working together we may as well be friends.”

“I was gonna go to the comic book store myself!” Nick said. “This is perfect. Do you have a regular shop?”

“Garrity’s Comic Emporium-”

“On 83rd Street! I love that place!” 

“Awesome! Let’s go.”

And so they walked together towards the glass pyramid that marked the entrance to the subway, chatting about their respective favorite Batgirl runs, when an explosion went off behind them. 

“Shit!” Debbi said, stopping where she stood and stomping her foot on the sidewalk. 

Nick gave her a shocked, blanched expression. 

“What are you going to tell me about how you can’t stomach a woman cursing now?” Debbi asked. 

“... No,” Nick lied. 

“You’re a trip, Nygaard,” she smirked. “Come on, let’s go to work.”

They ducked into an alleyway, where Debbi summoned her broomstick and transformed into her witch’s garb. “Hey, so what’s that like for you?” Nick asked. “‘Cause for me it looks like it happened instantaneously.”

“Oh, it feels like about thirty seconds. All kind of blends together after a while.”

Nick nodded, then noticed something different: “I can see your face now!”

“Mmm, makes sense, you are one of us. Now that you’ve channeled the power you can see things you were blind to before. But I’m guessing you can’t summon a broomstick yet?”

“I spent an hour trying last night.”

“Don’t worry- it took about a month for most of us to be able to do that, another one for a full transformation.”

“But what about our secret identities- we have those, right?”

“Yeah, of course we have those- hence the glamours. Just channel a bit of your power into your fist, and the glamour will appear on your face. It’s automatic.”

Nick held up his fist and recalled what he’d felt yesterday. Righteousness, courage, indignation, fear, impulsivity… Warmth. He’d felt a warmth, gentle and graceful and joyous, in his body, all traveling from his chest into his right hand. He let it flow through him, as if a dam were coming open, and a river was finally able to deliver water to a parched landscape. 

White light surged from Nick’s fist. “This hand of mine glows with an awesome power!”

“It’s bright cry tells me to defeat you! Yes, that’s the ticket, big guy! You fired up?!”

“HECK YEAH! I’m fired up!”

“Then let’s do this!” 

With that they barreled out of the alleyway and back into the streets, where a bipedal creature made of a thousand pairs of scissors marched downwards launching blades at people’s throats. It had human eyes on a split pair of scissor blades where its face was probably meant to be, but the rest of it, every inch, were different pairs of scissors stitched together into a human outline. Kitchen scissors, sewing scissors, pinking shears, salon scissors, all strung together haphazardly into a rusty, water-stained metal monstrosity. “I AM THE DEVIL’S HAIRCUT!” it bellowed as it tossed out blades, shattering glass and puncturing concrete.

There was no blood on the streets, no bodies- no casualties yet. Thank goodness. 

“Come on, let’s try to wrap this up quick, before any civilians get hurt!” Debbi said. 

“What’s the plan?”

“The Leeroy Jenkins maneuver!”

“What?!”

And before he knew it, she was barreling towards the scissor-monster on her broomstick, summoning massive columns of blinding light towards the monster. The beams reflected in the metal of the scissors’ many components, and its eyes burned as it cried out with a shrill desperation.

Once again faced with a dearth of better options, Nick ran screaming at his opponent, channeling his power into his fist. He was glad to be in such great shape- he caught up with Debbi by the time she reached the monster, who was busy crying out ‘my eyes, my seeing eyes!’ when both heroes landed simultaneous exorcism-punches on the flat blades of its face. 

The white light gave way to black aura, and a screaming sounded as smoke flooded out of the black outline of the demon. When it was over, only a pile of rusty scissors remained on the ground. 

A crowd of people emerged from their hiding spots inside cars and shops and other buildings, all applauding and cheering with an immeasurable and palpable gratitude. 

“And that’s why you don’t run with scissors!” Nick said. 

The applause died immediately. Everyone groaned. Including Debbi. 

Including Amy as she floated down from above. Heather and Cass flew behind, mercifully not offering their opinion on Nick’s attempt at humor. Amy wore the glare that seemed to be her default expression. “Is kill-stealing going to be a thing with you, then? Because if you do that again, I am not going to be a happy exorcist!”

“Snooze you lose, sis!” Debbi said, giving her the middle finger. 

“Sis?” Nick said, doing a double-take. 

“What, you don’t see the resemblance, you racist!?” Amy and Debbi said in unison. 

“You know what, I think I see it now,” Nick said evenly.

“What’s that supposed to mean?!” Amy snapped. 

“It means that I got here first, and that the new guy likes me better, Amanda,” Debbi said, sticking out her tongue.

“I told you never to call me that!”

“Are they always like this?” Nick asked Cass as she floated above him. 

“Like what?” Cass asked, voice flat-ironed.

“Yes,” Heather said, cracking her neck on both sides. 

And Nick laughed. He could get used to this. 

They regrouped at St. Joseph’s, jotting down the report in their work log. It was unusual for demon attacks to happen two days in a row, and Bishop Roberts said he would look into it. After that, they called it a day. 

Nick lumbered with sore legs back to his dorm, sweaty and tired and covered in dirt, and found that the floor’s washroom was mercifully devoid of occupants for once. He climbed into the shower and stripped naked, trying not to look at his uncomfortably hairy body. The warm water flowed down his back and ran into the carpet that covered everything below the neck… 

Resulting in a gentle tug followed by the unabated flow of water. 

Nick looked down and saw his considerable body hair falling out before his eyes. Within a minute, it had all washed away and collected at the top of the drain, leaving him completely hairless from the eyelashes down. 

“... What the Blue Blazes?” Nick said, hating how good the warm water felt on his bare skin, hating the fact that warmth he’d felt when using his powers earlier now reverberated through the entirety of his being, trying not to think about how his voice was now a half-octave higher.  

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