#unreadable m's

[isthemreadable]

Cat 1: Missing the Middle

Cat 2: Unreadable

[isthemreadable]

M???

Unreadable, medium split

@isthemunreadable

[peaches2217]

On (Wo)manhood: An Unexpected Continuation

~~~

“I think I’m a woman,” Luigi blurts out over a table strewn with pizza crusts.

He meets Mario’s eyes with a confidence that startles even him; though his muscles are tense with anticipation, he knows he’s ready. This isn’t the first time he’s saying any of this aloud. His audience this time around might be less prepared, more confused, but he won’t respond with any sort of vitriol. What’s there to be afraid of?

Surprising him even further, Mario doesn’t act confused in the slightest. Judging by the way his eyes widen, and the way his mustache curls as a smile tugs at his lips, he looks…proud?

“Whoa.” He stuffs what remains of the slice in his hand into his mouth before leaning across the table, pulling his knees onto the cushion in order to reach Luigi. “Vat’ch big newsh!” he cheers, clapping his brother’s shoulder. “I’m proud a’ya, bro!” 

“Um—” is Luigi’s highly intelligent and well thought-out response.

This is… not exactly the reaction he was expecting.

Suddenly Mario is beset by a coughing fit, just long enough to distract Luigi from his own thoughts (or lack thereof), but Mario waves him off when he tries to assist.

"Sis," he amends once he catches his breath. Despite nearly choking on a hurriedly-chewed crust, he’s smiling. “I’m, uh, probably gonna slip up now and then — but I’ll do my best to get it right! No matter what, you’ll always be my bro—twin. You'll always be my twin.”

He plops back into his seat and slaps the side of his head, playing up the exasperation that Luigi must be mirroring himself.

"What matters most," he affirms gently, "is that you're happy. It's gonna take some getting used to, but I'm here for you every step of the way, so—"

Luigi, unsure what else to do, slumps forward and drags his palms over his face with a sigh. Probably not the reaction Mario was looking for, either.

“You can still call me bro,” he mumbles into his hands.

“…What’s wrong?” Mario’s admiration is tinged with worry now. “I— I’m sorry, Weegee, I promise, I didn’t mean to. I’m gonna keep—”

“It’s not that,” Luigi is quick to amend. He’s spent the past week rehearsing, preparing an answer for every single possible question, and it’s taken all of thirty seconds for Mario to whip out the I love you and accept you just as you are speech.

All that preparation, and for what? It all feels like a waste now.

“I just… thought this would take longer.” I thought I’d have more time to figure it out, too, he adds to himself.

“Longer to do what?”

Luigi lowers his hands so he can tap his fingers against the tabletop. He’d been counting on finding a more definitive answer somewhere in the midst of Mario’s questioning. So much for that.

“You can still call me bro.” He slumps back into his seat. The weight that’s been lifted from his chest makes him feel free — a little too free. He feels like he could float away any moment, and he hates not feeling connected to gravity. “I have no clue what I am.”

Only now does Mario look confused. “I thought you said—”

“I said I think I am. I don’t know anything beyond that.” Luigi snags a stray crust, tears off a piece, and pops it into his mouth. “No’fer lack’a trying.”

Mario doesn’t respond. He instead hums tunelessly, resting his chin atop interlaced fingers, elbows planted on the table. His lips pull into a thin line and his eyes dart from focal point to focal point, never resting in one place long. It isn’t long before Luigi finds himself doing the same thing.

“Does Peasley know?” Mario finally asks.

“He’s the first person I told,” Luigi says. “You’re the second.”

“What’d he say?”

“He was… he was okay with it.”

More than okay, he thinks to add. For reasons he’ll never truly understand, his husband worships the ground he walks on. He’s already commissioned a dress in celebration of Luigi's mere questioning — the epitome of fine craftsmanship, but leagues above what he deserves for something so uncertain.

"What do you think, my darling?"

The garment had been laid out on the bedspread, a multi-colored swath of silk and lace that was apparently all for him. It had been overwhelming, to say the least.

"But I still have no clue what to come out as!" Luigi had said. "And that's considering I even come out at all!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Peasley took his hand in his. He pressed a kiss to Luigi's knuckles as he chuckled.

"Once we cross that bridge, I'll have another commissioned," he assured Luigi, flashing that dazzling smile of his. "Anything for you, my Princess."

“Well, yeah, duh.” Mario’s voice pulls Luigi back into the present, back into the corner booth of a cozy Toad Town pizzeria. “I wouldn’t expect anything less. But what he say?”

“What do you mean?”

“Like… did he have any suggestions?”

Luigi gulps.

“Perhaps you’re both," Peasley had proposed. "Prince, Princess. Doesn't matter so long as it's you."

The more Luigi considers it, the more enamored he’s become with that suggestion. Maybe he is both. Maybe he doesn’t have to be solely a man or a woman or some secret third option. Maybe a man can be a woman, too. Maybe he doesn’t have to forfeit any part of himself.

Maybe. That’s where he’s stuck. There’s still a part of him — a very small but very, very loud part of him — that insists his logic makes no sense. Maybe he is a man that’s also a woman…

“Or maybe I’m just nuts and he’s going along with my delusions because he’s too stupidly in love for his own good.”

By the time Luigi finishes his rant, his arms are folded on the table, his cheek resting against his left forearm. He waits in silence so Mario can process everything that’s just been dumped on him. In the meantime, he contemplates the golden band on his ring finger; it glimmers in the overhead lights, dazzling and comforting.

“Oh, c’mon. You really think he’d do that?”

Luigi looks back up at his brother without lifting his head, and he’s met with that same unwavering confidence he himself exuded ten minutes earlier.

“Luigi, you know that’s not how he plays. From what I’m hearing, everything he said seemed sincere.”

Only now does Luigi lift his head. It’s not so much that he doubts his husband, it’s just… sometimes, he doubts himself more than he can trust anyone else. “You think?”

Mario takes a swig from a formerly-forgotten glass of cola, clearing his throat as he swallows. “And just from what I’m hearing,” he says, “I think he’s right.”

Luigi’s breath catches in his throat. “You do?”

“You shoulda seen yourself, bro. Telling me all that about being a guy and a girl at the same time? You looked so happy! And you sounded so sure of yourself, too.”

A shy smile tugs at Luigi’s lips. “Guess I’m just worried it doesn’t make much sense.”

Mario shrugs. “You know what else doesn’t make much sense? Falling into a pipe, getting spit out in a fantasy world, and marrying into royalty. But look where we’re at now!”

At this, Luigi laughs, the lingering darkness of self-doubt disipating into mist. Put that way, perhaps it’s not too far-fetched an idea.

“So?” Plucking a stray crust from the metal platter between them, he raises his eyebrows, fixing Luigi with a good-humored smile. “What do you say, sis?”

Sis. It’s strange, but it feels right, every bit as right as bro. “I say…” He mirrors his twin’s actions and claims a crust for himself. “…I’ve got a lot to think about.”

Mario is undaunted by his evasive answer. He knows. Now the ball is back in Luigi’s court. It’s just a matter of accepting himself as he is, and condensing all these feelings into a few decisive words, and maybe talking Peasley down from spending another chunk of the royal treasury on yet another gown.

It might take some more time, but that’s okay.

No matter what, he won’t be alone.

No matter what, he’ll be loved.

The twins toast each other before scarfing their crusts down, and once more, the night is filled with laughter.

[mcaelius]

[brothersonahotelbed]

this post goes out to all my mutuals with whom i sucked at holding conversations i think about yall all the time in my head but alas. The Burnout...

[sotiriabellou]

pazari book haul.5 eouro

[strinak]

inspired by @bookwyrminspiration, since picker wheels are for making decisions, I've put 160 of the unread books on my TBR list (max 3 per author) on a wheel

note: almost entirely m/m romance. i think there's one each of f/f and nb/m, and like two m/f.

[kimberlyannharts]

Sorry for who I'll become if M/tt dies in these last few issues btw it's just that the emotional catharsis I'll feel when I'm finally free from this asshole that's been plaguing the book for five years will be astronomical

[myfriendtheghost]

Need y’all to know that I sent this to Val and broke my ankle like literally 2 minutes later

[sins-of-the-sea]

'Maman? Maman?'

"(G) ........

"What are you doing, Phi?"

"I'm learning how to read!"

"Oohh! Can I learn how to read with you?"

"Sure! Follow my instructions..."

"Ow!! Phoebus! I hurt my knee! I'm bleeding!"

"Hang on, Guy! Let me press this cloth onto your knee so I can stop the bleeding! I'll get you back home!"

"Why can't I breathe? I can't stop shaking... I feel so hot... oh, no, it's happening... it's happening again! Please hold my hand, Phoebus! I'm so scared... please don't leave me..."

"I won't leave you, Guy. You're going to get better. I promise."

[isthemreadable]

Is the M Readable?: Luigi

This is Luigi, an M-Head who’s been in my family since 2012. He is a pretty old M-Head at the age of at least 10-11 years.

Luigi is pretty lazy. He lives in a cat tower in the 2nd bathroom of the house I live in. Dog hates him. He’s hard to photograph without looking grumpy. (Or majestic.)

I’m pretty sure my sister named him after the Mario character.

His M kind of a mix between Unreadable and Barely Readable. Parallel lines are good (I haven’t rated the parallel lines in a long while!) and he is pretty soft.

And as a bonus, I’ll let @kittybroker rate this vintage specimen. I’ve already taken care of the M and parallel lines.

[isthemreadable]

Unreadable

家主なんかムカつくです

あとで　ふんでやるです

Now I'm annoyed by my landlady ... well, I'll step and step on her later!

[sotiriabellou]

we had pazari today in my town and i really wanted to go because i need summer clothes but i only ended up buying one white tshirt and i had to call my mom to help me decided.i actually saw some cute pants and a lot of very intriguing trinkets but i didnt buy any of them and i dont know why.i just felt really unsure and out of order.i just need someone to be there with me when im shopping for anything other than groceries or i feel really insecure

[isthemreadable]

he has a W

Unreadable, extremely large split

Will go to @isthemunreadable for further evaluation.

[jewishcissiekj]

May's locg stats because it's gay month here already (last month's stats on the left)

[isthemreadable]

thoughts on titan and artemis? i have a 3rd tabby i might send later

Titan: Almost Readable - medium sized split

Artemis: Unreadable - large split, faded print. Will go to @isthemunreadable for further evaluation.