#vote what YOU think will happen next B)

[tell-me-when-ur-ready]

Bikini Collection

Summary: You want to film a YouTube video with your boyfriend JJ reacting to your bikini collection, but he only makes it through three swimsuits before something not fit for YouTube takes place.

Warnings: Smut. (unprotected sex don’t do that)

Word count: 1,200

Author’s note: Inspired by this video!

“Can I open my eyes yet?” JJ yelled from the living room of the Chateau.

“No!” you hollered back. Turning slightly, you adjusted the pink bandeau-style bikini top over the top of your boobs. Finally satisfied, you opened the door and walked into the living room, where JJ was sitting with his eyes obediently closed. You’d tidied the house as much as possible and set up your phone to film a “boyfriend reacts to my bikini collection” video.

“You know, I’ve seen all your bikinis a million times,” JJ was saying as you came out. “I don’t see why we have to do a whole—holy fuck.”

You preened, turning in a circle so he could get the full view. “Like what you see?”

“This is the best day of my life.”

“Any thoughts on the style?”

“Uh.” JJ’s eyes raked up and down your body. “It makes your ass look good?”

“Shut up,” you giggled. “I’m not putting that on the Internet.”

“Well, what am I supposed to say when my girlfriend walks out looking like that?”

You gave him one more twirl before heading back to the bedroom to change. “Final rating out of 10?” you called back over your shoulder.

“Uh. 9 out of 10. 9.5.”

As you shut the door behind you, you heard JJ mutter again, “Best day of my frickin’ life.”

Next you grabbed a pale blue pair of thin-stringed bottoms with a halter top.

“Hot damn,” was JJ’s reaction back out in the living room. He shifted in his seat. “Is it getting hot in here or is it just me?”

You frowned at him. “J, stop. I’m going to have to edit all of this out. What’s your rating? And say something family-friendly.”

“Mmm…” He craned his neck to look at your ass as you struck a pose. “8 out of 10 for the legs?” When you glared at him, he immediately backtracked. “Okay, okay! Uh, you look good in blue?”

Good enough. You headed to change again, shaking your head.

“You know I like you for you,” he yelled after you into the bedroom. “How kind you are and how hard you work. Your sense of humor.”

“And my ass and boobs?” you called back. The resulting silence confirmed your suspicion. You smirked at yourself in the mirror.

“Those, among other parts,” JJ called back after a minute.

Next you walked out in a purple triangle bikini with foldover bottoms. You were barely into the living room before JJ was sitting on his hands, physically restraining himself.

“I vote we finish the video another day,” he said, eyeing you hungrily.

“Today is the only day where no one else is going to be here. You don’t want John B sitting on the couch while we’re doing this, do you?” You stopped in front of him. “This bikini is new. I just got it the other day. What do you think?”

You revolved in a slow circle. The next thing you knew, JJ was up and moving, lunging toward your phone. “Turn that thing off. Ain’t nobody else gonna see my girl.”

Before you could react, his hands were all over you, running up and down your bare sides while he kissed you hard on the lips. You wrapped your arms around his neck as his hands slid down lower. In the back of your mind, you had to admit that part of you had hoped this would happen when you asked JJ to film this video. Maybe it wasn’t fair to tease him—but now you were both getting what you wanted, so what did it really matter?

“How do you get this stupid thing off?” JJ mumbled into your mouth. He was fumbling with the tie at the back of your bikini. You giggled and took pity on him, untying the top and letting it fall to the ground. “Fucking gorgeous,” he muttered, looking down at you.

“C’mere.” You grabbed his hand and pulled him over to the couch, gladly falling into the cushions as he propped himself on top of you, powerful biceps bracketing either side of your head. He kissed you hard, tongue parting your lips as you automatically rolled your hips up into his, making him groan. You grabbed the hem of his ratty T-shirt (of course he couldn’t be bothered to dress up for the Internet) and tugged it over his head. He sat back on his knees briefly to get rid of the foldover bottoms you’d been so happy with and to pull down his cargo shorts.

“Just want you, princess,” he said, breath coming heavy and hard. You reached up your arms for him again.

“Take me, J.”

Both of you hissed as he slid into you, stretching you out. You dug your nails into the bare skin of his shoulders and briefly closed your eyes as JJ paused, giving you a moment to adjust despite how far gone he was. When he started to move it was slow at first, the burn so deep and delicious you couldn’t hold back a quavery sigh. JJ turned his face into your neck, lowering his mouth to kiss your soft skin again and again.

Slowly he sped up until he was panting with the effort of each thrust. The two of you had been dating for a couple of years at this point and you had sex often, yet every time, you were still blown away by how good it was. You’d never really understood the phrase “best I’ve ever had” until JJ. He knew what he was doing in bed. And the more he got to know you, the better and better it got.

“JJ,” you sobbed out. You’d be embarrassed at how needy you sounded, except it was him. Your J. The boy who was goofy and tough and vulnerable all at the same time, who knew you inside and out, better than anyone else ever had or ever could.

“I know, princess,” he panted, his breathing laborious. “I got you. ‘M gonna make you feel good.” Without breaking his pace, one of his hands slipped between your bodies, his rings cool on your skin. Within a few more thrusts, you were done. Your fingers twisted painfully hard in his blond hair and your mouth opened in a silent scream as you fell over the edge, body jerking.

“Shit, shit, baby, holy fuck—“

JJ let out a guttural groan into your neck as he came, shaking hard as he finished in a few final thrusts as you clenched around him. Finally he fell limp against your body. He was heavy on top of you, but you didn’t care. You wrapped your arms around his back as your chests rose and fell together, breathing heavily as you came down from your highs.

At last JJ raised himself up onto his hands, his arms shaking a little with the effort, and smiled sweetly down at you. He ducked his head to kiss your lips and you kissed him back, wondering how you’d ever gotten lucky enough to find a guy like him.

“So…” You propped yourself up on your elbows and smirked at him mischievously. “You wanna see another bikini?”

[pokemonbattletournament]

Announcing: Tumblr's Strongest Pokémon Tournament!

It's been one year since Mimikyu was crowned Tumblr's favorite Pokémon, not only on this blog, but independently by a bunch of different Pokémon tournaments across the site. One question still lingers: who would win in a one-on-one battle tournament?

I will be again running a tournament on this blog, but instead of answering the question "which Pokémon do you like more?" we are asking "which Pokémon would win in a battle?"

This tournament will again follow a 1v1 knockout format, and it will be seeded according to base stats.

Arguing why your fav would win the battle is highly encouraged. Both joke voting and seriously considering how each battle would play out are encouraged.

FAQ:

Why are the polls all coughing baby vs. hydrogen bombs? That doesn't seem fair!

That's because the polls are seeded by base stats. This way, we ensure that the very strongest pokémon don't face off until the last few rounds, AND if a weaker mon causes an upset in the early rounds (defeats their much stronger opponent), they have a good chance to make it further because they have to face relatively weaker opponents, keeping the tournament exciting!

Why is X form included/not included? Why do some male/female pairs get separate polls?

Forms are included if a) they have different stats or b) they have different types. The exceptions that aren't included are the forms of Aegislash, Minior, Eiscue and Palafin, because you can expect both to occur in the same battle, and the forms of Arceus and Silvally, because there's too many and they, especially Arceus because it's the 8th strongest, risk overwhelming the tournament. The exception that is included are male and female Meowstic, because they have such different movepools.

I found a poll with a wrong image/images in the wrong order/set to only 1 day/something else wrong with it.

Please bring it to my attention, I will fix it asap! The existing poll will be declared invalid if the poll time is wrong.

What happens in case of a tie?

We go into a one-day sudden death poll where the winner moves on to the next round.

What happens if there's an odd number of pokémon in a round?

The three last pokémon in the round will each face off against the 2 others. The one to win both polls will move on to the next round. If each only wins one poll, the one to win by the largest margin will move on.

How should I vote?

Anything that makes you think that the Pokémon should win in a one-on-one. Stats calculations? Valid. They would win in the anime? Valid. They would win in smash/TCG/pokémon pinball? Valid. Vibes? Valid.

Shouldn't you have... [weeded out the weakest pokémon first / included more information in the polls / only included fully evolved pokémon / encouraged people to vote more seriously / something else]?

Yeah probably, but I'm not going to restart the entire tournament over it. I always encourage more people to do tournament blogs though, so feel free to run your own tournament the way you want it!

[laurbiek]

as promised... something!

....::::**•°✾°•**::::........::::**•°✾°•**::::.... ....::::**•°✾°•**::::....

She hears the distinctive sound of the WhatsApp video call. Its weird when they're in different countries, the mode of communication changes time and time again to avoid crazy roaming charges. She's used to being able to call him quick using the regular phone app, to see if he wanted her to pick up dinner or to ask him nicely if he would switch her laundry out for her.

It's weird to start over on another app, it almost feels like they're starting another relationship. It feels so different. The inside jokes and frequent questions about the HBO password are nowhere to be found, in it's place is an empty blank page, waiting hopefully to be filled with the same.

She picks up her phone from the edge of the bed and swipes to answer the call. She looks at the time when she does, 10:04, almost five minutes late for their scheduled call.

At least that has stayed the same.

The slight hum of the highway plays in the background, and there Andrew sits. He looks tired, but not over consumed. It's a good kind of tired, like the kind you get after a good, but long day. More of a content-tired. His hair is in the messiest bun possible, obvious that he needed it out of the way and had lost all ability to care. He's got his glasses on, and Y/N remembers when he Facetimed her from the eye doctor to see if they looked good before he ordered them.

She internally thinks that they still do.

"Hey love", he finally speaks between bites of a sandwich. She looks down at the table the phone is propped on, and sees the distinctive red and white wrappings.

"Are you kidding, you went to Wawa without me..."

"I'm sorry! The band voted before we left Philly! I told them you'd be mad but they don't seem to care about my marriage so... I had to"

"This is a betrayal, of the highest degree. I can't picture a world where I can forgive you"

"If I could ship one across the Atlantic to you, you know I would"

There is a few beats of silence, they both know that statement means more than just a sandwich.

She finally breaks,

"How are you holding up?"

"Eh, not bad. I've not been this tired in a while but I'll get used to it soon. I've done it before."

"It's quiet in the bus, where is everyone else?"

"Sleeping"

"So everyone else is sleeping and you stayed up to call me?

He takes another bite of his sandwich before answering simply,

"Yeah."

She stares at him through the phone as he keeps eating like he doesn't understand the niceness of his actions, it's just second nature to him.

"Thank you," she says, voice full of genuine earnestness.

He doesn't respond to that, instead, he switches to another topic. He doesn't feel like he needs thanks for his actions, he would rather thank her for being around to call him.

"How are you at home, everything good?"

"Yeah, there was a dead bird in the yard yesterday, Elwood found it while we were playing, he almost picked it up but I got to him before he did. That's honestly the most exciting thing that's happened here since you left."

"But that's the joy of the country isn't it, that nothing ever happens?"

"Yeah. But I would rather do nothing with you than do nothing alone"

There's a long stretch of silence between them before Andy notices a tear fall down Y/N's cheek. There are no other signs of her sadness, no shaking shoulders or audible sounds. Just a few gentle tears that he would've missed if he wasn't so utterly enraptured by her face on the five-inch screen. His heart breaks.

"Hey hey, it's ok love, it's just a bit longer. I'll be home for a break in a few weeks. "

"I know. It's just really hard."

He doesn't know what to say to that at first. He wants to hammer on about how she knew what she was getting into, and this was an inevitability. But he knew she knew that. Him repeating it isn't going to make either of them feel any better. The next part of him yearned to just get on a plane and be at home, but that wasn't fair to anyone. Not his bandmates, not the concertgoers, and not Andy who loved what he did more than anything.

All he could say was

"I know."

You imagine the separation being hard but no one really prepares you for it. You can't prepare for it. It's the pain of losing a routine and a lover all at once. It's the frustration of needing help, of needing someone to take something off your plate and having someone willing to, but that someone is 1000 miles away. Literally.

She's crying a little harder now, still silent, with the tears increasing in frequency and size. He says again,

"I know. I know how hard it is cause I feel it too. You know what I miss the most right now?"

"What?"

"I miss the things that you do that piss me off. The annoying stuff. I miss how you always steal bites of my food."

She can't help but laugh at that. He keeps talking,

"I miss how cold your feet are and how you're always trying to shove them under me to warm them. And how often you leave dirty clothes on the floor."

She joins in this time,

"I miss your hair clogging the shower drain. And how you use every possible dish when you cook."

"See, doesn't it hurt a little less knowing that you don't have to unclog the shower for a while?"

"Yeah, and I'm sure you sleep easier without my cold feet poking you."

Theres another small pause, but this one is not as sad as the rest of them. This one feels like two people comfortable with each other, just basking in the silence, feeling no pressure.

"It sucks love, it really does. But it gets easier. And there are less shitty days. And it's not for forever."

"Ok, it's shitty, but I've felt shittier. And it's not for forever."

"Yeah."

"OK," she says, wiping her eyes a bit to try to show a bit of a braver face, "this is getting kind of bummer-ish, talk to me a bit about tour stuff"

For the rest of the call, he prattled on about various events and hijinks at his shows, on the road, and in between. About halfway through the story, he realized that she had fallen asleep and for some reason, he finished the story before hanging up. Possibly hoping that she would wake back up, but mostly enjoying the domestic feeling of talking to her. He eventually hung up, settling with the fact that she was indeed asleep for real. A few hours and a timezone later after he woke up from his own nap, he noticed a WhatsApp message again,

I forgot the HBO password again...

[dira333]

Sleepwalker - Kaminari Denki x Reader

If you voted Kaminari against Tensei in my poll, this is for you.

Words: 9k - This is a time skip work. Everyone from Class 1-A and 1-B is about 21/22. Have fun.

In the faint orange light of a street lamp, you can barely make out the edge of the bed.

Wherever you are, it’s warm, dark and it absolutely reeks of alcohol and sweat.

An arm is slung around you, the pale skin reflecting what little light there is. 

For a moment you consider that you’re dreaming. After all, the last time you woke up in an unfamiliar bed happened… never. But pinching yourself doesn’t work. The arm stays.

You turn your head a little, hoping that you might be able to see some more of the person attached to it. Blonde hair, bright enough to catch even the smallest amount of light. The face attached to it is mushed against the side of your chest. 

Thankfully, you’re wearing a shirt.

Okay… you’re pretty sure other girls have found themselves in similar predicaments. Just because it hasn’t happened to you before doesn’t mean- The guy burps. 

The smell is revolting and you flinch away from him, slipping out of his grasp. 

You’re free, but now he’s waking up too, groaning as he rubs his hands over his eyes.

“What’s going on?” He manages to slur in the time it takes for your feet to find the floor. A sharp pain cuts through the haze in your head - and through your foot.

You curse so loudly that even his next-door neighbor must have woken up. The light still doesn’t flicker on.

“Come back to bed,” the guy says instead and whoever he is, you want to smack him so hard he forgets his own name.

“Get out of bed!” You demand instead, hands pressed onto the mattress as you put all your weight onto your other foot. “I need help.”

“Help?!” There’s something in his voice now, alarmed and ready, and the next second the light’s are on, burning your eyes.

“Who are you?” The guy asks just as you pry your eyes open and let out something that might have been a scream or a gasp, but sounds a little like his burp from before.

“Chargebolt?” You ask, pain in your foot momentarily forgotten. “You’re Chargebolt?”

“Who are you?” He asks again, hair standing up straight now. You wonder if he’s going to shock you, a civilian. He might if he thinks you broke into his apartment.

“I’m- shit, I… I woke up in your bed a few minutes ago. I don’t know how I got here but I stepped on something. I think I cut my leg.”

“What?” He moves toward you, squinting. “Yeah, that’s a lot of blood. What do you want me to do?”

You gasp. “Help me, of course. Disinfect it, put a bandage on, check if it needs stitches. You’re a hero, aren’t you?”

He laughs humorlessly. “Don’t you watch the News? Chargebolt got dropped from the Hero Charts.”

“Nonsense,” you bite back, “You went from Number 19 to Number 59. That’s not being dropped. You didn’t pull an Endeavour.”

He gapes, mouth open.

“Are you going to help me now, or what?”

It takes him a minute, but suddenly he’s back, crouching behind you as he examines your foot. His touch is gentle, but his commentary is not.

“This looks nasty… I might throw up… Ugh, there’s still Glass inside.” He gags and then there’s another sting of pain, so sharp you try to pull your foot away.

“Don’t,” his grip tightens. “I had only Vodka to disinfect it. Sorry if it burns.”

A few minutes later you sit on his bed again, foot pulled toward you, bandaged in a kitchen towel.

“You should let that get checked out,” he tells you, stumbling through the room. It’s a mess. Used clothes are hanging over upturned chairs, dirty Dishes in the sink, more than one broken glass on the floor.

“You live like this?” You ask just as he pours himself some Vodka in a coffee cup.

“Nah, villain attack.” He jokes, before sobering a little. “Just kidding. I got a little drunk last night and wanted to redecorate. Didn’t work so well. So… what brings you here? I don’t think I picked anyone up last night.”

“And if you had, it wouldn’t have been me,” you bite back. He grins. 

Chargebolt has always been handsome, his cheeky way of banter something you’ve envied all the way back to U.A. You wonder if he remembers you, but the business Classes never had much to do with the Hero Classes. And besides that, you didn’t stand out much, even less compared to what other people had to offer.

He still is handsome, three years after graduation, even when he’s obviously seen better days. 

“Come on,” he teases. “I’m not that bad.”

“I agree. Though you are pretty disgusting right now.”

His face falls for a second before a mask of indifference is carefully placed instead.

“Sorry,” he says, “You can leave if you want.”

“I will.” You tell him, before hesitating. “But you have to close your eyes.”

“I have to-” He laughs. “I have to close my eyes? Why?”

“I can’t use my Quirk when someone’s looking.” You press through your teeth, embarrassed beyond belief. But he does as he’s told, eyes fluttering shut. 

So you teleport away, taking with you a mystery and his blood-soaked kitchen towel.

This time, you’re hugging him. 

It takes you a minute at first, collecting yourself. 

The body is warm in your embrace, back turned to you, velvety strands of blonde hair tickling your skin. His hair smells good, like Bubblegum or something similar, though the rest of his body reeks of alcohol and sweat yet again.

As quietly as you can, you push yourself away from him, this time not taking the chance to step into whatever he has lying around.

Within minutes, your eyes get used to the dim light streaming in. The floor is mostly clean, though the laundry and dish situation still hasn’t cleared up. It’s been three days, has he cleaned in the meantime or not?

If he’d wake up now, he’d probably think that you really are just some weird fan stalking him. It certainly looks that way even though you have no idea why you’re here. You’ve had a proper grip on your Quirk for years.

With one last look at his sleeping form, you teleport back home.

The next time, Chargebolt is sleeping on your back. Yes, it’s as uncomfortable as it sounds, his chin pressed into your shoulder blade. He’s snoring and he’s heavy. You can’t very well slip out from under him - you’ve tried, with no success - and if you teleport in this position, you fear you’ll take him with you. Or at least parts of him. 

For a moment you consider just falling back asleep, letting him figure it out on his own when he wakes up.

But he’s either getting heavier, or you’re just not made to be a mattress, but sleep will not come. And anyway, when will he wake up on his own?

You sigh, turn your hand as far back as you can - and pinch him. Chargebolt lets out an adorable squeak before turning away, rolling off you in that single movement. He lands on his back, eyes open, gaze locking with yours.

“Hi,” he smiles. You slap him.

“What was that for?” He asks, rubbing his cheek.

“Dude,” you breathe out, “You’ve got to stop calling me here.”

“Calling you here?” He blinks. “I don’t think I called anyone. I don’t have the money to-”

“Not like that!” You huff, embarrassed. “I’m a Teleporter. I think you’re calling me here in some way. I don’t want to come here and be your pillow, you know.”

“Sure,” he huffs back, pulling the blanket toward him. “Put the blame on me.”

“Listen, I-”

“You can go.” He waves his hands around like he’s conducting a concert. “Thank you for your time.”

“Come on, I didn’t mean it like that.” It strikes you as odd that you’re now apologizing to him. For what, you don’t know.

But Chargebolt has already turned his head, faking a snore.

“I wouldn’t have woken you up this time,” you tell him, readying yourself to teleport, “But I didn’t want to risk teleporting you with me when I get back. So I had to wake you.”

“Wait,” his hands shoot out. “This time?”

You can feel his grip, but it moves through you, his action a little too late.

Well, you think, if this continues, he’ll get his chance to ask soon enough.

Chargebolt is spooning you. 

He left the lights on, doesn’t even wake when you slip out of his hold. With a sigh, you face the mess that he’s living in.

His ranking did not rise these last weeks. No one really seems to care for him after that botched mission. You read the articles, have seen the footage. You doubt anyone could have saved those people, but he’d just come out of that messy divorce, married for not even a year. People like Heroes who have stable families, who are model versions of what they want a human person to be.

And Chargebolt… Chargebolt is just human, imperfect, trying his best.

You can’t help but feel sorry for him.

With a sigh, you pick up the dirty socks next to the bed. Then a shirt. A pair of jeans with a ketchup stain. Soon, the washing machine is doing its thing and you’re piling dirty dishes into the dishwasher. 

Besides the mess, he’s living in a nice apartment. There’s memorabilia everywhere. Pictures are posted on the fridge, notes from friends taped to every single surface. 

“You need to eat, Dunceface!”

“Great job on that mission! Koji”

“Thank you for the tickets. I am indebted to you. Tokoyami.”

It shows you what you’ve already known. He has a life. There is a person behind the Hero.

As you open a cabinet, you find a class picture, presumably from his first year at U.A., taped to the inside of the door. He looks so carefree in it like he’s getting ready to tell a joke, knowing full well everyone’s going to hate it.

The memory washes over you like a Tidal Wave.

Him, laughing in the hallway. Some guy with dark hair and a wide grin facepalming by his side.

“Kaminari,” he groans. “That was awful.”

For a moment, your eyes catch his yellow ones, breath knocked out of you.

But his eyes move past you, like they usually do, the moment gone as quickly as it came.

Who are you kidding, you think to yourself, back in the present. He’s not the one calling you here. You’re the one still crushing on someone who’s always been out of reach.

You leave without another look back, vowing to yourself that you’re going to take your sleeping pills again. The guy’s going through enough, he doesn’t need you stalking him in your sleep.

“Slept well?” A voice asks. Your mind’s hazy, a byproduct of your sleeping pills. You groan and push yourself up, but your arms are like jello, so you faceplant into the pillows again.

Soft laughter rings out from somewhere behind you.

Slowly, slowly, like freshly brewed coffee trickling into a cup, your consciousness comes to life. 

“Oh shit,” you jump up when you realize where you are.

The apartment is filled with sunlight and Kaminari’s standing in the kitchen, a coffee cup in his hand.

“What time is it?” Your eyes race through the room, looking for a watch. “I need to- I’m going to be-”

“It’s Sunday.” He reminds you, laughing again when the air whooshes out of you in one swoop. 

“Coffee?” He asks. You nod, unable to grasp what’s happening.

“I’m really sorry, Kaminari,” you say, “I’ve been taking my sleeping pills again, I shouldn’t teleport without my knowledge.”

“How do you know my name?” There’s something in his voice, straining to get out. You sit up again, trying to catch his eyes, but he’s looking at the floor.

“I- I remembered it. We’re… well, I was… I was in your year, at the U.A. Business Class A.”

Kaminari lifts his head, squinting, brows furrowed. You don’t think you’ve changed much since then, but it’s been three years since you graduated.

“You’re the Calculator-Cutie,” he blurts out.

“What?”

“Minato named you that. He, uh… you slapped him with a Calculator once, when he tried something.”

Blood rushes to your head. 

“Wow,” you snark. “What a nickname.”

“Sorry,” he pulls a cup out from under the machine. “Coffee?”

Breakfast is an awkward affair. 

Kaminari serves you cereal with oat milk. “It doesn’t go bad as fast as regular milk,” he explains as he pours. Your eyes are locked on your food, but you can’t help but notice that he keeps staring.

“So, uh…” he starts eventually. “Does that happen to you often?”

“Not since I’ve mastered my Quirk.”

“And when did that happen?”

“When I was five.” You still cannot look at him. “Accidentally teleported a few times as a kid and it was embarrassing enough to get real good at it.”

“I don’t think you can say you’ve mastered it when you can’t do it when someone’s looking.”

That comment has you turn your head, glaring at him. “It’s hard, okay?! If you look at me I might get confused and teleport into you instead of where I want to go.”

“Into me?” He smirks. “Sounds nasty.”

You pout. “Whatever. I’m taking sleeping pills now, so I thought this should stop it. I don’t know why I’m still teleporting though. And why it’s always-” You stop yourself. You do have a hunch on why you always teleport to him. But he doesn’t need to know.

“I think I know.” Kaminari stretches like a lazy cat. He’s still lanky, not buffed up like Dynamight or Red Riot. You’ve always found that cute and it’s biting you in the ass now, as you can’t help but keep looking.

“You’re not curious what I know?” He asks, interrupting your starring session.

“I thought you’d tell me anyway,” you lie and he grins, somewhat proud.

“I decided to stop drinking.”

“And that’s why I’m here?”

“Shush, I’m getting to it. Anyway, I’ve decided to stop drinking, because of reasons, but I still got… well, a little sad yesterday. I had nothing alcoholic around, so I curled up in bed with a tub of ice cream and just like that, you plopped into existence next to me. You were snoring a lot, just so you know.”

“I teleported and you didn’t wake me up?!” Horror has crept into your voice. Kaminari’s proud smile doesn’t falter.

“I tried, but nothing could wake you. You could sleep through a fire with those sleeping pills. Mind giving me some?”

“Those are prescription only.” You point out, a little embarrassed. You do drool in your sleep, after all.

“Well, anyway, I guess you were right after all. I did call you here.” He doesn’t look apologetic at all, just a little… you’re not sure what kind of emotion it is that flickers over his face.

“You figured it out just like that?” You ask, hoping to get more information. If this is the truth, does that mean he likes you? No, no that can’t be it. After all, you’re you and he’s-

“Yeah,” the smirk slips off his lips for a second before he straightens, looking confident yet again. You doubt that it’s real. After all you’ve seen this mask of indifference on him before.

“Anyway, it’s not going to happen again. But thank you all the same for keeping me company. Can I get you an Uber home?”

“An Uber?”

“Yes.” Kaminari nods. “I mean, you could stay a little longer, but as you can tell, I can only offer you coffee.” He shakes the empty box of cereal.

“Oh, no-” you shake your head. What does he think of you? You’re not here to eat his food and waste his time. “I’m fine. I… An Uber would be nice, thank you.”

It’s only when you’re sitting in it, Kaminari’s apartment complex disappearing from your view - it’s odd to finally see the outside of it all, knowing that it’s not that far from your place ll - that you realize.

There are still some things missing. What made it possible for him to call you? Being sad? Really? But, you guess, if he knows how he did it and he promised not to do it again, you don’t really have anything to say. Even if you wouldn’t have minded being called over again, though in more pleasant circumstances.

Sakura opens the door to your office.

“Do you want a coffee before the new client arrives?”

“Yeah, that would be nice.” You close a folder and put it away. “Do we have some Matcha for Mugiwara-san? You know she only drinks that.”

“Yep, of course.” It only takes a minute for her to walk back through the door, hand you your coffee, and take a seat on the edge of your desk.

“So…” She flutters her pretty pink eyelashes at you, fresh new Sakura blossoms growing in her hair, a clear tell that she’s curious. “What did you do this weekend?”

“Nothing much,” you tell her, “I finished the proposal for Agawashi-san on Saturday and cleaned my kitchen on Sunday.”

“Mhm,” her squints. “If that’s so, why do you wear your shirt inside out?”

With a start, you look down at yourself. She laughs softly. 

“I’m usually the one who makes mistakes like that. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah,” you nod. “Just a fluke. I needed to take sleeping pills this weekend and you know how much they mess me up.”

“Aww,” she coos, turning from a little sister into a mothering hen just like that. “No more coffee after twelve for you, I’ll put it in the calendar.”

The doorbell rings and she slips from your desk, winking at you.

“I’ll distract them. Just come out and get them when you’ve turned your shirt around.”

You can hear them laughing through the door, Sakura’s talent of making people feel at ease calming your heartrate.

Until you open the door and come face to face with Kaminari.

The sound you make sounds more like a mouse facing a cat than an agent facing a client. He moves through the shock a little quicker than you, lips turning up into a smirk.

“Mugiwara-san,” you save yourself, moving for his agent. The woman must have taken him on recently, because last you’ve heard he was working with Hirano-san, the legend who brought Dynamight and Cellophane into the Top Ten.

“Hi,” she smiles. “Thanks for your taking us on so shortly. I’m just standing in for Hirano-san. He knows I’ve worked with you before.”

“Oh,” you blink, a little confused. “I would have worked with him just as well, but I-”

“Hirano-san,” Mugiwara-san continues at your confusion, “has seen your work for the Todoroki Family and was impressed. He wanted you to take on this special case.”

Your heart drops. Oh no.

“I don’t know if you remember me,” Kaminari dares to quip from your side at that moment, “But we went to school together. Same year, even though I was in the Hero Class and you went through Business. So if you’re not up to the Challenge of reforming my image, maybe you could do it for old-time-sake?”

You shoot him an angry glare. Sakura, who’s standing behind him, lets out a surprised squeak at the sight.

“Could we speak for a minute?” You snap, your tone harsher than you want it to be. “In private, Kaminari-san?”

He smiles. “Course. Lead the way.”

The door closes behind him with a Click. You can barely catch your breath, walking over to the windows overlooking the city.

“Are you out of your mind?” You ask, whisper yelling, too aware of the thin walls. “What are you doing here?”

“Getting my shit together,” Kaminari tells you, hands in the pockets of his jeans. He’s decently dressed and much too good-looking for your already anxious heart. The shirt he’s wearing is ironed, yet not tucked in, making him look small and big at the same time.

You twirl the hem of your shirt in between your fingers, tuck your lip behind your teeth, and think.

“Why me?” You ask after a minute. “After yesterday-”

“I didn’t know we’d be meeting you.” He admits. A light blush starts at the high point of his cheekbones and he moves to rub the back of his neck. “Called Bakugo last week because I needed some advice. He talked to Hirano-san. Said I really meant it this time.”

“You got Bakugo to vouch for you?” You ask, clearly remembering the Blonde’s temper. “Wow.”

“Yeah,” he smiles, a shy one this time that soars through your heart like a burning arrow. You actually move to rub your hand over it, as if that would help. 

“If this isn’t okay…” He hesitates. “If you don’t want to work with me or can’t, that’s okay, really. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

You take a breath. Think about working with him. Not just working, but working with him. You don’t want to do it, heart burning just at the thought of seeing him more often. Especially after this weekend.

But if you say no- you don’t let your brain follow that road.

“No,” you shake your head, “I’m fine. I’m a professional. I can do this.”

“Oh,” he laughs awkwardly. “Well, at least one of us is a professional.”

You eye him for a second. “Self-deprecating humor might work for the media.”

His mouth pulls into a fine line for a second before he nods. “Got it.”

Sakura slips in as soon as they have left, pushing a small take-out container onto your desk.

“Here. Thought you could need it.”

Warily you eye her through the fog of exhaustion before you open it, lips quirking up on their own at the sight of your favorite snack.

“You noticed?” You ask, before taking your first bite.

“You never lose your cool,” she quips, pulling a fully bloomed Sakura blossom from her hair and dropping it into the little bowl on the side of your table - you like the look of them there and her scalp gets itchy if she leaves them on for too long. “What happened? Did he flirt with you back in school?”

“No!” You huff and her pink eyes snap back to you with a speed that’s frightening.

“You have a crush on him,” she points out with painstaking accuracy. “Never thought that would be your type. No wonder you were completely cool with TetsuTetsu last month.”

“Why?” You furrow your brows. “What did he do?”

Sakura gapes, disbelieving laughter spilling out of her. “Are you shit- sorry, are you kidding me, Boss? He showed up practically naked, well, half-naked, and flirted with you the whole time and you didn’t even break a sweat.”

“He said that clothes restrict him.”

“Yeah, but showing up in skin-tight jeans and nothing else? Please! And the way he always put his hand on yours. And flexed! He flexed for you!”

“Yeah, because we were figuring out poses for the new posters.” You defend your Client. “And I know you know you’re not supposed to listen in on my sessions.”

Sakura purses her lips. “Sorry. It was just too juicy. I promise I’ll stop. I didn’t even listen today.”

“Mhm?” You eye her. “What did you hear?”

“Nothing, I swear.”

“Sakura.”

“Okay, so… do you really think that it’s a good idea for Chargebolt not to do an apology video?”

You eye her. “What do you think?”

“Well, it worked really well with Phantom Thief.”

“Yeah, because he’s a different character. Chargebolt’s best strategy is using his Charm and you can’t utilize it in a stiff apology video. You have to see him in action.”

Sakura’s brows are still furrowed.

“Remember when Hirano-san made Dynamight do the Spicy Wing Challenge after he blew up at the Reporter?”

“Oooooh!” Sakura’s face relaxes, a pink blush now adorning her cheeks. “I love that video. I have it saved and the amount of screenshots I took, you have no idea.”

“I do,” you disagree. “I do have an idea. That was my idea, by the way. I was working under Hirano-san at that time.”

Kaminari cannot handle spice.

His eyes start watering after the second wing and he’s full-on sobbing after the fifth, although that might have something to do with the questions he’s being asked. 

You’re watching him from behind the camera, only this relaxed because you know he has no idea you’re here.

He’s a honest guy, following your advice to a T. His ex-wife might not be the world's beloved character at the moment, but she has some fans. Not once does he discredit her, instead tells the tale of a young and much too rushed love, figuring out that you’re not fit for each other in between fighting villains and trying to climb the Hero Ranks.

“Milk’s not helping,” he chokes after the eighth wing, looking around for help. His eyes catch yours for a second, or maybe it’s just a flicker of dust he focuses on because you doubt he can notice you from this far away, against the bright lights blinding him. 

“Sorry,” his interviewer doesn’t sound sorry at all. “You know, what I’ve always wanted to ask you… that mission…”

Kaminari’s head falls forward. From where you’re standing it looks like he’s passed out. Even the interviewer looks freaked for a second, moving as if to shake him back to life when Kaminari straightens again, pale face covered in red spots.

“I questioned myself a lot after that one,” he admits. You didn’t tell him to be this honest, heart squeezing at his tone. “Went through the footage again and again. If I’d been a little quicker, a little smarter, a little stronger… I know I did all I could. That’s what they teach you, you know, at U.A. To always go beyond. Plus Ultra.” He stares down at the two remaining wings, sniffles a little. “During the war, we learned that sometimes that’s not enough. People still die even though you’ve done everything you could. It doesn’t make it any easier though. It just…” He hesitates before grabbing the ninth wing. “It just means we can’t give up. There are people depending on us.”

Tears are streaming down his face as he eats the two remaining wings in stoic silence, not once reaching for the milk.

You meet him backstage a few minutes later, handing him a bottle with a thick pink sludge inside.

“Drink this. Tastes disgusting but helps with the burns.”

“Didn’t know you were watching,” he says, words slightly slurred. He empties the bottle in one go, shivering at the taste.

“You did good,” you tell him, watching as he slouches forward as if hoping he’ll fall into you. Maybe you’re the one hoping. Who knows.

Heart knocking against your ribcage you reach out, curl one hand around his shoulder. He falls into you all at once, head knocking into yours, his weight so unexpected you barely catch yourself before you stumble.

Your mind, unable to quiet, reminds you of the people outside. Those who work for the studio and those who are just hoping to get a glimpse of him. 

You think of how broken he sounded, how heavy he leans into you.

“Want me to take you home?” You ask, voice so quiet you hope he might not have heard.

But you can feel him nod so you close your eyes, curl your other hand around his hip to pull him close, and think of the headrest of his bed and the window to its left.

You land with your left leg on the mattress and your right on the floor, stumbling and landing on your back, his body falling onto yours.

Spots flicker in front of your eyes. It’s been a while since you’ve teleported more than just your own body and even then it had been a much shorter distance.

“You good?” You hear him ask, make out his face in between the fireworks going off in front of your eyes.

“Yeah,” you croak. “Just give me a minute.”

“I’ve got ice cream,” he offers, moving off of you. “You want some?”

“What kind?” You ask because you know that sugar will help. Never mind the fact that you should go back right now, that using your Quirk as a Civilian is technically illegal.

“Orange Soda Popsicles, Chocolate with Chili - nevermind that flavor - and Mint Chocolate Chip.”

“I’ll take a Popsicle. You’ve got no taste by the way.”

“Excuse me,” he bites back with a laugh. “I didn’t know you’re the ice cream police.”

“Well, now you know.”

You’re not the least bit surprised when you turn up in his bed that night.

Kaminari’s asleep, one arm slung around your torso, his face pressed against your ribcage, your arm falling asleep under the weight of his head. 

He’s not smelling of alcohol, the scent of his bubblegum shampoo tickling your nose instead.

You think about slipping out of his grasp for a minute, feel guilty when you don’t move at all.

But he’d been brave that day, opened himself to a word that’s too cruel some days and a lot more careless the rest of the time. If your free hand dares to curl itself into the softness of his hair, tuck a strand behind his ear, and listen to him sniffle, you’ll take that secret to the grave with you.

---

Chargebolt has moved to Number 48. It’s been a slow rise, but you’ve learned to trust that to last longer.

Kaminari is a regular visitor in your office now, showing up at least once a week to bother you with questions he could ask over E-mail. 

You’re a regular visitor in his bedroom too, always leaving before the morning dawns. If he knows that he’s calling you, that you let him curl into you in the middle of the night, he’s not saying anything.

“What about this?” Kaminari is pulling up a picture. “As a profile pic?”

“I’m not looking at another one of your thirst traps,” you tell him, eyes on your monitor. 

“It’s not a thirst trap… Come on, at least look at it.”

You huff a sigh before turning, coming face to face with his phone. Just like you’d guessed it’s a picture of him, posing in front of the Gym Mirror, flexing.

“It’s a thirst trap,” you tell him, voice empty. “And not a good one.”

“Oh, come on!” He pouts. “I doubled the weight I’m lifting. Even Bakugo said he noticed something.”

“How did he phrase it?” You ask, going through your emails now. Is that- You hesitate, mouse hovering over it. Kaminari’s telling you something, but you don’t hear it, eyes flickering over the short text.

“And then he said-”

“You’ve got the job.”

“Huh?”

“I said you’ve got the job. I secured you a part in Vine’s newest ad campaign.”

“Vine?” Kaminari looks a little lost. “What’s she making ads for?”

“Herself. She’s well-liked, known to have high morals and every single person she worked with has skyrocketed after the job. This might get you into the twenties. If you keep doing your work instead of hanging around here showing me thirst traps you can take it the rest of the way on your own.”

“But-” Kaminari hesitates. “Fine, I’ll do it.”

“Wait.” You turn to get a closer look. “You don’t sound happy. What is it?”

“No, no, it’s fine.” He waves you off but you like to think you’ve gotten to know him a little better.

“You’re lying. What is it?”

Kaminari huffs, his eyes wandering from left to right, crossing your office without ever meeting you.

“Do you want to get rid of me?” He asks, pouting. It’s unfair how adorable that looks on him.

A joke’s sitting on the tip of your tongue but you can’t bring yourself to say it. What if he’s being serious for once?

“No,” you say, glad that he’s not looking at you. Your heart is hammering in your chest. “I like your company.”

His eyes shoot over to you, a little too quickly to avoid it. You swallow thickly, unable to clear your throat when his left hand curls around your right.

“Will you come watch?” He asks and you nod, unable to do anything else. 

A shy smile breaks out on his face, lighting up his eyes in a way that has your stomach lift and turn in on itself, pins and needles in your legs. 

If Kaminari’s having this kind of effect on you, should you really be working with him?

Vine’s gorgeous. You knew that way before you applied for a chance to work with her.

You still remember coming across her in the hallways of U.A., something like envy writhing in your blood. If you looked like her, maybe people would notice you. 

And she’s nice too, something you’ve learned during the projects you worked on. She’d been one of your clients right after, trusting your judgment when you’d advised her to take Agawashi-san as her agent, to not sell herself for anything she didn’t believe in.

You might consider her something like a friend, or rather a friendly acquaintance, though you don’t see yourself on her level, always a few steps behind, trying to figure out what it is you’re lacking.

“So nice to see you!” She greets you with a hug. You’re a little early, as usual, handing her the little potted plant you got on the way. She coos over your choice, something like pride washing over you.

There are things you’re good at. You know how to build and keep an image, how to make and break business. And you’re an excellent gift-giver. 

“We really need to catch up sometimes,” Shiozaki says, ushering you into her dressing room. “Don’t you want to join us for drinks this weekend? We’re going out Saturday night, even the girls from 1-A are going to be there, you know? Ochako, Mina, oh, what was the name of the one with dark hair?”

“Jirou? Asui? Or Yaoyorozu?”

“Yes and yes. Ah, you’re so good with names. I’m missing someone too, they’ve got six girls.”

“Hagakure. Quirk Invisibilty.”

Shiozaki smiles. “Thank you. Are you going to come? Oh, no, do we really have to start already?” She sends you an apologetic look as staff swarms the room, pulling at her hair, her clothes, lifting eyeshadow palettes to her face to check.

“I’m going to wait outside,” you say, glad you don’t have to answer her question. Should you come? It feels nice to be invited for once. But what would you talk about with all those girls and their exciting careers? You don’t think they’re going to ask for your advice, they’re all successful in their own right.

“Oh, you’re here already?” Kaminari stops you in the hallways, almost blinding you with his getup.

From the jacket to the shoes, he’s a wild mix of colors. His pants look like they’ve been cut out of a giant chess board and the hoodie he wears under his open jacket is neon green with a weird picture on the front. It should look hideous, but it doesn’t. Maybe it’s the bright, star-shaped glasses that he’s wearing, that complete the look and have your heart thumping in your throat. His outfit screams his name and you do the same, although a little quieter.

“Yeah, it’s me.” He’s grinning, his whole face lighting up with his mood. Oh if only you could pour that into mason jars, close them up, and store them for the lonely days that are sure to come.

“What do you think of this fit?” He asks, twirling in front of you and going as far as to blow you a kiss. “I’ve not been drunk for over a month and I’m cutting back on the ice cream too. But I didn’t want to buy this as a reward but rather as, like, a guidebook. To stay slaying, you know?”

You make a sound that’s halfway between a snort and a sob.

He looks at you, grinning, waiting for an answer.

“You look good,” you say, because anything less would be a lie but you can’t bring yourself to tell him how good he really looks.

Not that it’s necessary anyway. Behind you, a door opens.

“Oh, you’re here, Kaminari!” Vine’s voice is soft and melodic and turning towards her has you feeling like Cinderella’s step sisters. You thought you looked decent until she showed up.

She’s not even wearing anything fancy, yet, but her long green hair and the flutter of her eyelashes have you draw into yourself.

“I’m going to check on the photographers,” you excuse yourself, pulling your phone out of your pocket as you march past Kaminari, not daring to throw a look back.

“Drinks?” You text Sakura, sending a begging Emoji right after. She accepts.

-

“Wanna talk about it?” Sakura asks, pushing yet another ridiculously colorful cocktail into your hands. “The last time you were so desperate to get drunk you accidentally bought the wrong underwear for What-was-his-name?”

“His name was Tsunagu Hakamada and we do not talk about this period of my life,” you hiss, gulping down the fruity concoction. You can barely taste the alcohol in this.

“Yeah, but I’m sure it’s not as bad as that time. Not that that time was even that bad. What happened? Did you trip on one of Vine’s vines?” She gasps, pressing a hand against her mouth. “Don’t tell me Chargebolt short-circuited something and they think it’s your fault!”

You huff.

“Sakura,” you ask her in all seriousness, “Remember how I caught you snooping around for Dynamights personal number?”

She blushes. “Yeah?”

“If you keep what I’m telling you now a secret, we’ll be even. You no longer owe me anything. Not that you ever really did.”

Red dots appear on her pale skin. “It’s as bad as that? Really? Oh, I’m so invested now. Pray tell!”

Quietly, barely audible over the loud music, you tell her. Not about today, even though it’s still running hammock in your brain, but about the night that started it all. About you finding yourself in Kaminari’s bed.

Her reactions are just what you expected them to be, incredulous gasps and her hands reaching for your arm, anything to hang onto as she listens. Thin branches grow from her hair, a clear sing that she’s not just intrigued, but downright curious. It looks almost like antlers, the way they form a halo around her head, Sakura blossoms in full bloom.

“He’s into you,” she says, fully convinced when you end. “That’s why he shows up so often! I mean he even brings in your favorite snacks and drinks nowadays!”

“Nonsense,” you say, throat dry at the thought. “He’s just being nice.”

“If he didn’t want to, he wouldn’t,” Sakura disagrees. “Why are you so convinced that noone likes you?”

You draw back, face hurting as if she slapped you.

“I’m getting another drink,” you excuse yourself from the table, slip away before she can say anything more.

It’s not part of the Quirk, you don’t think.

After all, your mother had it too, but she never mentioned it as a package deal. You can go everywhere you want, but no one’s going to take notice of you, ever.

It’s just you, being the way you are. Boring. 

And maybe it’s the alcohol or the bright lights or literally everything else, but you can’t help but get lost in your mind.

“That’s it, that’s the look!” You hear on your left, your hands clenched in your lap.

Shiozaki’s beautiful in her flowing white dress. She looks like a bride or an angel, nothing but a halo missing. Kaminari’s on his knees, looking up at her like the lovesick fool he should be. You’re going to be sick.

But you don’t, because you’re a professional.

Still, it feels like a part of you is missing in every conversation. As if your heart got up and left the room, your answers come a little mechanically. Kaminari in a form-fitting suit, winking into the Camera. Kaminari in a vintage outfit, missing just the white horse to play the prince coming to Shiozaki’s rescue. And finally, Kaminari in his own outfit, star-shaped glasses reflecting the light.

They look like a lovely couple, you can’t help but think, can’t help but overhear from the people milling around. And it doesn’t matter that he slept curled against your side last night.

You leave right after, in the Chaos of packing everything up.

It’s not like Shiozaki really wanted to invite you over for Drinks. She’s just polite.

It’s not like Kaminari will notice you missing. After all, he’s good friends with Shiozaki, better than you might have thought when you asked for the opportunity. 

You can see it in the way they talk, laugh about shared history. 

“Hey, watch where you’re going!” Someone yells in your face and you snap out of the memory, blink into the furious face of someone you must have run into. His shirt is drenched. Is that your fault?

“Sorry,” you mumble, “Can I buy you a drink?”

“It’s the least you can do!” He grunts, grabbing your arm and dragging you along, to the bar where he orders.

You almost disappear next to his height, watching his drink being made while feeling eerily distant.

The guy curses loudly. You turn, expecting yet another drink to go to waste. But he’s looking at the TV mounted over the Bar. You think it played Music Videos earlier, which is a little weird considering the Club itself is playing music, but now it’s showing the News.

Even without sound, it’s not that hard to catch on. A fight broke out downtown, damaging a few of the buildings. As the heavily damaged structure of a building is shown, the Logos of the Heroes at the scene are listed. Dynamight, Tailman, Tsukuyomi. Suddenly the camera cuts back to the News Lady, her face showing concern. And as if to mock you, the bright yellow Logo of Chargebolt appears on screen, coupled with a few shots of Dynamight yelling at a Fireman and Tailman’s concerned face. What is going on?”

“There you are!” Sakura appears at your side. “Did you order?”

“Kaminari!” You say instead, pointing at the TV. “I don’t know what they’re saying.”

“What?” Sakura blinks, looking up, her pink brows furrowed. “Uh. Someone’s buried, I think. Uh. They’re working on getting them out.”

“Kaminari,” you breathe, the thought clear even in your slightly hazy mind. “He’s in danger.”

“Are you sure?” Sakura’s eyes move from you to the TV. “Ah, now they’re covering the Villain Attack instead. He’s a Pro, though, right? I’m sure he’s fine. He’s got his friends with him.”

“No,” you shake your head, your legs a little heavy from the drinks you’ve already consumed. “I’m sure he’s in danger. I’m going to save him.”

“Save him?” Sakura turns. “What are you talking about? You don’t-”

“Here,” you push your credit card into her hands. “I spilled this guy’s drink, you need to pay for it. And… And get yourself another drink too. I’m going to go save him.”

“Please, don’t-” You don’t hear the rest of the sentence, the lights of the Club already flickering in front of your eyes.

You fall heavy against a warm body, knocking the air out of them.

“Kaminari?” You ask, trying to move your legs. They feel like pudding and you’re not sure if the alcohol or the traveled distance is to blame. “Is that you?”

“Y-yeah?” Warm hands grab yours, pulling you up. “What are you doing here? Oh my god, were you in here when the attack happened?”

You hiccup. There’s barely any light filtering in, but dirt’s smeared across his nose and there’s a cut in his brow.

“Are you okay?” You ask, trying to lift your hand to wipe the dirt off his face but your hands are stuck. You blink, a little confused, and try to get them free.

“Are you okay?” He asks back, concern heavy in his voice. “Do you need sugar? Sit down?”

“I think I’m a little drunk,” you explain. “I’ve never teleported when I was tipsy. I think it doesn’t mix well.”

“You don’t say.” He sighs. “Why did you teleport here? Can you teleport home? It’s not safe for you to be here.”

“I’m here to save you,” you explain. “If you hold onto me I can get us out.”

“I can get us out,” Kaminari disagrees. “Come on, stay with me. I’m working on getting the elevator back on, there are some guys trapped inside.”

“Oh,” you make, sinking onto the floor. You feel dumb.

“Here,” Kaminari pats around his pants, comes up with a pretty bashed-up chocolate bar. “Eat this. Sugar helps, right?”

He opens the package, breaks a piece off, and presses it against your lips until you open them. It feels as if he’s grinning, even though you can’t tell in the darkness.

Shame and relief, exhaustion, and the unique shiver of tipsiness wash over you.

You barely manage to swallow the first bite before you slump.

“Are you falling asleep?” Kaminari asks, his voice soft like a blanket.

“Don’t snore,” you tell him off, your last thought nothing but an order to your hands to curl into the pillow. 

“Ah, sleeping beauty is coming back to life,” someone says as you blink into the light.

“What happened?” You ask, voice still a bit slurred. You remember sharing drinks with Sakura, a furious face demanding that you pay for what you’ve spilled.

“Chargebolt found you asleep in the break room,” the voice says and you turn. It’s Tailman, grinning down at you. “Must have been quite the day if you’re able to sleep through a villain attack and an emergency evacuation.”

“I-” you start but the door opens before you can finish the sentence. Kaminari’s smiling as he enters, the cut in his eyebrow taped, yet the dirt across his nose still present.

“Hi,” he says, “I heard you were waking up.”

“Where am I?” You ask, limbs burning with shame as the rest of your memories trickle in. The News. Teleporting to save him. Realizing that he didn’t need saving at all.

“Kindergarten around the corner,” he explains, stepping closer. “They set up a little Triage here, treating the injured. You were just exhausted, so they let you sleep with someone to guard you.”

“Thank you,” you tell Tailman, who’s quick to shake his head. “Oh, I’ve just been here for a few minutes. Chargebolt’s the one who-”

“Yeah, yeah,” Kaminari interrupts him. “We get it, Ojiro. Thanks for saving the day.”

Tailman, or Ojiro, as you remember, leaves, winking at you as he closes the door.

The room, just a little corner office, seems smaller now, with just the two of you here. 

You can barely look at him, let your eyes rest on his hands instead. But that doesn’t help much, because the skin above his knuckles is red and you reach for it without meaning to, brushing a thumb over it.

“Did you hit someone?” You ask, notice the shiver that races through him, and pull back again, aware of how close you are for two people that are neither dating nor friends. Just sharing a bed from time to time. Didn’t you call yourself a professional?

“Yeah,” he chuckles. “Stupid Elevator didn’t want to work. You need to hit them in the right spot sometimes, like a printer, you know?”

“I’ll keep it in my mind for the next time.” You joke and he sighs.

“Everything okay?” You dare to look up at him, make the question sound sincere. But you can’t focus on his bright eyes, stare at the black streak across his nose instead.

“Do you like me?” He asks and you swallow wrong on reflex, coughing until there are tears in your eyes.

“Hey,” he’s clapping a hand against your back, much too hard to be helpful, but you’re just glad you’re no longer facing him.

“I should get home,” you insist when you can breathe again. “And- and call Sakura. I’m sure she’s worried about me.”

“If you go home now, I’ll just call you over in half an hour.”

You stop, still crouching at the side of the little futon.

“What?”

“I said I’ll just call you over. I- I know you’re sleeping over, you know? I can smell you on my bedsheets.” There’s the sound of movement and when you turn, he’s got his face buried in his hands, his ears a bright red. “Shit, that sounded different than I meant.”

“If you know, why did you not stop it?” You ask, dread heavy in your lungs, your stomach, at the base of your spine. “I’m sure it’s not comfortable sharing your bed with a stranger. I could have taken stronger sleeping pills.”

“I like you.” He huffs, hands dropping. “I thought that was clear. I mean, I know I’m nowhere near your level.”

“My level?” You ask, incredulous. “You mean socially awkward bore?”

He laughs, a stuttering, wonderful sound. “No, I meant beautiful, hard-working, smartass.”

Heat burns its way through your veins. 

“Don’t say those things,” you tell him off, straightening. “You don’t mean them.”

“I do.” Kaminari’s wincing now, a sound that has you turn back again. “I shouldn’t, I know. I mean, I’m recently divorced. I have no clue if I’ll be able to get back into society's good graces. But I- I want you. You know? Even though I have no right to. And I thought… you kept staying. And…” his face is pink now, hands wringing themselves. “You came to save me.”

You reach out and slap him, not as hard as you could have, though your hand still stings from the impact.

His mouth falls open. “What- What was that for?” He asks and you blink.

“I thought you might be a hallucination.”

Kaminari laughs, the sound sudden and almost wrong, but you can’t help but laugh along. 

“I’m going home,” you declare when it ebbs out. You can’t quite catch his eye, still unsure about all of this, that it is real, that it is really happening to you of all people.

“Give me an hour before you call me?”

His grin is blinding.

“I make no promises.”

“What about Vine?” You ask, a tub of your favorite ice cream on your lap, feet outstretched on Kaminari’s mattress. He’s leaning heavily into you, licking the spoon he’d just dug out of his own tub of ice cream.

Sleep had been out of the question when he’d called you over, grinning when you realized that he didn’t need to be half-asleep to do it. 

“What about her?” He asks, before turning to sniff your hair like a maniac. 

“Stop it,” you giggle, though without pushing him away. His grin widens as if he knows you don’t really mind.

“I just…” You drop another spoon of ice cream on your tongue, searching for the words. “You’d fit together.”

“Ah,” he laughs. “Nah. It’s not that I’m not into women way above my League, but I prefer them liking me back. Shiozaki’s not into me.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah,” he grins. “She’s dating Koji. Remember him?”

“Oh.” You stare. “I had no idea.”

“Yeah. I think they’re getting married. She mentioned something about wanting you as one of her bridesmaids.”

“Me?” You hiccup in shock. “Why?”

“Uh, because she likes you?” Kaminari blinks in confusion. “She said she only agreed to do that shoot with me because you asked. She said she trusts your opinion above anything else.”

Your mouth falls open.

“What?” He asks. “Are you okay?”

“Am I hallucinating again?” You ask, voice quivering.

“Don’t slap me, okay?” Kaminari graps your hands. “I’m sure there’s something else to prove this is real.”

You swallow thickly, mind spinning, ears ringing.

“Hey,” his face has come closer. “Would it be okay if I touch you?”

You’ve got half a mind to realize he’s already touching you, but you nod nonetheless, trusting him more than yourself.

His lips brush yours, featherlight and a little chapped. You stop breathing for a second.

“This is real,” he whispers. “You can feel it.”

“Ah!” You hear Sakura. “Look who’s made it. Mr. 18, Chargebolt.”

“Thank you, thank you.” You imagine him bowing in front of you, can’t help smiling at the thought. “Did the boss already eat today?”

“Not a thing. But she filled me in. I know everything that happened this weekend.”

“Everything?” There’s a moment of Silence and you perk up, fearing Silence between these two more than anything else. The squeak that follows proves you right and you’re at the door in seconds.

“What’s going on?” You ask, a little breathless but not for the reasons you want it to be.

Kaminari’s smiling at you, a little mischievous, a little lost in love and your heart feels like it wants to meet him in the middle.

“He got me Dynamights number!” Sakura stutters, Sakura petals dropping from her hair. “What do I do?”

“Text him, I guess.” Kaminari quips before slipping over, slinging an arm around your hips.

“Hey!” He greets you with a kiss. “Wanna get Lunch?”

“Right now?” You check the clock. 

“Mhm,” he cocks his head to the side. “Or I could show you the pictures I took this morning during training. I think you’ll like them as my new profile pic.”

You sigh.

“Lunch it is.”

“Hey!”

[fragileruns]

floating lights | steve harrington

a/n: sorry if this super sucks!!! it’s not proofread and i just wrote it on a whim because i finally got motivation back. i know you guys voted for henderson!reader so i promise to try and make a little thing with that but i just had so much inspo for this. also sorry this is so long for barely anything to happen but!!! i hope you enjoy anyway and follow along for the rest of the series :) i might make the next chapters longer but i don’t want them to be too long incase you guys get bored so??? lmk what you prefer

content warnings: based off ‘tangled’ so technically hostage/kidnapping situation but it’s not really directly described as that, cursing, hitting with a frying pan ??, reader has long hair

wc: 1200

Being locked in a tower for eighteen years of your life certainly stunted your learning, in some ways. Not in academics, necessarily, but more so, it kept you from understanding what the appropriate response was in certain situations. You didn’t know how normal people reacted to a stranger climbing up the walls of their doorless towers, especially handsome strangers.

Probably, they would call the police. Putting that much effort into making it inside (as the tower was quite tall, your mother only being able to make her way in and out with your help) had to be a bad sign. But you didn’t have a phone or any way to contact anyone unless you dropped down and ran for dear life, and you didn’t have any weapons on hand to defend yourself, really.

So instead of reacting like a normal person one, like someone who’s mother wasn’t so overbearing they never let you leave home, you grabbed a frying pan and smashed it as hard as you could on the stranger’s head. The strength had knocked him out, which at least kept you safe. But you didn’t really know what to do now. Tie him to a chair, maybe? It would keep him from being able to harm you, at least. That was the main goal here.

And so, that was what you did. You stared at the man now in the chair, trying to wonder why such a pretty man would be coming inside your tower. He was too young to be a friend of your mother, he was probably your age, maybe a year older. His brown hair was falling in front of his face now that his head hung over, unconscious and not controlling his movements. Your eyes landed on the satchel crossed over his body, and you carefully removed it off of him to look inside, hoping to find more clues.

A glittering tiara sat inside, shiny and bright and extremely pretty. You pulled it out, handling it with as much delicacy as you could. The temptation to put it on was almost too much, but you heard grunting as soon as you started to hold it over your head, so you shoved it back in the satchel and kicked the satchel behind a nearby chair before turning back to your captive.

“Jesus, what the hell?” The stranger grumbled, eyes slowly opening. He struggled against your hair (which had been the only thing around you could think of to use to keep him from moving), presumably trying to bring a hand up to rub the sore spot on his head, and instantly panicked when he realized he couldn’t move. “What - did you tie me up?” He questioned, glancing down. “With… hair?”

“Who are you? What are you doing in my tower?”

“Could you answer my question first? Who the hell ties someone up with hair?” He huffed, glancing up at you, hair falling back into perfect place even after being knocked out.

“Me. Who are you, and what are you doing here?” You grabbed the frying pan again, holding it up in hopes that he was threatened enough to tell you what you wanted to know.

“Uh, my name’s Steve. Harrington. Could we put the frying pan down, maybe? Please?” He glanced back down for a second, noticing the missing satchel around his waist. “Did you take my satchel? Where is it?”

“I hid it. You won’t be able to find it.”

He glanced around the room, before his eyes caught on something gleaming behind the chair. A slow smile spread on his face, and he couldn’t help but chuckle. “Behind the chair?”

“No. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I can see it, babe.”

“No, you can’t. Because it isn’t there.”

“Okay. Sure. But it’s behind the chair.”

Your eyes narrowed at him, glancing back at your hiding space. You thought quickly, banging the pan against his head again and rushing to hide the satchel and tiara somewhere else, somewhere less obvious. You came back just in time to see him gain consciousness again with another groan.

“Could you stop doing that?”

“Why are you here? Are you some freaky serial killer?”

“I look freaky to you? Damn, babe, you really know how to deflate a guy’s ego. But no. I just - I was being chased by these guys, and I saw your tower so I… climbed it.”

You squinted, head tilting to the side, and Steve thought for a brief moment that it was adorable. That was before the throb in his head reminded him of the pan you were still holding.

“And you’re telling the truth?”

“Yes. Swear. Could you put the frying pan down, please?”

You sighed, reluctantly setting down the pan. “Okay. But I need to make a deal with you, first.”

“A deal? You’ve got me tied up here, babe, I don’t have much to offer.”

“Stop calling me that. And, I need you to take me somewhere.”

Steve tilted his head, urging you to continue with some more details. You just stared at him for a moment, not really knowing why you would trust a complete stranger with something like this: this was your lifelong dream. But, your mother wouldn’t indulge you, and he seemed nice enough. Nobody that pretty could truly be harmful, right?

“I - there’s these floating lights, in the kingdom. They happen every year, always on my birthday, and I’ve always wanted to see them.”

“Floating lights…” He trailed off, a confused look on his face that almost resembled a puppy. “The lanterns?”

“Um, yeah, I guess. I don’t really know what they’re called.”

Steve resisted the urge to ask anymore questions, finding this entire situation strange in the first place. “Okay. What do you need me for? You can’t just take yourself? Or have a friend bring you?”

“No. I don’t know my way there and besides, I don’t want to go… out there, alone. And if you haven’t noticed, it’d be a bit impossible for me to make any friends up here,” You gestured around you. How would you ever go to meet a friend? “My mother is a bit overprotective, and she doesn’t like for me to go outside. At all. But, she’s gone for three days and it’s my eighteenth birthday and I really need to see these lights.”

“You don’t go out? Like, ever? You’ve never been outside?” Steve questioned, making you shrink in on yourself as you shrugged. You knew it was an odd situation, but your mother was just keeping you safe.

“Anyway, if you bring me to see these lights and back… I’ll give you back your satchel and the tiara.”

“I could just find the tiara.”

“You won’t. Not this time. Besides, you’re trapped, and wouldn’t you like to get out of my hair?”

“Yes, that’s true.” Steve seemed to consider everything for a moment. “What if you give me back my satchel, and in return, you get nothing? Hasn’t my presence been gift enough, babe?”

“No. Stop calling me that.”

He sighed dramatically, before looking back at you with a defeated look. “Alright. You win, babe. I’ll take you to see the floating lights.”

[yoursweetestbunny22]

Would you do a Rudy x film writer and director social media au where it also mentions an interview they did together talking about first impressions: Rudy and reader meet by him not realising she’s the director, checking her out when he passes her smoking outside the audition building and trying to chat her up & when he asks for her name and number she says “you’ll probably find it on the front of the script” 😭😂

Thank you for your request hope you like it !!

Rudy Pankow x Director!Writer!Reader [social media au]

Rudeth

Liked by madelyncline and 789 274 others

rudeth love you cupcakes! and my girl<3

View all 7840 comments

hichasestucks still finding sand in weird places…

⤷randomuser CHASE?!

⤷rafecameronwife that’s not-

⤷madelyncline I’m reducing your screen time babe

⤷mady234 @madelyncline NO MADDIE IM BEGGING 😭😭!!!!!

drewstarkey why am I not in there man?

⤷ rudeth …….. sorry kook

y/nuser love u pookie<33

⤷ rudeth love u pookieeee❤️❤️

⤷user23876 I want what they have..take care of my gf rudy 😔

⤷ rudypankowupdates @rudeth babe don’t cheat on me like that 😫

madisonbaileybabe miss y’all @y/nuser PLS MAKE SEASON 4 HAPPEN

carlaciagrant omg don’t make me cry rude boy 🫶🏻

jonathandavissoficial why am I the hottest?

y/nuser

liked by rudeth and 100 237 others

y/nuser Penning the next chapter of Outer Banks, and it's a wild ride! 📝 Thrilled to be shaping the story for Season 4 alongside our amazing cast and crew. Get ready for more drama, mystery, and heart-pounding moments. Big thanks to my partner Rudy for always being by my side.❤️#OuterBanks #Season4 #BehindTheScenes

View all 4782 comments

randomuser IM LITERALLY CRYING IM SO EXCITED FOR SEASON 4

User3768 IM BEGGING FOR MORE JJ AND KIE MOMENTS RN!!!

rudeth I’m so proud of you princess ❤️

⤷y/nuser love you jj

⤷user6902 @y/nuser SHE CALLING HIM JJ OMG I WANT WHAT THEY HAVE

User2749 is rafe and Sofia have something in season 4??

⤷y/nuser I vote for rafe + therapy <3

randomuser if the new season brings more close-ups of John B’s abs, I might need to invest in a new TV screen…😔

User2783 RAFE CAMERON BACK ON MY SCREEN?!?!?

obxupdates_22

obxupdates_22. Rudy spilled the tea in a recent interview he did with yn, the director and writer of outer banks, revealing his first impression of her. Turns out, he had no idea she was the boss when they first met! Caught checking her out while she smoked outside the audition building, he tried to make a move, but when he asked for her name and number, her response was, 'You'll probably find it on the front of the script.' #OBX #rudyandyn❤️

View all 6839

randomuser HAHAHHA imagine rudy thinking like “omg I’m soooo that man” and she just say that😭😭

kiaramygirl they’re living a wattpad romance in real life

User36784 This interview just made me love them even more! Who else ships Rudy and Yn?

rafecameronwh0re she’s so ugly and that response?…lol

⤷user2837 it’s so funny that you think that your opinion matters…gurl he’s not givin you a chance💋

User5748 NOW HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO SEE JJ AND SHIP HIM WITH KIE?

User19873 let me know if y’all need a dog..I CAN BARK 🐶🐶🐶

User78349 yn is so THAT girl?!she wrote this badass show and is also dating rudy pankow..AAAA

[old-school-butch]

following the tent massacre, my question is, what should Palestinians do to be safe? What should women and children do to ensure their own survival? If they're told somewhere is safe only to be bombed in their tents, what hope do they have of surviving this war?

Unfortunately, very little. This is why war is so terrible - if only the people who agreed to fight were hurt then I would happily let them go at it. But when you plan for war, you are inherently accepting the deaths of so many innocents. That does not seem to weigh on leaders as heavily as it should.

There have been multiple proposals from Israel about where Gazan civilians can be safeguarded during this war but Hamas doesn't play by any normal rules. Normally, when you set up civilian areas that means that soldiers don't set up combat operations in the middle because that automatically makes it not a safe zone. Israel had proposed creating civilian safe zones in the Sinai peninsula but Egypt rejected the proposal out of fear that a) what if Israel doesn't let them return and they become Egypt's problem and b) Hamas would just follow their civilians into Egypt and start a whole other war since they already cooperate AND fight with IS jihadists based there, so Egypt would end up in a 3 way fight with terrorists and they'd much rather all this be Israel's problem.

So instead camps were setup in Rafah since Hamas' base of operations was further north. However, rockets are being fired at Tel Aviv out of Rafah now, so it's now clear that Hamas has established operations right in the middle of their civilians, putting Israel in a dilemma of how to safeguard their own civilians while removing this threat.

The only thing civilians can do in a war is be as far away as possible from combat. International law regarding combat make this obligation really clear to all combatants involved, which is why Israel is getting blasted for pursuing Hamas into Gaza. But since Hamas isn't a real government, they aren't held to the same standard and that's a problem no one has a good solution to. In the big picture, if using civilians as human shields means you get to win a war, then the terrorists really do win and we will all face non-stop terrorism because they will keep winning with this exact strategy.

But as an individual, if you know Hamas is keeping hostages near you or setting up rocket launchers next to you, your life is in immediate danger. But Hamas is not above terrorizing its own population, and women in Gaza have almost no political power so they are stuck here. Ultimately, Hamas needs to be overthrown and that can happen through Israel but it can also happen when the civilian population has had enough of a leadership that is so thirsty for violence. I mean, ideally, people might also become more wary in the future of voting bloodthirsty leaders into power but those lessons seem a long way off.

Having said all that, I don't agree with Israel's assault on Rafah. Yes Tel Aviv is under missile attack but the Iron dome protects civilians there while some re-grouping can happen to also protect civilian life. While freeing hostages was a clear goal, the theory of victory (i.e. what does it mean to 'win' or meet your objectives) to engage in this war with the goal of regime change is really tenuous. It's really not clear to me how that would happen and even whether Hamas' replacement would be any better.

I think in the face of terrorist and non-state actors, states need to re-think how wars are going to work in the future. You can't have one side that will do ANYTHING to save its civilian hostages facing another actor who appears ruthlessly willing to let their civilians die and not see that concluding this conflict is going to be bloody and prolonged. Israel hasn't really faced this kind of war before and I don't believe they are well prepared for it. For that matter, I don't think the world has a clear, successful strategy to handle terrorists and so far attempts to battle ISIS or al Queda have been similarly bloody and inconclusive. This is, of course, why these groups are spreading so rapidly - because killing civilians (your own an your opponents) until your non-terrorist opponent feels sickened at the slaughter and stops fighting you... works. The fact that Israel gets blamed for it is just icing on the cake.

One of the biggest problems with wars is that once you start them, they are very hard to stop. This is because only one side has to want war to begin it, but both sides have to want to end it. In particular, the loser has to decide they've had enough or the threat they pose to their opponent is ended. I remember watching the celebrations happening in Gaza on October 7th and wondering why these doomed people were cheering the start of war. If Hamas is literally willing to fight to the last civilian, when will they say enough?

[newgabeorder]

Toon Time Theater presents... THE 6TH U-PICK POLL!

Hello, anime fans. This is Gabriel Ramos, the DJ and broadcaster for T3 Express and Toon Time Theater. August will be a heated up month considering how many cartoons will be joining the Saturday morning lineup now that HAIKYU!! Season 1 and THE SLAYERS TRY ended their runs. However, I've been indecisive on what to broadcast on August 10. I know (lunar) Tanabata will be happening, but I want to wrap up that Japanese holiday with something loud and strong. The possible programs and blocks for this poll are as follows:

* THE SLAYERS REVOLUTION (THE SLAYERS Season 4)

* The Tatami Galaxy

* Moriarty The Patriot

* PUELLA MAGI MADOKA MAGICA

* Overtake

* MF GHOST

* OSHI NO KO

* Heaven Official's Blessing

* Boogiepop Phantom

* E/I Block B: BARTENDER ~Glass of God~ & Ascendance of a Bookworm Season 2 (E/I)

You have until August 9 at 2 PM PDT to make your selection. When the time comes, I will end the T3 Express peepshow to review your selections before live-streaming SAILOR MOON. The cartoon (or block) with the most votes will join the Saturday Morning Animation Cram Session officially. Think of this U-PICK poll as a Tanabata tree, and think of your vote as a wish strip. Once Tanabata ends, I will cut off the poll time, and the most-voted program or block will flow away, with your wish being granted.

[celebbun]

Rejoice, children, for I have decided that an unhinged rant is in order

I have come to the conclusion that, despite what much of the fandom would like to think, Legolas is, in fact, not a prince. My reasoning to back this up is based on two main pillars: the Woodland Realm’s monarchy system and Legolas’ lack of royal title throughout the books.

In regards to the Woodland Realm/Eryn Galen/Eryn Lasgalen: it was founded when Oropher and Thranduil arrived at the Greenwood with a handful of people and integrated into Silvan society, with the Silvan later making Oropher their king. Now, I can’t find the exact passage that describes Oropher becoming king. It’s not in the Unfinished tales of the Appendix B of The Return of the King; it might be in The Peoples of Middle Earth, but I can’t find a pdf of it to save my life. However, the Tolkien Gateway describes his ascension as him being “taken up by the Elves of the wood as their king” and “taken by the Silvan Elves as their lord” in the pages for Oropher and Mirkwood, respectively. The Thranduil page also uses very similar phrasing.

The implication here is that the Silvan chose Oropher as king, rather than he declaring himself as such, which led me to think that this could very well be taken as Oropher being elected king; and therefore the Woodland Realm would have an elective monarchy. In regards to Thranduil being king after Oropher, I’d chalk it up to a mere coincidence. After Oropher’s death at Dagorlad, Thranduil led Greenwood’s armies for almost the full 7 years of the Last Alliance, so it’d only make sense if he were the one  elected as the next king.

In an elective system, only the person who’s elected holds the title that they’ve been elected for, so there is no Royal Family, or titles adjacent to that of king. In the case of Oropher becoming king, only he would hold a royal title, which means Thranduil would be the son of the king, but not a prince. Later, that same pattern would repeat itself when Thranduil is elected king. Legolas is the king’s son, but that doesn’t grant him any titles or authority.

In fact, Legolas’ lack of titles is something that stands out quite a bit in the books. Despite him being introduced as the son of Thranduil, he’s never once called a prince, and his parentage is never acknowledged by any other character. Even when Aragorn introduces him in Rohan, he does so by calling him “Legolas of the Woodland Realm”, once again ignoring who his father is, and foregoing any weight or influence of name dropping the Elvenking. Sure, it can be argued that in this instance, Aragorn wasn’t sure of where Rohan stands in regards to the war, so revealing Legolas is the child of someone important might be risky, as well as that he emphasised the Woodland Realm to differentiate Legolas from the elves of Lothlórien, whom the people of Rohan distrust; still, it’s quite interesting.

“But what about the queen?” No queen. “Oh, but Thranduil had a child, so he must have had a wife!” Why? Because you believe in the myth of the nuclear family? Can a single man with not a drop of mental health not raise a child alone as though it’s his emotional support crusty white dog? He even followed the guidelines: adopt, don’t shop. “Oh, but the movies!” The Hobbit movies have dealt irreparable damage to Thranduil’s character and nothing they said matters to me. I was in this fandom before they came out, I remember the glory days of Thranduil’s tag on Tumblr and AO3 and, yes, I’m bitter.

Anyway, even if Thranduil were married to whatever “heart of gold, died tragically” OC the fandom has lined up, she wasn’t voted in, so no royal title for her.

But yeah, Legolas isn’t a prince, he’s just some guy who happens to have a very powerful dad and no authority of his own.

[newtonsheffield]

Now that Take a Deep Breath is nearing the end, will one of your other WIPs take the weekly Friday update spot? If so, can I please put in my vote for YNCIWIW? Idk what it is about Author!Anthony and Editor!Kate, but they have me by the throat.

Also, I'm rereading childhood bffs, fwb Anthony and Kate in Hand, and I'm dead. Any chance we might see what they're up to?

Thanks for sharing your amazing writing with us. And I'm glad Greggy is doing better. :)

Okay so there’s two stories up for the next Friday fic:

1) Ice Skating partners Kate and Anthony who hooked up a few times and decided that they shouldn’t be in a. Relationship with each other for the sake of their partnership. They are however full of angst and jealousy over anyone each other should choose to date. Anthony B is the bad boy of figure skating and he’s determined to get Kate exactly what she wants; A gold medal

2) Surprise Neddy.

I think I’ll start a poll on this

Greggy is very much doing better today but still has a complete lack of regard for his stomach lining begging for jalapeño flavoured cheezels. Like a fool.

Anyway, My hand was the one you reached for Kate and Anthony are doing so well. Turns out all those years of friendship, even if it was mired in pining for one another desperately made for a pretty stable relationship. That being said I think one of the most stressful times in their relationship was when Kate taught anthony to drive. She completely understands why Anthony’s always avoided it. His Dad died in a car accident and the two have become linked in his mind. That being said, Kate’s pregnant and he just thinks it’s… time he did this. He can’t be asking Kate to drive herself to the hospital when the baby comes, can he?

So after a few weeks of secrecy, he’s got his provisional licence and he’s ready to ask his wife for maybe the most stressful thing he’s ever asked her for.

He felt anxious even at the thought of it. Even the thought of getting behind the wheel made his palms sweat as he walked over and flopped down on the sofa beside his wife.

Kate kissed him quickly, ruffling his hair. “Finished tricking women into buying your buns?”

Anthony rolled his eyes, “If only I could trick you.”

“I’ve bought plenty of your buns, thanks.”

Anthony took a deep breath, his hands shaking a little, “Can I ask you a favour?”

“Oh, you mean more than just carrying your baby?”

“Yeah a little more.” He steeled himself, “Can you teach me how to drive?”

Kate’s brow furrowed, “To drive?”

Anthony shifted, “Yeah I just… I think I should be able to for the baby, in case anything happens and… I just… I think I should.”

Kate nodded, “You know you don’t have to, right?”

“I know. I just feel the most comfortable with you so I… I think that’ll be best. ”

She smiled at him, “Okay, let’s do it. If our marriage can survive that he can probably survive anything.”

[brainfilehasstoppedworking]

For the Taikaaki Week thing...

Maybe I'll do it in September for my birthday (maybe. Maybe.) Or December again...Idk. Then again, I don't think I'd be getting any participants this year. Maybe...? It's prob gonna be something I'll do then like. Just have it there.

If that happens I can always reuse the prompts for that for next year and just maybe change a few things. We'll see. Anyways.

I added November because of the agreed hc that Sova made of where Takaaki's b-day is on the 30th. Taichi's birthday is DAYS, hell. Actually WEEKS before Takaaki's, but they're both November. That's another option. I'll maybe set the dates to be between those weeks instead of just for one or the other's birthday. Idk yet. That's just another option.

You can suggest another month if y'all would like if you're interested!

The poll will be for a week in case anyone can't vote in the span of 24 hrs.

[hannahwatchesbigbrother]

This has been a worse than average endgame (to say the least), but I want to acknowledge the highlights of bb25. I’ve been watching since bb16 (been a feedster since bb17), and this has truly been the most invested I’ve been. Despite how frustrated I’ve been with production this year, I really think this season has some really stellar stuff in it (especially pre-jury). So here is a (lengthy) list of how I’ll remember this season:

Cirie motherfucking Fields showing up!!

Izzy immediately clocking that Jared was Cirie’s son before the live premiere even ended

Izzy immediately clocking that Cameron gives serial killer vibes

Felicia destroying four mics by the end of the first week

Felicia falling into the hot tub

“Clean that shit up a bit”

Cameron thinking Felicia was related to Denzel Washington

“Izzy Fields” and the beautiful friendship between her and Cirie

Hisam’s villain arc

Cory in Blue’s pink outfit (and later Americas jumpsuit)

(Honestly just Cory being a genuinely good dude who would call out things that crossed a line and fought against toxic masculinity)

The target flipping every other hour for like the first six weeks of the game

Every time Zach Wurtenburger tweeted about BB

The nickname “fucking Bowie Jane” which was then just shortened to fbj

The still of Cory’s mouth wide open while he was saying “what the fuck” when they were thinking of keeping Hisam

Meme’s storage room rants

“If I’m a have not next week, I’ll self-evict” “I’ll be a have not with you” *america leaves* “(to self) Cory, are you the most pathetic person? They were right about you — you’re a pick me”

Felicia yelling at Jag while he was in a chicken suit

Felicia and “Mr. B” (smooches!)

The slow burn Americory showmance (I could write a thesis on how much I love it but I’ll spare you)

The fact they brought the pressure cooker back

Izzy crying about how much she hates being in the same room as Cameron

“Fuck jag and I said that shit” -America Week 4, a prophet

When Matt used the power on jag and even live feeders were shook because we had no idea

The fact that Cameron’s 14 hours in the pressure cooker didn’t matter because jag was just brought back into the game

Blue sucking up to Felicia bc she thought she was Jared’s mom for a solid 24 hours

Felicia’s sleep screaming/singing

The dramatic and out of no where red/Cameron break up

“Cam thinks he’s like a father to me, but really he’s like an absentee father who wants to sleep with my girlfriend”

Blue volunteering jag to go up as a “pawn” during Jared’s hoh

Cam winning hoh after being blindsided by the red vote (hate him but the absolute silence and his thumbs up is so funny)

“Okay Jasmine” “*crying* who’s jasmine?” “*singing* a whole new world”

Cam not telling anyone including production who he was putting up

Matt winning the prize swap veto but choosing the punishment bc he thought he’d get to hang out with the real Josh Duhamel

The Josh Duhamel punishment in general

Izzy’s kick jump during the piggy pals punishment

Jared destroying his game because Cirie was stuck in a kayak with Felicia for 48 hours

THE IZZY FLIP

(The fact the izzy flip happened bc she told Cory that he couldn’t sleep in the same bed as America anymore lol)

The Cory/Jared humiliverse fight

“To all my friends and family, trust I know that they are all liars and snakes… and cowards!”

“See you soon, pig!”

The Cirie/Felicia fight post-Jared’s eviction

Peak Unreliables when Jag fought for Cory’s LIFE against cams plan to backdoor him

People retweeting Meme’s tweets from over ten years ago that were weirdly relevant to the season

America lifting Cory after it was confirmed that they made jury

The musical that Cory got for his zing

The one time all the different stans came together was to celebrate Cams eviction

The “exquisite” bit

America causing Jag to want to shit his pants after telling him to “literally fuck off”

“Literally in this world, I am your biggest fan” 😭😭😭

Felicia being Cirie’s best friend and worst enemy (aka when she shaved her foot on her bed)

Americory saying “I love you” on Cory’s way out the door

Americas shrine to Cory/transforming into him

Cirie’s DR of her flipping off Jag, Matt, and Bowie

Izzy/Paige going as Americory for Halloween

The Americory “cradle robber” Halloween costume

“I’d be more impressed if [the wins] weren’t against two senior citizens, an airhead, and an idiot”

[jujumin-translates]

★ Main Story | Act 13 - Budding Spring | Chapter 27 - Papa Crisis

Banri: You guys can take a twenty-minute break here. Good work.

Masumi: The KniRoun Stage video is up.

Sakuya: Waah, it is!

Chikage: Lancelot’s pretty eye-catching.

Tsuzuru: He was even working on his sword fighting for KniRoun in between rehearsals. Must’ve been rough.

Banri: Nah, he was havin’ the time of his life, trust me.

Citron: Itaru looks like he is having fun~.

Rento: Ooh~, his overseas debut, huh? Looks like he’s doin’ great.

Rento: Still, absolutely insane as hell that he’s comin’ back here right on openin’ day.

Izumi: It really, truly is…

Izumi: In the past, it would’ve been unthinkable to try and to this, but with the current Spring Troupe, I think we’ll be able to pull this plan, even with it cutting it so close.

Banri: Well, it’d be pretty nice to keep this kinda energy goin’ through openin’ day.

Tsumugi: I hope Itaru-kun was able to get to the airport safely.

Sakuya: It’s about time for his flight, right?

Chikage: Let’s check the chat.

*Phone notification*

Izumi: Ah, I just got a LIME from…

Itaru: “problem, can’t get on my flight, airport’s shut down bc of a strike.”

Tsuzuru: WHAT!?

Sakuya: A strike!? That won’t end any time soon…!

Tsumugi: Sometimes the end soon, but sometimes they go on for days. There’s no telling what will happen…

Banri: What’re we gonna do? I mean, we could get through openin’ day with an understudy, or delay it entirely, but…

Masumi: We considered a lot of factors when we picked the date of opening day. It’s the day that’ll give us the most views with the least competition from other troupes, so moving it should really be our last resort.

Izumi: Right… And refunding tickets would have a huge impact on our votes…

Izumi: We’ll still have to deal with refunds if we go for having an understudy, but the damage with that should be minimal.

Banri: Guess we gotta go with an understudy.

Sakuya: Um, can we at least wait until the very last minute?

Tsuzuru: We want to wait for Itaru-san’s return for as long as we can. Can we at least do that, please?

Izumi: …

Tsumugi: I can be ready to sub in at any time, so don’t worry about it.

Sakuya: Thank you so much!

Chikage: I’m arranging a flight for him at another airport as we speak. With this one, he’ll be able to just barely make it in time for the start of the performance.

Chikage: Someone get into contact with Chigasaki and tell him to hurry to catch the bus.

Tsuzuru: On it!

Tsuzuru: “Itaru-san, please hurry to the nearby airport ASAP!”

Chikage: The next bus is leaving at--.

Citron: “I will give you a lucky chant so you will make it in time!”

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Announcement: “The plane has arrived at Narita Aiport two hours later than scheduled.”

Announcement: “We sincerely apologize for the delay in its arrival due to weather conditions. We offer our deepest condolences to those affected by the delay.”

Itaru: (CITRON used Lucky Chant! The Lucky Chant shielded me from a critical hit…!)

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

UC: Run, Chigasaki.

Itaru: (I am running!)

Saku: You can do it, Itaru-san!

Curry: director said she’s coming to pick you up

taruchi: dw abt it, it’ll be faster if i take a taxi

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Passerby A: Huh, is the line for getting a taxi really this long?

Passerby B: Probably because of a group of tourists~. Let’s just take the train.

Itaru: (Wait, the line for taxis is THIS long? Oh, I’m so screwed…)

Itaru: (Should I ask Director-san to pick me up now?)

Itaru: (But I’m sure she’s busy getting everything ready for the start of the show. Not to mention, even if she comes now, we probably wouldn’t make it back in time for the start of the show anyway--.)

[ ⇠ Previous Part ] • [ Next Part ⇢ ]

[inconspicious-random-thoughts]

Do you think we'll get an arc of Husk getting free of his deal with Alastor alongside an arc of Angel freeing himself from Valentino? From what little we've seen of their dynamic, Alastor is just as cruel towards him as Valentino is towards Angel, even if the Radio Demon isn't as much of a control freak as the moth overlord. Husk doesn't like to talk about his vulnerabilities any more than Angel does, but I think as Angel starts to let himself be more open about how Val treats, Husk might follow suit. Charlie has proven that she is willing to fight Valentino in Angel's defense when she sees the former merely shove Angel, and I doubt she'd let Husk be treated the same way if she was given more insight into how the grouchy cat is oppressed by Alastor and would try to help give him a way out of his deal.

Hello there, my friend.

I been wanting to ramble about Husk, particularly his relationship with Alastor. I think, I'll restrain myself from doing so for the ask and make a post tomorrow when I *should* have an hour of peace of quiet tomorrow for me to sit in front of the computer and ramble.

I don't think we will get the satisfaction of an "arc"with Husk freedom. I think it would be addressed but not a whole story telling. We may, however, get a glimpse or at least another mention how the deal of Husk soul deal happened.

But most storytelling of a soul getting out of their contract they are bound to will be with Angel. I don't think the show would want to recycle the story arc of soul bound breaking a second time with Husk with a short amount of seasons and would rather focus on a different arc.

If we were pre approve 7 season, I say yes, Husk will be givens a small arc middle to end of series. Like mid season 5 out of 7 we will see him become free and the next seasons we get to see him enjoy his freedom.

If, and unlikely we get the arc of Charlie trying to do away soul contracts for the betterment of Hell, Alastor would be forced to do so. But if that story arc happen, Alastor would be the first to break his contracts, and willingly, of all the overlords. Mainly, as a grand show and gesture of his loyalty and faith in Charlie. Either being sincere or manipulations. I vote mostly sincerity with a hint of manipulation.

Side note: I don't think losing soul contracts would "weaken" the overlords as most of the fandom thinks. From what I gathered, it seems fans think the soul contracts is what gave overlords powers. I do not think that. I think the overlords already own that power. Soul contracts just makes them even more powerful because it A)makes them influential and B) it gives them more resources. For a lame example: Overlord doesn't know have a green thumb and suck at gardening. But they own a soul who does. They can use that resource to solve their problem with no cost to them by having that soul do the work for them. But the overlords power, for example Alastor shadow magic, is directly his own. It power level isn't influenced by how many or little souls he has, it will remain the same regardless. The only real "weakness" of losing their contracts, beside the loss of resource is, they overlords will lose their sense of security. Basically, imagine having an army that cant turn against you because you own their free will. Suddenly, losing that control of free will. Not only did you lose your army to defend with...depending what type of leader you are, they may want to retaliate. You may still be powerful and influential but now a lot more vulnerable and may not be able to defend oneself from so many attacks if they wise enough to fight in a large number. So, the overlords are still formidable and still have their powers that made them powerful and intimidating. Alastor sheer raw magical power and evadablity, Zeezi intimidating stature and raw physical strength (assumed), Carmilla's monopoly of large storage of angelitic steel that kills permanently. Etc. They just don't have soldiers that force to come to their contractor aid and defense.

If we do get a decent amount of season, and the most likely not get the soul contracts being in process of being abolished arc. I think it would be at least strongly suggested/ implored to Alastor by Charlie (and along with Veggie and Lucifer in tow) that Alastor to break his contracts with Husk and Nifty. I think, if this were to happen. Alastor is near cornered how the suggestion been presented. Worded in a way (either unintentionally from Charlie, or purposely by Lucifer or Vaggie) that if he didnt do this, that his hidden agenda would be uncovered by them if he did not following through the act. He nearly obligated to fulfill the request to either continue his manipulation he needs to do to reach his goal or otherwise all the work he put in to this point is lost. (Mostly the near unshakable trust he gained). He fulfills the request in a grand show of how willing he is to do so and how unbothered he is by it. In reality, Alastor is probably seething privately and Husk knows this, to the point he addressed Alastor privately to rub it in smugly.

If it went with this angle, I don't think Charlie pushing the subject with Alastor is not by Husk prompting. I think Charlie will still be kept in the dark how quick can turn against his soulbound servants. One reason why Alastor favors Husk so much as a servant is because of Husk silence. Charlie approach Alastor is by her own convictions and beliefs. Which is why Alastor has to give up his contracts. If he didn't follow through with her believes, it goes along with dream of the hotel. He needs that fuel to keep the fire going as he stings her along to fulfill his goal. His goal, I assume his freedom is a lot more valuable to Alastor then keeping Husk tied down to him. So, even if Husk is one of Alastors greatest resource, Alastor will sacrifice Husk contract for Alastor to get his own. It's a gamble Alastor has to take and hoped he get the greater payout. One of those, lose the battle but win the war scenario.

The other likely option and the most action pack and drama filled, is Husk saved Alastor or something very close to it (save someone he cared about, Nifty, Charlie?) When Alastor was unable to do so himself and Husk did it on his own accord/not forced to) If they did this option I would think it show more of Husk character.

But overall I think if they did a Husk freedom arc, I think it be a slight arc to test Husk character. It be a dark temptation for Husk part. I personally don't think Husk wants Alastor dead for Husk to get his soul back. But I think, that Husk sometimes feels that would be the only option to get it to happen. So, I think it be delicious arc if we have a character, either the Vees, or a new threat, seeked Husk to collaborate for Alastor demised. Husk would get his soul back if that were to happen was their sale pitch. Husk was seeked out purposely after the antagonist receive information that Alastor had a particular bad day and Husk had poor timing again (like in Dad beat Dad) that Alastor took his irritation on Husk or Husk fucked up that badly that Alastor punished Husk. Either way, Husk was sought out by his knowledge of Alastor, Alastor seemily part trust of Husk and the very recent bad blood between Husk and Alastor. The recent incident have Husk consider the collab. I think the show wouldn't show his answer. Have the viewer guessing he helping to plot Alastor murder which seem like he was.

The end result is most likely, as tempted as Husk is, he either told Alastor right away. Which Alastor struck a new deal. He return Husk soul as a reward for his loyalty if Husk play his role well of pretending to agree with the enemy and help bring down the enemy. (This deal is shown to the viewer when the enemy been double crossed and Alastor explains he knew of their plan all along like a typical villain monologues)

Or a more delightful way. It appears that Husk would go either way. Alastor makes his move against the enemy which is meant to Husk join, only Husk didn't fulfill his part. Allowing Alastor to get caught (Probably after Alastor mock the enemy how Alastor was knew all along of Husk involvement and Alastor was one step ahead of them the whole time...how embarrassing) and got in deep trouble to the point Alastor can no longer defend himself. Alastor completely felt betrayed by Husk sudden and inevitable betrayal Alastor understood it but he still pissed and hurt by it. Husk takes this moment to do his own monologue about his mistreatment by Alastor. How Alastor deserved this. This can end a few different ways:

Either Husk demands right then and there that Alastor gives his soul back if he saves him. (If Alastor didn't promise to return his soul as a rewards for informing him of "Husk betrayal" and his help)

Or after Husk rant and monologue about his mistreatment and seemily heading towards of witnessing the last few moments of Alastors after life, Husk would end the monologue with "despite it all, I don't want you dead even if it cost me my freedom" (Again if there was not a premade deal of releasing his soul). Shocking everyone in the room. If this option happen, I think Husk used his monologue not only to get things off his chest, but used it as a distraction that turn the tide in Alastor favor, such as Husk being close to the weapon to save Alastor from and turn it against the the enemy. Husk is a master magician so he knows about the importance of distraction. Alastor breaks Husk contract after saving Alastor life. Alastor saying Husk saved his soul, its only fair exchange to return Husks soul back to him. A soul for a soul. Alastor does not like to feel indebted, which included to those he has under his control.

or the other option, the one I prefer a little more then the last,...After Husk own rant about Alastor to Alastor, Husk willing to go thought the deed...only to find Alastor agree with Husk that he deserve this. Perhaps, glad and encouraging (I can see Alastor taunting "Do it!" ) its by Husk hand (possibly returning him back to his former glory as overlord?) I don't think we get an apology, but after Alastor agreed with Husks words, Alastor would say some genuine positive words about Husk and his service and loyalty (despite that loyalty seemily ended at the moment) as his last words, that be the closest thing to apology that the radio demon would make. Along with sincere words of wishing Husk happiness with his freedom and pass Alastor regret to Charlie that he is unable to continue his aid with her dream. Infuriating to Husk, the genuinity of the words got to him and similar to the last option, saved Alastor and turned against the enemy and Alastor returned Husk soul back to avoid being indebted and part gratitude. Alastor did ask Husk why he saved Alastor despite everything when Husk would been free if his death. All spoken in card talk. "It a sure bet if Alastor died. Why chance the pot (freedom) with the riskier hand." Etc. They seperate with a newfound relationship that's positive on both sides. Daresay, friends once more without complications and restrictions.

I like the idea of Husk being extremely tempted and even lured in for Alastor demised to gain freedom. But at the end, Husk couldn't follow through or unwilling to take part of it. Reluctant but willing to sacrifice the very thing he wants, his freedom, because it didn't felt right to betray and end Alastor. As much as Husk loathes it, Alastor part of Husk found family. -even if he isn't, Alastor is part of the found family to those Husk care about in his own found family. It's like an unintentional test of Husk character, and he passed. Its fitting about a show and hotel about rehabilitation and redemption. It be nice to see that good deeds can happen without promise of a reward, it just happened because it was right thing to do. Then get rewarded anyways. It would also, test Alastor character slightly, and show more insight about him. Or even reveal his true thoughts and feelings about the grumpy cat.

What realistically happen I think we get like sad low amount of seasons, like 3 seasons. (Nothing I really enjoy, last) We only see Husk be free in the epilogue. The epilogue being the final song of the series. Sung mainly by Charlie with others chiming in their parts like the end of season one. I think it 10-15 second cut scene of Alastor dissolve his contract and the visual representation of chain breaking and fading out of existent. Probably with Husk widened shocked eyes. The scene be wordless beside the possibility of a sung out sentence to be part of the final song. I think it be funny if you see Alastor stick out his hand as a gesture as no ill-will / no bad blood between them and Husk would look hesitant on taking it as it reminded him of his deal when he lost his soul in the first place. Alastor looking amused by this and they either work out another method for the gesture (I don't think they would hug even if Husk is overjoyed) or they get interrupted by cheering Angel or Charlie being overjoyed by the event and pull both into a hug and a start of a group hug with the other residents. It be unsatisfied as we don't really get the arc or story but satisfying enough that we at least know it canon happy ending as loose ends were tied off.

Feel free to comment thoughts and opinions.

[ered]

in case you've missed it, and I'm assuming most of you have, we're having a presidential election here in Finland. First round is currently going on, so I thought I'd give you a quick run down of our candidates!

(in alphabetical order, party in parentheses)

Mika Aaltola (independent): Has mainly worked in academia and apparently has experience in international politics, which is good for the job. I honestly know next to nothing about this dude, but he seems to positively radiate Just Some Guy energy. What would be interesting about him winning: I have no idea. Chances of winning: Ehhh - but it wouldn't be the first time we get a president from outside the daily politics.

Li Andersson (Left Alliance): current leader of the Left Alliance, former Minister of Education. What most people seem to say about her: "she's clearly the best choice, but has no chance of winning so I won't be voting for her." What would be interesting about her winning: first Left Alliance president Chances of winning: Unfortunately slim. Left Alliance is a small party and half of the country still seems to think they're Evil Communists.

Sari Essayah (Christian Democrats): she's also the leader of her party. Most known for being a former racewalker and religious. What would be interesting about her winning: How the hell did it happen??? Chances of winning: zero.

Pekka Haavisto (Green League): Former Minister of the Environment, International Development, and Foreign Affairs (three different terms, not all at once). He was born in 1958 and hasn't done much beyond politics. He's been in the presidential race twice already too, both times losing to our current president, Sauli Niinistö. What would be interesting about him winning: first gay president. Chances of winning: he made it to the final round twice already, so maybe third time's a charm? He has been polling first this time around.

Jussi Halla-aho (Finns Party): a prominent rightwing blogger, a Slavic linguist by education, and the current Speaker of the Parliament. He's "immigration critical" in the same vein "gender criticals" tend to be. He's is considered something of an intellectual in the rightwing circles despite having the vibes of an anthropomorphic raisin, and has amassed a cult following - who literally call him Mestari (master, but in Finnish the vibes are more a master of a trade and not some dude who spanks you in the bedroom. What would be interesting about him winning: finding out if I can immigrate to Denmark. Chances of winning: none if I can help it, but like I said, he does have a very solid fanbase.

Hjallis Harkimo (Movement Now): best known for being the owner of an ice-hockey team or something. His real name is Harry and for some reason he has been elected into the parliament twice. I assume it's the famous allure of a "successful businessman" or because he's something of a celebrity? Who knows. What would be interesting about him winning: How did it happen? Chances of winning: slim.

Olli Rehn (Centre Party): Served as the Minister of Economic Affairs for like a year under our most fuck-witted prime minister in recent history. Not much else to say about it. Somehow seems older than Pekka Haavisto tho he's actually younger. What would be interesting about him winning: absolutely nothing. He's so dull it's almost offensive. Chances of winning: who knows? Maybe he'll be a dark horse if all other candidates fall flat.

Alexander Stubb (National Coalition Party): Former Prime Minister, and former Minister of Finance. He's ehhhhhh not the worst possible option, honestly, and is on the more liberal side of the Rich Getting Richer party. What would be interesting about him winning: how will he be different from our current (National Coalition Party) president, I guess Chances of winning: last I checked, he was polling second, so I guess it's a possibility?

Jutta Urpilainen (Social Democratic Party): Former Minister of Finance. Social Democrats are one of the biggest parties we have, but they took a while deciding on who to pick. She's alright. Social Democrats are usually fine, and she'a long term Social Democrat. What would be interesting about her winning: uhh... possibly the first president to have released a Christmas album? Chances of winning: I just don't think she's that popular, to be honest. But she might make it into top three at least, like I said, it's one of the biggest parties behind her.

[chaifootsteps]

(long ask, sorry - there was a lot of unpack)

I read the fix-it fic (it's very cute and wholesome!) and looked at the comments expecting to see a few flames or people disagreeing with the premise, but it's an out and out dogpile in there.

it's so ugly to treat someone just writing a vent fic like that, & they must have been actively looking for people daring to criticize Viv given that there's nothing in the tags to suggest it

also like, one of the flamers being like 'how can you say Viv and Raph didn't handle the topic of SA well but still say people are entitled to like the episode or find it cathartic? if people like it and you recognize that, that proves Viv and Raph handled the topic well!'

which is like, no. that's not remotely what they were saying or how it works. they're just giving grace to people who got something out of it, but they still think the depiction and handling of the topic as a whole was bad themselves. being compassionate for someone else's take on media & their feelings doesn't objectively prove that take is correct, they're just making space for other opinions in a way a lot of these 'it was handled well, end of discussion' type people aren't

it's such an all or nothing, combative way of thinking about art, that if you dislike it you must also call everyone who likes it stupid or something otherwise it means you secretly recognize it's good or some nonsense like that. that and it's just populism - if some people like it that means it's objectively good. which is funny because usually we treat something everyone likes as just 'having mass appeal' not 'high art'.

but I guess when people get terminally online they assume the vote of the majority is correct - it reminds me of this one debate about something pewdiepie did (I think it was an edgy joke or something, I'm not interested in relitigating it, it's just an example) where one of his supporters claimed 'we've [already framing a constructed audience] already decided he's innocent because the amount of support/likes he got on a response to [insert controversy here]'. it's literally the logic/rhetoric of 'if the mob decides something is good, it's good' which is horrifying logic and has been used to justify any number of irl awful things. but I digress

you could just as easily argue it the other way - if someone likes the scene but makes space for criticism of it, does that automatically make the criticism right?

also like - there's so much evidence in those comments that people do not understand what SA is. like so many people have this conception that SA is the same as rape - like, unless there was penetration of some kind no assault happened. but like if you actually look at the legal definition of SA, multiple places define it as

1 did person A touch person B? 2 did person B not want to be touch and person A should have reasonably understood that? 3 then it was sexual assault

dragging someone into a room while they yell and plead and say no is sexual assault, even if they got away before they were penetrated. being set upon and kissed and groped by a crowd of people is sexual assault, even if they also were not penetrated (and given Blitzo's dialogue there it's doubtful)

Sir Pent was SA'd, Moxxie was SA'd

anyone who has been held down or groped against their will but was rescued or escaped was sexually assaulted. sexually assault can include rape, but it doesn't always

we desperately need better literacy around this, it's legit disturbing to see how many people will pull the 'well technically the show doesn't mock SA because [insert logic solely reliant on the idea that Sir Pent and Moxxie were not SA'd]'. & it's such a revealing line of debate because they know they can't argue whether or not the show is making light of sensitive topics (it absolutely is) so instead they do the internet thing of making the next argument - they claim no, this wasn't SA and demand people debate them on those terms instead. it's falling into their trap because the issue behind that is the one they don't want to talk about - that Viv does not know how to handle this topic with the slightest bit of sensitivity

(tangent but back when HB aired I didn't judge Stolas as harshly for the full moon deal mostly for the tone the show had set up, if that makes sense? I thought the show wanted us to understand that Stolas and most of the cast were all terrible people and that was the entire 'joke' of the show. that Stolas definitely did a bad thing but the show was more interested in dark humor and the audience just kind of had to meet it where it was at. when they started moving towards there being dramatic consequences in Ozzie's I still though the show understood Stolas was a bad person, only now they were actually paying off a dramatic plot point they'd set up so he would actually have to grow and change. Then season 2 happened and the show is insisting he never did anything wrong, he's perfect, etc. and everything that happened in season 1 looks way worse by comparison. it was already bad, but I thought the writers understood that. they don't. instead they've engaged in the most laughable, embarassingly written domestic violence storyline I think I've ever seen in any media, ever, just to get him off the hook for anything he's done. do I respect the opinions of people who find him standing up to Stella cathartic? yes. does that automatically mean those people are right and it's good writing, actually? no. hard no. a million times no. survivors of dv, especially male ones, are often starved of media representation. I want them to feel seen. it doesn't stop me thinking they deserve far better than being represented by a terribly written character like Stolas, who himself is accidentally the show's best representation of a convincing abuser, but that's a rant for another time)

also also, it's kind of annoying that A03 allows guests to post under any handle instead of assigning a random one, because now if anyone points to AyyLmao that it's unhinged behavior to try to police fics people post on the Organization for Transformative Works (the clue's in the name what fanfiction is for!) he can just claim someone tried to frame him, even if there's plenty of reason to suspect he would totally do that (some of the more hateful bigoted flames strike me as exactly that - going as far as possible with it to be able to turn around and say 'look how hard the Viv haters want to frame me! look how cartoonishly bigoted they make me out to be!'

this is so deeply bizarre to me. I've been in fandoms where the media in question is less than perfect and fix-its exist for entire arcs of shows and everyone else is happy to be like 'I see why you had a problem with this even if I think it was OK or not a big deal', or 'I don't see the problem at all but I'm just going to let you vibe like an adult would do'. and the same with character shilling fics, I'm old enough to know that the best solution for fanfic or transformative works you don't agree with is to just click off. but some HH/HB fans are actively out to create a high control group where any criticism must be policed. if I ever get annoyed enough by HH/HB to make my own vent fic, I'm posting it under anon and with comments moderated. I'm not interested in providing an open forum for people to send me hate for a show that is far from worth defending (and even if it was, who cares? they ought to be able to get on with their day if their fave show is so obviously above criticism)

last point, sorry for the rant - it's kind of laughable to me that the author in the comments provided a long, objective list of what Viv and Raph have been doing that anyone can check and all of which happened publically, because they did it publically, and I don't recall seeing many comments in that thread attempting to respond to any of it; it just got ignored. it's pretty funny they simultaneously want to act like Viv is the victim of unfair hate campaigns when she's actively cultivated a fandom that attracts people like them, who bully people to the point they fear making even the mildest critiques. like you want to act like Viv is some bullied saintlike professional, but can you imagine the showrunner of any much bigger TV show encouraging the worst elements of their fandom to the point that said worst elements think harassing an SA survivor in the comments section of a fanfiction where they process their feelings about how lousy the show is in handling SA, and trying to claim said showrunner is still a professional?

to repurpose a point Viv herself made, a professional would know that any show with more than a cult following will attract criticism. a professional would not encourage people like AyyLmao and Norry, they would shut that shit down and know to leave the writers of a fanfic a couple hundred people at most will see that's dealing with a topic sensitive to them, in peace

No apologies needed, it was an excellent ask!

It's absolutely insane that any of this happened. In all my years of moving through some pretty aggressive fandoms and seeing (and writing) some pretty contentious fics for them, never have I seen anyone dogpiled like this just for writing a small, intensely personal fix-it fic. It's just beyond disgusting.