#what if u came back wrong but not evil just dealing with what it means to be dead but like in a disability way

[equalseleventhirds]

what up besties sorry i haven't been online much but would u like to read the piece i wrote for my final for creative writing? it's metaporically about being trans n neurodivergent n disabled n ppl loving an idea of you more than you, but also it is about a zombie who comes back, not wrong, but not quite what anyone wanted..

(cw for death, electrocution, being buried (not quite alive), and complicated feelings about gender & name but that journey not being completed yet.)

- - -

Grave News

Amelia Marquez, 34, passed away in a tragic accident…

            Later, when anyone learns she woke up already buried, she can see the horror movie assumptions playing out behind their eyes. The thought of waking up, trapped in a tiny, dark, airless space, scrabbling at the walls, gasping for breath, the weight of the earth above pressing down, down, down…

            She smiles and accepts their pity, their horrified dismay, and does not tell them about lying awake, perfectly motionless, trying to figure out how to move. About how easy it is not to struggle for breath when pulling air into your lungs takes conscious effort. About pushing at different groups of muscles, her body twitching and twisting in the dark, until she works out forward, works out force, works out the flex of her hand as it pushes through velvet, then oak, then dirt, then dirt, then dirt.

            Amelia claws her way out of her own grave, not frantic, not berserk, but deliberate. Gradual. Almost mechanical, as she practices moving by repeating the same thing again and again, her patient hands working their way through wood, through earth, to the surface.

            (It isn't until later, standing in her parents' doorway and listening to the screams, that she realizes what ceaseless digging does to the human hand. She realizes that she somehow did not feel the pain as she dug. She realizes she needs to buy gloves.)

…the home she shared with her fiancé…

            Cole had been so certain about his repairs. Fifty bucks at Home Depot and a couple of days of work, and Amelia’s concerns brushed aside.

            “I’ve got this, Ames. Way better than hiring a contractor.” And she had agreed, had let him do it himself, had made dinner for a week while he spent his evenings messing with wires and fuses, assuring her that he was nearly done, that the video on YouTube made it so easy.

            Cole hadn’t been home when the lights went out, when Amelia went to the fuse box and tried to flip everything back on. When the jumble of wires in their walls shorted and flared and spread electricity through her body.

            When it killed her.

            Once her parents call, Cole drops everything to rush over. He falls to his knees in front of her, staring up into her face through a haze of tears and hope and shock.

            “You’re back. Ames, Amy, you’re back, how…”

            She stares down at her lap, making sure her hands are covered by the blanket her mother had nestled around her.

…a beautiful light in our lives, extinguished too soon. Her friends and family…

            Her memorial photo, the black clothes, the incense on the table, are all gone the morning after she comes back, packed away in boxes or thrown out in opaque garbage bags. Hands hesitate before touching her. They keep her at home, talking about rest, about recuperating.

            “Since you’ve been…” She sees the glances, the mouthed no, don’t say it. “…in your condition. It’s important to rest up.”

            It’s as though they think one wrong move, one wrong word, will kill her again.

            She wonders a little bit if they’re right.

            Her mother is the gentlest she’s ever been brushing Amelia’s hair, her hands careful, her voice filling the air. “And I unpacked some of your nice clothes,” she says, working through a tangle. “You don’t have to wear sweatpants anymore, I found your skirts…”

            Amelia looks down at her loose, comfortable clothes, the t-shirt worn and soft against her skin. She thinks about struggling with buttons on a nice blouse, thinks about whether ruffles will still itch the way they did when she was alive. Thinks about the way the mottled colors on her legs have lasted too long to be called bruises. Maybe she should call it decay.

            Her mother clicks her tongue sadly as a few strands of hair pull loose from her head. “These knots…”

            “What if I cut it?” Amelia asks. She’d been thinking about short hair back when she was alive. And it would be easier. “I can’t make you brush it for me every day.”

            Concern melds with distress on her mother’s face. “You can’t cut it,” she hisses. “What if it never grows back?”

...bright, funny, resilient, the first to volunteer...

            Once, she accidentally sleeps for three days. That’s the kind of thing the living joke about—so tired I could sleep for a week, as impossible as that would actually be. Turns out it’s easy for the dead—easy to lie still, easy to stop pushing, easy to drift away into forgiving darkness.

            She wakes to her mother weeping, her father pacing in the hall, Cole pale and haunted and clenching his phone in two hands. The funeral home’s phone number must be burned into the screen by now, but he hasn’t pressed the call button. Not yet.

            Amelia makes herself sit up in bed, reaches out to him, and sees him flinch.

            Right. Gloves.

            Even as she twists her face into a smile, she knows she's done it wrong. Her eyebrows are at odd angles, her lips curled strangely. She tries for light-hearted: "Whoops, close one! Don't want to wake up in a grave again."

            No one laughs.

...kept forever in our memories and our hearts...

            Late at night, she hears her parents whispering. “Is she all right?” her mother asks. “My little girl, my Amelia—she’s not acting like herself. She’s so tired, so...”

            “She just came back,” her father says. His voice is firm, comforting. Determined not to let any uncertainty slip through. The same voice he’s always used when her mother worries—the same voice he used when Amelia told him her own worries, her doubts about the future, about Cole. She always ended conversations with her father sure that he was right.

            “She’ll be back to herself soon enough,” he says. “We just have to keep her active. Remind her about being alive.”

            “But what if she’s not herself? I know we said not to bring up…” Her mother’s voice drops, furtive. “…the Z word…”

            “We’re keeping an eye on her. We’ll notice if she does anything that needs… intervention.”

            She closes her eyes. Wonders if she can turn off her hearing. Wonders if it would have been easier, staying in her grave.

            The next day, she brings up moving back in with Cole. He says he'd be happy to have her, and she pretends not to notice the look he exchanges with her parents.

…brought out the best in people, always ready to help, to listen…

            Cole is attentive. He brings her pastries from the bakery near their apartment and tells her about his day—work, his hobbies, a dog he saw at the park. Shows her pictures and videos on his phone. Mentions people by name, and she's not sure if they're new, since her death, or if she managed to forget people she knew about before.

            She knows which muscles to move for an understanding nod, an encouraging smile. She knows how to make herself chew and swallow food, how to bring it back up later so it doesn’t just sit and rot in her stomach. She still remembers the right way to ask questions so Cole shares more.

            There’s no real reason not to do it, but the more she thinks about it—the more she imagines forcing her body into the right place, the ordeal she’ll have to go through later—the less she wants to do it. She sits silently, pastries untouched, letting the muscles in her face go slack.

            “Ames? You okay?”

            It takes a second; she has to fill her lungs to respond. She tips one side of her mouth up in what could have been a reassuring smile, once. “Fine. Just tired.”

            He sits next to her, worry pinching between his eyebrows. "Of course. I'm sorry. Let's just sit here and watch TV? There are new episodes of all our favorites."

            The shows all feel distant, the plots blurred, the characters unfamiliar. She watches with him for hours anyway.

...a kind and giving spirit, she wanted to create...

            Shattering the mug isn't intentional. Even if she's started to resent the comforting cups of tea Cole brings her. Even if she's sick of pulling latex gloves over her cloth ones so she can wash the dishes. Even if the cutesy blobs of yellow and pink painted on it have always been too much, too bright, too false-forced-cheer, from the moment she was gifted it eight years ago.

            She still doesn't mean to let go of it, the muscles in her hand (and there are so many muscles in the human hand, so many to keep track of, and most of hers are damaged already) loosening and spasming as she's walking to the sink.

            The jagged pieces of it surround her, and Cole's hysterical babble of questions and assurances—"Are you okay, I've got it, just hold still"—fades into background noise as Amelia leans down to try and gather the shards.

            A hand wraps around her wrist and she turns to meet Cole's wide, frightened eyes. "Amy, your foot."

            A full inch of jagged ceramic is buried in her heel.

            She does not bleed, even after Cole pries it out.

...although she will never fulfill those plans, her dream will live on...

            "Ames, I'm worried." Cole reaches out, stops with his hand just over her thigh. Puts it down on the chair next to her, not touching. "This is... I know you've been through a lot. But you're acting like—"

            She turns her head until she can look at his face. Her neck jerks in the wrong direction a couple of times, but she's getting better at it, faster. "Like?"

            Cole's eyes are red, and can't quite meet hers. "Like..." His shoulders drop. "Not like yourself."

            He waits a beat—two—and gets up, breathing out harshly. "Ever since you came back, Amy. You barely look at me. You barely talk to me. You don't even like doing the things you used to like. I understand about your... condition, but..."        

...pray she rests well, and waits in peace for her loved ones...

            She sits in their apartment—Cole's apartment—long after he's gone, watching the afternoon sunlight shift across the space they used to share. Her books are still on the shelf. She remembers packing up her childhood bookshelf to bring to their new home. The painting she bought at a flea market is still hanging on the wall. She remembers joking with Cole about picking up a masterpiece for two dollars.

            Looking at them now, she doesn't even particularly want to bring them with her.

...invited to celebrate her life at...

            Merely dragging her body across the ground would be easier. But, even though she's wrong, even though she's not the person they think about when they look at her, she's still not a mindless, lurching zombie. Mostly.

            She walks. One step forward.

            Was she ever the person they thought about when they looked at her?

            One step.

            Maybe now she'll find out.

            One step.

...in lieu of flowers, the family asks...

            She settles into her seat on the train, making sure her hands are covered. A new start doesn't mean much if she sends an entire train into a panic.

            Someone sits next to her, bouncing in their seat. "Hey there! Looks like we've got eight hours ahead of us. What's your name?"

            She hesitates. Amelia. Amy. Ames.

"Mel," she says. It's strange in her mouth. Just slightly wrong, the same way she's just slightly wrong. Maybe that’s the right fit.

[hyp3rf1xat3d-rac00n]

☆Rowley's Half Sibling☆

Includes:

☆~Rodrick x reader! Gender Neutral reader! Fluff!~☆

------------

Rodrick had to pick up his brother from Rowley's. Again. However, when he came to the door, neither Rowley or his parents were there. There was a kid that looked the same age as him, and they looked really fucking cool. "U-Um hi. I'm here to pick up Greg." He said. The kid nodded and went back in. "Rowley! Your friend's ride is here!" They shouted up the stairs. "Okay okay sib, he's coming!" Rowley yelled back. Rodrick was standing out there for like ten minutes and Greg still wasn't out there yet. "Rowley didn't you say he was coming like ten minutes ago?" They yelled after swallowing some of their monster energy drink. "Yeah he's just getting some stuff sib!" Rowley yelled back. "Ok!" They yelled back. Greg finally came a minute later and he got in the back of Rodrick's van. Rodrick couldn't sleep well that night. He was too busy thinking about that person who was at Rowley's house the other day.

The next day Rodrick couldn't pay attention in school, which was normal, but the reason why wasn't. He was still thinking about that kid. He should've asked for their name, or number, or hell, at least something! But he didn't. Then he saw them again. They were apparently in the same class. Rodrick moved over to them while the teacher wasn't paying attention. He wondered how he hasnt noticed them before, with them sitting close to him alreadly. He tapped on their shoulder. "H-Hey. What's your name?" Rodrick asked, hoping this wasn't too embarrassing. "Oh it's Y/N, I'm technically new, since because of my cousin not being able to deal with me anymore she had me move here and move in with my half-brother." They said. "Oh. Well I'm somewhat surprised, ya act nothing like him, at least from what I've seen alreadly." He said. "Just cause I'm related to him doesn't mean we're the same, Heffley." They said back. "Ah, yeah that makes sense." He said.

After school, he had to drive Greg to Rowley's again since he wanted to hang out with Rowley, but well really it was for more Mom Bucks, but in honesty he didn't mind. He would be getting to see that hot kid again. "Hey Rowley, do you mind if I go in for a minute when we get there? I want to see your hot sibling again." He said. "Uh sure." Rowley said. When they all got there, he wondered where they were, since they answered the door last time

"Hey Rowley, where's the bathroom here?" He asked. "Uh second floor and it should be second door on the right." Rowley said. "Kay." Rodrick said and raced up the stairs, accidentally finding more stairs. He realized he had the wrong door, and went to the right door, but he was curious. After he used the bathroom he decided to read the sign on the door. It said "caution. Evil spirits live here." Rodrick chuckled at that. He was wondering about the stairs though, and the faint music playing. He decided to ascend the stairs, and the music started getting louder.

It was loudest when he reached the top of the stairs. He then realized that this was their room. He started blushing a lot and froze in embarrassment. They could feel someone staring at them so they turned the music off. "Oh uh, hey Roddy, what ya doing here?" They asked. "I saw stairs and got curious." He blushed more at the nickname. "Ah that makes sense." They said. "Anyways since they'll be a while, wanna hang out?" They asked. "Sure!" He said. It ended up somehow with them in Rodrick's lap while they were listening to a Pierce The Veil album. Rodrick couldn't enjoy himself more in this moment. They leaned back and kissed Rodrick on the cheek. "I love you Roddy." They said. "I love you too babe." He said back, while smiling.

[bigmack2go]

I dont like the headcannon of davey being jewish.

Why? I am glad you asked!

Now listen dont get me wrong here!

Representation is so important especially for religions because in that department even the most popular ones r being bullied these days and then that religion isnt just any but the most hated one in history. The religion that was blamed for practically anything bad that has happened in the last 500-1000 years. In ww|| children didn’t even know this WAS a religion. In Germany they were taught that the word “jew” stood for a monster, like the wird rabbit stands for an animal. Idk if this makes sense but they LITTERALLY didn’t know any better which i personally find makes it worse. The ppl KNEW that they were wrong, and that they couldn’t convince poursouled children of anything unless they made up lies. The thing those children hated was justified. Anyone would hate a monster that only brings evil upon us. But they conected it to a name that describes something else.(the movie jojo rabit brings this accross extremely well and truthfull! It’s available on netflix and i think on prime!) And thats the problem. They knew they were wrong but they needed someone to blame for their own failures and problems. ANd WhO bEtTeR tHaN tHe OnEs ThAt HaVe BeeN aT bLamE fOr ThE pAsT 700 YeaRs???

This began with the germanians spreading Christianity around Europe when jews were still a majority. It was generally a seen as a sin to get along with a Christian, and as we all know in the middle age there have been some babaric events towarts (but also by) religious ppl.

In thirteen-sixty-something the thing got to a whole new level when in (i think it was italy but idk) a fountain was moisted with bacteria and brought back black plague for a lot of people, which obviously got word all around the world quickly. And with that obviously also rumours. The thing is that those rumors were LOADED.

Thats how the hatred toward jews specifically began. People thought they were witches that poisoned their food causing them all to get sick.

(Sry i didnt mean for this to turn into a history lesson hahaha)

So yeah. Representation is so important and I totally stand behind that!

That being said however i genuinely don’t like it with Davey and here’s why:

Im have no problem with the headcannon itself and obv not with people having thah headcannon. What bucks me is how that came to be.

It just feels sooo cliche taking the one character named david jacobs and saying he’s jewish.

I mean

Seriously

David jacobs

David. Jacobs.

David and jacob (lemme guess his sisters name is sarah hAHa- oh wait-)

Like it might be just me but that’s loaded with stereotype.

This might sound weird and/or mean but i genuinely get the feeling, the only reason ppl hc him as jewish is his name.

On top of that theres the fact that i generally just feel like its forced at this point. Again. I stand for representation with everything in me. but people just decided (rather than felt/knew) they needed to represent jewish folks and picked out ONE (1) (s i n g u l a r) character (LITTERALLY NAMED DAVID JACOBS!! Idk if u can tell but im getting rly worked up abt this)and said his family is jewish.

(Then if course theres the fact that i cant deal with the fact that he would have been killed at least in wa|| if not earlier due to being an non-arian jew but he prolly would be killed in one of the worldwars anyway so thats not much of an argument lol)

THATS IT! TYSM if u read this completely!

I also wanna take the opportunity to compell everyone to support palestina!!!!! I’ll put some links down below!

As a Christian i am lucky enough to not be bothered with shit by people i cant deal with but not everyone has that! So here’s just a gerneral reminder to educate and support people of any minority!!!

I will put some links so u can read up about the history of discrimination towards religion and jews!⬇️⬇️

1 Wikipedia article generally summarising antisemit!sm

2 definition

3 antisemit!sm+ history of rivalry between Christianity & Judaism

4 on discrimination and hate/ harassment towards religions in school and workplaces

5 discrimination WITHIN religion

6 some facts

7 using religion as an excuse to BE descriminating

8 read about judaism as a religion, rules and beliefs

[stillmonsterz]

god i love u fr

anw so— birds of a feather quite literally fucked up my day (in a good way) like im so invested into this story and im just in awe of the level of literacy in the way u write and im kinda taking some notes and learning from u in a way?? i mean that in a very appreciative way and i think ur genuinely one of a kind absolutely gem writer on this app like i could go on and on abt the way you write your characters and their chemistry w each other like ugh im eating it up im so full

so onto the actual fic, WHAT THE FUCK RIKI?? when i catch u riki istg, my heart SANK at that last part like i knew something was up bc he hasn't caused anything in a while and that was like a bullet sized dagger straight through my heart jfc. he had me all bamboozled and im actually feeling rage at the way mc showed vulnerability to him only to be backstabbed by him and now he's like dragging her w a noose around her neck— it's insane how he immediately dismissed mc and jumped the gun at how she could only be lying like that part just made him go from my fav character to my most loathed character. also suddenly the few mentions of riki being 'cute and evil' compared to everyone else makes so much sense, and tbh i don't trust that he'd stay quiet abt those ss he's just gonna be bored and leak them after a while i feel like.

oh and i cant forget abt the jay scene in the hotel GOD i had such a viceral emotional reaction to every dialogue they said— my brain is thoroughly jumbled, a smut scene on ecstasy could never compare to the gut wrenching situationship break up that was. if i may be honest, jay's a pussy lmao wdym you can't be wrong and admit you're not even half as bad as u thought lol anw he's going straight into the complicated men box. sorry that was me trying to cope w the fact that all of the progress jay and mc made was just gone like that and it's all back to square one now, i can't deal w that loss rn im fr mourning over it. there's just a lot to say abt that scene it might be my all time favorite piece of fanfic i've read in my life, im losing my mind at the contrast between mc wanting to savor the moment and make it last longer while jay's trying to get it over with bc i know that he knows if he takes as much time as he'd like, he'd actually realize he loves her and that's just too much of big boy feelings for him (im bullying him too much bc im so sour rn)

also the reveal w jake dealing w addiction was eye opening, like now im rethinking back to all the times he's been fidgety and including that recent scene w mc when he comes out of the restrooms, god i was dying for the mc to just get in there and ivestigate around BUT SHE DIDN'T im so pissed. jake's definitely shown some cracks in this part and i can't wait to see him be vulnerable to mc and be honest for once, he's hiding too much and i still don't trust him i can't lie.

and i think we might be only skimming the surface w the other members, i weirdly adore sunoo lmao he's such a cryptid being, and tbh the only good thing that came out of this was sunghoon and lily being a maybe healthy couple, i love love that scene w him and lily it's such a sweet and cute moment in between all the shit mc's digging herself in lmao. i don't think i have an opinion on heeseung yet other than he obviously cares for his members, or at least the kc's reputation, and has his bearings together enough to tell the mc straight up abt all of that. also jungwon.... why do i hear boss music.... LMAO but honestly the bit where it mentioned that he got shit on everyone combined w the ending had me clawing at the walls, he's gonna be important later on and im feeling the nerves crawl up my spine even though he's never shown up once in this part, im that scared of him 😭

im terrified at what's to come, like actual dread on if riki's abt to spill everything to jay and if jay will find out and— this is too overwhelming and my mind's so cluttered lol. anw im not gonna speculate anything rn for my health but im gonna write this last paragraph in appreciation for the way you write morally gray characters, like just completely blown away by how complex and unpleasant they were written, and i mean unpleasant bc i fr know some ppl who'd act this way, it's bone chilling. granted not to the extent these characters are but it's still enough to take me back into the headspace and social circle in my younger years, just the deep regret crashing all over me again lol. not to say this was horrible no no quite the exact opposite this is the most fun and absorbed i've got from a fic in a long time, this left such an impression on me that it sneaks into the back of my mind all the time, which amplifies everytime i open this app just to scroll and i always unconsciously search ur user to see if you've updated or not.

last one i promise, thank u sm for writing this fic and all ur other fics, i know and i can tell when a writer has literacy in their heart ur up there w my forever favorites. can't wait to see it all unfolds and im hoping the mc have some sort of a good ending, fingers crossed 🥲 (sorry for this wall of text also lol)

Putting my answer under a read-more

First of all, please don't apologize for sending large asks like this. I honestly love it when people have a lot of things to say about my works. It makes me feel as though I've created something rich enough that it can be discussed.

like im so invested into this story and im just in awe of the level of literacy in the way u write and im kinda taking some notes and learning from u in a way??

Thank you so much for this...I think I can attribute this to me reading. I read almost every day, and I only read things that I enjoy.

also suddenly the few mentions of riki being 'cute and evil' compared to everyone else makes so much sense, and tbh i don't trust that he'd stay quiet abt those ss he's just gonna be bored and leak them after a while i feel like.

I sort of wanted to emphasize that anyone who would join the Karma Club would inherently be predisposed to doing horrible things for their own enjoyment. Also, as in real life, sometimes the nicest people can do horrible things. People are far more contradictory than we give them credit for. That being said, no spoilers on what he'll do with the screenshots. It's been fascinating to see the revulsion towards Riki's actions compared to what Jay has done to the MC.

if i may be honest, jay's a pussy lmao wdym you can't be wrong and admit you're not even half as bad as u thought lol anw he's going straight into the complicated men box. sorry that was me trying to cope w the fact that all of the progress jay and mc made was just gone like that and it's all back to square one now, i can't deal w that loss rn im fr mourning over it.

If it makes you feel any better, they aren't really at square one. Square one was Jay harassing her nonstop because he truly was disgusted by her, in as equal measure as he was fascinated by her. Like he said, he now doesn't even know if he hates her anymore. So even though it seems like they've gone to the beginning, this is new territory for both of them. Jay is a huge pussy, though. He calls Jake a pussy, but Jake has made more genuine attempts to get close to Y/N than him LOL

god i was dying for the mc to just get in there and ivestigate around BUT SHE DIDN'T im so pissed. jake's definitely shown some cracks in this part and i can't wait to see him be vulnerable to mc and be honest for once, he's hiding too much and i still don't trust him i can't lie.

It's good that you don't trust him. At that point, Heeseung had already told Y/N to just be nice to Jake, so she didn't want to bother him. Heeseung essentially told her that she was part of the reason why Jake relapsed, so she doesn't want to toe the line.

i don't think i have an opinion on heeseung yet other than he obviously cares for his members, or at least the kc's reputation, and has his bearings together enough to tell the mc straight up abt all of that. also jungwon.... why do i hear boss music.... LMAO but honestly the bit where it mentioned that he got shit on everyone combined w the ending had me clawing at the walls

No spoilers, but Jungwon will come into play. Something happened in the earlier part of birds of a feather that will have an effect on what happens in Part 3.

im gonna write this last paragraph in appreciation for the way you write morally gray characters, like just completely blown away by how complex and unpleasant they were written, and i mean unpleasant bc i fr know some ppl who'd act this way, it's bone chilling. granted not to the extent these characters are but it's still enough to take me back into the headspace and social circle in my younger years, just the deep regret crashing all over me again lol.

Thank you so much! And yeah, I definitely drew from my high school experience for some of this. The only other time I've ever done that is for Tired of What We Are, and I think you can see some of the parallels. Not to say that fluff is unnecessary (I do plan on writing something cute) but it's just fun to play round with people who are morally questionable, and who revel in their bad traits at times. Not so fun to experience it yourself, though.

thank u sm for writing this fic and all ur other fics, i know and i can tell when a writer has literacy in their heart ur up there w my forever favorites. can't wait to see it all unfolds and im hoping the mc have some sort of a good ending, fingers crossed

Thank you so so much. I took a long time to answer this because I wanted to keep this ask to myself. Whenever someone sends me a longer ask, I read it over and over again. I wanted to hold onto it for as long as possible. I really do love writing fics, and I'm grateful that people are willing to read them. Thank you for all of the kind words you've written, and for taking the time to read my fic!

[alittlebitgoofy]

we were friends, now i want more (1/3) - (spice/luxx)

heheheheh i didn't mean for this to turn into a multipart thing but i wanted to post what i had and i won't leave y'all hanging on such a cliffhanger. so much gay shit about to drop i felt like giving these gals the build up for the penny to finally drop :)) many thanks to @fuckyeah-dragrace and @puppywritesthings for dealing with my tired ass writing and making sure it makes sense, and dealing with my constnat questions about the american college system (ily puppy thx bestie) ao3 link

Luxx huffed impatiently on her laptop as if that would solve the block that was this assignment. Fucking essays. Whoever decided this was important for a music class was an absolute ass.

Marcia glanced at them wearily. Luxx wasn’t one to half ass anything, always insisting it had to be perfect, the issue came with the self criticism. Even in the short time they’d shared a dorm together, she’d figured out that they were never happy with anything they did. There was always something to improve which was great until you had assignments due that you were never happy with.

The laptop slamming shut made them jump, watching as Luxx growled into her hands.

“This is fucking ridiculous.”

“Maybe you should take a break?”

“Maybe. Or I could just finish this and be done with it. If my brain would work.”

They let out an exasperated sigh, picking up the laptop and throwing it into their bag.

“Maybe if I go to the library I’ll get this done.”

“This late? Marcia glanced at the time. Who in their right mind went to the library at 11pm on a Thursday?

“Fuck it, no one else is going to be there and it’s 24 hours for a reason.”

“You do you I guess.” Arguing with her roommate was a lost cause. Marcia just shrugged, shooting Spice a text to inform her of Luxx’s actions. If anyone could talk sense into them it was her.

Luxx swore they would get this done, ignoring that it was due the next morning. They didn’t want to take the hit and admit something was beyond them.

Thankfully the library was as empty as expected, only a few people typing at laptops looking as tired as they felt. The change in scenery helped a small bit, progress happening slowly but surely to this piece of torture their professor called coursework.

Hours seemed to pass in the blink of an eye yet agonisingly slowly. She stared down the word count like it was trying to murder her. 500 words left. That was all she needed.

Just as the focus began to stray, Luxx’s phone buzzed. The brief flash of irritation faded to a small smile as they noticed it was Spice.

Spice: u ok? marcia said u went to the libry to do an essay

Spice: libray

Spice: library? hot girls can’t spell

Luxx: you got there in the end, I’m fine just want to die over this shitty essay

Spice: due tomorrow?

Luxx: yeah, it’s evil

Spice: how long did u have to do it?

Luxx: two weeks

Spice: evil

Luxx couldn’t help but smile at her phone. At least someone got it. Spice's lack of spelling ability provided enough amusement rto finish this damn thing.

By the time they were done, there was nobody else left in the library. Luxx glanced at the clock, cringing as it read 4am. Did it really take five hours to finish this thing? How could a stupid essay have taken her this long. At least it was done.

Not like she needed to be up for an 8am class. That wasn’t a thing. Not at all.

The world seemed to want her exhausted, running off barely any sleep and wanting to commit a crime if anyone looked at her the wrong way. Luxx wanted nothing more than to curl up and sleep for the weekend as they came out of class though knowing Marcia was with Jax in their dorm she chanced not having pda shoved down her throat and texted Spice to see if she was free.

Of course she got a text back in an instant, trusting that girl to always be on her phone.

Spice: sug is in class for a few hours, come hang out with me 🥺

Luxx: as long as no one is making out in your dorm im there

Even Spice was starting to grate on them a bit. Her relentless energy was usually fun but right now, all Luxx wanted was quiet. She grunted as Spice attempted to initiate conversation. They instantly regretted it as the black haired girl pouted, though her body didn’t seem to hold any tension or malice.

“Alright, I know what you need.”

Before they could question what that even meant and what the hell Spice was planning, she pulled them into her arms, leaning Luxx’s head on her shoulder as her hands became preoccupied stroking and being run through their head.

“If anyone else tried this I'd kill them.” She grumbled, though Spice just giggled in response.

“I know.” Spice chirped cheerfully, her relentless optimism making Luxx crack a small smile.

Thankfully Spice knew what to do. Now that she questioned it, Spice’s flipping on a dime was strange to say the least. How the hell did someone who got stressed out trying to figure out how much 3 items cost in a supermarket have so much emotional intelligence? It would be off putting if she wasn’t so warm, physically and emotionally. Seriously. Why did Spice’s cuddles always leave Luxx so relaxed? At last, their body gave in to fatigue, melting into Spice as she moved one arm to fall over Luxx’s back, circling small trails with her thumb.

It didn’t take long for Spice to notice the lack of movement in her friend. Truth be told, she’d noticed how tired Luxx looked the second their eyes met. She played dumb, knowing Luxx would end up letting her cuddle them to her heart's content and that was the easiest way to get her to rest.

—

Spice turned around as she felt a tug on her hand, Luxx looked down at the floor, as if making eye contact would make them combust.

“You think you could stay a little longer?” Her voice was quiet, tone not quite faltering but damn near close. Spice could feel the defeat in her, admitting to needing someone when she insisted she was fine alone. All the confidence and pride in the world meant nothing in that moment. Luxx finally glanced up, linking their eyes in a painful silence.

“You don’t have to. Fuck. Forget I said anything. It doesn’t matter.”

Spice didn’t speak, only moved back to Luxx’s bed and pulled them into a tight embrace. Luxx could only sit there speechless before letting themself fully relax into Spice. She was always the one to be affectionate and usually they just let her because it was fine. Not enjoyable, but fine. Right now though? She needed this. She needed Spice.

“Don’t try and deny it. You’re allowed to need someone. Let me take care of you this time.”

Something was different about Spice. Her usual thoughtless positivity was replaced by something a lot smarter. It wasn’t the first time Luxx had seen this shift, though it was the first time it was directed towards her.

She just did as Spice asked, knowing that she wouldn’t do anything wrong. Luxx let out a breath, leaning back into Spice as she pulled them down further into her arms. Somehow, only now did they notice how strong she could be. She always seemed so gentle and soft, someone Luxx wanted nothing more than to protect from anything and everything bad in the world.

Maybe it was the exhaustion, or the emotional vulnerability. But something felt different. There was an unspoken lack of boundaries, Spice content for whatever Luxx chose to do, letting her take control of the situation with a warm smile when she burrowed against her.

Luxx’s hands idly ran up and down Spice’s arms, that stayed wrapped around her waist. Soft hums accompanied the action, the black haired girl melting at the contact, squeezing them ever so tighter.

Something started to bubble up, threatening to break out of Luxx at any point. She hesitated, eyes darting down when Spice cocked her head to the side, analysing the sudden shift in their expression.

So many things she was trying to repress threatened to spill out. Her chest tightened, heart beginning to thud when things started to make sense and all of her awareness was placed squarely in the current situation.

“You’re so perfect.”

Luxx felt their body convulse as Spice spoke, stroking their hair away from their eyes as it fell in their face.

“You don’t have to be. I know you always want to be, but you are without even trying.” She continued, smiling softly as Luxx raised an eyebrow at her.

“You have everything anyone would ever need. You’re smart, pretty, you don’t let people step over you. Don’t think you have to work yourself to the brink just to be good enough. You are just by being you.” Spice’s tone was so genuine, dripping with so much affection when her eyes never left Luxx that they wondered if she’d been possessed. They wondered if this side of her was fleeting, if she’d be back to the girl who couldn’t sit for more than five minutes without mentioning dolls or getting sidetracked by the first interesting thing someone mentioned.

Spice’s presence was enough to put her at ease, Luxx just let out an agreeing hum into her chest, not quite trusting herself to speak. A warmth washed over her, replaying the sheer factual way Spice complimented her, like it was an everyday thing to comment positively on every aspect of someone’s being.

Sure, people called her pretty. People tried to flirt and lather Luxx with compliments they would shake off or just plain agree with. But the way Spice said it? Something deep within them melted when those sweet words came from her.

Time passed, soft whispers were exchanged between the two occasionally. Luxx’s brain was swimming, half asleep and wishing she could project her thoughts into Spice’s head without having to say a word.

“I love you.”

Before realisation could hit, Luxx had fallen asleep, leaving Spice reeling and ready to lose her mind over three little words. That’s a problem for another day though, Luxx finally resting was more important and sleeping with them in her arms was something she just wanted to enjoy for as long as possible.

[vatt-world]

hi

understudy-- complete As many of you may have suspected,

our star is somewhat delayed,

so why don't we take a ten,

and then we'll restart with the design presentation. // Karen, I need to talk to you.

What's up?

Look, because miss Duvall's entrance has been delayed,

we need to look at some staging issues.

Okay.

We want you to do it.

You want…

We want you to understudy Marilyn.

Are you up for that?

Yes, sure. Yes.

Great, but we're gonna hit the ground running. Linda? // Yeah, well, she already knows half the blocking.

I know all the blocking…

She is…

She's… Little usurper.

Ivy, after what happened at Heaven on Earth,

I can't even get you in the chorus.

You know that.

I was upset.

I was a mess after what happened.

Nevertheless…

It's not funny.

Yeah, it is, actually. // o, no, no, downstage, Karen.

Downstage!

Downstage what?

You cross downstage of your scene partner

so that when he stands up,

he doesn't put his bloody back to the bloody audience.

We've just done this. Didn't you write it down?

No, I…

Can we have a pencil, please, for miss Cartwright?

Since she can't remember the simplest piece of blocking.

You cross downstage of Arthur.

Can you even spell "downstage"?

And I thought he was evil during the workshop.

Would it be more evil to start taking bets?

On what?

Whether or not he makes her cry.

Evil.

Ten bucks, she folds like a tent.

$20, she gets fired.

You're on.

// What's going on?

It's just these vultures I'm having to deal with.

My so-called investors. "Socalled"?

They don't want to invest in Marilyn.

They want to invest in a movie star,

and I admit, I opened the door to that,

because you have to, but God…

It's a galling business.

Why put up with it?

They have the money. They sign the checks.

It's the way the game is played.

Does it have to be?

I'm open to suggestions.

Emergency fund.

A bar's got to stay liquid more ways than one in this city.

Well, this is… Very impressive.

And incredibly sweet.

Got $7 million under there?

Kitty's a little short of $7 million.

But I do have friends.

What kind of friends?

So they finally came up with a number

that doesn't have Marilyn in it?

// aren…

Do you have a pencil?

Yes, I do.

Terrific.

Come with me. Off to the break room.

We're gonna run the transition Let me be your star,

straight through the playboy shoot,

and into Johnny Hyde.

Okay, now this is gonna move fast,

so just do exactly what I say,

and when you've got it, write it down,

and that'll be a huge help to me.

I know we're dropping you into the deep end.

I can do it.

Yeah, I know you can.

I'm counting on it.

Okay, that's lunch.

Think he only has a week to live? //

I did some research on that Cobra guy.

Don't tell me, he gave away all his money.

No, he's still loaded,

and not shy about investing in projects.

Perfect.

Then I looked into that bartender, Nick,

and that's where things got interesting.

Stop.

I think you want to hear this.

I think you thought wrong. How dare you go delving

into the personal lives of my friends?

Well, he's an investor too, though, isn't he?

I mean, he's the guy that brought in all the money.

That means he's a partner.

Go get me a coffee and take this with you. //s

Like what I need right now is a stupid lecture.

Just do it.

I'm trying to think like Marilyn,

and you're not exactly helping.

Could you at least try and listen?

And yet, I need you downstage.

I don't care where you need me.

Your blocking stinks.

And you know what else? I don't appreciate

that crack about the home being a proper place for a woman.

It sounds like something Joe would say.

Besides, I want to stay home, I…

I want a life with this guy.

I'm trying to have a baby with him,

and all he wants to do is put Marilyn back to work.

Derek…

Derek, hello? You all right?

Yeah, fine.

I'll put you nose to nose,

see how that works.

You want me to write that down?

No, Linda's got the blocking.

Let's just forge ahead.

Well, what time is it,

///

she doesntshowup star plane hicup u want to understudy kathy - derek asks i know all the blocking iva i was a mess -iva dev and kathy meet times sq walk trian wreck mom and kid eva she walks thru times sq music kathy sexual harass tells dev rebecca will be soon angelina in bar talks to bartender bartender gives money derek u can be smarter towel dance songwriter/tom sings kathy do u have a pencil …gives her direction derek bartender makes him meet rockstar kids perform angelina meets rockstar -- nolimit to return kathy /eva walk thru times sq debra and kid talk tom and date talk at coffee ..reading newspaper debra calls husband angelina on computer just do it derek angelina bartender u introduced us kathy at home /derek comes u did great work/ i want to apologise derek meets boyfriend fight karen bf hit me why dont u start call u bombsell latest investor - randy cobra debra in restaurant kathy singing infront of derek rebecca duvall comes

hell on earth

What are all these things you're doing today, anyway?

Well, I can't just sit around

and wait for Marilyn to happen, so I have that audition,

and then I'm gonna go by Orlin to see if I can

pick up some shifts // When I started the prednisone,

I couldn't sleep, so my doctor put me on Ambien.

Plus the Klonopin for the anxiety.

But then I was totally doped up,

so then he put me on Lorazepam and… I don't know, some new stuff.

And stuff?

Don't you judge me.

Listen, I've been pretty anxious lately,

and not without good reason.

I worked my ass off on that workshop.

And now I'm back in Heaven on earth for…

probably forever.

Ivy.

I'm not judging, okay? Just…

Just be careful.

Here's his number.

// The problem is what it's always been…

The show isn't ready.

Derek, you had a fight with your collaborators

and you lost… Get over it.

What I had was a perfectly good idea

for the development of this musical,

which they didn't like… Fair enough.

But I'm gonna need one or two things in return.

Such as?

I'm not chasing stars until I see a finished script.

///

Wait, what did you get?

An orange juice commercial.

Good for you!

// You turn away from the closet.

This way?

To the mirror, and say…

"To how you'll wear your hair."

Pigtails, ponytail, pixie.

Okay, so you CGI.

Yeah, we CGI that on you.

So you're watching yourself in the mirror for how many seconds?

Six seconds.

Six seconds

while that happens.

Okay, follow me.

No, right now.

Then your line.

"So it's nice when there's no choice."

And you go to the refrigerator and open it.

This side.

Right.

Where there's just one carton of orange juice.

It's the only thing you keep in your fridge

because you love it so much.

Okay.

And then you pour.

Pouring.

And your line.

"Start your day with morning Ray OJ

and let everything else fall into place."

Sunglasses.

Perfect! You got that?

Yeah. It doesn't seem too hard.

Just wait till you've done it 200 times.

Don't drink that…

It's your 15th shot here, though, right? She booked a national commercial for orange juice.

How does she do that?

She just walks into this city with that midwestern moon face

and lands everything.

// Ivy? You in there?

Ivy!

Are you in there?

Ivy?

You're about to go on.

Thank you. Sorry.

// Get off the freakin' stage!

I'm getting off.

♪ The farther you… Fall ♪

Ivy, Ivy, wait!

You have got to be kidding me.

Are you okay?

You saw that?

// bout how lousy your life is.

You were weak! You were naive!

You didn't want it enough! You didn't fight hard enough!

You didn't put enough on the line.

Yeah, okay.

I didn't sleep with Derek. You're right.

I didn't do that.

But trust me, it wasn't because he didn't ask.

You weren't the first choice. //

hell on earth its a lot i have a audition tom and bf meet republican fundraiser ava with pills i worked ass of on that workshop going thru stars we need title whats the problem finish the script can we get hughes ivi len rushes maryln workshop talking i got the commericial greenscreen costume tom and gal talk ivi works as background marlyn on brooklyn bridge it wasnt anything she wears green screen debra husband meet michael u came to my house we are looking with new director she lands everything iva im not sick of that sick what are u reading ivi's glasses ivi takes tablets replacing with derek with hughes are u in or out he puts on backup uniform she sees tablets ivi are u there ivi walks out u are about to go on u didnt fight enough ivi dad is leaving kathy and ivi become friends they dance at times sq ivi falls flat on bed its 5am i would not answer phone thanksfor meeting out here they come up with title bombshell

[slitherbop]

.......Any papastuck hcs?

THANK YOU for giving me an excuse to publicly ramble about PAPA G AND CHUCK beware of Spoilers within ALSO HERE’S A PIC happy valentines day

When they met and Chuck was still Stuck in the floor, like Post-Chicken-Feed-Missing-Scene, Chuck would be RUDE as HELL to Papa G. But Papa G took it as realizing he’s just A Guy and was like AH MAYBE I SHOULDA BEEN GIVIN HIM REAL FOOD and then he does that, but Chuck is still a bastard to him. Not to The Kid’s knowledge tho, he only found out that Papa G knew about Chuck’s existence in the second episode like we saw.

Papa G literally just looked at Chuck and how Evil he was being at the beginning and was like OH YES WE CAN BE FRIENDS I LIKE THIS GUY cuz he DID save him and want him to be redeemed and have the last ring to be on the team... Papa G’s Immediate Trust.. like if u agree

I like to imagine that Papa G actually did have da iced tea with Chuck to get to know him :] this was Post-Chuck-getting-Cut-in-Half. Papa G is Very Curious about Chuck but Chuck’s still a rude little man at this point and Papa G laughs off his behaviour. Papa G might be f*cked up enough that he does enjoy his company, bad vibes and all

Chuck has NO idea what to make of Papa G here because no one else has ever shown him kindness or wasn’t annoyed at him. It doesn’t stop him from being a force of negativity though cuz at this point he still Believes he’s going to conquer the earth.

This ended up being like a timeline of their relationship and not relationship headcanon UUHH OOPS!!!!!

OK, Chuck actually likes that he calls him Charles it’s the special name :]

I’m prepared to be proven wrong but it would be epic if Chuck started calling Papa G “George” because he was there to hear that that is his first name and Papa G like with Tuna Sandwich doesn’t mind being called it, it’s just his name. Also George is my real name and I’d love to hear Chuck say. Also Also George and Charles are gay old man names

Uh oh I’m talking more about timeline stuff but some time after the events of the big showdown and they’re dealing with the fact that Chuck is deciding to stay here on earth, Papa G and The Kid make him his own living space there in the junkyard with them. Not sure where or what it’d look like but it means a lot to Chuck (makes this face -> 🥺) I’d imagine since his species aren’t given their own names / have individuality he wasn’t given a space of his own to do whatever he wanted with

Since they no longer have the rings, Chuck helps Papa G as an extra hand doing work in the yard (Papa G had to get used to doing stuff without being his own company :[ ) and Chuck ACTUALLY LOVES HELPING imagine that one scene where Papa G and Chuck are working together to build the ice cream megaphone truck, they’re both really skilled at building stuff and enjoy it so it’s like that pretty often!

I swear to god Papa G needs to get Chuck a wheelchair / make him one, I want to believe that he does have one and we just didn’t see it at the end of the time skip -_- :prayer: but they totally deck it the hell out (you KNOW Papa G is capable of making deadly death machines and you KNOW Chuck would absolutely love that sh*t!!!!)

Anyway back to the time skip relationship development thing: PAPA G SHOWS CHUCK AROUND HIS HOUSE I wish we knew what inside the house looked like besides the kitchen sink lol but Papa G figured if he’s gonna be around here more often he might as well show him where HE lives! Papa G is SUPER excitedly showing him all the weird stuff he’s accumulated over his lifetime. Chuck doesn’t Get the specialness of physical possessions and calls it Junk but Papa G doesn’t mind! He shows things and Chuck is confused about certain things (being an Alien) and Papa G is happy to explain everything to him.

Papa G shares Chuck his art and is showing him painting ;_; once again Chuck is a bastard and doesn’t totally get it. Papa G would definitely call HIM an artist, pointing out that all the building that Chuck does is artwork, those comics that he spent all that time reading was him appreciating the art, and that changes the way he views it. Chuck makes his own dam comics, I’d imagine the way he’d draw is very unique and the text is written in his language, and then it’s Papa G who doesn’t totally get it but is ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT IT!!!

Also Papa G totally takes Chuck out to the middle of nowhere to go look for junk, this is probably Chuck’s Least Favourite Activity LOL but they do spend a lot of time talking about anything, I’m really curious about what the kind of things they’d even say when they’re not faced with any threat and are only with each other *looks up at the sky in thought..*

Chuck please go off about your previous life away from earth I feel like as soon as he came here he kinda just accepted himself being Stuck Chuck and therefore had no attachment to being a nameless body in an alien army. Also Papa G please open up about your messed up secret history that warranted the government keeping tabs on you and made you live almost completely isolated.

See^ I think whatever they got going on on a DEEP LEVEL could be wild and would have so much to unravel, Chuck’s life before this was probably just 90% seeing various people DIE and was simply made to Kill people for his leader. And. you KNOW Papa G has something Messed Up about him + Is Traumatized / got “bad flashbacks” + the whole seeing himself die and being numb to it. And now that they are people who are trying to save lives on their team they could Relate to each other as the two older guys with UNKNOWN HISTORY!!!!

UUUUH OK SO SHIP HEADCANONS RIGHT. RIGHT. They hold hands :] they rarely kiss it’s mostly Papa G who kisses Chuck on the face but Chuck is forbidden from kissing unless Papa G wants to go to sleep. Also Chuck likes to be held by Papa G, they hug a lot :D Papa G takes Chuck out to the diner and gets him everything he wants <3 they go to the house and watch movies and Kid joins them too as a family ;_; Papa G goes to sleep in his god forsaken hammock with Chuck, and Chuck is like So This Is Your Weird-Ass Cocoon Huh and Papa G is like HAHA YUP and its sweet.

I’m gonna end this here thank you for reading, this is the kinda stuff I ramble on and on like this in private but I hope u enjoy some of my thoughts about this I think it’s a genius ship with so much potential and is my favourite thing right now THANKS

[lesbianrobin]

What do you think are the good and bad aspects of each season of ST?

ok 1. thank u for this question omg and 2. this answer may or may not be a mess, but either way it’s long (almost 7k words lmao) bc i’m insane, which is why it’s under a cut. it’s still by no means an exhaustive list but these are the things that just kinda came to mind.

also i realize you asked “good and bad” and i wrote this whole post as “strengths and weaknesses” which um. is not Exactly what you asked. but close enough <3 i also ended up including a lot of au ideas ksjdckmn bc like i personally hate when people say a certain plot or whatever was bad without suggesting anything that could have improved it yknow so whenever possible i tried to provide Some idea for fixing the issues i had with the show!!

season 1

strengths (this is probably gonna be the longest section but that’s because a lot of these strengths also apply to s2/s3 by default)

nostalgia and authenticity

this one’s pretty simple, but i think that season one did a good job of blending classic eighties media homages (such as the many many e.t./el parallels) with explicit pop culture references (such as mike’s yoda impression, mentions of the x-men, etc) to create a show that’s essentially dripping in early eighties nostalgia without it feeling too forced. before st, i think the most popular depiction of the eighties in mainstream media was that overly exaggerated neon scrunchie aesthetic from the mid to late eighties, and it was usually done in a comedic sense first and foremost. st took a different approach, instead focusing on the early eighties, a time that’s often ignored in favor of going either Full Seventies or Full Eighties, and i think that this choice likely resonated with adults who lived through the eighties and hadn’t yet seen something that felt quite so accurate to their own adolescence. a lot of young people who watched st were totally unfamiliar with this period of time, unfamiliar with books/movies like “stand by me” that st borrows from heavily, and i think st lent more seriousness to the eighties than most young people had experienced so far, and this was refreshing and interesting!

the use of dnd in the show is also quite genius in a way i’m not sure i can articulate?? it isn’t something Everyone would have played at the time, but it’s something that existed within a different context back in the eighties than it does today, and it really lent a sort of authenticity to the naming of the show’s sci-fi elements. like, of course these kids would name parallel dimensions and monsters and superpowers after these similar things in their favorite game! it just feels so real and it grounds st in our reality moreso than you might expect from the typical sci-fi or horror universe.

utilization of existing tropes

almost every single character in st clearly originates from some popular trope. the plot itself is riddled with classic eighties movie tropes. almost every single element of stranger things can be clearly traced back to some iconic eighties film or just to, like, overused horror/sci-fi/mystery/coming-of-age movie tropes in general. this might sound like a bad thing, but it really works in st’s favor! starting off with familiar tropes gives st the ability to easily create a lot of complexity and make a big impact by selectively deviating from those familiar, comfortable tropes!! while el’s whole plot, hopper’s character, etc, are all examples of this in action, i think the steve/nancy/jonathan plot is the greatest example. even from the start, the fact that good girl barb dies while nancy is off having sex with her asshole boyfriend is an incredibly thorough inversion of the most well-known horror movie trope in the book. how often do girls in horror movies have sex for the first time, walk home alone in the dark of night, and live to tell the tale? nancy and jonathan’s dynamic at first glance is a sort of classic “good girl meets boy from the wrong side of the tracks, discovers he’s actually got a heart of gold” thing, but instead of following this well-trodden path, st diverged. nancy is brash, impulsive, and at times downright insensitive. jonathan is angry, bitter, and actually a bit of a creep at first. while they have the capacity to emotionally connect and support one another, they can also bring out each other’s darker side, which is not what we’ve come to expect from that initial tropey dynamic.

in addition, steve, the popular rich asshole boyfriend, is actually... a human being! unlike the cartoonishly evil jocks that we’ve come to expect (especially from eighties movies), steve has complexity. despite his initial immaturity and selfishness, he’s also kind to barb, he backs off when nancy says no, he’s gentle and sweet when they sleep together, his first big Dick Move of the season is in defense of nancy, he realizes the error of his ways after the fight and does what he can to fix it, he’s worried about nancy when he sees that she’s hurt at jonathan’s house, and to top it all off, he ends up saving both nancy and jonathan’s lives when he could have just walked away, and the three of them all work together to fight the demogorgon. like... steve began as the most stereotypical character of all time, and by the end of the season, he had one of the most compelling and unique arcs among the whole cast!

finally, at the very end of the season, instead of dumping steve for jonathan as expected, nancy ends up getting back together with steve, and they’re both on friendly terms with jonathan. i realize that i just kinda. summarized s1. but my POINT is that i don’t think the dynamics between the monster hunting trio would be nearly as fun and interesting had the characters of nancy, steve, and jonathan not been set up to follow certain paths that we already had charted in our own heads. like, within the first couple episodes of s1, it’s pretty obvious that nancy and steve are gonna break up, nancy will get with jonathan, and steve will either die or go full evil or just never be seen again. like, duh! you’ve seen this story a million times! you know that’s how it’s gonna go! so, when the story DOESN’T go that way, the impact of each character’s arc and the relationship dynamics become stronger due to their unexpected complexity and authenticity. 

distinct plotlines separated by age group

this one’s rather obvious, but the way that the adults in s1 were essentially in a conspiracy thriller while the teens were in a horror flick and the kids were in a sci fi power-of-friendship story and all three converged at the end... wow. brilliant showstopping etc. not only was it just really well done and unique, it also gave stranger things near-universal appeal. like, there’s genuinely something for pretty much everyone in season one!

casting

obviously this applies to every season sorta by default, but when i think about what made season one So successful, i always think about the cast, and not just winona ryder. yes, she’s absolutely amazing in the show and it’s very doubtful that st would be as big as it is today without her name being attached to it from the start!! however, i think the greatest determining factor in st’s success is the casting of the kids, particularly millie bobby brown. like... el is just absolutely incredible. she’s amazing. this has all been said many times before so i won’t harp on it, but millie and the other kids are all So talented and charismatic and i think their casting has been instrumental to the show’s success.

strong visuals

the way that multicolored christmas lights which have been around for decades are now kinda like. a Stranger Things thing. jesus christ. those lights are probably the biggest stroke of stylistic genius on the show.

atmosphere and setting

this is probably like. the least important one here for me sdjncdsc because i think s2 and s3 both had like Even Better atmospheres and shit but s1 was good too and it laid the groundwork!! i know a lot of people would have preferred st be set somewhere more Spooky with lots of fog or giant forests or whatnot, and while i do enjoy thinking about alternate st settings and how they might alter the vibe, i think hawkins indiana was a good choice. as the duffers have said, placing stranger things in a fictional town allows them more flexibility than if they’d gone with their original plan of using montauk, new york. besides that, i think the plainness and like... flatness... of small-town indiana just Works. like, the fact that hawkins is never really scary on the surface is a big part of the horror in the lab’s actions and their impact. hawkins isn’t somewhere that people just disappear all the time. it isn’t somewhere known for strange occurrences (prior to s1, that is). it isn’t somewhere shrouded in mist and secrecy. hawkins on its surface seems like the sort of place with no secrets and nothing to fear, and that’s the point! the lab is out in the open! it’s right there! everything is so close to the surface, yet so far out of the public eye, and i think that really works.

the byers family’s whole deal (specifically the joyce/jonathan dynamic)

this is going here bc i miss it so bad in s2 and s3. i’m not one of those people who believe The Byers Are The Whole Point of the show, because st is and always has been an ensemble, and el, hopper, and the wheelers are just as instrumental to the plot as the byers, but ANYWAY, i do think the byers were one of the most interesting aspects of s1. joyce’s difficulties with supporting her sons as a poor and (implied mentally ill) single mother, jonathan’s stress as a result of having to earn money, care for his brother, and keep the house in order when his mother is unable to do so, and the resulting tension between them when will’s disappearance and supposed “death” brings the situation to a tipping point? holy shit! it’s so good! that argument after they see will’s “body” is just incredible and gut-wrenching. their relationship feels so real and messy and i think it’s just... good. also winona ryder REALLY acted her heart out and she carried a lot of s1 which i think people often forget to mention so i’m saying it here.

weaknesses

pacing/timing

ok so pacing is probably going to go in each season’s weaknesses, to be honest, because i think they all had a blend of some good and some bad pacing. good pacing is invisible pacing, though, so i probably won’t be putting it in any of the strengths sections and will only be focusing on it in the weaknesses. i’m also probably not going to talk about weird day/night cycle things, just because i don’t want to get nitpicky on timelines because that would require going back and rewatching things to double check timing which i don’t wanna do at the moment lmao. anyway, when i think of bad pacing in season one, i primarily think of two things: nancy’s little trip into the upside down and subsequent sleepover with jonathan, and the sort of staggered nature of the climax in the final episode. the latter is simple so i’ll explain it first: while i understand that each group’s respective climax is like part of a chain reaction and that’s why each big moment happens separately and at different times, i think that st is strongest when the whole group is together, and i think that makes the stakes feel higher too, so i’m not In Love with the way s1 separated everyone and gave each group their own climax. 

okay, now on to the nancy/upside down thing! idk if i’ve ever talked about it before, but i think the worst decision made in s1 by far is the inclusion of nancy’s brief trip into the upside down, wherein she dives headfirst into another dimension with absolutely no backup, watches the demogorgon chow down, freaks out and runs around for a minute, and then leaves. like... what the fuck? even putting aside what an idiotic decision this was (because i do think nancy’s tendency to rush into things headfirst is an intentional and consistent character trait), it just kind of destroys any remaining suspense surrounding the demogorgon and the upside down, and it accomplishes basically nothing besides scaring nancy enough to have jonathan sleep over, which is lame. i will break it down.

like, first of all, nancy just getting to waltz in and out of the upside down and get a good, long look at the demogorgon makes the entire thing far less mysterious, and by extension far less scary. like... before this scene, we the audience haven’t got a good look at the demogorgon. we’ve seen its silhouette briefly and we’ve seen a blurry picture of it, but nothing more, and i think that is far more effective at building fear than this jaunt nancy goes on which gives us a full view of the thing and makes it into less of a horrifying nightmare and into more of a humanoid animal. like, maybe this is just me, but i found the demogorgon far less intimidating after that scene than before. it also lets nancy and jonathan know For Sure that they’re right without providing any crucial information that they need to fight the demogorgon (aka it’s unnecessary to the plot), which removes a very compelling story element (the faith nancy and jonathan need to have in order to keep going against a vague and poorly understood enemy, the doubt they might have about each other and their own sanity, the possibility that they might be wrong, the trust they need to have in each other) a bit earlier in the plot than i believe is ideal. at the end of episode 5, nancy goes into the upside down and jonathan doesn’t know where she is and it’s intense!!! you’re thinking like, oh fuck, not only is nancy missing and fighting for her life now too, jonathan might be implicated in her disappearance!! some people already think he’s the one who killed will and people know that he took creepy pictures of barb and nancy before they both disappeared, maybe this is gonna cause some serious problems for him!! maybe nancy will find will in the upside down and she’ll help him survive!! fuck, maybe she’ll actually die!! this is huge!! and then episode 6 starts and they’re immediately like oh nevermind jonathan found the tree and got nancy out and she’s fine. my point with all of this is that nancy entering the upside down could have done A Lot in the grand scheme of the plot, but all it did was just... get jonathan to sleep over so he and nancy could have some awkward romance moments and steve could see them together and pick a fight. which could have honestly happened at Any point while nancy and jonathan were working together to hunt down the demogorgon, without ruining the demogorgon’s and the upside down’s mystique. so yeah <3

weird behavior and dumbass decisions that make no sense (aka the whole camera thing)

gonna go off about the teen plot again sorry but: why was nancy so unbothered and quick to forgive jonathan for taking those pictures? girl what the fuck are you doing? why wasn’t that a bigger deal? why was jonathan’s motivation for doing it so weak and why did they just kind of forget about the whole thing? why did nancy TRACK HIM DOWN AT THE FUNERAL HOME while he was PICKING OUT HIS BABY BROTHER’S CASKET to be like hey can you tell me what’s in this creepshot you took? it’s insane. it’s so insane. i mean i think the funeral home thing is hilarious and i don’t mind it being in the show necessarily but like my point here is that i think a lot of character decisions in s1 just kind of.. happened because they Needed to happen for the plot. like, they wrote this plot that required jonathan to be secretly taking pictures of the party and required him and nancy to work together after seeing something odd in the pictures, but they didn’t like... really consider what that event would mean for their characterization and relationship. the whole thing was sort of just dropped with minimal discussion and i think it did both nancy and jonathan’s characters a disservice and was really mishandled.

lighting and saturation/color grading

i am literally begging horror/sci-fi shows to let me see shit. i GET IT okay i understand that when you’re doing cgi effects it helps to keep the lights down and i’m not mad at any of the lighting in the demogorgon/upside down scenes!! i’m really not i think the demogorgon scenes in s1 all look sick!! but like... dude. the colors. where are they. why does everyone look like a vampire. i know blah blah this was probably an intentional stylistic choice intended to mimic film at the time blah blah but dude a lot of old movies are very colorful!! please just let people have color in their faces so everyone doesn’t look like a sheet of paper!!! also i’m white and not a professional lighting designer so yknow grain of salt but i think lucas was kinda poorly served by the lighting sometimes in s1. not Hugely so, not to the degree that i’ve seen poc be poorly served by lighting in other shows, but there were some times where it felt kinda like the lighting setup was just not designed with darker skin in mind. 

horror

i just personally don’t find s1 very scary like... ever. i don’t think they were really Trying to be extremely scary yknow so i’m not counting this as a big deal, but i do think that each season has improved on the horror aspects. i think s1′s horror lies more in the mystery and the unknown than in what’s seen onscreen, and as i’ve said already, i think s1 kind of fumbled that suspense ball.

season 2

strengths

the possession plot

i’ll warn u rn this whole s2 strengths section is probably gonna be really short bc idk like. how much there is to really say i feel like it’s all so self-explanatory skjncmn. anyway yeah the possession plot!! eerie as fuck, and noah OWNED. so did winona tbh and finn and sean etc but like. noah. wow! i think the possession plot helped the show maintain a good amount of tension and suspense throughout the season, and a lot of scenes with possessed!will are flatout disturbing to watch. in a good way. i think the mindflayer and will’s possession were far more genuinely frightening than s1′s demogorgon, and it provided a new layer of depth and intrigue to the antagonist besides just “bad monster want eat people.”

tone and aesthetics

halloween season... literally halloween season. halloween season. that is all.

actually i will elaborate a bit and just say that i think s2 did a good job of having the sort of foreboding vibe that s1 was often going for, but without the annoying darkness and desaturation. so points for that.

also st2 is like one of the best Autumn pieces of media ever like it just. like steve and dustin on those train tracks with the fallen leaves all around them.... god. god the vibes are unparalleled. all of the halloween stuff also really contributes to the nostalgia st runs on yknow it makes you think about childhood and trick-or-treating and you kind of get transported like damn... i remember going to the rich neighborhoods to score the good candy..... idk i just think the whole thing is incredibly effective. 

“babysitter” steve

by sending nancy and jonathan off together, the show created a problem: what to do with steve? this problem pushed them to create the unconventional and unexpected duo of steve and dustin, and the world is so much brighter for it. seriously though we all know steve and dustin are great i don’t need to argue that point. all i’ll add is that i think allowing steve to grow in this way, serving as a mentor figure and becoming genuine friends with someone so unexpected, really took the originality of his character to the next level. no longer content just to defy his archetype, in s2 steve begins branching out in ways that never would have been considered in s1, creating an incredibly complex and interesting person from the sort of character that most shows would have simply written out or killed off for convenience’s sake. and it works and steve and dustin are such a joy to watch and i love them. <3

the lucas/max plot

so first of all max mayfield is the most perfect baby girl on god’s green earth and idk what i would do without her but anyway. i think lumax is the best romantic relationship in the show and not just because they’re the only ones with like an age-appropriate approach to the whole thing. it’s also because their relationship accomplishes more than just putting the two of them in a relationship!! lucas and max spending time together motivates billy to do his evil shit, providing more conflict in the narrative, and it also helps establish max as part of the group in a relatively natural way while giving both her and lucas a great subplot. lucas (and dustin) has a crush on the new girl, they start spending some time together, and lucas ends up needing to decide whether he’ll keep the secret of the upside down and lose her, or risk both of their lives by telling her the truth. that’s a pretty big, character-defining decision that he gets to make!! max has to choose whether to trust this boy she barely knows and endanger herself, or to walk away and stay safe, yet another great character-defining choice that also contributes to the sense we get as an audience of max as somebody who’s incredibly lonely and desperate for love and connection. this post is way too long already and i have a ton more to say so i’ll stop now but yeah i think lumax really Works in the show without ever distracting or detracting from the overall plot and narrative in the way that some other ships (coughjancycough) often do.

balance between the normal and abnormal

s2 i think did a pretty solid job of melding daily life with more fantastical sci-fi horror elements. i enjoyed seeing so much of the kids at school in the first few episodes!! you really get a strong sense of where they’re at in life, what their daily lives are like, and you get a sort of gradual shift into madness that makes everything feel more grounded than i think it would if they had just leapt straight into the horror shit, yknow? 

the el and hopper dynamic

go back and rewatch s2 and tell me that’s not one of the most moving portrayals of parenthood and trauma and growing up that you’ve ever seen. you can’t. or well you can but i won’t listen. i really can’t imagine stranger things without el and hopper’s relationship, and it’s my absolute favorite part of s2. their whole dynamic is so beautiful and complex, and gives them each amazing personal arcs in addition! the black hole scene is literally one of the show’s greatest moments of all time. any given scene between the two of them in s2 is just guaranteed to be heartwarming as well as heartbreaking, and i think that makes for an incredible show.

weaknesses

flashbacks

okay this applies to Every season they All have too many flashbacks but in s2 specifically... please stop showing me shit from season one. i watched it. i know what happened. you don’t need to spoon feed everything to me!! flashbacks can be a really helpful way of delivering information to an audience, but st has a bad habit of not only being kinda demeaning in how often they flash back to shit that the audience already knows, but they also have a bad habit of using flashbacks almost as a crutch to avoid having to deliver information subtly and naturally. 

you know i gotta say it... the lost sister

this is so sad. the lost sister really is like a great concept for an st episode, and i’m not mad about the idea of st taking a break from the normal action to focus on one story for a full episode, but the execution of it was just dreadful. kali and her crew feel very over-the-top and stereotypical, and its placement in the season totally kills the tension and excitement that was built in “the spy.” 

i think the lost sister honestly could have gone over far better, even with the stereotypical fake-feeling gang kali has, if they had just swapped it with “the spy” like... ok, the end of episode five has el setting off to find kali and will collapsing on the ground seizing. right? imagine if, instead of immediately following will to the lab, we’d followed el. we don’t know what’s happening with will, but it’s a very simple cliffhanger that leaves us on edge without making us feel cheated by the show cutting away. we follow el on her little journey, everything happens much the same as canon, and then at the end, el sees hopper in scrubs. she sees mike, screaming, sees that they’re both in danger. holy shit!!! what the fuck!!! what’s happened since we left will seizing on the ground??? we feel el’s fear and confusion. she decides to go home. and then... boom. “the lost sister” is over. now, we rewind, right back to will seizing on the ground, and “the spy” commences. we learn how they got into the danger that el saw in the end of “the lost sister,” and we sit on the edge of our seats all through “the spy” and “the mind flayer,” KNOWING that el is on her way back to save them but not knowing when she’ll arrive!! idk i don’t think that would have necessarily saved lost sister but i think it may have alleviated some of the issues that i and many others have with it, timing-wise.

the nancy/jonathan sidequest

once again, the idea of nancy going off on her own little mission to find justice for barb after s1 is like. amazing. genuinely i love that plot for her and i can’t imagine anything better for her to have focused on in s2. unfortunately though i think her and jonathan’s little trip to see murray was just kind of... lame. the whole thing just felt like an excuse to get the two of them alone together, yknow? which is fine i guess people contrive all sorts of situations to get characters alone together for romance reasons but in this case i think it just really doesn’t work for me because of what it’s juxtaposed with. like, will is POSSESSED, and jonathan is just off on a mini road trip and sleeping with his bestie, and jonathan never seems to communicate to joyce/will that he left town, and joyce never like... thinks to tell him that will is like sick and fucked up and they’re looking at him in the lab??? like it’s so weird i know joyce always forgets about jonathan when shit’s happening with will but jfc you’d think at some point in that like... 72-ish-hour period where jonathan was out of town she would have thought about him. like at least once. maybe i’m forgetting something and she mentioned him sometime and i missed it but even still, i hate the juxtaposition of nancy and jonathan just like cheers-ing at murray’s place and sleeping together and whatnot while everyone else is dealing with possession or trying to hunt down dart yknow? it feels really boring in comparison and i think it could have been done far better. like it was SO insanely easy for them to get into the lab and get an admission of guilt and escape with it!! i think it might have been a lot more engaging if maybe someone from the lab tailed them to murray’s place and they had to like lose the tail and race to get the recording out to as many news outlets as possible before they got caught, or something like that. the tension in their plotline is completely resolved in episode four!! episodes five and six are just them screwing around and addressing envelopes. while there were a lot of strong ideas in this plotline (i really enjoy nancy going out of her way to get justice, and the fact that they have to water down the story to make it believable), i just think the focus on nancy and jonathan getting together hindered it a lot without adding a ton to the plot or their individual characters.

season 3

strengths

starcourt mall as a setting

while i don’t think the mall was utilized quite to its full potential (something i could make a separate post about if anyone’s interested), i do think that starcourt was a genius addition to the series. i’ve said this before, but building a new mall is a literal Perfect in-universe justification for a significant leap forward in fashion and aesthetics, and it provides a great location for characters to just... be characters. idk how else to articulate this i just think that the mall is a great setting to let people interact with each other and to bring people together who may not have been otherwise (i.e. scoops troop). not to mention how sick it was to see the mall get wrecked toward the end kdjncdkm like they were able to do so much more with the mall in terms of like The Finale than they could with just the byers house or the cabin or the school or even the lab. i love all the back tunnels they run through it’s such a fun like acknowledgement of how this glitzy eighties mall is just a real place where employees get shipments and take out the trash and shit idk it’s all about the perfect facade and what’s hidden what’s underneath what’s hiding in plain sight etc etc i’m just saying words now. anyway. 

willingness to experiment and go against expectations

gay robin. neon aesthetics. giant fucking meat monster. i know some people hate both the neon and the meat monster but i personally think they were kind of amazing and like. yknow regardless of personal tastes i think it’s impossible to deny that s3 had a lot of incredible visuals, and they’re all visuals that just wouldn’t have been possible if the show were too afraid to stray from its s1 aesthetic. robin being canonically gay (and her resulting friendship with steve) and the season’s striking visuals are two things that most everyone (besides like homophobes skjncdknm) can agree were great, right? and they were both departures from where the show began and what we all expected!! so yeah i think while some of the experimentation in s3 wasn’t ideal it was also that experimentation that allowed for some of the season’s strongest elements to come about.

the hospital sequence (and the season’s action/horror scenes in general)

this one is fairly self-explanatory. while they may have underutilized the “body snatching” element of the season, the hospital sequence with nancy and jonathan fighting off their possessed bosses did an amazing job of building tension and creating a genuine sense of really intense and personal danger.

in general i think that s3 melded action and horror rather well, particularly in the sauna test, the hospital, and when the mindflayer busts through the roof of hop’s cabin. horror can come from many things, and in this case, st elicited horror largely from the feeling of helplessness, and it was really effective for me personally. i think it worked better for me than s1′s brand of horror because it doesn’t rely so much on a lack of knowledge or a sense of suspense that inevitable disappears upon a second viewing.

the body horror we got in s3 was also really fun! that’s it i just think all the blood and guts and slime were fun and i would like more of them. once again, the impacts of body horror are less dependent upon the viewer being in the dark or unsure as to what’s happening, and as such i think it tends to be a little more effective at eliciting reaction in the long term.

timing and mechanics of the battle of starcourt/finale

i think the battle of starcourt is just fucking awesome, and beyond that personal opinion, i think it’s the most high-stakes and intense finale of all three seasons, and this is for two main reasons! 1. el is out of commission, and 2. (almost) everyone is in the same cental location. this means that (almost) everyone is in danger all at once, and they are all working together at the same time to fight the same threat. s1/s2 have their groups more fragmented for the finales, and while i understand why in each case and i wouldn’t call either season’s finale necessarily weak, i do think the centralized nature of the s3 finale just Works on another level. in s1 and s2, large segments of the cast are already perfectly safe by the time el dispatches the primary threat. in s3, however, everybody save for dustin and erica is still in danger up until the last moment, and el is seemingly (you can def debate how much power she still had in her when she peeked into billy’s mind and whether the memory broke the mindflayer’s hold on him or if she was actually controlling him to some degree) completely vulnerable. this increases the tension and raises the stakes, making the finale a real crescendo to fortissimo as opposed to a series of little mezzo forte moments. i hope everyone reading this knows music idk how else to phrase that my brain is stupid.

emphasis on friendship and adolescence (but in a different way than s1/2)

this is definitely a controversial one but i think that s3 really did like... show a side of friendship that had been more or less unexplored thus far in the show. el and max were amazing, and i think it’s really nice that we got an opportunity to see the kids have some growing pains as well as see them support each other through Normal Adolescent Stuff like boyfriends and breakups instead of just like. death and trauma. this is maybe just a personal preference, but i think it can be really enlightening and provide a lot of depth when you get to see how characters respond to normal everyday conflict and not just how they respond to giant world-ending conflict!! letting el use her powers for goofy teenage shit like spying on boys and messing with mean girls at the mall is not only fun for her and the audience, but it also really emphasizes just how much those powers are a part of el, making it that much more devastating when she loses them at the end of the season. 

weaknesses

tonal dissonance

so this is like. obvious. but it must still be said! i won’t go on and on about it since we all know this so i’ll try to like talk about it from an angle people don’t usually? anyway. it seems to me like they were maybe a little worried about s3 being too dark. while the choice to really lean into humor was definitely driven by the sorts of eighties teen films from which s3 drew inspiration (like fast times at ridgemont high), i think it was also done in an attempt to alleviate the more troubling implications of some events in the season, particularly the russian bunker plot. like, yeah, st can be incredibly dark, but if they’d played the whole “children being stuck inside of a foreign military base, tied up, tortured, and drugged” thing completely straight without the humorous elements that exist in canon, it had the potential to be like... disturbing on a new level. steve and robin don’t have powers like el yknow their kidnapping/torture doesn’t have any sci-fi elements to sorta soften the blow. they’re just innocent teenagers being brutalized and traumatized by grown men. so anyway yeah i think maybe the writers were concerned about this storyline coming off as too dark and they wanted it to be a little more whimsical but they ended up pushing way too hard in that direction and creating extreme dissonance at times. this goes for joyce/hopper/murray/alexei too, but to a lesser extent. i think the ridiculousness in that group felt a lot more like... realistic. but still. 

newspaper plot

once again i feel like i don’t even need to say this skjdncmn we all know it was insane how the show basically ended up delivering the message “while misogyny is a serious problem poverty and classism are not” and i’ve said it on this blog a million times so i don’t need to repeat myself. i’ll focus on another weak point of this plot: the fact that it completely separates nancy and jonathan from everyone else. once again, the show’s preoccupation with j/ancy held them back! like... can you imagine a version of s3 where nancy and jonathan both worked in the mall? i have a lot of ideas about this possible au and like how the plot could play out differently if they worked in the mall but first of all it’s just more realistic, second of all it further utilizes the mall as a central setting, and third of all, it would bring everyone together. as it is in canon, nancy and jonathan were unnecessarily isolated from the rest of the group, and this isolation was detrimental to both of their characters. like, they only ever get to interact with each other! if they’d gotten summer jobs in the mall, they could have had more interactions with the kids/steve/robin, and they absolutely still could have had a similar argument! maybe in this case, nancy notices the rat thing (or something else odd) herself when taking out the trash behind the mall, and she wants jonathan to ditch work with her to check it out bc she thinks it may be related to the lab. jonathan doesn’t want to ditch work because he needs his job, nancy argues that they’re working shitty mall jobs anyway and who cares if they get fired, and we get more or less the same thing as s3 without the cartoonishly over-the-top misogyny. i mean honestly i think the rat shit could have been cut entirely it didn’t rly... accomplish much of anything. in my opinion. like imagine s3 without the rat plot you literally would not be missing anything except it would be more surprising when the dudes melted into goo at the hospital. so yeah i think it would have been better if nancy and jonathan had jobs at the mall, weren’t isolated from everybody else, and were maybe absorbed into the party’s plot or the scoops troop’s plot from very early on, allowing them to interact with more characters and have a less... dumb.... plot. like god splitting up nancy and jonathan between the party/scoops troop would have been So Much better i just. sdkjcnksdmn anyway yeah.

briefness of group reunion/separation of groups

remember in s2 at the beginning of “the gate,” where mike and hopper had a confrontation and max and el met for the first time and el hugged everyone and steve and nancy had their sad little moment together outside... where’s that energy? obviously the s2 reunion wasn’t that long either, but it made space for some significant emotional moments to take place. s3′s reunion had some hopper/el/mike resolution, but besides that... there was nothing, really. i just think that the whole group getting together in s3 was SO exciting and powerful the way they did it (with both the scoops troop and the adults having their own Big Moment reconnecting with team griswold family), but the emotional potential was more or less squandered. 

i also think in s3 at times they were really stretching to keep everybody separated even though it made no sense. and like... in s1 the separation worked bc nobody else knew that (x group) was experiencing weird shit too, and beyond that, each group (as i mentioned in the s1 section) was sort of operating within their own genre and bringing something unique to the season. they’ve stopped doing that though! now, the groups aren’t separate bc each plot is tonally/structurally different, the groups are just separate bc... they need to be, because it’s a big ensemble cast and you can’t just have them all be together for a whole season or it would be way too difficult to coordinate things and keep the show dynamic. all this is to say that i’m excited for s4 because the location differences make it so there’s a Reason for each plot to be separate at the beginning, and i think that’ll work better.

general ridiculousness

i dont mean like i think it’s bad that they made jokes this is just me lumping in all the dumb shit like hopper not worrying about el and not wanting to check on the kids, him and joyce bickering long after they both know they and their children are in danger, max seemingly forgetting that billy is a racist abuser, etc etc. i think many of these are just a symptom of the show 1. trying desperately to keep the groups split up a certain way even though it may not make any sense, and 2. trying to fit into a certain genre/trope mold when their actual characters are more complex than the tropes they’re imitating. this is so fucking long already i am not gonna elaborate further rn but i trust u all know what i mean.

soooo... yeah, that’s about all! i mean it’s not all there are definitely many more things i could talk about and i know i focused sorta disproportionately on the teens which is my bad :/ but i’m done for now. thank you for asking, and apologies for the delay in responding!! i’m sure some people reading (if anyone read this far) will disagree with some of what i’ve said and that’s alright like i’m not The Authority on st or anything i’m just trying to talk about like my own thoughts yknow? so yeah luv u all i hope someone enjoyed reading this!!

[havocmadden]

oooh this one's an oldie but a goodie. i came up with a once upon a time au VERY early on in my time enjoying descendants. i think i actually started writing around the time uma was announced as a character bc i LOVED the idea of mal and uma being girlfriends in the regular world but enemies in the fairy tale world. also ft my smee kid oc sadie, who is my angel and should be made canon immediately. @ disney hmu i'll let u use her for free and everything <333333

ben had heard the rumors that the weird punk kids had orgys every friday night and had discarded them as ridiculous slander, but now, seeing uma seated on mal’s lap, her arm around mal’s shoulders while mal casually holds the hand of the dark haired girl ben thinks is named evie, he’s suddenly unsure. mal stares him down, eyes dark and green and wild like an evil fairytale forest, and then it hits him — for some reason, telling kids he’s met only once that their parents are the villains of legend hasn’t gone over as well as ben had hoped it would.

“so what you’re telling me,” mal says, voice slow and incredulous. “is that we’re the reincarnations of fairy tale villains?” uma shrugs, like she thinks ben may not be quite wrong, and ben shakes his head.

“that’s not what i meant,” he says, voice cracking a bit — mal smirks at that and ben pretends not to notice. uma blinks.

“what do you mean, then?” she asks, grinning a little. her grin is sharklike, and ben can't help but feel he's the fish in this scenario. fitting, he thinks to himself, given that her mom is ursula.

“you were — and are — the children of those villains,” he explains, pulling his book from his bag, and opens it to the page of the wedding. the image of the wedding clearly shows him in a dark blue and yellow suit, wearing a golden crown with a lion on it as well as inset jewels, and clasping his hands is a girl who looks uncannily like mal aside from the platinum blonde hair she’s sporting in the picture a contrast to the deep plum the mal across from him now sports. the mal in the photo is wearing a golden crown with purple inset jewels across her brow, the gems shimmering in the painting's light. 

mal looks pretty shaken, suddenly, all her previous confidence vanished, only a ghost of it left on her face. “what is that?” she asks, and ben grins at her in a manner that he hopes is endearing.

“it’s our wedding. well, not ours, ours. it was our wedding in the fairy tale world.”

“we got married?” she asks, eyes wide. she looks almost afraid now, and ben notices evie squeeze her hand and uma reaches into her pocket, pulling out a butterfly knife. she starts twirling it in her hands casually, and ben realizes there's what looks like the outline of another knife in mal's boot. he has no idea how they got these weapons into the school, and frankly, he's not sure he wants to know. all three of them stare at ben, prompting him for an explanation.

“yes. well. sort of. it’s a long story.”

uma eyes him uncomfortably. “we’ve got time,” she says, cooly, continuing to do tricks with the knife in the hand that isn’t holding tightly on mal’s shoulder.

“okay. well. um.” ben had to admit he hadn’t really been expecting that. “well, here’s the deal.”

[LINE]

“you want me to marry you?” mal asks, her voice echoing through the royal chambers.

“mal, no one else on the royal council trusts you. audrey thinks you’re just like your mother, and chad thinks evie is a gold digger, and doug just really doesn’t trust jay around the mines in his kingdom — ” ben starts. “the only ones who are on board with this are lonnie and i. and a marriage would help, you know. smooth some of the tension.”

“well, for one,” mal snaps. “if evie was a gold digger she wouldn’t have been living in a piece of shit cottage in the middle of the woods with me and jay and carlos for the last four years. which, may i remind you, is where you found us, and where we would very much like to go back to.”

“mal, just listen,” ben pleads. he is losing his window of opportunity, he can tell. “we need you to defeat your parents, who may i remind you, are the epitome of evil — ”

“oh, you don’t need to remind me, king ben,” she snaps, her voice mocking. “we grew up with these villains of yours. do you think they were kind and loving to us, or that they were just like that to your parents?”

ben swallows. he can't bear to think about the implications of the comment mal just made. not today, not here, not now. “look, mal. we need you. even with lonnie’s army and all of ours combined we just can’t compete with their magic. and the fairy godmothers have limited power as they practice white magic.”

mal sneers. “and you think i practice dark magic because my mother was maleficent?”

ben winces, almost involuntarily. “don’t say her name — ”

“what, maleficent?” mal says, voice low. “maleficent. maleficent. her name doesn’t hold her power, my king.” the way she says my king is biting and mocking, and ben wants to crawl into a hole, but stands his ground. “don’t be a fool,” she scoffs, before adding, “and for your information, my magic is mainly limited to making my garden grow, and jay’s is limited to accidentally setting things on fire. and evie and carlos have no magic. we wouldn’t be of any use to you.”

“but you would,” ben pleads. “we’ve never had any firsthand experience with these villains. you have.”

“didn’t your parents defeat them the first time?” mal snaps, turning to leave. ben grabs her arm. he can’t let her leave. a look of sharp anger flashes across her face, and her eyes turn a bright, toxic green. ben drops her arm, suddenly aware that he has made what could be a dangerous mistake by touching mal without her permission.

“they’re dead, mal! that was how we knew they’d come back and formed an alliance. all of our parents were found dead the morning after the twentieth year celebration. that was a warning.”

“and how exactly will me marrying you help?” mal snaps.

“if i marry you, they’ll be forced to trust you. or, at the very least, put up with you.”

mal turns back to face him. ben swallows hard, attempting to ignore the fact that the likelihood is that mal and her friends will be ‘put up with’ until the time they defeat their parents, and then sent back to where they came from without so much as a thanks. “you really think that would work?”

he keeps his face level. “yes.”

mal doesn’t blink, just keeps looking at him, and then replies, deadpan, “and why can’t i marry lonnie instead?”

ben blinks in surprise. “because we’d have to get lonnie to go along with it and we don’t even know if lonnie likes girls and — ”

mal cuts him off. “i was joking,” she says, running her finger along the edge of one of the glasses ben had laid out. and then, laughing, she adds “mostly.” 

[LINE]

“so you're saying that my mother is ursula?” uma asks, twirling one braid around her finger in thought.

“well...yes?” ben says, wincing. 

“and my mother is the evil queen,” evie says slowly, almost thoughtfully. ben thinks that by the furrow in her brow she's considering the concept. 

uma stands up, almost sudden, and ben is confused as to why for a moment, but then mal stands and glares at him. it would be scary, but she's so small, and it almost seems more cute than anything, and ben has to bite down a heavy laugh that bubbles up in his throat. “you came here to tell me that my mother is maleficent and i married you?” she asks slowly, incredulously. ben nods. there's something dark and frightening in her tone. 

“unbelievable,” she says softly, almost to herself. “i cannot believe the nerve. you come here, with your picture-perfect life as the mayor's son to try and tell me my mother is the queen of all evil, and that we got married?” she shakes her head. “uh uh. not buying it. have fun with your fairy stories, benjamin.” the way she says his name is dripping with contempt, and she glares at him one last time before storming off. uma and evie follow her, without even a glance back at ben, and ben puts his head in his hands and sighs. 

[LINE]

“you're marrying him?” evie asks, pitch high enough to shatter a wine glass.

“and here i thought evie was the seductress,” jay says softly, in a low voice with a meaningful look at evie. evie looks back at him and smiles in a way that makes mal want to take her clothes off, but she pushes the thought away, reminding herself that this isn't the time. mal watches as evie pushes herself up against jay, looking into his eyes and batting her eyelashes. 

“guys, can we focus?” carlos begs, desperation and fear in his tone. “mal is marrying the king!”

“yes, of course,” evie says, stepping away from jay, with only a glance back and a whispered, “we're finishing that later.”

jay nods, anticipation in his tone. “yes, ma’am,” he says, and then turns to mal. “you're marrying ben?” he asks, hurt low and deep in his voice.

“yes,” mal says softly. there’s a hint of regret in her tone.

there's an undercurrent of deep hurt in evie’s voice as she asks, “do you love him?”

“of course not,” mal says, sounding surprised. “it was ben’s idea. it will get the council to trust us, and then we can help defeat our parents.”

“you sound just like him,” carlos says, hurt in his voice. “and might i remind you i don't want to face the people we spent our entire lives hiding from?”

“but,” mal says patiently. “but don't you see? if we defeat them, we don't have to hide anymore. we can be free. we can go to marketplaces, live in castles, we can have the lives we've always wanted,” she pleads, looking at evie. 

“no, mal,” jay says, stepping forward. “we can have the lives you think we always wanted. evie and carlos and i were content with what we had.”

“fine,” mal snaps. “fine. i didn't do it for you. i did it for me. i can't live like this! i can't be cooped up while my mother is out there, raging destruction.” mal purses her lips and glares at them before turning and leaving the room. 

“well,” jay muses. “that certainly could've gone better.” evie leans into his shoulder and says nothing.

[LINE]

“so he said what?” jay asks incredulously, scoffing a little at the concept.

“that my mother was maleficent and that i married him,” mal says, and then, scoffing, adds, “as if.” evie looks over at her with a grin. 

“you're way out of his league,” she says, with a flirtatious grin.

“did he say anything about anyone else's parents?” carlos asks, ever the pragmatist. 

“my mom's supposedly the sea witch. can you believe that?” uma asks, shaking her head. carlos grins at her. 

“isn't there a saying that says lawyers are sharks?” he asks, teasing grin on his face. “because if lawyers are sharks, and your mom is a lawyer, and lawyers make tricky deals like ursula, so i'd say that's pretty damn accurate.” uma shoves carlos lightly, mock-offense on her face, and he laughs.

“and he said my mom was the evil queen,” evie scoffs, fixing her lipstick as she looks in her compact.

“do you think he's wrong, lass?” harry asks from the other couch, where he's sprawled out with his head in gil's lap; gil is running his thick fingers through harry's hair.

“well,” evie says, dabbing at her blush, “she is a bit of a narcissist, but she hasn't tried to kill me yet, so i’d say we're good.”

“but what about your sister?” gil blurts, and uma glares at him. the room goes silent. all eyes turn to evie, who shuts her mirror with a snap, glaring daggers at gil.

“first of all,” she begins icily. “she’s only my half-sister, and second of all, the court ruled that it was an accident.”

the room is silent for several more seconds, before jay muses aloud, “i wonder if any of our parents are fairy tale villains.” he's obviously trying to lighten the mood, but nothing can lighten what was just said. gil can't take it back. 

“excuse me?” mal says, tone a bit annoyed. “can we get back to the fact that he told me we got married? i mean, worst pick-up line ever.” carlos laughs, and everyone can feel the tension drain from the room, but there's still something uneasy in the air that no one can shake. 

[LINE]

mal is standing in her room in ben's palace alone when there's a gentle knock at the door. she's looking at her white dress and fancy updo in the mirror. she can't believe she's doing this. she can't believe she's walking down the aisle and carlos, evie, and jay aren't waiting at the altar. she sighs, and the knocking comes again, a little less gentle this time. 

“come in,” mal calls, a touch of melancholy in her voice. 

“it's me,” someone says, and mal turns around to see lonnie dressed in a peach dress with pink accents. she crosses the room and puts her hand on mal’s shoulder, before squeezing mal's arm gently. “i wanted to check in with you before the wedding. you know, make sure you're not having any second thoughts or anything.”

mal feigns a laugh. “me? having second thoughts? that's funny,” she says, and lonnie’s eyes melt with concern. 

“you don't have to be brave about this, mal,” lonnie says. “nothing about this is easy.” mal sighs, and lonnie pulls her in for a hug. “i'm right beside you if you need me, okay?” 

mal nods, and she has never really been grateful for anyone who wasn't evie, carlos, or jay before but she thinks right now that's changing, and she doesn't seem to mind as much as she thought she would. 

[LINE]

mal is digging around in her locker when she hears a familiar voice. “mal, i just - ” she slams her locker shut and sees who it is. it's ben. “i just wanted to apologise,” he says, and mal rolls her eyes. 

“yeah, right,” mal says. “you just wanted to tell me more about what your dumb book says.”

ben gapes at her. “i mean, you're right,” he says, and mal pivots and walks away. ben starts following her, and keeps talking while he does it. “i kept reading, and mal, you and evie and uma aren't the only ones with villain parents. sadie and harry are smee and captain hook’s kids, and jay is jafar’s son, and carlos’s mom is cruella de vil, which makes sense because she's so awful - ” mal stops in her tracks. 

“do not pretend to know anything about carlos’s mother, benjamin. in fact, don't pretend to know anything about any of us! you don't just get to barge into our lives and make them all about you and then leave! you do not get to tell us that just because our parents are abusive that makes them fairy tale villains! leave me alone! leave us all alone!” she pivots again, her face contorted with rage, and storms away. ben blinks, still gaping at the space she has left in hallway. he really has got to find a way to make this topic go over better.

[LINE]

mal and ben sit at the head of the table, squeezed together onto a small couch, and mal has to pretend it doesn’t physically hurt her to sit this close to ben. she looks across the table, and she doesn’t see evie, carlos, or jay anywhere. but there’s nothing she can do about it, so instead of crying, she feigns a smile, laughing and as she reaches for another glass of champagne, the doors burst open with a puff of teal smoke. 

lonnie jumps to her feet, holding a sword she pulled out of somewhere — mal has no idea where, given the way her dress clings to her body, and when the smoke clears, a girl mal’s age is standing there. her hair is pulled up into a tight bun, and her dress is teal and gold, and surprisingly formal. she’s smirking, and mal recognizes her instantly. like, how can she not?

“you’re having a wedding and you didn’t invite me?” she says, mock-offended, though mal can tell from the smirk on her face she isn’t quite serious. not that uma would have come if mal had invited her, but mal digresses. that's not really the point.

“and here i thought getting mad because she wasn't invited to things was my mother's thing,” mal quips. glancing over at lonnie, mal sighs. “lonnie, it’s fine,” she says, and lonnie lowers her sword, but doesn't put it down, because she doesn’t seem to quite believe what mal’s just said. to be fair, if mal was lonnie, she wouldn't believe herself either. “this is just uma. she likes making an entrance.”

“who’s uma?” ben asks, and uma’s grin widens. 

“just uma?” uma clicks her tongue, mock-offended, and then she bows before saying, “allow me to introduce myself, your highness. i am uma, daughter of ursula.”

“there’s other children of villians out there?” ben gasps, shocked, and turns to mal. “why didn’t you tell me?” he looks peeved, but mal isn’t surprised. it kind of feels like that no matter what she does, ben is annoyed. whatever. it isn’t like it’s her job to babysit him. except it kind of is, the voice inside her whispers. i mean, you did just marry him. isn't that what marriage is?

uma clicks her tongue and looks at mal with what mal thinks is a mix of malice and pity. “this doesn’t seem to be starting off on the best foot,” she says, and mal glares at her.

“don’t you ruin this too,” mal snaps. it comes out a bit more harshly than she’d meant it to, but. hey. she doesn’t have time to worry about uma’s feelings. she's got a villain alliance to defeat, and a kingdom to run now, or whatever. 

uma bats her eyelashes innocently. “me? ruin anything? i never,” she says. she whistles then, as though summoning a dog, but instead of dogs, two men emerge from the hallway. “allow me to introduce my counsel, your highness. harry, son of captain hook, and gil, son of gaston.” ben blinks, dumbfounded at the appearance of someone related to gaston. he'd never thought about the fact that gaston might have produced a child. now that he thinks about it, it makes sense, but for some reason it had never crossed his mind. gil just waves at him, grinning, and harry keeps his sword raised, even though uma doesn't seem concerned about any danger here.

“what are you here for, uma?” mal asks. “we all know you didn't come here for the cake.”

uma laughs, and drags a finger through the uncut cake’s icing before popping it into her mouth. “delicious,” she says, removing her finger from her mouth. “a bit sweet for my taste, i think. what about you, mal? is it too sweet for you?”

mal glares at uma, who only laughs. “what do you want, uma?” mal snaps. 

“why, only to offer my services to the king, of course,” she says. “i have inside knowledge of the minds of the villains they're up against.” she gestures back towards harry and gil, and as she does so, another girl emerges from the hallway. she's wearing a red and white striped shirt, high waisted shorts, fishnets, and a black newsboy cap. her blonde hair, slightly wavy, tumbles from her head likes waves.

“coast’s clear, uma,” the girl in the fishnets says, and uma grins. 

“good,” she says, before turning back to the king. ben glares at her from his position on the couch, and uma bats her eyes innocently. “what?” she says. “i had to make sure you weren't planning anything behind my back, queen mal. back to business. i have in my crew the children of gaston, smee, captain hook, and of course, ursula. i have access to the direct descendant of the queen of hearts. and those are not the end of my connections. i know more than your wife will ever know,” she sneers. 

“oh, please, uma,” mal says. “access to the direct descendant of the queen of hearts? everyone knows she went batshit crazy long ago because of what her mother did to her. you’ll be lucky if you get her to realize you're there.”

“fine,” uma says, her expression hardening. “the children of the stepsisters and dr. facilier, then.” she looks at ben. “do we have a deal, my king?”

ben blinks. “what do you want in return for this information?” he asks. 

“let's call it a favor...or three.” uma smiles, and something makes ben feel as though he’s just made a devil’s deal, but he nods anyways.

[LINE]

carlos is packing up his bag after class when he hears ben’s voice. he looks up, surprised, just as ben says, “i wanted to talk to you.” 

“about what?” carlos asks, in confusion. ben has never wanted to talk to him about anything other than his reelection campaign for class president, so this comes as a bit of a surprise. unless, carlos thinks, unless this is about that bullshit fairy tale thing. but despite carlos's best instincts, there's something in him that feels achingly curious to hear more about this fairy tale world.

“about your mom,” ben says, sounding almost genuine.

“let me guess,” carlos says, deadpan. “my mom is cruella de vil.”

“how’d you know?” ben asks, shocked. 

“i have my ways,” carlos says smoothly, and ben raises his eyebrows. 

“mal told you, didn’t she?” and carlos sighs.

“yes,” carlos admits, and then sets his now-packed bag on the desk, and then says, tired-sounding, “why are you telling us, this, ben? what’s the purpose? do you want to fuck mal? because let me tell you, if that’s your goal, it’s not going well for you.”

“no!” ben scrambles back. “no, i just. the people in those books are who we truly are, and i want everyone to know who they truly are.”

carlos picks up his bag, and says, “maybe who you truly are is good, ben, but i don’t need cruella de vil’s legacy hanging over my head.” he leaves then before ben can get another word in. 

[LINE]

“how many other villains kids are you hiding from me, mal?” ben snaps. they've just gotten back to their room after the reception, and ben has no idea why the hell mal wouldn't mention uma before she showed up at their wedding.

“why does it matter to you?” mal retorts. “you wanted my help! you asked me to marry you! this was all your idea!” ben had never asked mal if she and the others were the only children of villians — of course they weren't. their parents had all known each other, some way or another, even before they'd attacked ben and company's parents. and then they'd lied low for years, raising their children, grooming them to hate their own enemies (mal and uma had been pitted against each other since birth — their mothers had never gotten along) and training them so they would be better than them. better than their parents. mal would defeat aurora and her prince and her bratty daughters. she had three of them, just like the fairies who'd raised aurora, out of her mother's sight, out of her mother's mind, mal's mother had hissed, recounting the tale. if ben had asked, she'd've told him — she couldn't lie, of course. faery blood ran in her veins. but if he never asked at all? lies of omission weren't technically lies.

“you were the ones we found first!” ben yells. “if we found uma first, it might've been her in that wedding dress!”

“i wish it was!” mal screams, ripping off her veil and throwing it on the floor. she turns and stomps out, her eyes glowing green. she's not lying. she can't, after all. uma would be better at this — she's always wanted power and the ability to get ahead of her mother, and her crew understands when she puts that first. but the way carlos and evie and jay had looked at her when she'd told them she was getting married — the way she'd felt — it had hurt more than she'd thought it would, that was all. 

[LINE]

mal slams the door shut on her way home. her mom's probably off... well, who knows. ever since mal got old enough to express her wishes, her mother's been cold to her, and it's been a fucking polar winter in the carabosse household ever since she'd come home with a tattoo of a poison apple on the inside of her left wrist. she, jay, carlos and evie had gotten them together after carlos's mom had thrown him down the stairs their sophomore year. evie, carlos and jay had forged their parents signatures, and mal had just gotten lily to sign hers for her, and that had been good enough for the tattoo artist, so. 

mal's mother, however, had been less than thrilled, and had threatened to disown mal if she hadn't immediately gotten it removed. mal had refused, and the two of them had gotten into a screaming match over it.

“lils, i'm home,” mal calls, to no response. whatever. lily's rarely home, either, and when she is, she's usually sleeping. she's a bartender downtown at  the poison apple, where she works night shifts with jay's cousin jade and where deigo de vil's band occasionally plays.

mal takes the stairs two at a time, ending up in her small bedroom. the walls, originally an ugly off-white, have been covered in paintings mal has done over the years. they're mostly spray paint portraits of her friends, all done in black and white. mal's mother called them an ‘affront to her authority.’ or at least she did, back when she was still talking to mal. now she mostly spends all her time at her yarn store, spindle & prick, and when she's not at the yarn store, she's working in her home office. not that mal is mad about being ignored, per se. being ignored is better than being pressured into fulfilling her mother's dreams and being abused when she doesn't live up to them.

mal flops on her bed, frowning. she can't get the image of her with that stupid crown on her head out of her mind. how'd ben get that art to look so much like her, anyway? she'd seen him in art class freshman year — he couldn't draw if his life depended on it, so he must've paid someone to do it. but none of that explained exactly what his goal was.

[arkus-rhapsode]

Bnha chap 302 was crazy! So many stuff have been revealed! What did u think of it?

(So before I start, I just want to say, sorry it took me a few days to answer this. when discussion recent chapters of MHA, I’m trying now to wait for the official release before posting anything. I know I haven’t always been the best when using scans vs official releases, but I’m going to try and make this more a  thing. Given some flack I’ve received in the past, as well as recent crack downs by shueisha. So you can send me asks like this, please I’m not discouraging it. but you’re just going to have to wait till after the official releases.)

With the preamble out of the way OH MY GOD! This flashback chapters are amazing! Like this has been the kind of stuff I’ve been waiting for in MHA after the metric crap ton of build up by Horikoshi. And its not disappointed.

First, I do likeEndeavor’s gradual decline into is asshole self from Shoto’s memory. It’s vocally recognized that Endeavor is breaking societal taboos with his Quirk Marriage. Not only his selfish wishes to have an ultimate child to surpass All Might, but Toya is basically one of the worst combinations of this selective breeding. Being that he has stronger fire than Endeavor, but he has resistance to cold temperature so he’s just burning his body.

Yet Endeavor still is more focused on surpassing All Might. And when he comes to the realization that Toya will never surpass All Might, he decides to make a his real ultimate child. Now the reason I like this is because this isn’t Endeavor just being like “I need to surpass All Might with the perfect child”, its also, “I need to create my ideal child which will surpass All Might and act as a deterrent to Toya wanting to be a hero.”

Now, I love this scene, not just because no matter how Endeavor tries to justify his actions, he is still ultimately breaking societal conventions just to selfishly surpass his rival. But it also shows, Endeavor is aware of Toya’s feelings. He KNOWS Toya won’t stop trying to be a hero. He’s not some ignorant to his son wanting to live up to his dream of the ultimate hero. But his plan to stop Toya is not altruistic. It’s still selfish. His plan is literally to make an actually superior child, just to get his son to give e up. Its probably the worst thing you can do.

And most recently in 302, when that doesn’t work and Toya still burns himself and tries to attack Shoto. Endeavor finally just decides to no longer deal with this. personally. He is leaving Toya to Rei and is just going to focus on Shoto. He’s pushing a problem onto someone else and NOW he’s just ignoring it.

And then he just doubles down worse from there. Actually becoming more of the abuser that Shoto and Natsuo remember. All because Rei couldn’t keep Toya in line. Even though Toya was his son too.

It’s been awhile since we have seen Endeavor as the antagonistic figure. And I know the story of Endeavor will always be a tough one because its ultimately one trying to redeem an abuser. And I like that in this flashback, we are really reminded of why Endeavor wants atonement, because what he did to his family was wrong. And now we’re actually seeing it. Hell, some of it is more uncomfortable because we now see, its not like Endeavor was so pure evil psychopath, he gradually slipped from some wrong-headed jerk who was breaking taboos who is aware he’s doing bad things but pushing forward to ignoring his problems he’s caused to finally lashing out at his family as if it’s not also his responsibility. 

And we see a man who is regretful. But he still made mistakes. And I like that this hasn’t just been for the audience, this has been for Endeavor. Because he can no longer keep those skeletons in his closet nor is he in a position to throw himself a pity party. Again, we still have to wait a few chapters before we see like how this pays off. But Rei is reminding him that if he really wants to make things better and prove he’s a better person, then let’s start by getting his house in order.

Speaking of Rei, this has been a pretty interesting character study for her as well. We see Rei as pretty much a passive player both in the series up to this point being in a hospital, but also in this flashback. She agrees to be Enji’s wife and while she’ll speak up, she doesn’t stop Endeavor from having more kids. Nor does she stop him from really separating the kids. She also brings it up that like Endeavor, she didn’t really “see” what was really going on with Toya.

While Endeavor may have thought a deterrent of making him Toya give up would work, Rei try to just talk to Toya about looking beyond his father, but its not just wanting his father’s attention that is driving Toya mad. Its the fact that his birth was solely to make an ultimate Quirk users and if he’s not then his whole creation is pointless.

Because at he core, she is still complacent with this arrangement. From her family to the fact that when she can’t actually stand up to Enji, she then starts lashing out at the children who remind her of them. She has hurt her children too and its wrong. But unlike Endeavor who is really now just trying to come to grips with that, Rei has clearly stewed in that self loathing for a while. And now, she’s not being passive, she’s now taking a stand and being the one who needs to pull Endeavor out of his own self-pity.

Its very nice to see this character who, like Endeavor, has transformed over the course of this union.  

Now what does this mean for their marriage? As this seems to be the root cause of here passivity. I’m not sure. But Hori has given me no reason to think he’ll do something crazy with it. So I’m going to wait and see.

Now onto the man himself, Toya. Man finding out about Dabi has been a trip. Because at first it seems like he just wants his dad’s attention. To be proud of him. But its more than just that. Toya has a fire in him that won’t go out.

Toya’s “fire” isn’t this drive to be number 1 hero and get the glory. Its literally the validation of his existence. Because he was made to surpass All Might. If Toya can’t do that, then he failed at his existence. 

It really pulls back that Dabi doesn’t hate Endeavor because of abuse like Rei, Shoto and Natsuo. Dabi hates Endeavor because he was born solely to fulfill his mission, and when he was physically incapable of doing so, he replaced him with a child who could. It hurts to watch.

Because Dabi will never get over the fact of why he’s here in the first place, I think a lot of kids when they get older have that realization about why they’re here is because of their parents. And Toya can literally trace why his father made him. As he recalled with Snatch.

Just contemplating his family and why he’s here. He lost it.

We also get some cool details on Dabi’s powers. With his flames growing even stronger from red to blue, but also that the burns around his chest that we first saw in his video is intentionally so he could both hide the burns but also avoid hurting him.

There’s also the fact that his flames are tied to his emotions. Probably why whenever we see Dabi he’s mostly irate and disinterested. But when he finally had to get infront of Endeavor and the world, Dabi lets all his emotions come out. Letting him use flash fire and be wary more gleeful in his destruction. Yet we see that any times he cranks up his emotions, he always starts crying. Like he did with Snatch and Hawks. Which is such a subtle touch that I love.

There’s also his unique resentment towards the women in his family more than Natsuo. Now Endeavor we know he clearly hates, but when it came to Natsuo, he ignored him. But he knew Rei and Fuyumi the longest, and they did nothing for the longest time.

We also see the beginning of Dabi’s use of faux concern about society and using it as a way to turn people on Endeavor. 

Dabi has stated he doesn’t care about the League of Villains. Even in his big speech about how its Endeavor’s fire that let him kill people, he knows that’s a lie too. He would talk about confiding in his beloved brother, but if it meant making his dad suffer, he would’ve killed him.

Dabi’s hate is for one man, and if he can use anything to make Endeavor’s existence a living hell, he’ll use it. And we see that his hate is justified, but he will wrap that hate in a way to get others to feel like him. Its very effective.

Its just nice to see a villain who gets a bunch of build up LIVE up to all his hype. Its not like a let down, its just opening more doors to explore.

And now we get to the Todoroki family. Where do we go from here? Well Dabi isn’t just an Endeavor problem or a Rei problem, its a family problem. They all share the burden and Dabi will be their goal.

And I like this because, for the most part, Shoto completed his arc in the Sports Festival of hating his dad, but then accepting this is his power and looking beyond Enji. And while that wasn’t the end as he still has to make his choice on wether to accept his dad as a changed man or not, that’s more part of Endeavor’s goal. Shoto has been sorta like Deku and Bakugo with a focus on being number 1.

But now he has real and true personal motivation that no one but this family can really address and I am excited. I’m glad that the prominent characters of this series like Shoto has something to do. I get that all the kids in UA will never truly get this treatment. They have focus, but they are still mainly supporting cast. But having a main character really be able to justify why they’re up in front is great. I’m eager to see what awaits the Todoroki family in the future.

[kakitysax]

3 witthhhhh anything you want

3. “I wish I was more like you.”

Zim didn’t quite know why he was letting the human flop all over his couch. The situation was distinctly to his advantage; it wasn’t every day that your mortal enemy poisoned themself for you and arrived, stumbling and giggling, on your doorstep. Realistically, he should be sticking a needle in his neck and hauling him down to the lab right now, but he didn’t exactly. Feel like it.

If his Tallest weren’t coming, then there was no point anyway.

The other option would obviously be to throw him out, but then it would be...over. He hadn’t left his base in...in...he didn’t even know how long. And he hadn’t talked to anybody except GIR, Minimoose, and his computer for even longer than that. He supposed he wanted to see what would happen? What the Dib would do, while he was in this state of metabolizing the poison he had injested.

He was NOT lonely. He could do whatever he wanted, he was ZIM. He didn’t need to explain ANYTHING.

“Wsh’s wuzm olky u” came a pathetic, sloppy voice from the couch.

Zim’s antennae twitched. He looked at the human. “Eh? What did you say?”

“Said I...wish I was more like you,” Dib repeated, looking at Zim with eyes that were only slightly unfocused.

Zim scoffed. “Of COURSE you do,” he crowed. “Irken do not have to DEAL with your silly human frailties and stupidities. We would never intentionally poison ourselves, as you have.”

“Nooooooooo,” said Dib, hauling himself up onto his elbows. He reached forward and clumsily tried to boop Zim on the nose. He didn’t seem to notice or mind when Zim twitched away. “I’mean I wish I wassss...was more like YOU.”

Zim blinked. “Of...COURSE you do!” he said. “Um. But out of PURE scientific curiosity, why do you say this thing?”

“Mmmmmmmmmmm,” said Dib, squinting at the ceiling. “B’cause you’rrrrreeee really, uhmmm...smart?”

Zim stared incredulously at him. The human continued, oblivious.

“Y’rre like...so crea-hmmm. Creative. Half th-the time I haf. NO idea what y’rre gonna try to do. N you build juss...you build really really cool things.”

Zim thought of the experiments in his basement. None of them had WORKED, though. Was the Dib-thing delusional?

(That would make two of them, apparently.)

“I mean, even when they, like. Blow up? Or don’t work, they’re just...I kinda like...don’t tell ANYONE I said this, but sometimes I wish they DID. Work, I mean. Because...because i’ss jus so COOL. Like. Who else could think of that...that shit? Space-phasing alien horror blob? S’ AMAZING! You’re AMAZING.”

Zim squeezed his eyes shut and gripped his antennae. “You’re wrong,” he snapped, cutting him off. “ Your definition of ‘cool’ is entirely false.  When things don’t work right, they are defective, and should be discarded.”

“Pffft,” said Dib, swiping a hand through the air. Completely oblivious to Zim’s distress. “But then...how will y’LEARN anything?”

“Eh?”

“When you mess up! When y- y get something wrong! That’s the only way y...y’can learn how to...how to not do things. And, and-and-and SOMETIMES the mistake is actually RIGHT!”

“How is that possible?” asked Zim.

“W’ll, becus...like. M’dad. Lost his arms. Y’d think that’d be like. A bad thing. Mistake. N it kinda was, n he really hurt for a b-bit. But zh-sh-THEN? He got these fucken. DOPE robot arms. N now he c’n like. Blast shit. S’cool.”

Zim looked away from Dib, hugging his knees. But he kept his antennae pricked towards the human’s slurring.

“And, and-and like...lookit all the human geniuses! Einsh-stein n Edis-mm. Not Edison. TETH-TESH-TESLA! Tesla’s better. Erryone thought they were stupid. Didn’t think right. Didn’t do anything right, for, for a really long time. Turns out they were fucken. GENIUSES. Made so much cool sh-*hic* shit?”

Dib fell silent. Zim glanced back, but he was just staring at the ceiling. Dazed. Hypnotized by something happening behind his wide amber eyes.

“S’metimes things...aren’t BAD when they’re wrong. ‘S all ‘m saying. Sometimes they’re just different. An’ an when something’s different, it means you get something that’s special, and cool, and b-brings something to...to...to th’ EVERYTHING that wasn’t there before. That wouldn’t be there if...if it was ‘right.’ Y’know?”

Zim didn’t respond.

After a moment, Dib craned his head backwards to look at him. “Thas th’main reason I wish I’was like you,” he said. His voice was a little too soft, too genuine for Zim’s comfort. “N’matter how many times y’mess up. N’matter how many times somethin goes wrong. Even when it looks completely hop- hopeless. Y’just keep going. It’s incredible.”

Zim realized that his eyes were stinging. What was WRONG with him? He looked away and swiped at his face angrily with gloved hands.

“W’sh you weren’t evil,” Dib muttered. He was messing with his own fingernails now, entranced by something beneath them. “R’lly would’ve been cool t. T’be friends. Alien friends...”

Zim took a deep breath and stood up. Back straight, shoulders back, like a good Irken soldier. “You are delirious,” he said. “Metabolize your poison and then LEAVE my base.”

“Mmmmm’kay,” said Dib. He yawned and curled up on the couch. “Th’nks.”

Zim stared at him for a moment longer. Then he shook his head and stormed out.

[simeonisalesbian]

Drink Away Ya Problems Mammon x MC

Yo yo yo. This is the first Obey Me fic i’ve written (I’ve got a couple others I’ll post in a hot girl minute) MC is gender neutral and it’s really easy to replace each “MC” with any name of your choosing ^.^ Thank u for ur time!

Words: 1436

Mc sat at their desk staring blankly at the page and textbook in front of them. It had been about 3 hours now with no interruptions from the demons who lived in the house. Quite the rare occurrence. They had hoped to get a good amount of work done, and they did up until now. Apparently having to deal with constant intrusions makes someone's ability to focus on something in one sitting really shity. They sighed again just wishing someone would distract them from this for at least a little while.

As if summoned,  the door swung open revealing Mammon. “Mc…”

"Hey Mammon, what's up?" Mc turned happily smiling at the demon who came to distract them. Their face fell as soon as they saw the demon's face. "Oh. Is everything okay?" 

Mammon had his arms crossed close to his chest and looked as if he'd start crying at any minute. His face was turned away from them and just to be safe his eyes were staring at the floor. 

" 'M leavin'. 'M sick of being accused of shit so I'm running away. Felt like ya would want to know." Mammon squeezed his eyes shut. "So yeah I'll just go-" he turned to go back out the door. 

Before he could, Mc grabbed their arm pulling him into a hug. The sudden motion of affection was a breaking point and he practically crumbled in their arms and let a few tears silently slip.

"Hey. You're not leaving. What would I do without the Great Mammon around, huh?" Mc slowly led the demon over to sit on the bed, hoping to make him feel a bit better about himself. 

" 'M not that great," Mammon mumbled under his breath as he willingly sat down on the bed. He rubbed at his eyes hoping to regain some composure as Mc looked at his face.

"I beg to disagree. I mean you just saved me from what must have been the most boring assignment in the history of all the realms." Mc said while moving to lock the door. It wasn't common that they actually locked it but they hoped the motion would put Mammon more at ease. After that, they sat back down pulling Mammon back into their arms. "Do you wanna talk about it?" 

He shook his head. 

"That's fine too. Whatever you want. Just know I'm here for you, kay?" Mc said softly petting the demon's head.

They sat there quietly for a while before Mammon spoke up. "Do you still have that bottle of human alcohol?" It was quietly mumbled and if Mc wasn't listening they would have missed it. 

"Yeah. Was saving it for a rainy day. I'd say this falls under that. Did you want me to grab it?" 

"Yeah. If ya want to." Mammon sat up just enough from where he was leaning on them to let them stand up. He watched as they dug under the bed, grabbing a glass bottle they bought the last time they visited the human world. 

"I can grab cups from the kitchen or we can drink straight from the bottle. Up to you." 

"Fuck cups, hand it here," Mammon said, reaching out for the bottle. 

Mc smiled. He wasn't quite back to his usual to his happy-go-lucky self but this was a lot closer. And while it probably wasn't the most healthy idea to drink during a breakdown, Mammon probably would have drunk himself sick if he actually did go out along with gambling away all of his brothers' money. So arguably this was better than that outcome. 

"Hey it is mine, save some for me jeez," Mc said watching the demon chug the bottle they handed him as if it was water. 

"Your mistake for handin' it to me first. Here." He handed the bottle back to let Mc take a swing. He glanced down at his phone that had no new messages. "Do ya think they actually think I ran away?" 

"Hm?" Mc passed the bottle. "Your brothers? Hard to say we were pretty quiet for a while they might. Why do you want them to think that?" 

"Dunno." He said before drinking a much smaller amount than before. "Maybe? Is it cruel to want them to hurt as much as I do?" He took another sip.

"Not sure." Mc grabbed the bottle knowing the avatar of greed would drink the whole thing if they let him. "In human standards, we'd probably call it a bit cruel but a common feeling nonetheless. Aren't demons meant to be cruel tho? Isn't that part of their thing?" 

Mammon just shrugged. "I guess so." He didn't look happy with the answer so Mc tried again.

"You're asking me though right? I don't think you're cruel. I think those feelings are fine. As long as you don't take them too far that is. Like as long as you don't like...I dunno kill them or something? You're probably fine" 

Mammon laughed softly. "Do all humans have sucky morals like that or just you?" 

"Hey, my morals aren't sucky. I just set the bar low. Obviously, there are lesser bads than killing but it's the first thing that came to mind." 

"Lesser evils."

"Huh?"

"Ya said 'lesser bads.' Pretty sure it's lesser evils." Mammon corrected with a smirk.

"Who died and made you the saying police huh? I can say lesser bads if I want. Fuck the police and all that." Mc said playfully glaring.

"Didn't you just imply 'm the police?" 

"Don't." Mc glanced at the bottle. "How the hell have we already drank half of this?" 

"Who knows. But I say we finish it off." He said grabbing it.

"What? No, we should probably stop. It's Thursday, we have classes tomorrow." Mc said, pulling the bottle towards them. 

"Fuck classes I ran away remember? I don't need no classes." Mammon pulled.

"Yeah you ran off I didn't. I still have to go" 

"Nah. We'll just say I brought you with me." 

Mc paused thinking for a minute. "You think that would work?" They couldn't think for shit they drank nearly as much as Mammon had.

"Course I do! When has the Great Mammon ever been wrong?" 

"Many times." 

Mammon pouted but pulled the bottle from Mc's hands. "Ha!" He shakily stood almost falling and he moved away. He stood another long swing from the bottle.

"Hey! It's my bottle!" Mc stood with the intent to take back the bottle but fell as soon as they did.

"Oh shit. You good?" Mammon said, setting the bottle down long enough to check on the human. 

Mc grabbed it chugging nearly as much as Mammon did before replying. "Yeah. Wasn't that far of a fall. Don't think I can walk, though. Snacks are out of the question." 

Mammon smiled before pulling Mc back to their feet and setting them both down on the bed. "We can call Beel if we want snacks. He's like the king of snacks. Besides, we can just drink and like, watch a movie. Don't need snacks to have fun." 

"Shit, you're right. God, I'm gonna have the hangover from hell tomorrow huh." Mc said grabbing the laptop that was luckily left on the nightstand, to pull up a movie.

"You and me both. But it'll be fine. I want to pick the movie though it was my idea." Mammon said, pulling the laptop towards him. 

"No, it's my laptop."

It was going to be a long night.

Epilogue

Lucifer unlocked the door to Mc's Room later that night. The chatter from inside had long since died down since the last time he checked. He was originally going to ask if Mammon had said anything to them since he left. But the last time he had stopped by he heard the familiar bickering from his brother and the human. He left them to it and decided to check on both of them later.

Opening the door he smiled seeing that the owners of the voices that had forgotten to talk in an inside voice earlier, we both soundly asleep.

Mc had Mammon wrapped in their arms, his head on their chest. Mammon had one arm dropped over them, the empty liquor bottle dangling from his hand. The laptop that has long since died was close to falling off the bed.

Lucifer placed the laptop on the desk plugging it in. He then grabbed the bottle from Mammon's hand. 

The hangover those two would have tomorrow would be their only punishment. Knowing they did that to themselves would be better than any punishment Lucifer could give after all.

[zaptap]

ive made a few of these bingo sheets and theyre fun so i decided to make one not just for e3 but also JUST for splatoon 3 (not just for e3 but for like the whole lifetime of the game). also heres my updated list of characters id like to see in smash, ordered generally by which id like more and/or think are the most realistic

since min min got in i took out helix, and since i couldnt decide whether to add in waluigi or madeline i added another row (realistically i dont think any indies are getting in but i threw some in anyway). also i was like “oh yeah maybe theyd put in a gen viii pokemon” so i threw in hatterene since thats one of my favorites.

also as for waluigi (and shovel knight for that matter) i think it would be nice to see an assist trophy get in just to break that rule. also i remember being super surprised he wasnt in brawl (back then i thought he and wario were equally important) and even though that was based on a wrong impression ive still felt like he should be in there ever since

notes about the bingos under the cut

really is about time for those n64 games, especially now that mario is dead so theyre free to release sm64 on it. game boy games would be nice sometime too

would also make sense to include banjo-kazooie in that, nintendos had a good relationship with microsoft lately and the total absence of anything banjo-kazooie on the switch is odd since it’s a dlc character (every other one has a game on switch they can use for cross-marketing, even if joker’s took a while) and i think the best explanation for that would be that theyre holding off for the nso n64 app (this is easiest from a technical standpoint because all they have to do is make a deal to use the roms)

when are they putting octolings in mk8d

xenoblade chronicles x is one of the only wii u games left that they could port (aside from ones that wouldnt make much sense like splatoon and ssb4) so i guess that might as well happen sometime. also monolith soft might be doing something else besides helping with splatoon 3

im not ready for metroid prime 4 (im over halfway through mp2 and therefore the trilogy as a whole) but it’s been a while, they might show it and it could even come out this year

hal apparently recently hinted at a new kirby game or something

the upgraded switch is obviously going to be called the Nintendo Switch ͥ  since they already did the ds lite so theyre clearly naming everything in the family after the ds family, theres absolutely no flaw in this logic. idk if theyre showing it, but unlike 2019 they didnt say they werent showing new hardware (just that they were showing software, which could be taken as denying rumors, but they sometimes specify when certain things arent being shown)

metroid prime trilogy also might come this year. would make sense to release it before mp4 since not everyone is going to buy a wii u to get it (and at this point that doesnt get nintendo any money since they stopped making them)

where is detective pikachu 2. i hope it has the blue pikachu from that first tease they gave us in like 2014 (2013? that was a loooong time ago idk)

they said this was MOSTLY 2021 so i am absolutely getting my hopes up for splatoon 2

the two sinnoh games could likely be there

would be super cool if oddity came to switch. and almost as ironic as megalovania getting into smash

we havent seen the botw sequel for a couple years so we’re kind of due for an update on that

it’s ace attorney’s 20th anniversary this year so maybe theyre doing something. theyre already porting those games though so idk. maybe he’s getting in smash

whats with that watermelon mario render

i held off on watching a playthrough for ndrv3 on the off chance it came to switch and i could play a dangan ronpa game for real for once but it’s now been 4 years and we just passed the 10th anniversary of the series (albeit during a pandemic when i wouldnt expect them to have done anything) so it would be cool to see the series come to switch. i think if it still doesnt after this though i’ll just watch the playthrough, 4 years is long enough. amazed ive avoided spoilers this long, i still know next to nothing about the game

im about done with acnh but im still waiting on those splatoon items. and i ran out of storage in february so i need more of that too

nintendo did stuff for zelda’s 30th anniversary so i doubt theyre forgetting the 35th. maybe wwhd/tphd ports, idk

been a couple years since fire emblem, intelligent systems is probably up to something besides planning yet another paper mario spinoff

miyamoto forgot pikmin 4 in the oven 6 years ago and it got burnt to a crisp and thats why it hasnt come out yet because he had to start over

and splatoon

the inklings scared daft punk into quitting so now that theres no competition in the robot musician scene they should have a daft punk style group

i waited and waited and neither of my top two splatoon stages (flounder and d’alfonsino) came back in splatoon 2 so i hope just because splatoon 3 isnt in inkopolis doesnt mean they still wont return

would be sick as hell if there was a real hide and seek mode instead of just sticking to your own rules in private battles. havent played that since 2015 but it was super fun

show us the effects of the chaos world

i wanted mc craig to have a song in octo expansion and they didnt deliver. heres another chance

splatnet 3 baby

cant wait for nogami to do a funny 3 pose

abxy came back for splatoon 2.... am i gonna be that lucky again...?

salmon run doesnt make sense if youre friends with a smallfry but they could either change the story context (you just fight “evil” salmonids?) or replace it with an equally fun co-op mode

amiibo!!! i think i said this before but they should label them by weapons if these cephalopods dont have genders, would make more sense (the gendered ones had different weapons anyway)

returning characters!!!! would like to see everyone have a role of some kind

maybe #GearForAll wasnt successful in getting the emperor/spy/mecha gear, but perhaps theyll at least consider not making that stuff exclusive this time around

squid girl gear should be back. and they should call it a dress instead of a tunic because its a dress. and theres no gender now anyway

as ive said before... TRIPLIES!! you hold one in each hand and another in your mouth. and you can spin around like the tasmanian devil

remove splatfest tee annoyances: you should have a prompt at the end of a splatfest to pay to scrub your tee (to make sure you get the chunks) also it should be on a neutral brand so you dont end up with an overabundance of ink resistance up (or whatever else)

better online and cloud saves would certainly justify having a second splatoon game on the same console, as much as im loving that it exists

hopefully theres a global testfire again

sooner or later the workers will rise up and kill mr grizz

remember in splatoon 1 where if you had squid beatz (via the amiibo) you could “play” it in the lobby and change the music? then you were stuck listening to only bubble bath in splatoon 2? why did they take that option away they should bring it back

looking at those apartment buildings in the trailer i think it would be cool if you had your own room and could decorate it

an octavio redemption arc would be fun to see. in the manga he stole the zapfish because the octarians had an energy crisis, and in the end they worked out a deal to share the electricity

[zonna-c]

Overprotectiveness Might Be A Bad Thing...

This continues after Perfume Disaster

warning: soft/safe vore story

Mammon had ran to his room and sulked for the rest of the night and most of the morning. Only coming out when he heard Lucifer walk by, he quickly sprung out of his bed opening his door watching Lucifer disappear into Zonna’s room. Mammon glared at Lucifer when he came out of Zonna's room twenty or so minutes later and walking past his room. Lucifer smirked at him as he walked passed, mammon growl at him till he disappeared down the hallway before stepping out of his room and walking over to Zonna’s room knocking on the door.

But she didn't answer, he pressed his ear to the door hearing the shower. So she was in her bathroom he tried to door but found it was locked, he didn't want to just stand out here in the hallway waiting for her to get out of the shower so he picked the lock and sat down on her bed to wait but the soothing sound of the running water and the fact that he didn't sleep a wink, to worried about his human being eaten by his mean older brother…., Now that he knew she was safe and away from Lucifer it seemed his body betrayed him. By the time zonna came out of the bathroom he was fast asleep snoring loudly cuddling the small red dragon plushie that sat on her bed.

After scrubbing the drool off her skin, having to wash out her hair three times before she finally felt like she had gotten it all out, did she step off of the shower. “My knight in shining armor.” Zonna scuffed as she stepped out of the bathroom fully dressed towel drying her hair. She sat down next to Mammon running her finger through his soft fluffy white hair smiling when he mumbled her name in his sleep, she noticed the bags under his eye “poor baby, you didn't sleep last night it you?” she mumbled under her breath as she got up, throwing a blanket over him before heading to the kitchen to get some food and coffee.

“Beels not in here?” Zonna asked the empty kitchen, there was an almost empty pot of what looked like stew on the counter, the ladle still spinning like someone had run out of the room. she shrugged it off to hunger to care at that moment, she made some toast and looking around for something else to eat grabbing two apples before making herself and mammon a cup of coffee putting everything on a platter and carefully walking back to her room, almost drooping the whole thing when her door suddenly flew open mammon standing there wide eyed looking like he seen a ghost “something wrong?” zonna asked as she walk passed him setting everything down on her nightstand

“Ya should have woken me up! Don't go runnin off.” mammon grumbled

“Running off? But I didn't just wanted some food, it's not like I left the house.” Zonna said with a laugh as she picked up one of the pieces of toast taking a bite. Trying to play off the fact she had been eaten by Lucifer, maybe if she pretended it was a weird dream she could just forget about it.

“So, ya not scared?” mammon asked as he walked over to her grabbing one of the cup of coffee

“No, why?” Zonna asked, tilting her head “You're not going to try and take a bite too are ya?” zonna asked taking a step back from him wish he'd drop the subject

“N-noo” mammon mumbled looking away from her “cause, ya know! Lucifer….he umm he ate ya i thought…” mammon mumble holding the cup to his lips

“Yea…, kind of wish that didn't happen but I’d rather Lucifer over Beel. I think Beel wanted to actually take a bite out of me.” Zonna said with a shiver “but I'd rather not have to go through that again…” Zonna mumbled but she was blushing messing with her damp hair, it was clear she didn't really mean what she said.

“Huph I thought ya be all scared being trapped with..in mean old Lucifer overnight.” mammon grumbled

“Oh, so you came here to comfort me? Aww, that’s so sweet mammon.” zonna said with a laugh ruffling his hair “thank you” zonna said with a giggle glad he did, so she wasn't alone with her thoughts right now

“Ya b-but don't think too much into it, just don't want ya to freak out and get too scared to go to school and be like Levi or something.” mammon said trying to hid that he was blushing batting her hand away from his head “Ya hair’s wet” Mammon notice as he looked down at her

“Yea I did just got out of the shower.” Zonna said with a shrug as she finished eating her toast

“Ya going to blow dry it right?” mammon asked as he finished his cup of coffee

“Nope.” Zonna said happily as she try to walk out of her bedroom and away from mammon

“...come here.” Mammon growled, grabbing her hand making her sit on the bed before going to get her blow dryer and hairbrush. “what are ya going to do when ya go back to the human word and the great mammon wouldn't be there to blow dry your hair?”

“Let it dry on its own.” Zonna said with a shrug flinching when he flicked her ear “owww hey no messing with the ears!” she growl covering them with her hands

“Ya’ll get sick, ya need to blow dry your hair.” Mammon grumbled as he brushed out the tangles and drying it, making her hair fluffy with all the brushing

“Lalalal Can't hear you! not going to do it!” zonna said with a laugh still covering her ears protecting her earring from the evil brush

“Yo, ya promise me to dry your hair so you do get sick and die on me got it!” Mammon growled pulling her hands from her ears

“fine... mom.” Zonna said with a giggled that turned into a laughed as mammon turn off the hairdryer setting it aside tickling her instead

“Yo! It’s the great mammon to you silly human!” mammon said as he finger skillfully tickled her sides “Come on say it THE great mammon! I’m not letting you go till you say it!”

“U-uncle!” Zonna thrashed trying to pull his arms off

“Wrong answer!” mammon shouted as he hit one spot on her side that made her almost scream with laughed as she bucked and trying to get away from him almost kicking the coffee mugs off her nightstand

“T-the ahahha G-ahah Great mmmmmammon!” she said her face red with laughing tears running down her face she was laughing so hard

“And don’t ya forget it!” mammon huffed ruffling her know dry hair

Zonna's phone beeped a few times on the nightstand. She picked after she got control of her laughter and breathing again, reading through the texts “Oh no I forgot I was going to watch a new scary anime with Levi today.” she said as she got up

“Cancel” mammon said as he sat up grabbing her hand making her turn back to look at him

“I.., I can't, it's Levi. He'll over think it and get sad and be upset with me. I can't deal with that right now on top of anything else and I just...I need to get my mind off of what happened last night.” Zonna whines trying to pull her hand away from mammon

“Please?” mammon begged giving her his best puppy dog eyes gently pulling on her arm.

“Noooonono! You can’t just look all sad and I'll roll over, mammon! Levi has been going on about this anime for a whole month! And I really want to see it too. Why don't you watch it with us?” Zonna asked trying to find a way for them both to be happy

“No” mammon growled pulling her onto the bed wrapping her up in a bear hug “lucifer stole ya away and now Levi is trying to take ya away too.”

“Mammon you're being greedy, it's not like Levi going to eat me, we're just watching anime.” Zonna huffed trying to wiggle out of his grip

“You are staying, now, quit squirming or I'll eat ya.” Mammon growled resting his head on top of her with a big sigh “I…, couldn't fall asleep last night.”

“Aww were you really that worried about me?” Zonna asked as she rolled over to look at him and notice the bags under his eye again. He really didn't sleep. She knew Levi was going to be mad but she couldn't say no to Mammon right now...not with the sad sleepy puppy eye he was giving her. So she smiled at him, reaching up to rub his head. “Then take a nap, I promise I won't go anywhere.” Zonna said with a sigh rubbing his back throwing one of her legs over his moving herself closer, trying to get comfortable. He relaxed with a huge sigh holding her close and fell asleep almost instantly, snoring loudly she grumbled to herself it seemed she wasn’t going to get a nap, not like she was tired anyway she didn't want to admit, but she had slept great inside Lucifer's belly. With a bit of wiggling she got her phone out texting Levi that she had a headache and couldn't watch the anime today. They texted back and forth for a while and rescheduled. She played games and read stories in between rubbing mammon back and cooing to him when he mumbled something in his sleep holding her tighter.

She hears Beel’s heavy footsteps come up to her door and pause there for a long while before disappearing down the hall she sighs, poor Beel probably thinks she is scared of him now, she needed to talk to him later and Asmo too but for right now mammon needed her more. So all she could do was hope he could let her go soon….

It has been three day. Zonna was trying to bury the memories, and stop blushing around Lucifer, she didn't like it! No not at all….She didn't miss the all encompassing heat that made the house feel too cold now. The slow calming heartbeat, the rumbling purrs that work and the tension out of her shoulders…..the gentle rubs..the fact It was the best and safest hiding spot in devildom. No, she didn't like it! Not at all...

She flinched hard as a warm hand covered her forehead pulling her out of her thoughts. Mammon was sitting beside going on about a new money make scheme to in her room that she had totally zoned out on lost in her own head “ya running a fever or something? Ya face is really red.” mammon said as he looked her over, putting his hand on his forehead humming “I don't think so…” mammon mumbled “I'll go get the thermometer. just to check” Zonna groaned burying her head into her pillow, she almost wished lucifer would eat her again just to get away from mammon...

she was almost ready to go off on him. He didn't bring up what happened with lucifer again or bring up wanting to eat her, but it was clear that it bugged him, he was her shadow following her around like a lost puppy walking her to all her classes, following her everywhere, she had to kick him out of her room every night! He snored way too loud to sleep in her room even though she couldn't seem to get a good night's sleep anyway…..If his brothers wanted to hang out? He’d growl and whine, till they got in a fight. Or stalk them if they went out. Just all around messing up her hang out time with his brothers and being an overprotective jerk! He’d piss Lucifer off today by having the nerve to growl at him for getting too close to zonna in front of diavolo and ended up hanging from the ceiling and she wasn't going to help get him down, instead she went to find beel. Having to lure him out by making some chocolate chip cookies he had been a ghost for the past three days. She only got small glimpse of him here and there running away or peeking around the corner, she couldn’t sneak up on the gentle giant since he always seemed to know when she was coming and he wouldn’t look at her or talk to her at dinner the others where getting worry too and it pissed zonna off that he was running scared instead of talking.

So she was going to purposely going to burn the hell out of these cookies not putting on a timer, she knew Beel was hiding just out of sight by the growls coming from his stomach so she jump up on the counter sitting down legs kicking lazy as she played on her phone making it look like she forgot about the cookie and smirk hearing him hoping from foot to foot wanting to run in and save the cookie which were perfect right now….., two minute later he came running in and pulled the slightly crunchy cookie out of the oven.

“I knew you couldn't let the cookie burn.” zonna said with a laugh as she hopped off the counter

“How could you almost burn cookies!” Beel whined looking at the poor cookies

“Well tell me another way to get you to stop running and hiding, and I'll do that instead.” Zonna huffed ‘blocking’ the exit not like she could really stop him being only 5’1 and all

Beel grumbled looking down at her with a frown on his face “I thought, you were scared of me, for…..and that's…..That's what mammon said.” Beel said as he ate one of the still very hot cookies somehow

“Really what else did he say?” zonna growled crossing her arms

“That, that I should just leave you alone.” beel mumbled around the cookie

“Am I going to kill him!” Zonna growled, stomping her foot of course mammon why did it surprise her that mammon would say something stupid like that to keep his brother away from her with how his acting right know? She let out a sigh, walking over to Beel gently patting his back. “I am not scared of you, I was scared of the way you came at me like I was in a horror movie THAT day but I know you'd never tried to hurt me on purpose.” zonna said rubbing his back as he finished the cookies

“Ok.” beel said with a nod though he didn't seem convinced

“Come on beel I promise I am not scared of you, let’s cook or go watch a movie in your room or something i miss hanging out with you.” Zonna whined, hugging his arm looking up at him with her best puppy dog eyes “and I wouldn't have been trying to find you or hang out if I was scared of you silly.”

“Let’s do both!” beel said happily hugging her tightly and so they made more cookies, popcorn and got some candy from zonna hidden stash in her room before going to twins room

“Belphie not in here?” zonna asked as she looked around

“No lucifer lecturing him about sleeping through his classes and the meeting.” beel said with a sigh as he help her pick a movie before he sat down on the his couch which was more like a comfy chair

“Can’t you sit on the bed with me?” zonna mumbled as the movie started up. she smiled happily when beel got up sitting down next to her but leaving a big space between them and spreading out the snacks before happily chowing down

So she slowly moved closer as they watched the movie till she was next to him and leaning her head against his arm making him jump and look down “is something wrong?” beel asked as he finished off the last of the snacks

“Am just a little cold.” zonna mumbled he smiled moving his arm giving her a side hug she giggled snuggling into his side “thanks”

“Is something wrong?” beel asked petting her head

“No, why?” zonna asked looking up at him

“You normally don't snuggle.” beel said looking away to hiding his blushing face

“I'm slowly getting used to it, with how clingy all of you are, and you give the best hugs beel.” Zonna said and she snuggled into him. He was like a heating blanket just radiating heat. She rested her head on his chest hearing the loud thumps of his racing heart and the grumble and growl of his stomach, her eyes feeling heavy as she fought a yawn. maybe he'd let her sleep like this?

Beel purred loudly, Zonna almost mistaken it for a growl, with how deep it sounded as he moved to hug her tighter, the movie forgotten for now. As Zonna relaxed into his arms, hugging him back “you should purr more often, it's cute.” Zonna said with a giggled

“Humm you think so?” beel asked as he stomach growled loudly “am hungry” he grumbled sadly not wanting to let her go and waste the somewhat rare snuggly moment

“Those snacks didn't last long.” zonna said with a laugh pulling away for the hug to pat his belly, only to hear mammon shouting about how 'the great mammon was finally free' even thought it was muffled being at the other end of the house zonna frown rubbing her face with a sigh “I really don't want to deal with him.” she whined flopping back down against Beel

Beel grunted as she suddenly flopped back down onto his chest “Why is he acting so overprotective, did something happen?” Beel asked looking down at her as she buried her face in his chest he gently rubbed her back and she seem to slowly melt into his gentle touch

“Yea, that day with the perfume, lucifer…., he umm. Did something to piss mammon off.” Zonna grumbled

“He ate you didn't he?” Beel asked as he stopped rubbing her back grabbing his wrist instead looking away from her

“How do you figure that out?” Zonna asked not denying it looking up at Beel

“Well, the next day you smelled like lucifer but when I help fix all the scratches I made on the office door you scent was weak in there and it didn't smell like you had been in lucifer room either, and with the perfume effects…, that was the only way I could think of for you to smell so strongly of lucifer.” Beel said with a shrug

“Wait, is that how you've been avoiding me? Tracking me like a bloodhound and avoiding me?” Zonna asked as she sat up Beel looking sheepishly down at his wrist with a shrug “Ok you got to promise me this, no more avoiding me got it Beel? If there's a problem, come to me and don't listen to mammon.” Zonna huffed gently tugging his hand off his wrist holding it instead. It was easy to forget that Beel was smart and very aware of what was going around him since he was normally quiet, keeping his ideas and opinions to himself and always saying he's hungry.

“Promise.” Beel said with a smile holding her much smaller hand in his giant one

“Know, what are we going to do about mammon?” Zonna grumbled glaring at the door as she hear her name being called out from across the house

“You could talk to him?” Beel suggested

“I tried that, he just brushes it off like he ain't doing nothing wrong, but it seems like he doesn't want me alone with any of you now he thinks everyone wants to eat me, he just pissed off because Lucifer did it first.” Zonna grumbled before letting out a little yawn

“Oh, so has he?” Beel asked grabbing his wrist again

“No.” Zonna said shaking her head

“Oh, and you still want to hang out with me right?” Beel asked as he bite on his bottom lip

“Of course, I haven't gotten to hang out with you in almost three days! Because of mammon making you think I was scared of you.” Zonna whined “maybe I can hide in the closet?” Zonna asked

“Yea but the last time someone hid in the closet the ended up in the underground tombs” Beel said with a frown

“True wouldn't want to run into Cerberus.” Zonna said with a sigh looking around there wasn't much to hide behind in the twins room.

“Well, then… c-can, I?” Beel asked, his stomach grumbled loudly like it was trying to finish the question for him as he looked away from her, Zonna blushed playing with her hair, she was torn one part of her wanted to be held safe and close maybe she could finally get a good night sleep.... but other side she didn't want to admit it to let them know that she like it….but she felt so tired, and she knew mammon wouldn't leave her alone once he found her, probably be jealous that she with Beel, she winced as Mammon shouted her name again already getting a headache.

“Y-you know that spell that makes it safe in there?” Zonna asked, poking his middle, making him chuckle at the ticklish feeling. Screw her pride not like Beel would go bragging to his brother like Mammon would no need to hide that she wanted to be hidden away.

“Yes! I wouldn't have asked if I didn't know how to keep you safe! Zonna you are precious to me.” Beel said kissing her forehead

“Y-ou can….you know if you want to.” Zonna mumbled her face aflame as she looked away

“You're sure?” Beel asked gently moving her face so he could looking into her hazel eyes with his piercing purple ones

“Yes, I am sure that I want to hang out with you and be hidden away from guard dog mammon for a while.” Zonna said with a nod as they heard mammon voice getting louder

“Ok.” Beel said with a huge smile as he leaned down whispering the spell as she pulled off her leather jacket tossing in behind his couch just out of sight doing the same with her shoes just before he finished the spell, he smiling down at her as he gently grabbed her arms bring them to his face opening wide

“W-wait.” Zonna squeaked pulling her hand away

“Did I move too fast?” Beel asked letting go of her hands frowning worried he had startled her, that she would get up and run to mammon any second know and he be back to square one

“No, but lucifer…, he shrink me..,” Zonna said looking up at him a little confused

“I can get you down full sized with how small you are.” Beel said booping her on the nose making her pull her head back wiggling her nose like a bunny making Beel chuckle

“But the other will notice the bulge, you don't want the others to find out right?” Zonna asked worriedly, “I don't think Lucifer wanted everyone to know about….is.”

“Hummm I guess that's true.” Beel grumble not happy about having a smaller ‘meal’ but if that meant he could keep her longer it wouldn't be too bad so he asked her to close her eyes and he said the spell when she opened her eyes she was a lot bigger than last time still almost 2 and half feet tall “That’s the perfect size.” Beel purred, licking his lip trying not to drool to much as moved his hand to pick her up and stop short of grabbing her, he looked down at her waiting for her to move to his hands instead.

Zonna was glad he didn't just grab. Letting her have a second to adjust still a little worried about how big she was but with how much beel seemed to eat maybe his stomach was bigger than lucifer's? She thought as she shakily got to her feet walking on the soft uneven bed was hard as she pretty much fell into his hands he chuckled gently scooping her up into his arm hugging her tightly against his chest “thank you for trusting me.” Beel said happily petting her back as he pulls her away from his chest looking her over

“Of course I trust you Beel, and I should be thanking you for helping me hide from mammon….even if this is a odd hiding spot” Zonna said petting his nose making him chuckle his warm breath washing over her blowing her long brown hair back as mammon voice slowly got closer and closer as he continue his searching the other rooms for her

“You ready?” Beel asked, ruffling her hair smiling when she nodded bring her closer opening wide ready to push her head in, but he pause pulling back and closing his mouth “sorry, do you want me to, start with your feet or head?” Beel asked blushing as he licked his lips

“Head fine I don't know if I can't watch myself be.., eaten” Zonna said a helpless shrug Beel rubbed her back kissing her forehead again before opening wide easy pushing her head into his mouth his tongue greedy licked at her face but he was careful and gently his teeth gently rest on her shoulder and his licked and purred almost downing her in drool he couldn't get enough of her bittersweet taste, drool running down his chin as gently grabbed her hips and shoved as he gulp loudly already to her middle he purring only got louder and more like a growl as she wiggled and squirmed kicking her legs a little shocked at how fast he gulped her down, but she relaxed when he gently patted her leg trying to claim her as he licked her middle causing her to giggled and wiggled harder against him as he tickled her. She felt him rubbing his neck and her and from the way he kept licking her side she guessed he liked it when she wiggled. There was a knock at his door making beel gulp hard as he wiped the drool on his face quickly slurp up her legs as he sat up licking at her bare feet only once before swallowing frowning since he could savor the last of her but glad he got her down as mammon walked without Beel telling him he could come in, just missing the bulge slowly disappearing passed Beel’s collar bone

“Yo, ya see Zonna?” mammon asked as he looked around missing the way Beel middle wiggled a little as Zonna finally finishing her trip through Beel throat

“She's hiding from you.” Beel said letting out a little burp as he licked his lip, he could feel that she folded up weird but she was staying still since she hear him talking to mammon

“What? Why would anyone hide from the great mammon!” mammon said was a small laugh “Ya must of hear her wrong of something.” he said with a frown as he closed the door to continue his search for her

“He's gone.” Beel said as he rubbed his belly that push out against his shirt, purring when she moved around trying to get upright and comfy

“How long do you think before he panics?” Zonna asked petting the warm, soft red glowing walls

“with how well you normal hid...Two hours tops.” Beel whines as he laid down feeling full and sleepy the movie was just background noise drowning out Mammons calls for Zonna and her beeping phone somewhere in the room. Beel purring not wanting to get up as he rubbed his full belly wish he could have done this sooner

“Don't let me out no matter how much he begs if he finds out I want to stay.” Zonna mumbled with a yawn as she sleepy snuggled in against the front wall leaning into his rubs

“Promised” Beel purred rubbing his stomach and her, as it grumbled and growling happily around her, "luckly mammon sucks a tracking with his nose." Beel huffed

"yea" zonna mumbled, he smiled when he felt her go limp snoring soft inside him. Only then did he slowly roll over and fall asleep himself. He know he was going to awake to total chaos but the feeling of not only being fully but protecting someone he love within his body…, no one could get Zonna, no one knew where she was…., he could get used to this he thought as he curled up hugging his belly smiling to himself in his sleep.

Beel slowly woke up grumbling as he felt cold hands against his belly looking up to see belphie frowning down at him, his shirt pulled up showing off the big bulge Zonna was making on his normal rock hard abs “Beel, just what did you do?” Belphie asked his twin glaring at him

“She's fine, just sleeping. She said it was ok.” Beel mumbled sleepy with a yawn rubbing his belly feeling her roll over he purred as she wiggled around before settling back down never actually wake up

Belphie felt her move hearing beel stomach grumble happily around her as she did so and her soft snoring. He smile rubbing Beel's stomach making him purr “moving over, I want to snuggle too.” he said Beel nodded sleepy slowly moving over letting Belphie onto the bed the twins snuggled close and fell asleep quickly Zonna sandwich between the like always when they snuggled, she was just a little closer to Beel than ever before.

Meanwhile lucifer had hanged mammon up again after having a long talk with Belphie. He put a curse on mammon so he couldn't talk since he had been shouting Zonna named for the passed hour before lucifer walked around the house looking for her himself, he knew she would end up hiding for mammon eventually she hated beening coddled. But after checking all the normal spots she hid in and the roof then everyone room he ended up at twins room last he hope she was in here. He slowly opened the door knowing they’d both would be asleep by now, finding them curled up around each other but no zonna, he grumbled to himself know worried pulling out his phone texting her again only to hear the phones soft beep coming from in the room he slowly looked around more thoroughly spotting Zonna jacket with her phone in the pocket behind Beel couch along with her shoe he sighed walking back to the bed. Seeing just how big and round beel stomach was and just how quiet it was for this time of night. He carefully put his hand on Beel stomach pressing down feeling Zonna sleepy kick and moved from the sudden presser he pulled his hand back, and shook his head, patting both the twin heads before quietly leaving the room he dealt with them in the morning, there was no reason to wake them all up right now…., and he didn't want to find all his pens disassembled with the ink cartridge missing again….and she had threatened to disassembled his record player and cut the legs off his chairs last time he had woken her up in the middle of the night along with throwing a pillow at him…, Zonna, was a mastermind when it came to messing with him.... And he couldn't tie her up like his brother, he still punished her of course. But disturbing her sleep after three sleepless nights? He knew when to let his little rabbit sleep he was just surprised she let herself get eaten. He thought the sleeplessness was because of a nightmare of getting eaten again or something along those lines. He had been meaning to talk to her but mammon and his work just kept getting in the way. Now he needs to talk to her about not letting his brothers take advantage if she really did like it. And if she did? He smirks to himself, licking his lips as he thought about it, remembering her bittersweet flavor almost like coffee…. Maybe he had a new punishment for her….

Zonna woke up with a yawn trying to stretch out but something held her in place. She slowly opened her eyes to see a soft red glow coming from the warm, wet pink walls around her. She smiled to herself snuggling back down as she remembered what happened. Wanting to sleep in some more, she felt so relaxed as Beel stomach hugged and squeezed her, taking out all the tension in her muscles. It was easy to just close her eyes and fall back to sleep

Beel slowly woke up looking at his phone surprised that he had slept in, normally his stomach woke him up early, but it was happily grumbling hugging zonna tightly his smiled hugging the bulge she made as he slowly untangled himself from belphie purring when he felt her moved around rubbing back “so your up?” beel asked as he got to his feet with a loud yawn and a big stretch. His stomach tightened up around zonna hugging her so tightly that it popped her back a few time she almost purred herself as her back popped loudly though it made beel freak out going pale as his hand quickly moving to his belly but his panic was short lived and she rubbed at the front wall hard asking him to “Do that again!”

“I thought I hurt you.” beel said with a sigh of relief the color slowly returning to his face

“That felt great! Screw the Chiropractor just need some beel belly cuddles.” zonna almost purred as she rubbed and kneaded into the the stomach walls as a thank you making beel blush and purr he was going to try and sneak to her room to let her out but…., he found himself lying back down belphie snuggling into him again his stomach growled and hugging zonna happily he found himself slowly fall back to sleep thanks to Zonna lovely belly rubs.

Beel woke up later, zonna still fast asleep as he tried to sneak into her room but Mammon was in there sitting on the bed on his phone. He looked up at the beel as he walk in “yo ya know were zonna is at?” mammon asked looking up from his phone as beel froze like a deer in headlights he had zip up his jacket to help hid the bulge zonna made on his middle but he was suddenly very aware of it as he tense up tightening his stomach squeezing poor zonna tightly in place

“Not since yesterday.” beel said with a shrug his trying to look calm and normal and flinch when he hear zonna giggled inside him guess she was awake now…,

“I can’t find her anywhere! And Lucifer said to just leave her alone. He knows something I don't, I just know it! There's no way mister perfect can be so calm, well the exchange student is missing!” mammon growled as he tried texting zonna again “and she not answer my text or even looked at them.” mammon whined running his finger through his hair “I guess maybe I was being a little greedy about wanting to have her all to myself but that's no reason to just ignore me right?” Mammon whined looking over at Beel for his opinion, notice that his jacket was zipped up and he was holding his wrist looking a little nervous “ya ok Beel? ya cold or something?” Mammon asked as he got up from the bed walking over to Beel

“Am fine.” Beel mumbled hoping his mint mouthwash hide Zonna scent on his breath as he noticed just how much his stomach was pushing out against his jacket he should have made her smaller…,

“Ya sure?” mammon asked as he looked him over and noticed his stomach, mammon paled a little “Please tell me you just got back from raiding the whole kitchen and a restaurant.”

Beel whined shuffling his feet “ummm no” he said looking away from mammon

“Please tell me you didn't have a zonna snack.” mammon whined Beel flinched when mammon put his hand on his stomach, pulling away quickly when he felt something move

“She told me I could….,” Beel mumbled

“But why?” mammon whined looking down at Beel belly, the question wasn't for him but for Zonna

“Cause I wanted some space…..” Zonna huffed as she petted the walls making Beel squirm as he fought not to purr and drown out her voice

“Space? But ya in Beel gut! It is not very spacious in there.” mammon growled not getting it at all.

“Not literally! Space from you mammon! You've literally been my shadow since Lucifer ate me! You wouldn't let me be by myself or with any of your brothers, and you told Beel I was scared of him! What's up with you?” zonna growled, mammon whining staring down at the ground so he really did screw up….but he thought she was scared of being eaten again..he was just trying to help....guess he was wrong about that.

“Zonna, that's enough.” Beel said, patting his belly, feeling awkward being in the middle of their argument…, literally “umm, I'm going to let her out you guys should talk this out face to face.” Beel mumbled rubbing his belly sad that he would loss the wonderful warm fullness she provided but he need real food and she need to talk to mammon

“Na, she wants space so bad I'll give her space.” mammon grumbled pushing pass Beel slamming the door shut as he stomp down the hallway

“Did you have to be that mean?” Beel asked with a sigh as he rubbed his belly walking into her bathroom

“It..,I didn’t mean for it to come off like that.” Zonna mumbled sadly

“He was just worried about you, you know how he is.” Beel huffed before he let her out have to cough and dry heave a little before her feet slowly worked there way back up he had to fight hard not to gulp her back down as he opened his mouth over her little bathtub grabbing her slimy legs gently pulling on them to help get her out finally her head popped free and he put her down in the tub undoing the shrinking spell

“Yea I know.” Zonna said looking down shivering hard in the cold bathtub shocked but the sudden change of temperature

“Am sure he'll come back soon.” Beel said as walked out of the bathroom letting her get clean up.

Mammon didn't come back home that day or the next day missing school, Zonna tried to skip to go look for him but lucifer wouldn't allow her. So as soon as she got home she begged Levi to track mammon phone putting the tracker on her phone before taking off, only for Beel to be wanting for her at the front door “I'm going with you, but I'll leave when we find him so you have time to talk.” Beel said as he opened the door for her

“Thank you Beel I owe you dinner.” Zonna said with a smile as she and Beel set out, they thought mammon would be at the casinos or something but the signal on her phone said he was deep in forest somewhere, slowly they followed it to a clearing, finding mammon in his demon form laying down in the grass staring up at the stars. It was starting to get late, Beel pushed her forward making her stubbled out of the wood she glared at him over her shoulder before walking over to mammon thumbs hooked in her pockets as she looked down at him

“Found you.'' Zonna said with a small smile, that was what he always said when he found her in a newest hiding spot. He looked up at her startled wings twitching a little as he sat up. Beel when back to the house knowing mammon wouldn't let her wander around the the forest by herself

“Get lost, I don't want to talk to ya.” mammon growled his left wings gently pushing against her leg trying to push her away "how ya find me anyway?" he growled

“But I don't want to go.” Zonna said as she push against his wing sitting down beside him

“Get lost or I'll..I'll eat ya!” mammon growled showing off his sharp canines flaring out his big wings trying to look scary

Zonna leaned back she hated when people got up in her face “That's…, that's the best you could come up with?” Zonna said smiling when he flinched back, she reaching out to ruffle his hair he blushing and grumbled something batting her hand away

“A-am serious!” mammon growled blushing when his stomach growled loudly seeming to agree with him

“When was the last time you had anything to eat? That growl could rival Beels.” Zonna said Poor mammon, your belly sounds like it's starving she thought as she leaned closer like she wanted to snuggle, it was getting cold fast as clouds started to gather

“Cuttt it out Zonna!” mammon stuttered his wings flapping nervous as he gently tried to pushed her away

“Fine.” Zonna huffed as she got up holding her hand out to him “come on then let's go home.”

“Na.” mammon said as he lay back down

“Na?” Zonna asked

“I don't want to go home yet.” mammon said with a shrug not looking at her

“Really?” Zonna asked crossing her arms

“Yea ya said to give ya space so the great mammon giving it to ya!” mammon grumbled glaring up at her

“Ugh, not like that mammon! You!!” Zonna growled, walking away from him, pacing for a minute trying to convince herself that kicking him or stepping on his stupid face was a bad idea. Before coming back, kneeling down beside him, making him look over at her “you're a dummy.” Zonna huffed suddenly, hugging him tightly making him freeze up as she almost whisper “I didn't say to get lost, I just don't want you getting into a fight with your brother over me and I like to hang out with all of you guys, mammon. You just have been too much of a grumbly guard dog lately.” Zonna said as she lay down beside him resting her head on his chest

“Grumbly guard dog?” mammon huffed

“Old grumble guard dogs that's all bark no bite.” Zonna said with a giggle as mammon grumbled not know what to say to that

“I- I get tied up and you go…, and get eaten by Beel! What up with that uh? I leave you alone and the first one of my brothers you run into eats you!” Mammon growled gently smacking the top of her head making her sit up to look up at him.

Zonna blushed, staring down at Mammon's chest, her finger lightly tracing his white birthmarks, making him shiver. His face aflame “Well I just wanted to talk to Beel cause he's been avoiding me and…., you’ve been really unreasonably jealous and just... I haven't been sleeping well….” Zonna said with a helpless shrug "its...nice" she whispered blushing

“Ya haven’t been sleeping well?” mammon asked sitting up pushing her off his chest as he did so

“Yea, that big devildom's history test has got me a little nervous and the nightmares have not helped.” Zonna said with a sigh

“How did I not… nevermind.” mammon grumbled to himself

“Oh don't beat yourself up about it mammon, I was trying to hide it, I didn't want you to be worrying about me even more.” Zonna said with a laugh ruffling his hair making him blush

“YOUR MINE HUMAN, I'm your first! and your protector. I have the right to worry as much as I want too.” mammon growled

“There is the great mammon I know and love.” Zonna said with a laugh

“L-llove?” mammon mumble face aflame

“Of course silly I love you and all your brothers.” Zonna said, kissing his forehead “which means I want to hang out with all of you so you cant have me all to yourself greedy mammon.” Zonna said booping him on the noise

“But am the avatar of GREED the great mammon! and I'm still your first!” mammon grumbled

“Yes you are,” Zonna said with a giggle before shivering as the wind picked up the smell of rain hitting her nose. “It smells like rain.” Zonna said was she looked up seeing the dark clouds covering the stars

“Yea, it's supposed to storm tonight.” mammon huffed

“So we should head back.” Zonna said mammon nodded blushing looking away as he covered his belly with his hand as it let out another loud angry growl

“Yea, sounds good, let's go.” mammon mumble as he got up the wind started to pick up

“So you're going to give me some space and let me hang out with your brothers again right?” Zonna asked crossing her arms

Mammon sighed, his wings drooping low, almost touching the ground “guess I have to so you stop getting eaten by them to hang out and to hide from me.”

Zonna giggled “No promises.” before shivering as the wind howled through the trees “you're not cold?” She asked hugging herself tight with another shiver walking beside him.

“The great mammon never gets cold!” mammon said as he walked over to her wrapping her up in a tight hug his wing wrapping around her blocking out the wind she snuggle close feeling the heat radiating off his skin

“No fare,” Zonna mumble with a shiver

“I could probably get us home fast if I picked ya up.” mammon stated petting her head

“That's fine just this one time though!” Zonna growled as mammon picked her up easily caring her his wing wrapped around himself to block the wind as he hurried home hoping to bet the rain blushing when she snuggled into him glad everyone was already indoor as he walked quickly and gapping softly when he felt her go limp in his arms asleep completely trusting him not to drop her.

By the time he got to the front door zonna was fast asleep in his arms he changed out of his demon form and awkwardly opened the door find lucifer waited for them on the other side of the door making him jump

“I see she found you.” lucifer said as he uncrossed his arms walking over

“Ya” mammon mumbled looking down at her

“You miss a council meeting.” Lucifer said with that devilish smirk of his making mammon gulp loudly “I see that Zonna tried herself out worrying about you.” Lucifer said gently brushing her hair out of her face making mammon back up, holding her closer to himself letting out a little growl Lucifer raised an eyebrow “you need to get over it mammon, or she's just going to push you away again if you cling too closely.” Lucifer said as he walked away but just before he disappeared down the hallway he said “especially since she seems to like it.” smirking at mammon over his shoulder

Mammon grumbled to himself as he walked to Zonna room pulling her down in her bed tucking her in, he sighed softly tucking her hair behind her ear kissing her forehead “I just…, want it to be special.” he whisper when he made his pact with her he was pissed off, he wanted to eat her but he wanted it to be better than his brothers so she’d come to him and only him. He just hadn't thought of something good enough yet. He sighed, getting up walking out to get something to eat hoping Beel had not raided the fridge yet. Only to run into Lucifer seems he wasn't going to let him get out of his punishment.

“Something special?” Zonna mumbled as she sat up pulling off her shoes, having woken up when he set her down on the bed and she lost her source of heat. She signed shaking her head hearing mammon scream and getting dragged away just outside of her door as the storm raged outside, she rolled over falling asleep to the sound of rain pounding on her window if she woke up she go free mammon maybe….,

[vatt-world]

script

understudy-- complete As many of you may have suspected,

our star is somewhat delayed,

so why don't we take a ten,

and then we'll restart with the design presentation. // Karen, I need to talk to you.

What's up?

Look, because miss Duvall's entrance has been delayed,

we need to look at some staging issues.

Okay.

We want you to do it.

You want…

We want you to understudy Marilyn.

Are you up for that?

Yes, sure. Yes.

Great, but we're gonna hit the ground running. Linda? // Yeah, well, she already knows half the blocking.

I know all the blocking…

She is…

She's… Little usurper.

Ivy, after what happened at Heaven on Earth,

I can't even get you in the chorus.

You know that.

I was upset.

I was a mess after what happened.

Nevertheless…

It's not funny.

Yeah, it is, actually. // o, no, no, downstage, Karen.

Downstage!

Downstage what?

You cross downstage of your scene partner

so that when he stands up,

he doesn't put his bloody back to the bloody audience.

We've just done this. Didn't you write it down?

No, I…

Can we have a pencil, please, for miss Cartwright?

Since she can't remember the simplest piece of blocking.

You cross downstage of Arthur.

Can you even spell "downstage"?

And I thought he was evil during the workshop.

Would it be more evil to start taking bets?

On what?

Whether or not he makes her cry.

Evil.

Ten bucks, she folds like a tent.

$20, she gets fired.

You're on.

// What's going on?

It's just these vultures I'm having to deal with.

My so-called investors. "Socalled"?

They don't want to invest in Marilyn.

They want to invest in a movie star,

and I admit, I opened the door to that,

because you have to, but God…

It's a galling business.

Why put up with it?

They have the money. They sign the checks.

It's the way the game is played.

Does it have to be?

I'm open to suggestions.

Emergency fund.

A bar's got to stay liquid more ways than one in this city.

Well, this is… Very impressive.

And incredibly sweet.

Got $7 million under there?

Kitty's a little short of $7 million.

But I do have friends.

What kind of friends?

So they finally came up with a number

that doesn't have Marilyn in it?

// aren…

Do you have a pencil?

Yes, I do.

Terrific.

Come with me. Off to the break room.

We're gonna run the transition Let me be your star,

straight through the playboy shoot,

and into Johnny Hyde.

Okay, now this is gonna move fast,

so just do exactly what I say,

and when you've got it, write it down,

and that'll be a huge help to me.

I know we're dropping you into the deep end.

I can do it.

Yeah, I know you can.

I'm counting on it.

Okay, that's lunch.

Think he only has a week to live? //

I did some research on that Cobra guy.

Don't tell me, he gave away all his money.

No, he's still loaded,

and not shy about investing in projects.

Perfect.

Then I looked into that bartender, Nick,

and that's where things got interesting.

Stop.

I think you want to hear this.

I think you thought wrong. How dare you go delving

into the personal lives of my friends?

Well, he's an investor too, though, isn't he?

I mean, he's the guy that brought in all the money.

That means he's a partner.

Go get me a coffee and take this with you. //s

Like what I need right now is a stupid lecture.

Just do it.

I'm trying to think like Marilyn,

and you're not exactly helping.

Could you at least try and listen?

And yet, I need you downstage.

I don't care where you need me.

Your blocking stinks.

And you know what else? I don't appreciate

that crack about the home being a proper place for a woman.

It sounds like something Joe would say.

Besides, I want to stay home, I…

I want a life with this guy.

I'm trying to have a baby with him,

and all he wants to do is put Marilyn back to work.

Derek…

Derek, hello? You all right?

Yeah, fine.

I'll put you nose to nose,

see how that works.

You want me to write that down?

No, Linda's got the blocking.

Let's just forge ahead.

Well, what time is it,

///

she doesntshowup star plane hicup u want to understudy kathy - derek asks i know all the blocking iva i was a mess -iva dev and kathy meet times sq walk trian wreck mom and kid eva she walks thru times sq music kathy sexual harass tells dev rebecca will be soon angelina in bar talks to bartender bartender gives money derek u can be smarter towel dance songwriter/tom sings kathy do u have a pencil …gives her direction derek bartender makes him meet rockstar kids perform angelina meets rockstar -- nolimit to return kathy /eva walk thru times sq debra and kid talk tom and date talk at coffee ..reading newspaper debra calls husband angelina on computer just do it derek angelina bartender u introduced us kathy at home /derek comes u did great work/ i want to apologise derek meets boyfriend fight karen bf hit me why dont u start call u bombsell latest investor - randy cobra debra in restaurant kathy singing infront of derek rebecca duvall comes

hell on earth

What are all these things you're doing today, anyway?

Well, I can't just sit around

and wait for Marilyn to happen, so I have that audition,

and then I'm gonna go by Orlin to see if I can

pick up some shifts // When I started the prednisone,

I couldn't sleep, so my doctor put me on Ambien.

Plus the Klonopin for the anxiety.

But then I was totally doped up,

so then he put me on Lorazepam and… I don't know, some new stuff.

And stuff?

Don't you judge me.

Listen, I've been pretty anxious lately,

and not without good reason.

I worked my ass off on that workshop.

And now I'm back in Heaven on earth for…

probably forever.

Ivy.

I'm not judging, okay? Just…

Just be careful.

Here's his number.

// The problem is what it's always been…

The show isn't ready.

Derek, you had a fight with your collaborators

and you lost… Get over it.

What I had was a perfectly good idea

for the development of this musical,

which they didn't like… Fair enough.

But I'm gonna need one or two things in return.

Such as?

I'm not chasing stars until I see a finished script.

///

Wait, what did you get?

An orange juice commercial.

Good for you!

// You turn away from the closet.

This way?

To the mirror, and say…

"To how you'll wear your hair."

Pigtails, ponytail, pixie.

Okay, so you CGI.

Yeah, we CGI that on you.

So you're watching yourself in the mirror for how many seconds?

Six seconds.

Six seconds

while that happens.

Okay, follow me.

No, right now.

Then your line.

"So it's nice when there's no choice."

And you go to the refrigerator and open it.

This side.

Right.

Where there's just one carton of orange juice.

It's the only thing you keep in your fridge

because you love it so much.

Okay.

And then you pour.

Pouring.

And your line.

"Start your day with morning Ray OJ

and let everything else fall into place."

Sunglasses.

Perfect! You got that?

Yeah. It doesn't seem too hard.

Just wait till you've done it 200 times.

Don't drink that…

It's your 15th shot here, though, right? She booked a national commercial for orange juice.

How does she do that?

She just walks into this city with that midwestern moon face

and lands everything.

// Ivy? You in there?

Ivy!

Are you in there?

Ivy?

You're about to go on.

Thank you. Sorry.

// Get off the freakin' stage!

I'm getting off.

♪ The farther you… Fall ♪

Ivy, Ivy, wait!

You have got to be kidding me.

Are you okay?

You saw that?

// bout how lousy your life is.

You were weak! You were naive!

You didn't want it enough! You didn't fight hard enough!

You didn't put enough on the line.

Yeah, okay.

I didn't sleep with Derek. You're right.

I didn't do that.

But trust me, it wasn't because he didn't ask.

You weren't the first choice. //

hell on earth its a lot i have a audition tom and bf meet republican fundraiser ava with pills i worked ass of on that workshop going thru stars we need title whats the problem finish the script can we get hughes ivi len rushes maryln workshop talking i got the commericial greenscreen costume tom and gal talk ivi works as background marlyn on brooklyn bridge it wasnt anything she wears green screen debra husband meet michael u came to my house we are looking with new director she lands everything iva im not sick of that sick what are u reading ivi's glasses ivi takes tablets replacing with derek with hughes are u in or out he puts on backup uniform she sees tablets ivi are u there ivi walks out u are about to go on u didnt fight enough ivi dad is leaving kathy and ivi become friends they dance at times sq ivi falls flat on bed its 5am i would not answer phone thanksfor meeting out here they come up with title bombshell

[jonbernthalslut]

some destiel and general spn headcanons for ya

dean listens to katy perry. one day he’s got teenage dream blasting in the kitchen while he’s cooking and he’s singing ‘put your hands on me in my skin tight jeans’ and cas just taps his shoulder and goes. ‘dean. you don’t wear skinny jeans.’

they don’t talk about crowley. not any of them. he was confusing and murderous and a little evil and for some reason they considered him family for a long time. they don’t talk about how he died for them but there’s a note in a drawer somewhere that just says ‘goodbye boys’ with a little heart

cas and deans wedding rings are simple. deans just a silver band and castiels a simple black one

claire and jack argue over who gets to be the flower girl

dean says he likes black coffee and forces himself to drink it most of the time out of necessity but cas and sam know he likes a lot of cream and sugar and cas makes it for him every morning

it takes longer this time for castiel to get out of the empty. almost an entire year to the day (and no there’s no stupid fucking rusty nail) but the only way he gets out this time is bargaining. he plays the only chip he’s got left, mortality. castiel goes home human. when the deal is struck the empty only says oke thing before sending him back. ‘you are never to return to this place’

cas gets an anti possession tattoo

jack is still god so they don’t see him as much but he comes home for birthdays and holidays and sometimes just when he misses his dads and uncle

when castiel comes back it resembles the last time a lot. he calls dean from the closest pay phone to the bunker after hitch hiking his way there and dean goes alone this time.

dean just puts his hands on castiels face and just soaks him in for a second. this time he doesn’t question that it’s him he just knows. he knows is his angel. ‘dean,’ castiel starts and dean just smiles and shushes him. ‘i love you too.’ is all dean says and he really always that he would be the one to kiss cas first but he was wrong. because his love being returned was the only thing cas needed and dean is being pulled in and kissed.

they stop hunting. they help train some new recruits and they come when claire or jody calls them but they stop.

sam wears a man bun when he works out don’t let him lie to u he does it

jack slips a few months before he becomes god and calls dean dad and dean just freezes for a second. it’s just them in the kitchen and jack has a bowl of cereal but he’s too tired to get the milk so he goes ‘dad can you give me the milk?’ and dean freezes for a second and gets the milk and pours it and kisses his hair. ‘thank you’ ‘anytime kiddo’

cas likes to steal deans t shirts. like. it’s all he wears when he gets back and dean even buys him new ones and cas jus goes ‘i like yours better’

when sam sees castiel and dean walk into the bunker after cas comes back he doesn’t even notice they’re holding hands. well. he does but it just seems so natural he doesn’t blink twice and just pulls cas into a hug ‘good to have you back man’

claire likes to come over with kaia and alex and jody sometimes and have big slumber parties with her weird kind of dads

castiel watches crime shows and literally always figures out who the killer is before the cops do and dean finds it so funny

castiel has scars on his back where his wings wouldve joined his vessel and they hurt like a bitch so dean just rubs aspercreme on them and gives him ibuprofen and cuddles with him till he feels better

the trench coat is really just a beloved memory hanging in castiels closet

when cas first came back they didn’t share a room immediately instead castiel moves in across the hall but he finds its reallt hard to sleep alone so he just ventured to deans room and hears him snoring aand just gets in bed

dean calls castiel angel, darling, baby, babe and a million other pet names

castiel trting to prank sam on april fools is like. literally so dumb he draws the shittiest possible clown on a napkin and gives it to sam in an envelope and sam jumps anyways and dean DIES laughing

cas watched broke back mountain

cas brings in any and every stray animal he can possibly find and he doesn’t even mean to find them they just come up to him

rowena sends weird little gifts on the boys birthdays and literally who does she know their birthdays

she sends a letter on the anniversary of crowleys death. it says ‘thank you for taking care of my ferguson. he loved you boys and you gave him the family i never could. much love my boys. stay safe.’ with a little heart

castiel heads the john winchester hate squad

eileen and sam get married and they have this big sweet white wedding and move into this big house and have two kids and absolutely don’t name any of them dean

one day jody is on a case and a vampire kills the parents of this little baby girl and she just. cant fathom putting this poor girl into the foster system so she reports the baby dead and drives to the bunker

dean opens the door with sleep ruffled hair and sleep pants with one leg hiked up because it’s three in the goddamn morning and why does jody have a baby

dean doesn’t want to at first. he never saw himself as a dad but jack changed that. thing is he doesn’t know what to do with a baby. but cas gives him that look he gives him when he finds a stray and now they have five cats and three dogs so he knows how this will go

they name her charlie and buy about a million parenting books that only cas reads and spoil her rotten