#i think kids are drawn to him because he treats them exactly the same as he treats everyone else

[linkspooky]

first of all i'd like to thank you for your incredible analyses, i always look forward to reading them!

my question is, what do you think might be the reason behind gojo's outfit resembling toji's as he goes on to fight sukuna who is possessing megumi's body? (my apologies if you've already answered an ask similar to this)

have a good day/night!

Yes, I think there is a reason for Gege drawing Gojo in Toji's outfit. They are character foils, both considered the peak of their respective sorcery, Toji the peak of physical ability, and Gojo with using cursed energy. Despite being nearly equals they represent positions in the world, Gojo is the golden child of all of sorcerer society, whereas Toji is the scapegoat of the Zen'in who was kicked out only to return to burn the whole village down.

Which is where they are similar as well, they've both had their whole lives defined by the abusive sorcerer system they are stuck in. Gege draws visual parallels to Toji for characters like Megumi and Maki who are affected by this cycle.

Toji is both victim and perpetrator. His actions towards Megumi make him another link in the chain. When Tengen talks about the chain of events that led to Kenjaku sealing GOjo away, he names Toji as the start of that chain.

Toji was abused his entire life until he lost his ability to believe in his own goodness. Then he discarded his pride and began to kill for money he gambled away anyway. He took a job to kill a girl and shot her in front of Geto Suguru. The sheer injustice of the action broke Geto, who began to look down on non-sorcerers because of that. Which eventually led to his downfall at Gojo's hands years later, and Kenjaku stealing his body.

Each of these players was a victim of violence who then went on to go perpetuate violence against others. Tegen even uses chains while discussing on how he destroyed the future.

Toji's feelings towards Megumi are complex, but he's also an adult abuser. He was victimized by the toxic masculinity of both the Zen'in Clan, and sorcerer society as a whole, and his personality became formed around that toxic image of strength. He's used as a symbol when other characters act like him at their most violent moments. When they choose to continue the cycle of violence. Megumi looks exactly like Toji, something Gojo even comments on this chapter. Whenever Megumi is indulging in his more violent side, he's drawn to look like Toji.

Megumi is paralleld to Toji time and time again to indicate that Megumi is not mentally well. He is still caught up in this cycle of abuse. Whenever he's pushed a little bit in combat he indulges in his more violent side, he easily justifies murder (Megumi: Unlike Yuji I"m totally willing to kill people in the Culling Gage), and on top of that he's passively suicidal at times. This is not the behavior of a well-adjusted kid. Which is why the cycle is a cycle you can at the same time be a victim of violence and perpetuate violence.

Recently when Sukuna emerges from the bath while possessing Megumi's body, his hair is even drawn like Toji's.

The bath who's purpose is to make Megumi be near evil, and completely submerge his soul. Toji is not a good role model, guys. If anything the paralleling of Gojo and Toji's outfits is to show that the way Gojo treated Megumi isn't really that different from Toji.

Gojo appeared on the doorstep of a vulnerable child who had no adult guardian to take care of them, and rather than help that child only saw an opportunity to recruit someone for his child army he plans to overthrow the elders with. It's questionable whether or not Gojo even realizes this is abuse, because he is just doing what was done to him.

Megumi was born with an incredibly powerful technique like Gojo, so I'm sure in GOjo's mind the best thing he can do is to bring out Megumi's full potential as a sorcerer. Gojo doesn't see the option of just letting Megumi live a normal life or have a normal childhood because that wasn't an option for him.

Considering the death of Tsumiki, Gojo's basically failed Megumi in every way that counts TO MEGUMI. After all, the only reason Megumi decided to go with Gojo, is because he thought Tsumiki had a chance of happiness that way. Megumi did everything Gojo asked of him, he let Gojo raise him as a sorcerer for all those years, only for Tsumiki to end up dead in the end.

Gojo also in his own mind takes the blame for what happened to Yaga because it happened while he was sealed away, so he might even be aware of the fact he has failed Megumi.

So dressing up Gojo as Toji is an easy visual indicator that Gojo while he wants to break away from the cycle that harms children, is still very much a part of this cycle of abuse. While Gojo never acted as a father figure to Megumi, he was still an adult mentor that was involved in his life and yet never treated him like a child that needed to be protected. In fact, he sort of just exploited the fact that Megumi "owed him".

Gojo had a real chance to break the cycle of violence when he took in Megumi, the son of a man who harmed both him and Geto so severely. Yet, the cycle remains unbroken because Gojo's yet another adult figure in Megumi's life who failed to take care of him. Now we're at the end result of that, Gojo's got no qualms with beating the tar out of his body while possessed with Sukuna. Because Gojo may care about Megumi, but there's always been something else more important than Megumi's well being and individual needs. Megumi was a tool for Gojo's reform for society first, before he was a child.

#jjk meta #metasks #toji zenin #gojo satoru #megumi fushiguro #toji fushiguro

[ryuichirou]

I’d love to hear a hc list about Epel being seduced by the ever so crafty Rook! I love Rook/Epel and people sleep on the charm it has too much imo- not to mention something about Rook claiming this “sweet” little farm boy and sinking his teeth into Epel like an apple is so appealing!!

Alright I’m finally done with these! Took  me some time because apparently I wanted to make every single one of them 41410 pages long, so I think 7 hcs is enough for now..

All of these are basically focused on one possible scenario, but there are a lot of ways for Rook to seduce Epel. Rook is a great hunter, and Epel is super naïve, so…

So yeah, as you can see, we also agree that these two have some nice potential. The apple allegory works with them quite nicely~

Rook’s interest in Epel seems rather subtle, but “seems” is the key word there, because Rook is always watching him. Even when he isn’t around, he knows what Epel is up to pretty much all the time, ever since they’ve been introduced to each other (mainly because Rook was amused by the fact that this kid was bold enough to challenge Vil). Epel is quite an easy target to stalk, but that doesn’t make him less intriguing from Rook.

Rook’s always found it amusing that Epel laments about wanting to be in Savanaclaw. When Rook finally told him that he was a Savanaclaw student once, he played it off like he just completely forgot to mention it, but in truth he was just waiting for the right moment to drop this piece of information on Epel and casually blow his mind. He knew that it would change the way Epel sees him forever, and this is exactly what happened: Rook almost immediately started noticing that the way Epel looks at him has changed: he is curious, invested, even drawn to Rook.

Rook’s mind games are too complex for Epel to catch on. When Rook helps him with homework, he seems both focused on the task and playfully flirty. He tells Epel not to get distracted in his calm and deep voice, but at the same time tickles his ear with his breath, boops his cheek with a pencil, sometimes even touches Epel’s knee or massages his shoulder. But if Epel addresses how weird it is, Rook acts as if all of that was just subconscious and he didn’t even notice he was doing that, or say something about Epel being too beautiful.

Epel is confused, because Rook is clearly flirting, but then again, this is how Rook always acts, so… maybe he’s not? Epel would love to ignore it, but unfortunately he started enjoying this kind of intimate attention at some point. He can’t help but feel butterflies in his stomach. He’d never confront Rook about any of this though, because if Rook tells him that he wasn’t flirting and Epel got the wrong idea, Epel would literally combust out of embarrassment.

At some point Rook is going to take Epel hunting. And this is where Epel is going to fall for him completely. What Rook was doing before felt a bit weird: Epel was conflicted about being treated like a pretty flower or something (it wasn’t Rook’s intention, but it’s Epel we’re talking about), so when Rook told him that he wants to teach Epel how to use a bow and that Epel would make a fine hunter, this “weirdness” disappeared, leaving Epel with nothing but adoration and admiration for this man. And also lust, because it kind of accumulated over the past couple of months…

And frankly, this is exactly what Rook was hoping for. He could’ve easily “bitten” the apple anytime he wanted, but this wouldn’t be as fun as watching Epel’s feelings and desires grow overtime, watching how the way Epel looks at him changes, how Epel clearly wants please him with his good grades and with how well he’s doing with the bow.

Rook won’t sleep with Epel the night he takes him hunting though. He knows Epel is expecting it and wants it, but he also knows that he can take this feeling of desire further and make it even stronger by refusing to touch him. Epel’s little face is just too beauté when his mood is soured with frustration~ Thus, the game continues.

#replies #headcanons #rookepel

[zirawrites]

'capped her kid' yowch

ok time to cheer everyone up~

companions react to sole and shaun making them breakfast in bed?

they deserve a good day off.

Cait: Cait wasn’t the kind of gal to get sentimental, but there was something about Shaun standing at the end of her bed with his wide smile and hands clutching a plate of pancakes that made her melt. “Is all this for me?” Cait greedily snatched the food from Shaun, and he gave a boyish giggle. “Shaun, be a dear and grab me a beer and this breakfast is perfect.”

Codsworth: Codsworth didn’t have a designated sleeping area, but that didn’t stop Shaun and Sole from buying his favorite motor oil as a gift for after he was done recharging. “Goodness! I thought I was the one supposed to give you both breakfast in bed.” His mechanical eyes blinked away phantom tears. “I will endeavor to make the most of this motor oil by using it to fuel a deep-clean of the house.”

Curie: Curie was sure that the Sugar Bombs cereal, whipped creamed pancakes and cherry Nuka Cola wasn’t exactly a nutritious meal, but she ignored her impulse to lecture Shaun about the food pyramid when she saw how eager he was for her to try his breakfast. “Did Sole let you flip the pancakes?” she asked. Shaun nodded enthusiastically. “That is my favorite part as well.”

Danse: Danse was used to unseasoned slop heaped onto a metal tray in the Prydwyn canteen. He wasn’t sure how to react when Shaun and Sole handed him a plate of waffles covered in candy and whipped cream; apparently Shaun’s favorite treat on Sunday mornings. He had endearingly helped Sole make an extra plate. “Thank you for the subsidence, Shaun.” Danse paused. “And the future toothache.”

Deacon: Deacon knew he was being cheekier than usual, but it was more fun to play an entitled brat than boringly accept Shaun and Sole’s breakfast. He leaned back on his pillows, folding his hands behind his head and stretching against the mattress. “Ah, finally! Shaunsworth, Soleington. You’re late with my breakfast.” Shaun laughed while Sole rolled their eyes. “This is coming straight out of your trust fund. I mean salary. I can’t remember which is which because I am a busy and rich businessman late for five meetings and a stock market.”

Hancock: “This all for me?” Hancock’s grin stretched across his leathery face as he took in all the colorful breakfast items Shaun and Sole had whipped up. There was a little bit of everything and sprinkled with candy, which was no doubt Shaun’s request. “Now this is a meal fit for a mayor.”

MacCready: Mac couldn’t help but tear up as little Shaun sat on the edge of his bed with a plate of pancakes. It reminded him of when Lucy helped Duncan make a breakfast of their own. “Aw, Shaun. You shouldn’t have.” When Shaun added that Sole had also helped, MacCready wiped tears on the back of his sleeve.

Preston: “The most important meal of the day!” Preston wasn’t sure what else to say at Shaun and Sole’s hospitality. He was always the one making food for settlers. No one had ever done the same for him since he was a kid. “I need the fuel for a run later today. Thanks for thinking of me, Shaun.”

Piper: “Gimmiegimmiegimmie!” Piper grabbed towards the tray of breakfast like an eager child, and Shaun laughed as he cautiously handed it to her. “What’d you make me, Shaun? Sugar Bombs casserole? Mirelurk steak?” She looked at the fluffy pancakes with a smiley-face drawn in whipped cream and smiled. “Aw, I didn’t know you knew how to draw my picture.”

Nick: Shaun was so excited to show Nick his breakfast that the synth didn’t have the guts to tell him that he couldn’t eat. “Real kind of you, Shaun.” Then Nick side-eyed Sole, and they knew Nick expected them to eat it for him to keep up the charade.

X6-88: X6 wasn’t used to anyone making him food as much as he wasn’t used to an enthusiastic little boy bouncing at the end of his bed. Shaun held up the plate of breakfast with a wide smile and expectant expression. “This is for me?” X6 glanced nervously at Sole. “I prefer more protein, but...” He took the plate of sugary food from Shaun and shrugged. “This will do. Thank you, Shaun.”

#fallout 4 #fallout 4 reactions #this went to the top of the queue bc it made me smile #deacon's reaction legit made me laugh while writing #nick valentine #fallout 4 deacon #maccready #hancock #piper wright #preston garvey #fallout 4 curie #fallout 4 cait #codsworth #fallout 4 x6 #danse #fallout 4 shaun

[team7-headquarter]

I'm kinda curious about the period of time when Minato was Hokage, because there's so much you could say about Konoha depending on it. It could be that I don't remember what the manga says about it too, but anyway.

We know that before Minato was Hokage, the discrimination towards jinchuurikis was high. We know it from Kushina's story. After Minato, the jinchuurikis discrimination was not exactly as bad as it could have been (and the bar is soooo low) in physical terms, but the level of sheer isolation was ridiculous. Sure, Kushina had guards and she lived in a tower with a perimeter drawn around it, one that she couldn't surpass. The difference is that Kushina knew why she was being isolated, there was someone willing to teach her about it right from the start, a family member even if distant, someone with the same experience.

All Naruto knew is that he was unwanted. He had no family, no one was willing to guide him. No, not even Iruka. I'm talking about before in the manga, before Iruka realized how much Naruto needed him and did something about it.

If that was before and after, how was it during the time Minato was Hokage?

Did Minato push for Kushina to become Hokage? Was the idea rejected? Did he get angry? It was her dream after all. Or did they realize it would be impossible so they pushed Minato to go for it? Were they sad about the idea of Kushina having to live her dream through Minato, because they wouldn't let her go for it? When did Kushina give up and change her goal in life?

Did Minato tell anyone about his plan on how to get rid of the jinchuuriki discrimination? Did he talk about it with Kushina? We know that they planned Naruto's birth and tried to make it as safe as possible. When the time to seal Kurama within Naruto came, they both knew how Konoha would treat Naruto. Minato wanted Naruto to be viewed as the son of a hero, but his wishes were thrown aside as soon as his body was cold enough.

With no law to protect the jinchuuriki of the kyubi, I wonder how bold the people of Konoha were in their discrimination against Kushina while Minato was Hokage. Times were different, Minato was highly respected and feared, but how many times did he have to tell someone to mind their words? How many times did he catch Kushina avoiding a certain restaurant or a street? Did he ever feel a slight of resentment against his home for the way they treated his wife? His pregnant wife?

Were there rumors of the child being a monster for being the son of a jinchuuriki? It could be that some Konoha parents telling their kids to not play with the little Uzumaki/Namikaze was a thing before Naruto was even born?

From what I've seen, Konoha has no gentleness for kids of prestigious lineages. Being a child of a powerful shinobi makes your life worse, in fact. A million times over: it happened to Sasuke, to Neji, it happened to Kakashi in the generation before them, it happened to Itachi in the in-between.

I don't think that being the son of the hokage would have saved Naruto for being mistreated by the village. Not when his mother was a jinchuuriki.

It just makes me wonder, you know?

In the time he had, how did Minato try to change things to protect his family?

Was it a matter of needing more time? Or there wasn't a plan at all?

#I've realized this reads as if I'm harshly criticizing Minato #as always the problem is not within the character but the plot holes in the story itself #Kishimoto clearly presents Minato as a man who loves his family but not always does the best for them #he struggles balancing his duty to konoha and his role as a father and a husband #it is a fact that he failed to protect Naruto #but the lack on information about his time as a hokage makes it seems like he waa failing his family before Naruto was even born #it contradicts what we saw of him in the newest Naruto one-shot #he created the rasengan to protect Kushina and help her be free and safe #he reacued her when she was kidnapped #he stood up for her #they seemed to love each other deeply and Kushina had the temper to chase after him if she thought he was avoiding her for example #sealing kurama within naruto was really bad but in the end he had little time and there were on a big crisis #I wonder what type of pressure was put on him while he was Hokage #even when he was really smart and dangerous and whatever he still was young #he failed his genin team too #I'm sorry but all those pieces are not in Minato's favor #which makes him a great character for being complex and compelling #but anyway #maybe I am criticizing Minato but not in bad faith okay? #minato namikaze #kushina uzumaki #naruto uzumaki #naruto #naruto shippuden #naruto classic

[meenafreezoid]

Animal Crossing Characters Headcanons #1

Heeey, I just got into the Animal Crossing's fandom a month ago and I wanted to do this soooo bad. I feel like there's not enough hdcns of Animal Crossing's characters on tumblr, so here u go !

We'll start with my tanuki bois: Tom, Timmy and Tommy Nook, enjoy :)

💰☕🍃 Tom Nook 🍃☕💰

Our favorite Tanuki Landlord is 42 years-old. He left his natal town for the city at the young age of 20 and came back when he was around 30.

My boi is a bisexual king, periodt.

According to Sable, when he was a kid, he was a idealist with a heart of gold, very ambitious, yet always kind. He hated injustice and was actually very sensitive. I like to think young Tom Nook was a bit like Ash from Pokemon~~

He adopted Timmy and Tommy when they were basically babies (like 2 or 3 years-old or something). He considers them as his pupils and sometimes call them affectively his nephews. That's because he's got too much pride to call them his sons.

The fact that he found two children who looks exactly like him even though Tanukis are a very rare species is a pure coincidence, but Tom secretly like to think it was fate.

He's slowly recovering from depression. When he found Timmy and Tommy in his late twenties, he was at his lowest point, alone and broke, and even considered the s word. Adopting them was like starting a new life and he decided to come back at his little town to raise them and start over.

He's very good friend with Isabelle, Blathers and Sable, and get along with almost everybody, even if they all confirms that Tom is an introvert, just with good social skills.

He had a hard time reconnecting with Sable when he came back, because he developped trust issues. He either rejected her or didn't have enough time to spend with her. But now they are close again, even if they don't have the same complicty they had when they were children. Because of how he treated Sable back then, Mable doesn't trust him and thinks her sister deserves better (she's still polite with him though)

Coffee drinker, and during his breaks he sometimes smoke while Isabelle allows herself to drink a little glass of whiskey. They both do that when Timmy, Tommy and the Resident Representative (or kids in general) aren't there so they don't give a bad example.

He used to have a VeRy AmbIGuOus~~ relationship with Redd at their time in the city. They were buisness partners and lived together but that's all Tom would spoke about him. This is probably thanks to Redd that he discovered that he can be into men (and let's be honest anyone would be gay for Redd <3 even if he's a bastard).

He hates Redd with a passion not only because he betrayed him but also because he brings out the worst in him: from his desire of adventure he became drawn to danger and even illegal things, his dream of glory and ambitions turned into greed, and basically every of his morals and principles were dead during his time with him. He isn't proud of it at all.

Has many talents and interests: good crafter, very great singer (loves to do karaoke with Isabelle), has an eye for fashion (like to speak clothes and do shopping with Sable), chess player, pianist and violonist (he once did a cover of KK Lament).

He won't admit it, but now that he's a bellionaire and have a stable life, he slowly start to think about more "conventional life" things, like marriage~~. He still hasn't found the one yet. This idiot is so oblivious to love anyway... (Poor Sable)

He gives the best hugs <3

He can be harsh with people (especially the Resident Representative) because he doesn't want others to end up like him. He has a sort of affection toward the Resident Representative like for Timmy and Tommy and he's very protective of them. Tom is the kind of guy that would beat the shit out of himself to create a better system and future for the people he cares about, even if he has to act like the villain.

Basically act tuff but he's such a dad and a big softie I luv him so much <3

☺👋🍃 Timmy & Tommy 🍃👋☺

Despite their height, Timmy and Tommy aren't young children, they're both 15, with Timmy being a few minutes older than Tommy.

No one knows who are their actual parents, and they don't remember them neither, and both don't care. They are happy with their mentor Tom Nook and no one can replace him.

They both work because they want to. Tom Nook never forced them. At first he was just teaching them and let them observe him. Then, when his shop grew bigger and bigger (when he was more stable financially), he asked them if they wanted to work with him to put in practice what they learned. Timmy and Tommy were more than happy to, and actually were always harrassing Tom to let them work with him (they both truly admire him). When Tom Nook thought that they were ready (in New Horizons), he lend them the key of Nook's Cranny. The fact that they work alone in Nook's Cranny are way more a proof that Tom Nook trust them than any kind of exploitation.

Because they were raised by Tom Nook, they're both very mature for their age, more practical, independent and autonomous. So they don't really get along well with others children/teens and are more at ease with adults (Celeste and the Resident Representative are exceptions).

They are both smart as hell (young buisness prodigies), in a different way. Timmy is a quick thinker and learner, very adaptable, more social and persuasive, while Tommy is best at long-term planning, organization, logistics and managment. Tom Nook taught them everything he knows to not let them make the same mistakes he did.

Both probably have a high IQ and are good mathematicians and excellent chess players (Tommy beat Tom Nook once).

Since they are basically adults in teen's body, Tom Nook let them do wathever the fuck they want. They drink coffee, sometimes alcohol and Timmy even smoke once because he saw Tom Nook do it, but he hated that and never did again. Tom Nook knows they are responsible enough to handle themselves, but he's still here to protect or help them if they need him.

Tommy is a very good listener while Timmy gives great advices.

When they aren't working, they like to prank Tom Nook just to mess with him or test him. They like to switch clothes or things like that for example. Yet Tom is always one step ahead and always knows what they're up to. Little mischievous boys <3

They sometimes hang up with Celeste after closing the store since Blathers and Tom are friends. They get along well with her because of how calm and wise she is. They also like the Resident Representative more than just a client, because they're also more responsible than most people of their age (due to being in debt for Tom Nook), and Tommy has a little crush on them <3 (while Timmy is always like "Love sucks !")

They both accidentally called Tom Nook "dad" at different moment. Timmy did when Tom complimented him on his work (Literally the: "Nice work !", "Cool ! Thanks dad."). Tommy did when he was asking a innocent question like "Hey dad, why do you always look so sad ?". Tom Nook act like he didn't heard that but he was screaming internally.

They both live in Nook's Cranny. Upstairs, there's a studio for them to live (beds, kitchen, bathroom, etc.). Tom Nook comes to join them after they close to spend time with them and eventually stays there to sleep (when he's not overworked).

Timmy and Tommy are the only one who ever saw Tom cry.

They give Cuphead (Timmy) and Mugman (Tommy) from Casinoandcups vibe~~.

Aaaand that's all I have for now. Tell me if you want more <3

#animal crossing #acnh #animal crossing new horizons #tom nook #timmy and tommy #animal crossing headcanons #acnh headcanons #tanukichi #mamekichi

[pridelessdaydreamer]

PLOTTER / SHIPPER

taken from: nat's linoan!

tagging: flutters my lashes like a funny lil guy :eye::sparkles:

1. CONNECTIONS

write about how our muses could connect with each other! ex. what does your muse like to do that other people would be involved in? do they have interests that other people might share?

Linhardt is a Black Eagle, and one native to Fódlan. Any who decide to study the politics of the continent would easily stumble upon his house, and connections can be drawn from there (accurate or otherwise).

She is a frequenter of the library though, even if she's most often found there late at night. Aside from her chronic reading, she also likes to fish! Not competitively though. She's not that competitive.

If you can't find them in class, the library, or at the Fishing Grounds though, just wander around the monastery a bit—they're probably asleep underneath a tree somewhere. Or in their room asleep, in which case, good luck finding them.

2. PLATONIC

write about your muse and their concept of friendship. ex. how is your muse like with friends? do they make friends easily or do they find it difficult to connect with others?

Friendship for Lin is... interesting, to say the least. They'll regard you much the same as they would any other person, but perhaps with slightly less rudeness/sass (unless you're really close, then it's worse *cough cough* CASPAR *cough cough*). The chance of summoning them with the click of your heels increases by 0.5%, so that's also a neat bonus! Really, the big thing is that they'll consciously worry about you now (when they think it's necessary to worry, otherwise, you're on your own).

The thing is, once you actually manage to pin him down, so long as you aren't asking him to do work all the time, you'd be pretty alright in his book! The threshold for 'friendship' though is rather hard to pin down—one day you're acquaintances and the next you're friends. It's not really easy to draw the line.

I can't say she makes friends easily considering she... doesn't exactly try, to be quite frank (it's part of the reason the previous bullet is so nebulous). She'd be completely content being alone forever (minus that one hamster), and she doesn't really rely on others that much except to do work she'd rather not do! Actively seeking out a friend isn't really something she does. I can't say she struggles either though—there is simply no effort made at all. Alas.

3. ANTAGONISTIC

write about your muse and the conflicts they have with other people. ex: who are they on bad terms with? what kind of people do they not get along well with? how do they act around people they don’t like?

Hubert. Also Ferdinand. Edelgard to an extent. Caspar sometimes (it's a best friends thing) /j. Yeah. Yeah.

To elaborate, anybody who expects her to put in more than the minimum amount of effort gotta be joking fr! It's not that bad if it's a misunderstanding, but if you try to force it? Yikes. (Edelgard ain't that bad fr cuz she knows when to quit! Also when to appeal. She's cool ong)

Admittedly, antagonism for Linhardt is basically the same as their normal behavior, just snarkier. More witty rebuttals and sharp comments—this man can never be anything but blunt! They're already very likely to just walk away from a conversation, but if they don't like you? Ohoho!

Won't lose sleep over it though. That's a bit too much.

4. ROMANTIC

write about your muse and their relationship with romance. ex. are they searching for love or not interested in it in the slightest? what’s their dating history like? how do they act around crushes? how would they treat their partner if they were in a relationship?

Okay 'cause this is hilarious when the muse is aromantic gwahaha!

This is an aroace lil guy—completely disinterested in romance for romance's sake (because someone tell me how he tells how many different girls they're gonna have kids together in his A-supports? Also in basically every instance it's got something to do with crests and studying them. He's a bit insane).

Their dating history is completely blank. There is actually nothing to see here.

Similarly, there are no crushes for her to act different around! This one is fairly normal (<- this post was brought to you by the Aspec Gang)

As for how he'd treat his partner if he was dating—the same way he would act if they were friends? lol? Literally nothing has changed in his mind except that there might be kisses or something. (Is there a book he can read somewhere on this? Probably.)

Oh well she's probably gonna get married off for political purposes anyway. (This post was brought to you by the Noble Clique.)

#[‘practice does make perfect.’] (meta content) #[‘that was a weird dream…’] (ooc) #// hey guys #// do you remember that linhardt pre-ts cipher that totally exists???? #// not the eepy one but the one i cropped for this!!! #// (i am joke jape jesting fr btw) #// man this was fun to fill out GWAHAHA!!!! #// anyways now i gotta figure out who's next :thinking:

[ikamigami]

S.A.M.S. theory and meta analysis!

Barrels represent Sun!

You may say "What are you talking about?" and "How so?" so I'm here to explain!

So I have to admit that I only realised this now. I mean that the only repetitive thing mentioned in other shows whenever others are in the Daycare are none other than barrels themselves. Whenever someone shows up in the Daycare they always knock barrels over. No other item has as much other characters' attention as them. And there is only one person who is heavily assiociated with barrels - drumrolls - it's ~ S✨u✨n ~! Our sun-themed, easy-going, silly animatronic.

You may say "Yeah, obviously! He has an obsession with stacking them correctly!". And you're right. And you may also say "And others are knocking them over because who wouldn't do that!" And that's also correct. "Then it means nothing!" "Why are you look too deep into it then?" Because at the same time those points don't disaprove what I stated either. "But it can be just a running gag in the show!" And probably it is. But we know that they hinted in the show some things in a joke manner before such as existence of Lunar. Which only strengthen my point that with how much attention is drawn to those barrels they can be easily seen as a hint to something within a show.

So with all the basic explanations we can take things further. We know that Sun can't stack those barrels how he wants them to be. Something always seems off. You may say "That's how his obsession works!" And that's true. It's clear as day that Sun feels a need to control things to some degree. But I don't mean control in manipulative and vile way. Sun is a scaredy cat. He wants to know how things will unfold. He doesn't like unexpected things. He likes when rules are obeyed. That's why he likes when things are under control. But it's obvious that he never had any control over basically anything. Not over things that happened when he and Moon were still together. Not even over his own life (Moon left the kill code in Sun without telling him, Eclipse took control over Sun whenever he pleased). The fear of not having any control over things regarding his life mixed with him being programmed to keep Daycare clean and safe for kids resulted in Sun being obsessed with stacking barrels correctly (not only obviously but I want to focus specifically on them). Because that's the only thing he had full control over. "It still doesn't show what you mean!" Yes, I know. But I wanted to point out very important things at first.

So let's get back to the point that "Sun can't stack barrels correctly". and let's see how it refers to the Sun himself. Let's start with stating some things about Sun. He's dumb (not the smarty pants, he's slow learner etc.). He's good with kids. He's kind. He doesn't know things about technology and coding/programming. He doesn't know things about magic. He also has very low self-esteem, severe anxiety and hidden depression (hints are in the show). And, of course, he's obsessed with cleaning and stacking things up including barrels. At this point it's obvious that Sun views himself as a "not so good" brother (or I even think he views himself as a bad brother after all those things that happened). Barrels represent Sun's mental state. He can't stack them up correctly. Something always is off. Just like with him. But he doesn't know exactly what, unfortunately. And that's the main problem Sun has, I think.

The other thing barrels represent is Sun in general as a character. How others treat barrels shows exactly what is their attitude towards him. They always knock them over or throw them across the whole Daycare in various directions. It shows that they definitely don't respect Sun and it also reflects how others treat his boundaries. They're non existent. Maybe not everyone but some of them seem to keep interacting with Sun's rays despite that he doesn't like it. Everyone thinks he's stupid. They don't trust him because of whole Eclipse situation. And the thing that barrels themselves can be easily knocked over represents how Sun can be very easily overwhelmed by others actions and his emotions. He breaks very easily under the pressure.

There is also one thing passed undetected by everyone except me (I've never seen anyone mentioning it). This detail drawn my attention immidiately when it was mentioned for the first time. But I didn't have any sort of conclusion at the time (I couldn't connect it to anything in particular). Only when I realised that barrels represent Sun, it enlightened me. When Lunar helped Sun with stacking barrels up that one time (Lunar finding Bloodmoon episode), Sun instructed him in which order barrels should be stacked: Sun, Sun, Moon (with Moon on top). And what's very important to point out that there is only one barrel with Moon on one side (in the show). You can clearly see it in Moon's kill code episode. It's that barrel with two colors (orange and blue if I remember correctly). Other barrels are with Sun on each side. And this shows us the true character of Sun. Who Sun really is and how he view himself in his relationship with Moon. In symbolic way of course. Sun's personality revolves around Moon. He's doing everything for Moon. That's why he discredites all of his skills if they aren't useful for Moon. Sun can do some things but if they can't help Moon that means they're useless skills. That's why Sun is focused only on learning how to do coding and programming and how to cast spells. Because these skills are useful and could help Moon. Sun sees his worth only in providing something useful for Moon. If he can't do that, he feels useless and worthless. I love how much attention to details creators give in this show! I really appreciate their work!

And this is it. Barrels indeed represent Sun. All of his insecurities, feelings, relationships and unstability.

I totally forgot about one more important parallel. Sun always stacks the barrels no matter how many times they've been knocked over and no matter how he's mad about it. That means that Sun no matter what always regains himself even if everyone is walking over him and he's upset by things that happens in his life. And that shows us that he always tries his best despite everything. And that he feels like he should always stay positive. And he has to sacrifice everything including himself for Moon if this is what would be the best for Moon. And that's why Sun doesn't want to say to Moon how he feels because in Sun's eyes it would seems as seeking attention and dumping problems on Moon when Moon already has so much on his shoulders. And Sun would hate himself even more if Moon would blame himself even for how Sun feels.

#sun and moon show #sun and moon show sun #sun and moon show moon #fnaf sb #fnaf sun #fnaf moon #barrels #fnaf daycare #sun and moon show meta #sun and moon show theory

[stillness-in-green]

Ever think Mustard was supposed to be a mainstay villain? He was introduced wayback in 57 alongside Dabi, Spinner, Toga and Giganto and compared to the other Captured M's, from his practical attitude to his disdain for 'one-note' Quirks , it seems as if there were intentions of a longer term role for him in the story. I wanna think lil'condiment was put on a bus because his Quirk might have been a tad awkward for fights compared to the others.

Man, I really don’t know.  Mustard is in a very weird place: he hardly seems as blood-crazed as Muscular or as unknowably monstrous as Moonfish (I say this with all due affection for them both, of course), and indeed if he’s meant to be on their level, he’d be a singular case of an apparently totally irredeemable middle schooler.  Which would be a pretty bizarre thing to have in a story that kicked both Toga and Touya off the deep end in middle school, but certainly isn’t treating them as unreachable!

I feel like I’d need some confirmation from Horikoshi or an editor or something before I'd buy that Mustard was originally meant to stick around but then got put on a bus last second because his power would be awkward to handle.  By all means, his power would be awkward to handle,(1) but the training camp attack was such a key event for the manga, laying the ground for Kamino and everything that would come after, that it’s hard for me to imagine Horikoshi not knowing exactly which characters were going to walk out the other side of that plotline as opposed to changing his mind right in the middle of it.

As to Mustard’s early introduction, I wonder to what extent the Chapter 57 characters were intended to be drawn to the League because of Stain, rather than being indicative of who was going to stick around?  Twice and Mr. Compress, after all, would go on to become core members, but they weren’t introduced in 57, only when they cropped up during the actual camp attack.  They also, along with Magne, Muscular and Moonfish—who also don’t appear in 57—never bring up Stain or Stain’s goals in their time with the League.(2) But Dabi, Spinner, and Toga, all shown as Giran talks about Stain's influence on the underworld, they all cite Stain as their inspiration.

It’s not a perfect theory: I don’t recall Mustard ever talking about Stain, though at least his beef with sub-par students being unduly praised just because of the school they attend resembles Stain’s rhetoric about unworthy heroes. Gigantomachia, for his part, doesn’t give a damn about Stain or heroes, but I could buy the Hosu incident being the point at which Machia starts perking up and paying attention to Shigaraki (assuming Shigaraki was getting name-dropped at all, given his place as the afterthought of the Hosu news reports, RIP).

I hope we’ll eventually see Mustard again.  I can (unhappily) buy that the bulk of the MLA is gone; they were in that weird space of being villains-for-the-villains, providing, in the boost they gave Shigaraki, the biggest turning point in the series.  But when even randos from USJ are turning back up, when Mustard and Moonfish both resurfaced, it would be pretty strange to just never get Mustard again at all.  (Ditto Gentle and La Brava, but they at least feel relatively self-contained and resolved at the end of their arc; you can’t say the same of the other captured Villains.)

On the one hand, there’s a very realistic edge to Mustard, the disaffected kid who shows up with a weapon and a superiority complex and an outsized grudge about school; he’s very grounded in the kind of self-absorbed aggrievance that I can imagine a lot of people find difficult to sympathize with, possibly including his creator.

On the other hand, to reiterate, that’s an extremely bizarre place to leave a middle-schooler.  Surely, if we can be asked to sympathize with people like Toga, who would have been around Mustard’s age when she went on the run, and Spinner, who with his hikikomori backstory is based on similar discomfitingly realistic youthful disaffectedness as Mustard, then Mustard himself shouldn’t be beyond the pale?

Hell, if nothing else, I feel like we deserve an answer as to what about the League he believed in so strongly that he refused to tell the police anything about them after his capture.  Mustard is, again, a middle schooler who’s up against a legal system that has very probably only gotten worse than its already-dire real-life counterpart; further, given the attitude towards Villains in this setting, there’s a decent chance that he’s been disowned by his family.  He may be a prat, but I have no choice but to stan a kid who’s gutsy enough to hold his silence in those circumstances.(3)

Thanks for the ask, @shockersalvage!

------

1:  Technically his power is relatively easily dealt with via an abundance of gas masks, but that would mean drawing everyone in gas masks all the time, and this is My Hero Academia, not Dorohedoro.

2:  I spent most of the manga ragging on Compress for villain gatekeeping, but he did, of course, eventually drop a nugget about being against sham heroes.  In his case, though, the stance is tied to his family legacy, not inspired by Stain.  Harima’s views and Stain’s are enough of a piece that it’s easy to assume the Stain association led Compress to the League, but possibly the difference is that Dabi, Toga and Spinner all cite Stain as an inspiration, whereas Compress merely saw him as an opportunity—or perhaps a reminder. 

3:  Which is why the counterpart to the “Geten jailbreaks Tartarus with a single ice cube” fic is the one where Geten gets sent to the same high-security juvie facility Mustard was, and the two have to get over, in order: each other, themselves, and The Wall. 

#bnha #bnha mustard #stillness answers #shockersalvage

[missingn000]

i’m so tired trying to finish this essay last minute and s t r u g g l i n g so putting in minimal effort here but also to try to wake myself up but like god i can’t stop thinking abt geto and toji’s relationship in tpg. violently shaking in my seat the parallels you’ve drawn. the way they’re so similar to each other. how they’re going to help each other. how they can relate to each other and help each other heal i’m a melted puddle on the ground they’re going to become family they’re going to heal and help each other ih my god same anon from before but genuinely what the fuck “give me all of your pain, and all of your sorrow. i’ll endure it so you don’t have to” slamming my hand on my desk parental love. PARENTAL LOVE. IM TRYING TO THINK OF A SPECIFIC ADJECTIVE TO PUT IN FRONT I CANT REMEMBER BUT!!! PARENTAL LOVE. oh my god i’m losing my mind. oh my god. it’s funny geto spirals and murders his parents and his parents are gone but he ends up gaining a new fammil yfespite everything he gets to receive parental love again the compfrt of being taken care of and loved and having someone you can turn to when things are bad can you see the tears in my eyes he’s. they’re. insbdhjsjdjajcjmsxjwjdjaidnsuidahifjaifjsisbcja not even. not even mentioning how geto can help and relate to toji when he inevitably finds out about his past and everything okay i think i’m awake now goodbye

SJDHGHWKLE*&&#^$%T HELLO??????? oh my god. you really picked up on so much i've been trying to portray. toji and getou are so fucking special to me i'm so glad someone is as feral about them as i am

my thoughts on them below cut vvvv (read it i really went off here)

idk i just. sometimes i feel like tpg is just as much about parallels as it is about circles. it was due to toji's actions in killing riko that sent getou on his downward spiral in the first place -- so if that spiral is to be reversed, i don't think it can be done without toji, either. getou has a family, but what he doesn't have right now is guidance. the kind only a parent can provide. toji's had to humanize all his kiddos in different ways: maki was treated like trash and he had to prove to her that she had worth, gojo was treated like a god and toji had to convince him he was just a kid. getou is more complex because...on a surface level, he thinks he's a saint, but deep down he's convinced he's a monster. toji has to cut through both of those layers before he can help him heal. and getou is so so thrown off seeing toji with his former friends because, oh my god, here's this dude who's done horrible things, and they accepted him because he changed. it's this glimmer of hope getou doesn't want to admit exists: that if toji can change and be accepted into their lives despite his sins, can getou earn their love again, too? did he ever lose it?

and you're so right. toji may not know at this point exactly what he did, but eventually he will. there will be a point where he too will be convinced he's a monster because of his past and feel unworthy of his family's love. so what then?

i guess what i'm trying to say is, they were always going to need each other. no one else can understand them like they do one another. no one else can truly comprehend the weight of that eventual "oh god, what have i done" realization. toji's convinced that despite getou's actions, he deserves to be saved. in the end, there will be no one else other than getou who will be able to say, "if i deserve it, then you deserve it." im gonna fucking cry i love them

#there's so much more i could say here but this is already long and i'm so exhausted #yall i just got back from such a rough day at dance practice and got back to my dorm and was ready to like #idk break down crying or something but then i saw THIS #your words mean so so much to me #i really feel so lucky to have such wonderful readers who are this kind to me #I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH #YOU DESERVE ALL GOOD THINGS. THANK YOU #WHAT THE HELL IM GONNA CRY HAPPY TEARS NOW #tpg

[chronosbled]

“…Kaiyo?” Velveteen had only just halfway stepped out of her room’s attached bathroom when she spoke up. Their night so far had been a tame and generally relaxed one, mainly just spent cuddling and watching TV in her room… but she’d been THINKING about their relationship. Thinking perhaps a little too hard. Steps she wanted to take in the future, feelings she had difficulty exactly putting into words.

She took a few more steps forward to the edge of her bed before raising her arms— hands gripping the hem of her shirt and swiftly pulling it up off over her head. Though her black lace bra remained on for the moment, she raised herself up to rest on the bed. “Kaiyo… have you ever thought about kids?”

Her tone remained soft as she crawled towards her boyfriend, ultimately propping herself up on his lap. Tails flicked behind her as she leaned in, fangs softly tugging at the other’s ear. Her body language said one thing very, very clearly: she wanted him. Perhaps it was just the time of year, but… “mating” had been on her mind more and more.

“Kaiyo…” a breathy whisper as her lips pressed to his cheek, “I really want you to fuck me.”

/ she’s in a mating mood. love u. from vel on wizardshotel for kaiyo <3

🐇 — FINGERS TAPPED AWAY AT THE BUTTONS OF THE SMALL GAMING CONSOLE WITHIN HIS HANDS, visuals of the screen reflecting faintly off of reddish-magenta irises, though his attention is drawn away from his game the moment he hears his girlfriend call his name. "H... Huh?" The two of them had been dating for quite some time now, perhaps longer than any other relationship that the bunny-hybrid managed to get himself into, though if he were being honest with himself... none of those lasted due to his massive anxiety, along with the fact he was a pretty big shut-in. Normally he wasn't the type to seek out relationships of that sort, after all... most people were always the same towards him (simply wanted him for his looks and nothing else) and that only further served to drive him away from others — all he ever needed was his parents and his two younger brothers — yet Velveteen was different; she understood a lot of how he felt and how he behaved, thus why he'd decided that he wanted to be with her in the first place.

🐇 — Eyes growing wide as he watched the other pull her shirt up and over her head, UNABLE TO PREVENT THE COLOR IN HIS FACE FROM RISING, completely dropping the handheld onto the floor just beside the bed (you know, the bed he was currently laying on). While he knew something like this would happen eventually in any relationship, he just never believed he would be one of those people to experience it, mainly because of how oh so painfully shy he was. He can't help the way his eyes are immediately drawn towards her breasts, even if they were covered by that black lacy bra, he could still perfectly see just how shapely they were. They would fit perfectly in the palm of his hands, he was certain of that. Though her next question is enough to make him swallow thickly, "K... Kids? Um... yeah, maybe a few times? I think kids are really cute, but... most of them don't really... treat me nicely."

🐇 — HE COULDN'T HELP THE VERY AUDIBLE SWALLOW THAT REVERBERATED FROM WITHIN HIS THROAT AS THE KITSUNE MADE HER WAY ONTO THE BED, hoisting herself onto his lap without even so much as a single ounce of hesitation. The sensation of her fangs gently tugging at his ear is more than enough to make him whine softly, hands mindlessly finding their way to the other's hips as calloused fingers began to lightly knead at the skin — oh how absolutely soft her skin was, it was like he was touching silk — for some reason he just didn't have the heart to reject his girlfriend's advances, especially when she was doing so in such a flirtatious manner. "Are you... asking me about kids because...?" His voice trails off before he's able to finish thanks to Velveteen's sudden declaration.

🐇 — "I... " The breathy whisper she gives is enough to send a shiver down his spine, FINALLY HELPING HIM TO REALIZE JUST HOW SERIOUS SHE WAS ABOUT THIS, hence why he didn't even hesitate to remove his hands from their place at her hips and quickly tug the blue fabric of his sweater up and over his head before tossing it onto the floor. He was really about to do this... They were really about to do this. The two of them really were about to have sex, and not just regular run of the mill sex for pleasure, actual bonafied sex for making babies. She wanted to have babies with him of all people. "O... Okay! I'll do... do my best to give you what you want, Vel!"

#{ In Character: Kaiyo | Dust Bunny } #{ Velveteen tag pending. } #{ wizardshotel tag pending. } #{ Kaiyo x Velveteen tag pending. } #{ i finally got around to finishing this ask! } #{ I'm so sorry it took me so long to do. } #{ I meant to answer this when I first got it. } #{ But I ended up having a lot of shit happen so better late than never! } #{ I hope that this response is good enough for you! } #{ Kaiyo is literally just internally screaming about Velveteen. } #{ He's like 'oh my god!' XD } #tw; nsfwish

[relatablepicturesofgilgamesh]

i love that these kids just like.. know him. it’s never explained why, we just know that there is a pack of children that sometimes hangs out with him and i love that

#i've said this a million times but kids are just sorta drawn to him and nobody knows why least of all him #he's used to it though #sometimes i wonder if it's because of his charisma skill he's destined to have a squad of mystery children constantly following him around #well not exactly mystery children if we're counting the kids in chaldea #it might not even be the fact that they LIKE him they just find him interesting ksjhdbf #like i've said before i wish we got to see gil interact with kids more outside of tine #or actually including tine since i really love their relationship #ppl always use illya as an example of why they think he hates kids #but he makes it clear his dislike of her is bc she's half homunculus NOT because she's a child #if you don't include illya he's surprisingly respectful of children and seems to hold them in fairly high regard #gil would 100% be the type of dad/guardian to talk to babies like they're whole ass people #doesn't matter if they're a day old or 10 years old he will talk to them like he's talking to an adult ksjdhfbnk #gil: 'so how are you doing today' #baby: 'aaughh..gffhg..' #gil: 'that's fair.' #i think kids are drawn to him because he treats them exactly the same as he treats everyone else #like he doesn't baby them at all #and they like that #fate series #fate stay night #fate grand order #fgo #emiya san chi no kyou no gohan #gilgamesh fate #gilgamesh #archer gilgamesh

[edwardskhakipants]

Forks, Washington. August 2004.

Esme and Carlisle stood in the middle of their grand living room, waiting for their five vampire children to arrive. Alice arrived first—prompt as usual. She settled herself gracefully onto the tufted sofa Esme had recently acquired, only to be immediately jostled by Emmett who heaved himself onto the cushions. A breath caught in Esme’s throat—she had lost many pieces from her beloved collection by that action—but it looked like this one was still in one piece. For the moment. Jasper took Edward’s normal spot in the only armchair, forcing Edward to wedge himself between Alice and Emmett.

“What?” Rosalie grumbled as she perched on the armrest of the couch beside Emmett, “Are we having another one of those How to Respect the Telepath in Your Life meetings again?”

“No,” Edward answered, fully aware of the intent of this meeting since it hatched in Carlisle's mind two days prior. “But there’s never a bad time to bring that up. Christ, Emmett, if you’re going to have a song stuck in your head for over seventy-two hours, the least you can do is learn the correct lyrics.”

Emmett’s eyebrows knit together, asking his brother a silent question.

“It’s ‘mulatto, an albino, a mosquito, my libido,’” Edward answered.

Emmett’s brow furrowed doubtfully.

“No.” Edward shook his head, answering Emmett’s thoughts. “Why would he eat a beetle?”

Emmett grinned playfully and tilted his head towards Edward.

Edward wasn’t amused. “You know what it means.”

A silly grin plastered on his face, Emmett elbowed Edward in the ribs, silently egging him on.  

Edward’s eyes darted to Carlisle, then Esme, and he shifted in his seat. “Sexual desire,” he muttered.  

Emmett howled with laughter and clapped his hands once, “Wow, Eddie! You’re just going to say that in front of Esme!?” Edward scowled as Emmett’s bouts of laughter echoed through the room.

Esme ran a hand through her youngest’s ginger hair. “Boys,” she warned, and Emmett sucked in his laughter.

“Our meeting today has to do with all of you,” Carlisle began.

“We simply wanted to go over the rules of attending school with you kids before you start your second year at Forks High School,” Esme explained, unfolding and re-folding her hands in front of her. “There are already whispers, and we don’t want those whispers to turn into rumors.”

“I thought the only whispers about us at school were whether or not Edward liked girls,” Rosalie said, earning an eye-roll from Edward.

“No,” Alice chirped,” Some kids think we’re a cult.”

Jasper leaned back heavily in his chair. “We haven’t heard that one since the Seventies.”

“Kids are getting more creative these days.” Emmett nodded appreciatively.

Esme held up one, delicate finger. “Which is why it is best to take preventative action.”

Carlisle took the floor. “We thought a few reminders would be helpful before you started your first day of your second year,” Carlisle said. ���We don’t want another incident like the one we had at the end of last year.”

Every head in the room turned towards Emmett.

“What?” Emmett threw up his hands in exasperation, “The water gun fight was the senior prank—I wasn’t the one who brought them to the school. Hell, I wasn’t even the only student who got suspended!”

“That’s true,” Carlisle agreed, “but you were the only student to shout, ‘Sit down, kids! Daddy’s gotta tinkle,’ and shoot the stream of the gun from your crotch.”

Jasper snickered—the sound was immediately silenced by a single raised eyebrow from Esme.

“I still don’t see the problem,” Emmett continued, “That’s not necessarily a vampire thing.”

Edward—who often mistook himself as the third vampire parent rather than the youngest son—sighed, “Yes, but it brings unnecessary attention to the family. Which is the first rule: do not bring attention to yourself.”

Esme ran her fingers through her son’s hair once more, “Yes, darling, you are especially good at keeping to yourself.” Edward’s eyes widened, despite Esme’s gentle touch, already aware of where her point was headed. “So much so, that I have been given the names of several child therapists to help my son through his depression. One was recommended for his exceptional work on spotting and treating the early signs of sociopathic behavior.”

Esme grabbed her son’s chin and forced him to look at her. “You have to talk to other people.”

Knocked off his high horse, Edward flinched back from Esme’s hand. “Friendship with humans never bodes well for us.”

“We’re not asking you to create lifelong friendships with humans,” Carlisle clarified, “We are simply asking you to be likable.”

“A nearly impossible feat for Edward.” Rosalie grinned. The comment went unnoticed, save Edward’s slight flinch. But the quick, little tick was satisfying enough for Rose.

“Look at your father,” Esme gestured towards Carlisle, “At every hospital he works at, he goes out of his way to ensure he is well-liked among his colleagues. He forces down countless lunches and coffees, solely to make sure they’re comfortable around him.”

Carlisle took over. “And your mother, a beloved member of her gardening club and a prized member of the PTA.”

“And neither of us have rumors started about us, and do you know why?”

All five teenagers grumbled the ingrained response. “Humans don’t want to spread rumors about people they like.”

“Exactly.” Esme nodded.

“I try!” Alice whined, “But Edward never lets me talk to any humans.”

“That’s because every, single thing that is about to come out of your mouth is incriminating. You might as well walk around with a neon sign that says, ‘I’m a psychic vampire’.”

Alice scoffed, “Is not!”

“You wanted to tell Nihal Howard not to audition for the musical.”

“And he broke his leg on opening night,” Alice challenged.  

“You were going to tell Christiana Ward that pink was not her color.”

“And she lost prom queen to Ashley Kirby.”

Jasper put a comforting hand on his wife’s knee. “Maybe try not to meddle so much, darlin’. Natural relationships, first.”

“They would have been!” Alice wailed, “I would have played it cool and casual and made friends and you all would have seen it! But everyone’s hurt and I have no friends at all because Edward won’t let me try!”

Edward rolled his eyes.

Carlisle suppressed a heavy sigh. “You have to let your sister try, Edward.”

Edward’s mouth fell open. “You cannot seriously be siding with her on this!”

But Carlisle stood his ground. He and Edward stared at one another for a few seconds, engaged in a silent conversation. In the end, Carlisle tilted his chin and Edward slumped back. Victorious, Alice used both pointer fingers to jab Edward in the side several dozen times at vampire speed.

Rosalie flipped her golden locks over her shoulder. “I don’t know how you all struggle so much. I have no issues with becoming well-liked at school while remaining inconspicuous.”

“Oh yeah, you’re so inconspicuous,” Edward grumbled, now extra-petty that he had been called out two times in one meeting. “You dress like you're on your way to brunch at your second husband’s country club in Beverly Hills and you make out with your foster brother. The perfect picture of discretion in Forks High School.”

“At least I don’t dress like a sad, old man.” Rosalie grimaced, disappointed in her comeback. The light, humorous insults that were required in family situations were Emmett’s forte; Rosalie’s insults were meant to emotionally cripple a person.

Edward sat up in his seat on the couch and turned to face Rosalie. “I think you missed the main takeaway in that you make out with your foster brother.” Edward turned back. “I can read your minds, and I still don’t understand what made either of you think it was okay to bring your relationship to school?!”

Emmett smiled, unperturbed. “It’s hot.”

“It’s disturbing,” Edward disagreed.

Esme frowned, “You kids don’t really do that, do you?”

“Would it help if Jasper and I became an official couple too?” Alice suggested.     Jasper perked up at the idea of being able to hold hands with Alice in public again.

“No!” Edward yelled at the same time Emmett and Rosalie muttered their acquiesce.

“It wouldn’t seem as weird if there were two couples,” Emmett agreed.

Edward dug his fingers through his hair. “Oh my god!”

“...maybe not, kids,” Esme intervened, but was ultimately ignored.

“So should we come out today like it happened over the summer, or make a little show out of it?” Alice asked Rosalie.

Rosalie waved a hand in the air. “Oh, it’s way more fun if you play up the theatrics.”

“A little more realistic, too,” Emmett agreed.

Alice looked to Jasper for his opinion. “It might be better if we were discreet about it,” she said. “Like we knew it was wrong, but we wouldn’t let anything stand in the way of our love.”

Jasper scooted forward to the edge of his seat. “Or we could let it be quiet and drawn out. Let others see our mutual pining, and root for us to be together.”

Gazing deep into the golden eyes of her soulmate, Alice sighed, “I love that.”

“If people wanted us to get together, it would normalize Emmett and Rosalie’s relationship.”

“Or Rosalie and Emmett could stop,” Edward suggested, bitterly. “That would be normal, too.”

“Oh, Edward,” Alice patted his shoulder, “You’ll find love someday, too.”

“That is not at all what bothers me about the situation.”

Carlisle made the decision for everyone. “Rosalie and Emmett, break up at school. Alice and Jasper, remain friends and siblings.”

Disappointment filtered into the room through Jasper.  

“I heard that,” Edward grumbled at someone’s thoughts.

“You were supposed to,” Rosalie shot back.

“We are also initiating a new rule,” Esme brought the room back to the conversation at hand, “No more correcting your teachers.”

A chorus of complaints rang from the couch.

Esme clicked her tongue, “I’m tired of defending you all from entirely preventable issues. I have emails from curious teachers wondering why my foster daughter is taking French 101, when she already appears to be fluent.” Esme looked at Rosalie, who immediately tucked her bottom lip between her teeth. “Or why my son, at the tender age of sixteen, could not only deadlift three hundred pounds in his first weightlifting class, but also give his coach tips on improving his posture.”

Emmett glanced over at Edward before he realized Esme was, in fact, addressing him. “What!?”

Jasper snorted. The sound was a mistake, for it brought Esme’s wrath onto him. “And not to mention the emails from not one, not two, but three teachers warning me that my foster son has an intimate understanding of the mechanics of a point fifty-eight caliber rifle-musket.” Esme held out her hands, almost pleadingly, “How does that subject keep coming up, Jasper?”

A noncommittal grunt was the only answer Jasper had for that question.

“No more,” she commanded. “You can get good grades but keep your extra knowledge on any subject to yourself. Whatever your teacher teaches is all you know. Understand?”

“But what if we—” Edward started.

“Understand?” Esme repeated.

The five teenage vampires understood, even if they didn’t want to. 

“I believe that all five of you will graduate from Forks High School!” Esme cheered.

The kids stared back, unable to muster the zeal Esme had over the prospect.

“Meeting adjourned!” Carlisle announced, and faster than fast vampire speed, the kids bolted from their seats. 

Esme was able to get in a few more reminders as her children flitted around the house and filed out to the silver Volvo.  “Remember to buy lunch with cash and not your credit cards. Emmett, please do not joke about being mauled by a bear. Do not address your teachers by their first names—I don’t care if you’re older than they are, Edward. Alice, please wear something a bit more causal, pet.”

When the house was finally empty, Carlisle pulled Esme backwards into his chest and began massaging her temples. The gesture wasn’t needed, but any touch from her husband was always welcome.

“Do you think they’ll listen?” she asked her husband.

“Not a chance.”

#this bad boy had been swimming around in my head for awhile #please enjoy #my other fics havent been cullen centric enough for me lately #so i had to do something #twilight fic #twilight fan fiction #and thank you to the editing queen edwardsmate4ever for beta'ing for me #youre a queen

[beepboop358]

Anti-Byler Argument Refuttals

Although I discussed all of this in my Byler Proof master slides post, I wanted to do a separate post specifically just refutting the most common anti-byler arguments.

1. "Mike and El's relationship is too developed" and "They have been through too much together to break up now!"

This is probably the thing I hear the most when people argue that Byler will never happen. The weirdest part of this argument is that people assume that they will never drift apart, and that they will never ever break up, as if we didn't just see them drift apart, break up, and not officially get back together in S3? Yes, they have both been through a significant amount of trauma, but their relationship is not as developed as people think it is, they barely even know each other really. They spent a week together in S1, then El was gone for a year. Mike and El don't reunite until the very end of S2, probably a few days after halloween. If we work out the timeline between Halloween of 1984 and July 4th of 1985 in S3, that's 246 days, so it's actually less than a full year they have spent together, getting to know each other.

The “development” people argue that Mike and El have just doesn't stand up. Mike and El do not have intimate conversations, their conversations are incredibly awkward, and they just kiss frequently in the beginning of S3 before they break up. That's not development. Hopper even refers to their constant kissing as "not normal and not healthy." Mike couldn't tell El he loves her to her face, which is a parallel to the failed relationship of Stancy where Nancy couldn't tell Steve she loved him, and we later find out it's because she doesn't, which all happens during the blank makes you crazy scene that is extremely similar to Robin's coming out scene. And yes, Mike and El have endured a lot of trauma together, but so has the rest of the group and people don't seem to use this argument the same way with the other couples, or between the friendships. History doesn't determine the future if there's no feelings involved, things can always change. This is idea of staying in a relationship where there is no real love but there is history/benefits is hinted at in S3 when Mike dresses almost identically to both of his parents.

2. "Look at how much Mike cares for El! They're in love!"

No, they're not, and how they treat each other proves that they're not. I firmly believe neither Mike nor El is seriously, romantically in love with each other.

If Mike was really deeply, romantically in love with El, why did he treat her like he did in S3? If he really cares about her that much, why did he wait for Lucas to guide him at all times in matters regarding his relationship with El, instead of just taking initiative, but he does take initiative with Will? Why can't her apologize to her? Why wasn't Mike more upset about El dumping him? Why couldn't he tell El he loves her to her face? Why did he consistently lie to her throughout the whole show? Why did he stop calling her in S2? Why did he give up and say she was dead, but never gave up on Will? Why did he scream in her face in S1? And no - it isn't because he's just shy or awkward. Mike doesn't act like he is truly in love with El because he isn't. He is projecting his feelings for Will onto El, and he is deeply in denial about his sexuality due to his internalized homophobia and hasn't fully processed how he feels about Will throughout the series (up until the ending of S3). And why does Mike have such an odd reaction to El saying she loves him if he does love her? If he loves her that should be exactly what he wants to hear, so why does he look so confused and scared? And why doesn't he just say it back right then?

El isn't seriously, romantically in love with Mike. They meet in S1, and he immediately takes her in, saving her life. He looks out for her, and actually cares if she is okay, and no one has ever done that for her before. El was abused her whole childhood until Mike lets her live in his basement. He was the first person to treat her like a human being, and show her compassion, which she has never experienced before. It makes total sense that she would cling to their relationship like a security blanket. Mike is an emotional attachment for El. He makes her feel safe, because of how he saved her life previously. El has very limited knowledge of love, life, friendship, relationships, and social behaviors since she was locked in a lab for over a decade of her life, she was never truly exposed to these concepts like the other kids in the party were. Everything El thinks she knows about love she learns from watching soap opera's alone in Hopper's cabin. Of course her perception of what romantic love is, is warped. If El was seriously romantically in love with Mike, why was their break-up no big deal to her? Why was she smiling, laughing and looking at pictures of boys with Max right after she supposedly dumped the love of her life? Why did she not seem even the slightest bit upset about it the entire season?

If they're both seriously in love, then why are their interactions so awkward to watch and why does it feel so unnatural and forced? Why don’t Mileven’s interactions feel romantic? The official released scripts on 8flix describe several Mileven scenes as "awkward". It's no coincidence that detail was included in the script.

3. "But they already have Robin"

I mean this comment basically means that sense the show already has one confirmed lgbtq+ character, there can't possibly be any others. What?! There isn't a "one gay character limit per TV show". This comment really bothers me because it reeks of homophobia. If you don't ship Byler that's fine, but refusing to even explore the possibility there could be more than one lgtbq+ character in a TV show just because one already exists? Yeah no. Queer people existed in the 80's, definitely more than just one, so capping out the amount of queer characters in the show is just icky.

Also, Robin was not originally written to be a gay character. It was decided during the filming process that Robin should be a lesbian, because Maya Hawke and Joe Keery were not getting romantic vibes between their characters. Just because the show introduced a new gay character in S3, it does not mean the queercoding of Will and Mike is erased to make room for Robin, and keep Mileven together. Making Robin a lesbian, does not cancel out Mike and Will being gay/liking each other, and the show's future plans for byler.

4. "Mike's not gay."

Does this seem straight to you?

Giving your girlfriend a drawing of your male best friend, that was drawn by him, but telling her it's your drawing so she'll hang it up on the wall you coincidentally face while you make out with her, to remind you of him.

Taking your girlfriends hands off of you while you're making out with her, and keeping your hands folded in your lap away from her.

Only being able to apologize to said male best friend and being more emotionally invested in that relationship than your relationship with your girlfriend.

Mike is the only other person besides Will pictured in close up shots with rainbow and fruit imagery.

Even the die-hard Mileven fans have to admit that's more than a little coincidental, and if we know anything about the Duffer brothers, it's that they love incorporating intricate details in their show to reveal things about the characters/plot.

If you want more examples, some images, or just a more in-depth analysis of byler throughout the series, I suggest you check out my Byler Proof master slides :)

#byler #byler rights #byler proof #byler is canon #byler is real #byler is endgame #byler depression #byler obsessed #byler theory #byler analysis #byler evidence #byler moodboard #byler headcanon #eleven #el hopper #mike wheeler #mike wheeler is gay #will byers #will byers is gay #robin buckley #robin buckley is a lesbian #robin buckley is gay #the duffer brothers #strangers things #stranger things obsessed #stranger things analysis #stranger things 4 #stranger things theory #st4 #st4 theory

[beetsandskzreads]

silent bright summer night

bang chan x gn!reader, y/n works with skz and became their friend (the ultimate dream haha)

genre: tooth-rotening fluff, slight angst with a happy ending

notes/warnings: nothing intense, this is very fluffy, there's brief mentions of cheating, long distance, y/n's exes, fear of abandonment, slight insecurities, deep talks, reader and chan are slightly wine drunk, y/n and chan are whipped, y/n makes it explicit they want to date someone very warm and caring (aka chan), i don't think that's a warning tho djsjs just saying

scenario: on a balcony, at a beach apartment on a summer night of vacation, y/n opens up to chan about their past and current lovers. what y/n doesn't know is why chan is so interested listening to it.

It was 1:01 am when chan and I found ourselves in the balcony that overlooked the city and it's bright lights on a summer night. Skz had gone to sleep right after all of us came back from a night out of lots of fun, buying stuff on stores by the beach, having ice cream, seeing the view of the city lights reflecting on the sea water, appreciating street artists...

The two of us had been talking the whole evening, we hung out as a group but mostly just spoke to each other and laughed at the members jokes, both of us having a sparkle in our eye every time we saw the group happy. There was this unspoken pleasantness, a bliss, calmness in the air but with a lot of excitement. Chan was so happy to be around the sea with "the kids" as he refers to them and being at the beach almost 24/7 this week, it was like his natural habitat, his home, a comfort place. It left you feeling even softer for him, and as you shared your love for the sea, your feelings were at a peak. You liked Chan, and you loved this place as much as he did.

The night was so great, everyone was out like a lightweight as soon as we arrived to the vacation apartment we're in. Chan and I were testing the theory that a glass of wine would help us get drowsy and help us fall asleep as well, since we both have trouble falling asleep and felt nothing but a remaining excitement from the night out. It came to me especially because of the enthusiasm of talking to him, we were connecting so well, I didn't want this to ever end.

And so we drank (one glass quickly becoming the whole bottle) and we talked for what felt like hours on end, that neither of us wanted to cease.

- My ex best friend, she never quite knew how to choose guys, she always went for the ones that would never turn her way, the ones who obviously wouldn't care about her, not because of her, but because they were really careless guys, walking red flags. - I told him, I couldn't remember where exactly the conversation started but we were talking about nice people picking shitty people to date.

- What about you? - he asked

- Me? I barely even like guys, I mean I do, but I'm really picky actually, I don't allow myself to fall for cold people, I wouldn't forgive myself if I took interest in someone rude, I try so hard to take care of myself so I either stay alone that way or I find someone who makes me feel better, who knows how to take care of me, after all we chase happiness, I think a caring person could do that, someone gentle who isn't scared of emotions or who at least is open to face that fear with me by their side.

- I get it, it's hard to get by if you don't have emotional support, a partner should be able to provide that support, yeah. Did you ever... find someone like that?

- Yeah, in the past I did and even now I do know someone more than ideal... I guess my ex partners when I was young were going through a soft phase tho... I guess everyone has an emotional limit they were scared to cross... once I found that barrier the relationship stoped evolving, reached a dead end and so there was nothing left for me anymore and I left, plus, you know, cheating, long distance, a bunch of stuff really... it wasn't meant to be and I'm okay with that.

- What about that someone right now?

Silence ruled for about 3 seconds before I knew what to say. That someone right now is him. Ever since I've known him feels like he's the only man ever, but I don't think I'd tell him that, not soon anyways.

- What about 'em?

- What's that person like? What makes you trust they're any different from your exes?

- Sometimes I fear they're not, but I set the bar really high and I reset it constantly, to make sure I'm seeing it right, sometimes they seem so perfect to me that I wonder what good have i done in my past life to deserve to be around such a bright person. Of course they make mistakes too, but even the way they deal with them is so... mature, it's so easy to just solve things communicating, it's insane to me. Then I remember it's probably because they're eventually gonna leave me too, or just not reciprocate my feelings and after they break my heart I'll probably loose all hope in love, be heart broken for two years until I decide I'm gonna focus on myself again... it's a cycle after heartbreak, but with this person I'm really scared, because they mean more. I'm way too deep in before I've even expressed my feelings, it's gonna be devastating. - I'm rambling, the wine made me do it.

- What makes you think they wouldn't like you back tho?

- I'm not sure I just... it would be too good to be true and it's complicated... he's amazing and I'm just not sure if he'd be into me, I mean, I think I'm lovable and I think I'd be a great lover, I just don't know if I'm his type or if he'd consider me. We have a bit of an age gap, I'm not someone who's typically pretty or specially good looking, I have my charms but I have no idea if that's enough for him to be in love. It's complicated with each others work too... - I notice chan's gaze on me, he has his head leaned on his hand on the table and he's looking at me with bright eyes, eyes that look tired and a little drunk but somehow, he manages to look at me in a way that makes me feel adored, I don't know why you have to make me feel so much love, Bang Chan - Why are you looking at me like that?

- You have no idea how other people perceive you, do you? - he ignored your question, probably because of his drunk-ish drowsy state - Everyone I know likes you, see, you're a naturally kind and caring person, you're attentive to people's needs, you make sure everyone feels comfortable around you... that's so appreciated by everyone. I think you're exceptional y/n, you have this charismatic way of existing, a refreshing and comfy presence everyone can feel, but to me... it feels like home. You feel like home y/n. So... I have no idea who that person is but I sure as hell know they'd be more than lucky to have you as a partner and they're definitely dumb if they let you go.

- Are you dumb? - my heart's pounding quicker as I'm about to do something I didn't plan on doing ever.

- Huh? No, why w-

- Because that person is you... I like you, Chan. In a more-than-friends way - I interrupt him quickly before I lose my newly found courage.

Chan could've sworn his heart stopped for a few seconds. Suddenly sobriety hit him like a truck. It was the alcohol that made you say that, he thought, but he wished it was true and you didn't drink enough to be lying about this kind of stuff, you had a full on conversation and you seemed pretty sober.

- Y-y/n are you sober? - he tries to navigate through the situation.

- Oh my... yeah I am, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything, it just rolled out of my tongue. I'm sorry... - you said as you panicked and tried to go back inside, regret filling up all your organs.

"I messed up" your brain keeps repeating as desperation starts entering your body, until Chan grabbed your hand, stopping you from leaving.

- Wait! You don't need to apologize, I'm glad you told me... You didn't think I'd say all that about you if I didn't like you as well, did you? - he asks suggestively.

- I don't know - you blush as you realize what he's getting at - You're just so nice to everyone, I didn't make a big deal out of it.

- Well, you should've made it a big deal, the biggest deal actually because I've been trying really hard to show you how I feel these past few days and you were so clueless I thought you were purposefully ignoring the signs because you didn't like me back.

- I'm sorry Channie, I just didn't want to assume stuff and get heartbroken if it wasn't true.

-Well it is true, so you don't need to worry anymore. I really like you too, y/n. And I've wanted to say it for a while too, I was just wondering if it was a good idea since you work with us, but I can't contain my feelings anyways... you always treat me so softly and you look after the kids really well... It just feels like you were made to be by my side, you're the embodiment of the person I've always dreamed to be with, and these past few days with the kids and you... it just felt like we were the perfect family you know? I don't think I could be without you by my side anymore... - he stops, he's been staring at your eyes the whole time and now they're starting to water.

How could you not cry when he's saying the things you thought you'd only ever hear in dreams?

- Why are you crying sweetheart? - he whispered, as he wipes a tear with his thumb, the other hand holding your hand as he stands closer every second.

- It's just... I'm so... happy - you smile through your tears - I'm so happy to hear that, you said it in such a beautiful way too... I feel exactly the same, it's like I've gained a family with you guys but you... I've grown really attached to you, feels like some parts of you are tangled in my heart in ways I couldn't tear apart if I wanted to... I'm drawn to you and when I'm with you it's comfortable, blissful, it's right. You're so good to me, it's unbelievable, but it's true, and it warms my heart. - you say as your foreheads touch and your smile grows, his eyes showing so much adoration for you, you could melt.

Suddenly you share your first kiss together, a soft yet passionate mix of sensations, and it felt like everything you ever felt around Chan but better.

You stare into each other's eyes, smiling like the little lovely goofballs you both were, noses touching, ocasional little pecks filled with giggles because you were whipped for each other.

- So this means we're exclusive lovers now, yeah? - he asks with a blushing face, a very silent giggle and a huge, uncontrollable smile.

- Definitely, yeah - you answer biting your lip until eventually you let out the largest smile you ever had.

Needless to say, you didn't leave that balcony to go to sleep that evening. In fact, you two watched the sunrise kissing and cuddling, talking about the feelings you had for each other, when they started, why you liked each other, covered by a blanket, not wanting to let go of each other now that you were openly romantic.

Han found you both sound asleep, you on chan's lap, head on his neck as his arms wrapped around you gently, on a chair in the middle of the morning. He obviously called all the members to watch you two as they assumed you two finally got together. All of them saw it coming, Chan wouldn't shut up about you and had written what could be an entire album about you.

They were happy at least you'd be around more often to cook your delicious food. And you both blushed really hard once you woke up to lot's of teasing from the kids, it was fine tho, you liked it just like this, it was home.

#skz fluff #chan fluff #bang chan scenarios #bang chan oneshot #bang chan imagine #bang chan fluff #stray kids oneshot #stray kids fluff #bang chan angst #chan angst #skz oneshots #skz angst

[nastybuckybarnes]

Joke’s on You

Pairing: Bucky X Reader

Summary: Bucky’s fuckboy tendencies get the better of him. But you show him you’re not gonna be tossed around like a toy. This time, he gets the shit end of the stick.

Warnings: Language, Angst, Smut, Fighting, Angst, 

Word Count: 4.3K

A/N: Okay fellas. Here she is. The third instalment of Gangsta. Now, this one can be read in the series or as a standalone. Based on Charlotte Lawerence’s ‘Joke’s on You’ (Both regular and acoustic.) and also on Love the Way you Lie obvi cause angst and toxic relationships hehe. I’ve got the next part almost fully written and lemme warn y’all, it’s a tearjerker. So good luck!

Gangsta

I see Red

Jokes On You

Habits (Coming soon)

~*~

“Hey, Steve.” He nods at you, arm resting on the back of the seat just behind your shoulders. “Waitin’ for him?” You nod, lips pursed as you cross your arms on the table.

The club is loud, music thumping under your feet and people chattering all around you. Your eyes scour the club, looking for James.

You feel Steve stiffen a moment before you find him, and then you realize why Steve reacted the way he did.

Bucky’s standing at the bar, flirting and chatting up a busty brunette waitress. You grind your teeth together, watching the way he looks her up and down.

“I’m sure he’s just being friendly?” Steve offers, cringing when you turn your glare on him.

“That’s the problem. If I ever get that friendly with a guy I’ll never hear the end of it. I fucking hate that this is such a double standard. I’m not gonna just sit around and watch him get with random bitches. Not anymore.” You make to stand up, halting when Steve grabs your hand.

“At least dance with me. Not someone that he’s gonna kill for no reason.” You ponder this, glancing over to your boyfriend once more and making your mind up quickly. The brunette is leaning in, her lips almost touching his face.

You grab Steve’s hand and haul him towards the dance floor, ignoring the way you can feel Bucky’s eyes on you. You spin around in Steve’s arms, pressing your back against his front and moving your hips against him.

He grips your waist, his head resting over your shoulder, lips just barely brushing the shell of your ear.

You slowly open your eyes, looking over to where Bucky’s sitting, his jaw clenched and his eyes focused on you.

The waitress is gone for the moment, but two glasses sit on the counter beside him, one of them stained with red lipstick.

He raises his eyebrows at you and you cock your head to the side before reaching over your shoulder and grabbing a handful of Steve’s hair. Bucky’s eyes flash a warning at him and you only roll your eyes in return, before tugging Steve’s head down and craning your neck back to smash your lips against his.

He’s stunned for a minute, before kissing you back with passion, his teeth grazing over your bottom lip. His hands trail up your body, cupping your breasts through the thin material of your dress and groping them roughly.

You pull away after a moment, panting hard. When you open your eye they immediately flicker to Bucky, a frown crossing your face when you see him once again talking to the brunette.

Huffing a frustrated breath, you tug out of Steve’s arms and strut over to the bar, smiling sweetly at your boyfriend.

He hardly glances at you, only giving you attention when you clear your throat.

“I uh... I should get back to my table,” the waitress says, smiling at Bucky before walking away. His eyes stay on her backside and you scoff.

“Really, James?” He shrugs, playing it cool when all he wants to do is bend you over the counter and fuck you until the only thing you remember is his name.

“Yeah. Maybe don’t come home tonight. She and I are really hitting it off. She’s got a tongue stud and said she’d let me see her nipple rings.”

You scoff again, shaking your head at him.

“Yeah, whatever. When you’re done being a prick let me know. I’m staying with Steve tonight. Maybe when you grow up a bit and can talk about whatever doubts you’re having about our relationship, then I’ll come home. But not before then.”

He watches you walk away, his heart aching and his mind racing. He doesn’t want to let you get away, but he has no choice. He can’t need you. He doesn’t want to need you. And yet here he is, needing you.

You walk up to Steve, your anger evident on your face.

“He being a dick again?” He asks, shaking his head in disappointment.

“Of fucking course he is! When is he not? God, sometimes I forget why we got together.” Steve chuckles, his hands holding your waist. “Because you guys are a match made in heaven? C’mon. I’ll take you home. I’m sure he’s just gonna get shitfaced then bum a ride from some poor defenceless college kid.” You nod, taking a deep breath but deciding that Steve’s probably right.

As you’re turning to the door, you see none other than your boyfriend leaving, one hand on the ass of the waitress as the two of them leave the club together.

“Jesus Christ he’s leaving with her,” you hiss, turning to glare at Steve.

“He’s an idiot. I’ll take you home.” You shake your head, determined to make a point.

“No. Take me to your place. He gets to go with a random bitch, fine. I’m going home with someone else too.” Steve sighs, knowing better than to argue with you when you’re in a mood like this.

The ride to his house is silent, the tension thick in the car as you stew in your anger.

Too many times has Bucky done this, pushed you away and fucked other girls, only to get mad at you whenever you attempt to do the same.

Fucking random guys would only get them killed, exactly how Steve said, however, Bucky cares too much about his best friend to kill him. Beat him to a pulp? Sure. But Bucky could never kill Steve.

As soon as you’re in Steve’s apartment you’re on him, mouth pressed tightly against his and hands pushing his jacket off of his shoulders. He pauses for a moment, pulling away to look at you carefully.

“Are you sure you wanna do this? You know he’s gonna find out.” You roll your eyes and step out of your dress, kicking it aside and standing bare in front of the blond.

“He can go fuck himself after fucking that waitress. If he does. And if he doesn't then he’ll finally know how I’ve felt all those times when he’s come home smelling like another woman.” Steve ponders this for a moment longer before grabbing you by the waist and pulling you tight against his body.

His kisses are fierce, all teeth and tongue and power and you allow yourself to get lost in the feeling. All thoughts of Bucky are shoved aside. He’s not a priority to you tonight.

No. The only thing on your mind is revenge.

And by God does Steve make it taste sweet.

~*~

Your head is pounding and you swear you feel like you’ve swallowed sand.

The sound of a door opening makes you pry your lids open, glancing over to the sound. Steve offers you a smile, a glass of water and a couple of pills in his hands.

You sit up and rub your face before grabbing the water and painkillers, downing them both quickly then groaning.

“Where’s my phone?” You croak, holding your hand out expectantly.

Steve hesitates and you feel the atmosphere change. You lift your head and look at him, brows drawn together.

“Give it to me now.” He sighs and pulls your phone out of his back pocket, tossing it over to you.

You catch it effortlessly, turning it on while your heart beats in your throat.

Your world crumbles slightly at the sight of your lock screen.

Zero notifications from him.

Not a text.

Not one single phone call.

Nothing.

You grind your teeth together and toss the blankets off of yourself, marching over to Steve’s dresser and grabbing a pair of his sweatpants and a t-shirt that’s at least two sizes too small for him.

“Give me your keys,” you demand, marching out of the room with murder on your mind.

Steve grabs your arm but you yank out of his grip.

“Think about what you’re doing before you do it, (Y/n). Please.” You take a few deep breaths then shake your head.

“I’m just gonna go talk to him. If he’s not serious about us then neither am I. I just want to see...” You trail off and Steve sighs, handing you the keys to his Ferrari.

“If you so much as scratch the paint I’ll-” “Yeah, yeah you’ll kill me I know. It’s fine I’ll just buy you a new one.”

You’re out the door before he can say anything else, keys jammed in the car’s ignition.

Steve would have a heart attack if he saw the way you were treating his baby.

And he would die on the spot if he saw the way you drove.

By the time you’re outside the apartment you and Bucky share, you’ve had some time to cool down.

That doesn't stop you from grabbing a knife out of the glove box though.

You hold it loosely in your dominant hand as you walk into the building then up through the elevator, the trip taking far more time than usual.

But then you’re outside of your apartment, ready to have a serious conversation about where the two of you stand with regards to your relationship.

You unlock the door and push your way into the apartment, stopping right in the doorway when you see not one but two people in your home.

A piece of your heart shatters and any semblance of composure is left a step behind you.

Bucky looks like a deer in headlights, his mind foggy, but yours is working just as well as it usually does, if not better.

The waitress from the night before stands before you in your boyfriend’s shirt, a confused look on her face.

You hold the knife tighter in your grasp and pounce, the blade just nicking her throat before Bucky yanks her out of the way.

She lets out a terrified scream, stumbling to the ground and scrambling away from you.

Before you can get her again Bucky’s got your arms pinned to your sides, his metal arm holding tightly to the arm that has the knife.

“Grace, you should probably leave,” He says softly, his eyes focused on the look of pure betrayal on your face.

The waitress gets up and gathers her things quickly, her eyes on you.

You eye her with nothing but pure hatred in your gaze, straining against his hold.

He doesn’t loosen his grip until she’s safely out the door, only then does he let you go.

But what a mistake.

Your anger is now directed at him and you swipe your blade up at him, catching the apple of his cheek and leaving an angry red slice across his pretty face.

“Fuck!” He jumps back, one hand coming up to the wound while the other extends defensively in front of himself.

You don’t follow him like he thought you would. No, instead you toss the knife aside and turn away from him.

He’s utterly confused at your behaviour. It’s not like anything you’ve ever done before.

He was prepared for anger, for wrath like no other. But this? This is new territory and he hates that.

You pour yourself a glass of whiskey and bring it over to the couch, plopping down and grabbing your phone out of your pocket. Bucky approaches you slowly as if you’re an animal ready to lash out at any moment. But you don’t.

“Baby?”  He asks softly, waiting for the anger.

But he gets nothing in reply.

“I’d be using my time more wisely if I were you,” you say stoically, eyes on your phone as you fight tears.

“W-what do you mean?” He’s never felt genuine fear for his life before now.

“You have twenty-eight minutes left to get your shit and get out. Whatever’s left after that is getting burned. If you’re still here then you will also be on that list of things that will be getting burned.”

He’s shocked.

“What do you mean?” He repeats, taking a few hesitant steps closer to your figure. The way that you stay so unbothered, eyes on your phone as if he means nothing to you, it’s beyond concerning.

“I’m not going to repeat myself. It’s up to you if you want to take me seriously or not.” He’s not sure what to do, but he knows that he pushed you too far, if only from the way that you don’t give a single fuck about him.

“I-I’m sorry,” he tries, voice low and hands raised in surrender and fear, hoping to appeal to your human side.

Unfortunately for him, your human side is long gone.

“Mhm,” is all you say in reply, taking another sip of your drink and trying to remember where you keep the propane.

He starts moving then, packing up a bag that’s enough to last him a few days. He’s not sure if he should believe that you’ll actually burn his things, but he grabs all his valuables just in case.

The remaining twenty-five minutes go by far too quickly, and then he’s standing at the door, watching you rise to your feet with the utmost grace.

He watches as you start gathering up little knickknacks, stray socks and books of his, a bunch of pictures, a set of ridiculously expensive champagne glasses, and the necklace he got you for your last birthday. You toss it all into a cardboard box then head into the next room to gather more things.

His curiosity and want to preserve what little he can of the relationship gets the better of him and he hesitantly creeps his way over to the box, grabbing the pictures and the necklace.

A bullet narrowly misses his hand and he almost drops his belongings in his haste to get out of the line of fire, but you’ve got the barrel pointed directly at him again, finger hovering dangerously over the trigger.

“I told you: half an hour. You’re done. Get out. If I ever see you again, I’ll kill you.” He says nothing. Instead, he grabs his belongings and leaves without so much as a second glance.

~*~

“Have you tried talking to her? She seemed pretty pissed when she left my place.” Bucky glares at his friend, “You fucking asshole, don’t even try to give me advice, you’re the one who ruined this in the first place.”

Steve raises his brows and downs his scotch then actually laughs at his friend, the sound getting slightly drowned out by the noises in the bar

“Do I need to remind you who left the club first? You took that waitress home before (Y/n) and I even left. That’s the only reason I took her home. She would’ve fucked anybody in that club and then you would’ve gone and made a mess that I would’ve had to clean up. I took her home cause you and I both know I’ll take good care of her and won’t treat her like shit. She deserves the world, Buck, and you treat her like a piece of garbage.”

The brunet is silent as his friend tells him what he knows is true but really just doesn’t want to accept.

“That woman loves you, Buck. To the moon and back. With her whole fucking heart and soul and you stomp on it every damn chance you get. If she wasn’t so damn in love with you, I’d take her out. Wine and dine her real nice, just how she deserves. I’d show her what it’s like to be loved.”

The glass shatters in the brunet’s hand as he listens to his best friend talk about the way he’d treat the woman he loves.

“I get it! I’m a fucking idiot. I’ll go talk to her.” He drops a couple of bills on the table then marches out of the bar, trying to keep his composure and his confidence on the drive to the apartment.

He’s not sure what he’s going to say, but he knows he needs to apologize. He needs to tell you that he loves you and that you’re the only one he wants.

Hesitant knuckles knock against the door and he feels stupid. It’s his place too.

When he gets no reply he pushes the door open, his stomach dropping and his heart clenching tight in his chest.

It’s empty.

No furniture, no decorations, and not one single sign of you.

“(Y/n)?!” He calls, hand darting to the gun tucked into his pants as he explores the empty penthouse.

“(Y/n)?” His voice is softer but more desperate, the reality of the situation hitting him like a punch in the gut.

You’re gone.

He lost you. And he’s not sure if he’s gonna be able to get you back.

~*~

You shoulder your way into the tiny shithole that you’re calling home, brows drawn together and shoulders heavy with exhaustion.

“Love the new place.” You’ve got a gun raised and aimed at the voice, heart racing in your chest at the fact that you didn’t even realize they were here.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” You demand, not lowering your weapon as you walk into the living room.

He’s seated on the couch, eyes staring straight through the window across from him.

“You left,” is all he says.

You want to scoff.

Scratch that; you want to shout. To yell and scream and beat him to a bloody pulp. You want to ask him why. Why he hurt you so badly and why he acts like he did nothing.

Instead, you walk past him and set your gun on the table.

“Why did you leave?” His voice is closer than before, his feet silent as they carry him towards you. You’re in your bedroom, raking your hands through your hair as you try to handle the situation.

“Why?” He asks again, two metal fingers just hardly brushing against your bicep. You yank yourself away from him, eyes full of rage and betrayal as you glare at him.

“Don’t you fucking dare touch me! You have no fucking right!” He takes a moment to look you over, a frown on his face as he sees how upset you are.

This isn’t how this usually goes. Usually, the two of you shout and scream at each other, then fuck all the anger out.

But not this time.

No, this time it’s different. Because there’s more than just anger on your face.

The look of pain, of absolute agony on your face, has his heart shattering in his chest.

“Doll... I’ll never be able to apologize for what I did. I just...”  “You just what, Bucky?” You never call him that. Exhaustion laces your voice and your shoulders slump forward.

“You just what? You wanted to hurt me again? Well congrats, you did a great job. Now please leave. I don't want to see you. Not now and not ever fucking again.” He shakes his head as you turn away from him again.

“No, no you don’t mean that. We’re good together. We’re so fucking good together. You’re the Lois Lane to my Superman. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted.”

His words are dripping with desperation and truth. He’s scared, terrified that this is the end. But he’s talked you back before, he can do it again.

“I’ve been hurt before, Buck. And when I saw... that... it felt like there was a knife in my fucking throat. Like someone was stabbing me in the chest and in the back all at the same time. I couldn’t breathe and I couldn’t fight. And you know what? I’m done fighting. I’m done fighting you, I’m done fighting for you and, I’m so fucking done fighting for us. It’s not worth it anymore.”

He shakes his head but you continue, not giving him a moment to speak.

“We’re not good together. We’re toxic. We’re so fucking toxic but you love it. You love that I hate you because I always come crawling back. You never let me leave, you’ve never ever told me you loved me. It’s always been me. I was the only one who ever tried to salvage our relationship and I’m done doing that.”

He shakes his head, swallowing the sorrow and bile in his throat at the way your voice breaks, the way you crack and splinter and shatter right before his very own eyes.

And it’s his fault. He caused this. He's the one who hurt you.

“Doll I love you. So fucking much. I feel so fucking ashamed for everything I’ve done and the way that I’ve acted.” You scoff, shaking your head at him, “as you fucking should. I’m not going to comfort you. You see me crumbling, see me in pain, and all you've ever done is stand by and watch the show. I won’t let you. Not anymore.”

You sniffle and scrub a tear off of your cheek, your voice shaking as you start speaking again.

“I love you. So much that I can fucking hardly breathe when I’m with you. And when I fell in love with you... it hit me out of the blue. Out of fucking nowhere. I never wanted t-to hurt you or to make you upset. Now I can’t even look at you. You said you’d be my ride or die but you have never been there when I’ve needed you.”

His eyes are red-rimmed and his heart is in his stomach. This isn’t happening. It can’t be happening.

“B-But I can change. Just give me another chance, please, doll. I swear things will be different this time.”

You shake your head angrily, furious that you’re having to have this conversation with him.

“No! You don’t get it! You don’t get another chance, this isn’t a game! You lied again and now you’re going to fucking watch me walk out of your life and I’m not going to fucking look back!”

“Baby, please. Just... I just... I need you so much. I know I wasn’t there for you and I know it wasn’t you and it was me but your temper’s just as bad as mine is and we’re both stubborn as hell and so fucking crazy. Our relationship isn’t as bad as it seems and I love you too much for you to walk away. Come home, we can try again.”

You’re crying now, arms crossed tightly over your chest in a pathetic attempt at protecting yourself

“You’re a broken record, Bucky. Playing the same damn thing over and over again. You don’t mean a word you’re saying.”

He winds up and his fist slams into the wall, a large hole gaping in the drywall.

There goes your damage deposit.

Tears are streaking down his face and his chest is heaving as emotions wrack through his body, tearing him limb from limb and setting him on fire.

“You’re not even listening to me! Don't you hear the sincerity in my voice! I told you this was my fault! I know it’s all my fault! Next time-”

“Next time?!” You actually laugh, though the two of you know there’s no humour behind it. “You don’t get a ‘next time’! We’re done! We’re fucking done!”

“No! You’re not listening to me! All I want is to have you back home! I’m tired of these fucking games! Come home!”

He reaches for you, hands grasping your waist, and you shimmy out of his grip and back up in the bedroom, absolutely fuming at the audacity this man has.

“This isn’t a fucking game, James! If you ever come near me again I will tie you to that fucking bed and set this place on fire! I will show you exactly how you’ve made me felt and by the end of it you’ll be begging me to kill you!”

The two of you stand facing off with each other, tears falling and eyes narrowed, but you won’t give in.

Not this time.

After a few very long minutes his shoulders sag and his entire demeanour changes as he accepts defeat. As he realizes that you’re not giving in this time.

He lost.

He lost you.

“Alright. If that’s what you want, fine.” He turns around and walks towards the front door, each step sending a sharp fiery pain through his chest.

He hesitates when he gets to the door, eyes squeezed shut as he waits, hopes, and prays for you to stop him.

But you say nothing. You only watch him, wait for him to leave and take all his lies and deceit away.

He pulls the door open, steps through, and turns around, red eyes focused solely on you.

You muster up your courage and take calculated steps through the apartment towards the front door.

His heart jumps up into his throat, lips parting to apologize and to thank you for giving him another chance, but he doesn’t get a word out.

No, you close the door in his face and leave him standing alone on the other side, your decision having been made.

His movements are mechanical as he makes his way to his car, keys in the ignition and foot on the gas.

It can’t be real.

It can’t be.

He finds himself back in your old apartment, eyes on the absolute nothingness, a perfect representation of your relationship.

A strangled sob leaves his lips, and then another one. And another until they’re consuming him and he’s on the floor, unable to breathe or move.

No, he curls up in the fetal position, hunched in on himself, and screams your name. He curses himself, his friends, his stupidity.

He deserves this. He knows that.

He’s a lost cause.

Loving him was a mistake on your part.

But that doesn’t make the hurt go away.

Fuck, he wants the hurt to go away.

#bucky x reader #bucky x reader dark fic #bucky x reader dark au #Bucky Barnes x reader #bucky/reader #bucky/you #dark au #dark fic #bucky smut #bucky x reader smut #bucky x reader angst #Bucky Barnes angst #Steve Rogers x reader smut #Steve Rogers x reader angst #Bucky Barnes fanfiction

[theartofdreaming1]

Slightly paraphrased, but Peeta talking about that moment he developed his crush on Katniss is just too sweet 😊

As usual, my thoughts regarding this week’s prompts and random thoughts on chapters 22-24 are below the cut (sprinkled in some psychology thoughts again).

heart

Honestly, I think the people in Panem would perceive the whole everlark storyline the same way we perceive and react to our ships on tv (desperately wanting to reach through the screen, shoving the characters forcefully together, screaming “And now, kiss!”); especially the Capitolites who barely recognize the tributes (or people in the districts, in general) as people. The people in the districts would definitely view the whole thing more under a “reality tv” kind of lens, questioning how much of the relationship is real or not (we know that Finnick certainly thought that the entire thing was just a spiel, until Peeta hit that forcefield). The time spent in the cave must have been pretty convincing, though.

mind

I think that Katniss is still torn here - On the one hand, she kind of wants to believe that Peeta is actually into her (remember the happiness she felt when Peeta told her how his crush on her began, and it all added up and seemed so real), but on the other hand she’s terrified of that possibility because A) lingering trauma from her mom’s depression in response the Mr. Everdeen’s death, B) Katniss never even considered falling in love, so that’s a sudden unexpected thing to deal with, and C) maybe it’s just for the sake of the Games; and wouldn’t that hurt, getting your hopes up only to learn it was only for show? (How about we ask Peeta about that?)

soul

Yeah, that quote about Peeta only eating stale bread also struck me as quite sad. It just further adds to his understanding how there should be more to life than just survival, though. (One day, I’ll make that post about Peeta, Katniss, and Maslow’s pyramid of needs, I swear! I’ve already gathered some research material)

Chapter 22

My mother’s hand strokes my cheek and I don’t push it away as I would in wakefulness, never wanting her to know how much I crave that gentle touch. How much I miss her even though I still don’t trust her. - Ugh, I can’t... Katniss misses her mom, misses being cared for😢 I’m so glad we’re going to see her patch up her relationship with her mom in CF... On a different note, Katniss craving that gentle touch just perfectly illustrates why she’s so drawn to Peeta, who is generally such a gentle soul (I mean, he’s literally the person stroking her cheek here 😊)

He [Peeta] doesn’t seem angry about my tricking him, drugging him, and running off to the feast. Maybe I’m just too beat-up and I’ll hear about it later when I’m stronger. But for the moment, he’s all gentleness. - As I was saying... 😉

“I’ll go hunting soon,” I say. “Not too soon, all right?” he says. “You just let me take care of you for a while.” - I love them so much😊🥰 And then Peeta makes sure she’s well-fed and hydrated, he rubs her cold feet and tucks her into the sleeping back... and she let’s him! 💗

“He [Thresh] let you go because he didn’t want to owe you anything?” asks Peeta in disbelief. “Yes. I don’t expect you to understand it. You’ve always had enough. But if you’d lived in the Seam, I wouldn’t have to explain,” I say. “And don’t try. Obviously I’m too dim to get it,” he says. - Oof. This exchange here is interesting in many ways: 1) it highlights their different experiences, tied to their different socioeconomic backgrounds, basically, and 2)  that Katniss is very much aware of this difference, but we also see hints of her own ignorance here - because Peeta didn’t have to starve in his childhood, she thinks that he can’t possibly understand this level of hardship; but there are other ways in which one can suffer/lack fundamental needs, which brings us to 3) Peeta’s response about being “obviously too dim to get it”; I think this is a clue to his mom being also verbally abusive towards him: she called him “stupid creature” when he burnt those loaves of bread for Katniss and when he’s losing it in the attic of the Justice Building in D11 in CF he is mad that Katniss and Haymitch keep things from him “like [he’s] too inconsequential or stupid or weak to handle them”, which - to me - sounds like he’s tired of being treated that way (i.e. the way his mother treats him)

“I want to go home, Peeta,” I say plaintively, like a a small child. - God, this is a teenager in a murder-arena who feels like wanting to go home is a childish notion instead of a totally legitimate wish for anyone in that situation, regardless of age 😢

It’s not that Peeta’s soft exactly, and he’s proved he’s not a coward. But there are things you don’t question too much, I guess, when your home always smells like baking bread, whereas Gale questions everything. What would Peeta think of the irreverent banter that passes between us as we break the law each day? Would it shock him? The things we say about Panem? Gale’s tirades against the Capitol? - Geez, Katniss, give Peeta some credit here! A) It’s not like Peeta can walk around District 12 talking publicly about the injustices happening there - she and Peeta hadn’t even talked with each other before the reaping, whereas Gale is her best friend who rants to her while they are outside the confines of D12 and B) Peeta is literally the one who introduced the whole “not a piece in their Games”-idea to her; why would he be clutching his pearls over Katniss and Gale’s irreverent banter?! Just because Peeta didn’t live on the brink of starvation (she again brings up how his house smells like bread and - at this point - still thinks that the family running the bakery actually gets to eat what they produce just like that), doesn’t mean he doesn’t see how shitty life in D12 is - he can still want better conditions for those who are worse off than him!

“I did do the right thing,” I say. “No! Just don’t, Katniss!” His grip tightens, hurting my hand, and there’s real anger in his voice. “Don’t die for me. You won’t be doing me any favors. All right?” - Well, we’ll see this song and dance again in CF...

And while I was talking, the idea of actually losing Peeta hit me again and I realized how much I don’t want him to die. [...] And it’s not about what will happen back home. And it’s not just that I don’t want to be alone. It’s him. I do not want to lose the boy with the bread.” - I wish CF Katniss would remember this moment when she is questioning her motives about saving Peeta’s life in the arena - You. Care. For. This. Boy! You. Value. Him. For. Who. He. Is!!!

This is the first kiss that we’re both fully aware of. [...] This is the first kiss where I actually feel stirring inside my chest. Warm and curious. This is the first kiss that makes me want another. - Whoo! Is it hot in here or is it just me? 😉

I’m struck by his immediacy now. As we settle in, he pulls my head down to use his arm as a pillow; the other rests protectively over me even when he goes to sleep. No one has held me like this in such a long time. Since my father died and I stopped trusting my mother, no one else’s arms have made me feel this safe. - He makes her feel safe in a murder-arena!!! 😭 This is the kind of stuff that makes everlark just a top tier romance, tbh

Peeta telling Katniss about his crush starting on their first day of school 🥰😭 - and her reaction to it... For a moment, I’m almost foolishly happy - yes, because you have a crush on him, too! - and then confusion sweeps over me. Because we’re supposed to be making up this stuff [...] So, if those details are true... could it all be true? - YESSSSSSSS!!!

“You have a... remarkable memory, “ I say haltingly. - as a severely socially awkward person... I felt that lame response in my bones 😅

“You don’t have much competition anywhere.” And this time, it’s me who leans in. - God, this would be such an amazing moment if it didn’t get tainted by that immediate sponsor gift, which just serves to muddle Katniss’s feelings with her sense of survival, further complicating her relationship with Peeta... *sigh* 

Chapter 23

“What was that you were saying just before the food arrived? Something about me... no competition... best thing that ever happened to you...” “I don’t remember that last part,” I say, hoping it’s too dim in here for the cameras to pick up my blush. “Oh, that’s right. That’s what I was thinking,” he says. - Peeta is the master of being a cheeky little shit and adorable flirt at the same time

“So, since we were five, you never even noticed any other girls?” I ask him. “No, I noticed just about every girl, but none of them made a lasting impression but you,” he says. - I appreciate that while Peeta has had a crush on Katniss forever, he clearly didn’t spend the entire time pining after her, oblivious to the rest of the world - he has a life outside of Katniss Everdeen, but ultimately, it all lead back to her

A disturbing thought hits me. “But then, our only neighbor will be Haymitch!” “Ah, that’ll be nice,” says Peeta, tightening his arms around me. “You and me and Haymitch. Very cozy. Picnics, birthdays, long winter nights around the fire retelling old Hunger Games tales.” “I told you, he hates me!” I say, but I can’t help laughing at the image of Haymitch becoming my new pal. - Laugh all you want, this is going to end up being your future anyway 😄

He [Haymitch]’s at something of a disadvantage because most mentors have a partner, another victor to help them whereas Haymitch has to bready to go into action at any moment. Kind of like me when I was alone in the arena. I wonder how he’s holding up, with the drinking, the attention, and the stress of tring to keep us alive. - Katniss is already worrying about her “new pal”, I see ;)

Maybe he [Haymitch] wasn’t always a drunk. Maybe, in the beginning, he tried to help the tributes. But then it got unbearable. It must be hell to mentor two kids and then watch them die. - Honestly, that sounds absolutely awful...

Poor, Katniss, when she learns of Thresh’s death :( - But no one will understand my sorrow at Thresh’s murder. - It’s horrible how compassion and basic human decency gets construed as ‘weakness’ in the world of Hunger Games (esp. the Capitol)

Then I escape into sleep, comforted by a full belly and the steady warmth of Peeta beside me. - Honestly, I think a word analysis of THG-series could be interesting; how often does Katniss mention “warmth”, “steady/steadiness” “safe/safety/security” in connection with “Peeta”?

“We make a goat cheese and apple tart at the bakery,” he says. “Bet that’s expensive,” I say. “Too expensive for my family to eat. Unless it’s gone very stale. Of course, practically everything we eat is stale,” says Peeta [...] Huh. I always assumed the shopkeepers live a soft life. And it’s true, Peeta has always had enough to eat. But there’s something kind of depressing about living your life on stale bread - Katniss is starting to realize that the lives of the merchants isn’t a cushy as she thought; also, in a way, we see a “prettier” version of how Panem treats the districts overall -> feeding the districts just enough that they can do their work (plus/minus a couple of people who’ll die of starvation, but at a small, for Capitolites insignificant margin), but not so much that they are in good shape to rebel; here, the merchants of D12 have just enough that they can live a “decent” life (they know it could be worse -> the Seam), but they don’t have enough to live a free, comfortable, self-determined life either. This also just further drives a wedge between the inhabitants of D12 (the merchants won’t want to rebel because they don’t want to get ‘demoted’ in their lifestyle, starving like the people from the Seam, and the Seam folk feel resentful towards the merchant people, while also not having the resources to rebel, due to their awful socioeconomic conditions)

What would be my life like on a daily basis? Most of it has been consumed with the acquisition of food. Take that away and I’m not really sure who I am, what my identity is. - It’s so sad who Katniss has been so consumed with ensuring that her most base needs are fulfilled that she barely has had the time to really figure out who she is and what she wants from life (If we’re talking Maslow’s pyramid of needs, Katniss would primarily be stuck on the lowest tier 😢)

At least, we’ll be friends, I think. Nothing will change the fact that we’ve saved each other’s lives in here. And beyond that, he will always be the boy with the bread. Good friends. - Honestly, Katniss counting on being good friends with Peeta after the Games is the highest honor she can bestow on him at that moment (she’s so into him, lol); of course, knowing that their relationship is going to be a bit rocky once they’ve come back makes this thought a little sad... but we also know they’ll make up (and out ;) in the future

Peeta licking his plate and blowing a kiss out to Effie is such an adorable goofball-moment 😊

I cover his mouth with my hand, but I’m laughing. “Stop! Cato could be right outside our cave.” He grabs my hand away. “What do I care? I’ve got you to protect me now,” says Peeta, pulling me to him. - This moment would be so cute (also, Peeta’s so confident in Katniss’s skills to protect him, which is adorable - toxic masculinity who?) but... Ugh, he’s just so giddy here, it kind of breaks my heart for when he learns later that (at least some) of Katniss’s reactions were just for show

“If we want food, we better head back up to my old hunting grounds,” I say. “Your call, Just tell me what you need me to do,” Peeta says. - Love how Peeta’s always ready to follow Katniss’s lead :)

Ideally, I’d dump Peeta now with some simple root-gathering chore and go hunt [...] “Katniss,” he says. “We need to split up. I know I’m chasing away the game.” [...] “Show me some plants to gather and that way we’ll both be useful.” - Teamwork! If it weren’t for Katniss worrying for Peeta’s safety, they’d be on the same page here

“What if you climbed up in a tree and acted as a lookout while I haunted?” I say, trying to make it sound like very important work. “What if you show me what’s edible around here and go get us some meat?” he says, mimicking my tone. - I really like how Peeta’s challenges Katniss here; he doesn’t just go along with everything she says, while still being quite reasonable

I feel like I’m eleven, again, tethered not to the safety of the fence but to Peeta, allowing myself twenty, maybe thirty yards of hunting space. [...] I allow myself to drift farther away, and soon have two rabbits and a fat squirrel to show for it. - I don’t know, but Katniss feeling tethered to Peeta makes me think of Mary Ainsworth’s attachment theory, according to which children with a secure attachment to their primary caregiver use  their “attachment figure as a safe base to explore the environment”... Of course, Ainsworth’s Strange Situation was conducted with young children, but attachment styles are supposed to influence the relationships we form with people in our later lives as well (including romantic relationships)... I dunno, just a random association that popped into my brain 😅

Chapter 24

Peeta’s a whiz with fires, coaxing a blaze out of the damp wood. - Heh, Peeta sure knows how to handle fire, huh, Katniss (or should I say: Girl on Fire?) 😏

I order him into the sleeping bag and set aside the rest of his food for him when he wakes. He drops off immediately. I pull the sleeping bag up to his chin and kiss his forehead, not for the audience, but for me. Because I’m so greateful that he’s still here, not dead by the stream as I’d thought.  - Aww, this is so sweet (and domestic)!

It’s funny. I feel almost as if it’s the first day of the Games again. That I’m in the same position. [...] But no, there’s the boy waiting beside me. I feel his arms wrap around me. - They are a team! Katniss doesn’t have to face the horrors of the Games alone anymore! It keeps boiling down to this.

#thgagain #thg #hunger games #katniss everdeen #peeta mellark #thg meta #my sketches and drawings #everlark