#it was either a success or a horrible disaster

[inbarfink]

I mean, the thing about Zim is that despite what he might say, he is absolutely capable of love and affection. It’s just that he only expresses it to a very select assortment of people.

First and most obvious one is probably his relationship with the Tallests. Which tends to be a lot less just a ‘loyal soldier duty bound to serve his leaders” and is coded a lot more like…. “Child overeager to please his neglectful parents”. I mean, the entire emotional crux of ‘Enter the Florpus’ is built on this. 

Zim isn’t just motivated by a pure ideological belief in the Irken Empire’s conquest, or by the desire for the fame and accolades that come with being a successful Invader. I mean, those ARE factors. Zim is both a true believer in Irk’s imperialist ideology and very interested in feeding his ego. But he’s also looking for a more personal sort of emotional validation specifically from the Tallests. One that he’s desperate for, but we know that he’s never gonna get.

(And that’s not just because Zim sucks. Even if he could somehow stop being a walking disaster area and a giant millstone around the Empire’s neck, that desire for the Tallests’ love would still be a fool’s errand. We’ve all seen how they treat poor Skoodge.)

In addition to that doomed attempt at an emotional connection, Zim can sometimes be kinda affectionate with his various robotic minions, which obviously goes back to the whole…

Yeah, that.

And that same episode ends with him having a very similar sort of response to Robo-Dad and Robo-Mom picking him up.

And then there’s, of course, his M-Lab Robot Minions in 'Enter the Florpus'. All named - and all grieved by him. 

His extreme reaction to Lawrence specifically dying shows he did apparently see them as individuals.

But as far as we can tell both the Roboparents and the Robot Army are not, like, sapient? I mean, AIs like GIR or the Computer are characterized as basically Machine People - but these robots barely seem more sapient than my laptop. And as much as I love my laptop it’s not gonna, like, love me back.

Speaking of GIR, he’s another example of someone Zim shows genuine care for. I mean… he can absolutely be pretty mean to him at times…

But any sort of kindness from Zim has to be graded on a Curve because he’s so terrible. ‘Hobo 13’ demonstrated to us very well just how horrible Zim can be to his subordinates - rude, inconsiderate, pretty much deliberately sacrificing them not just for his personal gain but also just for his own petty amusement. 

And it’s notable that’s not how he treats GIR. Who he expresses actual concern for…

And he pretty easily acquiesces to GIR’s capricious desires even when he clearly sees them as Stupid and frivolous. 

This scene is especially notable. I mean, this is Zim actually feeling bad about the fact that he made someone cry and trying to de-escalate the situation. Maybe for other characters a moment like that would be no big deal, but this basically the softest Zim has been through… all official IZ media. And it was a scene with GIR.

 And meanwhile GIR himself… didn’t really register any of this - either Zim’s frustration or his attempts at sort-of comforting him, because he was only sad about having eaten his cupcake and not being able to eat it more. 

Because that’s the thing, while GIR does have some level of affection towards Zim at times…

He doesn’t really show that same level of care. I mean, in pretty much all of these examples, GIR puts his own desire to give Zim physical affection over Zim’s clear discomfort and disgust. And in general, while GIR vaguely acknowledges that Zim is his master - he often disregards or ignores Zim’s orders and requests. And not just when it comes to being ordered around in yet another evil scheme -

But also when the situation is just clearly basically hazardous to Zim’s very life. 

(Which is very much in contrast to Zim, who, again, is actually emotionally invested in GIR’s safety)

While some of GIR’s inability to fulfill Zim’s commands can be attributed to his lack of mental focus and general stupidity - his absolute lack of care and regret about these situations seem to imply that, like, GIR might follow some of Zim’s orders when they seem fun, and he might like Zim in the sense that GIR is generally incapable of genuine malice. But GIR is never going to care about Zim, as a ‘Master’ or as a friend, as much as he cares about his own hedonism.

And of course, we all know that if GIR was capable of actually focusing on anything and remaining grounded in reality - he would very quickly realize that he actually hates Zim quite a bit. 

And that’s, like, the whole Tragedy of Zim. He is a being capable of kindness and friendship - but he always ends up only caring about beings who will never care about him back.

Due to Irken indoctrination and also self-inflicted due to his own ego (like, it is no coincidence that the People Zim Actually Cares About are the two beings Irken ideology obliges him to acknowledge as his superiors and then a bunch of robotic minions who are supposed to be 100% obedient to him.) Zim only loves those who will not love him back.

Except for Minimoose. That relationship is 100% wholesome.

#invader zim #zim #zim iz #iz zim #iz #the tallest #almighty tallest #invader zim tallest #the almighty tallest #GIR #iz gir #gir iz #gir invader zim #minimoose

[sugarprincessbitch]

Could I request yandere Ramsay x Theon’s sister who got captured with him?

WARNING: Mention of death, rape and physical abuse.

The night Ned Stark came for Theon to Pyke you were merely a baby suckling from your mother breast, and as you grew up you only heard stories of Theon that your mother told you about when pronouncing his name was not followed by a slap.

Due to being born far later than any of your siblings and in the last stages of fertility that was left in your mother womb, she didn’t let you out of her sight. Having lost two sons in war and another far away from home you were the miracle that the drown god granted her, to redeem herself from failing to protect her children.

Growing up secluded in an island with only your mother for company affected your relationship with your other family members (if you can form a relationship with THAT kind of family) and they were not very welcoming either. The only one treating you like a human being and not a breading cattle was your sister Ahsa, but the two of you didn’t have a lot in common being rather soft for her taste.

The first time that you went out of your reclusion was when your father called for all his brothers and remaining children back to the main island. The lost son was back to home, and he couldn’t come at a more opportune moment when your house was a mess because of the succession fight for your father’s throne.

The feast was a disaster, you were uncomfortable with the gross and brutish behavior of everyone as well as the rather awkward interactions with your uncle Euron, his interest were caught more at your breasts than your face when the two of you were talking. 

You wanted to talk with Theon, that was the main reason you decided to come, maybe the two of you will bond with feeling like strangers in their own family. Instead he seemed to not recognize you, ignoring you the rest of the night.

In the following days you will only catch glimpses of your brother in the castle, he was preparing to go away again to attack the coasts in the north, you were rather sad to not have even interact in any form with the brother you never met. Yet when days later your father summon you and your siblings to the main hall, the least you would have expected was your father commanding you to accompany your brother Theon in the plan of the North attack, Asha tried in a futile attempt to convince your father otherwise, you were not a prodigy in the art of fighting, less being in a looting.

You were supposed to only seize with Torrhen Citadel and wait for your sister and the rest of the men to come to help you except Theon had other plans in mind, turning course straight to the place where he was home for much of his youth, Winterfell.

In the short time you were in the presence of your brother you came to the realization that he was a rather ambitious man, a little reckless too. He didn’t plan for the future, therefore gettin' you and the rest of you in horrible fate, when he confided in a stranger, opening Winterfell to him and his army of mad men.

Ramsay, that was the strangers name, one who he made sure you learned well given the case that it was branded on your body with iron and fire as one would do with cattle.

Every night he would tie your hands and feet to the bed frame, ravaging you until your body became sore from the friction, making you bleed.

When morning came he would leave your share chambers, not without giving you chaste kisses along the expanse of your skin and murmuring empty apologies in a mocking tone.

During the day you will be prostrate to bed being too weakened to get up, nonetheless of your physical state Ramsay forbid you to went out, locking the door with key. 

The only human interaction that you would have was with the maids (if they will talk at all, being too scared of the consequences of their master fury) and the maester to tend your wounds, Ramsay was known to play rough with his toys, even the most precious ones. 

Only one time he let you out, it was during the first days of your imprisonment when you still resisted his advances.

He took you to the dungeons, a horrible place full of death and suffering. You entered to the most dirtiest and dark cell of the place, there you saw Theon or what was left of him, horrified by the deplorable state your brother was in you stumble against Ramsay’s chest and in a low macabre voice he said “If you continue to disobey me darling… you will end up in here along with the scum of your brother”.  That was the last time you rebel against him.

Days became weeks, every passing day you were losing hope for anyone rescuing you from the claws of Ramsay, except one morning when the commotion outside of your window startled you from slumber.

Dragging your body as fast as posible to the window you saw Ramsay men fighting with the Iron Island people, your people. Hope sparkle rapidly on your chest, burning you so brightly that it brought you into tears. 

Without notice someone kick your door open, startling you out of your emotions, it was the face of your sister covered in blood. Before she uttered a word, an arrow pierce the back of her head making her stumble and collapse to the ground making a snapping sound. A sharp cry came from your moth, your face contorted in terror at the scene in front of you and the wicked grin the executioner was making, that Ramsay was making.

His father came back in time Asha and her men were attacking the fortress, outnumbering them by vast majority.

From there everything became worse, your torture reach a far atrocious fate, being bound forever to your executioner by the prospect of a dreadful marriage. 

Until one of you gave your last breath, your soul and body will never be in peace on this earthly plane.

#asioaf #headcanon #fanfic #game of thrones #Yandere game of thrones #Ramsay bolton #Ramsay bolton is its own warning #house greyjoy #theon greyjoy #Yandere Ramsay bolton x reader #Yandere Ramsay bolton #yandere #house bolton #ramsay snow

[mysticbewitched]

Hi So I CANT BELIEVE in LOA OR non dualism or void or whatever. Because I kept failing a few times and I can't recall all those small success from before. Now I don't believe in these subconsciously or conscious. I fucking hate my current life

TW: suicide

Im feeling really suicidal. Even tho I know all the information it feels like no use. I keep overthinking, anxious all the time. MY life isn't right. I'm so anxious that my hair falls out in Chuck. Even subliminal don't seem to work

I need to be frank and bluntly honest about this one.

You are not ready for a spiritual awakening, and I want to say that you are doing such a disservice to yourself and spiritual growth by "trying" to consciously manifest without ever caring to learn who you truly are.

Do you realize that you are the only one in control of your reality? You are the operant power.

I understand that you're feeling frustrated on your journey, but you refuse to accept accountability for creating your reality, and you definitely refuse to realize that you are the only one in your way of changing your life for the better.

Nobody is going to save you but yourself. You create your reality, and that is the truth.

Only you can change your own life. You have to rescue yourself and be your own hero at the end of the night.

You need to ask yourself: Are you going to sit there and have a pity party? Or are you going to stand up and realize that you are powerful?

This beautiful spiritual journey of truly awakening to your true power as the creator is all about self-empowerment and absolutely transforming the way you live after discovering who you really are within and your true identity as awareness.

I'm disappointed to say that all I'm hearing from you is sad excuses for you to stay in the victim mindset.

Let's get real and face the facts. You simply are not ready to change your mindset.

You cannot believe in any of this because you failed? I'll tell you exactly why you failed. You failed solely because you falsely perceive yourself to be a victim, and you gave up on yourself.

Your mentality is an absolute disaster, and you are completely missing the whole point of this and the main foundation of all manifestations. The main priority is for you to truly understand your true self.

You cannot come to the table of conscious manifestation while believing yourself to be a victim of life's circumstances.

You need to leave that false sense of self-identity completely behind and I am not going to pity you when you choose to play the victim card.

You have a horrible victim mindset, and I do not ever baby victim mentality in the manifestation community, especially when you are a powerful creator of reality in your nature.

A creator and master of reality who is more than capable of changing your life and creating beautiful experiences for yourself.

I most especially will not entertain any victim mentality when I have provided the resources for changing your mindset by teaching all of you how to create your own subliminal or supraliminal audio and providing mindset affirmations.

All it takes is patience and loyal commitment every day. Are you truly committed to your success by changing your mindset?

You have to reach a point where you get tired of your own shit and finally choose to do better for yourself.

Are you committed to changing self? For the sake of transforming yourself into a successful manifestor?

The whole point of conscious manifestation is about stepping into your power, taking back your control over reality, and choosing to create your own reality however you desire.

This is all about the transformation of self.

You either believe in yourself or you're filled with self-doubt.

It is clear that you lack faith in yourself and you honestly don't recognize the fact that you are the creator of your own reality.

Your mindset is what is holding you back and the only obstacle in your way of success.

Are you going to place your crown back on your head and take back control over your throne by embracing your power? Or choose to let "life happen to you" instead? The choice is yours.

You either transform your inner state of mind and keep going until you succeed or give up on yourself.

You are not a victim. You are the creator and this is meant to be an empowering, freeing realization. You are here to set yourself free and create the reality of your dreams.

If you refuse to let go of the victim mentality filled with self-doubt then you are not ready to truly change your life and experience your spiritual awakening as the creator.

I believe in you and have faith in you wholeheartedly, but you clearly suffer from self-doubt. There is nothing more for me to say.

You don't have to deal with that state of mind any longer just by simply choosing to prioritize yourself and change your mindset.

Be honest with yourself. Is it worth it to you?

#law of assumption #law of manifestation #law of consciousness #manifesting #manifestation #nondualism #nonduality

[kimium]

On a scale from “least like a parent” to “absolutely 100% dad”; how would you rank each NRC Housewarden? 👀💜

Thanks for this ask, friend! I have so many thoughts, as you already know, so let's get this started!

NRC Housewardens on the scale of "least like a parent" to "absolutely 100% parent"

Riddle: "Tries to parent but comes off as the only one doing the group project"

Responsible and reliable are two words that fit Riddle well. He's not just Housewarden because of his magical prowess and dedication to his studies. Riddle has a full itinerary and schedule made for daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly tasks. Rules and regulations are carefully monitored and if you're looking for a competent (and strict) work/school environment, Riddle is the one to go to.

However, as a parent? Yeah, Riddle isn't the one to look to. Everyone in Heartslaybul knows it's Trey. Parenting isn't just about monitoring behaviour (Riddle's style of parenting). You're celebrating successes, listening to concerns, comforting when things go wrong, and giving advice. Riddle is awkward when it comes to those life skills simply because of his upbringing. Thus, leave the disciplining to Riddle and the other parenting obligations to Trey.

Leona: "Is the lazy uncle who wants nothing to do with parenting but somehow is roped into parenting"

Leona's entire attitude towards parenting is, "hell no, I don't like kids and there is no way I'm going to be a parent". Watching after them? He'd rather nap. Listening to their complaints? Sort it out yourself. Pick up after their messes? Either figure it out or fail.

Yet, if there is one thing Leona cannot stand it's when he is forced to watch people horribly attempt to do something he can do in his sleep. Efficiency means more nap time. So, Leona finds himself stepping in because "watching your train wreck disaster attempt was funny for the first ten minutes but now it's painful".

However, this results in people looking up to Leona because "he helped me!". Basically, his inability to actually watch people be cringe results in him being a grumpy uncle. Which he already is to Cheka. Mention this to his face and you'll regret it, so no one in Savanaclaw minus Ruggie are opening their mouths.

Azul: "I'm not a parent, but a babysitter, always wrangling certain individuals, making sure they're Doing Their Jobs Properly"

Oh, advice? From Azul! Yes, he's more than happy to listen to your concerns! Why, if he wasn't he wouldn't be upholding the benevolent spirit of the Sea Witch! Yeah, exploiting people who want help for Capitalism or other gains isn't very parent of you, Azul.

Not that Azul wants to be a parent. Oh no, he's a businessman and his "parental" instincts are actually those of an exhausted babysitter with two, rambunctious children to look after. Nagging Jade and Floyd is about as "parental" as Azul will ever get.

Kalim: "Least like a parent"

There is no where in all of Twisted Wonderland that someone would consider Kalim "parental". Now, going to Kalim for advice or someone to listen to is akin to going to your best friend/kind older sibling. He excels at listening to others and giving advice! Kalim's compassion and caring is ranked the highest on campus.

It's just if Riddle is on the extreme end of "disciplining as a parental technique" Kalim is on the extreme opposite end of "listening and giving advice as a parental technique". Basically, Kalim is like that Super Cool and Nice substitute teacher whose management of the classroom is just a little too loose to be considered effective.

Vil: "100% Parent"

Vil wins the title of "100% parent". He's firm in his rules and standards (sometimes a little too firm) but he's also willing to listen and give advice. Vil understands that people are learning and if they don't understand he never mocks them or makes them feel stupid. Case in point: he provided his own skin care routine for the NRC Tribe during Book 5, understanding holding everyone to his standards without providing said help is unreasonable.

Now, does Vil skew closer to the "strict" side? You bet, but some parents just tend to be that way. It isn't perfect, but in Vil's mind a little bit of strictness is far better than letting your child run loose.

(Vil also has the unfair advantage of having Rook. Whether you ship them like I do or not, Rook provides a great counter to Vil, balancing him out. This means as a duo Vil/Rook in my mind win the "Best Parents" award.)

Idia: "Idia is the outlier in this scale as he's too much of a child and thus cannot be counted"

There is no way Idia is ever considered a parent by any standard. He's the one everyone should ban together to parent because Idia's self-care habits are atrocious. No, Idia remains firmly in the "friend only" category because trying to apply terms like "responsible" and "diligent" to Idia and not adding "in video games" to the front of said statement is impossible.

The ONLY thing Idia excels in remotely parental coded is trying his hardest to be the BEST Big Brother to Ortho on the planet. For that, he gets a gold star and a smiley sticker that says "Good Work".

Malleus: "Child rearing is a foreign concept to me, but who needs to parent when they can be the mysterious, allusive, cool, older brother figure?"

The mere thought of parenting is so far to Malleus that it doesn't even register in his world. Sure, he knows what a parent is and has witnessed interactions but they're fascinating to him and nothing more.

I am not saying Malleus isn't kind or caring in his own, allusive way. He obviously cares for Lilia, Silver, and Sebek. His friendship with Yuu is precious to him. Also the vignettes show his interactions with others proving that once people aren't afraid of him, he can make other friends.

But as a parent? Not just watching after someone but guiding them/giving support? He could do it, I suppose, but with spotty dedication. This means, in my mind, he's more of a sibling figure if you're looking on the scale of "parental". He can help and give advice but any other responsibilities are other people's problems.

There you have it, friend! I hope you like my answers and my thoughts behind them! Let me know what you think and where you'd rank the house wardens!

#personal #replies #twisted wonderland #my headcanons

[kayas-kosmos]

Flowerpunk Bestiary - Brain Bird.

Introducing the brain bird.

This cute little ball of fluff is known for one thing - its uncanny ability to provide anyone who meets its gaze the power to only ever make the right decisions in life. However, this comes at a heavy cost.

Due to how small and vulnerable these creatures are, they have no choice but to team up with a larger host. The brain bird slowly starts taking over the host's capacity to make decisions and the host eventually becomes entirely dependant on this bird. Because of the bird's tragically short lifespan (average 1-2 years), the death of this bird spells disaster for the host. Eventually, the host either suffers a tragic crash in ability, often leading to horrible outcomes like a ruined life, destitution, relationship breakdowns, starvation or death.

The birds have been seen as a bad omen across cultures and have become the victims of brutal culling. However in recent years, they are highly sought after and are becoming increasingly difficult to find as the magical creatures die off. It is rumoured that the few that remain are owned entirely by the billionaire class. Many people have questioned why on earth anyone would want anything to do with these creatures, but there are throngs of individuals who are already at rock bottom - be-it because of addiction, debt or other modern-day perils - that would gladly give up their decision-making skills to have just a small taste of success.

It is heavily speculated that the birds are not acting out of malice. Cryptozoologists found that the birds form an extremely strong bond with the host, and it would appear that it is this devotion to the success of their host that slowly drains and eventually kills the bird in the end. Dissections of their brains have uncovered highly developed centres of the brain that play an important role in emotional intelligence and problem solving.

Skeptics have even claimed that the birds don't actually change the lives of their hosts at all, that in fact the whole thing is a scam made up by rich idiots trying to sell desperate people snake oil. The brain bird may be nothing more than a placebo effect.

Though not entirely solitary, the birds prefer the company of their hosts to one another. Mating season requires the bird to have their host transport them to the mating grounds for a week or so, where the birds show off their hosts to one another. The birds wit the most successful hosts are usually the most successful at getting a mate.

It is also unclear how these creatures communicate since they are completely mute and refrain from moving around too much. Presumably, they communicate telepathically, and some evidence that suggests this would be the needlessly-long staring contests the bird engage in.

Their diet consists primarily of seeds, nuts, berries and vegetables. In particular, they love water cress, broccoli and spinach.

Like most magical creatures, these birds have Mana-Ganglia distributed throughout their bodies, the highest concentrations of which sit behind their eyeballs. They are also speculated to be able to shape-shift into elf owls as their primary disguise.

#Flowerpunk #Speculative zoology #speculative ecology #fantasy art #fantasy artist #birb #cute birb #creature design #artists on tumblr #webcomic #bestiary #mythical creature #look into my eyes

[party-in-eldarya]

did you think i was dead?

Brokeback Mountain well, you were close. 

I tried to play this 10th episode of ANE, but it is no joy, you know. Still, would love to get access to some future outfits, so, well. I will endure this joyride. One day. Soon.

In the meantime I was reading some spoilers about the 18th episode, and booooy, but it is quite bad IMHO.

Foreshadowing was a tad too obvious, with how Beemoov loves dusting off characters from 4th row just to use them in the very next scene.

Sad gay romance? Uhhh, I hate this trope almost as much as I hate the “gay friend is your best accessorize” trope. Ahem, Alexy, Ahem.

No one expected that attack, right? And the fact that we finally addressed Valkyon’s murderer, after 18 episodes... and after we slept with Lance quite a lot. Disaster, the whole ANE is horrible.

However, I kept on thinking: was there anything that Beemoov could do better here? And hear me out, I kinda like this idea: not killing Edgar in Genkaku.

The whole team made it to Eel, with minor injuries. Would make Erika’s horny thoughts on the ship much more plausible. Also, we would get a nice, kinda soul in Eel. A character that would also help Eldarya’s writers to make exposition without making our Erika look dumb. Erika and Guardsmen could talk about all those details about Eldarya, explaining how the world, Guard, magic, portals etc etc work, all those things that Erika SHOULD know after months of living there.

Also, Edgar could teach about Earth. And him being timid, and Mathieu being dumb young those lessons could be as successful as in canon. Meaning they would be a bit pointless :)

Edgar could get ill- maaagic, disturbed flow of maana etc etc- that’s why he cannot go to Earth. Much devastated, but they still promise him to open the portal later, so he could go back home. He is a bit afraid of what is waiting for him when he sees humans with guns, but Erika promises him that Earth looks the same as usual. Yaqut, wedding: Edgar is still under Ewelein’s care, slowly recovering. Zifu and Keroshane get their dance, humans attack, and during the fight, Edgar is injured and killed. We lost our friend, whom we learned to like, and with whom we could sympathize. His death actually has some impact on us and also on Erika (who knows, she may jump into bed with her LI from all this distress,  because this is how she coped with trauma).

It’s not that I want all gay romances to be flowers and rainbows, I honestly do not enjoy tag “everybody is gay” on AO3... but either make sad romance properly so we could feel devastated, or give them some happiness. ANE is by no means a  Brokeback Mountain movie. Not even close. 

#rant #ane spoilers

[inadeepanddarkdecember]

hc meme: F U C K

F - Friend - What kind of friend are they?

LOYAL. Once Cyrus has settled on being friends, he never wants to give that up, no matter how convinced he is that it's destined for disaster and about to fall apart any minute. It takes a pretty severe trust breach to shake him, and even then... Once you live in his heart, you're stay there. He'll still find part of himself yearning. Beyond that, he's absolutely terrible at giving affection or affirmations, but he's very attentive. He'll remember little things you tell him and bring it up later, or put that knowledge into thoughtful gifts. Quality time is how he primarily expresses love, but he's also big on acts of service. Gifts too, if he can make it seem nonchalant.

How do they judge potential friends?

Harshly. He very firmly believes that all kindness and friendliness is fake and 90% of people are deeply unpleasant and only want to use him in some way. He long ago decided the best way to combat this is to be as difficult as possible; he wants to be left alone and, if he makes that very clear, it'll scare off most people. Persistence confuses him, and if you can confuse him (aka, act in any way that defies his expectation for how the world works), you can befriend him. Recently, he's gotten a little bit better in that he can sit in the same room as strangers without feeling horrible discomfort and wanting to run away. Now, he can just vibe and ignore people.

Where do they draw the line between platonic and romantic relationships?

Cyrus is someone who, in spite of himself, gets crushes pretty easily. He never initiates, due to his absolute conviction of his inherent un-date-ability. So for him, everything is platonic always, even if you're fucking him and kissing him directly on the mouth, unless you say it's not. HOWEVER. Due to his ease of crushes, he may Yearn.

How far would they go for a friend?

Die??? The answer is die. Basically anything if he understood the need to be enough. He doesn't really do things without understanding why.

How do they handle conflict in relationships?

Poorly. Either he snaps on the spot when something upsets him, or he bottles it up and pretends nothing's wrong. He tends to blame himself for relationship problems. He can have important relationship conversations but it's very hard for him to verbally vulnerable like that.

U - Ugly - What traits to they find unattractive in others?

Any form of fakeness (or perceived fakeness). Anything that reminds him too strongly of himself. Anyone who's popular/successful. Paternalistic traits. Redheaded women.

Do they have any of those traits themselves?

Well... Yes? He considers his whole personality a red flag. xD

C - Caregiver - How do they give/receive care best?

I already touched on how he gives care in the first question. You haaaave to give care to Cyrus in a roundabout way. His mind excels at taking overt expressions of affection and twisting and tearing them into shards that cut. When he leaves you a gift, he doesn't even really want acknowledgement you received it; the greatest thanks is just for him to see you using it (or seeing it displayed on a wall or shelf). He finds it so hard to trust words, and he doesn't like touch. He needs to see care in actions.

Do they care for everyone or just a small number of people?

People? You can count them on one hand. but he cares for Every cat.

How do they react to someone in need?

Ignore, mostly, honestly. He considers it not his problem. If he saw someone bleeding out on the street, he'd call 911, but Cyrus doesn't talk to cops, and he wouldn't go out of his way to help someone with car problems, or chase down a lost wallet, or any of that. With friends, he wants to help desperately, but he needs clear instructions/expectations. He's great with problems that have concrete, logical answers. If it's an emotional problem, he runs through his bank of "Things That Work", and if they don't work for this specific thing, then he'll just sit there by the person quietly freaking himself out as he tries to gauge if an idea will help or make things worse.

K - Know It All - Are they a Know-it-All?

HONESTLY. Yeah. He thinks he's probably stupid, but also if someone says something factually incorrect in his vicinity, he'll correct them. It's not even an ego thing; in his mind he's just correcting an error, same as fixing a typo in an email.

Do they actively seek out new knowledge?

Yes! He loves reading; he loves watching documentaries; he loves museums. He's probably gotten into the cinema side of youtube pretty deeply, in particular.

How do they behave around others how have a great amount of knowledge on a topic?

That depends entirely on if Cyrus has categorized this as a "person who knows what they're talking about". (You may have noticed a theme of extremely black/white thinking with him and you're right.) If no, he's going to be annoyed. If yes, he will happily engage. It sounds obvious, but common interests can bypass his barriers around strangers pretty easily.

#about #fun facts

[mermaidsirennikita]

Thoughts on the Emmy nominations?

--Succession obviously deserves every nom (and ideally every win) it gets. The writers kill it on that show, the actors kill it on that show... It has an embarrassment of riches. That said, I'd really love for Matthew McFadyen to get his just rewards. Kieran is great too! Honestly, so is Nicholas. But Matthew is consistently fantastic and s3 was a showcase for him.

--Severance is one of those shows where nobody you know watches it and those that do seem kinda bored with it but it gets noms and you idly wonder if you should watch but know you probably won't because it sounds dry. I've not seen a minute of it, idk if it's dry, but it's not motivating me to watch with the promo or buzz or trailer.

--Yellowjackets getting nommed was a pleasant surprise!!! I thought it was too daring for the Emmys, tbh. Melanie Lynskey deserves, but tbh I'd knock.... several of those Best Lead Actress in A dDramas noms aside...

-NICK AND ELLE GOT A NOM FOR THE GREAT I AM SO HAPPY!!!! They give consistently amazing work on that show and season 2 was killer, very deserved for both.

--Lmao of course Sebastian and Lily got nominated, stay mad, they deserve it.

--Of course Colin and Toni got nominated.

--Fucking wild that Julia Garner got nominated for that disaster bomb of a performance when Jessica Chastain did not get nominated, but I'm guessing that depending on the timing either the likelihood of her winning at the Oscars or the win itself killed that for her. The Limited Series Lead Actress category is stacked, and it's honestly borderline hysterical to me that Julia is up against the likes of... literally everyone else in that category. They're all deserving... aside from her.

--Amanda Seyfried got nommed for her thrilling dances on The Dropout and honestly? Deserved.

--Sarah Paulson got nominated for crushing it in a hit or miss series simply because of the way she said "MONICA" when picking up the phone. Deserved.

--Happy for the Abbott Elementary and Squid Game noms.

--Still don't know why Ted Lasso keeps dominating when it's just kinda there.

--Only Murders in the Building..... Like that show would've been fine if it was Short and Martin with any other actress, but God Selena's dead line readings and total lack of enthusiasm for anything destroyed it.

--Lol I'm kinda incredibly shocked that Alexandra Daddario got a nom for White Lotus. Like she wasn't horrible but she was kinda just there? Connie Britton also was kinda there, but she's Connie, so she gets noms for being there. Which, fair. Natasha and Jennifer obviously deserved their noms even though I'm super mixed on that show.

--Sydney Sweeney being double nommed is great for her!!! Kinda unexpected but great.

--I did not expect Sanaa to get nominated based off how little time she had on Succession, but I'm glad she did get it.

--Lol same with Askars? He's great but so little time. Succession just gets you in there I guess.

--Sooooo disappointed with OFMD being snubbed, but it's not surprising. HBO uses that show for woke points but doesn't value it or promote it properly at all.

#emmys 2022 #[catch me rolling up to a local sports bar wearing a bear helmet w white claws plugged in asking for them to put the emmys on]

[lover-of-the-starkindler]

#inktober #inktober 2k20 #/ #// #/// #redwall #somewhere in the recesses of my brain is a recollection of somebeast at sometime baking some abbot an Abbot Cake #it was either a success or a horrible disaster #with many candied chestnuts being harmed in the creation of the dish #however #our chef has created a scrumptious dessert #which will be consumed with thanks and appreciation for their culinary skill #...now I want cake #XD

[sepublic]

On Belos being Philip Wittebane...

            I’m already seeing people claim that Belos can’t possibly be Philip Wittebane, because the latter was alive in the 1600’s, and there’s no WAY Belos is that old;

         Except, our establishing shot of Belos has him wheezing and dying, and resorting to unethical magic to keep himself alive- He is clearly implied to be someone who should’ve died a long time ago, but stubbornly refused to do so, and resorted to horrible means at great detriment to his overall health. They say first impressions are everything when introducing characters, so Dana and the crew wanted this scene to stick with us above all else.

         Also, in Sense and Insensitivity, Lilith specifically mentions wanting to get the Bloom of Eternal Youth for Belos! Maybe he just wanted it as a general magical artifact of power or whatever, but with what I mentioned above…

         Yeah, there’s a good chance that Belos is dying from age, and while he strictly doesn’t need the Bloom of Eternal Youth –or at least has something else in mind- it doesn’t hurt to rely on a convenient back up, or at least give it a try to see if it’s real… Especially if Lilith isn’t capturing Eda at the moment, and she wants to appeal to him.

         Like… this is magic, people- Curses are a thing and all that jazz. I don’t see why it’s so implausible for this setting to have a human who keeps himself alive through unnatural means that twist and distort him beyond what he originally was, until he can neither be called witch nor human!

         That’s the logistical issues… As for motivations and whatnot, here’s a transcript of Philip’s journal entry;

          “My journey through the Demon Realm is far from over. But today, I humbly donate my journal to the ages.”

         “Entry 1- May 21st… I think. My name is Philip Wittebane, and I’ve found myself in a world so horrid, yet so fantastic. Few minds could have dreamt it. If only those at home could see what I have; But perhaps they shall, for the more I learn about this realm, the more I am certain I can harness its strange powers to return home. Today, I begin recording my journey, to create a portal back to the human realm.”

          From the very start, Philip admits that he’s going to be in the Demon Realm for a long while, which indicates that he hasn’t found any clue nor success in creating his portal, and doesn’t expect to find one for a while either. We don’t know how he arrived in the Demon Realm; Perhaps it was through a rift of Titan’s Blood, or maybe it was the Portal we’re all familiar with.

         The fact that we see the Portal depicted here doesn’t quite mean that Philip made it, after all… Perhaps Philip found the Portal in the human world, after it travelled through means of Titan’s Blood; And he used it to find the Boiling Isles! From there, he may have lost the portal… When Eda first finds it, there’s a conspicuous scar over the Portal, almost as if it was deliberately damaged; Perhaps Philip was attacked and got separated from the door.

         And after years of trying to find the Portal again to no avail, Philip opted to try and create his own way back home, after learning more about Titan’s Blood… But by the time he donates his journal to the Bonesborough library, he doesn’t seem very optimistic about his progress. That, or he may intend to have returned to the Demon Realm shortly afterwards… Or, Philip only heard of the Portal, but its existence inspired him to try to make his own one, after he failed to find it himself!

         As for why the Portal is only partially buried, perhaps it was initially covered entirely; But years of rain and storms, and perhaps a natural disaster or two –Boiling rain and Knife Season exists- led to it being uncovered, the surrounding earth weathered away across time… Leaving a young Eda to stumble across and use it for herself.

         Alternatively; Philip DID succeed in creating the Portal, and what we saw was his conceptual blueprints for it! Which, gets me to the idea… Maybe Philip went back to the human world after all, and wanted to show the Boiling Isles… But keep in mind, this is the 1600’s. If not the 1620’s… Infamous for the Salem Witch Trials.

         The Boiling Isles makes jokes and references to witches getting burned at the stake- What if Philip initiated some wider contact with his own Portal that led to humanity reacting negatively and trying to persecute magic? I’ve talked a lot in the past with meta about Belos being a dark parallel to Luz, as someone who was also an outcast, and eventually chose to completely reject people as a whole in his attempts to elevate himself;

         With how Philip laments that he wishes his fellow humans back home could see and appreciate the Boiling Isles… With the meta of Luz, as someone who learns to accept the grotesque weirdness of the Demon Realm, one that ‘normal’ people might prefer to simply reject… With Luz’s fear that Camila might reject her home in the Boiling Isles, with how Gromila-Camila specifically calls the Demon Realm a terrible place, and disapproves of it as a bad influence for her daughter;

         Who’s to say that didn’t happen to Philip??? Maybe he succeeded in heading back home, and he tried to introduce society to the Demon Realm, to initiate a crossover and new age of exploration and contact… Only to be ostracized, to be shunned as a freak and witch, who came from a place not unlike Hell (which the Demon Realm was originally meant to be Hell in the earliest stages of production)… If this was the same society that yielded the Salem Witch Trials, it might have branded the Boiling Isles as a horrific, unholy place that must be wiped out, or sealed off forever.

         And, the story tells itself from there- Philip is hurt and confused, he’s persecuted for dealing in black magic and all that. He feels the sting of rejection, and he feels angry- Of course these ‘normal’ people don’t appreciate a brilliant mind like his own! If they don’t like him, it’s because they’re backwards savages who can’t see the potential to be harnessed here, because doesn’t Philip speak of ‘harnessing’ the Boiling Isles to get back home?

         What did he expect, for the common, generic folk to understand and appreciate? They never could- They never appreciated Philip, they never appreciated his creative, out-of-the-box thinking… So of course this world wildly beyond any ‘minds’, as stated by Philip himself, would be too much for them!

         Only few minds could dream of such a place… Only a select few, a select worthy, deserve the Boiling Isles and its magic, its wonder. These ‘freaks’ are no doubt cast out of society, because society is too weak and feeble, society isn’t ready for them; But those who stand out, deserve to do so above the rest. They deserve to be on top as the forward, innovative thinkers, the true geniuses of the world…

         Hence, the Emperor’s Coven. His own experiences with others ‘wasting’ the talent and potential to be had with all manner of wondrous things, it could’ve easily led Philip to dismiss society as a whole, believing that people needed to actively prove themselves worthy of deserving the entirety of magic; The rest would just squander or misinterpret it, the way kids like Bria and the Glandus kids fail to recognize the potential of Illusions, for which Belos recognized and designated an entire coven towards!

         The human world doesn’t deserve the Boiling Isles nor magic, it’s too close-minded and foolish for it; It would just misuse magic, no doubt… Which, if this is the 1600’s, life was understandably brutal back then, as any historian can tell you. If Belos is the dark parallel to Luz, who got wrapped up in fantasy because she couldn’t handle the pain of reality; Then perhaps Philip/Belos abandoned the tragedy, wars, and slavery of the human world, and relied on the Demon Realm as escapism…

         Of course, Luz recognized that people are people across even dimensions, and she can’t run from her problems in the Boiling Isles; She still learns to tackle her issues with society, just with the support of actual friends. But Philip… Well, Philip might’ve not come to that same conclusion. He might’ve been disappointed in the Demon Realm, the more he got to know it closely and personally…

         Especially if he was very long-lived; He’d get genuinely disappointed in the Isles as not being the perfect, utopian fantasy world he escaped towards to avoid human life. It still has many of the same trappings of human society, such as the wars and prejudice and mistreatment… And because he doesn’t want to go back to the human world no matter what, why not change his perfect fantasy land into PHILIP wants and expects it to be?

         Hence, his crusades as Emperor Belos. As for the portal; Well, if Philip rejects humanity, why should he go back? It doesn’t deserve contact with the Demon Realm, after all- So he might’ve discarded and buried it away to be lost forever, maybe even broken it in a fit of anger. Obviously the damage wasn’t enough to affect the actual Portal’s functions, but it did leave a physical scar behind, one that Eda presumably fixed.

         Obviously, the question with this scenario is- Why now? Why does Belos wanted the Portal now? And honestly I guess it just boils down to… Belos didn’t ALWAYS have the Day of Unity, he didn’t always have whatever it was he planned; He may have just chosen to live his fantasy in the Boiling Isles for a few centuries, gorging himself on bile and other unnatural means to stay alive… But somehow, he got inspiration for some plan, one that required the Portla he’d willingly discarded or lost…

         And alas, he couldn’t find it again- Because who knows how he lost it in the first place? Thrown aside, picked up by someone else before it passed hands and got buried? And Belos can’t recreate the portal, possibly because he doesn’t have the materials necessary… The Portal presumably runs on Titan’s Blood, and if there’s a limited amount, an amount that Philip used the majority of to create just one Portal…

         Then, yeah- It’s best to just get the previous one. After all, this is a Portal that can be accessed both ways, transported, and perfectly controlled- It can create stable, lasting rifts between the realms at will. We don’t know what the usual rift between the human and Demon realms is like, but they’re probably not easy to harness, nor control and find- Hence why travel is so far and few between.

         …Who knows? Maybe travel became so far and few between, BECAUSE Philip harvested all of the Titan’s Blood to create the Portal; That’d explain why contact between worlds dwindled over time! And because he used up most of the blood on the Portal, he can’t make another one- So it’s more practical to just find the old one. Especially since we don’t know the timeline of when Belos realized he needed the Portal again…

         And as we see, he may have actually been working on his own second portal- And when Luz damaged the door, he could’ve simply melded both projects together, to fill in each other’s gaps! Perhaps Philip was a genius ahead of his time… Too ahead of his time; And in order to be accepted, he decided to wait until society progressed enough to handle his ‘genius’, so to speak. Maybe he’s been waiting for the human world to progress and become more tolerant, which…

         It certainly HAS, so Philip/Belos isn’t totally wrong there! The Boiling Isles is MUCH smaller than our world, so it makes sense that Philip wouldn’t find it feasible for himself to conquer and improve human society, but the easier target of the Demon Realm was within his limits.

         Also- Maybe he’s been waiting this entire time, preparing… Amassing the wealth and resources he needs to create a massive following, or focusing his time and study on research, on enhancing his own study of magic; Because HIS personal curiosity matters more than wasting time, trying to educate troglodytes who wouldn’t appreciate his genius… I imagine most people then and now would be horrified at the idea of consuming Palismen, and possibly even Witches, for bile…

         Maybe Belos waited until he had enough resources to kickstart a crusade; As well as the right circumstances to install himself… Such as a period of warfare and strife, in which existing power structures would’ve crumbled to leave room for his Coven System- And people would be left desperate for some, any, sense of structure and stability, no matter the cost. It could be some mix of the above suggestions; That Belos initially minded his own business, but became disillusioned across the centuries…

         Disillusioned from warfare, because the more he dug into the Demon Realm, the more its flaws that he ignored became apparent, the more he realized it really was just like home, more than he’d like to admit- And Belos could never escape social ostracization there, like Luz he needed to mature and grow… But unlike Luz, he refused to- Instead, everyone else would ‘grow’ the way he expected them to, for Belos himself!

         Perhaps he reached a breaking point after centuries of tragedy, of things not coming perfectly to him like he expected- Maybe Belos failed in magical research, and became frustrated, he needed resources… Perhaps he felt unusually compelled to do something worthwhile and ‘fix’ this world in a time of crisis. And of course, there’s the ‘Titan’, which or may not be the Titan itself, or the monster that killed King’s father… A ‘message’ from the Titan could’ve been what caused Philip/Belos to begin his crusades fifty-or-so years ago, when previously he’d been content, minding his own business!

         And, as a dark parallel to Luz, he wants to think he’s special and a chosen one… Maybe Belos has his own Adegast in the form of that monster, who may have wielded Kikimora as its palisman; Perhaps Belos believed this monster, because it played into his desires to be a hero, to be loved and revered… He saw an opportunity to fix the world as well, so even if he had some understanding/suspicious of manipulations, did he even care? Especially with his own delusions, blinding himself to the obvious truth?

         “Seething seas and puppet strings”… That’s our code poem so far this season. Could the puppet strings be referring to Belos, manipulated by a darker entity that could’ve cursed/possessed his body, creating physical changes- But also bestowing power and unusual magic? Is Belos a willing host to this entity for power, and Kikimora isn’t quite the second-in-command loyal to him that we believed; In reality, she’s more loyal to his master, and her and Belos are actually much closer on the hierarchy than we initially believed, with much more equal standing!

         They could both be willing, knowing servants of the ‘Titan’s will’, Kikimora IS placed on the same level as Lilith and the Golden Guard in the Season 2 intro; She’s going to be important, no doubt. And as for the Golden Guard, we’ve noticed the physical similarities, the slicked-back hair, the larger nose, the hair strand loosely about in front of their faces… The Golden Guard could be Philip/Belos’ child!

         Is he some sort of homunculus, unnaturally made? A real child that Belos had with someone else… And because of his human half, it led to the Golden Guard without a bile sac, and thus needing the same kind of magic his father uses? That or GG is capable of regular magic, but as a trusted and ‘worthy’ son, he’s of course privy to magic that only Belos wields… And Kikimora, she’s fine with her own brand of spells that she’s always used.

         Maybe the Golden Guard is some attempt by Belos to recreate himself, but perfectly- As an actual, full-blooded witch! Maybe he was brewed as a homunculus in a laboratory. Did Belos make him out of loneliness, for some desire to be understood and unconditionally loved, because his comrade Kikimora wasn’t that personally close, more a professional ally? Is the Golden Guard’s success meant to be some extension of Belos’ arrogance and vindication of power, to have his own progeny excel above the rest?

         Is he set up for some other, sinister purpose- Perhaps as a new host for Belos’ ‘Titan’, or something else? And the Day of Unity… Maybe Belos thinks that the human world IS ready to welcome and embrace his discoveries… Especially now that he’s strong enough to force them to, if they still aren’t prepared.

        As for the idea of Belos being Creepy Philip, I’ll discuss that in its OWN post, but for now… I feel like there’s a DEFINITE connection between Philip and Belos, at least; And if Belos is his doppelganger, then in a way, the theory that Belos and Philip are the same based on the constant similarities between the two, isn’t exactly unjustified either!

#the owl house #the owl house belos #emperor belos #the owl house philip #philip wittebane #the owl house kikimora #the owl house golden guard #speculation #analysis #the owl house hunter

[princessofmerc]

No but think about how the Haas boys must feel? Like they had to say goodbye to both their drivers in 2020, after one of them just suffered through a horrifying crash. Money is low, Performance not much to look forward to either. One of your drivers is actually both a good guy and a decent driver. The other is a PR disaster, a horrible, entitled manchild, who blames everyone but himself for his lack of success. His father who bought the drivers seat regularly threatens to take away his money. Performance really isnt getting better at all. It doesnt seem like they're lucky in the new season either. There's war in the world and the rich man more or less forces them to represent the aggressor in the war. And then he doesnt. Hes gone. and his son as well. And not only do they get to keep the good driver they also get one of the two they lost in 2020 back. And hes an old friend coming home and they're all so happy to see him just like he is happy to see them.

#f1 #kmag

[13uswntimagines]

We’ve Got Your Back (Alpha!Christen x Reader)

Request: Alpha christen press fic😍 and does it make me a horrible person cuz I want to see what christen would do to Hinkle? (Not to mention broon, uncle, ash....) 

Pt. 1

Author’s Note: So this turned out a touch different than i had planned. Let me know what you think! 

It was strange being back here. Back in the city, the stadium, that had almost been the sight of your demise. At least they had stuck the team in the visitor’s locker room. You didn’t know if you could have handled being back in that room. 

You rolled your shoulders and tapped the ball back towards Lindsey, sending the alpha a tight smile and trying to drown out the sea of unpleasant emotions threatening to pull you under. 

It was a stupid idea for Us soccer to have the team face off against the NWSL Allstars. You were part of the NWSL for goodness sake, it wasn’t like you didn’t play against these people already. It also meant you had to play against Her in the stadium she tortured you in. 

“How you holding up?” Christen asked, suddenly coming up behind you. She grabbed your clenched hand, coaxing your fingers open and intertwining them with her own. She let out a wave of her calming scent, trying to soothe you as much as she could with minimal contact. 

Though the two of you had… consummated your matting, and despite your normal cocky flirting, the two of you really weren’t into public displays of affection and there were thousands of eyes on you right now. 

You hadn’t even realized you were digging your fingernails into your palms. 

“Great now that you’re here hot stuff,” You tried to smile convincingly back at your mate, squeezing her hand tightly. She let out another wave of her calming scent, her eyes flickering around your face. 

One of the first lessons she had learned from Rose was that you never said when you were uncomfortable, but your tells always gave you away. 

“Always the charmer,” Christen said, a light blush covering her cheeks. 

You smirked at the alpha, shrugging. “It’s hard not to be when you always come out here looking like that”

She rolled her eyes at you, entirely used to your flirting. It hadn’t taken her long to realize that it was a coping mechanism for you. Whenever you were stressed or uncomfortable, your flirting intensified. 

It was a way for you to avoid your true emotions. 

“I’m literally wearing the same outfit as the rest of the team,”

You pulled your blushing alpha closer to you by your connected hands. You ran your nose over her cheek  “Hmm, but the rest of the team doesn’t have the-,”

The comment died on your lips when you caught sight of a certain alpha. You tensed even though she was stuck on her half of the field, separated from you by nearly the entire squad and the team of “Allstars”. But none of that had mattered last time. It hadn’t mattered that you were in a room full of people (nearly half of which were your national team teammates) or that the coaching staff knew what she was doing. 

Christen’s eyes followed yours, and she couldn’t suppress her growl (both for the other player being included in this game and the unpleasant emotions fluttering through your bond). 

“Vlatko swapped us, so you can stay on the left today. I’ll take the right and Alex will stay center,”

“You guys don’t need to do that. I can handle it,” You mumbled, suddenly finding the way your cleats ran through the grass incredibly interesting. 

Christen sighed, running a finger under your chin, grazing your scent gland as she tilted your chin up. “We know you can, just let us be a little protective over you, alright?”

You nodded biting your lip. You weren’t a weak omega, and you knew that the second you hit the field whatever grand plan they had was going to go right out the window. 

Well, part of it at least. You were sure that a certain alpha’s very white uniform was about to be stained very very green. 

****

You launched yourself across the pitch towards your mate, barely stopping to watch as your shot sailed past Jane Campbells outstretched fingers. You were having a blast skirting past the all-star defender, and fielding through passes and crosses from the Mewis’ and The great Horan. 

“Good goal baby,” Christen said, smiling wildly as she scooped you up in her arms and pressed a kiss to your neck, just above your mating mark. 

You pulled back, smiling at the alpha and flicking her lightly on the nose. “Good? That was fucking amazing! Did you see me put Stanton on her ass?”

Christen nodded, setting you back on your feet with a wide smile. “Yeah, and Kling. But I think I’ve seen Tobin do the same footwork before. I call plagiarism,”

You pouted, flicking the side of your alphas head again. “That’s not fair, I deserve a reward,” 

Christen grabbed your wrist as it migrated down her waist with an eye roll. “Behave little one,” 

She growled playful at you, about to lean up and nip your neck again, but the presence behind her stopped her. You whined loudly, displeased that she had stopped. 

“Get your omega under control Press,” You tensed at the alpha’s voice, burying your face in Christen’s neck, afraid that even the scent of Hinkle would make you lose your composure altogether. 

Christen's growl turned low and dangerous and was echoed by several of the teammates beginning to crowd around you. When your alpha promised the team would have your back, she meant it. 

“Come on Y/n,” Mal said, cautiously breaking from the group to approach you. Her hand carefully touched your back, avoiding any skin. No one wanted to test your alpha's control any more than the asshat on the field was. 

Christen made eye contact with the omega inching towards you, tearing her gaze from Hinkle. She nodded at Mal, coaxing you out of her neck and kissing your cheek. “go babydoll,” raising her eyebrow when you wined, but still pushing you towards Mal. You poured as Mal dragged you across the field, away from the brewing storm. 

You didn’t need to be in the middle of an alpha battle. You wouldn’t tell anyone, but you were fragile and she didn’t want you to have to feel her dominance when she put Hinkle in her place. 

She didn’t want to risk accidentally forcing you to submit. She would die before she did that. 

“that one needs a firmer hand,” Hinkle scoffed, as Christen walked back towards her position, waiting for Sheridan to put the ball back into play. 

“Why don’t you mind your own business?” Christen growled lowly, her eyes following you as you grossed the field with Mal. Lindsey sent her a stiff not. The entire team was behind you. 

“Just saying that I could give you some pointers if you wanted them,” Hinkle shrugged as though she didn’t feel the insane tension on the pitch. Christen scoffed catching her arm, spinning the alpha to look at her. She didn’t need any advice on how to deal with you. You were a handful, but you were her handful, and she was glad you were comfortable enough with her to show her your playful side. 

“Don’t waste your breath,” Christen said, letting out her dominant scent. 

*****

The Women’s national team was known for its impeccable control. With so many strong alphas in one place, it was imperative for the team's functionality and their commitment to equality.

But tonight that control was nowhere to be found, and it wasn’t just the alphas that were going a little crazy. The pitch was total chaos and at the epicenter was Hinkle. 

From the crazy tackles Lindsey, Becky, and Christen herself were committing, to the lengths Rose, Mal, and Alex all went to keep you as far from the Alpha as possible while still letting you put balls on goal. Vlatko’s tactics had gone out the window and the team was operating like a disaster (a very successful disaster as you had already scored 4 times against the all-stars, but a disaster nonetheless). All teeth and growls. 

You were just thankful that the game was over, and that you could finally escape the place with so many bad memories. And the mix of dominant pheromones that hung in the air, putting you even more on edge. 

You headed back towards the tunnel, uncharacteristically ignoring the opposing team trying to approach you for handshakes, and the fans screaming for your attention. It was unnerving to have your typically dosel alpha acting so aggressive. 

It pulled your inner omega so close to the surface, and you weren’t sure how you felt about that. 

“You know it’s wrong to ignore your superiors little omega,” The voice stopped you in your tracks. Your shoulders hunched and you seemed to almost fold in on yourself. 

An arm wrapped around your waist, shielding you from Hinkle. You relaxed a little at the scent of your best friend's mate. “Just ignore her,” Mal said softly, pulling you into her. 

Hinkle snarled at the two of you, rushing forwards to stand right in your path. You took in a sharp breath, your nose twitching at the press of Hinkle’s pheromones. You fought the urge to submit, the urge she had drilled into your skull from the time you joined the Courage to the time you finally made your escape. 

“What, your alpha didn’t teach you any manners either,” 

Mal tensed around you. You squeezed your eyes shut tight, waiting for the next blast of her potent scent. The one that would bring both of you to your knees. The one from your memories. 

“You need to back the fuck off,” Ashlyn’s protective growls were suddenly separating you from Hinkle, shortly joined by Becky, Alex, Rose, and Lindsey. 

“Or what?” She challenged, stepping up so she was eye to eye with the much taller alpha. 

“Come on girlies, let’s get you to the back, they can handle this,” Ali said softly, trying to pull you and Mal around the wall of alphas and the dominant cloud of pheromones beginning to form. You let her pull you around the alphas, trying to keep your head down. 

“No, she stays,” Hinkle sneered, catching your wrist as you passed. 

The reaction of the team was instant, but none was more prominent than your own alpha’s (who had been caught up singing posters with Tobin). It was a big No-no to touch someone else’s mate. 

“Take your hand off of her. NOW,” Christen growled, sending a wave of very dominant and very terrifying pheromones directly towards Hinkle. Even the little edge that caught you made you freeze and sent a shiver down your spine. The alpha immediately released you and whimpered as she fell to her knees. 

Christen smirked viciously (her typical kind-hearted ness nowhere to be found). She was the stronger alpha, and she wanted Hinkle to know how it felt to be forced to submit. She wanted her to feel the humiliation of being surrounded by people who wouldn’t help her. She wanted her to know what she put you through. 

Mal and Ali both tucked you into them and started directing you towards the locker room. Emily stepped in behind you, shielding you from where your alpha was towering over the shaking Hinkle. 

They were right, you didn’t need to see this. 

*****

The walk back to the locker room was short, but it felt like forever. The omegas spent it emitting their soothing scents, trying to calm your frayed nerves (which were only amplified by the emotions fluttering down your bond with Christen). 

If the little edges of Christen's dominant pheromones were that strong, you could only imagine what it felt like to be caught in a full blast. That thought alone terrified you. She was always so careful with you, but what if she lost control. 

“Shh, kid you’re ok,” An arm wrapped around you and gentle hands guided your shaking form to sit on the bench. 

You shook your head rapidly. You were a lot of things right now, but ok wasn’t one of them. 

You opened and closed your mouth several times, but no sound would come out. What if you upset your alpha and made her lose control? You loved to push her buttons. 

“Hey, You gotta breath y/n,” Mal said, suddenly appearing crouched in front of you. She grabbed your hands, flattening out your palms to prevent your nails from digging further into your arms. She bit her lips at the stressful pheromones pouting off of you, she had only seen you like this once. A very long time ago (ironically in the same place you were now). 

“Em, go get Rose,” She said, not taking her eyes off of you. Your best friend was probably the only person who could help you. 

Emily’s eyes widened. There was a reason why most of the team’s omegas were in the locker room instead of hanging out in the field with their mates. It was one thing to put an arrogant alpha in their place, and another to risk accidentally forcing an omega to submit. 

The team was insanely protective, and going out there while their instincts were on edge wasn’t a good idea. 

“I think she’s got her-...” Emily started softly, lightly touching Mal’s shoulder. 

“Wasn’t a question,” Mal growled, cutting her off, and finally taking her eyes off of you. You whimpered at the tone, your head tilting slightly and Emily nodded rapidly. 

“Right, I’ll go right now,”  

She exited the room at a near run. She didn’t quite understand what was wrong, but she knew you desperately needed someone. 

****

Emily wasn’t sure what she expected when she exited the tunnel, but it wasn’t Rose and Christen standing over a shaking Hinkle (she would have pegged Ashlyn and Becky as way more likely to get themselves into this situation). 

As she approached the group (and the insane cloud of pheromones, seriously they were going to need to fumigate the place)she caught the tail end of Christen's deep rumble. “That’s a despicable excuse for-...”

“I’m sorry to interrupt this-...” Emily said slowly coming up behind her alpha. She kept her eyes down and her hands out, very careful not to provoke the angry hoard any further. 

Lindsey whipped around, gulping to try and restrain her instincts. She lightly grabbed her omega’s wrist to prevent her from getting closer to the scene. All hell would break loose if one of the omega’s accidentally got hurt. “Go back to the locker room. We’ll be there after we finish,”

Emily shook her head, finally looking into her alphas eyes. “No. You don’t-“ 

Lindsey’s eyes hardened as she cut her omega off. “I’m serious Em,”

Emily glared at her alpha, ripping her arm from her grasp. “So am I. I need Rose or Chris because y/n is like having a panic attack,” She practically spat. 

She hadn’t known you for as long as Mal had, but she still felt the omega bond with you. The overwhelming urge to protect one of their own when they were in distress. If they needed an alpha to help you, then an alpha she would get, come hell or high water. 

Christen and Rose both looked up at the mention of your name, as did the alpha on her knees.  The alphas seemed to blink back to themselves, letting up on their emission of pheromones. 

“Pathetic,” the woman on the ground mumbled.

The answering growl from the group was instant, low, and very dangerous. “Don’t you start,” Ashlyn said, her voice deadly soft before looking back up at the two struggling alphas. “Go, we can finish this,” 

Rose and Christen nodded, sending one last snarl towards Hinkle before following Emily down the tunnel. 

****

Christen took in a sharp breath at your distinct scent, freezing in the doorway. The locker room air was saturated with stressed and terrified pheromones. Any remaining anger she may have felt for the asshole out on the field disappeared and was replaced by worry for you. 

Rose moved first, pushing past your frozen mate and joining her omega on the floor in front of you, crouching down to your level. If you noticed newcomers to the room, you didn’t show it. You were stiffly sitting on the bench in the corner, staring off into space. 

Rose gently rubbed your knee, trying to bring you back to yourself. “Hey Kitkat, what’s going on?”

You blinked down at the alpha, your head tilting automatically. “Nothing. I’m fine,” you said robotically and Rose’s eyebrows furrowed. 

She had only seen you like this once, and that was after-... it was too horrible to even consider. 

“Yeah, no one believes that,” She mumbled, using a finger to stop you from showing off your neck. 

“I -...” you started, but the words got stuck in your throat, caught between an answer and a sob. 

“Did all the pheromones bring back bad memories?” Christen asked, finally taking a step inside the room. She had gotten very good at reading you since you had mated and she knew you better than you knew yourself sometimes. 

You nodded, finally looking up at the alpha. Your alpha. You took her in, how she seemed more relaxed (minus the worried lines in her forehead) and her scent was its usual cinnamon and spice. 

The heavy dominance was gone. It wasn’t the terrifying figure that had confronted a monster from your past, no this was your Chris. 

She took another few slow steps towards you. Rose and Mal moved out of the way to give your alpha room in front of you. 

“You’re just so strong. What happens if I push too far?” You asked quietly. 

And finally, the pieces clicked in everyone’s heads. Christen shook her head and took your hands. “I would never baby. What you saw-. It’s different with other alphas,” 

It was embedded in the fabric of the team (and the countries) culture. You never ever forced an omega to submit, but submission had a different effect on alphas. It wasn’t uncommon for them to assert dominance over each other, and forcing full submission was a way to show an errant alpha bow off base they were. Alphas didn’t experience the emotional distress that came with full-blown submission. 

“Promise?” You asked, your voice small. 

“With everything I am. You can poke and prod and make me blush, but I will never do what she did to you,” Christen said, kissing the back of your hand and looking you in the eyes to show you just how serious she was. 

She waited for your shoulders to relax before releasing a wave of her soothing scent and pulling you into her. You trusted her, and you felt comfortable that she would keep her promise. 

If she didn’t you knew about 22 people who would have your back. 

#uswnt imagine #uswnt imagines #uswnt x reader #christen press imagine #christen press x reader

[80s4life]

The Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing

Word Count: 4,438

Status: Not Requested

Fandom: Back To The Future 1985

Relationship: Biff Tannen x Female Reader

Summary: As time is altered for a total of 2 weeks (I extended it slightly), you and Marty struggle to get his parents under control, having problem after the next. But, when an unexpected solution occurs, you find yourself willingly okay with it, soon finding the exact reason as to why.

Warnings: language, fluff, Biff being a dick, slight angst, cute Biff

Masterlist Back To The Future Masterlist

Prompts: (from this list @youneedsomeprompts​)

Y/C/S= Your Choice of Sport/ Your Chosen Sport (you don’t have to honestly play one, just choose one you like or one that comes to mind)

{gif and prompts are not mine, gif credits go to @backtothefuturemovies and credits were given above for prompts!}

No one ever said time travel was fun. No one ever said the job was easy. And no one sure as hell told you the consequences that come with it. Well, at least not before you, and your best friend, Marty McFly, had gone dead-on through a barn, sacred a neighboring family of ‘alien invasion,’ run into younger McFly parents, and altered time just enough to fuck you over for a few days.

I mean, who would’ve guessed right? Your mom just so happens to be romantically interested in you, their child. Well, that was at least in Marty’s case. For you, you had just managed to run into the biggest dickhead of the century, Biff Tannen. Or so you thought?

Making your way out of bed, you automatically go to where Marty was sleeping in the garage, waking him along with Doc up. The go-to plan for the day was to go undercover as usual students in the 50′s, secretly following Marty’s parents around, finding out where they lie in this part of time, and try to find ways into manipulating them together once more in time for Marty and you to get back home. Easy enough, right?

Groaning, Marty goes to slap your hands away weakly, mumbling something along the lines of ‘Just a few more minutes.’ You giggle slapping his hands back in an attempt to wake him up cheerily. Mornings weren’t really your forte either, so any upbeat wake-up is better than a pissy, tired, horrible morning. 

Doc, on the other hand, was happy to return the affection, getting out of bed to give a quick hug and kiss to the forehead. Then he makes his way over to the bed, going to tickle Marty’s feet as you go to tickle his sides. Finally, in a fit of laughter, Marty gets up and goes straight for the bathroom. You were going to argue him, having to use the bathroom first, but decide to just leave it be, heading for the makeshift kitchen instead.

You smile fondly as Doc and Marty play around a while later, wrestling about, cracking jokes. It was only just a few hours ago that you and Marty had witnessed the untimely death of the currently very lively man in the house. Witnessing the blood loss, the machine gun in action, and the bullets that whizzed pass with only one malicious intent: to kill. But he’s here now; he’s safe and sound, having many years until that date will arrive.

With the freshly cooked smell of eggs, toast, and pancakes, the boys straighten up, Doc clearing his throat in an attempt to organize himself, and Marty leaving his shirt ruffled as he follows the smell of deliciousness. You giggle as both men of different ages act exactly the same, piling their plates high and digging in, giving thanks through mouthfuls.

///LATER///

After breakfast had finished, you and Marty made your way to the school, not wanting to be late, and, quite frankly, not wanting to miss a second in the disaster we’re in, wanting to fix it as soon as possible. Upon entering, the building erupts in laughter, tears, screaming, perfume, cologne, aftershave, and lots and lots of both testosterone and estrogen. Fucking high school, you smile.

Going to “your locker” right besides “Marty’s,” you both place the books and supplies that are unneeded inside it and take only the things you need for the first two classes, somehow having those together. As Marty catches glimpse of his father, George McFly, he winks at you, moving to catch up to him. Rolling your eyes playfully, you turn back towards your locker, just barely missing a group of young men some ways down the hallway, locking eyes with a particularly taller man, towering almost everyone in the halls.

You pay no mind, however, being blindsided by three girls your age. Instantly, you recognize the one right in front as Lorraine, Marty’s mother. Smiling nervously, your cheeks tint only a little, being unprepared to see her so quickly, not yet having a plan made up on how you could help tackle the situation with Marty.

“Hiya! I’ve never seen you before, are you new here? I’m Lorraine Baines, and you are?” she asks cheerfully, her books clasped tightly to her chest.

Taking an obnoxiously long time staring dumbfounded, you finally realize you haven’t spoken, quickly recovering with newfound purpose and confidence, “Ah, yes! I am new here! Sorry, I’m just trying to get used to this place a tiny bit. I’m Y/N Y/L/N.”

“Well that’s quite alright, you can come with us!” she says once more in a cheery tone, taking you by the arm and lacing her arm around yours, locked elbows. You smiled, knowing exactly where Marty’s cheerful and people-person nature had come from. Walking down the halls, she had asked for my schedule, checking classes to see what we had together, “English, History, and Agriculture- Hey! You should try out for cheer leading!” 

Shaking your head lightly, “Nah, I’m more of a Y/C/S myself to be frank.”

“But...We don’t have that sport here? There are no girls sports at all actually...” Lorraine says confused. You go to cover it up, choosing to say it was a sport you play for fun at home, in the backyard. However, a beefy arm separates you momentarily from her, as the owner of the harm moves to pin her to the lockers.

You were going to walk away, figuring it was some sort of make-out session in the works, but upon looking at her before going, you notice that the man was absurdly unwanted. 

“Get your meathooks off me Biff!” she screams at the man, his huge form towering her much smaller one. Not taking the message, the pair continue to squabble, neither of them being successful in winning. The warning bell sounds over the halls and classrooms, alarming kids to get their asses moving, but it seems whoever this dick is, he feels he is greater than the school, and god forbid, knowledge.

“Hey, you do realize your not making a damn bit a difference, right? She’s not interested! And, quite frankly, it seems as if no one does! Now, if you don’t mind, could you please be kind enough to unhand her as some of us treasure a piece of mind and how to take a hint?” you finish, quite ticked off as the last bell warns, cursing under your breath as you already know your in for detention on the first day.

It finally seems that he’d caught a grip, thankfully, letting go of Lorraine’s arm and she quickly scurries out of his proximity, taking your hand to lead you to the class you both needed to be in. As you go to walk in, you are stopped by the teacher, scolding both you and Lorraine. Looking at her regrettably, she smiles defeated. So you decide to do what’s right, take the fall.

“I’m sorry sir, I didn’t know where to go as I was trying to find where all of my classes were before I ended up lost every time classes switch. I caught up to Lorraine here at some point, and as she was hurrying to this class, she was kind enough to show me where I needed to be,” you finish, sighing guiltily.

“Well, as you’ve taken acknowledgment to your mistake, then you’d be just as happy with detention. After school, on Friday, as the first week is extremely busy. As for you, Miss Baines, thank you for your help. You are off the hook for now,” the older gentleman finishes, nodding to each of you personally before turning around and beginning just one of the classes you’d have today. This is going to be fun!

///LATER///

Finally, after grueling hours of just a few of your classes, lunchtime had came round, giving you a slight break. Catching sight of Lorraine, you smile and wave, going in the direction of Marty, or Calvin Klein, as you’d heard Lorraine go on and on about. You’d known it was him the second she’d said it, the brand not yet known to man yet; or at least in this timeline, it wasn’t.

As time had went on, it was only natural for the peace to be broken, as a newly familiar face was starting to appear more and more, Biff Tannen, as you’d known his name by now. But, instead of heading towards Lorraine, he makes his way over to the table you were residing with George and Marty, sitting himself right beside you. 

At first, you were trying to ignore him, knowing his presence was there, but keeping your eyes trained on either Marty or George, eyes dancing between the two. Biff, being the everlasting child he was, tried to catch you attention, trying stupid ass things after the other: kicking your shins, pulling your ears of hair, flicking your head, and even trying to tug on the 50′s style dress you’d been forced to wear to play your part. 

Only when he goes to tug your hair once more is when you finally snap, turning a furious glare to the hulking figure beside you, shoving his shoulder in a feeble attempt to create distance. He giggles at this, his body not moving an inch at all. “You can’t be serious right now! You don’t know when to quit it, do you?!” you scream, fed up with his shit.

“Well, if you’d give me the human decency of turning your head when I’m trying to talk to you, then I wouldn’t have to pester you, now would I?” he asks in a teasing tone, no doubt taunting you, but all you do is stare him down, getting lost in a staring contest, daring him to say something again. “Alls I wanted to say was that we have detention together. Just thought I’d let you know since you got me in all that trouble this morning.”  

“Why you-!” And with that, he gets up with a shit-eating grin plastered to his face, prancing out of view and back to the table he and his gang usually sit. Watching the whole interaction, George smirks at Marty, the pair giving an unspoken mutual agreement to whatever they had both caught on to, bursting into fits of laughter moments later. 

“You have a longer tolerance than I do, I-I-I’ll tell you that much,” George says, his usual slight stutter back in place, Marty laughing once more. As George joins in again, you couldn’t fight it either, giving into the childish antics.

///LATER///

To say your week had gotten any better than the first day was a lie. It hadn’t gotten any better, and your meetings with Biff at lunch had only gotten all the more common and all the more infuriating. He’d made it his duty to agitate you in any ways possible, even resulting in whispering something nagging in your ear when you weren’t paying attention, usually doing something in your locker.

Either way, he was on the countdown to Friday, it being constantly on his mind, mentally counting down the days, hours, minutes, and even seconds until the two of you were locked in a room alone.

Unfortunately, that day had seemed to come way faster than you’d like, Friday rolling around quite quickly. School had finished, and you were making your way to the front office, awaiting a tiring 2 hours with only yourself and Biff as company for the time being. You hadn’t known where the room was, and instead of spending time looking for it, you gave up and looked for the office instead, the nice front desk lady leading you where you needed to go.

Upon entering the room, there was Biff in his prime, casually spread across his chair, legs crossed atop his desk nearest the windows. Sighing, you ignore him, deciding to sit on the opposite side of him, the front desk lady giving you a sympathetic smile before she closes the door behind her. You look at the wall, head turned away from him like the plague.

You knew it’d only last so long until he’d speak, the time coming way faster than you pleased. Given it was Friday, you couldn’t even do homework or even study in order to block him out as he started to blabber, running his mouth over stupid shit once more. Inhaling through your nose, and exhaling through your mouth slowly, you straighten in your seat, hands clutching the desk so tight, your fists turned white. 

“Biff, Sweetheart, Baby, Doll Face, Hun. Please. PLEASE. Shut up for five god damn seconds. I know you truly have nothing to say, so why do you insist on speaking so much?” you finally say, hands prying off the desk to turn in his direction exasperated. 

“Well, if you’d just talk to me, Shortcake, I wouldn’t have much to say at random,” he answers, copying your actions and posture. With this change in childish demeanor, you give in, laughing at him in an unexpected rush, running your hands through your hair tiredly. 

Although you hadn’t seen it, he’d smiled in satisfaction upon seeing you laugh, the glitter in your eyes much more captivating than it ever was when he looked at Lorraine. He hadn’t barely pestered her since you’d barreled into his life. It was weird, but he welcomed it with open arms. And for the first time, he learned what it was like to have an actual, clammy-handed, closed throat, warm, cheek-tinted, teenage crush. A crush that left his heartbeat loud and fast, breathing ragged and uneven, and his behavior out of character and out of his control. Lorraine was way under whatever level he’d placed you on, holding you up on a pedestal like you were the sun or sky.

Of course, you hadn’t taken notice to his antics, just thinking he was annoying. Just Biff being his notorious self. But, as you finally calm your breathing down, the giggles fading, you decide to give him a chance, knowing that sitting in silence is just going bore you. Smiling warmly, you say, “So what do you want to talk about then?” 

///LATER///

Grabbing your bag, you get out of your seat, giggling at a story Biff had told you. He follows your lead as well, getting his own as he lets out a bark of laughter at a certain part. You guys looked like idiots as you shoved each other down the halls, making your way out of the school as your detention had came to a close. Sighing as the warm sun radiated on your skin with the light, spring breeze, you stretch out any kinks the classroom chairs and desks had left. Biff watched you intently, your small body easily swallowed by his shadow beside you.

The sun was setting and it was getting late, although you weren’t concerned. The boys knew you wouldn’t be home ‘til late due to the detention you had initially despised. Now, you and Biff were side by side, walking peacefully to his car in the school’s parking lot. For once, he was quiet, great company to have. It was something else for sure, but you enjoyed it. As you came up towards Doc’s place, you’d realized that Biff had drove you home like a gentleman, too lost in the conversation to notice earlier on. 

Sheepishly, you itch the back of your neck, realizing your mistake and feeling guilty for making him walk all this way to now have to walk all the way home. “Ah- Sorry...I didn’t realize I’d dragged you all the way out here. Now you have to drive all the way back.”

“It’s no problem, really. I liked it. It’s nice to talk to someone other than the guys every now and then. And to have A female speak to me instead of screaming,” he answers, now being the one who is a bit shy.

“You do know that you bring that on yourself right?” you say teasingly, now leaning your head on your hands, propped up on the passenger side door. “Not every girl would want to kick you in the groin if you showed a little more respect, “ you finish off with a smile.

“Yeah...Yeah I know. I’ll try harder, I swear.”

“That’s all I ask,” you say with a wink, drumming your hands on the door as you take a step back, waving as you start walking down Doc’s driveway.

“Hey!” Biff calls from the car, stopping you in your tracks to turn around, facing him with a smile. “Uhm- Well- The Enchantment Under the Sea Dance is coming up next week...Would you mind being my date?” he asks, stuttering as he feels his cheeks heat up, nervous as hell.

“I’d love to!” you answer, turning back around to walk into the house. Biff does a little fist bump as he puts the car back in gear, excited for what is to come.

///

Marty was a little less than amused with this newfound knowledge once entering the door and going over the events of the day. It was only when Doc had suggested that the date with Biff would keep him away from Lorraine, giving George the freeway to attract her long enough for their True Love’s Kiss. Then, and only then, did Marty give the okay, shaking his head, but liking the fact that it’ll give George some time, being the nerd that you know and love.

///Enchantment Under the Sea Dance///

Checking yourself over in the mirror for the final time, you let out a nervous yet satisfied sigh, feeling like an absolute princess. You never minded dresses too much, although you couldn’t deny the fact that normal pair of shorts, jeans, or even leggings were your first choice. All that mattered was that you liked the dress you were wearing, it fit you; it was your favorite color, length, and strap(less) type to hold everything in.

Walking out, you grab the pair of heels to match, knowing that you couldn’t get away with sneakers in this generation, painfully grimacing at the reminder. Finally standing, you recount when you had gotten the dress just a few days ago, having gone with Lorraine and the her two friends, Babs and Betty. They were very endearing and supportive the whole time, you not having to worry about being “to picky” as they were just the same. You ended up loving the dress given that you’d taken the time without pressure.

As you walked into the main room of the garage, you heard a low whistle of Marty, Doc slapping him on the back of the head for it. Giggling, you curtsy and spin in the dress. Doc, the gentleman he always was, compliments you, “You look amazing, my dear. Let’s hope this boy deserves it, hmm?” 

As an answer, you hug him tightly, knowing that, by the end of the night, he will be nothing but a dead man at home, in a lonely, dark parking lot. Your eyes tear up just at the mere thought of it, clutching him tighter. Marty seems to be on the same wavelength, going to interrupt the moment with great urgency, trying to pass him a piece of paper.

“Marty, if this has anything that involves my future, do not. And I repeat, DO NOT try to hand it to me. Whatever happens, happens young man. That’s how the world works,” he says in a warning tone. You wanted to disagree, but you knew the truth that was laced beneath it, as if it was a punishment. You whimper instead, pulling him in tighter; Marty looking down in defeat, soon switching to anger. In the midst of it, he storms out of the garage, getting in the car to go pick up who you’d hope was Lorraine for the dance.

“Just let him go...” you start, sadness evident, “He’s just not very happy with the outcome of what the future has in store for you. Quite frankly, neither am I.”

“I’m sure whatever the outcome is, that I wanted to go with it, dear. I assure you, I’m fine,” Doc answers in a consoling tone, wiping the tears that had slipped from your eyes. You knew it was just a mask, no one wants death, but you knew he needed to go no matter how much you hated it. So you nod, not having to say much more as a honk sounds from outside.

“That’s Biff...” 

“Have a great time! Make sure the McFlys kiss!” Doc screams, following out of the garage, scolding Biff from behind you.

“Yes sir!” you scream back, saluting him as you take a seat in the passenger.

///

“You look beautiful Y/N,” Biff says after a while, finally working up the courage to speak.

“Thank you Biff. And you look handsome yourself,” you giggle, the car pulling into the lot. 

He shuts the engine, grabbing his keys from the ignition and closing the door, making his way around to you as you let yourself out to straighten yourself out. He takes your hand as he leads you to the entrance of the dance, you sighing in relief as you catch a glimpse of Marty pulling up in a car with Lorraine. Finally, you relax, grasping on Biff a little lighter and with more meaning now as you have the night to yourselves. He smiles down at you as you wrap your arm within his, something Lorraine does with you quite often.

With the party in full blast, you let loose with the music, dancing and joking around with Biff. At some point, however, he says he needs a drink and will be right back. Although, he doesn’t seem to actually come back. You’d thought you’d seen him spiking the punch just as few moments ago.

Just as you were going to in the direction of the hallways to the rest of the school, you notice Match, one of Biff’s friends, storming out of the gym through an exit. Taking your bets, you follow behind him, soon being greeted by a huge commotion of screams, all of them from familiar people. Biff was in a car with Lorraine, her dress pulled and taken off in parts. He was no doubt about to do something stupid, the fact pissing you off, saddening you in some ways as well.

The others that were screaming were also George and Marty, the pair trying to get Biff to stop before he regrets it. He doesn’t listen, unfortunately, until your voice booms over the rest, “Biff!” 

His head snaps instantly in your direction, the situation dawning on him the instant he looks at your face. You hadn’t meant to portray your emotions so clearly, but your face had shown such distraught and hurt. He lied. He had gotten over Lorraine, yet the moment she was alone, he runs right back to her.

With his momentary change of focus, George finally steps in, “You get your filthy hands off of her!” finishing with a blow to the jaw that knocks Biff off balance. 

Marty looks to you sadly, but tries to smile in cheers as George and Lorraine leave together, motioning that he was going to follow them just in case. You nod, looking down now as your play with your fingers. You didn’t know what to do now as the only reason you were really here was for Biff. You weren’t needed for Lorraine and George, you knew Marty had it.

You decide to make your way home then, as there was nothing else you could do. Dances were just drags anyway, nothing worth while. “Your just going to leave? Just like that?” asks a deep voice, his body having gotten back off the pavement and stood by the car he was pinned against.

Without turning, you answer his question with another, “Why not? There’s nothing left here for me is there?”

“And why wouldn’t there be?” Biff asks once more, no doubt ticking you off at his usual teasing tone.

“Well, let’s see. You. You asked me to the dance as your plus one. I came here as your date. We have a good time, we dance, we talk, and then you come up with an ‘Oh I need a drink’ charade, not returning. Then, I come to find my date in the parking lot, about to get his licks in on a woman he was apparently over with! So tell me, what is left here for men here, Biff?” you finish, tears pooling your eyes over the time, although you don’t let the fall, keeping them there.

He looks guilty, you can see it, but you don’t care. Your not in the wrong this time. But, as your blood starts to cool down, you do notice the look in his eyes, the change in his demeanor, and the utter remorse that has overcome him. He has his head down, fists clenched at his sides, body stock still. He doesn’t know what to do, all he knows is that he’d fucked up.

“Or was this your fabulous way of telling me that you love me?” you finally ask, eyes moving to look up at him in a teasing manner.

He hadn’t expected you to speak, head snapping up to meet your gaze in confusion. Being as you’d looked at him with a glint in your eyes, he finally lets everything click together; you’d forgiven him. His face heats up in bashfulness however, as your words resonated within him as well, hand going to itch the back of his neck again.

You giggle, walking up to him now, hands going to his collar. Pulling him down, he gazes at you in amazement, his own hands falling to rest on your waist. Then, you crash your lips to his, pulling him ever closer. It takes him a moment to get the hang of it, soon pulling you closer to himself as well. Lifting you slightly, he sets you on the hood of his car, the height difference a definite stretch for him. But he wouldn’t have it any other way, you were perfect. Just the same as he was perfect for you.

#biff tannen x reader #bttf #back to the future #biff tannen imagine #bttf imagine #back to the future imagine #thomas f. wilson #crispin glover #george mcfly #christopher lloyd #dr. emmett brown #doc brown #doc #michael j. fox #marty mcfly #lea thompson #lorraine baines

[fluffi]

AN INTERVIEW WITH EXES :: HEESEUNG

heeseung x gn!reader. angst, exes-to-friends!au. 1021 words. toxic relationship warning. credit to @by-moonflower​.

the first installment of this untimed and unplanned series. be sure to check out @/by-moonflower’s skz and svt versions!

[how did you meet?]

heeseung: well, it was fate, i guess.

you: not really, now that this fever dream is over.

heeseung: if you could just put your petty feelings aside for a moment then we could do this freaking interview.

you: i didnt know i was going to have to do this with you. i wouldnt have shown up if i knew it was going to be between us.

heeseung:

[cut]

you: you were running out of your training building...

heeseung: and you were walking with your iced coffee. you know what happens next.

you: you didnt look at where you were going and bumped into me and my untouched ice coffee! i hadnt even taken a sip.

heeseung: it spilled all over my shirt. i was about to apologize but you and your courteous self decided to help me clean up and one impromptu date led to another one. before i knew it, you would wait for me outside the building every friday evening to hang out.

you: i wasted time out of my only free day to go shopping for new clothes with you, and then i wasted that same free day every evening to spend time with you, only for it to result in...nothing.

heeseung: you didnt waste your time back then.

you: maybe i didn’t last time, but now i have. i wasted months of time and money that i put into this failed relationship.

heeseung: im sorry

you: why are you only saying it now?

[why did you break up?]

you: i dont want to talk about it.

heeseung: i..was stupid back then.

you: i think its good that youre admitting that now. a few years later.

heeseung:

[cut]

heeseung: i was having a long day. i returned home to see you there, and i was happy, but-

you: theres always a but.

heeseung:

heeseung: i got scolded horribly that day, nothing was just going the way i wanted it to. and then i came back to see you so cheerful. you were excited and kept on clinging onto me. i dont know...i- i lashed out.

you: lashed out is an understatement. maybe i shouldnt have been excited to see you return that day. if i were sad, would we still be together right now?

heeseung: no. i hate to say it...we were, perhaps, never fated to work out.

you:

you: i need a moment.

[cut]

you: he lashed out at me and told me that i was annoying, unbearable, and so clingy. he described me as a leech. then, he-

heeseung: dont say it. please, dont.

you: ...he told me that we should’ve never been together. apparently i was the only thing keeping him from success back then.

you: i hope you’ve succeeded now. i hope youre happy without me. thats what you were looking for. happiness. i couldnt provide that for you.

heeseung: i dont know what was wrong with me. i ended up calling you, texting you, knocked on your door every night, expecting a response, even though i knew that i wasnt deserving of one.

you: ...and you didnt get it. i moved out on my own, made new friends. i lived my life the way i truly wanted to live it. i wasnt just your “leech” anymore, i was my own new person.

heeseung: im happy that youre free now. i truly am. i was toxic back then, wasnt i?

you: i didnt see it back then, but as time went on, i figured that we were both toxic, each in our own different way.

heeseung: i thought it was just me? i seriously dont think you did anything wrong.

you: maybe you were blinded by your major mistake that led to our downfall. perhaps, i really was too clingy.

heeseung:

heeseung: oh.

[when were you happiest together?]

heeseung: this is easy. the start of the relationship. puppy love does weird things to your heart.

you: honestly, i think everything flowed better when we werent seeing each other as much. i couldnt cling onto you, and you couldnt yell at me for clinging onto you.

heeseung: thats also true. everytime we stayed together for more than twenty-four hours, we ended up fighting. then it led to ignoring each other, then you wailing at three in the morning, then me consoling you and apologizing, and repeat.

you: you really didnt have to expose me like that.

heeseung: your wailing was kind of cute, not going to lie.

you:

[cut]

you: we really did better when we were busy doing our own things.

heeseung: the weekly meetups were enough for us. perhaps...more than enough. it felt like our dates were my hiatus from the real world.

you: yeah, to sum it up, our relationship was a fever dream, an escape from our real lives.

heeseung:

heeseung: yeah, you were my source of joy, until i felt like you overstepped your boundaries.

you: and you were my source of freedom, until you blocked me out from your life.

you:

you: are we finally agreeing on something?

[what was unique about your relationship?]

heeseung: so many things!

you: mmhm. our route of communication was nothing like what our friends had.

heeseung: everyone around us were always texting their significant others, telling them that they missed them, kisses through facetime, cheesy things that we never felt comfortable doing.

you: we were different. the only times we’d meet seemed to either be utopia or dystopia. there was no in between.

heeseung: i think we just didn’t match. maybe we weren’t like our friends because...we couldn’t be, maybe we didnt see each other in the same tunnel of affection.

[would you try again?]

you: from what we’ve said earlier...

heeseung: no.

you: oh, good! i thought you were going to say something else.

heeseung: i think it is obvious that we were never meant to be together. even our first encounter was a disaster.

you: wow, you really have to put it that way, dont you?

heeseung: i was just stating the truth! besides, we could always try again...platonically?

you:

you: i’d like that. i really would.

2021 © fluffi

#enhypenwriters #enhypennetwork #hybenet #kdiarynet #kdiner #lsn.works #kpopscape #kccc #heeseung imagines #enhypen imagines #lee heeseung imagines #heeseung scenarios #enhypen scenarios #lee heeseung scenarios #heeseung #enhypen #lee heeseung #heeseung angst #enhypen angst #lee heeseung angst #enhypen au #heeseung au #lee heeseung au

[pastelsandpining]

Whumptober Day 17

field care 101

“Please don’t move” | hemorrhage | dread

fairy for your troubles - part 1

part 2

warnings: fire, injury, blood, needles, stitching, loss of consciousness

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

Though their disguise was deceitful and successful enough, they were not truly a member of the Sheikah tribe. Sheik was not raised in Kakariko, could not call it a home in the same way that Impa could. The quaint village at the base of Death Mountain had housed them for some time in the beginning, and when their ever wandering feet brought them back, they did not complain. That made it no less painful, no less heart wrenching to see the little town engulfed in flames. Not a single thing moved, aside from the rising plumes of smoke and licking of the flames, which made them pray that it meant everyone had evacuated. Either that, or…

From the knowledge they harbored about Kakariko, there was only one thing short of a natural disaster that could have caused a fire so large and fast-spreading. Sheik stumbled to a stop at the edge of the old well, peering inside with furrowed brows. Nothing was moving, In fact, the bottom of the well was still as sealed as ever, but they worried that meant very little. What they were dealing with, a spirit that embodied the unjust and inhumane crimes of the royal family and thus, by association, this village and its people, would not be stopped by something so small if it had already caused this much strife. They contemplated jumping into the well themselves to try and handle it, because what was the use of a princess, a Sage, a holder of the Triforce that’d undergone the training fit for a warrior, if they could not handle an evil spirit? Except painting the spirit as evil without acknowledging the source of that evil as their own flesh and blood was wrong.

Something was moving. Something was nudging the pile of rocks and rubble and debris at the bottom of the well.

“Sheik!”

Now was not the time for the Hero of Time to come running over, no matter how calming the sight of him could be. Sheik extended an arm to stop his advance as the boulders shook and shuddered.

“Get back, Link,” they ordered when the hero did not stop, because he never did. Dedicated and determined and loyal to a fault, that made him more fit than anyone to be the one chosen by the ancient gods to carry out their will.

Suspiciously, the rocks had fallen still. Things were silent, save for the crackling of the fire around them, and their face covering did very little to stop the stench of smoke from reaching into their chest and seizing their lungs. It was quiet; why was it quiet? 

And then, it wasn’t. 

The wooden scaffolding above the well, what once would’ve held a bucket to transport water, shot into the air with enough force that it splintered apart upon contact with the ground. Sheik tried to back away, but what felt like a hand, firm and icy cold, wrapped around their body and pulled them, kicking and squirming, from the ground. It squeezed so hard that they couldn’t breathe, and they swung them about like they were nothing more than a rag doll. Sheik clawed desperately at the air, at the being they couldn’t see, but nothing came from it. They were thrown through the air, helpless to catch onto anything and break their fall, and they hit the ground hard enough to blacken their vision. Or maybe that was the shadow on the ground, racing towards them faster than they could process. They tried to move, to push themselves up on shaky arms, but the shadow was over them and a sting broke over their back with a sensation so horrible, they were crying out and gripping the decaying grass that broke off in their hands.

Whatever that shadow beast had done made their head swim and vision blur. It was a miracle they could see Link at all as he stood in front of them. How silly they were once, when they were a child imagining the little forest hero protecting them like this, and now, they would’ve liked more than anything for it not to be real. The shadow figure was returning at an alarming speed. Sheik managed to rise to their elbows to cry out his name before Link was swept off of the ground and swung through the air. It was horrifying, the way the gashes and cuts seemed to just appear on his skin, dripping and flinging blood with every movement he was forced to make. He was screaming, a sound that squeezed their heart so tight, it might burst, and all they could do was throw a Deku Seed at the beast. It exploded in a flash of white light, causing the shadow to screech out and drop the Hero of Time before slithering off to who knows where. 

Finally, Sheik managed the strength to scramble from the ground and sprint dizzily over to the unmoving man mere meters away. They wrenched the ocarina from his hip to call forth the buckets of rain that could put out the fires, then dropped it in the grass before them without bothering to revert the weather back to its previous state. There was something far more urgent at hand.

Link looked terrible. He seemed hardly conscious, his eyes dazed and a little dull, horribly unfocused as he looked up at them. Both of his arms had rather nasty cuts, and the wound across his chest looked no better. They couldn’t see his back, but they could see the red staining the grass underneath him, and that was enough to scare them.

“Link,” Sheik spoke, throwing caution aside as they pulled the covering from their face to rip into pieces. It was hardly enough to wrap all they could once, much less multiple times. Link shifted, writhing beneath their touch, and tried what they assumed was to get up. 

“Please, stop moving,” they begged, pressing a little harder on the gash in his chest. Link cried out and squirmed again, like he was trying to get away, but Sheik held firm and repeated themself, “I need you to keep still. You’re going to be just fine.”

But Link’s eyes had started to drift closed, and gods, that wasn’t ideal either.

“Hey,” they spoke again, giving his shoulder a gentle shake. “Hey, stay with me, Link. I need you to stay awake, can you do that for me?”

“It hurts,” he croaked out. The strain in his voice tore their heart into two. 

“I know,” Sheik replied and gathered the tattered hero in their arms, wincing at his groans. “I know, but if you stay awake for me, I’ll let you in on a secret. How does that sound?”

Link’s only answer was a pained cry as they stood up and rushed him into Impa’s house. They didn’t know where she was at the moment, but they were sure she wouldn’t mind them spreading Link out across the table. 

As quickly as they could work with shaking hands, Sheik dug through Impa’s supplies until they found what they were looking for: rolls of bandages from when they were a child, getting injured nearly every day as they learned how to fight and defend themself. How to survive. For good measure, they also took the medical thread and a needle.

“Hey, Link,” they said when they approached him again. His blue eyes pried back open and Sheik sighed in relief. “I have that secret to tell you. Do you want to hear it?”

They set the needle over an open flame to clean and purify it and got to work putting pressure on the worst of the wounds while waiting. Link was struggling to keep his eyes open. 

“I can’t tell you where she is,” they continued in a whisper as if he’d answered them at all. “But Zelda is close.”

That name, their real name under the Sheikah disguise they were forced to wear, brought Link back to the grasp of consciousness. He looked up at them, really looked, and they wondered if he was putting the pieces together now that he could see the bottom half of their face. 

“She’s safe?” he asked, then furrowed his brows in pain when Sheik pressed his hand over the blood soaked cloth. 

“As safe as she could ever be,” they promised, grabbing the needle and threading it. “Tell me about her.”

Anything to keep him talking, to distract him from the pain of the needle moving in and out of his skin, sewing severed flesh back together again. Link pressed his head back against the table with a whimper and they murmured an apology that meant very little when they had to keep doing it. 

“I don’t—“ he broke off, inhaling sharply, “—know anything about her now, but, when we were kids, I thought the world of her.”

His words, a little slurred from his fading consciousness—it was so hard to keep someone injured awake—made their heart pop like it was nothing more than a little carnival balloon. Did he really think so highly of the little princess who put his life in danger so many times, including now? They wanted nothing more than to reveal themself then, assure Link that Zelda was out of harm's way and capable of fighting with him. 

“Anything else?” they asked, just to keep him talking, but they didn’t expect to sound so full of emotion. “I’m almost done, Link. Just a little longer.”

“Have you seen her recently?” he asked, his dazed gaze never leaving the ceiling. 

“I have,” Sheik replied as they set the needle aside and began wrapping his stitched wounds with the bandages. “Why?”

“Is she pretty?” he questioned. His eyes were slowly falling shut, but it was less urgent that he stay awake now. He deserved the rest. “I think she’ll be beautiful.”

And with that, the hero fell unconscious.

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

masterlist | whumptober by day | whumptober by collection | original post

#whumptober2021 #no.17 #please don't move #legend of zelda #fic #fire #injury #blood #needles #stitches #loss of consciousness #zelink #oot #oot zelink #shink technically #whats the ship name for shiek and link #sheik/link #idk man #yes sheik is they/them #i am the author and i select the pronouns

[gay-otlc]

Little Miss Perfect

Summary: Straight hair, straight A's, straight forward, straight girl

Straight hair is most beautiful. Straight A's are most successful. Straight forward is fastest. Straight girls are the most perfect. And if straight girls are the most perfect, and Biana is the most perfect, ae has to be straight. Ae doesn't get a choice.

Little miss perfect, that's me

Content warnings: Internalized homophobia, homophobia in general, cursing, mentions of abuse, mentions of eating disorders, lmk if I should add more.

Word count: 3143

(Read on AO3)

Straight hair, straight A's, straightforward Straight path, I don't cut corners

Biana Amberly Vacker is beautiful, and smart, but that's hardly a surprise. Even before ae was born, everyone knew ae would be beautiful, and smart. Ae's a Vacker, after all. Ae wakes up early to straighten aer hair and stays up late to study, so ae's tired all the time, but ae's gorgeous and ae's at the top of aer class, so does it really matter?

Ae takes life one day at a time, one step after another, because if ae slows down or turns around, everything ae's running away from might catch up with aer.

So ae doesn't do that. Biana keeps following the straight path and hopes the road ahead of aer doesn't wind too much. Make sure every step leads aer to perfection.

I make a point to be on time Head of the student council

Not only that, but Biana's on time for everything. Aer parents make sure of that, but ae probably would be even without their help- Biana likes to plan ahead. Or really, ae doesn't know for sure whether ae likes it, or if it makes ae feel trapped. But at least it saves aer the confusion and terror of an uncertain life. Whatever the reason, ae makes little notes in aer planner for all aer appointments.

And bigger notes in aer journal for the rest of aer life.

Make it through Foxfire.

Manifest an ability.

Get a respectable job.

Marry a respectable boy.

Have children.

Step four... doesn't seem so great, by which ae means downright nauseating, but that doesn't matter. What ae wants doesn't matter. And anyway, this will probably be what ae wants in the long run. Ae's just not old enough for boys yet. Plenty of time for that in the future.

Ae'll be on time for every step of aer perfect fucking life.

I don't black out at parties I jam to Paul McCartney

Biana doesn't break rules- mostly because ae's afraid of how aer father would punish aer. Either way, ae's never snuck out at night, never spent time with the classmates he said were beneath aer, never wore something he said showed too much skin, never ate more than ae was allowed to. Every single one of his rules, ae followed.

If that meant not going to Marella Redek's party because her mother was too "strange," even though everyone else was talking about how fun it would be, ae wouldn't go. Ae would just miss out. Fun.

Ae heard that at the parties, they played human music. What would that even sound like? Fitz knew- he got to go to the human world all the time, but Biana didn't. Still, after incessant begging, aer dad let aer listen to one song, by a human named Paul McCartney. It wasn't bad. Quite good, in comparison to elvin music. Still... ae wished ae could listen to more.

Of course, ae wouldn't. That would be disobeying aer dad. And ae didn't do that. She always had to be the perfect daughtaer.

If you ask me how I'm doing I'll say... Well, hmm

Lying wasn't good, of course. Ae shouldn't lie to people who asked how ae was doing.

But ae couldn't admit to being anything less than perfect.

So ae'd just mumble.

Perfect until proven otherwise.

I was adopted when I was two My parents spoiled me rotten

Okay, so Biana isn't actually adopted- but for years, ae thought ae had been. Always out of place in the perfect Vacker family, because everything comes so effortlessly to them, they're exactly what elvin society wants without any struggle at all. And ae... wasn't like that. Too loud, too argumentative, not quite ladylike enough. Not smart enough, ae needed to work harder. Not pretty enough.

Not interested in the right people.

But when ae learned to stay quiet, keep aer head down, and follow all the damn rules, aer parents seemed to like aer better. Well, Alden did. Della always appreciated aer, however quietly, slipping aer little pieces of mallowmelt behind Alden's back even when he told aer that ae had to be thinner. Whispering compliments into aer ears after Alden scolded aer so much his voice was hoarse from screaming and aers was hoarse from crying.

And when Alden was proud of aer, she would get everything ae wanted. All the pretty dresses. All the sparkles and sketchbooks and sewing kits. Trips to Atlantis or Eternalia. Anything ae wanted, to reward her for being Little Miss Perfect.

Often I ask myself, "What did I do?" To get as far as I've gotten

Some of the time- who the hell is ae kidding, it's most, if not all, of the time- Biana feels like... ae doesn't deserve aer last name, or aer popularity, or any of aer privileges in life. Mentors at Foxfire practically revere aer and aer peers bend over backwards to be liked by aer.

Ae is so fucking sick of it.

Why aer? Ae wants to scream the question at every single person who treats aer differently. Why is ae the one to get that treatment? Ae had never done anything important in aer whole fucking life, ae didn't do anything, and all this praise should go to someone far more perfect than aer.

A pretty girl walks by my locker My heart gives a flutter

Biana is, unfortunately, very well known at Foxfire, and ae thought ae knew everyone else too. But ae's never seen this girl before, because ae would know if they had. It would be impossible for past Biana to have seen this girl and not remember her.

She has dark skin, even darker than Biana's, and long dreadlocks pulled into a knot and streaked with blue. Biana thought ae was used to the beauty of elvin girls- they were all quite pretty- but this girl, holy shit, ae was not prepared to see this girl. Her flat nose and full pink lips and turquoise eyes are all so beautiful. Biana's heart pounds and flutters around her chest like it wants to fly out and meet this girl, and aer breath catches.

Maruca Chebota, as ae later learns, is perfection.

But I don't dare utter a word 'Cause that would be absurd behaviour For little miss perfect

The pretty girl continues walking, seemingly unaware that she's thrown Biana's world wobbling out of orbit. Biana wants to call out to her, to yell, to make sure she doesn't walk away and make it so that amazing high, those butterflies and awe and something ae can't even describe, seems almost like it never happened.

But there are a lot of people in the hallways, and they're already staring at aer far more intensely than what ae would describe as comfortable, ready to judge each and every thing she does. Running to catch up with a girl because she's pretty? Not normal. Not normal for any elf, but especially not aer.

Biana silently watches her turn around a corner into a different hallway and out of aer line of sight, wishing ae could have been a little less perfect. Just for one second.

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na No, I can't risk falling off my throne

Dear Maruca,

I'm sorry. I'm sorry I've been avoiding you lately. I'm sorry I can't talk to you. You haven't done anything wrong, I promise.

It's just... you're dangerous. To my heart, my... my reputation. My throne.

That's not quite true. You're not dangerous to most people. You're just dangerous to me. Maybe you're fine, and I'm just too fragile. Too imperfect.

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la Love is something I don't even know

Dear Maruca,

What if we did love each other? Bravely. Boldly. Unapologetically.

What if I pretended it wouldn't topple me off my throne; or pretended I didn't care?

No. That's stupid. I shouldn't sacrifice all that for love.

This isn't even love, anyway. I don't know what love is, but you aren't it.

Straight hair, straight A's, straightforward Straight girl

Straight hair is most beautiful.

Straight A's are most successful.

Straight forward is fastest.

Straight girls are the most perfect.

Little miss perfect That's me

And if straight girls are the most perfect, and Biana is the most perfect, ae has to be straight.

Ae doesn't get a choice.

One night my friend stayed over We laughed, and drank and ordered

And straight girls would like Maruca, sure, but not in the way Biana does. Not in that all consuming, heart wrenching, feels like ae's floating and falling and spiraling all at once way. Just in a... a friend way. A normal way. Because the two of them would make perfect friends, and anything other than that would end in fiery disaster.

So Biana makes friends with Maruca. Friends. They talk about their Universe class, and play splotching together in PE (Maruca wins; Biana gets distracted by her braids), and horribly bake mallowmelt together. It burns.

Maruca is... fun. It's fun to be friends with Maruca. Ae invites her over to Everglen for a sleepover- Della is overjoyed that Biana is finally making friends- and they have a fun time. Playing games and talking about useless shit and going to go bother Fitz and his friend Keefe.

It doesn't need to be anything different, Biana tells aerself, again and again. It's perfect like this. It doesn't need to change.

Something about her drew me in What? It's totally platonic

Biana can't stop staring at Maruca.

She feels like gravity, a star, and ae feels like a planet. They work perfectly together, orbiting around and around and around. If Maruca smiles, Biana's mind races to solve the mystery of how exactly that smile would taste on aer lips. It tastes good, ae thinks, though that's a stupid thought.

"What are you thinking about?" Maruca asks. "You have this goofy smile on your face, and you didn't hear the story I just told."

Biana turns bright red. Of course, ae can't say I was thinking about your lips on mine, because that would sound... weird. Ae has to keep it platonic, because they'll never be anything other than platonic, and it's not like ae wants that either. Ae swallows, and finally says "You. I'm really glad we're friends."

Platonic friends. Perfect, platonic friends.

That night was so exciting Her smirks were so enticing

"Yeah, I'm an awesome friend," Maruca says, flicking one of her intricate braids. Biana's eyes linger on it a little too long.

Ae clears aer throat and quickly deflects the conversation, still blushing. "You are. Do you want to go downstairs? It smells like something's baking."

"I would be honored to go eat some of your mom's amazing desserts, m'laedy," says Maruca, extending a hand with mock formality. Her gorgeous lips are pulled into a smirk. Biana's breath catches; ae wants to freeze this mental image for eternity. Cautiously, ae takes Maruca's hand in aers.

Skin touching. Holding hands.

It's stupid, it's a cliche, but it does feel like sparks shoot across aer skin as Maruca wraps her fingers in Biana's and starts walking downstairs. Aer stomach flips around excitedly.

Then ae crashes and burns. They are friends. Both girls. Friends don't get this excited about holding other friends' hands. Biana rips aer hand away and stuffs it in aer pocket. Maruca looks a bit offended, but Biana clenches aer jaw and looks down.

It hurts, but ae has to be perfect. No exceptions.

Hours speed by like seconds Then, what happens is iconic

Once they get over the awkwardness of that moment, they slip right back into the fun they were having before. Della's ripplefluffs disappear quickly, and the two of them go back into Biana's room to keep talking. Biana shows Maruca aer sketches- ae hasn't really shown them to anyone before, Alden thinks a Vacker should have a more noble profession than designing fashion- and Maruca tells Biana that ae should dye aer hair.

Alden is going to kill aer, but for once, ae isn't thinking of that. Della would probably say yes, but the two of them decide it would be more fun to sneak out, so they light leap to Slurps And Burps as quietly as they can, in silent giggles the whole time. Maruca decides to re-dye the blue streaks in her hair, and Biana opts for violet. They go back to Biana's room and laugh more. Biana wildly thinks this is the most fun ae's ever had.

It's perfect, even if ae isn't.

She takes a sip, I bite my lip She tells a joke, I nearly choke

Aer stomach is sore from laughing, and ae still can't stop looking at Maruca. She's so pretty, something ae could stare at forever if ae had the chance. The longer ae looks, the more ae notices little details, like the way her braids fall against her shoulders, and how she has barely visible freckles splattered across her nose, and how her hand brushes against Biana's every so often. It's warm, and smooth, and perfect.

Maruca is a masterpiece of a person.

Currently, Biana's fascination lies in how her lips curl around the straw of her lushberry juice. It’s disgusting and wrong and so thrilling as Biana imagines kissing those lips.

No. Stop thinking about that, Biana commands aerself, biting aer own lip to draw aer attention away.

"Biana? Bi? You listening?"

Ae turns red. "Yeah, sorry!"

"Alright, so I was reading about cowboys, except I read it as cowgoys because it was really late, which implies the existence of Jewish cows. So then the thought 'Bar Moo-tzvah' came into my head and I can't stop thinking about it."

Biana snorts; the joke is funny enough on its own, but the cute little smile on Maruca's face and the way her eyes light up nearly make aer choke.

“Shut the fuck up, brain, let me be the perfect Vacker,” ae muters, too quietly for Maruca to hear.

She braids my hair, I sit there Blacking out for the first time

Maruca says Biana's newly violet hair looks beautiful- ae needs to fake a coughing fit to keep from squealing- and asks to braid it. Biana nods, and lets aerself get lost in the feeling of fingers weaving through aer hair and brushing against aer head.

Aer eyes close- ae doesn't know when, but the room around aer disappears and all ae can feel is fingers and this all encompassing, overwhelming love ae seems to be drowning in, blacking out everything else.

Next thing I know, I lose control I finally kiss her but oh no

Without making any conscious decision, Biana spins around, cups Maruca's face, and gently presses aer lips against hers. Their flat noses touch, eyelashes flutter against each other's cheeks, lips kissing. Kissing. It's fast, and sweet, and wonderful. Biana feels aer world aligning perfectly, like this is the way everything was meant to be, and there are fireworks shooting across aer skies.

Biana smiles against Maruca's lips.

I see a face in my window Then my brain starts to go

Everything happens at once.

Maruca yelps and pushes aer back. The door swings open, revealing a shocked Fitz. Fireworks vanish, as quickly as they came.

Biana's world shatters.

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na No, you can't risk falling off your throne

Dear Maruca,

That kiss was amazing.

But it's too risky to do again.

I'm sorry.

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la Love is something you don't even know

Dear Maruca,

What do I know about kissing? It's not like I have anything to compare it too, besides that one time I kissed Keefe on the cheek because I thought I was supposed to. No, because I wanted to. Because I wanted to kiss him. I wanted to kiss him and I didn't want to kiss you.

I don't know what kissing is supposed to feel like. Or what love is supposed to feel like.

It'll be better with a boy. It has to be better with a boy.

I'll know love eventually, and it won't be with you.

You shouldn't love me either.

Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na You can't risk falling off your throne

Dear Maruca,

I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you I hate you-

No.

I hate myself.

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la Love You don't even know

Dear Maruca,

Or maybe I love you.

I don't know.

I probably don't.

Because I can't love another girl, right? I have to be misunderstanding what love means if I think I can love a girl.

I don't know love. But it can't be you.

Rewind, induce amnesia Deny the truth, that's easier

Fitz tells her what to do- pretend like it never happened. That's what Alden told him when he kissed Keefe. Biana snorts humorlessly at that; two fucked up Vacker children. But ae follows his advice. Forget about it. Pretend it never happened. Never address it with Maruca; or speak to her again, really. Pretend, pretend, pretend.

Ae's been pretending aer whole life.

Life continues on, and ae pretends to be okay. Maruca makes friends with Stina, and Biana makes friends with the new girl. Sophie Foster. Sophie is nice enough, but she's not Maruca. She can't replace Maruca. No one can fucking replace Maruca, and no one should have to- ae just fucked up aer only chance with someone that wonderful. But ae pretends Sophie is enough, pretends ae's not heartbroken.

Pretends, pretends, pretends.

Pretends to be perfect.

You're just confused, believe her When she says there's nothing there

Biana talks to Maruca once.

They both apologize in the same breath.

"I'm sorry, I don't know what happened-"

"That was weird, I'm sorry-"

"I don't like you, I was just confused."

"So was I, kissing girls was just something I thought I'd try, a bit of a phase."

"No, totally, it's not like I really like girls or anything."

"Nah, that'd be weird."

They never speak again. There's nothing between them. Biana tries to believe what Maruca told aer. Ae doesn't.

“You're just confused,” ae repeats to aerself. “You're still perfect.”

It's never worth it When you're little miss perfect

Dear Maruca,

Maybe someone else can love you. Someone who doesn't have to be little miss perfect.

#shai's writing #shai types things #kotlc #biana vacker #bianuca #fuck alden #little miss perfect