#like.. they are both deliberately ignoring each other’s plans and it’s so interesting

[starswallowingsea]

Suguru Geto is a fucking eugenicist and I'm tired of people just brushing that aside to make silly gay fanart of him: an essay.

Hi hello JJK tag I have come to drop one singular essay to you and I do hope you'll at least listen, since it is a serious issue that needs to be addressed.

Before we get into the meat and potatoes of this essay, lets first define eugenics and why it's bad. Strictly speaking, eugenics is the movement for "racial purity" that requires the planned reproduction of people only within narrowly defined racial categories, as well as the elimination of undesirables within a population (oftentimes people of color, disabled people, and queer people) via sterilization or death. The movement began in the late 19th century and continues to some extent to this day. You can read more about it here if you're interested.

Eugenics goes hand in hand with other forms of bigotry and manifests in how people refer to each other, including some of the ways that Geto refers to non sorcerers within the manga, even before his death and subsequent possession of his body by a spirit. Geto refers to regular humans as "monkeys" and cleans himself in response to coming into contact with him. This sounds familiar, doesn't it?

This wording is very intentional on the part of Akutami and the translator. Geto is a villain and meant to be someone we see in disgust and while there are sympathetic villains in other series and I'm not going to say that you can never like villain characters (some of my own favorite characters are villains who have done fucked up things before), there is a difference between the two. Geto is specifically a representation of eugenicist, racist, xenophobic beliefs that exist in the real world. He is not someone who is fed up with the system, he is not someone who just wants to fuck around and find out.

This comment here further emphasizes my point. One of the core ideas behind scientific racism and eugenics is the idea of biological races or that people with different skin tones have different, distinct biological functions in their body. An example of this in our world involves GFR production and "race corrections" in kidney tests (source) that are only just starting to be phased out in the medical field. The idea of needing a race correction for something like kidney function is a product of scientific racism and indirectly plays into eugenics. Denying that people are the same race or even species as you because of uncontrollable factors (sorcerer abilities, skin color, country of origin, sexuality, gender, etc) is uh. Not a good thing!

"Monkeys" is a word that comes up frequently with Geto's talks on non sorcerers as well. It's a loaded term and again a deliberate choice on behalf of both Akutami and the translator to use it. Historically, due to scientific racism in the field of evolutionary science specifically, black people and people of color were assumed to be more closely related to monkeys and therefore "less evolved" than white people. It's a loaded word used with intention by Geto and by Akutami in the writing of Geto's character.

IN CONCLUSION can we please stop woobifying Geto as a character. His ideals and goals are an important part of him and watering him down to do gay shit with Gojo is really not what we should be doing with him in fan works. Yes Gojo's reaction to losing his friend to essentially the far right pipeline of eugenics and fascism is realistic and it's okay for Gojo to feel hurt and betrayed by this, but the reality is that Geto broke away because he believed so strongly that the world needed to be cleansed of non sorcerers and Gojo eventually accepted that he lost his friend, no matter how much it hurt to let go. This is an important part of Gojo's character arc and development but to ignore the everything about Geto's beliefs and never acknowledge them, or god forbid make JOKES about this stuff is a surefire way to make sure disabled people and people of color don't feel safe talking with you.

Notes:

I cannot stop you from shipping Satosugu or any other Geto ship. This essay was meant to inform people of the deeper meaning behind Geto's beliefs and maybe help some people see that real life issues are reflected in the media they consume. JJK is not a work that shies away from handling harder topics and this is no exception.

I will not be responding to any bad faith arguments on this post or in my inbox. If you have a genuine question feel free to come talk to me and I am willing to have a civil discussion with you about it, but calling me names or insulting me will be met with a block button so just save yourself the trouble and block me first.

#shay speaks #jujutsu kaisen #jjk #jjk analysis #suguru geto #geto suguru #satosugu #sugusato #stsg #sgst #anti satosugu #<- these tags are intentional bc i need as many people as possible to see this #i dont engage with the fandom in general bc of this specific issue with people just #glossing over geto's fucking eugenics policies and viewpoints and making them into jokes #so uh. this might be a wake up call to some of you. #otherwise feel free to block me my feelings wont be hurt lmao i already block so many stsg shippers as they come up in my notes

[intrulogical]

shakes you. YOU DON'T GET IT GUYS!!! working through intrusive thoughts is one of the best sasi episodes for how much it reveals about logan and remus and yes i am biased to intrulogical but there is!!!! a reason!!!!

obviously beforehand we just acknowledged remus as one of the people logan debated against throughout the series but no THIS time we have to acknowledge how they're two sides of the same coin!! they r the same kind of character!! there's an implied deeper narrative connection between these two by how much remus KNOWS about logan's vulnerabilities and actively pushes his buttons more than any other side does to get him to snap!!!

to explain, one of the reasons this episode is so important is because we gain the opportunity to learn more about remus as a character. in dwit, we're just introduced to his personality— gruesome, random LOL humor, a bother. but what wtit establishes is how he perceives being viewed as a bother AND how his "random LOL" personality is actually more deliberate than what we thought it is.

one— remus is bothered by being ignored. "you're going to pretend i don't exist so i'm gonna pretend you don't exist" is the BIGGEST evidence of that, coupled with the fact that this sentence exactly mirrors what apparition!nico said to thomas. in fact, the fact that these two match completely proves that what remus is projecting onto thomas through nico isn't just thomas' insecurities but some of remus' as well. this is my first talking point on why i think remus and logan are different sides of the same coin. they are suppressed!!! they are LITERALLY fighting for thomas' attention in the episode.

and they both lose. holy shit guys. they r literally the sides thomas hate the most and they literally both lose and thomas doesn't listen to them and!!! ARE YOU HEARING ME THEY R NARRATIVE MIRRORS!!!!!

and second— i'd love to add that remus is proven to be extremely deliberate. people like to write remus as someone "who does anything he wants for no reason" but that's not the entire story. think of it this way: remus HAS left-field goals and aspirations, but he is extremely committed to fulfilling them, which makes him deliberate. his entire thing in wtit is to bother thomas as much as possible, and he stays COMMITTED to that. he has plans and he thinks and he's smarter than what most people believe. why do you think he had a notepad w all his plans written on it????

again, he IS a mirror to logan, not only in methodology but end goals??? like do you ever wonder what role remus serves as a side. and i mean obviously he's intrusive thoughts and we all hate intrusive thoughts, but in essence, each side believes they are benefiting thomas whether you agree with their methods or not. remus imposes his ideas onto thomas because he believes them to be beneficial. in this situation where thomas is at his lowest, remus actually serves an interesting role of being thomas' alarm clock.

what do i mean by that? what i mean is, so much of the series shows the sides seemingly finding a perfect solution for each predicament they go through. but in reality, thomas going through issues by himself is SUPER unhealthy and unrealistic. remus serves as a reality checker to thomas. the more intrusive thoughts thomas receives in uncontrollable amounts, the more thomas would realize that hey, maybe i SHOULD go see a therapist for my problems.

AGAIN, ANOTHER MIRROR TO LOGAN BC I CAN'T GET ENOUGH. logan is the one who imposes the alarms in wtit to remind thomas to do certain chores. these two are basically cues for thomas to actually RESPOND to his mental health issues, but logan is more solution-based while remus is more emotion-based.

AND THEY R WHAT, STILL NOT LISTENED TO! but the important thing to realize is that, w so many implications about them being mirrors, something is Bound to happen, specifically to logan, that would eventually reach thomas and slap him into reality. remus and logan share the same goal, after all— to be listened to and for thomas to recognize his mental health issues. when remus says "gee logan now you're speaking my language" after logan got mad at him, remus is saying "now you understand why i use emotion as a means of getting other people's attention (and i hope you know who to use that against next time)" AND THAT MAKES ME INSANE. REMUS AND LOGAN R INSANE. they r scary powerful as a tandem and may change the course of thomas' life in the future and PLEASE SEE MY VISION Y'ALL THEY R MIRRORS

#sanders sides #remus sanders #logan sanders #thomas sanders #intrulogical #my analysis #sanders sides meta #long post

[chuuya-fan-page]

Dazai and The Flags

Each one of the flags has at least one prominent behaviour or trait that is reminiscent of Dazai

In Pianoman's case it's both his disregard of authority (specifically of Mori) and flippant attitude towards death. Pianoman and Dazai are shown to not care about the orders of Mori, despite his high status, Dazai actively teases and ridicules Mori, and Pianoman is stated to ignore Mori's demands when it comes to his jobs, as well as deliberately going behind his back to give Chuuya more information about his past. Additionally, Dazai and Pianoman both kill with ease (with a few more mental breakdowns on Dazai's part) and seem to have a light-hearted attitude towards the death of others.

For Albatross it's his method of connecting with Chuuya, e.g. being a little shit. Similarly to how Dazai teases and makes fun of Chuuya, Albatross does the same thing. They both get on Chuuya's nerves purposefully, joking with him in order to form a repertoire, a back and forth of Albatross/Dazai teasing Chuuya and Chuuya going grr grgr >:(( but not actually being angry. Dazai and Albatross also find excuses to be around or in contact with Chuuya and tend to get physically closer to him than others.

Doc and Dazai both use unnerving facts to put up a front. Dazai discusses disturbing suicide methods out loud, and says unsettling things, in particular with his jokes about suicide and death, which carries similarities to how Doc casually discusses methods he uses to kill people, or seems to delight in gruesome ways to injure others, such as remarking on how he couldn't wait to slit Adam's stomach open. They also threaten Chuuya in joking ways, although he shows no fear at their threats.

With Lippmann it's the fact that he and Dazai are both proficient actors, whilst it is Lippmann's job, acting is so deeply ingrained into what he does that it seeps into the way he behaved towards others, such as how he is deliberately soft and caring towards Chuuya despite being a mafioso. Similarly, Dazai is always putting on an act, although his is more to mask the fact that he struggles with emotions and empathy, making him appear cold and calculating, he acts childishly, like a court jester. Referring to No Longer Human, Yozo specifically does this behaviour to "allow the humans to endure his presence", which may be similar for Dazai.

Iceman and Dazai show one very specific behaviour, and it's that both he and Dazai are observed giving Chuuya space, from the assumption that their presence infuriates him. Iceman remarks this during the party they throw for Chuuya, saying he hadn't wanted it to happen or for him to be present as he makes Chuuya angry. This scene is incredibly similar to how Dazai retreats after telling Chuuya is he activates corruption that his memories will be wiped. After telling Chuuya that, Dazai offers to come up with another plan that won't involve corruption, and then says he will leave Chuuya to think as "his presence will only distract him".

Anyway I realised this at like 1am and find it very interesting, so here's a splurgy lil essay.

-T

#I love them all #chuuya nakahara #bsd chuuya #chuuya bsd #bsd chuuya nakahara #dazai osamu #bsd dazai #dazai bsd #bsd dazai osamu #soukoku #soukoku bsd #teen soukoku #pianoman #bsd pianoman #albatross #bsd albatross #doc #bsd doc #lippmann #bsd lippmann #iceman #bsd iceman #the flags #bsd the flags #bsd flags #bungou stray dogs #bungo stray dogs #bsd #bsd stormbringer

[dimplesandfierceeyes]

Silly 'First PatPran Sleepover' Fic

On Pat's 13th birthday, Pran ignores him. He may have saved Pa's life a few months ago, but that doesn't mean they are friends now. Even if they aren't exactly enemies either. Still, they've got appearances to keep up so Pran can't just be turning around and saying nice stuff like "happy birthday Pat" all of a sudden. So he ignores him. Which, at least, gives Pat a day off from having to fight him about something. Pran thinks that's a reasonable present for a not-enemy to give.

He's planning to ignore him all evening too, deliberately avoiding his bedroom window as he does his homework, but then he hears Pat saying his dad is taking him and his friends to a gaming arcade. Pran has never been to a gaming arcade. He's never been interested in them, but hearing Pat brag about his prowess on the shooting games makes Pran's interest instantly piqued.

How come Pat has never challenged him to an arcade game competition if he's so good at them? Pat would usually use any excuse to show off that he was better at Pran in something. Sure, it would be tricky to do without their parents, friends or anyone else seeing them, but Pran's irritated that Pat hasn't even tried.

Pran makes sure to ignore Pat extra hard for the rest of the day. He closes his curtains that evening so he doesn't have to see Pat's dark, empty room and get even more annoyed.

The next day is a Saturday, so Pran figures he's not going to have to look at Pat's frustratingly older face (by one week!) until Monday. He's wrong. To his horror, Pat crosses the rooftop straight after dinner to moan about the fact Pran didn't wish him happy birthday.

"And where's my gift?"

"Is your sister's life not good enough for you?"

"Hey!... Low blow..." Pat pouts and Pran tells himself he doesn't feel bad about it. He almost succeeds.

"We've never bought each other birthday gifts. Why would I start now?"

"Because we weren't in a truce before! Besides, it's not just any birthday. I'm THIRTEEN. I'm a teenager now."

Pran gives him an unimpressed expression, but Pat ignores it.

He flops down on Pran's bed.

"So what were you doing before I came?"

"Watching guitar lesson videos."

"You're learning guitar?"

"Yeah... well, hopefully. I told my dad that's what I want for my birthday but he said he and my mum would think about it."

"Why didn't you tell me?? I could have asked for a guitar too and we could have competed to see who learnt it first!"

"You're already learning drums, why do you need guitar as well?"

"Why not? Besides, guitar isn't hard. It's just..." He plays an air guitar aggressively.

Pran tuts. "Guitar isn't just the strumming part. You've got to learn the chords, too, you know."

Pat frowns, mouth twisting slightly. "It's still pretty simple. I could still pick it up faster than you."

"Watch a few videos first, then tell me you think it's simple."

"Go on then. Let's watch them."

"Wa-what?" Pran stares at him in surprise.

"Your videos, let's watch them. Then I'll tell you it's simple."

"You're ridiculous." Pran pulls a face but still goes to pick up his laptop. There's not anywhere for Pran to prop his laptop except on his lap so they arrange themselves lying down because the laptop screen doesn't bend far enough for them both to get a good view of the screen whilst sitting up without it inverting the image for one of them.

Pran expects Pat to get bored fairly quickly, but what he doesn't expect is for him to apparently get so bored that he falls asleep barely ten minutes in. Pran snickers, staring down at him. He could wake him up but surely it would be more embarrassing for Pat if he doesn't? How humiliating, to be snuggling into your not-rival's blankets, face mortifyingly soft and peaceful as your hand clutches endearingly at your not-foe's pillow.

Yes, definitely more distressing for Pat if Pran lets him sleep there a while longer. He puts his laptop on the floor by his bed and picks up a manga he's been reading so it'll be quieter - to extend Pat's embarrassment, of course.

He follows Pat into sleep barely half an hour later.

(He wakes up at dawn with his mouth just a few inches from Pat's. He is horrified to discover that he is not disgusted by the prospect of kissing it)

#bad buddy #patpran #bad buddy fanfiction #kayla writes #I just wanted to post this here too

[llliiinnnaaa]

Reprisal | Chapter Twenty-One

coriolanus snow x gaul oc

Summary: Ten years after the Tenth Hunger Games, Coriolanus Snow is under Dr. Volumnia Gaul’s wing as a Gamemaker alongside her niece. Unbeknownst to either of them, they’re both being prepared for a much greater task.

Warning: This story will contain explicit violence against adults and children alike (I mean, it’s Dr. Gaul AND Snow) as well as explicit language, and sexual situations.

***This fic is in no way, shape, or form, me endorsing or co-signing the horrific shit Snow does, nor am I trying to romanticize it. Also, apathy and will be the main driving force of any remnants of a relationship between my OC and Snow’s character. So if you’re interested in something very romantic and fluffy…it’s not gonna be this.

Thank you for reading, I hope you like it!

     The days following their arrival in District Nine followed as planned.

Tawny retained her grip on her slipping mental wellbeing, facing the smiling, welcoming faces of the Mayor of District Three and District Six with the same stiff lip that only relaxed to offer a facade of cordialness in the disguise of a smile and gentle tone.

No more tirades of her brothers, nor threat of additional reparations, she merely acts as an accessory to the Capitol, allowing Snow to speak all on his own—which he silently thanked her for with a glint of his eyes in her direction at both stops. 

Other than that, he hasn’t paid her any attention, nor has she paid any to him.

They don’t dine together, nor do they socialize with Mr. Marius in the main living quarters together. If Tawny enters the same space he’s in, she either immediately turns on her heel and flees, or he stands and dismisses himself. 

His reasoning is merely keeping peace and proper conduct, acting accordingly as future President who cannot allow himself to be led by his prick.

Her reasoning is her bruised ego, feeling the harsh sting of his rejection.

For months it was him who chased her, fiending for the thrilling high she brought with her like a morphling addict chasing the next hit of paradise. 

She had taken being wanted for granted, feeling hideous and undesirable the moment he turned her away, not looking at her since, unless on their Capitol dealings, and those looks are not personal the way she knew they could be.

Each night she calls home to speak to her mother and father, every other night she gets in contact with Pias, deliberately lewd in her words to provoke Snow—whilst also imagining whoever has the liberty of listening to the possibly recorded phone call turning bright with blush. 

It always ends with her gushing about her love for her fiance—laying the lie on thick to disguise her disgust for the man that had taken part in killing her daughter—her brown eyes glaring at her former lover as he speaks quietly to his own significant other. 

She knows when he’s overheard her phone calls, however, when he slams the phone on the hook and ignores her. 

Little does she know he loses himself to his own hand in the privacy of the shower each night, imagining her wrapped around him tightly, sobbing his name as he punishes her for her ridiculous behavior that seemingly no one else seems to take notice of except him . 

Because she only means for him to notice .

By the time they arrive in District Twelve, he’s seering at the sight of her. 

Adorned in black—a distinct shade of it to express mourning, to be exact—she steps into the living quarters, black gloves adorning her hands, as a smug expression on her face as he eyes Coriolanus up and down. 

“Are we attending a funeral?” He snips at her, Philo halting the sip of his tea as he watches the two of them. 

“I’m wearing it in memory of your father.” She says, casually, wanting to add, Since you’ve forbade us from verbally mentioning those we love that the rebels have robbed from us, but deciding not to stoke him to anger. 

“Go change.” He says flatly. “Something more uplifting.”

Glancing down at her outfit, severing her tongue between her teeth, she finally nods.

“Okay.” It’s nearly strangled leaving her throat in a polite tone, turning on her heels to go back to her room to change. 

Instead, she shuts the door behind her and sits on the bed, taking in a few deep breath to compose herself.

She wants to go home, and the days are stretching by so slowly that she can’t fathom being trapped with him for another handful of them. 

When their escorts of Peacekeepers come to collect them, Snow takes it upon himself to retrieve Tawny, hastily making his way to her door, only for her to open it before his knuckles can make contact with the wood. 

It’s a red dress she wears now, with matching heels, the very color of the flag of Panem and the simplicity of it pleases him. 

No muss, no fuss, no tantrums or petty statements to be made in her attire this time. 

It’s just red. 

“They’re here.” He says lowly, eyes still holding hers, deliberately working not to roam over her. 

Again, she nods, refusing to speak anymore to him.

     Commander Hoff is standing with a proud smile at the sight of Coriolanus Snow as he exits the train car—the nip in the air stronger than when they first arrived—Dr. Gaul and Mr. Marius trailing behind him.

Snow’s cold and stoic demeanor shifts when he sees the man, a genuine smile coming to his handsome face in a way Tawny hadn’t seen in ages from him.

“Mr. Snow.” Hoff greets him cordially, extending his hand to grasp ahold of his former Private. 

“Commander,” Snow replies lightly, stepping aside to introduce Tawny and Philo. “This is Mr. Philo Marius, my exemplary apprentice through the last year as a Gamemaker, and this,” Tawny tenses when his hand holds at her back to usher her toward Commander Hoff once the man is done shaking Philo’s hand, “Is Dr. Tawny Gaul — one of our most prestigious Gamescientists in the Capitol.” 

“It’s wonderful to meet you, Dr. Gaul. Truly a pleasure.” He nods to the woman and she forces a smile, replying swiftly, “Thank you. You as well.” 

They’re escorted in a town car, snow that’s muddied from coal pollution littering the ground, making Tawny wish she had grabbed a thicker coat.

The car is imported from the Captiol surely, as District Twelve had never had anything so fine at its convenience, and upon squeezing in together, Tawny and Snow find themselves too close for comfort.

They smush into the backseat, his long, lanky right leg pressed smug against her left.

Shoulder to shoulder, tight and uncomfortable. 

It’s as miserable for her as it is for him, her smooth skin exposed little by little the longer they sit as her skirt rides up her thighs more and more with each bump in the road or sharp turn.

And upon a sudden, abrupt stop caused by a railroad crossing, his hand leaves his own lap and grabs at her knee.

Upon the feel of his fingers gripped so tightly into her flesh, a shock rolls through her and settles between her legs, a familiar, dull throb growing more and more intense as his hand lingers on her.

No one has noticed, Hoff and another Peacekeepr up front while Philo sits on the left side of Snow, looking out the window with a curious gaze of the foreign environment. 

Her breath grows heavier though she keeps it quiet, her chest rising and falling as he keeps his expression neutral.

Slowly, his fingers creep higher, causing to squirm just slightly, wishing she could wantonly splay her legs open and let him touch her however he pleases. 

Only they stop on the inside of her thigh, barely at the middle of it, a near whimper leaving her when he pulls his hand away, a stroke of his ego occurring when she almost grabs his wrist to keep him. 

But then she comes to her senses, forcing herself to regain her composure, and by the time they arrive at the Mayor’s home, she’s subtly gasping for fresh air as she practically stumbles from the car. 

“Just a warning, Snow,” Hoff says, shutting the car door behind him. “Mayor Lipp hasn’t quite been the same since his wife’s death. She couldn’t handle the grief of losing their daughter and . . .” He trails off, unable to speak of her suicide. 

A tug at Tawny’s heart somewhat surprises her.

“If he speaks out of turn, or appears inebriated , he may very well be.” Hoff finishes.

“Understood.” Snow nods. 

The four of them step onto the porch of the large house made of white wood, Hoff knocking at the door.

While they wait, Snow glances at Philo and Tawny, the latter looking at him like a wounded puppy. 

He nearly smirks, hoping to have gotten back at her for the times she has caused him to screw himself for relief. 

The upturn of his lips fades, however, with the image of her desperately plunging her fingers in and out of her soaked cunt, tears rolling down her cheeks as she tries to deliver relief to herself.

Gritting his teeth together, he corrects the image in his mind, instead replacing it with that of his hand grabbing a fistful of her hair, her beautiful face in the mattress to muffle her screams as he bends her over the bed, buried to the hilt in her, forcing her to come until it’s painful, until she’s made a mess of the entire room, her own spent running down both of their legs.

They’d shower, rest briefly and do it all over again, no matter how sore they’d be, or fucked out she would get, crying but pleading for him not to stop, repeating how good he felt, how she was his.

The already uncomfortable tightness of his trousers since grabbing her in the car, turns painful.

For a split second, the blink of her eyes, she catches him looking at her.

The way he had during their affair, the lust, the want, the longing.

It’s gone as soon he reaches out himself and knocks on the door once more to hurry this ordeal along. 

The door opens, leaving only the screen door between Mayor Lipp and the group of Capitol visitors. 

He’s not even dressed, not truly. 

A white tank top and his briefs. 

Tawny averts her eyes from the sight of the man’s indecency. 

“Mayor Lipp,” Hoff starts, cordially. “This is Coriolanus Snow, Dr. Tawny Gaul, and Mr. Philo Marius from the Capitol…they’re here on behalf of the unsettled nature of District Twelve before the elections.” He explains to the hazy Mayor, his drunken eyes lingering on Tawny before falling to Coriolanus. 

“ You .” He points, lips nearly slurring the single word. “I know you.”

Anxiousness roots itself in his gut, flashes of the past he had worked endlessly to forget, to bury, seem to be dug up before his very eyes. 

At least he assumes. 

“You were a Peacekeeper when those rebels killed my little girl.” 

Tawny eyes shift to Coriolanus as he somewhat feels a bit more relief. 

“Yes.” He confirms, looking to Hoff. 

Awkward silence looms in the air before the Mayor clears his throat and looks behind himself, stepping back to invite his company inside. 

“Please, come in, just…excuse the mess.”

Empty whiskey bottles litter the home, stray laundry scattered here and there, to the extent that Tawny has to toss aside a shirt to sit on the sofa, blue eyes staring as she does so, looking up at him before he settles beside her. 

“Would any of you like a drink?” Lipp inquires, holding another bottle that’s partly empty already. 

“No, thank you.” Snow replies politely despite his distaste for the Mayor drinking so early in the morning. 

No wonder so much has been able to happen right under their noses—the mayor is too drunk to pay attention to much of anything. 

“Why are you here, again?” He asks, next, sitting with his bottle, rubbing at the back of his neck. 

“Rebel activity has increased here in Twelve. With an election around the corner, the Capitol just wanted to establish a mutual understanding .” Coriolanus answers, raising his brows. 

Again, Lipp glares at Tawny, then Philo, before settling on Coriolanus.

“The Capitol , or you , Mr. Snow?” He presses, wanting to muck through the formalities. “Being as you are the Capitol at this point.”

The future President is sitting on his couch and threatening him to ensure District Twelve doesn’t rebel. 

“I’m only a candidate, Mayor Lipp.” It’s humble coming from him of all people, the faux humility to his tone nearly causing Tawny to scoff. 

“Your fiancé doesn’t mind you showboating with his competition, Dr. Gaul?” Lipp shifts the subject, focusing on her. 

Tawny can hear the skepticism in his voice. 

“He’s endorsing him, Mayor Lipp.” She retorts sweetly, as if it’s all handled and thought through.

As if Pias won’t be infuriated with the decision to plant Snow at the head of Panem. 

“Is he, now?” He asks, next, glancing around. “Where is he?”

“He had matters to tend to in the Capitol and was unable to join us.” It’s not a lie, not completely, at least. 

“Hmm.” He leans back, drinking his poison straight from its dusty, blurry brown bottle as the fire in the hearth dwindles somewhat. “I hate to be a waste of your time, truly, but I assure you there is no matter of rebellion in Twelve. Not after my daughter.” He assures them blankly. 

Tawny bites at the inside of her cheek, relating too closely to the way Mayor Lipp carries himself.

If she hadn’t had a reputation to uphold, she too would have fallen into a bottle and never climbed out of it after she lost Tullia. 

It’s now that she somewhat spits in the face of Snow’s order of not getting personal as she stands and moves around the wooden coffee table to sit across from him, adding softly, “I understand, Mayor Lipp. Truly. It’s a horrible thing to lose a child to the hands of monsters.” 

Coriolanus bristles at her words, glaring at her.

Mayor Lipp keeps his face stoic, stern, strong, for a moment. 

Her empathy reels a twisted expression from him as his eyes squeeze shut, tears toppling forth.

Snow sighs out, rubbing his forehead briefly, trying to find how this will be explained:

Yes, the tour went wonderfully. Tawny had a heart-to-heart with the wealthiest alcoholic of District Twelve .

“The twisted part…” He trails off, having to let a few sobs out before collecting himself once more, the sight lodging a lump in her throat. “...We never truly found the gun…or the person responsible.”

Nausea rises at the back of Snow’s throat at the words, Hoff meeting his gaze with an expression of remorse—guilt, perhaps, for not being able to bring forth justice for Mayfair.

The look only confirms to Snow that his expression reads that of sympathy, as well. 

Not impending doom of being randomly found out ten years later. 

“Mr. Snow’s Presidency will prevent anything like you and I have suffered to happen, again. So many believe that the reason tragedies such as this occurred was due to too much leniency from our former Presidential cabinet.” It’s a soothing promise, Snow leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees as if wanting to hear her brag about him closer up. 

Philo sits silently as Tawny goes on, shamelessly stroking Snow’s ego as if it’s a form of foreplay they’re all bearing witness to. 

How protective he is, how vigilant , how she doesn’t fear having more children in the future because she knows they’ll be safe in a Panem guided by Coriolanus Snow …that their daughters’ deaths won’t be in vain because every moment Coriolanus will spend as President will be dedicated to honoring them, keeping their memory alive in every executive decision made.

Hoff nods with each word, fully in agreement as Coriolanus had been his star pupil, his most diligent and thorough. 

She sells him, peddles him, as convincingly as a high-dollar Capitol whore peddles high-dollar cunt. 

Once their visit has come to a close, Mayor Lipp has his bottle set aside, shaking Coriolanus’ hand, thanking him for taking the time to visit—clearly not understanding that this was all mandatory—and he hugs Tawny.

It’s excused due to his liquor-fueled daze, but the ride back to the train is even heavier than it was on the way. 

Snow’s floating from how perfectly Tawny spoke of him.

Floating so effortlessly, in fact, that he completely ignores the opportunity given to call home, deciding to blame it on the snow interrupting phone lines—should Livia ask tomorrow night—stepping directly onto the train, following closely behind Tawny.

She sheds her coat, stretching and yawning simultaneously whilst kicking her heels off. 

“I am freezing.” She declares to Snow and Philo. “I’m about to get a hot shower and then I’ll be back for dinner.” 

“I’m so exhausted I might just do the same and go to bed.” Philo retorts, walking with her until he reaches his own bedroom. 

Coriolanus needed something to do to keep himself from barging in to shower with her, ultimately deciding to go to his own bathroom and scrub himself of the pollution and snow. 

Once he’s finished, he eats what he can, gathering a roll to offer her for his behavior earlier in the morning—his behavior the last few days, actually.

Tawny’s plucking the pins from her hair she had used to keep it from getting wet when a knock at her door pulls her attention away from herself, tying her robe around her before sliding the door open. 

Coriolanus extends the napkin-wrapped roll to her, only for her to raise her brows and glance from it to him. 

Knowing it’s more-so a front, an excuse to come see her, she accepts it and steps aside, not a word between the two being spoken as he reaches around her and slides the door shut, locking it. 

She sets the roll aside, once more reaching her hand up to pull another pin from her head, only to find it’s stuck in her hair. 

Wincing, she pauses, trying to configure how to pull it loose without breaking any strands. 

“Allow me.” He offers, stepping behind her before she can argue, gently untangling the raven hair from the silver, doing so with each one left until her hair is free. 

“Thank you.” She whispers, her voice catching in her throat from holding her breath throughout the process of him touching her so gently, carefully. 

“I suppose I should be thanking you, too.” He speaks lowly, his breath fanning her neck as he moves her hair to one shoulder, causing her brown eyes to flutter close, the hitch in her breath bringing a smirk to his lips as his hands reach around her waist to pluck the belt of her robe loose. “Speaking so highly of me.” He continues, fingertips running across her skin to catch on the silky fabric at her shoulders. 

It pools at their feet, his palms smoothing down her arms, his lips pressing to her shoulder. 

His cock engorges when she grinds her ass into his crotch, her head resting on his shoulder as she assures him, “I meant every word of it,” while his hands grab at her breasts, fingers rolling over her nipples teasingly, causing her mouth to fall open.

“You want me to be President?” He knows her answer, the mere power in the possibility has her legs squeezing together to aid some form of friction, his right hand sparking at her skin as it descends between her legs, circling her slick clit, her hand grabbing his wrist as she fervently nods, whining out a pathetic, “Yes,” before biting into her lip. 

“Aren’t you sweet .” He grins as he holds back his own groan as he looks down at the outline of his cock against the plump curve of her ass. 

He steps back from her just enough to get his hand between them, freeing his length to run it along her wet folds, the thick tip of it having her reaching between her legs to try to angle it into her, the pinch of it pushing a hiss from her as he grins.

It’s a cute attempt, angling herself once more, Coriolanus’ chest rising and falling as he grabs her hips, watching her try to stuff him into herself. After the third time of discomfort despite her throbbing, slickend cunt, he chuckles, grabbing a fistful of her hair to pull her back against him.

“You can’t take it, yet.” He speaks it in a taunt, as if it’s a reminder she’s forgotten—as if the months spent apart has rid her of the details of their time spent together. 

His tongue and teeth leave a sweltering path in its wake on her neck, her hand reaching behind her to wrap around him, his length slippery from her attempts, the action stalling his own movements as she once more rubs her thighs together and pleads in a sultry tone, “Make me take it.” 

His teeth scrape against hers as his grip in her hair only tightens, Tawny turning to face him, wrapping around him the moment he grasps at her, her legs snaking around him, her arms capturing his shoulders, her greedy mouth assaulting his own.

#coriolanus snow #coriolanus snow x oc #coriolanus snow smut #coriolanus snow x gaul oc #young!coriolanus snow

[broodwolf221]

happy friday!!! for morrigan/leliana maybe and from the smutfic prompts: heavy eye contact

happy writing!

amazingly this one did not end up in smut territory lmao. love writing them circling each other tho <3 @dadrunkwriting 1054 words cws: none

Leliana thought she was prepared. She knew that Morrigan would be here, at the Winter Palace. She knew that she had to set... old feelings aside, that she could not give herself over to the soft warmth of memories. She knew all of this.

Then she saw her.

Her breath caught and she barely covered the lapse, arching a brow imperiously before remarking to her conversation partner about the magical advisor. The man scoffed and shook his head, muttering something about witches in the imperial court, but Leliana was barely paying attention.

Why was she wearing that dress? It was just as Leliana had once pictured her in, had described to her. Then, the other woman had brushed it off, but now...? Those at the Winter Palace did not just so happen to be dressed a certain way—everything was painstakingly deliberate and planned out, with fittings and precisely tailored outfits that showed off exactly what the wearer wanted shown. Every single dress, every suit, every pair of shoes made a statement, and so did Morrigan’s.

But what game was she playing at? Was she hoping to prey on Leliana’s feelings? To set her off-guard so that she could make her move tonight? She was the spymaster for the Inquisition and had acted as the brutal left hand of the Divine. She was not the wayward young girl she had been when they’d met during the Blight, hopelessly infatuated with the world and with the beautiful, mysterious woman who had been traveling with the Warden.

Was the dress a peace offering or a weapon? Regardless, she could not heedlessly approach—Morrigan remained embroiled in the court, guarded by her position even with the obvious disdain she had netted from certain parties. Even that they were both part of the Warden’s group during the Blight would not give her the clearance to approach, for Halamshiral did not care about the Blight, about the horrors of it, not anymore. That potential disaster had passed and it was forgotten, replaced by the intricacies of courtly intrigues and the civil war. To engage with Morrigan publicly using the Blight as an excuse would only earn them both disdain and would reflect poorly upon the Inquisition.

No, she had to bide her time and make sure the Inquisitor knew what—knew who—they were up against.

She still felt a chill travel down her spine when Morrigan caught her eye, golden eyes sparking and the faintest smile curving her lips. Her expression was difficult to place—haughty, perhaps? Amused? It was enough that even when the other woman looked away she still felt pinned to the spot.

Prey recovering from a predator’s loss of interest.

~~~

She had been postponing this. Morrigan had been at Skyhold for several days now, making use of the gardens, and Leliana had thrown herself fully into catching up on correspondences and discussing what they had learned with the Inquisitor and the other advisors. But for the first time she had a free moment.

She could find a practical way to fill it, she knew. Could fine-tune her network that little bit more, could determine if she should have her spy move tomorrow or wait until early next week, see if he wasn’t able to overhear more in his current position, but... ultimately, there was nothing that commanded her immediate attention. And she felt the presence of the other woman like a physical force.

So she rolled her shoulders to try and work out the stubborn kinks and proceeded down to the garden, ignoring the startled looks she received on the way. Few were accustomed to seeing her going anywhere except the war-room or the aviary, but there surprise was not her interest right now. And the only surprise she was interested in was not given to her, Morrigan meeting her eyes with the same faint smile she’d worn at the Winter Palace.

Or was it different? Perhaps a touch more coy, now. Or sardonic. Or—Maker, why was the woman so hard to read? “Leliana,” she was greeted smoothly as she approached, nodding. “Or should I call you spymaster?”

“You may call me whatever you wish,” she said, voice a touch sharper than she’d intended. But Morrigan did not look defeated or off-put. If anything, more intrigued. “I have been meaning to speak with you,” she continued after a beat, and now Morrigan was the one nodding.

“Forgive that I do not feign surprise,” she retorted and Leliana had to bite back a sigh.

“I need to know that you have the Inquisitions interests at heart.”

“I am here, am I not?” Not a response, but not a deflection, either.

“This is not the first time you have allied yourself to a cause,” she pointed out. “Nor would it be the first time you have chosen your own.” Morrigan’s eyes narrowed but she did not look away, instead appearing to assess Leliana.

“You have changed,” she said at last.

“Have you?” She countered, although she was taken aback by Morrigan’s contemplative tone.

“Certainly.” The single-word answer was frank but not defensive or aggressive, which was itself a change. She was a mother now—that alone would have changed her, but Leliana had not been sure how. Time, too, had changed them both, time and myriad experience. “It is the nature of people to change,” she continued after a moment, mirroring Leliana’s thoughts.

“So it is,” she agreed. Not once through this exchange had they looked away from each other, but something shifted in Morrigan’s eyes. Once more she felt the weight of a predator’s gaze. This, too, was a change. “Have you been given a tour of Skyhold?” She asked abruptly, surprising herself. But Morrigan only arched a brow slightly, the hunger in her eyes not abating in the least.

“Not a sufficient one, no.”

“Then may I offer one?”

“Please.” The answer was polite but her tone was anything but, and those golden eyes remained fixed on Leliana’s even as she approached. The witch wove her arm through Leliana’s, the outfit she had worn during the Blight doing as little as ever to disguise her body, although Leliana could not forget the dress she’d worn at the ball.

She began the tour, although they both knew that it would end in Leliana’s room.

#broodwrites #dadw time #morriana #morrigan #leliana

[rxttenfish]

Eyyy there! I've been playing Monster Prom recently and got the EEL ending. It seemed pretty interesting to me that Aaravi, of all characters, didn't show up to Miranda's funeral(or at least, there's no Polaroid showing it.) Since you ship the two, d'you have any idea as to why that's the case?(should this have been a deliberate choice)

honestly in the main game i just assumed that like. aaravi and miranda were never that close? while i do mention the fact that aaravi and miranda have never interacted in canon as another fun little selling point for my ship (because i like untapped potential and also rare f/f pairs that no one else is thinking of), its also still like. a decently important thing to understand in terms of where both of them are at in canon and why this ship is just me clutching onto a piece of driftwood.

like i honestly just assumed that aaravi heard that miranda got killed in a coup, went "huh. well that's what she had coming for being a fucking royal" and continued about her day.

and honestly from the outset i dont think aaravi would like miranda very much? this is a feature of my ship as well, of them gradually starting to understand each other more and having their affections slowly form as they realize they have more in common than they thought - but i REALLY can't imagine any case where the two of them start out thinking super fondly of each other.

aaravi hates authority and hates people telling her what to do and is prickly and aggressive even to the people who stand a much better chance of her liking them, and miranda's a blueblood with strict limitations on who she even deems to be a person and a notorious habit of treating poorly anyone who doesn't immediately recognize her as a Superior. there's no way getting around the fact that these two, on just the face of it, would immediately have problems with each other, and while that's why i like this ship, it's also something that can't come out of nowhere and would probably be super out of character for aaravi to do.

similarly, if they were actually starting to get to know each other in some meaningful way that would make aaravi potentially upset at miranda getting assassinated - aaravi's a tsundere. she HATES for other people to see her in moments of weakness, she has a high barrier of trust that needs to be earned before she'll feel even Moderately Okay crying around someone else, and funerals are like. prime location for a lot of other people seeing you at a low point. especially because miranda's a royal and this is a royal funeral we're talking about. if aaravi needed to process that death, then she'd likely be doing it alone, and that's if she doesn't just decide to repress everything and entirely ignore her emotions in some maladaptive way of coping with them.

even moreso because i kind of see miranda and aaravi as two sides to the same coin, if this makes sense? and in a sense, miranda's constant fear of assassinations and betrayals and coups is VERY similar to aaravi's paranoia around monsters and fear that she can never trust them because they'll always betray her and always want to hurt her in the end. both of these were even encouraged by both of their families, with miranda's family obviously sowing distrust for commonfolk and with aaravi's mom training her to be a slayer going tenfold after her dad left them.

if miranda can get killed out of nowhere from someone that she trusted, and she's shared this fear with aaravi and related to her with it, then aaravi is all too aware that that's not a far cry from her own situation, and it's even a validation of her own fears. someone else she trusted could do the exact same thing to her, planning to kill her and executing such a plan after going through so much effort to ensure that aaravi let them in. if miranda's death is fresh in her mind, then why would she go to a funeral full of nothing but monsters? especially if they might see her cry or get emotional, and right when someone else she knew had her emotions manipulated in the same way because she was vulnerable. not only might aaravi be mourning, but she might have a flareup of her own trust issues and paranoia and trauma, and she might not be in the kind of state where she can go to that kind of event.

it also gets all the more complicated once we consider aaravi's relationship to death. killing monsters is one thing, but she's also seen her mom slowly die, and at that point in monster prom, i believe she still thinks that her brother is dead. funerals could be especially loaded for aaravi, and its very likely that she hates going to them from experience, and could have intentionally passed it up, especially if she just thinks miranda's going to be dead anyways, and no amount of sitting around at a funeral with a bunch of other people is going to bring her back or make them even care. it might not even be about miranda herself, and moreso just that aaravi's relationship to death is already complicated as-is.

but yeah. most of this is just speculation on my part and because i'm out here propping up miravi as a ship, but my opinions on why they didnt do it in-game is just that miranda and aaravi have never interacted and thus aaravi wouldn't care enough to go.

#all the care guide says is 'biomass' #asks #anon #i. am very sorry if this isnt the answer youre looking for- #funnily in my own lore with the merkingdom and miravi and everything #aaravi still wouldnt go to miranda's funeral but for a WILDLY different reason #namely: taking vengeance out on the vanderbilts themselves #but im not spoiling my own lore here because that wouldnt be fun- #Monster Prom #Miranda Vanderbilt #Aaravi Mishra #miravi.txt

[undead-potatoes]

So! Tell me about Aurora! Did they have a life before the Urge came calling? How has their journey been through the game? Are they romancing anybody or do they have any other significant bonds?

I hope you don't mind, but I decided to split this into two posts. You asked about her journey through the game, and suddenly I had written 1400 words that didn't fit with the rest. So uuh yeah, here's the first and the last question at least!

I'm still a little unsure about her life before the Urge. There's the few "canon" things we're given through bits of dialogue (like murdering their parents as a child), but I honestly don't tend to get too caught up in canon if I want to do something different.

She had a lot of nightmares as a child (thanks dad), and it made her a very skittish and nervous child. In combination with minor Urges which made her say and sometimes do off-putting shit, I imagine she wasn't exactly a social butterfly. Like once she probably bit someone when the Urge overtook her, but bc they were baby urges and she was like 6-years-old it didn't really do much but alienate her.

But I think she was otherwise a good kid, doing her best and loved by her adoptive parents, even if they probably worried about her a lot.

I kinda like the idea of her being slightly older, someone who briefly escaped her heritage due to Bhaal's death before he returned in full, and the Urge became too strong to ignore. To have the Urge hovering around in the background her entire life, but always being able to repress it, until she suddenly couldn't.

Idk there's just something to the tragedy of being so close to escaping your predestined fate, when in reality it was always going to end like that, on way or another. You never truly escaped anything, you simply just delayed the inevitable.

She could still have murdered her family, still living with her adoptive parents and possible siblings, or maybe she had her own family by then. Either way, Bhaal would have wanted them out of the way.

The Urge building and building, sending her flip-flopping between moments of bloodlust and lucidity filled with fear, until the Urge took her away completely.

(Would the Urge even work like that for any of this? Who cares, just gonna do as Larian does, my city now).

TL;DR: I don't even know, it's still stewing in there.

- - -

Though I've watched like every Durge related video on YouTube, I haven't actually played very far in Aurora's playthrough, mostly bc I'm waiting for Larian to stop breaking the game with every new patch 🙈

Meaning I haven't actually had a lot of time with her interacting with the companions and gotten a good feel for where they're at.

Wyll and Shadowheart are possible candidates for some at least surface level boding. Like Wyll's whole "self sacrifice for the good of others" thing, and with Shadowheart they both have been brainwashed and forced into cruelty in service of an evil god.

And Karlach bc I love her and I said so.

Maybe some more interesting dynamics will pop up once I really get in there with her 🤔 (Larian fix your shit already, I want to plaaay)

There's also Jay who's already wrangling every other companion and their problems, so I'm sure he'll have some fingers in her pies too eventually (it's what he does, after all).

-

The only solid relationship to have formed in my head as of yet is her romance, and bc I'm as original as a pair of earbuds from AliExpress, she eventually starts a thing with Astarion.

He initially sees her as an easy target, a shy and possibly meek person quite literally removed from the others at camp (a deliberate choice on her part), but it doesn't go quite as he had planned.

I've written a whole post about it that's hanging out in my drafts, but tl;dr: he tries to bite her, but she wakes and angrily sends him away. She later comes to him one night, panicked after the Murder At Camp™, and he (begrudgingly) agrees to help her with the body. This begins this weird partnership where they keep each other's secret, and she lets him drink from her as thanks for helping her.

Their relationship is a bit rocky at first, like they don't hate each other or anything, but there's a fair share of bickering and such. She can be a bit blunt, and is too impatient and exhausted from the urge to deal with his very obvious mind games, tiredly telling him "stop trying to seduce me, you already have what you came for".

When he offers to sleep with her at the party, she thinks "why not". They're already putting each other at risk, so might as well have some fun with it. He might have tried to bed her sooner if she hadn't been so blunt and unapproachable, but it did also give him some time to rethink his strategy. Based on finds with the freecam during his party sex scene, he has set up a lil spot on a blanket, with wine and maybe some food, in an attempt to seem more genuine, which admittedly she does find a little cute.

Ultimately it's all the bits in between, the quiet moments after feeding or sex that gives them an excuse to talk, and they realize they enjoy each other's company a lot more than they first thought. She vibes with him a lot more when he's being genuine, something she sees more of when he's fed and generally less guarded.

She've kept her distance from the others bc of the urge, in fear of either harming someone, or being discovered through the tadpoles somehow. It puts her on edge constantly, but Astarion already knows, and she knows he doesn't judge her for it, so she's more at ease too.

Aurora can become ride or die pretty fast, especially in combination with other intense personality traits (hello devotion), and I think maybe Astarion picks up on that and thinks he can use that to his advantage. At least until he too accidentally catches feelings and becomes pretty ride or die himself lmao. Great job idiot.

Which is also when her more self sacrificing nature goes from something that could be to his advantage, to something that actively upsets him. Stop it! Stop sacrificing yourself for others who probably don't even deserve it! Stop putting yourself in situations that could take you away from me for no good reason.

They're note super lovey-dovey either. Like sure there's romance and tenderness there, but there's also some clash of personalities ("stop being an asshole" "stop trying to be such a bloody hero"). Nothing too bad but there's definitively something for them to work on.

This became the Aurora and Astarion post, sorry about that (not really). I hope to have some better answers to these in the future, my brain is still cooking (unfortunately it's a slowcooker).

#Sunny Answers #mightymizora #ty for asking! #OC: Aurora Dawnbringer #BG3 Spoilers #BG3 Dark Urge Spoilers #this has been sitting p much finished in my drafts for 3 days I just forgot to publish it 🙈 #anyways sorry this took me like a week to reply to my attention span is non-existent after covid (yaaay) #now I just gotta get the middle part finished and posted lmao #also to anyone who read all of this; your hand in marriage please

[themattress]

Damn it, this movie just won’t leave me alone!

This is sort of a follow-up to this post, where I analyzed that the primary reason critics of the film hated it, beyond getting overtly invested in the culture war surrounding TLJ, was due to them realizing that Disney/Lucasfilm never had a solid plan for the trilogy (not that George Lucas did for his movies either, but still) and no overarching creative vision other than one that was tragically sabotaged by life (make Carrie Fisher / Leia the star of Episode IX and the one who holds the key to resolving the trilogy and whole saga). That’s what leads to them accentuating the negative qualities of the movie while downplaying or flat-out ignoring the positive qualities (and sometimes turning positives into negatives due to their willful lack of understanding or imagination). And they’re entitled to their opinions, though I wish they’d fully own it rather than hold any pretense of objectivity, but what I am coming to realize more and more is that I don’t just disagree; I am the diametric opposite in how I see the whole situation.

Critics and fans were so invested in this idea of a super cohesive trilogy following a planned story, but I wasn't because I knew almost immediately that this wasn't the case. There were different directors attached to each movie and no single screenwriter attached to all of them, plus Kathleen Kennedy was not in a creative oversight position nor did she have anyone else like, say, Dave Filoni filling one. Obviously they were making it up as they went along, so my main concern was on the films individually and whether they created a good Star Wars experience. And TROS is the purest of Star Wars experiences: no quasi-remaking of a previous film or pushing an eccentric auteur-driven agenda, it just has fun and revels in its cheesy goofiness and wholesomeness; it’s what the franchise was literally founded upon.

Critics and fans were invested in the internal lore lining up and making sense; in the usage, behavior and outcomes of certain characters; in the culture war and social ramifications following TLJ, and I was absolutely not. I knew that the lore is Play-Doh prone to being remolded on a whim and that all the finer details in the movies rarely make sense until supplementary material is made to do so; I knew that finding the characters interesting and enjoyable was more of a priority to me than holding firm to any pre-conceived notions; and I fucking hated the culture war and felt like for the most part both sides were making mountains out of molehills. Freed from those burdens, TROS’ creative choices didn’t bother me much.

Critics and fans HATED Palpatine being brought back since he wasn’t anywhere to be found in the previous movies, he brought the trilogy’s conflict back to familiar ground after TLJ started breaking new ground, and he was used as a key puzzle piece to elements such as Rey’s lineage and Kylo Ren’s redemption. But I concur with this post; Palpatine is one of the greatest fictional villains of all time and I am 100% OK with any means of getting to see him and Ian McDiarmid’s pitch-perfect performance as him on screen, and if Disney/Lucasfilm wanted me to buy this new trilogy as the final third of a nine-part “Skywalker Saga”, there was no better way to do it than having its Big Bad be the same one from the previous trilogies. 

Critics and fans just adored TFA and TLJ and I just didn't get it. Not that I don't also like them or think they're bad movies; far from it! But a modern remake of A New Hope and a deliberate attempt to make a new The Empire Strikes Back (in a different way than literally remaking it) just don't strike me as cinematic masterpieces. TROS certainly isn't one either, but it's not trying to be, it's just trying to be a good time. And while critics and fans deem TROS to be a disappointing ending because it didn't meet their expectations, my expectations were low. Barring a complete perversion of Star Wars' core morality come straight out of a bad fanfic or old EU project (so, what Colin Trevorrow's plan was), I was willing to accept any ending, and I was pleasantly surprised I enjoyed the one we got as much as I did. It helps that, like J.J Abrams and Chris Terrio, I did my homework on the creation of Star Wars and all the junk it borrowed for inspiration with reckless abandon, so I caught on to what TROS was up to right away; from a purely out-of-universe perspective it’s the perfect way for Star Wars to end!

It really is exactly what this post said, except that I didn’t have to “unlearn what I have learned” because I never let myself learn it to begin with. I just looked at Star Wars with unclouded eyes and took it for all that it is, the good and the bad. That’s why I love TROS.

#Star Wars #The Rise of Skywalker #Opinion #Analysis #Comparison #This has been a PSA

[gillianthecat]

I thought someone commented on one of my Theory of Love posts that it got much better in the second half, once we started getting Khai's perspective. Either they deleted it or I read it somewhere else because I can't find it anymore, but regardless I think I will end up agreeing.

I'm only halfway through episode seven, but it's all become a lot more interesting and I'm starting to really like Khai. My working theory on Theory of Love is that it's trying to do a lot of interesting and nuanced things with flipping expectations and perspectives halfway though (I mean, Third's favorite romance movie is literally called Flipped) and in that attempt it possibly bit off more than it could chew.

My current hypothesis is that they were deliberately going for exaggerated college frat bro type comedy in the first half in order to increase the contrast of the second half, or possibly even to deconstruct/critique that in some way. And that may end up working for me after I've seen everything, but at this point, even with the flip, I still found all the frat bro behaviors too annoying and Khai to much of an inconsiderate asshole to understand why Third was in love with him in the beginning.

Of course, some of this could be the problem of everything being filtered though translation - perhaps I would have a different impression of him if I understood Thai. And it isn't keeping me from liking him in the second half - the show feels just disjointed enough that I can ignore some of the stuff that doesn't work for me as unsuccessful attempts at something ambitious. I feel like it's a show where I can see the seams, which in some ways makes it more interesting. Especially given it's about filmmaking, and overtly referencing other films.

All the misogyny stuff I will wait to analysis after I'm done. I'm hoping it was a set-it-up-to-knock-it-down type situation, but I'm not feeling confident that it was. But at least the overt misogyny has lessened now that all four boys are distracted by other things. All along I've liked the dynamic between the four of them, and the specificity to each individual relationship inside the group. Which is part of why I'm hopeful that the misogyny is going to be deconstructed, or at least jettisoned - it didn't really fit with everything else about the boys.

I'm excited about the romance between Two and Un, I think mostly because I was not expecting it at all. (Maybe if I'd seen the trailer or looked more closely at the MDL page I would have.) My initial expectation for Un was actually that he was interested in Third, and that would finally spur Khai to notice Third/act on it. And it seems that's still sort of the plan - I'm paused in the middle of the auction scene. But Un's to obviously into Two for him to be Khai's rival for Third.

I am starting to like Khai a lot now, and I'm finding his journey of figuring out who he is and what he really wants interesting and nuanced. It's making me think about Teh from I Told Sunset About You, although they're pretty different characters. And playing this version of Khai seems to suit Off better.

I also like where I think they're going with the plotline of Bone and the Professor. They could ruin it later on, but so far it's developing into a very interesting mentor/mentee relationship, and I appreciate the way they're showing Bone deal with his complicated emotions about all that.

I'm enjoying Shane as this unexpected wise elder figure that came out of left field. Are he and the beach bar owner cameos by big name actors? They both kind of have that feel to them.

#liveblogging theory of love #theory of love ep 7 #theory of love #theory of love the series #gillianthecat liveblogs bl #gillianthecat reacts to bl #reaction by gillianthecat #wow that's a lot of words #not that many but more than I thought I'd write

[vanillajunmyeon]

So fun things, I did write a couple of posts about a guy at work I found hot (and I wrote easily dozens of tweets on my priv about him and how much I found him attractive and so on)

And I did try to be brave, after months of looking at him from afar and vaguely flirting and having several people lowkey know something was up (and also him literally telling me his roommate had left and he was alone at his place the day before). I asked him out (while he was also asking me out which was funny - like him telling me we can do something together if you want, me ignoring him and going forward until I said my whole speech which did end up in telling him we should hang out. Funny indeed), and the set up was sort of very normal for a first date.

After asking him out, I kind of freaked out; I was happy, at least that’s how I understood it, but I saw him by chance after work outside and I practically ran away from him, minutes away from having a panic attack. I genuinely thought I was just apprehending the... date? we were supposed to have. But then, I also avoided him the next day - which he noticed (he sent me a message saying we didn’t really see each other today, maybe it was his fault for being too much in the office but it was 100% deliberate on my part). I think at one point we saw each other and he gave me a sweet grin but nothing more.

The day after that was the day of the date and I also spent the day avoiding him even more. In the evening however was the moment for the date so I couldn’t exactly avoid him anymore. We went to a bar, as planned, had a drink, talked a bit. Sure it was pretty awkward, and he is a quiet guy, so I spent a lot of time talking and him listening to me, which wasn’t a bad thing, technically. He also seemed pretty open-minded and not judgemental, and while we didn’t have many (or any) interests in common, we did seem similar fundamentally (shy, on the quiet side, introverts, ...)

The rest of the date was a bit more into unknown territory, as I went to his place so that he could teach me some salsa steps (yes this was my excuse to see him after work). Mind you he was literally leaving in two days, but his place was pretty nice. We danced for a short while and it was fun. A bit awkward, and I did think we had some sort of chemistry at the time. I wasn’t feeling much, besides how nervous I was. He did do something very uh romance novel worthy which was gently rubbing the hand he was holding while we were dancing, which I noticed but I do believe I was kind of dissociating at that point. I couldn’t look at him in the eyes and spent almost the whole time looking at my feet.

He invited me to eat after that, and cooked for me. It was very nice, we hung out more, stargazed. All in all very romantic, I suppose, and we were both very nervous and antsy. And I just... I think he tried to make us dance again (he noted I didn’t seem to want to - he was right lmao) and I was so antsy to leave, so I just... did. He drove me home, we looked at each other when I got out of his car, but I just awkwardly thanked him and left. And see he did greet me by kissing my cheeks at the beginning (french people style) and we should have done that when I left but I really did not want to.

Funnily enough after going home I could finally feel something (I guess??) other than anxiety, so I shared the details with a friend and complained about him not kissing me - when I had practically run out of his car minutes prior.

The next day, I kinda hung out near him at lunch - but I could not fathom being near near him, and after we had a moment when we were alone, and I genuinely could not stand it, even my body language must have been obvious, I was running away from him and did not want to be alone with him. He on the other hand seemed to want to spend time with me. I didn’t, and it was his last day, so I left without telling him goodbye - we did vaguely talk during that day but that’s it. I apologized for that and told him I was happy to have met him, and he again made me understand he had noticed my behavior and replied in kind. We haven’t talked since, and I am glad for that.

BUT my big question comes from that encounter. I spent months fantasizing about the guy, finding him hot, in a way that I thought was genuine, I wanted to be with him, or so I thought, again, and he was very kind, if a bit quiet and awkward, good looking, a good party even, if one considered material means (his family was well off, apparently was not rushing him to have kids even though they were nagging him about being in a relationship)

So really, I was wondering why exactly, I couldn’t find it in me to keep liking him. A friend told me, after I told her how I felt after the date, that we weren’t going to get married and that we could date even if we didn’t have the same exact goals in life. But that was just another thing I clung to, to have another excuse to not like him. Because I had a list, and I compiled it even before I asked him out. Some things were totally hypothetical (imagine he does this and that and it grosses you out), others a bit more real, but it was something I had done spontaneously, as if to disgust myself from dating him.

And the thing is, it kind of... didn’t happen like that. He was really respectful and kind and didn’t give me any ick, per se. He was genuinely pleasant, even if we were both awkward (I think he imagined I was an extrovert and not shy but boy he realized it was in fact not true; I did my best though). Like. Logically, I should have kept liking him. I thought he was hot, and he was nice and kind and sort of funny in an awkward way, he was thoughtful and empathetic and never forced me to do anything (the bar is below the ground I KNOW). And it was just one date, we can get to know each other later, right?

Wrong. I was (and me avoiding him for two days after asking him out should have been a sign) not only terrified at the idea of dating him, I was disgusted. Like genuinely grossed out. Out of nowhere, since he had not given me a reason to dislike him. And, funnily enough, it reminded me of my history trying to date men, going on a date and being scared the activities we were doing could be seen as romantic even if I was supposed to like the guy and was the one who asked him out, apprehending talking to a guy who was really nice and ghosting him for absolutely no reason even if we had tastes in common and he was even bi, literally confessing to a guy and being genuinely weirded out when he let me down using words like us, engage, relationship (we all remember this, and I was wondering where the us, the engage and the relationship were coming from - i talked about it to a friend and he told me wait you confessed but you didn’t want to be in a relationship with your crush? and i really was like shit... no I didn’t)

This, coupled with the fact that I spent the entire date thinking about that one first date I had with a girl - no okay she is very special I still have a vague crush on her and I hate myself for it - I was like well fuck.

So my conclusion was that I am, in fact, a lesbian (or aroace but I really think I feel sexual attraction and have practically dated some girl friends in the past without the dating part gkjdghjkd) and ever since I started thinking that, it has been so freeing, like I finally feel a bit less anxious around men because I’m not trying to overanalyze every single emotion I feel around them and imagine that I have a crush on them (which is common to me I always think that when I interact with a a dude and I feel anxious. I must have a crush on them lmao).

It does feel good like, not gonna lie I still do not know if it is the right label, but I really am currently doubting I’ve ever been genuinely attracted to men. Because I really had a man I thought was hot be into me and seemingly ready to court me in a respectful manner and I just went ew this is not possible goodbye. And all I felt was just guilt. I felt bad for him. That is it. If I never see him again i will be fine, even happy and he did not do anything to deserve this. But knowing this is so so so freeing.

#bffs i really made being bi my whole personality for years #i have a flag (it is pretty) at home #and now i'm just like oops... hahaha what if i'm a lesbian... #which okay is something i have been wondering about since i was 7 years old #and i genuinely wondered about it when i was around 20-21 again #and now AGAIN except it does feel a bit more certain #i still have my ridiculous crush on the girl i had a fantastic first date with #but in my defense we are still talking pretty often i just do not know how to show interest in people #the next ep of this mess will be is leo ever going to have a gf and the answer is unknown #racontage de vie #no but really just me describing a nice date with a man and going oof. lesbianism

[michaels-two-dads]

c!Beeduo miscommunication strikes again

They are both trying to protect the outpost, but since they never COMMUNICATE, they’re going for completely different strategies.

As we have seen with Snowchester, c!Tubbo believes that the way to protect yourself is to be intimidating and powerful. He created the nukes for “self-defense”, because he’s learned the hard way that the only way to survive is to make others fear you. With the outpost, originally tried to go for a peaceful bystander approach with the cookie shop, but when that didn’t work, he gave up on it and switched to fortification. He built walls around the outpost just like he did around Snowchester, he set traps, and he lied to make himself seem like more of a threat (when he told Fundy there were “like six” people involved in the outpost).

c!Ranboo believes that the best way to protect yourself is to stay out of conflict altogether. He learned the hard way that trying to be involved in big events only results in bad things happening, so now he stays as disconnected from it as he can. This is why he is so attached to the cookie shop idea- by portraying the outpost was a harmless cookie shop, he hopes to keep a neutral image for Tubbo so that he’s safe. He doesn’t understand why Tubbo is making the walls, because he regards calling attention to themselves as the most dangerous thing to do. (*coughs* He did do the sign thing though but that’s a whole other thing. *coughs*)

Neither of of them actually talks to the other about their plans, they both just do it, resulting in an intimidating fortress with a hastily-built cookie farm inside in a confusing mix of messages.

#Beeduo #they are literally trying to do the same thing but they refuse to communicate EVER UGHHH #I’m really enjoying the semi lore lately though #like.. they are both deliberately ignoring each other’s plans and it’s so interesting #Dream SMP #dream smp analysis #tubbo #Ranboo #c!tubbo #c!ranboo

[beyondspaceandstars]

hello writer!! i was wondering if you could do a fluff arranged marriage loki oneshot with the prompt “can we makeout now?”

thanks for considering!

Dating and Marriage

Relationship: Loki x Reader

Warnings: N/A, just fluff!

Word Count: 1.9k

A/N: alright i hope this is okay and ended up well i love the arrange marriage AU and i thought i was gonna be better at putting this together but maybe its clunky or something idk i still like it so i hope you do as well!

Masterlist

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

It had taken you a while to get somewhere in your relationship with Loki.

When the two of you were informed you had already been promised to one another before either of your births, you weren’t too shocked. As both of you came from royal standings, arranged marriages were far too common for a variety of reasons. In your case, it was to cement a peace treaty.

Sure, at first, you and Loki were very annoyed with the decision, especially since neither of you was ever even given the chance to be in on the conversation but that annoyance wasn’t allowed for very long. You two were adults now and had to take on your royal responsibilities as such. That responsibility included following through on the outlined marriage.

Loki didn’t seem to harbor any malice towards you and you never held anything against him. But, still, it wasn’t like you two were in love. You were tolerating one another.

And for a while, that toleration was enough. As a couple, you were quite poised in public. Sometimes you thought maybe it was hard for others to believe it was an arranged marriage based on how much you seemed to accept each other’s company. It was okay at times, you felt like you had a friend. Being a royal in a whole new palace could be lonely. Loki at least would spare you some time to sit and chat.

But this unusual friendship you two had started after the wedding was growing into something else for you day by day. And as much as he probably wanted to deny it, you could see something shift within Loki. He’d look at you differently. Reach for your hand when out of the public eye. Even began inviting you to spend his leisure time with him.

There was no avoiding the fact you two were headed on a different course than originally planned in this arrangement and despite its prevalence, you two didn’t speak about it. But you were growing greatly tired of ignoring it.

"We should go on a date," you suddenly said one afternoon. You and Loki were sitting in the library. He was in his favorite chair, consumed with some fairytale while you were seated on the couch across from him, in the process of knitting…something. You didn’t know what — you had only taken up knitting because you had heard other princesses did it. Making scarves had become all the rage.

You could feel Loki eyeing you suspiciously as you tried working on another stitch.

Eventually, he placed his book to the side and spoke. "A date?" Loki echoed.

You shrugged, not taking your eyes off the yarn. "Yeah, a date. You know, just the two of us. We could go out or — or maybe make some dinner here. I’ve been having the kitchen servants teach me about cooking."

"I know what a date is," he sighed. "What I meant is, why should we go on a date? We’re already married."

You felt a bit defeated with that response. You set your yarn on your lap and looked at your husband. He was watching you quite intensely, waiting for your answer. You shivered under the icy stare.

"Y-You don’t want to—"

Loki cut you off abruptly. "I didn’t say that." He glanced down then back at you. "It’s just that… Dates are for wooing, yes? Why would I need that when I can already tell you’re taken with me."

Your heart dropped. You blinked at him, stunned. You hadn’t expected him to just…admit he knew what was working up in your mind. There was some pride in his eyes at your reaction but behind it, you could make out a hint of fascination.

You tried shaking off your pounding heart. You promptly picked back up the yarn, continuing your hopeless scarf, as you responded, "Have you never considered that maybe your wife still wants to be wooed despite the status of her interest."

"So you admit," he chuckled, "you have fallen for me."

You scoffed, "Don’t act all high and mighty. I’m well aware of how you look at me."

You heard Loki lean back in the chair as the leather of it creaked. You could feel his eyes roaming over you but you didn’t know in what capacity. Whatever was in his eyes now you were ignoring as you frantically tried to focus on knitting and not your love confession.

"Okay," he eventually said. "We’ll have a date."

It was impossible for you to hold back the smile forming on your lips.

***

After minimal deliberation, Loki agreed to let you cook for him. You had heard that the Midgardians used food as signs of love and were fascinated with trying to learn some dishes. You studied with the servants for days trying to perfect a meal. They were always a little uncertain about letting a princess in where servant frequented but once you explained this time you were cooking to please your husband, they giggled like schoolgirls, excited to help.

Once you felt prepared enough, you informed your husband of when you wanted the date. You may have had to do some rework of both your royal schedules but it was fine. Meetings are forever, love can be fleeting.

You were preparing the food when Loki hesitantly entered the kitchen. You had explained that you two would be eating at the kitchen table. It was just a little table where servants usually sat to eat meals or relax in between shifts.

Loki had originally protested this saying he was not of such low status. You assured him that there was no intimacy to be found at the grand dining hall. It was far too big and annoying for two people. He didn’t argue further, just mumbling that he’d be there at the time requested.

And, luckily, he followed through.

"Hi, honey," you smiled, watching the stew simmer above the flame.

Loki took his seat gently as if he was going to catch something from the table. "This is really what you wanted to do for our date?"

You nodded. "I’ve had so much fun learning this meal and doesn’t it smell great? I think it’s going to be nice. I ever have bread baking." You motioned towards the stone oven. Loki followed your gaze but didn’t look impressed yet.

"We could’ve very easily had someone make this for us," Loki pointed out. "We have that luxury, darling."

You rolled your eyes, turning back to your bubbling stew. You could feel your anger bubbling in the same fashion.

"That’s not the point, Loki," you said, the tone in the kitchen shifting as you spoke his name. You rarely ever did. He perked up as you continued, "The point is that I, your wife, like you and would like to express my adornment through a freshly cooked meal."

Loki fell silent with that, something that was so rare for him. You didn’t push any further, though, and instead killed the fire under the stew and presented your bread from the oven. You divided it out into individual portions then placed each on the table. Still with an annoyed, sour look, you sat across from your husband. He was watching the stew, you were watching him.

"It—It looks delicious," he said

"Thank you," you mumbled. You two dug in then, this date now turning out a bit more awkward than you had planned. Neither of you spoke for a while, instead filling the kitchen with the slurping of soup and chewing of bread.

Loki soon began looking between you and the food like he was working up the courage to say something which was absolutely ridiculous to you. Your husband was one of the most outspoken people in the realm.

Eventually, you just decided to look up at him, your eyes begging for him to say whatever he wanted to say.

"This meal is lovely," Loki eventually said. "Th-Thank you for…doing all this."

You smiled, a faint blush creeping up on your cheeks. "You’re welcome."

Loki finished his stew then asked, "What else should we do on this date?"

Now you were really blushing. While taking your little cooking classes, you asked the servants what else goes on on dates. They seemed like lovely girls and you were curious. You had heard stories before of dancing and parties but you wanted something more intimate and you had never actually been on much of a date before. You spent time with boys in your youth and the night before your wedding you and Loki had talked for a little bit but nothing was ever of such fashion.

One servant had informed you, quite shyly, that she and her boyfriend always finished their dates by making out. You had gasped, amazed at her bluntness but then remembered these were servant girls. They lived far less controlled lives than you.

You were partially envious but then you realized, technically, you had a husband. A husband who was capable of making out with you even if such actions and beyond were typically reserved for very a calculated time — heir bearing, such intimacy only happened during the time when potential conception was at its peak.

"Well," you said, running your spoon through your bowl of stew, "one of the servants that helped me said her and her boyfriend end their dates with make-outs."

"Making out?" Loki repeated, brows raised in surprise. "But it’s not—"

"I know."

He looked away. You could practically see the gears turning in his brain. "You want to make out with me for fun."

You giggled at his shock. "Is that so unbelievable? I thought we already established I am into my husband."

"Yes, but you, well, neither of us, have never been so bold before."

"But it’s not such a bad thing," you shrugged, "to be so bold."

Loki hummed in agreement as he eyed you. There was something in his expression you couldn’t quite put your finger on but you definitely knew something between you two had shifted. It had already been shifting, sure, but your newly expressed desires opened the dam walls.

"Alright, dear, I think I can indulge you."

You smiled at his excitement which he was certainly trying to hide. But you maybe wanted to take a moment to maybe mess with him a bit. "Hmm," you glanced around at the dirty pots and pans, "after we clean up."

Loki’s jaw dropped. "What?"

"We can get on with our date once we clean up."

"You’re kidding me, right?" He pointedly asked. You shook your head. Loki huffed, "When did my wife become such a tease?"

You stood up, collecting your bowls and plates, bringing them to the counter. "I’ve always been like this, honey," you said. "Maybe you just have to get to know me a little bit more."

Loki began stalking towards you as you pretended to be fooling with the dirty dishes. "Well, darling," he said as his hands came upon your hips, "there’s something you must know about me and it’s that I don’t like to be kept waiting."

"I can maybe leave all this for later if you ask nicely."

He scoffed. "Are you asking me to beg?"

You shook your head. "I’m just asking you to ask nicely."

"Fine," he sighed. "Please, can we make out now?"

You sighed, leaning into his hard body. His arms moved to wrap around your waist now. "Yes, your majesty."

Loki chuckled lowly, dangerously, in your ear. "Thank you, princess."

He leaned his head around and within seconds, your lips were captured with his, getting more and more lost in one another as you two become a miss of kisses and touches.

#1k celebration #request #loki oneshot #loki laufeyson x reader #loki laufeyson x you #loki x reader #loki fic #loki imagine #mcu loki #loki #loki laufeyson #loki laufeyson blurb #loki laufeyson fluff #loki laufeyson one shot #loki laufeyson imagine #loki laufeyson drabble #marvel #mcu #mcu fic #marvel fanfiction #marvel one shot #avengers #arranged marriage au #arranged marriage fic

[leviiattacks]

ceo levi falling in love?

author note :: THIS WAS SM FUN TO WRITE?? levi in the modern world is just always enjoyable for me. anyways it’s just lots of shy ceo levi and secretary reader :-) as always requests are open feel free to stop by !! :D word count :: some how i got to 2.4k,,,, i promise it was an accident it doesn’t feel that long 

levi falls in love slowly. he doesn’t even realize he’s doing it until he looks at you one day during a company meeting and is unable to understand why he can’t take his eyes off you

usually he’s able to shift his focus away but he’s stuck in place despite his efforts to look away

the entire meeting is him occasionally humming his approval at all the proposals and prospective business plans being presented to him

when, truly he is NOT listening at all. he’s trying to figure out when the hell and why the hell he began to feel this way for you.

it gets to a point where he’s so distracted over it he ends the team meeting early

everyone in the room exchanges worried glances between each other.

mr ackerman, letting them leave early? that’s a first but HEY!! they’ll take it!!

as everyone disperses out of the room he’s sitting with his back hunched in his plush office chair when he then comes to the realization that he has no idea when he did fall for you,,,,, it just sorta happened????

well, you are basically around him 24/7 and help him with everything but, his newfound feelings still catch him by surprise

at first he’s scared. the feeling is odd and the way his chest tightens as he speaks to you doesn’t feel right at all.

“any specific type of tea for today?” you ask waiting for his response

the rope squeezes at his heart and he squirms around a little.

“u-um, the usual is just fine”

WHY DID HE TRIP OVER HIS WORDS...??

WHY...????

but AGAIN he ignores it, he knows it’s for the best if he doesn’t get emotionally involved with you.

for the record, levi’s definition of emotionally involved is dating you, he doesn’t know that despite not dating you he is very much still emotionally involved with you

he’s pretty good at hiding his feelings though and the fact he likes you goes unnoticed by literally everyone

well, it does stay that way for a little while

that is until someone else expresses interest in you.

it’s a normal friday evening but for some unknown reason he can’t stop himself from clenching his jaw when he walks past you and overhears jean the new head of marketing ask if you’re single

levi is stood behind you and turns to hand his chilling stare to jean who slowly notices. he looks like his knees are about to buckle. “?,&:£:& sorry for asking,,, i’ll...... get going......”

levi just grunts in annoyance glaring at him even as he scurries out the hallway.

you turn to look at him and happily smile “ahhh thank you, i didn’t know how to turn him down he just joined the team so you know, it was weird he asked that”

levi just nods and tells you to get back to work and he hears you squeak out a “yepyepyep!!!”

levi is also very in denial about the way he feels

one day it’ll be “yeah i like y/n” the next it’s “no i do not...that is literally SO stupid. me??? in love?? never.”

also, when you accidentally brush past his skin he can’t help but tense up slightly and look anywhere but where you’re touching him

one time you place a hand on his forehead to check on his temperature because you do not trust him to be honest about having a fever

the scent of your vanilla perfume it’s sweet and simple but it makes him feel incredibly shy for no reason at all

GOD.

he feels like a stupid flustered school boy

ALL THIS OVER SOME PERFUME??

the man can’t even handle looking you in the eye. he’s reading his paperwork acting as nonchalant as possible when he’s really just freaking out

is my forehead sweaty?

fuck, fuck, fuck how do i look up close?

his thoughts are so jumbled up he doesn’t know how to respond to you when you ask if he’s really doing okay

“your cheeks are bright red, maybe you do have a fever?” you’re frowning and rummaging through your bag hoping to find something to help his pounding headache

but all he’s doing as he sits at his desk is nervously opening and closing his pen by the lid

he can’t tell if his face is red because he’s ill or because he likes you

and it’s driving him CRAZY??

wait a second.

does he like you? or does he like-like you?? or does he lo- no he does not love you that is absurd

what really cements his feelings for you is the day he’s unable to reel his mouth back in.

he just starts rambling about everything that has been stressing him out recently

the new company merger, developing new product designs, reviewing humongous stacks of paperwork, attending all these long meetings

he is being driven to his breaking point and you stand there taking it all in

“hey, take the day off.” your soft voice cuts him off mid sentence and he looks at you like you just told him to curl up into a ball and die

take a day off???? he does not have the time to take a day off??

he assumes you’re frustrated by his behaviour and begins to apologize. “i’m sorry that was unprofessional i shouldn’t have don-”

“i’ll finish the paperwork. your next meeting is scheduled for tomorrow. it’s okay to take a breather.” you pick up the stack of documents and move to transfer them over to your desk

but levi is persistent.

he stands in your way and you look at him expecting him to step out

“there is no need for that.” his tone is firm but you’re still defiant

“it’s my job as your secretary to alleviate your workload.” you don’t even spare him a glance and he feels like he’s burdening you now

sure, you are his secretary but allowing you to complete all that work on your own is ludicrous

waltzing around him you beeline towards your desk but again he steps in your way interjecting your path

“lev-”

your face morphs into a mortified expression and you panic, you did not just call him by his first name AT WORK

“i mean,” [insert an anxious yet deliberate cough] “mr ackerman.”

“listen, i understand you’re very stressed sir but i’ll finish the work off so please rest up. you need to be refreshed for tomorrow’s company dinner with the investors.”

you’re pleading he takes your advice but all he can do is blink in confusion

you would do that for him???

are you really just diligent and caring or,,, does he maybe have a chance at asking you out?

but again as quick as the idea enters his head it leaves.

asking you out sounds absurd to him, you deserve way better than someone like him

levi is having another one of his jealous moments

you’ve latched yourself onto reiner braun’s arm at the company dinner and he turns away frustrated

you look really pretty

like,,, sUPER pretty

like,,, drop dead gorgeous

he clears his throat when you both make eye contact

you perk up a little and your hand raises to wave at him but levi is so horrible at interacting with you he ends up ignoring you completely...

the pit of fire in his stomach flares up when he hears reiner compliment you, he’s surprised you even accept it and thank him

now, levi is not annoyed because you don’t deserve the compliment.

no, no, no you deserve all the compliments under the sun as far as he’s concerned but what the hell does “you look way better than normal.” even mean??

he thinks you look pretty every day so he’s just a tad bit offended by it

and he only begins to realize he’s in too deep when he sees the way reiner is getting a little too handsy for his liking

he doesn’t interrupt by saying anything even though he really wants to, you seem to not mind reiner’s touch

so he won’t step in between that, it’s not even any of his business

but it certainly doesn’t stop his displeasure from being blatantly obvious and displayed on his face

“ahhh mr ackerman, if it isn’t a pleasure to see you?”

levi hears an investor greet him but his eyes are glued on you.

you’re laughing so hard at one of braun’s jokes and he feels the same flame in his stomach.

it’s rising and reaches his chest igniting once again and he narrows his eyes finally looking away

he’s not going to spare you another glance this entire evening instead he’ll occupy himself with business talk

“mr acker-”

spinning on his heel he twists around and is face to face to with one of his close sponsors erwin smith

he smiles and the two shake hands discussing new company developments and shared work stress before some how shifting to each other's personal lives

“seeing anyone?” erwin’s question makes levi stiffen and his eyes flick towards where you were just standing a while ago

you’re no longer there but he spots you a little further away now sitting alone

you look a little lost and he feels a sudden and strong magnetism

he wants to approach you to talk so badly, and as his eyes scan around the room he sees reiner occupying himself in a suggestive conversation with a lady from HR

she’s definitely trying to flirt and he’s reciprocating easily

oh, so you’ve been ditched...?

is reiner OK???

first the backhanded compliment

now he’s ditching YOU???

it makes levi feel a little angry and frustrated

he doesn’t even notice at first because he’s so deep in thought but erwin leans in to whisper in his ear. “i know that look, go talk to your crush.”

“we’re much too old for you to be using the term crush. it makes it sound childish.” levi grumbles before taking a sip from his wine glass

“i’ll go keep my secretary company. i’ve spoke to most of the other investors it should be okay.” the statement is more of a question but smith nods in response

“it’ll be more than okay, go get em’ tiger!” erwin lands a light punch onto levi’s shoulder and he grins before walking away

to levi’s disappointment he’s unable to speak to you

you end up getting dragged into conversation with some of the other employees and he doesn’t see you again

so much for talking to you, he couldn’t even get within a meters radius

he’s now out on the balcony for a breathe of fresh air, the past few hours have consisted of tedious and forced small talk with an investor’s daughter

her father has been BEGGING levi, even bribing him to consider marrying her but levi rejects every single time

there’s nothing wrong with the girl really

she’s well educated and quite pretty but... that’s all he knows about her?

AND no one beats you, even though he’s still kinda in denial about liking you

hell, not like that part matters he doesn’t even know the girl’s name what does her dad expect from him?

was it sharron? shana? he forgot her name as soon as it was said 

much to levi’s dismay he hears an unexpected giggle behind him and then an arm slinks over his shoulder, the investor’s daughter has followed him out and is now pressing her chest against him awaiting a reaction

frankly, he wants to push her off BUT he’ll be in big trouble and lose a key sponsor if he handles this incorrectly

“could you please distance yourself?” he tries to intimidate the younger girl away with the bitter tone of his voice but it only seems to motivate her

“feisty one aren’t you?” she’s looking up at him through her lashes and her poor attempt at looking appealing only makes levi internally face palm

her index finger is drawing circles into his tie and he feels his breath hitch due to how uncomfortable she’s making him

“please move.” he requests for her to listen once again and he’s now taken a step back but she only follows and keeps her firm grip on his tie

she doesn’t seem to be letting up and there’s nothing he can really do about it.

he guesses he’ll just wait till she gets bored but the time passes at an excruciatingly slow rate

in this fifteen minute duration she’s played around with his hair which has SERIOUSLY annoyed him because he took time to style it

and he thought it looked pretty cool

now she’s only pushed and pushed further and further into his chest and he can feel her hot icky breath hit his neck

the veins in his forehead are twitching in expanding irritation and he doesn’t know how much more of this he can tolerate

“you’re making him uncomfortable.” levi’s head snaps to the right and there you are still as beautiful as the last time he saw you

your arms crossed over your chest and you’re looking the girl up and down

“and who might you be?” the way she scoffs seems to be enough to piss you off because your face morphs into a scowl.

big Yikes...you’re mad

“leave him alone.”

“you must be of no importance, we have no time for-”

“step away before i make a report on the grounds of sexual harassment.”

you flip your phone out smirk plastered across your face

“it’s all been recorded. know your place.” you’re unyielding and even levi is thinking??? wow??? you know how to not be nice??? because well, he’s never seen you this mad 

just as you expect she barges out in a fury (not before flicking you off), you’ve left her brimming with rage and you feel rather proud of yourself

you release a content sigh

“do i get a raise for saving you or what?” you dryly jab 

he’s always loved your straightforward jokes, they align perfectly with his blunt humour

he murmurs his appreciative thanks

“are you enjoying yourself?” he asks the question eager to know what your answer is

it’s another way he knows he’s falling way too deep for his liking

he never asks anyone else these trivial questions

“enjoyable. although reiner is a little.” you pause to find the correct words

“he just made me a little uncomfy, he’s very extroverted so i felt out of place. thankfully he’s preoccupied himself elsewhere.” the same lonely look from before returns to your face 

yeah, it is kinda sucky to have your date ditch you

“you don’t have to tolerate-” levi starts then stops.

you’ve leant in to hear him after saying you can’t hear much over the hustle and bustle from inside

“the- i mean- what i’m trying to say is” he looks at you completely stunned trying to piece together what he wants to say

wOWIE!!!! you literally look so stunning up close he can not formulate a sentence, he has officially LOST IT

the words he say next fly out of his mouth after a lengthy internal struggle “fuck. what i’m saying is, what i mean is, you could always come as my date next time.”

now you’re the one looking at him stupefied.

again, he’s looking anywhere but at you

the closest he gets to it is taking a glimpse of your dress,

it’s black and suits you well with the little ruffles and all.

“i’d love that.”

the tips of his ears grow red in embarrassment but... YOU ACCEPTED???

NOW. levi is giddy on the inside but makes no move to make it obvious instead he opts to scratch his neck and give you an awkward thumbs up

you take note of his body language and the possible realization dawns on you

but you can’t really tell if it’s the doing of alcohol

either way you grab onto his suit and begin to lead the way back into the main hall

“may as well start being my date now? not like reiner’s coming back any time soon” he can’t see your face but he can tell you’re smiling as you speak

levi’s cheeks are bright red but he thanks the chilly night air and darkness for hiding the way he’s reacting

he won’t confess just yet, it’s too early and again he’s in major denial but when staring at the hand that holds onto his suit jacket his heart tingles a little

more like a LOT...

but really whatever it is the two of you have got going on right now it weirdly makes the both of you feel weak at the knees

to be honest, levi enjoys it

and so do you :-)

#levi #levi ackerman #aot #snk #levi x reader #levi x y/n #attack on titan levi #attack on titan #levi fluff #leviiattacks #modern levi #ceo levi #levi scenario #levi headcanons #levi fanfiction #aot fanfiction #attack on titan x reader #levi drabbles

[vaguely-concerned]

Just an interesting thing I'm still thinking about from Part 5

In this scene, where Jigen and Goemon turn up to keep Lupin from bleeding out alone on that bridge (;_______;)

Goemon completely ignores Albert to check on Lupin first (;_______________________________;)

The film language of the slow, deliberate shift in focus from Goemon's face down to his hand and Lupin's body (all of it implicitly seen through Albert's POV) is telling us that it's not the fact that Goemon clearly is a genuine threat that makes Albert lower his gun -- it's Goemon's hand resting gently, protectively on Lupin's back. It's almost like being faced with the reality that Lupin has people who love him, who would fight for him, who would grieve for him if he died (and probably hunt the killer down and do something very unpleasant to them too but that's beside the point right now lol) is what actually changes Albert's mind -- and potentially has softened him a bit towards Lupin during the rest of the arc?

wheeeeee

and then he looks softer and sadder at the end as he gazes after them, more tired than the y'know. ice cold hatred he shows for most of the scene until Lupin passes out. listen what I'm saying is that Albert is the worst but he's clearly not like... a complete monster either.

I mean... who knows what the FUCK Albert and Lupin have done to each other at some point in the past for both of them to show up to this meeting fully prepared to kill each other (I think Lupin's explosives plan might have been more of a 'well let's see what he has to say for himself and then let's blow him up if it's not good', ready to be reactive thing, but Albert straight up shot him in the gut to get to watch him bleed out knowing he'd lost lol it's hard to misconstrue). it doesn't feel like any of what's been revealed so far really explains it so I suspect it was something we haven't seen yet that completely broke them apart, beyond the background competitiveness they've seemingly always had going on. But as the rest of this arc shows once they team up again that's not the sum total of their relationship, there is some genuine care beneath it that seems to be what woke up in Albert in this moment, maybe? Do I know what any of this means? No, but I do find it very interesting to not know yet haha

#lupin iii #albert d'andresy #arsene lupin iii #goemon ishikawa xiii #goemon breaks my heart a bit in this scene his sense of purpose is so pure and open. he loves this dude so much ;___; #I've been trying to put this post together for a while but I can't really find the right words; this is all I've got right now haha #I think I saw somewhere that albert was actually introduced with the specific idea that he'd be a character who stuck around long term #which is why I think we don't know yet exactly what went down with him and lupin back in the day -- they're revealing it slowly #it's an unusual thing for this franchise to have a narrative thread that doesn't only stretch through most of one installment #but crosses into multiple installments as well #and I kind of like it! having longer running mysteries under the fun shenanigans of the week things brings something cool

[shes-a-gryffindor]

Of Apples and Psychological Lapses

A @jilytoberfest submission. Prompt #12 - One overhearing something they're not supposed to.

That day, on an otherwise uneventful morning, it started with an apple, of all things.

James Potter sat straddling the bench at the Gryffindor table, poring over what Lily supposed was a textbook, elbow on a knee with an apple in his hand.

Only half listening to Mary’s recitation of the ingredients for the Draught of Living Death that they were supposed to be brewing later that day, she chanced upon another look at him…. the muscles in his jaw jumped as he bit into his apple, and as she watched him laugh at something she couldn’t hear, Lily found herself wondering whether he’d always had that dimple in his cheek… before she’d had the chance to mentally scold herself for her apparent loss of self-control, James caught her eye; grinning roguishly, he winked at her before taking another bite…

“You’re doing it again,” said Mary,

Lily’s neck snapped so quickly away from James she thought she might have whiplash, “doing what?”

“Making love eyes at Potter” she sniggered.

“Don’t be daft,” responded Lily dismissively, “I was not giving him love eyes” she added, silently cursing the blush now creeping up her neck, “…anyway, the ingredients…for today, you were reading them…” a lame attempt at a change in subject.

Mary smirked at her for a moment before returning to her textbook; relieved that she’d been let off the hook, Lily focused intently on Mary’s recitation, despite already knowing the ingredients from memory, she was determined not to look over again at the group of boys sitting only a few feet away from them.

Thinking they’d get a head start on the swarm of students that would soon be filing out of the hall, they packed their books and downed the last of their pumpkin juice. As she stood, Lily glanced quickly over at James again, he was in animated conversation with Sirius, the apple hanging loosely from his fingers at his side… and a ridiculous idea crossed her mind.

Deliberating over it in the seconds it took them to reach the spot where he was sitting, before she’d even really decided upon it, she’d snatched the apple out from his hand, twisting her head round to wink back at him, before taking a bite of what was now her apple.

“Shut up,” she smirked at Mary, who was looking at her with raised eyebrows.

The rest of the day continued in a similar fashion; she felt his eyes burning into the back of her head during Transfiguration, then found herself loitering after class, trying to chance perhaps walking out at the same time as him… before realising she was behaving like an idiot and walking quickly out alone.

History of Magic was, in particular, a challenge. It was, as usual, rather impossible to focus on the monotony that was Professor Binns' lesson.

Serenely unaware that no one seemed the least bit interested in his thorough breakdown of wand legends through time, he droned on… “The Death Stick, The Wand of Destiny…” and by the time the lesson was over Lily and James had shared several silent exchanges across the classroom.

Potions that afternoon was perhaps, although short-lived, her only reprieve. Lily was quite comfortable in her element, happily brewing her Draught of Living Death. Having already reached the ideal halfway stage, she smiled contentedly down at the smooth, black currant-colored liquid in her cauldron.

Just as she was about to start chopping her roots, she caught James, brow furrowed, curiously observing her potion, before looking back at his own - which appeared to be eliciting a sort of blue-ish haze, not horrible but certainly not what it should have been doing by that point… better, if nothing else, than Peter’s… who was looking more distressed by the minute at the now foul smelling, brown concoction bubbling in his cauldron.

“Care to share your expertise, Evans?” Asked James, grinning over at her. With his sleeves rolled up over his elbows, his forearms were tense as he shifted his body weight onto them, leaning over the table toward her… and Lily thought quietly, that the dimple in his cheek was obviously not the only thing she’d failed to notice.

“Afraid not, Potter,” she responded, “see If I told you, I’d have to kill you… although, could be doing myself a favour there,” she added, smirking at him.

“Better not then, otherwise you might actually get some peace and quiet… can’t have that,” he said seriously.

“Merlin forbid,” she mumbled, in mock exasperation.

“Merlin forbid,” began Sirius, “all this terrible flirting makes me throw up in my cauldron.”

Mary and Peter burst into a fit of giggles, even Remus, it seemed, found it amusing, while James just grinned down at his cauldron.

“Your potion can’t get any worse than it already is Black… I say try it,” Lily mocked.

Sirius, however, had cast his attention elsewhere.

From the corner of the next table over, having apparently overheard the entire exchange, Severus was looking darkly over at them. His eyes flickered briefly between James and Lily before returning to his potion. She knew she’d been shamelessly flirting with him, for days, weeks really… what she hadn’t realised was how blatantly obvious it was becoming, to everyone even beyond their friends; blushing furiously and feeling rather sheepish, she scowled at Sirius, who was still grinning smugly over at Severus, before returning to her own potion.

As she made the last of her rounds that evening, her mind once again wandered to what was fast becoming something, or rather, someone, she thought about much too often. He’d looked a little too smug after catching her at dinner - watching, as a Hufflepuff in the year below them asked for his help with a Transfiguration essay that weekend… in addition to self-control, she was now apparently also losing her common sense… it was perfectly acceptable that he help another student with an essay, why should this bother her…? But honestly an essay over the weekend, she thought… ask the bloke out and be done with it, what a stupid excuse… Surely he knew the girl fancied him.

The sinking feeling in her stomach at the thought of them, tucked away in a quiet corner of the library poring over an essay together, was extremely disconcerting, this sudden interest in who he was spending time with… He’d made his existence impossible to ignore for the better part of six years, perhaps now that he wasn’t asking her out at every turn her mind was playing that stupid game, the one where you only want something because it’s not as easy to get anymore, not because you genuinely want it… some psychological lapse in judgement… yes that must be it; so trying to force her thoughts back into some semblance of order, Lily resolved to get a grip.

She met Remus in the dungeons and together they checked the last of the corridors before heading back up to the common room, chatting about weekend plans, their upcoming exams and whether they had anything planned for the summer holidays before their seventh year.

Lily was careful to steer the conversation in another direction anytime it got a little too close to James, so she wasn’t exactly thrilled (maybe a little bit) when they stepped through the portrait hole to find James, Sirius and Peter sitting alone in the common room. With a warm smile, Remus bid her goodnight and went to join his friends in front of the fire.

“All right, Evans?” Asked James, grinning that lone-dimpled grin as she walked past.

Shooting him a quick tight lipped smile, she trudged up the staircase to her dormitory with an infuriatingly pink face; she had just reached the top of the staircase, however, when she heard Sirius snigger -

“Reckon she might actually prefer you to the giant squid now.”

Failing in her resolve to get a grip before she’d even begun, and apparently not above eavesdropping now either, Lily stopped and stood there at the top of the staircase, dead silent, craning her neck to listen to them.

“What?” Asked James, “What makes you say that?” In his voice, Lily heard a hint of what she thought sounded like hope.

“Are you daft? Or do you just want to hear it all back?”

“A bit of both I think,” chuckled Remus.

“Did you not see Snivelly’s face in potions? Even he can tell she fancies you mate,” said Sirius, dryly.

“Looked a bit put out, didn’t he?” Chuckled James.

“A bit? Looked like he didn’t know whether to cry or hex you,” chortled Peter, “d’you reckon him and Evans… you know-”

“What? Asked James, cutting him off, “went out?”

“Nah,” answered Sirius quickly, “who’d want to go out with that? Didn’t they know each other from before school, or something?”

“Yeah… they were friends,” said James, with finality in his voice.

“‘Till he showed his true colours,” scoffed Sirius, “…bit naive of her though, don’t you think? To think that he’d be anything but the slimy git he is.”

Lily had half a mind to go down and give Sirius a piece of her mind, until…

“Nah,” said James, “I reckon she knew who he was the whole time… she just chooses to see the good in everyone, y’know? Even a slimy git like Snivellus.” When no one said anything, he added, “Personally, I don’t think she should change that about herself.”

There was silence… and then someone made a dry-retching sound like they were throwing up, followed by scuffling and a series of thuds, “gerrof!” Came Sirius’s muffled voice, over Peter and Remus’s laughter.

Deciding she’d heard enough, Lily tiptoed quietly into her dorm; and as she pulled the scarlet hangings of her four-poster around her that night, she thought perhaps her interest in James Potter wasn’t a psychological lapse in judgment at all.

#jily fic #jily love #jily fanfiction #marauders fic #marauders and lily #marauders era #the marauders #james potter x lily evans #pining #mutual pining #harry potter fanfiction #hp fanfic #jilytober fest #jilytober