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browzerhistory · 6 months

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because i have been Enabled (one person said i should) i'm going to post my late night analysis of leaf pile by the front bottoms! under the cut since it gets kind of long.

(obligatory disclaimer that this is my interpretation of the song and i'll probably miss some stuff or say something you don't agree with; but the beauty of art is you don't have to agree with one another on what it's about. note that i address brian as the singer and not his name, since he's said that not all of his songs are about him specifically.)

before i get in-depth with the lyrics, i want to discuss the theme. this song references a lot of tfb's other music and overall carries a very nostalgic/reflecting tone while still looking forward to the future with hope. i think it's an excellent example of tfb's growth as a band, both in technical skill and general outlook (hehe) on life. while their older songs carried a general air of hopelessness (specifically "it's hard to get better in an environment that drags you back into bad habits"), leaf pile exemplifies the turn towards exhausted but determined optimism.

now, onto the lyrics to support my argument.

if you've listened to the front bottoms for any amount of time, the very first line will be familiar.

I wanna be

this seems like a silly place to make my first note - it's just three words - but they're the same opening words to another one of my favorite tfb songs, vacation town. however, the line in vacation town continues with "that comfortable place where you write and read." i don't doubt that the use of this line was intentional, as tfb references their other songs frequently, and vacation town's theme of being stuck in the past compliments leaf pile well.

that person again

the one that I am right now, again

for the rest of my life, and then

I wanna lay down in the leaf pile, but I can't

fear of change is a common theme both in life and in tfb's music. this opening verse establishes a singer who wants to live in familiarity forever before dying ("laying down in the leaf pile"), but can't because, well, that's just what being alive is.

I wanna be that person again

the one that I am right now, again

for the rest of my life, again

I wanna lay down in the leaf pile

but I can't slow down

or I'm gonna crash, crash, crash, crash, crash

the repeat of the first verse emphasizes its point, but the changes also bring new ideas. the repetition of again affirms that the singer wishes to relive the past.

the addition to the last two lines is another reference to the rest of tfb's discography, though a lot less specific than the last one. the front bottoms sing about motorcycles in their songs a lot, and when riding a motorcycle, like a regular bike, keeping up speed is important because if you're too slow, the vehicle loses balance and falls. this also acts as a metaphor for life (sensing a pattern yet?), since dwelling too long on the past can make you lose sight of the future and get caught up in your regrets.

I wanna feel that same sense of calm

I wanna feel that same sense of peace

it felt so real before you got here

it'll be restored after you leave

after this verse, the chorus repeats again. the first two lines reaffirm a longing for a past that was easier and kinder. the second two remind me of dissociation. perhaps the singer, in meeting up with/seeing someone who reminds him of his past, loses himself in it.

(slightly unrelated note: this upcoming part of the song makes me insane. i love it so much.)

oh man

nothing ever kicked in or as hard as you did

I feel anxious, do you?

like I have to make a move

I'm just gonna do what you did

the singer feels cornered. he isn't ready to move into the future, but he can't keep clinging to the past. he addresses someone, probably the same "you" from the last line, and tells them that nothing ever kicked in or as hard as they did. this could be literal, as some of tfb's older songs also reference domestic/intimate partner violence, but there's definitely a metaphorical aspect to it too. the person the singer is addressing has had a profound and negative effect on his mental health, so much so that they're incomparable to anyone else in his life.

the singer says he's anxious, wonders whether the other person is, then says he's just going to do what they did. based on what we already know about the other person, we can assume it's nothing good.

I cut some ties with a few good friends

for it to be over how ready I am

I closed my eyes, I opened my eyes

but my mouth was closed the entire time

the singer cuts off "a few good friends;" presumably this is the move he had to make, and what the other person did too. he says he's ready for "it" to be over, which is probably related to what he had to do.

closing and opening his eyes, but keeping his mouth shut, may also symbolize the singer observing what's going on around him without making it worse by saying something wrong, which is something tfb has sang about in previous songs.

montgomery forever

first you get hurt, and then there's healing

it's a process, believe me

you stole my notebooks and now you're reading

this verse (my favorite in the song. if you even care) references another song on this album, montgomery forever, which is a song about the neighborhood brian lived in as a kid getting demolished. the usage of the title, followed by the assurance that grieving is a process, shows a resolution to grow through the challenges and losses the singer faces.

the notebook line also references a couple other tfb songs, where notebooks are almost sacred for their containment of the singer's unfiltered, innermost thoughts.

I can't wait to hear you say

that I got back a couple weeks ago

to our friends and family

I can't wait to hear you say

that I got back a couple weeks ago

this line also hits very close to home for me. i lost my best friend, joseph, to suicide when i was just 13 and he was 14. i wanted to believe that he would come back from the hospital eventually, that i'd be able to say he got back a few days ago and thank goodness he was fine. i wanted to do so many things with him that i never got to. i won't lie; i cried pretty hard when i first heard this part. it still gets to me when i'm feeling particularly sad.

but it was all to see

who could ride a motorcycle faster

as for me, I still believe

this line is a direct pull from an old demo, sexy and alive (give an inch). despite being an arguably old song, sexy and alive takes a hopeful tone more like tfb's new music. the usage of this verse connects with the theme of growing while connecting to the past, as well as earlier references to motorcycles as a metaphor for living.

do I seem anxious to you?

do I seem backed into a corner?

as if I had to make a move

but you could tell I didn't wanna

another repetition of an earlier line. the singer didn't want to make the move/cut off his friends, but his circumstances forced his hand, which made him feel anxious and cornered. this verse is repeated a couple times, at the same time as the next one:

I can't remember, it's all a blur

the person you are and the person you were

I can't remember, it's all a blur

the person you are and the person you were

another pretty strong reference to dissociation, specifically dissociative amnesia imo. (DISCLAIMER: i'm absolutely not armchair diagnosing brian with anything. a singer doesn't have to only write about things they've personally experienced, and it's a well-established fact that brian writes a lot of stories into his songs that aren't about him (the most well-known example being father). i just have a dissociative disorder myself and felt really called out by this line lol.) this lines up well with previous references to dissociation in the song.

I don't wanna talk

I don't wanna talk, I wanna look out the window

I don't wanna talk

I don't wanna talk, I wanna look out the window

these are the last lyrics in the song. the singer is tired of trying to explain how he feels to the other person, who either isn't aware of the harm they've caused him or just doesn't care. he's given up talking it out and resigned himself to looking out the window; moving on without the other person.

thanks for reading all of this, if you got this far. if you thought any of what i had to say was perceptive or cool, let me know and i'll post another analysis - probably for hooped earrings or batman since i love both of those songs too (though i may just post those for fun). there's also a possibility i do a post like this for songs from other bands i like.

#the front bottoms #lyric analysis #can you tell im insane about the way tfb reuse lyrics and motifs and gives them new meaning. can you tell

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gentlegiantberry · 2 years

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Dating Idia headcanons

Idia x gn! reader

Prompt: Headcanons of what it's like to date Idia

Warnings: I think none! Just pure fluff and Idia being a sweet boyfriend, really

╭── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╮

- first and foremost he will NEVER confess first

- unless he confesses to you anonymously over text and plans it out with help of the one and only Ortho

- that man is so fucking scared he will not come out of his room to hear your answer to his confession so you gotta visit

- he will not believe you if you say you like him back so you gotta convince him

- now, his love language? Definitely quality time and later physical touch too

- like the socially anxious man he is, he's very happy when you're willing to spend time with him in his room, playing videogames and watching anime

- after a few months into the relationship he shows signs of being touch starved

- he's too scared to actually give you physical affection so he'd only do small things like holding your pinky with his and maybe lean closer to you

- if you return the affection he'd be overwhelmed and very nervous and shaky but would soon calm down and get comfortable

- he adores having you sit on his lap while he's hugging you and playing videogames

- he did not have his first kiss yet so if you want to do it you have to be very gentle about it

- what about dates, you ask? He would love going out on a date with you, really, but he can't

- he'd much prefer going on vc and playing videogames or just binging some series/movies with you

- would also love to match cosplays with you, you can be the Hori to his Miyamura or the Aren to his Kaidou <3

- he has a secret cat plush only you, him and Ortho know about

- if you actually get him to sleep in the same bed with you he'd be as stiff as a board because he has no idea what to do (still, he wakes up clinged to you like a baby koala to its mom <3)

- he's definitely the type of guy to buy you stuff online too

- like one day you just see a package in front of your door and you open it to see that one thing you've always wanted but were too poor to buy or smth

- he is expecting a response so make sure to send him a photo of how much you appreciate his gift because he put a lot of thought (and money) into it

- we all know he doesn't want to get married yet but when it comes to you he's taking it into consideration for the future (school first, then marriage)

- gets very flustered when complimented but doesn't mean he dislikes it, please tell him more about how handsome and cool he is

- he has a sketchbook filled with doodles of you two holding hands and such (don't tell him I told you, but he has a sketch of your wedding invitation)

- that man gets so bubbly just at the thought of you, he might even start attending classes more, just so he can see you

- overall, if you're looking for a boyfriend to spend alone time with and just relax, he's a 10/10

╰── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ──╯

Please read the rules and preferences of writing before requesting: here

This is my first post, I'm not a professional writer and I make these for fun and for everyone to enjoy, requests are always open <3

#idia x y/n #idia fluff #idia shroud #twst wonderland #disney twst #idia x reader #idia headcanons #idia x you #headcanon #twst idia

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aliorsboxostuff · 1 year

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i saw in your bio that you're genderfluid and i'm literally screaming i'm genderfluid too :)) is it ok if i request a tangerine x genderfluid reader fic? :3 i don't have any idea for the plot, maybe reader coming out to him? if that's ok with you, of course. much love <3

A/N: HI FELLOW GENDERFLUID!! I, too, am the fluid of genders. And yes absolutely! As for the fic itself, I'm taking a little bit of my own experience being genderfluid with my accepting friends so if this is too short I (sadly) have yet to find a man that accepts my fluidity :( BUT ENOUGH ABOUT THE WRITER enjoy this fluffy, soft fic anon! <3

At Your Pace

Tags: Tangerine x Genderfluid!reader, no masc/fem specified, no use of Y/n, fluff, no smut, soft!Tangerine, supportive!Tangerine, coming out, reassurance and acceptance, anxiety (Only a bit), no hurt all comfort, Tangerine might be a bit OOC sorry!

Three months and he still hasn't asked about your gender. You started to worry, because he either doesn't care or he’ll care too much and freak out when you finally tell him. Your brain leans to the latter possibility so you decide to confront him one fateful night.

—

Three months

9 weeks, 91 days, 2,184 hours since Tangerine and you became a couple.

Three months since you went on your first date with him—a trip to the aquarium where you beamed at every fish that swam past you, adoration in Tangerines eyes—and has since gone on various different dates and meet ups with him.

Yes, you're aware of what he and his twin do for a living. No, you didn't get killed by his agency and swore to protect that information. Yes, you actually don't mind it since he's the most interesting thing that has happened in your otherwise boring life. And yes, you miss him a lot when he goes on missions, but despite it all, you await his return home for another week or two going to places with him by your side.

Three months, and he doesn't ask what gender you identify as.

To put it simply, when you and Tangerine met, you instantly clocked the posh and pristine look and thought; "He's definitely gay."

while on the other hand, taking account of your choice of clothing and makeup, it's not clear what you are. A damn fine human being for sure, but either you're in or out of the gender spectrum is questionable. Despite that though, Tangerine saunters over to you from across the park, to where you're sitting and reading your book, and introduces himself with the most charming smile. He only asked what you go by—pronouns and sexuality so he doesn't approach the wrong person—and went on with his conversation.

Since then, you've been spending most of your time stuck to his side, going on date number 60th and so on, sharing stories from missions or from your everyday life, and planning on far futures you dont think could happen, but can hope.

He's always been supportive of your choices; encouraging you to wear pieces you know you'll look good in but anxious to wear, beaming at you when you go out with a new makeup look, and overall loving you without hesitation.

You tried bringing it up once or twice, while watching a movie where one of the characters is either nonbinary or genderfluid, and has since learned that Tangerine is cisgender and gay. He asked you the same question, minus the gender, and that got your gears going because; who asks the "What sexuality and gender are you?" without the gender part?

Ever since then, you've just been slightly inching your way to find a perfect opportunity to tell him.

Tonight, is the night.

Four days into Tangerines week off and you and him are currently setting up a comfy night in. Blankets, pillows, and a movie already picked for the living room TV. You've currently cocooned inside one of the many blankets on the couch when you hear Tangerine walk into the room.

"Here we are," He sets down the bowl of snacks. "Room for one more?"

You chuckle and extend your arm, enough so Tangerine can slip next to you underneath the blankets. He starts to shuffle for the remote and you realize this would be the only chance to finally talk to him about it. No romantic settings, no days out, just a safe space between you two.

When he finally finds the remote, you also find your courage.

"Wait," Your hand stops on top of his. Tangerine turns towards you, bright blue eyes with curiosity in them. "I have something i wanna talk about,"

He nods, setting down the remote and fully bringing your hands into his. "Of course love," he answers slowly.

Words jumble in your brain as you try to arrange them right, anxiety biting at your tongue. “Take your time,” Tangerine, ever so carefully, caresses circles in between your index and thumb. You inhale, then exhale a shaky breath before you have those stark eyes laced with worry.

“We've been dating for three months now, yes?” He nods, you slowly continue.

“You’ve told me about your work, and I've told you my secrets as well, but…” Your voice croaks. You half expected Tangerine to push on, but instead, he sits attentively, still holding your hands in his. There's really a reason why Tangerine would freak out—Or hell forbid, break up with you—So the growing sweat beneath your collar doesn't add up to Tangerine's patience. You gulp, finally continuing.

“There’s something you need to know,” You wait.

A beat, before he replies steadily, “Alright,”

“I’m gender fluid.” Your eyes snap to the blanket pooling at your waist. The silence was nauseating, nothing good could come out of a pause from such a heavy confession, and a late one at that. What were you thinking? You should've given him the chance at the first week, hell, the first day! It’s common courtesy nowadays, isn't it? Why did you wait for-

“Okay,”

Your head jerks up. “Okay?”

“Yeah, okay, and?”

Your moth mimics a fish, eyes blinking rapidly. Tangerine grins and tilts his head as if your answer confuses him instead of the other way around. “That's it? Okay?”

“Yeah, what else am I supposed to say?” He grins. “I thought you were going to say you’re a murderer or sumn’, now that would make m’jaw drop,”

“Huh?” You laugh in disbelief.

“Well yeah, we only got one room for a killer in this relationship and I believe that’s been taken by me, love,”

“Tangerine!” Your laughter grows, careening into his shoulder as he also chuckles.

“What? I'm right, aren't I? I’m the assassin and you’re my dear to come home to,”

“Come on!” You giggle and punch his chest lightly. You’re startled when he grabs the hand that punched him, lacing his fingers between yours.

“I’m serious, angel,” You lift your head and could feel your breath stutter with the way his gaze bores into yours. “I feel honored to know you’re comfortable with me to tell me you’re fluid,”

“I didn't want to pry while being so early together, I wanted you to share with me at your own pace,” He smiles. It shines rivals stars in the sky. “Thank you, dearest,”

He brings your hand and presses a gentle kiss on your knuckles. You held your breath. “I thought… you’d wanted to know that earlier, I worried myself thinking I told you my gender too late,”

“Darling, I fell in love with you and your personality, believe it or not,” He smirks. “Definitely not with what you’re hiding under those baggy trousers-”

“Tangerine!” You fully crumble in a heap of laughter while Tangerine holds you to his chest, also giggling. These are definitely the reasons you fell for him—And to quote the man himself, ‘Definitely not with what he's packing’—The ability to reduce your anxiety and comfort you through it.

“Thank you,” You reply, finally sober from your laugh. “For accepting me,”

“Of course, my love, every day,” Your smile broadens, and so do Tangerines. He slowly treads his finger behind your head, brushing at your hair and on your nape, and brings you close to press a kiss. You hum against his lips, relishing in the warmth of his hold, worry replaced by relief and your heart floods with love.

My requests are open!

#tangerine x reader #tangerine x y/n #tangerine x you #tangerine x male reader #tangerine x m!reader #tangerine x fem!reader #tangerine x gender fluid reader #tangerine bullet train #bullet train tangerine #bullet train 2022 #bullet train x reader #tangerine fanfiction #tangerine fic #lio writes

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splinter-sister · 8 months

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I have a few other ocs I don't really share a lot and I've been thinking about rping them here as secondary muses or guest muses. So I wanna show you all them real quick.

The first one, and most recently updated, is Eamon.

He's a nurse with a very timid disposition, slight uneasy with heavy gore, an absolute hippie with crystals and stones on him at all times, and overall big scared bunny energy. Being a more anxious character, he's prone to rather run from confrontation than face it head on. He's caring at his core, but that sometimes gets shadowed by his nervousness. No full body or color ref as of yet.

Next is Knolle.

He is a huge Chimera with Uncle Iroh energy. A kind and knowledgeable man who is very gentle with things smaller than him. Standing in over 6ft on all fours, that's mostly everyone he meets. He is a teacher in physical self defense and often seeking to be out of his element as he was not raised in society. He's still figuring things out.

The last one, and one I'm most hesitant about rping freely but has been on this blog before, is Black Hare.

In short. She's a mirrored version of Rachael and an absolute psychopath. Her specialty is making people disappear without any traces. Being monotone and expressionless makes it hard to read what she's thinking and she makes you believe what she wants. Definitely a muse that is rated R and to be approached with caution.

#Knolle #mort contrata [black hare]#hello nurse [eamon]#art

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tryintoputitintowords · 6 months

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so I went to a listening party (meaning I couldn't hear Taylor very well) so I got home and listened to the album and. well. here's how that went in pure, unfiltered thoughts.

Welcome To New York - the intro melody sounds so much better oh my god. And the voices sound so much more distinct from each other in the chorus!! Especially the melodies. Oh and the lower “welcome to new york” in the second verse oh my god. The way the bridge fades into the chorus is so superior here. AND HER “WELCOME TO NEW YORK!” IS SO CUTE

Blank Space - the mastering on this is amazing?? Makes it feel like she’s singing this in a big ass room. THE DRUMS IN BOTH EARS?? It sounds like starbucks lovers even more now I’ll be so real. DARLING I’M A NIGHTMARE DRESSED LIKE A DAYDREAM. DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOUUUU. The ad libs are superior.

Style - oh I LOVE that guitar so much. Did they give the echo on Style to Blank Space?? Not mad about it though, the harmonies are so clear here. OUT. OF. STYLE! I’ve been there too a few times…ah. Her vocals are just so good on the ad libs guys. JUST TAKE ME HOME!!

Out Of The Woods - THE DRUMS?? HELLO??? THERE’S A HIGHER VOICE IN THE CHORUS IT ADDS DESPERATION OH MY GOSHHH THEY’VE ADDED DRUMS TO THE TRANSITION FROM CHORUS TO VERSE 2. AND I REMEMBER THINKING!! THE AD LIBS OH MY GOD. THE BRIDGE HAS CLEARER HARMONIES OH MY GOD. OH I REMEMBER!!

All You Had To Do Was Stay - The STAY is so nice and the drums sound so crisp man. WHEN YOU SAY GOODBYE!! The two versions do sound quite similar but the mastering is definitely better. The drums are just so niceeee.

Shake It Off - Once again the drums are just so good on this album. Her little chuckle!! THE CLAPS HAVE ECHO. ooh ooh ooh!! The harmony clarity on this album is SO superior. THE LOUDER SHAKE IT OFFS IN THE BACKGROUND?? THE LAUGH IN THE BRIDGE AND THE HEY IN THE LAST CHORUS

I Wish You Would - THE CLARITY OF THAT INTRO TOOK ME OUT THE FUCK. THE LITTLE HARMONIES AT THE END OF THE LAST CHORUS. Still sounds like stand back wasted :) THOSE BACKGROUND AAAHS ARE NEW AREN’T THEY OH I LOVE THEM SO MUCH I LOVE THIS SONG SO MUCH.

Bad Blood - She sounds so much angrier?? (also the fade in intro was nice) Once again the drums on this sound so good. The vocal improvement really shows with this one. Oooh and the drums that fade in are so much better too. HEY!

Wildest Dreams - okay we’ve heard this one we all know it’s a banger

How You Get The Girl - THE OHS AT THE BEGINNING.THE TRANSITION TO THE CHORUS WAS SO GOOD WHAT KINDA CRACK DID SHE PUT IN IT. THE YEAH SQUEAK?? THE ELECTRONIC HIGH PITCHED NOISES! THE DRUMS INTO THE LAST CHORUS?? I. WANT. YOU. FOREVER. AND. EVER!! AHHHHH THIS IS PERFECT

This Love - once again already heard it but it’s superior it just sounds so much clearer than the original

I Know Places - the Is sound much more menacing oh wow. THE IS IN THE CHORUS TOO. AND WE RUN!! HOLY SHIT. Once again the drums have been done justice in this album. Overall sounds a lot more anxious and menacing than the stolen version

Clean - the intro has some new sounds!! Oh and she sounds so much clearer and so does the background instruments it’s nice. I love how clear the harmonies are in this whole album. It sounds so much fuller now!! I can’t pinpoint why honestly but I love it. Louder drums in the bridge. OHHHH THE RAINNNNN. OH IT’S BUILDING!! THIS CHORUS IS SO MUCH FULLER OH I LOVE IT WHEN A SONG BUILDS.

Wonderland - I AM A SLUT FOR THE DRUMS IN THIS ALBUM THE FUCK DID SHE PUT IN THEM!! IN WONDERLAAAAAAND it sounds so much more echoy I love it. Slight change to the way she sings the second chorus, almost more hesitant. OH!. we both went mad… OHHHHHHHH- GO OFF QUEEN. ONCE AGAIN THE HARMONIES ARE SO GOOD. ad libs are flawless. Added drums to the last chorus?? Yo??

You Are In Love - are you ready to die. the intro is already so good. AH THE DRUMS IN THE BACKGROUND ON JUST ONE EAR OH MY GOD. OH THE CHORUS HAS EXTRA ECHOES AND SO IT SOUNDS SO WHIMSICAL I AM TEARING UP. he is in love!! The so it goes!! The harmony is so clear in this bridge. THE BIT BEFORE THE LAST CHORUS I AM DYING I DIED DEAD. AND THE AHHHS HAVE HARMONIES??? BRO I AM BEING FED

New Romantics - the intro is so girly pop. the extra echo on the drums too. AND on the harmonies?? Oh the ah’s make me a little sad but the chorus goes super hard. Okay the ah’s grew on me like the WANEGBT weeeE! It is okay. This whole thing just sounds so much more girly pop I love it so much. FLAWLESS AD LIBS GO OFF MOTHER.

VAULT TIME!! Second round :))

“Slut!” - the fact that this is a love song is so shocking and yet so fitting. It might blow up in your pretty face?? Her little SLUT! Is so good. DRUNK IN LOVE is a very good line by the way I am objectively right. The idea of love being so good that it makes every bad thing worth it?? It’s so good. Like being called a SLUT is worth it for this guy who we totally don’t know

Say Don’t Go - it sounds like clean which is funny. Anyway the chorus does NOT and it is superior. The SAY sounds like STAY (AYHTWS reference??) I SAID I LOVE YOU!! The silence after you say nothing back :((

Now That We Don’t Talk - she looked into brain for this one fr. ONCE AGAIN THE DRUMS ARE DRUGS. This song feels like a RANT and I love that energy. It lacks a straightforward structure.

Suburban Legends - YOU KISS ME IN A WAY THAT’S GONNA SCREW ME UP FOREVER!! Storytelling in the second verse is so good. And the bridge!! The lyricism in this entire vault has me dead on my bed right now. BROKE MY OWN HEART!! NOOOO DON’T END

Is It Over Now - goofy intro hi labyrinth. ONCE AGAIN THE DRUMS ARE DRUGS. Does capture the feeling of a love you’re not sure is ever really done like most of these songs. OOTW REFERENCE??? AND IS IT OVER NOW!! (just take me home!) OH THE LAST CHORUS TRANSITION!! Jumping off very high somethings :))

I WILL post something more coherent soon but this was just too much fun.

#1989 taylor's version #taylor swift #taylornation

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hearts4cara · 8 months

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my first reactions to guts!!

i did this with unreal unearth and had a lot of fun so here are all my thoughts on my first listen to guts! :)

all-american bitch: OH MY GOSH I LOVE THIS??? that was just so much fun. i love how it started & ended softly but the middle is just pure loud guitar chaos. SUCH a good opener oh my gosh.

THE TRANSITION BETWEEN ALL-AMERICAN BITCH AND BAD IDEA RIGHT. INCREDIBLE 10/10.

bad idea right?: already heard it of course, but i have loved this song since the first listen and i do not understand why people don't!! some lyrics are a bit corny for sure but it's so catchy and fun.

vampire: again, heard it before, but i really like this song!! it's a bit overplayed now which takes away some of that but i still really enjoy it and have since i first heard it. her vocals are so improved.

lacy: i claimed this the second the tracklist was released and i made the right choice. this song is so beautiful. the quiet parts are so sweet and pretty but when it builds and gets louder i lowkey almost teared up?? such a good one.

ballad of a homeschooled girl: i was a bit anxious going into this bc the title feels corny to me but WOW i LOVE it!! incredibly relatable, and MAN i am obssessed with olivia transitioning into more rock/pop music. such a banger. the 'every guy i like is gay' line made me snort laughing

making the bed: oh my goshhh that was so lovely and beautiful and sad...she needs to stop writing songs about me. not much else to say. great song she never misses.

logical: this definitely isn't my fav but i enjoyed it!! i love how it gets louder in the chorus, and again her voice is incredible. i do think the '2 + 2 = 5' line is kind of corny sjfdsk but the rest of it is good!

get him back!: also not a fav but a bop fs! extremely catchy and fun, but the lyric 'i am my father's daughter so maybe i could fix him' made my jaw drop. like. okay way to call me out girly. the outro is eh but overall good song!

love is embarassing: decent song! i don't have much to say, just a fun catchy one, but i do think it's too short and ended kind of abruptly. ah well still good

the grudge: bc of the last 3 i was gonna say the latter half of this album is weaker but this just proved me WRONG. WOW this is a great song. i will never shut up about how amazing olivia's voice is, like her belting?? insane?? i love this one a lot.

pretty isn't pretty: as a wise songwriter that people need to stop pitting against olivia once said, 'shes insane, she wrote a song about me'. OUCH. like yes i will eat up any song about teenage girl insecurities but this one. this does it for me man. so good.

teenage dream: a PERFECT closer to this incredible album. 'it gets better but what if i don't' is such a real lyric. also obsessed with the brutal parallel to 'where's my fucking teenage dream?' because like. the teenage dream doesn't really exist bc of all of these burdens that this album encapsulates so well. such a great song.

i expected this album to be good but it has exceeded all of my expectations. it has 0 skips! even the songs i don't love are still so good! olivia's transition into more rock/punk music is something i 100% support and adore. i think it is better than sour by MILES and am so excited to see how olivia continues to grow. <3

#finally done!!#loved it sm clearly #i am betting itll get a grammy nom and would not be mad at all if it won #cara says stuff #olivia rodrigo #guts

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wily-one24 · 5 months

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questions: 6, 12, 34, 38

Ooooh, more asks. I love it. :D

6. What's the best part of being online/ a creator?

Well, the best obviously is the interaction. I love talking to people and going back and forth with theories and discussions and squeeing and fandom loving. It's so much fun. I adore it.

And, of course, being as modest as I am, I love discussing my fics with people in the comments. The give and take, back and forth, it's energising.

The worst?

Sometimes i can put pressure on myself to get things done. It's supposed to fandom, a fun space, and most times I realise this, but this week I have been especially non-productive in fic writing. My friend keeps remindign me that I've been putting out bunches lately, so I deserve a break, but... I feel disappointed in myself.

Also, obvi, the odd fandom hate. But I only ever got that in OUaT fandom. I stay WAY AWAY from fandom dramas the majority of the time. Live and let live. Be free, baby. It's all good in the garden.

12. What's some good advice you want to share?

Do not borrow stress/worry from the future.

It sounds so simple, but I think this is a trap that is incredibly easy to fall into and a lot of us do it, myself included. Something happens and we begin to catastrophise. We think up the worst scenarios. "What if...?" and "When this...?" etc.

An example: my son has lost an item he really wants. He remembers lending it to his friend, but over text his friend said he didn't have it. He has torn his bedroom apart looking for it.

He could barely even sleep last night, almost in tears.

I had to remind him, reassure him. We have a plan.

He's going to speak to his friend face to face at school today and remind him (without accusing) that his is an important item.

If the friend really doesn't have it, we are going to clean his room from top to bottom (and probably excavate some ancient ruins, I have no idea what the hell is in that room, tbh).

If we still don't find it after that, we will make a new plan.

If worst comes to worst and the item is really lost, it is an item and can be replaced. Obviously, it would be better if we find it.

But he should not work himself up into a panicked/anxious state about never having this thing again, when there are things to do and a plan to follow and solutions to find.

This is a SMALL example of things we all do every day. An allegory for the huge, more adult problems we face. Like, we panic about situations and go into crisis mode and borrow stress from the future. TRY NOT TO DO THAT. Follow your steps first. Look for solutions.

At least, follow the steps and look for solutions BEFORE you stress and panic. Once things become present instead of future, then you should worry about them.

34. Any pet peeves?

I mean, rudeness.

More particularly, I cannot stand loud eaters. I just... I can't. It annoys the ever living fuck out of me. I cannot sit next to someone who eats loudly.

It's a personal thing, I admit it. It's definitely some processing thing, I can't tell you why. But it drives me absolutely bonkers. I try to be reasonable and, if possible, remove myself from the situation.

I have had to relax my rules in the house about eating in the bedrooms (well, I mean, the kids are teenagers now, they deserve some responsibility). Because now I tell them with snack foods and stuff they can just go eat in their rooms, rather than sit right behind me crunching on crackers or popcorn or apples or some other loud as fuck shit they happen to find in a draw marked "things that will drive mum batshit crazy". Obvi they can't take, like, entire plates of spaghetti down there, but snack foods yes.

Or I will leave the room so I don't end up yelling. Because I will end up doing that.

There are certain times, like out in public and with large groups, where this is unavoidable. In which case... I try my absolute hardest to grin and bear it. But it's really damned difficult.

But overall?

Rudeness. There's no need for it.

Just be nice, man.

38. This is the favourite song question, which I just answered. You can find the answers... here.

@dahllaz, thank you for some thought provoking questions!!!

#dahllaz #look ma i got an ask #my kids eat loud as an organised plot to drive me up the wall #my son's anxiety comes out in the weirdest moments

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maychild · 5 months

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mini-reviews of bl dramas watched (part 8)

UNINTENTIONAL LOVE STORY

adfjkldsajfkdslfj i loved this. was it cliche with predictable twists? yeah, but i enjoyed it nonetheless. the angst was sooo good, the chemistry between all the characters was phenomenal. i absolutely loved hotae and donghee and geonhee and his wife. i did not like vice manager jung but i didn't dislike him as much as i usually do unscrupulous people in dramas so...i did love wonyoung standing up for himself there at the end with manager jung so i don't mind the narrative redeeming him. wonyoung still has to work with this dude but maybe manager jung won't think he's such a pushover any more. i didn't like that for the majority of the episodes wonyoung was getting close to taejoon for the wrong reasons, but i did like that the latter half of the series focused on his deceit and the fallout. (a lesser drama would've resolved the whole thing in one ep but, unpopular opinion, i loved that they gave the major falling out and the getting back together the room that they did. i honestly did not feel like the series lost any momentum in that regard. taejoon's whole issue with trust and having it broken already in his life should not be brushed off so easily just so we can have romance and lovey-dovey moments, but again, i gather this is an unpopular opinion in this fandom.)

of course i want a s2, especially with a focus on donghee and hotae. like they were definitely gearing up to be something there by the end, and we were robbed of them going on double dates with taejoon and wonyoung. (also! no reaction at all from anybody about the wedding rings??!! SO ROBBEDDD. i also wanted scenes with taejoon and his father.). 9.5/10

MY BEAUTIFUL MAN SEASON 2 / UTSUKUSHII KARE SEASON 2

where to even fucking start on how good this second season was??? this season picks up with hira in his final year of college, still anxious in his relationship with kiyoi, still needing to learn how to be an equal partner in this relationship (it doesn't help that hira has such low self-esteem that he still treats kiyoi like a god, and himself as a lowly pebble not even deserving of kiyoi's gaze). the things i didn't like the most in s1 (the miscommunication and the abuse) was fixed this time around--kiyoi has matured wonderfully, he doesn't take hira for granted or treat him like his slave (even tho that would make hira the most happy--someone on viki mentioned he might have a degradation kink and i'm inclined to agree).

koyama, the second male lead/love interest is still around (obviously), and while i'm not wild about him appearing, he was a good friend overall, and he respected hira rejecting him.

hira is still his oddball, stalkery self, and the drama ended with him very much still a work in progress, but i do like how they emphasized that any meaningful change had to be slow, as it's hard to overcome 20+ years of people not lifting you up emotionally.

i also loved the introduction of more characters like anna, kiyoi's actress friend/mentor, and noguchi hiromi, the famous photographer/future mentor to hira. the story ends with hira and kiyoi still together, but very much both still a work in progress with each other and in their relationship.

(the movie looks trippy as fuck, and i hope we interfans get it soon-ish.) 10/10

STAR STRUCK

this was so disappointing. both leads lacked chemistry with each other, there was a lack of intimacy, and it was slow/boring af. (honestly, i was shipping jinhwan and hanjoon more than the actual couple, and they only had interactions in one ep!)

the dead fish kisses also did not help matters--yes, there were a couple of kisses, but i did not buy that these two were in love with each other at all. i get that it was because there was an idol playing one half of the leads, but that didn't stop semantic error! the drama didn't exactly spend any time building up the romance in a believable way. there was a montage! seriously, a montage when u could've just chosen to show and expand on the relationship organically instead of shooing in everything at the last minute. speaking of last minute--the show felt very rushed, wanting to cram in a lot of things in the last two episodes.

sadly, this had a lot of potential, but, at the end of the day, there's nothing to set it apart from other bland kbls that also didn't have the best chemistry or good story telling. 6.5/10

ALL THE LIQUORS

this was so dull and boring and nothing really happened. i don't need a ton of angst or plot but ATL essentially had nothing.

some people will say the two leads had okay chemistry but, for me, it was nonexistent. everything felt way worse than an indie film. at least in indie film/shows with low-budget u can tell the show had a lot of passion and heart and drive for the story, but this show felt like it was just checking off boxes on what they thought made a good BL without diving into what the aspects of what made a BL good. (i can tell you it's not teasing an interesting backstory on a character who avoids alcohol as if his life depended on it, and a character who is a borderline alcoholic--i say borderline bc while he tends to drink a lot, so far, it doesn't interfere that much with his life.)

the drama might've had some potential if it delved into the intriguing plot line that ep 1 promised, mainly that of alcoholism and rehabilitation. (the drama might not have been bland if it had something to say about two recovering alcoholics falling in love, but alas, it remains totally unambitious, and the few dead fish kisses we got in the final episode felt like it came a little too late in the game.)

weak storytelling, weak acting, weak chemistry, basically all around weak everything. 4/10

LOVE TRACTOR

love tractor is a wonderful mix of comedy, romance, and drama. i loved most everything about this drama (except for how short it was): the pacing, the story, and all the characters (there were a couple of ajummas but i needed more, and i needed the back story on village head ma because i definitely think there's a Story there).

tho i will say, this is on the lower end in terms of heat and romance and passion--there were only a couple of kisses at most, but thankfully no dead kisses, and considering it's the first relationship they've ever been in for one of the younger characters, i can excuse that there isn't a whole lot of eroticism. the characters are developing slowly and if we had more episodes, maybe there would be a lot more passion, but, again, the story is majorly wonderful on its own that i'm not totally bothered by the lack of lust, it's just something i'm always on the look out for, but the lack of it in this drama certainly doesn't detract from how good and almost perfect this drama is.

anyway, loved it to bits and i want more seasons, tho i'm unlikely to get them (or the two main leads to star in another BL). 10/10

PART 1/???, PART 2/???, PART 3/???, PART 4/???, PART 5/???, PART 6/???, PART 7/???

#unintentional love story #my beautiful man #my beautiful man season 2 #utsukushii kare 2 #star struck #all the liquors #love tractor #korean bl #korean dramas #kdramas #japanese dramas #japanese bl #jdramas

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caterkinnie · 2 years

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"Could you please teach me how to be like you?" Vil, Rook x reader.

summary: You've always admired them from afar, how did they manage to talk to people so easily? How could they always be so confident on themselves?

genre: fluff (could be interpreted as romantic or platonic!)

was going to add Kalim as i mentioned but i didn't have any interesting ideas for him rather than "he was happy ^^", sorry.

anyways enjoy!

Well, he was surprised, most people usually found him intimidating, so hearing you asking for tips to be more confident definitely caught him off guard.

it's not like he doesn't want to help you, quite the opposite, he just didn't expect you to approach HIM, of all people.

He agrees, of course, he imagines approaching him to ask such favor already needed effort from your part, which meant you truly wanted to improve your social skills! Otherwise he definitely wouldn't have bothered in trying to help you.

He's STRICT and way too honest sometimes, his criticism is blunt but always constructive. Hard to accept but everything he says is the truth (Vil only gets nitpicky when he's in a bad mood)

Of course he still gives you a little "Good job", "Your efforts are starting to pay off" whenever you are able to talk to someone without stuttering. It's small but it really means a lot coming from him.

One of his exercises is getting you to wear clothes that make you feel good with yourself! He's very passionate when he's talking about fashion too, it's kinda endearing.

And DON'T even think of making any self-deprecating comments! He WILL scold you, that's COUNTERPRODUCTIVE and you will be punished! You will have to say good things about yourself until he's satisfied!

Even if he sounds mean he's genuinely trying to help you, you're working hard after all! And he wouldn't like to waste neither yours or his time.

But in general... He's just glad you're actually trying to fix your insecurities. He knows some people with similar struggles who would rather DIE than seek help. Sorry Idia

It just starts as him helping someone to be their best self! But soon after getting to know you, he genuinely starts to care about you.

It's not obvious to people who aren't close to him, but it's obvious he has a soft spot for you. It's something about the way he looks at you, the way his expression softens whenever you go to tell him about how you got to ask a question to professor Crewel without stuttering! Or how you could talk to your classmates without feeling anxious! It truly makes him feel proud.

BEAUTE! He actually has been keeping an eye on you since he first saw you! He finds your timid attitude absolutely beautiful (pun intended), but your determination to get rid of your shyness is even more beautiful!

Rook, just like Vil, is very happy that you asked for his advice and even if his approach is similar to vil's, he's… a lot nicer.

Maybe TOO MUCH.

We all know he can be overwhelming all the time sometimes, but he just finds everything about you so adorable!

And you're just so cute! He loves observing you, struggling when trying to buy your lunch.

Though, he's not as sadistic compared to other students so whenever you run out of social batteries, he's quick to take the lead of the situation and let you have a small break. And don't forget all the loud praises even if what you did was something small, to him, it's always a big improvement!

Like Vil, DON'T EVEN THINK OF MAKING ANY SELF-DEPRECATING COMMENTS. He has a counter-argument for any, literally any, comment it's insane. Does this guy ever run out of compliments?

(Please someone help he's been talking about you for WEEKS and is driving Vil insane.)

You might feel like someone is staring at you at random times of the day. He's just protecting you don't worry!

Overall, he's very good at this. He's an expert at redirecting conversations if anyone is making you uncomfortable, and every step is a big step! You can't feel like you aren't doing enough around this man because he will reassure you things like this need time. Very very loudly.

He's weird, yeah. But he's proud of you. Every single conversation with Rook feels like he's not telling you something, and if you ask he's amazing at dodging any questions. Really, what does he hide?

Feel free to drop tips or constructive criticism!

#twisted wonderland x reader #twst x reader #disney twst #twisted wonderland #twst #twst headcanons #vil schoenheit #vil schoenheit x reader #rook hunt #rook hunt x reader #twisted wonderland imagines

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ronaldmcdonaldfucker · 2 years

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The Tripod Relationship HC'S - The Girl Next Door

Pairing: Eli x Reader, Matt x Reader, Klitz x Reader

Request: No

Warnings: Talk of sex, nothing graphic

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KLITZ

Okay so you're definitely his first everything. First kiss, first S/O, the person he lost his virginity to, you get it.

He's lived his whole life thinking he's ugly and that he'd never date anyone, so he was dumbfounded when you started dating. He's so loyal though!

He's still iffy on PDA because he thinks people will make fun of you if they see you with him :(

If you kiss him in public to show you don't care what people think of you, instant boner, he gets super flustered n blushy.

Behind closed doors, he's a passionate lover, though. He doesn't really know what he's doing but with good communication, he learns quickly!

Would never say anything to hurt you, and would hate himself if he did. Fights are rare, but they're mostly caused by his self-esteem, or lack thereof. You just want him to see himself the way you do; beautiful.

Overall the best boyfriend out of The Tripod. Love him, please.

ELI

Horny. Bastard. As I'm sure we all know, Eli is a hormonal mess.

He really does love you, even if he isn’t the best a showing it. Sometimes he gets distracted with his filmmaking and forgets about you for a little bit.

He loves touching you, though. He’s incredibly affectionate in public, sometimes a little too affectionate. He can get whiny when you deny his affection though. So watch out.

The dates you guys go on are usually chaotic, to say the least. They’re more fun, rather than romantic. Roller skating? Hell yeah. Swimming with sharks? I mean probably.

You have a movie night every Friday after school. After the movie is done he gives an in-depth review of it, he doesn't force you to listen but if you do he falls even more in love with you.

He always has to have a hand on you, especially in public. Hand holding is a must. You guys have a system with it. One squeeze of the hand means ‘I love you’, two if you’re anxious, and three if you’re uncomfortable and want to leave a situation.

Overall least romantic member of The Tripod, but he tries, man.

MATT

The exact opposite of Eli. He is the most romantic member of The Tripod.

Very cliche, sometimes a little corny. PDA is usually limited to hand-holding and a quick peck on the cheek. In private he’s so goddamn romantic.

Kisses are so passionate and full of love, they never fail to take your breath away. He also loves cuddling! He likes being the big spoon and just holding you, it puts him at ease.

Be prepared to listen to him rehearsing his speech a lot. He asks for your feedback and you help him out when needed. This boy appreciates you so goddamn much.

As for sex, he waits until a few months in the relationship to really establish trust. He doesn’t want you to think that he’s just using you, and when it does happen it’s passionate.

His parents adore you, they think you’re a wonderful example and keep Matthew in check. You have dinner with them at least once a week, they’re incredibly supportive of you and Matt’s relationship.

He tends to lash out at anyone around him when he gets stressed though, and he can be really hot-headed. Fights happen once a month or so, and one of you usually ends up in tears. He always tries his best to make up for it, though.

Overall a great significant other, second-best boyfriend in The Tripod.

TAGLIST:

@fanofverymanythings

#fanfic #fluff #headcanons #fiction #reader insert #paul dano nation #paul dano #paul dano x reader #the girl next door #the tripod #the tripod x reader #klitz #klitz kiss me challenge ?!#klitz x reader #eli x reader #matt kidman x reader #relationship headcanons

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i-need-air · 3 years

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Hybrid!AU Wolf!Bakugou Katsuki HCs Part 2.

Summary: Part 2 is here! While in part 1 it was mostly adoption and how he'd behave with you as a roommate, part two is him ✨ realizing things ✨ followed by how he'd be in a romantic relationship.

Word Count: 2k words [ oops, I did it again ]

Notes: So I said it'll be out in a few days but three [3] people asked me for part 2 and I'm a sucker soooooooo!! I could've just written a long ass fic but whatever, I thought I'd make it shorter in headcanons... hah lol right. Enjoy!

Part 1 here!

× he's a wild wolf so he's very active; like you need to understand he needs to go outside if not he'd get impatient, more aggressive, snappy, so once you took him on an easy hiking trail near your house and he loved it so once or twice a month you both go together to different places [ he demands it ]

× it's hard to keep up with him bc he's literally genetically engineered to be better than any very fit human being but he slows down for you

× morning runs at 5 a.m. bc he's insane

× is also a grandpa

× watched all documentaries on any streaming platform you could provide to him, also loves reading

× as months pass and you start to have your routine in order, word comes to you that an acquaintance is looking for a security guard at his mechanical shop two streets away from your house

× you casually mentioned it to Bakugou because he was starting to act anxious whenever you'd leave the house, so you assumed he was extra bored

× seriously, the house was spotlessly cleaned, he cooked amazingly and was occupied with your old laptop and going around the city to explore, but you guessed he wanted more independence?

× little did you know you were right but so wrong lol

× so Bakugou stared at you intensely and asked "Where?"

× it was as easy as telling him the location, him nodding and you thought he'd consider it; you didn't put any pressure on him because he already did so much to help around anyway

× well guess what bitch, next day he comes up to you saying you gotta co-sign his contract [cuz fuck society] meaning he got the job

× he was perfect for it because tall, intimidating, muscular wolf guy? who'd even mess with him? do they have a death wish?

× well, even before this he started to be... soft

× but once you really did show him you support whatever he wants to do, you give him his freedom and liberty of choice, he just reaaally changes, man

× he gets touchy, like his hands stay one second longer on your skin, he uses any excuse to have them on you, even his eyes follow you everywhere

× like c'mon, it's obvious but you didn't wanna put too much thought into it because we're respectful here

× not like you had a big fat crush on him and slowly started to realize it too

× sike bitch he knows

× you think his super-hearing didn't catch the way your heartbeat spikes up every single time he touches you? *please*

× i think he knows before you know

× meanwhile he is working to discover his feelings too

× so your relationship slowly turns into a couple's like relationship but without anything official and of course no kissing or such [ sadly ]

× would get jealous easily

× basically because nothing is talked between you two and deep down is insecure

× why the hell do you smell like other people? was it just a hug or something else? hell, why would you even hug people when he's right there??? just ask and don't touch some extras????

× another thing he does is getting very close to you while you talk to somebody else; scoffs and glares at them too

× ok so!! gifts! he really appreciates any gift you give him but scolds you if you do because you genuinely don't need to do that

× of course he just scolds you and calls you an idiot so I do hope you already learned his language

× it basically means that you shouldn't have done it, he's really grateful but seriously you shouldn't have

× like that one time you saved up money to get him a good computer and he forgot how to speak for like an hour

× the softest thank you ever afterwards

× still sounded rough but he was shocked as fuck

× one thing that remained in your brain were his friends, as sometimes he'd mention them

× so you took it upon yourself to find them, of course with his permission

× gets genuinely overwhelmed and plays it off saying he wouldn't mind knowing where those idiots ended but you didn't miss the way his voice trembled

× for you to find them you needed names and any information he could provide so that's when he, after a long silence and a mesmerized look on his face, started really talking about his life

× which was fucked; won't get much into detail but he was indeed in a fighting ring, people came and bet on whoever was stronger, he even had to fight his friends, everything was filled with abuse and their conditions were subhuman...

× just overall awful

× you couldn't help but hug him tight, feeling him shake in your arms

× with a hesitant voice he asked if you really did think there was a chance to find them

× just couldn't believe how amazing he felt in your arms

× or how your determination that night made his heart clench and took a big weight off his shoulders

× anywho;;;; after his first paycheck he takes you out on cute dates

× never calls them that, just demands you dress up [helps you out cuz boy got style] and takes you to a nice coffee shop or something

× AND on your fifth not date cuz you're not official but there's this weird tension between you date he finally kinda s n a p s

× you honestly didn't expect the waiter to flirt with you, he came out as very pushy and even if you were a lil uncomfortable you smiled and brushed it off

× when the waiter suggested giving you his number the sandy blond hybrid growled

× which i shit you not made the whole coffee shop freeze

× and you froze too

× but neither of you could say anything because the oblivious fuck kept talking

× basically joking about how you should keep your pet in a leash, to which you got up, threw some money on the table, grabbed Bakugou by the hand and leave before he'd rip someone's head off

× it only took you to touch Bakugou's arm to calm him down as he followed behind you wordlessly

× so you stood outside, angry, deep red eyes on your figure

× and silence

× his hand still in yours

× it was warm and amazing and you felt angry but your heart was beating loudly; angry at the waiter that you wanted to go full Karen on and get fired but excited because that growl shook you to the core, as if you could tell it was territorial and it was because of that pig flirting with you and did Bakugou Katsuki just lace his fingers with you?!

× "Oi." he interrupted your thoughts

× he turned your frame towards him and pulled you [kinda harshly] into him

× you'd make a comment about it but brain empty, just Bakugou Katsuki blushing

× "You're mine, you get it?"

× skdjflglykshs

× it sounded like he asked but it was a demand so oops you're his now ok bye

× like I said, boy isn't dumb so he lowkey knew you felt something too

× legit from there on he's just soft as fuck

× has a hard time opening up but visibly tries for you

× still continues to be a pain in the ass, Bakugou Style, but with a loving teasing attitude behind it

× his eyes give him away all the time

× they shine whenever you're in his field of view so congrats because, and this is the best part:

× WOLVES MATE FOREVER 💕💓💞💗💝💟

× oh yeah, he's yours, no takebacks

× he isn't one to half-ass the relationship; you're his now and he'll do anything for you

× big time touch starved it hurts

× because he is shy

× so whenever you introduce him to hand holding and cuddles, he can't get enough

× not big on PDA [ and not recommended since human-hybrid relationships are kiiiinda frowned upon but it's getting better ]

× although at home it's another deal

× seriously cuddle him; he's big into the protector vibe so he's a big spoon almost exclusively unless it's to sleep on top of you

× speaking of! accept that even if your relationship isn't that intimate, he'd still hint about sleeping together in the same bed

× so you better catch on when he does because he'll just click his tongue and call you needy

× while dragging you to bed

× sleeps holding you, his nose in your hair or in the crook of your neck

× unless it's summer then stay on your side 💅

× you know those kisses that just scream "I can't get enough of you"? that's his whole kissing vibe in a sentence

× hell, even the gentlest kiss gives that vibe away and it'll 100% leave you breathless

× doesn't have experience but is a very fast learner

× pays very close attention to your body language

× really into biting your skin enough to leave marks

× wear his hoodies

× no, I'm fucking serious, wear them now

× his chest puffs and he turns into a blushing mess when you do it the first times because his scent is on you

× scenting is a big thing for him so of course he's gonna love it

× 10x more territorial because now he has a mate to protect

× jealous but trusts you

× still very jealous though

× let's all pretend he is definitely not scenting you before you go out because it's in his nature and it is embarrassing

× the first time he tells you he loves you it's when he's feeling vulnerable

× the search for his friends is still on-going, he feels less than adequate as a providing mate, is pissed at the world for treating him like an inferior animal when they created him, everything is piled on his shoulders and whenever than happens he closes off

× you notice immediately

× will not tell you at first

× it's only when you go to bed and he turns his back to you when you really know it's bad

× even if you fought before, he'd angrily snuggle you at night-time

× now it's so different

× hug him, whisper sweet nothings in his ear, pull a blanket all over you both and big spoon him, he'd start shaking and talking in no time

× will hide his tears from you but you'd know

× "You're the best fucking thing that happened to me, [Y/N]... I—... Shit... I love you so much."

× neither of you slept that night

× excuse you? drink some water and pray to jesus;;; you talked about feelings, ok? communication is key in a relationship, puh-lease

× [ i have this whole nsfw hcs post already cookin in my brain so maybe I'll make it happen cuz y'all know he has a mating season and all that comes with it 👀 ]

× back to being children of jesus here

× thanks the moon, the heavens and all the gods for putting you in his life; boy didn't believe in destiny but deep down he thinks you were meant to be

× you still better wash the dishes or you'll get your ass kicked.

Extra:

× you did find some of his friends, little by little, and even if he acted nonchalant, like k das cool, it was obvious he was extremely happy

× so they did get adopted too

× you got in contact with them on social media and they were all very excited about meeting

× so it was a chaotic meeting with a dog hybrid called Kirishima and a mouse like vibrat yellow guy called Kaminari

× they all were looking for Bakugou too since they were very worried about where he ended

× Kirishima shed manly tears when seeing Bakugou

× as they instantly welcomed you in their small group, they informed you both that the majority of the squad was adopted and they're in contact, while they're still actively looking for the others

× cue to the softest expression you've seen on Bakugou in public followed by "That's good"

× silence

× shock and silence

× Kaminari turning to you and whispering "You did this" with a hand on his heart, lips trembling as he wiped an imaginary tear

× insert instantly snappy Bakugou

× when everyone laughed and continued to make plans to meet up with the others, he just looked at you conversing with them, soft expression again on his features and his chest warming

× "Oh! Look, he's doing it again! Quick, take a pictur—"

× "SHINE!"

#bakugou katsuki x reader #noirewrites #hybrid!bakugou #hybrid!au #bakugou x reader #bakugou headcanons #bnha x reader

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h0tch-r0cket · 3 years

Text

Infatuation (18+) {a.h.} : chapter 8

summary: you needed a job. aaron hotchner needed a babysitter. the rest was inevitable.

word count: 4.9K

warnings: explicit language, building tension, drinking alcohol

table of contents

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

"Hey Esmé? Are you up? I really need you right now," you called out through her bedroom door. You shifted your weight on the balls of your feet, knocking on her door.

Aaron had just dropped you off at your apartment, leaving you stunned at the fact that the two of you almost kissed in his car. You had to talk to someone about it otherwise you were certain you would have spontaneously combusted on the spot. You threw your head in your hands in frustration and let out a frustrated groan as you knocked on her door, this time a little bit harder than the first.

"Esmé, please." Artemis was at your heels and she barked at the door, as if she was trying to help you out and get Esmé's attention.

Aggravated mumbling from behind the door grabbed your attention as you heard Esmé shuffling her feet on the floor. When it opened, she was rubbing her eye with one hand and waving her finger around at you with the other.

"I swear to God, Y/N, this better be life or death because I am exhausted. I had some guy puke on me at the ER on my shift and I'm not in the mood to deal with-"

"He tried to kiss me in his car after his lecture," you blurted out to interrupt her rambling.

She stopped rubbing her eyes, looking at you with the one uncovered eye extremely wide. "I'm sorry. Can you repeat that?" She took a step closer to you, still keeping her one hand on top of her eye.

You took a deep breath, trying to calm yourself down. "Aaron. He tried to kiss me today after the lecture."

Esmé quickly grabbed onto your hand and dragged you into her room, making you sit down on her bed. She stood in front of you and was pacing back and forth, her face contorted in disbelief and confusion.

"Aaron...tried...to...kiss...you," she said slowly as if she was taking a moment to process what you just told her.

"Yes, Esmé. It was after his lecture before he dropped me off here." Esmé continued to pace in front of you, holding her chin in her hand.

"Aaron tried to kiss you," she said faster.

"Esmé. I know. Focus here, please. I literally don't know what the fuck to do with myself right now," you said, a hint of annoyance in your voice. You knew that it was a lot to take in and quite frankly, you were still reeling from the moment yourself.

"How the fuck did that even happen?" Esmé asked as she finally gave you her undivided attention.

"It just sort of came out of the blue," you told her. "Well, maybe not that out of the blue the more that I think about it."

"Why's that?"

"He said some things during the lecture and I am pretty positive that they were supposed to be directed at me. Or I guess how he feels about me," you explained. Esmé squatted down in front of you, resting her hands on your thighs.

"What the hell did he say in the lecture?"

You briefly told Esmé about how he kept looking at you during that one specific part of the lecture, how Zeus didn't care about what people thought and that he just wanted to be with the woman he loved.

"He said that in front of everybody?" she asked, her eyes widening in shock.

"Yeah, E. That's why I'm trying not to read too much into it because it was a lecture after all. But it just felt so real."

Esmé let out a small laugh and stood up. "Y/N, I told you this man was smitten. Look at him! He almost kissed you in his car. Jesus fucking Christ. It's like he got smacked upside the head and is finally growing a set to not just tell you how he feels but to show you how he feels."

"I'm trying not to get my hopes up," you said quietly, the lingering uncertainty rattling around in your head.

Esmé looked down at you and furrowed her brows. "Wait. You said tried to kiss you? How do you try to kiss someone and not actually kiss them? I mean it's not that hard. You just have to-"

"Esmé," you said, cutting her off from her impending rant again as you heard the excited yet confused tone in her voice. "He got a call from Jack's school so he had to take it."

Esmé flopped down on the bed next to you on her back and stared up at the ceiling. "So you're telling me that it literally was like a scene out of a fucking movie? Oh my god, Y/N," she said excitedly as she held her face in her hands.

You shrugged your shoulders, twiddling your fingers in your lap. "I guess it was kind of cliché. But, God, E, when I tell you I felt like the world was completely stopped around us when he was moving his head closer to me," you said, exhaling deeply.

Esmé propped herself up on her elbows and a smirk grew on her face. "How about next time you see him, you just go for the gusto. Fucking grab him by the collar or something and just go for it."

You laughed at Esmé's so-called advice, rolling your eyes.

"I mean come on. He clearly has a thing for you already and you sure as hell do too, so might as well reassure his thoughts and feelings by sealing the deal and finish what you started in his car," she continued. She sat up on the edge of her bed next to you, wrapping her arm around your shoulder and giving it a reassuring squeeze. "And you know just for your sanity, and mine," she muttered as she spoke. Esmé grabbed onto your chin and turned your head to look at her. "Turn your fucking phone off," she said, sending you a death glare as she still held on to your face.

"Noted," you said, laughing lightly as she poked you on your nose, letting go of your face. Your phone buzzed in your pocket and you grabbed it quickly, hoping it was the person you needed to hear from the most.

Aaron Hotchner

-Hey, Y/N. Just wanted to let you know that I am keeping Jack home from school tomorrow. Don't worry about coming here to watch him. I took off for the day to make sure he's doing alright.

-And thanks again for coming to my lecture. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

-Tell Jack I hope that he feels better soon!

"Oh my god, did he ask you out yet? Was that what that message was?" Esmé asked excitedly.

You shook your head no and put your phone away. "Jack is sick so I'm not going over there tomorrow."

"Well that's not the worst thing in the world. Now you have an extra day to figure things out." She paused, giving your leg a reassuring squeeze. "And now I have the next day to help you come up with a plan to seduce Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome."

"I don't think that will be necessary," you laughed lightly, not wanting Esmé to meddle in whatever was going on with Aaron.

"Me making the plan? Yeah, probably not. But you definitely have to get into his pants," she encouraged. "Don't let this one get away from you."

"I'm not planning on it."

-----

Your days off flew by and before you knew it, you were back to your daily routine of watching the young Hotchner.

"How are you feeling, buddy?" you asked Jack as he wrapped his arms around your legs when you picked him up from the bus stop.

"A lot better. I slept a lot yesterday and the day before. I missed school though," he said as he looked up at you from around your waist. "But it's okay. Ms. Kingston told me not to worry about my work or anything." He let go of you and you began to walk towards the Hotchner home.

Your usual game of pebble kicking commenced as Jack told you about his school day.

"Hey Y/N?" he asked as he hopped up the stairs to the porch.

"Yeah, Jack?"

He stopped in his tracks and turned to look at you as you grabbed the key to the house from your pocket. "I missed you while I was sick."

You smiled, ruffling his hair. "I missed you, too." You unlocked the door and headed inside, being greeted by the German Shepherd who was eagerly anticipating someone coming home to be with him.

Jack gave Buster his usual scratches behind the ear before going to do his homework at the kitchen table.

You settled down on the couch, still trying to figure out how exactly you were going to bring up the whole almost kiss incident later on with Aaron later on when he got home from work.

It was all you thought about the past two days, keeping you up at night. With Esmé practically interrogating you every time she saw you, you were growing more anxious to talk to him. You worried that there was a lapse of judgement. That he was just caught up in the moment.

But you hoped that wasn't the case.

You hoped that that was his overall intention. That he did want to kiss you. That the words he spoke during his lecture, although they were about the myth, that they applied to the situation that the two of you currently found yourselves in. The words seemed too real, too thought out to only be about the way that the story went. And the fact that his mannerisms in the lecture changed when he was talking about the desire to be with someone and that he didn't care what others thought. He went from glancing around the room and pacing in front of all of his students to stopping dead in his tracks and looking at you.

You could vividly remember how his eyes were searching yours in the lecture hall, as if he was hinting that it all was about you. That it always had been about you.

As you sat on the couch and tried to process everything and think of what you were going to say to Aaron, you were interrupted by the young Hotchner plopping down on the couch next to you.

"Y/N, I'm hungry," he said as he twiddled with his fingers.

"What are you in the mood for?" You turned your attention towards the boy as you propped up your elbow on the back of the couch.

"Can we make pizza together?" he asked softly.

"Make pizza?" You were shocked at his request, not expecting him to want to make his own dinner.

"Yeah. It would be fun and delicious." He smiled softly at you, and you knew he was going to win. That kid was slowly leaving a lasting impression on you, one that you never expected. You truly cared about him the more you spent time with him and you wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

You glanced at your watch quickly to get a gauge on the time. "We probably won't have enough time to make our own sauce but we can buy it from your favorite pizza place and still make everything else like the dough. Does that sound good to you, buddy?"

"Yeah!" he hollered in excitement. You gave him a quick high five, an agreement on the plan for the night.

"Give me a few minutes to check to see what Dad has in the kitchen for the dough and toppings and then we'll head out to the store for everything else," you told Jack as you got up from the couch.

"Thanks, Y/N!"

"Of course, Jack."

————

After your successful shopping trip to the grocery store and the pizza place, you and Jack were back home prepping the kitchen for your pizza making night.

"Alright, Jack. Ready to start?" you asked, looking at the ingredients scattered on the counter.

Jack nodded in excitement from across the counter and eagerly awaited your instructions.

You helped him measure out everything for the dough and had him start to mix it together while you grated the fresh block of mozzarella cheese to use for your pizzas. And of course, according to Jack, no pizza night would have been complete without pepperoni for the topping so you were going to cut that up as well.

"Okay, Y/N. The dough is all done," Jack said as he wiped his hands off above the counter. He looked adorable as ever, his shirt lightly coated in a bit of flour and a couple little white spots of flour on his face.

"Nice work, Jack," you said as you put down the cheese, figuring you grated enough. You passed Jack a sliver of the pepperoni, taking one for yourself. "Always fun to snack while you're cooking."

He nodded, leaning across the counter awaiting your next instruction. You cleared the countertop of everything besides the bowl of dough by Jack.

"Step one," you said dramatically, trying to get Jack even more excited, "is to put some flour on the counter." You took a pinch of the flour in between your fingers and sprinkled it onto the counter where the two of you were going to work. Jack followed your lead and sprinkled some flour on the counter too.

"Why are we doing this?" he asked curiously.

"It's so the dough doesn't get too sticky on the counter." He let out a small oh as you grabbed the bowl of dough in front of him. "Are we doing little pizzas for everyone or one big one to share?"

Jack tapped his finger on his chin, taking an ample amount of time to think about his decision as if the world depended upon it. "Little ones," he decided.

"Alright, well in that case we have to split the dough evenly." You grabbed the nearby knife and cut the dough into 3 equal parts, one for you, Jack, and Aaron.

"Now what?" Jack asked.

"We have to knead the dough," you explained as you placed one of the sections of dough on the counter where you had sprinkled the flour. You rolled the dough around for a second to coat it in the flour and watched as Jack stared at you, mesmerized at what you were doing.

You rolled the dough on the counter, working to get the air bubbles out of the dough. You kneaded it for a few minutes until you heard the familiar car alarm chirp in the driveway.

"Dad's home?" Jack asked, clearly not expecting his father to be home so soon.

You glanced at the time to see that Aaron was home about two hours earlier than you had anticipated. "I guess so," you said as you heard the front door open.

You continued to work the dough as Aaron came into the kitchen.

"Wow, what's going on here?" he asked as he leaned against the entrance of the kitchen.

"Making pizza," Jack said simply.

"Mhm," Aaron hummed. "Who's idea was that?"

"It was mine," the young Hotchner admitted happily. "I'll be right back. I have to go to the bathroom."

"Make sure you wash your hands good if you're going to be making this pizza," Aaron called out as Jack ran down the hallway.

You chuckled lightly at Jack's unnecessary announcement as you continued to roll the dough around on the counter. You glanced over to see Aaron watching you work the dough. He furrowed his brows as you worked, pushing his glasses up on the bridge of his nose.

"Can I help you?" you teased, clearly catching him watching you.

Aaron let out a light laugh, coming over to where you and Jack had been cooking. "Nothing, I just—" He paused and clicked his tongue. "It's nothing."

You brushed a strand of hair off your forehead with the back of your hand and looked at him, wondering what he was talking about. "No, what was it?" you asked.

"You're doing too much to the dough," he told you, raising his eyebrows as his way of pointing towards it.

You scoffed playfully, feigning a hurt expression at his comment. "Well, Mr. Chef Boyardee, how should we be kneading the dough then?"

Aaron rolled up the sleeves on his dress shirt and you watched as he came around the counter.

You definitely weren't expecting what was coming next.

Aaron stood behind you, pressing his front against your back as he wrapped his arms around your body, his forearms boxing yours in. He placed his hands on top of yours, starting to guide your hands in rolling the dough. His hands covered yours completely, manipulating their movements to continue to knead the dough. He moved his head next to yours, keeping a watchful eye on the workspace in front of you. You felt the warmth radiating off his body as he continued to stand behind you.

"You don't have to work it so much," he whispered into your ear. You shivered at the closeness, trying not to lose your composure as Aaron continued to move your hands, now in a more circular motion to work on getting the dough to be the right shape and to have a bit of a crust.

"The less you keep kneading it, the better," he continued. You leaned back against him, falling into a state of intoxication because of the whole incident that was unraveling.

You couldn't form any coherent words. Or any other thought than the fact that you wanted Aaron to take you right then and there on the countertop. It took all your willpower not to moan in the moment, even though you felt at any moment one would slip past your lips.

Aaron could feel the way your body tensed when he first came up behind you. He thought that maybe you felt uncomfortable in the situation. But then as your body relaxed underneath his touch, he figured you were enjoying the moment just as much as he was.

He didn't want to ever let you go. The feeling of your body pressed against his was permanently engraved in his mind.

He wanted more.

He was tired of running around his feelings. He was determined to talk to you about everything.

"Aaron," you muttered out, practically breathless as he stayed behind you even though the pizza dough had long been stagnant on the counter. Now, it was only the two of you pressed against each other, both of your hands locked together on top of one another on the counter.

"Hm?" he hummed as he leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss on your shoulder.

"We need to talk later," you said, feeling overwhelmed by the closeness of him. You knew that you had to talk to him about the events of the past few days and if you didn't stop him now, you wouldn't have been able to help yourself.

"Whatever you want," he muttered as he pressed another kiss underneath your earlobe.

As much as you didn't want him to, Aaron let go of you and you could still feel the way he was pressed up against you. You could subtly make out the mildly toned muscles that were hidden underneath his dress shirt and you imagined what they looked like, how they would have felt underneath your fingertips.

You tried to shake the thoughts from your head but to no avail.

You stood there practically frozen as Jack skipped back into the kitchen. "Okay! I think I can make my pizza now. I think I'm going to be an expert," he asserted.

"I'm sure you are, buddy," Aaron said as he washed his hands in the sink.

"Alright Jack. Let's get going," you told him, feeling your cheeks blush thinking about what just happened.

You were truly in deep shit and there was no going back.

————

"Can we play a game now?" Jack pleaded as the three of you just got done eating the pizzas.

"Go pick one out," Aaron said as he wiped his mouth off with his napkin.

Jack ran up to his room, leaving you and Aaron alone. Again.

He cleared his throat as he took a sip of his wine. He placed the glass down in front of you and clasped his hands together, his honey eyes glancing at you. "What did you want to talk about?" he asked.

You took a deep breath, trying to prepare yourself for the impending conversation. "Well to start, I guess, I want to ask you something."

"Anything."

"Now this may be my brain just over analyzing but in, uh, light of recent events we'll say," you started, trying to phrase everything the best you could, "the day at your lecture. I know you were talking about the myth of Zeus and Io. But I just... the words seemed to be saying more than just that. Am I overthinking or was there actually something behind all of that?"

"You'd be right about that," he said bluntly as he took another sip of his wine. "It wasn't just about the myth."

You felt your cheeks blush again as he looked at you. "So you actually meant it?"

"You're a smart girl, Y/N. I figured you'd pick up on it," he said with a smirk.

"And in the car when we were about to kiss—"

"Interruptions are never fun," he interjected. "Like I said that day, Y/N, you're such an amazing person. And if my actions haven't been clear about that and the way I feel about everything, then what can I do to make it clearer?"

Your eyes widened, realizing what he just told you. You figured that some part of him had some sort of feelings for you but to hear it from him was a whole different sense of euphoria.

"I don't want to force you into anything that you don't want," he added. "I know that there are a lot of things about all of this that could be a bit taboo to some people."

You nodded your head, taking a sip of your own wine. "What makes you think that this isn't something that I want?" you asked curiously.

The footsteps of Jack returned and Aaron raised his brow as a way to tell you to stop the conversation for the time being. Later, he mouthed to you as he got up from the dinner table and grabbed your empty plate from in front of you.

"I haven't played this game in forever," Jack said dramatically as he rattled the box in his hands.

"What is it?" you asked as you got up from the table to see what he had.

He held the box out in front of you and you felt your heart race. Of course, it was just the thing that you needed right now to add to the tension that was clearly building between you and Aaron all night.

"Twister!" he hollered.

Jesus fucking Christ, you thought to yourself.

You pinched the bridge of your nose, trying to figure out a way out of playing. You couldn't see it actually helping the current situation in which you found yourself. If anything, you knew that it would make you want to have Aaron absolutely destroy you into oblivion.

"Jack, buddy. I, uh, don't think that this is such a good idea after eating such a big dinner," you told him, trying to think of anything to get out of playing the game. "You don't want to get sick."

"I'll be fine! Come on, Y/N," Jack practically whined.

"Yeah, come on Y/N," Aaron said smugly as he came up from behind you. "It'll be fun to say the least." He placed his hand on the small of your back as he guided you into the living room. Jack ran around in front of the two of you, quickly laying out the mat for the game on the floor.

You whipped your head around towards Aaron, your eyes wide. "What kind of sick joke is this?" you whispered at him.

He shrugged his shoulders and shoved his hands in his pockets as he smirked. "I had nothing to do with this. But," he whispered as he moved his lips closer to your ear so that Jack wouldn't hear what he was about to say. "I'm sure it won't be the last time the two of us get tangled up together."

"Cheeky bastard," you said back to him, feeling his words go straight to your core.

"Come on guys! I'll go first," Jack said as he spun the dial. "Left hand green." He smacked his hand onto the green dot closest to him and was waiting for you or Aaron to make the next move.

"Let the games begin," Aaron said loudly, making sure to steal a glance at you as the smirk grew on his face.

It wasn't long before the three of you were all twisted and tangled on the game mat. You were positive that you were mere moments away from falling over but you were determined to hold on, if only for a bit longer.

Aaron was thankful for his son for being his unintentional wingman. The game allowed him to be close to you with absolutely no remorse in his body. Especially the few times your ass had rubbed against his groin area. He clenched his jaw each time it happened, trying to not let it affect him. Or at least not that much.

He couldn't even remember how you got tangled up with him on the mat, your limbs crossing here and there with your fronts facing each other.

He was surprised to see how you were twisting and bending your body and could only think about how you would be in bed when he was relentlessly fuc—

"Right hand green," you announced as the spinner for the game came to a halt. "Oh no," you groaned as you soon realized how far away you were from the green spot.

"Don't think you can do it?" Jack teased as he peeked over at you and looked at your current situation.

"No, no. I got this," you told him. You stretched out your arm, reaching over Aaron's crossed legs as you planted your hand firmly on the green dot. "See? Told you."

"Dad, your turn!"

Aaron muttered under his breath, something about being too old for this game as he reached over and spun the spinner. "Left foot yellow?" Aaron peered down at his feet to see that his foot was already there. "Well would you look at that."

"You have to move it," Jack told his father.

"What? No, I don't," Aaron said, determined to keep his foot in place.

"Jack is right. Your foot was already there but you have to try to move it to a different yellow spot," you told him as you glanced at him over your shoulder.

Aaron rolled his eyes and begrudgingly moved his foot to the nearest yellow spot, which looped his body underneath yours.

"Right foot red for me," Jack said as he stretched out his leg to reach it. His foot just made it as it looked like he was in the position that runners were in when they were starting the race.

You flicked the spinner and watched it go until it slowed down, landing on a spot. "Right foot blue," you said. You stretched out your leg, going over Aaron's waist to get to the blue spot. "And that is how it's done," you said cockily.

A mere moment later, your knee buckled underneath you, as it gave out from tiredness underneath you. You quickly fell to the ground, taking Aaron down with you. You landed on his lap, a small huff of air leaving him from the impact.

"Are you okay?" you asked him as you tried to hold in your laughter.

He nodded, trying not to wince from the sudden weight that was dropped onto his groin area.

Aaron was, in fact, more than okay. Sure, the initial fall from you hurt like a bitch but as the two of you sat there for a moment, taking in what just happened, he really didn't mind.

"I win!" Jack yelled in victory.

"That you did," you agreed. You shuddered quickly as Aaron's hands found your waist, splaying them across it. It became all too noticeable to you now that you were practically straddling Aaron's lap right there on the Twister mat.

"You okay?" he asked you as his face softened in concern. You felt his thumbs run gentle circles on your hips as he awaited your answer.

"I'm fine," you assured, brushing the loose strands of hair off of his forehead with your fingers. "I fell on you. Are you okay?"

Aaron nodded his head, a small smile turning up on his lips.

"I think I'm more okay than I have been in a while."

-----

author's note:

i have literally had this chapter planned out and the idea in my head before i even any idea as to where this story was going and i am so excited that it's finally out there!

i hope you all enjoyed it! as always, thank you for your continued support <3

see you next chapter!

-jordyn

#aaronhotchner #aaron hotchner x reader #aaron hotchner x you #criminal minds #criminal minds fanfiction #fanfic #hotch #hotch x you #hotch x y/n

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brawltogethernow · 4 years

Note

So, I don't think I've ever asked you this... what IS the whole point of the Spider-Sense? It really seems like something that only exists for writers to ignore or work around when they want to inject Legit Tension into a story.

I’ve thought about this power so much, but never with an eye to defend its right to exist, so I needed to think about this. The results could be more concise.

Ironically, given the question, I have to say its main purpose is to ramp up tension. But it’s also a highly variable multitool that a skilled creative team can use for...pretty much anything. It does everything the writer wants it to, while for its wielder always falls just short of doing enough.

I went looking through my photos for a really generic, classic-looking example to use as an image to head this topic, but then I ran into the time Peter absolutely did not reimburse this man for his stolen McDonald’s, so have that instead.

A Scare Chord, But You Can Draw It

That one post that says the spider-sense is just super-anxiety isn’t, like, wrong. It’s a very anxious, dramatic storytelling tool originally designed for a very anxious, dramatic protagonist. I find it speaks to the overall tone of the franchise that some characters are functionally psychics, but with a psychic ability that only points out problems.

Spidey sense pinging? There’s danger, be stressed! Broken? Now the lead won’t even KNOW when there’s a problem, scary! Single character is immune to it? That’s an invisible knife in the dark oh my god what the fuck what the fU--

Like its counterpart in garden variety anxiety, the only time the spider-sense reduces tension is in the middle of a crisis. But in the wish fulfillmenty way that you want in an adventure story to justify exaggerated action sequences, the same way enhanced strength or durability does. Also like those, it would theoretically make someone much safer to have it, but it exists in the story to let your character navigate into and weather more dangerous situations.

For its basic role in a story, a danger sense is a snappy way to rile up both the reader and the protagonist that doesn’t offer much information beyond that it’s time to sit smart because shit is about to go down.

Spidey comic canon is all over the board in quality and genre, and it started needing to subvert its formulas before the creators got a handle on what those formulas even were, and basically no one has read anything approaching most of it at this point, so for consistent examples of a really bare bones use of this power in storytelling, I’d point to the property that’s done the best job yet of boiling down the mechanics of Spider-Man to their absolute most basic essentials for adaptation to a compelling monster of the week TV series.

Or as you probably know it, Danny Phantom. DON’T BOO, I’M RIGHT.

DP is Spider-Man with about 2/3 of the serial numbers filed off and no death (ironically), and Danny’s ghost sense is the most proof in the formula example of what the spidey sense is for: It’s a big sign held up for the viewer that says, “Something is wrong! Pay attention!” Effectively a visual scare chord. It’s about That Drama. And it works, which won it a consistent place in the show’s formula. We’re talking several times an episode here.

So why does it work?

It’s a little counterintuitive, but it’s strong storytelling to tell your audience that something bad is going to happen before it does. A vague, punchy spoiler transforms the ignorant calm before a conflict into a tense moment of anticipation. ...And it makes sure people don’t fail to absorb the beginning of said conflict because they weren’t prepared to shift gears when the scene did. Shock is a valuable tool, too, but treating it like a staple is how you burn out your audience instead of keeping them engaged. Not to go after an easy target, but you need to know how to manage your audience’s alarm if you don’t want to end up like Game of Thrones.

The limits of the spider-sense also keep you on your toes when handled by a smart writer. It tells Peter (everyone’s is a little different, so I’m going to cite the og) about threats to his person, but it doesn’t elaborate with any details when it’s not already obvious why, what kind, and from what. And it doesn’t warn him about anything else-- Which is a pretty critical gap when you zoom out and look at his hero career’s successes and failures and conclude that it’s definitely why he’s lived as long as he has acting the way he does, but was useless as he failed to save a string of people he’d have much rather had live on than him.

(Any long-running superhero mythos has these incidents, but with Peter they’re important to the core themes.)

And since this power is by plot for plot (or because it’s roughly agreed it only really blares about threats that check at least two boxes of being major, immediate, or physical), it always kicks in enough to register when the danger is bearing down...when it’s too late to actually do anything about it if “anything” is a more complex action than “dodge”.

Really? Not until the elevator doors started to open?

That Distinctive, Crunchy Spider Flavor

The spider-sense and its little pen squiggles go hand in hand with wallcrawling (and its unique and instantly identifiable associated body language) to make the Spider-Person powerset enduringly iconic and elevate characters with it from being generic mid-level super-bricks. Visually, but also in how it shapes the story.

I said it can share a narrative role with super strength. But when you end a fight and go home, super strength continues to make your character feel powerful, probably safer than they’d be otherwise, maybe dangerous.

The spider-sense just keeps blaring, “Something’s wrong! Something’s wrong! God, why aren’t you doing something about this!?”

Pretty morose thing to live with, for a safety net! Kind of a double edged sword you have there! Could be constantly being hyperattuned to problems would prime you for a negative outlook on life. Kind of seems like a power that would make it impossible for a moral person to take a day off, leading them into a beleaguered and resentful yet dutiful attitude about the whole superhero gig! Might build up to some of the core traits of this mythos, maybe! Might lead to a lot of fifteen minute retirement stories, or something. Might even be a built in ‘great responsibility’ alarm that gets you a main character who as a rule is not going to stop fighting until he physically cannot fight anymore.

Certainly not apropos of anything, just throwing this short lived barely-a-joke tagline up for fun.

One of my personal favorite things about stories with superpowers is keeping in mind how they cause the people who have them to act in unusual ways outside of fights, so when you tell me that these people have an entire extra sense that tells them when the gas in their house is leaking through a barely useful hot/cold warning system that never turns off, I’m like, eyes emojis, popcorn out, notebook open, listening intently, spectacles on, the whole deal.

It also contributes to Peter Parker’s personality in a way I really enjoy: It allows him to act like an irrational maniac. When you know exactly when a situation becomes dangerous and how much, normal levels of caution go out the window and absolutely nothing you do makes sense from an exterior standpoint anymore. That’s the good shit. I would like to see more exploration of how the non-Parker characters experiencing the world in this incredibly altered way bounce in response.

It’s also one of many tools in this franchise hauling the reader into relating more closely with the main character. The backbone of classic Spidey is probably being in on secrets only Peter and the reader know which completely reframe how one views the situation on the page. It’s just a big irony mine for the whole first decade. A convenient way to inform the reader and the lead that something is bad news that’s not perceivable to any other characters is youth-with-a-big-exciting-secret catnip.

Another point for tension, there, in that being aware of danger is not synonymous with being able to act on it. If there’s no visible reason for you to be acting strange, well...you’re just going to have to sit tight and sweat, aren’t you? Some gratuitous head wiggles never hurt when setting up that type of conflict.

Have I mentioned that they look cool? Simultaneously punchy and distinctive, with a respectable amount of leeway for artists to get creative with and still coming up with something easily recognizable? And pretty easy to intuit the meaning of even without the long-winded explanations common in the days when people wrote comics with the intent that someone could come in cold on any random issue and follow along okay, I think, although the mechanic has been deeply ingrained in popular culture for so long that I can’t really say for sure.

It was also useful back in the day when no artists drew the eyes on the Spider-Man mask as emoting and were conveying the lead’s expressions entirely through body language and panel composition. If you wiggle enough squiggles, you don’t need eyebrows.

Take This Handwave and Never Ask Me a Logistical Question Again

This ability patches plot holes faster than people can pick them open AND it can act as an excuse to get any plot rolling you can think of if paired with one meddling protagonist who doesn’t know how to mind their own business. Buy it now for only $19.99 (in four installments; that’s four installments of $19.99).

Why can a teenager win a six on one fight against other superhumans? Well, the spider-sense is the ultimate edge in combat, duh.

Why can Peter websling? Why doesn’t everyone websling? Well, the spider-sense is keeping him from eating flagpole when he violently flings himself across New York in a way neither man nor spider was ever meant to move.

How are we supposed to get him involved with the plot this week???? Well, that crate FELT dangerous, so he’s going to investigate it. Oh, dip, it was full of guns and radioactive snakes! Probably shouldn’t have opened that!

Yeah, okay, but why isn’t it fixing everything, then? Isn’t it supposed to be why Peter has never accidentally unmasked in front of somebody? ('Nother entry for this section, take a shot.) That’s crazy sensitive! How does he still have any problems!? Is everything bad that’s ever happened to characters with this powerset bad writing!? --Listen, I think as people with uncanny senses that can tell us whether we are in danger with accuracy that varies from incredible to approximate (I am talking about the five senses that most people have), we should all know better than to underestimate our ability to tune them out or interpret them wrong and fuck ourselves up anyway. I honestly find this part completely realistic.

*SLAPS ROOF OF SPIDER-SENSE* YOU CAN FIT SO MANY STORIES IN THIS THING

The spider-sense is a clean branch into...whatever. There is the exact right balance of structure and wishy-washiness to build off of. A sample selection of whatevers that have been built:

It’s sci-fi and spy gadgets when Peter builds technology that can interface with it.

It’s quasi-mystical when Kaine and Annie-May get stronger versions of it that give them literal psychic visions, or when you want to get mythological and start talking about all the spider-characters being part of a grand web of fate.

Kaine loses his and it becomes symbolic of a future newly unbound by constraints, entangled thematically with the improved physical health he picked up at the same time -- a loss presented as a gain.

Peter loses his and almost dies 782 times in one afternoon because that didn’t make the people he provoked when he had it stop trying to kill him, and also because he isn’t about to start “””taking the subway’’””’ “‘’“”to work”””’’” like some kind of loser who doesn’t get a heads up when he’s about to hit a pigeon at 50mph.

Peter’s starts tuning into his wife’s anxiety and it’s a tool in a relationship study.

It starts pinging whenever Peter’s near his boss who’s secretly been replaced by a shapeshifter and he IGNORES IT because his boss is enough of an asshole that that doesn’t strike him as weird; now it’s a comedy/irony tool.

Into the Spider-Verse made it this beautiful poetic thing connecting all the spider-heroes in the multiverse and stacked up a story on it about instant connection, loss, and incredibly unlikely strangers becoming a found family. It was also aesthetic as FUCK. Remember the scene where Miles just hears barely intelligible whispering that’s all lines people say later in the film and then his own voice very clearly says “look out” and then the room explodes?? Fuck!!!!

Venom becomes immune to it after hitchhiking to Earth in Peter’s bone juice and it makes him a unique threat while telling a more-homoerotic-than-I-assume-was-originally-intended story about violation and how close relationships can be dangerous when they go sour.

It doesn’t work on people you trust for maximum soap opera energy. Love the innate tragedy of this feature coming up.

IN CONCLUSION I don’t have much patience for writers who don’t take advantage of it, never mind feel they need to write around it.

#spiderman #peter parker #spiderverse #spidey #marvel #danny phantom #one day you'll see what i'm doing with it in the project i'm collabing on w/ my brother and then you'll all be sorry and hopefully impresse #mirrorfalls #asks answered #essays

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