#AT LEAST FAST FORWARD WAS CHARMING IN ITS OWN WAY | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

popponn · 6 months

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summary: there are parts of him that appears after he starts dating you, and of course these parts are exclusive for you and you only. (aka another relationship hcs with bllk boys, even more smitten edition.)

notes: doing this thing is healing sigh. so, here they are. some paragraphs full of love for them. warning: none, fluff of soft smitten™ boys, established relationship, pro/post canon au, reader's gender unspecified, mention of marriage on reo's part.

characters: isagi, reo, nagi, bachira.

isagi knows this will make him sound like a neighborhood grandpa even though he is not, but he really enjoys afternoon walks with you. he loves holding your hand, walking around the familiar scape, and watching the lighting light every contour of your profile. sunset, moonlight, daylight—he really doesn't care, it's all different but all pretty to him all the same. he usually doesn't talk much during this, either letting the pleasant silence grow on its own or having you fill it with your musings. he will still listen though, so just let him enjoy his downtime with you in his own way. enjoy his company, his soft smiles, and the way he will stare at you as if you are the one who draws the stars in the sky.

reo, after he starts dating you ("with marriage in mind," he will always add at the end), always buys a jacket or a coat based on "how good and cute you will look in it". of course, he still buys you your own set of ridiculously custom-made jackets and coats. but, what use is his outer if it doesn't make you look soft when it got draped on you? is it really good if you don't look good in it? the only ones that got exempted from this rule of his are the ones you bought for him—and even then he will still have a critical eye plus a hand on his chin if he thinks it doesn't suit you. "for future reference" or so he says. though, hey, at the very least reo is good-looking enough that 90% of outfits fit him without much thought, at least? so it's no harm. just let him spoil you, for his sake too.

nagi likes it when you draw on his hands. at first, he really doesn't get it and lets you do it because "stopping you is a hassle". but at some point, it just becomes sort of a ritual and lucky charm for him before matches. so, like a child with an x for a mouth, he will cling to you and demand his lucky charm. then fast forward and at some point if you try to do it to someone else you will get a pouting brat. if you try to draw on your own hand out of boredom while he is beside you, he legit looks so offended. "you have me???" is somehow written in his blank stares. at least, if you doodle on the paper, he will settle with only looking, just don't forget to draw some stars or flowers on him too soon though.

bachira will pull a goddamn concert if you cry just to cheer you up. a bad day so bad you cry the moment you enter your home? don't worry baby, bachira meguru is ready to sing, dance, make you laugh, and dribble a soccer ball all at once. most of the time, you laugh simply because the things he will pull are so unexpected, but bachira will take that happily. he really just doesn't look like seeing you sad and when he once said (repeatedly, actually) that your smile is one of the most precious things to him, he means it. and, if he fails, bachira will still be there as your personal comfort monster! providing from 10 out of 10 cuddles to sweet treats!

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jobean12-blog · 9 months

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Slow and Steady

Pairing: Joel Miller x reader (Lumberjack AU)

Word Count: 1,777

Summary: You've had your first date and it was perfect, the heat between you undeniable and now it's time for date #2, at his cabin, doing Lumberjack things...

Author's Note: I just love this AU for him and I'm having fun writing it! You do not need to read Wood You Be Mine? in order to read this but you can see how they met if you want! Thank you all so much for reading! Much love always! ❤️❤️❤️Divider by the lovely @firefly-graphics thank you Daisy🥰

Warnings: lots of fluffy fun, sweetness, flirting, tension, slow burn and build up. They are both cheeky and sassy😁

Joel Miller Masterlist

“Are you wearing suspenders?”

“Is that supposed to be my hello?”

Before you can sass him again, he pulls you through the door of his cabin, shuts it and promptly pins you against it.

His hands settle on either side of your head and he leans forward, his eyes dropping to your lips.

“Well darlin’?”

You nibble on your bottom lip, only tempting him more. He moves closer, dropping one hand to stroke your cheek. Slowly. Lightly.

“Hi,” you breathe out.

He tilts your head, pressing his calloused thumb under your chin until you can feel the whispered brush of his lips.

“Hey,” he murmurs before kissing you.

You wind your arms around his neck and kiss him back, melting into his warm embrace. His body covers yours, pressing you harder against the door as his lips travel along your jawline to your ear, where he nips lightly then moves down your neck.

When his lips meet yours again you sigh into the kiss, running your hands through his tussled hair and clinging to every inch of him. You grind your hips into his as your fingertips explore and your lips do the same.

“I love your beard,” you whimper, pressing small kisses along his jaw.

He groans and pulls back.

You slide your hands from his neck and down over his shoulders until you’re fingers are grasping his suspenders. With a tug you bring his lips back to yours, just a breath between you when you whisper, “if you stop, I’m going to kill you. With your own axe.”

He chuckles and brushes his thumb across your lips.

“Darlin, we gotta go slow. I’m...,” he closes his eyes briefly and shakes his head. “I’m wound tight just being around you…and with your hands and lips on me…It’s been a really long time and I’m like a horny teenager. I don’t want to have you for the very first time fast against the door. You deserve my nice soft bed or at least the plush rug in front of my warm fireplace.”

You gaze up into his face with a smirk. “That sounds…perfect.”

Flattening your palms to his chest you press closer and whisper, “but what if I want it fast and hard.”

His lips part slightly and you can see the heat in his eyes. “I’ll take you any way you want darlin’ but first I want to take my time to explore and worship every inch of you.”

Your satisfied hum is swallowed by his kiss, soft at first, but then growing to an intensity that has your toes curling in your shoes.

When he pulls away it’s with your name on his lips, his forehead resting to yours.

“I never did give you a full tour of the cabin,” he says. “The history of its construction is actually pretty fascinating.”

“Fascinating because you built it?” you say cheekily.

He smiles, the corners of his eyes crinkling with warmth. “You’ll have to let me know what you think.”

When he offers you his hand, you take it, your fingers closing around his rough but warm skin. “And after the tour, I’m gonna show you how to swing an axe.”

The cabin is even more beautiful after you learn all the little details and history behind its creation, each piece of furniture and each room having it’s own story and all of it having a little piece of him. As much as you love living in the city you can totally see the charm and comfort of living in the mountains…especially with Joel.

“Do I need a pair of suspenders to do this properly?” you tease as he leads you out to the backyard.

“Make you a deal darlin’,” he starts as he picks up his axe and heaves it over his shoulder in one easy swing. “You chop through one piece of wood this afternoon and I’ll take these off and you’ll never see ‘em again.”

“Or?” you ask, raising a brow.

“If you don’t, then you have to wear ‘em…”

“I feel like there’s more to this deal,” you giggle.

“I was gonna say with nothing else on but some tight jeans but since this is only our second date…”

“Deal,” you blurt out. “Although, I’m mostly only teasing…they are very sexy on you. So maybe if I do chop through one piece you can still wear them…minus a shirt.”

“Alright darlin’. You’ve got yourself a deal,” he winks, moving to stand behind you.

“Now first I’m gonna show you how to properly hold the axe, then we’ll get to swingin’ it.”

He presses his hard chest to your back and rests the axe in front of you, his strong arms wrapping around you so he can take your hands in his.

“Two hands, one here and one here,” he instructs, moving your hands and adjusting your fingers.

His large hands cover yours and he nestles his face into the crook of your neck, murmuring the instructions in your ear.

The hairs of his beard brush your soft skin and a shiver shoots down your spine, your eyes closing as you lean back into his warmth.

“Are you paying attention?” he asks with a satisfied smirk.

“Well…um,” you start, nestling your ass into his crotch. “No. Not really.”

He opens his mouth to speak, his warm breath fanning your cheek but you cut him off with, “but it’s all your fault so…”

“Of course it is,” he counters.

He steps back and leaves you standing there with the axe.

“Ok, your hands look good now let’s practice lifting it,” he says.

“But why are you over there?” you ask, pouting.

“You need to be payin’ attention darlin’ and apparently I’m a distraction.”

His mega watt smile makes you groan and roll your eyes playfully. “Ugh, I’m never going to hear the end of this! Get back over here! I promise I can handle you.”

He raises a questioning brow but steps toward you, settling back into his original position.

“We’ll see about that darlin’,” he whispers, his lips lightly brushing the shell of your ear.

You let out an exhale and stop yourself from trembling but you feel his smile against your skin.

“How do you do this all day?” you ask, wiping the sweat from your temple.

He chuckles, hooking his thumbs into his suspenders and giving them a little flick as he flexes his biceps.

“Yeah, well…,” you begin but lose steam as the axe gets heavy in your hand and his corded forearms keep flexing in his rolled-up flannel sleeves. A major distraction.

“You givin’ up princess?” he asks, victory alight in his eyes.

“Princess?” you mimic, narrowing your eyes. “I’ll show you.”

You lift the axe again, focusing on your form as he taught you and swing it down with all your strength, cutting a clean line into it but still not all the way through.

“Well look at you. Maybe I should start callin’ you princess more often,” he teases. “Gets you fired up.”

You grunt and take another swing, this time cutting the wood all the way through.

“I DID IT!” you cheer, dropping the axe and throwing yourself at Joel. “I WIN!”

He catches you in his arms with a laugh.

“Of course you did,” he says, tone all matter of fact. “I knew you could.”

“When do I get my prize?”

You're nearly breathless at the thought of him in nothing but tight jeans, those heavy boots and a pair of suspenders.

“Patience princess,” he hums. “I promised you a meal and dessert too.”

You smile before kissing him, only pulling away to say, “now your turn. I only got to see you chop wood that one time when I was “trespassing” and you use air quotes when you say it…and that was from the back, now I want the full three sixty experience.”

He scoffs with a lopsided grin and releases you.

“I knew you were staring at my ass,” he grins.

“I was,” you reply, “and I have no shame.”

“Good,” he says, “because I haven’t been able to stop staring at yours since that day.”

His eyes sweep down your body appreciatively before he grabs the axe and positions himself in front of a new log.

With one steady and precise swing he cuts all the way through it and it splits in half with a crack.

“Do it again,” you say breathily, giving him your best pleading eyes.

“Princess,” he warns, staring at you hard.

His jaw is tight with his restrained control as he grabs another log and sets it down in front of him.

You sneak a look at his ass, then his arms then focus on his hands. You sigh as you feel the heat creeping along your skin, the thought of his rough, strong hands all over your body clouding your brain.

“Looks like you’re thinking about something good,” he simpers.

“Mm hm,” you hum.

“Care to share it?” he asks as his hands slide around your waist.

“Unless you’re going to bend me over one of these logs I better keep it to myself for now.”

He holds back a groan, lightly grinding his teeth as he studies you.

“It’s all I’ve been thinking about since we got out here,” he admits as his hands trace the curve of your hip.

“What about the home cooked meal you promised me?” you ask, looking at him through your lashes.

“Yeah, that’s right. Fresh from the garden right here in the mountains. Can’t get that in your fancy city.”

“Oh we have plenty of fresh produce there, it’s delicious.”

“Guess where it comes from princess,” he teases.

You press your lips together. “Well at least we have a Starbucks and a Target and…”

“Has anyone ever told you your sass is adorable? I find it very…” He brushes his lips to yours then cocks his head to the side. “Stimulating.”

“Hmm, no. You’re the first actually.” You bat your lashes.

He looks pleased before kissing you, his mouth tracing the curve of your jaw and the column of your neck. He buries his face in your skin and inhales.

“How ‘bout that dinner darlin’? Time to prove my manhood in the kitchen.”

“I’m already convinced of your manhood but I’m ready for more and I’m starving,” you tell him, giving his biceps a squeeze. “Are you going to feed me dessert too?”

He tucks you under his shoulder as he starts to walk back to the cabin then grasps your chin between his hands, keeping his eyes focused intensely on yours. “Dessert is what I do best,” he murmurs.

@pedritosdarling @hiddles-rose @littleseasiren @lorilane33 @lizette50 @hallecarey1 @kmc1989

#joel miller #joel miller x reader #joel miller x you #lumberjack!joel miller #lumberjack!joel miller x reader #joel miller x y/n #joel miller x female reader #joel miller fanfiction #joel miller imagine #lumberjack au #pedro pascal #pedro pascal x reader

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shaunamilfman · 3 months

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when the sun came up

Summary: “So,” Jackie trails off sheepishly. “You, uh– You know how vampire’s need blood…?” A/N: the "jackie's a vampire 😍" fic in question

“What are you being so weird about, Jackie?” You ask finally, getting irritated by her constant glances. She looks surprised, almost as if she truly believed you wouldn’t notice. With a roll of your eyes, you lean back on the chair, setting your phone down on her desk as you give her your full attention. Jackie starts fiddling anxiously with her fingers as she glances around the room in a pathetic attempt to feign innocence.

Acting was never her strong suit, expressions always unconvincing and exaggerated; More reminiscent of a cartoon character than a real person. Despite her failure, there’s still something undeniably charming underneath it all even as Jackie’s awkward energy ends her ruse before it can even begin. While she hasn’t succeeded in fooling you she’s definitely succeeded in getting your attention.

Watching Jackie attempting to shake your attention is bizarre, to say the least. Never once have you seen her shy away from soaking up every bit of approval and attention you give her. Yet she seems almost eager for you to move on to something else which makes you grow more concerned by the second. You’re filled with a strange mixture of curiosity and unease, both vying for your attention.

“Jackie?” You prompt again, smiling invitingly at her as she finally meets your eyes.

She clears her throat awkwardly, fingers resting against her legs as she starts rolling the edge of her shorts back and forth between her fingers. “So,” Jackie trails off sheepishly. “You, uh– You know how vampires need blood…?”

You nod your head, lips twitching as you suppress your smile. You know exactly where this is heading. “Yeah.”

“Could I… Could I have some?” Jackie asks, quickly flushing with embarrassment. She watches you closely, hope evident on her face.

“Like… from me?” You ask slowly. Unlike Jackie, you were good at feigning innocence.

“Yeah. Just like a little bit,” She pleads, gesturing with her hands as she holds her thumb and index finger just barely apart. “You won't even know it was gone, promise.”

She's utterly fixated on you, staring at your neck like it holds the secrets to the universe. You hum in consideration, enjoying the way Jackie squirms in desperation as you pretend to think it over. After a moment you hold your arm out invitingly toward her and she's across the room and in your lap before you can blink, literally.

You forget just how strong and fast she's become, and sometimes you think she does too. The chair rocks dangerously on its back two legs as Jackie slides in your lap. You close your eyes in wait for the inevitable crash but Jackie's reflexes are just fast enough to plant her foot firmly, sending you crashing back forward as the chair settles. It rocks ominously for a second before stilling, Jackie quickly taking the chance to scoot up your legs.

Your hands rest loosely on her hips as you try to make sense of what just happened, just a hair too fast for your mind to fully make sense of. You can feel the thrum of your heartbeat in your fingertips as your heart races through your chest. Jackie makes an apologetic noise as she slips her arms between your back and the chair, pulling herself snugly against you.

You squeeze her hips in a gentle sign of affection as you slip your hands up the back of her shirt, wrapping your arms tightly around her bare back. If it has the side effect of pulling her shirt up, well that's no one's business but your own. You hear a snort of laughter that you'll know she'll deny later– and threaten to tell people about the incident if you don't keep it to yourself– which makes you grin as you bury your head into her neck. You breathe in the familiar scent of her perfume, slowly relaxing back against the chair as it calms your racing heart.

You bite lightly at her neck, barely grazing the skin before you hear a petulant noise coming from Jackie. “That's my job,” She complains, slapping at your shoulder as she leans back and pulls her neck out of reach.

“Oh? Is it?” You tease, a smile splitting your face as you watch her.

She nods eagerly, just a hint of her fangs peeking out of her smile. Your eyes narrow at the sight, leaning forward to get a closer look. She practically preens as she widens her smile, clearly appreciating your admiration of her fangs.

You reach up to cup her jaw and Jackie immediately nuzzles her face into your palm as she closes her eyes with a contented noise. You roll your eyes fondly as you end up supporting the weight of her head, adjusting your grip to press your thumb against her lips.

Jackie just barely peeks her eyes open as she presses a kiss against your thumb, the beginning of a question forming on her face. You press your thumb against one of her sharp fangs, sighing quietly as it pierces the skin and draws a drop of blood. You watch her expression closely as her tongue flicks out to taste the blood, teasing at the edge of the cut as she lazily draws the remaining drops in her mouth.

You shudder involuntarily as she swallows, the intimacy of the action catching you off guard. You’re not sure that you’ll ever get used to the sight of her drinking your blood. "Tastes good," Jackie finally says, licking her lips as she pulls away.

Jackie’s gaze flits down to your neck, her eyes filled with longing. She leans forward and inhales deeply as she buries her face into the crook of your neck. Her hand cups the other side as she tilts your head, her warm breath caressing your ear. “Please?” She whispers, voice a soft plea tinged with her desperation.

Jackie's lips just barely graze your skin, sending shivers down your spine as you feel the gentle pressure from the tips of her fangs. “Go ahead, Jackie,” You say, hissing in surprise as she doesn’t hesitate to sink her teeth in. She presses herself impossibly closer to you with a muffled moan, her fingers clenched tightly at your shirt as she greedily sucks at the wound. You thread your fingers loosely through her hair, cradling her head as you relax limply against the chair.

“Fuck,” You murmur slowly, tilting your head back enticingly as Jackie makes use of the available space. With each drop of blood she takes from you a heady mix of exhilaration and vulnerability washes over you, both intoxicating and unnerving at the same time. It’s a strange intimacy, a connection borne in the exchange of life; the knowledge that your blood is what sustains her, what gives her the strength she wields over you.

It should make you feel weak to be entirely at her mercy, but you’ve never felt stronger than you do when Jackie drinks from you. You revel in her desire for you, eagerly embracing the weight of her unending hunger.

You'd majorly psyched yourself out the first time she'd asked this of you, thoughts of her teeth digging into your flesh had left you such a nervous wreck that your hands were visibly shaking as she descended on you. You were pleasantly surprised at just how good it felt once you got past the initial bite. There was barely a difference from Jackie's more possessive moments, intent to mark you up at the slightest sign of interest from someone else. You were sure that it could hurt if she wanted it to, but your girlfriend was steadfastly gentle in everything she did. With her arms wrapped around you, even the act of feeding became an intimate exchange, another bond that only the two of you would ever share.

You take a shaky breath as Jackie drinks her fill, trying your best to ignore her breathy noises of enjoyment in favor of keeping your eyes open. You get more lightheaded the longer she's attached herself to you, her lack of the need for air never more apparent than in these moments. She pulls away as you begin to slump back in the chair, soothing the bite with her tongue as she savors every last drop. You blink wearily up at her, faced with the impossible task of keeping your eyes open.

Jackie stands up happily, watching herself in the mirror over your shoulder as she licks at her thumb and rubs the stray blood off her face. A quiet laugh escapes your lip, more of an exhale than a sound. “Messy,” You murmur with a weak smile on your face.

“Shut up,” Jackie defends, pulling on your hand as she tries to coax you to your feet. You let her pull you up, but quickly slump into her arms as your shaky legs betray you. Jackie grunts as she catches you, grunting dramatically in exertion even as she effortlessly guides you back to her bed.

She climbs up excitedly to straddle your lap as you recline back against the pillows. You make a surprised noise as she leans down and kisses you, pulling back after a moment when she realizes you aren’t reciprocating. “Y/N,” Jackie whines, pouting down at you.

You lazily shake your head, not bothering to open your eyes. “Too much,” You accuse weakly.

“Did not,” Jackie protests. “You’re fine. Look!” She lifts your hand pointedly, staring in dismay as it falls limply back to the bed.

“Oh,” She murmurs sheepishly. “That's… That’s my bad, really.”

You make a vaguely amused noise in response that turns into a contented sigh as Jackie settles down on top of you. She buries her head in your neck, placing a tender kiss against the bite mark she’s left as she maneuvers your arms around to wrap around her.

#yellowjackets x reader #yellowjackets x you #jackie taylor x reader

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sgiandubh · 7 months

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Far away and long ago

One thing leading to another, I tried to watch A Princess for Christmas yesterday, prompted by my Peleș/Pelișor Anon answer and I have to say I am grinning as I write this post: it is, after all, a Hallmark movie, isn't it?

Maybe if I were drunk and/or in good company, it would have been easier. I was neither, so it was unwatchable. Even with the bits of personal nostalgia, knowing very well all the sets they used: from the two castles in Sinaia, to the Știrbei (princely) House private chapel in Buftea, to the Bragadiru Palace in Bucharest they obviously used for that ball. I finished skimming on fast forward for S and howled at this bit of Imdb trivia, I believe with all my heart to be wishful thinking:

Not only I do not believe ever seeing/hearing such a thing in all the interviews I have read/watched (of which they are a shameless handful), but it would be completely out of character for 'No Ego' 2014 S to declare such a preposterous thing (correct me if I am wrong, for I truly believe I am not).

Anyways. When it looks low budget, it is a low budget (with Eastern European logistics) D-series thing, despite all their efforts. Plot is downright stupid and the painful cheesiness permeating the slightest line uttered makes it unredeemable. Nuh-oh: not even to kill time, not even on a flight from Almaty to Saint Petersburg. No way.

Low budget is particularly apparent when it comes to costumes. This one, for example...

Her dress is ok-ish (heavily insisting on the -ish, here). But his uniform is an operetta reinterpretation of the Romanian Army's dorobanț (infantry) State Protocol uniform. An exact copy of the 1877 Independence War officer outfit (itself a Second Empire French uniform copycat, but that's just the historian in me nitpicking, of course):

The above is a very recent pic (2023 Remembrance Day festivities at a British War Cemetery near Bucharest). I know that place well, spent all my childhood 1 mile away, my grandparents owned a house in that village. It is a small, forlorn plot of infinite melancholy and a striking sight, with its carefully trimmed grass, among what used to be cornfields, circa 1984. 'This is British soil', my grandfather once told me and that made it both absurd and enticing: an alien enclave of sorts, a city of the dead. He was correct, by the way, and that gave our Remembrance Day expeditions a sort of strange, furtive charm. We always brought flowers and he, a former officer and POW, would always salute, bareheaded under heavy rain. But, I digress.

Both that movie and my recollections were far away and long ago. Mercifully so for S, at least. The difference in demeanor, profile and presence is undeniable, no matter what the Disgruntled Tumblrettes would tell you: some pushed the cheapness up to the gratuitous folly of 'he was a much better actor then'. Well, he wasn't: no chemistry with a female co-star who would clearly be more eager to have a dental surgery intervention. And no presence every time a very tired Roger Moore is around, which makes for roughly three-quarters of his part. But unlike many striving wannabes, he managed to pull out of the Prince Ashton (🙄) typecast and give us a very credible JAMMF, when starts aligned and with a surreal bit of luck.

If he could manage to pull out of the JAMMF typecast, I see great things. Until then, I will stand by my words: this is a guy with tremendous, but completely overlooked/untapped potential, who has been repeatedly miscast. And this is why what would immediately happen after OL is of critical importance. Brace yourselves.

On another, completely unrelated note: should I wait for that US copycat, disingenuous McTavish booze circus tour to end, in order to draw a line and my thoughts on his brand? I think I should, but always happy to oblige to public demand :)

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serendertothesquad · 7 days

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The Ultimate Serendipity-Odd Squad Lore Post

Because you people keep asking for my entire story.

No, no, not my life story. Christ sakes, we'd be here until Gen Z'ers died off if I had to reiterate my whole life story.

No, I'm talking about my entire Odd Squad story. You know, how I got here to begin with, how I rose to fame, and how I am objectively still a god without a religion, a cult, or a religious cult. That story. You all want to hear that story.

If you're an oldie, you've probably already heard my tale at least once. If you're new here to the funny kids STEM show fandom, then damn boy howdy are you in for a wild ride.

Get a snack and a drink, pop below the break, and let's begin.

Allow me to take you back to the year 2014. I was the ripe young age of 15, finishing up my sophomore year of high school, and suffering from undiagnosed depression of the "I'm trapped in my own home" variety. We didn't have cable, and so stuff like PBS Kids, NBC Kids, and 4Kids were the only things I watched on a regular basis. In the online space, I was largely chronline to the tenth degree (and note the "largely", because, y'know...school). The Internet, and spaces like Tumblr, served as escapism, and I spent a lot of time particularly in the Wild Kratts side of things.

I had first heard of Odd Squad through PBS's own upfront, the PBS Annual Meeting, that was held in May (though the show was, as I would find out much later, officially announced back in January at that year's TCA Winter Press Tour). It was the network's first live-action show since The Electric Company reboot in 2009 that got swiftly cancelled, which was already enough to get me interested because PBS hadn't taken a chance on live-action stuff since. The premise, as well, was charming and incredibly interesting -- a secret organization that solves problems using math sounded a little saccharine and thus perfect for PBS Kids, but since it was live-action, I figured it could bring a little spice to the network in a way that not other kids shows of the modern network era (read: 2013 onwards, past the network redesign) did. The fact that PBS was willing to go all-in on the show, up to teasers, previews, even having two new games available for fans to play before its premiere, was practically the cherry on top.

Fast-forward to around September. By this point, teasers and promos were already coming out for the show that showcased Olive, Otto, Oprah and Oscar in action. And by this point, I was absolutely invested. On a whim, I decided to take my Sony camera and record a reaction video of me watching it. Was it weird? Yes, but I had no money for a laptop that wasn't a decade old and didn't run about as well as a computer from the days of yore. You make do with what you have.

Needless to say, when the first episode "Zero Effect" premiered, I was having a whale of a time. That's...pretty much all I remember. Aside from the swearing. Lots and lots of swearing.

(...Look, it was 10 years ago. My brain can only go on a decline after being fully developed. And the depression has been eating away at me for that long. When astrophysicists perfect the art of the time machine, call me.)

I uploaded it to my YouTube channel the day after the show premiered. No editing, just a straight-cut video of my reactions laid on the table. I figured, "Okay, so this would be nice to look back on and laugh, maybe."

And then, a month later, I got a PM from Joshua Kilimnik, the actor who plays Season 1's big bad Odd Todd.

Before I get into that, though, a bit of backstory for my channel is necessary.

I had made my channel in 2011, when Wild Kratts premiered. At the time, it was mostly hosting Wild Kratts content, mainly Top 10 countdowns of fan videos I stumbled across on Tumblr or elsewhere as well as Sparta Remix-related stuff. (Yeah, remember that old meme? That isn't as dead as you think it is? Yeeeeeeah.) Around the middle of 2015, it unfortunately got struck down pretty hard when PBS began to go Nintendo on it, viewed fanworks as threats to their IPs, and decided to rip down my videos from the 'Net in three easy strikes -- and with it, my entire channel. It stung, to see my relatively hard work go down the drain. I'd be lying if I said I had wanted the channel to stay up just so I can look back on it in 5 years and cringe at how juvenile it was. Christ sakes, I even had MLP stuff up there at one point. Why? Don't ask me. I wasn't even watching the show at the time. I truly got into it when Season 5 began airing.

But back to the PM. You know, back when YouTube gave you the option to PM people.

Getting the PM from Joshua, I was, naturally, suspect. Celebrity impersonators are all too common, and as I would later come to find out, Odd Squad was not exempt. I had to laugh, because an autistic nobody like me getting a PM from a child actor who was in the industry long before Odd Squad was like Ariana Grande up and inviting me to have dinner with her because I made a few comments about her diction. It's a miracle, people. Miracles that only happen to those with life-threatening illnesses or those who have done good for the community. I had neither of those. Unless you count me going to high school as doing the community a service, in which case I have one of those things.

I read the PM again. And again. And again. And something in me thought, "Maybe...just maybe...this guy is actually legitimate. Maybe he's telling the truth about the entire Season 1 cast and the show's crew members, creators included, seeing my video. I mean it's 2014, what creator wouldn't look to the Internet for first reactions on their show?"

Fuck it. iBalled. I went for it. I reached out to Joshua.

And by God's oddness-laden utopia, am I so happy I did.

We immediately hit it off, taking our conversation from YouTube DMs to Twitter DMs (no, my current Twitter is not that ancient -- my time on birdsite-now-saltyman-hellhole is a whole different story) and discussing our hobbies and what we did. Joshua confided in me that he helped disabled kids, which, honestly, is a green flag in my book off the bat as someone who is, in fact, disabled. I told him about my animal shelter work and how I loved the show.

At the same time, I had posted on Tumblr about the show. Don't ask me what the post was about -- I honestly couldn't tell you, and combing through the tag is something I'd need a hell of a lot of motivation for -- but it somehow, by some astronomical means, took off. People came in like a small trickle. It was small, but over time, we built a strong community. I didn't exactly know how big my impact on people was until I read "how I got into Odd Squad" stories and saw my name pop up enough times to the point where I could safely say I was an inspiration to more than one person.

At some point in 2015, I had created a Wiki for the show. Fandom -- or Wikia, as it was called back then -- wasn't exactly new territory for me, as I had visited other show Wikis before. However, my Odd Squad Wiki didn't take off, and someone else ended up making another one that became far more successful.

...Yeah, you're surprised, aren't you? Figures. But not even I can lay claim to everything.

When the other Wiki took off, Joshua decided to dive right into the fire and engage with the fandom directly. Now, for any big-name fandom, this is everyday normalcy. The My Little Pony fandom has fans directly engage with cast and crew members who answer their questions, for example. But for small fandoms of niche IPs -- and oh believe you me, Odd Squad was incredibly niche back then -- a cast member interacting with fans was a huge deal. The hype only increased when Joshua was named an administrator, along with a few others, myself included.

Needless to say, Joshua being involved boosted the fandom's activity exponentially, and not just due to his spectacular acting on the show. Fanfics, fanart, fan videos...it was a bustling time of fan content. I can recall some of the most notable works just off the top of my head. The fandom got to be so busy that I made a news blog just to cover every bit of news, shifting away from my Wild Kratts news coverage to focus on a different show instead. I enlisted a few old friends to help me out, converted them to be oddballs (which, I will say, was a stroke of luck), and put them on the "staff team". My aim was to create something akin to Equestria Daily, but on a smaller scale. We did editorials, episode followups, and scoured the Internet for any and every bit of Odd Squad news we could find. It became a reliable source for many, especially considering PBS's horrible track record with even the most basic of news -- cancellations, renewals, and other such announcements. Not to brag, but I like to think I did a better job than them at actually giving news to fans who deserve it. (Hell, I still do. My hunger for even small crumbs of news is very strong indeed.)

I can easily recall when Season 2 was announced. Me and my friends were ecstatic. For me, I never thought Odd Squad would get a Season 2, and the Season 1 finale -- affectionately named OINFO (don't confuse it with "O is Not For Old", that's a different rodeo; this is "O is Not For Over") -- made sure of that. Originally, it was set to air in May, before it got shifted to June to coincide with Season 2's premiere.

And even long before that, the movie being announced blew our minds. I genuinely couldn't believe this niche little IP, birthed only several months ago, was getting a movie. And not even one of those specials that PBS markets as a movie as a ratings stunt. No, no, this was a full-blown theatrical movie. With A-listers to boot! And it was a damn good movie!

(...Okay, unrelated, but man, I'm reading through all my old posts and comments on the Wiki and cringing. God, did I really type like a 10-year-old back then when I was in high school? Egh gross cringe. The "let her say fuck" was strong with me back then.)

Of course, as most actors do, Joshua largely moved on from the show as the years went on. Most long-timer fans stuck around until the end of Season 2 before either other interests caught their eye or real life just got in the way too much. A majority of these fans dropped off the face of the Earth like an introvert who suddenly disappears mid-conversation, though they still popped into the Discord server a few times and I reconnected with one or two on Twitter. Hell, some of them even made a "hey, I'm back, and here's what's up" post on Fandom that made me ask if their accounts got hacked.

As a result, when Season 3 premiered, the fandom had slowed down to a crawl. Anyone who's bore witness to it, whether an episode or a nugget of criticism, can probably guess why. (And anyone who hasn't can feel the wrath of my "trust me bro" card, thank you.) It was like I willingly leapt off of the boat, it sped away without me, and I was trapped in the middle of fuck-all nowhere with sharks. So, you know, like Open Water if it was actually good. But the point stands in that I was pretty much all alone. I couldn't crawl to anyone for the sweet release of death after seeing just how hard S&P tried to avoid The Shadow's very obvious murder attempt by way of hacking into a car to make it fall into a lake of green goo. All I could do was scream and cry into a mic, edit, upload to YouTube, and let all the unsupervised kids looking for free episodes come to me in droves.

Oh, and post to Odd News. Until I accidentally deleted the account.

By that point in time, my old friends had all left due to real life commitments, and only one, Angelica, remained. But even she drifted away, and I was stuck running it all alone. So, I made the difficult decision to let it rot, and frankly...I haven't touched it since. Largely because I left Tumblr entirely and only just now came back. On the news front, I expanded my coverage to PBS Kids as a whole network, just as I do on Twitter.

It wasn't until the back half of Season 3 premiered that the fandom slowly but surely began to grow from planted roots, and I could connect with people again. Seeing people flood the Discord server and Tumblr, sharing art and news and theories, was amazing. Not for Season 3, though -- it was because of the past two seasons. Honestly, to say there's been more talk about Otis and Odd Todd than about any other character in the entire franchise is a hell of an understatement, because it dominated pretty much 98% of the fandom.

From there, new fanworks, fanart, and other pieces of fan-created media were created, and many still continue to be created to this day. Though hyperfixations can be yoted off the cliff and die in an instant (with deepest apologies to Shroom), it's great to see a burst of activity in such a small fandom. Hell, it even got big enough to where we had a Secret Valentine's exchange a couple months back, which was a real joy because it gave me a chance to flex my writing chops even if it did leave me on the verge of a third panic attack. And...the fandom being revived did land me a solid interview for a college assignment. Which, to me, is my own equivalent of getting a dedicated panel at a convention.

But this isn't a whole entire story about fandom lore. It's a story about me.

And honestly...I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little tired with Odd Squad myself.

Between the choking responsibilities of adult life (yay work), the state of my mental and physical health (yay depression and anxiety), and the franchise being fucked over sideways to Pluto and back by numerous entities (yay TV industry), I really can't just focus on Odd Squad anymore. Now, I'll give a fair warning to you and tell you to make no mistake -- my enjoyment of the franchise will die with me and my entire bloodline if the franchise itself doesn't die first. But I've found other special interests and hyperfixations that have grabbed me more than the funny kid agent franchise has. I derive more joy from binging the 90s Frasier series, Pretty Cure, and Neighborhood Wars than I do with the funny kid agent franchise.

Now, does this mean I'm leaving the fandom? God no. To do it on the verge of the franchise's 10th anniversary would be utter blasphemy. And I do plan on weaponizing this blog for more Seren's Studies, including episode reviews and character analyses I can't do with the limited resources I have. But the drive for Odd Squad is just...no longer there for me. I did not, unfortunately, get the "Odd Squad forever" autism. I got the "childhood is hell, but okay, sure, I'll make you a functioning competent adult to a certain degree" autism.

Maybe one of these days, amidst the countless new pieces of media that keep releasing, I'll be able to rewatch Odd Squad. It's worn out its welcome nostalgia-wise, but I find it to be a pretty enjoyable view when I take off those glasses and put on the "my God is an awesome God and that's why I try to attend church every Sunday" ones. I'm still making crossover fan projects to other IPs like MLP, Super Monkey Ball, and Precure. And of course, I'll be seated for Odd Squad UK to see if it's good or not -- I'm more than happy to take the bullet for people who don't want to see it for whatever reason, just as I did for the back half of Season 3. But for now, the drive is pretty much gone.

I will admit, I'm likely missing some stuff. My memory is absolutely terrible, and I had to go fishing for a lot of stuff to refresh it (one of the reasons why this took so long to release in the first place). But this is what I can dredge up.

I'm honestly proud of the little fandom I birthed. I could work a hundred jobs in my lifetime and still say that founding the Odd Squad fandom is by far my greatest accomplishment. I've met so many amazing people, seen so many amazing things, and really, I'm hoping to see more people in the years to come. If the aim is to introduce Odd Squad to new generations of kids, teens, young adults, and adults alike, then I'm all for it. Expose them to goodness. None of that Cocomelon shit.

Thank you for reading, and to all of the people in the fandom both old and new, thank you for touching my life in ways I never thought of. If you've got any further questions about my story, send 'em my way; I'll be glad to answer 'em.

See you all in the next Seren's Studies, whenever that may be.

#odd squad #odd squad pbs kids #seren speaks

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the-ninja-legacy-whip · 3 months

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Spill out your Quiet One Au Jesse Thoughts now

Reffing to this in case anyone is like whuuuuut

SO when the Great Devourer first starts wreaking havoc at the rally, Harumi manages to convince the Fuchsia Ninja to assist her before they all can see the snake heading for the hospital

Antonia runs to the beach for safety with the rest of the evacutees, Fuchsia follows Harumi, and none of them meet Lady Iron Dragon for a very important pep talk

Fuchsia and Rumi make it there just in time to call for an organized evacuation, with Harumi and her parents getting out nice and safely, while Fuchsia takes it upon himself to get the rest of the inhabitants out of the apartment building

But while doing that, The GD (having already destroyed the hospital) loops around to the east side and sets its sights on the buildings. This drives the crowd into a frenzied panic, with Jesse getting caught up in it, and he winds up herded into The Elevator against his will

Elevator drops and shatters, Jesse is the one that winds up with the face scar, and Lloyd winds up pulling himself from the rubble instead. Despite the injury, Jesse's still present to assist in officially taking down the GD...

...but then upon returning to his family, discovers Miranda's ultimate fate due to the destruction of the hospital (wherein which she wasn't evacuated in time because Jesse wasn't there), which, y'know, breaks him

During the following guilt-induced Outburst (which freaks out his already grieving family who know nothing about his powers), Jesse manages to redirect all his self-blame unto Lloyd instead, as none of this would've happened if he hadn't released the snakes, yadda, blablabla, nothing new there. (But, it's all mainly to stop him from blaming himself)

Winds up running away from home because a) can't handle the guilt and b) can't control his Outbursts anymore

Harumi, meanwhile, is doing great! Remains the same girl she'd been throughout S1, keeps her parents, doesn't get tangled in her uncle's web, and doesn't ultimately feel betrayed by each and every one of her friends!

Jesse, meanwhile, seemingly vanishes off the face of the earth, with everyone in the friend group worried since they all knew he was at least present for the battle (Antonia may or may not be present for his ultimate Outburst though)

(he actually crashes with Mystake, who winds up sharing all her Surprise EM secrets + what Miracle Make is + her own backstory being an Oni and everything), wherein is how Jesse ultimately learns of the Oni Masks

He eventually returns to school, charming his way out of answering any and all questions about where he's been or what happened. And with little left to lose, he starts acting aggressively confident towards everyone (acting like Bess, his Garmadon-created clone anyWAY–)

While biding his time, he searches for what remains of Miranda's Elemental Compendium and combines it with Mystake's intel, helping to build his future plans...

But beyond that, he plays his role basically the same, keeping all his resentment buried. The only real difference is that he never gets together with Cole because of his "new" and technically worse personality (though both probably still have lingering unresolved feelings, woop)

Fast forward fourish years, Jesse doesn't directly form the Sons of Garmadon—instead, he convinces the others that there's a (fake) group out to capture the Oni Masks (which he creates the illusion of being real via his After Image ability, sending most of group on wild goose chases while gathering all the masks in one place), and successfully manages to get Lloyd alone to hunt for the final mask

(Which, while ofc needs someone with Oni blood to remove from the pedestal....there's also the added caveat of it only being able to be wielded by a Descendant of Surprise. Which, while Jesse is an Inheritor, he technically isn't a Descendant)

Which is where Baby Wu comes in, as he and Lloyd both still fit that criteria (but Jesse certainly isn't going to give the mask to Lloyd to wear) but ofc Cole is in Dad!Mode about Baby Wu which leads to a probably emotionally-charged confrontation accumulating with Jesse committing a kidnapping whuh

Shenanigans happen and Jesse begins the resurrection ritual—but instead of trying to bring back Garmadon, he's going to bring back his sister—

...except Harumi interrupts and/or sabotages the process, which winds up summoning Zombie!Garmadon anyway, which enrages Jesse but decides to roll with this and manipulates Zombie! Garmadon in order to get everyone out the way so he can attempt the ritual again

More vague shenanigans, he once again gets Lloyd alone, reminding him of how everything always stems back to his actions. Lloyd points out that Miranda wouldn't have wanted him to do this, which ofc sets him off into a Outburst and forces Lloyd to watch as he attempts to kill the Core Four + Baby Wu (in which they get sent the First Realm)

(...Miranda actually gets sent with the guys to the First Realm in S9!Legacyverse proper; here it would be Harumi instead)

Extra angst on Lloyd, woo! But, this finally makes Jesse question his own actions. Not enough to stop, but, y'know.

Then as Zombie!Garmadon leads a legion to protect Jesse as he struggles to begin the ritual again; it's a race against time for the Resistance to snap him back to his senses + not summon the dead again

Zombie!Garmadon starts getting a little too high on power as Jesse starts getting more and more desperate—he just needs a little more time, a little more prep—but the less and less he's able to distance his fault from his actions and it starts to eat away at him

...which the Resistance uses to their advantage, using Mystake's shape shifting abilities to get close to Jesse to cuff him with Vengestone (at least on one wrist) and calm him long enough to get through to him. Jesse then tries to call off Garmadon, but Garmadon takes this as a betrayal and goes on the attack, destroying several buildings in the process.

The group attempts to escape the building they're on, as Garmadon attacked that too, but Lil Nelson (who is also here because Antonia's here and Antonia's here because I say so) gets trapped/left behind. Jesse goes back for him, managing to get him to Antonia and save him in the way he couldn't for Miranda. But then, ofc, the same exit is cut off for him, forcing Jesse to run to the roof so he can attempt to fly/warp/escape that way.

...except, he's still got that Vengestone cuff on that he can't take off, soooo—

Jesse dies, crushed by a collapsing building, ultimately meeting the same fate as his sister. Spooky parallels, uh?

Bonus if Lloyd digs through that rubble trying to find him too

#info tag #content tag #ninjago au #ninjago ocs #legacyverse #oc: jesse marvell #harumi hutchins #lloyd garmadon #ask me if i should tag anything but #it's not like this isn't stuff that happens in the show proper :V #Stuck on deciding whether or not he comes back as the Vengestone Buyer #(because that would be counterintuitive to him as an EM)#and i can't see him gelling with the C.O.C.K. lololol #but maybe he survives via using Miracle Make at the last second #therefore losing his powers (and then also allowing him to be near vengestone for long periods)#wow this writes itself #butterfly effect babyyyy #long post

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embersekai · 10 months

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Character Discussion: Who is Miss Heed?

Whaddup, my fellow hounds! Welcome back to my blog! Today, I'll be doing my first character discussion about Miss Heed from Cartoon Network's Villainous.

As a heroine, or...anti-heroine, she has the ability to charm her victims in a love trance through evaporating and altering any liquid as perfume. In fact, she tried to use a stronger one to hypnotize the world. Sounds like an intimidating foe, right? Yet, is she really what she seems? First, let's take a look at her history.

Character Commentary

(Screenshot of episode 6)

As far as I know, Miss Heed was a graduate student at Black Hat's academy and a close friend of Dr. Flug. Ironically, she became a superheroine while allying with Goldheart. Unfortuntely, for some unknown reason, she left him (or maybe the other way around).

Flash forward into the series...

A villain calls the Black Hat Organization to capture Miss Heed; Dr. Flug, Demencia, & 5.0.5 landed on her city which was protected by heroes and villains; Flug was under Heed's control while Demencia & 5.0.5 got attacked by the mind control people; Flug goes with Miss Heed; and yadda, yadda, yadda--

SPOILER ALERT!!! Miss Heed used Flug to create her strong, hypnotic perfume, spreading across the world so Goldheart can love her again. However, plans had changes when she was decieved into kissing Flug, unaware Demencia had the camera bot on live. In end, the egolastical heorine is now hated by the public and was sent into a maximum security prison.

Thoughts/Opinions

Here's one:

What kind of superhero would hypnotized their enemies and other heroes only to "gain" popularity?! There's no honor in that!

A true hero is supposed to do something in order to truly receive honor from people. For example, there's a meteor approaching at a nearby city. Now, when a hero witness this, they don't simply send someone powerless. No, the hero should fix the problem fast. And if they have a sidekick, the hero should allow the sidekick to calm the citizens down while the hero would somehow remove the meteor from its presence.

Critically speaking, if Miss Heed were a "superheroine", she would've at least use her powers for good instead of her selfish desires. She wouldn't have to go to jail!!!

Plus, she wouldn't feel defenseless over losing her followers. If it ever happens towards a hero, they'll have to redeem their honor.

Of course, she was a former student of Black Hat's academy, so like they always say, "Once a villain, always a villain." Besides, should we even consider Miss Heed a "hero"?

She would've also been an effective antagonist if her victim's love trance wasn't short-termed and wasn't deceived by Flug through her own narcissism.

In short, Miss Heed may be a pretty face towards everyone, but she lacks so much potential as a true hero.

What Do You Think?

Got any thoughts or opinions about the character mentioned in this post? Well, what are you waiting for? Spill it out in the comments section below!!! BUT WAIT, why not read the rules carefully first? It's laid-out and simple:

No cursing (not even light swearing).

No NSFW text or imagery.

Comments should follow the Community Guidelines

Comment away!

#villainous #miss heed #let's discuss #discussion #character discussion #cartoon network #feel free to discuss #character #cartoon characters #character analysis #character opinions #antagonist #female antagonist #animation character #anti hero #female character #opinion #alan ituriel #character focus

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random-twst-and-oc-stuff · 1 month

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Nicole Avalon

(Picrew used: Character maker. It's actually the same one Nathara was made in.)

PERSONAL INFO

Full name: Nicole Avalon

Age: 18

Birthday: January 8 (Capricorn)

Nicknames: Dame d'honnêteté(Rook)

Gender: Trans Female

Pronouns: She/her

Species: Nurse shark siren

Height: 170 cm

Likes: Hardworking & straightforward people, helping others improve

Dislikes: Lazy people, beating around the bush, being replaced

Pet peeves: Being interrupted, boundaries being crossed

Favorite food: Lobster

Least favorite food: Hotdogs

Homeland: Somewhere in the warm and shallow parts of the Coral Sea

Twisted from: Cala Maria - The Cuphead Show (I know Cala Maria isn't trans. Just let me have this, okay?)

ACADEMIC INFO

Dorm: Octavinelle

Year: Junior

Class: 3-C

Best subject: Music, Alchemy

Club: Pop Music Club (She's probably the only one who takes the club seriously💀)

SUMMARY

Nicole and her brother were given to an orphanage by teen parents who didn't know what to do when the twins were babies. When the two were 2 years old they were adopted by a lemon shark couple.

Fast forward a few years later when the twins are at school, two new angelfish and lionfish merfolk students by the names of Callista and Elijah arrived in their class. The four immediately became friends. The group even made their own little band, performing for merfolk, mostly for fun. Being part siren, Nicole was the lead singer with her brother being the backup singer.

As the group spent time together, Nicole found herself developing feelings for Callista. After the shark siren confessed her feelings, the two started dating. But that was short lived as Callista was caught cheating with Elijah. Feeling betrayed, Nicole ended both the romantic and platonic relationship with the two. But this wasn't over, not by a long shot. Nicole would have her revenge for being seen as a fool. And she did. Being friends with Elijah and Callista had its benefits, like the deep and dark secrets that were being shared. Of course Nicole wasn't foolish enough to share her own, not lying, but not saying the full thing either. She used those secrets to spread some nasty rumors about them and ruin their lives. It worked beautifully.

A few years later, the twins were accepted by Night Raven College, but had to attend a boot camp in order to get used to living on the surface. Despite being part siren, the two preferred staying in the water, especially her brother.

Naturally, the twins were chosen for Octavinelle by The Dark Mirror. She then transitioned(MtF) a few months later. Even though she respected the current housewarden, something with the way he looked after the dorm didn't make sense to her. But she didn't try fighting for the spot as it would be too much work. Come her second year, a trio of an octopus merman named Azul Ashengrotto and his twin eels Jade and Floyd Leech joined the school along with her dorm with Azul becoming housewarden into his sophomore year. Now that's what Nicole envisioned in an Octavinelle housewarden. She was hired by Azul to be the Mostro Lounge singer, luring clients by using her charming voice.

So far, Nicole was the only girl in school. Well, that was until someone named Bellona, a student from Royal Sword Academy, transferred to NRC. Naturally, the students were cautious around the new student, but Nicole decided to approach her and showed her around. As the two spent time together, Nicole once again started developing feelings, this time for Bellona. Unsure about what to do, with part of her wanting to deny these feelings, Nicole decided to go to Lilia for advice, telling him what happened before. He then told her to come clean to her crush, being sure that her love interest would understand. And the mermaid did as told, confessing her feelings, but also telling her how she wasn't quite ready for a relationship yet. And the human understood, saying she felt the same. The two started dating by the end of the year and Nicole felt happier with Bellona than she was with Callista. And their third year was quite hectic with some individuals from a different world arriving, along with some overblots.

#twisted wonderland #disney twisted wonderland #twst #disney twst #twst oc #nicole avalon #random's stuff

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minhoskofi · 5 months

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chapter 1: genie in a bottle

no warnings

word count: 1.2k

masterlist

The bustling city of Seoul never slept, and the heart of its downtown was definitely no exception. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the air. Amidst the hustle and bustle, you found yourself at the center of it all, skillfully crafting the perfect cups of coffee at the cafe you so loved working at.

One day, the cafe's owner introduced a new addition to the team – a tall, charismatic and somewhat clumsy assistant.

“This is Byounggon. I’d like you to show him the ropes and help him acclimate to the fast-paced world of our cafe, y/n”, he instructed you, and with a friendly nod towards the new guy, left him in your hands.

You turned to him and before you could say anything, he already had his attention fixated on you, “You can call me Gon. Looking forward to working with you!”, he spat out excitedly.

You couldn’t help but chuckle at his enthusiasm, “Alright Gon, let’s get right into it then…”, a soft smile formed on your lips.

At first, Gon's fumbles and missteps drew a few raised eyebrows from the regular customers, but his infectious laughter and charming demeanor quickly won everyone over. His laughter was like honey, sweet and impossible to resist. His eyes sparkled like crescent moons when he smiled, and his silly jokes, though sometimes a little too on the nose, had a peculiar charm.

Days turned into weeks, and you found yourself looking forward to each shift with Gon.

As time passed and seasons changed, you began to notice the small details about him that made your heart slightly flutter.

The way his eyes crinkled when he laughed, the endearing clumsiness that only seemed to make him more lovable, and the kindness he served every customer with.

And just like that, you couldn't deny the growing warmth in your chest whenever Byounggon was around.

One evening, as the last customers trickled out of the cafe, you and Byounggon found yourselves alone, cleaning up the remnants of the busy day. With a mischievous glint in his eye, he decided to break the comfortable silence.

"Hey, y/n, do you know why coffee is like love?" he asked with a grin.

You chuckled, accustomed to his playful banter. "No, Gon, why is coffee like love?"

"Because it's best when it's hot, keeps you awake at night, and makes your heart race when you least expect it," he replied in a tone more sincere than usual, his eyes locking with yours.

You felt a gentle heat rise to your cheeks, and averted your gaze, pretending to focus on the task at hand. "Smooth, Byounggon. I didn't know you were a poet as well as a barista."

Gon grinned, a mischievous glimmer flashed in his eyes. "Well, maybe you bring out the poetic side in me.", he mumbled, just loud enough for you to hear.

The words lingered in the air, and you couldn't help but feel a subtle shift in the atmosphere. The playful banter had taken on a new layer - was a deeper kind of connection quietly starting to form between you two or was it just the coffee?

“Deeper connection, my foot!” You thought to yourself as you finished the closing tasks and turned off the lights.

That evening, Byounggon had left early with a simple "I gotta run, sorry" without even looking back.

He didn't usually avoid looking at you, rather you found him stare quite often, and the stern expression on his face wasn't something you saw often which made you wonder.

But he ran not from you and not from the cafe nor the tiring closing tasks but rather from his own feelings which he was trying hard to suppress.

Without Byounggon’s dumb jokes the cafe was now silent, the only sound being the distant hum of the city outside. You couldn't help but replay the day's moments in your mind—the shared glances, the laughter, and the way you got along so easily.

As you stepped into the cool night air, you glanced at the empty street, half-expecting to see Byounggon waiting for you as he usually did.

The realization hit you – he had left without your usual exchange of words and laughter. For some reason, a twinge of loneliness crept into your heart. It was then that you acknowledged the void Gon's absence had created.

As you walked home through the quiet streets, you couldn't shake off the feeling of something left unsaid. The glow of streetlights reflected off the wet pavement, mirroring the uncertainty in your thoughts.

Little did you know, on the other side of the city, Byounggon paced back and forth in his room, wrestling with his own emotions. The words he had kept silent during his time with you weighed heavily on his mind.

As you lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, you wondered if the unspoken tension that hung in the air was a sign of something more - a friendship on the brink of evolving into something deeper.

The night hung heavy with unspoken words and a restlessness, leaving both of you tossing and turning in your beds. There was a shared sense of unease that neither could shake off.

Unbeknownst to each other, you both reached for your phones at the same time, contemplating the idea of breaking the silence.

Byounggon stared at his phone, debating whether to call you or not. He couldn't shake the guilt that lingered within him for leaving so suddenly without a proper explanation. After a moment of hesitation, he decided to test the waters by sending you a text.

As your phone rang on the bedside table, you glanced at the notification,

// It’s Gon, are you sleeping? Can I call? //, for some reason you felt relief upon seeing his name. As curiosity took over you, you called him without hesitation.

"Gon? Is everything okay?" you asked, concern coloring your words.

"Yeah, I just... I wanted to talk. Can we meet?" Byounggon suggested, his voice holding a sincerity that caught your attention.

Feeling a similar need to address the lingering tension, you nodded even though he couldn't see you. "Sure. Where do I go?"

Byounggon suggested a stroll along the Han river, it was quiet, peaceful, and the perfect setting for an honest conversation. You agreed, realizing that the open space might provide the clarity you both needed.

The night air was crisp as you met at the riverbank. The initial awkwardness gave way to the comfort of familiar company as you started walking side by side.

"I'm sorry for leaving so abruptly earlier. Something urgent came up and I had to go," Byounggon explained with evident honesty in his eyes.

You nodded slowly, "I understand, it’s okay. I just wish you had the chance to tell me before you left."

He sighed, "I know, and I'm really sorry about that. It wasn't my intention to leave you wondering. I just didn't want to burden you with the details in the middle of closing."

As you continued your stroll along the river, the weight of the unspoken tension began to lift.

Under the quiet canopy of stars, Byounggon and you kept walking in a comfortable silence. The moonlight cast a soft glow on his features, his eyes reflected the gentle shimmer of the moon, and his voice, though tinged with the weight of the night, held a warmth that drew you in.

Unable to tear your gaze away, you found yourself drowning in the depths of his eyes.

A voice in your head warned against getting lost in the intensity of the moment. "He's just a friend," you reminded yourself, but the realization rang hollow as you let your eyes fall down to his lips to observe the way they move.

You hoped he wouldn't notice the lingering stares and the unspoken depth in your gaze, because deep down, you knew friends didn't usually look at each other like this. The friendship you had felt like a delicate thread, and the moonlit night threatened to unravel the boundaries you had so carefully maintained this far.

next - chapter 2: confession

#cix bx #cix imagines #byounggon x reader #cix x reader #byounggon #bx #cix #bx x y/n #byounggon imagine #kpop eu #byounggon x y/n

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star-named-riddle · 8 months

Text

Some part of me must have died the first time you called me (and some part of me came alive)

I don't know what's up with me. I seem to lack the power to keep it short with these two (and the will).

Day 29 - Cloudy

He felt her presence through the ether long before she approached the door to his chambers. Her presence had become familiar, even something he looked forward to amidst his days.

He lifted his eyes from the book he had been reading and turned them to the tall windows on his right. It was a cloudy day, but the rain perched stubbornly on the edge of the clouds, refusing to fall. He watched as her shape crossed the lawn, moving from the Apparition point to the front door. Her dark curls being blown in the wind, her cloak and dress being pushed against her shape from the side.

He had taught her for years now, in private. He trained all his followers, setting them up against each other, but she had always been special.

Her daring look across the ballroom at Black Manor, that she did not lower neither when he met her eyes nor when her father ordered her to.

Her stare when she had first volunteered, her head bowing but her grey eyes squarely on his.

He had always been a flame to the darkest of their circle. People naturally flocked to him, ambitious people were quick to see his potential. She had always been different. Dark, darker than all of them, her mind sharp, her wand wicked, her hands fast. She was easy to teach, and easier to keep around.

She was married now, seemed happily so, yet something had changed. Her attraction had been obvious from the start, but she genuinely loved Rodolphus. They had been friends since childhood, and expected to marry for at least ten years before they actually did. They were both the most eligible in their generation, it was an easy match.

Something had changed in between the two of them. His forced proximity while teaching her, a decoy to test her ability to remain focused, had backfired somewhere along the way. She was a beautiful creature, but her mind was a wonder to him. His frequent invasions of it had only lured him further in.

The truth of it was that he wanted her. In another world, where he had not been raised in an orphanage, she would not have been married to Rodolphus. Cygnus would have offered her hand to him.

Lord Voldemort reminded himself that such things were beneath him. He had no wish to marry - there was no one worthy enough, since Bellatrix was married already. He snuffed that thought. They would have been an indomitable pair.

Her presence was closer, much closer now. Just beyond the doors, if he had to guess. And her mind was wide open for him.

Unlike the others, who tried to disguise his feelings and true state of mind around him, she was an open book. She wanted to be with him, she wanted to please him. And she was beaming with excitement today.

Her palm against the wards on the door to his study drove a shiver down his spine. He took a second to collect himself, then waved his hand towards the door.

Bellatrix walked in, smiling, twirling her wand in her hands.

“What have you done, you rotten creature?” he asked, baring his teeth.

His body could not tolerate the distance she had put between them by standing well away from the desk, her head bowed but her eyes looking up from beneath her eyelashes, the effect made maddeningly charming by her heavy eyelids. So it moved of its own volition, standing up and walking to meet her halfway.

“I found someone, my Lord.”

He gulped. He liked it entirely too much when she called him that.

“Out with it, Bella,” he said. He extended his hand to her wand.

“I found Prott,” she said, relinquishing her wand to him.

“And what of it?”

He took a second to examine the crooked piece of walnut wood that he held. It nearly hummed in his fingers, still hot from being used. Nothing overtly dark, but hurtful all the same.

“He’s furious the Aurors did not take him in. Thinks himself entirely worthy of their Office.”

“If the Aurors do not want him, why would I?”

“He wouldn’t be one of us, my Lord. He might be persuaded to work for us at the Ministry, though. He was offered a place as a clerk, after all.”

Lord Voldemort covered the distance between them in two strides. He towered over Bellatrix, handing her wand back.

“And have you done something to assure he remains on our side?”

“He took some persuasion, my Lord, but I can vouch for his allegiance. And remind him of it should he ever falter.”

Her wicked smile lit up her eyes. Lord Voldemort looked into them, admiring the way they reflected the light of the cloudy day, becoming almost the same as the colour of the sky.

He was the moth to her flame, this time.

His hand flew to her chin, lifting her face up. Before he could stop it, his right hand had moved to cradle her sharp jawline. She stepped in closer, her fingers clutching the fabric at his sleeve and cuff, not daring to touch him.

She wanted him, he knew that much. He had never expected to want her this way.

He lowered his lips to hers, but stopped before meeting them. He hovered above her, feeling her breath on his skin.

“Master,” she whispered, her voice low, her usual pitch dropping down to something carnal.

He kissed her. Because he wanted to, he told himself. Because he could no longer help it, he knew.

Her flame devoured him, while his mouth devoured hers.

Something shifted in him. In that barren place he called a heart, the thing the world swore he did not have, her flame had lit something he would never snuff out.

Also on AO3

#bellatrix lestrange #lord voldemort #bellamort #bellamort microfic #bellamort september #hp fanfic

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azzy141 · 22 days

Text

Hazbin Hotel - Vix x Vox

Part 1: Welcome to Hell

Blurb: When Vixen's friendship with Angel is derailed by Valentino, Vox picks up the pieces of her lonely heart and convinces her to sell her soul to him.

--------‐-----------------------------------------------

A blue chain suddenly appeared around my neck, yanking me forward, I fell to the floor with a thud, on my hands and knees in front of the man who owned my soul. I looked up to see Vox smirking down at me. How did I get here?

Approximately 70 years ago…

“Anthony, you really did it this time. They’re not sure you’re going to pull through, but you have to. You’re the only friend I have, the only person in my life I actually care about. What am I going to do with out you?”

I brushed a rogue strand of hair from his face. He had his problems, some serious ones, like the drug addition that landed him comatose in this hospital bed, but he was a good guy, a good friend. “I have to go now, my family wants to see me, probably to tell me yet again how disappointed they are with me. I’ll see you later… love you.”

I left the hospital and drove to my families manor. God I hate this place. Slamming my car door closed, I walk into the manor and down the hall into the main lounge. My mother was perched on the arm chair and my father was standing by the fireplace looking over some paperwork. My obnoxious, perfect brother was lounging on the chaise sofa, reading some piece of classic literature.

“Lexi, darling, thank you for coming today. We wanted to discuss some things with you.” My mother announced the second she saw me enter the room.

“Another speech about how I’m letting this family down?”

“No dear.” My father replied. “You have so much potential, but we’ve accepted the fact that you have chosen to waste that and not help you family. Of course your brother will have to pick up the slack, but he is more than capable. We just wanted to tell you that as of this moment you are free to do as you wish. But don’t expect anything from us, you will no longer have access to the family finances. You don’t want to be part of this family, consider yourself free from us.”

“Really? Just like that, you’re done trying to change me? Trying to use me?”

“Just like that.” My brother chimed. “You’re done. Bye sis.”

I scoffed. I couldn’t believe it. This is what I wanted but of course, just like everything my family had to ruin it. “Alright. Goodbye.”

They all went back to what they were doing, the conversation was over and they never gave a damn about me in the first place. Luckily I already had my own apartment, so I at least wasn’t going to be out on the street now that I was cut off. I got into my car, buckled up and let out a sigh. “I’m free.”

I started up the car and decided to head to the hospital. I just wanted to be with Anthony, I should be there as much as possible, just incase this was it. I drove down the long driveway from the house that lead straight out onto the little road that wound its way back to the main road to get me to the hospital. It had a few twists and turns but nothing you really needed to slow down for, not until the final bend before it joined the main road. I always sped down this road, i was so use to driving it, I always went to fast and it was never a problem, until today.

As I approached the bad bend I started easing on the breaks, with no result. I pressed harder, nothing. Shit!

There was no way I was going to make this bend at this speed. I was just going to have to minimise how badly I was going to crash. I tried taking the corner, I knew I was going to go over the edge and crash into the woods, I was just hoping I could avoid crashing into a tree for as long as possible. I missed seeing the fallen tree, the car went up on it and nicked another tree, throwing me to side, the car started to tip. Over it went and I began rolling into the woods. Despite the chaos I managed to engage a shield charm before slamming to a halt, as the middle of the car smacked into a large, sturdy tree.

“Urgh..” I slowly moved my arms, which way was up. I unbuckled the seat belt and tried to open the door, it wouldn’t budge. I banged against it again. No luck. Wriggling around I tried the passenger door, it creaked open and I crawled out of the car. Damn. I was lucky to survive that uninjured. I straightened myself up.

Blam! Darkness. Dull light.

“Welcome to hell.”

“Excuse me?” I turned around looking for who had spoken and spotted a weird looking… creature… sitting behind a desk in a dimly lit, shitty little room.

“Welcome to hell. You’re dead.” “I’m – “

“Dead. And now you’re in hell. Welcome. Now get out of here.” “But –“

“This is hell, there is no welcome package, no further explanantions. Good fucking luck. You’ll need it.” He said, pointing to a door behind me.

I considered protesting but knew there was no point. I left the room, and entered a long hallway with a large door at the end, other confused creatures were leaving other rooms and entering the hallway, looking around and slowly walking towards the large door at the end. They must have been other people who had just arrived in hell. Lost and confused like me. But why did they look so strange?

Leaving the building, I stepped out onto a busy street in what looked like a large city. This is not what I pictured hell to be. I looked around and spotted my reflection in a window… I got it now, everyone’s soul looked weird in hell.

A white and pink fox like creature was staring back at me. I brought my hands to my face, feeling my fur, my muzzle and my large ears. I was now my family name… there is no escape.

Part 2: https://www.tumblr.com/gypsy-blood-343/750465050757726208/hazbin-hotel-vixens-story-part-2-inseparable?source=share

Part 3: https://www.tumblr.com/gypsy-blood-343/751018648569888768/hazbin-hotel-vix-x-vox?source=share

Part 4: https://www.tumblr.com/gypsy-blood-343/751749340809379840/hazbin-hotel-vix-x-vox-chapter-4-no-rebuttal?source=share

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funkylilomen · 1 year

Text

Emeralds & Charcoal

(A non-canon interaction between what once was and what now is)

-–—–-

Part I: Of Infinite Mirror

"Goodnight, sweetheart," he whispered gently as he shut the bedroom door.

Foster rested their head against the door's painted on music notes and flowers for a moment, humming softly to themself. It had been a long day. Maybe they'd skip the bar tonight...

He turned to head toward his own bedroom and yelped, nearly falling backward in surprise. In front of him stood... himself? It was almost like looking in a mirror, aside from a few things. To start, the figure was completely greyscale. Black wings made of smoke protruded from its back, the excess that floated off of them curling around its head and obscuring the view of its eyes. Not to mention, its entire presence felt like a tear in reality. It was... deeply unsettling to look at, to say the least.

"Who are you?" they finally managed through panicked breathing. "Are- Are you an angel..?"

The figure barked a laugh, its voice wispy and seeming to almost echo itself, though it barely smiled. "Ha! Hardly."

Foster stretched out an arm in some form of attempt to guard the door from this creature. With his free hand, he grabbed the silver Petrine Cross charm that hung around his neck, fidgeting with it nervously. "...A demon, then?"

It shrugged, looking them up and down disapprovingly. "I don't know. If that's more suitable for you, then sure. Look, it doesn't really matter what I am. All that matters is finding whoever is gonna hurt that little girl." It points to the door behind Foster.

"What!?" They grabbed the figure by its collar, a wave of adrenaline washing over them. "What do you mean hurt!?"

It seemed unbothered by this burst of anger, however. "Hey, I never said I would hurt her. So why don't you ease up a bit and let me go, hm?" It pried Foster's hands away from its shirt and set them at his own side. He huffed in annoyance.

The figure smoothed down its outfit and tilted its head, examining its doppelganger with a curious look. "First, though..."

It plunged a hand into his chest, causing him to let out a horrified gasp. He wanted to scream out for help, or maybe just in fear, but he didn't have much time to do so. It quickly retracted its hand, pulling out a glob of black ink with it.

"Hm... Odd..." It looked over the ink intently.

Foster grabbed at where they had presumably been torn open, but the only hint of any interaction was a black, oily stain on their waistcoat over their heart. They could only stare at the figure in shock.

"Wh- What the fuck... What did you..?"

It scoffed at him. "Relax, I was just checking." It pondered its hand for a moment, trying to decide the best way to clean off the ink, before settling on... licking it off.

Foster looked at it in utter disgust, a shiver running down their spine. They tried to ignore the foul taste forming in the back of their mouth.

"Just... why?"

The figure shrugged. "Can't rule anyone out." It jutted a finger at Foster. "Not even you, who I assume is supposed to be her guardian?"

"Uh-" he blinked a few times, still confused and slightly afraid of this strange look-alike, and cleared his throat, "Yes, I-I am."

"Well, you're obviously doing a wonderful job since I'm here." The sarcasm dripping from its voice was obvious. "Come on, then."

The figure grabbed them by the arm, its wings growing in size until the smoke engulfed the two and–

The world was spinning. Foster felt himself going through the motions, living day after day, as if his life was being fast-forwarded, but he didn't dare open his eyes. He knew that if he did, his dinner wouldn't stay in his stomach. The smoke never cleared away, lingering just out of bounds.

Eventually, it the world stopped, but their insides didn't. They clutched the sides of their head tightly, dropping something silver to the ground with a clatter. They could feel a presence looming over them, watching, judging.

Sirens blared all around him. The horrid, suffocating feeling in his chest didn't let him look at the scene in front of him. He knew what he would find. Tears poured down his face, mixing with the hot pink splattered across his face. He felt himself once again being engulfed by the smoke.

And then it all fell away.

#funky lil writings #funky lil ocs #cjrp #cjrp anons #tw emeto ment #tw minor gore #tw religious imagery #tw implied death #tw blood #black heart #guilt/foster #grief trilogy

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animation-recaps-by-sean · 1 year

Text

Top Ten Disney Couples

Well it’s been 100 years of Disney and with Valentine’s Day soon I’ve decided to mark the occasion by counting down my favorite Disney couples. I know that the House of Mouse is an evil capitalist empire that needs to stop eating IP’s and should at the very least pay their employees better. But they have a lot of blorbos so let’s see who I like together.

Now this is a couple list, not a ship list. So canon couples only. Not even if I like the ship. So two characters hugging once doesn't count. Now without further adieu here are the top ten disney couples.

10) Goliath/Elisa

From the early nineties classic Gargoyles, we have Goliath and Elisa. The biggest furry-ish couple on the list aside from the actual funny animals. Goliath was the leader of the mythical creatures awoken in ‘modern’ read early nineties, new york. And they met police detective Elisa Maza. And over the course of their adventure the two develop a deep longing for each other.

Putting them on the list is a bit of a cheat as their relationship never goes beyond deep pining. Due to the whole interspecies thing. I haven’t read the comics, so I’m not sure if anything came from that, but they have a great dynamic in the show.

9) Phineas/Isabella

Yeah, they ultimate well they or won’t they of Disney couples. Star and Marco tried this, but hit it a little too hard. But Isabella’s crush on Phineas is super enduring and a great source of jokes. I am bummed they waited until almost the last episode to get them together, and in a flash forward too.

I almost put Candace and Jeremy here, them getting together season two and just being a couple got big points with me. But Jeremy is kinda of bland so phinbella it is.

But Phinbella are a sweet couple.

8) Cinderella/Prince Charming

Not gonna lie, the bulk of the heavy lifting is being done by Cinderella III. But even then this couple always was the strongest of the three classical princess romances. Yes they fall in love over the course of a song like they others but the song plays while Cinderella and the Prince have a quiet conversation that the audience doesn’t hear. It’s nice compared to the bombastic songs Snow White and Sleepy Beauty had.

But even then, Cinderella III puts this on the list. Giving the couple some struggling, and the Prince a fun goofy personality.

7) Donald/Daisy

The ultimate disgruntled couple. Told over the series and comics, Donald and Daisy are the ultimate on again and off again whirlwind. It’s fun to see how these two are played.

Donald’s grumpy demeanor plays off of Daisy’s sass really well.

6) Belle/Beast

Okay, elephant in the room. Stockholm Syndrome is bad. Hot take, I know. Elements of this romance are really, really bad when applied to real life. But in fiction, two people bonding and learning to grow in extreme situations is a good story.

These two were the first princess romance that felt equal. The classical Princes, and even Prince Eric felt like props. The movie lives up to its title and makes both feel equal in a way we hadn’t seen before. Watching Belle’s good nature warm Beast’s heart is nice. And seeing Beast learn to like himself is nice too. Gaston's self centeredness and entitlement is a great foil for these two.

5) Kim/Ron

Not gonna lie, did not actually ship these two during the first three seasons. I just thought they worked as friends. So the ending of So the Drama was a bit of a head tilt moment for me. But once season four showed them as a couple, it just worked. It didn’t need to break the characters or their dynamic to make them work as a couple. I wish more shows realized this.

4) Jasmine/Aladdin

Jasmine and Aladdin are great. Both of them want the same thing, respect. Aladdin wants to be seen more as just a thief and Jasmine wants to be more than just a royal and be free to make her own choice. It gives their romance a nice synergy.

Also having two whole movies and a tv series before the two tie the knot helps with the whole too fast relationship thing that plays the other Disney princesses.

3) Rapunzel/Flynn

This is the latest main Disney romance in their animated movies. That’s weird right? Tangled was almost 13 years ago. I know Anna and Kristoff are a couple, but that’s a subplot compared to the sister drama. Hell Frozen II even dropped the proposal subplot halfway through. I mean Disney animation is known for their couples, I guess that’s why they stopped? I guess cause princess movies are considered girl movies and girls should have more than romance. I’m not saying every movie needs it but I do miss it.

But Flynn and Repunzel are actually really cute together. They have great chemistry and are sweet together.

2) Mickey/Minnie

Surprisingly veristital. Mickey and Minnie are absolutely adorable with each other. Whether they're just meeting or been dating for awhile, I always enjoy seeing these two.

1) Luz/Amity

And here they are, my favorite Disney couple. And it's not just cause they're sapphic. They are a general well written couple. They set Amity up like in her second appearance. I am so glad they didn't drag getting these two goobers together. Because watching Amity growing and Luz getting support from her, warms my heart.

The cut kisses, blushes, and pet names have done wonders for my mental health. Now there is still one more episode so it's possible to fumble at the finale line but I trust the staff.

Hail to the queen's of love.

#disney #disney movies #disney plus #disney channel #disney animation

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chiropteracupola · 1 year

Note

Leviathan groom, please?

this (this being the tattoos-and-superstition story I've spoken about a few times before) is probably one of my favorite Hornblower fics, to the point where I've been working backward and forward on it for over a year as I try and fail to get it to be Just Perfect. trying to find the balance of exposition to explain the fantasy worldbuilding and actual plot has been very tricky with this one, especially as I haven't quite figured out just how either of those things works yet.

so right now, even though I like a lot of the current stuff I've written, I'm probably going to start over from the bones up, patching in the bits I liked from the first version as I go.

[SCRAPING SOUND AS A BIG CURTAIN IS DRAWN BACK]

basically, the structure that I have so far is 'too much exposition' -> [BIG HOLE] -> 'Bush wandering around in the snow' -> [SPOOKY DESCRIPTION I'VE NOT COME UP WITH YET] -> 'Bush having a long talk with a creepy thing' -> 'slapdash ending that's a little too goofy'

so the main points that need to get worked on are going to be streamlining the magic system and integrating the function behind it into the actual story (probably through some kind of opening Sailing Scenes), redesigning the creepy thing to fit better with the tone of the story overall, and of course, ironing the plot until it's nice and smooth.

I've had some difficulty managing stories with a larger cast in the past, and I think I'd like to push myself with this one and try harder to make the settings feel populated and living, which I think will be more compatible with the eventual redesign of the antagonist. I do think a face-stealing shapeshifter still meshes very nicely with Hornblower's Issues™️, but doesn't really work with the rest of the setting that I'm devising here. so it's back to the drawing board on the creepy thing, and I'm going to do a little research for inspiration before I settle on anything this time. rather than the face-stealer, I think a more standard Endless Barrow Party to get lost in/feel deeply uncomfortable at/charge boldly into on an ill-advised rescue mission will suit the two of them better.

and I'll probably have to pick a new title, as changing up the fairy-folk rules will mean that I lose the double meaning that made this particular one work so well. (it was always meant to be ambiguous whether it referred to Hornblower himself or to the face-stealer, since they're both hanging out somewhere in the middle of the sliding scale between husband and sea monster.) while it'll be a little said to break up my Boreas-lyrics tradition for Hornblower writing, I've been trying to switch to a snappier and more memorable titling system for some time anyway.

and if you're still here after reading all that, how about a scrap of the Exposition Brick that probably won't be coming back in the rewrite:

Entering the navy young had many its disadvantages, but one solid point in its favor was getting the ink-workings on you. They worked the best when they were drawn in as early as possible, it was said, and Bush had had his since he was barely eleven.

With so many ways a boy could die aboard ship, there was at least one surely preventable, if the right precautions were taken. The right knot in the right place, and they’d be tied down tight to the mortal world as well as human art could make them. There were other charms of much the same theory, hold-fast and love-stay-true and safe-at-sea, all with their own mark and their own meaning, but the faith men put in those, though strong, wasn’t nearly so hardy. Bush had seen nearly every other form of ink-workings fail at one time or another, but never these two, the sort given to the youngest and most likely to be stolen away.

He’d even heard the discussions among the hands, the boastful tales of a man claiming he’d nearly been spirited off as a lad, and would have been, too, if not for the marks on the backs of his hands. Sadder stories as well, for as he passed by on his rounds, he’d noted whispers of someone’s sister’s son stolen away, nephews and cousins and brothers gone under the hills never to be seen again. Why don’t they just put the protections on them proper-like, one man would say, and the other would shake his head, and mutter that such people couldn’t be reasoned with.

Whether it was that the ink-workings simply didn’t work on shore, or that the minds of those dwelling on land couldn’t wrap around a too-permanent way to keep their children safe, it still was that those on land went without the marks. Bush wasn’t sure quite why, nor did he himself understand exactly how the tattoos on the backs of his hands kept him safe. He was a plain sailor, not an artist or a witch, and he was content to trust rather than to make an attempt at unpicking the workings of the art.

#em writes stuff #I need a casual hornblower tag #disclaimer that I said I would Talk About my fics! which is a promise that this technically does fulfill!#thank you for sending me the sort of ask that I can so easily use for rubber duck debugging a story!#hope the look behind the curtain was not too incomprehensible - this one has been bouncing around in my head for too long for sense #and also my tendency to Categorize Cryptids and Creatures has (I think) caused me to invent some terms again #for the full visual experience you should also note that the curtain is in fact a shark-patterned shower curtain.

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