#I was never romantic and I was touch adverse and just. not physically affectionate at all and

[captaincryolicious]

Hi! I love your writing! I just found your blog and have only read a few thing, but I'm fully planning on binging everything you've written so far.

I saw that your requests are open. May I request a Kazuha/reader fic (gn if possible?) where the reader is touch adverse? Like, if someone touches them without their permission/or their terms it can send them into an anxiety attack? Some days are better than others, some days they can be affectionate to an extent but others they just can't handle being touched at all?

It's totally cool if not! I have seen a lot of really cuddly Kazuha content lately, (not that there's anything wrong with that!) and as someone who is touch adverse, I though the change of pace might be cool.

Okay, I'm rambling now. I hope you have a great - insert time of day here-!

Kazuha with a touch aversive s/o

➳ Kazuha x gn!reader

➳ Headcanons ; 1.1k

➳ Fluff, comfort ; No warnings

The title says it all. [03.10.2022]

Zep's Note ; This request was made over a year ago but I finally got to write it (I HAD to, since I really relate to this). I'm sorry it took so long! Also, I went with headcanon format instead of a fic, I hope you don't mind!

content under the cut | masterlist

It was a mystery to you. 

The way people described physical touch as magical, as warm and safe, as loving and comforting, as a spark of joy that erased the sourness from one's mind and body. You couldn't even begin to imagine that; it sounded alien to you, impossible, as if it were something from an utterly different dimension than the one you lived in — which, in a sense, was true. 

All you ever felt when people touched you was panic, the strong urge to push them away and flee in a wave of fear, discomfort and anxiety washing over you. It made your heart race, your skin burned where you had been touched, your breath would hitch before accelerating, but in a way most negative. 

No one, not even your closest loved ones such as your own family, were allowed to hug you, give you an encouraging pat on your shoulder, ruffle your hair or hold your hand when times got rough. It was a barrier so unbreakable, and even you often failed to understand why.

Why couldn't you relish in the affection of loved ones? Why did it bring you the exact opposite of what people described? How could something supposedly so beautiful bring forth such negativity within you? 

What was most painful, maybe, was how no one found it in them to truly love you in a romantic way. You tried, others tried with you, but it never lasted. Of course no one wanted a relationship with someone who did not want to be touched at all, you bitterly thought. That's why you always ended up on your own. Loneliness gnawed at you, and painfully so. Maybe you were meant to be alone, simply because your stupid curse. 

You believed so, until he came around. 

Kaedehara Kazuha. A name that brought so much happiness to your life ever since that awkward moment when the two of you met. He wanted to shake your hand that day, causing you to freeze on the spot. Usually that would lead to taunting laughter and confused faces, but not with him. The male with hair as pale as the moon regarded you with a certain understanding in his ruby eyes, taking a step back and introducing himself with a kind smile. 

You instantly trusted him that day, and until this very day the faith you put in him only grew more and more.

Kazuha is a real sweetheart, so understanding and very patient with your touch aversion. 

He never pushes through when you draw a line, he always respects your boundaries. 

He got used to it so quickly, adapting to what you called your curse seemingly with ease. Of course he slipped up a few times in the very beginning, but his profuse apologies were sincere and he would do whatever it took to soothe you again.

But as I said, Kazuha swiftly adapts and does everything he can to show you how much he loves you in a way that doesn't bring you any discomfort. 

Taking you on little dates, looking at you with the warmest smile ever, being super romantic in ways that don't involve touch, and his favorite; writing you haikus. 

Of course not every day is the same. There are good days and bad days, and the difference between those starts to grow when your bond of trust with Kazuha grows.

On bad days, where being touched will send you into a pit of anxiety from the discomfort that seems to take over, even when it's him, he will always reassure you that it's okay, that he loves you more than anything in the world and that your boundaries are totally valid.

He will keep reminding you, because that one day where you told him how afraid you were of him leaving you because of your curse broke his heart. 

"Love is so much more than physical touch alone," he tells you, and his instincts are screaming to hold you close and comfort you because you look so miserable but he knows better. He simply sits opposite of you, patient as ever, looking at you with calm eyes as he thinks of other ways to cheer you up. 

On bad days, he learns a lot about you. It's those days that show him your preferences and habits, things that make you smile and bring you joy, objects and gestures that bring some peace in the turmoil when a comforting hug is out of the question.

Let's be honest, in the beginning he struggled with what he could do to make you happy if he couldn't shower you with affection. He had to get a little creative, but he picked up all the little details in no-time; your favorite time of the day, your go-to snack, topics of conversation that brought a spark to your eyes, hobbies and other ways of passing time you enjoyed, small things he did that would bring a smile to your face, and so on. 

He got to know you super fast, and despite the lack of affection, the two of you are like, really really close.

But then there are the good days.

It barely happened in the beginning, but as you grew more at ease around Kazuha, there are more and more days on which you feel like you can drop your boundaries a little. 

Days where it genuinely brings you a ginger feeling of joy when the male is hesitantly affectionate.

Those days where you feel like holding his hand, when you can stand the sensation of his fingertips on your skin. Days where you carefully lean against him, your heart beating rapidly as you try to make sense of what you are feeling. Days where you let him cup your cheeks softly and have him gaze at you full of love. Rare days, where you are brave enough to let Kazuha hold you against him in a hug so frail, as if you are made of glass. 

He is so careful with you, pouring all his love into his gentle touches while closely keeping an eye on how you are feeling; as soon as he finds the slightest hint of discomfort on your face, he backs off. But it happens less and less, because you genuinely feel safe with him. 

On good days, you begin to understand why people describe physical touch as something dreamlike. 

But the next day, it could be all gone. 

Kazuha never touches you without permission or without you taking the initiative. He always waits for you. He's so selfless, all he cares about is you and your wellbeing. 

He is so so so patient with you, and he truly respects your boundaries. It doesn't even take effort for him. It comes with ease, as if it grew to be his second nature, simply because he loves you so dearly.

You're safe with him.

#genshin impact #genshin impact imagines #genshin impact scenarios #genshin impact fanfiction #genshin impact imagine #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact headcanons #genshin impact kazuha #genshin impact kaedehara kazuha #genshin impact kazuha imagines #genshin impact kazuha x reader #kazuha fluff #kazuha genshin impact #kazuha x reader #kazuha #kaedehara kazuha #kaedehara kazuha imagines #kaedehara kazuha x reader #kazuha x you #kazuha imagine #kazuha x y/n #kaedehara kazuha x y/n #touch aversion

[devilmaywrite]

Hey hey!!! Cam I request B U and W for vergil please?

sure thing!

B - Best Friends — What was it like to be friends with them? Have things changed since you started dating?

Being friends with him would be equally as fun than with Dante and Nero (though in a very different way), but acquiring his friendship is just as difficult as his romantic love. You have to be strong in your own way though this extends far beyond physicality, he admires strength and fortitude above all even if that strength is mental or emotional. He questions your motives for a while so he’ll be standoffish and even rude to you at times until he begins to warm up to you. But friendship with Vergil is quiet and relatively low-key. You’re likely to spend a lot of time reading with him, whether that be in the quiet of your own home or the local library. You’ll have to appreciate or at least be okay with silence to get along with Vergil and you’ll likely end up initiating most conversations. Vergil is direct and will tell you about any qualms he may have with you and expects you do the same. He won’t tolerate subtleties in that regard. Overall, you need a backbone to be friends with Vergil. He will never coddle you.  

The change to a relationship is very slow. It will take a long time for Vergil to realize that he has feelings and even longer for him to act on them. It may seem unlike him but he is afraid of rejection. Plus, he deeply values your friendship. Not many people are able to break down his walls and truly get to know him. He appreciates directness but he chokes if you tell him how you feel about him first. He may even reject you at first because the thought of a relationship scares him. Sure, you already know almost all there is to know about him and you’ve offered little to no judgement. But there’s a special kind of intimacy to a romantic relationship that scares Vergil. So much like any endeavor involving Vergil, you will have to be patient and persistent. Eventually, he’ll come around and admit his feelings. This will be easier for him if he already knows you feel. He’ll apologize for rejecting you and request that you give him another chance. And you do, of course. 

U - Unique — What’s something they would do only for their s/o?

He’s softer with you in a romantic relationship than when he’s friends with you. Not that he’s not already soft in a friendship but he shows it more openly, I guess? Or rather, it’s just different. He’s less apt to compliment you on the little things or touch you in a friendship, his patience with you also runs thinner in a friendship. I think he’s fairly touch adverse as he’s mostly known violence throughout his life. So you’re likely the first person he’s ever been truly affectionate with. 

W - Witty — What was their reaction to making their s/o laugh for the first time?

He’s pleasantly surprised, I’d say. He wasn’t expecting it as he’s not exactly the most humorous man. It’s not often that he gets a genuine laugh from people. He finds that he enjoys the sound of your laugh and the ways your face lights up and your eyes crinkle when you smile. So he does try to crack more jokes that he thinks you’ll like here and there. 

#am i ignoring that i go back to college today? yes. #devil may cry #devil may cry headcanons #vergil sparda #vergil x reader

[thenovelartist]

ABC Fluff Headcanons - Vyn Richter - Tears of Themis

A = Admiration (what do they absolutely adore about you?)

If this was a fairytale, it would be Beauty and the Beast. Except he was simply the Beast and you were his magic rose he got to watch bloom. But instead of watching you under glass, he preferred it to be removed, even if it shredded your innocence in the process, but oh, watching you grow anyways, both blooming beautifully while growing fierce thorns to warn anyone before they touch, just to spite the adversity you were faced with was his truest pleasure. Your fortitude; that was what he truly admired about you.

B = Body (what is their favorite part of your body?)

You’d think it’s your eyes, being the windows to the soul and all. But you’d be wrong; it’s your hands. Specifically, your tender touch. It’s gentle, warm, and safe. Being able to hold your hand feels intimate for him, and he actually enjoys when you tap his arm to get his attention, then let your hand linger when he gives it. It’s like a reward and a comfort all in one.

C = Cuddling (how do they like to cuddle?)

He does enjoy a good cuddle, but hugging you from behind might be his favorite. Whether sitting together on the couch with you on his lap or spooning you in bed, he likes when he can nuzzle the side of your head or rest his chin on your shoulder.

D = Dates (what does their ideal date with you look like?)

He will have planned this to a T because he’s not much for spontaneity. And it would involve a walk together, flowers, and he will either have made you a dessert or the two of you will make something together. It’s something quiet and intimate for you to enjoy time together, talking about anything and nothing while the date is riddled with affectionate touches and some kisses.

E = Emotions (how do they express emotion around you?)

Good grief, this man’s emotions are… complicated. He’s very logical, but he’s not ignorant to his emotions. It doesn’t seem like it, but he frequently tempers them, only to bring them up again in full when he records his diary so that he’s able to manage them.

But you have ruined him. His carefully kept emotional balance has been thrown to the wind. You make him feel intensely and strongly, to the point it almost trumps his logic, which makes him uncomfortable. His diaries have been getting longer as his inner turmoil increases, and that’s all your fault. It’s something you notice, too, watching his even temperament waver more and more frequently around you as the emotion inside him wars with his rationality. You will have to give this man time. Time to open up and be honest with himself, and you, about his emotions. Be prepared to validate his emotions in his moments of weakness. It’s the only way he’ll get better about honestly expressing them to you.

F = Family (do they want one? If they do, when?)

He wouldn’t be opposed to staying childless. He also wouldn’t be opposed to having a child, and you could probably talk him into two if the first goes well. Little humans would be fascinating studies, after all. (“Dear, do not psycho-analyze the children.”)

G = Gifts (how do they feel about gift giving? What are their habits when it comes to this?)

He does not care for trinkets. Nor does he care about giving you them. Gifts should be practical.

At least… that’s what he likes to think. His one exception to this is when he gives you something to wear. It’s his way of marking you and wearing it will spark a possessive streak in him.

H = Holding Hands (when/how do they like to hold hands?)

He likes—no, needs to be either touching or holding your hand in quiet, private moments. And he wants to hold your hand when he’s jealous. Especially when he’s jealous. And you know when he is because he holds tight as though reminding you that you’re his while also sending passive-aggressive signals to the cause of his jealousy. When you’re just out walking, he will sometimes hold your hand, but he also likes when you loop your hands over his elbow and he can escort you like a proper gentleman. (It also causes you to pull yourself in close to him, so he actually quite enjoys when you do that.)

I = Injury (how would they act if you got hurt?)

Depends. Minor cuts or burns are treated with care and, occasionally, a kiss. Get into an accident, and he gets shockingly worried about you. However, if you end up hurt because of a reason to do with NXX, he’ll be sick with emotions. Guilt, fear, anger; all of them brew for a deadly concoction. He will not rest, even to the point of abusing his own body, until he finds the person who hurt you and sees to it they are paying dearly for their crime.

J = Jokes (do they like to joke around with or prank you? how?)

He doesn’t always joke around, but when he does… this man is a wicked tease. Don’t expect to get off the hook easily. You better learn how to tease back, or he’ll use words and puzzles to twist you exactly where he wants you, which normally is you as a blushing, stuttering mess.

K = Kisses (how do they like to kiss you?)

Sweet kisses off-the-cuff are quite nice, and so are the passionate ones, but the ones he likes best are the slow, lingering ones that take place hidden away in your own world. They convey so much with no words. There’s no frantic holding or clinginess. Rather, it feels like a moment of security, coming together and staying. He likes the comfort they provide him and the way they actually settle his heart.

L = Love Confession (how do they confess?)

He actually was super nervous to confess. He’ll have practiced and planned this confession before it happens. Which you never would have guessed because it was in such a smooth conversation during one of your outings that he admitted he held feelings of a romantic nature for you.

M = Marriage (What does the wedding look like?)

He wants it small, intimate, and preferably outdoors in a garden. He wants it nice but not overly fancy. He won’t fuss over the smaller details. Besides, he doesn’t realize it yet, but he will barely remember anything beyond how utterly stunning you look in your wedding dress, anyway.

N = Nightmare (what is their worst fear?)

He hates being a failure, but if he’s everput in a position where he fails you, he will never forgive himself.

O = Oddity (what is one quirk they have?)

This man has literal decks of cards of only one kind of card. You want a 52 card deck with all ace of hearts? He has that. Ten of spades? He has that too. Four of clubs? Yup. You don’t know why he has them, and he won’t tell you, but you think it’s literally just because he’s highly amused the way you wrack your brain over it.

P = Pet Names (what do they like to call you?)

He’s classic. Love, Dear, Darling, Sweetheart. But he’s half-German (At least, that is my best speculation considering he was called “Vilhelm” and is canonly mixed-race), so “Liebling” is also an endearment he calls you, and my guess is he saves that one strictly for the sweetest, most tender moments you share.

Q = Quality Time (how do they like to spend time with you?)

Calm setting, electronics put away, and preferably some form of physical contact with you. This could be working together in the garden, side by side, or going out to walk around town together, but those are not his favorite. Baking with you is one of his top ones, though. Expect him to tap some sort of batter or frosting on your nose. His other favorite is lounging together on the couch, your back leaning against his chest, and just talking. Communication is important to any relationship, and he finds it a joy to communicate with you.

R = Romance (how do they show their love and affection?)

He’s the kind that shows his affection by giving you his time and attention. He’ll show it in the little touches exchanged back and forth and in the way he’s attentive to your well-being, particularly your mental well-being.

He’ll also show he loves you by playing mind games on you until you’re a blushy, stuttering mess. He’s usually forgiven with a kiss and “I love you”. You know you’re too soft on him, but whattcha gonna do?

S = Secrets (how open are they with you?)

He is an onion you have to peel back layer by layer to get to open up to you. And like an onion, there’s likely going to be some tears shed as you do that. Time will determine how many secrets he’s willing to share with you, and it’s likely going to take years for him to fully open up to you. But keep at it. You will be rewarded with his innermost thoughts and feelings and the discovery of how insecure this seemingly unflappable man is.

T = Time (how long did it take you to get together?)

This man doesn’t believe in love at first sight, but falling hard and fast for you? That he did. One of his biggest hurdles he had to get over was logically evaluating his feelings and what he thought your feelings for him were as well as coming to terms with the way he’s been treated in past relationships (And not just romantic ones. He has an… interesting way of creating carefully crafted ties to people.) So it might take a little time for him to get comfortable enough to ask you out. And throughout the relationship, he’ll probably still be working with his past demons, so be prepared for that.

U = Upset (how do they act when you’re upset?)

He’ll comfort you the best way he can if you’re a sad upset. A mad upset, and he’ll probably give you a little space to work yourself out while offering his guidance. And upset at him? This is where a good chunk of your arguments happen, to be honest. So then you both have to calm down before coming together again and talking it out. But you always do and are stronger for it.

V = Vaunt (what are they proud of? Do they like to show you off?)

He’ll never admit it, but he loveswhen he can leave you impressed. It thrills him if he can show off a trick or his general intelligence and have you praise him for it. Occasionally, he’ll search for ways to impress you just because he wants that attention. But never will he admit it.

W = Warrior (how do they feel about you fighting? Would they fight for you, beside you, etc?)

Well…he’s all okay with fighting as long as it’s not physical fighting. If you’re going to verbally spar with someone, he’s more than happy to let you go, and he takes pride in the fact you usually wipe the floor with your opponent. But the moment it’s going to turn into a physical altercation, he’s your shield. Part of him thinks that in times he is unfortunately not around, it might be good to have some self-defense under your belt, but at the same time, he’d rather you just flee instead of fight. Because he knows you well enough that if you had the ability, you’d probably knock someone’s lights out if they came at you.

X = X-Ray (how well are they able to read you?)

He’s a psychologist; he can already read you well. But on top of that, you are his favorite study, and he will catalogue everything he learns about you away to pull out for future reference. So while he already reads you well early on into your relationship, give it a few years and you have basically no secrets from this man.

Y = Yes (how would they propose to you?)

He will never forget the “surprise over romance” opinion on proposals you shared with him. So, determined to give you the best, he sets up an elaborate puzzle for you, getting all the important people in your life to get in on it. Together, the two of you will trapeze the town hunting down little clues—in places, that you only realize later, hold significance to both of you—before he’ll “conveniently” take his leave so you can finish out the last leg, which ultimately ends up leading you to his office, the place you first met. And there he is, sitting behind a house of cards sits made solely from the Ace of Hearts with a ring in the middle of the top tier which was made from two different cards: the king and queen. Only once you realize that and he revels in your joy and tears will he properly get on one knee and ask you to marry him.

Z = Zen (what makes them feel calm?)

When everything is “right” in his world. His patients are doing well, he’s got no massive cases on his plate, nothing requires his immediate attention, and you are close by, doing well in your own right.

#tears of themis #vyn richter #fluff #tears of themis headcanons

[wishing4nuclearwinter]

Who made the first move?, Which member is more physically affectionate?, Who fell in love first?

Who made the first move?

Arcade did technically, though Sol had been toeing the line for a while without realizing it. I don’t think he’d ever even considered a relationship with Arcade until Arcade was kissing him and he was like “oh shit”. Even if he had had stronger romantic feelings for him before that he never would have made the first move

Which member is more physically affectionate?

Arcade is a very tactile person and he was physically affectionate platonically long before they got together, though Sol usually pushed that away. He respected that he was touch adverse as much as possible, but it took a lot of self restraint not to just offer small reassuring gestures constantly.

Sol slowly warmed up to it until he began to really enjoy it. He is still iffy about touch some days, but more often then not he absolutely laps up physical affection. Occasionally he will just get in a mood where he ends up practically attached to Arcade for the day and can’t get enough of it.

Who fell in love first?

Also Arcade. The first several months of their friendship/traveling together was very rocky and a lack of trust on both ends got in the way of anything more developing. But Arcade came around pretty soon and fell fast and hard after that. There was an extremely long period of distant pining before anything came of it 

On the other side, Sol really didn’t develop true romantic feelings until after Arcade kissed him. He’s aroace spec and honestly could have been happy with being platonic partners with him forever, but once they stepped over that line he very quickly fell in love. It was just one of those things that once he’d gotten a taste of it he craved more

#thank you for the ask!!!!! #arcade and veronica are the only people who are allowed to touch sol lol #sol tag #wishing4asks

[curious-menace]

Arkham!Riddler SFW Alphabet

When I started this one I figured it would be easier since I can riddle as bi and ace and this is all non-sexual but my god was it difficult. It's hard to separate what i'd like from a partner like riddler from what this version of riddler would actually be like.  I've done my best but if you have anything you'd like to add, feel free to hmu!

LONG POST UNDER THE CUT

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

Edward can be affectionate in quite a superficial way. He’s not above using someone's affections for him to get what he wants out of them and he certainly isn't above feigning affection for the same reason. Although unless you were head over heels for him, his faux sincerity would be pretty obvious. 

However with a partner he actually likes i can imagine he’d be very affectionate with his actions more than his words. Riddler loves to talk but expressing actual love can be difficult for him, whether it’s romantic or platonic, saying how he feels about you is one of the few things that doesn't come easy. I can see him spending a lot of money on you as a gesture of affection; fancy food , clothes, first editions of your favorite books or vintage versions of whatever you collect. He’d quite happily pay for your education/college and any and all books you might want. 

B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)

Being a “best friend”  would probably be at your insistence and not his. He’s likely left any childhood friends behind (assuming he had any to begin with) and I think as an adult, Edward would have trouble making friends. Like most things, Edward treats friendship as just another tool in the bag, he can count the people he actually gives a shit about on 1 hand. 

If you were lucky (or unlucky depending on your view) to be considered one of those friends, expect lots of phone calls about bailing him out, riddles turning up in weird places ( like in the pocket of a coat you haven't worn in a while) and him helping you out with your cerebral challenges( like your quarterly tax return, no eddie i can't just NOT do it will you put down the rubix cube and help me)

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)

He’ll never admit it, not even under pain of death, but Edward likes to be held. Now there's a few caveats to this; his rules and on his terms etc.  He likes to lie between your legs with his head on your chest, either facing you for a hug while he naps or away from you, using you like a pillow while he reads or tinkers with something.  He likes having his hair played with and his back gently stroked until he falls asleep.

He keeps up the facade of being totally touch adversed for good reason, the other rouges just do not respect personal space, even ones like killer croc and clayface. For the sake of his suits, he keeps this up even in private. But if you were someone special to him, you might convince him to toss his arm around your shoulder or waist. 

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?)

When he’s doing well mentally, he’s pretty good at taking care of himself. Or at least, looking like he takes good care of himself. He can cook and clean a little but he has the cash to pay other people to do the more menial or time consuming stuff for him. Not that he’s above it, he just prefers to spend his time on other things and is happy to compensate people to save him from doing it. These days he's more focused on other things to be bothered with domestic chores, his place is very messy. 

Settling down is an alien concept to him, not one he’s eager to explore. Expect him to turn his nose up at the prospect of marriage but a platonic long term partner, someone for company, someone to act as a sounding board for ideas or even just someone to (gently but firmly) kick his ass into looking after himself would be pretty ideal.

E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?)

He’d probably be thinking long and hard about it beforehand. Like weeks if not months in advance. He’d want to give you the perfect breakup and, depending on what happened, try his best to part as friends. He doesn't deal well with sudden changes to his routine, particularly with no plans ahead. On the other hand he might just pussy out and ghost you. He’s fickle like that.

If it was your doing, well. Edward takes these sorts of things as a challenge. He might even assume you were joking the first time around. After he got the message, I sense he’d probably be quite clingy and upset. It’s taken a lot for him to get so far with you and he wouldn't let it go without a fight. He might try to change or at the very least , be better at hiding whatever it was that you want to break it off.

Failing that expect a lot of texts from blocked numbers almost but not quite begging or apologizing and asking for more chances.

F = Fiance(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)

Like I said above, marriage isn't for him. I doubt he'd be compatible with a religious person given his childhood and outspoken atheism. He MIGHT if pressed, give you a question mark themed ring or token as a reminder that you were his. No papers, no ceremony, just something small. If you proposed expect him to be flustered and , if you can believe it, at a loss for words. He might go radio silent on you for a few days before giving you an answer but i honestly couldn't tell you what it might be. He does enjoy the thought of someone referring to him as “my husband” thought, so maybe persistent begging i'll get you somewhere. 

Some sort of Commitment appeals to him from a practical point; having someone to rely on, to fall back on and to care and be cared for by. It's not a normal relationship by any stretch of the imagination but it’ll be special all the same.

G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)

Edward isn't an imposing man. He might be tall but he’s all sinus and no mass. He has gentle hands but can be careless when he’s in a mood ( with objects, never with you). He's broken a lot of plates, computer monitors and mechanical pencils over the years. He lacks a lot of social grace to treat things with the necessary amount of sensitivity sometimes, but he has the sense to at least TRY and be emotionally gentle. Situations of abuse or self worth issues, things he has personal experience dealing with are things he can easily empathise with .

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)

Short story, yes but only coming from a trusted partner. Long story is that he has a hard time not flinching when someone hugs him by surprise. You should ask before you do it. 

I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?)

Edward is the kind of person to fall head over heels very quickly. He might say I love you before it's socially appropriate, it honestly might make you a little uncomfortable. But once that initial infatuation dies he's a lot more guarded with his feelings. He’d say i love you in a superficial way quickly but a genuine i love you with real emotion would take a lot of time and thought from him before he actually committed to it. 

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)

If you look up jealousy in the dictionary, you'd see Edward's picture. Obviously he is a deeply insecure man, he’s terrified you’ll start to think of him the way he thinks of himself and seek out someone better. You need to nip any signs of jealousy in your relationship in the bud early on. Otherwise Edward will become controlling, manipulative and possessive to the point of alienating you from other people, simply for the sake of having you to himself. You need to set healthy boundaries while also doing your best to accommodate his need to be validated and his need for reassurance that you do in fact want to be with him. He gets snappy when he’s jealous, with you and other people. He has temper tantrums like a child if you don't agree with him. Like for example if he thinks someone was flirting with you and you tell him they were just being friendly. 

All that said, I genuinely don't think he does it for the sake of being a controlling partner. He is just so very afraid that someone he actually gives a shit about will leave him like everyone else in his life. 

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)

I should point out that he doesn't kiss often. But when he does,He’s all over the damn place. What he lacks in experience he makes up for in enthusiasm. He is a very sloppy kisser when he gets into it but generally his kisses are very short and chaste. Like i said, he doesn't really know what he's doing so he's all over the place in terms of location. I think smooches on the cheek  because it's easy access, for him and you. He likes body worship, so if you're kissing him, anywhere will do as long as you're praising that part while you do it. 

L = Little ones (How are they around children?)

Edward does not like children but he’s good pretending for the sake of his image. Childrens naturally inquisitive nature coupled with his bright and colourful appearance makes for some entertaining moments but in the long run I can see him worrying too much: about screwing the kid up, about being perceived like his father, about the child not meeting his expectations etc. 

M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?)

He's more of a night owl tbh. If you're living with him he might wander into the kitchen while you're getting breakfast , wondering why you're up so late. You'd have to tell him he’s accidentally pulled another all nighter. He might have coffee with you and talk about what he was working on, maybe ask if he could have some breakfast with you. But by the time it's cooked he’ll have passed out on the sofa.

N = Night (How are nights spent with them?)

Edward prefers to work and operate at night so expect him to be in a flurry of activity, building things, calling people and working at his computer. He likes to have company, even if you aren't doing much talking. It would be nice for him to just spend time with you while you both work on your respective projects. Sometimes he gets his shit together and lives during the day like most people ( read as, when he’s just been to prison and has an actual schedule for once) he would like to unwind with you by watching game shows or playing video games.

O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

Edward has a bad habit of gloating about his accomplishments but in a way that is so obviously false it unintentionally tells more about him than he really wanted to. Like in Arkham knight, he gloats about “not having any friends at all” in reference to his riddler bots when Catwoman teases him. He meant that as a snipe at catwoman but the fact he’s so open about his lack of friends, to most people anway, is incredibly sad. 

He’s a well known villain, if you didn't know most of his backstory before dating him it would be hard to miss once you were together. He’s unlikely to tell you it himself, having to repeat it time and time again in therapy has him perpetually bored of the subject .

P = Patience (How easily angered are they?)

He gets upset quite easily, he has very limited patience . He’s used to other people's cuts and jibes so he mostly lets that roll off his back with only a little annoyance. But for stupid people, and people outright insulting him, dismissing him or for acting like batman he is liable to start seeing red very quickly . In your relationship I would say he is easily irritated by a lot of things, generally a bit grumpy if things don't go his way but rarely as angry as we see him in the climax of Arkham knight. He doesn't yell or shout at you but he will seethe and let his anger fester for days at a time. He can be very mean when he’s angry. 

Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?)

You would think for someone with a photographic memory, he would be better at remembering things about you. It's not to say he DOESN'T remember, only that he requires prompting to do so. Yes, he will remember everything about you but he puts it in the back of his head so he can focus on other things. Don't be surprised if he lets important dates slip by or does things at the last minute because something reminded him of it. 

R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?)

It's probably something innocuous that you wouldn't think of, or even realise he was there for. Maybe he remembers meeting you in a coffee shop months or years before you met and started dating. He remembers because you held the door for him or gave him a genuine smile. You were something colourful in his gray day, something hard to forget. I doubt he tried to build a relationship out of that one moment but when he met you again he would remember that and decide that it was fate or something.

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)

Edward is protective in a strange way. He’s most powerful in situations where he controls everything , which isn't usually possible in real life as he's not a particularly strong man. He has more power in the digital world so that's where he feels most comfortable looking out for you. He might watch you on security cameras to make sure you get home safe, send you texts to check in or hide your profile from the police. You can be online together and in the public eye ( for him to brag about you to his online followers of course). To tie back in with his jealousy, he would be pretty protective initially but if you told him to back off, he’d be careful to do it more secretly. 

Edward needs to be protected in a lot of ways, mostly from himself. He’s not good at looking after himself, either physically, mentally or socially. His big mouth gets him into a lot of bother so he might need you to act as a social filter. He’s had several large breakdowns in the last few years and with arkham closed for good, he has no support besides you. He needs to be grounded and kept in the present lest he get wrapped up in his thoughts. 

 T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?) 

Honestly? He doesn't really try. He's very lucky in that he can pull something out of his ass last minute and it would still have a similar effect to if he’d spent the whole month planning. Someday it's going to blow up in his face big time but he doesn't seem to care.

Same goes for everyday tasks. He's usually so focused on his own stuff that he doesn't realise other things need done. He's a master of doing things at the last second and still making it look like he put in effort.

U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?)

He has a bad habit of underestimating people, even you. He might be inclined to patronise you when you try to do things for him but just showing him that you are a capable human being is usually enough to shut him up. He's very egocentric, narcissistic and conceited, but given everything he's been through, it's not really his fault he's like this. What is his doing is his refusal to work on his faults or try to grow as a person. Perhaps with the right encouragement you could help him but don't hold your breath. 

V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?)

Normally yes, Edward is narcissistic and very concerned with his looks but recently, with his mental health declining, he's forgotten to take care of himself. I imagine when/if he snaps out of this funk he’ll be mortified by how he’s let himself go. He’s more concerned with how he looks socially, how he might be perceived and his reputation than what he physically looks like. 

W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)

Edward is and always has been convinced he was meant to be alone. He’s somewhat made his peace with that . there would always be a hole in his heart that he really thought nothing could ever fill. But meeting you? Well that changes things. Edward will never be a complete, well rounded person but having someone to kiss his wounds and pour their love into the cracks in his being is infinitely better than being alone. 

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.)

I mentioned in some of my mini headcanons for him that he used to do gymnastics as a kid. It wasn't so much that he wanted to or even enjoyed it all that much, in his highschool you just had to pick a sport and it was one of the only things that wasnt team related and had the lowest chance of being hit in the head with a ball, bat or racket. He was pretty good at it, even if he didnt like it that much , and probably could have taken home some bronze or silver awards in his state if his parents had encouraged him. Nowadays he can barely do a pullup but he's still got most of the flexibility, even if repeated breaks at the hands of batman have left him a little sore while he does it.

Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?)

Edward doesn't like people appearing to be smarter than him. but his ego usually protects him from acknowledging that fact. he doesn't like bullies, despite being one himself . but his most hated trait in people is alcohol use/ dependency. If he knew you were an alcoholic he likely never would have started dating you but even the odd drink will make him turn his nose up. of course, hes a hypocrite , when hes feeling really sorry for himself he will definitely drink his sorrows away in whatever hole in the ground gotham rogues frequent. the self loathing is as strong as his hangover the next morning. he knows hes like his father, in more ways than one and it makes him sick. any mention of alcohol is likely to bring up these feelings

Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habits of theirs?)

Edward is a chronic insomniac but there is one thing that is guaranteed to send him right to the land of nod and that is having his hair played with and his back stroked. I don't know if it was one of the few kind touches he ever received as a child or if his parents did it when he was a baby but it's one of the few things that makes him feel truly safe and cared for. Riddler has spent the majority of his life alone, so finding a partner he trusts enough to allow them not only into his space but also his bed would be a difficult thing. If that's you, however, expect him to be badgering you every night to help him get to sleep.

that took a lot longer than i thought it would! arkham riddler is obviously my favorite so i was trying to write a lot for him but i hope i havent been rambling

if you want to talk more about any of the riddlers, hmu!

#riddler headcanons #The Riddler #Riddler #arkham riddler #sfw alphabet #edward nygma #edward nigma #batman arkham knight #arkham knight riddler #arkham knight #headcanons #my headcanons #my stuff #my art

[deviant3lover]

Personal Headcanons for the Trio

On a rare spark of inspiration, I’ve decided to compile my list of headcanons for the Trio for you all to look at if you’re interested. :) 

I tried my best to make them rooted in canon so that they may be plausible while still allowing me to indulge. ;)

Putting this under Read More because boy, it is long.

Metal Bat/Badd

- From my asks to @atinychai​, Badd likes traditionally masculine things because it makes him feel empowered and keeps most people away. He shows almost all the traits: being into sports, working out, being fierce and intimidating… all except for being attracted to women. (Came as a real shock to him too: his team often found girls cute but Badd couldn’t help but notice that some guys were pretty hot and nobody pointed it out. Doubly so because he loves the thought of being married one day and none of the ladies appealed to him.)

- Very straightforward thinker, but unlike Genos, he isn’t completely tactless or over the top with it. His thought process focuses on what needs to be done, what is needed to do it, and to do it ASAP. Considerations are taken into account, such as what would happen if he doesn’t do it right or in a certain way. This is especially good for him since he’s a busy guy even by S-Class standards, but it does leave him vulnerable to not thinking through long term plans that well.

- The most empathetic and physically affectionate of the three. He keeps his tough look on him in public and in private, but he’s one of the first people to offer to hug it out if you’re breaking down. 

(Obviously where no one can see it: that’s embarrassing on you and would attract too much unwanted attention to him, so he makes sure there’s no one watching. If there is, he’ll clap you on the shoulder, look you in the eye, and offer some advice and encouragement.) 

Young boys and teenagers look up to him, and they usually feel better about crying into his shirt when Badd tells them how hard it was to stop himself from bursting into tears at his first loss in a match, or when he was trying to keep quiet for Zenko’s sake at her recital.

- Continuing on that note, he keeps a nice relationship with some of his sporty fans. Not anything too intensive, but he’ll keep track of the boys who come to him asking him what he was like on his baseball team, what to do if there’s infighting in their group, which ones are worried about their baseball matches and he gives them a proud congrats if they win, or a consolation + inspiration to do better next time if they lost.

- When he’s not blinded by anger, Badd’s surprisingly pretty adept at being a social expert. His experiences of being on the baseball team + hanging out with problem students like him has given Badd a pretty good perspective on both the popular kids and the hated, loner kids, as well as what they’re going through. As a result, he’s usually well received by them. Feels a little embarrassed and uncomfortable around smart kids though, especially when they explain something that sounds a little complicated to him.

- Back in his younger days prior to all the responsibilities piled on top of him, Badd was a pretty good leader for his baseball team. He checked in regularly with his team mates, their equipment, their training regimens, and their upcoming opponents. He helped some of his team mates with confidence issues, and made sure to keep in check with how they’re doing to prevent in-team fighting. All-star baseball team in their region for sure. :3

- In the future, I imagine that Badd might take up some boxing after taking a hint from all the times monsters knocked his bat out of his hands away from him. Lost his weapon? He’ll use his fists until he can get it back again, and he’ll use them well. Turns out loves the sport, but baseball will always have a special place in his heart.

- He empathizes easily with people experiencing stress; he goes through that daily with everything he has to take care of- but he’s more clueless with issues such as mental illness. Badd’s a little insensitive about it, sometimes suggesting things to take care of it which don’t work, but he’s trying his best to understand what someone is going through and knows enough to know that it isn’t something that can’t be solved by blowing off steam or cutting off some bad things in your life. Gets pissed off if someone dismisses it as ‘something that’s all in their head’ or ‘they’re crazy’ and will confront them. Forcing apologies out of the offender isn’t out of the question. Might want to stop him before he gets too pissed off.

- Like you’d expect, he’s a pretty big fan of sports, but in a more casual way. He likes hearing about his favorite athletes, training regimens, and certain meals/diets that helped stars to build up/maintain their strength and skill, but doesn’t obsessively get himself involved in the subject. On a more sentimental note, Badd finds some solace with famous athletes because they had to work hard to get where they needed to be, and on top of that, have to deal with the pressures that come with their popularity; whether they like it or not.

- Despite not having much time to cultivate attention to honing his skill and interest in cooking, he loves Gordon Ramsay. Seeing him rip entitled, spoiled people apart with words alone and gently encouraging + teaching kids has him placed high on Badd’s list of celebrities that he respects.

- Badd is a Closeted Romantic and a Family Man. Always found it touching where in some old action/thriller films, the male married lead thinks about his wife and kids back home and tells himself that he shouldn’t die, powering through the pain/adversity to get back to them. At some point it shifted to him liking some intense drama/action movie focusing on romance where the couple race against time to get to each other before it’s too late. The idea that someone you love and treat as an equal might actually be gone forever really gets him, and if done right, he’ll cry.

- Cannot, for the love of him, focus well on books. He’s literate, but he always wants to get to the most important stuff, often skimming over details that might be important later on. This is also evident in how he writes, explaining something simply and to the point, which makes him pretty good at teaching kids basic, simplified concepts, but not so good at constructing incredibly thought out and nuanced writing. Books and audio books just aren’t immersive to him. Consequently, English is one of his worst subjects in school, and he often has to rely on online notes and essay examples to help him out.

- Extending on that, I imagine him to be a kinaesthetic/visual learner. He was born with amazing dynamic vision after all. (Under ‘Fighting Style: Keen Perception.’)

- Loves American action movies, but they’ll have to be really well made for him to remember a specific one. If you asked him about his favorite action scenes, he’ll describe it, but more often than not, he won’t remember the movie’s name unless you gave him some clues.

- (Inspired by this fanfic.) His mother died in a monster attack just moments after giving birth to Zenko. Badd used to love and respect his father, but her death lead to him spiraling down to alcohol abuse and neglect due to his grief, leading to his broken pedestal status in his son’s eyes. Badd’s still bitter over it when he thinks about it, saying that his ‘old man nursed his bottle like it was his new kid’ instead of being there for him and Zenko. Caught between poor grades in school, a rough home life, and a baby sister he didn’t know how to take care of, Badd had to convince himself that he needed to be twice the man his father is, and ever was, to get through the worst of what life had to throw at him.

- No matter how hard he tries, he still loves his father, and wants to see him endeavor to become better again. But the combined grief of seeing him crumble and give up on himself, the bitterness over his dad failing to be there for him when he needed it the most, and the anger over how seemingly self-absorbed he was in with his booze and watching the static on the TV when Badd was struggling to cope, makes him force the thought of reconciling out of his mind. Badd forces himself to be outwardly angry over what happened to avoid the conflicted feelings he has over the man he used to see as his hero.

- That being said, if you know what his father used to mean to him, you’ll see subtle signs that while Badd can’t forgive, he had never forgotten him. His father was a big sports fan too, and taught him how to properly hit a baseball. If you knew what he taught and looked closely when Badd fights or does some swings, you’ll see that the tips and tricks that he taught his son has never left him.

- Wanted to get a dog because he thought they were cool, but realized he wouldn’t have enough time for it. Begrudgingly got a cat for him and Zenko after she picked one out. He expected it to be the widespread stereotype for cats: cold, mean, and ruins your stuff… and then he saw how lovable and sweet it was and fell in love. That cat is Tama.

- Hates horror films because some of them remind him of the fact that monsters can manifest for the stupidest reasons, anywhere, anytime. It gets him worked up and restless because anything can happen, and the fact that some monsters in the past had tried to target Zenko to lure him out doesn’t make him feel any better.

- When he’s sick/injured, he sleeps. A lot. A very heavy sleeper; expect snores and heavy eyelids. Seriously, this guy is practically stuck in either Stage 4 NREM or REM sleep until severe injuries heal quite a bit, and germs making him sick are killed off.

- Does not take kindly to anyone calling him weak or stupid. Despite getting angry easily, he’s very resilient (emotionally and mentally.) He knows from experience that if he can’t resolve it quickly, it’s best to put it on the backburner until the opportunity arrives where he can, and does his best to blow off steam in the meantime. He’s not that smart academically and he knows it, but it’s still a berserk button you should stay away from because while he’ll never admit it, it hurts him to know that despite forcing himself to attend school so that he can build a future for himself and Zenko outside of hero work, he’s still failing at getting the grades he needs.

- Expanding on that, he’s smart, but it’s more akin to Saitama’s words of wisdom than eloquent, polished reasoning and beliefs; straightforward and inspiring in a simple way that leaves no room for misinterpretation.

- Don’t let him play video games. Especially rage inducing ones like Cuphead. He will crush the controller and wonder why his character isn’t responding mid-game. The keys on the keyboard are smashed in. There are cracks on the area around the buttons. There’s a Wii remote sticking out of a wall after a frustrating defeat and the wrist strap wasn’t securely fastened.

Garou

- He likes athletic wear better than punk styles. They’re easier to put on and move in, whilst the leather from some punk clothes heats up too much/gets too stiff for his liking.

 - Hates being restrained. Sometimes, on a very, very rare occasion, it can be interpreted as him being scared of the idea since he lashes out pretty angrily at it. Garou had been held down and beaten up by bullies twice, pinned against a tree and choked by Genos before escaping his blast by the skin of his teeth, and then was implied to be chained up and tortured/punished for his insolence against the MA in their torture room. He’s strong enough to escape most bindings, but he will be on edge if he feels like he can’t get out of them. If you play your cards right, his attack patterns will lack their usual cunning and be more animalistic.

- He’ll eat almost any kind of food except for sweets. It’s too sugary for him, leads to a crash later on, isn’t sustainable, and it doesn’t offer much nutritional value to him either, so he steers clear of them if he can help it. The odd exception are energy drinks. The sugary taste isn’t something he exactly likes, but Garou loves the immediate rush that kicks in soon after drinking them; the slight burn on his tongue from carbonated drinks such as coca cola is a plus.

- Loves the thrill of the challenge of almost any sort. The excitement comes from giving it his all and not knowing for sure how things will turn out; if he won, that’s another trophy to him. If he lost, he relishes in a milestone he has to beat and loves the idea that there’s still room for improvement. Winning or losing too much tends to be boring for him, and he’ll abandon it if he sees no way to rectify it.

- When he’s sick or injured, he’s a restless sleeper; it’s hard for him to get the proper hours that he needs. He drifts in and out of sleeping and waking, usually sleeping a few hours at best before waking up for 10 minutes and falling back to sleep. Being attacked while vulnerable, in places with little means of defense or shelter is a pretty good plan for monsters/bigshots who want his head and he knows it. One of the places he can sleep more peacefully at is Bang’s Dojo, but he hasn’t been back there for some time now.

- Tsundere. Not necessarily the blushy ‘I-it’s not like I like you, b-baka!!’ sort of way, but he’s a more subdued tsundere. He’ll come off as mean spirited at times, but the most reliable way of knowing he loves and cares about his loved ones is when they’re being threatened; he’ll rough up the threat so they won’t get any funny ideas in the future.

- Is Russian-French, with some (suspected) Norwegian in there. Is generally a European mutt who takes a keen interest in Asian culture, especially those that developed sick martial arts and/or those who have interesting, complex histories; however, Garou isn’t as interested in wars and political intrigue as he is in weird, clever, and hilarious events and hijinks that sound too surreal to be true… like Zhao Yun's army being outnumbered by the enemy, retreating, and him choosing to make their fortress look empty so that his enemies get suspicious, thinking that it was an ambush and withdrawing... before launching an attack on them, killing off his enemy's army by inciting chaos. (E.g. Some of them got trampled, others fell into a river and drowned.) He won.

- Continuing off of that, he generally regards European history with distaste due to how... unkind, some of them are.

- (God, I love @the-goddessfighter​‘s headcanons for Garou’s parents, so honestly? I’m all for this being 100% canon. Murata or ONE, make it happen. In my eyes, this is as good as you possibly can get with Garou’s backstory.)

Check out her tumblr for her OC’s for Garou’s parents! (Although I do headcanon Toru as a more neglectful father who didn’t care much for Garou, if at all. He didn’t sugarcoat his words to him nor try to comfort his son.)

- Prefers black/white/grey/neutral colors for his clothes, if only to avoid people saying that the colors clash and that he looks like a fashion disaster.

- It’s an unconscious move on his part, and while he usually has impeccable control over his power, sometimes his fingers feel like they’re jabbing you when he’s distracted. Especially when he grabs or hugs you. Sometimes, there are some small bruises where they’ve dug in a little forcefully. When he’s feeling affectionate or sentimental and you’re his lover, he traces over your skin, and it’s a contrasting mix between the calloused, rough textures from the fingers, and smooth, fluid movements that slide like water. It’s a distinct Garou feature, and whether you love it or hate it depends on your tastes.

Genos/Demon Cyborg

- Doesn’t care too much about his popularity, but acknowledges the work that his fans put in when it comes to promoting his work and what little information he shares that others will pick up on. E.g. He doesn’t like to be bothered when he’s busy/with that bald guy, but otherwise is OK with signing a few autographs and shaking hands, he avoids certain obnoxious fangirls, he hates it when there’s a group and they crowd him, etc.

- Despite appreciating this info circulating so that some fans are more mindful about how they interact with him, he’s one of the hardest heroes to connect with due to how cold, closed off, busy, and/or socially awkward he may be. Not that many of his fans mind, as it feeds into the mysterious ‘Cyborg Prince’ fantasy that’s popular in his fan base.

- Thinks that Nice Guys/GirlsTM and people who use ‘I’m an Alpha, those betas/omegas can suck it’ are pathetic. At best. He thinks that they’re compensating for something instead of actually trying to improve themselves: for the latter, the added weight of using a disproved scientific theory makes him lose respect for them even more.

- He has a certain amount of fondness for fauna and flora. Prior to meeting Saitama, he’s had to travel long distances in search of the Mad Cyborg, and more often than not, company is fleeting, leaving him alone most of the time. Flowers by the side of the path, blue skies, the sound of chirping birds, or even some berries with rainwater droplets on them are familiar, nice sights that put him at ease. Some of his notebooks outside of taking notes on Saitama have hand drawn illustrations and notes on some plants he’s encountered, as well as their various uses.

- Conversely, barren cities will put him on high alert. Buildings act as great hiding spots, and Genos isn’t a stranger to being ambushed by monsters and criminals alike. (His eyes can be a great asset in these situations; scanning for threats and movements can give him a heads up on how dangerous the area is.)

- His sense of humor is pretty dark, if not outright sadistic at times; especially towards the people he hates. Otherwise, he likes making (mostly. Key word is mostly) harmless jabs and teases at those he loves because he finds it funny when the other person gets riled up/flustered. His tone and expressions don’t change (most of the time) when he makes them though, making it hard for others to know whether or not he’s joking until he clarifies on the matter.

- Hates those who spread misinformation about medicine, or demonizes scientists. He cares about keeping the public safe, and admires/respects science for everything it’s discovered for the sake of humanity: people such as those are a direct attack on both.

- Though on the outside he takes even the most inconsequential things seriously, to the point where he’s gullible and too honest to lie, he keeps his more solemn thoughts to himself and ingrains them at the back of his mind so that he’ll never forget them. His notebooks don’t hint at them even existing. The only way you’ll ever get to hear them is when you directly attack something he holds very dear to him (beliefs, values, aspirations) so that he may fiercely (and furiously) defend them. He berated Saitama for seemingly making a joke at his expense, but he was somewhat more lenient since he knew that Saitama wielded the power he needed. He won’t be nearly as nice if you’re not someone he likes or respects, so it’s a sure-fire way to get onto his blacklist.

- Is German-Japanese. German father, Japanese mother, though a lot of people mistake him for being fully German thanks to his looks. He understands some parts of the language, but isn’t fluent in speaking it. Japanese he’s fully fluent in, and English is getting to that point as well.

- He doesn’t usually use pet names if he gets a lover, but if he’s fallen in love hard, they get sort of ridiculous and a little cheesy. ‘My beloved’ and ‘darling’ are the most modest ones, but you’ll have to stop him from going after extremely specific and loving nicknames because they blur the line between being hilarious and embarrassing.

- Awesome at stake outs, and often keeps a first aid kit handy in his temporary bases (in the case of civilian injury) alongside a repair kit for himself. Genos is incredibly well prepared just from the equipment he has inside them, but unlike other matters (such as learning how to fold clothes efficiently and going taking it far too seriously), Genos shows pretty good judgment in how he sets them up. He doesn’t take more than what’s needed, and prepares some emergency supplies just in case there’s a new development and he needs to stay a bit longer. He’s learned from experience that taking too many things for them makes it harder for him to clear his tracks, and in return, the enemy (or enemies) that he’s been keeping an eye on might catch onto the fact that they’re being watched, making it harder for him to discover new information.

Shared Traits & Other Bits

- The no-brainer: you will get intimidated into fleeing if you mess with them. Things may get physical if you target their family/loved ones. Injuries vary depending on level of apologetic attitude, how much of a threat you pose, how far you’ve pushed things, etc. Best case scenario is that you flee the scene with no injuries, but scared out of your mind.

- Badd and Genos use the same nickname for their lover: ‘Darling.’ Although Badd will say it as ‘Darlin’’ instead. Other than that, their nicknames are fairly different, with Badd going for things such as ‘sweet cheeks,’ ‘babe,’ and ‘sweetheart.’

- Both Genos and Garou have the tendency to mess with people for their own amusement. Garou comes in the form of taunting and goading, whilst Genos likes to make underhanded comments and jokes that will infuriate you.

- Genos and Garou like books. Genos however, is more introverted and will share his knowledge more thoroughly when prompted by someone who needs it. Garou being Garou, you wouldn’t even know he was into reading until he offhandedly mentions a bit of knowledge from a book he read. Odds are you won’t have time to ask him if he knows how to do x because he would have already gotten up to do it before you can open your mouth. This occurrence is far more common in emergencies.

- Genos doesn’t take any visible joy in fighting. He sees monsters as a threat to society that must be eliminated quickly and effectively. Badd used to enjoy throwing himself into battles and coming out of them victorious, but thanks to time and HA’s obligations, he sees monsters as destructive assholes getting in his way and creating more work for him when he’d rather come home to catch up on other things on the forefront of his mind. Garou loves fighting, the challenge- but it has diminished by a notable amount after his webcomic arc as he’s reflecting on what he needs and wants to do now. Despite this, he usually keeps his eye out for any interesting challenges, if only to distract himself.

- Slightly digressing from the Trio: Zenko shares the burden of taking on responsibilities with Badd, though he doesn’t know they exist. She’s aware of the fact that her brother isn’t living a normal teenage life and is bothered by the fact that he can’t act like his own age most of the time, making her want to be headstrong, capable, and independent soon so he doesn’t have to worry about her. At the same time, she knows that there aren’t many heroes his age that he can get along with, so she tries to fill in that hole by spending time with him while finding heroes she likes, and hopefully her brother will like- the reason being is that hopefully, Badd will make friends with them, and she can meet her idol often! It’s part of the reason why she was so insistent in having him obtain AM’s signature.

- Genos can sing, but sometimes struggles with singing with enough emotion in his lyrics. Garou can sing pretty well, (and sings almost every Disney villain song like a champ) but he’d be resistant to others goading him into it. He’s pretty uncomfortable at the notion that he’d have to sing in front of people. Badd can… sing, but he’s best at singing the lullabies he sung to a baby Zenko- songs that get him into it can have him be really, really into it; to the point where it’s almost embarrassing to watch. He’s pretty good at rap/singing more sentimental pieces such as this:

#opm #genos #badd #metal bat #garou #shitty teen squad #hellion trio #zenko #headcanons

[dmcdrabbles]

can i get the boys in long term relationships? :3c

I’m gonna go with headcanons to match the last post but lmk if you’d like drabbles instead! I’m also gonna throw in love languages bc I read an entire book about that a few years ago lmao. I’m also still establishing my HCs for them so I guess we’ll build as we go~

Under the cut bc it gets SO rambly

Nero isn’t great at expressing tender feelings through his words, but that doesn’t mean he’s not affectionate. He’s best at doing things he thinks you would appreciate, like helping you around the house or getting your favorite food or setting up something for you to relax with when you’re stressed. In that way he also tries to understand the stuff you really like, even if it doesn’t come naturally to him. If you like gifts, he’ll get you gifts. If you like physical affection, he’ll be more touchy. If you really do want him to tell you sweet things, he’ll definitely try. It’ll probably just be more of a cute attempt than an eloquent one. He appreciates commitment a lot, and he takes relationships pretty seriously. Depending on your chemistry with him, his you-pleasing attitude can lead him to be on the submissive side. (But he remains bratty, of course. This is Nero we’re talking about.)

Dante never really gets out of the lowkey side of things. Despite his somewhat playful personality, he’s still got some ‘things’ he never worked through. He’s protective of his independence no matter how much he loves you, so respect his need for space. He mainly expresses his affection through touches, whether that be a hand on the shoulder or something more intimate. He’s not adverse to overtly romantic gestures, but make sure not to let anything get too emotionally heavy. He wants the two of you to enjoy being around each other, not some overdramatic thing. Your relationship will probably be built around mutual respect.

V is contrasted to Dante in that he’s probably the most emotionally heavy and outwardly affectionate one. Even if he’s not falling apart anymore, he lives with the remnants of urgency that make him take emotional commitments very seriously. Despite the idea that he’s a “mysterious guy”, he’s pretty clear about what he wants and needs in a relationship as long as you’re listening. He communicates his love not only through telling you how he feels, but in the small sweet gestures as well. He’s quite sensitive to your moods, so honestly you can express yourself any way you wish and he’ll probably understand. Still, he wants overt affection from you in some way or another. He wants to feel like you’re on his side and that you care about him.

Vergil will also see a relationship commitment as a really huge step. It’s not that he’s trying to play the field or anything, but it’s a matter of being alone (which is unpleasant but familiar) and being willing to open up (which is what he wants, but is foreign territory). Part of the reason he wants to be the one pursued is out of a need to feel wanted and loved, but in a long-term relationship it’ll become a balance of him wanting to give and receive that love without ceding too much of his control over himself. He’ll want to feel safe around you, but it’s a process. He’ll express his affection through spending lots of time together. Not necessarily on dates, but just through being in each other’s spaces comfortably. He’ll do his best to give you the kind of attention you want as well, but it’s not often through grand gestures.

#vergil x reader #dante x reader #nero x reader #v x reader #DMC headcanons #dd mild #request

[altarsburning]

romance headcanons.

name: maria castle.

nickname:  lil bird, mama, babe.

gender: cis female.

romantic orientation: heterosexual. specifically, frank david-sexual.

preferred pet names: anything frank calls her, but she loves baby, and hot mama.

relationship status: deceased married.

favorite canon / fandom ship: the only one i got is frank and maria, sorry.

favorite crossover ship: i honestly have never explored anyone with maria other than francis, soooo..

opinion on true love: true love hits like lightning, and it usually only strikes once. 

opinion on love at first sight: it happened to her, it could happen to anyone.

how ‘romantic’ are they?: before the kids, romance was cute, spontaneous. after the kids, romance wasn’t just rose petals and wine. it became watching frank’s favourite movies with him even if they weren’t her cup of tea. it became making him his favourite meals when he was on leave from the marines. it became letting him put his head in her lap so she could play with his hair, so he could fall asleep. it became a multitude of things.

ideal physical traits: she’s never really cared about looks.

ideal personality traits: people with senses of humor. kind people. people calm in the face of adversity. strong people. good people.

unattractive physical traits: she doesn’t place a lot of emphasis on looks.

unattractive personality traits: loudness, drunkenness, braggarts.

ideal date: dimly lit italian restaurants, or empty movie theaters. maria has always liked dates where they can talk, get to know one another.

do they have a type?: frank david.

average relationship length: well, look how long her marriage was.. or wasn’t, thanks billy.

preferred non-sexual intimacy: being wrapped up in her husband’s arms, laying in a hammock with him,  or just being on the couch with him.

commitment level: an italian catholic woman completely devoted to her husband. commitment level 1000.

opinion of public affection: early on, she was allowed kisses, hand holding. nothing overt. but as frank grew older, he was very anti-pda. he’d be affectionate with his children, gentle touches to the small of maria’s back, but nothing overt.

past relationships?: the only relationship she had prior to frank was a brief high school thing with a football captain. it didn’t last a month.

tagged by: @warandpunishment​ — thank yooooou. xo.

tagging: @thefvrious​ (for joel mebbe? or anyone you want!), @writermoore​ (for whomever babe!), @demonslayvr​, @aspecialprovidence​, @gulldrengur​, & you!

#( that was her; bright and warm and softening my hard edges — ABOUT. )

[bigbangsmasher]

*  ROMANCE HEADCANONS

NAME:  Makoto Nanaya NICKNAME:   Squirrel Girl, Squirrel Lady, Squirrel Woman, you get the idea GENDER:   Female (She/Her) ROMANTIC ORIENTATION:  Bisexual/Biromantic

PREFERRED PET NAMES: Makoto loves to give nicknames to people she’s affectionate towards, usually something that plays off of their real name (she calls Noel Noellers or Noellie, for example). She’d probably also use simple things like ‘dear’ or ‘darling’ in casual conversation. Doesn’t have a preference for pet names aimed at her so long as they’re cute enough. RELATIONSHIP STATUS:  Single babey!! FAVORITE CANON/FANDOM SHIP: Makoto/Noel and Makoto/Tsubaki are both A+ good ships, and by that logic Makoto/Tsubaki/Noel is also good. Makoto/Jin ain’t bad either, though would probably require a bit more development. Makoto/Kagura would never work in a million years but they look good next to each other. I haven’t really given much thought to other in-series ships. Makoto/Hazama is hot

OPINION ON TRUE LOVE: Love comes very naturally for Makoto. It’s something she’s found so effortlessly with her friends, and as such she’d probably be adverse to any romantic relationship she needs to ‘work’ at. To her, true love would just be something she falls into without much effort on either individual’s part, something that comes naturally over the course of a relationship. And then, once she’s there, it would’ve been so natural that no one noticed.

OPINION ON LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT: A very nice thought but probably not real. Makoto’s more guarded than she lets on.

HOW ‘ROMANTIC’ ARE THEY?: Makoto is more about about the little things when it comes to romance. She’d rather have a casual night out at the movies than a big gesture that involves a skywriter or a flash mob. While Makoto is full of love, she’s also very down-to-earth, and she’d be doing little things like getting small “I saw this and thought of you” gifts for her partner or bringing them food rather than hiring a band to serenade them through their window.

IDEAL PHYSICAL TRAITS: Look at her. Makoto is hot. At least a 9/10. You think she’ll get with someone who’s not on her level? Dream on, buster. Jokes aside, Makoto would just want someone physically fit. She leads an active lifestyle so an ideal partner would be able to keep up with her. Other features aren’t as important to her.

IDEAL PERSONALITY TRAITS: She would want someone kind-hearted most of all, and someone who’s motivated too. Good sense of humor would also be essential, obviously. And they would have to be someone who has a strong sense of justice as well. UNATTRACTIVE PHYSICAL TRAITS: Anyone not physically fit would probably be unappealing to her. They wouldn’t need to be ripped, just fit enough to keep up.

UNATTRACTIVE PERSONALITY TRAITS: Anyone especially cruel or standoffish wouldn’t even be able to be her friend without effort, let alone romantic interest. She’s also not a fan of ‘playboy’ types or people who aren’t really genuine. She’d also never stand for anyone who ever made fun of her or her friends or discriminated against anyone. IDEAL DATE: A night out! Maybe a bit of shopping and a nice dinner in casual wear. Bonus points for a movie or maybe a hand-in-hand walk through the park or along the beach. A casual night in with a movie and drinks is good too.

DO THEY HAVE A TYPE?: People with kind hearts who’d give it all for the people they love. AVERAGE RELATIONSHIP LENGTH: Never had a “serious” relationship before, so they tend to be flings that last a few weeks at most. PREFERRED NON-SEXUAL INTIMACY: Holding hands, playing with hair, and touching her tail. She’s also very big on cuddling. COMMITMENT LEVEL: Not very at first, do-or-die once things get serious. Has a bit of a martyr complex with these things.

OPINION OF PUBLIC AFFECTION: Get flustered when things get too mushy, as she doesn’t love drawing attention to herself. This is a little hypocritical of her since she’s prone to big hugs and excited name-shouting.

PAST RELATIONSHIPS?: Nothing canon or RP-wise

TAGGED BY: someone who said i was gay and also theef TAGGING: the girl reading this

#meme #headcanons

[paladin-andric]

Tag Game: Rate Your OC’s Hugs

A tag game started by @homesteadhorner, find the original here! Never done anything like this before...

Rules: Rate the huggability of your OC’s on a scale of 1-10 (with the ability to go beyond or below, if desired) and provide an explanation of why when necessary. Tag others so that they can participate in the future!

We’ve got a pretty big cast here, all different in their own ways. Skipping Eignach since he’s not really a major character in the context of the book, but he’d be right up there with Razorwing tbh.

Alexander: 5/10 (Run-of-the-mill)

Not much to say. He got his fair share of hugs as a kid, but that’s pretty much it. By the start of Blackheart, he’d been up north in the army fighting for years, and never once had a romantic partner. He’s sorta out of practice, but not terrible at it or anything.

Hey, if you think about it, he just might have a romantic interest to practice his hugging on after the end of the book, though...

Leianna: 7/10 (Vice-grip)

Leianna’s pretty damn strong, and not at all adverse to physical contact. You know what that means: Bear hugs! She’s a pretty good hugger, but only if you get her off you before your lungs or ribs give out.

Lexius: 4/10 (Milquetoast)

Lexius isn’t big into touching or hugging. He’d be a bit awkward at it, but I guess he’d manage after the initial confusion.

Tourthun: 1/10 (Literally impossible)

I mean...he’s literally a giant dragon. You CAN’T hug him. I guess the closest you could get is one of those “hugs” where you just hold your arms against whatever you can’t wrap your arms around. Even if you couldn’t effectively hug him, I’m sure he’d be touched by the attempt...metaphorically, I mean. Not literally, you’re already doing that.

Wurie: 9/10 (Floofy)

He’s a big ol’ wolfman guard captain with a big heart so...you got a pretty good hugger and fluff! Like hugging a bear, except without the risk of getting mauled.

Andric: 8/10 (Dad-hugs)

Dads are good at giving hugs. This is an undeniable fact. He has no experience in non-familial hugging though, so don’t expect any good romantic embraces.

Paul: 2/10 (Don’t touch me)

The assassin that’s kept everyone he’s ever known at arm’s length...if you go for a hug, expect one of three things:

-A knife in the gut (You were totally going for a stranglehold or something)

-He breaks out of it ferociously like you were trying to grapple him

-Irritated, he gently shoves you off of him (Only Razorwing gets this treatment)

Razorwing: 10/10 (True Master)

Razorwing is the loving, affectionate champion of the people, the kindly and joyful wandering hero! He’s a flirt, a romantic, an excitable friend and a caring companion! Platonic, brotherly, romantic...every type of hug you can imagine, he’s mastered. He wouldn’t even miss a beat if you went for a surprise hug, either! Bonus points for the soft, feathery hug.

Charles: 3/10 (Stuttering mess)

A half-dragon, Charles would be a big awkward to hug, but once you get past the scales and claws and wings you could manage...too bad the young magician is a complete mess socially. He’s nervous, anxious, shy and slow to trust most people. If you hugged him he’d probably be dumbstruck for a moment before timidly stuttering about some kind of thank you, still not returning it. The only people he’s hugged are Merjim, Seamstress of the Guild of Dragonoids, and his dad, a human by the name of John.

Senci: 11/10 (He’s Senci)

Do I even need to say anything? It’s Senci! He’s one of the most loving and affectionate people on the planet. He’d probably try to hug the moon, if he could!

Tagging @lady-redshield-writes, @paper-shield-and-wooden-sword, @writtenbyhal, and anyone else who wants to join in!

[heroquills-a]

✮  : ━  ROMANCE HEADCANONS ! ❫

tagged by: nvm @babylonbrains tagged me and i didn’t see bc tumblr is a BITCH ASS MOTHER F tagging: if you haven’t been tagged yet, i tag you if you wanna do it

NAME: Sonic 

NICKNAME: Sonny, Blue / Big Blue, Blue Blur, Faker, and an assortment of insulting nicknames from various enemies

GENDER: Cis Male

ROMANTIC ORIENTATION: Demi-panromantic demi-pansexual

PREFERRED PET NAMES: i dunno if he really prefers any of the ones he has ? unless it’s from someone special to him then he’ll probably lean more into favoring it so uhh i guess faker...

FAVOURITE CANON SHIP(S): i don’t believe there are any canon ships for sonic ? besides... sonamy maybe, since it’s kinda implied here and there, and i do like the ship but i’m not a huge fan of how canon typically portrays them anyway so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

FAVOURITE NON-CANON SHIP(S): i think most sonic ships can be enjoyable if written well but...if it wasn’t glaringly obvious already i’m very biased towards sonadow

OPINION ON TRUE LOVE: it probably exists ? sonic’s been all over the world and has seen plenty of examples of true love. he just never experienced it himself but he’s fine with that but ofc in recent times he’s fallen quite hard in love and he can say its a messy, difficult experience but the pay off is turning out to be quite lovely after all

OPINION ON LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT: pffft, yeah right. crushes and attraction at first sight, sure. but love at first sight ? to put it in the words of garnet steven universe, ‘love takes time, and love takes work. you have to at least know the other person. and you literally have no idea who or what i am.’

HOW ‘ROMANTIC’ ARE THEY?: sonic... doesn’t usually have the intention to be romantic, he’s just got a natural charm to him and enjoys flirting only because... he just thinks it’s fun. but i don’t think he actually realizes or intends to come off as romantic when he does so lmao. he just likes being a charmer bc it’s exciting and he likes exciting things. although it’s a completely different story when he’s actually in a relationship with someone. i say sappyness isn’t his style but it turns out sonic’s the biggest sap out there when it comes to who he’s in love with. ‘cause when he’s in love, that person tends to occupy his thoughts a lot and he’ll end up showering them in non-verbal affection via doing nice things for them, being physically affectionate if they’re comfortable with each other, and inviting them to ‘go out’ (aka go out on some crazy adventure that’ll likely result in death defying stunts) he’s not very good at expressing his feelings verbally, and when he does it usually ends up coming out really sappy and cheesy (which he’ll embarrass himself over)

IDEAL PHYSICAL TRAITS: i don’t think he has a preference really? because what really wins sonic over is personality and that’s what matters. but uhhhh,, anyone who can keep up with him or beat him in a fight/put up a good fight he’s sure to find attractive... 

IDEAL PERSONALITY TRAITS: patience definitely, sonic’s very spontaneous and has little patience himself for most things, so anyone who’s willing to put up with that along with the many adversities he has towards relationships & everything that comes with is a plus. having a good heart w good morals is good too. he also likes banter and playfulness and just having a general sense of ‘this is someone i can have fun with’. 

UNATTRACTIVE PHYSICAL TRAITS: ehhh... i guess lack of hygiene upkeep ? even sonic who runs all the time and tends to work up a sweat a lot and has nomadic living tendencies still values hygiene maintenance so like. there really is no excuse

UNATTRACTIVE PERSONALITY TRAITS: excessively annoying or pushy people who don’t mind his personal boundaries, overly boastful, mean spirited attitudes that put other ppl down, boring/no fun allowed types

IDEAL DATE: you know that one scene in sonic x where theyre on prison island and amy busts sonic out and she’s like ‘so will you finally take me to go do something fun?’ and sonic’s like “whats more fun than this?”? yeah anyway sonic’s ideal date is as stated earlier, going on some kind of death defying heart racing high intensity adventure that probably involves lots of running and fighting robots. but honestly anything that gets the blood pumping and the heart racing is sure to be ideal in sonic’s mind. he also doesnt mind sharing a good meal. but honestly, all it comes down to is getting to spend quality time with his partner. thats what he loves about it the most

DO THEY HAVE A TYPE?: uh... red......strong.......temper..........sharp teeth..... can keep up with him.................. can kick his ass,

AVERAGE RELATIONSHIP LENGTH: assuming sonic actually agrees to a relationship it’d probably be long-term ? if he really loved them and they were willing to stay that committed

PREFERRED NON-SEXUAL INTIMACY: just sharing physical contact in general. while it’s a scary thing for sonic considering he’s touch repulsed over pushy fans/ppl invading his personal space he’s also simultaneously very touch starved and craves physical contact that he can consent to, so chances are if he’s that comfortable w someone he’ll likely just initiate cuddles or physical contact all on his own bc he wants to be closer to them

COMMITMENT LEVEL: when sonic falls he falls hard, and he’ll stay fully committed to his partner so long as they remain the same. if sonic isn’t committed to something, he was never in love with them to begin with

PAST RELATIONSHIPS?: i wouldn’t really say he had any past relationships besides a brief one that was lowkey forced on him back when he was still with his band mates. it wasn’t really much of a relationship anymore than it was sb who was manipulative and pushy and tried to get sonic to do things w them,, and sonic almost let himself go down a dangerous path bc of it but thankfully left before it got too bad

#🌀 — later guys! i’m outta here! ❪ ooc. ❫ #🌀 — i just only have a steadfast heart of gold. ❪ headcanons. ❫ #anyhoo....... this was fun to write about #although im a little sad bc sonic had another preferred pet name but that pet name no longer is valid #since we went our separate ways

[ssironstrange]

Aphobia in my fandom? Gtfo

I know I'm not the first and i won't be the last to address this. But since APPARENTLY (???)I'm one of the main Ironstrange blogs, i wanted to use that to my advantage to talk about this. 

First and foremost, if you are an aphobe then unfollow me and fuck off. Secondly, I'm not ace and my knowledge is limited to what i’ve gathered from ace friends, but I'll be damned if i don't speak up for my ace babes after some of the things I've been seeing recently.

So let's start with the main issue here. There seems to be a severe misunderstanding of asexuality. Much like other sexualities it has variables. There are sex repulsed aces and sex positive aces and aces that fall somewhere in between. Just because one doesn't feel sexual attraction towards another person doesn't automatically mean they don't feel sexual desire, aka arousal. The two are not the same thing. Literally unless there are health issues involved, the body is always going feel arousal. That's what hormones do. Imbalances in hormones can cause increase and decrease in levels of arousal, but the capability will always be there. That said, some aces enjoy masturbating and sex because they feel good. You don't have to be sexually attracted to a person to enjoy sex. (I've slept with my fair share who i had NO attraction towards but they were what was available and i was a horny and experimental college student) and some aces would rather never touch themselves or another person that way and will just let the arousal pass. Some aces don't like sex but like pleasuring their partner. Some are a mixture of a little of everything. Some it may literally just depend on their mood of the day. So, yes, an ace person can be in a sexual relationship. But SEX IS NOT THE ONLY FACTOR OF A RELATIONSHIP!!!! i say this as someone about as far from being ace as possible. Y'all know me. I'm a thirsty bitch ALWAYS. I love smut and porn and everything nsfw. But I'm going to let y'all in on a side of my personal life i tend to keep pretty private. I have a bad relationship with sex IRL. I suffered many years of sexual abuse as a child which fucked up my whole mentality about sex that I'm still working through 20 some odd years after the fact. On top of mental hangups, I've had physical issues with it severe enough to require surgery. My s/o and i might have sex once a month or once every other month, and most of the time its because i want to make him feel good, not because i want it myself. It's a very slow process of retraining my brain’s pathways back to sex = good and fun rather than sex = bad and pain. And by slow i mean out of the 9 years we've been together, over 5 years have been this way. So don't fucking tell me you can't have a meaningful relationship without sex. If that's the deal breaker then ya might need to reevaluate yourself. Yes, it can be very important but its not the only thing that is important. 

Now, like EVERYONE, aces come in many flavors of romantic preferences. Aro, pan, poly, demi, homo, het, ect ect. Some aces have no desire for sex or romance, but instead have deep meaningful friendships or love of the non-romantic variety. Some aces are the opposite and want ALL OF THE RELATIONSHIPS(hello my fellow polys) but may or may not want any sex involved. Romantic attraction is not sexual attraction. 

Aces can still be very affectionate, very cuddly, very touchy. Some may be completely okay with naked but non-sexual spooning and touching (non-sexual intimate touching is a very healthy thing to practice for any relationship if you aren’t touch-adverse), some can still gladly dirty talk, some can flirt even better than non-aces, some still enjoy reading about sex because it’s a. not about them and b. theres a big difference in what you conjure up in your head vs. the actual thing. From my understanding, aces are mainly focused on the emotional aspects. They’re happy if their partner is happy.

So. If your "ace" headcanons are anything other than actually being ace, stop.  typical reasons ace headcanons that are not fucking ace.

Being dedicated to work/duty and "not having the time for personal needs" 

Wanting a reason to exclude a person from a ship and making that person ace out of convenience

A character being stoic, hard to read, not talkative, or standoffish

A character who isn’t particularly affectionate or touchy

Making an underaged character ace just to prevent shipping with older characters (while done with good intentions, still is not ace)  

Being aro (You can be aroace but aro is about the romance, not sexual attraction.)

Using asexuality as a plot device is not acceptable. 

Using asexuality to fight against a ship is not acceptable. 

Fetishizing asexuality by making them naive to the point of childish is not only unacceptable but a fucking insult. (Yes, curiosity is bound to happen. experimenting is going to happen, but unless they’ve literally been secluded from other human beings and without access to technology at all, they’re going to have all the same information everyone else does)

Ace babes, you are valid and your actual ace headcanons and ships are valid. And if anyone tells you otherwise they're just ignorant assholes that can unkindly fuck right off :)

#asexuality #aphobes fuck off #ace #i'm not even ace and #some of the things i've seen #have pissed me off so much #feel free to add your thoughts ace babes #i'm sure i missed a few good points #sorta personal too oops

[annastrxng]

Annlett: The Great Escape? Or the Great Defeat?

Chapter #1: I’d Come For You

Anna’s pale face is caked with several days worth of dirt, dried blood, and grime. Her dark locks fell in a wild tangle to the side of her neck, in the form of a sloppily decaying bun. Craters and cracks formed across her gentle ripe-peach colored lips, which, seem to remain pursed in perpetual anticipation of what was to come.

Sharply bristled cords dig deep trenches in the soft flesh of her wrists with every minor movement Anna makes. The ripping of her skin serves as a constant reminder that she is no longer a free citizen of the colonies, but rather a prisoner of His Majesty’s army.  

Bruises inflicted by boots and fists practically sing against her stays with every breath she takes. Anna had been dealt with harshly by her captors; not that she could blame them. They were after answers, not awards for hospitality.

The charges against her were right on the money: sedition and spying. Having been captured with treasonous correspondence on her person, Anna could scarcely refute the claims; even if she wanted to. She had been tried, convicted, and sentenced to hang.

Anna’s soul was exhausted from the time it spent wavering between carefully weaved fictions and the gospel truth. She didn’t want to have to lie again. Her words had destroyed the only thing she had left to fight for, Major Hewlett. He was an unforeseen casualty of her career as a spy. An innocent man caught in the nasty tangle of strained friendships, loyalties, ever shifting-morals, and sides.  

The brunette’s hands were empty. She had nothing left to give after devoting everything she owned to the Rebel Cause. Anna had sacrificed her all in the fight. Unfortunately, not even her life would be spared.

Her shoulders slump in defeat. They seem to have taken on the weight of the world and it is a burden too heavy for her to carry. There is no hope of a rescue, not even a minuscule flicker. No one in the Culper Ring would notice that Anna was in danger for several more days. By the time they would realize it, they would be too late. The near solitude of her confinement was to be her only and final companion.

Long dark lashes slowly flicker upwards to examine the ever darkening sky, on this, her final night of life. There, twinkling against the deep grapefruit oranges, cotton candy pinks and blues, and the calm lavenders, were the first evening stars. Anna’s vision blurs as silver orbs overwhelm the rims of her eyes and coldly wash down the curves of her cheekbones. In spite of the brunette’s great efforts to contain them, a series of agonizing sobs escape her heavily wracking chest.

Keeping her head angled defiantly up at the sky, Anna sputtered between tattered breaths. “Why did you say that you loved me for all that I am…and all…that I be, Edmund? Why? Why di…. did you…then… leave when… when you finally saw… the r… real me?! Why… did I ha… have to fall in love with you wh…while star gazing?! I… I should have… known…better. Play…wi…with fire and d…deserve to get burned. But I lo…loved you. Y…you…still, h…hold my heart even if, you be un…unaware of it. I…I should h..have told you when I had the chance. Now, you’ll …never know.”  

Her hoarse and wavering tone continues to entreat,“God… be this your way of p…punishing me? Are you… to use my last hours… to taunt and t…torment me?! Am I… to die alone fo…for all of my sins?! Is… this my… comeuppance?” Anna didn’t really blame God or believe he was behind this. God was the author of all good things. But right now, nothing felt very pleasant and He was the one in charge.

No audible answers to her questions could be heard emerging from the mocking and heart-breaking silence. However, Anna could hear the laughter of her guards as well as their crude remarks regarding her pain.

The brunette curls into a ball and attempts to pray. Four words hesitantly pass over her lips as she resigns herself to her fate. “Thy… will… be … done.” It is all that Anna has the strength to say in conversation with the benevolent Creator of the Universe.

What hour she ceased keeping vigil for the morning light escapes her. The hours drain one into the next, very slowly and without much significant change. Heavy laden lids pressed closed and a sudden darkness envelopes her slender figure.

That is, until she becomes acutely aware of another presence in her cell by the sound of leaves crackling under their foot. The guards had come for her and she would soon have to meet her fate.

I’m going to die today. Anna reminds herself.

Startled, Anna jolts out of her dreamless slumber and pulls away from the other’s reach. The rebel spy wasn’t as ready to be lowered into the ground as she had tried to convince herself she was.

Swallowing thickly the brunette pleads, “w..wait…I…I be unprepared. G…Give me but a m…moment… to pray.”

Anna blinks back the fog of grogginess still clinging to her maple-syrup hues. It was still quite dark outside. To add to her problems, everything was still fuzzy from having an ocean’s worth of tears pour from her eyes. She could just barely make out a blur of vibrant scarlet and white.

The other’s large and amiable hand comes to rest upon her cheek. The touch, as gentle as it is, is met with a frightful fit of trembling. Anna can easily recall the brutality with which, the regulars had presented her the past few days and it filled her with great dread.

“Pl…please. D…don’t h…hurt me. I’ll…do…do wh…whatever… you ask of me,” the brunette supplicates. The word ‘whatever’ hitches in the back of her throat the moment she recalls the Queen’s Ranger by the name of Tanner and what he had demanded of her. She subconsciously shudders, hoping the guard would not request such things from her.  

“Anna… Anna, easy. It is only me,” a patient and familiar voice beckons. The man crouches down beside her. “My God, what have they done to you? Have you been molested by any of the men here?” He murmurs softly, his callous fingers gingerly brushing back the thick mat of her hair from her wretched face. The major could not comprehend how ‘gentlemen’ serving under the King’s command would be brazen enough to treat even a rebel woman so horrendously.

More tears slick her lashes and her lips quiver violently. Why was she seeing the form, hearing the voice, and feeling the touch of Major Hewlett? Was this just another vision coming to devastate her already crushed soul?

It takes her a few moments to realize that Edmund was equally as physically present as she was. Unable to find her voice she shakes her head “no”. It is not an entirely honest answer. But it was the only one Anna had been semi-prepared to give considering the circumstances. She had been beaten a few times for the sake of gaining information but her stubborn tongue remained unwilling to offer the Regulars things of use, instead of insults. It made their treatment of her more hostile. What would it matter if she was already going to die? Cowardice has never been her style.

Edmund knows that Anna has been put through hell. He can see it in her gaze and he can sense it in the way she reacts to even the most adoring and affectionate touches. After all, Hewlett had once been a prisoner of war himself. He would not wish such ill-treatment on his worst enemies. Correction, maybe he would wish it upon Simcoe but never his beloved Anna. Tight knots form within Hewlett’s stomach as he considered everything his fellow countrymen might have forced Anna to endure.

In spite of the internal turmoil raging within him, Edmund’s thin lips sweep upwards to offer her a toothless smile in an effort to comfort her. “It’s going to be okay. I’m here now,” he breathes.

“Anna, I need you to hold still. I prefer not having to inflict further injury on you,” the Major commands, producing a sharp stiletto blade from his uniform coat. He motions in the direction of her tightly bound wrists to let her know his intent, lest she become even more fearful of him.

Even if, Anna had never loved him, Edmund felt determined to try and still win her affection. This dark-eyed enchantress was what made abandoning the terrible colonies so intolerably difficult for him. Somehow the news of her capture and impending death had softened his hardened heart once again, for her. Yes, she had injured him very deeply with her betrayal. It would have been extremely easy for a lesser man to let her hang; but not him. Hewlett could not let her die, not when he had the power to do something about it.

Besides, the longer Edmund dwelt on her actions, the less convinced he was that Anna had told him the truth about her feelings when they had last parted ways. There was something about her silent ‘no’ that just didn’t feel right. Perhaps, it was just the hopeless romantic side of him that found it amiss. Still, he couldn’t think of a reason for Anna to have saved him from one of her eldest and dearest friends, that didn’t equate to some level of love. Or at the very least, proclaim a twinge of respect.

The still trembling brunette braces her bruised figure against the logs used as a wall for her cell and whispers, “I…I’ll try.” The more she strives to quell her nerves, the more fiercely her poor limbs quake. Anna pulls her knees towards her chest and drapes her bound arms across them, in an effort to provide the major with the stillness required to free her.

The major quickly kneels beside her and wordlessly begins to saw at the thick and tightly wrapped cords.

Studying his stern features, Anna can not determine if he has truly come to rescue her. Or if, adversely, he has come to hand her over to the hangman. After all, one good betrayal deserves another. The uneasy knots return to her stomach and her heart is sent into a maddening series of thundering thumps. She knows that the Major has more reason to see her hanged than saved from the noose. Yet, personally sending people to their deaths just didn’t seem to be Hewlett’s style. That was more Simcoe’s way. Besides, Edmund had just vowed that everything would be ‘okay’. In all of the time, Anna had spent with the Major, she had discovered him to consistently be a man of his word. Would this be the first time he’d break her trust? Anna wasn’t a hundred percent certain. But trusting him appears to be the best and most logical option she has. Especially, compared to the alternative.

“E…Edmund? Wh..what are you doing here? Y… you’re s…supposed to… to be on…a ship …headed for Scotland?”  Anna murmurs. Her tongue sticks to the roof of her dry mouth as she makes the not-so-veiled inquiry. Hewlett’s sudden return to her life both baffles and vexes her.

A nervous and half-breathy laugh escapes Edmund as he works through the first of the tight cords. “I was all but boarded when the news of your detainment reached New York. I knew I had to come.” The Major was kind of surprised that she hadn’t quite considered herself worthy of saving. Yet, he knew that was Anna’s way. She’d save others a thousand times over before thinking of herself.

In his rushed attempt to get her bindings undone, Hewlett slips and scratches her with the blade. A disapproving frown finds his lips as inky red blood is drawn from his mistake. He internally chastises himself for not being more careful with the poor woman. “My apologies, Anna,” he breathes in a contrite tone.

She winces slightly as the blade nicks her skin. Her wrists were so numb she barely felt the scratch. Instead, the brunette reacts to Hewlett’s abrupt frown and his words. “I be fine. There is no need to fret,” Anna assures him.

Anna had experienced far worse injuries growing up with predominantly male friends. Dearest acquaintances, who, on occasion inspired the need to embark upon dangerous adventures. The same group of male friends still managed to pull Anna into their high-risk stunts. With age, came the intensification of the consequences for their actions. No longer were they risking broken bones by dueling with sticks or jumping over fences, they were risking life and limb. Plus having been beaten at the hands of the Regulars for days, Anna had built up an almost scary indifference to pain. Besides, Hewlett was doing his best to free her. It would hardly be proper to chastise him for an unintentional mistake.

Anna’s head lowers shamefully and she murmurs, “I be sorry.” She can’t help but feel incredibly guilty for making him miss passage back to his homeland. In fact, she can’t even meet his gaze as it fixes upon her.

The Major stops his work to fully consider her. He can’t help it. His brows furrow together in bewilderment. Edmund repeats, “Sorry?”

“For having you come all this way…for me and…for making y….you miss your ship,” Anna returns.

A sigh escapes his parted lips. “Anna, look at me,” he implores. He uses the fingers of his free hand to lift her chin upwards. Edmund wants her to comprehend every word that spills from his tongue because it is imperative. She is more important to him than his home could ever be. His darling Anna had been since the day she jumped from the rebel boat; even though, he later discovered her ulterior motives.

Anna swallows sharply as her chin is lifted towards him. At his request, tired eyes locked upon his pools of root-beer and foam. It was strange how his eyes still radiated so much love and concern even after months of being apart.

He waits until he has her attention before continuing, “I would have traveled three times the distance and missed the very last ship home if it meant that I got to see you safe. Besides, if it makes you feel any better, I am confident that there will be other ships bound for Scotland.”

“A….after everything I…I’ve d….done?” She queries in astonishment, her tone wavering ever so slightly above a pained whisper. Several fresh and unbidden silver orbs journey down her cheeks.

Now it is Edmund’s turn to be bashful. “You protected me from dangers that I could not see and you did so at your own peril. You valued my safety over my good opinion. While it wounded me terribly, I am still alive. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be having this conversation, would we?” He gives a brief pause before asking, “Will you forgive me for being so ungrateful for your efforts?” His trembling fingers slowly wipe away her tears. Despite the muddy mess covering Anna’s countenance, he presses his lips chastely to her cheek.

A rosy pink sweeps into the upper crests of her dirtied cheeks. She is unaccustomed to such extreme displays of kindness and appreciation for her work. Yet, she should have expected nothing less of a gentleman like Hewlett. “The…there be nothing for me to forgive, Edmund. You be far too good and compassionate a man. I don’t deserve friends like you.” The brunette tips her head to the side to kiss the lowest corner of his jaw in return. Anna inhales slowly, taking in the scent of his shaving lather. While it was not sweet like flowers, it was certainly not pungent. In fact, it was kind of addicting scent. “It be I…who, should… ask for absolution,” she whispered in return.

Hewlett blinks back at Anna in shock. Her lips were warm but rough like sandpaper against his skin. He closed his eyes to savor the moment before the corner of his jaw would be surrendered back to the cold absence of her affection. Any semblance of anger he had clung to in an effort to keep his heart from getting broken again, crumbled like dried bread under the heels of a boot. Edmund finds himself once more at her mercy; even though she is the one still secured by the cords that he had only begun cutting. At the thought of her poor wrists, he gently removes his hand from under her chin and returns to the task of freeing her.

“Anna? There is something you should know…” Hewlett starts, before letting his voice trail off. His tone comes out sounding rather distant, tense, and slightly troubled. The knife is worked hurriedly against the ropes until he finally earns Anna’s complete freedom. Then, just as quickly as the blade was furnished, it is re-hidden within the confines of his uniform jacket.

The brunette smiles up at him as she rolled her wrists to regain a semblance of feeling back. The smile falters at the sound of his anxious tone. “Aye? What be that?” Anna prompts. She internally braces herself for whatever he will say next.

Edmund lets out a slow exhale. “I didn’t officially obtain permission to govern a rescue or secure your release. I… I persuaded the guards to take a small bribe. We need to get out of here and soon…before they change their minds.”  His words are laced with apprehension. When he said small bribe, Hewlett meant a small fortune. However, he was too polite to tell Anna just how much her rescue cost him. She was worth every cent he spent and more.

“Judas priest!” She whispers, her eyes widening considerably at the revelation. Anna was completely stunned he had gone to such lengths for her. This was the man who, on day one of his Setauket occupation said that ‘law, order, and authority were everything’. Here, Edmund was breaking the law and risking his own life for her. She was quite impressed by his ingenuity and surprised by the drastic change that had fallen over him. Then again, if Anna truly thought about it, she too had changed considerably from that day.  

Hewlett hurriedly returns to his feet. He extends his hand to Anna and helps her up as well. “Are you okay to stand?”

“I be fine, Edmund,” she answers.

From under his uniform jacket, he pulled a bundled scarlet-jacket, white vest, and breeches. He is quick to extend the uniform in Anna’s direction. A sheepish expression finds its way onto his face. “C…Can you be quick in changing? Getting you out of that dress…” He pauses to swallow sharply, fighting back improper thoughts about her. Clearing his throat he continues, “might help us get out of here undetected.”  

“Aye,” she answers. The brunette didn’t even wait for him to turn around before she starts shedding her gown.

His eyes linger upon her wonderfully elegant curves. To his delight, Anna moves gracefully even in the tense situation; even-more-so for a bruised and battered prisoner of war. The sight of the ghastly purple and blue patches made his blood boil. Yet, Anna wore them so valiantly that it was hard not to find some beauty in them. He let his thoughts about her carry him away. Realizing that he was unintentionally ogling her and that it might make her uncomfortable, Edmund’s face flushes. Quickly and respectfully he turns his back to her.

It didn’t take Anna long to redress once her stays had been removed. A widened grin slides upwards on her lips when she noticed a faint hint of pink branding Hewlett’s cheeks before he turns away from her. Her heart skips a few beats as she realized just how deeply her heart was tethered to his. It took all of her strength not to confess how ardently she felt for him. Now was not the time for such things. They had to focus on escaping. Maybe such confessions could come later.

But first, she had a small and rather urgent problem. Anna had never worn breeches. The brunette had washed many pairs but never dare to try them on.Anna hadn’t the faintest idea of how to button them. Or even how to keep them from sliding down her considerably smaller waist, without taking them in several inches with a needle and thread. “Uhmmm… Major…” The brunette prompts, in a demure tone. Her own face taking on a tomato coloring as she peers over at him.

“Yes?” He quizzes, tilting his head to the side to look at her from over one shoulder in case she was not yet decent. “Ah… yes. Let me help you,” he breathes, without reflecting too greatly on what he was helping Anna do. He turns and strides the three steps it took to get to her side.

It seems the poor woman was confounded by the multitude of buttons on the front of the uniform breeches. So much so, that she had done them up quite awkwardly. Edmund takes a deep breath as his hands find her middle and he focuses on re-buttoning her. His knuckles accidentally brush against Anna’s bruised but warm skin which, is only covered by the thin fabric of the undershirt. As a result, his thoughts take an unholy turn. The officer struggles to control his passions. There is nothing he wants to do more in that moment than kiss her and claim her as his; with her permission, of course.

A small sweat breaks out upon his forehead as he tries not to gaze into her eyes or down at her chest. Edmund fears that in his eyes, she might discover all of the shameful thoughts he had and still has about her. Hewlett redirects his attention to the danger that would find them if, they lingered any longer than necessary.

Anna can scarcely breathe as his gaze is directed to her. The coincidental sweep of Hewlett’s knuckles against her filled her with a maddening desire that she had no choice but to conceal. She could not, however, pry her gaze away from Edmund as he studiously works on adjusting her uniform. If only she could know what was going through his mind. Did Hewlett still find her as attractive as she found him? Or had she somehow become repulsive to him? Why did it feel so natural being beside him even in this state of undress? Her thoughts are so loud, she is surprised that Hewlett can not hear them.

Edmund clears his throat when he realizes just how big the breeches are on Anna. They were still slowly drooping towards the ground in spite of his work. Thinking quickly, the major fashions a belt out of the extra coil of rope. Fortunately, Anna was small enough that it worked. “There….” He proudly states, appraising her with a once over glance. He can not help but be impressed by how stunning she looks in the uniform of his choosing. If only it had been her own as well…..

“Thank you, Edmund,” Anna gushes. Her upper row of teeth drags slowly against her lower lip as she contemplates kissing him. It is a thought that is quickly dismissed when he hands her the vest that belongs over the undershirt. At least this garment was a little more fitted to her figure. It was also much easier to button than the breeches had been. After the vest is secured, Anna is quick to shrug on the enemy jacket.

“I’m afraid that is as good as we are going to get. That is, until we can find some water…to clean you up with.” Hewlett remarks, removing the black uniform hat from his head and placing it upon Anna’s head. The hat too seemed slightly large. Although, this could work in their favor. Hewlett hopes that it is just big enough to cover her feminine facial structure. Still, if people didn’t look too closely, she could potentially pass for a recently recruited Regular. Anna was by far the prettiest Regular Edmund had ever seen.

It wasn’t until he mentioned water that Anna found herself craving some. Instinctively she licked her parched lips.

The subconscious gesture hadn’t escaped his notice. Hewlett wordlessly slips his flask to her with one hand, the other coils protectively around her waist. Hastily he ushers her out of the make-shift prison, into the camp, and towards the woods.

She is grateful for the drink. It had been at least two days since she had a proper one. Anna chokes with the first sip but takes the second one anyways. Semi-hydrated again, Anna steps briskly to keep up with the Major’s fast strides. The brunette doesn’t vocally thank him for fear of getting caught but she gives him a nod of appreciation. Her own fingers instinctively and unintentionally remain locked around his flask.

In the distance, early rising birds begin to chirp the first forewarning that everything would soon come awash with brilliant yellow light. The appearance of the sunshine would make their escape far more difficult. Nothing draws more attention than a pair of cherry red coats traveling through the leaf-barren forest. Attention was the very last thing they needed to attract. But first, they had to get out of the camp which, was, unfortunately, starting to awaken all around them.

((To be continued))

#annastrxng #anna strong #major hewlett #annlett #fanfiction #my fanfiction #after 62+hours of agonizing I'm turning this loose before it kills me #turn amc #major hewlett x anna strong #tw: long post #the overall title will probably change as I get further along but lol

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Post P. Evaluation

1. What were the aims of your artefact?

As I stated in my post A. Brief, my initial aims of my artefact was to make a coming of age / romance film which is about losing a relationship with someone such as family member, friend, or lover because it is one of the most common hardships that people go through in their lives and therefore everyone can empathize with it. My textual analysis was about two American teen movies, The Fault in Our Stars (Boone, 2014) and The Spectacular Now (Ponsoldt, 2013), and they are both about adversities that the characters get to face as adolescents and how they deal with those problems.

What I wanted to make at the very beginning even before I started the planning part was quite different from the final result of my short film. The storyline I firstly came up with was much more concentrated on romantic aspect rather than a theme of coming of age. It was about a young man who lost his girlfriend as she struggled with depression and eventually took her own life and I wanted to present not only feelings of grief and despair of the boy character but also nostalgic memories between the two in very emotional way to imply how fragile and vulnerable teenagers can be when they are exposed to intense emotions as they don’t have much experience of them. However, since the purpose of my textual analysis was to explain how the theme of coming of age is portrayed in the two movies as unconventional teen films, I thought my own short film should also be more focused on unconventional factors to follow the textual analysis. Thus the storyline has changed after the planning started and the the new theme that I conceived was a domestic abuse and the consequential  mental health issue of the children. It’s so often for us not to be aware of as an observer when teenagers around us are suffering from domestic violence, because unlike young children, they know how to hide it from other people’s eyes.  They tend to recognize the fact as their dirty laundry revealing that they are not like other ‘normal’ people so most of them don’t easily let others know their current situation. The message that I hoped to convey through my short film was that all is not as it seems, people always could have problems that we don’t see but still is desperate to be helped.

2. What codes and conventions identified in the TA were used in your film?

Genre

The main genre of the two films I’ve studied in my Textual Analysis was romance and drama and therefore I had focused on romance genre during the planning as it’s shown in my post E. Genre research. However, after I decided to change the story line the genre of the film became quite vague and eventually it got closer to hybrid of drama and slightly crime/thriller rather than romance. The first half of the film is shot by fully handheld camera showing the protagonist and the voice-over telling the story of him is overlapped on it, which present very dramatic tone overall. The second half includes more aspects of iconography from thriller genre, for instance flicker effects and deep and dark tone of non-diegetic sounds. Nevertheless, there still were some romantic conventions left in the film as the two main characters were connected by the romantic relationship between them. Some of the lines of voice-over are obviously revealing affectionate feelings of them two with conventional lexis uses.

Cinematography

As the one thing that I’d wanted the most while directing the film was not to duplicate the two films of my TA, I intentionally tried not to follow the exact cinematographic effects of the originals especially stylistic ones, but rather apply some of the very basic techniques. The cinematographic technique that I thought was the most important for the first half of my short film was to frame enough medium shots. Just like I mentioned above, the first half was meant to be very realistic and natural, so I shot all of the scenes with a handheld camera using medium shots so that the audiences could feel like they are looking at the protagonist right next to him, as if they’re actually with him. 

Example of medium shot from <The Fault in Our Stars>

Example of medium shot from <Ripped>

Another technique which was very significantly used in my film influenced by my TA is low key lighting. During the second half of the film, the overall mood totally changes and it gets way darker than the first half. Even the genre seems to change after the bridge, from drama to thriller and I thought that the best way, also the most basic way to present the mood changing visually was to dim the light which was used in the chosen sequence of <The Spectacular Now> as well.

Example of low key lighting from <The Spectacular Now>

Example of low key lighting from <Ripped>

The last aspect of cinematography influenced by my TA is half face shadow. It is very commonly used when the character is struggling with an inner conflict and having a hard time in his mind. In the relevant scene from my short film, the protagonist is being mentally unstable at the moment and lost himself between his original personality and the hyperemotional one.Therefore I thought the half face shadow could successfully reveal his hidden instability as he is a type of character who never shows his inside. 

Example of half face shadow from <The Spectacular Now>

Example of half face shadow from <Ripped>

Mise en scene

Just as I did in cinematographic aspect, I mainly aspired to get only basic ideas from my TA for the Mise en scene as well. One thing I derived from <The Fault in Our Star> was how to use costume in a way to explain the character’s mental and social status. While in the chosen sequence of <The Fault in Our Star> Hazel wears hoody, jacket and jeans and Augustus wears sweat shirt and sweat pants which tells that how vulnerable Augustus got both mentally, physically and socially compared to Hazel, in <Ripped> the protagonist wears a costume of jacket, dress slacks and hat which obviously shows stiffness and formality of his personality, also that he is originally from quite wealthy background. It is quite significant indicator as Julian is a character who had been exposed to domestic violence for a long period of time but couldn’t get away by accusing it as he shouldn’t disgraced on his family. And the fact that he still wears what he used to wear presents that he is still under the control of his past memories and traumas.

Example of the use of costume from <The Fault in Our Star>

Example of the use of costume from <Ripped>

Sound

In both of the chosen sequences, soundtracks take a big part of indicating a change of the mood and tone of the scene. They both starts with background musics that clearly contain sad and gloomy atmosphere and ends with much more hopeful and delightful musics that change the mood brighter. In my short film, soundtrack is also used as a very important tool of tone changing. I chose quite relaxing but delicate and mournful song for the first half as Effie talks about the memories of her and Julian in a nostalgic way. For the second half, I inserted more heavy and majestic song to give the image of seriousness and more tension in the scene, so that it can be distinct from the former scenes.

Editing

I haven’t really used any kind of editing skill that is considerably stylistic or unique, it’s mainly just cuts as it’s the most basic way of editing and my TA sequences also use basic cuts between every shot. I think what makes my artefact different from the two sequences is a dissolve transition used consecutively in the middle of the film. The technique was very useful to make the scene look mysterious as the successive dissolved moments convey the image of a defective memory.    

3. How were the planning materials used in the construction of the artefact?

The reason why I chose <The Fault in Our Star> and <The Spectacular Now> for my TA essay at the beginning was simply because they were the most touching coming of age films in my personal opinion. However after I watched them several times for the essay, I found out that the biggest common feature between them was that they are portraying teenagers in very honest and completely unrefined way. There are so many teen romance films out there and quite a lot of them is not that same with the reality. In these two films, teenagers are exhibited as very unstable, incomplete and fragile creature while they commonly get presented almost like adults in other films. The characters in those two films show us their negativity caused by things like short lifetime or lack of experiences and knowledge throughout the whole film and that makes teen audiences genuinely feel like it’s exactly what they are suffering from as well. I started to establish my planning based on that idea. I wanted to make a movie showing a problem that people don’t like to talk about or don’t recognize that easily but is still existing. That is how I came up with the subject of domestic abuse and teenager’s mental health issues caused by it.

In my case, the most important piece of planning when it came to the filming process was the audience feedback. This was the first time I made a film in my lifetime and therefore I was completely unsure about whether what I did was right or wrong. After I screened my rough edit version in the class so many helpful feedback telling me the points that I haven’t noticed at all and loads of them also lifted my confidence with such kind words. I think it was very significant process especially for students like me, who don’t have much experiences of film making.  

Audience feedback

I don’t specifically think I needed to do more planning to be honest, of course planning is important as it’s a foundation of the film but I don’t regret that I put much more time in actual filming and editing because my plans did change quite a lot after that. When I started planning of the film, I had so many ideas and thoughts that were practically not a possible options. It’s always so different from what you think it would be like when you actually try to put your thoughts into the practice. The first thing I had to modify was who I will have as actors of my film. At the beginning I had two of my friends who was meant to act a female protagonist and male protagonist but as the former one moved out to different place after the plan was made, so I decided to change the story line a bit rather than get a new actor because I thought the new story would fit the aim of my filming better anyway as I stated at Q1. Even after that, I had a number of modifications such as deleting a whole scene, changing locations, replacing props, delaying shooting schedule, and so on. Overall I’m quite satisfied with the final result I’ve got, but still think I can produce a better outcome if I get a chance to try it again next time.

4. How successful was the artefact in achieving the aims?

I can’t say that I’ve done 100% of what I wanted to do, but think the result seems to be better than my concern and is conveying the messages I wished to say quite obviously, both for my TA and the short film. Nevertheless, if you ask me whether I want to get a chance to start again completely or not, the answer would be definite yes. Since it was the first time ever I made a film, there were things that I forgot to care about although they really do matter to me, for instance the overall color tone match and the video quality. If I get a chance to start over, I would use a camera with a higher performance to shoot and edit more elaborately, putting more effort into color compensation. I also should’ve talked to my actor more about the character so that he could lend more probability to his acting. One of the things that I feel upset the most about my film is the deleted scene of young Julian. Since I had to delete it because of the time limit and video quality problem although it was a key scene directly exhibiting how Julian got dissociative identity disorder, I’m not entirely sure that all of the audience would understand the narrative clearly without it. The young actor who played the role was such a brilliant kid and I genuinely think it could’ve gone really well if I had enough time to reshoot the scene a couple more times.