#but that doesn't mean they get to run around scott free either

[gotham-daydreams]

Not Tonight

[Platonic! Yandere! Neglectful Batfam × Gender Neutral! Sibling Reader]

[Warnings: Mentions of Neglect, Reader generally not having a good time.]

(Not proofread. Not too much Yandere shown. Mostly angst with Reader. Set up(?))

2nd part here.

๑۩۞۩๑————————————————————๑۩۞۩๑

How many times have you heard them say that? How many times have you tried to do something with them, to share your passion — or even just have some coffee with them, only to hear them say that phrase time and time again.

"Not tonight."

Well, what if you didn't ask them during the night? What if you asked them in the afternoon, or just when they were already up and about?

"Sorry! I can't right now, patrol reeeally kicked my ass last night. Besides, I have some other things that I have to get done, but maybe next time! For sure!"

Okay, right. That makes sense. Sometimes their line of work can be tough and draining, especially when someone is trying to run Gotham to the ground that night. So what if you just try to ask them when they aren't so busy? It may really limit the times you can ask... but you'd still try. Maybe it could also help if you asked for smaller things, like if they'd just like to spend a little time with you before going out again, or if you could just hang around them for a while? Nothing big, and anything was fine. Even if it was just sitting next to them, and having some small talk. Or maybe just the sitting part if talking was too much.

You'd take anything at all.

"I'm actually heading out right now, so I can't stick around. Go ask someone else."

"Can't you see that I already have enough compang with Titus here? Go bother Drake or something, I don't care."

All you could hear was snores past the door when you went to ask. So you moved onto someone else, hoping for a yes as your heart began to squeeze.

Someone had to agree eventually, right?

You begged the Gods as you traveled down the long halls. The chills of reality creeping up on you.

"Sorry, I'm going out to hang with some friends, but maybe next time!"

"..." She just looked at you before shaking her head, and taking her leave.

"I've got something to do at the moment, sorry, but hey, maybe you could ask your old man? Oh! Or maybe Alfred. That's a good idea."

Dick was out in Bludhaven, and you didn't want to bother Barbara considering how bisy she must've been the other night. So, you had no other choice. You asked, heart bleeding from how hard it squeezed.

"Not now."

Simple, to the point, and sharp.

Bruce's words were as cold as ever, and yet the echo in the cave only seemed to make the gap between you and him feel so much bigger. Even as you just nodded, eyes pointed to the floor. Taking your leave with a soft sigh that barely escaped you.

The elevator ride was longer than you remembered. The cold chill in the air grew freezing even as you stepped out, and now stood in one of the many halls in the Wayne Manor. Portraits and pictures decorated the walls, their painted and photographed eyes staring at you. Their gaze far from soft, but at least it was present. At least they, in that way, felt present.

You swore the only times they ever smiled at you that wasn't faked, or just for the sake of appearances was in those paintings and photos. Honestly, it was also probably the most times they've even looked at you too, and as sad as it is — you did say you'd take anything, right?

A 'no' or 'maybe' was part of that anything, technically. It's just not what you were hoping for.

Sighing again, you stared up at one of the portraits, eyes shinging under the lights as everything you refused to say made itself so clear for a moment. You didn't want much, and never asked for more than what you were given. You didn't think so anyway.

You always followed the rules, you did more than just excel in all your classes no matter how hard it was for you to understand certain things, and you even tried to get into things your family seemed to enjoy without pushing too hard.

You studied up on all the pets Damian had so that you could not only care for them properly, but maybe even take care of them with him some day. You played games and read reviews on games you saw Tim play just for a chance that maybe you'd get the opportunity to play with him. You picked up boxing and have even been practicing your aim with an airsoft gun, and have also been going to certain place when you could to practice using real guns and learn about them just so you'd maybe be able to have a conversation with Jason, and even connect with him in some way. You even read nearly all the books in the library just to have a sliver of hope for something, anything.

You learned sign language in three different languages and tried to find out what Cassandra was interested in, just to have some kind of interaction with her. Even writing on small note cards in serval other languages in hopes she'd give some kind of response, even if you forgot to put your initials and such more than several times. You participated in gymnastics in hopes of getting closer to Dick. You tried to find out what Barbra was into so you could also hold up a conversation with her if given the chance. You've tried to match Stephen's energy and do things she likes and have even taken up material arts as a means to maybe be a little closer with everyone!

Yet it never seems like enough.

Your schedule was so packed and filled with activities and extra lessons of all kinds, just so that you could feel like you had something in common with someone in this family. So that, when given the chance, you'd be able to form a connection with one of them and your efforts and sacrifices wouldn't be in vain. Though that still had yet to happen.

You weren't even a vigilante as you tried to persue your own passion and dreams, and yet that one single thing seemed to be keeping you away from everyone else. The one thing you were unwilling to do for them just seemed to make the gap between you and the rest of the family grow bigger. They're constant and continuous dismissals only seemed to further that point.

Just... what were you doing wrong? Was you not being a vigilante and constantly putting yourself at risk every night really putting that much of a dent in your relationships? Did your dreams really get in the way of that? Just because you didn't want to put yourself in danger? Just because you wanted to pursue music instead?

You took up art despite not being super interested in it before. You've been reading all of your life. Your stretched, ran, exercised, cooked, cleaned, organized, sang, wrote, danced, and even sculpted. You picked up almost any hobby someone could have under the sun, even if it began to feel like a chore and a job to you, just so that you could have something, anything in common with this family.

Though now you've gone through countless 'hobbies', and dropped many more since nothing seemed to be working, it... it still didn't feel like enough. Like you had to be doing something more despite having lost countless hours of sleep, just to go through the list of hobbies you had written down that you had left to try. You even took up some sports you were somewhat interested in, and yet nothing clicked.

Though is that really surprising when no one noticed how many times you snuck out for lessons and practice, or how long you were out? When you'd even forget to return to the Manor sometimes, and anyone still had yet to notice you were even gone in the first place?

... You couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped you. It was broken in every way, and yet empty all the same. Maybe you were finally taking after Bruce, but you wouldn't get your hopes up.

You looked up at the painting as if it'd give you all the answers, and yet dismiss you at the same time. The disappointment you felt was normal to you at this point, but the aching pain that came after was always the hardest part. Yet you still stared at the painted faces as if they were your real family, and the people close to them. Looked at the calculated and skilled brush strokes as if they'd give you what your family couldn't. What they refused to give you at every twist and turn, no matter how much you tried to accommodate to them. To do things for them. To just feel worthy enough to stand by their side. To be closer to them.

Though in the end, it is only that. A painting. A well crafted piece that, no matter how skilled the artist, could never truly capture how distant and vague they felt when you were the one standing to the side. No matter how much experience the painter had, they'd never be able to express and show how this poor excuse of a family felt to you, because they were only like that around you.

Maybe you'd feel special if it didn't make you feel like you were wasting your life living like this...

Eventually, you were able to tear you eyes away from the painting. The moon beginning to rise as you were sure the Manor was becoming more empty than it usually was, as more of its visitors and residents left.

The painting itself was nice even if it was one of many that didn't include you, with the number of photographs without you in them being much higher. Honestly, it used to be one of your favorites despite how bittersweet you feel about it now.

You still remember that day, but that would be implying that you forgot the others.

Regardless, you managed to pull yourself away from the spot you had been stuck in for the few moments you were trapped inside your own head. You tried to make yourself feel a little better, and give yourself some reassurance that maybe tomorrow would be different some how, and if not? Perhaps the day after, and the day after that.

Yet it all failed as you passed by more and more memories. Some were events you had participated in, sure, but the pictures made it look like you were never there in the first place. Heartwarming moments littered the halls, but you only recall seeing them from a distance — or being aware that the moment had even happened only when you saw the picture be put up.

It was like the very universe was trying to send you a sign with your constant failures and your family's persistence, intentional or not, to keep you at a distance. You didn't even know if it was appropriate to refer to them as your 'family', and maybe it wasn't considering things, but you still weren't sure.

You had been fighting for a chance to talk with any of them about anything at all for the longest time, because you wanted to be a part of this family. You wanted to spend time with them and really give this 'new life' of yours a chance, but now that 'new' part of this life had worn off. It was hard and honestly more draining than it was rewarding at this point, but you still wanted to give it a try.

Sure, it had been years at this point and now you were just about to go into college, and when you had first arrived here you weren't even middle school, yet little to no progress had been made — you never gave up. You haven't given up. So maybe you could try for a little longer? Just... a little bit, not too much this time, and figure something out?

You almost felt a little sense of hope return to you, no matter how redundant and helpless this situation felt and seemed. Yet it all came crumbling down again when you passed by one of the rooms, and saw something taped to the door.

It was a flier for your performance. One that would be happening soon.

Since your siblings began to pay less and less attention to you as time went on, with your conversations with them growing even shorter, you opted to just tape fliers of your upcoming performances on their doors. Though only the performances you'd thought they'd enjoy, and just hoped that they would show up, if they wanted to, when you stepped onto that stage and approached the instrument you'd be playing for the evening.

You tried texting and other forms of communication at first, but those quickly stopped working and so you just opted for this, and of course it was just as effective as the others.

Alfred was really the only one who listened to your music when you performed, and you only knew that because you caught him playing one of the live performances you had done on the television one day. He not only going out of his way to record the performance, but also trying to find the channel it was broadcasted on.

Ever since you've tried to give him the correct channel number when you do live performances, but that still didn't feel like enough. You loved and appreciated Alfred from the depths of your heart and soul, but what would it take for one of your siblings or close family friends to notice you like that? What would it take for your supposed father to even care to listen to your music? To watch a performance? To not turn you away?

It was only in that moment did a new emotion fuel you. Crawling it's way up your spine as you carefully took the flier in your hands, looking it over before ripping it off the door.

This. This one small thing was all you wanted from them. Over everything else, you just wanted to see one of their faces, one time when you looked out to the crowd when you performed — but every single time, all you saw were strangers.

Every charity event, every gala, every party- that's all you were surrounded by, strangers. Even when you caught small glimpses of them, they were always doing something else, and completely off in a totally different world than your own. That distance along creating a large void-like gap between you and them, and yet it only ever continued to grow. Even when they stood next to you, it was like you couldn't be further apart.

The reality of everything was crushing. Near deadly as you could feel your chest and lungs tighten, with your fingers digging into the paper enough to tear it apart, and reaching your palms as they formed crescent moons, soon drawing blood. Yet nothing could compare to the weight of your heart, and how heavy it felt to carry in your chest.

As you finally moved on from the door, your mind raced. Memories and flashbacks filling your head as every word and notion flashed before your eyes. Barely even paying attention to where you were going, but not caring enough to pay attention.

Every dismissal and excuse thrown your way. Every head shake and blank look. Every confused look, and realization that you were standing there the entire time. Every birthday that passed with the same wish never being granted. Every celebration spent on your own. Every message left on read. Every note ignored. Every time you were forgotten. Every time you were left behind. Every time you brought yourself home, and every time they never noticed. Every night wasted, trying to come up with different things to do only for all of them to turn out fruitless. Everyday that 'maybe' never cones true. Every time you looked out to that sea of strangers, hoping to see someone you recognized, only to find none. Every hour you wasted trying to do something for them while they never once thought of you.

Maybe you'd cry if you could. Then again, maybe not.

You already had spent too many tears over failures you recovered and grew from, and hardships you faced and fought. You've already cried just a little too much during those night you just couldn't handle being so alone, in such a big place anymore. Besides, you've cried enough over people who've never once thought of you. Who never once tried to make time to even see one of your performances, or even allow you to spend a few minutes in their space.

You've given them enough, you think. Especially since after you spent years trying to just make it two thirds of the way — they couldn't even reach that one third of the gap you couldn't. They didn't even try, at least not anymore, and after you had tried to make it easy. Yet, you only hurt yourself in the end.

They never cared about you, and maybe they did once upon a time, but good does that do now when you're trying to go out of your way to make things convenient and easier for them, only for them to skip out on you anyway. No text, no call, no message, no indication, nothing. Just pure silence.

Maybe you were asking for too much, but was it really so bad to want to be loved? And by the people who are supposed to be your family no less?

Hah, who are you kidding at this point. You've just been living in a house full of strangers, and you're the only one who hasn't seen it yet. They've already long since cast you out, and it's only now have you come to truly realize it.

Especially now, as you stand in front of the foot of the door to the music room. Staring at the knob as if it'll turn itself.

You weren't surprised, honestly. Playing music had quickly become an amazing outlet for you, and you had always come here to seek out what little your family couldn't give you; comfort. So it was no wonder that as you collapsed mentally, you had subconsciously brought yourself here.

And yet, only one thought entered your head in that moment.

'They don't deserve to hear my music.'

Perhaps it was now that you decided they had lost the privilege to do so. After all, ever since you had started having performances, even ones in front of wealthy crowds, your 'family' had seemingly been avoiding them like the plague. Never daring to even attend one, for whatever reason, and sure you could understand why they didn't attend the ones you performed at night — but they couldn't use that excuse anymore. You have strictly been playing during the after noon, and at sunset at a push, for over three years now. You've been playing in front of crowds and releasing music for four.

So, you turned away, walking off to your room as your thoughts still stormed. Anger fueling you as you barely remembered storming into your room, collecting any valuables and belongings you had and stuffing them into a bag or two. Not caring about clothes, and only what you deemed important and meaningful to yourself as you just grabbed and shoved everything into a bag if you could.

You could clearly tell now that you obviously weren't wanted, and that no one here even wanted to do the smallest things with you. That even asking to just spend a few minutes with them was too much. So you were doing the only sensible thing, and getting the hell out of here. Moving so quickly that your breathing became uneven, but you didn't stop until you had packed everything you needed, or was important to you in some way.

You only really had a second thought about all this when you were at your window, just about ready to jump out until you paused for a second.

Looking back at the door to your room, you couldn't help but hesitate. There was only ever one person in this entire Manor who treated you like family, and actually put in effort to not only be with you, but to indulge themself in your passion. That met you at the half way mark, and even went a little over sometimes. Since even if everyone else had ignored you — Alfed was there, even if despite all of his efforts you still couldn’t handle this, and maybe that was also your own fault in some way.

You still didn't want to stay, you couldn't anymore, but shouldn't you at least say goodbye? Maybe? After everything... at least he tried.

...

You settled for second best.

Quickly, you grabbed a flashcard and wrote down something before pocketing it and moving back to the window. You may not have any equipment for this kind of thing, but you still managed to scale and work your way around the wall, and managed to reach the window to Alfred's room.

You took a little peak inside, and when you saw that he wasn't there, you opened up the window just a bit, place the small note on the windowsill, and closed it. Then, you skillfully and carefully made your way down, and snuck off to Gotham City. Making your way to a friend's place as you crashed there for the night.

Never once did you look back.

Nor did you ever feel inclined to.

------

Later that night, when Alfred read the note, all it said was:

I'm sorry, Alfed. - Y/n

Just with that alone, it was like he understood everything despite the little that was said. All he could wish you was luck, and that you'd be safe wherever you went.

Suddenly, just like that. The nights where melodies would lull the residence of the Manor to sleep, and bring a temporary, mellow peace to all who heard such a tune, were long gone...

Guess they'll just have to find it, and bring it back.

--------

Kind of rushed at the end there, hope it isn't too bad for a first post. There's probably a lot of mistakes, so apologies for that.

#this was all written in one go #so that's fun #more angst than anything honestly #not really any yan but it is supposed to be for yan stuff #platonic yandere batfam #yandere batfam #yandere dc #yandere x gn reader #gn reader #platonic yandere #neglected reader #sibling reader #reader tries too hard and does their best but finds out it isn't enough #some things just aren't meant to be #but that doesn't mean they get to run around scott free either

[rainchyna]

๑ ˚ ͙۪۪̥◌𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐊𝐋𝐈𝐐˖ ࣪ . ִֶָ𓂅

warnings! [ language, fem!reader]

— it all started because shawn and kevin didn't want to go to catering by themselves. you and shawn were supposed to be hosting 'heartbreak hotel' together for a love angle, with kev being the cool, cartoonishly evil bodyguard but vince pulled the plug suddenly, like he always does. however, you and the boys remained close.

— “hey y/n are you free?” “yeah, until four” “lets go get food then!”

— just friends being bros, getting lunch or whatever. all three of you were met by your favourite 6"7 bad guy , scotty, a guy who was wearing a bandana so low it was at his eyebrows and a and guy with golden blond hair. you sat at the table table trying your hardest to remember the other two guys' name “holy hell, where did vince get that?!” bandana boy whisper-yelled and shawn held your shoulders with a big smile, seemingly showing you off, “y/n, i think you've met sean and hunter before” kevin said, making you mentally relax as you almost called them 'sam and hank'. “dude, you wanna come sit with us?” hunter asked. "well im already here"

— sean and hunter were really cool! you had met them before at house party shawn was hosting, they were pretty sweet boys, you liked them, but you rarely came across them after that until today.

— all six of you began hanging out more regularly because it was easy for you to be together. you were always either with shawn and kevin or with scott, and those three were always with the other boys.

— you and shawn were close, always were forever will be. he felt this sense of sheer protectiveness over you all the time, not because you were the sweetest princess, but also you were the youngest in the friend group and he's seen some of the roster, and people from outside, hit on you and it has made you uncomfortable, so naturally his protectiveness was through the roof. he also really, genuinely cares for you :( you were one of the first people he became friends with when arriving to the wwf (/wwe).

— kevin was your car on legs, being seven feet tall means that he can get anywhere faster because he was 80% legs. mans just throws over his shoulder and he's ready to go. bag, keys, wallet, y/n, phone, okay let's go. kev was the friend who would make the conversation funny, and out of nowhere too, it will always catch you off guard because you'd be ranting about something serious and he suddenly cracks a joke or makes a pun and you're like ??? bro, that kinda got me you're funny but like ??? is also very protective, uses his size to scare those you don't like away.

— "take your vitamins if you wanna be tall like me" "kevin, if you bring up how i'm shorter than you again, we will fight"

— hunter sometimes brings out the logical side of you, he's usually the one who remains sober when the other boys and shit face drunk or high, making you the parents if the group. but when he does want to do some outta pocket shit, it is the real outta pocket. "what if we got naked, drenched our selves in olive oil and tanned on your roof of your house?" "what the fuck hunter- would that turn us into human barbeque?" he can be really logical sometimes, he just prefers not to be. threatening him with stealing stephanie from him all the time. he's very soft, vewy vewy gentle, mans knows that he's a giant and doesn't want to hurt you, he once stepped on your toes in accident and almost cried about it. "hunt, i'm not hurt-" "i :'( stepped :'( on :'( your :'( toe :'("

— sean was a hooligan, but god did you love him. he's the type to be sitting down, but if you take your eyes off of him for a second, he's suddenly running around with a knife ?? like can you sit down for ONE SECOND PLS, he has this habit, when he sees someone trip (usually, almost always hunter) or some shit, he looks at you, then back at them, then at you again. then both of you try to stay as quite as you can even though it's so painfully obvious that you're laughing at that person. and hunter's like "wow y’all are hilarious 😀” and sean’s like “i know 🤠”. despite being the most chaotic one of the group, he’s the actually the one you tend to look for when you need advice, he can be really goofy one moment then be really serious the next moment. “just trust me, you know. sometimes it’s the way things go, but hey don’t take this too seriously my advice might ruin your life. love you <3”

— scott was an absolute dream boat, you've always loved him. he was charismatic, he was funny, he had this charm to him that made him irresistible and was a real sweetheart. he was really, really great. he was a literal friend, the type who so loyal it's stupid. oh, someone has a gun to your head that they'll shoot unless you rap tupac's whole discography? he's suddenly the biggest tupac stan. but you get where I'm going with this. he's the one that you can depend on through thick and thin.

what scott loved about you was how you stuck by him through his troubled time with maintaining a healthy body and staying clean, you never judged him for anything that he did and always stayed by him and encouraged him to be a better version of himself, and there’s nothing that he appreciated more.

— while you weren’t the most involved in backstage politics, the boys were balls deep in it. your push to the top of the card was one everyone saw coming because regardless of if you were heel or face the fans were always behind you, however once your became close with the boys you were cemented as the female face of the company and consistently had titles on you. “any idea why i became the champ tonight-” “no what..? i don’t know what you’re talking about”

—all of them will hold you hostage unless you do their hair. especially scott.

“-but this side looks nicer than this one!”

“ take that toothpick out of your mouth so i understand what you’re saying!”

— you used to make fun of shawn’s mullet before the front grew out. “who lives in a pineapple under the sea-” “shut the fuck up”

— gossiping with scott and kevin on the phone when they went to wcw. “-no seriously, vince is bringing in fake versions of y’all”

“you’re lying”

“deadass bro, he showed them to me”

— while talent backstage hated the kliq, everyone loved you. you weren’t a raging asshole who’s constantly in fights, to them you were an angel hanging out with goons. and whenever something goes down everyone is looking at the boys sideways while you’re totally innocent in their eyes. even taker pretends he doesn’t see you when they’re pulling they’re usual bullshit.

— hanging out with them just feels like a fever dream honestly.

— 444/10, great friends highly recommended

#rainchyna #wwe #wwf #wwe headcanons #shawn michaels #sean waltman #scott hall #kevin nash #triple h #wwe shawn michaels x reader #sean waltman x reader #scott hall x reader #kevin nash x reader #triple h x reader

[beardedmrbean]

"Oh no don't you know the parties swithched in the 60s meaning FDR would be a republican now somehow."

That's not what the party switch is. The only thing that the parties switched was their views regarding civil rights.

That didn't happen either, at least not the way people say it did.

It's a myth that's been told so many times people accept it as gospel to the point that they believe anything one side of the aisle does is good and anything the other does is bad.

Let's go ahead and take the sitting president's multitude of racist comments that he's made over the years, hell just since he started his run for president this time even.

We can cut out the bit about eulogizing a former recruiter for the klan and just move forward from there.

Go over to twitter any time Clarence Thomas makes a ruling that the dem side doesn't like or Tim Scott talks about whatever it is that people want to get annoyed about or hey how about the mayor over in Texas that switched parties and the people that say that misgendering a murderer means you're transphobic are out there slinging every racist comment under the sun at them.

Apparently misgendering is wrong no matter what but it's ok to be racist if they do something you don't like.

Senator from AZ Kyrsten Sinema leaves the DNC and goes independent suddenly a openly bisexual woman is free game to rag on.

Hate to think what might have happened if all this crap was on the internet when Lieberman dropped the DNC to go independent in the aughts.

Not that I don't see how left wing people act towards the Jewish community when they don't toe the line already.

DNC leadership and several of it's very loud supporters only seem to care about civil rights issues if the person plays ball with them. ________________

Both sides are filled with shitheads and the sooner that's accepted the sooner you can root the problem out and get rid of it.

You know instead of letting it stick around and slowly continue get bigger while it's ignored because at least we're not those evil republicans.

Look up Rudyard Kipplings 'white mans burden' fairly relevant to the way thing have been looking for the last couple decades and then some.

#anonymous

[pacificwaternymph]

Had an idea for a pirate flavored angst

So in canon Joey and Sausage kidnapped Gem and Scott. Sausage probably wouldn't in pirate au but it definitely feels like something Joey would do.

So Xornoth is faced with this decision. Stay with Joey and let his brother and (ik Gem has something to with the navy but I just woke up so idr it) get taken and most likely killed, or set them free and most likely ruin their relationship with Joey

You said they'd choose Scott everytime, so which one he chooses isn't hard, but the fall out?

Kinda imagining Scott offering Xornoth a spot on the ship (at least temporarily) until they have somewhere to go. Maybe the Overgrown?

Oooh oh my god this is actually really funny because I was just imagining a really similar situation.

I didn't know how to set it up, or how it would get to that point in the first place, but a kidnapping is exactly what I needed to make this work, so thank you!!

Story under the cut

Scott and Gem are both navy deserters, so they formed a friendship around their mutual experiences. Granted, Gem's were a bit worse considering at the end of the day, it was Scott's choice to stick with the navy, but it was very much not Gem's, but they still bond over being treated like shit by everyone around them.

Gem also commiserates with him about being separated from his brother.

And that's all well and good, until during one of their hangouts, they get abruptly captured because they weren't very careful enough and somebody recognized them. I mean, neither of their appearances are exactly subtle.

To make matters worse, who is the naval officer who orchestrated it? Joey. Of course it is. And that means Xornoth isn't far behind.

Joey isn't wasting any time this time around. He knows that Scott has a habit of managing to slip whatever confines he's put in if left alone long enough (thanks in no small part to Xornoth), so he plans to have both him and Gem executed as soon as possible.

This means when Xornoth goes to break them both out, he's rushed, he's panicked, and he's sloppy. They've almost made it back to the docks, where the WRA and Jimmy are starting to get concerned because Scott and Gem aren't back yet, when Joey catches them.

He demands to know what Xornoth thinks they're doing and expresses his disbelief that they would stoop this low.

He causes a commotion and draws the attention of Jimmy and his crew, as well as Joey and Xornoth's own, surrounding them on opposite sides. Scott and Gem both immediately bolt for their side, but turn around to see Joey still yelling, and Xornoth frozen, unable to move.

When Joey finally finishes his angered ranting, he sighs and softens his tone. He tells Xornoth that if he comes back and waits on the ship while they deal with the mess he's created, they can work something out. Maybe they can even find a way to forgive him for this slight, because he loves Xornoth that much and he's willing to overlook this as long as it never happens again.

Xornoth hesitates, long enough that Joey gets impatient and snaps their name, telling them to hurry up. Then Scott calls out to him, silently urging, although even Scott's not sure whether he's urging him to listen to Joey and try to salvage his reputation, or to turn tail and finally leave the navy behind.

But either way, something in Xornoth finally snaps. They turn back to their boyfriend, whisper and apology, and run to Scott's side.

Joey doesn't take this well at all. Scott has always taken up so much of Xornoth's time and energy that, in Joey's mind, he didn't deserve. For every flaw or sign of wavering loyalty Xornoth ever demonstrated, it was instantly declared Scott's fault.

And now this? Manipulating them into turning sides, abandoning their family, abandoning Joey? That was the final straw.

Enraged, he pulls out his pistol and fires at Scott. But before anyone can do a thing, Xornoth is pulling his little brother out of the way, switching their positions. The bullet hits them in the shoulder.

Things descend into chaos from there. Joey stands there, shocked, angry, hurt, and betrayed, the dawning realization of what he's just done slowly washing over him. The two groups end up getting into a short fight, and the navy has to retreat. Someone has to literally pull Joey along by his arm because he's staring at Xornoth's unconscious body.

Scott is putting pressure on the wound and yelling desperately for Lilac, who is trying her best to push through the carnage to get to them.

But of course, it's me, and I can't do unhappy endings or major character death. After the fight is over, Lilac manages to remove the bullet and stitch up the wound. It's pretty severe, there's definitely going to be lasting nerve damage that makes it harder, if not impossible, for Xornoth to use his arm. But they're alive and they'll be okay, and that's all that matters.

Jimmy offers him a place on the crew, since everyone already knows Xornoth by now, he's saved most of their lives at one point or another. But Xornoth declines, saying they think they'd rather retire. Sailing was never a passion for him. The only reason they were in the navy was because they needed some excuse to get away from their parents, who were already pushing them towards a military career.

So instead, they wait until Xornoth has mostly recovered so that Lilac is able to help him with physical therapy, and drop him off at the Overgrowth, just like you said. They build a new life there, actually get some therapy for their lifetime's worth of unhealthy relationships both familial and romantic, and make friends with Katherine and Shelby, who pretty much instantly go into full Mom FriendTM mode as soon as they meet them.

It's a little awkward, considering Shelby once tried to kill Xornoth, but at this point, so have most of the people in his life, and at least she wasn't motivated by anything personal, so they move past it.

#empires smp #pirate au #xornoth #empires xornoth #xornoth empires smp #joey graceffa #geminitay #scott smajor #smajor1995 #dangthatsalongname #katherine elizabeth #shubble

[mysteriouslybluepirate]

Favorite Head cannons of the OFMD community as of S1

-Izzy and Ed knew each other during the Hornigold era, and Izzy chose Ed as his captain after the mutiny.

-Roach had very little to no experience as a ships surgeon before joining the Revenge, he's just passionate and a fast learner, and we love him for it.

-Calico Jack wanted to fuck Izzy. If it was mutual is up for debate.

-Ed sleeps on Stede's couch for most of S1.

-Ed fucking loves the Swede. Ed sees this anxious guy and is just so fucking nice? Like, yeah, bare minimum. But he doesn't put him down once. Immediately getting the vibe of 'oh, this is the ships nice guy, i gotta fit in'.

-Lucius was running away from something when he happened upon Stede and the ship. Be it a crazy life, a marriage, a criminal past. Who knows? But he found safety in an idiotic man willing to hire a scribe for a ship.

-Izzy also has a bounty on his head for abandoning the English, but it's usually Ed's bounty that will cause problems. Since, like everything else in life, Izzy is easily ignored, and would be found with Edward either way.

-Frenchie and Wee John knew each other before joining the Revenge. How much is up for debate.

-Anne and Mary totally abandoned Jack's ass on an island, taking over his ship, and getting away scott-free. As Jack was their jackass laze about husband that forced the two to run the ship. But I do believe they all once loved each other, just didn't communicate (as with the rest of the established couples in the show)

-Izzy is VERY into whatever Ed is willing to give him. Ed just wants a nap and a cuddle.

-Oluwande is supernaturally earnest and willing to put up with almost everyone's shit. Especially Jim. Which they love him so much for. Oluwande will probably see some type of leadership role in the next seasons.

-Stede/Ed are fucking like rabbits. They are the most PTA couple and while Lucius/Pete are at least conscious of when they're in public Ed/Stede are not. And honestly, good for them.

-Izzy has tummy issues. Either from anxiety, age, diet, stress, or health issues.

-Buttons has a history as a pirate, yet no one can verify them. His crews are always gone, dead or missing...no one sees this as the red flag it should be (my vote is always that he's a cryptid, and changes the reality of the ships he's on).

-Buttons COULD be the best first mate around, hell, he probably was once...But things changed for him as he aged and seen all his crew die off, that and he lives for the drama.

-(personal) Izzy was a rope monkey growing up, his size means (if izzy was a pirate before the age of 20) he would have been thrown up there. I also think Ed was a higher-ranking rope monkey or was one in the past. Ed would fucking love the risk, of climbing up high and getting wind in his hair(My only proof is how easily he balances on the railing in EP 4, cause it was the first thing that made me really go 'WOOF'. Competence is hot, babes). (I also totally see young Ed jumping down from heights, fucking up his knee)

-Oh, that Ed having knee problems is TECHNICALLY a head cannon, but at this point...it's canon.

-Most problems could be solved with communication, its a shame each member of the crew speaks in their own language of bullshit, trauma, and stubbornness.

-Ed never paints his own nails. Honestly, mood my man.

-Lucius/Pete get married long before Stede/Ed. Personally, I vibe with this because Stede probably holds a lot of beliefs about what weddings mean for a relationship (stagnation, settling down, and fulfilling societal duties). While Stede is a romantic and would love to marry Ed, I think he'd need to see Lucius and Pete make it work, especially with their open relationship.

-Their historical deaths will be real, but be fuckeries. Honestly. I know S2 is a gap season, but FUCK S3 could be so COOL if they go this route. (Blackbeard's ship sailing into Ocracoke for a wedding and party, being unable to escape and having to fight it out being what happened. Stede getting hung a few weeks later)

-Ed can play the piano/harpsicord', Stede can not.

-'Ed' vs 'Edward' has VERY specific meanings depending on who and why they are saying it.

-Izzy's loyalty was somewhat bought from Ed saving his life, either metaphorically (giving Izzy a happier life as a pirate) or literally (saved from being hung/saving him in a fight). In Izzy's eyes his only purpose is to protect Edward.

-Stede WILL go back to the fancy dress and accessories. The Ep 10 look was a rebirth, a new slate to build a happier version of himself. As much as I love 'tuff' muscled Stede, that's not who he is. He loves finery and being soft.

-The crew is a family, and if EP 9 ended how Ed wanted it to they could have been happy together yes. But they'd be alone. No family and friends to support them.

AND as always:

-Lucius is still alive.

#ofmd #edward teach #stede bonnet #lucius spriggs #izzy hands #frenchie #wee john feeney

[kryptonian-bat-thing]

imma list all my superman//clark kent headcanons just bcuz (feel free to add yours)

he loves oriental food, especially Japanese. he probably has bentos with gohan and ramen for lunch on most days.

his eyes are so friggin blue and bright (and i mean, like, this shade of blue but shiny), that's what his glass's lenses are hiding mostly

we love a clark that gets flustered easily. superman might hide it better, but he blushes easily when people compliment him and would probably be deadpan when someone flirted with him for the first time

he probably mumbles a lot as clark kent as to "hide" the superman voice, possibly makes it sound less deep and assertive, which also connects to the next point

it's straight up canon that superman has "super-ventriloquism" and can project his voice very far and even change it. some people say that's just one of his powers, but I'd like to think clark just was a theatre kid at some point and kept what he learned

I don't think he has lungs. this is random and i have no proof of it, but he doesn't breathe like we do most of the time, so it's clear he stores air somehow else.

i can imagine young clark feeling conflicted in his puberty after the knowledge he can see through people's clothes. like, one day he's staring at his crush and imagines how it'd be if things got steamy between them and then he accidentally sees through and starts panicking, covering his eyes in shame and running away.

he has merch of all the justice league members aka his friends, but got his own because when others visited his apartment he would have to explain why he didn't like superman

the first time he saw someone with a broken bone or some internal injury he probably didn't understand there was something wrong cuz it's not like he goes around scanning healthy people. so he either learned with time and experience how an injured inside looks like, or he had to take nursing lessons. possibly from alfred.

he can be a cat person. i know he usually has dogs, like krypto, but the fact he takes the time to rescue kitties stuck in trees when he could be idk preventing an upcoming accident or smth shows he really cares about animals too. actually, he did try to become a veterinarian before journalism, but dropped out when he realized he'd have to see the poor things suffer on a daily basis

he never went to the beach. as a vacation, not as superman. and when he finally did, he didn't really find it as fun as he thought it would

he probably doesn't own any sneakers. by choice, really. i have no idea what he would wear on a sporty outing, but I'm guessing he'd either go with his social shoes or farm boots. literally no in-between.

he probably doesn't use earphones//headphones when listening to something on his cellphone or laptop. I'm sorry, clark can be a boomer too

probably know how to crochet or knit for absolutely no reason. he was bored one day and learned it

actually, complementing the last one, i think he has a lot of useless hobbies. his kryptonian brain probably processes everything faster, including boredom, so if he's chilling in his room at the middle of the night and has nothing to do, he'll superspeed a sweater into existence and idk do some origami birds and organize his rock collection, because he probably has a rock collection

anger issues. fanon usually forgets about this, but clark has a LOT of anger management issues. he punches his parents' house, a random tree, his sink, his eyes go red and while he can hold it for a while, he needs to do something to calm him down. probably one of his 10040297 hobies

i do not care WHAT proof you have, neither clark NOR superman cuss. not even if he's repeating a quote or singing a song. he'll just say "gosh darn it" or "great scott" (i still don't know who scott is) or "heck" or "flipping". if his anger is too big, he'll just get physical instead, but he'd never cuss lmao

he doesn't have a driver's license. he could get one if he tried, but he's pretty sure he'd either wreck his car with his hands or join in some traffic fight or get deaf with all the horns

I'm still not over the theatre kid thing-- he'd probably be in chess club as well and possibly, possibly play d&d with his friends. he probably was obsessed about it when it first came out.

he probably doesn't know many songs by heart, except for the ones his friends like.

you cannot convince me this man doesn't know how to play an acoustic guitar. I'm not being stereotypical with the country boy theme, i swear, but clark just looks like he's one of those friends who would take a guitar to a party or camp with his friends and hit some notes. again, from songs they know

[traegorn]

I posted 1,398 times in 2022

509 posts created (36%)

889 posts reblogged (64%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@traegorn

@gingerblivet

@hockpock

@libraford

@rose-in-a-fisted-glove

I tagged 234 of my posts in 2022

#witch - 99 posts

#witchblr - 98 posts

#witchcraft - 91 posts

#witchtok - 59 posts

#wicca - 14 posts

#nonbinary - 10 posts

#genderqueer - 10 posts

#the bs-free witchcraft podcast - 10 posts

#youtube - 8 posts

#crystals - 7 posts

Longest Tag: 139 characters

#accidentally stabbing myself with a pencil while putting my hand in my pocket while running a training for 20 new contractors at my old job

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Ah yes, @llycaons has become today's volunteer.

One, Tumblr runs off of ad revenue. You have two choices on this site to support it -- be okay with seeing ads or pay for ad-free. Harassing advertisers actually helps no one, because it discourages folks from running ads.

Which means tumblr makes less money, and as the site is already losing money that could lead to its eventual shut down. You don't have to like the ads, but you literally signed up for this.

Two, according to your account you are an adult. You are capable of blocking blogs you don't like seeing, blocking tags you don't like, or even installing an ad blocker and circumventing the system that pays for the site you're actively using. Curate your own experiences my dude, and stop trying to force other people to do it for you.

Three, I like a lot of the stuff I've seen blazed to my dash -- so nah, you're just objectively wrong. Get a bigger sample size next time.

Now fuckle on off, Fuckalong Cassidy.

983 notes - Posted November 27, 2022

#4

The uselessness of Witchcraft Author "Blacklists"

Every once and a while I see a "Witchcraft Author Blacklist" either in the tags or getting passed around here on Tumblr, and never in my life have I thought it was a remotely useful thing.

Because every single time, they lack and semblance of nuance. Like yesterday I ran across one that literally equated Scott Cunningham with Stephen Flowers. Yes, Cunningham, a person who wrote some things that need to be read critically is, apparently, as bad as a literal fucking Nazi whose books help fund the AFA.

Like are there Cunningham books I wouldn't recommend? Absolutely. Should most of his works be read with a critical eye and take into account the state of the community and available information when he was writing them? Yes. But... like... there's a huge fucking difference between these two things.

Also, this list claimed because Cunningham wrote about Wicca his works were somehow homophobic. Have there been homophobic Wiccans? Of course - but Cunningham, an openly gay man, was not one of them.

Additionally, there are people who get included on these lists where I wouldn't recommend anyone read their books to learn witchcraft per se, but their works have important historical significance.

Like Gerald Gardner - should anyone learn from Gardner? Fuck no. His works are full of misinformation and outright bullshit. But it literally is where the modern witchcraft movement was birthed, so there is value in understanding where we came from.

Aleister Crowley falls into this category too - harder even. Crowley was gross as heck, but how can you understand what in the modern community is still descended from his works or propagating his gross ideas... if you're unfamiliar with his works?

Also, he's super dead, so it's not like he's benefiting from someone reading his stuff.

It's just so deeply frustrating that people make these lists to start with. Like, I have written or talked about how certain authors should be avoided -- but I always do my best to include context, reasons, and explanations why. I will specifically explain why I don't think they're valuable to read. Making a laundry list where you make unsourced or unexplained claims about a huge list of people doesn't help someone understand what might be wrong with them.

Also, my recommendations are usually about how a new witch shouldn't read their work, because it's about not having the experience to see what is and isn't bullshit in what they read yet. They don't have that baseline yet. That doesn't mean that some of these books might not be significant or worth reading at some point in their journey. Just not at the start of it.

It's just... a complete lack of nuance. Like I don't recommend Silver Ravenwolf because her books are, frankly, poorly researched and bad. I don't recommend Stephen Flowers because he's a fuckin' overt WHITE SUPREMACIST whose publications have been used to fund the AFA. These are not the same. When we pretend that they are, we are doing a massive disservice to all of us.

It... it honestly feels like Christian purity culture repackaged. If you can't handle nuance, I don't think you can really handle that much witchcraft to start with. The world isn't black and white -- there are overt evils out there, but most everything else is a shade of gray and pretending otherwise is poisonous.

1,264 notes - Posted August 29, 2022

#3

So there's a thing that a lot of tumblr users don't know about -- older ones because it didn't used to be like this, and newer ones because... they're new?

Anyways -- one of the biggest pains of Tumblr is that finding old posts can be hard. The search is terrible, and is overall useless. The easiest solution to this has always been that you can go through your "archive" -- for example here's mine: https://traegorn.tumblr.com/archive

Notice how that URL starts with my username. Longtime users will be like "Of course it does. That's your Tumblr URL." But here's the thing -- a lot of new accounts don't have that. Like, if you type it in (minus the /archive part) it kinda works still -- but it redirects you from username.tumblr.com to tumblr.com/username. And from there, the archive function does not work.

You see, to make your "Tumblr Blog" an actual, well, blog you have to turn it on manually now.

To do that, on the web, go to your blog settings and find this one:

Turning on "custom theme" will enable your blog to function and give you all the features.

Now there are reasons some folks might not want to do this. First off, that does mean sites like Google will be able to spider your blog and things can end up on public searches. If you don't want your Tumblr activity public do not turn it on. That's a choice I leave up to you. But, like, also... I've seen Tumblr accounts ostensibly set up to promote people's works but not have this turned on making the audience they're trying to reach less likely to find them.

But this is a thing that used to always be on. I found out one of my old sideblogs had it turned off that I never wanted it to be set that way. The choice is yours, do what you want.

I'm not your mom.

4,288 notes - Posted November 14, 2022

#2

People who get mad at seeing any post blazed are so funny to me.

This site works because either someone pays for ads, or you pay to not see ads. That's what pays Tumblr's bills.

4,533 notes - Posted November 1, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

I'm here.

I'm queer.

I'd like to go back to bed now.

11,183 notes - Posted July 18, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#tumblr2022 #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review

[thedamageofherdays]

I read a variety of Evanstan and Stucky fics this week and revisited some old favourites. A good reading week I would say :)

Favourites are marked with a 🌻

Won't you tell me (you're scared too) by hellobeautworld @hellobeautworld [Evanstan, 6k words, Teen]

Before his brain – or his heart, in fear of it being its last living hours, Chris isn’t exactly sure which one is in charge right now – can talk him out of it, he speed-dials the most intimidating phone number he has ever set eyes on. And he had to make a lot of terrifying phone calls to a lot of terrifying people. It rings three, four times, until that familiar, always a bit hesitant, but yet so easily excitable, voice comes on.

“Hey, Chris, how are ya?"

Chris takes a very deep breath to keep from blurting out the truth. That he is so damn scared of what he’s about to do that he just wants to run away. Straight into those now a bit less heavily muscled arms, if possible.

nostalgia isn't forever by wintersoldier1989 @wintersoldier1989 [Evanstan, 904 words, Explicit]

This ficlet was inspired by a tumble prompt.

"I wish you would write a fic where… Seb comes home a day earlier than expected from filming and catches Chris watching Political Animals and feels all soft until he realizes he's got a hand showed down his pants in between all the blankets... now he either is very flattered and goes to say hello on his knees or he's a bit :( cause "so you like young me better than this old thing? *pouts*".. either way Chris is mortified at getting caught and red all down his chest :)"

The smirk on Seb’s face when he realizes what’s going on. 😏

Chris would blush furiously, that pale Irish skin turning a bright shade of red from lust and a hint of embarrassment at being caught with his hand in his pants with this particular ahem viewing material. It’s no surprise that both of them have aged over the course of their 10+ year relationship. And as much as Chris loves the grey in Seb’s beard these days, he’s always had a soft spot for his boyfriend’s baby face. It takes him back in time, reminding him of all the longing heated glances, fumbling hands and nervous butterflies.

Closer by musette22 @musette22 [Evanstan, 5k words, Teen]

The relief that floods Sebastian at seeing Chris alive and well is intense, lifting some of that debilitating weight that’s been pressing down on his chest all evening, but it’s short lived. Because Chris looks... Well, he looks unfairly gorgeous as always, with his beard and his soft, cerulean eyes, but he also looks nervous and just a little bit shifty.

The feeling of unease grows when Chris shoots him a smile that’s tense around the edges and says, “Hey, Seb. Can we talk for a moment?”

Sebastian’s stomach drops, a physical sensation that makes him suddenly grateful he hasn’t had any food all day. He swallows through a tight throat, then takes a step aside and gestures for Chris to come in. “Sure,” he says hoarsely. “What’s up?”

Chris smiles at him again, and wow, yeah, he’s definitely nervous.

“Sit down for a minute, okay?” Chris orders gently, taking a step closer, and Sebastian closes his eyes. This is it.

🌻 Soul Searching by musette22 [Evanstan, 20k words, Explicit]

So?” Scott asks after a while. “You wanna tell me how you’re really doing?”

A little hesitantly, Chris says, “I don’t know what to tell you that you don’t already know.”

“Sure you do,” Scott says easily. “How ‘bout you start with telling me why you were going around telling everyone you were going to take a break from acting, only to then sign up to two big new projects in the past month or so?”

Chris picks at the label of his beer bottle, looking a little sheepish. “Ah,” he says. “I was kinda hoping everyone’d forgotten about that.” He sighs, dragging a hand over his face. “I mean, I was honestly planning on taking a break, but then I had a couple of weeks off and I just- I just realized I would have all this free time on my hands and no one to spend it with, you know?”

There it is, Scott thinks.

🌻 I've done some things that I shouldn't have done (but I haven't stopped loving you once) by musette22 [Evanstan, 59k words, Explicit]

After the release of Infinity War, Chris and Sebastian each take some time off to recharge. Chris is staying in Scarlett’s lake cabin on his own and invites Sebastian up to come and spend some time with him. Due to busy work schedules and a number of other, more personal reasons, Chris and Seb haven't been as close lately, something which neither of them are very happy about. This mini-vacation presents a chance for them to revive their friendship and maybe (definitely) explore if there might be something more. Over the course of a week, and with a little help from meddling friends and co-stars, the boys learn to build bridges, to be vulnerable and take chances, and to stop letting fear rule their lives.

Angel in an Ambulance by deucalionsvision [Stucky, 1k words, Teen]

Bucky twists his ankle while drunk, and his flirting greatly impedes the hot paramedic's ability to examine him. Said paramedic doesn't really mind.

🌻 Rites of the Wild by dreamsinthewitchouse @dreamsinthewitchouse [Stucky, 2k words, Mature]

When they move, it’s into Steve’s direction, and two things become clear at once.

One, the person has only one arm. Two, they’re covered in blood.

OR:

Steve is a nature photographer in an unfamiliar forest. Bucky is a maenad who saves Steve from their bloodthirsty siblings.

Fic & moodboard for Stucky Week 2021, Day 5: Alternate Universe

🌻 pillow feathers by wearing_tearing [Stucky, 2k words, Mature]

“Steve,” Bucky whispers, trying to tug at one of the blankets wrapped around him.

Steve snuffles and scowls in his sleep, bringing his legs up to his chest and effectively stopping Bucky from tugging anything. He also rubs his face against Bucky’s pillow, making a little soft sound in the back of his throat.

“Fuck, but you’re cute,” Bucky murmurs, lips twitching.

🌻 odd ways by peterbparker [Stucky, 2k words, Teen]

“And it would have been an amazing night with my son if he wasn’t distracted by the hot guy on the other side of the room,” Sarah sighed, shaking her head. “He’s been looking over at you for the past fifteen minutes.”

Bucky choked on the mouthful of beer he had just taken. 

“What?” he croaked. Things were starting to make a little more sense now. 

“Right?” Sarah said, waving her hand towards her son. “He completely ignored my garden stories because he’s been making eyes at you so I decided to come over and introduce myself.”

or; Sarah Rogers being a nosey mother, Steve Rogers blushing a lot and wishing the earth would swallow him whole, and Bucky Barnes being confused and amused for 2000 words

#my reading log #reading log #stucky #evanstan #stevebucky #fic rec #fic recs #stucky fic rec #evanstan fic rec

[gifted-burnout-archive]

Jim’s Best Friend

Part Six - With Festivities Comes Chaos

Word Count: 2072

Author’s Note: Bless Jim Halpert

WARNING: None.

December, 2005.

The past two months had been touch and go for you, but you were finally coming out the other side of it all. After Jim and Pam had taken care of you on Halloween, you had spent the rest of the week out of the office, and when you came back and still had a cut over your brow and a bruised cheek, you went with the cover story of slipping and being too proud to admit it.

Of course, you broke your silent treatment against Michael to tell him what actually happened, Jim and Pam flanking you in his office for emotional support. And Michael apologised, for everything since Packer. And now your face had finally healed up (though your side was still bruised pretty badly), everything was getting back to normal, slowly but sure.

—

"There was one day, in the break room, and we weren't doing anything important, but Phyllis told a joke." Jim explained to the crew, biting his lip as he smiled. "And it was the first time I had heard Y/N laugh in months. It was just... She's finally moving forward. Got a restraining order on Brian..." his fist clenched as he spoke his name. "Moved apartment too, somewhere closer to work. Which is great, because I pick her up everyday before work now."

"Well, if your friend went through that, you'd want to make sure they're safe." Jim shrugged. "And look, the rest of the office don't know, obviously. Just Pam, Michael, Toby and I... So keep in under wraps, will you?"

—

Michael was out of the office for a big deal with corporate, and mid afternoon, Pam had found it.

The screenplay. Threat Level: Midnight.

FBI agent Michael Scarn, Catherine Zeta-Jones, impossible feats, illustrations, the lot. After uncovering it, she rushed over to you and Jim, sharing her findings.

"Oh, Pam, good work..." Jim laughed, reading through it, and you winked at Pam, agreeing. It was completely ridiculous, and so very long.

"What do you say to maybe gathering up the office? Having a read through?" You suggested, biting the cap of your pen as you glanced at the pair, Pam letting out a squeal of delight and taking the script from Jim to photocopy.

"Dream team, that's what us three are." Jim smirked, and got up to start gathering colleagues. You finished off the report you were working on, and raided the kitchen for snacks to keep Kevin fed for the next few hours.

The entire team met in the conference room, Pam handing out the screenplay to everyone, and Jim taking charge.

"Do we all have our copy of Threat Level: Midnight by Michael Scott?" Jim asked, and when met with nods and murmuring ascent, he smiled. "All right, let's get this started. I'm gonna be reading the action descriptions, and Phyllis, I would like you to play Catherine Zeta-Jones." Jim offered, and Phyllis snorted.

"That's the character's name?" She asked, but before Jim could respond, Dwight, who was hovering in the doorway, spoke up.

"Okay, you guys should not be doing this!" He announced, Jim looked over at him.

"Why not, Dwight? I mean, this is a movie." Jim turned to the table, staring into the distance for the following emotional words. "This is for all of America to enjoy."

"You took something that doesn't belong to you-"

"Dwight."

"-Brought it in here and made copies of it-"

"Do you want to play the lead role of Agent Michael Scarn?" Jim asked, and that shut Dwight up immediately. He took the spare script from the table centre, sitting down in a spare chair, the room smiling as Jim began to set the scene.

—

After Pam had chatted with Roy about staying late, and Dwight had discovered that he was originally the useless sidekick, Jim called an intermission, and you took a very much needed rest from your tiring role of Assistant Number 3/ Shop Clerk/ Hot Babe. You got up to stretch your legs, about to follow Jim and Pam into the kitchen when a cough caught your attention.

"Y/N." Dwight stood in front of you, Kevin hoovering a few feet away.

"What's up Dwigt?" You asked, intentionally mispronouncing his name. He pursed his lips, but decided whatever he needed to say was more important than ignoring me.

"We don't have a lighter for the fireworks..." he sighed in defeat, and you walked over to your desk, bending over and picking your hand bag, wincing as pain ran up your side. You shook it off, opening the meticulously organised accessory, and beside a packet of unopened cigarettes and your black moleskin notebook was a lighter and matches. You handed them both over to Dwight, and nodded.

"I need them back before we all leave tonight." You reminded him, and the pair nodded like children entrusted with adult scissors before running off, across the street, to play with their fireworks.

You had a look through the office, unable to find Jim and Pam, and with a few moments of thinking, you headed down the stairs and out the building, still holding your handbag, standing in the car park to supervise Dwight and Kevin's misadventures with fire. And while you could hear the whooping of two grown men jumping around a rather pathetic firework box, muted chatter came from closer by. You glanced around, trying to find the bodies to which the voices belonged, but there was no one outside expect you, Dwight and Kevin.

And then you heard Jim laugh.

You looked up, and not quite being able to see anything, you crossed over the road and squinted. Against the darkness, a few candles lit up Jim's face, and the giggle that followed a few moments later confirmed to you that Pam was with him. And the conversation Meredith, Kelly and Phyllis has all those months ago filled your brain.

Jim, Jim with the girlfriend Katy, had the hots for Pam. Pam Pam. Pam with a fiancé Pam.

"What's up Y/N?" Kevin asked, and you walked over to the pair, taking back your matches and lighter, leaving the latter out and pulling out the box of cigarettes, holding one between your lips and lighting it quickly.

"You don't smoke." Dwight said quickly, and you took a long drag, blowing the smoke into the cold night air.

"I do now."

—

The following weeks leading up to Christmas were filled with rumours and suspicions. From Jan and Michael to Angela and Dwight to Pam and Jim... and you needed to know the truth. It wasn't that you didn't want both of your friends to be happy, but that you knew Roy and Pam, how important that relationship has been for them. Heartbreak was hard, and it was up to you to make sure neither side were left feeling that way.

So, when the Christmas Party rolled around, after the terror that was Dwight and Michael's 8 foot tall Christmas tree, and Phyllis' stellar attempt to find the right Christmas lights, it was time for Secret Santa.

"Oscar!" Dwight called, tossing the present over while showing off his elf hat and ears.

"Oh neat, a shower radio." Oscar smiles, and Kelly raised her hand behind him.

"Yeah, That was me." She said with a smile.

"Oh you I was going to buy one of thes-"

"Boring! Next! Jim." Dwight tossed over a plastic bag, and Jim lifted out a flannel that looked about twenty years old. It was from Creed, go figure.

And then came Pam, and by the look on Jim's face it was clear he had bought it for her. She opened the boxed carefully and let out a squeal after moving aside the tissue paper, lifting out a beautiful turquoise teapot, displaying it to the room. You sent a smile over Jim's way, and he grinned back, proud of himself.

"Ryan!" Dwight tossed the next present over, and Michael let out a yelp as it flew through the air. Ryan caught it with ease, unwrapping the box and muttering a soft 'wow'.

A video iPod.

A $400 video iPod, on a $20 spending limit.

And then Phyllis made Michael an oven mitt and all hell broke loose.

For those unfamiliar with White Elephant, or Nasty Christmas, or, as Michael named it, Yankee Swap, there a few rules. You can either steal a gift from those already opened, or you can pick a new gift. No take backs, no more than one gift. And by the end, only about two people are actually happy.

So, after an hour or so of passing presents, and Pam's teapot going from Pam to Meredith to Oscar and then finally to Dwight, you sat with a choice to make: steal or take the gift in the middle. You glanced over at Pam, quite happily clutching her new iPod, and you glanced at Jim, who looked more than done with the entire day.

"I'll take the teapot." You say, walking over in your red Christmas inspired dress and pulling the teapot from Dwight's arms, much to his dismay.

"Fine! I'll take the coffee mug." He muttered, and you sat down in the free chair, holding the teapot to your chest. Once everything had finally finished, Phyllis marched out, upset, with Meredith quickly following.

"What is she so upset about?" Michael scores, and you rolled your eyes.

"You did the whole Yankee Swap thing just because you didn't like your present." You said, shaking your head.

"Everybody loves Yankee Swap. And I still ended up with Dwight's stupid paintball pellets!"

"The point is Michael, we all bought gifts for specific people." Jim chimed in, though he gave me a look of gratitude for taking the teapot from Dwight.

"You should have stuck with the $20 limit." Stanley scolded Michael, who jumped from his seat.

"Yeah, well I didn't. I got a big bonus because I fired Devon and I used the money to buy something awesome. Sue me!" Michael exclaimed, and the room was silent.

"You got a bonus check?" Oscar asked first.

"How much?" Pam quizzed.

"Uh, it wasn't that much it was... It was 3,000." Michael admitted, and Stanley laughed.

"No, I'm done now." He said, turning away. And the rest of the room, you included, was just in shock. 3,000 dollar bonus for firing a staff member? You glanced over at Jim, who just walked back to his desk and cleared his stuff away for the holidays.

It was supposed to be a Christmas party, not that anyone was in the mood. As the office stood around, catching up with the guys from downstairs, Jim pulled you aside into the conference room.

"Thank you for taking the teapot..."

"No problem... You know, I'm a fan of shamrock key rings." You said, glancing at the gift Jim had ended up with. "Trade? You can give this to Pam properly?" You suggested before Dwight popped up out of nowhere.

"There's no trades allowed!" He snapped, and the pair of you shared a look.

"Then Jim can buy it from me-"

"Not a chance. If you don't leave the building with that teapot I will get you fired Y/N." Dwight threatened, and Jim laughed.

"You realise Michael likes Y/N way more than he likes you, or anyone for that matter." Jim folded his arms, and Dwight started with a comeback. You took your teapot in one arm, and Jim in the other, and you led him away from Dwight, away from Pam and Roy, and out into the corridor.

"Jim, we need to talk about what's in this box." You said softly, the music playing loud enough for no one to eavesdrop.

"What do you mean Y/N?" He asked, and you opened your mouth to respond when Michael barged past you both with more bottles of vodka than you could count. "Well, he's making up for that bonus check."

"Jim... Stay on topic." You pleaded, walking further away from the noise of the party. The two of you ended up in the staircase, and Jim watched you open the box, and then remove the card. "Is this what I think it is..." You said slowly, and Jim looked down, running his hands through his hair.

"Y/N, I'm in love with Pam. I've... I've been in love with Pam since we started here... And I need you to help me win her over." Jim admitted.

#au #jim halpert #michael scott #pam beesly #dwight schrute #the office #jim halpert x reader #jim x reader #office au #reader insert #reader is female #romance #friendship #pam and jim #jim and pam #slow burn #from season 1 #fanfiction #fanfic #fandom #john krasinski #steve carell #jenna fischer #rainn wilson #jackryanplz #part six

[ardenttheories]

Homestuck's always been antagonistic and insensitive, but I don't recall seeing any of you try to dox Hussie? But please, continue to rationalise how cyberbullying lgbt people for not being nice enough and having opinions about a fictional character you disagree with puts you in the right. A story doesn't go the way you'd like and this is how you respond? You COULD have just not bothered reading it instead of CHOOSING to make your online life about something you hate like a toxic weirdo.

Hi, Kate. I’m so glad you could find my blog. (Edit: that was a joke. Apparently, some anons find it impossible to tell that I don’t actually think you’re Kate). It’s clear to me that you didn’t take the time to read through any of the content that’s actually on here, since you’re throwing around rather wild accusations, so let me take this down step by step.

Homestuck has only rarely been antagonistic and insensitive. Things like the Alpha Trolls - which were clear criticisms of fandom culture - were relatively few and far between, and when we complained about them, they actually stopped. Remind me, for instance, how relevant the Alpha Trolls were to the plot? How long they stayed as mockeries towards the fandom? Yeah, not long. I actually have talked about this before on the blog - alongside other things I thought were negative towards the fandom from the original comic - but the difference here is that... in the entirety of Homestuck, these things were outliers and inconsistencies. They stuck out because they were in stark contrast to the otherwise wonderfully handled content Homestuck went over.

For instance, Homesuck is critical of abuse - especially in terms of relationships. We see through a critical lense the shit normalisation of parental abuse can do to a child - with actual talk of triggers and of the mental and emotional scarring left behind, and the complexities of the child’s feelings towards the parent’s death through Dave - and we see how self destructive relationships can be, how harmful they are, and how hard it can be to leave them - such as Terezi’s very toxic blackrom with Gamzee, which was always portrayed as something negative and harmful especially with how worried Karkat was for her and how withdrawn she became during its run, and Dirk’s relationship with Jake, which goes very much over how communication can cause a deterioration in romantic relationships especially when the two participants have conflicting mental illnesses. 

It also goes over how men, though they can be mired in toxic masculinity, can choose to be good. How sometimes we’re not born as good people, but we can become good people through the love we have for the people around us, through frequent attempts to check what we’re doing, through the sheer willpower to be good. Dirk’s entire arc, knowing that he could very easily become Bro but deciding he doesn’t want to be, that it’s something he wants to work on, is so important and incredibly powerful. Mental illness in men is often just given as an excuse to make them violent with no attempts at betterment - so Dirk actually existed as proof that you don’t have to be that stereotype. 

In contrast, Homestuck^2 completely uncritically gave Jade, who was cis, a dog dick, made her, a bisexual woman, a sex maniac and the yaoi “woman who gets in the way of the gays” trope, made her a cheater and someone who forced her partner into the relationship to begin with, and made her a neglectful mother after having cheated with her best lesbian friend in something that has incredible recall to just about every futanari video ever - and they tried to claim that this was good representation of trans women, actually, and that the only reason we didn’t like it is that Jade is “a woman” who “has sex”.

Likewise completely uncritically, they made Gamzee, an anti-black stereotype, enter a relationship with Jane, a fascist, and then made the entire thing into a cuck joke wherein Jake being frequently drunk and sexually assaulted was funny because he wasn’t “man enough”. They then forced him to go back to his abuser after he left her in a scene that read very much like, “ridiculous man thinks woman is abusing him, go back and do your manly job”. 

This, of course, doesn’t even go into the travesty that is any form of trans representation in the comic. Roxy, a trans man, is barely even focused on as trans; they make no attempt to enforce in the fandom that he’s a trans man the way they do that June is a trans woman, and even then, they seem to think that just saying someone is a trans woman is actually good representation. Not, like, bringing it into the comic - just saying that it’s a thing. And of course, that’s not even going into the completely uncritical lense they have of Vriska, wherein her being a trans woman completely frees her of any and all blame for the past abuses she has comitted, and once again she becomes an amazing character to save the day without a single flaw - which in turn inherently associates trans women with abuse apologism, abusers, and the ideology that just because we’re trans we can get away with anything scott free. 

I honestly cannot think of one instance of good and genuine representation in Homesuck^2, nor can I think of any scene where negative content was actually treated as the negative thing it actually is. There’s no critical lense at all, not like we have in Homestuck; there’s just no fucking comparison. And this isn’t a one-off situation, either. Whereas Homestuck does do fuck ups - isn’t perfect - in between the otherwise brilliant content, Homestuck^2 is just founded upon these horrific takes. There’s almost no good content in between, and what is left is a slog to get through when surrounded by the thick slurry of shit that compromises futa Jade, abuse apologism Vriska, and victim blaming Jake. 

Of course, we didn’t “doxx” Hussie. Hussie actually listened to our complaints, for the most part, and worked with us to create something that worked well. The way Homestuck^2 was touted to work. You know, since it was meant to be written with the fandom in mind, influenced by the things we suggest and react to. We went into Homestuck^2 with the explicit idea that we were going to be listened to and taken into consideration when it was being written - the way we were with old Homestuck. I’m very sorry to say that, when you make these expectations, people are going to be a titchy bit upset when you then commandeer the entire thing and exclude the fandom from any of the process that you said they were going to be part of.

Additionally, it’s rather funny, isn’t it, that what you call doxxing is actually just people upset with how triggering content is being handled, and going to the people who actually wrote the content in order to voice their complaints? It’s almost as if social media exists to allow this communication between reader and author, which is a fundamental thing you’ll learn in any creative writing course, such as the one I’m on currently, wherein you’re actually taught how to respond to social media and to build up your image with your fans. 

Homestuck^2 is an ongoing piece of media. We’re well aware that we have a potential to change these uncritical takes and the horrific way they’re being handled if the writers will just listen to genuine criticism. This is, frankly, no different to the people who go to J. K. Rowling’s Twitter to tell her how harmful her transphobic comments are; because if she believes these things, they will work their way into her texts and will perpetuate harmful ideologies. 

The literal same thing is happening in Homestuck^2 - again, such as futa Jade, which normalises the point of view that bisexuals are cheaters and completely trivialises what it means to be trans, or Gamzee, which perpetuates just about every anti-black stereotype possible. Media does have a very powerful impact on what people see in the real world. This is why, for instance, positive black characters are so important in media; if they’re always portrayed as villains, then people will see real world black people as villains as the ideology is perpetuated to the point of fact. This is especially true if the people already believe in the ideology.

Fiction is one of the best ways that we can counteract this cycle. If you make a character that they like, and they happen to be positive representation, and then they watch more media that is likewise positive representation, it’s more likely to stick that these positive representations are the actual experiences of minority groups. Also? It’s important TO those minority groups. A black person, especially right now, doesn’t want to see an anti-black stereotype fuck a fascist, engage in sexual assult, and then enact pedophilia - only to die at the hands of a hero and be laughed at for the death. Surprisingly, shit like this is why we need to tell the writers that what they’re doing is harmful, that they’re perpetuating phobic ideologies, and that we need better representation - especially in a comic that is this widely read, and also has a very large minor fanbase. 

I shouldn’t need to explain why exposing minors to anti-black stereotypes, transphobic, homophobic, biphobic, abuse apologism, victim blaming, and the trivialisation of rape and sexual assault (especially towards men), might be a federal fucking issue. 

So, no, we’re not actually cyberbullying LGBT+ people. We’re trying to hold shitty writers accountable for the incredibly toxic and harmful ideologies they’re forcing into a text that has always been written with critical thought in mind. 

I should also point out how funny it is that you’re focusing on how some of the writers are LGBT+ - as if we’re not? I’m trans, I’m gay, and I’m ace. Yes, I can actually be these things and absolutely furious that a trans women is writing some of the most transphobic shit I’ve seen in a while into characters she then claims to be completely free of blame. We can be furious that people within our own community are enforcing negative stereotypes.

Being LGBT+ does not make them free from blame. We cannot give them a free pass to be racist, to be transphobic, to be homophobic, biphobic, to be abuse apologists, just because they’re LGBT+. Not only because that’s just a terrible fucking idea to begin with, but because it also reflects so, so badly on the community as a whole. As if being part of the community instantly means that you can do no wrong? As if there can be no toxicity within our own community, despite the fact that there very much is and it is still an issue to this day?

That is such an issue, one of the biggest issues even shown just in Vriska and the way Kate handles her as a whole - and, once again, is WHY we need to get them looking at this shit more critically. This view that LGBT+ people can do no wrong and cannot be criticised is shoved into Homestuck^2 and, once again, perpetuates the ideology. This isn’t something to be proud of. This isn’t something that’s actually okay.

Also, your point that the writers aren’t nice enough and that we disagree on fictional characters - well, I’ve already been over the second part. But for the first part, I would like to remind you that they aren’t just random LGBT+ people on the internet that we’re going to because we think their takes are a little shitty. They’re actual writers working on a piece of media. They are official content creators. 

Again, one of the first things you learn on any creative writing course is that when you become a writer, you gain a significant amount of responsibility for your interactions with the fandom. This is something that you genuinely have to expect, and if you don’t, then, unfortunately you just don’t know what it means to write something that thousands of people have a potential to read. As a writer, it is your responsibility to portray your image online; it is your responsibility to engage with the fans in a meaningful way; it is your responsibility to not cause drama and to listen when criticism is brought up, to have genuine discussion and not to perpetuate hatred - especially towards your own fanbase.

Consider, for instance, the way I’m talking to you right now. This is the sort of tone that someone should take when talking to a fan about genuine criticism. When things are brought up, you go over them step by step, you listen, you write back - you don’t go on a flurry of “fuck yous” to a minor who asked you why your team didn’t post anything about the BLM movement on the official Twitter, and you definitely don’t respond to every comment with genuine criticism with the word “pigshit”. You almost definitely don’t tell your trans masculine and masculine-aligned nonbinary fans that their opinions don’t matter.

As a writer, Kate and the rest of the team have a responsibility with their interactions with their fans. They aren’t just normal fandom voices anymore; they’re official fandom voices, voices that have more weight behind them than anyone else. They’re who people are going to turn to when it comes to anything regarding Homestuck^2. Their words now reflect literally everything about Homestuck^2, the future of Homestuck as an expanded universe, and the opinions of the group as a whole. They have to be careful with what they say. They have to be held to the same standards as industry voices because that’s essentially what they are - especially now that Homestuck is something you pay for. 

Also, this isn’t a point of the story not going the way I want. This is a point of many of people in the fandom being upset with how content is being handled, upset that their voices are being shut down, upset that triggering content is being laughed at or used flippantly and without care or respect. This is people being upset that trigger warnings were removed specifically to make the comic unsafe for them as a punishment for daring to say that something was wrong. This is people being upset that a piece of media that used to be so fucking good at portraying sensitive content in a critical light, that used to be so good at normalising LGBT+ identities and healthy representations of those identities, has suddenly turned to this. 

The story can go whatever way it wants - and frankly, that’s fine be my. What isn’t fine is that content is being used specifically to hurt and to incite.

And, of course, that final piece; nothing will improve if we don’t say that it’s wrong to begin with. Someone needs to voice the complaints of the fanbase, othrewise these toxic ideologies are going to go unchecked. One of the biggest things I’ve come to understand while making these posts is that a significant portion of the fandom feels isolated in their hurt; they don’t think other people feel the same way they do, and several people have mentioned feeling like they were going crazy because they were upset with things that the text and writers are normalising. It’s so important to make sure that these people know they’re not alone. It’s so important to make sure that our voices are heard. It’s so important to try and create critical discussion and debate over something that so many people still fucking love. 

The thing is, I don’t hate Homestuck^2. I actually really, desperately wish I could enjoy it. I wish I could read through it and theorise, could go in depth about how amazing the characters are, could write long and extensive posts on how creative and engaging it is - could even just go on about how interesting the Meat-Candy divide is, and all the points they’re trying to make about canonicity. But I genuinely fucking can’t. There is just so, so much wrong in the text that is completely unrelated to plot and to the overarching Point that makes it impossible for me to read, to want to read, to try to encourage other people to read. They’re things that literally don’t need to be in there, either; stereotypes and toxic ideologies and uncritical or badly handled sensitive topics that could be rectified so, so easily. 

Homestuck^2 could be amazing for a lot of the fandom. It could be something that we all rally around the same way we did for the original comic. For for a lot of people, it has ruined their fandom experience, has ruined their desire to want to read anything more to do with Homestuck, and has caused a significant portion of the fandom to just drop out entirely. That in and of itself should be a sign that this isn’t just a little fandom drama. That this is something much bigger and much more serious that, just maybe, needs to be looked into, talked about, understood - and, potentially, changed. 

#homestuck^2 #homestuck^2 critical #long post// #ardenttheories #Apologies for how long this is. I wasn't going to finish it until I got every point across #And that ended up being... uh. Several thousand words I suspect #Anonymous