#instead of being misunderstood

[moongothic]

You think Crocodile's gonna blow his stack when he finds out how shitty Luffy's upbringing was? His baby boy repeatedly got tossed into the jungle to fend for himself against wild animals, as well as off cliffs and left to float into the fucking air on balloons all courtesy of Garp. He got left alone for long periods of time possibly as early as infancy, also cuz of Garp. And oh yeah, he was tortured by pirates, almost burned to death in a giant garbage fire, and went through the trauma of losing a brother.

Like, no matter how stern or distant of a parent Crocodile may be, I don't think he would be content to stand by and let any of that happen to baby Luffy. Also also, Crocodile witnessed firsthand Garp impeding Luffy's attempts to rescue Ace. The Cross Guild wants Garp for his bounty. Crocodile wants Garp for REVENGE.

With Garp I feel like it could go either way because like, let's be real for a second

This is 100% played for laughs.

Like if we're being serious then yes, in the Very Real World this is absolutely child neglect and abuse, Garp's parenting would NEVER fly (🥁) in our Very Real World. But just like Nami can physically abuse Luffy and co for laughts and get away with it, Garp's "training" is very much the same tonally, a Cartoon Slapstick Gag (made even more obvious when Toei animated Baby Luffy flying off into the sky going "UGYAAAAA" (that clip lives in my head rent free it's so funny??)) and a reflection of how this ridiculous old man (who might've been through even more ridiculous training in his childhood) views how a small child can be trained.

And so like. I could imagine Crocodile being like "who the fuck does that to a small child, are you insane" at Garp if he found out how Garp had been raising Luffy, but I think whatever reaction Crocodile might have would be played just as much for laughs as Garp's original comments were

Like IDK if Crocodile and Garp did have a relationship I think it would end up being similar to how Zoro and Sanji interact. Like Crocodile would to some degree be indebted to Garp because Garp did look after his son when he couldn't, and Garp wouldn't have a precious grandson (whom Garp sincerely does love, deeply) without Crocodile, so like. I think there could be like this mutual respect and gratitude for the other. But also it'd be kind of a begrudging gratitude and they would also hate each others guts and what they stand for and probably bicker. Lots. But in a funny way. (Like Zoro and Sanji)

Also I feel like even if Crocodile personally hated Garp's guts I don't think Crocodile would ever try anything to harm Garp. Like he saw how Luffy absolutely shattered after losing Ace, so even if Luffy and Garp's relationship wasn't the strongest, if Luffy loves his grandpappy then I don't think Crocodile would want to take his son's only grandfather, his family, away. Crocodile isn't in any kind of position to "take revenge" on the man who did look after his son for him (even if his methods were questionable at times) (Same for Dadan and the bandits too arguably)

The convenient thing of me letting this ask sit in my ask box for 20 days before actually responding is that I managed to post this thing the other day, and I want to continue an observation from that post; While I do agree Crocodile would probably be horrified to find out about all shit Luffy went through as a child... In the end, what's happened has happened, and I think Crocodile might believe that if he had wanted to ensure his son wouldn't have to go through things like that, then he should've raised the child himself. That Luffy's childhood not being all sunshine and rainbows is kind of his fault.

#Moon posting #OP Meta #Crocodad #I'm like this 🤏 close to writing a meta post about Garp and his actions in Marineford because. I love that problematic grandpa #But also I do feel like Garp is misunderstood by a lot of the fandom. NOT in a “Garp was right actually” kinda way!!!!!! #But like. I feel like a lot of people think Garp is comparable to Judge and Big Mom but (Marine Flavored) when HE'S REALLY NOT #Sidenote but I'd be curious to find out how Crocodile feels about Shanks 1) Being responsible for Luffy eating his Devil Fruit #2) Shanks being the one who inspired Luffy to become a pirate (like his daddy) (instead of a stinky Marine like his grandpappy) #3) Shanks literally saving Luffy's life at the cost of his arm. Like. #Like ohhhhh I wanna know how Crocodile would feel about Shanks. It feels like a juicy relationship right there.

[tomwambsmilk]

As a side note I think what makes Succession such an excellent critique of capitalism is how it handles the idea of meritocracy. It's very easy to imagine conservatives (especially wealthy conservatives) as Scrooge McDuck kind of figures who really just want whatever brings in the most money. But the truth is that most of them are deeply, deeply invested in the belief that capitalism is a meritocracy, and that their own success is the result of hard work and others' failure is the result of personal failings. They are so invested in this idea that they will go to amazing lengths to reinterpret any piece of information that challenges it. Succession does a really, really good job of depicting that conviction, and depicting it so well that the audience will be occasionally sucked into it, before slapping you in the face with the utter pathetic incompetency of these people who are essentially running America.

I think that's one of the things that really sets it above a lot of other 'eat the rich' type movies that write their wealthy characters with more of a Scrooge McDuck mindset. Personally, I think any good critique is written so that the critiqued party can see themselves in the story. They may not accept the critique, but if it's good and it's accurate there will be a character they recognize as themselves. No conservative is going to see themselves in Miles Bron, a man who is clearly out of his depth and incompetent and stealing other people's ideas, or the rich people from Squid Game, who insist on 'levelling the playing field' through random chance. But they DO see themselves in characters like Tom Wamsbgans and Kendall Roy (hence why an army of reddit bros turn out to defend their every move), and I think that's what gives Succession's critique a fighting chance of actually landing with the people who need to hear it

#fun fact most conservatives think squid game is a critique of communism #which yeah is at least in part a massive failure of media literacy #but I think the fact that the wealthy are so caricatured and unrealistic - and the games stop being at all meritorious so quickly - really #don't help #if you aren't at least needling conservatives then all you're doing is making a point to an audience that already gets it #also this is why good critiques are so widely misunderstood #for instance. 1984 #they're nuanced and they have to be!! #if you depict the wealthy as cartoon villains then when people encounter real wealthy people who are not cartoon villains and instead #have complex views on the relationship between money and work that boil down to the idea that the world is a meritocracy but do it in a way #that sound reasonable and realistic to those who don't know any better #everyone goes well idk what glass onion is going on about. elon musk has all these great ideas about working hard and productivity and #rewarding people who do well he can't be all that bad #and completely miss the fact that he's operating under a total misapprehension of the world

[steelthroat]

I was painting and the religious-fanatic teacher came to me and started asking questions about my work. I answered them and I was ready to go on with my day and she goes "we used to talk more when you were well..."

And I stopped dead in my tracks and looked at her like "wtf" because lady you are under 2 wrong assumptions here:

I would let YOU of all people be aware of my mental state or personal life or anything that concerns ME at all.

That we had some kind of amicable relationship to begin with? No, I don't know how you got the wrong impression since I just ever talked to you after I disagreed with your views, criticized you and almost fought with you because you said something both incredibly stupid and triggering... just because I've kept things civil doesn't mean I don't consider you anything other than a pretentious asshole.

The audacity of this woman, to think she can come to me and act all motherly and attentive while trying to get her nose in my personal life while bringing up a past bond which never fricking existed????? What like do you miss our disagreements???

And I just told her, "But... I'm good tho" which is not 100% true, but that's none of her business anyway

And she goes "yeah but you were even better"

BITCH????? No I wasn't? I'm not doing super now but I've vastly improved since last year so idk are you tripping or something???? And then she says something else about my work and keeps talking to me and I'm being civil and cordial because I'm not a rude asshole even if he doesn't even deserve this courtesy for the way she treats us.

Idk what's wrong with her, like she thinks I'm some kind of "problematic kidTM" for the way I look who needs salvation?? Which is not true, I don't need you as a mother. I already have a loving family and friends. Thank you and get the hell away from me????

And even if I were looking for someone's help for anything, I would NEVER in a hundred thousand years go to her for it. Not even for a broken nail lol.

She would probably tell me to go to church and confess or some shit. She already told me to call a confessor for my grandma because she had a little accident when she heard me talking about it with someone else... fkn hell.

#the art school adventures are back #she makes me irrationally angry #steel rambles #I hate it when people assume things about me #and when they try to get close when I've made it clear I don't want them to #because fucking hell I know how it plays out and these people ever have goog intentions even if they think they do #becaus eyou don't force someone to get close to you #it either happens ornit doesn't #also because these peopel try to get close to me WHILE assuming wrong things about me so I just can't have normal interactions #because they're just so fucking certain they understood how I function and even having a heart to heart conversation doesn't do shit #they just can't see me as anything else #and it makes me fucking angry too because I hate being misunderstood but I also can't let the people understand me #because then I'm too vulnerable to them and their manipulation #so idk I guess I prefer being perceived as a “problematic youth” instead of letting her any closer because fuck no she gives me the creeps. #or bad vibes #yeah creeps is too strong of a word #honestly I'm tired of fighting and always feeling on the edge #and it doesn't get easier #or better #but i hate it.

[murky-tannin]

Loving this post Forever argument dynamic Bad and Etoiles are starting to form. I hope they talk like this every time Bad and Forever fight. Bad is Intense and trying SO hard to not rip the president apart because the president is his bestie Forever so GOD does he need to vent some emotions. He's not entirely succeeding but man he's restraining so so much Etoiles is so so chill and more worried about emotions then politics and who is right or wrong. Maybe a bit too unconcerned with who is right or wrong but for the most part he's unworried to a good extent.

Etoiles is fully aware these rants are basically the only thing keeping Bad from tying Forever up in front of a power point presentation to scream politics at him. He's in agreement with Bad's opinions but by god is Bad being (and I quote) "too dramatic" about it.

Etoiles laughing but genuinely listening and engaging with Bad's concerns without fully dismissing Forever or Bad's feelings and actions is such a breath of fresh air. I hope this happens every single time Bad and Forever argue. I don't care how intense fandom discourse gets every fight It's worth it for these interactions

#murky mumbles #qsmp #Bad needs people to explain his thoughts to #because he feels unheard and misunderstood #which to be fair. he 100% is by a lot of people #but whether he is or isn't is second to the frustration he feels #and I fucking understand that so so much. I don't tend to relate to him/mcrp characters in general #but this aspect of him and me is 100% the same and it feels healing to my soul when someone lets him rant #and actually engages with what's being said on top of it instead of JUST saying he needs to calm down #and also understands that this is his way of calming down

[nerosdayinanime]

You think he's looking lovingly at you - But it's nowhere near the truth - His mind is up to no good - Oh, just because you're in the same bed - He's with someone else in his head, not a second thought about you - Oh, there's no turning back

#kny sabito #sabito #giyuu #fratboy sabito posting #neros art tag #water pillar swap au #up to no good(the hoosiers) #story of the song doesnt really go with the story of the au but Meh #manwhore monday amirite #more focus on the 'his mind is up to no good - hes with someone else in his head not a second thought about you' #also! hes an adult/slayer/hashira i just put him in his normal shit bc i didnt want to hide beloved Necc #hes off duty dont worry abt it #also i changed the haori to him just wearing both instead of 1 split- he knows the haori was important to giyuu but was his *sister's* #so he found and kept the mask bc it was the only thing that was giyuu and giyuu's alone #i was gonna do a comic thing abt him having auditory processing disorder but i got Quite distracted by this #mostly bc i dont have a fucking clue what the conversation could be about other than he dont understand SHIT #thats how he gets misunderstood for the waterpillar role lmao he kinda just. doesnt listen. #if he doesnt understand someone the first time he doesnt bother trying to ask or figure it out. pretends he didnt hear it in the first plac #easier than trying to get them to repeat but only being louder and no less clearer #the slayers at the water estate kinda figured out you have to state shit Very Clearly not just. volume #he cant understand> pretends not to hear> slayers get his attention and repeat> he still cant understand> 'stop fuckin mumbling' #the few who tried just raising their voice got yelled at and/or smacked until they figured out to enunciate shit better w him #also im mostly thinking abt this au bc im thinking of the AfterAlt ver #i dont think ive mentioned AfterAlt.. when giyuu's supposed to die to the slayer mark he respawns in an alternate universe a little while #before the time he meets the kamados. its both an excuse to put him in situations and to torment him to watching his friends die over and #over again in various different ways to the original :) #anyways afteralt x wp roleswap sabito puts him in a choke-hold On Sight #ive realized choke-hold is the wrong word for that im describing. i mean a literal choke hold. he grabbed him by the neck

[hauntingblue]

Them doing a photo lineup of the mugis for the battle and when it's Robin's turn she just turns and does a blue eyed stare at the camera 😭😭

Look at her 😭😭

#i have a question about the heart pirates.... they just look like doctor's assistants... they dont even have weapons and for all we've seen #the only one who maybe can fight is the big guy and he's new... and bepo is the navigator and draws shit maps... how does the crew work..... #well all minks can fight but idk if bepo was trained in zou.... so.... #why is sanji's little dance now moving his ass side to side akdhaksk #oh finally!!! shachi and penguin are swordmen and bepo kicks!! we really haven't seen much of them... idr if they did much in sabaody #honestly if law just took his friends for the ride and took care of everything else.... respect #the animation..... JESUS CHRIST!!!!! #there really was no need to bound man now but alas it looks cool #denjiro ITS TIME!!! YEAAAAAAHHH #the wig..... dramatic reveal.... #kinemons plan being misunderstood and working becausw of it ajdhajshsj #and what boats did they destroy??? lmaoo?? #luffys fit kinda falls apart on his orange jorts... purple and orange okay but red too??? mmm.....maybe red and purple dont match either.... #kinemom saying he might die bc he has used up all his life's good luck HAJAHAAJAJ #okay lets finish that last boat but can someone get momo.... please..... #LAW!!! SHAMBLES!!!! GET MOMO!! its so funny how they complain about him not drawing like shit anymore ajdhaks #talking tag #watching one piece #episode 980 #sanji can fly come on now.... #come on now sanji..... dont let a theatre adult win... well nvm what is that... lmao sanji just taking hits instead of taking nami inside #also the fact that tokis fruit is around now.... who has that power.... or did it go.back in time to appear in her original time??? #the orchestral strings version of the first opening as momo flies away..... damn #OMG JINBEEEEE!!!! HE DESTROYS THE SHIP! SERVES CUNT! AND ANNOUNCES HE IS JOINING THE CREW!!! FUCK YEAAAAAAHHH!!!!!! #luffy is so happy akdhsksj ME TOO!!!! FINALLY!!!!! #episode 979 #<- fucked up.again #luffy loves jinbe so much i really love their relationship!!!!! that's his father now. shanks who

[criminey-christmas]

i don’t know why i still remember this but back when until dawn first came out, i watched mark and jack’s playthroughs first. when it got to josh having his breakdown when mike and chris were tying him up in the shed, they were both kinda laughing and being like why are you being so weird

then i watched emma blackery’s playthrough and she said how sad the scene was. and i just remember thinking how true that was. we were watching a kid’s mental breakdown; watching his mask fall and seeing what he was actually thinking and going through after losing his sisters. his delusion of power and perception of reality was broken and seeing how quickly he declined mentally was heartbreaking. and it’s only made worse later in the game when we find his transcripts from his therapists and see him experience auditory and visual hallucinations

it’s just interesting how the scene hits completely different to people who have faced mental illness than to people that haven’t

#no shade to mark or jack of course #for all i know the devs did what this moment of levity in a judgemental ‘look how psycho josh is’ kind of thing #considering his name when hes playing the killer is literally psycho for all i know it could be #it was 2015 mental health awareness wasnt exactly at its peak #but that scene always left me feeling uneasy and just sad #idk this moment has just always stuck with me #and then the game theory episode exploring if hed been misdiagnosed and let down by the mental health system makes it doubly worse #it showed that hed been potentially misdiagnosed with depression (and maybe ptsd i cant remember) #when the symptoms he displayed lined up more with schizophrenia #and now wonder his mental health deteriorated when he was being given antidepressants that did nothing and therapies that didnt help #exploring if the therapists were just taking the easier way out diagnosing him with depression #instead of working harder to find out what was actually wrong with him #idk josh in general feels like a misunderstood character when you dont know to look at him through a mental health lense #well that’s content #until dawn #until dawn josh #josh washington #markiplier #jacksepticeye #emma blackery #game theory

[pepprs]

im home and already swallowed by despair. can you believe i was in CHICAGO a few hours ago. and now im here. lol

#i know i know. and i need to let the anguish motivate me to get out of here. but it feels like i dreamed it all #purrs #chicago #i had a rough time getting out of the hotel and through the airport to my gate and also im bad at math so i fucked up the calculation about #when my flight lands bc of the time zone change and i gave my parents the time in central time not eastern time so my dad was waiting for m #for like a half hour and texting me and i wasn’t answering bc i was still in the air and he was pissed at me and snarky in my texts with hi #and i was sitting there on the plane and could just feel his words ripping into me and the horrors rushing back in and i still haven’t #recovered from it honestly. it wasn’t that big of a deal he just said something that i misunderstood as him saying he was giving up waiting #for me and going home bc id already wasted his time and even though that was not what he actually said it just kinda burrowed into me that #my parents were mad at me and were probably also mad at me for not communicating with them AT ALL the entire time i was in chicago. and it #just was eating me alive. im home now and we haven’t talked about it but they did say things disapproving of the fact that i did a lot of #stuff by myself which i probably shouldn’t have told them. idk. it’s not even that bad i just am torn apart by their rejection of me and #utter inability to just like be happy for me without criticizing some part of it or restraining me. plus the house is just as much of a #biohazard as it was when i left and all the broken things are still broken and it’s like. a lot. i miss the hotel LOL #i think im just sleep deprived and not in my head right today but i do not want to be here. sinking in quicksand unable to breathe. but i #have to be the one to get me out of it and i should have learned how in chicago but i didn’t it was just a break and now im stuck again #delete later #kind of terrible that instead of being so proud and happy about what i did my immediate reaction is to be miserable that im home now lol

[dilfpassing]

I work at an alternative school for teen students who for many various reasons are unable to be functional in a traditional typical classroom setting - disciplinary reasons, anxiety, emotional disorders, trauma, etc. - and I assist with a lot of english classes. It makes me a little sad that the teacher I work the most closely with hates the catcher in the rye so much because I’ve been rereading it and I think my students would relate really closely to Holden Caulfield. Caulfield may be annoying and whiny and privileged and obnoxious but I think the narrative of a teenager who acts out and postures himself to be older than he actually is and is struggling to comprehend and process a lot of trauma in his life so he does things he can’t even explain to himself and acts self destructive and lashes out to other people and has emotional breakdowns for seemingly no reason would be REALLY relatable to a lot of my students and I wish I could teach it to them...

#we read books out loud in class instead of assigning readings too so like #i could stop in real time and ask them to think about WHY they think holden is doing specific things #why holden starts crying when the pimp asks him for money #why holden says he doesnt care much about his siblings but then knows every timestamp on their daily routines #why holden gets so upset over other boys his age sleeping with girls but holden doesnt do it himself #why holden gets himself into fights but doesnt like fighting back #why holden zones out while hes being lectured and thinks about the ducks in the pond and where they go during the winter #he's like a very well illustrated example of a kid who projects all of his own issues onto everyone else because he doesnt know how to #process whats going on in his life #and it makes me sad how much of a bad reputation the book gets #bc reading it reminds me so much of my students who i love very dearly #who are very misunderstood and struggle with so much that isnt their fault #idk i think my students might have a lot of empathy for holden #i wish i could teach it to them but i dont control what we do in class

[angorwhosebabyisthis]

underrated genre of character playlist entry: songs a character would relate to because they do not understand their situation, themself, or the song itself well enough to realize it is not accurate (and might well straight up be a callout for people like them). which song is your blorbo's fight club

#whosebaby talks #general fandoms tag #shitposting #genuinely this is one of my favorite things to put in a character's playlist #for one thing i seem to like characters who listen to The Plagues and go WOW COOL BLOODTHIRSTY VENGEANCE FOR A WORLD THAT'S WRONGED YOU #and miss or ignore the part where it's meant to be tragic and moses is devastated because they're people and it's his home too #pericles is the first one that comes to mind because the autisms are autisming all over sdmi currently #but he's definitely not the only one #the only thing is it makes me a little itchy because it makes me wish i could put a little note when i share a playlist that #'no this playlist is not about them being a misunderstood hero they just have a severely distorted view of the world' #sometimes because 'misunderstood hero' would be uh. uhhhhh. it would sure have Implications with some instances #but also because No That's Wrong!! the distortion in their pov is what makes them a good character!!! in my own interpretation or otherwise! #pericles loses So Much Depth if you just play his understandable and even admirable traits as unironic instead of twisted and warped #and gone horribly wrong thanks to how his flaws and external life circumstances t-boned those positive/reasonable traits + motivations #where did he make his own choices to lean into it when he did have the agency to do otherwise #(see: i think in the newniverse; without the entity's influence; the very things that make him such a terrifyingly effective force) #(which are his primary expression of being an evil piece of shit due to his trauma and external circumstances and his reaction to them) #(and the choices he makes about them; would make him an equally effective force for good because they'd make him an *amazing* activist) #'i am my own definition of a vengeful righteous hero dishing out justice against real evil' is his extremely warped idea of what he's doing #he thinks he's the main protagonist of hell's coming with me and he's. not. he's just enough steps to the left to be a horror instead #anyway i love him and i love assigning songs like this your honor #professor pericles #SDMItag

[incomprehensi-bull]

i started reading dungeon meshi. unlocking my laois it/its pronoun user truther era

#thoughts #up to chapter 42 so far #looks at him. yeah i bet you'd love to escape the horror of being misunderstood and underestimated by people you thought you could trust #by casting off the chains of human society and being a dog instead #haven't we all been autistic and wished we could just be a beast of the woods instead of a person. cough cough averts eye contact

[ultravioart]

Ramattra: Do you know why I called you in here? Maelstrom: Because I accidentally pinched one of your wires during repairs yesterday. :( Ramattra: (pouring expensive omnic oil, surrounded by lit candles) ...accidentally?

#the concept of antirust oil coatings being an omnic luxury is never not going to be funny 2 me lolllll #ram and maelstrom's interactions are a compilation of wild misunderstandings. #ramattra x oc #ow oc #ow2 oc #overwatch oc #overwatch 2 oc #text #meme #tw suggestive #suggestive #the original meme is really funny but explicit. this post is just a shitpost on the backburner for now #i need to draw this meme out one day tho lmao #low light. clothes/fabrics neatly folded in the corner. fancy candles. burning incense. pouring expensive oil into hand cloth. #Maelstom: “so................... ur doing laundry? let me get that 4 u it's the least i can do--” #all while ramattra is just. standing there. dying inside. LOL #maelstrom doesn't know anything about omnic culture. #(spraying oil coatings is more efficient. hand towels are effective but wasteful--but it's intimate like washing someone's back.) #(ram does his laundry outside and folds it usually so that was the misunderstanding.) #(i headcanon omnics use smoke baths so the incense & fancy candles are misunderstood by maelstrom as a bath instead of a mood setter) #ramattra misunderstanding Maelstrom's actions as omnic flirting when M's just acting as a human does is rlly funny to me #M: (goes in for a handshake) #Ramattra: /////// how scandalous.... #omnic #omnics #robot #robots #maelstrom oc #maelstrom

[chimeragirlpleopods]

it is in my nature to be implicit, even if its obtuse, i refuse to be explicit if i can avoid it

#do i contradict myself sometimes. yes #but. i want to #almsot everything i draw and maybe write i want t to mean its thing but i will not tell you shit #i dont think i have to and i dont want to #(unless...?) #i think a main factor is ive been constantly misunderstood on spoken meaninf #instead of simply not saying anything ever again used against me i opt to not say anything #i feel sometimes drawn sentiment can be occluded more that if you dont get jt its not my problem #than being forced to go 'tgats not what i meant' because i cant speak for shit sometimes

[spiritofjustice]

saw one of the people closing with me tonight called out and i just know. i just know i'm gonna be on register all fucking day again because of it.

#psy's no punctuation posts #work tag #and that's not his fault but like. goddamn it man #i hope the other closer will close up there. he always bitches abt the fact he doesn't like closing up there. me neither bitch #and i'm tired of being on register all the time. deal with it #i like that guy as a friend but he's the worst fucking coworker sometimes #he's even lied to me about stuff he supposedly got done before #that kinda soured how i viewed him a bit #i'm not his boss. when i ask him if he finished recovering kids i just want to make sure it's done #cause if it isn't i'll do it or i'll help #but instead he lied and said our other coworker also went through it after close!!! #LIES. fucking lies. he hadn't touched it and our coworker hadn't been there at all #i think it's possible and probable he misunderstood what section i was asking about but seriously. #he sucks at recovery so it's frustrating that HE gets to recover on the floor and i don't #so you'll let the guy who does a shitty job/no job at all do it but i have to be on register. ok. #alright i'm being mean. i love that guy but goddamn

[innytoes]

Hello, can I request 14. Every time I come home there are more tiny pumpkins everywhere and it’s driving me insane from your autumn prompts list, with Alex being the one who's being driven insane? - @michelangelinden

Also for @floating-in-the-blue who asked for Willex + 14

Listen, it wasn't like Alex minded the way all his friends seemed to go insane about fall every year. He was used to Luke pouncing on him whenever he saw someone had placed a pumpkin at their front door, hollering 'it's decorative gourd season, motherfucker'!. He thought it was cute that Reggie, Flynn, and Julie did a Pumpkin Spice Latte Grand Tour to find which coffee shop had the best one. (Even if he always needed to call for backup when they came to the studio full of seventeen small PSLs worth of caffeine.)

He helped Reggie and Carlos hang up their ghost lights in the studio, he complimented Mister Molina's wreath on the door, and he quietly wondered why everyone seemed to be celebrating the start of flu season. Still, he didn't want to be a killjoy over something so harmless. He had way better things to be a killjoy about.

So when the first pumpkins arrived in his apartment, he didn't even notice at first. They were clustered in a little group of three on his coffee table. It was right after The Great Pumpkin Spice Latte Disaster Of 2022, so he almost managed to convince himself that maybe he'd put them there himself. Despite his best attempts (and because Luke and Willie were no help) they'd dragged him to the dollar store. Reggie kept adding fall and Halloween themed stuff to their basket, even though they said they just wanted some snacks.

He'd tried to put them back discretely, but clearly some had come home with them. Maybe he'd taken some home with him.

But then more pumpkins arrived. Another three, clustered on his book shelf, next to his favourite cactus, the one Willie called Alex Junior. One on his nightstand, on top of the book he was reading. Three lined up on the top of his ancient not-that-flat-screen TV. One in the soap dish in his shower.

It would be cute if Alex didn't live alone.

Reggie was the only one who had an emergency key, but Reggie swore up and down that he hadn't broken in to keep leaving tiny pumpkins at his place. In fact, at the anxious look on Alex' face, he carefully asked if Alex was okay and if he wanted Reggie to sleep over or something.

He almost said yes, but somehow that made his whole 'tiny pumpkins keep appearing in my apartment and I'm worried I might be axe-murdered by an evil Halloween spirit or a serial killer who has a Tiny Gourd Fetish' anxiety feel more real and grounded in reality. It probably wasn't that. It was probably just Luke playing a prank or something. Right?

He was fine. Totally fine. It wasn't freaking him out or anything.

But then one day, he came home, to find Willie perched on top of a stool on top of his coffee table, carefully trying a pumpkin on a seethrough string to his ceiling fan.

"YOU!"

"Hey, Hotdog!" Willie said cheerfully, finishing up his handiwork with a flourish before hopping down.

Alex spluttered at the lack of guilt. "You... how... you don't have a key!" Not that he didn't want his boyfriend to have a key. He was waiting for their anniversary in a few weeks to ask him to move in with him, okay? He had this whole romantic date planned.

"Babe, you think I need a key to get into your apartment?" Willie asked. "That's so cute." He came over and pressed a kiss to Alex' cheek. "Do you like it?" he asked, making jazzhands at the now seemingly floating pumpkins above his coffee table.

"I just... why?" was all that would come out of Alex' mouth.

"Because you love the season so much," Willie said. "But you never decorate or do anything for yourself. I wanted to do something special for you."

"I don't... I- okay." The fact that Willie had gone through all this trouble just to do something to make Alex smile made his heart hurt. He pulled Willie close, kissing him thoroughly.

"I love it."

Maybe he did like fall a little after all.

#willex #julie and the phantoms #fanfic #I wrote a thing #alex mercer #willie throckmorton #the pain I suffered calling it fall instead of autumn #it's decorative gourd season motherfuckers #willie you're trying to be a good boyfriend but you have fundamentally misunderstood the situation #except for how maybe you haven't #ALEX FOR ONCE IN HIS LIFE TRYING TO NOT BE A SARCASTIC ASSHOLE ABOUT SOMETHING #Willie: ah yes he must love the season as much as his friends #willie's top tip for being a good boyfriend: crime