#oh and also since the boys seem to parallel the girls there will probably be a queer relationship which is good!!

[neuvistar]

HONKAI STAR RAIL MEN AS FATHERS! pt two.

— featuring ┊luka, luocha, welt, sampo koski x fem!reader (all separate)

— warnings / content warnings ┊hsr men as fathers pt 2 !! mostly fluff, not proofread, mentions of pregnancy i think?? i forgot, them being absolute sweethearts, since we don’t know much abt luka yet i might fuck up on his character but it’s okay, DILFS DILFS DILFS! overall just fluff | pt one here. (jing yuan, blade, dan heng, gepard) pt three. (aventurine, dr ratio, argenti, sunday, boothill, gallagher)

— a/n ┊PART TWO OF THE HSR PAPAS!!! luocha n jing yuan prettiest dilfs i’ve ever seen foreal no one can convince me otherwise!

best papa #1 luka

— LUKA seems like one of those fun dads, he’s not generally strict but he wants his kids to be safe at the same time, he’s so fun and your kids love that he loves them sm! i think he’ll have two daughters, he’s another girl dad! his daughters would parallel each other, one is more feminine while the other is more masculine ! like one daughter would be just like him, interested in self defence techniques n all those things while his other daughter would be a little mini princess, feminine and sweet <3 he loves both of them sm

— LUKA who would spend time with his family + daughters any chance he gets, especially his daughters! he’s so chill, he wants them to be free and do what they want to do <3 i bet sometimes his other little daughter would force him to play dress up with her as a kid, “please daddy? pleaseeeeee!” how could he say no to his little princess? he ends up playing tea party and princesses + tiaras w her daily when she was still a cute little toddler, HES THE SWEETEST

— LUKA who loves it when his daughters ask him to teach them a few of his self defence techniques, even as toddlers one of his daughters would always copy his movements and copy what he does, and as she grew she would grow to be a strong independent young girl, HE LOVES TEACHING THEM THINGS HE LOVES DOING! his little daughter’s hair tied up in a long ponytail as she has a determined look on her face, wanting 2 be exactly like daddy! crying emoji

“is this how you do it daddy?”

“mhm mhm! that’s it princess, make sure to bend your elbows, no— yup! like that”

“yayy! daddy i’m just like you!”

“you’re just like daddy, that’s right!” he would pick her up, twirling her around “maybe even better than daddy, mm?”

— LUKA who is supportive of his daughters, oh.. they have a different dream they wanna pursue? he supports them! oh.. they want to do their own thing when they grow up? he supports them! he’s so supportive, even just in general! he wants his daughters to live their lives to the fullest, he wants them to find the beauties in life, they still have so much to explore <3

— LUKA who loves going out with his girls, i feel like during your anniversaries or valentine’s day or sumn like that he would be at the store buying something with both of his daughters holding one hand and he would randomly go “what would your mommy like, girls?” “what do you think fits mommy the most?” THEY LOVE HELPING HIM OUT, your daughters adore you both sm, it’s like luka still has a puppy crush on you despite being married with two kids

“would mommy like this one, girls?”

“i think mommy would like this one more, she said she liked these kinds of flowers once!”

“did she? alright, let’s get them!” he has a huge puppy crush on u (even tho u guys r married) it’s insane

best papa #2 luocha

— LUOCHA would be a loving doting father, i feel like he’d have two boys and one girl (jesus christ) and his two boys would look exactly like him, long blonde hair n same features aaahh ALSO HIS LITTLE PRINCESS WOULD HAVE HER DADDY’S EYES IM CALLIN IT RN! in conclusion his kids would look majestic just like their papa ! when he had his first child he probably shed a tear or two, holding him carefully in his arms :(( he’s a natural dad like jing yuan, it’s like he immediately knew what to do and was a natural at everything! by the time his third child was born he got the hang of taking care of his kids <33

— LUOCHA who’s children got injuries sm as kids n he was always there to aid them <3 during games he would participate in, there would probably be a time where one of them got hurt ATLEAST once, like his son falling over one time n luocha hastily walking over to him and picking him up from the ground + he’s the type to kiss their booboos once he helped disinfect it, putting a bandaid wherever they got injured and kiss it better :(( his children r so lucky to have a father who has good medical skills foreals crying emoji + it’s not only for this, he’s always willing to nurse them back to health!

“does that feel better?”

“m—mhm..” his son nodded, wrapping his small arms around him, sobbing quietly against his neck

“there there, no need to cry my angel. daddy already kissed your boo-boo, you’ll be alright.”

— LUOCHA who would take such good care of his children whenever they were sick, he was a natural at this due to his awesome amazing medical skills! he knew exactly what to do and what to give them, he’s such a caring father it’s insane it’s fun cuz y’all don’t even have 2 go to the doctor to check what’s wrong with your kids, luocha would know what’s going on! a fever? a cold? he knows! and he’s always nursing them back to health like i said !

— LUOCHA who would teach his children about medicine, i feel like all three of his children would have different dreams they wanted to pursue but i feel like his daughter would be interested in medicine just like he is, he found it adorable how she would play with her dolls and pretend to be their doctor, it’s so adorable to see his kids pursuing different dreams and him supporting every single one of them, he’s so chill hearts emoji

— LUOCHA would try his best to be there for his kids. because he’s a merchant, he tries his best not to be absent and wants to be there in their lives :(( he wants to see his kids grow up, y’know??? he loves them sm, and he loves YOUUU <3 i bet he takes his kids out from time to time so he could make new memories with them they could carry with them for the rest of their lives, he knows life is short, yes. that’s why he’s trying to live his life to the fullest with his family, he knows one day he won’t always be there to scoop them back up from the ground to aid their injuries :((

best papa #3 welt

— WELT would be a great father, he’s a lil strict on some ends but he’s not SEVERELY strict, i think he’ll have two sons (maybe a daughter too who knows) he made a promise to himself he’ll protect his two kids until the end of time :(( his sons would have their daddy’s eyes, and some features of him too! but they mostly look like their mommy sososweet

“look, they have daddy’s eyes.”

“do they?”

“mhmmm.. look at him, he looks just like you”

(his heart is slowly starting to melt as u speak)

— WELT who would give one of the best hugs, i feel like he’s that type of dad who’s serious like half of the time but whenever he’s with his family or spending time with his sons, he’s always willing 2 show a smile or two, but back onto it! he gives the best hugs, his favourite thing to do is hug his sons and kiss the temple of their foreheads before he goes out, he may be serious and a lil strict.. but he loves his sons just as much as he loves anything else, behind that strictness he rlly does love a good hug from his sons

— WELT who would bring his wife and kids along to the astral express, it’s so cute bc imagine seeing two pudgy wudgy little babies crawling around, i bet himeko would unofficially be their godmother too LMFAO <33 when they grow into toddlers, his sons would love bothering him at work, climbing on his leg and climbing on his desk, he doesn’t mind it it’s acc so surprising how he manages to keep a straight face! and when he wants to calm them down, he just sets both of them on his lap

“settle down. let papa finish this, okay?” he would pick them up, his sons giggling as they help him work along the way (😭😭😭)

— WELT who works at the astral express a lot so he doesn’t see his kids much :(( but he always comes home to you and them with gifts and souvenirs from other worlds! his kids would always run to him and hug his leg, welt scooping them up with a smile on his face ;; AAAA SO SO SO CUTE!

“papa! papa papaaaa!”

“did you miss me?” the two boys ran to their dad, hugging his leg as welt picked them up from the floor squeezing them into a hug “i got a few things for you both.”

“what is it what is it?!”

“i want to see, papa!”

“alright alright, settle down now. it’s a surprise, you’ll have to behave and guess first.”

— WELT who would give his sons advice on how to be better people, his advice is always so firm and straightforward.. he wants them to be gentlemen, he wants them to be the best they can be! he would teach them exactly how 2 be gentlemen, he would raise his sons to be one of the most respectful and kindest ppl ever <33 when they mature and shape into those kind of ppl one day, sometimes he looks back to when he was still able to carry them around like it was nothing :(( he knows his children r growing up and deep down inside he doesn’t want them to, he truly does love and cherish his sons, he’s so glad he was able to shape his sons into good ppl just like he wanted <33

best papa #4 sampo

— SAMPO is one of the most fun and uplifting dads out of everyone, i’m calling it rn he’s a girl dad n has a daughter, i’m calling that rn! he’s such a fun dad to have, like having him as a dad means everyday is never boring, he always makes everything fun! (u cant tell me that he doesn’t love making dad jokes during dinner in the dinner table, he absolutely loves making them it’s so funny)

— SAMPO who would let his daughter do anything with him, oh she wants to play dress up? he’s putting on a dress that can barely fit him rn! she wants to have tea with her plushies? he’s already setting up the tables, she wants to put makeup on his face and nail polish on his nails? he’ll let her! he’s such a fun girl dad, always willing 2 do what his daughter wants to do :((

“stay still, daddy! i’ll mess up if you keep moving around!” his daughter would pout, holding her mommy’s makeup in her tiny little hands

“sorry princess, the brush is ticklish. gotta’ be more gentle with me, yeah? you’re grabbin’ and brushin’ at my face too roughly” he chuckled, patting her back

“sorry daddy, i just want to make you look pretty! now, still please!” she’s so sassy just like he is, but he loves her sm!

— SAMPO would be such a dumbass. first things first, he has this issue with losing his daughter from time to time at amusement parks or places in general, always finding her crying alone and having to scoop her up in his arms apologizing and showering her with kissies + second he can’t even help her with her homework from school because he “doesn’t remember doing this” he would be complaining more than her! skull emoji it would always be HER teaching him instead of HIM teaching her LMFAOO

“why’re there s’many numbers here, angel?! this is what you learn everyday?”

“do you seriously not know how to do this?” you raised a brow.

“ you can’t blame me! i ain’t ever got good grades, can’t even remember how to calculate nine times ten!”

“you’re lying.”

“.. yeah i am. but there’s so much numbers, babe! look! this is what our princess has to deal with!”

— SAMPO who would show off his daughter to everyone, bragging about her accomplishments and bragging about how lucky he is to be her father, he’s so stupid it’s hilarious he absolutely loves his little princess sm !! he never shuts up abt how much he loves her and how proud he is w how far she’s come in life, he’s just thankful to have a family that’s all :(( he’s such a sweetheart he’s always so proud and supportive hashtag girl dad

— SAMPO who probably has social media accounts dedicated to his whole family, his wife and his little angel <33 he would absolutely love posting pictures of his family all together + his family in general, his phone would be filled with videos of his daughter from loooong ago, showing her the video and teasing her about it! he almost never deletes pictures of his daughter and you from his phone, he cherishes his family sm n it absolutely shows, always vlogging from time to time n documenting his life w you and his princess <33 HES SO ADORABLE IT HURTS MY HEART ALMOST

#ᖭི༏ᖫྀ maryse’s diary ૮꒰˶˃̵ ^ ˂̵˵꒱ა #hsr : papas ! ♡ #hsr papas : luka ! ♡ #hsr papas : luocha ! ♡ #hsr papas : welt ! ♡ #hsr papas : sampo ! ♡ #luka fluff #luka hsr #luocha fluff #welt fluff #sampo fluff #luka <33 #hsr x reader #honkai star rail x reader #honkai star rail fluff #sampo <33 #hsr fluff #luocha <33 #luocha x reader #hsr luka x reader #welt x reader #sampo x reader #welt <33 #i acc worked so hard on this foreal

[azulas-lightning-bolt]

uhhh guys I just realized I have a really big problem

I’ve officially oc-ified mako I repeat I have oc-ified mako. it’s happened. do you know how I know this? I drew him (I know, shocker) with grown out-ish hair and a lightning scar on his face. HE DOESNT EVEN LOOK LIKE CANON MAKO ANYMORE BESIDES HIS DUMB EYEBROWS HELP

I genuinely cannot escape this goofy ass orphan.

anyway here’s a list of mako hcs (under the cut)

gets called pretty boy four hundred thousand times a day and bolin makes fun of him for it because he’s a big scary police officer who gets flirted with by criminals he brought in. and I know I have it in the tags of some old post somewhere but bolin got called champ by a girl he was on a date with once and mako absolutely used that against him in retaliation

he’s shy but not in the nervous around people way. he’s shy in the awkward really intense eye contact because he doesn’t want to sound weird when he talks way. if he didn’t have extrovert guidance counselor bolin he would just never speak to anyone

i also firmly believe he is either mildly autistic or has severe anxiety (he’s me)

he cries once a year (exactly 365 days apart) at exactly four o’clock on the hour and has done this since he was ten.

remember that one episode where mako was like ‘where’s chief beifong’ ‘are you okay chief you’ve been asleep for sixteen hours’ and ‘chief is really good at her job the city’s lucky to have her’ on zaofu. pretty sure it was ‘old wounds’? that’s how he is all the time. he says chief at least 463 times an hour and a month into working at the station people just give mako an update on the chief as soon as he walks up to them. she’s his mom your honor. tenzin is always fighting demons when he sees mako look at lin like she’s his mom and she’s like. chill with it. he’s like ain’t NO way. basically mako gets one female figure of authority in his life and immediately latches onto her as a mother figure. lin is grudgingly accepting because he’s kind of pathetic and sad looking (he reminds her of herself)

he’s transmasc. I don’t make the rules (I do in fact make the rules)

as you know from that one post, mako is absolutely a great chef.

I think he’d either be a charcoal artist or a really good writer. only charcoal artist, but he would do all kinds of writing—short stories, novels, poetry, journalism, whatever. he’d occupy himself on late nights he couldn’t fall asleep on an empty stomach with made up stories and he just started to get really good. but he also hasn’t gone to school since he was eight so he’d get frustrated if he doesn’t know the word for something. if he drew it would be hyperrealistic portraits (he’s trying to remembers his parents’ faces)

kind of related to that but I think mako loves reading/writing but is a natural math genius.

I know I’m a little insane about, like, character parallels but I just KNOW katara sees herself in mako.

so azula is my all time fav girl right. so she and mako both generally maintain a good poker face or a facade that masks genuine constant rage right. (just agree with me) but at the end of atla. azula’s breakdown. now, now hear me out. mako->azula style breakdown when he finally loses his shit. he’s just so girl coded and azula’s rage seems so. fitting for him I guess. it’s also the inherent feminine anger of firebending I guess? I’ll explain that one later. probably. hopefully. I have so many posts I’m planning to write oh my god.

korrasami r still in love with him and they all get together post canon 😋🤞🏼

HETEROCHROMIA!!! idc if it’s central or in each eye but that man has one gold/brown and one green eye.

the mako in my head also looks a lot more like bolin—and bolin might have some of the more angular fn features as well to balance them out and make them look like, yk, actual mixed kids.

that’s probably it for now but by god if I don’t update this list

#atla #avatar the last airbender #mako lok #legend of korra #mako #mako tlok #headcanon #chief beifong #katara #azula #bolin #slug’s stuff

[buckyarchives]

the trials and tribulations of getting Bucky Barnes a second date.

summary: Bucky hasn’t kissed someone since the 40s and he needs a little… practice.

words: 2.1k

tags/warnings: tooth rotting fluff, gender neutral reader, bucky being old and reader being horny

a/n: small drabble i posted on ao3 awhile ago. i need to post more on tumblr so here’s this.

read on AO3

—♡—

Boredom was going to eat you alive.

Bucky Barnes had fallen into a depression since his last date, it had probably been the tenth one this month because you and Sam were oh so determined to get James Buchanan Barnes back out into the dating scene. And the dating apps were definitely not working. So he opted out. Bucky came through the door of your shared empty apartment and declared he was destined to be alone and threw himself on the couch– and it seems he hasn't gotten back up since then.

“So like, Steve is an asshole.”

You hummed, eyes glued to the television screen. “Wait until you figure out that's not even his real name.”

“Jesus.”

Having been there on the whole failed-date-depression thing, you joined Bucky on the couch and decided to help him catch up with the 20th century. So you introduce him to netflix and your favorite series– shameless. It was trashy and loud and nothing like Bucky had ever seen. He described it as a train wreck that he couldn’t keep his eyes off. You agreed. He likes it.

Anyways, that was about 2 or 3 days ago, give or take. Sam had been texting and calling you both, in his words, to get off your lazy heartbroken asses before he had to come over and rip the television off the wall. Sam also texts you in big capital letters.

FIX HIM.

You scoff at the message and grab another piece of pizza from the coffee table. You glance at Bucky on the other side of the coach, lying parallel to you. His 5 o'clock shadow had grown darker, as well as the bags under his eyes. Bucky is wearing one of his many stupid red henley shirts and some sweatpants, your eyes travel down his body, and his foot is nudged between your side and the couch. You poke it. He flinches, Bucky’s a little ticklish. But don't tell anyone that.

“Alright, Buck.” You snatch the remote and pause the show. “What's your problem?” He looks offended, like he wasn't expecting this conversation at some point.

“I don't know what you’re talking about.” he sends a glare to you, the reflection from the tv makes his eyes glossy and bright. He looks pretty good, for being couch-ridden depressed. “You know what im talking about '' you snark back. Bucky turns, his face lands flat into a pillow. A muffled and pained-groan escaped his lips. Swiftly, you reach across the man's body and grab the pillow.

“Gimme that!” bucky reaches, but you’re quick.

“Not until we fix your… dating problem.”

Bucky rolls his eyes. “Jesus. You make it seem like I'm some loser.” he sits up, scooting to the edge of the couch. You tilt your head and give a teased look. He notices.

“I know, I know…'' Bucky trails off, eyebrows furrowed close as he dramatically falls back onto the couch. Pick a spot man. Bucky sighs and continues. “I just keep overthinking everything, like Steve always told me about how I used to be, y’know? That charming, romantic boy from brooklyn that swooned girls everywhere he went.”

You punch his shoulder softly, to lighten the mood? You were so not going to let Bucky go all doctor raynor therapy sessions on you, especially over your pizza. “Dude, don't brag.”

“Seriously,” bucky says your name, seriously. “I've come to face the fact, that boy is gone. But, i just overthink, and it gets awkward and then they start nagging me about me and my past–”

“Nope!” you interject. “That is not nagging, buck. That's called getting to know your date.”

“And, we had the talk about if you were going to try dating that mean having to tell people about your past.” you speak, matter-of-factly, your finger pokes his chest.

“Whatever. I just tense up and get nervous, it's hard talking to people. It’s not like you or sam!” he waves his hands around, motioning to you. Your mouth opens to say something, but nothing comes out. You close your mouth. “Its just so stupid, dating is so different now. When did getting flowers become... weird?”

bucky looks confused, you could have sworn that sam and sharon gave him the run down on dating in the wonderful year of 2022. Guess not. “It's not weird, the standards have just gotten lower for men and dating.”

“More of a reason for me to be good at dating!”

“Oh poor you, old man!”

You throw his pillow back at him, Bucky grabs it before it hits his face. Almost, you thought. The room goes silent again, you lean back against the couch next to bucky. Your head turns to look at him, his eyes are shut. You take notice of his features, not your first time though. Your mind darts back to when he first came to the tower, when he was still recovering (i guess bucky still is recovering now) and barely spoke a word. But, you were, well– still are, a horrible insomniac and he had his night terrors that left him screaming awake. And Steve knew when he was awake and Bucky cared too much to keep Steve awake at night.

So, call it fate or call it a weird coincidence, you two found yourself in the commons room on late nights, which turned into sharing a bed. Two friends, sharing a bed to comfort each other. Totally platonic! And if the shoes fits. Bucky never had nightmares when he slept in your bed, maybe it was your brand of sheets? That was years ago and he still hasn’t told you that, maybe that was one of the reasons he agreed to buy an apartment with you.

Those nights, when you slept close to him (platonically!) you also, slept better and fell asleep much faster than normally. Which was a plus, but god– you could stare at him for hours. You wished to trance your finger along his jaw, or the curve of his nose, or maybe even just feel this skin on his cheek. You never indulged, you were scared you’d wake bucky and have to stop staring, is that creepy? Maybe, but he looked like he was sculpted by the gods so you’re sure they'd be very flattered knowing you were admiring their work. You’ve been doing that for years now and have yet to tell him about his beauty.

A quiet, breathy nose-laugh comes from bucky. You’re snapped from your thoughts and you see his eyes are open now. He didn't see you staring, did he?

“What?” you’re still looking at him. Bucky shakes his head, waving off your question.

You grab at his hand, the cold metal meeting your warm flesh, a comforting feeling. He doesn't flinch like he used to. You smile to yourself. “No! You can't do that and not tell me!”

“I can't say, really. It's kinda embarrassing.”

'`Oh?” you give him that look, that look that says ‘tell me or i'll cry.’ or maybe it's ‘tell me or i'll hurt you.’ whatever, it works.

“Don't give me that look, doll.” the nickname lulls off his tongue. You smile again. “Fine, okay. It's just… this last date. She– uh, she tried to kiss me and she was so close and i got nervous and tensed up, i panicked, really. Because i dont think ive actually kissed anyone since, well, the 40s.”

Your mouth gapes open. You don't mean to, really, but damn. No wonder he can't get a second date, the old man is practically a 13 year old boy when it comes to girls. Bucky glances over to you and sees your face. He screws his eyes shut in embarrassment and goes back to head in pillow mode. Maybe you'll tease him a bit more. “Buck, your virginity has practically grown back by now.”

“Oh, will you stop with that.” he playful smacks your leg. You laugh to yourself. And bucky swears he felt just a little bit lighter. Just a smidge.

Bucky sits back up again. Seriously pick a position to lay! He looks at you. Shifts his weight, shifting closer to you. He lays his head on your shoulder. You loved it when he did that.

“I'm never going to get laid.” he jokes, is he joking? You both laugh.

“You are shit out of luck, bucky.”

Suddenly, you had an idea. One that would go terribly wrong or terribly right. Maybe even wonderfully right.

You gulped. “Hey, bucky?”

He hums. bucky turned to look at you and you almost, just almost backed out on this very stupid and slightly self-indulgent idea. “I have an idea, to help you… get out of your shell. You can say no and hate it or me, and walk away and be mad at me for even suggesting this but…” you trailed off, slightly fiddling with your hands. Bucky's eyes brows furrowed slightly as he gave you a confused look.

“You can kiss… me. If you want, just to get you out of your shell, you know? And to make you more comfortable with the whole motion… of kissing.. Someone, anyone.” you keep talking, rambling. God, you need to stop talking. Finding the right words seemed so impossible. This idea sounded much better in your head, you fiddle with your fingers more.

He doesn't respond. Fiddle with fingers more. You screw your eyes shut and expect him to get up off the couch, finally, and be depressed in his room.

Bucky thinks for a moment, sucks in his lip. “Sure.”

Your eyes shoot open. ”what?”

Fuck, fuck, fuck–

“Only if you're comfortable with it, sure.” Bucky said. It was your turn to panic now, had you really thought this through? Did you really want to do this? Spoiler, yes you did. But you really didn’t think he’d actually agree to this, you assumed he’d say no and you two would, hopefully, just laugh it off and continue watching shameless.

“Doll? You okay in there?’ he smiled at you like this idea wasn’t crazy.

“Yeah, yeah, sorry. Just thinking..” you stopped yourself from speaking out your thoughts. You faced him. “You really wanna do this?”

Bucky just nodded and moved to face you. His eyes landed on you and just like that, a flip switched and you couldn't stop the word vomit.

“Seriously, I don't want to force you to do this or make you uncomfortable, also I really don’t want this to change anything between us, you know? Because i really like being your friend and if this jeopardized it that would be really bad-”

“Just shut up and let me kiss you.”

Then, suddenly. His lips slant against yours and bucky swears he’s in heaven. Swears that you're an angel. Bucky's hand instantly grabbed the back of your neck to quickly close the gap between you two. You sat there still under his grasp for a second, before snapping back to life and slowly beginning to kiss back. You'd never imagined being in this position years ago, hell even 30 minutes ago. Your hands raised to the sides of his face, this moment was so sensual and sweet it could rot your teeth. Bucky's lips were so warm and soft against yours, this felt like heaven. His tongue grazed your lips, you let him in and soon he danced in your mouth. It was all too sweet and hot. You had to cherish this moment while you could because this could, and probably, will be the only time you get to kiss him.

Pulling away slowly, your eyes made contact instantly. Surprise and… lust, flashed in Bucky's eyes. You were both breathing heavily and you glanced at his lips, they were pink and wet, even a little swollen. He had yet to say anything and it was getting harder to resist going in again. He sucked his bottom lip in and his eyes shot to your lips for a moment.

“Fuck it.” you breathed out.

And you dove into him, pushing him down onto the couch so you were on top of him as you connected your lips again. Your hands latched around his neck as he gripped your waist, pulling you even closer into him. The kiss was more aggressive this time, his hands were all over you as you started to trail yours down bucky's body, feeling how solid his chest was under his henley shirt.

“It's always been you.” bucky pulls away just far enough to murmur against your lips. Your body feels incredible hot. “I just wanted you.”

the world went quiet, your brain short-circuited and all you could focus on was his icy eyes and his hands holding your face. Was this a confession? or were you dreaming? oh my god. your mouth gaped open slightly.

“you’re telling me we could have done this months ago?”

Bucky's eyes crinkled and he laughed. you feel like you're on fire. and he dips down again.

#james bucky barnes #bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes #bucky fluff #bucky barnes x gender neutral reader #bucky barnes x y/n #bucky barnes x you

[shadowsandsunset]

Spoilers for s7e5 9-1-1 under cut:

So I'm watching live and I am missing parts because of a tornado warning but:

Opening? Funny as hell. Poor Eddie. His poor balls.

Karen and Hen preparing for a baby with Chim and Maddie and then not getting a baby? But a little girl age 9? Interesting.

Buck being awkward and closeted with Tommy.

Eddie interrupting? Marisol moving in? Ooooof.

Tommy being like "I don't think you're ready" ow my heart. He's absolutely right to do so. Love Tommy!

Hen and Karen meeting the little girl.

Tornado warning. Ugh. Btw, I'm out of the path of the tornado warning, it's further south of me but I'm getting the warning anyway.

Buck going to Maddie for advice and then playing the pronoun game "this person".

Maddie catching on... "Now you're more than an ally"

Then.... "it's the same Tommy... Eddie's friend..." With a frankly judgy stare Lmfao

Maddie is giving good advice even if taken off guard but being supportive like we knew she would be. Maddie is awesome.

Then Eddie and Marisol in bed in the next scene...her boxes everywhere.

Also hello shirtless Eddie, welcome back, good to see ya.

Marisol was almost a fucking Nun??? Eddie making jokes about being spanked...

Back to the little traumatized girl with Hen and Karen. Karen and Hen are such good moms. This poor kid tho. I don't know what has happened to this kid but goddamn, my heart.

Ooh Buck what are you doing with Eddie... Eddie is being weird about the nun thing lol and talking about his reservoir of Catholic guilt

"like sea monkeys" "no"

Something something tornado warning

"I haven't been able to...you know...since I found out"

"which is why you're so pent up"

Buck backing out of telling Eddie about his recent sexual exploration...

Hen and Cap talking about the traumatized girl. This is heartbreaking. The whole situation is heartbreaking. Poor Denny, he's such a a good kid. But like...why isn't this girl in therapy of some sort? Shit. Like...shit. I hate the US healthcare system. But something is going on and like...idk.

Again, this tornado warning is annoying. I'm missing half the convos and my closed captions aren't working properly.

Hen and Karen are struggling, which I understand, and I think they're trying but with cases like this...

Now Eddie and Cap are talking about Marisol... And his commitment issues... I swear to God Cap was going to say "military, your job, ... Buck" lmfao

"I would probably go to confession, wouldn't want to get on her ex's bad side...the Lord"

Dog attack? Parallels to the little girl? Ooh, heavy handed metaphors...

Wait, does Hen just know dog CPR? Cool.

Oh yay, the dog doesn't die! Hen is now committed to helping the little girl.

Mara is the little girl's name, Athena is helping... The girl's parents were criminals, died to OD. The girl called 911. This poor kid.

Buck and Eddie... Ooof. I'm not spoiling this. I love you all. Ok.

I will say Eddie didn't seem super surprised about it but the fucking tornado warning drowned out half of the scene. I am pissed. I'm going to have to rewatch this later.

Buck is the cutest little bisexual and I love him. I really do.

Eddie...and Marisol. Nuns. Moving In. Not moving in. Blah blah don't care. Sorry not sorry.

More with this new kid and Karen. God, Hen is lucky AF. Karen is amazing and I want to marry her.

Buck and Tommy! Yes. Yessss. Awwww. I love them. Buck is growing up! Tommy is fucking amazing. He's so gentle and kind and and awwwww.

The boys showing up for the wedding like that... lmfao. Omg. We gotta wait two weeks for The Hangover: 9-1-1 edition.

This episode is not what we wanted for Buddie but uh... There is still time? Maybe? There's always fanfiction.

Also? Tommy? I like him. I hope we keep him.

Also? Friendship is never a consolation prize. If they ever end up together or not, the love is there and that matters. The love always matters.

#live thought process #tornado warnings suck #spoilers #911 abc #911 spoilers #911 season 7 #911 s7e5

[ourladyofmaplemurder]

So I watched The Beguiled...

As a professional Blossom Scholar, I took it upon myself to view The Beguiled. Cheryl references it in Season 2 prior to her sleepover with the inner circle Vixens and cousin Betty. (Season 2. Episode 16 - Chapter Twenty-Nine: Primary Colors)

Mad ramblings under the cut. <3

Judging by their faces, I'm going to say that they probably have NOT seen this film. Or, if they have, they do not have the appropriate dressing gowns to evoke its image.

Now, I debated whether or not to watch the original 1971 version starring Clint Eastwood or the 2017 version starring Nicole Kidman and directed by Sofia Coppola.

Which version, I wondered, would Cheryl be referring to? Likely the latter, I concluded. After all, I can totally see Cheryl being into Marie Antionette and probably the Virgin Suicides. (I could write a whole post on Cheryl and her possible feelings about the Virgin Suicides, but let's move on.) Not to mention there's something just a little pretentious about being into Sofia Coppola, but I digress.

The point is that Cheryl being Sofia Coppola fan seems likely.

Thus, I watched the 2017 version first.

Now, let's break down the plot of The Beguiled as quickly as possible.

Basically, it's the Civil War and Martha Farnsworth has a small school for girls in the South amidst the fighting. Amy, one of the girls, finds a union solider while hunting for mushrooms. She brings him back to the house and they decide to nurse him back to health. (Oh boy.)

And thus begins a slow and torturous unraveling of the relative peace these women have enjoyed. Each of them vie for the soldier's affections until he tries to make a pass at Alicia, one of the students at the school. Distraught because the soldier had previously declared his love for her (and also Alicia is 17), Edwina fights him off. He falls down the stairs and worsens his leg. (Oh dear.)

Martha decides to amputate because the wound is too severe for her to fix. However, when the soldier wakes up, he is convinced they took his leg in revenge and he becomes violent. Thus, the women of the house (minus Edwina who was too busy courting the soldier despite everything) decide to poison him with mushrooms. They do. He dies. (Oh boy!)

I'm not gonna pick apart this movie, but I will say that that the inconsistency in their dialect work was genuinely distracting. Anyway.

So, why are we talking about this?

Well, there are a couple of interesting details about this movie that do, indeed, apply to Cheryl's sleepover. Namely a poisoning and someone falling down the stairs. Obviously Nana Rose is not a wounded soldier making a pass at one of the girls, but one of the topics that Cheryl & Co. discuss is the matter of Uncle Claudius. Now, Cheryl is convinced that he is out to kill her, and he probably is, but he does try to break into her room a few nights prior, so, there's a creepy parallel for you. Not only that, but he is a solider who mysteriously arrives to the estate and thus, causes problems.

Additionally, when reviewing the 1971 version of the film, we get the additional detail of Martha Farnsworth having an incestuous relationship with her brother so. There's also that. (This show cannot go too long without a nod to the Blossoms and incest. It's like they have a quota.)

I find it fascinating that Cheryl references this film and then her sleepover has echoes of it within. There really is something to be said about how fiction and reference bleed into reality with Riverdale all the time. Even in the smallest throwaway lines.

Additionally, I think this may have been Cheryl attempting to relate to her peers. Per the screenshot above, she failed.

My poor gothic heroine.

Also, shout-out to Cheryl dissociating in the midst of the hair brushing train. (Is this one of the parlor games she mentioned?)

ALSO. This scene features one of my all time favorite Cheryl lines:

"There's a stranger in this house. My Uncle Claudius. He's as mad as the sea and ever since he blew in, I feel like I'm in mortal peril."

And finally, we all know Tannis Root is not a real herb, but a reference Rosemary's baby. I will speak on that another day, but APPARENTLY Penelope is cultivating Datura in the greenhouse? Hello????

That needs its own post.

Anyway. These were my findings. Happy trails. <3

#The Beguiled #Riverdale #Cheryl Blossom #My scholarship knows no bounds.

[feuqueerfire]

Jazz For Two Live Blogging

Another kBL, here we go.

Ep 1 (Apr 11)

ASTCO boys

I think I heard something or other about bullying and I wasn't sure if it was between the main couple since it's enemies to lovers but it seems like it's between the second couple? is homophobia gonna be an aspect of the bullying?

ah, somebody dear to him used used to play piano but is... probably dead now?

Taejoon, Taeyi they were probably brothers ig

but did Taejoon die on Taeyi's birthday then?

Ep 2 (Apr 11)

lol this is the "that's my boyfriend" scene that's in so many edits/clips for the show

lmfao tripped and spun long enough in each other's arms for it to basically be a dance

I was kinda expecting Doyoon to walk in but makes sense it's the other guy Juha since Doyoon went home

hm Juha being weird to Seheon... is it to get back at Taeyi cuz he thinks they have a thing? Well don't harass Seheon

Ep 3 (Apr 12)

I really fucked up starting this right now agh... I'll try to go back to doing my work after watching a few scenes

Juha gotta stop playing with Seheon like this! Creep >:(

but what is Juha telling Taeyi

woah Seheon is such a fool lmfao first being like Juha sunbae doesn't seem like a bad dude like no way... and second being like oh! The reason Taeyi doesn't like Juhee is because he likes Juha lmfao. clocked him being into guys lol but wrong guy

this show kinda funny lol the way Seheon asked everybody for help and is not even telling Taeyi that he apparently likes Juha

okay y'know what at least Seheon is indeed in the noraebang so I'm sure he'll step in... at some point... right? Becuase I was worried what Juha was gonna do to Seheon but he really just seems to have the most fun when he's playing with Seheon right in front of Taeyi to make him jealous. creep tho

I actually don't get it, is Seheon dumb af regarding what Juha is doing?

bruh Juha is such a creep and so scary too D: Is Doyoon really gonna end up with him :(

NO ! >:( what fuckass kiss already no !

Ep 4 (Apr 12)

...welp I watched full ep 3 unfortunately, smh

agh i do get the appeal of the bully romance aspect but it’s so agh like how dare Juha treat beloved puppy cute Doyoon like that

taeyi having trouble sleeping but falling asleep listening to seheon play piano

even the therapist being like hmm you got any feelings for him?

watched this much in bed before going to sleep lol

dang, Taeyi is ill?

Ep 5 (Apr 12)

Juhee saw her brother punch Doyoon (but not Doyoon kissing him first?)

Doyoon and Seheon are cute friends, can't they end up together and not Juha with Doyoon? Or at least give me something to warm up to Juha/Doyoon soon

Ah, scene from the beginning of Taeyi coming to Seheon with the umbrella

another fakeout kiss, this time from the main couple lol

Ep 6 (Apr 12)

so did they kiss in-show or no?

i'm gonna assume no and it was just supposed to be a trick with the umbrella smh

hah only one bed

dirty?!

ah, everything falling apart for Juha but he's still scary so no

i hope this turns out to be a real Taeyi/Seheon kiss

Ep 7 (Apr 12)

i hope Taeyi doesn't react badly to the kiss...

I was like okayyy Juha/Doyoon convo but idek how I feellllll cuz like I'm into it with one foot while with the other I'm like it's not... enough yet to make up for his creepy/weirdo/scary behaviour but it's still... cute idk

Oof Taeyi really wiped his mouth

Taeyi talking about whether he's a girl to Seheon or Seheon considers himself a girl is kinda crazy actually

omg why are these love interests all so scary T.T Taeyi stoppp wtf is this sexual assault kinda

okay didn't take too long to make up apparently

both the couples have become so ooey gooey cute, is it earned? who knows

What's up with the Jazz For Two thing, did their brothers have something too or what? Or is it plagiarism?

Ep 8 (Apr 12)

Did he die because of you is a crazy thing to ask fr

Taejoon and Sejin whole history goddamn but it also parallels the two couples' stories (except sad ending)

ah, Seheon wants to break up with the Taeyi cuz of all their brotherly mess?

they usually make up quickly which is good cuz we're literally at the last ep hah

hehe Seheon and Doyoon besties

ah Juha in the group now

kiss

idk if I wanted more of Juha/Doyoon or not like... I might've warmed up to them more? because theoretically I could like the dynamic if it's more developed

Overall:

Nobody in this drama asks before kissing lol not Doyoon, not Seheon, not the little kiss that Seheon's brother gave to sleeping Taejoon, and the other two, Juha and Taeyi, are experts in being creeps and having internalized homophobia that they direct outwardly to the guys they like as well (Seheon's brother fits here too lol). Yet, I enjoyed it a fair amount, the story was coherent, the acting was fine, I was endeared by Doyoon (is he the Omega X kid?), and the dynamics were enjoyable, if iffy on certain counts. Not super attached though.

Rating: 6/10

#jazz for two #ep by ep commentary

[duoduotian]

sugar sugar rune anime vs manga 3

continuing from 20 since i reached the limit for images...

20.5 vanilla vs chocolat for ian's heart (continued)

vanilla having the actual shell with her vs her only having a picture of it in the anime

some manga only stuff (in case anyone's wondering why joe is there, it's because chocolat ordered something that would make it easier to win ian's heart)

in the manga, akira's dad was originally bringing the boys to the beach. chocolat was originally invited to go but ian said he won't go if chocolat is going. but then akira's dad suddenly decided to look for the pointy star-nosed mole so the plan fell through. she only invited ian but everyone decided to tag along, which was not what she intended for.

meanwhile, in the anime, they overheard vanilla inviting ian and said they wanted to go too. ian would only go if the other guys were going so that's why she let the others go. vanilla also told chocolat to invite the other girls since it might be a chance for her to get noir, probably if pierre interacts with chocolat i guess.

in the manga, chocolat ended up at amber's place (pierre seemed to have landed somewhere near chiffon mountain?) while in the anime, her and pierre each arrived at their respective houses in the human world

adding on to how chocolat gets to the cocoa desert to meet amber in the anime, she found a letter in cinnamon's diary from amber. robin said that amber might know something regarding removing noir hearts so chocolat decided to meet with amber to seek help regarding vanilla.

21. walpurgis night

the heart bangle left behind by cinnamon replaces the heart-shaped hair pin given by queen candy. both serve the same purpose and allow chocolat to retrieve the key to open her mother's diary

oh and like whatever the diary said just didn't align with what is canon in the manga but it'd be too big of a spoiler so i won't mention it here

22. at amber's

i'll start off with the manga first because it's more linear. so amber was anticipating chocolat's arrival so she didn't go through a bunch of trials like in the anime.

in the anime, she was also together with houx, saule + waffle

in the manga, chocolat knew which part the cocoa desert was in the magical world and has heard of amber at some point. in the anime, duke filled chocolat in about amber in front of amber herself (it did not end well for duke)

manga: amber offered chocolat some refreshments + new clothes and shoes.

anime: meanwhile, she just wanted all of them to leave her alone if there's nothing important. see waffle ranting to her and possibly making everything worse if chocolat didn't give her a dance bon bon

the mandragora was initially from the spring exam in the manga but in the anime, it was required to help remove a noir heart. notice how they started talking like how they were old friends in the manga... </3

23. ep 48 parallels

in the manga, chocolat promised to take better care of meteor so she had to give the broom a bath. meanwhile, in the anime, her broom wanted a bath since it got covered with sand at the cocoa desert.

pierre getting rid of some minor ogres giving chocolat trouble, he looked cooler in the manga from that angle

24. superior roses

sekiguchi was the first middle schooler to be offered a pin rather than chocolat. yurika really just be saying anything, there's no way she wanted to give chocolat one of these after all the drama

i like how in the anime chocolat and vanilla straight up called the members cowards... DESERVED

#sugar sugar rune #last post... i forgot about her in the drafts

[snallavanta]

okay i’ve got some sleep, the thoughts are more coherent, the crying has somewhat stopped so here are my thoughts on the last ever season of young royals 💜 (with spoilers)

🐟 writing + pacing

the writing of season 3 is so so similar to the way they wrote season 2. there’s always this huge emphasis on something that the audience could probably care less about. season 2 was about rousseau and season 3 was about hillerska closing down. seriously, did anyone really care that much about these two events? anyway, this pushed a lot of the emphasis onto the school which i felt was unnecessary screen time wasted.

pacing-wise is also similar to season 2. it’s unbearably underwhelming in the first few episodes then it gets really fast-paced in the last 2 episodes. i don’t know how this effectively gets the writers’ point across because i would’ve definitely appreciated some breathing space between the break-up in episode 5 to wilhelm dropping everything in episode 6.

that being said, wille’s decision appears rather impulsive even though we as a viewer know that this decision was something he thought about for the past 3 seasons. being a part of the monarchy was never on wille’s wishlist (and we are painfully made aware of it at almost every moment) but the fact that the break-up happened just before that made it seem like he did it for simon. i think that could’ve been conveyed better.

🎹 music

oh my god the soundtrack this season is especially good. every single song was so perfectly chosen & it portrayed the emotions of the characters so well. i also love the idea that the sounds sound more mature too (no abc i’m the alpha bitch type of nonsense 💀) because the characters are growing and becoming aware of the world and their surroundings

one thing though: i am so disappointed they did not continue the ep4-ep6 song parallel. the season 3 song would’ve worked so well for any wilmon scenes pre-breakup

also WHAT SONG IS THAT IN THE TRAILER AND WHY IS IT NOT EVEN IN THE SHOW? that infuriates me so bad especially since the song is so good

👑 characters

BROOOOO wilhelm angered me the whole season. he was so selfish and kept on going "me me me"; i hated his guts. however, i love that there was a clear distinction between crown prince wilhelm and wille. it’s clear that whatever crazy rules was not his decision to make and he was simply the messenger, but he still could’ve delivered the message more sympathetically. at the end of the day, i’m glad that he could differentiate prince wilhelm from wille and decide for himself.

SIMON. MY BELOVED. MY POOR BOY. he went through so much this season and he didn’t deserve any of that. i’m glad he was happy in the end but i wished he freed himself from the shackles of the monarchy (even if that includes wille) earlier on. it was so disheartening to see him lose a part of himself to keep up with the royal court’s wishes.

i wished felice got more attention that didn’t involve the people around her. i wanted to see more of her—how betrayed she felt by sara, how she was treated differently compared to her peers. yeah, she got that moment about her hair and standing up for what’s fair as the only black girl in school but everything else was just about wilhelm or the rest of the girls. make my girl be more than just the supportive best friend!!!

stedrika. no words. they reek of superiority and i hated it. i am glad they finally got together in the end though

august. i don’t know what to say about him. i’m relieved that him and wilhelm finally got their peace. i am also relieved that him and sara finally got closure. and as evil as it may be, i am glad that he is the new heir for the monarchy as it was always what he’s wanted—even if he realised it too late that it was only the idea of being king that he wanted, not the actuality of the role’s responsibilities.

and finally sara. this girl struck a chord with me. everything she said this season just somehow resonated with me. maybe it's because i recently found out i have adhd so i could see myself in her but i just felt so connected with her and seen by her actions. all along she's been trying to do what she thinks is best for everyone, but she just needs some help doing it the proper way. i was so sad for her when micke abandoned her again because it really felt as though he was turning over a new leaf. and when she made up with felice, i was full on sobbing at that point

💜 ending

now straight up, i felt that the ending was sub-par. it was so rushed, i barely had the time to process whatever was happening. one thing i love about young royals is how thought out everything is, but the ending was so cliche. i love that wilmon got their happy ending but it was just... not executed in a way i feel was satisfactory.

also i love the montage that played but i don't think it was the best choice of media to use. wilmon was constantly on-and-off during those periods. it's weird to use those because they weren't really official during that time (at least not to the whole of sweden).

the only thing that really moved me in the last moments is wille breaking the fourth wall again with a smile on his face, his hair all scruffed and knowing that he is now free to live his life however he wants to.

overall, i would have to watch the series again to process it all properly but these are my thoughts as of now, 2-days post watching season 3 <3

#young royals #pls be nice to me 😭 i haven't remembered every single detail from the show because i watched it in 3 days 😭 #also these are just my opinions. feel free to have your own <3

[summerstrash]

Calculating Alex Summers' Next Affair

Look, Alex is my poor little meow meow, my sweet idiot, my precious summer child, the blorbo from my comics, but we all know that he has a History.

I think this comes out of a terror of commitment because nothing committed has ever lasted in his life, mixed with a pathological need to perform heteromasculinity by immediately falling for any woman in distress who claims to need his help, but the fact remains: my man being in a relationship makes it more likely that he's about to hook up in an extra-curricular context.

So, who is it gonna be?

Let's start with the ladies, none of whom are currently likely, since the only women we have confirmed for Dark X-Men so far are Maddie (likely his current GF) and Gimmick (A Literal Teenager), but, nevertheless:

Kwannon — Kwannon is far and away the most likely, because she is the most Alex's type; a troubled, bereaved mother he feels indebted to, who is already in a relationship, and whose body was used in attempted or successful hookups with other members of his family (thanks Betsy). The second someone decides they want drama for John/Kwannon, I fully expect Alex to Fuck Around And Find Out.

Mystique — There's apparently trouble in paradise brewing for Mystique and Destiny, and Alex is a phenomenally useful idiot, something I'm sure Mystique is aware of. She's also a redheaded mother estranged from her son, and she and Alex spent 2020 and early 2021 in parallel quests to resurrect their dead, politically unpersoned lady-loves.

Lorna — I hope he doesn't! I really, really hope he does not!! But they've done it before and all it'll take is someone wanting them to bang again for it to happen. I just don't think that's likely right now.

Selene — This is my long-shot, dark-horse pick, because I think she's the most likely woman to show up in Dark X-Men besides Maddie, based on the book's influences

Mother Righteous — She's on the list because, as the female Sinister clone, there's a strong likelihood of her trying to fuck a Summers brother, and Alex is the Summers brother most likely to get fucked.

Zaladane — Lorna's sister (probably) and a dinosaur witch from the Savage Land. If Steve Foxe wants to playfully hurt Connor Goldsmith, this is probably the best way to do it. Depends, again, on her showing up, and I think that's an extreme long shot.

And now, the gents, because Oh Boy Do We Have Options Here:

Warren — Warren gets the top spot because he's blonde (the only hair color type Alex hasn't banged), he's a rich boy from a significant family (Alex's exes are, barring Annie, exclusively women who are either from significant families, or are rich and/or politically powerful in their own right), he's Bobby's teenage crush, and he deals with non-consensual body mods, a violent dissociative disorder, and will be the Saddest Boy In The Room, probably.

Gambit — Remy is already married, and there is nothing that makes you more likely to fuck Alex Summers than already being in a relationship that's kind of on the rocks. Remy also has the bonus of having been Schrodinger's Summers Brother in the 80s/90s, which I think actually makes Alex more likely to fuck him, not less.

Albert — I know this sounds like a weird third pick, but Albert's a robotic duplicate of Scott's metamour and he hangs out with a little android girl so he has Dad Energy by default. We have a history of Wolverine doubles being gay (Gov Gen Howlett, my beloved), and I just think it would be funny as hell.

Azazel — Kurt's dad, demonically affiliated, and seems appropriate for the situation based on Foxe's influential music. Also, it would be incredibly funny of Alex to Stacy's Mom Kurt in this particular way.

Larry Trask — my dark horse pick among the gentlemen, because he's not currently slated to be in this book, but i think if he's gonna come back, it'll be to join Limbo, and if he does, the likelihood of him and Alex having Homoerotic Tension is extremely high. He is exactly Alex's type.

Anyway, that's my take on who Alex is most likely to cheat on Maddie with, if he and Maddie are currently an item.

[enigmaticxbee]

✖️✖️ 11x08 Familiar

The one where... the terrifying children’s tv character Mr. Chuckleteeth is luring children into the woods.

Best: Why is a smiling figure and a cheery song sung by children the creepiest thing?

Worst: A young fair-haired girl named Emily dies and neither the show nor the characters seem to remember that Scully had a fair-haired daughter named Emily who died tragically. I… If you don’t want us to make that connection use another name! Any other name!!

✔️ Flashlights

✔️ Woods

❌ Slideshow

✔️ Autopsy

❌ Evidence Disappears

❌ Scully Misses It

❌ Mulder Ditch

❌ Sunflower Seeds

❌ Voiceover

❌ Catch Phrase

✔️ Scully is a Medical Doctor

❌ Mulder is Spooky

❌ Scuuullllaaaaayy! Muullllderrrr!

❌ Fox/Dana

❌ Inappropriate Touching (that I am here for)

❌ Casual Scully

❌ Casual Mulder

✔️ Trench Coats

❌ Bad Tie Watch

❌ Glasses Watch

50 States: Connecticut x8 (45/50)

Investigate: Together & Apart

Solve Rate: 79%

❌ Bechdel Test: No conversation between women

MSR: 🐝🐝

Goriness: 👽👽👽

Creepiness: 👽👽👽👽

Humor: 👽👽

Rewatch Thoughts:

William check-in: When asked if he has children Mulder replies he has a son who’s grown. I wonder what he would have responded before they found Jackson. Must be tricky, saying no would feel wrong but you wouldn’t want any follow up questions if you said yes.

Break-up check-in: They seem in a good place this episode, considerate of each other’s ideas even when they have opposing theories.

How did they hear about this case? Did Mulder set up some kind of alert for crimes in towns with history of witches?

Mulder: Agent Scully’s also a medical doctor, and damn good at her job. Backing up his partner to local law enforcement, we love to see it. Even though he clearly thinks witchcraft was involved. And because this is The X-Files of course he turns out to be right.

Mulder when Scully thanks him: Yeah, you’re my homie. Oh, Mulder.

Scully: … stirring something other than his cauldron. Ew, Scully, no.

Is it normal to have a funeral so quickly? It must have been only a few days since the boy died and as his mom notes the body hasn’t been released for burial… I know it’s probably just a narrative excuse to get all the characters together in one place.

Not sure I like the parallels this episode is trying to draw between the Salem witch-hunts and the presumption of guilt of convicted sex offenders. It just seems like more than this episode can take on - it’s already overstuffed with adultery and violent cops and witchcraft and wild animals and creepy children’s tv shows and and and…

Mulder’s I… did not see that coming when he accuses the chief of witchcraft and he confesses instead to sinning against God and opening the gates of hell because of his adultery.

This is one of those cases where Mulder and Scully investigating only made things worse lol - without them there everyone in those two families would probably still have ended up dead as this curse destroyed everyone it touched, but Scully wouldn’t have steered the investigation in the wrong direction resulting in the death of the innocent (of this crime) sex offender. Not that Mulder’s investigation had much of an impact either - wouldn’t it have been more satisfying if they had saved the chief’s wife at the end and she had to live with what her curse had done to her family?

Oh hey, the 2nd episode of the revival and 4th episode of the series directed by a woman

#xf rewatch #xf fanart #msr #familiar #the x files #the xfiles #thexfiles #xf #txf #xf motw #i want to believe #truth is out there #xf review #11x08 #revival

[just-the-cool-page]

Pen15

pen15 - Any introductory description will be... awkward and insufficient. It is awkward, the show, I mean. Watching it is awkward. Telling someone that you've watched it is awkward. Trying to explain why the show is worthwhile, despite the unavoidable and completely appropriate misgivings... awkward. It must be awkward no matter what age or gender you are. Every article seems to use the show's conceit as a way to avoid talking about the problems of carrying through with that conceit. I don't even know if I want to get into it, now that I've decided to talk about this show, but the two main (13 year old) characters are played by its creators, actors who are in their early 30s. Their friends are played by young teenagers, mostly from about 13-17. The difficult part is that their love interests are mostly teenagers as well. Kissing scenes are few, but significant. Viewers have probably had mixed feelings, discomfort, and worry over these scenes. Are... those women kissing... adolescents? As if they're both adolescents? Then in comes the research. The kissing scenes all used adult doubles, or the love interest was over 18. Ok, we still don't feel totally cool. And the "love scene" in the final episode? OK, adult actors. Who are very convincingly playing a thirteen year old girl and a fifteen (or sixteen?) year old boy. The sketchy age play does add to the overall, relentless feelings of "Oh no, this isn't okay."

Technically, nothing illegal happened on set, of course. Within the story, are there any crimes committed? Egging someone's house (not exactly, but you'll see. Please do see that part) might be the only crime. There are no assaults. But so much of it does feel wrong. And I can't say that feeling could have been accomplished any other way. Sure, we know, our at least say, that good art will make us uncomfortable. Great art will also comfort us. "But that's not- - what's going on with the audience isn't really the same thing as what's going on with the characters. It's different." True. Exactly. That's the "hidden" conceit. And it's one you'll find in a lot of great art, such as immersive installations. There's no way for an image or thousands of images (such as in a film) to make us feel the same complex feelings that are portrayed or captured on screen. Our feelings about something aren't the same as what's happening within that that thing, that work were being shown. But if we're pushed or drawn into parallel with it, one tension is replaced by a much more difficult one. But more effective. Possibly. Probably. Maybe, I dunno. What do you think?

No, I'm probably not covering new ground, but like being 13, we've got to sort out the very difficult things ourselves. What age is it okay to do certain things? How do I figure out how to do something I can't talk to anybody about? Are my body parts normal? Will anybody ever love any part of me for real? Now consider how many of those questions either come back again or never really go away.

"When will I be able to just run away, grow up, and not feel like this anymore?"

Aren't parts of ourselves still in middle school in some way or another? Often, this is honestly due to various levels of trauma. In 7th grade, my (only) best friend left school due to mental illness severe enough to put him into residential care. And I say "my only best friend" because I can't think of anyone I've known since then who would call me that. I didn't kiss anyone during middle school, or high school for that matter. So a part of me will probably always feel that level of alone. Middle school was decades ago. I guess, seeing best friends who are that committed to each other is bittersweet. If I spend all day with anyone now, I'll get sick to hell of them. But what if that kind of connection isn't actually impossible? This is where the more positive, and even comforting, aspects of the show come in. "Another show about friendship" wouldn't have gone far, or anywhere really, without taking us into the depths of these characters' weird, yet ordinary lives.

#pen15 #problematics in the face of undeniable artistic accomplishment

[minetteskvareninova]

Minette Watched The Princess and the Queen: Assorted Thoughts

- Pretty Thing Of The Episode: Daemon’s nightcloak. It’s nice to see men dress well for once.

- This one kinda dragged in the middle, but what a finish. Still, I am not wild about the timeskip. We get no Harwin x Rhaenyra intimacy, except for some longing looks - like, the woman probably stayed with him for ten years for a reason, if only we knew what that reason is! Also, no Daemon courting Laena (like, why did she or her parents agree to this match anyway?!), no Rhaenyra with her cool in-laws and so much other things that don’t allow us to appreciate the relationships between characters we came to this show after all. I know neither of these things is super important for the plot, but damnit, I wanted to see all of that! Both me and the characters deserve to feel some happiness before everything goes tits up in season 2! Also, we never learn how Criston Cole avoided charges of murder, besides “Alicent vouched for him I guess”.

- ‘Tis the season of trash fathers, y’all. We get no Leanor with the boys, and the less about Daemon’s parenting, or the lack thereof, the better. It does make the daemyra posts about Daemon as a dad to his girls funny in retrospect. Even Viserys, who you’d think is a veteran dad, and thus would have an edge over the other at least, is too old and decrepit to properly parent his children, meaning Criston Cole of all people has to step up. Like, it’s downright hilarious to watch Criston accuse Harwin of being the true father of Rhaenyra’s children, because he cares about them, when he obviously cares just as much about the children of his BFF.

- Aegon the Trashy begins his reign early, like I know teenage boys are assholes, but this kid really tests my patience. Of course, it’s not like he’s ever going to get better. I have a lot more sympathies for Aemon Still-Both-Eyes-For-Now, actually, which is a miracle, because I hated his book counterpart’s guts. Helaena wasn’t there for a very long time, but her scene with her mum and bug collection was cure. She seems nice, which just makes my knowledge of future events all the more heartbreaking. I don’t know if Daeron will be in the show, and I don’t even know if I want him to, considering he’s just one more good person tragically dying because of the whole shebang.

- Speaking of good people dying! Larys made quite an impression this episode. I am a bit miffed that we don’t actually know what his relationship with his dad and brother was, like if Lyonel openly preferred Harwin, it would at least make him look like less of a sociopath (I mean, not NOT like a sociopath, but oh well). On the other hand, I do commend his successes in outcunting Daemon. He’s truly shaping to be the Littlefinger of the Dance, and honestly? I’m here for it.

- Laena was a bit of a typical Wet Blanked Wife while on screen (an actual term, look it up on TV Tropes), which feels a bit weird for the rider of fucking Vhagar, especially since Rhaenyra does basically the same thing in this episode (making me sideye the creators somewhat). She did at least get an absolutely epic death scene, and I love that they didn’t go with the whole Daemon’s dragon baby thing, because it fits with my own personal headcanons (basically, the kid was just stillborn and it was Otto who spread the rumors about it being somewhat draconic, because Maegor the Cruel parallels).

- Alicent is in her That Bitch era, and again, I am here for it. It is a bit unfortunate that she needs Larys to push her into outright villainy, even if it does make her more sympathetic in the short run. I guess it wouldn’t be fair considering Rhaenyra hasn’t done anything super evil yet? Like, I do want the two of them to be somewhat on the even ground morality-wise, otherwise what’s the point of their rivalry if one of them is clearly the bad guy.

- Nooo, baby, don’t wish for your terrible father to come back, you’re so sexy haha... Seriously, like there’s not enough bad dads in this family!

- Both of my girls are capable politicians by now, which makes me happy too. And Rhaenyra supporting Daemon’s Stepstones project, which he himself abandoned, because he has the attention span of a puppy on crack. Do I sense some, eh, political dalliance?

#house of the dragon #minette watches hot d

[jolienjoyswriting]

Parallel Diagnoses (ft. Farfalla Chou), Ch. II

Chapter 2 of "Parallel Diagnoses," a Mega Man fan fiction story.

A good date turns bad with the discovery of something unexpected.

Word count: 3,303 – Character count: 20,001 Drafted: March 7th, 2023 –

Rockman, Roll, the Dr. Right Numbers, Heatman, the "Rockman" series, and related characters and concepts created by and © Capcom Co, Ltd. Farfalla Chou, the Dr. Chou Numbers, related characters and concepts created by and © jade-green-butterfly Joseph Dominique and related characters and concepts created by and © Jo Li

[ ↶ Prev. Story | ← Prev. Chapter | Next Chapter → | Next Story ↷ ]

    The four hours between Joseph's visit to the clinic and his "not-date" with Farfalla seemed to go by all too quickly.  In that time, he did some research on the robots made by Dr. Thomas Light.  The topic had come up in the clinic, so he was curious.     He wasn't entirely unfamiliar with the Right 'bots…  Rockman, being the most famous of them all, was someone he knew quite a bit about.  However, it seemed that the good doctor had created quite a few robots over the years.

    The first robot he looked up was Roll.  She was mentioned, specifically, when talking about Farfalla's shoes.  Seemingly, Roll was designed to be a housekeeping robot and as such, was created in the image of a young girl – much younger than Farfalla.  He guessed she must have been about "eight or nine years old", given her height and appearance.  There wasn't a lot of information about her since she was just the Right Labs housekeeper, though it seemed like she was something of a "fashionista", appearing in several outfits in several of her appearances with her creator.     Rockman was also created to be a housekeeping robot and originally had the appearance of a boy around Roll's age.  Not much about Rockman's "mild-mannered alter-ego" was written on the Internet, though some sites claimed that his original name was either "Mega" or "Rock".  Joseph couldn't decide which name was the right one – no pun intended on his creator – but the idea of two robot "siblings" named "Rock" and "Roll" definitely amused him!

    Six more robots were described on various sites, all designed for various tasks.  Two more were noted as being "experimental prototypes".  There were also seven seemingly created by Drs. Right and Wily during their brief team-up before the turn of the decade and an eight created by Dr. Wily for that same team-up.  Lastly, eight more robots of note were designated to Dr. Right – again, designed with specific tasks in mind.  None of the twenty-four robots particularly caught Joseph's attention, but what information he found on them was certainly interesting!  For example, it seemed that the construction robot named "Gutsman" had an interest in karaoke, though there were claims that he was very bad at it.  "Splashwoman", a sea-rescue robot, also liked karaoke, it seemed.  The man briefly wondered if the two ever sang together…

    Before Joseph knew it, the alarm on his cell phone went off.  He quickly grabbed his jacket and ran out of his apartment, heading out to the parking lot.  Not long after, he parked his car outside of the only café anywhere near where Farfalla worked.     "'Le Harry-cot Cream-ucks'…?" Joseph said, reading the posted sign in his best French accent.  "Hm…  Wonder what that means?  'Crémeux' probably means some kind of cream…"     "'The Creamy Bean'."     "Huh?"     Joseph looked to his right then looked slightly downward.  Standing nearby was…     "Farfalla!"     The little nurse 'bot smiled at the man.  "Bonjour!"     "Oh?"  Joseph smiled back.  "You speak le French?"     "Un peu," was her chipper response.  "And not nearly as well as I'd like!  Also, the coffee shop is pronounced 'Le Haricot Crémeux', just so you know!"     He laughed.  "I'll try and remember that.  Well…  Shall we sit?"     She nodded.  "Oui oui!"

    The two walked over to the outdoor patio together, side-by-side.  When they approached an empty table for two, Joseph pulled a chair out for Farfalla.  She smiled even brighter than before and thanked him before sitting down and scooting forward.  The man joined her on the other side shortly after.     "You seem… different, now," he randomly noted.  "More energetic…"     "I try to keep myself professional when I'm working," the woman told him as she set her purse on the patio floor.  Joseph noticed that the purse had the same color scheme as her outfit… which was the same outfit from before, but with the addition of gold bracelets.  Odd.     "That's a good habit," he told her, deciding to stay focused.  "I would try and apply that to my work, but since I more-or-less work by myself, there's really no one I need to impress."     "Oh, I don't stay professional to impress anyone."  She rested her hands on the table before telling him, "I stay professional so I can focus on my work."     "What do you do, anyway?"  Joseph featured her way.  "As a practicing nurse, I mean."     "'Nurse practitioner,'" she corrected with one of her trademark patient smiles.  "As a nurse practitioner, I do everything a doctor does, basically… though in this region, I can't write someone a prescription without a doctor's signature, as well."     "So… does that mean you operate on people, too?"     "That's a 'surgeon', Joseph!"  The woman giggled.  "I'm a general practitioner."     "Well… what does a general practitioner do?"     "You can think of general practitioners as 'family doctors'," she explained.  "We treat minor to semi-major wounds and injuries, suggest and prescribe preventative care in the form of treatments and sometimes medication, and just generally keep our patients healthy and well!"     "Oh!"     When Joseph smiled, Farfalla smiled, too.  However…     "You're still not sure about what we do, are you?"     "Not a clue!" he admitted.  That got her laughing.

    "There are 'general practitioners' – doctors and nurses who do a little bit of everything," she continued, "then there are specialists who, as the name suggests, specialize in certain fields of medical science and practices.  For example, a homeopathic doctor specializes in 'aromatherapy', the practice of good health through scents and sensations.  A podiatrist specializes in their patient's feet, ankles, and legs, while an orthopedic doctor specializes in the musculoskeletal system!  There are also dermatologists – 'skin doctors', cardiologists – or 'lung doctors', and so on!  Honestly, it's quite fascinating!  There are a wide variety of specialists out there and as a general practitioner, I've recommended several of them!  That's another thing general practitioners do, by the way: recommend people to specialists.  We're pretty good at what we do, but sometimes, it takes a specialist to truly cure what ails!"

    "Okay, hang on…"     Farfalla perked, tilting her head.  Joseph looked more confused than ever!     "If an orthopedic doctor specializes in… what did you call it?"     "The musculoskeletal system."     "Right, right.  Well, if they do that… then why do they call corrective footwear 'orthopedic shoes'?"     "'Ortho' is a Greek word that means 'correct' or 'right'," the nurse answered, "and 'pedic' means 'foot'.  Together, the word means 'correct feet'!"     "Wuh… that doesn't answer my question at all."     "I think it does!"  The nurse 'bot smiled again.  "After all, you called it 'corrective footwear', right?"     "Uh…"     She patiently sighed before explaining, "Orthopedic footwear does more than simply help with fallen arches or other podiatric irregularities.  It can also, in a somewhat indirect way, adjust the spine and improve one's posture!  As I said, it's all very interesting!"     "Uuuhh…"     "Or… not?"     Joseph rubbed his head as Farfalla covered her mouth and giggled.  Eventually, the man just smiled and nodded.  That seemed like the thing to do at the time…

    "Bee avenue!  Welcome to 'Le Harry-cot Cream-ucks'!"

    During a brief pause in the conversation, a waitress came out of the coffee shop.  She appeared to be a teenage girl with long, raven hair and silvery eyes.  She was dressed in a cute, orange-ish dress, frilly apron, and lace headband, and was carrying a metal tray in one hand.

    "My name is 'Maya' and I'll be your serve-yous for this evening!  What can I getcha?"     "A menu, maybe?"     "A… a menu?"     Joseph's request had seemingly thrown the waitress off her game.  She looked legitimately confused.     "Menu, menu, menu…" she said, suddenly rummaging through her apron's front pouch.  "Where did I leave that–"     "If I might interject?"     Joseph and Maya looked at Farfalla.  As always, she was patiently smiling.     "Joseph?" she began.  "Do you like iced coffee?  And, do you like caramel?"     "Yeah."  The man nodded.  "To both."     "Then, would you be willing to try something I suggest?"     He tilted his head.  "I don't see why not?"     "Great!"  Farfalla turned her attention back to Maya.  "One medium-sized caramel-ribbon crunch iced coffee, please!"     "Notepad, notepad, notepad…"  Once again, the waitress was rummaging in her apron.     "What about you, Farfalla?"     "Nothing for me, thank you!"     "What?"  He blinked.  "Okay…"

    "One medium caramel-ribbon crunch iced coffee and one nothing for the nurse?"     Maya jotted that down on a notepad she found in one of her dress pockets.     "Alrighty!  I'll be back with your order in a bit!  Mercy buck-you!"     With the order written, she walked over to the next table and gave them the same butchered greeting before taking another order.  Joseph couldn't help but chuckle…     "Did she really say 'mercy buck-you' before she left?" he asked Farfalla.     The nurse nodded, still smiling.  "I'm pretty sure she meant to say 'merci beaucoup'."     "Also, I was right.  This place is called 'Le Harry-cot Cream-ucks'!  She said so, herself!"     Her smile lessened somewhat.  "I'm pretty sure it's not, but that's okay.  She has really good energy!  I hope she does well here!"     "Do you come here often?"     "Mm-hmm."  Farfalla retrieved her purse as she told Joseph, "Sometimes, I just come here to people-watch.  The view of this main street is quite nice!"     "And they don't mind?"     "Why would they mind?" she said, opening her purse and reaching inside.     "Well… most restaurants and cafés I go to usually ask you to order something if you plan to hang around…"     "Oh!  I do order something, usually, but since you're with me, I don't have to!"     Joseph blinked a couple of times.  That was an odd thing to say.  On top of that, Farfalla seemingly pulled an equally odd thing from her purse.     "What's that?" he asked, pointing to the blue, cylindrical object on the table.     "This," the nurse 'bot said as she put her purse back under her chair, "is a consumer-grade Energy Canister, affectionately shortened to 'E-Tank' or 'E-Can'.  It was originally produced by Right Laboratories, but–"     "'E-Can'…?"  The man blinked.  "Hey, wait a minute…  Why do you have an E-Can?"     "To drink?"     He blinked again before going wide-eyed.  Farfalla pushed a small tab into the can and popped a hole in it, then without any hesitation, she started drinking it like it was a soda!

    "Farfalla!!" Joseph shouted, standing upright.  "You're gonna make yourself sick drinking that!"     It was Farfalla's turn to blink, though she remained perfectly calm, if not confused.     "I can't get sick, Joseph – especially not from an Energy Canister."     The man debated slapping the can right out of her hand as she took another long sip.  He paused, then, as he noticed… her eyes were glowing.     "Is… is that normal?"     "Is what normal?" she asked, setting the can down.     "Your eyes are… they're…"     "Radiant?  'Glowing'?"  She smiled.  "Yes."     "E-Cans make peoples' eyes glow?!"     "Joseph…"  Her smile faded and she looked around.  "People are staring…"     "I… I'm sorry," he said, finally sitting back down.  "It's just… I didn't know people could drink those things.  I thought they were only for robots."     "They are only for robots."  The woman paused.  "Joseph… I… I am a robot."     "Oh.  Well, that explains– wait, whaaat…?"

    Joseph stared at Farfalla as she awkwardly smiled.  Slowly, she took yet another drink of her E-Can.  Just like before, she kept her eyes fixed on his face and, just like before, they lit up.  It was only when she stopped drinking that he suddenly realized… her eyes were still glowing.  Just… not as much as when she was pouring that "robot juice" into her mouth.  Her eyes were digital displays.  How had he not noticed before?     "You… are a robot…" he said, blinking several times and looking aghast.     "Yes, I am a robot," was her response.  "Is that a problem for you?"     Joseph blinked.  For once, Farfalla didn't seem very patient or understanding.  She seemed a little irritated with the man, in fact…

    "I asked you a question: do you have a problem with the fact that I'm a robot?"     The man blinked a couple more times.  "But… but y-you look so… human!"     "I'm a complex automaton by Chou Robotics, Incorporated, manufactured to help and heal the sick and wounded.  My appearance was made to mirror that of a young human woman so I would fit in with my human colleagues and work associates."     "B-but… you're a robot?"     The woman narrowed her eyes.  "If what I am changes your disposition toward me, then so be it.  I've dealt with people like you for my entire life.  It's always the same…"     Joseph watched in surprise as Farfalla grabbed her purse and slung it over her shoulder.  She took one more drink from her E-Can… a very long one… then she tossed it into a nearby recycle bin.  Finally, she shot one last glare at the man who continued to stare at her like she was some sort of roadside attraction.     "You seemed like a very interesting fellow, Joseph, so I took a chance.  Clearly, I've wasted my time," she sternly told him.  "Goodbye."     The nurse started to walk away… but something stopped her from getting very far.     "Farfalla, wait–"     Farfalla wrenched her arm away from the annoying man and shot him another glare.     "I said 'goodbye', Joseph!" she exclaimed.  "As in, 'I'm leaving, now'!"     "Farfalla, you don't understand–!"     "I understand enough!"     She looked down at the sidewalk, calming slightly.     "I thought you would be different…"     Then, she raised her head.     "But… you're just like all the others!"     She shook her head, then, and laughed.     "I don't know what I was thinking, trying to befriend one of my patients…  I must really be out of my head, today…"     Finally, she gave Joseph one last glare and a scathing scowl.     "People like you are… are just as bad as Dr. Wily!!  For the last time: Good!  Bye!!"

    With that final outburst, Farfalla managed to walk away from Joseph, leaving him stunned in silence.  People were staring and everything seemed to go cold.  And then… the waitress from before found her way over, carrying some sort of beverage on her tray.     "So… does that mean you aren't gonna want your iced coffee…?"     –

    "Stupid, stupid, stupid…!"

    Farfalla was not having a good evening.  The front wheel of her motorized bicycle was flat and she was late for her meeting with a new potential friend.  She ended up catching a bus and arriving just after he did… only for this "friend" to seemingly reject her for what she was!  In hindsight, however… had he really?

    The events at the café replayed in her head.  She recalled taking a sip of her Energy Canister and surprising that brown-haired man with the revelation that she was a robot.  Then, when he became too stunned to speak…     "I… overreacted…"     Farfalla pulled her legs up to her chest and buried her face against her knees.  She felt so foolish…  When Joseph initially freaked out, it was because he thought she was drinking something that would hurt her.  Indeed, humans had tried to drink Energy Canisters… and it usually ended with the liquid coming back up the way it came.  Being a robot, however, the medley of negatively-charged synthetic fluids only served to energize her internal batteries.  When Joseph realized she was a robot and continued to stammer and stare… something in her snapped – something that she could not have felt more embarrassed about.

    "He probably hates me, now…" she mused to herself as she waited for the late bus back home.  "I don't blame him…  I said things that I… I didn't necessarily mean.  Oh, God… I said he was worse than Dr. Wily!"     The girl thumped her head against her knees.     "Why am I like this…?" she asked herself.  "Why do I overreact every time someone acts even a little surprised that I'm a robot?"     "It's human nature; humans are scared of what they can't figure out.  I think."     "Wh… what?"     Farfalla raised her head, looking around with wet eyes.  She couldn't see anything… but she was sure she'd heard a familiar voice in the darkness.     "Wh-who's there?" she asked, feeling uneasy.     "Not sure, don't care," the voice called, continuing its thoughts.  "I stopped tryin' to figure humans out a long time ago…  You'd be happier if you stopped tryin', too."     "W… wait.  I know that voice…"     The nurse 'bot looked in the direction of the voice…  She couldn't see anything, at first.  Then, she noticed a small flicker of light, like someone was trying to strike a match… or maybe strike the flint on a lighter.     "It's… it's you…"     "It's me," the voice called.     A small, red dot appeared… then a plume of fire found its way into the air, briefly revealing a gold-colored box and a round face without a nose.  There was no mistaking it.  Somehow… some way… a certain robot wearing boxy, gold armor had found its way to her location once again.

    "H-how do you keep finding me, Heatman…?" Farfalla said despite her fear.  "What do you want?"     "I wanna make my little, jade butterfly feel better," said the walking, talking flip-top lighter as his big, red boots moved him under the nearby streetlight.  "Failin' that, I guess we could just chat or somethin'.  I'm down for mostly anything, really…"     He offered a smile.  Farfalla wasn't in the mood to return it.     "So… some schmoe made you feel lower than dirt, huh?"     Heatman took another drag from his cigarette and blew out another small bit of flame.     "That's life, I guess…  It's just how some people are.  I try not to let it bother me.  'Don't sweat the small stuff' and all that crap."     The nurse 'bot removed her glasses and rubbed her eyes before telling him, "People are always going to have preconceived notions about what a robot should and shouldn't be…"     "People don't matter," was the other robot's immediate response.  "Not much does at the end of the day…  You've gotta live for the moment, Butterfly."     "Easy for you to say…"  She sniffled and sat upright.  "You're a Wily Number…  You can pretty much do anything you want and get away with it."     "Now who has the 'preconceived notions'?"     Heatman took one last draw of his cigarette before tossing the butt on the street and exhaling a large burst of flame into the air.  Farfalla really didn't like it when he did that.

    "Hey," he said as he suddenly sat next to her on the bench.  "This place sucks.  Forget this place… forget everything.  Let's run away together.  We can make sparks in Havana or dance our nights away in Maui.  We could even go to Brazil and be a part of Carnival!  Bet you'd look faaantastic wearin' nothin' but gold and green gems…"     Farfalla scooted away, but the fire-based robot nudged himself closer.     "Heatman… don't…" she whispered.  "Especially not tonight…"     "Tonight…" he replied, giving a half-lidded smile.  "Every night.  You should learn to let go… see what happens when you let someone else take the reins for a while…"     The nurse 'bot squirmed.  Heatman was trying to pull her into his arms.     "S-stop…" she whimpered, trying to squirm away.  "Please…"     "Nah…"     The Wily 'bot leaned in, trying to land a kiss on his victim's cheek.  However…     "Hey!!"     He was interrupted by a sudden shout from the shadows.  At least, that was the intention…  The shout did very little to stop Heatman from forcing himself onto Farfalla, much to her visible discomfort.

    Failing to stop Heatman from his unwanted affections, the new voice stepped into the light, revealing itself to be…     "Joseph…?"  Farfalla squirmed and shivered.  "H-h-help…"     "She said stop, jackass!" the man said, drawing near the two with a pipe in his hands.     The second threat did about as much to stop Heatman as the initial shout.  And so…     "I warned you!"     Joseph struck!

#fan fiction #Parallel Diagnoses #commercial characters #Mega Man #Heatman #fan characters #jade-green-butterfly #Farfalla Chou #jolikmc #Joseph Dominique #slice of life #drama #romance #???

[chocolatemilksmoothie]

Any Sport in a Storm

Listen I didn't get the time to do this w the last 2 eps (even though I had a lot of thoughts and feelings believe me) but I'll do it now bc this episode was so cute? And it surprised me too! Let's see

all the coven heads ignoring him is unsurprising, tho Raine hesitating didn't escape me. even under Terra's control they seem a bit concerned

Belos being like a single working parent leaving notes on the fridge or smth

so. the old golden guard sigil is also the Gravesfield sigil? I already had noticed it looks similar to the Emperor's coven symbol but the bird's wings are more closed. thinking...

grown witches let's stop bullying the literal teenager

"Little Prince" is the cutest nickname ever and if Darius is the closest thing Hunter will get to a mentor figure I love the idea of it going from a condescending name to an affectionate one. I love it

seems Darius and Eber are very involved in Belos plans? what are they doing

Darius knew the previous Golden Guard? He was his mentor?? There was a previous Golden Guard???

So I was wondering how or why he would be sent to Hexide, turns out it wasn't Belos idea at all. Makes sense

Willow is an absolute badass and I love her YES GIRL GO

like SHE'S SO POWERFUL god

HER DADS? awww jock nerd family!

Luz dropping all the books really got me for some reason. my child

"spill it hermosa!"

I suspected Luz and Amity would be busy elsewhere, and really enjoyed their B plot! Theorizing just like us about the mysterious person, the answer was the simpler option

I had assumed Eda had brought the books and sold them at some point. It was smth like that but without Eda lol

Tiny Nose has a name now also? good for her

To the surprise of no one, he sucks at interacting with other kids but this is even worse than expected lmao authority! and rules!!

heck yea Jerbo fight the system!

Professor Homunculus is a big jerk. tho we already knew that

Glad our boi Hunter gets to show off a little with the flying skills, he's had a, uh, rough season. He also got attacked by Puddles

I thought Caleb was the name of the museum guy obsessed with witches but it was actually Jacob generic english man names got me confused my bad

"hm, I don't feel sick" oh you clueless child

Gus being suspicious and protective I love my son

the Best and the Brightest I love them

Two "half-a-witch" witches huh? Loved the parallel but also ouch. Guess that's a common insult for kids who struggle with magic which is yikes

Skara tactical genius hell yeah!

"now I'm only scarred emotionally ;)" girl omg

I hope Viney and Jerbo can reconcile after this. He looked terrified lmao we take sports very serious here

I love Hunter's teleporting technique. sneaky boi

TEAM SPORTS. TEAM SPIRIT. Hunter making friends!! and he came up with the team name! Cute and creative

"Icepack for Steve"

seems training for the emperor's coven is brutal. Yet to hunter it's whatever lmao oh boy

also one free day a year.... yikes

Darius pushing Hunter to make choices for himself let's gooo

Boop

and he gave him a phone scroll thingy 😭 which means he can keep in touch. Typing like an old man

I hope he won't get in trouble for it but Belos is ancient af he probably thinks social media is the real dark magic so he'll never see it I guess

sewing is indeed a very helpful skill to have

so third time was the charm, after Luz then Amity tried to reach out it seems Willow and her team might be his first real friends!

what's his username I need to know

I already liked Darius as a fabulous jerk and antagonist but now I'm super interested to see more of him

also his past with Amity's dad SPILL THE TEA! bitter exes? former besties? rivals since forever? is it a one sided aggression thing? please I need it

and he follows him on social media just to scoff and mute him, petty king

obsessed with Amity and Luz showing up at the end like oh did we miss anything imporWHAT

Little Prince!!

So yeah, very cute and fun over all, and revealed more than I expected. S2 has been fantastic non stop. Glad Hunter got to have some fun bc I feel he won't for too long

oh, spoilers for the upcoming episode synopsis:

So next week we'll have Amity and Luz focus, and it seems Amity wants to impress her dad so we might get more Darius too! Show me the handsome witch again!! Not expecting to see Hunter next week but maybe more Willow and Gus. I love them. I do hope we keep seeing the Emeralds hanging out in the future as a club and having practice and playing matches, idk. also show them talking w hunter through the scrolls? it'd be cute

#toh #toh spoilers #the owl house #the owl house spoilers #long post #any sport in a storm #hunter toh #the golden guard #willow park #gus porter #luz noceda #amity blight #skara #viney toh #darius toh #raine whispers

[thecarnivorousmuffinmeta]

What would happen if you were sent back and ended up in the orphanage with Tom Riddle—and say you also had magic?

Oh boy.

Well, there's a lot to question here. Judging by the... spirit of this ask, I presume I'm... pretty much reincarnated. I'm in the orphanage, I'm much younger than I am now and a child, I'm pre-Hogwarts age, and I retain my current knowledge.

For the purpose of this ask I suppose I also retain my current mental faculties. Despite being in the body of an eight-year-old, I'm not The Carnivorous Muffin at eight.

Welp, there's a lot to consider here.

First, I probably don't realize I'm in Harry Potter for quite some time and instead assume I've been reincarnated to some parallel universe. It's the 1930's, I'm in England in the depression, WWI has occurred and the vast majority of major historical events I know about seem to have happened in the right order, and this Earth is eerily similar to the Earth I left behind.

Strange that I appear to remember everything of my past life with my adult mental abilities, but alright universe, I guess that's how we're going to play this.

What I do know is that I'm dirt poor, presumably still a woman which does not bode well for my career prospects, and if I want any prospects in life period I'm going to have to fight tooth and nail for it. It'd be great if I got adopted to help with this, and might be nice to have people in my life who love me, but there's a lot of orphans in the world and a lot of orphans who are much less weird than I am.

The orphanage is the orphanage and not great, Mrs. Cole is overworked, the orphanage is chronically understaffed, and the kids are running wild beating the shit out of each other.

Being a girl, I probably don't have to worry about getting the shit kicked out of me quite as much, but I still probably try to keep my head down and don't aggravate the particularly beefy looking orphans.

Yes, there's some very angry gremlin named Tom Riddle around who will shove you down the stairs in retribution, but that's just a weird coincidence. And then supernatural shit starts happening. Billy's rabbit hangs itself, people get injuries when Tom is nowhere near them, and I start wondering if this is really the Tom Riddle.

I'm in Wool's Orphanage, my matron is Mrs. Cole, Tom Riddle is running around lighting things on fire. It's possible, though it could all be a strange coincidence.

Now, how things go from here depends on how controlled my own magic is. Since accidental magic typically does manifest at least once or twice, it probably does manifest for me for.. something. If Tom Riddle's there to witness it then...

Well, I imagine he's very offended. Here he was, special, different, better than everyone else, and then some girl in the orphanage (who dares to get very good grades on her assignments in school) has it too.

And I just stand there, smiling, going "Tee hee".

He probably confronts me to prove that he's better at it than I am, and he probably is unless the universe hates both him and me, but having someone else with the Shining around probably prompts him to take me as his protégé (in part so he can show off and in part because he's genuinely excited to be able to share this super cool talent).

I am now apprentice to eight-year-old Tom Riddle. Whoop de doo.

Well, I don't remember this part of Harry Potter, so now I'm probably confused as to where I am again. Regardless, I try to advise Tom on how to tone it down and not, say, traumatize Amy and Dennis for life and antagonize all the other orphans forever. He probably doesn't take me seriously. What do I know, I can't even light that patch of grass on fire?

Hanging around Tom Riddle gets me a reputation to, given the difference in genders, probably a fairly nasty one at that. When Dumbledore arrives he's undoubtedly told hot gossip about how eleven-year-old Tom and I have had sex in a ritual to summon Satan. Dumbledore takes this seriously.

Dumbledore probably meets us both at the same time and it's a disaster. I tried my best to prep Tom without revealing I'm a prophet, Tom first doesn't believe there might not be others, then doesn't believe they would be antagonist/anything but amazed by how awesome he is.

Well, Dumbledore lights his wardrobe on fire while I sit there. Dying inside. Dumbledore probably also does something to me too, to teach me some kind of lesson about something.

I imagine he temporarily disfigures me/makes me appear very ugly, then sticks a mirror to the wall, that way I realize that looks aren’t everything/being a whore is wrong. Tom, still traumatized over the wardrobe, is no help and my magic’s probably not controlled enough to do a thing about it.

I spend a day looking like a pig, Tom and I are given just enough money to buy new wands and second hand/barely functioning everything else and given the world’s worst directions to Diagon Alley. Thanks, Albus.

Well, months pass, we get our wands, Tom gets excited for Hogwarts and I... start seriously considering the future. WWII is coming, the Blitz is coming, Tom and I live in east London and must be able to evacuate during the bombing of London (which went on well past the Blitz to the end of the war). I also start considering my future in the wizarding world. Do I now actually have career prospects?

Probably not because I’m muggle born and a woman. My best bet is doing very well in useful subjects and finding employment with the goblins, I can’t imagine they have the same hang ups as the wizarding world.

Tom wants to go to Slytherin, of course, I tell him this is a bad idea. “Gee Tom,” I say, “Not sure how I know this but I have this feeling that Slytherin is filled with people who loathe our very existence and will shank us. Why don’t we pick Ravenclaw or Gryffindor instead?”

No one shanks Tom Riddle! Tom says. Tom is still eleven and while he admits that sometimes I may, in retrospect, have been right about certain things that doesn’t mean he wants to go to the house known for hard work. That’s code word for everyone there being a moron and having no other redeeming features than tenacity. As for the other two, Ravenclaws sound like smug, elitist, nerds and Gryffindors like dumb jocks.

Better to be known for ambition, cunning, and actually being competent.

Well, there’s no talking him out of this one, and goddamn it we’re all each other has.

I’m the closest thing Tom Riddle has ever had to a friend in all these years and in the orphanage the only one who could hold a decent conversation with him. And while it’s not my moral obligation to keep Tom from becoming a domestic terrorist, and there’s no guarantee I even can, dumping him for one of the other houses and drifting apart won’t help.

Not to mention that, after all these years, I’m undoubtedly lonely, I’m in this foreign land, and he’s now the closest thing to a friend I have.

Looks like I’m going to Slytherin, YOOOOOLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOO! I shout as a battle cry as tears run down my face. I may have to convince the hat to put me in Slytherin, but like all human beings I am a mixture of many qualities. I’m not cunning in the least, mind games exhaust me unutterably, but I’m full of ambition. 

This confirms every bad opinion Dumbledore had regarding me and Tom.

For the next several months, Tom probably beats the shit out of dormmates who steal his things/harass him. He beats up mine too because feminism (TM) means that he should treat all people equally when guilty of the same crime. I... am not sure I can win that fight so I just resign myself to having to adopt some of Tom’s tactics to make sure I’m not shoved in lockers, have tampons thrown at me, or pig’s blood dumped on me at the prom.

Once again, everyone thinks Tom Riddle and I are dating. I don’t even know if they’re wrong at this point.

Well, being in class with eleven year olds who seem to have had little to no prior education, Tom and I are undoubtedly blazing through class. I imagine I’m bored out of my mind (the Hogwarts curriculum sounds unbelievably boring) and Tom is... well, probably devouring the library but probably also bored. I decide to try and see if I can find some real history texts on this world (there are probably none, the wizarding world seems to only have two historians and both... have a different approach to history than current modern thought as I know it) and discover what magic even is. That shit is fascinating: wingardium leviosa is not.

Dumbledore likely gives neither me nor Tom points in class, I think the house cup is stupid, so I really don’t care. I have no interest in playing quidditch, neither does Tom, so that doesn’t happen.

The second world war starts up, Tom, me, and the muggle borns are the only ones who give a flying fuck. I work harder on figuring out how to get lodging during the Blitz/the bombing of London. Unfortunately, Mrs. Cole hates me too for being the Bride of Satan, so that’s a no go. Third year, 1939, I probably write her in earnest anyway telling her to PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, send Tom and I instructions for the summer/where the orphans are staying/how they’ve been dispersed to the countryside. As a back up plan, I try desperately to shmooze shopkeepers in Hogsmeade during every Hogsmeade weekend to get myself and Tom part time jobs and lodging over the summer. As a back up back up plan, I spend my time badgering Tom to become very good at survivalist wandless magic and if the Lord has pity on me gain some ability in it myself.

Hopefully, either Mrs. Cole or one of the Hogsmeade shop owners take pity on us. If not, then Tom and I are going extreme camping. Given Mrs. Cole (and the brain damage brought on by Dumbledore erasing memories left and right) and the likelihood of Hogsmeade shop owners just not getting it, Tom and I probably go extreme camping.

(Tom, meanwhile, asks Dippet and Dumbledore if we can stay in Hogwarts over the summer. He’s told no exceptions. London’s being bombed, you say? No exceptions. Toodles. Tom is never the same.)

Me, Tom Riddle, a tent we made ourselves, several rabbits we had to catch and skin ourselves, and the pitiful fire that we can keep going through pure will alone because if we try to use real people spells then we’ll get arrested. It has the benefit of making Tom feel very manly and impressive, catching his own food, but both of us are well aware that this sucks.

But hey, we aren’t dead.

Well, I’m sure Tom doesn’t appreciate that and this is where I imagine he seriously starts talking about violent revolution. I imagine much of my time is spent discussing the merits of not violently overthrowing our ant overlords. I imagine a thirteen-year-old Tom isn’t impressed by my pacifism, but he’s not married to Voldemort yet (probably).

Then I imagine the horcrux thing comes up and... Well, I will argue hard against it. Humans die, it is a truth of the universe, and simply something we have to accept. Horcruxes are not a measure against that, they can be destroyed, given infinite time they will be, and the sacrifice they require is too high: human life as well as the very essence of who you are.

What is a soul? I’m not sure, we never really learn in HP canon, but whatever it is, it is in some way the essence of yourself. If you take half of it and throw it somewhere else, you will cease to be you, someone or something else is walking around in your body while the other half of you exists in endless agony.

If you must chase immortality, create a philosopher’s stone (as I darkly wonder why it was that couldn’t be replicated and what Flamel had to do to make it in the first place). On second thought, maybe we should search for the Holy Grail.

Whether I can talk Tom out of this or not is... unclear. I’m going to say that I can, in part because I imagine he’ll want to show the chamber off to me, tell me when he realizes he’s Heir of Slytherin, and in doing so I can prevent the basilisk incident from occurring. Without that, there’s no dead Myrtle, which means no first victim. That summer, when he goes to the Gaunts, I’ll go with him and convince him that it’s not worth it. He can just turn around and leave these people alone, I hopefully can talk him down. Which means no second victim.

I start writing Flamel to see if Tom or I can get an apprenticeship (Dumbledore probably beats us to the chase and poisons him against us, but it’s worth a shot).

Then, should all go well, I can convince Tom to find employment with the goblins rather than shady antique dealers on the bad side of town. Hopefully, I can convince him to never become Voldemort, and instead we travel the world together looking for the origins of magic or something.

Dumbledore goes around taking people’s memories of us in preparation for when Tom becomes a dark lord and I his lady of the night darkness.

TL;DR Apparently my life would become an SI/Tom Riddle fic. So, thanks anon.

#harry potter #harry potter meta #harry potter headcanon #tom riddle #albus dumbledore #anti albus dumbledore #meta #headcanon #opinion

[swimmingleo]

Harry Styles and Two Loves - A love that dare not speak its name.

‼️Disclaimer I am in no way an English literature expert or student for that matter and can barely organize my thoughts but I’ll try my best. If something doesn’t make sense or is regretful thinking please tell me‼️

Basically Harry is a fervent reader that does not limit himself to Buk*wski and Mur*kami though for some reason he loves to bring up those dudes. Queer literature seems to play a big role when it comes to his inspiration and I love that about his music. A good example is his Shakesqueer Sweet Creature madness. But another one that I hold close to my heart are the parallels he draws with Alfred Douglas’ poem, Two Loves.

Here is the full poem. Give it a read if you can because I won't break it down verse by verse for this post sorry :(

To make it short, the poem is about the narrator (let's say Douglas) wandering in a garden where he meets a young man that turns out to be his lover. For context, Alfred Douglas was very much queer and in a romantic relationship with Oscar Wilde. Both developed their own coded language to express their love and ''sexual tendencies'' through their art (been this way foreverrr will we ever leaarn). However they were not always so sneaky about it and Two Loves in particular was so in your face that it was used against Wilde to prove his homosexuality in trial. He did get away with it this time. Here is his defense. Blueprint of denials. No iPhones at the time.

In Two Loves, two different personifications of love introduce themselves to Douglas and his lover:

The first love is loud and cheerful and sings about pretty women and men that love the said pretty women.

The second love is discreet, almost erased by the other’s presence but is beautiful and draws the attention of the narrator.

Obviously the first love is Heterosexuality, the one that is openly praised by society and the second is Homosexuality who is bullied into silence by Heterosexuality if he tries to speak. The poem ends with Homosexuality saying "I am the love that dare not speak its name." Yeah. And isn’t that the story of H’s career.

HS1 opens with MMITH which ends on "We don’t talk about it, it’s something we don’t do". And from there follows SOTT, "We don’t speak enough". And right after we get the very loud, very explicit and very well documented Carolina. So far the album narration goes "There is something painful going on but we can’t talk about it, I say ‘we’ because there is a you and I and yeeEEAAH THIS GIRL I MET ONCE GETS A WHOLE SONG THE WORLD DESERVES TO KNOW HOW GOOD SHE FEELS FOR A LADDY LAD LIKE ME ALSO HER NAME IS TOWNES YOU CAN CHECK FOR YOURSELF SEE IF SHES REAL I LOVE REAL WOMEN AS IN WOMEN THAT EXIST". Heterosexuality is loud and sings about pretty women right.

But then, THEN we get Two Ghosts. Which is the center piece of this whole post. I mean, the title... Two Ghosts//Two Loves Two hearts in one home ? Sick.

The parallel that hits the most is the physical description that is made of Douglas’ lover and of Homosexuality (which are technically two different characters in the poem).

Douglas’ lover / Homosexuality

Same lips red / Same eyes blue / Same white shirt

Red were his lips / His lips were red / His eyes were clear as crystal / His large eyes were strange with wondrous brightness / White as the snow / His cheeks were wan and white

In Douglas’ poem, it is meant to be understood that the young boy he meets first, his lover, is related to Homosexuality through their physical appearance. Douglas’ love is therefore inherently queer. With Two Ghosts, I’ve always wondered why Harry chose specifically to point out a white shirt as it comes across a bit generic and not really personal yk? But if you compare it to Two Loves, it checks out the recurrent descriptive color scheme: red, blue and white. In both works, red are the lips, blue are the eyes, and white is the ~envelopp. RIGHT. I suppose Harry didn’t feel like describing his lover with pale white skin since it’s brown with lemon over ice when under summer skies so he went with a plain white shirt instead.

I’m not going through a whole analysis of Two Ghosts yet I can safely say that it deals with unspoken words. Not saying things is a recurrent theme in H’s songwriting but within the album, Two Ghosts is the first song that deals with it through the undeniable prism of romantic love. Right before with Carolina, H had no issue being straightforward and wanted to "scream and shout it out", but with Two Ghosts he’s tongue tied and doesn’t say what he really means. Communication issues go on with the following track Sweet Creature, btw may I just:

But oh, Sweet Creature (!), Sweet Creature

Would he […] cry "O sweet creature!", Othello

I cried "Sweet youth…, Two Loves

Queer Literaturry is going wild(e).

Expanding this post with Sweet Creature allows me to speak about the garden metaphor. In lyric poetry, the expression of emotions is often done through nature. It is a process that Harry seems pretty fond of when singing about love (ie Olivia, Adore You, WS, Canyon Moon and Sunflower are good examples) but it’s way more subtle with TG and SC. In Two Ghosts, nature is the moon, and in Sweet Creature it’s the garden.

Would you look at that, Two Loves happens to combine both:

Moon dances over your good side and this was all we used to need, Two Ghosts

Running through the garden oh where nothing bothered us, Sweet Creature

Flowers that were stained with moonlight / Alone in this fair garden, till he came unasked by night, Two Loves

For Harry, the night is where the moon enhances his lover’s beauty, when it’s just the two of them and they need nothing more than each other. The garden is where they run (free?away?), once again alone, unbothered. For Douglas, Homosexuality took form and began to occupy the garden at night, while Heterosexuality who thrives in the golden light (um I- nvm) wasn’t paying attention.

It is also interesting to note that Homosexuality is associated with the night but also with death. And he’s super pale. So like… A ghost ? ANYWAY.

The garden in Two Loves is where love happens, it is a piece of heaven. It’s elevated on a hill and untamed with flowers of various colors growing everywhere. There is sunshine and moonlight, there are "pools that dreamed" and by pools I assume the author means vernal pools which are habitats where flowers grow and oh look over there:

Nice ruffles on that white shirt by the way. Very Victorian.

Two Ghosts, 2017 Mularry so true

So yeah. I don’t want to go into full analysis mode but I find it all interesting. Once again, Two Loves holds a great significance regarding the Oscar Wilde’s lore, and Harry is probably very familiar with anything Wilde related (don’t even start) and by that I think about the Carnation business.

I’ll just conclude with that quote from Maurice by E.M Forster whom I love very much:

"I am an unspeakable of the Oscar Wilde sort."

#song analysis #idk if it has been widely discussed already #ive done a bit of research and i haven't found anything but if you've seen similar posts dont hesitate to pass me the links #anyway first try at this kind of rambling i hope it's ok eek #but really I love this parallel or at least the idea i make of it lol #harry styles #two ghosts #queer inspo #my analysis