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theyoungeragrippina · 4 months

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15 more gentlebeard fic recs!

that i have lovingly hunter/gathered for you all. may they act as sustenance for u in this drought.

they are all complete, do not feature any ongoing steddyhands, and are above 20k words.

peruse part 1 and part 2 at your leisure if you want to compare our tastes/devour more fine literature, or check out my masterlist as an ao3 collection.

happy reading!

it's what isn't in the name by @tciddaemina

41k, mature

"The first thing they see - apart from Captain Bonnet himself, all silked up and frilly and I sight in his own right - is the cat sitting primly by his ankles."

writing is top quality, the depth of understanding the author has for every character is unmatched. i have never felt so gutted to know a writer hasn't written anything else for ofmd.

clarity by @kat0nline

44k, explicit

"After an accident upends Stede and Ed's fragile new relationship, Ed fights to bring Stede back."

amnesia/memory loss fic done justice. mary continues to be the best and i love her. only note i wrote after i finished was 'screaming crying throwing up i love you author'.

you are at the top of my lungs by @ratchet

55k, explicit

"Ed has a simple life. He has a self-built, off grid, mostly self-sustaining house tucked away in the middle of a forest... the appearance of an incredibly nosy, incredibly handsome stranger three weekends in a row has him questioning every self-imposed rule he's ever set himself."

this is really a story about healing and hope and grief and love. one of my most favourite eds. this author makes me want to change my whole life, and in this case become an off grid chicken owner that grows food and has gay christmas dinners.

seven point three miles, also by @ratchet

20k (technically just under but it gets a pass because everyone should read it rn), teen and up

"Stede takes a job as a remote forest fire lookout in the summer following his divorce, with a plan to find out who he is, and what he wants his life to be. With the help of the enigmatic lookout on the other side of the forest, he ends up getting more out of the experience than he could ever have hoped."

when will this author receive their nobel prize in literature. i want to be a fire lookout now. i also want to scream and cry and maybe stare at the ceiling for five hours to process this fic. there is a reason everyone loves this fic.

fine dining by wishingonalightningbolt and sugarybowl

37k, explicit

"Edward Teach is one of the most famous chefs in the world, working under the handle Chef Blackbeard. Not one to be tied down, he does random pop-ups in all types of kitchens, and for the absurdly wealthy, he caters special events. Stede Bonnet wants to throw the best engagement party ever for his ex-wife and best friend, Mary. His assistant recommends the extravagant work of Chef Blackbeard."

my notes just say: 'ed is a chef and stede is a cute guy and they are cute together' and i think that is a pretty good summary tbh.

Old Bae Season by nomadsland

57k, explicit

"Ed picks Stede up at a bar for what ought to be a one-night stand, but it turns out they're attending the same academic conference the next day."

they are scientists and stede experiences self discovery. crab door knockers as a symbol of love. i love this fic because it made me smile so much (and want to get my life together, weirdly).

Vitalis by jfc_anna

29k, explicit

"Crown Prince Stede Bonnet. Reserved, anxious, and newly arranged to be married. A child is expected. Though, with the Prince’s lack of experience, is also highly unlikely. There are murmurs of an educator of sorts amongst the nobility, with raven hair and eyes like fire, who has been the cure of impotence and disagreeable attitudes. He has been called many names, whispered behind hands or between cracks in doors. Siren. Kraken. Devourer of Love."

short and sweet and so different from most other things i've read in this fandom. lots of flirting and pining and copious amounts of seduction.

all that might happen is here somehow by @sungmee

27k, teen

"Stede gets caught in a time loop at the moment where Badminton tries to shoot him."

i put off reading this because i thought i wasn't super keen on time loop fics. i was wrong. this is charming, and a little bit heartbreaking, and VERY well written, and i loved every word. don't make my mistakes. read this rn.

turn on the light by smallestchurch

55k, explicit

"Lighthouse Bookshop had been there seemingly since time immemorial. Over forty years at that spot, sitting proud, a beacon at the heart of the community, and when the old owner decides to sell, it's the perfect vessel for Stede's odd restlessness. And the building is connected to a famous cocktail bar run by a mad genius behind the stick."

smiling through my tears rn. i was so absorbed that the end of the fic came up on me like a jumpscare. stede and ed continue to be posterboys for maladaptive coping mechanisms. books & cocktails & outrageous flirting.

our tesco means death by @stedesparasol

21k, general

"Determined to prove he can earn a living without his family's wealth, Stede applies for a job at the UK's biggest retailer (probably). Hmm, I wonder who his supervisor will be... surely not a handsome bearded man sick of the retail grind until Stede joins his workplace and makes things interesting..."

so unserious and so funny. fuckin' brilliant. made me genuinely laugh out loud so much that my dad asked if i was okay.

Queen Anne’s Renovations and Remodelling by bythedamned

32k, mature

"Ed didn't know why Stede’s house had a room sealed off. Two decades gone, filled with the creation and destruction of things they'd never shared with each other, and Ed no longer had reading privileges to the Book of Stede. So he's left to wonder - what's in the room? Why is the door plastered over? And why does Ed remember kissing Stede on a make-believe ship they’d invented as kids?"

thank u sm to @okayestokapi for the rec!! i love the sort of magical-mystery vibe this carries the whole way through & the conclusion was so charming and clever. heaps of fun.

help me to find peace (tell me you're okay) by @percyjacksonfan3

38k, general

"Stede and the crew come to find Ed and make things right. Turns out Ed is doing the same".

i am simply a sucker for a good post s1 reunion fic, and this is up there with the best. it flows really well, the characterisation is so good, and it felt like such a natural continuation of the s1 story and character arcs!!

Invisible String by @dimplyowl

48k, mature

"Scourge of the Caribbean" has been Stede's favorite book series since he was 12 years old. Now, age 47, divorced, and an aspiring author, he turns back to the series to draw inspiration from the familiar story. But as he starts reading, he realizes that something is different. Blackbeard, the main character, is apathetic and depressed, and the story has changed. Even stranger still, Stede seems to be the only one aware that this change has occurred."

more magic realism!!!!! this is so much fun and such a clever idea (plus such clever execution)! lots of flirting and stede being flustered and cute dates.

The Lion, the Witch and the Auxiliary Wardrobe by @xoxoemynn

21k, explicit

"Edward "Blackbeard" Teach's foolproof strategy to get over devastating heartbreak: 1) bring a witch aboard the ship 2) get trapped in an auxiliary wardrobe with the man who broke your heart 3) well, you'll have to read to find out."

in this house we read everything em writes because it is all brilliant and hilarious, and this is no different. its silly and fun and still tender and sweet, and ed & stede get to be just as embarrassing as they deserve (also there is a currently updating work by the same author u should look at too - take it as an unofficial rec).

Due North by surprise pink (+ gorgeously illustrated by @sungmee who appeared earlier on this list!!!!!!)

28k, mature

"Burnt out from his corporate job and his miserable marriage, Stede takes a seaside vacation where he meets Ed, an artist who takes inspiration from strange dreams that feel like memories. A museum exhibit about Blackbeard and the Gentleman Pirate brings them together, but it doesn't feel like the first time they've met."

had me googling 'pirate museums near me???' urgently at 1am. romeo & juliet meeting through a fishtank/starcrossed lovers vibes. absolute oodles of pining. a joy of a time to read.

#please send me more recs or requests or whatever!!!#i want to know ur fav fics!!!#these posts take ages to make but i love doing them sm #every recommendation is simply the cream of the crop and they should all be applauded as much as possible #if you are on this list you are talented & incredible and ily #our flag means death #ofmd #our flag means death fic recs #gentlebeard #gentlebeard fic recs #gentlebeard fanfic #blackbonnet #blackbonnet fanfic #blackbonnet fic recs

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christiansorrell · 7 months

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RPG Read-through: .dungeon//remastered

For a while on Twitter, I've been doing read-through threads where I post my thoughts as I'm reading through a game for the first time. I recently did the same with Snow's .dungeon//remastered, a TTRPG where you are players logging in to a dead/dying MMO and exploring the digital fantasy world. I'm adapting those thoughts here for a proper Tumblr post! Enjoy!

First up, credits! Good folks who do good work in my experience. Also, we get the first of what seems to be a common through-line here that I enjoy: an online fandom bent to this all being a sort of GameFAQ style guide for an in-universe game.

My initial impression from most of the interior spreads I've seen just flipping through it is that I really love the style and layout. I think black and white layouts are underrated generally, but it really pops here with the pixelated text/symbols and the old school GUIs.

It's interesting to have these kind of "no bigotry" rules you see in many games couched within an in-universe framing. I think this more personal angle actually makes them land better for me than they typically do in games.

Of course, the author is still powerless to stop the players (just like with any instance of these rules, and all game rules in general tbh) BUT this is worldbuilding too, and it gives me a greater sense for the kind of in-universe fandom that's risen up around .dungeon.

Similarly, here's the game's unique version of safety tools - an in-game help menu that reworks things like lines/veils, x-card and more into the game world itself. I really like this.

Once again, the art in this is just great. I love the Fez-like runes/symbols. My ARG brain wants to know if there's a hidden message here.

I was surprised it was jumping right into the starter adventure, Tutorial Town, but I quickly found out that this is character creation AND a starting area/adventure all wrapped into one, video game-style, and that's so cool.

Each room of the starting area introduces a step of character creation. It's interesting that stats are based on real-world (not you the player at the table real-world but your PC at the "real-world" computer playing the game) ability. Your game knowledge, response time, etc.

As a long time Dota player, I also just really enjoy that the saving throw-like stat here is TILT. I have tilted many times and known many of my teammates to tilt regularly. Just fun to see that phrasing in a TTRPG.

There's more of the in-universe real-world player here than I expected coming in. Definitely has some really intriguing potential. I do wonder though if the intent is to be playing a "real-world" level character or if you are "playing" as yourself at that layer. Both would work.

Monster statblocks. Easy to parse and straightforward to run as the GM (tho at time the layout does have one two many things laid on top of one another that can make them hard to read at first glance - like where "GOBLIN" is here):

Health here is SYNC, and it's shared across the whole party - I'm interested to see how that full mechanic plays out and how it may affect play.

Reaction rolls. I'm surprised to see them given the video game setting, cus mobs in MMOs just always attack you. I've gone back and forth on it with my video game-inspired TTRPG. Don't think it's a bad choice, just one that means the game world is more than a usual video game.

So you have your real-world level Job (based on your characters' out of game job) and your in-game "Role" which follow the classic "holy trinity" of MMO design:

PCs and monsters can team up to attack and can forego damage for stunts - potentially fun/interesting moments happening from that. Monsters deal dmg to SYNC but only per type is interesting, means a crowd of one-enemy is more a long trickle of damage than an overwhelming burst.

Not knowing the ramifications of SYNC damage yet, I'm not sure what the Risk v Reward looks like for Respawns but it's intriguing. Letting your avatar die to keep the party in a stronger position overall (but being able to re-join after a fight) is definitely unique.

This is another fun room (and I like that other than saying late 90s/early 2000s it leaves appearance options open). I am not sure where to find the starting origins tho (they aren't on this spread and there's no page reference). Sadly, the PDF isn't bookmarked either, it seems.

This feels like a smart roadblock to place in player's paths early on. It's unlikely they'll have a lockpick at this point so really, it's about getting players into that creative mindset. What is in the room for you to exploit? What gear do you have you can use in a new way?

Might seem basic, especially to the OSR-experienced out there, but you'd be surprised how many players don't have experience with thinking more freeformly about the game in this way. No fault to them, most trad games condition you to use your PC's abilities/skills as a menu.

Another cool interaction between the layers of the game here (tho I do wish they all played more off of something more than just the tarot card being in the real-world layer). Still wondering if most folks play as themselves or as a real-world level PC.

This is interesting. I wonder if there is going to be a real-world layer to play or if this is meant to be the amount your party can heal between sessions of play (like when the actual real you stops playing in actual real life - this meta layer stuff is tricky to communicate).

I like this - a very short and sweet travel system.

I continue to love this art. Also, this tease here around dual-wielding requiring the discovery of new Roles out in the game world somewhere first is really enticing (I added the highlighter there btw).

This is fun - there are both in-game NPCs and PUGs which are other real-world players' in-game avatars. That extra layer to those types of NPCs is really fun and them running the gamut of fully out-of-character chatting to being hardcore RPers is fun to consider.

Whenever it leans into the digital world aspects, I'm super into it. Very much my kinda thing. I do wonder though how often players can swap their Roles. I don't believe I've seen that said yet - my inclination would be once on the fly (like Final Fantasy's Job systems).

And if these various layers weren't enough, .dungeon also features in-game collectible cards that are sort of enchantments and buffs. I wonder if my real-world level character can spend real money to buy Bytes to buy more packs from a merchant in town? lol

I won't spoil/detail too many more of these but these kind of fun (and common to video games but rarely seen when thinking of the world of a game or the intended way to play) moments are really appealing. Also, this game has Goons in it. Oh no.

Now I'm thinking the intention is the "real-world" level of play should be the real actual you, the person playing .dungeon the TTRPG (as opposed to a real-world level character still within the fiction of the game) since stuff like this would be tricky to track. Cool item!

Tutorial Island is cool, a good blend of char creation, intro to what the game is, and just a fun adventure with a session or more of play to it. I'd have to run/play this to really see but I find the Sync being tied to essentially your real-world session length interesting.

This stuff is cool and leans into that meta/fan-level play that only comes out of these big community-driven games, both MMOs but also things like Dark Souls.

A lot of these kind of possible secrets come as comments in the text, possibly just to inspire the GM and to get players interested in ways that the table can build out on their own over time. So far, I don't see some of the more esoteric secrets to be laid out (which I like).

The rest of the book, as far as I've seen, is lots of resources, gear tables, monsters, etc. to build out the game after player's leave Tutorial Island. The game world here has that anything goes Final Fantasy bent to it. There's swords & wagons, but laser guns & skateboards too.

The setting here is also explicitly queer (mostly seen so far in the "real-world" PUGs) and includes things like sex workers and other elements that it maybe could not have had but that would certainly lessen the richness of its world, the fandom presented throughout, etc.

The spellcasting uses the in-game money as mana points essentially. That's a cool way to limit spellcasting and motivate player's, especially spellcasters, to get out there and make some $$$.

Okay, here's the real-world explanation I was waiting for (after the in-game gear lists and such). This is cool - it's fun to have a real-life layer to this and to have the game's world support that sort of dropping in and out, doing things outside of a full party session, etc.

I know a lot of folks do this with ongoing campaigns anyway, but this is one of those fun things to include here to build that in as an expectation in play. You have your raid nights with friends and you have your little solo sessions after work where you sell your loot.

Now, the rest is a nice collection of random dungeon, NPC, settlement, hexfill tables and more. Everything you'd expect from an OSR-like ruleset but occasionally with some fun added meta-layers.

Players getting a quest from an in-game Moderator and then being able to become a Mod themselves is a really fun idea and something I could envision becoming a long-term goal for one or more players at a table. The threat of encountering an Admin is scary as well!

To finish it up, we've got a cool AASCII-style character sheet, complete with MingLiU-ExtB font (my beloved)!

And that's .dungeon//remastered! I really enjoyed reading this, and I think it has a strong core that's really enhanced by its real-world interaction layer. Gonna put this on "Play Soon" list. There are some smart rules in particular I'll likely steal for a future project.

.dungeon//remastered is available digitally NOW with, I believe, physical copies coming soon. I backed the Kickstarter to get this digital version. CHECK IT OUT HERE!

#ttrpgs #ttrpg #indie ttrpg #fantasy #mmorpg #rpg #dnd

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katiexpunk · 7 months

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Crying Over Spilt Detergent | Joel Miller x f!reader

Pairing: Joel Miller x fem!reader Rating: 18+ Minors DNI Word count: ~3K Warnings: A bit of an unrealistic fuck, emotions, cheating, fingering, unprotected p in v, soft!Joel, feelings, crying, praise kink, size kink. There are no physical descriptions of reader apart from clothing and reference to a “red line” in her palm from holding a laundry basket. Read on AO3 A/N: Well, this was a surprise. Had a pretty shitty day :( and just needed to write to get out of my head so I decided to do a one shot. This fandom always makes me smile, and I hope you all enjoy this. Still new to writing for Joel, and fics in general, so please be kind. If you like it, consider liking, commenting or reblogging -- really helps encourage me to keep going, and tbh, it would be a welcome distraction. Thanks hunnie bunnies, ilysm.

The laundry basket wedged onto your hip is starting to get uncomfortable, heavy from the clothes you’ve neglected the past few weeks. Your grip on the plastic edge is beginning to leave a red line in the crease of your fingers.

The laundromat wasn’t a far walk, but it wasn’t particularly short, either – the distance just enough to be a bit of a burden.

You don’t mind.

You need to clear your head after the shitty day you’ve just had.

After what you’ve just learned.

The sun dips below the horizon, and the typical Americana summer night rolls in.

You amble down the narrow sidewalk, taking the town in for what it is – what it’s always been.

The air was thick with the sweet smell of barbecue smoke from the nearby grill. The yellow street lights started to flicker on, staining the darkening streets with their harsh, synthetic glow. The sound of cold beers being toasted rings out from the nearby bar.

The asphalt, still warm from the summer sun, hums beneath your feet. The aging brick buildings, with their chipped paint and well-worn charm, watch over the streets like silent sentinels, their windows reflecting the moonlight.

You pause to move the basket to your other hip, and that’s when you see it.

Sometimes the smallest towns hold the biggest secrets.

The title of the book reflects back at you through the glass pane of the bookstore window.

You smirk.

It’s not the town.

It’s the people.

You should know. X X X

The bright red LAUNDROMAT sign lights the night sky. The OPEN sign hangs in the window.

You step through the threshold, relieved to finally have some respite from the stickiness of the humidity.

You walk toward the washing machines, and release your now-aching grip on the basket onto the counter in front of you.

As you gaze around, you’re grateful to find that nobody is there.

Not that you expected anyone to be there – not at this hour, anyway.

The worn-out linoleum, the rhythmic hum of the old machines, the scent of detergent and bleach – as weird as it is, you’ve come to appreciate it.

You like doing your laundry at night.

Alone in your solitude.

Alone in your mind.

With your laundry now loaded into the drum, you’re fumbling with the oversized detergent bottle.

Damn thing.

Before you know it, it slips from your grasp.

The cap pops open and a cascade of neon-blue liquid spills onto the floor beneath you.

Shit.

God damn it.

Holding the now-empty detergent bottle, your heart lurches, the weight of the accident pressing down on you, compounding everything that’s already happened today.

The detergent puddle expands slowly, seeping into the grooves between the tiles, lacing the air with an overpowering scent of artificial freshness.

You clumsily step back, your sneakers slip on the slick surface and you fall to the floor.

The overwhelming scent of the detergent fills your senses, and the now literal pain in your ass exacerbates the sudden sting of tears welling up in your eyes.

Great. This is just what you need.

You sit there, head down, covered in goo, your face warm and your cheeks wet, when the familiar ring of the bell above the door catches your attention.

A man steps through.

His boots thud softly against the ground and the door swings shut behind him.

Through your blurry gaze, you look up and are surprised at who you see.

Joel Miller.

You’ve never talked to him before, and only know his name because…well, people talk.

Not many people come into this town, and especially not people that look like him.

All you know about him is that he’s new in town, here for a few months to oversee the construction job of the new hospital. He’s single. Lives with his teenage daughter, Sarah.

Apart from that, he’s a total stranger.

While you haven’t actually spoken with him, you’ve definitely stolen a few glances at him around town – at the hardware store up the street in the paint section; in the frozen section of the grocery store with a Hungry-Man in his hand; nursing a glass of whiskey at the bar after a long day.

Joel pauses at the entrance of the laundromat and stares at you and the soap-painted canvas you’ve turned the floor into.

“Shit, honey. Are you alright?” he asks with delicate caution, voice low, as he walks towards you.

Even in your state, you pause to notice the sweetness of his southern drawl.

He crouches down, facing you, and the tread of his boots grazes the puddle of detergent.

You look up at him, eyes red and swollen from the torrent of tears that had moments before been cascading down your cheeks. The harsh fluorescent light overhead reflects off your glistening tears, playing across your distraught features like a lachrymose prism.

"Yeah, I'm fine..." your voice cracks, the lie too heavy on your trembling lips.

For a moment, silence claims the laundromat, before you drop the act entirely.

"No…no, I'm not," you admit, your voice shattering the quiet.

He’s only just met you, but the visible pain in your eyes causes his heart to hurt.

“C’mere, let’s get you off this floor,” he says as he offers you his large palm.

You place your hand in his.

With a gentle pull, he helps you up from the cold, hard ground. As you rise, you slightly stumble, and he instinctively pulls you into a comforting embrace.

His kindness, his warmth, catch you by surprise.

You find refuge in his arms, your body sinking into his as he wraps you in a protective hug.

You notice a faint, distinctive scent swirling around him - a mix of woodsmoke, fresh laundry - although that’s probably you - and an underlying hint of pine and aftershave. It's a comforting, welcoming smell, a smell that somehow feels like home.

Nestled in his strong arms, you find unexpected solace to the harsh reality of your pain.

“So, ‘m guessin’ you’re not just cryin’ over spilt detergent,” he says. Joel Miller is an observant man.

You release your grip around him, and take a step back, now painfully aware that you don’t actually know him, but you could have stayed in his embrace for hours.

“No, I…um. No. It’s not about the detergent,” you pause to lock eyes with him. “It’s just, I’ve had a no good, really awful fucking day, and now,” you pause to take a breath, your arms lifting and falling by your sides in exasperation “...this.”

Joel looks around at the mess, at you, and places both of his hands on his hips. He wants to ask you what’s wrong, about your day, but he doesn’t want to pry.

Instead, he simply says, “Yeah, I’d say this is quite the mess you’ve got yourself into here, sweetheart.”

He has no idea.

“C’mere, I’ll help you clean it up,” he offers as his head tilts to the janitor's closet in the back.

You normally wouldn’t be so quick to accept a stranger's help, but you’d be there until the morning if you had to clean up the mess yourself.

It's not like you wanted to go home anyway, not after what happened, but you don't particularly want to spend all night in the laundromat, either.

In the closet, you find an old mop and bucket and a handful of extra towels.

You grab them, walk back to the sea of soap, and you both drop to your knees to begin to clean up the mess.

While the floor gets cleaner, you both get dirtier – wet and soapy from the mundane and repetitive task of swiping the detergent off the floor, rinsing it in the water in the bucket, and bringing it back to the floor.

You don’t speak.

Halfway through your cleanup job, Joel is the first to break the silence.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asks gently, his voice soft yet inviting, sincerity and genuine concern reflected in his tone.

You stop cleaning.

“My boyfriend – he, um. He’s cheating on me,” you cough out, feeling the tears begin to well in your eyes once more.

You go back to cleaning to distract yourself, noticing the scuffs from countless footsteps etched into the tiles.

“With my sister,” your confession hangs in the air.

Joel inhales sharply, his heart aching for you once more.

“I guess it’s been going on for a while now,” you continue.

“I came home from work today to find a note on our kitchen table –”

“He told me –” You trail off, and you’re full-on crying again, unable to keep your tears at bay, the droplets falling to the ground create little soap bubbles as they mingle with the detergent and the friction of the towel.

“He told me it’s over. He packed his stuff and he left.”

“Seven years and the fucker couldn’t even tell me in person.”

Your sadness was starting to be replaced with something else, something grittier and darker – rage.

You furiously begin cleaning the floor – there’s hardly any detergent left, yet, you scrub.

Mid-sweep of the rag, Joel places his palm over the top of your hand to stop the movement.

His touch is warm and reassuring.

"Damn…’m really sorry, sweetheart," he murmurs, his voice barely above a whisper. It's a simple response, stripped of any pretense. “You don’t deserve that.”

As he looks you directly in your eyes, you can’t help but notice the flecks of amber in his gaze.

It stirs something low in your belly.

Joel admires the soft features of your face as you stare back at his. Your beautiful, somewhat bloodshot eyes – your swollen and pillowy lips.

Fuck.

He knows you’re sad, but did you have to look so hot like this?

Joel knows it’s wrong, he knows he just met you, but for some inexplicable reason, he just wants to make you feel good.

He pauses, swallowing the lump in his throat, and edges closer to you on his knees so your knees straddle the empty space between him and his thigh.

Gently, he lifts his hand, the calloused palm coming to rest against your soft, tear-streaked cheek.

The world around you seems to fade away as he brushes away the remnants of your tears with his thumb, his touch as light as a feather.

Your eyes meet, and a silent exchange of emotions begins to swirl in your depths.

Joel watches your breathing hitch, your eyes reflecting surprise. Slowly, cautiously, he moves his thumb down to trace the contour of your trembling lips.

He pauses, waiting for you to pull away.

You don’t. You’re not really sure why.

The anticipation builds as he leans in, your faces only inches apart.

Your breaths mingle together momentarily, and then he plants a soft kiss on your lips.

You hum in delight at the feeling of his lips.

You happily accept his eager tongue and swoon when you notice he tastes like mint toothpaste. It’s intoxicating.

Joel pulls away, realizing that what he’s doing probably isn’t a good idea.

You’re sad, and you’ve just had the worst day ever, and he doesn’t even know your name for christs sake.

“I – shit, sorry. I don’t know what came over me there…I just realized I don’t even know your name,” he says, brow creased in concern and the starting looks of regret.

“You’ve had a bad day, and you’re sad. I don’t wan –” you interrupt him, lips crashing fiercely into his.

Still on your knees, you put your arms around his neck and intertwine your fingers through his hair.

This whole day has felt like a living nightmare. Completely out of your control.

But this? This you can control.

You’ve just met him, but god, you’ve never wanted someone so fucking bad.

Joel holds you by the waist close to his chest, and you can feel his hard cock beginning to strain against you in his jeans.

Your lips part with his briefly and you lean forward to whisper your name in his ear.

He groans in response. Learning your name, shit, even the sound of your name causes more blood to flow to his already hard dick.

With one hand on your waist, you start to feel the other one slowly inching down the curve of your ass, around your hip, and into the space between your two bodies.

The tips of his fingers find the elastic waistband of your cotton shorts and thin underwear you’re wearing. His hand slips below both, and his fingers quickly find the soft skin between your legs.

He begins to spread your folds, feeling your stickiness.

You’re wet. You’re so fucking wet.

He slowly pushes a finger into you.

“Gonna make you feel you feel real good, sweetheart, just like you deserve,” he says.

With his finger inside you, he watches you closely – he drinks in the way you hold your breath as he fills you.

He adds a second finger and scissors them in and out until your breathing is ragged and you’re limp against his chest.

His fingers retreat from your tight hole, and he begins to draw circles over your clit, finally giving you the friction you need.

His fingers remain relentless, and the rising heat of your orgasm quickly approaches.

“Joel, mmmm,” your breathless moans echo in his ear, and your face goes tight, then unravels into a rush of sticky sweet release.

“That’s it, baby. Look so beautiful like this,” he praises.

Joel removes his hand and raises his glistening fingers up to his lips, and licks them clean of you.

“Need to fuck you, sweetheart,” he says as he palms at his length.

You both rise to stand, and he lifts you up on top of the washer.

You quickly reach out to unbuckle his belt and release him from his jeans.

Shit.

He’s so big.

He takes himself in hand and swipes his length a few times, using his pre-cum as lube.

As if to know what you were thinking, Joel says, “It’s okay, I think we’ll make it fit.”

Joel positions himself between your legs and then notches his heavy cock and its red weeping tip at your entrance and begins to push himself inside you.

You gasp.

“Fuck –”

“So tight, such a sweet little cunt,” he says during his pause, letting you adjust to the size of him before he starts to move.

You wrap your arms around his shoulders and tug at the fabric of his shirt, and he pulls you closer into him with each thrust of his hips.

You’re dripping for him, practically gushing – his thick member glides in and out of you with ease, and you savor each thrust he gives you.

You just met, but by the way he fucks in and out out of you, you could have sworn your bodies were made to be connected.

He can feel his release starting to build, but he wants to get you there before him.

He snakes a hand to your core, rubbing tight circles against your throbbing clit and he thrusts into you harder.

“Good girl,” thrust, “such a good girl,” thrust.

It’s almost enough, his praise. You’re almost there.

Your fingernails dig little crescents into his back, and he coos, “Want you to come for me again, baby. Come on my cock –”

His voice and the command he gives you are enough to send you over the edge.

Your mind goes blank for the second time tonight as your orgasm ripples through you.

Your tight walls clamp down on him.

He watches as you throw your head back, moans spilling from your lips as your body releases subtle shakes.

“Fuck, that was pretty,” Joel growls. “Gonna cum, need to cum,” he pants.

He gives you a few more rolls of his hips before he quickly pulls out, and shoots his hot milky load onto your belly.

Both of your breaths come to a slow, and he looks at you affectionately, “you okay?”

You nod. “Yes,” and for the first time today, you actually are.

“Looks like we have another mess to clean up,” Joel quips as a smile washes over his face.

He helps you off the washer, and helps you clean yourself off.

You both finish what you entered the laundromat to do – laundry.

You talk while your clothes dry.

He helps you fold yours. You help him fold his.

Once done, you walk out of the laundromat together, unsure of where to go from here.

“Come on, I’ll give you a ride,” Joel says, as he nods towards his truck.

You accept his offer, no longer needing a walk to clear your head.

Both on the passenger side of the truck, Joel pauses as it suddenly dawns on him that he never told you his name.

“How’d you know my name?” he asks.

“It’s a small town,” you say, “everyone talks.”

And has their secrets.

END

#joel miller fanfiction #joel miller x f!reader #joel miller x you #the last of us #joel miller #joel miller one shot #pedro pascal #joel miller x female reader #tlou smut #tlou fanfiction

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olderthannetfic · 6 months

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I think it's more like "Nobody cares about anything outside their own culture/daily lives." Not just Australia. Except maybe Americans, no hate. I have noticed that there are more expectations on everyone to follow American sensibilities than any other nationality, but the same courtesy is not given in return. Most of the internet seems to bend towards that, and when someone outside the US has some issue with more sensitive topics, you're more likely to be told to GTFO. Even in spaces not aimed at Americans. I mean, how many of the non-Americans are for some reason expected to have some kind of opinion or awareness of US politics? To know about different issues going on in the issue? Or certain political groups and their ideologies? I've even seen Americans make jokes about "The world ends at Americas borders" so it's something some are aware of at least.

I think we do frequently care about things outside our own cultures, but they're a very limited set of things, and they tend to be the same few for people from many countries: anime, kpop, US movies.

It's all about soft power. The US throws our weight around the most of anyone, but there's a long sliding scale of how much we as humans give a fuck about a given country, and it usually comes down to whose hot movie stars/dramas/pop music/comics we're familiar with.

Sometimes, you'll get a localized effect like all of US due South slash fandom turning into hilarious canadaboos, but mostly, it's the same global trend where thing X from country Y enjoys a massive surge in international popularity and some people get more broadly interested in that country as a result.

The number of people I know who've wasted years trying and failing to learn Japanese is vast. The number of people I know who've tried to learn Nepali or Indonesian or Thai is... my parents for 5 minutes in the 70s? A few other randos they knew who worked and lived in those areas at the time? (Though with the increasing popularity of Thai dramas among English speakers I know, that may change...)

We'll never be rid of the general pattern where culturally powerful countries have an easy time making people care, but we could definitely have things be a little less lopsided than they currently are on the anglophone internet.

TBH, even as an American, it's pretty annoying because it's always the stupidest form of our culture that's the enforced standard. It already sucks enough at home! Why would I want that everywhere else too?!

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beautifulpersonpeach · 11 months

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Jungkook is an incredibly precious human being. He’s bratty, and sweet, and meticulous, and charming, and calculating, and assertive, and introverted, and above all, hand-fistingly, brow-scrunchingly, high-pitched-wailing into the night, cute.

He’s so cute it almost destroys me.

The trust he has in ARMY, is something I hope we never take for granted. It’s rare, and many would argue unwise to consistently express such vulnerability to millions of people who may have their own motives. And nobody knows that more than Jungkook - a multi millionaire who has lived in the spotlight for almost a decade. And yet, with ARMY, when he feels anxious or can’t sleep or whatever, he feels comforted being with ARMY, being watched by ARMY, sharing tiny bits and pieces of himself with ARMY.

Goodness.

I hope y’all are saving up for JJK1. He’s clearly working hard at it, and he’s said since last year he’ll be releasing music after Yoongi.

And this is more or less confirmed

Edit (because someone DM’d me they can’t understand the chart. Sorry btw. Sometimes I forget Korean isn’t very accessible. So here’s a key to understand the chart.)

Stars: albums - the letters within the stars indicate whether it’s a mini, full, solo, or repackage album.

M : mini-album

J : full-album

U : unit/solo-album

R : repackage-album

日: Japan-album

Blue-shading : concert/tour

Grey shading : fanmeet

Personally, I’m prepared to go all out, as I have for Jimin and Yoongi’s releases, year to date. With JK’s musical output so far, I’ve resigned myself to the possibility his album could be the poppiest of the seven, and that’s not really my taste tbh. But I’ll be looking forward to it because even his pop-py, EDM-laced preferences are executed well, and it’s always possible he blindsides me and surprises me with a very different sound than what many expect of him.

Either way, he’s working hard so I trust the product will be excellent.

I hope we’re all gearing up to run this race again, this time with JK as the Bora-flagbearer. Like with Jimin’s FACE, and Yoongi’s D-DAY, it will be a race in two parts: a sprint then a marathon.

Please stay hydrated, take your vitamins, check your iron levels, take care of yourself, and prioritize the boys if they’re the reason you’re here. The competition will be fierce, solo stans will raise hell, and everyone will want a piece of him. It would be nice if the core fandom can manage to keep their heads on straight and focus on Jungkook.

Aside, JK’s sleepy Wlive reminded me of a VCR that’s haunted me for years.

This one:

Maybe it’s the same sleepy pose, and the eyes…

Actually, the whole Serendipity MV comes to mind when I remember JK’s Wlive. And Jimin is the reason.

Sigh, these men.

#jeon jungkook #Jungkook #JJK1 #jimin #park jimin #jikook #BTS #Bangtan

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kingofthewilderwest · 4 months

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tbh one jarring thing about joining fandom spaces for me was realizing fanfiction was the default and original works had to be prefaced as original works. the assumption is writers are working on fanfiction. fanfiction is the primary point of creative writing conversation. fanfiction is the logical jumping-off point of creative writing because the characters and settings are set up for you. etc.

Fanfiction was my aberration, a rare and awkward project done to try to assimilate to this new community, derivative from my usual writing, hard for me because I had to imitate preformatted characters that weren't in my voice rather than have the freedom to Be Myself. I don't like writing fanfiction and I disrepect the rare fanfiction I wrote. Meanwhile I love, adore, and swim in the personal stories I've worked on - even the ones I began at five years old. Those are the real me.

Every time I see a creative writing post on this site, I'm like, "huh, this is interesting," and every time the word "fic" pops in halfway through and takes me jarringly out of the moment and I'm like, "oh, right, there's this underlying expecting the advice will be applied for fics." Rather than, just, any, creative, writing, project.

#blabbing Haddock #non-dragons #I say #to an audience that isn't going to relate rotflh

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daisymae-12 · 7 months

Note

Hi Mae! It's nice ask day so I'm here to ask how you came up with the idea to start the @rwrbficrec blog? It's such a great blog and something that's been missing from the fandom for a long time 💖 I was excited to see it when you first popped up!

RAE Thank you so much for this question! ❤️❤️❤️

@rwrbficrecs origin story here we go (spoiler alert: it’s not that exciting of a story 😂)

I kinda had one of those days where I didn’t feel like trawling through AO3 and just wanted to read fics off a rec list and I thought I’d go looking for a rwrb rec blog! Imagine my surprise when I couldn’t find one. I thought for sure someone would have started one already 😬

Anyway I was telling my husband about my failed search and I was jokingly like “haha I should make one”. He was like “yeah why not, it’ll be a good project for you.” and I was like “huh maybe I will then 😂”

I brainstormed for a couple of days and we talked about all the spreadsheets and stuff he could do with his coding. He encouraged me some more 😂 and tbh he was right, I did need a project. I haven’t been able to work for the last two years for health reasons and I’d started feeling a bit adrift. It was the perfect thing for me to focus on, and it was nice to be passionate about something again!

But I was honestly pretty nervous about it. Up until that point I was a lurker in the fandom - I’d been reading rwrb fics for years but I’d spoken to literally nobody in the fandom. I’m a really shy person so I expected to just be quietly making lists and that would be that 😅

But then everyone was so nice and welcoming?! And then things spiralled from there and I’m just amazed that I went from 100% lurking to running a blog + discord community + making actual friends 🥺🥺🥺 Being able to contribute to the fandom in this way has been so lovely 🥺 Life’s wild and I’m so so glad I decided to create the blog ❤️

tl;dr I was looking for a rec blog, couldn’t find one, husband told me I should make it myself 😂

#SORRY I accidentally rambled there #nice ask day #ask box

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weird-bookworm · 10 months

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ᴍᴏᴏᴛꜱ

@silversailormoan - we actually started gossiping on ao3 in the comment section of one of her works 💀 she always has something funny to say and it really makes my day 😂 we haven't been interacting much lately, but one of the best people ever 💜

@yrhome (elle) - still surprised she followed me back tbh, was not expecting that. i haven't really interacted with her (yet, hopefully) but definitely one of the best txtenha writers on here 💕

@maeleelee (mae) - the prettiest, most lovable, very brave and the most chaotic person ever!! she makes me feel so soft and warm and loved 🥺 and her sense of humour is top class 🤌🏻 i'm really grateful she decided to message me randomly because i can't bear the thought of not knowing her ❤️

@imagine-a-life-like-this (cassi) - where do i even start? one of the first people i followed on here, the reason i'm obsessed with fake texts, and one of the sweetest souls alive 💖 she's so warm and always so funny and so so talented 😭

@mxnsxngie (kayla) - me and my awkward ass has no words tbh 😅 she's just really comforting, yknow? like, she'll listen if i randomly rant and reassure and encourage me and that's just so 🥺💕 she gives me fairy vibes— pretty, glittery, and lowkey fascinating ✨

@ylliris-hanniehae (ylli) - finally someone who's my age!! she's become a close friend very quickly and she's very sweet 🥺 i've been seeing her randomly drop in people's inbox's just asking about their day and it makes me so happy 💕so lovely and so kind 🥺 i'm glad she approached me 😅

@fairyhaos (yena) - impeccable sense of humour? check! really really efficient? check! one of the amazing people i know here? check! one of THE best svt writers? check check check! i just really love them and their work 💕 their sweetness gives me diabetes and i'm glad i have a chance to get to know them better 😚

@idubiluv (arya) - you know when you start talking to a person for the first time as if you've known them forever? yeah, that's her 🥺💕 she's such a ray of sunshine, a real bubble of joy which pops with rainbows and smiles (thanks for dming out of nowhere 😆)

@the-therapist-needs-therapy (haru) - literally so sweet omg??? we're going to be fast friends, i just know it 💕 and her writing omfg 😭 all i remember is writing the cringiest shit at her age so she's just really impressive y'know? 😍

@babyboyquokka (jess) - we've conversed a total of 2 times 😭 and she's already been so sweet 😭 hope i'll get to know her better soon!!

@cadenonlinelive (caden) - i think i know cco and ccl caden better atp honestly 😅 we're moots already so here's to hoping we'll get to talking soon ✌🏻

@slytherinshua (zanna) - see. now her? she's amazing. her writing is absolutely fire, she has the sweetest most chaotic personality, she writes for way too many fandoms (she's crazy and she knows it 😃) and is literally the most welcoming (?) person ever 🥺

@icyminghao (noelle) - current mission: get to know noelle better!! ✨

@ryuwonieebae (ryuwon) - adding another moot to the i-don't-really-know-them-properly-yet list lolol 😅

@rubywonu (nia) - HELLO? EXCUSE ME? WHEN DID SHE FOLLOW ME BACK THIS IS PRACTICALLY AN INVITE TO BE FRIENDS 😳

@mesanthropi (weiss) - i need a thorough look inside xir brain and a green sign to be xir friend (the strangest person i know in the best way possible ✨ keep twinkling my love)

@wheeboo (rania) - omg the sweetest cutest squishiest boo stan ever like i just wanna wrap her in a hug don't ask me why idk this is very random but i just really love her okay? 🥺

@hanniehaee (milani) - imma be honest, she showed up out of nowhere and just gave me so much love in such a short time that i fell Hard lmao 🤩

@aaniag (aania) - fellow indian carat who has been showering me with so much love and so much support, thank you so so much 💕

@woozvc (nora) - i never realised we're moots...btw nora this is me telling you i am stupid and you're gonna have to deal with my stupid ass, thank you!

@yeonjuns-redhair (hannie) - SDFGHJKL SUCH AN ICON?? please she's so fucking funny and we're so weirdly similar like man i love her 😭💕

@welcometomyoasis (shu) - ...will you forgive me if i tell you it took me this long to realise that we're moots and you're not just a very nice person i was following? 😅 BUT TYSM FOR ALL THE SUPPORT FR ILY 💕

@springdayysworld (kuhu) - she's been here for a couple months now but i can tag her because her blog Finally looks decent (curtsey to moi) 😌 she's my best friend and the one person who never fails to annoy me every. single. day. i love you, you bitch ❤️ (she's an irl for anyone's whos wondering 😭)

@mirxzii (roxie) - i'm hoping to get to know her better, because all i know rn is that she's a great singer ✨

@blue-jisungs (axe) - BRO SHE'S SO FREAKIN FUNNY LIKE???? full of chaos and sass and the inherent inability to be mean, axe is so full of love and boomer-ness 🤭 and now i can say that i am moots with THE axe heheh

@haecien (cien) - bro listen. this guy? right here? i like them. he's cool and very much in love with the same men i'm in love with 😍 also their smaus are fire so 😩

@aakomii (ari) - i. malfunctioned when i saw the follow notif. i'm not kidding. i just sat there staring at it for 5 minutes. LET'S BE FRIENDS SOON !!

@etherealyoungk (skye) - life is now complete 😌 THE skye is officially now my moot and i can only tell her how much of a mistake that is because i am SO annoying and while i feel like you have endless amounts of patience, uhm, uh, hehe, good luck 😃

@glosskirt (gloss) - my sister from another mother, my fellow yoongi simp, i hope we always reign with chaos and spice 🤌🏻👹

@candewlsy (mizu) - BRO WHY R U A WHOLE ASS MOOD like the jungwon obsession is too fucking real 😩 also the memes 👹 the Memes™ ✨ teach me your ways!

@kkooongie (sarah) - ah, yes, another desi moot (am i...am i a magnet? 😃 IM NOT COMPLAINING THO) ur fr the only person i've discussed my book interests with and it's been heaven lol 💕

@iwas-tooru (noya) - bbg idk why i'm adding you here but i've added kuhu so...ANYWAY this is my irl koala and my fellow gay simper 💕✨

@liveyun (yun) - when maturity meets chaos meets talent meets a shared love for bts = yun ✨

@thepoopdokyeomtouched (aznik) - another desi moot for y'all, aznik is a walking talking meme who is in love with music (and has fire choices 👀) and has a mastery in flirting because i saw you for the first time flirting with yena on main lmao 😭

@mangocustard16 (mango) - we're still getting to know each other but dayum your writing is 🔥fire🔥

@arafilez (ara) - FELLOW CHAOS MAKER ATINY SIMP why are we like this ahem— desi moot pt. idek but srsly ilysm mwah <33

@nonononranghaee (hafs) - the one person who has flustered me without actually doing anything because. well. 😅

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alun1r · 2 months

Text

Rare Alu Rant About Fandoms bc I never say shit:

Sue me, but getting into a fandom just for the intention of becoming popular is so weird to me.

Like sure you want a lot of people to see what you make. Because making something for the fandom should be seen! That’s dope as hell.

But you’re gonna lose inspiration real fast when you find out content creation takes a lotta work but more often than not comes with little reward.

I hold firmly the belief that Fandom is for making content for the pure reason of just because you can.

✨the joy of free will to bring your delusions to life so others can indulge in their delusions as well✨ Kinda vibes? Yanno?

I never started making HL content with the idea in mind that I’d reach 9k followers on tiktok. And I ain’t gonna lie it’s daunting for me. Specially as someone whose always just made shit for whatever reason without even posting it. But The videos that got me views and followers on tiktok, were made because I was high and wanted to laugh. And I’d figured “what the hell, this made me laugh….Maybe it will make someone else laugh.” And I’m glad it did.

And now I float around just making stuff. I still make whatever I want tbh. I do my best to give credit where credit is due in what I make. And yeah I’ve done some fan service videos and writing here and there because hey it’s fun for me.

I see so many posts or peoples bios saying that they’re working towards being popular in fandom and then their posts are what other people said or made on Twitter or tiktok or Vice versa and there’s often times there’s no real credit to original creators.

Don’t get me wrong, if it’s properly credited, AWESOME. Usually it’s not though, and that’s just wild to me. Because how are you expecting to get popular under your own name when you’re just reposting stuff.

That doesn’t make you a content creator.

A historical collector guess?? Because you’re like idk collecting all the stuff people made and what not onto a new page.

Idk dude. I just miss authenticity I guess. People making stuff and just being excited to show it.

Don’t get me wrong though it’s not all terrible on here and everywhere on the internet for fandoms. I’ve made close friends with other creators who feel and see fandom much the same. Just here to vibe and escape.

I’m not saying I don’t think views and followers and likes and notes or what have you, matter. I know they do. I get a lil confidence boost when something I make pops off. I feel proud.

But man it’s the intention of “ Im trying to be a popular creator” that rubs me the wrong way. Make stuff because you like it. Not because other people will. Doing whatever to get you likes wont bring the same satisfaction. And in more cases than not I see it backfiring and causing drama because, like I said it’s usually shit that’s copied or reposted.

Who knows maybe I’m just old and don’t understand bc I also see fandom and the work I’ve contributed as something I wouldn’t like boast about in real life. Because the reaction wouldn’t be positive. Like just for enjoying Hogwarts legacy I get teased in my daily life from acquaintances. It’s not totally negative. Buts it’s enough for me to know that YEAH 9k followers on tiktok don’t mean anything in the real world LMAO because at the end of the day, offline, I am still just a nerd whose daydreaming in her bedroom to escape reality.

I’m 24 dude. And I work in news. Shit is exhausting. Read a headline and you’ll see what I mean. And I just wanted to rant about it because it’s been bugging me since I joined fandom again last year.

But due to, idk my follower count and whatnot I always felt like I can’t or rather I shouldn’t speak my mind so much for fear of SOMEONE coming for me for something. And man I hate that feeling bc this bitch has opinions and I dislike the idea of feeling like others have control over it. But tbh eh. I wanted to rant. Just speaking into the void of the internet.

If you decide to send anon hate for my opinionated rant be ready for a meme bc I don’t have the mental capacity to take anything other than my IRL life responsibilities seriously lmao.

#credit wars are wack #just credit people YALL #I don’t know or think anything I’ve made has been reposted #don’t really care bc at the end of the day what can I do #I care more when other peoples work is stolen tho #why?#dunno.#fandoms are for fun #and I just hate when the fun is ruined over drama that stems from lack of respect for one another #hogwarts legacy #harry potter #sebastian sallow #fanfiction #art #ominisgaunt #hlcreators

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kidovna · 1 year

Note

hi,

i just wanted to say how much your art has meant to me over the last couple of years—seeing a desi person out in the world who is in so many of the same fandoms as me and creates content that makes me happy is more than i ever expected. you have honestly served as a role model for me as a queer desi person as well. the circles that my family in in don’t include very many queer people (shocking, right?). anyways, this is a thank you from a queer desi person for just being and a reminder that you are making so many lives happier with just your amazing content.

i’ve had this in my inbox for a few days and i’ve had to think about how i’d eventually reply to this bc it just made me so happy and emotional 😭❤️ i understand this feeling tbh. finding a fellow queer desi in the wild - Especially on tumblr! - is such a wild experience and I’m so glad so many more of us are popping up now. i also understand the not knowing (m)any queer people in your family circles sentiment. i hope you get to have a little queer desi found family someday though, because it’s almost always incredible ❤️ sending you lots of love!

#anonymous #<3

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psychewritesbs · 9 months

Note

Been reading your opinions on the boy of all time megumi and can I just say firstly, thank you for being so good w words BC man you get his character so well and you're so good at getting into all the little details abt him that I can never properly describe to ppl, Like, the whole breaks the trope while following the trope thing?? YOU GOT THAT ALL SO CORRECT THATS EXACTLY IT IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I LOVE HIS CHARACTER SM BC EVEN JUST RIGHT OFF THE BAT HE BREAKS THE USUAL STOIC BROODING CHARACTER TROPE(THE trope) BY ACTUALLY CONSTANTLY SHOWING although subtly THAT HE DOESNT HATE EVERYONE?? im getting way off track already i actually popped in here to just ask abt how you think the whole sukuna possessing megumi thing will all turn out?? I honestly feel like slapping myself for not seeing it coming tbh like they talked about the head of the six eyes and ten shadows battling it out to the death before and sukuna kept on hyping up megumi like they were so obviously setting that up there and I just. Denied. But I'm just asking BC personally I think that it would really show the final steps of growth for megumi's character if he is actually able to surprise sukuna, even for a little, and come back from the depths of where ever tf he is rn bc yk his whole issue w/ self worth and what he believes he's capable of and I just wanted to know what you think the best outcome for his character would be? Sorry this is such a mess I just have so many thoughts zooming around my brain and I'm trying to...make them make sense...

ITS THE MEGUMI LOVE!!!! Yessssss. Thank you for sending me Megumi love! I love getting Megumi love 🫶🏼.

Man, Megumi is just such a good character. Truly one of Gege's best. Everything he's done with him from how his character is based on the trope while also subverting the trope, to his backstory and his growth arc and how it's been executed... It's poetic justice.

I love Megumi so much, and any time I see someone hate on Megumi for really shallow or toxic reasons I just lose all faith in humanity. It's one thing to not care for him as a character and quite another to dislike him for being a "disappointing deuteragonist" because he's "weak", "hasn't had character development", and "did not master 10 Shadows"..................................................

Bruh...

ANYWAYS 😂 you see... this is the thing... I am trying really hard not to speculate about what might happen regarding Sukuna WHICH IS EXACTLY WHY I'M GOING TO SPECULATE BECAUSE I LOVE SUKUNA BUT FUCK SUKUNA!

ehem. More of me not being normal about Megumi under the cut.

Ok in all seriousness... with chapter 230 and how Sukuna forced Megumi to take the brunt hit of Unlimited Void, something shifted in me.

For some time I've been reluctant to make any predictions about Megumi coming out alive because I don't want to have preconceived expectations coloring my weekly reading experience, but mostly because, like Megumi, I have a tendency to bunt instead of swinging for the fence so as to not experience disappointment. Read this to mean I don't want to get my hopes up about Megumi surviving.

That is not to mention that I took Sukuna possessing Megumi's body personal. idk, something about seeing Megumi lose his agency felt both so wrong and yet so right on a metaphorical level. Wrong because DAMN YOU SUKUNA GO BACK TO YOUR BODY! and right because... as you said, Megumi had it coming both from a narrative and psychological perspective.

From then on, we just saw him sink deeper and deeper into learned helplessness and despair, culminating on this beautiful image of him in the fetal position.

Truly a reversal of ego back into the metaphorical mother (the unconscious) as though he was in the birth canal waiting for rebirth. And come to think of it, in the Japanese fandom, one of the more popular theories revolved around "birth" or something like that.

So with ch. 230, my hope for Megumi is renewed somehow. A lot of people think he's done for, especially after UV. But I'm on camp #this is going to backfire badly on both Gojo and Sukuna... or at least I hope it does.

So....

I'm just asking BC personally I think that it would really show the final steps of growth for megumi's character if he is actually able to surprise sukuna, even for a little

EXACTLY! And see, this is the thing, I don't want to see Megumi be saved by anyone other than himself. If Megumi is saved by others, then he didn't learn his lesson.

Basically, Megumi has taken Tsumiki's place as the Sleeping Beauty that is in need of rescuing. He's become a passive agent in his own life, which is exactly what gave Sukuna an opening.

If Gojo or Yuji, or anyone for that matter, comes in and saves Megumi without Megumi putting up a fight, then this whole growth process is metaphorically and literally aborted.

Like you, I personally think that this period could be a metaphorical gestational period for Megumi and I wonder if he's going to reach a tipping point where the anger he feels is stronger than the learned helplessness or something like that.

I just wanted to know what you think the best outcome for his character would be?

ALL THAT TO SAY THAT YES. Sukuna might be my other fave, but I am looking forward to either Megumi giving him a hard time or straight up beating the crap out of him.

Megumi has earned that privilege.

Right now, I am wondering how UV has affected Megumi's brain and what that will mean for his behavior. My hc is that his negative self-image is partly due to "reason". In other words, reason = his sense of self as the story he tells himself about himself.

But Megumi levels up because of imagination. Now that he's been hit by UV (I understand it's been 5 times?), how has being flooded with infinity affected the left (reason or logic, analytical) hemisphere of his brain?

Another idea I've been keeping quiet about is that part of the rebirth process involves moving through hell and up into heaven (a la Dante's Divine Comedy as a metaphor for a process of initiation or enlightenment). Megumi right now is sinking in hell as he comes face to face with inner evil.

So can we expect him to come back up? Will Beatrice make a cameo? I'm looking forward to whatever the cursed cat is cooking.

I just have so many thoughts zooming around my brain and I'm trying to...make them make sense...

ahaha, same tho.

Hey thanks again for the Megumi love, the kind comments, and for stopping by! Here's to hoping Gege does bring our boy back 🙌.

#god i love jujutsu kaisen #ask the mental gymnastics anime girl

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