#the woman who wrote her is also asexual

[vixien11]

BESTIE NEW PROMT JUST DROPPED!!!

Emily gets blackout drunk and writes a 1200 page erotica novel (maybe even longer) that makes her girlfriends (Charlie and vaggie) a mix between turned on and mildly concerned the more they read. The hazbins have a bit of a book club because NO ONE knows what’s in the book not even Emily cause she was completely blacked out. It’s a really good book too, the story beats, the characters, the emotions are all leaving the hotel impressed and gobsmacked.

Hah! Okay I just have to write this. Sorry I took a while to respond!(Totally not going to base the novel after a project I'm working on) Emily: (Wakes up groggily and rubs her face as she lifts her head away from a hard object) Ugh... I need to stop asking Charlie's aunt for beezle juice... (Looks down at the object her face was resting on to find a hardcover book called Weeping Horizons. After a moment of looking at it, she notices it says she wrote the book.) Emily: What? I.. I wrote a whole book..? It looks long. How did I even make it hardcover while drunk!? (She looks the book up and down) Well.. Better tell everyone else about this. Later, the whole crew is circled up around this book, eyeing it confusedly. Emily: Next thing I know, I'm wake up with this book. I don't even know what genre it is... (The Hazbins were looking at the book with awe as the cover had a feathered woman with long, pearly white hair curling around her face. The golden eyes of the women sparked a little bit off blood that was inching down her face.) Emily: But the cover looks like my art style.. Charlie: Alright. We'll just read it then! Can't be that bad. (Opens the book tentatively) An hour later, Angel is the only one immune enough to the contents of the book to read it out loud. Angel: Silk gasp as Phoenix licked the blood on her neck and drew circles on her collar bone... (Eyes widen) Okay.. Dove.. (Points at Emily) How the hell are YOU the one who wrote this..!? (Charlie and Vaggie are both blushing profusely and Emily is burying her face in a pillow) Emily: I DON'T KNOOOOW!! I WAS DRUNK OKAY?! Alastor: (Ears are back in asexual disapproval) Yet you have not one grammar mistake... (Flinches back with a small wendigo screech as he reads ahead.) Angel: Well at least I got the stomach for this. (Clears his throat before continuing to read) Half an hour later, it is Vaggie who is reading while the rest of the Hazbins are bawling their eyes out. Vaggie: (Wipes eye) Orchid knew she had made a grave error.. She knew her girlfriends despised her for every moment she had lied. Lied about her past. A shiver went down her spine as she watched Silk's eyes darken. A whimper escaped her.. (Her voice catches) Husk: (Lip trembles slightly) What the fuck are you doing?! Keep reading, dumbass! Angel: FUCK 'EM, ORCHID! I STAND BY YA!! THOSE BITCHES JUST NEED TA LISTEN TO YA! (Cries into Husk's shoulder) Cherri: Fuck you talkin' about, Angi? She ruined there relationship because she lied! She used to kill off civilians like it was pest control! Angel: (Head shooting up from Husk's shoulder) SHE CHANGED AND YOU KNOW IT!! Charlie + Emily: (Hiccupping and clutching either side of Vaggie for support) Cherri: Angi, I will go to war over this. HER REDEMTION ARC HAS BEEN LAME AS FUCK SO FAR!! Angel: (Dramatic ahh gasp) How FUCKING DARE you!! Vaggie: Is no one going to talk about how fucking tragic Pheonix is!? Like hello? Cursed to never be taken seriously but also is why everyone is still as mentally sound as they are! Charlie: (Wipes face) I am SUCH a Pheonix kinnie... Husk: Keep reading! Vaggie: (Sighs and mentally prepares to continue reading.) Should I keep writing this? :3

#these bitches gay #vaggie hazbin hotel #charlie hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel #emily hazbin hotel #charlie x vaggie x emily #charlies angels #chaggily #angel hazbin hotel #alastor hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel memes #husk hazbin hotel #cherri hazbin hotel #HUSK IS SO MOVED HELP

[earlgreytea68]

A Note on Olivia's Speech -- Kinda

OMG this is so much babbling but I wrote it all down in case it might be interesting to anyone else who feels vast amounts of guilt over writing about guys all the time??????

When I was a younger writer, I used to write a lot of het. That's what I wrote all through my teenage years and into my early twenties, just tons of traditional male/female romance novels, which honestly was mostly what I read through those years, too (aside from the classics that I was forced to read for my degree in English, which was exactly why I majored in English lol). Even when I started writing fanfiction, which wasn't until my mid-twenties, I wrote het.

But then at one point I started writing m/m love stories, and I never stopped. And I worry a lot about that, like, is this betraying internalized misogyny on my part? Why am I writing about men (and often white men), who get so many of the stories anyway? I should write more about my actual gender identity, which is cisgender woman. But every time I did, it felt so weird and stilted to me. And my motto is that unless I'm writing for money I write makes me happy, so I kept writing m/m fic.

Once, years ago, I went to a presentation at an academic conference where they discussed the phenomenon of cisgender women writing m/m fic. I know this often gets characterized as just some kind of sexual kink, and I just don't think that's what's going on with me, and that presentation noted that cisgender men are the default, so to speak, in our society. And so characters with a cisgender male gender identity are allowed to be blank slates that can be absolutely anything you want. Whereas as soon as you make a character a cisgender female, suddenly there are all these societal pressures on that character. And that did resonate with me, that try as I might I couldn't just change the pronouns of the cisgender men I was writing and ta-da! They were cisgender women! Because there's just so much other baggage that comes with being a cisgender woman that they were freed from if they were cisgender men -- even if I resented that that was the case!

But I've been doing a lot of reading this past year, and not of romance novels, of quote-unquote "serious" novels (an adjective I strenuously do not agree with, as a writer of romance lol). I read Elif Batuman's books (both hilarious but both kind of fell apart about halfway through), I read Checkout 19 (which I pretty much hated), I read Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow (weird book), I read The Farewell Tour (which surprised me and I liked much more than I'd thought I would). Every one of these books had a cisgender female protagonist (or co-protagonist), and every one of these books had a major plot point where that protagonist has a terrible, unhealthy relationship with an obnoxious cisgender guy. Every. Single. Book. And sometimes it was more than one unhealthy relationship, and sometimes it was more than one female character within the book. Like, you're going along reading about these delightful and interesting adventures these fabulous women are having, then -- bam! they run up against some guy not nearly as interesting as they are and not deserving of their time and then they waste a bunch of their life (and the book) all hung up on him. And I was just like: It's the year 2023, and this is STILL what the female narrative looks like? This???? We can't tell other stories about women that don't revolve around what men do to them???

It's not that these books aren't critiquing that part of society (which I understand is still omnipresent all around us). All of the books are very conscious that the relationships are unhealthy and diminishing the woman (except maaaaybe the relationship in T&T&T, but that book also is really mean to its arguably asexual MC and basically implies that he'll never be of importance in his BFF's life because he doesn't want to have sex with her, so the book had other issues, tbh). Not a single one of those books actually, you know, has any apparent repercussions for the guy in question, who just seems to go on and live their life pretty carefree and the woman whose life they stomped all over is barely a second thought, to us the outside observer. And I'm sure that's also very true to how society works. But, all the same, it was striking to me that, even if critical, THIS WAS STILL EVERY WOMAN'S NARRATIVE. EVERY WOMAN'S NARRATIVE WAS ABOUT SELLING HERSELF SHORT FOR SOME GUY. Can we not imagine better for ourselves????

And so, Idk, I do try to put people of other genders in my m/m fics but when it comes to a character like Olivia, and thinking of what her happy ending looked like, I just could not make myself put her with a guy. And you might say: she could have gone with a woman! And yes! She could have! But I think I am craving female narratives that aren't about romantic and sexual love. Because every narrative I read about a woman is alllll about romantic and sexual love. The woman belittles herself to squeeze herself into the box of romantic and sexual love, cutting off all of the interesting parts of herself because she's been told THAT is the end-all-be-all. But I am a believer in all kinds of love, and how all of those kinds of love can give you a good and well-rounded life, and it's silly to pretend that there's only one type of love and that we should pursue it at all costs to our selves.

And then I think, well, gee, that's hypocritical of me, given that ALL I DO IS WRITE STORIES ABOUT ROMANTIC AND SEXUAL LOVE. But then it occurred to me that in writing them about two cisgender men, it does feel more like a narrative that needs to be told. Men get so many stories...but they don't often get THESE stories. They don't often get the love story. They don't often pursue their romantic love as if it will fulfill their destiny...because society tells men that their destiny has other shapes and sizes beyond who they sleep with. Maybe, I think, the world needs more narratives about guys who just love, unabashedly and deeply and fulfillingly, and THAT'S the narrative. That's the whole story. Just that. The way it so often is for women.

When I think about Olivia, and even as I sit and struggle my way with Megan in the Regency AU sequel, it's like...I want more for them than that. Like, for so long I grew up with exactly the expectation that Olivia talks about, that I needed to find a husband and that was the most important thing about me. And I watch the younger women I know still get that message. I've got a great career, went to good schools, do interesting stuff, and still a shocking number of people want to know why I'm single. What about everything else I can be????? I have great friends and a great family and I honestly like my life. Who can ask for more than that? Like, isn't the most amazing thing that could happen to Megan, especially in the Regency era, is just that she lives the life she wants??? And maybe that means she gets married and maybe it doesn't but it's cool either way and she has the freedom to choose it!

I don't mean to imply that I don't have internalized misogyny, because who knows lol. I also don't mean to imply that women shouldn't get married!!!! I have many cisgender female friends in very happy and healthy heterosexual relationships!!! It's awesome for them and it works for them and it's cool and I love them and the lives they have built for themselves. Lives come in all shapes and sizes, and that's great. But I finished yet another book with yet another female protagonist in yet another unhealthy relationship for the fifth time this year or whatever and I was just like, No wonder I gave Olivia that speech. No wonder I'm looking for another narrative.

#long post #honestly who knows what this is #it feels a mess

[sweet-demiboi]

Billy Hargrove x Male!Reader

Warnings: abuse and face slapping (Neil towards Billy), hurt-comfort (M!Reader and Billy), use of a homophobic slur (you guessed it: Neil), steamy making-out at first, but nothing sexual, so can be read as asexual/poc ig, also I feel like there are many grammar/spelling mistakes (it was late when I wrote it okay), and I took the dialogue between Neil and Billy (and Susan) from the series, it's basically copied word for word (hope that's okay) and put in my own/M!Reader's thoughts or feelings, trans friendly

This is not for Fem!Readers! You guys, go enjoy your own stuff, but please neither interact with this nor read it, thanks.

You couldn't be happier right now. You were sitting in your boyfriend's lap, making out with him in his bed.

Metal was playing in the background, but you didn't care for the music that much. Kissing Billy was far more important than listening to some tunes right now.

Your hands were on his neck and you could feel his caressing your waist. Billy started littering your neck in soft, open-mouthed kisses.

You brought your hands up in his hair with a smile, if somebody had told you three months ago that you would be in a relationship with Billx Hargrove, you would have sent them over to a psychatrist.

But here you were - you never would have thought Billy would be a soft guy either. He had been very hesitant at first though over the time he would demand hugs, cuddles, kisses and all that.

Not often verbally, he would rather sit a little closer to you, take your hand without a comment or throw some puppy-eyes at you.

You were always very glad to provide physical touch for him, always giving a little more than he had asked for. He never complained about it, but was rather happy that you took those steps for him.

Over that period of time he had slowly opened up to you about his situation at home. That his father was a douche-bag and his mom was gone.

You didn't blame him for not telling you right away, you knew that that could be very hard. You had let him take his time, never pressuring him to tell you something.

Except for when you found bruises while making out or wanting to have sex. You would stop everything you were doing to ask him if he's okay and who did that.

Then you would take care of these wounds as best as you could and shower him in love afterwards.

Over the time you had earned his trust bit for bit up until the point where you could communicate only through looks. You could tell by the way he was standing if he was comfortable or not, and by the way his voice sounded.

The more time you spent together the more Billy would talk about his issues and would listen to yours. It was kind of like you were healing together.

You came back from your thoughts when Billy sucked a hickey into the skin of your neck, which made you moan quietly. Your boyfriend chuckled and gave you a smug grin.

When he opened his mouth to say something you heard the door falling shut.

"Guys, we're home!", shouted a woman's voice, you could hear her walking up the hallway.

Billy's face twisted and you could make out an expression made of pure horror and fear. His pupils became as small as a needles head and he whispered "Shit", Billy's body was all tensed all of a sudden "Shit, shit, shit"

He shoved you off of him roughly, pushing you in the direction of his closet "Don't make a single sound", he demanded.

"Okay", you knew why he was so panicked and you were so angry at his father for being the reason.

"Not a single sound!", Billy looked behind him quickly, still an expression of fear in his eyes "Or he'll kill you", you only nodded at that, then Billy closed the door shut.

There was a knock on the door of his room "Billy?", clearly it was the voice from before. Billy's stepmom, you figured.

"Yeah, I'm a bit busy in here, Susan", Billy answered, you assumed that he was hiding all your stuff. For example, shoving your shirt and sneakers under his bed.

Billy looked around for anything he could have missed, because he was sure of his father tagging along and getting in his room sooner or later.

"Open the door! Right now!", there he was. An abusive man in all his glory.

Billy took one last deep breath and went across his room to let the two adults in.

"What's wrong?", he tried to keep up a facade of confidence but even over the music you could hear the fear. You prayed to every god above that his dad wouldn't notice.

"Why don't you tell us?", Neil definetly was already annoyed. And he sounded mean. You had never met that man before and this first impression wasn't a good one.

But to be honest after holding Billy in your arms, countless nights while he was crying his eyes out because of the abuse of his father, you didn't think there would be any chance for this man to seem nice to you.

"Because I don't know", answered your boyfriend.

"We can't find Maxine", that was the stepmom again - Susan? You didn't really care if that was her actual name.

"And her window is open", Neil.

Fuck, Billy sweared in his mind. His sister definetly needed to be more careful when she snuck out of the house.

He and Max were actually getting along pretty well over the past weeks. That was because of you, at least partially, as you thought of Max to be pretty cool. You had encouraged both of them to talk about their issues with each other so both would have a safe space/person to go to right in their house.

"Where is she?", of course Billy didn't know. How could he? He had been busy with kissing you, which he did not regret at all.

It should be Max taking responsibility here he thought to himself. He didn't understand why he was the one who would have to take care of here all day. It wasn't fair.

"I don't know", he answered truthfully

Neil scoffed at that "You don't know?"

"Look, I'm sure she just, I don't know", Billy turned away from his father, walking back into his room. He had to do something or else he would fucking break down from nervousness "Went to the arcade or something. I'm sure she's fine", he hoped.

Neil was going after him. The blonde needed a plan, one that would get him out of here. Almost automatically he grabbed his leather jacket he had thrown over a chair earlier and put it on. Now he would only need an excuse for going out.

"You were supposed to watch her", Neil sounded angry, crossed his arms and stood in the middle of the room like a demon on fire. Billy could basically feel his skin burning under his father's glance.

He sighed to relieve some tension and at the same time to seem authentic "I know, dad. I was.", and now he was going for it.

He would play risky: "It's just you guys were three hours late, and, well,", he needed an excuse, now "I have a date" His father wouldn't want to get to know that person anyway, so it was a pretty good idea for getting away from here. He would just have to get you out through the window or something.

"I'm sorry, okay?", he threw on the jacket and turned back to his father, ready to face whatever Neil would throw at him next. Verbally or physically.

"So that's why you've been staring at yourself in the mirror like some faggot instead of watching your sister?" True, Billy was dolled up more than a little and he was dating a guy, but his father didn't actually think that. He just wanted to insult his son. You were disgusted by that man's behavior.

And homophobia, of course. It was basically something every asshole had up his sleeve, as well as being a mysogynist and a racist.

Billy on the other hand, who had been thaught all of this in his childhood, was now open to women being smart and people of color not being evil. He had needed time to see through his prejudices and not treat these people differently, but it had been easier with your help.

"I have been looking after her all week, dad. Okay?", now Billy was just annoyed by all of this situation. He couldn't watch every step Max took.

His father looked at him flabbergasted, not being used to Billy talking back to him that much.

"If she wants to run off, then that's her problem, all right?"

Now he could actually talk about everything he thought, it didn't matter. He would be punished afterwards anyway: "She's 13 years old. She shouldn't need a full-time babysitter."

Billy turned to turn off his music "And she's not my sister!" He had only said that to show his father, that he wasn't responsible for everything Max did. And he was angry himself by now, too.

Hell, he didn't want to hold out his head for her every time she did something wrong. Because he would get punished for it physically mostly, and she would only have to listen to a half hearted, annoyed talk of her mom. It just wasn't fair.

Then there was a loud crash. Neil had shoved Billy against a shelf. You slapped a hand over your mouth to not let a cry out. Listening to your boyfriend getting abused hurt you in your deepest feelings. You felt incredibly sorry for Billy for having to suffer like that.

The blonde was now staring into his fathers eyes, keeping his chin high in an attempt to keep his cool. But in reality he could already feel the tears in his eyes.

For a few seconds there were only pants and grunts paired with the eyecontact. Billy could feel his heart going absolutely feral in his chest because he knew what would be coming now.

"What did we talk about?", asked Neil in an utterly calm voice. Billy didn't answer.

Then his father punched him right in the face. Leaving a red hand-print on his cheek.

You were in shock. You would jump out of the closet and fight Neil in an instant if you didn't know that that would make it only worse. So you stayed silent, your hand still over your mouth, choking down the tears.

You felt as if you weren't allowed to cry when clearly it was your boyfriend being abused. You wanted to help him, but you didn't know how. The only thing you could do was pray for this to be over soon.

Neil pulled Billy's face back in his direction by his chin, then he raised a finger at him and repeated his question with that calm voice again making you absolutely furious: "What did we... talk about?"

"Respect and responsibility", said Billy. He had to push the words out past his tears and he was sure of his eyes being all red by now.

"That is right.", Neil looked at his son without any emotion a father should feel towards his child. Billy's stomach always hurt from that look. It was that look which made him feel unloveable.

You had changed that. But right now he couldn't remember the softness of your voice when you told him again and again, or your hands treating his body like the finest treasure in the world. Your eyes when they looked at him with pure admiration or when you showed your love with soft lips on his skin.

You would make sure of him remembering all of that later, for sure.

"Now, apologize to Susan."

Billy looked in the eyes of his father and a few long seconds passed before he choked out a "I'm sorry, Susan."

"It's okay, Neil, really-" You almost chuckled at that statement bitterly. Was that woman still thinking of her behavior being okay? Did she think she couldn't do anything about this situation anyway?

You hoped she didn't feel okay, because it wasn't. She should do something about that abuse and you didn't understand what was holding her back.

She probably didn't care enough about Billy to do so. Which really made you hate her. He was only 17, almost 18. And this was going on for god knows how long. She should have protected that child.

But also, she must've been scared for Max to get hurt if she spoke up about it. That you could understand. And Neil was the attacker here. She helped him subconciously though with not doing anything.

It was too much to wrap your head around for now. You could do that later.

"No it's not okay.", said Neil "Nothing about his behavior is okay." Well, you thought In that case: Like father like son, huh?

Billy had done nothing wrong. You made a mental note for yourself to remind him of that fact as well.

"But he's gonna make up for it." Although Neil talked to Susan, he was looking into Billy's eyes while doing so, which made the blonde feeling even more bad.

"He's gonna call whatever whore he's seeing tonight and cancle their date." Luckily, Billy wasn't actually meeting anyone this particular evening. Well, he had, but Neil had already ruined it.

And Neil finally stepped back, now facing Susan. Billy took a shakey breath in. Having his personal space back felt good.

"And then he's gonna go find his sister.", Neil continued "Like the good, kind, respecting brother, that he is." He looked back at Billy with those hard eyes.

"Isn't that right, Billy?" The blonde, at this point, was so shaken up that he wasn't able to answer in the first place. His heart was racing, and his head spinning. He couldn't think clearly and there was a pain in his-

"Isn't that right?", his father asked, rather screamed, again. He stepped back in front of Billy whose eyes widened a little. He had to pull himself together a last time.

"Yes, sir.", his voice was quiet and he almost didn't hear it from the sound of rushing blood in his ears.

Neil didn't, either: "I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you." He spoke just as silent as Billy, probably to mock him, to make him seem weak. You could've jumped at that man's throat.

Neil spared Billy another hard glance through cold eyes. The teen gulped and replied, louder and clearer now: "Yes, sir."

"Find Max.", and with that they were gone.

Billy's hands were shaking and two silent tears rolled over his cheeks. He slammed the wall with his fist and then hid his face in his hands in an attempt to calm himself.

He hated his father with all of his heart. He really did. But he never managed to punch back. After Billy had taken a deep breath in to calm himself he closed the door to his room. This time he locked it, just to be sure no one would burst in unexpectedly.

Then he turned to the closet - he felt uneasy when he walked over though he opened its doors immediately. He was hesitant at doing so, but then your soft eyes were looking at him, making his heart flutter (in a good way).

You noticed that Billy had cried silently, which made your stomach twist and turn in hate for Neil. How could somebody do this to their own child?

Billy helped you out of the closet wordlessly, not looking you in the face right now. That was fine, you knew how shaken up he was right now.

"Can I hug you?", your voice was barely louder than a whisper. You knew that physical touch was helping Billy with feeling comfortable often.

But not now, as he shook his head and gestured to the window "Can you-?"

He didn't need to finish his question, you immediately understood what he wanted from you. "Of course", you grabbed your stuff from under his bed and quickly threw on your shirt. Your shoes would have to wait - you figured it would take too long as Billy was impatiently waiting by your side.

So, you jumped out in the garden barefoot and walked down to where his car stood. You tried your best at being quiet and made yourself as small as possible so that Neil wouldn't see you out there.

While you waited at the camaro you got your converse on, then the front door opened and Billy jogged out. He wanted to get away from this place as fast as possible.

You both got in the car without saying anything, then your boyfriend started the engine and drove out of the drive-way with screeching tires. You thought about what you could tell Billy to make him feel any better for the entire ride.

"Can you stop here, please?", you asked, breaking the silence. You were on an empty road, near a forest. The chances of somebody driving past you at this time were very low.

Billy did what he was asked for without even looking beside him, when the car was parked he didn't move. You assumed that he was still in shock from what had just happened.

"Can I take your hand?", you were already offering yours, while smiling at him sadly. Billy was very hesitant but after a few seconds of debating with himself he let you grab it. He still didn't look at you though.

"Your father had no right to do that, because Max being gone is not your fault. I hope you are aware of that.", you lifted his hand up and gently kissed his knuckles "You did nothing wrong.", you whispered on the soft skin "You did nothing to deserve this."

With the next look Billy shot you, his eyes were all teary again. He started to cry and you immediately leaned over to him, engulfing your boyfriend in a hug. He himself slung his arms around you as if you were an anchor (which, metaphorically spoken, you probably were to him).

You felt your shirt becoming wet from his tears, which made you go bitter. Whenever you had the chance of fighting his father, you would take if immediately. Without a second thought, you would try to kill this man.

"I'll protect you as best as I can from him", you whispered in Billy's locks, pressing a kiss to them only a second later. You caressed his back with your hands in an attempt to make him feel more comfortable.

"I love you so much, Blue.", you had to blink a few tears away. You really did love him and seeing Billy in so much pain hurt you.

"I love you too", were the first words you heard after that accident "Thank you for being here"

"I will always be there for you", you promised. Billy pulled back from your hug to press his lips to yours in a wet kiss. You ttok his face in your hands gently, wiping a few tears from his cheeks.

You would do absolutely anything in your power to protect this guy in your arms. He was worth it.

#gay #pansexual #bisexual #omnisexual #queer #demisexual #asexual #lgbt #lgbtq #lgbt+ #lgbtq+ #trans #ftm #male!reader #he/him #he/they #billy hargrove x male reader #billy hargrove x male!reader #stranger things x male reader #stranger things x male!reader

[honest-moth-of-silver-grove]

Hey, I'd love a matchup for Castlevania, if you're up for it (was not the person who wrote you those ask anons btw, although I appreciate them clearing things up).

I’m a heterosexual cis woman, although I’m starting to suspect I’m on the asexual spectrum. So, I'd prefer a male matchup. Also not super sure I'd be down with polygamy.

I'm a premed student (no time for irl dating unfortunately 😭). I also work as a volunteer EMS on weekends. Outside of my school and work my hobbies are singing (musical theatre and classical mostly), theatre (backstage work as well as performing), skiing (the only sport I’m any good at) and TTRPGs (was this close to getting my group to play a Castlevania campaign 😔).

I’m also a big nerd about history, American comics, and folklore. I’ll rant for hours about my special interests if nobody stops me. I’d describe myself as ambiverted. I'm socially awkward, but also very loud and expressive. I’m a bit oblivious, I’ll admit lol, but I do my best. My MBTI is ESTJ, and while I doubt MBTI's accuracy, I agree I’m very Type A. When it comes to the things I’m good at, I’m a major perfectionist, but I’m proud of how hard I work. I think my greatest weakness is probably thoughtlessness, but my greatest strength is humility.  My giving love language is acts of service, and my receiving love language is quality time. I'm verbally affectionate towards friends but I freeze like a deer in headlights if somebody flirts with me. Also: I know appearance isn’t super important, but I think it’s important to know I’m only around 5’0 tall. As my friends say, "headpat size."

A/N: Okay for you my PreMed Student Anon (that’s amazing, congratulations by the way!)I have two potential matches in mind. You said you’re heterosexual and would prefer male results, so I chose two from that gender because I honestly couldn’t decide which would please you best. For you, I’m thinking either Dracula or Alucard would be your perfect romantic matchups! (It really does just come down to which man you’d like better: father or son, lol.) 

Dracula (Vlad Tepes), as terrifying as he may be when he decides to enact justice on the human population, is a very reserved and intellectual man. He’s introverted and devoted much of his life to learning about anything and everything from medicine to history to poetry. 

In this instance let’s pretend he’s either never met Lisa or he did meet and fall in love with Lisa but she either lived a full life and died of natural causes, or Dracula was able to overcome the anger and blame he held for humanity following her murder.

Dracula is a patient man. Being immortal means he understands that you must dedicate much of your time to your studies and your volunteer work. So long as the few moments you do get to spend with him are uninterrupted and meaningful, I believe he’d be understanding, and even supportive of your academic endeavors. He was more than happy to aid Lisa in her quest to learn more about biology, so I have no doubt he’d do similarly for you. Any questions you have, he’d gladly answer them. Any resource he has in his castle, any book or scroll, any record of any kind is yours to inspect. He has no doubts that you’re going to make a very accomplished professional one day, and he has every intention of doing whatever it takes to help you get there.

Along with that patience comes an understanding that sex is not the end all be all in life. Sure, it has its place for either pleasure or reproduction but it doesn't need to dominate relationships. If sex is something you're hesitant about, or against having, it doesn't make much difference to him. Dracula would be fine without sleeping with you, so long as he can have you in other ways. Holding you close, holding your hand, sitting next to you in front of a warm fire- those things are what make him feel close to your heart. 

Dracula also enjoys how animated you get when you go on rants about your special interests. He’s very versed in history and folklore as well, although not American comics, so he would listen intently as you teach him all you know. 

As an ESTJ, you would be very grounding for him (an INTJ), while still having a great deal in common. The both of you value an intellectual connection in a relationship while your more empathetic, extroverted side would help push him to see the truth of humanity where he may previously have only seen things in shades of black and white. You both strive for the best, and that suits you just fine with your perfectionism, but do be warned, there may be times you don’t see eye to eye. What you hold as most important in an issue or debate may be different than what he holds. Remember to be patient. INTJs are prone to stubbornness, but being a Type A personality, I do not doubt that you’ll be able to handle any contrary moods of his just fine. 

Your thoughtlessness can also be a source of discourse within the relationship, as Dracula is bound to worry about you. You’re human, you're fragile and under so much pressure. He cares deeply for you and does not want to see you hurt. The one advantage you do have, however, is your humility. It keeps you from being both arrogant and thoughtless which is a much more dangerous combination. So long as you are aware enough of your limits, and keep your wits about you the best you can, Dracula promises to trust you enough to let you come and go as you need to, so long as you’re willing to admit when you need help. But with your best trait being your humility, that shouldn't be a problem. 

Dracula is so touched by your acts of service. Being such an ancient and scary vampire no one ever thought to make him tea or ask if he needed help with anything. He feels so fortunate to have a partner who does not see him solely as ‘Dracula’, Lord of Vampires, but as Vlad Tepes, a man at heart. 

Not to mention your size difference is too adorable for words. He’s so tall and you’re so tiny… He always kneels whenever you ask for a kiss, he’ll never ask you to step on a stool or climb a ladder to reach him. He’s more than happy to come to you. He loves you. You are his new light, his new reason to believe in humanity. 

Alucard (Adrian Tepes) could also be a good match for you! He’s an ambivert like you, although he may not admit it. He’s the son of a scholar and a doctor, so he’s very understanding when it comes to your education and career. And his empathetic nature makes him extremely compatible with your considerate one. 

As Alucard is a dhampir and immortal, this matchup could work in either medieval times or modern times. For the sake of this matchup, imagine whatever you might prefer. 

Alucard hasn’t always had the best experience when it comes to sex. Granted, you can’t judge every potential future experience based on one horrible one, but he’s not the kind of guy who jumps into bed easily. He has reservations and feels very insecure about the whole act. Should he ever engage in it, he’d need a partner who’s very understanding, or just as nervous as he is about the whole thing. In hindsight, I don’t think Alucard would mind not having all that much sex: for him, your continued company means more than any sexual endeavor could. 

Alucard is very impressed with your decision to go into pre med. He knows how much work that means you’re going to be undertaking, and he’ll do whatever he can to support you, either in your studies or in your personal life. He’s very well-read and rather educated on biology as his mother was a physician, so feel free to ask him any questions or have him quiz you before exams. He’s also a bit of an obsessive lover. When he decides he likes someone, he makes a point to memorize that person. (Recall the Trevor and Sypha dolls?) He wants to know what you think and why you think it. That way, he can anticipate your thoughts or needs. 

And he does quite enjoy it when you sing to him, especially if you sing him to sleep. Sleep hasn't always come easy to him, but with your presence and your lovely voice, it’s as if an angel is singing him a lullaby. I also believe Alucard would absolutely thrive playing TTRPG: he’s sarcastic, smart and strategic. I really think he’d dominate any campaign he set his mind to. Plus, it’d be great socialization for him besides you. 

As an ESTJ you’re fairly compatible with Alucard’s INFJ. You’re just extroverted enough to pull him out of his idealistic daydreams, but grounded and predictable enough not to shake his confidence or trust in you/your relationship. The only possible issue is that INFJs can sometimes get caught up in the fantastical destiny of it all: it’s about people and purpose. Whereas ESTJs tend to be a bit more practical- you value reality and stability a bit more than potential and daydreams. But I don’t envision this to be a huge problem, so long as you push communication with Alucard. He internalizes a lot. He’ll need to be reminded to share his inner feelings. So long as you do that, I don’t see any major discourse between you two. 

Alucard may be a little disappointed in your moments of thoughtlessness, but at the same time, he finds them endearing. You try so hard: you’re a perfectionist like he is, and even though you’re only human, you strive for the same greatness. It’s rather admirable. He likes that about you. 

Alucard would also be very touched by your acts of service, mainly because he often finds himself doing the service for others. It’s nice to be taken care of for a change. And he is very happy to spend quality time with you. He’d follow you everywhere if you let him. So long as he’s near you, he feels complete. He’s always leaning down to give you soft forehead kisses whenever you’re around. You’re so precious to him. 

#casltevania x reader #castlevania imagines #castlevania imagine #vlad dracula tepes imagine #alucard imagine #alucard x reader #alucard tepes x reader #alucard tepes imagine #castlevania alucard imagine #castlevania dracula #castlevania #castlevania matchups #matchups

[bongsuvn]

Art by Not A Starchild

KHẢI ĐỊNH: THE EMPEROR WHO DIDN’T LIKE WOMEN

(Tiếng Việt ở dưới)

Emperor Khải Định (1885 – 1925), named Nguyễn Phúc Tuấn, also known as Nguyễn Phúc Bửu Đảo, was the 12th emperor of the Nguyễn dynasty and father Emperor Bảo Đại (Vietnam’s last monarch). Due to historical beliefs, Emperor Khải Định’s disregard of his harem women allowed others to deem him impotent. Having an impotent husband who never noticed her but gambled and wasted her family money away was the reason why First-ranked Consort Trương, his wife, left him to become a nun.

Abandoned by his wife, Bửu Đảo relied on the palace maid’s care. A young and beautiful maid, Hoàng Thị Cúc, suddenly became pregnant and insisted that the baby was of imperial blood, despite Bửu Đảo’s mother’s attempt to find out who the real father was. Because of this, many speculated that his son, Bảo Đại, was not his; some rumored that he took a tonic that made him take interest in women, allowing him to bless Hoàng Thị Cúc with a child.

From a modern point of view, based on the press and research regarding Khải Định’s life, he was not impotent; he just liked men (or very asexual). This could explain why he often showed boredom towards his maids, as well as the way he treated his wives. Although everyone knew of his impotence, many mandarins still wished to wed their daughters to him for imperial favors. Unable to refuse, the emperor often said: “My harem is a chaste temple, whoever wants to be a nun can enter!” Therefore, although Khải Định refused women, he still had a large harem, not unlike his ancestors. Moreover, in the book Inner Court Stories of the Nguyễn Emperors, Nguyễn Đắc Xuân wrote: “In the mornings, when attending to national duties within the Palace of Political Diligence, his wives stood in two rows to welcome the emperor. However, he would collect the robe’s sleeves to his side so they wouldn’t touch any woman.”

Within ten years as ruler, Khải Định raised Nguyễn Đắc Vọng as his imperial bodyguard, a male favorite of the time. At night, the emperor would hug Vọng to sleep. Due to this ingenuity in obedience, Đắc Vọng was promoted to Fifth-ranked Imperial Bodyguard.

Another story revealed that at festivals with dance performances organized by his harem, Emperor Khải Định would watch with boredom. At one point, he even told the mandarins to replace these dancers with male ones. He seemed to enjoy this, and even ordered the male dancers to apply powder, blush, and lipstick to have fun with him.

In the Letter of Seven Clauses by Phan Chu Trinh, which detailed the sins of Emperor Khải Định, he described the emperor as “wearing ludicrous garments that inappropriately mixed Western and native designs,” as well as “dressing improperly.” Historical documentation regarding Khải Định’s wardrobe showed that he invested a lot in designing the mandarins’, soldiers’, and his personal fashion that was clearly anti-tradition. Chu Trinh said: “The emperor liked and attached great importance to make-up and color coordination by applying gems, gold, silver, and diamonds onto clothes, pants, shoes, boots, hats, and scabbards. He created multiple dragon robes that went against traditional standards of former rulers. In addition, instead of wearing traditional boots, he wore shiny Western leather boots decorated with silver patterns, as well as wearing jeweled belts, white gloves, white Western trousers, and carrying French swords, but his head was still wrapped in Vietnamese turbans, and sometimes even conical hats. His conical hats were made of feathers, covered with golden silk, and had golden tips. The emperor also had black conical hats.”

Khải Định’s tomb, Ứng Mausoleum, in Huế, considered as the most elaborate imperial tomb in Vietnam, was designed by the emperor himself during his reign. The mausoleum was inlaid with porcelain, jade, and precious stone from Japan, China, and the West. Upon entering his tomb, or when reviewing his dressing, one can imagine the luxurious (or to the LGBT+ community, fabulous) personality of Emperor Khải Định.

The famous Hồ Chí Minh also produced a series of taunting works regarding Khải Định, including the short story The Anonymous Visit of the Emperor and the play The Bamboo Dragon, with many details attacking the emperor’s gender expression.

==================

KHẢI ĐỊNH: VỊ VUA KHÔNG THÍCH ĐÀN BÀ

Vua Khải Định (1885 – 1925) tên là Nguyễn Phúc Tuấn, còn gọi là Nguyễn Phúc Bửu Đảo, là vị vua đời thứ 12 của nhà Nguyễn, cha Bảo Đại. Xét trên quan niệm thời xưa, việc Khải Định không đoái hoài đến cung tần mĩ nữ của mình khiến ông bị coi là bất lực, tức kém khả năng trong tình dục, chăn gối. Việc chồng bất lực, không ngó ngàng gì đến mình, lại cộng thêm ham mê cờ bạc, tiêu tốn của cải gia đình nhà vợ là lí do khiến bà Đệ nhất giai phi Trương thị bỏ ông mà đi tu.

Bị vợ bỏ, Bửu Đảo phải dựa vào sự chăm sóc của những người hầu trong phủ. Tình cờ thì một nô tì trẻ trung, xinh đẹp là Hoàng Thị Cúc đã mang thai và nhất quyết cái thai đó là giọt máu của ông, cho dù thân mẫu của ngài dùng mọi cách để tìm ra ai là cha đứa trẻ. Vì thế mà đã xuất hiện nhiều lời đồn đoán Bảo Đại cũng không phải con ruột của ông; người lại đồn rằng ông dùng thuốc bổ, tự dưng muốn gần gũi phụ nữ, nên ông mới ban ơn cho cung nữ Hoàng Thị Cúc.

Nhưng xét trên cái nhìn hiện đại, báo chí và những người quan tâm đến cuộc đời của Khải Định cho rằng ông không hề bất lực, mà thật ra là ông không thích đàn bà, chỉ thích đàn ông (hoặc là hoàn toàn vô tính luyến ái). Đây có thể giải thích vì sao ngài thường tỏ ra buồn chán không quan tâm tới các thị nữ, cũng như cách ông đối xử với những người vợ của mình. Lời kể rằng tuy ai cũng biết Khải Định bất lực, nhưng các quan đại thần vẫn muốn tiến con gái mình vào cung vì lợi ích gia tộc. Khó lòng chối từ, vua thường nói với các quan: “Nội cung của Trẫm là một cái chùa, ai muốn tu thì cứ vào!” Do đó, dù Khải Định không gần gũi đàn bà, ông vẫn có đủ tam cung lục viện như các vua tiền triều. Hơn nữa, trong cuốn Chuyện nội cung các vua Nguyễn, ông Nguyễn Đắc Xuân viết: “Những buổi sáng phải ra điện Cần Chính thiết triều, các bà đứng hai hàng bái yết đón chào, vua liền dùng tay ôm gọn hai vạt áo bào sát vào người để khỏi vướng vào đàn bà.”

Suốt 10 năm làm vua, ông đã nuôi Nguyễn Đắc Vọng làm thị vệ, cũng đồng thời là nam sủng nịnh thần thời đấy. Ban đêm, ông lại ôm Vọng mà ngủ. Nhờ sự khéo léo trong việc phục tùng này mà ông Vọng đã được thăng tiến đến Ngũ đẳng thị vệ.

Có câu chuyện cho rằng vào ngày lễ hội tổ chức những buổi vũ múa do hậu cung đảm trách, vua Khải Định nhìn những màn vũ một cách buồn chán. Có lúc ông còn bảo quan hãy dẹp những màn múa ấy và thay thế vào những vũ công nam. Vua Khải Định lấy làm thích thú, còn ra lệnh những vũ công nam cần phải thoa phấn, đánh má hồng, tô môi son, và vui đùa với vua.

Trong Thất điều thư của Phan Chu Trinh kể tội vua, có nói Khải Định là “ăn mặc lố lăng, dở Tây dở ta,” còn “phục sức không đúng phép.” Những tài liệu sử sách chép lại về phong cách ăn mặc, phục sức của Khải Định, cho thấy ông đầu tư rất nhiều cho các thiết kế trang phục của bản thân, quan lại, lính tráng một cách phản truyền thống. Ông Trinh rằng: “Vua chuộng và coi trọng việc trang điểm, phối hợp màu sắc điểm xuyết bằng cách đính các viên ngọc quý, vàng bạc, kim cương trên áo quần, giày, ủng, mũ nón, bao kiếm. Vua chế ra một số y phục long bào vượt qua các mẫu mã quy định truyền thống của các vua chúa thời trước. Ngoài ra, thay vì mang hia, vua đi ủng da láng bóng, có trang trí hoa văn bằng bạc, ngang lưng mang đai cẩn ngọc, mang kiếm Pháp, đeo bao tay trắng, quần Tây trắng, nhưng đầu vẫn bịt khăn đóng và có khi đội nón chóp. Cái nón này lợp bằng lông vũ, bọc lụa vàng, có chóp bằng vàng. Vua cũng có một cái nón chóp khác màu đen.”

Ứng Lăng của Khải Định ở Huế, được xem là lăng tẩm vua chúa cầu kì tốn kém nhất Việt Nam, là do chính ông tự thiết kế khi còn sống. Lăng khảm sành sứ, ngọc, đá từ Nhật Bản, Trung Quốc, và phương Tây. Thế nên khi vào lăng, hoặc khi xem phục trang của Khải Định, có thể phần nào hình dung về con người và tính cách của vua.

Nguyễn Ái Quốc cũng có một loạt bài chế giễu Khải Định, trong đó có truyện ngắn Vi hành và vở kịch Con rồng tre, với nhiều chi tiết xoáy vào thể hiện giới của vua Khải Định.

__________ Tham khảo:

datviet.trithuccuocsong.vn/van-hoa/nguoi-viet/chan-doan-can-benh-bat-luc-cua-vua-khai-dinh-2259639 vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khải_Định

__________ Tác giả:

Lương Thế Huy Vietnam Queer History Month 

__________ *Vô tính luyến ái (asexuality): sự không bị hấp dẫn tình dục, hoặc không hay ít quan tâm đến các hoạt động tình dục

#LịchSửLGBTViệtNam #VietnamLGBTHistory

[clone-anon-after-dark]

A Little Closer (Captain Rex x GN Asexual Aromantic Reader)

Word Count: 2722

Warnings: minors DNI, frank discussions of sex but nothing more, some chaste kissing, reader is sex-repulsed aroace, angst in regards to Order 66 (I'm sorry okay! This was getting long and I didn't know how to also make it an Everyone Lives AU also)

A/N: I wrote these headcanons for clones with ace partners and basically now I want to write at least one fic for each clone with a partner who is somewhere on the aroace spectrum.  (I’m taking requests if you have any.)  Ultimately the relationship in this one is going to be a queerplatonic partnership with I love yous. There is some reverse comfort. No use of reader's pronouns.

I would be remiss if I didn't say thank you @starrrgazingbunny! Your reblog and comments on those headcanons helped shape the relationship in this story.

You sat near 79’s and wanted to cry.  All you could think about were those many nights with the 501st boys, laughing, eating, dancing, and sharing stories.  You didn’t jump on the dance floor immediately, but it was hard to be shy when Hardcase, Fives, and Jesse all shuffled you toward the center of the room.  They had no shame in their dance moves and brought out more of your fun side.  You smiled to yourself as you thought of all the times you talked and took their mind off the war.  You remember the night someone had pulled the fire alarm and you were all kicked out. You invited the boys home to hang out for a little while.  Rex chuckled watching Tup, Dogma, Kix, Fives, Jesse, and Hardcase all try to sit on your couch followed by Hardcase insisting there was room for everyone as long as you, Rex, and Echo sat on their laps. There was not, in fact, any more room and your poor sofa creaked beneath them.  You just grinned and got some extra chairs out and moved the table so everyone could sit somewhere. No one seemed to mind it being a little crowded.

It was the same night that the boys were discussing their futures. Not so much about the war, but Hardcase had met a woman he loved and disappeared to her every day he could when they were on Coruscant.  Jesse was in the process of getting to know someone and Dogma had a date lined up.  They had never been prepared for social relationships outside of the GAR, nevermind romantic relationships. They quickly turned to you for advice, as a nat-born.  

“Sorry to disappoint,” you said. “I’m aroace and will never have sex.”  Each man tilted his head and knitted his eyebrows slightly, mulling over this statement. You took the time to explain the spectrum of sexual and romantic attraction and that, yes, you still liked people and platonic relationships.  You even thought about having a committed relationship sometimes, but hadn’t found the right person for that.  You carefully waded into the topic of lost loves and unspoken wishes when you knew a friend would only remain a friend. You told them you dreamed more about building a home and sharing a life with someone, but that didn’t have to include the things romantic movies seemed to covet.  

“Are those things not important regardless of how you feel about sex, or even romance?”  The question came from Rex, who up until now, had been practically silent. You looked into his eyes, and felt a spark of hope.  It was quickly interrupted by a well-meaning Hardcase.

“Yeah, I love more than sex. I feel a connection when I’m with my girlfriend. She understands me. We spend time doing more than making out and getting naked.”

“Thank you for that information,” Tup said, rolling his eyes.

You smiled, getting his meaning.  “I think that strong, long-lasting relationships are built on closeness and understanding.  There are some people out there who have no interest in getting close to someone on an emotional level and only want the physical, sure. I think it’s pretty normal to figure out what you want and seek that out.”

“People tend to want to be understood and care for each other,” Rex added quietly.  The men all nodded their heads and you couldn’t help but find a smile tugging on the corner of your mouth.

You didn’t tell the boys some things. Like how you were sometimes up front about being sex-repulsed because you knew it would weed out some people.  It felt like a shield against future pain.  You knew not everyone would understand and you didn’t want to waste your time, but that night you felt like they were doing their best to understand.

You now felt a pang thinking back to that night.  All those men figuring themselves out in the way that nat-borns normally had years to do.  They grew up too fast to fight a war, but they had the same basic needs and desires as anyone.  Now that the Empire was in power, so much had changed.  You didn’t know where they all were, but you missed each one of them.  You especially missed Rex.  That night had been one filled with hope for you.  Hope that someone would understand what you wanted in a relationship and not demand you sacrifice your body and wishes for their own needs.  Now you were really alone, trying to figure out how to function with so much changed.

Your old job with the GAR had been terminated and you were left to trade parts and barter your skills as a mechanic.  It was in the process of trading parts that you met the Martez sisters.  One night you found yourself on their platform, agreeing to help fix a ship for a friend of theirs while they were off on a job. You weren’t given a name or anything, just a description that included blonde hair and a more thorough description of the ship. They neglected to tell you that he was a clone.  The ship landed and you stepped toward it as the door opened to reveal a familiar face.

“Rex?” You dropped the tool in your hand and tears came to your eyes. He was dressed more like a civilian, but that face was unmistakable.

His breath was nearly knocked out of him as he quickly covered the short space between you and pulled you into his arms.

“It’s so, so good to see you,” he said, breathing a sigh of relief.  “I wanted to find you. Find someone. After everything I couldn’t come back to the barracks. I couldn’t…” His voice was barely a whisper and he pulled you in for another hug.

As you worked on his ship, he helped, handing you tools and filling you in on what happened.  You thought of Hardcase, Tup, and Fives gone. You mourned for them during the war.  Now Jesse. Rex didn’t know what happened to Dogma or Kix, but at least Echo was okay. He sat, staring forward, and tears streamed down his face.  You stopped your work and sat next to him, pulling him close while he cried into your shoulder.

As he quieted he apologized.  “I’m so sorry. I think of them every day.”

“You don’t have to be sorry, Rex. I miss them. I missed you. I never thought I’d see you again.”

That day changed your life.  You did everything you could to help Rex and the network of clones.  When more were rescued, you were ready with food and clean clothes.  You fixed ships and saved credits.  Eventually, you started going on missions that weren’t so much on the dangerous side as the practical side. Helping rescued clones start new lives in a handful of places that were as far away from the Empire as possible, expanding the network.  You helped Rex find several places to lay low and a few escape routes through the galaxy.  While you had offered to come on all the missions, he insisted he didn’t want you put in the way of more danger, but then one day, Rex and Gregor barely made it back.  You and Wolffe were waiting after a supply run and were both practically tearing your hair out.  

“What happened?!” You both shouted once the door to the shuttle opened.  Gregor explained that there had been some mechanical trouble, lost comms, and they had to jump around that part of the galaxy for a while to find someone to assist. 

“It was beyond our expertise,” Rex added.

You rolled your eyes. “If only you knew someone who was a mechanic,” you replied.

“It’s too dangerous,” Rex insisted.

“I chose this, Rex.”  You looked between him, Wolffe, and Gregor. “Now I know Gregor and Wolffe have told me that they would appreciate the help, but you keep saying ‘no.’ Why? I’m with you. I want to do this!”

Gregor and Wolffe froze in place and silently looked between each other and Rex.  Rex just rolled his eyes and sighed.

“I don’t want you getting hurt,” he admitted.

“Then help me with my blaster aim.”

He couldn’t help but grin at that.  Joining the boys consistently changed a lot of things.  You became better on your feet in sticky situations and since you weren’t a clone, you blended into certain scenarios much easier.  It was an advantage.  You also got to know the boys much better.  Knowing someone you worked with and becoming friends that way was one thing.  Living on a ship with them, sometimes for months at a time, was another.  While you had become closer to all three of them, you started to feel something for Rex that couldn’t quite be put into words. It was some form of love, but you didn’t know what to make of it.

One evening Gregor and Wolffe turned in early so they could get some sleep before their watch.  You stayed sitting by the campfire with Rex.  You felt some discomfort from him, but waited as he formed his thoughts.  Your heart dropped at the thought he might have noticed you acting a bit differently around him. Were you acting different? You couldn’t quite tell.  You tried to play it cool, but that didn’t always work out.  You were brought out of your thoughts when he cleared his throat.

“Hey,” he said quietly. “How do I put this?”  You waited until he continued. “Many rotations ago, a few cycles ago now, we were at your place with some of the boys talking about relationships and you said you don’t feel romantic love or want to be, umm, intimate.  Is that still true?”

“Wha?” The partially-formed word left your lips before you could stop it. You weren’t expecting him to be so forward. “Yeah. Yeah I still feel that way.”

Rex continued. “But you do feel love. I mean, you show us all love in some form. And I was just wondering if you… if it’s okay that I love you.”

“If it’s okay that you love me? Of course it’s okay,” you answered, much to his relief.

“I just don’t know how to go about some of these things,” he said, “But I feel such love for you. Love unlike any I’ve known. I don’t know what to call it and in many ways I don’t care.”

“I do love you,” you told him. “I am happiest with you, even on the worst days when everything breaks down. I am most content with you. My footing is solid when you’re with me.”

Rex scooted a little closer to you. “How can I show you how I feel? What do we call this?”

You shrugged at the last part. “Let’s figure it out together. Maybe we could start with this.” You held out your hand to take his and he gladly intertwined his fingers with yours.  He wanted to kiss you, but asked first.  You didn’t want to say no, but simply said, “Give me time.”  He nodded and instead rested his forehead on yours. That felt pretty perfect.

It took time to figure out what did and didn’t work for you.  You always enjoyed the idea of cuddling and started there.  You invited him into your bed, first for afternoon cuddles and then to sleep.  You were both asleep almost instantly once you found a comfortable position in each other's arms. You started spending time snuggling against each other and one day while sitting in the cockpit he gently started to pull you onto his lap.

“This okay,” he asked. 

You nodded and sat.  You rested your forehead to his and put an arm around his shoulders, whispering “I love you.”

When your ship was barely worth anything for scarp, you sold it, and were surprised to find Rex already knew what ship you’d get next.  It wasn’t new, but it was still in excellent condition.  When you moved your belongings inside you found that there were only three bunks, but he then showed you how a fourth extended out from the wall, giving the two of you more room in bed together.

“I love this,” you said. “Is that the only reason you picked this ship?”  

He grinned and scratched the back of his head. “Well, not the only reason. There’s also more storage space.”

You looked into his deep brown eyes. He had put so much thought into it just to make sure you were comfortable and not squished too badly between him and the wall.  You realized that this was the nicest bed he’d probably ever slept in and your heart danced thinking about how you’d be the one sharing it with him.

When it came time to turn in, you found Wolffe and Gregor laying in the bed, hands behind their heads, looking up at you.

“What are you two doing?”

“Who says you and Rex get this bed,” Gregor playfully asked.

“Maybe we’d like to stretch out a bit sometimes,” Wolffe added.

“Well, finish your stretching and get going because I need to snuggle with my partner.”

They both looked at you with raised eyebrows. You hadn’t put a name to the relationship before, but your heart sang at the word. Partner. Rex was your partner and that made you very happy.  When he came to bed, Rex found you laying under the covers reading a holonovel.  The lights were low and he felt calm as he got in next to you.

“Partner, eh,” he asked with a soft smile.  You nodded with a shy smile, not realizing he overheard.

“I like that,” he said. “Feels pretty perfect.” 

He laid down and opened his arms up for you. You smiled as he pulled you.  You buried your face in his neck and gave him a little squeeze.  

“I love you, Rex.”

“I love you too.”  You both fell asleep feeling at total peace.

Life would not always be easy. Certainly hiding from the Empire was hard enough, but then there was dealing with the psychological aftermath of the war.  On the eve of Empire Day, you woke up to Rex shaking in his sleep. His mumbles got louder and you shook him, whispering his name to wake him.  When he woke up, his eyes searched yours in a frenzy as tears streamed down his cheeks.  He looked lost and utterly devastated. You knew he was dreaming about his chip activation.  You don’t know what came over you, but you kissed his forehead and caressed his face, wiping his tears away.  You’d never kissed before, but it was the best way you could express that everything was okay now, you were here with him, you loved him, and he didn’t have to be afraid.  The emotions overwhelmed him and he sobbed for a little while as you cradled him in your arms.

“It’s okay now,” you said quietly. “You’re here with me and I’m not going anywhere.”

As he calmed down he looked into your eyes. “Can I kiss you too?”

“Yes,” you said.  “I’m sorry I took so long to come around to it.”

“No, no, don’t be sorry for knowing what you need,” he replied.

“Maybe not on the lips,” you asked.

“I know. How about your beautiful cheeks?”

You nodded.  Rex cupped your face and kissed each cheek.  He nuzzled his nose against yours ever so gently.  Your body felt a little stiff, taking in the new sensation, but it was wonderful and you soon melted into his arms again.

“I like that,” you admitted.

“So do I.”

The next morning you woke up before Rex and while usually you’d get up and ready for the day, you decided to stay in bed with him.  As if he could sense you making this decision, he held you a little closer.  You smiled to yourself.  When you both eventually got up, you found Wolffe and Gregor around a fire, making a late breakfast.  You joined them, you sat right next to Rex, arm against arm as you ate.  You leaned your head against his shoulder and he instinctively put his head on yours.  It was the best place in the galaxy and you wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Tagging: @dukeoftheblackstar @staycalmandhugaclone

#captain rex x reader #captain rex x gn reader #captain rex x aroace reader #captain rex x ace reader #captain rex fanfiction #tcw fanfiction #reader insert #rex anon

[woodenchip]

DANGANRONPA 2 GENERAL HEADCANONS

Just some headcanons that I wrote down, most of it is just pure nonsense and I love that for me

🍊Hajime Hinata🍊

•TRANS MASC (HE'S JUST LIKE ME FR)

•Bi man, big bi man (men pref)

•He doesn't untie his tie, he just makes it loose enough to slip it on and off

•Is like really quiet when you don't know him, but once he's comfortable with you he has no control over what he says

•Deals with intrusive thoughts

•He's so silly

•Has ADD or ADHD and OCD

•Sleeps in the fetal position

🍖Akane Owari🍖

•My favorite Demiromantic demigirl

•My girl is sex REPOLST

•Aoi is her cousin

•Akane is so proud of Aoi

•High metabolism omg

•Whenever she got bored doing something with gymnastics she'd go up to little kids and show off

•"You wanna see what I can do-"

•She hopes that by showing off the kids get inspired by her and work hard

•She's really good with kids, like #1 babysitter type shit

•Her and Kazuichi are close too

•Like bff's

⚜️The Ultimate Imposter⚜️

•Agender. Definitely Agender

•They/It motherfucker

•gently holds them

•I LOVE THEM SO MUCH :((

•Everytime they disguise themselves an identity crisis happens

•"No one knows who I really am :), but also, no one knows who I really am :("

•Has a very empty room

•like, little to nothing

•CAREGIVER, I LOVE THEM SO MUCH

👾Chiaki Nanami👾

•My silly little she/they lesbian

•Tbh I also feel like she's aroace

•My girl is a whole program, I doubt they care about all that‼️

•Loves Mario Kart

•OCD

•Collects old school gaming controllers and stuff

🩸Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu🩸

•HE/HIM BUTCH LESBIAN

•but also he/him trans masc

•no matter what he's trans, I don't make the rules

•With the Trans fem headcanon I love him with Peko

•They are my silly lesbians♥️

•Has so many scars

•I LOVE HIM

•He does age regression

•I DON'T MAKE THE RULES

•Let me project

🐹Gundham Tanaka🐹

•HE/SHE/THEY NON-BINARY SILLY

•They are simply too cool for gender

•Autism?

•Autism.

• yk that one meme that's like "When I go nonverbal at the function"

•Yeah, that's them

•Has costumes for the Dark Devas of Destruction

•HAS MATCHING COSTUMES WITH THEM

👘Hiyoko Saionji👘

•Lesbian‼️‼️

•Her and Imposter are so Sibling coded

•Like her calling him "Ham hands!" SIBLINGS

•I like found family :)

•Like Hiyoko would annoy them so much but will apologize ONLY to them

•Even with Mahiru, Hiyoko will give her half-ass apologies

•HIYOKO AND IMPOSTER FRIENDSHIP‼️

🎸Ibuki Mioda🎸

•My bi-con

•When she gets Overstimulated she just gets more verbal

•Like "omg it's so loud in here??? Should I be louder? I should-"

•She has like those noise cancelling headphones for when she sleeps because of her heightened hearing

•Without the headphones? Not a wink of sleep

•ADHD and OCD

•Whenever she doesn't concerts she makes friends with the staff (or at least tries to)

•Ibuki and Kazuichi have sleepovers and watch kid shows together just for the fun of it

🔧Kazuichi Soda🔧

•AGAIN, TRANS FEM OR MASC THEY BOTH WORK

•LIKE THAT ONE PART OF KAZ SAYING THAT HE WOULD WANT TO BE A WOMAN TO TALK TO SONIA CASUALLY???? SCREAMS TRANS FEM

•also his thing with Sonia? That's not a crush, that's gender envy. (Let me be silly with this)

•Like his eyeliner in game?? No cis man would be able to do that/hj

•Also has the tism

•NEEDS TO BE HOLDING SOMETHING, ANYTHING

•Has like, a box of stim toys

•DOES JUMPY AND TIPPY TOE STIMS

•They really like the feeling of Gundhams scarf

•ALSO DOES LITTLE SPACE

•Let me project onto them😡

📸Mahiru Koizumi📸

•Lesbian or Panromantic

•Big asexual icon

•She forgets things so easily (Main reason why she took up photography)

•She's always late to the first class of the day because she sees something really pretty and takes multiple pictures of it

💉Mikan Tsumiki💉

•DEMISEXUAL, MY HOMEGIRL HAS TO GET CLOSE TO SOMEONE BEFORE SHE EVEN THINKS ABOUT A RELATIONSHIP

•She's also trans fem

•Gently holds her omg

•She asked Nagito to help fix her hair

•He fucked it up more

•Like you know that one part of her bangs that's shorter than the other strands? He did that

•Nagito and her would be silly friends

•"Why would an amazing Ultimate like you want to be friends with a worthless human like me?"

•She'd say something like- "Because you're not that bad, you just get unlucky sometimes, just like me!"

•Like, with how she falls, she's definitely unlucky

•SHE'S ALSO HYPERSEXUAL

🍀Nagito Komaeda🍀

•I really dislike him so I have very little

•My guy is definitely a He/They

•Is (somewhat) close to most of the Lucky students

•He'd end up degrading them though

•"It's amazing how we got into Hopes Peak from just luck!" "I know, how worthless is it that we are only here because of a name drawing!"

•He doesn't have many friends

•And with the few he does have, he just doesn't understand??

•like, my man is struggling to understand why HE has friends

🌪️Nekomaru Nidai🌪️

•The only cis Man here istg

•I love him so much omg

•He would help younger students train and just exercise

•Like him, Mondo, and Taka, they were like besties

•Taka would look up to him SO MUCH

•I'm also a Taka lover, be warned

•Also really good with kids

•Type of person to swing the swings so hard that it tangles up

•Akane would have to fix the swings

•He's just so silly :((

🎭Peko Pekoyama🎭

•FUTCH LESBIAN, HER AND FUYUHIKO ARE MY SILLY LITTLE LESBIANS, I LOVE THEM.

•She's near sighted

•She HATES contacts

•No matter what she does she doesn't take off her glasses, she wears them in the shower, in the pool, everywhere (just like me)

•Her eyesight gets worse and worse everyday/hj

•CARETAKER‼️‼️

•I LOVE HER SO MUCH

•Near sighted

👑Sonia Nevermind👑

•My girl experiments with pronouns and labels

•She's knows she likes woman though, 100%

•Going with the Trans Fem Kazuichi headcanon: she'd help Kaz with clothes

•Like, "You should try this on-"

•Of course she wouldn't forgive Kaz with the weird harassing thingy but she'd be okay with them after a while

•Sonia doesn't hold grudges

•I'm also a Kazuichi apologist ‼️

•SONIA WOULD CRY IF SHE MET GENOCIDER SHO

•CRYING OF HAPPINESS, LIKE‼️‼️

•"Omg- I've been watching police reports of you since you first started killing-!"

•She would watch Gundham's animals and dress them up in fancy little animals clothes

🍴Teruteru Hanamura🍴

•Pansexual

•We already knew that though

•I have like, nothing for him

•I don't like him >:(

•Loves those really corny romance shows

•Like the really bad ones that suck? Yeah, those

•He has a whole notebook with his mother's recipes for when he left to go to Hopes peak so he could cook them whenever he got homesick :(

•He HATES sharing recipes to other people

•Can NOT work in the kitchen with someone else

•MOVE OUT OF HIS WAY, HE WILL SHOVE YOU‼️

#danganronpa 2 #headcanon #danganronpa headcanons #nekomaru nidai #gundham tanaka #chiaki nanami #The Ultimate Imposter #akane owari #hajime hinata #kazuichi soda #ibuki mioda #hiyoko saionji #fuyuhiko kuzuryu #peko pekoyama #mahiru koizumi #mikan tsumiki #nagito komaeda #teruteru hanamura #sonia nevermind #super danganronpa 2 #super Danganronpa 2 headcanons

[iwowzumi]

okokok i’ve seen a lot of ppl comment or tag on my last post with “agree but i don’t think gideon is ace” and i hear u i see u and i don’t think tazmuir intentionally wrote gideon as asexual but it’s MY playground and i wanna make my case for ace gideon

to me gideon reads as someone who conceptually thinks sex is bonkers cool but then when she actually gets to the act is like oh uhhhhhh hmm. gideon has porn mags and her internal narration implies aesthetic attraction (dulcinea, coronabeth) but to me doesnt speak to intense sexual attraction. she’ll notice a woman’s legs/boobs/outfit and remark on it, but in my memory she never discloses any imagination of sex acts with them. and then with harrow, someone we know she deeply loves, iirc she never takes things sexual there either, homoeroticism notwithstanding. gideon makes a big show of attracting women, making dirty jokes, and ogling, but her actual behavior doesn’t come off as someone who needs/desires sex, and i think this circles back around nicely to her tendency to showboat to hide her true emotions behind humor and wit. i think when it comes to tlt ace headcanons harrow can seem like the obvious choice since yknow. repressed bone nun. but i think there’s a compelling reading for gideon as an overcompensating sex joke making asexual lesbian who talks the talk but absolutely doesn’t walk the walk and i choose to read her that way not only bc i’m projecting but also i think it’s hilarious. stupid virgin asexual gideon nav

#to clarify i am not saying u HAVE TO/SHOULD read her as ace i just think it is a silly but also interesting character reading #this is not discourse this is me submitting my essay in english class and hoping i get a sticker even if the teacher thinks it’s bullshit #anyway i hoped anyone read this and went oh hm cool :) #i try not to post my opinions too often and just make funney posts but i have too many feelings about tlt oughhh #the locked tomb #gideon nav #tlt #syd text

[bethanydelleman]

Was marriage as bad as it sounds during Jane Austen's time? From what I've heard, a woman with the means to stay single would be stupid to want marriage. They were considered property and lost any semblance of independence. Unless you really trust the guy and loved them, it seems like a horrible gamble.

A show made a joke about her being a lesbian because she never got married, which I didn't know. It just confuses me because she wrote so many romance books. I'm wondering if she wrote that way because marriage was purely a practical decision and she was a lesbian or asexual, or if marriage was just a horrible decision altogether.

That joke really rubs me the wrong way, especially in an era where man where scarce because they were fighting Napoleon! Not that there is anything wrong with being queer, but just because a woman with very little fortune didn't manage to marry doesn't mean she didn't want to.

It seems to be pretty well documented that Jane Austen loved/liked at least two men, Tom LeFroy and an unnamed clergyman, but neither proposed. The only man who did propose, Jane Austen decided against.

As for marriage in general, I am sure most marriages were nothing special but fine. I mean, a lot of people especially in the gentry class are marrying for wealth and rank and hoping they also like the person. Freakenomics talked about an analysis that showed most couples in the aristocracy just stopped having kids after the heir and the spare, except during one period where many members of the nobility married "down". Those couples kept having kids, probably because they actually loved each other. Which says a lot about the average upper class marriage.

People would also think about marriage differently than we would today in Western countries. I don't think anyone goes into marriage like Charlotte Lucas, because we don't have to. Women can get their own jobs and, while stigma has not been erased, staying single is no longer a huge taboo. But Charlotte and probably many other women went in knowing that neither side was in love, they were signing up for a roommate with procreation benefits. So if you husband did stray you might not even mind (as long as he didn't bring home any diseases and was discreet).

Most marriages we see in Jane Austen are fine, but not a huge romance. Take Sir John and Lady Middleton, they get along fine but have nothing in common. Clearly they have sex (4 children), but Sir John is getting companionship from other people, like Mrs. Jennings who he actually gets along with great. So they are both making it work and not expecting that their marriage partner will be everything to them. We also see marriages in Jane Austen where the woman is clearly in control (Fanny Dashwood).

Now the problem with Regency society and societies today that make divorce very difficult is not that suddenly all men are abusive, but that women (and men) have an extremely difficult time getting out of bad marriages. There is still divorce stigma of course, and even within Canada it matters how religious your family is, but the average person would not tell an abused partner to just stay to preserve their family dignity (I hope).

Throughout all of human history, let's say roughly 20% of marriages are great, 60% are fine/mediocre (nothing to write home about but your sex roommate is pretty chill), and 20% were bad. I don't think you can ever change the % that are bad, but what you can change is how easily people can escape from that bad situation. No fault divorce, abuse shelters, understanding family/friends, women being able to work, and birth control all help people to get out of abusive situations.

Also, even though a married woman lost some legal rights, it wasn't like she had a lot to begin with. A woman basically goes from the control of her father to the control of a husband. Married women didn't require chaperones so they probably on average had more freedom of movement than single women. In both Wives & Daughters (Elizabeth Gaskell) and Lady Susan (Jane Austen), married women travel to London solo during the season. An unmarried woman could not do that!

In Austen's novels, it's pretty clear the best possible position for a woman was rich widow. There you have freedom of movement, your own money, and social acceptability. And as for not marrying, even rich women like Caroline Bingley and Mary Crawford are trying to marry, not attempting to stay single. The social cost of spinsterhood was just too high.

Oh, and for a fascinating dive into lower class marriages, check out The Five, either the podcast or the book. Really great read.

#question response #people have always been people #history #marriage #jane austen #wives and daughters #lady susan #elizabeth gaskell #learning about history has made me an absolute fan girl of no fault divorce #but it's not like the past was some horror story #bad marriages still happen today #and getting people out is hard

[minetteskvareninova]

Look, I know the go-to historical comparison with Rhaenyra is empress Mathilda, the antiqueen of England, and I'll admit, as far as historical parallels to the ASOIAF characters go, it's a good one - plus, I think it's the one that GRRM most likely had in mind.

However

Whether intentionally or (more likely) unintentionally, he also wrote her to be very similar to another female monarch I can think of.

(Of course it's a Winterhalter portrait, what did you expect? Minette is both gay and unsubtle. She's naturally drawn to the famous Painter Of Women As Pretty.)

Meet Isabella II. of Spain. Yes, there was a second one.

Parallels with Rhaenyra:

Came from an infamously incestuous family (I know Habsburgs are the go-to examples of royal inbreeding, but unlike Bourbons, they at least stopped marrying their nieces and double cousins by the 19th century, presumably learning from Ferdinand the Benevolent - which is ironic, because Ferdinand the Benevolent was actually one of the better 19th century Habsburg men, but I digress)

Was named heir by her father, but her succession was contested by a male relative (uncle instead of a brother but you get the idea)...

...which led to a civil war (though unlike Rhaenyra, she was a child when her father died, so a succession of regents, including her mother, ruled in her stead, and she actually managed to come out on top and rule for a few decades)

Was forced to marry a cousin, who, it was rumored, was unable/unwilling to consummate the marriage, or at least sleep with his wife often enough to sire an heir (historians aren't sure what was up with Isabela's cousin-husband, like he was said to be an effette nerd and maybe gay/asexual, though the fact that Isabela actually kinda despised him also couldn't have helped any)...

...which lead to rumors that her children are illegitimate (though here she kinda makes Rhaenyra look like a chump - while Rhaenyra was said to have had like two lovers in her life, three if you count her premarital canoodling with Daemon, Isabela most likely had more, though we can't be sure how many)

Her record as a queen is mixed at best (which is why she ended up overthrown by a revolution after 35 years on the throne)

Was hot as a young woman, but gained a lot of weight in her later years

I don't have a point here, I just wanted to inform the Hot D tumblr of this interesting little tidbit.

#house of the dragon #fire and blood #random history #spain

[violetemerald]

Happy (belated) Ace Week, Gilmore Girls fans! 💜🖤🤍

So I started headcanoning Luke as heteroromantic asexual but of course he has no idea he’s asexual or what asexuality means. I also headcanon Rory as demisexual (hetero-demisexual) too. I can explain why�� but it would be more fun maybe to explain in fic form. To analyze them from the characters’ own perspective instead of my perspective kind of a thing.

I genuinely would love to write a fic exploring either or both of these things! However… um…

*Sigh* so it’s hard to know how to broach this when Gilmore Girls was so queer-unfriendly of a show, even with a gay main character (Michel) who was in all 8 seasons (8 if you count the revival). The show avoided directly acknowledging his being gay for most of the show, while indirectly acknowledging it every chance they could and making his whole characterization one of mostly comic relief and the butt of all sorts of types of jokes. They very rarely took him seriously as a character. And he was sidelined; not a member of the town in any real way.

But I’m a queer person who has adored Gilmore Girls for nearly 20 years. I still adore so much about it. Started watching it when I was 14 years old and season 4 was wrapping up airing, and I’m 33 years old now. I didn’t know at the time that I was queer, or that my type of queer identity was even an option—I’m a sex-averse asexual but I’m also gray-panromantic, interested in dating people of all genders, and as a woman I have dated other women and a nonbinary person, and I have a lot of queer friends and acquaintances that span nearly every LGBTQ+ identity. This week during Ace Week 2023 marks the 10 year anniversary for me of coming out to myself as asexual. It’s hard to still be so attached to a show that is so cisnormative and heteronormative—and that’s not even mentioning all the queerphobia they wrote into the show via jokes.

During my most recent rewatch of the entire series around December 2020 into February 2021, when I got to somewhere in season 4 I decided to start taking notes of every time queerness is at all referenced, every transphobic and homophobic joke, etc. 

Part of me wants to find a way to salvage that Lorelai joked about liking women herself because actually she was bisexual, like this fits in as a headcanon that the reason she joked so often about it was because it was on her mind for other reasons. I don’t even know if she joked about it that often but fairly often. A lot of the queerphobic jokes generally came from her? But certainly not all. But her jokes sometimes include herself as into women and it just makes you think “What if she really was? All this time?”. Lorelai also teases many other characters, especially Luke quite often, but sometimes people like Sookie or Rory, and implies they are gay or queer in some other way. 

Rory seemed to be much less canonically homophobic and transphobic. She cut her mother off once when her mother was teasing her homophobically and calls the jokes “inappropriate” even and part of this is just Rory didn’t have the same kind of sense of humor as most of the other characters. She seemed less amused by life, by even their jokes, but especially her characterization was just being a person less likely to crack a joke herself. She did tease Paris in ways that evoked referencing queer things or lesbians but I’m not sure Rory’s humor crossed the line of being actually anti-being queer in any way. Some of this humor is more chuckling at double entendres in English rather than chuckling at the existence of queer people? Like Paris saying she’s sleeping with a girl and Rory bringing up The L Word in reaction.

Actually, though, looking back through my notes for season 4-ish till the end, a lot of characters don’t come up much, or the way they come up is in a different context. Jess actually… I don’t think he ever once cracked a queerphobic joke nor laughed at one. He was the butt of two in season 4 (both from TJ). I hadn’t been taking these type of notes in seasons 2 or 3. I have memorized most of Jess’ scenes and I just don’t recall the early seasons having him being queerphobic. I could be wrong though.

I wasn’t taking notes when Dean or Christopher were on the show much so idk if these men had any such moments. And as far as my notes show, Sookie is just the recipient of Lorelai’s teasing at moments, not queerphobic herself. Kirk is not gonna joke about that stuff, just seriously defend himself against being perceived as gay at moments. And the show frames certain things he obliviously says as a gay joke but he’s not purposefully making any. Maybe really the most homophobic characters are Lorelai and even Luke, and at a few times Emily & Richard. 

Logan’s style of homophobic jokes seem more playful and somehow less offensive to me. I don’t know if I’m allowed to say that but there are ways to tease that aren’t based in as problematic of a starting place. It’s like he’s not afraid to include himself in it the most, so he’s not distancing himself from the queerness? Idk I’d have to rewatch to see if I still have that same impression. He’s also just… more worldly than some of the characters feel like to me. He’s experienced bigger city life more or travel and broadened horizons? He sorta seems like he has more friends than a lot of the characters is maybe part of it. But I’d have to rewatch those moments to see how I really feel about Logan’s gay jokes and if this headcanon of him being less homophobic really is valid.

Anyway, here we are…

I basically feel like in order to write a fanfic that feels genuine and actually includes asexuality/the word "asexual" without feeling forced, awkward, etc, it can’t jump to including it. These characters were SO far away from being able to talk about or process that term. These characters needed to grow and change in various ways before it would fit in the worldbuilding and characterization?

I think the only way to make this work is gradually, slowly. The only way is to showcase that these characters actually do have experiences that shape them into being more and more ready for asexuality to exist in their world. The only way I can make it believable is if I can figure out the missing steps on the bridge between where the show was, and where I want the fic to go. I think it’s not just one missing step. It’s not that simple.

I think Lane and Jess were never small towners. Jess came from NYC, then later as an adult moved to live in Philadelphia, both cities. They are the most likely to meet openly queer people and broaden the worlds of people like Lorelai and Luke as they themselves learn and grow. I think it isn’t a stretch to think of Lane and Jess as very much LGBTQ+ allies, and Jess isn’t likely to become the most vocal ally but he… in his own quiet way could very much be one. And he is very closely connected to Luke’s story, even more than Lane, although both of them are. Lane worked for him in the diner and knows him well. Jess and Lane are both extremely connected to Rory’s story. So for either the Luke asexual headcanon or the Rory demisexual one, Jess or Lane could be a key piece of their stories. Anyway I was saying Jess could sneak up on you quietly with his allyship. His would be maybe more casual and incidental perhaps. 

Lane though. Lane is loud. Lane is bold. Lane is the kind of girl the show could have easily chosen to write as queer herself in any number of ways. But the show didn’t. The show wrote her as very much straight. But she’d… RELATE to the queer experience deeply. She’d be drawn to become a vociferous ally, appreciating the LGBT plight because her upbringing made her feel like she wasn’t allowed to be herself, like she knows what it’s like to be disowned by her mother, for her parents to not approve of who she wants to date/who she loves—in her case because they aren’t Korean or aren’t Christian enough. And yes Lorelai lived a very parallel life in some ways to Lane, they are supposed to be mirrors in some ways, but there are key differences.

I feel like Lane, also in part because she’s younger, is easier to imagine as this kind of ally. A big difference between Lane and Lorelai is that Lane started in the small conservative mostly white town as an outsider racially, too. And she leaves to go on tour, to broaden her horizons and was never destined to stay in that small town forever. (I say screw the revival’s mistreatment of Lane.) Lorelai wasn’t raised in that small town, and instead Lorelai chose it for her adult self and feels at home in it. That’s a very different story.

Lorelai, however, has an interesting additional point for the start of some change or growth. Lorelai has Michel. She has been bearing witness to his life for basically decades as a close friend, theoretically. Michel could call her out on her bullshit at some point. He could tell her something she is saying is offensive, is crossing a line that isn’t hers to cross. 

Also if my headcanon about Luke is to come to fruition, then Lorelai is dealing with being in a long-term romantic relationship with a man who isn’t super into their sex life. The way I interpret his asexuality is that he’s… not really into sex. He’s having sex pretty much only because she wants to. His sex drive is low. He’s very romantic, but he’s not very sexual. She’s always initiating. Her sexual flirting is making him uncomfortable. And he’s just… idk. I have a lot to explore specific to this headcanon once I figure out the fic I’m writing. I just think Lorelai will be somewhat primed to believe in and accept the existence of asexuality since she’s been living with a complicated truth that neither her nor her partner understood—that Luke’s potential weirdness around sex/their sex life could be explained by asexuality. I’m not saying they never have sex. But it could explain why when the revival started something had held them back from actually getting married all those years. It could explain some of the issues between them. And it definitely works well alongside the fact that Luke spent so many years single.

I think in order to write this fic, I need to outline a plot that establishes a relatively gradual shift in these characters’ appreciation for the fact that not everyone is straight in the world. That there are more possibilities, make sexual orientation generally something that could comfortably be discussed in a Gilmore Girls style way, with tasteful humor sprinkled in but no longer punching down or ridiculing people who are gay or gender-nonconforming. 

I think I could do it. I just need to find or make the time for it. 

So. I was gonna write a short ace fic for Ace Week while it was still #AceWeek2023 and instead I wrote this meta essay adjacent thing and posted it slightly late. But I hope someone can appreciate this insight into my thought process. I hope it was interesting or fun for at least one of you. :) Thanks!

#ace week #asexuality #asexual #demisexual #Gilmore Girls #fanfiction writer #meta post #meta #headcanon #fiction writing #writing #queerphobia #homophobia #gender essentialism #cisnormativity #heteronormativity #heteronormative society #heteronormative bullshit #luke danes #rory gilmore #lorelai gilmore #lane kim #jess mariano #logan huntzberger #bisexuality #ace characters

[mkaroy]

headcanons of the spelling bee kids & adults for funzies ( most of which were influenced by fellow cast members )

Olive:

-she doesn’t like the idea of labelling herself but not straight, she/her

-dating barfee she totally forced her and barfee to have a ship name, it’s ovbarfvsky, chip thinks it’s funny

-dream job is a stay at home mom who runs a radio

-likes reading classical books

-still calls marcy occasionally but has lost contact with most of the other spellers

-her mom never came back, so she started sending her letters to mitch, in which he wrote back

Barfee:

-straight white man…, asexual, he/him

-autism

-started his sea anemone collection when he was 5 and has loved it since

-eventually grew out his ego

-also reads classical books but secretly reads those kids books that are diary style (ex: dear dumb diary)

-he stims a lot by tapping his foot or bouncing his legs, also a nail bitter, not out of anxiety but just out of boredom usually

Marcy:

-aromantic/questioning, she/her

-really into piano and violin but now she uses them to play really hard metal songs for fun

-she’s really into pop culture stuff but she’s also an environmentalist, so she keeps a closet of mostly graphic shirts of shows she likes and jeans

-stranger things fan; nancy is her favourite

-but i’m a cheerleader is one if not her favourite movies, she also finds megan relatable

Logainne:

-lesbian, had a crush on olive during the bee and a bit after that (obviously), she/her trans woman

-adhd & half jewish

-wears suits to any occasion, even in her sleep sometimes

-she’ll watch anything with gay or jewish rep in it and give it a surprisingly harsh rating

-her favourite show is bobs burgers

-stims include pacing, jumping, pulling of twirling hair and fumbling with her fingers

-doesn’t have volume control and often speaks too loudly for most people

-had to get braces on her top row of teeth in her later teen years

Chip:

-bisexual, he/him

-adhd diagnosed early

-a total try hard in school, especially gym

-he stims in ‘discrete’ ways, basically leg bouncing and pacing and his big 2

-kids at his school find him weird, but no one ever talks about it

-had a crush on olive but it went nowhere especially after his, distraction

-secretly a mama’s boy and tries hard to put his heart in his mother’s day gift

-super good at the piano for some reason

-the marigold thing only went on for 3 years before chip started liking a guy in his class instead of her

-great at public speaking and persuasive essays but sucks at talking to one person head on

-has braces AND a pubestache, the braces are colourful

-mom picks out most of his clothes still

-chip is the one that put peanuts in the brownies

Leaf:

-gay, he/they, adhd

-total outdoor kid

-tons of his clothes have pride flags sewn into them but most people don’t notice

-considers the spelling bee kids to be his best friends and sometimes just shows up at their house uninvited

-he likes spending time with logainne mostly because she’s loud and excitable like him

-plays the cat piano in his spare time

-always keeps cat food on him to give to stray cats he finds

-his homeschooling schedule absolutely terrible, sometimes he just walks into the woods for hours and doesn’t come back until dark, and nobody in his house notices

Panch:

-so straight, perhaps even homophobic on top of being misogynistic

-his favourite WAS chip, until the, erection business

-after courting rona and getting a restraining order, he moved onto another realtor, he has a thing for them

-doesn’t know how to iron or wash clothes properly

-went back to, unhealthy coping habits for lack of better words, after rona left

Rona:

-bisexual she/her

-the indigenous farmer she met was a woman obviously

-doing much better for herself after getting rid of panch

-didn’t find out about her sexuality until she met that farmer

-she truly loves kids and hopes to adopt someday

-her original dream job was a hairstylist, but she had no natural knack for the job and was much better at persuasion and public speaking

Mitch:

-TRANS

-acted out and went to jail for beating someone up

-cares about olive the most though he won’t tell

-his least favourite kid is chip but he doesn’t hate any of them

-as the years went on he started giving the losers more than juice boxes, stickers and participation awards were added

-one of those tough guys who has a flock of parrots in his house who he’s suprisingly gentle with

-went through a buzz cut phase, it was not cool.

#25thannualputnamcountyspellingbee #the 25th annual putnam county spelling bee #25apcsb #25th annual putnam county spelling bee #olive ostrovsky #william barfee #marcy park #logainne schwartzandgrubenierre #chip tolentino #leaf coneybear #douglas panch #rona lisa perreti #mitch mahoney

[butchladymaria]

1, 2 and 17 for the 🔥violence🔥 ask game?

also revisiting this SUPER late but -

OG POST HERE!!!

the character everyone gets wrong

would it be cliche of the guy who wrote a whole long thing about how the doll is misunderstood to say the doll is misunderstood? probably. i'm going to anyway though.

i feel like a lot of folks sometimes miss or overlook the horrifying implications of the doll? i wonder if a partial reason the horror innate to her character slips through the cracks is because she falls into the "level-up maiden" trope of the soulsborne series; which seems to be comprised of generally soft-spoken and/or somewhat submissive feminine women who help the player progress (even if they have goals of their own). i'm not here to argue that my interpretation of her is objectively correct here - but i do think the takes that posit her as a willingly subservient idealized fantasy of a woman are... shallow at best? it feels like some folks piece together that doll is made in the image of a dead woman by gerhman, and then... simply do not wrestle with the Implications of that.

for another example of this, just see adella. she seems to be reduced to "yandere psycho" at her most complex in a lot of fan interpretations, despite so much evidence indicating that it's much deeper than that.

all these examples make me wonder if the sentiment, subconscious or otherwise, that women are "meant" to be submissive and gentle is what leads these portrayals to go unquestioned or seen as more "normal" than if it were a man in that position. even maria, a canonically gender nonconforming character, has people bending over backwards to explain how she is actually totally a good little gender conformer because she... wears a hair ribbon…? (i wish i was exaggerating that claim but that has Been in my inbox lmao)

2. a compelling argument for why your fave would never top or bottom

i've given this a lot of thought, anon, and come to the conclusion that the best (and maybe funniest...?) interpretation of this question is to answer it as follows:

miss doll would indeed never top OR bottom, mostly because i see her as asexual. i feel like the way she unless you want to consider the implications of gerhman pulling a victor frankenstein and giving his creation working sex organs. but i like to think we live in a nice world instead of a world where that is canon. eugh.

then again, i guess doll body probably isn't stopping ranni from bisexually topping the tarnished...? hmm.

in all seriousness i don't tend to have strong opinions on top/bottomhood for bloodborne characters, because i think they're mostly too catholic to fuck!

17. there should be more of this type of fic/art

MORE BLOODBORNE YURI!!!!!!!!!!! vampires were literally and unironically MADE for lesbian barely-concealed-subtext babey!!!!

MORE BLOODBORNE TRANSGENDER!!!!!!!!!! i love trans people's takes on bloodborne! body horror is transition goals if you're not a coward!!!

i also just love cainhurst - artfight was a dream bc i saw SO many cute little knights :)

#percy answers :) #ask #anon #bloodborne #miss doll #lady maria

[arcielee]

Interview With a Writer

Artwork by @lonnson​​ 💜

Continuing with my series is @lonnson​​, who does not only create amazing pieces but can write as well. 💜 I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to allow me to gush over your story and answering my questions!

As always, you can look over the masterlist to see the other amazing authors I have spoken with. This series is just a BTS of some of the talented minds on Tumblr and ao3. 💜    

Story: Winterwood on ao3

Paring: Aemond Targaryen x OFC     

Rating/Warning: SA mentioned, graphic depictions of violence, major character death.

So, when did you start writing? I've liked coming up with stories since I was a kid but I never really wrote them down (I was more of an artist than a writer). I think my first "real" fanfiction was a crossover between Downton Abbey and a popular German detective audiobook series (very niche, I know 😅).

It was my first attempt at writing fanfiction and I have no idea if it was any good but at the end of the day it helped me get started on writing (hopefully) better stuff so it wasn't a waste of time.

What inspired this story? I really got into the gothic horror genre and dark fairytale retellings last year and read a lot of books with that vibe. 

The main bit of inspiration definitely came from "The Wolf and the Woodsman" by Ava Reid, which is about a girl and a one-eyed prince. When I watched House of the Dragon later that year, I immediately thought of that novel again. 

I also took some inspiration from fantasy movies I love, like Stardust or The Chronicles of Narnia.

I wanted to do creepy creatures to pop-up in my story, like the bat creatures that were inspired by the cliff ghasts from His Dark Materials. And I also love reading books about bloodthirsty faeries so I thought they fit the vibe (of Winterwood) as well. 

I also love the book "Vaesen" by Johan Egerkrans about spirits and monsters from Scandinavian folklore!

Can you explain your interpretation of Aemond? What drives him in Winterwood? What made him the way he is? I wanted to keep him relatively close to canon, because I do enjoy a good morally-grey character with villain tendencies. But obviously I also wanted to explore some stuff with him that's just my personal interpretation of Aemond.

In my story, Rhaenyra is Queen, Aegon has been executed and Aemond has been exiled to be a Night's Watch man. He's still ambitious and proud, but he's also been disillusioned by life. He can be testy and cranky but he's also feeling very lonely. He's done bad things during the war and they still haunt him. 

I also really wanted him to be somewhere on the asexual spectrum because I'm always drawn to characters who could potentially be ace in how they're portrayed in canon.

My take on Aemond is that he's never really experienced a lot of affection in his life and therefore craves but also fears it. He's interested in swordplay, studies and dragons but he's not a womanizer. And I really wanted to keep his "bad" traits. He's judgmental, testy and very, very guarded. He opens up to others at the speed of a glacier.

What inspired your character creation Lya/Skaðe? Her character kind of developed naturally as I wrote the first chapter. I didn't want her to be "Aemond's love interest", I wanted her to be the second main character of the story. 

She's as complicated as him and they're not so different from each other, which is why they don't get along at all in the beginning. They're lone wolfs, capable fighters and don't trust easily. Lya follows her own agenda and keeps some secrets that are potentially dangerous... Her name is spelled very similar to "liar" which may be a hint to her not being entirely trustworthy.

You already hinted at it, but you prefer to draw or to write? Drawing, definitely. I've drawn since I was a kid and it's still my main creative outlet. I think about fictional scenarios about 85% of the day (😅), but only very few of them are coherent enough to actually write them down. I'd LOVE to write a book though, that's the dream. Do you have a personal favorite story you'd like to share? If you happen to be a fan of The Suicide Squad, I loved anchorage by mentallyillmermaid on ao3 (I'm one of the ten people who are really into the Polka-Dot Man x Ratcatcher ship haha)

#interview with a writer #iwaw9 #bts #of their brilliant writing

[coochiequeens]

A man who asexually abused his daughter began to identify as a woman behind bars and now he will be released after serving less than half his sentence. And he will be released not just with a woman’s name but of the name of a woman well known for defending women’s rights.

A woman who endured years of sexual abuse at the hands of her father has had her pleas to stop his early release from a UK prison denied. Ceri-Lee Galvin, 24, was sexually abused for nine years beginning from the age of eight by Clive Bundy. In 2016, Bundy was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his crimes, which included recording the assaults and sharing them online with other pedophiles.

Disturbingly, it was recently revealed that Bundy had begun identifying as transgender and had adopted the name Claire Fox while in prison. Bundy has now been approved for parole after serving seven years in prison – less than half of his original sentence, and a shorter time than the nine years of abuse Galvin suffered. Bundy will be released as a “woman.”

In March, Member of Parliament for Telford Lucy Allenmentioned Bundy’s case in the House of Commons while calling for convicted sex offenders to be barred from changing their names to evade the law. Allen used the details of Galvin’s ordeal while anonymizing her name as as “Joanna.” But the next month, Galvin revealed herself and issued a statement to the press condemning the decision to evaluate her father for parole under a new identity.

On May 4, Galvin submitted a statement to the parole board responsible for the decision in an attempt to appeal for reconsideration on the grounds that Bundy had not been rehabilitated and as such, the decision was “irrational and unreasonable.” 

She decided to contest her father’s release from prison despite herself having been denied legal counsel, which would have been beneficial in lodging her formal objection. 

Speaking with Reduxx, Galvin said: “I was told that one of the reasons I could contest his release was if the parole hearing was unlawful. But I don’t know if it was unlawful, because I wasn’t given any representation.”

On May 3, in a desperate effort to keep the public informed on what was happening, Galvin released a statement to social media imploring the parole board re-evaluate their decision to release her father.

“I am contesting the parole board decision to release this serious sexual offender because I am incredibly concerned that the true risk factors of releasing this offender have not been considered,” she wrote. Galvin pointed out that Bundy had declared his new “identity” in early 2022, following an altercation with another inmate in 2021. 

“The altercation was considered sufficiently serious, which immediately stopped the consideration of a release into an open prison. Shortly after this altercation, the offender decided to change his identity, including his full name, completely disguising his former identity. The parole board has not connected these two events,” Galvin asserted.

“Further, the parole board has not considered the risk the new identity creates… This new identity would enable the offender to disguise his criminal record from society, making it easier to reoffend,” she added.

She also emphasized that her father had not been sufficiently rehabilitated and therefore elevates the risk that he may reoffend upon release. Bundy, Galvin says, wasn’t required to attend any accredited sexual offender programs, nor has he.

“How could a man who admits to finding children sexually attractive, and who has absolutely no regard for what the consequences are of abusing children, not be eligible for offender behavior programs, and then be considered for release?” she said.

Galvin further explained that as a result of this, his predatory behavior had become normalized in his mind and he seemed to be without remorse or understanding of the impact his abuse had on his family.

In the parole board’s decision, it was said that the circumstances of Bundy’s offending had been taken into consideration, and the suggestion was made that because he had targeted a family member, he would not pose a threat to other children.

Galvin objected to this assessment: “The board appears to have formed the view that an offender with a long record of targeting his own child for his own sexual gratification will not target children outside of his own family. Upon sentencing, the defense lawyer told the judge that ‘he kept it within his family and therefore was not a risk to the community.’ This was a flippant, ill-considered statement and was dismissed as such by the trial judge.”

But, despite her effort, on May 5, Galvin announced that her father’s release had been granted. Galvin said that she had been warned by her Victim Liaison Officer (VLO) that her objection to her abuser’s release would not be considered.

“I submitted at quarter-past four in the afternoon. I received the response just after ten in the morning the next day. In my eyes, that’s not even two working hours that they had considered my statement. That took me so much courage and so much thought to write, and it felt like, ‘Well, we don’t have to look at it, so we’re not going to,'” she told Reduxx.

In a chilling twist, the new identity Bundy has chosen for himself – Claire Fox – is the name of a female politician known for calling attention to safeguarding risks posed by gender identity ideology. Galvin, who describes her father as “manipulative,” does not believe this is a coincidence. 

At the beginning of May, after The Daily Mail initially reported on Galvin’s situation and her father’s feminine name was published for the first time, Claire Regina Fox, Baroness Fox of Buckley wrote of how she was astounded to learn that “a convicted pedophile ripped off my name.”

Fox, who is a writer and lecturer, sits in the House of Lords for the Independent Party where she has used her position to oppose gender identity ideology. In an interview with Compact, Fox said she was “outraged” upon hearing that Bundy had taken her name.

“One commentator suggests that sex offenders, specifically pedophiles, select the names of well-known people so that an internet search will only turn up the famous person, and not them. Ceri-Lee suspects that it is no coincidence that he opted for a parliamentarian like me, who has argued that transgender activism endangers free speech and women’s rights. In other words, this is some sort of trolling,” Fox said.

However, Fox emphasized that Galvin was “the real victim” in the situation, and that identity theft can act as a cover for abuse. Due to legal restrictions surrounding names changes conducted on the basis of a gender identity, Galvin was only informed of her father’s new name because he had granted authorities permission to do so. Had he decided to withhold this, she may never have known that he had changed his identification.

Moreover, in an effort to protect her abuser, she was not permitted to know which prison he had been held in during his sentence, despite being a student paramedic who might potentially receive a call to a correctional facility.

Galvin told Reduxx that she is incredulous at the way her rights have been continuously neglected during the ordeal. 

“It’s rubbish, because he has served less years than I was abused for, and I am still suffering now. The abuse didn’t stop just because he was arrested. I’m constantly reliving the memories of what he put me through, and trying to build relationships on completely broken trust. It doesn’t end. I’m nearly 25 and still having nightmares.”

She believes that since she has announced his new name to the media, he may choose to alter his identity again – but this time, without informing her. To make matters worse, Bundy will now be granted access to female-only spaces where young girls may be present under vulnerable circumstances due to his gender change.

“I have accepted my fate. The only trouble with me is, I will not be quiet. I will shout. I will do everything that I can to fight for something that I believe in. This doesn’t have to be somebody else’s fate. I want this law changed that allows serious criminals and sex offenders are able to hide behind ‘gender identity.’ I want victims to have equal rights.”

According to recent figures from a Freedom of Information Request submitted by the BBC, over 700 sex offenders have gone “missing” since changing their names through the process of deed poll, which takes approximately 15 minutes to complete, in the period between 2019 – 2021. 

One lawmaker responsible for streamlining the system to ensure that trans-identifying individuals are not “outed” to the public is a man who himself identifies as a woman. Judge Victoria McCloud is Britain’s most senior public figure to have claimed a transgender identity and has been celebrated as a pioneer by LGBT campaigners.

By Genevieve Gluck

Genevieve is the Co-Founder of Reduxx, and the outlet's Chief Investigative Journalist with a focused interest in pornography, sexual predators, and fetish subcultures. She is the creator of the podcast Women's Voices, which features news commentary and interviews regarding women's rights.

#UK #claire Fox is Clive Bundy #He’s only began calling himself a woman since 2022? #He would be released with a completely different name #A lawyer actually said that since he only targeted children in his family the community was safe #TIM rips off name of a woman he knows wouldn’t like it #700 sex offenders have gone missing in the UK since they changed their names

[ewa-jednak-chce-spac]

Various hot takes I encountered that made me lose faith in fandom’s media literacy

1. Having a white male as a villain is a very refreshing take.

2. Every movie or series with a female protagonist belongs to the magical girls genre.

3. Friends to lovers is a very rare trope in comparison with enemies to lovers.

4. Shipping a male character with his female love interest, who pledged a vow of chastity in one of the previous incarnations of this medium is asexual erasure, despite the fact the said female character had crushes on various male characters in many previous incarnations of this series, including the one in which she pledged the vow of chastity (in that specific incarnation one of her crushes is the said male character). Shipping the same female character with one of her female friends and the hypothetical canonisation of their ship is not asexual erasure.

5. If the endgame couple of the mainstream blockbuster series would be a homosexual couple involving a black man and a Latino man, it wouldn't be as progressive and groundbreaking as if the same black man would end up with a white woman.

6. An immortal male character doesn't develop a crush or lust on/after any other character he met in his immortal life. One of these characters is the most beautiful woman in history, who was the subject of love/desire of four other male characters, but of course not all male characters - who were definitely attracted to women in general - she encountered have fallen for her. The fact that this specific male character didn't fall for her, obviously means he has to be homosexual.

7. A female character, who hasn's shown any romantic/sexual interest in anyone in canon by far, is definitely a lesbian. She's also madly in love with her male friend at the same time.

8. A male character, who used to have a crush on his female friend in his youth, is definitely homosexual. At the same time anyone, who rejects the fan theory that he had a wife, whom he deeply loved and now is severely depressed after losing her, is delusional, because this thing is obviously canon.

9. A ship involving a female protagonist and a background female character, about whose existence the majority of viewers don't know at all, is canon, because an actress playing the background character reacted very happily on her social media, when somebody linked the shipping fanarts to her, and in one of the conversations with fans she wrote that "Yes, it's obviously canon ^^".

#fandom #fandom problems #fandom frollos