#they're rushing to secure more talent

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Kashmir Hill’s “Your Face Belongs to Us”

This Friday (September 22), I'm (virtually) presenting at the DIG Festival in Modena, Italy. That night, I'll be in person at LA's Book Soup for the launch of Justin C Key's "The World Wasn’t Ready for You." On September 27, I'll be at Chevalier's Books in Los Angeles with Brian Merchant for a joint launch for my new book The Internet Con and his new book, Blood in the Machine.

Your Face Belongs To Us is Kashmir Hill's new tell-all history of Clearview AI, the creepy facial recognition company whose origins are mired in far-right politics, off-the-books police misconduct, sales to authoritarian states and sleazy one-percenter one-upmanship:

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/691288/your-face-belongs-to-us-by-kashmir-hill/

Hill is a fitting chronicler here. Clearview first rose to prominence – or, rather, notoriety – with the publication of her 2020 expose on the company, which had scraped more than a billion facial images from the web, and then started secretly marketing a search engine for faces to cops, spooks, private security firms, and, eventually, repressive governments:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/18/technology/clearview-privacy-facial-recognition.html

Hill's original blockbuster expose was followed by an in-depth magazine feature and then a string more articles, which revealed the company's origins in white nationalist movements, and the mercurial jourey of its founder, Hoan Ton-That:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/03/18/magazine/facial-recognition-clearview-ai.html

The story of Clearview's technology is an interesting one, a story about the machine learning gold-rush where modestly talented technologists who could lay hands on sufficient data could throw it together with off-the-shelf algorithms and do things that had previously been considered impossible. While Clearview has plenty of competitors today, as recently as a couple of years ago, it played like a magic trick.

That's where the more interesting story of Clearview's founding comes in. Hill is a meticulous researcher and had the benefit of a disaffected – and excommunicated – Clearview co-founder, who provided her with masses of internal communications. She also benefited from the court documents from the flurry of lawsuits that Clearview prompted.

What emerges from these primary sources – including multiple interviews with Ton-That – is a story about a move-fast-and-break-things company at the tail end of the forgiveness-not-permission era of technological development. Clearview's founders are violating laws and norms, they're short on cash, and they're racing across the river on the backs of alligators, hoping to reach the riches on the opposite bank without losing a leg.

A decade ago, they might have played as heroes. Today, they're just grifters – bullshitters faking it until they make it, lying to Hill (and getting caught out), and the rest of us. The founders themselves are erratic weirdos, and not the fun kind of weirdos, either. Ton-That – who emigrated to Silicon Valley from Australia as a teenager, seeking a techie's fortune – comes across as a bro-addled dimbulb who threw his lot in with white nationalists, MAGA Republicans, Rudy Guiliani bagmen, Peter Theil, and assorted other tech-adjascent goblins.

Meanwhile, biometrics generally – and facial recognition specifically – is a discipline with a long and sordid history, inextricably entwined with phrenology and eugenics, as Hill describes in a series of interstitial chapters that recount historical attempts to indentify the facial features that correspond with criminality and low intelligence.

These interstitials are woven into a-ha moments from Clearview's history, in which various investors, employees, hangers-on, competitors and customers speculate about how a facial-recognition system could eventually not just recognize criminals, but predict criminality. It's a potent reminder of the AI industry's many overlaps with "race-science" and other quack beliefs.

Hill also describes how Clearview and its competitors' recklessness and arrogance created the openings for shrewd civil libertarians to secure bipartisan support for biometric privacy laws, most notably Illinois' best-of-breed Biometric Information Privacy Act:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs3.asp?ActID=3004&ChapterID=57

But by the end of the book, Hill makes the case that Ton-That and his competitors have gotten away with it. Facial recognition is now so easy to build that – she says – we're unlikely to abolish it, despite all the many horrifying ways that FR could fuck up our societies. It's a sobering conclusion, and while Hill holds out some hope for curbing the official use of FR, she seems resigned to a future in which – for example – creepy guys covertly snap photos of women on the street, use those pictures to figure out their names and addresses, and then stalk and harass them.

If she's right, this is Ton-That's true legacy, and the legacy of the funders who handed him millions to spend building this. Perhaps someone else would have stepped into that sweaty, reckless-grifter-shaped hole if Ton-That hadn't been there to fill it, but in our timeline, we can say that Ton-That was the bumbler who helped destroy something precious.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/20/steal-your-face/#hoan-ton-that

#pluralistic #books #reviews #gift guide #clearview ai #facial recognition #biometrics #eugenics #crime #privacy #cop shit #hoan ton-that

[lavenoon]

Hi hi, Luce!! ✨ I have some little questions about agency stuff! I might be a bit of a fool, but I wanted to ask what the voice distortion mechanisms in the comms system were for. Wouldn't CC want to confirm it's the agent in question speaking to them? And wouldn't the agents come into contact with CC members in-person in HQ anyways? I was also curious about what would happen if a civvie got caught up in maybe an operation gone-wrong. Sees things go down and all... Would they try to recruit? 🌻

Hi Daye!! Asking questions that in all honesty did not have a well thought out answer before, but! I can make it make sense <3

The voice distortion is optional, it's an additional security measure for agents who's civilian life may be a bit more public/ who just want to go the extra careful mile. For recognition there's still codes that regularly change that are used in lieu of greetings, because in a world with animatronics and also just general voice recordings, especially fast advancing voiced AI, just the voice wouldn't quite be enough to confirm their identity anyway!

For Field Agent Robin, they use it because they like feeling important and mysterious, and CC Robin is simply too terrified of messing up again, so they cover all their bases.

Dusk and Dawn in both cases are newbies and stick to the rules, especially since the agency is still kind of testing them, so they also go the extra mile!

They don't meet at HQ, the offices for field agents and the command center aren't quite in the same area, and Dusk/ Dawn as CC agents wouldn't really need to leave their post until their shift ends, and Robin is still just a recluse who simply doesn't mingle with other agents when they can avoid it. CC Robin even more so, given that they feel like they deserve better than CC but feeling slighted by other field agents.

For a civilian caught up during a mission fallout, well... It depends.

Is this a person of potential interest? Are they a witness to vital information? They may not get recruited per se, but will be brought in for questioning, debriefing, and then protection while conveniently legally binding them to a couple NDAs and ensuring that they don't have any evidence except their own memory. Their word against the agency is simply not a threat (:

Is this person someone who actively interfered on the agency's behalf, showing a decent talent for this kind of stuff beside their quick thinking? They might get recruited as a regular agent! They'll still have to go through training, and will have to sign even more NDAs, but they get a nice paying job and health insurance as a perk!

Is this someone who makes things actively more difficult for the agents on scene? Or someone who refuses to sign the NDAs? They, uh... They might be handled a bit roughly, actually. The agency is a private one and is not above illegal methods, though they're careful to not leave behind any evidence. They're not above ruining someone's entire credibility with planted scandals either, just in case someone decides to talk to the press, and hush money is something they're quite familiar with, though law enforcement is bribed more often than a random civilian (implications intended - police may not follow up on a "poor lunatics" claim of secret agencies and violent blackmail, whoops)

For witnesses to "harmless" things like simply an agent parkouring past, or rushing out of a definitely supposed to be locked building, often the consequence is nothing - it's a big city, and many people simply shrug and don't assume responsibility. Not their circus, not their monkeys. And so the agency remains in the shadows!

#answer let luce #daye asks #accidentally undercover #au alt timeline #technically? since discussion of field agent/ cc agent pairup timeline fhdjsk #this makes a shocking amount of sense for being a product of the last 30 minutes lmao #the podcast au works dw dw FGHDJS #that's also why the voice distortion device breaking isn't more than like... 'ahw man okay that sucks but i still gotta relay this info' #that's why it's not too big of a risk to take #hope that answers your questions <3 #if not feel free to ask more but I WILL go get food now. craving takeout #GFHDJSK

[mattzerella-sticks]

Some fans saying Jensen deserves an Emmy for the boys.... umm how? Where? He's barely been in a few scenes and none of them were remotely even close to that. I love him and I've thought he was a fantastic actor since early days supernatural but holy fuck. Like without even comparing to the other actors on the show this ain't it. The Emmys themselves are a mess and always ignore so many amazing performances, not to mention how white the majority of the nominees are but this cast and this show deserve some recognition especially this season. Anthony Starr is delivering one of the best performances on tv and I watch a loooot of tv, also Laz this season has been phenomenal as well as Erin, Karen and Colby, the whole cast should get a nom and a win as well as individual noms for some of them. I generally don't pay attention to acting as in I expect everyone performing on my screen to be good and only notice them if they suck but this cast is truly firing on all cylinders especially since they're bolstered by the writing which gives everyone their own arcs and their time to shine. The fact that they're juggling more than 10 characters/ different point of views and everyone has their motivations and goals and weaknesses etc is nothing short of extraordinary, adding to it the fantastic political satire, the humor, the gore etc. Shows can't even do one of these things right. The fact that it's only 8 episodes yet it feels so rich and complete is a testament to their abilities. Rarely do I feel like a show couldn't use a longer season these days bc everything is so rushed and there is rarely any character or relationship development but this is one where I would love more because I adore the show but they're absolutely taking advantage of every minute.

Jensen could definitely win an Emmy for guest appearance in a limited series or drama, if not because of how he's been killing it in this role but also because the man has a special superpower of his own that causes people to become derangedly obsessed with him lol.

But I also agree this show has a lot of top-quality and award-deserving talent, this season especially. I'm pretty sure they're submitting the Herogasm script for screenplay and writing awards - no doubt in my mind. But of acting I can see Laz and Anthony secure the best actor category while Erin takes best actress for her portrayal of Starlight this season. These 3 have been the strongest in terms of the story AND how they've portrayed the characters on screen. For supporting, however, Tomer, Karen, Jessie, and even Chace have good chances of getting noms of the cast.

Sorry to Karl and Jack but it doesn't feel like they've been featured as much as they have previously, and maybe that's because to make room to juggle the narratives of both the Boys and the Seven they needed to take time from them but the show's better for it lol.

Right now they're playing second fiddle to Soldier Boy, but hopefully they get their acts together and move in better directions (Billy and Hughie).

#the boys #the boys s3 #soldier boy #jensen ackles #the boys mother's milk #laz alonso #homelander #antony starr #annie january #erin moriarty #this whole season is award-bait but like unintentionally #they don't need them but awards are deserved

[mediaevalmusereads]

Ace of Spades. By Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé. Feiwel and Friends, 2021.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Genre: YA thriller

Series: N/A

Summary: Welcome to Niveus Private Academy, where money paves the hallways, and the students are never less than perfect. Until now. Because anonymous texter, Aces, is bringing two students' dark secrets to light.

Talented musician Devon buries himself in rehearsals, but he can't escape the spotlight when his private photos go public. Head girl Chiamaka isn't afraid to get what she wants, but soon everyone will know the price she has paid for power.

Someone is out to get them both. Someone who holds all the aces. And they're planning much more than a high-school game...

***Full review below.***

CONTENT WARNINGS: racism (including use of the n-word), underage drinking, distribution of a sex tape featuring a minor, homophobia (including forced outing), bullying, drug use, hit and run car accident, PTSD, stalking

OVERVIEW: I believe I was reading a post about dark academia when I stumbled onto this novel. Thrillers aren't typically my genre, but I was promised a critique of institutional racism in the education system, so I picked it up. Overall, I think this book was very well done; it was quick, it had high stakes, and it had characters that you really felt for, even with all their flaws. The main reason why I'm giving it 4 stars is because I felt the ending was rushed and relied on way too many coincidences. But other than that, I enjoyed the reading experience.

WRITING: Àbíké-Íyímídé's prose is gripping and easy to read. I felt like it balanced showing and telling well, and it moved at a pace that felt neither too slow nor too quick. Dialogue felt natural, and though there are some instances of slang or pop culture references, I don't think they'll be too much of a drag on the writing as the book ages.

PLOT: The plot of this book follows Devon and Chiamaka, the only two Black students at an elite private high school. Devon and Chiamaka find themselves targeted by a mysterious figure named Aces who leaks their secrets to the student body via text. These secrets threaten to get the two kicked out of school and denied acceptance to college, so the two team up to take Aces down before their futures are destroyed.

Overall, I think Àbíké-Íyímídé did a great job crafting suspense. The bullying (for lack of a better word) is not your typical everyday harassment (not that bullying is ever "normal" or insignificant), but life and future-threatening actions that make the stakes incredibly high. There also aren't a lot of dull moments where characters are sitting around; it felt like every scene was purposeful, whether to advance the plot or develop character relationships, so even though this book was over 400 pages, it moved quickly and kept me engaged.

The only part of the plot that I didn't think was well-done was the ending. Without spoiling anything, I will say that I think the ending relies on too many coincidences to happen - things that are outside the characters' control. I also felt like after everything was done, there was a sense of finality and security that just didn't seem quite believable, and though I don't want the characters to be tormented for the rest of their lives, I do think things ended a little too suddenly and neatly.

CHARACTERS: Devon, one of our protagonists, is sympathetic in that he struggles with trying to belong while also feeling guilty about his privilege. Devon comes from a low-income neighborhood and attends school on a scholarship; his mother barely has enough money to cover bills and fees, and Devon sometimes resorts to drug dealing to help out. Devon's perspective is incredibly insightful for the way it examines the struggles of Black kids from low-income families to fit in with white kids; not only does Devon have to contend with feeling like an outsider, but he has to confront those from his own neighborhood who resent him for his opportunities.

TL;DR: Ace of Spades is a dark academia thriller that critiques the systematic racism present in the education system. While the ending left a lot to be desired, the complex protagonists, quick pace, and high stakes meant that I was highly engaged, and I look forward to more from this author in the future.

Chiamaka, our other protagonist, offers a different perspective. She is a biracial girl from a wealthy family, and she is highly ambitious. She uses the people around her to get what she wants, and to be honest, I kind of liked her ruthless pursuit of her goals. Of course, there are moments when Chiamaka's behavior is problematic, but I loved watching her put her mind and her scheming to work.

Belle and Terrell were the biggest surprises, and I really liked how Àbíké-Íyímídé used them to A.) give our protagonists a confidante, and B.) explore tangential themes such as queerness, education and class, and family.

Still, I think this book would have had a greater emotional impact if a little more was done with certain characters - namely Jack, Andre, and some of then teachers/staff at the school. While the way they are written now is fine, I think I would have had a bigger reaction to their arcs if they were more involved with the plot earlier on. I feel the importance of these characters to the protagonists are told to us rather than shown, and we were expected to care about changes to their behavior before it was established (emotionally) what they meant to the protagonists.

[bryan-damage]

The Lifespan of the Genre (Movies)

Conception: A creator makes a movie that, while a product of its own time, has unique qualities and resonates with enough people that it gains a fanbase. Its release likely goes under the radar of the casual movie-goer but fans of the medium talk about it quite a lot.

Gradual Rise: Inspired by the first movie, new creators imitate and expand upon the unique or more interesting qualities of the original. Relatively few gain notice by casual movie-goers but a fandom of the new form starts to develop as fans share recommendations and analysis.

Explosion: A well-funded movie that uses the techniques of the new form and stars more recognizable names reaches the mainstream. Presumably this is also a very well-received movie, convincing producers to invest in more projects of a similar nature. Certain names get associated with the genre and become celebrities. Although not every creation of this genre is successful, many are by most measures, enough to justify continued funding even of properties that aren't especially well done.

Decline: In an effort to strike while the anvil is hot, producers fund several movies of this genre as it seems like they've become a Sure Thing, but the production becomes rushed and the budgets get tighter and the talent burns out on the form, so the quality of these movies drops noticeably. Casual movie-goers start to complain because they're getting burned out and itching for something new. But from a financial perspective, the genre still makes money, although not as securely as it previously did.

Collapse: Between dwindling interest and loss of quality, the genre is no longer profitable. Movies of this genre are still made, because there is, by this point, a dedicated fanbase, but the fanbase isn't large enough to support anything but the cheapest of genre films, which come across to casual audiences as pathetic attempts to keep the genre going. The mainstream now regards the genre as "dead" and most people are unaware that these types of movies are still being made because they are no longer getting widespread recognition.

Revival: After a time away from the mainstream, a genre might get picked up by some young creators who grew up with it and want to see more made. If any of those films are successful, the genre might re-emerge into the mainstream, although it will be noticeably different than it was before in some manner. There's a small possibility of a major resurgence, in which case return to Gradual Rise.

#movies #genre

[captain-ezri-dax]

🖊🖊🖊

OK normally i'd put like 20000 paragraphs of lore for my ocs BUT if i gotta do THREE, its gonna be brief descriptions ok

alright lets start with Tally, one of my star wars babies. Anger Issues incarnate. She was technically a survivor of Order 66, the jedi genocide, but she was so young at the time at like 3 years old, she remembers little to nothing. I don't think kids are usually started in training that young, but even at 3 years old she had anger issues & had to start early.

Her lack of training, the fact she was only in the jedi temple for maybe 2 months & her not really using her powers keeps her safe. She doesn't even have a lightsaber. She lives in an old republic corvette w/ a single clone trooper who's basically her surrogate father, & a crew of droids that she keeps in working order. She basically grew up w/ an old astromech that belonged to her Jedi trainer & loves it more than anything. She & her father make a living as scavengers & scrappers. Also she's still angry a lot & picks fights whenever she's on a planet. She'll break ur arm if ur so much as rude to her

YIPPEE bless doll creator games

ok i think this is gonna get long anyway

ALRIGHT im gonna stick w/ sci-fi bc i never get. to talk about. fuckin Vama Tix, a Star Trek Trill oc.

LOOK at her. I adore her so much. (picrew here btw)

idk how much Star Trek you've watched or lore u know so long story short; Trill are an alien species that evolved alongside another sentient species on their homeworld. Symbionts can be surgically inserted into Trill to become a symbiotic duo, but few are chosen.

Vama spent the first 18 years of her life on Trill (the planet, idk why they called the species and planet the same name) training to be a Host, since it can be taxing. Once they're joined with a Symbiont, they gain all the memories of the Symbiont's previous hosts. Preparing for that & learning to separate your identity takes time. (Ezri Dax from My Username & Profile Picture Fame got the Dax symbiont without training & she has trouble differentiating between herself and other previous host's memories.)

The majority of trainees don't get Symbionts, purely bc there are far less Symbionts than Trill. Vama was pretty far into her training & would've eventually been approved to get a Symbiont eventually, but she didn't want to wait half her life. She left on her 19th birthday & eventually got into petty crime, but nothing violent. She quickly found a talent in starship racing & joins a lot of illegal races. She buys & heavily modifies her own shuttle to race and live in, Like an RV if RVs were also used for racing. She can't afford a fully sized starship but she enjoys her mobile life in her shuttle.

Eventually she got herself caught & arrested by a small starfleet ship. While imprisoned there, another Trill who had a Symbtiont died & Vama volunteered to be the next host to ensure it wouldn't die on the trip back to Trill. After a brief medical check on Trill she used a legal loophole to get out of any prison time. The Symbiont, as a sentient being that can't be un-joined without Vama's death, can't be imprisoned for a crime it wasn't involved in. So Vama went free.

She has a habit of talking to her Symbiont even though she doesn't need to, something she picked up from it's very first host. She doesn't exclusively race in legal races, but she gravitates towards them more even though it doesn't give her quite the same adrenaline rush. She does want to keep Tix, the symbtiont, safe.

i was gonna do Mira next but. all the sims 4 screenshots of her are wickedwhims lmao oops so lets do Dani instead.

she's got the Least lore here, so u get 3 pictures. She's the GF of Charlie, my canon Saints Row character, but isn't a direct part of The Saints themselves. More like an ally.

She does legal work as a security guard after a stint as a cop, which she hated & left before even completing training. These days she works mall security, bar & club security, stuff like that & provides insider info to The Saints about security systems & stuff like that.

Whenever she does join them on a job she'll wear a stolen Idols helmet to keep her identity hidden. In fact she'll wear it whenever she's around a Saint that isn't Charlie & won't use her name around them. She's just not interested in joining in full, but just doesn't care about the places she works at.

BONUS ROUND

look at Abi she's so cute

[hakesbros]

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#real estate

[the-firebird69]

We have tons of uniforms and other stuff coming in some of us come from China so it's come from the Midwest huge huge lots of uniforms giant lots of dirt bikes and enduros tons of off-road vehicles we need them here in Florida this tons of these idiots out there camping and their clones and this huge numbers and then that can come up through holes and we need to go in there and stop them it is a patrol issue and we can send giant patrols out of like 40,000 people now it's just like Clarence it's a good time and if it's no jumps here for him to get hurt on

And yes if you aren't so let's get going on this I'm sending out for them now he's sending them I'll gratis that means for free so if anyone can help Chris out he needs money we'd like him to go somewhere we do know where he says Miami and we approve and we're going to help because Tommy favino usually is there in force but we would of course know when because he'd make arrangements to have a certain date over there so please let's get working all and yes we welcome at Trump you did here we need to come in we're going to probably attire you and we're going to probably label vehicles and probably not in the neighborhood but you see what we're saying

Mac Daddy and Qe

We're in a rush in the sea we actually need to be and this is amazing we've been rushing around doing this stuff real fast we need to be organized and we're getting all our stuff together and opening up our cashes and stashes all of them everybody needs to do that all your cash in the stashes need to be secured with your military in their hands in their facilities and put security on triple or quadruple or more triple and minimum and you need to have heavy arms with you this is a war they're all armed in armored and we are far behind we have many people who are talented but we need troops right now and we need people with skills and experience if you're in world War II Vietnam Korea Iraq or recent conflicts please report to duty all of mine no matter what you've been doing

Trump

[redspiderling]

#Called it #of course they didn't go to court #can you imagine? #they'd be fucked for sure #as it is #they're rushing to secure more talent #and already changed tactics and only released Shang Chi in the theatres #the dispute #Congrats Scarlett

[scandinavianfairytale]

"I won't let anything happen to you"

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Reader

Warnings: Mentions of injuries, violent flashback, overall a fluffy short story 💙

A/N: Real talk, if I saw this scene...I don't think I would be able to not aw out loud 😅😍

The entrance door of the 6th floor flew open as you came rushing through them. People walking the corridor hurriedly got out of your way as you ran to the counter. You slammed your hands on it, startling the poor nurse working there.

"Where is he?" You asked out of breath. It was a stupid decision to run up 6 stories worth of stairs. The nurse took in your appearance, observing you with worry.

"Where's who, Honey?"

"Steve. Steve Rogers. In which room is he?"

"I'm afraid you'll need authorization before entering his room." The nurse gave you an apologetic look.

"For God's sake, I'm his wife! Do I need to bring you our marriage certificate?" You gave the nurse a little glare. Her eyebrows flew up in disbelief and she remained quiet for a few seconds before she gave a little nod. It was as Steve always said - you were a terrible liar.

"Room 54, but you have 5 minutes. If you're not out in that time I will call security."

"Thank you." Your gaze softened and you started running again.

It broke your heart when you saw Steve laying in that hospital bed, his face completely beaten and swollen. You quietly entered the room and came to a stand by his side. Seeing him up close...you couldn't believe what Bucky did to him and how this was solely your fault. Your hand covered your mouth and tears welled in your eyes.

He stirred awake hearing a soft and muted wail. As he opened his eyes you came into view. A soft smile appeared on his face, but quickly disappeared as his gaze crystallized and he saw the sadness and worry on your beautiful face.

"Doll, don't look so worried, they're just scratches." You cupped his unbruised cheek and he reached for your hand, bringing it closer to his lips before placing a small kiss on the inside of your palm.

"..." Your voice betrayed you, the lump in your throat refused to let you speak at first. You closed your eyes, taking a small shakey breath in. "Steve, I'm so sorry."

"Hey, hey, don't apologize. I'm fine. These bruises will disappear in a couple of days. I'm more worried about you." Steve focused his attention on the split cheek and the stitches on your scalp.

You remembered the fight, how Steve tried bringing Bucky out, but instead both of you faced the wrath of the Winter Soldier. A shiver ran down your spine as you recalled how he dragged you by your hair until the edge of the building...

"I'm okay." You reassured.

"Come on." He said and scooted over in his bed. You went to lie next to him and he covered both of you with the blanket. The beeping sounds of the heart monitor filled the silent room as you curled around Steve, your head resting on his chest and you tried focusing on the beating of his heart.

"I want to thank you for saving me. I wouldn't be here if you weren't there." You whispered and he placed a light kiss on the top of your head.

"I won't let anything happen to you."

The nurse was impatiently waiting for you to return from Room 54. The 5 minutes she gave you went by and then 15, yet there was still no sign of you. She huffed and hurried to the room to kick you out. She stopped in her tracks as she glanced through the window to see you and Captain America sleeping in the little hospital bed, enveloped in each others arms. She had to restrain herself from awing out loud and settled for closing the curtain and giving you some privacy before returning to her work.

Thank you for reading! 🙏😊💙

The GIF doesn't belong to me - belongs to the talented creator 🙏😊

I will never let go of this "Doll" nickname. I love it and it'll be used in all future fics (sorry) 😂😍

#Chris Evans #Steve Rogers #steve rogers imagine #steve rogers x reader #marvel #captain america and the winter soldier #i won't let anything happen to you #fanfic #short story

[ca-8]

Yakko x Reader Scenario: When You First Meet

'This is it. The beginning of the end.' 

Gripping on the straps of her backpack, (Y/n) exited the bus and stared up at the water tower that displayed the famous Warner Bros. logo. As expected, it emitted a smug aura onto the entire area; however, surprisingly, there was a slight twinge of mystery to it as well. But she didn't have time to ponder about it, so she only gave it an uneasy look and headed straight for the entrance.

Her heart stopped. She knew the place was going to be busy, but it was like an entire New York City packed in one section! So many writers, producers, actors, large men carrying heavy sets, every type of person working in film was scattered all over the place. It was like an ocean, with the people as marine life doing what they're designed to do, and (Y/n) being the puppy that was abandoned at sea.

The moment it all settled in, an involuntary realization invaded her thoughts. 'I don't belong here.'

The young girl reminded herself to breathe and rushed over to a vacant wall, then pulled out her phone. She had already sent her mother about a thousand messages telling her she was here, but since she hasn't responded, a few more shouldn't hurt. Fingers rapidly typing away, she bit her lower lip, already wishing she had stayed on that bus. 

"Oh, you're just gonna love it!" Her mother's squealing voice had already filled her skull. "You're so talented, I know you're gonna fit right in."

'Yeah, standing around all day with a bunch of people I don't know while doing something I suck at is exactly how I wanna spend my summer.' She let out a soft sigh. 'It's fine. Just shut up and make her happy, (Y/n).'

Several attempts of calling and texting later, no response. (Y/n) sighed again, and her eyes wandered over to the bustling crowd. 'No way. Absolutely no way.' But if she wanted to get the day over with, absolutely yes way.

First, she walked up to a lady looking down at the clipboard in her hands. "Um, excuse me," (Y/n) said. 

The lady's head snatched up. "KYLE!" she yelled, her eyes now ablaze with fury, "YOU IDIOT! THAT GOES IN THE WAREHOUSE ACROSS THE STUDIO!" And like there was nothing but a breeze behind her, the lady stomped off to the poor soul that had to face her wrath.

The breeze took a step back and ran around the corner. 'Maybe I'll find someone else instead…!' (Y/n) stopped and spotted a man sitting on the steps that lead to the entrance of a small building. She swallowed whatever was left in her mouth and reluctantly approached him. 

"E-Excuse me, sir?" she stuttered, hoping her voice was louder than the last time. As she got closer, (Y/n) noticed he was chuckling, and his gaze was glued onto a small piece of paper. 

"I...I did it…!" he said. She yelped and shrinked back when he suddenly jumped to his feet. "I FINALLY DID IT! WE'LL SEE WHO'S REGRETTING THE DIVORCE NOW, MARGARET!" And with a manic laugh, the man dashed into the building. 

'...Or maybe I'll just find it myself.'

It wasn't too long before (Y/n) got herself lost. Despite the help of maps that were stuck to some of the buildings, all of them seemed exactly the same. It was like a maze, and with each passing minute, she was more and more convinced that there was no finish line. Even worse, her mother was too busy to respond to anything she sent her. 

'Oh, what should I do?' (Y/n) thought for the thousandth time. No matter how hard she pinched or held them, her arms refused to stop trembling. Not too long ago, the outside of the studio became deserted and she'd hate to walk in a warehouse and possibly interrupt something important, so asking for help again was out of the question.

...Or, perhaps it wasn't. 

A tiny, hopeful smile crossed (Y/n)'s face when she heard the sounds of frustrated grunts around the corner. It was the first time she was so relieved to see a stranger. 

And thank god that stranger was a security guard. Though she wondered why he had a giant net in his hand, she shoved the curiosity as far in the back of her mind as she could and reached up to gently tap his shoulder. 

"Um, excuse me sir?" she asked as loud as she could. 

His head whipped around, revealing angry eyes and a scowl that said he was ready to kill. But right as his gaze landed on her, it changed within an instant. 

"Oh, hello!" he said with a bright smile. 

(Y/n) blinked, cocking her head. ‘What was this guy up to?’

"I'm sorry to bother you, but do you know where (M/n) (L/n) is filming? I'm her daughter, (Y/n), and I'm trying to look for her. She's not answering her phone either."

His joyful expression slowly melted into a confused one. "Uuhhh…(M/n) (L/n)?”

“Yes. She’s a part of Animal Kingdom? Do you know where that’s being filmed?”

“Oh! I know there’s a zoo around here called Animal Kingdom! I don’t think you’ll find it in a film studio, though.”

(Y/n) frowned. “...No, I mean the show. Aren’t they filming in a warehouse today? Do you know where that is?”

“Who’s ‘they’?”

Her eye twitched, and she was just about ready to drown the entire studio in the nearest ocean. “N-Nevermind, I’ll just-”

As if the universe wasn’t satisfied with tormenting her enough, the security guard suddenly launched up into the air and flew into the sky. Right before her eyes, the heavens were coated with explosives of every color that ever existed. 

“Oh my god!” (Y/n) yelled. ‘Who strapped fireworks on that guy?!’

“Oh, I knew you’d love it!”

Her eyes were ripped from the loud fireworks show as she was immediately smothered in a hug. “It’s so nice that another girl’s here! All the other ones here are either too busy or just keep shouting about a restraining order for some reason. I dunno, but anyway, I just know you're gonna love it here! Anyway, my name’s Princess Angelina Louisa Cantessa Francesca Banana Fanna Bo Besca the third! But since we're friends now, you can just call me Dot.”

This confirmed it. This was a trap set up by her mother to deliberately drive her insane, because how else can someone explain the nut jobs and talking dogs in pink dresses? 

A combination of those two things happened to be clutching her head and digging her face into hers. “...Huh?” (Y/n) mumbled.

‘Dot’ jumped off of her and smiled widely. “Sorry about Ralph by the way. I figured out you were coming at the last second and I really needed someone for your welcoming gift.” she said.

(Y/n) glanced up at the sky where the fireworks were slowly dying down. “Um...Is he gonna be okay?” she asked.  

“Of course he will!” her backpack said.

The teen screamed and threw her bag on the ground. A hand popped out and unzipped it with impossible ease, then a taller boy version of Dot jumped out, pulling up his long brown pants and flashing a grin. 

“H-...H-H-How did you…?!” (Y/n) stuttered, pointing at him. 

“What? Never heard of cartoon logic?” he said, approaching her. “And Ralph’ll be fine. His skull’s so thick, concrete’s the last thing that can kill him.”

“What-?”

“Anyhow,” he walked over to Dot and put an arm over her shoulder, “The name’s Yakko, this here’s my beloved baby sister Dot, and this is-” He stopped, staring at the empty space to his left. He leaned into Dot, whispering, “Say, uh, you don't mind looking for Wakko, do ya sis?”

Dot glanced at (Y/n) for an uncomfortable moment and suddenly shot her brother a glare. "I've got eyes all over this studio, Yakko," she warned, slowly stepping away.

Now (Y/n) certainly knew she didn't see pairs of eyes appear around every inch of her sight. 'Oh god, I didn't breath in drugs on the way here, did I? Actually, that would explain whatever the heck's going on.'

Yakko smiled as he watched his sister leave and turned to (Y/n). He walked closer to her, and she realized that his half-lidded eyes had a strange glint in them. “Sooo, your name’s (Y/n), right? A pretty name for a pretty girl.”

(Y/n)’s face heated up. ‘First I get lost, then see a guy get blown up, and now some other guy’s flirting with me? ...To be honest, this is still better than what Mom had planned for today.’

“So what brings ya’ here?” he asked.

“O-Oh, well, my Mom was supposed to give me a tour of the studio, but I’ve been giving that to myself all day. I tried finding her, but I’m pretty sure I’m nowhere near it by now.” Her eyes wandered over to the ground, but a realization made them perk back up and over to Yakko. “Hey, do you happen to know this place by any chance?”

“Know it? Please, my sibs and I live here, we know this place by heart and soul!” He mumbled something else, along the lines of “Basically made our hearts and souls”. 

Her heart jumped; finally, a piece of good news. “Really?” she said, a smile spreading across her face.

He nodded. “So where do ya’ need to go?” Before she could answer, he pulled out a piece of folded paper and moved in so close, their shoulders were smooshed together. Yakko unfolded it, and it turned out to be the biggest map (Y/n) has ever seen. “Well, from here, you’re gonna need to take a right and continue straight until you get to the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts exhibit. But be careful, I heard some of them escaped, and if anyone asks if you’ve seen any of them, don’t tell them I gave one to Dot as a late birthday gift. Anyway, you take a left from there, then a right where you’ll see the lot where they used to shoot Game of Thrones. Now this is only a rumour I’ve heard, but I think some of the producers are still on that set. If you happen to see them, do not, I repeat, DO NOT mention season eight, or maybe just don’t mention the show at all. Actually, don’t even look at them. As a matter of fact, you probably shouldn’t even go there at all, just keep heading straight until you get to the D.C. Universe lot. Then you just take left there, then a sharp right over over, then you keep going straight until you get to here, turn up over there, turn right there, and then you’re there. Did ya’ follow all that?”

(Y/n) stared at his face, which was practically radiating with enthusiasm, and she felt her eye twitch again. “...No,” she said, shaking her head.

His smile dimmed, but it became just as bright as the sun again a split-second later. “Ah well, maps are gettin' old anyways,” he said, throwing the map over his shoulder. “WAKKO!!”

And, low and behold, another anthropomorphic dog popped out of nowhere, and (Y/n) was starting to question if there was an army of them hidden somewhere. But she had to admit, it was pretty cute how this one was dressed in an oversized blue sweater and red hat. 

“Tablet, please,” Yakko said politely, holding out his hand. 

‘You're not gonna walk me there-?'

Wakko suddenly held his head back with his cheeks puffed out, then leaned into Yakko’s hand as he forced out a small object from his mouth. After an incredibly uneasy moment, a tablet glazed in spit was in Yakko's grasp. While he praised the little guy, (Y/n) forced back the urge to vomit.

“E-Ehhhh…?” She couldn’t say anything else while her gaze frantically went back and forth from Wakko and the regurgitated tablet. 

“Oh! Where are my manners?” Yakko said. “(Y/n), this is my dear little brother, Wakko. Wakko, this here’s our new special friend, (Y/n).” 

“Hello!” Wakko greeted, who was suddenly in her arms. “You’re really pretty!”

“Ehh? Thank you? I guess??” she said apprehensively, and finally managed to make eye contact. Despite his...quirks, he's actually a little adorable... She let herself grin a little.

The moment of semi-peace was ruined when she took notice of Yakko’s narrowed eyes. “ALrighty, (Y/n)!” he said loudly, grabbing his little brother by the collar and gently setting him on the ground. “Animal Kingdom, right? Let’s get ya’ right over there.” He moved right beside her and taped the screen a couple times. 

“Um, what’re you doing exactly?” she asked.

“Doing what every person does to get somewhere nowadays.” He grabbed her waist and pulled her against him, and (Y/n) flinched from his touch. “Please keep your arms, legs, and personal items inside the tablet at all times.”

Just when she was about to question him for the hundredth time, he pressed the screen again, and her vision became nothing but white. Her body felt like it was launched into a tornado; a strong force of wind thrusted her back, and somehow, the boy’s arm kept her from flying off from his side. A second later, her feet were back on the ground, the sky was where it needed to be, and reality was back in place. 

Except for (Y/n)’s mentality. 

She stumbled around, trying to find her balance as the world unbearably whirled around her. Finally, she shook her head, and quickly turned back towards Yakko, whose face tried to tell her whatever happened was perfectly fine and normal. 

“What was THAT?” she yelled, staggering towards him and gripping his shoulders.

And he still had the audacity to have that 'why-are-you-freaking-out-so-much-we-do-this-every-Friday' smile. “Thank you for attending Warner’s Travel Tours! I would say my Agent Ralph’ll take your bags, but I left him alone with my sibs, so he’s probably in the middle of the Pacific Ocean by now.”

(Y/n) could only stare at him. Her mind was twisting and turning, trying so hard to make any sense of what happened but only making her headache grow larger and larger. And then, her thoughts just went blank.

She smirked. Then giggled. And a few seconds later, she had burst out laughing whilst holding her stomach. (Y/n) looked back up at Yakko, wiping a tear from her eye. “Th-Thank you…” she said, catching her breath. 

His smile had grown and she thought his white cheeks were red for a moment. Yakko had opened his mouth, but whatever he was about to say was cut off by a net suddenly covering his entire body. Ralph was behind him, his skin and clothes burnt and ears practically smoking. “You’re coming with me, Warner!” he said.

And yet, Yakko only grinned. Like physics was his enemy, he disappeared from inside the net and appeared sprouting from the security guard’s back, cheerfully waving at (Y/n). “I’ll see ya’ around, yeah?” he said, then ran around the corner with Ralph sprinting right after him.

(Y/n) giggled and reached for the straps around her back. But when she only felt the (f/c) fabric of her shirt, her smile dropped, and a deep sigh escaped her lips. “Great…” she whispered.

“(Y/N)!” 

She gasped as a pair of arms squeezed the life out of her. Her mother spun her around to face her gleaming smile, which was immediately replaced by an apologetic frown. “I’m so sorry I didn’t get your texts! That scene took forever, but I’m glad you found your way here! You’re so smart! Anyway, I know we don’t get as much time now, but there’s still so much we’ll be able to see!...”

She rambled on and on and on and on. Her daughter’s shoulders slumped and she followed her to where she wanted her to go, but the frown on her face didn’t last long when she remembered the fun she had just a few seconds ago. ‘Maybe this summer won’t be that bad.’

#is this how you write him lmao #i love this boi so much #animaniacs #cartoons #x reader #fanfiction #the reader in this is like 15 dont worry lol #im bored #yakko warner

[thespoonisvictory]

Please explain why Schlatt is the best character on the SMP.

(Alternatively, I would be really interested in hearing more about your dislike for Quackity's produced lore. Personally, I love it, so I'm really intrigued whenever someone says that they're not fond of it).

as much as I love schlatt, I think I'll answer the quackity question, because I've been meaning to.

first of all, I think I should clarify that I'm definitely biased, because my favorite streamers, outside of the dsmp universe, tend towards semi lore, or, at least, not whatever quackity's doing. I'm used to it, and people tend to not like change lol.

second of all, I really do like quackity's produced lore, but I don't like certain aspects of it, and find myself preferring semi lore in general. I don't think he should stop doing it so much as I think he should use it as an occasional technique rather than conveying near 100% of his story with it. big q is very talented and I commend him for taking such a bold approach, which I think pays off in some ways.

third, to me, semi lore is any lore that breaks the fourth wall in that it isn't trying to be something other than a minecraft stream, it's all in first person, and none of it is prerecorded. for example: most of wilbur's pogtopia streams are semi (or casual) lore to me, because he'll thank subs and joke with schlatt about getting techno a girlfriend, but it's still largely in canon.

anyway, in true jenny nicholson fashion, let's kick off with a numbered list.

1. this post, by patches, explains a bit of why the lore streams can get a bit disconcerting to me. the dsmp have always had a bit of charming awkwardness in their improv, because these are for the most part just Some Guys acting, and under the guise of a stream where it's just a Streamer Playing Minecraft, it fits. but the highly produced nature just- creates such a disparity between the quality of the cinematography and the acting that it's a little weird, y'know?

2. in some cases, semi lore allows for dread to be built in a unique way. during the exile arc, tommy would have lighthearted streamer jokes and bits, shout out subs, pretend like things were normal. he never acknowledges that his situation is messed up, that his condition is getting worse, that things are falling apart. it's a quiet, sinking, horror that creeps along over the course of weeks. it's important to the viewer that we are there every day to see the slow progress, to understand why tommy gets pushed so far down. besides the impracticality of 14 highly produced lore streams, you would lose a lot of the subtlety there.

the smp is such a unique medium in that the stream style itself is so telling. when tommy actively doesn't acknowledge what's happening, it makes the abuse that's occurring seem so much worse. when wilbur drops little hits about his depression or his plans in between lighthearted, ooc jokes, it lulls the audience into a false sense of security.

imagine a version of the 'forming las nevadas' story where quackity does it over the course of four nights. the slow realization of his manipulation tactics disguised by an unassuming stream format, because it's still quackity, joking around and laughing until he approaches the next person and he shifts into his 'persona'. when he finishes the conversation, we watch his face fall, his smile fade, as he walks back to an empty las nevadas. it would build hype, not to mention taking less work, and letting the audience see a bit more of quackity's humanity.

3. I mentioned it before, but it just straight up takes less time. I'm willing to wait, of course, but there's something to be said about the merits of pacing and being able to throw together a lore stream last minute. take, for example, tommy's death. it wouldn't have been nearly as impactful without the rushed, oddly somber flurry of livestreams that came after. jack didn't need a highly produced montage of him standing by tommy's grave as the seasons passed, of his planting flowers everyday. what turned out to be effective was just- him, walking around, coming to terms with his grief, completely silent for periods of time.

it was mourning. plain and simple, with no embellishment or evil villain music, shockingly earnest.

I don't think you could replicate that raw, undone feeling with a prerecorded, pre-produced, semi-movie. it feels like all of a sudden jack's pov was important enough that he had to stream, and there it was.

you could argue that this could be planned beforehand, but I think more often than not, that's a. not really feasible, and b. going to take away from the organic nature.

we all like candid shots, 'authentic' vlogs and influencers. to me, this is just one more extension of that rule.

4. under the same idea, you can make more. we spend more time with the streamers, and therefore the characters, and get to know their more human side. wilbur, for example, is deeply humanized by little things that you just couldn't really fit into a lore stream: his dynamic with niki, all his little moments of hesitation, his banter with tommy and his true love for l'manburg. who c!wilbur is is built up over hours and hours of comments and suggestions and one-off statements, and we just don't have time for that in quackity's lore. the transitions are snappy, filled with beautiful shots, but they don't allow for as much depth of character as that awkward little walk from place to place, that quiet monologue they do to themselves.

it's not impossible for you to do that, as with c!quackity and c!charlie serving as a 'morality pet', but at this risk of repeating myself endlessly, it's more earnest and organic in a sense.

5. last, I just really like multiple povs. one of my favorite bits from s1 is the fundy spy arc, because of how effectively multiple povs are used. streams where wilbur is deeply, deeply distraught over fundy's betrayal but thinks fundy doesn't care, while fundy is deeply, deeply distraught over wilbur's prior treatment of him but thinks he doesn't care. and you could watch both at the same time! quackity's pov isn't as personal when it uses third person, which is a bit sad because I think it's a unique aspect of livestreaming every perspective.

(I'm so sorry if this isn't coherent or makes any sense I'm very brain dead and tired from speedrunning three essays yesterday)

basically, I think quackity's lore style is good for big, grand events, occasionally. it's very cool to watch, definitely builds hype, and can make certain things easier, such as coordinating a bunch of people or doing special effects.

but for building a plot and establishing character dynamics, I really prefer semi/casual lore.

#asks #dream smp #dsmp analysis #dsmp meta #if this doesn't make sense I can clarify more lmao #also this is barely proof read #I'm so sorry

[my-writings-and-musings]

Answering these two asks in a post so all the content can stay in one place!

The original post in question can be found here!

Drift

·He's delighted to have a whole group of young humans on board to foster diplomacy, and he fully intends to do whatever is necessary to make them feel safe and welcome. Though his introduction is polite, the small crowd immediately takes note of his ever present swords, and to his delight their reaction is purely one of innocent awe at his impressive weaponry. Always happy to encourage responsible sword use, he explains the significance of each blade and is incredibly careful when showing the very tiny and very delicate humans what they look like up close. Their delight is so simple and pure some part of him is reminded of his long gone naivety, and his promise to protect them becomes a vow he never intends to break while his own spark still flickers.

·When he casually mentions time on earth one day the group is surprised and effusive in a sudden burst of questions. When he's actually able to recall a surprising amount of pop culture facts their little minds are nearly blown, and from then on they seem to seek him out just to socialize, something that quite surprises him for a multitude of reasons. Even after all his time with the Autobots, many still don't fully accept him as one of their own, so to be seen as a companion by beings so young and innocent... If absolutely touches him, while also making him determined to ensure they never discover that aspect of his life. He tells himself it's for their safety, and that the young shouldn't be troubled with burdens not their own, but he knows that losing the simple delight of their company and respect would hurt him deeply.

·Due to his need for frequent training to keep his skills sharp, it's no surprise that his little fans one day stumble upon him dicing up training dummies in one of the many gymnasium inspired practice areas. Upon seeing them in action he's soon surrounded by a group of very eager wannabe sword fighters, and while he's still recovering from the idea that he's wanted as a teacher a casual mention of Spectralism prompts a new wave of curiosity and interest that he can barely handle. It takes all of his willpower just to keep from letting on how impossibly touched he is by each and every one of them. They're just... interested in who he is? They look up to him just because they think he's cool and want to learn more about his faith, his skills, and his passions...

·The simple goodness of the relationship is all brought to what he thinks to be the end when his past is exposed by accident. He's not even with them when they find out, but he's devastated, and can't bring himself to face them now that they know who he used to be. It's only through sheer determination on behalf of the whole group, and what he thinks is bad luck for him, that the young liaisons manage to find and speak to him once more. For an instant he breaks and can only apologize effusively, begging their forgiveness for... well, everything from the secret to letting them down to allowing them to believe he was what they thought he was. It takes all of them working in tandem to speak over him and make one thing clear; no one is angry.

·His little group of fans makes it abundantly clear they don't see him as "Deadlock" or a Decepticon or anything but the bot they've come to respect. He's not his past in their eyes, and his present has been nothing but kind and welcoming to each and every one of them. Their little hands take hold of his in a gesture of affirmation, and in the strength of their compassion he can't help but feel dwarfed by each of them. Somehow, the experience brings them even closer, and they can frequently be heard referring to their "older brother" when heading off for the training sessions he painstakingly caters to their size. When some of them begin to show him Spectralist greetings and goodbyes he has to take the time to shed a few tears in private, but they definitely notice how affected he is regardless, and each of them make a point to show him how important he is to them every day.

Rodimus

·It was his own genius diplomatic skills that got these little humans secured on the ship in the first place, so he's quite eager to welcome them on board when the day finally comes. The fact that he stresses about impressing them for hours beforehand is something he keeps entirely to himself though... Yet it turns out he has nothing to fear, because each human is rendered speechless merely by the size of the Lost Light when they first see it, and he can't help but be made giddy as a result. He doesn't need to fake any of the enthusiasm he shows as he takes them on a tour, speeding through the hallways and alternating between giving them lifts in vehicle mode and bot mode, the latter of which has him carrying the group on his shoulders and in his arms.

·It's impossible not to be shocked as he sees the humans all... like and respect him immediately? Everything from his altmode to his jokes, they just... their little faces light up and they compliment him and they all want to hang out with him again as soon as possible?! What is this?! Despite having no idea he happily throws himself into this new and strange relationship with these tiny humans. So many of the interests and hobbies he's been told are "unfit" for a bot in his position are met with fascination, support, and requests for him to teach them all he can. It quickly goes from pleasantly surprising to absolutely touching. The whiplash of suddenly having so much positive attention spurs a change in him, namely one of uncharacteristic levels of protective instinct towards these precious visitors.

·Though he's entirely casual to their faces, behind the scenes he's checking on absolutely everything to ensure they're all taken care of. Are their rooms comfortable? Is the food to their liking? Does the crew make them feel welcome? Can he do anything to make their stay better? The various bots he checks in with to ensure everything is running smoothly quickly grow irritated with his constant pestering, though this new side of him is refreshing to most, particularly because he hasn't ever been this responsible about anything in the past. He even checks in with Magnus on the regular! And submits reports in a timely fashion! All to make sure he's doing everything in his power to keep these young liaisons as happy as he can.

·To the humans themselves though, he's the ultimate fun uncle, introducing them to the entire crew and showing them all the fun things there are to do around the ship. If he hears even a rumor that one of them is missing something about their home or wants to try something they don't have the ability to make happen, you better believe he is going to do everything in his power as captain to get things going. But of course he keeps all this work to himself, he wants to be the most effortlessly cool bot they know, and also doesn't want to concern them with all of the details. Unfortunately a slip up for one particularly epic movie night at Swerve's reveals the many sleepless hours he spent arranging it all, and in his rushed reasurances it comes out that he's been working himself ragged taking care of their every need.

·The entire group is shocked by his dedication, but also his incredible talent. He's funny, charismatic, friendly, and he's also been doing so much for them? The entire group brings him into an impromptu hug of appreciation, and he very nearly tears up in front of them. Somehow, these young aliens have become everything he didn't know he needed. They're his friends, but they look up to him, and his new honorifics of "Fun uncle" and "big brother" are there to prove it. But from then on they refuse to let him do all the work of arranging things himself. If someone has an idea to improve the ship, it gets done as a group, with one very happy bot surrounded by his ever present posse of humans ready to help the coolest captain in the galaxy. They're even kind enough to pretend they don't see the happy tears misting his optics from time to time.

Rung

·Not having ever been to earth, along with never seeing humans outside of their media, means he really didn't know what to expect of the incoming humans. Hearing that they were all exceptionally young just made him concerned, especially after a quick bit of research made it apparent that humans are quite emotionally turbulent in this protoformesque stage. He's not concerned for his sake though, even the tallest human is tiny at his side, he's worried they made need a little extra assistance adjusting to life after such a big change. Thus, he makes quite sure to be present when they're brought on board to introduce himself and extend his services. A small part of him can't help but be delighted upon meeting them; so small, yet so exuberant! They're all polite despite their wide eyed wonder at... everything, but his description of his proffesion really catches their attention for a group exclamation; Cybertronians have psychologists?!

·Having prepared to offer help, he's blindsided by their interest in simply... learning about his career? They want to know about the places he's been and the ships he's served on, particularly when they learn he has models of each, and they're so small he's not at all worried when he brings a couple collectibles down for them to see up close. Watching these little beings clamor to see something most of his own kind finds boring makes the protective feelings in his spark strengthen into a promise to keep each and every one of them safe. He takes note of each individual human's traits and personalities while memorizing their names, being quite aware of how much it means to simply have one's designation remembered, and also commits to guiding them all through their unique interests and goals.

·Spending time with the liaisons in their group as well as one on one, it doesn't occur to him that they don't follow the same pattern as every Cybertronian he's ever met until one of them brings it up; why do the other bots always get his name wrong? It's only in that moment he realizes none of them have ever forgotten, mispronounced, or even hesitated to say his name. The surprise is enough that he can't even reply to them initially. When he does manage to find words they're quite insufficient, and he tries to explain that even he doesn't know, but he's always just assumed his small stature and quiet demeanor simply meant he tended to fade from memory rather quickly. Nothing else beyond his "historical constant" theory really explains it, as far as he knows.

·Ever able to defy expectations, the little liaisons react to his indirect self depreciation with emphatic reasurances that he's not at all forgetable, and are so intent on making sure he knows that they speak over one another in an emotional gaggle of supportive youngsters. It's all more than the quiet psychiatrist could have ever expected. Of course he never enjoyed being forgotten, but he's become so accustomed to dismissing those feelings he has no way to process this sudden outpouring of support. The humans are all around him in a kind of embrace, which is made difficult mostly due to the number of them and the size difference, but the affection in the gesture is still quite clear. It's all he can do to hold them in return as they all promise to never forget him no matter what happens.

·He keeps his tears private, but that doesn't stop them from coming when he's behind closed doors, though he just lets the happiness brim over into the few that run down his cheeks after he removes his glasses. The irony of it all doesn't hit him until he and the group are present at a movie night, and as he listens to them all gush in turn to the cinema selection of the evening it occurs to him that his initial intent to help them has been flipped quite completely around. These little ones have helped him, helped him feel worth remembering, helped him feel like he belongs, helped him find a family... Watching them gather around him almost protectively from a forgetful world, he isn't quite sure if he's been adopted or if they have, but he can't bring himself to care about such details. Neither can any of the liaisons who vowed to each other their new friend would never feel lonely again.

#transformers #maccadam #mtmte #more than meets the eye #lost light #idw #tf #requests #anon #my writing #my asks #liaisons #human reader #self insert #drift #rodimus prime #rung

[wisteriashouse]

I saw percy jackson au! one the troupe's list and i never tap the ask button this fast/no. Maybe a drabble where kyo and his team lost against gn reader on capture the flag because reader keeps distracting him when they're facing each other so reader's team can take the flag? (Let's say that kyo is the strongest opponent since he can wields sword better than anyone else 😂)

Also who do u think kyo's immortal parent is? I can picture him being an apollo's son since kyo always reminded me of the sun itself hshshs -✨

pairing: rengoku kyoujurou x gn!reader

genre: fluff; pjo!au

word count: 1899

a/n: rip word count and the word drabble but here it is!! might do a pjo! au headcanon one day... this event really is no good for my soul... i hope you enjoy it!!

“Do you think we can win?”

It’s Tanjirou’s first Capture The Flag game, bless the sweet kid’s innocent soul, you think. Both of you are crouched behind a line of bushes near Zephyrus’ Creek together with the rest of your team - Blue, for this round - your weapons in hand as you wait for the scouts you’d sent out to return. 

“Well, it’s hard to say.” You try to be positive, waving your hand vaguely. Tanjirou’s eyes are fixed on you, wide with curiosity. It’s only his first week here, so he hasn’t had a chance to meet most of the older campers that have been away on missions. Lucky for him that Sanemi is probably still somewhere out in the strait of Messina with Tomioka hunting Charybdis, you think. The poor kid would have been scared off in seconds. “There are some people who could probably change the tide, but most of those people are off doing solo missions away from Camp Half Blood, so our teams are pretty balanced at the moment-”

“He’s back!” You rise to your feet at the noise to see Zenitsu (a son of Zeus), one of the scouts your team had sent out earlier, splashing his way back across the river. “Rengoku is back in Camp Half Blood!”

All around you, a collective groan rises into the air, the Athena campers behind you grumbling about how their strategies are all messed up now and they need to regroup. 

“Shot at me, the second I breathed in the flag’s direction. Missed me on purpose too, just to show off.” Grumbling when he finally reaches your team’s side of the river, Zenitsu gratefully accepts Tanjirou’s outstretched hand, the younger boy pulling him into the shelter of the bushes. “Guess we’ll be doing clean up duty for the whole of next week.”

“Now, now, Zenitsu, don’t give up so fast.” You nudge the younger boy in the side encouragingly. He’s sopping wet from his little swim in the river. “There’s still a chance! We still have Muichirou and Shinobu on our team, don’t we?”

Zenitsu lets out a whine. “But they’re not Rengoku.” He complains. The entire time, Tanjirou glances between the two of you, confused. 

“Who’s Rengoku?” 

“He’s head counselor for the Apollo cabin.” Zenitsu explains, wiping the river water off his lightning spear. “He’s one of the best fighters in the entire camp, on par with even the head counselor of the War God’s cabin, Shinazugawa Sanemi! Not to mention that he’s handsome and cool and half of the Aphrodite kids can’t help falling over themselves every time he walks by, asking him to teach them how to write love sonnets.” He gags at the words. "As if they aren't just waiting to take a piece out of him, the damn piranhas."

You cover your mouth with your hand to stifle a laugh. “Well, he does write very good love poems,” you supply helpfully, and Zenitsu rolls his eyes. “Yes, yes, of course you would know, since-”

“[last], we have a new plan!” Shinobu calls airily from behind you, interrupting Zenitsu. Turning around, you see the daughter of Hecate striding up to you with a smile on her face. It’s one that you’ve seen all too many times when she’s plotting something, and now that you’re on the receiving end of that smile, you’re not quite sure that you like it.

You squint at her suspiciously. “What is it?”

“You,” Shinobu answers with her usual smile, pausing for dramatic effect, “will be in charge of distracting Kyoujurou!”

You stare at her for a moment before you shake your head furiously. “No, no, no, there’s no way I’m doing that. I’d be shot full of arrows like a porcupine before I so much as touch the flag - I’d rather clean the Pegasus stalls for a week.”

“Oh, come on, have a little confidence in yourself!” Shinobu hums, the expression on her face practically radiating nefarious intent behind her sweet smile. “There’s no way he would hurt you, he’s your boyfriend, after all.”

To your side, you see Tanjirou’s mouth form a silent ‘o’ of realization, piecing together everything you and Zenitsu had been conversing about earlier. Flustered, you shake your head again.

“This isn’t going to work!” You insist, even as Shinobu tugs you to your feet and steers you in the direction of the river. “Shinobu, you know what Kyoujurou is like! He isn’t going to be distracted by me at all!”

“Oh, I know Rengoku very well,” Shinobu’s eyes curve into little crescents. “I think you’ll find yourself surprised, [last]. All you need to do is distract Rengoku, we’ll do the rest. Our entire team is counting on you!”

Helplessly, you turn to the two boys crouched behind the bushes. Zenitsu looks like he’s trying his best not to burst into laughter, and Tanjirou, the pure hearted boy, only gives you an encouraging thumbs up.

With a sigh, you turn around and march into the Red Team’s territory all alone.

It doesn’t take you long to reach the flag.

Although not quite as talented in direct combat as some of your fellow campers are, you’re skilled in your own ways as well, moving silently through the underbrush and disabling any traps that you’ve found - products of the Hephaestus cabin, no doubt. After narrowly avoiding springing a Greek fire trap, you manage to make your way to the location of the flag completely undetected.

Sidling up behind a tree, you glance around the trunk to observe the battle ground. And just as you do-

Thunk!

You barely dodge out of the way in time, a blur of gold embedding itself in the wood of the tree you’re taking cover behind. So Zenitsu was right - he really is back from his mission, and although the two of you are on opposing sides for this Capture The Flag match, you’re happy to know that he’s back safe and sound, uninjured enough to participate in this game.

“Is that you, darling?” He calls out, and you have to hold back your smile at the pet name. You haven’t seen him in a week, and hearing his voice after so long makes you want to just rush out to give him a hug. “I know it’s you, love.”

“It’s been a week since you’ve seen me last, and an arrow to the face is how you greet me?” You call out from behind the tree, slightly teasing. “I’m hurt, Kyo.”

“I knew you’d be able to dodge it.” Kyoujurou laughs. When you peer behind the tree again, you see your boyfriend standing there in his orange Camp Half Blood tee and jeans, leisurely nocking another arrow into his bow. “I won’t go easy on you if you attempt to steal the flag.”

“I’m not here for the flag,” you answer, and it’s only a half lie when you continue. “I’m here because I missed you.”

If you were even a little less observant, you would have missed the way Kyoujurou’s hands falter ever so slightly in the midst of nocking his arrow, before he covers it up with one of his usual booming laugh. “You’re not going to distract me like that!” He declares, and you stifle a quiet laugh of your own, your heart beating a little faster in your chest. “But,” his voice softens, “I missed you too, when I was away. One week felt like forever to me.”

Warmth touches your cheeks, but before you can smile too much, you smack your cheek lightly. Get it together, you scold yourself, you’re supposed to be distracting him, not the other way around!

With that, you take a deep breath and rise to your feet. You could never hope to beat Kyoujurou face on in combat, but you don’t have to - all you need to do is to distract him so that Shinobu can do... whatever she has planned.

You step out from behind the tree, and immediately Kyoujurou’s golden eyes lock onto you. You take the time to take in his handsome features, the warmth in his eyes, the fresh band-aid on his left cheek, did he get injured while on his mission? 

“Changing strategy, love?” Kyoujurou calls out, looking amused. He tightens his grip on the bow when you take a single step forward. “Ah, ah, stay right there, or I’ll shoot.”

A frisson of excitement runs through you at the words, and you halt your steps, looking up at Kyoujurou with a smile. At this range, Kyoujurou has no chance of missing - you’ve seen him strike targets from yards away. “You won’t shoot me,” you hum, and with that, you take another step forward. True to Shinobu’s words, he lifts the bow, but makes no move to draw. 

“I missed you very much, Kyoujurou. I did read all the poems you left for me, but it doesn’t feel as nice when it’s not your voice reading them to me.” You lower your voice to a soft, longing tone. It’s not hard, considering just how badly you’ve yearned to see him over the past week. “It just made me miss you even more.”

You see a tinge of pink touch Kyoujurou’s cheeks. “I’ll read them for you tonight, if you want.” Taking another step forward, you gesture at his cheek. “Did you get hurt on your mission?”

“No, I got it while shaving today morning. I was distracted because I was too excited about coming back.” Kyoujurou lets out a sheepish laugh. Out of the corner of your eye, you see some bushes rustle behind Kyoujurou. 

“Well, you’re home now.” You’re almost within Kyoujurou’s reach now. If he decides to tackle you to the ground, you’d be out of the game even before you can so much as say ‘Zeus’. “With me.”

“Now!”

All of a sudden, a weighted net falls out of nowhere onto the both of you, and you’re sent falling by its weight. Before you can hit the ground, however, Kyoujurou wraps you securely in his arms, taking the brunt of the impact as you end up on his chest.

“Kyo!”

“Very well done, [last]!” Shinobu’s voice chirps from behind you, and you turn around to see Shinobu striding up to the both of you, the Mist melting off her. From beneath you, Kyoujurou laughs loudly, his chest shaking from amusement.

“This was your doing, wasn’t it, Kochou?” Kyoujurou shakes his head, a smile still on his lips. To the side, another figure slips out of the darkness, fingers wrapping around the flag Kyoujurou had been guarding before his entire body leaves the shadows.

“You just had to use [last] as a part of your plan.” Obanai says accusingly, jabbing his finger at Shinobu. The daughter of Hecate only shrugs innocently. “I had to watch all of that flirting, I don't think my eyes will ever recover. I'll need to wash them out with bleach,” he shudders in disgust. “I’m never going along with your plan again.”

“Now, now, there's no need to be such a drama queen." Shinobu tilts her head to the side, her smile still perfectly in place. "We won, so there’s no harm, is there? I’ll be sure to do the same for you when Kanroji returns from her exchange with Camp Jupiter.”

“You’ll do no such thing, you-”

With a shake of the head, you turn back to Kyoujurou, who’s still fighting to keep down his laughter. Gently, you let the pads of your fingers trace his face, his cheekbones, his defined jawline, before you tap at his lips, the corners of his mouth quirking up into a smile as he looks up at you.

“Welcome back, Kyo.” You whisper, and lean down to kiss him. 

#rengoku #rengoku fanfic #rengoku kyojuro #kyojuro #kyoujurou #rengoku kyojuro x reader #demon slayer #demon slayer fanfic #demon slayer fanfiction #demon slayer kyojuro #kimetsu no yaiba #kimetsu no yaiba fanfic #kimetsu rengoku #kimetsu kyojuro #kny fanfic #kny kyojuro #kny

[shysneeze]

phases of falling in love (ginny weasley x fem!reader)

Description: the painful process of reader falling for her Ginny Weasley, her best friend.

Warnings: angst af, I can’t think of anything else specific but please let me know if you come across anything and I’ll add it

Authors note: in love by khai dreams and she by dodie fit this in my head and are worth a listen.( edit, : i have a playlist here that fits this entire fic) . 

 ...

(Y/N) has decided that falling in love comes in three distinct phases: realisation, denial, and acceptance, though with various forms of panic in between.

No one’s ever boasted that falling in love is easy, the bitter angst of doing so the subject of too many pieces of literature to be doubted. Yet, no one’s ever told her it would be this hard, but she supposes the stakes were always going to be higher when it’s your best friend.

Realisation came first during a party, sat in a small group by the fireplace as the cheers and laughter so typical of a Gryffindor victory party raged on around them. They weren't much different from the others, talking loudly and laughing with their heads thrown back dramatically. They were discussing the game, (Y/N) thinks, though she can hardly remember now, nor was she particularly invested at the time. 

How could she be with her just across the from her, fair freckled skin aglow from the fire, who's light danced across her face with each flame’s flicker. Her hair tumbled down her shoulders effortlessly, as if it was pulled straight from the ponytail she wore during the afternoon's match.

That was the night she looked at Ginny  Weasley and felt something in her heart, longing perhaps, that went beyond mere friendship, the first night Ginny's smile made her chest tighten and her eyes finding hers with a wink made her gulp. 

It was the first time she looked at Ginny and saw her best friend but longed for more. 

Denial was easy after that, the whole thing flippantly dismissed as a fluke of the evening, blamed on the giddy feeling that accompanied the house’s victory that Ginny played such a vital part in securing. It was nothing more appreciation, awe.

Weeks later though, and the tugging in her chest still lingers, holding her hostage and controlling her every move.

It flares up unexpectedly, from a smile at lunch, a wave during matches or a laugh hidden behind textbooks during classes. There is an endless array of quirks and habits that (Y/N) has never once before paid attention to that now leave her stomach victim to butterflies and her heart to palpitations.

Yet the denial continues, excuses ranging from the outlandish to the self-deprecating. Perhaps an insensitive prank, a love potion slipped regularly into her morning orange juice, or maybe it’s just all in her head, a crush manifested from loneliness, from the desire to be loved by someone.

Excuses are easy to provide, yet even easier to disprove and it soon becomes clear that every attempt to deny her own feelings is fruitless. Acceptance looms over her, unmindful of the heart it’s about to break.

Acceptance comes reluctantly during an evening’s study in the library. There’s no blame to place on atmosphere this time, hidden together at the end of an aisle of shelves, sat across from one another at a desk most certainly made for one.

The characteristic smell of old books lingers in the air and speckles of dust are illuminated by a dim lamp as they float aimlessly around them. The light does nothing to highlight the red in Ginny’s hair the way the flames of the fire had during the party, or to draw the warm brown from her eyes,  yet (Y/N) is enamoured. 

(Y/N)'s quill hangs limply between her fingers, ink drying on the tip with a word half-finished on her parchment. Across from her, Ginny bites her lower lip in concentration, deep brown eyes scanning each word she writes, occasionally lifting her hands to fix the loose bun holding her fiery red hair from her face, ridding her eyes of the messy stray strands with a frustrated rush of air from her pink lips. 

(Y/N) gulps and panics slightly that in the quiet of the library, her best friend might hear the hammering of her heart in her chest. They're so close that their knees touch under the desk and (Y/N) is left unsure on whether to move her legs or not from fear of only drawing attention to it. 

She's trying to convince herself to act normal, that this is all normal, a scenario they've been in so many times before with procrastinated essays and last minute deadlines, that she has no reason to act any different, yet her heart races, and she can hear it in her own ears.

It’s terrifying.

She's mid inner quarrel when Ginny lets out a loud sigh of surrender and lets her quill clatter against the desk. (Y/N) blinks out of her daze, dropping her own quill in surprise and frowning at the red head. 

"Snape is asking for one of the twin's puking pastilles in his tea." She grumbles.

"They'd give you them for free if you tell them it's for Snape." (Y/N) manages a laugh. "How much more have you got to do?" 

Ginny peers at her own parchment, then at (Y/N)'s with a questioning frown, reaching over to snatch it into her hands. She examines it with arched brows and stifles a small laugh at whatever she's read. 

"Better than you- You've neglected to finish the word 'assignment', (Y/N)." She snorts softly. "It just says 'ass'." 

(Y/N) stands abruptly to grab it back from her amused friend with a quiet 'oi' and a flustered wide-eyed expression that only adds to Ginny's laughter until she's clasping her hand atop her lips to muffle the sound. 

"I got d-distracted." She explains embarrassedly. "It's just the first draft." 

"Oh no, I think you should hand it in as is." She grins. "I want to see Snape's face." 

"I'm not getting detention just so you can get a laugh." She argues. 

"Aw, come on." Ginny pouts. "Not even for me?" 

A part of her, a shameful part, almost instantly concedes to the offer, despite its teasing nature, just for Ginny's puppy dog eyes, which (Y/N) has until now been immune to. She falters for only a second before fixing her friend with a frown. 

"No, not even for you." She decides firmly. "Lets hear yours then, Gin." 

Ginny dramatically clears her throat with a grin, something that eerily reminds (Y/N) of her elder brothers, and begins to read aloud before (Y/N) stops her with an eye roll, cautious of the pacing click of Madam Pince's heels as she roams the aisles for the opportunity to evict noisy teens. 

"You'll be surprised to hear I finished all my words and never once spoke about my arse." 

"Sod off." (Y/N) rolls her eyes again. 

"Well, what’s got you so distracted you felt the need to conclude that you 'learned lots about counter curses from this ass'?" 

"You memorized it all ready?" 

"Of course." She beams cheekily. "How else am I to tell the rest of our friends?" 

"You are the worst." 

"You love me really though." 

(Y/N) worries when she can't laugh that off, when she falters for only a second, but enough to remind herself of this new and scary situation. She forces on a smile and hope she's been quick and convincing enough to seem normal, though something in Ginny's eyes tells her otherwise. 

"Are you okay, (Y/N)?" 

"Fine." 

"Hmm, you look nervous." Ginny hints. "What are you hiding? Is it a girl?" 

(Y/N) is exposed instantly by the involuntary widening of her eyes and Ginny grins menacingly at her from across the tiny desk. She leans over, palms flat against the desk and head so close to (Y/N)'s that their foreheads almost touch. 

(Y/N) forgets to breathe. 

"Who is it?" 

"No one." (Y/N) manages, edging back as subtly as possible. "It's not anyone." 

"Aw, c'mon." Ginny rolls her eyes. "Tell me." 

"You're going to make Madam Pince kick us out again." 

Ginny tuts, rolling her eyes and returning to her seat, allowing (Y/N) to drop her shoulders in relief. She sighs as she picks her quill up again, soaking the tip in ink with a rejuvenated intent to write, motivated by the chance to change the topic of conversation. 

"You're no fun." Ginny mumbles. "I'll find out." 

“There isn’t anything to find out.” (Y/N) exhales, not daring to look up from her parchment, knowing once again her expression will betray her. “Or anyone.”

“Oh, but there is.”

(Y/N) doesn’t need to look up to know the red-head is grinning, it’s evident in her voice. All she can do in response is take a deep, calming breath and continue with her work.

It’s not long before she can feel Ginny’s eyes on the top of her head and she freezes again, not sure when this became a talent of hers, to tell just from some new sixth sense that Ginny Weasley is staring at her.

“Can I help you?”

“Is it Willow Kings?”

“Been there, done that.” (Y/N) mumbles with a sigh. “She’s nice but talks about her owl too much.”

“Hmm.” Ginny hums in contemplation. “You’re not crushing on Pansy again, are you?”

In every single way, (Y/N) wishes that was her current shameful crush, rather than the girl currently interrogating her. When (Y/N) denies it, Ginny begins to hum again in thought.

“Luna?”

“Luna’s just a friend.” (Y/N) sighs, distinctly trying to convince herself the same thing about Ginny at this exact moment. “I’m not telling you, Gin.”

“Ugh, why not?” Ginny grumbles loudly.

The red-head’s face pales when the methodical clicking of the Librarian’s heels halts, wincing at what is soon to follow. The sound begins again, quicker and sharper as it approaches the pair.

“Shit.” Ginny curses, already gathering her work into her arms. “Here we go.”

“You two.”

The girls turn sheepishly to the other end of the aisle, where Madam Pince stares them down, one hand on her hip, other extended outwards to point at them with a disapproving look.

“We’re just leaving.” Ginny assures.

Ginny stands, reaching out innocently for (Y/N)’s hand and clasping it in her own to drag her to her feet as she splutters out protests, flustered instantly by the action. Ginny only gives her enough time to gather her things before pulling her towards the exit.

“S-low down, Ginny.” She pleads. “Sorry, Madam- “

The librarian scowls at them with an icy look as they squeeze past her towards the exist, Ginny’s laughter barely concealed as they go. (Y/N) can barely focus on anything other than the hand in her own.

Once in the corridor, convinced of their own escape from the strict librarian, Ginny flings he rhead back in a laugh, bun bouncing on her head at the action, cheeks flushed from the excitement of it.

“Every time!” She exclaims. “We get chased out every time.”

“I-“

(Y/N) is too stunned to form a sentence, stunned not by their actions, one’s regularly performed to avoid Madam Pince’s wrath, but rather how suddenly loud her heart is in her own ears.

She could blame adrenalin, it would be so easy to do so, but she knows it’s not. It’s many things, but not adrenalin. Instead Ginny’s laughter, her free and proud laughter so cheerful on her ears, it’s the baby hairs framing her face, endearingly messy, and it’s most certainly the hand still clasped in her own, warm and soft.

Acceptance, that final phase. No amount of excuses in the world could hide it now, that (Y/N) (Y/L/N) is undoubtedly, and most terrifyingly, in love with her best friend.

In this moment, watching Ginny’s grin, that infectious smile that has (Y/N) own lips pulling into a smile of her own, she’s about ready to risk it all for her, to tug her closer and ask, even beg, to kiss her.

“Ginny- “She starts

“Harry!”

Like that, the spell is broken and Ginny’s hand is slipping from (Y/N)’s and her feet carrying her towards the red faced boy-who-lived at the other end of the corridor, flinging herself eagerly into conversation with him and leaving (Y/N)’s smile to drop.

The tugging feeling in (Y/N)’s chest returns, and she finds herself back in reality. Ginny likes Harry, she always has, it’s been the topic of so many late-night teasing, how could (Y/N) possibly forget. It hurts though, in a way it never has before, a painful stab of reality sent straight to her heart.

(Y/N) has just learned for herself that falling in love is never easy, even if her heartbreak isn’t one likely to be documented as a great tragic romance in future. No one told her it would be this hard, but as she watches Ginny grinning up at the boy across the hall, her heart twists with the reluctant acceptance that, not only is she in love, but that her best friend is in  love with someone else. 

#ginny weasley x reader #ginny x reader #ginny weasley imagine #ginny weasley reader insert #ginny weasley #ginny imagine #ginny reader insert #harry potter #weasley x reader #fem!reader #i'm a bi stereotype it's ridiculous #ginny fanfiction #ginny weasley fanfiction

[bookwyrminspiration]

i feel like “grateful” by dhruv works quite well with keefe like. post canon perhaps? once he gets the well-deserved therapy ofc but yeah-

oo yeah a post canon Keefe matches this song excellently!! great suggestion! It doesn't really match him as he is right now (destructive, reckless, hopeless, etc.) but! After some personal healing? it fits so well

The first line that I noticed towards the beginning is "Nights of my youth, hardly missed" as it's no secret that Keefe has had a very rough childhood and has wanted to leave that part of his life far behind. He won't miss what's happening to him, and is going to look forward to the future and what it holds, putting all that pain behind him and enjoy what he has. He got out. He's loved. He loves others. He's safe. All things he didn't necessarily have in him childhood, and he's ready for it to be over and to move on to the positives he's been waiting for.

There's also "We took the long way 'round / Been in the lost and found" which reminds me of the whole journey Keefe has been through/is going through in the series, the way ti seems so drawn out and how it never ends, there's always something more. And he's lost himself and found himself and found others on the way. It's a long process to refit yourself into a new family and to build those relationships, clinging to old ones even when they're hurting you. It can't be rushed, and Keefe and this new family of friends he's building isn't easy to maintain. There's a lot of them and they have a lot of different talents and opinions and experiences, and they but heads sometimes. But I think it's undeniable that their group is going to be very strong, and that the time it takes to get there will only be a benefit in the future. The highs and the lows, the fights and the apologies, it'll all coalesce into something infinitely meaningful for Keefe, for all of them.

And! The line "I never used to take the time to look around / Or pay attention to the different layers of sound" is a little homage to the peace they'll experience one day, the relaxation they've earned after fighting so hard for so many years. Same with the overall feeling of the song! It's slow, and mellow, and comforting. It's soft and warm and sweet, nostalgic for a future that isn't there yet but they love all the same. These are things Keefe hasn't experienced before, given the fear littering his childhood. So he'd be incredibly appreciative and in awe of the things that he gets to have now, the comfort and the safety, the people in his life and the people he gets to exclude now.

That ties in with the whole theme of the song, "I'm feel so fucking grateful / I'm just so fucking grateful." I really think that Keefe is going to be one of those people who appreciates every single moment he gets, the smallest of things. He'll revel in the feeling of being loved, of loving others. Of being supported wholeheartedly, of being known. Will it be terrifying? Absolutely. But he wants it, and he'll think it's worth it and endure every moment of fear and uncertainty for it.

Keefe's basic needs in terms of caring relationships and security haven't been met in a long time, if ever. Though he may be ignoring them, he needs love and he needs people to lean on. And when he finally allows that level of vulnerability, he is going to be so incredibly grateful for the people in his life and where he is. It's only a matter of getting there, of trusting others enough to know him.

I agree with your assessment of Keefe in this song 100%!! Future Keefe really fits with the meaning and feeling of the song, so thank you for the suggestion!!

#i got three keefe song asks in a row so now I am. thinking about Keefe quite a bit #I simply love him your honor #like he is so...delicate. i don't know if that's the right word #like yes he is hardened and strong and determined. but he is also so vulnerable and uncertain and balancing on a knife's edge #both at the same time #i want someone to tell him they love him and that it's okay #wait has anyone ever told him they love him? #I don't think his parents would have #and elven society doesn't seem huge on friends saying it. at least in canon #i legit don't think anyone has ever told him they love him #ouch #kotlc #keeper of the lost cities #quil's queries #nonsie #kotlc song analysis #keefe sencen