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gardenoblues · 15 days

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Woe...what a night.

The relief in his eyes when she said she wouldn't judge him so easily. The delight in his face when she said she would've taken it further.

The curious tilt of her head, thinking how he knew she got expelled, and with no hesitation she'd do it again. His reaction to it; the evident joy that he couldn't hide.

Then all goes to hell when he says;

"I knew there was a reason I liked you."

Her face softens as he says it. Thee Wednesday Freakin' Friday Addams.

It sealed it. A validation.

Someone liked how unhinged she was, a normie even, accepted her for who she is. He was different from the snobbish, insufferable elites she had met in the school she didn't want to attend. He gets his hands dirty and not like the Nevermore brats too spoiled to know how a coffee machine works.

And it all made sense at the end why she was so into him too.

Him being a normie was fine.

She couldn't have foresaw or imagine him as an outcast.

But him being both of two worlds was so unexpected, it stung. Everything he did was a mockery of her shortcomings, and they both knew it. Him more than anyone else.

As much as she couldn't stand the fact that being a psychic, a raven, and missing the most crucial part of the puzzle humiliates her to the bone, it didn't change the fact that, yes.

Yes. All was done, blood was shed, tears were wasted and lives were taken.

He was suddenly the monster wreaking havoc in town. Disemboweling bodies in the woods, lying as if it were walking, killed his therapist boy-monster.

He wasn't just Tyler Galpin; a part time barista, and a wide eyed boy ready to comply with her whims.

He was, and is the Hyde.

Walking freely in town wearing the same innocent face that managed to fool her and stayed out of her radar. With his bigot, normie, sheriff father.

All smiles and sunshine in the daylight, but at night the shadows consume him.

"Of course the first boy I'd kiss would turn out to be a psycho killing monster. Guess I have a type."

Yeah girl you have a type.

And it's a temperemental beast with a mind of its own.

And it all started with a cup of coffee he had made for her. And those damn words she held in the back of her mind every time she does something unpleasant or disappoints her family or the head of the wretched school.

"I knew there was a reason I liked you."

But this time, it wasn't Tyler Galpin's voice echoing in her shabby mind.

It was her voice that she tried to suppress as her ribcage claws out of her chest. Denying any hint of affection.

There is always an explanation why things are the way they are, and why people act the way that they do.

And it was in front of her all this time.

Even now that Tyler is splayed bloody in the open.

There it is.

The reason why she liked him.

#wyler #tyler galpin #wednesday addams #wednesday series #ao3 #this may have gotten a little unplanned #but guess it turned out well #GIVE US SEASON 2 BECAUSE HOW CAN YOU DROP A MASTERPIECE AND DISAPPEAR FOR WHAT FEELS LIKE YEARS #the subtle acting in this scene tho 🤌#hunter and jena have the perfect chemistry together on screen no one should deny that #another wyler brainrot enjoy suckers #if someone can write more or continue this thread lol jk #this scene made me a solid wyler fan frfr #when he said that line i just knew they'd be end game because why else would have been that iconic?#there was no need for it to hit that hard it they're not gonna end up together okay??!!#okok I'll stop

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mamawasatesttube · 1 year

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When/how do you think Kon started like exploring his gender? Did having to change his look to fit in at smallville have smth to do with it?

you just walked into my askbox and went "i'm gonna activate tumblr user mamawasatesttube's trap card!" i hope you know this.

so YES, firstly. i do believe changing his look to fit in with everyone in smallville had something to do with it, BUT. it's not just a case of "oh small town = conservatism, homophobia, transphobia, etc". it has more to do with him having a civilian persona for the first time in his lifie, and not knowing how to do that. through all of his time in sb94, he's never really fit in with "normal people" - he was always held apart from his classmates in hawaii, then he simply never interacted with regular people while living at cadmus, and finally when he lived in metropolis in the suicide slum it was. well. not good.

so moving to smallville and having a secret identity to protect - not just his own but superman's secret identity - is a lot of pressure to perform a role he's never played before. it's not even so much about small town attitudes so much as it is just the contrast of what he's used to and the concept of "normalcy". superboy, the clone of superman who's a hero and a celebrity, has never had to worry about being normal and not drawing too much attention. conner kent, on the other hand, has to worry about that very much.

he takes out his earring. he cuts off the longer parts of his hair and lets the shaved part grow back in. he grows keenly self-conscious of being a "geek" and making too many references to this or that media. for the first time, he starts paying consistent attention to what other people think of him and how they talk about him. it's not the same as his identity crisis before, when he just was worried about being "cool" and got a makeover about it; this is about something bigger than him, something so much more important than just his reputation. he has to keep this secret. it's not freedom, at first; it's a burden he's trying to learn to carry.

that's part of why he resents smallville at first. it's a whole new set of rules and restrictions and boxes he needs to fit into. and he's used to rules and restrictions and fitting into boxes, but these ones are nothing like the ones he knew before, and the stakes feel so much higher. he misses his "freedom" from before, so he hates "conner kent" and what smallville represents.

at this point, he doesn't really know that his gender and sexuality are involved in this repression. he just knows the way he dressed before and the way he acted before get attention in a way he doesn't want now, and he assumes any feelings of ickiness and missing anything are just tied to his whole resentment of smallville. it doesn't click for a long time. he just straight up doesn't clock that he has any gender-related feelings outside the norm, and he doesn't register any of his attraction to guys as attraction. he's deeply in his "overinvested straight ally" phase (think of his interactions with hero cruz - defending him from sparx and telling her homophobia is Not Cool!!).

and then he dies.

to establish a core part of my feelings about smallville... as someone who grew up queer in small town america, i am Deeply critical of everyone who dismisses rural areas as entirely conservative, intolerant, and bigoted. these people definitely do exist in rural areas, sure, but they are by no means the only ones (and they also very much exist in urban areas, too). to that end, i don't think smallville is just a ~homophobic little town~ where kon is miserable in the closet because of external pressure.

i do think kon does languish miserably in the closet for a time. but it's a lot of internal pressure and identity issues at play, not just the worry of homophobia. he spends a lot of time introspecting after his resurrection, learning to love his life with ma; it's during this time that i think he starts to actually realize his feelings about himself are queer feelings.

one of my personal favorite headcanons is that the first person he ever admits any of this to (first that he thinks he's into guys, bc that's the first one that he actually puts together) is hero cruz. hero is definitely the friend who's been out the longest, and very possibly (though ofc this can depend on personal hcs!) his only friend who's out at this time, given that he and cassie Just broke up.

now a major reason he struggles in the closet here is the idea that being queer as conner kent would mean deviating from the "normal" as conner kent. and conner kent is supposed to be a very normal guy, to fit in and fade into the background, to not draw attention. and that's his major hangup. it's easier to consider if superboy could come out than for conner kent to come out, because superboy has never been normal. he's always been set apart. but conner kent? conner kent has a vital secret to keep. he doesn't want anyone looking at him.

he finds it harder to accept queerness as a civilian than as a hero bc as a hero he's already "weird" and "alien" (literally), right. he can be loud and proud and obnoxious there and it doesnt matter! but conner kent is supposed to be ~normal~ and not like kon-el. conner kent is keenly aware of everything that makes him not fit in, and for a long time those things bring him uncertainty and shame because he is still struggling to try and figure out how even being a civilian works, let alone living a civilian life that's """abnormal""". it takes him a hot minute to work through this.

and then senior year, there's rumors going through smallville high because this one guy wanted to bring his boyfriend to prom but the school prom committee head teacher wouldn't sell a couple's ticket to two boys who are known to be dating despite selling them to plenty of girls who say they're just going as friends, and now a bunch of students are protesting by getting same sex couple's tickets and insisting on going actually as couples, and of course kon has to join in on that, he will always stand up against injustice even as a civilian...

...and one thing leads to another, and conner kent finds himself making out with simon valentine in the back corner of the dance hall, and they crown him prom king despite it (or maybe because of it!) and he's stunned because he didn't know he was popular (because he's kind, and loved, and funny, and good) and he's still popular despite clearly being into men now, and it's not a bad thing in everyone else's eyes, and oh? that was allowed all along?

and it's freeing.

that's the first step to exploring gender. first he has to let himself admit to being queer at all, and admit to being okay with it rather than needing to repress it forever, and it's kon. of course that only happens once he can use "helping someone else" as the reason.

NOW back up a large step. there's a second component to all this i haven't dug into yet, and it's about fashion.

more to the point, it's about ttk. one of my Favorite hcs is that he practices it via fibercrafts, even before his death but especially after. first crochet, then knitting, then bobbin lace, slowly increasing the number of moving parts he's working with; he ends up making a lot of lace.

ma uses some of his little lace scraps as bookmarks. he makes a bunch of doilies and then table runners. it's genuinely great ttk practice, but really, they have a lot of lace. so kon starts learning to sew, so he can start making lace-embellished tablecloths and then some simple circle skirts and things for ma. they sell some of them at local farmers'/crafters' markets.

and kon starts wearing some of it himself. at first he's really self-conscious, but... it's something he made, and he's proud of it, and it does look really good, so. fuck it. he and ma can go to do groceries wearing matching skirts, right? (circle skirts are easier to sew than pants, okay. pants have so much more going on. he's still teaching himself, okay!!!)

it takes him a LONG minute to realize that maybe some of the "oh, i do look good in this!" feelings might, in fact, be gender euphoria. as in, he doesn't realize it until after he starts unpacking his sexuality feelings and going ohhhh. conner kent is actually allowed to be queer and that's okay. only then does he realize that uhm... maybe conner kent is, like, extra queer. like, turn up the dial and add more spice.

with time, support and encouragement from friends and family, and some exploration, he gains more confidence in exploring presentation and actually thinking about gender. he doesn't really care that much about pronouns, but he Does hate being confined to traditional masculinity - he does enjoy being masc sometimes, but he hates the idea of having to fit in it as a box. he's much happier getting to flit around from masc to femme to all sorts of places in between. he finds it freeing.

okay i have rambled so much. this is more or less my idea for how the overall arc of kon exploring queerness goes, but im sure ive forgotten bits and pieces and will remember them within like 5 minutes of hitting post. but here we are here it is ive been typing on and off for like an hour now so im cutting myself off. there it is. my kon gender and sexuality thesis.

oh one other thing. also he loves to be young justice's babygirl. okay im done now

#kon #rimi talks #rimi's meta #is that a tag i have i swear i had a meta tag. fuck if i know #anyway !!! whatever !!!#summerbummin #answers

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oksurethisismyname · 1 month

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Hiiiii as a queer person living in the Bible Belt of the USA, I’m envisioning a “Christian trauma AU / general theology AU” because you know my main focus is always Sanji. This assumed that we’re in the USA, modern era, and I guess maybe a college or post grad AU for how they meet each other? This is a lonnnnnnnng text post so scroll at your own risk. To keep it from being toooo long I’m also sticking to east blue crew.

Hear me out:

There are a million different sects of Christianity so we’ve got a ton of angles to use.

Garp is catholic (but think FRENCH laïcité instead of American Amy Coney Barret Supreme Court justice weird catholic cult), Dragon straight up rebels against the strict structure and goes about his atheist ways. Neither of them really raise Luffy anyway so 💁🏻

Luffy ends up being agnostic. It’s not that he doesn’t believe in a higher power but he knows he needs to take action and that he can’t rely on a higher power to fix the problems of the world. Very Albert Camus, revolting against the absurd and holding himself to a higher responsibility in life

Zoro comes from a Shinto or Buddhist background. He’s not judging anyone’s religious beliefs unless they’re harming others.

Nami has religious trauma from the Baptist church that set up in her town and made it impossible to be herself. Belle Mere is so clearly queer and she’s harassed and dies at the hands of some zealous bigots who were emboldened by the words of the local Baptist church pastor (Arlong)

Ussop comes from a chill Protestant background (maybe Presbyterian?) But he’s more of a CEO (Christmas Easter Only) in terms of actually attending any sort of church. Honestly, with his dad out of the picture and his mom dying, he just had bigger things on his mind like living every day.

Finally, Sanji. Oh boy, Sanji has major “Quiverfull movement Christian” trauma from Judge. For those who don’t know, quiverfull is a Christian extremist movement where the idea is to have as many kids as possible and adhere to very strict purity rules and gender roles. Contraception isn’t allowed. Women wear long skirts and non fitted shirts to hide their womanly form (ew), and most of the time these parents homeschool there kids to avoid the “temptation” or “impurity” of modern society.

Judge had these 5 kids who he’s raised in this faith but Sanji never liked how Judge treated his mom. Why was Sora supposed to be “seen and not heard?” Why was it ok for his brothers to use scripture to bully and hurt and spread hate? Why would a loving god create women just to subjugate them? Judge wouldn’t like this, and once Sora passes away (probably because Judge wouldn’t let her seek medical care post birth of the quadruplets, so her health deteriorated for years), Judge locks him up and makes him do all sorts of horrible “prayer” and “repentance” practices, which are really just abuse.

Sanji would maybe escape when they go into town to get something mundane like a printer or a new wifi router (which only judge is allowed to use the internet). He’d probably bolt first chance he gets and when he meets Zeff, Zeff can recognize the signals of abuse. He takes Sanji in and even though Sanji never believed women were less than men, he still has years of trauma and gender roles beaten into him that he has to unpack.

His choice to cook? That’s a huge rebellion. Wearing tight fitting suits that look sinful? That’s a middle finger to his dad. He always treats women like goddesses because he feels so much guilt for the sins of his father. When he finally joins the Strawhats, he’s so overwhelmed with how free and nonjudgmental they are (of important stuff, obviously they’ll still poke fun at small stuff) that he feels comfortable dropping little comments here and there, opening up.

Ussop will be comforting Nami about something and sanji will tell him is so refreshing to see a man be so nurturing. He goes to Ussop often, asking how he’s so confident sharing his emotions.

Nami will be ordering them around and he’ll do everything she says with a smile, just happy to see her free to do what she wants (which is be a bossy bitch)

Zoro will talk about Kuina one night and Sanji will sob, overwhelmed with joy that she got to have all that strength and a friend like zoro even when faced with hurtful gender expectations.

Luffy above all is the most jarring for him. He grew up hearing about sin and sinners and temptation and evil but when he sees Luffy doing his thing, taking down bad people, fighting for the underdog, he knows that if there is a God (he she it they? Who cares), Luffy is doing their work.

——————

Bonus Gay Cherry on top is that Sanji meets Iva and gets into drag, starts performing, does some events, and through that gender liberation is able to find some peace in who he is, tucking away all the hate he was born into. And he ends up with zoro the end bye

#too long don’t read #one piece christian trauma au???#east blue crew au text post #black leg sanji #monkey d luffy #east blue crew #one piece #text post #cat burglar nami #god usopp #sanji #roronoa zoro

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thedocs-in · 2 months

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Cecil's Family

So let's start at the beginning, I should also disclaim, that I'm absolutely bullshitting this timeline. As I see Cecil in his late 50's or early 60's so I'm using that as the basis for all of this. In my personal fic I have it that he's 58, so I'm sorta using that as my base line. But feel free to put him at whatever age you want.

And buckle up, this is rather long. I can't condense things to save my fucking life.

Oh, I do also have another young Cecil fic planned that has his dad in it. Sorta basing it off a story my grandpa told me involving his own dad when he was younger. I will also get more headcannons out about Cecil's dad, and other family members if people want them.

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Cecil was actually named after his grandfather who died in 1944 during WWII.

Now widowed, Susanna ‘Sue’ Stedman was left to look after their two kids, Cecil’s aunt Sarah, and his father Lyle.

Now, Sarah and Lyle are only a few years apart, with Sarah being the older of the two as she was born in ’35, while Lyle was born in ’37. Making them 10 and 7 at the time of their dad’s death.

A year following the death of her husband, Susanna would marry another man in 1945 by the name of Peter Briggs. And he… was not the best father/husband.

And he wasn’t a fan of raising another man’s kids

But a year after being married Susanna and Peter would have a kid together, this being Sarah and Lyle’s half-brother Ollie Briggs

Unfortunately, there were complications when Ollie was born which led to Susanna’s death. Leaving all three siblings in the care of Peter. Who was certainly not thrilled to be taking care of three kids by himself, especially if two of them weren’t his own.

Because of that, the three ended up in an orphanage. And thankfully, they were never separated, due to the help of a pastor who ran the orphanage. But as soon as Sarah turned 18 she had already been working for awhile and found a way to help her brothers and be there for them.

And as soon as Lyle was able to, he quickly got a job to help take care of his younger brother. Landing a job at a mechanic shop in the town they lived in.

(I kinda like to think that Cecil was born in Alabama, mostly cause that’s where his VA is from and I swear, if you listen carefully when Cecil talks you can hear a slight southern accent.)

Now, Lyle had built a bit of a reputation in town. While he was a good man, he certainly didn’t take bullshit from anyone and would kick someone’s ass in a heartbeat if they were doing something wrong.

Cough cough, this is where Cecil learned it from cough cough

This man had an extremely strong moral compass. If you were being a jackass, harassing anyone, being a bigot, you best hope you don’t do it in front of this man.

Because of this there were a few times he wound up in jail, with the pastor who helped him growing up or his sister having to bail him out.

Eventually when he turned 20, so in 1957, Lyle would be drafted and have to serve in the Vietnam war, getting discharged in ’65 when he was injured and lost a lung.

Ironically this man chain smoked like there was no tomorrow, while serving and after he was discharged. Resulting in Cecil picking it up sometime in his late 20’s.

A month after getting back, Lyle did go back to his job. And would meet Cecil’s mother, Bonnie Lynch.

Bonnie is a little bit of a bitch, and you’ll understand why in a moment.

Now, she was born in 1940. I don’t exactly have anything in terms of her family or her own history. I think the only thing I had was that she came from a well off family.

Those two got busy and a couple months later, surprise, she’s pregnant.

Now, Lyle is a good and honest man. And he tries to do the right thing and proposes to her.

However, she turns him down. And straight up tells him, “I’m not interested. I’ll have your kid, but as soon as they’re born. They’re all yours.”

She is the deadbeat mom.

(I have this little headcannon that Lyle kept that ring he proposed with and eventually gave it to Cecil for when he finally settles down.)

cut to cecil saying he’s married to his job

But regardless, Cecil is born sometime in late ‘65 and his mom just straight up leaves after like a month or two.

Now Lyle isn't alone in taking care of Cecil. As his sister is willing to help. Considering by this point she's married and has at least two kids with a third on the way.

Ollie on the other hand was off at college, thanks to the help of Lyle and Sarah putting money towards his education.

But Lyle is still a single father raising a child and it wasn't easy.

Bonnie would go on to be an even bigger dick, because 10 years later, she would end up having two more kids who she would actually raise. Well, "raise". She let those kids do whatever they wanted.

So somewhere out there Cecil has two half-brothers he’s met once and then never talk to again.

The one time they met with him was when their mother died, in like 2012, and he just didn’t want to get to know them. He thanked them for telling him and sent them on their way.

By this time, he was already director of the GDA, so, it’s not like he has a lot of time for family stuff anyway.

But he tries. Especially to see his aunt Sarah who is getting up there in age, and suffering from Alzheimer’s.

Though, by time we see Cecil in the show his dad has long since passed, having died from lung cancer in '96.

Cecil's family isn't overly large. And it's certainly not the happiest story. But his family is a loving one, and looks out for one another.

He does have a lot of cousins though.

#cecil stedman #invincible #invincible show #image comics #invincible comic #headcannons #i had to go digging in one of my discord servers for this #i forgot about some of this stuff #and sorry its so long #i tried to condense it #but i failed

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your-queer-dad · 14 days

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Hey, I'm here again, a bit better, but I just found out that my parents set up a meeting with my school coordinator (? I'm not sure if this is the word in english) today, in 30 minutes, to talk about the one(1) time I used the masculine toilet (to inform that I should not be using it, I know it comes from a place of worry, but I did it just cause I got """confused""" as a boy) and ask about psychologists to send me to. Thw problem is: I live in Brazil, which is already bad since here the life expectation of trans people is 32 and (last time I checked) we are the country that kills the most queer people in the world, and I'm pretty sure in a conservative town. I'm a bit scared just by that, and that gets intensified by my dad saying, to my face, that he think being a boy is a phase, and my mom implying that she sees me as a masc lesbian (I'm gaybian with a preference that shifts, so no) makes me scared.

I just needed to put this out, thanks for taking the time to read it. I'm not sure if I want advice or just to say it, but thanks anyway.

-Leo

Hey kiddo, it's great hear from you again. I'm so sorry you have all that going on- and honestly I understand why you would be scared. Whatever happens, I'm here, night and day, and you can always come talk to me. I don't think you're confused or that it's a phase- and I'm so sorry you're around people who do think those bigoted things.

Please feel free to reach out anytime, I'm always here to listen and offer support. I love you and I'm so proud of you for being who you are.

- dad x

#lgbt #finch rambles #lgbtq #lgbtqia #trans #transgender #ask a finch!

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myeyesarebrighter · 8 months

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Someone drove by my house this morning and screamed “DISGUSTING” out their window while driving prob 50mph. I assume it has to do with the pride flag, all are welcome signs, and my neighbors pride mailbox wrap - it’s pretty brightly rainbowy around here.

My FIL asked me if the rainbows were all my neighbors the other day. I said no, we placed ours and it happens that they did as well. We share a driveways. And FIL was like “why are you gay?” And my explanation was exactly what happened today. If people feel brave enough to scream hateful things out loud from their cars at rainbows, well then gay people should know where they are welcome and won’t be abused. And equally, maybe my diluting the water with my pride stuff also helps lift pressure off gay folks - they can scream it all they want at me, especially if it means someone else doesn’t need to endure it.

Also, maybe just maybe people will shut the fuck up with their awful opinions if they feel there are less supportive faces in the audience. Keep your hate inside, no one here wants it.

Also I live in a very hallmark picturesque town - old New England colonial homes line Main Street. And one of the historical old homes just sold. It has been repainted bright lavender purple and has 3 different pride flags hung out front from the center line of the house. It is so gay, I can’t even handle the joy it gives me.

Lastly, maybe broadcasting my opinions on my house will keep the bigot families away. Hopefully the bigot moms will find their own space away from me, their kiddos can all do whatever they all please, but people won’t be surprised by how I feel. You do not have small town small mind friends here.

Anyway. So many great reasons to just let people live their own lives.

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undreaming-fanfiction · 2 years

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Of Ghosts and the Living

I know that people love writing about our beloved Hawkins residents leaving that shithole behind for good and I can see the appeal, really, but. BUT. Hear me out.

What if they all tried, really tried to start over somewhere else, to leave the trauma behind, only to come back years later because no matter how well they do for themselves, they just can't find the connection, they always try to find alternative ways to explain why they flinch when electricity starts acting up, why they start to shake when hearing certain songs and even after so many years, when they form friendships and relationships outside their little group, they find them shallow and based on lies, because even if their feelings are real, they can't share the most important thing in their lives, what formed them into the people they are now.

But they don't want to just revisit the demons of their past, because all of them are survivors and all of them just don't wait around looking pretty while commenting on how fucked up everything is, they brainstorm, they research and they solve. And as years go by, they flock back together, determined to fix their dump of a town, because fine, if it calls to them, if it drags them back, that's one thing, but if they are to stay there, they will fucking make sure it's a place worthy of it.

Nancy comes back to Hawkins as if she always belonged there, proclaiming that "someone needs to take journalism seriously around here" and, as with everything she sets out to do, succeeds in showing the people of Hawkins that there are things beyond their small community, eventually starting her own newspaper and hiring local misfits and curious minds. In early 1990s, she would put together a huge special on the causes and effects of the Satanic panic, bringing up the events of 1986 and shoving a mirror in the faces of Hawkins' bigots, Jason Carvers of the town and all others who never hesitated to follow the likes of him. Sure, it might be controversial, but she answers the criticism with ease. "I was here. I remember that it took an earthquake to stop that lynching mob that went even for CHILDREN. Mr. Munson's uncle was harrassed for weeks and even after his nephew was proven innocent, some people still tried to play vigilantes. I understand why some or you might want to forget about it, but Mr. Munson doesn't and neither do I."

Jonathan is by her side, always, going anywhere and everywhere as her photographer and more. He spent so long being torn between his perceived duty as a big brother and a good son and wanting to live his life that when Nancy came back with the goal to fix Hawkins from the inside, he followed without any doubts, because he admires her, admires her strong will and he still loves her, trauma or not. With his mom, Hopper, Will and Eleven back in Hawkins as well, he finally doesn't have to choose. He and Nancy work as a single mind, his photographs and her stories completing each other.

Dustin has a great mind that could do so much, but he loves his mother and doesn't go too far away to college. When he returns, he finally ties the knot with Suzie and they both get jobs at the Hawkins middle school, Suzie sharing the wonders of technology (especially computers) with the kids and Dustin gradually replacing Mr. Clarke when he retires, bringing the same enthusiasm and sense of wonder into classroom that he loves about his former teacher. He is the patron of the AV club and keeps a close eye on the Hellfire Club as well, always making sure to tell the outcasts, the sensitive kids and anyone he sees as a good fit that there is a place for them in the local high school where they won't be judged, that he used to be like them too.

Mike and Will remain closest from the party, especially after Will finally shares his feelings. He no longer feels like a mistake, not after seeing Steve and Eddie together before they leave for Indianapolis for their studies, not late but in their own speed, like with everything. And Mike accepts him, no questions asked, nothing changing between them. Will's crush sizzles out, but never his love for Mike. They remain best friends and pair up for work, Mike as a writer and Will as an illustrator. Together they produce the most intricate, magical stories about kids just like they used to be, a town maybe just a bit too similar to Hawkins. There are monsters in their stories, there are challenges and suffering, but there is also hope, there are quiet and domestic happily ever afters, not idealized but warm and real, because there needs to be life after tragedy and hardship. They get moderately popular and they do a lot of public readings in Hawkins' rebuilt library, sometimes organizing workshops for anyone and everyone who needs some magic in their lives.

There is a lot of commotion when Lucas announces that despite his talent and drive, he won't pursue basketball as his careeer. What he went through changed him and in the months of ups and downs, constant questions if Max would ever walk again, if her sight would heal, all of that hopelessness makes him throw himself into any and all information on physical therapy. He keeps up with the newest discoveries in the field and when he finishes high school, he already knows how he wants to spend the rest of his life. From all the unofficially adopted Harrington-Munson nuggets, he takes after Steve the most, he wants to fix things, to protect. He checks on all his friends and pushes them to take their health seriously, especially Steve. "I know you don't like it, but you need to, man," Lucas, now as tall as Hopper, tells Steve. "I know there always seem to be bigger things to worry about, but you need to. We all love you and we'll be damned if you don't live long enough to see your Harrington grandkids." He knows how to motivate people and the spark in Steve's eyes tells him that that was the right note to play. He opens a small practice and helps heal the town in his own unique way.

Max's sight has never fully returned, she can see, but there are frequent headaches and blurriness. But it's more than she thought she'd have, so she'll take it. She takes up Flo's old job in the police station, using her inner fire to scorch any and all policemen who might be slacking in their jobs, judging people too soon, not helping as they should - with Hopper's quiet blessing, of course. More than often she ends up in the city council meetings, petitioning the mayor and anyone who will listen - and they WILL listen - to provide better accessibility options for everyone. She got lucky and her bones mostly healed, but many people have permanent injuries from the earthquake and they need, they deserve the town's support for sticking around, for not abandoning this shithole. Vecna could not extinguish the fire in Max and neither will this stupid, uncaring town, not when her loved ones find their way back, one by one. She was welcomed by them when she needed a home and now she's holding the fort, making sure they come back to a kinder place.

Eleven goes far with Hopper, Joyce and Mike's support. She understands how difficult it is for people like her to fit in and it takes her long to realize what she wants to do. When she catches up, even though her speech would always remain a bit stiff, she shares with Joyce that she'd like to help kids like her, kids who don't have the necessary skills and knowledge to keep up in school. And Joyce supports her daughter through everything she wants and needs, reassures her when her application falls through the first time. "You've done great things, sweetie, and you will do many more. I believe in you." El gets into the course on her second try and her blended family throws her a huge celebration, somehow managing to create an eggo cake. It's monstrous, but El loves it and she loves her studies too. The more she learns about special education, the more passionate she feels about it. And what place is better suited for her new mission to save the world than the first town she felt home at?

Steve is, surprisingly even for himself, like her. When he finally untangles himself from the clutches of his family's expectations, he has a drunken night of revelations with Robin and, very quietly, admits to her that he wishes he could have done more for the kids, that he still feels like he failed them. After being rightfully chewed out by Robin and almost crushed to death in a hug, she halfheartedly comments that she too would have benefited from having a school counsellor like Steve is, someone who actually saw some real shit. That simple sentence lights a spark in Steve and before he knows it, he's signing up for classes in the local community college, taking his education seriously for once. He learns many ways to help others and can't wait to utilize them. When he finishes his studies in Indianapolis, Eddie has already finished his own and is working in a music store. He wrings his arms and stutters when talking to Eddie, his self-proclaimed beloved nuisance, explaining that he feels obliged to go back, to do something good for that messed up place, and asks very quietly if Eddie would come with him because even if this is his calling, Eddie is more important, he always will be. His heart almost leaps out of his chest when Eddie sighs, kisses Steve and mentions that moving all their crap is going to end them both, so they'd better start packing. Steve gets a job at the Hawkins High and starts fixing the town, one cheeky teenager at a time. He takes up basketball coaching too because "those shitheads need some outlet for their aggression."

When they come back to Hawkins, Nancy has already written her piece on the events of 1986 and people still watch him with wary eyes, but also with some sympathy and regret. Eddie would never admit it, but he too felt the pull of the town, he was so fucking tired of running and it wasn't just about wanting to stay with Steve, but also about fighting for and winning his place under the shitty Hawkins sun. Eddie finds his calling in music, no surprise there. He still plays in a band, sure, but more than enchanting crowds with his guitar and husky voice, he loves providing an escape for all the kids, young adults and adults who are like he used to be, lost in life and just searching for something to fill that gaping hole in their hearts. He becomes a music tutor, even approved and recommended by the local school, and guides all those lost sheep, providing recommendations and developing their natural talents with patience he'd never have for himself. Even the shiest students laugh at his antics and Eddie finally understands they all can't be heroes like El, Nancy and Steve, but while they go around saving their minds and homes, someone has to save their souls too, right?

Robin seems to think like Eddie, but she goes the whole official way. She's smart, really smart, and she wants to share her message of acceptance or death with the whole world, or at least the place that made her realize she was different - the high school. She effectively rambles her way in, gradually taking over the school band and the theatre group, then, with a passionate speech, usurps the music teacher's job. There are a lot of changes, but not many people want to spend their retirement in this unlucky town, she just gives a little nudge, gentle as a brick. She is just relentless, just as she was in Pennhurst, and nearly went to Nancy for a suitable set of clothes because she really, really wanted the job. Nancy just laughed and sent her on her way, saying that the clothes couldn't hide her personality and really shouldn't, because she'll do great just as she is.

And maybe, eventually, the ghosts of their past fade out and disappear, only returning here and there, just to remind them where they came from, but this time they know how to cope.

When Nancy writes a piece commemorating the cover up tragedy that took her friend Barb and all those other people, when she walks around the former Harrington's pool, she shivers, but Jonathan's hand is on her shoulder, warm and reassuring, and he was there with her, he knows how she feels, carries around the same guilt, buried in a shallow grave in his soul. And knowing she doesn't carry that secret alone might just be enough to finally remember Barb not with sadness and guilt, but with affection and gratitude.

When Steve sees a boy who has the same look he used to have, cold and cocky, but with oh so poorly hidden emptiness underneath, he thinks back to his father, to the years he spent as an empty shell, filling himself in with what he thought would finally give him that seal of Harrington approval. He comes home to Eddie, mentioning how it feels like looking in a mirror, and Eddie hugs him and says "if you could change, so can he, Stevie. If anyone can show him how to change, it's you." And so he does, it takes him weeks, months to break through that shallow facade, but slowly the boy opens up to him, talks about his dad and stepmother and Steve can finally see a reason for his own fucked up family life, because he actually can relate to this kid and he can help him. When his new report card comes in, grades much better now and the kid - no, young man - talks to him excitedly about a major he's considering, Steve comes home with a bottle of wine and kisses Eddie in the doorway because he can't keep his happiness in, he finally has a purpose.

When Eddie visits one of his students near the trailer park, he can't help but stare at the spot where his and Wayne's trailer used to be, Chrissy's final moments replaying in his head with terrifying clarity. But Robin is there too, coming with Eddie to offer the kid a spot in the school band because he has been gushing about her abilities for months, and she hugs his waist and mutters "I know, I know." She tells him how she knew Chrissy, how she was so kind even to the weirdos, freaks and misfits. After they are done with the visit, Robin directs him to a flower shop and they get a bouquet of flowers, visit Chrissy's grave and give their thanks, Eddie admitting to the cold stone with her name that he loved her vibrancy, her smile, he loved her and wished to know her better. Robin says very little, but she knows and more importantly, she understands.

Gradually, it just falls into place. There are dates that remind them of the worst times and they visit the graves together, bringing flowers and reminiscing, only instead of saying "sorry", they say "thank you". Nancy thanks Barb for reminding her who she really was until the very end. Max and El thank Billy for his sacrifice in Starcourt, ensuring they all would live to see another day, eventually leading to Vecna's downfall. Eddie and Robin thank Chrissy for showing them that not all popular kids were bad, for accepting them. Will thanks Bob for being the father figure he so desperately needed, no matter how briefly. There are pictures of their lost ones in their homes, not hidden like guilty secrets, but proudly on display, these people shaped us, they made us into who we are now.

There will always be ghosts in Hawkins, but as they all find out together, the solution isn't always to run away from them. Instead, they would live with them, coexist and accept them. And eventually, after decades of rebuilding their community and transforming it into something their ghosts would have loved, they will reunite with them.

Hawkins wouldn't let them go. And collectively, they would decide that it's not a bad thing.

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confessions-official · 2 months

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I kind of really hate posts that say "if you don't have any friends of a certain minority in your life, you need to question why that is"

it's kind of an irrational hatred, really, because on a general scale it is very true. if your friend group is entirely made up of white people- why is it you don't have any black friends? If your entire friend group is made up of cis people, why is it you have no trans friends? because 90% of the time it's correct right like it is because of someone having internalized racist/transphobic /other bigoted rhetoric even if they don't realize it.

but it hurts when I see it because i don't have any friends. like, at all. I have online friends, yes, but that's not the same, I don't know the identities of all my friends it doesn't really come up in conversation

I don't have any irl black friends or transfem friends or disabled friends because I don't have any friends at all. because my parents have deliberately isolated me and prevented me from doing anything that I could do to make friends. i also live in literally the worst fucking town to live in as a marginalized person anyway even if my parents did let me have a life. queer people aren't out, black people don't come here in the first place, disabled people don't come out in public because they'll get harassed.

this isn't me criticizing the sentiment that you should examine yourself if you have no friends of a particular marginalized group please I don't want anyone to take it that way. this is me being irrational and painfully fucking lonely.

#confession

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lilis-doodle-dome · 1 year

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In the first picture they’re all 6 (except Tsukasa he’s 16)

Yeah, I actually have two fantasy au’s and this one is dad time

Um basic plot summary:

These three all lived in the same town populated by magical beings, but it was attacked by humans (there was a recently created decree that Magical beings are to be seen the same as any human, but people are still bigoted) and by the time the Royal guard, and therefore Tsukasa, got there most of the town was already destroyed.

Tsukasa managed to save each of the kids, Shizuku had been fatally wounded but hung on until she could make sure Shiho would be safe which is when she gave Shiho to Tsukasa. Verifying to Shiho that ‘Tsukasa is a good man’ and to go with him, Shizu was Shiho’s most important person so Kasa getting her stamp of approval means Shiho had to stay with him. (Also when she loses control in her transformed state she won’t hurt Tsukasa and even sometimes Listens to him)

Akito he found growling at anyone who passed, in his dog form, standing over his mother’s already cold body. There were some raiders around still trying to attack the ‘dog’ though so Tsukasa stepped in and easily defeated them, which Akito was impressed by so he let Tsukasa take him along. (Tsukasa was quite shocked when the dog turned into a child)

Mizuki he found in a wardrobe in a house where all the residents had been slaughtered, they were just sitting there limply, completely despondent. So of course Tsukasa took the child with him.

Tsukasa had no intention of keeping the children, he was only 16 and had just been admitted fully to the royal guard, albeit at the top of the recruitment list and already see as a shoe-in for captain once he had a bit of experience (he’s incredibly talented with a blade). But given he was already raising his little sister, their parents had been killed when Tsukasa was younger which is why he chose to become a knight instead of an entertainer, he really didn’t need more on his plate.

The three kids however adamantly refused to leave him, not at the first civilian collection area at the sight itself, nor later down the line when Tsukasa allowed them to stay at his place for a bit to come to terms with everything, with the intention that he would bring them to an orphanage after that. So he ends up with four kids he’s raising-

Don’t get it wrong though, Tsukasa absolutely adores his kids and would do anything for them. Anything.

There’s another part to this au when all of them are 16 and Tsukasa is 26 (and also the general) but that’s for another time

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spicybylerpolls · 2 months

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I was there in the trenches of the sanitize byler phases of this tag. Literally a year ago the same discourse happened so the cycle repeats itself once a season. We just made it to kissing practice/makeout fics being acceptable when bylers were in-fighting about the morality of that. In every other fandom, there's an understanding that if you don't like keep scrolling. Don't engage, just block and find what you want to look at online without bothering others. But this overpolicing of how others run their blog is insane. The entitlement is rampant especially when the internet has always been the Wild Wild West aka never knowing what you'll stumble across so tread carefully and leave folks who aint send for you alone.

Not to mention that this misplaced outrage is over fictional characters when irl predators exist harming real people. If one consumes horror fic are they condoning murder? No, they're just a horror fan. So why is it not treated the same with erotica/smut fics. I have actual irls who are survivors of real predators who hate people misusing/overusing the predator terms over fictional characters on this site. They sometimes use fanfiction to process what happened to them as a kid/teen so their fic recs are pretty mature and dark due to the themes that help them feel seen/heard because it's easier to use fiction to understand their trauma at a safe distance than to talk to real people if they want to remain anonymous since that's very personal.

Are they freaks/weirdos/etc for wanting to read or engage in that stuff that harms literally no one? I promise real predators aren't on tumblr gushing about a fictional ship's sex lives. They're online somewhere trying to talk to actual kids who are unmonitored on the internet which a majority of adults know how to navigate better and have more access to since the internet was born in 1996.

To conclude, fight for irl survivors and prevent irl predatory behavior over fictional byler who would be in their mid50s by now. Also, newsflash, teens have sex, straight or gay, especially in the midwest when in a small ass town, especially the bigoted ones like Hawkins.

So sorry your blog is getting talked about when you gave a disclaimer, block button is free, and you let people know what tags to block as well. You're being nice cuz you didn't have to do all that, but you did, but nothing is ever gonna be good enough for byler tag. They must hate Young Royals with all the gay teen sex over there lol

All great points! And thank you for the support. And you're right. Antis must really not know what to do with Young Royals lol. The fact that some Bylers have been cancelled from writing makeout fics that are too steamy is still baffling to me.

#byler #spicy byler #no poll

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m0thmancore · 9 months

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a different post about religion and queer praxis

Let's talk about this. specifically because one anti-theistic asshole on a forum pissed me off enough to write a fucking essay post about the subject.

I was raised agnostic and still am. I don't consider myself any more culturally Christian than living in the States would make me by exposure. Obviously, a lot of Christians are horrible, bigoted people. No one's saying they're not. (note: I'm just talking about Christians here because I thoroughly do not know enough about other religious ones – very Christian area here. This isn't scholarly in any way it's just based on my own experiences with religion)

I've had Christians – good, humble servants of the Lord's word – spit at me in public, threaten to hurt me, splash my friends with holy water for the crime of being visibly disabled. The group of insecure, bigoted losers – because that's all they are – attempting to legislate people like me out of existence are by and large predominantly devout Christians. I have every single justified reason someone could ask for to hate Christians as a group.

but I don't.

(my high school english teachers would yell at me for starting a sentence with a conjunction)

I don't, and here's why. My mother is Catholic. Every Christmas morning, we open presents together and then she goes to service – her one act of worship a year. She's never misgendered or deadnamed my openly nonbinary cousin, who is infinitely braver than me. I'm not out to her, but I know if I came out she would hug me and go take me to get ice cream while apologizing for ever making me feel unsafe enough I had to wait this long. When she had a student she suspected was trans, I never heard her deadname them either. She's been in my corner my entire life, and yet she's a Christian.

I don't hate them all because of the local nondenominational church near me who has repeatedly been the main organizer and benefactor of my town's Pride every June for years, standing strong and refusing to cancel the event in the face of six dozen other local churches writing and signing a letter to my town government telling them this event goes against the word of the Lord. That church flies pride flags next to their sign, and replaces them and raises them higher every time they get stolen to be burned and pissed on. That church has a nonbinary reverend, who is absolutely delightful company and approaches good-natured non-queer people with love in their heart to explain gay and trans issues to people 60-70 years old and older, who all listen eagerly and acceptingly even though they themselves are also pious servants of the Lord and have been since the days of Stonewall and the AIDS crisis. When that church was partially firebombed over hosting a drag brunch, they built back and stood strong in the face of the threats, because they understood that abandoning queer people when threatened gave power to those threats. That church provides Christian services, but also worship spaces for Jewish and Muslim people who live here, since we're very isolated from any temples or synagogues, and have received pushback for this as well. (i think these are the right words – again, i really don't know much about those religions) They have a sign above the door that says welcome in English, Hebrew, and Arabic. When I walk in there, I do feel welcome. That church gave me the first place I felt comfortable to present openly to strangers as a woman, and yet they're predominantly Christians.

I don't hate them all because of the Lutheran church I pass on the way to work, whose sign is lit with queer and trans flags in the shape of hearts, captioned by "God's love is for all." I don't go to worship. The only verses of the Good Book that I know are the ones that bigots level against me. And yet, I cry a bit every time I drive by that church because of how good it feels to know someone is listening and willing to stand with people like me right now, and the people listening are Christian.

I don't hate them all because of the Methodist church I worked Sunday food service as a volunteer at because I was desperately in love with one of the non-binary volunteers, of which there were five or six. The mostly older people who came through the line for omelets after the early service were respectful of these visibly trans line cooks and wait staff, even occasionally asking for names and pronouns and curiously and openly discussing gender with if we had the time. When one pastor gave a sermon about how queer people were made in the image of God as well as non-queer people that I sat through as a not-yet-out agnostic girl, I felt loved, even as half the church left in a rage and the pastor forgave them, understanding they had been misled. All of those people were Christians.

I don't hate Christians, I hate bigots, and there is a world of difference between those two categories, even if they do overlap frequently. Painting all Christians as frenzied, screaming queermisic pundits ignores the work that some of them do for people like me, who live in places where the church is the best safety net there is.

I don't believe in the Lord or his word. When I reach out and show love to people who don't necessarily understand me but will show me the same courtesy, it's because I believe it's the right thing to do, not because I was told it was. And yet, some of those who were told that and believed it as I did have been my greatest allies.

(if you made it this far, thanks for reading my emotional ranting lmao)

#fuck i hope this has no typos #lgbtq #lgbtqiia+#queer #rant #gay #christianity #jesus christ #praxis #methodism #lutheran #catholic #catholiscism #transgender #trans

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vaya-writes · 5 months

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Not Quite A Life Debt - 1

A handful of f reader insert scenes with m demonic love interests. Fluff, hurt/comfort, and smutty shenanigans that lean kind of poly.

You (kind of unnecessarily) tried to save Ludwig's life. Out of pity, he lets you crash at his place for a few weeks after. It probably wouldn't be so bad, but he doesn't live alone. Reader stays with the triplets until she gets back on her feet. Smut, family shenanigans, and possibly even romance ensues.

Here's my next excuse to write about eldritch-spouse's triplets. This first chapter is a different style to my usual stuff. A succinct little retelling of the events that lead up to this story. The rest will be a bit smoother. 800 words.

Content warnings for this chapter include alcoholism mentioned in passing, risk of danger to reader, injury to reader (serious in real life, but here in fiction, depicted as mild), and brief hospital visit. Divider by firefly-graphics.

Masterlist - A03

The way you meet Ludwig is kind of stupid.

You’re living in some backwater town. Working (and living) in a hotel. It’s not a nice place. Bigoted. Incredibly. Let’s be honest, it’s a sundown town. And things are serious enough that when a clueless red demon has the gall to check in, you know things are going to go badly.

You didn’t realise how badly. Because somebody sets the hotel on fire. Yeah. It’s pretty extreme, but nobody was in serious danger. Except you. And this demon.

I mean, he wasn’t really in any danger, it’s just a bit of fire, but you don’t know that.

Long story short, you run back inside to help, when nobody else lifts a finger to put out the fire. Your town is quite rural, and there’s no local fire brigade. So, in your eyes, this demon is fucked. He’s trapped inside. Nobody cares if he lives or dies. Except you. You do the brave thing. The stupid thing. You run back into the building. Find his room. Have to break his damn door down with a fire axe.

All the while you’re standing in acrid smoke, hacking up a lung, and dizzy from smoke inhalation. Like I said, you were stupid.

He’s fine. Obviously.

He’s passed out drunk. You’d be mad, or at least exasperated, if you weren’t so panicked by the situation. You have to shake him awake. Slap him a few times, really.

Finally, he wakes. Takes stock of the situation. Looks at you like you’re crazy, or at least a little bit stupid (it’s deserved) and drags you outside.

He’s about to dump you by the gathering bystanders when you pull him back. Struggle to explain that, hey, this fire was an attempt on his life, he probably shouldn’t go towards the crowd.

Ludwig is a little bit brighter than you. Everyone saw you run back into the building. Everyone knows you tried to help him. You probably shouldn’t go towards the crowd either.

So, he sighs. Picks you up. And goes rift hopping.

You lose consciousness. When you wake you’re in an unfamiliar hospital. In an unfamiliar city. That big red demon sitting beside you is the only thing you do recognise.

You’re treated for smoke inhalation. There are x-rays. Oxygen masks. Even a few blood tests.

Speaking hurts. But it could have been worse. The smoke could have been more noxious. Your airways more fried. It could have been far, far worse. But it’s not.

And through it all, Ludwig stays by your side. He still treats you like you’re stupid, from time to time. Looks at you, shakes his head, and turns away with a huff. Amused or exasperated, you’re not quite sure.

When you ask why he’s still here, he looks at you with a raised brow. “You tried to save my life. And I’ve whisked you away from home. I should take you back when you’re done, at least.”

Then you have to explain to him that you have no home. That you’d lived in the hotel. That your possessions were surely toast. And that you had no friends or family there to rely on. Or anywhere really, but that’s neither here nor there.

Some other things happen. It’s mostly paperwork. Getting discharged is a bit of a shitshow. They’d disposed of your clothes, and you’re left with nothing more than a flimsy hospital gown and what had been in your pockets when you’d arrived. (Your phone. Your wallet. Thank fuck.) There’s a prescription or two you have to pick up as you leave.

The demon is silent through it all. Considering his options. Considering your options really. You don’t interrupt him. It’s not in your nature to ask for strangers for help. Not with anything so large anyway.

But he makes his decision. Grabs you by the wrist before you wander away from the hospital. Offers to help you, for reasons you can’t fathom.

And that’s the absurd story of how you met Ludwig. And how you subsequently ended up crashing on his couch for the next few weeks.

#vaya writes #monster romance #eldritch-spouse #demon romance

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