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#yes even you followers who i guess technically i do not actually interact with
halucynator · 3 months
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END OF 2023
sorry to anyone who didn't want to be tagged xx
hi! most of you will know me as lucy (unless you're @m3ntallyunstable34 and know my real name lol)
so yes, i am lucy. and this is me reflecting on 2023 on tumblr because it seems like a logical thing to do considering this year sucked like 20% less (one of us is lying reference) because of all my amazing online friends. so yes i guess in a way this is a mutual appreciation post 🫶
@berryzxx you wouldn't believe me when i tell you you were the first mutual i didn't have to be all professional and got to be a crazy bitch with lmao so thank you for not judging me and talking to me like we're besties (we totally are btw bc i said so) mwahh
@longlivestv the loml literally owe my life to you bee 🫶🫶 you are one of the main reasons i'm friends with all of the people i will mention after, so tysm and thank you for being so sweet to me and i love flirting with you /hj ilysm 💗 also if im too young to fall in love why do you keep running through my brain? 😍😍
@loserdiaz one of the very few people i get to openly talk to and not feel weird doing it akshdasjhd ilysm april <33 and youre one of the only people i will ever admit has better pick up lines than me (thats a huge honour btw) so thank you for keeping up with me and flirting with me it makes me feel very special mwahhh and ily and we should totally snuggle by the fireplace you know i made those cookies you like (sab reference) 😍🫶
@weeping-in-the-willows thank you for being the absolute SWEETEST person to me <3 ilysm and btw you were my first discord friend and i'm so honoured about that ajshdnjfe you're so nice and ily and i hope you get everything you want
@theladyinwhite13 thank you for appreciating my unhinged comments and you're one of the few people who deserve to be told that they are funnier than me (i rarely ever give anyone this honour btw so its very special) and i think you might appreciate this reference 'so what if i just wanna be a little out of my mind'
@bodybetters and @its-tortle karo and tortle my beloved <3 ilysm you're like two of the BEST mutuals ever and i was so honoured happy excited (any other positive adjective) when i realised you followed ME back?!? i was literally so ajshdnjfe i can't even put it in words you're like my favourite people on this hellsite (affectionate)
@suugarbabe ajdhhgajsgf my pookie <33 you always stand up for me and ilysm for it youre the nicest to me what did i ever do to deserve you 😭❤️
@patrophthia omg the absolute sweetestt!! youre an angel and ilysm and i hope you have the best life every <33 ilysm thank you for being so nice to me and making me feel valued asjdhajksd i love youu
@theautistmwitch omg idk how youre still sane after hearing to my traumatising jokes 😭 ilysm mwahh❤️thank you for being so sweet to meee it makes me so happy <333 can't wait to traumatise- uh i mean make you laugh even more next year!
@kurtcobainsgreencardigan ajkshdad i had the time of my life 'bullying' [insert their name] (i dont wanna get cancelled yk just in case people actually like them) with you <33 [i mean you technically didn't 'bully' them but we bonded over that] you're so funny and sweet and ily<3
@catastrxblues nadine the loml <33 i LOVED chatting with you and ranting to you and reading your answers to my asks akgdskg im so glad to have you as a mutual and i would love to have some more ranting convos with you in the future haha asdhjhajsh ilysm mwahh <3
@nyctophile-me omg you're so sweet to meee 😭😭😭 ily you're like one of my favourite wives too you're one of the only people i will ever share sab with mwah ❤️❤️ id love to talk to you more next year <3
@magicandmaybe @andi-is-bored @alltheliars and @animallover4000 omg you're all so sweet and ily and we didn't really interact a lot this year but i loved chatting with you on discord 💕
@imperpetuallylost omg ilyy you're so unintentionally (or intentionally?) funny ahsjdnfne and i guess it's inevitable sorry sky but it looks like you (lea not sky) deserve to [redacted] goosebot and it's well deserved ajsjdjdne ily and id love to interact more with you next year <33
@london-affairs literally started talking to you like 5 days ago and we were flirting non stop that's CRAZYYYY ily btw pookie 😍
@m3ntallyunstable34 my literal best friend!! i absolutely love you mwah mwah mwah thank you for being my best friend and dealing with me for 12 years llama im shocked you're not insane yet ahsjsj ilyyyy ❤️
these are the mutuals that made me throw my phone across the room and scream in excitement when i realised THEY followed ME
also i will take this moment to thank all of you for making my year amazing and i love you all so much and i hope you have THE BEST 2024. thank you so much for being a part of my crazy blog i would never have imagined 438 people would find this silly little blog 🫶
@cassiopeiasdaughter @faultsline @underthenightskydreamsneverdie @theostrophywife @slytherinslut0 @imperpetuallylost @themidnightarcher @stvrlighhttt @psychedeliccc @prettybaby-grande @nqds @themidnightarcher @i-miss-you-im-sorry @cottoncandywhispers @svnflowermoon @finalgirllx @fallingforfictionalcharacterss @ashisgreedy @moonffe @suugarbabe @wordsarelife and @xobridgertonblues (i might've tagged some people twice sorryyyy)
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meraki-yao · 3 months
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I have a question since you're from surrounding regions, is taylor actually well known in china? Why do you think GQ went with him there are a lot more famous celebs, taylor doesn't even have a lot screen exposure
So for some reason, I'm taking this question super seriously.
Please note that 1, I can only speak from my observation and my position 2, I'm from Hong Kong, so there are certain things about mainland China that I might not be aware of
Regarding Taylor's notability in China:
Is he well-known? Well, and I say this with all the love I have for Taylor, not really. In fact, during his time in China, there have been several cases in the videos that I reposted that you can hear people ask in Mandarin "Who is he?" A few more recounts I read said that quite several people who ended up near the fan crowd asked "Who is that handsome foreigner?" and followed and took photos/videos of him not because they recognized him, but because they were intrigued. (but side note, even the people who didn't know who he was said that 1, he's really handsome 2, he's really friendly, so that's sweet)
The thing about Taylor's notability in China comes in two regards:
1, RWRB became one of the most popular western queer media to be distributed on streaming platforms in China (especially since most if not all of the local queer media is banned, yes I'm angry about it), so this part kind of goes without explanation
2, Taylor uses Chinese social media platforms, which is really rare for Hollywood actors. This gives him a platform to interact with Chinese fans, since because of firewall/censorship, it's a hassle (and technically illegal but shhhhh) for Chinese fans to check his Instagram/ Tiktok/ Twitter(not that he uses it)/ Threads
Regarding the reason GQ went with him:
1, it was a personal invitation from the Editor-in-chief of GQ China (so more or less the head PIC of the event). They met during the Ferrari show, the Editor, Rocco Liu invited Taylor, Taylor said he'll come if it works out with his schedule and the rest is history.
2, And this is my speculation (because I care about international relationships and thought about this a lot), but I think GQ wanted to try something new by inviting Taylor, a Hollywood actor (and thus promoting the overall image of China but that's getting too political for my taste on my own public platform), and since Taylor is (a) currently popular since RWRB is still relatively new and the Chinese fandom is still really active (b) evidently willing to try out the local ways of things as seen from him using and operating his own Little Red Book and Bilibili account.
I mentioned this before, but I think that since Taylor was so willing to try new things (which is a quality of his that I personally admire greatly), all the people/organizations/companies in China who got in contact with him saw the opportunity to experiment and see what a Hollywood actor could do in a Chinese setting/market and how much traction he can bring. That's my guess for why he was so busy and going from event to event non-stop, and evidently looking tired by the time he was going back to the States (especially for someone who appears to never be tired)
So yeah. I think they took Taylor's enthusiasm for trying new things and his currently persistent popularity in China and ran with it. Not that it's a bad thing though.
But I will say this, for the GQ event, all sorts of people were invited. The most famous ones with a considerable career already (think the equivalent of RDJ, Brad Pitt, Leonardo Dicaprio etc), the currently popular young stars (think the equivalent of K-pop stars or the "white boy of the month" trend) but there were a considerable amount of people that I completely never seen or heard, and neither did a lot of Chines audience. In fact, I don't know who the two ladies who were in the same boat with Taylor during the water carpet are. So there's also that.
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ask-serendipity-sky · 7 months
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Honestly jikook are so f*cking confusing.
Like the start is clear for me....
Jimin showed so much affection to jk, jk was shy, cold, etc and pushed him away, jimin stopped giving him affection, jk realized he liked jm, he began following jm around, jm ignored him a little around 2015 but then jikook became inseparable.
Everything that happened after that made it pretty clear that jikook are dating.
But it's getting harder and harder to keep that belief as chapter 2 started.
Like in front of the camera, it feels like they rarely interact, they rarely meet, they're not close anymore, but then they had a trip to NY, jk's bed live which had some high level of flirting.
It showed jikook's dynamic like it was before chapter 2.
I mean they don't completely let us belief that they are still together because they barely interact online and somtimes say things which slightly indicate that they have nothing going on.
But then at the same time, they don't let us completely believe that they broke up because there's no way two exes act like how they act with each other even after chapter 2.
I mean look at NY trip.
Look at jk's bed live.
Jk's other lives.
Jimin's comments on jk's live.
There's no way two exes behave like that.
And I'm pretty sure jimin won't be talking so fondly about jungkook if they broke up. He probably would ignore jk if that was the case.
So like it's so confusing. I mean I understand they're very private but it's such a on and off behavior that it gets so confusing if they're actually together or if we're Imagining things.
I don't understand what's the point of shipping. Like what exactly are we supporting if we're not seeing anything. What are we here for?
The only thing we can do is enjoy their music. Shipping seems pointless now. Because even if they are together then what's our purpose? We're literally getting to see nothing. I'm not saying that jikook owe us anything. They don't.
But I'm just slightly confused how people still have so much interest in shipping if we're getting zero content. It's not like we're jikook'srelatives. We're fans. We require content. Don't we?
I don't know. To me it's getting boring to ship. Because there's literally nothing to see anymore. Jikook are not sharing anything with us. Which honestly is fine. But I don't understand what are shippers even doing? What are we getting out of this? Because the only thing we used to get was happiness after seeing jikook together. But since we're not getting that anymore why are we still here?
I'm sorry. Obviously people can ship whoever. But idk guess I just wanted to share my thoughts about the whole shipping thing.
Hi anon,
I'm glad you are sharing...because I think there are other people who feel the same way.
Chapter 2 has been a time where it's hard to believe jikook is together. No matter what jikooker label you have. It's fair to question what the whole point of this is and to question where this is going.
I have the same thoughts about shipping or supporting or whatever people want to call it. With us or without us, jikook will either be a thing or not.
Perhaps a better term is just observers? Because that's what we end up doing.
Third wheelers?
Things have changed on screen. They have. Because life happened to jikook. Like real life stuff. And yes, they technically don't owe us anything but as observers we want something to see.
But off screen...
Jimin went to New York and that shows that there is much more that hasn't been visible and from there things have escalated and will continue escalating. In real life, jikook has always been. They have been behind the scenes for a bit now but they are still there.
Something changed (in regards to the stuff that jikook went through) and that's why we are able to see their interactions again. Decisions and pacts were made.
If jikook was broken up, we would see it. It's been visible in the past and it would be visible again if it was currently happening. Both Jk and Jimin behave a certain way when jikook is in a bad place. Like you said, Jimin would ignore Jk and only be civil with him. That's a huge sign.
What are people are getting out of this? For me, it's knowing that good things are coming for them. I look forward to whatever they want to share, whether it's their professional or personal lives. I'm still here because I know I haven't read things wrong.
If they share nothing, I will continue with my life normally and enjoy the music.
But let me tell you something...stuff is coming. And maybe that's one of the reasons I stay too.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Hope I was able to answer you somewhat.
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blackthorn-legion-irl · 4 months
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welcome to Team Mall Santas Save The World i guess.
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
//picrew source link
yeah if angy's gonna make me dress up i'm at LEAST taking a photo of him being a mall santa too. and pixie's just vibing. (i swear if people just try and flirt with him. simon started as a joke and it's. actually kinda funny but---)
anyway. tl;dr i've gotta be on this job for a while. it's a long story, but i won't be online as much for... about a month if i'm guessing? i'll probably be on for least a bit every day, so i can get to messages and pings and stuff in okay time, but can't guarantee much else... probably will just queue some cute stuff when i see it.
so uh. yeah. stay safe out there, if you need anything that's not time-sensitive (or is something i can just run in the background) let me know, all that sorta thing.
//ooc under the cut
so this is an ic explanation for me not being around much for the next month. ooc i'm going on holiday and visiting my partner but blackthorn's aroace so get wrecked she has to dress as a reindeer B) i can post a more detailed ic explanation if asked, but since this is an overall explanatory post i want to make it also be viable for people who ignore multiversal stuff (pixie can easily just be her name and the wings dress-up so)
i'll probably be /technically/ online a lot more than she is, but not necessarily responsive. i don't know if tumblr says you're online if you have the tab open but haven't touched it in a bit, so if you need an answer to something more urgently feel free to drop me a dm on the main @demifiendcruithne since i'll be more likely to be checking in on there, or on discord if you got me
some preemptive approval for 'hey i talked to blackthorn and got this going' interactions, only request is that you do ping me in the post so i see it
basic talking to a friend about issues to try and work through it if there's no one around to or you'd rather not RP it with someone
basic hacking requests so long as they fit her ethics (for example, tracking down people causing Actual Trouble / who are lost, or getting dirt to blackmail the cops)
any hacking requests from the following people as we've interacted enough that they'd know if it fits, this includes 'hey could you help out my friend' even if i don't know said friend:
· · anyone involved in taskforce distortion (including pyrite and topaz even though they're not members just hang out in the chat)
· · any member of the pokemart household (ESPECIALLY if it involves rescuing nya)
· · sprite, indigo, kittsu (since we hung out. void and andrea OK too)
· · i am probably forgetting people and i am sorry about that. if you ask something and i'm like 'oh yeah i thought you were on the list' consider yourself on it
legion interactions: requesting things such as: homemade bread and soup, cooling pads, baby poochy pictures; dimensional travellers stopping by if they need somewhere to rest (this explicitly includes nya. yes you can mention hecking with simon)
probably more i'm overlooking, but - if it's not 'i need this immediately' then i should get to it within the day with an answer, and if it is urgent and within both ethics and capabilities then i'll be okay with it. magic anons are off for the duration; pelipper mail is still on though (sorry whoever sent the switcheroo one. i will get to it eventually...)
stay safe, happy whichever holidays you may celebrate, if you have to deal with heckers for relatives may someone blow an airhorn every time they say something stupid.
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miamaymarry · 2 years
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I edited my headline to be clear that this blog is a fan blog. I never claimed to be an official translator or anything like that. OX did never answer the request for permission to translate their work, so this is all for fun and without any connection to the artist but if you want to put it so negatively “messing” with their work. (I guess/hope Old Xian is probably really busy and doesn’t have time for concerns over small creators interacting with their works. Of course I would take the translations/edits down immediately if they personally ever happen to contact me about it and disliking it for whatever reason or if they make a statement online that they are uncomfortable with people playing around with their creation) Please remember fanfiction, fanart, edits, … are the same category as fan translations and technically require permission from the creator to be anything near legal as well. If nothing is commercialized it’s basically not a crime that’s traced I guess? I’m doing this in my free time and without ever charging anyone anything. The art work doesn’t belong to me and I hope that’s clear since I put OXs name and where to find the original whenever I post a translation.
I barely interact with most of the followers who came here but I’m happy many people seem to enjoy it ❤️ Again: I’m not claiming to be accurate and I just do fun stuff with editing, and what I feel like. I’ve done it many times before and people minded their business if it wasn’t their cup of tea. So I’d rather keep a small community around to gosh over the same things and not have loads of people on this blog with expectations I don’t want to live up to. I’m not here for anything but joy for myself and friends. There are sooo many cool fan translations you can follow instead if you’re upset about what I’m doing. I chose peace and fun over everything since this is my blog. It’s the internet not real life, please just pass by and ignore/block it if you don’t like it, since it’s not my responsibility to make anyone feel better at my space. And respectfully anyone please unfollow me if there is an expectation of me to serve you in any kind of way or make you feel comfortable at my own fan bubble here. We disagree and I’m not going to put up with negativity. I’m here for positive interactions and to have fun with a fandom I enjoy, which is mostly 19 days at the moment. I literally have a crack ship/cursed ship or whatever you call it in my header so where do those expectations come from? Typesetting is fun, not a job or duty to me and I’ll keep doing my own fanservice 😊 I also don’t want to justify stopping what I’m doing right now if I don’t feel like it anymore one day.
If you are really bored and want to play detective, start comparing OXs originals with the posts :D I made a few small edits here and there that didn’t change the context, and that I didn’t mention. Nobody noticed before or only a few wondering about hearts or (for me) funny additions. Yesterday I wanted to clarify I was making fun to keep a distance from the original because it changed the subtext with the small smile on Cheng’s face. (Look at least closely if you’re here to roast me. The second panel of him had a change of the corner of his mouth too and none who complained did even see it…)
I also apologize to anyone who’s disappointed because this wasn’t communicated clearly enough from my end. I will keep addressing actual changes like before! Now there are so many followers already and I had to block a few being rude, I felt pressured to make a statement, but actually we’re strangers and I don’t owe you anything guys.
Last but not least: I am so happy about all the positive comments and funny tags (yes I read them whenever I can hehe) in the reblogs. Thank you so much for sticking around 🥰 and thank you for liking too!
Summery: We switch between accurate translations and a more direct communication sometimes (but most of the time we stick to the original as close as possible). I edit small stuff sometimes because I would like to have “more” in there (or what I personally think is fun). So I will keep addressing changes to be clear in the future.
If you want to talk about it feel free to do so nicely :)
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threemoonwatchers · 4 months
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So I went to a bookstore and got Thunder…
-Starting out the book believing Splashtail attacked her because let’s be honest he was the only one she told and the Erins are here for the drama
-“SHE WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE A MEDICINE CAT” OKAY WOW STRAIGHT UP
-Okay alright everyone’s suddenly respecting Nightheart something’s wrong
-REEEEEE IVYPOOL AS DEPUTY IM SO HAPPY ABOUT THIS ACTUALLY
-i forgot Spotfur named her kits after dead people zycjvjgufyvu
- (p. 76) wow sunbeam really said “language, Cap”
-(p. 92) not Whistlepaw being the entire Ninjago fandom to Frostpaw’s Lloyd
-(p. 98) please let the companion be Shadowsight please let the companion be Shadowsight
-(p. 102)oh come on please tell me it’s not Nightheart can it be Shadowsight just this once I wanna see them interact and become besties
-(p. 107) “They’d be kind of famous?”Like one of the lights in the mist??? Meaning IT COULD STILL BE SHADOWSIGHT???
-(p. 108-109) …crap it’s not Shadowsight
-(p. 114) I actually panicked for a second about Nightheart being gone and then I realized. Oh yeah. He’s with Frostpaw. Whoops.
-(p. 118) I just remembered the scene in Squirrelflight’s Hope where she and Leafpool were talking about Squirrelflight (or I guess Squirrelstar now this feels so surreal) being clan leader and Leafpool being her medicine cat and I just realized that they were sO CLOSE TO HAVING IT BUT THEY ACHIEVED THEIR DREAM AT TWO DIFFERENT TIMES and I’m sad now
-(p. 136-137) Rootspring: That’s my dad! :D
-(p. 141) Look at it, it’s got anxiety 🩵
-(p. 161) Nightheart I swear if you pull a Cinderpelt-
-(p. 171) I’m sorry WHO IS SPEAKING FOR RIVERCLAN???
-(p. 172) I keep forgetting there’s canonically a cat named Icewing and every time she’s mentioned my brain immediately goes to Winter from Wings of Fire-
-(p. 179) nope this plan of Berryheart’s has to be somehow connected to Frostpaw’s attempted murder
-(p. 207) hold on Cherryfall’s OLD??? Where the heck did the time go-
-(p. 221) hold on how do these two random dudes know about Riverstar???
-(p. 221) calling it now at least a few of em are gonna be taken into RiverClan
-(p. 224) Nightheart and Frostpaw: *casually infodumping about life*
-(p. 228) Oh HeY tHe MeDiTaTiOn WoRkEd WhAdDaYa KnOw
-(p. 230) haha yes think about Splashtail it’s gotta be him
-(p. 237) I WAS RIGHT LETS GOOO I WAS RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING
-(p. 237) Frostpaw 🤝 Lloyd: getting a love interest that ends up being the main villian of the arc said love interest appears in
-(p. 259) nOPE NOPE DUSKFUR’S GONNA DIE CALLING IT NOW.
-(p. 294) hOLD ON W H A T??? CURLFEATHER TOO??? Dude this girl is gonna have some serious trauma when this all blows over
-(p. 294) also was the vision of the curled feathers in the earlier books supposed to be a warning??? Or was it just her mind begging for a response to the need for a new leader??? Or is someone in StarClan working against them??? That whole vision just doesn’t make sense-
-(p. 313) “Curlfeather must be heartbroken that Frostpaw followed her to StarClan so soon.” Ahaha yeah about that-
-(p. 319) OH GAWSH ITS A FULL SCALE MUTINY
-(p. 321) how dare you make it seem like Shadowsight’s gonna be important when he’s not :(
-(p. 322) YESSS SLAYYY PUDDLESHINE
-(p. 334) OH MY GOODNESS WE’VE FINALLY DONE IT WE’VE FINALLY GOT AN EVIL MEDICINE CAT even if Podlight isn’t technically a medicine cat but shhhh
-(p. 338) UH YOU CANT JUST END A BOOK LIKE THAT ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW??? NOW I HAVE TO WAIT LIKE SIX MONTHS A G A I N ? ?
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thattimdrakeguy · 6 months
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Regarding that separation live read blog idea,
While Early Tim Drake is a viable enough option I guess, why Ultimate Spider Man instead? You know, something that actually makes you legit happy instead of being incredibly hard to read like in the former case
Only asking
As I've said before, several times over, I don't think I'd see the point in an Ultimate Spider-Man blog. It's not a relevant comic book series.
There's a new one coming out, yes. But unless they pull the wrong out from under me, it's going to be a new one.
I'm not a big attention seeker or anything. It's that I'm under the understanding that the point of a blog is to get followers. And I don't see myself getting many with an Ultimate Spider-Man one.
And Spider-Man at large is such a popular character, that having a niche one would put me under the wheels of everything else much sooner.
Plus I don't read it every day or anything like I did with Tim. I made the active decision not to go overboard like I did with Tim Drake, so I could avoid ruining it for myself.
It has been years, since I properly gave a fuck about Tim Drake. I'm fine with it. I'm not even saying I'm going to actually do it.
I didn't announce some plan right now.
I'm fine.
There's nothing new to talk about with Ultimate Spider-Man either. Most people actually read that competently.
With Tim it's interesting, because when ever I read it back, it says stuff so straight forward, that I'm not sure how any of these so called "interpretations" come up.
And if I where to start a new blog. I'm certainly not telling anyone unless I want them to know. And I'd block people quick and fast.
It'd be more of a social experiment then something I'd attempt to do for enjoyment.
Plus, maybe I could do it less in the habit of talking like this, like I'm some high authority that needs to be taken oh so seriously to the point I feel like a pretentious dick head.
I could finally go back to talking about stuff that I do like, despite it's flaws, as someone who simply likes it. This specific blog feels like it subconsciously locks me into such a specific mind set that i hate who I come off as here.
You know the last time anyone tried to get to know me here? Well, years obviously, I haven't been active in ages. But before that it's been a while. And people who I haven't even done anything to stopped interacting with me, probably 'cause they thought I was being a total fuckhole. When otherwise, I was absolutely fine.
If I was relevant enough to have a reputation with this blog, I don't see it being a good one. It'd at best me "He has some good points, but fuck he sure seems to think highly of himself. I don't think I like him. Takes himself too seriously."
In most of my friendships, I'm the light-hearted, sweet, kind one, that makes people laugh.
Could anyone honestly tell from this blog? Could anyone guess that I was one that was called the 'cute' soft one in friend groups? I entirely doubt it. And that bugs me.
I'm not me anymore on this website. No one knows me. I'm a totally different person.
I'm rambling now I'm realizing.
I'll shut up.
I just care so little about this blog that I don't know when to shut up anymore. Doesn't help my case.
The greatest pleasures I've ever had in my entire life came from when people would message me, telling me that I helped them NOT commit suicide, because I kept them so engaged and entertained that I convinced them not to. Without ever interacting with them directly.
That made my life feel like it had worth, and that me being born was worth it, because I technically saved lives, even though that's probably stretching that.
All I do now is depress people.
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kimbap-r0ll · 2 years
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Hello, can i participate your match-ups event? i would like a twisted wonderland matchup please? also congrats to your 100+ (i guess you have 200+?) followers too! 🎉🎉🎉
I'm actually a female btw.
Appearance: I have a black short hair, Brown eyes, fair light skin, my height is 5'7", im quite chubby a bit..my clothing style is like gurenge the way i wear is boyish type with a dark color, sometimes i wear a bit girls clothes and cute clothes (kinda like soft girl aesthetic) if i want to and i wore a glasses, i used it sometimes if i can't see a far.
Personality (+about me):
-Im a (akward) quiet and shy person who have a stoic face, im very bad communicating/interacting with people cuz i have a bad anxiety issues but atleast i try/want to talk people if i want to (but not a lot, its getting tiring when talking to people). -People didn't really know that im a bit  softie person and playful when it comes to my loved ones or friends, i dont easily open up to anyone with my behavior.  -I have a short or maybe quick temper i can pissed so easily and is trying my best to control myself but mostly hard dealing my emotions, if i hurt people's feelings i'll apologise immediately if im calm.  -My friends commented me like im sort of mother/sister figure in our group, the way i act i didn't quite realized my behaviour the way i treat my friends or my little cousins. -Im very insecure person, i been compared with someone who is smart, pretty or etc than i am because i wasnt one of them, it makes me think i wasn't enough. -The way i act is boyish, but im bit act like a girl like im very shy, embarrased or flustered compare to the girls who acts girly. -people was wondering why always stay inside in my room, all i do is study, watching anime, reading manga/fanfics, playing video games with my younger cousin and sleep, but i sometimes go outside when i wanted to buy or walk around. -when it comes to my friends or family, i give them a headpat or hugs, but if i had a s/o, i will give them lot some hugs & kisses, i secretly kinda clingy or likes giving some affections but doesnt want to admit.
MBTI: INFP
Zodiac: Aries
Hobbies: Drawing (digital & traditional), Reading, Playing piano, gaming, babysitting, do martial arts and listening music
Likes: going to quiet place, sweets,(not a lot) , cold drinks, cute things or stuff, bunnies, watching anime & reading manga.
Dislikes: noisy/loud people, spiders or maybe bugs, math
My Love Language is:
Physical Touch: I like hugs/cuddles and kisses this is they way im showing my comfort or affection but im very shy when it comes show or expressed my affections to my s/o, but im very careful that i wont be extra clingy to them so i have to asked them first before showing it.
Quality Time: If i have a free time, i would like to spend time with my s/o, but i'll let them choose they want or plans for spending time with them.
Words of Affirmation: I maybe not good at talking, but i love and try my best give my s/o some compliment, praises and comforting words.
When it comes the partner: I kinda like when my s/o who have same hobbies like me, i would rambled them my likings, also who also very honest and loyal to me, if my s/o is had problems or insecurities i will give them so many hugs, head pats and kisses. lastly, who have patience and accept for who i am.
Fun fact about me: + I maybe wore stoic expression cuz im not that a smiley type but i smile and laugh sometimes but my friends know my weakness which is tickling me this fails me to laugh, they even try to picture me.
+ Im a soft person who loves cute things like wearing cute clothes, plushies, or etc, and i adore cute animals. i hate to get caught if someone knows about my weird habit of mine i might ended up teasing.
Thank you and  i apologise if this is kinda long, also again congrats! have a nice day/night! ✨
Hi, thank you! Yes it’s technically much more than 100+ (I need to do something to celebrate 300 but I’m already close to 400 so idk what to do 😭), but more importantly, your matchup! I think that there’s a lot of characters that could work with you, but the one that would be the best is…
Idia
Hey look, your pfp! No but seriously, you guys match so much in vibes it’s so cute!
He’s someone that would prefer someone who understands his nerdiness and who can relate with him so he completely understands you. He’s into anime and manga, so you guys could recommend each other different series to watch or read! I can imagine you guys talking for hours on your favorite shows, or maybe taking forever on anime streaming catalogs to see what to watch next. He also really likes listening to music, so sometimes you guys just vibe next to each other while one of your playlists are playing. He’s always wanted to draw, maybe make his own comic one day, and he admires your skill in drawing so much. Please draw him one day, he’ll absolutely melt! You guys would absolutely love playing video games together. I can see you guys gaming until sunrise sometimes haha.
He’s not the best at doing pda, but he’s probably more clingy than he seems. He’s like you in being shy at first to initiate any kind of physical touch, but once he gets more comfortable around you, he won’t worry about cuddling with you. He’s not going to do any kind of pda, but when you guys are in private he’s totally cool with it (he might want it too honestly).
Speaking of physical touch, give him headpats! He’s been through so much (*cough* chapter 6 *cough*) and he’ll just melt if you give him any kind of soft attention. He’s probably a softie at heart like you are, so you guys match wavelengths so well.
Idia would love to spend as much free time with you as possible, even if that means you guys just hang around in his room or your room. Please just text him if you want to hang out since he’s more than willing to spend time with you. Ortho might ask you if he can join just because, and honestly all three of you might have a vibe going. Also Ortho’s adorable and he loves seeing you guys together so much (probably starts calling you “sis” too).
He will never judge you for what you like, your strengths or weaknesses, or anything else. He loves you for who you are, loves you for being an artist, a plushy lover, and a gamer like him. Know that he’s always going to be by your side and there for you.
Overall you guys match vibes so well, and he just loves being with you so much he could probably cry 😭
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xadnem · 3 years
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I love you all and you're all cute and sexy as hell and I hope you get complimented by strangers in a non-creepy way today.
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phantomrose96 · 3 years
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Buds After the Frost
This was supposed to be a short warm-up writing exercise yesterday and then it got... longer. Enjoy!!
...
The doors opened for Maddie Fenton with a pneumatic hiss. Pressurized nitrogen released, splitting open the vacuum seal on the door as its twin halves slid apart, slotting into the wall-mounted sleeves. The nitrogen misted out, cold and dry, air currents catching in swirls around Maddie Fenton’s lab coat. Her feet thocked against hollow metal, amplified by the coldness and the vastness of the containment room beyond.
She paused short of the specimen’s cell, mindful attention drawn to the panel of controls nested rightmost against the wall. The monitor read out stats, tracked metrics of the specimen’s heartrate and blood oxygenation and blood pressure. Dials beneath the screens offered her means of interaction, manipulating the cage’s environment without needing to tamper with it by hand. She ignored these, as she had been ignoring them the entire time, and paid mind only to the single switch which would seal shut the doors behind her.
She pressed it. Another pneumatic hiss followed, locking out the world behind her. Her breath curled, cold. She and the specimen were alone.
“No coffee this morning?” he asked.
Maddie sat down at the control panel, elbow leaning against the dashboard for support. She turned to the cage. “No. One of the interns broke the pot last night. New one should be delivered today.”
Phantom let out a huff of air. “You mean in this whole gigantic mega-hyper-futuristic government lab, there’s nothing that can stand in as a coffee pot?”
“I wouldn’t stay employed long if I tried using equipment to brew coffee.”
“Use one of the big ectoplasm beakers. Ectoplasm washes out with soap and water. Just suds it up and throw it in the coffee maker. I’m an expert about these things.”
“It’s more about protocol.”
Phantom waved her off. “’Protocol.’ Bureaucracy is standing between you and a delicious cup of ectoplasmic coffee, Dr. Fenton.”
Maddie looked forward now, taking him in. He’d hovered to the front of the cell, translucent reinforced glass separating him from the rest of the lab. Green eyes shined above a cheeky smile, a dusting of loose white hairs falling over his eyes, the rest of his bangs swept slightly to the side. His tailed flickered, his aura pulsed, his vital readings blipped out steady, normal, healthy.
“Phantom?”
“Yeah?”
Maddie paused.
“Why are you still here?”
The ghost boy let out a small guffaw. He motioned his arms around him, hands waving. “I dunno. Maybe the big ghost-proof box I’m in has something to do with it?”
“The shield is down, Phantom,” Maddie answered quietly. She set her eyes to Phantom, investigating. “…I put it down last night. It’s down now. You knew this.”
Phantom took just a moment too long to react, eyebrows arching up. “Oh, huh! Nope I didn’t notice. I mean it’s not like I’m constantly throwing myself at the barrier to electrocute myself so no I just didn’t try getting past it last night so I didn’t notice.”
“Phantom,” Maddie said again, voice measured, words stern. “You saw me crank down the dial that controls the shield.”
“Well I don’t know what all those buttons and dials do.”
“Yes you do. You’ve been observing me since day 1. You knew.”
Phantom kicked back in the air, floating a fraction back and higher. “Well maybe I thought it was a trap, I dunno. Or maybe I just like to get in your head, you know? What unpredictable thing will Phantom do next! Gotta write another 200 equations about ghost theory to figure that one out, Dr. Fenton.”
“Phantom.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you not want to leave?”
“Oh I wanna leave.”
“Then why aren’t you?”
“We’re having a conversation. That’d be rude.”
“Will you leave as soon as I exit the room?”
“Who knows?”
“Phantom.”
“Yeah?”
Maddie stood. She left her chair and the control panel behind. She walked up to the specimen cage instead. It was cubic, a skeleton of metal bar ribbings with a metal mesh that plastered the glass sides like a membrane. The top anchored to the ceiling, the bottom—raised by about a foot—anchored to a pedestal on the floor. Maddie stared through the mesh into Phantom’s eyes.
“Is there anyone who realizes you’re missing?” she asked.
Phantom chewed on the question. “Nah. Well um, trick question, actually. Probably not. Assuming I do this right, then no one has even realized I’m gone.”
“Do what ‘right’?”
“You know that thing about Clockwork I explained?”
“You said he’s the ghost that controls time and reality.”
“Yeah. SUPER powerful.”
“And you said you …were from one of those other realities.”
Phantom nodded. “Maybe I touched some things in Clockwork’s lair I wasn’t actually allowed to touch. Jury’s still out on whether I’m in trouble for that or not. I’ve been a little too ‘stuck in this reality’ to know if Clockwork is pissed. But yeah, I got um, bopped into your reality instead of mine. So technically my reality is lacking me right now, and yeah there’s people there who’d know I’m missing.”
Phantom flipped upside-down, as though laying on his back. He rested his palms beneath his head, elbows out, suspended in an invisible hammock, head tilted far back so that he still stared at Maddie. “Especially since it’s been, what, a month that I’ve been gone?”
“2 weeks.”
“What? No way. I’ve been here absolutely forever it has to have been at least a month.”
“This is day 14 of your observation, Phantom.”
Phantom blew a strand of hair out of his face. “Anyway. Two weeks is still long enough to have a search party out on my butt. But whether or not that’s happened is up to – it’s kind of a Schrodinger thing. Because here’s my strategy. Assuming Clockwork hasn’t banned me from reality-hopping forever, I can just get him to send me back to my own reality at the precise moment in time I vanished. And then bam, no one ever knows I was gone. And it makes no difference whether I do that today, or next week, or next month. So assuming you eventually let me go, then I’m all set there.”
“You say that almost like you don’t care when it happens.”
“I dunno, more like I’m just not losing sleep over it. It’s not like I have a say in the matter. You do. I don’t.”
“Is the time you spend here just meaningless, to you?”
“I wouldn’t say meaningless. I’m still aging goddammit.”
“You’re a ghost.”
“I’m complex.” Phantom flipped right-side-up again. “If I start growing facial hair, send me back. I’m gonna have some awkward questions to answer if I show up again with a ghost beard suddenly.”
“…And what if I never send you back?” Maddie asked, careful with her words. “How does your plan work if you stay here forever? If I destroy you first?”
“Um. …It doesn’t, I guess.” Phantom set a hand to his chin, thinking. “Yeah um, please don’t do that. I don’t wanna worry my whole family like that.”
“Do you really mean that?”
“What part?”
“That you have a family.”
“I mean. I think that came up in Interrogation Session #3. Consult your notes.”
“I just have a hard time believing you.”
“Because I’m a ghost?”
“Yes.”
“I’m a complex ghost.”
“I know. You keep saying that.”
“It’s true.”
Silence filtered in between them.
“…What is your family like, Phantom?”
Phantom stiffened a fraction, his eyes finding Maddie’s and shifting away. “Oh, you know, family.”
“Do they exist here too?”
“Huh?”
“You’re from another reality, at least you’re claiming you are.”
“I gotta be. The me from this reality died 6 months ago, didn’t he?”
“The you from most realities is dead, Phantom. You’re a ghost.”
“A complex ghost.”
“The you from this reality was destroyed 6 months ago.”
“Which you validated with your own sciencey equipment, right? You said so! So you know I’m not lying. Unless you think I recombobulated myself from being a protoplasmic smear on the sidewalk.” Phantom caught himself, registering the flinch in Maddie’s body. He deflated a bit, eyes averted. “S-sorry. Inconsiderate phrasing.”
“Why?” Maddie asked, tone flat, blunt.
Phantom’s eyes shifted back. “Um. Just. You know. That accident was. There were um, you know—”
“Human causalities.”
Phantom squirmed. “We don’t have to talk about that, you know? No one wants to talk about that. Okay as a ghost I guess ‘talking about how I died’ is sort of a bit more normal, but this is weird yeah, ‘talking about how an alternate-me died permanently’? That’s morbid. No one wants to talk about that.”
“Okay then. You can go back to answering my previous question.”
“Um. I forget.”
“Does your family exist in this reality?”
“Um, well who really knows, you know? I had like a grand total of 20 minutes of freedom in this reality before you captured me, so, don’t ask me like I’m any kind of expert about your reality. What’s it matter?”
“I want to know if there’s anyone in this reality who’s mourning you.”
Phantom’s face schismed with surprise. His front dropped, and the first look of genuine emotion sank into his glowing eyes. “Woah… That’s um, weirdly nice, of you, I guess. Why do you… want to know?”
Maddie said nothing.
“I. Um. I think the answer is no? So don’t um. Worry about that. If you were worried? Which is weird. I’m the enemy, aren’t I? Evil spooky ghost to be studied?”
“I’m not so sure what you are…” Maddie answered. “I heard you got destroyed trying to save them.”
“The um… the human casualties?”
“Yes.”
“I said we don’t have to talk about that.”
“Phantom.”
“What?”
“Do you know who they were?”
“The… casualties?”
“Yes.”
“Come on we’re on a different topic now.”
“Do you know who they were?”
“I don’t—how’m I supposed to know? I don’t know how I died here, you know? You think I’ve got some kind of like… parallel-universe death vision?”
“So you don’t know?”
“N-no.”
“I have a different question, then.”
“Okay, good, because I haven’t been liking these previous ones.”
“Are you staying just to keep me company?”
Phantom faltered. He looked left, then right, hand scratching at his chin. “I’m staying because I’m in a ghost-proof box.”
“It’s not ghost-proof anymore. The shields are down.”
“I feel like you’re circling around some accusation I’m not smart enough to follow. This feels like entrapment.”
“Then I’ll be more direct.”
“Oh no there is an accusation.”
“I think you do know how you were destroyed in this universe, Phantom.” Maddie took a step forward, and she let her left hand touch the glass, eyes focused on her fingers. “I think you know what happened at the Nasty Burger.”
“That’s—um—the human food… consumption… location… that the local human adolescents meet at, yes?”
Maddie looked up, and she locked Phantom with her stare. He squirmed, and he relented.
“I um…” he continued. “I—yeah—yeah, okay? I know about the Nasty Burger accident. It was supposed to happen to me too in my reality but I—Clockwork—stopped it from happening in my reality.” Phantom glanced left, right, as if staring beyond the confines of his cage. “When I first got knocked into this reality, I went to go find the Fenton portal so I could try to refind Clockwork and fix this and… Well it wasn’t there. And I tried to find some people I know and… I checked out the library in case the Fentons just lived somewhere else and. I um. I found the articles.” His eyes focused on hers again. “They all say you were the only survivor, yeah…?”
“I was sick, that day. It was just a cold. My husband Jack went without me.”
“I’m sorry…”
“It took my daughter and my son too.”
“I’m so sorry…”
“And it destroyed you.”
Phantom opened his mouth, but no words followed.
Maddie looked up.
“You knew this. You’ve known this ever since I captured you.” Maddie let her hand slide away from the glass. “Did you let me capture you?”
“Why would I let you capture me?”
“Because you feel sorry for me.”
Phantom’s eyes flickered about, unwilling to meet hers. “…Nah. Nah. I don’t—come on ‘sorry’? I’m a ghost you know? Bane of humanity! We’re enemies. You were just too skilled a hunter and you captured me.”
“And yet you won’t leave.”
Phantom lapsed silent.
“I um… I wasn’t happy to read about—to know the, the thing at the Nasty Burger happened here, okay? That’s something that I kinda didn’t want to believe existed in any reality anymore, but I guess… And if you were still alive. I was… maybe just kind of happy to see you? That you were okay. And still hunting. That was kind of, like a small relief.” Phantom glanced away, back again. “I wasn’t evil, you know. In my reality or this one. I care about what happened to the Fentons…”
“You let me capture you. …And you did it because you thought it would be a nice thing for you to do for me.”
“I Just—I thought maybe, um… I mean when you phrase it like that. I mean what else could cheer up renowned ghost hunter Maddie Fenton quite like a ghost subject to study? Me, especially? The ghost boy or public enemy #1 or whatever. I’m fun, aren’t I?”
Silently, Maddie pushed away from Phantom’s cage. She moved to the control panel, stiff movements and numb fingers. She entered the release code into the console, and unslung the key from her neck to twist into the override, and she threw down each successive lever in the row of four lining the top of the mechanisms.
The scrape of glass sliding away sounded behind her. All four walls of Phantom’s enclosure dropped away, metal mesh sliding away piece-meal. Phantom stared at her, blinking, floating in place.
“You’re free to go, Phantom.”
“I—uh—well hang on, I don’t think the Guys In White would be too happy about that. You can’t just let me—”
“Go, Phantom.”
“They could like, fire you.”
“I don’t care about this job.”
“I—come on, you still wanna study me, don’t you? Chat with me? If you feel bad maybe just get me a couch and some video games for my cage then I’ll be—”
“Phantom.”
“What?”
“Go home to your family.”
The half-hearted smile dropped from Phantom’s face.
“Come on. You can’t just evict me on such short notice. I’m not ready for Clockwork to kick my ass so soon.”
“Go home.”
“I’m not in any rush! I like talking to you. Don’t you—don’t you like talking to me too? In like a scientific way?”
Maddie lowered herself into the chair by the control panel. She leaned forward, arms pooled in her lap, eyes to the floor. “You have a family to get back to, Phantom.”
“It’s—there’s time travel shenanigans! Like I said they don’t even know I’m gone.”
“Every single day, Phantom,” Maddie looked up, eyes stern, “…I wish every single day that my own family would just come back home. I won’t do the same to you. I won’t do the same to your family.”
Phantom said nothing. A somber acceptance sunk into his eyes.
“They’re… alive, you know. In my dimension.”
Maddie dropped her head, and she blinked away the wetness in her eyes.
“I actually… in my dimension I’m kind of closer to the Fentons than I think the, the Phantom in this dimension was. It’s… complex.”
Maddie said nothing. Silence built between them.
“Jazz is um… Jazz is applying for colleges, y-you know. She got in early-acceptance to Yale but um, we all—they all—visited Columbia last month and I think that’s what she wants the most. I can see Jazz in New York City. I think she’d rock it.”
Maddie blinked again. Tears plicked into her lap.
“…Should I stop?”
“Jack… Tell me about Jack.”
“Oh. Yeah he um… big and goofy as ever. He’s got some kind of eight-armed-octogun he’s working on. I know because I was his target practice, involuntarily by the way. He keeps trying to merge “Fenton” and “octopus” together with mixed results. We—Mo-addie—you… are still trying to talk him out of ‘Fentoctopus’.”
Maddie’s ribcage shuddered, a repressed sob, a repressed laugh.
“And Danny?”
“Danny… um… Danny is...” Phantom’s shoulders fell a little bit. He looked away, and then back at Maddie. “He loves you. I know that.”
Maddie blinked, and blinked again, and her eyes wouldn’t clear.
“And are they happy?”
“They’re happy.”
“Am I happy…?”
“You’re…” Phantom’s tail bounced. “You’re happy, I think. I like to think so. I think you’re very happy. You have a great family.”
Maddie nodded.
“Now go.”
“But I still—”
Maddie reached forward, and she grabbed the ecto-gun propped against the control panel. She lifted it into her shoulder, and flicked the safety, and the charge built along the rising whine.
“Go.”
Phantom balked. He blinked. He kicked away from his wall-less cage. “Not forever. I’ll be back. You won’t be alone here forever.”
He was gone.
And Maddie was alone again.
Clockwork surveyed the boy in front of him whose head was bowed nearly to the floor, white bangs trailing along cobblestone, hands clasped, apologies repeated, begging case made.
Clockwork ran a hand along his beard, which unfurled, drew back, undid itself with the shifting of his form to a simple child.
“So let’s see. You have the audacity to break my rules andbeg me to meddle on your behalf in the time stream, all in the same breath? Apologies don’t usually come with additional requests for favors.”
“I know,” Danny’s head dipped lower. “You can punish me however you want for touching the restricted timelines but you have to help it, or let me help this one timeline. Please, please just send me back to the Nasty Burger incident so I can save it.”
“It’s already been saved.”
Danny faltered. He looked up.
“You died at the Nasty Burger incident that night,” Clockwork elaborated, form shifting older. “There is no you to ruin that future. That timeline is safe. It’s a very lucky timeline.”
Danny blinked. “N-no. No that’s not what I mean. Save it like you saved my timeline.”
“That did happen. You’re describing your own timeline.”
“I mean do it to THAT one.”
“You are misunderstanding timelines.”
Danny lapsed silent. Worry bled into his eyes, and Clockwork sighed.
“There is no undoing timelines, Danny. There is only forking them by meddling in the stream. All futures and pasts you witness exist, and do exist, and continue to exist,” Clockwork paused, “with the exception of realities I needed to cull, to prevent utter catastrophe.” His gaze fixed on Danny. “The futures that your evil self destroyed, I did have to cull. And culling a reality is not to be done lightly.”
Clockwork motioned with his staff. “There were a handful of surviving realities that I was able to save. That room you meddled in without my permission—they contain the realities off the main track where, for one reason or another, something else succeeded at destroying your future self. …Your own deaths, in fact. In every one of those realities, Danny, you are dead.”
“I don’t…” Danny shook his head. “So then just tell me how to save that one I was in, okay?”
“Oh, that’s easy.”
“How?”
“You don’t.”
Danny said nothing. Clockwork shifted young.
“You can let it live on in that room, or you could ask me to cull it, Danny. You could ask me to cull every reality in that room, so that the main branch, the one you’re from, is the only reality in existence. So you never have to worry about any existence where your family is unhappy. And it will be that way until you, or I, or someone else, meddles with the timestreams again, and more splits occur.”
Still, Danny said nothing. Clockwork continued.
“Sometimes, a mass culling of realities is healthy for the tree of time, like pruning a plant down to its stalk to survive an unforgiving winter, or a terrible disease. But I did that, just recently, to save all of time from the blight of your future self. It would feel cruel to snip off the first buds that have come after the frost.”
Danny lowered himself to the floor.
“Okay…”
“Okay?”
He nodded. “Okay. Just. I have a different question then.” He looked up, a young devastation wet in his eyes. “Can I still go back and visit that reality, sometimes?”
“No. I cannot give you permission to do that.”
“Please!”
Clockwork spun his staff. A portal swirled into being in the space between him and Danny. Washes of color formed patterns, shapes, objects, images. Like a mirror, it reflected Clockwork’s lair beyond its shimmering surface.
“This is a portal back into your own reality. It is set to the location and the time that you vanished. Go there, and leave through the Fenton portal, and nothing will be amiss.”
“No. No no I won’t. Clockwork you have to let me—”
“I am doing you a favor, Danny, getting you home after you caused more trouble. Do not make further demands of me.” Clockwork curled forward, old, sallow skin sagging, and he turned his back to Danny.
“You have to give me permission—”
“I am the only one who has permission to meddle in realities, Danny. This is an absolute.” Clockwork glanced over his shoulder. “And because this is an absolute, I have no reason to have a lock on the room housing those budding other realities.”
Danny blinked.
“I wonder if anyone might break my rules anyway. I wonder if anyone might be nosy, and enter that room anyway, and water the plants in that greenhouse without my permission.” Clockwork stared forward again.
“Clockwork…”
“Luckily I am the master of all time. I would be able to see this coming. And maybe plan for it. If ever such a person would come into my lair, and meddle in my timelines, and try to spread a bit of his own kindness to the realities he couldn’t quite save, I would be fully prepared to stop him.” Clockwork spoke into the green abyss beyond him. “Unless, maybe, I were to accidentally have my back turned.”
Silence trailed after Clockwork’s words. He kept his back to Danny, staring into the abyss of swirling green ether beyond.
“…Thank you,” Danny answered, quietly. “I’ll be back.”
“I imagine you will. Those realities may get lonely without you.”
When Clockwork glanced back over his shoulder, both Danny and the portal were gone.
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babyboiboyega · 3 years
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I can explain (Shangqi x f!reader)
Shangqi x f!reader
Prompt: “When everything’s going wrong, the mere thought of you makes it right.” + never wanting to pull away kiss
Content: a little angst, but more fluff
Word Count: 1.6k
Babyboiboyega’s Marvel Masterlist
A/N: this is my first ever time writing for Shangqi (or Shang-Chi), and I already have a lot of other ideas for this incredibly loveable character.
I hope you all enjoyed this!
A heavy sigh left Y/N’s mouth as she unceremoniously dropped onto her couch. The feeling of her limbs relaxing into the cushions almost prompted a moan of relief to follow the heavy sigh. It did, however, make her eyes flutter closed as she leaned her head back.
Y/N had been thinking of this moment the entire day. The moment when her week ended and her weekend began; a weekend of not having to deal with rude, angry-at-the-world customers who decide to yell at her because a privately owned publishing warehouse doesn’t print the book that they want. Or the customers who don’t check their emails for their tracking information and then get mad at her, for some absurd reason.
Another sigh leaves her mouth, and this time with the sigh goes her thoughts of work, entering the empty air for the weekend. 
But being off on the weekend didn’t exactly mean being absolved of texts and calls from fellow coworkers, ranting about customers, or even management. So when her phone’s ringer went off, signaling a new incoming text, she simply kept her eyes closed. She certainly had enough time to read and reply...but maybe later.
The text had already migrated to the back of her mind in the span of a few seconds...and then her phone went off again. This time, two quick “dings” sounded through her apartment. 
Her eyes opened before she slowly sat up, her phone coming into view. Before she could spare another though about her phone and it’s notifications, her hand quickly reached for the remote and pressed the power button.
She managed to flip through a few channels before her phone rang once more, and this time it was accompanied by a few knocks on her door.
Completely disregarding the fact that it was almost 11 at night and she hadn’t been expecting anyone, and being fueled by her now very obvious annoyance, it only took her a few strides to reach her door. In all honesty, she’d had no idea what she was going to say to whoever was on the other side of her door; but whatever had been ready to leave her lips died as soon as she opened the door.
“Shaun?”
She hadn’t been able to control the volume and surprise in her voice, and she saw his grimace in response. She couldn’t find it in herself to care if he didn’t like the volume in her voice; the very next emotions she felt surge through her body was...well, it was a cross between worry and anger. 
“Y/N...hey.” He had a sheepish smile on his face; one that showed off his dimple. One that she had to restrain from returning. But then she remembered the last time she had seen that same smile and the last time she had even heard from him. Her eyebrows raised incredulously.
“‘Hey?’ ‘Hey’?? That’s all...that’s all you have to say to me after being gone for...a month? And some weeks?” 
She could hear the hurt in her own voice, and it made her want to cringe at herself.
‘He could have been doing more important things than worrying about you’ is all that went through her mind.
Her arms crossed self-consciously in front of her.
“Please, let me explain. It’s… it’s actually crazier than you think.”
The hesitance on her part came from her nagging thoughts that flipped between “he was genuinely busy” and “he’s about to make up some absurd excuse for why he hasn’t spoken to you while also letting you down gently”.
“May I come in?” His eyebrows were raised as he gently asked for her permission. Y/N quickly nodded and stepped to the side before her thoughts could scare her too much.
His eyes stayed on her as he stepped past her, entering her apartment. She took a second to take a deep breath before closing the door behind him. 
She briefly wondered how her face looked as she turned to face him. Did she look as hurt and worried as she felt? Could he see her feelings on her face?
“I’m sorry for disappearing for...as long as I did. And I’m sorry for not reaching out at all during that time. But I can explain why.”
His eyes followed her figure as she walked slowly around her kitchen counter. He made no effort to hide the pleading look in his eyes, and he only began talking when Y/N raised her eyebrows from across the counter. 
“Okay. Just...bare with me.” Y/N’s eyes narrowed and more questions filled her mind as she watched him take a breath as if he were bracing himself. 
Y/N hadn’t known what to expect when he had started talking, but she definitely wasn’t expecting a story filled with martial arts, trained assassins, ancient organizations, soul-sucking demons, and dragons. 
Even after he had explained everything, his eyes watching and waiting for her reaction, she still couldn’t find the words to express herself.
Her body was frozen in its same position, and her eyes were wide and staring right at him. As the silence stretched between them, he couldn’t help grimacing slightly once again.
“Also, my name isn’t really Shaun. It’s Shangqi.”
That last piece of information seemed to finally shake Y/N out of her stupor, as she blinked quickly and let out a quick breath. 
“I...I don’t know what to say.” In all honesty, all of this was kind of making her head spin, and it was evident in the way her breathing picked in just the slightest. 
“W-What exactly do you say to someone who’s just saved the world? ‘Thank you’? ‘I owe you my life’- because, I guess, technically, I do owe you my life. Because of you, I still have my life- or my soul.”
At her rambling, Shangqi’s expression shifted from one of wariness to relief to a little worried. It had only just crossed his mind that he was worried that she wouldn’t believe him, and not worried about how she would receive the information.
She believed every word that had just come from his mouth, simply because she knew that he wouldn’t lie about something like this. She knew that he wouldn’t lie to her… at least she hoped he wouldn’t.
“You don’t have to say anything. I...I just needed you to know why I was gone. The thought of letting you go one more second thinking I just...left you was driving me crazy.”
A humorless laugh forced its way through Y/N’s lips. 
“Yeah, thinking I had driven you away was driving me crazy too.”
Before she could even regret her words, her eyes were drawn to Shangqi, whose head was shaking quickly. In a few steps, he had walked around the counter, coming to a stop a few feet from her. 
“That was never the case, I swear. You could never drive me away, not even if you tried.”
At the minuscule smile that appeared on her face, he risked taking another step forward. 
From where he stood, he could smell faint traces of her favorite perfume that had slowly worn off during her day. Her favorite perfume had quickly become his favorite scent, simply because it reminded him of her. 
From where she stood, she could easily see the faint signs of exhaustion on his face. No doubt from the strains of the last month and a half. It made her want to reach out to him. 
“Every second, from the moment we left, all I could think about was coming back to you. Even while staring into the face of a-”
“A mega soul-sucking demon?”
The quiet laugh that left his mouth seemed to weigh on her body, but not with pressure. Instead, all she felt was warmth, and it coursed through her veins with the power of 11 suns.
“Yes,” there was laughter in his voice as he responded, “even while staring into the face of a mega soul-sucking demon.”
As he spoke, he had gradually moved forward until taking a deep breath would easily have their chests brushing against each other.
Y/N couldn’t keep the tremor out of her voice as she spoke, her eyes flickering between Shangqi’s.
“You...you really thought of me when you were saving the world?”
Her eyes fluttered closed as his hand raised and gently cupped her cheek. Soon after, she felt pressure from his forehead connecting with hers. Without hesitation, her own hands lifted, coming to grasp at his sides, desperate to pull him closer.
His breath fanned across her face as he spoke, and it made her hands tighten.
“When everything’s going wrong, the mere thought of you always makes it right.”
His words were quickly swallowed by Y/N’s lips pressing against his with fervor. The hand that was on her cheek gently titled her head back as he kissed her back with just as much passion, while his other hand wound around her waist. They both pulled at the other, as if they couldn’t get close enough. 
The warmth that had been coursing through her veins quickly turned into leg-numbing electricity the longer their lips were connected. Her eyes were closed, and so were his, but they could both see the other’s face behind their lids, surrounded by the stars their presence created. 
The only thing that could pull them apart was the need for air, and even then, as their foreheads connected and their lips stayed hovering over each other’s, they breathed the same air.
Shangqi’s words were shaky as he spoke, his thumb rubbing circles into her skin.
“You make everything right.”
**********
Once again, I hope you all enjoyed this! I would take requests for this character, but I still have a ton of requests for LOK....
But maybe sometime in the near future!
In the meantime, I would appreciate it if y’all would interact in any way with this! Comments, criticism, questions, etc would be amazing, as would reblogs, but even just liking this helps!
Stay safe, y’all!
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nat-20s · 3 years
Note
8 for jmart?
#8- constantly cheacking their messages for words from the other
what else was I gonna do? here's some classic ol' season 3 pining babey
Hello Martin. This is Jon. I have gotten a new phone after losing my last one, please put in the new number.
It's a simple message. Straightforward, factual, and utilitarian. There is no reason that pressing send should make his heart race. There's especially no reason that the second he sends it off, he's tempted to lie on the deeply uncomfortable, likely bedbug infested motel mattress staring at his screen until he gets a response. Sure, he's sick of being overseas, and he's sick of being so isolated, and he's sick of running, but he's not...desperate for what little companionship can even be provided by words on a screen.
He does miss Martin, though. He misses Tim as well, but in a manner that's significantly more complex and knotted than the simple desire to be around him.
God, when did he start wanting to just be around Martin? He started being aware of that want when he was at Georgie's, but he has no idea when the want itself actually started. That was probably something he should examine. Technically speaking, that is something that he has time to examine, but he doesn't want to examine right now. Right now, he wants the comfort of perhaps one of the only people out there that doesn't want to kill him, or use him, or both.
Martin, whether through somehow sensing Jon's discontent from nearly 4000 miles away or, more likely, through a general dutifulness inherent to his character, only takes a few minutes to reply. Oh good! it'd been a little bit since hearing from you, we were somewhat worried. putting you in my contacts as we speak :)!
Saying that "we" were worried is almost certainly generous on Martin's part, but Jon feels no need to point that out. Instead he turns on his side and stares at the phone. He particularly focuses on the smiley face, ridiculously charmed by the fact that, despite everything, Martin hasn't lost his predilection for emojis. Two years ago, he would've rolled his eyes, maybe thought something snide about professionalism. It wouldn't have been fair, as Tim used to do the same thing and he thought nothing of it, but he wasn't fair back then. Now, he simply wonders if he can get away with sending one back.
Before he can respond, Martin sends another message. Are you actually alright? I realized I was kind of assuming that losing your phone was the only reason you were MIA, but is anything else going on?
Damn. He tends to forget how perceptive Martin can be. What, exactly, Martin had perceived in that first message, Jon couldn't be sure, but apparently there was something that tipped him off to the..eventful last week he'd had. He really, really doesn't feel like getting into all of that right now, especially not over text, so instead he replies a mostly truthful I'm fine.
Then, squinting at the screen and realizing that might come across as a dismissal, he adds, Well, other than trying not to contemplate the general sanitation practices of a motel that clearly hasn't updated it's decor since the 70s. I'm suspecting the sheets are much the same.
He doesn't know how Martin will react to the message. He can't see the face he'll make, won't know the tone of his voice. However, he likes to imagine that Martin will at least smile. Maybe he'll even give that breath of a laugh, the one that sometimes happens when Jon's being lightly acerbic and it's not directed at him. He doesn't know, but he does hope for it. Martin texts back Oof. Maybe sleep on top of the covers tonight, yeah?, and Jon thinks that he might have guessed Martin's reaction correctly.
Christ, who knew all it took was a combination of jetlag and threats to turn him into a sap. He needs to sleep. He really needs a deep, proper, uninterrupted sleep, one lasting a minimum of eight hours and ideally closer to fifteen. Checking the time, it would be a fairly reasonable time to sleep, especially with the early start he has tomorrow. He considers sending off a quick good night message, but then has the realization that as reasonable as it is for him to be asleep right now, it's just as unreasonable for Martin to be awake. Are you alright? Good lord, Martin, it's almost 4am over there. Did I wake you?
Barely 30 seconds pass before he gets back no, you're good!
A beat, then a follow up message. I've had a irregular sleep schedule since I was like 16. A lot of evening and night shifts had a lasting impact u know? Working at the institute made it a bit more consistent but it's still p rare that i sleep the same eight hours night to night.
Jon's starts to text back something sympathetic; he's had his own struggles with both in- and hyper- somnia, but his phone buzzes in his hand before he can finish it.
Sorry! That was uh probably more information than you wanted.
Well, that just won't do. Even if there wasn't a part of his brain that had recently started collecting facts about Martin like they were precious jewels instead of mostly mundane stories, he doesn't want Martin to think he can't talk to him about things outside of the standard bounds of coworkers. Not at all. We're friends, Martin, I enjoy learning about you.
His brain wants to catastrophize the second he presses send. For the first minute that Martin doesn't reply, he doesn't let it. After the second minute, he allows the minor worry to become more severe. Had it been too much? Were they friends? Jon certainly thought so, but what if Martin wasn't in the same boat? Their interactions had been entirely friendly for months now, but what if that was just Martin being polite? God, what if Martin still thought of Jon as his boss, nothing more?
Ten minutes. It takes ten minutes for Martin to finally respond, and Jon has almost called him four times to explain himself. Ten minutes, and the first response is only Oh!
Then: Cool
Well, that's not a "piss off and die", but it's not exactly comforting. Jon doesn't know how to reply, staring at the words on his screen and not entirely sure if he's fucked up or not. Fortunately, Martin's not done responding, and the next message is much, much better.
Hey uh. Feel free to say no I know it's getting late over there but. Im not getting back to sleep for the rest of the day and itd be nice to actually hear you. Would you be okay with a call?
Without a moment's hesitation, he texts back Yes!, exclamation and all, because he's become someone he barely recognizes. The phone rings just as immediately, and he feels his entire body relax at Martin's first "Hello?"
Things are difficult right now. Things have been difficult ever since the promotion that was a curse in disguise. The world is filled with monsters he barely understands. He wishes he was home despite the fact that he barely recognizes it, as filled with tension and strife as it is. There's so much to discuss, so many things they should be hammering out. But right now, the threats are not pressing. Right now, he can hear about the bad true crime documentary Martin half-watched before he got Jon's texts, and Jon can bitch about the three different "pip pip cheerio" comments he's gotten since coming over seas. Right now, and for the hour before Jon drifts off, breathing slow and deep, he can pretend that this is an ordinary phone call, in an ordinary world, between two people who simply miss each other an extraordinary amount.
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letarasstuff · 3 years
Text
One kind of intern
(A/N): This was requested by @greenslifestuff :) It took me a week or two because I had to interact with my friends in order to get the inspiration I needed 😅 Summary: The team gets to work with a gen z teenager. Let’s see how that goes.
Warnings: Swearing and gen z humour
Wordcount: 2k
✨Masterlist✨
___________________________________
“Team, this is (Y/N) (L/N). She will be interning for the upcoming three months alongside this team. (Y/N), these are Agents Emily Prentiss, Jennifer Jareau, David Rossi, Derek Morgan and Doctor Spencer Reid and our Technical Analyst Penelope Garcia”, Hotch introduces a teenage girl to his team like this happens every day.
“Wait Hotch, we don’t get interns. What is she going to do, no offense, but getting us coffee or what?” Morgan eyes her suspiciously. She looks like any teenager grabbed from the street. A band t-shirt, a torn pair of jeans and a cup from starbucks in her hands. Nothing you would expect to even enter a federal building.
“No offence taken, Agent Morgan. I know having an ugly pickly bitch working with professionals seems weird. It’s just I have summer break and I thought it would be a good thing on my resumé if I already interned in the FBI, because I just graduated and I wanted to go to the academy this fall. But if you wanna do a vibe check with me first, that’s fine by me. Whatever floats your boat.”
The room falls silent. Then out of all sudden everyone turns to Garcia, who puts her arms up in defense. “I don’t even know half the things she said, ask her yourself.”
That’s how the BAU gets their first contact with Gen Z culture and let me tell you it is a wild ride, so buckle up your seats, drink your tea up because we aren’t going to make any stops.
“(Y/N), I need you to come with me. We are going to the M.E. getting the latest reports from our last case”, Morgan tells her while passing her desk. In the blink of an eye the teenager is ready, putting her denim jacket with various pins and bits of patches on.
“Derek, can we get starbucks on the way back? The pumpkin spiced latte is back on their menu and I am on withdrawal. Pleaaaaaasseeee”, she looks at him with a pouty face. Morgan smiles. “Ok, under one condition: We both get one, take awesome pictures and send them to the group chat and then we act like we didn’t get them anything, but we actually buy them their usual.” He got the hang of it pretty fast. “Deal, Sis.”
While they are in the car on their way to the M.E. the agent groans. “Ugh, road work ahead.” “Uh yeah, I sure hope it does!” Morgan eyes her from the side. His whole demeanor says ‘old and confused’.
“What was that, kid?” But (Y/N) begins to laugh. “Don’t you know vines? Short dumb and funny clips people made?” It’s safe to say that this afternoon he learns to speak in vines, getting on Rossi’s nerves because nothing makes sense anymore.
“Ok, I heard you wanted to become a profiler. So I thought I would show you some old cases and then you try to figure out the profile. I’ll present them to you like I do to the team, alright?” JJ and (Y/N) sit in her office, safe from curious eyes. “As right as the law, Ma’am.” 
“Good, this is a case from several years ago. It happened here in D.C. Three men were murdered execution style in the middle of the night in an alleyway. They were all from different backgrounds. The only connection between them was that they were evicted for some form of sexual harassment or assault. The UnSub also had a signature: A shot into their groin while the men were alive.”
Unfaced by the presented facts (Y/N) pops a piece of gum into her mouth. “It do be like that.”
“What?” “I mean, it’s obviously a woman. She experienced any harassment or assault herself. She also has excess to the files, I assume she works as a paralegal, since most of them are women. Female serial killers are extremely rare, but they are better organized. The only thing left to say is good for her getting revenge.” The blonde looks at the teenager with wide eyes.
“I-I guess but you know you can’t say anything like that to Hotch, do you?” She asks concerned. “JJ, I’m dead inside, not dumb. I know this.” But the agent shrugs. “Good. Though I really want to see his face.” “Mood.”
Penelope Garcia is the closest one to relate to Gen Z culture, since a great part of her time is spent on the internet. She happily learns about all the phrases and their meanings as well as the newest trends and hypes.
“Purp is sus, I tell you”, is heard from the lair into the hallway. Spencer and Derek look at each other with concern on their faces. “Do you think they are alright or do we have to-” “IT’S A SELF REPORT I SWEAR PENNY! YOU WORK WITH PROFILERS IN GANDALF’S NAME!” Spencer’s question is answered by that.
“Baby girl, crazy girl, are you doing good? Do you need help or something?” The older one asks warily. But it’s drowned in another screaming match. “I TOLD YOU PURP WAS THE IMPOSTER BUT YOU HAVE TO TELL THEM I VENTED WHEN I DIDN’T! I WANT ALL TIKTOKS I SENT YOU BACK!” “YOU DON’T DARE TO REVOKE MY TIKTOK PRIVILEGES!” “WATCH ME GARCIA!”
“Whoa girls, what about taking a break?” Morgan tries to diffuse the situation. “Yes, I think JJ got new pictures of Henry and Emily brought cookies this morning”, Spencer adds.
The girls, who mere seconds ago were ready to jump each other's throats, look at the other one. “You get the cookies and I go to JJ, deal?” (Y/N) asks. “Deal!” Without sparing the boys another glance they run out of the lair. Their devices are still lit up. A red figure shines into their faces. ‘AMONG US’ is written underneath it. “I think we get too old for this stuff, don’t we Reid?”
Spencer always thought he was young. Of course, his mind is older, but physically he is not that old. But the intern proves him wrong. And boy is he wrong.
“Spencer, is there anything interesting to know today?” (Y/N) takes a seat on his desk, distracting the genius from his paperwork. It is a common occurrence for her to go to him to ask for a fun fact.
“Do you wanna learn something about sloths?” His knowledge (or the writer’s) on this subject is astonishingly big.
“Spill the tea, sis.” “Did you kn- What? But I don’t have tea to spill. And I don’t wanna spill anything, I-” Reid rambles in confusion.
“It’s just a saying, Spencer. There is no deeper meaning to it then ‘Tell me everything about it’. You know, it’s mostly used for gossiping, but I don’t really like to gossip. That’s why I use it in a different context. You got it?” (Y/N) explains it to him in a soft manner, knowing her generation can be complex.
“Yeah, I think I do. Thank you for telling me. I really like the phrase. It has a nice ring. What about you spill the tea about all the phrases you know and I tell you some things from my knowledge?” “I think you got yourself a teacher, genius. But now tell me about the sloths, I love them.”
A few days later Rossi catches her doing some weird moves. “Are you having a seizure or what is your problem, youngster?” Even though he tries not to show it, David took a great liking to (Y/N), thinking of her like a granddaughter. Still, most of her actions confuse the hell out of him.
“I’m practising a dance for tiktok. My friends and I worked on a choreo we wanted to film later. Come here, I can show you.” And that’s what she does in the conference room. The teenager walks him through every move of the choreo, explaining the meaning to it and how it correlates with the song.
“And then you move your arm like that. Exactly like that! You did a great job, David! Are you sure you don’t want to come with me later? We can make you your own account and name it ‘Grandpa-on-tiktok’. You can promote your books over there and it’s a way to float with the trend!”
Seeing her this excited Rossi can’t do anything but agree to the idea. Also, he secretly liked doing the dance thing. It made him feel young again.
“(Y/N), you said you graduated this summer. But your file said you are 16?” Emily asks her one boring day filled with paperwork and countless cups of coffee. “It is what it is”, she mindlessly answers, too focused on filling out the work in front of her.
“I mean yes but how?”
“Emily, smart people exist. I know, coming from me hits different, but here we are.” Finally (Y/N) puts her pen away looking at the raven haired woman.
“What are you talking about? I can’t really follow you.” The more the intern says the more confused gets Emily.
She sighs. “I don’t want to leave you on read here. I kind of am smart somehow. Apparently I was smart enough to skip a grade or two. But it’s no biggie. Many peeps do this, so I don’t sweat it.”
“Even though I feel like you are selling yourself short here, I know you are an incredibly intelligent person. Someday you will be an awesome profiler and any team will be lucky to have you. I really hope we will be the lucky team. But I’m still not sure if this is what I should say in this context.”
“Emily, you are goals. This fam is squad goals. I really hope to be a part of this someday”, (Y/N) admits. “I’m sure Hotch will do his best to get you on the team, you became a great part of it. I can’t imagine a future without you.”
Sadly Prentiss has to get used to a time without the team’s beloved intern. On her last day (Y/N) knocks at Hotch’s door.
“Hey, I wanted to say thank you. The time with you and all the others was amazing and I learned so many useful things for not only the academy but also for my daily life. I really had a glow-up here”, she says after coming in.
Hotch motions towards the chairs in front of his desk. “Take a seat, (Y/N). I got something for you. See it as a compensation for not getting paid for your internship. You really did great work and a better job than some agents, who are doing theirs for many years already but don’t know half the stuff you do. You are a valuable member to the team.”
“Wait, you speak in presence tense. I leave you all this afternoon, you know that, do you?” But the Unit Chief only gestures to a white envelope on his desk. Quickly the teenager takes it and reads it.
“Are you serious Hotchner? Because I will cry you a river if you joke”, she threatens him.
“I’m dead serious, (Y/N). Even though half of your talks are difficult to understand, the other half is twice as useful and important. Additionally to that, you are like a fresh breath of air that the team needed. That’s why a place here will be available for you as soon as you graduate from the academy. I trust you that you will pass with flying colors, I had to promise that to Strauss.”
“Of course, Hotch. I swear on my Animal Crossing Island that I will do my best and more. Thank you so much”, she leaps into his arms.
The others watch the interaction from the bullpen, pretending to not get teary eyed. Their favorite Gen Z Kid will come back to them after all.
Taglist:
Spencer Reid
@calm-and-doctor
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digtothecore · 2 years
Text
Exploring the Foundations of Relationships: An Angstronauts Analysis
Ah yes, my favorite group of mentally ill teenagers. Today we're gonna be looking at the inner machinations of the characters in Angstronauts.
(no this didn't take over a month to write. i have no idea what you're talking about /s)
We're mainly looking at the characters rather than the story because while I love it as much as Ipswitch it Up, it doesn't have as much symbolism or parallelism. The plot isn't quite as complicated either; however, the characters are. Thus, instead of a section for songs or specific characters, we're mostly going to be looking at the relationships, since it's very tightly intertwined with the other elements.
The following sections are as follows:
Setup and Execution
Establishing Relationships
Developmental Relationships
Conclusion
Also, for discernment's sake, Henry Lewis' character will be referred to as "Wolliam" while Henry Shields' character will be called "Walliam". While it's very amusing that the two actors who share a name also share one in the show, it would be a pain in the ass to do that here, so different vowels it is.
Now, without further ado, let us take a deep dive into the characters of Angstronauts.
Setup and Execution
This is one of the two main reasons I wanted to write this analysis. It's no secret that the relationships here are a very interesting topic. So, let's look at the three canon romantic relationships in this show and branch from there: Karen + Wolliam, Molly + Walliam, and Susan + Billy.
Queerly enough, pretty much everyone I've talked to (hi mischief discord) about these couples have the same opinion: that two of them aren't quite convincing. And knowing that people have also said Karen and Wolliam are cute together, it's easy to guess which two couples those are.
(Before we continue I must disclaim, I am by no means a professional lmao. Any technical stuff I say here is picked up purely from the internet or from my own observations. I am but a nerdy teenager.)
What's even more intriguing is that people like to pair Susan with Molly, and Billy with Walliam. Now, you can just argue that this is the gay agenda kicking in, but it's really not (just) that. There's logic to the shipping! And I think I can pinpoint a couple of factors that contribute to this. Starting with:
Time limit
Of course, trying to flesh out three romances in one hour is hard, much less so including the platonic and familial relationships. The fact that there's six main characters alone provides a struggle. There's inevitably going to be elements that get more fleshed out than others. Heck, you can even argue that some characters already get more focus than others; perhaps Susan and Billy, as they're the ones who go through the most drama, conflict, and drastic character growth, with everyone else supporting them. Therefore, to make sure that everyone else is close to the par, it's important that they use their screen time wisely and make the most of it.
Susan and Billy's one-on-one interactions include only the first scene where they meet and their confrontation in the rocket ship at the end. Their other scenes together are shared with the rest of the ensemble, where they don't get as much focus. What we do see shows that they're not the... best relationship to root for, as it's actually quite detrimental. Molly even sings a whole song about that. It doesn't help that Billy's the last of the teens to learn his lesson, right at the climax. The "I love you"s are exchanged immediately after; understandable considering they're very emotional teenagers, but it can feel a little rushed. We don't see enough build-up to it, making it basically a victim of pacing.
Then there's Molly and Walliam. Their one-on-one conversations include their meeting, the 15 seconds before everyone meets up to go to space (I'm not kidding– I counted from the moment Walliam walks on to when the others arrive. Fifteen seconds.), and the exchange of compliments after they save Billy's dad. Again, other interactions are shared with the ensemble. What's more, any romantic attraction they show is very subtle, so subtle that you could even take it as platonic. Which would be fine for a two-hour runtime, because then there'd be time to slow burn, but it's not favorable for one hour. One hour that you're sharing with five other people. You can get away with clear admissions of attraction at the very start to get it over with and move on with the pursuit/navigation of an actual romantic relationship, like Karen and Susan with their crushes. Molly and Walliam are just eternally in that... wink wink nudge nudge first stage, especially since, again, they literally only have about five minutes together. So we really don't form that much of a connection to this romance, if at all.
(The Virgins Molly "you remind me of books" and Walliam "you remind me of my dead mother" vs. the Chads Susan "I like you so much" and Karen "just wait 'til you're my lover")
However, I actually think this is the least important factor, because while time does contribute significant limitations, there is the fact that Karen and Wolliam do have as little, if not lesser screen time than the other couples, and yet they're considered the most convincing of the bunch. What's more, the pairings that the fandom likes so much only get one scene each! So, what else could be the reason?
Development
Conflict is the heart of many stories, and arcs more so. Of course, you can have static characters or relationships, but changes, struggles, and impact on one another are what suck an audience in and makes them engaged. Overall, development is what makes something interesting. If an element doesn't develop well, or doesn't develop at all without reason, then it'll fall flat.
Karen + Wolliam have development with Karen assuring Wolliam that he's worthy of being loved and that his disability and difference doesn't make him less of a person (which is a really nice message btw, man we need more of that gahh) and overall providing the message that being different is what makes us whole and great. We see them overcome insecurities and mutually benefit each other, all while being relevant to the theme and plot! Great!
Meanwhile, we see the two other pairs fall victim to the two problems I mentioned: Billy and Susan don't develop super well, and Molly and Walliam don't develop at all.
Arguably though, the former at least is interesting, because they have conflict and do reform eventually in the end, however rushed; Molly and Walliam are just. There. There's no conflict or anything learnt. Sure, there's the theme of fitting in, but Karen and Wolliam kind of got that in the bag. I'd say they even did it better, specifically because of the last factor, which we'll get to in a bit.
With both these couples, attraction is established or implied, they spend their character arcs away from each other, and then hug and compliment each other at the end.
If we look at the other relationships, we see that they have their own developments too. Billy and his dad of course have their conflict, Billy and Walliam have a rivalry that starts to mend as Walliam realizes what Billy's going through, and though Susan pushes Molly back, Molly helps her look past her low self-esteem. Thus, we start to understand why fans may latch onto these duos more, and this is further emphasized by the final factor.
Songs
This may sound strange at first, but here's the thing with musicals. Songs are the core, of course, and with songs, emotions tend to be amplified. Putting feelings and lessons in rhyme and music makes them more impactful. And because of that, songs are very efficient for getting a point across in a short amount of time. So songs are a combination of the two other factors: time efficiency and development.
You can have someone spill out their feelings in a purely spoken way, sure, but at the end of the day you will probably be more connected with the characters who sing their heart out rather than the characters who don't. It's the same with relationships.
If we count, Karen + Wolliam get 1 1/2 songs that focus on them (the half coming from Show You Around), Molly + Walliam get 1/2, and Susan + Billy get 1 (or 2, if you count Space Facts separately. I didn't only because it's kind of continuing from You're Rad).
But we also have to look at the content of the songs. In You're Rad/Space Facts, aside from expressing attraction to one another, Susan and Billy aren't that vulnerable, keeping up the cool unbothered persona. Which is fine, this is their first encounter. But then again, that's it. That's all the songs we get from them, which is the most emotional connection we get.
In Show You Around, let's compare Molly's verse to Karen's:
Molly: Let me show you around Welcome to Space School There's labs and test tubes and telescopes You can see into the clouds, there's so far to go
Karen: Let me show you around There's so many things to discover And you might think that you've seen it all But just wait 'til you are my lover
And Walliam to Wolliam's:
Walliam: You can show me around I feel like I'm falling I'm being swept away on a rocket ship right now
Wolliam: I've seen very little From my life up to this point I'd love to meet new people, but I'm scared I might disappoint.
Molly and Walliam talk about looking around the school and becoming familiar with each other, while Karen reiterates her attraction to Wolliam and he opens up to her about his insecurities. We can see that the latter's duet is considerably more vulnerable than the other, and thus, we're more attached to them. What's more, Karen and Wolliam get another adorable duet together later on about a valuable lesson, so that automatically puts them miles ahead of the other romances lmfao.
The other pairings even get their own songs! Billy and his dad + Billy and Walliam get Why Does My Dad Hate Me, and Molly and Susan get You Know Your Name. And guess what: these two songs and Might Be Different nail all the factors on the head! They happen during points of development, the amplified emotion as songs hits harder, and therefore makes up for the limited screen time!! Would you look at that!!!
So, yeah, that's my working theory on why the fandom is more drawn to Walliam/Billy and Susan/Molly rather than their canon partners. Now, let's look at the relationships themselves, their places in the story, and what they do for it.
Establishing Relationships
Why do I call these "establishing relationships"? Well simply put, they are the relationships that, while not as integral to the story and character growths, do establish characters and their personalities. It might seem a little... biased, but I swear there's a reason I'm partitioning certain ones off. And it's not like these relationships don't have their merit! So, let's start with:
Molly & Walliam
Sigh, these two. Given more focus, more clear declarations of attraction, and declarations of attraction that are not just "You remind me of my mother", these two could've been just as nice of a romantic couple as Karen and Wolliam, or as interesting as Susan and Billy. Alas, considering their actual presence in the story, this isn't the case.
But that isn't necessarily a bad thing! It is through them that we learn their base characteristics: Molly's affinity for books and foreign exotic lands such as England, and Walliam's posh politeness. We get their beliefs too: Molly thinks everyone at Space School is cooler than her and Walliam thinks fulfilling his mother's wish is of utmost importance. Molly offers to help him get accustomed; thus, we get the impression that she's the more confident of the two, which comes into play later. And because of Walliam's protectiveness over Molly, he forms a conflict with Billy, which then leads into his character development.
Looking at the interactions they do have, they are a constant comfort for each other in the story: see Molly asking if Walliam is ready for the mission, for example. Though they eventually fall flat in the romance department, at the very least, they do have the vibe of best friends. They are each other's starting point in their journeys, as well as each other's checkpoints.
Susan & Billy
These two are interesting cases. Individually, they might seem contradictory at first: Susan reads books, as implied by Molly when she returns one to her, but is not considered smart enough to get into the school without bribery; Billy still wanted Susan to recite Space Facts to prove she's smart enough even though he later says books are for nerds.
But for Susan, it becomes a lot more understandable if you consider that she may have low self-esteem. She truly believes she's not smart, but does spend time reading books. Though, that can't be acceptable, because she's got a facade of coolness and not nerdiness to hold up. Furthermore, she's attracted to Billy because he's (seemingly) everything she wants to emulate: confident, carefree, and cool, but he doesn't seem to approve of reading either. So, why should she?
Meanwhile Billy does this thing I like to call ✨~projection~✨, where he imposes his father's expectations of him onto others. Susan in his shadow emulates Billy in his dad's shadow, and he probably sees that, though maybe subconsciously. So while he expects her to be knowledgeable, he still belittles her to feel superior. And again, he has a reputation of being rad and chill, to look cool in front of other people in general. His dad, though an astronaut, doesn't really seem like a nerd anyways.
At the end of the day though, their cool personas are very, very, shallow.
This further feeds into the theme of "fitting in".
Billy: If you don't like space, you're not going to fit in with space school.
This is Billy imposing his dad's (and the whole school's as well, considering Mr. Madison is a teacher) expectations onto Susan, who also wants to receive validation. They both want to fit in.
Now, they were a rather... unsteady relationship. Billy was chill to the point of apathy, and Susan ended up abandoning her identity to please him. Billy put her down to feel higher than someone for once, and Susan allowed it to make up for her low self-esteem. Ladies and gentlemen and everyone in between, this is an example of trauma festering like mold and staining a relationship!
What makes it sadder is that these two do seem to care for each other; they have reason to, anyways. Though the vulnerability in their song was minimal, it was still there, especially with Billy:
Billy: Wait, sometimes it takes years to get somewhere?... That's what my dad's always saying! He's always saying it's gonna take you years, Billy, because you're good for nothing!... My dad, you know, he's the biggest astronaut in space, in the world, in history. And I need to make him proud, alright? So, I got a reputation here.
Plus, of course, the flirting. And because of that, they were attracted to each other through familiarity and sort of wish fulfillment.
However, their complicated natures does lead us to rooting for them to overcome their issues so they can treat each other better. Or to get with other people who will. Either way, the harm does dampen the unfortunately rushed resolution at the end, as mentioned, but like with Molly and Walliam, we get a good idea for their characters because of this pairing. Both putting on an extremely shallow front of rebellion, apathy, and coolness, yet craving for validation, going to opposite extremes to get it, and both crumbling under some sort of authority.
Wolliam & Walliam
Wolliam is introduced by Walliam and we do get some of his establishing traits through that, though on a more surface-level way. We technically learn more about Wolliam through Karen, but we'll get to that later. Really, this does set up a bit about Walliam: how close and caring he is with his family. Though he bluntly mentions Wolliam's shortcomings, he looks after him. Him mentioning that it was also his mother's wish to bring Wolliam to space school alludes to how dedicated Walliam is to fulfilling it. He's very protective, further shown when that protectiveness extends to Molly, and tries to make sure Wolliam doesn't get into trouble and hurt himself. Though to be fair, that's just kind of decent human behavior lmao, but it's still telling what kind of guy he is. Just a caring person when it comes to loved ones, though that kindness does not extend to people who hurt said loved ones. More on that later.
Billy & Mr. Madison
These two are sort of a mix of establishing and developmental, so I'll put them right smack dab in the middle. In the scenes between them, we learn what kind of person Mr. Madison is (a horrible one) and why exactly Billy is the way he is (pressure and need for validation). Billy thinks that being cool at school would help impress his dad, and tries his best to do well in the mission. Mr. Madison, meanwhile, doesn't really care much for his son, much less his emotional well-being, and reminds him constantly that he's a disappointment. Though it's not outright confirmed, one could assume this is also to keep up his own reputation. The only thing that shakes Mr. Madison out of this mindset is when Billy nearly dies trying to save him. Which is concerning that it had to go that far. But this is the developmental part: Mr. Madison realizes the error of his ways and the dangerous ideals he's pushed Billy into, and Billy in turn fully sees what he's capable of.
Developmental Relationships
Onto these pairs! I call them "developmental relationships" because these ones directly impact a character's arc; they are the reason why the characters learn and grow. Because of that, they usually add the most to the plot and theme. Starting with:
Susan & Molly
guys... they're gay guys they're so gay okay just trust m
Anyways. Molly is established as a nerd, and views other kids at school as "cooler" than herself. She is stereotypically nervous, though not unfriendly, fascinated with the fictional world of Britain (/j), and therefore fascinated with Walliam.
But first and foremost, it must be said, Molly is a reader. She reads not just books, but people. She often proves how observational she is: she saw through Susan's facade easily and correctly stated the reason why Mr. Madison changed his name (because he didn't want to be associated with his son). Molly is analytical. She may be a little insecure but she is smart, and that is the one thing she is confident about, if not anything else. And though it does not seem obvious at first, she does go through development, and it revolves around this very trait.
As mentioned, Molly feels like she doesn't fit in with the rest of the school because they're "cooler" than her. For most of the scene with Billy and Susan, she's quiet too, not speaking much. But with Susan, Molly overcame that nervousness and confronted her easily. Which might seem strange as it comes out of nowhere, but there's a reason for this. Molly sees a fellow woman being put down, and she can't possibly stand for that. So here, Molly finds a good use for her knowledge and wisdom; she knows something about Susan that she herself doesn't know, and who's going to help her realize that if not Molly? Who cares if she isn't as cool? Susan needs help, and Molly has got to be the person to provide it.
Molly: I hear you, and I see you, Susan.
Thus, Molly finds her equal footing through helping Susan, someone she considers much cooler than her, and becomes more confident through that.
Susan is the other reason why I wanted to write this analysis. She puts on the impression of being cool and chill, like Billy, while also being rebellious. However, we learn she isn't quite any of these. At first I wasn't sure what exactly her motivations were, but then I realized: she has low self-esteem. She genuinely doesn't believe she's smart, further backed up by the fact that her dad paid for her to attend. Furthermore, she craves validation, as seen by her acting dumb for Billy.
Later on, Susan reveals that she's picked up a lot of her behavior from magazines and TV, specifically the more rigid socially-acceptable image of women and femininity. Note that she doesn't seem to trust herself with making decisions either– again, self-esteem issues:
Susan: But I'm only 18 and what do I know... I've got magazines telling me / how to be / When really I’m listening to it and ingesting it and I’m seeing it on TV / And on my phone / It's really bad (It's really bad!) / And like, there's a lot of constraints on my body!
Susan is the unfortunate victim of performative feminism: sure, be cool and rebellious, it is a progressive world after all (/s), but do everything in your womanly power to please men and not dominate them!
Of course, when one internalizes all of that and then some, they tend to lose sense of who they really are. Thus Susan's journey circles around identity and reclaiming the agency she's shoved in a box to appease a boy she likes. And if Karen is Wolliam's rock, then Molly is Susan's. Molly is the one who guides Susan to realizing her true worth. And man, if the resulting song isn't one of the most empowering bops ever, then I don't know what is.
Molly: You know your name, you know your name / It's not what another man calls you.
(can I just mention that tend to act completely different than their normal self around their crushes? outgoing people become shy and meek people become more confident. so like. i dunno haha crazy)
Note how the song happens during this point of development that proved effective in providing growth and attachment through fleshing out their characters and relationships. We learn why Susan acts the way she is, her starting to overcome that, and we see Molly be confident.
Thereafter, Molly ensures that they'll see each other again, in the casual way that confirms they're all good now (ah yes, "I'll see you at 6AM", the classic gay code /j), and walks off just as Susan realizes she's gay. Anyways,
Walliam & Billy
they're gay they're so gay guys listen to m
Walliam is an interesting character. Not gonna lie, I even find him quite compelling. Our first impression of him is a meek, posh stereotype of a British man, supposed to impersonate a Bronte character. He takes a shine to Molly, saying she reminds him of his poor dead mother who died of consumption ten years ago (I can never take this seriously I'm sorry idk how you express attraction but that's Not It), so he becomes rather protective of her. However it is because of this protectiveness that we see the other side of him: when Billy proves to be a disrespectful jerk, Walliam is more snarky and even a little mean, not letting up the jabs even after they all witness Mr. Cleaver call Billy a disappointment. But considering his motivation we can guess why.
Walliam was advised by his dying mother on her deathbed to follow his dreams. He seems very intent on fulfilling that request, and if Molly truly reminds him of her, then his protectiveness is also telling.
(Trust me, I am not comfortable with comparing his supposed love interest with his mother, but this is what they give us, and I must use it. Just... keep in mind he most probably didn't feel romantic attraction towards his mother. I certainly wouldn't want it to be the case. You could also say he doesn't feel romantic attraction towards Molly at all. Both are acceptable and encouraged.)
Walliam has a sense of self-righteousness, plus he also views Billy as an obstacle between him and achieving his goals of going to space. We can even see this dislike through his lines in The Pressure is Mounting (where you can even see his own thing with worth):
Walliam: I'm gonna show what I'm worth / You're gonna pay for what you said.
and Why Does My Dad Hate Me:
Walliam: How did I end up in this stupid race?
The choice of words, "stupid race", reveals that Walliam did truly see the mission as more of a competition, an "us vs. them" scenario. While he's more confident in his identity, he tends to other himself and ostracize Billy, who's far from the definition of a posh respectable man. If Billy's gonna be mean and not help out, then Walliam will be mean right back. So he acts hostile towards Billy with his British Snark, thinking it deserved. If you squint, you'll realize that it's probably a trait spawned from his own self-esteem issues. He'll go to such extents to prove himself and rise above the rest so as to not disappoint his dead mother. As such, Walliam is someone who does not take kindly to having his and his loved ones' dignity desecrated.
Meanwhile Billy over here is one hell of a self-deprecating little man. He's got it all: greaser vibes, sad boy vibes, a dad who constantly reiterates how disappointing he is, a chill facade, self-hatred, and unhealthy coping mechanisms. He likes Susan because she understands him and never makes him feel bad. He talks about getting a tattoo of his dad shitting but never actually talks back to him. He prefers to be a lone wolf of sorts, initially disliking everyone except Susan (though he still treats her badly), and pushing away any help, probably in fear of feeling inferior. He has it drilled into his head that he alone must make his father proud, and that asking for help makes him weak. Here we can see him lashing out after being shown a sliver of kindness:
Billy: What pressure man, I'm under no pressure! Mary Poppins. And I don't need any sympathy from some jackass like you.
Now, here's the kicker. Karen helped Wolliam, and Molly helped Susan. Here, Walliam helps Billy. When Walliam walks into the scene between Billy and his dad, he sees the full extent of what Billy's going through without the bias of emotional justice like earlier. And he shows this realization through song!
Walliam: Why did I think that Billy was such a bad guy...
Walliam gains sympathy for Billy, realizing that although he should try to achieve his dream of going to space, he shouldn't put down others in the process, even if they're assholes. Especially if they're assholes even, because they might be going through some shit that causes them to act like they do. Instead, Walliam learns to extend help, to comfort and to improve Billy, so that he becomes better and help out the rest of the crew. Though Billy pushes him away and bites back once more, Walliam still offers a sliver of advice, an olive branch:
Walliam: Maybe one day Billy, you'll see... it's okay to let people in.
He then gives that iconic phrase ("I'll see you at 6AM 🏳️‍🌈") before walking off, leaving us to see Billy soften in regret and try to call after Walliam– proving he was struck by his words– before his dad interrupts.
And we see Walliam go through with what he's learned, encouraging Billy later on to treat Susan like a decent human being! Truly a gentleman he becomes during this show. And of course, because of this, Billy listens to Susan and feels regret when she finally calls him out.
Again, a scene with a song that happens as a point of development and fleshens out characters and relationships! It establishes just how Billy and his dad interact and Walliam's realization that Billy wasn't really a bad guy. This and the last song really helps these scenes stick with us.
Wolliam & Karen
There's a reason I've saved these two for last. Out of all the canon couples, they are the ones I'm most touched by, and not just because of how well-executed they were, but also because of what they represent.
I'm starting with Wolliam first because he's probably the least developed of the characters; yet despite this, we do actually know quite a bit about him. Wolliam has a wish to be social but seems insecure about his ability to impress
Wolliam: I wish to meet new people, but / I'm afraid I might disappoint.
He's well aware of the fact that people think he's weird and believes that no one wants to hang out with him; until, that is, he meets Karen.
Karen, for the most part, is a static character. She doesn't undergo much development or learn anything new; sure, she mentions having anxiety and even shows that from time to time (her hands sweating when she's hanging out with Wolliam, jumping when Mr. Madison sets his helmet down), but she seems to have already learned how to deal with it before the story started, as she's peppy and outgoing. She doesn't encounter any challenges at all. However, this does not mean she's a bad character! She does have a personality (however simplistic; again, time limit) as well as a clear motivation: to get together with Wolliam. And when it comes to static characters, their purpose is often not to develop, but to develop others. They're meant to impact, to be the rock that everyone relies and builds upon. And this is seen in Karen's role as the glue of the group.
Karen is the one who introduces Molly to Walliam, and by proxy Wolliam. Then when Susan and Billy show up, she's the only person who is overtly friendly towards them, throwing her hands around them at one point and excitedly calling them all a team. She humors Billy in Pressure is Mounting, saying "I get you, of course I do" (which, knowing how Billy often feels like no one gets him and pushes others away, especially his dad, feels very important. It's a small detail but one I appreciate). She quite literally is the thing keeping the group together with her friendliness and openness.
With these two, Karen most directly impacts Wolliam, guiding him to self-acceptance through their bonding and sympathy. She's the reason why Wolliam's personality is established as well, because their trust lets him open up and talk about his insecurities. She's his rock, the one least wary or scared of him and the only one who truly befriends him, and she's the one to teach him that he deserves to be treated like anyone else, that there is comfort in being different because it's what makes each person unique and whole.
Here's the thing. Karen and Wolliam, in a way, encompass all the themes of Angstronauts. They're almost like a summary, a showcase of what the others go through, especially considering that they go through the least drastic development and their song comes after everyone else's. What's more, Wolliam is one of the reasons they all come together at the end, in order to retrieve his helmet; a helmet he gives up in a moment of self-sacrifice to help Billy. It's the most drastic example of compassion. Showing compassion and sympathy, embracing one's own difference, and realizing your own inherent self-worth are all themes the crew encounters, and Karen and Wolliam sum it up perfectly in their scene together.
Karen & Wolliam: Because you might be different, but I might be different / and that's what makes us whole.
So. Now that we've analyzed all that, what exactly is Angstronauts about?
Conclusion
Over the course of the movie, we see each character interacting with each other, struggling and learning to work together. With each new bond formed, this circle of students link together to form a fully-realized group of friends, to the point where they literally link together to save someone despite his shitty behavior. Throughout all of this, we see several crucial factors that guided these teenagers through their journeys.
Well, of course, the main theme here is compassion. Compassion for those who are struggling, compassion for those who are deemed "different" by society, compassion that is expected of good parents for their children, compassion for people who may not even fully deserve it. It is through other people's compassion that certain characters grow and/or learn from their mistakes. Molly makes Susan realize her own identity and worth, as does Karen with Wolliam, Walliam softly tells Billy that it's okay to ask for help and encourages him to be a better boyfriend, and Billy saving his dad shows him how competent his son really is and how shitty of a father he's been. Extending kindness is how we as people grow.
The secondary theme we can take from this show is the need to fit in, or lack thereof. The other character developments involve them embracing their "weirdness" and individuality, overcoming it or even using it to help others. Molly confronts Susan with her observations, Walliam stops othering himself from Billy to offer advice, and Karen uses her experiences to make Wolliam feel better. One must value their inherent self-worth, as well as others'. As such, it's encouraged to be yourself, as expressed by Susan in the last song:
Susan: There's no point in being someone you're not / whether it's your outfit, makeup, or your attitude / Just change it up and be yourself / and trust me, you'll be happy!
TL;DR Angstronauts is about compassion, fitting in, and working that through one's relationships. Though one may hurt and be hurt, human connection can heal.
So yeah !! That is my analysis of Angstronauts and its relationships. This took a good while to write man, but I'm happy I got to delve into this neat little show I love :D. Now back to working on Croydonosaurus 2 :)
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janetbrown711 · 3 years
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“Why are you so nice to me” wakko or yakko max
To Wakko's delight, his brother kept good on his promise. Weeks passed and his brother devoted several days to restoring their bond just as it once was (the other days Yakko spent with Dot or with the both of them).
Heck, Wakko was so secure in his brother not abandoning him when Yakko asked if he could start up writing to Max again (at a much slower pace than before, he promised), Wakko said yes (barely) without hesitation. He knew that Max made him happy... and that he kinda owed it to Yakko to let him hang out with him again, as their little "not exactly falling out" was his fault (to him, anyway).
Everything was starting to seem... good- perfect, even.
However, Dot's birthday was rapidly approaching and Yakko was starting to get ideas.
"You know what we should do?" He said, lounging on the couch in the sunroom. "We should throw a ball for your birthday, Dot."
Dot perked up from her book. "What? Why? We never held balls for our birthdays before."
Yakko rolled his eyes. "That's because Grandma ruins everything. In this book I'm reading it says it was tradition for the royal family to hold big celebrations on their birthdays. I think it'd be fun- plus a great opportunity for you two to start making some friends."
Oh.
This again.
Wakko tried to laugh it off. "You'd have to get mum and dad to agree, and they've been pretty busy with the flooding in the west."
"Bah, that's mostly dealt with at this point. I'm sure they could use the break too," Yakko countered.
"B-but mom's coronation wasn't even that long ago," Wakko argued.
"It was over three months ago," Dot rolled her eyes. "I think a party would be fun," she looked to Yakko.
"Didn't you have fun at mom's coronation?" Yakko asked his middle sibling.
"Well I- I suppose I did..." Wakko thought back to the massive chalk drawing he had covered the floor with. It was pretty fun, and it made a lot of people happy.
"See? I'm sure a party in Dot's honor would be fun all the same- plus, making friends is great, I'm sure you'll love it," Yakko said with a reassuring smile on his face, though Wakko still wasn't quite convinced. However, he could see how much both of his siblings wanted this (even though the idea was only seconds old) and who was he to say no?
"Alright, I guess we can do that," He said, which made Dot clap in excitement as she began to detail everything she'd want for a party in her honor.
Wakko had a feeling this was going to be interesting.
.o0o.
As expected, their parents were ecstatic at the idea, and they spared no expense in attempts to create what they believed a much-needed celebration for the people of Warnerstock and their allies.
And to say it truly was Dot's creative vision would not be false. There were a lot of pinks- a lot, a lot of pinks. Though mostly tasteful, if you saw it it was hard to look away from.
But still, Wakko was happy for her, she was having the time of her life planning it all out with their dad, who was equally happy to spoil his little girl.
However, he knew deep down that despite what Yakko had sworn, her party was probably going to be very different from the coronation. He hoped it would be fun, but the more he watched decorations being put into place and talks about the guests and feasts the more he was beginning to worry.
He didn't say anything though, as the rest of his family seemed far too happy for him to want to bother them with his plight. They deserved this break, he was probably just being dramatic anyways. He'd be fine- and maybe make a friend just like Yakko said he would.
Wakko did his best to remain optimistic, despite the knots forming deep within.
It wasn't too long before the grand day arrived. Wakko had thought they had pulled out all the stops just for decorating but the day itself was insane too. Dot was showered in presents and even was taken out to town with William to go shopping for anything her heart desired, meanwhile Yakko, Wakko, and Lena stayed behind and supervised the final touches on the decorations.
Okay- really only Lena supervised, but Yakko and Wakko were technically there too. They didn't stay with her long, as she gave them a list of things to check up on so she could talk to some people which they were fine with.
Together, the brothers walked through the massive dining hall, checking curtains, flowers, vases, tapestries, etc. to make sure they were in the exact right places (not that the list really said where they were supposed to be) and checked them all off.
"So... are you looking forward to tonight?" Yakko asked, checking off 'left-most curtains'.
"Oh- uh- Yeah! I am... are you?" Wakko quickly said.
"Oh yeah, totally, it'll be great to see Max. It's been a while... you're still cool with that, right?" Yakko glanced down at him before checking another thing off.
Wakko nodded. "I won't try to prank or drive him away this time, I swear."
Yakko snorted. "I know you know better, I'm just asking if you're okay with me hanging out with him for tonight instead of you."
"Yeah, I am. You did say I should make friends after all," Wakko said, fiddling with gloves. Yakko looked away from the checklist and gave his little brother a side hug.
"I'm proud of you, you know that?" Yakko asked.
"Yeah, yeah," It was Wakko's turn to laugh.
"I'm serious-" Yakko let go and punched Wakko's arm lightly. "You're doing great. You should be proud of yourself too, you've come a long way."
Wakko smiled a little. "Maybe."
Yakko chuckled. "Well, it looks like we're just about done with this list. Wanna go turn it in to mom and go get changed into uncomfortable suits and greet guests for hours on end, or do you wanna just double and triple check the list until the last second?"
"Definitely check the list," Wakko laughed too.
And so the brothers did, until Lena caught wind of their shenanigans and forced them to start getting ready for the party (though they did cut a lot of time so technically they still regarded it as a win). At least those outfits weren't the worst they've ever worn (they were pretty confident nothing would ever top how itchy and miserable their funeral outfits were). Still, standing around and greeting people was a dreadfully boring job, not to mention awkward until their father and Dot eventually came to join them and actually do their job properly.
They knew their mom was busy, but leaving the two of them in charge was a little questionable.
Plus, after all that interaction, Wakko was starting to feel weird. Tired, but also not-? It was complicated. All he knew was that he wanted to be alone and maybe pace for a while, that'd be nice.
However, the party was to start in not too long, so he really didn't have time for that. He followed Yakko around for a while to the main party room where the people they had greeted before were all chatting amongst themselves. It wasn't too loud yet, but Wakko's tail twitched nervously as he weaved between people and conversations.
He hadn't been this nervous at the coronation- Wakko really wished he could figure out why he was feeling this way. Alas, he was unable.
He did feel a little better as Yakko and he found a spot of their own to chill in for a while, away from all the people.
"A lot of people came to this shindig, huh?" Yakko joked, "though probably no more than those who attended mom's coronation."
"Yeah..." Wakko said, trying to compare them mentally.
"More kids though, which is really good for you and Dot to make friends," Yakko said.
"Yep, yep," Wakko feigned enthusiasm.
"Are you okay..?" Yakko asked, causing Wakko to straighten out his act instantly and nod.
"Of course," he said. Yakko frowned.
"You don't have to lie you know," He remarked. Wakko bit his lip.
"M'just a little tired," he shrugged, figuring it was close enough to the truth.
"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Yakko asked worriedly.
Wakko nodded again. "I'll be fine, I'm probably just hungry."
Yakko laughed a little. "Alright, but you'll tell me if anything is wrong, right?"
"Mhm."
"Good."
The brothers stood in a bored silence for a while, before the rest of their family walked in and the festivities officially began.
It started with the feast, which was pretty harmless, as Wakko enjoyed talking with his family and the food was "quite excellent". The hall was filled with good cheer and hearty laughter, which he could appreciate.
However, after that, things began to blur.
It seemed only moments ago he was eating when suddenly everything was taken away and it turned into social hour. and Dot and their parents disappeared once more. He recalled Yakko asking if it was okay for him to go to Max, to which Wakko nodded and even pushed him away some. Oh god- he hoped that wasn't too aggressive.
Now he was alone. People were talking, walking, dancing, all sorts of activities. Wakko tried to take it all in, but all of the colors and sounds were starting to burn his eyes.
Friends. He was told he had to make friends.
He tried looking around for kids his age, but just turning his head made him dizzy.
Hmph.
Still, he was determined to function as a normal child would so he began weaving through the rapidly shifting crowd as he had earlier, just with a much louder and more busy crowd.
Suddenly his suit was starting to feel a lot more uncomfortable than before. God- if he could just find someone-
He bumped right into a lady in a bright purple dress. He quickly stuttered an apology before scurrying away as fast as he could, not even waiting for a response.
Seriously- was his suit trying to choke him? He pulled on it desperately, but if anything it just made the pull tighter. Wakko growled to himself as he walked further and further away from whoever that lady was, until he hit the wall.
At least the marble was cool, it was starting to feel like it was a million degrees in here.
Still, it wasn't enough. he still felt hot, and stuffy- was he even breathing anymore?
...Yes, yes he was. Rather fast though- oh dear, was that his heart? oh god- what was happening? Why was the music so loud? Why was his collar so tight? When was the last time he blinked? Where were these "kids" Wakko was supposed to make friends with?
Wait- no, he could see those. A group of them- shit, they were looking at him. Wakko noticed his nail was twitching nervously- he grabbed it and forced it to stop, but the kids laughed.
Wakko ran away again, covering his ears, his face turning red and the knot in his stomach transporting itself to his throat.
"No, no, no, no. Please, not now..." He pleaded with himself, but he didn't listen, and tears started to form. Wakko looked desperately for a quick way out, but still couldn't find any- curse the size of this place.
However, as his eyes darted around anxiously, he spotted something- a table covered in a white cloth that went to the ground. Without hesitation, Wakko went to it, making sure no one saw him before crawling underneath.
Wakko stayed there, covering his ears and rocking back and forth awhile, cursing his stupid brain for making these stupid tears that wouldn't end. He also cursed the stupid music for being too loud and the guests for being so many.
He wanted Mom.
He wanted mom to come and find him and scoop him up and take him to the playroom and sit in the rocking chair and rock him to sleep.
However, she didn't come.
No one did.
He was alone, and these tears weren't making him any calmer. Everything still felt so loud- it wasn't this loud before- he loved mom's coronation. Why was his brain so stupid?!
The young prince continued like that for a while, before someone came and lifted the tablecloth. He tried to make a run for it, but the someone grabbed his arm before he could- Wakko turned to look at their face and-
It was Max.
"S-sorry, I probably shouldn't... grab you," He let go, and Wakko scooted back, though he didn't leave. Max saw this as an invitation and joined him under the table.
"A-are- uh... Are you okay?" Max asked. Wakko looked away and shrugged.
"Right... not much of a talker..." Max recalled. Wakko nodded once, though he instantly regretted it, as it made his head feel weird.
Max tapped his fingers on his knee as he tried to figure something out. Wakko avoided any looks the Disney Prince gave him.
"Do you want some water? I can go get you some water," Max offered. Wakko sniffled and thought about it, before nodding once more (and regretting it once more).
with that, he disappeared, though not for too long.
Wakko noticed he stopped crying.
"Here, take this," Max handed him the glass. Wakko accepted the offering, taking a long drink.
Well, that felt at least a little bit better.
He glanced at Max.
"A-aren't you supposed to be with Yakko?" he asked.
"Dot was practically begging Yakko for a dance and I let him, it's her day after all," Max chuckled.
That made sense.
Wakko looked down at the glass, tapping his finger against it and looking at the water ripple.
"Do you need to step out of the party for a sec?" Max asked.
Wakko shrugged, taking a sip.
"Here- I'll help you find an exit," Max said, getting up and holding the cloth open for Wakko.
He hesitated.
He didn't deserve this- such kindness from the guy he locked in the tower mere weeks ago- it didn't make sense.
Then again, he'd give anything to get out of here.
Wakko listening to his senses and got out.
Carefully he followed Max through the gigantic room until they eventually reached a door, through which both of them slipped out of and into a calm and dark hallway.
Instantly, Wakko felt calmed, taking a deep breath.
"Wanna sit down?" Max asked, gesturing to the couches nearby. Wakko nodded. However, instead of sitting on the couch, he chose to lay on the cool floor, even taking off his gloves so he could feel the marble with his fingers.
Max didn't say anything for a while, not seeming to mind the silence. Which was good- because Wakko didn't feel like breaking it.
After a while though, a thought nagged at his brain.
Why.
Why on earth would Max help him? After everything he did? After everything he jeopardized? It didn't make sense.
Wakko sat up. Max looked at him but didn't say anything.
Wakko sighed.
"Why-?" He paused.
"Why... are you being so nice to me?"
"You were in trouble, I couldn't ignore that," Max shrugged. Wakko frowned, putting his gloves back on.
"I-i... Aren't you mad? At least a little?" He asked.
"It wasn't my first time being locked in a room for hours on end," Max snorted.
"Y-yeah, but I tried to hurt you. And Yakko..." Wakko looked at the ground. "I know how much you mean to him."
Max blinked.
"I- uh... well-" Max struggled with his words a moment.
"I don't... blame you, I guess. It's as new to you as it is to me and with a past and family tree like yours, I guess I don't blame you for lashing out? I dunno," Max shrugged, looking away.
Huh...
"Still... you didn't have to do this."
"I wanted to. Trust me, I would've helped any kid I found under there, but I'm glad it was you," Max said.
Wakko looked at him, deciding whether or not he believed that. Ultimately, he did.
"You know... Yakko talks a lot about you," Max said, piquing Wakko's interest.
"He worries a lot, but he says you're a really sweet kid, and I believe that," Max smiled a little. "You should be easier on yourself, you're still growing up you know?"
Wakko thought about that.
"I guess," He said. Max snorted.
"You know... you do seem like a pretty cool kid. I'm sorry if you ever felt I was ignoring you, I promise I'll try to make up for it too," He said.
Wakko thought about that too.
"Thanks," He said.
"I really do hope we can grow to like each other. Yakko means a lot to me and you mean a lot to him... you know?" Max blushed a little, scratching the back of his neck.
Wakko nodded, grinning a little.
"So... are we... cool?" Max asked.
Wakko thought about that as well.
"Yeah, we're cool," He said with his signature smile.
"Cool," Max grinned back. "Because I'm pretty sure Yakko might lose it if his dance with Dot ended and he can't find me."
Wakko laughed.
"Will you be alright?" Max asked, standing. Wakko nodded, getting up as well.
"I'm feeling a lot better... though I think I'll look for mum and dad," He said.
"Fair enough," Max nodded once. "Well- uh... see you around, I guess."
"See you around," Wakko laughed at his awkwardness before going back through the doors and back to the party.
Max followed soon thereafter, hoping Yakko wouldn't be too mad or worried at him for his sudden disappearance.
.o0o.
Yakko couldn't believe that a year ago today he thought his parents were dead. It baffled him honestly- he could turn his head and his parents were right there. They were never really dead- it shocked him to remember sometimes.
He also couldn't believe that only a year ago the most celebration they could share for Dot's birthday was a mini cake they had to sneak late at night.
And now look where he was- dancing in the middle of the ballroom with his little sister having the time of his life- despite the fact Dot couldn't stop giggling and he almost dropped her that one time.
However, he had to draw the line after three songs, which Dot understood, and he gave her back to their parents, hoping Max wouldn't be too mad about Dot taking up so much of his time.
"Ah, Max, there you are- sorry for dancing so long, I have a hard time saying no to her," Yakko laughed between pants, scratching the back of his neck.
"You just got done?" Max teased.
"Yeah, she really liked dancing," Yakko shrugged, putting his hands in his pockets.
"You look like you could use a breather," Max raised an eyebrow at him.
"Who, me? Whatever would give that idea?" He played back, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"C'mon- let's go to the balcony," Max said, taking his hand.
When they got to the door Yakko paused as he looked back at his family, unsure. However, his parents looked at him, and after giving a fair look of warning, they both gave him a thumbs up and nod of approval, and Yakko went off with his prince.
However, they didn't pick a random one, they went all the way through the halls to the usual one they'd go to when Max visited Warnerstock (the kid had a thing for balconies).
"Ahh, fresh air," Yakko embraced the cool night.
"Yep," Max embraced it too, immediately going and leaning on the rails.
"Are you liking the party?" Yakko asked.
"It's pretty good- though a little crowded, but I always know how to find some space," Max answered.
"I feel that- when my birthday rolls around, I'll make it a lot less crowded. I don't know what Dot had against having it outside, but what are you gonna do?" Yakko shrugged.
"I think Wakko would appreciate a smaller shindig," Max said, looking at the garden.
"What makes you say that?" Yakko decided to take his place next to Max also leaning against the railing.
"Ran into him- he wasn't having the best time so I helped ground him again," Max said like it was no big deal.
It was.
"Grounded him? You- managed to calm him down? Is he okay? What happened?" Yakko asked quickly.
"Woah, woah, it's okay. He's totally fine, just... overwhelmed." Max said.
"Oh... well... I'm glad he's okay," Yakko took a deep breath. "And I'm even more glad you were able to help him- that's huge... really."
He looked at him when he said that last part. Max blushed.
"I would've helped anyone, seriously," He looked away.
"Mhm, sure," Yakko teased.
"I am serious though- it probably means a lot to Wakko- he doesn't accept help easily and to allow you... it means he's starting to like you," Yakko said in all seriousness.
"That's good," Max nodded. "I really do want your family to like me- I just... don't have the best ways of showing it, I suppose."
"Hey, you're doing great so far," Yakko held his hand.
There was a moment before Yakko realized what he was doing and both boys broke the gesture.
"Haha... yeahhhh," Max looked at the wall away from Yakko.
There was a stretch of silence between the two, neither knowing what to do. Sure they knew what they wanted but... things are never as easy as just doing what you want.
"My dad and uncles like you too- if you care about that," Max decided to say.
"That's good," Yakko smiled a little, rubbing his thumb on the railing.
Another pause.
"You know- It's funny to me how when we met you thought I might too cool for you," Max remarked.
"When did I ever say that?" Yakko said.
"You called me cool at least fifty times upon first meeting me," Max play punched his arm.
"As I recall, you called me cool, so who's the real cool one here?" Yakko punched him back and the princes laughed.
"Alright, alright, you got me," Max chuckled. "I was just trying to say you were totally wrong, I don't have a cool bone in my body."
"God- you're so cool you don't even know how cool you are. Typical," Yakko sighed teasingly.
"Hey, didn't I just say you're pretty cool too?" Max accused playfully.
"Oh please, you're way cooler. No trauma and with fluffy, luxurious hair like that? Please," Yakko rolled his eyes.
"Oh puh-lease yourself. Trauma is just a cool backstory and you're home is a lot more fun and a lot less crowded and your family is a lot more cool too," Max pointed his finger at Yakko.
"You're exaggerating," Yakko pointed back.
"Nope- not at all. You're one of my first true friends and that automatically makes you very cool," Max crossed his arms.
"Oh yeah? W-well-" Yakko paused, looking at Max carefully.
A pause.
Max's dark brown eyes shined back at Yakko, reflecting the stars that surrounded them wonderfully. His fluffy and luxurious hair framed his face with perfect ease. His signature smile slowly turned into that of curiosity.
Yakko felt his heart flutter.
"I'm not as cool as you think," Yakko stepped down, looking at the ground.
Coward.
Another pause.
"..."
"Well maybe you are right- maybe I am cooler than you."
"Wha-?"
Before Yakko could finish the sentence, Max grabbed his shoulder and pulled him into a kiss.
"S-see?" Max was internally "fjdkaf;sfj"-ing in his brain. "You've won- I'm a lot cooler."
"Y-yeah," Yakko could barely speak his face was as red as Wakko's hat. "You're... yeah," his face melted into a goofy grin.
"Oh god- I'm sorry- d-did you not mean that..?" Max panicked, quickly becoming embarrassed.
"N-no!" Yakko snapped to life. "I-i... I- uh..."
"I liked it," He managed to say. Max smiled.
"W-... Wanna do it again?" Yakko proposed, and Max nodded, and they shared another kiss.
Yakko knew it was corny to think, but it truly felt just like fireworks in his chest.
He liked Max- Max liked him. A part of himself was realized- and he felt alive. A good kind of alive- not the kind of alive that came from life or death situations.
"So... I guess that makes us even," Max joked. Yakko laughed.
"I guess so," He couldn't get himself to stop smiling- neither could Max. They looked at each other before bursting into laughter again.
"Man, we really should return to the party," Max said.
"Yeah, you're right," Yakko's face was starting to hurt from the smiling.
"Do- uh... do you think your parents will be cool... orrrr...?" Max asked.
"Psh, I'm sure they'll be fine," He said without hesitation.
"Cool," Max said, opening the door out of the balcony.
Yakko looked at him for a moment, trying to absorb the moment as best he could.
"You okay?" Max asked.
"Yep," Yakko said, taking a deep breath as he implanted it in his memory in his brain forever.
"C'mon, let's go before they think we've done something stupid," Yakko said, quickly joining Max and grabbing his hand before running back to join his family.
however, right before entering the party room once more, Yakko paused.
"Does this mean our friendship is basically ruined?" He asked.
Max thought about it.
"I wouldn't think of it as a ruining per se... maybe think of it as an upgrade of sorts," Max winked.
God, he was so much cooler.
"Cool," Yakko grinned, squeezing Max's hand.
"Well... uh- shall we?" Max let go and offered Yakko his arm.
Yakko thought about it.
Taking it would mean no taking it back- it would mean the whole party would basically know that they kissed (holy shit- they kissed! that was a thing that happened!). His parents, his siblings, practically the whole kingdom, and their allies.
Yakko couldn't imagine any other way to walk back in.
He took his arm.
"We shall."
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 The End
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Text
The Intern (Loki Oneshot)
Summary: Loki takes an interest in the latest of a long line of Stark’s interns.
Pairing: Loki x Reader (Can be read as platonic, if preferred)
Word Count: 2,809
Disclaimers/Warnings: None. Just a bit of fluff.
A/N: This wound up turning into something entirely different from the original concept. Just kinda went with what felt right. Also trying desperately to remember working with an Arduino board to make this at least semi-accurate.
Masterlist
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Loki traipsed aimlessly through the Tower, his overly-friendly insomnia having kept him up past four in the morning again. Nothing seemed to help him sleep and he constantly grew bored laying around in his room waiting for exhaustion to overtake him. Wandering about seemed as good as anything. Sometimes he would come across something interesting. It seems now would be that time.
He rounded the corner and found himself gazing through the wall-length windows of Tony Stark’s lab. The armor-less Iron Man was passed out in a chair, head haphazardly lolling on a table. Usually, he was still working and would be until at least seven a.m. before Pepper would literally drag him to bed.
Movement at the other end of the room caught his eye. There you were, pulling a blanket out of the cupboard. You crossed the lab and placed the well-used cloth over Stark’s shoulders before returning to your work. Sliding your safety glasses on, you put all your focus into soldering some wires to a board.
What in the nine realms were you doing here at this hour? The sun hadn’t even reached the horizon yet. None of his previous interns ever started their days before nine. Albeit, they had barely lasted a week while you broke a record at just over a month, but the point still stood. Why were you here?
“Are you just going to stand there like a creeper, Loki, or are you going to come in and hang out?” you called out, not even bothering to tear your eyes away from the wiring.
Well, this excursion could prove to be interesting. Loki slithered through the doorway to stand opposite of you at your table.
“So what are you doing up this early?” you murmured. If it weren’t for you glancing up at him, someone may have thought it was more of a question for yourself.
Loki huffed a laugh. “I could ask you the same question.”
That elicited a quirky smile from you. “Woke up way before my alarm and couldn’t fall back asleep. Figured I’d start my day early.” You gestured toward Stark with the soldering iron. “This one over here is pretty lenient on the hours.”
“I would hope so,” Loki chuckled, “considering his own schedule.”
“A schedule that consists of planned energy drink breaks. Definitely one of the more interesting employers out there.”
“I suppose you could say that,” he mumbled, leaning heavily on his forearms propped on the table.
You set down the soldering iron in its stand and shut if off. “So I answered your question. How about you?”
“I simply could not sleep,” he nonchalantly replied.
“Hmm...” you hummed. “Lemme guess. A member of Insomniacs Anonymous?”
His chuckle reverberated through the room. This was probably one of the reasons Stark kept you around. You certainly had a particular snarky confident air about you.
Yet the corners of your mouth suddenly hung low and your brow scrunched together. “It’s more than that, isn’t it?”
“Pardon?” He was confused at your change in demeanor.
“It’s not as simple as you couldn’t sleep. There’s more to it.”
Loki’s lips parted in astonishment. Here you were in your first true encounter with him and you read him like an open book. What had you been told?
“I won’t make you say anything.” You held your hands up in a placating manner. “You probably don’t want to, and that’s okay. However.” You grabbed the notepad next to you and scribbled something on it, ripping off the paper and sliding it towards him. “If you’re ever bored and I’m not here, you can text me. I’ll probably answer.”
He reluctantly took the note that had your number written on it. “I cannot say I am very adept with these cellular devices.”
“Pretty sure you’re clever enough to figure it out,” you grinned like the Cheshire Cat. “But seriously, no pressure. The offer is always out there.”
“Wha?!” Stark snorted himself awake, his eyes shooting around wildly. “Rudolf? What’re you doing here?” He eyed Loki suspiciously. “You’re not going to scare away my intern, are you? That’s my job.”
You laughed, keeping Loki from spitting a venomous retort. “Good luck with that. You’ll have to try a lot harder if that’s what you’re going for, Stark.”
“Obviously. You haven’t run off yet. I’m surprised.” He took the blanket that was wrapped around him and began folding it. “Pleasantly surprised.”
“Sure, sure!” You waved him off.
Stark looked at his watch and swiped a hand through his purposely messy bed head. “It’s that time already. I better get breakfast before Pepper finds me... Alright!” He clapped. “Both of you, let’s go! Time for grub!”
Loki’s eyebrows shot up across his forehead. Was Stark actually having him join the two of you for breakfast?
“Yes, you too, Reindeer Games! One, I don’t want you in the lab alone.” That earned him Loki’s scowl. “Two, you seem to be behaving, so why not have you eat with us.”
You nudged Stark’s arm while shooting Loki an inconspicuous wink. “Awww, look at you! Already getting into Dad Mode and little Morgan hasn’t even entered the world yet.”
He nudged you back. “Yeah, yeah, yeah! Now come on. I’m starving!”
You continued to tease him as you followed him out of the lab with Loki close behind.
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Loki lay in bed a few nights later, lost in thought. He could not get you out of his head. You had spoken with him like you would anyone else, deflected and stood up for him despite hardly knowing him. In the few years since he had been thrown to Midgard as punishment, Thor was the only one to show him a sliver of kindness, but even he held some hesitation. You did not. Your earlier interaction was genuine. He wasn’t sure what to make of it all.
In his perpetual deliberation, he had avoided the lab since that morning. Not that he didn’t like you. It was the uncertainty that kept him away, but that wouldn’t last much longer.
His phone settled lax in his hand, your name illuminating the screen. You had been right about him being able to learn how to text. Now it was a matter of completing the action. Tossing the phone to his other hand, he glared at the bright screen. His message had already been written. All he had to do was select “Send”. The clock at the top of the screen read two a.m. Surely, you would be asleep... But what if you weren’t?
With a huff, he pinched his eyes shut and hit the button, the swooshing sound seemingly echoing off the walls. The following silence was deafening. Luckily for him, the reply swoosh fell inline shortly after.
You: Hey, Loki. Can’t sleep?
Loki: How did you know who this was without me saying?
You: I can’t think of anyone else who would text me at this hour. ;)
Loki: I apologize if I woke you.
You: Nah. Already up. Trouble staying asleep. So what’re you up to?
Loki: Texting you.
You: Other than that, Mischief
Loki: Thinking.
You: Yeah? About what?
Loki: Possibly meandering through the Tower, again.
You: Liar ;)
Loki: Pardon?
You: You were obviously thinking about me.
Loki: What makes you say that?
You: You had to be. At least in the context that it would be better to text me than exploring.
Loki: Fair enough. Now, how do you know I am not planning to choose both?
You: You got me there.
Loki met you at the lab later that morning. The familiar sight of Stark was passed out, snuggling his face to a countertop, greeted you both.
Shaking your head, you huffed a laugh as you passed through the doorway. “Can’t really reprimand him when my sleep schedule is just as bad.”
Loki’s lips curled into a light smirk but didn’t speak a word lest Stark awaken and force him to leave. Despite your two hour texting session, he had been looking forward to joining you here.
“Thanks for meeting me here, by the way,” you called out to him as still stood just at the edge of the lab. “A little company while working is kind of nice. Gets too quiet when Stark finally shuts down.”
Taking a seat across from you, Loki quirks an eyebrow. “Would that not be considered a blessing?”
You stifled a chuckle as you flipped on the soldering iron and pulled out what roughly looked like a vambrace. The board you had been working on previously was molded to the shape. “If that happened by the end of my workday, yes. This early in the morning? Not so much. It’s boring if not a little eerie.”
“I see... So I am only here for your entertainment,” he feigned offense.
You gasped dramatically, “Me? Never!”
Laughing with you, Loki made himself a bit more comfortable as he watched you work. At the moment, you were adding tiny capacitors and securing them into place.
“If I may, what are you trying to accomplish?”
“Well,” you started, glancing up at him. “It’s a new piece of armor. Other than that, I technically shouldn’t say much else.”
“Right... Classified information?”
There was a twinkle of mischief in your eyes as you looked at him again. “It is a secret, but nothing quite as official as that.”
Loki leaned across the tabletop, supporting his chin in his hand. “So there is no harm in you revealing your project,” he tested.
“Harm? No. However, there will be disappointment on my end if you figure it out.”
“I accept this challenge,” he grinned playfully.
You smirked back,“As you wish, Mischief. I won’t make this easy for you.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it, Darling.”
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The next several weeks chaotically blurred together. At first, you allowed Loki to observe your project as you worked on it. Once the vambrace began to take on a more unique form, you were hiding it in the mornings, opting to take on a different assignment when he was in the room. The design was strikingly Asgardian, leading him to believe the new armor was for Thor. He just needed to figure out what it did. He spoke with his brother on multiple occasions but was unable to glean anything from him. Either he had no clue or suddenly learned to lie well enough to fool Loki, the latter highly doubtful.
Apart from politely harassing you via text, Loki took to locating your hiding spots, something that proved difficult when the lab was almost always occupied by you, Stark or Banner at varying times. Stark was helping you keep this little secret, a sparkle in his eyes whenever he shooed Loki from the room when he was caught investigating. Even Banner was in on it, albeit reluctantly.
Then there was that Doctor Strange who was showing up every few days, joining you all in the lab much to Loki’s chagrin. By that point, Stark had banned him from the entire floor. The project must have been coming to a close if you all were trying to cover it up so desperately. But why Strange? Was he imbuing the vambrace with magic to protect Thor better? (Not that he really needed it.) His curiosity was certainly getting the better of him, going so far as to shape-shift as one of you three when Strange wasn’t around to get into the room. Somehow, Friday always knew and alerted the lab’s occupants who would send him back to the elevator.
It was early one morning as he was perusing the contents of the shared kitchen that you initiated contact with him. He was surprised since he had been the one to text you first lately to see if you would spill your secret.
You: Hey. Can you stop by the lab?
Loki: Oh? I thought I was banned.
You: Lifted as of a few minutes ago. So?
Loki: I suppose I might be able to grace you with my presence.
You: So kind of you, my King ;)
His heart skipped a beat at you calling him “your King”. You only used it in a teasing fashion when he was acting high and mighty. Even then, it still flustered him.
Loki made his way to the elevator, deeming it a bit devious to take the long way to the lab. You had made him wait all this time. It was your turn.
The doors reopened on the lab floor, revealing that his ploy to annoy had worked. You were leaned against the wall next to the elevator, waiting for his arrival.
“Finally! Come on!”
You audaciously grabbed his wrist and dragged him into the room with an impatient grin. Stopping him near your normal workstation, you demanded he close his eyes.
“Excuse me?” he responded incredulously, ripping his arm from your grasp.
“Please, Loki...” Your pleading eyes grew larger as you pouted at him.
Stark groaned, “Just do it, Reindeer Games, or I’ll cover them for you.”
Loki’s lips reared into a snarl as he glared at the billionaire before relenting and clenching his eyelids shut. Norns, how he hated those nicknames.
“Okay!” Excitement laced your voice. “Would you hold up your dominant hand?”
“Making more demands, Darling?”
“I did ask nicely this time.”
“That you did,” he chuckled a complied, holding out a hand.
“Perfect!”
He felt a metallic weight placed on his forearm before it was clasped together with a comfortable tightness.
“Okay. You can look now!”
The sight of the vambrace on his arm left Loki’s mouth agape. The main black of the piece was lined with gold Asgardian knot designs with runes placed in a handful of the empty spaces. Near his wrist, an artificial emerald was embedded in the armor. If he had to be completely honest, the aesthetics could rival much of the armor back home.
“Well, Kid. It looks like you rendered him speechless.” Stark nudged your arm.
Loki’s gaze shot up to the two of you. Stark was leaning against the workstation while you had hoisted yourself to sit atop it, nothing but grins on either of your faces.
“What is this-”
You cut him off, “It’s for you. We noticed after some of your missions where you had to use your seiðr more than usual, you’d end up exhausted before getting back to the Quinjet. The new armor should help with that. It’s supposed to amplify your magic without draining you.”
Stark shoved you lightheartedly, again. “The kid noticed. Told ‘em if they could come up with something that could work, I’d give whatever resources needed for the project.”
“So what do you think? I mean we still need to undergo more testing and calibrations before you can use it in the field, but-”
“You made this?” Loki locked barely tearing eyes with you. “For me?”
“Yup! Kid designed the whole thing!” Stark kept you from answering. “Minus the bits we had to bring Strange in for the wizard-y things, this was a solo run. Did a pretty good job. Not sure I could have done much better.”
“Stark...” you grumbled, clearly not used to the praise.
“This is...” Loki tore his gaze away back to the vambrace. “I don’t... I don’t know what to say.” His voice was just loud enough for you to hear.
“A ‘thank you’ would be a good start. Now maybe this little intern will get more sleep,” Stark blundered before checking his watch. “Well, it’s about time for my morning scolding. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me!”
With that he whisked himself out of the room and to the elevator, leaving you and Loki in a terribly awkward silence.
“Hey...” you started. “If you don’t like it, we can scrap the design. It’s not a big deal-”
“Thank you.” His pupils were filled with a sincere gratefulness that few had ever seen before. “This is... This is simply splendid.”
“Really? You’re not just saying that?”
Loki spun on his heel to fully face you, his hands coming to rest on the countertop on either side of you. “I mean it, Darling. This... No one has ever done something like this for me before. I would be honored to be your test subject,” he ended with a smirk.
“Well, if that’s the case,” you grinned right back at him, “I’d say let’s get some breakfast first. There will be plenty of time to optimize the vambrace later.”
Pulling back enough to release you from his cage of arms, he gestured for you to lead the way. “After you,” he breathed.
Hopping down from the table, you held out a hand for him. Hesitantly, Loki took it while running a thumb over your knuckles as you pulled him to the elevator with you.
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