#and the fact that some of this is over another stranger on the internet. you’re treating strangers like shit over another stranger. | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

azlrse · 2 years

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➳ behind the screen (an idia shroud x GN!reader imagine)

CW: mentions of anxiety, internet relationship, typical idia behavior, overall fluff, not proofread & quite rushed due to my dead brain :///, reader isn’t Yuu; came from twisted wonderland.

A/N: writing for him for the first time because I love him to bits and this guy deserved all the love in the world (including my love :DD), also I heavily apologize if his character was too ooc (I repeat, it’s my first time writing for him so bare with me ;_;)

[reposting due to the post not being visible in the tags smhh]

Idia never knew that he could be in a romantic relationship due to his withdrawn and shy personality. He thought that it was just his pure luck that got him into having you as his first significant other, his other half and the person who made him comfortable whenever he talks about his hobbies and interests without being judged for. But, there’s something missing in this kind of relationship, aside from your words of affirmation and support, this man was touched starved and wants your presence beside him.

That’s one of the cons when it comes to internet relationships but before that, let’s go to the past shall we?

How did the both of you got together in the first place? Well, it seems like you also loved video games like our lovable Idia here. Playing video games was your escape from reality, your stress reliever, your happy pill and one of the many reasons why you’ve become talkative to your peers who are in the geek side of the school spectrum. The first time the both of you met is when you entered a online lobby for you to meet some more people to talk to. His username was the first thing you noticed about this mysterious player who saved you during on game. You thanked him on an open mic and was surprised by the sound of his voice.

It was captivating yet calm, his voice is the first thing you liked about him. You’re curious about the player with the captivating voice, so you send him a friend request and began chatting him. Idia was hesitant at first upon recieving your message but boredom began to took over his mind and so, he replied back but couldn’t help that his anxiety began to act up, words of nervousness and paranoia began to circle within his head.

What if they don’t like the way I replied to them?

Am I too lame for them?

Is my message too dry for them?

I shouldn’t have replied to them. I just wanna sunk into the void I created for myself…

But he was wrong. In fact, all of his negative thoughts proved him wrong when you complimented and fawn over his gaming skills and interests. The more he knows about you, the more you’ve become closer with this shut in otaku. Your friendship with Idia surpassed the 1 year mark and the two of you couldn’t be happier with each other’s company, even if it’s just on screen. That year is when the both of you had learned even more of yourselves aside from the games and anime the two of you had an interest on; it ain’t much but you learned more about him like his real name and which school he attended to. You also got along with his younger brother, which is a good sign for Idia himself.

It turns out that you went to another school that was too far away from NRC but it’s still okay for the two of you. As long as you have your closest friend by your side and hanging out with him between the screens, nothing could go wrong…

That was until you developed a crush on him and you know that your puppy love crush towards him could destroy the friendship you established with him in the past year. You know that you’re in the borderline between friendship and love. One wrong move and your string of friendship towards Idia could snap, causing the both of you to become strangers once more.

You didn’t want this to happen nor having the guts to tell him that you liked him, more than just friends. You just swallow this cursed feelings of yours until it becomes too unbearable and painful for you to handle. After, love can be both sweet and painful and that’s what makes love even more challenging for the two of you. He was a shut in, an otaku who couldn’t bare being outside for more than just a few hours and you’re a social butterfly who was the complete opposite of him. Yes, you played video games who also needs their alone time but you’ve become talkative as soon when it’s about your favorite hobbies and games.

But little do you know, your closest friend also liked you since the day the two of you gave some info about yourselves. Idia couldn’t believe that he developed a crush on you but was also sacred asf when the day comes for him to be honest with his true feelings towards you. He knew that what he felt was not just some kind of platonic love no no. It was different from what he felt towards his fictional crushes or his administration towards his favorite group.

He just fell in love with you.

He has romantic feelings for you.

But felt like you are out of league for him because 1. You’re way more social than him and 2. You’re really beautiful/handsome in his perspective that you deserve someone better than a shut in loser like him.

On the other hand, you dropped subtle hints that you liked him to see if he picked up the signs and to your disappoinment, he was too oblivious to your signs, mistaking it as platonic love.

His younger brother was facepalming to himself after seeing the commotion. He knows that you have a crush on his older brother and Idia also have a crush on you so he made a plan for him to confess right to the spot. After he paused weekly video chat with get something from the kitchen, Ortho unmuted the mic and told you that his brother really liked you, showing the recordings of their conversation as proof on how he fawns over you and how much he wants to meet you. How he wants to give you hugs and kisses here and there (if he’s bold enough fjfjrj-) and for you to be his lover.

Upon hearing what Ortho had told you through the call, Idia ran towards his cybertronic sibling and began to apologize on his brother’s behalf thus, ending the 3 hour call with your best friend or is it?

You know how Idia’s anxiety could act up when he’s in a uncomfortable space and by you knowing on how much he really likes you does add up the spice to his internal panic attacks. Through your chats with him, you reassured him that it’s okay for him to have such feelings and you’re gonna give him some space as a way to relieve his internal panic attack. You almost felt bad for his younger brother who spilled the beans towards you but thanks to him, you’re relieved after knowing that he also have a crush on you.

And so, you also confessed to him that you liked him romantically and explained to him that he’ll just ring up when he’s okay to talk to you.

For a few hours, Idia didn’t replied to your messages due to his feelings of fear and paranoia towards you, thinking that you’re grossed out that a disgusting otaku like him really fancied liked you for a long time. How come a shut in like him fell for a social butterfly like you? The two of you are like polar opposites; he was your moon and you’re his sun, a sun that makes his day even brighter in the dark abyss he made for himself.

From the words of his younger brother, he gathered the courage to reply to your messages.

Oh boy was his mouth went wide as soon as he saw your long and heartfelt confession on how you also really liked him, more on the romantic spectrum and explained on why you liked him so much. Aside from his interests and hobbies, you also admitted that you liked his voice from the first time the two of you met, how he smiled during the first time you two decided to have a video call and admitted that he was never a nuisance nor an annoyance if he becomes talkative towards his interests.

Oh how he jumped up from his bed and let’s out a wholesome laugh after he reads your confession. This alerted Ortho and after he knew the commotion, he congratulated his older brother for obtaining his loving player two.

He almost forgot to respond to your message, leaving you on read and making you scared and nervous.

But what felt like hours upon seeing the little chat head, he finally responded to your chat and thanked you for your uttermost honestly and asked you if you want to become more than friends and become his player two. You felt your heart beating non stop as butterflies began to rummage through your stomach. The warm feeling of your puppy love crush towards him made you feel very special as you replied with a “yes” with a small heart beside the message.

And so your love story with Idia Shroud himself had surpassed the two year mark and the two of you couldn’t be happier, even your relationship with your boyfriend is still through the screens. Sure not all the time your relationship with your gamer boyfriend is picture perfect but stood up against all odds, no matter how difficult or easy it was to overcome.

Your 2 year anniversary with your boyfriend is coming up and what better way to celebrate this occasion was to meet him on person, in secrecy of course. Wanting to surprise your boyfriend with the game he really wanted, you took several part time jobs for you to afford the game and a small plushie of his favorite character from one of the games he hyperfixated. Traveling didn’t became a problem for you because of your supportive parents who gave you some money (maybe too much) for you to see your long term boyfriend.

Meanwhile, Idia didn’t know that you’re planning on visiting his school but still remembered the anniversary when the two of you became a thing. He thought that playing games and talking to you was the only thing he’s going to partake in but he was wrong once again. Seeing your profile being offline for 2 days makes a bit nervous and anxious, thinking that you might forgotten about this special day he dearly holds within his heart.

He called you several times time was disappointed when all that’s left of you was your voicemail, telling him that you might be busy and try calling you later. This causes him to be sad and quite lonely in his room and was about to cry when a knock on his dorm room startled him.

“Big brother! You have a visitor and seems like they’re the person you're trying to contact with from the past hour.”

His eyes widen a bit upon hearing Ortho’s words and as he opens the door, you dropped the gifts you have for him and gave him the biggest hug you could master. “Happy anniversary, sweetie! I’m so sorry if I haven’t contacted you for the last 2 days because of the long travel distance.” You sheepishly said while your boyfriend was still frozen like a statue from the sudden physical affection from his s/o.

“Y-you’re here?! (Y/n), I t-thought you forgot about me, let alone our anniversary. I-I was about to play some games with you but didn’t expect for you to see me in person.” He anxiously spoke. “…..I hope my appearance doesn’t disappoint you… But if you’re grossed out, I understand-”

“Hey, don’t berate yourself during our anniversary. I am not disappointed the way you looked nor creeped out by your appearance. You’re still the Idia Shroud I befriended and fell in love with.” You replied, hands on each side of his face. If you’re honest, your boyfriend was quite handsome in person. In fact, you loved his long blue hair, his yellow eyes and his overall appearance. “If I’m honest, you’re quite handsome, Idia and I am not joking.”

He felt like he could pass out in happiness by your sweet compliments.

“H-handsome? You- you think so...?” You only nodded and gave him the gifts you bought for him. “This is for you, I hope you like it!” He takes a look at the trinkets you bought just for him and quickly smiled as soon as his eyes landed on the game he always wanted. “You got this for me?! This game was like really hard for other players like me to obtain, plus it was expensive. How did you-”

“Working multiple jobs isn’t easy but anything for my precious gamer boyfriend.” Idia gave you a toothy grin, which melted your heart from his cuteness. He couldn’t thank you enough for the gifts you gave for him but it’s his turn for him to spoil you to bits.

Unless he was brave enough to give you those matching rings he just bought weeks before your 2nd anniversary.

Do not republish, edit, or repost to other websites.

Reblogs and likes are appreciated! 💕

#❥ azalea daydreams *.✧#twisted wonderland x reader #idia x reader #idia shroud x reader #idia shroud x you #twst idia #twst x reader #twst fluff #idia shroud #twst imagines #disney twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland #twst idia shroud x reader

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dancing-with-the-madmen · 2 years

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The Art of Buggery

Strap in, my very dears. We’re getting cheeky today. All of this has been a mere preamble to what I really want to talk about: the “you wear fine things well” almost-kiss and what follows after. I know it’s Word of God that Stede is unwittingly and unintentionally seducing Ed, and I've seen others talking about how confused Ed must be about all of Stede's mixed signals. I’m not convinced Stede is so guileless as all that. In fact, I think he’s thirsty af, and I have receipts.

So let's set the stage prior to the Moment. We’ve had a very full day for the boys, and watch them making good on their bargain to show one another their respective worlds. Ed takes Stede on a proper raid, and while they’re there, Stede avails himself of the captain’s dining service to teach Ed about the pageantry of dining. Then the French captain has to open his vile mouth and spit poison into Ed’s heart. Even after Ed’s initial fight-response reaction, the sting stays with him, sending him into an emotional flashback,

His mother shows him the scrap of silk she stole - tells him that it’s God’s will that some people should have fine things like this, and some (them) shouldn’t. But is it not by the grace of God that she didn’t get caught taking it? So she could bring it home and give it to Ed? Doesn’t that mean that God WANTS Ed to have nice things like this? Doesn’t that mean he’s just as good as those fancy people on the estate? Then Frenchie shows up. He’s got an invitation! To a fancy party for hoity-toity people! And Ed immediately lights up. He’s anxious to put all of Stede’s posh lessons to the test, but even more, he’s emotionally raw from the French captain’s insult and desperate to prove him wrong and fulfill the promise of his mother’s scrap of silk. This is Ed’s Cinderella moment. They pull the big guns out of Stede’s closet and dress Ed in purple velvet and satin like a Phoenician prince with enough thread-of-gold embroidery and sequins to ransom a small island nation, the frothiest of impeccable white Mechlin lace, flowers in his hair and bows in his beard.

And then it all goes to shit. Cinderfella’s metaphorical gown turns back to rags right in front of all of those fine people and they laugh him out of the party. Turns out he never belonged after all, doesn’t it? But wait! Here’s Abshir and Frenchie to unveil all the shameful secrets the hoi-polloi conceal beneath their finery and painted faces. And here’s Stede to work with them and hold his fellow fancy folk to account. Embezzlement and piracy are just two fancy words for stealing. Doesn’t that mean these hoity-toity people are no better than Ed? Maybe he’s even better in some ways? At least Ed isn’t fucking his sister.

But still the poison is under his skin, and he toys with his silk when back on the deck of the Revenge. Does he not belong with “those kind of people”? Does he not deserve fine things? And then there’s Stede. Telling him “I think you’re very sophisticated.” Telling him his tatty old scrap of silk is lovely, and “sometimes old things are the best,” gently pulling the silk from between his fingers, the tactile sensation as it slides across his fingertips soft and sweet as a lover's sigh. Closing the distance between them to tuck the silk over his strangely pounding heart. Telling him “You wear fine things well,” and giving him a smile so warm and sincere Ed feels himself melting into it. Maybe Stede is the fulfillment of the promise of his mother’s silk. Maybe Stede is the nice thing that he can have. He leans in.

Allow me a small digression as I unlock personal backstory for strangers on the internet. When I was a freshman in college, I went with some friends to a winter dance. As the music was truly awful, we spent most the night chatting amongst ourselves in a corner of the vestibule, but at one point, I broke away from the group to go get myself some punch at the table across the room. It was at this point that an unknown person grabbed my arm and dragged me beneath one of the arches that led to the dance floor. Reader, my brain froze. He stood before me and pointed up, which I robotically followed with my eyes. I noted that there was something hanging above our heads, but my frozen brain refused to decipher what it was. I looked back down, and he walked away. All of this took maybe 5 seconds, but it wasn’t until he was gone that my brain unfroze and I realized, “Oh. That was mistletoe.” Reader, I submit that this?

Is “Someone wants. To kiss? Me??? Does not compute. Unrealistic. Computer, end simulation” brain-freeze face. Raised eyebrows, and jaw slack in surprise, not leaning in, but more importantly, NOT leaning away. In the stress of an unfamiliar situation (someone expressing desire for him, when everyone, his whole life through, has made it clear that nothing could possibly compensate for his many and storied deficiencies), Stede’s traitor brain opts for the Freeze coping mechanism that it turns to so frequently and RUINS EVERYTHING.

And this?

5 seconds later, lips pressed together but not turned down, eyes soft and averted from where he’s going as though focused inward? That’s introspection face. This is his “Oh. That was mistletoe” moment.

And then he turns back! If he really was an “unwitting seducer,” oblivious to the vibe, why would he turn back? If it was the writer’s intention to convey that dynamic, it would more likely go something like: Stede blithely bumbles off to his cabin with a smile on his face, secure in the knowledge that, in spite of a rough patch, the night has turned out just fine, and he made his best bro Ed happy; focus shifts over his shoulder to Ed looking back at him from across the deck, longing painted plainly on his face. The fact that he looks back TOO implicitly signals that the pining is MUTUAL. This is Stede going “”Wait - that was a Moment! Maybe I can still…? No. It’s over. Fuuuuuuuu….”

Which leads us directly into the Art of F**kery. Arguably? The horniest episode, with its surfeit of blades and masts and tentacles and insert your metaphor for penises here (no, a little to the left). A few quick tableaus overlaid with Izzy’s aggrieved narration and then we get to the first extended scene: swordplay between Stede and Ed. And, yes, “Advanced trick of the trade,” and “Stab me” and “How does one get it out?” and Izzy’s gay panic freak out about what he assumes he overhears, and all that ripe, delicious innuendo, but I want to focus on one very small moment that comes before all that. Ed’s parry throws Stede off his balance, finding Stede bent over a cannon, and Ed swiftly pivots before swatting Stede on his ass with the flat of his blade to which Stede exclaims:

It’s a very deliberate choice of curse word in a show replete with fucks and shits, and liberally peppered with all manner of other invectives. Bugger is, by comparison, to a modern viewer's ears, a bit of a silly, old-fashioned kind of swear, which has lost much of its original weight of meaning, to the point where it would not be out of place in a children’s movie, out of the mouths of children (e.g. - “Bludgers. Nasty little buggers.” says Oliver Wood in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, 2002). And, interestingly, it’s only employed three times in the whole of the first season of the show, twice in this episode, both times by Stede.

The first time, obviously, is during the sword fight as described above. I don’t think it’s a mistake that Ed swats Stede across the ass with his metaphorical penis and Stede’s mind jumps to “Bugger!” He missed his moment in the moonlight, dammit, and in the meantime, he and Ed have only been spending more time together and growing closer, and yet, still not as close as he so very desperately wants. Later, Frenchie is sent to collect Ed in advance of the fuckery. “So Captain figures that this will be the best view for you when they come aboard,” he says. And where is “this”? The nook where Stede’s bed is built into the wall. Stede thinks the best place for Ed to experience the fuckery is in his bed with the opaque draperies drawn. I mean to say, really. Abandon all subtlety ye who enter here.

Stede joins him after the preliminary scene on the deck, and this is where we get the second instance of “Bugger.”

He’s referring to Lucius who has just cut off his engorged member finger and spurted across the faces of the unsuspecting Dutch. And yes, Lucius is the most unapologetic and (bravely) openly gay member of the crew, so the terminology is apt, but still. Stede has sectioned himself off from the rest of the crew with Ed mere inches from his bed, and what term springs to his thirsty, thirsty lips? Bugger.

But what clinches the intentionality of the use of the word bugger for me is this asshole:

Stede’s word out of this scoundrel’s mouth, but now it has teeth. Now it’s unavoidably, unquestionably given the weight of its original meaning. And in doing so, it recontextualizes the times when Stede was using it earlier.

Just before Jack drops this bugger bomb into Stede’s psyche, he asks Stede what’s going on between him and Ed. Stede’s face is solemn, almost sullen; his brows are drawn, eyes downcast. Then Jack asks if they’re buggering one another, and Stede’s eyes FLY open. Remember, he’s not a delicate flower who fusses about cursing, and this is a word he’s used himself, so it’s not the shock of hearing naughty language. He knows and loves his crew, so doubtless he has at least some idea what goes on below decks, so I doubt this is shock about the implications of male relations. No, I think this is the surprised face of a man who has had his secrets laid bare. And by this guy? THIS guy? This loud, vulgar lout has somehow READ his MIND and just put his deepest desire out there so casually? HOW did he KNOW? Stede has been SO. CHILL!

And, tellingly, Stede doesn’t say no. He doesn’t get nervous or insist that “it’s not like that” or “we’re just friends” or any of the no homo safewords we’ve come to expect from countless queerbaiting shows in the past. What he says is “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” in a light, offhanded way, which is rich, white dude for “I am not going to talk about this with YOU.” And when Jack tries to bait him with implications about his sexual history with Ed, Stede says “Ed’s past is Ed’s business, and I respect that.” He clearly has no problem with Ed being intimate with other men.

His problem is believing Ed could ever want that with HIM.

Yes, they had that Moment in the moonlight, but Ed had quite a lot of champagne at the party, and was emotionally vulnerable, and Stede was just being SO SLUTTY and OBVIOUS, wasn’t he, and Ed pulled himself back anyway, didn’t he? And Ed has credibly threatened to kill Stede TWICE since then (pulling a gun on him when Stede was reluctant to run him through, and then the whole confession in the bathtub). And so what if he’s flirty with Stede? He’s just a flirty guy. I mean, the others didn’t see him at the party, so full of esprit, so charming, that even brother-fucker Antoinette said he could finger her dents any time like an absolute TROLLOP.

Consider the scary story Stede tells the crew the night before Ed shows them how to stage a fuckery. What does he find scary? What’s his greatest fear? A weird, old guy who no one likes, and no one wants to kiss.

(my sweet baby boy. Please stop telling on yourself. Also, can we please take a moment to appreciate the HARD side-eye Lucius is giving Ed here? Epic.)

So it’s not that Stede is an unwitting seducer, or even that he’s the king of mixed signals. It’s devastatingly low self esteem come to ruin the day once more. He wants Ed SO BADLY, that it’s spurting out of him in ways he can’t control, and is apparently obvious even to the most casual observer, But a gentleman doesn’t press his suit unwanted. And who could possibly want a weak, soft-bellied, yellow, craven, weak-hearted, soft-handed, lily-livered little rich boy like him?

#ofmd #ofmd meta #stede bonnet #I maybe identify a little too much with Stede...

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nikadd · 2 months

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Not you talking about biphobia and then saying "bi women who date men are hot and lesbians couldn't even have them if they were single"most ugly women that I have seen were straight/bi and the hottest ones were lesbians

damn, way to misread what i said. i usually wouldn’t grace such misreading w my attention, but i guess i should here bc i hate being misunderstood.

i’m assuming you’re referring to this:

“like i’m so tired of ppl online being “heartbroken” over a hot woman (bonus points if she “looks” gay) being w a man - as if you ever had a chance w her if she was single!”

now, let’s break this down:

ppl - people within the context of the entire paragraph and this sentence, yes im talking mostly abt queer women, that including both bi women and lesbians and other microlabels. not just lesbians. in fact, in my entire post i always mean all kinds of queer women.

heartbroken - having a reaction of sadness/disappointment. put quotation marks around it to express my own frustration with the framing of the reaction.

hot woman - i’m guessing this is kinda the epicenter of your issue. what i mean by hot here is who the queer women in question are attracted to. i’m not saying that they are not attractive as well, i just mean that the woman im talking abt is attractive to the ppl having the heartbroken reaction.

bonus points if she “looks” gay - whatever this means to the ppl who see her w regards to current and past trends of looking gay so to speak. short hair/undercut/buzzcut, eyebrow slit, nose piercing, handmade earrings, some kind of alternative styling. basically anything someone could make a tiktok abt wearing and saying “why would ppl assume im straight if i look like THIS?”

being w a man - self-explanatory.

as if you ever had a chance w her if she was single! - this is another part of the sentence where i’m afraid you’ve misunderstood what i meant. ok, so obv i used a hyperbole to emphasize, but what i specifically mean here is that this behavior (expressing heartbreak over somebody being with a man when you expected them to be with a woman/single) is weird and invasive and offputting and unattractive, bc it just sounds like they wish this woman was available to them, and since she’s not, it’s her fault. it sounds like a guy in a teen comedy going “this hot girl is with a stupid ugly jock when she could be with ME” kind of plot, but bc it’s a woman saying it, it’s somehow not seen as weird.

i guess i could have clarified, but the rest of my rant had to w my frustration to reactions/expressions/behaviors, so i didn’t think what im saying might be influenced by the implication of somebody being hot or not.

i guess i could also bring some examples:

natasha lyonne - an icon for queer women, was/is w a man for the longest time. you can find ppl’s surprise and heartbreak and frustration with this fact anywhere on the internet.

the cast of bottoms - when the film came out, a lot of ppl were talking abt both ayo edebiri’s and ruby cruz’s boyfriends with a very strong sense of betrayal. i think being frustrated that a lesbian character isn’t played by a lesbian is understandable, but the way ppl were reacting felt like they were actively being hurt by their celebrity crush not dating a woman.

using the word “partner” - the frustration with ppl using a gender neutral term for their significant other and then it not being somebody of the same gender. some ppl simply prefer the term over boyfriend/girlfriend, some are not strictly cisgender even if they present in ways that ppl might assume they are, some ppl actually do like the gender neutral part of it and use it as a way of allyship to not give too much information when it’s unnecessary. in general, the term is more often used to protect ppl from homophobia by divorcing it from the implication that partner necessarily means a partner of the same gender, but ppl are too used to assuming

strangers on tiktok - i see a lot of tiktoks where a queer woman will have an interaction with a woman they find very attractive in a gay way bc she looks kinda gay and then find out that she is with a man and then feel very disappointed. and then everybody in the comments is agreeing with that sentiment. now, that woman might be with a man bc she’s straight, but she might also be bi/potentially be attracted to women. and if she’s also queer there is a chance she looks kinda gay bc it’s a part of her expression. but the reaction feels like she’s being accused of misleading the other person into believing in her availability.

tldr: i think it’s rude and invasive to make inferences abt somebody’s relationships and then reacting like it’s personally offensive to you if they are dating somebody who’s not you/your gender AND then framing it like a positive/feminist/queer/political reaction. this behavior is why the person in question wouldn’t want to date you, not bc they are hot and you aren’t.

like if i was with a man, then that relationship ended, then i was interested in a woman, but then i found out that she had some kind of weird opinion on me having been with my ex boyfriend (saying that since i have the option to date women then why am i with a man, saying that im wasted being w a man, implying anything abt our dynamic/gender roles without actually knowing details abt our relationship, assuming that he’s automatically dismissive/not respectful of my identity and/or fetishizing it), i wouldn’t want her.

if there are any issues with my explanation, feel free to let me know, because i genuinely did not mean what you’re implying i meant, im just frustrated with the popular rhetoric that perpetuates negative stereotypes while the concerns abt them are being dismissed.

#it's valeriia talking #bi tag #answered #anonymous

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mewtwo-deserves-better · 7 months

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The Beauty of The Internet

Toren realizes he’s terrible at socializing, so he downloads an app to help him. Things are going well, until he’s asked to meet in person.

Another day, another panic attack. It was a normal day in Fula City with Toren trying to navigate the ever-crowded streets as the Wind Festival was back in full swing. He didn’t have his Chansey out due to how fast he was walking and knowing well enough that she wouldn’t be able to keep up.

However, he wished he knew what it was about him that made him look like a long-time resident of Fula so he could change it immediately. Far too many tourists have asked him for directions.

As he maneuvered through the streets, occasionally bumping shoulders with a stranger and making his face light up red, Toren pulled out his phone to distract himself.

A notification brought a small smile to his face, and made his face go red for a different reason.

Y/N: How was work for you today?

He’s been talking to you for months now, practically a year. The funny part was that he met you online and has no clue what you looked like.

Toren: It was busier than usual due to the Wind Festival.

You see, it was the last Wind Festival in which he was introduced to the beauty of the internet. Leave it to Callahan and Kelly to force him into something he was totally against. You’re too shy they said. You need more friends they said.

Cue him being forced onto a social media platform.

Toren was pressured into downloading an app on his phone that would allow him to chat with people from all over. The best part being that he had time to think of a response while being hidden behind a screen. It was perfect for his socially anxious self.

And then he met you on there.

The two of you started chatting, and frankly, he thought you would get sick of him. But you didn’t know how bad his anxiety was through the phone. Toren slowly started to grow confident and became less nervous whenever he saw a notification from you. Time went by, and he finally felt like he had someone that was easy to talk to.

It may sound weird, but he thinks you guys have some sort of special connection.

Y/N: The festival sounds like such fun! Speaking of...

In fact, he this is the first time in his life that he seems confident in speaking to another person, even if it’s just over text. But then, one statement from you blows it all out the window.

Y/N: I’m actually in town for that! We should meet up! It would be such fun!

Toren felt his whole demeanor just shatter.

His heart started beating a mile a minute and sweat immediately coated his palms. What does he say to that? He’s felt so comfortable in his little bubble here with you. The possibility of meeting you in person might destroy everything. What if you’re weirded out by him? What if you decide to cut things off?

But what if he says no?

Then Toren might look like the jerk, and you disliking him for that scares him way more than meeting you in the person. He would rather you think he’s weird than rude. So, with very shaky hands, he typed back a one-word response.

Toren: Sure.

Now here he stands, a couple days later, before the mirror in his bedroom. The evening light cast a golden glow into the room, practically lighting up the whole apartment due to his open door. The rise and fall of chest were shaky as he awaited the hour that you guys scheduled to meet at the park.

As the days went by since he agreed to this, he wondered how to go through it. Toren knew better than to wear his work clothes. You knew he was a scientist. So, he opted for something much more casual and nicer looking. A grey jacket over a white loose shirt with some dark blue jeans.

He’s not taking the jacket off, knowing well enough that there would be sweat stains.

As the forbidden hour approached, Toren swallowed down his nerves. Leaving his room on shaky legs, he made sure to grab his phone and apartment keys. However, before he could leave, his pokémon stopped him.

“Chansey.” She said while pointing at the kitchen table. There laid a bouquet of flowers that he bought the other day in the spur of a moment anxiety ridden state. He meant it in a polite way, but the subtle implications behind the gesture made his face explode in color.

“I-I-I can’t...n-no way...” He told his partner while shaking his hands wildly. Chansey just narrowed her eyes and shoved her trainer towards the object that was giving him such fear. He stared at the flowers for a good long while, doubt creeping in every bone of his body.

However, a gentle pressure on his back soon motivated him to pick up the bouquet. And with that, Toren went out the door with Chansey following close behind as he went to see you for the first time ever.

Toren was grateful that this time of day meant fewer people in the park. As he maneuvered with Chansey by his side, the few people that were there gave him a couple passing glances. He blushed a bit when anyone gave him a thumbs up or a smirk.

Eventually, he came to a problem.

How would he know who you were?

“A-Any idea where Y/N c-could be?” He asked his partner. Chansey chirped back in response as the pair looked around. Soon, Toren spotted someone casually sitting at the park bench. They were swinging their legs as they played on their phone. A female Meowstic was by their feet, using her psychic powers to have a ball bounce around her trainer.

As Toren stared at the person, they looked up at him, nearly causing him to shriek in fright. However, he was stunned by the enchanting beauty of e/c eyes that were framed by h/c hair.

“Are you...Y/N?” He asked without thinking, surprised how there was no stutter in his voice. You immediately perked up, a smile on your face as you nodded. Putting your phone away, you got to your feet to greet him. Your Meowstic followed, deciding to chat in her native tongue with Chansey.

“Toren! It’s so nice to finally meet you!” You said and your soft voice, even as excited as it sounded, was enough to make his heart skip a beat. He was stunned by your ethereal beauty. Toren stood stone still, mouth slightly open as he fought to find words to say. The wind swept around his wide-eyed frame, blowing his hair and flower petals every which way.

“T-These are for you.” Curse his shyness as he stuttered once again, holding the bouquet out to you. He may have terrible anxiety, but it’s not going to stop him from being a gentleman to you. Heck, even you began to look a bit shy as you accepted the gift.

“T-Thank you...You look nice.” You complimented him with a smile, causing him to nearly faint. Toren returned his thanks in full, and the two of you stood there like star-crossed lovers. Chansey looked pleased while Meowstic facepalmed herself.

“I could never bring myself to talk to people in real life, so I thought online would be a nice touch...I just get kind of shy.” You admitted when the two of you moved to sit on the bench you were previously sitting on. Toren widened his eyes at that.

“Really? Me too...People always assumed I was weird because of my anxiety.” Toren told you and you gave him a shocked look.

“No way. Same here.” You said with a grin, and he grinned back. Throughout the talk, he began to feel so comfortable. Toren was so afraid that you would be this crazy and outgoing person, but here you guys were so similar. He felt so comfortable to be himself with you that even his stutter was gone.

In fact, he knew now just how he felt about you.

As you guys reveled in each other’s company for the first time, the sun soon began to set over the sea. You stood up in awe, moving to take a picture of the sight. Toren stood up to stand beside you, also finding beauty in this peaceful evening that he was once so worried about.

It was at this time, that your pokémon decided to get mischievous.

Meowstic moved to your side and used her physic powers to push you closer to Toren. Meanwhile, Chansey moved to push her trainer closer to you. It caused the two of you to squish together.

“Meowstic!” You scolded your partner as she casually looked away. Toren was too stunned to say anything, and both of your faces turned bright red.

But despite the embarrassment, you guys stayed like that.

Despite the fear that this day brought Toren, it ended so nicely for both of you. He’s never felt so comfortable and confident around another person. He truly hoped that he would continue to get to see you because now he knows more than ever that he wants to be with you, despite the prodding that the pokémon gave you both.

But he didn’t need it anymore.

Cause when he walked you to where you were staying, he held your hand on his own decision.

#pokemon #pokemon imagine #pokemon x reader #pokemon the power of us #the power of us #pokemon toren #toren imagine #toren x reader

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lordkingsmith · 2 months

Text

@whatwedointhecraft they’re immediately so banter-y lol

He sent the message asking about the state of the tree and how much it’d cost to get it to England, and left the laptop to get mail. When he came back, there was a reply.

lol a what now?

Embarrassingly he still didn’t notice the fact he wasn’t messaging Nathan and assumed he was tired due to time zone differences. So carefully copy and pasted the little ad and reiterated his message with more clarification.

Man I think you’re talking to the wrong person lol

Which actually made him look. And yes. He was. Neil Breaker. He didn’t even know who that was. He quickly looked at the man’s page and realized he was a teacher in Seattle. He was 40. And they’d friended each other months ago over the same PennyThought Arcade game, for extra perks. The travesty of not being able to will yourself into sinking through the floor whenever an embarrassment occurred. Chancy swallowed around it and went back to the DM’s.

-I am so very sorry. I didn’t realize I wasn’t messaging my friend. I apologize again, I just haven’t really been all here since my wife passed a few years ago

Why he put that he didn’t know. Impulsive, embarrassed, and wanting to make sure the other knew he was fully apologetic. He got to Nathan and left an a dm about the seedling, double and triple checking he had the right person this time.

Nah, I get it. Happens. Sorry bout your wife tho

You ok???

Was waiting for him from Neil and his heart did a double flip.

-I mean. I’m 55. I have a retirement I didn’t want, I’m a single parent of a daughter I did want, and I’m a widower. Financially I’m fine. Everything else is empty, I suppose. The one person I thought was going to be here to enjoy this with me isn’t. I barely talk to anyone in person much less anything physical. The only time I’m happy is when I’m with my daughter or when I’m in my garden.

He took a deep breath, hands lightly shaking as he finished writing. He hadn’t admitted any of this to anyone. And here he was, telling a perfect stranger he was horny and lonely and depressed. Too much information to just share on the internet as well, he knew.

Another long stretch of silence on Neil’s end and he took the time to wash dishes while waiting, anything to expend the jittery nervousness.

“C’mon Chance” he scolded himself as he angrily washed a bowl. “You’re not some seventeen year old about to cop a feel in the movies. You are fifty five years old. Act your age.” But this was the closest he’d gotten in years to. Well. Anything.

You realize you’re talking to a dude, right?

And an American

Christ on a pogo stick I’m across an ocean to you, my guy

<control=io>bot will explain function</control>

Chancy felt another embarrassed flush creeping down his neck. Alright, yes he probably did sound like a bot. He found, copied and sent the song “Guess What? I’m Not a Bot” by a singer his daughter loved. A few moments later he got the cry laughing emoji and smiled faintly.

Ok fair enough, I’m sorry. Can’t be too careful.

Look

My school’s just hit break. Not expected to do anything for the summer but do course planning. So I can. I dunno. Take a vacation

Why not

Chancy about choked.

-Really? You don’t have to

-I was just ranting

-But I wouldn’t say no

-You’d just…I can book you a hotel?

He ran his hands through his mildly curly brown hair, staring at the screen. He couldn’t believe he’d just typed this. Was entertaining this.

You wanna try something over video chat first or..?

-I’m not a robot

No no I get that. I mean sex, dude.

Or talking. Either works

Just so we know each other, you know?

And then yea, sure, after that I’m down for you booking me a hotel

Gimme a week tho

I gotta find a place to take my dogs while I’m over there

-you have dogs? I have a dog and a cat

-Rumor and Sneeze Master

I’m guessing Sneeze Master is the cat

-mhm lol

And now you’re talking like a person lol. I shoulda mentioned cats sooner

-it’s always cats, isn’t it?

Always

-If you’re in Seattle, you should perhaps go to bed

Man don’t tell me how to spend my vacation lol

-never!

-you’re just planning a sexual encounter and neither of us are exactly spring chickens lol

Man fuck you

-That’s the plan. Unless you want it the other way?

JFC

😂😂😂🥵🥵🥵

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jxstadaydreamer · 1 year

Text

first impressions

from this gifset by @celestyeol

Pairing: Park Chanyeol x afab reader Genre: Strangers to Lovers, Romance, Fluff Word count: 5235

Summary: Getting back into the dating scene is tough and no one you've come across on these God-forsaken apps have caught your attention. But when one finally does, despite the fact there's an undeniable spark between the two of you and the amount of not-a-date coffee runs you've been on together, you're still too afraid to go on an official first date with him.

Author's note: Happy birthday to my one & only! 🎉 Thank you to my beloved for always proof reading my work and making sure my tenses match up! This story is an idea I’ve had for a long time after being inspired by a comment from a Reddit thread. I started it a while ago and gave up on it multiple times but I’m proud that I managed to pull through and finish it. I hope you can enjoy 💞 Feedback is always very appreciated! And if you do like it, please consider sharing it too 💞

It’s been quite a while since you were last in a relationship, your previous one had you sworn off the entire male species so you could heal your wounds and work on yourself. Of course you were a grown woman with needs and had the occasional short-lived fling here and there but now your desires had grown to something deeper and beyond bedroom activities. You began to miss having that intimate bond with a special someone. Just having another person to run silly errands with, have late night conversations about deep topics or nothing in particular, someone to marathon a tv show or try a new recipe with.

Loneliness gets to everyone, sooner or later.

You don’t want to actively, desperately seek out a partner but you have to start somewhere. And with some slightly aggressive persuasion from your friends, and your own deep dive internet research where you had found a convincing number of success stories, you decide to sign up for some dating apps. Because apparently ‘that’s how everyone meets these days!’

Now, you expected to come across some weirdos and creeps, of course, men who send one liners ranging from awfully cheesy to downright disrespectful or those who ask for your snapchat straight away because that’s where they prefer to chat, the latter being an immediate red flag to you. It wasn’t all bad however, some managed to hold some decent conversation and banter, but none that gave you that spark of interest, merely candidates for a nice chat. Proving just as much when you had agreed to a first date with some that would either be embarrassingly awkward or just lacking any chemistry whatsoever. With some even feeling entitled to some sort of exchange just because ‘they had done the gentlemanly thing of paying for your meal.’ Ugh. Over time, the hope you had to find your special someone through dating apps had waned significantly.

Enough that you almost gave up. Almost.

It’s near the end of an entirely too long work day when you receive the notification, the vibration making your eyes avert their gaze from the computer screen to the now lit screen of your phone. You notice the dating app icon, alerting you to a new match. Not feeling too giddy, you return to your work when another buzz of your phone steals your attention once again. Seeing that this time it's a message, you pick up your phone curious to see what this new match has opened with. Another pickup line? Would it be ridiculously corny or something icky? Maybe it would be the standard ‘hello beautiful, how are you?’ which was pleasant, yes, but also boring.

Instead, your eyes widen a smidgen and you sit up a little straighter. The outer corners of your lips quirk up just the slightest.

[Chanyeol]: i need to know - how do you feel about ace’s death?

You’re thinking of your reply when another message pops up.

[Chanyeol]: i’m sorry if that was random ^^” i just noticed the one piece flag and figurines in the background of one of your photos and got excited!

Wait. What? You quickly navigate back to one of your profile and notice on the 3rd image that the little nerd corner in your room had indeed been caught in one of your chosen selfies. How did you miss that? Ugh. Oh well. You also take the opportunity to tap through to his profile and refresh your memory. Damn. He’s hot. You think to yourself. Not wanting to make him wait too long, you shake your head of the thought and return to the chat screen.

[You]: hi chanyeol! it’s alright lol tbh i didn’t even notice they were in the pic. but to answer your question - i bawled like a baby.

It doesn’t take long for him to reply, and that fact alone widens the small smile that had crept onto your features.

A few dozen messages are exchanged back and forth before you look up and notice that everyone in the office has already left except for the usual suspects that liked to linger and try to earn some overtime. You look at the time and realise you could have left 35 minutes ago. Where the hell did the time go? Moving past the initial confusion, you quickly collect your belongings, heading out the building and towards the subway station.

You’re a little embarrassed to admit but you almost missed your stop. Cause? Being way too engrossed in a conversation with a man you didn’t even know 2 hours ago, discussing other events from what you now know is both of your favourite anime. You manage to walk home in record time, mindlessly throwing your things on one end of the sofa, plopping yourself down on the other and pulling your phone out to read his recent reply.

It’s only when you hear the rumble of your own stomach that you peel your eyes away from your phone screen and realise the sun has long set and you still haven't eaten a thing. Deciding it's too late to cook, and definitely not because you’re too lazy, you settle on ordering a pizza. You note the arrival time and think it’s just enough for you to hop into the shower and wash away the exhaustion the work week has given you. Turning on the water and tapping out yet another reply before you place your phone on the vanity and step inside the glass cubicle.

If you didn’t realise how much trouble you were in when you missed dinner (which was a first for you) or when you found yourself constantly glancing over at your phone screen to see if he had replied yet with ears hyper aware of the app notification alert tone any time you had to close your eyes or turn away, you definitely realise it now as you stare at the dark screen of your phone and your flustered reflection stares back at you.

Upon exiting the shower and drying your hands just enough to use your phone without dragging water droplets across the screen, you realise why there was no lighting up of the screen or notification melody sounding from your phone speaker – your phone battery was flat. What did you expect though? With the countless hours you had spent messaging back and forth, screen basically constantly lit. You quickly wrap a towel around yourself and rush to your bedside, plugging in the charger and waiting for the dark screen to light up with the logo and come back to life.

It’s in this moment that you think maybe you need to chill, afraid that you could be coming on too strong. Although, he’s reciprocating your energy too, right? Maybe, just maybe, he is just as into you as you are to him? The thought causes a fuzzy, warm, fluttering feeling in your stomach but is interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell, signalling your saviour and grace, the food delivery driver, has arrived.

As you settle down in front of the tv and turn on your comfort Netflix show that serves no purpose other than background noise to make you feel less alone, you absentmindedly shove the food into your mouth in between tapping out reply after reply. Eventually, you wash up and move to a comfier location. Snuggling into your plush sheets and chatting like lovesick teenagers until your eyes struggle to stay open and you wish eachother goodnights and sweet dreams.

You and Chanyeol continue texting each other about anything and everything throughout the day for the two weeks, exchanging social media accounts somewhere in between. You quickly find out that Chanyeol is an avid Snapchat user but in the cutest way. He would snap you things he encounters during his day – pretty flowers, the sky, cute animals, etc. – because “it makes me smile so I hope it makes you smile too.”

There was a particular snap that made your stomach hurt so much from laughing the first time you had seen it, a cheesy grin on your face anytime you recall it. Chanyeol was filming a snap of some cute goslings he’d spotted by a lake, only to be running away frantically screaming moments later because the daddy goose was chasing him away from its babies.

Every now and then you send him a gif of a goose when he gets a little smart with you.

One night, he asks if he can call you because his hands are a little tired from playing the guitar all day (Yeah, guitar. He’s a musician. That writes his own songs. These facts combined with his looks make you wonder if he’s real and if you’re being catfished), and you hesitantly agree. You hate the sound of your own voice and you’re afraid he might find it off-putting but the desire to listen to his voice trumps your insecurities in the end. It’s a decision you don’t regret. He’s such a great conversationalist that you completely forget how nervous you are in no time and the first phone call lasts til some hours of the AM.

You’re not sure when you fall asleep but you blame the comfiness of your bed and the velvet-like sound of his voice – smooth, deep and comforting. You think he may have been in the middle of telling you a childhood memory, his voice soft because of how late it was and the fondness of the story.

As you wait in line the next morning for the much needed coffee, you unlock your phone and type out a good morning text to Chanyeol, apologising for falling asleep and promising to make it up to him somehow. You also open Snapchat to snap him your current view of the coffee shop, caption wishing you could buy him a cup of coffee too to atone for your sins. You faintly hear the Snapchat notification sounding from somewhere behind you but you don’t think much of it until you hear it coming from your own phone some moments later, swiping it open to see what it could be.

You stare at your screen wondering why the floor looks so familiar and what he’s playing at when another snap comes through.

And now you definitely know why you could recognise the flooring. Because it’s the exact same view in front of you. Only his point of view was from a little further back and included you in the frane. Caption stating: someone who owes me coffee! And a sticker of an arrow pointing at your figure.

You spin around abruptly and it’s definitely hard to miss his tall stature, let alone the brightest grin you’ve ever seen on a human being currently being flashed at you. You give him a shy wave and he makes his way across the coffee shop to stand beside you. You quickly glance down at your outfit, mentally kicking yourself for choosing convenience over style and subtly try to brush the knots out of your hair with your fingers.

“Fancy meeting you here.” you can practically hear the smile in his voice and this fact is only confirmed when you literally have to look up to see him, if it was even possible for him to be smiling any bigger than he was before.

“It is..considering I’m here everyday and I’m sure I’d remember seeing you here.” you said, raising an eyebrow.

“I just moved here recently so I’m trying to find a new coffee spot… and I think I just found it.”

The way he’s looking at you brings the heat to your cheeks and you’re praying to the heavens that it’s not too obvious. You chance a peek at him and luckily he’s no longer looking at you, instead his gaze facing forward as it reads over the menu above the counter. You also notice that the huge grin is gone and is replaced with a tight lipped smile and a deep dimple. Taking advantage of the opportunity that he is seemingly, momentarily distracted by the menu options, you take in his handsome visuals. And the fact that he is actually here with you in person, quickly erasing all thoughts of you possibly being catfished because you thought he was just too good to be true.

Eventually, he makes up his mind and heads up to the counter to order an iced americano. You both sit down to enjoy your beverages and some conversation about what the day ahead entails for you before you have to head off to work. Chanyeol offers to drive you but you kindly refuse him, letting him know you actually enjoy the short walk that’s only a few blocks down. He juts his bottom lip out in a pout but nods. You can’t help but laugh at him as you wave goodbye.

As the weeks go by, you fall into a routine with Chanyeol. Meeting him for coffee in the mornings, where sometimes he would drive you if you were carrying some heavy items or he’d walk with you if he wasn’t in a rush that day, texting on and off throughout the day and talking on the phone before bedtime had advanced to video calls instead.

You had grown so comfortable with him that it was easy to share your thoughts without worrying he would judge you, whether it would be a random idea you had or just something you had come across during your day. He would either laugh about it with you or indulge in the thought with you. The comfort only made you become more smitten with him, especially since he seems to be reciprocating your every move. It never felt like you were doing too much or too little and that things were heading in a nice direction.

[Chanyeol :)]: hypothetically, how would you feel if i asked you on a date?

Usually, Chanyeol’s texts make your stomach flutter in a good way but this question, albeit hypothetical, has you feeling a little unwell. Your previous encounters with other matches on the very same app you met Chanyeol on had left you with a bad taste whenever it came to first dates. And you know you could be honest with Chanyeol and tell him exactly that but you just have to come up with a way to do so without making him think that you think he would be another one of those guys.

Typing and backspacing over and over again, you decide it’s too easy to misunderstand over text and if you video call him then you’ll end up giving into his pout. Paired with the kicked puppy look he pulls off so well? You stand no chance. So you opt for a phone call, it’s the safest option, middle ground of the other two.

He picks up the phone almost immediately.

“Hey! Is everything alright?”

“Everything is great. I, uh, just thought it’d be better to tell you this over the phone instead of texting you…”

“Oh,” he replied, coming to a realisation, “oh. Did I- Crap. Did I misunderstand something? I mean, I just thought that we- I thought you felt the same way so I- Fuck. Shit, sorry.”

“No, no no!” – you interject to bring a stop to his flustered rambling – “I do. I thought it was quite obvious but I do feel the same way.” You can feel the rosey hue blooming on the apples of your cheeks. Thank God this wasn’t a video call. Good choice Y/N. “It’s just that I had some bad experiences with first dates before I met you. Some of the guys just…weren’t that nice during or even after the date. And don’t get me wrong! I know you’re nothing like them but the fact that it’s a first date just makes me extra nervous is all. I mean, I’d like to, eventually, with you. I’m just a little scared that I might screw something up, kinda, I guess.”

You take a deep breath and slap your forehead when you realise the mess of words you had just spewed out in the span of 10 seconds.

“Wow, so articulate Y/N. Dammit I knew I should’ve just stuck with texting.” you mutter to yourself.

You hear a deep, throaty chuckle from him that distracts you from your self depricating thoughts.

“Phew!” – he exclaims dramatically – “Had me worried for a sec there. But thank you for explaining it to me. And phone call was definitely the right choice so don’t worry.” – laughing at you again – “I get it! Really! No pressure whatsoever.”

“Thank you for being so understanding.”

“Of course. But you shouldn’t have to thank me for it, isn’t it the bare minimum? Anyways, have you eaten yet?”

Damn, this guy is just so smooth with the way he steers the conversation in another direction and just ever so charming with his words and understanding nature.

It’s Saturday afternoon and after a productive day of cleaning your apartment from the mess you’ve created and neglected during the week, you sit down to enjoy some moments of peace in your now tidy space and contemplate your options for the rest of the evening. Closing your eyes and leaning your head back against the comfy cushions on your sofa.

A buzz and ding of your phone from its place on your coffee table has a smile etching its way onto your face and you sit up, reaching for it to see the name of exactly who you thought it would be on your screen.

[Chanyeol<3]: are you busy rn?

[You]: hm not rn no. what’s up?

[Chanyeol<3]: i was just about to run some errands but don’t feel like going solo. care to bless me with your company?

[You]: i mean, i don’t see how that would be blessing you but sure, i’d love to join you :)

[Chanyeol<3]: cool! i’ll pick you up soon?

[You]: sure. see you in a bit!

Shoot! You race to the bathroom, looking into the mirror and assess your mess of a situation right now. There’s no time for a shower so you opt to put your hair up into a bun for now and reach for some makeup to attempt a no-makeup makeup look, just enough to tidy yourself up and look clean and fresh.

It’s just errands right? You’d look silly if you dress up too much. You need something comfortable. Something functional but cute still. You end up in a loose tshirt tucked into a nice pair of jeans that just so happen to make your butt look good.

Your timing is perfect, slipping your sneakers on just as Chanyeol texts you that he’s outside, grabbing your bag and heading downstairs to meet him.

As you’re walking out the lobby, you can already see him across the street. He’s leaning against this huge silver SUV. He’s dressed in jeans and a hoodie but the scene looks like something out of a magazine with his tall physique, handsome face and styled hair. It’s probably a thought you have too often but it’s something you don’t think you could ever move past.

He looks up when he hears the doors of the building close as you exit and he stands up straighter, greeting you with a warm smile and a frantic wave of his hand.

“Hi!” he says as soon as you’ve crossed the street and close enough that he doesn’t need to raise his voice to be heard.

“Hey!” you return his smile, “Oh my gosh your car is HUGE! But I guess it needs to be for you to fit inside comfortably.”

He chuckles at your comment and it eases your nerves a little. He opens the door for you like a true gentleman and you climb inside, buckling yourself in as he rounds the front of the car to the drivers side.

“Ready?” he asks, turning to you with an award winning grin.

You nod happily and he turns the engine on, pulling away from the curb and towards his destination. You try to ask him where but he says you’ll see when you get there. Chanyeol turns on the radio but keeps the volume at a minimum so you can still speak comfortably to eachother.

Soon enough, he turns into the underground parking lot of a shopping mall complex and parks his car.

“What do you need to do here?” you ask him once you’re both inside the elevator taking you up to the chosen level.

“Just wait a little longer, little miss impatient. You’ll see.”

He laughs when you huff and pout your lips.

Chanyeol leads the way but you notice his long legs allow him longer strides that force you to quicken your step a little just to keep up with him. He seems to notice this though and slows himself down to a pace that's good for you both.

“So, you remember that candy you were telling me about last time? The one you said your grandma used to buy for you when you little and you can’t find anymore?”

You nod slowly, quirking a brow and tilting your head, wondering where he’s going with this.

“I found out this place here sells them!”

He stops as he says this and points to a small candy shop. Inside, you can see that there are walls and shelves lined with various types of candies and snacks. It seems he’s scoped out this place prior to taking you here because he takes you to the exact place they’re kept in the store.

Your eyes grow wide when you spot the familiar packaging of your childhood favourite and you can’t help the tears forming at your waterline.

Grabbing yourself a few packs of that specific candy, you and Chanyeol browse through the rest of the store, selecting a few more before you both make your way to the counter to pay for your chosen goods.

Chanyeol reaches for his wallet but you stop him, firmly insisting that he allow you to pay for his and your things to thank him for bringing you here and finding something that is so important to you. He sees the look of determination in your eyes and decides not to challenge you. He needs to pick his battles wisely if he wants the rest of the evening to pan out the way he intends it to.

Leaving the store and following Chanyeol to his next errand location, you can’t help but feel touched by the fact that he remembered something you had told him in passing over the phone and also managed to find you the exact thing you talked about too.

You’re pulled out of your thoughts by the sound of Chanyeol’s laughter and you look up to realise he’s stopped walking, now watching you and chuckling as his shoulders bounce up and down.

“What?”

“I should be asking you that. What’s got you so deep in thought?”

“Nothing!” you quickly say, sounding way too defensive for your own good.

He hums, letting you know he didn’t really believe you but isn’t going to question you any further.

“Well, while you were too busy thinking about ‘nothing,’ I was trying to ask if you wanted to see this movie with me?” – he points over to a poster on the wall and you realise you’ve stopped in front of the cinema – “I didn’t realise it was out already! I’ve been looking forward to it.”

It’s been a while since you’ve seen a movie in an actual cinema, considering everything is just so accessible online these days. The movie he’s asking you to watch with him is an action comedy, it can’t be too bad right? You seem to have the same taste with most things so far.

“I mean, if you don’t want to. It’s okay, I just thought we could watch it together since we’re both here right now.”

He sees the gears in your head cranking and he’s hoping he didn’t overstep by asking you, the last thing he wants is for you to feel uncomfortable around him. His nervousness shows by the way he’s unable to stand still, shifting from one foot to another and scratching the back of his neck.

“No, no, I’d love to watch it with you! It’s been so long since I’ve been to an actual cinema too. I think it’ll be fun!”

A toothy grin immediately appears on his features, eyes bright and sparkly with excitement.

“Awesome! I’ll go get the tickets and something from the candy bar too. Any requests?”

“Maybe just a drink? I think we have plenty of things to snack on.” you laugh, pointing to the bag he’s holding.

He nods in agreement and quickly scurries off to buy some tickets.

You both emerge from the dark movie theatre just under 2 hours later feeling a little closer than you did when you went in.

It was a great movie, it had a balance of suspenseful moments, scenes that made you laugh and a not-so-heavy-romance-but-just-enough plot thrown in. Truly something for everyone.

It was also the first time you had sat so closely with Chanyeol. Close enough that you could smell his cologne wafting to your nose and holy shit did he smell absolutely delicious. He would nudge you during the funny scenes as he laughed. Although the two of you had started off leaving a respectable distance, somewhere during the movie you had both managed to scoot closer to each other. Your thigh resting comfortably against his, upper arms touching too.

You both opened some of the snacks you had bought earlier to try and looked to each other for reactions, most of them were so good and the others not so much, making you both scrunch your face at eachother and quickly wrap the packet up and placing it back into the bag to reach for another instead.

Walking back to the car together, you discuss the happenings of the movie you’ve both just watched and end up quoting the same lines to eachother. His eyes are now in a semi permanent crescent moon position from all the laughing, a vast difference to his usual rounded full-moon-esque eyes that look like they contain galaxies within them. You wonder if his cheeks hurt from smiling as much as yours do.

You have learnt that Chanyeol laughs with his entire body, whether it be the not so subtle shaking of his shoulders, loud echoing claps from his huge hands, slapping his own body (usually thighs) or whatever furniture is within range or just folding over and holding himself. You wouldn’t put it behind him to regularly end up on the floor dying from a laughing fit too. The thought is endearing, the fact that he’s just so happy it vibrates through his entire being this way.

All that laughing must have depleted his body of energy because the moment you settle into the car and buckle up your seatbelts, you hear a huge extended rumbling sound coming from, what you can safely assume by the way he quickly clutches his abdomen, is his stomach.

Chanyeols ears grow bright red and he smiles at you sheepishly.

“Um, would you like to go get some food?” he says, scratching the back of his neck. A nervous habit of his that you’ve manage to pick up on. “Since we’re already together right now and it’s basically dinner time..” he trails off.

“Sure, why not. Since we’re conveniently together right now and I don’t think your stomach can wait any longer.” you tease.

“Hey!” he puts on a pretend offended look. “Is there anything in particular you want to eat? Anything you’re craving?”

“Hmm,” you purse your bottom lip and roll your eyes around in thought, “not really. I don’t mind what we eat.”

“Do you like ramen? There’s this spot I really like and it’s close by.”

“I love it! Let’s go there.”

Feeling pleased with himself that you so happily accept his suggestion for dinner and invite to join him for yet another thing, Chanyeol knows he definitely can’t wipe the grin off his face even if his cheeks are definitely feeling sore from smiling so much. He just hopes you’re enjoying yourself when spending time with him as much as he was with you.

Just like he said, the ramen restaurant was indeed close by and you arrive there in less than 10 minutes and a few turns along the way.

It’s a cosy little, hole in the wall type place that you wouldn’t have noticed in passing. Chanyeol swears this place has the best ramen he’s tasted outside of Japan, telling you to trust his judgement because he apparently travels there pretty often and has had his fair share of authentic Japanese cuisine.

You enter the small restaurant and are immediately greeted by the chef behind the counter, bowing and welcoming you inside and showing you to some seats. After perusing the menu and putting your order in, its not long before your steaming hot bowl of ramen arrives and you thank the chef for the food.

Picking up your spoon, you dip it inside the broth to scoop up some of the deliciousness to taste. The rich flavour immediately hits your senses and it tastes even better than it smells and looks.

“So?” Chanyeol asks, excited to hear your verdict.

“It really is so good!”

“Yay! I’m glad you like it.”

Chanyeol’s own bowl of ramen arrives immediately after and he follows your actions of thanking the chef before digging into the food, slurping up the broth and noodles.

Having ordered a smaller serving and receiving your food before Chanyeol, you end up finishing before he does and you allow yourself some silent moments to reflect on the past few hours you’ve spent with him.

You don’t think you’ve been this happy in a long time. And you can’t remember the last time you’ve felt this comfortable around someone new either. Could you really call him someone new though? After the amount of time you’ve spent texting together and on calls, coffee meetups in the mornings…you’ve definitely entered some sort of situationship with him. Any doubts you had about whether he felt the same way you did about him had dissipated. Any inklings of wonder you had whether he felt it to the intensity you did had gone too. Because just as much as you love spending time with him, he seems to want your company the same also.

Maybe you are ready. More than you had previously thought. Just scared, maybe.

“A penny for your thoughts?” Chanyeol asks, derailing your train of thought.

“I was just thinking…hypothetically, maybe I am ready to go on that date.”

The smile he gives you is impish. It’s not the bright, happy kind of smile you were expecting. It’s the mischievous kind, like when a little kid knows a silly secret or something. It makes you squint your eyes at him, questioning his motives.

“What?”

“Well, actually, we kinda did already go on that hypothetical date.”

You’re wondering what in the hell he’s on about when it clicks. What dat- Oh. Oh. A movie and dinner. The classic, run of the mill date.

You can’t even be mad. It’s too smart. He tricked you into going on a first date with him.

“Clever bastard.”

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heliza24 · 5 months

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This was one of those lines and scenes that basically turns me inside out with envy as a writer. This exchange is working on so many levels. Like on a macro level it is summing up the themes of the show. Andy and the other inventors are fixated on creating technology that will protect them in the face of climate change but it's not enough to protect them from murder. In fact sometimes it's the technology itself that's being used to kill them. Andy is constantly talking technology in these big sweeping terms. He uses it to keep himself separate and apart from the rest of the world. But Darby uses it for connection. She fell in love with Bill on the internet. She uses technology to find the clues that lead her to answers. She uses Ray to keep herself grounded. She sees the humanity, the people-made hacks, threaded through every interface and every computer. The dead speak to her but so does code. And when the show touches on a generational divide I think that's what it's mainly saying. How do you view technology? Is it a tool to help you stay separate and apart from the rest of humanity or a way to speak to the dead? In reality there are people of every generation that have every possible relationship to technology. But there is something that feels very Gen x about Andy and very Gen Z about Darby in their relationship to computers.

Bill is kind of an in between. He meets Darby on the internet, but their courtship is analogue. He woos her using Morse code after they graduate off of Reddit. After he leaves Darby he starts making art that protests smart cities. Maybe he was murdered because he opposed some sort of tech that Andy is working on. We're not sure yet. And he's frustrated that Darby is so obsessed with the case she can't look up and see him, and for Darby the case lives on her phone. So it makes sense on a scene level that he would be railing against phones here. He's just been so vulnerable with her, listed the moments he knew he was in love with her, and she's too scared to be vulnerable in return. Instead she turns back to the phone. So it makes sense that he's displacing his frustration with Darby onto the object of her obsession. And her response just cuts through his defense mechanism. It's such a good rebuttal. It refutes his initial assumption, that her obsession with the case means she doesn't love him. It lets her be vulnerable and defend herself at the same time. It's such a good line.

Another thing I loved about this episode was the way that the Bill/Darby relationship shifted. In the beginning of the series Bill feels very dangerous. He's a stranger Darby met on the internet, he's hacking lights on abandoned train tracks to send her a message, he's sweeping her away on a cross country roadtrip to find a killer. He could easily be a killer himself. Those early scenes between them are shot in a way to emphasize the danger and the edginess that exists between them, and you’re supposed to be scared for Darby. But as we gradually get to know Bill we realize how caring and thoughtful he is. We see how much he cares about Darby and especially about her consent before anything sexual happens. And in this episode we realize that there was always a dangerous element in their relationship. But it was Darby, not Bill. It was Darby's obsession with the case, her comfort and dedication to the dead over the living, and her spiraling mental health that threatened their safety and their relationship.

By the time Darby is in Iceland, it seems like she's grown past this negative mental health space, at least to an extent. She's written about her experience finding the killer with Bill and put it behind her. But death finds her in Iceland and pulls her back in, and in this episode we see her resort to some of the same unhealthy coping mechanisms in order to solve the case.

The other perfect line from this episode was "sometimes I feel like I would have to die for you to love me", and I think it's so wonderful because it's both extremely true and totally wrong. Darby does have a connection to the dead, and she is bound to Bill more strongly in his death than she was during the years after he left her. She is intent on finding out what happened to him, but at the same time she is drowning in grief. She's unwilling to offer Bill's name when the other guests lists the other murder victims at the bonfire because that would mean he is really not coming back, he's really just the same as all the other serial killer victims they investigated together. And she loved him more than that. She loved him in life too.

This show is so good, the writing and the dialogue and the symbolism and sense of fate that runs through it is so good. I really hope they stick the landing of the mystery because I just love it. This episode in particular is just rattling around in my brain, I can't let it go.

#a murder at the end of the world #my meta #didn't mean to write a thing but here we are!#this show is so good PLEASE don't let them mess it up #I would love for tumblr to get into this show

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vinsmokewife · 7 months

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Who is this person- chapter 3

On a quest to find love on a dating website, Sanji falls head over heels for a woman with an interest in...alternative relationships that sends him down a rabbit hole of completing tasks for a seemingly sadistic mistress. But what happens when she turns out to be more than what she seems?

Darkfic with themes of internalised homophobia, bad bdsm practices and lying about your identity to strangers on the internet. Please read with caution. This is NOT how BSDM should be practiced. Always practice Sane, Safe and Consensual practicesboarders on being considered dead dove do not eat material

read on ao3

authors note: sorry!! This took longer than I expected. I wanted to keep up with Kinktober over comic con so I was pretty much coming back from the hotel room after con, writing and then falling asleep infsfsf. Con was great btw. Any way, this is where things start to get explicit and will probably get worse and worse as the chapters go on. This fanfic (or what I have planned for it) will be boardering on Dead Dove content with the BDSM practices. Please only read if you are comfortable with that. Also, Zoro and Sanji are very questionable in this (especially Zoro) so that’s another thing. Anyway, please enjoy.

Chapter summary

Zeff unknowingly gives Sanji bad advice and Zoro meets a familiar face in the club

LOGGING IN: S POV

He had to take some time to think it over. By time, he meant well into the next day.

Sanji took seriously what Zoey had to say. Rushing into some sort of BDSM relationship was not the wisest thing in the entire world especially when you have not even met them. He didn’t know what he was thinking. Perhaps it was the first girl in a long time that’s seriously took his attempts at romance seriously. It just so happens that her idea of romance does not align with his idea of romance. He was all walks along the beach and holding hands and she was all leather and lace.

In the meantime, Sanji looked up what it meant to be in a BDSM relationship but it was hard to get an idea. There were so many different types of BDSM. So many different scenarios that he could be a part of with her.

She wanted to be in charge…so did that mean she wanted him as her submissive?

Men naturally lead. It’s in his blood to be chivalrous but lead relationships as that’s what men do but what he suspected she wanted from him went against all that. She wanted to lead and she wanted him to serve…so there was that to consider as well. Is that what he wanted too?

This was pretty distracting. Especially when he had to work today. No, Zeff didn’t give him a day off. Zeff did give him the evening off as to not take too much advantage but what good was that when Sanji acted like a zombie the entire day? Missing orders, making mistakes on orders and being too distracted with what was on his phone.

Zeff hadn’t noticed until one of the line chefs complained really loudly that Zeff better get his brat in order or they were going to lose customers. Now that was when Zeff began to notice all the issues and the fact that Sanji seemed like he was away somewhere else entirely. Where? He didn’t know but the old man was not having a crappy day because of Sanji. So, he gave another senior chef the charge for the moment before he stormed out of the kitchen. He told another waiter to take over from Sanji who was currently taking orders from a table.

“Sanji,” Zeff’s voice came over as Sanji was turning around. The waiter who was told to take over started taking the order from Sanji.

“Yeah? What? You’re not about to go back on your word about this evening, old man?” Normally Sanji and Zeff would have that kind of banter but by the look on Zeff’s face, he was not in the mood for that kind of banter.

“Enough of that. Get into the back office. We need to have a word,” There was absolutely no warmth in Zeff’s voice which was normal but there was even less which was really concerning for Sanji who watched him and went to the back office. Zeff came slightly behind, telling different waiters to do different jobs. It was obvious that Zeff was not in the mood for any of Sanji’s bull shit today. Well shit, tough crowd today.

Once there, Sanji turned to Zeff who closed the door. The office was small and kinda messy. The only time that either of them were in it was when they were cashing up. This was the office that all the back stuff got done but Zeff and Sanji both worked on the floor so they were rarely ever in this room.

“Okay. What the fuck is your problem today?” Zeff immediately went with that as he had all the grace of a reversing dump truck. Honestly, was this how it was going to go? Immediately, Sanji felt defensive. He didn’t think he was doing that bad today…right? Sure, he had made one or two mistakes, “You’re pissing the other waiters off and your pissing the chefs off. You don’t want to piss me off too, boy,”

“Nothing is wrong today!” Sanji had no problem getting in Zeff’s face either. He didn’t truly think that we was doing that bad but Zeff simply disagreed, “Sorry but if you hadn’t made me come in yesterday, I wouldn’t be as tired as I am,”

“Bullshit!” Zeff saw right through that almost expertly, “I’ve seen you work seven days straight with no breaks and work better than the horse shit that you are doing today. I have half a mind to send you home if you don’t tell me what is going on!”

Sanji felt his blood pressure raise. He didn’t want to be spoken to like that. For all the shit he dealt with in this place, all the times he bailed the old man out by covering shifts for him or staying late because he can’t be bothered cashing up his own restaurant.

“There’s nothing going on!” Sanji wasn’t about to explain his dilemma he was facing with Zeff. He barely knows how to work a phone better yet do online dating.

“Then you better get that suit off and go home then,” Zeff was fuming with Sanji. Although, Sanji could tell it was more annoyance that he wouldn’t tell him that something was wrong. He’d known Zeff since he was a child. Zeff is the closet person to him that he would call a dad. Sanji respected Zeff as a man and as a chef. The honest to god truth was that Zeff probably felt hurt that Sanji couldn’t confide in him, or that was at least Sanji’s guess anyway.

So, Sanji took a moment before replying.

“Fine.” Sanji finally gave into defeat, “I’m having…girl problems,”

There was a beat of a silence. Sanji swore that Zeff was probably going to hit him for being such an idiot about something so trivial especially when it came to girls. After all, Sanji was now in his 20s and still had very little luck with women.

But no hit came. Just Zeff letting out a hearty laugh that grated Sanji’s ears. Maybe this was a bad idea.

“Ha! You’re getting all worked up over a girl. That’s what this is all about?”

Well, at least he wasn’t angry anymore.

“Oh haha. Laugh at me why don’t you. God, you get pissed because I don’t tell you then laugh at me when I do!” It was Sanji’s turn to be pissed off but Zeff defused it by giving Sanji a big old pat on the back.

“Oh no. I’m taking this completely seriously,” Nevermind that Zeff was still laughing at him. Completely ignore that fact entirely if you will, “What’s the problem? She ignoring you or something?”

In all of Sanji’s years, he’s never had a man to man talk about girls with Zeff. Not about a specific girl anyway. Zeff has always taught him to treat girls with respect but never has he went to Zeff about a specific girl. This was the first time ever and he found that super embarrassing as this was…well, Sanji was an adult now and shouldn’t have to tell his basically father about the girl he wanted to date.

Especially since this is about BDSM and he does not want to even know what Zeff’s thoughts on that are.

“Well…no, she’s not. She was but…” Sanji needs to word this in a way that is kinda close to the situation but doesn’t reveal all of the fucked-up situation that he was currently invested in right now.

“Well? Come on boy, spit it out. What is she doing that’s bothering you so much?”

“… I asked her if she wanted to be in a relationship with me and she told me to think about it…” Sanji sounded somewhat unsure.

“That’s just a test,” Zeff replied with a hearty laugh. He seems to be taking much amusement in Sanji’s suffering but maybe the old man was worth listening to, “I’ve dated many women. Trust me. They like to test men. They like to see what they will do when met with a little pushback. Men who aren’t all that interested will back off while the true fighters will fight to get what they wanted,”

And honestly, that made sense to Sanji. Maybe she just wanted to see if he would fight for her. Maybe that’s what this was about. Zeff…was making a lot of sense even if he didn’t know the story 100%.

“Huh. I didn’t think of it that w- Hey!” With that, Zeff gave Sanji a slap on the back, this is the closet that either or the men will get to have a proud dad moment with eachother.

“She’s just wanting the chase. You better give her that chase, you hear me,” Zeff said before giving him another firmer one, “Back to work with a clearer mind then,”

“Yeah, definitely,”

Sanji was met within himself a new determination about the whole situation. He went back to work but not before sending a quick message Zoey’s way.

S: I’m ready to talk when you are.

As a promise to Zeff, Sanji perked up as his shift went by a lot smoother. He seemed to have a clearer head.

He kept an eye on his phone but Zoey never appeared online. Which was probably a blessing in disguise considering that he ended up being pretty busy. It was around the late evening when he was finally finished his shift and surprisingly he did not get roped into closing up. He took Zeff’s advise to heart about Zoey so that when she replied, he would be ready.

And she did. Just as he was finishing his shift and stepping out of the place, she replied.

Z: Hello, Sanji.

Z: Let’s talk. Have you thought about what I said last night?

Sanji waited until he got home to his apartment to get back to her. He dumped his things by the door and headed straight for his bedroom where he sat down on his bed so he could concentrate on getting this right. He was going to take Zeff’s advice and apply it here.

S: I have.

S: I’m still interested in this. I know I’m not experienced but I’m willing to be taught.

S: I have an idea of what kind of relationship you want. It doesn’t scare me. I want to see what it is that you want inside.

Did that sound too cheesy? He wanted to make this work with her so badly. He knew it was maybe not ideal to jump into something so intense but he didn’t care. He wanted to see where things went with Zoey.

Z: Hmmm.

Z: Okay. I have an idea.

Z: What about a trial run? You commit to a week and we will see how we feel about it towards the end.

Z: It won’t be too intense. I will be your dominant till the end of the week and I’ll give you little tasks to complete.

Z: Nothing major.

Z: We can discuss the finer details. As this will primarily be online, I’ll need us to switch to another app.

Another app? Well, he supposed that made sense. Most people moved onto another app once they had established a connection anyway. That wasn’t weird or anything. However, he’s taking the rest of it in. Sanji doesn’t fully comprehend the gravity of what he’s agreeing to but he feels like if he gets to have a chance with her then he’ll agree to anything.

So, they moved to another app. A more private and secure app. He had to make an account, but it was relatively compared to setting up an account on a dating website. He observed a new profile picture this time. It seemed to be a selfie of the same woman from the dating app but with a little less…clothing. She appeared to be in her bra and was wearing a leather mask. She was…very attractive.

Anyway, she messaged first.

Z: So, let’s discuss the details.

Z: I’m going to create a set of rules in our relationship. Most of them are simple to follow. Most of them are there to make sure you are taking care of yourself.

Z: But there are rules.

Rules? He had read this somewhere that rules and rituals are a big part of these types of relationships. In his minimal research, he did see that there were some things that relationships tended to have rules.

S: Rules are fine with me.

Z: Good.

Z: I want to give you your first task. It’s very simple.

Z: But…I want to know your limits.

Z: I like to push limits but you will see that when we get there.

When you’ve never been in those kinds of relationships, it’s hard for you to know what your limits are. Sanji took a few moments to think that one out before he sent back.

S: That’s hard.

S: I don’t want to be hurt too bad.

S: Nothing involving piss or shit too. Or children or animals.

S: I’m open to trying most things even if I don’t know if I’ll like it

Z: Good. Then this should be a piece of cake for you then.

Z: I want you to film yourself masturbating for me. I need to see that you can follow a simple command.

Z: Here…have some pictures of me in return.

Did…did he read that correctly? He barely had time to think about that when she sent a few pictures. The same woman, the same bra and panties but as he scrolled through he pictures, the fewer clothes she had on. They had an amateur quality that was weirdly attractive to him as he took in the pictures. He wished he could be with her right now. She’s so unbelievably gorgeous.

S: Film myself?

S: And thanks ;) I like these a lot. You’re so pretty.

Z: Thank you.

Z: You have an hour by the way.

An hour? There were time limits on these things? He could do this. He had taken pictures of himself exposed before so why shouldn’t this be any different.

S: Okay. I’ll do it.

Here goes nothing.

LOGGING IN: Z POV

It was such a dead night at the club.

Being here was starting to become a regular thing. It was hard not to when the carnal desires get strong.

He was doing his usual having his beer at the bar and watching the conversation between himself and Sanji unfold. His face almost unreadable as he witnesses Sanji’s compliance into what he wants him to do. Was Sanji that…desperate for a girl in his life that he agrees to such a thing? It was bizarre and almost…bothered Zoro. The way that Sanji threw himself at women blindly…not knowing the true dangers.

It couldn’t possibly be the pang of jealousy.

He tried not to think about it like that because it wasn’t like that. It shouldn’t be about that but it wasn’t..right?

He had been waiting thirty minutes for Sanji’s response and honestly, it was making the swordsman feel conflicted. Was this…maybe a little too nasty? Was this probably the worst way he could have gone about this…? Maybe. However, there was no other way he would get this out of Sanji… Sanji hated him. Hated all men in fact (bar Luffy but Luffy was far too harmless for anyone to hate) so…

But wait, why did he want this out of Sanji anyway?

This was a terrible thing to be doing to someone but Zoro couldn’t bring himself to stop.

He sighed and finished the last of his beer. He wasn’t in the mood for this place tonight. Honestly, he was feeling a little apprehensive about seeing if Sanji delivered. He placed his glass on the bar and then turned to get up and then…

“Zoro?”

The voice of a familiar woman rang in his ear and then Zoro turned to see who it was coming from. The woman in question had a mask on with a very intricate design almost like a cat mask. At first, he didn’t know who she was despite her looking very familiar. Obviously, it wasn’t helped by the mask in question However, her long raven hair and her dress where indications of who she was…

“Robin?”

People sometimes wore masks to hide who they were. People who wanted some privacy and didn’t want people to know their face. Zoro didn’t care about that too much. If someone saw him her and was against it then they would be a hypocrite for being so offended. The woman nodded before sliding her next to Zoro and taking a seat at the bar which Zoro did the same because…well, he’s never met someone he knew here. While he never hung out with Robin as much, Robin was always the matriarch of their friendship group with Franky naturally being the patriarch.

“I thought you were dating Franky?”

For some reason, that was the only thing that came out of Zoro’s mouth, as if the two thing can’t coincide at once.

“I still do. He’s here actually. He’s setting up a bedroom for us upstairs. We’ve only started to recently come here. You?”

Was it embarrassing to admit that you are a regular in a BDSM club?

“I’m…a regular. But I don’t do much upstairs. Sometimes, but most of the time I drink here,”

Robin nodded curtly before ordering herself a glass of wine from the bar.

“Do the others know you come here?” She asked, curiously.

“No,” Zoro answered almost immediately, “This…isn’t something I share with most people,”

“Oh…” She asked, before looking at him seriously, “Does us being here bother you?”

That was a really weird question to ask. He didn’t know why it would.

“Not really. Bit weird finding out Franky is into BDSM but that’s about it,” Zoro said trying to add a little bit of humour to the situation. It didn’t bother him…but he didn’t want his whole friendship group knowing he came here most nights.

Robin laughed at his little comment, “I suppose I understand. I just wouldn’t want you to feel ashamed. We are all human and have urges…whether or not they are conventional or not,”

“I should say the same to you,” Zoro gestured to the mask but Robin shook her head.

“A different thing entirely. This is part of the play. Being anonymous in the crowd. I only spoke to you because…well, I couldn’t not when I saw you,” She clarified.

Zoro was about to talk again but he felt his phone ping. He looked at it only to see the heading.

Sanji sent a video. A 5 minute video.

Zoro’s head reeled with the possibility of what he was just sent. He didn’t even realise he was completely blanking Robin for a few seconds while she spoke but he politely excused himself.

“I’m sorry. I have a thing that’s just came up…” Zoro said, interrupting Robin mid conversation who just waved him off.

“That’s okay. I’ll see you around,”

Zoro couldn’t have gotten away quick enough but he didn’t have the patience to go to his apartment so he headed off to the bathroom and locked himself in a stall. Zoro waited a few minutes as the gravity of what he’s done starts to sink in. He’s potentially just convinced his rival to send him a video of himself jerking off for some imaginary lady using images of some model from some paid subscription website.

And he really doesn’t understand fully why he’s done this. He just knows it’s deeply fucked up.

He debates quietly to himself opening the message weighing out the pros and cons. He doesn’t even have any malicious intention with this. He just…craves a side of Sanji that isn’t hostile.

But…why this?

He doesn’t know what to do with this video. But, his thumb moves on its own and opens the message.

The thumbnail of the video makes the hairs on his arms stand up. Sanji had managed to position his phone in such a way that Zoro could see Sanji clearly. Face and all, chest and most importantly, his waist. Sanji was surprisingly toned but not bulked up like Zoro was. He looked really different. But as he could see…

Sanji actually did as he asked.

But should Zoro even watch it? He doesn’t know. How far will this go? Zoro doesn’t know what to do.

It wouldn’t hurt to watch…right.

Fuck it. Zoro’s thumb presses play. The curiosity of the situation got the absolute better of him and he couldn’t help himself when he watched and listened to what he received. Sanji’s voice was…different. A lot more soft and a lot more needy than how he normally was. Normally Sanji was really aggressive or really rude toned but this sounded…pleasant. Pleasant to his ears at least.

That was the first thing he picked up on and that he was getting hard from it.

Jesus fuck. Sanji of all people was making Zoro hard. A man he’s despised since meeting him has made him have the urge to jack off.

This was…something. But would it really hurt if he…sorted himself out while simultaneously watching this video? It wouldn’t hurt anyone besides, it would be a waste of a video, right?

Zoro reached and grabbed his cock out of his pants and stroked himself in slow motions as he listened and watched. It was delectable watching Sanji move his hand like this. He was absolutely beautiful like this and this right here was so utterly fucked up.

His mind raced to places he knew would never be a reality. He wondered how Sanji would feel wrapped around his cock. He wondered how his mouth would feel. Those perfect parted lips with cum drizzled on them or his ass seeping with cum. His mind raced with all the things he wanted in that moment which made Zoro fuck his hips into his hand as he watched Sanji get more frantic with his hand movement. That needy and whiny voice, breathless as he vocalises his pleasure, he wished he could have him underneath him.

Holy shit. He would rail Sanji hard if he could just to hear him call his name.

With a noisy moan, his head slipping back, Zoro got to watch the blonde cum over his waist and hands with more whining which sent Zoro over the edge of cumming into his hand with a grunt. He watched as the video came to and end and then…

The post nut reflection started to hit in as he panted. All the negative feelings that his brain was holding back started to seep into his body now that the tension had been released.

He catfished Sanji into sending him pornography. He masturbated to it and loved it. Most damning…he didn’t feel bad about it. Or he did…but not enough to admit to it.

In fact, he quickly sent a message in response.

Z: What a good boy you are.

Z: Thank you for following your first command.

Z: I am so lucky to have such a good boy.

Zoro sent those messages then sat there, feeling so many conflicted feelings towards what he’s doing and has done. The worse part is he doesn’t think he can stop now. He’s going to have to keep going.

“Fuck.”

#one piece zosan #zoro x sanji #zosan fanfic #roronoa zoro #vinsmoke sanji #zosan #kinktober 2023

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sprinklescold · 8 months

Text

A Close Reading of Ivy and Zelkov's Support Chain (and why I ship it)

These are just the opinions of an internet rando. Take it with a grain of salt. I am probably (definitely) reading too much into things here, but what else is fandom for? That disclaimer out of the way, go watch Ivy and Zelkov’s supports. I’ll wait…

Great, right? It makes a difference to hear the voice acting. I think it brings shades of meaning to the words. Plus both actors did an amazing job. Anyway, on to my (hopefully coherent) analysis.

C Support:

Ivy: Ugh…

Zelkov: What is the meaning of this sound, Princess Ivy?

Ivy: Just a headache.

Zelkov: I hope you are not overworking yourself.

He sounds so genuinely concerned here. Looking at all his supports together, it’s obvious how much he wants to take care of the people around him, whether he realizes it or not.

Ivy: I’m fine. And there is no need to pretend you care. I know you are not fond of me.

She’s clearly upset about the fact she thinks he doesn’t like or truly care about her. She doubts his motives and his honesty, likely due to her childhood experiences with the Elusian court. I’m going to note the use of the word “fond” here. It suggests something softer and more affectionate than if they had just used the word “like.”

Zelkov: Hm. Let me make this absolutely clear. My concern for your well-being is genuine. It is, after all, my responsibility.

Ivy: Hmm…

Zelkov: Yet for some reason, it concerns you whether I have fond feelings toward you. So, allow me to state it plainly. I do not have fond feelings toward you, Princess Ivy. I see such things as irrelevant. Whatever my sentiments may be, what matters is that you have my obedience.

He is very careful to keep her at arms length. My interpretation would be that, due to his past, he tries not to get close to people for fear of losing them. He chooses to minimize and leave his feelings unexamined (“whatever [his] sentiments may be…”), in favor of focusing on his work.

Ivy: What a curious thing for my own retainer to say. But that’s a relief. I don’t like you either.

This, to me, sounds like she’s lashing out in order to hurt him for his supposed dislike, and also to protect herself. I don’t like you, so it doesn’t matter if you don’t like me. But note that he never actually says that he doesn’t like her, just that he isn’t “fond” of her.

Zelkov: I will obey you regardless.

He doesn’t particularly seem to want agency over his own life, which goes with his philosophy of “killing time until time kills you.” His work is all that matters, so he’s just going to do whatever Ivy tells him to. But he doesn’t just obey orders. He sees her well-being as his responsibility (i.e. he can’t help but feel the need to take care of her).

Ivy: So good to hear.

Some sarcasm from Ivy. What I get from this C support is two people whose perceptions are colored by their traumatic pasts. They’re both acting indifferent trying to protect themselves from being hurt.

B Support:

Zelkov: There is nothing quite so isolating as pain. It cannot be explained. The only window to understanding it is experience. Does that mean we are destined to be strangers to one another? Not at all. For we possess the gift of wisdom, by which we may intuit what we cannot see. I have distilled this wisdom to its essence. I have corked it within this tincture. This vessel encapsulates the light which will dispel the dark fog of your isolation.

Ivy: … I’m sorry, what is happening? What is this?

Zelkov: Headache medicine.

So this whole exchange is funny, but when you really look at the meaning of what he’s saying, it’s pretty touching. It’s due to their past (emotional) pain that both of them isolate themselves, but he’s here showing her sympathy. He wants to stop her from being in pain.

Ivy: You’re saying you made this? For me?

She sounds so happy.

Zelkov: Yes. As your retainer, I have a duty to serve you by every available means.

Ivy: I… Thank you.

And then she sounds so disappointed.

Zelkov: Your thanks are unnecessary. I am only doing my duty.

Once again he’s trying to push her away and convince himself that he’s only doing his job.

Ivy: … Thank you for reaffirming exactly why I dislike you. That said… I admit I appreciate your honesty. Many in your position would flatter or lie. You speak your mind. I respect that.

So she never explicitly says why she dislikes him, but what exactly did he do that reaffirmed it? Well, he was pushing her away, treating her like a responsibility rather than a person. She wants so badly for him to like her as a person. Despite being disappointed, she’s still grateful for the gesture, so she tries to be nice in return. She’s been surrounded by flatterers and liars her whole life, so his blunt honesty is something she values (although I don’t think Zelkov’s being totally honest with himself about his own motivations).

Zelkov: I, uh…

When she praises him is the only time I can think of that he gets tongue tied like this.

Ivy: Did you…have something more to say?

She really wants him to have something more to say.

Zelkov: Apologies, Princess Ivy. The sentiment merely surprised me. I will take my leave and attend to my other duties. Rest well.

He would probably take it at face value when she says she doesn’t like him. Once again, he distracts himself with work to avoid thinking about his feelings.

Ivy: I will. Thank you, Zelkov.

She sounds genuine here and is smiling. The B support is sort of a two steps forward, one step back situation. They’re both reaching out to each other, even if they can’t quite admit it to themselves.

A Support:

Ivy: Zelkov, I have something for you.

Zelkov: A paintbrush? Is this for me?

Ivy: Yes. To thank you for the headache medicine. I understand you’re a painter. But if you have no need for it, feel free to get rid of it.

Despite the fact that she said she doesn’t like him, she wants to give him a gift to show her gratitude for his kindness (even though she thinks he doesn’t like her and is just doing it out of a sense of obligation). She’s taken some initiative in finding out about him as a person and not just as her retainer. Although, once again she tries to protect herself by acting cool, saying that it’s really not that big of a deal and that she wouldn’t care if he threw it away.

Zelkov: On the contrary─I will take exquisite care of it. Thank you.

I don’t think he’s used to people being kind to him.

Ivy: I’m…glad you like it.

Zelkov: I… Princess Ivy, I hope you know I enjoy my work. In fact, when I have a task before me, it is my way to immerse myself in it entirely. In those times, and only those times, my mind is truly at peace. So long as I am your retainer, so long as there is work to do…I have a purpose. That is how deeply I appreciate working for you.

He responds very intensely to her gift. Put another way, he’s saying “My purpose is to be your retainer.” That’s a pretty strong statement. He must find something in Ivy very valuable if that’s the case. This does also show how little meaning he sees in his own life.

Ivy: I see. If that’s true, then I’m happy to have you.

She’s still hesitant to take him at his word (“if that’s true…”), but she’s pleased to hear that he enjoys working for her regardless.

Zelkov: These are indeed my true feelings. You know I am unwilling to lie or flatter.

Ivy: Yes, you’ve made that clear.

She’s laughing here.

Zelkov: I hope you will never hesitate to delegate any task to me. I would die for you, my liege, and gladly.

Fellas, is it romantic to say you would gladly die for someone? I mean, he’s saying “I would do literally anything for you.” It seems fairly obvious to me that if Zelkov were to theoretically fall in love with someone he would be completely, head-over-heels, obsessed with them. He never gives anything less than 110%.

Ivy: Gladly? Despite your lack of fond feelings toward me?

She’s feeling things out here, curious (hopeful?) about his change in attitude. Even at this point she seems guarded. I think it would be hard for her to accept the idea that someone (you know, hypothetically) loved her. She would need a lot of reassurance.

Zelkov: My feelings… may have changed. I now think of you as an acceptable liege.

Before, he was able to express his feelings by talking about how much he appreciated his work, but when it comes to talking about his feelings for her, he has a much harder time.

Ivy: I find you acceptable as well, Zelkov.

Based on the tone of voice, I don’t think being called “acceptable” was quite what she wanted, but she is also terrible at talking about her feelings.

Zelkov: Hm, kind of you to say.

Ivy: However, dying for my sake is not a task to which I will assign you. Gladly or otherwise. Consider yourself under strict orders to survive as you continue to serve me.

Telling someone not to die for you kind of seems like basic human decency, but when you think about them being liege and retainer, it would be part of the job description. Taking into account the conversation in chapter 10 where she gives him and Kagetsu the opportunity to leave, this is the second time she’s shown that she values his life above his responsibilities to her. She doesn’t consider her life as being more important than his. Digging into the subtext a bit, with his statement about “So long as I am your retainer, so long as there is work to do…I have a purpose.” (among other things he says) you get the feeling that the man is only holding on by a thread. “...Survive as you continue to serve me” would be a way of saying “Don’t do anything drastic. Stay with me.”

Zelkov: You may rely on me, Princess Ivy.

“I won’t die. I’ll continue to be here for you.”

They still haven’t quite let down their walls, but they at least have come to an understanding. Their B and A supports are a very subtle back and forth of them putting themselves out there and the other responding in kind. For these two, that feels very significant.

Even from my first viewing of their supports (which was before I shipped them) it felt like Ivy was all into him in their C and B, and then when he admitted that he did like her in their A support her response was strangely reserved. You could come up with some reason, like she wasn’t expecting his reaction and didn’t properly know how to respond (and I mean… fair). Or maybe she was thrown off by the use of the word “acceptable” and isn’t quite sure how he really feels. Or maybe the idea of having someone feel that strongly about her scared her and caused her to withdraw a bit. But I think it really comes down to Fire Emblem having three short supports to create a whole character arc, and in this game they have to be platonic (although some definitely read more romantically than others).

And here’s where I get into my own shippy interpretation. They each have what the other desperately wants. They supply something to the other that is missing from their life. Ivy very much wants to be valued as a person. She wants someone to make her feel safe and cared for. Zelkov wants to be needed and have someone to take care of. She needs to be loved and he needs someone to love. But of course she would love him because he loves her and he would love her because she loves him until they’re in this continuous feedback loop of being obsessed with each other.

[Edit 2: I had a thing here about how it might not be the healthiest relationship (and sure, it's not) but I'll replace that with a hot take. A therapist definition of a healthy relationship is tepid as hell. If both of you aren't head over heels, willing to do anything the other asks, in love, then I don't want it. Note that I said BOTH. Also note that I'm just an idiot on the internet and this is not advice and you shouldn't have fictional characters as relationship goals.]

[Edit 1: I wanted to add a few other thoughts here. In every fic I've read where the two of them interact in any significant way, they always have the best relationship. (And I don't mean that in a shippy way, since I'm just about the only one writing Zelai fics.) It's always clear that Zelkov knows and understands Ivy better than anyone, and Ivy trusts Zelkov completely. And it recently came to my attention that there are TWO people in the game who can't say the word "love" when engaged with Sigurd. Two emotionally stunted people who just can't admit to having feelings. I swear it makes me go crazy.]

#fire emblem engage #fe engage #zelkov #ivy (fire emblem)#Me? Obsessing over my OTP? Never!#my engage theories

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ask-all-might · 8 months

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Seriously? Huge L, and ew

((If this is in response to the earlier ask about ships and fiction, I suggest you learn some reading comprehension and grow up. Supporting fictional freedom doesn’t mean you have to be into every taboo or problematic thing. In fact, you could simply not enjoy it at all. It just means you believe people should be able to freely explore fiction however they please as a way to explore themselves and their identity, and believe me, people have been exploring the darker side of it ad infinitum. It’s normal. It’s human. I may be making assumptions, but from your language I get the strong feeling you’re someone who believes shipping or exploring something “problematic” is “illegal” and that the person creating this fiction condones it in real life, as I’ve seen young people so often do these past several years. It’s worrying and disheartening, honestly. Subscribing to this purity culture thing is just another brand of conservatism. And that brings me back to my earlier point. Please learn some reading comprehension, learn to differentiate fiction from reality, and learn to simply Not Engage with fiction you don’t like. Making your entire personality about seeking out and harassing people over fiction you personally disagree with sounds exhausting. I suggest you find a better use for your time, something creative and healthy. Make art, whatever form that takes, of something you DO like, and stop worrying about what strangers on the internet are creating. You’ll be a lot happier, I promise.))

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heartstopperfireworks · 1 year

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Another crackling day of reveals is here! And you can keep using this handy Masterlist to keep track of your reading progress and creator guesses. Let’s jump right in with a bang! Say hello to Day 3!

⚡

DAY 3 REVEALS

University Challenge

Nick/Charlie

Rated: M

Word Count: 10,935

In which Charlie gets the starter for ten and the bonuses...

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Masquerade Suiteheart

Nick/Charlie

Rated: T

Word Count: 5,845

Harry Greene hosts a masquerade ball

Nick dresses like a pirate

Charlie finds the confidence to talk to his crush

Nick is enchanted by the mysterious blue-eyed stranger

⚡

glitch (i thought we had no chance)

Nick/Charlie

Rated: T

Word Count: 4,142

“What’s the last thing you remember? Of us, like the last thing we did together?”

“Um…” The curly boy stops, the weird question making a wave of anxiety hit him in the gut. “We played in the snow with Nellie, at your house.”

“Charlie that was… Over a year ago.” Nick says in a low voice. “We’re together now… I’m your boyfriend.”

“YOU’RE MY BOYFRIEND?”

Charlie Spring knows for a fact that he is in love with Nick Nelson. But after a rugby accident, he kind of forgets that Nick Nelson loves him back.

⚡

Flames at the Side of My Face

Nick/Charlie, Tara/Darcy, Elle/Tao

Rated: T

Word Count: 2,510

It's a dark and stormy night and it's the last movie night of the summer and the Paris Squad gathers at Nick Nelson's to watch murder mysteries. Suddenly, they lose the TV, the lights, and the internet. Will a Truth or Dare game lead to a first kiss?

⚡

Husband Guy

Nick/Charlie

Rated: T

Word Count: 1,246

Mr. Nelson is depressed. A student does some meddling. Nick just wants to cuddle his husband.

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Oh So Quiet

Nick/Charlie

Rated: T

Word Count: 1,212

Nick and Charlie always sit next to each other in the Uni library, but they haven't really talked, and they're not sure how to become friends without bothering one another.

CREATORS: If your works were released today, please don't forget to update your posting date!

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random-fandom-inserts · 1 year

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The Beauty of The Internet

Toren realizes he’s terrible at socializing, so he downloads an app to help him. Things are going well, until he’s asked to meet in person.

However, he wished he knew what it was about him that made him look like a long-time resident of Fula so he could change it immediately. Far too many tourists have asked him for directions.

As he maneuvered through the streets, occasionally bumping shoulders with a stranger and making his face light up red, Toren pulled out his phone to distract himself.

A notification brought a small smile to his face, and made his face go red for a different reason.

Y/N: How was work for you today?

He’s been talking to you for months now, practically a year. The funny part was that he met you online and has no clue what you looked like.

Toren: It was busier than usual due to the Wind Festival.

Cue him being forced onto a social media platform.

And then he met you on there.

It may sound weird, but he thinks you guys have some sort of special connection.

Y/N: The festival sounds like such fun! Speaking of...

In fact, he this is the first time in his life that he seems confident in speaking to another person, even if it’s just over text. But then, one statement from you blows it all out the window.

Y/N: I’m actually in town for that! We should meet up! It would be such fun!

Toren felt his whole demeanor just shatter.

But what if he says no?

Toren: Sure.

He’s not taking the jacket off, knowing well enough that there would be sweat stains.

Eventually, he came to a problem.

How would he know who you were?

As Toren stared at the person, they looked up at him, nearly causing him to shriek in fright. However, he was stunned by the enchanting beauty of e/c eyes that were framed by h/c hair.

“Really? Me too...People always assumed I was weird because of my anxiety.” Toren told you and you gave him a shocked look.

In fact, he knew now just how he felt about you.

It was at this time, that your pokémon decided to get mischievous.

Meowstic moved to your side and used her physic powers to push you closer to Toren. Meanwhile, Chansey moved to push her trainer closer to you. It caused the two of you to squish together.

“Meowstic!” You scolded your partner as she casually looked away. Toren was too stunned to say anything, and both of your faces turned bright red.

But despite the embarrassment, you guys stayed like that.

But he didn’t need it anymore.

Cause when he walked you to where you were staying, he held your hand on his own decision.

#pokemon #pokemon x reader #pokemon power of us #pokemon toren #toren #toren x reader

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dancing-with-the-madmen · 2 years

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The Art of Buggery, redux

And this?

Stede joins him after the preliminary scene on the deck, and this is where we get the second instance of “Bugger.”

But what clinches the intentionality of the use of the word bugger for me is this asshole:

His problem is believing Ed could ever want that with HIM.

(my sweet baby boy. Please stop telling on yourself. Also, can we please take a moment to appreciate the HARD side-eye Lucius is giving Ed here? Epic.)

#ofmd #ofmd meta #stede bonnet #I maybe identify a little too much with Stede...

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