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creatingblackcharacters · 2 months

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"It takes HOW LONG?" Black Hair is an Art (pt.2)

(This is part two of the hair lessons, focusing on writing/narratives. If you want to know how the styles LOOK, refer to part 1 and its addendum)

Now that you know what our hair actually looks like, we’re going to discuss incorporating that into your writing (original fic, fanfic, webcomics, anything with a narrative). You don’t HAVE to give us a dissertation on "how you studied 'The Black People’s Hair'" in your story. That’s not what I’m asking you to do. I’m just asking you to CONSIDER the effort and existence of it. The same way you put effort into discussing nonblack hair textures? Should be the sort of tenderness and care you put into discussing ours. It does not stand to reason that I have read thousands of stories describing "the silky, black/blonde tresses/waves that fell down their pale back as their lover ran their fingers through them", but Black readers have nothing of the sort to compare to without seeking our own authors out. Our hair deserves some loving and adoration too!

This is a very long post describing hairstyles and how they can correspond to your character's design and decisions, so I'll put a read more here. The sections are organized into 'Twist Out', 'Afros', 'Locs', 'Braids', 'Black Men', and 'Straight Hair' if you Ctrl F. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take your time to read all of this at some point though, as I put a lot of resources and explanation into this. I'm trusting you!

The History

As I discussed in the last lesson, our hair is incredibly important to us, and part of that includes the vulnerability and trust that comes along with access to it. This is due to a long history of oppression. There’s a racist history of making Black women hide our hair, as if it would ‘tempt white men’ away, regardless of it were due to actual attraction or the (more likely) rape of Black women. There’s a racist history of touching our hair, as though we are animals or zoo exhibits. We aren’t just going to let anyone touch our heads, so DON'T write that, unless you are doing so to show that it is a microaggression towards your character. Even now, cultural appropriation is rampant. If I were to wear cornrows with hoops, it'd be seen as 'ghetto' or 'gang-like'. Meanwhile, it is a fashion statement for white women. When Miles G Morales showed up in Across the Spiderverse, animators specifically chose cornrows for him, but many people mistakenly took it to me that he was 'rougher and tougher' than the original Miles. This was a racist perception! Hearing the Fade get hyped up in the news as the 'Travis Kelce', when Black men and especially NFL players have been wearing it for DECADES to crickets... it hurts lmao. Point is, you can describe and respect Black hair without being racist about it. Okay? Okay.

Vulnerability

YOUR CHARACTERS NEED TO BE CLOSE BEFORE ALLOWING THEM TO TOUCH THEIR HAIR!!!

It needs to be someone they TRUST wholeheartedly. Again, do NOT let a stranger touch their hair unless it’s meant to be an uncomfortable situation!

Consider CONSENT! Consent is ALWAYS beautiful! Have your other characters (Black or not) ASK to touch your Black characters’ hair! And not in the ‘Oh can I touch it?’ way. But if they’re really close friends or dating, have them ask to help do their braids, or wash their hair, or even just to stroke their hair and face! Or if your Black character is injured with a head wound, and they have to tend to them, have them ask! The asking shows a level of care and respect for your Black character and their body! At any point the consent may be revoked, and that needs to be respected! If they let them tend their head wound, but then smack their hand away after, that’s not ‘rude’- they’re allowed to do that, especially to signify that they aren’t at that level of trust yet. That's still angsty!

One great example of love from a Black character is doing their partner’s hair, or allowing their partner to do their hair. The ‘Hair-washing’ fic is a common thing in fanfiction; we all understand how that shows the depth of the trust in the relationship between the characters. How would you write about that trust with a Black character, if you don’t know what goes into taking care of their hair? If you don’t even know what their hair looks or feels like? The lack of awareness will show, and what should be a beautiful, deep moment will fall flat for Black readers. I wrote one once for my character with locs, and it honestly made me tear up because I realized that I’d never seen one, at least not in the majority white spaces that the fandoms I was in were.

Think about it- how often have you read a hair-washing fic with a Black character? Was it accurate? Would you know if it was accurate? Have you spoken to or heard anyone Black in your fandom space talk about it? Do you know anyone Black in your fandom space to ask? It’s things like this that we have to consider!

If you have a character that is nonblack in a relationship with your Black character, that honestly reveals even more trust because there’s a long history (again) behind that NOT happening! In life, we can’t go to the same places. I can’t go to a white hair salon or barbershop. They won’t know what to do! People are allowed to go through hair school without learning how to work with different, thicker textures. It’s not right nor fair, but it’s a part of the casual, systemic racism in our lives.

My feelings on what Lestat symbolizes aside, the scene where he plays with Louis’ curls in AMC's IWTV was an intelligent way to show that closeness, and how a nonblack character would affectionately play with a Black character’s hair! How he works with the curl in his fingers, rather than trying to pet Louis or run his fingers through- it was an intelligent move on Sam and Jacob’s part as actors to understand that THAT’S how that would go down!

If you have a character that wants to show a violation of your Black characters’ space, touching/harming our hair is cruelty on a very personal level that will generate an extreme reaction.

Think About Your Character!

When thinking about your Black character’s hairstyle, you need to think about your character themselves! What do they do every day? What are their hobbies? Are they Type A, Type B personality? Do they have a lot of time? Are they always in a rush? Are they noncommittal? Are they self-conscious? Artsy? Serious? Are they in a time period where the means to care for their hair are limited?

People make jokes and comments about how Black women don’t like getting our hair wet and dismiss our concerns. But it’s not out of ‘silliness’ or vanity. What you consider ‘just hair’ may have taken days of planning in advance and HOURS of our time! We put a lot of thought and effort into our hair, and it will easily shatter the illusion for your Black readers if you describe our hair poorly or create an unlikely scenario with it. It’s not a joke!

Some Terms:

Protective styles- a style that allows our hair to ‘rest’ with minimal manipulation

‘Tender-headed’- some people’s scalps are more sensitive to the tightness of styles, so it’ll hurt a little bit more and require some more gentleness (Regardless it’s still going to hurt for a bit after a fresh style)

Bonnets- a silk/satin cap of varying lengths that we wear at night to protect our hair and keep the moisture in

Loc Sock- same idea, but for locs

Durag- keeps short haircuts protected; can even help create the wave pattern that many Black men enjoy

Scarf- same idea as the bonnets, except scarfs can be used specifically for straight hairstyles to wrap them up to keep it straight and neat

(It'll seem real legit if you include your Black characters wearing their headcoverings at night! I remember laughing while reading Twilight because I knew that if Edward snuck into my room at night, he'd see me in my scarf or bonnet lmao.)

General Hair Care:

While I don’t completely agree with some of the advertising in this first one (it’s the internet. Can’t go nowhere without someone trying to hawk something) it’s cool in general to explain how our hair looks the way it does.

If you have Black children OCs, it’s important to consider that their parents have to do their hair, and how that will be its own experience! (It can be very stressful for Black children to get their hair done, as it takes a long time and can be physically uncomfortable. There are plenty of stories of burnt ears and tugged tangles and not very nice old women. Children are children! Keep in mind how they may behave while getting the style of your choice.

Moisturizing to keep healthy

Twist Outs

Cute twist out styles

Twist outs are a style that takes overnight to hold, or maybe even a few days! The cool thing is that the twists themselves can be the style! So the tighter you want their curls to be, the longer they’ll wear the twists in. If you want to describe your character with tighter curls, there needs to be a section of time where their hair remains in the twists! If your character has an event, and they want twists… this needs to be done in advance. Your character will NOT untwist them the day of, unless they want weak, limp curls (or you want the scene to compose of them having weak curls).

How long they'll last depends on the activity of your character! If all they do is work a desk job, or they don’t sweat very much, the twists can last some time! But if they sweat, or wear hats or caps, it’s not going to last long. Maybe a week.

Pros: Very versatile! If you have a character that loves trying new looks and enjoy being spontaneous, twist outs are for them! Easy! If your Black character is younger, or haven’t done their hair before, this is a great way for them to start working with their hair! Doesn’t take long (to do)! If your character is in a rush, and they do their twists, they can go just about anywhere. If they’re not self-conscious, this will be just fine.

Cons: It cannot get wet again, or the style will puff up back into your natural texture. It does not last long enough to say “oh my character went on a two year long fantasy adventure with this style.” If you want your character to have a twist out the whole time, they’re going to have to take time to do it. It would be cool if you incorporate a scene where they’re working on their hair, maybe in the background while everyone’s discussing plans or something. Just a reminder that their hair isn’t just staying magically twisted (unless they have the magic to do that).

Afros

Afro Style Guide, Style Guide for Men (works for any gender though)

Wash & Gos are just that- wash it (or really, condition it, you don’t have to shampoo it every time) dry with a t-shirt (to prevent breakage), put some oil and a light crème on it, fluff it up and you’re good to go! Maybe an hour at max and can be done while getting dressed in the morning!

Pros: Easy! If they’re doing a full, combed out afro, it’s not as simple, it will take more time. And at night it has to be plaited so that it maintains its length, otherwise it will tangle. But other than that, that’s still not all that hard. They can show off their curls! Black characters can and should have pride in their hair. It’s beautiful. This is the opportunity that you as an author can describe the pure texture of their hair, how it shines in the light, how the coils look, how soft it is! Romanticize Black hair the same way you do anyone else’s!

Cons: None really! Afros are wonderful! Just make sure that your character has a way to keep their hair from getting tangled. Just because it’s easy doesn’t mean there’s no maintenance! A pick, a bonnet, oil and water go a long way!

Locs

Five stages of locs

A person who does locs is a loctician.

Can be palm-rolled or interlocked/crocheted

I cannot emphasize enough that you do not want just anyone doing their locs! They can really mess up someone’s hair if they don’t know what they’re doing. I say that to say, for your character, if they don’t trust the person doing their hair… they should. They should not be walking into anyone’s place to get their hair locked; they’d do research first.

The time it takes locs to ‘bud’ (that is, to actually form the loc) depends on the texture of their hair. But it can take up to 3 months to even a year for them to actually ‘loc up’. So if your character just got locs, they’re not going to look neat. They’re going to be frizzy.

As long as they’re washing their hair, keeping it moisturized, and not using wax products (DO NOT HAVE ANY BLACK CHARACTER USE WAX PRODUCTS IT IS BAD FOR BLACK HAIR) it’ll last forever! Locs are incredibly strong, especially the thicker they get! It is recommended that locs are retwisted every six weeks, but if your character has freeform locs, doesn’t have the money or time right now, or they just aren’t that pressed, they can grow indefinitely.

Something cute to write in your stories: sometimes locs do just… fall out. Not the whole thing! But the same way thin hair gets everywhere… sometimes the ends of thin locs just… fall off! You’ll find little buds on the ground. This happens especially in the budding stage.

Pros: Very low daily maintenance! At most they’ll need a bonnet or loc sock, and oil/water mix to spritz and massage in. Strong style that can hold any look- buns, curls, etc. They can be dyed, though it will take a long time to do so. I say that to say, if you want your character to have bright green locs, go for it!!

Cons: Low daily, but HIGH wash day maintenance! So if your character has a fancy date or something to go on, they should not be getting their hair retwisted the same day, or at least not so close to. It’s going to be shiny, oily, and tight, which can cause discomfort. Give them the day to let the hair settle!

Locs are PERMANENT!! This isn’t a bad thing, as much as it is a ‘KNOW WHAT YOU’RE DOING BEFORE YOU DO IT’ thing. Technically they can be combed out, but that would take a very long time and very precise effort, and most people aren’t going through all that. They’re just going to cut them off and start fresh. If you have a character that would balk at such a choice, locs aren’t for them. If you have a character that’s picky and choosy, that likes versatility, that can’t make up their mind, do NOT give them locs unless they’re making the conscious choice to commit. (Again, this is subjective! Maybe they have locs because their mother died and it reminds them of her! Okay! That works!) If you have a character that’s vain, or at least doesn’t like looking awkward… unless they’re going to style up the awkward stage, they’re not going to want locs. (Awkward stage: the first two stages get considered awkward because the locs look messy. This is because they’re turning from curls to locs!)

Braids

Styles

How long braids can take depend on the style. Box braids can take 10-12 hours to do! Microbraids? You HAVE to have multiple people or you'll be there for damn near a day (and that's assuming you have a masterful braider!)

How long they last depend on your character! If they're like me as a kid, I didn't care how I looked, so my mom got me cheap braids and let me run free for two summer months. So if your Black character is a carefree child! Go for it. But if they're a teen or adult (or are very concerned about how they look) a month to six weeks is about how long braids can stay in before your new growth shows. A character that is usually trimmed and proper having loads of new growth over their braids may symbolize that they don’t have it all together anymore.

Pros: Protective style! Great way to let your character have minimal daily maintenance; oil and water and something to cover it. SOME braided styles allow for high activity and even rain without changing. It depends on the hair that’s been braided in, as well as the style. Incredibly versatile! They can have multi-colored braids, long braids, short braids, beads, trinkets… if your character is creative and bubbly and likes to experiment, the sky is the limit! That can symbolize their artistic expression, just by describing what they look like! So long as they have the time, they can have any look and style they want. No need to commit too long.

If your character is capable of doing their own braids (and locs, btw), they’re amazing. Like… that’s mad respect for them. If you describe your character being able to do their own braids, they’ve got amazing arm strength, patience, and skill. That skilled dexterity can be revealed as a trait of theirs through that alone.

Cons: They take a LONG TIME. Your character is not going anywhere. If they’re getting braids… they’re not going anywhere. If you write your character doing anything fancy the day of, depending on the type of braids, Black readers are not going to believe you. Even if it did get finished, it would be very tight. I currently have a poll going on, and so far, a good majority of the 10+ answers are braids! It cost MONEY. It is NOT CHEAP to get braids done! If your character is poor as a church mouse, they will be doing those braids with their friend in front of youtube. Because it can be in the hundreds of dollars. (Don’t get me started on hair culture right now; BACK IN MY DAY IT COST-)

Hairstyles on Black Men

I want to specifically give space and applause to these hairstyles on Black men, because we REALLY don’t give Black men enough credit for all the creativity they show with their hair! And again, with The Killmonger being the choice style in all these damn vidya games despite almost no Black man I know choosing it as a look… PLEASE LOOK! WE HAVE OPTIONS! Try describing how gorgeous these looks can be on your Black men characters! It would be very nice.

Straight Hair

Well, I was going to explain, but ol ‘Guest Writer’ here pretty much lays it all out! So just go ahead and read this article lol.

Just to re-emphasize, straight hair is NOT something that just grows out of our head that way! It takes effort! So if you have a character that doesn’t feel like maintaining straight hair, they shouldn’t have it! If your character has natural hair and lives in a rainy or humid city, they’re going to be fighting that weather to keep it straight- make sure that’s consistent with their personality!

My best friend used to wash and flatiron her hair every day. Like, laser focused on looking that good, Type A shit (she’s a top money banker now, so I guess it worked out). If you have a character like that, it’s fine! If they’re lazy any other time of the day, they’re not suddenly going to be waking up at 5am to flat iron their hair. It’s not consistent.

Conclusion

That’s pretty much what I have! I’m not the guru on all things Black hair, and I obviously cannot encompass every potential scenario you may have for your characters. Really, my intention here is to get you to think about how our hair reflects our character and personalities, and how when you write and/or draw a Black character, you have that ability! And when you’re able to incorporate that naturally, it makes your Black readers feel seen, like you actually cared about that character enough to give them just as much description as your nonblack characters. You don’t have to be a master at it! Just… occasionally the little things that we can go ‘oh, yeah!’ at would be nice. An equivalent effort would be nice.

Remember, it’s the thought that counts, but the action that delivers!

#creatingblackcharacters #black hair #black art #black characters #character design #black writers

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joeybsversion · 5 months

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Mine

Joe Burrow x Reader

One of Joes friends flirts with you

Joe walks into the bathroom, shirtless, and in a pair of black slacks. His muscles ripple across his abdomen, dipping down towards the top of his pants.

He holds up two button down shirts by the hanger. “White or blue?”

“Did you come in here just to show off your body?” You tease making eye contact with him in the mirror as you put on your lipstick.

A smirk crosses his face as his eyes gleam with pride. That’s exactly what he did. “I need your advice. White or blue?”

“White. I like you in the traditional black and white suit.” You smile.

“Blue it is.” He teases and flashes you a wink as he heads out of the bathroom.

You roll your eyes and continue to get ready. Tonight was the NFL Honors party. A ton of players from all different teams across the country would be gathering for the annual awards show to honor the seasons best players. Joe was up for a few awards, you expected he’d win at least one.

He’s comes back into the hotel bathroom a few minutes later looking sexier than ever. You wondered if he had any idea how hot he was.

“How’s it look?” He questioned, looking himself up and down and the mirror.

“Incredible.” You can’t take your eyes off of him. “Can you help me into my dress?” You ask, slipping off your robe and stepping into your long gown.

“You look stunning, baby.” He presses his lips to the back of your neck as he zips the dress.

You and Joe made your way to the party and spent the first hour talking with other players and Wags. There were only a handful of other players from the Bengals, so you took the chance to meet some of Joes competitors.

As Joe wandered off to chat with other players, you took the opportunity to sneak out to the bathroom. As you turned the corner to the quiet hallways, you run into a familiar face. As the only 2 Quarterbacks here tonight, Joe and Patrick Mahomes would be giving a speech together. You’d met Patrick a handful of times before at similar events. You always thought he was handsome, but unlike Joe, he was quite cocky.

“Hey Patrick.” You smiled and the quarterback reached out to embrace you in a hug.

“Hey Mrs. Burrow.” He greeted you. “Good to see you!” As you pulled away from the hug Patrick’s hand lingered over yours.

“Not Mrs. Burrow quite yet.” You laughed, flashing your engagement ring on the other hand. “Good to see you too! Is Brittney here?” You asked.

“No she couldn’t make it. Lots going at home with the kids.” He took a step closer to you, if that was even possible. His hand left yours and found its way to your hip. His fingers lightly danced across your hip bone. “You look beautiful.” He is close enough now that his breath coats your lips. “Joe wouldn’t mind if we caught up for a bit, would he?”

“Has anyone ever been able to tell you no before?” You ask in a whisper.

“Never.”

“Well I guess there’s a first time for everything.”

His forehead crumpled as his face fell into a frown and he blinked down at you. “What?” His hand slips from your hip.

“Enjoy your night.” Your turn to make your way back to the party. As you scan the room your eyes immediately lock with Joes who has just witnessed this whole incident.

He storms over to you and nearly ran over Patrick on his way. Up until this moment, Patrick had been one of Joe’s idols, but he wanted to gouge his eyes at for looking at you like that. Like you could possibly be his when you so clearly belonged to Joe. Hadn’t Patrick even referred to you as ‘Mrs. Burrow’ a moment before?

Patrick’s eyebrows shot up when he noticed Joe approaching.

“Baby, why don’t you go find our table.” Joe places his hand on the small of your back and guides you towards the room.

Joe had two crystal glasses in his hand and forced one towards Patrick. “Hey, Man.” He greeted his competitor. “Before our speech I have one question.”

You could see Patrick’s shoulders visibly fall, thinking he wasn’t going to get in trouble for flirting with you.

“When you touched my fiancé just now, which hand did you use?” Joe asked, his voice full of anger. “Your throwing hand?”

Patrick froze. “What - I -“

“My finance.” Joe took a step closer to Patrick. “Long blonde hair, black dress. The most beautiful woman at the event.” Joe pressed his drink to his lips.

“I - I -“ Patrick’s stuttered response stood no chance against Joe.

“I don’t want to see you near her again. In fact, when we sit down, you better not even look at her.”

Joe turned on his heels and made his way back into the room to find you.

Familiar hands find your shoulders and a kiss is planted on top of your head.

“I’m sorry, baby.” Joe takes a seat at the table next to you. “This will be the last time I agree to work with him.”

“It’s okay, Joey. It’s not your fault.”

“I refuse to work with someone who treats people with disrespect and behaves that way in public. I put him in his place, and if I had the choice, I’d do it all over again. He’s a jackass, and I love you. You’re mine. All mine. Mine. Mine. Mine.” Joe gives you a reassuring smile.

Players begin to take their seats and you both see Patrick making his way to your table.

“I’ll see if we can move tables.” You start to slide your chair out.

Joe grabs your hand to stop you. “It’s fine.”

“Are you sure? You did try to fight him less than ten minutes ago.”

“And I’d do it all over again if I saw someone touch you like that. Let’s make him jealous and rub it in his face.” Joe gives you a smirk and wink.

#joe burrow #joe burrow fic #joe burrow fluff #joe burrow imagine #joe burrow one shot #joe burrow smut #joe burrow x reader #joe burrow fan fic #joe burrow insta au #joe burrow instagram #nfl fluff #nfl smut #nfl fan fic #nfl fic #patrick mahomes

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blastofsports · 9 months

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Gale Eugene Sayers (May 30, 1943 – September 23, 2020) was an American professional football player who was both a halfback and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). In a relatively brief but highly productive NFL career, Sayers spent seven seasons with the Chicago Bears from 1965 to 1971, though multiple injuries effectively limited him to five seasons of play. He was known for his elusiveness and agility and was regarded by his peers as one of the most difficult players to tackle.

#gale sayers #black archives #black excellence #black community #nfl players #chicago bears #halfback #return specialist #nfl #black pride #black culture

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bluecollarmcandtf · 6 months

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Am I Acting Weird?

Walking home, I just can't shake the feeling that something is off, but I can't figure out what! I asked Coach about it before leaving practice, but he just laughed. He said I was weird not to appreciate the effort I've put into football lately.

He's right. I've been busting my ass, but that's exactly what I'm talking about!

I've never given a damn about improving my rank or even showing up to conditioning! I just wanted to hang out with my buds and mess around with the cheerleaders.

But now, it's like none of that matters! I've skipped the last three parties to bulk up at the gym! I haven't been able to drink anything other than protein shakes, and my meals are always loaded with meat. It's like I can't control myself anymore! Why can't I just take a night off and drink beers with the rest of the boys?

I let out a long groan of frustration and trudge upstairs. My younger sibling Max laying on the couch while the TV blares his favorite show.

Max is the weird one! He's like 18, and all he does is play videogames and sit around all day.

I quickly strip off my sweaty football uniform and toss it into the corner of my bedroom. My muscles are already tired and aching from yesterday's practice, so I can't imagine how sore I'll be feeling when I wake up for tomorrow's early morning workout; something I only recently started doing everyday.

Like every other night, I pull my usual at-home clothes on; a stiff white shirt, black apron, and bowtie. This outfit might seem weird, but it feels nice, especially when I tie everything up extra tight. Max showed me how. Sure, it's not comfortable at all, and I look like a waiter more than anything, but that doesn't bother me.

My little brother is annoying as hell, but he's usually right. Me and dad used to tease him all the time, but we've come around since then.

Now that I'm finally at home and suited up, I can feel my shoulders relax. Whatever was bothering me before can wait. I pull some shiny black shoes on, slip a pair of white gloves over my hands, and carefully step back downstairs. It's important that I make as little noise as possible when I'm home. I wouldn't want to disturb anybody.

"Hey, big bro," Max calls from the couch, "Your home."

"Yes, Max," I answer, taking my usual position next to the couch.

This is where I stand when I'm in the living room anymore. It's just where I feel most comfortable, and it's right next to a little cart of useful supplies. I grab a towel and sling it over my shoulder. It's always a good idea to have one on me when I'm at home. Never know when I'm going to need it.

"My shoes could use a polish while we chat," Max adds, flipping through the channels.

"You got it, Max."

See, the towel does come in handy. I quickly fetch a container of shoe polish on my little cart and kneel by his feet. I've been polishing Max's shoes for a few weeks now, so I've gotten pretty good at it. He doesn't really appreciate the art of it, but I guess it's just something that I'm into.

"How's football? You the best player yet?" Max asks nonchalantly from above.

"No, Max. I've gotten a lot bigger lately, but the quarterback is still a lot more muscular and skilled."

He rolls his eyes and adds, "Give it time I guess. You're going to keep at it until your a professional player like the ones on TV."

I stop buffing his sneaker for a second and glance up at him. His attention is now completely fixated on an NFL videogame.

"Max, that's just it," I admit, "Lately I've been working out and bulking up like I'm some pro-athlete, but I'm not. I don't think I even want to be! That life just seems so grueling."

Max pauses his game and looks down at me solemnly.

I avert my gaze and add, "It's just weird that lately I've put so much work into something I don't want."

"You think that's weird?" he dryly raises an eyebrow.

I just shake my head and turn my attention back to my brother's sneaker. It's going to need a lot more polish before it shines.

The door opens and our father arrives home.

"Hey, boy," he dismissively calls when he sees me on the floor. Then he notices my brother lounging on the couch.

"Max," he says with a bit more emphasis, dipping his head a little.

"Dad, I'm really hungry right now, so could you get a move on with dinner?" Max answers.

"Of course, Max."

Our father immediately drops his keys and briefcase and shuffles into the kitchen. I've always admired him. He played football in college too, so we've always bonded over sports.

But lately, he only seems interested in his work. I rarely see him because he always stays late and picks up night shifts at the office. It's done wonders for his career, so I guess that's good. He's been given a few raises recently for all the extra effort he's put in, but I can tell it's taking a bit of a toll on the guy.

"Big bro, just look at Dad," Max explains to me, "He doesn't complain about anything being weird, does he? He just keeps his mouth shut and goes to work. Be more like him."

I don't speak as I switch to shining his other sneaker. Max is probably right. If Dad can power through long hours in the office to bring home a decent salary, then I can surely shut up and dedicate myself to a career in football.

It doesn't take long for our father to return to the living room.

"The food is almost ready, but here are some drinks while you wait, Max," he says.

Our dad seems minorly annoyed by the starched clothing he has on, but that suit is his typical home outfit. It looks even more stiff and uncomfortable than my get up, but I guess he's willing to put up with it.

Max stands before I can finish at his feet and grabs a glass from our father.

"Whoops, here you can finish them," he says after a swig of wine, kicking the shoes off in my direction, "And then take care of the laundry in my room."

"Sure thing, Max," I answer, but he's already turned his attention to dad.

"Is your wallet in your briefcase?" he asks, "I'm taking a few friends out tonight."

"It is, Max, and the car keys are next to it. The car is low on gas. Should I take it to a station before you go out?"

"Yeah," Max adds between sips, "Take care of that while I eat."

"Of course, Max."

"Oh, and Dad."

"Yes, Max?"

"Start making double portions for big bro's meals. He needs to bulk up faster if he's going to usurp the current quarterback."

I pretend not to hear, and finish up my work with Max's shoes. Maybe my new focus on football hasn't been that strange after all. It's not really the life I thought I'd be pursuing, but it's kind of nice being bigger and more athletic than I used to be. It's not really weird if I think about it. Maybe I can even get a few more reps in after I finish Max's laundry.

I hope he has a good time out with his friends tonight. It's weird, but I don't really know what else I'd spend my time doing.

#gay hypnosis #mind control #hypno story #gay mind control #hypnotized #bow tie

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doberbutts · 10 months

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They'll make things like weed illegal because it's "dangerous" and "causes brain rot" (we know the real reason, but I digress) but actively encourage teenagers to go get repeated concussions and slack on their studies for a potential career that involves MORE concussions/brain damage and claim that's just wholesome good fun. :)

'merica.

Actually as a black person I'd go a step further: both of these are racism.

Weed is highly associated in the US with black people. Despite many cultures using cannabis and hemp products, in this country the largest stereotype is black people smoking weed. You make weed illegal, you predominantly affect the black population. You turn a stupid occasional indulgence into a felony and you lock people up for life on mandatory minimums for possession. You spread the sterotype that smoking weed makes you a violent predator and you get public opinion on your side while having an excuse to lock up as many undesirables as possible.

Over half of NFL players are black. Watching black people beat the shit out of each other to the point of causing serious lifelong injury is not a new hobby of white people. So what if the players are wearing out as fast as we replace them? They're negros anyway and they earn way too much money and they're all thugs and violent predators and hey wait a minute this sounds eerily familiar...

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shadesslut · 6 months

Text

me and the devil

Pairing: (Black-Swan!Ethan Landry x Fem!Reader)

Content Includes: (Angst)

Summary: h̵̶̥̳͈̱̪̣̰̭̑͌̍́ḙ̵̢͓̬̺̪̰̭̮̖̹͍̥̦̰̺̺̠̝̽̅̏͜l̋̇̎ͦ͐͌̔͒ͭ̃͑̉҉̨̨͏̣̪̗̠̭͚p̱̳͚͖̙̬̤͈̠͐ͦ̇̐̏ͣͮ̂̾͐̄̂͊͌̔̄̎̇͂̀͘͜ ̶̵̷̞̠̯̗̯͍̔͗̇̿̀ͭ̌m̷̢̢̨̩͕̤͙̠͕͓͎͓̥̟͙͕̞̗͙̯͇͋̀̐̽ͯ̉̆̍͑͆̀ͯ̍ͦ̏ͯ̚eͪ͂̈́͆̈ͦͪ̿̐̓ͬ̓̽̉̏̐̓͜҉̢͚̦̦̫̳̫͔̯͓͘

Masterlist

✮

Ethan’s childhood was somber to the average person. He had an…alright relationship with his father, same with his brother. His sister never bothered him. His mom however, was the one who Ethan loved the most. Restless nights of Ethan waking up from nightmares when he was younger, his mom would lay with him in bed. She’d play with his hair as his tears stained her shirt, and she would sing to him. Ethan would forget about the dreams, until he had them again. And it became a never ending cycle of his mom rushing to his room upon hearing his cries.

Ethan was diagnosed bipolar when he was thirteen. His mom cried on the drive home. That day was the only day his father didn’t yell at him. It was actually one of Ethan’s favorite days he’s had. His mom took him and his sister to the park that afternoon. The three of them had a picnic, and Ethan finally thought things were going to be okay.

His mom moved out two weeks after, and took his sister with her. That night she left Ethan, left him to fend for himself, he started to hear the voices.

—

“Ethan, what room are you in?” His father asked, voice lacing with annoyance. He held two large cardboard boxes in his arms as he peeked over the top. They were currently in the lobby of Ethan’s dorm building, and Ethan’s nerves boiling up as more people entered the building.

Ethan scrolled through his email on his phone. “Uhh,” He trailed off. His father huffed impatiently. “Three-fifteen, we have to go to the third floor.”

Ethan followed nervously after his dad up the stairs, playing with the zipper of his jacket. They had just moved from California, and Ethan already missed the smallness of his hometown. He knocked softly on the old wooden door to his room. After a few moments of no answer, Ethan’s dad nudged Ethan to the side as he kicked on the door rapidly.

He heard shuffled noises come from the room, and was met with an athletic boy who was a tad shorter than him. He wore a gray Ice Cube shirt, black Nike shorts, and slides. He looked the complete opposite of Ethan, sociable, muscular, confident. Ethan gulped. “You must be Chad, I’m-”

“Ethan! Nice to meet you, roomie!” Chad greeted Ethan brightly as he pulled him into a one arm embrace. Ethan stumbled as Chad hugged him. Chad gave him a smile as he pulled back, and quickly changed his demeanor once he saw Ethan’s father. He stuck his hands out. “Sorry sir, I didn’t see you. Do you need a hand?”

He dryly laughed. “I’m fine, son,” He said, finally stepping into the room and setting the boxes on Ethan’s side of the room. He turned around to meet with Chad again, and he held out his hand. “Wayne.”

Chad took his hand in a firm handshake and introduced himself, and Ethan could already tell his father liked Chad more than him. On Chad’s side of the room, football trophies and NFL posters were decorated. This is gonna be interesting.

Wayne had finally left for work, and Ethan hung up his own decorations. Chad was sprawled out on his bed, phone in hand as he held it up over his face. Music softly played from Ethan’s CD player. A knock rapped on the door, causing Ethan’s head to turn. Immediately, Chad stood up and jogged to the door. He swung the door open, and Ethan saw two girls for a split second before Chad slammed the door again. He turned to Ethan, hand still on the doorknob.

“You cool if my friends come in?” He asked.

Ethan smiled and nodded, and as soon as Chad turned around Ethan scurried to hide anything that would potentially embarrass him. He hid his childhood stuffed animal and put his Star Wars figure in his drawer. “Asshole,” He heard a girl grumble. He turned around to see a girl that looked similar to Chad in the face slapping her hand against Chad’s chest. Siblings, he deducted. Another girl followed behind, more feminine than the first. She was shorter and had jet-black hair.

“Shut up, Mindy.” Chad groaned. “This is Ethan by the way,”

Ethan nervously rubbed his palms on his jeans before awkwardly waving. Mindy lifted up an eyebrow before giving him an amused smile. “I’m Mindy, Chad’s sister.”

“Twin.” Chad corrected.

“Shut up dingus.”

Chad stuck his tongue out at her. “This is Tara,” He said, gesturing to the other girl. Tara smiled sweetly at him, and Ethan flushed a little.

She stuck her hand out, her nails perfectly manicured. “Nice to meet you.”

Ethan nervously shook her hand. “N-Nice to meet you too.” She giggled as she pulled away. Chad looked between the two of them, before clapping his hands together.

“Okay, now that you guys have seen my place, can we go eat now?” He asked the two girls. Ethan suddenly felt left out, but he secretly was excited to have the dorm to himself. He wanted to soak in the fact he didn’t live with his father anymore.

“Yes Chad,” Tara laughed. She looked at Ethan. “Do you wanna come?”

“Oh! Um, I don’t know,”

“Come on dude, we can get to know each other more.” Chad encouraged him as he placed both hands on Ethan’s shoulders. Before Ethan knew it, he was walking along the sidewalk with three strangers. His hands were in his pockets, and he stared down at the concrete as he walked.

They stopped at a small sandwich shop not too far from campus. The three waited to go in, standing outside by a small table.

“What are we waiting for?” Ethan asked.

“We’re waiting for our other friends to get here.” Tara answered, not looking up from her phone.

Minutes passed as they waited. Chad tried to make smalltalk with Ethan, and Ethan tried but he was just too anxious. It looked like Chad knew this, so he just continued to rant. As Chad talked, Ethan’s eyes wandered, and his attention was caught by a girl. She walked with two other girls, smiling as she hooked her arms with one of them. Whatever topic Chad was talking about, Ethan completely forgot it as he stared at her.

He was captivated by her, her posture straight, like she wasn’t afraid of anything. She was dressed confidentially; a navy tank top, low-rise jeans. She knew when to show enough skin and when to stop, teasing every guy that would look at her. And suddenly, her eyes met his. Her smile didn’t go away. It looked like, no, they weren’t walking to him. What are the chances? Mindy excitedly ran up to one of the girls, pulling her into a hug.

“Get a room you two,” Tara joked as she made a disgusted face at the two girls. Mindy flipped her off as she kissed her.

“Guys this is Ethan, my roommate.” Chad said as he swung an arm over Ethan’s shoulders. Her eyes flicked to his. “This is Sam, Tara’s sister, Anika, and Y/N.”

He awkwardly smiled at her, already sounding out her first name with his last name. Ethan has had his share of crushes throughout his life. He knew how much he’d get obsessive over them, how much he’d try to learn everything about. He was always scared of what he’d do.

Chad led the girls inside, leaving Ethan to be in the back. He watched the back of Y/N’s head as she walked. As they stood in line, Ethan tried desperately to search in his brain to find a topic to talk about with her. She beat him to it.

“So where are you from Ethan?” She asked him. Chad and Tara were ordering, and the others were too engrossed in their conversation to notice the two.

“California.” Ethan responded.

Her eyes lit up, and she tapped Ethan’s chest with the back of her hand. “No shit, us too! Well not Anika, what part?” Ethan blushed at the contact, and all of the sudden he forgot where he was from.

“U-Uh, I’m just outside of Sonoma County.”

“You’re shitting me,” Y/N laughed. Ethan shook his head. “Ethan, I think you and I are going to be good friends.”

—

Slowly, Ethan’s nerves started to fade away as he talked to the group. Never in his life did he think he’d be able to be friends with the type of people they were, but he honestly fit in their group well.

Chad and Mindy seemed the same, both hard headed, secure in their own opinions and actions. Ethan got along with Chad, he didn’t know if it was because he was the only other guy, but he was grateful for it. He didn’t really get along with Mindy.

Anika was sweet, so was Tara. Tara had a little more sassiness in her, but other than that she was nice to Ethan. Sam was weary, cautious of Ethan. She was the oldest in the group, so Ethan was mostly intimidated by her.

He got along the most with Y/N. She had made sure to include Ethan in the conversation, and she would give him a comforting look everytime she noticed Ethan stayed quiet.

“You okay?” She softly whispered. She tilted her head at him, blocking the rest of the group from him.

He slightly nodded and gave her an unassuring smile.

“I know they’re a lot sometimes, but they’re cool. I was intimidated by them when I first met them.” That made Ethan feel better. If she felt that way before and was able to be so comfortable around them now, maybe there was a chance Ethan could get to that point.

“I’m just homesick, that’s all.” Ethan whispered back. She nodded understandingly.

Ethan played with the salad he ordered with his fork. A part of him wanted to stay, especially to talk to her, but he could already feel himself start to become tired and annoyed. He wanted to lay in his bed and read.

“Hey, what time do you think we’re leaving?” Ethan asked Chad. “I just still have to unpack.”

Chad wiped his mouth with a napkin as he swallowed his bite. “We’re about to leave.”

A man that looked around his mid-twenties walked in the shop, and Ethan noticed him looking at him. He was brunet, his hair a little darker than Ethan’s and was short. A beat up baseball cap sat on his head, the back of his hair sticking out. He wore a green flannel and blue jeans, he looked like the exact type of guy Ethan would avoid.

He eyed him as he continued to stare, and he suddenly walked towards him. Ethan started panicking internally, reaching over to tap on Y/N’s shoulder before the man walked past him and hugged Y/N from behind.

She jumped in surprise, but smiled once she saw him. She turned her body around to hug him back, and Ethan was more confused than ever.

“Lucas, my man!” Chad greeted the man happily. Chad dapped him up, and he scooted his seat over to allow Lucas to pull up a chair next to Y/N. Lucas slid his chair up to the table and leaned over to kiss Y/N on the cheek.

“How have you been?” Chad asked him.

“Fine, fucking work is gonna kill me. Did y’all already move in?” Ethan noticed his southern accent, and internally cringed. Lucas flipped his wrist over, checking a watch that cost more than Ethan’s rent.

“Oh! This is Ethan,” Y/N put her hand on Ethan’s shoulder. Lucas bent forward to look at him, and he raised hand up to greet him.

“I-I’m Chad’s roommate.” Ethan stammered nervously.

Lucas nodded and gave him a tight-lipped smile. And just like that, Ethan was ignored by the rest of the group.

Quietly, he ate his food, and he kept his head down. Thoughts clouded his mind as he blocked out their voices. Whispers, growls, echoed through his head. His vision was blurry. The coolness of the back of the plastic seat he sat on sent chills up his back, as if he had just sat down. Flavors popped in his mouth from his food, as if he had first taken a bite. But he hadn’t just taken his first bite, he had been eating it, hadn’t he? Sweat dripped down his neck, his back arched involuntarily, and Ethan didn’t quite feel himself at that moment.

If you had asked Ethan to tell you what happened after that, he wouldn’t be able to tell you. Sure, he went home after, maybe unpacked a few things, but that was all he could remember.

Maybe he changed into a different pair of clothes, maybe it was only ketchup stains on his discarded shirt from his lunch. Maybe the severed hand that wore Lucas’ watch in Ethan’s closet wasn’t his doing. Maybe, just maybe, the dark, evil expression his reflection gave him wasn’t real.

Ethan, standing still, with a look of horror on his face as he watched his reflection mimic his movements. His reflection had its head tilted downwards, giving Ethan an ungodly smile. Its lips moved, and it mumbled lowly. Ethan recognized the voice; he recognized it from the night his mother left.

“Who are y-you?” Ethan whispered.

A deep laugh bubbled out of it. And Ethan regretted asking.

“I’m you.”

#scream #scream 6 #scream vi #ethan landry #ethan landry x reader #jack champion #ghostface x reader #ethan kirsch #chad meeks martin #tara carpenter #anika kayoko #mindy meeks martin #horror

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