so, i don’t know how many people will be seeing this. if you follow my account, you’re well aware that i’ve been writing a truly devious fanfic that is the vanishing stair from david’s pov. well i have never deliberately said it, i believe that it is fairly clear in my writing, i am a fan of david. i believe that while he is not a saint or without flaws, he doesn’t deserve the insane amount of hate and dislike he receives. i was going through goodreads reviews of the box in the woods and the most liked review said “i just hope stevie dumps asshole david and winds up dating her true love nathaniel fisher” and i just... *screams in frustration* this is one of many anti-david reviews or comments i’ve seen. every time i see one, my blood boils ever so slightly. i also believe that stevie and nate as a romantic ship is something that just does not work. i will back up both of these arguments with the following paragraphs.
so sit back, relax, and enjoy the crazy ramblings of someone way too obsessed with these characters.
point one: he’s trying
i know it sounds dumb, but hear me out
it’s no secret that david isn’t exactly perfect. even i was nearing my wit’s end with him in the hand on the wall. i was tired of his pettiness and just the general will-they-won’t-they energy that the author dragged on for (in my opinion) far too long. i personally remember reading the scene where david offers stevie a sort of ultimatum choice of ‘i give you the codicil information and we never speak again’ or ‘i don’t give you the codicil information and we continue the way we were’. while my eyes were definitely rolling into the backs of my head with this unnecessary plot point, it’s clear what’s actually going on. david is clearly seeking validation from stevie and looking for a sign that she still cares. while he does definitely make it hard for her to chose him by using the term ‘pet project’, it’s clear what he’s actually trying to do. stevie, being her subtly absentminded self, takes the codicil information. while the scene was dumb and unnecessary, it’s clear what david was really asking, “will you still choose me even when i’m acting out?” david knows he’s annoying. he evens says it in the first book, about how he annoys people to get their attention because he believes they won’t pay attention to him otherwise. as someone who does the exact. same. thing. i personally understood it pretty well. so how does he show he cares? well, frankly, he does weird ass shit. squirrels in the library. sherlock costume. pretends to be her boyfriend to convince her parents to stay. sits in a fountain. blows up a billboard she mentioned she was upset about. i’m not trying to convey the point that david is the perfect boyfriend, or perfect character (even though i believe that), i’m just trying to get david-antis to be more... david-neutrals.
point two: role models
edward king and becky eastman as parents would mess me up too
building off of what i said in point one, david’s weird sense of romanticism is clearly from his parents. it’s clear that eddie and becky were not good parents. they most likely never said “i love you” to each other, and it was most likely fake affection if they did, purely for show. they also don’t seem like parents that would say, “i love you,” to david often either. so who does that leave as a role model of a healthy romantic relationship for him? literally no one. i don’t really feel like i need to over explain how screwed up his childhood was. how he was told at nine years old to handle a situation a fully grown adult would struggle to handle. i’m not saying that trauma excuses everything he’s done, but most seem to write him off as “an acting out rich boy” when possessions do not equal love and nurturing.
point three: stevie is not entirely blameless
i love her, but still
something i never see discussed is just how poorly stevie handled the aftermath of halloween. i’ve been frustrated with how characters have handled situations before, but this one may take the cake. david, after finding his best friend’s dead body, sobbing uncontrollably, AND finding out stevie betrayed him, he doesn’t immediately forgive stevie. he’s justifiably blunt and upset, and what does our girl stevie do? run away. literally. i do not care if he’s pissed at you, you sit next to him and make sure he’s okay. i’m not mad at stevie making the deal with edward king, i get it. but there were a thousand opportunities for her to tell him. when he says that he would have understood, i totally believe him. that was some really shitty timing on her, in my opinion. also, we always talk about how he said his parents were dead, but we never talk about how she went. through. his. room! i’m your typical teenager, my room is my safe space. if i go to grab my coat or something and find someone going through it, i’m gonna be pissed. this is one of those relationships where i feel like each action just stacks up on top of the other until there’s a huge pile to work through. and honestly, if they weren’t flawed, i wouldn’t like them nearly as much.
point four: character development
specifically in the box in the woods
something i noticed while reading goodreads reviews of the box in the woods was people were shocked that they now liked david. many people said that they hated him in the trilogy, but they loved him in the box in the woods. initially, i was defensive in an almost gatekeeping way? like how DARE you say you like him now when i’ve liked him the whole time! but, that lasted like three seconds. because really, whatever he was doing between the hand on the wall and the box in the woods has given us a much more mature david eastman. first, he didn’t leave. when stevie went to the site and found his tent wasn’t there, i practically lost my mind. i immediately got the vanishing stair flashbacks, and maureen knew what she was doing with that one. but, he didn’t! also, the whole england situation. while the drama was dumb, the fact that he isn’t taking the money is significant. he sees how his dad acts, he sees how he is similar, and he adjusts to change. to be better. i honestly cannot wait to see where maureen takes us with his character in the future.
also, he said “i love you”! i’ve seen a few people mention how stevie said “i love you” to nate but not to david, but the scene isn’t over. the book ends on them kissing, but the moment isn’t over. she might pull back and say it back. maybe, maybe not, but still. from what we know about david’s life, he’s probably never said “i love you” to someone and meant it. he might have said it to his parents, but it might not have been genuine considering their relationship. this is a big step for him and really shows his development.
point five: why nate isn’t right for stevie either
love you nate, but no
before i even begin, i have a general statement that applies to many fandoms. CAN. ANYTHING. BE. PLATONIC? i ask this genuinely. it’s a frustration that i have with many different books, shows, movies, etc. and it’s the same with truly devious. in my opinion, nate and stevie are the truly devious universe equivalent to dwight and pam from the office. while they are not similar in character exactly, i believe they are extremely similar in dynamic. they’re practically siblings in my opinion. and honestly? i ship nate x mudge. it’s based off of tiny conversations and details, but honestly, book five? let’s see it happen. frankly, stevie and nate would be a train wreck if they got together. at least at this point in the series. maybe if they had started in book two or three, but not now. i think they’d fall victim to the “meredith and george in grey’s anatomy” situation. (if you haven’t watched grey’s, meredith has sex with george while in a lull with derek, and it ends very poorly and practically ruins their friendship.) nate deserves better than to be boyfriend #2, and i believe that’s what he would be written as if they got together. they’re just too similar.
also a quick quote from the box in the woods: “one of the things that nate and stevie such good friends was their mutual hatred of sharing emotional things. somehow, they managed to have a deeper bond by staying on the surface-as if they were snorkeling their feelings, floating along side by side, observing all of nature’s wonders without getting close enough to be stung by something under a rock.”
conclusion
and final thoughts
in the end, it really doesn’t matter, i know. honestly, i’m just generally pleased to see people talking about this series period, no matter what their view point is. i didn’t really get into janelle x stevie or hunter x stevie just because they’re not usually brought up. i do definitely think that in the beginning of truly devious when we first met vi, stevie’s worries seemed a *little* more than platonic, but i absolutely adore janelle and vi together along with stevie and david. and when it comes to hunter i just... don’t care? it sounds bad, but he’s just a neutral character that i don’t have much to say about. i also want to give a little nod of acknowledgment to anyone who posts about how much they love david or defend him in the comments of goodreads reviews. y’all keep me sane and i love you for it.
congratulations for getting to the end of this! if you have points you’d like to make feel free to comment them, i’m always up for a good debate about something i love. while i wrote this while working on the vanishing stair from david’s pov, by now you’re aware that i’m working on the hand on the wall from his pov as well. i’m so excited for you guys to read it! while my following is practically nonexistent, the fact that anybody at all cares means everything to me. <3
sk8 boys would reacting to you pulling them in by their belt
synopsis: you pulling the sk8 babes in by their belts for a kiss
pairings: joe x reader, cherry x reader, reki x reader, langa x reader
warnings: kissing, suggestive themes, swearing
notes: not me just seeing this tiktok trend ...but thoughts are being thunk...❤️ also, i apologize in advance for any grammatical/spelling errors
word count: 1,930
JOE
this flirty ass b*tch 😒
he thinks he’s so smooth...and he is!
i see y’all bar hopping in the early talking stages of your relationship
so you’re seated the bar and you’re kinda annoyed because maybe there are a couple girls who come up to him and offer to buy him a drink? (of course they would, have you seen how he’s built?)
BUT THAT’S NOT EVEN THE BAD PART
this mf get’s up from his stool and starts FLIRTING BACK?? AND YOU’RE JUST SITTING THERE LIKE —🧍♀️
but then he turns back to you and see’s the displeased look on your face.
cue joe nervously laughing and gently shooing the other girls away
but you’re already pissed bc like? the nerve of him? and in front of you??
you stare straight past him, leaning your elbow up on the bar table as he stands in front of you. babbling out apologies(?)
if you can even call them that?
“babe, i’m sorry! you know it’s force of habit! i didn’t even get to see what they looked like! and they were being nice! what was I supposed to do? tell them to get gone? i was just being polite to them, i’m a feminist after all 😏—”
b*tch...what?
you feel like you’re getting dumber just listening to him
so you kinda tilt your head to look at him and let your hands settle on the front of his belt
his voice kinda tilts? like it slightly gets a just a bit higher ?
before he can even make a smart ass remark, you firmly tug him towards you and kiss him
he hums in surprise before chuckling into the kiss and bringing his warm, calloused hands up to your face
he pulls away and quickly pecks at your lips before playfully outing
“oof, so mean”
“but you like that” you reply before kissing him again
meanwhile, the bartender is watching yall like “😐😑😐”
REKI
like with joe, i imagine you pulling this stunt off in the beginning of your relationship
you and reki are in the little workshop behind his house doing normal relationship stuff
you know, reki working on a skateboard repair while you lovingly admire his side profile...yea ❤️
he’s so absorbed in his work, his eyebrows are furrowed every so slightly, and he’ll randomly clench his jaw and WOWOWOW HE LOOK SO GOOD!
you feel so blessed just being able to take this sight in
you’re watching him intently with your elbows propped up on the table and your face resting between your hands
reki’s in the middle of tightening the screws when he notices you looking out of his peripheral vision
he glances over to you and sees you staring at him
have y’all seen that meme of meghan markle at her wedding looking up at harry?
YEA, YEA you’re literally looking up at reki like that
and boy does reki get FLUSTERED
he tries to act cool about catching you staring but baby is blushing way too hard
“w-what?”, reki mentally kicks himself for stammering as he returns his focus to the skateboard
“you look really hot right now”
reki damn near chokes and his face gets even more red (if that’s even possible)
he turns his back to you to reach for a wrench on the wall adjacent to him
but he's trynna hide how hard he's blushing uwu
you're laughing now and the melodic sound makes the tension in reki’s shoulders dissipate
yea...y’all are whipped for each other
reki is pouting with his back to you, still “looking” for his wrench
when all of sudden, he feels your hands settle on his waist, urging him to turn around
"rekiiiiii", you playfully whine. "i can't admire my boyfriend?"
he's turning around to tell you that he's busy, but then your fingers hook onto his belt
and before his brain can compute what's happening, you're sharply tugging his belt and your mouth is on his, hot and heavy
and reki moans
and it's so high-pitched and so earnest and so loud, you almost want to giggle
but then his knees buckle and he kinda collapses forward into you
so y'all both kinda shuffle back, but reki manages to catch himself by wrapping his arms around you for support
you're about to pull away to ask if he's okay, but then he brings one hand up to your face and parts his mouth
and when you gasp against his mouth, he feels slightly relieved knowing his dignity has been saved somehow
reki pulls away first, panting, and rests his forehead against your collarbone, trying to hide his face again
"you suck" he murmurs into your chest, slightly dizzy
you hum contentedly, combing his hair back before kissing the top of his head
CHERRY
first of all, this mf is an aries (just when i thought he couldn’t get sexier)
and aries men...🥴
basically, you have to do a lot to actually fluster this man
so let’s say he takes you with him for a two-day work trip on a nearby island
while he works with his clients during the day, you busy yourself by wandering around the hotel or walking along the beach
basically, the only time the two of you have together is in the evening
it’s your last night before y’all have to return to okinawa
kaoru tells you to get dressed and takes you out to this expensive ass restaurant and he’s sooooo f*cking romantic
the love in his eyes,,,, his soft ass smile as he watches you ramble in between taking sips from your wine glass
he’s looking at you as you’re personally responsible for the sun rising each day
i mean, you could’ve been talking about how you saw a crab on the beach that was missing a leg, and kaoru would just be like “tell me more bby 🥰😍”
when y’all make it back to the hotel, you’re both a little tipsy (kaoru is more so buzzed)
you’re holding onto kaoru’s arm as you both take the elevator up to your hotel room
kaoru feels you slightly sway against him and he leans over to kiss the top of your head
“you alright, darling?” he murmurs into your hair
he takes your hand in his and runs the pad of his thumb over the back of your hand
and he does all of this while his lips are pressed against the top of your head— SIR PLS ✋😩
it’s an chaste act and you know he’s genuinely concerned but after two glasses of wine, your brain is just—🥴
hornknee thoughts only 😩💯
sloppily, you wiggle out of kaoru’s embrace before centering yourself in front of him with your hands placed on his chest
at your action, kaoru’s eyebrow raises ever so slightly but he keeps silent, slightly amused
“you’re so f*cking fine” you murmur, slightly smoothing your hands over kaoru’s chest, staring him right in eye
“oh?”
“yea, and you don’t even try. What’s that like?”
by now, kaoru’s softly smiling. “what’s what like, my love?”
“what’s it like to be so hot without even trying?”
and before ol boy can even reply to that, your hands find his belt before firmly pulling him in for a kiss
kaoru hums at the sudden jolt but then sighs appreciatively through his nose and wastes no time parting his mouth for you
b*tch, you’re the one who’s moaning skxhsnwje
still kissing you, he smooths your hair back with one hand before grabbing a fistful of your hair
he firmly yanks your hair back and deepens the kiss, and you just— 🤸♀️
the moan that elicits from you, is OTHERWORLDY
you feel the elevator roll to a stop
kaoru pulls back with a grin on his face and so much love in his eyes that you’re tempted to go in for round two
but then the elevator door slides open and he grabs your hand, tugging you into the hallways
as he leads you to the hotel room, kaoru slightly turns his head back to smile at you, with the same amount of love in his eyes
LANGA
i feel like langa may get flustered as easily as reki might, but he’s manages to be a lot more cool about it
which kinda drives you up the wall? you just wanna see your boyfriend embarrassed for once
all he does is slightly blush with a straight face and glance away
so let’s say he’s walking you home after you, him, and reki were hanging about at a skatepark
the sun had already set and langa is walking beside you with his skateboard under one arm.
the walk is pretty silent, but it’s a comfortable silence. langa finds that he and you can soak up each other’s presence without having to say a word
you see him jolt out of your peripheral vision and you’re like ???
before you can glance over and ask if he’s okay, he quickly grabs your hand
you glance up at him, confused, and he simply replies “i forgot to hold your hand, sorry”
langa wtf??
fighting back the urge to laugh, you squeeze his hand and tell him it’s fine
both of you share a soft smile, before the easy silence continues for the rest of the walk
when y’all arrive on your porch steps, you turn to him and thank him for walking you home
langa assures you it’s no problem before saying goodnight
he’s turns around and takes a couple steps away, when you clear your throat
he glances back at you, quizzically
you’re standing on the porch step, with your hands behind your back.
there’s a mischievous glint in your eyes
“aren’t you forgetting something?” you playfully chide him
langa: 😐😑😐
you can literally see the gears turning in langa’s head
“...did you want me to walk you to your bedroom?”
you can’t help the laughter that bubbles out of you, and langa feels his cheeks reddened slightly
“angel, no. I meant a goodnight kiss?”
“o-oh, right”
his brows furrowed slightly as he determinedly making his way over to you
he’s so—&:&72737
as he’s making his way over, an idea pops into your head and you kinda “>:3”
when langa is standing in front of you, your hands grip onto his belt and you yank him into a kiss
bby boy almost drops his skateboard
he quickly inhaled through his nose before giving a stuttered moan and you smile into the kiss
you’re standing on the first step to your porch so the added height is giving you more access
BITE HIS MFIN LIP! he will gasp so prettily into your mouth
entranced, he keeps leaning more and more forward, that is, until the back of your foot hits the step behind you
stumbling backwards, you fall back and pull langa along right with you
you fall right on your ass, yelping as you knock foreheads with langa as he falls into you
so now, you’re both left moaning, gripping your foreheads
“are you okay?” langa asks you, dropping his hand from his forehead revealing a red mark
you begin to laugh at the sight of it and langa just stares at you, confused but slightly defensive
“w-what?!”
“your forehead is red” you giggle
“well yea, you slammed your forehead into mine”
“you slammed your forehead into mine” you give him a quick peck on his lip before smoothing his hair hair back
“that looks like it’s gonna bruise,” you murmur and press a kiss to his forehead “I’ll get you some ice, come inside”
end notes: i wanted to get this out in time for cherry’s bday!
Time for some actual Sk8 content cause I miss them ＞︿＜
---
Teaching you how to skate with the Sk8 boys🛹✨
Reki, Langa, Cherry, Joe & Miya x Reader - fluffy headcanons
---
Reki Kyan
So it's basically the same routine with Langa but with kisses and affection. And crying if you fall (he will deny it)
If you even look like you're about to fall, he's on you like gravy on rice.
Kisses you right smack on the lips if you do a trick right. And he tells you all his skating fails when you get frustrated with something. Such a babe ❤️
When I tell you his pockets are filled to the brim with Band-Aids? You can't see much less see the bottom.
"It's just in case babe! Don't want you to bleed out on me! You're still a novice but it's okay, you'll be skating like a pro soon!😁"
Says the one covered in bandages but okay 🙄
Customized your board and everything, he put his heart and soul into that board. And yes you do have matching stickers because he's cheesy like that. I mean it's Reki❤
If you do manage to nail a cool trick, it does not matter where you are, he will start hyping you and twirling you in his arms, no filter😗
He brings you to 'S' as soon as you have some basic skills. You're not beefing though. He would hate himself if you got hurt skating against one of the more...deranged skaters.
Speaking of deranged skaters, you aren't allowed 10 ft near Ad*m. You can't even breathe his air, not happening.
Under no circumstance should you let episode 7 happen, I forbid it.
He calls you Skater Bae (baby no..) it's not actually your skater tag but the others call you it to tease the both of you.
Langa Hasegawa
Do you really think he knows what he's doing? He quite literally jumps over his problems so teaching you how to skate will be a challenge.
You two probably watch skate videos and try to replicate them together.
I wish I was kidding but he did ask if you wanted to tape your feet to the board. You almost said yes with how adorably serious he was.
You do eventually (without duct tape) learn to balance and he's so proud 💙 and of course you celebrate with poutine~
Despite you being the one learning, he somehow ends up more banged up than you so you're usually the one carrying the bandages and such.
Reckless boi😅
Whenever you learn something new, he gives you this soft smile and a kiss on the forehead because he knows you've worked hard and he just finds your proud face so adorable💞
He does bring you to 'S' but he will under absolutely no circumstances let you beef. With anyone except for your close friends anyway. Otherwise don't even bother asking or trying. He'll do it for you, give him a name and it's over.
He never wants you to feel inferior to him (we saw how that went down with Reki) so he is constantly encouraging you and supporting you in his own weird way.
Reki suggested that your skater tag should be Storm so you and Langa could be SnowStorm together as a joke, but Langa liked it so much, you didn't have the heart to change it💙
Kaoru Sakurayashiki
As soon as you even mention wanting to learn how to skate? It's over. He's already got the board.
He's surprisingly a really good teacher?? He knows literally everything about it and you can balance properly in under a week. Blasphemy really.
Het you skate on Carla once, his face was as pink as his hair watching you attempt an ollie on her while laughing.
As if this man would even let you get a single scratch on your body. It took you a whole week to convince Kaoru to allow you to skate without a helmet.
The only time you've ever gotten hurt must have been when you tried a kickflip while Kaoru was asleep and hurt your knee. Never again.
He treats you whenever you do anything that you're really proud of like mastering an Ollie. He isn't one for affection and PDA so I imagine he buys you a gift or takes you out for food. And he pays great attention to detail so it'll be worth it in the end.
You going to 'S' Master a rail slide and then we'll talk.
You'd have to beg and plead with him to take you with him. In the end, Joe sneaks you in and Cherry almost loses it.
RIP Joe I guess ಠ‿ಠ
Absolutely, positively, forget beefing. Spectate to your heart's desire but you aren't setting foot on that track. If Adam decides to show you remain 10ft away from him at all times. Scary dog privileges Cherry, am I right
Give him some time he'll loosen up eventually. Maybe.
You were joking around called him the cherry to your blossom and it stuck. It is your name and Cherry has no objections to it.
Kojiro Nanjo
Dear God, why did you ask him...
Of course, he's happy and wants to teach you all he knows but you just sent his ego through the roof.
Will not stop flirting with you. Sometimes you can't tell he's trying to teach you something or get in your pants.
Joe is very #reckless so you're usually the one equipped with bandaids. He doesn't get hurt often but he sure does give you weekly heart attacks with his stunts.
He made a deal with you that every time you mastered something, he'd make you whatever food you wanted, Japanese, Italian, or otherwise.
Which leads you to have a newfound determination and Joe to have a lot of new perfected recipes under his belt.
He does occasionally bring you to 'S' (mostly to watch him skate, showoff🙄)
As for you beefing? As long as he knows it's a rookie or someone in the group, he doesn't mind. He's not as high maintenance as some may think.
As for Adam? You're not allowed to breathe this man's air. Will under no circumstances let you stay near him.
His nickname for you is normally Bella/o so you took it as your skater tag. The others always comment on how yours is better than his lol
Miya Chinen
Doesn't act like it but is very hype when you ask.
He tries his very best not to flex what he knows so you don't leave him like all his friends did.
Honestly, you guys just goof around most of the time but you learn how to skate pretty fast with his help.
Getting injured is normal with skating so he doesn't get worried unless you cry or bleed a lot. Then you're done for the day and he makes you rest up before going again.
I don't think he's a rewarding type but he does lend you his better controller when you game together as a sign of respect.
Mad respect because usually he hisses whenever you try to touch it. He's got a pair of claws on him, that's for sure🤕
He does let you come to 'S' with him whenever you want. Doesn't care that much. Unless you decide to hang out with Reki and Langa more than him, then he's pouty.
Actually prefers if he's the only one you beef. He won't stop you from beefing with anyone else but he likes it when it's just the two of you.
You both heckle Ad*m whenever he comes around though, it's hilarious 😆
You didn't really know what your skater tag should be so Miya started calling you the Player 2 to his Player 1 as a joke and now here you are.
ive searched high and low and im so sad that i can't find a way to watch joxters moomin episodes anywhere, do you have any idea where i could watch them? (see a handsome dad living life??)
you’re not sure how an innocuous invitation to a special hot pot game resulted in you sitting on the lap of the shirasagi himegimi’s attendant, the ingredients you prepared long forgotten as thoma’s lips press against yours.
perhaps it was your fault for telling him about the game in the first place.
it’s not too late to stop this, you think. not too late to remove yourself from this incriminating position, before a servant slides the door open and sees the attendant of kujou sara tightly wrapping their arms around an outlander that’s quickly become one of the strongest assets to the kamisato clan.
but then those fingers that wander up and down your thighs suddenly squeeze your ass, your gasp allowing his tongue to drive deep, feeling your inhibitions melt with every second.
the moans that leave you are desperate, betraying the composed facade you held mere minutes ago. it’s only fair that you harshly tug on his blond locks as payback, relishing the groan you pull out of him, wondering how much louder those pretty sounds can get without being caught.
and you hate that the man is as keen as ever—and more perceptive than you’ll ever be—preventing you from rolling your hips against him as he pushes you off his lap…just before you hear your name called, revealing the steely look of an officer opening the door despite the helpless protests of a timid servant.
“the general requires your presence for an urgent matter.”
“of course, please give me one moment to escort—”
“i will escort him,” interrupts the officer, “the general demands that preparations for the ceremony must commence now.”
and you’re not sure what makes your warm cheeks even hotter: the fact that both the officer and servant now seem to notice the blonde’s disheveled hair, your swollen lips, and the untouched lavender melon alongside a cold bowl of soup; or the fact that thoma’s eyes brighten for the briefest of seconds as he finally acquires the information he’s been trying to cajole out of you this past week.
“please, lead the way, officer,” thoma says smoothly, bidding you a cheery smile and wink before he lowers his voice to a whisper that only your flaming ears can hear.
“after all, this meeting ended on quite a productive note.”
Whenever things start getting intense in a Morganville Vampires book I always seem to suddenly remember that it’s set in Texas and they’re Southern and then just imagine that they all have over the top Southern accents until I have to put it up and walk away.
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