Hey, just found you via AO3 because of that Margo fic (which I adored!!!) If you're still taking prompts, I saw you mention that you bet Penny knows way more about Q than he lets on, and I'd love to see your thoughts on that. Thank you!!
“Shit,” Penny said to no one in particular, glaring at Quentin across the room. Even at a Physical Kids party, with its heady blur of thoughts and emotions and drunken psychic feedback, Quentin’s mind stood out like a beacon. A really depressing, super nerdy beacon. Like the fucking Batsignal of annoying thoughts.
The thing to do would be to go in the opposite direction, to leave Quentin to his moping, but Penny had unfortunately seen enough of the inside of Quentin’s head to do that now. That was the most fucking aggravating thing about being telepathic, really -- all these one-sided bonds forged of all the casual intimacies he knew but could never let people know that he knew.
So, distraction. Definitely the way to get Quentin out of his funk. He strode over and poked Quentin in the shoulder. “Hey. Quit it.”
“I’m not doing anything.” Somehow Quentin’s actual voice was just as whiny and irritating as his mental voice. Penny glared and tapped the side of Quentin’s head, and Quentin had the nerve -- the nerve! -- to duck his head and apologize.
“God, you’re pathetic,” Penny said, and sighed. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
Quentin looked like he was going to argue, but Penny knew him, so he reached out and pulled him to his feet. He knew from the shape of Quentin’s mind that there was steel there, underneath all the uncertainty and lack of self confidence, but Quentin never seemed to feel the need to let it shine through.
Maybe he didn’t even know it was there. Penny paused, reevaluating his plan. “I have an idea. Something fun. More fun than this shitty party.”
“It’s a very nice party,” Quentin said loyally, eyes cutting to where Eliot and Margo were holding court by the bar.
“Dude, if they heard you describe their party as nice, you’d never get invited again,” Penny said, even though that was blatantly untrue, given how infatuated with Q they both seemed to be. That was another thing that got to Penny -- how easily Quentin had fallen into a deep friendship, had become part of an inner circle without even seeming to try, while Penny was always left out on the fringes.
It fucking sucked. He was way more charming and entertaining than Quentin ever thought about being, and had an actual sense of humor. Not that he wanted to be part of their stupid friendship circle, but… It would be nice, that was all.
Quentin sighed, like standing up and leaving the party was the most loathsome chore he’d ever done, and seriously, Penny deserved every award in the universe for not just punching him, but he silently followed Penny out the back door of the Cottage, past the outdoor furniture, and into the woods.
Penny led them to a clearing that held no memories at all. He wasn’t even sure if it always existed -- the wards around Brakebills were strange at the best of times.
“Here’s the thing,” Penny said. “I could feel how fucking miserable you are from across the room.”
“So?” Quentin said, squaring his shoulders up. Somewhere along the walk he’d apparently decided to find his balls, which was a relief. Penny just couldn’t with limp noodle Quentin.
“So we’re going to have a lesson in blocking your goddamn depression cloud before it makes me punch you,” Penny explained in as gentle of terms as he could muster.
“I can block,” Quentin said, a blatant lie given the months of evidence Penny had been subjected to.
“So you wanted me to hear all your thoughts about how Eliot was wearing your favorite of his pants because of how they hug his--”
“That’s what I thought,” Penny said, then realized that he was going to have to actually teach Quentin how to block. “Okay, so you’re a nerd. You need to mentally put on a Magneto helmet, okay? Keep all that shit inside your head where telepaths don’t have to deal with it.”
“I tried,” Quentin said. Penny was surprised he wasn’t whining; instead his voice held defeat. “I’m just not as good at all this as I thought I would be.”
Not a newsflash. Quentin’s pity train about his lack of magical aptitude was something Penny had dealt with on the regular when they were roommates. Penny kind of wished he could show Quentin what a blessing it was to not be bombarded with magical input constantly, but he wasn’t about to start his own pity party. Penny refused to be that guy.
“Then get better, idiot,” Penny said instead. Then he used the simplest words he could think of to explain to Quentin how to block his mind properly, and when that didn’t work, because Quentin was like the living fucking embodiment of bless your heart, Penny heaved a sigh and touched Quentin’s mind with his own, as lightly as he could manage.
It wasn’t quite like the comics; Penny’s telepathy was a one-way street. But Quentin’s mind was open, and if he could just look closer, focus in on Quentin’s thoughts, maybe he could figure out where the failure was happening.
“Try to block,” he said. Quentin’s thoughts churned -- a sea of observations and emotions, bleakness and defeat and an underlying earnest softness. He built the wall, just the way Penny had described but…
Oh.
As soon as his thoughts began to crowd around the wall, there was an underlying sense of panic, a let them out moment. Quentin wasn’t failing because he was too dense to understand how to block, he was failing because there was a thrumming sense within him that he’d spent so long trying to push his thoughts away, to free himself from his emotions, that he couldn’t bear to lock them up tight. Didn’t want to lock himself in with his own thoughts.
His thoughts were so damn loud because he was constantly, subconsciously attempting to evict them from his own head.
“Like that?” Quentin said, like he was unaware of his soul laid bare before Penny, and sounding strangely proud of the half-hewn walls surrounding his mind, like a fort with the gates wide open. Goddamn it.
“Much better,” Penny said, because he was a damn gullible idiot, and accepted his fate of having to hear Quentin’s thoughts. He tried his best to ignore the wave of pride and finally I did something right emanating from Quentin. At least probably it was less miserable to just have to hear Quentin’s pointless thoughts and terrible taste in music (seriously, mainstream pop) than it would be to have to actually live them, so he was still one-up on Quentin himself.
“Thanks!” Quentin lifted his arms, like he was going to give Penny a fucking hug, and Penny back stepped quickly.
“Let’s get back to the party,” Penny said. He rolled his eyes, so Quentin wouldn’t think anything had changed. “Gotta drink away what your brain feels like.”
“I know, right?” Quentin said, but he gave Penny a half-smile as they headed back, like Penny couldn’t hear him thinking maybe Penny isn’t that big of an asshole after all.
I've been putting off writing a cover letter for weeks now for summer jobs and I missed a deadline for a job I was really interested in. Am I going to get a fulfilling job this summer? I think I relate most to Remus Lupin or Keladry of Mindelan.
Totally feel you with the job applications boat, it’s rough stuff. I pulled for you the king of pentacles! This is a card about balance, determination, discipline and material success, so I think that’s a good sign. It’ll come if you put your mind and heart to it and use all your resources (as with many things in life). I also have in my notes that this card is a sign to keep your word. So anything you’ve promised to do, get on it!! :)
I just started following you the other day and I love your stuff. I'm sorry you're going through a rough patch. ❤ Also I give really great hugs irl so I want you to close your eyes and imagine that I'm giving you one that lasts as long as you need it. Take care of yourself and I hope things will start looking up soon. I believe in you!
GNKDSJGLK HONESTLY part of me never wanted to respond to this so I could keep it in my inbox to look at forever??? THIS WAS HONESTLY THE SWEETEST THANK YOU SO MUCH and I’m so pathetically sorry for the delay in response. Just know that I saw it at the time AND IT’S MADE ME SMILE SO BIG EVER SINCE ❤❤❤❤❤ I’m still enjoying that hug btw. Right back at you!!!!!!!
I just got Marvel Unlimited. Can you recommend some comics to me? Especially Hawkeye (both Clint and Kate, because they're both amazing). I read the 2012 series, and I'm trying to read more but I don't know where to begin. I saw that you posted something earlier and I thought you might be able to point me in the right direction. Thank you!!
you’ve read the Fraction arc? Okay. You NEED to read Young Avengers if you want more Kate, this is where Kate’s origin is from and it’s a fantastic series, both volumes. As for Clint, another great one is Hawkeye: Blindspot and West Coast Avengers. :)
for general reading, Volume 3 of Iron Man (starts in 1998 I believe) is wonderful and features other Avengers, I especially love the relationship he has with Carol Danvers (both being recovering alcoholics, Tony is a sponsor of sorts for her). The Kelly Sue run of Captain Marvel. The new Ms. Marvel with Kamala Khan, Miles Morales Ultimate Spider-Man!!!! I /adored/ the Charles Soule run of She-Hulk. The current Magneto was great (dunno if it’s still ongoing, had to stop reading weekly last year).
I think any of those are new reader friendly and might be old enough to be on Marvel Unlimited (I don’t have an account so I’m not sure).
Jean Grey: What is something about yourself you can't control?
Being an introvert. It’s something I’m learning to work around, but no matter how much I try, my shyness and my need for alone time will always be an issue.
Storm: What do people look up to you for?
People seem to like me because I’m fluffy and a good listener. When I was in college, I gained a reputation among the underclassmen for being super smart and a great tutor--which is not fully deserved, but I remember idolizing upperclassmen when I was their age, too. :)
Beast: Favorite book?
Um, that’s a tough one. Right now I’d have to go with George Eliot’s Middlemarch.
Atum - What are your greatest imperfections?The imperfection that pisses me off most is jealousy. It only rears its ugly head in relationship matters... and it is maybe tied to the lack of confidence problem I talked about in the last series of questions I answered (the other great imperfection, that confidence thing). If the girl I'm dating is out spending time with other guys, my mood dips low. The fact that it bothers me pisses me off like nothing else. If I don't know about the hanging out with other guys, there's nooo issue whatsoever. It doesn't consciously bother me one bit, I know better than that, I'm more rational than that. But, yeah, maybe it is the confidence thing, as if my mind tells me to worry 'oh know she's with some dude right now, probably falling head over heels for him....' Hopefully I'll find that this massive fucking problem will go away the more I face it and get used to it.
Odin - What is your family like?Well. There's no way I'm going to be able to keep this short. The basics, before we can get to anything else... family of five. I'm the youngest of the three kids. Got a brother and a sister. They're twins. I may be the one who loves soccer and overcast skies and BBC shows and has an interest in Formula 1 and saying telly, BUT the twins were the ones born in England, not me.
They were born early. Like, super early. Health issues abound, though not evenly shared between the two of them. Ultimately, my brother had a hemispherectomy I think when he was 7 or 8. Around there. Fact of the matter is, between the four people in my family aside from myself, matters of health have played an undeniable, massive role in shaping the lives of my family (literally the only medical treatment I've ever needed was just after birth; forever grateful).
Circumstances probably required all of us to live life a certain way. The birth of my siblings likely changed my parents more than your average birth does. My parents and the brother and sister... they're all kind, caring, and selfless people.
My sister is incredibly close to everyone; she moved only a mile from the house we grew up in, the house my parents and brother still live in, and she probably visits them every day. Father, brother, and sister love dogs. Mother is a cat person though. Father works a shit job with shit hours, but that's where the selflessness I mentioned shines most. Mother lives on the computer, but like I said - health issues abound in my family. I moved out, but she and I still watch sports and some shows together, when I can. My brother is like me, loves movies. He's got a Disney/Pixar collection deeper than most fans'. His biggest problem is that he likes basketball. And that he can beat me at Wii bowling; dude's got a wicked throwing style.
'This is my family. Is little, and broken, but still good. Yah. Still good.'
Rule 1: Always post the rules Rule 2: Answer the questions the person who tagged you asked and come up with 11 new ones Rule 3: Tag 12 people and link them to the post (psst y’all can retag me if you want *cough* i kinda love these) Rule 4: Actually tell them you tagged them - cuz no one a telepatic fucker
tagged by applejacks1990
My Questions:
Do you like doing these tag things?: Meh, I suppose that I don't mind doing them
Do you prefer tumblr mobile or desktop version?: I honestly don't mind either or, I don't like using the mobile site when I don't have wifi though because shit doesn't fucking lad
Do you know how to use chopsticks?: I do but Lauryn would say I don't and she's a piece fo shit so fucking bye
Have you ever seen snow?: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA. I live in Ohio, of course I have
Prefer writing with a pen or a pencil?: Either or is fine honestly, I only like mechanical pencils though and if the pen doesn't write smooth I hate using it
Sweet or sour?: Depends on my mood, right now, sour
Favorite animal?: Zebraaaaaaaaaa
Best gift ever?: Uhhhhhhhhhhhh concert tickets
Do you have secret obsessions that you will take to your grave or are you an open book?: Sadly.
Are you comfortable with calling businesses for information?: NO I HATE TALKING ON THE PHONE. I RATHER DO MATH PROBLEMS THAN DO SHIT LIKE THAT
(I’m so sorry…) Dean, Sam, or Cas? Pick one.: Uh... probably Cas because his character has so much depth and potential.
My questions:
What is the last show you watched(yes netflix counts):
Top three favourite shows that are out of SuperWhoLock:
If you were in a movie what kind of movie would you be in:
Would you rather be cold or hot and why:
iPhone or Android:
Favourite candy:
Do you believe in the supernatural:
Whats your favourite element:
What is your astrological sign:
Do you have any tattoos or piercings/want any(explain if you do):
Do you have a favourite genre of music(what kind):
