#2x09 “The Mistake”

[thoughtfulchaos773]

I wonder if Carmy was so choked up after his promise to Syd because he realized the weight of his words. That he has to be the guy from here on out, and he made a promise to someone even though promises are meaningless in his family. But he wants to try, and he's always tried with Sydney.

Even though he resonates with Sydney'what-ifs because Jimmy hits him with the cold reality of profit margins, focus, and failure a few moments earlier. He still promises Sydney I won't let you.

Carmy feelings are so strong for Syd that he would be Bartman to Syd's Gonzales and take the bigger fall for her if it comes to that.

Because, in the end, he's the guy for Sydney.

#season 2 felt hopeless but make no mistake- Carmy will always be THE guy for sydney #Also dont make another mistake Sydney holds her own #for Syd- always for Syd #the bear 2x09 omelette

[ouestjessicahyde]

#nat #natalie scatorccio #yellowjackets #nat scatorccio #yellowjackets s2 #lottie #yellowjackets 2x09 #yellowjackets season finale #yellowjackets storytelling #sophie thatcher #travis martinez #travis #misty #young misty #misty quigley #lottie matthews #javi #javi martinez #it chooses #same mistakes #echo-friendly #Youtube

[imminent-danger-came]

A "MK is Related to the Underworld Somehow. Probably." List With Commentary (And I Consider it Evidence for EAMK)

(1x08 Skeleton Key)

(LIKE CAN I PLEASE HAVE AN EXPLANATION FOR THIS SCENE. CAN I PLEASE HAVE AN EXPLANATION??? WHAT. WHY. WHY WOULD YOU EVEN GIVE HIM THE KEY IN THE FIRST PLACE.)

-

(1x08 Skeleton Key)

(Idiot boy putting the skeleton key in his ear.)

-

(2x03 Pig Pong Panic)

(MK + Bones. Never a good sign)

-

(2x05 Minor Scale)

(Is this perhaps just LBD trying to take control of MK? Maybe. Is it also really weird how her powers interact with MK in general? For sure!)

-

(2x06 Game on)

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(2x07 Shadow Play)

(Number one: The Lady Bone Demon wasn't here to provoke this, number two: MK using "blue vision" to see his friend's fate inside the lantern is equally strange!)

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(2x09 72 Transformations)

(Again, could very well be LBD trying to take control of MK here—however, it doesn't seem like she's trying to do much of anything to MK in this scene, as she's focused on spider queen. So it weirds me out and goes into this post!)

-

(3x03 Smartie Kid)

(So, if the stuff in s2 was LBD affecting MK then I get it. BUT THEN WHY HAVE MORE BLUE EYES IN S3 AFTER LBD HAS ALREADY "TAKEN" MK'S POWERS AND THE STAFF. Genuinely want to know what this was meant to imply.)

-

(3x12 The Corrupted King)

(LBD HAS ALREADY POSSESSED WUKONG HERE. Wukong and the Mech alone was spreading her too thin. She certainly wasn't attempting to posses MK here—so what was happening?)

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(4x01 Familiar Tales)

(The scroll ink touches MK not once, but twice this episode and it doesn't ensnare MK. The scroll touches Monkey King once and this is what happens to him: )

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(4x02 Familiar Tales)

(The scroll's ink emanates from MK, which I thought was crazy at first BUT IT THEN HAPPENS AGAIN IN 4x11)

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(4x03 The Great Tang Man)

(Soooo we see a vision of an all inked up MK, then we see the stone cracking, then we see a shot of the curse from 4x02, and THEN MK turns Tang Sanzang's golden power blue, a color associated with both LBD and the underworld in general. HM.)

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(4x06 Show Me the Monster)

(There's no hair flip so it's not MK, so it would make me think that this is an ink version of SWK next to the stone. It's weird so I'm including it!)

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(4x06 Show Me the Monster)

(So. Ink blotting out the sun, something MK/SWK are often associated with, and then pouring out of the cracked stone, which we just learned MK was born from. And then the curse takes MK's form. I'm tripping over my own conspiracy board here.)

-

MK: "You're not my friend—you're NOT me!" Curse MK: "Sure I am! I'm your best friend, well, closest at least! I know more about you than you'll even admit—to yourself, or to others."

(4x07 Pitiful Creatures)

(The curse claiming it's a part of MK is weird! The curse looking like MK in it's most weakened state is also weird! It's all weird!)

-

(4x08 The Brotherhood)

(Absolutely no reason for a weird teal smudge to be there, and yet)

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(4x11 A Lifetime of Mistakes)

(BOOM. SCROLL EMANATING FROM MK AGAIN.)

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(4x11 A Lifetime of Mistakes)

(The broken memories flickering in the scroll are very similar to the way MK flickers in and out of monkey form: )

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(4x13 Rip and Tear)

(Scroll ink touches MK again and he does not become imprisoned inside it again. The scroll at the very least has no affect on the boy)

-

And I think for now that wraps up this post!

#sincerely think MK is related to the underworld/is some sort of fucked up memory based creature #''Now I will undo the memories of this world'' hmm. Will you LBD? AND IF MK WAS YOUR ORIGINAL POWER SOURCE—I'M JUST SAYING #getting this post out before the tdp s5 trailer which I know will ruin me #Look I know the red string is strong here. But that's okay. #Sometimes you just gotta throw shit at a wall and see what sticks. #Let's play the game of ''am I noticing purposeful details'' or ''am I just overthinking it'' #The game I play everyday #BUT. This would all play into eamk (eldritch abomination MK) let me tell you #And now he's like. A weird power soup with both SWK's powers and whatever other powers from the underworld/scroll #lmk #lmk MK #lego monkie kid #monkie kid #lmk theory #eamk theory

[goodwhump-temp]

Rin Okumura Whump - Blue Exorcist

Yukio Okumura Whump Stupidity is contagious

Season 1 1x01 The Devil Resides in Human Souls - Bloody fist, face cut, held down 1x02 Gehenna Gate - Hunted, almost falls, trips, slapped, dragged, restrained, emotional 1x04 Garden of Amahara - Sobbing (reading Manga) 1x05 A Boy from the Cursed Temple - Flustered, chased, knocked down, almost bitten, almost shot inconspicuously 1x06 The Phantom Chef - Restrained multiple times, justified anger, dies (of horrible food), loopy, held, master chef battle against a pokemon, collapse, hurt feelings/crying, knocked back 1x07 A Flock of Plovers - Thrown, knocked down, choked 1x08 Now A Certain Man was Sick - Jumpscared, hits his head, slapped, dropped heavy rock on his foot, chased, thrown multiple times, knocked down 1x09 Memories - Targetted, hurt with holy water, squeezed, pain, stabbed, bleeding 1x10 Black Cat - Headbut, bloody nose 1x12 A Game of Tag - Smacked, knocked down, punched multiple times, feral, pinned, bloody face, knees collapse 1x13 Proof - Headlocked, sliced, impaled, bandaged, traumatic flashback 1x14 A Fun Camping Trip - Depressing high school flashbacks, panic, restrained 1x15 Act of Kindness - Knocked back, knocked to the ground, unconscious, reveals powers to friends, tail hurts, goes feral 1x16 The Wager - Feral, collapse, unconscious, targetted, imprisoned, nightmare of turning into a demon 1x17 Temptation - Moves while imprisoned, crystal prison broken, unconscious, squeezed, dazed, collapses unconscious, knife held to neck, confronted by ex-friends [insert season 2 here] 1x18 Hurricane - Face sliced, misunderstood, held at gunpoint, punched, stabbed, punched down, held by the head, exhausted 1x20 Mask - Targetted, sword to throat twice, held at gunpoint, shot with tranq, paralyzed, passes out, weak 1x21 The Secret Garden - Targetted, pinned to the ground, knocked down 1x22 Demon Hunting - Betrayed, held at gunpoint, thrown, unconscious, captured/imprisoned, chained as ritual sacrifice, extreme pain, bleeding 1x23 Truth - Bleeding profusely, extreme pain, unconscious, carried 1x24 Satan's Spawn - Punched, confronts Yukio, punched multiple times, bloody, weak, shot, collapse, bleeding profusely, emotional

Season 2: Kyoto Saga (This is loyal to the manga; when making season 1, the manga wasn't completed, so the studio came up with the rest)

2x01 Small Beginnings - Avoided, sad 2x02 Strange Bedfellows - Sad, not trusted, drunk, passed out/carried 2x03 Suspicion Will Raise Bogies - Hungover, tired as balls 2x04 Act of Treachery - Trying to prevent Bon from making the same mistakes as him and his father, emotional, leash tightened, pain, passes out 2x05 Mysterious Connections - Imprisoned 2x07 Like a Fire Burning Bright - Can't draw Kurakara (scared), no confidence, re-imprisoned, sentenced to death, friends worried, depressed, emotional x2 2x08 From Father to Son - Mental block 2x09 Through Thick and Thin - Mental block 2x10 Unbowed and Unbroken - Mental block broken, badass 2x11 Shine Bright as the Sun - Soloing the impure king, no confidence, emotional pain, badass, confronted by angry Yukio, punched, collapse, unconscious 2x12 Candid and Open - Flustered

#whump #emotional whump #whump list #whumplist #anime whump #blue exorcist #blue exorcist whump #blue exorcist rin #rin okumura #rin okumara whump

[samepisodebracket]

justice for sam

If the spnepisodebracket craze has shown us anything, it's that the supernatural fanbase is extremely divided, with the lowly sam stan seemingly at the bottom of the pile. sam is always last in polls, so this is a bracket for the 10% or so who always votes for him. because yeah, there's 327 episodes of Supernatural, but how many are popular because of a dean or destiel moment? how many good episodes are drowned out because they focus on sam?

i've chosen, with some crowdsourced peer review (special thanks to @spneveryseason, @suncaptor, and @ambersock!) 125 episodes that are Sam Relevant. Some are extremely sam-centric, some just have a shot where sam looks like he's being crucified that gives me brain worms -- i tried to be generous about it to keep a relatively even seasons distribution! matchups will be random and polls will last 24 hours each. in the tradition of @spnepisodebracket (who this is obviously inspired by and would not be possible without!) i'll try to rb a gifset for every episode in the poll!

a final note: no this is not that serious but the criteria for voting here should be how good the episode is as a SAM episode, not as anything else, so please vote accordingly! i am making this for people who actually enjoy sam and if that is not you, then this is not the poll for you!

with that out of the way, here is the compiled list of episodes! voting starts this sammy sunday, 3/26!

Season 1 Pilot (1x01) Bloody Mary (1x05) Home (1x09) Asylum (1x10) Scarecrow (1x11) Nightmare (1x14) Shadow (1x16) Provenance (1x19) Salvation (1x21) Devil's Trap (1x22) Season 2 Simon Said (2x05) Croatoan (2x09) Hunted (2x10) Playthings (2x11) Houses of the Holy (2x13) Born Under a Bad Sign (2x14) Heart (2x17) All Hell Breaks Loose Part 1 (2x21) All Hell Breaks Loose Part 2 (2x22) Season 3 Bad Day at Black Rock (3x03) A Very Supernatural Christmas (3x08) Mystery Spot (3x11) Jus In Bello (3x12) Time is On My Side (3x15) Season 4 Metamorphosis (4x04) It's the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester (4x07) I Know What You Did Last Summer (4x09) After School Special (4x13) On the Head of a Pin (4x16) It's a Terrible Life (4x17) Jump the Shark (4x19) When the Levee Breaks (4x21) Lucifer Rising (4x22) Season 5 Good God, Y'all! (5x02) Free to be You and Me (5x03) Changing Channels (5x08) Sam, Interrupted (5x11) Swap Meat (5x12) The Song Remains the Same (5x13) My Bloody Valentine (5x14) Dark Side of the Moon (5x16) 99 Problems (5x17) Two Minutes to Midnight (5x21) Swan Song (5x22) Season 6 Exile on Main St. (6x01) You Can't Handle the Truth (6x06) Family Matters (6x07) Clap Your Hands if You Believe (6x09) Caged Heat (6x10) Appointment in Samarra (6x11) Like a Virgin (6x12) Unforgiven (6x13) The French Mistake (6x15) The Man Who Knew Too Much (6x22) Season 7 Meet the New Boss (7x01) Hello, Cruel World (7x02) The Girl Next Door (7x03) Season 7, Time for a Wedding! (7x08) Plucky Pennywhistle's Magic Menagerie (7x14) Repo Man (7x15) Out with the Old (7x16) The Born-Again Identity (7x17) Season 8 We Need to Talk About Kevin (8x01) Hunteri Heroici (8x08) Trial and Error (8x14) Taxi Driver (8x19) Pac-Man Fever (8x20) The Great Escapist (8x21) Clip Show (8x21) Sacrifice (8x23) Season 9 Holy Terror (9x09) Road Trip (9x10) First Born (9x11) The Purge (9x13) Meta Fiction (9x18) Season 10 Black (10x01) Soul Survivor (10x03) Fan Fiction (10x05) Inside Man (10x17) Book of the Damned (10x18) The Werther Project (10x19) The Prisoner (10x22) Brother's Keeper (10x23) Season 11 Form and Void (11x02) Baby (11x04) Just My Imagination (11x08) Oh Brother Where Art Thou (11x09) The Devil in the Details (11x10) Into the Mystic (11x11) Ouroborus (11x14) Red Meat (11x17) Don't Call Me Shurley (11x20) Season 12 Keep Calm and Carry On (12x01) Mamma Mia (12x02) American Nightmare (12x04) Rock Never Dies (12x07) The Raid (12x14) Who We Are (12x22) Season 13 Lost and Found (13x01) Patience (13x03) The Big Empty (13x04) Various & Sundry Villains (13x12) A Most Holy Man (13x15) Funeralia (13x19) Beat the Devil (13x21) Exodus (13x22) Let the Good Times Roll (13x23) Season 14 Stranger in a Strange Land (14x01) Mint Condition (14x04) Nightmare Logic (14x05) Byzantium (14x08) Prophet and Loss (14x12) Lebanon (14x13) Peace of Mind (14x15) Game Night (14x17) Moriah (14x20) Season 15 Back and to the Future (15x01) Atomic Monsters (15x04) The Rupture (15x03) Golden Time (15x06) The Gamblers (15x11) Unity (15x17) Inherit the Earth (15x19) Finale: Carry On (15x20)

Edits: Bugs (1x08) will be added, polls will not be completely random bc im not doing this for science im doing this to see a good episode win and my randomizer pit when the levee breaks against swan song in round 1

#samepisodebracket #sam winchester #polls #spn #spn polls

[half-truths-and-hyperbole-louk]

Louk's Bad Batch rewatch part 29 !!!

we're in the second half of season 2 batchersss (was gonna say were in the end game now but I'll save that for tomorrow 😫)

The Bad Batch 2x09

her voice 🥲 she sounds so down it hurts

"sounds dangerous" *giggles* ilysm Wrecker 💕

Hunter sniffing dirt again hehe

Tech says "without Echo" and Omega immediately droops her head 😫

creeper peekin 👀

I love how Wrecker was carrying the case with one hand and Hunter needs two and keeps adjusting it 💪

Wrecker checking in on Omega 🤲

oop Omega dramatic sigh count 👀

Hunter lifting Omega up 🥺

"chain reaction, explosion got it 🙄" tbb dealing with teenage fett mood swings now

gentle hands 🤲

that is not your ship kid 👀

Hunter slams the highly dangerous explosives into the ground lmaooo

Hunter hearing the ship power up !!! his turns so fast and jumps over the stairs 🙌

the bickering batch

they're literally all so feral at each other rn 😮

Wrecker giving Omega water first 🥺

she's calling Echo for help 😭

Tech knows he disabled his comms... have they been chattin 👀

Hunter's senses on fire this ep 👌

Hunter pushing Omega in front of him and steering her out of the way 🙌

the Lion King ???

Tech: "protect the ipsium!" Wrecker: bruh 😑

the ipsium survived Hunter slamming it on the ground I'm sure it'll be fine

Wrecker: "why don't you carry it 😠" Tech: "fine" lolol

Tech is so strong omg he carried it like Wrecker 👀

Omega needs something to cover her face in this sandstorm 🥲 give her a helmet

THEY'RE SO SHITTY BOYS CALM DOWN !!!

Omega bby someone hug her !!!!! 😫😭

"what is your issue" 💔

how soft Hunter said her name 🥺🤲

Tech doesnt understand the emotional connection she has to everything but they probably all struggle to see that being soldiers, they're taught to let go of things, stay in the moment to be able to be the best they can, she's just a kid who wants her brother and her home back after just losing everything, I can completely understand both sides of this 🥲 I'm blabbing and it's not making sense anymore 🙃

"thats not the only mistake you need to fix" Hunter's dad mode applies to Tech now too

Tech: "but she said she wanted to be alone" 🥺

they're getting so much better at the whole dad/big brother thing 💕

Tech said her name so gently 😭

Omega and Tech having the same ideas 🥰

"I am fully aware you are capable of the task" 🥺

TECH BLINDLY FOLLOWING OMEGA WHEN SHE FALLS MY HEART

oop I forgot the 😫 Tech falls count: we're on 5 now

THE WAY HE GRABS HER IN THE WATER OML 😭 he was so desperate to save her

Hunter sensing they're in trouble 👀

Not only do I love Hunter's senses but I also love how aware they all are of him, like they all question him every time he pauses or looks off at something, they're all just so aware of each other 💕

Tech and Omega lying down out of the water 🤲

Tech emptying the water from his glasses !! 🥺

"we are alive" ~ bro I love how often he responds like this I can't wait to hear it again hehehe

Omega's wet droopy hair is getting so long 🥺

"the narrow crevasse" i love the way he talks he's so fancy 💅

Putting a bunch of quotes in bc they're iconic 💕

Omega: "everything is changing and you don't even care"

Tech: "I am not sure how I should care about change, it is a fundamental part of life"

Tech: "I am aware that you miss him, but we have to adapt and move on. That's what soldiers do."

Omega: "we're more than that. We're a family aren't we?"

Tech: "yes of course we are"

Omega: "why don't you act like it?"

Tech: "Echo chose a different path, as did Crosshair. I have to respect their decision. Even though it can be difficult to understand, we must carry on. I may process moments and thoughts differently, but it does not mean that I feel any less than you"

I have to put it all in bc this scene means so much to me 🥺🤲💕

Wrecker's scream and the big *fwosshhh* landing in the water vs Hunter's tiny *bloop*

Omega's wave 🫶

the way Hunter just tosses Tech's stuff out of the water and he's still holding Omega's bow is the difference between brother and dad

wet hair Hunter when 👀

Omega "see that wasn't so bad" Wrecker: 👍

Tech being almost as precise as Crosshair 💕

Tech and Omega looking at each other 👀🤲

Hunter noticing somethings different with Omega now after talking with Tech 🥺

CID 🔫 I want to hunt her for sport fr 😈

Omega quoting Tech 💕💕💕💕

oooohhhh this ep holds a special place in my heart fr

#louk’s bad batch rewatch #star wars #the bad batch #hunter bad batch #tbb wrecker #bad batch tech #tech bad batch #bad batch hunter #tbb tech #wrecker bad batch #hunter the bad batch #the bad batch hunter #sergeant hunter #hunter tbb #bad batch wrecker #clone trooper wrecker #wrecker tbb #the bad batch tech #clone trooper tech #tech tbb #tech the bad batch #omega tbb #omega bad batch #tbb omega #bad batch omega #star wars bad batch #sw the bad batch #bad batch #copy paste boys #i put a bounty on cid <3

[raayllum]

One of the things that craziest to me about Aaravos is in 5x09 is how much his own overconfidence in Claudia got in his way. (Whether things went the way he actually wanted/secretly planned and he was saying shit about his faith in her to mess up Viren is up in the air, but I doubt it, given his anger at Viren in the end does seem legitimate at being turned over / 'disobeyed').

Before the season came out, I wondered how Claudia as a solo mage would fare against presumably at least three combat opponents - Soren, Callum, Rayla - in addition to Ezran. It seems just the trio (+ Stella) were enough to foil her plans and leave her badly injured with heavy losses all around.

However, Claudia literally could've had the easiest walk in the park getting the prison if Aaravos had just channelled his magic through her the way he did with Viren in 2x09. He'd been nothing but a dark mage, but was able to use all six arcanum like he'd been connected all his life, Aaravos manifesting it through him seamlessly.

Aaravos can channel any (all) of his magics through his pawns by the body/soul-sharing quasi or outright possession shit. There doesn't seem to be any kind of time limit with the possession. He could've had Claudia breathe underwater in a way that couldn't be removed. He could've given her access and help through six arcanum, something the trio definitely would've had a difficult time defeating (they, to be fair, barely defeated her in the first place). Having powerful, capable pawns is useful in terms of carrying out his plans when Aaravos doesn't feel like directly intervening, but it is absolutely not necessary for them to be ultra-powerful so long as Aaravos has a hold on them. Which makes sense - if you're ultra-powerful, what do you really need him for, as a pull, as a lure? If Claudia could just save her father herself, why bother with Aaravos at all?

But it does make me curious as to where Aaravos and Claudia will go as a dynamic. In arc 1, Claudia's main 'failure' she was trying to make up for was to her dad for losing the dragon egg. Now, she's majorly failed Aaravos, but he's also failed her, and he'll have to spin it delicately (revenge wise) to keep her fully on his side now that he doesn't have a Viren carrot to dangle over her.

It also makes me think about what will happen the next time Aaravos possesses Callum, as it will, inevitably, happen. He has two arcanums down, of course, but nowhere near Aaravos' knowledge overall, and it means he'll be a particular force to be reckoned with if Aaravos is channelling all six arcanum through him. The first time, Aaravos used Callum to verbally hit his friends where it hurts; I expect the second time, it'll be a much more brutal, physically grisly manner with magic.

After all: Aaravos won't make the same mistake of overconfidence twice (at least, not until after he's free).

#asset #tdp #the dragon prince #mini meta #analysis series #pawns #5x09 #s5 #arc 2 #tdp aaravos #s6 speculation #s6

[damn-stark]

Chapter 5 One thought before the slaughter

Chapter 5 of Stargirl

A/N- Someone will get rightfull traumatized by all of it

Warning- Swearing, ANGST, violence and blood, fluff! SLOWBURN, long chapter.

Pairing- Steve Harrington x fem!reader, male!oc x fem!reader

Episode- 2x09

(Let me know if you want to be tagged)

————

Maybe it was a mistake coming back to Hawkins lab. You keep trying to tell yourself that your dad needs your help dealing with the Demo-dogs, he doesn’t truly understand what he’s getting into like you do. And that assures you, it gives you confidence, but the bad thoughts keep coming back to you like an annoying song that you can’t get out of your head.

Then again it’s only your fear threatening to cripple you. You ignore it and get out of the car you borrowed, you’ll have to apologize for it later too. You reload the shotgun of the one bullet you used and then cock it, you look at the parking lot and spot your fathers car and your uncle's car parked right across from each other, which is kind of funny considering their current stance.

You lastly look at the building and can’t help but let a breath of air catch in your throat as the lights within flash slowly. The monsters aren’t heard from outside anymore, but they still lurk there, probably guarding the gate, feasting on the bodies of the people they killed. Fuck.

Fuck. Okay. Exhale.

Before something can happen you head inside slowly and cautiously, keeping an eye and ear out for those beasts.

And luckily you are cautious because as you approach the front doors you hear shuffling and squelching, like when feet hit against wet blood. Fuck. You raise the shotgun and begin to stalk forward, since it’s dark inside you can’t really see, all you do catch is a figure over a body. Your uncle and Eleven must be further inside or waiting by the gate so it’s neither of them, and all the others are dead. It can be…

You lower your gun and open the door, earning the figures attention. And just as you predicted just now it’s your father. “Dad,” you greet with relief.

Said man snaps his head over his shoulder and squints as if in disbelief, before he gets up and turns to stride over to you angrily. He’s angry.

“What are you doing here?” He asks and grabs your shoulders to begin pushing you back. “Get out. I told you to go home.”

You lift your hands and push his own off your shoulders, and brush off his concern. “Yeah, I heard, but you don’t know what you’re facing here. I came to help you.”

Your dad scoffs and harshly grabs your arm to begin pulling you with him out the door. “And I said go home, wait for me there y/n. Why did you not listen to me?”

You snatch your arm away and walk further in the lobby. “Dad, I came to help! You didn’t see them, they have no eyes, the inside of their mouth is filled with sharp teeth, they’re fast and strong! I just want to help you.”

Your dad licks his lips out of frustration and glances away to collect his thoughts. You step towards him and wait.

“Fuck,” he grimaces, “fine. Fine, but you stay by my side at all times, understand?”

The corner of your lips twitch to a smile as you nod in agreement. “I understand.”

Your dad rolls his eyes and walks past you, letting you turn and quickly tow behind him. Albeit you come to a quick stop as you catch the body of a middle aged man your dad was huddled over.

“You knew him?” You ask him.

Your dad continues towards the doors that lead past the lobby and nods. “Yeah. It was my friend Bob. He and I were supposed to grab lunch to catch up in person…now…”

“Those things did that,” you interject softly and follow after him. “That’s what they do. Tear you apart. That’s why the girl needs to close that gate, or else the entire town gets infested, and we all die.”

As you make it past the big doors he glances at you as you fall beside him. “She's the reason they’re here. Why Bob died. I end that today.”

You don’t find anything wrong with what he wants to do, you can’t after today.

“What happened to your hand?” He points to the bandage.

You lift your hand and turn it, noticing that fresh blood is staining the bandage.

Damn, it must’ve happened when you hit Billy fucking Hargrove.

“I cut myself,” you let him know quietly. “I’ll be okay. It won’t kill me.”

He sighs and looks ahead. “So that’s what you've been doing all day I assume? Hunting these things?”

You sigh and nod slowly. “Yeah, that about covers it. I mean it’s been crazy, but we can discuss that during breakfast.”

He hums and deadpans. “Now I’m tempted to send you to your moms.”

You gasp and snap your gaze to him. “What?” You protest. “No. What?”

He stops walking, so you do too and face him with a glare.

“You disobeyed me,” he argues. “This is my mission, you aren’t supposed to be here. You can get hurt, y/n. Or worse you can die. The only reason why I bring you along with me across the world is because you stay out of my missions, you wait in the sidelines. This,” he points around the haunting lab. “Is not okay, don’t you see that.”

You shake your head in disbelief and quickly rebuttal. “I’m helping you. I led you here! To the girl you’re after!”

“You’re not listening to me!” He yells at you, causing you to jump and step back.

He’s never yelled at you before, he’s never been this angry at you in your whole life. Whatever trouble you go into, your grandmother was the one who scolded you, he comforted you. He’s yelling at you this time.

“I don’t need your help,” he says back. “You’re supposed to be a teenager. Go to school, sneak a drink with your friends, go to the mall with your girlfriends, worry about school, not about me or my job. You can get hurt.”

You drop your gaze and feel the need to cry. “I’m sorry,” you mumble to the ground. “I just had the advantage so I took it. I’m sorry.”

Your dad turns around and lets out a frustrated breath, you slowly lift your gaze, but before you can get a glance at him suddenly something crashes through the doors you walked through, and charges at you. You quickly duck to avoid being tackled, but in doing so the demo-dog tackles your dad to the ground.

“Dad!” You cry and quickly point the shotgun at the back of the demo-dogs head as your dad struggles to keep it from biting him.

So as to avoid shooting your dad, you build your courage and kick the demo-dog off him. The demo-dog turns his head back and roars at you, so you hit the trigger and shoot it through the mouth, managing to kill it with one shot.

“Fuck,” you pant and look down at your dad with relief that it’s dead.

Your dad looks at you with shock and horror.n“What the fuck are those dogs?” He asks.

You shake your head and do Dustin justice. “Demo-dogs,” you correct him and bend down to take his hand and help him up. “They’re the monsters I warned you about.”

“Huh,” he gasps and looks back at it.

Nevertheless, before he can catch his breath three more demo-dogs come running past the doors, your dad reacts by taking your hand and pulling you with him down the hall. The demo-dogs of course don’t falter and chase after you, they won’t stop, so when you turn a hall, you pull your hand away from your dads grip and spin around to wait.

“Y/N!” Your dad yells as he comes to a stop too.

You’re being stupid, but they won’t stop. You raise your gun and the demo-dogs make a sharp turn, they spot the both of you and don’t hesitate to lunge at you and your dad.

The one after you tries to swing his claws, but you backup and shoot. The shot manages to kill it and throw it back, but now, the third one manages to grab you by the leg and yanks you down to the ground. You try to shoot it right away, but it digs his claws in your leg and makes you yell out and drop your gun.

Behind you your dad kills the one after him, so he then turns and shoots the demo-dog trying to crawl on you, but the bullet from his pistol doesn’t kill it, he needs more bullets.

“The shotgun!” You advise him.

Your dad listens and swiftly slides down to snatch the shotgun off the ground.

Alas just as he’s going to shoot it, the demo-dog screeches out at the ceiling before it pulls its claws off you. Your dad quickly grabs you by your arms and pulls you to him to cradle you, whilst the demo-dog runs down the hall and barges through a left door.

“What the hell just happened?” Your dad asks between pants.

You begin to smile and share what you predict happened. “My friends, they're distracting them. They did it.”

Hopefully they’re okay. Hopefully Steve is. You told them—begged them to take him with them, they agreed after you gave them all five bucks.

“They’re going to close the gate now, I assume,” you whisper and wince. “We can wait here or go further down.”

Your dad sits you back down and rips his sleeve off his shirt.

“I have bandages,” you tell him as he grabs your bleeding leg. “In my backpack.”

He blinks and meets your gaze. “You tell me now?”

You shrug. “You ripped your sleeve before asking.” You tease him. “So just use it now.”

Your dad scoffs and proceeds to wrap the bandage around your ankle.

“I took your gun by the way,” you add lightheartedly even if you groan as he helps you.

“Sorry. And yeah,” he huffs. “I saw. I was too upset at you to point it out.”

You frown and avert your gaze. “I am sorry,” you mutter softly.

Your dad meets your gaze as he finishes wrapping your wound and gently tilts your head up by your chin. “It’s okay. I mean you’re grounded, but there’s nothing to forgive, okay?”

Grounded? Beats being hated…so you smile at him and nod in comprehension.

“Now come on,” he says and then helps you to your feet. “Let’s go further inside.”

You swipe the shotgun off the ground and limp after him towards the door the demo-dog escaped through. Like the rest of the lab the lights are off in the stairwell you enter, however unlike in the halls there's a flashlight lit below and blood that seems to be leading you to the light.

You shouldn’t follow the blood that leads further into hell, but you do, and don’t stop even if you hear labored breaths below.

“Gun up,” your dad whispers back.

You stay quiet as you do as he says, and take a step to the side just in case.

Nevertheless, when you reach the bottom you come across an older doctor bleeding from his leg from what looks to be a demo-dog bite. He sees your dad and you and looks rightfully surprised.

“Hm,” your dad hums and stretches his arm back to lower your gun barrel. “Doctor Owens,” your father names.

You study the old man and see his confused reaction.

“You don’t know me but I know you,” your dad tells the man as he slowly crouches down. “Yeah, I know you.” He exhales and begins to tap the barrel of his pistol against the man’s bleeding wound. “Here’s what you’re going to do, you are going to retire from this shit you understand? Or else I,” your dad points his gun at himself. “Will find you again and actually get to put a bullet through that ancient skull.”

You swallow thickly and hide behind your father out of disbelief of what was getting said.

“Got it?” Your dad asks rhetorically before he pushes the gun into the wound, making the man groan in pain. “Now. Tell me where Jim Hopper went.” He pushes the head of the gun in the wound, making you wince and look away, and causing the man to groan and grab at his leg.

You know your dad is a dangerous man, he’s one of the CIA’s best agents, but you’ve never actually seen him in action, you’ve never seen him be this…cruel ever. It’s sort of scary.

“Through…there,” the man says hoarsely as he points to the double doors beside you.

Your dad hums in comprehension and pulls the gun back to get up and stride out, making you pass a brief glance at the man before you follow after your dad. When you’re past the doors, out of fear you’ll run into more demo-dogs you cock your gun and slowly stalk forward. Even as it stays quiet you continue to be cautious especially since it’s so badly lit inside. When you get to a control room that has a broken glass wall at the other end, you see a bright menacing red light fill the room from the crack on the cement wall at the other end of the glass.

It’s terrifying but frighteningly captivating as it begins to slowly close like a wound getting stitched up. Even so, nothing good comes from what lays behind the closing red gate, you feel it from the goosebumps that grow on your skin.

“Is that it?” Your dad whispers in disbelief.

You hang the shotgun over your shoulder and nod. “Yeah. I think it is. She’s closing it.”

He hums and steps back against some monitors. “Then we wait here,” he tells you.

You stay quiet and grab onto the edge of the metal desks to jump on and sit while you wait. Gunshots echo from below but neither of you can do anything since it sounds too low to actually help from above, so you just pull your switchblade out and fiddle with it as you wait.

“How about some pancakes tomorrow?” Your dad asks. “Blueberry pancakes with…”

“A fresh pot of coffee?” You pitch in.

He glances at you and nods. “Yeah. That sounds good.”

You offer him a faint happy smile and continue to stay quiet.

“No,” he interrupts and grabs your wrist to move your other hand a bit down the handle of the switchblade. “There, now do the trick. Otherwise you’ll get cut.”

You snort and nod along. “How wise of you father,” you tease him.

Your dad rolls his eyes. “Look, like I always say, you try to keep your kid from doing something and they’ll find a way to do it another way. Don’t want you to be hiding shit and sneaking off.”

You smirk. “So I’m ungrounded?” You press lightheartedly.

He shakes his head. “No, of course not. You sneak off while you are and I will take your car.”

You flick the switchblade close and get ready to respond back, but then the lights above begin to grow bright and brighter, making you shield your eyes as they overtake the red light that once came from the gate.

The effect only lasts a few seconds and once the lights turn back off the red light is completely gone, meaning that Eleven did it, the gate is closed. No more demo-dogs, no more threats from the Upside Down.

“It’s done,” you muse and put your switchblade away to then slide off the counter, and step towards the broken glass wall.

Your dad sighs and reloads his pistol as he remains leaned against the desk. “Stay back y/n,” he orders in a stern voice.

You don’t hesitate, not when he’s being strict and demanding like now. You also don’t stay a few inches away behind him, you walk back a few feet and remain hidden under the darkness that swallows the room whole. As the pulley that’s inside the gape is getting pulled up you avert your gaze. The moment the pulley hits the top you stiffen and feel chills crawl down your spine as your stomach twists because of that bad feeling that has yet to go away.

“Jesus,” you hear your uncle’s gasp break the silence. “Rowan, what the hell are you doing here?”

You slowly lift your eyes and watch your dad slowly push himself off the counter and slowly walk out of the dark with a menacing look you can see even if his back is turned to you.

“Look,” your dad says. “I know we’ve had our differences, Jim. I know we aren’t as united as we would like…but I still respect you big brother. I looked up to you at one point in my life, I think a part of me always will…” he pauses and you hear his shoes crack glass shards as he steps forward. “So I will ask you this once nicely.”

Your uncle narrows his gaze and shields Eleven with his arm, as if he knows what his brother is intending without having to be told.

“Give me the girl,” your dad demands. “She’s not supposed to be here, she’s a threat. A danger.”

“She’s a child,” your uncle snaps at your dad and backs up as his hand tightens around his shotgun.

You finally drift your gaze to Eleven and notice how different her appearance looks between now and only about an hour ago; blood stains trail down both her nostrils, dark circles paint the bottom of her eyes, and thin veins that almost look like cracks on her skin decorate her exhausted face. And now beside that there’s also fear from what’s happening.

“She’s a weapon, Jim,” your dad counters. “An object. A lab rat. A threat to everything and everyone. All this, those dogs and that gate prove that!” He exclaims out of frustration. “She’s no kid. They made sure of that.”

Your uncle shakes his head. “You don’t know that. You don’t know her! Or her life! You’re nothing but a pet yourself working for the government.”

This escalated quickly.

“Looking at you now proves that,” your uncle adds with a burning glower. “Father would be proud of you,” he feigns a chuckle. “His little boy is all grown up, killing children for his country.”

Your dad shakes his head. “No, not children. I save them from that,” your dad points at Eleven. “Would you really want her around if Sara—”

“Shut the hell up,” your uncle cuts him off full with venom. “Don’t you dare bring her into this. You have no right.”

Your dad steps forward and has no shame. “Would you really want that around your daughter? Risking her life everyday.”

“I said shut the hell up!” Your uncle bellows and points his shotgun at your dad, making you reach back for yours to be ready to pull it off your shoulder. “You’re not taking Eleven anywhere. I’ll protect her, I will keep her from harming anyone! She’s not a threat, she’s just a result of what they did! If this was y/n—”

“No,” your dad now takes his turn to cut your uncle off. “Just hand me the girl Jim. I will keep your name out of the reports, you won’t be involved in helping and aiding this threat. Hey, maybe we can rekindle our relationship once it’s all over. My girl wants a life here.”

Your uncle raises his gun higher but this time he seems to show some kind of remorse. Pity maybe for your dad.

“Rowan, please, just leave her with me. Help me keep her safe, no one has to know,” your uncle begins to plead in a softer voice. “She deserves this. You take her, she becomes just another lab rat, this time for the government. Please, little brother.”

Your dad sighs and keeps his head facing straight ahead as he discreetly moves his hand towards his holstered pistol.

However, your uncle catches his attempts and steps forward with his gun aimed at your dad. “Rowan,” your uncle whispers shakily. “Please. I don’t want to shoot you. Please.”

Your dad doesn’t respond, he just hastily pulls his gun out and shoots. Your uncle had managed to catch your dads reaction and shoots too.

Albeit your uncles bullet misses your dad because he had moved. Instead the shotgun bullet hits a counter, making you jump and cover your ears as it rings. And your dads bullet, well, with the strength Eleven can muster, she throws her head up and uses her ability to throw your dads bullet back to hit him.

However, his bullet also misses him by a few inches and whizzes past him, and instead hits you.

You didn’t see it, you felt it immediately the moment it came in contact with your body, the moment the bullet pierces your chest. The pain doesn’t register at first, nor does the fact that you had been shot, it doesn’t feel real.

You just slowly look down and see blood begin to stain your dirty shirt, you then proceed to slowly lift your hand to try and grasp the situation by pressing your palm against the bullet hole that’s a few inches away from where your heart is.

Once you pull your hand back and see the blood stain your palm the pain you hadn’t felt comes crashing through you, dull at first and then sharp and writhing. Tears quickly fill your eyes and you can only think of one thing besides the pain.

“Daddy?” You mewl out. The pain weakens you to the point it even hurts standing even if the wound is in your chest, so you quickly fall, missing your fathers facial reaction.

You just hear him call out with fear. “Y/N?”

The sound of his footsteps sound distant, like if he’s miles away even if shows up right beside you. His voice sounds muffled, like if that is far away too, but he’s right there on his knees beside you. It’s not until you feel a ripping pain on your chest like if hundreds of blades are stabbing your wound, that everything becomes clear again.

“Oh god no, oh god no, no, I’m sorry,” you hear your dad panic.

“Gah,” you cry out in pain and try to push his hands off your wound.

Your dad shakes his head. “No, baby no. I know it hurts, I know, but I need—god it’s a lot of blood.”

“Daddy,” you cry through the pain. “I-I don’t want to die, dad—”

“No,” he cuts you off sharply and meets your gaze with his watery eyes. “No, don’t say that. You won’t, I just need…” he trails off and looks around him quickly as he keeps his hands pressed against your bleeding wound. “I need help,” he whispers in such a broken voice that scares you even more because it’s something you haven’t heard before.

“Here, here,” you recognize your uncle's voice at your side. When you look over he seems shocked and almost as if he feels the pain himself. “We’ll run upstairs and call the ambulance. Don’t move her from here, she’ll bleed out more.”

Your dad looks at him but when he looks at the blood that keeps pouring out, streams of tears begin pouring out of his eyes, and he mentally doesn’t seem to catch up to what’s being said. “No, no—”

“Rowan!” Your uncle snaps him from his stupor.

“I’m trying, I’m trying,” your dad yells back. “Babygirl,” he says down at you. “I’m trying, just wait. Wait, I’m going to get help.”

“Rowan,” your uncle exclaims and grabs your dads shoulder. “Just keep applying pressure. I’ll be back, okay? I’ll be back.”

Your dad holds his brother's gaze and nods quickly, letting your uncle quickly rush past you whilst Eleven slowly falls beside you with tears in her own eyes and guilt written all over her face.

“I didn’t mean it, I’m sorry,” she whispers to you between tears.

“Eleven!” Her name gets called out.

You just look at the girl with no words to say, how could you? You led your father here to…get rid of her. She doesn’t owe you an apology. This approaching visit with death lets you see that.

“It won’t take long, okay?” Your dad drifts your attention back to him while Eleven hurries off to follow after your uncle. “The ambulance will come and-and they’ll help. Okay, baby girl?”

Again panic sets, the fear of death is all you can feel as the pain only increases, making you feel as if your chest is on fire.

“You’ll tell ‘em to give you a stable job, yeah?” You tell him and grab his wrist. “You’ll find a nice girlfriend and get that farm you wanted, yeah?”

Your dad shakes his head and leans down to press his forehead against yours. “Don’t say that. I’m not doing anything without you. It’s you and me kid, remember? Please baby.”

You sniffle. “It hurts,” you complain. “It hurts.”

He nods softly. “I know. I know. I’m sorry.”

“This week,” you say more hoarsely, slower now as it begins to feel difficult to think and to breathe, or keep your eyes open. “Even with all its faults….has been very fun,” you share with him.

He musters a tiny smile. “Has it?” He asks breathlessly.

You swallow thickly and smile softer as the pain seems to go away. “I want to stay,” you whisper while you let your eyelids begin to droop.

“No, baby,” you hear your dads voice muffled again. “Y/N, don’t do this to me. You have to keep your eyes open. Tell me…tell me what you want for Christmas? Yeah? You love getting gifts, tell me. Please.”

You let out a breathless giggle but that’s all, nothing comes out of your lips, your eyes don’t move or blink. Your smile doesn’t fall and a breath doesn’t raise your chest anymore. That was the first thing he noticed, but your dad doesn’t want to accept what he sees, he can’t, you’re all he has, he can’t lose you, so he doesn’t plead anymore, he pulls his forehead away from yours and sits up straight. He slides his hands over your heart and begins to try and restart it.

“Come on,” he mutters as he presses harshly. “Come on. Come on,” he sniffles. “Baby I know you can do it. Come on, come on.”

“Rowan?!”

“Jim! She’s…” he doesn’t fail to let himself be vulnerable to his brother, the man he once had trusted with his entire heart, the man he looked up to since he could remember. “My girl, she's not breathing. Please, I need help. I…can’t lose her.”

Jim comes running over and takes over for Rowan and does chest compressions on you.

“Jim—”

“Let’s just talk it over dinner, yeah?” Jim cuts Rowan off. “Civilized. Once your girl gets better. A dinner for the four of us, that good? You cook though, you were always better.”

Rowan nervously brushes his hair back as he chuckles breathlessly, and nods softly. “Yeah, yeah.”

Jim nods and looks back down at you and continues to press harder against your chest. “Come on. Come on!” He slams his fists against your chest, and even if it wouldn’t have made a difference it works, your eyes widen and you draw in a deep breath.

“Dad,” you cry out.

Said man leans down and cups your cheeks. “I’m right here. I’m here, just keep—”

——

*SOMETIME LATER*

It’s dark, incredibly so, you can’t even see your own hands in front of your face. All you know is that you’re in the lab, it smells moist and like dirt. All you can hear is your own breathing until there’s…

Click. Click, coming from behind you. You slowly look back, and now lights overheard begin to flicker, adding animosity to the room. Click. Click.

You don’t move, you can’t, every limb in your body is frozen in place. The light flickers off so you squint your eyes to try and see through the darkness. However, when the lights turn back on a demo-dog stands there, its faceless head pointing at you. You try to scream, move, but you can’t open your mouth, you can’t even flinch, all that you can do is watch as the demo-dog begins to charge at you.

When it gets close enough it lunges at you. You close your eyes to avoid seeing its razor sharp teeth, and as you do, just before the demo-dog can slam into you and eat you, you tear your eyes open and escape the nightmare.

Where are you now though? There’s bright white lights above you, and the room smells like rubbing alcohol and hospital?

That’s right…you got shot at Hawkins Lab—your dad.

“Dad,” you call out hoarsely. You try to lift your head, but as you move your body hurts, so you stay put and can’t help but begin to worry.

“Whoa, whoa, hey, hey.” Steve? “I wouldn’t do that. Just stay put.”

“I'll go get Mr Rowan.” Zion?

Footsteps approach your side, so you quickly snap your eyes to the left side and catch Steve, and plastic handle bars that run along a hospital bed. You see a heart monitor, you hear it’s annoying reading of your heartbeat, you’re in the hospital.

“Steve,” you whisper with worry.

Said guy offers you a smile. “You really scared us for a minute there, huh?” He says.

His face still had the bruises from his fight with Billy, so it hasn’t been long since it happened.

“It’s okay.” Nancy?

You snap your eyes to the right and see her by your bedside with a sweet smile on her face. She’s actually here, she’s not unintentionally avoiding you, or running off with Jonathan. Does this mean you’ll actually be friends? You hope so.

“Nancy,” you greet happily.

Said girl is surprised by your glee, but it also makes her smile softly. “The gate is closed,” she then says.

As you still remain surprised that she’s here before you, you flash her a soft smile first before you nod softly. “Yeah,” you mumble. “I remember. I remember all of it…” you pause as the last moments you remember play hazily in your mind. “Up to my dad asking me something. What I want for christmas. I don’t remember anything after that.”

“It’s okay,” Nancy tries to assure you. “No one would expect you to.”

You hum and notice a bouquet of delicate daisies and fresh roses in a vase on the nightstand, the other vase holds a variety of flowers, all just as beautiful. In front of it sits a teddy bear holding a card that says “get better soon”, how sweet. Who are they all from though?

You’ll ask later.

You then glance at Steve again and then at Nancy with confusion. “What are you guys doing here?”

Steve scoffs. “Uh, visiting, duh?”

You smile bashfully. It’s nice having friends. Albeit if they knew the reason as to what led to you getting shot perhaps they wouldn't like you as much. It’s doubtful they know. You won’t tell them now either, perhaps later on. Maybe…

As for now you offer Steve a tiny smile. “You look like shit,” you point out.

Steve scoffs and retorts. “Well at least I’m not the one on a hospital bed.”

You chuckle softly but it hurts so you cut it off quickly. Instead you bring up your most important question. “How long have I been out?”

Steve sighs and glances at Nancy across from him, but then quickly looks away and looks at you. “Maybe…”

“Three days,” Nancy finishes for him.

It hasn’t felt like three days, it’s felt like a few seconds at least.

“You need something?” Steve asks now.

Nothing comes to mind, you can’t even think of food, it doesn’t sound appetizing. Water though, it feels like you’ve been dehydrated for hours. “Water.”

Steve nods quickly and turns to grab something off the other nightstand which holds more flowers and a balloon.

“I just want to tell you something, okay?” Steve adds. “Just so you’re not surprised—” yet the sound of the door opening cuts him off. Steve hands you the water, but you don’t even reach for it because the sight of your dad catches you off guard.

“Daddy,” you cry out with relief.

He smiles, but you don’t get to read further into his relief because you then spot none other than your mother.

“Yeah,” Steve whispers beside you. “She’s here.”

You pass him a shocked look before he moves back to let her take his spot beside you. And the first thing you do is study her, it’s been quite some time since you’ve seen her in person, and she’s unchanged. She’s just as beautiful, she smells just as nice and expensive, her clothes are nice and unwrinkled, she doesn’t look like she’s been in the hospital for three days waiting anxiously for your wake. She tries to say something, but you instead look over at your dad who took Nancy's spot by your right side.

“Hey baby,” he whispers in a quivering voice.

Happy and relieved tears fall out of your eyes. You want to reach out to embrace him, but that hurts too, so you just let him cup your cheek and lean in.

“I’m so glad you’re awake,” he says softly and wipes the tears off your face. “I was so fucking scared. I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have—”

“It’s okay,” you assure him as you take his hand. “It’s okay. It wasn’t your fault.”

Your dad scoffs. “But it was,” he rebuttals. “I should have been more strict, or not even involve you in all this. It was my fault.”

You remember all the people that are in the room and just let out a small breath and come up with a conclusion to not drag this out. “Then we’ll have to agree to disagree. Perhaps I should’ve listened to you, but it doesn’t mean I…regret helping.”

Only because of the bonds you made along the way, everything else…well…

“Hm,” your dad hums and doesn’t argue.

You offer him an assuring smile before you answer his question. “I know what I want for Christmas….a drum set.”

A grin breaks on your dads face as he lets out a soft laugh. “Yeah?” He asks.

You nod. “Yeah.”

He caresses your cheek and then glances around before interjecting. “You found some good friends. They’ve been here everyday waiting for you to wake up.”

You grin and glance at Steve. That’s the first person you look over to instead of Zion sitting next to him. Steve also looks at you and offers you a small smile. You hold his gaze for a few seconds before you look at Zion. He smiles back at you, but your dad then interjects so your attention is quickly pulled away.

“Uh, some kids came too. They left this,” he says and points to the “get better soon” card. “And your uncle left you this.” He points to the teddy bear. “And your mom…is here….” He pauses and sighs. “I called her.”

Your smile and happiness fades, but you manage to fake it and look over at her with a tiny smile. “Mom,” you greet.

Said woman reaches for your hand, and you let her hold it while your dad steps back away from you. “I knew you’d wake up,” she says and smiles at you. “I couldn’t stop worrying about you since I got the call.”

Your smile fades and you avert your gaze. “Busy?” You ask quietly.

“No,” she says, “things are calm right now.”

And she didn’t call.

“Lucky me,” you retort and meet her gaze.

Your mom senses your sarcasm and sighs before she glances at your dad across from her. “May I talk to her alone?”

What?

You snap your eyes to your dad and widen them to share your disapproval, but your friends don’t hesitate to leave first, and she doesn’t let your hand go or let his gaze go, so he can’t argue.

“Yeah,” he mutters and slowly begins to walk out. “I’ll be out here.”

You watch him leave the room in disbelief and betrayal. When the door closes your mom lets your hand go and instead sits by your legs and continues to face you with that soft smile that would make a lot of people swoon. You frown at her though.

“I don’t know exactly what went on,” she says right away. “What I got was vague, and knowing your dad, it’s not the full truth.”

You slowly narrow your eyes but keep quiet.

“I know I haven’t been in your life as much as I would have liked, as much as you needed me to, but my girl,” she continues and leans towards you. “I want to make it up. Come live with me in LA. You can continue homeschooling, so when I travel to shooting locations, you can travel with me. You won’t have to pray that each night isn’t your dads last. You won’t have to get shot or live here anymore. Come with me.”

Her words come out so easily, with so much glee that you’d think she hasn’t been a dead-beat, like she doesn’t just call you twice or once a month, or just give you money once in a while as a form of reconciliation.

It's easy for her to say that, thinking it’s your dream, when you want the opposite; you want something stable, you want genuine friends, a house in a small sleepy town that smells like cow shit. Sure the monsters from the interdimensional aren���t ideal, but the gate is closed now, it’s over. You want a life here.

“No,” you flat out say without remorse. “I don’t want that. I’m sick of traveling around with no real home. I like it here. I have friends, a boy I like and want to date.” You shake your head. “I like being with my dad. I know his job is risky, but he’s never disappointed me.”

Your mom drops her gaze at the comment, but you don’t feel bad.

“If you want to make up your wrongs, I’d start with something small,” you suggest. “Not promises you won’t keep.”

Your mom swallows thickly and slowly stands back up. She keeps her eyes averted, she sighs deeply before she blinks and meets your hardened glare. “Fine,” she says softly. “Then I’ll stay here, until you get better.”

You gasp in disbelief and glance out the window, catching your dad peeking through. He can’t meet your gaze to read your expression, so you have to look back at her and try to convince her otherwise. “You don’t have to, I’ll be fine. My dad will take care of me—”

“Your dad has to go back to DC soon for work reasons,” she cuts you off. “You can’t travel because it will take time to recover from a bullet to the chest, and now with your grandma gone, I want to do it.”

“Uh, what about work?” You probe. “Don’t you have some movie to shoot?”

She shakes her head. “No. I recently finished one so I’m taking a small break. I want to be with you, my girl. You won’t push me away.”

Great. You can’t come up with anything to say, so you just offer her a tightlipped smile before you just awkwardly move on. “Can you bring my friends and my dad in? Please?”

She seems surprised by your lack of reaction, but you truly don’t know what to say, so you leave it be and avoid meeting her gaze. When everyone returns inside the room, Zion walks in first so you finally address him after not being able to.

“Hey, you.”

Zion heads to you and props his hands on the sidebars when he reaches your side. “Hey, you,” he redirects. “You’ve had quite the week, huh?”

You snort. “You can say that.”

“I mean getting shot for trespassing? You’ve been the news favorite person for the past three days,” he teases and reveals the cover story you now have to follow for the rest of your life.

“Yeah,” you say slowly while you look over at your dad walking over to sit on a chair under the window. He meets your gaze and shares a pressing look.

“I was curious,” you lie and slowly drift your eyes back to Zion. “I’m a fan of scary stuff, so I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.”

That’s so lame.

“Sorry about our date,” you apologize sweetly now to avoid getting caught.

Zion shakes his head. “Don’t worry. Let’s reschedule, next week?”

“Well,” you laugh. “I'm grounded. Whatever that really means. Unless getting shot dissolves that?” You ask louder.

“Nope,” your dad answers loudly.

You click your tongue and sigh in disappointment. “I'm free the week after that,” you tell Zion with an excited smile.

Zion shoots you a smirk and nods. “Yeah, cool. Me too.”

You chuckle softly. “Cool.”

Steve was just a simple crush anyway. Your friends now too, which is better, you won’t have to be awkward if shit happens, so…yeah. He was just a simple fleeting crush.

——

*A MONTH LATER*

“The door! Someone answer the door!”

You put the book down and run out of your room, making sure to hover your hand over the stair railing so as to not mess up the thick green christmas garland that took you too annoyingly long to wrap. You continue to run down the stairs even if pangs of pain hit your healing wound.

“Hey! You better not be running!” Your dad exclaims from the first floor.

You groan and slow down to a walking pace down the stairs.

“Thank you!” He shouts when he hears your footsteps change against the wood. Once you reach the first floor and turn towards the front your mom already lets Steve and Dustin in. Amazing.

“Ms Rivers,” Dustin muses with a childlike grin. “It’s an honor. My mom loves all your work.”

Your mom touches her chest and smiles sweetly. “Aw, how sweet. Thank you.”

“Here,” Dustin says and pulls a single rose out of the paper bag he’s carrying. “It’s from my mom. She insisted.”

Your mom takes the rose gracefully and steps aside to let both boys inside. “Thank you, Dustin. You tell your mom to stop by before I leave. I’ll be honored to meet her.”

You meet Steve’s gaze and share an annoyed look.

“Oh really? Yeah thanks I’ll let her know.” Dustin smiles at your mom all giddly as he takes his shoes by the entrance.

“Hey, Ms Rivers, I love those little ornament earrings, you really pull them off great,” Steve compliments your mother, making you internally groan in annoyance.

As your mom closes the door she grins widely. “Thank you, Steve, that’s nice. You know I told my girl here to wear the same ones, but she refuses.”

Steve puts his hand on his hip and scoffs. “Always the party pooper. I’ll convince her.”

You roll your eyes and turn to begin leading Dustin to the bathroom to help him get ready like planned. “Come on, Dustin, up here man.”

“Please tell her,” you hear your mom tell Steve.

“I already took the family Christmas pictures!” You remind her as you begin to climb the stairs. “That’s enough!”

You miss what your mom says, but shortly after you reach the top of the stairs Steve runs up to catch up to Dustin and you.

“In here,” you point to the hallway bathroom.

Dustin gasps. “Wow, is this a three bathroom house?” Dustin asks.

You furrow your eyebrows in confusion and nod slowly. “Yeah, one in my room, one here, and downstairs. Why?”

Dustin sighs. “Just want to know if you’re rich. This proved it.”

You snicker and take his paper bag to take out the same products Steve recommended on your death trip. Dustin is really dedicated.

“Maybe a slick back look would be cool,” you suggest while you put the things down on the counter.

Steve scoffs whilst he walks up behind Dustin. “What the hell? No? This isn’t the 50s, we’re going for a nice shaggy look. Sides gelled and the rest just his curls. That’s his best feature.”

You squint your eyes as you look at Dustin’s curly hair through the mirror. “Like yours?” You probe while you begin to laugh. “A little Steve jr?”

Steve shrugs nonchalantly. “Yeah so what? He’ll be a total babe magnet that way.”

You quirk your brow and shoot him a judgmental look, before you sigh and pull out a cigarette from the pocket on your tight red and black plaid romper.

Ever since the demo-dog event cigarettes have been a tempting companion. You haven’t lit it yet, you carry it in your mouth as if waiting for a moment that the nightmares turn into something more horrific.

“Well what do you say little man, hm? Slick back or Steve hair?” You ask Dustin.

Dustin looks between the both of you as he hums while he thinks. Meanwhile, you catch Steve drifting his eyes over to you to study you for a moment before he rubs his nose and talks to you.

“You…look nice, very christmasy…”

You turn your head and look at him. “Really? Thanks.” You smile and ignore your heart skipping a beat. It’s a good thing he can’t see how warm your cheeks got.

“Impressing Zion or something?” Steve continues to ask.

You begin to smirk and shrug. “Gotta act like I don’t care right? Just impressing myself. It’s a party so,” you smile. “I like to find an excuse to get dolled up. Especially after being, you know, bed ridden for the past month.”

Steve hums and nods slowly. “Yeah I get it. And yeah nice call, you’re learning.”

“Yeah, my teacher is great,” you tease him.

“Eh, can’t take credit. This is all you.” He points to you.

You beam at him, but you can’t find anything to say, he leaves you speechless.

Luckily Dustin cuts in. “Okay, I think maybe I’ll go with Steve’s choice.” He points to the man behind him. “Or maybe, yours y/n cause you are the girl. You’d know….but—”

“What are you guys up to?” Your dad cuts Dustin off as he approaches the bathroom door.

“Oh, Mr Rowan,” Dustin points out. “Hello.”

“Hey, Dustin. Where are you off to? Or are you joining us for the Christmas party?”

Dustin smiles and shakes his head. “No, thank you, but I-I actually have a school dance I’m going to. Your daughter and Steve are just helping me get ready.”

You switch the cigarette to the other side of your mouth and point to Dustin's hair. “We’re just deciding what hair style. Slick back or uh, Steve hair.”

Your dad glances over at Steve, and scoffs in amusement.

“Hello, Mr Rowan,” Steve greets now that he has time.

“What's up, Steve,” your dad greets and then steps forward. “Can I help you Dustin? I may have an idea.”

Dustin’s eyes widen in shock, but he slowly nods, making Steve step l towards you to the side while your dad takes his spot.

“When I was your age,” your dad begins to say as he rolls his sleeves up. “I also went to a dance. With my friends, but I still went.”

Dustin begins to smile as he grows intrigued. “Were you popular?” Dustin probes.

Your dad shakes his head. “No, not at all. I used to get picked on. I was considered a nerd back then.” Your dad shares as he gets his hands wet to manage the sides of Dustin’s hair better. “I would read comic books. You know Captain America, Superman. Flash.” Your dad chuckles. “I liked the things that the popular kids thought were lame so they threw me in that clic.”

Dustin’s eyes widen with surprise. “Really?” He muses. “It doesn't seem like you would be considered a loser.”

You fold your arms over your chest and lean against Steve as you watch your dad brush back the sides of Dustin’s hair.

“Not anymore,” your dad laughs. “No. I grew up. It happens. Same thing will happen to you.”

Dustin scoffs. “I doubt it.”

Your dad pats Dustin’s shoulder. “I know it. But hey, you’re a cool kid now. Don’t beat yourself down.”

Dustin nods in comprehension and watches as your dad uses gel to make the sides stick.

“Look tonight you’re going to go in there with all your confidence,” your dad advises Dustin, making you begin to smile and wonder how life would be if you had a brother. Maybe this is a taste of it? Sure you like being a only child, but this wouldn’t be so bad.

“You are the man,” your dad continues to assure Dustin. “Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

Dustin smirks, and Steve gives Dustin an encouraging pat on his shoulder.

“You’ll ask a girl to dance, and if she rejects you it’s okay,” your dad assures him. “It’s not the end of the world. They just don’t know what they’re missing. Because you know what?”

“What?”

Your dad grabs a hair pick and begins to tease Dustin’s curls. “In ten years or so when you’re out there making money, doing what you like, you’re gonna be the one on their minds. “Oh I wish I could have danced with Dustin.”.”

Said boy giggles.

“Look at me? Those girls who rejected me in middle school and high school all want to go out with me now.” Your dad shows off. “I of course just mess with them now.”

You scrunch your nose in disgust and shake your head. “That’s gross, daddy.” You complain.

“That’s very cool,” Steve nods along. “Props Mr.”

Your dad smirks at Steve and they then share a high five. You shake your head and lean away from Steve. Your dad continues to style Dustin’s hair for a few more minutes, and when he finally finishes he pats Dustin’s shoulder.

“All done. Go kill It over there.”

Dustin grins and then turns around to face your dad walking out of the room. “Thank you, Mr Rowan.”

Your dad nods at him. “No problem.”

“Happy holidays,” Dustin directs him as you all walk out of the bathroom since it’s gotten late.

“You too, happy holidays Dustin,” your dad redirects as he walks to his office. “Enjoy your dance, man. Remember you’re the man.”

Dustin nods. “I’m the man.”

Your dad grins and winks before he disappears inside his office, letting you walk Dustin and Steve out.

“Have fun!” You tell Dustin excitedly as he walks to Steve’s car.

“Tell your mom I said goodbye!” Dustin yells back.

You frown and wave him off before you face Steve who lingers by the entrance. “You’re coming back right?” You press him with concern.

Steve shrugs. “I mean isn’t Zion coming over?”

You nod. “Yeah, but it’s not the same, Steve.” You reach over to grab Steve’s arm to express your worry. “I mean I'm going to need help with him. And…” you trail off and whisper. “You can’t leave me alone with my mom.”

Steve holds your gaze and hums in comprehension. You get louder and continue to tell your misfortunes that await you at your dads early Christmas party. “And my uncle is coming over, and a bunch of my dads friends. Nancy can’t come over, Eddie is busy, I need you here.”

Steve begins to smirk cockily. “Ah, so you just want me here. Good to know. Just say that.”

You roll your eyes with an amused smile on your lips. However, it’s as you do roll your eyes that you catch a figure in the darkness just outside your house.

It’s on all fours, it’s pointed head facing you, staring at you with its eyeless head. It’s drooling and digging its claws in the ground to get ready to charge.

Out of fear it will move when you move, and out of just genuine fear of what you see in the darkness, you clench your jaw and hold your breath. The cigarette you had been taking care of in your mouth falls and drops to the ground, but you stay still out of fear the monster will attack you.

“Y/N?”

You snap your eyes to Steve tilting his head down to meet your gaze, and exhale that breath you had held in. “What?” You ask and quickly offer him a feigned smile.

Steve furrows his eyebrows and looks back at what your eyes had been locked on. “You okay? You just zoned out there?”

You glance over at where you had seen the demo-dog, but there’s just nothing. There’s nothing…

Thus, you kick away the cigarette you dropped and take out another. “Yeah,” you assure Steve. “Just remembering that…you,” you snap your fingers whilst you reach for the lighter with your other hand. “Entered secret Santa. So you have to come,” you feign a laugh and lean your head down to finally light the cigarette you never actually gave life to before. “Rules are rules. You’re coming back.”

Steve watches you with concern for a few more lingering seconds before he lifts his hands and smiles softly. “Fine, fine don’t pull my leg. I’ll come back.”

You grin at him. “Did you get me?” You ask out of curiosity.

Steve steps back and shakes his finger. “You’re going to have to wait.”

“I’ll tell you who got you,” you tease him.

Steve shakes his head. “I like the suspense of waiting.”

You hum in comprehension and finally take a drag as he’s walking back. You lean against the door frame and keep your smile as you watch him walk to his car. You don’t wave goodbye because he’s coming back, he has to. And the moment he’s out of the driveway you frown and slide down to sit down on the doorstep and continue to smoke.

It shouldn’t, but it distracts you away from what lurks in the shadows. If only you could completely forget…

.

.

.

.

.

A/N- Rowan will be Dustin’s father figure. :) Mike and Will have Hopper in some ways, Lucas has his dad, Rowan will be Dustin’s 🥹

Tagged- @middle-of-the-earth @x-theolivia @redskull199987 @lilyhw1 @5sosjay

#fanfiction #damn-stark #stranger things fanfiction #stranger things #stranger things fanfic #steve harrington #steve harrington series #steve harrington fanfic #steve harrington fanfiction #steve harrington x fem!reader #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington x y/n #steve harrington x you #dustin henderson #oc character #Jim hopper #eleven #fanfic #series #chapter 5

[the-feral-gremlin]

Chains by radical face // arrow 2x09// an honest mistake by the bravery// a primer for small weird loves by Richard siken// an honest mistake by the bravery // arrow 2x15// langston hughes // arrow 2x15// The ballad of costa Concordia by car seat headrest

#oliver queen #slade wilson #Arrowverse Webweaving #arrow #arrowverse

[gothprentiss]

2x09, the last word

I'm supposed to start here today. At the BAU. There's been a mistake. I don't think so, sir.

#emily prentiss #criminal minds #paget brewster #edits #i'm not saying a WORD about her being LIKE but DISTINCT from clarice starling #it’s just like…. her in this episode…. #the whole s2 prentiss is too ambitious and reckless to get promoted thing they try to do?? #simply the best #cmedit

[princeescaluswords]

Hey Prince Escalus! I have seen your work and posts for quite a while actually and I admire your credibility and honesty with debates, questions and answers in the Teen Wolf universe. Especially with the characters, their strengths and flaws, the plot and storyline, the motives behind every character, how the villains are portrayed and even pointing out the very mind boggling tropes and disputes that occur from the Fandom and is placed in the characters of Teen Wolf.

I was rewatching season 2 the other night and there were a few things that did caught my eye and confused yet intrigued me at the same time. It's when Lydia does give the key to Jackson the first time in 2x05 (Venomous), but Jackson still transformed into the Kanima after the Hale pack invade Scott's house to murder Lydia. But what caught my eyes more was when Lydia touched Jackson's arm in 2x09 (Party Guessed) it looked as if Jackson partially snapped out of the trance he was in as the Kanima briefly from her touch and presence, until she left after he warned her that she shouldn't want him to come to her party. Then again in 2x12 (Master Plan), Lydia's presence and her giving Jackson his key reverted him back from his Kanima form to regaining his human features. I was brainstorming, could it have been Lydia's emerging banshee abilities that had that affect on Jackson? Or was it because Jackson was under two different Kanima Masters, where the first time it didn't work because it was Matt and he had a strong grasp on him whereas with Gerard, after being defeated, the link between him and the Kanima was weak that it allowed Lydia to bring Jackson back? I was thinking alot about this since it was rather intriguing. What would your thoughts be on this?

I think all these things contribute, but I think that the primary answer lies in the details of the scenes themselves. While Lydia presents the key to Jackson in both scenes, the conditions of those presentations are entirely different.

In Venomous (2x05), Stiles, Allison, and Jackson have spirited Lydia away to Scott's house to protect her from Isaac and Erica, who were planning to kill her on Derek's orders. They haven't told Lydia why (which they will all later realize was a mistake) and she's confused and defensive as a result. While Jackson may want to protect Lydia, he's still convinced that someone broke into his house and edited the tape he made of himself turning into a werewolf, and he thinks it might be her. So in this scene, the key isn't evidence of their connection, it is evidence of people deceiving him.

Jackson: Where's my key, Lydia? It was you, wasn't it? You edited the tape. Lydia: What tape? Jackson: The night of the full moon. The recording. You came into my house - into my room - and you saw what was happening to me, so you took the tape from the camera and you edited out the most important part. I don't know why. Maybe because you wanted to take that from me, my moment, like you take everything. Or maybe you just thought you were protecting me. But it was you, wasn't it? Lydia: I don't know what you're talking about - But if you need it so badly - Fine. Lydia: I hate you. I hate you so much. Jackson: No. No, you don't.

She doesn't reach Jackson when she presents him with the key this time because the emotions behind it are all wrong. He's convinced she is denying him the identity he desires. But then, right before he transforms into the kanima, he realizes that she does have real feelings for him, which he doesn't understand. Jackson didn't become the kanima because he wanted to be a reptilian murder-slave; he wanted to be a werewolf to be special, which means he would be valuable to someone. (The irony of course is that he was already special and valuable; he just doesn't believe he is. Impostor Syndrome FTW!) The key doesn't stop him from becoming the kanima because it doesn't reinforce his own identity; in fact, in this instance, it confuses him even more.

Now, we move to Party Guessed (2x09) where Lydia goes to Jackson to personally invite him to her party, because she does care for him. Jackson is being influenced by the kanima identity (and Matt), but when she touches him -- now that he knows she cares for non-supernatural Jackson -- it shocks him momentarily free from the kanima transformation. (The irony here is that she is offering a way back to himself even as she slips farther under Peter's control.) His look of loss when the touch breaks off is real, and it helps set up the terms and power in the final scene you mention.

The situation in Master Plan (2x12), when Lydia presents the key again, is completely different than in Venomous. This time, Jackson isn't pursing her to get the key and solve the mystery of why he didn't transform; this time it is Lydia who is seeking him out because getting the key back is what Jackson wants. It shocks him, just like the touch in Party Guessed did, because she is here for him. For Jackson. Not for the kanima. She calls his name, peeling back the kanima's identity, and he remembers how he gave her the key in the first place.

Jackson: Do you - do you still - Lydia: I do. I do still love you. I do, I do still love you. I do. I do. I do still love you, I do.

Peter wasn't just spouting romantic nonsense when he talked about the power of human love. Love, real love in all its forms from romantic to familiar to platonic, is an expression of absolute care for another person. In this case, Lydia loves Jackson -- Jackson's original identity -- because of their relationship and not through some supernaturally enforced master-slave relationship, such as the ones which existed between Matt and Jackson and exists between Gerard and Jackson. Those two villains didn't love Jackson, they were using him. Lydia isn't getting anything out of this act; on the contrary, she could straight up die since Gerard ordered the kanima to kill them all. This is made real to him by the presentation of the key, because Lydia understands he "need[s] it so badly" that she came to this dangerous place for him.

While I do believe that there is power in Lydia's voice, Peter was right again when he said it's just a tool. In this case, the power of the voice "drowns out" everything for Jackson but the "real connection" forged between Lydia and Jackson, which, as Peter put it in Battlefield (2x11), is "disappearing beneath a reptilian skin and [she] needs to bring him back."

And so she did.

#jackson whittemore #lydia martin #kanima #teen wolf meta #venomous #party guessed #master plan #tw 2x05 #tw 2x09 #tw 2x12

[ivebeentotheforest]

Yellowjackets 2x09 Predictions

*2x08 Spoiler Warning!!!*

TLDR: I think Shaunas going to die

Okay, so we know that one of the adult Yellowjackets will die in the season finale. Lottie believes that by letting "it" take one of them "it" will help them with their problems like in the wilderness.

Lets think about how each of their circumstances would be improved.

Tai: "It" could give her more control over or stop her sleepwalking. "It" could also help her wife live. If Tai lives it would be really interesting to see how "it" helps her political career.

Van: She could miraculously recover from her terminal cancer. She was also having some financial issues that could be helped.

Misty: Misty is a lonely person who has always struggled to fit in. This season she met Walter, a man who seems perfect for her. "It" could help her relationship with him. *don't really know how else "it" could help her.

Shauna: oof. Shauna murdered Adam and is under investigation for murder. Additionally her husband, Jeff and daughter, Callie could go down as accomplices. Misty, Natalie, and Tai could also be indicted if it gets out. "It" could help them all get away with it.

Lottie: She is having visions again and wants them to stop.

Nat: She has been wanting to know what happened to Travis. Unclear how much more she wants to know, but will likely find out more in the finale no matter who dies.

Van is the obvious choice. She's already dying and I think will offer to be the one who drinks the poison. Lottie won't let that happen as she believes "It" has to choose. Tai has too much left unexplored. I think we'll see more her political career in S3. Misty doesn't have a ton to gain from "It" considering she and Walter are already doing fine, but that relationship has been set up and is unlikely to be abandoned. Nat almost died in 2x08 until "It" chose Javi. I don't see it being her unless they do more to set that up in 2x09. Lottie is the one who is really connected with "It". I don't think "It" would take her, the one who speaks for it.

Shauna could still benefit from "It" taking her life. She wants her family to be safe. She doesn't want her mistakes to ruin their lives. If she dies all of the blame for Adams murder could be put on her. Jeff, Callie, Tai, Misty, and Nat would all be okay. Also, even though she has been basically the main character it would make sense for the focus to shift. She is no longer pregnant so will not be as focused on or prioritized by the group in the wilderness. With more focus going to other girls it makes sense that their adult counterparts would also be given more attention. What it shows from the past correlates with what is shown from the present. I think Shaunas bit has run its course. We know the show has a 5-season plan, is Shauna's adult life interesting enough to play such a big part of 3 more seasons? Also, the adult yellowjackets now know that it was Jeff who blackmailed them. I'm sure they would be willing to forgive that/not make them pay it back if Shauna is the "sacrifice".

Most likely to least likely:

Shauna

Natalie- they haven't set up anything else for her adult self so that makes me worried

Misty- if its misty then I think Walter will be poking into the yellowjackets business in S3

Van

Tai

Lottie

#yellowjackets #yellowjackets s2 #lottie matthews #shauna shipman #misty quigley #natalie scatorccio #taissa x van #taissa turner #showtime #yellowjackets showtime #yellowjackets theories #yellowjackets predictions #javi martinez #ben scott #coach scott #vanessa palmer #jackie taylor #travis martinez #callie sadecki #jeff sadecki #kevyn tan #yellowjackets 2x09

[imminent-danger-came]

About your lmk fandom hot take about MK and his fan-cast role of ‚group therapist‘

I feel like one of the parts I appreciate most about lmk is that generally everyone is supportive in their own way? It‘s usually pretty balanced.

The only notable thing in which I would say MK is more prominent in is talking to people who feel driven into a corner, but like- when their pushed to their limits?

The others notice earlier warning signs, someone being overly exhausted, broody or isolating themselves (this someone usually being MK who himself is blind to the small things most of the time)

But when someone has a huge outburst of emotion?

Like Mei when she was overwhelmed with the Samadhi fire (how quickly she managed to ground herself again was so sweet imo. And after she only pushed him away when realizing she couldn’t control it and was a danger to him still)

Or Monkey King in the season 4 special, overwhelmed and depressed when confronted with his past? MK finds just the rights words to give Wukong a sense of purpose again, and aspire to leave the world better than he found it.

Same with Azure. Who when despairing at the universe unraveling at the seams because of his own (well intentioned) ambitions managed to smile, fixing his mistakes after MK pushes him to do so. So I would say his strength lies more in giving people an immediate goal to focus on? A sense of purpose maybe. In which case we can add Macaque and ‚the be a warrior‘ to the list.

Since he is definitely some sort of inspiration for the cast.

MK very much looks for a way out. If there's something he thinks is going to have a chance at working for his desired outcome, he's going to take it—which includes looking for help from unlikely sources (Red Son in ROTSQ, Spider Queen in 2x09, Macaque in 3x13, he's willing to immediately trust Azure in 4x02 for the sake of his friends), but it also includes talking to people when backed into a corner (The guardians in 2x01, again trying to convince Spider Queen to help in 2x09, getting through to Mei in 3x10, getting Macaque's help in 3x13, telling Azure he's "The only one who can [fix the world]" in 4x14). MK is very goal oriented and breaks the problem down into steps, and I think that helps when he has to comfort someone who is having a huge meltdown like Mei or Wukong or Azure. In ROTSQ MK learned to focus on what he can do, but when forced into situations where he feels he can't do anything he falters.

And yeah, the main group is especially balanced! Everyone coming together to comfort MK at the beginning of ROTSQ is a great example ("We will figure this out together" should be on my gravestone at this point) and everyone comforting Tang in 4x07 is another good example. I think that's part of what allows MK to go so low at the end of s4—he was separated from his support group.

#''So I would say his strength lies more in giving people an immediate goal to focus on?'' LIKE YEAH #Thanks for your thoughts anon #Thinking a little too hard about ''I know what it's like to have a power you don't know how to control. To feel like the fate of the world- #-is in your hands and you have no idea what to do!'' and then MK comforting Azure. Letting him know he can still do something. Like HEY #OUCH #asks #lmk #lego monkie kid #lmk MK #lmk analysis #rapid fire I have a lot of asks rn

[mischas]

Also it's really difficult to hear Ryan say to Theresa that "Marissa has made mistakes" as if she's ever come close to cheating on him. Just how lowly does he think of her.

I mean, deep sighs. This show hates Marissa, first of all. We have to think that Ryan's rant to Marissa in 2x09 was mostly truthful. It came from a place of real hurt and resentment. In the poolhouse to Seth he compares Coop to his mom! So this is really deep stuff he's feeling. Seth calls him out on the Lindsay stuff thankfully but "you spent all last year dragging me down" is never actually rebuked. The lame ass apology Ryan gives Marissa barely has to do with his outburst at all. So this show has set that particular narrative (despite the actual evidence that was s1). It's problematic for him to believe it but also gross of the show to basically affirm it which is what brings me to 2x23. Late s2 sets Marissa up as a girl with few flaws. Helpful and eager to please. She even drinks water at her own rager! She's written to be perfect for Ryan and for him to fall for her all over again. Part of Ryan falling again is this angelic figure she's been written as from 2x17 on. So when there's a crack in the glass, and a big one at that, he resorts to his previous hurt. Which, of course, was never resolved/attended to/healed/etc. I'm not saying it's right, I can just see how the writing led him to that thought. The parallels Ryan draws from his mother to Marissa are sprinkled throughout but never fully tackled which is too bad. And, like, teen soap and all that, sure, but it's an important thread! In my head I know Ryan sees Marissa's heart and intentions but the writing just gets so bad pretty quickly.

#ask #anonymous #2x09 #2x23 #for tagging reasons

[cauldronofmorning]

do you think chuck would have been ok with mcwexler if he thought she was more of a tom type, or do you think he didn’t realize how she felt about him until that scene in 2x09

ooh fun question. considering that he complained about "Kim's one mistake is that she believed in you", and what happened in the Pinata flashback, and his attempt at "you're just like me, tried to protect Jimmy and got stabbed in the back", I think a bit of both? Kim on his side and Jimmy isolated is what he wanted originally, Kim with Jimmy but still on his side would be a good compromise, but then he found out she had an office with him, and suddenly it became "my brother is a dominating abuser and she's helpless".

#kim wexler #mcwexler #jimmy mcgill #chuck mcgill #better call saul

[reapcrbunny]

@avalcn​  --  “don’t make the same mistakes i have.” ( from athena )    //     MOTHERLAND: FORT SALEM, 2x09-2x10

(    🐇   )                 FINGERS BRUSHED THROUGH    the blue of the aetherial sea as she listened to athena,    all the while trying to piece together everything that she had seen and gone through so far.    she’d heard about the experiments that had been done by her hand and mind to her son    --    it could naught be that for she    HAD NO KIN    to speak of.    at    least    of her own awareness    .  .    hm.

                 <     ELABORATE.    >    

#avalcn #OUT OF CHARACTER ( MEME REPLIES )ㅤ ㅤ ( ㅤ 🐇ㅤ )ㅤ ㅤ — ㅤ thanks for being grand uwu #( ENDWALKER V )ㅤ ㅤ ( ㅤ 🐇ㅤ )ㅤ ㅤ — ㅤ I CAN FEEL EYES STARING AT ME. FEELING UNEASY.