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baconcolacan · 1 year

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KC interacting w/ everyone else gave me a stroke. Sorry for the swap asks, im just, im just too invested it'll be my demise. Anyways, ready?

1 how would Red and Blue (KC) react to THEMSELVES from regimen?

2 i was curious, does A.K. know about what happened to Tords arm and Toms eyes? Does he know the story behind his parent's quite important injuries? But most importantly, who caused them and how

3 look, i know i know, and i apologize in advance but hear me out, im just, just feeding your imagination- your creativity, yeah! Its, its for your sake..

..so, what if Church's Grimm met Stay and Regimen- I KNOW CG might not even be finished and its the least of your priorities!- but its so different- i cant help but wonder how the others would react to a younger version of them, that isnt in war, ruling, in the military, but are..different in their own way. Also we dont know much about them- And in this one, Tom is quite literally *dead* so im quite curious of how they'd face his spirit, or ghost (who probably has a supernatural power that could be dangerous..or useful..)

I hope you're doing well and taking breaks, you can skip last ask if it spoils too much or for whatever reason! Please remember to appreciate yourself, also know that Castling was fire and insanely fun to read! leader x leader au *chefs kiss* could go on about it for hours, istg you're really out to get us with that talent of urs

PHEW OK CONFERENCE TABLE ASKS LETS GO!

If Red met R.L. I think he'd be very understanding of why he's like that. They virtually have the same goals, although Red isn't as power hungry, he knows that he's more than willing to mutilate the entire world for his own selfish goals, which both he and R.L. will happily admit to. He might be a bit uncomfortable with how off the rails R.L. is mentally, but it's not like he has any room to really judge, he's not as sane and sound as he likes to pretend to be anyway....

If Blue met Tom. Well first of all, Tom wouldn't react too well to the fact that Blue is essentially a mirror of his own Tord, they're both military leaders with a proclivity to violence, and Tom is still at the stage where he's trying to justify everything he's ever done. Blue on the other hand, will happily admit that he's doing what he's doing for his own sake, and since when have we ever cared about other people? They mean nothing to us, might as well have some fun.

Blue thinks this version of himself is pretty funny for being so uptight about his "morals". Then again...he might still have something to lose, so he supposes that's just natural.

2. All AK was ever told when he asked about his parents' injuries was that it was an accident, and that it happened when they were out in an active war theatre. Tord wanted to admit that it was his fault, but Tom stopped him because, to be frank, it wasn't really his fault, he started the war sure, but he wasn't the one that sent the bomb towards them.

3. HSASFJ OK I'll just give a general answer to this for all the aus cause I cant write them all one by one at the moment.

I think, on the side of the Tords, they'd all be surprised that a clearly younger version of themselves (CG Tord is in his early 20s) is such a wallflower, cringing away whenever there are eyes on him or hiding as much as he can in his hoodie. KC and Stay Tord would be pretty sympathetic, Regimen Tord would be appalled at how "weak" he presents himself.

CG Tord just hates looking at them, they're all marked by death, the veil is touching all of their souls, and they're damned. What does that say about his own fate?

The Toms on the other hand, I doubt they'll be able to see their CG version, so I'll just stick with their reaction to CG Tord. KC and Stay Tom will think CG Tord is absolutely precious, more so with Stay Tom because he reminds him of when his husband was a shy little nerd bird teenager, always refusing to go outside to hangout with them unless it involved something he really likes.

Regimen Tom thinks he's creepy, especially because CG Tord would stare at him a lot.

God, what the fuck, now there's a stereotypical creepy ghost-seeing version of Tord who seems to be interested in him?? Fucking kill him now.

HAHAHA AND TY FOR LIKING CASTLING! I'm actually surprised that there isn't a lot of Red x Blue fics out there?? Like damn, I love a dynamic where they're on equal ground, why isn't there a lot more fics like that?? HKDSJFHHG FINE I'LL DO IT MYSELF.

Awkward. They'd be awkward about it.

Let's say, hypothetically, they both get spat out into the Stayverse. Freakouts and initial explanations aside, Tord and Tom take advantage of their temporary presence to leave their son with them while they do RA stuff (after they vet them ofc, they dont just trust their son with anyone, even if it's another version of themselves.)

Red and Blue aren't sure how to react around AK, seeing as he's their son in another life. Red would definitely be the one whispering shit to Blue like; "Does he want..a hug? Kids like hugs right?? How do I- do I just open my arms or...?"

"No you fu-"

"Don't swear in front of the child, Blue."

"Piss off!"

They stop being awkward eventually because AK will force them to watch cartoons and build legos with him.

Regimen: :]

Stay: Well, of course they still have fights sometimes, and they're both bullheaded and too prideful to back down, but this time since they're older, they don't escalate their fights like they used to anymore, and would much rather prefer to separate and cool off.

Although, Tom has more of a penchant to hold on to his anger than Tord, who would often feel much better after letting out his frustrations in explosively violent ways. This would of course, lead to Tord wanting to talk but Tom is still seething, therefore would not want to talk to him yet.

His silent treatment often leads to Tord being a bit gloomy but definitely more snappy, which would lead to days in the RA where he would be a bit more unforgiving with his army and how they run their operations.

It'll be tense for a while, until Matt steps in to gently remind Tom that he needs to actually talk with his husband if he wants to sort things out.

I'm not sure if you wanna know what happens with KC Tord, as Blue's silence often means he's getting paraded around again like a showgirl, so he'd be more irritated and aggressive than usual, which would bring Blue back to the warfront.

Stay: Tom would recognize immediately that Tyler is biologically his son (Due to his hellhound genetics lmao). He'd probably act a little bit stiff towards him, only because he's trying to be polite, as every bit of his instincts are on the fritz, telling him he has to protect his progeny.

Tord would probably clock in on his husband wanting to adopt the kid, and would come to the same conclusion that Tyler might be related to him in some way. I think he'd be more neutral but warm towards Ty, since he doesn't have a personal tie with him.

Regimen: I really don't think you want Tyler to be in this universe lmao. Both Tom and Tord would be pretty cold with him, especially Tord if he figures out Tyler is related to Tom. at worse he might even kill him. And like I said before, this Tom isn't good with kids, so he'd try his best to avoid Tyler at every chance he can get.

Sorry Ty :[

#asks #anonymous #letmeaskdanielaquestion #mr-3rr0r #regimen ao3 #ew Stay AU #Two Kings ao3 #The Conference Table #PHEW THATS THE LAST OF EM

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sucuretcannelle · 10 months

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Double Trouble

"What. The absolute. Fuck."

Orion stood right outside his room, beyond confused. The man was just standing there holding his 3 hour old coffee that hadn't been tasted in about 2. He looked a bit disheveled as always, and it seemed like he found a new concern.

A raccoon. In his house. There was no possible way that a raccoon could find its way in on its own unless it was gifted strength similar to Thor's. His windows were always closed and so were his doors. He has more than enough enemies for him to even think about leaving anything open and unchecked. So how did a raccoon get inside? Let alone one that looked like it ate at the last supper. Hell, it was even eating now; it seemed to have gotten its hands on a handful of grapes.

"You've got to be kidding me."

He used one hand to pinch his nose bridge and the other to grab his spear when it materialized in his hand. While he stepped out of the doorframe, he used his spear similarly to how a child would use a stick to poke and prod at anything they could get their tiny hands on. Barely stepping closer to the animal, he reached the end of his over to it, carefully tapping its back.

The raccoon jumped, quickly looked up at him, and hissed in retaliation. The nephalem retracted his spear once it went back to eating grapes and held the spear near his chest, still holding it tightly. He huffed and averted his gaze away from it.

"Que coñazo..."

"What's the matter?"

Nash appeared behind his brother causing him to jump and almost stabbed him with the spear he clutched in his hands. Unsurprising to Orion, the demon cradled a big husky in his arms as if it was a child.

"Ake what if I die someday because you scared me so bad. Then what?"

"Pfff, I don't know. Not my problem."

Nash looked around the hallway before looking eyes with the raccoon.

"So that's where that went."

"What do you mean?"

Nash shifted the panting husky into one hand before pointing at the raccoon.

"That thing was gonna be Diederik's dinner."

"...There is no possible way you're serious."

"Why would I be joking about this. Look at the boy, he's hungry."

Orion glanced at the dog. He honestly looks like he shouldn't have survived to this point but here he is, alive and kicking in Nash's arms.

"That dog is big enough as it is."

Nash covered one of the dog's ears with his hand, "Now don't you go saying that in front of him!"

Orion took a moment of silence before the spear disappeared in his hands.

"Well, you go deal with your raccoon situation while I go do something productive— something you can't relate to. Goodbye."

Orion slammed the door behind him and sat right back at his desk. He didn't even bother getting started on work, he just sat there and waited. He knew his brother too well. Something was bound to go wrong.

"Ay! So crazy story, I got blood on the carpet! Wow, who told you to get white carpet?"

"AY PUTA MADRE—"

----

I JUST HAD THIS DRAFT SITTING AROUND I NEEDED TO FINISH IT BECAUSE THE CONCEPT WAS SO SILLY.

#oc: Orion Allaband Morningstar #oc: Nash Morningstar #my ocs #ocs

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delunellenoir · 1 year

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How's life, Amaya?

Holla, it's been a while since you went away. How's life up there ? Hope you are happy there. Since you've been gone, life change so fast. Lemme tell you a bit, hun.

Before that, lemme say that life has struck me hard. 2022 was the hardest yet the foolish years for me. I've got my lesson at this year. Lemme tell you about my misery first .....

On 2022, I've had trapped with someone that has a NPD (Narcissistic personality disorder) and he caused me get a huge problem on my work. And that problem are still haunted me until now. How about him ? Yup, he run away, he was transferred to another area, leaving big problems unresolved. And my bonus was also scorched by him. And because all of his love bombing and those toxic cycle, it left a very lasting effect and trauma on me. Well, сука блять :)

Also on 2nd quarter of 2023, I finally realized that all my exes are scumbag. Really, sometimes when I immersed in daydreams, I wonder why I force my feeling to those who have never seen me at all, not even a inch. And guess what ? They've already married now with their "crush" this year. And my mom already told me about them looong long time ago. And ... yeah, regret always comes last, right?

I used to ask them when we were together. I asked them, "Hun, if we are no longer together, or If your girlfriend are not me, do you have an imagination who will you take on date?". Surprisingly (but now I'm not surprised anymore), they can answer it fluently like "To be honest, I have a crush on *her name*. But don't take it too serious hun. I have you tho." And I even got an answer from one of my ex when we are got a fight after I threw that question and he answer it confidently. "I talked to her about our problem, and she was soo wise than you. I am getting confused because our problem seems only met a dead end. She comforts me." . Dang, such a jerk. My reaction at that time ? "Well, just married her already. You both fit each other". And it happened *lol. Yup, I am that pathetic.

But, there will always be good things after miseries , right? I also will tell you, mon amour.

I met many wonderful person with a low-profile and cool person. Like last time I met Asian Paint's Country Head for Indonesia, Mrs. AK. My impression about her ? She's energic, full of confidence, smart yet very humble. And one of my regret after met her is, why was I able to talk to her only at the last minute. I doubt too much about grammar. And from this time, I think I will re-learn and improve my English again, since the last time I spoke English was when I was in semester 2 on college (at that time my GPA on English were 3,96. Can you believe that ? ).

Alhamdulillah, God replaced all my difficulties and sadness with ease in terms of work. It's okay that my love story is depressing, but in terms of career and finance, God gave me an extraordinary gift. God makes it easy for all my work and desires, even trivial wishes.

Maybe you wonder, am I took action with all my sadness and frustration ?

Yep, I was.

I used to frequently use and abuse over-dose drugs, and you know what? Now I'm afraid to self-medicate, even when I catch a cold. Because the side effect that I got make me powerless.

So, one day I tried a hypnotherapy. Hope to release my catharsis.

And you know what ?

it makes me feel even worse than before.

Damn.

So in the end, I decided to release all of my feeling, try to accept everything that happened and let it go.

I think it's the best medicine --- in my opinion --- when compared with spend millions of rupiah to go to a psychiatrist and therapist. Right ?

I think that's all my updates about life.

Honestly, I really really miss you. Looks like I still can't follow you there, huh? God knows "they" still need me, I guess.

Wait for me a little longer, okay?

"Tu me manques, mon amour."

gros bisous,

delunellenoir ♥

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ya-ya-ak-liu-zhang · 3 years

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AK’s experiences with bullying (part 1)

AK: This is a song about myself. I really hope to have love, and by love I mean friendship, friend love. This is something I haven’t experienced much of, and I really hope others love me.

AK: But I was very intensely bullied during middle school, and this had a very big impact on my life since then.

AK: It gave me low self-esteem, and made me want everyone to like me. This is the major effect of being bullied in school.

AK: At that time (note: now referring to high school), I was bored so I worked hard in school, got better grades, and even got elected to an important seat in student council. After that, I felt seen, felt that a lot of people knew me. This felt a bit better--I was no longer so lonely.

#ak liu zhang #liu zhang #ak 刘彰 #rap for youth #chuang 2021 #i didn't watch the full show #so idk about the other rappers #but to me ak has always just told us his story #and it helps ppl #because those who can relate can be inspired #link #https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGbnpyJ3vjQ&t=218s

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absolutebl · 3 years

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This Week in BL

April 2021 Part 1

Being a highly subjective assessment of one tiny corner of the interwebs.

Ongoing Series - Thai

Second Chance Ep 1 - living up to its name since it looks to be a series of redemption arcs. Launched with a college confession and a broken friendship, then a flash back to them as seniors in high school. Pairings include friends to lovers, nerd/jock, and maybe cafe boss/employee. There’s a lot going on, but it’s still... quiet and sweet. The script is pretty pat but it’s still WAY more watchable than Cupid Coach or Brothers and most of the acting is solid. Ep 1 tropes included: he’s in engineering, wound tending, fast & bicurious. This could turn into what I wanted My Gear & Your Gown to be. Fingers crossed.

Love Poison 2 Ep 1 & 2 turns out I did watch and report on season 1 (8 eps), season 2 seems equally unmemorable. Thai countryside setting, strong dialect, incomprehensible plot, camp side characters, and ghastly singing.

Y-Destiny Ep 1 (eng subs?) - opened with the sports romance enemies to lovers (they aren’t going in the teaser order). When the couple got over fighting, the flirting was v cute, but the flipping SPONGE BATH trope had to rear its ugly head. Still, this series is shaping up to be less coy and more frank than most BL, better than expected. It feels, I don’t know, gay-er or something? *** Sources were correct that each couple is getting (at least) 2 eps, and MDL has been updated to say this is a 15 episode series (not 7).

Cupid Coach 12 fin - The new Nite was great and should have been a main all along. It felt like we got a tiny nugget of what could have been in about 10 minutes worth of this last ep. It was way too slow with terrible editing and a criminally bad script, but at least it ended happy. Mostly, like Friend Forever, I’m just disappointed that these two actors were done dirty by the series. Bad Cupid Coach, no screen caps for you.

Lovely Writer Ep 6 - breaking news, there’s a het couple I like: toppy bi femme + soft boi = such a good pairing! I know, but this NEVER happens. Meanwhile, Sib’s secret is out, Gene is a bit of a drama queen, and the plot thickens. We half way through.

Brothers Ep 9 - Kaow had a serious moment of advice giving that was truly lovely. Lots of family dama made this a superior episode to... well... any of the others in this series. Which isn’t saying much.

1000 Stars Ep 10 fin - at the start this series didn’t grab me the way GMMTV’s last BL, Tonhon Chonlatee, did. But boy did it end 1000x better. Might have given us 2021′s best forehead kiss. I enjoyed the ultra romantic cliff-top reunion kiss, and I LOVED the stinger flirting scene. That was an absolute gift we had no right to expect. This drama is a poster child for finishing on a high note (always focus on that dessert course). Final thoughts? This was FAR more a classic romance than it was BL. There were some BL tropes used but not many and most of them originated in the romance genre not yaoi. A picture perfect ending bumped 1000 Stars much higher up my best-of list than expected. Not sure how often I’ll rewatch it as a whole, but this last episode? I’m probably rewatching it right now.

Ongoing Series - Not Thai

Dear Uranus (Taiwan GL) Ep 3 fin - I guess that’s it? Okaaaaay

HIStory 4: Close To You (Taiwan) Ep 3 (AKA Ep 5-6) - we got actual legit gay culture not just BL (always appreciated) from XingSi. I’m starting to find LiCheng’s “show them we fucking” hijinks hilarious rather than annoying (not sure why, maybe I just love a rubber chicken, or maybe it was the STUFFED CORN WITH THE TASSEL that did it).

-- H4 Moment of RANT --

Tropes included beach trip, there’s only one bed, cook for him, baby is a floppy drunk, carry baby to bed, and.... drunk non-con. Whoopdedoo. Here we go again. Did TharnType teach us NOTHING? (Apparently it taught us if the chemistry is good enough, I have no morals at all.) At least H4 seems to be taking us out of cheese into serious when it comes to assault. Or is it?

I take back what I said last week about XingSi & YongJie being codependency + salvation trope, that only works if YongJie is the uke. He’s NOT. So we got us an obsessive predatory villain with a possible redemption arc. That’s more common in crime dramas, mafia romance, and epic fantasy than BL. It’s real hard to redeem a sexual predator in a reality-grounded universe like contemporary romance (See Kla in LBC1&2).

Next week is gonna be a test of the whole damn franchise. Imma remind both me a you that this was ep 3 of 10 so we got a ways to go yet... but ooof, what have we wrought, BL? (I ended up doing a whole post about the stepbrother trope because of this sub plot.) Taiwan is killing me.

-- RANT ended --

Word of Honor (China) Ep 19-21 - over half way point so we got ALL the back story (in a classic 4 act story structure midway reveal). Now we know who WKX really is and his lineage. We also got some cute hugs and hand holds. Moving along at a nice clip despite being 36 eps total. Still gayest thing to come out of we-not-gay China since Advance Bravely.

Most Peaceful Place (Vietnam) Ep 2 - takes them a while to get eng subs together and ep 2 didn’t drop until late. So I’m putting this in a Thurs time slot going forward. Miscommunication already cleared up and a 2nd couple has been introduced. The pacing on these Vietnamese BLs is always a bit... off. But it’s still better than most of its ilk, enjoyable. I’m thinking it’s a 6 ep arc.

We Best Love 2 (Taiwan) Ep 5 - after the initial drama DRAMA of ep 2, the current external crisis at work is much quieter, giving this whole season a top heavy feel. Taken along side the first season, I think it’s fitting nicely into a 4 act structure, but that might be my bias. I hope I’m not wrong, we’ll find out next week. Shi De puttering about being domestic with Shu Yi on his back was the best execution of the piggyback trope EVER. Meanwhile, our little D/s side couple of codependency, salvation trope + mental illness is becoming weirdly appealing. I don’t know. H4 done mess with my head.

Stand Alones

Absolute BL AKA Zettai BL ni Naru Sekai vs Zettai BL ni Naritakunai Otoko (Japan) Ep 1-4 mini series. Found subs under A Man Who Defies The World of BL. IT’S HILARIOUS. It’s Japan making fun of us, but also itself for having started this whole BL nonsense - from yaoi roots to present day. It’s parody goddamn gold. Utterly cheeky unto the very last line. We are not worthy.

Apparently the most powerful tropes of all time are: baby is a floppy drunk and the piggyback fo nobility. Oh and chocolate. {Full review here.}

Honestly, this show may have been made with only @heretherebedork and I in mind. I don’t know if you’d even understand half of it if you don’t have a history with the manga source genre and an obsessive interest in underlying narrative devices. I haven’t seen much chatter in the blog’o’sphere on this one because, in the end, it’s not a romance at all, it’s social commentary.

The ending line was a masterclass in lampooning a genre. I’m going to rewatch the whole thing just to catch all the digs I missed first time around. It is a thing of beauty and a joy forever.

Thank you Japan. I forgive you all your hair-styling sins of the last decade.

Breaking News

Spring Line Up:

Scholar Ryu’s Wedding Ceremony AKA Nobleman Ryu’s Wedding (Korean historical BL) April 15th

Close Friend the series (Thai trailer) April 22.

2gether the movie (Thai trailer) April 22 to Thai theaters.

Nitiman (Thai) May 7 on One31.

I Told Sunset About You 2 (Thai) May 27 on LineTV

Ossan’s Love (Hong Kong) June to Viu

Gossip

Bad Buddies released its first promo op via Arm Share, which means GMMTV is at least *thinking* about filming it.

Fun behind the scenes gossip sesh with eng subs for Tell the World I Love You (that Perth Bas movie we are maybe getting someday but will likely be sad).

New Thai BL Bite Me (adapted from novel Grab a Bite) dropped a teaser. It stars Mark Siwat (Kla in LBC) as uke character Ake, a delivery boy with special foodie powers, and chef Eua (seme played by Zung Kidakorn) who discovers him. It’s from the same author as Manner of Death so we might even get some actual plot. Since it’s an established BL actor who I happen LOVE, a known author, and a plot about FOOD, I could not me more excited for this one.

Next Week Looks Like This:

Some shows may be listed a day later than actual air date for accessibility reasons. Some are dropping multiples at a time but just started so I’m not sure on numbering.

Upcoming 2021 BL master post here.

Links to watch are provided when possible, ask in a comment if I missed something.

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twdmusicboxmystery · 3 years

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11x02: Acheron, Part 2 - Analysis

Okay, let’s talk 11x02. And 11x01. Because it’s a two-part episode, it’s important to consider them together. I have a LOT to say about what’s going on in these two episodes, so I’ll have plenty to post all week. Let’s dive in!

***As always, spoilers abound below for TWD 11x02. Don’t read until you’ve watched! You’ve been warned!***

Maggie

The first thing we see is a point of view from under the train car. The instant I saw that, I knew how things would go. I never thought Maggie would die (if nothing else, there are scenes with her in the trailer we haven’t seen yet) but I was curious as to how she would survive. When I saw this POV, I knew she’d end up crawling under the train. Just as Glenn crawled under the dumpster. Massive parallels to Glenn. Which by extension, massive parallels to Beth. Major resurrection theme.

It's also important that when she reappears, she comes from underneath the car. Obviously, that’s logical given that she crawled underneath the car, but they make a point of asking if the pounding is coming from the roof. Gabriel says no and then they open the bottom hatch for her. Her coming up from the ground like that is a visual representation of a resurrection.

So we see Gabriel, Negan and the others enter the train car. The spatial details here are important, and I had to watch the episode twice to get them all straight. It’s a little confusing the first time. So, the group jumps down into the train car through a hatch in the roof because they couldn’t get the door open in the last episode. The thing is, if you watch closely, you come to realize they’re not in the train car on the end. They must have walked along the roof for two or three cars before finding a hatch that let them in.

So, when Gauge shows up, he comes behind them, and that confused me because I was thinking they came from that direction. And they did, but they entered through the roof, not the door. Anyway, they can’t get the door open. So honestly, even if they’d tried harder, I’m not sure they could have saved him.

This scene accomplished a lot of things, character-wise, that we need to touch on. It’s important to note that Gauge’s death happened due to his own choices. Does that mean he “deserved” to die or that they shouldn’t have tried to save him if they could have? Of course not. No on both counts. But that doesn’t change the fact that his choices sealed his fate.

It's especially interesting that he called Maggie a Liar. Not only is that a throwback to the Governor, but it’s a particular type of mentality they’re showing here. Even the fact that he didn’t shut the door behind him is really interesting. My first thought was to be annoyed with him. Why WOULDN’T you shut the door. You live in this world. You know better. But it’s all ego. He can’t imagine something bad will happen. He just assumes if it does, someone will save him.

But the most telling thing was how angry he got before saying Liar. It just shows very much how he approaches life. When he messes up, he doesn’t feel bad, and accept that it was his fault, and try to learn from it. No, instead he gets pissed and blames everyone but himself and his own actions.

If this had been Daryl or Gabriel or Alden or any of our other heroes, they would have recognized that opening the door would have gotten their friends and family killed and would have sacrificed themselves. Especially if they realized they’d screwed up. But Gauge became angry and defiant, even killing himself.

Anyway, I’m rambling. This really has nothing to do with Beth or TD other than perhaps being a future template for something. But I thought it was a really fascinating character sketch.

The thing is, this isn’t really a matter of Gauge being wrong and everyone else being right.

Maggie is…not doing so well either. As I told my fellow theorists, Paola Lazaro said in TTD last week that Maggie was kind of off the rails. I think she said that a little prematurely, because we really didn’t understand Maggie’s state of mind just by watching 10x17 and 11x01.

It's not until she tells that messed up story about the house she found and the people in it that we understand that her state of mind really isn’t at its healthiest. Even saying she wanted to kill Negan before is…understandable given their past. But it makes more sense now why Negan is so nervous. He’s sensing her state of mind that her moral conscience isn’t as strong as it once was, so of course he’s fearful for his life.

I don’t know where they’re going with this Maggie story line, but I have a feeling this attitude of hers will cause conflict down the road. Several of my fellow theorists believe it will cause a rift between her and Daryl. And we can see that somewhat through Alden. At first, he was very much defending Maggie, especially against Negan. He has a lot of loyalty to her. But he didn’t like her abandoning Gauge, and you can see his loyalties starting to waver.

At the very least, what she said about not feeling anything about it is the opposite of what Beth always stood for. Daryl was trying hard not to feel things during Still, in the wake of the prison going down. She made him feel things because that’s the only way a person is truly living, rather than just surviving. Now Maggie is in that state of mind.

And I’m gonna argue that makes it a prime time for Beth to return to help her. But of course I’m completely objective over here. ;D

Maggie’s Story:

Maggie’s story was definitely dark and horrible, but interesting to analyze. I’m assuming there was cannibalism going on there. That’s why the missing limbs. The men in the house were eating the female prisoners. No only a callback to Terminus, but remember that Bob’s leg was taken for food, so I’m sure that’s what we’re supposed to infer here.

She talked about no eyes, no tongue, no limbs, vocal cords ripped out. So definitely the see no evil, speak no evil themes. With the limbs, it’s also a matter of not being able to escape or save themselves.

In terms of the plot, I do have one question about this that I think may be significant. Maggie first talks about three deformed people (she says, “I wouldn’t call them men”) coming toward her. She kills them, and only after that hears the noise from the attic.

My question is, why were they deformed? If they’re “men,” then they must be at least Maggie’s age, if not older, which means they’ve been around since before the apocalypse began. Even eating human flesh doesn’t cause one to become deformed, so why the deformities? I have no idea, but I wondered if there is a radiation theme going on here. Something they’re hinting at, but not saying. Just thought that was intriguing.

After that, things go sideways and everyone almost dies until Daryl arrives to save the day. So, let’s skip to his story.

Daryl:

We first see him bust through a wall with Dog. So, dog took off in the last episode, but the first time we see Daryl, he’s already found Dog again. At least, the first time. This is where he sees the murals on the wall, the walker with the handcuff and the suitcase of money, etc. I already talked about most of that in great detail HERE, so I won’t rehash it, though it’s very important.

One thing I will say about the mural is that thematically, it’s a match to Still. So, in the golf club, we had lots of rich people who clearly hid there when the world first went bad. And I don’t remember this particularly, but several of my fellow theorists have told me they remember the TTD after Still and that the writers talked about how the golf club was a statement about the class system. You have these very rich people, but their wealth couldn’t save them. Death, walkers, the apocalypse…none of these things discriminate based on wealth or position.

On the wall, we see people with crowns standing at the top, but below, they are homeless, and one of them is being attacked and torn apart. Meanwhile, Daryl sees a line of text that says, “it comes for us all,” probably meaning death.

Well, guess what? Angela Kang, in talking about the murals, said that this, too, was a statement about the class system. So thematically, this is meant to be a parallel to Still.

It’s just interesting to contemplate because if you think about it, most of our heros—Rick, Daryl, the Greene family, etc—weren’t at all wealthy. Rick was humble and well-grounded. Hershel worked hard his whole life and never had any glory or fanfare. And then there’s Daryl, who was “nothing. No one.” They all survived.

So of course it’s a socioeconomic statement, but it’s also one about mindset. It takes not only grit to survive this world, but a certain amount of humility. Ego always gets you killed eventually, as it did with Gauge.

I’ll also mention that I thought the guy with the crown who was being torn apart was being set upon by walkers, but AK says they’re specifically not walkers. They’re people.

So, it’s not a coincidence that we see this juxtaposed with the Gauge situation. His ego gets him killed and we literally see him being torn apart because of it.

Moving on.

Daryl finds a bag with a $100 bill with a letter written on it. This is a massive TD clue from start to finish. 100 is an important number. The hundred dollar bill features Benjamin Franklin on the front and Independence Hall on the back. Look either of those up and you’ll find lots of fun parallels we could point to. I won’t go into all that today except to say it’s definitely part of the Revolution theme.

This is what’s written on the bill Daryl finds:

“Dear Dad, you always said if you don’t come back in a week to move on. Mom didn’t listen and went looking. It’s been three weeks, so we’re going next. I’ll watch Jesse and turn on the radio every day at 10. See you both soon. Love Tom and Jesse.”

He also finds a picture of two kids. So, the “three weeks” jumps out because of Rick’s line in 5x10, “it’s been three weeks since Atlanta.” It’s also about missing family members, going searching for them, etc. Possibly important that the mom is also missing. I can’t help but think of the song from Still. “Our mother has been absent, every since we founded Rome…”

There is a 10 in there, which is an important number. The turning the radio on every day is both the radio/airwaves theme (also a line from the song) but a callback to Rick and Morgan and their walkie talkies. So, really interesting symbols here.

The two kids immediately reminded me of Noah’s twin brothers. I don’t think these two are supposed to be twins. I’m assuming the brother is older. But still obviously siblings. And it hearkens back to the last episode Beth was technically in. Which also had a lot of the CRM/Revolution theme in it. (X, X).

AK says this family probably didn’t make it, so I’m not expecting these kids to show up in the narrative. But it’s also important to note that the little girl is carrying the toy rabbit Maggie found earlier. So the rabbit also ties into all this symbolism. (P.S. I didn’t get to my rabbit post last week. I planned on it, but time got away from me. I should get it posted later this week.)

So, this is massive in terms of TD symbolism. I’ll talk about it fits into the bigger narrative in a minute.

Then Daryl kills the sleeping bag walker. I wasn’t sure the significance of this at first, but I think it ties to the tents and sleeping bags we saw in Atlanta in 5x06, Consumed. Daryl and Carol passed them while looking for Beth. So, this just shows us that this is tied to her storyline and Daryl searching for her.

You could also argue that the walker was “hidden” at first, and it’s significant that Dog found it/realized it was there before Daryl did.

The other thing is that as he’s looking at the sleeping bag walker, there’s a random shoe on the ground next to it. Missing Shoe/Foot theory, which is also indicative of Beth.

They hear another roaring sound and Dog takes off, running into the dark tunnel.

Here’s the thing. I think most people will assume the roar he heard was just more air being forced through the tunnels by the storm, as Alden explained it in ep 1. But I always watch with the subtitles on and I noticed at this part, the subtitles said, “Man Roaring.” So they actually did hear someone screaming. And that’s probably why Dog ran toward it.

After watching it again, I realized it’s probably supposed to be Roy. He’s the white-haired guy, played by C. Thomas Howell, who Daryl finds wounded after he emerges from the Tunnel. I think whatever happened to him when he went topside but then got attacked by walkers is what Dog heard and went running toward.

Maybe not terribly significant in the plot, but it’s important symbolically. Because once again we have something Daryl hears from a distance but doesn’t see. Dog (a proxy for Beth) runs toward it, and Daryl follows. When he does, he find someone who had previously separated from the group. They’re hurt, but alive. See the parallels?

I will say the Roy situation confuses me just a little. He’s clearly hurt, and when Daryl tries to bandage him, he refuses, saying, “just tell my kids I didn’t die a coward.” But then later he’s with the group, all bandaged up, and seems to be okay. (He dies when they reach the Reapers by taking an arrow to the head, so he still dies overall.) But it’s just weird that it seemed he would die, then seemed he was fine again.

It may well be something that foreshadows a future situation, and that’s why it’s not making tons of sense right now. Only time will tell.

Anyway, I kind of glossed over Daryl crawling through the dark tunnel. I don’t have much else to say about it except that it’s a SUPER potent symbol for Beth’s arc and very important that he emerges on the other side and finds this person. Annnd then goes to save TF. (Dark Tunnel Symbolism).

So, he hears the gunshots and finds the train they’re on. He comes up behind the walkers attacking them from the front, kills them, moves the bench blocking the door, and lets everyone through. Then he uses a grenade to blow up all the walkers. (Ew.)

After that they all get out of the tunnels and go topside. The next scene is also super important. We see the stars above. That’s partly to show that the storm has passed now, but also constellations = Sirius.

Maggie asks what he has and he tells her about it. There is one weird moment in this scene. When she tells them about the supply depot she wants to stop at, she says Georgie (from S8) set it up for emergencies, for people on the outside to use. When it says this, the camera focuses on Daryl for a LONG moment, and he looks almost sad. I’m not sure what they’re trying to tell us there.

Anyway, they all head out. Unfortunately, when they reach the right neighborhood, the Reapers are there to meet/kill them. And Roy is the first to go.

So, a couple of things here. I’ll probably do a details post because I’m leaving out MOST of the background details throughout the episode, and there are a lot of them. Lots of details to be gleaned in this scene.

But the second time I watched it, I was struck by the people hanging upside down. Obviously a grim sight, but it occurred to me that these people hanging this way look a LOT like the deer diagrams from Scars. Let me show you some pictures:

Top pick is 11x02. Middle and bottom one are from Scars.

See what I mean? So, chances are something about Scars foreshadowed the Reapers, which is interesting. They clearly see human beings in a certain way (as animals to be strung up and…perhaps eaten?) And that makes me think that what Maggie found in that house may tie into the Reapers as well. Just kind of interesting foreshadows of coming plots.

Eugene:

Let’s talk Eugene and then I’ll shut up for today. Eugene’s stuff was very intriguing. First thing you need to know. And understand, I didn’t know this. @wdway pointed it out. Some months ago, the actress cast as “Stephanie” was announced. This is her:

And that’s clearly not the woman who steps into the train car at the end. Which means this isn’t really Stephanie. She’s a decoy. In fact, the actress from this episode is billed on IMDb as “woman 2,” not as “Stephanie.”

Knowing that, if you go back and re-watch the parts with Eugene’s group, they mean something very different.

On the surface, it seems that Zeke, Yumiko and Princess are taken away in a sinister fashion. Then Eugene melts down and tells his story. (Note: while he focuses on his feelings for Stephanie and I think most of that is true, he still says he lied both to her and to his friends about being from a large settlement. So, he’s still keeping large chunks of the truth from them.)

Again, on the surface it seems that they accept his explanation and just decide to allow them all in. All the stuff with the other three is just a misunderstanding.

But if “Stephanie” is a decoy, that can’t possibly be the case. I think Zeke and the others told Eugene the truth as they know it, but they’re all still being manipulated.

After Princess left to pee, the guy told Eugene no one was in the room and acted like he had no idea who Princess was. They were definitely using psychological torture on him, trying to break him.

I think they know very well that Eugene's group is still lying about their settlement, and they're using a decoy "Stephanie" to find out the truth.

My point is that it goes back to the hallucination, making-someone-think-they're-crazy theme. It will be really interesting to see how this unfolds, because there's all kinds of psychological shenanigans going on here.

@galadrieljones made a really interesting connection some time ago. She noticed that back in 10x18, at Leah’s cabin, there is a metal, heart-shaped chair. The same chairs show up in the Commonwealth’s sales video from the trailer. So there’s some kind of link between Leah, Daryl’s memory of her, and the Commonwealth. We don’t know what it is yet, but all of this gives credence to the idea that she is either an outright hallucination, or Daryl is just remembering things wrong.

It also might mean that the Reapers are connected to the Commonwealth in some way. We don’t really know yet, but I’m having tons of fun trying to figure it out.

I want to touch briefly on the train car theme. Once again, there’s a parallel in both story lines (Terminus, and this one at the Commonwealth). Daryl’s group is in train cars this episode. And while Eugene’s group has been at a different compound, they started in the train yard and end in it here. But what I noticed is that Eugene enters the train car at the end, which is furnished inside, and finds his friends there. They all have a happy reunion.

It made me think of the fact that when Rick, Daryl, Michonne, and Carl enter the train cars at Terminus, there is also a family reunion. What happened beyond that was not good or easy. Clearly, Terminus was not a good place. Many of them almost died at the trough and they had to fight their way out through a walker blood bath.

I’m just saying that, while it obviously won’t play out exactly the same way, something similar is probably waiting for Eugene’s group outside that train car. Not good.

Acheron Overall:

Okay, let’s get to the big cheese, here. The overall narrative. The template.

These two episodes are called Acheron part 1 and part 2. So here’s the skinny:

Acheron = Underworld. Daryl’s group going into the subway tunnels (dark, underground) is what constitutes Acheron and why the episodes are called that. That’s why, at the end of this episode, they emerge from the tunnels onto the surface (i.e. the living world).

Given all the death, cemetery, and dark tunnel symbolism around Beth, given that she ventured into the land of the dead by being shot, maybe clinically dying for a time, and being thought dead for so long, what this tells me is that everything that happens in these tunnels is a foreshadow and template for what will happen this season.

I maintain that Dog = Beth and we will soon see something where Daryl hears something (not necessarily her; it was a man screaming so I still think it will be Rick he hears word of) and goes chasing after it. While searching for it, he stumbles across Beth. Then the two of them (both Dog and Daryl returned to the train car) go back in time to save TF from something.

This is most likely why the Roy thing is weird. In a super understated way, he represents Rick in the template. Daryl will find him, but only after he finds Beth. Even consider what Roy says. He says, “tell my kids I didn’t die a coward.” And that’s all well and good, but did we even know Roy had kids? No. Have we met them? No. But who has kids that Daryl IS concerned with? That would be Rick.

So I’m thinking that maybe when Daryl finds Rick, Rick will think he’s dying for some reason, and that’s why the dialogue here. But he won’t, which is why we see Roy with the group later.

And no, I’m not thinking that Roy dying via the Reapers will extend to Rick. It’s more like what they’ve done with countless characters that have been Beth proxies. Eventually, they kill them off. He’s a minor character they were using as a proxy, and when they are done with him in the narrative, he becomes walker chow. Or, in this case, Reaper fodder.

Anyway, I think everything will end up being a foreshadow for something. Maggie and Negan. The Gauge situation. All of it. I’ll try to keep coming back to this as the story progresses to show what everything foreshadows. I’ll stop there for today.

#beth greene #beth greene lives #beth is alive #beth is coming #td theory #td theories #team delusional #team defiance #beth is almost here #bethyl

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hatake-no-sharingan · 3 years

Text

A Well Loved Copy (PART 1: Magical Places)

Kakashi x Reader

Story Summary: Your cozy life as a bookseller is disturbed when a box of the worst books you could ever imagine arrives at your store, and with them a certain silver haired ninja to whom you are definitely not attracted.

Relationship: Kakashi x Reader

Warnings: None

A/N: I wrote this first part a few days ago, but it still had a few things missing and I finally finished it today. I’m thinking it’s going to be at least 3 parts long (depending on how much my brain allows me to write) and that it’s going to be mostly fluff and romance, but I also want to add some angst. Hopefully you’ll all like it <3 Be kind and enjoy.

Magical Places

“God who even reads this crap” you tell yourself as you arrange the 20th copy of the latest Icha Icha Special Holiday Edition on the hot new arrivals shelf in the bookstore. “It’s unbelievable how they keep making new editions of the same trash and people actually buy them”

Last night, your boss had explicitly told you that he wanted the books in the most visible part of the store, because they were always a massive hit, unlike the beautiful short story books you had been forced to stash in a less noticeable shelf almost at the back of the store.

You spent hours admiring the graceful prose and the magical places they took you to, wishing your own writing was half as good. You knew most of those books by heart, and every time one of your favorite authors published one, you read it so many times until you could almost recite it word by word. That’s why your personal collection of books was small, but very well loved. Whenever you got the chance, you recommended them to customers, though almost none listened to you. However, those who did, always came back to thank you for it.

“It’s better to know one book intimately, than a thousand superficially” your mother told you when you were little, and to this day, the phrase stuck with you.

When your boss, the shop owner, told you to remove your favorite stories, the ones you knew intimately, from the best shelves to make space for what was basically porn disguised as a romantic thriller, it felt personal.

“I’m sorry, I know they’re good, but we need to give up the space for the best selling authors” your boss had told you yesterday night when he saw your frown as you removed them from sight. You ignored him for the rest of the time you were there while going through the new inventory together, and left the new arrivals unopened

“I’ll arrange them in the morning. If you don’t need anything else I’m leaving” you slipped your very worn book in your pocket, grabbed your keys and left.

That’s why people don’t read real literature, because it keeps getting hidden from sight and replaced with trash, you sigh.

Now you look towards the remaining boxes, the publisher sent way too many for your judgement, and decide to put them away in storage until more copies are needed, so you can still keep a few other not so crappy books on the star shelf.

When you’re returning from the storage room, you hear the door chime, signaling that a new customer is here. You check the time, barely 8:00am.

God, who’s here this early?

“IT’S HERE!” A silver haired man acting like a 6 year old in a candy store rushes in, and grabs 3, no, 4 copies of Icha Icha Special Holiday Edition without noticing he’s messing up your perfectly arranged shelf. “I literally waited a month for it! I need to read it now, it’s gonna be so good”

Is he talking to himself? Or to me?

The guy is bubbling with excitement, running his long fingers across the cover of the book on top. You don’t know why, but seeing the motion sends shivers down your very tired spine. You shrug, and start the computer to enter the day log into the system.

He walks to the counter, feeling giddy with the books and you get tense at the realization of who the guy you’ve been gaping at is.

The signature mask, the covered left eye and the nonchalant but confident walk give it all away.

He’s kinda hot in person, but his awful taste in books ruins it, you think.

“Would you like me to wrap those for you?” you manage to ask, pointing to the four copies he dropped on the counter. “Or would you rather do it yourself at home?” If I were his friend I’d kill him if he gave me that as a gift.

“Huh?”

“We offer a gift wrapping service.”

“Oh no, thank you, they’re not gifts. All four of them are mine”

“All four?” You ask, confused.

“Yeah, one’s my mission copy, another is my house copy, then the back up one, and the last goes on my shelves untouched”

“You must really like the series.” You say sarcastically, emphasizing on the word really.

“They are really good, contrary to popular belief. I know a lot of people judge them, but I swear if they actually read the series, they’d know it’s not just porn” he says with a chuckle, clearly aware you’re judging him.

“Ummm I don’t know” you say scratching the back of your head “I’d rather stick to real literature”

“Wait, you’ve never read them?”

“Nope”

“Not even one?”

“No no, wouldn’t want to waste my time”

“No wonder you’re staring at me like that” he says under his breath, and you pretend not to hear him. “What do you read, then? If you’re only into real literature”

You nod towards the last shelves in the room and then gesture to your own battered copy of The Cursed Beauties and Other Stories.

“They made me hide them away so I could make space for your special edition.”

“I’m sorry about that, maybe they can share a shelf next time.” Did he just smirk? Is he hitting on me? No, it must be me reading too much into things. “I’m Kakashi, anyway”

“I know, you’re kinda notorious amongst us booksellers, as the guy who buys too many copies of Icha Icha”

“Really?”

“No”

“Oh”

“You’re an important ninja okay?” He’s barely aware of it apparently “I have a few modern leaf history books here that mention you. And I think there might be a biography on you too, you’re definitely in the Yondaime’s. I had to read it for school, though I’m not very sure of how much truth is in it. Non ninja writers tend to exaggerate things huh? Not because I’m a ninja myself, becau-well, ummm I’m not, but I have read a lot, on ninjas I mean.” You get flustered when you catch yourself speaking a lot. He makes you nervous, alright? Even though he has bad taste in books and is a bit of an asshole, you can’t help but feel attracted overwhelmed by him.

You get an embarrassed smile from him too.

“I can’t imagine what in my life would be interesting enough to write about” he says, gently tapping his fingers to his temple “but I’ll tell you something, Icha Icha is interesting, way more fun to read than my life. I’d leave one of these copies here for you, but this isn’t the first book in the series, so you really wouldn’t understand it. But you should give the first one a shot, if you don’t like it, you’re allowed to hate me forever and judge my poor taste in books.” He heads for the door and makes his departure, but not before turning around and flashing you a big smile that you swore his whole face was glowing beneath all those coverings.

Something about him lingers with you for the rest of the day, as if he’d never really left the store.

The next morning when you come in, you notice there’s something inside the mailbox which catches your attention, only for the simple fact that you never get mailed anything small enough to fit in the mailbox. It’s always boxes upon boxes of books and gadgets related to literature.

You open it and take out a well worn copy that has definitely seen better days, of Icha Icha Paradise. There’s a small post it note stuck on the back cover scribbled with messy handwriting

Give it a shot, I promise you’ll like it.

-K

P.S. Take care of it, it’s my favorite copy. Hopefully by entrusting you with it, you’ll decide to entrust me later with your own book ;)

Despite all your judgements and aversions to the series and the author, you make yourself a strong cup of coffee, sit back on your familiar spot, and open the book to the first page.

#naruto #naruto fic #naruto imagines #kakashi #kakashi hatake #kakashi imagines #kakashi x y/n #kakashi fanfiction #kakashi x reader #kakashi headcanons #kakashi fluff #naruto fanfiction #hatakenosharingan #magical places

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keepitcloseandmeaning · 4 years

Text

- Sticky Situation -

💗 Kinktober Day 1 - Mutual Masterbation 💗

Keiji Akaashi x Fem! Reader (Smut)

Word count: 2k

Summary: Your boyfriend Akaashi has been working nonstop all week leaving you pent up and heated. You decide that today you're going to release this tension, and he's going to help you do it.

Akaashi was called to the office for the fifth time this week to overlook the design of a new magazine, which meant there was little to no alone time between the both of you. Even with those two short days off, his workload would pile over so much that he often had to bring it home with him.

To say you were sick and tired of the attention you were being denied would be an understatement.

You wouldn't blame him or hold it against him though. Your boyfriend worked hard for his career and it paid off greatly. He was a skilled editor for a famous manga magazine. Every booklet they released was far beyond well written and illustrated, so why were you so discontent currently?

Akaashi had done nothing wrong, and if anything, he just continued to raise the bar, so, why were you currently laying in your bed with a dull ache? Why were you face first in Akaashi's pillow guilty soaking up his scent, hoping he'd magically appear?

Why were you imagining his big rough hands grabbing you and tearing you down, just to lift you into highs unknown? You groaned. This just wouldn't do.

Akaashi was crammed at work. Practically running while telling people what they needed to fix and how, while somehow also trying to find time to come up with story ideas and calendars.

His days weren't always jampacked. He had calming days where he could just sit in his office and enjoy his coffee while brainstorming. Sadly today was just not one of those days. After making his rounds of constructive criticism, he could finally sit and unwind for a second before continuing with his task at hand; writing. Literature had always been something he admired since he was a child, though currently, he wished he'd picked a different branch. Days at the office were always ruthless when a deadline was nearing, but recently things have just gotten out of hand.

As Akaashi sat his 'bestest friend' mug down, as he let out a long sigh, rubbing his temple. What he wouldn't do to just be back in his bed curled up under the blankets with you. Your head on his chest as he played with your just-woken-up locks. Maybe a few pecks here and there. A few touches, maybe bites or licks. Fingers traveling lower; teasing. Groaning, Akaashi released his head. 'How unprofessional' he'd thought to himself. He couldn't be thinking such unholy thoughts at work, he still had assignments to finish.

Nonetheless, his brain wouldn't stop thinking about all the ways he could take you. So far it favored forgetting all about his stories and instead, ramming you against his desk. Your ass high in the air, bright and pink from his hand. Your hair in between his fingers, pulling you closer to him. Your mouth yelling out his name and some incoherent syllables he couldn't place.

"Fuck," he said. Taking off his glasses, he let his head fall into his hands. Now's not the time, he repeated in his head. He had to calm down. He had responsibilities. Once he felt like his brain had cooled, he attempted to continue on his work. That is, until he got a call.

Pulling his phone from his pocket, he looked at the caller ID and picture. It was you. 'What perfect timing,' he thought as he slid the answer button. "Baby," you breathily released, "baby I need you."

Akaashi's own breath hitched, hearing your tone. Despite his shock he replied, "Ah ah ah, you know I'm in the office, we can't do this now." Across the line he could hear your heavy pants as a whine was released from his words.

"Akaashi, baby, please, please I need you. I need you so bad right now." You had pleaded back. Akaashi didn't know what had gotten into him. Your voice was like a siren call and his hormones couldn't handle it. His navy blue slacks tightened around his groin and he quickly covered it with his non-busy hand. "Mmph now look at you. You got us both pent up. What do you want me to do about this? About you?" You released a sigh, the fingers circling your clit continuing their slow path. "Help me Akaashi, please." His dark chuckle didn't help the warmth deep in your stomach.

Leaning back further in his office chair, Akaashi tilted his head to his shoulder, holding his phone in place. Beginning to release his belt he said, "Awe, I know you can come up with something better than that. Tell me truthfully, what would you like me to do?" You swore you could hear the smirk in his voice. He was teasing you.

"Please Akaashi, anything. Tell me what to do, what to touch, what to say, anything please." You whined. He in return released another dark chuckle as he dragged the zipper to his pants down. "Ah that's more like it, that's my good girl. Where are your hands now?" "Th-they're on me," you replied.

Looking down at the bulge in his briefs he rose a brow and commented back, "Baby girl if you want me to help you, you have to be more descriptive. You know the rules." Across the screen you nodded and gulped, even though you knew he wouldn't see it. You also knew that he was telling the truth. If you didn't listen to him he wouldn't oblige you in any way; he'd leave you hanging.

"Okay I'm sorry, I'm sorry. There's o-one on my chest and the other is...is.." You didn't think you could continue. Your face was far beyond burnt by the blood rushing to it. Your heart was hammering in your ears. It wasn't like you and Akaashi had never done anything sexual before, you have. A plethora of times, but nothing like this.

"Is where? Tell me Y/n, where is that slutty little hand of yours at?" Akaashi huskily asked across the line. A whine slipped out of your lips as your thighs clenched against your hand.

"My clit. It's-it's on my clit," you breathed out. In return Akaashi let out a groan as his hand gently rubbed his bulge through his briefs. "Good girl. How fast are you rubbing it, hmm?" He questioned.

"S-slow. I'm going slow," you answered back a bit too quickly. Akaashi could sense your need through the line. The way your seemingly quiet breaths came out in puffs in his ear, the urgency in your voice. He had you wrapped around his finger. "Mm go faster and don't stop until I tell you to. You hear me?" A breathy moan was let out from your end, "Yes whatever you say."

You did as your boyfriend told you to, your moans steadily increasing in volume as your fingers increased in speed. Pleased with your sounds, Akaashi let a hand slip under the band of his briefs, stroking himself gently. "Ahh that's my good girl. Tell me how good it feels," he groaned out. Between one of your moans you let out, "G-good, so good Akaashi."

Akaashi let his head fall back on his chair as his eyes closed. He imagined what you looked like, sprawled on your shared bed. Your wetness sticking to your thighs and fingers. He groaned quietly into the air as his cock throbbed at the thought. Pumping it a bit faster he uttered, "Mmm good. Finger yourself baby girl. Pretend I'm there."

In response, your fingers traveled lower towards your hole and you couldn't stop picturing your boyfriend towering over you. His big calloused fingers circling around you until they plunged deep inside your wet cunt.

You cried out as your fingers did just as your imagination implied. Although your fingers weren't as orgasm inducing as his, they did the job. "Oh fuck, Akaashi. God it feels so good," you vocalized. Letting his briefs fall, Akaashi fully released his cock as precum dribbled down it in small streams. He had to bite his lip in order to not let a groan out from the pleasure he was feeling and the waves of pleasure he was getting from your sounds alone.

His hand squeezed his cock as he pumped it faster, "Fuck Y/n. You make me feel so fucking good. Squeeze those pretty tits for me baby." You let your phone fall between your head and shoulder as an eager hand grabbed at one of your nipples, pinching and pulling it. A string of moans and curses left your lips as you continued to please yourself. Your mind wouldn't tear from Akaashi, wishing you had more than just his voice to work with.

To have him ramming into like you both wish he was. The veins in cock rubbing against your walls just right, pushing against that perfect spot. "Akaashi can I go faster, please? Please can you let me go faster?" You pleaded to him because holy shit were you already so close. You weren't expecting to have been so close already, but with the heat you had been carrying all day combined with your boyfriend's sultry voice, you couldn't control yourself.

He let out a mix of both a moan and chuckle as he remarked, "Mm someone's eager today. Can my naughty girl last a bit longer at this speed, hm? Can you do that for me?" Your head rolled back on your pillow as you bit your lip. Of course he wouldn't let you, he's never been that generous. So for his sake and yours you continued with the speed you had set for yourself. Not fast enough to make you cum immediately, but not slow enough that it was no longer pleasurable.

You wanted--no, needed more. A mix between a whine and mewl left your lips as you gripped your breast roughly. "Ak-kaashi please, please I'm so close for you," you pleaded again, hoping this time it'd do the trick. Sighing from the pressure building in his lower abdomen, Akaashi's hand began to get sloppy in the way it stroked him. "You little slut, cum for me. Move those hands as fast as they can go and cum for me," he stated roughly, his own high closing in.

His dark command pushed you to move your hands in the way you wanted. The hand squeezing your breast traveled to your clit to help push you closer to your peak. The fingers within you curled, twisted, pumped into you as fast as you could manage. "Fuck! Fuck Akaashi ahh. God it feels so good," you slurred as pleasure continued to build quicker in you.

Your moans rung through the speaker of his phone and into his ear. Akaashi soaked up every one of them, letting them propel him to pump his cock even faster. His hips began to meet his hand in sloppy thrusts, pushing him over. "Y/n ahhh fuck. You're such a good girl--good girl. Cum for me baby. Cum for me. Cum all over those slutty little fingers baby."

After he was sure you both had caught your breath he stated, "Prepare to get punished when I get home. The next time you pull something like this while I'm at work I won't even think about going easy on you." With that, he hung up and looked at the mess you had caused him to create. He huffed as he began cleaning up. Later that night, he was going to teach you not to interrupt him at work, and he wouldn't let up until he was sure you knew.

Your high came in like a blast of hot summer air. Warmth wrapped around you as your fingers continued to work on your eager cunt. Your back arching and toes curling as you came on your fingers and screamed Akaashi's name. Akaashi wasn't too far behind, his hand almost crushing his cock as it spurted out his hot seed. His breath hitched as he tried to catch his breath, muttering your name and profanities as his high came toppling to a close.

- End

A/N: Hi hi readers ! I hope you enjoyed this first kinktober entry ! I can't wait to write more for you guys!

- 💗

#💗#keepitclose #my writing #haikyuu #keiji akaashi #akaashi keiji #akaashi keji x reader #smut #fanfic #haikyuu!!#haikyuu x reader #kinktober 2020 #kinktober #drabble #babygirl #wow this was super long

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samme-wunder · 4 years

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Jaytim Prompt!

In the spirit of Jaytim Spooktober, I'm looking for a Jason Todd to rp with! If its not your thing, don't worry, just enjoy the prompt! Feel free to use, too, but please credit!

[Slight AU; Instead of being Red Robin, Tim was taught under Selina Kyle's tutlage, and goes under the alias "Stray." He and Jason have known each other since they were kids, but Jason never knew Tim's alter ego.]

Tim hardly finds himself in a rough spot he cannot get out of, but there is always an exception to the rule. Sure, Stray and Catwoman were never known to play the hero role, but Tim never turns down an opportunity to do the right thing if he is able. Selina always told him it was a habit he should not indulge, but, well, habits die hard. She doesn't even know what he's up to tonight (which is usual, they don't live together, they just often find themselves working together. She taught him all she knows, after all. How to take from people who don't deserve what they have.)

It was supposed to be an easy job. Steal some high-end weaponry from one of Black Mask's shipments, alert the authorities on the shipment, sell the weapons taken for a profit, donate the funds... simple. Tim's done much more in littler time.

This time, though, everything that could go wrong, went wrong. A miscalculated step, and Tim had done far worse than alert the authorities, he accidentally showed himself. Selina's first rule is to stay hidden at all costs. He can hold himself well enough in a fight, but, honestly, its best he avoids them all together.

He's shoved forcefully back into a metal chair that isn't bolted to the floor. He could escape, but not before getting pelted with four rounds of AK-47s. Tim just does what he was taught. Redirects.

"Aw, do I look like a bird to you? I thought my ears would scream more /feline,/" he purrs, the way Selina taught him to. Don't antagonize. Don't spill your story. Act cute, and they'll take you less seriously.

"Don't talk to him," a dark voice sneers. Black Mask. "I know enough of these brats that they think they're funny and they can buy time. Look out for the Bat, but get this shipment pushed through. Keep him /quiet./" He growls. Not in a good mood, then.

They disperse after that. Two stay back with Tim, but even after some quips, they aren't responding. He sighs. Just has to wait for his chance--

It comes quicker than he thought. Gunshots go off and the two men abandon Stray and run off with the commotion. Police? Batman doesn't use guns. Tim just hopes its not who he thinks it is. C'mon, stupid police!

It grows quiet until a new voice starts barking orders. Tim groans. He's dead. He isn't even surprised when the crime killer himself, Red Hood, kicks the door open, probably looking for straggler grunts. Tim lifts his head, and redirects. "Oh! A hood in shining armor. I was hoping someone would come to rescue me." God, he hopes this works. Tim knows he isn’t really a criminal (not at heart, anyway) but Hood is known not to take prisoners like Batman does.

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staticscreenwriting · 4 years

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Both - Angel Reyes

Here’s a short little something because I missed writing Angel. It’s inspired by the song “both” by Ingrid Andress.

“ You can kiss me goodnight, or kiss me goodbye Baby, love me or don't But you can't do, you can't do both “

The rational part of (Y/N)’s brain tells her she shouldn’t be bothered by this. The rational part of her brain yells at her not to take this to heart. It’s nothing personal, the way his hand rests on the other girls hip. The way she whispers sweet, probably naughty things, into his ear. The way he hasn’t really paid any attention to (Y/N) all night.

What they are, it’s casual, uncomplicated. It’s fun. Nothing serious.

The rational part of her brain knows all of that but her heart? Her heart’s a completely different story. Her heart burns with red hot rage. With jealousy. With sadness.

Angel leans against the bar, a barely dressed girl pressed against his side, trailing her fingers up and down his arm, slipping under his cut as he sips his beer and laughs along to Coco’s story.

She hates that she knows what his skin feels like under her own fingertips. Hates that the taste of his lips still lingers on hers.

It all started out so uncomplicated. She was just a girl at a bar that caught his eyes and he was just this rough but absolutely charming guy who swept her off her feet. They spent that entire night dancing and laughing and kissing and life felt magical.

Life always feels magical when Angel’s around. No matter how casual it is what they’re having, it holds meaning — to her at least. Because Angel makes life fun, he makes loving fun. Those words used to scare her, hell they still do. But it’s the truth and the truth demands to be spoken, demands to be felt, demands to be acknowledged. Even if it’s just on the inside. Even if she only admits it to herself.

That very truth is what’s slowly tearing her heart apart though. You don’t fall in love with your casual hookup. You don’t fall in love with an MC Member and, for god’s sake, you don’t fall in love with Angel Reyes.

His eyes meet hers across the room and (Y/N) hates the way it sends shivers down her spine and makes the butterflies in her stomach cause havoc. And he has the audacity to wink at him. As another girl has her hands on his chest.

(Y/N) hates this. The being pushed to the sidelines. The constant wondering. Most of all though, she hates that she willingly puts herself through this. Because she’d rather have him like this than not at all.

It’s not like her feelings are entirely based on her own illusions or fantasies. A spare change of clothes of his still sits in her laundry basket. The smell of his cologne still lingers on her sheets. The last text on her phone from “2:12 am” reads “ I miss you “ with a black heart emoji next to it. She replied with “come over.” and a red heart. He came. Then he came. Then he stayed the night. Cuddled her. Kissed her. Caressed her skin and let her kiss him where he now lets another girl touch him.

When she first started dating, (Y/N) was quick to learn that men, that boys, don’t like when girls make a claim, when they become possessive. Cool girls don’t do that. Desirable girls don’t do that. They are suave and unbothered and don’t take anything too serious. It is what it is and they play along with the boy’s games and say yes and thank you and “yeah no strings attached, that’s fine with me. “

At 16 she really believed in those words as they fell from her lips. Made herself believe that none of it bothered her. That her heart was secured behind high walls of concrete and bricks.

Growing up though, she realised that those words held no truth. They didn’t make her cool or suave. They made her vulnerable and easy and sad. There was never a “yes” or a “ thank you “ she said for her own good. Never one she spoke because she meant it. To be cool and desirable meant to give up part of herself in order to seem unbothered, to numb a part of her heart that was slowly but surely crumbling away.

She’s not unbothered now. Doesn’t even make herself believe it for a second. Every part of her is fully aware that she is undeniably in love with Angel Reyes.

And yet she plays along, if only for everyone else.

A few nights ago, when the air was still warm from the long summer day that had just given way for the night, he came around. Didn’t call before, didn’t even text. He just showed up on her front porch, tired eyes, tired bones.

He knows he’s always welcome. Open arms are always right there for him to fall back into. Even when she’s angry, even when she’s sad. A life without Angel Reyes is not one she wants to live, not one she even wants to imagine.

So he sat down next to her and they shared a beer and a cigarette and an uncountable amount of kisses. And it felt right, like this is where they were meant to be. Beside each other. Together.

Looking up at the stars, the air felt light and like it was asking for secrets to be shared. So that’s what they did. With every word tumbling from his lips, (Y/N) fell more and more in love with Angel. Not for the things he said, but the strength that she could see in him. One that let him persevere. One that carried him through all the hardships life had thrown at him.

Angel Reyes opened his heart to her that night and how foolish of her to believe that meant something. That anything about them had changed them.

You don’t tell a girl your dreams and hopes and fears and then let another woman touch you. Not if the she means anything to you.

After aking one last drink from her beer that has by now gone warm, (Y/N) places the empty bottle on the bar and makes her way outside. Maybe the cool night air can help her get a clear head. Forget about the war raging inside her.

Between staying silent and keeping Angel in her life and finally shouting out all the thoughts swimming through her mind, breaking her own heart.

“ Hey, where you going? You just got here.”

His voice does both, send her butterflies into a frenzy and give her an anger induced headache.

She takes a big breath, then another, then a third. Tries to calm her nerves. Tries to be cool. Collected. Tries to be 16 again and the kind of girl boys liked. The easy one. The one that didn’t take just gave.

“ You not having a good time? “

Something snaps. (Y/N) isn’t entirely sure what brings it on. Maybe the fact that he doesn’t even realise he did something wrong. Maybe the fact that he’s so casual about everything. Unbothered. Unbothered. Unbothered.

“ No, Angel. I am not having a good time. “ she yells, turning back around and facing him with fury in her eyes.

“ Woah, babe. What’s the matter? “

What is the matter, (Y/N)? You got in over your head. Let yourself fall when you knew there was no one there to catch you.

“ I — god, Angel I can’t do this. “

“ What do you mean? Do what? “

There’s realisation in his eyes. He knows. He gets it. He understands and he’s — scared?

“ This — “ she replies and gestures between the two of them “ us. “

“ Huh?”

“ Don’t huh me, Angel. I just — my heart can not take seeing you get cosy with another woman. I can’t put myself through this. I can’t stand there and pretend it doesn’t hurt. “

Angel is quiet for a second before clearing his throat. “ You knew what this was before it started. We were on the same page here. “

“ I know that. But things change, Angel. Feelings develop. You’re not really helping either. You constantly blur the lines. You make it impossible for me to understand what you want. You push me away one moment then come over and spend the night. You tell me you miss me, then hardly pay attention to me when I’m around. It kills me, Angel.”

“ I never meant to hurt you.”

She knows that. She always knew that and even if she didn’t the pain in his voice makes it abundantly clear. Doesn’t mean it hurts any less.

“ I know. But I need you to say something. I can’t keep going on like this. I’ll just hurt myself in the process. I am not 16 anymore, holding myself back and suppressing my feelings because it makes the boys like me more. I am over that. We’re adults, Angel. It’s either you want me completely or not at all. You can’t have both. Not anymore. “

He doesn’t say anything. For a long long time he doesn’t say a single word. Maybe that’s worse than him outright rejecting her. Uncertainty is the killer of all joy.

This is all the answers she needs.

The music and the chatter from the clubhouse slowly fade in the background as she gets into her car, turns on the ignition and drives off. Tears pearl down her cheeks and a burning pain soars through her heart but maybe this can be the start of something new. Maybe you have to fall apart in order to put yourself back together and become whole again.

It’s 2:12 am and the world is silent when (Y/N) gets woken up by a pounding on her front door. Rapid and impatient and fucking loud.

As she swings open the door her heart deceives her by skipping a beat. Angel looks phenomenal against the dark backdrop of a Santo Padre night. Like a vision of all things she ever desired. Like an image straight from a dream of hers.

He’s all soft eyes and warmth. How could a man like that be the one that broke her heart?

“ What are you doing here? “

“ You told me to chose so I’m choosing. “

“ Okay.”

“ I want all of you. Every little piece, every fault and quirk and all your imperfections. I want to spend nights looking at the stars and for you to tell me about the constellations even though I know all you told me was absolute bullshit you just made up on the spot. I wanna watch cheesy telenovelas with you at 4 am. I wanna take you out dancing. Kiss you. Fuck you. Love you. All of it. I know I am not a good man. I will never be the man you deserve but I can try to be the best man I can possibly be. Because you’re worth it and I love you.”

“ Angel, I — “

“ I was afraid — of opening up and shit. You aren’t the only one who held back on saying what they’re actually feeling. I thought by holding you at arm’s length I could, fuck I don’t know, I thought I could make it easier on both of us. Keep myself from fucking up and keep you from realising what a piece of shit I am. “

“ You’re not a piece of shit, Angel. I want to believe you but I need to you be serious about this.”

“ I am. I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life. You want me to scream it from the rooftops? ‘cause I fucking will. Everyone can know. “

He steps away from the door and into the street, spreading out his arms as far as he can before he yells from the top of his lungs. “ I love you, (Y/N). Hey everyone, sorry to bother you but I love this woman. I adore her! “

Life doesn’t work like the movies. Relationships aren’t fixed in a night and hearts don’t get put together by some grand romantic gesture.

But maybe, (Y/N) thinks, maybe sometimes we can learn a thing or two from the movies. Like how to be soft and how to forgive. And how to let your heart be vulnerable even when it’s broken and hurt because there’s a silly guy with a big heart standing in the middle of your street proclaiming his love to you.

So she lets herself fall, again. And maybe it’s dumb and irresponsible but at least it’s true.

When her arms wrap around his middle, it feels like home. When her lips meet his, it feels like magic.

“ You don’t ever have to pretend with me. You don’t ever gotta hold back. I want all of you, all the passion and all the feelings, aright? You’re so fucking cool when you let yourself love me “ Angel murmurs against her hair before he places a kiss on her head.

The rational part of (Y/N)’s brain tells her she shouldn’t be so reckless, shouldn’t put her heart back in his hands so carelessly.

(Y/N)’s never been one to listen to the rational part of her brain though.

#angel reyes x reader #angel reyes imagine #angel reyes fanfic #angel reyes fanfiction #mayans mc imagine #mayans imagine #mayans mc fanfic #mayans fanfic #mayans mc fanfiction

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ikkleosu · 4 years

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I’m going all in - I love you and kisses, and here’s why

But this is my caveat: These are my speculations only. Do not come to me saying I ruined your mental health if this turns out not to be accurate. Yes, I’d have a good hit rate this season but I’ve also made horrific wrong guesses so take this all in the speculative fashion it is intended.

OKay, so a lot of people want to know what my thoughts are on if canon is going to happen, when, what’s going to happen in ep 14 etc. And it’s a complicated story, but the first thing I have to say is - the first step I start from is trusting Angela Kang.

I know, right? But this is the way I see it. Kang has taken the shit heap that Gimple left her and is trying to mould it into something that she wants, and more importantly that she thinks the audience wants.

This is backed up by the comments made by the new AMC boss saying they did lots of research into why the audience dropped, and what the audience wants. THAT for me is the MOST IMPORTANT key in why I think Caryl canon is happening. The show has so little left going for it with the loss of Rick and Michonne, and what Gimple did to the writing, and the way TV is and its age etc. They NEED to not piss the core, loyal audience off further. Not doing Caryl is doing that. Caryl is the most popular ship, that’s a simple fact. So yes, Caryl is happening and I think it’s happening now.

And all the things I thought at the start of the season still stand, in terms of the comments by AK and Norman. So yup, Caryl’s still happening.

SO, that said, HOW do I think it’s happening. Well I think 2 bits of the comic are key...

First, let’s talk “I love you”

To me it’s been set up all this season that Carol will eventually talk to Daryl, open up about everything and let him in emotionally. And then we get the information that episode 14 is called Just Look at the Flowers. So yup, I think that’s when it’s going to happen.

We know that it’s Daryl she’s going to open up to (not Lydia or Zeke) because we have Daryl saying “I’m the one you tell”, and saying he’s begging her to talk to him.

Just Look at the Flowers tells us she’s going to talk about Lizzie - the root of her self-hatred and pain. Something she’s never talked about since Tyrese swore her to secrecy.

This is foreshadowed this week as well with Glenn’s grave. Daryl feels responsible for Glenn’s death. He knows how Carol feels and is contemplating it. So it will come up as a topic, which it would when Carol blames herself for both Connie’s death and Lizzie’s.

She’s going to lay out to Daryl why she hates herself.

That is foreshadowed by the dialogue in this week’s episode. Lydia says “you hate yourself”, seeing right through her. And even more significantly, Carol asks Daryl if he hates her and he says “I could/would never hate you”. (Note this phrase as I’m coming back to it in a minute!)

I believe Kang is going to use the Rule of 3 with Carol’s self-hatred. It’s been brought up twice, the third time it’s brought up it’s resolved. i.e. the next time Carol says she hates herself, or that Daryl hates her, it’s going to be “fixed” because Daryl is going to tell her he doesn’t hate her, he loves her.

(I also think this scene may also resolve the Rule of 3 over Daryl liking Connie. Carol twice has said he likes Connie. If she brings it up again, he’ll correct her and resolve it)

Now, it may seem like I’m jumping the gun in thinking he’ll say he loves her. I mean, he can forgive her and show he wouldn’t judge her without saying that?

Well, firstly, we have the most basic obvious answer this week - he would never hate her. So that rules that out. As I said before, you don’t have the same conversation with the same outcome. So it has to take it to another level.

And then there’s this from the comics:

TO explain, this is Carl - who had The Grove equivalent story in the comics - explaining to Lydia about when he told Andrea that he killed Ben (Lizzie).

Carl goes on to explain that when Andrea said I love you, he remembered his dad saying your parents love you no matter what, so this was the moment he started calling Andrea Mom.

Now this may seem a tenuous link here but let me explain. This scene DOES happen at the point in the comics we are at in s10, just after A Certain Doom, when Andrea dies. And yes I realise I’m bringing up the dreaded ghoul of a parent child relationship, BUT it is reversed here, with Daryl being mom. LOL

Because I think Kang is using this scene as basis for Caryl - Carol showing Daryl the absolute worst thing she’s ever done, and Daryl proving what he said this week, he could never hate her, in fact he loves her. Just like Andrea told Carl she loved him, and showed her love is unconditional. So this story is going to lead to Carol knowing Daryl loves her unconditionally.

But what about kissing?

Let’s for argument sake say well, i love you doesn’t have to be romantic love. And true, it doesn’t. Except for all the clues in the first half of the season (Carol’s dream, the ships on the bedding, Daryl taking her a flower etc). And also there’s this...

Now those of you who have been with me for a long time know this story, because I have been saying this for 4 - COUNT ‘EM, 4!!! - years! And by the law of averages, FFS, i must be right eventually.

Here’s the original post I made about it, in case anyone cares:

https://ikkleosu.tumblr.com/post/140064036369/lets-hop-on-the-delusional-train

This is me harping on again about the comic scene where Rick and Andrea get together.

Now, for whatever reason they chose not to use that storyline with Rick and Michonne. It comes from the Negan era, so yes it’s essentially past that point, but there may be a reason they kept hold of it.

And it does fit Carol’s story MUCH better than Rick’s... and it seems very likely Daryl and Carol are going to get some of RIck and Andrea’s comic stories...

So, what if this is part of the scene in Just Look at the Flowers?

Swap the genders, Rick is Carol. As we know, Carol is in this place now.

It’s believeable to imagine that after Alpha is killed by Negan, Carol feels lost. without that revenge, what has she got left? She’s empty and dead and doesn’t know how to go back to just living a life (as she mentions in this week’s episode).

Remember in the MSF Daryl says “It’s like talking to a ghost!” Possibly foreshadowing this conversation, and Daryl saying to Carol “Isn’t it time you came back to life?” before the smoochy happens!

Look, as I say, I could be wildly wrong on all of this but I am sure this is all leading someplace.

People have pointed out this is going round in a circle, more Carol torture, Carol’s arc begin rehashed. And they are right. It is, but I think it’s deliberate.

I think Kang is retelling Carol’s arc but giving it the ending either she always intended or AMC intended or something. But I believe she’s retelling it with the purpose of giving it the ending it deserves - resolution with Caryl, ending Carol’s misery.

@onedayyoujustchange summed it up:

Connie/Magna in the cave - Karen and David at the prison

Connie - Beth

Henry - Sophia/Lizzie/Mika

Zeke - Tobin

Left at the cave - banished by Rick.

It’s all coming round but this time Carol is going to be allowed to feel and forgive herself and move forward instead of papering over the cracks.

#twd spoilers #twd speculation #caryl

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vake-hunter · 4 years

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What is Salt?

Salt is probably one of the most uh complex parts of Fallen London lore so buckle up. I’m going to keep this as simple as possible because there is A LOT.

!!Spoilers for Sunless Sea and Seeking Endings!!

Who IS Salt as of Right Now In The Neath

Salt is one of the three Gods of The Unterzee. It is usually noted as being responsible for the strange flow of time in the Neath and memories in general. It is also called the Traveller Returning or just the Traveller. Its messenger is a white bat. Its blessings are usually that of sudden revelations or help to get home (but not always YOUR home…) Its curses however are extreme, erasing of memories, taking loved ones, undoing achievements, even erasing your whole existence. Better not to upset it.

It's said Salt resides to the East, farther than anyone dares to travel.

But who WAS Salt?

“the White: Recall who sent you here. That fierce old thing in the dark: "Find her," he said to you, "and you will find the treasures. Go down. You need only take a little. [...]" The light of his nimbus guttered, as if he were laughing. You knew nothing of the Neath, then. Perhaps you would never have come, if you did. [...] You remember the starlight.”

Salt is a Judgement, specifically one who worked as a spy for another Judgement, the White.

Salt’s name was not always Salt. Its true name is long forgotten but may be found in the depths of Frostfound (Frostfound is a whole different essay). It has a strange name of seven letters, which is dangerous in the Correspondence. It’s name roughly translates to The Name-Which-Burns and it is also one of the sigils found near the Avid Horizon in art. (Its name is hard for humans to comprehend and depending on what options you choose, you can either pick to believe Salt was a human or was a Judgement. Everything about Judgements is almost impossible for humans to understand, thus you can pick a more ‘simple’ translation. Both endings still result in you going East.)

Salt was sent to the Neath by the White (more on that in speculation). It was a painful journey and sometime during its time in the Neath, Salt decided it no longer wished to serve the White. Salt travelled around the Zee to forget itself. It left parts of itself in Frostfound, Kingeater’s Castle, Irem, and finally it went East. It built these places and abandoned its Name, its Need, its Memories and, finally, itself.

TRAVELLER RETURNING

“The Name is yours. Perhaps it always was - perhaps you're only coming home. [...] Other memories of other voyages press in on you [...]”

Salt is every Traveller and the Traveller is always Returning. Salt beckons others to follow its path. To take up its name. To join it East. In Frostfound, you find Salt’s name and it is your name. You gain Salt’s memories and Name, you become Salt and you go East. There are others there, all others who followed the path.

But why?

“The Gate is open, the Judgments have seen, but you have other plans. There is no Sequence for this. Rise and depart. [...] You failed, you succeeded. This was only the first element. It is a terrible pity about the Runt. If you could have saved him, you would. But all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well. Contact the others. Let them know what the White intended. Continue.”

That tells me absolutely nothing.

AK is no longer a part of FBG and so this may not be canon anymore but he wrote on Reddit about Salt and the White.

"The Liberation of Night stained the Deep Wilderness long, long before it touched the Earth, and the White feared - reasonably that its metastasising rapture would darken the hearts of too many stars for it ever to be contained. [This is lore I'd have explored more in Sunless Skies as it was originally conceived, but Failbetter have gone, I believe, in a completely different direction, and this is no longer continuity.] He resorted to the Neath, that notorious half-secret laboratory of stellar secrets. The Bazaar is developing its own Counsel to soothe and cheer the Sun; the White hoped to find or foment a final argument of despair which would quell the rebellious hearts of any Liberated star it touched. It would also quell the hearts of any loyalist Judgements, but the White would rather see an empty universe than a disordered one. Of course the White couldn't know that the Counsel of Peace might threaten Histories beyond its own, but the White is the White, and it's unlikely that this would have dissuaded it."

So about the Bazaar. Messages written on it can affect those who read them. We see this in humans who feel love and such when near the Bazaar or talking about the Bazaar and Cups in Nemesis was trying to inscribe stories of revenge onto the Bazaar to make it and the sun suffer. It is implied this is from the Bazaar experimenting on itself and various surgeries it had done in the First City, although all Couriers have this power to a lesser degree (seen in Skies at Faith’s Fall).

SPECULATION

Even if you ignore what AK said the White wanted to find something in the Neath and sent Salt to find it. The White would rather kill Judgements rather than let them turn to Night. It scribe messages of Hate and Grief onto the Bazaar to turn others away from the Liberation. In both of the other two endings of Seeking, you would become fuel for the White’s plan. Both of these endings have Nicator react happily when you pick your question, saying that the White will come to fulfill his frozen Law, while asking Who is Salt has Nicator react in fear and confusion, saying you are going against the White’s plan.

“I don’t understand. Who do you think will come, when you call? Tell – please tell me – you will bring light to the Neath. The White’s plan–”

Salt was sent to spy for the White and find a weapon, but turned away from the White’s plan. It’s implied then, that it is trying to build an army to kill the White. In Seeking, you knock, open the Neath to the White and then fly East to your army. You lured him to the Neath to kill him.

So this brings us to Candles. I am unsure of the actual connection the two have, although they very clearly have one. It is very possible the White had a hand in Candles’ death in order to further his plan. So let’s jump STRAIGHT into speculation. We know Veils had its claws in the Great Game and was on the Surface enough that it was one of its strongest personality parts so it could be that the White somehow told Veils to betray Candles, offering Veils something in return.

One of my special interests is religion so let’s dump some of that in here. There are plenty of comparisons of Candles and Veils to Jesus and Judas. Even the game does it. Judgements are gods. In the book of Judas, Jesus knew Judas would betray him and God himself told Judas to do so, because it was part of the plan to have Jesus die for the sins of humanity. So Jesus is Candles, God is the White and the Holy Spirit is Salt. It fits, as Salt is in every Traveller. Fucking weird but a good way to try and comprehend them.

I personally really like the idea of Salt and Candles being Binary Stars!! Candles lowered itself first and Salt was sent by the White to find it.

#fallen london #salt #mr candles #seeking mr eaten's name #smen spoilers #fl spoilers #lore

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princezukohere · 4 years

Text

Selfish R.C

okokok so I’m kind of nervous, it’s been awhile since i’ve really wrote stories so this could be shit but I was at work and the song Selfish by Madison Beer played in my headset and I got this idea and I spent the last two hours writing and rewriting.

No warnings really, cursing, I probably have typos that I didn’t catch it’s 1am where I am and I am a tired girl but I wanted to post this now instead of waiting so I hope who ever reads this enjoys!

Rafe Cameron X Reader

(y/n) = your name

angst filled, one fluff moment

My requests are open, I do not do domestic violence, I do not write rape/sexual assault/self harm, I can imply it but I will not write it.

Rafe being an addict, no inclusion of his family or the pogues

Two years were being washed down the drain, you had finally decided to walk away and it was the most heartbreaking thing you could’ve done, no the most heartbreaking thing you could’ve done was sit and watched the boy you loved continiously treat you like shit while he threw his life down the drain. Rafe Cameron was perfect, or at least at some point, he had been. When you and Rafe started dating you felt like the stars were aligning. Girls want a fairytale and you couldn’t lie, it was never a fairytale with him, but he had those beautiful blue eyes and his smile...his smile was like watching a dad hold his child for the first time. He looked t you like you were the best thing to ever walk into his life, he made you feel welcomed and love, and though he was an asshole you were so blinded by the love that you thought he was giving you.

You were sixteen when he asked you out, you had hung around him and his friends, his old group before Topper and Kelce. He asked you to the winter formal and who were you to refuse the ocean eyed boy. Your mother had been more than delighted when you told her Rafe Cameron asked you to the formal.

“Keep that one around, you’ll marry rich.” She told you as she helped you with your hair and this light makeup look she had told you would keep his attention, boys liked a natural look, although her hair was pinned up and her face caked on. She’d always say ‘the older you get the less a man might find you attractive’

“Money isn’t everything.” You mumbled at to your mom, “What if his family goes bankrupt?”

“The Camerons could never go bankrupt, if they do you run, your father’s money can only get you far but marry a man like Rafe Cameron and you’ll be set for life.” She told you pressing a kiss to the top of your head. A man, Rafe wasn’t a man, he was a boy who couldn’t get himself together but you didn’t know.

When Rafe picked you up, his tie matching your dress, hair slicked back, and the brightest smile on his face when he led you out to his dads’ car. He took you to dinner and picked up the check, he opened the door and helped you out, he danced with you all night, and when he dropped you off he didn’t expect a kiss goodnight though you did give him one for a great night. Where was that boy?

Boy, you're such a lost cause

Now your name is crossed off

How you gonna fix this?

You can't even fix yourself

Rafe was snorting a line at another kook party, you sat on the chair next to him tending to your drink, “Cmon babe.” He said as he handed you the rolled-up bill, you accepted handing him your drink as you looked at the white powder that was lined up perfectly, courtesy of your boyfriend.

“If she isn’t going to do the line give it to someone who will,” Topper said as he reached for the bill aking you slap his hand away, you got off the arm of the chair lining the bill up as you snorted the line, you threw your head back, Rafe’s hands tending to your waist as he pulled you into his lap. One line and you were good, that’s what you said every time though you knew that you shouldn’t do any. Rafe turned your head that way you’d be looking at him, he brought his lips to yours and you accepted the kiss kindly. Topper snatched the bill out of your hand so he could do his line, the bill got past around and soon it was Rafes’ turn again. “Babe cmon, it’ll be here when you come back.” You told him but he accepted the bill anyways, denying your request to get some fresh air instead.

I bet you thought you gave me real love

But we spent it all in nightclubs

All you ever wanna do is lie

Why you always such a Gemini?

On your two year anniversary, the plan was to get done up nice and have a nice dinner. Rafe said that was the plan but soon you were on the same route to Barrys’. You stayed silent and when he asked if you wanted to come in you denied, he said he’d be right back but you knew that lie. He left his suit jacket in the car for you before heading inside where he resigned for the next fifteen minutes. When he came back you could instantly tell he was high, you slipped your heels off so you could get in the drivers’ side.

“Babe I’m fine,” Rafe said but you shook your head pulling open the car door slipping into the seat. He got inside the passenger side taking your hand in his pressing a kiss to the back of it. “After dinner, we have a nice little surprise.” He said holding up the baggy.

“Almost like I said I wanted you sober.” You told him but shook your head as you backed out of Barry’s yard, “Can you pull up the GPS? I don’t know the way from here.” You asked trying not to spend the entire night upset with him.

“One more detour.” He said which only causes you to sigh and follow the GPS to the location he set it to. “You have to come in, we’ll be in and out, I got some for Topper.” He said once you pulled up to the country club, it was kind of late but Topper had a way with words and now there were some of their close friends inside waiting for him to bring the goods.

You walked inside with Rafe, Topper, and Kelce cheering for him as he tossed them the baggy. “You have to join us for a couple of lines since you did us the honor of bringing the goods,” Topper told him with a smirk, and Rafe being Rafe could never turn down a line. You sat in the corner of the country club watching as Rafe joined them for line after line. At this point you might as well had walked home, Rafe couldn’t drive and you weren’t driving him just for him to think you’d stay the night like normal. You walked outside back to the car leaving the keys inside the side console, hopefully when he found them he’d be sober enough to get himself home.

I wanted you to change, yeah

I shouldn't love you, but I couldn't help it

I always knew that you were too damn selfish

“Rafe you aren’t going to change! You constantly say that you will, that you’ll get better but you don’t.” You yelled at him as he stood at your bedroom door, “You lie and you lie and you blow me off for drugs and for Topper and Kelce and I’m done! I’m so fucking sick and tired of it.” Yout old him your eyes were wet but no tears had fallen, not yet at least.

“So what, you’re going to give up on me? On us, because I relapsed?” He yelled back his face red, the veins in his neck and forehead popping, but you shook your head.

“You don’t get to guilt trip me, you can’t relapse when you haven’t tried to stop. Telling e a week ago if even a week that you’re going to stop and then doing some he moment Topper calls you up isn’t a relapse.” You said your voice quiet, “You’ve gone longer than a week before, I know you have.” You said licking your lips.

“Y/N….baby, I’m trying okay? I’m trying so hard and it’s hard to stop, I- please don’t give up on me, not yet.” He said softly as he reached out for you, “Please.” He asked you could’ve taken his hand. You could’ve said yes, you could’ve told him that you’d help him but you’ve heard that same plead before, word for word as if he memorized it just for times like this. When you were finally slipping away from him because Rafe was selfish and he knew he had something good and that he was fucking it up. Rafe knew that you were fed up and you deserved better, that you could find better, Rafe also knew if he lost you because he refused to get help them he’d lose everyone else to so why not hold onto you for as long as he could? Why not keep the one thing that had been his no matter how many times he fucked up.

But it's not possible

Plus I'm not responsible

For your self-made obstacles

You shook your head when Rafe stepped closer to you, “No.” You said firmly the tears finally starting to fall, “No Rafe, I...i’m not giving up, I believe that you can fix it, I believe that you will get better, I know that you will but I can’t, I can’t fix you, I can’t help you when you don’t really want help. “It’s not possible to help someone who doesn’t want to be helped and i’m not responsible to fix you or to help you anymore.” You told him trying to wipe your face but the tears kept flowing. “I love you Rafe, so fucking much do you get that? I have loved you more than you deserve, I have loved you more than my heart could allow but...you are do damn selfish.” You said your voice breaking as you finally let the tears freefall. “You never pick me, you’ve never picked me. You pick coke, you pick the boys but me...i’m an afterthought and I can’t be an afterthought anymore.”

“You’ve never been an after thought y/n...I, everything i’ve done has been for you, everything I want to do is for you, to make you happy, to keep that smile on your face, that’s why I took you out the other night you remember? I did that because I love you, because i’ve wanted you to know that I can get better that I can and I will.” He said as eh tried stepping towards you, stumbling a bit. “You have to believe me.”

“Rafe.” You said softly stepping towards him, you grabbed his face in your hands looking into his eyes, “You’re high?” You asked in disbelief, “You’re so full of shit.” You told him pushing him away from you as you turned away from him. “Get out, I need you out of my room and out of my house.”

“It was the last time, i’m all out, I was going to flush it but i-”

“But you what?” You yelled turning to face him once more, “One last line was still more important.” You told him, you licked your chapped lips as you walked past him opening the door. “Maybe you should try some therapy, you should lose a couple home boys, 'Cause I need you to understand that I can;t be with someone who can;t evens say no to one line.” You said holding the door wide open, “I loved you, I won’t lie and act like I didn’t or that I don’t but this can’t work, we don’t work.” And just like that Rafe Cameron, high as a kite walked out of you life, the same way he walked in.

Two years were indeed being washed down the drain, because the most heart breaking thing you did for the last two years was watch the boy you loved continue to treat you like shit while he threw his life down the drain. You put yourself through hell trying to keep up, you changed yourself and your way of thinking to make him happy and though he never asked you did. Rafe Cameron was perfect, or at least at one point he had been.

#rafe x y/n #rafe cameron #rafe obx #rafe angst #rafe fanfiction #rafe #obx kiara #rudy obx #kie obx #obx #Outer Banks #outerbanks #rafe outer banks #jj outer banks #pogue imagine #kook imagine #pope outer banks #john b outer banks

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cartoonfangirl1218 · 3 years

Text

Winner’s Curse Ch. 25

“What are we doing here?” Jay asked, kicking at the impenetrable wall.

“You three need to talk. Your little feuds are ruining the mission for the rest of us so nows a time for heart to heart before we all die in battle.” Calix said.

They all stared at him disbelievingly.

“We could die in battle. Especially with your teamwork skills.” They still stared at him, each a stony and defiant face.

“I could do a truth spell to make you talk but I thought it should be more organic. Instead we’re all going to be stuck here until you work things out.” Calix said smoothly.

Aziz tried to use a more diplomatic approch, “Cal, you said it yourself, we have a mission to do. We can’t waste time talking and-”

“Oh, but we can. Because this is a life changing adventure, and as we know from our parents’ stories, there is almost always a heart to heart before the final battle. This is it.” Calix threw out his arms grandly as if he was presenting a magnificent buffet of chocolate fountains and not being trapped against their wills.

“You cant keep us in here,” Jordan protested, “This is my lamp. I’ll just poof us out here. So nice try but-”

“The spaghetti incident.” Calix said simply and Jordan’s stilled the hand she was about to poof them away. She glared at him but did nothing else to help get them out.

“What’s “the spaghetti incident?” Aziz asked, confused.

“It’s nothing,” Jordan waved off, refusing to look anyone in the eye.

“It’s blackmail.” Calix clarified matter of factly before giving a thoroughly annoyed Jordan an enthusiastic one-armed hug, “Don’t fight the heart to heart. Don’t fight the tropes of adventuring and ragtag misfits against evil. You must go with it.”

Jay rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, leaning against the wall in a classic bad boy biker pose which seemed a bit ridiculous since he was posed next to an ultra girly beaded curtain.

“If we’re supposed to, hypothetically, have a heart to heart,” Jay began “Didn’t think you knew such big words,” Aziz muttered

Jay glared and continued, “Why are you still here?”

“I’m here to make sure you do it,” Calix magicked up some headphones, and increased the volume, “I won’t hear anything. Just give me the signal when you’re done.” With that instruction he hopped onto a pile of pillows, jamming out to his own playlist.

Where once it was like they hadn’t been able to stop spewing enough curses and vitriol at each other, now silence reigned. Silence and the blinding shine of the golden walls which they stared at resolutely because they didn’t want to look at each other. None of them wanted to participate in this idiotic heart to heart and spill feelings to people they currently hated.

So Calix jumped up from his pillows and tried to get the ball rolling again.

"Okay, maybe my presence is making it hard for you to be your usual motormouth selves so I’ll go and leave this to start the conversation. How about you start with Jordan and your obvious trust issues toward everyone that makes you incapable of a “Thank you." Calix suggested a bit too enthusiastically than the situation called for.

"I don't!" Jordan immediately argued but Calix clapped his hand over mouth, "I know denial is your go-to but we have to save the realm tomorrow so let's get this over with."

"But but-"

"Again,” Calix sighed, frustration finally creeping into his voice as he repeated himself again, “Every hero's journey has that tipping point where they must come together and share their deepest fears to find out the fears are irrational because of the power of love and friendship." Calix said.

"I seriously hate it when you use my lectures on story tropes against me." Jordan grumbled.

"I don’t care what you hate," Calix began to fade away, "If you don't start bonding I will transform you into mice when this is over."

"Why mice?" Jay asked

"Mices are automatically inducted into Cinderella's sewing circle. So double punishment to you for not listening to me as you always should. Ta ta!” And with a final woosh of breeze that came from nowhere, he was gone.

Aziz and Jordan resumed their previous staring contest with the wall but Jay, fed up with this situation, and figuring they might as well get this over with, glared “So what is with your trust issues? You came from Auradon, not the Isle, why are you so paranoid?”

Jordan glared at him in return, furious that he was expecting her to dignify his question with an answer he should obviously know.

But she had to admit, she was tired too. Her arms hurt from the crescent moon marks that her nails had dug in. She was feeling residue cramps from the Antiquam’s cream or maybe it was her own tension. Not to mention her teeth hurt from clenching them so tightly. She remembered once, on a family trip long ago, Jordan had been in a mood because she had missed an Orpheus concert due to her parents’ inability to care about time. Her parents had offered to take her to another concert later that night, but she pettily refused to enjoy it.

Her dad had said it hurt more to hold onto a grudge when you can be enjoying the present. And it was true, once she had stopped ruminating on her parents’ flaws and simply listened to Orpheus’ sweet voice, the burning ball of annoyance had faded away.

And she was so tired.

She had nothing left to lose.

“As if you don’t know,” Jordan began, though with a lot less malice that she usually put behind her snark. Not that it made Jay raised his guard any less. Jordan sighed and tried again, more gentle this time.

“Well you already said it yourself. Auradonians can be hypocrites. It’s all happily ever after and respect and love and harmony is everywhere but it’s not true. They can’t have my lamp so they think if they’re nice to me and pretend to care but they’re just waiting for the right moment to ask for wishes. All of them,” Jordan side-eyed Aziz who stared stonily at her instead of looking guiltily away as she wanted him to.

“And I know people think my magic is amazing, with the wishes and all that. But it’s not,” Jordan continued, on a roll of her own, trying to make Jay understand taht even though she didn’t have Jafar as a father, her life was not pastel perfect as most Auradonians, “It’s not. I can’t give wishes to myself. If I did, I’d wish for people to like me, to be nice to me not because they like me, they think I might grant them something. And when I don’t grant them a wish, those fucking lying smiles and royal manners disappear. Because I am not human. I don’t get to be treated as if I have feelings or anything. Hell, one of my exes told me if I’m not granting wishes then I’m worthless because what else do genies live for?”

“And when I do grant wishes, usually against my will, I can’t even use magic against them. I can’t hurt my masters unless they wish for that or I find a loophole somehow. But I can’t find loopholes all the time,” Her mind automatically went to that awful night, the repeat that had almost occurred with Antiquam and Jordan choked. She hastily wiped away the tears that were beginning to streak down her cheeks.

Allah, she felt embarrassed as she saw Jay’s uncomfortable expression, eyes darting as if he wasn’t sure if he should comfort her or look away from her breakdown.

But she couldn’t stop, she felt words clamber and spill out of her throat like uncontrolled word vomit.

“And-and I wish that I didn’t have wishes to give. I wish I didn’t have to become semi-phenomenally cosmic just so I can be free. Even if I did, I wouldn’t be able to use it. Auradon has a fucking Magic Ban because it’s unfair to you, mortals. It’s unfair to us. Genies, and faey need their magic to live or else they’re just wasting away. Why are we punished for being born “better than you.”

“But instead, instead we have this. Resentment for being forced to hide ourselves so mortals can feel better. We can help people. But it’s also the same thing that makes people fear us and send those like Circe and Morgana Le Fey to the Isle and then they become evil because they’re bitter that they’d do this to them. Auradon creates their own enemies like a self fulfilling prophecy. “It’s like a winner’s curse.” Jordan muttered.

Sometimes when her father talked about Aladdin’s story, he phrased it as a series of winner’s curses. A winner’s curse, where one has all the power, the riches, everything they could want as a winner but the cons usually outweigh such gifts.

Jasmine was a privileged princess but that meant she was a target for a greedy vizier and princess who only wanted to add her money to their fortunes.

Aladdin got the lamp but it meant only that he had to be on guard to keep up his Prince Ali lie, and later, for Jafar who stole the lamp.

Jafar became a genie, he technically “won” since he got what he wanted, to become all powerful with phenomenal cosmic powers. But he couldn’t use it since he was stuck in an itty bitty living space.

A genie’s life was one big winner’s curse. She was beholden to people who only saw her as much of an object as her lamp and the wishes she could materialize.

Maybe everyone’s lives had a bit of a winner’s curse. The Aks “won,” got their happily ever afters in Auradon but others would always be resentful of their status and try to take it away from them. Like all of their most dangerous enemies that lived just across the bridge plotting to do just that.

And if they won, if they somehow managed not to screw up saving the world, the villains would still rise to do just that. Someone will be jealous of their fame and try to usurp the glory. People might see her as more than a wishmaker... or people would just see it as bonus. Date her for the popularity and the power.

There would always be something to outweigh the good.

And unlike any other curse, there was no way to break it.

“And I thought maybe if I did this, helped lead to save Auradon that it could change. People would see that magic can be used not just for selfish desires but to help the kingdom. That I’m so much more than wish fulfillment. But all this proved just the opposite. I can’t lead. I should be accept that my life will eventually be solitude and greedy people. And admit my parents were right all along to boot.” Jordan sank to the ground, staring uselessly at her wrists where the gold bracelets would usually shine like a mocking reminder.

And for some reason, Jay was caught by that last part rather than the real emotional turmoil that she talked about before.

“I thought-why are you so upset your parents are right?” He asked

Jordan wiped her eyes again now that she was no longer feeling weepy, “I love my parents and I love hanging out with them but- you know. They’re not- They gave up parenting me so I- I thought I would get back at them by not being like them at all. I’m serious and hard working and not spontaneous at all. Just be nothing like them, cut ties and all that. Well,not that I had to try too hard, a lot of my personality comes natural but I wanted to stick it to them.”

“Not that they care. They say it’s just a phase and when I’m a grown up, I’ll act like a regular genie like thm. Still.. hate to prove them right.”

“To be fair, I think some of the standard genie personailty comes from being in solitary confinement for thousands of years at a time,” Aziz said with a small smile as he slid down next to her.

Just like old times.

Jordan genuinely smiled at the glimpse of Aziz, the Aziz that was her best friend and brother and confident, her platonic soul mate that she loved. “Actually, because I made that vow to accept that I’m a genie and that I should act like one, that’s why I was more interested in your love life than usual. You’re my Aladdin so I had to keep you safe from your worst mortal impulses. As usual.”

Aziz’s small smile faded and Jordan frowned at the change, remembering their previous words, “Though we’re not like our Dads… not if you just-”

“I don’t tolerate you for the wishes you might grant me.” Aziz said, directly staring her in the eye so she’d know he was telling the truth. Not that she needed that, somewhere in her heart she knew that had been a lie. But what hurt more than the lie itself was..

“Then why the hell would you say that? You know that’s my worst fear and that you’re one of the few exceptions. Why would you-” “I wanted to hurt you as much as you’d you hurt me.” Aziz answered calmly.

“How have I ever hurt you? I’m the one always saving your neck!” Jordan defended.

“That’s exactly it! You’re always trying to save me or set me up on dates because you don’t think I can do it myself. You think I lead with my dick, that I’m clumsy and breakable and impulsive and foolish. The same thing you think of all mortals. And I thought I was the one exception to you, but I’m not.” Aziz cried.

Jordan scoffed, not sure how to respond except, “Can you blame me? You mess up on so many things.”

“Thanks, Jordan. Really.” Aziz rolled his eyes, “Thanks for thinking the same things of me as everyone else does.”

Aziz seized up Jay who came to sit down across from them in a small triangle with a bewildered look at their back and forth. Totally confused as to the thought that Aziz could have problems of his own which Aziz was too happy to correct.

“You don’t think I can do anything on my own. Everyone else thinks I’m forgettable, I’ve been totally useless on this mission. The only reason people know me is because I’m Aladdin’s son and you’re my genie. That’s it. But Jay… Jay is….”

Jay tensed as if already waiting for the moment he could punch Aziz for the insult.

“Jay is wonderful,” Aziz mocked in a high falsetto before going back to his normal voice, “”Jay is so charming and agile and clever. He’s a real thief.” Do you know how much it sucks for people to say that you’re more like Aladdin than me?”

Jay gaped, “Um-h-how I never-No one told me?” “No, they’d never tell you that your similar to one of Auradon’s heroes. I’m the one they tell.. Straight to my face how they think you’re more Aladdin’s son than I am,” Aziz said bitterly.

“Well, you’re definitely Jasmine’s son. You have her political intelligence,” Jordan pointed out optimistically as she used to do when Aziz vented about Jay. Cutting off Jay’s proud smile when he opened his mouth, clearly about to self brag at the worst possible moment.

“It still sucks. I’m forgettable to people. Invisible now that Jay’s around.” Aziz turned to Jay, “I used to wish you were a mini Jafar. I would have had more of a reason to hate you if you were like your dad, and I wouldn’t have to admit that I’m just so jealous that you’re better than me in everything.”

Aziz felt his blood pump, and stod up, pacing for more room as more feeling spilled into words that he hadn’t been able to say out loud before, “I’m not like the other princes. I’m not going to rule Agrabah, my sister is, so what do I do? I don’t have to take governing classes or really find a future queen right away which is great but- that made me even more unremarkable. I had no prince duties, I’m not a mini Aladdin. It felt like my introvertedness, my own personality was preventing me from following my legacy. And I tried to change myself to be more outgoing and be one jump ahead of what everyone expected of me but then Jay came and then…. I felt like I was always going to be inferior to everyone. All the Jays and the magical genies around me were more interesting than I could ever be.”

Jay’s proud look vanished, taking on a more thoughtful expression, “Maybe I could help you be better? So we’re equals in stealing.” Before this conversation it would have been mocking, another punch to the gut, but Aziz could see that Jay was being genuine, and Aziz smiled at the offer.

“Thanks but no thanks. I had a conversation with a friend,” He turned to Jordan, emphasizing, “Just a friend, and she made me realize that if people can’t bother to see past my introvertedness or prefer Jay over me, that I don’t need them.”

Aziz turned to Jay once more, “But I’m sorry that I took out all my jealousy on you, and acted like you the Jafar I wanted you to be.”

Jordan leaned his shoulder, still thinking of his previous words, “I’m sorry that I made you think you weren’t the exception to my view of mortals. You are. I don’t think you’re completely incapable of doing things on your own. I like hanging out with you, we have the best times together. And your… your love life is entertaining. Honestly, sometimes-and you’re not allowed to overanalyze this like usual or use me as your case study in psychology class again-maybe the reason I’m so invested in your life because it’s better than my own. And if you need me, you won’t leave me. But if it bothers you, I’ll ask for your permission first.” Aziz side-hugged her and for once, did not try to probe that admission ripe for psychoanalytical analysis, “'Ant ealiq maei, Bmout Fiki.”

“You know, I really dislike when you talk like that in front of me.” Jordan and Aziz unhugged and looked quizzically at Jay, “What the sentimental mushiness? You’re stuck in a heart to heart, you gotto deal with it.”

“No, the Arabic thing. I don’t know,” Jay almost physically shrank back as if wishing he could take the words back but he continued trying to pretend he was talking to Jade again or his friends, “Like you said Jafar only taught me how to steal and cheat, not language. I-I want to, I heard so much about Agrabah but…”

Jay sighed and started again, “I want to know stuff like Arabic and see Agrabah but you always stuck together and throw it in my face that I don’t know those things. How can I? It’s not my fault that I was born here. I never had a chance to learn all the things you know. Or learn “big words” or-or anything you grew up with. You know I’m not like you and you keep judging me for that. I’m trying to change and you think I’m lying.”

Aziz and Jordan looked shame-faced at the floor, mullifying the last of Jay’s previous anger towards them.

“I am trying. But- Everyone else is doing better than me. Mal is embracing her role as a court lady, Carlos is having a blast at school, getting to learn techno stuff and helping the animal shelter. Evie has her business. I have tourney and R.O.A.R. but that still involves the fighting that makes me a Vk.”

“But we- it doesn’t make you a Vk,” Aziz faltered on the point because they all knew it was wrong. Jay’s aggression on the court was another thing that made him stand out compared to the polite royals who never fought in their life. So vulgar, so ruthless. So villainous.

“I still can’t stop myself from stealing shiny objects. I still seek out the exits of each room because that’s just what you do here to survive. It- I feel like I haven’t improved as much as the others have but I don’t know how I’m supposed to get better. But I have changed. I’d forgotten how bad it is here, I got soft.. I’m just stuck.”

“And I thought I was doing better. I care about my friends like good guys do. I protect them but I haven’t really,” Jay admitted, some of his former doubts of whether his big brother title was earned, resurfacing.

“I’ve done nothing for my friends, and I heard you don’t need to but I- I was not raised that way. You have to be able to offer something if you want to be worth anyone’s time. Everything is transactional. Dad cared for me because of what I could give him. I thought it was the same with friends. Even though it’s not transactional, I still feel like a worthless friend without being able to offer anything.” Jay ended abruptly, shifting his gaze to the lint on the oriental rug, picking at it to give himself something to do than look at their pitying stares, “I really haven’t changed if I still think like Dad, I guess, but I can’t shake it.”

But Jordan placed a hand on his shoulder, forcing him to look up at, not pity, but a sort of understanding.

They had all messed up. Resenting each other for not seeing their difficulties, for basing their views on expectation and legacy rather than reality and how the shadows of their parents haunted many of their actions.

But with the truth revealed, the biases stripped away, they wouldn’t continue.

“I’m sorry. Neither of us have been treating you fairly, but we could teach you Arabic. If you join us in Agrabah for vacation,” Aziz trailed off, offering his hand.

“Sure,” Jay smiled, “I think I’ll be able to get through it now without wanting to punch you.”

They all stood up, stretching out their limbs, feeling much more relaxed now that some of the air was cleared.

“What are you smiling about?” Aziz punched Jordan’s shoulder to get her attention from wherever she was zoning out.

“I was just thinking it’s a funny coincidence that we’re all sexy, witty bisexuals with daddy issues and a love for gold, jewels and parkour-flipping adventures,” Jordan raised a sardonic eyebrow, “But I can’t figure out if it’s just us or maybe all Agrabahians share that.”

The three took a pause, staring at each other at the surprising commonality between them.

Jay was the first to recover with his usual smirk, “I don’t know about these two or the supposed “daddy issues” but sexiness always applies to me.”

“Get over yourself.” Aziz rolled his eyes before unsubtly puffing up his own chest, “We all are sexy. It’s practically in our national anthem. “More than often that not, we’re hotter that hot-“

“In a lot of good ways.” Jordan finished, bumping her hip against his, the first friendly smile she gave to him in days, "Though I'm the wittest out of us."

"You? Really? You don't snark, you just insult people." Jay retorted.

"It's true. And you always "reference" things that only your parents know. Like when you go all Spanish, "Say hello to my little friend." Aziz added.

"That's from Scar-right you don't know that. Well there's um...What great one-liners have you've come up with?" Jordan shot back, clearly perturbed by Jay and Aziz teaming up against her with the same condescending look on her banter skills.

Aziz, the more diplomatic of them, swung an arm over her and Jay’s shoulder, “Let’s not get into another argument now. Even if it’s a stupid argument. We have a battle plan to do.”

#winner’s curse #chapter twenty five #my fanfic #my fanfiction #calix #jay #aziz #jordan #disney descendants

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cantteachanoldguardnewquotes · 4 years

Text

Together

Please enjoy some fluff I wrote while stressing about stuff.

Comments always appreciated

Summery: It has been a hundred years and it's the first night Booker is back with his family.

Warnings: nightmares, mention of death, mention of torture, both brief, some violence but it gets better.

A/N: Andy is immortal again in this.

Features: So much fluff, cuddle piles, flirting, acceptance, comfort, forgiveness, family love, happy ending.

Word count: 2555

It was the first night of having Booker back from exile. He was trying to figure out where he stood after so long and the rest of them were doing there best to make him feel welcome. After all, he had served his sentence without complaint even after Quynh had left him to stay with Andy. He had really cleaned up his act and was still working on being better.

Nicky and Nile were making hachis parmentier, french onion soup, and cherry clafoutis for dessert all on honor of Booker's return home.

"Nicky, if you were a fruit you'd be a fineapple." Joe teased popping another cherry in his mouth.

Nicky grinned, narrowing his eyes thinking of the perfect response. "And if you, Joe, were a vegetable you'd be a cutecumber."

Joe barked out a laugh, closing the distance between the two of them and wrapped his arm around Nicky's waist. "Is that right?" He cocked an eyebrow. "You think I'm..." He paused biting his lip seductively. "Cute?"

Nicky's eyes sparkled with delight at his husband's reaction. "It's crossed my mind on occasion." Nicky wiped a smear of floor on Joe's nose.

"Ok, that's enough flirting. Save it for after the meals done please." Nile interjected when she realized they would do this all night if she didn't put her foot down. "Nicky has work to do and you aren't helping one bit." She pulled Joe's arm off Nicky and started pushing him toward the dining room.

Joe gapsed in mock surprise and let her push him out of the room, out of the corner of his eye he saw her trying not to laugh she was in just as high of spirits as the rest of them.

Booker, Andy and Quynh sat around the table playing some blackjack before dinner.

The kitchen and dining room were connected so they all could see and hear everything that was going on.

"I see nothing's changed?" Booker smirked keeping his eyes on his cards. He was trying not to show it too much, but oh he'd missed his family. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder.

Andy chuckled. "Never."

"Joe, you can join us." Quynh patted the seat next to her.

He accepted and sat down finding himself kitty corner with Booker.

Booker in the short time he'd been back was still walking on eggshells around Joe and Nicky. He knew they had forgiven him but he was being cautious all the same. He wouldn't blame them if they had any hard feelings.

Joe had mixed emotions about Booker being back. His betrayal still stung but he was happy with how far Booker had come. The truth was he had missed him, sometimes more than he cared to admit, so he was doing his best to let bygones be bygones, it would just take a little getting used to having him back.

They played a few more rounds before Nile came out of the kitchen carrying food. "Dinner is served!"

Quynh jumped up and ran to the kitchen to help carry everything over.

Joe went and got drinks and cups, while Andy cleaned up the game.

It took no time and they were all sitting around the table with the food steaming in front of them.

Nicky smiled at everyone's anticipation, taking in his family's warm energy. "Dig in."

"Oh babe, you've outdone yourself." Joe said closing his eyes and savoring the hachis parmentier.

"Hey now, Nile helped too." Nicky said.

"Nile, this is outstanding." Joe grinned ear to ear at her.

"Thanks, it was fun. This was my first time making it and Nicky helped a lot."

"Well I would have never guessed you hadn't made it a hundred times before." Quynh chimed in.

"How does our French guest of honor feel they did?" Andy asked Booker.

Booker had been touched, even moved, when Nile told him they had picked out some of his favorite dishes for dinner tonight. He had offered to help but Nile and Nicky would hear none of it. 'Perhaps tomorrow' Nicky had teased.

"It is..." He shook his head a little, almost as if he was in disbelief. "The best I've ever had."

Nile beamed, and Nicky happily took another bite. They were both glad their efforts had turned out so well.

They talked and they laughed, told stories about their time spent apart, teased and joked. It was wonderful getting back to a new normal.

"Here I'll get the dishes." Booker volunteered after dessert.

"Someone's on their best behavior." Andy teased.

Booker wasn't sure how to respond, he really was still trying his best to make amends.

"Hey." Andy saw his hesitation and grabbed his arm so he would look at her. "I'm glad your back Book."

Almost as a reflex his eyes darted to Joe and Nicky, but there wasn't anything unpleasant in their expressions. "I'm glad to be back." He said refocusing on Andy.

"I'll put the food away if you've got dishes." She patted his arm before getting to work.

Quynh helped as well with cleanup while the other three went into the living room to pick out a movie.

"No horror, not tonight." Joe said.

Nile grabbed the remote before they could. "But I love horror movies." Nile grinned an evil grin. She knew Joe could only take so much before he was out, even with Nicky holding him. "What are you feeling Nicky?"

Nicky shrugged. "Maybe something funny?"

Nile nodded her head. "Hmm, a comedy does sound pleasent." She agreed.

Joe squeezed Nicky's hand so Nile wouldn't see, grateful for the light-hearted suggestion.

Quynh came into the room and saw Nile scrolling through the comedy section. "Nice." She liked watching almost anything so long as there weren't people drowning. Nile could always talk her into watching horror movies unlike the rest of them who were more hit or miss.

Quynh looked at the seating arrangements, and thought for a moment. "This won't do, Nicky will you be a dear and come help me?"

Nicky didn't even ask, just followed her out of the room.

They came back a few minutes later with an armful of comforters and pillows. She began making a pile on the floor against the couch so they could lean on something and Nicky dropped his armful of blankets and pillows where she directed.

"There are too many of us to sit comfortabley on the couch, we'll have to improvise." She stood back to admire her handiwork.

Joe chose a spot and pulled Nicky down beside him so he could lay his head on Nicky's shoulder.

Nile curled herself almost into a ball and rested her head on a pillow on Nicky's lap. "What about one of these three?" She asked.

The rest of them read the descriptions.

"The one with the cruise ship." Nicky suggested.

"I second that." Joe said.

"Sounds good to me." Quynh added. "We're gonna start the movie!" She yelled to the slowpokes in the kitchen.

Andy came around the corner followed closely by Booker.

He paused, trying to decide where to sit among all the blankets.

"Don't be shy." Andy said guiding him over to where Quynh was sitting pressed up against Nile.

Quynh pulled him down so he was sitting right next to her and Andy sat down on her lap and rested against Booker's shoulder.

"Ready?" Nile asked before pushing play.

She got a chorus of confirmations from everyone and started the movie.

Nicky had been right a comedy was just what everyone needed on a happy day like today. They all enjoyed it and relaxed.

Quynh joked she was going to buy Andy some of the ugly outfits the characters were wearing.

At one point Nile had to sit up because she and Nicky were laughing so hard at one of the jokes.

Booker and Joe had a debate on how long someone could live on a cruise ship without getting caught by staff.

Andy fell asleep with a fourth of the movie to go.

When it was over they laughed and carried on about some of the jokes and how unrealistic the ending had been.

When the concern died down they all bid each other goodnight going to their rooms.

Nile, relaxed as she was and as tried as she was, still couldn't fall asleep. She finally gave up after two hours and went to the kitchen to get some water.

Andy was already in the kitchen which at this point never surprised Nile.

"Can't sleep?" Andy asked.

Nile shook her head.

"Wanna talk about it?"

"Why is it even, on happy days, does it feel like nothing can chase away the dark?" Nile asked taking a drink of her water.

Andy studied her for a moment. "The last job still bothering you?"

Nile swallowed hard and looked down at the floor. "I know it probably shouldn't, but yeah."

Andy gently lifted Nile's chin. "I wasn't asking you to justify anything Nile. I'm asking if you're ok." She said kindly.

Nile sighed. "I guess the answer is no."

Andy pulled her into a hug. "I'm sorry."

The last job had gone all wrong. The person they were trying to rescue was killed before they had made it in, they had to fight there way out through tear gas and ak-47s, Joe had died horribly, Nicky had his face bashed in guarding Joe while he was out, Quynh lost an arm, and that didn't even cover how many bullets they'd all eaten.

No one who had attacked them survived.

It was a terrible job and the noise and confusion still troubled Nile.

It might still haunt some of the others as well but if it did she felt they were better at hiding it.

"Will I ever be able to see that stuff and sleep after?" It has been a hundred years already, her hopes weren't high.

"With a heart as big as yours I doubt it. Believe me, we all struggle with nightmares, your not alone in this. Will it lessen as time goes on? Maybe, probably, but it will never truly go away. That's just the curse we are forced to live with." She kissed the top of Nile's head. "That's probably not the answer you were hoping for."

"You never give me the answers I want to hear." Nile said teasing her.

"But like I said you don't have to face this by yourself. Come sleep with Quynh and I. It helps when you're not alone." Andy took her hand and led her to the room they were sharing.

Quynh was asleep and didn't wake up when Andy laid down next to her. Nile laid down next to Andy and they were both out in no time.

Around three in the morning Nicky woke up to the sound of a shout. His hand flew to his gun and he pressed into Joe feeling him at his back to make sure he was safe.

He'd recognize that cry anywhere and jumped up running straight to Booker's room.

He kept a sharp lookout for any intruders in the house and swung Booker's door open while keeping as much of his body hidden behind the door frame as he could.

The lights were still off and he didn't see any signs of something being wrong. With great care he peered around the door and stepped further into the room.

A lamp snapped on and he pointed his gun at an apologetic Booker, who had his hands in the air.

"Ah, Nicky, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to alarm you let alone wake you up, sorry about that, you can go back to bed, I'm alright." Booker was talking fast, trying to get all his words out at once.

Nicky did one more sweep with his eyes around the room before putting his gun down.

By now Joe had made his way down the hall and peered into the room. "All clear?" He asked gun in his hand.

"We're fine." Nicky assured him. "What happened?" Nicky asked turning his attention back to Booker.

"Nothing but a nightmare." He said waving them off, he attempted a small smile but it looked more like a grimace.

Nicky wouldn't budge, there was still the faintest hint of terror in Booker's eyes. He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. "Tell me, if you can." He laid his hand on Booker's arm.

Booker squeezed his eyes shut, and shook his head. He couldn't tell them how he'd tried to do a job and got kidnapped then tortured for nearly two year. How every night for two years he had wished for death more so than usual and knew that neither death nor help was coming. But it still haunted him, tormented his dreams, sometimes he could even feel imaginary pain from the things they did to him. He couldn't tell them, he wouldn't, that was the same fate he had signed them up for and he couldn't bare to live with it if they told him it was karma. He knew it was.

"It's nothing." He whispered, not looking at either of them.

"You don't have to face it alone anymore." Andy said, she had joined Joe by the door and had watched most of the interaction. "You're home Book." She walked over to him and took his hand. "Do these dreams happen often now?"

Booker hesitated he still didn't feel like this should be any of their problem. He wanted to be able to carry this on his own, no matter how heavy the load.

Joe narrowed his eyes, not without kindness, studying Booker. "Be honest."

Booker looked at him, and saw all the concern and sincerity he thought he might never see again. "Nearly every night." He admitted.

None of them were a stranger to night terrors it came with the job, but dealing with them on your own, they haven't had to do that in a long time, they knew how difficult it was.

"Come, join us." Andy gently tugged on his hand. "Nile is already sleeping with us it won't make any difference to add more."

"I-" He started to protest, he couldn't put them out on his first night back, they'd already gone above and beyond for him.

"She's the boss." Joe grinned.

"Don't argue." Nicky added, he was smiling as well.

Booker didn't say anything just stood up to follow her.

Nicky grabbed his pillows and blankets so there would be enough.

Nile and Quynh were both awake when they walked in, Andy had asked them to stay so that Booker wouldn't feel too overwhelmed.

"I'm sorry for waking everyone." Booker said sheepishly.

"Don't give it another thought." Quynh insisted and the rest of them agreed.

Nicky laid his stuff down by Nile but didn't turn to go back to bed just yet.

Nile noticed his thoughtful expression. "You can stay too." She offered squeezing his hand.

Nicky looked over at Joe.

Joe smiled and walked over to kiss Nicky's temple. "Room for two more?" He asked Andy.

"Always."

They weren't exactly sure how, but they got everyone to fit in a comfortable enough pile with Nile and Booker in the middle, surrounded by their family.

This was safe, this was home, and the nightmares stayed away.

#The Old Guard #let me know if something else should be tagged #the whole Guard is here #ficlet #fluff #fun #cute #family #cuddles #comfort #nightmares #violence #death

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