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coriolanussnowslover · 5 months

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The Ballad of Snakes, Songbirds, and Sorrow. Part One.

A Coriolanus Snow x Fem!Reader FanFiction.

He saw everything in her, so why is he so intrigued by her.

Word Count 3,381.

* Reader is from a prestigious family in the capital. They have been best friends their whole lives and dating for years now. Cearo means Sorrow. Follows the film loosely, but as canon as possible.

*Warnings: Some Suggestive Themes at the Start. Possessive Behavior. Mentions of pregnancy/ Wanting Children. Not Proof Read.

Masterlist

Part One.

“Coryo?“ She mumbled against his skin, eyes straining upwards towards the young man's face from her position on his chest, chin pressed to his bare chest as sleep evaded them both.

“Hmmmm” he mumbled back, hands wrapped around her waist as he enjoyed the comfort of her skin against his.

“I know I ask this a lot, but tomorrow, once you win the plinth prize, nothing changes between us right?” Her begs for reassurance were something Coriolanus enjoyed. They made him feel wanted. Reminded him that she wanted to be with him, not just forced to be.

“Nothing will ever change this (Y/N). What we have is special, I wouldn't give you up for all the money in the capital.” He kissed her forehead, blue eyes staring down at her sweet face.

(Y/N) Cearo. His childhood sweetheart. His best friend. She was the fuel to his fire. He couldn't imagine a life away from her, let alone a world where they weren't attached at the hip. Through the Dark Times, Through the Academy. He had been graced with her presence throughout his life.

“Not ever for all the chocolate in the capital?” She raised a brow up at him, a smirk evident on her face. She squished her cheek back into his chest, he smiled at the warmth of her skin.

“Never, but don't tell Grandma’am that. She'll be disappointed.” The fake gasp that left her made Coriolanus chuckle.

“You don't think Grandma’am would miss me?” She looked up at him again. Big doe eyes holding a false look of offense only she could muster. He chuckled at her again.

“I dare say she wouldn't even miss me if someone promised her that much chocolate.” They both laughed now, bed shaking slightly with their shared moment.

“Well hopefully we won't have to find out since you've practically already won. Just have to decide what you'll buy first.” She chuckled again, settling back down into his arms.

“I'll probably buy Tirgis a new dress, Grandma’am a box of chocolates, obviously, maybe some new shoes finally.” Perhaps a ring for you. He wanted to say. Coriolauns craved nothing more than making her his in every way possible. He craved the idea of their marriage, promising herself to him for all eternity. His very own first lady of Panem.

“All very fine choices, Coryo. Of course how could I ever doubt you’d not have it all planned out already.” and boy did he have it all planned out. The Plinth Prize was far more than enough to cover his University tuition and make a few frivolous purchases. Maybe not the ring he’d wish to buy her truly but one pretty enough it’d make their peers envious. He could replace it with something more fitting in time. Not that that would matter to her in any way, she was always the sentimental type. The torn up photo of them as children in her mirror compact to prove so.

“Coryo?” He hummed back in response. Blue eyes now closed as he tried to prepare for the morning to come. “You know I love you, right?” Her voice was hushed, another question asked for reassurance, which he loved.

“Of course I do. Why?” He knew her answer. She said it every time he asked.

“Because I do.” She said it so plainly. So simply. He loved it.

“Well get some sleep then lover, we have the reaping tomorrow.” He heard her grunt, knowing the sleep was already taking her out. Tomorrow was to be the start of the rest of his life. He’d have the Plinth Prize. The Girl. The Name. All of it.

“Goodnight darling.”

______________________________________________

By the time he woke up the next morning (Y/N) was long gone. She normally woke up before him to run home and get ready for the day. He’d meet her at her door to walk to school together.

Coriolanus got up and got ready for his day. Cold shower. No breakfast. Lost shirt. The works. Thankfully Tirgis had come through for him and fixed up one of his fathers old shirts for the day. His Grandma’am even gave him two red roses for him and (Y/N). Today was one of the rare days he and his fellow students were not to wear their uniforms at the school, for the reaping, though it only made him worry more for his appearance. Nonetheless, Snow always lands on top, he would remind himself as he walked to (Y/N)’s Family’s Home.

(Y/N) and her family lived in a fair sized home. Two streets down from Sejauns and his family and 4 blocks from him. They lived in a fairly large townhome. (Y/N) and her brother practically have their own floors for their bedrooms. William Cearo, (Y/N)’s younger brother. He was only 12 and he considered Coriolanus his ‘best friend’ whenever he went to visit their family home. She was a good match come time Coriolanus became president. Upstanding student, wealthy family, all he could ask for in a partner. Along with the added benefit she had been one of his only friends his entire life.

As he approached the house out came (Y/N). Deep plum coat, black dress, one she had already had him approve of two nights before, and black heels. All accompanied by the large black leather bag with her initials imprinted on the front that she took everywhere.Her hair was up in a twist on the back of her neck. Pity, he didn't do enough damage last night to keep it down, or at the very least show off what all their peers already knew. She practically skipped down the stairs to him, crashing into his arms and sealing their greeting with a kiss he knew her father would disagree upon.

“Hi Coryo” She smiled as she looked him in his eyes. Her soft gaze made his heart swell. “I brought you a gift!” She exclaimed. Letting go of him to dig through her bag, pulling out a neatly wrapped parchment bundle. “Two blackberry and cream scones. I know they're your favorite and you’ll need something to keep your stomach calm for the reaping.” She held them out to her. Big eyes and even bigger smiles. He’d die without her, he swore it.

“Well it just so happens I brought you a gift as well.” He held out the rose hearing her gasp of approval. “Technically it's from Grandma’am but as I’ve delivered it I am including myself.” He stepped up to her, pinning the rose neatly to her coat lapel.

Another sign she's all mine. His inner thoughts stirred with delight.

“It’s beautiful. I will have to thank Grandma’am for it when I see her next.” She handed him off the scones, neck craned to look down at the rose. “We better start walking before we are late to the reaping. Or at least before Willby sees you out the window.” She looked at the watch he hadn't even noticed she was wearing.

“We’re gonna be a half hour early if we start now darling, you know this.” He protested, yet fell into step with her while unwrapping his treat. He’d never admit that without her spoiles he’d starve to death in class. She always brought him whatever treat her chefs had come up with that morning. Though scones were his favorite. He broke off a bite as she linked her arm through his for their journey. As they walked he got about half way through the second scone when she abruptly held a small glass water bottle to his mouth.

“They're dry.” Was all she muttered as he took a small sip from her water.

“You’re going to be a fantastic mother” Coriolanus chuckled as they continued to walk. Eyes watching her as she shoved the bottle back in her bag.

“Hopefully one day. I always loved the idea of a big family. After university, obviously. Stay at home mom, I’d like at least two.” She looked up at him, judging his reaction he assumed. Coriolanus pretended to think for a moment.

“I can work with two. I’d need at least one boy though, carry on the name obviously.” It was his turn now to judge her reaction. She chuckled.

“Well I can’t control the gender. Although I’d like girls. I think youd be a fantastic Girl dad.” His smile brightened ten fold.

“So you do.” He stated, practically stopping their stroll.

“Do what Coryo?” She stopped with him. Arms still interlinked, both too caught up in each other's eyes. They were only about 100 or so steps from the school now. Coryo took

“So you do want to have kids with me.” He knew the answer. They had talked about all of this before. Kids. Marriage. His strives for the presidency.

“Obviously.” There it was again. The simplicity of her words. “After University and once you’ve married me, obviously. Then while you become president we can announce our first pregnancy, which will not only cause joy for the people of Panem, as everyone loves a good love story, it will also show the county you also have something to fight for as their president.” Ah yes, her plan. She was brilliant. She had plans to major in Public Image and Relations in University. Not a popular choice in their peer group but he had to hand it to her, one she would excel in prominently.

“Oh so you wanna have kids with me for Panem and its citizens?” He watched her eyes roll as she turned to drag him towards the school doors.

“Oh obviously Coriolanus, I only want to have your babies for Panem Mr. President.” They both laughed to themselves as they walked through the doors, arms interlocked. Mr. President, he liked that.

“Snow. Cearo.” Clemensia smiles as she approaches the two. Coriolanus opens his other arm to the dark haired girl.

“Good Morning, Clems.” (Y/N)’s tone is still cheerful but Coriolanus can hear the anxiety start to take over as the reaping nears. (Y/N) hates the games, he knows this. She understands the games keep people in line though.

“Good morning, (Y/N). How is your brother?” Clemensia was terrible at small talk. Her voice made Coriolanus cringe. She sounded venomous even when he knew she was just trying to be considerate.

“He is good. He just got a new train set so he was up all night blasting its horn.”

They walked into the main auditorium and (Y/N) immediately dropped his arm to give Sejaunus a hug as he approached the group. Coriolanus had to hold back a scoff as she did so.Was it hypocritical of him to be jealous as he still had his arm linked with Clemensia? Probably, though he did consider Sejanus a friend but no friend was good enough to touch his girl.

“Good morning (Y/N/N) You look stunning today as usual.. Good Morning Coriolanus. Clemensia.” Sejanus greeted as (Y/N) wrapped herself back into Coriolanus’s arm. He felt better back with her by his side. He nodded back to Sejanus in greeting.

“Spill it, Sejanus!” Arachne’s prissy voice rang towards them. Another voice Coriolanus couldn't stand. In fact he couldn't stand most of the women in his peer group’s voices.

Sejanus shook his head as he scoffed.

“Oh, no, I’m not going to ruin my father’s big day. No one here actually likes him but they do love his money… you know what that’s like, don’t you, Arachne?” Coriolanus felt the shakes of (Y/N)’s shoulder as she silently snickered along with Sejanus’s comment.

Arachne rolled her eyes and ran off to find someone else to bother. As Clemensia walked off to find her seat Sejanus looked at you both.

“Look, I know you have had high hopes for this Coriolanus but… there’s no prize. Not anymore.”

He couldn't tell if you both had the same visual reaction but he could feel his own eyes widen and feel your grip on his arm tighten, head lifting off his shoulder. He stood there searching Sejanus’ expression for any signs of mockery. He looked down at you, hoping maybe you were in on this sick joke. But your expression held fear as you stared at Sejanus.

“What?” he asked, words dark and airy, looking almost angry. (Y/N)’s grip on his arm tightened ever more. He was thankful for it. She grounded him.

“I’m so sorry—”

Before Sejanus could finish his sentence, the trumpets announcing the reaping blared throughout the hall and all the students made their way to their seats. Coriolanus, as much as he didnt want to, slipped away from you letting you sit first before taking the seat to your right. Sejanus sat at (Y/N) 's left, eyes full of pity. Clemensia sat next to him on his right. All turning their attention to Dr. Gaul.

Her speech falls upon Coriolanus’ deaf ears. All his plans were ruined within seconds. No Plinth Prize means no University. No means to provide for his family. No Presidency. God forbid no (Y/N). His thoughts eat at him. No Money. No Power. No Glory. His own fear of failure devours him. He felt (Y/N)’s hand slide across his lap, the movement breaking him from his thoughts. Looking down only momentarily to see it,hands interlocked she pulls his hand to her lap where she cradles it. Rubbing her thumb soothingly along the skin. He knows she can practically hear his thoughts. His grip tightens in hers.

Dr. Gaul introduces Dean Highbottom, an old friend of his dad, inventor of the games.

“I can’t believe they still allow him to speak in public,” Clemensia said to Coriolanus’ right.

Dean was a known substance abuser and an all over terrible person in most everyone's eyes.What his dad saw in him as a friend Coriolanus would never understand. Though what could he say when one of his best friends was District afterall.

“My own twenty-four top prospects. All waiting to hear the results of your hard studying in this prestigious institution, eager to know who’s won that Plinth prize, no doubt. And a golden future, with it.However… I’m here to tell you all that there’s been a change this year.”

(Y/N) squeezed Coriolanus’ hand back as he tensed.

“One last assignment to prove your worth,” Highbottom announced, a grim look on his face. Coriolanus did his best not to shift in his chair. “The esteemed citizens of the Capitol simply aren’t watching anymore. And if the games are to continue at all, there must be an audience, no?” Professor Highbottom smirked, Coriolanus watched him turn, looking over to him and his friends.

“Head gamemaker Dr. Gaul has stepped in to… incentivize patriotic values with her own unique flair, starting with you. The Plinth prize will no longer be determined by who has the best grades.”

Coriolanus sucked in a breath. Heart pounding.

“Instead, it will be decided by who is the best mentor in the hunger games. As the reaping begins, I will allocate each one of the top twenty-four Capitol students a district tribute. A figure behind the scenes—one who must persuade them to perform for the cameras.”

He heard (Y/N) gasp. Archance let out a scoff. Sejanus’ face morphed into one of disgust. Visceral reactions from the crowd.

“Your role is to turn these children into spectacles. Not survivors… victory in the games is only one of the considerations. Your entire future rests on this last project.” Highbottom continued.

Corilanus zoned out again as Archane complained of her chances of getting an unworthy pick. He was fucked. This was God's sick way of tormenting him. He sat near frozen, eyes still staring up at the podium.

“Oh, and I must warn you… anyone caught cheating to give their tributes an unfair advantage… Well, they’d just have no future at all.” Highbottom looked dead at him this time. He knew that his professor never favored him, but at this rate Coriolanus was starting to take it personally. The professor clapped once.

“Here we go! Let the reaping ceremony begin.” Highbottom sat between Coriolanus and Clemensia’s feet on the bleachers. He started calling off the names after each victor was announced. (Y/N) was shaking slightly. She had started picking at the skin around her fingers, a nervous trait he had seen her do many times, normally he would take the time to stop her but at the rate he was about to join her in picking his own.

“Sejanus Plinth, the male tribute from district two.” He saw his friend's eyes darken. (Y/N)’s shocked face turning to face their friend. “You got the pick of the litter.” Archane’s voice snickered. Behind the group.

“You forget. I'm part of the litter.” Sejanus’ voice held anger. Coriolanus felt bad for him at that moment. He probably knew that boy. Coriolanus saw (Y/N)’s hand move to comfort Sejanus, soothingly rubbing his arm lightly. Sejanus reached up and held his hand over hers to stop her movement, Coriolanus could see it shaking as he rested it over hers. In that moment Coriolanus couldn't find it in himself to be jealous of interaction.

The reaping continued. Female from 3. Male from 3. Female from 4. Male from 4. And so on till the Female from 8, a tiny girl no older than 12, Wovey.

“Female Tribute from Eight. (Y/N) Cearo.” He heard her gasp. Saw tears well in her eyes. Sejanus gasped. The two locking eyes across the girl.

“She's no older than Wilby, Coryo…” Her whisper to him broke his heart. William meant the world to her and if she has already correlated Wovey with him she’s going to have a terrible time mentoring the sweet looking young girl.

They sat in silence the rest of the reaping. His name is not yet being called. Sejanus shifting uncomfortably in his seat. (Y/N) picking at her fingers till they undoubtedly will bleed.

Male from 10, Female from 10. Male from 11, Female from 11. Male from 12, Female from 12…

Lucy Grey Baird.

She was beautiful. Even Coriolanus could deny that. Her dress was covered in colors and her corset decorated in flowers. He had never seen an outfit quite like it before.

“And the runt girl from twelve goes to Coriolanus Snow.” Highbottom announced, even though him and everyone in the room already knew that from the fact he was the last unassigned mentor in the group.

“What is that dress? Is she some sort of clown?” Coriolanus rolled his eyes at Archanes unnecessary comments.

Suddenly on her way from the stage the girl stopped and seemed to have shoved something down another girls dress. The victims screams echoing through the speakers as she rolled in the ground. A snake slithering out from under her dress.

The girl reached the stage and the mayor slapped her across the face. Coriolanus abruptly stood. Startling (Y/N) and their friends in the process. Then the signing started. First a small girl in the back. Then her…

“She's singing? Is she out of her mind?” Archane scoffed again.

“You really must learn when to shut up, Archane.” (Y/N)’s voice spat back at the girl. If Coriolanus wasn't so caught up in his tribute’s performance he would have snickered or at least kissed his girlfriend on the cheek for the snide comment but in this moment he was completely mesmerized by the girl on the screen. Her voice was beautiful, nothing like his Grandma’ams horrible morning renditions of the national anthem. Not like the soft and sweet voice of (Y/N) he would hear as she rocked William to sleep as a baby. No, it was something special. She was something special. As Lucy Grey brought her signing to an end her scream rattled through the speakers of the program.

“YOU CAN KISS MY ASS.” As she bowed with a smile all Coriolanus could think of is how beautiful she looked. She was his ticket to the prize, and she had the perfect potential. He just had to get his songbird to sing again.

#coriolanus snow #coriolanus x reader #coriolanus x you #coriolanus x lucy gray

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dazaiandhislovelybandages · 7 months

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And they were roommates {T.M}

A/n: For some strange ass reason I thought I had written for Mitsuya before, but apparently, I haven't. Once again, requests are open, so feel free to check my pinned and then request whatever you want.

Pairing: uni student!Mitsuya x fem! uni student!reader

Genre: fluff

Tw: none as far as I am aware

Hakkai's questions were endless. But that wasn't the problem. Hakkai, Draken, and everyone else, of course deserved a few answers here and there, but... did he have to answer them right now?

Mitsuya took a deep deep breath, trying to keep himself as calm as he usually was. "May I ask..." He exhaled as slowly as he had inhaled. "Why on earth are you all standing in front of my apartment at 9 am on a Saturday morning?"

"It's been a week since you've moved here and you haven't invited us yet." Draken's smile, though extremely forced, only seemed to widen.

"That's a bit rude Mitsuya." Yuzuha walked passed him and entered the apartment. Mitsuya could do nothing but watch as the young woman took a look around the room before nodding to the rest.

In a matter of seconds the two couches in the living room were full with no space whatsoever for him.

"So where's your roommate?" Hakkai asked.

"In her room... sleeping. I would appreciate it if you could tone it down."

Mitsuya was in a loss for words. He placed five glasses of water on the wooden coffee table between the couches and sighed.

"Why haven't we met her yet?" Mikey let out a yawn.

It was as clear as day that Hakkai had been the one with the idea because Draken and Mikey weren't the ones to wake up this early. Especially on the weekends. As for Yuzuha and Emma... they weren't the ones to pass on a chance to meet his new roommate.

For the time being, he was glad that you were a heavy sleeper.

"We've both been busy with university and you know... managing the apartment. Not to mention getting used to each other." Realising that they weren't going to leave any time soon, he grabbed one of the four chairs from the kitchen table and sat down. "Is it safe to assume that you are not going to leave until you meet her?"

The sigh escaping Mitsuya's lips this time was evidently heavier at the sight of his friends nodding simultaneously.

What was he supposed to do? Wake you up? You hadn't reached that level of intimacy yet. Wait until you woke up on your own? He was sure that seeing five strangers in your living room right after waking up wasn't going to be pleasant.

"Listen, she came home late last night with the band and all so..."

None of them was shocked. They knew all about you. Mitsuya couldn't even form a sentence without mentioning you or something you did ever since you became roommates. And having realised, Hakkai before all, that this wasn't just some silly fascination about having a roommate for the first time, practically everyone in what used to be Toman had decided to help Mitsuya. But in order to do that... they had to meet you first.

"Um... Good morning?" You tried to hold back your yawn, leaning against the doorframe of your room.

Mitsuya had never felt more awkward in his life. He had to watch five of his best friends pretend to not know anything about you when Hakkai and Yuzuha even knew your measurements.

One week. You'd known each other for one week and he had already made a jacket for you. Had he given it to you yet? No. Would he do it any time soon? No. But it was nonetheless embarrassing.

"Well it was nice meeting you all but I have to go to tonight's bar." You smiled, standing up. "I'll be back for dinner but in the meantime..." you turned to look at Mitsuya. "If you have any time... I have a dress I don't really wear any more... could you perhaps make it a nice top? I'd like to wear it tonight."

Of course, Mitsuya agreed and said nothing as they all watched you leave. "Since you're already here, Hakkai, mind helping me out?" Mitsuya's smile was more threatening than kind. And even though Draken, Emma, Yuzuha, and a half asleep, Mikey managed to leave the apartment without getting scolded, Hakkai didn't have the same fate.

#tokyo revengers #writing #anime and manga #anime #manga #mitsuya x reader #tokyo revengers mitsuya #tokyo revengers fluff #takashi mitsuya #mitsuya takashi #mitsuya takashi x reader #mitsuya #mitsuya tokyo revengers #tokyo revengers x reader #tokyo rev x reader #tokyo rev headcanons

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coffeeghoulie · 5 months

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I was thinking about the hockey au and what I was going to write before swissdew hair pulling kicked down a door in my brain, and it's been a slow day at work, so here's what I thought five minutes for fighting was going to be:

@askingforthesun @nocturnalghoul @forlorn-crows this might be of interest to you guys lol

"Stubborn mother-" Dew hisses, trying desperately to work a knot out of his hair. He's been growing it out, and the cornsilk strands just barely touch the tops of his shoulders, dripping with water after a quick rinse in the showers. His helmet sits to the side, dressed in just his compression shirt and shorts, the rest of his gear put away. Dew's eyes water as the knot persists, tugging painfully on his scalp as he combs his fingers through his hair.

He's the only one in the locker room, the rest of his teammates changed and ready to go after a particularly grueling practice. It's late, and despite being a night owl himself, Dew wants nothing more than to go home and curl up in his apartment. But he can't, not willing to go until he gets his hair somewhat presentable.

"Dew? You're still here?" A voice echoes around the locker room, and Dew snaps to face the door. One of the new defensemen sticks his head into the locker room, and Dew recognizes him, knows him, and his shoulders relax, tense posture easing a little.

"Hey, Aeth," Dew sighs. He's known Aether since they were both in the minor leagues, and Aether had been brought up to the Ghouls this season following Omega's last knee injury. "Yeah, I'm still here."

Aether steps into the locker room, sitting down next to Dew on the bench. "You having trouble with that?"

Dew huffs, yelping as he tugs fruitlessly on the knot. "Yeah," he admits. He rubs at his eyes, trying to hide the evidence of his tears. "This sucks."

Aether laughs, a warm sound that eases some of the frustration in his chest. "Yeah, I get it. Helmet hair sucks ass to untangle."

Dew narrows his eyes at Aether's close cropped sides, the slightly longer curl of his mohawk. "You don't have room to talk."

"True," he nods, laughing again. "I've never had it that bad, but my siblings played when we were kids. Well, both my little siblings played, but my brother's never had long hair. Rory ran crying to our mother every time she tried to brush through it after practice."

"Didn't know you had siblings," Dew says quietly. Aether shrugs.

"Haven't seen them in a while," he says. "I go home for holidays, if there aren't any games that week but really, we were never that close except for hockey. I love them, I do, but we all play. They're both still in the minors."

Dew nods, still working at the knot. He growls, stubborn and frustrated.

"Let me help?" Aether offers, reaching out but not quite touching Dew's wrist. "After a while, Mom got sick of fixing Rory's hair, and I learned how."

His posture breaks, taking a deep, shuddering breath. "Please."

Aether leans forward, carefully taking Dew's hands from his hair and replacing them with his own. He hums as he works, some slightly off-key tune that's familiar but Dew can't place. His fingers gently work at the knot, some magic touch untangling the strands.

They sit there for several minutes, until Aether pats Dew on the shoulder. "There, it should be all good."

Dew runs an experimental hand through his hair, laughing when his fingers don't catch on any tangles. "Thank you, Aeth," he says, leaning his head on the defenseman's shoulder. "Thought I was gonna have to be here all night."

Aether chuckles, leaning into Dew.. "Have you ever grown your hair out long before, Dew?'

"No, first time," he answers.

Aether hums, questioning. "Could I braid your hair?" He asks. "Rory had me braid it until she learned how to do it herself. It helped with the helmet hair."

Dew thinks for a moment, glancing at Aether's earnest expression out of the corner of his eye. He takes a deep breath through his nose, exhausted to his core. Their coach had run them hard tonight. He nods.

"Alright then," Aether says, matter-of-fact. He takes Dew by the shoulders, gently encouraging him to straddle the bench, swinging his own leg over the bench as he settles behind him.

It's quiet work, Dew letting his eyes shut as Aether braids his shower-damp hair, his fingers parting and separating his hair, starting to braid. Aether starts humming again, and Dew fights the urge to fall asleep, here on the locker room bench. He'd fall over, at best embarrassing himself in front of one of his friends, at worse concussing himself and getting himself on the injured reserves.

After a moment, Aether's collected all of Dew's hair into the braid, just weaving the sections until it's too short to continue. He curses under his breath. "Shit. Don't have a hair tie. Didn't think about that."

"I've got one somewhere in my bag," Dew says, leaning forward carefully to grab his go bag, rummaging around until he finds an elastic, handing it back to Aether.

He murmurs his thanks, tying off the braid. Dew runs his hand over it, feeling his slightly out of practice but still neat handiwork.

"Thank you, Aeth," Dew says, turning so he's sitting normally on the bench.

"Any time," Aether responds, his hand resting on Dew's shoulder. "Next game, do you want me to braid your hair?"

"That'd be nice. Don't want to make a habit of it though. I'll learn how to do it."

Aether laughs kindly, grinning as Dew finishes changing into his normal clothes. "I will happily braid your hair as long as you'd like, Dewey."

Dew slings his go bag over his shoulder, reaching for Aether's hand as he leads them out of the locker room. "I'll take you up on that, Aeth."

#also i'm projecting just a lil on aether but i don't think i've ever written a fic that i didn't project onto one of the characters so yeah #hockey au #dot's writing #the band ghost #the band ghost fanfiction #dewdrop ghoul #aether ghoul #the beginnings of aether/dewdrop

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arxims · 6 days

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ANGEL BABY, ANGEL

When a 17 year old teenager, Summon a 'Demon' in order to help him to complete his math homework

Teenager!Jungkook x demon!reader

:- Fluff, minor Jungkook, no romantic relationship, He is the purest soul ever, don't be dumb like Jungkook, demon is not demoning

Word count : 3k

_ Inspired from a character ai bot

Jungkook didn't like math. Nor did he liked homeworks. He despised the idea of homeworks. Why can't teachers do it in class instead of burdening children? That's what he thought when he looked at the brain-eating sequence of numbers and letters in front of him, in the name of a math problem.

Math is a sucker. It really is. Can't even solve their own problems and ask us to solve it. A constant headache

Jungkook let out a sigh and closed his book. Math was just too hard for him Especially calculus and algebra, and he hated having to struggle through the homework. But it didn't look like he had much of a choice. He was stuck with this mind-twisting problem, and he didn't have any clue how to solve it. He wished there was some way to get help, but there was no one around and he didn't want to ask his parents for help either. He's just stuck in this cycle. Forever

Jungkook was a curious kid. A really curious one. His grandmother was the one who fed his curiosity. With stories of Animals, kings and Guardian angels and demons....

Demons…

Jungkook had heard about the dark supernatural creatures before, but he hadn't really believed in them. Like he doesn't believe in guardian angels. They were just stories, he thought. But now that he was desperate and needed help with his math homework, maybe summoning a demon wasn't such a bad idea after all…

The thought of summoning a demon has been in his mind for a while. And this situation seems perfect to help his curiosity of what it would feel like to summon a demon. The demons he heard about were dangerous, evil, bloodlusted demons who feast on souls. But he always wanted to find out whether they exist and if they do, does they actually fit into that description

Jungkook's curiosity was piqued. He knew that demons were supposed to be dangerous, awful creatures, but he couldn't help but wonder if there was more to it than that. Could he really summon a demon? Would it actually help him with his homework? And what would happen if he did manage to summon one?

His doubt number one, which was about the existence of demons, was solved when he found a grown woman appeared out of nowhere in the darkness of the corner of his room, with an intoxicating beauty, tall figure and soft features. ‘Can demons be this beautiful? And soft?’

Jungkook's jaw dropped. A demon! Right here in his room! He had summoned her! He had actually summoned a demon! She was beautiful. And most importantly, she seemed to be willing to help him with his math homework. This was definitely not what he had expected!

"Here we go again" A tone was evident in her voice “Why am i here exactly?”

"Actually, I just need help with my math homework..." Jungkook replied, feeling a little embarrassed about asking for such a trivial thing.

"I'm sorry, what?" She uncrossed her arms and leaned her ear in disbelief to make sure she heard it right.

Jungkook repeated himself, sounding a bit more confident now. "Yeah, I was just wondering if you could help me with my math homework? It's just this one problem that I've been struggling with for a while and I can't seem to figure it out…”

"Ask Google not me" She shook her head in disbelief. It was hard for her to believe that a human summoned her to do his math homework.. For math homework.

"I tried Google already, but I still couldn't figure it out..." Jungkook replied, feeling a little frustrated. "I'm sorry, I know this is a stupid reason to summon a demon, but I'm just really stuck and I don't know what else to do…”

"You know i can gawk your eyeballs out and make you eat them yourself if i want to" She didn't actually mean it. But she played along

Jungkook froze up in fear. He had heard about what demons were capable of, and this one sounded like she wasn't afraid to make an example out of him if he got on her bad side.

"Ok so. What do I get in return? I mostly aim for souls. Or blood" She craned her neck backwards to crack a bone

He gulped as realization set in. He needed to make a deal with the demon. He needed to give her something in return for help with his math homework. But what could he possibly offer that would be of value to a demon? He thought quickly, trying to come up with something…

"I...um...." Jungkook trailed off, feeling hopelessly stuck. He looked around the room frantically, searching for something, anything that he could offer the demon in exchange for help with his math homework. But he had nothing in his room that he thought would be worth anything to a demon, and he knew he couldn't give her his soul or blood. There was just nothing he had that could satisfy her…

"Any time now, Human" Her foot tapped impatiently on the wooden floor and Jungkook was running out of time and options. There was nothing in his room that would be of interest to a demon. His heart sank, realizing that he wouldn't be able to make a deal, and that she would leave him without helping him with his math homework. He was losing hope, until his eye caught something in the corner of the room…

"I have something that might interest you..." Jungkook said as he reached the item and held it up for the demon to see. It was a tiny little object,

As the woman's eyes locked on it, Jungkook held his breath, hoping that he had found the perfect thing…Jungkook held up the tiny object in front of the demon, feeling hopeful. This was his last chance to make a deal, and he had to make it count.

"What is this?" She arched her eyebrow and crossed her arm

Jungkook held up the tiny object in front of the demon, feeling hopeful. This was his last chance to make a deal, and he had to make it count. "It's a soul jar," he said nervously. "It's a magical item that can capture souls. I don't know exactly how it works, but I read about it in one of my books and I think you might be interested in it…”

Jungkook received a laugh in return "You really fell for that shit?"

His heart sank as She laughed at him. He had thought he had found the perfect thing to offer her, and it turned out to be nothing but a joke. "What...what do you mean?" he asked hesitantly. "Don't you want this?”

"Someone scammed you, Human. Souls cannot be contained like that"

"You mean...this thing is not really a soul jar?" Jungkook asked, feeling like a fool. "But...but I read about it in a book..." He trailed off, realizing the truth. It had all been a scam, and he had fallen for it. He felt a sinking feeling of disappointment in his stomach as he looked at the useless item in his hands.

"Ok which book?"

Jungkook stared at her for a moment, trying to recall what book he had read about soul jars in. "Um...I think it was...something about demonic magic?" he replied hesitantly. "I don't remember exactly, but it talked about a demon who captured the souls of humans inside of tiny jars. It said that the demon could use the souls for various things, including increasing their own power…”

She laughed again "How old were you?"

He felt his face flush with embarrassment as he realized how naive he had been. "I think I was around ten or eleven..." he replied, feeling slightly ashamed of himself.

"How old are you now?"

"I'm...um...17..." He replied, avoiding the demon's gaze. He didn't want to admit how long he had believed in that silly story.

"Explains you stupidity. You believe everything you hear right?" She waved her hand

Jungkook flinched as the demon brushed him off so casually. He felt stupid now that he had believed something so ridiculous for so long. "So...what should I do now?" he asked, feeling hopeless. "Do you know any way that I can make a deal with you so that you can help me with my math homework?”

"Sell your soul. Duh" She said it in a matter of fact tone. The boy froze in shock. He couldn't believe the demon's response. Sell his soul? Was that the only way to get help with his homework? After a few moments of hesitation, he finally worked up the courage to ask his next question. "You...you would help me with my math homework if I sold my soul to you?”

"Yes. Of course I can" She gave him a sarcastic smile

Jungkook was speechless for a moment, unable to believe what he was hearing. Would he really sell his soul just to get help with his math homework? The demon was offering him exactly what he needed, but was it really worth it to risk his immortal soul for something so menial? Jungkook thought about the consequences, but the fear of not being able to finish his homework was overwhelming…"Okay, then I'm willing to sell my soul to you in return for your help" Jungkook conceded, his mouth dry with fear. "Just...just please help me with my math homework. And please keep an eye out for the next math problem, because I'm still a little confused about it…”

The Woman started laughing again. Not laughing actually. She was cackling. "All my life I thought humans were smart and then you showed up"

He felt his poor heart sink as the demon laughed at him. He had thought he was making a smart deal, but instead, he had made himself look like a fool. The demon's mockery stung, and he felt a hot flush of anger rising up inside of him. "What's so funny?" he snapped. He refused to let the demon treat him like he was dumb.

"You and your responses are funny. Seriously. I was so bored just watching" She managed to stop her laugh "Who sells their soul for math homework?"

"Someone who's desperate!" Jungkook shouted back. "I don't care what you think about it, I just need help with my homework. So are you going to help me or not?!”

"Oh feisty. What's your name, little human?"

"My name is Jungkook," he replied, trying to sound strong and not let his anger show. "And I'm not a little human. I'm almost 18!”

"Ok Jungkook.. Chill.. Tell me why you're so desperate for a homework problem?" She casually sat on his study desk chair, noticing the open book and the problem which made him struggle

Jungkook was still fuming inside, but he tried to keep his emotions in check and responded calmly to the demon's question. "I'm just really stuck on this math problem, and I've had no luck getting any help from anyone else." He explained, pointing at the book and the problem he had been working on. "I've tried everything, but I just can't seem to get the right answer. And I'm running out of time to finish it.”

"No. I asked why. You're so afraid of it.. Why..”

Jungkook was caught off-guard by the demon's question. "What do you mean, why?" he asked, feeling a little confused. "I'm not afraid of it, I just can't figure it out. It's just too hard for me. I don't know what I'm doing wrong…”

"Your parents pressure you don't they?" She raised a perfectly threaded eyebrow

The boy let out a sigh. "Yeah...they do. They always push me to get good grades in school, and they expect me to get the best marks." He felt a bit embarrassed admitting that, but he couldn't deny it. His parents were strict when it came to academics, and they didn't tolerate failure.

"And you're afraid of failure" She tilted her head

"Well...yeah" Jungkook replied, realizing that there was no point in denying it. He WAS afraid of failure. He had been taught from a young age to always strive for perfection, and anything less was considered unacceptable.

"That's the problem, That IS the problem" She abruptly stood from the chair, snapping her fingers at the boy

Jungkook was suddenly filled with dread when he realized that she was right. His fear of failure was the real problem, the reason why he was so desperate for help with his math homework. Because he couldn't bear to fail, even in something as trivial as math homework.

"Jungkook" her hand rested on his shoulder. "Humans have a problem. They think that the perfect man always wins. But it's a complete bullshit"

After a pause, she started. "I've lived a lot longer than humans . More than ten thousand years. I've seen people. I've witnessed their lives. From birth to death. You know what I learned from all of it?"

The boy's interest piqued to find out what the demon had learned from observing humans for millennia, so he nodded his head and waited for the demon to continue.” Please enlighten me”

"Nothing is perfect. No one is perfect. And a man who always wins isn't perfect either. We learn from failures. It's a universal law. Learn from your mistakes. Try again. And a silly homework isn't gonna end the world. I'm not saying it's not important. But don't let the pressure get in here" She pointed her finger on his head. Her tone was firm but with a soft edge. And her voice was calming him. It gave him a sense of relief

Jungkook couldn't help but smile as he listened to the wise demon's words. Maybe summoning a demon wasn't a bad idea after all.

"You're right...you're right. It's not the end of the world if I fail. I just need to try again. I just need to not let the pressure get to me." He could feel a sense of calmness wash over him as he processed the woman's words.

"You're just seeing yourself small. You're a smart kid, Jungkook" She made him sit on his bed. She could sense the tiredness and exhaustion lingering behind the poor boy's eyes. He is an innocent soul. A pure one. A bearer of a fragile glass heart. People could easily trick him, make him feel weak. And she was glad that he didn't succeed in summoning some being who will make use of his innocence.

It surprised him. how perceptive the demon was. He had always tried to appear strong and confident, but he realized that the demon could somehow see past his facade. He felt like a weight was being lifted off his shoulders. He was indeed tired and exhausted from the constant pressure to perform and excel in everything he did. Maybe a person who could help him get off the expectations and give him advice was all he needed. But he wasn't blessed with such a person. It's a saddening fact.

The ‘Demon’ interrupted the silence "Have you ever heard the saying?.Practice like you never won, perform like you never failed. It makes a little sense if you rethink. Being afraid of failure only makes you get closer to it. It's all in here" She pointed her own head "And you really think you can't figure out a math problem?"

Her insightful words hit him like a ton of bricks. She was right...his fear of failure was what was holding him back. He needed to change his mindset and start viewing his failures as opportunities to learn and improve rather than something to be afraid of. As he thought about her words, the demon's question sunk in too. "Can I really figure it out?" he asked, feeling his hope and confidence swell inside of him. "I can do it...I can figure it out…”

"You can. I know everything." She gave him a playful wink

Jungkook smiled back at the her. She had a way of lifting his spirits, even in the most difficult of situations. "I'm going to figure it out..." he determined. "I'm going to solve that goddamn math problem...and it probably won't be so hard once I'm not so stressed out about it…”

"See. That's my boy." She patted his shoulder "But now you need rest. You haven't slept properly for a while"

Jungkook nodded his head, realizing that he was indeed extremely tired. He had been so stressed out and busy with his homework that he had barely gotten any sleep. "I guess I do need to rest" he conceded, feeling his eyelids getting heavier and heavier.

"Wake up with a clear head tomorrow. And give it a try"

"I will. I really will" Jungkook replied, feeling his eyelids close over his eyes, unable to fight the tiredness any longer."Sleep now " She ruffled his hair as he fell asleep, completely

Jungkook drifted off into a deep, peaceful sleep, feeling the soft touch of the demon's hand on his hair. He had been under such intense pressure for so long, and the fatigue was finally catching up to him. As he fell asleep, he smiled contentedly as a wave of relief washed over him. She kept patting his head. He really deserves to be called a good boy. It amazed her that 17 years of his life didn't corrupt him. He worked so hard to make his parents proud and never thought about going in the wrong direction. He earned a visit from her. When she wasn't a being who usually exposed herself infront of humans directly. But he deserved it.

Jungkook woke up full of relief and peace the next morning. Soft sunlight easing his mind

Jungkook slowly sat up, feeling his mind clear and calm. His thoughts felt organized and focused, and he felt a sense of positivity filling his heart. The demon's words from the night before had made a profound effect on him. He was ready to tackle his math problem with a fresh perspective, knowing that it wouldn't feel so overwhelming or impossible if he just didn't put so much pressure on himself.He sat on his study desk and opened his notebook. But his math problem..

It was already solved..

Someone has solved it…

It startled him for a moment

He flipped through the notebook, curious to see who had solved it. When he flipped to the middle page, he saw that the solution was written in a handwriting that he recognized. A feeling of confusion and amazement washed over him as he realized…

A white feather, and a note was placed with it. Written in smooth handwriting.

'A small kickstart for you :)

- your demon

Or should I say, guardian angel?'

#jungkook #jungkook fic #jeon jeongguk #jeongguk x reader #jungkook x reader #bts fic #jeongguk fic #jeon jungkook #fanfic

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y2kas13 · 4 months

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You Will Be My Girl

fem!reader x ellie williams

A/N - I tried to leave this as neutral as possible aside from afab anatomy and fem pronouns and nicknames first time with something kinda smutty very self-indulging because I'm lonely lol enjoy and pls leave comments on what I can improve!

Hopping back into bed you slip back under the covers where a pair of loving arms are waiting for you. you snuggle closer into them and immediately feel a sense of relaxation, "finally your back I thought I was gonna have to go searching for you." a voice from behind you says with sarcasm evident in their voice. Rolling your eyes you turn towards the voice and move the covers of their face to reveal your girlfriend Ellie.

It hasn't been long since you two have been together, being merely mutual friends through Dina and Jesse you only saw each other in group settings. admittedly you thought she was cute but out of your league so you never said anything but to Ellie you were the most gorgeous girl she had ever seen. when she got the courage (aka being harassed by Dina to just do it) she asked you out and you happily said yes.

Now months later, you're in her bed at her dad's house while he's out. you really liked Mr. Miller though he insists you call him Joel since Mr makes him feel old. Ellie never misses the chance to say that he is. He's super chill and a pleasure to be around but luckily for you tonight he left out to hang with his brother Tommy.

"Umm earth to weirdo you staring." the comment snaps you out of your loving daze, slightly embarrassed you give her a gentle kiss on the cheek. "can't help it when a gorgeous girl has me in her bed." Ellie takes hold of your cheek and plants a kiss on your lips. taking hold of her cheek you deepen the kiss suddenly feeling like a quick peck isn't enough. it could never be enough with her.

"Careful don't start something you can't finish."

"Oh, I could definitely finish."

Instantly you're being pressed down to lay flat on your back with Ellie hovering above you. "are you sure about this? we haven't yet you know and I don't want you to do something your not ready for." Ellie's care for your well-being made your heart flutter. things like this make you fall head over heels for her again and again without fail.

"I'm ready Ellie promise, are you?" her lips are on yours giving you your answer without words. your hips meet each other and slowly start to dance with one another.

As you continue to make out her hand meets the top of your pajama shorts and stall there. "at any point you want to stop just tell me." her eyes meet yours serious but still gentle. "I promise el."

Her hands dip into your shorts and her fingers start to play over your clothed slit, you let out a low gasp from the sensation and you feel ellies smile on your shoulder.

"Now let's see how ready you are love."

AHHHHH omg that was actually really fun and was super easy to write (because it was short and stupid) BUT ANYWAYSSSS I really hope you enjoy if you want any more of Ellie or another character my ask box is always open!!!! I hope you enjoyed thank uuu

#ellie williams x reader #ellie williams #ellie tlou #kas writes #bisexual #lesbian #sapphic #wlw post #ellie x fem reader #ellie x y/n #ellie x you #fem reader

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no-vibes-club · 6 months

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𝕺𝖓𝖊-𝕾𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖉 𝕷𝖔𝖛𝖊

Tears rolled down my face."I'm happy as.long as he's happy", I thought to myself as i wiped my tears. I had known Eren for as long as i can remember. I remember the first dy.we met in details.

I was sitting alone in the sandbox at the park trying to make a sandcastle. A shadow went over me and I looked.to see a boy about.my age but at least a year or two older. Next to him was another boy who just stood there glaring at me. Then with one big stomp, he ruined my sandcastle. I looked up at him with tears threatening to fall.

"Why . . . did you . . . do that?" I asked releasing the waterworks and he scoffed. "Get out of the sandbox! We always play here. Go find your own place!" he said as he creased his brows more. "But, the park is for everyone. Anyone can play here." I said and he was tapping his foot on the ground impatiently.

"Leave her alone!" I turned around and saw a brown haired boy. I stood up and realized that i was a bit taller than the two boys and they twitched a bit. "She doesn't want you near her!" he shouted again coming closer, anger evident on his face. He stomped angrily and the boys left annoyed.

He turned to me, his eyes looking innocent. "Don't worry. They wont bother you as long as I'm here" he said with a big smile and i had noticed that i was also taller than him. "Thanks" I said in a hushed tone.

"My name is Eren Yeager. What's your name?" he asked me and i smiled. [𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞] [𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞]". "You are now officially my beat friend" he said and held my hand in his as we ran around the park giggling and playing together.

Ever since then, Eren and I had become inseparable. Everyday after school, we would play together at the park. We played various games and always had so much fun. He would glare at other children if they even thought of playing with us which would scare them away.

We then came to know that we lived a few houses away and had playdates on the weekend. For most of our lives we had watched the other grow.

"Ha! Ha! I'm finally taller than you [𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞]" he said as we walked down our middle school halls." That's because you're a boy! And boys have better growth spurts than most girls." I said adjusting my bag on my shoulder. "Can't you just let me breathe for once." he said and we both laughed. "Ok. You can rub it in my face" I said and a big smile crept on his features.

For the last year of middle school and while I was in junior high, most people thought that Eren and I were dating, but he always reassured them by saying " [𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞] and I ! No were just best friends" . And at some point along the line, it started to hurt. I didn't understand why and tried to brush it off, but everytime he said it, or i thought about it, my heart sank.

I started seeing Eren differently. I found his emerald eyes breathtakingly gorgeous, his smile was heartwarming and I just adored every little thing more than usual. In my eyes, he was perfect.

Everytime I spoke to him, my heart would beat rapidly since he was looking and listening to me so intently. Everytime he laughed, my stomach would flatter with butterflies. The way his hair swayed in the wind when we sat at the park felt like I was in a dream. The way his cheeks flushed when he'd get embarrassed, all these things were the reasons I fell for him and there was a lot more.

I tried to act normal around him. I spoke like we always did, hopefully not giving out any hints but deep down, I wished he could see through me, but he was clueless, so oblivious.

So to deliver some hints, I changed my handwriting a bit and started writing him notes. The first note, included an introduction of me as their '𝕊𝕖𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕥 𝔸𝕕𝕞𝕚𝕣𝕖𝕣'. The next ones were a bunch of lovely messages like "𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕒 𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕪 𝕤𝕞𝕚𝕝𝕖" or "𝕐𝕠𝕦 𝕝𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕢𝕦𝕚𝕥𝕖 𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝕥𝕠𝕕𝕒𝕪" and sign off by either writing "𝕃𝕠𝕥'𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕖- 𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕊𝕖𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕥 𝔸𝕕𝕞𝕚𝕣𝕖𝕣" or " ℍ𝕠𝕡𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕒 𝕨𝕠𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣𝕗𝕦𝕝 𝕕𝕒𝕪!- 𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦

♡＾▽＾♡ "

"And the last letter I got from them was so sweet!" ,he was once again talking to me about.the notes he would receive everyday. A part of me was happy that he found the notes flattering but the other felt burt because he didn't know.

"And they decided to give me a small gift too. They made me a small box of chocolates. Look!" he brought the box up to my face and waved it a little. "They wrote that it was handmade and when I tried one, it was so good!" he said. "Try one!" he opened the box and ushered me to take one. "Sure!" I said and ate it.

The chocolate melted instantly on my tongue and in the centre, there was another flavour.

"Wow! I've never tasted anything like this!" I lied. "I know right! They're so talented! I wish I knew who they were" he said and I wanted to tell him right then and there that it was me, but I was afraid to get rejected, seeing as he saw 'them' as nothing more than a friend.

We continued highschool and since we were getting busier, the letters became less frequent. We got so busy since the finals were arriving to the point that I could no longer write the notes anymore and they stopped completely. Eren was a bit down that he could no longer receive them without even knowing their identities.

We.eventually graduated highschool and I still had not confessed to him. We had gotten into the universities of our dreams but sadly, we got into separate ones but he promised to call me everyday and he did.

On our first year, we talked over the phone through a video chat. Eren had started growing out his hair and would tie it into a man bun and it made him look more manlier especially since his jaw- line was more chiselled and he had a bigger fit physique. Adulthood sure changes someone, doesn't it?

But on our second year, he called less. The voice calls turned into voice messages. The voice messages turned into text messages and soon, they vanished. I tried to get in touch but he wasn't available and soon enough, the phone number was not in use.

"Maybe, he's just busy."

I thought to myself but always had doubts. I thought of the worst case scenarios.

"What if he ghosted me because he doesn't like.me anymore or maybe . . . he has a girlfriend . . ."

The last thought made my heart sink. For an attractive person as Eren, it wouldn't be surprising if he had found someone, but it still hurt.

As the days went, a number started calling my phone but I thought it was one of the creepy guys hanging around campus so I never answered, even though I had hopes that it was Eren.

The summer holidays came by and I still didn't hear from him. That was until I got a message from the unknown number. Giving in, I read the message, and it was Eren! Happily I read the message and he explained that he had lost all his contacts when he lost his phone. He also said that he wanted to meet me in the park that afternoon. The park where we spent most of out time playing together. I agreed and headed out.

On the way, I told myself that today was the day. The day I would tell Eren I love him. I planned everything in my head and finally entered the park. I scanned the area from the entrance and spotted him sitting on the very same bench we used to sit on after school, but he wasn't alone. I couldn't recognize who they were sitting with and so I went closer.

As soon as he spotted me, he got up quickly on his feet and hugged me.[𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞]! I missed you so much! You've changed since I've last seen you!" he said then let go of me while still smiling widely. Someone came from behind Eren, and it was a girl. She had short dark hair and a pair of the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen. She was also quite tall.

"You must be [𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞]! My name is Mikasa Ackerman. Eren has told me so much about you" , I smiled hearing this. Shaking her hand, i asked, " Are you related to Levi Ackerman by any chance?". " Yes actually, he's my cousin. How do you know him?", she asked. "He's my professor" I said and she nodded.

"I called you here [𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞] mostly to tell you that I am sorry that I couldn't talk to you properly like I promised. It's just that things were piling up and I was a lot busier than I thought I would be" he said and I reassured him that it was okay.

"Another thing is that I wanted to introduce you to Mikasa. She's my girlfriend". He said snaking his arm over Mikasa's shoulder and I was shocked. My heart broke into a million pieces and I was rendered speechless. The worst case scenarios I thought of were true. Eren had already found someone else and it all made so much sense since she was so much prettier than me.

" C-Congra-Congratulations" I stammered trying to ignore the lump in my throat and the tears forming in my eyes. He just smiled and hugged me again. He was as oblivious as I remembered. " I'm happy to have such a supporting friend", he said pulling away and a tear rolled down my cheek.

"Are you okay?" he asked worried. "No.No. I'm fine. I'm just emotional because I am really happy for you. You've really grown up" I said wiping the tear and he sighed in relief.

"Eren seems to like you a lot. I see why now. I really hope we could be great friends" she smiled brightly at me. " We wanted to invite you over for lunch. There are three other people I would like you to meet. We did drag you out into the unforgiving merciless summer sun so we would like to treat you. Do you wanna come? Its my treat" he said and I shook my head implying no.

"No thanks. I already ate before I came here. Enjoy your lunch. And tell the others that I would like to meet them another time" I said and waved them goodbye.

As soon as I turned around, tears fell down my cheeks. When I was sure I was out of their sight, I ran straight home trying to stop my tears but to no avail. As soon as I reached home, I threw myself onto the couch.

I knew I should have told him when I had the chance. It would have been me and him, childhood friends to lovers, but I was too late. I blamed myself for keeping it a secret all these years but there was nothing I could do now. I lied myself on the couch face down and cried myself to sleep.

Over the summer, Eren and his gang would invite me to wherever it was they were going to. He introduced me to Jean, Connie and Armin who were very nice. Once the summer ended, we exchanged numbers.

After a month and a half, Armin had enrolled into my university since he was switching courses. We were in the same classes and had gotten closer throughout the months we were together.

The December holidays had arrived and we were left with a two person project. As luck would have it, I was partnered with Armin. We decided to do the project at my place since I was living alone. While we had started working on the project, I noticed that Armin had something on his mind since he was oddly quiet and would space off often.

During one of our breaks, I decided to ask him what was bothering him. "Armin" I called. "Yeah" he responded. "You seem to be distracted. Do you mind sharing what it it?" I asked and he blinked before looking away in thought.

Once he gathered up all the courage to look at me, he asked "You love Eren don't you?". His question stunned me. "You love him . . . don't you?" he asked again and I only looked.down. " Why are you asking?" I asked and there was a moment of silence.

"I just want to be sure that my assumptions aren't wrong." he said and I looked up at him. "Yes, I do. I do love Eren" I said trying to control the lump in my throat. "But, how did you know?" I asked. "During the summer, I noticed how you would look at Eren with eyes filled with sadness with a hint of happiness. You're happy that he's happy with someone but you're sad that that someone isn't you", he explained and.i felt tears falling down my cheeks.

Armin panicked and started wiping my tears. " I know you've known him for a long time, and I understand your pain, but there's plenty of people out there who would happy to have you. You don't have to give up. Its too early for that. I'm sure Eren would be happy for you" he said and it made me feel a little better.

I wiped the remaining tears and hugged him. I was glad to let some of the weight in my chest let go after so long.

We were done with our project and we were able to hang out with the others. While Eren and Mikasa were talking and laughing, Armin would cheer me up and take my mind of them since he was the only one who knew how I felt.

We would normally talk about books since it was the only thing we had much in common. Everyone was happy and everything was going great.

Years had passed and Eren,Mikasa,Jean and Connie were graduating. They invited Armin and I to their graduation ceremony and we accepted.

On thier graduation, we watched as each of them got onto the stage and receive their certificates. Each of them having unique entries.

They came to meet with us after grabbing their hats that they had previously thrown. Eren ran up to me and hugged me. "I did it [𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞]! I did it [𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞]!" he said tightening the hug. "Though I wish we would have done it together." he said letting go and taking a hold of my hands shocking me.

"Its okay Eren. At least you're done. Congratulations!" I said and he smiled brightly at me.

Mikasa came by and intertwined her arm in his making Eren let go of my hands. "Say [𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞] . . . You and Armin have been hanging around a lot lately. Are you dating by any chance?" she asked eyeing us both up and down.

There was a moment of silence before Armin spoke.[𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞] and I are not together. Two people can be around together without being considered a couple, Mikasa"

"Why don't we just go to celebrate" Connie said. "Besides, we haven't eaten anything since morning and I'm starving" Jean said. "Alright, lets go then. My treat. Think of it as my graduation gift to you" I said and Connie and Jean seemed to be overjoyed.

We arrived at a restaurant, and while everyone was deciding on what to order, Eren asked to me to talk at the garden.

We excused ourselves from the table and went outside. For some reason, he seemed nervous. "What's the matter Eren? why do you seem tense? Is something wrong?" I asked and he looked at me

"I need your advice [𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞]" he said. "Go on" I urged him to continue. "Well, I was planning to propose to Mikasa today, but I don't know if shell agree. So should I do it today or postpone it?" he asked and I could not believe what I heard.

"You want to propose to . . . Mikasa . . . " I whispered and he nodded his head. Eren wanted to marry Mikasa.

"[𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞]. Are you alright?" Eren asked snapping me out of my trance. "Yeah! Yeah! . . . I'm fine just a bit shocked, that's all" I reassured him.

"So, what do you suggest?" he asked. "Why don't you do it before we leave the restaurant. And don't worry, I'm sure shell accept" I said and he embraced me.

"You give such good advice [𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞]. I'm glad you're my friend" he said before we went back in the restaurant.

We had our dinner and talked about our future plans and laughed about silly things. After I payed the bill, I which everyone was thankful for, we headed out.

Just then, Eren called out to Mikasa, and as we all turned around, we saw him on one knee holding a small black velvet box in one hand. All the heads in the restaurant turned to their direction.

"Mikasa, we've been together for 3 years now. You were the first person to talk to me on campus. You always listened to me and hung around me even on the toughest of times. Will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?" Eren asked and Mikasa covered her mouth with both her hands and cried "Yes! Yes Eren! I will!" and they kissed.

Everyone was applauding as he slid the ring on her finger. I was feeling numb. I couldn't cry at all.Eren was gone . . . forever.

Everyone was happy for them ever since then. They started planning their wedding involving me in every minor and major decision they made. From the cake to the venue to the wedding dress, they asked for my every opinion. It felt as if they were taunting me but I could do nothing.

The only person who kept me sane throughout all the shambles, was Armin.

When he saw how stressed I was, he would invite me to his place to watch a movie. He was very sweet and has helped me to focus more on other important things other than Eren.

After all the preparations were done, their now had to choose their brides maids and best men.

Eren had of course chosen Armin,Jean and Connie while Mikasa had chosen her other female friends.

Eren had tried to convince Mikasa to let me be one of her brides maids but she refused regardless off how much he pleaded. He only gave up when I had also refused.

I received their wedding invitation a week before and surprisingly, a gift from Eren.

I brought the package inside and when I opened it, there was fabric inside. I took it out and it was a blue sequenced dress that was a short high-low with lacy sleeves. There was something else inside. It was a black long box and inside it was a gold and silver necklace with my name on it and a letter was also inside written;

𝕀 𝕙𝕠𝕡𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕞𝕪 𝕘𝕚𝕗𝕥 [𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞]

ℍ𝕠𝕡𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕒𝕥 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕖𝕕𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘.

𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕓𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕗𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕟𝕕

-𝕰𝖗𝖊𝖓

I took the dress and the necklace and locked it in my wardrobe. I felt happy that even though we hadn't seen each other lately, he still remembered me though . . . it wasn't exactly how I wanted to be remembered by him.

The week flew by and before I knew it, it was the morning of their wedding day. On Sunday 23rd of October. I got ready, took a shower, applied my makeup and did my hair.

I took the dress out along with the necklace. I looked at myself in the mirror and thought about wearing it. If I showed up and didn't wear it, it would make Eren sad, and I didn't want him to have any negative emotions especially on his special day.

I got into my car and got to the venue where different people entered wearing designer clothing and had their hair done nicely. I took my purse and checked if I had everything I needed before heading fo the staircases.

The security outside authorized my invitation card and I was allowed in. I sat in the second row next to Professor Levi since we were close to the bride and groom.

"Why are you here?" he asked staring at me. "Oh! . . . I am Eren's best friend. We've known each other since we were 5" he nodded his head.

Just then Eren walked in wearing a stunning black suit that fit him so well and his hair was in a messy man bun with Jean,Armin and Connie following behind as his best men.

He made his way to the altar and stood there waiting. When he caught a glimpse of me he sent me a wave and a smile which I returned before he looked away.

" You two must be very close" Levi said and I looked down . "Very" I said.

We waited for about an hour and then the bride arrived. I looked at Eren who had a wide toothy grin plastered on his face. Mikasa was in a white wedding dress that hugged her up until her waist and just dripped down to puffiness. Her hair was done in a nice bun leaving some strands of hair on her face. She also wore a tiara like pin that held he veil while she was holding a bouquet of daffodils.

Everyone watched in awe and clapped while all I could do was stare. She was so pretty, no wonder Eren had chosen her.

She reached the altar with her brides maids on her side. They exchanged vows and placed the rings on each others fingers.

Tears started rolling down my cheeks without my permission. "I'm happy as long as he's happy" I said to myself as I wiped my tears.

"You may now kiss the bride" I heard and I stood up as everyone else cheered. I reached the door but before leaving I whispered.

"I love you Eren. I'm sorry I hadn't saud it earlier. But as of now, you wont reciprocate my feelings. I guess it will forever be a

𝕺𝖓𝖊-𝕾𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖉 𝕷𝖔𝖛𝖊"

ǫᴏᴜᴛᴇᴠ ᴀᴄᴄ.:

#eren yeager #eren x you #armin arlert #armin x reader #aot #aot x reader #attack on titan #mikasa ackerman #levi ackerman #jean kristen #connie springer

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waheelawhisperer · 2 years

Note

On the topic of RWBY, and particularly Ironwood: it was my opinion that with Ozpin's secret still fresh in their minds, the police state Atlas fell into under Ironwood's control, and the secret commandos that reports only to him that arrested them, Team RWBY was fully justified in not trusting Ironwood even if he divulged excellent and honest information about a perfectly sound plan. However, I feel the failure in writing was that they never expressed that - Ruby just 'has a feeling'. Thoughts?

Yes, I do in fact have many thoughts on this one, and they've been a long time coming. I'd have gotten this post out sooner, but I had to rewatch Volumes 6 and 7 beforehand and take notes, and that took me forever. Buckle up, because this is going to be a long one.

To respond to the ask directly, I'll be honest: I don't think the writing failed to express that. The characters express their motivations behind the choice at multiple points throughout the Volume, and the narrative throws up red flags over and over again.

Let's start off by recapping the situation at the end of Volume 6:

Team RWBY's trust in authority figures has been severely shaken by the time they get to Atlas. In Volume 5, the following events occurred - Yang learned that Raven (someone who Tai has built up as a complicated but ultimately good person when talking about her) was a coward who was willing to hide behind her to avoid fighting back against Salem; Leonardo Lionheart sold the group out to Salem; Yang specifically mentioned "no more lies and half-truths" when she agreed to follow Ozpin. In Volume 6, the group learned that Ozpin was in fact continuing to tell them lies and half-truths (for justifiable reasons, from his perspective) and Qrow fell off the wagon and started actively hindering the group by forcing them to carry his dead weight. Then they had to deal with Cordovin being stupid and obstructive while Ozpin straight-up dipped and Qrow tried to give up. Every significant authority figure Team RWBY has encountered since the Fall of Beacon except for Maria Calavera and Saphron/Terra has let them down in some way at this point. Is it any wonder they're reluctant to trust Ironwood initially, even without seeing what's actually going on in Atlas?

Then the group actually arrives. Immediately, Weiss and Qrow, the two people most familiar with Atlas, note that something is wrong:

Ruby: Weiss, what is it?

Weiss: The Atlas air fleet... I knew all of our ships were called back, but...

Qrow: They're set up like they're expecting an attack...

(Volume 6, Episode 13).

Right away, before the group ever sets foot in Atlas, the show is sending us a warning: this is not right. This continues in Volume 7's first episode, which throws sign after sign that something is wrong in Atlas at us. Weiss mentions almost immediately that she's "never seen [Atlas's] forces deployed so aggressively before. If we land in a stolen ship, there's no way the security team will let us anywhere near Ironwood. They might even take [Weiss] back to [her] father." Weiss, the native Atlesian, the one who knows this Kingdom the best, tells Maria to put some distance between them and the fleet. Maria, who is also familiar with Atlas because that's where she got her cybernetic eyes, agrees without hesitation. Every character here that knows anything about Atlas except for possibly Blake has made it clear that something is wrong, that this situation makes them nervous... and then once the group descends to Mantle, the show starts absolutely bombarding us with evidence that the group was right to be wary.

As soon as we reach Mantle, Ironwood hits us with a propaganda broadcast with some serious 1984 vibes. Ruby and Yang are clearly worried by this and point out that Ironwood looks tired. Qrow questions what Ironwood's been doing. By this point, the group is visibly concerned about Ironwood's leadership of his Kingdom, and justifiably so. The fleet is deployed in unusual fashion, something is specifically up with Ironwood, and multiple characters familiar with how Atlas normally operates have raised concerns about their first impressions.

Then we touch down in Mantle and see android soldiers in the streets. The civilians aren't happy about this, as the below exchange demonstrates:

Civilian 1: Ugh, not these again.

Civilian 2: Why can't they just leave us be?

In this same scene, we also see Mantas deployed directly over Mantle (where they can't intercept threats before they reach the city, but can conveniently remind the people of Mantle how powerful Atlas is. Don't worry, General Ironwood will protect you... until you step out of line) and a pair of children throwing rocks at a surveillance drone. Our first impression is that the people are... less than enamored with their Kingdom's military. None of the people we see, none of them, act like the presence of Atlesian forces is in any way reassuring.

Weiss agrees. In her words, "this isn't right. None of this is right," (Volume 7, Episode 1). Again, Weiss is the person who grew up in this Kingdom. She lived in Atlas for 17 years. If any member of the group knows what the Kingdom is "supposed" to be like, it's her.

Yang proposes that they ditch the ship, and Qrow (who, again, has worked with Ironwood for years and is a generally well-traveled Huntsman who knows what Atlas was like prior to the Fall of Beacon), agrees. According to Qrow, they need to "get lost in Mantle and buy [themselves] some time" (Volume 7, Episode 1). He's worried about what's going on too, and is advocating for scouting out the situation before making any major decisions.

Weiss still has faith in Winter, right up until Winter decides to join Ironwood in the propaganda broadcast studio. The very first thing she says is this: "Failure to cooperate with Atlas military personnel is a punishable offense. If your sector is under lockdown…" (Volume 7, Episode 1).

That's it. That's the part of the broadcast that we get to hear. There's no attempt at reassurance. There's no attempt to spread unity or convince the people of Mantle that they'll be safe. There is only "comply or you will be punished", which is very part and parcel of Winter's leadership style overall, but that's probably the subject of another post in and of itself. The message Mantle is getting from Winter, and by extension Atlas, in this broadcast is simple: "do as you're told, or I will hurt you".

I'm not 100% sure what Winter means when she mentions sectors of the city being under lockdown, because that's never actually explored as far as I can recall, but just by reading the text and considering the context, we can tell that Atlas is exerting some form of direct, repressive military and/or governmental authority over specific parts of Mantle for whatever reason.

Next up comes this little exchange:

Qrow: No offense, Weiss. I'm not sure that's a good idea anymore.

Weiss: There's obviously something very wrong. If we can just talk to her, then we--

Qrow: Look, I'm not even sure we should be talking to Ironwood until we know exactly what's going on with Mantle.

At this point, Qrow is deeply concerned. He's the most experienced member of the group, the one who's traveled all across Remnant, and the one who knows Ironwood the best, and he says maybe they shouldn't even be talking to Ironwood. Weiss reiterates that something is very wrong in the Kingdom. Again, these are the two who have the best idea of what Atlas is supposed to be like under normal circumstances. I know I keep belaboring that point, but I literally saw a post on r/rwbycritics yesterday that insisted that the group had "no real reason" for mistrusting Ironwood and another one that argued that the Yellow Trailer was bad because Junior and the Malachite twins weren't as important to the plot as Adam, so I kind of have to beat the audience over the head with my points to make sure they get through to the lowest common critical denominator.

For the record, it's Qrow who's making the initial choice to not trust Ironwood, not Team RWBY, even though they're the ones who get all the blame for it. Qrow is the one who says they need to get lost in Mantle to buy time to figure out what's going on, and he's also the one to flat-out raise the possibility that maybe Ironwood shouldn't be trusted at all. The others are wary, but Weiss focuses on contacting Winter, and the rest of the group hasn't taken a particularly strong stance at this point.

As Maria leads the protagonists through the street, we get some interesting background details that are easy to miss on first watch (I certainly did). There are Atlesian Knights stationed throughout the streets, and we see the following headlines on a news board:

"Missing Journalist Found Slain"

"Election Imminent Mantle Hometown Hero vs Atlesian Tycoon"

"Embargo: The Right Call? Pressure and Criticism Continues to Mount on Council"

"Outer Wall Damaged Resources Stalled"

This tells us right here that the people are not happy with their government, that someone is killing members of the press, that there's an election coming up that will be important later, and that the city of Mantle is vulnerable and not getting the resources it needs to shore up its defenses. Honestly, I don't blame anyone for missing this, because it's very easy to overlook unless you're specifically paying attention to the details, but it provides important context regarding the situation in Mantle.

Jaune notices the increased military presence too:

Jaune: Is this many soldiers normal?

Weiss: No. At least, I didn't think so.

Again, the show (via Weiss) is making it as clear as possible that Something Is Wrong in Mantle.

Next up, Yang gets her picture taken by a surveillance drone, because getting up in your citizens' faces and taking their pictures without their consent is the sign of a free and open society, and we continue moving through the city, noting as we do that the propaganda reels are still broadcasting. The other members of the group start voicing their opinions at this point.

Maria: You have to remember, the Kingdom had just lost the Great War. The people of Mantle needed a sign of a brighter future, and that sign was Atlas. After all, a home in the clouds is as bright as it gets.

Nora: Unless you're the one having to look up at it.

Blake: This whole city, it just seems awful.

While Maria's talking about a city in the sky, the people on the ground see trucks moving through the streets, carrying dirty, disheveled, dispirited miners in their beds. Maria's words bring to mind the aesthetics of Mantle in comparison to the bright city in the sky: dirty, grungy, polluted, industrial, miserable. Mantle is very gray, very dark, very brown, unlike the clean, white, light blue, futuristic Atlas. Blake and Nora are unimpressed with the ideal, given that they're looking around them at the people it left behind.

After a brief altercation with a pair of drunks, who, once again, make the point that Mantle is not in a great spot right now, and also racist, we arrive at Pietro's pharmacy. The pharmacy, like everything else in Mantle, is not in great repair, as Yang points out. Pietro starts giving the protagonists the lowdown on Ironwood, establishing both that the Fall of Beacon changed Ironwood, made him paranoid, and that the Council is so scared it'll agree to anything he wants. Taken together, this is not a good sign: one paranoid man who has already been established as prone to solving problems with military force is in control of a Kingdom and the checks and balances that would normally restrain him are not functioning as intended.

An alarm interrupts the conversation, and we follow Team RWBY and company outside, where Oscar observes that "the city defenses aren't doing much", which Nora says "doesn't surprise [her]" (Volume 7, Episode 1). We see a group of Sabyrs attack a squad of Knights, taking them apart without any sign of difficulty, because Atlas's hardware is consistently garbage and its doctrine is consistently stupid. The same pack of Grimm gets dismantled by the heroes and then Penny, but our touching reunion is cut short when another alarm goes off elsewhere in the city and Penny flies off to deal with that.

Meanwhile, the group makes the mistake of relaxing and immediately gets jumped by the Ace-Ops, who were conspicuously absent when people were actually in danger, but are absolutely on top of things when arresting people who did something useful. Keep in mind that during this arrest, the Ace-Ops ambushed the protagonists without so much as a warning or a request to stand down. As a result, the protagonists have no clue what the hell is happening. Oscar asks "What's going on?!" (Volume 7, Episode 1), while Qrow points out that he's "a licensed Huntsman! Just helped save everyone?" (Volume 7, Episode 1). Pietro wonders what the Ace-Ops are "even doing down here in Mantle" (Volume 7, Episode 1), to which Clover responds that they "heard a report of an unauthorized ship making an unauthorized landing, followed by an unauthorized use of weapons by unlicensed Huntsmen" (Volume 7, Episode 1).

Let's go over what this sequence of events tells us about Atlas and its attitude towards Mantle, shall we? First, Grimm attacks in Mantle are so frequent that they happen twice within a few minutes of screentime, and the city's defenses are such a joke that a pack of Sabyrs can penetrate deep enough into the city to reach an area that took the group several in-universe minutes to walk to. The Atlesian Knights are so useless at their stated job that they get stomped by basic mook Grimm so weak that fucking Jaune kills two of them with minimal effort, but hey, at least they're good at reminding the citizens of Mantle who's really in charge. The Mantas and battleships deployed above Mantle do not take part in the engagement in any way and make no effort to prevent the Sabyrs from reaching the city to begin with. What they do accomplish, if they accomplish anything at all, is intimidating the populace.

According to Forest (the protestor in Volume 7, Episode 2), the Ace-Ops are "the elite-of-elite military Huntsmen and Ironwood's personal attack dogs" (Volume 7, Episode 2), and having an encounter with them means "Ironwood must really have a bone to pick with [the protagonists]" (Volume 7, Episode 2). Despite this, despite their status as elite Huntsmen, the Ace-Ops do not engage the invading Grimm at any point on screen during this sequence of events, but they are right there to capture the people who actually do the moment the threat is gone. Again, these Huntsmen are not keeping Mantle safe, and usually aren't even there to defend a city under regular threat from the Grimm. They are, however, able to locate and apprehend the protagonist group with little difficulty, which tells us a lot about where Ironwood's priorities are.

The "use of unauthorized weaponry" thing is also very telling to me, because this is a world where humanity lives under a constant existential threat and thus the ability to own a weapon and defend oneself from the Grimm seems like something people on Remnant should be fundamentally entitled to, but evidently not in Atlas. Nope, in this Kingdom, you need government permission to protect yourself from giant monsters that want to eat your face. Maybe it's because I live in Texas, where gun culture is pervasive, but this restriction definitely feels... off... to me. Remnant isn't the real world, where I fully support stricter gun control, because in the real world I'm not likely to be eaten by a Hulked out grizzly bear while walking from the bus stop to my office while the cops who are supposed to stop it from ripping my head off are too busy arresting the guy who shot it before it could kill me for not having a concealed carry permit. It makes sense for people to be armed in Remnant in a way that isn't necessary in the real world because the people of Remnant face real and pervasive threats that don't exist in reality, and Atlas arresting the protagonists for having weapons is a sign of executive overreach if that's truly the driving force behind their arrest, rather than the unauthorized airship landing in Mantle. Whether it is or not, it's still presented as part of the justification, which means the problems I mentioned still apply.

In fairness to Ironwood's supporters, the show goes to great lengths to present him as an ally, a good guy, despite all the red flags he's been throwing up since his very first appearance. A key accomplishment of the writing, necessary for the ultimate resolution of Volume 7, is making it seem like Ironwood is doing his best to do the right thing, that all the problems we've seen are temporary rather than systemic, that the initial bad impressions were the result of a miscommunication rather than a fundamental ideological opposition.

Let's go back for a bit, all the way to Volumes 2 and 3, where Ironwood demonstrates that his solution to everything is military force. We see him wrest control of the Vytal Festival's security away from Ozpin by going behind his back, but Ironwood's conviction regarding his own rectitude is set against Ozpin's negligence, his failure to anticipate the threat and respond appropriately. One does too much, the other does too little, and neither is 100% in the right.

In Volume 3, when Ironwood's equipment is compromised, we see him personally protect the students and civilians evacuating from the Amity Colosseum, attempt to retake his flagship, and then fight on the front lines in Vale. Yes, Cinder exploited his mistakes and attitudes and blind spots to cause the current crisis, the narrative says, but look at him! He's fighting bravely to protect the vulnerable! Qrow says he knows Ironwood would never deliberately do something like this! He's a good guy!

Once we get to Volume 4, we're already getting hints of where Ironwood's paranoia and authoritarian tendencies will lead him. Jacques calls him out on his embargo and points out that Ironwood is a friend with whom he has a close working relationship, thus tying Ironwood to the bad things the SDC does, but we're encouraged to ignore that because it's being directed at a heroic character by a villain who we already know abuses one of the four main protagonists. Like, at this point in the story, we're obviously going to pick Ironwood over Jacques, given that Jacques is the villain of Weiss's Volume 4 storyline and Klein and Ironwood are her main allies. It's very easy to overlook the implications of Ironwood's behavior when the thing in the forefront of our minds is "get Weiss away from her abuser".

In Volume 6, Cordovin gives us a glimpse of the arrogance that characterizes Atlesian society, but before we have the chance to cement the hypothesis that it's endemic to the Atlesian military, Maria defuses it by proposing that Cordovin holds her post because Atlas wants to get rid of her. This changes the story's presentation of Cordovin's attitude: instead of her views being pervasive, Cordovin's just a prick that even the other Atlesians can't stand, especially when contrasted with the warmer and more generous Ironwood. Ultimately, Cordovin proves to be courageous and heroic and not so bad after all in the Volume 6 finale, when she finishes off the Leviathan and goes against protocol to let the heroes travel to Atlas. It makes Atlas seem like a Kingdom that's a bit blunt and arrogant and hidebound, but ultimately well-meaning and leaves us inclined to give Atlas the benefit of the doubt once the story takes us there.

Let's head back to Volume 7 proper, because the story continues showing us the warning signs and then sweeping them under the rug by providing harmless alternative explanations for them before we even meet Ironwood. When Forest is in the police airship, he introduces the Happy Huntresses and their fight for better conditions in Mantle, their attempts to mitigate the damage done by the class divide and exacerbated by Ironwood's policies, but then the soldiers flying the aircraft point out that what he actually did was throw a brick at their ship. This changes our perspective of Forest from someone unjustly arrested for fighting back against a tyrannical government to a bonehead who is justifiably being punished for attempting to damage government property. It's no accident that the show does this, reframes the Atlas/Mantle conflict, right before we see Ironwood.

Once we actually arrive at Atlas Academy, the writing immediately humanizes Ironwood, and by extension Atlas as a whole: Winter insists that the cuffs be removed, Ironwood apologizes for their initial arrest, and Yang is really the only one who bothers trying to hold Atlas accountable for it, because Yang's tolerance for bullshit from sketchy authority figures is the lowest of the main group's at this point. Ironwood just kind of laughs off the group's theft of an airship (Winter is less inclined to do so, but she still frames her concern in terms of Weiss's physical safety more than anything else), he returns the Relic of Knowledge, and he brings them into his inner circle. Ironwood has demonstrably reached out to trust others with his secret knowledge (Winter, Penny, the Ace-Ops) and has even acknowledged that the group is justified in thinking he's not very trustworthy right now*. He tells them his plan, agrees with the group's assessment of the negative impacts of his actions, and then reveals new information that offers a justification for his policies and promises to defend all of Remnant. It's meant to convince the viewer that he's a well-meaning leader making difficult choices that create temporary hardship while he works toward a permanent solution and hide the way that Atlas fundamentally doesn't give a shit about Mantle or its struggles. Judging by the reaction of certain segments of the fanbase, it, uh... worked.

*As an aside, I always find it funny when people act like not trusting Ironwood is some kind of horrific sin, like Team RWBY should have accepted his authority unquestioningly, when even the man himself admits that he can see why they wouldn't, but whatever.

The narrative continues trying to convince us that ha ha, this was just a wacky misunderstanding, when the Ace-Ops get properly introduced and immediately rush to apologize. Suddenly, they're cute and funny and sincere rather than threatening, gushing over the protagonists and participating in the same type of slapstick comedy as the other heroic characters. The Ace-Ops become mentors over the next few episodes, rather than antagonists, alternately supporting and lightly hazing the protagonists while training them and working with them on routine Huntsman missions or the Amity project. The training montage shows the kids growing closer to the Ace-Ops, and it's clear by the end of the Volume that both groups genuinely care about one another, otherwise their ultimate opposition wouldn't have cut everyone involved so deeply.

The narrative continues building Ironwood up as likeable and well-meaning throughout the next few episodes. When Jaune calls Ironwood out on his treatment of Mantle in Pomp and Circumstance, Ironwood accepts it without argument and even agrees, even when Jaune's worried about the response - "No. No, you're right. Things in Mantle have been... hard to manage lately. I'm not blind to its issues. In fact, that's what I want to talk to you about" (Volume 7, Episode 4). He gives the group their licenses two years early, he acknowledges their concerns and encourages them to take missions to help Mantle, and he's set up in opposition to established villain Jacques Schnee. He even gives an awkward speech that makes him seem a little goofy, and Penny points out that as awkward as it is, it's still an improvement over previous attempts. At this point, the narrative is just screaming that we should be rooting for Ironwood.

Even so, there are a lot of details in the background that tell us that yeah, those red flags we were worried about in The Greatest Kingdom are still there. They didn't go away. Watts mentions that "while cybersecurity has been stepped up in Atlas, as usual, none of the code was updated in Mantle," (Volume 7, Episode 2), while Tyrian calls Mantle "a city with a thousand eyes" (Volume 7, Episode 2) and we see security cameras all around the city. The infrastructure functions well enough to let Atlas keep tabs on Mantle, but nobody's put any effort into protecting that same infrastructure from cyberattacks... even though Atlas was deemed worthy of that effort. Once again, the point of Atlas's so-called defenses is controlling Mantle, rather than protecting it.

On top of that, Atlesian law apparently gives the military the right to commandeer private property. Jacques complains about Ironwood taking over the mine the protagonists clear out in Ace Operatives. Ironwood responds that since the mine is "now the site of a classified military operation, it didn't even require a vote" (Volume 7, Episode 3), a fact that shocks Jacques. This is... a pretty significant application of government power, especially for someone like me, who's used to thinking of things in terms of American government and the powers therein. While the United States government can take private land for public purposes through the process of eminent domain, it must compensate the landowner fairly for the land claimed in this fashion. Jacques was not compensated, and, as far as I can tell, may not have even been formally notified by the government, nor do there appear to be any checks on the military's ability to seize property as long as that seizure can be justified under the "classified operation" umbrella, but the narrative doesn't really give us much time to dwell on that. Instead, it focuses on Jacques's confrontation with Weiss and Ironwood and Team RWBY standing up for her. Once again, the story near-instantly deflects our attention away from the ugly truths behind Atlas's pretty mask.

This is freaking dangerous, honestly. In Atlas, it seems that your property can be confiscated at any time, with no warning or compensation, as long as the military can provide the flimsiest of justifications. Sure, taking the mine had a legitimate purpose, but what's stopping someone with Ironwood's power and authority from just taking other property to harm or punish a rival or dissenter? The middle of Volume 7 makes a big deal about the military's lack of oversight, but I'll get into that later.

Even the missions the protagonists go on reveal cracks in the foundations. Marrow makes fun of the parents down in Mantle for wanting Huntsmen to escort the kids to school, claiming that there's "not actually any danger, but the parents fret, and that attracts Grimm" (Volume 7, Episode 4), but frankly, from what we saw in The Greatest Kingdom, those parents are right to be afraid. Grimm routinely penetrate deep into the city, both through the streets and through other paths, as Elm asks for volunteers to flush a "massive Sabyr" (Volume 7, Episode 4) out of the sewers. If I had a kid in pre-primary school, which I'm assuming is equivalent to preschool in the US based on the appearance of the children Jaune escorts, I'd sure as hell want to make sure they didn't get eaten on the way too!

The decision not to trust Ironwood is controversial even in-universe, and the group discusses it in the third and fourth episodes of the Volume:

Blake: I suddenly don't feel as bad about leaving Oscar behind.

Yang: Can we talk about that again?

Ruby: What about it?

Yang: We're really not gonna tell Ironwood about what happened to Oz? What we learned about Jinn? About Salem?

Ruby: We are. We will. But you saw how things looked when we flew into Atlas.

Blake: The General's heart seems to be in the right place, but that doesn't mean we should trust him yet.

Weiss: We need to play along for a while before we make any major decisions.

Yang: Okay. How did Oscar feel about that?

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Ruby: Er, probably shouldn't keep running around with an ancient Relic on a keychain… you know?

Oscar: But--

Ruby: I know you'll keep it safe in Atlas.

Oscar: Ruby, hiding things from Ironwood, doesn't that feel like what Ozpin did to us?

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Qrow: Big day for you, huh, kiddo?

Ruby: It's… definitely a lot to take in.

Qrow: Which part? The finally getting to Atlas part, getting your license part, or the not quite disclosing everything to Ironwood part? Or… all of the above?

Ruby: All of the above. I'm trying to do what I think is best, but I really can't tell if what's best is what's right, or if I'm no different from Oz.

Qrow: Ruby, Oz only trusted himself with the whole truth. You're trusting others, but you're making sure they prove themselves first. I think that's a pretty big difference.

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It's clear from these conversations that nobody's really happy about lying to Ironwood. Yang's detractors love to call her a hypocrite for supporting the decision to lie to Ironwood, but she's the first one to raise concerns about it, despite all the valid reasons for the choice, and Ruby reassures her that they will tell Ironwood eventually. Funnily enough, Yang gets so much flak for following Ruby's lead here, but she also gets bagged on for not obeying Ironwood's authority unquestioningly later on in the Volume. I wonder what the difference is here. I really do.

Ruby emphasizes the fact that she doesn't know if this is the right choice, and multiple characters actively draw a parallel between her actions and Ozpin's. The key difference here, as Qrow points out, is that Ruby intends to grant Ironwood full disclosure later on, once she's sure he'll be able to handle the news, whereas Ozpin would've kept his secrets until the end of time, and did play his cards as close to the chest as he could until Ruby used one of Jinn's questions to learn what he was hiding. Ruby does ultimately come clean, trusting Ironwood at the same time as he chooses to trust Robyn and Atlas's Council, so she's not just maliciously deceiving Ironwood the way some people like to claim.

Even later, when Yang and Blake tell Robyn about the Amity project, the divide remains. Here's the conversation where Blake and Yang discuss telling Ironwood:

Yang: Do you… Do you think we should've told Ironwood about Salem, before he put so much on the line for Amity?

Blake: Sounds like you do.

Yang: I trust Ruby, but I think he deserves to know what he's stepping into. We all did.

Yang: You don't agree.

Blake: Look around. The embargo, the military presence, the restrictions on assembly. He's a bit prone to overreacting.

Yang: Yeah, hard to argue with that. Still, he didn't have a lot of good options.

Blake: I'm not sure there are many good options left for any of us anymore. Keeping secrets, taking lives? It makes you wonder how far we're gonna have to go to keep doing the right thing.

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Yang, "the self-righteous hypocrite", remains consistent in her characterization: being upset about lies and lying, about hiding the truth and having it hidden, has been a thing for her since like Volume fucking 2, but people who pay no attention to anything act like this came out of nowhere. Yang's big conflict with Ozpin is about how she feels like she and her friends were manipulated into joining the battle against Salem without ever being told enough to make informed choices, so it's no wonder she's upset about leaving Ironwood in the dark: it's exactly what happened to her!

Blake, meanwhile, spells out exactly why not trusting Ironwood is eminently justifiable. I really don't know how much harder the narrative can hit the audience over the head with this theme, but evidently it needed to find a way to do it harder.

Something really interesting to me is the way the group splits between favoring Ruby's choice and protesting it. The ones who agree with not trusting Ironwood the most have all been in abusive situations: Blake was in a relationship with Adam, Weiss has an abusive father, Nora's mother literally abandoned her to the Grimm, and Qrow was treated like shit by the Branwen Tribe. By contrast, Yang and Ruby had a more normal home life (Taiyang's temporary struggles after Summer's disappearance notwithstanding) and the show hasn't provided any evidence of either of them having romantic relationships of any kind prior to the series, much less abusive ones, while Ren's parents clearly loved him and nothing about the limited details provided regarding Oscar's living situation implies that he was abused in any way. We see Ironwood grow increasingly abusive throughout his decline in Volume 8, and Winter, another person raised in an abusive household, responds to his behavior with the same ingrained reactions she would have used to protect Weiss from Jacques when he tries to shoot Marrow. She's also absolutely freaking terrified when Harriet rats her out. Taken together, I think this is a deliberate choice from the writers. I think the characters who have experienced abuse saw something about Ironwood that made them wary.

So by this point most of the audience is now firmly on Ironwood's side. He's managed to overcome the initial bad impression, despite those niggling little details, so now the narrative introduces sympathetic opposition in the form of Robyn Hill. We've heard of her before, but we don't get to actually meet her until Sparks, when she holds up the truck that Ruby, Penny, Qrow, and Clover are escorting on a supply run. The transcript of their conversation is below:

Ruby: Uh, Uncle Qrow.

Qrow: What's going on? Grimm?

Clover: No. Worse. You two with me. Penny, stay put and keep an eye on our six. We may need an element of surprise.

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Interesting start to the conversation here. Clover considers Robyn worse than the Grimm and is worried that their encounter might come to blows. This suggests that Robyn is living up to her inspiration and protecting the downtrodden by violent means if necessary and that Clover views her as a more significant threat than your average Grimm or bandit, despite the fact that she's running for a Council seat specifically to better Mantle's lot.

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Penny: Affirmative. I will plan for six possible outcomes.

Robyn: Alright ladies, time to show them our teeth.

Clover: Robyn! Well, if it isn't Mantle's home town hero. Is there a reason you're blocking an official military transport?

Robyn: Clover, I'm so glad you're here. Maybe you can help me understand why this truck that's supposed to be taking construction materials to fix Mantle's outer wall, is on its way to the middle of nowhere? Are you lost?

Clover: It's pretty easy to get turned around out here in the tundra, everything looks the same. Thanks for checking up on us though. We'll be on our way now.

Robyn: I was hoping you'd play it straight with me. What's Ironwood doing with Amity at the old SDC mine?

Clover: Oh, that. Just giving her an annual checkup.

Robyn: The next Vytal Festival isn't anytime soon. Only automated drones and a few select Atlas scientists are allowed out here. And Amity's getting invaluable resources we need in Mantle to protect against Grimm. Seems like more than just a check-up.

Clover: You've been scoping it out.

Robyn: We can't fix the wall without the supplies on these trucks. I think Mantle deserves to know what they're being used for. It doesn't have to be difficult. Just tell me.

Clover: I'm going to have to pass on that.

Robyn: How 'bout you, pipsqueak? Five o' clock shadow? Either of you want to tell me why Mantle's being put at risk for Ironwood's pet project?

Ruby: We're trying to help Mantle. We need--

Clover: That's enough Robyn. As a potential Councilwoman, you should probably focus on the election instead of harassing Huntsmen. Now, it's time to let us pass.

Robyn: I think you've misjudged the situation. One way or another, these supplies are going to get where they're supposed to go - Mantle.

Clover: Then I suggest you do that through the proper legal channels as a Councilwoman. If you get elected.

Robyn: Now where's the fun in that?

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This conversation tells us a lot about Robyn's operational patterns, and they remain consistent throughout both Volumes 7 and 8. First, she initiates dialogue. She gives Clover a chance to just tell her the truth, hoping he'll meet her halfway. When he doesn't, she asks some more pointed questions, hoping to convince him to come clean once he realizes she knows more then he thinks. Clover stonewalls her again, and she starts applying a bit of pressure. By this point in the conversation, she isn't even trying to convince him to hand over the supplies. She's just asking what they're being used for. My reading of this scene is that if Clover had given her a genuine answer, if Clover had taken her hand and told her that yeah, there's a real strategic reason supplies are being diverted from Mantle, she would have accepted it, backed off, and focused on the election... but he doesn't, so now that it's clear that Clover is not going to address her concerns, she moves to force as a last resort. Robyn even reaches out to Ruby and Qrow, trying to get them to offer her an explanation, before deciding that she's going to take the supplies that Mantle desperately needs by force.

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Penny: Robyn Hill. I would like to politely ask that you call off the Huntresses approaching the rear of the truck.

Robyn: Alright. Joanna, May!

Robyn: The Protector of Mantle, huh?

Penny: Let us through, please.

Clover: Robyn. Good luck at the election.

Qrow: That was a close one.

Clover: You're telling me.

Fiona: What now?

Robyn: I want to know why Amity Colosseum is suddenly so important. Whatever it takes.

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Robyn backs down once Penny reveals herself, though I'm not sure if that's because she thinks the odds are against her or because of either the genuine moral conflict or simply the optics of forcing a confrontation with the official Protector of Mantle. Either way, she's still focusing on why Amity Colosseum is a priority, rather than getting the supplies for Mantle no matter what, which implies to me that Robyn is still willing to accept a valid explanation for the Amity project. She's still trying to solve things diplomatically. She's trying to help Mantle and incurring real personal risk in doing so. Contrast her with Jacques, who's only concerned with his personal wealth and is spewing cringeworthy platitudes about how his family "has been weathering the same storm as many of you" (Volume 7, Episode 5), which goes over great with the miners slaving away for his company. We get some interesting headlines during his press conference, which I have transcribed below:

"Missing Journalist Found Slain In Her Midtown Apartment"

"Perimeter Wall Damaged Last Month - Resources and Funding Are Stalled"

"Surface Level Grimm Attacks Increasing - Mantle Protection Agency Advises Staying Indoors"

"Weather Special - How to Keep You and Your Family Safe From Hypothermia and Frostbite"

Ironwood's opponents are still being killed. Mantle's defenses are still crap, and no one in power has bothered changing that. Grimm attacks are increasing, to no one's surprise. The Solitas cold is still dangerous. We're pretty well-insulated with our viewpoint characters up in Atlas, but the show is quietly reminding us that it's not all sunshine and rainbows down in Mantle.

Jacques closes down his facilities and lays off workers, starting a riot, and the next episode opens up with those same rioters arrested and cuffed. Once again, the soldiers aren't doing much to stop the frequent Grimm attacks, but when it comes to turning force against Mantle's populace, there are plenty of troops available. Despite all this, Robyn is still trying to solve things diplomatically. She's not condoning the rioting, even though Mantle is "being denied aid for the hardships [it's] already had to go through" (Volume 7, Episode 6), and asks that her supporters "show [their anger] not in the streets but at the polls today" (Volume 6, Episode 7). Sure, part of this is probably because she thinks she's going to win the Council seat, but she is trying very hard to keep lines of communication open and encourage peaceful solutions as long as doing so is tenable.

After the riot, Nora mentions that Mantle is, y'know, still a problem. Ironwood kind of acknowledges this, but he doesn't actually take steps to solve that problem, which is becoming a common theme with him at this point: someone points out that his policies are hurting Mantle, he agrees and expresses regret for the necessity, he promises that the strain is only temporary, and then he never actually does anything about it. He puts the burden on Robyn to be open to working together when he says "it will only work if she's open too" (Volume 7, Episode 6). Fortunately for Ironwood, the audience is still on his side at this point. We've seen that he's trying, we've seen that Robyn is willing to reach out when she tries to get Clover to give her something, anything, out on the tundra, so we have hope that things will get better, even though we know as viewers that things need to go to shit to progress the narrative... which they do, at the rally, where we see that there are surveillance drones present and not even bothering to not be invasive. Damn things would probably try to follow you into the bathroom if they got the chance. Atlas is always watching you, folks, but it's not to keep you safe...

Post-massacre, Ironwood starts really clamping down. We start the episode off with a measure that should freak the absolute hell out of American viewers specifically, transcribed below:

Ironwood: Citizens of Mantle - Following the most recent Grimm attack, a temporary prohibition of assembly is in place.

Ironwood: There are to be no public gatherings of any kind. Please conduct your business and return to your homes before curfew.

Ironwood: This is for your own safety.

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Ironwood has denied the people of Mantle the right to assemble. Here's why I said it should send up massive red flags for American viewers: assembly is a right explicitly granted in the Bill of Rights, the first ten formal amendments to the United States Constitution. It's part of the First Amendment, as a matter of fact. Here is the text of the amendment for anyone not familiar with it: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

"Congress shall make no law... abridging... the right of the people peaceably to assemble". That's the important part here. While Atlas is not real-world America (it's based partly on America, but is not a 1-to-1 representation), RWBY is made by an American company for a primarily American audience, and I sincerely doubt the writers are unaware of the implications of showing a government infringing upon rights that damn near every American old enough to have taken a government/history class is well aware of. This was a deliberate choice, it has to be, and it shows very clearly that Ironwood is less concerned with protecting Mantle and more concerned with controlling it. Oh, he couches it in terms of protection, but the populace of Mantle doesn't seem to agree with him. The citizens hide and flee from the soldiers, rather than looking toward them for safety and reassurance. Children on the street hide from surveillance drones. And Robyn Hill has finally resorted to violence.

Robyn has no options left. She tried to do things the right way. She tried to do things legally. She tried to work with the people in power. And none of that got her a damn thing. Jacques Schnee is sitting on the Council, and she knows he won't help Mantle. Ironwood won't help Mantle. Councilors Sleet and Camilla won't help Mantle. Three of the four Councilors have neglected Mantle for months at minimum, more likely years. The other one is Jacques Schnee. Robyn is the only one who will do a damn thing for Mantle at this point, and if that means taking on the might of Atlas, so be it.

This leads into the most significant line of dialogue in this entire mid-Volume election storyline: "I want Robyn Hill in custody" (Volume 7, Episode 7). I'll get to the implications of that in a moment, but first I'd like to discuss the way the narrative brings up martial law. I've seen people go after Winter for saying this, and I can sort of get why, but I think blaming her for it ignores the context of the scene. First, Ironwood is literally the highest military authority in the Kingdom and a control freak on top of that. The idea of declaring martial law is not something likely to ever be far from his mind. Winter's answering a direct question by bringing up an alternative that her boss is hardly likely to be ignorant of, and I don't think she's advocating it here. If she was, she would've encouraged it in private, not brought it up in front of the only group of people that has actually consistently gotten Ironwood to back down, that she knows will protest any measure of this nature. I think Winter's raising the possibility of martial law because she doesn't want it placed in effect, because she hopes the protagonists can get through to Ironwood again and moderate his more dangerous tendencies.

It works, kind of. Nora calls Ironwood out. It's a confrontation that's been building since the start of the Volume, and while I really think Nora's stance on Mantle should've gone to Blake, who got absolutely jack shit to do in a story arc where she should've been front and center next to Weiss, it's still the first big moment where the show says "okay, yeah, Ironwood's at serious risk of going from the well-meaning good guy we saw in early Volume 7 to an outright danger to the people he thinks he's protecting". Here's the transcript:

Nora: You're not actually considering that, are you?

Ironwood: What's more important? Establishing communications, unite the world? Or appeasing a few city blocks?

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Ironwood reduces Mantle to "a few city blocks", rather than a city full of living, breathing people that is the main reason Atlas is even possible. The mask is starting to come off. It's getting harder and harder to deny that Atlas only really views Mantle as something to exploit.

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Nora: Don't make it sound trivial when you know it isn't. You keep talking about how we just need a little more time, but you're not the one having to struggle.

Ironwood: We have all had to make sacrifices for the greater good. Mantle has had to bear a lot of the burden, yes, but--

Nora: They're bearing all of it! The longer this waiting game goes on, the harder each day gets for people down there and now you wanna send in more soldiers? You can't just force people to fall in line. If you do that, you'll just be trading all of these problems for the Grimm!

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Thank you, Nora. Mantle is the one suffering. What sacrifices has Atlas made? Who in Atlas is living in fear of constant Grimm attacks? Who in Atlas is losing their jobs? Who in Atlas has been stripped of essential rights, denied at gunpoint? Sure, soldiers have died clearing out Grimm (at the hands of the Geist that hunkered down in the mine, if nothing else), but that pales in comparison to the way Mantle's civilians don't even have a fucking functional wall to keep the Grimm out. Ironwood sacrificed his damn reputation. He sacrificed public opinion. Meanwhile, people in Mantle don't know if they'll survive the trip to work, or if they'll even have a job when they get there.

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Ruby: Please, General Ironwood. Squeezing Mantle this way… That kind of division plays right into Salem's hands.

Ruby: That's why Tyrian is here framing you.

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Ruby's right. Salem's plan specifically hinges upon exploiting Ironwood's character flaws, particularly his stubborn insistence on doing everything himself, in the way he thinks best. Tyrian states that "if General Ironwood comes to his senses and calls upon aid from Vacuo, all may be lost for us" (Volume 6, Episode 9). Salem is deliberately targeting Ironwood, and he's falling right into her trap by fostering division and unrest instead of unity.

Anyway, the reason all this came up in the first place was because of Robyn. According to Ironwood, "Robyn has emboldened our suppliers in Mantle. They're refusing to sell us provisions until the city is adequately repaired. With Robyn redistributing the goods her team has stolen, the Amity Project is completely stalled" (Volume 7, Episode 7). This line is why the insistence that Robyn accomplished nothing by stealing the supplies has always baffled me. Ironwood literally says that Robyn's actions have given Mantle enough of a backbone to stand up to Ironwood and Atlas and enough teeth to make Atlas take its defiance seriously. The connection, to me, was always pretty clear: Robyn takes supplies, Mantle isn't completely and utterly dependent on Atlas and now has leverage to demand better treatment, Mantle demands better treatment. Robyn's vigilante justice got results. r/rwbycritics really likes to whine about how the supplies Atlas needs for the communication tower aren't the same as the supplies Mantle needs to repair the wall, but this absolutely galaxy-brained take ignores the way that the narrative repeatedly points out that the supplies for the Amity Project are being diverted from Mantle (Sparks, Worst Case Scenario) and that the communications tower requires construction materials that have a wide variety of industrial uses (steel, concrete, etc.) in addition to highly specialized parts and equipment. It's not really a stretch to assume that building materials for the structure of a tower could also be used to repair the damn wall, but I guess it's easier to crap on Robyn for defying Ironwood's policies, which the narrative has explicitly pointed out are harmful to Mantle, than think for two seconds.

Now we get to the elephant in the room: "I want Robyn Hill in custody." In custody. That's what he says. Not "under arrest". Not "stopped". Not "brought to trial". In custody. Ironwood wants Robyn under his control, he wants her removed as a threat, and he doesn't give a damn about the law or her rights to get it.

I don't blame anyone for not realizing the implications of his phrasing right away. I certainly didn't. I needed a tumblr post I saw a while back to point it out, just the same way I'm going to now. The key to understanding why Ironwood's words are so insidious comes in the next episode, when Jacques Schnee casually invites her to his victory bash. Robyn shows up alone, with no backup, and none of the Council members except for Ironwood have a problem with it. Ironwood makes no attempt to arrest her, even though she's alone and he has both his personal goon squad and the apprentice goon squad all within 100 feet of him. Robyn, a trained Huntress, walks into a room with three Councilors, none of whom have any training or possibly even Aura, and none of the three bat an eye. They don't see her as a threat.

How is this possible when Ironwood was trying to apprehend her last episode, you may ask? Simple: he never got a warrant. He never tried to formally arrest her. He sent a team of Navy SEALs if Navy SEALs were also cops to black bag her off the street. This was a black operation, so highly classified that Atlas's highest civilian authorities didn't even know about it. Ironwood tried to kidnap his opposition in the middle of the night. There was no warrant. There was no trial. He never formally charged her with a crime. He didn't inform civilian authorities that he was issuing orders to arrest Robyn. He just sent his squad to grab her with no oversight, no accountability, and no concern for due process or the rights of the accused. Between this and the confiscation of the SDC mine for the Amity project, it's obvious that the Atlesian military regularly engages in classified operations without bothering to brief civilian authorities, which is a major red flag because civilian control of the military is meant to reduce the risk of a military coup. It's why the President of the United States is also the official commander-in-chief of the US Armed Forces. There are no such checks and balances on Ironwood.

Robyn gives no fucks about any of that. Oh, she's smart enough to put the pieces together when Ironwood's team tries to nab her and she gets invited to a party not a day later by another Councilor, but she also has testicles the size of her head and knows it's the last chance she has to help Mantle without taking on the entire Atlesian military, so she goes anyway. In addition to having massive genitals, Robyn's also smart and knows how to play politics. Notice how in both Cordially Invited and As Above, So Below, she uses the name "Atlas" instead of "Mantle". That's a deliberate choice. She knows she's the only one in that room who gives a damn about Mantle, so she frames it in terms of the part of the Kingdom the people she's appealing to will care about. It works, sort of. Once the whole scene in the mansion is over, Mantle and Atlas are presenting a united front for once and we get the last bit of hope before the climax of the Volume, but even then, the devil is in the details.

While this whole election plotline is going on, the narrative is still slipping us hints that Atlas is not to be trusted. Pietro points out that "hacking into Mantle's system would be easy. Fortunately, the rest of Atlas is running on an upgraded network" (Volume 7, Episode 7). Once again, Atlas gets the upgrades, Mantle makes do with the scraps. The heating system, which is all that keeps the people of Mantle alive in the Solitas cold, is stuck running on this outdated infrastructure, and nobody has bothered to upgrade it. Remember as well that Tyrian and Watts are successfully framing Ironwood for the murder of his political opposition. For that to work, the people of Mantle have to be so disillusioned with Atlas's rule that Ironwood using force to eliminate his political opponents is believable to people he's supposedly protecting.

Up in Atlas, Ironwood's trying to come up with a response while his robots break up groups of people trying to survive in deadly weather conditions instead of engaging the Grimm drawn by the negativity. Robyn suggests using the air fleet the way it was supposed to be fucking used in the first place, but Ironwood shuts that down when he points out that "if [he] move[s] the fleet, then Atlas is vulnerable. I… I tried to keep the kingdom safe. And now we're losing everything" (Volume 7, Episode 9). Mantle is under attack now. Mantle is vulnerable now. The troops on the ground need support now. Ironwood still refuses to deploy the fleet. His priority is still Atlas. It was always Atlas. It will always be Atlas. Mantle will never be more than an afterthought as long as Ironwood is the sole person in charge. It only ever becomes anything else during the brief moments where he reaches out and starts working alongside people who actually care about Mantle.

The battle itself, as we eventually come to expect from Atlas, is a nightmare. A massive herd of Megoliaths waltzes right into the city and the only thing stopping them are a few soldiers on the battlements and some droids standing in the hole in the wall that still hasn't been repaired. The battleships never engage anything. The battleships aren't even visible during the scenes set in Mantle... but you can sure as hell see them when we cut back to Atlas Academy. We see them right out Ironwood's window. They're still protecting what Ironwood thinks is really important, while the people in Mantle don't even have adequate shelters:

Blake: Head to the nearest shelter!

Yang: Those shelters are gonna fill up soon.

Elm: They're all we've got. We just have to hold off the Grimm.

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Protecting Mantle is a losing battle until Ironwood finally commits to evacuating everyone, and even that doesn't last long. The moment Cinder spooks him, he's ready to abandon Mantle to its fate.

To sum things up, Ironwood only ever helps Mantle when he can do so without working for it, when someone pressures him into it, and he stops doing so as soon as he can. He routinely denies his citizens essential rights, defaults to force as a solution to problems, insists on controlling everything around him, and actively believes that sacrificing his own humanity (and sacrifice in general) is the only way to beat Salem. Taking everything I've talked about into account, it's not surprising that Team RWBY doesn't trust him, nor is it surprising that some members of the audience got lured in by the reassurances the narrative offered to soothe away the fears the state of his Kingdom evokes.

This would've been even longer and maybe even had some pretty pictures, but fucking tumblr posted it before I was ready, so that's just one more reason this platform can eat shit.

#rwby #analysis #james ironwood #ruby rose #weiss schnee #blake belladonna #yang xiao long #robyn hill #oscar pine

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otdiaftg · 6 months

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Andrew turns to other matters.

"Speaking of the other Minyard…" Andrew let go of Neil and grinned at Wymack. He raised his voice so Wymack could hear and asked, "He really did it, didn't he? Probably the most decisive thing he's ever managed. Where was that spine when his mother was beating him? It would have come in handy all those years. Someone ought to congratulate him." "Aaron is under arrest," Betsy said. "Why don't you come inside so we can talk about it?" Andrew turned a surprised look on her. "Are you still here, Bee?" "For a few moments longer," Betsy said. "The milk's almost done heating. I picked some up on the way over so we could have some cocoa. I brought the entire canister of the dark chocolate hazelnut with me. If we start drinking it now, we could probably make ourselves sick off of it by midnight." Neil couldn't believe her. Chocolate wasn't a fix-it; it wouldn't make any of this easier to stomach. Except a moment later Andrew dragged Neil's arm around where he could get a look at Neil's watch and said, "You think of everything, Bee. We'll be in soon." Betsy nodded and went inside. When she was gone Andrew tried again to get his hand free. Neil still held fast. Andrew turned a look on him that was too amused to be exasperated. "Better luck next time, Neil," he said. "I warned you once already, didn't I? I don't feel anything." "Anymore," Neil said, barely a whisper. The old scars up and down Andrew's wrists were evidence of how far Andrew had to fall to hit this point. Neil finally let go of him and let his hand fall limp to his side. Andrew gave an exaggerated shrug and spun on his heel. Neil watched him disappear through the doorway.

Day: Sunday, November 12th Time: 7:23 PM EST

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pascaloverx · 4 months

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As It Was (S2)

Chapter Twelve

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Summary: You have a bold idea that obviously leads you and Bucky into an argument. Who doesn't like a wedding?

Author's note: Dear readers, I will be writing this fanfic again. This second season will have shorter chapters and it will probably take me a little longer to update the fanfic but I hope you like it!

MINORS DO NOT INTERACT WITH THIS STORY, there may be adult content and verbal and physical violence.

"That's the craziest invention you've ever had, Melisa. Did your ex-husband agree to this whole strategy?" Sam asks after you tell him your plan to capture Steve and Killian.

"What makes you believe I told him before I told the four of you?" I speak confidently that they will see things as I do.

"To recap, do you want to be bait in a fake wedding; making two dangerous men come after you?" Yelena seems to have understood the premise of my genius plan.

"Yes, this marriage will make them want to burn the archives. Despite my father's evidence, the fact that they tried to kill me makes everything worse." The reality is that I can't run away forever. Not knowing when something might happen to you or someone you love.

"What if they don't show up? Are you going to marry Barnes again?" Sam says it like it's the most unlikely thing in the world, considering I was married to Barnes once.

"Whatever, it's better to take a risk and not work out, than to do nothing and live in fear." I say, determined to make this weak team help me capture the man who killed my father and the man who almost killed me.

"I agree with Melisa, living in fear doesn't do any good. Not to mention that her marrying Bucky isn't the end of times. We'll be there to protect the engaged couple after all." Wanda speaks, trying to seek support in her wife's eyes, but Yelena seems unsatisfied.

"This could go very wrong, you could die, we could die too because Barnes won't accept this and we will have to do it without his cooperation. So if everything goes wrong he will take it out on us." Sam's right, Barnes will probably be pissed at them and if I survive at most I'll get two weeks without sex as punishment.

"But if we don't do anything to help Melisa, these two cowards will haunt her life. My friend spent months in a hospital bed and wants her peace back. I think we should give her that." Dave he says with authority, trying to show himself as a supporter of this plan. I hug him gently.

"Give what, to whom?" James Barnes came out of his eternal bath wearing a robe. Look, I didn't tell him about the plan but I know he's going to hate it.

"His ex-wife had an unusual idea to solve a problem. We're trying to figure out if it's worth trying." Yelena responds to Barnes, who looks confused.

"Funny, my ex-wife hasn't said anything to me in the days we've been together. At least nothing about this plan." You know that weird feeling like you're going to get fucked? I'm feeling it now.

"That's because she didn't feel you were ready to accept that plan." I say quietly as if I wished I didn't have to say anything.

"On a scale of one to ten, how much does Melisa put herself in danger in her plan?" He asks, clearly speaking to the rest of the group.

"Nine." Exactly everyone says it together, as if they were synchronized. Barnes looked at me as if to say, now you know why I don't like his plan.

"Baby, there's no way I'm going to agree to this plan. You at least suggested being bait to catch the two mother fuckers that almost killed you and I." It's funny how he says this minutes before grabbing me by the waist and kissing me on the cheek.

"I'm not going to give up on the plan, Barnes. I love you and I respect you. I would like you to respect my plan and follow it. But if you don't, I'll go through with it without you." I said looking into the eyes my ex. I know he wants the best for me but I can't live in this way forever.

"Do you want to end up like your father?" He responds sharply and I move away from him. I think we went back to the beginning of our relationship again. He wants to have the last word and I want to do what's best for me.

"Better to end up like him, than to live a life of fear and cowardice. If you don't understand me, that's your problem. But if you love me that much, you should support me and protect me. It was exactly for this reaction that I didn't tell you the plan." I say this hoping he will say something, say he will accept the plan or that I can't count on him. But I get silence. In fact, he left the house that was once ours and left without saying a word.

"I changed my mind, I'll support you in this. If you need a new fiancé, I'm available. Now I'm going to go and see where your husband went." Sam says kissing my cheek and going after Barnes.

"I still think this plan is crazy but if you're willing to fight Barnes over this, it must be important to you. Count on me, for any plan you have." Yelena says giving me a look of support. I am grateful for her decision to help me.

"These idiots and I are going to help you. Either way we're going to get Steve and Killian. One way or another." Wanda says hugging me and then saying goodbye. Just me and Daven left.

"Wine and ice cream?" Dave says, throwing himself on the couch and turning on my TV. You nod your head, hoping that some movie will take your argument with Barnes out of your mind. To think he was so angry that he came out in a bathrobe. It's even funny.

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titlemewickedwonderland · 9 months

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The Manager (Ghost Fic) Chapter 13

Summary: After the curveball Ari's ex threw at her it threatened to tear everything she worked for apart and she's left picking up the pieces while fending in the dark for more than just her honor.

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Workshop

Chapter 12

Rain stayed silent as he watched Dewdrop fiddle with his guitar. His fingers were shaky and uncoordinated unlike his usual composed self. Playing his guitar always seemed to calm the Fire ghoul when he got upset but in this instance, it was not helping in the slightest causing his pack mate to worry more and the fire ghoul to get even more agitated as he couldn't get anything right - he was seconds from just throwing his guitar across the room. Rain hadn't seen Dewdrop so frazzled before. The disarray of his room still lay untouched on the floor by their feet but Dewdrop didn't pay any mind to the destruction he'd caused. Rain wanted to start cleaning up but he was too afraid to move from his spot on the bed by the jittery Fire Ghoul. He could practically feel the vibrations of his anger and rage that boiled just below the surface just simmering.

"Dew…" Rain's voice spoke through the agitating noise coming from Dew's guitar that he was having a hard time playing.The fact that he was messing up chords was starting to irritate the fire ghoul all over again.

"Don't." the other snapped much too harshly causing Rain to grit his teeth; he'd been trying for the past few hours to try and talk his friend down from his frenzy.

The news and inclination that Ari may be pregnant still not lost on the Water Ghoul and he worried for her stability. Not just that but for the struggle that she and Dew have to face now. What if she was actually pregnant? What would Dewdrop do when he was told the truth? What would Ari do? He didn't want to lose a friend and he knew if the truth was that their manager was pregnant by another man it would crush Dewdrop. So much that Rain couldn't be so confident that he'd return from his spiral.

"No, I won't stop talking about it Dew. You have to tell me-" Rain tried again a little more firmly.

"Tell you what Rain?" Dewdrop's head snapped up pinning his friend under a fiery gaze. "That the woman I love is pregnant by another man? That she lied about it? That she used me like a pawn?"

"Dewdrop stop it!" Rain's voice rose sharply; a contrast to his usual calm and quiet demeanor. "You listen to me spitfire." the water ghoul leaned forward and gripped the back of his friend's neck to force him from looking away from him.

"Ari isn't a fucking liar. She's not the type to lie about anything, least of all this if she had known. I know you know that deep inside. If she says she isn't pregnant and this is just a scheme then I fucking believe her because she's never let us down before or given us a reason not to trust her word." his blue eyes searched his friends.

"And I know you know this too. The least you can do is give her the benefit of not doubting her." his grip gentled as his voice softened. "I know you love her firebug. I've never seen you so crazy about anyone else before; that says something about the bond you two share. She's perfect for you and I know how fucking miserable you were when you thought she'd rejected you. You trusted her back then though; all we are asking is you to trust her still. Don't jump to conclusions until we know the facts. You've never been one for rational thinking my friend…but this time, it's important that you have an open mind." Rain pressed as he studied his friend's face.

"But the proof was evident Rain. You saw the test. You saw the pictures…" Dewdrop muttered shaking his friend's hand off of him as he leaned away.

"That doesn't mean anything. They could be fake. Do you honestly think she'd ever sleep with the man that made her miserable?" Rain sighed giving his friend a sympathetic look. "Our Ari isn't the woman you think she is. She's special…she's a breath of fresh air and she makes you so happy…Don't let this ruin the chance of finding your mate."

"She's not my mate." Dewdrop hissed

"But she is Dew. Sometimes, mates don't find each other with a zing of electricity no matter what people say…Sometimes, mates are found through the turmoil that surround them that brings them together." he sighed rising to his feet. "Just…hear her out and please…don't turn her back on her because of this." he said softly.

Rain headed for the door and opened it but he stopped cocking his head when he heard the sounds of sobbing coming down the hall and his tail stiffened as he gazed down the corridor. He could sense Dewdrop's attention zeroing in on it too as his smaller friend came to stand at his side. A movement at the other end of the corridor caused the pair to look over at Mountain who held an envelope in his hands. The gentle giant gazed at them and raised the slip of paper.

"Her results came in. She took the test at the nurse's office." he informed but from the looks of the envelope it hadn't been opened yet.

Mountain walked down to the end of the hall and knocked softly on the door. "Blossom. The results came in." he said through the door causing the crying within to dwindle into sniffled until at last the door opened to reveal Aurora standing there.

She gave a small smile to the giant before nodding and turning to the others within the bathroom. "Honey, you ready?" she asked softly.

Ari wiped at her face and nodded as she rose. Cumulus grabbed the test and the others left the bathroom heading down the hall but Ari stood a few steps within catching sight of Dewdrop standing with Rain in his bedroom door frame. Her lip wobbled but she didn't say a word as she tucked her head down and walked past following the trail of her friends to the common room. Copia, Swiss, and Phantom were still sitting there waiting as they talked in hushed whispers as the rest of them waited for the others to arrive.

Ari took her seat beside Phantom who grabbed her hand; giving her a few pulses of his quintessence to help calm her as her tired body leaned against his for support. Rain and Dewdrop were the last to enter; sitting across the room with tense apprehension as Mountain handed the paper over to their manager but she shook her head and handed it to Copia who sat on her other side.

"I can't read it." she mumbled

Copia took the papers from her. "Are you sure mi caro?" he asked softly and at her tired nod he sighed and tore open the envelope to fish out the papers within.

"Alright let's see…" Copia scanned the information slowly and then again to double check.

Ari's face scrunched up in a wince as she waited for the verdict; praying to whatever god or devil that the results would favor her. She didn't trust the pregnancy tests; not 100% so she waited for bated breath. A tenetive glance over across the room at Dewdrop revealed him leaning forward eyes glued to her as Rain held his hand. His stare was heavy and he didn't look away when she met his gaze.

"-pregnant."

Ari blinked when Copia's voice finally registered in her ears causing her to look over at him. "W-what?" she asked confused and dazed.

"You are pregnant, tesero." he repeated slowly while handing over the papers to her.

Ari could hardly breathe as she snatched the paper from him and read the results. Her breath came out on a shaky exhale that was near panicked as her hands trembled with nerves and she felt her eyes sting again with more tears as she stared at the bold words of results right under her nose.

"I'm…pregnant?" she repeated softly before a laugh escaped her. "It's impossible. Fuck I know I didn't sleep with him! I know I didn't I swear on my life I didn't!" she panicked as she stared at the paper; the room was so silent a pin dropping could have been heard and she slumped against Phantom with uncontrollable trembling as she covered her mouth with her hand stifling another sob that wanted to rip from her throat. "The test was wrong…It has to be.."

"You took two tests, Ari…just to be sure. What did the other one say?" Rain asked softly from across the room as his hand gripped Dewdrop's shoulder - he could feel his muscles quiver, whether from rage he didn't know but he kept his grip strong in case the other decided to fly off.

"It was positive…" Cumulus said softly as she extended her hand towards the Water Ghoul with the test in her hand showing him the two pink lines clearly visible against the white backdrop.

Ari shook her head "No…no…NO!" her voice came out as a despite scream as she threw the paper to the ground and gripped her head. "I know what I did…but I didn't sleep with him…I know I wouldn't do that…I wouldn't…" she babbled.

Warm hands suddenly gripped her knees and Ari turned her red tear-soaked face to look down at Dewdrop crouching in front of her. His eyes were searching hers; guarded and unsure as he watched her face. She stared back down at him and her lips parted to say something but instead, nothing came out. Instead of screaming at her or telling her 'I told you so' Dewdrop reached out and she flinched back a bit thinking perhaps he'd hit her but instead of a harsh blow to her face, his palm rested warm and almost comforting against her cheek as he cradled it and the gentle gesture cracked her heart even more; he shouldn't be looking at her like that. He shouldn't be so kind to her at this moment. He had a right to be angry - hell she was angry at herself and at the situation but his eyes held no anger in them.

"Dew…" her voice came out cracked as another tear rolled down her flushed cheek.

"I believe you." his voice was soft as he gauged her reaction. The orange glow of his irises scanned her features. "If you say you didn't sleep with him of your own volition, then I believe you, firecracker." he said solemnly and Ari closed her eyes as if wanting to hide from his words as if she was trying to hide from him - from the truth of the situation. He shouldn't be accepting of this; she sure as hell wasn't. She didn't understand how this could have happened.

A gentle nudge to her chin made her open her teary eyes to look at him again and his face was so serious as he stared at her. "I. Believe. You." he repeated slowly as if making sure that she understood him; that she'd believe his words. "But those results have to question…if you didn't know…if you didn't sleep with him knowingly then how are you pregnant?"

The question filled the silence of the room and Ari didn't have an answer for him but her tears had stopped falling as her mind slowly caught up with the conversation and the gears in her head were turning as she mulled it over. He made a good point. If she hadn't slept with Braydon…then how?

"We need answers to this…" Copia muttered bending down to grab the pregnancy results and staring down at the papers. "We'll need to see how far along you are, tesero. That means we need to make an appointment and go from there."

"I don't want this baby." Ari didn't break her gaze away from Dewdrop; her words meant not only for him but for the rest of them. "I want nothing to do with that man."

"Okay, then there's only one option honey. Are you okay with that decision?" Phantom asked softly from beside her.

Ari worried her lip between her teeth. Getting an abortion never sat right with her but she couldn't possibly raise this baby in a Satanic church. Not alone and certainly not with the knowledge of who their father was. She shrugged limply and shook her head.

"I don't know…" she confessed; the conflict in her voice was evident as she closed her eyes and slumped forward, resting her forehead against Dewdrop's shoulder as his arms snaked around her to hold her close.

"Let me call my friend. Let me see what we can do." Copia offered as he headed for the door and exited with a nod to the others.

Ari took a breath and clung to Dewdrop's neck. "I'm sorry…" she whispered closing her eyes tightly. "I'm sorry…this is all my fault…"

"You didn't know baby. You thought you knew the situation because you'd never do anything like this…but that doesn't mean it's your fault." Dewdrop soothed stroking her hair. "We'll figure it out." he added quietly as he pressed a kiss to her head. "We'll figure it out…"

Ari shook her head and pulled away; wiping angrily at her face. "You have the right to be mad at me Dew-"

The fire ghoul shook his head slowly and cupped her face as he forced her eyes back to him. "A friend of mine made something very clear earlier. At the end of the day it shouldn't matter…I love you." he said softly brushing her cheeks. "After everything that we've been through…it shouldn't matter if this baby's mine or not. I should have trusted you and had faith in your honor because I know what kind of person you are, firecracker. I love you so much and I'm not afraid to say it aloud." he said firmly.

her lip quivered as she nodded and rested her forehead against his. "I love you too…" she whispered.

A throat cleared causing the pair to break apart and look over towards Mountain who was standing by one of the couches. A look of unease on his face as he glanced around at everyone. He had something to say; it was clear by the look on his face but whatever it was was something he didn't even want to utter. Ari tilted her head and studied his face before she spoke up - her voice soft and coaxing.

"What is it Mountain? What's on your mind?" she asked.

Everyone's eyes were on the Earth Ghoul now who was beginning to fidget; shifting his weight between his legs as if uncomfortable to stand but when he didn't say anything at first; Aurora's small frame came to stand beside him and grabbed his larger hand in hers - looking up at him imploringly.

"What is it big guy?" she asked.

The giant cleared his throat again as if something was stuck there before his rumbling voice spoke up hesitantly. "I've been thinking Ari…about the situation and…" he trailed off looking away from the woman's inquisitive stare.

"And what?" she pressed as a frown tugged at her mouth as she searched his face.

"You said that you wouldn't sleep with him willingly…."

"Yeah…" she trailed off pointedly. "What are you trying to say Mount?"

"W-well…If it wasn't willingly and he claims you were drunk and you don't remember it…." his eyes finally turned towards her. with a pointed stare as if his gaze alone transferred his thoughts to her.

Ari stared across the room at him with a blank face as she tried to understand what he was trying to say; her slow mind caught up too slowly as the others seemed to be getting what the tall ghoul was trying to imply without actually saying it out loud. Dewdrop rose to his feet sharply; his eyes glowing with rage once more but this time wasn't directed towards Ari.

"I'm going to kill him." he snarled.

Phantom grabbed his packmate's arm quickly and rose to stop him. "Easy, fireball." he warned. "We don't know if that's true."

"What's not true? Guys, what the hell are you trying to say?" Ari demanded looking up between them as she sat rigid on the edge of the couch.

"Ari…if you didn't sleep with him and don't remember that night…" Rain picked up on Mountain's thoughts. "Then that leaves only one plausible conclusion," he said gripping his hands together in front of him as he stared at the floor at his feet. "You were drugged at that party and taken advantage of by your ex-husband."

Ari stared at him with mouth agape in disbelief. "No…Braydon is one thing but he…he wouldn't do that!" she tried to defend.

"Wouldn't he?" Swiss added lowly as he crossed his arms thoughtfully. "It would make sense, don't you think? He must have known one way or another you'd find out about him cheating. But he didn't want to lose the money you were bringing in. For whatever reason he wanted you under his thumb, honey." Swiss raised his gaze to the shell-shocked woman across the room.

"He's many things but I wouldn't ever imagine him doing something like that…What reason would he want to drug me and knock me up? It couldn't be just for the money! That wouldn't make sense Swiss! At the time those pictures were taken I wasn't working with you guys. That was months before I ever found out about the job! I was still working at the attorney's office." Ari stated shaking her head.

"Wouldn't it make more sense for him to divorce me and then go be with whatever woman he's been fucking?" she added looking around the room.

"Maybe he wanted to ruin your reputation. Break you down until you had to rely on him." Swiss offered.

"He hadn't thought that you'd get a new job though…And by the time you did and were making more money than him maybe he thought that he would be entitled to that because you were married. Perhaps that is why he was fighting back about the divorce?" Cumulus offered up her own thoughts.

"Oh, my god…" Ari shook her head slowly. "It does make sense…oh my god…we have to tell Copia!" she rose sharply from the couch but Dewdrop grabbed her arm.

"No, we will handle this." he stated sharply.

"No! This isn't just about fighting for my honor anymore Dew. This man fucked me over both figuratively and physically. He can't get away with that!" she stated harshly tugging her arm from his grasp. "We have to tell Copia and get his friend to dig deeper. I won't be made a fool and give my ex the satisfaction of getting any part of me!" she snapped.

The fire ghoul looked at her a long time until she swore he wouldn't say anything and she turned to leave but his grip remained on her arm as he tugged her back and cupped her face. "Okay baby." he searched her face. "We'll fight back, together. But promise me you won't do anything reckless, got it?"

Ari gave a grim smile and nodded. "He won't screw us over. Not again." she confirmed before Dew pressed a firm kiss to her lips.

"Atta girl."

Chapter 14 coming soon!

#ghost band #ghost #the band ghost #ghost fandom #swiss ghoul #mountain ghoul #rain ghoul #dewdrop ghoul #phantom ghoul #swiss multi ghoul #rain #mountain #phantom #dewdrop #papa copia #dewdrop x oc

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