#can we really blame her though considering she sees THAT in her dreams

[romansweetrollthief]

Identity crisis.

finished the little wip I started yesterday!!!

morrowind should have been a psychological horror game.

#elder scrolls #morrowind #tes #the elder scrolls #dagoth ur #house dagoth #nerevarine #nerevarine oc #lord dagoth isnt please with sweet nerevar trying to deny destiny #can we really blame her though considering she sees THAT in her dreams

[moonlightspencie]

like the gardens of babylon

part 11 of ‘the sweetest con’

Pairing: Aaron Hotchner x fem!Reader

Word Count: 1.7k

A/N: some suggestive content at the end, but nothing explicit!

Walking into the bullpen had never felt so nerve-wracking. Usually, if I felt any anxieties at all, it had to do with a case. Or at least work. As it should, considering this was my workplace, after all.

But, this time, all the nerves stemmed from my concerns that word would get out before I had the chance to address it all myself. After JJ had seen us kiss last week, every day felt like a new opportunity for everyone to find out. Each day only got worse. Any time someone looked at me for too long, I started sweating a little.

But, of course, my darling girl couldn’t care less. She was convinced that JJ wouldn’t say a word, and I had to commend her faith in our friends. I, however, knew that the thrill of a scandal could break down even the strongest barriers on our team. Especially when it came to all of our love lives.

As much as I love my team, I knew they weren’t always the most… discreet.

I could see the lingering looks from JJ anytime Y/N snuck into my office for our usual lunchtime “date”. It felt like a matter of time before it escalated.

And escalate it did.

I snuck out of my office after lunch that afternoon only to see a few pairs of eyes on me, and a lot of whispering. I narrowed my eyes at Derek, Penelope, and Y/N.

“Something you’d like to share?” I asked, noticing they didn’t look away when I’d caught them.

“No—”

Penelope cut Y/N off. “Teasing our little ray of sunshine, here.”

I merely raised my brows in question, making quick eye contact with the aforementioned “ray of sunshine.” She looked at me with pleading eyes, though I couldn’t quite decipher what she was trying to ask of me.

“It’s nothing, Hotch,” she shook her head.

“Nothing?” Morgan questioned. “Mmm mm. Lies.”

“What is it, then?”

Morgan smirked. “Something goin’ on with you two that you’d like to share?”

I froze up, though I tried playing it off. I hoped it was convincing enough.

“Like what, exactly?”

Penelope blushed. “We were merely asking her if your little daily lunch dates meant anything.”

I looked at Y/N briefly. Apparently, that was a mistake. Derek stood abruptly, closing in on me.

“Wait, seriously?” he turned to look at Y/N, who looked, frankly, like she’d been caught red-handed. “Seriously?”

“Oh my god—” Garcia squealed.

I’m sure my face going red didn’t help our case as I asked the two of them to keep it down. Y/N stood, standing next to me as I attempted to fend off questions from the other two.

“Guys,” she raised her hands to calm them. “This is still kind of new. We weren’t really ready to tell anyone yet, so…”

“Oh,” Penelope said, her voice lowered.

“Just please don’t tell anyone else. For our sake.”

“Sure thing, mama,” Derek said, nodding.

Penelope smiled softly. “Wouldn’t dream of trying to ruin this. I am so, absolutely excited, but I promise I will zip my lips just for you, sugar.”

“Thanks, Pen,” she smiled back at her.

She looked at me, looking a little apologetic. I gave her a raised brow and half a smile.

“Sorry. I thought we’d be able to keep this secret a little while longer,” she said quietly.

“Not your fault. I think we’re both pretty bad at hiding our feelings,” I sighed. Then, I looked at the others. “Thank you for your… Discretion with this. We’ll tell the others soon, we just wanted to keep this—”

“Yours?” Morgan asked, practically finishing my sentence.

“Yeah,” I nodded once. “Exactly.”

He smirked. “Can’t blame you for wanting to keep her all to yourself. I can respect that.”

I rolled my eyes, hiding a smile. “Right. Well, I need coffee if I’m going to get through the rest of today.”

They nodded, waving me off. I let out a deep breath as I turned. Three coworkers knew already, and I wondered how long we could actually keep things quiet before I had to come clean with everyone.

Though, after that conversation, part of me couldn’t wait to finally show her off as mine.

I got my coffee, heading back to my office to get through all of the work I had set aside for the day. It passed incredibly slowly. Her sweet face in my doorway at the end of the day made up for it, though.

I sat up a little straighter, an unintentional smile on my face.

“Hi,” I greeted.

“Hey. Getting late,” she said. “We’re picking up Jack in an hour, so pack it up, love.”

I snorted a laugh. She walked in, shutting the door behind her. I packed up as she had requested, standing to accept a soft kiss from her near the edge of my desk.

“He’s been asking about you, you know?” I said.

She smiled, still holding onto my waist in a hug. She pressed a small kiss to my cheek.

“Yeah?”

I hummed an affirmation. “Every night I’ve talked to him since we went to the zoo. He’s been looking forward to tonight.”

She smiled, and my heart warmed. “Let’s go get him then, yeah?”

We left the building, heading off to my apartment. I put away my things, and we both quickly changed clothes before getting in my car and heading to Haley’s. Of course, she stayed in the car when I went to get Jack, though I’d be surprised if she couldn’t still see the dirty looks being shot at her from the front door.

I ignored the hostility, too wrapped up in the plans we’d made for the night to care too much about Haley’s attitude. Jack practically squealed when he saw Y/N in the car, shooting a million questions at her the entire ride back the apartment. One in particular had me smiling like an idiot:

“Are you and daddy gonna get married?”

She laughed a little. “I don’t know buddy. We’ll have to wait and see, yeah?”

“Yeah,” he shrugged.

She looked at me, almost panicked by the question, but it only made my heart flutter in my chest. I knew it was probably far too soon to consider marriage, but I didn’t hate the idea of it happening some day. The more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea.

Our night was spent in front of the TV, snacks and drinks set on the coffee table, all of us sat in a pile of pillows and couch cushions at Jack’s request. As much as I’d like to say that I set most of it up, it seemed that no matter what I tried to do, she’d get to it first. I would have been offended if she wasn’t so excited to do everything she was doing.

Jack cuddled up to my side for a while as we watched the tail end of Monsters Inc. My arm was around his tiny shoulders, but soon I felt him shrugging me off. I looked down in confusion as he started leaning into Y/N instead, leaving me in the dust. I furrowed my brow, looking at her with offense.

“You stole my child.”

“Maybe he just likes the girl who gave him candy a little more than the dad who tried giving him pretzels.”

Jack giggled, rest his head against her arm. I tried to look annoyed, but it was hard to do with this sight right in front of me. My previous worries about them being together seemed so stupid now. Of course he’d love her.

“Still,” I raised a brow in challenge. “He was mine first.”

“Still love you, daddy,” he said, giving me a cheeky smile.

I couldn’t hold back my grin. “I love you more.”

He was out like a light by the time the credits were rolling, and she allowed me to take him to his bedroom and tuck him in. I kissed his forehead, wishing all my nights could end like this.

I wandered back into the living room to find her already cleaning up.

“Babe, I can worry about that tomorrow.”

“Babe, huh?” she smirked.

I felt my cheeks heat up. “Just… Shut up.”

She laughed. “You know, I can help pick up the mess I made, babe.”

I sighed, rolling my eyes for good measure. I followed her into the kitchen with two cups in my hands as she took care of a few other dishes. However, I set mine down quickly, plans on my mind that had nothing to do with cleaning.

I wrapped my arms around her waist from where she stood at the sink, pressing a few soft kisses up her neck until my lips were at her ear.

“Why don’t we go to bed?”

“Aaron,” she warned, though the way she leaned into me made that warning much less severe.

“I’ve missed you.”

“You see me every day.”

I groaned, turning her around. “You know that’s not what I mean.”

She bit her lip. “You’re ridiculous.”

I smirked, leaning in before she could think too hard about my plan of… Redirection. Her lips met mine as if it was her plan all along, kissing me softly, but not without passion. Her hands trailed up my arms until they were linking behind my neck. I took that as my chance.

I patted her hip, and she jumped into my arms. I hooked my arms under her, carrying her to the bedroom and dropping her on the bed unceremoniously. She looked at me with that little mischievous glint in her eyes as I pulled off my tshirt. I crawled up over her on the bed, though she quickly pulled me down on top of her.

“You’re a troublemaker,” she mumbled, kissing my neck.

“I think you like it that way.”

“Never said I didn’t.”

She nipped at my skin, moving her lips back to mine. My hands found their way under her shirt as we moved up towards the headboard. Her back arched into my touch, exciting me all the more as her hands ran all over me.

“Just promise me one thing?”

I nodded. “Anything.”

She pulled off her top, tossing it somewhere. “Don’t be too loud or you’ll wake up Jack.“

I scoffed a laugh as she smirked again, flipping us over so that she was on top of me.

“Sure,” she said, looking down at me. “Go ahead and laugh like didn’t nearly wake the whole building last time.”

#aaron hotchner #aaron hotchner x reader #aaron hotchner x fem!reader #aaron hotchner series #aaron hotchner fluff #aaron hotchner angst #aaron hotchner fanfiction #aaron hotchner fic #criminal minds #the sweetest con

[lightsoutletsgo]

P L A Y L I S T (cl16 x singer!reader series) vol.3 - rome

warnings: none badly made social media screenshots?? word count: n/a hi everyone! this chapter is kind of a filler chapter but is also kinda important to the storyline! I hope you guys still enjoy this chapter though! next one will be written and will be a bit more exciting happy reading love, mimi taglist currently open! previous | series masterlist | masterlist

Rome

thisisy/n

Liked by eclipseofficial, charles_leclerc and 914,896 others thisisy/n Roma you were an audience of dreams! Grazie Mille for all your love and support, see you soon Milan! 🎀🌙

View all 23,154 comments eclipseofficial these costumes are everything!

y/nismylove I'M OBSESSED WITH EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS TOUR

f1moonbeam I'm still trying to get over the fact that charles was there 😩 ⤷ lalaleclerc twt is collectively losing their shit over the pictures ⤷ f1moonbeam he was watching her so intently ⤷ eclipsemoonbean some romcom shit fr Comment liked by thisisy/n and charles_leclerc

lilymhe

Liked by eclipseofficial, thisisy/n and 32,587 others lilymhe Thank you to @eclipseofficial for such an amazing night! My ears are still ringing and my heart is so happy. We've successfully converted Charles and now the whole gang are officially moonbeams 🫶🏼🌙

View all 23,154 comments thisisy/n omg tysm pretty girl! 🥺 I'm so happy you enjoyed it 🤍 maybe we'll see you in Milan? 🤭 ⤷ lilymhe @alex_albon is this real? Am I seeing things? OMG 😭 Y/N called me pretty girl? Alex we're going to Milan!!! ⤷ alex_albon is my gf being stolen right in front of me? ⤷ thisisy/n maybe 😉 look forward to seeing you there! ⤷ lilymhe SHE JUST FOLLOWED ME 😭😭

lilyandalex this whole comment section is hilarious

charles_leclerc have I just joined a cult? ⤷ thisisy/n yes. but don't worry we're very friendly 🥰 ⤷ moonbeamforever IM SCREAMING OMG ⤷ moonbeammoonbean MOM AND DAD?!

charles_leclerc

Liked by eclipseofficial, thisisy/n and 76,924 others charles_leclerc I think I could get on board with this moonbeam thing (is this where I'm supposed to put the emoji? 🌙)

View all 45,372 comments eclipseofficial welcome charles! we think you'll enjoy hanging out with us

y/nwardrobe our girl in the likes 😭 baby you're not slick we see you

charlesss Y/N in the likes already like he didn't just post it

lilymhe I've trained you well 😌

maxverstappen1 when I said introduce yourself this was NOT what I meant... 🧍‍♂️

carlossainz55 I thought I was the smooth operator? 🤪 ⤷ landonorris can this really be considered smooth? ⤷ georgerussell63 says lando NORIZZ ⤷ landonorris this is bullying 🥺 ⤷ georgerussell63 no it's not ⤷ carlossainz55 no it's not ⤷ maxverstappen1 no it's not ⤷ charles_leclerc no it's not ⤷ alex_albon no it's not

moonbeamdriver no bc she's 100% down bad just as much as he is and who can blame her tbh

A few hours later

next | series masterlist | masterlist

#*ੈ✩‧₊˚ playlist series #charles leclerc series #f1 x reader #charles leclerc x you #charles leclerc fluff #charles leclerc x reader #charles leclerc fic #f1 fluff #f1 fanfic #f1 fic #f1 instagram au #charles leclerc instagram au #f1 x you #Spotify

[imaginexwwe]

SPRING BREAK 4 - Roman Reigns

•

NO TIME SKIP THIS TIME LOL

•

REAL NAMES WILL BE USED

•

4½ MONTHS PREGNANT Y|N FEELS IT'S TIME TO COME CLEAN NOW THAT SHE KNOWS JOE ISN'T JUST AN AVERAGE JOE (🤣)

•

PART 3 (×)

•

I sighed looking at myself in the mirror, slowly running my hand down my now noticeable baby bump.

I was now in my second trimester of this pregnancy and just when I thought me getting knocked up by a man I'd only known a few hours before, was as bad as this train wreck would get, I was wrong.

Really wrong.

Because turns out, Joe as I'd only known him these few months is actually Joseph Anoaʻi.

Or Roman Reigns, as he goes by in WWE.

The WWE company in which my older brother Colby works for.

"Things are just getting worse and worse." I mumbled as I made my way to my closet, searching for something to wear on my outing with Austin.

And I say outing because I honestly don't know what else to call it.

I mean, it's definitely not a date for me.

I hope it's not a date to Austin...

"Do you think this is a date?" I asked, picking out a short, loose fitting dress.

My bump shouldn't show too much through this, I thought as I began stripping out of my pajamas, sliding my dress on soon after.

"Tori." I called out, trying to get my bestfriends attention, while also wondering why I couldn't see her on the screen anymore. "Tori."

"Oh, sorry." Tori finally replied a huge grin on her face. "I fell down the Roman Reigns rabbit hole." She explained. "Again."

I rolled my eyes, picking up my macbook and going to my bed to sit. "Of course you did." I mumbled.

I couldn't blame her though.

All I did last night, till at least 2 a.m. was watch old matches of my baby daddy.

Then when I finally drifted off the sleep he was on my mind so much that I ended up having a dream that still makes me blush, just thinking about it.

If only it was reality.

It was just something so sexy about him bulling his cousins and other wrestlers.

Even his old matches with my brother and their friend Jon we're awesome to watch.

Tori laughed, holding up a finger. "This is gonna be you and Joe's baby." She said, trying to hold in her laughter so she could finish what she's trying to say. "And his first word will be 'ACKNOWLEDGE ME'" She joked, laughing even louder.

I sighed, feeling my mood change in an instant. "We won't know if it's a he or she." I replied before mumbling. "And we won't know what his or her's first word would be." I reminded her. "You know I've been looking for a good family for this baby..."

Tori nodded. "Yeah, i know." She replied. "I just thought after I told you that Joe wasn't ghosting you, that you mixed up two digits in his number, that maybe..." She trailed off with a shrug. "You'd change your mind about adoption since you won't have to do it alone while trying to finish college."

"I haven't even told Joe about the baby."

"But you know I did." Tori quickly answered. "Again, not on purpose but I did tell him." She added. "What I'm trying to say, is I was excited about being an aunt. And I know you'd be a good as mommy Y|N."

A sad smile formed on my face as I once again began doubting my ability to finish my last two years of college, eventually have a career, and raise a baby.

Even if Joe was involved it'll still be damn near impossible considering he's on the road three or four nights a week, so I'm sure the last thing he wants is a baby to be responsible for.

And on top of that we're not even together.

"Can we change the subject?" I asked, unconsciously rubbing my baby bump.

Tori nodded. "So..." She said. "Why haven't you called Joe?"

I groaned. "That's not changing the subject." I quickly replied. "Besides you know I've been hanging out with Austin still."

"Yeah, but why?" Tori asked, giving me a look. "You have a mature, grown and sexy twenty-seven year old that wants you but you're wasting your time on a cheating ass, immature 20 year old. I just don't get it."

I shrugged. "Austin's changed." I said, not a hundred percent sure I believed what I had just said. "Besides, when any typical guy would've happily ran when finding out their girlfriend cheated and got knocked up, Austin didn't. He made me feel safe and promised we'd go back to normal and put this behind up after I have this baby. He's waiting for me."

"His ass cheated first." Tori mumbled, seemingly ignoring everything else I'd said. "And I noticed the word love wasn't said."

That's because I don't know if I've truly been able to love Austin since he cheated.

Or if I'd be able to any time soon.

At this rate, I'll probably love Joe before I'm able to love Austin again.

Or do I already love Joe and that's the reason I'm unable to love Austin..?

Before I could respond, the sound of the doorbell echoed throughout the house.

"Austin's here." I said, before standing up. "I gotta go." I added, closing my macbook before Tori could respond.

For a second time, the doorbell echoed, this time sounding louder as I reached the door.

"Damn, Austin." I giggled, opening the door. "I'm almost five months pregnant, give me time." I spoke again, feeling my heart stop for a second when I saw it wasn't Austin. "Joseph?"

Holy shit, I mentally screamed out to myself, as my eyes stayed locked on the man on the other side of the door.

The man who fathered this baby I'm carrying.

Face to face with him for the first time since Miami.

Did he get hotter?

"Hey." Joe said, his eyes seemingly locked on me, like mines were on him.

Or was he staring at my belly?

I shifted uncomfortable at the thought of him seeing me pregnant all of a sudden. "Colby's um..." I began, stumbling on my words. "At his wrestling school."

"I know." Joe, responded with a nod, a seriousness in his tone. "I was hoping to see you, considering you haven't called me yet."

I bit the inside of my cheek, nodding also. "I tried but I..."

"Had my number wrong." Joe finished for me, making me nod again.

"Yeah." I said, with an embarrassed laugh. "I figured you'd just got what you wanted for me and had moved on to the next girl."

A hint of hurt flashed in Joe's eyes after what I hade said. "That's the kind of guy you think I am?" He asked, causing me to immediately shake my head.

"I didn't really know what to think of you, Joe." I answered truthfully. "I had only known you for a few hours and my judgment was blinded by the many shots Tori kept persuading me to drink, then you did take me on that amazing date. But you have to understand I tried calling you a few times and obviously couldn't get in touch with you to tell you about this baby you helped make so yeah..." I rambled. "I guess deep down I couldn't believe a guy that looks like you would even entertain a girl like me. Tori yes. But me? No."

Joe chuckled. "There's no way in hell I could have feelings for Tori."

I smiled, suddenly unable to look him in the eyes. "Did you have feelings for me?"

"I do have feelings for you Y|N." He quickly responded, taking a few steps closer to me. "That's why it was driving me crazy these few months thinking that I would never hear from you again."

"You were going crazy over me?" I asked, feeling my heartbeat began to race with anticipation.

Joe, nodded silently and without control, I found myself leaning up towards Joe as he was leaning down towards me.

I let my eyes snap shut, and just as I was about to finally feel Joe's lips on mines again, for the first time in months, a car door slammed shut.

Like it really slammed shut as if someone wanted to really make their presence known.

Please don't be my brother.

Please don't be my brother.

PLEASE DON'T BE MY BROTHER.

"Babe." I heard a male voice call out to me, and I slowly opened my eyes to see Austin leaning against his car, a scowl on his face.

I'm assuming from seeing me almost kiss Joe.

Why is it any time Joe's in my presence I forget about Austin?

"Babe..?" Joe asked, his eyes flashing with an emotion I've never seen from him the few times we have been around each other.

Is that jealousy?

Ignoring Joe, I quickly made my way over to Austin flashing a smile at him, as he continued to stare at Joe as if he was mentally sizing him up.

"Shit." I mumbled, stomping my foot. "I forgot my purse." I added. "Be right back."

Quickly, I walked back to the house, making sure to grab on to Joe's arm as I made my way inside. "Look." I said. "I have to go, but if my brother comes home before I do just lie and say you came over for him and I let you in or something."

"Y|N." Joe said, an edge to his tone, and the jealousy still in his eyes. "Who is he?"

I sighed, as I went over to the couch to get my purse. "My boyfriend..." I mumbled, scared to look at Joe for the first time since I opened the door and saw him there. "I think."

"Boyfriend?" Joe questioned as if he couldn't believe what I had said. "How do you have a boyfriend when you're pregnant with my baby?"

"Because me and him have been together for years." I explained. "It's just been a bit complicated with him cheating on me and then me trying to get back at him with you." I added, mentally slapping myself after that last part left my mouth.

How could I say that when I know that's not how it was?

Austin's never on my mind when I'm with Joseph.

Joe let out a sarcastic laugh. "So, that night we were together was just some kind of revenge fuck so you'd have a way to make that dude jealous?"

Was he pissed?

He sounds pissed.

"No." I sighed, my eyes going from Joe to the door and back. "I really do have to go."

"We really need to talk Y|N." Joe replied, but I was already out the door.

Me and him could talk later.

"Okay." I said, as I reached Austin's car again. "We could go now."

Austin nodded silently, his attention still on the door, or rather who's on the other side of the door.

Even though he couldn't see Joe, it seemed that it pained Austin just by knowing he was in there.

"Austin." I called out trying to bring his attention back to me. "Something wrong?"

"No." Austin replied, his signature smile forming as he opened the passenger side door for me, closing it as soon as I got in.

As Austin made his way over to the drivers side of his car, I leaned over towards the back to drop my purse in the backseat when something caught my eye.

"That asshole."

I can't fucking believe him.

Or maybe I should considering this isn't the first time.

Austin finally got into his car, pushing the button to start the engine. "What are you craving today?" He asked, with a chuckle. "Tacos? Pizza? Both?"

"I suddenly don't have an appetite." I mumbled, my arms crossed over my chest.

"C'mon, babe." Austin said, glancing over at me. "You're pregnant." He added, chuckling again. "There's no way in hell you don't have a appetite."

I rolled my eyes. "Well, I don't."

"Okay." Austin replied, rolling his eyes also as he again pushed the button, this time turning his car engine off. "Are you hormones acting up?"

Instead of answering Austin, I decided to throw a question of my own at him. "What's these doing in your car?"

"What?"

I held up the two used condom wrappers that I had found in the backseat of his car. "Where you with that slut again? Or someone else?"

"Y|N, your tripping." Austin mumbled, shaking his head. "Those are from the last time me and you had sex." He added. "You know, when you still believed in protection."

I gasped.

How dare he?

"I didn't get pregnant because I didn't make the father use a condom." I angrily replied. "And I know you're fucking lying because the last time you and I had sex was over five months ago and I also know these wrappers weren't in your goddamn car last week." I scoffed, trying to fight back the tears that were forming in my eyes. "Was it her or someone new?"

"It was her." Austin finally answered making me laugh in disbelief.

"I can't fucking believe you would do this again after you said you wouldn't over and fucking over." I replied.

Austin scoffed. "You can't believe me?" He asked, sarcasm in his voice. "I can't believe you'd practically be making out with your baby daddy minutes before I'm supposed to pick you up but you did." He said, before adding. "Just like you let him fuck you without one, even though you ain't even know him a day. But makes sure your boyfriend of six years wore one every damn time we fucked."

In that moment I wanted nothing more than to reach over and slap Austin so hard that I left a hand print in his face, but I held myself back.

Barely.

"For the tenth time I didn't have sex with him without a condom." I groaned, reaching over in the backseat to grab my purse. "His dick is just so big that it broke the condom." I smirked, opening the passenger side door, and getting out of the car. "Something you wouldn't know about."

I didn't say it but I'm sure it was implied that me and Austin were over.

For good this time.

With tears in my eyes I stormed back up to the house, just as Joe was leaving out.

"What's wrong?" Joe questioned, immediately noticing that I was upset.

I wiped at the tears that had fallen from my eyes. "I just ended my six year relationship."

"Because of me?"

"No." I snapped, taking out the last bit of my anger for Austin on Joseph. "Not everything is about you." I added, before mumbling. "And I thought the only time you were a condescending asshole was on tv but it seems like you're one in real life too."

Joe shook his head, leaving out the house without another word or glance.

Did I just ruin what could have been between Joseph and I?

•

Later that day I eventually dragged myself out of bed, and downstairs for a middle of the night snack.

Partly because I had a sudden craving for cookies, and partly because I just couldn't get Joe out of my mind.

Especially how he looked when I called him a condescending asshole.

Which he most definitely isn't.

I know I haven't known him long enough to judge all of his qualities, but the few times I've been lucky enough to be in his presence, he's been nothing but a sweetheart.

A gentleman.

"Couldn't sleep either?" I heard a voice say, causing me to jump.

I placed my hand over my heart, trying to calm myself. "You scared me, dude." I said to Colby as I gently shut the refrigerator door, turning to see Colby sitting at the kitchen island. "And no." I answered. "Too much on my mind." I added, rambling in the cabinet for a baking sheet.

"Are you really about to bake cookies at one in the morning?" Colby asked with a laugh, as I began scooping cookie dough from the container and placing it onto the baking sheet.

"Yeah, I got a craving for cookies." I giggled, with a shrug. "Can you be an awesome big brother and preheat the oven for me?" I asked, as I continued scooping.

"Sure."

•

About ten minutes later, both my brother and I sat at the kitchen island eating cookies.

Well I was eating cookies, and Colby was eating the only cookie I shared with him.

"You never did say what was on your mind." Colby spoke up, breaking through the silence that had taken over.

"Neither did you." I replied, picking up a cookie and taking a bite.

Colby nodded, getting up and going to the refrigerator to get a bottle of water. "You first."

"Okay." I mumbled, biting on my lip. "I broke up with Austin's pathetic ass." I started, noticing the look on Colby's face as if he expected this break up to be like the others where I'd take him back after a while. "For real this time."

"What made it for real this time?" Colby questioned and I couldn't figure out if he was mocking me or genuinely just asking.

I sighed, looking down at the few cookies left in front of me. "He cheated again." I said with a shrug. "Very recently."

"I'm going to beat his ass." Colby immediately responded, in his usual overprotective big brother fashion. "My knee's healed enough for me to curb stomp his head into the pavement."

"Colby." I gasped, trying not to laugh. "You don't have to do anything. I already gave him a piece of my mind and also I'm a thousand and one percent sure you could do prison time for that."

"I do it all the damn time." Colby smirked.

"On tv, idiot." I said, unable to hold my laughter in any longer. "If you were to do that to Austin you'd be in trouble for sure."

Colby shrugged. "It'll be worth it." He said, proudly, before coming back over to sit next to me on the stool he previously sat on. "Is the next reason you can't sleep because of your baby's father?"

"Yeah." I nodded.

I sat silently for a moment, biting my lip as I contemplated if I should reveal the father of this child's identity.

I didn't want to continue hiding it from my brother.

And I definitely didn't want him finding out from someone other than me.

"Big brother." I mumbled, glancing over at him. Promise that you won't hate me after I tell you who he is."

"Hate you?" Colby asked, raising an eyebrow at me. "I could never hate you, Y|N." He added, giving me a reassuring smile. "You're my little sister."

"Okay." I said, biting down on my lip even harder this time. "Promise me you won't hate the father."

I had a big feeling that my brother and Joe's friendship or brotherhood wouldn't be the same as it was but I didn't want my brother hating Joe.

Colby sighed. "Just say it."

"His name is Joe." I whispered, closing my eyes tightly because I was afraid to make eye contact with my brother.

"I know." Colby replied.

I squeezed my eyes shut even tighter, remembering I had already told Colby the father's name. "No." I said. "His name is Joe Anoaʻi." I whispered again, feeling tears began to roll down my face for the second time in less than twenty four hours. "As in your bestfriend, Joe."

Once again Colby sighed, repeating himself as he reached over to rub soothing circles in my back. "I know."

As tears continued to run down my face, I carefully turned on my stool to face my brother.

His face oddly calm for someone who's little sister told just told them they had a one night stand with their bestfriend literally a minute ago.

"Who told you?" I gasped. "Was it Tori and her big mouth?" I asked again, with a groan.

I love her but once she gets going there's no telling what she'd spill.

Colby shook his head. "It was Joe."

Joe told my brother about us?

And didn't tell me, he told my brother.

"And as much as I don't like it..." Colby spoke again, with a sigh. "He's a step up from Austin."

I scrunched up my nose at my older brother, really not understanding why he's so calm. "Colby," I said in a calming tone. "Did you take something?"

"Fuck no." Colby laughed, shaking his head. "I'm just okay with it, I guess." He added, before speaking again. "Joe was man enough to come to me and explain earlier today at Black and Brave and..." He shrugged again. "It's not like he purposefully went after my little sister. He didn't know anything about me and you being family before yesterday. Besides you'vegot enough to worry about with this pregnancy. You didn't need a pissed off brotherto add on to your stress."

Okay who is this man next to me?

It's not like I wanted Colby to be so worked up over my situation with Joe, but still...

I didn't expect him to be so calm

And most importantly, why didn't Joe tell me he talked to my brother when he was here earlier.

"But when me and him step back into the ring against one another." Colby said, speaking again, before I could. "I'm beating his ass for what he did with my little sister."

I smiled a bit, before letting out a sigh. "Thank you so much for being oddly understanding." I replied, sliding off my stool, to go over and give my brother a kiss on his cheek. "You're the best brother I've got."

"I'm the only brother you've got." Colby quickly responded, laughing yet again.

•

LAST ONE... THIS WEEK 😅

•

PART 5

•

T A G S -

@southerngirl41 @alyyaanna

#roman reigns imagine #roman reigns fanfic #roman reigns fanfiction #wwe roman reigns #roman reigns smut #roman reigns x reader #wwe x reader #wwe smut #wwe imagine #wwe fanfiction #wwe fic #wwe imagines #wwe requests #wwe shield #wwe fluff #wwe shield imagines #seth rollins fanfiction #seth rollins imagines #seth rollins wwe #seth rollins imagine #seth rollins x reader #dean ambrose #jon moxley #roman reigns x y/n #wrestling imagines #roman reigns #wwe raw #wwe seth rollins #wwe fics #joe anoa'i

[andydrysdalerogers]

Troublemaker ~ 1 ~ The Exact Moment

He is one of the best goaltenders in the league. He's also hated by his teammates. He didn't mean to be a troublemaker but why not lean into it? There wasn't anyone to stop him.

Until he met her...

A Jeremy Swayman AU x OFC Stella Williams

Story Warnings: excessive drinking, SMUT!, an asshole Jeremy, angst

A/N: Hello and welcome to a spin-off "Cross-Checked" so plenty of characters from that story are crossing over here! If you want a more detailed story of how we ended up here, read the first store HERE Also! The taglist is open. If you want to be added or removed, please let me know!

Please note that I do not give permission for my work to be translated, reposted, or published anywhere other than my Tumblr. Reblogs are most welcome though!

Banners by me! Dividers by @firefly-graphics

Series Masterlist // Main Masterlist

Everyone always knows when their life took a turn.  Whether it was for better or for worse, people can tell you when that happened.  

Me? 

It was a couple of points. But maybe I should explain some things first.  

My name is Jeremy Swayman.  I am one of the best goalies in the National Hockey League. My goalie partner and I are considered the best goalie duo in the last decade. With that comes a lot of things. Endorsements, contracts, money and of course, puck bunnies. There is no shortage of bunnies. Every single woman and some not so single ones, are always hopping around, wanting a piece of me, whether it would be street cred or to tie me down.  

I am all for the street cred but I’m not a relationship guy.  

Or at least, I didn’t think I was.  

I guess this would be the first point that changed my life.  

Flashback, December 

“Care to explain?”  

She handed me the article and I sighed. “That was just a friend.” I threw back the rest of my drink and signals for another. She glare at me. Fuck did I not what to do this here.  

“A friend.” She looks at the photos again and I can see what she sees.  She’s blonde, model like. We’re both smiling big smiles as we are wrapped up in each other. “What’s her name?”  

I choked for a moment on my new drink. “Her name is Charlie. The photo... the photo is just after we hugged.  Nothing is going on.”  I’m lying threw my teeth.  Hooking up with Charlie had been the release I needed.  

Dating Leighton Andrews, the sister of my assistant captain Luke Andrews, best friend of my captain, Andy Barber, and our social media director, had been a dream of mine for years. She was smoking hot, long, dark hair and green eyes. Fuck, I had wanted her for such a long time.  And at the beginning of the season, she had broken up with her long time boyfriend.  I swooped in and asked her out.  

What I wasn’t expecting was to find out she was pregnant from the ex. And it threw me for a loop. That led to Charlie.  

“Right,” she scoffs. Shit, I think she might cry.   

“Right,” I repeat. But then my temper took over. She was sitting there, accusing me of stuff without proof. Ok, so she might have had cause but still, it's not like I didn’t notice how close she is to my captain. Alcohol is making me brave, reckless and a little mean. “Like you’re not screwing around with Barber. I know you want him, Leighton.” I sneered the words at her.   

“Andy is just a friend.  A friend that I’m not even speaking to.” She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at me.    

“A friend? Really? That guy has wanted you since the day I joined the team. I’ve seen how you were before with him.  All the hugging and kisses to your forehead or cheek. Just a friend right? Bet he’s the father of your baby too.”   

See that? Right there, I just screwed myself.  I just didn’t know it yet.  

“How dare you! I told you the truth about the baby. You said you would be there. I thought we were in a relationship!” She was pissed and honestly, I couldn’t blame her. I had said those things to her. The waiter comes by and drops off our plates.  

I push the food around.  I was just looking for a good time when it came to Leia. But my mouth got the best of me. “Look, i know we’ve been seeing each other but we never defined what we are.” I shrugged. “I thought it was casual. I mean, you never slept with me so were we really that serious?”  

I saw it that time. The flash of pain, regret in her eyes.  “I guess then maybe, we should just be friends. I mean, why would you want to be with a pregnant chick when you could have all the uncomplicated stuff.” A watched that tear fall. I don’t think she meant for me to ssee it but I did. I needed to save this.   

“Look, Leia, I just don’t think I want to be a father right now. I mean, you’re cool and everything but we were never going to the next level. I don’t know if I could sleep with someone who’s having another man’s baby.  And now I’m going to be taking a hit because you weren’t honest from the beginning.”   

“Oh, so what were you going to just sleep with me and throw me away? Your teammates sister?”  

Oops. Fuck it. I shrugged. “I like you but I don’t do relationships.”   

That was the death blow. And if I knew what I knew now, I wouldn’t have said what I said. I would have just been honest. That I wasn’t ready to be a father and left it at that. But no, big man needed to make sure she knew how much of a jackass I was.   

“I’m sorry for ruining your life. I guess I’ll see you at work.”   

I was shocked. She looked so calm. She stood up from the table, threw some money down.  “Leia...” I tried to call after her. She turned and had a look of utter defeat.  

“Goodbye Jeremy.”   

I drowned my sorrow that night.  She had been the only girl I ever wanted more with. But that didn’t stop me I guess.  

Previously, I said I was one of the best goalies in the league, that my partner Linus Ullmark and I were the best anyone had seen in a decade.  

What I didn’t mention was the fact that I was probably the most hated guy in the locker room. 

If you take a life lesson from this, it should be this: never mess around with your captain’s best friend or your teammate’s sister. Especially when they are both. 

Flashback: the next day 

“yeah, she was banging.” I had decided to call Charlie for another round. I don’t usually double dip but she had been fantasic in bed, sucking me off like it was her job. And I couldn’t help but brag to the boys.  

 “Who was banging?” 

I look up to see my captain staring at me, a particularly hard look in his eyes. He had heard me and looked like he was about to commit murder.  I swallowed then smiled.  “This chick I hooked up with. She was wild in the sack last night.”  

“Oh,” his face blanked but his eyes were still flaming with rage. I’ve known Andy Barber for a few years.  He is not one to lose his temper. He isn’t one to start fights.  He’s a talker and one of the best chirpers in the league. He can get anyone into trouble.  I should have seen this as a sign. “This is after you dumped Leia and after you cheated on her, right? Nice.”  

I swear every single skate stopped to stare at the standoff between me and him. He just blew up my world and didn’t even know it yet. I tried to defend myself. 

“Leia and I weren't a couple. We dated but we weren’t exclusive.”  

“Oh, so telling her that you would be there for her, be with her for the baby, acting like her boyfriend but really what was your motive? Screw her and then dump her? She is one of us!”  

Boom! There went my life.  

“Jeremy, tell me that isn’t true?” Linus says.  

Linus Ullmark is one of the nicest humans in the world. He loves his family, he loves his team. He is my best friend.  

I’ve never heard him more disappointed. 

I don’t have a chance to respond when Andy continues. “It's not only true but I had Leia sobbing all night because of this asshat,” pointing at me. 

One more thing I should mention is that I have a temper. I once got ran over by the opposing team that I couldn’t let it go and punched my way out of the pile.  There is a gif of me smiling like the devil as I stood up. When I get challenged I don’t back down. Linus calls it my “troublemaker setting” And Andy Barber just set it off.  

“Why the fuck do you care, Barber? I had bigger balls than you to ask her out and date her. She was asking to be fucked, acting like a slut.  She was ready to give me everything and then she dropped the truth bomb that she’s pregnant! She is a whore, wanting to sleep with someone else when she has a baby daddy. At least I didn’t fuck her, you should be thankful for that. You won’t have to deal with my sloppy seconds. Or thirds, I guess,” I smirked at him. 

For the record, I understand that I may have crossed the line.  

Barber lunges at me, but a couple of the guys stopped him.  

But then I still got punched from out of nowhere.  

I had forgotten about Lukas Andrews, assistant captain, enforcer of our team. He knows how to throw a punch. He put everything he had in it, I felt my nose crunch, along with the sound and i was flat on my back.  

“You fucking asshole! That is my baby sister you are messing with!” Luke screams. He’s thrashing in the arms of our defensemen while Linus is helping me up. I feel the blood running down my nose and my lip is on fire. Guess when the other party doesn’t have a warning, Andrews can punch like its nobody’s business. But the rage is still simmering in my blood.  

“Fuck you, Andrews.  You told me I could go for it. Blame your-fucking-self!” I try to lunge at him but Linus and Brad, my other assistant captain, hold me back. 

In all fairness, I had that coming. Linus told me to be careful with Leia. He told me that it was a bad idea to try to sleep with her a dump her.  When I explained that I really did like her, he sighed and told me to do what I wanted to be happy.  So I had asked her out, got the truth bomb and now I was paying the price for being a troublemaker. 

As long as I lived up to the nick name, I didn’t want to care then.  

I was out for one game with a broken nose. Since I wear a cage as goalie on my helmet, I just had to wait for the swelling to go down to get back into the game.  So I threw myself into it.  

But losing her to Andy was too much 

Flashback – New Years Eve 

“Oh god, sorry.”  I felt a body hit me from behind. I knew it wasn’t one of my teammates, it was too soft.  So I turned to apologize.  

“My mis... Leia.”  Fuck me. I had seen her come in with Andy and they went right to the table with Andrews, his girlfriend Miranda and Stella, one of our trainers and Leia’s best friend.  

I hadn’t seen Leia in a while. Management had banned her from the ice, so her assistants were with us when they were taking photos.  I had heard that she was also banned from flying.  I wasn’t sure why, I assume that her doctor made that decision. But I try not to care. I can’t care. 

“Hi Jeremy.” She’s uncomfortable and she’s flushed. She looks beautiful, her belly now more pronounced. I can see why they call it a pregnancy glow. “Happy New Year.”  She started to walk away. 

She’s trying but I still can’t let it go. “You move fast.”  

She turned back to me.  Her face is neutral but I can see the fury in her eyes. “Excuse me?” 

I snorted. “Don’t play stupid, Leia. You’re with Andy, aren’t you?” A few of the players heads turn and I see Linus take a couple of steps forward.  To protect me or protect Leia, I wasn’t sure.  

Leia Andrews is not someone who will sugar coat anything. Her jaw tightened. “Why do you care?” she said loudly, her voice creeping up with each sentence. “You didn’t want me, remember?  You slept with someone else, remember? You told me you couldn’t handle my situation and I walked away. Whether or not I’m with someone else is none of your business. You made that painfully clear.”  

“Leia,” Linus said softly, touching her arm. “Please, be calm. For the baby.”   

The baby? What’s wrong with the baby. I move to ask but she doesn’t give me a chance. She shakes off Linus and stares me down. I fear that she will hit me or eviscerate me where I stand.  

 “Now, if you will excuse me, I’m going back to dinner with my family.  The ones who accepted me for who I am and what I am going through and have my back.”  

I watch as she walks straight into Andy's arms. He looks at me with anger. Fuck, I don’t need this. My captain was going to be pissed because I couldn’t be nice to the girl he stole from me.  

“Really, dickwad, you couldn’t just be nice to her.”  Linus hit the back of my head.  

“Fuck, really?” I rub the back of my head.  

“She is a high risk pregnancy, jackass. Stress can be really bad for her.  I get it, you are pissed but she chose the man she loves. Grow up Jeremy.” Linus shoved my shoulder and walked back to his wife.  I looked around and saw my teammates glaring at me.  They all knew about her condition.  And I made it worse. 

I lost the rest of my team that day.  

Its been a week and I’ve had a different girl in my bed every night. But they aren’t her.  

No one could be her.  

So I go back to what I know.  

Being a troublemaker. 

NEXT

Taglist:

@patzammit

@texmexdarling

@slutforchrisjamalevans

@firephotogrl74

@tinkerbelle67

@before-we-get-started

@bunnyforhim

@alexakeyloveloki

@sunnyhummingbee

@whiskeytangofoxtrot555

@peaceinourtime82

@saucy-sassy-sparkly

@kmc1989

@kandis-mom

@lokislady82

@raven-blue3000

#andy's shenanigans #andy's hea #jeremy swayman #jeremy swayman au #nhl au #cross checked #cross checked spinoff #chris evans #andy barber au #hockey au #jeremy swayman fic #ofc Stella Williams #troublemaker

[waywardxrhea]

Chapter 1 - Heart of Stone

What happens when you lie to the Devil? How long can one woman keep a lifetime of secrets from the Devil of Hell's Kitchen? The answer may surprise you...

installment list

pairing: Matt Murdock x enhanced!fem!OC

series content: coffee shop AU, fluff, humor, friends to lovers, pining, language, canon typical violence, use of guns, angst, drinking, implied smut, medical emergencies, mental health disorders (PTSD, panic disorder).

"you can build me up, you can tear me down, you can try but i'm unbreakable. you can do your best, but i'll stand the test, you'll find that i'm unshakable. when the fire's burnt, when the wind has blown, when the water's dry you'll still find stone. my heart of stone" - heart of stone, six the musical

word count: 3.9k

A series of unfortunate events leads Julianne Porter to uproot her entire life in London.

Standing at the back of the crowded church, Julianne Porter wiped away a tear that slipped from her eye despite her best efforts to keep them at bay. As she saw her father’s watchful eyes turning in her direction, she darted back behind the pillar so he didn’t see her because that would have meant certain punishment for daring to step foot into the church hosting his wife’s funeral. She was her mother too, but considering he blamed her for his wife’s untimely death in the first place, Julianne was unceremoniously barred from attending the event.

She couldn’t live with herself if she didn’t try to attend though, so she took what she could, sneaking in through the doors right as her mother’s favorite song was playing loudly through the speakers. Eileene was always a lively person and she had always made it clear to her husband Dean that when her time came, she wanted the funeral to be a joyous occasion celebrating her life, love, and career. Despite that wish though, Julianne wore all black because in the end, after what her father said to her that night, she felt she was to blame.

Giggling like a lovestruck teenager, Julianne kissed her boyfriend one last time before they came to a stop at the gate outside of the Porter family manor. “Tonight was amazing,” he told her between the last few kisses of the night.

“Thank you for taking me out, I really needed it,” she replied with a smile, wrapping her arms around his strong form, adding, “I wish it didn’t have to end.”

“Maybe it doesn’t have to… Come back to my place tonight, I’ll make it worth your while,” he told her with a sly wink.

She giggled once more before shaking her head and telling him, “I can’t, you know how it is around here. I…I really shouldn’t have even gone out tonight so last minute. If my father finds out I’ve been with you, he’ll kill me…”

“One day I’m gonna make that man like me, just you wait, darlin’,” he told her confidently.

“In your dreams, that man is-“ she started to say.

Julianne’s sentence was cut off though as she heard a scream coming from within the manor. Her eyes went wide as she pushed Kit away, telling him, “Shit, I have to go. I…I’ll call you later!”

Without a second glance back toward Kit’s shocked form, Julianne was off, racing up the drive of the manor with shaking hands, hoping for the best but expecting the worst upon hearing such an ear-splitting scream. When she got inside though, her worst fears came to fruition as she saw her mother being held at gunpoint. Upon seeing the fear in her mother’s eyes, Julianne put her hands up and said calmly, “Let’s not lose our heads now, let’s talk this out, I’m sure there’s some sort of agreement we can come to here.”

“We aren’t here to bargain princess. Grab her!” the man holding her mother snapped.

“I guess we’re doing it my way then aren’t we?” she asked before forcefully stomping on the ground, sending some of the granite flooring into the air, followed quickly by a punch to send the stone directly at the man holding her mother hostage.

“Don’t let her use her powers you blitherin’ idiots!” the man shouted.

Julianne could see two men coming at her from behind in a mirror across from her and launched an attack on them as well, causing the tile at their feet to suddenly sink into the ground, effectively trapping them in place. In her distraction of making sure that the men’s feet were thoroughly stuck, a third man came up behind her and picked her up off the ground like a daisy. 

“Let go of me! I’ll-!” she tried to shout as she struggled in the man’s strong arms.

Everything in the next few seconds happened so quickly that she didn’t even have time to think before she saw her mother’s brains being shot out of the side of her head by her captor. And Julianne? Well she was screaming bloody murder as the men ran from the house jeering at her all the while.

“What the bloody hell is going on out here, I was in the middle of a conference with a very important client about-“ came Dean Porter’s voice as he stalked into the room flanked by two men from his security detail. He stopped cold though as he saw Julianne weeping over her mother’s body, the pool of blood surrounding them growing steadily. “Ridge, Oliver, find the men who did this. I want them dead. I’ll deal with the brat…” 

A third man emerged from the room holding a binder to his chest, asking, “Dad, what-?” He too stopped cold as he saw his twin sister weeping over their mother’s body, his mouth agape and eyes wide. 

The memory was abruptly interrupted by Julianne’s phone buzzing in her trouser pocket. She sneakily ducked out of the church before answering quietly, “Hey love, everything all right?”

“Smashing,” came Kit’s bright voice from the other line. “Look, I’m really sorry you couldn’t give your mum a proper goodbye… If you want, meet me at our usual spot for some cheering up. I’ll bring your favorite.”

“You’re the best, thank you,” Julianne whispered, her voice breaking with emotion at his kindness. “I’ll see you in ten, I love you.”

“I love you more,” he replied with the slightest crack in his voice at the end. Kit had met Eileen a few weeks ago for the first time and they hit it off instantly, and even though Dean hadn’t approved of Julianne dating, Eileen was happy to see her little girl happy. So, when Julianne told Kit about witnessing her murder, he had been a bit of an emotional mess too. Ever since that night, he had been especially gentle with Julianne and her emotional state, meeting with her in their secret spot just outside of the manor every night and bringing her chocolates or champagne to help her feel better. And while the gifts did bring her joy, merely being in his warm embrace and hearing his reassuring words brought her more comfort than any tangible object could.

The walk to the manor was breezy, the chilled autumn air cutting right through Julianne’s scarf and coat. She hugged her arms close to her body as she approached the little alcove she always met Kit in, calling out quietly, “Kit, it’s Julie, you here?”

Her eyebrows knit together when she didn’t get a response and instead heard a quiet thud on the ground, one that sounded almost…wet? She peered around the corner and for the second time in as many weeks, Julianne was weeping over the body of a loved one. Her limbs went numb, and she felt lightheaded as she surveyed Kit’s battered body bleeding out onto the concrete around him.

As Julianne fell to her knees with a sob, her heart kicked into high gear, racing irregularly in her chest as black threatened to engulf her vision. The darkness started to take over as she fell to the ground, the last thing she saw before passing out was the note nailed to Kit’s chest that read, “This is on you, Julianne.”

“Is someone over here?” James asked as he and Oliver made their way into the area a few minutes later. “I thought you said you heard something,” James snapped as they walked. 

“I did, I swear it,” Oliver replied, turning the corner into the little alcove. He stopped dead in his tracks as he took in the sight in front of him: a bloodied Kit Wilson and Julianne unmoving near him. “Holy shit, James, I-”

“Shit, check on Julie, I’ll call Dad, see what he wants to do,” James said, reaching for his cell in his coat pocket. 

James heard Oliver sigh in relief after a few moments, saying, “She’s alive. Heart rate is through the roof though.”

“It’s that stupid heart condition. She’ll come to soon,” James replied as he listened to his father’s instructions over the phone, turning his back to the scene as a sly smirk twisted its way onto his face. 

“Are you sure you want to do this? There’s always time to back out,” said JD,  a friend of Julianne’s since uni. 

“Yes JD, I’m sure, I’ve been planning this for a month. I…I can’t be here anymore,” she replied quietly as she ran her fingers through her hair. “Remember your promise back when I first found out what you do?”

“Yeah, yeah, I know…” he said with an exasperated sigh. “I’m just saying, this is a big decision, and you haven’t exactly been in the best mindset since…”

“Since my mother and boyfriend were killed because of me?” she asked haughtily.

“I wouldn’t exactly put it like that…” he replied hesitantly.

“Just give me the IDs and passports JD,” she told him.

“Not until you tell me your plan to get out of the country,” he said defiantly.

“How I’m getting out of here doesn’t matter, just know that I’ll manage,” she responded.

“And that’s exactly why I’m worried, Jules. In my line of work when someone says something along those lines it means they’re about to do something either illegal or borderline suicidal. So, which is it?” he asked seriously, holding the documents closely to his body while Julianne impatiently held out her hand.

“Let’s just say that the O’Hare syndicate is about to get a pretty paycheck thanks to me,” she told him while gesturing for JD to hand over the documents.

JD made a choking noise as his eyes went wide. His eyebrows shot up as he asked, “The O’Hare syndicate? As in your father’s most powerful rival? Are you mad?!”

“Quite apparently,” she replied shortly as she snatched the documents from his loosened grip. “If my father wants to play dirty I will too. It’s only fair, innit?”

“Well while we’re on the subject, what the bloody hell is he going to say or do to me and my family when he finds out I helped you? This isn’t just about you anymore!” JD said, a bite of anger in his voice as he glared at Julianne. 

“Trust me, I’ve thought this all out. I can get you and your family out of the country too. Get a new start and get the kids away from…stuff like this,” she said, shaking her head when she ended her sentence. “All you have to do is say the word.”

“And what if your little plan doesn’t work? What if the O’Hares don’t follow through?”

“Then that means I’ll be dead and you won’t have to worry about my father blaming you for helping me. Pack what you need and only what you need. When they agree to my terms, the O’Hares will deal with the rest,” she said as she turned her back and began heading for the door.

“You seem awfully confident this is going to work,” JD called, a hint of desperation in his voice. 

“Just trust me, will you? Be ready to go come week’s end. If all goes to plan this is the last time you’ll be seeing me. Take care old chap,” she said as she pulled her hood over her head and ducked out into the gloomy London night. 

After a ride on the tube and a few minutes walk, Julianne found herself walking into a crowded pub full of Irishmen, armed to the teeth. “Oi, where can I find Sheamus around here?” she shouted, which prompted about a dozen guns and even more blades to be pointed in her direction. 

“That’s that Porter gal innit?” one man asked aloud to his buddies. 

“Why I oughta-” another growled, cocking his gun and aiming it at her forehead. 

Julianne put her hands in the air and said, “Oh calm down, I’m here to cut a deal and line all of your pockets. If I can talk to Sheamus.”

“Pat her down, make sure she isn’t armed,” the second man said while still training his pistol at her head. 

“You know she doesn’t have to have any weapons to fight right? Not with those freak powers of hers…” the first man told him as he advanced toward Julianne and began frisking her. 

“Well then check her for a wire you blitherin’ idiot!” he shouted.

After a more thorough than needed pat down, Julianne asked, “See? I’m unarmed and unwired. I came for a deal. That’s all.”

“You came into enemy territory, that's what you did, lass! Now if you don’t get out of me pub in five seconds, I’ll-” the irate man snarled before he was cut off by a handsomely dressed man entering from behind the bar.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here? Do my eyes deceive me, or is little miss Julianne Porter standing in the middle of my pub?” Sheamus O’Hare asked, throwing a pointed glare at the man with his gun trained on Julianne. 

“The one and only,” Julianne told him with a small smile. 

“Well Miss Porter, I’m not usually one to make deals with me rival’s daughter, especially one whose gotten some of me men caught due to their inability to run from the cops after you…dealt with them. So tell me why you’re here before this place lights up.”

“With all due respect, I’d rather not discuss intricacies in front of so many men, especially ones with guns pointed at me,” she told him, taking a quick glance around the many guns still trained on her. 

“Give me one good reason to let you back into my office and let you walk out of here alive,” he countered. 

“The shipment that’s coming in tomorrow night for my father. The details are yours if you and your men agree to my terms,” she said, not breaking eye contact with him for even a second. 

A smirk slowly made its way onto Sheamus’s face as he gestured for the men to lower their weapons. He reached out a hand for Julianne to take as he said to her, “If that intel’s good, I think we can make the proper arrangements. Follow me.”

As she followed him back to his office, he asked, “So what made you want to turn on your old man?”

“He had my boyfriend killed. I think it’s about proper time he got what’s coming for him,” she replied as she took a seat across from him.

He ran his hand over his facial hair while contemplating the sincerity behind her words before asking, “So what’s in it for us?”

Julianne scoffed, telling him, “Only the biggest shipment this country’s ever seen. It’s coming directly from Mexico with the product hidden in clothing, ready for sale. If you take over the shipment from the seller, you’ll not only get the product, but you’ll also be making him lose money. The daft bastard’s already paid. So he’ll be out and you’ll be swimming in more money than you’ll know what to do with.”

Sheamus narrowed his eyes and asked, “What’s the catch? You seem like you’re a smart girl, there’s no way you’re just doing this to get revenge.”

“So you O’Hares are brighter than they say you are,” she told him with a wink. “But you’re right, there are a few things I want in return.”

“What is it?”

“I need you to help me fake my death and the death of JD Williams plus his family. And you need to make it look damn good because you’ll be sending photographic proof of my death to my father. Once you do those things, we’ll all be out of the country and the slate will be wiped clean. You get a seller, I get revenge and to safety, my father loses. It’s a win-win for the both of us. So, what do you say? Do we have a deal?” When she finished her side of the bargain, she crossed her legs as she waited for his response. 

“So you’re telling me that you’ll give me the information on these shipments in trade for faking some deaths?” Sheamus asked as a wide smile broke out onto his face. 

“That’s it. No tricks, no turning sides when your men are at the docks, just pure revenge.”

“You got a heart o’ stone on ya, don’t ya? I like the sound o’ that,” Sheamus said enthusiastically as he stood up to shake her hand. He put his arm around her waist as they exited the room, telling her, “Now let’s get some Guinness in ya and talk details with my men, yeah?”

Come the end of the week, Crystal was standing near the harbour’s entryway with her hands tucked in her pockets waiting for her father’s men to show up to be ambushed by O’Hare’s men. When a couple finally showed up, she asked them, “What the hell? You were supposed to be here a half hour ago! My father is not going to be pleased with you!”

“Sweetheart, we’ve been run ragged by your old man trying to finish selling from the last shipment, give us a break!” Donnelly snapped as he shoved past her. 

“And don’t plan on just standing here like you always do, you’re coming in with us. Since Mummy isn’t around to stop you from helping out anymore, your old man told us to have you tag along. In case things go bad. Rumor has it the Wellenelly men might be trying to get a piece of the action so he wants you nearby. Got it?”

“Got it,” she said, trying to hide the sudden fear in her voice. She told O’Hare’s men that she would be waiting at the entrance… What if this messes everything up?

As she followed the two men down the dock and heard a truck pulling up nearby to pick up the shipping crate, she hoped that at least one of the men tailing her heard so they could change the plan. She waited with baited breath as she followed the two men toward the designated ship that was bobbing in the water. The man standing near the ledge looked up and said in a hostile tone, “I thought there were only supposed to be two of you.”

“There was a change in personnel,” Donnelly told the man while reaching for a pen in his pocket. 

“I was told that I can only hand off the shipment if there were two men with your description. There wasn’t no girl on the roster!” he countered. 

“Well this here girl is the boss man’s daughter, so unless you want to take this up with Mr. Porter yourself and risk a bullet in the brain, I would-” He couldn’t finish his sentence though as out of seemingly nowhere, the butt of a gun came down hard on his temple.

Instinctively, Julianne told the second man to get down and went into a fighting stance before she felt a sharp knife press to her throat. She froze on the spot, eyes wide as she began pleading for her father’s worker to help. “You so much as think about using your freak powers and I’ll slit your throat faster than you can beg for Daddy’s help,” said the man holding her hostage. 

Before he could do anything though, there were three more O’Hare men on the scene, beating the two Porter men. Right before the second passed out from his injuries, the victor spit near his unmoving body and said, “You tell Porter that his shipment is ours and so is his whore daughter!” He turned his attention to the man holding Julianne and snapped, “Take care of her and make sure Porter knows not to mess with us from here on out!”

“What do you want me to do to her?” he asked with a smugness in his voice as he pressed the blade further into her skin, drawing blood. 

“Kill her for all I care!” the first man said before turning his attention to the man on the boat. 

“This is gonna hurt,” muttered the man holding Julianne as he took a swift swing at her temple that had her vision blacking out faster than she could process what was happening. 

By the time she came to, Julianne was in what seemed like an abandoned hotel with blood smeared all over her body, clothes, and hair. The smell was horrendous and she tried not to gag as she sat up from her position on the floor. “Oh you’re awake, finally. I didn’t think you were going to come to,” came a woman’s voice from behind a camera nearby. “Go on, you can get up, we just finished taking all the photos we needed to send to your father.”

“God, what is that smell?” Julianne asked as she stood up and looked at what seemed to be a brutal crime scene. 

“Sheep’s blood. The fake shit they use for theatre wasn’t gonna cut it, so I got some real blood. Hope you don’t mind.”

“I don’t guess I had a choice, did I?” she asked as she caught the towel the woman tossed her. 

She took a quick shower to wash off the blood and emerged feeling refreshed. As she looked at herself through the fogged up mirror, Julianne shook her head and grabbed the scissors she brought with her into the bathroom and began cutting her long hair. Once she got her hair looking neat enough resting on her shoulders, she emerged from the bathroom to meet with the woman again. 

“Nice cut, but you missed a few spots,” the woman said with a light laugh as she took the scissors from Julianne and tidied the haircut up. As she finished up, she added, “You don’t have much time before you need to get out of the country, are your arrangements ready?” 

Julianne nodded, checking her watch as she told her, “Flight’s in three hours. Red eye to the States.” She paused for a moment, telling the woman, “Thank you guys…”

“Thank you,” the woman said with a small smile on her lips. She paused for a second before saying, “Once you exit those doors, Julianne Porter will no longer exist. I hope you know what you’re doing. And when you get there, cover up that God-awful paperboy hat tattoo if you know what’s good for you.”

“Don’t worry, I can handle myself. My mother raised me right,” she replied as she exited the building with her sunglasses on and hood pulled over her head. 

“Miss Shaw?” came a voice as she felt a tapping on her shoulder, rousing her from her slumber. She made a noise of discontent as she stirred awake, her joints aching from sitting for so long. “Miss Shaw, we landed in New York. We’re deplaning now.”

“Oh, right, sorry,” she replied in a groggy voice as she stood up and grabbed her carry on from the overhead bin. 

As she walked out of the plane and through the airport, Julianne suddenly felt a weight lift off her shoulders at the prospect of freedom ahead of her. She would no longer be under her father’s control. She would no longer have her every move tracked. She could have a life! Friends! A normal job! And all that began to happen as she stepped out of the doors of JFK and onto the New York streets, not as Julianne Porter, but as Crystal Shaw.

next chapter

#daredevil #daredevil x oc #short fanfic #marvel #romance #friends to lovers #coffee shop au #matt murdock x oc

[apocalypticavolition]

Let's (re)Read The Dragon Reborn! Chapter 6: The Hunt Begins

Another day, another chapter. Don't read if you don't want spoilers for literally everything that has ever or will ever happen (in The Wheel of Time).

This chapter has a Wheel icon now that Rand's embraced his destiny and ditched the party - and because Perrin will be embracing his as well.

“Rand is gone,” was all Lan said before he left at a run, but it was more than enough.

When Lan's hustling, you know hell is breaking loose.

“You’re from his village,” Masema said hoarsely. “You must know. Why did the Lord Dragon abandon us? What sin did we commit?”

You didn't kill those Shadowspawn quickly enough, Masema. Rand only hangs out with people whose DPS is in the three digits.

Min sat cross-legged on the dirt floor beside the door that led to Moiraine’s room, while the Aes Sedai paced back and forth in thought. Dark thoughts, they must have been. Three paces each way was all she had, but she made vigorous use of the space, the calm on her face belied by the quickness of her step.

Moiraine has got to be really tired of Rand going off her script, since she still has not learned that she does not get to direct the plot.

He made himself meet her look with one just as level and firm. It was not easy. He loomed over her, but she was Aes Sedai. “Is this of your making, Moiraine? Did you rein him in until he was so impatient he’d go anywhere, do anything, just to stop sitting still?”

Perrin is being extra petty here considering he understands her state of mind at this state of affairs just fine.

What I do, I do because there is no other way. He is hunting me again, and this time one of us has to die, I think. There is no need for those around me to die, also. Too many have died for me already. I do not want to die either, and will not, if I can manage it. There are lies in dreams, and death, but dreams hold truth, too.

Perrin is right though that Moiraine's holding Rand in place is why he's snapped so hard from the dream pressure, though in her defense she probably was not remotely aware of the level of influence that the Forsaken were wielding because the boys never tell her anything. Already we can see how the distrust among the light side is causing them problems.

“I’ll go easy when she answers me. Well, Moiraine?” “He is what he is,” she said sharply.

You can't blame Perrin for not trusting Moiraine for refusing to communicate openly with him, and you can't blame Moiraine for being pissed that she's still being treated with outright hostility when she's shown she's firmly on their side. That said, it is Moiraine who needs to change more, because the Aes Sedai attitude contributes nothing to the proceedings.

The seals are weakening, Perrin. Some are broken, though the world does not know that. Must not know that. The Father of Lies is not free. Yet. But as the seals weaken, more and more, which of the Forsaken may be loosed already? Lanfear? Sammael? Asmodean, or Be’lal, or Ravhin? Ishamael himself, the Betrayer of Hope? They were thirteen altogether, Perrin, and bound in the sealing, not in the prison that holds the Dark One. Thirteen of the most powerful Aes Sedai of the Age of Legends, the weakest of them stronger than the ten strongest Aes Sedai living today, the most ignorant with all the knowledge of the Age of Legends. And every man and woman of them gave up the Light and dedicated their souls to the Shadow. What if they are free, and out there waiting for him? I will not let them have him.”

And Perrin, for his part, needs to appreciate when Moiraine is being relatively open. It makes sense that she's frozen up a bit in fear of the Forsaken being loose, especially since she doesn't know that Rand's already been grappling with Ish or Lanfear. Sadly, Perrin's not really ready for the full understanding of what the Last Battle being upon them.

He looked at the others—they were all watching him fixedly, even Min—then hesitantly told of the one dream that seemed unusual to him, the dream that came every night. The dream of the sword he could not touch. He did not mention the wolf that had appeared in the last.

Note as well that where Moiraine's open caginess causes problems with everyone because they know they can't trust her, she's constantly getting surprised by their quiet caginess. Some real hypocrisy by the boys.

“My dreams are always the same, Moiraine Sedai. The groves, and the Great Trees, and the stedding. We Ogier always dream of the stedding when we are away from them.”

I wonder if they're true dreams in T'A'R and if perhaps humans who get too far away from the Earth have similar dreams.

What does it mean that he ‘shall slay his people with the sword of peace, and destroy them with the leaf’? What does it meant that he ‘shall bind the nine moons to serve him’? Yet these are given equal weight with Callandor in the Cycle. There are others. What ‘wounds of madness and cutting of hope’ has he healed? What chains has he broken, and who put into chains?

These are much more straightforward prophecies to intrepret than some, at least, referring as they do to the Aiel, binding the Seanchan to the peace, the cleansing of saidin, and the general societal upheavals he brings about.

Perrin grunted softly. The Stone would never fall till the Dragon Reborn held Callandor. How in the Light is he supposed to reach it—inside a bloody fortress!—before the fortress falls? It is madness!

Even ignoring the "sneak in" approach that Rand ultimately takes, it's not like he couldn't just get hired as a guard or servant who works there and find his way to Callandor. The people in-universe treat this sequence of events like it's a lot more paradoxical than it really is.

Especially on those who are—susceptible. I do not believe Rand did it on purpose, but the dreams of those touching the True Source can be powerful. For one as strong as he, they could possibly seize an entire village, or perhaps even a city. He knows little of what he does, and even less of how to control it.”

I guess this is a better explanation than wolf dream, considering that half the Shienarians have it. One wonders why Min was exempt though, besides the plot contrivance that she'd definitely have told Moiraine after the second night.

“There’s always something new from you,” Perrin growled. “Can’t you tell us what to expect once in a while, instead of explaining after it happens?” Uno looked as though he was trying to think of a reason to leave.

Uno wishes he had a pipe to study.

Lan looked at Uno, and the one-eyed man shrugged in dismay. “I bloody forgot, with all this flaming talk about bloo—” He cleared his throat, shooting a glance at Moiraine. She looked back expectantly, and he went on.

Uno should be allowed to swear more.

“Watch your tongue, blacksmith,” Lan growled, all ice and stone.

I'm glad someone will call out Perrin on his bullshit a bit because he's being very annoying at this point. You'd think Min at least would speak up.

Few women seek audiences with the Amyrlin herself, but it does happen, and it should occasion no great comment.

Moiraine, have you forgotten that folks already know who Min is? Ms. Unknown Power coming back after having disappeared with three runaways and making a request few women do will be all over the Tower within half an hour of her walking through the city gates AND SHE WON'T HAVE EVEN HAD TIME TO GET TO THE TOWER BY THAT POINT.

Once outside, Min hung back for a moment to address Lan with a too-sweet smile. “And is there any message you want carried? To Nynaeve, perhaps?”

Min, I know you're pissed at Moiraine, but don't take it out on Lan. He's relatively innocent.

Loial shook his head. “I think she asked because she knew what we would answer, Min. Moiraine seems able to read Perrin and me; she knows what we’ll do. But you are a closed book to her.”

Min getting constant supernatural intervention does make her harder to predict, it's true.

“Don’t be more thickheaded than you have to be, Perrin. Back there, right after you said you’d go. They were not there before. They must have to do with this journey. Or at least with you deciding to go.”

The question is, does the Pattern allow him to not go (and thus... end up at Two Rivers early and have to deal with the Whitecloaks stuff solo), or does the Pattern only give him the chance to go willingly and it's still going to drag him along regardless, just in a much more humiliating fashion?

“An Aielman in a cage,” she said promptly. “A Tuatha’an with a sword. A falcon and a hawk, perching on your shoulders. Both female, I think. And all the rest, of course. What is always there. Darkness swirling ’round you, and—”

The former, then. If Perrin hadn't gone with Moiraine, he'd either never meet Gaul, Aram, Faile or Berelain or at least wouldn't have them relevant in his life until later. Thank you Min, for having such easy visions for a change.

“One more thing,” she said slowly. “If you meet a woman—the most beautiful woman you’ve ever seen—run!”

Perrin won't, of course. I wonder what encounter with Lanfear Jordan must have had in mind.

Perrin did not like jumping to conclusions—it was one of the reasons some people thought him slow-witted—but he totaled up a number of things Min had said in the last few days and came to a startling conclusion.

His conclusion is that Min is in love with him. Perrin, to think you were slow-witted would imply you had wits at all. You take five days to come to the least plausible conclusion.

“I’m bound to him as surely as a stave is bound to the barrel. But I can’t see if he’ll ever love me in return. And I am not the only one.”

Of course, Min doesn't seem to realize that Rand definitely has the hots for her, so Perrin still isn't the stupidest person in this conversation. Perrin Aybara for Two Rivers King! Most Competent Man in the West! (By Default)

“If there’s no safety in Tar Valon, there’s no safety anywhere.”

Now you're getting it!

Next time: We finally get this show on the road.

#let's read #wheel of time #wot #robert jordan #wheel of time spoilers #wot spoilers #perrin aybara #lan al'mandragoran #masema dagar #loial #min farshaw #moiraine damodred #uno nomesta

[adracat]

GWitch 21 thoughts

A bit of a transitional episode for the most part though it does escalate some things quite a bit. Always a fun ride on GWitch's coaster of madness and mechs!

First on the docket, Asticassia's aftermath. They really treat you to the scope of its devastation and the students having to wait it out. Bit odd imo they make the students camp there but I guess their parents are likely scattered anyway considering the state of Benerit.

Also was it just me or did y'all instinctively look for Loss in this image? Nicely organized camp at least.

Omg I might cry. Precious Suletta has decided to take it upon herself to care for the students. rescuing them in multiple ways I see. For me, it drives home the message that human connection and community are more important than destructive forces clashing. Empathy over games of war or corporate power struggles. It's also nice that Secilia* (edit: had a brain lapse lol) questions her reasons for altruism.

Because she can so she will 🥺

We finally see how Mio is faring and it's not great! She's taken on the guilt of Prospera's induced bloodshed along with Shaddiq's. Guel tries to reassure her but Mio is firm. This is her fault. Ngl, Guel, you're partly to blame for the school. No offense. It hurts to see Mio take on other people's wrongdoing, but that's a martyr for you

Her talk with Shaddiq was interesting for a variety of reasons, but what stood out to me was their mutual resignation. They're both so tired. Shaddiq admitting he escalated because of Guel and Mio is insane tbh. She calls him an idiot, but it lacks her usual fire. I do like that he tries to protect Sabina and the gang; really speaks to the fact he's more complex than a mustache twirling villain.

OMG Chuchu giving these two tomatoes instead of punches like before was amazing. The growth! The compassion! Ugh it was so good. As was the reveal that Suletta has been stockpiling the tomatoes. Mio might not know it, but she and by extension her mother aided these wounded kids. And Suletta musing on Mio fondly? Peak

After surviving the hell room, I can't blame her for reassessing her life and priorities. Sad she lost her dream but it was tainted by Shaddiq so I understand her reasoning. She'll earn her way back fairly, though it might not be any time soon once she submits herself to the authorities.

I wasn't surprised by this. Peil's horse in the presidency war lost, so might as well turncoat. They're opportunists at heart. The pure SALT though! It was the worst kind of news for everyone else at Benerit, including Mio. Forcible suppression are not words you want to hear

It's awful of me but this screenshot made me laugh. Something about her slumped forward and mouth open, just dead to everything around her. I'm sorry Mio, I'm sad for you still. She's having a hell of a month.

Sarius, surprisingly, is willing to take the fall and allow Grassley to bear the consequences. But Mio won't allow it. She can't accept anyone bearing 'her' sins. She's fully become the rose bride, enduring humanity's hatred willingly. There's also a bit of subtext here as she alludes to sacrificing Suletta. She won't do that again, no matter who it is.

YO OKAY! Suletta while being questioned by Bel and Guston, drops her clone origins super casually. No spite or outward grief either. Just yeah, Mom won't care what I say because she only loves Eri. That's rough buddy.

Surprise! The SAL confiscated a never before seen or mentioned Gundam from Vanadis. And it just so happens to be a monstrous one without a permet filter I'll admit, very confusing for me at first watch. I couldn't figure out why they sprung this without any foreshadowing, but after days I have an inkling.

I'll be frank. I'm not sure why I like Belmeria. She's super pathetic. Just an absolute failure at life with the mental fortitude of toilet paper. But she's pitiable, clearly grieving, and guilty she did not perish at Folkvangr. Has done terrible things as 5lan would attest, but she's still weirdly likable. Like an aunt who everyone hates at family reunions but they're nice to you and make good cookies. Maybe it's just me

Aaaand the suppression of Benerit was swiftly canceled. Lol. QZ can't be stopped now that Prospera has assumed direct control and destroyed every threat to her daughter's eternity.

I did note QZ looks blatantly like a coffin, which considering the Utena parallel has interesting implications. Read this post here to see my musings. It's not a dire thing imo.

Did a huge number on Mio's psyche unfortunately, which I think is the true tragedy. Red shirts got nothing on babygirl. Gotta double down on those swords piercing her with guilt and misplaced hatred. I'm marveling at what they're doing with the Utena intertextuality even as I bleed for Mio's state of mind. She's so fragile now

Yay Chuchu and gang are coming along to fetch Calibarn! Wait, that might be bad. Oh well, Earth House has been crazy lucky so far. Hopefully it'll hold. I will actually lose it if any of them die.

And we have 5lan suddenly deciding to go. I have some thoughts about why, which I've discussed in another post, but for now let's assume he's telling the truth and only wants to leave. He's an interesting character and bounces well off any cast member so it's cool with me. I enjoyed him going out of his way to apologize for harrassing Suletta.

Lauda Lauda Lauda... don't you know anyone who threatens Mio gets Suletta slapped. It's happened three times now and two of them were fatal. He's just gonna get someone killed, and it won't be Mio. I know we see him staring at Schwarzette but I don't think he would need to or have the ability to pilot it. Mio isn't a pilot, so I suspect he'll attack her with more practical means. Could be wrong ofc! This show loves twists and curveballs.

I am eager to see what the rest of this cour has in store for us!

#PETRA knew I forgot something #anyway glad you lived but your bf sucks #Hodr Lauda about to kill Baldr Guel #If it happens... lol #We still need Mio eye too #g witch #g witch spoilers #suletta mercury #miorine rembran #gundam witch from mercury #guel jeturk #chuatury panlunch #nika nanaura #lauda jeturk #gwitch episode 21

[rey-jake-therapist]

Alianora means "Pity" (a very fitting name)

I saw this morning that today's new outrage is that Alianora meant "pity", meaning that Dream probably felt that this girl sent by Desire to help him was a sign of pity from his sibling.

And it's another reason to be angry at Dream. And yet, how was he wrong?

"Alianora sacrificed everything for him, how did he dare"

At this point, when Dream named her he did it because it was the first requirement to get her help. He didn't know her at all, what she was capable of and what she would really do out of love for him. She was the help sent by a sibling who had proved in the past they weren't reliable (see Endless Nights). Dream had all the reasons in the world to be wary of this woman whom Desire basically forced him to love in order to get her help.

So for sure, now that we know what she did for him, it seems that naming her "pity" is a bit rude retrospectively, but this outrage seems very superficial, especially coming from people who have the habit of ignoring female characters, except when they can use them in their "anti Morpheus" narrative.

Also, why thinking "pity" has necessarily a negative connotation in this context? It's very likely that by naming her Alianora, Dream simply acknowledged that it took the pity of a sibling and of a woman he didn't know to save him from an impossible situation. It didn't seem to be a judgement against his savior at all.

As far as I'm concerned, what I find outrageous is that Desire gave her to Dream as if she was a pet and not a person. Dream shouldn't have had to name her at all, she should have been allowed to remain her own person, but Desire (not Dream!) decided otherwise. Not surprising considering he had no problems raping Unity... Desire showed multiple times he had no problem using women for his own profit.

But hey, from what I usually read on social media, Desire is the true hero of the story because he "helped" Dream, so what do I know!

Alianora is a very tragic character, but not because Dream didn't/couldn't love her. He didn't "get tired of her", he never wanted her in the first place and that was what makes her fate tragic. It was not necessarily his fault - love isn't a trinket or a bauble, as he told Nuala in TKO: it can't be taken out of a pouch - though one can argue he could have done an effort. And it was definitely not hers! Poor Alianora ended up being the victim of another of Desire's jokes against his brother.

What's tragic is that Alianora was taken from her home world by Desire, probably with the promise that she would be loved by a beautiful prince who would be forever grateful for her help.

What's also tragic is that she told Dream he didn't have to tell her he would forever love her and probably meant it, but she surely didn't know that Desire had conditioned their help - her - to a love promise.

And what's even more tragic is that she ended up forever alone in a land that wasn't hers, because she had no other option and didn't receive the love that was promised to her...

Dream deserved the blame he gets, because after all Alianora did for him, she certainly deserved better than the indifferent coldness he displayed when she realized she couldn't be around him while it was clear he wouldn't hold his promise to love her forever.

I can't say I like Alianora's story in general, to be honest. What a strange "princess story" to tell a young child, when I think of it... Desire was right on this one: THEY, them and Dream, treated her horribly. But I would argue that what Desire did was far worse than naming her "Pity".

#the sandman #Sandman overture #sandman alianora #Sandman meta

[thedroloisms]

its kind of wild the intentional stupidity some people have. “we shouldn’t expect much from ccs. remember they already disappointed us with dream” okay but you know that’s because they knew he was innocent right. like yes they didn’t drop him but also the accusations were unsubstantiated. the way they continue to talk about dream as if he’s a confirmed groomer but don’t actually say it because they know it’s not true. “remember what happened with dream” yea bitch you were wrong that’s what happened (sorry i needed to vent 😭)

DONT BE SORRY THIS ALL THE WAY

like in some cases, i'm willing to brush it off as ignorance or stupidity. mostly in the cases of a lot of people who haven't really looked into anything themselves and therefore have a pretty damn biased view of the situation. still not great, especially considering the severity of the allegations (like, i'm sorry but false allegations irl and in content creator spheres have literally ruined people's lives before they are far from victimless???? we have documented evidence of this happening????) but at the very least it's more believably from a place of genuinely not knowing (though it's not like they're trying to know either)

that being said, a lot of the loudest of the group, the avid drantis who won't shut their mouths about him and have decent followings on whatever platform they frequent and have established themselves as a sort of moral authority on the situation? whether it's on twitter or that collection of former dsmpblr big blogs, i'm sorry but nah. these people aren't approaching the issue from a place of ignorance. these people know exactly what they're talking about; they just don't give a damn. they've proved thoroughly that more than they care about advocating for literally anyone, they need to preserve their goddamn reputations. these same blogs repeatedly invoking dream in this scenario despite his having nothing to do with it (because obviously they dropped dream, so they're good people. or obviously the content creators Showed Their True Colors when they didn't immediately denounce dream. or dream made it clear that this community isn't safe from bad, manipulative men emphasis on the MEN!!! or what have you) often literally just so they can pat themselves on the back - scrambling over each other in order to see who gets to stand on the highest soapbox to preach? like.

it's one thing for people to just dislike dream, or to have dropped him during the allegations. i don't bear ill will for those things alone - when the allegations dropped, in the time when we were waiting for a clear final response, i don't blame anyone for choosing the paths that best suited their comfort levels. we all looked at what we had and made our own individual decisions. but it's not february 2023 - now, a full year later, seeing these people literally continue to treat the allegations in the exact same way? speaking about how dream was revealed to be abusive! we should have known better! ccs didn't act then of course they won't act now the entire collection of dsmp men are raging misogynists at best and literally all abusive at worst !!! yeah, fuck off.

there were two claims in all of this of dream being involved with underage individuals - anastasia was literally over 18??? of the two, one story was spread without her consent (as is confirmed not only by her literally asking to be left alone at the start of this, but also by dream and the informant of the burner, who said that she thought the burner would get in contact with the person at hand, directly implying that they never did) and all parties directly involved have stated that no grooming occurred, with retractions taking place on every level. the informant corroborated the statement dream gave for the alleged victim in his video independently after being thrown under the bus by the burner account, and even the other person involved in all of this who was literally hating on dream the entire time on her own twitter corroborated his claims as well. continuing to spread these claims is a kick in the face to the literal person people claim to be trying to protect by championing her as a poor victim and shoving her name and account everywhere when she didn't ask for any of this - believe victims, until the victim is telling you to shut the fuck up after her account was propped up for the entire internet to ogle at without her consent and multiple people dug into her information without asking her supposedly "for her sake". the second story, the original allegations made against dream in 2022, has had multiple people who knew this woman personally (and included picture proof to show that they did) come out independently and say that she's a liar. on top of this, allegations against the accuser have come out (with a whole lot more proof of manipulation than was ever present in the case with her accusations against dream!) and been corroborated by, again, someone who knows the accuser personally, and these allegations have included the fact that certain elements of the original allegations against dream were faked, something that supports what dream said in his video, on top of the other proof provided. but you know, believe victims - not that one, though, or that one. and everyone knows that if you're falsely accused of a crime, then you're not a victim. obviously.

time and time again these people have not only shown that the only victims they're at all willing to listen to are the ones convenient to their story (and the ones that aren't get to be shouted over, ignored, and twisted for use in their own agendas) but they've also repeatedly twisted information to best fit their personal narratives. these people have skin in the game, you know? they didn't exactly approach the situation with dream quietly. they have staked a lot on dream's guilt, including their own personal moral soundness - they've spent over a year of their lives assuring themselves that they're not like the dirty dream stans, they took the allegations Seriously and have denounced a Dangerous Bad Man. the existence of other victims challenges that story, and so they can't acknowledge their existence at all. maybe i'd be less bothered if these weren't the same people who seem so fucking devoted to their being perceived as Authorities On Abuse, who have championed themselves as protectors of the hurt and downtrodden, who go on and on and on about how they take these things with utter seriousness and how much victims matter to them - only to let their internal biases and sheer self-righteousness prompt them to ignore any "victim" that doesn't suit their favored narrative. god forbid these people admit that they were wrong! god forbid they admit that they spent a year of their life in their circles preaching hellfire and brimstone against an innocent man, god forbid they admit that they've harassed people out the door of their circles and been proud of their efforts based on falsified information, god forbid they spend a damn inkling of their time reflecting on their own hypocrisy.

but, you know. #believevictims am i right?

#abuse #grooming #the askers #dont worry anon believe me i can rant

[leesielex]

So warning time, I am about to go on a rant. I am so sick of anti-Dany incels saying Daenerys will go mad and burn KL and Jon will kill her. There will be 3 parts to this rant, 1 discussing Targ madness, 2 defending Dany which we have all heard before with the arguments they use, then lastly comparing her to other lauded characters who are never questioned or vilified like her. If you don't want to hear a pro-Dany rant, then stop now.

So let's start with, are Targs more likely to go mad? I don't believe so, In fact very few Targs have ever been mad. Maegar for example was ruthless and cruel, much like Tywin, but he wasn't truly mad. The faith of the seven was about to kill and murder (and quite possibly succeeded in doing so with a few) the rest of their line. Yes, he went overboard and his cruelty was unmatched, he was evil, but mad? No.

King Baelor was a religious zealot, does that make him mad? We see what religious extremism can do and it's prevalent even today in Christianity with the alt-right white nationalist extremist and in Muslim extremists like Isis. I will say, we could arguably say this is a form of madness, though many sane people can take this route.

Prince Rhaegal was considered mad for dancing naked in the Red Keep. Um, is this really a sign of madness? Have we not all danced naked when home alone? Have we not all gotten drunk and done something stupid. I definitely wouldn't define that as mad and more so label it as anti-Targ propaganda from the Seven and Maesters.

Aerion was also pretty mad since he thought he could drink wildfire and survive. I also have to wonder if with what we know now if he wasn't driven mad by dragon dreams and the knowledge of the others returning. But we will go with yes cause that is not a sane thought and action.

Aerys was cruel and evil, and paranoid, and by the definition, absolutely mad. Though after duskendale, can we really blame him for being 'paranoid'. People were truly out to get him, they already had, and rebellion was brewing long before he burned and murdered people. Though arguably I would consider him mad.

Viserys? Yeah, I also hesitate to label him mad. He was cruel and weak and a narcissist obsessed with returning home and gaining his birthright, but he wasn't insane. Nor more than any other cruel and selfish character in ASOAIF. But even if we include Viserys, that makes 4 mad Targaryen's out of hundreds over 3 centuries. You can't tell me in 300 years no other families had 4 members who were mad. They just didn't have the power and popularity for it to be well known or for it to matter much to anyone else. Its a bit ridiculous that people think Targs will go mad no matter what when only 4 previous ones have.

SO, Part 2, Why people think Dany is foreshadowed as going mad. She watched Viserys die, didn't try to stop it or care. Oh, you mean the brother who abused her for years, would have raped her had Illyrio not planned for it and had guards posted to maintain her virginity for her wedding, then sold her into slavery for an army? Yes, Dany was a slave, viewed only as property, to produce sons for a warlord. Then, he continued to beat her as she tried to acclimate to the life he forced upon her, tried to steal from her, even as she tried to help him acclimate as well. Viserys never had to come with the Dothraki, as Illyrio offered for him to stay with him in his manse until they were ready to go to Westeros. But he couldn't relinquish his control over Dany. What led to his ultimate death, and Dany's reaction, or inital lackthereof, he drew steel inside their city where no weapons can be drawn, breaking Dothraki law and already a death sentence. He could have been saved, but then he threatened to murder Dany and her unborn child, in front of Khal Drogo so also threatening him and his property. The Dothraki follow strength. If Dany had stood up against Drogo in favor of her brother, or shown any emotions at all, she would have lost favor with her people and Khal Drogo, she may have even been punished in some way for questioning his authority, and Viserys would have been killed anyway. She was smart enough to know this. What we do see is her regret later on, her guilt, and love for her brother. This in no way foreshadows cruelty or madness, as she had no choice but to stand by and we see her remorse throughout the books, even in ADWD.

Dany was a slaver who murdered her slave. Ugh, just, it's always white people who say this BS, I swear. Oh, you mean she murdered a woman she tried to save, who then tricked her into sacrificing her unborn child for Drogo's life, knowing full well what Drogo would be when he returned, then happily told her she would never carry another child, bragging about what she had done to her? Miri Maz Duri killed her child and cursed her womb and bragged about it. Was Dany naive in thinking she could save Miri and that she would be grateful? Absolutely. She didn't know she had already been raped many times, she was naive and ignorant. Is it a sign of madness or cruelty? Only if you consider every noble character who carries out an execution when someone commits murder. "But she told Dany not to go in the tent." Yes, knowing full well the sacrifice would cause Dany to go into pre-term labor and she would have to enter the tent. That was Miri's plan from the beginning. Oh, but Drogo didn't listen to Miri and it was Dany's fault for asking her to save Drogo. Yes, Dany was naive and she has to live with her part for being naive, but again, Miri knew what she was doing and knew it may not work and he would probably not listen to him. Miri isn't stupid, nor naive, and knows Drogo won't listen to a woman, especially a lamb woman.

Dany massacres the slave masters. REALLY??? So you think its a-ok for those slave masters to enslave, torture, mutilate, sell, buy, and murder men, women, AND LITTLE CHILDREN, including babies! They had slaves murder slave babies and PAID the other slave masters! They crucified 163 children alive and let them die a slow, torturous death. But, some of them were against crucifying children! Yes, but they still owned people, and even a well-treated slave is still viewed as disposable property and punished or killed when they disobey. And for those that said their family member was against the crucifying of the children, she gave the family full honor burial rights, paid them for their loss, and tried to make it right. Because Dany cares, and when she makes mistakes, she owns up to them and tries to make them right. Mad people do not do that.

In Qarth, and other times, she threatened to burn cities to the ground. Well, no, she didn't. The show made that change. Qarth welcomed her in immediately, happy to host her. The show made a lot of changes to Dany, especially from season 3 on. They made all her intelligent and successful strategies in Essos go to the men around her, like Ser Jorah and Daario. In the book, we see her make those decisions and weigh them all carefully. And she doesn't just lose her temper and want to massacre and burn entire cities. She does get angry, when her own people are being murdered by the Sons of the Harpies, and make mistakes. But again, she rectifies them as soon as she realizes she messed up and tries to do better.

She let the Shavepate torture children. No, she did not. They worked in a tavern, where whores worked. The father owned the tavern, and they tortured his adult children. Dany has shown over and over again she will not harm children. She takes children of the masters hostages, a common practice in ASOIAF (Jon Snow does this with the wildlings on the Wall), and even when those families continue to rebel against Dany, she refuses to harm those children, though many are telling her she must, including the Westerosi council she keeps. And when the torture yeilds no results, she ends it and feels guilt and remorse. Again, not something a mad person does.

Irri is her slave that she rapes. No, Irri is her handmaiden, that Dany doesn't ask to please her, but Irri starts it entirely. Dany immediately feels guilty, worrying that Irri may be conditioned to think she must do this and not actually want to and it makes Dany feel sick. Irri tries again and tells her it is a great honor to please her, basically begs her to. Dany does slip one time, and does let Irri do it, who is pleased to do so, but again, Dany feels guilt and remorse, and disgust, and tells her no and to leave her be, something a mad person wouldn't do. Let's not pretend almost any other character in asoiaf, save for Jon but only because HE is thinking of his bastardy, would ever decline.

Dany free slaves, and always tries her best to be fair. In her POVS we see her constantly weighing her actions, trying to be the best person, to help the most people, and be as kind and just as possible, which is actually her biggest weakness. We see her worry about ever becoming like her father or Viserys and how heavily her power and responsibility and the actions of her family weigh upon her, which is something mad people won't do, they don't weigh their actions, think of every possible way to be as kind and just and to make the world better. Mad people don't know they are mad, and she constantly worries the things she must do to lead will make her a monster. And as she rightly points out, power is terrible, and she must sometimes do terrible things, even be a monster. She locks her children, her dragons up, FFS, because they MAY have harmed an innocent child. Personally, I think it was BS by the Sons of Harpies to neuter her biggest weapons, but either way, she did that and felt horrible for the child and father, and did her best to rectify it, though she knew nothing could replace the child.

Here is GRRM's own quote about the heroes in ASOIAF; "My own heroes are the dreamers, those men and women who tried to make the world a better place than when they found it, whether in small ways or great ones. Some succeeded, some failed, most had mixed results...but it is the effort that's heroic, as I see it. Win or lose, I admire those who fight the good fight."

This quote fits Daenerys better than anyone else. She is actively trying to end slavery. We know her intentions are to make the world a better place than anything else. She has succeeded and she has failed, she has mixed results, but she is fighting the good fight.

Well, she went mad and burned KL in the show. GRRM has stated he gets further away from season 8. That after season 3ish, they consulted him less and less, and after season 4, they consulted him basically none. In Season 3, D&D asked GRRM how it all ends and they state; He told us 3 shocking moments, the Hodor scene and where the name comes from, the burning of Shireen, and King Bran. That's it. They were quick to point out, especially after the burning of Shireen, that George gave them that.

What do they say about Daenerys burning KL and Jon killing her? They take the credit themselves! They say, "we came up with that around season 3", ironically the season they stepped further and further from GRRM. Coincidence? LOL! I doubt it. That is never accredited to George and they always take credit for that. Just as they do for Sansa taking Jeyne Poole's place with Ramsay. If King Bran is the ending that came from GRRM what do you think is the different ending? Well, Arya killing the night king will not happen in the books. It's another thing D&D take credit for, and Dany will not be a Mad Queen that Jon will kill.

Even if Dany did go mad and burn an entire city to the ground, Jon would NOT be the one to kill her. How do we know this? Well, Jon is the one most like Ned Stark, the one who emulates his honor as best he can. Ned Stark despised Jaime Lannister for KILLING THE MAD KING. Why would Ned Stark dislike Jaime for killing the Mad King when Ned was actively rebelling against him after he murdered his brother and father and called for his own head? Because Jaime was pledged to serve King Aerys, and said vows to protect him! In the world of Westeros, the manner in which Jaime killed Aerys is dishonorable. Not only did he break his vows, he did not kill Aerys the 'proper way', which Ned Stark says 'we owe it to a man to look him in the eye and hear his last word as we give the sentence and swing the sword.' In other words, they must know they are being sentenced to die, and we must be able to look them into their eyes and hear their last words to swing the sword. Jon would never kiss Dany and break his vows.

Jon would also never become a kinslayer. Cursed is the kinslayer, a law of the GODS, as egregious as the Frey's breaking Guest Right. Ygritte tells Jon the tale of Bael the Bard, whose own son, a Stark, kills him not knowing he is his father. But Ygritte says, cursed is the Kinslayer, even the unknowing ones. Jon will know Dany is his kin, and would never be the one to kill her. Ygritte's entire storyline shows Jon likes warrior women and can't kill her because of what his father (Ned Stark) taught him.

Which brings me into part 3, comparing Dany's so called foreshadowed madness and cruelty to other characters. Jon Snow executes Janos Slint for simply not obeying a command. He doesn't stop his execution when Janos begs forgiveness and says he will obey. He murders him anyway. Jon blacks out in anger and almost beats his black brother to death all because he is thinking of Robb telling him he can't be Lord of Winterfell and is a bastard. He bullies and threatens Gilly into taking her baby and switching it with Mance's, putting her own child at risk to save the King Beyond the Wall's babe. Jon is more ruthless, more angry and volatile than Dany has ever been. Why is it that he is never once considered to go mad? Even before season 8? Even though we know he is also a Targaryen and will ride a dragon?

Arya murders the entire male Frey line in GOT Season 8, in the books she is a cold blood killer by ADWD and the WOW released chapter, but she isn't considered mad or cruel.

Sansa in GOT Season 8 kills Ramsay by letting his dogs rip him apart, why is this not dissected over and over again? Dany just doesn't stop her brothers execution and she is mad for it, but Sansa killing her abuser is YAS Queen, take your power back! She never once takes accountability for getting Ned killed (Its not her fault that he did, but her actions ultimately led to his death and she doesn't once think on her part in it). She isn't considered cruel for not caring Mycah was killed, takes no responsibility for LYING to protect getting power, becoming queen, and in return Lady is killed, instead she blames Arya. And as far as the books only, Sansa isn't considered mad or cruel for caring more about marrying Harry Hardyng and the plot to make him Lord and her Lady of the Vale, and gaining the North back in her power, giving her 2 kingdoms, knowing full well Sweetrobin has to die for that and in WOW released chapter, she knows Robin Arryn is being slowly poisoned and only hopes he has enough poison to not make a scene when she dances with Harry, even after she cared for and bonded with him and he tells her he dislikes Harry because he wants him dead to usurp him.

Stannis burns people alive, has helped raise his nephew as of late and his daughter loves Edric Storm (Gendry in the show), her cousin, yet he is planning to burn him alive and would have had Davos not saved him.

Robert kills for sport, enjoys killing, talks about it gleefully, like he gets off on it. And he didn't give one F that little innocent babes were brutally murdered for the throne he sat upon and refused to punish the Mountain and Amory Lorch for their brutality.

Tywin isn't considered mad, though he orchestrates the burning, pillaging, raping of the Riverlands and its people, the ending of the lines of Reynes and Tarbecks, the Red Wedding, nor the deaths of Elia and her children (And Elia's rape). He is just ruthless, and a great strategist.

Joffrey is rarely ever considered mad, though he kills and tortures for sport and fun. Though some consider him so, and of course blame the incest though Myrcella and Tommen aren't like that.

Cersei is the only other one considered mad. Truly, she is a bit mad, though a lot of it is her circumstances, her upbringing, her arrogance and cruelty, and little to do of anything else.

OH but Targs and incest make them mad. Then every character in GOT would be a little mad, cause have yall paid attention to their family trees? They are all incestous with Starks marrying Starks and Lannisters marrying Lannisters.

There is a reason that the only characters regularly considered mad are the only 2 Queens in the story. Its pretty obvious why, and its obvious why D&D got Dany's story so wrong. Like they thought it was subverting expectations that when women gain power they become hysterical mad women like that isn't the oldest trope in our patriarchal misogynistic world.

There is a reason HOD opened with 172 years before Daenerys Targaryen is BORN (IN THE BOOKS) and doesn't go by the show timeline. Otherwise, it would say 170 years before Daenerys Targaryen is born, as she was older and born earlier in the show. And there is a reason why they didn't go by the year of her DEATH. Because GRRM's ending is different! She is no meant to go mad, though she may end up becoming darker! She was always meant to be a hero! The story has always been about Jon and Dany coming together to defeat the Others; the song of Ice and Fire, and the farther we get from GOT, the more GRRM divulges that makes it more obvious to anyone paying attention and not wrapped up in their biased hate would easily see.

If you made it this far. By the Old Gods and the New you are a saint and a true Dany fan!

#daenerys targaryen #daenerys deserved better #daenerys defense squad #anti anti #these trolls have me frustrated #they missed the entire point of asoiaf

[dearbraus]

my thoughts on the aot finale down below. don't click if you dont want to be spoiled!

this was a beautifully harrowing finale. the animation and the cinematography was astounding. truly i was blown away. mappa truly outdid themselves with some of the sequences and absolutely nailed isayama's usage of shifting appearances depending on whos perspective we were seeing and how eren's personhood and identity matched the eren we meet in s1 and not the eren we meet in s4 (will elaborate further down). the music and voice acting were superb. the agony in their voices sent chills down my spine and armin's harrowed screams as he sees eren's decapitated head will forever haunt me.

now onto the actual plot. I loved the original scenes that were incorporated (that line up with the volume 35 cover imo). i think it was far more cohesive to show levi, gabi, falco, yelena, and onyankopon with the newly created encampments, planting trees, and helping rebuild the world beyond paradis. in my opinion it did not make sense to jump so far ahead to where the cities were rebuilt and it was frankly too idealistic when the scene before that was the peace ambassadors discussing the state of paradis. additionally, i really enjoyed seeing historia's life and more of post-war paradis. it is heartbreaking to see how lifeless she is as queen though it makes sense considering she has no real power and is a pawn. seeing her and her daughter together was sweet and i'm glad she at least has the farm and a family to go home to.

i know seeing hitch yawn during the yeagerists rally was meant to be comedic but it is really sort of sad if you think about it. she clearly has no interest in the new military but has stuck with them for her own personal safety. seeing sasha's family and niccolo give dirty looks was golden and perfectly surmises the hypocrisy of the new military. sasha's family lost sasha, they knew of pain and hardship, they knew all that sasha sacrificed as a scout and now paradis is being led by a group of bozos who have never actually engaged in combat? yeah they deserved more than dirty looks. it's actually very sweet though that niccolo stayed with them, whilst i don't like the ship, i think its a very beautiful display of found family.

whew okay. now ... the plot. i wish we could have seen the others (reiner, jean, connie, annie, levi (?)) speak with eren in paths. that disappointed me. i know it isn't as relevant as mikasa and armin with eren in paths however i feel there is so much missing and seeing what he said to them could have filled in those blanks. paradoxically, i am glad we didn't see anything more since fans are still confused and disappointed in eren's death even though i felt his speech with armin made it very clear. it was ymir the founder's will to do the rumbling, it was her twisted bastardization of freedom that forced eren to do what he did because she was attached to him and mikasa. this perversion of freedom took away eren's choice because he was bound by destiny no matter what he did, so he blames himself due to the anger he felt for marley (and the rest of the worlds) hatred for paradis, eldia, and eldian's. armin takes partial ownership of eren's mistake because of their share childhood dreams, he gave eren his first taste of freedom, showed him a world beyond the walls with no violence, and no one else so ergo, the disappointment he felt was due to armin. and while the semantics do not matter when it was ymir the founder who caused the rumbling, this moment was meant to show how deep eren and armin's love for one another goes. they will be together, always, even if that means meeting each other again in hell. they have done everything together, they have shaped each other since childhood, idea's and beliefs don't exist in a vacuum and if that means armin blaming himself too so that eren can rest peacefully, then he'll do it.

i think a lot of people don't realize at the end of the day eren was powerless to ymir's will. and that is the point of the show. you cannot fight destiny, and you cannot have want you want (eren wants to be free, live, and be with mikasa//he dies an unwilling soldier to ymir's will.) (mikasa wants a life with eren//he dies before they could truly ever begin something) (ymir wanted to build a real life with historia but she sacrificed herself because she was living on borrowed time anyway).

speaking of ymir. i love the parallels to armin that we see. they both recognize that they have stolen someone else's life and power. ymir didn't feel the guilt until she realized there were things worth living for and that marcel had so much to live for. armin, however, spends five years filled with such guilt over stealing bertholdt's live, power, memories, wants, desires etc. i thought this was interesting. i think the idea of living on borrowed time is also why eren was willing to sacrifice himself in spite of how badly he wanted to live. he didn't want anyone to be burdened with living on borrowed time (realizing this after he saved armin, however, he'd save armin over and over again because he loves him).

i became very emotional seeing connie and jean wrap their arms around one another as they become titans and then connie joking one last time saying, "it was all your fault jean we joined because of you" knowing that his drive would have always led him to the scouts anyway. i also loved that they kept reaffirming their identity as scouts, it was very heartfilled and shows that their beliefs will never die even after the regiment collapses. erwin and hange's wishes will never die because they will keep living and fighting to fulfil them (arguably they did fulfil them by killing eren and eradicating the titans however, its sort of unspoken that there was so much more to do but the torch needed to be passed for armin for that to happen). now onto their clothing. eren grows his hair out in s4 and begins to look a lot like his father. he used to have his mother's eye shape and in spite of having his fathers colouring, he was carla's son. he was never grisha's son, that was her boy not his. but as he aged he turned into his father. symbolically i would say its because he mirrored his fathers previous desires to rise against marley however i do think this change is occurred because eren didn't recognize himself. when he appears to mikasa in the cabin, his hair his short, his eyes are softer, and he's wearing the same kind of clothing he used to. he became himself once more, he became the person they both knew. mikasa wears the clothing she wore as a child and continued to wear even after eren died. i think this was done to symbolize that they will always be connected to one another because their are parts of them that will always belong to one another. later we see eren and armin as children again, they talk for a while and grow up together. this image is a strong one. i think it was done to remind the audience and armin that the eren he grew up with was still there, he just had to hide himself literally and figuratively. armin says he can't believe eren would say something so pathetic and it takes him a moment to remind himself that eren hasn't changed, he is still the idiot hot head he loved so dearly. and while they've both changed, and cannot go back to the boys they once were, those boys will always exist inside of them. and that is beautiful :( also! the fight against the titans ymir was controlling! i think that reaffirms that how the eldian's in a way are slaves to ymir's will. their titans and likeness are being manipulated to fight by ymir the founder while they exist in paths watching it happen and being unable to stop it. she makes them complicit in her crimes until zeke uses his royal blood to stop it. its a very interesting dynamic that i still need to think on. while i don't blame ymir for acting out it is very gut wrenching. all she knows is violence despite craving connection (hence how all eldian's are connected in paths). it was very touching seeing ymir, porco, marcel, eren kruger, grisha, and bertoldt fight alongside the scouts. pieck crying because poroco was fighting alongside her, god my heart melted. she hardly got to mourn him before having to fight against his likeness, feeling betrayed even though it wasn't him. in a way it was one last act of freedom.

oh ... and levi's face when he finally killed zeke. he spent five years waiting to avenge erwin, spent five years having to play nice, his body was torn apart because of zeke. finally killing zeke didn't make levi feel better, he knew it wasn't going to bring erwin back but it could have felt satisfying but it wasn't. it was sad, and unfulfilling not because zeke allowed it to happen but because senseless violence will never make grief go away.

overall i think while this was a very gut wrenching end, it was beautiful and there will always be something new to discuss about this show. i will never stop talking about how truly amazing aot is!!!! but i wish i could rewatch it again for the first time and have that same feeling of wonderment all over again.

#fawn talks meta #this is incoherent im sorry #needed to get all the worms outta my head !!! #aot spoilers

[flightfoot]

Had an interesting interaction thought. You know I wrote that Queen Wasp fixit fic (which some folks seem to want to continue?)

Imagine a different scenario: accept canon up to this point. Maybe we even get Chloé herself exiled somehow with her mom (her dream right?) It turns into the nightmare that could be imagined Audrey as a parent would be.

From this Chloé does finally figure it out. Her mom doesn't care. Being rich doesn't mean anything. She has her own emotional crisis solo and finally returns to Paris to face her past. She seeks people out to apologize, and she does, sincerely.

When she hits Marinette though, after the apology, she rejects Marinette's acceptance of it, because Marinette was the one who *told* her to emulate her mother way back. While she isn't transferring her own responsibility to Marinette, she knows enough via therapy et al to know that was extremely messed up to do. So while she owes Marinette(and so apologizes), she's not ready to forgive Marinette yet and so can't complete the sorry/acceptance exchange.

Just kind of curious to see/think about how Marinette might react to that. I know there's a 'Mari is 14' defense but they were all 14 together. Just.. kind of a thought experiment.

Hm. I like the idea of Chloe figuring out that emulating Audrey is a bad idea and becoming a better person, but her confronting Marinette about what she said in Queen Wasp, calling her out for that, not forgiving Marinette for it... I don't like that.

Marinette:(groans) You're also wrong about your daughter not being exceptional. In fact, Chloé is exceptionally mean. She's the worst person I've ever met. She may be more heinous, pompous and selfish than you. Compared to both of you, even a rock seems more capable of love. (Audrey and Chloé are furious with Marinette for telling mean things to them.) Chloé and Audrey:(shouting) How dare you⁈ (gasp and look surprised at each other) Marinette: See? You're both much more alike than you think. (walks off; humming)

I mean, yeah, the way she tried to sort-of bond them together by basically saying that Audrey and Chloe are both terrible and deserve each other (which somehow does work enough to get Audrey to notice Chloe) was not the most brilliant idea, but considering everything Chloe did to Marinette and others before and after this point, her sticking on that point just makes her seem like she's a major hypocrite who is still likely to turn on everyone else at the drop of the hat if she can contort some way that she was "wronged".

She didn't really tell Chloe to emulate Audrey, she more just pointed out that Chloe IS very similar to Audrey.

Like I could see Chloe mentioning that this wasn't the best way to go about the situation, but what you outline sounds like Chloe actually blaming Marinette for her own actions and holding her partially responsible for how she turned out.

#ask #miraculous ladybug #chloe bourgeois #ml spoilers #ml collusion

[2n2n]

How do you think chapter 109 will play out?Will we see a little of the history of the Yugi brothers? Well one thing I'm sure of is Teru will kill Aoi after this 😂

Ahaha... well, I do have some thoughts.... I kinda try to have more overarching or general theme 'theories' or perhaps you could say 'beliefs' of 'directions', it can be more embarrassing to have very short-term going-to-be-dispelled-in-a-month musings ... BUT ... well haha I can't control my BRAIN...

I've been thinking that... I'm not sure Tsukasa is really 'a person' in this situation, at least not to Kako or the Clockeepers in general. If I think about a court trial, responsibility, blame, I would think that NUMBER 7 is responsible for those he has DOMINION AND CONTROL OVER, his YORISHIRO, and his KANNAGI. If HIS properties, his SACRED OBJECT, and his SERVANT, are acting up under HIS stewardship, then it is ultimately his fault... not theirs. Right? That is how I'm thinking...Nene-chan can only know what Hanako tells her, and she can only move about with significant kaii help. Tsukasa isn't meant to do anything at all, on his own! He's just a battery powering Amane!

I would reaaally love Tsukasa dehumanized. I would not imagine the kaii longterm governing the mysteries would really be able to see yorishiro as 'people' so much as 'things' (there is also almost no way Akane would see Tsukasa as a 'person'!), and regardless of if yours is a pair of scissors or a body, it all serves the same purpose (to keep you in line). The destruction of yorishiro is something this system allows for -- which Hanako is typically in charge of-- it is not something considered murder, or whatever, of course. Mysteries do not get to consent over being peeled if the leader decides it is necessary, but more important to me right now, is that yorishiro themselves get the least amount of control. Tsukasa was seemingly trapped in Hanako's boundary and needed assistance to get out ... Sumire sure couldn't do anything even given a hundred years. Sumire being destroyed by Hakubo is not a criminal investigation in and of itself; she belonged to Hakubo after all, a mystery has the power to destroy their own yorishiro. In my mind.. yorishiro are the ultimate underdogs of this system. They are made, and discarded, for the purpose of being someone else's power. For a boy who once killed himself to save his brother, it's a perfect role for Tsukasa .... something that only exists for Amane.

I guess though, overall I do think Amane has been, this whole time, letting Tsukasa do as he pleases, because he is curious about what Tsukasa wants to do. Once he figures out Tsukasa is responsible for the chaos, he no longer makes any effort to catch/stop him.

^ This Amane to me, is a reveal that he is warmly, affectionately watching Tsukasa, in mirror to how Tsukasa likes to watch Amane. I am not sure Tsukasa, when alive, really did things for himself often? Did Tsukasa have big wishes, dreams, ambitions? Maybe yorishiro Tsukasa is the most self-possessed and disruptive he has been...? He was always asking Amane if he liked or wanted something.... but now, he's disobeying him of his own accord. I wonder if Amane likes that...

*kaff* but well, how does that matter to the trial... I guess it could mean anything. Maybe Amane could just throw his hands up, maybe he could just finally put Tsukasa back in his boundary. Maybe he could lie and say he was only here to do just that, not to help them...but to subdue them. I wonder! Listen judge I'm not involved.... (weirdly, Akane and Teru could confirm that...? They found him helpless and stuck... crying... )

I had a fun fantasy of Tsukasa being forced back into Amane's boundary, but at the last second grabbing Nene-chan and sending her there with him... that would be so fun (: that's fanfiction at that point though haha.. I'm just desperate to see that boundary, and I'd love for Nene-chan to see Tsukasa incapacitated in his coffin... ♥ she just got to know him... it would be nice if she could see him 'dead'. It would be nice if 'finally stopping Tsukasa' didn't come with a sense of victory. Seeing the typically vivacious little boy, who just sang by her side, as a corpse, would be harrowing.

I would be interested in Amane and Teru teaming up against the Clockkeepers lol... in this situation, I think their goals align .... ? why not ... if they both want their power revoked... Teru doesn't like the mysteries existing at all! Neither does Kunishige....

not really impossible to me that they would unite, they uhh, they ? ? they are coworkers in the . hot guy juice stand

you're in my twisted post of fantasy so, well. For fun. For fun! let's imagine Tsukasa is locked back in Amane's boundary, helpless. And then, let's assume there is no choice but to peel the clockkeeper yorishiro in order to right the school's time, and Amane nudges Nene-chan to do it (what a sensation! how haunting! who is the 'bad guy'?)... let's say after that, Natsuhiko and Sakura don't actually have a reason to free Tsukasa-- I mean-- Mitsuba is in their pocket, and No. 7 allegedly already agreed to peeling Tsukasa ... so past a certain point, do they need him anymore? Haven't they accomplished enough? I'm not sure either of them really and truly ally with Tsutsu... and he's already willfully suicidal on his own. They know he wants to be destroyed. There is no reason to 'save' him, he isn't asking to be saved at all; not the plan and they know it. If he's in Amane's clutches, that's convenient in a way.

If only Nene-chan could free Tsukasa, and become his assistant for real...

Oh yeah... I also have the thought that ah, I would love it if the Clockkeeper's losing power meant Akane lost his kaii-related memories? That would mean losing his memories of confessions with Ao-chan, and the ability to help heal her hand, or even understand it is hurt, perhaps... it would place a lot of power into Teru's favor, as he and Aoi could then exclusively share the kaii-world-knowledge, and only he could heal her, or protect her from supernatural harm. I like the thought of Akane and Aoi having to 'start over' in a way, and Aoi having to lead this time... I like Teru's manipulative underhandedness, with Aoi, how he blackmails her, pressures her, etc... Akane being made the least relevant and capable would be very captivating. It could force Aoi to protect him doggedly. Which I think would suit the manga's ever-reversing dynamics (: HOWEVER! Akane losing his memories of kaii would ALSO isolate Teru, as Akane is the only person who knew his real self. A lonely Teru is fun and funny!

I guess I also wonder if Kunishige-san and Tiara are actually beating ass out there in the school, if Kunishige has a tool for ... any of this.. on his person... to not be effected ... or something.. idfk. I don't actually care about them but I am trying to bare them in mind lol....

that was a lot of nonsense, wasn't it ....

the events are really making my head spin haha. SO MUCH COULD HAPPEN... ! And... I bet everything else will haha.

I'm sure we'll learn something about Amane and Tsukasa. If nothing else, 12 year old Tsu is awaiting for Nene-chan once time resumes in the school....

#avvy's JSHK

[mira--mira]

Out of curiosity, what are your opinions on Minato Namikaze.

I guess for both in and out of Oot-verse

For Oot-verse you've mentioned about how a lot of the "shinobi families" are really just ex-Senju and while some authors make the Namikaze a small clan, I'm fairly sure that's not canon. Do would you consider him of the Senju bloodline in the Oot-verse. Since that would play better into the fact that actual civilian born are discriminated against since he was never used as an example of how far civilian born shinobi can go.

But like for a demented AU. instead of Sarutobi summoning the Terrors, let's make it Minato's problem's. Since we already know a lot of his repertoire was inspired/based off of the work of Tobirama, it wouldn't be out of the ordinary for him to just fiddle around with old seals and oh no Kushina I think I'm a dad, I just made two kids pop out of nowhere, I didn't cheat on you I swear, please stop laughing and help me.

Tbh I have a mixed bag of feelings for Minato bc I don't really dislike him as a character but a lot of circumstance/plot devices around him. I hate the "Child of Prophecy" plot point, I dislike that he's the Fourth Hokage in a similar vein, I despise Jiraiya, etc. Minato is a character that, similar to Hiruzen, suffers from other areas of the plot and lore being created first and then he's slotted in to fill gaps but this does absolutely no favors to his character, especially as he's supposed to be a paragon of Konoha. And then there's Minato trying to impress Kushina by taking her dream of being Hokage and doing it for her. That is not romantic, but the hand of the author is so obvious I feel like I can't really blame Minato fully for that.

Ultimately he's a character I don't really love but not because his actions specifically. I do like more light-hearted fics and art where he's a house husband and living his best life.

You are correct though for OoT! I do consider him part of the Senju bloodline and he would been Senju Minato if Hashirama hadn't cast off their name. He's firmly a 'clanless' shinobi, not a 'civilian' one in that universe. I don't want him to be too closely related to the main line but it does cast Tobirama being irritated at him for using his jutsu and Naruto attributing it to Minato in a funny light to me. Tobirama stomping around complaining about the Senju Youth (TM) not giving credit to his ancestors, thinking just because he had time to tweak things and/or improve them make them his jutsu now is hilarious to me.

Ooh that would be a fun AU! Terrors in the previous generation instead of Naruto's 😂 Madara would bully Obito, trying to shape him into a proper Uchiha and Obito low-key hates him, but he's a polite boy and Madara is undeniably the most powerful 12 y/o Obito has ever seen and he's trying to impart some of that knowledge and power to Obito too makes him very conflicted. Obito constantly makes running tallies of 'who's worst today: Madara or Kakashi?'

Since Pakkun attacking Madara wouldn't have happened in this AU, I think Hashirama would like a younger Kakashi quite a lot. He might remind him of Tobirama in a way and He'd make it his mission to try and get the kid to lighten up/give him some knd of big brother figure to depend on since he'd lost his father.

Both would be decent friends with Rin. Madara because he catches onto Obito's crush immediately and decides to stick his nose into it and finds Rin reasonable and level-headed. She admires Kakashi but doesn't romantically like him like Obito thinks (mostly bc by god the girls need other motivations besides boys and Kakashi's age is a timeline headache of it's own). She sees Obito as a friend, not really interested in more at this point because she's focused on her own goals to be a great med-nin. She seeks out Hashirama on her own similar to Sakura to ask him to teach her, but she's much more respectful to Hashirama than Sakura is to him. I really like jinchuriki!Rin so that'd be part of this AU 100% and then a lot of her arc would be mastering that power through medical ninjutsu somehow.

Eheh this is becoming about Rin, back to Minato. I like to think his reasoning to 'keep' the terrors would be "It's great practice Kushina before we have kids" and Kushina, an Uzumaki, clearly recognizes Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara is like...:my dearest husband...this is both a terrible and BRILLIANT idea. If we can handle them, will be pros" (let Kushina be a little impulsive and wild plsss). The big issue would be them trying to keep the terrors because...the Uchiha haven't been massacred at this point. Madara would want to be with them but the Uchiha leadership is have a crisis because that is Uchiha Madara and they made him into a Ghost and banished him and Amaterasu turned away from them because of it. But also the coup is brewing and maybe this is a second chance to do it over. Either way, the only thing that unites the clan at this point is the belief that Madara will either be their salvation or damnation again.

#asks #anon #out of time

[andtheyweresiblings]

I always like the idea of the unexpected happening. Everyone always has these MiraBruno stories where a great deal of the conflict is centered around people assuming Bruno must have groomed Mirabel or forced her in some way to be with him, but I find the opposite more gripping; what if most of the family saw it as Mirabel taking advantage of her socially inept, mentally unwell, feeble old uncle, maybe claiming she had ulterior motives for pursuing him (such as using him for his gift).

Take it a step further, how would those who blamed Bruno clash with those who blamed Mirabel? Who would side with who? Does it tear marriages apart? Pit siblings against each other? And if there are those who would support Mirabel and Bruno, would this family feud keep them silent?

Oh, very interesting! This is not a scenario I have ever considered. I guess I haven't viewed Bruno as overly vulnerable, and I really like to put him through more emotional torment than Mirabel. But this could work.

Because you're right. His isolation does make him emotionally vulnerable. He could easily fall into the category of being manipulated by the first person who gives him positive attention and care. And Mirabel still doesn't have a tangible gift, so I could see some family members making the argument that she is manipulating him so then she can have power over a gift.

I know I'm basically just rewording what you said here, but I think I need to really think about this before bringing anything new to this idea.

But, okay; this is interesting. Who would blame who? Off the top of my head, I think Alma might lean towards blaming Mirabel. After all, Mirabel not getting a gift is what caused Bruno to leave in the first place, and she later brought the house crashing down.

I could see Pepa also leaning towards blaming Mirabel. I have a headcanon that Bruno and Pepa were close as children. She goes in to hug him first at the end, and she's the one besides Alma who shows the most vitriol towards him when he is estranged. As they say, hate isn't the opposite of love. Even when he is estranged, she still feels a strong emotional connection to him, even if it is negative.

And Bruno is technically her younger brother. She might recall how emotionally vulnerable he was as a child. She might see how emotionally vulnerable he is now and feel some guilt over that. Yes. I'm more and more convinced that if anyone would be blaming Mirabel, it would be Pepa.

I'm not sure where Felix would land in all this. I think he'd want to back Pepa, but I also think this would be pretty conflicting for him.

I'd think Julieta and Augustin would blame Bruno. After all, Mirabel is their daughter. So that would create an interesting dynamic. The triplets would be completely splintered in this scenario. But you did bring up marriages...and I think Julieta could be pretty torn up about this. Hm. I think you could convince me either way on this one.

I'm having a harder time sorting out the grandchildren.

I'm still rather attached to my headcanon that Camilo doesn't trust Bruno and therefore would be on the side of "Bruno is a groomer." But that is totally a headcanon that isn't overly based in canon, so it can really go either way.

I still think Dolores is a neutral party in this. She would probably have the most objective view of their relationship, given her gift.

As usual, I don't have a ton of thoughts regarding Antonio. He's just too young in the film for me to have a clear indicator of which way he'd go. Though, Mirabel is his favorite cousin, so that might be worth something.

That leaves Luisa and Isabela. This is where I'm at a complete loss. I think that after all they went through in the movie ("It's a dream when we work as a team"), they'd probably blame Bruno more than anything.

But you could probably make the argument that Isabela is at least a little suspicious of Mirabel's motives. Given their interactions pre-"What Else Can I Do?" AH! I don't know. It physically pains me to even say that, but it is definitely an argument you could make.

As for Luisa, I love Luisa, and I want her to be on Mirabel's side. She's so protective over Mirabel in "Surface Pressure." I personally can't see her not taking Mirabel's side. And because I have such a soft spot for Luisa, I think I see her as one of the first people to be, at least secretly, supportive of Mirabel and Bruno. But I'm undecided on that part.

Plus, I think I'm open-minded enough that like Julieta, you could probably convince me either way for Isabela and/or Luisa.

Hmm. This is scenario introduces so many variables. I'm really going to have to think about this.

I am VERY interested to hear what your thoughts on the topic, if you are willing to share!

Very cool ask. Thank you!

#mirabruno #madrigalcest #brumira #brunibel #bruno x mirabel #family weirdos #family weirdos headcanons #asks #stalker-among-the-stars #c