#dystopian Loki

[caffiend-queen]

The Auction

Chapter Three: Not Out of Obligation

In which we learn What Comes Next for our new brides.

Chapter Two here

Like everything I write, this is 18+ only. I am barely capable of looking after my own children, I can't parent you, too. Plenty of profanity, explicit object sex, and general dystopian misogyny

James…

“It’s done.”

I barely got the words out before Rowan was nearly leaping on me, arms around my neck and tearfully thanking me. Her angry shell cracked wide open - at least for the moment, I reminded myself - and her joyful, lovely face was alive in a way that was so different from the bitter, practiced way she’d been onstage.

I just blurted it. “You’re so beautiful.” I’m amazed still that such a perfect woman had been walking the streets of the same city I had and we’d never found each other before this. Amazed at my good fortune and that she didn’t seem to hate me. That she was grateful. 

But, I thought, just how grateful?

“I don’t know how to thank you,” she began, but then her light dimmed, just slightly. “But, I promise, I will be the best wife I can be for you. You saving Ben for me, I just-”

My fingers slide into her hair and I kiss her again, I don’t want to hear her forcing herself to be the bride that was bought and paid for. Rowan’s mouth is open and wet from my tongue and god, I have never tasted anything so sweet. 

She sucked in a determined breath and her hands moved to my jacket, slipping it off my shoulders. The cuff caught like it always does on the glove on my left hand and I pulled back. Rowan’s long fingers - musician’s fingers - were already trying to unbutton my shirt. 

“Wait.” I caught her hands in mine. “Just… take a breath. This has been an insane day for you.”

Goddamnit. Her eyes rose to mine, that pale, perfect green. The color of the Nile River. I’d seen that river twice, once as a kid when it was that exquisite color, like nothing else on earth. The second time, choked with bodies and parts of it on fire. I shook my head and tried to smile. 

“Oh, god. I’m so sorry,” she started speaking very quickly, “I just… you want to be in charge of course and I’m throwing myself at you-” 

I watched a flush rise up that silky, pale skin on her neck and groaned internally. My fucking dick is about to tear a hole through these pants. 

“No Rowan, it’s not that. I don’t want to sleep with you because you think you owe me. Sex out of obligation is…” 

She’s stepping away, arms crossed and that pretty blush is turning her face red.

Rubbing the back of my neck, I feel my willpower slipping. I’ve got to get away from her or I’ll be fucking her right here in the hall. I press a button on the wall next to the light switch, and Mrs. Kashif is standing in the doorway instantly. She’s even made me jump before when she materializes out of nowhere.

“Rowan, this is Mrs. Kashif, she runs the household.” I watch her nod and smile at my house manager, who inclines her head politely. “Mrs. Kashif, this is Rowan Barnes. My wife.” If she’s surprised, the old broad will never show it. 

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Barnes. Perhaps I can introduce you to the staff tomorrow and take you on a brief tour?”

And Rowan takes it all in stride, straightening back up and clearing her throat. “It’s my pleasure, Mrs. Kashif. Thank you, I would like that.”

Meantime I’m standing there with my cock so hard it’s like a fourth person in the room and I know my housekeeper is carefully keeping her beady brown eyes away from me. “Can you show my wife to the master bedroom and help her get settled?” 

My wife, I think, that sounds so good.

Looking at my bride, I manage to smile even though all the blood’s left my head and settled down south. “I’ve got some work to finish tonight. Why don’t you get some sleep?” She’s even prettier when she’s confused, that hard careful shell is gone and her pink mouth moves for a moment before she manages to say, “Of course. Thank you. I’ll… see you, then? Later, then?”

Leaning in so I don’t poke a hole in her stomach with my dick, I take her chin and give her a slow, light kiss. God, her mouth. It’s perfect. Like the rest of her, perfect and I want to shove her against the wall and suck on her tongue…

Fuuuuck, you asshole! Get it together!

“Yes, I’ll try not to wake you. Goodnight, Mrs. Barnes.”

Rowan…

“Yes, I’ll try not to wake you. Goodnight, Mrs. Barnes.”

This was not how Rowan expected the night to go. She’d been picturing James jumping her and ruining her vagina ‘till sunrise. He’d looked so hungry from the moment he’d gotten her alone. 

Following the tall and angular housekeeper up the huge, sweeping staircase, she looked down to see James watching her with a half smile before he turned and went into what she assumed was his study.

What are the odds that I’d actually get a decent man, she thought, a little stunned, a truly good human being?

She smiled tentatively until that cynical voice surfaced again, “Yeah, what are the odds? This is too good to be true, you sucker. 

While she’d been wrestling with what Ben called V.I.C, "her vicious inner critic," Mrs. Kashif had paused by an open door, waiting with a polite smile. The smile made it clear she’d been waiting as in waiting. Walking faster, Rowan caught up.

“This is the master bedroom, Mrs. Barnes.”

The room was ridiculously huge. She could have fit three of her crappy apartments just into this one space. The walls were a deep chocolate hue with cream-colored crown molding and trim. The windows on the second floor were just as tall as the ones on the ground floor, with an elegant wrought-iron balcony outside matching doors. Rowan tried to picture herself sitting at the little table outside, perched on one of those wildly expensive chairs and haughtily sipping tea, A snort rose and she just held it back by slapping a hand over her mouth. Yeah, she was so not cut out for this shit.

“You’ll see that the door to the master bath is just adjacent to the fireplace…” Mrs. Kashif was wearing a severe black dress, her hair in a severe black bun, and sensible shoes. But she still managed to have more intimidating dignity in one pinky finger than Rowan suspected she herself had in her entire body. She wondered if the woman despised her, thinking she was just another rich, useless asshole that the housekeeper would have to wait on hand and foot.

Oh, damn the bathroom was too perfect to pee in. A huge glass enclosure housed a shower with multiple heads and the most exquisite tub - long and gracefully sloped and clearly big enough for two, even if one of those two was a giant like her… husband?

Oh god, she cringed, the V.I.C was back and whispering in her brain, I can’t have a husband! And he’s going to want babies! I’m not ready, how do I even-

“Here you will find the dressing room, Master Barnes has made available the left side for your wardrobe.” 

She thought about the battered armoire she’d picked out of a trashpile. Ben painted it blue with flowers snaking up to a sunny sky along the drawers, and that was where they’d hung their meagre stash of clothing. And now there was a dressing room. Polished wood shelves and drawers, one side hung with an endless array of astronomically expensive suits, crisply pressed dress shirts and ties neatly rolled in glass trays. A display drawer for watches that would have cost more than Rowan could have made in her lifetime. She put an index finger on one, a chrome vintage Rolex. 

The familiar, comforting fury was rising again. This man with his insultingly costly watches. Buying her. Buying her fallopian tubes and ovaries and her apparently spectacular DNA. Angry was good. She could handle angry. Enraged Rowan was the most effective version of herself. Furious meant she could deal with anything. Even a Rich Asshole who bought her.

“Of course, we use Sferra Palace sheets, I hope you are comfortable with Italian cotton?”

Mrs. Kashif was standing stiffly next to the bed. It was a massive affair with a high mattress that Rowan couldn’t have accessed without a running start and African Blackwood posts, carved with vines and faces of animals and rising regally over the bed with ivory and navy blue pillows and a hugely thick and downy comforter. As gigantic as James was, surely the bed could fit like, six or seven of him comfortably.

Rowan wondered if he’d hosted an orgy in this bed. Would Mrs. Kashif, the woman who did not look like she liked her at all, tell her this? The woman’s expression was completely neutral, but those dark eyes told a different story. She was quite clear the new Mrs. Barnes Did Not Belong.

As if I fucking want to, she thought bitterly.

Still, it wasn’t in her to be impolite. Not to a fellow member of the working class. Mustering a smile, she said, “Thank you. I appreciate your tour and the information. I know it’s quite late, so I hope we didn’t disturb you coming in.”

The housekeeper arched a brow. “It is my purpose.”

“What- you mean your job?”

“No.” Mrs. Kashif corrected flatly, “My purpose. Serving Master Barnes is position so sought after that it becomes a life’s purpose. It is no mere job,” she finished with a slightly contemptuous tones on the last word.

Rowan’s lips pursed. Okaaay, she thought, that level of devotion is creepy, but sure. “Well, again, thank you for your time, and I won’t keep you from your own bed any longer. Good night.”

The other woman inclined her head and left the room silently.

Eyeing the colossal bed and the perfectly turned down cover, pillows plumped and sheets glowing in the light from the elegant scones, she backed away uncomfortably. The bedroom was deathly silent. There was no screeching of brakes or shouting from pedestrians, she noted. No sirens. This gargantuan, fancy fucking mansion blocked all the business of the lower forms of life. Walking over to the corner window, she sat on a wonderfully cushioned window bench, drawing up her legs and looking out at the city. The part the Rich Assholes saw.

“It will be okay,” Rowan whispered. “Tomorrow I’ll see Ben and we’ll just… figure it out. It’ll be okay.” Really? That was exactly the phrase she’d avoided with the crying girl today. Because it was most definitely not going to be okay.

Glenna…

Ransom was snoring next to her in bed, maybe it wasn’t snoring, more like wheezing because he kinda passed out after that last round. She was grateful because sweet baby Jesus, she couldn’t feel anything below her waist and her nipples were on fire from being bitten so much. Was he warming ‘em up for nursing? Oh, god she hoped he wasn’t one of those weirdos who wanted to suck the milk along with the baby because after he opened a couple of drawers in that scary-looking armoire she saw enough hardware to know Ransom Drysdale already had plenty of kinks.

Sitting up cautiously, she watched to see if he’d stir, but Ransom just grunted and turned over on to his side. Slipping out of bed, Glenna stretched and gave her ribs a scratch. Turning to stare at her new husband’s broad back and excellent wide shoulders, she sent a silent prayer of thanks up to the Lord. There were some nasty-looking guys there at the auction - what did Rowan call them? Oh, the Rich Assholes. A'course Ransom was kinda one of them but he was hot and he’d just ruined her for all men with that huge jackhammer dick.

After groping blindly on the floor to find something to put on, she padded across the vast, shining floor of the bedroom to look out the window. Tugboats crisscrossing New York Harbor, their sweeping spotlights lit the water, and further out there was the Statue of Liberty on her own little island. She took her brothers and sister out on the ferry to see Lady Liberty when they first came here. The Lady was much smaller than she looked which made sense. Because all the liberties she used to stand for were now only for the rich. The statue looked tired, Glenna thought. Tired of holding that light when it didn’t really shine any more.

Mina…

What was happening here? Who was this man?

Loki Laufeyson terrified her from the first second she’d spotted him, holding up one imperious finger for the final bid on her body and soul. For the next five years, anyway, she reminded herself. Of course, she knew better than that. Once Auction Brides gave birth, very few of them were willing to just give their baby up and disappear with their bag of money. So it was a new kind of ownership, then. Dancing to a rich man’s tune forever?

And this place! It reminded her of the castle from Beauty and the Beast, a massive mansion with Gothic spires and stained glass windows more beautiful than anything she’d ever seen before, even in books or movies. A high stone wall around it all to keep anyone from looking in. There had to be servants because someone laid out a simple meal for her, but they were gone before she could see them and say thank you. Invisible, silent servants. Did Loki scare them as much as he scared her?

She’d been too dazed to recall anything between the front door and ending up in his study. Shame flushed through her like a bucket of hot water splashed down her back.

Earlier that evening…

“Remove your clothes.”

Mina just stared at him, stunned at how fast he was going. But when he’d seen her shocked expression, he’d just chuckled lightly, circling her like a panther, examining every inch of her body.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of, darling. I simply want to enjoy your beauty right now.”

He owns you, she thought bitterly and half scared to death, so just… do it. Down went the pretty dress they’d put her in for that awful “wedding” and her hands rose slowly to her bra.

Loki had seated himself in a big chair by the fire, his long body filling it and still dominating the room. He nodded to her, “And your bra, darling. Let me see those lovely breasts.”

The fancy lavender lace bra joined the dress, neatly draped over the side table. His cold blue eyes were assessing her again, idly swirling that expensive booze in his glass.

“Mmm…” he hummed approvingly. “Those sweet brown nipples? The color of a good dark chocolate. Perhaps I will pour some over them one day and lick you clean.” His tongue came out to slowly trace his lips. “And now those scant scraps of lace. Push them down your legs. Slowly, mind.”

Mina’s mind turned sluggish, everything went into slow motion, the burning logs in the fireplace, the pulse of Loki’s throat as he took another sip. Everything but those eyes of his, flickering like an incandescent blue flame. Rowan said they need us, she thought. They’re scared enough to pay for us. Her fingers went to her panties and she slowly pulled them down, trying not to be awkward. But her hands flew to her center as the lace puddled around her ankles.

Like a snake striking, Loki’s cane flew up and the tip slapped her hands away. “Ah, ah. No hiding what is mine.” The slim wooden cane was stroking lightly up one thick thigh, then the other. “Your skin glows, do you know that, sweet Mina? Almost as if it absorbs light and makes it brighter still. And such a tantalizing pussy…”

“I didn’t wax,” she blurted, “they told me to, but the esthetician stripped off all the rest of my hair and took pity on me when she got to…there.”

“Good.” That cane was still sliding along her. “You are a woman capable of carrying a child, you should not be hairless like one.” The cane’s tip sharply tapped her knee. "Spread your legs.”

Sucking in a desperate gasp of oxygen, she slowly slid her right foot wider, leaving that part of her exposed to Loki and she was dying right now.

He made a sound, something deep and guttural and a little scary. “Aren’t you just… the most delicious thing? Your tender little cunt is swelling for me. And this…”

She jumped, alarmed, as the smooth wood slid between her thighs, between the lips he’d been praising and stroked along the slim furrow between them, stroking lightly, maddeningly, back and forth and rubbing her clit on each pass.

“Look at my cane, darling.”

Mina forced herself to look down and smothered a moan. The wood was shining with her slick, her arousal making each movement of his instrument of torture slide easily along her most sensitive, private parts.

“I think my lovely bride rather enjoys this…” his voice was deeper, his crisp English accent slurring slightly and Mina thought of the image of a panther circling her again. 

“Now, just like that,” Loki purred, “your proud shoulders back, your head up like the regal goddess you are.”

“I j- j- just-” Oh, no don’t stutter now Mina!

He didn’t seem to notice or care, eyes still trained on her swelling center and the slight, helpless movement of her hips. “Shh…” he soothed, “so close, aren’t you, darling? Be still!” His cane slid free from her and landed a sharp tap on her hip. “No moving. Focus on how you feel.” 

The evil cane was between her legs again, sliding along faster now with a twist upwards and against her clitoris each time. “Beautiful…” the rich lunatic who’d bought her sounded almost reverent. “Your toes are curling, lovely Mina. I believe you are very close to coming. Would you like that?”

“I- it’s…” Oh, my goodness, she thought despairingly. Was that a trick question? What kind of maniac makes you-

“Yes! Please I’m so close can I come?” Her breasts were heaving and it took everything she had to not bend her knees slightly and rub harder against the silky, slick wood but cruelly, he slowed its movement.

“Such a very good girl,” Loki approved, “asking so nicely, without any prompting. Such good manners…”

The way he purred the last sentence made it quite clear to Mina that this had nothing to do with manners at all. 

The leather of his chair creaked as he leaned forward, eyes alight and intent on her wet center, slick glistening in the black curls there and streaking along her inner thigh. And then, thank you! The cane moved faster, sparking all the delicate nerve endings so exposed now and her throbbing pearl, flushed and she was going to keel over. She was going to pass out and-

“You may come.”

This moment would have been the last thing Mina ever could have anticipated, but she gasped out in gratitude, “Oh, thank you! So good, I…” her babbling silenced as a tidal wave of pleasure hit her, nearly knocking her over and making the muscles in her legs shake and clamp down on that insidious cane. How was it that a piece of wood had made her come harder than anyone or anything in her life?

Just as her knees buckled, Loki was up and one long arm around her waist, holding her up and murmuring compliments. He lifted his cane, examining the wet wood and ran his tongue lightly along it. 

“Just as I knew it would be,” he wasn’t as unaffected as he’d pretended because his voice was husky, “utterly delicious. You, darling, are a delicacy.”

In a matter of moments, his horrifyingly expensive Tom Ford jacket was wrapped securely around her and Loki swung her up into his arms, carrying her lightly up the sweeping staircase as if she was a feather and not what her mom had called, “well-established and sturdy.”

“Your fertility tracker tells me we have two days before you reach your full potential,” he commented, putting her down gently on a spacious bed, the duvet cover and pillows done in shades of ivory and oyster. “So I shall let you rest.” He nodded over his shoulder. “Your ensuite is there. And there is clothing in the dressing room for you.”

Leaning down, so he was eye to eye with a dazed Mina, Loki lifted her limp hand and kissed it lightly. “You were an orchid in a garden of weeds, darling. I am very pleased with you.”

Present… Shifting again on the sinfully puffy mattress, Mina flushed again at the memory of earlier that night in her intimidating husband’s study, thinking again, Really, who is this man?

Alerting mutuals who I think might be interested, please let me know if you’d like on or off this list. Thank you!

@nonsensicalobsessionss

@albinotigerpython

@oldenoughtobeyourmama

@chezdricks

@noseyrosey1597

@before-we-get-started

@mizzzpink

@patzammit

@kalesrebellion

@redbarn1995

@babybubblesxtra

@chixkencxrry

@sylviefromneptune

@emmabarnes

@brightsunanddarkmidnight2-0

@heavenly1927

@learisa

@that-one-gay-girl

@titty-teetee

@alexakeyloveloki

@lokislastlove

@mcudarklibrary

@nildespirandum

@imanuglywombat

@myoxisbroken

@threeminutesoflife

@xsapphirescrollsx

@jtargaryen18

@frostbitten-written

@dangertoozmanykids101

@kimanne723

@chuuulip

@is-it-madness

@wrathkitty

@lokidevotee

@sllooney

@societyofbibliophiles

@inkededucatednnerdy

@navybrat817

@devikafernando

@devilish--doll

@team-iron-wannabe-man

@tinystudentfirepurse

@what-is-your-plan-today

@jennmurawski13

@here4thefanfics

@mdemontespan1667

@tonarinotogepi

@rebekahdawkins

@saiyanprincessswanie

@nickyI316h

@kez-bez

@gigglingtigger

@jevans2

@teambarnes72

@reileth

@openup-yourmind

@honeybournehippy

@bluestaratsunrise​

#The Auction #dystopian bridal auction #dystopian Avengers #dystopian Loki #dystopian James Barnes #dystopian Ransom Drysdale #unwilling brides #women sold for their genetic potential #patriarchial assholes #human TRAFFICKING

[midnottart]

AU 🐍 • I had this outfit on my mind, I think Loki made the shirt out of Thor's cloak

#loki #au loki #I'm thinking dystopian au #or just Loki stealing Thor's cloak to make clothes out of it #midnott #midnott.au #midnott.art

[toffeeanddragons]

10 Fandoms, 10 Characters, 10 Tags

Thank you so much @idle-brit for tagging me!This was lots of fun :) 💖

My tags: @delyth88, @elymusplant, @galaxythreads, @chemical-processes. No pressure to answer, of course :)

1. Loki (MCU)

As much as I love everyone on this list, there is absolutely no competition for number 1. Loki has been my favourite character of all time for nearly 6 years now (because clearly the best time to join someone's fandom is after they've just been murdered), and is showing absolutely no signs of being replaced anytime soon. I have a Loki blog, for god's sake. The brodinsons are my favourite relationship in any kind of media, ever. I love them so, so much. Loki's a million different things and feelings, all at the same time, all fighting with each other, which makes for a wonderfully complex and nuanced character. Also, he's hilarious. Look at that eye roll. This is a man who hates his life, which makes me feel better about mine. Thanks, Loki.

2. Klaus Hargreeves (The Umbrella Academy)

As will become obvious throughout this list, I love me an emotionally traumatised crazy person. Klaus is that. One of the characters who makes me laugh the most, ever, show-stopping dress sense, and a bucketload of unresolved trauma which goes largely ignored by Klaus, the other characters and the narrative itself? It was love at first sight. Their banter with the other characters, especially Ghost Ben (rip) is one of my favourite aspects of the show. Here's to hoping that Klaus won't be getting the Allison treatment in season 4!

3. Pippa Fitz-Amobi (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder)

I binge-read the entire AGGTM series earlier this year, and instantly fell in love with it. Pip is one of my favourite protagonists ever. Impossibly clever, compassionate, obsessive, badass, and a teensy bit unhinged. What's not to love? I would die for her. I'd say that I'd kill for her, but I think she's got that covered. I think she's written in a very realistic way, firstly as a genius 17 year old girl who doesn't really know what she's getting into, and later as a haunted individual who wants to stop investigating but can't. The way she politely knocks on people's front doors to dig up their traumas, accuse them of murder and all-round ruin their lives is everything to me. She is my blorbo. I am so, so excited for the show to come out, and I'm sure that Emma Myers will do a wonderful job as Pip!

4. Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games)

One of the best-written characters, in one of the best-written series ever. Reading from her perspective is such a delight- she's endlessly suspicious of everyone around her, constantly on survival mode, trusting very few people and relying on exactly no one (to begin with, at least). She's a random teenage girl, from the poorest district, and she wins the Hunger Games. She's so mentally unstable that she has to be sedated, and still she's made to be the face of a rebellion. She's rude, and kind of unlikeable. She adopts all the weakest tributes, at risk to herself, knowing that they won't win. She's doomed to fail by the narrative. She's the it girl of 2010s dystopian YA fiction. Jennifer Lawrence is an amazing actress, who does a beautiful job portraying the depth and conflict of Katniss in the films. The themes and social commentary of the Hunger Games is one of its (many) strong points, and I am so so glad that people are talking about it again, because it is my favourite book series out there.

5. Mitchell Pritchett (Modern Family)

I have no idea what to say about this man, I just love him. He just like me fr. What an icon. Impeccable music taste. I've started saying, "no my god" now, and nobody understands what I'm talking about. Even in a sitcom, my favourite is the one with issues that he refuses to talk about or fix. The episode where he's trying to hide that he dressed up as spiderman makes me cry-laugh. Claire's speech at his wedding makes me just cry. He's not a perfect man, but he's certainly better than everyone else.

6. Shin Tsukimi (Your Turn to Die)

My favourite cringefail loser! I said Katniss was doomed by the narrative in a metaphorical way. This idiot is actually doomed.

No but in all seriousness, I do really love him. Before the beginning of the game, he was just a relatively normal young man- but, when confronted with the inevitability of his own death, he made himself into a monster to survive. He has a violent vendetta against the local badass teenage girl, who is traumatised as hell already and does not need Shin chipping in as well, thank you very much. I love his relationship with Kanna, his biological sister; how he uses her, manipulates her, and still cares for her so much that he dies for her with a smile on his face in the Emotion route. Conversely, in the Logic route, his actions are a direct cause of her death, and I just love how much YTTD hates siblings. I hope that his past with Midori is explored more in either a mini-episode or the final part of the game, because I find it sooo interesting. I'm super excited to see whether he actually has no chance of survival, or whether he makes it out, against the odds, on one of the routes. He's a bit useless, so I won't get my hopes up.

7. Rue Bennett (Euphoria)

I think it goes without saying that Euphoria has its issues, lol. Sam Levinson is an idiot. While a lot of the show (especially season 2) feels shallow and like it doesn't care about its characters, Rue's storylines always have heart and depth and I am so invested in her arc. It's no wonder that Zendaya won 2 Emmys for this role, because her acting is phenomenal! Rue feels so real to me, in the way that she's trying so hard to stay sober but she falls down and relapses time and time again. Recovery isn't linear, but she's getting there, and I adore her with all my heart. Her relationships with Lexi, her mother, her sister, and her sponsor, Ali, are my favourites, and the healthiest for her, in my opinion. Her brief friendship/ romance with Jules may have kept her more solidly sober than anything else in the show, but Jules (understandably) cracks under the pressure of Rue's mental health, and can't be there for her. Rue needs to heal for herself, which she appears to be doing at the end of S2.

8. Max Mayfield (Stranger Things)

Duffer brothers, please just let her be happy.

Despite only being introduced in Season 2, Max has, in my opinion, had the best character development out of everyone on the show. Her growth from someone standoffish, rude, and uninterested in the group (maybe I'm being a bit harsh. She was, like, 12) to someone who is willing to risk her life to help her friends and Hawkins means so much to me. The scene in "Dear Billy" (S4, Ep4) where she escapes from Vecna remains my favourite in the whole show and will probably be burned into my brain forever. Her relationships with Lucas and El are very sweet, and some of my favourites in Stranger Things. Her final line in S4, after all her struggles over the season, being that she doesn't want to die literally breaks my heart. I hope she gets some degree of a happy ending in the final season. She was my first profile picture when I joined this hellsite, and I love her a lot.

9. Anne Shirley (Anne of Green Gables)

The shenanigans that this girl gets up to never fail to make me laugh. The bit where she accidentally dyes her hair green and then has to hack it all off makes me feel awful for her, but. it's hilarious. Sorry, Anne. Her friendship with Diana is so sweet but also so funny to me because they really are the most chaotic duo of the 1880s. The scene where Anne accidentally gives her alcohol instead of fruit juice is so mortifying but so, so funny. Amidst all of the insane situations that Anne gets into are a lot of really heartwarming moments and relationships. Matthew and Marilla adopting Anne, even though they wanted a boy, because she's so endearing and alone in the world is probably what made me who I am today. I still haven't gotten around to watching Anne with an E, but I've heard it's amazing. I look forward to watching it when I have the time :).

10. Daphne Blake (Scooby Doo)

My first ever favourite character! Another one who I don't have a tonne to say about. She's an icon, she's a legend, and she is the moment. She has done nothing wrong, ever. She knows martial arts, so watch out.

Honourable mentions: Thor (MCU), Finnick Odair (The Hunger Games), Gretchen Weiners (Mean Girls), Jake Peralta (Brooklyn 99), Maurice Moss (The IT Crowd), The Eleventh Doctor (Doctor Who), James (The End of the F***ing World), Ali Abdul (Squid Game).

If you read all of this then thanks, and have a great day!

#loki #klaus hargreeves #pippa fitz amobi #katniss everdeen #mitchell pritchett #shin tsukimi #tua #agggtm #the hunger games #modern family #yttd #i post for once #instead of just blabbering on in the tags #tag game #thanks again for the tag! :)

[percheduphere]

These spot the difference games are getting out of control.

Futuristic, Mid-century Dystopian office environment?

Gentleman with a fine mustache?

Work Husbands?

Romantic tension?

A love that dare not speak its name?

The Loki series might have been able to get away with a gentle head-press. God, I need Severance back.

#loki #lokius #mobius #loki series #loki season 2 #irving #burt goodman #irving x burt #severance

[11queensupreme11]

It sounds like part 4 is just going to be the ror!gods going "oh well this will be fine what's the worst that could happen" only to be immediately proven wrong by the pjo!world. To them Percy's world probably seems like some kind of apocalyptic dystopian death world with a personal grudge against Percy. New horrors everyday. Anthonius is allowed to exist. Can you tell me each love interest's least favorite thing that is not Percy related? (ex Poseidon hates that pjo!Poseidon is a whore)

poseidon: absolutely HATES the state of his seas. his counterpart only has a kingdom because he didn't think to conquer and expand??? pathetic. it's so polluted too, WHY DOESN'T PJO!POSEIDON KILL THE HUMANS FOR SULLYING HIS TERRITORY??? there's aquariums, FUCKING SEA WORLD, grocery stores selling dead fish, countries whose main diet consists of SEA FOOD. poseidon is frothing in the mouth with rage

hades: absolutely hates the relationship the elder olympians have, especially the big three. it actually kinda hurts him how broken this family is. he's very disappointed in how the pjo!big 3 behave. they're having petty arguments with each other and killing each other's kids because of it! he is especially disappointed in pjo!zeus, he's become a power-hungry, paranoid, tyrannical king and that says a lot because his little brother is literally called "the tyrant of the seas"

loki: absolutely hates the idea that pjo gods have fallen so low that they would lay with a HUMAN and have half-breed children (which is very hypocritical of him because he's in love with a HALF-BREED, but he'll just say "she's an exception ofc! 💖"), then have the gall to look down on them despite literally needing their existence to survive? no seriously, loki hates how the pjo gods actually NEED humanity to exist in order to not fade away. it's disgusting to him

beelzebub: hmmmm this was kinda hard for me because there are many reasons he hates the pjo verse but most of it is percy-related. the one thing he really hates is how dangerous everything is. this man is super overprotective (for obvious reasons) so learning that demigods literally have monsters hunting after them like 24/7 makes him worried af and paranoid. the fact that percy's constantly sent on quests and wars??? he'd hyperventilate. it does not help learning that greek demigods barely make it to adulthood 💀

apollo: this one is more specific, but he hates how pjo!apollo wasn't allowed to save artemis after she was kidnapped. pjo!apollo wasn't allowed to interfere and literally risked getting into A LOT of trouble by breaking ancient laws to help percy and the questers. ror!apollo really really REALLY doesn't like the "no interference rule".

but i think THE NUMBER ONE THING that ALL ror gods hate the most..... is how restrictive everything is in the pjo verse.

think about it. there are SOOO many things that the pjo gods can't do that would just baffle ror gods:

they can't go to each other's realms/homes. early in the lightning thief, percy asks why can't zeus and poseidon just go to the underworld and to beat up hades for stealing the bolt and chiron was like "they're not allowed to". like, that's just insane for ror!gods!!!

they can't reveal themselves to the humans??? ror midgardians don't believe in the gods anymore because the ror gods literally hate their asses so much that barely any of them go down to midgard anymore and just chill in valhalla. meanwhile in pjo, humans simply stopped believing in them and the gods decided they should play along and have hecate create the mist so they wouldn't know about the "mythical" world

they can't interfere too much in the lives of humans. humans are literally fucking up the environment in pjo and gods don't go around committing massacres as punishment because they're no longer allowed to interfere or something like that 💀 then there's the ror gods casually committing genocide on multiple nations and even going so far as to COMPLETELY WIPE OUT ALL OF HUMANITY 💀

can't go around killing humans whenever they want cuz they need them to survive. also connected to the one above. pjo gods need demigods and humanity in order to not fade away from existence. which is VERY weird to ror gods because their existence is not influenced by humanity AT ALL. it's why they're able to commit so many genocides against them.

can't raise their demigod children. yeah a lot of ror gods are gonna be disgusted at the thought of half-breed kids existing but like.... they're genuinely confused as to why pjo gods can't raise them cuz wtf

can't act freely so they gotta use demigods to do their dirty work. connected to the "can't go to each other's realms/homes" and "can't interfere too much" rule ^^. because of how restricted pjo gods are, they gotta act indirectly by using demigods to do their dirty work for them (pjo!apollo couldn't save his sis because he wasn't allowed to, had to literally break ancient laws just so he could give percy and co some help). ror gods have no such restrictions and can do as they please

and im pretty sure there's more, but that's the gist of it that i can remember rn

#👸🏻| asks #👸🏻| arsenic blues

[drconstellation]

Brazil and The Dream of Escape

I was delighted to find in the Xtras that the machine created to be used by Furfur to use to find out how many demons Shax could requisition for storming the bookshop was inspired by the movie Brazil. This is another nod to Monty Python member Terry Gilliam, who directed this film, and who almost directed the failed GO film in the 1990's.

I love this film. Always have. Yes, I was around when it came out in 1985. I'm that old. It's always been in my top 5 favourite films. And its totally relevant to Good Omens.

Brazil can be described as a dark dystopian story based on the novel 1984. It doesn't have a happy ending, but its funny, horrific, ludicrous, romantic and timelessly beautiful all at the same time. Its so iconic that when ever I see its influence in other productions its been unmistakable.

It stars Jonathan Pryce long before he was a James Bond villain or the head Sparrow in Game of Thrones, a comedic turn from Robert de Niro and a handful of other famous faces that you are bound to recognise, such Bob Hoskins, Ian Holm and Jim Broadbent.

Pryce, as Sam Lowry, lives in a world that is strictly controlled with paperwork that comes in multiple copies, where people are routinely arrested and tortured and a long running unexplained terrorist campaign sees bombs explode in the most random of places. Sam has dreams of a beautiful woman floating in the sky, and he is a sliver-armoured winged hero trying to rescue her. He eventually finds that she is real, and finds out her name through various means via his work and contacts. He tracks her down, but that is where it all starts to unravel as she is mixed up with an unfortunate case of mistaken identity.

Its easy to see the common themes and elements that run through the film with GO: the desire to run away and escape (that doesn't work,) a totalitarian authority controlling the masses, propaganda, piles of paperwork, an undercurrent of rebellion, torture and abuse, forbidden love between classes, a villain hidden in plain sight.

There is an art deco aesthetic to the film that also carries over to other films and shows it has influenced, and the busy work floor scene that stops on a dime to watch the tv show de jour while the boss isn't looking is one of the highlights of the film.

It was a reference of this that caught my eye in the Cohen Brothers modern fairy tale The Hudsucker Proxy, where they copied the busyness of the work floor for their mail room scenes, but also the art deco aesthetic. That's another film that is always in my top five films, and could go a round of comparisons with GO - its got time stoppage, an angel appearance and a near-godlike manipulator.

It also appears, surprisingly, in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The casino at Canto Bight is Brazil inspired, in the way its introduced to us, its decor and the music. I know some people hate this film because of what they did to Luke, but I love it, the whole thing is just utterly gorgeous to look at.

And if you've watched any of Loki recently, since S2 of that show finished not long ago, you would also seen some influence from Brazil in the retro look.

I love the classic art deco style. my grandparents had an art deco house that I spent many of my childhood hours in. The style itself is a clean, unadorned look, and often is meant to give a look of movement, speed or strength. A classic example of this is the Bentley, of course, which comes from the height of the art deco era in the 1930's.

Hell is the other place we see the Brazil influence in GO, where is looks like it's constantly several decades behind the times, with overhead projectors and manual typewriters and odd looking not-quite steampunk contraptions.

Brazil is available to stream on Disney at the moment, if you'd like to take a look. I highly recommend it, its one of those influential films that once you know it, you see its long reach in the most unexpected places.

#good omens 2 #good omens meta #good omens analysis #shax #furfur #terry gilliam brazil #monty python #the bentley #art deco

[janehaster]

Some screenshots of the Loki Mid-Season 2 Trailer in order of appearance:

Sylvie listening to some weird vynil with the title written in a unreadable font. Did anyone manage to decypher what is says?

An oppressive police-state-style installation where Casey is being held

Poor Casey with some other prisoners. I hope this is not some dystopian Earth timeline

TVA screenshot. This screen has never appeared on the monitor before. And...is Miss Minutes back online during spaghettification?

Piranha Powersports

Where Loki will find Variant Mobius selling his beloved jet skis

Finally reunited with his favourite analyst, now living his dream job

HE'S BACK

Time-traveler Loki meeting TVA Loki in spaghettified TVA

Another shot of this - or these - handsome bastard(s)

Loki instructing whoever poor soul volunteered for the catwalk of doom to press the green button

Brave dude or gal pressing the aforementioned button

Loki&TheGang trying to prevent impending doom

Victor Timely being spaghettified from a different angle

Self-explanatory shot

Loki meeting Sylvie shortly after spaghettification and explaining shit

Loki being a hero and marching down the catwalk of doom

Loki cosplaying The Scream, by Edvard Munch

The crew back together after Loki's heroism saved the day

Notice how they're all Variants and likely don't know shit about the TVA

Bonus: more Mobius' screenshots

#loki #mcu #mcu loki #mobius #loki series #loki show #loki season 2 #loki spoilers #mobius m mobius #agent mobius #tva loki #tva #loki 2023 #loki screenshots #mobius loki

[infinitystoner]

01. Mishaps

Part One of Box of Rain

AO3 | Loki Masterlist

Summary: After the universe plummets into chaos, you find yourself working alongside a merry band of misfits who’ve made a home for themselves in Tønsberg, Norway. When a harrowing incident occurs, Loki is forced to confront his feelings.

Pairing: Loki x Gender Neutral Reader

Word count: 7.4k

Content: Hurt/Comfort, Slight Angst, Humor, Mutual Pining, Eventual Fluff, Mentions of Depression/Past Trauma, Mentions of Blood, Post-Infinity War, Canon Divergence, Loki Lives, Asgardians of the Galaxy, Second Person POV, Loki POV

*header designed by the talented @tripleyeeet. and shout-out to the incredible @use-your-telescope for being a kick-ass beta.

The view looking out across the fjord was one you’d never tire of. As the sun set, heaven and earth collided, and for a brief moment, you existed within a world made only of skies, framed by towering mountains on either side. It was serene. Mystical. Otherworldly. Seemingly as if you were living on a totally different planet. And, in a way, you were. A changed planet, at least. 

You let out a contented sigh as you watched the amber sun sink lower on its path across the sky, its hazy rays glistening on the water. Flashes of gold reflected across the ethereal cerulean inlet, shimmering and rippling with the last light of the day. Broad stripes of coral and lavender wrapped around you like a cozy blanket as the sun dipped slowly behind a jagged peak, kissing the distant horizon. Time slowed down, and all you felt was stillness and peace.

You almost forgot about the harsh reality of the near-dystopian state of the world. Almost. Moments like these were always as fleeting as they were unforgettable. 

You inhaled, relishing the way the fresh, crisp air left a dash of salt on your lips. Your eyesight adjusted as you turned around, taking in a new view that was less than desirable. A small, plump codfish floundered at your feet, its spotted scales catching the last rays of receding daylight. 

“Sustainably caught and everything,” a proud voice rang out from below. You glanced down at your furry companion and winced. 

“This isn’t exactly what I had in mind when I asked for your assistance, Rocket,” you sighed, wrangling the poor fish into your grasp before tossing it into the waters along the jetty. The raccoon scrunched his wet face in dismay as the tail fin disappeared with a glug beneath the placid inlet. 

“What the– That was gonna be dinner,” he growled, kicking at one of the jetty rocks in mock protest. 

You had grown quite accustomed to the dramatics of your new friends and simply rolled your eyes as you removed your gloves, wiping your hands against the rough cotton fabric of your coveralls. 

“Spare me. We’re supposed to be monitoring and mapping movements. Not doing meal prep,” you said as you climbed up onto the harbor, only pausing to retrieve your tablet off the low stone wall of the dock. “And now I’m late for a meeting.” 

“How exactly is that my fault? If you hadn’t been daydreaming, sunshine…” 

“You smell terrible, by the way,” you called over your shoulder, hurrying up the stone steps toward town.

“Yeah, well, you’re not exactly smellin’ like a rose yourself!” you heard Rocket call out as you turned the corner. 

Despite New Asgard’s remote location, it was a bustling place. The people of Tønsberg had accepted the Aesir with open arms, and you’d witnessed firsthand how the Asgardians’ unique culture and traditions had seamlessly blended with the local Norwegian way of life. 

And you were lucky to be here. 

The immediate aftermath of losing half of the Earth’s population had been devastating. Three years later, the planet – the universe – was still responding to the aftermath of mass extinction.

It had been a haunting phenomenon, the collective grief of half a world wondering if those who had disappeared would ever return. You had to believe, in some way, that they would. That you’d finally obtain a resolution. But losing your entire family in the blink of an eye was still something you were coming to terms with. 

Most days, it seemed there was no closure to be had. By anyone. 

The assembled trauma and utter shock had gotten you through the most chaotic times. And yet, you had never been more alone in your sorrow. Everyone you loved – everyone who loved you – vanished in an instant. Your grief had eventually led you here, to Norway, to your great aunt’s abandoned cottage. You never imagined it would also lead you to a new family of sorts. 

You knew that Valkyrie had led the surviving Aesir to Earth, that Thor and Loki had fought against the invaders in Wakanda, ultimately failing to stop what Rocket called the ‘Snap.’ You also knew Thor had gone on to kill the madman who inflicted his cruel interpretation of order on the entire universe. The same tyrant who had tortured Nebula. Who had tortured Loki. 

And while they all bore witness to his demise, none derived satisfaction. 

Still, you didn’t know the whole story and had long accepted you never would. Rocket, while he loved to yammer on about all sorts of things, never actually gave you any information you couldn’t easily seek out online. And none of the others ever spoke of it. It was as if they had chosen to exist outside of reality, weary and burdened by their experiences. Their silence was like a heavy cloak that draped over them, concealing the past and shielding you from the horrors that resided within their minds. 

Nonetheless, you cherished your otherworldly friends, grateful for the moments of joy and camaraderie that you shared in the midst of persistent responsibilities. Which, for you, meant working under the guidance of Asgardian leadership, developing ethical frameworks that promoted sustainable interactions between the citizens of New Asgard and the natural world. It was a far cry from your previous profession, but one that gave you a renewed sense of purpose amidst the lingering mayhem. 

You hurried along the cobbled walkway, popping in your headphones as you bypassed New Asgard’s central square, where a statue of Odin stood tall and imposing, watching over his people. Veering off the main path, you opted to take the shortcut over the hillside while there was still enough light left to guide you. 

As you walked up the trail that wound through a thicket of trees, you pulled your tablet from your bag to email your daily report to Valkyrie. Lost in thought, you didn’t notice the figure approaching from the opposite direction until it was too late.

With a jolt, you crashed back to reality as you collided with someone along the narrow path, the device falling from your grip. 

“Oof,” a deep voice resounded from above you. You snatched out one of your earbuds, your other hand searching for purchase against a broad chest.

“L-Loki,” you stammered as you looked up at his stoic face, framed by his perfectly groomed curls that obediently rested atop his broad shoulders. How he always managed to look so impeccably regal despite the blistering cliffside winds was a mystery you were too eager to solve. 

“Hello.” The resounding timbre sent a shiver down your spine as your fingers absentmindedly lingered on the soft wool of his dark pea coat. Loki looked down his nose at you, his eyes flitting from your fingertips to your face. Then he frowned. 

He was not a fan of his personal space being invaded and you knew this. However, there had been a few moments between the two of you when he almost seemed to welcome your touch. Your mind flitted back to the time your fingertips grazed his while sitting together at a council meeting. You recalled the way your shoulders often touched as you walked side-by-side along the docks, and how he never removed your hand from the crook of his elbow as you navigated through the crowds on village market days. 

And then there had been the time you’d excitedly hugged him after successfully tagging your first Norwegian cod, and you swore he hugged you back. You thought about the hug a lot. Too often, perhaps. It was all strictly platonic, of course. 

You felt Loki’s cool fingers wrap around yours, and you hurriedly took a step back, snatching your hand away.

“I am so sorry,” you said as you shoved your headphones into your coat pocket. Your already wind-chapped face grew even more heated under his puckish gaze. “I was– ”

“Preoccupied?” Loki mused, his eyes crinkling with mirth. The playfulness in his tone calmed your nerves a bit. 

“Mmm. I’ve been down at the docks all afternoon.” You forced out a laugh in a poor attempt at regaining some semblance of composure as Loki squatted down to retrieve the forgotten datapad at your feet. 

“Thank you,” you murmured as he handed it back to you. “Again, sorry for that less-than-graceful display.”  

“It’s fine,” he replied, his piercing green eyes surveying your form. God, he was always so intense. 

“You’ve got a lot on your mind, I’m sure. As do I,” Loki commented as he cast a knowing glance in your direction. “I just left Thor’s.”  

“Oh. How is he today? Will he be joining us later?” you asked, trying to keep up with Loki’s long strides as he turned off the path in the direction of Valkyrie’s secluded lodge. 

“The same, I’m afraid. His apathy for– ” Loki opened his arms and gestured down the hill “ –all this grows by the day. But I don’t imagine that surprises you,” he replied, quirking an eyebrow. 

“And I’ve asked him to come tonight,” he continued as he turned to knock on the cabin’s front door. “But no promises were made.” 

Valkyrie placed a steaming cup of tea in front of you as you set down your tablet and propped your head on your hand. 

“This proposal is ridiculous. They’re already manufacturing synthetic food products in labs across the globe. Asking us to operate a fish farm would not only skew our ecological research, but it essentially violates New Asgard’s sustainability treaty,” you lamented, glancing across the table at Loki. 

He was surrounded by an imposing tower of folders and an array of alien technological systems that rivaled the inventions of Tony Stark. He still obstinately refused to use Midgardian tech, deeming it inferior to what he could procure from elsewhere in the universe. He stopped thumbing through a stack of papers, his eyebrows slanting up as he gave you a bemused look. 

“Exactly. Why is the Council giving us a hard time?” added Valkyrie, settling into a chair and pushing a holographic map out of view as she too looked to Loki for an answer. “I did not agree to come to this planet just to be controlled by another group of insane bureaucrats.” 

Loki pinched the bridge of his nose, a weary sigh escaping his lips before he responded. “Because they can, I suppose. The entire universe is in chaos – and not the kind I usually revel in, mind you,” he said, casting a sly wink in your direction that immediately made your cheeks flush with heat. You quickly took a sip of your drink as Valkyrie suspiciously peered at you, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. 

“But, by all the Nine, the governing bodies of this particular realm are so tedious. I can admit I’m at my wits end with these negotiations,” Loki continued, seemingly oblivious to your flustered state. 

For the next half hour, the three of you continued to address the unremitting concerns of the new world order. As you brainstormed, the holographic map in the center of the room flashed various graphs and statistics. In any other situation, you’d find meetings like this incredibly irksome, but Loki had a way of keeping you fully engaged. 

Why did you find everything about him so alluring? Your heart fluttered as you watched him reading over his notes as the conversation lulled, the urge to reach across the table and smooth the deep creases on his brow overwhelming. When he ran his thumb under his bottom lip as his eyes flitted back and forth across the page before him, you couldn’t help but imagine how his lips might feel against yours…  

When you realized you’d been staring, you fumbled with your own notes, ignoring the smug expression on Valkyrie’s face. 

“I believe we have a solid plan,” Loki said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “And if all else fails, I can always use my charm to persuade them otherwise.” At his words, a flash of seidr shot from the palm of his hand as five more Lokis appeared around their commander. 

“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” Valkyrie sneered, rolling her eyes as she stood up from the table. Loki waved his duplicates away with a huff, turning around as the door creaked open behind him. Thor sauntered in, his eyes glued to his phone as his wide frame strode through the glowing data projections. 

“Ah, how kind of you to join us, brother,” Loki scoffed, leaning back in his chair. “We were just discussing the most recent inane request presented to us by your friends at the Disunited Nations.” 

Thor grunted in response, still mindlessly scrolling. Loki, however, was not so easily dismissed.

“Care to verbalize those rousing thoughts, your majesty?” he said sharply, his frustration palpable. 

Shit. You stared at Valkyrie, eyes wide. The last thing you wanted was to be caught up in an altercation between two brooding demigods. She subtly shook her head, motioning for you to join her in the kitchen.

As you stood, the blonde Asgardian bristled, finally glancing up from the device dwarfed in his palm. “Erm, sorry. What is it you’re rambling on about?” Thor muttered, his brow furrowed in confusion.

“The prospect of a fishery…” Loki did little to hide the annoyance in his voice. “As king, I thought you might have an opinion. Clearly, I was mistaken.” 

Thor shrugged, scrolling through his phone once more. “I don’t know. You seem to have everything under control. I’ll just… be over here,” he replied, drifting to a nearby chair.

Loki abruptly stood, sending his belongings to his interdimensional pocket with a flick of his wrist. 

“I see. Then we will move ahead with our plan– ” he paused, giving you a knowing look across the room as he walked toward the door “ –to continue the monitoring and not risk further contamination with foolhardy farming practices.” 

Thor let out another grunt as Loki exited the cabin, turning to you and Valkyrie with a look of indifference. “What’s got his cape in a twist?” 

Damn it. You quickly dismissed yourself, snatching your tablet from the table and hurrying after Loki. It was dark out now, but not so dark that you couldn’t make out his stately form descending the hillside. At least three of your strides equaled one of his, and you found yourself breaking into a graceless jog as you struggled to catch up with the god. 

Before you could stop yourself, you shouted out his name. Loki turned on his heel and held up his hand, conjuring an orb of glimmering light. 

“S-sorry, hey,” you panted as you finally reached where he stood waiting. “I thought we could walk back together?” 

He pursed his lips, glancing over your shoulder at Valkyrie’s cabin. Perhaps this wasn’t your brightest idea. After what felt like an eternity, Loki responded.

“Of course. I- I should not have made such a hasty exit. Apologies for my imprudent behavior.” He spoke with a twinge of forced formality that sent your mind reeling. He obviously wanted to be alone right now. 

“Oh. No worries,” you replied almost too casually, cringing internally as you fell in step alongside him. The two of you walked in silence for a few minutes, and it took every ounce of your resolve not to gawk at the handsome god. The way the moonlight illuminated his sharp features was absolutely devastating and definitely not something you’d be thinking about as you drifted off to sleep later. 

You turned your focus to the warm glow emanating from Loki’s floating orb, humming in delight as you observed the tendrils of gold light wafting through the nipping sea air. You were endlessly fascinated by his seidr, from his masterful displays of sorcery and deception on New Asgard’s training fields to simpler charms such as this. Everything about Loki was beautiful. Otherworldly. Unattainable. 

He finally spoke up again, his tone guarded. “I do hope I didn’t cause any offense,” he said, his eyes darting over to you briefly before flicking away. “Thor and I… it’s complicated.” 

You shook your head. “No, no, not at all,” you replied, trying to sound reassuring. “Your reaction was justified.” 

There was another moment of silence before Loki let out a quiet sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly. “He’s– things are just very different now.”

He was right. Everything was different. You tried to ignore the ache in your own grief-stricken heart as you cautiously reached out to touch Loki’s arm, hoping to offer some comfort. “I know,” you said softly. 

Loki glanced down at your hand on his arm, then back up at you, his expression softening a little. “You do know, don’t you?” 

Your breath hitched as you regarded him, taking in the way his eyes sparked with an intensity you’d never seen before. It sent shivers down your spine, and you couldn’t help but wonder if he was thinking about you in the same way you thought of him. Perhaps it was simply a trick of the glimmering light?

“And that’s part of the problem,” he continued. “Thor blames himself for everyone’s loss. Not just our people’s.” 

Oh.

Suddenly he stopped walking, and you realized you’d reached the small gate that led to your cottage. For a moment, you hesitated, reluctant to say goodnight just yet. Loki had never spoken this openly with you before, and you didn’t want the conversation to end. 

“Would you like to come in for some tea?” you asked as the twinkling orb disappeared from the space between you. Had he kept it lit only for your benefit? 

“Ah, I’m afraid I must prepare for my journey to Vanaheim tomorrow.” He gave you a sad smile as you opened your gate, no doubt detecting the confusion on your face. “A strictly diplomatic visit. Valkyrie is aware. And it’s probably best if I spend some time away from New Asgard.”

“Well, the offer stands. You, me, and a cup of tea. Perhaps when you return?” you asked, attempting to conceal the disappointment in your voice. Loki didn’t owe you anything, after all. 

“Of course. When I return.”

The next few days were relatively uneventful, all things considered. You continued your research of now-endangered fish species, while Valkyrie prepared for a convening with neighboring republics. Loki was off-planet, as were Nebula and Rocket. 

And you hadn’t seen Thor since the meeting the other night, which was why you now found yourself in the God of Thunder’s cluttered cottage. He’d hastily greeted you at the door, pulling his long unkempt hair into a half ponytail before haphazardly scooping up an assortment of dirty dishes and carrying them to his kitchen.

“Thor, about the other night,” you began, plopping down on your usual spot on the sofa – the cushion nearest the fireplace. It was the one with the least amount of stains.

“Would you like some ale?” he asked roughly, avoiding eye contact as he opened his refrigerator door. You knew he was trying to avoid the subject, as he always did when confronted like this. But you weren’t going to let up so easily this time. 

“Thor…”

He continued to ignore you, the sound of glass bottles clinking together echoing through the room like tiny bells ringing out in unison. 

“You could, you know, try to be a bit more involved with– ” you paused, searching for the right words. “Human affairs. The people adore you, you know.” 

“Perhaps they did. In the past.” Releasing a small grunt, Thor settled down on the sofa next to you. “But I’m afraid your attempts at flattery are in vain, little mortal.”

“I may just be a mortal, Thor, but I am doing the best I can with the hand we’ve been dealt. We all are. And regardless of whatever you think, we need your help.” 

He merely scoffed, handing you a bottle of beer before putting his headset on and returning to his video game. Of course you had interrupted him in the middle of some imaginary battle. 

Thor Odinson, king of Asgard, ancient warrior, Avenger, god among men. Toiling his eternal days away in a too-small, too-dark cottage, drinking ale and talking shit to teenagers halfway across the globe as he numbed himself to everything around him. 

He had lost his purpose. 

You empathized with him, you really did. And perhaps you were out of line to address him in such a manner. But in all the time you’d known him, he’d never once displayed even the smallest flicker of sovereignty. No, that responsibility had fallen upon his younger brother’s shoulders. And you could see the toll it was taking on Loki. 

When I return.

His parting words echoed in your mind like distant thunder, each rumble a reminder of the restless storm brewing in your heart. You weren’t entirely sure if Loki would actually be returning this time. Perhaps it was the way he had looked at you when he said it – the mask of his unwavering stoicism falling aside for the briefest moment to reveal a kind of hesitant sorrow. 

Tension swelled within you, like charged air, ready to erupt at any moment. The deep-seated longing you had tried to suppress for so long now was overpowering any modicum of resolve that remained within you. All you could do was hope the storm would eventually pass. 

Frustrated, you sat in silence for a few more minutes before the urge to speak became overwhelming. 

“Loki can’t keep going on this way. Managing everything himself,” you blurted out, curling a leg under you as you shifted to face the larger-than-life Asgardian. 

“Ah, and there it is. It isn’t diplomacy, or the people of New Asgard, or even me you’re worried about here. It’s my brother.” 

Thor punctuated those last three words, and they hit you like bolts of lightning, electrifying every nerve in your body. You winced at the intensity of his tone, but you couldn’t deny it was the truth. Loki’s predicament weighed heavily on your mind. You knew that you needed to gather your wits and find a way to respond, but for now, all you could do was stare at Thor, a silent plea in your eyes, hoping that he would understand the depth of your concern.

“It’s all right. He’s done it before,” Thor continued, casting you a sideways glance. 

“Done what before?” you asked, baffled.

“Led the people of Asgard. Without me.” 

What? You’d have to address that later. Thor must have somehow noted the look of abject shock on your face because he continued to divulge as he continuously – annoyingly – tapped a button on his game controller. 

“Loki has always been better at this sort of thing. Since we were mere children, he’s always had the answers to all of our problems. The problems I inevitably create.”

You straightened your back, voice resolute despite your growing nerves. 

“But do you want him to leave? Forever? He’s– you’re all the other has, Thor. If you keep pushing him away– I’m afraid he feels he has no reason to stay.”

“I say this with no malice, but unlike you, I’ve known Loki for a thousand years. He is not going anywhere,” Thor replied matter-of-factly. “He cares for our people more than he’s willing to openly admit.”

“That may be true, Thor. But– ”

“And you,” he interrupted, pausing his game and looking at you, his deep blue eyes searching your own. “You are reason enough for him to stay. Certainly you’ve realized that.”

For the second time in a matter of minutes, Thor had managed to completely stun you. You were reason enough? Surely he was mistaken. Despite all the small, genial moments between you, did Loki even consider you a friend? Much less someone worth sticking around for? 

You opened your mouth, but no words formed on your heavy tongue. Instead, you heard your own incredulous laugh ringing around the room. None of this made sense.

“Thor, I– ” 

“You’re not gonna believe the haul we got!” Rocket interrupted, scurrying through Thor’s front door and disrupting any thoughts that had started to form in your bewildered mind.

“Well, c’mon!” the raccoon panted, beckoning you both into the yard. 

It was long past dusk, but the glow of the Guardian’s ship was unmistakable along the cliffside. You waved as Nebula exited the spacecraft, rolling her eyes as Rocket excitedly pulled open a hatch revealing a collection of foreign weapons. 

“Thor, you shoulda been there. I’m tellin’ ya, it was wild…” 

You greeted Nebula with a teasing eye roll of your own. “Successful expedition then?”

“If you consider obtaining inferior technology successful, then yes,” she replied simply, walking over to Thor’s makeshift fire pit. A mischievous grin spread across her face, reminding you of Loki. “I would like to make a fire.” 

You glanced over at Thor, who seemed quite preoccupied with Rocket’s latest collection of artillery. At least something had him excited. 

“Well, then, let’s make a fire,” you responded, clapping your hands together as you searched the darkened ground for something to use as kindling. “Go grab some firewood. Thor keeps it stacked out back,” you nodded at the lean-to behind his cottage. Nebula let out a dramatic huff as she headed off to grab the wood, and you chuckled as you gathered up some dry twigs and leaves.

Minutes later, the fire crackled to life, illuminating the darkness with its warm glow. Nebula settled down next to you on one of the logs surrounding the amber blaze, looking immensely pleased with herself. Once Thor noticed the merriment happening fireside, he tore his attention away from Rocket’s collection of weapons and came over to join you. His massive frame loomed over the lapping flames, his golden hair creating an ethereal outline around his chiseled face. For a brief moment, he looked younger, raw power radiating from his being. As flickering embers rose around him, you regarded him as the impressive god he was. Yet, as he passed you a large bottle of mead, you noted the hint of weariness lingering in his eyes. 

He needed to be reminded of who he used to be. Who he could still be. 

“Tell us about the time you slayed the Bilgesnipe hoard,” you giddily implored, hoping to distract him by recalling one of your favorite stories. He’d told it countless times before, but it never failed to entertain. 

“Bilgesnipes, eh?” murmured Rocket, curling his lip as he grabbed the mead from your clutch. “I’ve heard their teeth can fetch a pretty penny.” 

“Oh, what an epic day that was!” Thor beamed, his large hand falling heavily on Rocket’s back, knocking the wind out of the raccoon. “I was in the wilds of Asgard with the great warrior Volstagg, when all of a sudden…” 

You listened intently for the next ten minutes as Thor paced around the roaring fire, jovially describing the most disgusting details of the carnage he inflicted upon the mythical creatures. 

“And then– ” Thor paused, eyeballing one of the discarded weapons on the ground beyond the pit. He walked over to it and picked it up, examining it with a playful snicker.

“I wielded the mighty Mjölnir, hurling it right between the antlers of the pack leader,” he said, dramatically lifting the alien artillery above his head. 

“Go on then, show us how it’s done!” you shouted as you rose to your feet, feeling the effects of the Asgardian mead rush to your head. Nebula and Rocket both looked skeptical, but you egged him on, enthralled by the idea of seeing Thor wield the foreign weapon in his signature style.

He grinned, swinging the silver contraption around his head with a flourish. But just as he was about to release it toward the cliffside, the weapon malfunctioned, shooting off sparks and emitting a loud, ear-piercing screech. 

Then everything went black. 

It had been a long day. A long few days, Loki thought as he poured himself a cup of tea. Taking a slow sip, his keen eyes narrowed as he stared at Stormbreaker leaning against his kitchen island. It was probably time to return the axe to Thor – if he even missed it at all. 

Loki was teetering on the verge of exhaustion, and hadn’t even bothered to change out of his ceremonial armor. He had spent the last three days on Vanaheim, checking in on the realm’s remaining population. He would never be able to shake the nagging responsibility he still felt to the citizens of the Nine, especially his mother’s people. Not after he had failed them on such a massive scale.  

In the immediate aftermath of the Snap, Thor had joined him on these royal visits across the galaxy, but now Loki went it alone. A small part of him still felt the sting of collective disappointment from the Vanir when he arrived via the Bifrost without his brother. It wasn’t that Thor didn’t care, though, and deep down, Loki knew that. He just hoped the others understood. 

You understood, at least. And even though he’d been realms away, Loki could not escape you. He didn’t want to. 

Just yesterday, as he observed the Vanir children practicing seidr, one of the younglings had conjured a small orb of light, and Loki was overwhelmed with thoughts of you. How your face lit up every time he displayed even the smallest bit of magic. How your infectious wonderment was slowly chipping away at his resolve. How he felt a spark of something he thought he’d never experience again each time you touched him, always so gentle, as if you were afraid he would break… 

A sudden bang made him spin around, instinctively conjuring his daggers as his mug clattered to the floor. The front door had flung open with such force that it splintered around the hinges, its agonizing creak reverberating around the cottage like a death knell. 

Loki huffed, dissipating his weapons as he realized who the culprit was. 

“Nebula, I have warned you– ” 

“Loki.” 

Something about her tone had a bitterness burning his throat – the usual monotonous cadence he’d come to expect from the humanoid had been replaced with something else. A sense of urgency? Before he could swallow down the acrid taste in his mouth and respond, all hell broke loose.

Everything happened all at once and yet Loki felt like time stopped. A guttural howl cut through the biting wind. Thor. It was a sound he’d hoped to never hear again. Loki’s heart lurched, then plummeted to the depths of the earth’s core as Nebula stepped aside, revealing his brother’s imposing form, outlined by glowing moonlight in the darkened doorway. 

Thor’s shirt and forearms were smeared with a dark red substance, your slack body clutched against his chest. 

No.

Loki lunged forward as Thor stumbled into the cottage. The look of sheer panic on his brother’s face sent a surge of fear into the depths of Loki’s soul. 

No.

“What have you done?” Loki barked out, his hands hovering apprehensively above your body, afraid to touch you. 

“They– I– I shot them, Loki,” Thor stuttered, his blue eyes conveying a portentous sorrow Loki hadn’t seen since their mother died.  

NO. 

This couldn’t be happening. Loki’s chest constricted as his eyes frantically darted from Thor’s stricken face to your pallid one. You looked… were you? He shook the macabre thought from his mind. No. Not you. Not if he could help it.  

“Fuck! Here, put them down. Gently.” Loki quickly cleared a spot on his kitchen table with a flick of his wrist.

“Nebula,” Loki said tersely. “How did this happen? What type of weaponry did this?” He glanced at Thor, who still had not let go of your body despite it being strewn across the wooden table. Loki’s brows furrowed in earnest concentration as he returned his attention to you, magically removing your coat and sweater as his fingertips ghosted over your wound. He flicked his head to the side as he slowly, carefully began to weave his seidr around the gaping flesh. 

“It was an accident. I– I swear it,” Thor sputtered, choking down a sob. 

“Enough!” Loki bellowed, the intensity of his outburst causing Thor to finally release you from his grasp. “Get out of the way, you useless oaf, and let me handle this. Like I’ve always done,” Loki growled before nodding at Nebula. 

“Tell me.” 

“Contraxian. There was a malfunction,” Nebula answered somberly. Loki’s eyes once again focused on the laceration across your midriff, noting your breathing seemed to be a bit less labored than before. 

“Accident or not, this is too much blood.” Loki’s voice was unwavering, but he could no longer conceal the anxiety creeping across his features. He just needed to stop the bleeding. 

Loki steadied himself with a deep, measured breath before drawing on every bit of power he possessed. As he felt the eerily familiar surge of energy course through his veins, Loki thought back to the last time he’d been forced to access this facet of his seidr. That cursed day on the Statesman. He would not – could not – fail this time. But you’d lost so much blood already. 

Far too much for a mortal. 

“Can’t you do something?” his brother implored, running a hand through his wild blonde hair as he paced around the room. 

“I am doing something, but I am not a healer, Thor!” 

“Wake up, kid,” panted Rocket. In the brief moment Loki had taken his eyes off of you, the raccoon had hopped onto the table and was now peering down at you. A cold fury burned in Loki’s gaze as he watched the creature pat your cheek with a small paw. 

Your eyes fluttered open and Loki finally exhaled the breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding in.  

“See? They’re fine. It’s just a flesh wound, drama queen,” Rocket commented as he leaned over your wound, examining the tendrils of seidr. They weaved around the lesion, binding together to create a bandage of pulsating, shimmering gold. “Yeah. Yeah. I’ve seen worse– ” 

That fucking furry arsehole. 

“Move back, you insolent rabbit,” Loki spat, giving the raccoon a malicious glare. “And better yet, leave. Now. Before I turn you into a fur stole.” 

He continued to thread his seidr around your fragile body, praying to the Norns above that it would be enough. 

“Loki…” you groaned, lifting your eyes to meet his. The sound of his name on your lips sent a small rush of relief through Loki. But your dazed expression let him know that you were having trouble focusing. He wondered if you even realized what had transpired. You let out a rugged sigh as you attempted to sit up, but Loki gently pressed a steady hand against your shoulder. 

“No, don’t move. Please. Conserve your energy,” he implored, running his fingers along your face.

“I’m– I’m okay.” You gave him a weak smile, reaching out to him before your eyes fluttered shut again. Loki wrapped his fingers around your trembling hand in an effort to calm you both. 

“Yea– yes. You’re going to be okay,” he repeated in a whisper, unsure if it was for your benefit or his. He glanced down at the lesion again, and though his vision was slightly blurred from the tears frustratingly welling in his eyes, he could see that he’d been successful this time. 

“I– I think I’ve stopped the bleeding,” he said finally, looking around the room and finding no solace there. 

Exasperated and drained, he grabbed his cape from a nearby chair, wrapping it around your body before lifting you into his arms as he turned to Thor and Nebula.

“But we need the healers. Now.” 

Loki jolted awake at the sound of the door closing. Slivers of receding sunlight filtered through the aluminum blinds, casting long streaks of light across the modest space. It took Loki a moment to find his bearings, and he blinked slowly, watching the warm light dance across the walls. 

Someone had been in your room at the clinic, and he’d slept through it. Norns, when had he dozed off? 

His gaze flitted between your motionless form and the intravenous bag at your bedside. Grimacing, he wiped an embarrassing amount of dribble from his lips. Gods, I am truly losing it, he thought. He discarded the open book in his lap as he stood, stretching his aching limbs and following the attendant into the hallway. 

Loki grasped the woman’s shoulder as she filed a chart, an irritated expression marring his face. 

“What did you give them?” he demanded hoarsely, voice still thick with remnants of sleep.  

“Something for the pain,” the nurse explained. Her voice was kind. Soft. Forgiving. It reminded Loki of his mother. It made him furious. 

“While the healers were able to mend the wound and provide a sleeping spell, pain management is still necessary,” she continued. 

You were in pain.

Loki huffed, warily turning back to look through the doorway at you. His brows furrowed as he regarded your current state. Was the extent of your injury so severe you needed something more than Aesir magic could provide? 

He flinched when the nurse patted his shoulder. Are all Midgardian healers this bold? he wondered. 

“Nothing to be concerned about,” she continued, obviously sensing his unease. “I assure you, your highness, it is a common treatment for humans.” 

“Right. Of course.”

He gave a curt nod and quietly made his way back to what had to be the most wretched chair in the universe, shifting his thighs on the seat in an attempt to find a comfortable position. He glanced at you, your body lax against the meager, rigid hospital cot. At that moment, Loki made a mental note to secure funding to update the clinic’s furnishings. 

By all the Nine. He never imagined this would be his life: Thinking of ways to improve the day-to-day operations of the Midgardian healthcare system. Negotiating border policies and peace treaties with diplomats. Researching patterns of pollen limitation. Reading your infuriatingly charming reports about the migration patterns of fish…

Of course, these were not things totally unfamiliar to him. He was a prince, after all. A beacon of diplomacy and guile. But Thanos had changed everything. Loki winced as he tried to shake the dark memories encroaching on his mind. He inhaled, focusing on his surroundings. 

The uncomfortable chair. The fading scent of antiseptic. The acrid taste lingering on his tongue. The cool leather against his skin. The dull beeping of machines by the bed. The mortal before him. 

Not just any mortal, though. You. 

Your presence alone challenged the carefully measured control he held over his emotions. And, much to Loki’s chagrin, you had managed to wind your way into his heart. It had changed him in ways he had never thought possible. 

Loki let out a deep sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose. He had to get a grip. But he did not leave your side. 

“Can you hear me?” he asked softly, inching closer to the bed. There was no answer, only the sound of your faint snores. The sleeping spell was working, then. 

You looked so meek. So fragile. It pained him to see you this way. Part of him wondered what would happen if you suddenly awoke to find him there. Would you be pleasantly surprised? Confused? Or worse, disappointed to find that he was the one watching over you? 

Would you even care? His heart constricted painfully in his chest at the thought. 

He concluded that he would accept whatever outcome. Any response at all would relieve him of the incessant worry churning in the pit of his stomach. He just needed to know you were going to be okay.

Loki’s eyes burned as he blinked back tears. One large hand raked through his wild curls, and he scowled as he shifted back into the seat. How could you have been so careless? 

“You infuriate me.” He felt half-mad, confessing to you this way. 

“You brilliant, reckless creature. It’s no wonder Thor befriended you. You’re always too eager to go along with his half-brained schemes.”

Loki, admittedly, had been reluctant to accept your friendship. He wondered now why he’d fought against it for so long. He leaned forward, cautiously caressing your cheek with the back of his fingers. 

“I’ve not been a good friend to you, have I?”

He paused, recalling all the times you’d been so infuriatingly kind to him. How he wished he had not refused your invitation for tea. Perhaps if he’d been more open with you, perhaps if he had stayed…  

“The way you look at me,” he continued. “The way you see me… I don’t deserve it. None of us do.” 

“Thor’s guilt is slowly consuming him. And I don’t know what to do. I realize we all have our own ways of coping. Dealing with this… immense loss. What I do know is that I cannot stand by and let you become a victim of his destructive behavior.”

Loki leaned forward, taking your hand in his. What a fool he’d been, so assured that his burgeoning infatuation would pass. A lopsided smile crossed his face as he looked at you, and he finally let the walls around his heart come crashing down. 

“I– I care for you, too much to let any harm come your way. I only wish I had realized it sooner.” 

With a deep sigh, he rested his head on the mattress, his raven curls fanning across your thigh as his eyes fluttered closed. He never let go of your hand. 

This time, Loki heard when someone entered the room but didn’t bother moving away from your bedside. 

“I’ve never seen the prince act with such concern for anyone,” a lilted voice commented. 

“I have known Loki his entire life. And though he may often refuse to acknowledge his own feelings, I have no doubt he cares fiercely for those he loves.” 

Loki frowned, recognizing the second voice immediately. It was Eir, Odin’s former head physician and now New Asgard’s top healer. 

“I’m awake, you know,” Loki finally responded when he heard the younger healer leave the room. 

“Yes, and that’s exactly why I said what I said.” Eir cast Loki a cautious glance as he righted himself, a glow of seidr washing over him, concealing any lingering signs of exhaustion. 

“You cannot hide from me, boy. You’ve been sitting vigil here for nearly a full day. And don’t think I’m unaware of the toll the magicks you wielded to stabilize your friend took on your body. When was the last time you actually slept, Loki?” 

The nerve. Loki stood to his full height in an attempt to regain some semblance of power. He peered down at the old healer, her keen glare meeting his own. Her silver brows furrowed, wrinkles carving an ancient map across her face. Loki sometimes wondered if she was as old as the Norns themselves. 

“That is no concern of yours, Eir,” Loki responded haughtily, rolling his shoulders back and regally tossing his dark locks over his shoulder. “And I would remind you to not speak so casually when in the presence of the crowned prince of Asgard, lest you forget your place again.” 

Of course, Eir was right, and he knew it. Perhaps that is what bothered him most of all. 

He had to get out of here. He didn’t want to leave you, but he knew he couldn’t stay another minute. Loki bundled his cape in one large fist and strode past her.

“Your friend is going to be okay, Loki. I promise you, by Frigga’s grace.”

Loki froze at the mention of his mother’s name. He closed his eyes as his fingers curled around the doorframe, bracing himself for an impact that never came. Still, he did not turn around. 

“Once the sleeping charm wears off, we’ll discharge them. Likely sometime tomorrow morning. Do you want to be informed when that happens?” 

Finally, Loki glanced over his shoulder, his narrowed eyes flitting from you back to Eir. 

“Ah, no. No, that won’t be necessary.” He turned and walked into the hallway before exalting a final command.

“You will alert my brother when it is time to accompany our friend back home, understood?” 

He didn’t wait for the response.

#loki x reader #loki x you #loki laufeyson x reader #loki hurt/comfort #loki fluff #loki laufeyson x you #loki fanfiction

[battleangel]

The End of Weird Anime

What happens to 80s & 90s anime that arent streaming right now when VHS & DVD completely go away?

The obsession with micro everything, everythings a sound bite, everything is 5 to 7 seconds, even songs, the chorus IS the song now, noone else ever hears anything else.

Only sports, reality TV and competition games can be watched week to week in real time.

All TV series now have to be immediately binged and consumed.

Its essentially bulimia.

Binge Loki in a weekend. Binge Ahsoka in a weekend. Its already done.

Whats next.

What else can I feed the machine with.

No waiting week to week. No such thing as a cliffhanger. No anticipation. No guessing whats next. No watching together as an audience.

Everything segmented, everything bifurcated, nothing in real time, nothing communal.

No season finale, no season premiere.

Same with anime.

Its not VHS or DVD anymore.

Youre not waiting for a release.

Its crunchyroll and Netflix and Funimation and Hulu and streaming.

Its the entire season of Psycho Pass all at once whenever I want to binge and gorge myself.

No asking to be taken to the mall.

No driving to Suncoast Video.

No deciding which $30 VHS or DVD to ask to be bought.

Martian Successor Nadesico or Ayashi no Ceres?

Everything is accessible.

Its less for 3 months of streaming anime than 1 anime used to cost on VHS or DVD.

No downside, if it sucks, move on.

Its not even the old school illegal Crunchyroll which was essentially Limewire for anime where you could illegally download different series.

I didnt waste time downloading for hours on my brothers computer for a shitty anime.

I didnt risk getting a virus on my brothers computer.

I dont have to clear up space.

I dont have to waste time.

I dont have to spend money.

I dont have to risk anything.

I dont have to exert any effort.

Its just, on to the next.

What does the algorithm say a Demon Slayer fan should watch next?

What should I watch now that Attack on Titan is over per the almighty algorithm?

No Viz anime catalogue to pore through.

No RightStuf catalog to highlight and fold the corners of the pages of.

No Animerica to read through every month once it arrives in the mail.

No going through AOL message boards and anime ezboards and geocities and angelfire websites to try to determine what to watch next.

No asking to be taken to your local Blockbuster to check the newest anime rentals in the "Independent/Foreign" section.

Just scroll, select, click and move on.

No need to even download and delete.

Its all streamable, instantly consumed, immediately binged then thats it.

On to the next algorithmic recommendation.

The algorithm never ends.

It always has another suggestion for you.

No meticulously going through myanimelist.com, putting up the hundreds of anime youve watched so far then scouring everyone elses lists to get ideas for new anime to watch.

Whats next after Vision of Escaflowne?

What should I watch after Yuu Yuu Hakusho?

If I can get a ride to the flea market on 18, I wonder what else they'll have similar to Dangaioh & Orguss 02?

To Macross Plus?

I wonder if Sci-Fi Channels Anime Week Festival will show something similr to Iria Zeiram or Armitage III this year.

Ninja Scroll was amazing, I wish I could see Wicked City since its by the same director, Yoshiaki Kawajiri. But I know I wont be allowed to. I had to sneak watch Ninja Scroll at my friends house and her older brother had bought it and thats the only way I even got to see Ninja Scroll at 13.

Everyone talks about Sailor Moon but noone talks about Bubblegum Crisis 2032.

Why not? The Knight Sabers are cooler than the Sailor Scouts and Ill take a cool motorcyle riding ass kicking punk rock singer like Priscilla Asagiri over a whiny, annoying, immature Serena any day. I dont care that shes 14 like me. Shes freaking annoying and a crybaby.

I wonder what other anime are like 8 Man After. It was so hard-boiled and dystopian and futuristic.

What happens to 80s & 90s anime that arent streaming right now when VHS & DVD completely go away?

When laptops and videogame systems are discless?

Then what?

What happens when Crunchyroll, Netflix and Hulu dont want to pay to license some amazing anime that are hidden gems?

In 25 years, when very few VCRS and DVD players and video game systems and laptops that can play VHS tapes and discs are still in circulation and functioning, then what happens?

What their plan has been this whole time: we will only have access to watch what the streaming companies CHOOSE to pay the license for to stream.

We will lose everything else.

We'll lose Cybernetics Guardian, Genocyber, Twilight of the Dark Master, Robot Carnival, Vision of Escaflowne, Iria Zeiram, Armitage III, Saber Marionette J, Martian Successor Nadesico, 8 Man After, Lensman, Demon City Shinjuku, Fancy Lala, Tekknoman, Full Metal Panic...

Only the biggest hits, the most iconic series, the most controversial OVAs and movies will survive in the brand new streaming world devoid of any physical VHSs and DVDs.

Only the Akiras, Neon Genesis Evangelions, Urotsuki Dojis, Berserks, Gantzs, Sailor Moons, Dragon Ball Zs, Pokemons, Gundams, Bleaches, Narutos and Spirited Aways will survive to be streamed.

What about the Serial Experiments Lain?

What about the Nausicaa of the Valley Winds?

What about the Angel Sanctuarys?

What about the Please Save My Earths?

What about the Here is Greenwoods?

Will they be lost forever?

#anime #90s anime #80s anime #anime nostalgia #akira 1988 #ninja scroll #serial experiments lain #yu yu hakusho #perfect blue #masamune shirow #katsuhiro otomo #satoshi kon #gundam #vision of escaflowne #iria: zeiram the animation #robot carnival #bubblegum crisis #saber marionette j #martian successor nadesico #fushigi yuugi #8 man after #lensman #demon city shinjuku #armitage iii #orguss 02 #dangaioh #macross plus #twilight of the dark master #cybernetics guardian #genocyber

[brsb4hls]

Yes, Mobius saw Loki's whole life. And that doesn't creep anybody out?

I know it's presented as a good thing, but it's really fucking weird when you think about it.

And it gives Mobius an emotional advantage that he constantly abuses in season 1 by manipulating Loki.

Like, we exist in other people's minds the way they percieve us and usually that's via direct interaction.

And in direct interaction there are way more factors at play than if someone's just watching a video.

Also, there are always moments you just had with one person and not the other, or even moments were you've been by yourself.

Now would you want your partner to watch all of that on the big screen? Your whole life?

I dare you to say you want that kind of relationship.

There's even a 'Black Mirror' ep called 'The entire history of you' were people have memory implants and can rewatch everything they lived through and show it to others.

And it ruins relationships. Because in real life interactions we all percieve things differently from each other, sometimes psychological protection mechanisms kick in.

To rewatch and evaluate everything via neutral technology is actually a dystopian nightmare and not relationship goals.

I'm going to cross tag with the anti show tag for once, cause I want a broader opinion on this (although I'm not anti show, I just don't agree with some of their moral stances).

#loki #loki disney+ #anti loki series #anti lokius #mobius #mobius m mobius #black mirror

[cleabellanov]

Jet-Skiing through Identity: A Deep Dive into Mobius M. Mobius (final part)

"Part of the journey is the end" (Tony Stark in Avengers Endgame")

l find it so beautiful that this character managed to bring the Loki fandom so far with him 🧡

He didn't even have a popular background in the comics, we only got to know him because of the show. He started as a sidekick and comedic relief, an analyst with bright ideas that no one believed was going to work and a soft spot for broken things.

Then, he became a rebel breaking out from the organization that indoctrinated his whole life and the life of others. A fighter for free will. A lost man, never wanting to look or to know, but not so lost when he has the 1 he loves next to him.

And through all of it, a kind person, with a golden heart still speaking too loudly to be ignored - no matter what. And the sun still shines over that pulse, even if the rest of the world doesn't.

Let's dive into the last part of this series.

We get to meet Mobius's original self: Don, in "Science/Fiction". His joyous nature and opening to strangers makes you want to trust him. Don is basically a Mobius that never got to experience the horrors of the TVA. That is telling us how much of his character was restrained because of them, and how much was simply erased from memory. Even if his core self stayed, it had to stay very deep within, hidden, for Mobius not to get hurt by the TVA's rules.

A similarity between Don and Mobius is the deep care Don has for his loved ones: that's the thing motivating him in spite of risks. I also love how, even confused, Don seeks good. "Are you really my friend?" shows how, even if he doesn't understand this all, he knows it can be for the better. He even likes the sound of "Mobius" :

In the sixth and final episode, "Glorious Purpose", we get to some of my favorites quotes ever. And they're spoken by Mobius (i'll get to them in a minute)

Mobius has always been a weaver of details. But I want to point out how this web intensifies its strength when it comes to Loki. No one there noticed how there's something different going on but Mobius. Because, if to be loved is to be changed, to love is to change. And they both know that.

Then comes this epic conversation between Loki, who timeslips back to his first day at the TVA only to talk with Mobius. And it is this final conversation that makes the final piece of the puzzle for Loki. That's how important it is. Warning, tears were shed.

"Mobius, I need your help" "Well, I'm listening"

Even across the vast tapestry of time, the threads uniting Mobius to Loki never break. He'd only just met this variant, yet he's ready to listen, to help him despite every reason he shouldn't. Plus, this is more proof to the golden heart he listens to, of which I talked earlier.

Mobius then talks about how they don't choose at the TVA, the Time Keepers do. See how much of a person's unique way of being and thinking is repressed here if Mobius, who already shows to be open minded, gives this as an automatic response? Obviously it's a result of the constant indoctrination system that they live in, that wipes memories when things get inconvinient.

And the way he speaks this line:

Further backs up the argument that the TVA is a dystopian-totalitarian society, where even the slightest of emotions are suppressed. And it's not Mobius's fault that he had to do the same.

"Most purpose is more burden than glory"

To the Loki Mobius thinks he's talking to, this probably wouldn't mean much. But to season 2 Loki, it is everything, a hurtful summary for what he has been enduring for centuries.

And Mobius is right: he wasn't only talking to Loki when he said that line. I wonder how many of you reading this were searching for glory, only to find the burden that you have to bear instead. Then realize that it's better to bear the burden and have the purpose, then lose the purpose altogether. This is why it's one of my favorite lines: it references all the way back to Avengers 2012, and it gets right to your heart.

But how do you live with the burden? I have some things to say about Mobius's reply to this, too:

"Scar tissue"

So, in the end, it becomes part of you.

Similar to the Kintsugi art of mending objects, not by trying to hide what was broken, but by making those fissures part of the object's history.

And scar tissue, just like Kintsugi, is always stronger than it was before the deep injury healed. What Mobius is saying is, that even after choosing to bear the burden of preserving the Sacred Timeline, after all that hurt, it also made him stronger.

"She knew the hard thing to do was the thing that had to be done"

This is the final trigger, what made Loki "tick". Because, just as Mobius learned that from his past, Loki knows it is the last option he has in his future. And that is the hard thing to do. I don't think I "can bear to narrate what happens next".

"No, there's no comfort. You just choose your burden."

Little did he know he would, in fact, find comfort in Loki, and the other way around. But the burden had to be chosen in order for the purpose to be completed.

And we get to the end. There is no need for imagery for any of us since I know the final shots of the Loki series have been haunting us since November.

But there he is, free to do whatever he wants. He could take Sylvie's example and live his life, wander off from timeline to timeline now that all of them are safe. But he doesn't.

He just lets time pass.

Because, after all the development he went through, all the insight and glory he gained, he can't move on without Loki by his side. He probably didn't even realize how much he loves them before remaining all alone.

So he does the one thing he can, and knows best: he lets time pass. As if, when enough of it had gone by, he could start passing with time too. But not yet.

Part of the journey is the end. But isn't every end a new beginning?

#and there goes the jet skiing series I really hope you enjoyed #please read the whole thing I promise it's worth it #mobius m mobius #loki series #lokius #kintsugi #lana del rey #scar tissue #glorious purpose #tom hiddleston #owen wilson #mobius #mcu #marvel #character analysis #writers on tumblr #part of the journey is the end #tony stark #quotes #💛💚

[your-averagewriter]

Request rules.

I don't write smut but I will write steamy make-out scenes and all that.

I will write fem!character x fem!reader, male!character x fem!reader, male!reader x male!reader. All of it including gender neutral reader.

I also only really write x reader fics.

My Masterlist - What I've already written, I update when I post.

REQUESTS ARE CLOSED DUE TO HAVING LOTS OF REQUESTS!

- Thanks for the requests though! :)

Keep an eye on this as I add more characters as I watch more shows/movies!

People/characters I will write for:

DYSTOPIAN and ACTION:

- Hunger Games - Peeta Mellark, Katniss Everdeen, Haymitch Abernathy, Finnick Odair, Johanna Mason, Annie Cresta, Lucy Gray Baird, Sejanus Plinth.

- Maze Runner - Thomas, Newt, Gally, Minho.

- Kingsman - Harry Hart (Galahad), Gary "Eggsy" Unwin (Galahad), Hamish Mycroft (Merlin), Jack Daniels (Whiskey).

- Zombieland - Tallahassee, Columbus, Wichita.

- Luther - John Luther, Alice Morgan, Justin Ripley.

- Call of Duty - John Price, Simon "Ghost" Riley, John "Soap" MacTavish, König, Alejandro Vargas, Kyle "Gaz" Garrick, Kim "Horangi" Hong-jin, Valeria Garza, Keegan Russ.

- The Boys - Homelander, Starlight, Soldier Boy, Black Noir, Billy Butcher, Hughie Campbell, The Deep, Queen Maeve, A-Train, Translucent.

- Gen V - Marie Moreau, Emma Meyer, Jordan Li, Andre Anderson, Cate Dunlap, Luke Riordan and Sam Riordan.

- Fallout - Cooper Howard (pre and post Ghoul), Lucy MacLean, Maximus.

- The Walking Dead (I've only seen the first season so no spoilers please!!) - Rick Grimes, Glenn Rhee, Lori Grimes, Andrea

HORROR:

- Scream - Billy Loomis, Stu Macher, Dwight "Dewey" Riley, Randy Meeks, Richie Kirsch, Sam Carpenter, Tara Carpenter, Chad Meeks-Martin, Mindy Meeks-Martin, Ethan Landry.

- The Lost Boys - Michael Emerson, David, Star, Marko, Dwayne.

- What We Do in the Shadows - Nandor the Relentless, Laszlo Cravensworth, Nadja, Guillermo de la Cruz.

- Late Night with The Devil - Jack Delroy

- Renfield - R.M Renfield.

- A Quiet Place (1&2) - Lee Abbott, Evelyn Abbott, Emmett.

- The Boy - Brahms.

- Fight Club - Tyler Durden, The Narrator.

- Alien - Ripley, Dwayne Hicks, Hudson.

- Saw - Adam Faulkner-Stanheight, Amanda Young, Peter Strahm, Mark Hoffman.

- The Crow - Eric Draven.

- Midnight Mass - Sheriff Hassan, Father Paul, Riley Flynn.

MARVEL:

- MCU - Tom Holland!Peter Parker, Andrew Garfield!Peter Parker, Bruce Banner, Steve Rodgers, Tony Stark, T'Challa, Stephen Strange, Logan, Scott Lang, Wanda Maximoff, Clint Barton, Natasha Romanoff, Yelena Belova, Matt Murdock, Valkyrie, Carol Danvers, Peter Quill, Bucky Barnes, Phil Coulson, Gamora, Thor Odinson, Loki Laufeyson, James Rhodes, Pietro Maximoff, Druig, Sam Wilson, Shuri.

- Spiderverse - Hobie Brown, Miles Morales (both variations), Gwen Stacy, Miguel O'Hara, Pavitr Prabhakar, Peter B Parker, Spider Noir.

- X-Men and others (Deadpool etc) - Young!Charles Xavier, Young!Erik Lehnsherr, Nightcrawler, Jean Grey, Scott Summers, Nathan Summers, Wade Wilson.

DC:

- The Dark Knight Trilogy - Christian Bale!Bruce Wayne, Jonathon Crane.

- The Batman - Robert Pattinson!Bruce Wayne, Selina Kyle.

- Justice League - Diana Prince (Wonderwoman), Arthur Curry (Aquaman), Clark Kent (Superman).

- Gotham - David Mazouz!Bruce Wayne, Jerome Valeska, Jerimiah Valeska, Alfred Pennyworth, Jim Gordon, Selina Kyle, Ed Nygma, Barbara Kean, Oswald Cobblepot, Victor Zsasz, Harvey Bullock, Jonathon Crane, Jervis Tetch, Victor Fries.

The Suicide Squad - Jared Leto!Joker, Harley Quinn, Rick Flag, Chris Smith (Peacemaker), Robert DuBois (Bloodsport), Chato Santana (El Diablo).

ANIME:

- Attack on Titan - Eren Yeager, Levi Ackerman, Mikasa Ackerman, Armin Arlert, Jean Kirstein, Reiner Braun, Annie Leonhart, Sasha Braus, Erwin Smith, Miche Zacharius, Hitch Dreyse, Kenny Ackerman, Marco Bodt, Pieck Finger, Porco Galliard, Colt Grice, Bertholdt Hoover, Nicolo, Ymir, Zeke Yeager, Floch Forster.

- Demon Slayer - Giyu Tomioka, Mitsuri Kanroji, Obanai Iguro, Muichiro Tokito, Shinobu Kocho, Kyojuro Rengoku, Tengen Uzui, Kanao Tsuyuri, Tanjiro Kamado, Zenitsu Agatsuma, Inosuke Hashibira, Gyutaro, Daki, Enmu, Hinatsuru, Makio, Suma.

- Castlevania - Alucard, Sypha Belnades, Trevor Belmont, Carmilla, Lenore.

- Tokyo Ghoul - Ken Kaneki, Juuzou Suzuya, Touka Kirishima, Kuki Urie, Ayato Kirishima, Itori, Uta, Hideyoshi Nagachika.

- My Hero Academia - Shota Aizawa, Hizashi Yamada, Tenya Ida, Ochaco Uraraka, Denki Kaminari, Eijiro Kirishima, Kyoka Jiro, Hanta Sero, Shoto Todoroki, Katsuki Bakugo, Itsuka Kendo, Tamaki Amajiki, Hitoshi Shinso, Keigo Takami, Mirko, Dabi, Himiko Toga, Jin Bubaigawara.

- Obey me - Lucifer, Mammon, Levi, Satan, Asmodeus, Beelzebub, Belphegor, Diavolo, Barbatos, Simeon, Solomon.

- Haikyuu! - Daichi Sawamura, Kōshi Sugawara, Asahi Azumane, Tobio Kageyama, Tadashi Yamaguchi, Kiyoko Shimizu, Keishin Ukai, Tetsurō Kuroo, Kenma Kozume, Tōru Oikawa, Hajime Iwaizumi, Kōtarō Bokuto, Keiji Akaashi, Wakatoshi Ushijima, Satori Tendō, Yūji Terushima, Kiyoomi Sakusa, Atsumu Miya, Osamu Miya.

- Avatar the Last Airbender - Zuko, Katara, Sokka, Aang, Azula, Ty Lee.

- Avatar: Legend of Korra - Korra, Asami, Mako, Tenzin, Iroh.

MUSIC:

- Waterparks - Awsten Knight, Geoff Wigington, Otto Wood.

- My Chemical Romance - Gerard Way, Mikey Way, Ray Toro, Frank Iero, (all the killjoys).

- Pierce The Veil - Vic Fuentes, Tony Perry, Jaime Preciado.

- All Time Low - Alex Gaskarth, Rian Dawson, Zack Merrick.

- Ice Nine Kills - Spencer Charnas, Ricky Armellino, Patrick Galante, Joe Occhiuti, Dan Sugarman.

- Palaye Royale - Remington Leith, Emerson Barrett.

- Others - Oli Sykes, Ronnie Radke, Andy Hurley, Brandon Flowers, Chris Motionless, Kellin Quinn,, John O'Callaghan, Josh Franceschi, Lzzy Hale, Hayley Williams, William Beckett, Noah Sebastian, Will Ramos, Will Ghould, Dave Grohl, Vessel (Sleep Token).

- Metal Lords - Hunter, Kevin, Emily.

SCI-FI:

- The Sandman - Dream, Corinthian.

- Prey - Naru, Taabe.

- Stranger Things - Steve Harrington, Nancy Wheeler, Jonathon Byers, Max Mayfield, Robin Buckley, 001, Dimitri, Eddie Munson.

- Star Wars - Anakin Skywalker, Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Han Solo, Rey, Kylo Ren, Boba Fett, Poe Dameron, Din Djarin, Cal Kestis.

OTHERS:

- Barbie - Barbie, Ken.

- Monster High - Frankie Stein, Clawdeen Wolf, Cleo de Nile, Deuce Gorgon, Draculaura, Lagoona Blue, Abbey Bominable, Clawd Wolf, Gillington Webber, Heath Burns, Holt Hyde, Jackson Jekyll, Neighthan Rot, Operetta, Robecca Steam, Rochelle Goyle, Venus McFlytrap, Kieran Valentine, Porter Geiss.

- Euphoria - Rue Bennett, Jules Vaughn, Maddy Perez, Cassie Howard, Fezco, Lexi Howard, Nate Jacobs (nothing abusive).

- Wonka - Willy Wonka, Fickelgruber.

- Saltburn - Oliver Quick, Felix Catton, Farleigh Start, Venetia Catton.

-

I know that's quite a long list and if you want me to write for a character not on there then just ask :)

#masterlist #fanfiction #fanfic #x reader #x yn #marvel #dc #star wars #stranger things #attack on titan #castlevania #avatar the last airbender #waterparks #my chemical romance #emo bands #sandman #prey #predator #obey me #haikyuu #x you #kingsman #hunger games #maze runner #spiderverse #x y/n #writing #oneshots #what we do in the shadows #wwdits

[rauchendesgnu]

Seven Sentence Sunday (except that it's not Sunday, and it's also more than seven sentences)

Got tagged by @loki-is-my-kink-awakening, but I always forget participating, so here we are, a little late.

heh.

Anyway, here's some stuff I've been working on for a Magnus Archives dystopian future AU (which may or may not be loosely inspired by Ulysses Dies At Dawn):

“Gertrude was a mistake,” he says. “She was curious, yes, and hungry for knowledge, but she was stubborn, too. It’s a pity, really. I had so much hope for her. She held so much potential, back in the beginning.” Simon cocks his head. “How long’s it been? Fifty years?” “I’m nothing if not patient,” says Jonah and smooths a hand down his tie which doesn’t need smoothing. It’s a bad habit that he somehow has not gotten rid off yet. “But I can assure you, I have analysed the data we got from Gertrude, and I have tweaked the variables. This time, it will work, and it won’t take another fifty years.” “My, Jonah, you’ve got me curious now. Do you already have a candidate?”

#tma #tma fanfic #my writing #seven sentence sunday #hah #tma spoilers #jonah magnus #elias bouchard #simon fairchild #guess who's the candidate #the magnus archives fanfiction #tma dystopian au #ulysses dies at dawn #the mechanisms #snippet #endgame jonmartin #probably slowburn #i'm only 4k in i don't know

[darkmasterlistyouneveraskedfor]

Drabbles

Random/One Offs

2022 Drabbles (multi fandom collection)

Wherever You Will Go (Andy Barber, Defending Jacob)

Not All That Glitters (Thor, Celebrity AU)

Professional Discretion (Steve Rogers, MCU, Boss AU)

Behind the Scenes (Bucky Barnes, MCU, Celebrity AU)

Dirty Little Secret (Lee Bodecker, The Devil All The Time)

What Did I Say? (Lloyd Hansen, The Gray Man)

Make You Feel My Love (Bucky Barnes, MCU)

Paradigm Shift (August Walker)

Let’s Have A Picnic (Lloyd Hansen)

Song Lyric Drabble Requests

Series

Home Sweet Home (Clark Kent)

Forbidden Lessons (Professor Loki, Professor Bucky Barnes, MCU)

Safe House (Sierra Six, Lloyd Hansen, The Grey Man)

Sweet Tooth (Thor, MCU, Sugar Daddy AU)

Sweet Treats AU (MCU, multiple characters + multiple reader)

Sweet Treat Epilogues (multifandom, multiple characters + multiple reader)

Wallflower (Thor, MCU, silverfox AU)

Unsolicited (Lloyd Hansen, The Gray Man)

Unexpected (Lloyd Hansen, The Gray Man)

The Bookstore (Jorah Mormont, Game of Thrones, AU)

The Happy Couple (Bucky Barnes, MCU, mob AU)

Resistance (Bucky Barnes, MCU, Dystopian AU)

One (Steve Rogers)

Drawn Together (Steve Rogers)

Hide and Seek (Steve Rogers & Bucky Barnes)

#drabble #series #one shots #dark! #thor #jorah mormont #lloyd hansen #loki #peter parker #steve rogers #bucky barnes #tony stark #sam wilson #clark kent #sierra six

[inkwolvesandcoffee]

TH Characters as Writers

TH Masterlist

Tag list: @buttercup32sstuff @potter-solomons​ @zablife​ @ilovemanypeople​ @vir-tual​ @liliac-dreamer​ @alikaheroes

I was inspired by @hecatemoon87​‘s TH Characters as series and oddly, in particular, her Tom Hardy characters as vampires post. So... let’s just say some writers have a side they keep hidden.

Now, I might one day write individual little pieces for each of these or perhaps a whole fic (because we all know I struggle with doing one-shots). However, for now, this is what I came up with.

James Delaney ‘The Devil in the Shadows’

Genres: Mysticism & Horror

Possessing a taste for cruelty and rumoured to be a vampire, James has everyone (publishers, agents, fans) quaking in their boots. The fact he seems to know an awful lot about what’s generally seen as ‘savage’ and ‘dark magick’ only feeds his image in the public eye.

His writing style is reminiscent of Edgar Allan Poe and the dark Gothic genre, the stories often set in the shadows of the Victorian era. They feel so life-like you’d think he’d actually experienced his own stories, but surely he’s just done a lot of research and done it very well.

Right?

James is very closed off from the public and strays away from social media. Any account on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or whatever other platform claiming to be him is fake. The only person he ‘talks’ (in his own way) to and occasionally gets him out of the house is his neighbour. She’s his proofreader and grateful for him escorting her to and from work (she’s supporting herself by working a waitress and singer on Friday nights), but the relationship remains difficult because she can’t get a read on him. He supports her small business and often can be found in her vicinity.

If you saw the both of them and read between the lines of his novel Taboo, you’d notice the female protagonist is eerily similar to her while the character’s counterpart resembles him.

Alfie Solomons ‘The Secret Romantic’

Genre: Romance

Alfie works under the pen name Edna Spector to prevent the men working at his bakery from finding out about his hidden side. The only one who knows the real face behind the name on the covers is a young female barista who works at a café he’s fond of, close to his bakery. It’s also with her he exchanges books and sometimes goes bookshop hopping. Totally not dating her, no, not at all.

Or are they?

Though he might not show it and the novels by other writers are carefully stowed away in his home, but Alfie is an absolute sucker for bakery love stories. So it’s no wonder the majority of his are exactly what he loves and they tend to have a very smutty side. No one’s complaining, though.

Reggie & Ron Kray ‘The Twin Menaces’

Genres: True crime & biography

The Kray twins are among the most famous (or, rather, infamous) co-authors in the publishing industry. They’ve made good money with their biography and now also write books to offer an insight into England’s underworld. It’s rumoured Ron still partakes in what goes on in the shadows, but Reggie claims they’ve both gone fully legal.

Eames ‘The Gentleman’

Genres: Dystopia & Sci-fi

No one but his publishing house and agent know his true identity. Described as Loki incarnate, Eames is THE gentleman among British writers. While his charm has influenced the acceptance of his manuscripts, it’s still mostly his natural talent for the pen that’s made him come this far.

Underlined by realism, Eames’s stories take place in a more dystopian version of our world and explores the possibilities of technology. His debut novel, Inception, is still a bestseller to this day.

Eddie Brock ‘The Vigilante’

Genre: Non-Fiction

Eddie is a journalist gone author who writes about current affairs. More often than not, his books border on true crime and have led to the downfall of some powerful people and companies. Therefore, it isn’t surprising each new release causes at least some controversy and leads to a heated debate.

He has the odd tendency to talk to himself, but most people write it off as a ‘writer thing’ and think he’s simply thinking out loud or talking through scenarios for his book.

A little known fact about Eddie is that he’s secretly a fan of fluffy romance and especially Edna Spector’s. As soon as a new book by the author is up for pre-order, he’s one of the first to place an order. Now, he could do it himself, using his laptop. However, Eddie visits the independently run bookshop he frequents to support its owner (on who he secretly has a crush). It’s also here where he can often be found working on a new book, sitting in the romance section, or, if it’s Monday, helping out with the weekly shipment.

Leo Demidov ‘The Brooding Lion’

Genre: Thriller

Leo is an ex-KGB agent who uses his own experiences for his detective/spy series, which is set in the country he once called home. After losing his wife to the Russian regime, the widower fled from Russia. The decision was also in part due to his unwillingness to partake in the war with Ukraine.

The British stiff upper lip is easier to break through than the walls Leo has erected around himself. The only person or, rather, thing who knows him best is his keyboard. Sounds strange, but he bought one that’s like a typewriter since it reminds him of his grandfather’s typewriter he used to use to write letters. Although, perhaps there’s one person he occasionally shows what lies beneath the cold and distant attitude: his agent. And she’s known him long enough to pick up on the hidden hints of distress between the lines of his stories.

He has co-written a book with the Kray Twins about the ties between Russia, the Russian underworld and the English criminal underbelly.

Bob Saginowski ‘The Storyteller’

Genre: Urban fantasy

Bob bases his stories on what happens during his shifts at the pub he works at as a barman. To think of it, it was only a matter of time before he’d turn to writing because he certainly has the classic ‘writer personality’. He’s a bit of a dreamer, shy, and quiet. However, he tends to be chatty when he drops by his favourite café for breakfast after a late-night shift or is hungover. Although, it should be noted he’s only like that when a particular girl is at work. She’s the only person he’s fond of in a way he’s never been of anyone else and it leaves him puzzled. All that he knows is that he enjoys her company and values her feedback. Also, in his words, she smells nice. Really, really nice.

His most popular book is about Tom, a werewolf barman who saves the girl he has a crush on from a Victorian vampire. It’s rumoured a spin-off is in the works focusing on the relationship between the two.

By the way, has anyone else noticed he isn’t on duty when there’s a full moon?

Forrest Bondurant ‘The Writing Husband’

Genre: Adventure

Forrest isn’t good with words, that is, when it comes to talking. However, on the page, he has a natural flow in which each word is chosen with purpose. So it seems anyways, but if you’d ask him about his style and vocabulary choices you’ll get nothing more than a shrug and a “I write, that’s all there is to it.”

His main inspirations are Defoe’s Robin Crusoe, Henri Charriére’s Papillon and Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness (also a source of inspiration for James Delaney). Henceforth, his protagonists often find themselves out in the wild with all the dangers it accompanies. Moreover, and only his wife knows how unashamed he is in this, he loves the Indiana Jones, Assassin’s Creed and Uncharted franchises so there’s often the hunt for some lost artefact in his tales. Also, yes, he loves video games. He might not be good at them, but nothing beats a night filled with beer and gaming (preferably with his wife).

Two little treasures I found;

#Tom Hardy #Facepuller #Alfie Solomons #Eddie Brock #Reggie Kray #James Delaney #Eames #Forrest Bondurant #Ron Kray #Bob Saginowski #Leo Demidov

[queen-of-meows]

WIP Folder Tag Game

Thank you @insert-witty-user-name-here and @dewdropreader for tagging me.

I don't really have a WIP folder because I'm living precariously from update to update, but I have a few ideas I would really love to make happen one day.

In order of priority (more or less)

The Little Bard's Tale : a illustrated story project centered around my OC Bard Loki. It's mostly a slice of life story about the young Loki Variant, from their lonely survival in the Void to their encounter with Sylvie and the other Lokis.

A Blade Runner AU : This will be part of a server event later in 2024. In a dystopian future, Odin is the CEO of a tech company. When his younger son Loki becomes ill, he order a Replicant to preserve his wife from the death of her child. But Loki gets better and Odin abandons the little boy. Years later, an adult Loki is struggling to find his place at the company. One night, a mysterious woman tries to assasinate him, claiming he "stole her life".

A 3 chapter story about Sylvie and her family : Sylvie reunited with her family who welcomes her warmly. Everything seems fine and hopeful, but when Loki is invited to meet them, he immediately feels something is very wrong with Sylvie's parents. He tries to warn Sylvie but she refuses to listen and gets angry. But it turns out Loki was right and Sylvie's New Asgard is not the progressist paradise it claims to be.

Adolescence of Nathaniel Richards : Nathaniel Richards, 16, is already moving to the pretigious Baxter Fundation College to study Quantic Theory and Astrophysics. For the young boy, gifted son of a distant billionaire father, the stakes are huge. But he decides to follow the advice of the nice McDonald's waitress and join the comics and anime club ran by Loki, the green haired kids with pronoums your uncle warned you about, and their goth girlfriend Rebecca. But when a man who claims to be his older self tries to kill him, things quickly go wild for Nathaniel.

Cat girl Sylvie AU : Prince Loki of Asgard is not the strongest warrior, but he hopes his knowledge of Seidr will make his father proud. The young man doesn't really get along with poeple of his age and prefers the company of animals. One night, he finds a wounded cat and brings it to his room. Before going to bed, he gives it a kiss on the forehead (just between the ears, where cats are meant to be kissed). The next morning, he wakes up next to a beautiful woman (also completely naked). When she wakes up, she hisses at him and realises with panic that her tongue has become smooth and all her beautiful fur is gone. For Loki, it doesn't make sense, a kiss never turned an animal into a person. Together, they decide to investigate and find a way to turn Sylvie back into a cat.