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raindancer2004 · 3 years

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Blended Family

Word Count: 3,199 Demetri x OC - Part Four Warnings: Fluff, Angst, Language

“Hi Sophie I’m Felix. It’s nice to finally meet you…finally” Felix gave her a big smile “Ahh the best friend…it’s nice to meet you too” She replied smiling “This is Ellie” Nico added smiling sitting on his bed with Ellie “You’re right she’s tiny” Felix chuckled “It’s because she’s human dumbass” Jane said to Felix as she took a seat beside Nico and Ellie on the bed “Language please. There are children in the room” Sophie chided gently. Demetri reassembled Ellie’s crib whilst Jane helped Sophie to unpack hers and Ellie’s stuff. Nico read to Ellie to keep her occupied.

That night once Nico and Ellie were in bed Demetri sat Sophie down on the sofa “Sophie we need to talk” “That doesn’t sound good Dem” Sophie looked a little shocked and moved away from him “No, no Sophie. It’s nothing like that, I promise” He quickly reassured her and pulled her into him “I wanted to tell you about the reason for my trip away last weekend…because it wasn’t for work” “Oh…ok, so it was a personal trip” She replied and he tightened his hold on her a little “I meant what I said in the week, I love you and I will always protect you and our children and in order to do this I needed to deal with a ‘problem’…” “What problem was that Dem?” She asked cutting him off and he took an unneeded breath before answering “I wasn’t able to protect you when you needed protecting the most…” Sophie placed a hand on his cheek “Dem we’ve been over this…” “I know that I didn’t know you then but it was hard for me to hear that you experienced something like that and that you no longer felt safe. I mean you moved to the other side of the world because of it and part of me is happy you moved here as I finally got to meet my mate…but the other part of me is angry…” “I know how you feel Dem because I feel the same. I mean I hated being in Seattle after that night, it’s why I moved because I didn’t feel safe there…but moving here meant I found you and I want you to know I feel safe with you, even if I am in a castle full of vampires” She couldn’t help chuckling at the last part and he smiled at her “I’m really happy to hear you feel safe with me and I’m hoping that what I tell you next doesn’t change that” He took another unneeded breath “Last weekend I tracked down and killed the human that harmed you” “H-how? I-I don’t even know who he is…was” She was shocked, curious at how Demetri had found him.

“The night you told me about what happened I held you in my arms whilst you slept…and I had a look through your mind and found the tenor of that human and with the help of Felix and the twins I ended his life. The kings are aware of the reason for my trip…” “They know what happened to me?” “No. No, I didn’t tell them directly, but I told them enough for them to fill in the blanks…I told them I needed you to feel safe and for that to happen a human needed to be dealt with. They agreed I could do that as long as I covered my tracks” “Oh. So, you just k-killed…him” Her voice was low and shaky “I won’t tell you the details, but he is dead” “I-I want to you to answer m-my next question honestly, ok?” Demetri nodded unsure if he liked where this was going “D-did he suffer?” “Yes” “Tell me…please” She asked low “Jane made me promise to allow her to ‘play’ with the human before I killed him so she and her brother used their gifts on him. When they were done, Felix held him down and I broke his hands and ribs whilst Alec broke his feet and then Felix broke his arms. After most of his bones were broken and he was screaming from the pain…I snapped his neck” “Wow. Y-you did that for me?” “Yes. I won’t lie to you though cara but I also did it for me. I feel better, calmer now that he is dead; knowing that he is no longer a risk to you or anyone else” “Thank you for doing that for me...for us” She leant forward and kissed him “I love you Dem, so much” He kissed her back “I love you too, more than you know.” He held her in his arms that night as she slept, happy knowing that she understood his reasons for killing that human.

Demetri, Felix and the twins had been away on a week-long mission and were due back any day now. Nico had spent some time in the south facing garden with Chelsea and Heidi whilst Sophie tried to catch up on some sleep whilst Ellie was napping, having been up most of the night before due to Ellie teething. After an hour Heidi left Nico in the garden with Chelsea as she had to finalise the numbers for the upcoming ‘tour,’ passing Afton on her way into the castle. A little while later Nico came running into Demetri and Sophie’s shared room crying and climbed into bed beside Sophie, who woke up instantly “Oh sweetie, what’s wrong?” She asked softly “Af-Aton said I-I was a mistake…th-that Daddy did-didn’t…want me” He sobbed and she pulled him into her, wrapping her arms around him “Don’t listen to Afton, you were not a mistake sweetie” “B-but Daddy didn’t love her…not like he loves you” Sophie knew who Nico meant “Daddy may not have loved her but he did care for her…she passed away after you were born and he called Auntie Heidi, who took care of her whilst he took care of you” “R-really?” “Yes, sweetie, Daddy told me about the night you born and how happy he was when he found out that he had a son, especially as he never thought he’d get to be a Dad once he became a vampire” Nico lifted his head a little and Sophie wiped away his tears with her thumbs “Are you ok?” She asked softly and he shook his head “Af-Afton also said th-that although y-you’re with Daddy…y-you aren’t my-my mummy and…and you don’t r-really care for me” “Look at me sweetie” She gently cupped his face in her hands, her thumbs brushing away his tears “I may not have given birth to you but you are my son and I am your mummy” “Re-really?” “Yes, as far as I am concerned, I have two children and I love you both very much and that will never change” “I love you too mummy” Nico replied through his tears and Sophie’s heart swelled at hearing him call her that for the first time; she wrapped her arms around him again and held him close, both falling asleep shortly afterwards.

Unbeknown to Sophie and Nico Demetri, Felix and the twins had returned to the castle and were at the bottom of the stairs that led up the elite guard floor when they heard Sophie and Nico talking, they didn’t move, instead choosing to listen to their conversation “I’m going to kill him” Demetri growled low, turning around on the stairs “Later D” Felix said grabbing his arm “Go shower and spend time with Sophie and the kids. Afton will be still about tomorrow” Demetri growled “He’s right, leave him be for today, get your revenge during the training session tomorrow. You can rip him apart without getting into trouble” Alec said, his lips pulling into a wicked grin “As long you leave enough pieces for him to be reassembled” Jane added and Demetri nodded “Fine…but during training his ass is mine” Demetri growled and walked into his room ready to take a shower.

Once Demetri had showered, he crossed the hall into the Nico and Ellie’s shared room and carefully lifted Ellie from her crib and cradled her in his arms breathing in her scent before crossing the hall back to his and Sophie’s shared room. He closed the door softly, locking it and walked over to the bed; he carefully climbed in and readjusted Ellie so her chest was against his and held her whilst she slept. He looked down at his sleeping mate and children and smiled ‘my beautiful family’ he thought to himself and closed his eyes relaxing knowing they were safe with him.

Later that evening Sophie saw Afton on her way to the kitchen with Nico and saw red “Hey asshole, we need to talk” “Who me?” Afton looked shocked as Sophie approached him “Yes you! How dare you tell Nico he was a mistake and that he wasn’t wanted?!” Sophie shouted “How dare you tell Nico that I’m NOT HIS MUM?” Afton visibly flinched “I-I d-did…” Afton struggled to put a response together “Lost for words, are we? Huh” Afton didn’t answer “You had plenty to say to MY SON earlier. Why so quiet now?” “Erm…I…uh” Afton stuttered “He is just a child for god sake! He’s MY child!” She pointed at Nico “You’re lucky Dem isn’t here because he’d rip your BLOODY HEAD OFF for what you’ve done” Sophie didn’t bother to control her anger “OOOH I just wanna smack you so hard…” She trailed off and watched as Heidi slapped Afton “Allow me Sophie” Nico stood there surprised with his mouth open slightly watching Sophie verbally attack Afton and Santiago didn’t bother to hide his smirk as he watched Demetri’s human mate confront Afton “I’m surprised Demetri hasn’t heard the commotion” Santiago said low to Heidi “I know it’s drawn a lot of attention” Renata added as she approached them “Stay away from MY SON! In fact, stay away from MY FAMILY!” She screamed at him still furious and he nodded nervously at her “Demetri will hear of your stunt” She added as she took Nico’s hand back in hers and continued towards the kitchen “Remind me to never piss her off” Santiago mused still smiling, the other vampires nodded in agreement “That’s what happens when you piss off a mother because they will defend their children always” Renata told them.

Heidi made her way back to her room but made a detour to tell Demetri what happened between Sophie and Afton “What was all that shouting about? It woke Ellie” Demetri asked Heidi as he cradled Ellie in his arms, trying to get her back to sleep “Sophie gave Afton a dressing down because of what he said to Nico earlier” “What? She did what?” Demetri was shocked “She saw him on her way to the kitchen with Nico and was like ‘hey asshole, we need to talk’ and Afton looked shocked at being shouted at by your human” Demetri felt proud of Sophie for defending his…no their son but wished he’d been there in case she needed him. “Did he defend or try to justify his actions?” “No, he didn’t. He was too shocked and couldn’t string a sentence together. She’s told him to stay away from her family, but the best part though was when she told him that he’s lucky you weren’t there as you would’ve ripped his head off and that you’ll hear of his stunt before she walked off with Nico” Heidi replied “I already know what Afton did as I heard Nico tell Sophie as I made my way to our room after being away and was ready to kill him then and there but Felix and the twins said to wait till training tomorrow when I can rip his limbs off without consequences” Demetri said and Heidi nodded “You should know that Santiago and the others were impressed with Sophie and are slightly scared of her when she’s pissed off” Demetri chuckled “I’ve never seen that side of her but I’m proud of her for defending our son and trust me Heidi, Afton will get his ass handed to him tomorrow because no one upsets or hurts my family and gets away with it.”

The following day during the training session held by Demetri and Felix Afton found himself on the wrong side of the usually calm tracker and left the session with dismembered limbs and a threat from Demetri “You ever go near my family again and you will lose your head! Do you understand?” Afton nodded and carried from the training room by some of the transitory guards.

When Ellie learnt to crawl a few weeks later it freaked Demetri out as she moved around the floor so quickly and he wondered how long her development stages would last “Sophie how long do human babies crawl about for?” Demetri asked curious “She’ll be crawling about for a few months before she starts walking, why’d you ask?” “Nico crawled for two days before he just got up and walked” He replied “Huh. I got the short straw when it came to having a baby” Sophie responded low but Demetri heard her and chuckled “I’m looking forward to raising Ellie with you. We get to enjoy these stages of her development longer than we do with Nico” He kissed her temple as he wrapped his arms around her “I know that babe, it’s just she’s older than him and…” “You can’t help comparing the two of them” She nodded “Don’t compare them. It isn’t fair seeing as one is a human / vampire hybrid and the other is 100% human…for now” He replied and Sophie raised an eyebrow “When Ellie is older, all grown up I plan on turning her so she’ll be 100% vampire like her parents” He kissed her lips “You plan on keeping me and Ellie here forever then?” She asked, her tone teasing “Yes. Now I have you both here…you’re never leaving. You’re mine” He growled low and pressed his fangs gently to her throat pretending to bite her and he felt her pulse spike; he smiled against her skin before leaving open-mouthed kisses along her throat.

“I believe this belongs to you two” Felix says as he enters Demetri and Sophie’s shared room with Ellie in his arms “I think a little less seducing and little more baby watching is needed…hmm” He adds; Demetri growls at his friend as Sophie blushes a little “Thank you Felix. I think we need to get a baby gate for our door…” “Or we could just keep it closed” Demetri cut Sophie off as he glared at Felix “Daddy why are you looking at Felix like that?” Nico asked as he entered the room with Jane following behind “I interrupted mummy and daddy having a…” “Felix” Demetri growled “Daddy and I were…talking and didn’t notice Ellie had crawled out into the corridor and uncle Felix bought her back. However, he has been teasing daddy about being distracted ever since” Sophie explained “Oh ok. I thought Uncle Felix may have upset you or daddy” Nico replied “I think Felix is starting to upset daddy now, so why don’t you come back to my room and we’ll take Ellie too” Jane said taking Ellie from Demetri as she and Nico left the room “Thank you Jane” Sophie called out “You’re welcome” Jane called back. Felix turned and left the room “I’ll just close this shall I?” He asked not bothering to hide his smirk and Demetri growled at him again.

Demetri and Sophie spent a few hours together cuddled on the sofa watching a movie on the television that Sophie bought with her when she and Ellie moved into the castle “After centuries of reading of an evening, it’s nice to have something else to do” Demetri said softly “You make yourself sound so old” Sophie responded laughing “I am old Sophie” “Well you don’t look it babe and I’m glad I could introduce to the world of TV and movies” She lifted her head from his chest and kissed his lips softly, earning a purr from him “Have I ever told you that I love it when you do that?” She smiled and kissed him again “No, mi amore you haven’t” He replied before purring again “I love it when you purr” She said low and snuggled back into his chest listening to him purring, a smile etched on his face.

Sophie wanted to take her relationship with Demetri further but was nervous and a little embarrassed due to her inexperience, so she decided to speak to Heidi. She found Heidi in her room “Hello Heidi, can I speak to you…privately, please?” She asked nervously “Of course hunny. Come in” Heidi replied closing her door. They took seat on the sofa facing the fireplace “What did you want to talk to me about?” Sophie took a deep breath before answering low “I want to take things further with Dem but I-I don’t know how” Heidi heard her clearly thanks to her vampire hearing “Not to point out the obvious Sophie but you have a baby so surely you know something about the topic” Sophie realised then that Demetri hadn’t mentioned anything to Heidi about the night Ellie was conceived “Erm…yea…no I-I…god this is so awkward” Heidi took Sophie’s hands in hers, sensing she was nervous “There’s something you should know…regarding Ellie” Heidi remained quiet, just nodding for her to continue “My first and only sexual experience wasn’t consensual…” Tears filled her eyes “Oh Sophie…I’m so sorry” Heidi wrapped her arms around her “Does Dem know?” Heidi asked “Y-Yes, he knows. He, Felix and the twins tracked him down, before torturing and killing him a few weeks back” Sophie replied “Ok…that’s one way to deal with the situation I suppose. Speak to him about how you are feeling and he will take things slowly with you” Heidi responded loosening her hold on Sophie

“He has been nothing but a gentleman Heidi, he’s a great guy. I couldn’t ask for anyone better to be my mate or to be Ellie’s dad. I just don’t know how to let him know that I want our relationship to become more intimate” Heidi smiled at her “There are a few things you can do hunny. You could buy some new lingerie and wear it for him, just ensure you won’t be interrupted by the kids” Heidi chuckled before continuing “You could invite him to share a shower or a bubble bath with you; things could get interesting especially if you wash one another. Or the next time the two of you are either cuddling on the sofa or in bed, run your hand over him until you reach his crotch, then cup it and gently squeeze while kissing him. He’ll get the hint and things should progress naturally from there” Sophie felt her cheeks heat a little “Thank you for the advice Heidi” “You’re welcome hunny. If you want company when you go shopping for lingerie just let me know” “I will thank you. I best get back before Ellie wakes from her nap.” Sophie’s talk with Heidi definitely gave her plenty to think about.

#demetri volturi #felix volturi #jane volturi #alec volturi #marcus volturi #aro volturi #caius volturi #heidi volturi #chelsea volturi #volturi #twilight

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sneezefiction · 4 years

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coffee n’ conversations

Atsumu x Reader - Scenario

event request: “Congrats on 600!!! You deserve it so much I love your blog 🥺 May I request 5 [”Please don’t go.”] w/ Tsum tsum ty”

a/n: mm because this prompt got angsty last time, i decided to go all out fluff for Atsumu. the guy just needs caffeine. and you. that’s it.

warnings: slight language

wc: 1380

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Coffee excursions have always been Atsumu’s thing.

He needed it to survive.

Maybe it’s 5am after a chilly morning run just as the sun is peaking over the horizon. Or it could be 2 am, convincing his eyes to stay open as he attempts to finish a shitty finals paper while slowly sipping on a bitter black coffee to get him through the night.

But whatever the matter is, he always finds a way to have a coffee wedged between his fingers, warming him up from the outside in.

Atsumu without energy is like a badly-written, teen angst novel. Tired, irritable, and slow. The sharp, chocolatey tang and the much-needed energy boost, keeps him from collapsing into a soggy, frustrated pile of mush. It was a life and grade saver.

To Atsumu, coffee is delicious when enjoyed in solitude or socially...

But with you? Coffee adventures are a tad different.

Their purpose? A little more personal. The caffeine? For more than just a buzz.

And, in true Atsumu fashion, these coffee dates somehow end up in the evening, walking down a streetlamp lit sidewalk with a to-go cup in hand or snuggled under piles of blankets at his place. Ever since you started dating him, he’s been screwing over your sleep schedule in more ways than one. But surprisingly, this might be your favorite way.

It didn’t matter how tired you both already were, on the weekends, a coffee date always ensued after your initial date ended.

The words would always trickle out,

“Please don’t go, yet. I’ll buy you a coffee if ya stay.” He flashes you a grin, eyes shining with his utmost charm on display.

“’Tsumu… I’ve got work in the morning.” You sigh, brushing his hair off of his forehead only to watch it fall right back into place, every strand faintly lit up by glowing street lamps.

“C’monnn, babe, please. I know ya wanna...” He leans in towards your face, his breath tickling your ear, but you just hum in response. Ignoring his advances was always a little fun. He was easy to rile up.

Cue a sigh of frustration from the blonde, “We can head back to my place after.” He entices, slithering a sneaky arm around your waist, tickling you and causing you to tuck into his side.

You playfully swat at his arm with your free hand and drop your head in resignation, accepting the fact that you were bound to forever be exhausted and simultaneously riding a caffeine high. But how could you say no? He could get you flustered and excited about practically anything with that affectionately mischievous smile.

Minutes later, you find yourself hand-in-hand with the brown-eyed blondie. Your other hand grasps a hot, milky cappuccino.

The proximity of his house to the coffee shop makes the walk back short and pleasant.

This portion of your late-night coffee routine was always especially quiet. The silences allows for your footsteps to echo as the two of you make your way up the concrete stairway to his apartment.

You’re both greeted by his familiar entrance area, kicking off shoes and removing jackets. Gentle shadows vanish after a soft light is switched on and you shuffle over to the couch with your drink in hand. ‘Tsumu follows promptly, plopping onto the opposite side of the couch, but tangling his long legs with yours. But as soon as your soft eyes meet his lively ones, the words begin to flow out of your mouths like a gentle stream.

It’s an unpacking of sorts. From your relationship, to current memes, to trying to convince him to change his hair color… It;s endless and unbridled and cushioned with promises of cuddles, giggles, and sips of coffee. Your conversations are full of running gags and familiar topics. Topics and jokes that then set the tone for deeper, more serious conversations.

“Y/n, if ya coulda gone back and chosen between me and ‘Samu, who would ya really be datin’ right now?” He smirks whilst grabbing your calve and squeezing it a little, prompting this question for what must be the 10th time in the past year.

You shoot him a playful look, your eyes squinting in mock deliberation as you take another sip from the open-topped coffee cup, the foam catching on your lip. Atsumu notices and sits up, reaching across the couch to wipe it away with his thumb, giving you slight smirk.

Instead of moving back to his initial position, he grabs the cup from your hand and places it on a wooden side table. You don’t fight him over it - this is clearly an important question to him. Atsumu then lays across you, snuggling into your chest and letting you pet his hair like a needy puppy.

“I dunno ‘Tsumu… what do you think?” You prod, knowing that this is a far more sensitive topic to him than he’ll ever let on.

He gives you an exasperated sigh.

“I asked ya first, dumbass. That’s not how these conversations work, stupid.” He tucks his head into the crook of your neck, pressing a soft kiss there.

If your coffee had been mixed with a little bit of alcohol, your answer might’ve been teasing. Less thought out - he would receive an answer that could only feed into his insecurities...

But having a clear mind could be good sometimes. Especially when it came down to the twins and your relationship with them.

The three of you had been close for many years, so you’d had crushes on both of them at one time or another. But late into your college years, you realized that you and Sumu fit perfectly together. And it may have also helped that he actually liked you back.

You needed the sense of adventure he brought to the table. To banter back and forth with flirty comments, battling to become the snarkier lover. And of course, you loved that dating him meant more of these iconic coffee outings.

But Atsumu heard about your high school crush on Osamu much later into your relationship. And it shouldn’t have bothered him that you’d been crushing on his brother. That was years ago when hormones and the pressure to date was at an all-time high. Completely in the past.

But you knew it nagged at him. The frequency of the question being the telltale sign.

So you lean your head down, kissing his hair, relishing the way it tickled your nose and chin. Then you grace him with a contented sigh, ruffling the strands, sinking him deeper into the already comfortable position.

“Sumu, you’re my favorite, alright?” You feel him smile against your collarbone and small grin forms on your face. “Is that what you wanted to hear?” You tease.

He rolls his eyes but responds honestly.

“Ya know me so well. Why don’tcha go ahead n’ say it again, y/n?” He presses another kiss, this time to your bare shoulder.

“Mm, yeah, you’re my favorite person…” You hum, brushing a hand down his back.

“And so handsome. Your jawline? Babe, it’s so perfect. I’m kinda jealous actually.”

He won’t admit it, but your compliments get him flustered. Sumu’s just grateful that he doesn’t blush easily. So he stays quiet, soaking in your sweetness.

“The way you look after a match? I’m always like… damn, that’s my boyfriend.” You stroke his back and his ego.

“You’re definitely my boy.” You murmur while planting a kiss on his forehead, hugging his head.

“But it’s not your looks I’m after, babe.” It’s quiet, but the way your voice carries those words feels heavier than any other comment.

“Because if that were true, I probably could have settled for Samu…”

You pause, looking him directly in the eye. You gaze is gentle, but steady.

“But you? Yeah. You’re the one for me.”

You want to laugh at how soppy you sound. You’re pretty much the epitome of ‘sickeningly sweet.’

But that’s just where these discussions lead. And you both go with the flow.

Coffee is just another gateway to rare, beautiful moments with Atsumu. His filter on the deeper, more personal topics is removed and you’re opened up to green lush worlds of conversation and star-speckled galaxies of thought.

To think there was a time you’d summed him up as a shallow asshole.

Well… sometimes he still is.

But that doesn’t matter, because it’s you that he shows the puzzle pieces of his mind to. And he loves to decipher yours as well. These coffee fueled moments are the least chaotic of your interactions. They’re the calmest. The snuggliest.

And it’s still Atsumu. In all of his glory.

“Thanks for always stayin’, y/n. I don’t know what I’d do without ya.” He says sleepily, sinking deeper into your chest as the buzz finally wearing off in the four o’ clock hour.

“Well, if you keep supplying the coffee, I won’t be going anywhere, cutie.”

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tags: @cherryonigiri, @yams046, @miss-rin, @shou-kunn, @senkuwu-chan, @super-noya, @stcrryskies, @holaaaf

(comment or send an ask to be added to my general tag list)

#haikyuu #atsumu x reader #atsumu miya #atsumu #haikyuu fluff #atsumu fluff #hq #hq scenarios #hq imagines #hq headcanons #haikyuu scenarios #haikyuu imagines #haikyuu headcanons #atsumu scenarios #atsumu imagines #atsumu headcanons #haikyuu x reader #haikyuucreations #sneezefiction

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himbo-buckley · 4 years

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Sex, Intimacy and Buddie (better known as I have a lot of feelings about this show, some of which are related to the before mentioned topics) - Part 4

Ciao, ragazzi,

i bims, die Kriz and I will be your tourguide today. (Yes, we’re on first name basis now, congratulations, kid, ya’ll earned it!)

Okay, so I rewrote this intro like 5 times by now. 3B has been so hard on me in a way that the rest hasn’t been. While I was writing 3A I had so many thoughts and ideas and conclusions from the get go, my main worry was to fit it all in and to make it coherent. And it took me a while to get there with 3B - but don’t worry, my friends, I did not disappoint and it is just as long as part 3, despite Tim Minear personally coming to my home and vibe checking me for saying he had daddy issues. Which is fair, tbh. Sorry bro, I’ll stop calling you out like that. (No, I won’t.)

Also if you need a „quick“ refresher of what happened so far or you just forgot, here are:

part one - part two - part three

And also, the usual spiel:

This meta was supposed to be a lot shorter and only talk about how both Buck and Eddie use sex to distract their respective partners from whatever topic they actually wanted to talk about but since I decided to rewatch the show to make sure I don’t miss any such scenes, it has exploded a bit and taken on more topics

I should also mention that I am a Buddie shipper and while I tried, you will find several references and arguments for the ship in this Meta, not all of which necessarily call for a romantic pairing but just: These two are deeply connected and you cannot look at one without discussing the other and they are each other’s strongest emotional connection.

I should also preface this by saying that the whole of the 118 has some obvious intimacy / commitment issues except Bobby (which is sort of surprising) but *John Mulaney voice* we don’t have time to unpack all of that!

On another note I cuss a little in this Meta because my parents let me listen to TicTacToe as a small child and after that it never stuck that cussing is wrong so, uhm, parental supervision is advised or something

This Meta will so far have FIVE parts now. The original plan was to do three, one for each Season, and have it organised by episode so you could technically follow along (which is still true), but due to personal reasons, also known as *feelings*, Season 3 had exploded disproportionately and for readability reasons I have split it in three parts - there is part 3 which ends with the Christmas Episode, part 4 which spans what aired of 3B so far and the final part 5 which will include the final and my conclusion, if by then I am able to form thoughts again / still

Alright you guys, drumrolls please: part 4 (also called „*butterfly meme* Is this growth?“)

Episode 3.11:

I wanna be honest with ya’ll, Season 3B is sort of a mixed bag for me, because while yes, all the episodes have been great viewed separately, they just feel so … separate from each other, and with 3A having so many episode-spanning arks, it’s a bit of a letdown to return to the standalone episode format. Especially because it makes the whole two steps forward one step back thing so much more apparent as it feels like what happens in one episode has no consequence for the next. It felt a little like they burned through too much in 3A already and didn’t know where to go from there. Which is also true for me, so maybe I should stop judging.

Anyways, I’ll stop bringing the house down now.

Let’s continue with: Don’t you just love stan-ing two adorable, complicated badass firefighters? Yeah, me too.

Also, I wanna see the Doc again. Tim, can we? He could be friends with Frank? We could see them have tea and talk about those dumbasses at the firehouse? (And also legs, since, you know, Frank only has one?)

And also the bank guy, Harrison was fun. (This whole episode was.)

And I know it has nothing to do with Eddie or Buck or Intimacy or Sex (okay a little with those) but I do wanna point you to that damn meatball scene, because it’s so chaotic? First, why are all the ingredients laid out on the table but Maddie is making balls already only to then cover them in water? Look, I’m basically vegan (haha, how long do you think I’ve waited to shoehorn this in here) and haven’t cooked meat since I was … fourteen, probably? And even to me that just seemed wrong! Not to mention AFTER touching raw meat, Maddie only cleans her hands with a towel before opening the door? You used to be a nurse, Madeleine / Maddison! (Do we know her full name? I feel like we don’t.)

One thing I really love about 3B (so far) is how happy and settled my main man Edmundo Diaz is. It’s in the eyes, you guys! I don’t know if it’s a Ryan thing or a deliberate acting choice but whatever it is it translates well (haha, well, yeah, we’ll talk about that one later) into his character and it really makes you feel like Eddie is so much better. Like for all the analysis of Eddie I’ve been doing, I didn’t notice how much colder he grew since the beginning of Season 2 until this episode came and suckerpunched me with the warmth in his eyes. Good god, proceed with caution! Oliver could call me right now and say „Look, Buddie isn’t real, I just keep getting lost in Ryan’s eyes.“ and I wouldn’t even be mad, I’d just be like „How’d you get this number?“. (It was Tim, wasn’t it? Damn it, we talked about this, mate! I wanna meet his cat, not him!)

The episode doesn’t hold a lot of relevance in terms of this meta (aside from some parallels I’ll talk about in a moment) but I still want to discuss it a little bit because it means a lot to me. I just love Howard „Chimney“ Han with all my heart.

I wanna say something controversial now because we’re 500 words in and I feel like I haven’t made you regret reading my rambling yet, so here is controversial thought of the day #1: All these fucking characters are grey as fuck except Howie. Howie is good to the bone. He is the goodest boy. He is so gentle and sweet and non malicious and yes, I am including Evan in my list of grey characters because he pulled some SHIT! Okay, a little bit of shit. Things have been *implied*! (I don’t even know anymore. Maybe he’s just off-white or something.)

And what’s the worst my best friend Howard „Chimney“ Han has done on this show? Lied to his girlfriend a buncha times so she likes him better? I lie all the time. I just lied to my mother 5 minutes ago (Yes, Mom, I’m working on my thesis.)! And Howie just lied to make someone like him better. That’s not bad, that’s horrible self esteem!

Which brings me to another thing I wanna say because thank you, Jennifer Love Hewitt. If anyone from the cast gets to call me, it’s you, because you clearly had your thinking pants on when you took one look at Chimney and said: I want that one! You a real one and I will name check you on my way to heaven - not, that they’ll let me in, but the thought counts?

Now, lets talk about those parallels I mentioned before:

The Hans vs. the Buckleys.

Now, we still don’t know a lot about Mr. and Mrs. Buckley and what exactly made them bad parents (though I’m firmly team a little neglectful but not abusive) but we know a lot about Mr. Han.

One thing of the bat I wanna mention is that this episode confirms that Maddie at least had a hand in raising Buck - which doesn’t actually have to mean too much, because based on JLHs age, her relationship with Dough and the way their sibling relationship is played it’s safe to assume that Maddie is supposed to be between 5-10 years older than Buck (assuming she started nursing school after High School at around 18 / 19, which I think takes 4 years in the US? And she was an ER nurse for 8 years, making her AT LEAST 30 in Season 2, but considering how she emphasised that Buck noticed something was wrong with Dough even as a teenager and she met Dough at 19, I’m gonna assume Buck was younger then 16 because Dough won’t have shown his abusive tendencies right of the bat, so probably about 12 / 13, making Maddie like 6 years older than him? And since we DO have a definite age for Evan, Maddie is probably around 33 in Season 2 (which also works because they wanted to put her and Eddie in a relationship and Ryan Guzman is in his early 30 as well). And look, as the youngest child of two people I would call more than adequate parents I can tell you: older siblings always have a hand in raising you, especially when the age difference exceeds 4 years. One of my sisters is 5 years older than me and I was more scared of telling her about having a bad grade than I was of my parents, so…

Anyways, back to what is actually happening in the episode and how it both parallels and contrasts the Buckleys and Hans.

Like Maddie and Howie are the older siblings and Buck and Albert are the younger siblings, yet Buck and Howie are paralleled as are Maddie and Albert. Also, Howie resents his brother for the relationship he assumes Albert has with their father, but Maddie recognises that Buck probably had similar experiences growing up as she did. Of course one could argue that Howie and Albert never had a relationship before while Buck and Maddie grew up together, but look, Maddie was in an abusive relationship for quite a while and hadn’t been in contact with her brother for 3 years prior to Season 2 but it’s safe to assume they didn’t have too close of a relationship before that either, or the Buck we know would have gone to Maddie to investigate and find out why she dipped. So…

(Despite all of this, Maddie knew she could come to her brother for help in Season 2 meaning one, our boy is such a good boy always and the Buckleys can’t be all bad if Maddie knows she can count on her brother, meaning she didn’t think her parents screwed him up too much in the time since she moved out and gradually left his life. Just another thought.)

I also love how her firm believe in the strength and meaning of familial relationships triggers a shift in Howie. Please keep this in mind for when we discuss 3.16 in a few minutes, friends.

Also that kitchen scene has all my heart. They really said kitchens are a Buddie thing now, didn’t they? (Also from a non shipper perspective, Maddie and Buck are just the sweetest and for a TV show actually fairly realistic siblings. At least if I compare them to my siblings and I.)

Also in terms of the actually topic of my meta’s: this is our first indicator that Eddie considers the 118 his family. And we have another moment of Chimney seeking reassurance / being open with Eddie. I love that they have a friendship like that. (He was so excited about meeting Chimneys brother as well. A little bit puppy and like another reason why Evan and him are friends. (As if we need more)) Also love that Eddie is secure enough to voice these feelings!

(Eddie really does seem so healed in this episode? So open? And happy? Damn, Frank, you know your shit! My man had some growth.)

Now, for some sidenotes to round off this episode, because I have some and I wanna share them:

On the Buckley parents, I think the episode wants to imply that they had plans for Buck? Maybe career wise? Because in the pool scene he says something along the lines of: „Sometimes you have to put / get a little distance“ and since it’s been implied that Buck is also from Pennsylvania or somewhere close by, we can assume that he was talking about himself here. Like he moved all the way across the continent.

I’m also just gonna throw out a prediction for Season 4: since Nia is only a foster child and like 2 years old, it’s safe to assume that she has been only recently taken in. While I do not know the US-Foster system, I do have some knowledge about the German system, so I’ll just predict that either one or both of the birth parents try to get their child back.

Or they just sort of forget about all of this by Season 4.

And I really really really dislike the cancer storyline and how the show is handling it, at least in this episode, specifically in regards to May, who in my opinion, has been both written and treated by the show as someone younger than 18 here, only for the show to then turn around and go all: wow, such an adult, look how wise she is. So awesome. Like nah, son! 3A has shown that she is much maturer than she was treated in this episode.

And Eddie finally got to say „seen this before“ again. I feel like he says that a lot. Should I start a counter for that too or do ya’ll just wanna think about him naked for a bit? (I know, you guys, I know! Should I befriend someone who can make me a bunch of gifs of shirtless Eddie I can pepper in every time we get to heavy around here?)

Episode 3.12:

Ah, yes, „Fools“! The one episode I have to say I can not look at without wearing my shipper goggles. So be warned.

Which is why I’m gonna start with the elephant in the room: Ana Flores.

Now, I’ve seen (and maybe liked / reblogged / queued / drafted (Idk anymore, I’m up to 600 posts in my drafts, 300 in my queue and like 300 liked / reblogged already)) an interview with Ryan Guzman where he talks about Ana and how he isn’t sure yet wether they are heading for romance and how it needs someone incredibly badass to get through Eddie’s defences, because Eddie is barely over his wife’s death and yeah, that! Look, if you’re here, I’m gonna assume you have read the other three parts of this „meta“ and therefore know that I am a proud member of the Shannon Diaz - defense squad and will fight anyone who says a bad word about her. And you will also know that I attribute most of the stupid things Eddie did in 3A to the fact that Shannon died. So there. All caught up.

Now, as for Ana Flores herself (and I’m writing this after 3.16, so who knows what happens next): She might be in Season 4 (I think the interview said something about it or she tweeted something) but I don’t think it has been confirmed yet? So considering what Ryan said they probably won’t end up in a relationship by the end of Season 3 (again, please remember when I am writing this).

I’m not gonna comment on the actress aside from saying, damn, I wish that were me! Other than that? I don’t really care about actors unless I think they are hot and then it’s more of a: uiiii, me like-y. (Madeleine Patch, call me!)

As for the actual scenes, well, I have mixed feelings.

On the one hand side, as I’ve said before, I work with children and the idea of dating the father of one of my babies is just plain wrong to me. So there is that. Morally speaking that storyline would be trash. (And very OOC for Mr. „My son needs to be protected above all“)

Then of course there is what’s actually happening between them which, one, from the get go she seems to not reciprocate Eddie’s advances (he keeps telling her to call him Eddie, she keeps calling him Mr. Diaz). Also that whole speech about horses? Yeah, I know you’re an english teacher but ähm, what? (Put it on the list, Tim, I need answers!)

To sum it up (and explain why I brought up Shannon aside from how much I like her), I don’t think it’s headed for a romance quite yet? They may be playing the slowburn game, but I think it was more like Ali in Season 2. Because as @greyhello pointed out to me in Part 2, Ali might have been there to show us that Buck was ready for a commited relationship and it had never been Abby that made him like that, just as Ana is here to tell us: hey, Eddie is finally accepting his wife’s death and maybe, possibly, some time in the near future, ready to date again. Probably. We’ll see.

Aside from that, I actually think a little crush could be something healthy and healing for Mr. control issues. But, again, we’ll see.

So, elephant addressed. Now let’s move on.

Sidenote: I feel like the parent-teacher conference made Eddie really regret so many of his life decisions. Someone needs to tell Buck so he can make a million puns from here on out and drive Eddie crazy.

(Sidenote: Carla said „big blue eyes“! You know who has big blue eyes? Ah, now I’m just clowning.)

Now this episode returns to the Season 2 formula of giving Eddie and Buck similar storylines:

Because while Eddie meets someone he could potentially be interested it, Buck is also made aware of his single status and the fact that he hasn’t dated in a while.

I do think Buck’s stance in this episode was both curious and familiar. Familiar because it reminded me a lot of Eddie in 2.04 and I think, just like Eddie did before Shannon came back, right then Buck is closing himself off from making connections, be they physical or emotional, because he got hurt too much.

Which is why I call it curious. Because I can not decide wether I consider his behaviour growth or a step back. In Eddie it would definitely be a step back, but in Buck who had been so willing to take any chance for physical intimacy just for the sake of a connection in Season 1 to now at least seem somewhat settled in himself and comfortable with what he has does feel a little like growth? (Then again 3.16 shows us he is just scared of getting hurt again, so probably just covering up is depression.)

Also, again with the kitchen! That puts us at five (?) scenes of Buddie talking about each other or with each other in a kitchen setting (six, if you count 3.03). Now I’m probably clowning myself real hard right now, but whatever!

But I do wanna point out how comfortable Eddie and Buck are discussing Eddie’s parenting struggles, which just shows how much he trusts him.

Now I know, I myself have made a textpost about Eddie discussing his parenting struggles with literally anyone, but ya’ll know I was kidding, right? It isn’t actually true. In canon he talks with exactly 5 people about Christopher:

They are Christopher’s therapist in „Triggers“, Carla, Hen, Lena … and Buck.

Now, here comes something interesting: For Carla and therapist, it is literally their job to help Eddie with his parenting struggles, but all the other scenes? Connected to Buck. Yeah. That.

Look, the Hen scene in the Christmas episode literally involves Buck and as I’ve said both Eddie’s and Buck’s reaction here heavily implied that Eddie has had a conversation with Buck about his fight with Chris before telling Hen all about it.

As for Lena, again, she is *literally* there as a substitute for Buck. She uses his locker. Her name is taped over his - and that is actually such a nice visual, that I wanna talk about it real quick, because I’ve seen it called disrespectful a few times and I don’t agree.

One, the fact that they left the „B“: funny af, someone from set dressing is probably laughing themselves silly about this and is allowed to call me now; also a constant reminder who’s locker and place she is actually occupying. Also how she can never really fully replace him, she can’t cover the hole he left fully, he is always there, lurking.

Two, the fact that it is tape: tape is slightly see through. It is temporary and easily removed. Tape is just a quick, momentary fix. Tape can be taken off / away without effort.

So to sum it up: There’s no one he trusts more with his son.

Which is also why Buck is there at the end: because Buck is who Eddie trusts. Buck is who Eddie goes to when he’s struggling as a father. Buck is who Eddie wants by his side cheering Chris on. I mean, they are literally pushing him together while Carla films (stands on the sidelines, ready to help as needed, but not fully a part of their family unit).

So, to go back to the elephant in the room? Right now I’m not at all worried about Ana Flores.

On another note it’s also one of the last real Buddie scenes we got in 3B so far and while I do understand that there just wasn’t any storyline for them to do such a scene organically, I am very worried about what it could mean. Because I still remember when Teen Wolf stopped putting Tyler H and Dylan in scenes together because people kept screaming queerbaiting.

I don’t want that to happen here. I love Buddie and what it could represent but I’ve also written too much about their respective characters AND their connection by now to disregard how meaningful they ALREADY are and how important even as a platonic pairing they are. Because they make each other so much better and proof that straight man can have deep connection with each other and how two flawed people can help each other heal in a way that I don’t think any other relationship in this show shows.

Back to the episode, though. The ark between Christopher and Eddie here is truly beautiful and I love the way we see Eddie growing as a parent. And I think the show wrote those scenes so well and they felt truly natural and were incredibly important, both for Eddie and Christopher.

I do think, as much as I love Christopher always being Eddie’s number one priority, no matter who Eddie ends up dating (yes, even if he dates Buck) we need to see a bit of a shift here. (Also, just in general, because Christopher will grow up, even if he’ll never be as independent as a fully abled bodied child might someday be.)

Eddie needs to learn to let go of control and of Christopher a bit. Look, a partner will never come before Christopher for Eddie (unless Chris is like in his 40s and has moved out and is living his own life. And even then it’ll be close.) but in order for anyone to ever fit into his life he needs to make a little space at the top and that includes taking away a bit from Christopher.

(Also just selfcare reasons, you guys, parents need to learn that it’s okay to sometimes think about themselves! And we already saw Eddie break once cause it became too much, how easy do you think that can happen again?)

Sidenote: We all know Buck built that, right? He’s been shown again and again to have some mechanical / maschinary (?) understanding plus fairly interesting problem solving skills.

Episode 3.13:

I love the locker room scene. Firstly, it’s a definite reminder that these three have bonded a lot and it’s such a sweet familial scene.

Also Eddie’s advice: yet another hint that he’s healing from Shannon’s death.

Compare it 3.08 and the conversation Bobby had with Eddie. There are no definite callbacks or anything like it, but it is very very very obvious that Eddie is talking about his dead wife here. Who he told he loves her in her last moments. So there.

Now, as for the healing part, could you imagine 3A!Eddie saying something like that to anyone?

Even in 3.03 or 3.06 with Buck, the person he lets himself be the most vulnerable with, there are still always terms and conditions with his words.

He trust no one more with his son, which, okay, is what the scene was about and what has the highest priority in his life but still, his trust isn’t bound to himself, it’s bound to his son, not to himself, not something he has in general for Buck, but something he has for Buck in regards to his son - that Eddie trusts Buck with himself is only ever implied.

He forgives him - „also what it means to be a part of a team“. Eddie sort of impersonalises his forgiveness here, he doesn’t forgive him because he’s Buck and he’s Eddie, he forgives him because they are part of the same team.

With Eddie there is always a wall.

But here in the locker room there isn’t. It’s just: if you love her, tell her, cause you might not get another chance - Eddie certainly doesn’t have another chance to tell Shannon.

And okay, you might say, isn’t that kind of a condition as well? Saying ‚I love you‘ because tomorrow isn’t promised? And sure, it kind of is. But Eddie’s also basically saying: once upon a time I told my wife, who art now in heaven, that I loved her as she was dying and then I got real mad at her and the world after because she left me and she was planning to leave me anyways and now I’m here and I’m over that and I’m just glad I got to tell her ‚I love her‘ one last time. I’m no longer angry.

Growth, you guys.

Episode 3.14:

I feel like the writers read some of ya’ll’s Buddie fanfiction, realised how it mischaracterised the relationship between Buck and Chimney gets and said: not on my watch!

In other words: If Eddie and Buck are different sides of the same coin, Buck and Chimney are the same sides of different coins. They share so many traits and experiences!

Now, this episode. Man, you guys, it really has me stumped. Part of me thinks it doesn’t have relevance and part of me keeps going back because it thinks it does?

Oh man, you guys, I’m lost. I don’t know.

All right, executive decision: no relevance, just another drop on the breakdown-stone that is 3.16.

Someone please tell my man’s boy they need him!

Episode 3.15:

Fun fact to start ya’ll off: this was only the second episode I watched somewhat live being a little new to town and the first I saw without spoiling myself on tumblr. So it has a special place in my heart any way you look at it.

(But then again this episode also involves several of my nightmares: drowning! being below earth! Being in small enclosed spaces! Being buried alive! Huge amounts of mud that will not leave your clothes and fingernails for the next six hundred years!)

Also, uhm, did I say „Fools“ was the *one* episode I could not look at without shipper goggles? So I’m contradicting myself. It happens. Move on. (Yeah, or repress it and join a fight club! Also name check me with your therapist, please! We may have breakdowns but we do them healthy around here!)

Because these fuckers went off! Whew! I’m serious, after watching the episode I sent a clip of that scene to my roommate and asked to rate how platonic this was. Which she did not. Because she doesn’t know math, apparently. - My point is, she sees it and she doesn’t know the show.

In other news this episode convinced me Oliver is pulling an Andrew Robinson (and yes, I know he said it was in the script but then Andy also followed the script, so…).

Sidenote: Eddie is the oldest, right? Damn, for some reason I thought he was the middle child. He has big middle child energy.

(Also why they namedrop Galveston like that? I googled it an it’s just a town? Why, Tim, why?) (At this point he is just torturing me, I know it. This feels personal.)

Anyways, this episode, you guys! I have thoughts! (And they are very hard to put in order so please excuse any jumping around at this point.)

The birthscene is great and can we just for a moment think about 25 year old Eddie hugging his mother in law so very lovingly? He’s so happy here. So soft. (Also I’m about to turn 25? I would not be able to deal with being married right now either?)

And yes, this episode confirms that Eddie has killed people, and while I know it was selfdefense, I just, it’s very weird to me because these characters have become so real to me, so to see one of them kill without a care is kinda off-putting. (This is why I will always consider Eddie grey and why I can never consider Buck white - because he had been planning on joining the Seals meaning he had to consider the possibility of killing and has probably learned to kill (Do you think that’s why he’s so non aggressive? because he knows he could take everyone down?))

I’m just gonna come out and say it: anyone who says Eddie isn’t impulsive has not watched this show. In fact I’d even say he is more impulsive than Buck.

Yes, Buck will do weird and dumb shit on a whim because the thought just crossed his mind and it sounds good and he doesn’t think about the consequences, but just does it. (I could make a case that our boy has ADHD but this is not what this meta is about)

But Eddie? Eddie is impulsive in his reactions. Everytime he is in distress (emotional not physical) he stops thinking about consequences and just starts reacting. Especially if it’s about a child!

Shannon is pregnant - lets sign up for the army.

Our child has a developmental disorder - lets stay in the army.

My parents want to take away my child - lets move halfway across the country.

(Not allowed to talk to your best friend? - lets go streetfighting.)

Eddie probably thinks these things through to a point and he mostly has a plan, but he is so reactionary. He is like a raw nerve and that’s what makes him impulsive.

It’s why, instead of letting them pull him out enough until he can radio, Eddie cuts the fucking line. Because this is a child, this could be Christopher and Eddie needs to be enough to save him.

(Are you crying yet?)

I’m not gonna talk about Afghanistan except to say: ah, Eddie. My man, you are enough! Always!

(But maybe that was his guilt over killing talking? Maybe he does feel bad?)

Also why did the woman emphasis ‚Staff Sergeant‘ like that? Was that an indicator that Eddie got promoted?

Also Eddie the fucking boy scout / alter boy / goody goody two shoes trying to get up because of a superior office despite lying in a hospital bed (and not even having been cleaned from his blood yet, urgh that’s gotta itch!)

Sidenote: in light of 3.16: do you think Eddie still talks to Mills, Binder, Norwahl and what all their names are or do you think that would be too hard for him? I’m leaning toward not talking but I really liked Mills (she reminded me of Buck and Lena, tbh.)

And now, for our regular scheduled program: Shannon and Eddie.

First of all I loved all of it. I loved that we could really understand why Shannon left. I love how much they clashed but still had those little moments of recognition.

And look: The juice box scene was very rough. Eddie is likely currently suffering from PTSD, definitely having a culture shock and here is his wife who is barely holding on as well and she just wants to leave, she can’t deal anymore and both of them are so desperate and wow, just wow. Kudos Ryan and kudos Devin Kelley, I’m sad we won’t see you again, but I do hope I’ll see you somewhere else one of these days!

I’ve talked about their relationship a lot already, so I’m not sure if I have any fresh takes but I will remind you of a few you already know:

Eddie is not in love with Shannon after Afghanistan (haven’t decided yet if he was in love with her in the birth scene)

Shannon *needed* Eddie to open up to her just as much as she needed to be open with her

Eddie was not able to be emotionally intimate with his wife

they cared about each other very very much and I do think they tried

they are family (remember what I said in part 2 about Eddie talking to the 118 about Shannon? This here proof that he definitely defended her actions at some point to them as well)

Shannon was in an impossible situation with her mother and a special needs child and likely burned out and just … she needed someone to have her back, which Eddie couldn’t because he himself was suffering from PTSD at that point

I’m still mad as fuck, they killed her off! If they give Eddie any other endgame romance that isn’t Buddie without like two seasons buildup after killing off HIS WIFE I will riot!

Which brings me to Eddie and his parents which was rough, you guys!

Look, as someone who worked with children I can see where his parents are coming from in that scene but also wow, just wow.

How cold and insensitive and fuck, no wonder someone is repressed as shit, that was horrifying and I really can’t talk about this more than to say this hurts and also explains too much about Eddie. (Can we have the locker room three bonding about having horrible parents in Season 4, please, Tim? And can Buck come too? We could do it at the loft?)

As for his conversation with Christopher, obviously it was cute as fuck and also I love how he began the conversation talking to his child like every adult male I have ever met talking to a kid about something he knows will go over it’s head („It’s like we’re talking about completely different people.“). (Okay, maybe not just adult males. Maybe we all talk like that around children sometimes. I know I do.)

I really liked how they reinforced once again that Eddie wasn’t a natural at being a dad (compare how he holds his son to season 1 Buck who most definitely knows how to handle a child (And now I’m wondering if him being good at it was always planned or a „Oliver did a great job the first time we had him interact with a child so we decided to make it a trait“-thing. Damn you, Tim, for making me think so much!)) but became good at it because he was willing to learn and he cared! Dads of the world (also Moms, we aren’t all super duper either) take note!

That being said the conversation also left a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth because, one, it felt a little petulant of Eddie to turn around and leave for LA, the way it was presented here and two, Christopher at that point didn’t understand yet what Eddie was actually asking him about and it felt a bit like manipulation. Please everyone, do not consider a conversation like that consent from a child. Any adult can get a child that age to say anything they want because children just want to be liked (It’s why when children are involved in criminal proceedings it’s so hard to interview them because children follow every suggestion because they think this is what the adults want them to say.).

Now, let’s talk about puppy!boy for a second!

In 1.05 Buck tells Abby: „no one is good when it’s personal“ - well guess what buddy boys, this one is very personal for one Evan ‚Buck’ Buckley, thank you very much, that boy is losing it.

Okay, let’s compare it to the episode before and then two episodes later:

Now, obviously the situation with Maddie was a little different. Mainly because this was a hostage situation and he realised (because Seal training, remember?) that there wasn’t a lot he could do to help her right then but then again … neither was there in Season 2 when Maddie was in danger and he still acted far more frantic in the car with Athena than he did here? Like the only stupid thing he did was drive a little dangerously this time?

And of course, two episodes later we see Bobby react when Athena is in danger and while we don’t see him be frantic we do see him get ready to kill someone, so, yeah!  It could of course be inconsistent writing or deliberate to keep the attention and worry more on the people in the call centre but since they haven’t pulled anything like that before I’m leaning more into my clowning.

I mean, we also have to consider that Buck was Eddie’s lifeline here, he was supposed to be the one to get him out, so he feels extra responsible but then again we have Hen make this comment about having two cut lines, which of course says that Hen thinks that one: whatever reason Eddie had to cut his line will definitely be considered a just as valid reason by Buck to cut his line but also: BUCK WOULD DECIDE TO DIE DOWN THERE WITH EDDIE. Sorry for the yelling, but no, I do not think Buck acted out of character in 3.14.

(Which is very irresponsible, you guys. You are fathers! What happens to Christopher when ya’ll die in a well somewhere in fictional California? I can not live in fictional California! I will not be taking care of your child, Buddie! Figure it out yourself! No. We are done here! This conversation is over!)

(Okay, not quite, because I actually don’t think that would be realistic! More realistic: Buck giving Eddie his harness so he can get pulled out first and then dying down there alone.)

Like I’ve said in the at the beginning: Oliver might be pulling an Andrew Robinson. It might have just been the way they thought Buck would act if he lost Eddie while being responsible. It might have been fever making him delirious (which, btw, kudos! Because you can hear how sore his throat was and omg, that shirt hurt!)

Never mind I found the heavy focus on Buck in an episode about Eddie fairly curious - which is why now it’s video-talk time!

First: I will not bear Shannon slander around here! Yes, she was in way less scenes than Buck, but the actress also was never a main character, so ya’ll need to remember there are like 2 scenes of them as a family. And they probably didn’t have the time, money and energy to film some just for a montage - especially considering that the three of them have hardly been a family together, because first Eddie was gone and then Shannon, so…

But yes, we do have to admit that Buck was in most scenes, and yes, we do have to consider the implications of this which are: Buck is definitely a vital member of the Diaz family and when Eddie says: I’m always gonna come home to my family, this now includes Buck and I hope we see him tell him that at one point in the final cause I need him to!

And then of course there is also the radio scene in the beginning (which lead to one of my proudest tumblr-moments to date in form of this post!) which did ease us into the concept of Bucky-boy being a member of the Diaz family! So it is canon now?!

One thing I wanna point out about the school scene in the end in regards to this is that little boy’s question. Sure they used it as transition to calling Christopher his good luck charm but, uhm, why did they have Buck ask about it in the beginning then? Why have this sort of unnecessary callback to the beginning of the episode unless they want us to remember Buck?

Something to ponder for the next week, I think.

Also the episode sort of reinforced my believe that we don’t really have to worry about Ana Flores. Sure, this scene was also a chance for Eddie to redeem himself in front of a teacher he screamed at just a few weeks prior but the only interaction they had was her asking that question at the end and Eddie hardly looked at her.

(Also, if they really wanted to reinforce Eddie being interested in her, they could have had Carla make a dig about it in the beginning, even with Christopher there, but they didn’t, which to me confirms that they don’t really know what to do with her yet.)

At least Ryan was finally taking his shirt off again, I know that’s like catnip for ya’ll.

Episode 3.16:

One thing that really confuses me is how many people seem to think this episode points out only how important romantic relationship are and I don’t see that?

I mean, I see that it’s one of the points that is being made but I don’t think it’s the only possible reading of this episode.

To me it was about connection and family more than anything.

It begins actually with Eddie (the person most connected to Buck) being the first person to decline Buck’s invite, not in favour of spending time with a romantic partner, but because he has a prior commitment with his son! (And several other people, including, but not limited to, at least 2 other nine year olds. For Eddies sake I hope less than 5 or that Carla is around because he is a single father and children unionise by nature.)

And it continues with Buck by forming a connection to Red and then bonding with Maddie.

And can I just say, before we delve more into all of this, how proud I am of Evan „Buck“ Buckley after this episode? Just look at him!

This is Buck at his lowest, lower even than during the lawsuit, because back then he had something to fight against, which he doesn’t have here. Because he can’t stop other people from leaving him (that is the whole point of the episode after all) and what does he do? Instead of going full on Buck 1.0 and just finding the nearest interested person to form a meaningless physical connection with to substitute for the lacking emotional intimacy he craves so much, he goes to a bar alone and befriends an old man. And spends the rest of the episode bonding with him. And bonding with his sister. And addressing his issues, both with his sister and his family. That is huge!

(Which is why I’ve decided him not wanting to date? Symptom of his deeper issues, yes, but also a sign of growth.)

And I’ve seen some people on my dash talk about how, compared to most other 911 episodes, this episode has a fairly bleak ending, which one I agree with, two think is actually a theme with Buck centric episodes, but three don’t actually mind / think is a bad thing? It’s fairly realistic after all.

To get personal one second: I remember being a very idealistic 20-year old intern working in the foster system five years ago and my mentor, who was less than 10 years older than me but fairly badass teaching me something that technically is a well known proverb but that I, a idealistic 20-year old, had not actually understood until I worked there and saw it myself: manchmal muss man den Karren an die Wand fahren - translation: sometimes you have to let the trolley drive into the wall, which means sometimes you have to let things play out till it’s natural end before you can help. Or to use an english proverb: Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom.

And this is what I’m thinking - no, hoping - is happening here. Because, look, you don’t just solve like 20 or more years of abandonment issues in one episode and considering what a big part of Buck’s character from the moment we met him they have been, that would have been unsatisfying to watch anyways! What we need right now, in terms of Buck’s storyline is catharsis. A cleansing. Buck needs to get to his worst (which I think he did or he will, once he talks to Abby) before he can begin to get better, can begin to heal, can begin to learn that he is not alone. And that is not a bad thing!

And yes, I know our boy is suffering and we along with him because we all love Evan Buckley to death but sometimes you gotta let things break so you can fix them instead of just putting tapes over the holes you see (haha, see what I did there?).

As for the episode, here we go:

I wanna start with something else real quick which is Hen’s subplot which I found important. Because they addressed that hey, she went through a trauma not to long ago as well and maybe she is not as okay with it as we thought?

Also it shows Bobby’s double standard again, but then I think he would have reacted differently if the guy had died and it was evident Hen realised she should never pull a stunt like that again. And maybe I’m giving Bobby a bit to much credit right now. Urgh.

I do wanna say, while Chimney seemed fine at the end with what went down we did see his reaction in the next episode and honestly he is mad, it’s just that Hen is his best friend and Chimney lives on the principle of forgive and forget so there.

Now I do really like the rope rescue scene because it was badass and also because Eddie seems so done in the beginning and Bobby just looks at him like: well, he’s not doing it alone and he’s probably not gonna cut his rope!

(Also notice how Eddie cut his rope willingly but Buck’s was cut for him? What does that mean? - For reals, I may see the connection but I can’t yet make out the meaning.)

But I did appreciate Hen’s comments about them being their best guys a lot! I kind of want an episode like they used to do on Star Trek were they focus on background characters and give us the way everyone probably sees Buddie as some kind of superhuman supermen who pull the craziest stunts and somehow make it! And now, let’s get into Evan!

First of, I now Cindy was meant as a parallel to Abby but I also think to Ali because Abby didn’t leave because she couldn’t handle the fear but Ali did. So there, a sort of Ali Martin mention! Thanks for listening, Tim.

But of course with everything else Cindy is quite the parallel to Abby from the way she just left and Red never really got closure, just like Buck.

What is interesting though is that Red, different to Buck, doesn’t want closure. He wants to remember the good times and imagine what could have been. (This could of course be due to the fact that his life is about to end.)

Buck on the other hand side really craves closure, and look, I know when we first learned she is definitely coming back I was really unhappy about that, but since then we learned they run into each other which makes it fine to me. Because I thought we’d have another instance of Buck running after Abby for validation and I did not want that. But he’s not actually running after her, it’s just a coincidence so I’m happy for him getting a chance to have closure, finally.

And this is were I think the episode proofs that it’s not about romantic love as the only way to be fulfilled, first because after talking about Abby Buck asks „Do you think I’m lonely?“ which is not about romance at all (had they wanted to make it about love it would have been: „Do you think I’ll find love again?“ or something). Also the conclusion of this episode is Maddie telling Buck he is different to Red because he has her (and in general those scenes between them, yes, they were also about Abby because she was another person Buck has been left by but just like they mention a best friend in terms of people Maddie left behind it is not about the romantic aspect, it is about people he loves in general), because he has a sister and she won’t leave him again - so there, familial love! The pinky swear! The importance of family. (see 3.11)

Also had it really been about love you know what would have happened since then? We’d have seen Buck calling Abby! Maddie would have said something about Buck still being young and having time to meet someone! Instead Abby and Buck run into each other by accident and Maddie makes a pinky swear to never leave again, so yeah, I just think sometimes we need to wait for how stuff plays out before we judge.

Now of course I wanna mention the pool scene as well.

Firstly, I know we already traced a lot of what Buck says at the end back to Eddie and the grocery store but did ya’ll here Chimney say: „Seems like your making this about yourself“ and Bobby implying the same thing, so yeah, I wonder if it was them quoting Eddie or if this is what everyone is supposed to be thinking or if it was just a setup for the breakdown at the end.

Also let’s talk about Eddie real quick here, because I found it really weird that they didn’t reference his platoon from Afghanistan here? Like they could have easily have him say „I’m not in the army anymore but I still talk to my old platoon.“, especially since we MET them one episode before. So either they didn’t think of that, they wanted to reinforce the fear Buck has or Eddie may just be as lonely as Buck?

(Guess which way I’m leaning?)

(Look, children are great but they are no substitute for friends and adult conversation, just saying!)

But I love how hard Mr. Stoic and emotionally unavailable tries to reassure Buck, tries to be there for him. And also did ya’ll notice how, once Eddie speaks for the first time Buck’s focus never strays from him. Hen and Chimney and Bobby talk as well but it seems as if Buck never looked away from Eddie. (Which, definitely get that, he looked good here.) Also how Buck stresses the “That better not happen to us“ - man, what conversation could he be referencing? Man, I wish I had memorised this show by now so I could tell you about two scenes that happened in 3A between Buddie where the topic of us was emphasised a lot but alas I don’t and I can’t.

What the pool scene also proofs once more is that the 118 just like an actual family has a lot of communication issues because Hen and Chimney not being in contact with Tommy or so is a completely different situation but because of their bad communication they don’t realise that this is something they need to explain to Buck because they think this is about Red.

Bobby doesn’t get it either tbh.

But we all know who does, look, I said it about 3.03 and I’ll say it now: Eddie knows Buck. Eddie understands Buck. And Eddie is on the path of realising that Buck needs him to say the actual words and not just let his actions speak! And my my if all of this pays off I will be one happy camper! (Hums Rihanna “We found love in a hopeless place”)

On a sidenote I hate that Red pegged Buck as a hothead because he really really isn’t! He’s just excitable and sometimes struggles with expressing himself and that frustrates him!

Also I never noticed the apartment had an outside area? did we know this? There is a grill?

Also really would love to see Gigi / Dana Strattford again, I liked her, she’s pretty! (But not like to date one of my guys, Tim, kay?)

(Also whats Officer Williams up to these days? Asking for … a friend?)

And to round this episode up: Oliver still looked so sick at times and they put a lot more makeup on him than they normally do? Usually you can see the slight scaring on his face but this episode you couldn’t but you could see the tears / snot mixing with all the makeup when he was crying and honestly, not his best look! (He still makes it work, though! Just saying, I miss 1.02 / 3.02 / 3.03 Buck, I know these episodes hurt but visually they are peak!)

Episode 3.17:

Was that episode amazing? Yes.

Am I still cackling about Oliver Stark having too much leg? Yes.

Did I love the Frank mention with all my heart? Yes.

Was Michael’s meet cute in an elevator less gay than any Buddie scene we got so far specifically any in 2.01 also known as their meet-ugly? That was a rhetorical question, you guys.

As for that comment I wouldn’t put too much stock into it. I mean, if you’re a single guy and you get invited out to fifth wheel at a double date with your sister and her boyfriend and his best friend and her wife, no matter how close you are, you will feel awkward so of course you invite the other single guy who happens to be your best friend who happens to be part of the friendgroup AND the team you’re working with making this a definite team/family/work - outing.

That being said: it took me 23h to come up with a reasonable explanation for this comment and I did scream at my laptop and pause the episode after it was made and I have been thinking “Buddie” confirmed about 100 times since then!

Also, they just spent a shit ton of time together, right? Like, if Buck’s there than so is Eddie and if Eddie is there than so is Buck and I’m clowning and not calm anymore!

Maybe “Buck invites Eddie” can be our always?

In other news this episode has absolutely no relevance for anything, but I love it deeply.

And we made it you guys! It was slower going but it worked!

Thank you to everyone who read so far and thank you to everyone who has been liking and reblogging and commenting! I don’t think I’ll ever be able to express how much this means to me!

(Also please keep doing that! I too am an excitable puppy looking for validation!)

Now, to tag:

@angelcamael, @greyhello, @ipleiade, @the-family-we-choose-118 @chimbuckleys @sevensoulmates

#buddie meta #buck meta #eddie meta #911 meta #evan buckley #eddie diaz #buddie #911 #911 fox #season 3 #textpost #mine #meta #buck #my meta

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heartofsnark · 4 years

Text

This Is Love (Chapter Four): Through The Gates

Notes: We’re inching closer and closer to the Seed’s arrival, I know it’s a slow burn to the game events, but I’m enjoying building up to it and hope it will make the impact of it all just that much more meaningful.

Word Count: 9098

Chapter Warnings: Cursing, Belligerent Drunk Man, Drug Overdose, Pratt and Dahlia being dumbasses

For chapter one and the warnings about this fics overarching themes, please click here!

For the previous chapter; click here!

A tall bearded man is on her porch; leaning against the railing. The familiar snake tattoos that curl down his forearms give him away; Lonny. The Eden’s Gate member who showed at the station to give her and Whitehorse a hard time. What is he doing at her trailer? There’s no reason for him to be here.

“Can I help you?” She asks, raising an eyebrow as she steps up onto the porch.

“Just figured I’d stop by, make a friendly visit to the new deputy,” he expression is somewhere between a smile and a predator baring its teeth.

“And, how exactly did you figure out where I live?”

“Small place, loose lips, word spreads fast.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, now, if we’re done with this ‘friendly’ visit-”

“Word spreads especially fast within our congregation, when someone starts arresting our members.”

“Maybe, your congregation members shouldn’t commit crimes?”

“The law of man matters little compared to the law of god.”

“Well, I get paid to enforce the law of man, so unless god starts signing my paychecks, I’ll be sticking to that.”

“Greed isn’t a pretty sin.”

Goosebumps prickle and creep up her skin at the word sin, making her throat tight, as the word settles over her. Memories of her stepfather claw at the back of her mind, phantom pain of beatings past making her body ache, the guilt and shame of being a sinner pitting in her stomach. She digs her nails into the palms of her hands and grits her teeth.

“Yes, so greedy, as you can tell, I mean just look around, ” she gestures around the dilapidated trailer park, “the used needles a foot away from the kiddy slide cost me extra, but I think they really bring the place together.”

“Charming.”

“I do try.”

“Look, I’ll make this stupidly simple, for you,” Lonny creeps closer, nearly standing on her, glowering down at her, “don’t step on our toes and we won’t step on yours.”

“Is that so?” She grins and literally steps on Lonny’s toes, crushing her boot down as hard as she can, until he finally grunts in pain and takes a step back.

“Don’t make a problem out of yourself, deputy….” His dark eyes flicker around, until finally landing on the shed behind her trailer, “that where you keep your bike?”

“Maybe, maybe not, whats it to you?”

“You know, a little generosity goes a long way to mending relationships, deputy. That motorcycle of yours would be a nice little gift to the flock and most importantly, me.”

“Get bent.”

“It’s important that we all do our part, deputy. That everyone gives a little, so that we all can flourish. As we inch closer and closer to the brink; that becomes even more important. What’s yours is mine, so, which is more important, keeping your motorcycle or helping others?”

He’s in her space again, hand reaching out and squeezing her shoulder in a pseudo-friendly gesture; that not even almost friendly smile on his face again.

“I’d sooner watch the world rot than give up that bike. Now, get the fuck off my property.”

She shoves his hand off her shoulder and marches into her trailer; slamming the door shut behind her. Dahlia could scream, could tear apart her entire trailer in rage. Where the hell does that guy get off? Demanding her bike; the motorcycle she slaved over. Her and Lloyd rebuilt that thing from nearly scratch after his son wrecked it; left it abandoned in their shed, a muddle heap of metal left to gather dust. She helped rebuild it; just a project at the time, something to keep busy while she was waiting to see if she got accepted to the police academy, meant to stave off the anxiety. And when it was done, perfectly functional and shining like it was brand new, Lloyd told her to keep it, she deserved it.

There’s not a lot of things Dahlia’s felt she earned; feeling every success has been a fluke, a mistake, a moment of luck. But, she earned that bike. She nearly fought Lloyd’s son when he visited that holiday season; trying to reclaim the bike now that it was fixed and she refused. Lloyd sided with her; because she earned it. Because she put the work and hours into it. And she’ll be damned if she’s going to let some bearded zealot barge in and demand she give it up.

The more she learns about Eden’s Gate, the less she likes them. Stealing booze, trying to take her bike, trying to scare her. She needs a cigarette; she decides and pulls the pack from her pocket; only to find it empty. Damn it. Dahlia starts digging through tossed aside pairs of pants and jackets; she has to have a half empty pack somewhere. She grabs up her duffle bag, still mostly unpacked other than what she’s worn or used this week, rummaging through the pockets for a pack of cigarettes.

A crumpled piece of something brushes against her hand and she yanks it out; only to find a scrunched up white pamphlet. She straightens it out a bit and groans when she reads the front; Eden’s Gate, We Love You surrounding a cross like symbol. Why is this group all over everything?

Giving up on finding a cigarette somewhere in her mess; Dahlia changes into some comfy clothes and plops herself down on the couch, turning the small tv on as background noise more than anything. She finds herself fiddling with that pamphlet again, placed aside before she changed.

Dahlia opens it; if this damn group is going to haunt all her days here, she might as well read their crap. It seems to be fairly standard religious fare. Casted out? Rejected by society? Try Jesus. Take a leap of faith, wash away your sins, confess, atone, and become stronger by joining their family. There are mentions of how corrupt the world is and how it’s all going to end; nice appeals to fear mongering, always have to appreciate that approach. Every word of the dribble reminds her of darker days, of her step father and his asinine sermons. The type of people who’d probably make a PSA about how Dungeons and Dragons is satanic, Harry Potter should be burned at the stake, and Pokemon is an evil atheist agenda to push evolutionary theory on kids.

The leader; man bun guy, calls himself The Father. Those goosebumps and bad memories come back. She knows assuming that all strongly religious people are like her step-father isn’t the best practice. But mentions of sin and calling himself something regarding father, just… doesn’t help.

He calls his siblings heralds; a sister and two brothers.

Her eyes glaze over as she absorbs the same crap she's had spewed at her for years, thoughts of making a donation to planned parenthood in their name pass through her mind. She doesn’t know for certain if the group is pro-life, but one can assume. The picture on the second page of the little pamphlet catches her eye and she sputters out a laugh.

Who the hell runs the PR for this church?

First the creepy statue, then the serial killer-esque drawing on him to open their book, and now a family portrait so awkward she might cringe herself into a coma. Three men and a woman; siblings according to the text. Man bun is in a chair in the middle; not even making eye contact with the camera. The woman, Faith, the siren she’s seen at the hotel and accidentally grabbed outside the diner is on the floor beside the chair. She looks annoyed, like a teenager being dragged to an awkward family dinner. Behind them are the two brothers. One with slicked back dark hair in a coat that appears to be covered in planes; which is… a look. And the other a mountain of a human compared to his sibling; ginger hair with the sides shaved, in camouflage, holding a red rifle.

It all looks ridiculous, from their expressions to their poses. Whoever thought this was a good way to market them is the epitome of human stupidity. Dahlia crumples the little pamphlet and tosses it into the trash; thankful for a laugh to cap off her night. She spends an hour or so watching tv, drifting off to sleep on the couch as she’s done every night.. Eyelids growing heavier and heavier with each second, until black blankets her mind.

Her bladder wakes her up during the middle of the night, causing her to turn and flop around, rubbing sleep from her eyes. She stares at the ceiling contemplating if she has to pee bad enough to warrant making herself physically stand up; the effort feeling herculean in the bleary twilight hours of the night.

“What if I told you, you could be free of sin,” a male voice drifts from the tv and she groans; this shit again?

She sits up on the couch, sliding down onto the floor with the clumsiness of her sleep leaden body. On her tv, at four am, amid commercials for sexy single phone lines is an infomercial for Eden’s Gate.

One of the brothers; the one with slicked back hair in the plane coat, John Seed as the text on screen tells her. He dramatically talks about how all you have to do is say Yes, the power of Yes, walking around what looks like a red carpet covered in flowers; terraces laced with them around him, a crowd gathered around as he talks.

Is he the reason for the Hollywood style YES sign in the valley?

The crowd around him starts to chant the word yes; he’s saying ‘yes, I will be saved’, ‘yes, I will confess’, ‘yes, I will atone.’ And he gestures upwards; revealing a lit up sign of the word YES and she bursts out laughing; her stomach aching and her bladder upset with her for it. Once her laughter subsides, she does what any good decent young adult would do. She rewinds it to the start of the infomercial, grabs her phone from the table, and records the cringefest to post online before finally going to the bathroom.

She goes back to sleep after, still cracking up about this dumb religion and their dumb advertisement.

Dahlia wakes up around noon or so the next day, checking her phone while still curled up in the couch. The post of the religious cringe has gotten some traction; someone making a reaction gif out of the guy gesturing to the yes sign. Jokes about how the guy must get off on the word yes, how insane it must have felt to be working on this, ‘imagine having a grown man in a plane coat telling you to chant yes while he dramatically touches his own tit’. The internet truly is a beautiful place sometimes.

She stretches out her muscles and decides to call the clinic, the one she gave info about to Tweak. Dahlia wants to make sure he actually reached out and didn’t just use her good graces to avoid trouble and call it done.

“Hey, I’m Deputy Hale of the Hope County Sheriff’s department, I referred someone to contact your clinic about rehabilitation. I was calling to see if they contacted you.”

“Of course, could I have their name?”

“Aaron Kirby.”

“Yes, we did receive a call from Aaron Kirby, he’s been placed on our waitlist as our drug counseling services are currently at capacity and we can’t take on any more clients.”

“Understood, thank you.”

She sighs; she can’t fault him for that. Hopefully, they’ll be able to get him in soon. Dahlia stretches, making her back pop, now what to do with the rest of her day. Maybe it’s Lonny trying to take her bike or maybe it’s the mention of those Clutch Nixon stunts yesterday; but she has an itch to go riding and do some stupid shit.

A quick shower and change of clothes; then she’s grabbing her helmet.

Music reverberating in her skull, the rev of her motorcycle engine beneath her, the wind whipping around her, and she’s healed from everything if only for a moment. Dancing and riding her bike are the only things to do this for her; or maybe it’s the music itself that does. But when her blood is pumping, her ears are ringing, and her throat is raw from screaming along to the songs; nothing else matters.

She’s not lonely as she takes a sharp turn right at the chorus.

She’s not sad or pathetic as she cruises down the road, passing cars.

She’s not a disgusting sinner as she takes one of the paths that goes through the woods.

She’s not rejected, worthless, and tossed aside as she hits one of the many ramps across the county, catching air before hitting the ground again.

Everything is pure chaos and adrenaline in her veins; no room for guilt or doubt or

Deer. Big deer, in the road, it isn’t moving.

She hits the brakes; the sudden jerk of a stop, pushing her body forward, losing her grip and being ejected forward. Dahlia hits the ground in a heap, head rattling but thankfully not split on the road. She forces herself to roll over on her back, body aching in protest. Her eyes close and she takes deep breaths, trying to gather herself.

Something fuzzy pushes against her hand, glancing down to see the large deer sniffing at her. It’s no worse for wear, so that’s good at least. She forces herself to sit up, body protesting, and she peels her helmet off. The deer shuffles back a little but when she extends a hand it tentatively presses against it. She scratches its nose.

“You’re very lucky you’re cute.” She digs around in her pockets, finding a pack of crackers, she always has food on her if she can help it and she offers the deer a cracker. It eats from her hand. Maybe she’s just trying to avoid moving her bruised body, but she spends a few moments finishing the little pack with the deer before finally forcing herself to stand.

Her motorcycle is in good shape, a little scuff on the side, but nothing she can’t buff out if needed. Dahlia’s baby remains the most stable part of her life. She rides it back to her trailer, a bit more carefully. She’s managed to burn through most of the day with her reckless bullshit.

She calls Lloyd and Caroline that night; telling them about her first week, skirting around details that might sadden them. Going to the F.A.N.G Center is reduced to just going there, nothing of being overwhelmed and leaving. No mentions of Pratt tricking her when she talks about Peaches, just an old lady with a cougar Dahlia got to carry. No mention of being left out everytime Pratt and Hudson go to the Spread Eagle. No mention of Lonny, the threats, the religious group that seems much more involved with the community than she originally thought. Everything is fine, perfect, ideal.

The pain of her little crash has mostly faded by the time she shows up to work the next day; uniform properly on when she comes into the station bullpen.

“What the hell happened to you?” Hudson calls out and Dahlia can’t help the heat crawling up her face at the attention. Her forearms and some of her upper chest that’s exposed are covered in bruises; mottling blues and purples.

“Oh, uh, I had a little bike crash yesterday.” She shrugs.

“Jesus christ,” Pratt grumbles and pinches the bridge of his nose.

“Rook, you need a hobby,” Dahlia starts to say something, but Hudson continues, “one that doesn’t injure you.”

She likes to dance, but dancing completely alone isn’t as much fun, not awful but not as fun. And there's not exactly dance clubs in Hope County. Hmmm. Unfortunate. She shrugs, if her hobby kills her, it kills her.

During patrol, Pratt and her don’t talk about the F.A.N.G Center, they don’t talk about him being angry at her. An awkward cloud hanging over them as they patrol. She doesn’t even bother to ask to give tickets when they pull people over; already knowing Pratt won’t let her and not wanting the conversation. An emergency call to what’s called Sergey’s place breaks up the monotony, suspected overdose.

She digs her nails into the leather of her seat as Pratt flips on the sirens; what if it’s Tweak? Doubts of if she did the right thing running through her head. She wanted to help him; but if he ended up just being put on a waitlist and overdosing right after, how much good did she do?

Sergey’s place is a wooded area filled with abandoned train cars where homeless people and drug addicts gather. Dahlia rushes to where she sees a group of them gathered around; screaming and crying coming from the center.

“Clear the way, so we can help,” Pratt tells them, the crowd dispersing, a woman is seizing. Her entire body jerking and drool pooling from her mouth; another woman holding her close, crying over her.

“Did she take anything?” Dahlia asks.

“We were shooting up and then she was on the ground, I, it’s all my fault, I-”

“Understood, we’re gonna do everything we can to save her.”

Dahlia holds the seizing woman as still as she can, getting out the syringe of narcan that's kept in patrol cars. She plunges it into the woman’s arm, forcing the medicine into her system, watching as her seizing slowly starts to lessen. Removing it, she notices the large bruise and cut on the woman’s forehead.

“Dispatch,” Pratt radios in, “we need an ambulance out to Sergey’s place, confirmed overdosed, head trauma, female early twenties. Junior Deputy Hale has administered a dose of Narcan, over.”

Dahlia stays with the woman, to make sure she doesn’t seize again and hurt herself further. Meanwhile, Pratt clears the way and helps get the ambulance into the area when it arrives; the woman being taken away on the stretcher. They find out the one who was holding her was her sister, allowing her to go with her to the emergency room, while Pratt asks some questions of those who were around. Nothing suspicious; just an overdose, no one to blame.

The younger deputy sighs and a hand clamps down on her shoulder; gently squeezing. Pratt is next to her and she raises an eyebrow at him.

“We got here quick, she should be fine.”

“Maybe, lets get going.”

The conversation is still more than a little stilted as the day goes on; but it isn’t quite the awkward silence of before. Pratt making little comments and saying things, while she nods or hmms along.

Later in the afternoon, when they’ve stopped back at the station, for lunch and paperwork regarding the overdose. She yawns and stretches her arms, standing up from her desk to get coffee. Maybe she needs caffeine or maybe she’s just tired of sitting in one place; but either way she’s up and moving.

She rubs a hand down her face as she enters the kitchenette where the fridge and coffee machine are. Dahlia grabs her mug; one that was bought for her by Lloyd and Caroline. It’s a little embarrassing, the picture of a black cat with the message, ‘horrible and adorable.’

Warmth presses in close to her back, looming over her. The smell of Pratt’s cologne hits her just as a large hand plucks her mug off the counter. Pratt holding the mug high above her head.

“Hey!” She tries to grab it from him but can’t reach, Pratt grinning as she makes the effort to stand on her tiptoes but still can’t quite get it.

“Something wrong?” he smirks, “you can’t reach your kitty cat mug?”

“Can you go five seconds without being an ass?” She turns to face him, glaring at his shit eating grin, the mischief in his eyes as he crowds her and holds the mug just out of reach.

“Hmmmm, no. Can you go five seconds without pouting?” He reaches up with the hand not holding her mug hostage and cups under her jaw to squish her cheeks together and force her lips to pout out; laughing at her.

She smacks away his hand, making a grab for her mug, knocking against his chest in the attempt before he jumps back.

Dahlia whines and he just laughs, dodging her again as she tries to take her mug back. Her fingers can barely reach his face, let alone high above his head where he’s holding her mug hostage. She clambers to grab a hold of his bicep; trying to pull herself up high enough to grab it, laughing at the ridiculousness of trying to essentially climb her coworker to get her mug.

“Jesus christ, you fuckin’ spider monkey!” He nearly falls over, but catches himself and switches the mug to his other hand, placing it on top on the cupboards.

She glares for a beat, still hanging off of Pratt’s arm before letting go. Dahlia can’t even reach the top shelf in the cupboards.

“I’m actually going to strangle you.”

“Something wrong, Thumbelina?” He taunts and ruffles a hand through her hair, the gesture far more rough and teasing than when Whitehorse does it to comfort her.

“Yeah, my coworker is an ass.”

“Not my fault you’re short.”

“If I get dirt on the counter, you’re cleaning it.”

“What do you-” he bursts into laughter when she box jumps up onto the counter, grabbing her mug. The deep rumble of it makes her smile, it’s ridiculous, but he’s left her no choice.

“The hell are you doing, Rook?!” Whitehorses’ voice cuts through Pratt’s cackling and she jumps down with a yelp.

“Pratt did it.”

The older deputy straightens up, after nearly bending over doubled from his laughing fit. Whitehorse pinches the bridge of his nose, Dahlia swears she can see the migraine forming in his head.

“I didn’t do anything,” Pratt defends himself, “she managed that all on her own.”

“I, I just...no feet on the counter, that's where food goes, for fucks sake, ” Whitehorse looks from Dahlia to Pratt, “and no whatever you did.”

With that the sheriff leaves; weary of their bullshit. Dahlia jabs her fist into Pratt’s ribs, hard enough to jostle him but not enough to truly hurt.

“You got me in trouble!” She yells, sounding every bit a kid who just got ratted out to the teacher, and Pratt only snickers.

By the time Dahlia manages to get her coffee, her face hurts from smiling. The ache of happiness followed throughout the day, until Hudson and Pratt cap off the night with another day of chatting at the Spread Eagle, Dahlia left to go home alone.

The next day a call comes in from Adelaide Drubman, Hurk Sr’s ex wife who owns the marina as Dahlia’s been told. She’s seen advertisements around for the older woman’s real estate business, telling people to call Addie. The woman pictured on the signs of those advertisements is a fair representation, albeit maybe a little more airbrushed, of the woman standing before them when they arrive. Older with dirty blonde hair and blue eyes, a red bandana tied in her hair. She’s all sly smiles and winks when she sees the two deputies walking towards her.

“Well, hey there, hon’,” she greets them, the southern Montana accent one of the strongest Dahlia’s heard since she’s arrived here.

“Hey, Addie,” Pratt replies in kind and Dahlia gives an awkward wave, “what’s wrong?”

What’s right, Dahlia can’t help but wonder as she looks at the property, clearly abandoned and dilapidated.

“Well, I think some squatters might have moved in on me, sweetheart. And, apparently threatening them with my gun is illegal, but having y’all run ‘em off with yours is fine. Go figure.”

“Yeah, the law is pretty picky about that kind of thing,” Pratt says with a laugh.

“I mean, I’m not complaining , at least I get a chance to see some young pieces of ass in uniform.”

Dahlia chokes and coughs; heat flooding up to the apples of her cheek. That was blunt. Really blunt. Pratt doesn’t seem the least bit bothered, maybe he’s just used to this. Despite her embarrassment, she’s smiling. Something about Adelaide is comforting, warm and friendly, the kind of person who doesn’t know a stranger. Dahlia remembers the gross curmudgeon of an old man that use to be her husband.

“Speaking of which,” Adelaide continues, looking at Dahlia, “I don’t think I’ve seen you before, honey.”

“Uh, yeah, I’m new at the station.”

“Our probie junior deputy.”

“Adelaide Drubman, pleased to meet ya.”

“Uh, this might be impolite,” she pauses, rethinking for a moment, but she needs answers, “but were you seriously married to Hurk Sr?”

“Un-fucking-fortunately.”

“Did you lose a bet?”

Adelaide starts laughing and Dahlia can’t help but smile, the sound absolutely heartwarming.

“I’m serious; lose a bet, piss off a witch and get cursed, broke a mirror and had seven years bad luck… It’s gotta be something, ‘cause that just don’t add up.”

“Well, aren’t you just the cutest thing,” the older woman tells her, “word of advice, don’t let anyone tell you you gotta stay with a man just ‘cause he knocks you up.”

“I’d rather die.”

“Good, keep that mentality, save you years of suffering.”

“Okay, enough chat, let’s go check out the place,” Pratt says, nudging Dahlia to get a move on. She sticks her tongue out at him as they walk into the rundown house.

There’s trash strewn around, thankfully no needles or sign of drug users here. Adelaide must have a lot of trust in whoever she has cleaning these places up for resell. They pass through rooms, looking for anyone who’s not meant to be there, knocking on doors and calling out. Most of the house is cleared through and the two of them head to the attic, a good place for any squatters to hide.

The stairs creak under her feet as she takes them two at a time, moving ahead of Pratt in minutes. She hears him grumble, he tells her to slow down, but she doesn’t.

It’s dimly lit, some abandoned furniture and old antique crap littering the area; blocking the window that might have let in even a glimmer of sunlight. She flicks on her flashlight. The light illuminates the dust that hangs heavy in the air, drifting across her vision. Something rustles, a box shuffling across the floor.

“What was that?” Pratt asks as he finally joins her in the attic.

“I don’t know, yet.”

Scratchy noises echo through the room and she walks towards where she saw the box move. She crouches down and shifts the boxes out of the way, finding nothing but a dusty floor beneath them. Then something presses against her leg, a soft sniffing noise.

“Oh my god!” She gasps as she looks down at the cute opossum staring up at her; baby pink nose sniffing at her jeans. A white face, tawny gray almost black body, with big soft dark brown eyes, its wiry whiskers curling at odd angles.

“Is something wrong?!” Pratt yells out and comes rushing over, feet stomping across the floor; the heavy thuds making the opossum hiss and creep backwards.

“You scared it, jackass.”

“I,” he looks down at the hissing opossum, “I thought something happened.”

“Shhhhhh…”

Dahlia reaches out; tentatively brushing her fingers against its narrow snout, feeling the short slightly rough fur. The hissing stops and it sniffs at her hand, letting her scratch up its face to the top of its head. It relaxes into her touch and she scratches behind its ear.

“You can’t pet every animal, you meet, Rook.”

“Watch me,” she says before scooping the opossum up in her arms, holding it close to her chest. A tongue licks over her cheek, the marsupial content in Dahlia’s arms.

Pratt shakes his head and leaves the attic; Dahlia following him down the stairs. Adelaide is waiting outside the home when the two deputies exit.

“Good news, Addie-”

“I acquired a baby.”

“Jesus fuck,” Pratt rubs a hand down his face at her interruption, “there’s no squatters.”

“’Preciate ya coming out to check and taking care of the opossum problem.”

“I fail to see the problem.” Dahlia’s new friend is trying to climb up her head, licking her scalp.

“You really gonna try to sale this mess?” Pratt asks, rolling his eyes and ignoring the younger deputy’s new pet.

“It’s my best chance of making any profit anymore; those fuckin’ Seeds are buying up any place thats actually worth a damn thing. Flipping run down places is the only way to even hope of making money anymore. You know those bastards even tried to by the Marina.”

“They’re gonna own the entire county before we know it.”

Deputy Pratt shrugs his shoulders and Dahlia chews her lip; unsure if she likes how casually they talk about the local religious nutjob owning the county. The older deputy doesn’t even seem bothered by the thought; the idea of them buying everything just thrown out as blasé as one would say the time of day.

“I swear to god, I can’t figure out what I wanna do more; punch John Seed’s face or ride it.”

Dahlia raises an eyebrow at the older woman; she’s unsure what that means…but it sounds vaguely inappropriate… Her nose scrunches, brows furrowing as she tries to reason through this. Riding…like sitting on someone’s face? So, oh… Heat flares up Dahlia’s cheeks as the meaning hits her; definitely inappropriate. Very inappropriate. She covers the opossum’s ears, as if to protect the innocent being from the filth, meanwhile her own ears are burning.

“Addie…”

“I know, I know,” Adelaide waves her hand dismissively, “but you know what they say, the pussy wants what it wants.”

“Not sure that’s the saying.” Pratt laughs

Dahlia raises an eyebrow before looking down at the opossum in her arms as if the little critter could answer her unasked question. Instead, its doe eyes just stare up at her. What cats have to do with Adelaide wanting to fuck John Seed is beyond Dahlia’s comprehension.

“You alright over there, hun?”

“Don’t worry about her,” Pratt dismisses Adelaide’s concern, “she’s probably just wondering what cats have to do with anything.”

“Oh lord.”

“How did you know?” Dahlia whispers, wide-eyed at Pratt, only getting a throaty laugh in response.

“How old are you again, sweetie? Pussy, vagina, cunt; what’s between your legs. Well, maybe not yours, I ain’t got a chance to check y-”

“I would like to change the subject!” Dahlia blurts out; face feeling like it’s been set on fire and no doubt a vivid flush a red. Adelaide’s little grin and Pratt’s laughter only serving to make her face more crimson.

“Well…if we’re on the subject of faces I wanna ride, the Ryes are having their barbecue next Saturday, you and Hudson gonna make it out?”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“I’ll be seeing you then, Pratt, and hopefully you too, junior deputy. I gotta call my remodeling guys.”

They say goodbyes and wave off Adelaide, going back to the patrol car. Dahlia cuddling her new opossum friend as she goes. This is her baby now and will comfort her through humiliation at the hands of Hope County’s sex perverts.

“What are you doing?” Pratt asks, when Dahlia opens the car door.

“What do you mean?”

“Fuckin’, put the opossum down!”

“No.”

“You’re not bringing that thing into the car.”

“I’m not abandoning my child.”

“It’s literally a wild animal.”

“It’s a opossum, not a bear, calm your tits,” Dahlia tells him firmly, opening the door and plopping down with her critter in her lap. Pratt groans and jumps in the driver side.

“So, what, you’re gonna take it home and make it a pet?”

“No.”

“Then what?”

“You know how some stations have like animals and stuff?”

“You mean K-9 units, trained dogs? You wanna train a fuckin’ opossum?”

“No, don’t be ridiculous,” she rolls her hand flippantly, “I’m not gonna train her, she’s perfect the way she is.”

“Have fun getting the sheriff on board with this, that thing could be rabid for all you know.”

“Opossums don’t carry rabies; like they physically can’t have rabies.”

“Okay, fuckin’, opossum expert.”

Dahlia spends a mile or two, just watching out the window at the world passing by as she scratches at her new friend’s ears. Passing by a sign for Rye and Son’s Aviation, she remembers the conversation with Adelaide.

“Who’re the Rye’s?” She turns her head towards Pratt, head cocking to the side in curiously.

“Huh? Oh, they’re a couple who live not too far from Falls End. They have these big barbecues that basically the entire county shows up to; everyone brings some food, it’s a whole thing.”

“That’s nice.”

“You should come.”

“I don’t know them.”

“It’s open invitation, you live in Hope County, cook some food, show up. It’ll be fun.”

“Just like the F.A.N.G Center?” She raises an eyebrow

“Well, if you don’t freak out and run off halfway through, yeah, things can be fun.”

“Yeah, sure, whatever.” She rolls her eyes and sticks her tongue out at Pratt.

Side eyes and double takes are taken at Dahlia as she walks into the station carrying a opossum. Dahlia just nuzzles her face against the top of the opossum’s head as they reach the office, plopping down in her chair and propping her feet up on her desk. Pratt walks past with his lunch and Dahlia grabs a handful of apple slice off his plate; making the older deputy stop and glare at her.

“Can I help you?”

“I gotta feed her.” Dahlia shrugs, letting the opossum munch on one of the slices of fruit.

“Feed her your lunch.”

“My lunch is an energy drink and a twinkie.” She ate the last of the lunches Caroline sent with her; an empty fridge and a sink full of Tupperware waiting for her at home.

“How the hell are you still alive?”

“The world’s too cruel to end my misery.”

“Jesus fuck,” he rolls his eyes, “calm it down, Hot Topic.”

“What are you doing, Rook?” Heat zings up Dahlia’s cheeks when she hears Hudson’s voice and sudden fear that being the weird opossum girl might not be what she wants.

“Is that a fuckin’ rat?” A guy next to her, dressed in the standard officer uniform asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Feeding...opossum…Who are you?”

“Rook, this is Brennan, he’s one of our officers, Brennan this is-”

“The rookie deputy, I know, I’m officer Beau Brennan, nice to meet ya,” he says, extending a hand and she moves the opossum to properly shake it. Beau Brennan, possibly the most southern sounding name she’s ever heard, especially this far up North.

“Nice to meet you, too.”

“But, uh, Rook,” Hudson looks at Dahlia, “should you really be bringing a wild animal into the station?”

“Maybe not...she’s friendly, though.”

“So, Joey questions you and she has a point,” Pratt swings his hand in an angry gesture, “but I do it and I get mocked?”

“Yes.”

“Well, why don’t you tell Joey, how you want the opossum to be the station pet?”

“Do you?” Joey raises an eyebrow at Dahlia, the younger deputy’s face turning a deeper shade of scarlett.

“...yes..”

“If you want the thing so bad, why not just take it home as your own pet?”

“That’s what I was asking!” Pratt butts in.

“Five seconds ago, you were asking how the hell I kept myself alive, you want me in charge of keeping something else alive?”

“She’s got you there,” Hudson looks back to Dahlia, mirth lighting up those olive green eyes, “what's her name gonna be?”

Dahlia suddenly has no coherent thought in her head. Just cricket noises as she realizes she’s never actually named an animal in her life. Every time she’s ever had a pet or something close to one, she just refers to it by species or someone else names it. The cat’s name is cat, dog’s name is dog.

“....Opossum…?”

“Not how names work,” Hudson pets behind the opossum’s ear, “Petunia?”

“Petunia, it is,” Dahlia flusters to say grinning, she’s actually okay with this, Hudson doesn’t mind the weird opossum girl.

“Why are you encouraging her!?”

“‘Cause it’s annoying you.”

“I think the girls have you outnumbered, Staci.”

“Staci?” Dahlia looks over at Pratt, is that his first name? She’s never actually heard it before. His face completely falls, hazel eyes harsh and angry.

“Shut up.”

“Your name is Staci, oh my god.”

“Spelled with an ‘i’,” Beau adds, grinning as Dahlia starts cackling.

“Oh my god, you have a sorority girl name!”

“Laugh it up, you know when Whitehorse comes back, you’re gonna have to say goodbye to your new friend.”

“Eh, it’s Rook, so he won’t mind much,” Joey says, shrugging her shoulders.

“Huh?”

“You don’t know?” Brennan raises an eyebrow at her, “everyone knows that the sheriff is soft on you. Been hardly a week and it’s like he’s adopted you.”

Her cheeks hurt from grinning, Whitehorse sees her like his own child? She knows she’s lucky to even have gotten the job; let alone the way he’s been going the extra mile to make her feel at place here. But knowing he may see her like family lights up her heart. The sheriff already reminded her of Lloyd before, but hearing that cements the comparison.

“Dear god, if you were a dog, your tail would be wagging,” Pratt-Staci, grumbles as he pinches the bridge of his nose.

“It's cute,” Brennan defends her, “we don’t even need a canine unit with her around. Ow!”

Brennan jumps when Dahlia kicks him in the shin, hard enough to bruise she’s hoping. Hudson and Pratt laugh. Petunia is content and nuzzling into Dahlia’s neck as the four shoot the shit, the topic of the Rye barbecue coming up. Hudson and Brennan both plan on being there as well. Dahlia finds herself sinking deeper into her chair, holding Petunia closer. Taking her phone from her pocket and checking the notifications on John’s little video. Other than someone claiming he looks familiar and another person saying he’s hot; it’s mostly more taunts.

“What’s going on here?” Whitehorse’s voice cuts through the chatter, the sheriff coming through and spotting the gathered deputies and officer. His eyes landing on Petunia within a second, “Rook?”

“Yeah?” She scrolls past someone using a gif of John’s light up yes sign as a reaction gif.

“Why are you holding a opossum?”

“She likes being held.” She doesn’t bother looking up from the phone.

“She?”

“Her name’s Petunia.”

“You can’t have a opossum.”

“She’s the station opossum.”

“Rook,” Whitehorse sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose, “just go put her outside.”

“So, she’s an outside station pet?”

“I don’t care as long as she’s outside.”

“I’m taking that as a yes,” Dahlia says, finally looking up and grinning ear to ear. Whitehorse shakes his head and just waves her off before going into his office, no doubt looking for some Tylenol or Aspirin at this point.

“That’s it,” Pratt lets out a heavy exhale, shaking his head at Dahlia.

“Told ya, soft on Rook.”

“I’m gonna take Petunia outside, to her new home.”

“Do you think she’ll stay around?” Hudson asks, as her and Pratt follow after Dahlia, towards the little lot of land behind the department.

“If I keep feeding her, she should, right?”

“I’m gonna have to start bringing two lunches, aren’t I?”

“Nah, you don’t wanna overfeed her.”

“Hilarious.”

The wind is blowing just a bit; breezing by and shifting the grass around them. The sun starting to set as the evening arrives. Petunia licks her cheek and then runs up on Dahlia’s shoulder, little hands grabbing at her skin as she clambers up onto her head; curling up like she belongs there.

“Pffft,” Hudson sputters out a laugh, “look this way, Rook.”

Dahlia faces Joey, grinning with the apples of her cheeks flushing red. The older deputy has her phone out and snaps a photo of Dahlia with Petunia perched on her head. She’s not sure why the moment is worth catching, but she’s glad it was.

“Send that to me, if you don’t mind…” Dahlia asks as she puts Petunia down in the grass.

“No problem,” she taps away and Dahlia feels her phone buzz, “and don’t worry I’ll send it to you, too, Pratt.”

“I didn’t ask for it.”

“Didn’t have to.”

Dahlia sits down on the ground, petting Petunia as the sun sets. As always Hudson and Pratt leave that evening for the Spread Eagle, she catches Brennan talking about going to the Hollyhock Saloon with some fellow officers before she leaves. Everyone has their friend group, their routine. And it’s time for her own; going home to an empty trailer.

And an empty fridge, she remembers. Oh god, she has to go shopping doesn’t she? It’s a break in the monotony but she’s not sure it’s a welcomed one. She also has to do dishes at some point…and laundry… Adulting sucks.

There’s a little family owned market in the Henbane River region; just a bit more to it than the general store in Falls End. The fluorescent lights irritate her eyes as she pulls off her helmet to look around. Never the cooking type; Dahlia’s hoard comprises of things that don’t require more than a microwave to prep. Frozen meals, snacks, and absolute garbage pile high in her cart as she scours the shelves for more. This might get her through for a week.

Her phone buzzes, another Twitter notification, she’s sure someone else reacting to the Eden’s Gate commercial. She tugs her phone from her pocket; just like she thought a Twitter notification, but the message beneath it catches her eye. A text from Hudson, where she sent the photo of Dahlia and Petunia. The young deputy hasn’t gotten around to opening it; mind preoccupied. She opens the message.

Dahlia doesn’t take pictures of herself and has never been particularly enthralled with her own appearance. But, she likes this photo of her. Petunia is perched on her head, dark eyes warm and soft. The evening sun setting behind Dahlia illuminates her in golden light; dark hair mussed, brown eyes lighting up amber where the light hits, and a wide grin on her face.

Beneath the photo is a message from Hudson captioning it;

‘cant tell who looks better here’

Heat makes it way up to her hairline. Is…did Hudson call her cute? She’s comparing Dahlia to Petunia, a opossum, both Petunia specifically and opossums in general are cute. So if Hudson’s saying Dahlia’s looks are on par with a opossum; does Hudson mean she’s cute? But, not everyone thinks opossums are cute… Some people think they’re gross little trashy goblins, does Hudson think she looks like a trash goblin? She seemed to like Petunia, but just cause she was nice to the animal doesn’t mean she thinks opossums are cute. Dahlia leans her forehead against the freezer section for a moment; letting a turkey meal cool her flushed face as she forces herself to not agonize over this.

A few deep breathes and a concerned passerby make Dahlia straighten back up, getting her bearings before heading to self-check-out. She quickly rings up her items and bags them, leaving the market with her grocery bags in tow.

“Leave me alone…please…” A soft demure voice whispers, a woman about Dahlia’s age stands beside the road a man towering over her with a beet red face. The smell of liquor coming off him on the wind. His hand is wrapped tightly around her wrist, her skin indenting under his grasp as she tries to fold in on herself to avoid his touch.

“Wh-what, you scared daddy Joe’ll call you a sinner for spending some time with me?”

The stench of alcohol wafts off his breath with every drunken slur; even at a distance, the smell churns her stomach. She drops her bags on the cement and makes a beeline towards them, she needs to keep this from escalating, or someone will get hurt.

“Leave me alone!” The girl’s voice shakes as she tries to pry herself from the man’s grasp.

“Fuckin’ peggie whore!”

“Hey!” Dahlia yells out and runs as his other hand starts to raise and pull back.

She gets between them just in time to feel the crack of his hand striking her face. An ache and echo of pain rings through her jaw; a metallic taste where her cheek scraped the inside of her jaw. Glassy eyes widen, the man shocked at the interruption.

“Wh-who-”

“I’m a deputy with the Sheriff’s Department, and unless you want some jail time for assault, I recommend you get the fuck out of here.”

“Pssh,” he scoff, whiskey scented spittle spraying into the air, “li-”

“I’m giving you to the count of three to get out of my sight, sir. One,” she leans into his space, glaring him down and sneering as she counts, “two, th-“

“F-fine, fine, fuckin’ bitch.”

He makes a dismissive hand gesture as he grumbles a curse, but he stumbles away, leaving the two girls alone. Dahlia rubs absent mindedly at her cheek before turning towards the girl; a peggie, he called her. One of the followers of Eden’s Gate. She’s beautiful, five or so inches taller than Dahlia, with long black hair falling in waves down her shoulders. Delicate fine facial features, the deputy can’t help but feel the girl’s face might have shattered has it been struck. Like the handful of peggies she’s seen, traces of tattoos and markings are on her. ENVY etched across her chest and a delicate tattoo of vines with blue flowers curling up her forearm.

“Are you okay?” Dahlia asks her.

“Oh yes, yes, I’m fine, but are you?”

The girl reaches out, fingers nearly brushing over Dahlia’s cheek. She instinctively ducks back, avoiding the touch. Strangers touching her is never something she’s been fond of, though she can’t imagine many people are.

“I’ve taken worse from better; I’ll be fine. You be careful and have a safe night, ma’am.” Dahlia nods at her and makes the quick walk to her abandoned groceries and bike.

She stoops down and begins to collect the food that fell from her bags. A pair of slender hands join in, helping gather up a bag of microwave meals for her, the girl offering it to Dahlia once it’s secure.

“Thanks,” Dahlia murmurs, taking it from the stranger, stashing her groceries in the little storage space under her motorcycle’s seat.

“It’s the least I can do…I’ve never seen you before.”

“I started here about a week ago.”

“Really, that’s incredible…The Lord placed you here at the exact right time.”

“Nah, I just needed groceries,” Dahlia shrugs, “well, hope you have a nice night.”

“Wait,” she knots a hand in the deputy’s shirt, “I’m Layla…”

“Nice to meet you,” Dahlia offers, Layla’s dark brown eyes are darting around, avoiding eye contact.

“I…was on my way to a sermon at Father Joseph’s church and-”

“Look, Layla, if you need my help just say the word. But, if this is the beginning of a conversion spiel; save your breath and my time, ‘cause it ain’t happening.”

“I don’t feel safe, going there alone, right now. What if he comes back?” Her arms cross over herself, the thin cardigan not doing much to protect her from the night chill.

“Oh, uh, you don’t have anyone who can go with you? Aren’t religions like, community things?”

“I was gonna walk there by myself, but…”

“Fuckin’ hell, where is it?”

“Up the north bridge, one of the island’s in the middle of the county, it isn’t far.”

“Here,” Dahlia shoves her helmet at Layla, “I got one helmet and if anyone’s brains are splattering on the road, I’d rather they be mine.”

Layla pulls the helmet on over her head, body still shivering. Dahlia shies and shrugs off her leather jacket; it’s only going to get colder on the ride there with wind whipping around. She hands it to Layla who smiles and takes it, pulling the worn black leather jacket on. Oversized on Dahlia and still marginally so on Layla.

“Thank you,” Layla murmurs as Dahlia straddles her bike, then climbs on the back. Dahlia takes in a deep breathe when arms wrap around her midsection, Layla pressing in close to the deputy’s back as she starts the engine. The familiar nature of the touch contrasting with the fact they’re strangers.

As Dahlia makes her way up to the bridge, Layla lifts the visor just a smidge so that she can whisper directions in the deputy’s ear. Once she’s past the bridge coming from the Henbane, the roads have fencing and barbwire, making it nearly impossible to go from the road into the woods on the island. She rides down the winding road, taking a left turn off the paved road onto a beaten path, rounding the corner she sees it.

A cold sweat builds on the back of her neck, heart dropping into her stomach. It’s a collection of small white buildings, dark roofs, with Latin scrawled across some of the buildings; Luxuria, Acedia, and more she’s sure. All of it on a large piece of land, within she can see picnic tables, bundles of white flowers, where they might gather for picnics or barbecues. She pulls her bike to a stop just a distance from the white gate; Church of Eden’s Gate etched in the upper arches.

People are all around, getting out of white trucks and cars, greeting each other with hugs and waves; throwing side eye glances at Dahlia when they notice her. Dogs are barking somewhere; she doesn’t know where from. Layla clambers off the back of Dahlia’s bicycle, pulling off her helmet and handing it back to her.

“Sister Layla,” a deep masculine voice rumbles out, a familiar man standing by the white gates. Tall with a thick dark beard, his deep dark eyes are focused on Dahlia as he speaks to Layla. Theodore is what the other man called him that day when Dahlia caught them stealing from The Spread Eagle. He looks a moment away from ripping the deputy’s head off her shoulders; his shirt dipping in a way that exposes the way PRIDE etches across his chest, crossed out as are all sins the church members wear.

“Brother Theodore, this is-”

“The new deputy, we’ve met, why is she here?”

“I was just getting ready to leave, don’t worry.”

“What,” Layla’s eyes widen and she grasps Dahlia’s arm, “you can’t.”

“I can’t…?” Dahlia raises an eyebrow and shoots a pointed look where Layla’s grabbing her, making the girl let go. Layla’s trying to rope her into this shit, isn’t she?

“You came all this way Deputy, why not just come in, listen to the sermon.”

“Not happening, I already told you, not my scene. Just give me back my jacket, so I can leave, okay?”

“But,” Layla chews her lip, gears in her head turning, “how am I suppose to get home?”

“I saw at least thirty people go in that church, I’m sure someone will be willing to give you a ride home.”

“Oh, uh, I-”

“Brother Theodore, Sister Layla, service will be starting soon!” Someone calls out from within the compound.

“I have to go, I’ll be right back, Deputy!” Layla rushes to say and then runs off towards the church, Dahlia’s jacket still on her shoulders.

“Hey, wait!” Dahlia jogs after Layla, hurrying through the little compound, but the woman vanishes into the steepled church ordained in cross symbols.

She stops, just before entering the door and takes a step back. The crush of boots in dirt echoes beside her before coming to a stop, the looming of someone nearby. Body heat lingering near her side as she looks up at the cross on the topmost steeple of the church.

“You going in?”

“No.”

“Have fun out here,” Theodore tells her, moving to press a heavy hand against the church door.

“Those dogs,” she starts, listening to the barks ringing out around her, “they friendly?”

“Why don’t you go find out?” He leaves her with a smirk, walking into that church.

Dahlia lets out a harsh breath and pushes her hand back through her hair. A breeze pushes through, her t-shirt and thin uniform shirt does nothing to keep out the chill. She’s not leaving without her jacket; her wallet and phone all in the pockets. Music echoes from inside the church as she plops down onto the ground outside it, balancing her helmet on her knees and resting her chin on it.

If your soul has grown weary, and your heart feels tired…

She fidgets with her helmet, chewing her lip. Please let this Joseph guy be short winded, she just wants to leave. The entire place sets her on edge, makes her skin crawl and she wants to hide away.

Let the water wash away your sins…

A cool breeze passes by, a soft whipping sound mingling with the singing. She scans the night sky, searching for her favorite and only known constellation, she has a feeling she’s going to be here a while…

#far cry 5 #fc5 #this is love #Dahlia Hale

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reosian-archive · 6 years

Text

The Order: District 9 pt.5

Plot: The Order was a government fairytale for those who wanted peace across the world, the countries creating ties rather than wars. Population control was done in a manner that it wouldn’t affect the innocent. It was a perfect world, so why would anyone want to go against that? Well perhaps the Order wasn’t so crystal clear to their population as they said they have been. A rebellion is brewing with a revolution sure to follow but can the rebellion make it in time before more innocent souls are forced to battle to the death?

Genre: Action, Angst & mild depictions of Gore for this chapter!

,Word Count: 7,210

Pairings: none

Other Parts: part 1 / part 2 / part 3 / part 4

When they finally made it home, Minho had holed himself up in the living room corner with Hyunjin at his side helping with the data transfer. Though this time he offered the other a chocolate bar he had saved for his ‘hardworking’ days at the desk. It was odd but Minho accepted it, especially since it had been such a long time since he ate that sort of candy.

The two are left to their own devices whilst Jisung makes sure to have everyone seated on the couch. Jeongin and Seungmin stay out of his way, the man was known to be rather pushy when he had his mind set on something. So it was best to stay out of the way until called on, so that is what they did.

Woojin is the one who fights his pains the best, hardly wincing when he’s seated on the couch despite the fact he has a bullet lodged into the back of his thigh. Felix offers a boyish smile when he sees the worried look in Jeongin’s eyes when he walks into the living room but it doesn’t last long. Not when the pain of his wounds taunts him once more, eyes squeezing shut with his teeth gritting down onto each other.

“Seungmin, get the first aid. Jeongin, get the rubbing alcohol.”

Orders fell off his lips and the two hurried off to fulfill them as Jisung does his best to bring Changbin to the couch as well. He hadn’t been doing much better but in comparison to Woojin, he was lucky with his own injuries.

Chan stands off to the side, his own battle wounds are nothing he can’t fix on his own. With a few days rest the swelling would go down and it wouldn’t matter anymore. Besides, it wasn’t like he was afraid to leave a scar. He had plenty, hidden they may be but plenty they were. Though he couldn’t say that the sentiment was shared with his small group of friends.

Jeongin says a quick ‘excuse me’ before he rushes past Chan, who only steps out of the way, and sets what Jisung had called for down to the ground next to him. Seungmin follows suit with the first aid kit and then some, he hadn’t been sure what he needed but he figured most would leave Jisung content with what he needed. And so they stay out of his way, Jisung means well and they know this. Just there were times when it came to patching people up that he became more ‘snappy’ towards everyone else. His focus was meant to be on his patients only and he was often distracted when other people tried to talk to him.

So they stay out of the way.

Jeongin grabs at Seungmin’s hands each time one of their friends lets out a hiss of pain. Squeezing his eyes shut as he tries to hide himself from the scene of it all. Knowing that his newly found friends had gotten injured when he was safe has his heart aching. Though it was to keep him safe, he couldn’t understand why Chan had sent him off on his own in the vents. Not when he could’ve been there, just maybe he could’ve prevented some of the injuries that were gained.

But there was no use in crying over spilt milk.

Not when he should be lucky that they all managed to come back with their lives.

It was Woojin’s injuries that were the worst to hear. Though he gave no screams or yelps of pain, it was the grunting as he bit against a rag that made it unbearable. Jeongin had opted to try and take a look at what was happening, the sight has his stomach drop. With Woojin’s pants pulled down to the ground, the wound looked so much worse with the flesh peeking out of it, blood seemingly dripping out at an alarming rate, leaving Jisung to make do with what he had.

It was crude and completely unethical but he managed to pull out the bullet casing. Whether or not there’d be any horrible side effects, that was unknown as this had been Jisung’s first attempt at such a feat. Woojin had done his best not to squirm but the feeling of something foreign prodding against the tender flesh of his thigh makes him uncomfortable.

When it’s all said and done, Woojin thanks his friend in a quiet voice and Jeongin hides his face this time as he tries to fight back the tears that threaten to fall.

It was all too much for all of them and yet, it wouldn’t be the last so they would have to deal with it for now and try to forget about it in the morning.

Felix opts for sewing his own wounds up, he doesn’t care much if it leaves a scar and in fact, he’d prefer if it did. So he does it on his own, though Jisung does end up helping him with the sewing process because Felix hadn’t really accounted for how much it hurts to even stick a needle in one’s own skin.

But when all is said and done, each boy patched up and given a bottle of water to soothe their parched throats. Felix shouts in victory after his first drink and at first no one follows through with his celebration. After All, they had come out with more injuries than intended but Chan is the one to continue the cheers. A drink in hand as he holds it up to the ceiling.

“Cheers to District 9!”

He cries out and the other’s follow suit, the smiles and laughter finally coming back to the aching boys. The house is filled with cries of victory and hugs are shared, even Minho can’t fight the smile that makes its way onto his face. Although, he is far too busy to enjoy the festivities of his comrades.

There is far too much to unpack in the data transfer, some of it was of little interest such as investments and land plotting. But somewhere things that not even Minho could fathom the Order taking up. From what he could gather in the short time he spent looking at it all, the Order had been tracking it’s public’s search histories. Looking for any reason to make someone suddenly disappear. So it would seem their worries weren’t unjustified, the Order was looking to silence those who threatened it’s regime. It’s another headache added onto Minho but it’s a conversation with Chan for another day.

Hyunjin, though bored, goes through the data in amazing time and finds himself organizing them based on their level of importance. It’s when he’s about to finish the last set of it that his laptop blares an alarm, beeping as the words ‘VIRUS DETECTED’ flash over and over.

The celebration stops, the boys all looking over in confusion and some in fear. Had the Order already managed to track them down? It shouldn’t have been possible.

“What is it?” Felix asks as he makes his way over to the monitors, a hand placed over Hyunjin’s shoulder as the boy’s fingers type away at amazing speeds.

He doesn’t answer at first and everyone can’t help but glance at one another worriedly, Chan’s grip on his water bottle tightens and it’s so close to breaking.

The silence that overcame them is quickly dissipated by the sound of a rather angry Hyunjin.

“I fucking hate Jae, that goddamn prick.” He groans, a sigh of relief is given my most in the room.

Hyunjin’s fingers run through his hair, gripping and pulling at his own hair for a moment. Seungmin and Jeongin are the only ones who seem confused, Minho hardly cares as he focuses back on the data that they’ve returned with.

“Who’s Jae?” Jeongin asks, voice soft and broken from all his crying.

Seungmin rubs at his back, trying his best to soothe the worries of his brother as Woojin opts to be the one to answer.

“We never really met the guy but apparently, he’s one of the few people good enough to be Hyunjin at games. So they stay in contact, mostly through stupid hacking games.” Woojin tells him, offering a smile that quickly falters when he’s put too much pressure on his thigh.

“So he’s....good?” His only response to this from Woojin is a kind smile and nod.

It’s enough to soothe his worries for the time being.

“What does Jae want?” Felix asks, doing his best to keep up with whatever Hyunjin and the man seem to be going back and forth about. Everything is starting to give him a headache, although maybe it was the blood loss? It wouldn’t matter anyway, Hyunjin always gave him a headache regardless of that factor.

“When you guys did your whole ‘Mission Impossible’ shtick, I had Jae look into some stuff the Order has been doing. For fun, you know?” He starts off and almost immediately everyone’s eyes are on Hyunjin, even Minho who seems rather upset about the knowledge. “I told him it was just for fun, you know get a little bit more... I don’t know ‘spicy’? Either way, I found out Jae’s friend group they’ve partnered up with another group of guys to start up their own revolution.”

The news of more rebel groups starting up is exciting, for Chan it’s exhilarating as it means they can speed up the process with taking down the order. Although it seems not everyone is on the same page.

“Did you just say...spicy?” Changbin questions, quirking a brow as he looks over at his friend who just groans and ignores him.

“Yes, I did asshole. So anyways, they have a few people in their team or whatever, apparently this guy Changkyun or whatever the fuck his name is. He’s managed to create a server for all the rebel groups, so Jae’s dumbass basically sent me an invite in the form of a goddamn virus.” Hyunjin’s agitation is evident in how talks, along with the fixed glare he has towards the screen as he seems to accept the invitation into the server.

Minho only raises a brow at the boy’s actions, but he doesn’t bother to do much else as his attention is drawn back to the pictures now popping up along the screens. The voices of his comrades get lost in the background as he finds himself drawn into that hole he nearly escaped a few years ago. It seemed that the Order was doing more than just silencing people, families were being silenced as well or memories were erased. How far their evil seeds rooted themselves, he wouldn’t be able to find out from the information they gathered alone.

But it was a good starting point.

Though he and Hyunjin hardly exchanged physical words, the two communicate on their own through their devices. Both expressing a sense of disgruntlement at the idea of what the Order was doing to innocent civilians, but they couldn’t do anything about it. Not yet anyways.

Their silent means of communication gets interrupted by a newcomer, they assume it’s this ‘Changkyun’ guy and so they allow it. For now. He exchanges information with them for some of their own, the rebellion was barely gathering itself from what they were told. None of the rogue groups knew what to align themselves to, they were all simply dubbed ‘The Rebellion’ due to that. Hyunjin had contemplated stating that District 9 was their groups name but decided against it. Though Felix had a few choice words to exchange there as he had been seated besides Hyunjin, watching the odd chat room commence.

It’s only when Changkyun lets it be known that different rebel groups were planning an all out attack in a few weeks that it became serious once more. At first the attack wasn’t going to be strategic. Just a simple way of letting the Order know that there was an enemy against and that they wouldn’t back down. But as more rebels found one another, using backwards methods of hacking as their primary source, they found logic in a mass group attack worldwide.

It takes a bit more going back and forth with the mysterious man before he finally releases the location of different rebel groups. The list was long, listing several names that Minho found himself recognizing from his own time in the cell. Changkyun leaves before they can ask him anymore, it seemed he was even more mysterious than Minho was to Hyunjin.

“So, our fellow rebels have anything of use?” Chan asks, his voice causing the boy’s to jump in their seats.

They turn to look at him and that’s when they’ve noticed all their friends have retired for bed. How long had they been talking to Changkyun? It only seemed like a few minutes, but perhaps it was longer?

“Apparently there’s more rebel groups aside from just us.” Minho starts off, Felix is already beginning to doze off against Hyunjin’s shoulder.

“And?”

“And if you gave me a second, I’ll answer the rest.” He says with a groan, running his fingers through his hair before going on. “There’s some nearby rebel groups, I’m going to see if I can contact them tonight and with any luck. We’ll have some allies by tomorrow morning.”

There wasn’t any use in telling Chan about the plan to attack one of the Order’s District tower so soon, it would set the man off on a mission. One that would jeopardize everything they’ve been fighting for. But the man’s harsh stare and quirked brow shows he has no room for small talk.

“Well here’s the thing, if they agree to working together then we’ll have a better shot at taking down a few more buildings in good ol’ Aussie. Which means the Order’s control here will be weakened, so we’ll be able to restock on what we need without a problem.”

Now that strikes a reasonable chord in Chan, he brings his drink to his lips with a soft hum.

When had he grabbed a glass of..- was that alcohol? Nevermind.

“Keep me posted on what happens with these other rebel groups, it’s time we turn in for the night. We earned it.” He says, voice low as he offers his drink up in mock cheers before downing the rest of it.

It’s silent when the man leaves, Hyunjin and Minho exchange glances as Felix practically wraps himself around Hyunjin in his sleep.

“Does he usually drink?” Minho asks, face and voice of any clear emotion.

“Never.”

// // // // // // // // // // // // //

The incident goes unspoken of in the morning as the boys gather around in the kitchen once more, Jisung is the one who opts for making them all breakfast and Jeongin is eager to help. There was something about Jeongin that had the boy yearning for a fatherly bond with him despite their rather small age difference. But Jisung allows it, showing the boy how to do simple things and even allowing him to bring everyone their plate.

“So you get a response?” Felix asks, squinting his eyes under the morning light as he thanks Jeongin and Jisung for the food before he begins to dig in.

“From who?” Woojin questions, they could always count on the older man to say the things the other’s couldn’t find the heart to say. In a way, he was their only connection to what life had been before since so many of them had so quickly adjusted to the life of being a fugitive.

“Just this group of rebels, we got some allies finally but there’s a nearby group. So we’re tryin to contact them, hoping to group up before we head out and take down another building.” Hyunjin answers, drowning his pancakes in syrup before stuffing them into his mouth.

Seungmin listens rather quietly to it all, the thought of there being more of them in the world strikes a sense of happiness in him. But it’s bittersweet because whilst it was great to have allies in a world like this, that meant that the Order had failed them to in some way. His dampened mood seems to have been showing because suddenly he’s pulled into a hug by Changbin, albeit it’s an awkward one but it was a hug nonetheless. And Seungmin returns it, smiling at the other before he puts his focus back on his plate and the conversation at hand.

“So did you get a response?”

Hyunjin looks up from his meal, eyes wide in surprise but only because he didn’t expect Woojin to be so eager to hear an answer. He does his best to chew his food rather quickly before he answers, coughing here and there. Felix pats the boy’s back with his good arm, laughing at him when he sees the syrup that’s dribbling out the corners of his lips.

“Shut up.” Hyunjin huffs before he wipes it off, looking over at Woojin with a slight nod. “Yeah, we did. They’re supposed to be heading over soon. They want to take down another building tonight, told them we were sorta fucked up from the last one. But they aren’t taking no for an answer.” He tells him.

“Well shit.” Felix manages to encompass the general in one rather crude phrase as he stands up from his seat. He’s about to give his goodbyes to start his morning training when they all realize something.

Chan was nowhere to be found.

It stirs a sense of panic in the boys and Woojin pushes himself up from his seat, pain blooming like a raging fire in his thigh as he does his best to walk outside. Hoping that maybe Chan was just out there, practicing like the madman he was.

“Did you guys see him go anywhere or anything last night?” He asks, run a hand down his face with a groan.

“Uh he drank like a glass of something and then left, but I dunno where he went.” Minho is the only one to offer any sort of help as most of them had retired far earlier than Chan did.

“He....drank?” Jisung asks, pausing in his motions of setting up his own plate.

Minho nods, not quite understanding the odd severity of the situation.

Jisung groans before he looks at Woojin, “He’s probably in the basement asleep. Go wake him up.”

Woojin just nods, limping his way towards the basement as he mutters curses to himself. The rest of the boys look toward Jisung for some sort of clarity and he lets out a dry laugh.

“Chan can’t handle alcohol, but when he does drink though. The man passes out for hours on end, so it’s better to just wake him up.” The boys all make an ‘ah’ motion with their lips before they resume their own tasks. It was a a rather funny thought that haunted their minds for the hours to come, to think someone so intense could be taken down by just a shot of liquor.

It isn’t until a few hours later that they see Chan again, eyes slightly puffy with his hair a wild mess. His movements are sluggish as he makes his way around the kitchen, grabbing another bottle of water as he finds some crackers to stuff into his mouth. No one says anything to him as he does all this, it’s a bit of a funny sight so they keep their commentary and giggles to themselves. Chan pays them no mind as he stuffs his mouth crackers, only to wash them down with water as he rubs at his eyes. He doesn’t remember what compelled him to take a victory shot, all he knew that it was one of his worst decision to date.

His head isn’t pounding though, which mean he wasn’t having a hangover so that was a plus. But he had hoped to relax as he settled himself on the couch with another bottle in hand. That was quickly destroyed when there was banging at the front door of their meager home.

“Open up, it’s us!” The voice was light, almost cheerful and it has everyone exchange a look. Well everyone but Chan, he was still trying to gather himself with two fingers pressed against his temple.

Jeongin decides to open the door, it’s a spur of the moment sense of bravery for the young man as he hurries over. Upon opening it, his head tilts in confusion as he’s met with a bright smile from what he can only assume is a girl. He’d never met one before and Seungmin’s mother never really counted, they had never properly met. She’s about to say something when she’s interrupted by another girl, one who has a sort of bat with nails sticking out in all areas over her shoulder.

“So where’s the slayer? Figure we gotta talk to the man in charge of you losers.” She growls out, her eyes glancing over the area that she could see from the doorframe.

Jeongin doesn’t like her much, she’s too much like how Chan was when they first met and so he hurries back into the safety of Seungmin’s arms.

“Give me a moment, I’m still trying to wake up.” Chan says, voice low with a husky sort of tone that just shows how long he had slept prior to his awakening.

The two girls walk in and they’re followed by five more, some remind Jeongin of the first girl and some of the second. He’s a little confused on how he should react or even speak, so he goes back to look at Seungmin for confirmation for everything.

“Well you look like shit.” The girl says, she’s almost laughing at the way Chan seems to be holding his head and the man gives nothing to fight her on it. Instead, he laughs along with her too.

“If I had known I was gonna have an audience with Queen herself, I would’ve cleaned up.” He jokes in return when he finally looks up at the girl. The two bring each other in for a hug as Chan gets up from the couch and she sets down her bat.

“You know her?” Felix asks, amazed that Chan would know sort of girl let alone one that just seemed to ooze that same intensity that Chan did.

Chan looks over at his friends and he smiles, it’s a smile they hadn’t seen in a long time since this all began.

“You could say she’s an old friend from the battle.”

A friend? They hadn’t known he made friends during that hellscape but then again, they didn’t know much else other than he had one. They never bothered to ask.

“Not to be rude, but would you mind at least giving us names.” Woojin is once again the first to try and pull everything together. His soft tone allows the girls to understand that they had been intruding without a proper introduction and a few flush in embarrassment.

The girls all introduce themselves one by one, the one who had knocked on the door was Yujin and the one with the bat was Seungyeon or Queen as Chan had called her. The blond was Elkie, although Felix settled for calling an emu for some reason that went unknown to them. The girl with the bob cut and a scar along her left cheek was Yeeun and their youngest was Eunbin. The last two were their eldest Seunghee and the quiet one, Sorn. The boys introduced themselves as well, they do little explain anything aside from their names and ages since the girls had been kind enough to explain who the eldest and youngest were.

Once that was all said and done, there’s an awkward sort of silence before Jeongin finally speaks up. His voice shaky due to the frightening nature of Seungyeon, but he powers through.

“Why are you called the Queen?” He asks, head tilted as he grasps tightly at the shirt Seungmin wore.

Seungyeon looks amused almost, she hadn’t expect them not to know why but then again. The Order never really thoroughly explained the battles and it’s winners to the public, all that people knew was there was a battle and if one had the money. They could view it. Nothing more.

“It’s cause I’ve been in the battle four times now, first one was cause I got caught. The next two were for fun and the last, well I have my own little vendetta against the Order.” She answered it all with such clarity in her voice that it had concerned the boys, even the way she had said it had given a hint to longing the battle.

“How old were you in the first one? No offense but you look like you’re our age.” Felix asks, the girl is becoming more and more of a mystery to him.

“Uh let’s see, this is my first year not going back and I’m twenty-two, so probably like sixteen or seventeen.”

Before the boys can ask another question, Chan clears his throat to call for their attention. And it works almost immediately, even the other girls turn to focus on him as well.

“I’m going to talk to Seungyeon about the building we’ll go after. After that I’ll take whoever is able to handle it.” Chan tells them before he makes a motion for Seungyeon to follow, which she does but not without taking her bat with her.

Another awkward silence settles in with the girls on one side of the main room and the boys on the other. Hyunjin hardly does anything to break the ice between, Minho has been ignoring them since they arrived, so it’s left to the others to do something. Anything.

// // // // // // // // // // // // //

By the time the two leaders come back, the two groups are finally talking to one another and making friends. Jisung had found himself bonding the most with Sorn, she wasn’t as quiet as she was before but it seemed that she had always been subject to becoming her own groups medic. So they exchanged knowledge with one another, especially since it was a given that they’d both be joining in on this take down.

“Alright, girls get your shit together and get in the car.” Seungyeon commands, her voice leaves no room for argument and the girls obey rather easily. Yujin is the one who gives a chipper goodbye alongside a wave before she leaves, Seungyeon just rolls her eyes before she leaves to go outside as well.

All eyes now focus on Chan, he looks a lot more put together now with his arms crossed over his chest. “Jisung, Felix, Hyunjin, Minho and Seungmin you’re gonna come with me. The rest of you guys stay here.” He says and the boys who were named stand up, not needing anymore to be said before they head off to gather what they’ll need.

“Why can’t I go?” Changbin questions just as Chan turns to go head outside.

“I can’t have you freezing up on me Changbin.” Chan answers, his voice is firm and leaves no room for the boy to even add in a second question as he walks away.

The balantant refusal of his help puts a deep frown on Changbin’s features, he had done well their first go around. Sure, he had messed up but he made up for it by the end of it. Sensing his friend’s upset, Woojin lets out a sigh as he places a hand on his shoulder and offers him a smile.

“He means well, you know that.” He tells him and Changbin can only nod. His shoulders slumped down in defeat as he leans against the elder. “How about this. While they’re out, I’ll train you a bit more with a pistol.” The promise has Changbin nod a bit as he gets up, opting to go to the room he claimed as his own for a nap.

Jeongin watches his friend go with sad eyes and even tries to get up from his seat when Woojin shakes his head, mumbling something about how it wouldn’t help. So the boy listens, opting to try and cheer up the rest of his friends by playing little games or even just asking questions they already knew he had the answer to.

At least they have someone like him around to brighten their sour moods.

// // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // // //

There wasn’t much of a plan for their next attack, it was rogue and bound to be messy but in truth that’s how Seungyeon liked her attacks. It was hard for the enemy to guess what they would do, sure it was messy and may have lead to more casualties than it need be. But it was just how things worked with her group. Chan had no quarrels with it when they discussed the plan and what would be done, though he warned her that his group was fairly new to it all so orders would be given.

She didn’t argue.

In fact, she agreed with him.

Seungyeon had noticed how skittish the boys all were, even if some did try to put up a brave front. They would need to gather themselves soon, with the main attack against the Order being just mere weeks away. The Rebellion couldn’t have boys who would chicken out by take a step at the Order’s base.

So during the drive, with the girls one car and the boy’s in another, Chan had filled them in on how it would go down. Hyunjin was to go with him and Felix, it was easier to keep tabs on them and Felix had worked best with Hyunjin in a general sense. The others would go on their own together, Jisung was better off with Minho and Seungmin as the two would need the stabilizing force that was Jisung to keep them both on track. The general span of the plan was to follow the lead of the girls until the first few floors were cleared out and that was when they would officially split up with Chan and his group taking care of the top floors with Seungyeon joining them. The other’s would stay down, taking care of whatever backup came through and helping Sorn with what she needed.

It was crude when compared to Chan’s original plans for the first attempt but they didn’t argue it. If Chan figured this was the best way to go about it, then they would follow. Minho had been the one giving soft grunts of disapproval of the plan but he said nothing, so nothing would change.

When they finally arrived at where they were to be, they had kept their cars out in the distance on request of Eunbin. She stated that it’d be easier to keep the them and the cars hidden that way, Hyunjin agreed although never stated why he agreed with her stance on this.

As they all start getting out from the cars, gathering their weapons that’s when Felix notices something about all the girls. They don’t seem nervous at all, instead they look rather energetic and he can’t help but furrowed his brows.

“No offense, but you seem a lil too happy about all this.” He says, loading the cartridge into his pistols before he’s placing them behind with his belt holding them up and covering himself up a sweater he brought with him.

“You get used to it after all and it starts being a little fun.. I guess.” Seunghee answers, her voice soft as she offers the younger boy a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes as she grabs her own choice weaponry before she goes to group up with her own team.

Felix shakes his head in confusion, he doesn’t see what could possibly be fun about all of this. He’s getting more questions than answers nowadays and he won’t have time for an answer until they come to a standstill. So with a grumble about how ‘everything is stupid’, he slams the car door shut before he follows after his own group.

The feelings of safety and comfort wash over him when he’s finally in his group’s circle. It wasn’t like Seungyeon’s group was odd, it was just the intensity that surrounded them that had a tingle go down his spine everytime he looked at them. Perhaps it was just the fact that they were strangers and just met, or maybe it was just the fact that Seungyeon herself was a whole new demon all together. But it didn’t matter, not yet anyways. So he places his focus on Chan, the man discussing the plan with both groups before he wishes his own good luck.

Both groups fall into line as they follow Yujin in through the front door. The only ones who don’t follow in are Hyunjin and Elkie, each armed with guns that are too large to conceal. They needed to be careful about it all, not only with the workers in the building but with the civilians on the street.

Yujin offers a bright smile to the man behind the desk when he looks up, she leans over the desk and tilts her head as she purses her lips for a moment.

“Do you think you could let us go by, sir?” She asks, fluttering her eyelashes and the man clears his throat.

“S-Sorry, I can’t allow that, m’am.” He replies and she pouts, rather cutely to add onto the effect.

He denies her once more and she huffs.

Chan and Felix exchange a glance, had this been the way they were supposed to get through the building? What was the point of guarding themselves if Yujin could just flirt her way through them.

But then the man denies her one more time and she lets out a sigh.

Pulling out the pistol she had from behind her back, she places the muzzle of it against the middle of his forehead and smiles once again.

“Well that’s a shame, I kinda liked you.” She purrs out as she pulls the trigger and blood splatters everywhere. Two more gunshots go off before the two outside enter the building. An alarm goes off with front of the building going into lock down and suddenly everything changes.

Screams from the office works go off as they try to hide but it’s no use, not when the girls go in on them leaving the boys in the dust. There’s more blood getting splattered against the wall and the sounds of bones crunching. It’s only when Seungyeon gives a taunting call of “Slayer” do the boy’s begin to do their own work as well.

Guards start running in, some with shields and some without it as they aim their weapons at them. Chan and Seungyeon waste little time in trying to buy them a free second or two, going in after the ones that are close enough. She opts for her regular way of disposing of the men, slitting the throats open with a combat knife as they choke on their own blood. Chan’s method is much more gruesome as he holds one hostage against his chest with a hand wrapped tightly against the man’s throat, choking him slowly as he uses him as a shield. Aiming at the other men, shooting the ones he can in a means to injure them. Though get’s a few lucky shots in the throats, it’s only when they start shooting at him does he duck to the ground besides a desk. Blood now staining his clothes and face, he glances over to make sure his own men are okay and they are. Hyunjin still looks rather bored but he hasn’t missed a shot from where he stood, the rifle lined up against his shoulder as he seemed to line headshot after headshot.

Yujin and Minho are the first ones to leave without the group, running off to another section of the first floor with Felix and Hyunjin running to cover Chan as he wipes the blood off of his face.

“We’re heading up.” Chan yells out, Seungyeon only nods as she gives a motion of her head to signal for Elkie to join them and the girl only nods in confirmation.

With even more reinforcements coming, the small group of four runs towards the fire escape and quickly heads up the stairs. They don’t stop until they hit the fifth floor, Elkie looks towards Chan with bright eyes as if waiting for an order and he just nods.

“You and Hyunjin are going to cover us from the back end, we’re going to clear out this building as best as we can.” He tells her and she nods, looking over at Hyunjin who just gives a shrug as he pulls out a lollipop and slips it into his mouth.

“A lollipop? Really?” Felix says looking at the boy incredulously and he’s only met with another shrug from Hyunjin.

“We gotta go, we don’t have the time.” Felix tells them both as he and Chan force the door open.

They’re met with silence that won’t last long, the lights are all flickering and Chan raises a hand. They all fall in behind him, taking careful steps as they keep their fingers on the triggers of their weapon. As they come across the first room, Chan motions for them to stay still before he pushes the door open. Upon entering it, there’s no one to be found but there is an alarming amount of pictures posted to the wall. Some are crossed out, others are circled and some are left blank. There’s no wording besides them to signify what each means, it’s rather ominous and the small group can’t help but stare at it in horrific wonder. Felix pulls out his phone, it wasn’t exactly something he should’ve had on him but it was useful in a time like this.

So as he began to take pictures, the others kept up their post and watched the room. It was quiet but far too quiet on their floor to keep them from becoming comfortable. It’s only when Elkie motions past Chan does the group go into motion, the eldest running off into where she had pointed as she and Hyunjin ready their rifles. Felix finishes taking the pictures but he’s searching through whatever papers are in that room, trying to find anything of use as the two begin to fire away. In his moment of panic, he manages to collect a few papers that would be of use and begins to tell them of what he finds but as he does so. He notices that there’s another man coming from behind, aiming straight for Elkie so he does the only thing he can do. He dives straight for her, pulling her to the ground as the missed shot goes straight to the door instead of through her.

She stares at him for a moment, a look of anger boiling in her eyes but it’s gone when she notices that the man was behind her. Hyunjin hardly hesitates as he turns his arm to the man, shooting him with such precision that Elkie nor Felix care about the blood splashing onto their faces.

Their attention is turned down the hall when they hear the familiar cry of Chan, it’s not one of pain nor hurt. It’s a warcry as he wastes little time with the next few guards they start heading down the hallway. With a knife in his hand, he rushes straight for the one on the left and stabs the man straight through the neck. Twisting it, insuring that the man would die slowly from the blood bubbling in his mouth as well as the blood flowing down his neck. The next man runs, he’s aiming for Felix but before he can even reach the room Chan is tackling him down.

He reaches for his gun and Chan grabs his fist before he can, twisting it to the point where it breaks. The three watch in awe as Chan takes the knife from earlier, pressing it against the man’s throat as he leans in close.

“Does the Order know we’re here?” He growls out, eyes narrowing at the man.

He gets no answer and so he presses the blade a bit tighter against the skin, he winces in response.

“Do they?” He asks once more, his patience wearing thin.

The guard shakes his head no, eyes pleading for mercy he will not be bestowed.

Chan just smirks as he slices the man throat but the cut is so deep that his head is nearly severed from his body. Just barely holding on as Chan steps off of the man, wiping the knife against his pants as he turns to look at his friends. “Come on, we need to search the rest of this place before we leave.”

The group only nods, following his orders with a new found respect and even fear of Chan. They leave no room unturned, searching for information to bring back and look over.

Minutes pass just as quickly as the bullets that rained on the floor, blood is everywhere from the walls to the faces of those whom killed them. Papers are stuffed into a crude looking folder, it’s only when the teams meet up back in the fire escape do they see the extent to which everyone was injured. Nothing to serious had happened but Minho had come back with the worst of it. This time it was he who sported the busted lip as well as a sprain to his ankle. Felix was doing better as well as Chan, it was only Elkie who had sported a few bruises. The rest of the girls had done well, catching either minor bruises or a few scratches.

But there was little time to discuss their findings or injuries, they had been informed of a bomb that was set to go off in the next thirty seconds or so. It was courtesy of Eunbin, she had decided that blowing up the building was a better way to go than to leave it still standing. So with that knowledge they rushed out as fast as they could, with a few limping here and there.

They had barely made it out of the building when the explosion went off, fire bursting through the windows with glass shattering everywhere.

There was no time to admire their handiwork, with sirens beginning to sound off as they barely reached their cars.

Chan and Seungyeon exchange looks with one another, a message sent between them before they load into their cars and begin on the ride home. A sense of pride blooms in the girls hearts whilst a sense of dread begins in the boys.

There is little silence in each car, music is blasting in both as the girls wave their hands out the windows and give victorious cries. Music is blaring in the boys’ ears and Felix is the only one trying to lift their spirits but there are no cries of victory or even relief. There is just silence. Silence that is deafening the music to their ears.

#stray kids #clc #bang chan #lee know #felix #hyunjin #woojin #changbin #seungmin #jeongin #jisung #seungyeon #elkie #yoojin #eunbin #seunghee #yeeun #sorn #*fic

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nyangibun · 7 years

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GoT 7x07 Finale Thoughts

So it’s finally here. The finale. The epic conclusion for this epic season... lol I’m kidding. This season has been a mess and so was this episode. But as always, let’s begin to unpack the nonsense to hopefully find some sense to it all.

We begin the episode with Grey Worm and the Unsullied and Bron and Jaime overlooking them before the Dothraki come riding up. At first, I’ll be honest, I was wondering how the hell Grey Worm managed to escape Casterly Rock while Euron surrounded the place with his ships? Of course, it’s because everyone’s going to the Dragonpit meeting and bringing the might of their armies in the case it all goes to shit. I find that interesting because if not for this meeting, I believed there was no way Grey Worm would’ve come out unscathed. I still feel like either Grey Worm or Missandei is going to die soon and it’s going to take a large toll on the other, forcing them to question their previously unwavering loyalty to Dani.

Nevertheless, this episode isn’t about that. It was just a stray thought. Let’s move onto the next scene, which I found interesting. Jon looks towards King’s Landing and asks, “why would anyone want to live there?” which just goes to cement his love for the North. So repeat after me, Jon Snow would never be happy in King’s Landing or anywhere south of Winterfell. It’s not who he is. It’ll never be who he is because Jon Snow is loyal to the North. Although it really doesn’t feel like it this episode, we’ll get to that in a moment.

There are a lot of reunions happening during the Dragonpit scenes. A lot of it feels very gratuitous, like D&D is all ‘look we got all your favs in one place, isn’t this cool!’ But nah D&D, what would be cool is a consistent and sensical plot with character continuity. Nevertheless, this is what we got and I did really love the interactions between Tyrion and Podrick, Tyrion and Bronn and the original OT3 together again. Also, the little exchange between Brienne and the Hound was kind of adorable, which is not an adjective I would’ve used for their relationship. I just really liked how proud they both seemed of Arya.

On this walk to the Dragonpit, there was one conversation that I paid particular attention to, which was Jorah talking about the history of the Dragonpit and why it was created:

“Dragons don’t understand the difference between what is theirs and what isn’t. Land, livestock, children. Letting them roam free around the city was a problem.”

We’ve already seen that this is the case with Dani’s dragons when it burnt a child and I feel like this may come up again in S8. Look, if centuries of Targaryens couldn’t control their dragons, how will Dani? She ain’t that special. Even she’s said that those dragons can’t be tamed. They’re a danger to Westeros, just as the Others are. Both ‘Ice’ and ‘Fire’ are destructive forces to the fate of the Seven Kingdoms. By the end of the story, both will die.

Speaking of dragons, Dani flying down to the Dragonpit meeting on a dragon when last we left her she was on the boat with Jon was so extra. It was actually quite uncomfortable to watch because it was such a gratuitous scene. On the one hand, Dani is asserting her power, using her dragons to once again instil fear in her enemies. If I had dragons, I’d do it too. It’s a good power move. But on the other hand, she’s there to strike up a truce and speak calmly about a larger threat, so this feels unnecessary. The power move thus feels more arrogant and kind of dumb under the circumstances, and clearly, Cersei felt the same way. The unimpressed look she had when Dani arrived says it all. And that’s the thing. Cersei may be a cold-hearted bitch, but she stands her ground in the face of her enemies, she looks them in the eye and says, “that it?” because she refuses to let them intimidate her. It’s awesome. She’s awesome. You can’t help loving her whenever she’s on screen.

Now we have the long awaited reveal of the wight. First of all, I still think it’s a dumb idea and will always think it’s a dumb idea, but I guess it got everyone to understand the scope of what they’re facing up North even if it is a stupid contrived way to get everyone together. There are several things I want to unpack about the following scenes, so I’m going to start with the simplest: Euron.

He makes a great show of not wanting to face the wights and wanting to sail back to the Iron Islands and hide out there till everything is over. I honestly believed it too until Cersei revealed her real plan to have Euron bring over the Golden Company while Jon and Dani are up fighting the Others. It’s clever, it’s underhanded and it’s so completely Cersei. And finally, we see Euron being utilised. I’m actually really excited to see him play a larger role in S8, which I think he will. With that in mind, now we fast forward a little to Theon winning over Yara’s men to go save her from Euron. I’m so proud of him, so proud of his ability to fight through his PTSD to do what he feels is right and proving to people (characters & audience alike) that he’s not a coward. But now, how many men does Theon even have? Not that many from the looks of it, and Euron is about to go pick up the Golden Company. I think Theon is going to tail after Euron from a distance, figure out what they’re planning and hopefully send a raven to Jon. After all, I think it’d be pretty easy to tell that Euron isn’t sailing for the Iron Islands and is instead going to Essos. But I don’t see how Theon will successfully get Yara back. Him dying on a failed mission also feels unsatisfying after everything he’s gone through, but I also don’t see how he’ll be able to take on Euron’s fleet.

That’s speculation for another day I guess.

Moving on, let’s get right down to it. Jon’s (dumbass) speech:

“I am true to my word or I try to be. That is why I cannot give you what you ask. I cannot serve two queens and I’ve already pledged myself to Queen Daenerys of House Targaryen.”

And then this bit:

“I’m not gonna swear an oath I can’t uphold. Talk about my father if you want, tell me that’s the attitude that got him killed, but when enough people make false promises, words stop meaning anything, then there are no more answers, only better and better lies. And lies won’t help us in this fight.”

This speech is highly contradictory to the above speech because Jon did swear an oath and that was to the North as their king. As their king, he is to uphold his duties to them and to his people as best as he can, and that does not include giving Dani the North and pledging their allegiance to her. It doesn’t work like that. The Northern houses are proud men and women, who are loyal to their own and definitely not to a Targaryen queen, so they won’t kneel. Or did everyone forget what happened when Jon said he was going to Dragonstone?

“Your Grace, with respect I must agree with Lady Sansa. I remember the Mad King all too well. A Targaryen cannot be trusted, nor can a Lannister.“

“We called your brother king, and then he rode south and lost his kingdom.”

“Winter is here, Your Grace. We need the King in the North in the north.“

This is all seems rather foreboding and I still believe Jon is going to lose the North in S8. They’re all sailing to Winterfell now. How well would Jon be received when he arrives with Dani in tow? How well would the Northern houses take to Dani, a Targaryen? Nevertheless, what I’m trying to say is Jon swearing his fealty to Dani is a betrayal to the North in and of itself, so saying that he’s not going to swear an oath he can’t uphold is hypocritical at best because that is his first and foremost oath.

Unless he’s not betraying it at all. Unless he’s saying it because he has no intention of not upholding his oath to the North.

Also, it’s interesting Jon brings up Ned and how he’d rather be honest than make false promises, but that’s a lie. He made false promises to Ygritte and to the Wildlings. He’s done it all before. And what was the point of having Sansa say this to Jon if he was just going to follow the same mistakes that Ned made and subsequently that Robb made by taking up with a ‘foreign whore’ (sidenote: I hate the word ‘whore’ but I’m quoting here as it’s something Lord Glover said):

"You have to be smarter than Father. You need to be smarter than Robb. I loved them, I miss them, but they made stupid mistakes, and they both lost their heads for it.”

It would be completely pointless if after 7 seasons of character development and plot progression for Jon to be exactly like Ned and do the exact same thing as Robb and get away with it while the other two both lost their heads for it. Now I love Jon and I love his character, but if this is his trajectory, if he comes up on top, especially now it’s revealed he’s not even a bastard, that he’s the trueborn heir to the Iron Throne, then Jon Snow is starting to look a lot like Gary Stue.

I want to believe otherwise. After all, I still have faith that D&D is leading us to the same conclusion as GRRM and he would no way want a fairytale ending for his complex and all morally grey characters. And that faith also led me to pick up on this exchange Jon has with Theon:

“....It’s always the right step.”

“It’s not. It may seem that way from the outside. I promise you it’s not true. I’ve done plenty of things I regret.”

So it may seem like Jon is betraying the North for Dani and his trust/love in her, but it’s not true. That’s what I took from it and what I will continue to take from this episode because I still have faith in Jon Snow. Before any anti’s come screaming at me about how I’m reaching for the sake of my ship, stop right there. I would rather Jon and Sansa end up platonic than let D&D ruin the characterisation of Jon or Sansa. Before I was a Jonsa shipper, I was a shipper of complex characters and decent sensical development, so you can leave your hate right where it is.

Moving on again, can we please talk about Lena Heady? Can we please just stand up and give a rousing applause for Cersei ‘Badass Bitch’ Lannister? And Peter Dinklage too. That entire scene between them was so great. I’ve always really liked them together. But let’s talk about this a little. The entire conversation is dancing around their grief over Myrcella and Tommen and Cersei’s anger at Tyrion for ‘ruining’ their family, but then it ends with Tyrion realising she’s pregnant. The look he has on his face is a little like horror. At first, I thought that maybe the horror comes from the knowledge it’s another Twincest baby or that Cersei is procreating again and will it be a Joffrey or a Myrcella/Tommen? But now that I think about it, I think it’s more about the fact that Cersei will have an heir. Westerosi politics is built on these houses being able to produce heirs to carry on legacies and continuing ruling after their parents are long gone. It’s how they create stability. When there is no one true heir or no heir at all, there’s a power vacuum that causes civil wars (Dance of Dragons) and other such chaos. If Cersei has an heir but Dani doesn’t, who will the people want on the throne? At this point, Dani isn’t seen as a much better option than Cersei. She’s probably seen as a worse option since she’s a conqueror, or rather specifically, she’s Aegon the Conqueror come again.

So let’s fast forward to the much-anticipated boatbang of the century, which was... anticlimactic. But that’s not what I want to discuss (yet). I want to talk about Tyrion standing outside the room, looking on with a strange expression on his face. Some people have suggested he’s jealous, but why would he be jealous if he’s the one that suggested to Dani that Jon is in love with her? Maybe he is, but it’s a weird way to show his jealousy. He actually steps out from the shadows and then stands there for a long time. Has he been spying on Jon or did he come walk over after the door’s closed because he already knows what’s going on? Besides, I feel like he looks more concerned than jealous, like something’s eating him up about it. Someone suggested that maybe Tyrion urged Jon to go to Dani. I wouldn’t say Tyrion explicitly said ‘go bang her’ or anything like that but maybe he implicitly suggested it because Tyrion has been rightfully concerned this season about Dani and the line of succession. If she can produce an heir, it would solidify her claim to the Iron Throne. Without one and being actually barren would make her less of a viable choice. Of course, this feels very tinfoil. It’s just bizarre for Tyrion to stand there looking so ominous. In fact, this entire scene was bizarre.

I mean let’s really look at it. Not only is the boatbang scene being shot after a scene of Rhaegar and Lyanna marrying and supposedly being in love, but in between is also a shot of Lyanna dying while whispering Jon’s true name, ‘Aegon Targaryen’, and Bran’s voiceover saying he’s the trueborn heir to the Iron Throne. If that isn’t foreboding, I don’t know what is. You can hardly show an epic romance between two characters when you’re also cutting away to the romance of one character’s parents, which also confirms that said two characters are aunt and nephew. Nor can you have an epic romance scene when it’s being voiced over by one character’s brother-turned-cousin. That’s weird, especially when you go back to 7x02 when Missandei and Grey Worm had their long-awaited sex scene. The focus was entirely on them for several minutes as they undressed and took each other in. That entire scene was 4+ minutes dedicated to them, whereas Jon and Dani had about 15 or so seconds altogether and this is the supposed ‘epic romance’ of the entire story. This is the anticipated sexual tryst between two main characters, whereas Missandei and Grey Worm are secondary characters at best. It’s underwhelming. There wasn’t even a buildup to the sex or a closeup shot of their first kiss. It was just ‘wham, bam, thank you, ma’am’. And then you factor in the scene before Jon knocks on the door. He stands there for some time like he’s steeling himself to do it. He doesn’t look nervous, not in the way one would be before going to bang someone he apparently loves. It’s just odd and frankly, rather ominous.

Anyway, let’s head to Winterfell for literally the best part of the entire episode. I honestly don’t have much to say about it. I just really loved the fact that Sansa and Arya were playing Littlefinger. I still hated that they had to butcher Arya like that to get this across, but the bond between the sisters seem stronger than ever and their final scene together was beautiful.

But honestly, how loud did everyone scream at this part:

“You stand accused of murder. You stand accused of treason. How do you answer these charges, Lord Baelish?”

“My sister asked you a question.”

It was poetic to have Petyr die at the hands of his own dagger and in a similar way to how Cat, his supposed beloved, died too. It’s perfect. Goodbye Creepyfinger, we won’t miss you!

But before we say goodbye completely, Creepyfinger did give us a little Jonsa nugget if you were paying attention. When Sansa receives the letter from Jon that he bent the knee to Dani, LF says this:

“I heard gossip that the Dragon Queen is quite beautiful.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Jon is young and unmarried. [Dani] is young and unmarried.”

“You think he wants to marry her?”

“I think an alliance makes sense. Together, they’d be difficult to defeat.”

I know he’s trying to manipulate Sansa into betraying her family and taking the North for herself, so he could marry her and gain power, but commenting on Dani’s beauty seems a strange thing to add. He could just say Jon is young and unmarried and so is she, an alliance would good. But he starts with commenting on her beauty. He already goaded Jon earlier this season, figuring out his feelings for Sansa, and now he’s goading Sansa, who seems shocked and confused by it, only to deflect and bring the topic back to Arya. Perhaps it’s shipping goggles, but it’s an interesting add-on to the conversation.

Back to King’s Landing though, Jaime and Cersei just had their massive, inevitable fallout and last we see is Jaime riding off on his own. Now, where would our conflicted little lion be heading? The North to Winterfell, right? And I wonder where a certain blonde-haired angel is going? Same place. Oh my, look how that worked for Braime <3 Sorry lol. I’m just very happy for the possibility of Braime and also very interested to see Jaime interacting with Sansa, which I hope he does. If/when Sansa becomes Queen of the North, I need Jaime to swear his fealty to her over Pyroqueen. Please.

Final thoughts:

The Night King is still the badass he is with this badass new child, Viserion, who is finally getting the recognition he deserves. All hail the Night King!

But only if Tormund doesn’t die. I swear to Lucifer if Tormund dies, I’ll kill the Night King myself.

Also, Sam is at Winterfell!!! Please give me a Sam x Sansa friendship!!!! And his scene with Bran was hilarious. I don’t know why, but I just found it really funny.

What did you guys think?

#jonsa #jon x sansa #jon snow #sansa stark #anti-jonerys #anti-daenerys #tyrion lannister #cersei lannister #braime #jaime lannister #arya stark #littlefinger has died!#got s7 #got s7 finale #game of thrones #spoilers #got s7 thoughts #anti jonerys

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