#he loves magic. he really does. it's power and it's fun. but he's DAMN transparent that it comes with a price

[talentforlying]

ok legends of tomorrow ended up touching on one of the most Fascinating things about constantine, which is the way he thinks about his magic, so i'm gonna ramble about that for a minute.

first and foremost, magic is a tool for survival in constantine's mind. that's it. it doesn't make him better than people, he just uses it better than most people. of course, he's arrogant about having it, and can be equal parts holier-than-thou and devil-on-your-shoulder about its usage, but it's still just part of the kit for him.

that's one of the reasons that so many other magic users hate his guts; it's why one of his monikers is "the magpie of magic". the artifacts and powers and rituals that are sacred to others, that are ways for people to commune with their faith, to extend the grace of their personal divinities upon the rest of the world - those are all just tools to constantine. divination is a pair of glasses. a binding spell is a wrench. an exorcism is a hammer. he picks up what works and leaves the rest.

the reason he took up magic to begin with was to survive. he started using magic trying to kill his abusive father, and then when he felt too bad to go through with it, to weaken him. he used magic to bolster his grifts when he was living on the streets, and he used it to set his friend chas free of his abusive mother and her familiar. eventually, he got too cocky with it, too full of himself and his talent for magic, and that's how newcastle happened, but after that he tempered himself, started looking at it as the kind of weapon that needs to never be left lying around loaded.

but because magic is what helped him to survive, he does think sometimes that it's the only thing that makes him worth living. he's tied a lot of himself up in his ability to help people after a long, long childhood of being told he ruins everything he touches. even when he fucks things up, or magical entities from his past fuck things up for him, he never blames the magic, he blames himself. magic is the only thing that makes him redeemable, in a way, for the life he's lived. for the people he's hurt.

he needs magic to stay alive these days, but he didn't always. newcastle shot him in the foot in a real big way: he was someone powerful enough to both summon a major demon and send a little girl's soul to hell. he was being yanked out of ravenscar to do magical favors for people as early as two years into his sentencing, he'd accidentally made a name for himself that could not be erased and it launched him into the viper pits of the magical world in a way that could never be undone. every job he did for people, every gun put to his head, meant more deals he had to make, more strings to pull, more people to piss off. he never had a fucking chance to get out of that world once he'd already fallen in it.

(which is why i think a hades-game hellblazer arc where he's constantly escaping hell only to get sucked back in would be thematically appropriate, because he keeps trying to leave and it keeps pulling him back.)

these days, if he were ever to lose his magic, he'd be a dead man walking. demons and angels and warlocks and magicians everywhere coming to take their pound of flesh. he owes his life to his quick and clever thinking, but he keeps his life because of magic, and that's why he'll never be able to give it up. ever.

#( ooc. ) OUT OF CIGS. #idk it absolutely kills me that constantine tried Again and Again to escape the world of magic #but he never could and never can. he made one mistake and it royally fucked him for all eternity #legends of tomorrow made it a physical dependence which is very along the lines of the way it's talked about in the comics #there Is that element of addiction there. the need to get a high off of being the smartest and most powerful person in the room #but for the most part his dependency is because of survival. he needs to put up a front or he'll be killed on sight #he needs to seem unfuckingtouchable at all times or everybody from hell to heaven will come for him #and i think something that gets talked about the least with constantine is how hard he tries to save other people from his own fate #he scares people away from magic. he warns them. he shows them the consequences of bad luck and overconfidence #he is a walking talking billboard of 101 REASONS NOT TO DABBLE IN THE OCCULT #but no one listens. and then they blame him for drawing them in like a serpent in the garden when he was the wall around it the whole time #he loves magic. he really does. it's power and it's fun. but he's DAMN transparent that it comes with a price #and he blames himself for every single person who decides they're willing to pay it only to find out later they can't #every person unfortunate enough to get caught in his orbit whether they chose to be there or not #now him calling in favors and blackmailing people into helping him? that's on him. that's a whole other meta #but with magic itself? he really does try to get away sometimes. and he really does try to help others get away too #( character study. ) A WALKING PLAGUE OF A MAN.

[forasecondtherewedwon]

Only in a Sitcom

Fandom: WandaVision Pairing: Darcy Lewis/Jimmy Woo Rating: T

Summary: Darcy has no idea what the hell’s going on with this WandaVision thing, but neither does Jimmy. It’s kinda fun to have somebody to binge-watch alternate reality TV with.

read ch. 1 one / 2 two / 3 three / 4 four / 5 five 6 six / 7 seven / 8 eight / 9 nine / 10 ten 11 eleven / 12 twelve / 13 thirteen / 14 fourteen 15 fifteen / 16 sixteen / 17 seventeen / 18 eighteen

this fic is now complete!

Darcy, Jimmy, and Monica have been working their way across Westview in as straight a line as possible, knocking on every door in every cute little cul-de-sac in their path. It was Jimmy who asserted they should never put their backs to a dangerous situation, but Monica who overruled that statement, pointing out that they were more likely to stay focused if they didn’t keep staring at the fight in the sky.

Darcy thinks they were both right. There’s a tingle rippling up and down the back of her neck, like she gets when she’s up in the middle of the night, spooked by shadows her anxious, overtired mind is too eager to turn into monsters, but the heebie-jeebies give her the energy to work quickly. She takes on an entire crescent on her own, readying people for a departure she’s certain they’ve been longing for. As she’s coming out the crescent’s other end, she realizes the Hex is getting brighter; the red storm clouds are being sucked back into themselves to leave a thin daylight.

Standing at the corner, she watches Jimmy and Monica emerge from the street opposite. Darcy jogs over, wincing. Wanda could’ve put orthotics in these Escape Artist boots. They’re blistering her feet.

“This has to be a good sign, right?” she asks, motioning to the calm skies.

“Look,” Monica instructs. She jerks her chin and Darcy and Jimmy follow her line of sight to see Wanda, Vision, and the twins coming up the main road.

Darcy gasps.

Wanda’s gone from bumming-around-the-house sweats to battle-ready chic. With her armour-like bodice, gloves that leave those magic fingers free, and an usually-shaped tiara framing her forehead, she’s both intimidating and otherworldly. But she’s smiling. Darcy would call it a sad smile and it hurts her heart to see it, even though she doesn’t understand.

As Wanda passes them with her hand held fast in Vision’s, she turns her head to nod at Monica. It’s in her eyes too, the same thing that’s in her smile. Something tired but present. Gone are the comedically darting glances of her persona as the bumbling new girl in town and the frazzled energy of a mom trying to corral a couple of superkids. It looks like she’s finally letting go of the illusion/delusion.

“Can we do anything for her?” Jimmy asks as the family continues on down the middle of the street.

“No,” Monica says. “The rest is for Wanda to do on her own.”

“We might as well head back towards the center of town,” Darcy says. “We don’t need to waste time at the edges. They’ll be the first to wake up.”

She points to where the Hex is shimmering on the horizon. The seconds pass and the shimmer looks messier, a weave of overlapping wires fritzing with energy. The edge is coming closer, but unlike when Wanda pushed the boundary farther, closing it around Darcy and her S.W.O.R.D. nemeses, this isn’t menacing. Wanda’s powers are no longer looking to consume more territory, they’re contracting. Faster than the incoming wave of the walls, the Hex goes dark. The red glow is intensely magical in the sudden night.

The three of them fan out, hitting the houses in their new route, and make their way back to the town square. They’ve been telling everyone to remain in their homes until they receive further instructions to evacuate, but Darcy spots a figure on the sidewalk by the department story. It’s Agnes, except… not as they saw her lately. No wild hair or billowing, layered outfit. No levitation. Darcy’s wary in the face of the woman who appears so much like her former self, the one supposedly under Wanda’s control. This Agnes has a damn Peter Pan collar poking out of her sweater! She couldn’t look much less threatening.

“What do you think?” she asks Monica when she joins her.

“I don’t know.” Monica peers across the street at Agnes in the dark and when Agnes notices, she flashes a wide smile.

“Well, maybe we should— Hey, no, wait!”

But the Captain strides across to meet Agnes. Darcy almost follows in her idol’s wake, but she quickly remembers that Monica has powers to protect herself that far exceed the right hook Darcy used to drop Agent Handcuffs. Whatever Agnes’s deal is, Darcy knows she’s an entirely different kind of beast from an asshole S.W.O.R.D. agent.

“What’s going on there?” Jimmy wonders, coming up beside her.

Thanks to the stress of trying to speak to as many citizens as possible in a short amount of time, including looking dozens of people still under mind control in the eye and aching for their lack of agency, the fear of and for Wanda as she witnessed that clash in the sky, and, really, the car crash that’s still pretty recent, Darcy reacts to her boyfriend’s presence by wrapping her arms around him tightly. With his tie pressed to her cheek, she feels him hug her back.

“I don’t know,” she says, carrying on the conversation without pulling away an inch, “but Monica’s finding out.”

“Agnes looks like an average Westviewer again. It’s disconcerting.”

“She must’ve been faking right up until she went head-to-head with Wanda.”

“And now she’s one of them for real.”

“Seems like,” Darcy agrees.

When Monica returns to confirm Agnes’s newly mind-controlled status, Darcy peels herself most of the way away from Jimmy, leaving her arm around his back, beneath his FBI jacket. He rests his arm around her shoulders.

“I don’t know what we do with her,” Monica says, hands on her hips. “We can’t undo what Wanda did, but do we leave Agnes here in Westview, trusting that she isn’t able to hurt anyone? Do we bring her in?”

“If it’s beyond our power to help her, maybe we just leave her here,” Jimmy suggests. “Wanda knows where she is, so we let Agnes stay in a place she can be found when or if Wanda decides to release her.”

“It’s tricky,” Darcy says slowly. “Agnes is capable of doing so much damage, and I’m sure she’s going to get good and angry while Wanda has her trapped inside herself. You and I know how that feels,” she says to Monica. “But that Agnes is secure—as far as we know—inside Sitcom Agnes, like little Agnes nesting dolls. I don’t know if this is the kind of punishment she deserves for pushing Wanda to the brink, but I do know it’s not going to be pretty if that inner Agnes is unleashed with nobody around to mitigate the consequences.”

“Sentient Weapon Observation and Response Division,” Monica says softly.

“Hmm?”

“S.W.O.R.D. That’s what we’re supposed to stand for. I think, without Tyler Hayward around, it’s high time S.W.O.R.D. went back to its roots of trying to understand exceptional people, circumstances, and technology instead of just attacking them.”

“Sounds as though you might have a plan, Captain,” Jimmy says. Darcy glances at his face and catches his small, knowing smile.

Monica beams back.

“The former Director may have kicked me off the base, but I’m still S.W.O.R.D. and I still believe in my mother’s original goals for the organization.”

“Hey, it’s your legacy,” Darcy says. “You have my vote for Director.”

“You want to put Agnes under S.W.O.R.D. observation?” Jimmy asks.

“Not just Agnes. Not if Wanda’s willing to listen.”

With the sky rapidly lightening, Monica roughs out a plan that involves a partnership between S.W.O.R.D. and Wanda Maximoff. A partnership because any other dynamic would surely fail. After what they all witnessed today, it’s obvious that someone as powerful as Wanda can’t be held against her will. In exchange for Wanda making reparations to the people and town of Westview (not the least of which will be repairing all physical damage, which Monica knows Wanda’s capable of, since there’s no longer a Monica-sized hole in her living room wall) and an agreement to be held in the custody of S.W.O.R.D., under the leadership of Director Monica Rambeau, Monica thinks she has plenty to offer Wanda.

“You think she’ll do that deal?” Jimmy asks.

“That’s my question too,” Darcy says. “I mean, without the deal, Wanda can go where she pleases, right?”

“But she’ll be alone,” Monica counters. “We know what her loved ones mean to her. That’s what all this has been about—Wanda doing whatever it takes in order to go through life less alone.”

“What can you give her?”

“Vision,” Jimmy says abruptly. “The other one, the one who left. You think he’ll be back.”

“I think he’ll want answers,” Monica agrees. “Whatever Hayward did to him, he did at S.W.O.R.D. and I’m betting that Wanda will see that’s her best chance to reunite with Vision.”

“Vision will come back,” Darcy says, putting it together, “and Wanda will be there waiting.”

“And in the meantime, we use her expertise as we continue our work in a… more transparent vein. Give her access, keep her busy.”

“Keep her happy,” Jimmy cuts in. Monica nods her acknowledgement.

“Yes. Show her what it’s like to help people again. What better way to remind her there’s more to the world than her artificial paradise than to have her consult on the work we’re doing in space?”

“If you need somebody to sell Wanda on the space angle, I’m your girl,” Darcy volunteers.

“I’ve already had some ideas about that,” Monica promises with a smile.

Her eyes focus beyond Darcy and Jimmy and they turn to see what she’s looking at. Black hood drawn up over her head, Wanda’s walking back into the downtown. Alone. Darcy hopes that the fact that she’s black-hatted doesn’t mean she’s already decided against working to redeem herself to rejoin the good guys.

“You better stay in touch too,” Monica tells Jimmy, shifting as she prepares to intercept Wanda.

“If you reach out to Darcy, I’m sure I won’t be far,” he says. Darcy’s heart performs quick, happy thumps.

With that, Monica walks purposely towards Wanda. Darcy watches her cautious body language and Wanda’s tension in response to being accosted, but there isn’t any visible escalation. When FBI vehicles and the team Darcy assumes belongs to Major Goodner roll up the street, Wanda doesn’t flee. Darcy looks to Jimmy.

“You better go take charge,” she suggests.

He gives her a bashful smile.

“I will in a minute. The evacuation should run like clockwork after all the prep we did. With the Hex removed, everyone’s free.”

“They’re free, I’m free…”

“Are you free Saturday?” The smile’s a little slyer now.

“After all this, I don’t even know what day of the week it is,” Darcy admits, “but yes.”

He laughs.

“What are you thinking?” she asks, twisting to face him as his hand moves from her shoulder to her waist. “Quiet night in watching TV?”

“You know, I think I need a break from TV for a while. How about a movie?”

Darcy grins.

“You buy the tickets, I’ll buy the snacks?”

“Deal,” Jimmy says, and smiles against her mouth when he ducks his head to kiss her.

#my writing #Only in a Sitcom #wandavision #wandavision spoilers #Darcy Lewis #Jimmy Woo #Monica Rambeau #Darcy Lewis x Jimmy Woo #Darcy x Jimmy #Vision

[incorrect-quotes-from-she-ra]

Morning! I hope you don't mind if i give you yet another She-Ra thought I'm too damn lazy to post on my own. Also, it's long again. I WILL find that character limit some day.

So, we know the way Shadow Weaver raised Adora resulted, among other issues, in her being selfless to the point of self-sacrifice, which came to a climax in the Heart's failsafe business.

And it's been suggested that this was basically intentional on Shadow Weaver's part. Basically, selflessness is a very beneficial quality for others to have. My theory is that <b>her plan for Adora had always been specifically for her to someday use the failsafe and release all magic</b>.

(i will admit i am also curious how formatting works in this app. thank you for your help with these experiments)

So, evidence. Let's start with her name. I know this is a remake and they were stuck with the existing names, but there's a scene where Scorpia complains about it ("yeah i GET it, everyone LOVES you"), which constitutes the writers acknowledging its meaning, which makes me think it's fair game to analyze.

First, I'm obviously assuming Shadow Weaver choose it, as part of her ongoing parenting plan. It's also possible it was her original First One-given name, we don't know. Neither quite works because either she or Light Hope should have had some issues knowing what the name was and they clearly knew automatically. Really the entire series is weird in that everyone communicates with everyone else way too easily, and i will definitely rant about that someday.

For now let it stand that Shadow Weaver is the parent figure, it makes the most sense for her to pick the name, both in-universe and narratively, so i shall assume so by default. I have two things to say about that choice.

First, as we all have noticed, most of the princesses have names ending in -a. All of them, if you count "Glimma". It's never said to be intentional, but it would make sense. And then IF such a tradition exists among Etheria's royalty, it's not unreasonable for Shadow Weaver, a notable and moderately respected member of the land of knowledge, to know about it.

And then if she knew, of course she would take it into consideration when looking for names. Admittedly it's a little weird with the anti-Princess propaganda that the Horde has, but she doesn't really need to explain or justify this. Hordak has a very [i]laissez-faire[/i] attitude, and everyone else she clearly doesn't care about.

And if she knew or suspected that the princesses' powers were related to the Heart of Etheria, which i will argue for later, then giving her a princessy name is also adequately ironic.

The second name bit is that Scorpia clearly knows some Latin, but not enough. True, <em>adorare</em> means to worship and/or to love, but Latin verbs are more complex than that. _Adora_ specifically is 3rd person singular present indicative active. The translation would be "she loves".

Names aside, i want to talk about how they (we) learned about the Heart of Etheria. Castaspella doesn't know what to do, Shadow Weaver suggests they take a road trip to research, which she's reticent about but concedes is probably the best use of her time, and they find success. We don't know how long it took them, but i had the distinct impression that it wasn't very long.

Naturally, I'm suggesting Shadow Weaver knew all along, and led Castaspella on the trip to have an excuse for the inevitable "how do you know?". Also tricked her into thinking it was /her/ discovery, and maybe even that she was succeeding where Shadow Weaver had failed before, if necessary.

That's why she's so excited to share their results with everybody, and Shadow Weaver cuts her off, apparently just to antagonize her for fun, but I'm suggesting it was also because for her this is the culmination of a decades-long plan, and she wants to Get On With It.

It's also interesting that there was a mural depicting the Spell of Obtainment in the hallway leading to the failsafe. It was a reminder of Shadow Weaver's past, and an opportunity for her to show she regrets her results but doesn't repent from her choices, which i quite like actually. But I'm also saying that, meta-textually, it was a signal that she'd been there before, literally.

And then there is the potential in-universe connection, since we don't know what exactly the spell was meant to be obtaining. Power, for sure, and from what happened we're probably meant to assume it's tapping into some sort of demonic entity or dimension.

Fair enough, except that it never comes up again. And it's kind of a big plot point that Etheria is isolated from the rest of the cosmos, which may or may not conflict with it having a contactable "hell". Meanwhile there's the Heart of Etheria Project collecting all that magic, which Mara's allies (and their descendants) would know something about, have access to at least one backdoor to, and may well have tried to tap into its power at some point.

And then what went wrong may well be one of the defense mechanisms of the Project, though I'm admittedly veering into unfounded speculation.

So, a rough timeline. Light Spinner was always motivated to excel and craved power. She was probably always envied the princesses, who command greater magic than most sorcerers with apparently none of the study and practice.

She took to researching everything she could that might lead to power, eventually discovering the chamber with the failsafe, and presumably other information left by Mara's Friends, either in other chambers or in documents she's since removed. She would have learned a lot of things from this.

As i suggested, i believe she knew there's some connection between the princesses at large and the Heart of Etheria. Incidentally, i don't know exactly what that connection is, and in particular whether princesses were created by the Project or an existing phenomenon that the First Ones co-opted. But it doesn't matter, exactly.

What's important is that there's clearly a connection, more specifically a control system for the princesses and their magic, which is presumably related to how Shadow Weaver was able to tap into the Black Garnet's power. With Hordak's help, obviously, since she clearly believed it when he claimed he could cut her off at will, but he's later shown to have basically no understanding of First Ones' tech, so the knowledge must have come from her.

For the record, i would guess she thinks princesses are artificial, empowered both magically and politically to keep the planet in check, and that they would be depowered once the failsafe was fired. I also think that may be true, actually, since it almost happened when Entrapta was messing with the system, and if i recall none of them were shown to use any magic after Adora did fire it, while she clearly used Perfuma's power. But anyways!

Back to what Shadow Weaver learned, she would know some of what the failsafe does, namely disrupt the system that's hoarding most of the planet's magic, thereby spreading magic to all (most notably her), and some of how to use it, and the fact that she couldn't do so and hope to live, and some of the criteria for who can. That part is important.

But first, she also learned the Spell of Obtainment, deemed it more likely but didn't think she could do it herself, despaired of getting help until she thought Hordak's rise to fame would give her #casus belli#, lost her patience when the Mystacor leadership disagreed, etc etc etc. Pretty uncontroversial in this part, i think.

After she'd joined the Horde, when Hordak showed up with baby Adora and wanted to lump her with the rest of the orphans they have, Shadow Weaver pleaded to have her get special treatment. She even said that she's special, and it couldn't have been her leadership skills or good heart, since she didn't have either yet. It's heavily implied she could recognize her as a First One, but it's not clear why she would care, since they were known for leaving behind advanced technology, which a baby also doesn't have. Unless, of course, she knew there are devices only a First One could use, and maybe has plans related to that.

So I'm pretty sure she learned the criteria that the failsafe requires, devised some spell or technique to check people for them that she pretty much used all the time, just in case, and was very surprised when a newborn tested positive. She was also surprised when Hordak made her personally responsible for the raising of the kid, but her reaction is pretty much "ok, that could work, i guess".

Also also, i suspect she can read First One script. Not perfectly like Adora, but better than Bow's parents probably. Mostly because when she puts Adora's hand on the crystal and says "i think you know the password", that seems like a very transparent attempt to pretend she knows it too when she doesn't. But that seems irresponsible at such a crucial moment, she and Castaspella should really have researched it earlier. Or at least her line there should have been "you can read this, right?" or somesuch.

So I'm thinking it's a double bluff, hoping everybody assumes she doesn't know so she doesn't have to reveal how and why she knows, again.

And that's all i have, i think? This is not nearly as well laid out as i would like. But then, nothing ever is, right?

Also it's not even close to morning anymore. Thank you if you even got this far, and have a good evening!

hi!!! this took me a while to answer, i'm so sorry about that <3

i'm very low on energy today so i cannot summon up the brain energy to respond properly to this, as much as i want to, i'm really sorry for that as well

i love this theory!! it actually fits in really well with canon and makes, like, a LOT of sense now that i think about it. i definitely wouldn't have thought of this on my own, so thank you for sharing this with me!! :D

#asks #leo answers stuff #IM CLEARING OUT MY INBOX #CAUSE I FINALLY HAVE THE TIME #long post #spop meta #shadow weaver

[mxtxsblog]

Redemption for villains and storytelling

Relevant to my interest and my XY hyperfixation, but not only.

I want to say it: the characters don’t deserve anything. Because the characters don’t exist and can’t decide anything. The author is the god of their stories, she/he/they can decide anything.

Sometimes it’s full of satisfaction, sometimes it’s a mess.

(I’m stressed and in a hurry, broken essay written in broken English under the cut)

(The author is god and the author is dead at the same time, my favorite way to enjoy a narration)

Let’s take Loki, for example. Marvel wanted to kill him in Thor 2, but he had become such an icon that he stayed. He could have been easily the villain of Thor 3, of Avengers 3, but no, he died (redempted, we can say). Do I think Loki needed redemption? Of course I did. But my belief, or the belief of a fan who hates Loki is unimportant, because the writers decide everything. He could have become worse and worse, if so the Powers To Be had decided.

In Buffy, did Spike need a romance with Buffy? Unimportant, Joss Whedon could have written him any ways he wanted. He got a redempion, but he could also not get it.

Hannibal, for being a terrible cannibal serial-killer for petty petty reasons, gets the love of his life to love him back. Does he deserve him? Fuck no, but damn if it isn’t a compelling story and I love it.

And of course pure sweet wholesome characters suffering and dying horrible terrible deaths (Yanli, for example, and a sadly enormous group of female characters). Did they deserve it? Fuck no! But they did.

And many other characters. For me it’s baffling that Meg was used in that way in SPN, they look really OOC. But retcons are a thing, especially when many many many people work in a popular show. Some people enjoyed it, hurray for them.

Did Darth Vader deserve his redemption? Unimportant, Lucas wanted it to happen and so it did (I personally love Luke and Anakin).

Some characters needed much more screentime and they couldn’t have it.

So yes, of course it’s fun to see a story as an universe separated from any other things, where characters are people. (Hello suspension of belief and premise to care about any story!)

And not all the twists and the evolutions are good, oh my god no. (Chuck, I repeat? Lex in Smallville? Loki in the comics? And many others).

But I just wanted to say that it’s not a matter of being more or less pure, moral. Story happens, plot happens, ideas of the author happen. It isn’t a matter of “this character deserved this or that”, but what the author wanted to write.

And now because I’m really transparent... Yes, of course I can see a redemption for Xue Yang. The fact that it wasn’t written doesn’t mean that it couldn’t exist. And yes, it could work very well with MDZS plot (where our protagonist inexplicably is almost never treated as a villain, despite killing thousands of people) (my thirst for villain protagonist WWX is for another rant).

Redemption means many many things for different people. For some the intentions are more important (this character realizes he was wrong), for others the character simply stops doing evil things, for others again is trying to make up for their evil. For other stories it means to start killing different people.

I think they work in different ways with different characters.

Do I want to see a Loki wrecked by guilt? No, thanks but not thanks.

Do I wish to read a Xue Yang desperate because he’s understood that all the people he had killed didn’t deserve it? Are you kidding me? No!

What about a Palpatine who repents? Pff, no!

An Hannibal who decides that is sorry for being a serial killer and that should leave Will because he deeply hurted him? No no no!

Do I long to see a XY who follows XXC and starts exorcising evil things because he wants to stay near him? Fuck yeah. He stayed 3 years in a creepy old poor house without any other excitement than “Fuck, what’s this feeling, I want this”. Fighting alongside XXC would be a wet dripping dream (also, I think he’s already gone in some legit night hunts, why should he pass an occasion to see XXC fighting and being sexy?).

Do I want to see an Untamed!XY going to Yiling Laozou and doing demoniac cultivation together? Yes yes!

Do I wish to see a XY deciding that the Wen were actually terrible (he doesn’t like dominating others! He just likes killing people that he thinks they deserve to die in his revenge against the world) and fighting against them, ally of the other sects? I’d pay someone to write it.

Sincerely, in his case, I don’t care if he starts doing good things because he understands them. I think he can’t, or he wouldn’t have done the things he had done. Sincerely, I prefer to think that in that life at least he couldn’t understand them, because then he would be more innocent, in contrast with the option that he understanda and not cares (proof: he really believes there is a chance that XXC would understand his need for vengeance. If he knew it was so wrong, he would have tried something different (and maybe it would have worked!)).

Last but not least: I don’t like defanged villains. I just don’t like them. It may be my humiliation squick. And if the villain is harmless the “redemption” is not redemption at all: he couldn’t do anything! For this reason I’ve disliked (I didn’t read them, I would never leave a flame) the fics in which Loki was magic-bound or anything similar. Yes, it may be a transition, but long-term? Thanks but not my cup of tea. And yes, for a “redemption” arc to happen, the villain should be able to do evil... and not do it.

So yeah, I think people mean fundamentally different things when they speak about redemption, and not all of them are goods or things I’m interested in. And if something didn’t happen in canon, doesn’t mean that it absolutely couldn’t happen, but only that the author decided not to do it.

#xuexiao #xue yang #xiao xingchen #villain discourse

[thebrotherssalvatore321]

Keeping Secrets Ch. 5

Keeping Secrets Masterlist

Pairing: DamonxOc, TylerxOc, ElijahxOc, KlausxOc endgame. (Oc is only ever with one guy at a time.) Warning: Physical and Mental Abuse.

Like the morning before, Damon woke up first, but this morning felt different. It took him a minute to realize that for the first time in a fairly long time, he woke up happy. The revelation threw him for a loop. He had a simple plan when he came to Mystic Falls. Three easy steps: wait for the comet to pass, get the crystal, open the tomb under the church and get Katharine back. A weird teenage girl who was equal parts accepting, cautious and teasingly sexy, did not fit into that equation. She was innocent and innocent girls were never his thing. They were too…complicated and clingy, but Katie was somehow different. He also hadn’t expected to find Katharine’s look alike when he came to town. He wanted Elena and hated that his brother had gotten her first. He knew why he wanted Elena, she looked like Katherine. But Katie was a puzzle he didn’t know if he could solve.

As he contemplated he watched Katie sleeping. If he wanted to, with a simple snap of her neck, he could turn her and make her his forever. He was seriously thinking about it, but his eyes landed on the open text book on her desk and he changed his mind. She had a bright, well deserved future ahead of her and if he turned her...her whole life would change. He couldn't do that to her.

He was zoned out, staring at the textbook, when Katie's eyes fluttered open and landed on him. His eyes were so still, he wasn't even blinking. “What are you thinking about?” She asked and he jumped. She laughed.

“I was thinking about why I came back to Mystic Falls.” He answered resting his hand on her bare side.

“Came back?” She asked, placing her hand on his chest just to feel the hard muscles beneath his soft skin.

“I was born here.” He answered. “I lived here until I was 24.” He slid his hand up her warm side. “Every once in a while I come home to check up on things.”

“Is that how old you are physically?” She asked and he nodded as his hand slid over her chest to cup the side of her neck. “So why did you come back if not to check up on things?”

“To rescue the love of my life.” He told her without cracking a smile.

“Who are you talking about?” She asked, giving him a playful glare. “Because I know it’s not me.”

“I could be talking about you.” He said with a teasing smile as he slid his index finger over her slightly chapped bottom lip.

She made a buzzer sound, “Wrong answer. Try again.”

“Her name’s Katherine.” He told her as he slid his finger down her small, nearly perfect, freckled nose making her smile.

“Stefan’s ex girlfriend, Katherine?” She asked and he rolled his eyes.

“She...dated both of us.” He said reluctantly. “At the same time.”

“I’m trying really hard not to judge this chick. So I’m gonna keep my mouth shut until you tell me more about her.” she said as she wrinkled her nose at the thought of being with two brothers like that.

“No, judge away, she’s a manipulative bitch.” He said as he ran his fingers through her hair, pushing it out of his face.

“But you love her?” she asked with a frown. He nodded and hummed a positive answer. “Why, if she’s such a bad person?”

“She was…beautiful, adventurous, and fun.” He said letting a small smile slip while talking about her. “And her laugh was just…crazy.” His smile grew bigger.

“I heard she died in a fire?” she asked a little confused since he had used both “is” and “was” while talking about Katherine.

“That’s what Stefan thinks.” He said as he slid his hand down her chest between her breasts. He could feel her heart start racing. “I know the truth.”

She grabbed his hand, took it off of her chest and set it on her hip. “Which is?” she asked now that she could concentrate.

“She’s still alive, but barely.” He said making Katie even more confused. “There’s a council of people in this town, or at least there was in the 1830’s, that knew about vampires. They rounded them up and put them in the church to be burned. But Katherine had a witch to save her. They locked her in a tomb under the church. She’s still there.”

“So why haven’t you gotten her out sooner than this?” Katie asked. Damon brushed his thumb back and forth over her smooth skin, wondering if he was telling her too much.

“The witch used a magic crystal and the power of a comet to seal her in. I had to wait for the comet to pass over again before the crystal would work to break the seal.” He explained, looking her up and down. “The crystal is at the Lockwood’s, hidden in one of the boxes that’s part of the heritage display. That’s why I need to go tonight, to get it back.”

Remembering that she still needed to go by a dress she picked up her cell phone and checked the time. It was seven, stores didn’t open until eight. “So you need me to help you get the crystal so you can get your half dead vampire girlfriend out of the tomb?” she asked just trying to get the story straight.

“And I need you to keep everything I just told you to yourself. No one else knows she’s down there and I need it to stay that way.” He told her then grabbed both sides of her waist and rolled onto his back. She smiled and moved her legs so that she was straddling him.

“Okay. I’ll put it in the vault, lock it away with the fact that you and Stefan are vampires.” She sighed the words as she watched him grab her hands then give them a jerk pulling her down so that her face was just inches away from his.

“You…are…amazing, you know that?” he asked then pressed his lips to hers. He had been expecting some kind of rejection or protests or complaints from her when he straight up told her he was in love with a half dead vampire. But she took it all in stride like she did everything else.

After making out for a few seconds she pulled away and sat up. “So this has an expiration date.” Or he thought she took it in stride. He tried to look her in the eyes, but she wasn’t looking at his face. Instead she watched her fingertips that drew random shapes over his stomach.

“Katie…” he sighed, practically begging her not to go there.

“It’s fine.” She snapped blinking rapidly as she looked up and gave him a small smile. She wanted to cry, he could tell, but she was doing a good job of covering it up. He frowned and cupped her face in his hand, wiping away an invisible tear with his thumb. “Really. I promise. I’ll be fine.” Not knowing what else to do he slid his hand around to the back of her neck and pulled her down for a kiss.

He rolled them over and had started kissing her neck when she reached over and picked up her phone, checking the time. “You’re looking for an excuse to get away from me now aren’t you?” he asked then started kissing her earlobe.

“Am I that transparent?” she asked and he pulled back and looked into her eyes, seeing the pain she was trying so hard to hide.

“A little, but I understand why you want to.” He answered as he put a foot on the floor and stood up. He picked up his shirt and jacket and watched her grab a set of clean underwear out of her dresser and grab her towel that hung on the back of her door as he buttoned up his shirt. “Do you want me gone by the time you’re done?” he asked and Katie thought about it before she nodded. “But I’ll still see you tonight, right?”

She walked over to him and grabbed his neck as she stood on her tip toes and kissed him with as much passion as she could muster in the moment. “Yes.” She answered as she dropped back down to stand flat footed, turned around and walked away without looking him in the eyes.

As he put on a pot of coffee, assuming she’d want some before she went shopping, he tuned his ears into where he knew she was upstairs. He was surprised to not hear her crying, but then again it was hard to hear over the sound of running water. When the coffee started dripping, he left.

As Katie showered, she didn’t cry. She kept telling herself that she was stronger than that and that she knew they weren’t an item or anything. It was just fun, plain and simple. So she sucked it up, showered, dried off and dressed. She was brushing her hair when she spotted her journal sticking out from under a few textbooks. The textbooks got pushed aside as she sat down and opened the journal to a fresh page. “Hey, journal. It’s been a hot minute, I know, but I’ve been busy. As crazy as it sounds, I made a deal with a vampire. Damon and Stefan really are vampires. Damon was preying on Caroline so I stupidly offered to take her place. I know that sounds weird, but he was messing with her head, turning her into a worse version of herself and I couldn’t let him do that. I don’t know why, but he doesn’t mess with my head the way he does other people. I know that doesn’t make me special or anything, but it has to mean something, right?” she stopped and scratched at her head with a creased brow.

“I realized this morning that I stupidly let myself have feelings for him. I didn’t intend on it and it happened fast. I knew this was probably a temporary thing considering how we ended up together in the first place. It’s not like we met at the bar and sparks flew or anything but he’s just so damn sweet and loving and fun. How was I supposed to resist?” A tear slipped down her cheek and she quickly wiped it away with the back of her finger. “So when he tells me he’s in love with Katherine how am I supposed to feel?” She stopped and looked around her room as sadness turned to something else. “You know what? No. I’m not that girl. I’m not the kind to act like a kicked puppy over a guy. So you know what? I’m going to make things simple and make the best out of this situation. I’ll enjoy him, how happy he makes me and the things he makes me feel right now. However when it ends, and I know it will, I’m not going to cry. I refuse to be the girl whose life ends because a man left her. So… I have a dress to buy and a man to impress just for the hell of it.”

TVDTVDTVD

She drove to the local boutique to find a suitable dress. After looking through several racks of just okay dresses she found a dress that she loved. A white fifties style dress with a blue floral print, a thick black waist band, black halter straps, black trim that looked similar to a folded down collar and three black buttons down the bust. It was a bit over the top and out of style, but she didn’t care. So she bought it and some black heels then headed to Elena’s where she met up with her and Bonnie. “Hey!” Katie called as she walked into the Gilbert house.

“In here!” Bonnie called and Katie followed her voice to the kitchen. “We thought you weren’t coming. If I recall you said something about not wanting to go to some stuffy party.” Bonnie said as Katie walked into the room with a dress and a makeup bag in her hands.

“That was before I had a date.” She said as she held up the dress, covered in the clear plastic that the boutique had put over it.

“Ooh, pretty.” Elena remarked as Katie placed it over the back of one of the dining chairs and sat down. “And very you.”

“Wait, did you just say you have a date?” Bonnie asked as she pulled several bottles of nail polish out of her gold makeup bag.

Katie hummed a positive answer then sat down at the table and started taking her own nail polish out of her black and white makeup bag.

“Who?” Elena and Bonnie asked at the same time.

“Um, Damon Salvatore.” Her answer sounded more like a question and she didn’t look at them but at the nail polish on the table.

“What?” Both of the girls asked at the same time again.

Katie looked up at them, “You two have got to stop doing that.” She motioned between them with a nail file in her hand.

“I thought he was dating Caroline.” Bonnie said looking at Katie with wide eyes.

“Did I hear my name?” Caroline asked as she walked into the room with a yellow dress in her hands and two bags of beauty supplies.

“Yeah, did you and Damon break up?” Elena asked as Caroline sat down at the table.

“Oh, yeah, a couple of days ago.” She answered without looking at them.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Bonnie asked.

Caroline shrugged. “It wasn’t that big a deal. We simply decided that we weren’t right for each other and broke it off. I’m completely over him.”

“So you don’t care if Katie goes to the party with him tonight?” Elena asked with a look between Caroline and Katie.

“No. Not at all.” She told Elena with a smile then turned her smile on Katie. “Have fun.”

“See, she’s over him.” Katie said with a smile as she picked out two bottles of nail polish. “And I want to get under him.”

“Katie!” Elena laughed at her friend not believing that she had said it.

“You should, he’s fun.” Caroline said with a knowing smile and a wiggle of her brows.

Katie laughed making Bonnie look at her. “What happened to saving it for the one?” Bonnie asked worried about her friend’s behavior.

“I decided that you only live once. What if I die in some freak construction accident tomorrow or find out I have cancer or something and die a virgin?” she said with a shrug then held up two bottles of nail polish, “Blue, black or both?”

“Blue.” All three girls answered so Katie tossed the black polish into her bag and started filing her relatively short nail tips into uniform ovals.

“Katie there’s something you should know about Damon.” Elena said as she walked over to the table and sat down across from her.

“What’s that?” Katie asked as she started putting a base coat on her nails.

“He tried to kiss me after the football game.” She told her, getting the attention of all of her friends.

“What?” Katie asked as she put the brush back into the bottle then pushed it to the side.

“Yeah he was being all cocky talking about how he knows I want him and how he knew I wanted to kiss him. He tried to kiss me and I slapped him.” She explained looking at Katie who frowned down at the bottles of nail polish on the table. “Katie, he's bad news.”

Katie blinked and looked across the table at Elena. “Okay, so I’ll go to this thing with him tonight and then break it off with him tomorrow.” Katie told Elena who was frowning at her. “I promise I’ll be careful.”

“Okay, if you say so.” Elena said, finally letting it go.

After that they all got back to listening to music, painting their nails and talking about the latest fashion trends. When they were done with that they migrated upstairs and started on their hair and makeup.

Katie and Bonnie were in the bathroom, Katie putting on makeup while Bonnie curled her hair. “Someone’s getting all gussied up.” Bonnie commented watching Katie put on smokey brown eyeshadow that she only wore to football games. “You’re pulling out all the stops for him tonight, huh?”

“Well, I don’t really have the opportunity to get all gussied up for a guy very often. So I figured why not do my best to make his heart stop for a second when he sees me. Is that stupid?” she asked but Bonnie didn’t get the chance to respond because Elena came into the room in a huff. “What’s up?” Katie asked at her friend’s distress.

“Jeremy took the pocket watch out of the collection that I’m loaning to the Lockwood’s.” She sighed then started fixing her hair. “He’s such a punk sometimes.”

“Man I’m lucky I don’t have any siblings.” Katie said with a smile that made Elena shake her head at her.

Caroline had just finished zipping up Katie’s dress for her when they heard the doorbell ring. “I got it!” Elena called from down stairs and they heard the door open.

“Elena.” Damon’s voice floated up to them since the bathroom door was open. “You look beautiful this evening.” He told her and Katie got jealous for a second as she put on her bracelet and dangly earrings.

“Save the compliments for your own date.” Elena replied coldly.

Katie placed the lip gloss she was wearing into her black satin clutch, snapped it shut then took one look at herself in the mirror. Seeing that she looked about as good as she was going to get, frowning at her glasses as she pushed them up her nose, she headed down stairs. She had to remind herself to walk slowly down the stairs or else she would fall flat on her face because she wasn’t used to wearing heels. When Damon came into sight, waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs, his eyes found her and his jaw went slack. “Whoa.”

Katie smiled as she carefully walked to the bottom of the stairs and looped her arm through his when he offered it. “You don’t look so bad yourself.” She said as she looked him up and down. He jerked his head to the door with a smile on his face and she walked with him to his Camaro. He opened her door for her and she slid inside then let him shut it. After he got in and started the car she finally asked, “Are you still alive over there?” she then thought about what she had asked, “Er…well, you know what I mean.” She corrected nervously and Damon laughed softly.

“Yeah, I knew what you meant.” He put the car into gear and started driving. “It’s just…I didn’t expect...”

His lack of words caused the confidence she had built up while getting ready to drop to the pit of her stomach. “Did I over do it? I know the dress is a little much, but-”

“No, you’re…” he cut her off and smiled a bright smile at her across his shoulder. “You’re stunning.” He turned his eyes back to the road. “I just meant that I knew that you didn’t want to come tonight and that I was dragging you here. Most of the time when people get dragged somewhere they don’t really try to look good for it.” he said glancing over to see her staring down at her hands trying not to pick at her cuticles and mess up her nails. He reached over and grabbed one of her hands. “And after this morning…” A pang of sadness shot through her chest and she took in a shaky breath. She knew what she said in her journal, but it didn’t mean it was going to be easy. “I didn’t know if-”

“Damon?” she cut him off and he hummed, letting her know she had his attention since she wasn’t looking at him. “I told you this morning that I’d be fine.” She gave his hand a squeeze and slid her other hand over his. “I took time, I processed. I understand that you’re only with me until you save her, I’m okay with it. And if it’s okay with you, my plan is to enjoy every minute that you’re mine and when the time comes, I’ll say goodbye and move on.” She said then finally looked over at him.

“I’m more than okay with that.” He let go of her hand to place his on the back of her neck under her wavy, dark copper hair, rubbing his thumb across the sensitive skin just below her ear.

The more she thought about what Elena had told her the more it started to really bother her so finally she asked. “Did you try to kiss Elena after the football game?”

“She told you about that huh?” he asked, taking his hand off the back of her neck to scratch his.

“Yeah, she told me. Care to explain why so I can stop drawing my own conclusions?” she asked.

Damon sighed and adjusted his grip on the steering wheel. “Right after my brother and I turned I promised I would use my eternity to make his a living hell. I knew if he found out that Elena kissed me that it would hurt him.”

“So you did it to hurt Stefan, not because you want Elena?” she asked.

Damon hummed a positive answer. “Are you mad?”

“You tried to kiss my best friend. What do you think?” she asked with a glare over at him.

“I think I didn’t realize that it would hurt you too and I’m sorry.” He said with a look across his shoulder at her.

She sighed and leaned forward to press her forehead into the dash. After a few minutes she sat up and glared at him. “Here’s what’s gonna happen.” She started as she turned in her seat to face him. “You and I are going to act like this conversation didn’t happen and enjoy the night. Then tomorrow I’m going to yell and cuss at you like I want to right now. Deal?”

“Deal.” He told her as he looked back at the road.

She got quiet as she looked around the old car interior that was in perfect condition. As she looked at the steering wheel she noticed that he was wearing the ring that he never seemed to take off. “Can I ask what’s up with the rings? I noticed the other day that Stefan wears one too.”

“I was wondering when you were going to ask about that.” He said with a smile. “You said the other day that the vampires in the house of night books can walk around in the sunlight no problem?” he asked and she hummed. “Well, we can’t, not without our rings.”

“So do most vampires have rings that let them walk in the daylight or just you two?” she asked curiously.

“No, you have to know a witch to get one and most witches try to stay away from vampires, they kind of hate us.” He said with a smirk over at her. “Can’t really blame them if I’m being honest.”

Katie smiled a little. “So how did you and Stefan get yours?” she asked and he started laughing. “What?” she asked with a smile.

“You’re just full of questions tonight is all.” He said with a smile then looked back at the road. “Katherine’s handmaiden was a witch, she had her make us the rings.”

“So what happens if you go in the sunlight without your rings? Please tell me you don’t sparkle that crap almost ruined the Twilight books for me.”

“We burn.” He answered simply.

“Am I asking too many questions?” she asked sheepishly as she scratched the back of her neck.

“No, ask whatever you want and I’ll answer truthfully as long as you keep it to yourself.” He said with a small smile over at her as they pulled up to the Lockwood’s. “I need you to do me a favor tonight.”

“I know. I need to help you find the crystal.” She said as he parked and cut off the car.

“Not that,” he said as he reached over and brushed the backs of his fingers over her soft cheek, “I need you to get Stefan to dance with you, get him away from Elena for a little while.” he said, looking into her eyes that turned suspicious.

“Why?” she drew out the question.

“I need to talk to her, apologize.” he said and she still glared at him.

“Okay. I'll get him to dance with me even though it will be really awkward since I can't dance.” She said with a shrug then reached for the door handle.

“Nu uh uh.” He said as he grabbed her hand, stopping her. “We're early.” He let go of her hand and placed his on her neck as he leaned into her. “And when you do get out of this car I'm opening the door for you.” He caught her lips with his, not caring that he was smearing her lip gloss. “Have I thanked you for wearing blue?” He asked as he started kissing down her neck.

“No, but you're welcome.” She smiled not caring that he was leaving a trail of lip gloss along her neck to her shoulder. When he leaned back she saw veins under his eyes and his fangs were on display. She cupped his face in her hands and soothed her thumbs over the veins. “Does that hurt?” He smiled a little and shook his head no. “Can you wait until after the party? This dress is a pain in the ass to get off and I-”

He placed his finger over her lips, “That doesn't just happen when I'm thirsty.” He said and she blushed. “You're killing me in that dress.” Katie laughed and Damon looked around seeing that a line of people had formed at the front doors of the house. “Ready to go?”

“Give me a second.” She said as she popped open her black clutch and took out a small pack of makeup wipes. “You got lip gloss all over me.” She wiped the sticky from her neck and shoulder then handed him the wipe to clean his lips. “Did I miss any spots?” She asked, sweeping her loose waves to the side so he could see her neck.

“Mmhmm.” He hummed then leaned in, “right here” and kissed her neck. “And here.”

“You keep at it and we’ll never make it inside.” She said with a smile as she placed her hand on his chest and pushed him back.

“Oh alright.” He pouted making Katie laugh as he got out then walked around and opened her door for her. “My lady.” He offered her his arm being formal again.

“Mr. Salvatore.” She smiled and hooked her arm through his.

They had stepped up the first of many concrete steps that led to the front door when Katie heard Elena and Stefan not far behind them. She turned and gave Elena a smile and wave then noticed that Aunt Jenna and Bonnie were standing behind her and Stefan. “Is that Katie with Damon?” Stefan asked Elena quietly after Katie turned back around, but not quiet enough that she couldn't hear them. “I thought he was with Caroline.”

“Apparently they broke up. Caroline wasn't even mad that Katie's with him now. It's weird.” Elena answered getting a “huh” from Stefan.

Katie popped open her clutch, took out her phone then tucked the clutch under her arm as they moved up a step. She pulled up Damon's contact then flipped her phone open to use the keyboard. She typed “You can hear them, right?” and showed him the screen. He hummed a positive answer. She erased the text then typed, “He thinks you're compelling me to be with you doesn't he?”

“Probably, but I don’t care what he thinks.” He said as he grabbed her phone and closed it. “Neither should you.” He gave a quick kiss on her temple then put her phone in her clutch when she held it open.

Soon they came to the doorway where the mayor was standing, “Katie.” He greeted her with a smile as he took her hand, “You’ve certainly grown up since the last time you came to one of these parties.” He said as his eyes roamed her body, and he kissed the back of her hand. “How's your grandpa doing these days?”

Katie's smile faltered as her brain was thrown back to the many days Mr. Lockwood had spent drinking with her grandfather when she was younger. “Oh, he's still Grandpa. Drink, gym, work, repeat.” She said plastering her smile back on as she stepped back and wrapped her arm around Damon's waist. “Have you met my boyfriend, Damon?” She asked making the mayor acknowledge him.

“Nice to meet you, Damon. Come on in. Make yourself at home.” The mayor said as he shook his hand and Damon shook it back as he stepped inside.

“Thank you.” Damon replied then let go of his hand and ushered Katie further inside.

She looked behind her to make sure the mayor was out of sight then wiped the back of her hand on the side of her dress. “I hate that slime ball.”

“Why's that?” He asked, amused at her reaction to the mayor kissing her hand.

“Forever ago, he and Grandpa acted like father and son. They'd get drunk at the house all the time and guess what their favorite pastime was.” She said as they walked around the house wandering from room to room when she didn’t say what it was Damon got really worried and pulled her to a stop. She avoided his attempts to catch her eyes with his until he grabbed her chin and made her. “They took turns “toughening me up” until I managed to hide somewhere they couldn’t find me. Usually some obscure spot in the basement.”

“And how old were you?” Damon asked as he gave her side a light squeeze and they started wandering again.

“Maybe twelve or thirteen.” She answered.

“Can I kill him?” He asked.

“If he wasn’t the mayor I’d say go for it.” Damon smiled deviously and pulled her a little closer into his side. “But he is. So if he goes missing people will start asking questions.” She whispered as they walked into a new room.

“Is that Damon Salvatore?” They heard Elena ask and Katie looked up to see Elena with her back to them, pointing to something hanging on the wall in a frame. “And Stefan Salvatore?”

“What is that?” Katie asked leaving Damon's side to stand next to Elena and look at the old brown paper with cursive writing on it.

“It's the guest registry from the first founder's party.” Elena answered then looked behind her to see Damon walking over. “Their names are on it.”

“They were the original Salvatore brothers.” Damon lied to hide the fact that he and Stefan had really been there.

Katie, remembering that Damon had asked her to get Stefan away from Elena, heard a slow song playing and decided now was her chance. “Would you hate me if I asked Stefan for a dance? I really want to dance and Damon's being a party pooper.”

Elena smiled at her friend in surprise. “Since when do you dance?”

“Since today. You only live once, remember?” She asked, reminding Elena about what she had said when they were getting ready earlier.

“Right, the new attitude.” She nodded. “Well I'm fine with it if Stefan is.”

Both of the girls and Damon looked at Stefan. “Well I don't-”

“Pleeease.” Katie interrupted him before he could say no. “Just one dance and I'll hand you back over to Elena for the rest of the night.” She flashed him a pleading smile.

“Sure. Why not?” He said as he held his arm out to her and she took it.

He walked her to the dance floor out back in silence then placed his hand on her natural waist line and took her hand in his. She hated the awkwardness between them so she decided to try to break the ice. “We haven't had the chance to talk since the bonfire.”

“No we haven't.” He replied with a tight smile.

“I know this is awkward, but I figured since you're dating my friend and I'm dating your brother that we should maybe get to know each other a little better.” She stated.

He smiled a little. “You're so...”

“Weird.” She finished for him with an overly perky smile and he laughed.

“Once again, I was going to say forward, but weird works.” He told her with a laugh bringing her back to their first conversation at the bonfire. “You know we don't have to dance to get to know each other. I actually hate dancing.”

“Thank god. If you can’t tell by the fact that I haven't even moved my feet, I don’t know how to dance.” She said with a sigh.

“How about a drink then?” He offered. Then let go of her and she followed him to the side of the dance floor where he snagged two flutes of champagne.

“Sounds good to me.” She said with a small smile as she looked around.

"Are you looking for someone?" He asked, drawing her attention back to him.

“I was making sure sheriff Forbes wasn't close. She's kinda assumed the role of mother figure since my parents died. If she catches me drinking I'll get a lecture longer than a cvs receipt.”

“How did they die, if you don’t mind me asking?” He asked just to keep the conversation going.

“That's the bad thing, I don’t even know.” She shrugged and stared down at her drink. “I was ten when it happened and no one told me anything other than they were dead. They were on vacation in Louisiana during Mardi Gras and they didn't come back.” She shrugged then took a sip of her drink. “So I hope I didn't over step too bad at the bonfire.” She said changing the subject.

“No.” He said with a head shake and a closed lipped smile. “You care about her. I get it.”

“Which is why I'm going to tell you that if you hurt her I will personally kick your butt.” She told him with a pleasing tone and smile.

He scoffed. “You can try.”

“And I will fail.” She laughed. “But that won't stop me from trying.”

“Duly noted.” He told her with a mock serious look.

“What's duly noted?” Damon asked as he and Elena walked over. Damon stood in front of Stefan while Elena stood in front of Katie.

“Oh, Katie was just telling me how she's gonna kick my but if I hurt Elena.” He said with a small smile across his shoulder at Katie.

Both Elena and Damon cracked a smile. “Hey, I play softball. I know how to swing a bat.” She defended herself.

“Do you want a drink, Damon?” Stefan asked randomly as he held his champagne glass out to his brother.

“No thanks, I'll pass.” Damon answered.

Things fell awkwardly silent before Elena held her hand out to Stefan, “Do you have another dance in you?”

“Absolutely.” He took her hand and walked her to the dance floor.

“Do you want to?” Damon asked as he jerked his head to the dance floor.

“I don’t know how, remember? That's why me and Stefan ended up standing over here talking.” She said and he grabbed her hand and jerked his head to the dance floor with a small smile. She took one last big drink of champagne then set in down and let him lead her out onto the floor.

He placed his hand on her hip and pulled her close then grabbed her hand that wasn't resting on his shoulder in his other hand. “Just don't step on my feet and your good.” She smiled and tried to look down at her feet but he took his hand off her hip and pushed her chin up. “My eyes are up here Miss Finnegan.”

“But what if I-” she started and he pressed his lips to hers cutting her off.

“I've got you.” He gave her an encouraging smile. “Just move with me.” She started moving with him, stumbling a few small times before she got the hang of it. “See, it's not so bad.”

“I feel like people are staring at me.” She admitted without looking around.

“If they are it’s because you are the most beautiful woman at this party.” He told her with a bright smile that made her smile. “Hey, so what was all that you only live once, new attitude stuff that you and Elena were talking about earlier?”

“Oh, you caught that huh?” She asked sheepishly.

“It was kind of hard to miss.” He pointed out with a curious look.

“It was just something we were all talking about at her house earlier.” She said with a shrug.

“That's the only explanation I get?” He asked, looking confused.

“Girl talk stays with the girls.” She countered and he frowned. “You'll figure it out later, I promise.” She said with a smile that fell when she noticed Elena and Stefan arguing while they danced. “What's up with them?”

“She wants to know more about him and his past with Katherine and he won't tell her.” He answered making her give him a questioning look. “I've kind of been eavesdropping on them. I have really good hearing.”

“Well then I guess it's working.” She heard Elena say loud enough for everyone to hear before she left him standing on the dance floor alone. Katie looked away from Stefan to see Damon giving him a smug look.

“You know it's rude to eavesdrop, right?” She asked, pulling his attention away from his brother.

“I kind of do it without meaning to sometimes.” He shrugged and she rolled her eyes. As Stefan left the dance floor, Damon pressed his forehead to hers and looked into her eyes. “Have I told you how beautiful you are tonight?”

“Only a few times.” She said with a smile as the song ended. Damon let go of her side but kept her hand in his as they walked off the dance floor and into the house. They were wondering through the formal dining room when all of the candles suddenly lit themselves. “Bonnie?” Katie asked spotting her friend about to leave the room. Bonnie turned back to her with a freaked out look on her face. “Did you just-”

Bonnie looked back and forth between Katie and Damon then asked, “Can I steal her for a minute?”

“Of course.” Damon said, then kissed Katie’s temple and whispered, “Meet me at the top of the stairs when you're done.”

Katie nodded as he let go of her hand and left the room as Bonnie walked over to her friend. “It happened earlier while all of you were dancing. Thankfully Caroline didn’t see. Then I came in here and all the candles were out. I just tried to light one then whoosh.”

Bonnie was clearly freaking out. “Look, I know you're freaked, I would be too if I were you, but you need to talk to your grams before this gets way out of hand. What if the next time you try to light a candle you end up burning your house down?”

“I don’t want to be a witch, Katie.” She was almost crying.

“I know. Maybe your grams can show you how to opt out of your powers or something?” Katie suggested hopefully.

“Maybe.” Bonnie said sounding like someone had killed her dog. “I'm going to head home. Have a good rest of your night with Damon.” She told Katie with a small smile then walked away.

With things with Bonnie settled as much as they were going to get, Katie headed to the stairs and saw Damon's back where he was leaning against the railing. “Hi.” She placed her hand on his side when she got to the top and he looked around to make sure no one was watching before he led her to a room with a few historical pieces sitting around in it. “I don’t think these things are actually on display.”

“I know, which is why I need you to keep an eye out while I get the crystal.” He told her. She turned so that she could see him and out the door. She watched both carefully as he grabbed a box, opened it up, then popped off one of the inside panels. She turned her eyes to the door and when she heard the clank of wood on glass Katie knew he had found it. He walked up behind her, turned her to face him in the dimly lit room and held the crystal out to her. She took it and turned toward the light. She thought it was kind of ugly, but refrained from saying so. “I know, it's not the prettiest thing in the world, but it’s powerful.”

Katie just handed it back to him with a small smile. “So are we leaving now?” She asked as he tucked the crystal into his jacket pocket. She was hoping their night could last a little longer.

“Nope.” He said with a smile before grabbing her hand and threading their fingers together. “Take a walk with me?”

Katie smiled. “Of course.”

He led her outside then to the back lawn where Katie took off her heels and walked barefoot in the grass. They walked quietly until they came to stand next to a tree near the edge of the water and far away from the party, “I, uh, want to thank you for coming with me tonight.” He pulled a long black jewelry box out of the inside of his coat. “So I had this made just for you.” He turned the box to face her.

When he opened it her eyes landed on a necklace with a silver moon pendant hanging off of it. A sapphire star rested in the hook of the moon. “Damon, it's beautiful.” She said as she ran her finger over the moon.

When he took it out of the box she turned her back on him and lifted her hair. “There's an herb in the moon, called vervain.” He informed her quietly as he put the chain around her neck, latched the hook and she dropped her hair. “It’ll protect you from vampire influence.”

“So you can't mess with my mind?” She asked as she brought the pendant to her nose and sniffed. It smelled floral, but not as off putting as she found the scent of a rose.

“Or Stefan.” He added.

“Do you think he would try to mess with me?” She asked, placing the pendant back on her chest.

“I don't think so, but you never know.” He said looking worried. “I just want to keep you safe.” he cupped her cheek in his hand and kissed her. It started off soft, but soon turned needy and almost hungry. “Okay, I can’t take it anymore.” In a flashed he had her behind the tree, hidden from prying eyes. “I need you.” he kissed her neck hard, pulling a moan from her before he started kissing down her neck to the pushed up cleavage that the dress showed off then he kneeled down and put her leg over his shoulder. He kissed his way up her bare leg until he got to her inner thigh and looked up at her through his lashes for permission. She nodded and embedded her fingers in his hair as he sank his teeth into her inner thigh.

“God, Damon.” She sighed and leaned her head back against the tree. But when she heard him cough she looked down at him. “What’s the matter?” she asked, seeing him fall to the ground.

“Vervain.” He answered sounding like he couldn’t breath.

“What?” she asked, kneeling down, panic clear in her eyes.

“In your blood.” He rasped.

“Oh my god…how?” she asked frantically.

“I knew I couldn’t spike your drink.” Stefan walked up. “So I spiked hers.”

“What?” Katie asked looking away from Damon’s eyes to glare at Stefan. “Why would you do that?”

“He’s a monster, Katie, he’s hurting you and killing people. He had to be stopped.” Stefan said looking down at her as if he pitied her.

She looked down at Damon and cupped his cheek in her hand. “Is the vervain going to kill him?”

“No, it just weakens him.” He answered with a flat uncaring face as he watched her staring down at Damon, worried. “You know what he is?” he asked with a tilt of his head.

“Yeah, I know.” She answered not looking at him.

“Katie…” Damon sighed and reached up and touched her face.

Without saying a word Stefan picked up Damon. “Where are you taking him?” she asked, tears slipping down her cheeks, but Stefan whooshed away, not answering.

It took all of two seconds for the tears on Katie’s face to get wiped away and replaced with anger. Before she left the cover of the tree she pulled a bandage out of her clutch, having anticipated Damon biting her during the party, and covered the bite on her inner thigh.

She was leaving the party when she ran into Elena. “Hey. What’s wrong? Have you been crying?”

���Your boyfriend just royally pissed me off.” Katie answered with flared nostrils.

“What are you talking about?” Elena asked, confused.

“Ask Stefan.” She snapped then walked away.

When she got outside she was thankful that Damon’s car was still there, his keys and a note in the driver’s seat. “Meet me at the boarding house. We need to talk. –S.” She wadded up the note and tossed it into the floorboard as she got in the car and cranked it.

#tvd fanfiction #tvd fanfic #tvd #tvd fan fic #tvd fan fiction #the vampire diaries #the vampire diaries fanfiction #the vampire diaries fan fiction #the vampire diaries fan fic #the vampire diareis fanfic #Damon salvatore #damon salvatore fanfiction #damon salvatorexoc #damon salvatore x oc #damon salvatore & oc #tyler lockwood #tyler lockwood fanfiction #tyler lockwood fanfic #tyler lockwood fan fic #tyler lockwoods x oc #tyler lockwoodxoc #tyler lockwood&oc #tyler lockwood & oc #Elijah mikaelson #elijah mikaelson fanfiction #elijah mikaelson fan fiction #elijah mikaelson fanfic #elijah mikaelson fan fic #elijah mikaelsonxoc #elijah mikaelson x oc

[popculturebuffet]

Top 10 Thanksgiving Episodes

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody! Time to eat a ton, pass out, and watch MST3K and all that. And since I already covered most of the general stuff about how diffrent this holiday is in my Loud House Review, and to reitarate to anyone having a big, 20 or so people crammed in a room thanksgiving this year

For the rest of us like all of the big three of Holidays, thanksgivings also the time for some classic episodes of television. Granted most shows stick to one, with some exceptions like friends, roseanne and new girl, but most make their one count. Thanksgiving may not be as big as the holidays it’s sandwitched in between, to the point christmas is slowly but surely trying to swallow it whole, but it’s still a time for family, fighting, and food that brings plenty of opprotunity for greatness and even with a smaller pool, I stiill had signifigant trouble narrowing down my list to 10. But I stand by what I got it wittled down to. This is my top 10 thanksgiving episodes! And for my regular readers, there’s a suprising lack of animation but i’m more than willing ot go outside that and now’s the right time, asi’m currently having a black friday sale with reviews marked down by two bucks to just 3 dollars for an episode of any tv show. Yes it’s a shameless plug but since when have I ever had shame? So with that in mind let’s chow down, it’s my top 10 thanksgiving episodes!

10. Pangs (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) Buffy is as a show I REALLY need to revisit. While lately, what with the abuse he did that we can’t get details on when making justice league or his you know cheating on his wife on and off over a decade, I’m not at all a fan of series creator Joss Whedon, Buffy itself is still a classic in my eyes. 

The tale of a teenager given the role of the Slayer, a chosen female asskicker given moderate super powers and the duty to defend the world from vampires and other ghouls. The show dealt with the usual teen superhero stuff, ballancing asskicking with saving the world and arguably codified the genre, to the point I hold it at least partially responsible for the bigger wave of teen heroes in the 2000′s in animation and comics. The show had smart dialouge, metaphors, mythology and a rich, and vibrant cast. Sure some things haven’t aged well like an adult vampire dating a teenager or the really dated ways Willow’s sexuality were handled, as groundbreaking as it was, from barely letting her kiss her girlfriend or be shown being intimate iwth her, or just entirley shutting out the posiblity she’s bisexual. But a few age wrinkles aside the show is still good and I still need to rewatch it and that includes our number 10 pangs, one of hte most memorable and well done thanksgiving specials and one fo the shows more comedy moments.  It’s thanksgiving, and Buffys mom’s going out of town, so she decides to hold thanksgiving at Giles place to bring her slowly drifting surrogate family together. Naturally given the way things usually go for our Slayer, she has a hard time of it as Willow chafes at celebrating colonolsim, Giles dosen’t get what the big fuss is about that or the meal being british, and Spike shows up looking for protection from season big bads the initiative, a secret military unit that’s chipped him so he can’t harm humans, so he has no way to eat and spends the mal tied to a chair. Oh and of course, a vengeful native american spriti from the chumash tribe has given Xander syphilis and killed a currator as revenge for his people’s suffering, so now Buffy has to fight a ghost bear if she want sa happy thanksgiving. Also Angel is back in town and being kind of a dick, but hey it leads to a good episode of his spinoff so whatever. 

Pangs is just a fun episode, not only does it do well by not ignoring american colonalisim, but it just has a fun energy to it as Buffy desperately tries to have a good thanksgiving, Spike instnatly proves his worth as an addition to the gang both chemstiry and comedy wise, and we of course get this classic moment. 

It had to fight it’s way onto the list, but pangs is a holiday dish worthy of sinking your fangs into. 

9. The Dressing (Aqua Teen Hunger Force) Speaking of nutty fun thanksgiving episodes.. this one is simply that. I love Aqua Teen Hunger force.. even if like a lot of comedy shows it drooped in later seasons, it still has it’s classics earlier on and even later on has a few gems. But on the earlier on side we have their utterly bonkers and delightful thanksgiving episode “The Dressing”, a sequel to the Christmas Episode “The Cybernetic Ghost of Christmas Past from The Future”, which itself is an utter classic, but we’ll possibly get to that in december’s list. 

The Aqua Teens are having Thanksgiving with Carl, whose naturally onlyt here for the free food and staying outside. it’s also days before or after, with black colored frito pie,a t urkey, and whatever else their broke selves could scrounge up.  However, naturally, like Buffy a normal day for the Aqua Teens just isn’t complete without some weird shit happening, thanksgiving gets interrupted by the cybernetic ghost of Christmas past fromt he future, whose transformed himself into a turkey and wants to save their turkey so it can lead a rebellion in the bizzare hilarious distopian hellscape he comes from. This of course leads to him getting drunk, eating all their food and later showing up with a laser sock to murder carl after the episodes over. It’s just a fun time, a really funny episode and one of the teens more memorable outings. Not a lot to say here, it’s just really damn funny. 

8. Arnold’s Thanksgiving (Hey Arnold!)  Anoter classic I really need to revist but that more than earns his place here. Hey Arnold.. is easily one of the best animated shows ever. I say that with no hyperbole as it handled slice of life well while still getting dramatic when needed to, and is easily the gold standard for slice of life children’s cartoons to this day. And naturally it’s holiday specials were great, and I only r eally haven’t revisited them because they also hurt.. a lot. So unsuprisingly this one makes the list. 

IT’s thanksgiving and given how chaotic things are for both Arnold and Helga’s families, our heroes are miserable. Arnold would understandably like just once to have thanksgiving on thanksgiving, his family instead doing fourth of july due to his grandmother being who she is. And Helga naturally is ignored and mistrteated as usual since her sisters home and her dad and alchoholic mother ignore her as usual even when she’s not around. What i’m saying is while Arnold’s issue is understandable, helga always wins a “whose got the shitter life” contest. 

So the two flee to their teacher Mr Simmons, a character I genuinely loved and loved even more finding out he was gay as an adult, as he was a kind , supportive teacher who could be a bit softhearted but wasn’t afraid to step the fuck up when needed. But they find his thanksgiving isn’t much better, as his Mother and wont’ stop sniping at his boyfriend peter and clearly isn’t entirely comfortable with her son’s sexuality, his friend keeps snapping at peter and mooching off him, and his uncle.. well he’s just a loud asshole who wants turkey.. The kids naturally realize the meaning of the holiday, reconclie with their families who DID take genuine steps to make up for them being gone and missed them, all is well. It just shows nobody’s family is perfect, and is well done in that but also shows why thanksgiving has grown beyond it’s roots: It’s a day for families to get together and even if they may fight, recognize why they love one another. I also give the show balls for heavily imiplying a character is gay and not slapping a girlfriend on him or any of the usual bollocks: Simmons just very clearly is gay and it’s as transparent as the show could get at the time, with the show making it crystal clear years later with the revivial movie. Nice. We’ll have more servings of thanksgiving classics after the cut. 

7. Slapsgiving (How I Met Your Mother) Oh How I Met Your Mother. You started out really good but boy did that go downhill fast and land in a nuclear inferno didn’t it? But I can bitch about the How I Met Your Mother Ending some other time, and probably will. In the show’s prime before they decided to stick with an ending no one wanted anymore, it was pretty great and while season 1′s also impressive Thanksgiving outing “Belly Full of Turkey” was considered, there was ultimately one slaptastic king when it came to Thanksgiving: Slapsgiving. 

Naturally for this show Slapsgiving ties into the show’s suprisngly deep and rich lore: The season before this, Marshall and Barney made a “Slap Bet”, which is exactly what it says on the tin: A bet where the winner slaps the looser. And due to Barney prematurely slapping Marshall, Marshall got 5 penalty slaps to be dolled out whenever, one in that episode and another in a coda to another. For his next one though Marshall decided to outdo himself and set up a counter.. and it all comes down to thanskgiving.  So we get a good ten minutes of Jason Siegel making meancing slap based refrences while NPH’s barney cowers in fear before Marshall’s wife lily pumps the breaks on the bet as comissoner.. only to reconsider when Barney makes the mistake of tormenting Marshall over it, resuling in the inevitible, and in THE thanksgiving song. 

Basically it’s what happen when you give three really funny people a subplot together. Magic happens. The subplot is not bad either as a pre-totallyinsufferabledouchebag Ted hooks up with Robin again over lingering feelings and thanksgiving prep and the two have to deal with that... though it’s mostly funny for Robin’s new boyfriend, who Future Ted acknowledges is barely older than them, but admits to remembering as decrept old man, which results in a  30 something’s dialouge coming out of a very old man and me laughing very hard. A simple joke but one that really works. Overall a slaptacular good time. 

6. Two Turkeys (Brooklyn Nine-Nine)

NINE NINE BITCHES! I’m honestly shocked I haven’t talked about Brooklyn Nine Nine on here already, but it’s easily one of the best sitcoms in recent memory, if not of all time. It has one of the best ensemble casts, great jokes and timing, yet still ballances things out with a sense of realisim beneath the madness> It’s also noticable for holding it’s officers more accountable than most real world police departments, to the point all scripts that were written up for next season were thrown out post George Floyd. It’s truly a joy to watch. 

So naturally they’ve had their share of Holiday episodes, with them easily having the best crop of halloween episodes since roseanne with their annual heists, and having some pretty damn memorable christmases, opening with this:

So naturally thanksgiving is no exception, with it’s last two being the best and it being a really hard choice wether to go with season 4′s “Detective Santiago” or this one. But as good as the other ep was.. this one inched it out for good reason. 

The episode’s split into two equally good, equally hilarious plot lines. In the B-Plot, the 99′s Captain Raymond Holt, one of the best characters in sitcom history and gay icon, and his husband Kevin take their annual trip to get a pie for Holt’s families thanksgiving and come back with the well crafted pie, even if both prefer their food nice and bland. But the pie go missing and Captain Holt procedes to hilariously drill into each of the other members of the 99 and uncovering holes int their previous thanksgving stories with Rosa’s being suprisingly heartwarming (She’s going to a humilating minons on ice show with her family because they reconnected in jail.. setting up the equally awesome “Game Night” episode where she comes out.) and Boyle’s being utterly pathetic as you’d expect (Cooking his son mac and cheese because he’ll eat nothing else and declaring him a “basic bitch”). The solution however ends up being heartwarming as the culprit is actually Kevin, who hated the pie.. as did Raymond who suggests just taking the drive anyway because they enjoy the silent ride there and back every year. It may be boring to us.. but it’s preicious and really sweet all the same.. as it is hilarous when Kevin treats this as a big endugence and seems turned on by that. What i’m saying is these men are couple goals and Marc Evan Jakcson was awesome long before ducktlaes.  The main plot is also great, as Jake and Amy, now engaged after this year’s halloween episode which is also , coincidentally, the series best, try to unite their families. It just goes about as well as you’d expect as Amy’s are type a control freaks, jake’s mom is a retired hippie school teacher and his dad is a human disaster area who has to be told to put on pants, cheated on his mom constantly, somehow got her back, and in general is barely functional on a good day. The families do bond breifly but things ineveitbly break down, hilarity and severed limbs insue and family comes together. IT’s just a funny, well done 20  mintues that’s also really damn sweet, with this plot ending with Amy’s dad accepting the chaos as that’s’ts what you do with family. Also jake naturally finds out he has a ton of step siblings as his dad was and still is a man whore. Happy Thanksgiving!

5. Bart Vs Thanksgiving (The SImpsons)

Let’s face it: if you follow my reviews at all you knew this was coming. While not one I go back to due to being an emotional kidney punch, i’d be doing this list a diservice if this classic wasn’t on there.  In a nutshell, Bart starts a petty fight with Lisa over her centerpiece that ends with it in the fireplace, Bart sent to his room till he apologizes, and Bart seething insiting he did no wrong. It takes a visit to the homeless shelter after running away, and ending up on the news, to realize what an ass he’s been and one nightmarish dream sequence later, seriously why do you think I don’t revisit this one that often? This thing has traumatized me since I was a kid and unlike the slap song I will not be showing it to you, has a heartwarming reconcliation with his sister on the roof. It’s just a nice, sweet special that gets the holiday just right and i’d expect nothing less from Golden Age Simpsons.  

4. A Deep Fried Korean Thanksgiving (Gilmore Girls) Another show I need to talk about more, Gilmore Girls is fucking awesome. The story of a woman who ran away pregnant at age 16 and built her own life for her daughter in the quirky town of stars hollow who finds herself reconnecting with her parents in present day against her will.. is really good stuff. Funny, heartfelt and really damn well acted with one hell of a cast, the show is part of me and I make no bones about that, so it’s big thanksgiving outing naturally belongs on here.  The premise is simple: Rory and Loreli end up having to go to four diffrent thanksgivings, which even for big eaters like them is a massive task, each unique and entertaining. The main event of course is Suki’s, where everyone’s faviorite chef agreed to let her husband cook the turkey.. of course with the plan to sneak in mid cooking and add her own touches. This gets foiled when Jackson and his family decide to deep fry the thing.. probably in part because Jackson knows his wife well and knows what she was planning. Though over the night while our heroines are at their other meals, it devolves into them deepfrying everything they can get their hand son including a shoe, and Suki getting plastered to tolerate it.  While not topping it the other meals and the sheer lunacy of four thanksigvings in one day, are still memorable: There’s the natural posh one at Richards and Emilys, the dour joyless one at The Kims where Mrs Kim forces the band to play the whole time and forces our heroines to eat food as joyless as Mrs. Kim, and Lukes for a nice round of Rory grappling with having PDA with her boyfirend Jess before resolving it at the end. Also dean’s a jackass. No one is suprised. Jess isn’t one at this stage in his character which is. Also Kirk adopts a cat that slowly pushes him out of his own house which works comedically becaus Sean Gunn is a national treasure. Overall a really good episode and if you have netflix and haven’t checked the series out, this is a good one to try out. 

3. The Thanksgiving Special (Regular Show) I already talked about this one in my top 11 Regular Show episodes so i’ll try to be brief. In a nutshell Mordecai and Rigby destroy thanksgiving and genuinelly feeling bad about it, scramble to win a thanksgiving bird from a Thanksgiving Song Contest, going up against an all star super group comissioned by Donald Trump. Yes really. Meanwhile Muscle Man and High Five Ghost go to get sides and the  rest of the park staff’s attemtps to get a turkey are thwarted by a bunch of thanksgiving reinactors who go unexplained in any way shape or form which given how rare that is for regular show, which usually has some sort of explination for the madness, just makes it funnier. It ends with a REALLY touching song, a fight on a blimp with outgoing president trump, and a truly heartwarming thanksgiving meal. All in all a nice special that combines the shows madcap nature with the genuine warm fuzzies of thanksgiving. 

2. We Gather Together (Roseanne) Another series I need to talk about more.. and another series where one of the creators has turned out to be a terrible human being. Seriously Roseanne Barr is is a terible person, she deserved to be removed from her show, and while the Conner’s isn’t GREAT it’s still FAR better without her. That being said I will still stick up for the original as she wasn’t the only one involved (indeed the aformentioned Joss Whedon worked on the show breifly and Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman Paladino not only worked there but later adapted one of Roseanne’s insane antics, making all the writers wear caps with a number instead of referring to them by name , to Gilmore Girls.). Her being a bad person even then dosen’t change the fact that the show is sitcom gold, one of my faviorite shows, and a true classic. And this episode helps showcase WHY. 

What makes this episode special, even among Roseanne episodes is it’s structure: While there are things going on it’s mostly a free floating day in the Families life and thus feels like your there with them through thanksgiving. It feels genuine, like past thanksgivings i’ve remembered: Everyone has their own stuff going on, they all eat, and there’s naturally a big blowup.. and one that eveyrone else ignores to eat which I can relate  to. That authenticity really elevates the episode and is why I seek it out every year. 

That’s not to say nothing happens, it just flows in and out like it would in a normal thanksgiving. Roseanne deals with her parents, a pre-abuser version of her dad and her overbearing nightmare of a mother beverly, and the inevetible blow up when Bev’s needling about Jackie’s life goes too far , prompting Jackie to reveal her new job as a police officer before bursting into tears, all to Roseanne’s annoyance. Rosie also moves them to a hotel despite an attempted guilt trip from her mom. 

Speaking of Mom’s we see Dan’s for the only time before the later seasons and the utterly terrible last season, a professional career woman whose moved on well from her ex and brought her new boyfriend there. Ed, despite some comptemplation over it is firmly accepting and instead starts flirting with the Conner’s friend Crystal. Dan, being overprotective because of his Daddy Issues, but ed cals him out on it “Being lonely is a hell of a lot for two people to have in common, you woudln’t knwo anything abotu that son, and I pray to god you never do” A great caper to a fantastic episode.. one I thought was going to top the list... THOUGHT is the key word here...

1. Turkey in A Can (Bob’s Burgers) This one is. Bob’s Burgers is one of the best things to come out of the 2010′s and i’ve fallen way too far behind on it, so I can’t say if any thanksgivings after thankshoarding top this one.. what I can say is this one is the gold standard for thanksgiving episodes, and is filled with great stuffing. 

Thanksgiving is Bob’s holiday. Being a chef he loves the chance to go all out, and really flex his muscles for his families when it comes to cooking up a storm, and it’s endearing when bob gets just as nuts as his family. But this year someone keeps flushing his turkeys down the toilet despite his best efforts, so while Louise hilariously tries to solve things to proe it wasn’t her (though it’s entirely fair they thought it was her consdering.. everything), while LInda, Gene and LInda’s flighty sister Gale try to write THE thanksgiving song. And while it’s no you just got slapped, damn if they didn’t succeed. 

Sailors in your mouth indeed. It leads to plenty of great jokes the best being the guy at the Deli Counter thinking Bob’s into him and bob not being sure how to respond, but being mildly recpetive. But the climax is what makes the episode as when Bob falls asleep we find his medication has been making him sleepwalk.. and thus put the turkey s int he toilet, as Tina’s desire to be at the Grown Up Table, itslef a REALLY funny runner as you’d expect, has him panicking internally and thus reliving her potty training. The episode ends with Bob letting her come to the adults table, and a rather heartwarming thanksgiving feast. All in all an excellent episode. It also leads to the chaos seen above whic hif htat’s not thanksgiving, I don’t know what is. 

Have a happy thanksgiving and check out my black friday sale! Until then there’s always another rainbow!

#thanksgiving #top 10 #bob's burgers #gilmore girls #buffy the vampire slayer #aqua teen hunger force #hey arnold #how I met your mother #the simpsons #roseanne #regular show #brooklyn nine nine #brooklyn 99 #99

[loveburnsbrighter]

Like a Blushing Rose

Written for a lovely anon who requested little embarrassing moments :) read it on ao3

"What was that?"

David freezes.  Maybe if he stays really still, Patrick won't be able to see him.

"David," Patrick says with a huff of laughter.  "I can still see you, even when you stand really still."

Okay, fuck that plan, then.  David relaxes.  "What was what?"  He says as breezily as he can manage.  (Nevermind that he's not breezy at his best.)

"David," Patrick says again, in his patented teasing voice.  "Did you belch?"

"Okay, firstly, that's a gross word and I hate it," David clarifies, because Patrick's vocabulary, as it turns out, is atrocious.  "And secondly, no, I did not.  That's a disgusting thing to do in public."

"Is it technically public if it's just us two in here?"  Patrick cocks his head, a show of innocence that's so full of shit, and gestures at the admittedly empty shopping floor.  

David bristles to hide the little shiver that just us two gives him.  "Please don't remind me that we're quiet," he snaps instead.

Patrick just laughs at him.  "Told you the cafe's Super Burrito was a bad idea."  

"You know what, this isn't a discussion we're having," David announces.  He hates how out of control he feels.  He hates that Patrick is having fun humiliating him.  He hates that he actually doesn't hate either of those things, that Patrick's savant-level ability to press all of his buttons with  complete accuracy gives him a little thrill that he's chosen not to poke at thus far.

The thing about the beginning of a relationship is that there's no way of knowing how the other person will react as you slowly become a little more accessible to them, a little more human.  In the scant few weeks they've been dating, David has tried to stay at his filet mignon for Patrick, and now he's unwittingly exposed himself at his Super Burrito.

"David, it's okay," Patrick says gently.  "There's nothing to be embarrassed about."

"Oh my God."  David tosses his hands up.  "How are we still fucking talking about this?"  

He cringes, expecting Patrick to be cowed by this, but he should know better at this point.  Patrick is smiling at him, endeared by David's harshness rather than repelled by it.  "Would it make you feel better if I burped, too?"

David's jaw actually drops in horror.  "No, it would not.  Literally at all."

"Okay," Patrick says, holding his hands up in surrender.  "But I just want you to know that there is really nothing to be embarrassed about.  You can't always control your body, right?"

David really doesn't know how to handle Patrick's blend of teasing and gentle sincerity right now.  Humiliation wars in him with his desire to let it go, because for some reason Patrick hasn't turned away at him, even after doing something as disgusting as — he has to swallow a gag at the thought — belching in public.  Finally, he sighs and looks at Patrick.  "Can we just drop it?  And never bring it up again?"

Patrick's eyes soften, though the teasing smile doesn't slip completely off his face.  "Consider it forgotten," he says.  And when he scrubs a firm hand over David's back, David lets himself think, maybe.  Maybe this, the first guy to still want to touch him after seeing his body betray him, maybe this one will work out.

There's a wet spot on David's shirt.  

It takes him a moment or two to orient himself — they're at Ray's, and Ray is out with a client.  It's their day off from work, and they're on the couch, and they must have fallen asleep watching TV.  Patrick's head is resting on David's chest, and his mouth is slightly open, and… 

Drool.  Patrick has drooled on his shirt.

David is first horrified by the drool on his shirt, because ew, and then he's horrified because in equal measure to his horror, he finds that he's finding this whole thing endearing.  And a bit relieving — finally, a tangible physical flaw, a little imperfection to prove that Patrick is a real person, who apparently drools in his sleep.

It's endearing enough that instead of leaping up and spot cleaning his shirt immediately, David finds himself petting a hand over Patrick's hair.  Patrick snuffles, and David does it again, encouraged.  When he runs his fingers between the shorn strands — not tugging, just seeing how it feels — Patrick sniffs and shifts and blinks awake, and David tugs his hand back guiltily.

"Mm," Patrick says, voice thick, not lifting his head from David's chest, "How long was I asleep?"

"About an hour and a half," David says, petting his hair again.

Patrick groans, wipes his mouth and lifts his head, and then he pauses.  "You got something…"  He points to the wet spot on David's shirt, and then stiffens.  "Oh my God," he says, and covers his face.  "David —"

"It's okay," David assures him, because for some reason it really is.  Because it's Patrick, and David has learned over the past several months that he'll make a lot more allowances for Patrick than he ever could have thought.

"It only happens when I sleep during the day," Patrick says from between his fingers. "I'm so sorry, I'll pay to have your shirt cleaned —"

"Hey," David says, pulling at Patrick's fingers.  "Don't touch your face, it's bad for your skin."  He succeeds in prying Patrick's hands away from his face, which is bright red.  David can't help but touch it; the warmth radiating off Patrick's skin is intoxicating, which is a thought he's interested in chasing down the line — but not right now.  "It's fine, Patrick."

Patrick chances a look up at him with the biggest set of puppy-dog eyes David has ever seen on an adult.  "But your shirt!  You're not mad?"

"I'm as surprised as you are," David tells him with absolute sincerity.  "But I guess…it's kind of…," he takes a long pause, looking for a word.  "Endearing."  He cringes, waiting for Patrick to react.

Patrick reacts by blushing harder, which David thinks is very fun and adorable of him, the bloodrush painting his ears, his neck.  "Okay," he says.  "I'm…really embarrassed," he admits.

"Mm, shocking," David can't help but tease.  "It's okay, Patrick.  I promise."

"Oh, you promise?"  Patrick shuffles up, eyes dropping to David's mouth.

"Mhmm," David says, smiling into the kiss Patrick offers him.  He pulls back and leans his forehead against Patrick's, and he can't help but think that maybe, at this exact second, everything really is okay.

They're driving home from a conference when he sees it.

David generally doesn't attend these sorts of functions, but this one was a one-day affair in Elmdale, there and back without having to stay in a dusty motel (Patrick had hit David with the driest expression in his repertoire when David had expressed this point), and there was a workshop called "The Power of a Cohesive Aesthetic," so David had agreed with what he considers to have been a very modest level of bitching.

The radio is on low and Patrick is relaxed, one hand on the bottom of the wheel and the other on David's thigh, chattering about the Greater Elms Business Association panel he attended, and David can't really be blamed for letting his attention drift a bit; watching Patrick's face move through his excitement is simply much more fun than actually listening to what the CFO of Elm Glenn's premiere laundry facility had to say about bargain buying.  They will not be applying that to the Apothecary, thanks so much.

David lets his gaze drift down Patrick's profile — the slight curl of the hair at his neck that says he's overdue for a cut, the stiff collar of his teal shirt, the strain of the fabric where he's rolled his cuffs up, the long, transparent sticker that reads XL XL XL XL down his chest — 

Wait a second.

"Um, Patrick, honey?"  David says delicately, completely disrupting whatever Patrick was saying about cheaper office supplies — although, actually, if Patrick wants to cut costs, carbon paper and premium colored ink are surely the places to do it.  "Is that a new shirt?"

"Yeah."  Patrick glances at him for a second, one eyebrow raised almost imperceptibly.  "You were with me when I bought this.  Do you not like it?"  He frowns.

David does remember — after being coerced into Kohls on the promise that he wouldn't have to try anything on himself, he'd actually quite enjoyed the little fashion show Patrick had given him, and it had gotten him into slim-fit jeans (he didn't buy them, but, baby steps).  And he remembers thoroughly endorsing this color on Patrick — it brings out his natural coloring a bit, so that even under the harshest fluorescents he doesn't look cadaverous.  That assessment is what probably led Patrick to wear it to a conference at a university, with its stupid economical lighting and paint jobs.

"I love the shirt," David says emphatically, because he doesn't want Patrick stuffing it in the back of his closet, never to be seen again.  "Um, it's just.  You've got a price tag..?"  He reaches over and delicately plucks at a corner of it; it separates from Patrick's chest with a soft ripping sound.  

"Oh my God," Patrick says; his eyes are on the road, but his ears redden considerably.  "Do you think that was there all day?"

"Um.  I don't think it magically appeared there halfway through the day.  So."  David cringes, trying to be sympathetic but unable to imagine leaving the house without checking over his clothes first. 

Patrick's face only flames further.  "I talked to so many people today!  David, I had a whole conversation with the president of the Greater —"

"Greater Elms Business Association, I know," David says, pained that he's in love with a man who cares about the opinion of the Greater Elm's Business Association's president.

"They must have thought I was an idiot," Patrick says miserably, shaking his head at the road.  "Damn it, and I really killed them with that joke about British accountants…"

David grits his teeth over that one.  "I'm sure they didn't notice.  I mean, I didn't notice, and I think I pay just a little more attention to your clothes slash body than the average person?"

Patrick's mouth twists.  "I guess that's true."

"Um, you guess?"  David paws at Patrick's shoulder playfully.  "When we get home I'll get you out of this shirt and prove it to you."  He tries for a sexy growl, knowing the effect will be more goofy (he's not really the growling type) and that it will make Patrick laugh.

He does laugh, just a little bit.  "I know what you're doing, David," he says, smiling sideways at the freeway, "and if you try to distract me now I will send us straight into a guardrail."

David pulls back.  "Wouldn't want that."  But Patrick's blush is almost gone.  "So…what else did you learn at your panel today?"  He knows he'll regret asking, but as Patrick lights back up and launches into a detailed description of whatever it is (so he's already zoning out, can he be blamed?) he's glad that he did.  He laces his fingers with Patrick's and watches his expressions shift and change, and humoring Patrick, pleasing him, lifting him back up is so easy and feels so good that David thinks he could do it for the rest of his life. 

#long post #fanfiction #david x patrick

[doitwritenow]

Hey, you still up for the fandom meme thing xD? How about A, P, and Z? P.S. I love your stories and works 👏👏👏

Ssksjsks thank you! I am so glad you like

---

A: Oh-ho current OTPs... well there’s my Ironstrange boys, of course. I love the dynamic between them, the way their proclivities match each other’s vulnerabilities. I love the situations canon presents for them (the fourteen million futures; meetings around and through canon stories; the scientist drawn to magic and the scientist who makes his own--and the fact that that phrase can mean both of them interchangeably!) and I love to ignore those situations, on occasion. I enjoy the way insult and attitude expose the nuance of emotion between them, ranging from adoration to desolation. I just really love them okay.

I also Ship-with-a-capital-S Castiel and Dean (Spn). There’s a reason that pairing’s so popular! The intense power of Castiel’s inhumanness gives him strength, but also sort of innocence when it comes to the ways of Earth and emotion. I really like how that matches up with Dean’s raw humanity--even as the show (somewhat awkwardly, but we all know you can’t trust canon) explores questions of what it means to be human and what it takes to be good. 

Last one I promise--I adore Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian from their representations in MDZS and the Untamed. This was the first international fandom I really got into, and the pairing comes from a canon love story in the book the story comes from. Of course, it’s undermined on screen because of China’s censorship laws, but that almost makes it more appealing--because there’s so much subtext! I love the pairing of the lonely, broken prince drawn to a true, deep love for the wild hero of war and morality, the hero who turns to darkness, away from his world and the prince. Until the two are drawn back together for a new quest--and a second chance they didn’t know they’d get. It’s great. 

---

P: INVENT A RANDOM AU! ALRIGHTY THEN. How about an AU where the magic of a society is sort of worked into glass. And the people who use magic weave it into blown-glass figures called golems, which can then move around. To make any old figure into a golem you have to connect it to one of your five senses, and that connects you with it as well. Eg. a golem you're connected to via sight allows you to see through its eyes (if you create it with a pair). 

But, if the golem is destroyed, you lose the corresponding sense. It stops working. So there's strategy involved; if you create a golem to simply be a soldier or defender, you may want to connect it to your sense of smell or taste instead of hearing or sight. But there's more! Because it's never enough with me apparently! The different properties of glass determine different characteristics of a golem.

 > Reflective-ness gives the golem soul and self-awareness almost, making it more alive. However, the more reflective, the harder it is for you to get it to do what you want. 

> Color gives the golem more energy and keeps it active longer, but much more easily controlled by other glassblowers/people who create golems. More on control later.

> Transparency gives a longer reach between glassblower and golem that the golem will still respond to changing orders. But transparency is incompatible with reflectivity, and the two cancel each other out if you try to build them into one figure. 

So! When you create a golem you give it one of your senses and you give it a Purpose or an Order, which is then its sole point in life. When it completes that order, it dissolves with no affect to its creator. If you locate a golem using the sense it is connected to, you can control it and "use" its creator’s sense. So like, if you SAW a SIGHT golem, you would be able to SEE through its creator’s eyes. 

SO YEAH, AU where the magic’s super weird and aesthetic because that’s how I roll. 

---

Z: Uhm... idk what to do for this one so I’ll just drabble something Ironstrangey. 

“How did you know?”

Stephen jerked his head up, spinning in his chair toward the source of the voice. One Tony Stark glared back at him, aura sparking with furious ruby colors, though Stephen didn’t think they were directed at him, this time. 

Monday morning had come early, and Stephen had been drifting towards slumber all day: at breakfast, on the subway, against his internship’s doorway, and again now. But the anxious anger of Tony’s aura left no room for drowsiness. 

The young man looked tired, too, at least physically, which was likely Stephen’s fault. His aura was duller, and he sported drifting shadows beneath his eyes and what looked like a bruise along his jawbone. Had he started Saturday night hacking into the hospital’s records, or had he waited until Sunday? 

“Did you find them?” Stephen asked, pivoting to fully face Stark.

“Find what?” Tony demanded. “That there was another car? Which killed my parents and left the scene before it could be identified, leaving unknown or accidental motive? You mean that? That you somehow know?” His hands gesticulated wildly, his eyes wide with somewhat desperate confusion. 

“I wasn’t driving the other car or anything, if that’s what you mean,” Stephen said, forcibly staring Tony down.

The other man didn’t budge. “Why should I believe you? How did you know? Why would you tell me?” he snarled, leaning closer, his hands braced against the blacktop table. The proximity of his aura prickled against Stephen’s skin, bringing involuntary unease up his throat, but Stephen refused to shrink away. 

“Because I want to help you find who was in that car,” he snarled back. 

Wait.

Tony pulled back. 

What?

“What?” demanded Stark, his face a mix between suspicious and perplexed. It was all Stephen could do not to mimic the expression. 

Tony’s face dropped to flatness after a flash, however, and so did his voice; “no you don’t.”

You’re right. No I don’t!

But going back on the story now would only make the man more suspicious. “I do. And I think you need help, too.”

Although going along with the story would tie him into something long and intricate and not at all what he could afford to be doing—

“How can you help me?” Tony demanded, his aura flashing with what could have been disbelief.

Well, at least he hadn’t dismissed Stephen outright. 

No, wrong; damn, he hadn’t dismissed Stephen outright. 

Desperately trying to decide if that was a good or bad thing, Stephen vaguely recalled that Tony had asked him a question. “You’d be surprised,” he said. He forced himself to focus on Tony’s face and not his shifting cobalt aura. 

And to his utter shock, the face crumpled. Just slightly, but it was accentuated by the sudden pang of sepia—which Stephen took to mean brokenness in this instance—in the colors around the man. “I’ve had enough surprises,” Tony murmured, slumping into his seat and turning his gaze away. His spine curved enough that Stephen could see the sharp edges of his vertebrae. 

Stephen swallowed and spun towards the desk himself. Unconsciously, he matched Tony’s posture, still watching him out of the corner of his eye. The man likely wouldn’t pursue conversation again.

Say something.

Good; maybe he’d forget Stephen’s instinctual offer. Maybe he wouldn’t realize that Stephen had never answered the ‘how do you know?’

Say something. 

Maybe now Stephen could finally be left alone. Perhaps his little slip hadn’t been as catastrophic as he’d thought. 

“Does Peter know?”

What the hell, Stephen Strange. 

Tony glanced at him sharply. “You fucking told the kid—yeah, real great move there, just drop that on the nine-year-old and haul ass. Very brave.”

Stephen didn’t flinch. “I didn’t tell him what happened. I thought it was better that way.”

A sigh. “Whatever.”

---

There we go! Hope that was fun--it was fun for me. Thanks for asking!!!

#ask me anything #fandom #ironstrange #destiel #wangxian #marvel #alternate universe #magic #fanfic prompt #au prompt #mdzs #the untamed #mcu #ironstrange fanfiction #fanfic #drabble #ironstrange headcanon #shipping #magic systems #fanworkstuff

[bri-notthecheese]

Tagged by @connerluthorkent​ ! Thank you so much my dear!! <3 <3 

Pick 10 ships without reading the questions.

1) Nygmobblepot (Edward Nygma x Oswald Cobblepot - Gotham)

2) Mergana (Merlin x Morgana - BBC’s Merlin)

3) Handers (M!Hawke x Anders - Dragon Age 2)

4) Korrasami (Korra x Asami - Legend of Korra)

5) Chlodine (Chloe Frazer x Nadine Ross- Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

6) Midna x Link (Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess)

7) Solas x Lavellan (Dragon Age: Inquisition)

8) Hannigram (Hannibal Lector x Will Graham - Hannibal)

9) Cassarric (Cassandra Pentaghast x Varric Tethras - Dragon Age)

10)  MakoHaru (Makoto Tachibana x Haruka Nanase - Free! Iwatobi Swim Club)

1. Do you remember the episode/scene/chapter that you first started shipping 6?

Oh man...that was soooooo long ago.  I played Twilight Princess for the first time when I was about 12 I think, so Midna x Link is the oldest ship on here. But I think I started shipping it after the first third of the game when Midna tries to protect you and nearly sacrifices her life because of it. You get this section where you have to sprint back for help as a wolf with her on your back in the rain as she’s dying and “Midna’s Lament” plays in the back and it was the first time I really felt myself get so worried for a video game character. And after that, she’s a lot more caring towards Link and you can see them grow closer and closer as the game progresses.

2. Have you ever read a FanFiction about 2?

Merlin x Morgana was the reason I started writing fanfiction actually <3 And I have read quite a lot! 

3. Has a picture of 4 ever been your screen saver/profile picture/tumblr?

They have not actually!

4. If 7 were to suddenly break-up today, what would your reaction be?

OUCH™. This question came for my life a lil bit. Ow :(

*SPOILERS* But Solas does fucking break up with you in the game regardless of what you do and we’re basically doomed to face our lover and try to stop him before he destroys the world in the next game. That route/relationship is known as Solavellan Hell. Worst/best? part is that he still loves you and you him. But as for my reaction? Despite knowing it was going to happen somehow, I still sobbed and felt like I’d gotten broken up with in real life. BioWare really knows how to hurt us.

5. Why is 1 so important?

Strap in. I’ve only been into Nygmobblepot for almost exactly a year at this point and I can’t remember being *this* attached to a ship like this for a long time. Part of why it lingers in my mind is because there’s still that slight feeling of disappointment that they were so close to being explicitly canon on screen but homophobia got in the way, and yet they really are still canon in all but sharing a kiss and explicitly stating their mutual romantic intent. These two have checked off almost every box in regards to tropes because they went from strangers to friends to almost lovers to enemies to tentative allies back to friends with their mutual feelings being pretty transparent under the surface. There’s so much to play with in regards to story because you can have your pick of dynamics depending what season it’s set in and the creators in this fandom are next-level. They’re two people that are continuously ostracized from everyone around them and they consider each other their best friend, something neither of which has had before. They’re weird and pretty nasty people, but somehow are canonly so Soft™ when they’re around each other (unless they’re enemies and then helloooooo sexual tension). Both have said in so many words ‘I love you’ to the other and have been beaten, tortured, and thrown their lives on the line to protect the other. They’re stylish evil villains in love with an adorable height difference and their incredible chemistry really makes it impossible not to root for them.

6. Is 9 a funny ship or a serious ship?

Funny! They do have serious moments, but since they are both companions (and don’t have an *actual* side romance) they’re mostly there for humorous banter when you have them both around.

7. Out of all of the ships listed, which ship has the most chemistry?

That is really hard. I feel like it might be a tie between both sets of Murder Husbands: Nygmobblepot and Hannigram.

8. Out of all of your ships listed, which ship has the strongest bond?

Again, I think I might say Nygmobblepot and Hannigram.

9. How many times have you read/watched 8’s fandom?

Twice! I watched the show as it aired and then I rewatched it when my best friend was getting into it!

10. Which ship has lasted the longest?

MakoHaru! They’ve been best friends since childhood <3

11. How many times, if ever, has 2 broken up? 

Damn all the painful questions keep coming for the doomed ships. So, Merlin and Morgana have never officially been together EVEN THOUGH THE WRITERS GAVE US THIS WHOLE THING ABOUT HOW THEY WERE EACH OTHER’S *DESTINY* AND DOOM and yadda yada. But while Merthur is the most popular ship in this fandom, I’ll always have a special place for Mergana because they  could have been something really special had the writers not made stupid decisions and had him not tell her about his magic. (this show in general makes me so bitter lmao) But they were really great friends in the beginning and him poisoning her would probably uhhh be the breakup and then it just got worse from there :(

12. If the world was suddenly thrust into a zombie apocalypse, which ship would make it out alive, 2 or 8?

Definitely 2 because they both have incredibly powerful magic. 

13. Did 5 ever have to hide their relationship for any reason?

They are in the early stages of their partnership ;) The game takes place over the course of 24 hours so they aren’t quite there yet, but I doubt they’d hide it once they did get together. 

14. Is 4 still together?

Yes they are!!! And I have all their graphic novels thus far to keep getting all of that good Korrasami content <3 

15. Is 3 canon?

Yes it is, in my world state at least. They broke up for about half a year after the events of the second game but have been together ever since and Hawke gets to talk about his bae when you meet him in the third game ^_^ 

16. If all 10 ships were put into a couple’s Hunger Games, which couple would win?

Uhhhhhhh there’s like 3 people in this list that are ‘the most powerful magical being in their universe’ so. It’d be down to Merlin/Morgana, Korra/Asami, and Lavellan/Solas. I feel like due to the fact that neither favor underhanded means typically, Korra/Asami would be out. But Merlin, Morgana, and Solas are real bastards so it might be down to raw power mixed with what sabotage is laid out. 

17. Has anybody ever tried to sabotage 10’s ship?

Not really, everyone in universe kinda knows they’re a thing. 

18. Which ship would you defend to the death and beyond?

This is like my fourth tie but it’s gonna be between Nygmobblepot and Mergana. Nygmobs because they’re meant for each and have said so. And I’m currently obsessed. Mergana because it was one of my very first ships and even if it still ended tragically, I’ll always mourn the boatloads of potential they had for some really intriguing stuff between the two of them and never touched any of it.

19. Do you spend hours a day going through 1’s tumblr page?

Thankfully I’ve calmed from when I first got into it but I generally have a daily check on here and AO3 <3 

20. If an evil witch descended from the sky and told you that you had to pick one of the ten ships to break up forever or else she´d break them all forever, which ship would you sink?

Well since Mergana is DEFINITELY broken up forever, I’ll pick that one. 

This was SO FUN!!! Thank you so much again for tagging me!!! <3 <3 <3 Tagging @midnightanddiamonds​, @bisexualmoron​ @wicked-eyes-and-wicked-hearts​ @kessilover​ @jesscoot​ if you’d like to do it and anyone else who’d like to try!

#tag games #ship tag games

[its-chelisey-stuff]

The King: Eternal Monarch 1st week.

Lee Minho’s awaited return and  the interesting complex story with captivating characters.

Not all was what I expected but to be honest, not sure what I was expecting it to be as whole. Still, I love it. So much that I watched twice each episode on the same day it was released(thank god for netflix!). Not sure if it was because Minho’s beauty and aura kept distracting me or if it was because I wanted to be sure I understood well the story if I just enjoyed it a lot and wanted more. Maybe all of the above. Yeah, probably.

Let’s talk about that intro in the interrogation room. Hmmm that must be in the near future, but why is he covered in blood?! Please tell me The King aka Lee Gon aka his hot majesty is OK. TELL ME HE IS!

Ahem. Then we have a litle bit of background story. I swear to God, where on earth do they find these talented and gorgeous kiddos?? They melted my heart and my oh my little Lee Gon might have been 8 but he knew his place and authority as Crown Prince and the way he stood up to his uncle? Damn! And he broke the magic flute! I wonder what does this means... Is it still powerful enough to do all the good the uncle was talking about? Or is perhaps,now that is split in half, bound to malfunction? I need more information about all its magical capabilities.

Btw the scene of the coronation was beautifuly breathtaking but also so heartbreaking. I mean, he is a kid ascending to a throne after the murder of his dad. And once he is grown up, he can’t even eat without someone tasting his food for him. I know, by having watching saeguks, this is normal for the king, but the looming theats are there. And I hate it. Seeing the little kid on that big ass chair was awful. And I get the sense that his life was a bit lonely, even if he had the Court Lady and Yeong. Man, what a way to end childhood. 

However, I do want to know what does Lee Gon think about being a King, because so far he seems to only allude to his status when annoyed and stuff. He is used to be taken seriously and to have his word become the only universal truth. But I don’t sense a royal duty in him, not in the way we saw in him as a kid. I wonder if that’s intentional or if I’m just reading too much into it. I mean, we only saw him briefly as King before he went on a fun trip to the other world. BUT, even there he didn’t seem to be worried about his precious Kingdom or how to return, it’s like all that slip his mind as soon as he saw Tae Eul.

I liked seeing his hot majesty out of his element and not being taken seriously as a power figure (cause in the normal world he has none) and that scene at the police station with Tae Eul was pure comedic gold (LOL at Kim Gae Dong ha!) but I do wanted to stay a bit more in The Kingdom of Korea and explore that world. It seemed pretty modern and honestly, looked like it was doing as well as our Republic of Korea, but I needed more time in there and to be honest, with the exception of Tae Eul, I’m more interested in the Kingdom characters than the Republic ones, even if they look the same.

We still don’t know a whole lot despite having seen a lot of things and hey! this is not a bad thing, it’s only ep 2, I think it’s going pretty well in setting up everything and to be honest, I’m down for whatever this drama throws at me. I have faith in the writer. Also, can we talk about the beautiful cinematography? Because it’s on another level. You can see the money invested in it (hey, let’s be honest. Money doesn’t make art, but if you use it well, you can help something become art.) I love tha you can see that the people behind this drama had really taken its time with what they present to the viewer and I can’t help but feel a bit spoiled cause damn! Those shots of Minho’s face! Or those shots between our leads! Or just the scenery *chef’s kiss* Excellent!

Some of my favorite shots:

Let’s talk about ships:

TaEul&King: I love the way his hot majesty looks at her, cause he has been watching her picture since he was a child and has idolized her in a way. Now that he finally met her and has her before his eyes and is getting to know her for real, is so fun. That said, we know he is telling the truth about paralel universes and whatnot, but I can see and understand TaeEul’s frustrated attitude. And this dude acts so entitled (true, he is A KING, my god, he doesn’t know how not to be entitled but he is also lacking common sense) and it just comes off as crazy. Not yet seeing the romance, but I can sense it coming. Cause it’s just gonna. Also, people out there waiting for this to feel a 100% organic, let me tell you LOL, you must be new to Kim Eun Sook’s dramas, cause it not gonna happen like that. His hot majesty is gonna enter TaeEul’s heart in a way that I can already see and it’s definitely gonna spark conflict and drama among viewers so just cool it, prepare for it, let it go and chill. This is a drama. A drama. Not real life.

(I mean... look at them! They have tons of chemistry! And I use this shot because they’re smiling here at each other, something they haven’t done in the drama)

The King&His Guard: Like out of a story book. Hahahaha Just kidding, but I mean, let me tell you, my sister is not really into BL stuff and doesn’t particularly enjoy bromance, YET she told me “Wow, I can see the chemistry between these two and I dig it”. Ha! I knew we were sisters. But yeah, I want more of these two, their story because, how come little stern King became such a chill dude who likes to scape from his palace on a normal basis and how did little cute and sassy Yeong became so serious and dutiful? What is going on? Give the story there, cause there has to be one!

The King&Power Hungry Prime Minister: Yes. She sees the hotness in his hot royal majesty, but she does not have feelings for him, I don’t think. She has feelings for the crown and power. I don’t trust her, bu I hope, given the history of second female leads in Kim Eun Sook’s dramas, that she becomes a badass in her own right and surprises me in the best way. The King? Lol he doesn’t even see her as something more than a nuisance, which, feelings or not, that has to hurt Prime Minister’s ego. Except that she seems to be living in denial.

Fangirl&Yeong: So far, I have seen only one sided stuff on this ship, but hey, it’s the same as with the leads. However, maybe he is also into her? Who knows? He seems to be very serious and not at all the transparent kiddo we met at the beggining. I’m rooting for them and their counterparts in the Republic of Korea.

Friend aka the designated second lead&Tae Eul: We have watched enough dramas to know where this will end. Sorry, buddy, not gonna happen. Maybe in another universe?

Kingdom!TaeEul& Republic!LeeGon: I know, it sounds crazy, but I think he is still alive. Plus, wouldn’t it be fun if somehow this did happen? Not holding my breath on this one, but you never know!

Well, that was fun! Surprise more, drama! You have me, completely! Till next week!

#lee min ho #kim go eun #the king the eternal monarch #the king #kdrama #opinion #episode 1 #episode 2 #woo do hwan

[fuckyeahcharmcaster]

An Ode to Omniverse!Charmcaster

OV’s Charmcaster is the non-Man of Action-involved Charmcaster that doesn’t entirely suck, and she has as much good points as bad points, all of which I’m analyzing in this post. 

PROS:

Sensible progression in her story - Charmcaster’s story in OV went from point A to point B and so on in a logical way, a far cry from how it went in UAF. We understand why she first gets involved in the show to start with (because the Alpha Rune was stolen by Zs’Skayr while she was busy contending with Darkstar trying to steal magic from her realm), why she goes to Friedkin University (to take the family heirloom staff from Hex in order to replace the Alpha Rune as a power source), why she goes for the power of Bezel (she hears about it while trying to get the staff again and decides it’d be an even better power source), and why she seems so much more rational and reasonable in the game show episode (she’s been deprived of power for a while, and this has a healing effect on her mind). It all adds up.

A return to form in villainy and point of character - The original Charmcaster was all about seeking various sources of power for the validation of her own ego (she has a Inferiority Superiority Complex), with the point being that she did so in place of seeking love, which she subconsciously wants but consciously considers a weakness, a contrast to Gwen who is just as ambitious in the pursuit of growing stronger but does so with love and support from others. After UAF’s version of Charmcaster completely dropped this angle, it’s nice to see it restored with the OV version, who is blatantly portrayed as a troubled young addict to magic power that is too hung up on getting back at people she hates, only hurting herself in the process.

A fantastic design - Derrick Wyatt may have not had any interest in Charmcaster as a character, but he knocked it out of the park with her design, combining her OS design with aspects of her UAF design and topping it all off with stitches in her coat, giving the sense of someone broken trying to put herself back together. The purple hair highlights are cool too.

Badass magic powers - I was far more impressed with OV Charmcaster’s skill with magic than I was with UAF Charmcaster’s. The writing also backs this up, returning to the OS fact that Charmcaster was “always the better sorceress” compared to Gwen, rather than the bullshit retcon about Gwen always being the stronger one because she’s “made of magic”.

Kari Wahlgren’s performance - Just listen to it here. Kari sounds like she’s actually having fun with the role again, as opposed to the drab take on the character she performed in UAF.

Great character interactions - Charmcaster got to have some fun and interesting interactions with Darkstar, Adwatia, Zs’Skayr, Ben, Rook, Hobble, Hex, Gwen and Bezel...she even had non-verbal interactions between many of the other female contestants in the game show episode (providing plenty of crack ship fodder as a result). That was highly appreciated.

A far better ending - UAF’s Charmcaster ended on the worst note you could possibly leave the character on: alone, unloved and mentally broken inside of her awful home dimension. It was a slap in the face to her and to any fan who wanted better for her. OV’s Charmcaster ends in the custody of people who love her on Earth and is mentally recovering. Despite UAF’s Charmaster being the one saddled with the name of “Hope”, there’s actually far more to be hopeful about regarding OV’s Charmcaster. Seriously, just look at the difference here.    I am forever thankful that this is where we left the original continuity’s Charmcaster* on.

*The original Ben 10 continuity before the reboot, known as the Prime Timeline, was a timestream, made of three different branches: OS, UAF and OV.  So the OS and UAF branches and their Charmcasters technically still exist separately from OV, but not as part of the Prime Timeline. The Prime Timeline’s Charmcaster thus started as OS!Charm, shifted into UAF!Charm, and then finally into OV!Charm which is what she is left off as. Complicated, eh?

CONS:

Mischaracterization - I’m not going to say that I didn’t find the zany, cheerful, energetic, high-on-magic Cloudcuckoolander personality OV Charmcaster had entertaining. I did. But the fact remains that it’s not the personality Charmcaster is supposed to have. Take away all the witchy trappings, and Charm is a “thug life” girl. Strip her of her magic and she’d be ready and willing to throw down with her fists. She’s sarcastic and tough-talking, insolent to authority figures, competitive and kind of tomboyish. Basically, she aspires to be the kind of woman Rojo is: the baddest bitch around who nobody oughta mess with, and she’s constantly frustrated when her own awkwardness gets in the way of this and she is unable to back up this egotistical self-image, though she often blames the likes of Gwen for it instead of herself. UAF’s varying depictions of her as a sultry femme fatale, high school alpha bitch, sadistic and obsessively vengeful murderer, sympathetic outcast and freedom fighter, troubled daddy’s girl, or whatever the Hell she was supposed to be in “Couples Retreat” were not the right characterization, and neither is what was done with her in OV no matter how much more enjoyable than those UAF characterizations it may be. Only the reboot got it right.

Her story hinges too much on UAF’s crap - Just when you’re enjoying OV Charmcaster’s story, you suddenly hear things like “Ledgerdomain”, “Alpha Rune”, “Spellbinder”, “Adwatia”, or “Darkstar” get brought up, and you zone out thanks to the bad memories that are awoken. OV Charmcaster would’ve worked better without all this baggage from her previous self.

Unfortunate Implications - Some of this connects to the previous point, as it exists solely due to the UAF crap (ex: OV Charmcaster’s story means denying the route of Charmcaster becoming a better ruler in Ledgerdomain, sending the message that women aren’t capable of being good rulers because they just aren’t mentally up to the task). Others are just OV’s fault, particularly where Hex is involved - I get what they were going for with him, but to do so they had to whitewash the fact that he and Charmcaster weren’t a loving, mutually evil family; Hex abused Charmcaster in order to drive her to evil. To make Hex sympathetic by having him reformed and upset at his niece’s self-destructive behavior that ends up harming him while dancing around the fact that said behavior was Hex’s own damn fault to start with is gross.

Her relationship with Gwen is a non-factor - OV didn’t butcher the dynamic between Gwen and Charmcaster the way UAF did, but this is mostly because it barely did anything with that dynamic at all. The third act of “Charm School” is the only time the two actually get to interact, and it’s as basic as you can get, with Gwen being all “Charmcaster, you’re not well, stop this so that we can help you!” and Charm being all “How dare you get in my way? I wasn’t even looking for a fight, but now I’m gonna finish you once and for all!” They fight, Gwen wins, Charmcaster retreats, and that’s it. In “Third Time’s a Charm”, Charmcaster turns Gwen into a stone totem right at the very beginning, paying little thought to her for the rest of the episode. Gwen, meanwhile, doesn’t really have anything to do with Charmcaster until the very end of the episode, with her line about hoping to finally make friends with Charmcaster now. For a character who is meant to be Gwen’s foil, Gwen barely mattered to Charmcaster here.

No character development - UAF attempted character development for Charmcaster and did it badly. Once again, OV’s answer was to simply not even try. OV Charmcaster is static to an irritating degree, with the exception of her final appearance, in the game show episode, where she appears to be mentally healed...which naturally happened completely off-screen, since putting it on-screen would mean taking Charmcaster’s mental issues seriously, which OV was not willing to do...after all, it hardly takes anything seriously. I think that this was a missed opportunity, as it could have made OV Charmcaster’s conclusion even stronger.

Horribly paced, minimal appearances - Charmcaster appears in 5 out of 80 episodes in OV. Worse still, her first appearance is a brief cameo toward the end of episode 42, showing up afterward in episodes 47, 63, 75, and 78. This means that Charmcaster and her story is primarily a factor in the episode 61-80 period, which is considered by many to be the worst period in the whole show!  It is transparently clear that the people behind OV did not have any real interest in Charmcaster whatsoever, she didn’t fit in with their preferred focus on Ben, Rook, the Plumbers, and stupid shit like “harem” antics and Blukic/Driba shenanigans. 

The spin-off that never happened - A justification as to why Charmcaster was so underplayed was that Gwen was not a regular on OV and thus too many Charmcaster appearances without Gwen would feel weird. As it stood, an OV spin-off focused on Gwen at Friedkin University was being planned, and Charmcaster would have been a regular character on that show. The problem is that this spin-off didn’t happen due to OV bombing and the franchise getting rebooted, so Charmcaster having few appearances and no character development in a story arc dedicated to putting her in place for her role in that spin-off just ends up feeling like a total waste. As painful as it is for me to admit this, even UAF Charmcaster ultimately felt more meaningful to UAF than OV Charmcaster does to OV thanks to this misguided decision.

[ongnable]

upperclass(men)

“Does it still bother you? The fact that they didn’t even wait to accuse us?”

“Hm…? No, I was just distracted by the balloons.” Clear reds and cyan blues were made sunset orange and leafy green by the transparent yellow ones in front. Very pretty. Hopefully distracting enough to clear your mind.

“You know you can’t lie to me. You can try, but even if I didn’t have my abilities, I’d still see right through you.”

’Why?’ you’d wanted to ask. Instead, it’s “how?” that comes out.

“Because I care about you.” 

Because I like you, I’d obviously pay attention to you

{ supernatural au } kdn | bjy | pwj | osw | hmh | hsw

a/n: haetae sungwoon~! think something along the lines of haetae in god of high school and hoozuki. sungwoon x reader bicker like an old married couple.

“You two students at the institute?” The vendor gestured at your sharply cut uniforms, attempting to make small talk as he took your orders, the monochrome fabrics standing out amongst the swathes of playground coloured clothe whilst Sungwoon and you shared a knowing look.

There were children that stood up to your waist openly staring at every movement – fascinated. Their parents wary of every step.

Though magical creatures didn’t look different in their humanoid form, something about the two of you would’ve still felt different to them. Your aura, your scent, your touch, or something else. 

There was no point hiding it – to change out of your uniforms – when the Peace Treaty required you to wear your identities around human settlements anyway. At least this way, they’d know you were part of a neutral facility.

Luckily, the ice cream seller didn’t seem to ask it mockingly, just curious. Perhaps not having seen many of you during the busier weekend periods. 

Alas, final year students couldn’t afford wasting school days out and the younger ones had to stay on campus – no roaming around unless chaperoned. The round trip there and back took up a good portion of the day, after all.

“Yes.” Sungwoon answered politely, shielding you by his side as the high schoolers behind popped up to ask for two ice creams over your shoulders. The vendor busying himself with preparing the four cones.

He’d handed you the ice cream and ushered you away from the store before the two of you were abruptly stopped by a shout- 

“Yah, you thieving freaks, you didn’t pay!!”

Snickering whispers surrounded the two of you in seconds, and you felt Sungwoon stiffen a growl. Constricting the guttural sound inside him before he turns around and lifts a neatly groomed brow (damn him and his perfect skincare routines for making you self-conscious at a moment like this). 

Scanning the crowd, you could see the fine golden mist surrounding him even if it was invisible to the non-supernatural around you. His hair taking on a richer vermillion tone as his gaze settled on a woman cradling a baby. 

You recognized her as the person paying the next counter down.

“Ma’am?”

“I… yes?” Hypnotized, she followed Sungwoon’s line of sight, back at the vendors.

Silence filled the normally boisterous area as parents told their children to be quiet and teenagers adopted hushed voices. People around were now even more cautious to approach the two of you, a circle in the crowd forming as if you had taken the woman and her toddler hostage. You wanted to throw up.

This had happened before too. 

Blaming the supernatural for crimes they didn’t commit, for natural disasters caused by human negligence, for the evil desires that arouse naturally that they didn’t want to acknowledge. But you, yourself, had never been so publicly condemned.

“Won’t you help us out?” It had sounded like a request, but you knew better than to doubt a haetae’s abilities, strengthened even more in his human form. 

As a mythical beast, Sungwoon’s true form took up too much spiritual energy to maintain – usually at the cost of his other abilities; but in this state, it was pressurized in a stabilized core – as if all the power in his true form were to be laser thin and pin pointed.

Walking over, the young mother tilted her head at the high schoolers from before, shaking her head in their direction and dropping her eyes in disappointment. But disappointment in what – you didn’t know.

“Those two walked off before paying,” she voiced what she’d seen without any of her earlier meekness, courage withstanding even when one of the boys stepped forward, fists balled and her baby began crying; only to be stopped when Sungwoon placed a firm hand on his shoulder.

“Let her finish.”

“They told the part-timer who changed shifts with you that they were with those two, they said that the institute students should pay for them since human taxes were used to help fund the school.” 

It was your anger this time that made everything look hazy. 

“Said that the supernatural should stay with the supernatural instead of mingling amongst humans.”

Sighing, the fire in your breath didn’t cool until you reached Sungwoon’s side, his body warm, calming, next to you. And he’s smiling and cordial as he apologizes to the vendors for the misunderstanding. As if he did something wrong.

“Let’s go. They’ll sort it out. It wasn’t anything serious.” He pulls you with him towards the ferris wheel. Somewhere you could be alone. Away. Above the from the crowds.

“Does it still bother you? The fact that they didn’t even wait to accuse us?”

“Hm…? No, I was just distracted by the balloons.” Clear reds and cyan blues, made sunset orange and leafy green by the transparent yellow ones in front. Very pretty. Hopefully distracting enough to clear your mind.

“You know you can’t lie to me. You can try, but even if I didn’t have my abilities, I’d still see right through you.”

’Why?’ you’d wanted to ask. Instead, it’s “how?” that comes out.

“Because I care about you.” 

Because I like you, I’d obviously pay attention to you

“It’s just… hard to not be bothered.” One or two accusations you could deal with… but with crowds, it was always difficult. You also hated how fast he was to apologize. To admit to a wrong he didn’t commit. But you didn’t have to tell him that.

“Look at it this way… we’re lucky that we have humanoid forms. Imagine how they would have treated us if we had to wear modified uniforms.” 

Modified to fit tails, or four legs, or wings and scales. Creatures such as centaurs rarely left the institute for such reasons. They didn’t return with good stories to tell. 

“They say that we’re monsters, as if being human is the ultimate compliment. Calling other races monstrous, as if they’re not monsters themselves. They really think being human makes them humane.”

You knew it was one of the reasons Sungwoon preferred to remain in his human form even though it was more tiring. You gripped his hand tighter.

“What an eventful first date.”

“Eventful… that’s a good word. Very neutral. You’re doing great with this ‘politically correct’ thing.”

“Well, at least one race should try. And the non-magical mob just now clearly wasn’t very accommodating.”

“Did you know? Apparently first dates should always be at the amusement park.” 

That’s one you haven’t heard before. The redhead says it with a determined look on his face, and you can tell he’s trying hard to change the sullen mood as he leads you towards the ride, the two of you settle in line steadily and without trouble. 

No one seeming to mind approaching the uniforms when faced with the threat of getting their place cut in the queue.

“Why?”

“That’s what Daehwi said-” Sungwoon hurried to explain when he saw your unbelieving face. “You never run out of things to do at the amusement park and you’re forced to talk while you’re in line! That’s what he said!”

Stifling a laugh, you could definitely imagine it. 

The 101 dorm boys lazing in their ridiculously luxurious building (a donation courtesy of the magical community’s royalty), eating whatever unhealthy snack they could get their hands on (or was it paws on?) while complaining about their respective love lives like girls in the changing room.

“Is that what you talk about with the underclassmen? Where to go for first dates?”

“He’s not just any underclassmen! He’s Lee Daehwi! You adore Daehwi!”

“I adore him because he’s Daehwi,” you explain with a flick of your wrist, as if the action was synonymous with the sassy young wizard. “You’re very brave to follow his dating advice.”

Provided that while the spell caster was indeed popular, it didn’t exactly translate well into his love life.

“It’s not like I had anyone better to go to. All the guys back in the dorm collectively share one brain cell.”

“You included?”

“Me, excluded. You didn’t let me finish.” 

Tutting, he leans back, the rails of the queue you’re standing in shifting back slightly at the weight before getting stuck into a new crook in the concrete. 

“Used to think that it belonged to Jinyoung – but he’s consistently proving me wrong these days. And don’t even get me started on Minhyun! All the smart ones are the ones that apparently crack the hardest. I really worry for the future of our world.” Sungwoon sighs, and if you didn’t know any better, you’d be tricked into thinking that he was legitimately concerned.

“You’re ridiculous.”

“Wha- how am I the ridiculous one?! I had a girl I liked and I pursued her like a normal person!” You had to give it to him. Compared to unconventional courting methods of the dorm 101 occupants, Sungwoon was doing an exemplary job. 

Stellar even.

“You’re still pursuing.” You corrected. 

Smug at the appalled look on the mythical beast’s face before he began to form a pout. How he looked so cuddly and cute in his human form, but fierce and intimidating in his other confused and fascinated you to no end. 

“So you don’t get to make fun of the younger ones.” 

“I didn’t expect the haetae to look... Well. Like you.”

“What? To look normal?” His mouth is pursed to one side of his face, but his expression amused.

He’s rounded corners, lilted laughter, petit statute and fluffy cloud-like hair. All the makings of a pretty fairy. He didn’t need to know that though.

“No.” It was your turn to find laughter. “To look handsome.”

The unexpected flush that merged his face with his reddened hairline did nothing to mask the mythical beast’s cuteness, and the roundness of his cheeks looked even more prominent as he presses his lips together.

“Gods. You’re so-“ 

Tilting your head to the side, you wait for what he has to say since words seem to have failed him as he just continues to stare. 

“You’re so embarrassing!” Sungwoon muttered, looking away.

“Embarrassing for me? Or embarrassing for you? I’m not the one that can’t take a compliment.”

Miffed, or flustered. Maybe a bit of both, Sungwoon glanced at you with his face is still turned.

“Well, I’m sorry not all of us are so forward.” Blunt. Or just shameless. You didn’t mind either.

“And I’m sorry not all of us are subtle.”

Oh, how the tables had turned. Now he was the one that consistently made you blush. You still can’t put a finger on when exactly it had started, what day of the week had it been and of which month did he start becoming the one to make you the shy one?

You’re just glad he doesn’t seem to realize it himself either.

“You could always rectify that. Change our status so that I do get to tease the younger ones. Maybe we should even do that selfie announcement thing where we time our Facebook status change a minute within one another and have matching display pics.”

You hoped he wasn’t for saying that you should really do that. 

“We’ll be the ones get teased for doing ‘old people stuff’ by the kids then!” 

Who even used Facebook anymore!

“I hate how you didn’t even bother to hedge around the fact that we’re getting old – gotta give them something to tease us back for though,” he shrugged. “They’ll call foul if we don’t.”

“Gods above and below, you’re such a hyung. One minute you complain about them and the next you plan to give them something to make fun of you for just so its reciprocated. I don’t know whether to be impressed or worried!”

“You can be both. Both are fine. Just give me twice the amount of attention.”

“You’re incorrigible. I’m glad your kids know that you’re that way.”

“Their your kids too!” 

Reminding you of the fact that you practically adopted the savage JinHwi duo the day you were assigned as their mentor when they transferred halfway through the term. He nudged you by the shoulders. 

“And I’m lucky you have a habit of being that way too.”

“Oi!” You nudged back.

“It’s fine. No worries. I like you even though you’re like that. I don’t trust anybody else to handle you.” 

Sungwoon let go of your hand as the two of you stepped into the ferris wheel capsule.

“Not to mention; I’m good-looking, kind, and very good at catching liars and thieves. By extension, I also hate liars, so I’m a great judge of character. What’s more, I’m also taller than Guanli-“

“I thought you hated liars!”

“Taller than Guanlin once I transform. You never let me finish!

“Guanlin’s still a growing boy!” The haetae were one of the largest creatures throughout any of the realms, so that was a given. But transformations for mythical beasts were unpredictable, and given Guanlin’s race…

“Well, for the time being, his mythical form is still smaller! And what did I say? They’re as much your kids as they are mine. Even while we’re on our date – they’re still interrupting!” 

You want to say that he’s the one that’s consistently bringing them up. But decide that it’s probably better to not let him know just how much he cares, lest he actively avoids the subject.

By now, a smile had stuck on, but you purposefully let it drop a bit, almost guilty when you saw the way Sungwoon’s expression flickered to confusion. “Thanks, you know,”

“You’re welcome,” comes out quick, like an automatic reaction,

“But I still think eventful isn’t the right word. Being politically correct isn’t really my thing.” That was Jisung’s thing. 

The two of you may be final year students at the institute – but you were still young. What was the point to dwell on such things? 

Leaning forward, you whispered lowly; as if planning a much more elaborate prank on the others than what you actually propose.

“Also - let’s tell the others that we had an awful first date.”

“Why the hell would we do that?” 

He stood, and the capsule swung back and forth. The sky coming into view one moment, and the ground the next. People smaller than ants from where you sat.

“Passengers, please stay seated during the duration of the ride. Thank you for your cooperation and we hope you enjoy your time with us tonight.” The loud speaker announced as the ferris wheel came to a temporary halt.

“Cooperation my ass.” Rolling his eyes, the haetae sat back down. Visibly annoyed.

“Didn’t Daehwi tell you?” 

You really wanted to reach out and pinch his cheeks when he sulked. Evidently, Daehwi didn’t tell him. 

“Awful first dates don’t count. You owe me another first date, Sungwoon-sshi.”

masterlist

#ha sungwoon #wanna one #hotshot #wanna one fic #wanna one writing #wanna one imagine #wanna one scenario #hotshot writing #hotshot fic #hotshot imagine #hotshot scenario #sungwoon x reader #supernatural au #also for my first date w/ sungwoon anon from way back even though I lost the ask >< #jas writes

[i-am-loki-and-now-i-speak-up]

In the Place of Kindred Souls

(Inspired by this blessed post  by @lyasmind. Written under author permission. Thank you so much!)

I saw him. We were in that place with no name where kindred souls meet. A place where time does not exist and what happens have a sense and a belonging. The Gods know that place, so a strange, indomitable instinct had led me there, ... but I didn’t expected I could find in it him too. Waiting for me.

With his kind, almost shy gaze. We remained silent, a silence that said everything, a sweet, light, yet painfully sad silence. And I was tired of suffering.

In that steady and subtle air, in that transparent light, images took shape. I forced myself to look at them even if they hurt. They were hurt terribly. I knew how much they blew those who, on Midgard, had taken me and my story, to heart. I heard their every outburst, their every cry. I felt their anger, seeing their tears, felt their pain, ... cursing myself for not being able to help them.

Those images hurt so much. They had been a punch in the stomach for whoever looked at them. Meaningless brutality. A gratuitous violence.

I’d liked to show myself, shout to everyone not to despair: I am a God, I live and I will live forever, and what they had seen was only mere fiction. Yet that mere fiction, that fate so violent and undeserved that "they" had reserved for me, had shocked and outraged everyone. Those whom now praised my name, clamoring for my return. Without knowing that, in any case, I will be there forever.

Anyway, here it is. Here I am. Thor, my beloved and hated adoptive brother, crying and despairing over my still body. My sacrifice for him. I wonder if it was worth it ...

I hid my every emotion. Loki God of Mischief shows no weakness and does not flaunt his feelings. A lesson learned almost immediately ...

I took a deep breath and straightened my shoulders. I knew he was behind me: he had seen those very disturbing images too, and now he waited for me to be the first to speak. A difficult, hard to deal with, and above all to accept.

"So ..." I said trying to keep my voice steady "...I guess this is where we have to say goodbye, you knew it was gonna end like that, right?"

"Yes ..." a soft voice answered behind me "Yeah, and ..."

I turned to look at him, finally, and once again I found myself amazed at how much he resembled me ... as if a powerful magic, unknown even to me, had created my Midgardian twin.

"... I just suddenly I recalled the first time i met you."

I smiled. I remembered it too. I could not remember it.

It had been amazing to meet him, to see him become me. I had decided I liked it, and seeing my face on someone else was tremendously fun.

His name was Tom, and at the time he looked like a little boy who had fallen into the clothes of an adult: the thin face, the sharp cheekbones, blue eyes like the cloudless sky of Asgard. And a laugh that I would soon learn to know, ... and recognize among a thousand others.

He was good, damn good. At first I thought to give him a breath of my magic, then I realized with amazement that he didn't need it. Because in a moment he understood me more than anyone else, and his whole soul became mine when he had to wear my clothes and talk like me.

I laughed softly, approaching me.

"I remember it too, my friend ..." the air stirred, flickered in front of him, and when it stopped, I looked once again as if it all began. Short hair, angry and sad eyes, the face of a lost teenager, broken forever.

"When I looked like this ..." I murmured "It seems centuries ago, don’t you find? When it all began and I was nothing but a fist of anger, resentment and broken bones." i smiled bitterly "You've been good, my friend ... I’ll never forget those days. "

I watched him. I had followed his life in silence and with attention, while he was weaving reality and fiction. He played me, I watched him with curiosity and finally with affection. I had seen him become popular, I had seen masses of people cheering his name, ... I had seen his face of eternal boy blush with happiness and embarrassment.

I had seen him having fun, laughing, doing silly things and making fun of himself. And also being tremendously serious.

I liked Tom. He spoke of me in the right terms, he was able to do me justice, he understood me. Which does not mean that he justified me. He understood my emotions, and it was important.

He put a hand on my shoulder, in a gesture of sincere affection.

"It's ... it's an emotional moment ... I mean, if you want you could have my shoulder for ..."

I interrupted him. No, Loki does not show his emotions. Loki must hide. Loki must go beyond suffering and sadness. I'm not used to showing my most emotional part, but it was useless to hide it, ... yes, that moment also deeply touched me. I was about to lose my best friend.

But instinct prevailed and I behaved with composure, as I had always done.

"No, ...i don't shed tears before any Midgardian ..."

For a moment I was ashamed of myself, swearing to myself the coldness I had learned to erect between myself and others. A nice "gift" from my father.

But Tom showed sympathy once again to me, confirming in my eyes the good person he was, and that would always be: sympathetic, gentle, kind, polite.

"Okay ..." he simply said, smiling.

I looked away for a moment, biting my lip. I always get nervous when I have to say or do something serious, involving feelings. Mine or others'.

"Actually..." I began to say, but my voice overlapped his, with the same word. I wasn’t surprised: we were two parts of the same soul, it was obvious that we could feel each other's thoughts.

Tom nodded.

"You go first, Loki ..."

I stood in silence for a moment, looking for the right words. I, a master of eloquence, images modeler, Silvertongue, ... at that moment I looked like an idiot with a knotted tongue.

"I ... I made this ... what do you call it? Pudding? Is this his name on Midgard? I made a pudding, for you."

In front of his amazed eyes, a small golden vase appeared in my hands. I handed it to him.

"Most of the time I really don't get you, people on Earth, but ... I think this would make you happy. I put blessings in. The good ones."

He seemed happy. He held the jar as if it were the most precious treasure in the world, his blue eyes sparkling with joy.

"Thank you!" he exclaimed like a child on his birthday.

I hadn't finished. The worst part was coming...sadness.

"Hide, Loki, ... hide, do not let him know ..."

No, enough hide, stop pretend! Not with Tom ...

"Because ... because after me you're going meet a lot of people on your journey, and I want ... I would ..."

The air shone around me, and I went back to assume my most recent appearance: the long black hair on the shoulders, the petrol-blue leather suit, the high dark armguards.

A shadow of pain had to appear on my face, because Tom approached me reassuringly.

"That's right, Loki, but ..."

He looked me straight in the eyes and for the first time, in all that time, I realized how much he had changed, grown, matured.

He no longer had a smooth boyish face, he was no longer so much thin. His hair was longer, now, and thick waves of a reddish blonde curls framed a man's face. He wore a beard, glasses with a black frame and his body was the same as always, only more defined.

As Tom and I intertwined our lives, and he told my tragedy, I had remained an immortal God and he had become a grown man. Under my eyes.

An adult man, thoughtful, calm, but with that smile that enchanted the world and the sweet gaze of a good-hearted person.

Lost in my considerations I did not realize that he was continuing to speak.

"What you say is true, but ... but I'll not be able to thank you enough for all the fantastic, unforgettable years we went through ... So, listen to me, Loki, I want you to keep these words in your mind, when we're apart. "

He put his hands on his shoulders, his voice became a soft whisper, his words a caress to my already aching soul. I had lost so much, I had lost everything, ... now I was going to lose him too.

"You deserve to be loved, Loki, you deserve to be loved by everyone, and yes, you're right ... I might meet other people but none of them replaces you."

A shiver ran through my back at hearing that phrase. Was it true? Or was it rather a phrase of circumstance, of those that are said only to make a good impression?

I knew Tom ... and he was not the guy who managed it with empty sentences.

It was true, then.

Smiles slightly.

Suddenly I found myself clutching something small and cold. I looked, and to my surprise I realized that I was holding a key in my hand. A small golden key: it had a round handle like a coin, and on it was engraved a small smiley face with a satisfied and sarcastic grin. As if he had just played a terrible trick and was having a good time. He wore a helmet with long curved horns.

"Keep it, it's yours." Tom said "Whenever you miss me, you just come to the door."

He pointed his index finger at his chest and suddenly, the unpredictable magic of that place out of Time and Space, showed me a soft light, ... there, where Tom held his forefinger, ... on his chest. A soft, warm and pulsating light. Reassuring. Of a soft pink color.

Watching her made me feel safe as if I saw a familiar and familiar place. A place where I had been happy.

"You know the way ..."

Tom's heart.

Yes, I already knew the way.

I knew that Tom's heart was a big heart full of love, and it was enough to give it to me too. Tom had loved me from the beginning, he had taken me, kept me tight, made me grow, he had given me the light that everyone had wanted to deny me. He had loved and defended me.

Yes, I knew her well, the way to Tom's heart. At that moment I understood that I would never lose him, that I would always have a place to belong to.

That Tom and I would never have separated, actually, nor would we ever really say goodbye.

Because two parts of the same soul can not separate, they can only look at each other and know that nothing ends forever.

I looked at the grinning facet on the key and laughed.

"I didn't know you do magic as well, Tom ..."

The grinning face. Loki, God of Mischief. Sarcastic and sharp ... arrogant, full of charm and charisma. Beautiful and shiny. Denigrated and crazily loved. Diminished and yet able to obscure so many blatantly good and perfect heroes. Loki.

I recognized him, that sneer, made with a few simple traits. Effective and funny like a child's drawing. Tom ...

"And is this thing me?" I exclaimed, trying to appear dismayed.

He chuckled. He knew perfectly that I was pretending, with him my tricks were not working. Never.

Then I laughed too: with Tom I could let myself go and smile. I took a deep breath.

"Thank you, Tom."

He knew what I meant, what was inside that "thank you". It was a "thank you" for all that he had been for me, for what he had said and what he had done.

Thanks Tom.

I found myself tight in a hug full of warmth, Tom's arms held me as if they no longer wanted to leave me. As if he wanted somehow to absorb a breath of my spirit for as long as possible.

The embrace of a brother.

Of the only person, beyond my mother, who had understood and wanted me. Really wanted.

"No ..." I heard him whisper quietly, his voice broken by tears "Thanks to you, Loki."

Then I hugged him too, ... strong and tight. Instinctively I leaned my forehead on his shoulder, and something veiled my sight so I let myself go. Tom hugged me even closer.

Because there is no time, in the Place of the Kindred Souls, there are no farewells or separations. Only souls who find themselves and back to belong to each other, forever.

Because Loki belongs to Tom.

And Tom is part of me.

"Thanks, Tom."

"No, thanks to you, Loki ..."

#in the place if kindred souls #loki laufeyson speaks #trust my words #lyasmind #thank you for this

[iamartemisday]

Triad- Loki/Jane/Bucky

25: Crush- Loki/Jane/Bucky

Jane is torn between two men. The solution to her problem is like nothing she could’ve expected.

“I see the letter T around you. Someone in your life with a T name.”

“Teresa! She’s one of my cousins. Are you with her mom right now?”

“Yes! Her mother is very present with us.”

“Oh my god.” Darcy elbowed Jane, breaking her away from her phone. “She’s so good. Didn’t I tell you getting a psychic reading was a good idea?”

“Oh yeah, Darcy. Great.” Jane sent out a text to Tony. ‘Get me out of here!’

“Now!” The ‘psychic’ said, pointing one distressingly long fingernail at Jane. “Onto your future!”

She was an older woman, not yet wrinkled, but that might’ve been all the makeup. Her lips were cherry red, her eyes lined with blues and purples. She wore a headscarf and a floor length robe. On her table was a crystal ball, tarot cards, and an assortment of pendulums. It was like she’d taken the most cartoonish aspects of TV psychics and pumped them full of steroids.

“Thank you, but I’m fine,” Jane said, as politely as she could. “I’m just here to-”

“You are here for Madame Emerald’s wisdom! Do not shy away from the future, Jane Foster!”

Did she have to talk like that? All in exclamation points? What purpose did it serve when anyone who wasn’t Darcy had to realize this was all for show. Before she could refuse, Madame Emerald grabbed her hand. She was shockingly strong for someone so frail looking.

“Yes… yes! Your future is clear to Madame Emerald! You will become famous around the world for your scientific innovations!”

Technically, Jane was already famous. Unless Madame Emerald here didn’t put stock in Nobel prizes.

“You will earn great prestige and… ah, yes. Love is in your future.”

“This is so exciting,” Darcy gushed, snatching Jane’s phone out of her lap and taking a picture. “Jane’s first psychic reading!”

“Give me that,” Jane grabbed the phone. There was a text from Tony. ‘LMAO’ was all it said. Some help he was…

“You will find true love, Jane Foster! In fact, you’ve already met the one who will have your heart… but what’s this? Two men in your future. Two you have feelings for. Two who will love you as you love them.”

Darcy’s eyes bugged out. “No way, dude. She knows you’re hot for Barnes and Loki.”

“She doesn’t know anything,” Jane ‘whispered’ back. She pulled her hand away and gathered her things. “Thank you for your time, Madame Opal-”

“Emerald.”

“Right, but we really should be going.”

She dragged Darcy up and out the door. Madame Emerald clasped her hands on the table, looking forward at the artificial fog in her crystal ball. “You shouldn’t doubt your fate, Jane Foster.”

“I don’t believe in fate.”

A serene smile. “You will.”

Strange as it was, Jane was not about to give this woman any more of her precious time. That was already thirty bucks she’d never see again.

“What’s with you?” Darcy grumbled as they walked back to the car. “Weren’t you having fun?”

“Darcy, that woman was a total fraud,” Jane said. “You can’t honestly tell me you believe that crap?”

“I don’t know, Jane. She figured you out pretty quick.”

“She didn’t say anything you can’t find on my Wikipedia page.”

“What about your crush?” Darcy needled. “She knew about that didn’t she?”

“The only thing people like her know is how to scam people.” Jane started the engine. “Now let’s go get some food. I’m starving.”

“Okay. No need to be defensive.”

“I’m not being defensive.”

They argued their points as the car pulled away from the curb and down a busy intersection. They never noticed Madame Emerald at the window, her eyes following them long after they’d disappeared from sight. She rubbed her fingers together, power swirling around her.

This was going to be fun.

**

Jane knew something was wrong the moment she woke up. Her cot was too soft; the hum of machinery omnipresent in her lab was absent; sunlight shined in her face from a window that shouldn’t be there.

And then someone moved.

She opened her eyes and a hand slapped her on the face. It came with a muscular arm attached to a shirtless man she could just make out through the gaps between his fingers. His blue eyes slowly opened, drowsy with sleep as he registered Jane’s presence. Her breath on his skin. They stared at each other.

Jane screamed.

Then Bucky screamed.

Then Loki appeared out a side door leading into a bathroom.

“Could both of you please lower your voices. I can’t hear myself think.”

He was also shirtless, his pants low slung which caught Jane’s eye far more quickly than it should’ve given the situation. She sprang out of bed, relieved to find herself in a pair of shorts and a tank top.

“What the fuck is this?” Bucky shouted, grabbing Loki by the shoulders. “What did you do?”

“Why do you assume I did anything? I’m just as confused as you.”

“Yeah, bullshit. I know it’s you. It’s always you. Where the hell are we?”

Loki clicked his tongue. His body turned transparent and Bucky stumbled through him. The double disappeared as the real(?) Loki appeared out another door. This one led into a hallway Jane had never seen before.

“A better question, my friends,” Loki said, “is when are we.”

“What are you talking about?” Jane demanded. The two men looked at her and she realized this was the first time she’d spoken since they woke up.

She couldn’t help her silence though. Not this time. Not when Madame Emerald’s fingers with their claw-like nails and many rings reached for her in her mind’s eye. Her final words rang in Jane’s ears.

‘You shouldn’t doubt your fate.’

Was this her fate?

Someone cleared their throat, giving them all pause. In the doorway was a boy, at least twelve years old. He was on the tall side, though clearly not done growing. A mop of dark brown hair covered his eyes. A new emotion sprung through Jane, one she never knew she had. The second she saw him, she knew several things instinctively. He needed a haircut, he needed to do his homework, and he needed to brush his teeth before leaving the house.

“Are you guys having sex?” he asked. “Because if you’re having sex with the door open, I’ll have no choice but to see a therapist.”

His voice cracked as a boy’s often does when he’s on the verge of puberty. Jane looked at Bucky. They were both thinking the same thing. This kid would be the spitting image of him once he’d grown up.

Loki smiled and nudged Bucky. “Well? Do you have nothing to say to your son?”

“My son,” Bucky repeated. He shook his head hard and rubbed his eyes. “Uh… yeah. My son. Morning, son!”

“Morning Dad…” the boy said, eyeing Bucky suspiciously.

Fortunately, Loki was in a merciful mood and saw fit to end the torment. “Jacob, why don’t you go get some breakfast? Your mother and father and I need to talk alone.”

“Fine, but I’m shutting the door. The walls are soundproof for a reason.”

As soon as he was gone, Loki was once more lifted off the floor with metal fingers around his neck.

“What the fuck is this?” Bucky seethed. “Who the fuck is that kid?”

“Bucky, stop it. That’s not helping anything,” Jane said, struggling to pry his hand off.

“Yes, it is! It’s making me feel better.”

Loki vanished from Bucky’s grasp and reappeared next to him, no worse for the wear. “As invigorating as your rage can be, James, we do need to discuss what is happening here.”

A couch appeared out of nowhere. Invisible hands gently pushed Jane and Bucky down. Loki sat leisurely with his long legs crossed and his head back. In any other circumstances, this relaxed posture combined with partial nudity would have Jane’s heart racing. Right now… well, it was his damn fault for being so sexy.

“Okay,” Jane said, hiding her face until it cooled down, “let’s think logically for a second. We all went to bed in different places last night, and we woke up here. I’m guessing Loki was up first.”

“Yes, I had the pleasure of meeting your son shortly before the two of you joined us,” Loki said. “Though I suppose I should say ‘our’ son since it appears we have entered a point in time where the three of us are in a full polyamorous relationship.”

“You know, I was with you guys for a second,” Bucky said, looking nauseous, “and then you had to spring that on me.”

Loki feigned offense. “I’m sorry, am I not attractive enough for you?”

“No, you’re too you for me. This has got to be a dream…”

Jane took Bucky’s hand. It felt warm and strong. She’d always loved his hands. “We can’t go freaking out right now. We have to figure out how this happened.”

“Jane is correct as always,” Loki winked at her. “Did either of you experience anything strange yesterday? Anything that might explain how we came to be in this predicament?”

“I was training with Steve all day and then we got pizza. That’s it.” Bucky grumbled.

“I was working in the lab after breakfast,” Jane said, “then Darcy and I went shopping, then we got lunch, then she wanted to go see this psychic woman and then we went home.”

“What is a psychic?” Loki asked.

Jane bit her lip. She’d half hoped he’d miss that part if she buried it in the middle of typical Midgardian monotony. The kind he always scoffed at because ‘blah blah blah royalty blah.’ “It’s nothing. Some people think they have the power to see the future, but they’re all fakes. They just want to make a quick buck.”

“Still, if this psychic of your has real magic,” Loki said thoughtfully.

“Darcy took a picture of her with my phone if…” Jane felt for his pockets, but of course, she didn’t have any.

“Never mind that,” Loki said, leaning over until he was level with her.

He looked deep into her eyes. Too deep. Like he was seeing beyond the brown irises into what lay beneath. Into her very soul. Jane felt the push of tiny hands against her skull. They slid through without issue, and while they didn’t dig so deep as to unlock her every hidden desire, she was under no illusions that they couldn’t.

Neither was Bucky, as the next thing Jane knew, she was in his arms and he was glaring at Loki. “What are you doing to her?”

“My apologies,” Loki said. “I was merely gathering information about this psychic.”

“You saw her?” Jane murmured. “In my head?”

“It’s one of my many abilities,” Loki explained, folding his arms. “And yes, I did. The woman you met yesterday was no Midgardian and she certainly is no mere fortune teller. She’s a sorceress. Her name is Amora, and I’ve had dealings with her in the past.”

“So this Amora woman is the one who did this?”

“More than likely,” said Loki, pacing around the room. “She loves to meddle, and unfortunately, it will take some time before I can break her spell and send us all home. At least a week.”

“And until then, we have to live here,” Bucky said, staring at the closed door. “With my son…”

Loki grinned like he’d just been handed a toy. “It does sound exciting, doesn’t it?”

They dressed slowly, finding their closet to be five times larger on the inside than it appeared on the outside. Jane selected a green blouse (there was a lot of green in here) and blue jeans. After a quick trip to the restroom, they filed out of the bedroom and followed the path to the kitchen.

Jacob was at the table with a bowl of cereal. “Morning. I see you’re all finished with your sexcapades.”

“Now, son, that is not an appropriate topic for discussion,” said Loki.

“Sure thing, Pop.”

Loki nudged Bucky. “Do you have nothing to say to your boy?”

“Knock it off,” Bucky hissed, “I’m still processing all this. Most guys have nine months to get ready for parenthood, you know.”

“Even so, I thought you’d be pleased to meet your progeny,” Loki said innocently. “Why if I was meeting my child for the first time, I’d know precisely how to behave.”

“Good moooooorniiiiing!”

A teenage girl skipped down the hall on the opposite end of the house. Her billowing black hair hung loosely over her shoulders, her green eyes filled with girlish glee. She hugged Loki tight, seeming to float more than walk.

“Ah-” Loki said. The look on his face made Jane wish she’d tried harder to find her phone.

At the table, Jacob rolled his eyes. “The princess graces us with her presence at last.”

The girl let go of Loki and marched across the kitchen. She leaned over Jacob as he calmly spooned cereal into his mouth. “Is that the last of the Cheerios?”

“No,” said Jacob, bringing the nearly empty bowl to his lips, “but it’s about to be.”

“I told you to leave the Cheerios for me, you little dweeb.”

“Yeah, must’ve missed that memo.” Jacob grabbed another box and placed it in front of her. “Don’t worry. I did save you the raisin bran. You look like you need it anyway.”

The purple box suddenly transformed into a snake, which slithered around Jacob’s arm up to his shoulder. He shrieked and threw it across the room. It hit the wall and changed back into a cereal box before hitting the floor.

“No fair!” He shouted at the girl. “You know the rules. No magic at breakfast.”

“Oh sorry, must’ve missed the memo.” She grabbed an energy bar out of the pantry and walked back to her dumbstruck parents. “I need to stay late after school today to help Morgan get ready for the bake sale. Is that okay?”

Jane blinked a few times. The girl’s face reminded her of her high school yearbook photo, but infinitely prettier. She reached for a name, coming up with the one she’d picked long ago for any daughter she might have. “Yeah, that’s fine… Christina?”

The girl stared at her for a moment. No reaction beyond that except to hug her. “I’ll see you later, Mom.” She let go, then kissed Bucky and Loki on the cheek. “Bye Papa. Bye Daddy. See you guys tonight!”

She rushed outside and seconds later, Jane heard a car engine start. Jacob finished his breakfast and left the bowl in the sink, giving them one last odd look and muttering to himself about how weird adults were. Now alone in this house that was and wasn’t theirs, the three of them could only look at each other. Bucky didn’t even have it in him to return Loki’s taunting.

“This is going to be really hard,” Jane said.

And to that, neither Loki nor Bucky could object.

#mcubingo #mcu bingo #Jane Foster #Loki #Bucky Barnes #Loki/Jane/Bucky

[qqueenofhades]

I was (?) a Lyatt shipper who loved Flynn since S1 bc I love a good bad boy. I've been sympathetic to him since the 70s (ha!) when we found out about his wife and kid being murdered. So I found your blog and was loving all the Flynn stuff but I wasn't into Garcy. Thought "ew"--isn't he more like cool young uncle material for her? Fast forward to today and I have read every Garcy ff you have written and have fallen completely into the trash can. I know you prob hear this a lot lately...(1)

(2) but I wanted to thank you so much for writing The Tangled Web of Fate. What a masterpiece! You make the storyline in the same tone as canon somehow. You really have Flynn’s emotions and voice down pat. So good. Makes me believe in Garcy. In fact, makes me want Jessica and Logan to figure out their crap and that way everyone can be happy bc at this point I don’t want Jessica to be unhappy or go away either. Anyway, I went from Garcy sounds gross to GIVE ME MORE. So thanks?

(3) sorry. I feel panicked that we are running out of time (unoriginal pun) and might only get 5 more episodes and Flynn won’t get the full character development and happy ending he deserves. If it were up to you, would you give him a redemption arc and a happy ending or would you keep him as garbage boss? Also, dude is a full head taller than the industrial fridge in the bunker and they need to find a couch he can be comfy in. He looks like a giant living in a tiny house. My poor baby.

Ahaha. This delights me to no end, ngl. My powers are groooowing. And you have given me a lot to talk about here, so thanks. :)

Honestly, the people insisting on reading Garcy as familial/platonic/theorizing that Flynn is somehow Lucy’s son/they’re otherwise related are… very confusing to me? To say the least. Though to be totally frank, it’s often clearly by people who have an agenda in discrediting Garcy as a viable alternative to Lyatt (which they… probably don’t need to do, I mean for better or worse, the writers have made their preference/narrative direction clear. Alas). I obviously have no problem with people shipping whatever they want in whatever way they do, but… yeah, Garcy’s vibe ain’t platonic or familial (and if for some wild reason they DID end up Magically Related, like Flynn was somehow Lucy’s long-lost brother from an alternate universe or whatever, I wouldn’t stop shipping it, or even writing smut for it. I’d be like, “well writers, you got yourself into this with this far-fetched and illogical forced plot twist that does not fit with anything that has been written or acted beforehand, so I’m going to just go for Time Traveling Flowers in the Attic. Ooops?”) I’ve had plenty of posts with the way Flynn looks at/acts around Lucy (just saying, if my uncle looked at me like that, I would make sure never to be alone with him at family events) and the way she’s started to look back at him. And Goran Visnjic has straight up said that Flynn is “infatuated” with Lucy and we’ve had a lot of teasing about “does Flynn have a thing for Lucy” re: 2x06 that makes me wonder if we’re going to get some kind of more explicit confirmation of the way he feels about her. Goran has also encouraged us to read between the lines, so people can want it to be just a friendship (because they prefer another romantic partner for Lucy, and again, that’s fine, whatever) but he’s consciously acting it as a pretty romantic fascination. So yes. We aren’t just making that up.

Also, just saying, we KNOW who Flynn’s mom is, she’s a named and identified character, she appeared in an episode, Rittenhouse was originally sending Rufus, Lucy, and Assassin Goon to kill her in 1x15 with the aim of erasing Flynn from history. So “Flynn is Lucy’s son” is just… did you guys not notice Maria Thompkins? Who was awesome and I love her? Besides, if Flynn was Lucy’s son, she wouldn’t NEED time travel to meet him, and we know the journal is connected to new time tech (traveling on your own timeline). He couldn’t be anything less than her grandson and that would still be ludicrously complicated, as it would require Lucy to have Maria at some point while traveling in the past, then… straight up abandon her, then go back to her own timeline, then wait for Flynn to grow up, then travel back to meet him…. etc. It’s a mess. We know Flynn’s parents’ names (Asher Flynn and Maria Thompkins); hell, we know more about his family than we do about Wyatt’s. Why is no one theorizing that Wyatt is secretly Flynn and Lucy’s son? (I kid, I kid. But still. It makes about as much sense, if not more, which is to say it doesn’t.)

Anyway yes, I always felt like that was a pretty transparent attempt to make Garcy a non-romantic option in order to remove it as a shipper threat, but that doesn’t mean people can’t ship it as a friendship/brotp. I’m just saying, however, that it has been (at least certainly on Flynn/Goran’s end) played as a romantic thing, even if latent and unspoken and complicated. (Also, he went really quickly for the “honey…” and “what my wife failed to mention” lines in 1x11 and 2x04, so even if Flynn won’t admit it, he instinctively sees Lucy in some way as his wife.) So yes. Making them related would be a COMPLETELY illogical stretch, but… if they did that, yeah, I’d probably still ship it. (Shrug emoji.) Because I would recognize that the council had made a decision, but given as it was a stupid-ass decision, would elect to ignore it. (Insert Nick Fury gif here.)

Next, I am obviously glad that you are enjoying my fic and it has converted you to one of us. I started writing the Wyatt/Jessica stuff before she arrived back on the show and am rather pleased with how nicely it fits. Wyatt in canon needs a serious reality check, which I am hoping he gets. I obviously forgave Flynn for being a total fuckup and hurting everyone, I am absolutely willing to do the same for Wyatt, but he needs to have the “well shit I’ve been a selfish ass and am going to substantively make up for it” moment first. I hope the big finale moment is him finally owning up to his dickish behavior and putting everyone else first and otherwise reversing course. Because yeah. I’m judging.

Lastly, I WORRY ALL THE TIME ABOUT US GETTING CANCELLED AFTER THIS SEASON BECAUSE IT WOULD BE A TRAVESTY. A TRAVESTY. The short season has always hurt us narratively, though of course it’s great to get it, but then to cut it off there with no more space at all… god. It gives me the shudders just to think about. And one of the reasons is yes, give me my full redeemed-antihero Garcia Flynn redemption arc. Goran has talked a lot about how we’re seeing more of his real nature this season, and just yes. We saw throughout season 1 that Flynn hated to do a lot of what he was doing, but he did it anyway in the larger purpose of bringing down Rittenhouse (and nobody has yet acknowledged that he was right all along about them…we need more conversations/authentic character moments, guys, NOT SOAPY RELATIONSHIP DRAMA. JUST SAYING). He never really WANTED to be a garbage disaster, but he loved his wife and daughter more, and he was dedicated to taking Rittenhouse down to the point that he thought he couldn’t return to them even if he did save them. So no, he was not a character who was just out there burning shit down for the fun of it (though he does enjoy it in some ways, because… he’s a disaster). But Flynn’s character file in canon has him fighting in a lot of small-scale liberation wars (Chechnya, Bosnia, Kosovo, etc) against occupying/oppressive regimes, and that’s basically what he’s doing with Rittenhouse. He is a good man with a very strong moral code, but also a very grey one. He has correctly identified the overall enemy and is dedicated to destroying them, but he won’t be the hero wringing his hands over it because “it’s not right” to use violence. Which the Time Team is leaning on themselves (they basically left Flynn in 1934 to be a hitman, so… no more judgey remarks about “he’s a killer” would be nice, guys. You know he is and you’re using that because you need it.)

So yes. Flynn doesn’t WANT to be a garbage disaster, so it would be cruel to keep him as one. He is sassy as hell, but he also seems happier working with the team than he ever really did alone (as Goran has also discussed). Again: MORE CONVERSATIONS!!! Did Flynn just see it as business in trying to take out the team before, since they were trying to stop him from taking down Rittenhouse, and now that they agree on who the threat is, he’s happy to work with them? Is Garcia “why do I even delegate” Flynn really trusting them (at least aside from Lucy, who he clearly does) to do what’s needed, or does he essentially think he still has to do it himself? DEVELOPMENT PLEASE!

I wanted Flynn to permanently join the team ever since 1x10 (as that episode threw me down the dumpster in SO many ways) so obviously, I want that to keep up. The 2x07 pic of him and Rufus clasping hands made me hella emotional (also: we still haven’t had a Flogan scene since Flynn arrived in 2x03 and Wyatt stormed out in a hissy fit…still judging for skipping the Messy Boys Trip in 2x05). I want him to be developed and integrated more into the team and made a part of them, because I’m a hopeless sucker for villain becomes weird family member and redeemed antihero and found family and enemies-to-lovers/enemies-to-friends. So yes. Please don’t screw it up, guys.

(Also yes. Yes, I noticed him being taller than the god damn fridge at the end of 2x05. He’s HUGE and it’s ridiculous.)

#lucy x flynn #garcy #timeless meta #timeless spoilers #timeless critical #(not really but just in case) #my garbage boss #anonymous #ask

[aglionbys]

trc harry potter au

because every fandom needs at least one and up to many, many hp aus. probably safe to assume this has already been done but heres my take (this became a Very Long Post sorry)

•blue is a gryffindor and she’s kind of one of the obnoxious ones -consider: PROUDLY gryffindor blue sargent reppin that red and gold 24/7 -consider also: Down With The System Blue Sargent intentionally losing house points after discovering that gryffindor has won the house cup like every year due to just. blatant favoritism @dumbledore

•gansey’s a ravenclaw no contest he’s always in the library -when he’s not in the library he’s interviewing ghosts -or statues. or paintings. they all have interesting things to say -or trying out new incantations -or wandering around the castle with his gang searching for hidden passages or rooms or corridors

•slytherin adam -angst? -no but he’s so driven like that boy is going places. he hates his housemates mostly but he w i l l be the best and he will do it himself ! -good for you adam we love you

•Ronan’s in gryffindor too -street racing whom ronan lynch the wizard is the gryffindor seeker and is often flying around the grounds at night -always a l w a y s losing house points -surplus of daring and nerve. jury is out on chivalry

•hufflepuff ghost noah -so there’s this ghost that’s always hanging around everywhere -gansey thought noah was his roommate for like. three months. because he doesn’t pay attention to things sometimes. including the fact that a. noah is wearing hufflepuff robes and b. noah is both dead and semi-transparent -he’s chill everyone likes him

•ravenclaw henry -because absolutely ravenclaw henry -“language of thoughts” henry is absolutely a ravenclaw -gansey’s always testing out new incantations but henry actually thinks of the ones that work -he and gansey are roommates! noah is not

•the gangsey is bad and often hangs out in the forbidden forest -especially adam and ronan sometimes they run into each other there at night

•Quidditch whom -Ronan’s a seeker as stated above and he’s damn good at it too -he does get a lot of penalties though -Blue’s on the team too. she’s a Beater and will whoop you despite her small stature -Henry’s the ravenclaw seeker. he and ronan have a friendly-(ish) rivalry -and kavinsky. is the Slytherin seeker. he and ronan have an unfriendly-(ish) rivalry

•it is a school too I guess they go to class -blue never pays attention in divination and actively hates it but keeps taking it as a class. she’s a classic DADA loving gryffindor student -noah is a Disruptive Influence but none of the professors can really do anything about it which he l o v e s. he and peeves sometimes get along -Ronan’s kind of unreasonably good at everything spellcasting but he never does his classwork/homework/anything he’s assigned. McGonagall likes him but pretends not to because he’s a terrible student but he transfigured his teacup into a live mouse on the first try and then just to show off transfigured the mouse into a flock of birds -gansey is a nerd and has a time turner and loves taking every class -as previously mentioned blue likes DADA. adam likes herbology and DADA too, ronan pretends not to like anything but reads about potions a lot; henry’s into charms most of all but also likes care of magical creatures and astronomy; gansey’s just a nerd and always on about something. he’s the only student who likes history of magic and actually does his muggle studies ad divination homework

•gansey is a pureblood and comes from a long line of wizards and witches (so probably has a weirder last name and goes by his middle name or smth in this au?) -helen is slytherin head girl -and declan is slytherin head boy actually •adam’s a muggleborn. it’s kind of a sore spot. his fellow slytherins use to give him bs about it, but if you call him a mudblood that ronan lynch kid will probably hex your arms off •speaking of ronan,,, he’s a half-blood. niall was a super-powerful wizard and aurora– there’s a lot of rumors about her lets put it that way -but yeah declan’s a slytherin and matthew’s a hufflepuff •blue’s a half-blood too her dads a tree and her moms a witch -they thought she was a squib for a long time turns out she’s not but just has no gift for divination •henry’s a pureblood as well but he doesn’t like to bring it up. because why would he? blood status doesn’t matter -adam holds that “oh yeah blood status doesn’t matter, unless you’re a muggle born or a half-blood” which always makes for fun conversations!

•their patronuses!! -gansey’s is a stag! harry potter w h o m but idk it just seems fitting after trk… I didn’t think it through really it just seems right -henry’s is a bee!! because naturally it is. gansey was not overjoyed at this discovery as it turns out -adam’s is a crow! which he initially thinks is really disappointing (especially since it took him so long to finally produce a corporeal patronus and then it ended up being… a crow.. ) it’s not even a raven. but it is close enough to a raven that uh he does some self-examination after he casts it for the first time what does this mean -ronan’s is a unicorn. when he first casts it everyone is like w h a t the hell ronan what’s going on here why’s that so cool and so… Not Ronan Lynch? but at the same time… -and blue’s is a doe. which isn’t something she is going to think about very much no there is no significance to this she refuses (cinematic parallels…..)

•they’ve got pets too -ronan’s got chainsaw and it makes him look metal af. are you allowed to have a pet raven? no. can they really do anything about it if you transfigured one of your pillows into a raven while sleeping in the middle of your second year? not really no -blue has a toad AND a cat and if you insult them bad things WILL happen to you -adam didn’t have a pet at first but basically adopted one of the owls in the owlery after it kept following him around

and a note because they’re at hogwarts so they must be from the uk -gansey’s from england. because he’s gansey. he’s got this posh southern accent and everything. but don’t worry he’s highkey spending all his time in wales -blue is scottish because. angry and down with the establishment and such (plus just let me have scottish accent blue okay that’s good thats a good thought) -ronan’s irish. because ronan lynch. -adam’s english too but he’s a northerner -henry’s a l s o english and he’s from london -noah? northern ireland. I don’t know what’s going on in northern Ireland.

•other things -adam, gansey, and blue all make prefect (yes all of them..) adam ends up being head boy -noah mostly hangs out with them and acts like a regular student but sometimes he puts his ghostly powers to good (read: bad) use. like scaring people while they shower, for instance -the gangsey is like the inadvertent model for inter-house cooperation how did they become such good friends nobody understands (it’s shared adventures/detentions of course) -kavinsky and his gang? mostly slytherins, nobody likes them, no wonder Gryffindor keeps winning these losers are always dueling people for the spectacle -look this is so much I got really into this AU and I keep coming up with more and more ideas

add more please I want to amass this giant collection of HP AU ideas thanks

#trc #the raven cycle #harry potter #harry potter au #bluesey #pynch #trc hp au #im not tagging everyones names you get the drill #sorry this is so long i cant add readmores on mobile rip #likely i will add more to this #please call me out on my sorting why does sorting fictional characters always yield drama #100 #mine