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x-authorship-x · 1 year

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2022 Creators Self-Love Extravaganza!

Rules:

It’s time to love yourselves! Choose your 5 favorite works (fics, art, edits, etc.) you’ve created this year and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you’ve brought into the world in 2022. If you don’t have five published works, that’s fine! Include ideas/drafts/whatever you like that you’ve worked on/thought about, and talk a little about them instead! Remember, this is all about self-love and positive enthusiasm, so fuck the rules if you need to. Have fun, and tag as many fellow creators as you like so they can share the love!

This post is inspired by @bubblesthemonsterartist - thanks for bringing it across my dash! ✨

1) THE 'A' IN ANBU STANDS FOR (SURPRISE) ADOPTION

I love feel-good found-family fluff fics and this one served a side of comedy to boot. Writing this was really therapeutic at a stressful time in my life and I was feeling really guilty for not keeping up with my longstanding Shisui Series (HOPE AU, including completed work 'No Tomorrow' (NoT) and ongoing sequel 'Until Dawn Breaks' (UDB)). Writing Shisui is always my favourite thing to do, he's such a comfort character to me even if I'm making him hurtle through life and death situations or wacky AUs. This fic kind of encapsulated that, the joy I find in him as a character, and making sure he's loved and supported too. The fic started when I asked myself all the possible points in time for Shisui to transform what happened in canon; one of them was 'Itachi is under crazy pressure... How can Shisui protect him?' and 'legal guardian the shit out of his baby cousins' was the immediate answer.

Summary: Shisui didn't know why Raidou was giving him disappointed looks. It wasn't like Shisui had much of a track record for letting things go, for going with the Status-Quo and ignoring what was happening around him. Or that this was the first, er, child acquisition - for any of them! - either.

Honestly, at this rate, they were going to be renamed Squad Toddler instead of Two.

It was Kakashi who grabbed this one, anyway!

2) Until Dawn Breaks

This is the sequel to my favourite shisui fic I've ever written. I planned the whole story out, multiple arcs, before I had even written a word for the fic itself. I spent days getting together a brand new timeline for the Narutoverse, I figured out a whole cast, their abilities and motivations and relationships, and it felt like the whole thing was hovering above the page, waiting to be written. Writing No Tomorrow (NoT) was literally the best thing I've ever done and I'm so proud of that fic, even if I would edit it differently looking back on it now. For Until Dawn Breaks (UDB), I was really conflicted on the plotline because of that phrase, 'no plan survives contact with the enemy'. I'm at a cross roads with the fic, part of me wishes I'd skipped this arc entirely, but I don't want to abandon anything so I'm forced to soldier through. I have to make a lot of big plot decisions and that takes a lot of time, which I don't have, and knowledge, which has faded over the past year or so. I used to only update when I had at least three more chapters finished ahead of time and now I publish as soon as it's ready, and I'm sad to have lost that routine. Writing is hard and it's supposed to be fun. I hope my readers understand that breaks are inevitable and they still come read updates whenever they arrive. The fact I updated this fic this year is a huge thing for me and I'm really proud that I could keep going through this rough patch with the fic and IRL.

Summary: Shisui had succeeded, destroying the man who was responsible for his death, in every way possible. Who had caused so much suffering... more than anyone could have foreseen.

(He gasped for air, throat parched and lips chapped and-)

But now came the hardest part; learning to live again.

(The ground felt as distant as the dim twinkle of stars scattered across the night sky.)

All was still.

(The air, the only thing surrounding him, felt stretched in his lungs, whipped his clothes and hair taunt from his skin, and streamed tears from his eyes.)

And then it wasn't.

3) The Red Istari

I submitted my thesis at midnight and planned this fic before I went to sleep. The first chapter was completed and posted within a day of that. This fic was a watershed moment for me, I had made a promise that I wouldn't write any fanfic whilst working on my thesis drafts until it had been completed and I stuck to that. I did some brainstorming, I have a lot of WIP ideas saved up, but I didn't write and I didn't allow my focus to shift. This fic was like a dam exploding and I feel like I'm still recovering for the enforced sabbatical. I'd attempted LotR/Naruto crossovers before but it always felt like there wasn't much of an audience for it and, whilst I like to think I write for myself, I do weigh up reader engagement too because I find it discouraging to post and get nothing nice back for my hard work. This time I didn't care, tbh. I watched the extended edition on loop in the final days of my thesis work and it felt like i had to write this fic or explode. I think it worked out nicely haha

Summary: The sky was aglow, deepest crimson washing over the land and undimmed by the bruise-purple clouds that clutched at the edges of the horizon.

The sands shifted beneath him, deep and perfect as only a desert that has consumed everything within it can be.

A staff of inscribed steel stood proud where it was stabbed into the sand, radiating heat against the side of his neck.

Somehow, he knew in his bones that there was nothing out there but him, the staff, and the golden desert.

He was alive, bare, and unwounded despite the blood he could feel stuck to his flesh.

This was not death.

This was… something new.

4) REVELRY

I once wrote a Bnha self insert and the whole experience of trying to make sense of the fandom and the canon verse was so bewildering that I never wrote for my hero academia again. Until now. I've read a lot of Bnha (seriously, my total ao3 bookmarks are in the 6000s now) and I have a lot of characters I adore but i never felt the urge to write for them like i did for this Tokoyami fic. Quirk science confuses me, I'm not one of those accounts who can theorise legitimately on the topic, but quirk Shenanigans and fuckery is something I can weigh in on a little more confidently. I'm ending 2022 by trying out a fandom i thought I'd never post about again. It's a nice bit of self character development, yeah?

Summary: “The shadow is the greatest teacher for how to come to the light.”

Others don't understand that a 'quirk' is not always a tool and that, sometimes, a family is two birds in the darkness of the night.

Fumikage is going to be a hero.

And so is Dark Shadow.

AKA

What if Tokoyami was the top hero student in his class?

5) WIPS

This last celebration is for my WIPs! There are a stupid amount of them, most will never see the light of day, but i love them all ��️ they're wacky, heart breaking, ridiculous, fluffy, healing and badass! I'll spotlight a few of my favs from this year, since I pick out a snappy title, dramatic summary and aesthetic line divider before almost anything else haha

DRAGON (KAGE SERIES WIP)

“The hunger of a dragon is slow to wake, but hard to sate." ― Ursula K. Le Guin

Mikoto had been born into a Clan that, whilst not so foolish as to disregard its girls, preferred for them to stay at home, providing future heirs and fighters, than risking themselves in the field. Peace had only esasperated the expectations that a pretty girl made a prettier wife.

Mikoto, thankfully, was the daughter of Uzushio Ambassador Uchiha Kagami and Shiho the Silvertongue.

Her inner spark was tended, never stifled.

The Will of Fire would burn brightly once more.

AKA

Mikoto had been born in a plum grove, nearly a month premature, exactly half way between Konoha and Uzushio. Her mother predicted that she would have an indomitable will. Her father declared that she was born between two worlds.

They were both right.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

HUNTER (KAGE SERIES WIP)

The Sarutobi Clan had long been in the service of the Daimyo. The Uchiha and Senju were Noble Shinobi. The Nara were Wild Healers, coaxed out of obscurity by their connection to the Yamanaka and Akimichi.

The Hatake had been Samurai, set apart by their own moral code and Clan culture.

They'd sworn themsleves to Konoha, allies with the Senju for centuries. They were Kin to the Nidaime, who was born of Senju Butsuma's second wife, and an integral part of the village founding. Their loyalty and skill had put them in the first line of defense and had proven their Clan's downfall.

Sakumo was the Head of a Clan of two. His wife, ambushed on a solo courier mission. His son and heir, strongarmed onto the battlefield far too young for all of his genius. The Hatake were in danger and Sakumo was their only hope.

The White Fang had played the loyal watchdog for too long. Konoha had forgotten the bite of white chakra and the savagery of a desperate father.

Konoha needed to remember why the rest of the known world rightly feared wolves.

╣◍╠╣◍╠╣◍╠╣◍╠╣◍╠╣◍╠╣◍╠╣◍╠╣◍╠╣◍╠╣◍╠╣◍╠

THORN

"We, who wield power, adorn ourselves with flowers to hide the sting of our thorns." - L. Bardugo

They saw her ebony curls, eyes like cranberries, and the strength of her Genjutsu.

'Uchiha,' they whispered, fearful, wrong.

'Pretender', the Clan-born dismissed, sneering, ignorant.

'Clan', the trees seemed to murmur, a song precious few could hear these days, and swayed towards her presence. A leaf caressed her cheek, the soil humming underfoot, and branches curved to cradle her descent.

Kurenai had grown up in a civilian family and, whenever anyone looked at her, that was all they saw. The Yuuhi family were small, wide-spread, but had done well for themselves. Kurenai was their only child, the lone Shinobi in generations, and the secrets in her blood seemed to pound just beneath her skin.

She wove roses into reality and warped the mind in her grasp until nothing was believable and the flourishing greenery was waved away as a trick of the light.

'Yuuhi,' they called her.

'Senju', the forest breathed.

And Kurenai smiled.

AKA

Kurenai wasn't supposed to reach Jounin until she was 25, and even that might have garnered too much attention. However, when she notices familiar chakra - like her, like her, like her - lingering around her friend, Kakashi, Kurenai stumbles across a conspiracy that spans decades.

Truth will out. And Blood runs true.

AKA

Kurenai has her Grandfather's eyes and her Great Uncle's chakra.

ෆ(⁠)✿ᘛ⋋⁠✿ෆ(⁠)✿ᘛ⋋⁠✿⁠ෆ(⁠)✿ᘛ⋋⁠✿ෆ(⁠)✿ᘛ⋋⁠✿⁠ ෆ(⁠)✿ᘛ⋋⁠✿

I'll tag: @looks-like-starlight @katlou303 @thekatthatbarks @ellorypurebloodculture @raendown anyone else who wants to play!

#tag game #year in review #torship #torship talks #shisui #bnha #naruto fics #no tomorrow #until dawn breaks #HOPE AU #kage series #sukeban #revelry fic

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titlemewickedwonderland · 1 year

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Fear Me Not - Intro

Auth. Note: You guys showed such love for my Ghoul Game Night series I wanted to start a brand new one for you guys now that the other one is finished with a bang! This one is a little more on the fun side of things instead of the spicey side with a more story-like quality! Hope you enjoy it! <3

Summary: Everybody is afraid of something. Whether it's the dark, the fear of water, or a fear of spiders. No fear is irrational to the person who experiences it! But when you are the lover of a ghoul who is larger than life...sometimes you have to face your fear when you come face to face with it.

Character Pairings: Rain x Sophie (Sibling!oc), Swiss x Aurora (Manager!oc), Aether x Abby (Medic!oc), Dewdrop x Lily (Fan!oc), and Mountain x Avery (Local Florist!oc)

Follow my Work!

Life at the Abbey can be pretty fun; it's not always about chores and rituals, sermons, or whatever you'd think the Church of Satan does. When there are no chores to be done or when someone has an off day; there can be a lot of fun to have. A little too much fun sometimes. Parties, outings, sightseeing in town, and sometimes well...mischief. Not everybody who walks through the gates of the Abbey is part of the Clergy. Some are (not so frenzied) fans who respect the cause, others are supportive fans of some of the Siblings of the Clergy, and others well...others sort of come and don't often leave due to attachment issues.

That being said there were a few women that were rather popular among the Clergy. Not because they were overly friendly...not always but more because they were always and I mean always seen with Papa's ghouls. Not always in a group but they had come around so often that well...they were known by name.

These girls were known well within the Clergy by Sophie, Aurora, Avery, Lily, and Abby. They came from all sorts of backgrounds but somehow still managed to find themselves engrained into the Church one way or another. Because of their peculiar relationships with the ghouls they had been nicknamed the Misfits because they didn't really quite fit in. Well except maybe for Sophie and Aurora.

Sophie was in a rather sweet relationship; brand new, mind you. With Rain. Papa's Water Ghoul. She was a sibling of the clergy who often enjoyed keeping to herself and doing her chores like a good girl. Shy and sweet as her name suggests. She had been part of the Clergy for a few months before the others started seeing a little water ghoul tagging along with her little by little until there was not a day apart that anyone saw the pair without each other.

Then there was Aurora. She was a long-term member of the Clergy; having been there as a sibling for a few years until she had been promoted to being the head manager for the Ghost project; touring with the band and more often than not seen caring for the ghouls - Swiss in particular who had taken a shine to her despite the love-hate relationship. The other clergy siblings had rumored the pair of them despite their cat and dog relationship were secretly seeing each other.

Abby was Sophie's older sister - tagging along with Sophie when she got within the Clergy folds. Abby didn't particularly enjoy the life as a Sibling but she did love helping people - her passion being one of medicine and she'd struck up a friendship with the Earth Ghoul Mountain to the point that they had been seen together a lot within Primo's garden as the Earth ghoul talked with the medic about herbs and their uses to the medical mind of the woman but it was Aether the Quintessence ghoul who'd seemed smitten by her and often trailed her like a puppy. Abby was generally a quiet and stern-looking woman but it was Aether who often made her laugh and let loose a little more.

Then there was the last 2 girls that were considered outcasts among the group of 5. Lily was a fan of Ghost for a few years and had actually managed to meet the band once or twice before they had stopped doing VIP meet and greet with fans; she was a sassy thing who right off the bat showed her quick tongue and witty personality - always a quick banter away with a snarky reply in the most endearing way. She had a way of making a lasting impression - not just on the papas when they had met her individually at the VIP meet and greets years prior but also on the Ghouls. The Fire ghoul Dewdrop being one of those who seemed to enjoy her company the most; she never missed a show and he made it a habit to seek her out among the crowd at every concert; throwing her a pick and at one point his phone number before eventually having dragged her to the Abbey for some drinks after the show and well...she just kept coming back.

Last to the group was Avery. Avery was the kind of girl everybody loved because of her sweet personality and smart brain. She worked at the local florist shop in the city and often came by to drop off some seedlings for Mountain or coming by to get advice from the ghoul when her plants weren't doing so well. She'd met him when he went into town for an errand Papa had sent him and a few others on - the rare occasion when the ghouls were allowed out of the Clergy. She may have fallen for the tall ghoul first but the Earth ghoul had fallen harder and is continuing to fall deeper every time he saw her.

The five girls had sort of bonded when they met and spoke often; when all of them happened to find themselves behind the Abbey's walls it was a big event for them - no work really got done that day! But with the last tour finally over with and the ghouls coming back home the girls decided it was long past time to come see their significant others and welcome them back properly!

"Are you sure this is okay? I don't want us to get into trouble! We aren't supposed to be in here. Sister Imperator said no siblings were supposed to come to the Ghoul wing without permission ahead of time!" Sophie murmured nervously as she bit her thumbnail nervously looking around the room.

"Aurora said it was okay so it's okay. Chill Soph!" Abby stated with amusement as she pointed to the box on the floor by her sister.

"Now hand me those banners would you?"

"But Aurora isn't the director of the Clergy! What if another sibling comes by realizing we're in here?" Sophie fussed as she bent down without question and lifted up the box of banners her sister wanted as the woman balanced on a ladder that Lily held balanced.

Said friend moved her head around the ladder to pin the younger female with a glare. "Sophie, if you are such a chicken about this then go wait outside in the halls and make sure no one comes by, and if they do divert them! Easy peasy!"

"Exactly! I didn't call in sick today to run around grabbing decorations and buying cupcakes and shit to just be kicked out." Avery added as she finished tying balloons around the common area. "But the boys are worth losing a day's paycheck so!" she shrugged.

Still worried Sophie grumbled under her breath and grabbed her phone from her jeans to check the group message with the girls to see how far away Aurora was with the band.

It had been planned out the last week by Aurora herself; having messaged the girls mentioning how hard this tour had been for the guys. It would be good for them to finally come home and relax - even better when they have their girls there with them.

"Aurora said they are just pulling in!" Sophie looked up with wide panicked eyes as she scurried around the room picking up tape, scissors, and random other decorations not used or discarded to throw into an empty box to hurry and clean up. Hearing this Avery came out of the kitchen with the cupcakes aforementioned and placed them on the coffee table.

"Oh shit!" Lily helped Abby down from the ladder and quickly helped her put away the ladder back in the supply closet in the hallway outside before rushing inside when they spotted the familiar bus pulling through the gates.

"Shit hide!" Abby hissed as she clicked off the lights and shut the door.

Each girl hid somewhere waiting for the sound of voices and footsteps feeling like an eternity before the tall tale sights of life in the hallways reached their ears and moments later the door opened and the lights clicked on. It was then that the four hidden girls jumped up shouting a collective 'Welcome home!' to the pack of ghouls filing inside the ghoul's common area.

"What the fuck?" Dewdrop muttered dropping his duffle bag on the floor as he saw the decorations and collection of girls in their living room.

"Not the words I would have used." Mountain commented tiredly as he gazed around; his eyes softening when he saw Avery's smiling face.

"Aight who was responsible for this?" Swiss narrowed his eyes at the girls.

"That would be your girlfriend, dipshit." Lily snorted throwing a thumb towards the woman leaning against the door frame looking in with amusement.

"Wait really? That's so sweet Aurora....now I feel bad for snapping at you on the bus earlier." Rain murmured looking at their manager apologetically.

"Already forgiven Rain. I was there remember? I know how hard you guys had it during this tour; I figured you might want to come home to a little more welcoming sight than an empty house." Aurora replied flashing him a smile that was tinged with tiredness of her own.

"Aw. Baby. You outdid yourself this time." Swiss wrapped his arms around the woman and nuzzled his face into her neck causing her to let out a tired laugh.

"Yeah, but seems we underestimated how tired you guys would be when you got home," Sophie murmured casting a long sympathetic look at everybody. "You guys go on to bed! This stuff will be up in the morning when you guys feel up to celebrating," she added sweetly.

"Shit man but I brought cupcakes to celebrate," Avery added with a huff.

"The cupcakes will be there in the morning, sweetheart. I know I'll smash those first thing when I wake up. But right now, I think a good night's rest sounds enticing." Aether chuckled as he slung an arm around Abby and hugged her close.

"I missed you." he added in a sweet murmur while pressing a tender kiss to her temple and causing her to give him an indulgent smile; wrapping her arms around his waist to hold him close; she had missed him too.

"You know what....I could go for a nap." Lily added as she stretched; her back popping with the movements.

"Me too." Dewdrop stalked over and despite the fatigue on his face the fire ghoul bent down and throw the girl over his shoulder much to her protest.

"Dew what the fuck! Put me down you ass hat!" Lily screeched pounding at his back but the fire ghoul did nothing but continue walking to his bedroom; the resounding sound of a palm hitting her ass and her yelp of protest echoing down the hall right before the door closed causing amused eye rolls to be shared among the others.

Aurora huffed at her friends before turning to Avery. "You need a ride home honey?" she asked.

"Absolutely not!" Avery replied shaking her head. "I don't mind taking a taxi."

"You're not taking a taxi this late at night." Mountain mumbled from where he leaned by the door looking at the decorations lazily.

"I'm not?" Avery turned to face him with an expecting look.

"Mhm." he nodded before bending down to grab his bag and walked over; grabbing the florist's hand and pulling her down the hall towards his room.

"Well, that's settled then! Girls we'll see you in the morning." Aurora laughed as she slunk her way under Swiss' arm and guided him down the hall towards his room as well. "Sleep well!"

Sophie shyly looked down at her feet as she played with her fingers. "Rain I-"

The water ghoul walked over and bent his head; gently nudging it against hers in affection. "My bed is plenty big for the both of us."

the sibling looked up shyly and gave him a timid smile but it reached her eyes lifting his spirits a bit as he returned the smile and nudged his nose against hers.

"I'm sure I won't be missed...I share a room with Abby anyway." she giggled looping her arms around his neck.

"And tomorrow...I'll take you out somewhere - just the two of us okay?" he promised.

Sophie beamed up at him and nodded. "Okay...I'd like that."

She clicked off the lights and locked up before helping Rain with his stuff and headed for bed.

In the morning the ghouls would show their appreciation to their significant others in ways only they could by taking them out for a day alone with each other after being apart or preoccupied with other things...they just didn't know that a great day could easily turn into something bad.

If you would like to be put on a taglist for future episodes and Ghost fandom work please let me know!

[Aether x Abby (oc)] - [Swiss x Aurora (oc)] - [Rain x Sophie (oc)] - [Dewdrop x Lily (oc)] - [Mountain x Avery (oc)]

Taglist: @darklylucid

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shera-dnd · 1 year

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It's here! The fic where I finally keep my promise and TRANS EVERY LAST SCHNEE!

A little post canon fic where all our wonderful Schnees get together to celebrate their wonderful family

And trans one last gender while they're at it

Hope y'all enjoy some wholesome family fun

Music filled the rooms of the Schnee Household one afternoon, as it had many times. Its single permanent resident sang along as she cleaned the house, two things that little under a decade ago would seem impossible to her.

Back when she lived in a prison in the skies, instead of a house. Married to her own jailer, helplessly watching as her family fell apart bit by lonely bit.

Since then she had lost her son twice, watched her city fall, witnessed the apocalypse, and lived to tell the tale.

All that fear and grief had made her realize just how much of her life she had wasted, and thanks to her children she had managed to take hold of what was left of it.

Now Willow Schnee tried to live a life without regret, one where she treasured each day and spent her time in pursuit of joy instead of numbness.

So yes, she cleaned now, and sang, and cared for her home and her family.

Sure, the manor where she had spent her childhood was now buried under several tons of rubble. But they had a new place now, one that was smaller, cozier, more of a proper home.

Though Willow had to admit she wished she could have saved some of the old family portraits. Her father would have berated her if she even considered saving a portrait of him over saving herself and her children, but she couldn’t help but miss the comfort of that old man watching over her, or her mother’s tender smile.

Well, moving forward was the Schnee way after all. It was always best to create something new, than to wallow on something lost, and today her family would be creating something truly special.

The first proper portrait of their new family, where they all get to look happy as their true genuine selves.

Willow couldn’t help but giggle as she remembered how her children used to be, all so repressed, so miserable. All it took was one of them breaking free from their father’s mold and soon the others followed suit.

Oh and what wonderful people they grew up to be now that they could pursue their happiness. She could almost be jealous if she wasn’t busy being proud of them.

It had been so long since she last had them all together at home like this, and she was certain she would not make it through the day without crying.

Willow had barely finished cleaning for the day when she heard the first knock on the door.

When she opened it she was greeted by the sight of her eldest daughter and her lovely wife.

“Hey, Miss Schnee,” May Marigold called with a carefree smile, “hope we didn’t arrive too soon. You know how your daughter is with this stuff.”

“Oh come here, dear,” Willow greeted, pulling her into a hug, “don’t you worry about it. You come right in and make yourself comfortable.”

Meanwhile Winter hadn’t said anything, or moved from her spot behind May, awkwardly avoiding eye contact with her mother.

Winter had been the most difficult to understand among her children.

It all sounded so convoluted and contradictory to her at first, but in the end it was quite simple. Winter still saw herself as a woman, even if she preferred to present as a man. And if it made her daughter happy, who was Willow to judge her identity, or what she did with her looks?

And the woman in front of her looked as handsome as ever in her brand new Happy Huntress outfit - or Happy Huntsman as she had been nicknamed. Her chest had been flattened with a binder, and her suit had been tailored to emphasize her shoulders in a way that fit perfectly with her strong personality.

These had all been things Willow had seen before, but what she hadn’t expected, and what was causing her daughter’s embarrassment, was the buzzcut Winter was now awkwardly scratching.

“Hey, mom,” Winter called as if she was somehow a teenager again.

Willow chuckled, and pulled her daughter into arms, “it looks great on you, sweetie.”

“Thanks…” she answered, putting her arms around her mother stiffly, “...I hope you don’t mind me looking like this for the portrait.”

“If you’re happy with it, then it’s perfect,” Willow assured her, letting her daughter go.

As the two of them walked into the house and made their way into the living room, Willow could hear May mutter, “I told you it would be fine.”

Willow chuckled to herself, her daughters always worried over such silly things.

Speaking of, it wasn’t too long before her youngest arrived.

Whitney was still wearing her office clothes when she arrived. A nice white suit and black pencil skirt all detailed with elaborate snowflake patterns. Her hair was tied in a neat side braid that fell over her shoulder.

“Good evening, mother,” she greeted, leaning down to kiss her mom on the cheek. Whitney had always been tall, but in her heels she was easily taller than everyone else in the family. “Sorry I’m late. I got into another argument with Councilwoman Hill, and you know how she can get.”

Councilwoman.

Her little girl was so young, and she was already part of the New Mantle council.

Willow could not be prouder of her.

Now, if only she could go a day without arguing with her sister’s boss.

“There’s still plenty of time,” Willow assured her, “your brother hasn’t even arrived yet.”

“Of course he hasn’t,” Whitney rolled her eyes as she walked in, “I’ll be surprised if he isn’t late for his own wedding.”

“Don’t be so mean to him,” she playfully berated, “he’s a busy man.”

“Busy?” Whitney scoffed, “he saves the world once, and now he thinks we should all do things on his time.”

“Come on, you know he’s not like that,” Willow insisted.

Besides, it had been his fiancee who had saved the world.

“I know, it’s just that–” whatever thought Whitney had was completely lost as she stepped into the living room and caught sight of her sister, “did you lose a bet?”

May burst out laughing at the comment, but Winter just glared up at her.

“Nice seeing you too, Whitney.”

“Ah, yes. Nice seeing you, sister,” she replied, before turning to May, “did you talk her into this?”

“Nope,” May answered, still chuckling a little, “she did this of her own free will.”

“Really!?”

“Are you two done mocking me now?” Winter asked, arms crossed as she glared daggers at them.

“Oh, don’t get me wrong. You look stunning with that haircut,” Whitney said, raising her hands in a surrender, “it’s just that it’s such a radical change for you. I remember it took us weeks to get you to even try out a binder.”

“And it took her weeks to psych herself up for this,” May clarified, “honestly if it weren’t for this whole portrait thing she would have probably mulled over this for another month.”

This did nothing to help Winter’s mood, who just turned to her mother to say, “that’s why I don’t let those two into the same room anymore.”

“Oh come now,” Willow waved her off, “this is just how they show affection and you know it.”

Winter just huffed in annoyance and looked away.

“And you love them too, don’t pretend” Willow teased.

“Unfortunately,” Winter grumbled.

Also unfortunate was the fact that May had heard her say so, because she casually hooked her arm around Winter and joked, “I mean, you married me, so I sure hope you do.”

This prompted laughter from both Whitney and Willow, much to Winter’s dismay.

Thankfully there was another knock on the door, and Winter promptly offered to go and get it, if only to buy herself a small reprieve from her family’s nonsense.

There was no question as to who it was at the door, after all there was only one couple left to arrive.

“It looks great on you,” Willow heard her son’s voice in the hallways, “I swear. You look much better than me with short hair.”

“Well, I think you looked really handsome with that buzz cut,” his fiancee argued.

“You think everything looks handsome on me,” he argued with a chuckle.

“And I’m always right,” she countered.

And that’s when Willow saw them. Her sweet little boy and his wife to be.

Weiss and Ruby.

“Listen to your fiancee, dear,” Willow called as he entered the room.

Weiss smiled as he looked at her, “I always do, mom.”

He had grown so much. Not so much in height as his boots would lead one to believe, but he had still grown. Older, wiser, and definitely stronger than the repressed little boy that had left his family home all those years ago.

Weiss’s hair had been shaved on the sides, and tied in a messy ponytail. His face now sported a well kept stubble, and he wore a beautiful blue jacket with white and red accents, perfectly pairing with his fiancee.

For her part Ruby was wearing a corset and long combat skirt in beautiful blacks and reds, but still sporting Weiss’s signature white. Her hair had grown much longer and curlier than when Willow last saw her, with a loose strand brushed over her scarred eye.

Side by side like this they looked like the perfect pair. Like they were meant to be together. And the way they acted around each other they felt like they were too.

“Ms. Willow,” Ruby called, nearly throwing herself into Willow’s arms, “it’s so good to see you.”

“It’s good to see you too, sweetie,” Willow answered, hugging her back, before turning to her son and extending an arm, “you come here too.”

Weiss did not complain, stepping into his mother’s arms and joining in the group hug.

“I missed you two,” Willow whispered to the two of them.

“I missed you too, mom,” Weiss replied.

Even nowadays, after everything they had done, her boy still spent so much of his life traveling the world and fighting evil. He was a huntsman, after all, it was to be expected. But it still meant she had to go so long without seeing him.

She pulled away from the hug and smiled at the two of them with pride.

“Alright, we can do sappy family stuff later,” Whitney interjected, “let’s get this portrait done while the lighting is still good.”

“You’re right, you’re right,” Willow laughed softly, before more pointedly adding to Weiss, “and you button up that shirt, young man. I don’t want my son to be immortalized as a fuckboy.”

Weiss gasped, and Winter groaned.

“We really shouldn’t have let May teach you that word.”

With more than a little embarrassment, Weiss went about following his mom’s request.

He had always enjoyed showing off his chest since he had figured out who he was, but as much as Willow supported him most of the time, that was simply not the look she wanted decorating their home for generations to come.

Soon the six of them were shuffling around the room, trying to find a good position in front of the camera, so everyone would get to be in frame.

It was awkward, and there was more than a little elbowing between the siblings, but soon they had found a satisfying pose.

They were just about ready to set up the camera timer when Weiss interjected, “wait! I almost forgot.”

He extended his hand forward and a glyph formed in front of them. From it emerged a familiar frame clad in white armor.

“I know it’s not really him,” Weiss explained, “but I thought we should include grandpa Nicholas.”

Willow looked up at the white knight before her, like she had done so many times as a child.

“Yes, I think we should.”

~~~

Properly taking the portrait had resulted in a deluge of tears, mostly from Willow, though some from Whitney as well.

But for once they were all happy tears. A feeling of accomplishment washing over the two Schnee women as they realized their dreams had finally come to pass.

Once the tears seemed to stop, and they had all settled down, came time for dinner.

Though all five of them had offered to help her in the kitchen, Willow was more than happy to cook alone, just actually playing the role of mother for once while she listened to her family chatter about.

“I can’t believe you two managed to be so gay you looped back around to looking straight again,” Whitney joked as she looked over the portrait.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Weiss demanded.

“I’m saying that if someone who didn’t know us saw this picture they’d assume I had two straight brothers with two straight wives,” Whitney insisted.

“I take offense to that!” Ruby shouted.

“Don’t listen to her,” May interjected, “she’s just mad she’s the only Schneebling without a partner in the picture.”

Whitney scoffed, “I’ll have you know I’m quite happy being single,” there was a beat of silence before she added, “besides the last cute boy I tried to make things work with happened to share his body with the soul of an ancient wizard, and I’m not dealing with any of that.”

They all laughed together at this little bit of absurdity.

All except Winter, who seemed deep in thought.

“Is it weird…” she eventually said, “that I kinda like the idea of being mistaken for a man even if I don’t like the idea of being a man?”

“Not in this family it’s not,” May argued, “we’re all different flavors of gender fucked weirdos.”

That had something Willow kept catching herself thinking about.

How none of her children turned out to be quite the way she expected.

It had all started with Weiss back when he had first been allowed to explore just who he was. Then it began to spread through the family, each of them stopping to think about what that meant for all of them. If they too were just playing a role, and if maybe there was something else they could be.

One by one they broke free from their father’s shackles, and grew up to be the wonderful people they are now.

It made Willow proud, but there was still another feeling it caused in her.

“I’ve always been jealous of you three,” Willow admitted apropos of nothing.

It was as if a record had been scratched.

All in the room turned to look at Willow in surprise at what she had just said.

“Oh, you know, getting to explore your identity and all that,” Willow tried to justify herself, “Nicholas had always been a kind, accepting man, but… well it’s not like I even knew there were options back then.”

“Uh, Miss Willow,” Ruby called, “you do know there’s no age limit on that stuff, right?”

“Oh I know, dear,” Willow assured her, “I just thought it would have been nicer to have a chance to do it back when I was younger.”

Ruby and Weiss shared a look, before Weiss added, “mom, have you been questioning that stuff lately?”

“Only the normal amount after watching all my children go through the same process,” she insisted, though that only prompted more stares, “what? Did I say something wrong?”

“The normal amount?” Whitney asked, one eyebrow raised.

“I mean, it’s only natural after seeing all three of you come out as some flavor of trans,” she argued.

“I guess you’re right,” Whitney surrendered, though her eyes were still narrowed, “...did you find anything out?”

Honestly Willow did not understand why they were treating this like some kind of interrogation all of a sudden, but it’s not like she had any reason not to answer.

“At first I even considered I might be similar to your brother, but I don’t think I ever felt as strongly about my gender as he did,” she admitted, thinking back to her childhood, “I’ve had my moments growing up of fancying a nice suit, or wishing people would call me sir, but they had always been fleeting things. One week I’d be jealous of my father’s beard, and the next just thinking of beards made me itchy and uncomfortable.”

Willow laughed at that one, she remembered asking Nicholas when she’d grow a big beard like his.

What a silly child she was…

“Still, that’s hardly enough to justify any drastic rethinking of my identity, right?” Willow shrugged, “I guess everyone has these little flights of fancy.”

Once again there was silence in the room.

The five of them looked between each other as if waiting for one of them to take the initiative.

“Uh, ma’am,” May was the first to break the silence, “have you considered you might be gender fluid?”

“If this is an alcohol joke, it’s in very poor taste,” she shot back.

“No, I mean…” May opened and closed her mouth a few times, trying to find the right words, “like maybe your gender changes over time?”

Willow blinked a few times.

Like her gender changes over time?

That was… odd.

She was pretty sure one’s gender was one of those things that was set in stone.

That’s how it had been explained to her at least.

Weiss hadn’t become a boy, he had always been one. That had always been his gender, they just hadn’t known about it until then.

“That’s… not how that works, right?” Willow asked, not fully sure she was understanding this correctly.

There were some non-committal noises coming from May before Winter interrupted.

“Gender is a lot more complicated than you think, mom,” she spoke with the tired tone of someone who learned that from experience.

That was… something to think about.

For now all she managed to say was, “Huh.”

That got a giggle out of Whitney, who just blurted out the words, “I can’t believe there’s not a single cis person in this family.”

#rwby #fanfic #post canon #ice king au #weiss schnee #whitley schnee #winter schnee #willow schnee #trans weiss schnee #trans whitley schnee #trans winter schnee #trans willow schnee #nonbinary #genderfluid #whitney schnee

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alittle-eccentric · 2 years

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I read recently that 'twee' fashion is making a come back. I learnt two things from this article. 1. I used to be twee and it's my favourite way of dressing and I never left my 'twee' phase. 2. This explains why it's so hard to find clothes I love when I used to be spoilt for choice and why my favourite brands make clothes I don't like now. Unfortunately I haven't seen twee come back but instead been sadly waiting. I need some new clothes for my Japan trip in May and I've been struggling to find stuff I like. I regularly for YEARS eye up an American brand that I drool after. Cotton dresses, cute patterns but based in America with a steep price tag before they've even gotten to the UK put me off. And I always think damn it I could make that. Turns out I was right. After seeing a Xmas dress they had for over £100 in the UK and finding the fabric online. I decided to stop complaining and take the plunge and I dusted off my Simply 6262 pattern and my fabric I had hidden away (I had planned to do this in the summer, but I got overwhelmed and hid it with other projects never to be touched again) and I got to work to see if I could do it. And I can, and I am soooo happy with the outcome.

The collar is detachable (I didn't make that) but everything else is made by me. I have added some close up pictures below too as I was really happy with how neatly it came together in places. It was easier than I thought and I'm definitely making more. I went for a looser and longer fit than I used to like. I prefer that nowadays comfort is key. It's not perfect but tbh it looks better than clothes I have bought from fast fashion places so I'm ok with that. I think if i had an over locker the inside would look much better. But for now we will stick to the zigzag stitch.

I've only ever made one full fitted dress before years ago (Totoro cosplay) and the sleeves went wrong. So for my first attempt at a dress I'm pretty pleased.

Right as I got to the end of the first dress I ran out of thread so made a dash to the fabric shop. While there I grabbed some of this space fabric (I already made a skirt with it) as I always thought it would make a awesome dress. I swore I would rest Sunday and make this over the Christmas break. But then I thought maybe I'll just cut the pieces out. Then I thought I'll just start it and finish it during the evenings this week. Before I knew it I spent all day and did it all. I'm not sure why I thought I would take it slowly 🤷🏼‍♀️ AHH well I am so so happy with it 😍

My cute dress possibilities are now endless. I have some Christmas cat fabric on the way, which is actually what spurred me on to try. I want to make quite a few more for my trip to Japan so I have lots of nice things to wear there. I think that is very do-able I have over 5months!

I am very excited and cannot wait to make more.

#made by me #toriablogs #toriamakes #handmade #dress #fashion #twee #simplicity pattern #newlook 6262 #sewing

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clown-cult · 2 years

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Your last ask kind of bothers me, because the whole premise of the Shiina manga is that two of the protags were created through child grooming. It doesn't matter if you pirate it or not, you're just prioritizing the "official" content even though it's presented right alongside the OOC gross SR stuff. I get loving InuKag, but what's the difference between something official and a doujinshi anyway? Just the creators getting to make money off the brand. If Shiina wasn't doing the manga in partnership with the owners of the Inuyasha brand, you wouldn't take a second look at it because it's no better than the middling fanfiction written on AO3. But because it's "official" you're drooling all over it and willing to ignore all the context surrounding it?

Why don't you just go and find a good InuKag fan artist that doesn't support SR and support them instead?

This is going to be a very long and rambling post as I try to make my thoughts clear. on both this ask and the ask I got previously.

First of all, I myself don’t ship InuKag. I know, that’s basically blasphemy in this fandom, but I don’t. So if you’re trying to come for me personally anon, don’t bother.

With that out of the way, I was trying to offer an alternative to that particular anon. Some people can enjoy fan content but still prioritise canon content of their ships (even when it comes to something non-canon like Yashahime and even less canon still when it comes to the manga) just out of a desire to want to know what happens next. I don’t see quite as much with western media but there’s something about the culture of the anime and manga industry and how there’s almost always new merch being released of some sort that basically primes the consumer to want more, even when a series is long finished.

Then again, some people are just fandom purists and feel safer with content that has some semblance of official status. Remember that the iceberg that is Yashahime only hit the Inuyasha fandom relatively recently and a lot of people are still hurt, confused and trying to seperate being able to enjoy the original work without having to also support the sequel and, more importantly, creators who allowed this to happen even if it isn’t canon. The Harry Potter fandom is proof that you can completely separate the work from the author and their problematic decisions and still enjoy the work itself, but as I said, the Inuyasha fandom is still collecting itself from the fallout.

As for me, I like InuKik and SessKik and I will always heavily support queer ships over straight ones. I’m in no way dismissing your point of supporting fan content and fan creators bc there’s literally no chance I’m going to get any content at all if it’s not fanmade, and I create fan content myself to continue that goal onwards. Many of us are already going the route that Harry Potter took and are contributing more of our own content that completely separates off the distressing elements introduced to the fandom. I’m pretty sure people will come around as it’s already happening, but in the meantime I’m trying to be understanding of how upset communities like InuKag and MirSan will still be.

In the meantime, in regards to said spinoff that’s being made about the newlywed couples, while I’ve recommended pirating as the best way to enjoy it without financially supporting it, I do want to warn people at the same time. Remember this is still a Yashahime-centric project. I understand that previous anon loves InuKag and wants more of them, but look at his InuKag has been treated by Yashahime so far. Not only are they no longer the heart of the narrative, they’re reduced to a bastardised version of the original that allows and fawns over Sesshomaru’s violation of Rin, and then said bastardised version we’re left with is all but absent from the story.

To previous anon, I understand being comfortable with more ‘official’-ish content and as I said, if you must look at it then don’t financially contribute to it, but remember that this is not a series that has been kind to, understood or valued InuKag. The only reason this series is being made, I said some time ago, is because it’s attempting to use InuKag as a cover to try and push the SessRin narrative more. As current anon is pointing out, any new content with InuKag is going to be stained by SR and the context around the sequel.

There’s no shortage of InuKag events that have happened this year and plenty of master posts of good content. I think I saw somewhere that’s there’s a zine in the works. I can’t tell you how to spend your time or money on the internet, but if it was me, I’d be supporting fan comics and doujinshis, instead of official-but-not content that doesn’t treat my OTP fairly. Just something to think about.

#wow this is long #and makes zero sense #fuck Yashahime #none of this bs needs to exist #Inuyasha #anti sessrin #inukag

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to-be-frank-i-dont-care · 2 years

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Snowfall

Pairing: none! Just platonic Fëanor & Fingolfin :3

A/N: for @justmemyselfandthefridge! She requested a platonic fluff, stuck indoors fic with Fëanor and Fingolfin! If you’ve got a request, check out my 200 followers celebration! :) Hope you like it! (Also, the title is taken from Yanni’s album Snowfall. Go listen to it, it’s super pretty)

WC: 2,247

It had been snowing for almost a week now, and Fëanor was becoming more than a little irritated.

When the snow first started, a brand-new occurrence in Valinor, he and his siblings had been enchanted. They had heard tales about snow from their ancestors who used to live across the sea, but had never seen it until now— and it was indeed a marvel to behold. The flakes fell in thickly swirling clouds that coated the ground, the trees, and everything else around it in powdery white. Valinor itself had sparkled beneath the weight of the transparent crystals, as if it rested under a blanket made of shining diamonds.

Yes, the snow had been lovely the first few days, but after that it began to be inconvenient. It was much too windy to start a fire in the forge, so for the past day or two Fëanor had been unable to work on his latest project, a beautifully jeweled scimitar so light that its weight was scarcely noticeable. He had nearly finished work on the hilt when the snow first began, and now he wanted more than anything to complete the job.

The snow was inconvenient in other ways, too. Horses couldn’t move through the massive drifts as easily, and the snow fell so thickly it was hard to see more than a few feet, even for an elf. And on top of that, it was cold and wet and irritating, and it got everywhere. Amrod and Amras kept going out to build mysterious figures that they called “snow elves,” and whenever they came back inside they tracked snow across the floor, which would then melt into puddles that Fëanor had slipped in more than once. (Not that he would admit it).

Currently he sat curled up in an armchair by a crackling fire, flipping through a book about metals and listening to sounds of playing elflings drifting from outside. Fingolfin stood by the window, cup of tea in hand as he watched the elflings caper about in the snow.

“I remember when we were that young,” Fingolfin commented, rubbing at frost on the windowpane. “I imagine we would have been playing out there with them, probably getting soaked to the bone.” He chuckled.

“Mm,” Fëanor grunted. “I don’t think I would be out there. It’s not much to my liking. It’s pretty enough, but that’s about it.”

A frown crossed Fingolfin’s face. “What do you mean by that? Have you actually been out in it for more than, oh, two minutes?”

Fëanor slammed his book shut, throwing a glare at his half-brother. “As a matter of fact, I have. I had to deliver some scrap metal the other day, almost a whole mile away. My horse couldn’t walk well in the snow but the iron was too heavy to carry by myself. I was probably out there for an hour or more.”

Fingolfin hummed, taking a long drink from his teacup. “Oh, come on. Where’s your sense of adventure? Delivering metal in the snow wouldn’t be fun, I’m sure, but have you actually done anything else in the snow that could be fun? You can’t just sit and be a lump instead of enjoying the snow for what it is.”

“A lump?” scoffed Fëanor. “I wouldn’t be a lump if the confounded snow would stop. I would be out in the forge, for your information.”

“My point exactly,” Fingolfin said, huff-laughing in that annoying way he always did. (It was funny, sometimes, but right now Fëanor was irked). “You’re literally always in the forge, my dear brother. Don’t you have a life outside of metalwork?”

“I….I have children, in case you’ve forgotten. And a wife.”

Fingolfin smirked. “Ah yes, Nerdanel was telling me recently that she vaguely recalls marrying somebody. She can’t remember who, though. He’s always away working on his projects.”

“Oh, shut up, smartmouth.”

Fingolfin snickered into his teacup, then ambled over to the chair beside Fëanor and plopped into it, stretching out his legs towards the fire. “Well, there are some benefits to you being stuck here, in my opinion. Now you’re actually doing something else besides working with your dumb metals.”

“They’re not dumb metals,” scoffed Fëanor.

“Yes they are,” laughed Fingolfin. He leaned forward, pointing at Fëanor’s book. “So what are you reading?”

Fëanor couldn’t resist the snort that broke from him. “What do you think?” He held the book forward for his brother to see.

“Metallurgy?” wheezed Fingolfin. “You have an entire library of books and you still go for the one about metal work.” He grinned, draining the last of his tea and setting his teacup down with a clink. “Well, are you enjoying it?”

Fëanor rolled his eyes. “Not really. There’s so many flaws in their descriptions of the metal alone that on just the second page I could feel my irritation beginning to rise.”

“You should rewrite the book correctly,” suggested Fingolfin, “and then everyone on Valinor, Valar included, will become as obsessed with forging stuff as you are.”

“Har har,” Fëanor said sarcastically. “Speaking of the Valar, why are they even allowing this blasted snow? I should have thought that Yavanna would pitch a fit about it ruining her plants.”

“Rumor has it she did,” Fingolfin answered. “But I guess they convinced her in the end.”

Fëanor huffed. “Convinced her of what? The benefits of nearly breaking your neck every time your sons track snow into the house? The delights of being cooped inside for practically an entire week?”

“I think your clumsiness can be attributed for you nearly breaking your neck, not your sons’ bringing in snow,” Fingolfin giggled. “Remember the time when we were little and you tried sliding down a stairway railing? Then you fell off halfway and broke your nose and there was blood everywhere and you were screaming. I was worried you were going to bleed out.”

“I didn’t— I didn’t scream,” Fëanor said crankily. “All I did…. I said ‘ow.’”

“You did not!” Fingolfin accused, his hazel eyes narrowing. “You were quite literally bawling, my dear brother. Don’t even try to deny it. I was there.”

“Okay, okay, fine,” Fëanor sighed, “I admit that I was acting extremely childish.”

“Justifiable, since you had just broken your nose.” Fingolfin blew a strand of dark hair off his forehead, staring into the crackling vermillion flames of the fire. “But back to the point, when you were complaining about the ‘benefits’ of snow. Well, look at it in a different perspective than your own! The elflings— yours included— are having a ton of fun, and we respectable adults can sit inside and enjoy each other’s company.”

“What?” Fëanor threw him a weird look.

“Oh, come on. When’s the last time we sat and had a bro-to-bro talk like this?”

Fëanor massaged his forehead with his fingertips. “I can’t believe you just said that.”

“You know you love me,” grinned Fingolfin.

“Yeah, yeah,” Fëanor sighed, flapping his hand and pretending to make light of the situation. “I guess I do. A little. Just a little.”

“Thanks, Fëa,” Fingolfin said, slinging an arm around the older elf’s shoulder. “I knew you’d admit it, sooner or later.”

Fëanor rolled his eyes for the second time that day and pursed his lips. “You better not tell anyone I said that.”

“Of course not. Completely confidential.” Fingolfin stretched his arms behind him, giving a lopsided grin. “But I can and will use it as blackmail if need be.”

“Blackmail?” Fëanor looked at him suspiciously. “Why would you need to blackmail me?”

“Oh, I don’t know— maybe if you ever try to kill me or something along those lines.” Fingolfin’s eyes sparkled with mirth.

“I would never try to kill you,” Fëanor scoffed. “I might come close to it,” he added teasingly, “but I wouldn’t go through with it.”

“Oh, that gives me so much relief,” Fingolfin said sarcastically.

“Speaking of blackmail, I’ve got some I could use against you if I ever needed to,” Fëanor remarked casually, getting up and walking to the tea tray across the room. He poured himself a generous cup, added a single cube of sugar, and leaned against the hearth, smirking at Fingolfin, who was beginning to look more than a little concerned.

“You…have blackmail against me?” Fingolfin said cautiously, fiddling with the tassels on his scarf.

“Yep,” Fëanor confirmed, looking smug.

“Are you going to tell me what it is?”

“Mm…maybe,” Fëanor replied, taking a long sip of his tea. “If you’re nice about it.”

Fingolfin’s eye twitched, and he cleared his throat before realization dawned on his face. “Wait. This isn’t about that time when I—“ He paused, looking embarrassed. “When we were at the banquet last year and—“

Fëanor laughed maniacally. “And you faceplanted directly into a giant kettle of tomato sauce. The stains were on the ceiling for weeks.”

“Everybody already knows about that, though,” Fingolfin pointed out. “It doesn’t exactly qualify as blackmail.”

“No, but afterwards when everyone had gone and you were rinsing sauce off of your clothes, you somehow tripped while standing still and fell into the pot again. I still don’t know how that was possible but you pulled it off.”

Fingolfin’s mouth opened, then closed. He flushed, his brows furrowing. “Okay, okay. You got me. I don’t want anyone to know about that. But if one of us rats on the other, you can bet that we’ll do the same. So it’s kind of a win-lose situation.”

“Which is why we’ll never tell,” Fëanor agreed, popping a strawberry tart into his mouth.

“Precisely!” Fingolfin beamed, pushing himself out of the armchair and walking to the window again. He scraped off a fresh layer of frost and peered out, then reported, “I think all the elflings have gone to the great hall. I heard a rumor that they’re serving some new delicacy there— hot chocolate, I believe it was called.” He glanced at Fëanor. “So I think now is as good a time as any.”

Fëanor looked puzzled. “Time for wh—“

Before he could finish his sentence, Fingolfin sprang across the room, seized his hand, and dragged him into the hall.

“Time for you to actually experience the snow, brother!”

“What? No! I want to stay and finish my tea, you imbecile!”

Ignoring Fëanor’s protests, Fingolfin tugged open one of the double doors at the end of the hall and dragged Fëanor outside into the blinding white snowfall. Flakes fell in blindingly thick swirls, obscuring vision after only a few feet. Wind stung the two elves’ cheeks, slicing into their skin and bones with frigid fingers, and Fëanor shivered, huddling further into his tunic. “Can we go back inside now?” he said through gritted teeth, glaring at Fingolfin.

Fingolfin laughed, closing the door behind them and flinging his arms wide. He danced in a circle, spinning around and around until he collapsed in the snow. Flakes fell thickly onto his face, and he caught several on his tongue.

“You’re actually enjoying this?” scoffed Fëanor in disbelief. “It’s freezing!”

Fingolfin pushed himself up with one elbow, squinting at Fëanor through the snow. “Of course I am! But if you’re going to stand there and be a stick in the mud—“

“I’m a stick in the mud, am I?” Quick as a flash, Fëanor scooped a clump of snow into his hands and hurled it at Fingolfin’s face. It landed with a splat, directly on his nose, and after a moment of shocked silence Fingolfin wiped the snow off his cheeks and retaliated with his own snowball.

Before long their innocent fight had turned into a full-fledged battle, with bigger and icier snowballs flying back and forth. Snow clung to their hair and clothes, collected on their eyelashes, and froze against their lips, yet still they hurled snowball after snowball, laughing breathlessly, until finally Fëanor slipped on a patch of ice and fell hard into a snowdrift.

Fingolfin immediately dropped the snowball he was forming and hurried towards the fallen Elf, dropping to his knees beside him. “You okay?” he questioned, helping Fëanor to a sitting position. “Nothing’s injured?”

“Just my pride,” Fëanor said with a grimace, “and perhaps my rear. Just a bruise, though. I’ll be fine.”

Fingolfin hummed, then frowned. “You have all this snow around your neck. You must be frozen, here—“ Carefully he unwrapped the scarf from around his own neck and wound it around Fëanor’s, pulling it snug. “There you go, Fëa.”

Fëanor brushed snow off his tunic and looked up at Fingolfin in surprise. “Thanks.” Fingolfin smiled and nodded in reply, and was about to get back to his feet when Fëanor pulled him into a sudden, awkward hug. Fingolfin stiffened, taken aback by the gesture, before he returned it with a warm embrace of his own, resting his head in the crook of Fëanor’s shoulder.

Fëanor pulled away, smiling lopsidedly. “You’re a great brother, you know that?”

Fingolfin grinned back, wind whipping his hair back from his face. “And so are you.” He helped Fëanor to his feet, then tipped his head. “How about we head to the Hall to try some of that hot chocolate stuff? Maybe afterwards we can build an ‘elf man’ with your twins.”

Fëanor grinned, slinging an arm around Fingolfin’s shoulders. “I’d like that a lot, actually.”

Fingolfin returned the smile, tucking his own arm around Fëanor, and together they struck out through the snow, disappearing in a swirl of white.

#Fëanor #fingolfin #the silmarillion #Fëanor and fingolfin #the silmarillion fanfiction #silm #the silm #writing requests #requests #fic requests #silmarillion #silmarillion fandom

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venomm-demonn · 2 days

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Hey guys

Yea so I’ve been absent.

But here is the rest of what I have prepared for Whump month

These school projects are whopping my a$$ so I can’t say I will finish this.

Still havnt figured the cut out

Thank you to @cirrus-ghoulette

Day four: scars.

PhantomXpapa

All ghouls had scars. Either from element changes, past traumas from the pit, or old operations.

Even scars from just life things.

But when phantom was summoned into the abbey, he had scars he hid with everything he had. Not going with them to the beach or pools, not changing in the change rooms with them, and overall did anything in his power to make sure none of them saw the scars along his chests. The scars from his surgery. His top surgery.

And today was no exception, making sure to change in his dressing room, that was shared with papa,when papa wasn’t there.

Except he was completely shirtless when papa came in, using his key.

Phantom didn’t have time to react. And papa didn’t even blink a eye at his scars. Just giving him a once over and going to his desk.

« don’t tell anyone. Please. »

Phantom said, pulling his shirt on.

« Why would I? I have them too,don’t worry. »

Papa replied casually.

Phantom smiled and finished getting ready for the concert. It was thier secret. The next concert papa even showed phantom his own, comparing how well each healed. Phantom felt so excited and happy to have found someone who relates.

Day five: ritual

Cirrus X Culums X Sunshine

Cirrus and Culumus were always close. From the day they were summoned to now. But they both remember the day Sunshine got summoned.

They waited and saw her reach out from the pits. The pain of getting pulled up and out. And into the Top-side. They each grabbed a hand and pulled her out. The earth shattering scream they knew to well. Finally out they wrapped a blanket around her shoulders and walked her out of the hall. But it was no where close to done. Once they got the soot and ichor off her, they gave her her uniform. They took her back to the hall for the masking ceremony.

The mixed Ghoulette was handed a mask. The mask that bound her to Papa.

They remember the moment very well.

The silence and pause. Her scared eyes looking over everyone. How she lifted the mask to her head before putting it on. The claps and cheers from everyone.

After the main ritual, they took her under her wing. Sunshine was the newest for awhile.

The shock from the ritual lasted a few weeks. Sunshines body sore from pushing herself out of the pit, and getting used to her body on the topside. Culumus and Cirrus gave her clothes, and helped her with her hair and kept her comfortable and company while she settled in. They helped her get used to her air element, all while dew was very good with helping her with her fire too.

But they didn’t account for was how hard the transition from the pits to the topside would hit her. She felt lost and empty. Not in a homesick way, she doesn’t want to go back to the pits, but the feeling of difference up on the topside conspired to the pits. And every ghoul or ghoulette goes through it, but it hit her hard. Her whole life changed and brand new was something that took alot of mental capacity and it tired her out.

But with the help of Culumus and Cirrus she began to feel better and more comfortable.

Day six: phobia

RainXdew

It was a rainy day. Thunder and lightning shook the trees. The bangs and rattling of trees against the windows was very calming to everyone. They loved it. Most of them on the uppermost commons in the top of the abbey to hear it better. Well almost everyone. Rain did a head count to notice that few was no where to be seen.

He set his book down and headed downstairs and looked around to find dew.

To no avail.

He checked the rooms, the ghouls Den, and even the library, but still couldn’t find Dew.

The only place he didn’t account for was his own room. After awhile he decided to go back to his and complete the search and jsut text him instead, but as soon and he opened the door, he found Dew. Huddled up on Rains bed was a shaking Dew. A blanket over his shoulders and headphone over his head which he held tightly to his ears with his eyes closed. Every thunder strike he seemed to grip the headphone tighter and jump.

Rain walked over putting a hand on his shoulder and sat beside him.

« What’s wrong…? Is it the storm? »

He asked gently and calmly.

Dew nodded.

That was a first. The usual firey and strong ghoul now shaking and curled up over a storm. Rain hugged him close to him. Pulling the head phones of gently before holding him close to his chest. One hand over his ear, the other pressed against his chest. Dew calmed eventually and stopped shaking.

#the ghost band #whump month 2024

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swynlake-rp · 2 years

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“That’s a keeper!”

FULL NAME: Park Bit-na Penny Forrester BASED ON: Penny (Bolt) FACE CLAIM: Huh Yunjin PRONOUNS: She/Her BIRTHDAY: November 23, 2001 CURRENT STATUS: Taken

Character Information

INTERVIEW EXCERPT FROM PEOPLE MAGAZINE:

“After the Storm: Penny Forrester’s Bright New Beginning.”

We sat down with beloved icon and magick advocate, Penny Forrester to talk about wrapping about her hit TV series, working on new music, and tackling new movie projects on the big screen. Forrester, now 21, became a household name after starring as the precocious animal whisperer Stormy Dae in the hit movie Bolt when she was only seven years old. She has since gone on to star in a dozen projects, launch new music under the name ‘Penny&thevibe,’ and win awards from ASPCA, the Humane Society, and the Magicks in Movies Project.

Q. Thanks for sitting down with us Penny! First thing’s first– Stormy and Bolt has finally concluded! What are your feelings upon saying goodbye to such an iconic character and show?

A: Oh, it’s bittersweet for sure. I cried a lot when we were filming Stormy’s graduation from the Institute. Even though we finished filming in 2020 and two years have passed though, I think about her every day! Stormy has just become a part of me, like I think about her whenever I’m nervous or unsure. She’s that brave voice in my head that goes, “You can do it! You’ve faced worse!” So even though I miss my cast and going to the set every day, Stormy is still with me.

Q: I’m sure your pen-pals love that. There’s a petition online about making Bolt 3, you know. Have you heard about that? What’s your response?

A: That’s amazing. I have heard about it. Obviously it’s just an important film for a lot of people, magick and mundus, so I’ll always be grateful for its impact and people’s passion for it. I don’t ever want to sound ungrateful, so I can’t say ‘never.’ If the right story came along with a message I believed in, I’d go for it. But right now, I think Stormy and Bolt’s story is done and I’m looking forward to meeting new roles and showing my fans new sides to me. Like I said, Stormy’s a part of me, but she’s just one part of me.

Q: That’s a great segue into talking about those new projects. You released your second studio album ‘teen.age’ and toured it for the first time. What was that like?

A: Exhausting. Rewarding. Overstimulating, but in a good way! I’m not sure how bigger pop stars do it. I’m glad I tried it though. The feeling of being scared is really inspiring to me. I love doing something I’ve never done before.

Q: Is that how you pick your projects?

A: Well, not in the past. But now, I’d say yes. My new movie is scary for a lot of different reasons, like I’m going to do a British accent and hopefully not goof it up and offend an entire country, plus I’m gonna go abroad– I skipped ahead didn’t I? Oh my god, I’m so sorry, I got excited!

Q: That’s fine! Let’s talk about it. The movie’s called Olive Bright, Pigeoneer, right?

A: Yes! It’s my first time shooting a period piece, my first time shooting on location, my first time working with a different studio and– lots of other new things. We’re shooting in this beautiful, magick-friendly town called Swynlake. This probably sounds weird, but the whole project feels like a return to my roots in that way, even though I’ve never been there, obviously. It’s just like, as a magick in my career, sometimes I’m the only one of my kind in a room, and now I’m getting a chance to reconnect with a magick community. And being away from the Burbank studios means I’ll get to focus on this role in a way I haven’t before.

Q. That does sound like a unique opportunity. What are you hoping to achieve with this movie?

A: Wow, that’s a great question. To be honest, I’m just hoping to show everyone I’m not Stormy Dae. I’m 21 now. This is an adult role, unlike any of my other roles. I hope when everyone sees this, no one thinks about the little girl from Bolt and instead feels like they’ve met someone brand new, but someone-who is still worth rooting for.

Q: I think they will. Thanks for sitting down with us, and good luck!

✓ Passionate, adaptable, empathetic

✖ Guarded, pushy, unyielding

Character Suggestions

None

Current Relationships

None

Possible Relationships

click here!

Magical Abilities

Gifted — can communicate with animals

#disney rp #disney roleplay #bolt #boltch #opench #allch #magicch #takench #takenfemalech

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dilucids · 3 years

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ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤCelebrity crush, Genshin boys idol! au

admitting you're their celebrity crush and their reaction to your reaction

includes: kaeya, diluc, zhongli and xiao

( can't stop thinking about idol! au genshin. any type of celebrity but it's hinted that you're a singer in xiao's. )

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ〔 KAEYA ALBERICH ━━ FROSTWIND SWORDSMAN 〕

━━ this man is sooooo fucking slick with it.

━━ he'll slyly bring it up in an interview or a live with a smirk on his face and then act as if it never happened when someone questions him.

━━ his members just stares at him when he brings you up, knowing, that beneath that sly persona and nonchalant act, there was millions pounds worth of fan merchandise in his room.

━━ he would evade the subject and if it's an interview, the host would have to pry answers from his members instead as he sits there proudly with a smile on his face as his members tell his fan behaviour instead of him.

━━ in a live, he would somehow convince his fans they were hallucinating but someone would post the clip and everyone would just go ballistic, it'd be one of those "top ten things i can't believe kaeya managed to get away with: gaslighting his fans into believing they were crazy."

"Who's your favourite celebrity?" Kaeya reads out from the comments passing quickly through his Instagram live, he pretends to think. A smile forms on his face when he 'decides' on an answer, "probably [Name]."

He watches the comments speed through even quicker before changing the subject, dropping the matter as if it never happened. His fans are all freaking out though, wanting to get more details on his crush on the celebrity but Kaeya ignores all comments about the subject. They never die down though, only ending when Kaeya himself ends the live.

━━ you may have ended on the same show some time after him and the host brings it up ( 100% planned for views ).

━━ it makes you smile because you've already been informed about this topic by your fans and kaeya's.

━━ you'd end up thanking kaeya for the support and say that you've also been lowkey a fan of his group but you've never openly stated that to anyone.

━━ his fans and your fans immediately get to work and start tagging kaeya's insta/twitter, group and personal, under the clip of you shyly admitting you're a fan of his also and he goes mental.

━━ probably sits there watching the entire interview with a huge smile on his face, and it doesn't leave, not even after he finishes the interview ( bonus: diluc is very disturbed ).

━━ HUGE ego boost for the rest of the day. kaeya's normally very confident but he's extra confident, like starts strutting around like he's the shit and even had the balls to nod his head at diluc as if to say "what's up" with the largest shit eating grin on his face.

━━ diluc definitely thought he was picking a fight.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ〔 DILUC RAGNVINDR ━━ DARKNIGHT HERO 〕

━━ more likely to come from one of his members than him.

━━ or he'd be very smooth with it, and brings it up rather subtly. it'd be a small "oh, i ingest their content and enjoy it" and he'd just continue about his day

━━ and his fans will still go insane because diluc actually enjoying something seems weird, especially another celebrity's work

━━ this would obviously reach you, who was an open fan of his group, and you'd freak out when you see it but wouldn't bring it up because he only said he enjoyed your work, not he was a fan.

━━ would definitely get questioned if he was being interviewed on a talk show, he wouldn't evade the question.

━━ he doesn't really see a point in lying, so he simply shrugs and tells the host that he is a fan and owns some merchandise.

"Diluc, a few fans are curious about your statement the other day," the host redirects the questions to Diluc, who raises an eyebrow. "Is it true that you're a fan of [Name]?"

The question makes his heart pick up a little, he leans back on his chair and clears his throat, composing himself before nodding. "I am a fan," the host seems happy by his response. The conversation continues to steer in this direction, asking Diluc if he had attended any fan meetings or merchandise, how he would feel if you two collaborated for a project and then finally ending once the host asks other members if they were fans of anyone.

━━ he thinks nothing of it, continuing with his day as usual but when he gets mentioned by your twitter? the man loses his shit.

━━ he sits there staring at his screen like he was hallucinating and literally tunes everything else out, staring at your little: "i'd love to work with you too!" message with a small smiley face at the end.

━━ he checks the account multiple times just in case it was one of his fans trolling him but clicking on the @ takes him back to your account so he gives in at some point

━━ he types out a normal, professional "thank you, i hope a time comes when we can collaborate" and "i look forward to more of your works" but he's still losing his shit.

━━ stays in his mind for at least a week.

━━ fans always bring up the fact that y'all never did end up collaborating.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ〔 ZHONGLI ━━ VAGO MUNDO 〕

━━ the public is very aware.

━━ he's never made an attempt to hide how he is a fan, not even the massive poster in his room or the little keychain that he hangs on his bag nor the red eyeliner belonging to a makeup brand that you became a brand embassador for, also now one of his favourite brands.

━━ so no one is really surprised when he talks about you or your upcoming work, what is kinda surprising is when he straight up says that he says you're his ideal type.

━━ not because it's shocking that you'd be anyone's ideal type but because they didn't expect the out of the blue question from host and it's even more mind boggling when the man doesn't even stutter nor even think before just saying your name.

━━ members are sat beside him literally losing their shit in both negative ( scandals and shit ) and positive ( it's fucking hilarious ) ways as he just blinks.

━━ he doesn't even look the slightest bit worried as he stares dead straight through the host's head.

━━ obviously scandals emerge, there are positive and negative reactions. some people suddenly realise how good you two would look together and others are mad you "stole" their man because we have delulus in all fandoms.

"So Zhongli," the host starts before clearing his throat, obviously a tad uncomfortable under the eldest member's sudden gaze, "who is your ideal type?" The members also seem curious, as they stop their interactions, staring over at their unusually emotionless member.

One member laughs, waving the question off as a joke and as a way to avoid any possible scandals, knowing that Zhongli wouldn't filter his words due to his lacking understanding of social cues. "C'mon, there's no way that he has an id━━"

"If I had to say, then [Name] suits my preferences." The member who tried to wave it off blinks, staring at Zhongli like he just murdered someone and other members laugh. The host seems pleasantly surprised, peering at the camera with a raised eyebrow and a certain look on his face. The entire studio never gets over it.

━━ it's brought to your attention on twitter because twitter is usually where shit goes down.

━━ you've always been aware that zhongli has been a fan but you've never been able to speak up about it due to your management.

━━ luckily for you, your contract with your previous strict company had ended just a while ago and under your new management, you were more free to do whatever you wanted.

━━ so obviously, you quote tweet the video, tag his account and say in a jokingly way that he should take you out on a date first.

━━ he doesn't publicly reply to your tweet because he already got in trouble with his management for answering such a risky question anyways and your tweet is a little too suggestive.

━━ but he also wants you to know he has seen the tweet. so his solution? to slip into your dms.

━━ and all of a sudden, the next time you're both seen together, you're besties? so people started connecting dots and shit, were they good at connecting them. moral of the story: never underestimate zhongli fans because collectively, they may be able to beat zhongli in an iq test.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ〔 XIAO ━━ CONQUEROR OF DEMONS 〕

━━ best believe this man got death threated or held at gunpoint into admitting you're his celebrity crush.

━━ or he didn't do it at all and his members confessed for him just to tease him.

━━ happens on a group live, members are just vibing.

━━ xiao is sat in the back somewhere, scrolling through his phone with his earphones in so he doesn't notice his members shifting the camera to him or jumps onto him whilst holding the camera.

━━ when he does notice though, he takes out his earbud and your song just blARES through his earphone and it's fucking loud.

━━ he immediately turns it down but his fellow member already has this shit eating grin on his face and jumps onto xiao, successfully grabbing his phone and showing the live of 100k+ people.

━━ his homescreen is one of those "boyfriend/girlfriend/partner material" lockscreens of you and it shows that your song had been playing.

━━ xiao literally attacks his members and grabs his phone back, walking off to escape the embarrassment but can hear the echoing laughter as he walks down the hallway and slams his door closed.

Xiao lets out a sudden 'oompf' when his members glomps right ontop of him, grinning widely as they held up a camera to show off themselves and Xiao. Glancing at the camera, Xiao takes off an earbud, freezing when a loud upbeat tune echoes throughout the open area. Xiao ignores the feeling of his face heating up and turns down the song, ignoring the obvious gleeful stare of his member.

Almost on instinct, he moves his phone away but curse his parents for their genes because all it takes is a little stretching for his member to have his greasy fingers all over his phone, ripping it out of his hands and immediately running away to shield themselves from the wrath of all 5" and a bit of Xiao. When they deem it safe, they click on the home button of the screen, grinning amused at the homescreen.

"Look at fanboy Xiao!" And just like that, Xiao's cold demeanour had been shatteres infront of a plethora of people.

━━ you find it one of the most endearing things ever.

━━ literally how could you not? you find pride in yourself to have such a popular member of an idol group enjoy your work and it helps gain a little more confidence in yourself.

━━ it's brought up on a talk show kinda casually where the host is one of your friends so they are slightly teasing you for it all the whilst remaining on the professional side.

━━ and it's obvious to say that you're embarrassed by the way you chuckle and mess with your fingers and hair, but you hold yourself together anyways and manage a sweet "thank you for the support" to xiao when the host asks if you wanted to say something in case he was watching.

━━ and the very next day, on xiao's official instagram, he has a signed album and poster of yours, tagged and everything.

#genshin scenarios #genshin #genshin impact #genshin headcanons #genshin x gender neutral reader #genshin x reader #genshin xiao #genshin kaeya #genshin zhongli #genshin diluc #xiao x reader #zhongli x reader #kaeya x reader #diluc x reader

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lonelyl00n · 3 years

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Je T'aime | Yandere! Joy

Summary: When your childhood bully won't let go of you.

Warning: manipulation, abuse of power, controlling relationship, jealousy, mention of killing

wc: 1.5K

This is was inspired by my favorite song Je T'aime by Hey. When I found out that Joy did a cover of that song, I got the creativity to create this. I wanted to get all of this out of my head, so it may feel a bit rushed in some areas.

You were in the library when you felt someone put their hands over your eyes. “Guess Who?”

“Hmmm.” You joked as you tapped your finger on your chin. “Is it…Namjoon?”

Your eyes were uncovered the second you said that. You laughed at Joy’s angry expression. “I told you not to mention him.”

“Sorry, sorry. What brings you here.”

“What do you mean what brings me here? It’s our night out.” Joy gasps.

“I’m sorry Joy, I don’t think I can do it tonight. Namjoon was supposed to be tutoring me, but I’ve been waiting for like thirty minutes.”

“I’m one of the smartest kids in the school. I’m in the Top 10 you know. Why didn’t you ask me?” Joy pouted.

You laughed at her outburst. “First of all, your parents would sue the school if you weren’t in Top 10, so that doesn’t really mean much.”

Joy's father was the CEO of a famous luxury brand, while her mom is a retired actress who was popular in the late 80's and 90's. Her parents had more money than you and your family could ever dream of. Growing up bouncing around from different relative’s basements made a lot of the kids at school growing up, make fun of you.

Especially Joy.

In 4th grade, is when she would begin to make your life a living hell. She would steal your lunch money and give you foods that she knew you were allergic to. She would constantly call you fat and make rude comments about you to her friends.

It got worse in 10th grade, when she made an announcement over the PA system that whoever talked, touched, or even looked at you would get beat up. She bought you and her matching rings at cost more than $1000, and would make you wear it all the time. She bought you clothes, gave you money, and even managed to convince her parents to buy your family an apartment with three bedrooms and a balcony.

She basically owned you. You weren’t allowed to go out on the weekends because of her security guards guarding your apartment door. When you did try to leave the apartment, which you never succeeded, you would be taken by the guards to the Park Mansion and have to sit on Joy’s lap as you two watched a movie, as punishment.

You hated the power she had, you always did, she even forced you to go to the same college that she was going to, by threatening to hurt your Aunt Irene.

You reluctantly agreed to her ‘idea’, not wanting to hurt your family members that helped your family so much.

So now you followed Joy around the campus like a little puppy, while everyone else thought that you guys were just close friends who liked being near each other.

“And second of all.” you continued. “We are supposed to be working on a project together.”

Joy furrowed her eyebrows while thinking. A project? With a boy?! She thought she had already told all of your professors to not give you any partners at all. Especially a boy.

“I know what your thinking.” Y/N claimed, seeing the looked on Joy’s face. “But we went to London for a whole month, and this was a month-long project. I can’t do it alone.”

“Fine, then I’ll help you.” Joy suggested.

“But Namjoon has to get this grade too.”

“Why do you worry about other people so much, come on let’s just start this.”

You and Joy spent all night, researching, printing, and decorating your poster board. By the time you guys were finished it was 2 a.m.

“Well, that was quicker than I expected. I guess I’ll have to make a new reservation for tomorrow.” Joy sighed. “Let’s go home.” She said as she intertwined your hands and walke out the library.

As part of the deal, Joy had you move into a luxury 2-bedroom apartment that was about an hour away from campus. Joy demanded insisted that you shouldn’t use public transportation anymore because now, with the help of her money, you were worth a lot. Throughout your high school experience, Joy never let you get a driver’s license, so she has the pleasure of driving you to and from campus, always knowing your whereabouts.

You looked out the car window without having anything to do. As punishment for talking to a boy, Joy had taken your phone claiming that the only person you needed to talk to was always right beside you. “What do you want to eat.” She asked you.

“McDonald’s.” You say robotically. McDonald’s was the only fast food place that Joy allowed you to eat. It was the place she found your family at in 10th grade.

It was on a rainy day that your Aunt Irene had kicked you, your parents, and your little brother out of her basement for being a burden, which you didn’t understand because just a week ago your Aunt had said you all staying there was the best thing to happen for her since her illness was starting to worsen.

So, with no where to go and barely any money, your parents took you all to McDonald’s to split one box of 20 piece chicken nuggets, and 4 small drinks for each member of the family.

As you were told by Joy, her family's trailer had broken down on the way back home from the airport, so Joy offered to walk to the nearest building while her parents berated the driver. The nearest place just so happened to be the McDonald’s you and your family were at.

You instantly recognized Joy when she walked through the door, just like how Joy instantly recognized you. She sat a table across from the booth your family was at, and pulled out her phone. Gosh, were you so amazed. You had never had a phone before. Your parents only had one that they shared, and you didn’t have friends (because of Joy’s rules) to let you use theirs. Joy smiled at you awe-filled eyes and continued talking on the phone.

You didn’t even realize that you were staring at her until your mom slapped your wrist and told you to stop. When the phone call ended, Joy stood up and walked towards your table. You looked at the ground, afraid that she too would scold you. “Hello L/N’s. I’m Park Sooyoung.” She started. You heard a gasp in front of you and looked at your parents, who were looking at the entrance doors. A tall man wearing a suit, and a woman carrying a Chanel bag. Walked through the door.

Joy looked back and laughed. “Oh, those are my parents.” They came up to your booth, both shoke hands your parents and stood behind Joy. ”We wanted to give your family a place to stay, would you let us.” You mother, being the biggest fan of Joy’s mother growing up instantly nodded, while your father thought about it for a few seconds before evening his Wife’s beautiful smile. A smile he hadn’t seen since their wedding day. He agreed as well.

That night was significant to you because not only did your family get a place to reside, but it was also the first time that Joy was nice to you. Since that day she started treated you better, still not letting you talk to anyone else, but she was nice.

Although Joy would never tell you this, it was that night that she fell in love with you, completely.

After eating. You and Joy got into the bed that you two shared. Yes there were two bedrooms in your apartment, but you couldn’t sleep in a room by yourself.

You had slept in a room with somebody your whole life, it felt uncomfortable. So on the first week of living here, you asked Joy if you could sleep with her, even okay with sleeping on the ground. Joy let you into her bed, and sang you to sleep.

That became your routine every night after that. However tonight was different, you feel asleep the minute you got into bed. Joy snuck out of the bed and turned you alarm off. You didn’t need to go to school tomorrow, you wouldn’t have time anyways. Her makeup crew that were going to come today were rescheduled to come tomorrow. The day she had been waiting for since that night was going to happen.

All of you and her family members were going to be at that restaurant and would watch as she would get down on one knee, just like in the romance movies, and propose to you. Just thinking about tomorrow made her heart flutter. Yes, she was furious about the change of plans today, but she would never take it out on you. Instead, she took it out on that Namjoon guy behind the library. Ugh! Just thinking about him getting close to you was sickening. She had her men take care of his body for her.

She kissed your cheek and whispers in your ear, “I love you.”

Everything was set in her plan. She loved you, and you…would have no choice but to love her. You were hers after all. Hers to love.

#yandere kpop #red velvet joy #red velvet #yandere #kpop fanfic #kpop #yandere bully #yandere sugar daddy #fanfic #kim namjoon #yandere red velvet #yandere joy

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karanna1 · 4 years

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AU - Lena Luthor Saves Krypton

Lena is somehow sent back in time and finds herself on Krypton 30 years before the planet explodes. Kara doesn’t exist yet. Krypton has no idea what’s about to happen to them.

Lena realizes that with her knowledge of what’s to come and intellect to devise a solution, she can do two things. One, she can save an entire species from near extinction. Two, she can save Kara from ever having to experience the pain of losing her family, her home, and being abandoned. Kara could live a happy life and never know the burden of Supergirl or being the last daughter of Krypton.

So instead of trying to find a way back to Earth, back to her own time, she settles into life on Krypton, becomes fluent in Kryptonese, and sets about with a spectacularly single-minded focus of changing the future - to save this dying world (and Kara).

She succeeds...mostly. They can’t fix the damage that’s already been done to the planet. Their sun will die and destroy Krypton still, but with Lena’s help they’re able to locate a barren planet in another system that has a white star. It’s brand new, strong, and will live for untold trillions of years (provided Kryptonians didn’t try to harness its power again).

They terraform the planet and create “New Krypton” using the dome concept that Zor-El invented fused with Coluan bottling technology. All Kryptonians are instantly transported to their new home that’s identical to the old one save for one difference - the white sun grants them god-like powers that are beyond what Lena ever saw Kara and Clark capable of on Earth. Kryptonians are overwhelmed en masse by these powers. Some go power mad and attempt coups and form radical sects. Others realize the gift they’ve been given and, with Lena’s guidance, Kryptonian society develops under a new mission - to travel the galaxy and offer help to all those in need. Not just offering knowledge and technology this time, but themselves with their newfound powers.

Lena keeps her distance from the House of El as much as she can. It’s nearly impossible considering their standing with the Kryptonian High Council. Lena has to work very closely with the Council. Jor-El and his brother, Zor-El, are brilliant scientists and statesmen. Alura In-Ze is a rising star in the judicial system. Her marriage to Zor-El, second born son of the House of El, caused quite a few waves, but when Lara Lor-Van, a brilliant biologist and prominent noble of the House of Van, agrees to marry Jor-El, it’s all anyone can talk about. All 4 of them live very public lives due to their professions, their positions on the High Council, and their nobility.

They’re ever so fascinated by Lena Luthor, the human from Earth that appeared one day to save their entire planet. Their savior. The one their people have named “The New Dawn”. Lena wants nothing to do with the House of El. It’s too much. She can’t bear to be so close to Kara’s family without Kara. It feels wrong. Unfortunately, with how much Lena tries to avoid them, the 4 nobles think they’ve done something to offend her, and constantly attempt ways to make amends. It only makes Lena’s life that much more difficult.

But she still knows the exact date and time that Kara Zor-El steps into existence. Later, she will know the moment Kal-El is born (mostly because Lara’s natural birth is all anyone can talk about).

Lena meets Kara on New Krypton entirely by accident one day when Zor-El brings his brilliant young daughter, a prodigy in the Science Guild, to see Krypton’s finest laboratory entirely unannounced. The same laboratory that Lena founded and runs. She’s stricken, having tried to avoid this moment for as long as she could, knowing that eventually she’d have to see Kara as child, which would spell the end of every fanciful dream or slightest hope she had of a chance that someday she would find Kara, her best friend, again. Seeing the reality both warms her heart and breaks it all the same. This bouncing bundle of joy and inquisitiveness has the same blinding smile, in all its purity, with that same head of golden hair.

“You’re THE Lena Luthor?”

She kneels before her so they’re at eye level. “I suppose I am. And you’re THE Kara Zor-El?”

The ten year old gasps. “You know who I am?”

“Of course. I know all the important people. And you are a very important person, Kara.”

“I am?”

Zor-El interjects. “I’ve told Lena all about you, my dear. I’m sure she’s grown tired of my endless babbling about my wonderful daughter and her keen scientific mind.”

“Not at all,” Lena replies a bit flatly and tries to tune him out as she focuses on the young girl who will one day be a most extraordinary woman. “Do you enjoy the Science Guild, Kara?”

“Yes! I love to learn new things. As many things as I can! Sometimes father asks me to work with him in his laboratory at home and I help him with his projects!”

“That does sound like fun. I enjoy creating things as well.”

“You’re the most brilliant bio-engineer on Krypton! I’ve read all about you! You saved us.”

Lena shies away from the praise and instead fumbles her way forward, uncomfortable under the scrutiny of Zor-El, whom she’d never given the time of day until he walked in with his daughter.

“Tell me, Kara, do you like other subjects besides science?”

Kara fidgets, a little confused. “Well, I don’t...they don’t give you much time for other subjects. I-I do try to read about other things like art and history when I have free time, but I’m not really allowed—“

“She’s a hard worker and a wonderful student,” Zor-El interrupts again.

Lena ignores him. “Do you enjoy writing, Kara?”

“Writing?”

“Creation comes in many forms. I enjoy being able to create things with my hands. Machines. Technology. Things to help people. Science is my passion, but there are many other ways to help people. Ways that I’m not very good at, but others are. Writing takes a curious mind, creativity, and a way with words. I believe you might have a gift for that.”

“A gift for words?” Her little brow crinkles as she considers it.

Lena nods. “A writer can do a great many things that a scientist cannot. They are equally as powerful and important. What matters is doing what you love most, what inspires you most. You’re going to do great things one day, Kara. Maybe with the Science Guild, maybe with something else... The future is limitless for you.”

“You really think I could be that important someday?”

“You already are.” Lena smiles and breathes deeply. “Do you know what your name means where I come from?”

She shakes her head. “I have read about Earth. It’s very far away and my Aunt Astra says their civilization is primitive and filled with savages. They have my name there too?”

“Daughter, do not speak—“

Lena waves off Zor-El’s warning without looking at him.

“That’s not an unfair assessment of Earth compared to Krypton, but I do believe humanity would surprise a great many Kryptonians, including your Aunt. In my native language, Kara means ‘beloved friend’.”

Kara beams in a way that is so achingly familiar. It’s like an echo in Lena’s memory. Not exact, not complete, but the beginning of what it will become.

“I like that. Does that mean I’m your friend?”

Lena feels it in that moment. The melting warmth simultaneous with the absolute shattering of what was left of her heart.

“I will always be your friend, darling. Always.”

Kara leaves with her father and Lena’s coworkers are concerned when she goes off planet for an impromptu holiday without notice. She returns two months later and picks up as if she never left.

It’s around that time that one of the people she’s befriended in her years on Krypton remarks at how ageless she seems for a human that supposedly has a short life span. It sparks Lena’s curiosity. Indeed, it’s been nearly 30 years since she traveled back in time and found herself on a new planet. Yet you’d be hard pressed to find a single physical difference. Kryptonians aged slowly under a red star, and even slower still under the white star, but Lena was human. Her body wasn’t designed to accommodate solar radiation the way Kryptonians did. She was over 50 years old now, yet she still didn’t look a day over 28.

More years pass and New Krypton thrives. The galaxy is brought together through New Krypton’s diplomacy and thousands of planets and species are united under a banner of peace. There are always dissenters, but happiness and prosperity is widespread. Lena finds joy in friendships and attempts romantic relationships, but nothing ever really takes. Still, she’s content. She misses Earth, of course, and hopes to return one day before she dies, whenever that will be, but she’s found peace in knowing that she is able to be the one thing she’s always wanted - a force for good.

She’s at dinner with coworkers one night when Lara and Jor-El spot her. She sighs and straightens, preparing for their next attempt to get in her good graces.

“Do they never desist?” One of them mutters next to her ear. “Surely they’re intelligent enough to know when they’re not wanted?”

“Don’t be unkind, but help me keep it short if it goes on too long.”

“Lena! It’s wonderful to see you,” Lara says.

“You as well. How are you?”

“Very well, thank you.”

Lena’s table has gone conspicuously, and therefore awkwardly, silent.

Lara and Jor-El look around at the group uncomfortably.

“We were wondering...well, our niece is being inducted to the—“

“The Science Council as First Order,” Lena finishes for her. “Yes, I’m aware. It’s a great honor. I’m sure the House of El is quite proud.”

“Indeed we are,” Jor-El jumps in. “She’s a most remarkable young woman and we couldn’t be prouder of who she’s become.”

“We are holding a celebration to mark the occasion and were wondering if you might honor us by attending? It will be quite the event.” Lara does a slight eyeroll. “Jor is insisting on all the fantastical things.”

Jor-El nods enthusiastically. “My brother isn’t one for celebrations so I’ve taken up the mantle. Kara deserves all the praise she’s earned with her hard work and dedication.”

“You’ll have to forgive my mate’s enthusiasm. He’s quite invested in Kara since she can share his passion for his life’s work while our son is—“

“Disgustingly hopeless,” Jor-El grumbles.

“Oh?” She raises an eyebrow. “A great disappointment he’s been then?”

“Goodness no!” Lara shakes her head and shoots a warning look at her husband. “Kal is a fine boy. Just...a little lost.”

“Perhaps he is simply in need of a different path than the one his father has in mind,” Lena finds the words tumbling out of her mouth without thinking twice. The couple stares at her agape, but she continues without care. “I can certainly sympathize with the need to step out of the shadow of a family’s overbearing legacy.” She sighs. “While I thank you for considering me, it’s simply not possible with my days usually booked from dawn to dusk. Besides, parties have never been altogether pleasant endeavors for me.”

The disappointment on their faces isn’t what changes her mind. It’s that as soon as she says the words, she regrets it. She’s, of course, kept up with Kara’s doings and was concerned when she heard about the recent move in the Science Guild. Was journalism just a secondary passion since she couldn’t truly use her mind on Earth the way she could on Krypton? Or was this a woman just following in her family’s footsteps because she believed it was the right thing to do? Lena hadn’t seen or spoken to Kara in 16 years. Not since the day Zor-El brought her to the lab.

In the end, it’s Lena’s concern and curiosity for Kara’s well being that wins out. Though she very well knows that the woman that existed in another life, on another planet, is not the woman who lives here now on New Krypton. Even if she shared the same name and the same face...maybe even the same bright eyes and sunny smile. Even then.

“Send me the invitation. I’ll see what I can do,” Lena says, to the surprise of everyone at her table, including the two standing next to it.

They nod, stunned but pleased, and say their goodbyes quickly, walking away.

Lena’s coworkers all turn to her in surprise, but she refuses to answer their questions and excuses herself early for the evening.

She doesn’t show for the celebration. She torments herself for a week coming up to it and can’t bring herself to go. The fear of the past and her memories being trod upon are too strong. But somehow she finds herself in the Starling Grove anyway, just as it comes to an end. The evening is late and guests slowly make their exit after the long day of partying. Lena practically sneaks in, staying in shadows, not knowing what she hopes to find or what she could see that would make all her fears come true.

Is it any wonder that fate would intervene? That there would be no circumstance in which Lena could fly so close to the sun and not be touched?

“If avoiding people is your specialty, you’re very skilled at it.”

It’s almost terrifying to hear her voice again. It’s a different language being spoken, but the voice is the same. As if it’d been snatched from the deepest recesses of Lena’s memories, of a different life and a different world, and brought to the present in flesh and blood with a bolt of lightning.

She turns and it’s Kara smiling at her. Not the sunny smile. The soft, tender, reassuring one. The one that she used to share with Lena when she had one of her harder days. Kara was no longer the small and precocious child she met all those years ago, the one that she could almost convince herself was a complete stranger and that there was no connection between the child and the woman she knew. But that was gone now. The Kara standing before her was the same one she’d left behind on Earth. The one she’d given up in order to save her. The one who walked into her office so many years ago, trailing behind her cousin, and Lena knew she was done for.

Her eyes were so blue as she looked at her...bluer than Lena remembered and it seemed so impossible. Perhaps it wasn’t real. Perhaps she was dreaming. But she wasn’t...was she?

“My skills must be rusty since you were able to catch me.”

Kara put a finger to her smiling lips. “Shh. Finding people is one of my untold gifts.”

“I imagine you have a lot of those.”

Kara looks pleasantly flustered and she stammers over her words in a way that Lena knows so well that the sound of it squeezes her heart in a vise like grip.

She’s not the same person. She’s not your Kara. Your Kara doesn’t exist anymore. Over and over she repeats this in her head.

“Wait...” Kara finally collects herself and peers at Lena more closely. “You’re-you’re Lena Luthor! My Uncle said you might be here, but I never thought...”

“On my home world, they like to say it’s fashionable to be late. However, tonight was just a tad bit too far. I...I simply wanted to stop by and wish you well. A-and to congratulate you on your achievement.”

Did she manage to say that with any passing conviction?

“Thank you. That means a great deal coming from someone like you.”

“Are you happy?” She blurts before her good sense can kick in. “This life...does it make you happy?”

Kara looks at her oddly for a long moment, clearly thrown, but not put off. Lena doesn’t know what else to say that could fix her blunder.

“Yes,” she says, a serene smile creeps across her face. “I’m very happy. I love my family and my friends. I enjoy my work. I hope to have a family of my own one day, but I don’t mind waiting for the right person. Everyone always wants to rush me into something, telling me that I shouldn’t be alone, but I don’t mind it. When it’s right, I know that it will be worth the wait.”

Lena’s heart stutters and freezes. “I-I’m glad to hear that. Truly. I shouldn’t take up anymore of your time though. I’m sure you have somewhere to be and it’s late so I really should be going anyway.”

“Oh! Um. Yes, of course.” She looks disappointed, but Lena can’t think about that. “Thank you for being here.”

Her legs feel as though they’re weighted with cement as she walks away. Her mind screams at her to run, but her body doesn’t seem to get the message. She doesn’t want to leave Kara’s side. Not like this. Not after she’s found her again.

But it’s not her. Not really.

“My Lady?”

She turns around at once. Kara stands there, fiddling with her hands, her head tilted to the side.

“Apologies. I-I remember reading that you never liked that title. You prefer...what was it...” She closes her eyes as she searches for it. “Oh!” Her eyes fly open again. “Miss Luthor. I should have addressed you as ‘Miss Luthor’, yes?”

The ‘Miss’ was heavily accented and sounded nothing like how she used to say it, but it still tore Lena apart.

“I never forgot what you said.”

The voice in Lena’s head screams again for her to run, but instead she draws closer. She needs to hear it.

Her Kara.

No, it’s not her.

“What did I say?”

“I was a little girl. My father brought me to your lab to show me around.”

“I remember.”

Don’t let her do this. Don’t let her pull you in again. You can’t. For both of your sakes, you can’t.

“You talked about different ways of creating. Of passion. It’s silly, I know, and I’m sure you say it to all the children who read about you in school and have a serious case of hero worship, but...you told me I was important.”

“You are.”

It’s a reflex. She can’t help it.

“And you said that I had a gift for words. I never understood why you would say that. How you could know...”

Lena chuckles awkwardly. “Looks like I was off the mark since you’ve just joined the Science Council.”

“But you weren’t.”

Lena’s breath hitches.

“I’ve never told anyone else this...”

Kara steps closer, sharing a secret that Lena doesn’t know she deserves to hear. She wonders if she still knows how to breathe with Kara being this close after so long...so many years gone...

“I started writing that day. That very night I went home and I tried it. I never stopped. I’ve never been happier than when I’m writing. Imagining stories or just writing my thoughts, putting memories into words, keeping a record of each day and what I’ve done, who I’ve seen, what my first thought is in the morning and my last thought at night. All of it.”

Kara was so close. She could smell her. Nothing like what she remembered. It was something altogether new and still...still... Lena’s heart beat so loudly, she was sure every Kryptonian within miles was wondering what that raucous drumming noise was. What must Kara think? Surely she could hear it. Lena was embarrassing herself.

“You inspired me.”

Lena doesn’t know how she manages it, but she somehow strings together coherent words.

“But you continued to pursue...”

“The Science Guild, yes. I’m very good there. It comes easily. It makes my family proud.”

“It’s not your passion though.”

Kara shakes her head gently.

“What stops you?”

“Well, what if I’m not really good at writing after all? I’ve never told anyone about it. I’ve never let them read anything... What if I make a terrible mistake and humiliate myself and my family?”

“Following your heart isn’t a mistake.”

“That’s not a very Kryptonian sentiment.”

“No, but it is a human one.” Lena sighs. “I tried so hard, for so long, not to listen to mine. But it won out every time. Despite all the pain it brought me...I remind myself that it’s what brought me here. To this planet. To this time. To do good. To be good. Following your heart is the most terrifying notion, but in my experience, it has also led me to the greatest moments of joy and love that I’ve ever known.”

Kara stares at her in wonderment. Her long blonde locks flow over her shoulders. Her dress is white and flowing, almost luminescent under the glow of the evening flowers blooming in the garden. It became quickly apparent how very alone they were, the last guests and servers from the party were gone. The torches were still lit, but it was their own world.

Wasn’t it always?

It’s not her.

“I don’t think I could be as brave as you.”

“You have always been brave and I know that you are capable of the most extraordinary amount of courage...courage and boundless hope. You are the one who inspires me, Kara. You always have.”

“Me?” She replies in the softest utterance. “But I haven’t done anything nearly as incredible as you.”

“The kind of person you are is far more important than any sum of career achievements. Don’t let fear make you hide in the shadows, Kara. Step into the sun. You’ve always belonged there.”

“What about you?”

“Me?”

“When will you step out of the shadows, Miss Luthor?”

A voice calls for Kara in the distance. It’s jarring and breaks the spell that seemed to lock them together in time suspended.

They step away, now acutely aware of how close they’d been this whole time.

Kara blushes and opens her mouth to say something, but Lena can’t bear to hear it.

“Goodnight, Kara Zor-El. I hope you enjoyed your party.”

Another voice joins the first. Two people are calling for her now. Kara seems frustrated and turns back, yelling to them that she’d be there soon.

She turns back. “I—“

But Lena’s gone.

She leaves New Krypton again. Journeys to other planets under the guise of a holiday and scientific exploration. She wonders if now is the time to return to Earth. She can’t even call it home anymore, but it’s home...isn’t it? 45 years could be enough to make New Krypton home and maybe it was. Maybe it was more of a home than Earth. But New Krypton had spectres walking among the living. Lena’s past had caught up to her here as well. She was no longer alone. Would Earth be any better with a reminder at every street corner? A certain smell. A park bench. A pair of glasses. Food. All of the food on Earth. She would never truly escape there either. It has to be a different planet. Not New Krypton, not Earth, something else entirely.

She searches across galaxies for it. Finally, one appeals to her. She can see herself settling down there. She can make a new life for herself...again. She returns to Krypton with determination. She resigns from her position, ignores the High Council’s pleas, ignores their more pointed demands, and even their attempted orders when it appeared that nothing else was working. She packs her things and bids farewell to her friends. They’ll visit now and again, but soon she won’t be seeing them at all. It doesn’t bother her all that much. She’d find replacements eventually. No one had ever been like... Well, she’d never let anyone get close enough to try.

She was walking out of her building for the last time, her luggage already sent ahead, and was headed to the transport when she heard her voice again on the wind, calling her name. Of course she would hear her now. This was exactly why she needed to leave this place. The sooner the better to end this torment.

The transport doors were nearly closed when a hand shot between them. The metal alloys were crushed in a powerful grip and the doors were jerkily pried open again.

Kara stood in front of her. Her hair windswept, almost what it used to look like when she would fly to Lena at breaking speed to rescue her. Did she fly here? Was she really here?

“Kara?”

“Lena, don’t go.”

“What are y—?”

“That’s government property!” someone shouts at Kara from further away.

A Kelex zooms in beside her. “And you were flying within city limits which is strictly prohibited. Unfortunately, Lady Kara, this means we must place you under arrest.”

A patrolman, the one who shouted, walks up behind Kara, nodding his head in agreement.

“Arrest?” She rolls her eyes at the Kelex and turns to the patrolman. “The doors were an accident and sorry about the flying thing. I’ll pay the fines. I doubt Alura In-Ze will take kindly to you dragging someone in for petty infarctions, let alone that someone being her daughter.”

Lena finds herself walking out of the transport, entirely of her own volition, and watches it leave without her. Kara is arguing with the patrolman over what her fines should be, but suddenly Lena feels someone take her hand. She looks down and sees that indeed there is another hand holding hers. She drags her gaze up to find those blue eyes again. A ghost. A spectre. Everything she was trying to escape.

“I’m sorry to just...burst in on you like this. But you’ve been gone for months and I only just heard that you’d come back, planning to leave New Krypton for good. I didn’t...”

“You didn’t what?”

“I don’t know.” Her brow furrows in frustration. “I didn’t plan this. I just...when I heard, I felt like I had to stop you.”

Lena pulls her hand away and crosses her arms. She needs to get ahold of herself. This was all so out of control.

“Why?”

Kara is just as bewildered as she is. “Well, I...I’m not sure. But we’ve only just started.”

“What?”

“Don’t you feel it? I know you must.”

She swallows thickly. “Kara, I...”

“I think there’s a lot you haven’t told me. A lot that I hope you will tell me. You promised me once that you would always be my friend. Please, Lena. We both know that this...it’s not supposed to end here.”

“When is it supposed to end?”

“I hope not for very long time.”

“I’ve lived a lifetime already.”

Kara grins. “Then what’s one more? Should be easy if you’ve already done it.”

Lena shakes her head. “You don’t know what you’re saying.”

“Somehow I do...and I don’t. I know it’s strange. I know what I sound like. But I think you understand. Don’t you?”

“Kara...”

“Are you hungry?” She interrupts. “I’m famished. The flying thing is really fun, but I always get so hungry after. How about it?”

“I’m supposed to be boarding a ship in 20 minutes.”

“We can eat fast!”

“I know you can eat fast, that’s not the point,” she mutters. “I have to go.”

“But you see? You say things like that. Like it’s normal to just know these things about me, but it’s not. How do you know? We’ve only met twice and both times it feels as though you know everything about me.”

“Everything?” She scoffs. “No. Never.”

“Well, the important things anyway.”

Lena falters.

“Please? Just...for a little while? There’s always another ship if you really must go.”

No.

No, I’ve been through this before. I saved you. I saved your people. You’re happy. I don’t belong here. I’ve never belonged. This is your world. I don’t belong anywhere. I did what was right. I helped people. I still help people. But I won’t do this again.

“I’m pretty sure you know that a Kryptonian can tell when you’re lying. The white star brought us untold abilities. And the longer I’ve lived here, under this new sun, I’ve discovered more abilities. Would you like to know about them?”

Lena can only stare.

“If I’m close enough...and I concentrate hard enough...I can feel what you’re feeling. It’s not mind reading exactly, but something deeper. I can feel you right now.” She swallows hard. “What have I done to cause you such pain, Lena? I never thought that... If you have to go, I won’t stop you. I just thought...” She sighs defeatedly. “I don’t know what I thought. But it wasn’t this. It wasn’t pain. Or anger. Or betrayal.”

Lena’s eyes widen at the same time as Kara’s. She seemed to realize it only as she spoke the word aloud.

“Betrayal?” Kara whispers, half to herself. “I don’t understand.”

“There’s nothing to understand.”

“You’re lying.”

“Stop it.”

“I can’t! Tell me what’s happening. How can you be so angry with me, but also feel...like this...when we don’t even know each other?”

“But we do.”

At last she admits it.

In the quietest whisper.

“We did. Once. In another life.”

Kara nods slowly. “Where?”

“On Earth.”

“I’ve never been to Earth.”

“Not in this time. But in another...you were Earth’s Champion. Our Protector. The Paragon of Hope.”

“As you are the Protector of Krypton? Our Salvation. The New Dawn.”

Lena shrinks uncomfortably under the titles.

“Will you tell me more?”

“You believe me?”

“Of course I do. You’re Lena Luthor. Also, with my powers I can sense you’re telling the truth, so...” She shrugs lightly at that, a sheepish smile.

“Right. Well, I admit I’m still a bit resentful that after everything I’ve been through, I still didn’t get even a hint of those powers.”

Kara takes her hand again, tentatively this time. She probably thinks Lena will pull away.

She doesn’t.

“There’s been a rumor for ages that you’re immortal. Are you saying that’s not true? From what I’ve read, humans have a shorter life span than us. Your species only live about 85 years or so.”

“I’ve heard the rumor and, yes, the average human lifespan is shorter than a Kryptonian’s.”

“You look pretty darn good for your age if you’re preparing to join Rao in a few cycles.”

Lena has to laugh. She lets Kara lead her away from the platform and down to the street. They walk hand in hand.

“So you’re not immortal?”

“It remains to be seen.”

“Then maybe our white sun did give you a hint of something after all.”

“Maybe. I have yet to ascertain the cause.”

“I could help you with your study, should you choose to explore it further.”

“You want to study me?”

Kara blushes. “I...I didn’t mean it like that. I only meant—“

“I know what you meant.”

Silence falls between them.

“You’re still holding my hand.”

“You’re still letting me.”

“It’s strange.” She stares. “You’re different. You’re so different than you were before, a completely different person, but somehow...when I look at you, you’re exactly who you’ve always been.”

“Are you different now too?”

“Yes.” She shrugs. “I think so anyway.”

“But we’ve still found each other. That means something.”

“Are you sure you want to hear this? You might be angry with me. I...I made choices that changed your life. A great number of lives.”

“I want to hear everything. But even if I do get angry, I won’t leave. I promise.”

Lena starts at that. How could she know exactly—? The realization hits her.

“My fears...you feel them right now, don’t you?”

Kara nods. “I won’t betray you, Lena. Whatever mistakes I’ve made before...in that other life...I won’t make them again.”

“You’ll make other mistakes.”

“Of course!” She laughs. “I’m gifted, but hardly perfect. You’ll make mistakes too, even if you are the Great New Dawn.”

“Two prodigies...” Lena raises an eyebrow. “I don’t know how people stand us. We must be insufferable to be around.”

“I can’t be held accountable for the jealousy of others.”

Lena chuckles. “Good to know you’re as competitive as ever.”

“And you? Are you competitive as well?”

“On occasion...when it comes to the right things.”

Kara grins. “Tell me more about Earth.”

“Earth or...you on Earth?”

“Both. Or just one. Whatever you like. We have all the time we need. We’ll get to it eventually.”

“Kara?”

“Yes?”

“What do you want?”

“You.”

“How do you know that?”

“I just do.”

“You’re not afraid?”

“Of losing you? Yes, I’m afraid. I thought I did when you left me in the Grove that night.”

“It’s different this time though.”

“Different how?”

“You were afraid before. O-on Earth. So you lied to me. Hid things from me. You were afraid I’d reject you.”

“So I lost you anyway?”

“For a while.”

“I know who I am and I want to share all of that with you. I’m afraid I’ll lose you if I don’t. Do you think that means I learned my lesson with a second chance?”

“Even though you don’t remember the first?”

Kara tilts her head thoughtfully. “Are you familiar with the theological concept of reincarnation?”

Lena nods.

“Many species and cultures detail it differently, but the belief that a soul does not reside in an afterlife fascinates me. The idea that one could instead be reborn and is destined to learn new lessons with each life that it failed to learn in the last. Maybe we found a way to do that without needing to die at all.”

“Are you sure you’re the First Order of the Science Council? Because that sounds an awful lot like preaching I’ve heard from the Religious Guild. You’re in the wrong profession.”

Kara rolls her eyes. “If anything, I should have joined the Artisans. But it’s too late for that.”

Lena’s quiet for a moment. They’re walking along streets she’s never seen before and doesn’t care. It doesn’t matter.

“I think I’m learning...” she says softly, “that it’s never too late. If you want something enough, it’s never too late.”

“I hope you’re right.”

Lena looks around. “Do you know where you’re going?”

“No, I thought you did.”

“No. I guess we’re lost then.”

Kara shrugs with a charming, sunny smile that lights her whole face. It’s the one that Lena hasn’t seen in over 40 years and it takes her breath away.

“Oh well.” Kara squeezes Lena’s hand happily. “I suppose we’ll find our way together.”

#supergirl #supercorp #supercorp fanfic #supercorp fic #supercorp fanfiction #dont read this #im sorry #it was a rambling stream of conscious moment

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effeminateboyninja · 3 years

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hi!! can I request shikamaru coming home to find a gn!reader listening to one of his playlists in the shower? fluff or nsfw, whichever is easier!

thank you thank you thank youuuu for this wonderfully self-indulgent request, this is actually my dream, so. anyway, i hope you like it lovely!! 💚

Yes, this one's for you

(Shikamaru x gn!reader) fluff // 1.3k words

🎶 troublesome playlist

What a drag.

Shikamaru sighed to himself and raked his fingers through his charcoal hair, glad to finally be finished with his responsibilities for the time being. The day had been more effort than it was worth, the better part of it spent chasing after Kakashi to get his stamp of approval for a myriad of projects and missions, and Kotetsu and Izumo were no help of course. All he wanted to do was get home and relax to make the most of his free time before he had to go back the next morning.

It's all for a purpose though, he reminded himself, the image of your face flashing across his mind and bringing a small smile to his lips. Coming home to his lover and best friend after such a long day was more than enough reward to put up with the heavy responsibilities he’d so begrudgingly taken on, and if he was going to support you the way he wanted to a few troublesome days at the office were a fair price to pay.

The tiny apartment that you two shared came into view in the distance ahead and picked up the pace of his casual gait unconsciously. It wasn’t anything to write home about, just a drab one bedroom situated above a convenience store. The taps leaked and there was a constant draft but it hardly mattered - it was yours, and it felt like home. You’d picked it out together almost a year ago, eager to finally move out of your parent’s houses and start your independent lives together. Since then the dreary white walls had been covered with polaroids and other mementos that painted the picture of your relationship. Some people might call it shabby, but he thought it was cozy. Finally he reached the door with a relieved sigh, the tension of the day left at the threshold as he practically bounded up the stairs.

As soon as he rounded the corner of the entry way he noticed the faint trickle of running water behind the muffled sound of music and your sweet voice singing along. He recognized the song right away - it was one from the playlist he’d made when you first started dating. Filled with music that the two of you listened to together when he finally realized he was falling for you, confessions littered amongst the lyrics and skillfully hidden between other songs that reminded him of you or your time together. He’d tried many times to pick one to be “your song”, but as important as those songs were to him, not a single one on its own managed to communicate the way you made him feel. You had a few ideas yourself but could never settle on one, indecisive as you were. “A whole playlist is better than a song anyway,” you would say whenever he brought it up. “It just means we love each other twenty times as much.” He’d roll his eyes at that, call you troublesome and change the subject, but the echoes of a smile would tug at the corners of his mouth anyway as he secretly agreed.

Originally he was planning to head to the kitchen for an after-work snack, but the sound of your voice changed his course. So instead he kicked off his sandals where he stood and shrugged off his vest as he roamed through the small space to join you in the shower and relax into your arms under the hot water.

He opened the door to the bathroom gingerly, tiptoeing inside quietly in order not to disturb your impromptu concert for the shampoo bottles. It was rare for him to catch you like this. The only time you ever graced his ears with your singing was in the shower, and too often these days his busy schedule kept him from sharing them with you like he preferred. So rather than disrobe and join you right away he crossed his arms as he leaned against the wall and smiled, cherishing the musical lilt of your words for as long as he could. The song changed and one of his favourites came on. It was the one that was playing the night he’d finally worked up the courage to kiss you for the first time. The two of you were laying in the grass side by side, the sun low in the sky as the song played softly over the blown speakers of his phone. It was something about the lyrics, “I am home wherever you are near,” or the way you put the sunset to shame just sitting there not even trying, or maybe just the way he’d been wanting to for weeks but holding back for fear of ruining your friendship - something about that moment felt right. And so he did it, leaned in before he could overthink it or even make a plan and took your face in his hand as he brought his lips to yours. The memory and the warm feeling that always accompanied it felt brand new despite being just over a year old at this point, reminding him just how much he’d changed in a few short years. Becoming right hand to the Hokage, meeting you - as much as he put on a show of resentment when it came to expending effort, it didn’t actually seem so taxing anymore. He found himself out of his comfort zone more often nowadays, doing things no one would expect of the lazy Nara man.

Like his next action for example, he would’ve shadow stitched anyone who tried to tell him just twelve months before he’d be singing along to a love song in the apartment he shared with his lover. Yet here he was, letting go of what little inhibition he held around you and letting the lyrics of his favourite song fall over his lips without any concern for his natural talent.

"But these things lose all their meaning

And allure

If you're not there to

Witness the grandeur

What could shake my love away?"

On the other side of the shower curtain the gravelly sound of his voice stopped your own singing, and a contented smile spread its way across your face as you picked up where you left off, your voices overlapping in an amateur harmony. The verse finished and you peeked around the curtain to look at the dark-haired man in the ponytail. He was still propped against the wall, his almond eyes soft with admiration and that magnetizing smirk that you loved pulling up the corner of his thin lips.

“Well?,” you questioned playfully, “are you going to join me or not?”

His smile widened as he walked over and captured your lips in a kiss. “Yeah, yeah. Patience,” he joked, earning him an eye roll as he pulled his shirt over his head and stepped out his pants. When he was finished undressing and his toned body was exposed to your wandering eyes he stepped into the tub and settled in under the showerhead beside you. He wrapped his arms around your waist and started a slow sway to the music that was still playing.

“I just wanted to listen to you for a bit,” he explained. “I love hearing you sing, I wish you would do it more often.”

He lifted a hand and caressed the side of your face gently. The blood rose to your cheeks at the compliment and you looked away, a small smile playing across your lips. You gave him a playful shove and laughed.

“Shut up… you’re one to talk. I never knew you could sing!” you exclaimed in reference to the happy surprise from just a few moments ago.

He shook his head and chuckled. “I don’t sing. That was a one time thing so you better remember it.”

“That’s not fa-”

He placed his hands on either side of your face and before you could finish your objection his lips were on yours, moving softly over them as the water fell over your faces. You smiled into the kiss as your hands settled on his chest and you softened into his embrace. He wasn’t going to get off that easily, you were filing away this new delicious knowledge for a later date for sure, but for now just the pitter-patter of the water and the sound of your playlist was good enough. A perfect soundtrack for the moment.

#I WANT THIS SO BAD #shikamaru x reader #shikamaru nara #shikamaru nara x reader #shikamaru x y/n #shikamaru x you #shikamaru imagine #shikamaru oneshot #shikamaru fluff #naruto x reader #naruto imagines #naruto fluff

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blind-rats · 3 years

Text

The Rise & Fall of Joss Whedon; the Myth of the Hollywood Feminist Hero

By Kelly Faircloth

“I hate ‘feminist.’ Is this a good time to bring that up?” Joss Whedon asked. He paused knowingly, waiting for the laughs he knew would come at the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer making such a statement.

It was 2013, and Whedon was onstage at a fundraiser for Equality Now, a human rights organization dedicated to legal equality for women. Though Buffy had been off the air for more than a decade, its legacy still loomed large; Whedon was widely respected as a man with a predilection for making science fiction with strong women for protagonists. Whedon went on to outline why, precisely, he hated the term: “You can’t be born an ‘ist,’” he argued, therefore, “‘feminist’ includes the idea that believing men and women to be equal, believing all people to be people, is not a natural state, that we don’t emerge assuming that everybody in the human race is a human, that the idea of equality is just an idea that’s imposed on us.”

The speech was widely praised and helped cement his pop-cultural reputation as a feminist, in an era that was very keen on celebrity feminists. But it was also, in retrospect, perhaps the high water mark for Whedon’s ability to claim the title, and now, almost a decade later, that reputation is finally in tatters, prompting a reevaluation of not just Whedon’s work, but the narrative he sold about himself.

In July 2020, actor Ray Fisher accused Whedon of being “gross, abusive, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable” on the Justice League set when Whedon took over for Zach Synder as director to finish the project. Charisma Carpenter then described her own experiences with Whedon in a long post to Twitter, hashtagged #IStandWithRayFisher.

On Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, Carpenter played Cordelia, a popular character who morphed from snob to hero—one of those strong female characters that made Whedon’s feminist reputation—before being unceremoniously written off the show in a plot that saw her thrust into a coma after getting pregnant with a demon. For years, fans have suspected that her disappearance was related to her real-life pregnancy. In her statement, Carpenter appeared to confirm the rumors. “Joss Whedon abused his power on numerous occasions while working on the sets of ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and ‘Angel,’” she wrote, describing Fisher’s firing as the last straw that inspired her to go public.

Buffy was a landmark of late 1990s popular culture, beloved by many a burgeoning feminist, grad student, gender studies professor, and television critic for the heroine at the heart of the show, the beautiful blonde girl who balanced monster-killing with high school homework alongside ancillary characters like the shy, geeky Willow. Buffy was very nearly one of a kind, an icon of her era who spawned a generation of leather-pants-wearing urban fantasy badasses and women action heroes.

Buffy was so beloved, in fact, that she earned Whedon a similarly privileged place in fans’ hearts and a broader reputation as a man who championed empowered women characters. In the desert of late ’90s and early 2000s popular culture, Whedon was heralded as that rarest of birds—the feminist Hollywood man. For many, he was an example of what more equitable storytelling might look like, a model for how to create compelling women protagonists who were also very, very fun to watch. But Carpenter’s accusations appear to have finally imploded that particular bit of branding, revealing a different reality behind the scenes and prompting a reevaluation of the entire arc of Whedon’s career: who he was and what he was selling all along.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer premiered March 1997, midseason, on The WB, a two-year-old network targeting teens with shows like 7th Heaven. Its beginnings were not necessarily auspicious; it was a reboot of a not-particularly-blockbuster 1992 movie written by third-generation screenwriter Joss Whedon. (His grandfather wrote for The Donna Reed Show; his father wrote for Golden Girls.) The show followed the trials of a stereotypical teenage California girl who moved to a new town and a new school after her parents’ divorce—only, in a deliberate inversion of horror tropes, the entire town sat on top of the entrance to Hell and hence was overrun with demons. Buffy was a slayer, a young woman with the power and immense responsibility to fight them. After the movie turned out very differently than Whedon had originally envisioned, the show was a chance for a do-over, more of a Valley girl comedy than serious horror.

It was layered, it was campy, it was ironic and self-aware. It looked like it belonged on the WB rather than one of the bigger broadcast networks, unlike the slickly produced prestige TV that would follow a few years later. Buffy didn’t fixate on the gory glory of killing vampires—really, the monsters were metaphors for the entire experience of adolescence, in all its complicated misery. Almost immediately, a broad cross-section of viewers responded enthusiastically. Critics loved it, and it would be hugely influential on Whedon’s colleagues in television; many argue that it broke ground in terms of what you could do with a television show in terms of serialized storytelling, setting the stage for the modern TV era. Academics took it up, with the show attracting a tremendous amount of attention and discussion.

In 2002, the New York Times covered the first academic conference dedicated to the show. The organizer called Buffy “a tremendously rich text,” hence the flood of papers with titles like “Pain as Bright as Steel: The Monomyth and Light in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer,’” which only gathered speed as the years passed. And while it was never the highest-rated show on television, it attracted an ardent core of fans.

But what stood out the most was the show’s protagonist: a young woman who stereotypically would have been a monster movie victim, with the script flipped: instead of screaming and swooning, she staked the vampires. This was deliberate, the core conceit of the concept, as Whedon said in many, many interviews. The helpless horror movie girl killed in the dark alley instead walks out victorious. He told Time in 1997 that the concept was born from the thought, “I would love to see a movie in which a blond wanders into a dark alley, takes care of herself and deploys her powers.” In Whedon’s framing, it was particularly important that it was a woman who walked out of that alley. He told another publication in 2002 that “the very first mission statement of the show” was “the joy of female power: having it, using it, sharing it.”

In 2021, when seemingly every new streaming property with a woman as its central character makes some half-baked claim to feminism, it’s easy to forget just how much Buffy stood out among its against its contemporaries. Action movies—with exceptions like Alien’s Ripley and Terminator 2's Sarah Conner—were ruled by hulking tough guys with macho swagger. When women appeared on screen opposite vampires, their primary job was to expose long, lovely, vulnerable necks. Stories and characters that bucked these larger currents inspired intense devotion, from Angela Chase of My So-Called Life to Dana Scully of The X-Files.

The broader landscape, too, was dismal. It was the conflicted era of girl power, a concept that sprang up in the wake of the successes of the second-wave feminist movement and the backlash that followed. Young women were constantly exposed to you-can-do-it messaging that juxtaposed uneasily with the reality of the world around them. This was the era of shitty, sexist jokes about every woman who came into Bill Clinton’s orbit and the leering response to the arrival of Britney Spears; Rush Limbaugh was a fairly mainstream figure.

At one point, Buffy competed against Ally McBeal, a show that dedicated an entire episode to a dancing computer-generated baby following around its lawyer main character, her biological clock made zanily literal. Consider this line from a New York Times review of the Buffy’s 1997 premiere: “Given to hot pants and boots that should guarantee the close attention of Humbert Humberts all over America, Buffy is just your average teen-ager, poutily obsessed with clothes and boys.”

Against that background, Buffy was a landmark. Besides the simple fact of its woman protagonist, there were unique plots, like the coming-out story for her friend Willow. An ambivalent 1999 piece in Bitch magazine, even as it explored the show’s tank-top heavy marketing, ultimately concluded, “In the end, it’s precisely this contextual conflict that sets Buffy apart from the rest and makes her an appealing icon. Frustrating as her contradictions may be, annoying as her babe quotient may be, Buffy still offers up a prime-time heroine like no other.”

A 2016 Atlantic piece, adapted from a book excerpt, makes the case that Buffy is perhaps best understood as an icon of third-wave feminism: “In its examination of individual and collective empowerment, its ambiguous politics of racial representation and its willing embrace of contradiction, Buffy is a quintessentially third-wave cultural production.” The show was vested with all the era’s longing for something better than what was available, something different, a champion for a conflicted “post-feminist” era—even if she was an imperfect or somewhat incongruous vessel. It wasn’t just Sunnydale that needed a chosen Slayer, it was an entire generation of women. That fact became intricately intertwined with Whedon himself.

Seemingly every interview involved a discussion of his fondness for stories about strong women. “I’ve always found strong women interesting, because they are not overly represented in the cinema,” he told New York for a 1997 piece that notes he studied both film and “gender and feminist issues” at Wesleyan; “I seem to be the guy for strong action women,’’ he told the New York Times in 1997 with an aw-shucks sort of shrug. ‘’A lot of writers are just terrible when it comes to writing female characters. They forget that they are people.’’ He often cited the influence of his strong, “hardcore feminist” mother, and even suggested that his protagonists served feminist ends in and of themselves: “If I can make teenage boys comfortable with a girl who takes charge of a situation without their knowing that’s what’s happening, it’s better than sitting down and selling them on feminism,” he told Time in 1997.

When he was honored by the organization Equality Now in 2006 for his “outstanding contribution to equality in film and television,” Whedon made his speech an extended riff on the fact that people just kept asking him about it, concluding with the ultimate answer: “Because you’re still asking me that question.” He presented strong women as a simple no-brainer, and he was seemingly always happy to say so, at a time when the entertainment business still seemed ruled by unapologetic misogynists. The internet of the mid-2010s only intensified Whedon’s anointment as a prototypical Hollywood ally, with reporters asking him things like how men could best support the feminist movement.

Whedon’s response: “A guy who goes around saying ‘I’m a feminist’ usually has an agenda that is not feminist. A guy who behaves like one, who actually becomes involved in the movement, generally speaking, you can trust that. And it doesn’t just apply to the action that is activist. It applies to the way they treat the women they work with and they live with and they see on the street.” This remark takes on a great deal of irony in light of Carpenter’s statement.

In recent years, Whedon’s reputation as an ally began to wane. Partly, it was because of the work itself, which revealed more and more cracks as Buffy receded in the rearview mirror. Maybe it all started to sour with Dollhouse, a TV show that imagined Eliza Dushku as a young woman rented out to the rich and powerful, her mind wiped after every assignment, a concept that sat poorly with fans. (Though Whedon, while he was publicly unhappy with how the show had turned out after much push-and-pull with the corporate bosses at Fox, still argued the conceit was “the most pure feminist and empowering statement I’d ever made—somebody building themselves from nothing,” in a 2012 interview with Wired.)

After years of loud disappointment with the TV bosses at Fox on Firefly and Dollhouse, Whedon moved into big-budget Hollywood blockbusters. He helped birth the Marvel-dominated era of movies with his work as director of The Avengers. But his second Avengers movie, Age of Ultron, was heavily criticized for a moment in which Black Widow laid out her personal reproductive history for the Hulk, suggesting her sterilization somehow made her a “monster.” In June 2017, his un-filmed script for a Wonder Woman adaptation leaked, to widespread mockery. The script’s introduction of Diana was almost leering: “To say she is beautiful is almost to miss the point. She is elemental, as natural and wild as the luminous flora surrounding. Her dark hair waterfalls to her shoulders in soft arcs and curls. Her body is curvaceous, but taut as a drawn bow.”

But Whedon’s real fall from grace began in 2017, right before MeToo spurred a cultural reckoning. His ex-wife, Kai Cole, published a piece in The Wrap accusing him of cheating off and on throughout their relationship and calling him a hypocrite:

“Despite understanding, on some level, that what he was doing was wrong, he never conceded the hypocrisy of being out in the world preaching feminist ideals, while at the same time, taking away my right to make choices for my life and my body based on the truth. He deceived me for 15 years, so he could have everything he wanted. I believed, everyone believed, that he was one of the good guys, committed to fighting for women’s rights, committed to our marriage, and to the women he worked with. But I now see how he used his relationship with me as a shield, both during and after our marriage, so no one would question his relationships with other women or scrutinize his writing as anything other than feminist.”

But his reputation was just too strong; the accusation that he didn’t practice what he preached didn’t quite stick. A spokesperson for Whedon told the Wrap: “While this account includes inaccuracies and misrepresentations which can be harmful to their family, Joss is not commenting, out of concern for his children and out of respect for his ex-wife. Many minimized the essay on the basis that adultery doesn’t necessarily make you a bad feminist or erase a legacy. Whedon similarly seemed to shrug off Ray Fisher’s accusations of creating a toxic workplace; instead, Warner Media fired Fisher.

But Carpenter’s statement—which struck right at the heart of his Buffy-based legacy for progressivism—may finally change things. Even at the time, the plotline in which Charisma Carpenter was written off Angel—carrying a demon child that turned her into “Evil Cordelia,” ending the season in a coma, and quite simply never reappearing—was unpopular. Asked about what had happened in a 2009 panel at DragonCon, she said that “my relationship with Joss became strained,” continuing: “We all go through our stuff in general [behind the scenes], and I was going through my stuff, and then I became pregnant. And I guess in his mind, he had a different way of seeing the season go… in the fourth season.”

“I think Joss was, honestly, mad. I think he was mad at me and I say that in a loving way, which is—it’s a very complicated dynamic working for somebody for so many years, and expectations, and also being on a show for eight years, you gotta live your life. And sometimes living your life gets in the way of maybe the creator’s vision for the future. And that becomes conflict, and that was my experience.”

In her statement on Twitter, Carpenter alleged that after Whedon was informed of her pregnancy, he called her into a closed-door meeting and “asked me if I was ‘going to keep it,’ and manipulatively weaponized my womanhood and faith against me.” She added that “he proceeded to attack my character, mock my religious beliefs, accuse me of sabotaging the show, and then unceremoniously fired me following the season once I gave birth.” Carpenter said that he called her fat while she was four months pregnant and scheduled her to work at 1 a.m. while six months pregnant after her doctor had recommended shortening her hours, a move she describes as retaliatory. What Carpenter describes, in other words, is an absolutely textbook case of pregnancy discrimination in the workplace, the type of bullshit the feminist movement exists to fight—at the hands of the man who was for years lauded as a Hollywood feminist for his work on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.

Many of Carpenter’s colleagues from Buffy and Angel spoke out in support, including Buffy herself, Sarah Michelle Gellar. “While I am proud to have my name associated with Buffy Summers, I don’t want to be forever associated with the name Joss Whedon,” she said in a statement. Just shy of a decade after that 2013 speech, many of the cast members on the show that put him on that stage are cutting ties.

Whedon garnered a reputation as pop culture’s ultimate feminist man because Buffy did stand out so much, an oasis in a wasteland. But in 2021, the idea of a lone man being responsible for creating women’s stories—one who told the New York Times, “I seem to be the guy for strong action women”—seems like a relic. It’s depressing to consider how many years Hollywood’s first instinct for “strong action women” wasn’t a woman, and to think about what other people could have done with those resources. When Wonder Woman finally reached the screen, to great acclaim, it was with a woman as director.

Besides, Whedon didn’t make Buffy all by himself—many, many women contributed, from the actresses to the writers to the stunt workers, and his reputation grew so large it eclipsed their part in the show’s creation. Even as he preached feminism, Whedon benefitted from one of the oldest, most sexist stereotypes: the man who’s a benevolent, creative genius. And Buffy, too, overshadowed all the other contributors who redefined who could be a hero on television and in speculative fiction, from individual actors like Gillian Anderson to the determined, creative women who wrote science fiction and fantasy over the last several decades to—perhaps most of all—the fans who craved different, better stories. Buffy helped change what you could put on TV, but it didn’t create the desire to see a character like her. It was that desire, as much as Whedon himself, that gave Buffy the Vampire Slayer her power.

#Joss Whedon #Buffy The Vampire Slayer #Ray Fisher #Charisma Carpenter #Feminist

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