#i was looking forward to book 6 since it's longer than all the others

[vampcrystal]

Don’t look at him, look at me.

Anthony Lockwood x reader

Summary: Kipps asks the reader on a date. Anthony sees and him and the reader get into an argument, leading to a confession.

Requested: Yes

TW: Some swearing

Reader uses she/her pronouns

btw this probably won’t be entirely accurate to how things played out because I’ve forgot and I can’t be bothered to go and check lol. I also don’t know how many words this is, but it’s a bit long.

Enjoy :)

-

The invitation to the Fittes party seemed awfully suspicious. You, Lucy and George all agreed on that. Lockwood, however, thought that getting noticed by England’s biggest agency was like a gift sent from God. He didn’t seem the slightest bit concerned, but none of you were surprised. It was Lockwood, after all.

The same boy you’ve been in love with since you arrived at his front door 6 months ago.

You needed a job, and after getting rejected by Fittes multiple times you decided to just give up, but then you saw the advertisement in the newspaper. It was for a small, ramshackle agency called ‘Lockwood and co’, and it seemed real enough. The pay looked good, so you decided to apply. That was how you met Lockwood and George. You all hit it off rather quickly, George taking longer to warm up to than Lockwood, but you weren’t surprised after learning he had grown up having 3 older brothers and the only female figure in his life was his mum. You passed the interview with flying colours, having an above average ability of sight, with also an above average listening talent. You and Lockwood got on like a house on fire. He was secretive though, never fully opening up to you, and even now you still don’t know everything about him.

He was, and still is, a closed book to you.

Then Lucy came along. You and her got along pretty quickly, both being girls and all. She became the sister you always wanted but never had. Lockwood and co was your family, and you wouldn’t change it for the world.

Then your feelings for Lockwood started becoming a problem. They turned from a little crush to a full on infatuation with the boy. You always got jealous when he was smiling while talking to Lucy, or when he and Lucy were joking around. You were sure he didn’t like you back. He flirted with you a lot, always complementing you on your outfit, or how smart you were while researching for a case. You learnt to love a lot about yourself all because he said he liked that part of you at one point. But then, he started flirting with all the girls he saw, even Lucy. It confused you.

Even George was confused, and that was saying something. He saw the lingering looks he gave you when you weren’t looking, or how when you were laughing with another boy that wasn’t him he was giving you an unreadable expression.

Man, love is confusing.

Flash forward to present day.

“How did we, of all people, get invited to a Fittes party?” George questioned to no one in particular, sitting at the dining table facing you and Lucy, who were leaning against the kitchen counters. Lockwood was pacing around the room, obviously unable to contain his excitement. You and Lucy shrugged simultaneously, eyes falling to the tall brunette as he spoke.

“Who cares how, Penelope Fittes knows who we are”. He stopped his pacing to turn towards you three.

“Well…are we going or not?” You spoke, looking at Lucy and George who both gave you mixed looks of unsure and confused.

“What kind of question is that? We have to!” Lockwood spoke, turning to face you. “This could be a brilliant opportunity to finally get noticed, maybe pick up a case or two”.

“We could use the money I guess, so finding some cases could help” Lucy spoke, siding with Lockwood.

Lockwood shot her a look of agreement, which you noticed. You quickly looked away, awkwardly coughing, which caused George to give you a comforting look.

He figured out you had feelings for the other boy almost exactly after you did. He was quick to catch onto things like that. Lockwood however. He was the only one who the brainy boy couldn’t decipher. He was like a code he couldn’t crack, and it frustrated him, like he had all the numbers except for the last one. He was annoying. All his continuous flirting made George second guess a lot, and George second guessing something used to be a rare occurrence. But it wasn’t his place to say something, and besides, he wanted to see how it would all play out without him intervening.

Wanting to get out of the now tense atmosphere, you made an excuse to leave, stating you had a book you wanted to finish before you got ready for the party later tonight. George and Lucy smiled at you, while Lockwood had barely even noticed you had gone, only shooting a quick ‘ok’ before you left the room.

Now that that was out the way, you had a bigger problem: deciding what you were going to wear.

-

“Are you sure this is the one? Do I look ok?” You asked Lucy, turning round to show her the 5th dress you had tried on. Her eyes looked up from the necklace she was trying to sort out around her neck, the one you had noticed Lockwood had given her earlier, but you weren’t going to reminisce on that, and her mouth broke out into a big grin.

She turned around, hair swishing around her shoulders now that she had slightly curled it. Her blue satin dress suited her perfectly, and her makeup looked like it was done professionally. No wonder Lockwood liked her so much, you wondered.

“That’s the one. You look gorgeous!” She said as she rushed up to you and grabbed your shoulders, shoving you in-front of the tall mirror in the corner of the attic bedroom you shared.

The red satin flowed neatly down your body, accentuating all your curves. The loose sleeves hung carefully off your arms. It stopped at your shins, making the black heels you wore visible. It sounded vain in your head, but you really did look stunning.

The other girl left the mirror for a moment, returning with something in her hand. She held it out for you, grinning. It was a beautiful silver necklace with a tiny red pendant.

“Wear this” Lucy spoke. “It’ll really suit you”

“Luce..”

“Nope, no buts” She said, turning you around to put it on for you. You recognised it as the one Kipps had gotten her a while back. He had asked her out, given her a little token in the form of the necklace, and they went on one date before realising that it wasn’t going to work out. She hadn’t worn it since.

“Now” Lucy spoke, pulling you from your thoughts. “Time for makeup”

-

20 minutes later and you were ready to go. You and Lucy both looked like you had stepped out of the front cover of some fashion magazine.

“What do you think?” You asked the girl, posing with her in the shared mirror. “Do we look important enough to look like we belong at one of Penelope Fitte’s balls?” You joked.

Lucy chuckled. “Oh, absolutely” she chimed in. “Remember, the main reason that we’re going is to find that book”.

Right. The book by Mary Dulac that was important in the Bickerstaff case that was only available at the Fittes’ Black Library. Lucy had clued you in earlier on what the plan was to obtain it, as well as letting you know George wasn’t coming because he had research to do, or something.

“Yea yea, I know. Doesn’t mean we can’t look hot doing it” You winked at her and laughed as she rolled her eyes and smiled. Just as you were about to speak, you both heard Lockwood’s voice from downstairs.

“Hurry up you two, the taxis waiting!”

You both took one last look in the mirror before descending down the stairs, Lucy going down before you.

Lockwood was waiting by the door, attaching his rapier ,just in case, to his waist. He always brought it with him everywhere, saying it was for protection, but you knew he just didn’t like to go anywhere without it.

As soon as he heard the click-clack sound of your heels on the hard wood floor, he looked up, and when he did, his breath hitched.

My god, did you look stunning. He quickly looked away to try and hide the red that was creeping up his neck, but his avoidance to look at you didn’t go unnoticed by Lucy, who gave him a smirk and a knowing look. He just gave her a confused one in return, clearly trying to play off what just happened. You, however, hadn’t noticed the silent escapade of glances between the other two, simply saying goodbye to George and following Lockwood and Lucy out to the taxi, where you all left for the ball as soon as you shut the car door.

-

The party was already buzzing by the time you got there. Music was blasting loud in your ears, not the kind you’d expect at a ball, but still good none the less. There were people from all sorts of backgrounds there. Businessmen and women, kids who looked to be no older than you three were mingling here and there, and everyone looked rich. Thankfully, so did you, so standing out wasn’t really an issue.

As soon as you arrived, Lockwood split ways with you and Lucy, drink in hand, probably off to go see if he could score you guys another case, one that would pay well. You didn’t think he’d have too much trouble finding someone who’d pay a handsome wage , everyone here looked like they kept £50 notes as pocket change.

“Thank god you’re here, I’d hate being by myself” Lucy spoke, having to make her voice louder even though she was standing right next to you over the sound of everything else.

You chuckled, nodding in agreement before noticing something, or someone, out the corner if your eye.

Kipps was staring at the two of you from across the room, clearly paying no mind to the conversation that another Fittes agent was trying to have with him.

“I think Kipps is staring at you” You nodded your head in the direction of the boy, sipping your drink. Lucy turned around just to see the aforementioned boy walking towards you.

Lucy looked between the two of you quickly. “Actually, I think he’s looking at you”

You turned your head to give her a confused look just as he reached you.

“Lucy, Y/n, nice to see some familiar faces” He spoke, smirking while taking a sip of his drink. Lucy showed him a small smile before averting her eyes to something else.

“Kipps, what a wonderful surprise” You spoke, voice laced with a hint of sarcasm. You didn’t mind Kipps. He didn’t do your absolute head in unlike Lockwood, who thought the world would be a much better place without him in it. But that didn’t mean he didn’t sometimes get on your nerves.

The taller blonde boy laughed, eyes scanning you up and down, much to the chagrin of a certain tall brunette who was watching the whole ordeal not far from where you stood, close enough to hear what was happening but not close enough to be seen.

Kipps’ eyes landed on the necklace you wore, the one he bought for Lucy before they ‘broke up’ if you could even call it that, and rose an eyebrow.

“Nice necklace” he spoke, and there was a hint of some kind of sadness in his voice when he said it.

You looked down, remembering what Lucy told you, and met eyes with him.

“Shit, sorry, Lucy gave it to me, I didn’t think you’d-“

“No, it’s fine” he cut you off, voice laced with sincerity. “I’m guessing you already knew that me and her didn’t work out, but it’s fine. Besides it’s just a necklace”.

You slightly smiled at him, and he returned the gesture. You looked around to see that Lucy had wandered off, most likely gone to find Lockwood.

“Listen..um” Kipps’ voice brought your eyes back to his. “I know this is sudden and all, but… did you want to maybe grab coffee with me tomorrow morning?” His eyes held a glint of hope, and you almost felt sorry for what you were about to say.

“Kipps I- I’m sorry but I-“

“-Am not interested” A voice cut you off, rudely filling in your words for you. You quickly turned your head to meet the face of the person you were but also weren’t expecting it to be.

“Sorry, Kipps, but I think she’s got far more interesting and overall better things to be doing with her time. Goodbye” Lockwood grabbed your arm and pulled you away from the blonde. You quickly shot Kipps an apology look before being pulled into a lonely corridor by Lockwood.

“What the hell were you doing talking to Quill bloody Kipps?!” Lockwood half shouted at you, letting go of your wrist.

You turned around to face him and gave him a look of utter bewilderment. “What?! What the hell?!”

Lockwood just scoffed. “I heard the whole thing, I know that he asked you out”.

“Well I for one don’t think it’s got anything to do with you” you replied, shooting him a dirty look. “You didn’t seem to mind when he asked Lucy out and she said yes”.

Lockwood looked exasperated. “That was different”, he muttered.

“How? Because it didn’t work out? Anwser me dammit!” You shouted at him, growing annoyed because he was purposely avoiding your gaze.

“No, because I don’t fancy Lucy!”

“What?”

Both yours and Lockwood’s eyes grew wide at the sudden confession that just came out the brunette’s mouth.

Lockwood, knowing there was know way out of this, spoke. “I..I don’t fancy Lucy”

“But… what’s that got to to do wi-“

“I love you for gods sake! It’s always been you, never Lucy”.

You were in shock. All this time, thinking your feelings for the boy weren’t reciprocated, yet here that same boy was, confessing his love for you after you just got asked out by another guy.

This felt like a dream.

“Well…. say something” Lockwood said after you hadn’t replied to his sudden outburst.

You didn’t know what to say, so you just laughed. It started out as a little chuckle and turned into a full on nearly- on- the - floor laugh, which confused the hell out of the boy.

“I’m guessing that means you don’t feel the same-“

“Are you kidding me?” You loudly spoke, still half- laughing. “I’ve been in love with you since the minute I stepped through your front door for the first time!”

Lockwood’s eyes widened. “Wait- really?”.

“Yes, really” you replied, your smile growing every passing second, and his doing the same. “I didn’t know if you felt the same because…well..you were a bit confusing at times. You flirted with like, every girl you layed eyes on and I just assumed you didn’t like me back”

Now it was Lockwood’s turn to laugh. “No-I- I only flirted with them because I was positive you didn’t like ME back” he gestured to himself as he said that.

You two both looked at each other in silence, until you both simultaneously burst out laughing.

“God, we’re such idiots”

“We really are”

Just as you were about to say something else, you noticed Lockwood’s eyes drift down to your lips, and as you were leaning in, the door opened to reveal Lucy.

“Jesus Christ, finally! You two are so oblivious it was actually driving me insane.”

You both looked at her exasperated.

“You knew?!”

“Yep! Took you two long enough to figure it out yourselves.Now, i’m gonna go see if I can scope out the library, come find me when you’ve finished making out”, She spoke as she left, making kissing noises with her lips, slamming the doors behind her.

You and Lockwood returned to looking at each other, chuckling slightly.

“Bet George knew aswell?”

“Oh 100%”

You laughed again, and remembering back to what Lucy had said before she left, looked down to Lockwood’s lips.

It didn’t go unnoticed by the boy though, as he carefully placed both his hands on each side of your face, his fingers feeling cold against your warm cheeks, his touch gentle.

“Can I kiss you?” He asked with sincerity, eyes looking down at you with admiration. His gaze made your knees weak, and if he wasn’t holding you ,you were sure you would’ve fallen to the floor there and then. Heat rose to your cheeks as you slowly nodded yes.

His face leaned in closer and you closed your eyes as you felt his lips ghost over yours, then finally, they met.

His lips were soft against your own, moving ever so slightly as your hands gripped his waist. You felt his breath hitch at the touch, and you deepened the kiss.

He pushed you slightly so your back met the wall, and you broke apart, eyes looking longingly at each other. God, he was pretty.

“I love you so much” he spoke, thumb stroking softly over your cheek.

“I love you too, and I always will”

Sorry if this is bad, I don’t really know how to write kissing scenes and stuff like that, so keep sending in your requests so I can practice pls. Anyway hope you enjoyed :)

#anthony lockwood x reader #lockwood and co #lucy carlyle #george karim #quill kipps

[weirdkpopgirl]

Mistake | Haechan Imagine #6

Title: Mistake

Genre: neighbors to lovers

Warnings: mentions of a toxic relationship and drinking

Word Count: ~1.5k

Author's Note: Another neighbors to lovers story, but for Haechan. Something about writing a Haechan story with the enemies-to-lovers trope is so fun to write. I also feel like he is a very straightforward person. So he's not someone who is more likely to be honest about his feelings? I don't know, that's just my thoughts. I hope you guys like this and look forward to my upcoming works ^ ^

─❀*̥˚─❀*̥˚─❀*̥˚─❀*̥˚─❀*̥˚─❀*̥˚─❀*̥˚─❀*̥˚─❀*̥˚─❀*̥˚─❀*̥˚─

For someone who appreciated a peaceful and drama-free lifestyle, you lucked out with having Lee Donghyuck or Haechan as your neighbor—the complete opposite of you. Despite residing an entire floor below him, the thin walls proved ineffective in containing whatever nonsense emanated from his apartment. Almost every other night this guy was throwing impromptu parties, as if there weren’t other people who lived in the building. 

Countless evenings were spent sitting at your desk, trying to study while the loud music from above constantly disrupted your focused state. At first, you didn’t say anything because you liked to avoid any form of conflict. But on a particularly stressful night before exams, you decided you had enough and mustered up the courage to confront your lovely neighbor (yes, you were being sarcastic). 

Of course, Haechan didn’t take your complaints seriously and even had the nerve to invite you to join his ridiculous gathering. You firmly retorted that some people actually wanted to get some work done, before storming back down the stairs. Things with him had remained tense ever since.

Honestly, Haechan couldn’t understand how you could be so...quiet. Both of you were in your early twenties, and you should be savoring this youthful phase of life. How could someone perpetually bury their noses in books when there was a world of excitement waiting to be experienced? 

On the other hand, all you could do was huff and cross your arms in response. You didn’t appreciate Donghyuck’s carefree attitude one bit. Little did you know that beneath his party-loving exterior, there was a whirlpool of emotions brewing.

A few weeks later, you were getting off the bus after studying at the library a little longer than anticipated. You had skipped lunch after class to go there, so food had been forgotten until now. Letting out a sigh, you stopped at the convenience store near your apartment to buy a triangle kimbap.

What you didn’t expect was to encounter a sluggish-looking Haechan, hands trembling as he clutched a bag of soju. His usually gleeful eyes were clouded with a sadness you had never seen in him before. He didn’t even notice you as he was about to pass by.

“Haechan,” you instinctively reached for the end of his hoodie sleeve. “What’s wrong?”

He hastily pulled away from your grasp, “Don’t act like you care, (Y/n). Just go back to studying your boring life away.”

His words stung and caused you to clench your fists in frustration. But knowing he didn’t mean it, you followed him outside. “You’re my neighbor—of course I care,” you muttered. 

Despite being perhaps the most irritating person you'd ever met, it was evident that something was troubling him deeply. You weren't about to turn your back on someone who was clearly upset, especially a ray of sunshine like Lee Haechan.

Haechan didn’t respond immediately. But eventually, tears began to well in his eyes as he released a heavy sigh. “I found out my girlfriend was cheating on me at my own party.”

Your eyes widened upon hearing this revelation. “Oh my gosh, seriously?”

A surge of sympathy washed over you. Despite your less-than-friendly feelings toward him, no one deserved to be cheated on. The bag of green bottles he was carrying now made sense. Despite your fatigue from school and your growling stomach, you set those concerns aside to support him.

“Well, if you're going to drink, you shouldn't do it alone,” you said in the gentlest tone you had ever used with him.

Haechan glanced at you, a flicker of surprise dancing in his eyes. Before he knew it, the two of you were walking back to your apartment, settling at the small wooden dining table in the living room.

Since he had taken care of the drinks, you decided to make some instant ramen to go with it. However, it was mostly you eating, as Donghyuck didn't seem to have much of an appetite. You couldn't really blame him, considering you would be in the same boat if you hadn’t been starving before this.

Once you had poured the first round, you and Haechan raised your shot glasses and clinked them together before drinking in silence, letting the alcohol numb your pain–or at least his. The two of you soon realized that you both had a high alcohol tolerance, so it took longer for the effects to kick in. However, Haechan was the first to get drunk, while you were starting to get a little tipsy.

“You know the worst part?” His words slurred as the glass in his hand trembled. “I saw all the signs, but still ignored them like a fool.”

You gently intervened, preventing him from pouring another shot of soju. “That's no excuse for her to hurt you like that,” you asserted, your tone firm yet comforting. “And whether you notice the signs or not, most people still want to believe the best in others.”

“So, I'm not a fool because I'm like everyone else?” he asked.

Meeting his gaze, you responded with a sly smile, “No, you're a fool because everyone else is.”

Initially, you were apprehensive about how he might react to your comment and weren't entirely sure it made sense. To your surprise, he let out a soft chuckle. 

“You are something else, (Y/n),” he shook his head before downing another shot. 

As the night wore on, Haechan’s tears turned into incoherent ramblings. The contrast of his rosy cheeks against his tan skin was rather endearing as he laughed. At some point, he leaned in and clumsily kissed you. It was unexpected, and your heart skipped a beat, but you pretend it didn't happen. After all, he was drunk, and he probably wouldn't remember it in the morning.

In the days that followed, the animosity between you and Haechan faded away. You started hanging out more at each other’s apartments, sometimes drinking or just having late-night conversations. Through those moments, you got to know the Donghyuck part of Haechan. 

You learned details such as his admiration for Michael Jackson and that kimchi jjigae was his comfort food. He wasn’t just a party animal, but his unexpected mellow and down-to-earth side made you view him in a different light. 

Despite all that, the kiss was never brought up, confirming to you that he didn’t recall it. Your initial annoyance with Haechan had evolved into something more complicated. Then you were left with a peculiar heaviness in your heart. So you decided not to bring up the subject either. Until one day, the two of you were having a movie night and neither of you had any alcohol in your systems. 

“You know…that night when I kissed you, I remember it,” he admitted quietly, without any warning. “And I’m really sorry for taking advantage of you like that.” 

You gazed at him in slight surprise, while trying not to show how alarmed you felt. Shaking your head, you offered an understanding smile. 

“I know it was a mistake. You were vulnerable at the time and not to mention, drunk.”

“That doesn’t make what I did right though,” he stated, his tone the most serious you’ve heard it. “Especially because I have feelings for you.”

Sitting up straighter, you almost choked on air. “I’m sorry—what did you just say?”

“I’ve never understood you, even when we first met. But even in my drunken state, I realized you were a genuinely kind person who sincerely cared for those around her,” he explained.

You could feel yourself gradually being persuaded by his words. But the part of you that doubted this was all a hallucination persisted. But then Haechan took your hands in his, infusing warmth into the moment.

“You’re not a mistake to me, (Y/n).” His eyes locked onto yours as he spoke. “I know I’m being selfish right now, but I want to be with you.”

Then your heart was racing as you absorbed what he had just said. “I want to be with you too, Donghyuck.”

His eyes brightened at the sound of his real name. But as he began to lean in, he abruptly paused. You shot him a questioning look, wondering what was stopping him. 

He slid one hand beneath your hair, gently resting it on your nape. “Can I kiss you?”

Feeling his warm breath against your lips made you a bit dizzy, but you responded with a smile and a nod. Unlike the last time you kissed, his request for permission reassured you that this was indeed real.

With your consent, he closed the distance between you and kissed you with far more passion than the first time. It was a kiss infused with newfound understanding, forgiveness, and the promise of something beautiful. Undeniably, nothing about that was a mistake.

─❀*̥˚─❀*̥˚─❀*̥˚─❀*̥˚─❀*̥˚─❀*̥˚─❀*̥˚─❀*̥˚─❀*̥˚─❀*̥˚─❀*̥˚─

#nct dream #nctzen #czennie #nct dream imagines #haechan #haechan scenarios #haechan soft hours #haechan x reader #haechan imagine #nct dream scenarios #nct dream fluff #lee donghyuck #donghyuck imagines #donghyuck scenarios #kpop imagines #neighbors au

[v-era-18]

HoneyBee

Chapter Six: Thin Patience

‘You’re on thin ice with me. Thin. Fucking. Ice’- (Y/n) (L/n)

6

“Alright, here's the situation. You've all had direct contact with the NBEs,” Simmons started. They had been walking for a bit now, coming into contact with a few soldiers along the way. From what (Y/n) had gathered, they had a near death experience with the decepticons-they were lucky to even be alive. 

“NBEs?” the brown skinned soldier questioned.

“Non-Biological Extraterrestrials,” Simmons quipped, “Try and keep up with the acronyms.”

(Y/n) and Sam locked eyes, minds in sync as to what was going on. They had no clue about what they were dealing with all these years. From what the other man with Simmons had declared her deceased uncle had worked with them closely. Just how much did he keep secret about their true nature? 

“What you're about to see is totally classified.” 

They proceeded through the long dark tunnel, and to say they were all shocked was an understatement. The adults stared up at the large cybertronian in front of them, silver jagged plating was seen along with metal claws big enough to wrap around two statues on a college campus. The optics were black-unlit-but the girl couldn't look away from their faceplate. This was the monster she hid underneath her bed each night from; Megatronus-otherwise known as Megatron.  

“Dear God. What is this?” The general had spoken. 

Banachek looked over to (Y/n) the two making eye contact as he started to move forward, “We think when he made his approach over the north pole, our gravitational field screwed up his telemetry. He crashed in the ice-probably a few thousand years ago. We shipped him here to this facility in 1934.”

“We call him NBE One.” Simmons announced proudly. 

Sam looked at his dear friend, “Uh, (Y/n) I think it's time to correct them don't you think?”

The crowd looked towards the girl, she wasn't paying attention to them, simply staring at the war terrorist her grandfather warned her about. When's the last time she read about this monster? Was it three years? She was pretty sure it was longer. It was funny, every last detail in the book was true about his stature-his looks-his gaze-.

“Correct us?” Simmons questioned in disbelief. 

The girl scoffed, finally tuning in, “Yea, no offense. But I think my uncle let this limited information go far too long,” She looked over at Banachek, sympathy lacing her eyes,” You got everything wrong. He is not NBE One, he's Megatron. Cyberons most fiercest war terrorist and leader of the Decepticons; you see-it was him that led to the fall of their own planet. Killing millions of his own kind to achieve one thing,” 

She looked at them venom lacing her tone, “Power,”  

Simmons stepped towards her, the two having a non verbal conversation. The man's eyes scream one thing, ‘continue’.

 “ In fact he wasn't even the fist one here, there have been other ‘NBEs’ actually known as Cybertronians-” 

“(Y/n),” Sam whispered hastily, “Let's not give them a proper history lesson right now alright-!”

“No,” The general stepped forward. “Let the girl talk, she seems to know a lot more than we do.” 

(Y/n) turned to Banachek, “How long has he been like that?” 

“He’s been in cryostasis since 1935.” He turned to Sam, a proud resolve, “Your great-great-great grandfather and your (GG/n) made one of the greatest discoveries in the history of mankind.” 

“Second greatest,” (Y/n) corrected, “Of cybertronian knowledge perhaps. The first one you guys know of though. It's just not considered the first is it?” 

Simmons turned to her in shock, “How did you-” 

She simply pulled out the necklace, it had started to emit a glow of blue since she arrived, “I'm going to ask you this only once; Where is Estella? Aka NBE two.” The two men looked at each other in disbelief and concern, causing the girl to frown. “There's no need to hide it now I know you guys have her here.” 

“That's the thing,” Simmons responded, “Your uncle used to have the password to her area, now it's gone-along with his memory.” 

The necklace fell back on the girl's chest, her confidence crumbling, “ What? But my grandmother told me-,” 

“The information was confidential, no one knows about the slip up, hence why we can only deeply apologize that there will be no closer that you're looking for.” said Banachek. The two looked at each other for a long moment until when no one was looking the man sent a quick wink her way-giving her everything she already needed to know. Her uncle wasn’t foolish, he made sure at least two or three people had that password. 

“Fact is, you are looking at the source of modern age,” Simmons continued, “the microchip, lasers, spaceflight, cars, all reverse-engineered by studying him-NBE One. That's what we call it.” 

“Him,” (Y/n) corrected once again, the agent turned to her agitated. It was clear as day he was clearly jealous of her family and the secrets they held, but she wouldn't put it past them-judging from their dead set ‘facts’ they came up with she wouldn't want to share important information with them either. 

“And you didn't think the United States military might need to know that you're keeping a hostile alien robot frozen in the basement?” The general questioned.

“Until these events, we had no credible threat to national security.” 

“Well you got one now!” 

Lennox finally decided to speak, “So why earth?” 

“It's the allspark,” (Y/n) answered his question. 

“All spark? What is that?” 

The girl wanted to throw her family book at their head in response. At this point they were using her as a damn dictionary rather than a well informed individual. Everyone seemed useless in this situation rather than Sam and Mikaela. She turned to her best friend, waving a hand saying he had the floor. 

“Well, yeah, they came here looking for some sort of cube looking thing.” The teenage boy tried to explain. 

God dammit Sam!

(Y/n) rolled her eyes, “How many times have I told you Sam, it's practically the most sacred thing on their planet and has the power to bring back life itself! Its the most important we get it before he does-” 

“Anyway,” Sam held up his hand in sass, “Mr. NBE One here, aka Meagtron-that's what they call him, whos pretty much the harbinger of death-just like (Y/n) told you-wants to use the cube to transform human technology to take over the universe,” They turned back to his friend a cocky look on his face, “That's their plan.”

The girl pursed her lips, “I don't know if I want to slap you because you cut me off or give you a high five because you actually remembered everything I told you.” 

Simmons paused for a moment, “And you two are sure about that?” 

“Yeah,” 

“Yep,” The two synced. 

(Y/n) smirked immediately knowing where this is going to go, “You guys know where it is, don't you?” 

Banacke looked between the two of them, “Follow me.” 

The two teens looked at each other before following suit along with the soldiers behind them. (Y/n) continued to survey her surroundings as she took in the atmosphere of the place as they walked through the narrow hallways, she couldn't believe her own uncle-the one she didn't know she had-walked through these halls numerous times and still kept secrets from the government about a cybertronians true nature. 

“You're about to see our crown jewel,” Simmons led them into a yellow bricked room with old pictures of seven men hung along the wall. She was surprised that her and Sam's grandfathers were not there. They did make history after all. 

(Y/n)’s mouth dropped at the sight before her, a geeky smile tracing her plump lips as she gazed through the window. It was beyond what she had imagined of the cube to look like, the spare object was as tall as the large cavern of the building, nearly taking up the whole space of the room itself. Down below she could see scientists working diligently as they examined it, she found it a bit cruel her family hid its fully functioning nature-it would've saved them years of research. 

Sam chuckled beside her, “Better than what you imagined?” 

“Yeah,” His friend uttered breathlessly, “It is.” 

The agent cut into their comfortable atmosphere, “Carbon dating puts the Cube here around ten thousand BC,” The man informed looking at (Y/n), “The first seven didn't find it until 1913.They knew it was alien because of the matching hieroglyphics on the Cube as well as NBE One. President Hoover had the dam built around it. Four football fields thick of concrete, a perfect way to hide its energy from being detected by anyone or alien species on the outside.” 

The girl froze for a moment before slowly turning to him, “Sir, with all do respect I don't think everything was thought through,” The Agents and Soldiers looked at her confused, “You said that this was the perfect way of hiding its energy from aliens on the outside correct?” 

“Yeah,” Simmons scoffed

She stepped up to him with her stance firm, “There's two whole aliens in this facility. And you didn't think that maybe one of them would wake up and take it away? Especially the bringer of death NBE One?”

This stunned the others in the room, Sam breathing faint “holy shit” as it dawned on him that they really messed up in regards to that calculation. 

But Banachek didn't waver, only nodding at her instead , “I understand that concern but NBE One has shown no activity ever since he was found by Witwicky.”   

(Y/n) only hummed but it didn't ease the pit rumbling at the bottom of her stomach. There were warning signs practically ringing in every direction for her in regards to this whole ordeal, with Megatron here and the Deceipticons looking for him it wasn't safe for the cube to be down here, nor was it safe for them to be down here when a potential bomb goes off. Did they honestly want her to believe that Megatron wasn't playing them all this time? Estel most definitely would have warned them if she hadn't been offlined, she loved the human race too much to do so-from what she gathered from her grandmother anyway.  

“Wait back up,” The lady cut in, “You said the dam hides the Cubes energy. What kind exactly?” The question seemed to be for her, but she ignored it and waited for the agents to answer instead. Her mouth was getting dry from answering too many questions. 

“Good question,” 

It wasn't long before they were taken to another enclosed room, what stood out the most was the big blue transparent box with men surrounding it. The wires and small room could only tell her one thing that this was a form of an experiment room of some kind. “Please step inside. They have to lock us in.” 

She stood beside Sam and Mikeala, the girl noticed their hands intertwined with one another's for a minute-just a glimpse-and decided to clasp her own hands together in reassurance. Although her mind did drift back to a certain soft big hand and sharp blue eyes-.

Fuck. Now wasn't the time for her mind to wander. 

“Oh wow,” Epps uttered, looking at the scratches along the wall. They didn't seem too big but they were long and sharp enough to penetrate through metal, “What's that? Freddy Krueger done been up in here or something?”   

“Oh, no, man,” The hacker argued, “Freddy Kruegar has four blades, man. That's only three. That's Wolverine!” The man laughed and (Y/n) did for a bit stopping when she saw Sam's done expression. 

“That's very funny,” Simmons said with a straight face. The laughter was gone when they noticed his serious tone. “Anybody have any mechanical devices? BlackBerry? Key alarm? Cell Phone?”

The man went through his pockets, “I got a phone,” He tossed to Simmons. 

They headed over to the blue box in the room each being handed a pair of goggles, (Y/n) stared anxiously as Simmons placed the phone inside the box shutting it tightly 

“Okay,” Simmons whispered, “Nokias are real nasty. You gotta respect the Japanese, they know the way of the samurai.” 

“Nokia is from Finland.” The woman might as well keep it to herself, there was no correcting the agent. 

The afro haired girl grimaced, her grandmother had a Nokia. 

“Were able to use the Cubes radiation and funnel it into that box,” Simmons started flipping the devices on to start up the machine 

They watched the gadget hover over the phone before a blue laser contracted into the metal device below. The girl got goosebumps as she heard the familiar sound before the phone transformed right before their eyes. She couldn't believe it, the cube could actually give life!

“Bro what the-” 

“Wow,” (Y/n) muttered in amazement. She leaned in closer to get a better look along with Micheala, the new cybertronian didn't like the attention and proceeded to ram itself in their direction. It was a good thing it only hit the glass, but the two girls did lean back when it proceeded to shoot at its barrier. 

“Mean little sucker, huh?” 

(Y/n) hummed, “Mean and confused.” 

“Man that thing is freaky!” 

It got worse from there, the bullets and shots were cracking the box. The little guys were close to its escape, Simmons wasn't going to allow it. The gasp the girl let out was involuntary as a large shock ran through the box killing the new life instantly. She immediately grabbed onto Sam, anxiety racking through her, as she thought about the black and yellow scout. 

“S-Sam,” the girl whispered, “Bumblebee.” 

As soon as the words left her lips the lights started to flicker overhead as well as an alarm sounding off. Her heart hammered in her chest, she knew that this would happen-that this facility wasn't the safest with  the war terrorists here along with the cube. It was practically a suicide wish. 

“They're here,” (Y/n) announced. 

The general nodded to her in agreement, “Gentlemen, they know the cube is here” 

“Along with their leader,” 

“Banachek, what's going on?!”

“The NBE One hanger has lost power-” 

“What?!” 

“The backup generator is just not gonna cut it!” 

“I told you so,” (Y/n) looked at Simmons, “Putting them both in the same place is a room for disaster-” 

Sam sighed, “(Y/n)! Really?” 

“I'm just making sure he knows their mistake!” Sure it wasn't the time to be petty, but she told them that it wasn't a good idea and they completely brushed her off. It felt good to show these smart asses she was right. 

Lenoxx made his way over quickly, “Do you have an arms room?” 

Oh. Guns against large robot aliens. How nice. 

They were all flushed out of the room in haste, Sam made sure to have a good grip on the two girls as they followed behind the soldiers closely. 

“Everyone into the NBE One Chamber now!” 

The area was a mess, she watched so many people running all over the place in adrenaline. Anticipation and fear clouding their eyes at the situation at hand, she could only imagine the amount of scientists who did not sign up for the fighting part on the field, only the endless studying that would be conducted over the course of their lifetime. 

That's why when they were running down the hall shye almost forgot the most important person she wanted to see, even though she tried to halt her movements Sam only strengthened his hold. The boy had his nerves on edge, making sure his best friend stayed by his side at all times; and she could understand that, it hasn't been the best twenty four hours. 

“They're popping our generators!”

This only made the girl try to turn in the other direction once more, “Sam! We have to get to Bumblebee-” 

“I know! Give me a second to get them to understand.” 

Sam didn't mean to snap at her, she knew he didn't. From the way his eyes were blown open, face drenched in sweat to the distressed crease of his brows. It was a good thing they eventually made it to the room, the teens watched as the soldiers and men started to arm themselves. Of course (Y/n) tried to grab for one only for Epps to quickly take it away. 

“Uh uh, until you're properly trained with this thing-you're not holding one,” 

The lights started to go off again causing the room to still for a moment, everyone's breaths heightened-eyes wide with fear. (Y/n) has had enough and stormed up to Simmons. 

“You gotta take us to see Bumblebee,” 

The agent looked at her baffled, “Who-?” 

“My car! She's talking about my car,” Sam butt in, “You have to take us to go see him. He knows exactly what to do with the cube!” 

Simmons shook his head, “The car? It's confiscated.” 

“Then un-confiscate it!”

“We don't know-” 

A gun was held to the side of the agent's head, the room went still, “Listen here asshole! I’m frankly sick and tired of running in circles with you fucking government heads thinking you know everything when you dont,” There was guns drawn, some men aiming at the afro haired girl while others where aimed at the sector seven men as shouts started to fill the room. But she ignored them, along with Sam's pleas to put it down.

“Now that I have all of your attention, let me explain this to you quickly since we don't have enough time. Right now you have two options,” The girl turned her head to the other men in the room to make sure they were listening, “One, we can continue to have an autobot scout-the one trying to save our planet-still confiscated by your men and have the decepticon leader-Megatron the war terrorist- leave with the cube and terrorform this planet. Or Number Two, you un-confiscate Bumblebee-Sam's car- give him the cube getting to the other autobots to save this planet.” 

The girl looked back at Simmons, cocking an eyebrow, “Which will it be?” The agent was taking too long to answer, so she added to her statement, “Or you can take too long to answer, and I take matters into my own hands and kill you and save the world myself.” 

Simmons laughed nervously, “With what army?” 

“The ones behind her,” Lennox chimed in, “I was going to take you down myself, but the little lady seems to have beat me to it.” 

“Drop your weapon, Baby girl,” Epps uttered softly, “We got this.” 

(Y/n) didn't listen, only staring at the man in front of her with anguish between her eyes. The gun felt foreign in her hand, it didn't feel like a toy; it was cold, heavy and deadly. Three things she used to be afraid of, the same thing she was so used to having pointed at her only for it to be placed in her hands. 

The agent recognized the look in her eyes and his frown deepened, “That look is so familiar, your uncle used to have it all the time within the first years on me being here,” The girl did not smile or waver, simply held the gun to his head, “ Your not gonna give me the option are ya?” 

“Listen to me closely,” The girl leaned in , her eyes slitted, “You're on thin ice with me. Thin. Fucking. Ice.” 

“Agent Simmons,” The general spoke up.

The agent's eyes stayed locked on the girl, “Yes sir?” 

“I'd do what she says,” He spoke clearly, “Losing isn't for any of these guys, and from what I've learned-neither is it for this girl.” 

A moment of silence. 

Simmons looked back and forth between (Y/n) and the general before nodding his head, silently agreeing, “Alright, alright, alright. You want to lay the fate of the world on these kids' camaro? That's cool.” 

The girl retracted the gun with a heavy breath released, she looked back at Epps and tried handing the gun back over. (Y/n) felt like a little kid going behind her parents back and getting another toy after the first one was taken away, it was what she just did. She grabbed another gun when the lights were flickering when the soldier was distracted. 

The soldier simply shook his head, “No you keep it. You're gonna need it later.” 

“I don't want it. It feels wrong to hold it.” She admitted softly. 

“Trust me,” Lennox placed a hand on her shoulder, “As a soldier who has fought as long as we have. Sometimes we don't like picking these things up, there's a huge responsibility behind it. And it's heavy. Trust me when I say this-that decision you just made was needed; and not everyone could have had the courage to do what you just did.” 

~ ✯ ~

It was haunting, (Y/n) doesn't think she could ever get it out of her mind. The pained whirrs she heard coming from the cybertronian was heard all the way down the hall, causing the girl to run faster than the rest of the men. Sam and Mikeala were right behind her, their pace catching up with each foot leading them to the double doors. 

The afro haired girl pushed through the doors screaming out for the scout, shoving past security, “Let him go! Bumblebee!” 

“Stop!” 

Sam grabbed a man stopping the icing process the best he could along with Mikeala doing the same on the other side. The three teens were quick with their pace, grabbing and disarming the men as Banachek and Simmons ordered everyone to stand down in the room. The pained whirrs slowly diminished but the girl could still hear the discomfort Bumblebee had, he was confused and upset. 

“Bee!” (Y/n) watched as the scout sat up at the shout of her voice, his optics immediately locking on hers, “Are you okay? Can you move? Are you okay-”

“They didn't hurt you right?” Sam cut in.

Bumblebee grew annoyed, frustration building as he activated his helmet, rolling over and aiming his cannon and the previous offenders that had him strapped down to the table. Sometimes it was so hard for the scout to love humankind, the list just got longer with the many things they have done to him on this planet. He waved it around for a moment making sure no one else was going to hurt him before freezing, noticing movement in the corner of his optics. 

(Y/n) had stepped forward, hands in the air with an anxious expression, “Easy, they won't hurt you anymore I promise. Not while I'm here.” The scout had frozen still looking at her before slowly lowering the cannon, then completely transforming it back into a servo once more. He pointed to her, catching her off guard-her expression was confused for a moment before a realization dawned on her. “M-me? Oh-oh I'm okay, see I'm in one piece.” 

Bumblebee wasn't convinced. This only made him more upset. 

“Listen the cube is here and the Decepticons are coming,” Sam cut to the chase. He noticed the bot's frustration with his friend's lie, and decided to move this along before something else would transpire. 

The scout rolled off the tabel-if they would even call it that-and still proceeded to have his helmet on his head using his servo to cover (Y/n) as she was the closest charge next to him. 

“D-don't worry about them, they wont do anything! Alright, they're not gonna hurt you” Sam turned back to the other men and crowd surrounding the frustrated Autobot in the room, “Just back up a little bit, he's friendly.” The boy turned to (Y/n) looking between her and the larger robot. She didn't get what he was trying to convey at first but quickly caught on. 

Sam wanted her to calm Bumblebee down. At first she was confused, although they were both his charges the scout hadn't calmed down in the slightest from her friend's reassurance. What would make her attempts any different? The girl thought back to the moment the two had in front of that door, the turning of the handle together before going inside. 

“Who said you have to do it alone?” 

“Hey! Hey, hey,” (Y/n) stepped in front of the scout waving her arms around catching his heated gaze. She understood his frustration and the fear of being hurt-ti be put back in the position he just got out of. He was willing to be taken by the willingly so they wouldnt hurt anyone, only to go through so much torture. “C-can you just-can you just focus on me for a second?” 

Bumblebee did, and to make sure she knew he was concentrating only on her he keeled to get closer to the female down below. Upon looking at her closely she had a bandage on her elbow along with a few bloody spots on her jeans and shirt. The cuts and spots were not big so he did not fret about it too much, but something moved within his spark from the girl who was looking up at him. Shere concern was laced across her features, eyebrows creased in nerves whereas her eyes scanned his face for emotions he was trained not to show. 

It was a reflex of war. Never show your enemies your emotions-they'll use it against you. No human was to be trusted in the room until further notice. 

“I know it must have hurt-what they did to you. But the actions of these people shouldn’t determine the fate of the rest of the human race,” (Y/n) spoke softly, “They hurt me, Sam, and Mikeala too-that's the thing about us humans we hurt each other and we make mistakes. And we need your help to fix a huge mistake.” 

The afro haired girl took a few cautious steps forward before placing a soft hand against one of the mech's digits, “Can you do that for me Honeybee?” 

Bumblebee stilled for a moment, his radio flaring to life as his whole form grew warm. The girl waited patiently, smiling softy up at him, understanding he was finding the words to say in this situation. However she hadn't expected that response.  

“Anything you desire sweetheart,”

#bumblebee x black reader #bumblebee x reader #bumblebee #transformers x reader #transfromers #transformers bayverse #sam witwicky #mikaela banes #Youtube

[calliesmemes]

TITANIC: BLOOD AND STEEL (EPISODES 1-6)

SENTENCE STARTERS PULLED FROM THE DIALOGUE IN THE PERIOD DRAMA TITANIC: BLOOD AND STEEL, a twelve-episode miniseries about the construction of the RMS Titanic in Belfast.

CHANGE gendered words and in-universe phrases as needed.

SPECIFY muse for multimuses.

EPISODE ONE: A CITY DIVIDED

“   I'd like to introduce someone to you. ”

“   You are venturing into the unknown, sir. ”

“   It's not arrogant if it's true. ”

“   I don't care what he is, right? You leave him alone. ”

“   I believe we have an appointment. ”

“   Could you explain precisely what you would offer, why your contribution is so necessary? ”

“   We stand at the border where our ambition shall outstrip our technology. ”

“   You are in uncharted territory. ”

“   And you — you feel yourself the right person to test our mettle, so to speak? ”

“   Where are you staying? ”

“   The high and mighty appear so only because we are on our knees. ”

“   If we stand united and indivisible, there's nothing that can't be achieved. ”

“   So I hear you've joined our merry band. ”

“   Oh, I wouldn't underestimate the Americans. ”

“   Maybe she talks too much. ”

“   Well, you shouldn't lose your job because you talk. ”

“   You should be more like your sister. ”

“   Now that they can read and write, their heads are full of all sorts of nonsense. ”

“   Science shall never replace good judgment or plain common sense. ”

“   We're a man short. Do you want to play? ”

“   Where did you say you went to school? ”

“   We can give it another half an hour before we make our final decision. ”

“   I don't know what they're all so mopey about. ”

“   I don't understand this game. ”

“   You are a funny one. ”

“   What is it that brought you here? ”

“   You speak like a man in love. ”

“   I merely look forward to working together, to furthering the excellence of your work. ”

“   We all play our part. Some parts are more interesting than others. ”

“   I don't know how much longer I can do this. ”

“   The beauty of our country is lost on these people. ”

“   I worry about my daughters. ”

“   I don't think you're a man to sit back or be proud. ”

“   Well, of course, since then it's grown in my imagination. ”

“   We are now on the threshold of a newer movement, with newer hopes! ”

“   You have no authority here. ”

“   We have to start fighting back, and making demands. ”

“   Your father is worried about you. ”

“   Your parents must have been very proud. ”

“   This generation’s gone soft, don’t you think? ”

“   Is he really as terrifying as they say? ”

“   Are you finding the work challenging? ”

“   That was completely inappropriate. ”

“   You have a lot to learn. ”

“   Are you avoiding me? ”

“   I can read you like a book. That's what I love about you. ”

“   What are you reading? ”

“   How many people are we expecting today? ”

“   Today we start building a legend that will last a thousand years. ”

“   Never had you down as a superstitious man. ”

EPISODE TWO: STAINED STEEL

“   I need someone to draw something for me. Would you be free? ”

“   I know what desperation, what needs, what false promises brought you here! ”

“   There is no prize so high that can merit the betrayal of your brothers! ”

“   There's just a lot of mayhem out there today. ”

“   We shouldn't assume it's a victory. Just the first shots fired in a long war. ”

“   I don't think anybody's talking about victory. Not yet. ”

“   We can't let fear stop us from taking a stand. ”

“   Do you mind if I sit with you? ”

“   I believe there are serious grounds for concern. ”

“   Trust I take this issue as seriously as you. ”

“   They believe what they want to. They don't hear what they don't want to or see what's in front of them. ”

“   If you want to persuade, you have to take human nature into account. ”

“   You have something of the real world about you. ”

“   You don't strike me as the timid type. ”

“   Rank does have its privileges but there's always a price to pay. ”

“   Come and speak with me. My door is open. ”

“   Would you look at who's come home! ”

“   Truly, my dear, what is troubling you? ”

“   Stick by your principles, and to your emotions. They’ve served you well before. ”

“   A consciousness of your own dignity and worth must be encouraged. ”

“   Get away from the wrong ideals and false standards of womanhood. ”

“   Be as free as your dream of the future would have you. ”

“   I think of her and it makes the thought of living in this miserable little town bearable. ”

“   I would like you to become my wife. ”

“   I will decide who I marry and when, if I want to get married at all! ”

“   You have disgraced me! ”

EPISODE THREE: GOOD MAN DOWN

“   My father wants me to change my mind. ”

“   This Saturday, march for your rights. ”

“   He doesn't like a smart mouth, so keep your answers simple, to the point, and you'll do all right. ”

“   You do as you're told and you'll do just fine. ”

“   Did you do much fighting? ”

“   It was terrifying and it was boring at the same time. ”

“   I’ll tell you what I learnt. I learnt that there's things worth fighting for, and there's things that ain't. ”

“   It's only since I've been back that I realize why you made me go away. ”

“   When we march, we must be united. ”

“   United we stand; divided we fall. ”

“   Are you two old enough to be in here on your own? ”

“   You have bigger things to be thinking about. ”

“   Should I start a conversation or should we just sit in silence? ”

“   The world of science is littered with the reputation of men and women who spoke out before they were certain. ”

“   You have to be careful. He’s from another world, one which you don’t belong to. ”

“   You're a good teacher. ”

“   The best thing is for you to get on with your life. Forget about me. ”

“   Nothing's gonna change unless we all support it. And when I say "all," I mean all. ”

“   This is a peaceful protest and we have every right to be here. ”

“   You're all right. You're all right. You're gonna be all right. ”

“   Did you get caught up in all that mayhem? ”

“   I wasn’t there, but I know people who were. ”

“   Well, that may be your kind of politics, it certainly isn't mine! ”

“   If you so much as interfere, I'll find out where you live and I'll burn your house. ”

“   They hit us where we’re weakest. It’s the oldest strategy in the book. ”

EPISODE FOUR: DANGER LOOMS

“   Pleased with yourself, are you? ”

“   You think we organized this to bring the country to its knees? ”

“   I came to say thank you for helping me. ”

“   Oh, I specialize in damsels in distress. ”

“   Don't they understand the tensions this will inflame? ”

“   You've started a dialogue. We have to keep them engaged. ”

“   Half of me is pleased. The other half feels hollow. I don't know which instinct to trust. ”

“   Either we sit and we're at the same level, or you make me stand. Which is it to be? ”

“   We have more in common than you might think. ”

“   I want us to work together. ”

“   My door is always open to you and to anyone. You only have to knock. Have I made myself clear? ”

“   I know these will be difficult times for you. ”

“   What are you trying to prove? ”

“   Well done. You did the right thing. ”

“   There was a time when I was a great deal more like you than you'd imagine. ”

“   I keep seeing his face. His blood on my hands. They killed him. ”

“   You don't think the man's gone a bit soft, no? ”

“   When you do nothing, it breeds malcontent. ”

“   Sorry. He's just not used to anything other than his own opinion. ”

“   I've been waiting ages to casually bump into you. ”

“   You’re a strange one. ”

“   You have this all worked out, don't you? ”

“   This is sex and fun, darling. Probably the only place we can meet and be ourselves. ”

“   I'm turning you down. Gently, but I am turning you down. ”

“   This is a dangerous game you’re playing. ”

“   You shouldn’t have come back. ”

“   I've got a very good teacher. ”

“   Even a mere suggestion of romance across this divide can ruin a man. ”

“   People can be driven out of their homes by their own community. ”

“   If you act now, you might be able to avoid the inevitable consequences. ”

“   There is something lonely about you. ”

“   Men think they are in control, but they aren't. Women are. ”

“   Democracy? Another vastly overrated institution. ”

“   You killed my daughter. You never came back for her. ”

EPISODE FIVE: UNDER LOCK AND KEY

“   Open up! I know you're in there! ”

“   You lied to me. ”

“   I just want to know what happened. ”

“   Why the urgency all of a sudden? ”

“   If I had known, I would have done the right thing. ”

“   I'm here now because I've just learned the truth. ”

“   Could I have a minute of your time, please, sir? ”

“   Perhaps this would have been better had you remained ignorant. ”

“   If you pay more attention, you might have more success in finding a job! ”

“   This has nothing to do with you. ”

“   When I walk out of here, you will never see me again. ”

“   Distrust and suspicion drive a wedge between us. ”

“   I don't have to tell you how disappointed I am in you. ”

“   Had the boot been on the other foot, I believe I should have done exactly the same as you. ”

“   Your contribution is highly valued. ”

“   We are prepared to keep your history confidential. ”

“   if your history ever becomes public knowledge, I won't be able to defend your position. ”

“   His presence here is valuable. ”

“   I must insist you keep this information to yourself. If you breathe a word of it, I shall regard it as a personal betrayal. ”

“   So this is where they imprison you all day. ”

“   I honestly don't know how people do it. Cooped up in these little rooms, having to do what someone else says. ”

“   You shouldn't believe everything you read in newspapers. ”

“   Do you have any idea what damage is being done to our reputation? ”

“   Is your father unwell? ”

“   Usually, when we deal with your father, he knows exactly what we're talking about. ”

“   I just get this feeling that he's holding something back. ”

“   He isn’t one of us; he’s one of them. ”

“   He lives by their rules, not ours. ”

“   Look, I don't make the rules. I only deliver the message. ”

“   Hey, if you can't do it properly, you shouldn't be here. ”

“   Sometimes you seem so distant. ”

“   We need to show our strength. ”

“   You must know that what you're asking is virtually impossible. ”

EPISODE SIX: THE IMPOSTOR

“   All I ever get are stolen moments. ”

“   You have some explaining to do. ”

“   I have nothing to hide. ”

“   Don’t you dare call me a thief again. ”

“   We're interested in men like you. ”

“   What have I done that’s so special? ”

“   Do you believe in the cause? ”

“   We're only looking for men who are serious and committed to the cause. ”

“   Remember what I said. Keep your mouth shut. ”

“   Gentlemen, we have a larger problem than we thought. ”

“   We have the power to make them do what we want. ”

“   All those in favor, raise your hands. ”

“   You cannot give into blackmail! ”

“   Has it ever occurred to you they may have a genuine grievance? ”

“   You should be very proud. ”

“   He would be so proud of you. ”

“   If we stand together on this, they will bow to our demands. ”

“   I find myself between a rock and a hard place. ”

“   Will I have to betray anyone’s trust? ”

“   Not all rules are fair. ”

“   It's what I was trained to do. ”

“   He wants to meet you. Privately. Without anyone knowing. ”

“   We’ve come to rescue you. ”

“   I told you, this is all part of a grand business arrangement. ”

“   I'm just showing you what'll happen if you try and cheat us. ”

“   I fear that, to end this dispute, we both need to claim victory. ”

“   Others might call it a step too far. ”

“   I really don't care about politics. It's quite the most tedious thing in the world, apart from religion. ”

“   I don't know if the whole thing is completely bogus, but there's something not right about him. ”

“   What do you dream of? ”

“   We need a strong candidate. Someone with forthright views who speaks the language of our people. And we think that person is you. ”

“   You might be shocked to know all the wild imaginings I had buzzing around in my head. ”

“   He's committed no crime! ”

“   I believe we all have been deceived. ”

“   That is an outrageous allegation against me! Withdraw it immediately! ”

“   Your true identity is now known. ”

#askbox meme #askbox prompt #rp ask meme #ask box #roleplay sentence meme #sentence starters #roleplay prompts #roleplay sentence starters #* sentence meme #rpc help #historical rp #fantasy rp #acotar rp #disney rpc #bridgerton rp #broadway rp

[cirilla-fiona-riannon]

Kicho's Main Story Chapter 6 Part 1

These translations are not intended as a replacement for the game. Please support cybird by buying their stories. JP SPOILERS under the cut. Expect mistakes.

Mai: "So, this Kicho who is here now is..."

Sasuke: "I don't know all the details, but I guess he was affected by the distortion of history."

Sasuke: "That means he was originally a different person who never existed."

Mai: "Isn't that impossible?"

(How can one person's existence change like that?)

Sasuke: "I can't say it's impossible. There's always the unexpected."

Sasuke: "Have you noticed anything unusual around you since the wormhole stopped appearing?"

Mai: "Unusual?"

Mai: “Oh, after the attack on Azuchi Castle, the book I brought from the future turned weird.”

Mai: “It was a travel guide, which had some historical info in it, but right now, most of the pages are blank.”

Mai: “It was as if the future had disappeared.”

Sasuke: “I see. That would explain why I can no longer observe wormholes.”

Sasuke: “Then, to return to our original time, we first have to deal with the distortion.”

Knock, knock.

Mai: "-----!"

Subordinate's voice: "Have you finished carrying the package?"

Sasuke: "Ah, yes. Safely."

Subordinate's voice: "I see. Then I'll walk you to the door."

(Looks like he's on the lookout.)

When I blinked at him, Sasuke immediately understood and replied cheerfully while quickly writing something on a piece of paper he had taken out of his pocket.

Sasuke: "Thank you very much."

Sasuke: "Well then, miss, I'm leaving. I look forward to working with you again."

Mai: "Yes, it's my pleasure."

I accepted the note he laid on the table, and just as I crumpled it up to hide it in my hand, the door opened.

Kicho's subordinate: "This way, please."

Sasuke: "Yes."

I looked over at Sasuke, resisting the urge to wave my hand.

After confirming the two had left, I gently unfolded the crumpled-up paper.

"Anyway, there may be some serious things ahead. I'll come back to you again. Until then, please take care."

(Serious things, huh?)

(I finally have a chance to get in touch with Mitsuhide, thanks to Sasuke, but there are more mysteries to solve.)

That rainy night, I finally felt grounded, and my vague sense of self took shape when Kicho told me I should just live as me no matter what.

(Is there anything in this world that didn't exist originally?)

(If so, when everything goes back to the way it was, will it be as if it never existed again?)

Kicho: "That's all for today."

Mai: "Okay.”

Kicho: "............"

Mai: "What is it?"

Kicho: "That's what I want to ask. What happened while I was away?"

Mai: "Eh, is something wrong with me?"

Kicho: "You have dark circles under your eyes. Are you having trouble sleeping?"

(As expected, he's sharp as a tack.)

Mai: "My sewing tools and fabrics arrived the other day, and I got caught up in making clothes."

Mai: "I know staying up late is not good, so I'll be careful."

Kicho: "Yeah, it's not worth it if you hurt yourself. It's best to do it in moderation."

(To be honest, I haven't even come up with a design yet because I don't know what to make.)

(I can't talk to him about it, hence the lie.) 

For the past few days since my encounter with Sasuke, I couldn't stop thinking about what I had heard.

I found myself worrying about his every move more than ever and ended up thinking about a lot of things at night.

(In the first place, if there's a historical distortion involved, he may not even be aware of it, and it's probably none of his business.)

Kicho: "By the way, I have one more thing to tell you."

Kicho: "We're going to have a banquet here at the trading post in two weeks to get acquainted with our business partners."

Kicho: "No, I think it would be better to call it a party."

Mai: "I could kind of imagine it. Can I help with the preparations?"

Kicho: "Yeah. You're quick to catch on."

He nodded briefly and took a few papers from his desk drawer.

Kicho: "Here is a summary of what I need."

Kicho: "We don't have much time, so we'll have to split up the work with the others."

Mai: "What about the business meetings?"

Kicho: "I'll head to one tomorrow alone."

(Alone.)

Mai: "Then, we'll be working separately for a while."

Kicho: "Also, I'm not going to have my men watch you 24/7."

Kicho: "As long as you don't make any suspicious movements, there is no need to be so worried."

Mai: "What?"

Kicho: "You looked bothered just now. I just thought you were worried about the surveillance."

Mai: "No, it's not that一Oh."

I involuntarily turned around to escape his gaze.

(Was I feeling lonely just now?)

(Nah, there's no way. Maybe he's right. Maybe I was just worried about the surveillance.)

Kicho: "Mai, what's wrong?"

Mai: "N-Nothing!"

Mai: "More importantly, um, I'm gonna get ready for today's work. Excuse me!"

Without making eye contact, I left the room in a hurry.

Mai: "*sigh* That surprised me."

I put my hand on my forehead and took a deep breath.

(Anyway, let's go to work.)

Then, without seeing Kicho much, I began to spend my days running around preparing for the event.

Mai: "Is that the guy?"

Kicho's subordinate: "Probably. It's easy to tell when he's dressed like that."

Mai: "Right. I'll go talk to him then."

(I still get nervous when I'm with other people.)

(Until now, I've mostly been working with Kicho.)

I came to the port today with his men to get the necessary supplies for the party.

Hiding my tense appearance, I hurried over to our business partner, wearing a tall hat.

Mai: "Hello. Um, here, please."

When I handed him the letter that Kicho had written for him, he smiled, nodded, then beckoned me to come over and walk on.

Mai: "They have some stuff over there. Let's go."

Kicho's subordinate: "Yeah."

(I can't believe he's already made all the arrangements.)

(We worked every day and night, so when did he start preparing all this?)

Thinking of him, I looked at the man walking ahead of me.

(Still, it's fun to see all these fancy-looking clothes.)

(I bet the people attending the party will wear something nice, too.)

(I wonder what Kicho plans to wear.)

Mai: "Right!"

Kicho's subordinate: "Is something wrong?"

Mai: "Yes, I've finally decided on the design."

Kicho's subordinate: "Design?"

Mai: "Um, I mean the style of the kimono."

Mai: "Hey, can I ask you for some help?"

That night.

Kicho: "What's the matter with you guys? Why are you in a hurry?"

Kicho's subordinate 1: "Before you return to your room, can I have a moment of your time?"

Kicho's subordinate 2: "It'll only take a moment, so please remain standing."

Kicho's subordinate 3: "Excuse me!"

Kicho: "Hey, what are you suddenly wrapping around me?"

Kicho's subordinate 4: "Don't worry about it. We'll remove it as soon as we finish the measurement."

Kicho's subordinate 2: "This one is complete. How are the others?"

Kicho's subordinate 3: "Done."

Kicho's subordinate 1: "This one is also complete."

Kicho's subordinate 4: "Then I'll take them and report back to Lady Mai tomorrow."

Kicho: "Mai?"

Kicho's subordinate 2: "Thank you for your cooperation, Lord Kicho. We apologize for troubling you."

Kicho’s subordinate 2: "Well, please excuse us!"

Kicho: "Hey, you guys...!"

Before Kicho could call out to them, his subordinates quickly left.

Kicho, who remained there alone, looked at the door of Mai's room at the end of the hallway with a look of dismay.

Kicho: "I didn't expect you to order around my men in just a few days."

Kicho: "What the hell are you up to?"

One week later.

(Yup, it looks pretty good!)

Comparing the design with the finished material, I pulled my sewing kit next to me.

(All I have to do is sew the rest and make adjustments as I go along.)

(I really appreciated their cooperation.)

His men were willing to help me when I asked them to get his measurements for the clothes.

(They weren't as scary as I thought they would be when I talked to them.)

(Just like Kicho.)

(I haven't seen him for about a week, but I hope he's okay.)

I imagined his face and felt a little sad.

(Anyway, I'll do whatever I can to finish this before the party next week.)

(If I do it on my breaks, I'm sure I can finish it.)

Mai: "Crap, it's this late already!?"

Remembering my promise, I rushed out of the room.

Mai: "Thank you for your cooperation. I really appreciate it."

Merchant: "No, this is nothing. Merchants help each other from time to time."

(He's so kind.)

Today, I visited a merchant we met along the way to borrow some supplies for the party at a warehouse near the main street.

Merchant: "The tablewares are on that shelf, and the vases and picture scrolls are over there."

Merchant: "Next is一sorry, there are too many things to keep track of."

Merchant: "The items stored in this warehouse are not particularly meant to be used, so please take them as you like."

Mai: "Okay, thank you very much."

Merchant: "By the way, I heard that Lord Kicho is coming today."

Mai: "He's busy right now, so I'm taking his place."

Merchant: "I see. He really trust you."

Mai: "I don't know about that."

(Sometimes it's because they don't trust you that they keep you around.)

(But I don't think I should say that here.)

Mai: "Don't worry. Even if he's not here, I'll do my best. Huh?"

Before I knew it, something cold touched my neck, and as soon as I looked at it, I saw him holding something shiny.

(A knife!?)

Mai: "Why?"

Merchant: "Sorry, but a businessman needs information to make a profit."

Merchant: "See, I told you before. We need to help each other from time to time."

Mai: "I don't have any information. I'm only一"

Merchant: "Shut up!"

Mai: "............"

I could feel the coldness of the knife as he put more force into it.

(What should I do? Kicho's subordinates aren't here yet.)

The man had a scary glint in his eyes, as if he believed that what he was doing was the right thing, with not the slightest hint of hesitation.

(I don't think I can buy some time.)

(I have to handle this myself!)

I quickly stepped back, put my hand on the shelf, and knocked it down forcefully.

Merchant: "Whoa!"

Crash!

Mai: "I'm Kicho's secretary, but no matter what I am, I will never do what you say!"

Merchant: "Guh, you cheeky little shit! Hey, you guys, come out here right now!"

(Are there more people outside!?)

(Then I can't escape.)

???: "Yeah, I was going to come out even if you didn't tell me."

Mai: "Huh?"

Kicho: "It looks like you gave my secretary a great deal of hospitality."

Mai: "Kicho!"

A graceful silhouette holding a pistol emerged against the light shining into the warehouse.

Kicho: "Your buddies outside are in no condition to be of any use anymore."

Kicho: "Get that girl over here now, or I'll shoot you."

Merchant: "Damn it!"

Mai: “Ah!”

He pushed me hard in the back, and before I had time to catch myself, a blinding pain resonated through my entire body as I fell to the ground.

Mai: “Ugh...”

Kicho: “Mai!”

Kicho immediately ran to me while the man rushed to the doorway, smiling wryly at us.

(Don’t tell me he’s...)

Merchant: “Later, losers!”

Mai: “W-Wait!”

I frantically shouted, only to be answered by the sound of a door being closed, followed by the sound of a lock.

(What to do? We’re trapped.)

Mai: “Sorry for causing you trouble.”

Kicho: “............”

Mai: “Kicho?”

I looked up with my hands on the floor and saw him breathing shallow breaths, and his face was so pale.

Mai: “Um, are you okay?”

Kicho: “Yeah, I’m fine.”

Mai: “Yeah, you’re not okay.”

He immediately turned away from me, but I could see a bit of sweat trickling down his forehead.

Mai: "Are you hurt somewhere? Or are you feeling sick from all the work you've been doing the past few days?"

Kicho: "No, none of the above. It's because of this situation."

Kicho: "I have to get out of here as soon as possible."

Kicho frowned as he fell on one knee, clutching his collar.

(His hands are shaking, and his breathing is becoming more frantic.)

(Is there anything I can do?)

Mai: "You stay put. I'll find a way out."

I got up and walked around the warehouse, relying on the little light I could see.

However, there was no place to go in or out except for the closed door.

I tried opening it, but it was locked from the outside.

(I don't think I can do anything about it from here. At least, if someone passes by一no, what if it's a guard?)

Mai: "Kicho, we need to find a way to get out of here."

Just as I turned around, his shadow slid out of its position.

Kicho: ".............."

Mai: "Kicho!"

I ran to him and supported his body as he fell to the floor.

Just listening to the sound of his weak breathing made me feel suffocated.

(What's wrong with him?)

Kicho: "...ive…"

Mai: "What?"

Kicho: "I want to live."

Previous Part╏Masterlist╏Premium

#ikemen sengoku #ikesen kicho #ikesen kichou #ikesen jp #ikesen #ikesen spoilers #cybird #ikesen translations

[estravens-tits]

Hi! I would like to thank you for posting about this book daily, I desperately need content. I have no idea how asks work, but I am curious: when did you first read the book? How many times have you read it? What other Hainish books have you read? Have a nice day!

Thanks for the ask! This turned into a personal midnight rambling, so sorry for the length.

I spent a full year with The Left Hand of Darkness on my to-do list. In the span of that I actually picked up the book and read the first 10 pages on two separate occasions. And then promptly forgot about it. (Luckily I keep to-do lists all around me or nothing would get done.)

I finally read it this May because I had just graduated college and was worn-out after a week of entertaining relatives and fielding questions about when I'm going to get married and what I'm going to do with the rest of my life. I needed a few days to be in another world.

There's some things that you read really fast because you need to see the culmination at the end as soon as possible. And there's some things you read slowly because the experience of the book feels just as important as the ending. The Left Hand of Darkness was supposed to be a short distraction but it ended up taking 2 weeks to read because I needed it for that long.

There's usually an exact moment when I KNOW a book is going to stick with me. For The Left Hand of Darkness, it was in Chapter 6 when Estraven is laying in an Orgota hospital bed, shoeless, homeless, and half dead after his narrow escape from Karhide. An Orgota inspector comes to question him to discern if he should be sent to a Voluntary Farm, but Estraven cannot bring himself to care enough to answer, even though these questions are crucial to his continued living. When asked about his future in Orgoreyn, Estraven simply laughs in the face of the Inspector. When asked how he will return to Karhide, he responds "By coffin."

This scene isn't the lowest point in the book, but I think it IS Estraven's lowest point. He is freshly cut off from everything he loves with no hope of returning and not even the clothes on his back to bring into his new life. It's the only time Estraven, a normally meticulous planner, has absolutely no plans for the future and is so tired of trying to make them that he just gives up and laughs instead.

Though in a very different situation, I felt a weariness of my own while waiting in the lull between college and the rest of life. I was tired of working for a future that never materialized. I no longer had the strength to keep fielding off the urge to just give up, lay down, and die.

There is one thing conspicuously absent in Estraven's life: regret. He does not think about things that could have been different, simply accepts the present and moves forward. In those two weeks of reading, I made a plan for what to do next. Or rather, I stopped thinking that the ideas I already had needed to be perfect before they could be implemented. Because no matter what I plan, things will not turn out the way I want them to. My future will never be what I expect. I have made an uneasy peace with that. Failures are inevitable but my regret about them doesn't have to be.

I would estimate I've read The Left Hand of Darkness 2 times since May, mostly through going back to highlight a section, which turned into reading the whole chapter. Le Guin's ideas have helped me consolidate my own. I have come to believe that uncertainty is a fact of life. But more than that, I am capable of surviving uncertainty, living in it, and enjoying life despite and because of it.

I actually haven't read of Le Guin's other books yet because I think it will be good to have them waiting for another time when I need them. Something to look forward to in the future.

#the left hand of darkness #tlhod #ursula k. le guin #therem harth rem ir estraven #lhod #left hand of darkness #ursula le guin

[thetreetzar]

asks 1-49

(no pressure I just thought youd enjoy answeing all of them bc I certainly do, also im genuinely curious)

Thank you!

This is a lot, so I'll put it under a cut

1. I kind of get freckles in the summer

2. I like tea and coffee. I like milk and sugar in both, but really only like coffee if it has loads of sugar.

3. Talking in Your Sleep from the FNAF movie

4. Not sure how I sleep. I seem to wiggle around. Once managed to very nicely unbury a blanket and correctly position it in my sleep

5. I sometimes will have stuffies on my bed

6. I prefer drawing silly little doodles

7. 1-3 blankets. Need a weighted blanket and then I'll have a quilt/blanket or two if it is cold

8. Favorite bands/artist are The Longest Johns, Uamee, and Hozier

9. My birthday is July 19th

10. I am 5 feet tall

11. My eyes are blue/green/grey-ish but I just say blue on my ID

12. My mutuals (especially June), My in-person friends, and Tom Scott

13. Changes in routine, not being able to live on my own, the future, <hj>the kids at my school</hj>

14. I like blue

15. I love winter and snow and the cold (I overheat too easily for other seasons)

16. I would love to have tattoos. Maybe like a trans thing on my thigh and definitely some nonsensical little guys

17. I think piercings would be fun. I have kind of thought about angel bites/fangs, industrial/helix, eyebrow, and septum. (I would not turn down those spin for a free piercing things)

18. The last person I've texted is my dad

19. My best (and longest) friend is Momo. I've known them since September 2014.

20. I miss Toys R Us, ketchup chips, and some friends I've lost touch with

21. My day has been good. I am making progress in cleaning

22. I got maybe like 6 hours of sleep last night

23. Aliens probably exist somewhere in the universe

24. I don't remember when the last time I cried was, but I'm pretty sure it had something to do with my parents arguing and my brother and I being in the middle of it (my parents are restarting marriage counseling soon, don't worry)

25. I liked 2005-2010, it was nice being a little kid

26. Childish things I like include kids meals, the fun stuff made for babies, baby snacks like the puffs and Cheetos

27. I like too many books, but Louise Jenson is a great author, Because Internet was great, and I'm currently reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series

28. How am I? Absolutely terrified of graduating high school and being a Real Adult™️ 😀

29. Oh it can take forever for me to decide things. My strategy is that if it passes peer review and/or still seems like a good idea after a week or two than I should do it

30. I am looking forward to duck club on thursdays

31. I can't wait to get top surgery! (Hope to get it before 26 so I can still be on my parent's insurance)

32. If I could go anywhere, I'd go to Toys R Us/Canada and to visit my friends and mutuals

33. I sleep with the door closed because my cat Loki is not to be trusted

34. I like roses (trans flower) and sunflowers (tasty seeds)

35. I derive great serotonin from my mutuals <3

36. I like my middle name, now that I've chosen it myself

37. I love all animals

38. I don't think I have any proper phobias, just a lot of anxiety

39. It is easy for me to stay up late, however I can no longer be fine staying up late and getting up early the next day

40. I haven't really been to the beach. I prefer partly cloudy, like sunny but not hot or too warm

41. My favorite cartoon is Natural Habitat Shorts

42. Five of my favorite blogs are @one-time-i-dreamt @alltimemathhater @70snasagay @hrkrkrwpfrbrbrlablblblblwhitooap @shiftythrifting (sorry if being tagged in this annoyed anyone)

43. I have a younger brother

44. Probably my friends and mutuals are the last people I've said "I love you" to

45. I'd die for my pets, friends, and mutuals

46. I need a weighted blanket and probably also a snack when I'm sad

47. I have both my cell and landline numbers memorized

48. I feel I could trust my friends Momo and Vennie with my life

49. The last text I sent is asking where my dad parked

Thank you for the ask, and for reading this far if you have

#<3 #asks

[ollieofthebeholder]

to find promise of peace (and the solace of rest): a TMA fanfic

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] || Also on AO3

Chapter 14: December 2005

Something’s wrong and Gerard knows it.

In all fairness, it’s pretty obvious. Martin’s name wasn’t even on the program, let alone him not being at the concert, and the place they’ve lived since the wedding is currently occupied by two yuppies and a Doberman. But even beyond that, Gerard just has a…sense that something is off.

The trouble is that he doesn’t know what he can do about it. Or how to fix it.

He’s tried everything he can think of…well, almost everything. He’s checked the phone book, but it still lists their old address; he’s tried asking at a few places, but none of the people there have seen Liliana or Roger; he’s wandered aimlessly around London, but that was always going to be a shot in the dark. He’s even taken his life into his hands and gone to the Magnus Institute to see about trading a statement for an address, but the Archivist and two of her assistants were out, leaving only a too-eager young man who, somehow, doesn’t seem to have the faintest idea of what he’s in the middle of. Gerard doesn’t have the heart to clue him in, despite his personal feelings on people being involved in this shit without their knowledge or consent, so he writes out a “statement” he’s pretty sure he cribbed from a pub song and pretends not to understand when the guy turns fuchsia after an awkward, fumbling attempt at flirting.

He’s cute, actually, and doesn’t look like he’s much older than Gerard, but since he doesn’t intend to stay in London longer than it takes to collect his brother and sister, he won’t be using the number scrawled on the back of the business card.

There is one other option, Gerard supposes, but he doesn’t want to do it. At all. If he walks back into his mother’s shop, she’ll have him again. And he’s got away. He doesn’t have to be in London anymore. Yes, the world is full of ignorance and stupidity and fear and people doing awful and terrible and thoughtless things in the face of it, but it is also full of fresh bread and comfortable armchairs and art museums and brightly-colored poisonous frogs. And he can see it, he can experience it all for himself, and maybe he can finally get a job he wants instead of running errands for his mother. He can be an artist, or a photographer, or a journalist. He can become a train porter or a flight attendant or a steward on a cruise ship. He can be a homeless drifter and get by on the kindness of others. He can fuck off to the Eurasian Steppes and live in a yurt. Anything is possible, as long as he stays away from Pinhole Books.

He sighs and looks at the business card again. Gods above, the guy drew a winking face in the tail of the Y in his last name, he couldn’t be more obvious if he tried. Gerard should just throw it away, but instead, he tucks it into the back of his pack of Woodbines, shakes one out, and cups a hand around the end to light it.

“Those things’ll kill you, you know.”

Gerard almost swallows the cigarette. He whirls around to see Melanie standing a couple feet away, hands on her hips, denim jacket open enough to expose the college logo on her sweatshirt and looking thoroughly unimpressed.

“Neens!” Gerard drops the cigarette and barely remembers to grind it out with a heel before he steps forward, arms outspread for a hug. Melanie practically leaps at him, throwing her arms around his neck and nearly pulling him over. “What are you doing here?”

“Could ask you the same thing. I thought you were gone for good.” Melanie drops to the ground and looks up at him accusingly. “Aunt Mary said you’d said you weren’t coming back.”

“I’m not staying. I just came to visit.” Gerard looks Melanie up and down. “Came to see you and Martin. I figured you’d be home for the holidays.”

A strange look comes over Melanie’s eyes. “Yeah. Home for the holidays.”

Anxiety tugs at Gerard. That sense of wrong flares up again, and he studies Melanie again. “What’s wrong? You didn’t get kicked out, did you?”

“No, but—” Melanie breaks off and lifts a hand. “Hey. Look what the cat dragged in.”

Gerard turns around and grins. “Hey, Martin.”

“Gerry?” Martin looks dumbfounded. He’s wearing a jumper Gerard can tell he knitted himself—mostly because he bought him the wool last Christmas—over a button-up and a pair of khakis, a leather messenger bag slung over his shoulder, and he’s made a pathetic attempt at growing facial hair that doesn’t suit him. “I—y-you were supposed to be gone, I thought you finally got away!”

“You didn’t think I was going to miss spending Christmas with you two, did you?” Gerard steps forward and hugs Martin tightly; Martin hugs him back, maybe a little desperately.

“If you go back to that shop, she won’t let you leave,” Martin mumbles in his ear.

“Yeah, that wasn’t my plan.” Gerard releases Martin and steps back.

Melanie comes forward to give Martin a hug, too. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine. How are…things?”

“Okay. Dad’s having a better day. I fixed dinner for him and Lily and said we were going to go skating at the National History Museum.” Melanie shrugs. “We don’t have to do that if you don’t want to, but at least it means they aren’t expecting us home for a bit.”

Gerard grins and waggles his eyebrows at them. “Great! If they’re not expecting you for a while, c’mon. We can be halfway to the Continent before they miss you.”

Martin laughs, but it sounds tired. “Skating sounds fun, but I need something to eat first, I think. I didn’t get a chance to grab lunch today.” He reaches under the collar of his jumper and tugs—is that a necktie? “There’s, um, everything around here is kind of expensive, actually, but—”

“No, wait, hang on,” Gerard interrupts. “What are you even doing up this way? Where is ‘home’ anyway? I went by your place and someone else was living there…”

“Yeah, we had to move over the summer. I didn’t quite meet the income requirements for the rent.” Martin sighs and rolls up the tie before stuffing it in his bag.

“Inc—you’re a student!” Gerard throws his hands up. “What income requirements can they expect out of you? And why you?”

Melanie folds her arms over her chest. “Told you he’d throw a fit.”

“Yeah, imagine how he’d react if I let you have your way,” Martin shoots back.

“You shouldn’t have to make all the sacrifices!”

“And what would be the point of you giving it all up if—”

“What. Is. Going. On,” Gerard says emphatically.

Melanie’s scowl deepens. “Dad got fired.”

A chill runs through Gerard’s body. He looks over at Martin, who nods silently. “So…what, you had to get a seasonal job to help out? Surely Mum’s not so stingy she wouldn’t pay Aunt Lily more. She needs her, after all.”

“Apparently not. Mum’s not doing well either, Ger. She…I don’t know. I think she’s been Touched, but I’m honestly afraid to Look.” Martin looks away from Gerard, out over the river. “Anyway, she can’t work any more. And Aunt Mary said she didn’t need my help when I offered to take over.”

“She probably just meant she didn’t need you part time,” Gerard says. “What with you being away at school and all.”

“You don’t get it, do you?” Martin says quietly. “I’m not going to school anymore. I dropped out. Someone has to support the family, and if it had to be one of us, it had to be me.”

“It should be both of us,” Melanie says pointedly. “I could’ve—”

“Look, as hard as it was for me to find anything without a degree, it would’ve been harder for you and you know it,” Martin cuts her off, with the tone of someone retreading a well-worn argument. “This is the best option. Trust me.”

Gerard stares at them both, feeling the bottom drop out of his world. He left home—he thought for good—ten months ago, secure in the knowledge that Martin and Melanie were free. They’d both done well for themselves in school, both achieving places in colleges outside of London. They had futures, they had their whole lives ahead of them, and Gerard knew that for the first time, all of them were away from his mother and Martin’s and the lives they’d tried to trap them in.

But if Martin dropped out…

“Hang on,” he says slowly, dread creeping up his spine. “Where are you working around here? One of the shops or—?” He freezes, looking across the street at the looming, imposing building he was just in a few minutes ago. “No. Don’t tell me—”

“Just the library,” Martin says, but the defeat in his voice is obvious.

“Martin Blackwood.”

“Look, it’s not like I had a choice. Nobody was hiring, and I mean nobody. I’d picked up a bit of change working at the tea shop again, but that wasn’t…we didn’t have much of a grace period on rent, you know?” Martin sighs heavily. “Everybody wanted degrees, o-or experience or…I had to do something.”

“You lied on your CV,” Gerard guesses.

“And the Magnus Institute was the only place I could successfully fake the credentials they were looking for,” Martin agrees. “Or, well…I mean, I’m pretty sure Mr. Bouchard knows the truth, but he hired me anyway.”

Gerard swallows hard against the lump in his throat. “So…you’re working for them after all.”

“Yeah.” Martin lowers his eyes and turns away. “Guess so.”

The glare Melanie shoots Gerard is almost enough to burn holes in his leather duster, but he doesn’t need her to do that to know he’s fucked up. A sickly spiral of guilt swirls in his gut, and he steps forward and takes Martin’s arm, not really turning him to face him, but just kind of maintaining contact. Letting him know he’s there.

“Hey,” he says softly. “No, I—I didn’t mean it like that, Martin, I just—God, l thought you two were safe. I would never have left if I’d…i-if I’d known you were in trouble, I’d have come back in a heartbeat. I hate that you’re stuck. And it’s my fault.”

“It’s not. It just…it just happened.” Martin wipes his eyes and looks at Gerard. “Knowing you and Neens made it out…that’s enough for me.”

Melanie’s snort echoes off the surrounding buildings. “You don’t think we’re going to leave you to this, do you? I told you before, when you were worrying about whether you’d even get into that program, that I wasn’t going to go off and get away from this if you couldn’t. I’m not dropping out because you’ll kick my ass—”

��Damn right—”

“—but I’m not going to stop helping, either,” Melanie concludes. “Fuck it. If you’re in it, I’m in it. Not like they’ll let me stay away forever anyway. Might as well make them regret it, right?”

Martin gives her a small, watery, but genuine smile. Gerard takes a deep breath and squeezes Martin’s arm. “She’s right. One for all and all for one, yeah? I told you last time I wouldn’t leave without you, so if you can’t leave…I won’t, either.”

“You’re not going back to your mum, though, right?” Melanie’s voice is sharp, but her eyes are worried.

Gerard smiles, and doesn’t answer. His mother isn’t gifted with prophecy or anything, but she knows him, and his brother and sister to a certain extent, and he wouldn’t be surprised to find out this is why she refused to hire Martin full-time. She knows how he feels about them, and knowing Martin is trapped at the Institute is going to be the perfect cat’s-paw to get him back under her thumb for good.

“Come on,” he says, looping his arm through Melanie’s and pulling both of them closer. “Let’s go get something to eat. My treat. And then I think you mentioned ice-skating.”

One last moment, he thinks. One last taste of freedom before he puts his neck back in the yoke to be worked to death. He can do this. It’s fine.

It’s worth it. It has to be.

#ollie writes fanfic #to find promise of peace (and the solace of rest) #gerard keay #melanie king #martin blackwood #manipulation cw #smoking cw #guilt cw

[llycaons]

ep23 (pt 2): I think I'm a lxc hater now

in the book, I don't think this conversation happens. all the sects are equally guilty of the atrocities that are to come. but this scene establishes lxc and nmj as Good guys, if a bit misguided. the cruelties we see later are all that evil jgs and jgy's doing

I actually don't care about this change because I don't hold the moral ambiguity or the original purpose of the novel sacred, but this scene does make me want to weep because it didn't HAVE to be this way!! lxc and nmj could have pushed a little harder, questioned a little more, overseen the process more responsibly!! they were not advocating for genocide!! they were LEADERS they could have done something!

'another ambitious person' he's already thinking of wwx and planting the seeds of doubt

like THIS! guys! why were you so quick to agree to IMPRISONMENT???? lxc! why so trusting! you idiot!

it's bc he cares about jgy too much on a personal level to doubt him now. also he's guided by his desires - he WANTS to believe in jgy since he already cares about him

STOP DOING YOUR STUPID INTRICATE RITUALS IN FRONT OF THE PEOPLE YOU'VE JUST DOOMED TO WORK CAMPS I HATE YOU

and THESE people don't even get that chance! they've murdered in this very room! bc jgy wants to make his dad proud, I guess! fuck all his defenders he did not HAVE to become a mass murderer 'oh he wanted respect uwu' WELL I THINK THOSE PEOPLE PROBABLY WANTED TO LIVE THEIR LIVES

oh we know that cliff

holy shit I wrote a whole meta post about this very concept. HA. I KNEW it

this scene is so fucking chilling

like bar none this is one of the most disturbing scenes in the show. heavy-handed and unsubtle it may be, but it's sure as hell effective. and it somehow manages to not make the people murdering innocent civilians the real victims here. I hate american war films. don't watch oppenheimer

also, I don't think that's a-yuan. too big. but god, isn''t that what he wears? there may be only one child in this entire sect

this shot lingers on lwj way longer than it lingers on wwx, who gets to work playing cleansing immediately for the souls of the recently murdered. what's lwj thinking? is he taken aback by what they just saw in ways wwx is too jaded to be? is he starting to get concerned about the power of the jins? is he taking a moment to honor the dead?

I really like this shot! it's lovely and symmetrical

this is also kind of ghastly. once they killed or captured the wens, they move into their seat of power and demonstrate their command over it

lots to observe here

jyl's dress is GORGEOUS

there are female cultivators in the first row. how about that!

all the jiangs are wearing white sashes in mourning

jgs has just lamented the fact that he and jfm are now 'separated by death'

he's stepped forward to clap jc on the shoulder in a very awkward paternal gesture he probably meant to be encouraging, but given that jc had probably never had that interaction from his real father, perhaps he has only confused and frightened him

jgy doesn't quite get happy when this is announced, but he does get more eager and attentive, in the way that I associate with dogs whose names are called

hey! the first line for lan cultivators are women too!

and then there's this entire conversation happening. lwj does that thing where he looks at wwx meaningfully then casts his eyes down (happens ALL the time) as he retreats from whatever situation he's found himself in and declines to speak. wwx looks like he wants to say something and is interrupted

AND THE SAME FOR THE NIES. all the sects said we have exactly four female cultivators and they WILL be up front. wait the nies may have 6. cannot tell

jgy needing this reminder? don't buy it. he's too smart. I do not believe he genuinely forgot. in fact, iirc he has photographic memory and that's why he was able to send map info so well. I do not trust him!! this is definitely another ploy to look hapless and humble to lxc, his protector, and the others, his enemies

ppl have said lwj tossing his hair behind him here is wyb breaking character. I say why can't lwj be a little fussy and dramatic about his hair

he is also sitting completely alone in a corner by himself hashtag autistic icon

hate to say it but sect leader yao is KILLING in those robes. what a gorgeous color

and of course fucking jgs comes in propping himself up as the new head of the sects, sitting there to make a grand declaration. citing his long friendship with jfm, his desire to look after jfm's daughter, etc. etc., cultivators and sect leaders seem to really like jgs and I assume he must be personally quite charismatic because he is a sack of shit as we well know. now there is a character easily transferred to a modern AU. lecherous, misogynistic, popular, and power-hungry rich old men who are heads of organizations are very common today as well

look how concerned jyl looks! she doesn't want to be forced into making a decision this soon or this publicly, especially not when their political situation is so tenuous

jc is actually doing pretty well as a tactful sect leader in this episode, appropriately humble and polite while maintaining the air of dignity he needs to. and this is good thinking from him, just not fast enough. wwx is about to barge in dramatically to solve their problems, as he is wont to do, but the episode ends here on a very strange cliffhanger

personal highlights

wrh coming out of his palace all in a tizzy

"we, of course, have come from hell"

intimate red underrobe music session

the scenery and music of the massacre contrasting with the corpses all around them WOW

the political games of the banquet between jgs, jgy, lxc, jc, jyl, etc.

the costumes!!!

wwx coming in right at the end, but his best scene is next episode

#cql re-rewatch

[sequinsmile-x]

Hiraeth - Chapter 5

(n) a homesickness for a home to which you cannot return, a home which maybe never was; the nostalgia, the yearning, the grief for the lost places of your past.

Straight back off of their honeymoon, Aaron and Emily return to a case that could change things forever.

Chapters 1/2/3/4/5/6

(This is now 6 chapters)

-x-

Words: 4.3k

Warnings: Canon typical violence

Read over on Ao3, or below the cut

Aaron wakes up suddenly, sitting up in bed quickly as he heaves in a breath. His lungs burning with it, panic settling where the air should be. His chest is tight, constricting as he tries and struggles to breathe. 

It was hot. Stuffy. The air thicker than it usually was. And he felt like the walls were closing in on him

“Aaron?”

He startles, forgetting in his post nightmare haze where he was, that he wasn’t alone. He rarely was alone anymore. 

Emily is sitting next to him, a tired look on her face that was almost entirely masked by concern. She reaches out for him but hesitates, her hand stopping just a few inches from his shoulder. 

“Nightmare?” She asks, her voice as soft as it had been when she said his name, flashing him a sympathetic smile when he nods in response, still trying to level his breathing out. 

It was a common feature in their household, the two of them and Jack all prone to them, their real life monsters mixing with their subconscious. 

“Too hot.” He chokes out, wondering why he felt like his body temperature was somehow increasing. 

“I’ll put the aircon up.” Emily says, getting out of bed and turning on a light, quickly making it to the dial on the wall, the aircon unit kicking into life as she turns to look at him. 

The combination of the light and the cool air kicks his brain fully back into gear, and he remembers where he is. On his honeymoon, in Hawaii, with his wife. He groans as he checks the time on the clock on the wall behind Emily. They’d had, maybe, two hours sleep since they’d fallen into their very comfortable hotel bed together, fresh from a shared shower and pleasantly worn out. 

He looks back at Emily, who is still as naked as she was when they slipped into bed, as she’s walking back towards him.

“You should take a picture,” she jokes softly, sitting next to him, finally reaching out to touch him, her hand tangling with his, “it will last longer.” 

He heaves out a dry chuckle. “I might just do that.” 

She smiles at him before she tilts her head slightly, breaking their long standing rule not to profile each other and reading him like a book. It was easy for her, like he was her favourite novel that she returned to frequently, the cover worn and the spine cracked from use, pages and pages that she could recite without trying. 

“Want to talk about it?” She asks softly, her hand drifting up to cup his face, her thumb delicate against his skin. He nods and she smiles, leaning forward to kiss him, and she lies down wordlessly, guiding him to lay down with her, his head cushioned on her chest. 

He holds her tightly, the warmth of her skin, the feeling of her rising chest, her expanding ribcage, grounding him. The final reminder he needed that his nightmare hadn’t been real. 

“It was Foyet.” He says quietly, holding her a little closer as she scratched at his scalp. “I was at the old house and he was dead, and I went upstairs. But instead of Haley I…it wasn’t her.” 

She closes her eyes and sighs, knowing he didn’t need to say the rest. It was what he usually dreamt about, losing her in the same way he had lost Haley. An underlying fear that he had never voiced, but that she knew about anyway, that he would somehow be at fault for something happening to her too. 

She’d never been able to convince him that what happened to Haley wasn’t his fault, the misplaced guilt always lingering in their lives. Rearing its ugly head when there was a big change, another thing that Haley missed.

“I’m ok, love.” She says, playing with his hair, something she knew relaxed him. “I’m right here.” 

“I know.” He says, turning his head to press a kiss to her collarbone. “I’m sorry for waking you up.” 

“For a start, I was laying on top of you and you shot up like you’d been electrocuted.” She jokes, a lightness to her voice that he loved, the very thing that sounded like home to him. “Forget about waking up, it’s a miracle I didn’t get launched across the room,” she laughs, wriggling slightly when he pokes at her ribs in retribution, “and you never have to apologise,” she continues seriously, “I love you. I want to be here for you.” 

He smiles at her, the last bit of the lingering fear melting away. “I love you too.” 

___

For a second there’s silence, and it stretches out for what feels like a lifetime. The sound of the guns being fired still ringing in everyone’s ears, loud and overwhelming until it was swallowed by nothing. Left in the hopeless tranquillity that the room briefly falls into.

Then all hell breaks loose. 

Emily’s ears ring, the sound of two bullets being fired in the enclosed space louder than it would usually seem. She barely hears Derek yelling, his words muffled, as if she was behind glass. She watches as everything happens in slow motion, Elle falling to the ground, her own gun clattering next to her. Her hand clutching her arm where Derek had shot her, his attempt to disarm her successful. The bullet she’d fired, purposely missing everyone, lodges in a wall on the other side of the room. 

“Son of a bitch.” Elle exclaims, the first thing Emily hears as her senses return all at once, time speeding back up so quickly it almost knocks her breathless. “Damn it, Derek. That hurt.” 

Aaron ignores everything else and rushes over to Emily, kneeling in front of her, not caring when he hears the crack of his knees against the ground. He cups her face in his hands, a hand on each cheek as his eyes desperately search hers. He looks for signs of pain or injury, something he was sadly adept at recognising in her, something he wanted nothing more than to protect her from forever.

“Are you ok?” He asks desperately and she nods in response. He leans forward to kiss her quickly before he pulls back, putting everything into it. All the love he worried he’d never be able to give her again. “I love you.”

He ignores everything around them, leaving the rest of the team speaking to the local cops who had entered the room, discussions of crime scene management floating around them. Dave helps Derek get Elle up off the floor to lead her outside, and the inevitable consequences that this case would have on his team are pushed to the back of Aaron’s mind. Emily was all that mattered in that moment. It would be over far too quickly, the responsibilities of his job always lingering, always ready to take back over, so he let himself have it.

Let himself, for a moment, be a man who didn’t have to constantly sacrifice everything he held dear. 

“I love you too.” She replies, flashing him a shaky smile. Adrenaline was still coursing through her veins, battling with her exhaustion in a way that made her tremble. “Can you untie me now?” 

He nods, removing his hands from her face to place them on her wrists instead, pulling at the layers of tape securing her to the arms of the chair. She winces when it pulls at her skin, red raw and sore, burned by the adhesive that had been clinging to her for hours.

“Sorry, sweetheart.” He says as he completely frees her right hand, watching how she clenches and flexes it, an attempt to get some feeling back in it.

“It’s ok,” she replies, smiling tightly at him, “just do it quickly.” 

He nods and does as she asks, watching as she closes her eyes tightly as he pulls off the remainder of the tape, her wince held back this time she knew what to expect. 

“Hotch?” JJ says from the other side of the room, a haunted look in her eyes. Shock that a friend had been the person they were hunting, still barely able to believe it despite seeing it herself. “Derek has taken Elle outside to the paramedics, then he’ll go with the locals to take her to the precinct.” He nods and stands, offering Emily a hand as he does so. “What do you need from us?”

“Can you take point here?” He asks, “I need to take Emily to the hospital to get checked out.” 

“I don’t need the hospital,” Emily says, attempting to stand only to stumble forward, Aaron’s arm catching her around the waist, “I’m fine.” She finishes, a little less fight in her voice. 

“Sure, Em.” Aaron replies indulgently, “but will you go for me?” 

“You’d best do what he says, Em.” JJ adds, smiling at her friend. “It will make it easier on all of us.” 

Emily rolls her eyes at the two of them but concedes. “Fine. But when the doctor immediately sends me home, don't be surprised if I say ‘I told you so’.” 

“Noted.” Aaron deadpans before turning back to look at JJ. “Thanks JJ.”

“Anytime.” She replies. She reaches out to place her hand on Emily’s arm, her lips set in a firm line. “I’m so glad you’re ok.” 

Emily places her hand over her friends and squeezes it. “Thank you.” 

JJ smiles at them both before she turns back around, already talking to Spencer about the next steps. 

Emily looks up at her husband, and feels her heart constrict at the look on his face. The devastation that painted his features, the weight she could almost physically see on his shoulders, forever added to in a way that worried her. She hoped it wouldn’t get to the point where one day he would collapse under the pressure of it, crushed by the weight of what he considered to be his failings. 

She slips her hand into his, linking their fingers together, his wedding band cold against her skin. 

“Come on, honey,” she says, her hand squeezing his slightly, using some of her waning strength to remind him that she was there, that she was safe now. That he’d saved her. “The sooner we go to the hospital and they tell me I’m fine, the sooner we can go home.” 

He nods and leads her out of the room she’d been held in, never letting go of her as they leave the warehouse she didn’t remember entering. As they walk outside the sun is a little too bright and she squints, the pounding that had been slowly building in her head getting worse. 

Once her eyesight adjusts she lets Aaron take her to the ambulance that was waiting for them, a kind looking paramedic smiling at her as they approach. 

She can’t help but look over to the other ambulance where Elle was being treated, Derek standing outside, his back to his former teammate with his arms crossed. Ready to pounce if she made a break for it, like she was in any state physically or mentally to do so. She was sitting on the gurney, barely wincing as the paramedic wrapped her arm temporarily before they head to the hospital. 

Emily sits down as directed by the paramedic, tuning everything out as he takes her blood pressure, only providing one word answers as she looks back at Elle. Their eyes meet, and Emily can’t help but feel sympathy for the other woman, her warped moral code built out of desperation and loneliness. 

She wonders if, in similar circumstances, she would have been capable of the same thing. 

___

Emily sighs, sitting on the hospital bed she’d been led to on her arrival. The medical staff had forced Aaron to stay in the waiting room whilst she was examined. The nurse took a couple of blood tests to check that whatever Elle had injected her with was safe, and Emily was waiting on the results. All she wanted to do was go home, hug her stepson and then fall asleep next to her husband. She wanted to spend time with them, to just sit in their life for as long as they could before the phone rang again. Before danger came calling for them once more, a dance they always found themselves caught up in, anxiety building in her chest that told her one day they wouldn’t be lucky enough to walk away. 

“Agent Prentiss?” 

Emily looks up to see a young nurse standing in front of her and she flashes a tired smile. “Are my results back yet, can I go home?” 

“Not yet, no.” The young woman looks nervous, unsure about something as she clears her throat. “There’s a man out there who keeps demanding to see you. He’s pretty insistent, do you know him?”

Emily shakes her head slightly. “Tall, broody? Dark hair? Looks like he’s got a frown that could turn Medusa herself into stone?” She asks, and she smiles when the nurse nods, looking like a deer caught in headlights. Emily laughs. “Unfortunately, I’m married to him.” She deadpans, and the nurse joins her in her laughter. “You should just send him back here, it will be easier for all of us in the long run.”

The young woman gives her a grateful smile and walks off and Emily blows out a breath as she prepares for Aaron to appear any second. She couldn’t pretend she’d be any different, that she’d accept being told to wait when she knew he was laying somewhere getting medical treatment, no matter how mild it was. He liked to remind her of the time he’d spiked a fever just after they moved in together, a bug he’d picked up from Jack, and how she didn’t sleep for two days to make sure he made it through the worst of it. A constant vigil at his side, as if her love could cure him of anything. 

Sometimes, she thought it could. His love did the same for her. 

She hears his footsteps, familiar and sticking out to her even in the busy hospital. A sound she would recognise anywhere. She looks up as he appears by the bed, the nurse who had gone to get him throwing her a grateful look from behind him before she walks away. 

“Hey honey.” Emily says, reaching out a hand for him, not missing how his eyes fix on the red raw skin of her wrists, the burn the duct tape had left behind. “Come over here.”

Aaron walks over wordlessly, taking her hand and sitting on the edge of the bed next to her. He leans forward and kisses her twice in quick succession, as if he still couldn’t quite believe that she was ok. 

“How are you?” He asks, pulling back and tucking some loose hair behind her ear, his thumb lingering at her cheek. 

“Tired,” she replies softly, smiling at him, “hopefully they’ll let me go soon so I can curl up with you in our bed.” 

He squeezes her hand in his and looks down, inspects her wrists a little closer. “What did they say about that?”

“They are giving me an ointment for the burn, it should clear up in a couple of weeks.” She smiles at him indulgently, the hand that wasn’t tangled up in his curling around his bicep, squeezing it reassuringly. “Aaron, I am fine. I promise.” 

“Em.” He breathes out, all of his love for her, all the fear he had felt since he found her belongings in the parking garage, forced into it. He tries to push it from his lungs but doesn’t succeed, residual panic clogging his airways.

“I know,” she says softly, moving her hand to cup his cheek, leaning forward so her forehead was against his, “I know. We’ll talk about it when we get home, ok?” 

He nods against her, his forehead gently knocking against hers before he pulls her forward into a hug. His hold on her fierce, and she returns it. Giving as good as she got just like she always did. They only pull away when they hear a clearing of a throat, and turn to see a doctor standing at the end of the bed, a smile on her face. 

“Your results are fine, Agent Prentiss.” She says, smiling kindly. “The sedative you were injected with is fairly common, although you were given a high dose. You’ll probably feel groggy for a few days but you will be just fine.” 

“So I can go home?” Emily replies hopefully, wanting to get out of the clothes she’d been wearing for longer than she’d care to think about. A warm shower and her bed calling her name. 

“I have the discharge paperwork right here.” 

“She’s definitely ok?” Aaron asks, his eyebrows creasing together. “She could barely walk when we found her and-”

“Aaron, baby,” Emily interrupts, cutting him off before he convinces someone to make her stay overnight, “I’m ok, and I just want to go home.” She looks between the doctor and Aaron, not missing the amused smile on the other woman's face. “If I get worse at any point you can bring me back here. But now, I really just want to go home with you. Ok?” 

He stares at her for a few moments before he relents, nodding, knowing that was all he really wanted too. 

“Ok.”

___

As she steps out of their ensuite Emily thinks she has never been more grateful for a shower, the warm water and the comfort of being home enough to make her feel more human. She knew she’d only been gone for a matter of hours, less than 12, but it had felt like longer, the minutes stretching out into an age as the team tried to find her. As Elle broke down in front of her.

Emily smiles as she towel dries her hair, spotting that Aaron had laid pyjamas out for her on the bed. They were the ones she would never admit were her favourite, the ones she gravitated towards if she ever needed extra comfort when she was sick or hurt. She changes into them quickly, wanting nothing more than to seek out the man who knew her well enough to know things like that about her. 

The journey home from the hospital had been all but silent. The promise that they would talk about what had happened when they got home lingering in the air. He’d immediately ushered her upstairs to shower when they got into the house, knowing she’d feel more comfortable afterwards, that it was the first thing she wanted to do.

Now all she wanted was him. 

She walks down the stairs, careful footsteps against the hardwood as she hears Aaron talking in the living room. She follows it, the comforting tone of his voice always enticing to her, a tune that always calmed her. A soothing balm in her most difficult moments. He’s sitting on the couch, and he turns as she enters, aware of her presence despite her attempts to be quiet. He flashes her a quick smile before returning his attention to his phone.

“Thanks, JJ,” he says, shifting to turn towards Emily as she sits next to him on the couch, his hand automatically landing on her thigh as if it was magnetised, not a conscious thought. “Keep me up to date. Thanks.” He hangs up and puts his phone on the coffee table before looking at her. “Elle has been released from the hospital and has been charged. Bail is being set tomorrow.” 

He looks antsy, so on edge he was practically vibrating with it, visibly uneasy in a way he never usually showed. 

“If you need to go to the office Aaron I understand.” She says, flashing him a small smile. “I’ll be fine here, I’ll probably just sleep.”

She didn’t want him to go, far from it, but she knew that the job was important, that it was such a big part of him. She fell in love with him at work and it would always be a part of them. Something they couldn’t, and truly didn’t want to, escape. 

“The team has it under control. You’re more important.” He replies firmly, an attempt to leave no room for argument, as if he didn’t know her. 

“Someone who used to work for you is the unsub, that’s not insignificant.” She argues, her hand linking with his on her leg, her thumb against his wrist, trying to trace a soothing pattern.

“And she kidnapped my wife.” He snaps, taking a deep breath when he realises how harsh he has been, his fingers squeezing hers in a silent apology. “That’s not insignificant either.” 

Emily nods in response, relenting on this occasion, knowing it would give them both what they truly wanted. She scoots closer to him, burying herself into his embrace, her damp hair against his neck. He hugs her tightly, an edge of desperation still in his embrace that she knows will take days to fade. Both of them likely to have nightmares about what could have happened over the next few nights, the worst case scenarios never too far out of reach.

“How did you find me?” She asks gently, letting herself breath him as he does the same with her, seeking the comfort that only the other could provide. 

“She dumped your cell phone as she left Quantico,” he explains, his fingers trailing patterns up and down her arm, her skin soft under his calloused fingertips, “we found that pretty quickly, it’s broken so we’ll have to get a new one.” 

“There go my honeymoon photos.” She murmurs, shifting slightly as she rests her head on his shoulder. “I told you we should have uploaded them to the cloud.” 

He looks down at her, one of his eyebrows raised. “And I told you we both know Garcia would hack into it and see things she would never be able to unsee.” 

Emily smothers a laugh into his shirt. “Well, maybe she’d finally learn her lesson.” She sobers and relaxes back into his embrace, letting his warmth envelop her. “What happened after you found my phone?” 

“We spoke to the people who hired her, went through her finances.” He replies, clearing his throat as if he was trying to dislodge the memory of it, the taste of his fear still lingering in his mouth. “Eventually Garcia was able to track the payments she received through all of the accounts the money went through until it hit the one where Elle kept the funds. Garcia then looked at the outgoing payments and there was a receipt for a pharmacy for a prescription of sedatives. Seemingly the ones she used on you.” He says, turning his head to kiss the side of hers, his lips lingering against her skin. “It was near the warehouse. From there it was a process of elimination. We found the car from the CCTV footage outside.” 

She nods against him, the feeling of his fingers still trailing over her arm making her sleepy, her exhaustion slowly taking over. 

“I can’t stop thinking that she wanted to get caught.” Aaron says, “she knows how we work, how we operate. She would have known we would make that connection.” 

“She did want to get caught.” Emily replies, surprising herself at how tired she suddenly sounds, her voice weary. “She knew it was over the second she saw we were on the case.” 

Aaron shifts her so she is looking at him. “Want to talk about it?” 

Emily smiles at him softly. “Yes,” she replies, “but first, I want to sleep.” She leans forward so her forehead is pressing into his chest. “I am so tired.” 

Aaron nods in response and leans over her to get a throw pillow from the corner of the couch, placing it in his lap before he moves her again, encouraging her to place her head in his lap. She briefly resists, looking at him with her brows furrowed.

“You must be tired too.” She says, kissing him briefly, “you won’t have slept.” 

“I’ll be fine, sweetheart.” He says, guiding her into his lap, grateful when she complies this time, too tired to argue. “Jack will be home from school soon, and you should nap before then.” 

She hums as she settles into his lap, turning so she was facing towards him, smiling sleepily at him as his hand immediately cupped the back of her head, his fingers running through her hair. 

“The team are all going to be upset,” she says, her eyes drifting shut, “they love Elle. This will be hard on them.” 

She’s right and he knows it. The ripple effect of Elle’s actions would be far reaching, not just for his team but for the FBI. An ex-agent gone rouge after she was hurt on the job. It would be a PR nightmare, something else to deal with on top of their already hectic work schedule. 

Aaron shushes her, knowing now wasn’t the time to worry about it, his fingers still running through her hair. “We’ll worry about that later, you get some sleep ok?.” 

“Ok.” She replies, almost certainly mostly asleep already. “Love you.” 

He remembers the first time Emily had ever told him she loved him. After everything they had been through it wasn’t grand, there was no declaration of love thrown out during an argument or any big gesture. It was accidental. An automatic return when he said it to her without thinking, his love for her bursting out of him before he could stop it, said against her lips as they said goodbye one evening. A rare night apart. 

Ever since then it has always brought him joy. It felt like a privilege to be loved by her. To love her. Something he was grateful he got to experience. 

For the first time ever, her words, something she often said on the edge of sleep, feel like a dagger to his chest. 

“Love you too.” He chokes out, grateful she’s already asleep by the time he says it and can’t pick up on how the words feel like a curse. 

He loved her, and it could have got her killed.

-x-

Tag list:

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#hotchniss #hotchniss fanfiction #hotchniss fanfic #aaron hotchner fanfiction #emily prentiss fanfiction #hotchniss fan fic #aaron hotchner #emily prentiss #aaron hotchner x emily prentiss

[5sosfanfictioncatalogue]

5SOS + Hogwarts Masterlist

A Little Magical Assistance (ao3) - orphan_account michael/luke, implied calum/ashton G, 9k

Summary: Luke has known for a while that there is someone in the school watching over him and performing silent spells on him so he doesn’t miss the bottom stair and land on his face or lean too far over a banister only to fall and break his neck. It took him longer than it probably should to work it out, and, actually, Luke doesn’t actually realise himself until Ashton points out bluntly that you can only do a trip-fall-sprawl without actually touching the floor a few times before it’s obvious someone has their wand pointed at you, and it’s not just Peeves being abnormally friendly.

Cocoon (ao3) - DracosPubicHair michael/luke M, 19k

Summary: Year 6 at Hogwarts has been hell for Luke. First he gets a Troll on his Potions quiz, next he doesn't have a date to the Yule Ball. And on top of all that, he struggles to work things out between him and a particular Slytherin boy.

Everything is never as it seems. (ao3) - orphan_account michael/calum M, 20k

Summary: Calum thought he knew which type of people belonged in each Hogwarts house. It wasn't until he met a certain Hufflepuff that he started to change his perception.

How To Train Your Dragon (ao3) - JetBlackSunshine T, 68k

Summary: (5sos Hogwarts AU)

Keeping a baby dragon a secret in the halls of Hogwarts isn't easy...

In which Ashton and Calum come into the care of a dragons egg whilst keeping it a secret from the rest of Hogwarts and the dark forces that are after it.

I live my life (for the stars that shine) (ao3) - LoserLucas (planetsandstars) luke/ashton G, 1k

Summary: “How’s your wrist?”

There’s no sign that anything’s wrong with it, it was fixed as soon as Luke got to the hospital wing, and the overnight stay is just a precaution but Ashton’s forever overly concerned.

Luke injures himself during a Quidditch game; Ashton goes to visit him in the hospital.

im starting to unwind, ive been trippin over you (ao3) - thewintersoldier michael/luke, calum/ashton T, 4k

Summary: Luke had his cheeks propped up by his hands, a large text book was opened in front of him with bunched up parchments scattered on the table. His eyes were closed and mouth half-opened and he looked utterly adorable and Michael wished he could just snap a picture but of course he couldn't because electronic devices didn’t work here (fuck you magical veils of protection).

Suddenly, Luke’s head lurched forward and his eyes snapped open right before he face-palmed the table. And when he looked up, the first thing he saw was Michael –who was just downright staring at him.

Or

The one where Michael kept telling himself that no, he didn’t like Luke.

It must be Magic (ao3) - tigerlily_sunshine michael/calum, luke/ashton T, 120k

Summary: It’s only Calum’s words playing on repeat in his mind, "Michael’s my friend," that keeps Michael firmly planted in place. He doesn’t quite believe them. He hasn’t really spoken to Calum since the first few months of their first year at Hogwarts when they finally realized what everybody’d been telling them all along: Slytherins can’t be friends with other houses.

(In which Michael is a friendless Slytherin who doesn't really belong anywhere, but Calum is bound and determined to prove him otherwise.)

kiss you once now I can't leave (ao3) - ardenjames michael/luke G, 4k

Summary: harry potter au: Michael and Luke have been dancing around each other for years, but maybe it will take a love potion for Michael to finally admit her feelings for the Hufflepuff (featuring an excessive number of pickup lines and bad poetry).

never tickle a sleeping dragon (ao3) - uneighteen (renjunkr) michael/calum, luke/ashton G, 4k

Summary: They’re an odd assemble of boys, that’s what they are. It’s not Michael’s constant changing hair color and it’s not the fact that Calum has a puppy for a pet and not the usual owls either that has students staring. It’s the fact that they wear different colored robes and neckties. It’s the fact that most times during breakfast, lunch or dinner, you see four boys from four different houses eating together at the end of any of the four tables.

somehow you kicked all my walls in (ao3) - orphan_account michael/luke G, 8k

Summary: a cliche Hogwarts au in which michael is a slytherin who doesn't actually hate luke, and luke is a shy gryffindor who (almost) everyone loves.

Temptation (ao3) - Maluminspace michael/ashton G, 8k

Summary: Michael is about to start his first term teaching at Hogwarts. Ashton tries to help build his confidence...

The Colour Of Our Mood (ao3) - Maluminspace calum/ashton G, 7k

Summary: Ashton's tutoring the current Hogwarts golden boy in charms but ends up getting more than house points out of it.

Trapped Under Your Spell (ao3) - mariawritesstuff (orphan_account) luke/calum N/R, 26k

SUMMARY: A Hogwarts Cake AU where the boys are the boys and feelings are caught/have been there all along.

why don't you figure my heart out (ao3) - spaces luke/calum, minor michael/ashton T, 3k

Summary: Luke's in love with a Gryffindor. Not a Ravenclaw type of thing to do. At all.

#5sosfanfictioncatalogue #5 seconds of summer #au #crossover #hogwarts #hogwarts masterlist #masterlists

[readingrobin]

February really is a hell of a month. In my corner of the Earth, everyone's getting a little tired of the cold, anxiously looking forward to the longer days that are right around the corner. It's also too short, full of too many expectations, like trying to live up to the plans you made for yourself only just last month. Thankfully, that also means it's over quickly and March comes in with the hope of spring. Can't wait for all the green to come back to the grass and the trees.

Total Books Read: 6

Total Pages Read: 2, 144 pages

Total DNFs: 2

Books Read:

Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh - (Review) (4/5)

A Conspiracy of Truths by Alexandra Rowland - (Review) (3/5)

Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs - I've been a longtime fan of the Mercy Thompson series and, despite having it for almost a good decade now, I finally picked up the first book in this spinoff series. I will say, I think introducing the main characters in a short story separate from this book wasn't exactly the best decision, as there's a lot of confusion around who these characters are and what the basis of their story is. I'm not a fan of authors introducing important plot or character developments in short stories apart from the main series, as it's a pain to track them down in these obscure anthologies and makes the full length book seem incomplete.

Coming into this new series, I couldn't help but do some comparing to Mercy's. A little unfair, I know, but sometimes it can't be helped. Anna doesn't really come off as an interesting, strong protagonist and, to an extent, neither does Charles, far cries from Mercy, who always gives a good range of personality. From the first page, Anna and Charles are in instalove, so their relationship doesn't go through any worthwhile developments other than "Hey, we're in wolfy love now, guess we don't need to do any more emotional work on our behalf." It's just….how do you make a relationship interesting when they're automatically together? What hurdles do they face? What doubts? What hesitation? Hell, Anna has gone through trauma from sexual assault and being passed around her previous pack like a broodmare and that's not even expanded upon or how it may effect her relationship with Charles. It just ends up feeling so hollow. (3/5)

Young Men in Love edited by Joe Glass and Matt Miner - This is such a cute collection of queer romance comics made by queer creators for a queer audience. It focuses on male/masc couples through a variety of genres, ranging from more domestic stories to those featuring demon hunters, pirates, ghosts, and so much more. While not every story was a hit, it's rare for an anthology to be completely perfect, there is such an honesty to each one of them that you can't help but give them all a slight bit of admiration. Some standout stories include "Second Star to the Right," "Another Name," "Act of Grace," "The Way Home," and "Love Yourself." (4/5)

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers - (Review) (4/5)

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke - Though I've been a Cornelia Funke fan since I was in middle school, this was one of her books I didn't grow up reading, which may have lessened the impact of it somewhat. The fantastical elements are pushed more to the background compared to her other books, and the magic comes more from the transportive descriptions of Venice. There was an interview in the back of my copy with Funke where she said that she wanted to create a book where children could actually go see the setting for themselves, which is a great way to introduce them to the wonders of their own world. And yet, somehow it felt like it overshadowed the characters a bit, who didn't really grab my attention.

Ultimately, the story didn't do much for me and I had the thought that I had read better versions of these themes in other books, most notably Something Wicked this Way Comes. Personally, I just think I started this book a tad too late. Though points to Funke for giving it a sort of odd, unconventional ending. (3/5)

DNFs:

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion - This book was given to me by a friend about 10 years ago and I only got around to reading it since I wanted to declutter my shelves a bit. I'm not real big on stories where romance is the main element, but I wanted to give it a fair shot.

Ultimately, I decided to put it down because I'm a little tired of the straight white male with thinly veiled misogyny representation of autism, especially when the understanding and conversation around neurodivergence has changed so much since this was written. Autism is a very wide spectrum, but apparently media is focused on only showcasing this particular manifestation, coming from writers that are not autistic, nor do they cite any research done in the autistic community to make their characters more authentic. And, judging from reviews I've seen of later installments of this series, it only gets worse.

Also, very much not interested in male writers that cannot write women to save their life. Got no time for that.

And the Ocean Was Our Sky by Patrick Ness - Beautiful illustrations aside, there's not much that interested me in this book which I could have finished if I gave it another half hour, but didn't really see the point. I haven't read Moby Dick, nor do I think I ever will, so the appeal of seeing that story from the whale's perspective wasn't an incentive. That and there are so many confusing elements that make the story too absurd to take seriously: why do the whales swim upside down, how do they have harpoons tied to their bodies when they're incapable of tying them themselves, how do these whales even know how to speak to humans? I think it's a story where you're not meant to think too hard about the logistics, but I couldn't help questioning it on nearly every page.

Average Rating: (3.5/5)

#robin's book log #reading wrap up #book wrap up #silver in the wood #a conspiracy of truths #cry wolf #young men in love #the long way to a small angry planet #the thief lord #the rosie project #and the ocean was our sky

[wrestlingisfake]

G1 Climax night 10 preview

Will Ospreay (2-0, 4pts) vs. David Finlay (2-1, 4pts) - If I've counted correctly, this will be the 42nd block match in this year's G1, out of a total of 84. So this is the halfway mark. It's is a D Block match with 2 points on the line. The winner will improve to 6 points and be the leader of the block.

This isn't a title bout, but it's about as close as you can get in the G1 Climax. Ospreay won the IWGP US championship on June 12 after Juice Robinson was stripped of the title. But Juice never relinquished the belt, and he carried it around claiming to be the "real" champion until Finlay kicked his ass on July 26. So now Finlay has Will's belt, and he's hoping that distraction will help him beat the champion to earn a future title match. At the same time, Ospreay knows he'll have to beat Finlay to get his property back.

In singles matches, Ospreay is 2-0 against Finlay, and he hasn't lost a match against anyone since April. Finlay is clearly the underdog here, but his big block match wins over Robinson and Shingo Takagi have given him a ton of momentum.

I think New Japan could book Ospreay to win without derailing Finlay's push. David's in a position where a hard-fought loss and a show of respect from a top champion can mean a lot. However, it's hard to believe New Japan will book Ospreay to win, because then they'd have to start all over building up a challenger for the US title. So it's looking good for Finlay to post his third upset win in a row...but I'm not sure I'll believe it until I see it.

Hirooki Goto (2-0, 4pts) vs. KENTA (0-2, 0pts) - Two points in C Block are up for grabs. Kenta is the only man in the block who's still stuck at zero; if he loses here, it will be virtually impossible for him to win the block. Meanwhile Goto has a chance to take the lead with 6 points.

This is a winnable match for either guy, so it really comes down to how New Japan is booking the block. If Goto is being protected so he can be a threat in the end, then he should win. If they need to keep Kenta alive for a while longer, he has to win. My guess is that it's Kenta's time to pick up a win, and Goto's hot streak will stumble at least for a little while.

SANADA (2-1, 4pts) vs. Tama Tonga (1-1, 2pts) - This is for 2 points in B Block. You've got two guys here who've only lost one match, so this can go either way without immediately knocking them out of contention. I'm not counting on either of these two being a major factor in the endgame, so I don't think it matters who wins. Flip a coin.

Toru Yano (1-2, 2pts) vs. Tom Lawlor (0-2, 0pts) - It's an A Block with 2 points at stake. Both men are at risk of taking a dreaded third loss, which would make it impossible to finish with more than 6 points. Kazuchika Okada already leads A Block with 6 points, and he'll almost certainly get some more later on. So this is must-win for both Yano and Lawlor.

After his July 30 loss to JONAH, Lawlor made waves with a passionate promo about all the loss and heartbreak he's overcome, and how he'll never give up. It was a great speech, but a little out of place for a guy who dances to the ring and strips down to Daisy Duke shorts. I mean, the dude's telling us about his mother being hospitalized, and there's a good chance his next match will be decided by which guy can tape the other's legs together.

Regardless, I think Lawlor can add some new twists to the standard Toru Yano formula, and I look forward to seeing them. If anybody in this block can beat Yano at his own game, I think it's Filthy Tom.

Tomohiro Ishii (1-2, 2pts) vs. Great-O-Khan (0-2, 0pts) - Another B Block for 2 points, and another battle between two-loss competitors. Khan is packaged like a mean dude that's a serious threat, but he's yet to back it up in the G1 where it counts. Ishii's not exactly Mr. August either, but he at least comes fairly close and is good at ruining the block leader's day. I like Khan but this just isn't his year.

Jay White & Juice Robinson & Gedo vs. Kazuchika Okada & Hiroshi Tanahashi & YOSHI-HASHI - Nothing to preview here, just some fallout from the Juice vs. Yoshi match on July 31. Gedo should get beat again.

Tetsuya Naito & Shingo Takagi & BUSHI vs. Bad Luck Fale & El Phantasmo & Chase Owens - Shingo vs. Phantasmo is the only upcoming block match in this lineup, but that won't be until August 16. Bushi hasn't had to do too many jobs on this tour, but this time his luck has run out.

Lance Archer & Zack Sabre Jr. & Taichi & TAKA Michinoku vs. EVIL & Yujiro Takahashi & SHO & Dick Togo - Sabre vs. Evil will happen on August 10. Now, this one's a little interesting, because Taka and Dick have both been winless on this tour, but this time something's got to give. I'm thinking Dick will finally get his hand raised.

Jeff Cobb & Aaron Henare vs. JONAH & Bad Dude Tito - Cobb vs. JONAH is set for August 5. Tito is set to lose this match.

#njpw #g1 climax

[wondereads]

Personal Review (09/04/22)

Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong

Why am I reviewing this book?

Not only have I been looking forward to this book, but I received it as an ARC! As such, as the release date draws nearer, I'm getting my review out now.

Plot 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

In the aftermath of the Nationalists taking power and dissolving of the two ruling gangs in Shanghai, Rosalind grapples with her past actions. On top of that, she has been granted practically immortality through a dubious experiment; she no longer ages, and hardly any injury is enough to kill her. She now utilizes her skills under the Nationalists as an assassin with the code name Fortune, but when targeted killings begin to spread, she is forced to team up with another Nationalist, Orion, to infiltrate a Japanese company and find out their motives.

I actually like the plot of Foul Lady Fortune more than Gong's previous duology. It seems that this book embraces the fantasy side of historical fantasy a bit more, and I kind of just enjoy how almost ridiculous this story is. It's far-fetched and unbelievable at points, but I personally like it that way. Especially since I want a lighter tone in this book as it's based on a comedy (As You Like It).

Rosalind and Orion are trying to discover why these chemical killings are happening, and you'll probably figure it out early on. The context clues are a little overkill. I will say, there is a great plot twist around 2/3 through the book. It's predictable in a very good way, the way that makes the reader feel vindicated that they were right. I, unfortunately, came to that part and then had to put the book down, and I was truly thinking about it until I could pick it up again.

The big thing I didn't like was that Rosalind's newfound immortality is gained entirely off-page. Apparently, she got very sick and Celia took her to a doctor of dubious morality who then turned her immortal. It's glossed over for the most part, which felt rather odd to me. Other than that, it was predictable but a lot of fun. (Bonus! There are some allusions to some characters I didn't think we'd be seeing again!)

Characters 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

It's hard to root for Rosalind. Most of the readers of this book will likely have read These Violent Delights before, and—spoilers—Rosalind betrays Juliette and Roma in that one, pretty severely too. She doesn't get closure, and that is reflected in her character this book. Her past actions haunt her to the extreme, which I loved. Despite my initial aversion to her, getting to see her side of things and the intense manipulation she went through; it was all just done very well. It also gave a good reason for her hostility towards romance, which was actually done right; Rosalind has a genuine, personal reason to not want to be romantically involved with Orion and she doesn't immediately throw it out the window. It takes a while for her to even consider it, and then everything goes to shit anyways.

Speaking of Orion, he was pretty flat for the most part, but I have high hopes for book two. Gong really put this poor boy through a lifetime's worth of trauma in the last fifty pages of this book, and he's going to be all kinds of screwed up in the sequel. As for the romance, all I will say is that Miss Gong is definitely reading Stucky fanfiction in her spare time, especially considering that ending.

This book also sees the return of other beloved characters, such as Alisa and Celia who are also coincidentally assigned to coinciding assignments by the communists. Even though it is very convenient, I liked the decision since I do love these characters. Personally, I am rooting for a book focused on Alisa.

Writing Style 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

As I've mentioned before, I love Chloe Gong's writing. It's detailed, flowery, and a great medium for descriptions. It's not for everyone—I know people who have DNF'd because of the writing—but this style is one of my favorites. I think it especially contributes to the atmosphere of the setting since everything is so vividly described. Sometimes certain settings, particularly historical ones, get away from me in that I forget the time period and can't properly picture things. I've never had that issue with Gong's books. Also, I just enjoy long-winded writing sometimes.

Overall 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10

I really enjoyed this book as a high-stakes fantasy, even if it did feel a bit ridiculous at times. I liked that Gong leaned into the comedy of the original play, even if the story itself is pretty serious. I think if she'd done another tragedy it wouldn't have been able to distinguish itself from her previous books. The story itself was separate enough but Rosalind's character development was based on other books, so there wasn't a complete divorce. Rosalind as a character is very well done, but I'm hoping for some more depth to Orion. As always the writing is stellar, and I do think the pacing has improved from Gong's previous works. Although it has its faults, I liked this book and I think it shows that this author will only continue to improve.

The Author

Chloe Gong: Chinese-New Zealander, 23, also wrote These Violent Delights and Our Violent Ends

The Reviewer

My name is Wonderose; I try to post a review every week, and I do themed recommendations every once in a while. I take suggestions! Check out my about me post for more!

#books #reviews #foul lady fortune #chloe gong #ya #fantasy #historical fantasy #shanghai #1930s #immortality