#it must be really hard to almost definitely be seeing peoples reactions to this

[boysnberriespie]

Gonna start living and loving harder out of respect for Con putting so much genuine love into this character, and then being kind of saddled with the burden of people’s grief while the entire cast can’t even talk about the show at all (because they are still on strike)

#like I think he has taken people’s responses to Izzy super sincerely and seriously #and he’s been very kind to everyone #like it’s very easy to feel put off by the outpouring of love for him Izzy and the show #but he handled it all with such sincerity that #it must be really hard to almost definitely be seeing peoples reactions to this #idk like I try not to parasocially analyze actors from afar #but truly idk I can’t imagine it’s a good feeling to see the deep mourning for your character #after spending a year hearing how much this character meant to people #idk idk my thoughts are scrambled #it’s not any media creators responsibility to protect people’s emotions #but the awareness and respect he seems to have for people’s emotions #is notable to me and makes me wonder how he’s taking this heavy shit

[aemondvelaryon]

love grows (where the mustache goes)

summary: as the squad is giving jake as much shit as possible for the new offensive hair growing on his lip, you are frozen like a deer caught in headlights.

pairing: jake seresin x fem!reader

warnings: explicit language, realization of feelings, alcohol consumption to combat dirty thoughts.

word count: 2.2k

a/n: based on this lovely gifset by unicornships

If you were being completely honest with yourself, you always kind of had a thing about Hangman.

Look, you didn't hate him, per se, but he definitely stirred some feelings in you that were less than normal. He made you feel totally feral, if you will, unrestrained and vicious. The sort of anger that made you want to scratch your skin off, vibrating and seething, screaming at the top of your lungs.

It took barely a look, less than a glance, not even a word before you were fuming just by being in his presence. He had some sort of grip on you.

So, you tended to stay as far away from him as possible. Leaving when he arrived, staying home when his attendance was announced, and sticking close to people that either didn't like him or didn't know him. It was easier that way.

Easier than thinking about why he really made you so angry.

But the worst part was, the cherry on top, was that he just loved being around you. Loved seeing how worked up he could get you, making you squirm under his gaze, and making you turn bright red from his flirting.

He had to know. There was no way he didn't. The squad must have told him how much you didn't want to be near him which is why he made it his mission always to find you in every room.

He had to know how much he rattled you.

On this particular night, he had yet to make an appearance. But wherever Rooster was Hangman usually followed, and the tall, mustached, Hawaiian-shirted pilot had already made his way over to the piano tonight and the rest of Dagger had slowly trickled in.

You didn't know why you came out tonight especially since their shore leave had just ended and all of the pilots had started making their way back to base and the surrounding area which always included the Hard Deck.

But it was the only fun place around and Penny was so nice to you and going out in a dress on a Friday night and nursing a drink for a couple of hours just to be seen and known instead of rotting in your little apartment after work was worth the possibility you might see him.

Your eyes lock on the little crowd surrounding Rooster, as charismatic as ever, singing another 80s hit. You smile despite yourself.

God, how you wished Bradshaw was the one that made your brain go fuzzy. He was sure of himself, not arrogant, teasing, not antagonistic, handsome, not drop-dead gorgeous.

Sometimes you looked at Hangman and wondered why God would make him so fucking hot and then let him open his mouth.

It honestly wasn't fair.

Eventually, you hear his voice, and your back goes ramrod straight, awareness prickling at the back of your neck, and your hands instantly sweaty.

"Bradshaw, you started without me? I'm heartbroken. After I went through all this trouble to do this just for you? Absolutely devasted."

You don't look. Because if you look it will just cement how much you want to look, and don't want to stop looking.

A choked laugh sputters, as if they're surprised and then Phoenix's voice pierces through the crowd. "You didn't. Please tell me that's not real."

"No way! Someone go pull on it! Probably glued on." Fanboy shouts and you hear the sound of someone falling out of their chair.

"You got to be kidding me. What the fuck is that! Did something die on your face?" Javy yells in disbelief and disgust.

You want to look so bad. Just their reactions almost make you turn. Did he get a bad haircut or something? You're just close enough that you can hear every word but not enough that anyone's noticed you.

"Pay up, now, I called it! I can't believe you guys doubted me. I said he would do something like this." Reuben sounds like he's smiling triumphantly.

Bob's voice is quietly astounded, "He looks like 70s Porn Star Ken."

You sit up even straighter. Oh god.

He grew a mustache.

Rooster finally acknowledges him. "Man, Hangman, I knew you were obsessed with me, but this is another level."

You can't ever look over there now. Just the visual has your skin feeling too tight.

"You like it? Took me a whole month to grow this bad boy just 'cause I wanted to see the looks on all your faces, but I gotta say, now that I'm here, totally worth it." He's grinning, he has to be, shit-eating and ear-to-ear, you can feel it, can practically see his smile in your head. You've stared at it long enough.

"That's great. When are you shaving it?" Natasha sounds disgusted and it almost makes you laugh if you weren't so fucking frozen like a deer in headlights.

"I can't believe none of you are appreciating the effort I went through to do this. Unbelievable."

"You look like someone from the cast of Boogie Nights."

"Well that's a great movie, so thank you." He sounds closer now and the hand around your glass threatens to break it. "Y'know if I can't get you guys to recognize my dedication, I know someone who will."

Oh god, oh no.

"Hangman, don't--" But before another voice can dissuade him, he's already sidling up to you at the bar. You feel the heat of him before you hear his voice.

"Hi, sweetheart, did you miss me? I know I missed you." You grab your drink and finish it off quickly, eyes not looking over at him.

"What do you want, Hangman?" You hope to come off as annoyed, not rattled to the fucking core.

"Well, I know you love Rooster so much so I thought I'd do something to make me look a little bit more like him. Maybe get you to not run out of the room every time you see me, yeah?"

Goddammit, he can't know that you do that. Unless he pays attention to you as much as you do him.

"I don't love Rooster, okay, I just don't like you." You grit your teeth and call the other bartender on duty for another drink.

"Will you at least look at it, before making your judgment, babe? You're hurting my feelings." The faux hurt in his voice almost makes you turn.

"Don't call me that."

"What should I call you then, huh?"

Your drink gets refilled and emptied just as quickly. "Woah, slow down there. Don't need you passing out on me." You have to get the hell out of here, quickly.

Your name, for starters, maybe. "Nothing. I don't even want you to talk to me."

You turn and make your way off the bar stool and it rushes over you all too fast. An empty stomach and tequila do not a wise girl make.

You nearly fall off the seat and onto your ass but a warm hand finds its way around your waist and catches you just as quick. "Easy there." You shiver and turn in his grasp trying to get away but it just makes you meet his eyes.

Shit, shit, shit.

"You good?"

No, you are very much not good. He looks--fuck.

You don't see Hangman out of uniform often. You weren't a pilot or even in the military. Just a casual acquaintance that sometimes had a few chats with his squadron. So, you'd seen him in what he usually hangs out in, his tan jumpsuit, his swimsuit, you've even seen him in his dress whites before. But this Hangman just got back and hasn't even been to the base yet so this is Jake Seresin, Texas born and bred, raised on a farm, rides horses in his spare time, mama sweeter than apple pie, probably owns a fucking cowboy hat.

So, of course, he's got a plaid shirt on. Over that is a bomber jacket, like one you've seen Mav sporting before, only it looks like something you'd wear to go ranching in the winter not fly a plane. He's got jeans on, they’re all beaten up and used, and a leather belt, and he looks like he stepped out of some country romance Hallmark movie.

The mustache is the icing on the cake.

It's not that you had a thing for mustaches. You didn't because you had no feelings for Rooster whatsoever, but you didn't think they were unattractive or creepy like most of the population seemed to.

Did you have a big crush on Tom Selleck in Magnum P.I. when you were younger? Yes. But who didn't? And liking Bella's dad in Twilight didn't make it a pattern, okay! Everyone liked him.

"Uh." You finally gracefully spit out.

He smiles teasingly. "Didn't hit your head, did you?" He knows you didn't. He's playing with you. Riling you up as he always does. Because it's funny to him. Not because he likes you--wants you.

You sober up slightly and push at him. "No, get off."

Jake--God, no, when did he become Jake in your head--just smiles more but it seems softer. "I knew you'd fallen for me, but I didn't think you'd also do it literally."

You turn even redder if possible. "Shut up."

Christ, how was it you had reverted to playground comebacks at just the sight of him? Were you really so weak?

"You didn't answer my question." Was he still talking? You felt fuzzy.

"I need another drink." You can still feel his hand on your waist because despite pushing him away he hadn't let you go.

"Did I finally break you?" He laughs and shit, he knows.

"Why are you still talking to me?" You finally snap at him and his face falls a little, just slightly, that if you didn't have every inch of his face memorized you wouldn't have noticed it at all.

"Because I care what you think." It's a confession. It has to be. You don't know what else it could be.

"Why?" You squint at him. Dumbfounded is the only word that comes to mind.

"Why? What--you don't, you seriously don't know?" He still holding onto you, and his hand flexes, fingers slightly digging into your hip and you feel yourself inch towards him, always stuck in his orbit, gravity pulling you closer.

"Don't know what?" You lick your lips in anticipation and he glances, once, up, twice, down, and then looks away and swallows.

"Why the hell do you think I talk to you all the time? Come find you in a room? Grew this fucking thing on my face?" He laughs, bewildered, and shakes his head.

"Why?" You ask again, if he doesn't say it, you won't. Too goddamn scared that you're making it all up, reading too much into it. "I thought you just liked to tease me. Get a rise out of me. I thought you were making fun of me."

"C'mon, you know me, I do the same shit I do to you that I do to Rooster. That's just what I do when I like someone."

You punch him in the arm.

"Ow! What the hell was that for!" He whines and grabs his arm, taken aback and pretending as if it actually hurt him.

"Why didn't you just tell me that, you ass!" You screech a little, desperately, feeling way too many emotions at once. He tends to do that to you.

He scoffs. "Have you met me? Do you really think I'm emotionally mature enough to do that?"

"That whole time you were just, what, flirting with me?" You question incredulously.

He laughs, a little bashfully. "I mean, come on, I thought it was obvious. I mean it was to everyone else."

You pale a little. "The others know?"

"Yeah, 'course they do. They're the ones that pointed it out in the first place. I didn't even realize I was doing it at first either." He scratches his neck, almost nervously.

"So why the mustache?"

"I don't know. I was just trying to get you to pay attention to me. Thought this might help." And god help you, Jake blushes, actually reddens a bit.

"How'd you know?"

"Hm, know what?" He smirks at you.

You cough. "You know, that I'd--that I'd like it."

Jake grins. "I didn't but you just told me you did."

You hit him again, a slap on the shoulder, almost playful, and you can't believe it, you're flirting with him, you're really this close to him, doing this. "Fuck off."

He smiles again but this one is different. His eyes are incredibly soft and he's looking at you and--did he always look at you like this? Were you really this blind?

"I need you to answer another question for me." His hand on your hips snakes around you and you stumble into him, putting your hands on his chest to brace yourself, and, Christ, he smells good. “Do you think I could take you out sometime?”

"Um." You're throat suddenly feels incredibly dry and you're heart feels like it about to beat right out of your chest. "I mean, if you want to."

"Yeah, baby. I want to."

#jake seresin x reader #hangman x reader #hangman fanfic #jake seresin fanfic #top gun fanfic #top gun maverick fanfic #my writing #idk what this is but i hope u enjoy it #just something a little sweet for the kids #love grows

[erwinsvow]

Sorry babe but my brain isn’t shutting off… a very original rafe and jj love triangle is plaguing my mind

I’m thinking the midsummers drama is about kook reader

Maybe she’s new to town like family moved to obx cause her dad became partners with ward which gave Rafe easier access to you than jj but how can you not immediately be charmed by him when Sarah brings you around to meet her friends??

- 💓

stop cuz this is where the real fucking tea is. it’s so obvious they both want u and they’re getting fucking jealous of the other… can easily imagine falling for rafe he’s so mean!!! sometimes barely gives u any attention and when he does he’s always like pushing you against a wall and making out with you or like honest to god fingering you in the bathroom w his family and ur family next door. then he pockets ur panties and sends you back out there without them. he’s such a menace but it’s so hard to stay away from him 😣sometimes he’s real sweet n obviously spoils you like crazy!! parades you around his friends, gives you rules to follow which you always do (like no drinking without his permission/talking to strangers etc). rafe is so territorial and possessive so to him you’re his already. however he never made anything official… which is where jj comes in.

it’s like when rafe makes you sad or ignores you for work or business or whatever you just go spend time with sarah, not knowing many people here but getting friendly with her since you’re over at tannyhill a bunch! she takes you out with her friends who are so different than what you expected! n rafe is always warning you about the wrong side of the island and those dirty pogues you need to stay away from.. but they’re not mean at all! they’re nothing like what he said, so sweet and inviting and funny. they’re all nice but jj is the nicest of course.

and jj i mean he’s a player so he can’t help his reaction to a new pretty girl hanging around his friends, getting along with everyone being awfully friendly and sweet for a kook. he thinks you must have a crush on him too, with the way you flounder around in your tiny sundresses and teeny bikinis at the beach. it’s not long before he’s taking you off on early morning surf lessons (and he loves to sleep in, so this means something), ditching smoke seshs with his friends to come sit with you on the beach or something, ignoring the fact that he has 100% seen you hanging round with rafe cameron recently when he’s making out with you and you’re crawling into his lap in the back of the Twinkie.

i so forgot about midsummers!!!!! yes it would be so juicy, seeing you all dolled up in a short dress, obviously you accompany rafe but when he stalks off to go have “serious, proactive conversations” you find jayj and get real tipsy over glasses of champagne with him. rafe sees red and jj is just screaming at him to let you make your own choice. at midsummers there was beef n tension n chasing but they wouldn’t start swinging just yet.

and you, i mean there’s nothing better than having the attention of a boy you really like but TWO. ur probably going crazy but you don’t realize how impacted rafe n jj are, literally butting heads and almost fist fighting everytime they see each other or see you with the other. you’ll be out at lunch with rafe playing footsie under the table, whining because he left you again to do work while he’s trying to apologize when you see jj—and start waving. jj of course comes to the table and gets comfortable, probably eats something off of rafe’s plate. you excuse yourself to go to the bathroom and when you get back there’s definitely broken glasses and thrown silverware.

similarly when you’re on the beach with jj, if you see rafes truck pull up you go to say hi, and jj follows behind you, HATING the way rafe’s staring at your practically naked body in a tiny bikini because you are his girl, and he says as much.

“stop being a creep and starin’ at my girl, cameron. go find someone else to bother.” and you look back at jj, smiling all dopey because he just called you his.

“your girl? that’s real funny. she’s my girl, right babe?” and then you look at rafe, face burning with embarrassment. they start bickering back and forth while you stand there looking at both of them and feeling your head spin. this is when they finally start throwing punches, both of them rustling in the sand and ending up with bruises n black eyes.

you’d finally throw in the towel and start crying (typical shea reader insert 🙄) n of course they blame each other but then feel terrible, awkwardly scratching the back of their head while you sob about how i hate fighting!! i don’t wanna fight i love you both why can’t we just be happy together!!

jj n rafe lock eyes. they can clearlyyyyy tell what you need right now to feel better. so obviously they throw you into rafe’s truck, drive to a secluded part of the shore, and take turns fucking you on the bed of his truck <3 lol

#yeahhhhh. um #📮 asks #love u babyyyy u have the best ideas have an amazing night bae🩵😇 #💓 anon #rafe cameron #jj maybank

[tinyinvadr]

I’m back with another chapter! Thank you all so much for supporting this fic! It’s cool to know that people like the same stuff as I do, and it motivates me to write more!

Ch. 1/Ch. 2

Hide & Shrink

Chapter 3

I woke up on a plush surface, practically sinking into it. There was a part of me that wanted to still believe my entire experience with the Digital Circus was a dream, but I knew that couldn’t be true.

This wasn’t my bed. Not my real bed, at least. In fact, it didn’t feel like a bed at all, more like a giant pillow.

Right. The last thing that happened before I passed out was when I realized that Caine couldn’t change me back to my normal size. Which meant wherever I was, I was likely still tiny.

I finally opened my eyes, and the bright colors surrounding me were almost blinding. Massive blankets and pillows of every shade stretched as far as I could see.

As much as I didn’t want to admit it, the pillows were kind of nice. It reminded me of pillow forts…

Of course. This was Kinger’s pillow fort. That made sense, since he was holding me before I passed out. He probably brought me there so I could rest.

“Oh, Pomni, you’re awake! You really had us scared back there.”

I don’t know how I didn’t notice that Kinger was also in the fort with me right away. Then again, he kind of blended in. His robes almost looked like one of the blankets.

I tried to scoot myself back, but the pillow was too soft and I ended up just sinking into it further.

“Oh, did you need help getting up? I’ve got you!”

Kinger started to reach for me, and I frantically tried to move away faster.

“Nononono! It’s okay! I’m okay!”

He could tell I was panicking and stopped, glancing away in shame.

“Aw, I’m sorry. I must be freaking you out right now. I know I’d be terrified if I was in your place. But there’s nothing to worry about! I won’t grab you again, and it’s perfectly safe in my impenetrable fortress, so we can just wait here until Caine gets this whole thing sorted out.”

Admittedly, I needed the levity, so I gave Kinger a nod of approval and willingly let myself sink into the pillow. I could see why he liked to hide in his fort. It was like a little break room from the overwhelming insanity of the circus.

But it wasn’t as impenetrable as he thought it was.

A pillow on the bottom of the fort suddenly slid out of place, and before either of us could react, a huge assortment of pillows and blankets came crashing down on us.

It was a chain reaction of disaster as Kinger fell onto the pillow I was laying on, and the sudden weight shift sent me flying into the air, only to fall on my face a couple inches away. As I struggled to push myself up, I could hear the voices of the others.

“Jax! What did you do that for?!”

“What? I wanted a pillow.”

“But… Pomni could’ve gotten hurt…”

“These are cartoon physics we’re workin’ with here. She’s fine, look.”

For the third time, I was grabbed without warning and lifted into the air, this time by Jax. The thought of what he might do made me sick. The others at least seemed like they were worried about me, but it was pretty clear that he didn’t care.

In front of me stood Ragatha, Gangle, and Zooble, all looking concerned. Well, at least Ragatha and Gangle. Zooble’s expressions are kind of hard to read.

“She doesn’t look fine…”

“Yeah. I’m sure she LOVES being grabbed like that, Jax. Totally not traumatizing at all.”

Jax simply laughed off their concerns, emoting by moving his hands and arms around a lot in a way that was definitely intentional.

“Hey, come on, you guys, Pomni can speak for herself. If she didn’t like it she’d say something. Isn’t that right, Pom?”

By the time he stopped talking and moving me around, I couldn’t hold back and I threw up. Again.

Jax quickly dropped me and backed up in disgust.

“Ew. Somebody call Bubble.”

Right as he said that, Bubble appeared in front of me, way too close for comfort.

“Cleanup crew at your service!”

I backed up as he started licking up the vomit just as he did the day before. He’s really a freaky little thing. Though he didn’t look so little from my perspective.

Caine appeared shortly afterward, shaking his head(?) at Bubble, but then shifted his attention to me.

“Goodness gracious! You sure are prone to getting sick, aren’t you? Do you need anything? Want me to carry you to your room?”

The last thing I wanted was to be picked up again, so I queasily backed up in protest.

“No, no, it’s fine, I can get there by myself.”

Just as I regained my balance enough to start walking away, Jax walked in front of me, nearly stepping on me.

“You sure about that, shorty?”

Ragatha glared at him again as she made her way over to Caine.

“Anyway, Caine, have you made any progress on finding a way to fix Pomni?”

“Nope! Still working on it! But don’t worry, I’m sure a solution will come to me soon! After all, this is the digital world, and anything is possible!”

Zooble scoffed. “Yeah. Anything except leaving.”

“That’s the spirit, Zooble! Now then, Pomni, I leave the choice up to you if you want any of us to escort you to your room, or anywhere else you might like to go!”

I really would have preferred to be alone, but that wasn’t an option on the off chance that Jax decided to try anything else. I needed someone I could trust. I needed the one person I’d been avoiding.

Keeping my eyes glued to the ground, I approached Ragatha.

“Um… Ragatha? Can I go with you?”

She didn’t say a word, and kneeled down in front of me, her hands resting on the floor. I looked up to meet her eyes, and she gave a reassuring smile as if to say that this would all be on my own terms, and she wasn’t going to grab me.

I was still hesitant to even get near her, but she had a calm patience that the others didn’t. It was like she was willing to wait there for as long as it took until I was ready. In each passing moment I could feel my nerves ease just a little bit more, and finally, I took the first step onto her hand.

Due to her being a rag doll, Ragatha’s hands didn’t feel much different from the pillow I was sitting on earlier. I sat myself down, continuing to look up at her as she watched and waited.

“You okay?” She asked, her voice soft and warm. I simply nodded, and she continued to smile and wait. “Just let me know when you’re ready for me to stand up.”

I gave her another nod of approval, and she slowly stood up, holding me close to her for support, but not too tight to where I felt trapped. As she lifted me up, I could see the others looking on in surprise at how calm I seemed.

“Alright guys, I’ll be back in a bit.” Ragatha said as she turned to walk down the hallways where everyone’s rooms were.

As soon as we were far enough away from the group, I finally worked up the courage to speak again.

“I… thank you…”

She let out a content sigh as she continued walking.

“Hey, I’ve got your back.”

#giant/tiny #g/t #giant tiny #g/t writing #tadc g/t

[melonba11s]

This Is You On Drugs (Strade/MC BTD fanfic)

Strade doesn’t like drugs because they can change the way someone acts… But what if he shows them later how they acted?

Contains: Drugging, Filmed Violence, Canon typical violence, blunt force mutilation, gore gender neutral MC, Strade.

Food and drink in Strades house were safe. Strade wasn’t the type to poison people, it was too quick and didn’t give him time to see any reactions he craved.

Drugs would change or inhibit how you reacted too much. He wanted you to be yourself. A true king of encouraging self love and confidence.

So food and drink was safe. Water from the filtered jug in the fridge was safe. The cheese was safe. The cut up bits of steak were safe.

You had no reason to not eat in his house. If you tried to starve yourself he’d eventually force you to eat.

So when you woke up in the middle of the afternoon with a pounding headache, dry mouth, and chronic dizziness you just had to believe you were sick.

You had to be really sick. That was why you couldn’t remember falling asleep in the first place, or even waking up in the morning. You must have slept through the night and well into the day.

Getting up was hard. Your legs felt like cement. But you needed water. Your mouth was so dry.

Stumbling down the hallway, groaning in pain the entire way. It felt like your head was detached from your body, floating on its own towards the kitchen.

The light of everything was too much. You were forced to shield your eyes just to make it to the kitchen, squinting so much your eyes were almost closed.

Actually closing your eyes as you opened the fridge as the cold air hit your face, along with the fluorescent bulb’s shine feeling more like a needle to your skull.

Reaching in, blind, but knowing where that water was, you curled your fingers around the plastic handle.

“Don’t drink that.” A sudden voice, the fridge was closed forcefully. You looked up at Strade, he had a smile on his face… Like he was in on some joke you didn’t get. You rubbed your eyes, frowning.

“I’m thirsty.” you said, a fact made obvious by how dry your voice sounded. A chuckle, and he was pressing something cold into your hands.

You looked down. Bottled water. He never bought bottled water. That’s what the filter on the jug was for.

You didn’t ask questions, you cracked it open and began to chug it. You had been really thirsty. You felt better with every gulp of water.

Strade kept his eyes on you, his grin widening the entire time.

“Feeling better?” he asked, as you finished off the bottle. You nodded.

“Head still hurts… I think I’m sick.” an arm around your shoulders,

“Bet you need some rest then, huh? Come on, sit on the couch with me. You can relax there while I show you something…” He was pushing you towards the living room, still grinning widely.

“Strade…” your voice came out in a whine. “Can’t you show me later? I’m tired…” nothing sounded better than crawling back into bed, maybe with another bottle of water or two.

“Oh come on, Schatzi.” He sounded almost hurt. “This won’t take long!”

You sighed, giving up. Nothing would convince him otherwise when he got pushy like this.

He was admittedly gentle with you, guiding you to the couch, sitting you down against the throw pillows after making sure he fluffed them up a bit.

The TV was on, but for now the screen was black. Strade got comfortable next to you, arm around you again, leaning against you. Despite how terrifying he was, his solid warm form was a comfort you indulged in without restraint. Loving how soft and comfortable it felt to be nestled against him.

He lifted the remote, and pressed play. The screen fizzled a bit, then the picture became clear.

The basement. You jerked in his grip. One of his homemade films.

You definitely couldn’t handle this kind of thing right now.

“Strade-“ You began to protest.

“Hush. Just watch.” he shushed you, smiling at the screen.

A woman was on the ground, slumped against the pole. The camera moved towards her, accompanied by footsteps. It hit you that Strade was actually holding the camera. He usually had it up on a tripod-

“Okay Schatzi! Are you ready?”

You couldn’t recognize the voice responding at first.

“Yeeeaaaahhhh” They dragged out the word, ending it with a bit of a giggle. “You sound like… an ant.” The camera moved over.

It was you. You were wavering on the spot, eyes unfocused. A silly smile plastered on your face.

“What?” the you that was sitting on the couch began to speak. No, that couldn’t be you. You would never stand like that, talk like that, hold a giant sledgehammer like that.

The woman on the floor was beginning to beg, scream, writhe in place.

The Strade behind the camera began to laugh, backing up a bit.

“Go ahead then! Just like I told you! It’s just a fun game, like the ones you play with Ren.”

You sat in fear, disbelief, as you lifted the sledgehammer and began to approach the woman on the floor.

“No.” You said as you began to lift the hammer up. The you on film didn’t hear you, or maybe they just didn’t care.

You could only watch in horror as the hammer came down.

Ankle shattering, skin ripping apart. No. You shouldn’t be strong enough to do that much damage. As the woman on the floor let out an ear piercing scream, blood splattering across the floor, staring at her mangled foot in horror.

“Stop!” You yelled, trying to get up, to turn off the TV. Strade kept a grip on you, his spare hand was unbuckling his belt.

“Don’t be like this, Schatzi.” His voice was in your ear. “You looked so happy, it was almost worth the price of the drugs.”

Drugs. Drugs that he hated. It made you stiff with fear.

Drugs that had altared you, made you not yourself. The kind of thing he never wanted.

You could only watch as the you that was apparently hopped up on some horrid mix began to lift the hammer again.

Kneecap was next, the sound of bone splintering, skin turning into ground beef, your stupid fucking voice continuing to giggle.

“That’s… funny…” The you on camera knelt down, shoving your fingers into the freshly destroyed leg. How easily they slid into the torn tendons and pulverized muscle.

You pulled out a shard of something. The gross sound of wet suction and the woman’s breath hitching between her screams made you want to vomit.

“Uh oh…” You sounded like a complete dunce, looking at the shard of bone in your hand. “I broke it…”

You seemed to be referring to the piece of patella in your palm, staring at it. You dropped it onto the floor, now looking at the camera (or perhaps Strade?) in dissapointed.

“I wanted… Something to give you.” The woman at your feet was breathing heavily. Strade was laughing.

“It’s okay, Schatzi. You’ve given me so much already.” He was cooing, and you hated how it made your slack face light up in a grin.

The woman on the ground seemed to find her voice now.

“YOU’RE A MONSTER.” She wasn’t looking at Strade. She was looking at you.

She was right.

“A SICK FUCK.” Your smile had dropped now, using the hand that wasn’t on the hammer to cover an ear. It made your heart pound, watching this.

The you on camera shaking your head as she continued to yell insults at you. It was comforting, knowing that even while not in your right state, you didn’t want to be called those things-

“SHUT UP.” The drugs were speaking. They had to be. “YOU’RE GIVING ME A HEADACHE.”

No, the drugs were. Realize that. You were begging yourself to realize that as the hammer rose again. The woman was still yelling.

“STOP.” The both of you yelled at the same time. You were frozen in place, but they weren’t. The hammer swung down.

Wet thump, horrid cracking, teeth coming loose. A scream of pain turning into a wet gargle as blood and muscle filled her throat.

Another swing, an eyeball popping open, the inside oozing all over her face as her skull caved in. There were no more screams.

Another swing. Brain exposed, flying from the safety of the cranium, hitting the wall and floor.

You were breathing heavily as you dropped the hammer. Legs shaking, hands twitching, you were looking down at yourself in horror.

“Oh no…” The you on camera said, before looking back at Strade. “I got… really dirty.”

Your front caked in shards of bone, blood, bits of gore and more. You doubled over on the couch, retching.

Strade was laughing next to you, laughing on camera. It echoed and bounced, it was everywhere.

You were dirty. You were filthy. You were diseased.

Strade had turned off the TV as you sat there, rocking back and forth, gagging and trying not to vomit.

“You put on a good show, Schatzi!” He sounded genuine, rubbing your back.

And you hated how it made you feel just a bit better right now.

#boyfriend to death #strade #btd fanfic #boyfriend to death fanfic #strade btd

[15minlatewithbatbucks]

untitled janet/talia, Bruce's bio kid Tim AU -> no choice but to love you pt. 4

FIRST | SECOND | THIRD | FOURTH | FIFTH | SIXTH | SEVENTH | EIGHTH | NINTH | TENTH | ELEVENTH | TWELFTH | THIRTEENTH

AO3 Link (a little behind, but better edited)

---

“This is outrageous.”

Bruce sighed, head propped up on a fist and still looking through the results of his last hour or so of intensive research. He felt more than he heard Talia move behind him and begin threading sharp nails through his hair soothingly. He might be tempting to take the comfort at face value, but knew she was likely only reading over his shoulder again.

Bruce hadn’t handed Janet’s little gifts off to any of his people. He could do it himself, after all, and something about her story had rang true enough that Bruce wanted to initially limit the number of people that knew. He couldn’t justify not telling Talia, however, and had called her on his way down to one of the labs on the lower floor.

Talia dealt with things best after she got her initial gut reaction out of the way and could be logical about the whole thing.

She strolled into WE even before the rapid DNA test was finished, not a hair out of place. She sat with him until the results came back confirming that the owner of the provided DNA sample was definitely the biological child of Bruce Wayne. And then she started pacing while Bruce got to work.

For her benefit, he clicked over to the basic background he’d run on Janet Drake. Talia sniffed derisively at the attached photo, the one she’d provided for her passport.

“You really laid with her, beloved?” she asked, voice appropriately morose.

Bruce didn’t believe it for a second. “What, like you wouldn’t have?”

“You are avoiding the question,” she said, similarly avoiding the question. “Why her?”

“We weren’t together at the time. I was traveling without Dick or Alfred and ended up in Cypress for a few days. I witnessed her get off the phone and throw her wedding band into the pool and offered to buy her a drink,” he explained and shrugged. “We were both from Gotham and homesick. I asked, but birth control can fail.”

“Or she lied.”

“She didn’t.” Bruce began pulling up medical files for Talia to peruse. Her hair dragged across his neck as she leaned in to see better and he couldn’t resist tilting his head to rest against her. “I pulled her medical files. She had an IUD at the time of conception and had to fly back to Gotham to have it removed. He ordered bed rest and even so the chance of a miscarriage was so high that she was warned not to name the- the fetus.”

“The baby,” Talia corrected for him. “Your baby.”

Wordlessly, Bruce straightened and pulled up a picture of little Timothy Jackson Drake. Unlike most heirs of Gotham’s elite, pictures of the boy were few and far between on social media or in the press. So, naturally, Bruce hacked into Janet’s cloud in hopes of finding more.

He did, but not by much. Travel logs put the Drakes out of the country for a good chunk of the year and only a very broken trail of nannies left to mind the little boy while his parents were off globetrotting. Only their housekeeper had been with the family for more than a year.

And they wanted another, Bruce thought despairingly.

“He looks like you,” Talia said, an almost sad twist to her mouth making Bruce want to lean in and kiss it away. “Exactly like you. Jack Drake must be a fool.”

“I was bigger at his age,” Bruce said carelessly, carefully spinning around to face her. She let him take her hands and look hard into her eyes. “Listen to me. This doesn’t change the love I have for you or Damian. This was an accident, yes, but there’s no reason being angry with Janet or Tim.”

Talia’s own piercing green eyes searched his face while he tried to work against his training and remain open and honest. He owed her transparency. He owed her the world for sacrificing her entire life when she abandoned her family and the League.

“What does this Janet want with us?” she asked after a long moment, taking her hands back from Bruce. She instead wrapped them comfortably around her baby bump.

“She said that Tim’s parentage came into question when she and Jack tried for another baby.” And because if he could be petty with anyone, he could be petty with Talia, he added, “Because I guess having a child fixed their marriage so well in the first place.”

Talia’s eyes strayed back to the screen where Tim’s picture was still prominently displayed. “He does not look like a miracle worker, but I suppose I will have to reserve my judgments until I meet the boy at least. I notice that he does not, in fact, have any siblings.”

“Jack’s infertile,” he said. “Or close enough. When he found out, he ordered a paternity test and filed for divorce the next day.”

“Quick. Efficient.”

“Janet tells me that he’s the one that wanted children and that she doubts her ability to care for Tim on her own.”

“He means to leave her destitute?” Talia asked, leaning over Bruce to click back to his profile on Janet. She scrolled through to look for other pictures, faculty IDs and visa photos and whatnot. “She’s attractive enough. She may join my harem if she so chooses.”

“But it was a problem when I slept with her,” Bruce complained. Talia flashed him a dangerous grin. “No, the divorce proceedings do seem fair to her. I think that it’s more that she doubts herself as a mother. I think she fears what damage she could do to him as a single mother that didn’t want a child in the first place.”

“She knows of your other rescues and seeks to leave him on your doorstep, then.”

“Talia,” he growled. She patted his cheek condescending.

“Relax, beloved. Jason was the one to label himself as such and Richard already loathes me,” she said. “I mean them no ill will.”

“He doesn’t loathe you.”

“He does and it works for us.” She gave an elegant shrug. “And what of Jason? You’ve only just acclimated him to our lifestyle and now you mean to add another right before Damian arrives.”

“I’ll talk to him tonight before patrol,” Bruce promised. “Jason likes other kids and it isn’t like Tim is moving in tomorrow. Janet and Tim are still living with Jack for now. With any luck, we can figure out a joint custody agreement that works for everyone. In the future Janet wants to give me primary custody, yes, but she wants to be a part of Tim’s life.”

“So we will be co-parenting with this woman,” Talia sighed dramatically and Bruce very lovingly didn’t point out that five minutes ago she had been inviting “this woman” into her harem. “While you no doubt ply her support at every opportunity. I implore you to wear a condom this time, beloved.”

Bruce straightened in his chair in indignation.

“You impregnated her through an IUD last time,” she continued. “Who knows what you could do with the woman if she’s not using birth control this time.”

Bruce, very lovingly, did point out her hypocrisy now. “Talia, you were just inviting her into your harem. I feel like you’re projecting.”

“I would never turn a straight women even if they were truly beautiful. If they are happy settling, who am I to take that from them?”

“I don’t know for sure how Janet identifies, but I can say for sure that she’s slept with at least one woman,” he said. Talia looked delighted. “Apparently she was out of the running for paternity pretty soon, though.”

“I can work with that,” she declared and gently lowered herself to his lap. He took her added weight effortlessly, wrapping his arms around her to secure their precious cargo. She kissed him, long and sweet. Against his lips, she whispered, “I am angry. I know you do not place much value on blood ties, but I…”

“I know,” he whispered back, pressing his forehead against hers. “But thank you for trying.”

“I am,” she said. She tried to breathe through the lump forming in her throat, but pressed together like they were, Bruce must have known. “I do try. It doesn’t come easy for me, but I try.”

“You make the choice to be here with me every day. You’re working so hard and I see it, Talia, I do.”

She had no words for that, so she just curled against him as best she could with little Damian between them. Not the first of Bruce’s blood sons anymore, but the first of hers and cherished all the more for it.

#tim drake #bruce wayne #talia al ghul #janet drake #my writing tag #janet doesn't know yet but talia is already planning to make janet her little meow meow #bruce is the exception but talia strikes me as mostly a lesbian #fic: no choice but to love you

[britcision]

So I’m thinking about this again and I think a lot of the dislike for Vivienne comes from missing the metatextual layers of her character

Obviously she’s always a bitch and I love that for her, 10/10 step on me energy and if she was lighter she’d have been Lady Dimitrescu a few years early

But there are two different layers of subtext that I can see in her character that at the very least have made it really hard for people to explain why they don’t like her

Long and involved discussion below the cut, pack a lunch

Let’s start with the most common complaints:

1) she’s mean. Y’all love that in plenty of other characters though, so there’s something different about Vivienne that makes her being mean so much more offensive

(I wonder what it could be.)

She’s even mean in an overly polite, very delicate way with lots of honeyed compliments and stark disagreements

2) she’s a cop apologist who thinks the circle system works

Ignoring for the moment that people seem to have far less animosity for Cullen, who Literally Is A Cop and believes all the same things

(I wonder why.)

This is where the metatextual layers come in though, so bear with me:

Vivienne’s view point, that the circles are essentially good and while Kirkwall clearly wasn’t and needed to be destroyed, that was the exception instead of the rule, is the dominant viewpoint in the game

Even hanging out with the mage rebellion at Redcliffe, the greatest concentration of mages who should be pissed about the circle, every single minor mage NPC is against the rebellion

They’d rather be in the circles, but left because otherwise they’d be alone and murdered

There MUST be a number of mages who’ve experienced the worst of the circles; enough of them voted to rebel to carry these outliers like a tide

You never fucking talk to them

Not one

Fiona, the leader who started the vote to rebel, has nice things to say about templars if you speak to her, and still wants to reform the circles. She’s just realised it won’t work from within, and accidentally almost sold the mages into indentured servitude (if you picked the mage route)

This isn’t a subtle thread, it’s glaringly obvious if you pay even a little attention. Even mages who started as apostates tell you the templars are not all bad, and “it’s complicated”

Now, I haven’t played DA2 or seen a full play through, so this part is pure speculation, but.

The biggest complaint I see about DA2 is that you can’t help Anders blow up the chantry.

You have to be shocked by it, despite giving him the dynamite, and everything about how DAI refers to it tries to push that he was an extremist and hurt the mages more than helping them

(Also mysteriously every circle Cullen is at tends to fail soon after, despite him being extremely pro templars. Very interesting, completely unrelated)

And I think that’s why you’re surrounded on all sides by “not all templars” in DAI

I think someone at the top level was fundamentally confused by the reaction to DA2, because I think someone at that level thinks the moral quandary of the game is “who’s right, the mages or the templars”, and they think it’s a 50-50

That’s why you can pick either side with equal weighting

They think there is not a right or wrong answer to this question

We shall be calling this the Supervisor level, since I’ve no idea who or where they are, but they’re definitely near the top rung because holy fuck DAI is beating us to death with “well free mages are bad actually and some templars are lovely people”

I think that the Supervisor level think Vivienne is right

This is a game that has gone to great lengths to portray racial equality (and emphasise species inequality as a metaphor that it clearly understands is bad), that worked hard to make incredible, gorgeously under-toned and perfectly lit dark skin options

All of the default heads for all of the playable races come with two gorgeous POC options that are hot out of the box

Vivienne herself is a character they’ve given the world to; she’s beautiful, powerful, independent, strong willed, beginning in by far the best position of any of the companions

Her first scene is her stepping in to effortlessly undercut an encounter with a pissy noble that you as the PC were not given a win condition for

She is the most influential mage in the game, Fiona is undercut by Alexis before even appearing, the Tevinter magisters are all suspect because who knows who is Venatori, Dorian is a pariah and a rogue, Solas is an isolated apostate

Vivienne is in the running to be the next fucking Divine if she joins the party

The people who approved each level of plot for this game gave this beautiful Black woman the world at her feet, persuasive dialog options, and the most widely supported opinion in the world of the game

(She’s not wrong that right after Kirkwall’s explosion is a bad time for a rebellion and makes it look like mages support murder; she just fundamentally does not understand that there would NEVER be a right time or how badly the other mages were being mistreated

She’s isolated on a glowing cloud of privilege, yet never mentions her childhood or early days at the circles )

Dorian will happily tell you that the Tevinter circles pretty much are what Vivienne thinks the Orlais circles should be; well established schools of learning and study where mages are protected and given room to grow

(He also admits disappointment that their templars are toothless and don’t actually investigate who’s doing the human sacrifices unless they’re poor or not well connected)

So our first meta textual layer shows that to the Supervisors, Vivienne is right. It should not be almost impossible to get high approval with her, because players should not all be on the side of mages

They specifically use mages to push “free mages are dangerous” because it’s harder to argue against

They’re prepared for people to go that route anyway, that route exists, but they expected it to be a pretty much even split, and for grey areas like “the circles are bad, but mages still need to be watched because demons will possess them” to be a strong part of the mage route

Even if you ally with the mages freely, you can tell every single ally in every single conversation that you lied, they aren’t free, you’re going to keep them in line

And this brings us to meta textual layer 2:

Someone (or a group) in the writing staff understands the actual dilemma of the game perfectly:

The templars are wrong, the circles are an oppressive system that cannot be fixed from within, and you are only barely able to advocate for them to be treated as people, against constant and heavy resistance

This shines through in ways that could almost be seen as coincidence, which is why I think the power balance is set up this way

Sera says it best when asked where she stands on the mage and templar war:

In the middle, because you only hear about mages when one gets possessed and blows people up, and you only hear about templars when they decide to steal a bunch of maybe-mages

On the surface, this sounds like a pretty flat 50-50, both sides are bad so why take a side

But when you actually look at the words…

You hear about mages when their bodies are taken without control and they are forced to do terrible things

You hear about templars when they decide of their own free will that they want to kidnap random people and make sure no one ever looks for them

Only the templars have agency in these examples

There’s also the simple fact that the main baddies in the first part of the game are rebel mages and rogue templars

Rebel mages are fighting for their freedom, notably split off from the main body of the rebellion, who have run for their lives and are hiding

Rogue templars just decided to stay behind when their powerful and influential leaders decided to pull out and stop protecting people, and none of the “good” templars tried to stop them

You are deadass not permitted to bring this up when you first go to Val Royeaux and the templars fully withdraw to their keep

It wouldn’t fucking go anywhere because ✨plot reasons✨ but the fact that there isn’t even an option to say “by the way come pick up your trash” feels telling

Nothing is stopping all these good templars, that we are constantly being told exist and have mage partners and all that, from trying to do something about the rogues who are murdering just anyone they come across

There is no system to stop the bad templars, or abuses in the circles, because the system is not set up to protect mages

It is set up to contain them, and keep them from causing trouble. Whether you do that by keeping them happy and compliant or beaten and locked in solitary isolation does not matter to the system

But guess which one is easier, cheaper, and inevitable without any kinds of checks to make sure that the good templars are the ones in charge?

In this layer, Vivienne is laughably uninformed about… well, everything that goes on not under her nose

She’s so sure she’s the last First Enchanter left because she lives outside her circle, has the perspective of what common people believe, understands the political timing in the way the other mages

(Who are surely all just as comfortable and well off in their towers as Vivienne herself, who lives in a palace and visits the circle when she wants to)

can’t possibly grasp. Her whole first recruited dialogue is a list of increasingly passionate “why couldn’t they just sit tight and bear it until a better time came”

If you push all the way down she becomes more and more emotional each time, from her cool façade of “I know best, they’re being foolish” all the way to “they made it look like mages support murder”

It’s beautiful animation, incredibly complex and nuanced, and easy to miss if you write her off as a cop apologist and don’t drill down

I seriously doubt she even knows what restrictions were imposed by any of the circles, possibly including her own, cuz they sure as shit did not apply to her

Her party dialogue with Cole is actually another really good example of her just… not knowing what to do when the information she was given is wrong

She starts full of certainty, confident she knows more about demons than Cole or Solas (he asks why she’s scared of him but Solas isn’t, it’s adorable)

She accuses Cole of wanting to be more than friends with Solas, asking if he wants to possess Solas and keep him forever and stay out of the Fade with utter conviction

Cole understandably gets upset and tells her that he fully can’t go back to the Fade, and sometimes wishes he could

The motivation she’s ascribed to him deadass does not work, has been easily disproven in two sentences, and the conversation ends

Vivienne never replies, because this information doesn’t fit her worldview and she therefore doesn’t know what to do with it but write it off as a lie

Because on this level, which we will call the Writer level because it is most visible in the script, Vivienne is so much more than a cop apologist

Vivienne is the perfect demonstration of how an oppressive system cannot be changed from within, and what happens to those who try

Vivienne does not approve of abusive circles; she’ll tell you right off Kirkwall needed to be shut down

She just assumes that her circle experience is the more common one. That most of the circles are as lenient as hers, letting people live off campus if they have the right friends

Hearing her talk about the circles is actually a lot like hearing Dorian talk about the Tevinter circles (and yet he also doesn’t receive half as much hate.

How mysterious.)

Vivienne really thinks that the circles are all nice, comfortable institutions of learning and protection, and the mages who rebelled are brats who want to put their comfort over lives

She thinks circles like Kirkwall are outliers that need fixing, though preferably not by explosion

If Vivienne becomes Divine, Orlais circles go back to what they were, because she does not see the problems, does not listen to common people, and is comfortable under the status quo

It’s a fascinating combination of arrogance and misplaced modesty; Vivienne is special, incredible, the best for a reason. But she also thinks anyone else could have done as well, if they only applied themselves

That any other mage, in any other circle, could and would have her sphere of comfort and protection if they only tried

The system needs mages like Vivienne, powerful, cunning, persuasive mages, because they are its greatest weapon

She’s given a position of relative power and influence specifically to stop her from changing the system to what she believes it should be, by making her believe it has already been done

She defends the system from outside change because if it works for her, it must work for everyone, and they’re just being petulant, and she is isolated from anyone who could show her she’s wrong

She’s surrounded by the upper echelon of templars, who either have the appearance of being good, kind, noble protectors, or may actually be in her own position;

Being cosseted to keep them from making changes

It doesn’t actually matter if every single circle has fallen to the depths of depravity, abusing every mage inside it in obvious physical ways

What matters is that every single one of them can, and would the second one of the bad templars that everyone agrees are there, bad, and should be dealt with, got into power

There is nothing to stop any circle from becoming Kirkwall or worse, and that is why the system needs to be burned down from the ground up

They are jails, and the templars see themselves as jailers over people who never did anything wrong

If you wonder how that goes IRL, check out the Stanford Prison Experiment, then remind yourself that in the eyes of the templars being born a mage is a crime

And if you go wandering around and talk to everyone you can… there’s a Tranquil woman in Skyhold, your new creature researcher, Helisma Derington

(and HOLY SHIT the Tranquil will be a story for another fucking time, for now let’s leave it at “mages are uncomfortable around them and encouraged to see them as less than people for a reason”)

And Helisma will tell you she was made Tranquil not because of her magic, but because she was willful. That the time before she was made Tranquil was emotionally trying, but she doesn’t remember why

And ooooooh do I ever want her to have a talk with Vivienne, because holy fucking hell there but for the grace of God and all that, this lady cannot be a coincidence

And the Tranquil can’t lie

On this level, it’s actually much more important that Vivienne is a Black woman, and an intelligent, independent, powerful, canny Black woman at that

Because it shows that the system can and does work on anyone

There’s no identity that magically makes you aware of the inner workings of oppression, and you can’t opt out by being clever

Vivienne being so intelligent, so independent, so strong willed, is what makes her so very desirable to the system; she will be so much better at defending it once she is on the inside

Because oppressive systems that can be changed from within don’t last a decade. No matter how much you think so, you’re never the first to decide to change it

That’s why the system is built specifically to channel clever, capable, strong willed people into one of two paths: Vivienne’s, or Helisma’s

First the certainty that just kicking the system down and starting over would be so much worse. It’s dangerous, scary, and unfamiliar

Then the lure. Surely a Good Person at the top could fix all the problems. You can be the Good Person, make all of the changes, the system worked for you so it must have the potential to work for anyone if you can just fix those little problems

The isolation, being kept away or not seeing the people for whom it doesn’t work, never has, never will

Turning you against those who want to tear the system down, because clearly it’s personal. They don’t believe in you, they don’t think you can do it. You just have to show them, prove you’re right, if they’d just sit down and behave you could fix it all.

But do you need to? It’s already worked for you. It works under your nose, where you can see it

It’s nice, comfortable to be a mage in your circle, and you can’t be everywhere. The templars can keep their own people in line, they have the seekers for that

It’s too much money, too much work to look into every circle every day, week, year to make sure that no one is abusing the system, because the system itself is good

And frankly, that is a good chunk of why I enjoy Vivienne so much

She’s so utterly convinced she knows best, and the other mages just don’t understand, but she’s the one who really has no idea what’s going on

She’s so smart, classy and sassy, funny, and we will never hit a single point of agreement because she’s deadass just wrong

And there is just the smallest chance that if you keep her out of the system long enough, if you could introduce her to the right people and experiences in the Inquisition, she’d see how the system was using her

(And oh BOY would that ever be something)

And if she doesn’t? She has the same beliefs as more than half your companions. Wants the same things and speaks the same way as 90% of the minor NPCs in the game

(Seriously they are SO heavy handed with the “both sides” rhetoric that has to be intentional too)

Most of your allies disapprove of allying with the mages, though only your companions get the immediate little flash on screen

(You don’t get Viv’s Greatly Disapproves until the next time you talk to her, so you could probably technically avoid it and never speak to her again)

Cullen, Josephine, and Leliana are all quick to tell you you shouldn’t have done it, and should have talked to them before making a decision (I think there’ll be some disapproval if you freely ally with the templars too, but Cullen sure as hell approves of that one)

Tl;dr: the Supervisors think Vivienne is right about mages.

The Writers are using her to show how oppressive systems are designed to prevent people from changing them from the inside.

You don’t have to like her, but she doesn’t have to be right all the time about everything to be an interesting character

#dragon age inquisition #dai #dragon age #vivienne de fer #vivienne dragon age #the smartest person you know believes something really ignorant #misogynoir #meta #long post #with many opinions

[beatricebidelaire]

the whole thing was quite hushed up, and no one really knew the exact details of what had transpired, even if beatrice baudelaire claimed to. but even as everything was labeled top secret and forbidden to be discussed with irrelevant people, some rumors were bound to come out, occasionally ambiguous and hard to decode, occasionally blatant and wild and overly specific on certain details.

the gist of it, though, was that something almost went wrong at one of the missions. almost being the keyword, it was fixed and the situation was saved, although not without creating some inconveniences - and more than that, or so it sounded.

when a model volunteer like jacques snicket got caught up in the middle of this - everyone was suddenly interested. but maybe even the perfect agent makes mistakes sometimes and needed other loyal volunteers coming to the rescue. everyone wanted to find out the details, but no one really knew exactly what had happened, or how the situation was salvaged. even beatrice baudelaire, who claimed to have figured out everything but couldn’t talk about it.

although - what beatrice did know was this. jacques returned to the city a few days later, and visited hotel denouement. the hotel was fairly busy that week, and all three managers were handling all sorts of things. but then jacques pulled frank away into frank’s office for an “urgent meeting”. which lasted about 20 minutes.

according to most people - concierges who happened to be on the same floor after they walked out, one or two volunteer who couldn’t really tell the hotel managers apart but assumed that if one of them was with J then it’s most likely F - frank basically looked the same as ever, with a professional mask on, hard to decipher, impossible to tell apart from the other manager, etc. in short, just as usual.

but beatrice, who was helping out at the front desk along with bertrand when frank and jacques returned, had a different opinion.

“you know what F’s face said when he got back?” she said, with a mysterious smile at bertrand.

“i was there with you,” he reminded her.

“yes, but that doesn’t mean you know,” beatrice replied, very reasonably if she could say so herself.

“i assume it was ‘i hope beatrice hasn’t done anything too drastic while i was away’.” bertrand said dryly.

“it was,” frank confirmed.

“sure, that’s such a permanent state of you that it isn’t even worth mentioning,” beatrice waved a hand dismissively. “i was referring to his ‘that apology blowjob could have been an email’ face.”

frank just looked at her, decidedly unimpressed. he had long since learned that the best way of dealing with beatrice was to not give her any reactions she expected to get out of him. this was increasingly becoming a psychological warfare between them. she delighted in getting to see beneath his professional mask, and since they’re friends he didn’t mind letting her know the real him, partially anyway, but there was no way he’d rise to her bait so easily. not when she was definitely expecting him to. it was tempting to express some strong opinions to beatrice and tell her to stay out of his business and love life, but that would only give her ammunition to decipher what had happened from his reactions. he must not react, and let her wonder on instead.

“well,” bertrand nodded sagely, but frank could just hear the hint of teasing in his voice. “F does love emails.”

frank casually grabbed a nearby cushion and aimed it at bertrand, who caught it easily and grinned wryly at frank. frank rolled his eyes at him, posture relaxed.

behind frank, beatrice narrowed her eyes at bertrand.

#vera.txt #frank denouement #beatrice baudelaire #bertrand baudelaire

[kikarouflames]

A Choice With No Regrets:

I watched the No regrets ova first back in 2016, when I first got into aot. Then, I read the No regrets manga. And I personally found the manga more accurate according to characterization and canonically how they behave. In the anime, they made Erwin really apathetic and cold than he is.

Levi's reaction to Isabel and Furlan's death was more intense and emotional in the anime ova, but it was more controlled and relatively less intense in the manga. I found his reaction in the manga more like him. Levi lived in the underground, where death was everywhere. He was used to it. It doesn't mean he didn't care about them enough to go into rage mode. No, it's not that.

Levi was a character, for me, who likes being in control and have a more thought throughout reaction. There were many instances where he tells Mikasa to calm down. So, Levi doesn't usually have a reckless reaction. He takes his time and quickly analyse the situation first. That's the first thing surviving in the underground taught him. Not to be blinded by rage and emotions.

Their death definitely impacted him critically. But, we see how he already anticipated thier death before leaving them in the manga. Levi is always shown to have amazing insight and quick thinking. He did calculate the risks, he turned back hoping, just maybe there's still possibility his friends were alive. But it was a bit too late. He then takes all the titan down, but unlike the anime, in a less angered and more calm manner.

He does jumps and takes Erwin down, but you need to note, that he could almost kill Erwin. I don't know if it's him who went easy on Erwin or Erwin managed to block his blades, but I think the fact, despite the loss he still listened to Erwin and what he got to say. And Levi broke thier deal down and now willingly joined the survey crops. He now had a great purpose to put his strength towards and be a weapon for the sake of humanity.

Manga shows how Levi stays calm and doesn't let his emotions blind his actions, despite all the loss he has faced. It must have took him so much time to get over thier deaths considering they were his first friends. But Levi is so used to death that his reaction is not frantic or shocked but rather understanding and he tries to find meaning and worth in life. He would make sure their deaths weren't in vain. He still caries the hurt from thier deaths: his mom, Isabel and Furlan,and later on, his squad, Erwin, Hange and other many survey crops soldiers.

Levi doesn't have a overly emotional reaction to death on the the outside,he is still the most emotional character on the show. He reacts to death a bit differently than others, he views it as something bound to happen at some instance in life. Death is something natural for him, but he makes sure it just isn't meaningless. He tries to find meaning and worth in it. Trying so hard not to let the deaths of his comrades be in vain.

He also tries not to get to affected by the deaths to a point he can't function in grief. Levi, would rather, as I said, make thier sacrifice worth it than mourn about it. He likes a positive approach in this way. Many people think Levi might be a pessimistic person cuz' of his stoic and usually sullen expression, but I don't think that's true. Finding meaning and worth even in death, is rather a optimistic approach. He is a realist, but that doesn't make him view death as something meaningless just because it's natural. It's meaningfull and valuable to him.

Levi doesn't only value life but death as well, for him nothing is in vain.

Anyways this was just me rambling.

#levi ackerman #attack on titan #aot #levi aot #levi attack on titan #erwin smith #no regrets #a choice with no regrets #acwnr #isabel magnolia #furlan church

[fandomsoda]

Heart, Soul (light vent poem)

A loud voice does not always conceal a loud heart. An angry voice does not mean an angry soul. A twisting, spiraling mind does not mean an unstable person.

Passion is bred from care and conviction. Something that provokes so loud must feel so deep. A hurt heart screams as much as it weeps.

The screech of a damaged soul can deafen. Many cover their ears. They feel they have no place to care for a hurt heart’s fears.

Sensitive is sweet. Loud is seen as sour. And many don’t appreciate when someone is candy every hour.

They say meek is to be weak. They say there’s no place for kind. To ask for accommodation is simply a waste of time.

They say the heart wants control. Yet it only craves consideration. Its fear and need for clarification is misconstrued as hatred.

The soul thinks it has friends. But many don’t value it, not as much as it values them.

Passion mistaken for anger. Caring mistaken for force. And the heart has no clue how to speak better, of course.

It values its own passion. Wishes not to be dishonest. To sugarcoat and pretend to be relaxed would only make it feel like a liar.

The soul changes to help its friends. But it knows that in the end, there are some things about it you just can’t fix.

Claim its scream is annoying and weak, yet it is a battle cry. To make it as pleasant as possible, it will definitely try.

But it will remain strong until the day it dies. To wear the heart on one’s sleeve while calling out on the battlefield, it’s an act so risky but brave and a rare one in this time.

Soul could be hit a thousand times. It will not shatter. Because it understands that what it says matters.

The soul softens for its friends. It’s willing to change in positive ways for almost whatever. It’ll do almost anything to make sure those ties don’t unnecessarily sever.

Voice is too loud. Because the heart is too big. It grew another two sizes just this morning.

Too much love within it. To live in such a broken world. Still maturing, still feels like a little girl.

Tries to bring people in. Always gets pushed away. Because it cares too much, they say.

It never claimed it doesn’t make mistakes. The things the soul screams are rarely entirely pleasant things. Just because everything it says comes from love, doesn’t mean it’s not a complete and total fuck-up

But in the end at least that means it will be willing to change. To change to help others. To not hurt a thing.

But it will never stop caring as much as it does. That never will be, and that never was.

It thinks not itself better but rather questions others. No matter if friends, foes, sisters or brothers. It asks “why don’t you care, why not is it important?”

They never got many answers that they understood. Only “because it takes to much energy and I can’t spend that” was really good. It tries to understand, to accommodate anyway.

Because it knows certain feelings are hard to explain. Even those it calls beasts it still sees as people. Merely ones that have done actions one could sometimes call evil.

The heart loves and it loves, but not many love it. With that horrible fact, it must often sit.

Because it loves and it loves, and love for something else is the only reason it could ever hate. Judgement not always good, but heart in right place.

Glowing blue with integrity, it’s got beliefs. And if those beliefs are right, it will never stop it. Heart made of gold, no need for a locket.

But not everyone sees their lustrous sheen. And many don’t understand that for them it also gleams. Because instead of seeing what it actually believes, they’re way more mad at the fact that it screamed.

Big heart breeds big feelings. Big feelings, big reaction. And it’s trying to more carefully choose those big actions.

It never means to force, to shove down its opinions. To disrespect, to hurt, to disregard. It only means to ask of its friends, not demand of strangers.

To let everyone know just how much it cares. Its voice is loud and it doesn’t know how to keep it down. A silencer would be a hard thing to wear, begin to make them struggle for air.

Desperately trying not to shout, trying not to freak its loved ones out. To be as good as it can for whoever cares back, even if that is someone it lacks.

Both trying to please and to stick to its guns, means that a lot of the time life isn’t fun.

But it’s trying.

Hey, it’s me. I’m the heart. I’m sorry I’m a mess. I don’t wanna be.

#light vent #nothing explicitly triggering in here but big feelings

[cringecorekitty]

you should write rpf of us

Anonymous batted their eyelashes, looking up at the hero's statue with hearts in their eyes.

"Wow.... Chat Noir.... it's even cooler to see his statue in purrson," they say, almost swooning at the sight. He looks as he normally does in this particular piece, but he normally looks very awesome, so their reaction makes sense. "I would give ANYTHING to actually meet him..."

"Who, little ol' me?" a voice says, before ACTUAL FOR REAL LIFE CHAT NOIR (ZOMG!!!!!) lands beside them.

"OHHHH MY GOSSH OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH YOU'RE EVEN MORE AWESOME AND COOL AND CAT-LIKE THAN THE STATUE MADE YOU SEEM!" Anonymous shouts. They tackle into Chat Noir, crying hysterically, but he takes it like a champ. "CAN I HAVE YOUR BABIES PLEAAAAAASE!?!?!?"

"Hahahhahahaha nooo, but thank you for asking," Chat Noir says. He pats Anonymous on the cheek. "I must go before I'm late to meet my girlfriend, but thank you for being a fan!"

He pries Anonymous' arms away, and as fast as he came into the scene, he's gone. Anonymous starts to cry really hard.

"A GIRLFRIEND??????? NO!!!! HE'S MY SOULMATE! MINE!!!!!" they bawl. A purple butterfly comes down, landing in their homemade 'Chat Noir Loves Me Most' shirt.

"Fanon, I am Monarch. You've been spurned by the one you love; I will give you the power to make anything you want happen. All I need are Ladybug and Chat Noir's miraculouses in return."

"Yes, Monarch. I'll get them for you, just as I'll have Chat Noir's heart."

_

Ladybug purifies the akuma just before her and Chat Noir bump fists. Her earrings are beeping already, and she flees once Chat Noir assures her they'll handle this. When she's gone, Chat Noir turns to the fan from earlier.

Offering them a hand up, and a tissue from his cool miracle pockets that definitely have tissues in there, Chat Noir smiles at them.

"I'm sorry you felt so bad when I left earlier," he starts. "I appreciate your feelings, but please, never force them on another person. My life isn't a story written by other people, it's... my life. I want to live it in the way that will make me happy."

Anonymous takes his hand and stands, sniffling and blowing their nose with the tissue. They're a mess, but at least the Miraculous Ladybug fixed their shirt.

"...I understand. I'm sorry," they say, and they seem to mean it. "I think I've moved on now anyhow..."

That makes Chat Noir smile more.

"Good. That's good. I hope you find someone deserving of the love you have." He steps back, turning to go, but he looks back over his shoulder at Anonymous one more time. "I hope you enjoy the rest of your time in Paris! It's really the cat's meow!"

And then he's off like a shot, leaving Anonymous all alone. Anonymous takes off their backpack, and then removes their Chat Noir shirt. From their bag, they take out a different shirt, rolling up the Chat Noir one and replacing it. They put their new shirt on and hold it out, smiling down at it.

It's a homemade 'Ladybug Loves Me Most' shirt.

Opening their phone, they search for the nearest location of one of Ladybug's statues, and start heading off...

_

Thank you guys i hope you enjoy my RPF of you :)

#chat noir

[rollinggirlrunahika]

Rolling down from Here: [x]

@hyaciiintho:

It wasn't as though he hadn't noticed her stare. On the contrary, it was rather DIFFICULT to ignore the way her gaze bore into him. It was just hard to focus on the smaller details when you found yourself in yet another distant world that you knew NOTHING about, streets just a window away being packed with others moving to and fro-- a sea of bodies that never stopped moving. It was... a little overwhelming, if he were to be honest. For all the places they had seen during their adventures, nothing compared to... Shibuya, was it? It was truly the most unique and POPULATED world he's seen yet. "Well, you're right about that: It wasn't easy." Riku confirmed her statement, gaze being slow to pull away from the window, even as he made an effort to shift his head to better face her. "There were a few... let's just say keys, to gather, first. Once we did, there was a clear path through the power of waking. Although, Shibuya wasn't exactly my original destination... Even if it does look exactly like my dream... Maybe we just got the name wrong..." He trailed off then, eyes lowering to settle on the table's surface. It was hard to deny the uncanny similarities between where he found himself now, and the place from his dreams-- Even down to that distant tower.

"... Well, one thing's for sure..." His attention was now successfully won over by her, taking his turn now to STARE openly and take in her appearance. It was a strange feeling, looking into the face of someone you once knew, feeling both FAMILIAR and entirely foreign all at the same time. Still, deep in his heart, familiarity won over the battle, and a smile tugged at his lips. "... It's good to see you again, Runa. Of all the people I could have run into, this was the nicest surprise."

Runa followed Riku's gaze towards the streets just outside as he spoke. As always, the streets were practically filled to the brim. Yet, there was an odd order to the chaotic rush of foot traffic. There was the various business men and women speed-walking their way through the waves of people, while you could also see students from junior high and high school chatting up with their friends. Some way, some how, no one has managed to shove anyone over.

It was definitely something to see if you haven't seen so many people in one place before.

She briefly glanced over at the other, trying to get a read of his expressions. At first, Runa couldn't help but feel a corner of her mouth turn upward, a bit amused at his general reaction to the amount of people outside the cafe going about their day.

But, at the mention of how he didn't intend to end up here in the first place, she noticed that Riku seemed... [Disappointed] wasn't the right word... Neither was [Sad].

... [Concerned]..? [Confused]?

Either way, the girl couldn't help but feel sorry.

Then Riku had to turn at stare right back at her, catching her by surprise as he practically scanned over her features. Runa could only imagine what must be going through his head, cause it certainly felt like he was staring for a while before continuing his sentence.

Of all the people I could have run into, this was the nicest surprise.

Runa could feel her cheeks start to heat up, and she almost wanted to slap herself silly. NO! NOT AGAIN! YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THIS GUY IN LITERAL YEARS YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUSLY--

She faked a cough, quickly looking to the side and took another swig from her coffee. She made a mental note that she was almost down to just ice, so her options were even more limited of trying to distract herself.

"A-Ah.. Well, I'm glad that at least something good came out of all this," Runa managed to say, looking back at the silver-head before her. Seeing that smile, well, Runa couldn't help but smile back. "I really am glad to see you again too, Riku. I'm sorry that this isn't uh.. Quadra..tum..num. But, you're welcome to come stay with me and Dad if you need to rest up before heading out again. And.."

She paused, raising a hand to hold over the heart shaped locket that dangled from her neck. Her bright blue eyes shined with determination as her brows furrowed.

"If you need anything, anything at all to help find Sora. Let me know. I'll try to help you in anyway I can."

#hyaciiintho #|| Wherever You Aren't || Post-KH3 #|| Is It Alright If I Keep Calling Out Your Name? || MAIN VERSE #(( jabfkjbw “Quadratumnumnumnum” )) #(( no worries !! You're fiiiine )) #(( i love them too -pats their heads- ))

[strawbrry-fields]

John Laurens x reader, Cpt. 4

~slow-burn~

Word count~ 865 words

Warning~ none

Pairing~ John Laurens x reader

Note~ hello everybody! I know I promised that I would get this out sooner over winter break, but things got in the way. I honestly need to stop making excuses and just write lol. I am however, ahead seeing as I am almost finished with the next chapter, which will be quite long. I haven’t been writing as long chapters because I felt that it was too much for one person to read then remembered I prefer longer chapters to shorter ones, so I will be doing that from now on. Anyways, thank you for supporting me and enjoy this chapter!

•Chapter 4•

It had been a few days since meeting John Laurens, and you were over at the Schuyler family’s home for lunch. The Schuylers had always been great friends of your fathers, and you had known the sisters since a very young age. You were only a year older than Eliza, making you 23 and a year younger than Angelica. However, you were always a little closer to Peggy and loved her playful and teasing nature. When you were younger, the both of you often got in a bit of trouble for being misfits. Your thoughts were briskly interrupted when Phillip Schuyler, the head of the house, addressed the whole table.

“Who father?” Asked Angelica turning to face her father, her brow quirked while sitting a bit taller.

“George Washington.” A flurry of gasps and the stopping of utensils made their rounds about the room, mainly coming from Angelica and her mother. You suspected that it was due to them being the most interested in the impending war approaching. You were not as interested. You wanted freedom for your people, but disliked the idea of wars in general. It worried you and made it hard for you to focus on other tasks.

“I’m interested to see how his strategy works out,” replied Catharine Schuyler, Phillip’s wife as she went back to her breakfast.

“Me too, dear especially with is new right hand man. He seems to be a new face, I don’t believe I have ever heard his name before.”

This peaked Angelica’s interest further, prompting her to ask Phillip “Who is it, father?”

“Alexander Hamilton. He apparently stole some cannons when we were still down south, but nothing else is really known about him.” The name sounded familiar to you, but you couldn’t put your finger on it. The conversation drifted from one topic to the other, but to be honest you really weren’t paying much attention. Being too focused on trying to memorize the face of a certain someone tends to be distracting. Excusing yourself, you stood and made your way to the Schuyler’s gardens to get some air.

Hearing steps from behind, you quickly turned only to be confronted with your friends and their ongoing questions.

“Sooo, who was he? What’s his name?” Peggy exclaimed as she linked her arm with yours and teasingly smiled at you.

“Yes, you didn’t tell us anything after you said that you had seen him in the tailor shop again after you hurt your head,” chimed in Angelica, “You must tell us everything.” Suddenly you stopped, whipping around to face them.

Clasping your hands together, you slyly smiled and turned your head to the side pretending to think. “Well, he was the friend of Hercules’ who directed you towards his shop from what you told me.” You glanced at them with a grin on your face, gauging their reactions.

“Oh! I didn’t take in much of his face when he helped us in the crowd, or when we were in the shop after. Is he cute?” Eliza inquired.

You giggled and declared “Well I might be partial, but he most definitely is. His name is John Laurens.” At his name, Angelica’s face seemed to change. Her eyebrows furrowed and a small frown formed. You took notice of this quickly, your excitement dwindling. “Angelica, what is wrong?”

Angelica seemed to question whether she should answer or not, but eventually spoke up. “I just don’t know about him. I have heard through the grapevine that he’s a bit of an ‘interesting’ character.”

“How so?”

“Well I have heard that he flirts around with women a lot but doesn’t court them, at all.” Confusion suddenly washed over you, your eyebrows furrowing with a worried look soon taking hold. John had seemed so genuine in his words. “What if he was just playing with me, and the feelings aren’t mutual at all?” You thought. You sat down on the side of a fountain, Peggy sitting down with you.

“What should I do about it?” You asked your friends, “I genuinely thought that there was a spark of interest there, but I don’t want to try and continue something that will not happen.” It wasn’t like the two of you had talked for enough time to be considered interested in each other. Peggy looked at you reassuringly and took your hand in hers.

“Y/N, you will definitely be able to woo him into seeking your affection. From the other day at the shop he seemed starstruck when we left. He asked you if you were going to be at the ball this week, so seek him out there and figure out where he stands.” Smiling and wrapping your arms around her, you had never before been more grateful for Peggy for giving you the advice you needed.

“Oh Peggy, I completely agree,” Eliza spoke while joining the hug.

Angelica smiled and rolled her eyes, but joined in the hug anyways. “I guess I agree, just be careful.”

Chapter 5

~~please let me know through messaging, asks, or comments if you want to be in the taglist, and thank you for the support!~~

Taglist: @froggydobegaytho @disneyanddisneyships

#hamilton musical #angelica schuyler #eliza schuyler #hamilton #john laurens #john laurens x reader #peggy schuyler #hamilton x reader

[disco-elysium-via-polls]

3 ."I mean, 'Okay, I'll be on your side when they come.'"

TITUS HARDIE - "Yeah..." he snorts. "Just try not to get in the way -- when the whoop-ass flies open!"

EMPATHY [Easy: Success] - Beneath the *whoop-assery* it's clear that he appreciates all the help he can get.

3. [Authority - Godly] Establish authority.

+1 Confronted about drug trade. +1 Strange reaction to bullet. +1 Discussed eighth Hardie. +1 Warned about the tribunal.

Before all these bonuses, we had an *8%* chance of success here. It's looking much better now.

AUTHORITY [Godly: Success] - As you look around this room full of sweaty men, swearing, drinking, spitting out tobacco.... does this look familiar?

Where have I seen this before?

"I get it, Titus. You guys really are *the authority* around here."

AUTHORITY - You believe the place was called *Precinct 41* -- it was also filled with (almost exclusively) *men*, sitting on desks, talking shit and wasting time.

ESPRIT DE CORPS [Medium: Success] - "You seen Apricot -- old Pidieu's daughter?" asks Lieutentant McCoy. "Uh-huh," replies Torson. "The ass on that one..." McCoy shakes his head in appreciation. "A bit strange the old man named her Apricot, but, I mean -- who am I to judge? Wanna hit the kebab joint?"

"I get it, Titus. You guys really are *the authority* around here."

TITUS HARDIE - "Huh?"

"You must be -- you're just like real cops. Drinking beer and sitting around with your dicks in your hand."

TITUS HARDIE - He leans in. "You got a problem with *beer* now?"

AUTHORITY - Not quite there yet -- push on.

"No, no. I'm drunk on the job too. I don't give a shit, just like you guys."

"No, I'm also a big fan of beer -- *and* jerking off instead of helping people."

"I have a beer-problem, but not a problem with beer. I also have *no* idea how to do my job. Like you."

TITUS HARDIE - "You saying we don't *help* people?" He puts the beer down. "I've been doing this job for *ten years*! Martinaise was a dump before we put this outfit together."

EUGENE - "They don't know, man -- they weren't here." He turns to you. "We had three shootings a week, kids dead, fuckin' *graffito* everywhere -- you cops haven't shown up since the Thirties."

KIM KITSURAGI - "Congratulations on the graffito removal." He turns to Titus. "All I see is you sitting around talking about *Monica's titties* -- while there's a rape victim."

TITUS HARDIE - "So what? What do you want from me? We took care of that fuck." He picks the beer back up.

AUTHORITY - Don't let him drink that. One more push, quick!

SUGGESTION [Easy: Success] - Just don't antagonize him, you have this already.

"It's not about who did it, it's about the victim. She needs help."

"Someone's been raped. She needs counselling -- we need to talk to her."

ELIZABETH - "Titus..." He looks at her.

AUTHORITY - She stops mid-sentence. That's it -- you got him. He's going to give it up, but on his terms.

TITUS HARDIE - "You wanna *help* her, cop? Fine, I'm, gonna let you help her -- but you treat her with respect."

"If you don't -- if you *question* her, harass her..." Titus taps his chin with his fist. "...a freight train of pain, buddy."

KIM KITSURAGI - "What is her name?" The lieutenant takes out his notes.

TITUS HARDIE - "Klaasje Amandou. She's staying here at the Whirling-in-Rags. A real pretty one, silvery jumpsuit, blonde." Titus adjusts his cap. "That's Amandou with an O-U."

Task complete: Prove your authority to Titus Hardie

+30 XP

INLAND EMPIRE [Trivial: Success] - Shit! The girl... the girl upstairs?! That can't be her. She knows you drank so hard you forgot you were a cop...

HORRIFIC NECKTIE - Oh, it's her. It's definitely her. It's Miss Oranje Disco Dancer.

"K-k-Klaasje?" (Correct your tie.)

"Miss Oranje Disco Dancer?"

[Composure - Medium 11] "Klaasje Amandou. Cool." (Keep your cool.)

TITUS HARDIE - "Sure -- why not. You've probably seen her around." He nods upstairs.

[Composure - Medium 11] "Klaasje Amandou. Cool." (Keep your cool.)

-1 Said you don't remember being a cop. -1 Said you don't remember reality.

COMPOSURE [Medium: Failure] - You inexplicably add "cool" after the victim's name -- with your eyes bulging like some wild beast. Your fingers are fidgeting and sweat starts forming on your brow as Titus looks at you oddly.

TITUS HARDIE - "I don't understand what's so cool here."

-1 Morale

KIM KITSURAGI - "Nothing." He gives you a sideways glance. "We just have a *few* more questions -- then we'll be on our way."

SUGGESTION [Easy: Success] - Whatever you do, do not to tell him you *know her*. That would sound *off*.

"Uh... so what was her relationship with the mercenary?"

"So, the, erm... the rape. When was that?"

So..." (Scratch your head.) "What is your relationship with her?"

"I think I..." (Laugh nervously.) "I think I know her."

"Thank you, we'll talk to her." (Conclude.)

TITUS HARDIE - "Relationship?! There was no fucking relationship! He raped her, that's their relationship!"

EMPATHY [Medium: Success] - Something is off here. His anger is... possessive.

SHANKY - "It was like that karaoke incident all over again. Or like some of the other girls he was harassing."

ELIZABETH - "Okay, enough. All of this is irrelevant to your stated investigation."

2. "So, the, erm... the rape. When was that?"

TITUS HARDIE - "He did it before we killed him. He's not gonna do it again." He crushes his half-empty beer can. "So what does it matter?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "It would help if we establish a timeline."

TITUS HARDIE - "Alright. Two weeks maybe? I don't know... I need another beer." He turns to Glen.

GLEN - "Here you go, boss!" The tall blond throws him a can. Titus cracks it open.

3. "So..." (Scratch your head.) "What is your relationship with her?"

TITUS HARDIE - "I know her." He looks around and an uncommon silence fills the room.

KIM KITSURAGI - "How well do you *know* her?"

PERCEPTION (SIGHT) [Medium: Success] - A small twitch in the corner of Kim's mouth. He has a hunch about what *knowing* means.

TITUS HARDIE - "Well enough, copper. We partied. She's been here for a few months." He crosses his arms.

COMPOSURE [Medium: Success] - He tries to make it sound real casual -- but the muscles on his neck tighten.

"So she's not from around here?"

"I see, okay. That's cool, that's cool. Another question?"

TITUS HARDIE - "You mean Revachol? Nah. Our Miss Oranje Disco Dancer is an immigrant or a drifter of some sort. Been staying here over the winter."

FAT ANGUS - "Don't you give her any more trouble!" the fat guy blurts out. "She's just had some bad luck, that's all."

GLEN - "Shut up, Angie!" He slaps his forehead. "She doesn't need your help..."

TITUS HARDIE - Titus gives them both a look. They fall silent.

SUGGESTION [Trivial: Success] - What's with all the silences? It's like these guys don't know how to feel about this. You should keep picking at it...

4. "You said you partied. Cool, that's cool. But what did you mean?"

TITUS HARDIE - "What do you think I meant?"

"Was it sex?"

"Drugs?" (Avoid his gaze.)

"Did you do karaoke?"

(Laugh nervously.) "Sex, drugs and karaoke, right?"

TITUS HARDIE - "Yes -- yes -- and no." He looks you straight in the eye. "Got something to say about it?"

"So you're saying the two of you were... close?"

"Another question."

TITUS HARDIE - "No. We just fucked, that's all," he states matter-of-factly. "I'm not gonna give you any details if that's what you're after. So put your dick away."

SUGGESTION - He really went out of his way to seem comfortable with this topic. That's all you're gonna get for now.

DRAMA [Medium: Success] - He's doing a good job here. A commendable performance of *I don't give a shit*.

Suggestion told us not to say we know her.

6. "Thank you, we'll talk to her." (Conclude.)

TITUS HARDIE - "Remember what I said: freight train of pain." He points his beer can at you.

New task: Talk to the assault victim

4. "I'm going to take off now." [Leave.]

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Kim wants to talk to us.

KIM KITSURAGI - "Officer, what was that?"

"What was what?"

"It was nothing."

"You mean the sweating and fidgeting when he mentioned her name?"

KIM KITSURAGI - "Yes."

"And the... sort of... quivering jello thing with the eye?" (Point to your twitching eye.)

"I think I know that woman."

KIM KITSURAGI - "Yes."

"I think I know that woman."

"It was nothing."

KIM KITSURAGI - "It's not nothing, you were coming apart at the seams." He looks you in the eye: "Do you know the assault victim?"

"Yes."

"No."

KIM KITSURAGI - "Is there something I should know before we talk to her?"

"I didn't rape her."

"I met her. In the hallway, after I woke up."

"She knows I didn't remember being a cop."

"I tried to hit on her..."

"That's it." [Leave.]

A successful Rhetoric check here would tell us not to say the first thing. I... think we can figure that out ourselves.

KIM KITSURAGI - "Understood -- you were not in good shape on Monday."

3. "She knows I didn't remember being a cop."

KIM KITSURAGI - "Okay," he nods. "That's manageable."

4. "I tried to hit on her…"

KIM KITSURAGI - "Understood." He's stone-faced.

"It went pretty okay, I guess."

"Better not to add anything to that."

KIM KITSURAGI - "It doesn't matter how it *went* officer -- what else?"

5. "Nothing -- let's move on." [Leave.]

KIM KITSURAGI - He nods. "We'll be all right, officer. This is nothing."

ESPRIT DE CORPS [Easy: Success] - You feel fortified by his assurance. It's going to be all right.

+1 Morale

#disco elysium #kim kitsuragi #titus hardie #elizabeth beaufort #hardie boys

[ticklishbeans4]

hi! how are you?, have you ever been interested in writing about Adrian Graye (the leader of the coven of illusions) with the idea that he is good and became Gus's teacher or something like that

🐰

Well since you two asked so nicely, and cause this is such a cute idea I HAD to write it! Enjoy!

Illusions of Another Time

“Now, just hold still.” Adrian spoke, a reassuring smile on his face as he placed his hand on Edric’s wrist. Gus watches with bated breath, as did the rest of the student body. But when he pulled his hand back he gestured for Edric to turn to the crowd. “Now! As you can all see, it looks real! But, Edric was it? Show us some beast keeping magic.” Edric looked worriedly out to his sister, but drew a small circle in the air, summoning a butterfly. The tension that left the room was palpable. Everyone was suddenly lining up to get their “sigils” and chattering excitedly about how cool it was that they were gonna pull one over on the emperor’s coven!

When Gus’s turn came up he fiddled nervously with his tunic. He was excited to be part of this whole big ruse, but… He was meeting the head of the illusions coven! The coven he was so desperate to join! This was kind of a big deal!

When he approached, Adrian grinned wide and knelt down in front of him, tail swishing, almost like a puppy. “Ah! You must be Agustus! Principal Bump told me about you! Quite the little prodigy, from what he said. I have to say, for someone so young to be in such advanced classes, it’s a marvel! Why, even I wasn’t that good at your age! Who knows, maybe you’ll replace me one day!”

Gus giggled and held out his arm, “I don’t know about all of that, but I do want to join the illusions coven one day! I like having some extra showmanship in my life.” “You and me both little ringmaster!” he laughed, putting the fake sigil over Gus’s wrist. “If you don’t mind, once the scouts have passed, would you mind showing me just what you can do?” This must be a dream… “I-I’d love to! It would be an honor even!” he grinned, bouncing on his heels excitedly. Adrian chuckled, his tail coming up and playfully tickling Gus’s nose, making the boy giggle and cringe away cutely. “The honor is all mine! Now, run along to your friends, I’ll meet with you soon.” Gus nodded and ran off, “WILLOW! WILLOW! OH MY TITAN!” ~timeskip~ “And so you just draw your spell circle with the mirror and…”

Before them appeared a field of multi-colored flowers and plants. Adrian looked down and inspected the flowers. “Amazing work! So detailed!” Gus tried to grin, always happy to get such high praise from his new mentor, but it was hard keeping up an illusion like this. There were so many tiny details to focus on. The older witch chuckled and ruffled Gus’s hair, “Let’s take a break, alright?” Gus quickly dispelled the field and flopped over with a sigh of relief. “Yes please.” Adrian laughed and sat next to him, “Tired already little ringmaster?”

Gus just put an arm over his eyes, blowing a tired raspberry. They’d been at this for most of the day, though this was the first time he got to use the amplifier. It was a heck of a rush really. The magic was stronger than anything he’d felt before. He’d definitely want one of his own someday!

 A poke to his belly made him jump out of his thoughts with a squeal. Adrian backed up a bit, blinking in shock. “I was just going to ask if you were listening. But I’d rather ask if you’re ok. That was quite a reaction.” Gus’s face went dark with a warm blush, “I-I’m fine! You just startled me, that's all!”

“Is that so…” the head witch smirked, gently poking him again. Gus squealed again, curling up a bit and hugging himself.

“Did that surprise you too? Or are you going to be honest now?” he teased, “I am the head of the illusions coven, if I couldn’t see through a lie then well… I wouldn’t be very good at my job, would I?”

Gus pouted but it was pretty pointless to argue with him at this point. “W-well… I mean… I might be… just a bit… kinda… ticklish?” “Now was that so hard?” he chuckled, ruffling Gus’s hair, “There’s no shame in it! Plenty of people are ticklish! I mean, if I had a snail for every time I saw and heard that Golden Guard boy getting destroyed by Darius, well, my pay as a coven head wouldn’t be able to compare.” Gus laughed a bit, and was definitely remembering that bit of information. After all, Hunter was living with Darius now, and Gus had been wanting to visit again.

“In fact.” the coven head continued, “I am even of the firm belief that everyone has a tickle spot somewhere, I’d even be willing to bet Belos has a few.” Gus snorted,m “No way! He’s way too grumpy!” “The grumpier they are, the harder they giggle.” Adrian replied dramatically, wiggling his fingers at Gus for emphasis, making the boy squeak and giggle. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d quite like to find your tickle spot!” Gus gasped as Adrian’s wiggly fingers hit his belly, quickly falling into a stream of bubbly, silly, giggles. “W-wahahait! I’m tihihicklish! Ahahah!”

“Well that I could guess.” he drawled, moving to scratch at his ribs, “But your belly isn’t what I’m looking for…”

He squealed and wiggled, batting weakly at Adrians hands, “Stahahahap! It tihihihickles!”

Adrian only chuckled and dug into his underarms, “That’s what it’s supposed to do little ringmaster!”

Gus’s laughter only rose in pitch, it was clearly a bad spot, but noT quite his tickle spot. “EEHEHEHHEHEHE! NOT THEHEHERE!”

“Oh? Not there? Maybe… here then!” Gus shrieked when he felt the fluffy soft tuft of fur on his neck and swiping along his ears. “T-TAHAHAHAHAHILS ARE CHEHEHEHEHEATING!” he squealed, kicking and scrunching up his neck to deter the tickly tool.

Adrian only went faster, his fluffy tail turning the poor kid into a giggly puddle.

“AHAHHAHAHAAHAH! A-AHAHAHADRIAN! S-STAHAHAHAHHAP! PLEEHEHEHEHEASE!” he cackled, pushing at the covenheads tail.

He sighed playfully and rolled his eyes, letting the boy go after a final wiggle behind an ear to make the boy squeal. “Alright, alright. I can be nice. And we still have some training to do before you head off home.” Gus was all but limp, half flopped on Adrians leg, “Just…. Juhuhust a sec…” “Of course, take your time. Just be warned, this isn’t going to be the last time this happens.” Adrian smirked, tickling the kids nose with his tail. Gus giggled and batted at his tail, “Okahahy! Ok! I get it! But I’m pretty formidable myself! You’d better watch your back!”

“I’m shaking in my boots.” he drawled, tasering two fingers into Gus's belly, making him shriek and curl up. “But really, you’re still so young Gus. And with all that’s about to happen… you should savor the moments when you can act your age.”

Gus looked up at Adrian and smiled, hugging around his middle. “I’ll try.” Adrian looked a bit shocked, but hugged him back with a smile. Till he felt tiny hands digging into his sides and he shrieked. “Told you to watch your back!”

#bean answers #gus potter #adrian graye #toh tickle #tickles #tickle fic #good guy adrian au #lee!Gus #Ler!Adrian

[lizsurvived]

I have to admit, no one knows about my secret lil tumbler about what happened to me. The people in my life know it happened but no one else; but they have no clue I'm doing this. Ig its because I know it's intense. But honestly, idk if anything will come of this tumbler. But either way, I think it's important that I keep writing.

My current partner (not my monster of an ex) is the kindest, gentlest and most caring and affectionate man. I love him so much. I hope it lasts forever lol, we are so alike and we have so much fun together. We respect each other and are very communicative. He's aware of everything that happened with my ex.

I still can't really believe it happened.

What's worse is that I had gone back to see him yet again, a week after it happened. I know. What the fucking fuck was wrong with me, you're asking yourself. I'm asking myself the same thing. I must have had insane Stockholm syndrome... He was very manipulative. I was manic and completely alone in the world with no friends or family who I could see in person to talk to. Don't worry, I made it out without a scratch that time, and will never go back.

My current partner and I met about 7 months ago about 2 months after I moved closer to my sister. We were off and on for a while because he and I both have mental illness and couldn't seem to communicate well enough. He broke up with me kind of, he claims I was forcing him into doing it. Who knows who was right about that, we we're both so out of it mentally, both of us were all over the place. Now, we are both medicated and it's night and day.

I don't think I've ever known true love until I met my current partner. He is everything a man ought to be. I love him for all of him. The good and the bad (although with him, the good outweighs the bad every single fucking time). I also feel that he and I love each other equally. One doesn't love one more than the other. We love each other completely. He's a nerd which I resonate with lol. And he's extremely talented! I fell in love with him almost instantly. Our bond was strong and our chemistry was everything.

Then he broke up with me one night out of the blue after a month of dating. My sister wrote me off for about 5 months for a while... You have to understand, she and I were best friends my entire life... I had no one to talk to. No one to go to. I was so depressed and so sad... I admit that's when I drove to see my ex. Unfortunately for me, I didn't know that my current partner would later contact me again to reconnect... I definitely wouldn't have done what I did. I was so love sick... Its hard to explain and it's just... A lot. I know.

My current partner spoke of how he feels guilty.. my sister and I recently reconnected and I felt that I had to tell her what happened while we werent talking. I had to tell her that my first thought when I was about to pass out from being strangled was that I was never going to see my sister again or my family again.

The relief I feel now that my sister and I are talking again... Is so immense. It feels as if I was in an ice bath whereas now my body feels more at ease and my mind feels less burdened.

It's hard not to feel responsible for what he did to me. I knew he was dangerous. I guess I just truly didn't expect anything like that to happen to me. Didn't think he could go that far. People should know about what he did. I'm just too afraid to tell anyone who he is for fear of his reaction if or when he finds out. I'm terrified of him and so should anyone be.

He has put multiple men in hospitals. When he fights he wins. He is scary. He has violent priors. Very manipulative. I'm extremely concerned for his next girlfriend. I'm worried he could definitely kill someone... I have basically no legal leg to stand on except for a t shirt with blood and DNA all over it from that night.

Please. If you know anyone who does pro bono law or knows someone who does, if they think I have a leg to stand on, please drop me a line.

#domestic violent relationships #violent impulses #violent night #abuse survivor #trauma survivor #ptsdsurvivor #complex ptsd #shellshocked #i almost died #abusiveboyfriend #physical abuse