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sometipsygnostalgic · 2 years

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favorite she ra episode?

ill do one from each season

Season 1: "The Beacon", actually.

Glimmer having an absolute crisis with her powers being corrupted. Entrapta is discovered in the vents and joins the Horde. I think "Promise" is a better ep, absolutely, "Promise" being the first Stevenson ep where it's really psychologically introspective, but this is one of Glimmer's best episodes as she breaks down in front of her mother over how she feels like a failure. Angella tells her why she refuses to fight - Micah's alleged death. It's also the ep where Catra manipulates Entrapta, in her early attempts of Shadow Weaver-ing and Super Pal Trio forms, making you prefer the Horde to the Rebellion for half the show. Generally, this ep is the one where the Real Plot Shit starts to go down and you begin to see who these characters really are, and it only continues in "Promise", building a rollercoaster til the end of the show. It's also why Glimmer and Entrapta were my favourites from so early on.

Season 2: "Signals"

I was stuck between this, "White Out", and Light Spinner". The reason I went with "Signals" is because, if you removed the really bad Rebellion plot in this episode, then it's the one that made me glued to the edge of my seat, waiting to see what happens next with Catra in the Horde. Anyway, from the Horde side: Catra tries to connect with Hordak. He nearly CHOKES HER TO DEATH in a forcefield. Entrapta wants to fix a wobbly table, Catra tries her damned hardest to make Entrapta listen and NOT approach the deadly guy. Entrapta does it anyway, messes with Hordak's tech, but he's just so bewildered by her understanding of his experiment and her and complete lack of fear of him that he decides he trusts her. Catra comes barging in the room, begging Hordak to have mercy on Entrapta, only to discover that she's slid into her much desired position as Hordak's new favourite. Catra leaves, feeling betrayed, and feeling like her position in the horde is slipping from her fingers.

What I particularly love about this one is how many emotions run under the surface without being said out loud. Catra’s increased fear of Hordak and how she takes that aggression out on her underlings, while also trying to protect them, and how Hordak just.... observes Entrapta, and you can see the gears clicking in both their heads as she works out his plans for a portal into another universe, this brand new dynamic being a force of nature, and when Catra enters at the end, absolutely BABBLING out of fear for Entrapta, but she gets pushed out and she looks SO HURT....

I also think this episode marks the moment where I started to like Hordak. AND Hate him. I mean. Just look at him. He threatened to kill Catra for like no reason. But I can’t see the way Entrapta just worms into his laboratory, and they bounce off each other, and NOT smile. He’s a total stock villain, she’s a purehearted dumbass who can’t stop herself from improving any shitty tech around. That dynamic had no right being as fun as it was, and me and Shado were both like “holy Shit”.

Season 3: “Remember”

Okay, so “Moment of Truth” might actually be the one I think about more from this season. It had so much going on, it was the climax of the entire past 3 seasons, Glimmer was turning to Shadow Weaver for power, and the whole episode was out of Adora’s hands, which was amazing. The convo between Catra and Shadow Weaver. The moments where Catra realises she’s going full villain, shocking Entrapta, and THE FUCKING AMAZING PORTAL OPENING SCENE AT THE END.

The reason I woke up this morning and decided to change my mind, that I prefer “Remember”, is because the horror aspects of that episode are fucking amazing and deserve to be appreciated.

When reality starts falling apart, and Adora knows SOMETHING is wrong, but has no idea how to stop it, and we see her and Catra getting along as horde cadets and Catra absolutely refuses to admit that something is off because it would mean shattering the illusion that Adora had never left and was here with her now...

Adora and Scorpia’s interactions, a very fun dynamic which doesn’t get much time over the show, but I love how Scorpia hates Adora for breaking Catra’s heart and yet still always having Catra’s full attention. Poor Scorpia. She also nearly processes what Catra did to her in the previous episode.

It’s just... as everyone disappears from reality, it SUCKS, man! A world where everything is the same but you don’t exist..... I found this ep to be significantly stronger than “The Portal”, even though that ep had some great friendship moments.

Season 4: “Princess Scorpia”

Other contenders include “The Coronation”, “Hero”, “Destiny Part 1/2″, the one with the Horde Trio and Light Hope, and even “Mermysteries”.

The reason I ended up going with “Princess Scorpia” is because of how focused and almost self-contained this episode is. Also, because I really like Scorpia??? I’m a sucker for her interactions with Emily, and her rolling off of Emily to realise just how much her relationship with Catra has hit the shitter. I think, in this series which has so many toxic and complicated relationships, it’s important to have someone put their foot down, say “enough is enough”, and cut ties, for themselves.

Scorpia has been sympathising with Catra the entire show, and yeah, she’s right in a way, Catra is under a lot of pressure. She saw, in real-time, Catra’s transformation into a villain, and she can’t help but try to Understand it. She accepts all of Catra’s aggressions against her, as Catra’s way of showing affection, because that’s what it historically has been - Catra always pushed people away when trying to protect them, especially Scorpia.

However, Scorpia sees Catra start to hurt other people, NOT in a way that would be conductive to protecting them, but in straight up cruelty. The moment she shocked Entrapta and sent her to Beast Island was a horrific wakeup call for her, that both Scorpia and Catra had been in denial about. Scorpia was thinking, no no, Catra didn’t mean to be that cruel, she’ll change her mind. But every time she presses about it, Catra gets more and more aggressive and doubles down harder, and Scorpia starts to realise that Catra’s willing to destroy people who consider her their friend if they stand in her way.

Add to this the situation with the Horde Trio, who were also going through a crisis over Catra becoming cruel, and Emily, who had been nastily scarred and who Scorpia realised Catra would kill, and how Scorpia saw all these people as her friends, saw Emily as her friend, saw Entrapta as her friend, and she let Catra take Entrapta away-- suddenly, Scorpia realises that when Catra betrayed Entrapta, she also betrayed her. Catra doesn’t care how she hurts Scorpia to get what she wants, and if Scorpia continues to enable Catra, wait for her to “come around, she’s sentencing her friends Entrapta and Emily to die, as well as quite possibly herself.

Scorpia also reflects on her position in the Horde, and how she’s been loyal to it this whole time, because that’s what her family does... be loyal... but her family betrayed her, to get on the Horde’s good side, and then the Horde returned the favour by ending them. You can see the gears click in her head as she realises, she’s been robbed and hurt and she needs to reclaim her own life before she ends up like all the other Scorponis, whose names she doesn’t even know.

To cap off this ep, some incredible scenes with Catra and Hordak. When Scorpia tells Catra she’s a bad friend, she makes one of her greatest displays of vulnerability and pushing stuff down pretty much immediately. Hordak really, really wanted to see Entrapta’s recordings - he wants some kind of closure, anything, on what kind of person she is and why she “betrayed” him - but this drives Catra mental, because she can see herself in him, someone obsessed with a so-called Princess who just cannot let go and lets other people have way too great an impact on their life, to the extent they feel completely broken when everyone keeps walking away. Catra is yelling to him exactly what she wants to tell herself - that she doesn’t need Scorpia, she doesn’t need Adora.

The shot with Scorpia and Emily walking away into violet light, on their “super pal duo field trip”, is one of the most bittersweet episode shots. It’s also the most satisfying scene in the show. The exclusion of them both from actually GOING to Beast Island was a pretty big crime, imo, though I WAS satisfied with the story of her connecting to the Black Garnet.

Anyway the plot is simple and easy to understand, and the message clear. It’s not VINDICTIVE when Scorpia leaves, she doesn’t want to betray and hurt Catra, it’s a very sad moment for her, and she still hopes Catra may turn around one day. However, she can’t wait for it any longer.

Season 5: “Save the Cat”

There are other eps which have stronger moments. “Taking Control” is a very beautiful reflective episode. It has my favourite Entrapta moment (and maybe my favourite Catra moment) in the entire show - Catra’s apology and Entrapta’s head pat. There’s just something so... satisfying about that scene. It was worth a mention. Also, Adora telling Catra, “Stay with us now, or we leave you on a planet and you never see me again”, and Catra panicking and finally telling Adora she wants her around, very satisfying.

Other eps have stronger themes too. “Corridors” is an introspective and powerful Catra episode dealing with her inner turmoil, with Glimmer as the perfect partner to do this. Their dynamic was my favourite this season, maybe the show, because I love how much chemistry Glimmer and Catra have. Honestly, if She-Ra wasn’t already planned to be Catradora endgame, I think Stevenson would have ran with Glitra.

And a special mention to “Failsafe” and “Heart part 2″, because of the fucked up interactions Catra and Adora have with Shadow Weaver, which in my opinion are by far the most powerful and emotional part of this season.

The reason that “Save the Cat” is my favourite is because it’s got EVERYTHING I like. It just makes me feel happy to watch. Everyone starts off the episode in adorable matching space suits, and they already have this whole plan, and it makes you laugh immediately as Entrapta cheerfully says there was no loss of life and Glimmer goes “Wait, that was a possibility???” - I wonder if anyone’s explained Space to her yet lol.

From the perspective of Glimmer, Bow, and Entrapta, it’s entertaining watching them run around Prime’s ship like a bunch of idiots, Glimmer overcoming her trauma by hitting things, while Entrapta and Bow bounce off each other as a comedy duo on the weird adventure of rescuing Wrong Hordak. I like that Entrapta had a “side objective” of finding Hordak and finding out if they were still friends now he was with Prime. She was thinking of him the whole time! Of course she didn’t mention it before, lol. It’s a nice touch, and I laughed my ass off when it subverted the expectation of the scene - that she somehow recognised Hordak among the many clones - by revealing, no, she did not, she only THOUGHT she did. Bonus when you realise she didn’t recognise the REAL Hordak in Failsafe or Heart.

Wrong Hordak is a treasure. Bow puts up with so much around him and Entrapta from the kindness of his heart. And the scene when she summons Darla is so fucking funny, and what makes it better is, yes, there ARE consequences to making a space ship slam through another space ship, you DO need to repair that shit, but whatever, we’ll deal with it next episode.

From a CATRA AND ADORA perspective.... this is the episode where they properly reunite for the first time since the Portal Incident. And while back then they were at their toughest, this time they are both at their weakest - Catra has fallen hard while on her villain path, and has been mutilated by Horde Prime, turned into his puppet with all of her vulnerabilities left open for everyone to see, while Adora is weaker than ever without She-Ra and has to rely on only herself in order to save Catra on an impossible mission.

Seeing Adora get tormented as she’s confronted with this Catra who has been.... so thoroughly harmed, overwritten, by Prime, it’s really the shining moment of his villainy, because it’s easily the worst thing he does. Catra, who we had seen so broken, go down this spiral of becoming the Bad Guy and further ripping open the hole in her heart with each misguided affliction on Adora or others, becoming some kind of Cult Member and losing all the key indicators of her identity; her dark clothes, her mask, her hair.

Adora can’t bear it, and breaks down repeatedly, and you see them in their purest and most honest as they appeal to each other. Catra can no longer hold on the mask of rage, not when she’s this scared, and Adora can’t stay as the calm warrior.

The highlight of the ep is when Catra falls, and Adora goes to the side of the ledge, calculates her chances of survival, and jumps down ANYWAY. She breaks her fucking legs!!!!! But she does it because she promised Catra she wouldn’t leave her behind!!!!

Ugh. So good. She-Ra’s return couldn’t have been better.

Episode is capped off by a remarkably quiet scene. She-Ra moves onto the ship, calm. Entrapta’s more serious than we’ve ever seen her before, trying to get the ship working - it’s falling apart. She-ra touches the console and claims administrator access, telling Darla to get them out of there, damn the consequences; it’s a simple act of telling us She-Ra is here, it’s her ship, and she is taking control of the situation, even though it’s an emotionally draining one for Adora.

Bow and Glimmer are crying silently over Catra’s body. She-Ra walks up to her. “Come on, Catra, you’re not done yet.” As she heals her, she transforms back into Adora, and finally lets herself feel sad. But Catra shows signs of life, and says in a broken, friendly tone for the first time in years, “Hey, Adora”.

10/10!!!!!! Ahhhh!!!!!

#she ra #spop

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clean-bands-dirty-stories · 4 years

Text

Breathe ~ the Doctor (part 2)

A/n: I’ll just be going by episode now, so there might be quite a bit of overlapping show dialogue. Side note! Song suggestion for this series 1: “Not ALone” by Starkid!

Word Count: 10,000+

Warning: Blood, violence, minor PTSD, heavy emotions, Doctor Who drama (disease, death, dehumanizing clones, human experimentation, possession)

"Where's Rose?" The Doctor asked as Y/n entered the TARDIS alone.

"Taking her time," Y/n joked in response. "Saying goodbye to Mickey and Jackie." The Doctor nodded as Y/n moved to his side, dropping his small bag of things in the corner. "You should teach me how to drive the TARDIS."

The Doctor raised his eyebrows. "Really?"

Y/n nodded. "I mean, if we're going to be stuck together for... ever." He released a heavy breath and the Doctor snorted softly in amusement. "Seriously though. If I'm stuck with you forever, I think I ought to pick up a few useful things. Starting with driving the TARDIS."

Looking away was obviously an attempt to hide his smile, but he failed. Y/n could hear it in his voice when he spoke. "Okay, I'll teach you then."

Before Y/n could respond, Rose came in. "So, where we headed off to now?"

At that the Doctor changed moods, focusing on the blonde and allowing his shy smile to turn to a grin. "Further than we've ever gone before." He didn't lie. When they landed and exited the TARDIS, both Rose and Y/n were shocked at what they saw. The Doctor took his cue to explain. "It's the year five billion and twenty-three, we're in the galaxy N-87, and this! This is new Earth." He looked around, squinting in the sunlight. Even making that face, he was handsome. This regeneration fit the Doctor well. Y/n couldn't lie about that.

"It's just..." Rose mumbled. "That's just-" Her laughter cut her off.

"Insane," Y/n finished. "Like in the movies of the future. Things that have only been imagined, where we're from." Y/n's breath had been taken away. "It's beautiful."

"Not bad," the Doctor agreed. "Not bad at all."

Rose shook her head, running her hands through her hair to push it out of her face. "That's amazing!" She looped her free arm with Y/n's. "I'll never get used to this. You?"

"I hope not," Y/n sighed contentedly. He was glad to be back in the TARDIS. Back with Rose and the Doctor. He was glad to be away from an Earth that had mostly just hurt him, staring at a magnificent future full of promise and success.

That seemed to ring true with Rose. "I never will, it seems." She let go of Y/n's arm, jumping up and down to state next, "Different ground beneath my feet." She stopped, eyes rising to the clouds. "Different sky." She looked at the Doctor next. "What's that smell?"

The Doctor leaned down to pull grass up, holding it out for the other two to smell. "Apple grass."

"Apple grass," Rose said, her tone mocking normality, as if the idea of apple grass wasn't totally bizarre. What the hell was apple GRASS? Could you eat it, or was it just a smell? Who knew. Y/n laughed at himself as Rose hummed, "It's beautiful." She beamed at the Doctor and Y/n looked over to see her take the Doctor's arm. The Timelord looked down at her and Y/n smiled. They were sweet together. He hoped this little group of theirs lasted a very long time. "Can I just say," Rose began. "Traveling with you. I love it."

There was something in the way she said that. Something that made Y/n cough to cover a laugh. Had he been that obvious? Surely not. "Me too," the Doctor responded brightly. He dropped his arm to take her hand, reaching over with his other hand to grab Y/n's as well. "Come on!" He pulled them into a jog toward a stretch of grass where they all lay out and enjoyed the scenery before them. "So the year five billion, the sun expands, the world gets roasted," The Doctor began.

"That was our first date," Rose joked.

“Not the best,” Y/n piped up.

Rose giggled at that. "I think I preferred the Daleks to Cassandra." Y/n laughed at the memory of the stretched skin parading as the last human, even if it wasn’t as much a bitter memory for Y/n was if was for Rose. “How ridiculous."

"I like to remember it, actually. It was what started it all. What began this whole thing. We even had chips." The trio laughed and reminisced for a second. Long enough for Y/n to see the longing look Rose shot the Doctor. It set off a determination in Y/n. If there was limited time for things to happen between them, Y/n wasn't going to sit back and let them waste it. "Anyway," the Doctor continued before Y/n could come up with anything. "Planet gone, all rocks and dust, but the human race lives on, spreads out across the stars. As soon as the Earth burns up, oh, they get all nostalgic," the Doctor sasses. Y/n's smile falls. "Big revival movement. They find this place." He sat up then. "Same size as the Earth, same air, same orbit, lovely. The call goes out, the humans move in."

The Doctor's words got softer and softer as Y/n zoned out, accidentally ignoring the conversation in favor of remembering something.

There was a weight, in my chest. Not... MY chest, but his chest. A weight that was setting into my body, this body, making everything heavy as well. That heaviness came with darkness, and both seemed to be sinking into his skin.

Screams. The memory of the screams were so fresh and new. They were so bright and painful. Compared to them, and the blood, and the death and loss, the heaviness and darkness was almost a relief.

I see a hand. My hand. His hand. I see it reach out and touch the TARDIS. She's making the sound that has always been her sound, but it's new to these ears. The first time he is hearing it. "Guess this means you're just like me. Last of your kind."

God it hurts even more. That hand moves from the TARDIS, over his heart. My heart. Our heart. I know it's not me, this is not my memory. This isn't happening now. I know this isn't something I experienced, and yet it feels so personal and real. A memory I should not have. An experience that is so clear in my mind, even though it shouldn't exist at all. Scenes of the same story, cut into bits that don't make sense - all that hurt that burns and drags and rips apart. That first night running away, and the many nights afterward. The nights alone. The nights with no one but the TARDIS. I know all of that, but I do not know who I am. It's confusing and it hurts and I can't stand it. I can't stand it! I CAN'T STAND IT!

"Y/n?"

"What?" Even Y/n knows there's something wrong when he speaks. He can hear it even in his own voice. He can hear his voice shake. His voice. He looks down and wiggles his fingers. His fingers. This is the present. The here and now. This is real. This happened to Y/n, of Earth.

Rose reaches out a hand, resting it on Y/n's shoulders. Her face is wrought with concern. "What's wrong?"

How is he supposed to answer that? With the truth? ...I suppose that's all he had. "Sorry, I just find myself a tad distracted today. What did I miss?" A small lie seemed to be nicer. Things had only started to get good, and Y/n didn't know what he'd do if things went south now. After all, how would the Doctor react to all of this? Probably not well.

The Doctor seemed to sense something, but didn't press as Y/n was obviously not in the mindset to talk about it. So he moved on. "Rose mentioned how she wanted to go to the city, but I think we should go there first." They all stood, turning to face a tall, silver building with a giant symbol on the side.

"And what's there?" Y/n asked.

The trio began to stand as Rose responded. "He says it's some sort of hospital."

"Well, you see that green moon on the side?" He motioned to the symbol, which was indeed what he said it was. "That's the universal sign for hospitals." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. "I got this. A message on the psychic paper." He opened the thing to reveal words, moving as they wrote and rewrote themselves on repeat. "Someone wants to see me."

"Ah," Rose hummed. "And I thought we were just sight seeing."

Y/n scoffed, his smile growing. Things felt good again, the bad feelings from the memory before fading away now in the light of a new planet with endless possibilities. "Since when have we gone anywhere just sight for seeing?"

At that Rose's smile turned to a grin. "Fair enough." She sighed, getting excited. "Come on then, let's go and buy some grapes.” Her arm looped through the Doctor's first and then Y/n's and the trio walked like that to the hospital to see who was calling the Doctor. They got nearly all the way there on small talk and unimportant things before someone made a real comment.

"You know," the Doctor mumbled, as if he meant the other two not to hear it, even as he looked at them. "I've never liked hospitals." His tone was low and clearly uncomfortable.

"Is that so?" Y/n laughed, rolling his eyes.

"What?" the Doctor asked, his lips parting as his lips curved upward. Y/n's laugh had always been rather contagious to him, but more so recently.

Rose softly chuckled a second before responding, "Just... bit rich, coming from you."

"I can't help it," the Doctor remarked. "I don't like hospitals. They give me the creeps."

Y/n and Rose laughed but let it go in favor of looking at their surroundings. It was then that Rose dropped the arms of the two men she'd been holding onto until this point, wandering a bit to see as much as she could from every angle available to her. "Very smart," She complimented, just to follow up with, "Not exactly NHS is it?"

"No shop," the Doctor noticed. "I like the little shop." Y/n stayed quiet as he usually did, leaving the remarking to the other two as he took things in. He was never as snarky as the Doctor, or as amazed by things as Rose. Y/n had gotten good at expecting everything. Even if he found himself enjoying how things were and what he was learning, he was rarely stunned and often more thrilled. He didn't want to point and act like some tourist or child though, so he kept his thoughts to himself and soaked in as much as he could. After a second, the Doctor moved closer to him. "Like it?"

"Love it," Y/n responded, trying to contain his enthusiasm. "A place of healing and help. Somewhere things are clean and people are happy." He paused, seeing the Doctor's expression go sour. "Now you listen to me, Doctor. I know that not all patients get saved and not all hospitals work. I know how hard it is afterward too, when you have to pay for your care. But... I like the idea that... some people survive. The work done here matters. It makes a difference, you know?" He released a short breath. "You know, I wanted to be a Doctor when I was a kid. And then..." His smile dropped and the Doctor remembered what Rose had told him what seemed ages ago, about Y/n's parents. "Had a lot of school to catch up on. Didn't have time, I guess. Did bad in school enough without having missed it for a decade straight, give or take."

Rose was the one who changed the subject. "Okay but I thought, in the future, they would have cured everything.”

Taking the opening, the Doctor launched into an explanation. Y/n slipped his hands in his pockets and kept his mouth shut this time. "The human race moves on, but so do the viruses. It's an ongoing war."

A woman in a long dress passed, and only when Rose locked eyes with her and seemed to go dumb did Y/n looked closer and realize the woman... "They're cats," Rose mumbled, eyes wide.

"Now don't stare," the Doctor scolded. "Think what you look like to them, all pink and yellow." He did a once over of Rose, his eyes falling down her body then popping back up. His gaze suddenly shot away, locking with Y/n’s in time to see his huge smirk after having picked up on the moment. Suddenly flustered, the Doctor was quick to add, "That's where I'd put the shop!" He pointed to an empty bit of space on a wall behind Rose, then turned when Rose and Y/n looked away, taking the second to put some distance between them and him. When they turned back, he was in the elevator. "Ward 26, thanks," he told the lift calmly.

Definite attempts were made to catch room with the Doctor, but Rose and Y/n were both too late. The door closed, leaving them on the outside. "Damn," Y/n whispered, teeth catching his lower lip.

"Oh, too late, I'm going up," the Doctor told them. His voice was getting quieter though and he was immediately becoming harder to hear.

"All right," Rose dismissed. "There's another lift. Y/n and I will be up after you." She hit the button to open the door.

"Ward 26," the Doctor reminded. "And..." What he said next was too hard to hear at that point.

Eyes locked as Rose and Y/n both looked to the other for interpretation, but neither knew. "WHAT?" Rose yelled, trying to get him to repeat it. The Doctor did repeat it, but they still didn't get it. Y/n moved his ear against the door to try and hear better. "The what?" Rose tried again. The Doctor began but then cut off, and the door opened so they brushed it off and went inside. They could ask him when they reunited in ward 26. When they went in, Rose said, "Ward 26, thanks," and the lift began to move.

Almost immediately, they realized they didn't have to ask the Doctor what he meant. The elevator spoke about disinfectant, and Y/n had the pieces click in his head that that was the word the Doctor had said. It was too late though, as both of them were taken off guard by the sudden liquid spraying them both down. The were drenched, and then dried, and then it was over. During the process was pure chaos though and at some point Rose latched onto Y/n, pulling herself into his chest. When the doors opened again, she looked up at him.

It was a weird time for it to happen, but Y/n had the thought that her eyes were rather pretty this close. They'd never been this close before, but now he could see all the different colors in them. They were hazel, not brown, and had flecks of gold and green in nice patterns. Those eyes of hers traveled his face and then jetted away and suddenly they were Rose and Y/n again, except.. just a little different. Y/n felt awkward for no apparent reason, and Rose seemed to feel it too. She cleared her throat and stepped out into the hallway and Y/n paused only a split second to collect himself before following.

They didn't talk about it. Mostly because neither knew what had just happened, but also in big part because they realized they were in a dirty hallway that had more basement vibes than hospital ward vibes.

"The human children are clean." The pair looked over to see a small, pale man with vibrant red markings all over his body. There was something... creepy about him. As if he was wrong, but not enough that it was noticeable. Just - a little off. Slightly right of center. It was unnerving.

"Um," Rose began. Y/n did the feely stuff and intimidating when the situation called for it, but he was still trained to ignore strangers and avoid conversations about himself, so most of the casual socializing was and had always been up to Rose. "We're looking for ward 26."

The man turned, beginning to walk down the tunnel. "This way, Rose Tyler. Come along with me, Y/n L/n."

Rose and Y/n looked at each other in alarm. No one safe ever knew their names on an alien planet they'd never been to before. Especially someone they didn't know. Rose grabbed a pipe, but Y/n walked ahead of her, hands in his pocket as if this was just another day, face set and hard.

Catching up to the small man who walked with his shoulders curled in, Y/n spoke quietly. Keeping that calm air about him. "What's your name, sir? Seems only fair, since you know mine."

"Chip," the small man replied.

Nothing else was said until they got into the room they were aiming for. It seemed to be the end of their journey as Chip jogged ahead, excited to reach their destination. Inside the room played a movie on one of those projectors Y/n had only seen at movie theaters, when he worked for one once. He was surprised to see it here as it must have been ancient, considering how far in the future it was, but Rose caught his attention by grabbing his arm. His gaze moved to her body tense with what seemed to be confused trepidation... until he looked at the screen himself and recognized a face. It was then he realized what she was really feeling was shock. Maybe even a little fear.

"It's-"

"Cassandra," Y/n finished.

"Peek a boo!" A voice behind them greeted. The pair spun around to see Chip... and a little ways away from him, Cassandra herself.

Rose immediately got defensive. She was a completely different person from who she used to be when she hid behind the Doctor and didn't know how anything went. Y/n stayed close to her to back her up, but didn't say anything. The first time they'd met, Y/n and Cassandra had been friends before she'd tried to kill everyone on the ship. She'd offered to save him if he just came with her. Of course he'd turned her down, but he'd been sad to see her die as he always was when he saw poor souls waste themselves. Especially people like Cassandra who wouldn't just accept when it was time to give up and die.

Seeing her again made him feel... terrible. Not guilty, but sick to his stomach. She was here, after everything they'd been through? His thoughts were all about protecting Rose. He may still have compassion and mercy, but he couldn't die this time around, and he was far less willing to give people the opportunity to hurt those he cared about.

"Don't come anywhere near me, Cassandra," Rose threatened, wielding her pipe from earlier.

"Why?" Cassandra asked, rather bitterly. "What do you think I'm going to do? Flap you to death?"

Rose hesitated. "Yeah, well, what about him?" She pointed out, using her pipe to remind Cassandra of her little lackey.

"Oh, that's just Chip," Cassandra dismissed. "He's my pet."

"He's not your pet," Y/n spoke up then. "He's a person."

"I worship the mistress," Chip argued, rather aggressively. Y/n glared. What the hell?

"Moisturize me, moisturize me," Cassandra reminded, as if it wasn't the most important thing on her mind right now. Chip answered her command immediately. "He's not even a proper life form," Cassandra assured. Her tone was soft and comforting, but her eyes weren't on Rose in answer to her question. They were on Y/n. What she said had been to ease him. "He's a force-grown clone. I modeled him on my favorite pattern." Her tone became appreciative. "But he's so faithful. Chip sees to my physical needs."

Rose scoffed, somehow having ended up behind Y/n again. It was only then that he realized he'd been slowly making his way closer. Even after all this time and his obedience to the Doctor that had often made him stay put (as well as the fact that someone had to stay behind and inform the Doctor of where Rose went when she wandered off, and if anything too bad had happened), he was still curious. Maybe the more curious of him and Rose. That curiosity drove him to step head first into everything, unless instructed specifically not to. Rose was the reckless one... except now, when they needed to understand perhaps in order to survive this encounter, if whatever Cassandra had planned was as questionable and dangerous as their last encounter.

"I hope that means food." Rose's voice pulled Y/n out of his thoughts, making him fail when he tried to hold back a single, soft snort of amusement. "How come you're still alive?"

"After you murdered me?" Cassandra drawled rather bitterly.

"You tried first," Y/n sassed back, rolling his eyes.

"It was your own fault," Rose followed up.

Chip piped up then. "The brain of my mistress survived," he explained. "And her pretty blue eyes were salvaged from the bin."

Y/n groaned, not liking the way Chip looked at Cassandra after Rose's earlier comment. “What about the skin?" Rose asked to divert the subject. "I saw it. You-" she laughed, cutting off. "You got ripped apart."

"That piece of skin was taken from the front of my body," Cassandra began. "This piece is the back."

Rose had a good laugh about that as she tried to say, "Right, so you're talking out of your-"

"Ask not!" Cassandra interrupted, her feathers ruffled by Rose's giggle interrupted speaking.

"The mistress was lucky to survive." Chip seemed proud. "Chip secreted m'lady into the hospital.

"So they don't know you're here," Rose realized.

"Chip steals meds." He continued as if Rose hadn't spoken. "Helps m'lady. Soothes her." He turned to Cassandra, his hand raising to run along the back of Cassandra's... skin. "Strokes her."

Y/n groaned and Rose intervened on both of their behalves. "You can stop right there, Chip."

"But why?" Y/n demanded. "You two are obviously... involved." He said it with disgust and Rose closed her eyes next to him, shaking her head in disapproval of the mental images that were surely trying to surface in her mind as she fought them. "Why, Chip? Don't you have anything better to do? A life of your own to live? Why waste it in a basement where you're not supposed to be, hiding and taking care of a woman who obviously doesn't care about you. She talks about you like you're a pair of shoes and not a person! Why would you stay?"

That seemed to puzzle Chip. "How could I go? Life is not easy. It doesn't matter where you are or what you are doing, it is always hard and bad. It only matters who you are with."

In that moment, Y/n thought of the Doctor. And he thought of Rose. Wouldn't Y/n do the same, if one of them couldn't take care of themselves because they had gone too far and made irreversible decisions that had ruined themselves? Wouldn't he take care of them and do as they asked and done everything in his power to protect them?

Cassandra's voice rang out, and Y/n looked at her to see she was looking back. "He doesn't change that I'm so alone, though, hidden down here. The last human in existence."

Too caught up in genuinely pitying Cassandra, Y/n stayed silent. It gave Rose the room to speak. "Don't start that again." Her tone got louder as she grew more irritated. "They call this planet New Earth."

"A vegetable planet," Cassandra seethed.

Rose followed what Chip did earlier and acted as if Cassandra hadn't spoken. "And there's millions of humans out there, millions of them."

"Mutant stock," Cassandra huffed pridefully.

"Stock?" When Y/n spoke, the room went silent. There was something different about him, Cassandra realized. He was... scary. He radiated authority now. The last time she had seen him, he was quiet and curious and soft. She could still see a tenderness, but there was a danger too. At some point Y/n had learned how to be both vengeful and merciful, and she realized she was toeing the line of crossing into his wrathful side.

"They evolved, Cassandra," Rose continued, slowly. Y/n hadn't spoken again, but he did that thing that the Doctor did too. When he got quiet and terrifying and you wanted to shut up for fear of setting him off on you. Rose knew she was safe, but even she seemed to be treading lightly. "They just evolved. Like they should. You stayed still. You got yourself all- pickled and preserved." She was getting worked up now. Her anger seemed less dangerous and the room relaxed, as if letting go a breath it had been holding. "What good did it do you?" Rose demanded.

Cassandra didn't address what Rose said. Instead, her eyes slid to the movie still being played by the projector. Rose rolled her eyes, but Y/n listened. Y/n always listened. "Oh, I remember that night." He looked at the screen as she spoke, watching the video play out. He tried to imagine what a party like that would be like. The ambiance and the sounds and the heat and the drinks and the people. The chatter and music. He could feel it, with the help of the video. He wondered if Cassandra was permanently stuck in that night, in her head. If she played this video to hold onto the feelings she experienced when she was still herself. "Drinks for the ambassador of Thrace. That was the last time anyone told me I was beautiful. After that, it all became such hard work." Her tone turned into near growling and Y/n felt his heart get heavy. Why did society do this to women? Why couldn't standards just be... realistic, for once?

A thought occurred to him then. Maybe if society as a whole valued people for their personality and not for their looks, maybe Cassandra would have been different. Maybe she'd have been more than a pretty face. Maybe she'd have met someone who really cared about her, and they'd have settled down and made a family. Maybe she wouldn't have thought her only worth was her looks, and then crossed far too many lines to keep it so she still meant something.

"You've got a knack for survival, I'll give you that," Rose voiced after it got quiet for too long. Cassandra kept looking at Y/n, as if waiting for him to speak, but he didn't have anything to say that was worth saying so he stayed silent.

"But I've not been idle, Rose," Cassandra told them both, even though she only addressed the blonde. "Tucked away, underneath this hospital, I've been listening. The sisters are up to trouble. They're hiding something."

That peaked the pair's interest. "Do you know anything, or are you toying with us?" Y/n demanded.

"These cats have secrets," Cassandra gave in response. "I know them, I know them all. Hush, let me whisper. Come close."

Rose crossed her arms over her chest. "You must be joking if you think I'm going anywhere near you," she sassed, returning to her deep amusement that left her laughing through her words. She began to step back, moving out of the room, and that was when things went wrong. Suddenly a bunch of light went wild, wrapping around Rose's hands and keeping them tethered to her sides. Her face went slack and her body relaxed and she froze.

Before Y/n could process and react, Cassandra spoke. "Chip, activate the psycho-graft!"

Y/n spun around, eyes wild. "You let her go now! If you hurt even a single hair on her head Cassandra, I will-"

"No need for dramatics," Cassandra drawled. "I'll let her go completely unharmed, I promise." Chip pulled a lever and a cylindrical blue light encased Rose. Y/n wasn't sure if he'd make it worse by going in there after her so he turned on Cassandra instead.

He reached down, grabbing the pipe Rose had abandoned a while ago, running at Cassandra with it hefted over his head, ready to bring down onto her face. There was a weird pinkish light above her that went behind him toward Rose, just before he used the pipe to smash in what was Cassandra's sort-of face. The skin split under the pressure and blood sprayed on Y/n's clothes and the lower part of his neck. It was farther than even the Doctor had gone in the violence department since the Time War, but it was Y/n's first thought with little time to react.

It didn't matter though. When he turned around, Rose was on the ground and Chip was approaching her limp body that was slowly coming around as the blonde began to move.

"Moisturize me," Rose mumbled. Y/n froze, eyes wide with part terror and part unbridled rage. Chip went off to be obedient, but when he turned back, Rose's eyes hand already landed on her body, features forming in awe. "Arms," she mumbled. "How bizarre." Her breathing got shallow as she grew excited, beginning to sit up. "Fingers!" She gasped as blonde strands began to fall in her face. "Hair!" Her hands grabbed at said hair as if it was a wonder. Y/n supposed... it was. The woman who definitely wasn't Rose scrambled to her feet. "Let me see! Let me see!" She raced to a mirror. "Oh my god! I'm a chav!"

It was then that Y/n knocked into his senses. His curiosity had distracted him. His confusion and wonder. His questions didn't matter though when Rose was in danger. "Cassandra, I don't know how you did it but you get out of her right now do you understand me? NOW. You may have Chip at your beck and call but you've done this against Rose's will!"

Cassandra wasn't listening. "Look at me! From class to brass!" She fiddled with the end of Rose's shirt, then hesitated, raising a hand to the zipper of Rose's jacket. "Although..." She began zipping it down, exposing a bit more skin. Y/n felt himself swallow. Why was he suddenly so warm? "Curves," Cassandra purred. "Ooh baby. It's like living inside a bouncy castle!"

It was the way Chip was looking at Rose's body that really sent Y/n. He was stuck trying to figure out how to talk to Cassandra, or even scare her if necessary, but he kept getting distracted by the odd look on Rose's face. One that was... Well, that wasn't a thought he was addressing at all, actually. All he knew was that he felt something in him snap. Cassandra was ogling a body that wasn't hers, and Chip was joining in, and neither had Rose's consent and it made Y/n lose his thin control.

Suddenly he was racing froward and Cassandra gasped as her back was slammed against the wall that Y/n pinned her against, his arm on her chest. "I said," he seethed, teeth working together. "Bring her back. Now."

"Ooh," Cassandra cooed. "You really have gotten quite scary, Y/n. I'm very impressed." Her eyes moved to her old body then to the blood on Y/n. "More violent too, wow. Willing to get things done." Her eyes raked every inch of Y/n they could reach. "And much more handsome. I was attracted to you back then, but now? You've really grown into yourself it's a great look on you."

"Stop it," Y/n snapped.

Cassandra giggled. "Don't worry love, Rose thinks so too." That stopped Y/n short. "Oh, didn't expect that one?" Her giggle was bright and triumphant. "She's had feelings for you going on ages now. Since you two met, really. Been hiding them when you showed no interest in anyone and refused to talk about romance. Tried to move on to Mickey... and then the Doctor came around. But you fell for him." Her smile turned mocking. "But of course, you'd take him. The two men she loved the most, being together, without her."

"That's not-" Y/n swallowed. How had he never noticed before? Had they both had their one secret? The one secret they'd kept from each other all this time? His had been the loneliness that had grafted into him, making itself a personality trait. The loneliness that drove him for years to believe he'd never experience love, let alone have it last. The secret that he had never felt the way he felt about the Doctor for anyone... anyone except for Rose. Kind Rose who had come to Y/n in a time when he didn't understand his own emotions enough to name them before she got with Mickey and it was too late. Rose, who he had forced to form a sister-brother relationship with to dodge the feelings he had for her that neither of them were capable of or willing to act on. And her secret, that the entire time she had felt the exact same way?

Had he really wasted all of the time they could have been together thinking she could never like him in return?

"What's the matter?" Cassandra purred, smirking. "Cat got your tongue?"

Y/n's face hardened. "You're lying. And even if you're not, this isn't your secret to tell me. Rose is the only one allowed to tell me her feelings. Get out!"

"But you've killed me, haven't you? How am I supposed to go back to my old body? I have nowhere to go and its all your fault, Y/n. Going back is suicide."

"You shouldn't have left that bloody body in the first place," Y/n seethed. But then he calmed, because out of the group he was always the one who calmed and thought things out so that as many people as possible could win. Sure, Cassandra had taken Rose against her will... but she was also right. How could Y/n ask her to go back, when her body was destroyed by his own hands? "Go into me, then. Leave her be. If you can't go back to your own body, take mine. Not hers."

Cassandra's expression grew soft. "You love her." Y/n glared. "Just like you love the Doctor. How... how do you handle that? Loving two people so much you'd die or worse - give yourself up for them, alive and all? Because Rose remembers when you were Empty. She remembers clear as day how afraid of not death, but being trapped in a body you cannot control. And now you can't die, but if you allow me this, you will be trapped. How can you agree to that?"

Y/n pursed his lips. "Life is complicated, Cassandra. Some feelings you tell yourself are out of bounds and off limits. Some feelings you can rationalize. Some people give you a new prospect on life. One so wonderful that staying alive forever sounds amazing. And some people... they're worth being afraid for. They're worth losing control for. Some people are just worth it."

That seemed to sit very deeply with Cassandra. "You know, you're most beautiful like this. Protecting those you care about. Fighting for the greater good. Being the quiet hero with a hidden strength enough to stop even an alien war lord." Her smile grew. "Fine, I will do as you ask, because we were friends then and I'm unhappy we didn't end as such. But one thing before I go."

"What?" Y/n asked.

And then Cassandra, in Rose's body, kissed Y/n. It was different than the times Y/n had pictures kissing Rose. It was desperate and passionate and... a little aggressive. It felt like he imagined Rose would. Her hair was soft and filtered nicely between his fingers. Her lips were a little chapped, but not enough to be noticeable, just enough to make the kiss just a little rough for a second until they continued kissing and they became soft. Her skin was warm and smooth and her hands clung to him like he was a life preserver and she was drowning.

When they parted, Cassandra didn't hesitate. She moved right from Rose into Y/n in the small space between them. The blonde leaned into Y/n but soon shook off the weird feeling, leaning away to look into Y/n's eyes. Because she had heard and felt everything, and her mind was reeling from that kiss, even if she hadn't been in control when Cassandra had used her body to initiate it.

Cassandra was the first one to speak, but this time it was in Y/n's voice. "You know I pride myself on being very proud and sexy and hard to move. I have not been known to be emotional. This one though..." She turned away, pushing Rose off and beginning to walk back toward the lifts.

Rose woke up then. "Cassandra you can't-!"

"Shut up," Cassandra snapped. "We don't have time for this. We have to find the Doctor, and Y/n consented, so there's nothing you can do about it so come on." Rose followed after, Chip after her, and the three of them headed to find the Doctor together. After a long time in quiet, Cassandra spat with her usual spite, "That Doctor of yours is a total hypocrite by the way. Changing his face like that and becoming younger and prettier. You both think so, I saw in both of your heads. Am in one of them now."

As if by a show of mercy, Rose's phone rang and she answered it. "Hello?" Her voice was tired, her hand rising to massage her temple. The whole thing with Cassandra had already given her a headache. The kiss... it had reminded her of something. Something that hurt to think about.

The Doctor was on the other line. "Rose, where are you? Is Y/n with you?"

"Don't tell him about me," Cassandra rushed. "He'll just lose it and cause a commotion, and we don't have time to waste. The sisters really are up to something, and I really do have information."

Rose glared but followed the order, begrudgingly. "Yes, Y/n's here. We've... picked up another friend too. His name is Chip."

"Where have you been? How long does it take to get to ward 26, and how did you meet someone else?" The Doctor asked, rather curious.

A huff came from her as she tried to hide her bitter laughter as she refrained from telling him the adventure they'd just gone on. She'd never hidden something like this from the Doctor before... but Cassandra was right. "We'll be there soon, it's a long story. What have you been up to?"

"Oh you'll never guess," The Doctor practically sang. "I'm with the Face of Boe. Remember him?"

"Yeah," Rose answered, without much spirit.

On the line, the Doctor paused. "You okay?"

"I'm fine. You-"

"I.. have to go," the Doctor drawled. "Talk to you later." And then he hung up and Rose sighed. The elevator grew silent as they were cleaned again. The blood was gone as if it had never been there and Rose watched it pool on the ground under them before slipping down the drain. She couldn't believe he'd really... done that, for her. Jesus.

When they reached the Doctor, Cassandra held back with Chip for some reason. She dismissed Chip and he wandered off, leaving her alone. She looked like she was listening to something, though the only sound Rose could hear were the patients and the speaker, but neither were something that would have interested Cassandra surely.

Rose was distracted by the Doctor, who pulled her over to inspect the patients he had been spending time with while she had been missing, filling her in on his confusion.

"Y/n, are you listening?"

Cassandra looked over to see the Doctor had approached. Fortunately, though she had not been paying attention, Y/n had been. "Yes, something is up," Cassandra agreed, her face nearing one of Y/n's more calm expressions. It was something Rose had never thought Cassandra was capable of feeling. She almost looked... thoughtful. Her voice was off from Y/n's though. Obviously wrong. She tried to keep going high and her accent was different. Behind the Doctor, Rose sighed.

"What- what's with the voice?" The Doctor asked, eyes narrowing.

"Nothing," Rose dismissed, trying to keep things going so they could figure this out without distractions. They could figure that whole thing out when this problem was dealt with.

The Doctor didn't seem to be done though. "That's the second time you've totally zoned out Y/n, are you sure you're alright?"

Cassandra flinched. She knew what was going on in Y/n's head. Why he had been spaced out and different. She knew what it meant about the Doctor, too. It was a small flinch, one you wouldn't have noticed if you weren't looking, but Rose and the Doctor were looking and so they did notice. Casandra looked at Rose, tears in her eyes. "I need out of here. Please."

Rose felt herself go speechless. Was Y/n so broken that he had messed Casandra up so quickly? Or was it the fact that Cassandra already had a soft spot for him that she pitied him so much? "Fine," she sighed halfheartedly. "Doctor, give us a moment if you would. Just a moment and then we'll be back, promise."

They went around the corner, Rose making sure the Doctor didn't follow. Casandra didn't wait longer than that. She transported into Rose again with that same purple mist and then Rose cleared her throat, her posture changing as Casandra took control. Y/n wiped his eyes and then pulled Rose back to the Doctor. "Sorry about that," he replied. "Rose and I had something to discuss. Best friend things, very important." Casandra smiled beside him, despite knowing that he didn't really think of her as his best friend. "Come on-"

"Are you guys up to something?" The Doctor asked.

"Nothing at all," Cassandra drawled in an voice that was very much not Rose Tyler's. "Just mucking about New Earth, having new experiences and lots of fun. New planet, new age. New me." She looked the Doctor up and down and Y/n rolled his eyes.

"Guess I can't talk much then," the Doctor joked, distracted as he always was by a pretty face. Why were the smartest ones always the most susceptible to an attractive woman? Though, Y/n supposed he couldn't talk much. "New Doctor."

"That you are," Cassandra purred. And then she did something that none of them saw coming. She grabbed the Doctor's face and snogged him just as aggressively as she had Y/n.

Was she collecting or something?

Or... did Rose want her to do it as much as Casandra was curious what it would be like?

When she'd had her fun, she parted and directed them to the terminals. The Doctor looked at Y/n, who cracked a smile at the man's frazzled state, despite who had put him in it. "Yep," he squeaked. Y/n snorted, trying and failing to contain it. "Still got it." Y/n rolled his eyes and shook his head then caught up to Cassandra, the Doctor following after them while he tried to contain his gleeful grin.

By the time they got to the trams, everyone had calmed down. They looked at the map of the place, but it didn't yield much. No shop, the Doctor noticed. No spa, Y/n joked. "Something else is missing too," Cassandra noticed seriously. She seemed a lot closer to her old self. "When I was downstairs, those nurse-cat-nuns were talking about intensive care... but where is it?"

"You're right, well done," the Doctor praised.

"Why would they hide a whole department?" Cassandra wondered, ignoring his praise. "It's got to be there somewhere. Search the subframe."

"What if the subframe's locked?" The Doctor questioned.

"Try the installation protocol," Cassandra told him like it was quite simple.

Y/n was impressed. Not that he didn't expect her to be smart, but that he couldn't believe someone as smart as her had been reduced to a pretty face for so long.

The Doctor did so, offering sarcastic grumblings as he did. He put his screwdriver to the screen and fiddled. Suddenly, the wall was moving and lowering and exposing a hidden tunnel behind it. Y/n stepped up between Casandra and the Doctor. "So... in we go?"

"Suppose so," the Doctor confirmed. Cassandra lead the way, but Y/n didn't miss the suspicious look he shot Rose. Y/n internally sighed, realizing they weren't going to be able to hold off this whole charade for much longer. "Intensive care," the Doctor mused as he followed second in the line as they moved into the tunnel. “Certainly looks intensive."

"Quite so," Y/n scoffed.

They moved forward, into a hallway and then down stairs into an impossibly large, cylindrical cavern whose wall were covered floor to ceiling with green pods. There were levels above and below them that seemed to stretch for eternity, the walkways looping in circles on every level. The Doctor moved to one, using the screwdriver to open a pod. What they saw was horrific. A man with ratted hair and a long, beige hospital gown that was dingy and dirty. He was sitting in a chair, his head lolling from side to side and his skin covered in rot and welts and sickness of all kinds. He looked like he was dying. Y/n raised a hand, gasping softly as he covered his mouth to hold himself back from reaching out to the person.

"That's disgusting," Cassandra sneered quietly. "What's wrong with him?"

"Shut up," Y/n snapped. "He can hear you," he added to try and cover it up, hoping he hadn't brought attention to how out of character that was for 'Rose' to say.

The Doctor ignored both of them. He looked at the man with a heartbroken look, shaking his head in remorse. He couldn't do anything, so he said the same thing he always did when he couldn't save someone. "I'm sorry." Y/n moved closer. "I'm so sorry." He closed that door then moved to the next one, Y/n limply following behind.

The person in the next pod was in the exact same condition. "What disease is that?" Casandra asked, her voice tinged in disgust.

"All of them." The Doctor's voice was gravely, low with anger for the people in the pods. "Every single disease in the galaxy. They've been infected with everything."

"What about us?" Casandra asked, alarmed. "Are we safe?"

Y/n sighed, shaking his head. "That's not the point. The pain they're going through. Can you imagine, every disease ever? All in one body? Did you see how many pods there were? Countless amounts of people, all infected with diseases that will rot them away slowly until they just... die. In pain. Alone. No one who cares about them, or who will remember them. Just... gone." He went to reach out and touch the woman in the pod they had just opened. "Isolated, unable to move and having no one to call out to. How lonely would that be?"

The Doctor caught Y/n's hand. "Don't touch them. The air is sterile, but they'll infect you too if you touch them."

Y/n's face fell. "They've never even been touched? Existing alone in the dark, in a world of pain and emptiness and loneliness. No one knows they exist as they cry for help. How long has it been since they've been touched?"

No one answered. The Doctor just closed the door, and the trio turned away and looked out across the railing, taking in the countless pods with new eyes. Every single green light they could see was yet another person living that life that Y/n had painted. There were even more lights they could not see. An unknowable amount. Maybe endless.

It was that thought that triggered it.

It was like a swarm of bees. He had seen that image again on Earth in his exploration. Most in cartoons, or horror movies he'd caught scenes of in passing, but still. That's what it looked like. Except these weren't harmless insects that only gave you a little sting and then moved on. This was like maybe a bee, but you're deathly allergic and now there's a whole swarm coming just for you, with the intent to wipe you out if its the last thing they do.

The Daleks, and with them, possibly the end of everything.

War has a smell. I know it, even though I myself have never been in one. He was though, and for some reason I know that because I know what he knows. The smell doesn't bother you after a while. It doesn't even really bother you at all until after the fighting is over and you smell is again. Smell anything like it at all, and those memories come back. Not enough to ruin you, but enough to shake you to your core. To put a bitter taste in your mouth and remind you of the faces of everyone you lost.

And it hurts.

A hand on Y/n's shoulder and the boy looked over to lock eyes with the Doctor. The men locked eyes and the Doctor was startled to see a look in Y/n's eyes he had not seen in a long time. A haunted look from years of fighting a battle they were all losing. A look from years of fighting similar, smaller battles. Alone. A look the Doctor had seen in his family and comrades once, but only ever saw in his own eyes now adays.

Y/n looked away. "Let's go." He realized he did know what they had said. The injustice of it all. That's what drove him. These people. They needed help. That was more important than the memories.

As they walked, Casandra moved closer to Y/n. She knew exactly what had just happened, and what he needed. A distraction. "Why don't they just die?" She asked.

Y/n would have hit there right then and there if the Doctor hadn't piped up. "Plague carriers. The last to go."

"It's for the greater cause." The trio looked over to see one of the nurses.

"Novice Hame," the Doctor greeted with a voice forming into an edge so sharp it could cut just by being spoken. "When you took your vows, did you agree to this?"

"The sisterhood has sworn to help," the sister said, as if to reassure.

It wasn't working. "What, by killing?" The Doctor yelled.

"They're not real people," the cat woman told them.

It only made Y/n more angry. He couldn't think right. His mind was mixed up in a war he'd never been apart of, torn between a man that no longer existed dealing with a problem that had long ago reached a point of no return, and Y/n who was compassionate and understanding and talked and explained rather than threw pipes at skin trampolines and thought about attacking cat ladies who just had messed up ideals about clones, but still had the right ideas. This was the part where Y/n intervened and calmed everyone down. This was the part he talked to her and made her see where she was wrong, like he so often did.

Y/n wasn't in the mood to help, though. So he stood by the Doctor and he seethed and he saw those pods and he thought of people who were created to suffer, alone, in pain, until they died. Y/n snapped. "Come here." The woman looked at Y/n, surprised by the rage in his face. "Doctor, your screwdriver please." The Doctor hesitated, unsure of what Y/n had in mind, but handed it over anyway. Seeing the Doctor obey, the woman did too. Y/n pulled her into his side, opened the pod to expose another sick person. "Look at her." The cat lady did, and she seemed unfazed. At first. "Look at the pain she's in." As if on cue, the woman began to beg for her life. Plead for help. "Look at her!" Hame flinched. "Do you see a creature without intelligence? Because when I look at her, I see a person. A person who doesn't know what's happened or why, or how to stop it, but wants to DESPERATELY because it hurts so much and it has always hut and it will always hurt until she dies. I don't care if she was grown or born or found floating in space, look into her eyes and tell me you cannot see someone who feels and thinks and would have had a real life, if it weren't for you people locking her up and using her like- like some sort of cattle."

Novice Hame did not have anything to say to that.

The Doctor did though. "How many is the turn over?" He asked her, coming to her other side. A thousand a day? A thousand the next? Thousand the next? How many thousands? For how many years? HOW MANY?"

To that, the woman had a response. Y/n watched the woman in the pod as the nurse spoke. "Mankind needed us. They came to this planet with so many illnesses, we couldn't cope. We did try. We tried everything. We tried using clone meat and bio-cattle, but the results were too slow. So the sisterhood grew its own flesh. That's all they are. Flesh."

"That's all we all are." Y/n closed the door and locked it, his face crumpling as he faced the nurse. "We're all just flesh, growing and stretching and getting leathery with age. We have brains, but so do they. They think and talk and interact. Look me in the face and tell me not one of them has ever spoken before what happened a few minutes ago. They've never reacted to pain or begged for their lives. Look me in the face and tell me that. That it's never happened before."

Novice Hame didn't say anything, once again.

"These people are alive," the Doctor stated, pointing at the pod Y/n had just closed.

"But the humans out there, in the world. They're healthy. Alive." She seemed to be struggling after Y/n and the Doctor's delivery. "Happy, because of us."

"If they live because of this, then life is worthless," the Doctor spit.

The nurse shook her head. "But who are you to decide that?"

"I'm the Doctor," he replied without missing a beat, stepping up to her. "And if you don't like it, if you want to take it to a higher authority, there isn't one. It stops with me."

It was at that time that Casandra spoke again. "Just to confirm," she began. "None of the humans in this city actually know about this?"

Y/n closed his eyes.

Goddamnit Casandra.

"Hold on," the Doctor interrupted before the nurse could speak again. "I can understand the bodies. I can understand your vows, but one thing I can't understand - what have you done to Rose?" The nurse stuttered her confusion, but the Doctor didn't step down. "I'm being very, very calm. You want to be aware of that: very, very calm. And the only reason I'm being so very very calm, is that the brain is a delicate thing. Whatever you've done to Rose's head, I want it reversed."

"They haven't done anything," Y/n mumbled.

The Doctor turned very fast on Y/n. "These people are dying, and Rose would care. If they didn't do something... if something happened to her, you seem to be the one who knows. Explain. Now."

"It's Casandra," Y/n sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "She needed a body to travel and she needed our help to figure out what was going on around here, so she hijinxed Rose. Well-" he shrugged. "Me at first, and then Rose."

The Doctor didn't seem to be expecting that. "Casandra?"

Casandra moved closer to the Doctor, smirking. "Wake up and smell the perfume." She sprayed him with something then and the Doctor fell.

"What the hell Casandra?" Y/n demanded.

"Oh pick him up and stop complaining. We need to get out of here." She turned to the nurse and went to say something, and then she hesitated and her eyes passed to Y/n and lingered for too long. "You know Y/n, I’ve lived off of spite since the last time I saw you guys. I've been angry and determined and... I only wanted to figure this whole thing out so I could use the information against the nuns and try and blackmail them. I-" She swallowed, looking away. "Being in your head. Seeing the thing you think and feel. You have such an odd way of doing things. Back then... you were upset when I died. You tried to stop me. You begged me. You tried to make me to be a good guy so we didn't have to end it in a tragedy. You were nice to me, even though I was just a piece of skin and went against all you and this girl of yours like about humans. Even though she hated me, and most humans hated me, you didn't." Her shoulders sagged. "What do we do, Y/n?"

He smiled. His anger from moments ago melted. "I've got the Doctor. We need to get the Matrim here, and then release the people. She needs to pay for what she's done, and they need to be be free."

So that's what they did. Casandra pulled out a tube that set off an alarm, and then waited for the Matrim to turn the corner. The two women locked eyes until the Matrim got close enough, and then Casandra pulled a lever and all the pods opened. "See ya!" Casandra hollered, waving as the trio turned and began to retreat.

As they were going, more pods began to explode, and because the booms and sparks, the Doctor woke up. "What's happening?" he slurred.

"Not now Dear, we'll get back to this later I promise." Y/n kept walking, trying to move quickly while holding the Doctor in his arms. He paused a moment to put the man down, now that he was awake. "Come along!"

The Doctor shook himself out of his sleepiness, looking around at the bumbling infected, and the open pods that were beginning to empty. "What have you guys done?"

"It wasn't us!" Casandra scoffed.

"One touch and you get every disease in the world, and I want that body safe, Casandra!" She rolled her eyes and Y/n almost smiled at her sass, if it wasn't for everything else. "We've got to go down!" Casandra went to complain to the Doctor yelled, "RUN!" Needless to say, you listen to the Doctor when he yells. The trio began to race down the steps, moving as fast as they could to the basement. Casandra screamed and it echoed. In the distance, they heard Chip's quick footsteps racing to meet them. In only moments he had joined them. And then there were four. When Casandra moved toward the elevators, the Doctor stopped her. "No, the lifts have closed down. There's a quarantine, nothing's moving."

"Where are we going then?" Y/n demanded.

Casandra yelled, "THIS WAY!" They began running, jerking through an opening where more infected were streaming in through a hallway that intersected the one they were currently running through.

Long story short: Chip and Y/n didn't make it.

The Doctor stopped, looking for a way to get to Y/n. "Go!" Y/n screamed.

"I won't leave you!" The Doctor screamed back.

Y/n shook his head. "I can't die, Doctor. You solve this thing, and we'll figure out the rest later." The Doctor hesitated, looking at Y/n with pain and regret. "I promise I'll be okay. I promised I wasn't going anywhere, and I don't break my promises." The Doctor hesitated longer so Y/n grunted and ordered, "GO!" Finally, he did, chasing after Casandra in Rose's body to make sure they all got out okay.

"Mistress!" Chip wailed. "My mistress!"

"CHIP!" Y/n screamed, shaking the man into sense. "You need to hide. Come on!" He guided the small man against the wall, pressing against him so his whole body covered Chip. He was small enough to pull it off. "Do not touch my skin, do you understand? Keep your skin from touching mine at all costs." Chip curled in on himself, making himself smaller and pressing his face into Y/n's back. Hands other than Chip's wrapped around Y/n's arms and ankle and face and hands.

Then there was pain. Y/n could feel his body rotting and dying. He'd last plenty long enough to keep Chip safe, but he felt incredible pain as he was inducted with every disease known in the entire universe. He got sicker and sicker and sicker, until the crowd in the room began to clear and go away, satisfied with touching him. When the room was empty, Y/n finally collapsed. He lay on the ground as Chip kneeled next to him.

"You saved my life."

"Don't think too much about it," Y/n joked dryly. "I can't die. I'm sick forever now though. Maybe. Maybe I'll reset. Come back to life cured. I guess we'll see."

They stayed there for what seemed hours, until more people shuffled into the room. These people had the same worn out gowns on, but they weren't sick at all. They looked at Chip first, hugging him and touching his face and arms and hands, like they did earlier, except this time no disease spread.

Suddenly there was a voice. Like an angel sent directly from God. "Y/N!"

"We're in here!" Chip called, running to find the Doctor and bring him back.

Upon seeing Y/n on the floor, the Doctor shook his head. "What is with you? One rule, Y/n: no touching. You've had this problem before."

"An issue of mine it seems. Can't keep my hands to myself."

Chip interrupted. "He saved my life. Stood in front of the disease because it doesn't hurt him.

The Doctor's face was soft as he kneeled next to Y/n. "It does hurt him. And it would have hurt him forever if I wasn't so amazing." He reached out but Y/n jerked his head away. "It's okay," the Doctor assured, grabbing Y/n's face. The man gasped, eyes widening as there was a sizzling sound and he felt, just as he did with the sickness, his body getting better. For a little extra dramatic affair, the Doctor leaned down and kissed Y/n. It was a good kiss. Soft and full of love and admiration and care. When the Doctor leaned away, Y/n was completely cured. "You're an idiot."

"Your idiot," Y/n joked weakly.

The Doctor shook his head, smiling. "Lucky me."

"Lucky us," Y/n corrected. That they could agree on.

The first thing they did was see the face of Boe. It was sort of vague and odd, but overall a nice experience. It ended with convincing Casandra to leave Rose though, and that was another matter.

"Y/n I'll die," Casandra begged, turning to the only person she knew would care about her. "I know we haven't always seen eye to eye, but you've been in my head same as I've been in yours. I let you in and we talked. I know what's happening with you, and no one else does. Please. We can really be friends. For real."

Y/n sighed, his face full of pain. "Casandra, I love you. I consider you a friend, and I genuinely care about you. But..." He closed his eyes. "The Doctor's right, and this isn't your body.

Casandra broke then. "I don't want to die." She covered her face before rested her forehead on Y/n's chest.

"No one does," the Doctor said.

"Help me!" She begged, turning her head as Y/n held her so she could still be heard.

"I can't."

"I can." Eyes turned to Chip, who stepped forward. "I am willing Mistress, take me."

Y/n's eyes widened. "Chip-" His mouth worked, but nothing came out. "Don't you want your own life, even for a short while? Don't you want to be your own man with the small time you have left?"

Chip looked at Y/n very seriously. "You gave your body for me. You'd just as soon give it for them." He motioned to the Doctor and Rose, and Y/n sighed, knowing he couldn't argue. "I want to give my body to her. One last gift to the Mistress."

Casandra left Rose and went into Chip, and there was a second they took to stabilize Rose before the Doctor turned back to Casandra. "You can't-"

"She can," Y/n interrupted. All eyes turned to him. "I know them better than both of you. Casandra doesn't care about him, you're right. He deserves better, definitely. But... it's like the Ood. He doesn't care about free will like we do. He WANTS this, and so does she. It doesn't realy matter what we think they should do. They both want this."

The argument ended there.

"You at least have to stand trial for what you've done," the Doctor ordered.

"That would be rather dramatic. I'm afraid we don't have time for that, though. See, Chip's is only a half life and he's already been through so much. I can feel his little heart now. It's racing." She paused, head tilting. "He's failing." Another pause. "I don't think he's going to last-" And then she fell and Y/n shot out to catch her.

"You alright?" Y/n asked, raising a hand to brush his thumb against Casandra's cheek.

"I'm fine," she answered. There was a long pause where she considered that, and then changed her answer. "I'm dying... But that's fine."

"I can take you to the city-" the Doctor began.

"No you won't," Casandra interrupted. "The city is new. This world is new. There's no place for Chip and me anymore." She looked at the Doctor. "You were right Doctor. It's time to die." Y/n felt his face crumble and he forced it neutral, but Rose hadn't missed it. "And that's good," Casandra assured, looking at Y/n to raise a hand and touch his face.

"You know Sandy," Y/n said. The nickname came from the last time they talked. He hadn't used it since she had been revealed as a traitor. "How about we let you do one last thing? I know what you need." She looked at him, and they shared a smile. They knew what the other was thinking in that moment. Y/n and Cassandra both had never been so seen by someone else.

They took Casandra to the night of the tape she had been watching on loop for years to cope with her life decisions. The night that she was told she was beautiful for the last time. Y/n watched from a distance as his friend died, in the arms of the past self she had wished to be forever, but had lost long ago.

That day, Rose and the Doctor both held Y/n as he cried. They didn't ask what had been going on with him zoning out, or what Casandra had meant when she said she knew what was going on inside his head, that was for another day. Today, he cried, and they held him until he stopped, and afterward they continued their adventure and let him mourn in peace.

He deserved that at the very least.

Story Taglist: @shoochi @e-reads-fics

#tenth doctor #male reader #dr who #doctor who #doctor who imagine #dr who imagine #dr who x reader #dr who x male reader #doctor who x reader #doctor who x male reader #tenth doctor x reader #tenth doctor x male reader #tenth doctor imagine #dr who fan fiction #doctor who fanfiction

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xxskycrystalxx · 4 years

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Mystic Pop Up Bar Thoughts - Ep. 12 [FINAL]

SPOILERS AHEAD

Ahh, the last episode of MPUB has aired, and I’ve finished it with a heavy heart, filled with emotions. The last episode has basically answered all the questions, theories, and hopes that we had, and ended the drama off as a masterpiece. I was going to right a full on review of MPUB, but I think my thoughts are enough review, so I’ll end off my last thoughts of MPUB with a small review.

In the beginning of ep.12 it gave us more insight on the sacred tree, and further solidified the fact that Kang Bae IS Weol-Joo & Chief Gwi’s child. I wanted to see a bit more of the sacred tree, but we get what we get. Anyways, the sacred tree is rlly powerful and gave Won-hyung a run for his money in like .0001 seconds, the sacred tree clapped back! After the confrontation with Won-hyung, Chief Gwi & Weol-Joo bring Kang Bae back to his house, and Weol-Joo drops the baby bomb on Chief Gwi. His reaction is definitely not surprising, and his emotions are called for. I mean imagine finding out that you did have a child with the person you loved, but stuff went sideways and basically realizing that they’ve been there the whole time. After realizing that they’re both the parents of Kang Bae, their parenting radar went up, becoming protective parents, parenting 101. Then, of course, Won-hyung comes to mess everything up and kidnaps Kang Bae, while the whole squad puffs up and is ready to rescue him. Yeo-Rin stepped up big time and was being a g, while Chief Gwi, cool as always, brought out his glave and wreaked havoc with it. Can I just say tho, Chief Gwi is serving them looks. Give Choi Won-Young an Oscar, cuz he did an absolute stellar job as Chief Gwi. Once again tho, the drama showed off some amazing CGI effects and choreography! The fight between Chief Gwi & all the possessed people, was cool to watch + the fight with Won-hyung, and of course, cue the catchy action themed music to make it all the more epic! He was just completely bad*** in this episode!

Then here comes the angst, like HEAVY angst. When Kang Bae was confronting Won-hyung we learn that he already knows that he is Weol-Joo & Chief Gwi’s child. I was a bit surprised at first that Kang Bae knew, but then he said he knew after he fainted and I realized that, that was the same for Chief Gwi’s mother. So it made sense. Then Won-hyung put him in the dream world so he would be able to exterminate him, while Chief Gwi & Weol-Joo are trying to protect Kang Bae from the outside, with Chief Gwi dying in the process. He’s done so much already, and here he goes getting impaled by his very own glave, protecting the ones he loves. Ouch. Uh like excuse me, I didn’t ask to be hurt like this. Out comes the waterworks. Then there’s that “I love you” confession before Chief Gwi died, and that hit HARD. Like I cried more on this scene than the other scenes I cried on. But srsly, you writers should’ve given them more happy moments together before they got ripped apart from each other and making us all sad over it 😞 He didn’t even say I love you back tho, what blasphemy!!!

Going into Kang Bae’s dreamworld, Won-hyung is pushing Kang Bae over the edge when mama Weol-Joo comes in, real pissed. I mean the man she loves just died in front of her, and her child’s life is being threatened, who wouldn’t? She tried to push Won-hyung down, but he got a grip on her and dragged her with him, not before Kang Bae managed to grab onto Weol-Joo’s hand. The way Kang Bae was just crying and finally said “mom,” well thanks for that arrow. Weol-Joo letting go and falling into the darkness was just messed up, and my heart broke for this separated family. 🥺😭

Then some time passed, Kang Bae still not over the fact that Chief Gwi & Weol-Joo is gone, but I’m glad Yeo-Rin was there to help him through it and provide comfort and love. I was really hoping for a happy ending for the three of them, and my wish was answered. Weol-Joo was back, and plot twist! It was her grudge that was solved, and was able to fulfill the 100,000 grudges quota, and honestly that was a good move, so good job writers! Yeomradaewang came through, and wanted to reward Weol-Joo with someone that a) took her punishment unconditionally & b) rescued her from the void/darkness. Can you guys guess who it is? MY BOI CHIEF GWI 🙌🏻 He comes in with a smile on his face and his arms open wide. The hug was the best reunion I could ask for, we don’t always need a kiss to make a couple/ship work or show how strong they are. The way they connect, work with one another, actions, and sacrifices is what proves their love for one another. Get a love story like this. Precious bby’s 💕 Also, this is just my way of interpreting how Chief Gwi was able to come back, but in the end, it talks about how the heavens can be moved by even little things, and honestly, I’m pretty sure all the self-sacrificing Chief Gwi did, was what changed their minds, and they were moved by his love and determination to keep his loved ones safe and being good to his promises.

Their reunion was so heartwarming to see, the way Chief Gwi & Weol-Joo look at Kang Bae, like the adorable and loving parents they are, and Kang Bae is like “I’m home.” Ugh, my heart 😣❤️ I cried a bit here too, but who wouldn’t am I right? 😂 It was a good and happy ending, that I’ll take, and I’m glad the writers were able to do these characters justice and bring about MPUB to what it was.

Btw, is it just me or did I not see this scene like anywhere in the last episode? I wonder if it’s a deleted scene or if I really just missed it in a blink of an eye, but Chief Gwi with those sunglasses... 😳 Just hits differently you know?

Anyways, wrapping up, MPUB was an overall amazing drama from start to finish. It had me engrossed from the first episode to the last episode, and the attachment I have with the three characters is saying a lot for me, since I don’t get attached as much. The only times I get attached to a drama and their characters is because I rlly rlly like it, and because I like it, it grows on me. The OST’s, cinematography, CGI effects, characters, story, and basically everything else was well done and crafted! The writers did an amazing job on the story, and being able to deliver plot twists and revelations that actually make sense, and for the actors and actresses that were able to make the drama for what it is. I mean, just spectacular performance to the main actors/actresses, especially Choi Won-Young! I’m really going to miss MPUB. It made me sad, happy, relieved, thoughtful, and surprised all at the same time. Chief Gwi & Weol-Joo is my fav couple at the moment, and them with Kang Bae is the most adorable and loving family ever, our found family/chaotic family trio. The only thing I’ll complain about is the fact that there was only 12 episodes. In all honesty, I rlly wouldn’t mind if there was a second season. I also wish they explored the sacred tree a bit more, and gave us a scene or two of Weol-Joo & Kang Bae finding out that Chief Gwi took her punishment instead, but that’s just me nitpicking out of an amazing drama. It was a wonderful journey to go through while watching MPUB, and I’m also thankful for the MPUB fandom. So very wholesome and filled with lovely people! Thanks to all who have read my thoughts and enjoyed my content! 💕

#mystic pop up bar #my thoughts #chief gwi x weol joo #chief gwi #weol joo #kang bae #ill be revisiting mpub soon 100%

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julianwolski · 4 years

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Issue #22 - Why should you watch Boca a Boca?

A lot of the problems in the world can find their root in one thing: we, at one point, missed an important addition to our lives. And that something we lacked messed up with our ability to think, to be, and to accept. That also impaired our ability to relate and to understand. We live in a crossroads right now, where we don’t know if we’re getting the amount that we need of that anymore.

Love.

It might sound mushy, or just eye-rolling, but love is such a powerful emotion, and it can make everything change. Love can transform, can create and inspire growth, and its absence can cause pain and loss.

And this is not just about love from someone else, the love that makes us kiss on the lips and become one with another person. This is love in its purest form, of friends holding hands, of quiet, whispered words in our ears, of parents taking care of their children and siblings leaning onto one another when the bad times come.

This is the love we’re missing, and at its core, Boca a Boca, or Kissing Game, is all about lost love, and how it can hurt or save someone.

In the countryside of Brazil, a small town is the setting behind this story. We have an agricultural school in a conservative community catering to kids of different backgrounds, the adults trying to grow their business running cattle while following customs that had been ingrained into them, the rule of religion dictating their lives, as others chase the allure of the unknown.

And in this world, we have a nomadic troupe coming to town to shake from its foundations.

A party is what attracts the kids yearning for something different, and from their freedom of being, there’s a virus that gets transmitted through direct contact of the lips. It couldn’t come at a more appropriate time, as this virus starts to make the rounds following this one night of debauchery, disrupting the quiet environment of the town and causing relationships that were already in shambles to completely break.

There are a lot of characters in the story, but the main trio is Alex, Fran, and Chico. They are friends and become even closer in order to investigate the origins of this illness that has been spreading ever since the night of the party. The mystery is a very interesting part of the show, as if the eerie atmosphere surrounding this town, but the main reason why I wanted to talk about this series could be summarized into two topics: the character of Chico and his unashamed queerness, and the importance of parents loving their kids.

Chico called to my attention in the story not because he shows his true colors and his sexual orientation on his sleeves--as there are other characters in the story who are the same. Fran, for example, is also central to the story, and she’s an amazing character. But Chico comes into this as a boy dumped into this town to live with a religious parent and a younger brother, trying to make the family not fall apart while he chases after his desires.

He meets a man called Maurílio, a worker at a nearby farm, and the two of them develop a relationship that borders on dangerous, revealing their natures and the pain they carry, but also highlighting the power of this emotion that can overcome barriers.

They have a hard time getting together, having to fight so many things at once, but they manage to overcome those differences because what exists between them is stronger than what’s trying to separate them. And in the middle of their growing bond, they also come across the possibility for Chico’s family to come together again, even if it’s more because of the pain inflicted on Chico than because of their love, per se.

On the other half of this story, beyond its characters, we have a very interesting critique of the world of cattle-farming, and the danger behind the ambition of men, in general. A lot of times, the hunger for power and money turns them into animals, worse than the ones they create--and in this series, you’re in for a treat with the monsters they grow in those farms.

Also interesting to note is that there’s a lot of issues being brought up, and, more often than not, they stay unresolved and open for interpretation, but the one that definitely gets center stage by the end is the connection between parents and kids, and how that can literally save lives.

It’s not that common to see such a visceral reaction to the connection between these two generations being brought up and becoming a weapon to fight the danger, and in an interesting twist, it also saves lives. And to me, it felt like a powerful allegory to the destruction of the ‘traditional family’, which feels like a loaded topic, but in this series, we see it through the scope of the lack of acceptance from the parents, and how it can be a deal-breaker when it comes to maintaining a relationship between them and their child.

If you’re interested in horror, queer characters, good cinematography, and many, many neon colors, this is the perfect series for you. Although the ending might be a bit ambiguous, and some scenes are graphic and triggering, it feels complete enough to be enjoyable.

And of course, I’d never promise queer love and underdeliver, so you definitely look for that.

The series can be watched in one afternoon, and it will hold your interest from start to finish. There’s so much nuance in the characters, so many colors to see on the screen and different stories crashing and burning, or flowering right before our eyes, that it feels like a worthwhile endeavor.

Even when it’s bleak, it’s still beautiful.

You should watch Boca a Boca.

#rec #boca a boca #kissing game

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house-of-secrets · 4 years

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A Love For The Ages

Setting: Scene from Tears of Gold Chapter 22. Fabian reflects on his relationships with the women in his life after his first date with Joy.

The date with Joy had gone as well as to be expected, reflected Fabian. Not that it was a date, since he still had feelings for Nina... at least he thought he did. Fabian was almost a hundred percent sure that she returned his feelings. He had only agreed to the breakup because she hadn’t wanted to date anymore but seeing how Nina reacted to his “date” last night, she totally wanted to get back together. Amber was obviously at the end of her patience with the situation, but Fabian wasn’t about to drop Joy because she made Nina uncomfortable. Despite her being away for a year, she was still the same girl who broke Jerome’s nose for stealing his calculator when they were 12. They had laughed all the way to Mr. Sweet’s office about the look on the cocky boy’s face. Fabian had felt so happy and blessed to finally have a friend! Of course wherever Joy went Patricia followed. Fabian had been scared of the loud girl when they first moved into Anubis house. Her growing friendship with the house tricksters was also an off-putting factor since Fabian seemed to be their favorite victim. But as he got to know her, the more he started to like the punk girl. She was the one who introduced him to music, real music, such as Sick Puppies and Cradle of Filth. Not that anyone could know this of course, he had a reputation to maintain. The trio quickly became inseparable doing everything together for years, until that fateful fall day. September 13th will be forever ingrained in Fabian’s mind, the day that half his world disappeared and the day the amazing American firecracker that was Nina Martin entered his life, blowing all that Fabian knew to hell. Nina Martin, every time her name was said it felt like an incantation. The girl was a whirlwind goddess who crashed into his life and opened his eyes to so much more. From their first meeting, her crashing into the immovable Patricia, he was captivated by her. The brunette had captured his heart before he had even known it was happening. Fabian spent the year pulled between his residual feelings of duty to Joy, his first friend who he knew had been developing feeling for him, and his growing love for Nina. As the months passed without news of Joy or her return his guilt began to disappear and Fabian threw himself wholly into his growing relationship with the mysterious American girl. It wasn’t fair, he reflected, that he brushed aside what he had been building with Joy so easily but love rarely is fair. Nina was like a fire who consumed all in her path as her influence spread in the house. She befriended or made alliances (in the case of Jerome) with all but Mick and Mara. Fabian had never felt more alive than he did that year, as the Sibuna Club raced against time, The Society, and Rufus Zeno to retrieve the missing puzzle pieces and assemble the mythical Cup of Ankh. When it was all said and done Fabian had felt slightly empty; the quest was over and they had gotten Joy back, but something was missing. Kissing Nina, Fabian finally felt complete, he didn’t care that it was in front of all their friends he finally had his Chosen One. The following weeks were weird and nice at the same time. Not a lot changed between them, except that they now occasionally kissed and he didn’t have to hide his desire to hold her hand. But before the pair knew it exams came and went, and it was time for Nina to return to America. The pair decided to exchange letters over the summer like the protagonists of their shared favorite historical novels. Sure they had cell phones and laptops but there had been something that seemed so romantic about an exclusively letter-based correspondence. Looking back, that could have been where things began to go wrong. They had both kept up with their letters but being an ocean away placed a strain on the still developing relationship. Fabian’s letters tended to consist of stories about his sister Mia and the trouble the pair got into on his parent’s estate, tales about working in Uncle Aide’s shop, and most frequently how much he missed Nina. Nina would regale him with content about her Gran, the latest protest she took part in, her job at the local library and how she wished to be back in England with them. September arrived and Fabian immediately felt off balance. After months of exchanging letters he found himself frozen in the face of his best friend and girlfriend. As bad as it sounds, he was thrilled when Jerome and Alfie had accidentally/on purpose crashed their reunion. The pair had signaled the others that they could come back in and conversation had begun to flow again. The first few days of them new term had Fabian on edge, but he slowly fell back into a comfortable pattern both with school and Nina. True, they hadn’t gone on an official date yet, but that didn’t matter since they were finally back. Their first date would happen when it happened, he told himself, not wanting to pressure Nina. So when Mick and Mara had suggested a double date he had jumped at the chance. He hadn’t thought at the time about Nina’s lack of enthusiasm. He simply chocked it up to the fact that it was Mick and Mara. Fabian loved Mick, but he couldn’t deny that the jock and Nina hadn’t bonded at all since her arrival the year before. They didn’t get to go on that date though due to Nina’s Gran’s unplanned arrival. Yes it was unfair of him, but Fabian couldn’t help but be upset about spending the evening looking at Granny Martin’s trip photos instead of going into town with his girlfriend. So while Nina’s Gran was in town he spent most of his time with Joy, he knew it was a bad idea since the other girl still had feelings for him, but he told himself he was giving Nina space to spend time with her Gran before she had to leave again. But it didn’t stop there. When Nina’s Gran finally left there was suddenly the bid and he and Joy were working together just like old times, and ever so slowly those old feelings for Joy began to resurface. They were not enough to eclipse his feelings for Nina, but they were there. So Fabian threw himself into trying to ensure that “Fabina” worked out. When Amber demanded that they have a double date Fabian knew that was it, the perfect thing to cement their still unsteady relationship. What better than a double date with Nina’s best friend, well other than him! The date turned it an epic disaster, so the couple retreated to the cellar. Surrounded by their old memories the couple tried number combo after combo and eventually hit a brick wall. Fabian couldn’t help but feel like the blocked entrance was a sign for their relationship. So when Nina asked if he had not wanted to go on the date, well he just knew that it was time to call it quits. Despite their breakup and his developing relationship with Joy, Fabian always expected that they would eventually get back together. The arrival of Eddie though had him worried as Nina seemed into him and he was American! After that it was just one thing after another that had the pair being pushed further and further apart despite being bonded by the death marks on their arms.

Joy kissing him at the ball was unexpected, but Fabian had to admit deep down not entirely unwelcome. It was nice to have someone interested in him, but he couldn’t see anything happening between himself and Joy besides a deep friendship. So when Amber’s advice hadn’t worked, he had resolved to speak to the girl himself and put an end to any romantic thoughts she might have for the two of them. But standing there, looking into the loving eyes of his oldest friend, he couldn’t bring himself to hurt her. So he agreed to go to a movie with her.

Fabian hoped he could hide the date from Nina so she wouldn’t get the wrong idea, but he should have known better after years of living with Alfie and Jerome. The duo had gleefully filled Nina in about his date and Fabian’s heart broke seeing the shattered look on her face. That was exactly why he hadn’t wanted her to know. When she mentioned that she had planned on getting them tickets his heart skipped a beat, a movie about Egypt with Joy definitely was not a date, but with Nina it could mean something more...

#Evie’s rambles #Fabian Rutter #hoa #backstory headcannon #house of anubis #house of anubis fanfics #tears of gold

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karihighman · 4 years

Text

An Upstead timeline

Because I was thinking about how far Jay Halstead & Hailey Upton have come, and I just wanted to be nostalgic for a moment. Enjoy my ramblings! (:

The beginnings: season 4

Ah, yes. Hailey’s debut. I loved 4x21 “Fagin” for that reason. Also, Jay’s first impression of her seemed to be like “dang this girl is sassy...but I’m not complaining” haha.

Also we can’t forget the sass Hailey displayed in the survelliance van. 😂 Legendary. And Jay kept up w/it too. We love a sarcastic duo - even before they were partnered up!

Anyway, the next episode was when Hailey officially joined Intelligence. A moment of awkward silence for the two of them trying to shuffle around each other when Voight gave Hailey Jay’s desk because she was now partners w/Erin. Oops. Too funny.

Then of course, the season 4 finale saw Hailey be invited out to Molly’s with Jay, Adam, Kevin, & Will. She had the memorable “I’m Greek, we see tragedy in everything” line, along with that first of many looks she’d give to Jay after a conversation - longing & wistful. 😔

The new divide: season 5

Season 5 saw Hailey and Jay become partners & already they were there for each other when Jay had a tough case. While we didn’t see it air in the actual episode, there was a deleted scene from 5x01 that showed Hailey telling Jay that she’s “got his back.”

As the season progressed, we saw them continue to be there for each other as a source of support. Remember in “Fallen” when Jay kept checking up on Hailey’s “relationship” with fellow officer Sean McGrady?

“Is this really about the case?”

“See ya tomorrow.”

“Ooookay.” — yeah okay Jay we see u.

The next few episodes were Jay’s big arc in s5 where he dealt with being undercover while dealing with PTSD. Hailey was “neutral” at first, because she didn’t know Jay well enough to know how this would affect him, though she’d see it soon enough when he pointed a gun in her face at the end of 5x07. Even after that incident, she still called him to check on him. Now that’s a quality partner.

Another telling moment for their partnership was when Hailey went to bat for Jay with Camila. She knew if she talked he’d be in big trouble, so she had to do something to help him. She still made sure to remind Camila that she would “bury her” if she didn’t keep her mouth shut about Jay. Damn, remind me not to get on Hailey’s bad side. 😯

She even convinced Jay to go to therapy — how amazing is that? She helped him get help.

There were a few lighter, fluffier moments for their partnership as the season progressed, which you can see below —

And then came my favorite episode for them - Ghosts.

Hailey got tangled up with Booth who got her old partner killed. Jay, being her new partner, was concerned about how close Hailey was getting...not only to the case, but to Booth, as Booth was bordering on obsessed w/her.

He bailed her out, but then then two argued at Hailey’s UC apartment (hello, married couple moment haha) - But despite that, he still helped her go on w/the undercover plan.

Cue Jay going under as Ryan, a dealer that Hailey (as Kelly) knew. Things got even more awkward for the trio when Booth asked “Ryan” how many times he screwed “Kelly.” Yikesarama.

Towards the end of the episode, Booth got handsy with Hailey, which put Jay in an awkward position. He tried to keep his cool, but then the deal was blown. Hailey being the badass that she is fought off Booth, but it was Jay who brought her back down to reality to keep her from doing something stupid (even though let’s be honest, Booth deserved a few more kicks in the head).

The kicker of the episode came when Jay went to check on Hailey, and the two would start what would turn out to be “their thing” aka - drinks and long conversations about their cases & the feelings surrounding them. Hailey opened up about Booth and Garrett, and Jay listened. He was there for her, and that’s when they really started to form something special. Something that was more than just a typical partnership.

The rest of the season would only build on that momentum, bringing out little pieces of Jay and Hailey’s pasts, as well as how they dealt with things amongst the team. Jay lent Hailey a supportive hand (literally) when Al died in the season 5 finale, & in a deleted scene, the two offered comfort to each other at the vigil Intelligence held.

Care & being there: season 6

Jay and Hailey’s partnership grew even more so during s6. Their first major moments came in the crossover episode, when Jay was shot. Hailey was distraught, but it was more than that. She thought he was dead, & she thought she’d lost him forever. Her emotions were running high and she pushed down all those feelings that had come bubbling up to the surface. But they were there.

(Unfortunately she compensated by sleeping with Ruzek, thus beginning Upzek. Ugh. Anyway).

Even though she started a fling-turned-semi-relationship with Adam, Hailey & Jay still leaned on each other.

When Hailey dealt with a tough case, Jay was there for her. He made sure she was okay. Heck, even Adam noticed & told her, they should talk you know, “partner to partner.”

The following episode saw Hailey help Jay when his judgement was colored by his war past. She then reminded him of the famous “thing that works between them” and offered to buy him a beer to chat. He accepted.

When Jay found out about said romance, he was taken aback and you could tell by the look on his face that he was hurt...but honestly, maybe a little jealous. I think this solidified his feelings for Hailey, even if she didn’t wanna admit her own to herself yet.

“We’re good. And we’re always gonna be good.” -Jay to Hailey

6x12 has them do another heart to heart conversation, only for it to be interrupted by Ruzek, who called Hailey. Jay told her she should go, and even though she said okay, you could tell she didn’t really mean it. Just like Jay didn’t really want her to go. But these two have gotten good at hiding their feelings by now.

*forgot to add 6x14 when Hailey was kidnapped (along w/Kim). You could see the look of complete distress on Jay’s face when he & Kevin raced out to the truck, just missing it. Then when Adam told him they “should’ve been all over them” Jay went on the defensive, telling Adam “he didn’t know what went down” because he wasn’t there. Ruzek, Ruzek, Ruzek...as if Halstead wasn’t beating himself up enough! Even though later in the ep, Adam and Antonio were the ones to find Hailey & Kim, you saw Jay later ask if she was okay; and you saw the camera pan to both of their expressions when Voight gave the “work things at work” talk. Jay felt bad knowing he didn’t do his job at protecting his partner; Hailey was starting to debate her relationship with Ruzek on the job.*

6x15 offered us the iconic scene of “if I was gonna follow someone blind, I’d follow you” which we now know is essentially Hailey-speak for “I love you.” Because she told Jay that she’s trusted him from the day she met him. How freaking adorable is that?

Fast forward to the s6 finale & you’ve got a whole lot more feels between these two. From Jay’s line of “I’m going where you go” meaning he to would follow Hailey; to his protecting her FIRST without regard for his own life (actually literally using himself as a human shield!); and then of course, their heartbreaking conversation in the break room.

“We’ve only been partners a couple years...you’ll forget about me just fine.”

“Hailey... [no].”

aka - Hailey was scared of losing him again & not knowing if they’d be partners again, so she bit down on her feelings and brushed it off. Jay did the same, although he looked as if he was going to spill any second of that scene. You know what I mean.

You could see the looks in their eyes — they were saying everything without actually saying a word.

This episode was when the both of them seemed to accept their feelings of each other to themselves — as in, they admitted it to themselves, even if they weren’t ready to share them with each other. 💙

Deeper feelings: season 7

And now we’re onto s7, where even in the premiere, you could see how in sync Jay and Hailey were. The two worked together to help their boss, and they relied on each other more than ever to get the job done. Hailey supported Jay, even if she didn’t always agree with him.

Later on in the season, we saw him do the same thing. Although, when Voight split them up in 7x03, they weren’t happy about it. Jay showed his emotions with a look, while Hailey vocalized hers to Voight. Hailey = 😠 there.

In the crossover, we saw a concerned Jay over Hailey being quarantined, but also a concerned Hailey when Jay was taken hostage by Seldon. She even went all Sniper to save him! Go Hailey go!

They continued to work alongside each other, mainly in surveillance (apparently those two have a thing for vans 😉) to help the unit solve cases.

Jay had another tough case in 7x06, and Hailey noticed how much it affected him, even if she didn’t say it right away. Jay would do the same for her in the next episode when her CI was shot, with looks and a concerned voice like she had done with him.

And now we’re at 7x09, aka the fall finale from hell because Jay’s life is in the balance.

And Hailey Upton is livid over it. She was so desperate to get Jay back safely that she pushed the limits to find him. And just when she FINALLY did, he was ripped away from her yet again. Heartbreakingly tragic for these two...almost like a Romeo & Juliet vibe. 💔

Here’s hoping Jay will be okay in 7x10 when Chicago PD comes back in January, because Hailey really can’t lose the man she loves. I think this made her realize just how much she cares. And he cares so much for her.

Upstead ship captain Jesse Lee Soffer said it best: if you were to ask Jay or Hailey, “do you love him/her?” They’d say yes. As for what kind of love that is, they aren’t 100% sure yet...

because they haven’t even admitted their feelings to each other yet. But anyone can see that they are there. Pure and genuine feelings. Love. Respect. Admiration. 🖤

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ladykateofledfordpark · 4 years

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Naviiiii for the askkk, maybe all of the MLQC boys?? I wanna see your takesss ^^

Of course, twin! You know I’ll be happy to answer your thoughts, and that I love sharing thoughts!

So I’ll start from my faves to least faves (AKA Mr. Creep).

Let’s start, shall we?

(IDK why the Read More only works on the website/my laptop and not the app. Sorry about it. =( )

Kiro, our blonde angel- AKA the guy you would have a crush on from the first moment, only to find out he feels the same- AKA Adrien Agreste, MLQC version (remember us saying that?)

I mean, I already told you but irl I would most likely go for somone like Kiro. He’ s sweet, kind, open and super friendly! I could talk to him about anything, and he would make any day an adventure! =D

I mean I am demi, so looks don’t really attract me. Butttt this girl’s biggest compliment for looks is cute (AKA adorableness that would make me gush), and Kiro has LOTS of that! Just look at him!

hogwarts house: gryffindor | slytherin | ravenclaw | hufflepuff

Definitely the most Hufflepuff of the bunch! (Another reason he’s my MLQC soulmate!) He’s super loyal to MC, even to the point of losing everything for her! (AKA “not Kiro”.) He also does anything he can for others, as can be seen in that date when he records a super sweet video for a sick fan of his because Kiro can’t visit them! Of course, he values fairness, which is why he super appreciates MC, who doesn’t give him any special treatment because of his fame. And of course, he treats everyone with respect! No doubt about that. =)

best quality: His sweetness! I love how adorable he is, lol. But now in all honesty, I would probably say how much he’s willing to do for MC? Lol what did you expect? I’m a Hufflepuff. xD

Though tbh I’ll probably say the same about Gavin, so something Kiro has that Gavin doesn’t- I think in a way his simplicity. Like he’s super busy, but always makes time for MC. He’s very down-to-earth in a kind way, and shares his feelings even when it can be scary. I mean he’s probably the most open about his feelings, at least in MLQC, but MC is too dense to reaize his very clear hints. Lol our favorite dumdum MC. xD

worst quality: Ughhh Kiro’s worst quality? Honestly, this is hard, but I would probably say that it’s how he never shares any of his plans with MC. Not that I doubt that he means the best, but dude- dialogue! Lol if he would actually tell MC what he’s planning it would probably save both of them lots of heartbreak. Even vague hints are better than nothing!

ship them with: MC definitely!

brotp them with: Um… idk. Honestly, I can’t really see him vibe with anyone but MC? Lol he’s too innocent for that. xD

needs to stay away from: Definitely Mr. Creep. And maybe Savin when he’s flirting with girls. Ooooh and definitely Gavin when he’s jealous. Lol xD (Btw, if you haven’t played the Trio Date already, play it! It’s hilarious to see Kiro’s dynamic with a jealous Gavin. xD

misc. thoughts: I would definitely say he’s the purest and most angelic of the bunch. There’s just something so pure and childlike about him- he’s literally a boy in a young man’s body. (Not that I’m complaining!)

——-

Gavin, the knight in shining armor- AKA the best friend who was always in love with you but never said a word, and only years later you discover how perfect you are for one another, and that he’s not “just a friend”- AKA a childhood-friend “Beast” (from Beauty and the Beast), MLQC version

I mean I would totally marry Gavin if not Kiro. I love his loyalty. But irl I would probably not marry him, because he would be too standoffish.

Definitely attractive, but tbh I would probably like the looks of someone like Victor more. xD (Not that I care that much, if at all!)

hogwarts house: gryffindor | slytherin | ravenclaw | hufflepuff

Gavin is a definite mix of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, but when it comes down to it I would probably say he’s more of a Gryffindor than a Hufflepuff. After all, he teaches MC how to fight for herself so she could be stronger. He’s a cop that works in the field, instead of working behind the scenes. He does some things that can be considered stupid for the people he cares about.

Now obviously, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t have Hufflepuff qualities- he does lots of amazing things that show this side. For example, all the kindness he gave to others without MC knowing when they were teenagers, keeping his bad boy persona. And the way he does anything to defend others, and values others about himself. And he clearly became a cop to protect people, not to get glory.

But personally, I think that if Gavin would have to choose between bravery and physical prowess or equality and loyalty, he would choose the former- even if he appreciates the latter almost as much.

best quality: Lol like before, how much he’s willing to do for MC without her even knowing. He does everything behind the scenes, without making a big deal of it.

But what I would say truly makes him unique is how he’s super considerate of MC’s want or needs. He never forces himself on her *glares at Mr. Creep*. Even when he was forced to stay in MC’s house, he asked for MC’s permission. And he left the door open so she would know he was there. Ugh that part left me so softttt, it was truly poetic cinema.

worst quality: I said this before, but probably his physical force when he sees something as important. I mean when Gavin sees something as important, or gets jealous, he can resort way too quickly to violence. He’s the only MLQC boy who actually scared MC in his dates (from what I know), and that is seriously wrong. Not that I don’t love him, but if he doesn’t keep it under control it can truly end bad.

ship them with: Is it even a question? Lol MC. ^-^

brotp them with: Minorrrrr! Lol the both of them would be hilarious together! (I totally see Minor bugging Gavin, Gavin hating it but at some point it grows on him and he grumpily accepts him as a romantic partner. Lol xD)

needs to stay away from: Lucien, probably. Cause he would kill him before Mr. Creep could even say “MC”. And Victor, too, because Gavin would also kill him before he could say “dummy”.

Now that I think about it, probably any guy who’s more than friends with MC. Or maybe any guy MC is friends with. xD

Disclaimer: This in no way is meant to support super-possessiveness of a person. I’m not serious. Gavin may get jealous easily, but he doesn’t let it cloud his judgement. He just crosses his arms and acts all grumpy about it.

misc. thoughts: Honestly, Gavin is the perfect example of a “macho” man who’s also the perfect gentlemen. As in the complete opposite of toxic masculinity.

——–

Victor, the cold and calculating but secretly soft CEO- AKA the annoying bully who says stupid things but for some reason never stops, and then after too long you discover it’s because he likes teasing you, cause he has feelings for you. And what a coincidence, apparently you have feelings for him too!- AKA an MLQC version of a slightly-less-desperate Severus Snape from Harry Potter (if you were Lily Potter)

I mean I just don’t really see the appeal too much. I love his relationship with MC, but for me he’s too cold.

He is not a Hufflepuff. Need I say more?

hogwarts house: gryffindor | slytherin | ravenclaw | hufflepuff

He is cold, calculating and powerful. From the little I know of him, he had to work hard to reach where he was. Victor is the type of person who would do it all for the power and influence he would have in the future. Slytherins are like that: they work hard to make themselves the best they can be (materialistaclly, which isn’t necessarily bad, of course- as long as they don’t overdo it.)

He is also a bit Ravenclaw, but only a bit tbh.

best quality: His teasing! Lol honestly I love it! It’s hilarious, and so enjoyable. xD

worst quality: He’s too condescending imho. Teasing is fine, but he insults MC too much for it to be balanced. Honestly, irl this would be really toxic- even abusive.

ship them with: I mean, he and MC are hilarious together. XD

brotp them with: Okay, not really Brotp, but it always interested me what kind of dynamic he and Lucien would have as a team.

needs to stay away from: Lol Gavin and Kiro. Gavin because he would kill Victor for the way he treats MC (mostly), and Kiro because his charming smiles would unsettle him. (He can barely manage MC- and Kiro is more sunshine than she is. There is no way he would like Kiro.)

misc. thoughts: I love his relationship with MC- maybe even my second favorite after Kiro and MC, but I wouldn’t date him in real life. Nor would I recommend it, but tbh I would say that he isn’t SO bad. As long as he balances his insults, he’ll be great. He just needs to make sure not to overdo it, because his insults themselves are annoying, but not really hurtful.

———-

Lucien, the creepiest enemy-turned-lover cliche- AKA a guy who constantly flirts with you and smiles when you blush from uncomfort, but somehow grows on you. He’s the one who leads the relationship, at the end of the day- AKA a mix of Lila Rossi and a slightly less extreme MLQC version of Edward from Twilight (”I like watching you sleep” in my own apartment because why not when you live right next door?)

Sorry-not sorry. HE HECKING THREATENED MC WITH A KNIFE. NOT ROMANTIC AT ALL.

I guess he can be considered attractive but I can’t see it casue he’s too much of a creep.

hogwarts house: gryffindor | slytherin | ravenclaw | hufflepuff

I used to think he’s Slytherin because he’s cold and calculating, but he’s not really as cold as Victor in a way. I mean, Victor hardly shows any emotion. Lucien does, it’s just a half-mask-ish.

And the games does show that his mask is a lot of the truth. He is a proffesor, and basically all he talks about is knowledgable stuff. He’s the type of person who would spend his time sitting and learning, not advancing himself, helping others or fighting evil.

I mean he’s a mix of both, like Victor, but probably more Ravenclaw.

best quality: Uh… he helps MC a lot in her show, maybe even more than the other guys, without requiring anything in return? Lol idk. xD

worst quality: HE LITERALLY THREATENED TO STAB MC. I don’t care what excuse it is, NOTHING can excuse that.

ship them with: No one.

brotp them with: As I said in Victor’s thing, I don’t really ship them as a couple, but I think it would be interesting to see them as a team.

needs to stay away from: Gavin and Victor cause both of them would kill him for hurting MC so deeply. And Kiro, so he won’t taint that angel with his creepiness.

misc. thoughts: Yeah… hope I got it right. Honestly I don’t really remember the knife part, but I trust what you once said. And honestly, he is SO creepy.

——-

Thanks for the asks, twin! Took me a few hours to answer this, but I know you love reading my analyses! So… hope you enjoy this! I even added more to the parts that were supposed to be short and to the point. xD

Thank you, you are the best!

#mlqc #mr. love queen's choice #kiro #mr love victor #mr love gavin #anti lucien #kate answers #@mariaoz #characters analyses #not choices #mr. love #long post #very long post #very very long post

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twilightofthe · 4 years

Note

Tell me ALL your SW faves

Aaaaaa thank you! This took a while cuz this got long, lol sorry! Aight, so here’s ALL my SW faves for this ask prompt list!

FAVE MOVIE: Revenge of the Sith. 10000%. It just has everything! You get to see the Obikin relationship in all its glory, first and foremost, how much those two loved each other more than anything and knew each other better than anyone, and just how much they genuinely got along and then we got our hearts broken watching them have to fight after Anakin made his Goof Of The Millennium and just oooooof all the feels about my boys! Seeing Padmé and just loving her so gotdang much for being strong and wanting the best life for everyone, all while she was so scared and had so little support from anyone, and just couldn’t do it in the end. Seeing the end of the Republic, how after a thousand years, just, *poof*, just like that in like two days (yes, I know Sidious was planning it for over a decade but still), the horrific fascination on how Sidious was able to do that. Just the brilliance of Sheev’s character, how you despise him, but how brilliantly everything was pulled off. The angst of Order 66, how especially after TCW you love these characters SO MUCH and then you gotta watch them DIE HORRIBLY BY THOSE THEY TRUSTED, THOSE WHO NEVER HAD A CHOICE EITHER. Did I mention feeling so freaking bad for Obi Wan and his Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day??? Because I really do, he’s so good and kind and we see his life fall apart and ugh I love him. And y’all, watching Anakin Skywalker fall from grace like the brightest angel he was, you hate him for what he did, but you still can’t help but love him and cry for him and his loss because he was so good, and he did not deserve all this to happen to him but he did it to HIMSELF AAAAGGHHHH. Also, Obes and Ani were at peak prettiness this movie!! Just asdfkjglkdskajsrlk best movie love so diggity dang much

FAVE PAIRING: Oh, how EVER will I choose– Obikin. It’s Obikin, all the way, no contest. I know I’ve yelled about it a million and one times so I’ll save y’all the rant on how much I adore these disasters and their relationship and how I think they’re goddamn soulmates and the most interesting dynamic in the entire Saga. I ship them romantically and platonically and just everything, they’re so fucking important to one another and that’s why it hurts so much to watch them fall apart, and that’s why I’m so incredibly happy that they get to canONICALLY SPEND THEIR ENTIRE AFTERLIFE TOGETHER BECAUSE FORCE GHOSTS HELL YEAH. If I had to pick just secondary fave romantic and platonic relationships, hmmmm that’s hard. BUT, I’m gonna have to go with Kanera for romantic; SWR was what got me back into Star Wars and one of my favorite parts of it was watching Kanan and Hera, how much I loved them separately, but just how much they were a team together and I love them and I was unbelievably upset when Jedi Night happened (and I still have a rant about how animated Star Wars kills off their romantic couples in the exact same manner, pls ask me about how TCW’s The Lawless and Rebels’ Jedi Night had basically all of the same plot points that ended in killing off a romantic lead). For other fave platonic relationship, gonna have to go with Luke/Han/Leia BROT3 (separate from Hanleia as a romance, which is probs my 3rd fave). These disasters were the original Golden Trio, they saved the galaxy together all while yelling dramatically and having each other’s backs to the bitter end (or, at least ‘till the end of ROTJ lol) and I just love them as a team so dang much

FAVE TV SHOW EPISODE: Okay, since there are four TV shows, it’s only fair for me to pick one (or more don’t judge me) from each! Let’s see, from The Clone Wars, my fave eps have to be the entire Mortis trilogy arc in S3 because Obes/Ani/Snips family dynamic, Force Shenanigans, BEAUTIFUL scene designs, Anakin angst, just so many good things oof, and also Dooku Captured from S1, which I just adore because Obikin snark, annoying Grandpa Dooku, Hondo Fucking Ohnaka making everyone look so bad at their jobs, I just love it agh. Whoops that was technically four faves, so gotta do four for Rebels too! Gonna go wiiiiith World Between Worlds from S4 for Badass Ahsoka Tano, Ezra being brave and talented, Sheev being Absolutely Ridiculous, and just the overall Force Shenanigans cuz canon time travel y’all; The Lost Commanders from S2 because Rex is awesome, Kanan angst, and really good Kanan and Ezra bonding and Jedi awesomeness, Fire Across the Galaxy from S1 because of Ghost fam dynamics, Kanan angst, more Kanan and Ezra bonding, and just good stuff, and Twilight of the Apprentice in S2 (lol what about my username?) for being creepy and cool and maKING ME CRY ANAKIN YOU STUPID THRICE COOKED TOILET SEAT LEAVE AHSOKA ALONE. *cough* Ok, fine, I’ll stick with only one ep for the other two series. For Resistance, gonna have to go with the latest ep, actually! We get to see Kaz being clever and caring about his fam on the Colossus, really cool designs for Aeos and its people, Tam angst, and just everyone shining! For The Mandalorian, it’s gotta be the finale, Redemption, we get Din name, Armorer kicking everyones asses and me loving it, BABY YODA DOING THE HAND WAVE, Din getting over his issues with droids and connecting with IG only for IG to FUCKING DIE, DIN AND BABY YODA BEING AN OFFICIAL CLAN OF TWO, Taika just knocking this whole episode out of the park with the funny scouttroopers at the beginning who still deserved the ass-whooping they got for fucking murdering Kuiil and hiTTING BABY YODA YOU SLIMY FUCKNUGGETS–

FAVE CHARACTER: Alright, look, I can narrow it down to FIVE and that is IT. I just love too many Star Wars characters, I can’t go lower than top five! Ok, so my four favorites are Obi Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Leia Organa, Kanan Jarrus, and Finn Skywalker-Dameron-Tico (i SAID what i SAID.) AIGHT so for starters, a lot of my favorite characters in different franchises fall under various archetypes I have for faves. Obi Wan fits one of my more popular ones: “Old, reluctant and more than slightly-questionable parental badass with a mysterious past that makes you love them all the more when you realize just how beautiful and tragic and deserving-better they were when that past is revealed”. I latched onto this dude from the start when I just liked the OT (tho Leia was always my fave lol), and I wanted to know about him, and then when I finally started getting into the PT and TCW, it was just a steady stream of “oh no he’s hOT?” “oh no he’s sAD?” “oh no he’s nICE?!? REALLY FUCKING NICE AND A BIT OF A MESS HELP” and then I just totally latched on because he’s hypercompetent at literally everything and looks damn good doing it and boy do I have a thing for competence, charming as all hell and goes through so much and comes out strong despite the fact that fate hates his fucking guts and tries to destroy his life constantly and guys he tries so hard and he’s kind of messy sometimes and a bit of a dick and I love him all the more for it because he’s trying, none of that do-or-do-not shit, he is doing his damn best and deserves happiness and not Anakin tearing him apart. SPEAKING OF SAND MAN. Ugh, so I love Anakin to fucking death and that makes me REALLY MAD ABOUT IT BECAUSE HE MAKES EVERYONE ELSE I LIKE SAD. So I love Anakin regardless because he’s not your typical protagonist. He’s fucking brilliant, hot when he fights, is amazing at fighting and flying and building stuff and there’s that competence thing for me again, oh boy! He’s funny and kind and he cares. And somehow, this bitch manages to have the two most beautiful, amazing people in the galaxy in love with him and willing to do basically anything for him like the fuck?!? Jealous much??!?!?!?! I am!!!! He’s so fucking bright and it’s impossible to look away. He’s also a dorky, messy disaster who’s not good with people or feelings or emotions and he panics over stuff and doesn’t know self-control and is kinda really bad at his job a lot and pushes away the people who care about him and screws up literally all the fucking time and he always feels like he’s drowning and alone and I get to watch him crash and burn under the weight of it all. Basically, minus the anger issues and the child murder and the murder in general, I kinda relate a lot to Anakin. I feel like a self-hating mess who doesn’t know how to control my ow head and the world hates me a lot too. I can project my mental issues onto him, enjoy the good parts of him, live vicariously through the things he does that I can’t like be loved by pretty people and be hot and athletic and smart, and then when he crashes I can side-eye and remember that at least someone’s doing worse than me lol. So yea, I love this messy boi to death and he’s the one I get the best characterization reviews on, so I guess we have an understanding. Leia I loved since as a kid. I’d want to be her, brave, talented, smart, strong as hell and snarky to boot. I realize that Leia fits another fave character archetype of mine: “Powerful young adult raised for greatness, did not ask for all the horrible shit that’s happened to them, highkey wants a break and for the bad guys to just roll over and die, is generally clever, hypercompetent, and 100% done with everyone else’s shit, overdramatic as all hell and enjoys insulting people”. Her and Han were my first Star Wars ship and she just always made me happy seeing her kick names and take ass. She’s gone through almost as much hell or maybe more so than Obi Wan, she also keeps getting back up and fighting, she deserved SO MUCH BETTER than what the Sequel Trilogy gave her and you may quote me on that. She’s also gorgeous and I wanted to wear all of her clothes (bikini not included). I also love her relationship with Luke and I am so goddam happy it is now canon that Leia Organa did Jedi training and can use a lightsaber!!! She has a lightsaber!!!!!!!!!! Ugh oof I love her. Kanan fills the similar “mentor” archetype as Obi Wan does, but with a smidge of youth because he’s younger when he gets dropped into this role. He’s more of a punk, more of a mess, and oof. Basically I’ve said it a zillion times how Rebels resparked my love of Star Wars, but really, it was Kanan on the screen that did it. It happened when the Rebels season 3 premiere eps ended up on the TV and I saw it and I thought in order 1. holy shit that Maul fucker’s actually alive? and 2. Oh no sad blind Jedi man! He’s cool and mysterious and I want to know why he’s sad and who made him sad and also want to give him a hug!!! He was my fave character all throughout Rebels and his training dynamic with Ezra, struggling to help this kid all while flying by the seat of his pants because he had Issues and no clue what he was doing and no support and ugh, he was smart and brave and I’m so sad he’s dead and yea. Finn!!!! Last but not least!!!! He was my favorite character from The Force Awakens. People have said it before, but he was just so new, a rebel Stormtrooper stolen and brainwashed at birth, finding the good guys and fighting to do the right thing! Possibly Force Sensitive! Super duper cute!!! Funny and kind, dammit, when not many other people in the galaxy were!!!!!!!! I was so, so sure Finn was gonna be a Jedi along with Rey at some point, that might have been my biggest letdown when I saw TLJ, but ugh I just loved his enthusiasm and his war within himself, ultimately loving his friends and trying to do what was right at the risk to his own safety, even though that was why he ran scared in the first place!!!!! I shipped him with Rey and with Poe and now I am NOT above the post TROS Jedistormpilot shipping!!!!! Finn was just always the most interesting part of the Sequel Trilogy for me and I personally feel like they could have done more with his character.

FAVE ACTOR/ACTRESS: Aight, so I try my best not to “stan” anyone famous because literally no one is perfect and everyone’s done something problematic at some point and if I dare say I like a famous figure, someone’s gonna find something about them and come after me all “OMG THIS PERSON DID/SAID/IS X YOU MONSTER GO DIE!!11!!1″. In terms of performance, I think all the actors in Star Wars did a lovely job and I’m happy with all of them! If I had to crush on any, it would probs be Ewan McGregor, John Boyega, or Diego Luna cuz, uh, they hot. If I had to pick one I liked most, it would honestly probs be Carrie Fisher. Maybe that’s just partially from missing her now that she’s gone, but I really admire her advocacy and transparence for mental health, and she just seemed like such a funny, kind, strong person.

FAVE PLANET: Aight, this is HARD and I refuse to only pick one planet! Ok, gonna start off with Coruscant because an endless city planet made up of lights is amazingly gorgeous and it has a Jedi Temple stacked on top of a Sith Temple and is just so cool aaaaa. Also love Felucia just for being so bright and colorful and pretty. Mortis for being just as weirdly gorgeous and also Weird Force Shit. Lothal for the beautiful mountains, the wolves, and the fucking lightspeed center of the planet passage what, Dathomir is delightfully creepy to look at, Crait is really cool with the salt and the red and the ice foxes, Kashyyyk because Wookiees and it’s pretty and I love their treehouses. Basically if it makes me clap my dumb monkey hands and go “oooh pretty!”, I love it. The more “not like Earth” it is, the more I love it.

FAVE SPECIES: Hmmmmm, this is a tough one……. There’s just so many cool-looking species that we know so little about, ya know? I wanna say either Togrutas or Wookiees. Togrutas just because the character design is incredible and so fun to work with and also I love Ahsoka, and Wookiees because they have such an interesting culture and backstory and also I want to give Chewbacca a hug.

FAVE CONCEPT: Uhhh, not quite sure I get the question; you mean like just story concept in general? If that’s it, I’m gonna have to go with just the whole concept of the Force and the Jedi in general. I mean George, George my man, what the fuck? How the hell did you come up with this?!? Mystical psychic space wizards with magic abilities to connect with and use the sentient godlike life force that combined the entire galaxy together. Oh and also they have COLORFUL GLOWING LASER SWORDS?!?!? It’s honestly one of the most creative things I’ve seen in popular culture, and that makes me sad that Star Wars now seems to be trying to separate itself from what I think is its most interesting quality because “ugh not EVERYTHING should be about the Jedi guys!”, when like, y’all, without the Jedi, the entire SW universe is basically just another military scifi war story…… Just my opinion tho.

FAVE SHIP: Ok, since pairing was already up there, I assume this means actual ship? Well, uh, gonna have to be square with y’all, I’m a bad Star Wars fan for this part; I’ve never been the one to memorize ship names and designs and know the exact make and model number of some fancy ship, I’m real bad at that lol. I’ll say my favorite ship is the Ghost. Hera flies it and the Rebels Fam lives on it and it’s super cool and it makes me happy!

FAVE WEAPON: LIGHTSABER. LIGHTSABER LIGHTSABER. LIGHTSABERLIGHTSABERLIGHTSABERLIGHTSABERLIGHTSABER. Y’all, c’mon, what did you think I was gonna pick? xD Lizard brain want glowy shiny colorful big stick that goes whoosh!

FAVE BACKGROUND EXTRA: Again, not entirely sure what this means, but do you mean fave background character? If so, then it’s a tie between Wilrow Hood and his ice cream machine for the memes, that one clone in TCW who yeets a plate of toast at Cad Bane’s face, or that one background soldier who scoots between Han and Leia arguing in ESB and also Hera and Kanan arguing in Rebels (yes I do headcanon it’s the same guy lol)

FAVE MOMENT/SCENE: This one’s actually pretty easy. Anakin dying in Luke’s arms in ROTJ, and then his ghost showing up to Luke later at the Ewok party. I just care so ridiculously much about stupid Anakin and his stupid story and mistakes, and even before I was a prequels stan and had only seen the OT (and wasn’t a huge Vader fan, believe it or not), some part of me just felt so solemn, so fragile watching this, watching the giant monstrous machine falling apart as he fades away to reveal a weary, tired old human man, and it always made me wonder, what the hell happened to him to turn him into that thing? Seeing that young, beautiful man, basically Luke’s age, showing up as a ghost later, just the fascination, the tender look he shared with Old Ben, just how young he was, that made it all the more mysterious and knowing what I do now, it’s just so much better because my poor, horrible Disaster Man finally did the right thing and he finally found peace and it’s just the only ending I could be happy for Anakin with, And Luke, I always felt so bad for Luke, being so strong, so brave, finally getting his father back for like five damn minutes and then having to lose him again and just hurting for him but also knowing that it was gonna be okay because Luke had more family now, the ghosts, and Han and Leia and Chewie and R2 and 3PO and Lando and everyone.

FAVE KISS: Luke and Leia (HANG ON LET ME SPEAK) forehead kiss in The Last Jedi. I know (this one) isn’t meant as romantic, and I know the question is probs about a romantic one and I know that it’s not even a real mouth kiss. But. That Luke and Leia scene was my favorite part of the entire movie. Again, I was missing Carrie a lot, and ugh, after all these years, after not getting to interact the entire previous movie and not at all during this movie, the ONE scene with Carrie and Mark and the pure emotion of it all just knocked me out of my fucking seat. You could see how connected they were as siblings, how much Leia had missed Luke, how much he had missed her and how sorry he was for leaving, sorry for Ben, sorry for having to leave her again now, Leia knowing Luke was about to die, and just, acceptance. Love and acceptance. It was just a final, tender kiss on the forehead, and it was perfect and yeah. If I do have to pick a romantic lip smooch, it’s probably the Hanleia classic “scoundrel” kiss in Empire Strikes Back. I still remember watching ESB the first time as a KID and being all eeeeeeee are they gonna– YES they kissed they kissed they kissed finally! and that’s enough for me.

FAVE FIGHT: Obi Wan and Anakin on Mustafar in Revenge of the Sith. WIthout question. It’s brilliantly and precisely choreographed to show the intricate nuances of the Obikin breakup in alllllll of its painful glory. It breaks my heart every time I watch it because every time I watch it I still hope it’s gonna end differently. That Anakin realizes he can’t kill Obi Wan and ditches Sidious and goes back with Obi Wan to save Padmé. That Obi Wan realizes he can’t let Anakin die and saves him from burning and from Sidious and takes him back too. That Obi Wan at least puts Anakin out of his misery which would be godawful painful, but would save him from the horrid life as Vader. That while they’re fighting, a lava monster appears like in the concept art and Vader and Obi Wan have to put aside their differences and fight the thing and remember how much they mean to each other. But ugh, this fight was beautifully choreographed and was originally supposed to be a MULTI-MINUTE SINGLE SHOT WHAT THE HELL??? Oooof Hayden and Ewan did such an amazing job and the whole thing just rips my heart out every time in the bestworst way possible

FAVE LINE OF DIALOGUE: Now THIS is hard, I’m not the best at picking favorite lines. Hmmm, this is HARD. Let me think. Gahhhh, it’s hard because I have so many lines I like and I can’t even just narrow down a couple!!! Ultimately, it’s probably gonna be Yoda’s monologue from Empire Strikes Back: “Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter…” Just that entire line saying how basically all of us are more than the sum of our parts, that everyone is their own sparkling light made of stardust, I loved it as a kid and I love it now.

FAVE BOOK/COMIC: Answered here

FAVE HERO: Gonna go with Obi Wan! I already rambled about why I love him, but y’all……. I love him.

FAVE VILLAIN: Anakin Skywalker/Darth McFucking Vader. I loved him when he was a hero and the silly poor sad boy makes me sad when I see him as a villain all while being an overdramatic asshole and it just makes me wanna hit him with a newspaper for ruining his life and everyone else’s I love him.

FAVE OUTFIT: Answered here

FAVE CREATURE: I love Lothcats/Tookas! I just heckin’ love cats and now there’s spACE KITTIES WITH SUPER FOOFY TAILS AND BIG EARS OMG Y’ALL I LOVE THEM I JUST REALLY DO AND I REALLY WANT ONE SO I CAN CUDDLE IT ;_;

WHEW. That was all of the faves, thanks so much for asking me!!! Sorry this took so long to do, this was kinda a hell week haha!

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paladin-andric · 5 years

Text

Blackheart, Chapter 28: Hope

Alexander stared in amazement at the admittedly incredible scene before him.

The assembled forces of Palethorn had spent a lengthy amount of preparation putting this plan into action, and it showed.

The horrific monstrosity that guarded the gates was dying. He could tell.

Earlier before, they had gathered every koutu and dragonoid that could fling a spell or fire a bow and had them sneak around the entrance plaza and fly up into positions on rooftops surrounding it. Afterwards the main force of volunteers, consisting of bowmen and magicians belonging to any species who couldn’t fly, took to the streets.

Once the signal was given, the archers and magicians stormed the plaza and opened fire, drowning the monster in a sea of projectiles.

Crossbows, arrows, knives, javelins, ice shards, lightning and balls of fire...scores of them flew from all around the area and landed onto a single target...that unholy monstrosity that had been preventing their escape since the beginning.

The terrible beast screeched as the survivors pelted it with dozens of projectiles, a dark ooze beginning to pour from the worst injuries down its wretched, ever-shifting flesh.

It was working. It was mortal now! It COULD be hurt! It COULD be slain!

As the beast attempted to recover and respond to the ambush, the next part of their plan sprung into action.

Two green dragons emerged from the alleys behind the attacking force, flying past them and crashing into the monster. The three behemoths struggled as the dragons fought the demon, using their razor sharp talons to shred through the monstrosity’s flesh.

The two dragons pinned the monster to the floor, its various limbs flailing and mouths screeching as the father and son drove their claws into it time and again.

In what seemed no time at all, the unspeakable terror ceased moving. It stopped screaming, and a thick, viscous ooze pooled around it as it lay motionless.

The bolts, arrows and magic came to a halt.The two dragons got off of the fallen demon and backed up, staring at the thing curiously.

“It is...over?” Basilrin asked cautiously.

Aurelio nodded. “Indeed. Without immortality, it falls like any other.”

“I...expected a very difficult battle.”

“It would have been, if not for our wise companions. There is strength in solid numbers and cunning tactics.”

Basilrin let out a short, nervous laugh. “I suppose not much can stand up to a firing squad…”

“Well…looks like that’s sorted,” Andric noted, a hint of surprise hanging on his words. The older man stood beside Alexander, claymore drawn and resting on his shoulder plate...though it seemed he never even needed to bother.

“You’ve commanded military forces before.”

Alexander turned to look at Crux. He raised a brow at the other man’s words.

“Was that a question?”

“A statement,” the bounty hunter replied, “I can tell.”

“Well...you’re not wrong.”

A koutu leapt off of a nearby house, landing gracefully with his wings at his side...and a bow clutched in one of them.

With the short, vibrant red cape and white robe, it took only a moment for the knight to identify the bird as Razorwing.

The hero quickly strode up at Alexander and bowed. “And that...is how it is done!”

“Not bad,” Crux commented, “But you’re-”

“Hey, we’re not done yet,” Alexander interrupted, raising his voice into a shout, “Are there any fallen or wounded?! Everyone check!”

The rooftop ambushers began to descend, koutu all flying and flapping their wings as a great many of them came down to the plaza. Alexander even spotted a pair of dragonoids among them.

“We’ve got wounded!” a voice called out.

Past the other survivors, two koutu supporting a third in between them walked forward. The one they were helping stumbled toward the knight unsteadily, head hung low.

The injured koutu was short and had plumage of varying shades of brown, from near white to borderline black. Among the bright patch of feathers on their face, there was a deep, black coloring, which the bird was clutching a taloned hand over.

“What happened?” Alexander asked, arms crossed.

“Friendly fire,” one of the helpers answered.

“Literally,” the other said, trying and failing to suppress a short laugh.

“Not funny!” the other helper barked, “Some idiot mage behind her shot fire right past her face! She could have died!”

“I-I didn’t mean to…!” a timid voice called out from the crowd. Alexander spotted a larger koutu in red robes clutching a wand, a guilty look on his face.

“Moron!” another person in the crowd shouted.

“It was an accident! I’m sorry!”

The knight sighed. “Alright. At least she’s stable. Bring her to the shellbacks back at the Citadel. They’ll fix her up.”

One of the helpers nodded. “Right. Miss...we could save time by flying down there, like the dragons did. Are you okay to fly?”

“C-carry…” she mumbled, looking delirious.

“Okay, okay, we’ll lift you there…up, just like that! Easy...”

As the burned koutu was hoisted onto one of the others’ backs, the trio took to the sky, flying off and back to the Citadel. Alexander turned to the rest of the survivors.

“Any other wounded? Injured? No one?”

“I tripped and sprained my ankle!” one of the very few dragonoids complained.

“Oh, for-” the knight shook his head, “Just go!”

The blue dragonoid unfurled his wings and took off, flying after the three koutu. Alexander rolled his eyes.

“Right...NOW there’s no wounded, right?”

The was a general murmur of agreement among the crowd.

“Great! Now...it’s time. The path is clear. The gates are liberated. Finally, we can-”

A loud snap cut the knight off. As he turned towards the source of the noise, he could see exactly what caused it...and what that entailed.

A pillar supporting a balcony among one of the several buildings in the plaza had just snapped. The entire balcony quickly began to collapse as several other supports broke under the strain.

All too soon, the entire structure was falling apart, several hundred pounds of wood and stone crumbled and fell down...right onto Leianna, who had been resting against the wall of the building.

“NO!” Alexander screamed, as the massive structure collapsed entirely, until at last, what was once a building was an enormous pile of rubble, lying beside the main plaza, and the corpse of the monstrosity.

At some point, perhaps during the battle or even as far back as the initial demon invasion, something damaged the building, causing it to later give out.

Everyone stood in shocked silence as they stared. The pile of debris...somewhere, deep under all that rock and lumber...Leianna was there.

Alexander doubted she had survived such a heavy, crushing force. It was the type of impact that tended to kill people immediately. Even if the cleric was somehow alive, it was all too likely that her lungs had been crushed, or her legs rendered useless.

Senci bolted to the ruins without hesitation, diving down and beginning to pull away small chunks of stone.

“Small one,” Aurelio ordered, “Get back!”

“What?! But she needs our-”

“I know,” the dragon answered, voice softer now, “It will take us but a moment.”

Aurelio looked back to his son. “Basilrin. Let us repay our rescuers once more.”

“Of course.”

The two dragons stepped over the fallen demon and quickly reached down into the pile of rubble, lifting out and tossing aside massive piles of splintered and broken wood and large sections of rock like they were nothing.

Aurelio’s word was no boast. In mere moments, so much had been moved aside that as Basilrin moved another large section of stone, a figure burst through some of the torn-up wood below it.

Leianna, amazingly, didn’t even struggle. The woman simply pulled her legs free and stood up, taking a moment to look at the dragons that had just pulled her free.

“Well...thanks, you two.”

“Leianna?!” Alexander could hear a flurry of voices all throughout the plaza. From shouts to muttering, everyone seemed just as shocked as the knight.

“You’re...fine?!”

The cleric looked worried for a moment, but quickly shot the man a grin as she took long steps over the rubble. “Come on, you really think I’m gonna make it through an army of the damned, just to die from some rocks? Get real.”

Crux crossed his arms. “Leianna...that was an entire building of stone crushing you. How the hell are you standing? Actually...how the hell are you even alive?”

Her smile faded, and that worried look came back. “I...don’t know.”

Everyone else stood around uncomfortably as the knight watched the woman with concern.

“And you’re...not hurt?”

She shook her head. “Nah. It’s like everything that came crashing down just...slid off of me.”

Alexander pursed his lips. “What in the world…?”

“You know,” Charles offered, stepping forward, “That sounds like-”

“A ward,” Lexius finished.

The dragonoid nodded “Correct. Leianna...perhaps we should examine you, to find out what happened?”

He phrased it like a question, as if he was ready for the cleric to snap at him for suggesting such a thing.

To his surprise, Leianna nodded. “Alright. I’d like to know myself.”

“Hey,” Alexander’s voice was firm, “It’s a good idea, but first…”

The knight turned to face all the other volunteers, who still stood waiting in large crowds throughout the plaza. The sight of so many inhuman visages in one place might have unnerved the knight, some time ago. No longer.

“People of Palethorn!” he announced, “The path is clear! You may now finally leave this accursed city behind! Your bravery was appreciated, and while you would still have quite an important part to play here if you chose to stay...we offer you the choice to instead leave. If you wish, you can put this all behind you, and flee into the countryside. It won’t be easy, but it will be safer than staying and fighting here, with us. People of Palethorn...those who chose to stay will aid us in the final assault, to destroy the Blackheart and save this city, and in some part, the entire world. I ask you, citizens...who wishes to leave?”

To his utter shock, the entire plaza fell dead silent. For several long seconds, not a single voice rose to ask to leave.

“None? No one wishes to leave? I promise you no one will think less of you for it.”

Still, the plaza was silent.

“It’s going to be very dangerous. Some of you might not leave this place alive.”

The silence remained.

“This is your last chance. Are you sure you wish to stay?”

It was a forgone conclusion, but the silence brought warmth to the knight’s heart.

“This is quite remarkable. I promise you, brave people of this city...I swear I will see that as many of you make it through this unharmed as possible. I will ask only what is necessary for the future of our world. I will also not ask you to throw your lives away needlessly. If I give an order, it is one I myself would follow. When this assault begins, I will be right beside you, as the others will all be as well. This is a team effort, and we all have a reason to fight. Some more than others, but...the fate of the world lies in YOUR hands, brave men and women of Palethorn! Your friends, your family, everyone you have lost to these accursed monsters...make! Them! Proud!”

Several cheers rang out in the plaza, everyone wrapped up in jubilation as they raised their weapons in triumph. The entire place was like a scene from a battlefield, the victorious side cheering and celebrating that they had won the battle.

Yet the battle had only just begun.

“Alright, everyone!” Alexander shouted, “Quiet down! We don’t need the demons jumping us. I want you all guarding the plaza. I’m heading back to the Citadel and letting those who didn’t, or couldn’t help leave as well. The helpless, the weak, the hurt and the infirm should be brought to safety…”

Razorwing grinned. “This is perfect! Let’s be off to tell the good news!”

Alexander nodded. “Yes, but first…”

The knight turned to the pair of dragons, still quietly sitting and watching the proceedings with sharp eyes and wise visages.

“One of you...the time has come. We need the army here immediately. One of you, could you...bring word to the kingdom?”

“I will do it!” Basilrin pledged hurriedly. Aurelio didn’t seem to like that, turning and glaring at the other, smaller dragon.

“What? Are you certain? It will be very dangerous. Perhaps I should do it.”

“Danger?! You have seen this hellscape firsthand, father! The outside world is a paradise compared to this.”

“I know, only...the king has ordered all of his people to kill us on sight. My son, if something were to happen to you…”

“I have risked much more here!” Basilrin reasoned, “A few humans would pose no threat! Father, I promise I will be well. Besides, you know me...they will be my friends before they could ever consider harming me!”

Aurelio broke into a smile, despite himself. “Ahh...very well. Basilrin...I am simply too worried. Pay me no mind. Do be safe, though…”

“Of course!”

Alexander looked over at the smaller dragon. “Move quickly. Go from town to town, city to city. Tell them what happened. Tell them of the king’s men already here. Get them to send anyone they can here. Guards, levies, retired veterans, adventurers...we need the might of Geralthin assembled. Do not take no for an answer. Lie, if you have to. Tell them it’s the king’s orders if they don’t listen.”

Basilrin nodded. “Yes, noble one! The army of man will be brought here, I promise you! I take my leave, and I promise to return! I wish to lend my aid in the battle ahead as well.”

Alexander smiled and raised a clenched fist. “That’s great to hear. Good luck, Basilrin.”

“Until my return...for I SHALL return,” the dragon answered. The green behemoth launched himself into the air and over the walls, flying off into the dark fog surrounding the city.

Aurelio watched him go with a measurable degree of sadness. Despite caving to his son’s demands, he still appeared apprehensive about the dangers involved.

“Basilrin. Do be safe...you are all I have left.”

The words were spoken quietly, and to no one in particular.

The knight turned and nodded to the others. Leianna, Lexius, Senci, Paul, Razorwing and Charles stood behind him, facing him and looking intently.

“Let’s go.”

The walk back to the Citadel was quite relaxed, but it allowed the group to think things over. Everything that had happened thus far. How far they had come. What came next.

They had experience both great strokes of luck and horrid misfortune. They had done the best they could, but was their best good enough?

They had learned the corrupted could be purified, that they could be brought back from the brink. Fianna had been one of them. Julroul had come to his senses as his life left him.

What was to say all the ones they had already killed weren’t the same? Could they have restrained them and purified them? Could they have avoided them or ran away from them?

Had they committed murder by killing the corrupted?

During these breaks, Alexander’s doubts and worries manifested. His woes, his fears and pessimism…

Everything that he couldn’t afford to think about in the heat of the moment.

Still, he gave them but a brief thought. He still couldn’t let these doubts undermine his ability to undertake this mission. If he really HAD failed the people of this city, if he truly WAS a murderer...he would have time to repent once the world was safe.

For now...he had to do whatever it took to see this through.

Crawling through the tunnels, the group of heroes found themselves climbing into the Citadel once more. Alexander noted how empty this place was now. So many had gone to the surface to aid in the attack...anyone still around was mostly unable to fight, and so there most of those still around were lying in tents or bedrolls, out of view.

Aside from a few figures in the distance, impossible to make out in the darkness, Wurie stood with his arms crossed, looking up as the group climbed out of the sewers. His gaze lit up as he began to move towards them.

There was such a...finality to it all. How empty this once bustling place was. They were free. They could leave. People were finally able to do things besides scavenge.

It’s all coming to close, Alexander thought, Just a little longer…

The wolfman captain rushed to the group, eyes wide as he began to speak. “Those folks you sent back told me everything. Is it true? It’s really dead?”

Alexander nodded. “Yeah. Those folks are guarding the perimeter. One of the dragons went into the fog to rally Geralthin.”

Wurie’s voice was light and quivering, his hands clenching as he muttered.

“It’s really dead...there’s really a way to leave…”

The knight smiled. “It’s time to get these people out of here.”

The evacuation went quite smoothly. Aside from the initial disbelief, the citizens were quick to gather up to leave. Yes, the initial disbelief…

The widened eyes. The open mouths. The muted voices and general silence. The way they didn’t seem “all there” as they stood waiting to leave.

It was like they couldn’t believe the day had come. Like they thought this was just a dream.

But Alexander, and all the others had worked hard to make this a reality.

The old, the young, the sick and injured, and those without combat prowess all came to join. Tents opened, folks hobbled, and nervous eyes darted to and fro as they awaited in growing anticipation.

Everyone scattered to check every tent and corner, to ensure no one was left behind.

It was only a short while before Alexander heard the sounds of an old, whining kobold.

“I don’t WANT to go!” it shouted. The knight turned to see Charles sheepishly holding his hands and grinning, a clearly nervous edge to his friendliness.

“B-but professor-”

“I’m not some worthless old fool that needs saving!” Parsib snapped, angrily waving a stick at the dragonoid.

Alexander noticed it was but a foot in height, and when he lowered it, he leaned on it slightly.

Despite trying his best, the knight couldn’t hide a grin.

Oh my goodness. He has a tiny walking stick. That’s...adorable.

“S-sir…!”

“Don’t ‘sir’ me!” the old kobold barked, “You always say that when you’re patronizing me!”

“I never patronize you!” Charles cried, sounding hurt. “I just-”

“Think I can’t do anything myself!” Parsib finished.

“No, no I-”

“Now, mister,” Alexander interrupted, stepping towards them, “You should calm down.”

Though the professor looked ready to snap at him too, the knight continued.

“This man here is...a good man. I can attest to that. From all the times he’s spoken to me, spoken about you, the things he’s done...it’s pretty obvious he cares a lot about you.”

Parsib closed his mouth as he pondered the words. The small lizard frowned as he looked back at Charles.

“This IS the man who braved the depths of the city to find you, to make certain that you were okay and to reunite with his old friend Parsib we’re talking about here…”

The dragonoid perked up, eyes opening wide, leaning back, tilting his head and smiling widely. He looked genuinely touched by Alexander’s words.

“Sir Alexander…”

“Bah...you’re right.” Parsib sighed and shook his head. “Charles...I’ve been too hard on you, haven’t I?”

“Oh, of course not!” the dragonoid said hurriedly, “I understand! I know it’s annoying, I just...we’ve been through so much, you know? I just want to make sure it wasn’t all for nothing. We’re so lucky we’ve made it so far, and...I don’t want to take any risks.”

The professor nodded sadly. “I know. I know I should go, too. I’m afraid my temper is not your fault...but my own.”

Parsib turned and looked up to the hole in the ceiling, continuing even as he seemed to lose focus.

“Charles, ever since I moved from...my friend’s home…” he swallowed hard at that. “Everyone has been so...rude to me. Teaching at the academy was my dream. All my life, I looked forward to such a place. Then...the first day...all the students laughed at me.”

Charles shook his head, “Professor, you don’t have to-”

“I thought they’d get over it eventually, but...it really does seem like the idea of a kobold being a teacher just never got old to them. The pranks, Charles, all the jokes, the mocking words, the insults, the way no one EVER took me seriously...how could they? The...accommodations I needed for my size. They mocked that too.”

“I know,” the dragonoid spoke softly. His eyes were locked on the floor.

“I complained about it to the higher ups, and they took a whole class period aside to sit down and warn the students about such things...nothing stopped. They just got craftier. Kind words with hidden, mocking intent behind them. False smiles that turned to snickering the moment I looked away. It was all so much to bear…”

“Sir...I understand. I...I was there, too. I saw it myself.”

“I remember that day, you know.” Parsib’s frown turned into a smile. “How excited you were to be in class. All the great points you had. All the questions you asked. You took me SERIOUSLY, Charles. That...didn’t happen before.”

“You’re a good teacher,” the magician offered, twiddling his claws nervously.

“You even started staying after class to chat. You...went out to lunch with me. You ASSOCIATED with me. Charles...you’re the only student that was ever nice to me. I...I shouldn’t say such things about you. I’m sorry. You’ve been a great friend to me, all these years.”

Charles got down on one knee and put a hand on the kobold’s shoulder. He looked at him with a confident gaze and smiled.

“Parsib...you’re my friend. I won’t make you go. I know why you see my offers as patronizing. I’ve seen the fake kindness others have offered you. I just...care, you know?”

The old professor nodded deeply. “Yes, yes...I shall join the others, than. Charles…” The professor narrowed his eyes, looking angry again. “Now you’d better not do anything stupid either! I want to see you make it to the countryside too, you hear?!”

The dragonoid laughed and nodded. “Yessir! I’ll do my best. Promise.”

Parsib gave a short nod, anger melting away. “Well...good. I’ll just be joining the line up...until next time, friends…”

“Until next time…” Alexander watched the small creature go, walking carefully over to the growing crowd, Charles moving to stand beside him.

“He’s a nice old man,” the magician informed him, “He’s just...had it rough, you know.”

“Indeed…”

There was a noticeable shift in the magician’s attitude. He slowly turned to look at the human. “Hey...Alexander?”

The knight returned the stare. “Yes?”

“I don’t know what’s going to happen. If we’ll win, or if one of us will make it, and the other won’t. I...I don’t...I’m...this is hard for me to say, but…”

Charles slowly lifted his arms up and grabbed his hat. That large, pointed, wide-brimmed thing that had fallen out of style with nearly everyone but children. The dragonoid lifted it off of his head and brought it down to his chest, clutching onto it.

“I just...wanted to say...thank you.”

Alexander raised a brow. “Charles?”

“It’s...been tough. Tougher than I let on. To do...all of this.”

“I understand. I’m glad you’ve helped as much as you have.”

“It’s just that...I’ve been such a wreck. Maybe you could tell…? Or maybe I’ve been hiding it well, I don’t know. It’s been so trying, journeying with you people.”

Alexander shrugged. “I mean, you seemed fine.”

“Well...I’ve been trying my hardest.” Charles frowned as he tried to find the right words.

“I don’t like to impose. I keep to myself, mostly. I like to sit in my room and read. I…don’t have many friends. I guess what I’m saying is…this isn’t something I’m used to. To be…on a battlefield, working together with so many people. This has been a learning experience, but…I just wanted to let you know that I’m with you. I know I’m…difficult, at times. Thank you for putting up with it.”

The human smiled and crossed his arms. His gaze was softer than it usually was. He took a moment to scratch at the scruff on his face before responding.

“I...appreciate your dedication. I’m glad you’ve stuck around, there’s so much you’ve done for us. You helped out in battle, in searching for answers, in exploration...from melting locks, to reciting your knowledge, to your understanding of the city, and your combat prowess...you’ve done so well here. If you really aren’t comfortable with this sort of thing, let me tell you...you’re a natural.”

Charles raised the hat in such a way that the brim covered his face up to his eyes. “Gah...thank you, Alexander.”

“Don’t mention it.”

“I’m not good with words, but...it means a lot.”

The knight jumped to a realization. “Wait a minute…”

The dragonoid tilted his head. “Err, what?”

Alexander snapped his fingers at it came rushing back to him. “T-that bastard! The one that started all of this!”

Charles’ eyes widened, then narrowed. He snarled as he realized it too. “Laurence!”

“Parsib got wrapped up in that! We should tell him. Aside from deserving to know...the word should get out.”

“Right!” the magician moved for the crowd, Alexander close behind. The pair came upon Parsib, standing quietly at the edge of the large crowd.

He looked confused at their approach. “Err...forget something?”

“Actually, yes.” Alexander put his hands on his hips as he gave the kobold a serious look. “Laurence. You remember him?”

The professor winced. “D-do not remind me.”

“Why? What happened between you?”

Parsib gave the knight a suspicious look. “How...how do you know about all that?”

“We, uh...found out some things at the academy. What happened to you...is directly tied to this apocalypse.”

The kobold gave the knight a double take. “W-wait, what?!”

“Sir.”

Charles reached into his robes and pulled out the journal, with the sheets of paper wedged inside. The dragonoid leaned down and handed it to his teacher, who looked at it all in bewilderment.

“You...stole his diary? Why?!”

“Flip to the last couple of entries,” Alexander spoke. Not a demand, but a recommendation.

“W-well, if you say so...I still don’t get what this is all about…”

The human could tell when Parsib came upon the bit about tricking him when the creature’s eyes shot open. He finished reading the entry and looked up at the pair in disbelief.

“Flip the page.”

He did so, and read that final sentence.

They had their chance.

The professor shook his head, maw agape. “No...no…”

“We found it in his desk,” Charles explained, “The papers detail that thing outside we just killed...I destroyed the obelisk, which is why it became transient.”

Alexander had never seen kobolds before all of this. He’d heard of them, read of them, but never met one. As a result, they were quite difficult for him to read...but even he could tell the old professor looked absolutely shattered.

“I...I knew he was lying, but...this?! H-he did...all of this?! Oh, God...what...what would possess a man to do such a thing?! Why…”

“You knew?” Alexander frowned, fingers tapping along his arms.

Parsib took a deep breath and composed himself before looking up at the human. “When he tried to become my friend...I was so excited. You see, even the staff avoided me. They didn’t mock or insult me like the students, they just...never spoke to me. For him to suddenly get all chummy, I thought my luck had finally turned around.”

The kobold took a moment to open the book and examine a few of the papers, shaking his head and slamming it shut again after a moment.

“When it became clear he didn’t care about anything I said at all, I got suspicious...and when he demanded the word to the obelisk, I knew I’d been taken advantage of again. Of course he didn’t care, he just wanted his pet project all to himself...I thought he just wanted to steal it, really...I can’t believe he was actually trying to...summon demons!”

“And so he did anyway, leaving it immortal,” Charles finished with notable spite. He glared as his anger bubbled to the surface.

“That bastard! He did ALL of this! HE killed all those people! It’s HIS fault!”

Alexander interrupted Charles, shooting a glum expression towards Parsib. “Professor...do you know where he went? If he escaped? Did you see him on that day?”

The kobold sadly shook his head. “I wasn’t present at the academy that day...I had caught a cold and was staying home. When I peeked outside and saw the massacre full of demons and corrupted souls, I...lost my nerves. I hid in my basement dresser for days. I...I thought that was the end.”

He shook himself a bit as he got back on track. “I was shut inside my own home that day and the next several. I’m sorry...I didn’t see anything.”

The knight shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. I was just curious. You’ve been plenty help as is.”

“Bah…”

Alexander looked behind him, towards the camp. In the back, he could see three familiar figures leaving a tent…

“Well, we’d better get going. Safe journey, Parsib.”

“Thank you. A-and if we don’t meet again...give my sincerest thanks to those kind boys. The masked man and the avian!”

“Crux and Razorwing...I’ll be sure to.”

“They really saved me, helping Charles and bringing me here.”

“Right. Well, with any luck, you’ll be seeing the sun in a couple hours. Stay safe!”

“Oh, professor!” Charles pointed at the book. “Keep that safe! You’re leaving...the world needs to know! Everyone must learn what caused this, and to never forget what he’s done!”

Parsib’s expression turned firm. He gave a short nod. “Yes. I will bring this evidence to safety, I promise...and Charles?”

“Yes sir?”

“...thank you. Thank you for...keeping me company, these past years.”

“It’s been an honor, sir. I’ll visit you again once this is over!”

“Yes...that would be wonderful. Charles...you’d better keep that promise! Don’t get yourself caught doing something foolish!”

The dragonoid nodded and laughed. “Yessir. I’ll be safe...don’t worry! Good luck!”

The magician waved his friend goodbye as the pair walked back into the camp, Charles looking over at the knight curiously.

“What’s up now?”

Alexander pointed at the trio rapidly approaching. “That.”

An older human in silver armor, sporting a long beard, a kobold in a suit of steel plate, and a reptilian in a tunic and pants, both light and flowing.

All three were grinning as they spoke, Vok the loudest among them.

“Can’t tell ya how thankful I am!”

“Ahh...we’re friends, aren’t we?” Andric returned.

“Yeah, but still! And Senci...never thought you’d come and save the day, boy!”

“I’m just glad you’re alright!” the kobold answered happily.

“Hey!” the lizardman turned and gave the knight a wide grin. “Alexander, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Come’re!”

Before he could respond, Alexander found the reptilian lurching forward and wrapping his arms around the knight in a bear hug. So forceful was the lizard that Alexander was thankful he was wearing his armor.

“Gahahaha! Jus’ wanted to say thanks for listening to Senci! Thanks for bringin’ me back here instead of slicing me open, lad!”

“Uhh...no problem,” Alexander replied, limply waiting as the blacksmith hugged him. Soon enough, the lizard stopped and patted the human on the shoulder before stepping back.

“Heh! Once we’re outta here, I say we celebrate! Drinks are on me!”

“Err...Vok?” Andric looked at the other man questioningly. “You...don’t have any money, do you?”

“Nope! But I’ll think of something! Buwahahaha!” Vok lightly punched Alexander in the shoulder and shot him a wink.

“Hey, let’s meet up, me, the lads here, and you, once this is over! Andric and Senci would be thrilled to talk with ya, after everything you’ve done together!”

The knight tapped his helmet in thought. “Hmm...celebrations, meeting up? That sounds...excellent. IF we survive this, that is.”

“HAH! That’s the spirit!” Vok crossed his arms, pausing to scratch the top of his head. “Heh...once I figure out where I’ll be staying, I’ll make a tidy sum for the party! Hmm...where WILL I stay?”

Senci’s eyes lit up. The kobold grabbed and shook Andric’s leg, beaming. “Oh, Master Andric! Our house, in Lannis! He can stay, can’t he?! He took me in when I didn’t have a home! We should help him now, too!”

The paladin nodded. “Sounds good. How about it, Vok?”

“You’d...really do that?”

“Of course. What was it you said...‘my home is your home’? Well, now it’s our turn. Vok...you can stay with us until you figure out what you’ll do once this calms down. What do you say?”

The lizard was grinning wider than ever. “I say...you’re the best cousin-in-law I ever had!”

“Vok!”

“Gahaha! Kidding, Andric, kidding! But seriously...I’ll take you up on that. Thank you.”

“Fair’s fair,” Andric returned, smiling as the trio walked over to the rest of the crowd.

Charles crossed his arms, looking at Andric and Senci as they prepared to see their friend off.

“You know...I’m really glad you talked me out of...taking action, when we found him,” the magician admitted.

“Me, too.”

“Things have turned out well, haven’t they?”

Alexander’s face dropped. “Yeah...except for one thing.”

Charles’ mood quickly soured as well. “He...he’ll be remembered, for his courage and honor.”

The knight let out a deep breath, fists clenching. “He’s...he’s with his family now. He’s in a better place.”

The magician took his hat off again, looking up to the hole above them.

“I don’t think the world was ready for a dragon like him.”

Alexander joined the magician. Far up in the sky, past the black fog wrapping around the city, in the heavens, where the good lay in peace and splendor...was Tourthun watching them? Was he lying in a heavenly field with his mother and father, explaining the knight’s mission to them, about all they had spoken of and done together? Was the family of dragons awaiting his triumph, the fulfillment of his mission?

Alexander sighed, eyes lowering. “Not only was it unready for him...it did not deserve him.”

“Indeed.”

As the last few survivors joined the evacuation, a familiar figure waved at Alexander. Her vibrant blue and orange feathers made her easy to spot as she rushed over.

“Alexander!”

“Fianna!” he exclaimed, “Good to see you.”

She leapt forward, wrapping her wings around him in a hug. It seemed she too had paid a trip to the supply depot, for just like Vok, she had discarded her tattered rags for some loose fitting clothes.

“Is it true?! Did you really make it safe to leave?!”

“Yeah...you folks are really fond of hugs, aren’t you?”

“I’m just so thankful!” the koutu cried, “Oh, sir knight…”

“Hey, relax!” Alexander insisted, “Everything’s fine, now! No more need to get worked up.”

The birdwoman seemed to pay his words no heed, happily clinging onto the knight. “Alexander...you’re such a gallant knight, you know that?”

Alexander found himself confused at this. Hadn’t Andric saved her too? She seemed to be...interested in him, in that way that made him uncomfortable. Even as he tried to disarm the situation, she seemed unmoved.

Not that she was unlikeable or the sort, far from it! It was just...he wasn’t ready for such things...and with an entirely different species of creature? It was all a bit much for him.

She is endearing in her own way, though. She’s so…excited about everything.

He carefully reached up and lightly pushed her off of him. Giving her a warm smile, he gestured to the crowd. “It’s time to go, Fianna! Everyone’s waiting to go back to Geralthin.”

She frowned for a moment, before nodding. “Okay...well, I hope we see each other again. I’d very much like to find some way to repay you…”

“Well, even if you don’t, don’t worry. It’s my job.”

The koutu’s eyes widened as she quickly dug into her new pockets. “O-oh, I almost forgot! I found this!”

She pulled out something and dropped it into the knight’s hands. As he stared down to examine it, he found it was a very small, unremarkable yellow flower...and not one people were generally fond of.

“...a dandelion?”

“It was growing in one of the dirt patches in the sewers, here! I-I know it’s no rose, but...in a place like this, where the corruption makes everything wither up and die...it’s just as valuable as one!”

Alexander smiled at that. “That’s...quite true.” He looked up at the bird with an amused expression. “...you do know the knight is the one who gives the damsel the rose, right?”

Fianna scratched at the back of her head, laughing nervously. “Hahaha, r-right! I, uh...I guess I just forgot!”

He shook his head and smiled, tucking the small flower into a pouch on his belt. “Well, I appreciate it, but...we’re holding everyone up. Let’s go.”

Fianna followed him to the crowd. After all this time had passed, everyone was assembled, and awaiting the journey to the gates, and ultimately, the outside world.

Wurie was waiting with his arms crossed. He began to smirk as he saw Fianna holding onto the knight’s arm.

“Lucky man,” he said, grinning.

“Yeah, yeah, very funny. Everyone ready?”

The captain nodded. “Entire camp’s empty aside from the medical tent. There’s the folks that got hurt during the attack on the gate...and a few doctors are staying behind to treat them. They’ll have to leave later, once the wounded are in better shape.”

“Right...well, looks like that’s it, than.”

Wurie nodded. “You can see them off, but...you’re staying, right?”

Alexander smiled. “You know I’m not turning back now.”

The wolfman slapped a hand on his shoulder. “Neither am I. Once the citizens are safe...it’s time to plan out our final mission.”

The knight looked over to the sewers, his mind heavy with the task ahead. Once they had seen these people off, and only the volunteers remained...the Blackheart awaited.

“Right.”

Wurie turned to the crowd, voice raised as he barked out his orders.

“PEOPLE OF PALETHORN! The time has come! The gates are liberated, and our brave guards stand vigil! We will lead you out of this hellscape, and into Geralthin! Just stick close and keep going through the fog, and soon enough...you will see the sky at last!”

The people excitedly chattered as they all began to walk to the sewer system, heading for the surface.

Looking at the now empty Citadel, for the first time in quite a while, Alexander felt an emotion that had been eluding him through his trials.

Hope.

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imamotherfuckingstar-lord · 7 years

Text

A Million Reasons, Part 9

Characters: Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, Bucky Barnes, Matt Murdock

Warnings: angst.

A/N: If you want a happy ending sort of story, please refrain from reading any further. If you want a more realistic take on a relationship and how easily things can fall apart - then here you go.

Summary: It’s simple really. Girl joins S.H.I.E.L.D. Boy gets unfrozen after 70 years. Girl meets boy. They fall in love. They get engage. They have a baby. Then shit hits the fan. Add some drama, flashbacks, a cute kid, meddling Natasha/Bucky duo and maybe another love interest in the mix - one in the form of a hot lawyer from Hell’s Kitchen.

Masterlist

The hospital corridor was nearly empty, beside a few nurses and a janitor. The atmosphere was tense and quiet, except for the sound of footsteps approaching the end of the hall. Steve held Coulson in his arms, the little boy was wide awake despite it being past his bedtime. Bucky and Natasha walked behind the pair, trying their best to match Steve’s pace, but he was in a panic from the moment he got the call from a woman named Claire.

Just as Steve was about to reach the correct room, Matt came walking out - not donning his Daredevil suit, but dark blue sweats and a gray tee with the hospital’s name on it. Matt gripped his cane and stopped as he heard Steve approach.

“She’s going to be fine,” Matt assured him.

“Matt!”

Coulson waved at the familiar face and the lawyer gave the child a warm smile. “Hey buddy.”

“What the hell happened?”

Steve tried his best to hold back the anger, but he was doing a lousy job.

Sensing the tension, Natasha stepped up and took Coulson from Steve’s arms.

“Hey kiddo, why don’t we go get a snack from the cafeteria?”

“A cookie?”

“Sure” she smirked, glancing over to Bucky to give him a ‘make sure things don’t escalate’ look. He nodded and gave both Nat and Coulson quick kisses before stepping up beside Steve.

“How is she?”

Matt glanced over in Bucky’s direction and sighed. “She was wounded on the abdomen. It was a lot of blood, but I were able to get her to the hospital just in time. A good friend of mine works here, she was the one that called you and got Y/N out of her suit. She’s all stitched up now, she’s going to need to take it easy for the next few weeks.”

Steve listened quietly, arms crossed against his chest until Matt finished speaking. Bucky watched him closely, as if he was anticipating a fight.

“What the hell were you thinking?”

“Steve,” Bucky warned, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“No, it’s fine,” Matt held a hand out to Bucky and stepped up to Steve. “Listen, Steve, I’m not doing this with you. I care about Y/N, I love her actually and out of respect for her and that little boy, I’m not going to stand here and fight with you. We are both consenting adults, we both chose this life and we both decided to go out tonight fully aware of what could happen. So don’t stand here with your perfective righteousness and try to make us feel bad about that. And when you go in there, don’t tear her a new one, she already feels bad. Just go in there as the father of her son, as the man she loved. As her friend.”

Steve and Bucky stood speechless with Matt’s painstaking truthful words, but it was the confession of love that had shocked Steve. He watched Matt take a deep breath and he did the same, telling himself to calm down.

“Is she awake?”

“Yeah, she’s been asking for Coulson,” Matt replied coolly, stepping away from the door.

“Buck, when Nat gets back, have her bring in Coulson.”

Bucky murmured an okay and only relaxed once Steve walked into the room, leaving Matt and him alone. The man glanced over to the lawyer by day, Daredevil by night and smirked widely, reaching over to give him a hard smack on the back.

“I like you, man.”

...

Your body ached, but pain was minimum. Whatever Claire had given you, it was doing it’s job and a goddamn good one at that. Eyes groggily, you heard someone walking into the room and assumed it was Matt. Turning your head, the small smile on your face dropped and tears instantly pooled in your eyes at the sight of Steve Rogers.

“Steve....”

Steve rushed to your side, taking a seat facing you on the edge of the bed. He leaned down and placed a hand on your cheek, rubbing a thumb against your bruised cheek. Your lips quivered and for a mere second, it was like nothing had ever changed. There were no ultimatums or break up or heartache. The moment his hand touched your hot skin, it was like before. Before Matthew, before Sharon, even before Coulson.

His blue eyes softened and he moved down to press a kiss onto your forehead. Closing your eyes, you caught yourself wondering what it would be like to kiss him again. Would the dead love blossom once more or would it be stale and unflavored?

“Hey, you’re okay,” he said softly, moving back up to a sitting position. He reached down for your hand and held it in his. “I thought we lost you.”

“I’m so sorry,” you confessed shamefully, but Steve just squeezed your hand.

“Come on, it’s in the job description.”

“I shouldn’t have gone out tonight, I was being selfish. That’s all I’ve ever been.”

Steve pulled his hand from yours and stood up, running a hand over his face. “You - you are the least selfish person I know. You wanna talk selfish, Y/N? Do you? It’’s my middle name.”

You opened your mouth to speak, but Steve shook his head. “I did this to you, I pushed you away, because I was scared to lose you. I gave up my family, our family, because I couldn’t deal with you going out there. I was afraid I’d have to bring you back in a body bag to our son.”

The mention of Coulson had you bursting into a curdling sob and Steve again, rushed to your side. He scooted your body over gently to get room next to you then pulled you into his side, resting a hand on your back. You cried deeply into his shirt and he held you until you were done, until the mixture of exhaustion and pain meds had you passing out.

A few minutes later, as you whimpered softly in sleep, Natasha and Bucky walked in alone, neither of them sure of the scene laid out in front of them. Natasha left Bucky at the foot of the bed so she could move to your side, a pained look graced her stern face and a single tear fell down your cheek. Quickly, she looked out the window and said Coulson was outside the room with Matt.

“Good, she’s all drugged up and tired. It’s better if he waits to see her when she’s more herself.”

“Steve,” Bucky cleared his throat and gripped the bed railing. “What the hell are you are doing?”

The tension in Buck’s voice had Natasha turning to him and she eyed Steve. “Whats’ going on with you and Y/N, Steve?”

“Nothing,” he answered quickly, shifting you slowly off his body. “She’s the mother of my child, and before that she was my friend.”

“And lover,” Nat pointed out, raising an eyebrow at her teammate. “Listen, I have to tell you this can’t be good for either of you.”

Steve’s jaw tightened and he questioned why. “We were going to be a family, we were a family and maybe there’s another chance for that.”

“Sure,” Natasha spatted back. “So you can leave her again?”

“Romanoff,” Steve warned, looking down to make sure the conversation wasn’t disturbing you from sleep. He got up from the hospital bed and pulled the white sheet up to your shoulders, before moving away from the bed and taking a place next to Buck.. “We have things to work out, things that we left unsaid when we broke up. We can fix it, it’s possible.”

“You broke her heart,” Nat rebutted, a little fury edged her words. “You left her and started seeing Sharon. Rogers, you didn’t see what happened to her. You weren’t there picking up the damn pieces, you weren’t there on the drunken nights and long cries. I was, Bucky was. You were busy moving on and-”

“Guys,” Bucky begged as you started to stir in the bed. “This isn’t the time or place.”

The two fell silent, both sending Bucky apologetic glances, who sighed deeply and looked over to you.

“Listens guys,” he said sternly. “I get there’s a lot of shit we all need to deal with eventually, but our friend, our teammate is down. She’s badly hurt and yeah, she’s gonna make it, thank God. We need to be good when she wakes up and uplift her. She doesn’t need any of this shit drama, none of it. You got it?”

Natasha’s eyes moved to Steve and the two apologized to each other, both bursting into small smiles.

“Good grief, babe,” Nat whispered not so quietly to Buck. “I do love when you take charge.”

“Okay, that’s enough,” Steve groaned and the three chuckled, releasing any tension out of the room.

“We should let her rest,” Bucky nodded to the bed.

“You’re right,” Steve sighed, looking over his shoulder to you. “I’m going to go call Tony, have him send over transportation to take her to the Tower. I’m sure this is a nice hospital..”

“Our’s is better,” Natasha said point blank and the men agreed. “I’ll call Tony, you two go get us some coffee.”

The trio shuffled out of the room and when the door closed quietly, you opened your eyes.

AMR tags: @latenightbooknerd @samantha-maria02 @andillwriteyouatragedy@wellfuckbuck@cutekittybast@bitchasaurus@superwholockgeekgirl4life@buckywiththegoodheart@angelicaxmichelle@cutekittybast@maxinemauricio@dryerpet@ashann7@mizzzpink@mixedfandxms @chin-up-love@redroomproperty @lust-for-pan @missmeganrachel @girlygirlbishop@yourxaveragexslythergit @bands-and-shietz @addictionmarvel @lilacs-lavender @koizorahana

Forever tags:

@my-amazing-nerdyness @naih-reedus @maciiiofficial @casownsmyass @jade-taillia @fangirlextraordinaire @indominusregina @feelmyroarrrr @my-rainbow-wonderland @myhopeisinfinite @girl-next-door-writes @dontbeamenacetotheforce @melonberri @superisatomboyuniverse @xloudwhocares @crownie-sr @dracsgirl @moonlight53 @makemyownwonderland @dreamwhisper87 @trekken81 @barely-emily @winterboobaer @purelittleblueberry @goodnightwife @mishaissocoollike @stormyfandoms @foreverybodythatunderstands23 @gallifreyansass @flirtswithdanger @yana-tardis-drwho @myplaceofthingsilove @jchona @alyssaj23 @blackhoneybucky @urbanspacedecay @castieltrash1 @hannahsakorax3 @imagine-all-the-imagines @motleymoose @distinguishedqueenofbooks @kitkatgaming @fizzylollipop12 @iamwarrenspeace @darkmystress00 @lunarwolfrose @kapolisradomthoughts @sisinia13 @swiggityswagness @takemetoneverland91 @to-pick-ourselves-up-7 @sarah-mos @rubynationwins @padfootorionblack @kaywolves @wonderlace19 @yourxaveragexslythergit @purelittleblueberry @courtneychicken @rayleyanns @whatmakesmebeme-tblr @thewinterwitch @avengersgirllorianna @holywinchesterness @tatortot2701 @brewsthespirit-blog @seabasschino @barnesvogue @lame-lozer @ex-bookjunky @travelwithwords @corolux @supernaturaldean67 @thehuntchback @shoytai @besamiculo-puto @ign-is @zuni21798 @multipleuniversesinwriting @pleasantdreamqueen @damalseer@10kindsofderp @hennessy0274-blog @jodoethr @s-t-r-i-k-e-us @seeing-but-not-observing @happyskywhale

#A Million Reasons series #steve rogers x reader #steve rogers #matt murdock #matt murdock x reader #captain america #daredevil #captain america x reader #daredevil x reader #bucky barnes #natasha romanoff #marvel

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survivor-tierradelfuego · 4 years

Text

Ep. 2: “My secret alliance is over before it even started” - Tyler

James Hayden

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f9uh2olp1Q&feature=youtu.be

Amy A.

Definitely more people coming up to talk to me and that makes me excited. Have had about 4 or 5 people tell me they wanna work with me and that’s amazing. Formed an alliance w Ryan and (totally forgot his name) called outsiders which is basically all of us not from USA. Hope they’re true allies. Excited for what’s going to happen next.

Najwah

Tribal council was insane and intense. I understand why it's so easy for people to slip up when asked questions. My heart was racing to the point of me feeling nauseas haha. I can't believe we blindsided Neil. He took it well though. Aimee is feeling a little left out and I think she's taking it personally. I really like her though and would love to work with her too. I think it's about time we start a strong girls alliance. I may get Amy in on it too. And Sarah. We'll see. I can't guage where exactly I stand with people yet but people can lie lmao and I made more of those who lied very easily. Like James and Sarah. Watching them.

Leanne

Mixed feelings on tribal. At least we are all still here, and at least I was on the right side of the boat. I didn’t have any bond with Neil so I didn’t care about seeing him voted out. But now I’m rethinking my relationship with Zach. What he decided to do today was dumb. Big moves just for the sake of big moves usually are. He kept repeating, the easy vote isn’t always the right vote, but sometimes it is, and I didn’t see a point in doing that, especially if it’s only for the sake of playing hard. You don’t play to go hard, you play to win! Of course I didn’t say that for three reasons. First, I didn’t care at all about Neil; he was perfectly expendable. Second, I still regard Zach as a close ally, at least for now. Third, once again no one will dare to be the dissenting voice. Right before Zach dropped that bomb shell, at least on me anyway, we were talking about how we trusted each other and wanted to go the distance together. He asked me who I was closest to, and I said him and Najwah. with Ben as a distant third, then floated the idea of starting a power trio with him and Ben. That’s when he told me Neil was the target. I asked whose idea it was, and he didn’t give me a name, he gave me reasons. I’m not sure if it was his move or not.

The other likely suspect is Cody, especially because when Zach brought the big group together, most were clueless... what’s going on here? Then Cody said, how about we summarize the events of the last hour? Well, I’d known about it for maybe a few minutes prior, but certainly not an hour. Cody at least knew about it before I did. I’m almost positive the idea was at least one of their’s. right as it was all going down, when it was up in the air and I didn’t know which way it was going to go, Aimee messaged me and asked me for a name, and I told her Amy because at that point Zach made me promise to keep it confidential. I later found out that Zach wanted to bring her in but she had told him she was close to Neill. Oh, so *that’s* why you asked me who I was closest to. I’m wondering exactly who else he spoke to before he made the big group chat, and to what degree. He’s unpredictable, and I don’t like it. And in case I haven’t mentioned it, I very much don’t like making moves for the hell of it, with no good reason beyond that. But back to Aimee.

I don’t know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing that she got left out of the vote. I was on the verge of messaging her privately and saying, I have new information but you have to promise it stays between us: I just found out the target is Neil, but vote Amy anyway in case he plays an idol. If I were her right now I’d be pissed and confused, and I wanted her to think I was on her side, and build a relationship, especially if she thinks everyone else is against her. But I didn’t trust her enough not to rat me out. Besides, the reason she was left out in the first place was because she was close to Neill. How close I don’t know, and I don’t know if she would have fought to protect him. So I am happy to have been included and on the right side of the numbers. It shows I’m not on the bottom tier, which seems to be Aimee, The outsider, and Amy, Who wasn’t around. And I knew she’d vote for me, I knew it, I knew it, because if I were her and didn’t have any information at all, that’s exactly what I’d do. Doesn’t mean I liked it but fair is fair.

The group consensus is that we can vote Amy as an easy vote next time. I just hope *someone* doesn’t flip again without a good reason. Amy TI am shocked, but also not shocked. I knew I was taking a HUGE risk not jumping on the initial video chat, but I slid through this vote. I had a feeling an alliance formed there. I almost reached out to a few I thought would be in that alliance before this vote, but didn't want to look like I was scrambling. I am thankful to make it through to the next round, and after today I no longer have company and will be semi settled into my new apartment, so I am really going to try to be more active in video calls so that I can bond better with my tribe.

I fear I am the next vote otherwise. I am also going to bring this up, and I don't know if I should, but I will say it anyway. I am actually quite disappointed in the vote, but it falls in line with the pattern of all survivor votes: first vote is most always a person of color or an elderly individual, and we have no one old. Sure, it's a coincidence, and I didn't really know Neil, but it's not a great pattern to uphold. But as others quoted Sandra, a will do the same: anyone but me. Now I am playing from the bottom, which is nerve-wracking.

Pedro A

i feel like i will sit out ..cause i dont feel good about this challenge

Pedro A

Also we came from Winning and if i screw it up...it will be all blamed on me...so its better if i just keep my name out of this one

John B

Watching the other tribe's tribal council has me stressed because it seems like Neil went because he was a threat. That does not sit well with me because I already have Ryan telling people I have the "winner vibes" I need to simultaneously kick it into high gear and keep a low profile if that's going to be the tone for the game. hopefully we can kill this challenge, this feels like something that is going to be up my Alley because I love Survivor Trivia. Hopefully this goes well because I do not want to get voted out!

Zack M

ok. setting a scene. let's pretend this is big brother. wrong show but play along with me. hey neil. if you seeing this, it's nothing personal. you were out of the chat all day yesterday and then had everyone eating out of your hand within 10 minutes of being back. you were ready to play but not as hard as me. i started with cody, worked it up through ben, added sarah into the mix, and then sprinkled the rest in. the recipe for your ending. sorry about it! hope to stay friends outside of the house.

wait .... but srsly ... i did that. I CAUSED A BLINDSIDE. what?! i'm shook. i can't believe these people are listening to me. so wild. honestly knowing 4 people drafted me really put the fire in me. i always draft and i hate when i lose. this is me winning for me and you. feel free to venmo me to show your support.

in all honesty. it was strictly a game move. neil was a threat. we all saw it. that's it. i know i could possibly have a huge target on my back but i feel like i'm playing a strong social game. i hope the people in my final 4 trust me (sarah, ben, and cody) because i'm ride or die for them. i asked to make sure getting neil out wouldn't hurt their game. look at me being thoughtful. hopefully they notice it and hopefully the rest believe all the lies i tell him. because truly, it was so last minute. *evil smile*

Zack M

am i confessing too much? i don't know BUT challenge 2 is survivor knowledge and i have none. -oop. i'm a fake fan. i live tweet and forget. hoping my team pulls this one out because i'm going to MCDs for some chicken nuggets and then continuing with my social game.

also, amy thanked me for keeping her but she didn't thank any of the other people in my alliance. does amy know more than we think? also, your'e welcome amy.

Pedro A

I feel this challenge will be a MESS...we will for sure lose, ...Tyler is not even seeing any of the messages...and some people are seeing the messages and not choosing A PAIR....i kinda feel like we will lose...the other tribe will bring they're A game....i just hope at this point...THAT A MIRACLE WILL HAPPEN

Tyler H

Ok I’m very upset my secret alliance is over before it even started! But I don’t think I’m in a bad spot right now, I think I’m growing an army slowly and all I can do is hope we don’t lose the next challenge and I can gain momentum

James Hayden

https://youtu.be/hvUgCa6joQc

Aimee

NEIL! BUDDY! I’m soooo sorry!!!! I had no idea the majority was going to blindside you like that! It was just horrible to watch. I’m gonna play my heart out for you! You deserved a chance to play this game! I hope you make it on the real Survivor! I don’t understand what made these people so threatened by you, I did not see anything of the sort. You were voted out I guess because you were pleasant????? Well...We’ll have to play Dead by Daylight on PlayStation once this is over for me. Take care of yourself and I’m sure we’ll talk again real soon.

As far of my read on the game....I am not clueless. The second the votes were read I knew Amy voted for Leanne, Neil and I were set up to vote for Amy and everyone else voted for Neil. I messaged people who bold-faced lied to me about the vote and they all confirmed my suspicions without me having to say anything about it. Hahahahahha. Do these kids really think I am that simple? I might’ve been recruited but this is absolutely not my first rodeo.

Oh, and for the record... and this is obvious: Leanne Zack and Sarah are all working together. You heard it here first. Guys, your messages to me are extremely telling. I guess I truly am Michelle playing this game now...how fitting. But get ready for your girl to pull all the stops from the underdog position. It’s where I honestly will thrive.

Already hopped right onto Amy before anyone got a chance to set me up and say “oh well Aimee wanted to vote for you”. Yeah that wasn’t even true, everyone adamantly told me to do that and it was the majority. They set her up too. Also checked back with my girl Najwah (think we are in it to win it), Cody, as well as James and Ben. (Hoping these guys are being genuine with me too) Think that is my best bet moving forward. All 4 of these people claimed they were told last minute...which I believe. NOBODY bothered to tell Amy anything. It is absolutely bizarre to me that they thought me and Neil were so close that they couldn’t tell me about that vote? All night and day no one said anything about the vote and I had the hunch that Zack probably had the most social capital out of anyone so I reached out to him first. He is honestly the biggest threat but it’s no kidding that he and Leanne chose Neil to be the target. Leanne absolutely shit the bed with the typing challenge! Okay? I tripled her score and I was not going that fast. Let me just talk about that again real quick....600 numbers in an hour?! Did that math.... that’s one number typed every five seconds. Did she like, stop typing and go grab a snack or text her friends on her phone or something? How is that possible?! Make it make sense.

To be honest, for everyone not bothering messaging me after the vote to smooth things over and try preserve my relationship with them proves how sloppy they are being with this vote. AGAIN I had to be the one to reach out to almost everyone, just like yesterday. They think they are playing next level 4D chess but they are severely underestimating me. Could’ve been an easy vote but I guess people to want to make “big movez” even when it is detrimental for us as a tribe. I could cause a lot of damage and I have the knowledge; know that! If I made the jury, would I give them a vote for that kind of gameplay? Nope. I am keeping all this information in and playing it very chill and “yes girl” but I will absolutely strike when I need to. I have an ability to make people feel comfortable and trust me and maybe even feel guilt about how they treated me. I will ride that wave as far as I can until I can set up shop for the next vote.

Zack M

here to nervous rant .. i thought got a strike because i sent a screenshot of my call log to a group i accidentally cheek called when a friend's phone disconnected. lol what?! trust me .. i know. TODAY HAS BEEN A DAY FOR ME.

look the truth is .. i would do it again! i know there is a target on my back after switching the votes and getting neil out. i don't need anything extra working against me at the moment. breaking rules, lying, .... am i the bad boy of the season? because like i'm not cool enough for that title.

Zack M

ok. i'm seriously over this challenge. who even knew survivor wiki was a thing? why would you remember / want to remember this stuff? i'm reading some of the things that the tribe is adding and thinking to myself, "did i even watch survivor?"

the only thing i can remember is wendy freeing the chickens, kim not winning winners at war, and chris underwood's penis bulge. that's his last name, right? like i could literally draw it for you. why can't that be a challenge?

anyways, tomorrow should be fun. i'll have to pretend that i'm contributing if jay doesn't accept my idea to play the word game with their names. fingers crossed we win. however, i'm not too hopeful. i have a feeling the other team has some good players. is it bad i'm ready for the merge this early? also, if we don't lose ... what do i do with all that free time? how am i supposed to bond more? all i care about is making sure that ben, sarah, and cody stay loyal to me. i know i should want to merge with numbers but i think it's clear i like a challenge. i want a resume and a cover letter when i get to the end.

Ryan

I've put so much effort into this challenge. Kinda desperately hoping that my tribe sees that and realise I'm valuable. Or more valuable then some at least

John B

Lol remember when I said I might throw Maddison under the bus? Well strike that because we are for sure working together now. We may be behind in the challenge but honestly I’m not worried because it’s super close so far and half the tribe hasn’t done anything yet so I think we will be fine. If we don’t end up pulling out the win my target will still probably be Ryan. I could see people going for Tyler or honestly even Amy (just because she’s not on very often) but if I have a say I definitely want Ryan out. I do not trust him at all. Hopefully it won’t come to that but at least I have a plan.

Alan B

I think this game is gonna be pretty hard to manage alongside work especially while covid has got my mental health just blasted, i might end up dropping out before my time, but for now i think i'll hold on for at least a little while longer

Zack M

omg we still have two hours left of this competition. i've done all i'm willing to do to pretend like was helping out. finger crossed the host doesn't share how many facts each person contributed. i would have like 3. lol.

real note, i thought this game was one night like sequester. i didn't know what i was signing up for. i feel duped. but i needed a second to step away. i started out playing so hard. i need switch up my strategy. this is a sprint, not a marathon. i don't need to run the tribe. i just need to be in all the conversations. haha.

i have a feeling we will be losing tonight so i'm just chilling. ready to see what everyone says. again, i feel like i have a huge target on my back.

i'm like kat on big brother last season, "are you bitches conspiring against me?"

the only people i haven't talked to one on one is james and najwah. james is in my 5. i'll have a conversation with him tonight or i'll have a conversation in the group of 5. one or the other. i feel like i should talk to najwah as well but i like is that obvious. maybe i'll start it right when the challenge is done, before we know if we won or lost. that's a little more chill, right? ugh.

amy would be the easiest vote but i feel like she would be on my side. najwah is the only person i would care to vote out but i feel like cody and leanne are close to her.

oh, not sure if i shared this but leanne wanted to start a trio with ben and i. that's cool. i like leanne so i'd like to keep her as long as possible.

this confession is starting to get lazy so i'm going to go back to watching real housewives of potomac. i'll check in win or lose .... because we have to. :)

Alan B

I'm trying to be a team player so that we don't have to vote anyone out for as long as possible, but i feel like this is a bad strategy long term - especially once the merge happens then it'll be gone and i'll be a threat

Zack M

told you we were going to lose. that's it. that's the confessional.

Olivia A

I’m super proud of us for winning the second challenge! I feel really good about my contribution and our team work. I think the excitement from continuing to win will keep motivating us and hopefully lead to a significant streak.

Pedro A

im so happy that we won...even tho some people that dont understand the concept of team work

Maddison

This challenge really showed who is pulling their weight. Even though the doc was anonymous, the chat activity and general conversation led me to believe there are a couple of slackers that should be first to go when the time comes. I hope my tribemates don’t grow complacent after these two wins. The other tribe will be out for blood.

Amy A

So far I’ve spoken privately with everyone except Tyler and some two others. So I’m guessing my social game isn’t shabby. Also, we WON again. Such a delight because I don’t want to do tribal council this early in the game. Idol hunting was a bust today too but hoping for the best. Madison and I seem to be getting closer by the day. She checks in with me most of the time and hypes me up for challenges. Definitely want to be aligned with her.

John B

Winning feels AMAZING, especially since half of the tribe hadn't started until half the time was gone. Our tribe feels really strong right now. That being said, I definitely noticed some people not participating as much as everyone else, Tyler disappeared and didn't contribute for most of the challenge. I think it is safe to say he will probably be first out from our tribe at this point if we lose, but who knows anything can happen. I'm still gunning for Ryan. Hopefully we can keep this positive momentum going. I am going to keep working on my alliance. I have all of the pieces with my relationships with Pedro, Maddison, Grae, Olivia, and kind of Alan, I just need to wait for the right time to bring the pieces together.

James Hayden

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V96zovCVssg&feature=youtu.be

James Hayden

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RVOZFYZc24

Sarah

SORRY FOR THIS BRICK. Wow. There is too much to talk about after tonight. Lost another challenge in which everyone kicked ASS. This vote at tribal council is definitely not based on a lack of effort on anyone’s part.

Right now, we have our majority of five (Cody, Zack, Ben, James, and I) so we can decide who goes home. We are leaning toward Amy (with a Y) because she’s not as available and we really need people on the tribe to be all in. We have made a large group with everyone but Amy saying it’s Amy so everyone feels included and we aren’t exposing our majority alliance. Of course we are worried that Aimee may be talking to Amy and expose all of us. Or that Amy has an idol so maybe a 7-1-1 vote would be safer. Amy is really just trying to get in a group and is reaching out to everyone to the point where she is copy and pasting her messages that she’s sending us. 😂 Leanne told Amy that people are saying Aimee so if we need to tell Amy that as well we can. I am a little worried about Leanne if she is telling lies that easily. I have really enjoyed getting to know my alliance well these past few days. HOW HAS IT ONLY BEEN FOUR DAYS. Zack is always bringing the comic relief and Ben and James are so loyal and genuine. Cody is my RIDE or DIE. I am hoping that people don’t catch on to how close we are but we do have so much trust in each other and just are always on the same page. Having a ride or die has always been my Survivor strategy. Cody and I are praying to those Survivor gods that we can stay on the same tribe come tribal swap time. Amy T

Right after challenge results 7/13. https://youtu.be/dC7ORD2w4BQ

Amy T

update 10pm pst 7/13. Well I have reached out to everyone and I am so confused. Right after the challenge Leanne threw out Aimee's name saying everyone is saying that. Which was odd because it was so soon. I quickly learned there is a large group chat which I'm not in, so it is possible. But I asked around and people either didn't say a name or know what they were doing, or they said they heard Aimee from Leanne. So here's where I stand either they are all saying the same thing to me and it's actually me going home. or Leanne is trying to run the show and she is making up who to vote for on a whim and then saying everyone is saying this. I tend to think that it's actually too early for them to have a large group. And I honestly think Leanne is misinforming people on purpose. I'm fine with whoever as long as it's not for me but it rubs me the wrong way to think somebody you know next to vote can just say my name or someone I'm working with name on a whim and just tell everyone that you know everyone is saying this and everyone goes with it. Because it seems like the last vote she also fed information to people. So as it stands now I am leaning towards Leanne but I haven't made a move on that because I'm scared I'm coming off as playing too hard and I know that's what got me all voted out. In the end it doesn't make a difference if they do have a large chat because they already know and I'm already gone but if that's not the case I Maybe the only one sticking their neck out. And maybe it's stupid me because it's not even my name on the shopping block that I know of. Well we'll see if I make it through this but if I do and if I can gather votes, There is a possibility to get numbers. I think I have Ben on my side Aimee on my side I think Zack is on my side unless he is close with Leanne and it seems like Cody might want to work with me. That everyone's lying to me and I'm going home so haha.

Leanne

Feeling a bit frustrated and discouraged at the moment; two losses will do that to you. Trying to organize my thoughts into something resembling order. I was relieved and optimistic when I saw what the challenge was going to be. We had a fighting chance. It was close and it was intense. These last few days on the whole have been intense, and I don’t think I realized that would be the case. There’s definitely a question of just how much I’m going to be willing to give to this. How many more times am I willing to stay up way too late because somebody wants to get on a call? How much more am I going to make myself available at damn near any hour to drop everything and jump on Skype every time it goes off? If you absent yourself from any of it you’re a target, and that’s what’s going on with Amy right now. I’ve been talking to a few people, most notably Zach and Ben, and the consensus seems to be Amy. I would be fine with this, but their reasoning alarmed me somewhat. They said Aimee had been going around talking to people, trying to figure out why she was left out of the vote. Well, she hasn’t been talking to me. Amy, on the other hand, has. We’ve had a few good conversations yesterday and the night before, and it doesn’t look like she’s talked to anyone else. So it would be a lot more beneficial for me to have her around, who is presumably talking to me over and above others, then to have Aimee, who is talking to others and not me. But I don’t think I’ll try to change things for a number of reasons, not least of which because I have no idea how to justify my position. Also I’m not sure how strong our little power trio is or isn’t, and I don’t want a repeat of last time, a shakeup just for the sake of a shakeup. Let’s not set the precedent that that’s a thing that will just happen. The tribe seems so unified against Amy. Cody put us all into a group without her and we all agreed summarily to get rid of her. She might have made a good ally but I think I may just have to sacrifice her; she probably isn’t worth fighting to protect. I reached out to Aimee... Best start trying to build that up. We got in a few superficial commiserations about losing but nothing more than that. I don’t feel good about her.

In other news, I’ve been trying to solicit info on the idol hunt, with little success. Najwah and I have taken similar paths. I asked her about it, and she got back to me, but she did so just as my turn was happening. I really wish I had more Intel on what’s on the mountain. Zach says he’s found nothing, and I hesitate to go there in case there’s something bad. I thought that earlier on but doubly so now that I know we have a disadvantage in the next challenge, dammit!!!!! I’m going to ask Najwah if hers was in the perfume, so I know what not to do. I’ve been considering trying to pole coins with her and go in together on the jewelry box or something. Haven’t decided yet. I may go up the mountain after all. First I want to ask a few of my tribemates where this disadvantage was. It tells us as a team not to go there, and if it’s a binary option, go left or right down the road for instants, and left leads to something bad... Well anyway I haven’t decided what to do yet.

Pedro A

Okay, so today I wanna talk to Kalle, Maddison, and Tyler...I didn't have the chance to talk to them yet...so I wanna see where they're head is at the moment.

Also, I feel like I can trust Alan... I gave them my coins...and now they have an idol...... I feel like they can trust me now....and also....i feel like we can use the idol to our advantage...since no one else knows were in an alliance..except for John.

John is my nº1 person in this game....which could later in the game kick my butt....I'm afraid he might be more respected than me down the line... I guess only time will tell...now I gotta go the bathroom byeeeee

James Hayden

Morning of day 5 and I'm nervous/paranoid AF! I talked to Ben last night for twenty minutes about short term and long term strategy. We both agreed that voting out Amy is everyone's best move and will cause the least amount of waves. I went to bed feeling good about my position in the game. This morning I woke up to a message from Sarah suggesting we do a 7-1-1 in case Amy has an idol. I responded saying I don't think she has an idol, but if she does should we do a 6-2-1, so we can decide who goes and avoid a revote? That was around 8:00am CST and she hasn't responded. I know she read it which is freaking me out. Did she just throw that out there to see my response and to throw me off he scent of my blindside???? I'm nervous that some shady shit's happening.

I also sent a good morning message to the vote out Amy group chat around 8:45 and no one responded!!! We are active chatters and the fact that no one responded worries me. I hope I'm just overthinking this, which is on brand for me, and nothing bad will happen tonight. But I don't know. If it's me, I wouldn't be surprised. I hate that I'm thinking about this on day 5. I'm not even close to finishing this game.

Note: Cody and Ben just responded in our group chat as I typed this. we may be good then???

Note: I lost power this morning, so I'm at my parents house who have power and AC. No AC in the summer in New Orleans is no good. I would've recorded this, but they're sleeping and I didn't want to disturb them.

Cody A

https://youtu.be/gSbNCp7UBLY

Leanne

So, idol hunt news. Go figure, I was so freaked out about finding a disadvantage that I didn’t want to do anything at all, and of course I went and got one. A certain Alanis Morissette verse about being afraid to fly comes to mind. I am now debating whether I should quietly tell a few people, so that people know what not to do. We are in serious need of a win here, and this next round isn’t looking good. I told Zach, in a, don’t make the same mistake, kind of way. Even though I don’t feel quite as fantastic about him as I did before the last tribal, I still do consider him an ally, at least for now. So for now I will give him good info about things, if only because I want good info from him in return. This next tribal should make things more clear. We were talking about Amy this morning. He said she’s scrambling and wanting to know where the vote is going, and pointing out how there’s a whole chat going on with everyone except her. So I said, in a way I hoped would get the message across, well at least we know that this is going to be easy and no crazy stuff and no drama. He affirmed that, and brought up several times the easy vote thing. So at least it looks like he doesn’t want to rock the boat. If something crazy happens between now and then he’ll be marked in my mental file folder as unpredictable and suspicious. If not then I will move forward trusting him.

John B

Alrighty, so many developments since the challenge ended. SO! Pedro and I have been talking about the possibility of a tribe swap/expansion which has us both STRESSED. I also found out that Alan has the immunity idol because Pedro donated some coins to them. This is great to know even though it is terrifying. Hopefully Alan and I are on good terms, I feel like we are but until we vote and we can see where everyone stands, who's to say. Kalle and I have been talking a lot more and I think we are definitely settling into an alliance. We are both getting bad vibes from Tyler which feels like the general consensus so far. He disappeared from the challenge yesterday which I think we all noticed. I love that we keep winning but I think if we go too long without a vote things might get messy. For now, we are perpetually in a state of the calm before the storm, at least I have Pedro.

Kalle N

While I'm glad that we won another challenge, I'm also sad bc this means we still don't really have to strategize. Thankfully people have still been reaching out to me though. The "rox the sox" alliance is still good I think even though it's been quiet and no strategy has really been discussed. I've been talking a lot to John, and we actually both started throwing out names of people we've talked to and who we don't like so far. John told me he's good with Pedro and Maddison after I said I was good with them (I said their names bc I know they've talked to almost everyone and I wanted to see if he would agree or give other names but he didn't). We also both agreed that we get bad vibes from Tyler which is reassuring bc I really want to vote him when we get the chance. He also said he trusts me 100% and wants to talk real strategy and I don't think he'd have any reason to lie to me yet so I'm also trusting him.

Zack M

oop- i drank a bottle of wine last night and forgot to confess. my b. i mean, really nothing has changed. back to the first tribal vote .... it's amy's time. some of my alliance members want aimee out but i'm really trying hard to push that out of their mind.

do i trust aimee? absolutely not. is she a bigger threat than amy? 100%. however, amy suffers from a common disease called "not being able to read the room". i know she is scared and she is scrambling but it's messy. when you are in the majority alliance and everyone is sharing that you're copying it pasting it's low key embarrassing and like that's nothing against amy! truly. she is a pleasure and like i would totally facetime her in the future and gossip with a beer. a lesson in the future if you're reading this amy, make sure to be around on night one! gotta build connections. also, copy and paste is not your friend. get creative. i always write these and then think at the end ... lol what if i go home? i'm going to look so stupid. but honestly my social game is so strong right now. hoping it pays off. if not, whatever it's a compliment. let's be real for one second. we all know i'm the biggest threat on this tribe at the moment. if i fall from the top, at least i was at the top. and it was beautiful. oh and also cody and i thought we were slick and were going to get the idol at the market today so i gave him 5 coins. it wasn't the idol. that sucks. but i would rather be the one holding it so i'm not sweating it.

Najwah

Yesterday's immunity challenge is still haunting me. I was literally working on that shit for over 12 hours and TRIED SO HARD, however it seems as though some people just didn't try at all? So many people were just tapped out and made ZERO effort. They're the same people that seem to be running things and making the big decisions? Also there is talk of someone having found the immunity idol. I approached Aimee with the idea of starting a women's alliance because honestly, I got annoyed at the guys (EXCEPT MY BOY CODY) yesterday. My alliance with Leanne seems solid. Sarah hasn't spoken to me since the first day. Today is also the first day of shark week so I feel very shit and tired. If I stay up until 3am only to be voted out I am going to be big mad. Zack reached out to me last night. I actually have a lot more in common with him. We have unanimously decided to vote Amy out but I don't really trust any of them.if it were real life survivor and I could see people's eyes and read their body language, I'd have made a move to somehow let Amy stay and get someone else out. Perhaps someone else is doing that and they're getting me out lmao. I can't believe we lost again. I hate it here.

James Hayden

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2LsbITMPpw

Ben Kessler

Dear Confessional,

Hello Jay. It's me, Ben. Every tribal council makes me nervous but I will take these people down one by one using my charm and good looks. After 2 challenge losses, I'm fairly content just losing every challenge and voting all these paranoid people out one by one. I'm cool with that. Might make it happen, who knows. The Amy's are scary because they won't say anything concrete. But I am 20 years old and therefore invincible. If I get voted out tonight I am going to look like a dumbass. Feel free to send this to the VL. I will win this game but it is a marathon, and people are playing it like a sprint.

John B

YIKES! As if he wasn’t already a Target Tyler just shot himself in the foot. He made such a rude comment about the other tribe and I am uncomfortable. I think if we lose it’s pretty set in stone who the first out is going to be at this point.

Olivia A

On my first idol hunt I went to the market and found the prices of various items. There was a jewelry box for 20 coins and I feel like there’s probably a clue or something in there. Right now I have 10 coins that I found in the boat and I’m hoping to find more so I can buy the jewelry box before anyone else does.

Aimee

You know? This confessional would’ve looked a looooot different last night after we lost again and just the sheer amount of mind games going on, and anger and frustration but you know what! I feel like I have come full circle. This won’t be the same daily bitchfest as usual. At least not at the moment. Right, so, tonight I am either being blindsided, or I finally actually have my footing in this game. The vote will test that. I am going home...or not. All I can do is rely on my social skill and connections I have with people here who actually talk. I have my roots in almost every contestant and I am hearing things that match with other people are saying...so if I leave then EVERYONE is lying and EVERYONE had to play me not just some. It’s a little doubtful but anything can happen within fifteen minutes as we seen last time. Information is everything! I feel like although I am playing from the bottom, I am not playing blind. By having the Individual connections with people like Cody, Ben, Najwah, James, and Zack, I can compare and tell if what people are saying is true or not. Amy is another huge piece of the puzzle people overlook. I really wish Amy wasn’t on the outs and I really like her but everyone on this tribe formed a group chat without her in it and said it’s her. Interesting thing is, they have no idea how much I have talked to Amy and the tea she is spilling about what they’re saying too.

I learned that Leanne told her that they all had a group chat episode one as well that didn’t include her me or Neil fifteen minutes before the vote. Amy told me she is going around asking people who the vote is which Leanne apparently told her it was me. I think it’s a ploy so she votes me but the vote hopefully really is not. Knowing she is talking to people, I can cross check with the people who I am closest to in the game besides Amy. Which they confirm she is running around talking to everyone making people paranoid. The people I am closest to don’t want another fifteen minute thing again and are saying no one is talking to them and it makes them nervous and at least I am taking. Like........?????? That has been exactly the case. No one really seems to ever be talking?!?!?!?!? They say they trust me because Im not quiet and I don’t just spit names out at them last second. And guess what? That matches up because it’s how some people talk to me too. I caught people who never talk to me just coming up to me like episode one being like Sarah asking “are you okay with the vote?” I’m like....uhhhh what vote? The one that I talked only with Zack about? Oh! So he told you? Great now I know you’re together hahahahaha.

Leanne is another one who doesn’t really talk to me at all but always seems to be leading the vote after someone. Other people confirm this with me too. Oh and don’t forget people using the SAME VOCAB WORDS I USED to one person and repeat them to me minutes later. Pretty obvious. I think by just playing a half way decent normal social game I can start really getting a foothold here if I can just make it through this vote. But apparently that is what made Neil such a threat last time. I have to adapt constantly, whether it is talk more or don’t talk too much. It’s really hard to play when no one says much to each other but that’s the mold I have to break through.

Grae G

Hewwooo uh so busted my ass on that challenge that shit was ROUGH but you know you gotta do what you gotta do. I’m officially aligned with: Olivia kalle Maddison (as an alliance), individuals: John, & Alan. I’m talking to Pedro and Amy but we aren’t aligned. I feel like I have pretty good movability W all the talking but I definitely get the sense that everyone is talking to one another far more than I am, but I just don’t have the time to do more :(( Tyler seems like the consensus first vote out if that has to happen but from there not sure what’s next for everybody. Honestly if we can keep winning cool because I’m nervous about my place in the tribe so if we don’t have to go to tribal alright be me. If I felt more confident w the ally’s if had I’d say differently... but ya! Feeling like ok at least bc I know people want to talk to me and are starting lots of convos with me so I know my approachability is going well.

Zack M

tribal is coming up. the worst thing would be if amy and aimee are playing together. one of them has an idol that they play for amy and write down someone else.

i feel like that's a long shot though. if it does happen ... dear god, please don't let it be me. i wonder what i would do if i were amy. i feel like i would have been more vocal to more people at once. not just hit up people individually. i would have felt around to see who i think are in groups and message them. i really hope people are as obvious when they are voting me out as they have been with her because i have no problems addressing the entire tribe with gossip i may be hearing. can you imagine? first tribal, blindside. second tribal, fight? amy kept asking who "everyone" is ...... it would have been iconic if she messaged the entire group "leanne said everyone." i would have screamed. but that is my game, not hers. this is more fun then i thought it would be but i'm also so tired of it. thank you for helping me realize i don't actually want to be on the show. i also just found out the the VL people don't read this immediately and i'm bummed. but like i'm still going to act like they can. ugh, i love you guys. hopefully i'm still around tonight. xoxo.

Amy T

DAMN IT I SAW IT COMING like right after last tribal then I tried to play my way out and they convinced me it was Aimee. https://youtu.be/gHm3J6X9fvE < this was minutes before tribal. I was walking home earlier and almost made one simply "It's me." haha It's so funny because I kept almost saying "well it's either everyone is for Aimee or it's me" then there were just so many hints that it was me, but I was hoping to sneak my way in to the main active people and those willing to talk, who I think they are running the game. so I can't tell if zack is with leanne or what but I have a feeling ben and cody have a hand in running things based on how they jumped right at working with me and the timing of their responses lol. I am KICKING myself for not making a girls alliance. I hope they do it. But let's be real scores haven't been great against the other team. The youths are killing it haha! also everyone was nice, so as much as I want to be like EFF YOU, I did enjoy getting to know them even though they were openly lying to me hahahaha whoops damn it. I hope to play again when I can dive in day one instead of immediately being on the outs.

Amy T

Final after vote out thoughts : https://youtu.be/1hzWKy5aCVE

#episodes

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