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#otp: the best friend i ever had
youngpettyqueen · 8 months
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Ah, shit—I just read the thing and realized they’re supposed to be roulette prompts. Sorry about that.
🎲 Hunnihawk?
—No GFA Anon
doing this as my cooldown for tonight, you rolled... 38! a kiss while one party is carried. well if that doesnt just appeal to all my writing interests hehe
BJ nudges his way into the Swamp without much issue, finding a delicate balance of propping the door open with his foot while he twists himself in through the too-small doorframe. All the while he has to be careful to to jostle a sound-asleep Hawkeye, who he has gathered up carefully in his arms, nestled securely against his chest. He's done this song and dance enough times to know how to get in without disturbing him, though, so he manages to enter their tent without any incident.
He picks his way carefully around to Hawkeye's cot, mindful of where he puts his feet. Hawkeye's a light sleeper, he wakes up to almost any little noise, always ready to spring right into action if he needs to. He doesn't want to wake him by slipping on discarded laundry, or stepping on something that'll make any noise.
Then again, he's sleeping pretty heavily right now. He was exhausted enough to pass out in a post-OP bed, and he hadn't really woken up when BJ tried to rouse him. Hence why BJ's carrying him to bed, like the goddamn princess he is.
It's this thought that gives BJ pause for a moment. He shoots a look at Charles' cot, still and dark, their other tentmate not so much as stirring. Then he looks back at Hawkeye, and allows himself the liberty of ducking to press a kiss to the crown of his head. A private little thing to make him smile, before he sets about getting Hawkeye into bed.
Down he goes, out of BJ's arms and into his cot. Then BJ gets his boots off of him, working with practiced ease and delicacy, followed by taking up his blanket and pulling it over him. Quick, easy, routine. He smooths the blanket over Hawkeye with a fond smile, enjoying the sight of him so peaceful.
"Night, Hawk." He bids quietly, barely whispering.
"Night, Beej." Comes Hawkeye's whispered reply.
BJ pauses. Registers that. Hawkeye's voice isn't sleepy- he knows Hawkeye's voice, he knows his tones and moods, and that was not a groggy, just-woke-up tone. And suddenly, Hawkeye apparently not waking up when he tried to get him up earlier makes a whole lot more sense.
The bastard's been awake this entire time.
BJ plants his hand on Hawkeye's shoulder and gives him a shove. "You fucking devil." He hisses, while Hawkeye just snickers and tries ineffectively to roll away from him.
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stephstars08 · 5 months
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They will forever be my OTP🤍
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evilminji · 7 months
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Okay, as I have mentioned, I'm Ace AF. And you know that plot line in kids cartoons where the alien or foreign Warrior Royalty just sort of *violently kicks down door in full armor* "We Will Marry."? I?? Always said:
"Sure!" (#OhThankFUCK!)
Like what do you mean "No"? The powerful, attractive, monarch that is very into you has travel a great distance JUST to marry you! Now you don't have to date! They seem nice! You can skip the whole "trying to find a life partner" awkwardness.
So, Sudden New Fiancee(tm) how we doing this? Blended customs? Two weddings? One in your peoples traditions, one in mine? Should we invite your family? Tell me more about yourself.
God, this solves just... SO MUCH for me? No having to make small talk. No "do they like me?" Or "am I reading the signs here right?" No failed dates! It's positively ideal! AND they announced why they were qualified, in a VERY impressive show of power and prestige, when they arrived! Good lineage AND accomplished!! Very nice.
Don't get why everyone's so upset.
Sure the "we leave at once" thing that usually follows would have to be discussed, but that's what you DO as spouses. Really guys, it's like you think I'm incapable of common sense here.
And you know who probably agrees with me? Damian Wayne.
Hell is other people, INDEED. You expect him to just... randomly go up to people and try Courting them? What do you MEAN it's "creepy" to compile portfolios on eligible individuals of worthy bloodlines? How ELSE is he supposed to know if they are worth attempting to talk too?!
There are BILLIONS of humans on this gods forsaken rock, Richard! Is he supposed to just GUESS? Gamble and hope for LUCK? This is a MARRIAGE not a "best friends club"!
Then? Danny showes up.
Gotham heard her baby talking. Heard her KING being harassed by clearly plotting Observants and power hungry ghosts MANY times his age. Connected some dots. Formed themselves a new OTP.
Danny says "Fuck It". Worst he can say is No. According to Gotham, he is neither Shy not the meek obedient sort. Is in fact, VERY stabby. So if he's not interested he'll no doubt be BRUTALLY clear about that.
So? Danny gets Fright Knight. Go get him a horse. Someone fetch Cujo some armor. He's been told the guy like weapons and animals.
TIME TO BE IMPRESSIVE.
He goes FULL Regalia. Armor of solid night sky. Cape of frost and stardust. Crown like crack in reality itself, through which the cosmos gleam and shift. He gets a horse from the far frozen. They're wooly and carnivorous. Gets THE most impressive sword he can find to wear.
It's gonna be a gift, since he doesn't need it.
He does the whole "rend the skies open" thing. Fan fair and knights. Every title he's ever been given, no matter how embarrassing he find them in reality. And announces his intentions. Declares that ONLY Damian Wayne, aka. Robin, is WORTHY to Marry Him. And (in the traditional Ghost proposal of "either accept or tell me to fuck off" /w violence) Demands Damian accept his offer of Marriage.
Right there.
IN THE WATCHTOWER.
In front of EVERYBODY. And yes, ESPECIALLY the Bats. Who are making glitching, vaguely threatening DEMONIC NOISES. Because? You... you THREATEN the BABY? Death. Ten thousand years DEATH.
People are :O ing and backing away from the visible heatwave of unadulterated FURY being put off by Batman. Danny is nano-second from every bone his ANCESTORS had being reduced to a fine paste.
Then? Damian consider him... considers the sword being thrust in his direction, still held aloft in a steady and armored hand... contemplates those titles for a second...
And goes: "Acceptable. Very well, but I have demands."
N..... Nani the FUCK? Says local Bat-Dad. No??? You are NOT GETTING MARRIED.
Try to stop him. He very obviously IS, according to Damian, the man brought him a kick ass sword and has a giant green dog. Is the king of an ENTIRE REALITY. Yes, he realizes he probably COULD do better... but frankly? This one's cute. But if it upset you so... extended engagement. There. Happy?
NO! Because the JLA Dark are LOSING THEIR SHIT. Damian is still UNDERAGE. We don't even know how OLD this being is! NO MARRIAGE.
Damian is unimpressed. A whole six months? That he's likely already LIVED thanks to various timeloops, temporal shenanigans, and reality warping bits of fuckery? You're reaching.
Just? Marriage Meet Cute.
@hdgnj @ailithnight @the-witchhunter @nerdpoe
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halfdeadfriedrice · 2 years
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i take it back this is the funniest thing ever written
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from the great MGS high school au
#all the good parts by which i mean basically the whole thing was written by my friend#all the snakes became 'anguis' which#the move to rename to sound less ridiculous i've never liked in other fics but was very into here#ah... writing a fancy date where they went to applebees because applebees was as fancy as i could conceptualize...#T_T#the concept was that eva and jack were divorced and the snake brothers went to live with jack in like#idk nebraska#where jack (big boss) had a farm#and ocelot was maybe just graduated and was working on the farm part time and was deeply in love with jack#dave and hal were having a pretty normal high school romance#ocelot (adamska) and hal were having a pretty normal deeply intense queer platonic best friendship#we paired the spares and liquid (what is liquids name - james) and emma ended up being my greatest otp of all time i had a playlist for the#adamska and big boss were having a deeply 'playing it stupid' will-they-won't-they#am-i-in-love-with-your-dad-or-am-i-just-fucking-with-you#you being dave#for dating adam's best friend#anyway it was really good#it is funny that the ethical qualms you have as a teen look Way different than the qualms you have as an adult#we had a hypothermia scene#i wonder if we ever wrote prom#rewrite the whole thing as a grad school story 50% less tortured in some ways 50% more#/picking through files OMG they played D&D!!!#god.#bad year for my algebra grades great year for being alive on the internet#sorry not sorry to nostalgia bomb#half dead fried life
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darlingofvalyria · 7 months
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❝I am not a Valyrian Sex God.❞
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part 03 | pucker up, buttercup
chapter summary:
[ The line of friendship dances in uncertain waters when you and Aemond play the fake dating game a little too well. Helaena reveals much more than meets the eye to Aegon, and vice versa. Oh, and Alys. Hi Alys! ]
[ 5,399 ] [ series masterlist ] | best friend's brother!aemond targaryen x f!reader, ft. cregan stark x f!reader & aemond targaryen x alys rivers,
contains— mostly fluff, a wee bit angsty, a little smutty - profanity, i swear a lot sorry too shhshs - no use of y/n - no gods, no kings, no betas.
a/n— thank you so much for the love this little fic is getting so far!! it truly warms my heart that you people enjoy my twisty, crackpot humour and my version of a modern au for these characters!! as much as i am grateful for george for making these characters and these stories, i have to say what propelled me to write is the beautiful community i found. truly, from the bottom of my heart. ❥ fandom is built on community. i would not have had the courage to start writing fanfiction again if not for ya'll. so thank you so much. for the consumers and the creators. you, us, are the beating heart of fandom. please take care of each other. + comment, reblog & like at will, mwa ♡
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"Please tell me I haven't inhaled so much drugs in my system that I am hallucinating our— and I say this with a lot love, okay you know what? No. Our Nasty Little Bitch of A Grudge Holder we call, lovingly, a brother, is not dating the hottest friend you have? Hel? The hottest friend you told me if I ever came anywhere near, you'd rip me a new asshole? How is Aemond's asshole still intact?? Or does our brother just have a gaping fun-house slide down there? Hello? Hellooo, pay attention to meee. This is so rude, why didn't I call Daeron?"
"Because Daeron knows nothing and I know everything?" Hel snorts, finishing up re-naming Aemond's contact from CURRENT DUMB BRO to NASTY LITTLE BITCH OF A GRUDGE HOLDER, before turning to Aegon on her laptop.
Like she predicted, Aegon is already pouting, leaning back on what Helaena remembers is their grandfather's rum-coloured leather office chair. In his office. In Oldtown.
After a quick stint in Ibiza, it seems Helaena's brother had found himself back in the country, and worse— back in their grandfather's office. Without him in it.
"Grandpa's going to kill you." Helaena snorts. "How'd you even get inside his house?"
"This is not the first time I have been faced with a locked door, baby sister."
"You broke a window didn't you?"
"I really, really had to piss."
She rolls her eyes. Hard. "You are a boy. You can literally just pee anywhere."
Aegon flutters a gasp and a hand over his chest. "Excuse me? I may have a penis, but that does not mean I have to be uncouth. For shame, Helaena. Also disgusting. But that's not why I called." He steeples his fingers as he leans forward, pressing his elbows against the nice mahogany desk. "What the fuck is happening over there? I'll be there by tomorrow and I'd like to know what the fuck is happening before I start—" he wiggles his eyebrows salaciously, " — shaking things up."
A dark look crosses Helaena's usually amiable pretty face that has Aegon leaning back. "If you do anything— and I mean anything — to ruin what I have going on, Mother may help you for I certainly won't. The Stranger will look like an old friend, Egg, don't you fucking dare."
"What the fuck," Aegon exhales, wide-eyed and horrified. "Have you been watching M. Night Shyamalan movies again?"
"No," she lies. "I'm doing this for my OTP."
 "Oh my god, you're the one who roped them together?" Aegon strangles a sigh. "Lae-lae, we've talked about this. No matter how much you think they're cute, Aemond—"
"— Aemond and Alys broke up."
"Then they'll be together again before the weekend's out." Aegon rolls his eyes. "It's Aemond."
"Not like this." Hel shakes her head. "I got her to agree, Egg. And they're like... Gods, the pictures don't do them justice. They're magnetic. They make plans at the apartment, Aemond is there all the time— my OTP is happening."
"You are playing god between two people you care about."
"What else am I supposed to do?! They're obviously so hot for each other, and now that Alys is out of the picture, and she's there, right in front of him, Egg, you should see how it is between them. The energy. It's crackling. They have inside jokes, they're so comfortable with each other, and I will have the most beautiful nephew and niece—"
"—Helaena Targaryen," Aegon admonishes with finality. Hel quiets. Often times, the siblings forget Aegon is quintessentially the oldest sibling. They had never been close to their father's actual firstborn— the age gap is wide and there's just... too much complicated family fissures in between that it feels awkward, even when they're relationship is okay, to interact or consider Rhaenyra anything past a cousin you see every other holiday because you have to, much less now that their father's dead — so Aegon is their big brother.
And though they see it in bits, in flung comet pieces that you see preciously once every few hundred years— the vibe of big brother grasps the edges and reminds the younger siblings.
Sure, he's a dick. Sure, he's a whore. Sure, he's their mother's least and most favourite headache— but Aegon is their big brother.
"You cannot play puppeteer like this. This can blow up in their faces. And they care for each other. Their friends. If this blows up in their faces, it is going to hurt."
"I know that," Helaena says quietly, pout pinched but face mostly cleared. "You don't think I don't know?"
"I think you've already outweighed your chances and your choosing a possibility."
Helaena looks truly scolded at that point, and it juts a guilt down Aegon's stomach. But Aegon likes you. Maybe not like in the way that his brother likes you— in that intense, possessive way he gets with people and things he care about because there are so few of them — but he likes you. And he loves Aemond on a bad day, and likes him on a good one.
And Aegon knows, as a superior power about crashing and burning, that this is going to hurt both of you in ways that he truly doesn't think Helaena understands.
Because he isn't blind (as his brother) (bad joke?) (probably) to what he sees in Aemond's gaze when it looks at you. Sure it's possessive, sure it's the same way he looks at most people he keeps close to his heart.
But he was the one who saw how Aemond looked at you before Alys came into the picture. Before it morphed into nothing but platonic; morphed close to how he looks at Helaena. In that soft, I'm So Glad This Person Exists I Would Kill Literally Everyone For Them.
Aegon always thought he looked at you like he wanted to devour you. Etch you into his skin until your shape is in red marks across white plane. He looked at you like I Would Kill Myself If You Asked.
It was the possibility of devotion dipped in insanity. Aemond had so few things, much less people, who so vocally, physically, and emotionally cared for him without addendums.
The only real reason he never did anything before was because you were Helaena's best friend. Helaena loved you. And he couldn't destroy that alongside the fact that you might leave his side.
And then Alys happened and that focal point moved.
Aegon knew his brother. Not as intensely, and maybe that's the reason he could see it. To see clearly past the intensity and recognise its edges. Aegon knew his brother in his marrow.
"When this crashes and burns—"
"If!" Helaena quips stubbornly. "If it crashes and burns. Come home. You'll see, Egg. Aemond just needs to see."
"And what if she doesn't reciprocate, Lae-lae? She's not hard to love, and this is Aemond." Even Helaena knows his feelings, once taken root in whatever form, can blossom.
Helaena smiles softly. "Come home. You'll see. I can see it. I've seen it. The possibility of them, and it's so pretty, Egg."
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It's really not all that pretty, fake dating.
Maybe it could be, but Aemond Targaryen is such an ass.
"This is not like The Devil Wears Prada fashion montage," you grumble, pinching off the big, 60s, yellow sunglasses off your nose to glare pointedly at the man sat on lounge chair. "All the zippers and tugging— this is not as pretty! And I look ridiculous! I don't wear dresses like these, Aemy!"
"You don't look ridiculous, you look like my girlfriend." He makes his emphasis with an inch raised eyebrow and pouty lips twitching not to laugh. "That's the point, is it not?"
You make a drawl huff. It's not just that his words were right— that's what the past hour has been, roaming around all these big named fashion brands where the staff just knows Aemond Targaryen, if not just by him sauntering in with all the swagger of an asshole you'd walk the other side of the street to ignore, then by the flash of his black card (or three, 'cause what the fuck is money to Targaryens holy shit) — but the way he's sitting as he appraises every look he's chosen for you.
He's lax, as could be in his usually perfect posture, with his hips in the middle, and one leg braced down whilst the other is raised to his other thigh. A confident man's sitting position, with an arm over the length of the sofa, balancing a champagne a trying-to-suppress-her-giddiness staff gave him.
At your disapproved glare— down on your nose at him because you're standing over him, lording over him, as he's sitting down — and he's smirking up at you. As if the power dynamics don't shift by whoever is looming over the other.
Aemond doesn't need to stand to make you feel all fluttery with a smirk and a strong gaze against your body. His eyes gaze from the bottom of your heeled toes, slow, slow, slow, until it reached the top of your head.
Surely you've only imagined his gaze lingering on certain parts of you that now felt hot and tingly.
Surely.
"Plus," he continues with a hum. A sip of champagne. "Isn't this your idea?"
"Yes, but—"
"Didn't you tell me that I should prepare the kind of outfits that Aemond Targaryen's girlfriend would wear—"
 "Yes, but I—"
He leans forward, taking pleasure in arguing with you, as he settles his elbows on his knees, pressing both of his feet flat on the tile. He's looking up, still, but his eyes are intense and the corner of his mouth is twitching from a grin he's trying to fight.
"And even when I told you that didn't matter, that whatever you wore would be fine, you insisted?"
"Because I thought it'd be fun!" you growl and he falls in faint, amused laughter. His eye is sparkling and there's a joy to him that makes you giddy. You truly have missed Aemond as you know him. "Because I wanted a fun dress-up montage, but nothing about this is fun! Why are you choosing so many goddamned zippers, and they're all so fucking tight?"
You plop beside him, stealing his champagne. Staff look away, trying not to ogle too much between you two. As you take sips of his drink, his hand, still over the sofa's arm, begin drawing idle circles on your exposed shoulders. It warms you and calms you down, melting further in the seat beside him.
"I liked the dresses," he finally murmurs. "The ones before this. The flowy fabric ones."
"Those are summer dresses," you say though don't know why.
"Hm," he hums. "You look pretty in them."
You look up at him and he's looking at you, a small smile on his face. The proximity is too near to be proper but not near enough if you're fake dating. You study his silver lashes and the scarred flesh.
"Thanks."
"We'll get them. Is that alright with you?"
You snort softly. "You're paying, Aemy. You can do whatever you want. Can't believe this is how your dates with Alys usually went."
Hatching plans meant unloading information about his former relationship with her. Going through their relationship so you could understand it better, better proportioned the good and the bad, and secretly, make him see the red flags that should jump out in clear, plastic red.
"Not at first." He's looking away now, but his finger is still drawing circles. There's a wistful tone to his voice, like seeing through a dream and a memory. "But when it got... bad, it seemed like the only time we weren't fighting was when we were in public. Almost subconsciously, whenever things got tensed, I'd offer to take us out. Do anything outside of our bubble. Money isn't an issue, and before Alys said she felt like a... cheap whore than a girlfriend, buying things for her, spending time looking through things to wear, to match almost, was safe."
"Gift Giving," you mutter with a nod. He turns.
"What was that?"
"A love language." He cocks his head. You sigh. "I mean it's stupid and not really theoretically accurate, but for fun, there's five types of love languages. People do this test thing and sort of box up the kind of love language you want to receive and what you give— but truly, in my opinion, a true kind of love demands all five for it to work."
He hums, intrigued. "And what are the five?"
"Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Physical Touch, Acts of Service, Gift Giving. But, you know, all of those should be given by a partner, in increments they can do for you. There shouldn't be a boxed fixture of what your relationship could be."
You shrug, standing up and stretching. You don't see him looking at you in the way that he has been for the past few days, and he doesn't know the tingles and feelings you keep between a smile and a sigh.
"Love looks different for everyone but it should have the same concept."
"And what concept is that?"
You turn to him, smiling. "That if you truly love someone, you can try anything. Love doesn't demand things that you do for the simple reason that you love the person enough."
"Love can be complicated," he says, and he's not arguing, not really. He isn't begging for you to understand. He is simply saying.
"Love can," you agree. "As most things are complicated. But it doesn't have to hurt."
It's a boundary line, the way he blinks, remembering why you're here together, why he gets to touch you in intimate ways, why he gets to pay for clothes, why you spend this time with him. A jolt. A shock.
You don't press and he doesn't retreat. The line exists not just to remind, but to stabilise any projections. Any dangerous tones.
You simply smile, nodding at the time. "Dinner date, babycakes. We can't be late for reservations."
"We can be late for a few minutes," he says, remembering echoes of how Alys sometimes got late. It isn't really her fault; there are days when she's too busy at the law firm, too busy with a meeting or two, or still finishing up her makeup because she doesn't like going to dinner in her work clothes.
"Sure, but we're here together and I know how much you hate being late." You snort.
"I don't hate it."
"Sure, but you got that eye twitch you do when you're annoyed," you tease, tapping your own eye before you wink at him and skip away.
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For the past few days since the bar incident, by your suggestion, you and Aemond had pour out the intricacies of how Aemond and Alys' relationship worked whilst hiding your true intention of making him see its faults and corners, and at the same time, continue on with the charade of dating him.
It's been a packed week or so, going to your shifts at the bar, meeting with Cregan once and a while (boy had been busy, and he found the entire thing with Aemond incredibly hilarious).
You answered no question mark in regards on who the hand was, only sent a winky face or a kiss blowing emoji. You continue to post minute representations of your no-longer-single status in brief intervals, making sure that you never name him. You never publicly give him a recognisable body.
But for those that knew, knew.
It really wasn't that hard. There were only so much pale, toned hands, so much body builds you can hide with your hand covering his general face that you can hide without people making smart guesses. There wasn't a lot of pale, toned people around you after all.
But in your refusal to name him, the question continues, and so does Alys silent observation of every post. The only story she had liked had been the very first one.
You often wonder what she thinks, before your mind is devoured once again with everything else.
To be fair, as often as you had both been seeing each other lately— and it has been the most often you have been seeing of him — there were still things outside of Aemond and Helaena plans. And Aemond still had UNI to focus on.
"You know, I often forget you're still in university," you say now, comfortably warm in Aemond's car. All fresh leather seat and crisp new car smell despite knowing that Aemond's had this unit now for at least a year. He maybe rich, but he knew what he liked and took care of them.
He shoots you a quizzical look before looking back at the road. The city is bathed in a gorgeous stream of oranges and pinks, tie-dying glass buildings and bustle of city roads. When you look at him, you smile softly at how pretty the light hits him.
"Why is that? Do I look that young?"
"Your vibe is so old man on a nine to three, cigar breaks by four, and whiskey sours by seven pm."
He makes a disgruntled sound at the back of his throat. You laugh. "I would like to think it's my altruistic classicism. A timeless endeavour."
"Sure, old man," you tease then sigh. "Reality is, I'm so much older than you. I'm hanging out with a child. On my free day. Is this what it means to reach low status?"
"I am not a child." His reply is sharp, cutting, almost offended.
"You're in college."
"And of legal age? You're only four years older."
"Oh, right."
"What?"
You smirk at his dark look. "You like 'em way older."
His face, much like his gaze, heats up. You're imaging it when the ride turns red, the car slows to a stop, and he is looking at your lips. Surely it was, because you got transfixed with the way his tongue darts out to wet his lips. A slow, tantalising movement.
It feels like an eternity stretched within three seconds. The light turns green and both of you turn away.
Well, there's been that. A few times. But it doesn't mean anything. Aemond is in that transition of trying to rid himself of bad habits, of being freshly single once again, and you know he and Alys get in on frequently. This had been a conversation a few days back, on a couch, smell of grease and pizza around the room while Murder She Wrote played in the background.
"Wait, wait, wait." You sat up, folding your legs underneath your butt, and giving Aemond your full attention with a little 'o' in your mouth.
"Wait!" Helaena calls playfully from her sway to the bathroom. "Imma pee!"
"Take care, my beloved!" you call back, before turning to Aemond with a big, Cheshire grin.
"Can we not dwell on it?" He's flustered but is trying not to show it, looking back to the TV as if he understood why there's a body on the plane.
But wine has been had, spilled and shared, and it's enough for you to grab that fluster and the topic, and smirked.
"No, no, we will talk about it. We shall! We must! Do you mean to tell me that by the end of it, most of the time, you two were just boning? Is Aemy, one of my favourite people in the world, a Valyrian Sex God?? Oh my god??"
"I am not a Valyrian Sex God."
"Okay, girly pop, please." You raised a hand in a 'talk to the hand' motion and he was smiling at you, entranced and frustrated. "Women talk, Aemy!"
There was a flush and Helaena came back. Wine did things to Helaena, and she was stumbling and giggling as she flopped behind you, turning around and encasing you in a koala hug.
"Women talk, baby bro." Helaena nodded sagely. "Even I try not to listen, they talk, alas."
"And Alys has said those hips—"  You pointed a j'accuse finger at his hips, then his mouth. "—and that tongue has done things that can make the Maiden blush."
Helaena groaned behind you're back, a slew of 'ew's escaping her mouth. And you were still being playful, teasing, but Aemond was looking at you, though scarlet, with a deepened expression.
And at that moment, both of you were thinking the same thing.
His chin brushing your thighs, your sighs like music to his ears, and his tongue making you scream.
Warmth pooled, twin expressions share a gaze. Hunger, desire, shame.
The connection was destroyed when Helaena abruptly jolted and fell down the carpet. Because she was holding onto you, you got pulled with her.
"Are you okay??" Aemond asked.
Hel gasped. "I thought I saw Bobby. I think I squished Bobby."
You shook your head. "You didn't. Bobby is spry. Bobby knows to move away."
Aemond's confused face peered down at both of you. "Who's Bobby?"
"The local spider that lives here."
"Of course." And he smiled.
You smiled back.
Helaena giggled beside you but when you ask her, she only shook her head.
And the silence that lulls in the car is like both of you reaching the very same memory and having to sit through the stifle of that drunken interaction about his sex life. He coughs, you let out a breathy giggle.
"I should admit something," he says, parking the car in front of the restaurant. Dusk is settling, sunset in bright red and orange turning to a cool blue and pretty lavender— and when you turn to him after getting out of the car, coddling your jacket close to your body, he looks nervy. Apologetic, almost.
"What? What'd you do?"
He bites his bottom lip. "I know something about this restaurant."
"I would assume. You chose it." Your eyes narrow, giving the black-out floor to ceiling windows a look. The Painted Table is lit up in a scrawled font on top of it.
You step inside, not bothering to turn to his call of your name, and is submerged by the restaurant's vibe. It's a darkened place with meaningful lighting but a casual air, a bar on the side, and an upbeat jazzy music dancing in the air — it looks good. The place smelled delicious.
Nothing about it sparked familiarity to you, but the anticipation from that look of guilt on his face brought you to a high-strung, so when he calls your name again, just behind you, you turn.
"Is this where you had your first date with Alys?"
He shakes his head. "No. No, but—"
"Aemond?"
The voice is familiar, and you don't stop enough to think before you're turning to the low, clear voice that's just a hint of husky, and Alys' green eyes go wide at your appearance.
She's dressed nice, dressed to go out in a black dress dipping low and fabric tangled around her body to show off her curves. Her inky hair was swept to one side and her mouth was bloodred.
Alys Rivers, owner of Aemond's firsts. The woman he seemingly can't let go off.
You smile. It feels fake. "Oh. Hi Alys."
Her shock staves off into a genuine smile that makes you guilty. "Hi, my love. I see you two are together. Always attached at the hip. Dinner?"
Before you nod— or maybe strangle Aemond — he comes forward, taking your hand in the process and lacing it. He's looking at her as if he's setting a challenge when Alys' eyes fall on your intertwined hands.
"Yes," he says. "We are."
"Well... that's good. This place is great. I—" Someone calls her name, she turns back. You shoot Aemond a withering glare you hope conveys how much you're going to beat his ass after this. She turns back, smiling still. There's a pinch between her eyes but it's gone by the third blink. "Well, I have to go. I'll see you both soon, okay?" She turns to you, stepping forward, not minding the Targaryen beside you. "Especially you. We haven't hung out in a while."
"That's true, I've missed you, you crazy witch." And she laughs and you smile, because you genuinely consider Alys to be one of your friends. Not maybe as deeply as Helaena's, or as close, but Alys was an amazing person and you enjoy her company.
Plus, right now the one you're angry about it solely the man holding your hand.
Alys turns to Aemond, and he stiffens. Between them is a complicated look. So many things unsaid, before her smirk softens. "It's nice to see you too, Aemond."
And she turns away, walking back to her table, to her date, when you tug him with you to the bar. As you order a dry martini, he speaks. Calm and soft.
"You're mad at me."
"You knew she was going to be here." You turn to him, arching an eyebrow, hating the way your chest pangs. "You stalked her and brought us here because you wanted to use me."
He shifts, face crumples at the word 'use' and calls your name in a plead. "It's not like that."
You snort, taking a sip of your drink when it arrives. "Don't lie."
"Okay. Yes, I did. I... I made an impulsive decision because I wanted to see how she could go on a date as if we were nothing." Bitterness cripples his words, the smirk on his lips is ironic and darkened in hurt. Your heart hurts for him, but you can't give him a pass just like that. He hurt you too.
"You could've told me."
He raises an eyebrow. "You would be okay with this?"
Your own smile is ironic and darkened by hurt. "You're already using me, Aemy. That was the deal I agreed, for Hel. It would at least lick the wound to have been in the know, and not, you know, got shot in the face with it."
At the first part of your tirade, he looked like he wanted to argue with the using part, but the realisation weighs him because it is true. To him, he is using you. And it's a cheap shot on your part because you were also doing this for him, out of your own free will.
You sigh when he turns away, guilt dipping low.
"You're such a dumbass."
He hums in agreement.
You're aware of a gaze from the tables, somewhere in the ocean of jazz music and chatter, Alys is looking, and you kinda wanna make this good for him. You were already here after all.
Your hand reaches his jaw, sliding across his neck until you reach his nape and fingers tangle with the baby hairs there. His hair had been wrapped into a bun. Sleek and fluffy.
He turns to you, to your touch, in shock. "What are you—"
"Try not to look so surprised," you whisper, stepping close to him until your noses are bumping. "We're supposed to be dating."
And then you slant your mouth against his.
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TAGGED: @fan-goddess @snh96 @valeskafics @opheliaas-stuff @tempo-rary-fix @fantasticpeaceharmony @diannnnsss @iamavailablesstuff @spinachtz @at-a-rax-ia @bespinnn @tsujifreya @moonlightfoxx @kemillyfreitas @joyouart @bananzaa @honey-on-mars @alexa4040 @cinnamonbambii @wintrr13 @wxb-slingrr @astroswift @queenofshinigamis @helaenaluvr @kaetastic @jxdegodfrey @laniii-on-your-left @watercolorskyy @snowprincesa1 @gemini-mama
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scaredpigeons · 7 months
Text
“Let me look at you.”
kaveh x fem!reader
Nsfw 18+ MDNI. Smut. Pussy inspection, teasing, light oral (fem receiving) Kaveh’s a bit mean, but not really and we like it. Established relationship, childhood friends to lovers, yes you both live in Alhaitham’s house still cuz I’ll never separate my otp
———————
You hear the rattle of a doorknob, unable to open. 
Then a thud, as if something hit the door. 
“Darling?” Kaveh’s frustration leaked into his voice. “Are you in there? I forgot my keys again.” 
You smiled, and rose from the sofa to open the door. Your sweet Kaveh stood in the doorway, shoulders slumped and white knuckling his mechanical toolbox, looking at you miserably through his brows. 
“Welcome home,” you stepped aside, allowing him to trudge into the entrance. “ I would ask how your day was…” 
“You would not believe the day I’ve had. I don’t even want to repeat some of the atrocities I had to witness today, let alone the absolute crimes against art as a whole— and I had to just sit there and let him drone on and on!— AND regardless of my experience and clear expertise on the subject, this—this monster absolutely refused to budge on— seriously my love, who in their right mind requests five inch thick mullions on stunning lancet arched windows?! The man's wife wanted them to be Sumerian rose stained glass— which I already ordered the exact amount for, at double the usual rate so they could have it installed in time for their daughter's birthday— and suddenly the man wants mullions?!” 
Your romantic relationship with Kaveh might have been fresh, but being friends with him since childhood gave you plenty of experience with these kinds of moods. You knew this spiral would only ruin his evening, and if left to fester it would consume his entire month. 
“Is there anything I can do to help?” You asked timidly, not wanting to send him into another rant, but not wanting your silence to convince him you don’t care. 
Kaveh huffed, and turned towards you. “Unless you can tell this imbecile of a client that—“ He paused, actually looking at you for the first time since he walked into the house. 
Since moving in with him and Alhaitham, you’d certainly made yourself comfortable in the space. 
The house had little pieces of you scattered here and there; a lavender throw pillow on your favorite couch, new mugs in the cupboard, a framed photo of the three of you from your last trip to the desert—smiling and laughing in the sun while camped at an oasis, but nothing showed how comfortable you were there more than how you dressed around the house. 
When the two of you became adults, you rarely ever saw each other outside of the akadeymia and Lambads tavern, so respectable formal wear was what you wore often. When you started coming over and rekindling your bond with Kaveh, you wanted to impress him, to be attractive to him, so you always dressed your best, always done up. But now…
He gazed longingly at your thighs peeking out from beneath one of his oversized shirts, buttons only done up halfway so that the majority of your chest was visible, placed to just cover your nipples in case someone came home during the day. Your hair was pinned back away from your face using a multitude of his own hair pins, and your face glowed as if it was recently washed. 
You were the pinnacle of beauty to Kaveh. So comfortable in his life— like you were meant to be there all along. He sighed, releasing his tight grip on mehrak to let him hover in place just beside him. 
“Actually, yes.” He sighed again, releasing the tension in his shoulders as he gestured for you with his arms. “Come here, let me hold you for a moment.”
You smiled sweetly and curled up into his embrace, humming happily as he rested himself at the junction of your neck and shoulder, inhaling deeply and groaning a little beneath his breath. 
“You’re perfect, you know that?” He said wistfully. 
You giggled, dropping your head to his shoulder to hide your intense blush. “Stop that! I’m supposed to be making you feel better, dummy.”
“Just having you here like this makes me feel a bit better, love.” He pulled back a bit. “Come now, let me look at you, there’s no need to hide.”
Despite your flustered state, you unwrapped yourself from him, cheeks warming even more at the way his eyes raked across your body.
“You like when I look at how beautiful you are, don't you?” He said, holding your hand in his with a gentle squeeze. Though his tone was still gentle, there was something burning beneath his gaze that had warmth pooling into the pit of your stomach. 
He grinned then, suddenly a bit mischievous in nature. “You know what would really help me de-stress, love?” 
If you hadn’t seen where this was headed before, you certainly knew now— though that didn’t make you any less flustered. Even after so many months, physical intimacy with Kaveh still worked you up just as badly as it had the first time. 
“I’ll do anything for you, Kaveh. You know that.” You murmured, cupping your own cheek in embarrassment.
You feel a light pressure around your limbs and waist, and suddenly you are hoisted into the air, hands together above your head and legs spread. 
“Wait—what?!” You tried to struggle, but the grip that he had mehrak put you in was unshakable. You’d seen Kaveh use this function with mehrak countless times; to swing his claymore, to move building materials, but never once had you seen it used on anyone else. “K-Kaveh! What are y-you doing?!”
His head appeared between your legs, though he was still standing, and you could see now why he had hoisted you so high into the air. 
“Just stay still for me, yeah? I want to look at you.” 
“B-but—“
You were silenced by his long, cool fingers pushing his shirt from where it covered you, and your legs spread even wider, exposing you in your entirety to him. He smiled as he hooked his fingers into your panties, sliding them down your thighs and onto the floor at his feet. 
You continued to squirm as your face bloomed with heat, trying to look away but entranced to watch him as he spread you apart, looking at your center with intense eyes. 
He wiggles your labia around a bit, spreading you open and watching as the strands of your slick glisten between them.
He’s torturing you. Eyes never leaving your cunt as he gently thumbs at your clit, watching it twitch and relishing the moans you can’t bite back. 
The teasing makes you ache, it makes pressure form behind your glossy eyes and deep inside you somewhere shameful. You can feel yourself clenching around nothing as he toys with you, poking and rubbing here and there as if to make sure his eyes don’t miss a single part of you. 
He sees you struggling, and a laugh emerges— light and airy from his chest. 
“Please… you’re teasing too much this time, Kaveh.” You manage to whimper. 
“Oh?” He says, eyes still unwavering from your leaking hole. “What is it you want, my love?” 
You keened, so frustrated with his not-enough-touches and the fact that he’s making you say it. You tried wiggling from the hold on you once more, but it only served to satisfy him more. 
“Please!” You begged. “Please make me cum!” Your blush burned. You couldn’t take it anymore. You needed him, to feel him. 
He hummed contently at your cries, finally looking up at you. His gaze burned with a lust so intense you don’t think you’ve seen it since the first time you ever shared your bodies with one another. It was an all consuming flame, and unlike the first time— this one didn’t startle you. 
Kavehs passion was one of his best qualities, and seeing it take on this form, this desire for you— to have you, to make you his— was something you came to crave. 
“Not yet.” He said. Tone leaning towards condescending. “I’m busy looking. You’ll let me keep looking, right?” 
His gaze trailed back down your body to your aching core, where he continued to run his fingers along your folds, eyes heavy with lust at the slick he touched there.
“After all,” he said. “You're so very pretty, and you know how stressed I get. And playing with this pretty pussy of my very own helps sooo much, you know that dont you?”
His words were dripping in sex—in demeaning condescension, and you were about to explode because of it. You squirmed and struggled more, moaning and crying out at the weight of his heavy gaze, and the lightness of his thumb across your clit. It throbbed, sending waves of need up your limbs and making your hips buck against his touch.
“I really enjoy playing with you like this,” He said darkly. Times like these were the only moments Kaveh ever spoke down to you. He was typically very doting, loving, and non confrontational when it came to your relationship. But when you hear his voice sink like this, hear him speak as if he owns you, it sends your brain into overdrive. 
Finally, finally he brings his tongue up your center, taking a nice firm lick from your clenching hole to your aching clit. He seems to add just the tiniest bit more pressure as his tongue rakes over your clit, and you squeal. 
A low, shuddering orgasm overtakes you, and you crumple into it, trying to milk it for all its worth. You’re shocked that he keeps his tongue gently moving over your clit when he realizes what’s happening though he never moves to make it more intense. He works you through it gently, drinking up your cries of pleasure. Your clit throbs dully with each wave of your orgasm, and right before it becomes something closer to painful, he stops. 
His large hands grip your thighs, and he watches as you continue to twitch with the aftershocks. He watches your orgasm subside, and laughs when you start to squirm needingly so soon after. 
“Awe, poor sweet thing. Not enough?” 
Your fucked out expression was nearly enough to break him. Tears streamed down your flushed cheeks, your eyelids drooped and heavy from the aftermath, but still sparkling with lust from the need for more. 
Truly, Kaveh never felt more blessed than when in these moments with you, and he truly couldn’t even remember the specifics of what exactly had made him so unhappy in the first place. 
He was sure he’d remember eventually, and go back to having more work to do, but for now, he’d rather just enjoy the fire you’ve brought from within him. 
“Alright, alright.” He smiled. “I wasn’t done with you yet anyways.” 
819 notes · View notes
pandorascripts · 1 year
Note
heyyy :) can i request wednesday x reader where she sneaks into wednesdays room to sleepover and enid was sleeping in yokos room for the night and forgot smth and went back to their dorm and walks in on them making out?
fugly slut
summary: enid catches her OTP (who said they weren’t together) snogging. she’s pissed and had Mean Girls on her mind.
warnings: making out, wee bit spicy, swearing
paring: wednesday addams x reader
note: written quickly, proof read a bit, not sure if there’s any mistakes :^
————
You watch as Enid’s retreating form bounces merrily off the walls. Wednesday had told you to come over tonight, it’d be safe seeing as her roommate was crashing with a friend. Most people would’ve told you that it’s a bad thing to go into a relationship and hiding it, but seeing as you and Wednesday are academic rivals, the two of you don’t want the school knowing. 
You tap on the door four times, letting Wednesday know it was safe, and a second later you’re dragged through. A rough yelp is muffled as Wednesday presses her lips against yours, her left hand fumbling to lock the door.
You hold her head with both hands, pressing her back into yourself. With the door now locked, Wednesday grabs your hips, hiking your shirt upwards. She doesn’t take it off, much to your dismay, instead she pushes you around and against a wall. 
“No one likes a tease, Wednesday,” you whisper, donning an uncontrollable smirk.
“You’ll get what you want in due time, no need to be greedy.”
You chuckle, although it doesn’t last long. With Wednesday’s lips now on your neck your laugh dies out, a shaky sigh taking place. Featherlight lips make their way down, pressing into the small portion of your shoulder that was exposed. 
Wednesday’s hands grab your shirt, lifting it up and off, before quickly attaching her lips to yours again. Your hands grab Wednesday’s jacket, wanting it off as well, but then the worst thing you could imagine happens. 
The door opens. 
Enid liked to say she loved people. She loved how no matter how moody or damaged they were, there was always an innocent soul underneath. No one was truly evil, no one truly wanted to hurt others, they had unfortunate incidents in their lives in which cause them to act accordingly. 
But as Enid walked into her dorm, after forgetting a blanket, and saw her two best friends, who had both assured Enid they despised each other, making out, she realized people were liars. They were crude, and pests, and no one deserved to be on this Earth. Liars suck, and a thought crossed her mind. That thought happened to be a line from Mean Girls.
“You are the nastiest skank bitch I’ve ever met!” she shouts, stomping over. “You two told me you weren’t screwing!”
Wednesday takes off her jacket, handing to you so you were at least decent for this conversation. 
“Enid —“
“No! I’ve been trying for months to get you two together, and you don’t even tell me when it happens? What am I, chopped liver?”
“We’re trying to keep it on the down low, Enid,” you speak up, looking charmingly disheveled.
Enid’s eyes flicker away from Wednesday’s settling on yours. “You told me you’d rather die than get with Wednesday.”
You shrug. “I’d rather die than do anything, really.”
“Not helping!” Wednesday whisper shouts, looking over to you. In a much more hushed tone, she says, “You look very attractive in my clothing. Look through my closet later.”
An angry grunt from Enid cuts off your reply, your smirk dropping as you stare at your socks. 
“I hate the both of you.”
“Enid, I’ll buy you that Squishmallow you’ve been begging for if you go back to Yoko’s.” Wednesday turns to you, out of sight from Enid, and winks. 
“Really?! OH-EM-GEE!” she squeals, rushing up to Wednesday as she hugs her. “I love you. Alls forgiven, be gay do crime!” 
With that, Enid leaves the room, waking all of Ophelia Hall with her screams.
You lean back against the wall, sighing. 
“Well.” You pout, night spoiled and one more person knowing your secret. 
Wednesday walks up to you, the devilish smile you love so much and the mischievous glint in her eyes back again.
“Well, the dog has left, and we’ve got this huge dorm to ourselves…”
Wednesday’s hand brushes against your arm as she rests it on your bicep. Her other hand holds your waist. 
“And you look so incredible in my clothes.”
You smile, leaning down into her face. Neither of you say anything, sharing hot breaths and mischievous smiles. With your lips practically against hers, you know damn well what she’s thinking. 
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celaenaeiln · 7 months
Note
can i know your thoughts on the “typical” nightwing ships (him with wally, roy, slade, kory, babs, apollo/midnighter, etc etc)?
ofc! <333
As a multishipper I literally love almost all of these
Wally
The softest ship ever! Reading about them is so cute. All cuddles and snuggles, and full on comfort.
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It's the best friends to lovers trope
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Haven't read about them in a really long while but they used to be my comfort ship. Like these two are so soft each other that they just make me feel warm inside.
Roy
Roydick is my spicy birdflash ship. Their chemistry was more heated with them constantly getting into arguements but falling together again. Going back to the comics I realize that Roy hero-worships Dick and that's why they get into so many fights. Roy literally thinks Dick is too perfect
There's this post about them which provides comic panels about Roy constantly comparing himself to Dick
But mostly Roy wants all of Dick. He wants Dick's 100% attention of them and he hates-HATES-that Dick gives everything to Batman. It drives him so mad because he thinks Batman doesn't deserve any of Dick's attention.
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Literally tells Batman- you ain't shit. I feel bad Dick had to deal with you. He doesn't deserve it for all the greatness he is.
Roy wants all of Dick and that's where I ship them including their complicated issues. What makes their relationship so great is their problems. Neither of them will compromise (Dick won't let go of Bruce and Roy won't let go of that issue), but after all the screaming and fighting they still fall back together.
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It's Dick that Roy goes to every time he has to deal with Cheshire.
Additional post:
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>:> hehe
Ollie has the biggest grin on his face XD
Slade
My OTP LETS GO
Bruh I am so into them.
My post on why they were made for each other
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YEA YEA YEAHHHHHH
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Slade literally used the steam of Dick's shower to write a message in his bathroom mirror.
okay.
I am obsessed with Slade's obsession with Dick.
I love how in one comic Dick is literally just listing everything that's wrong with his life and Deathstroke is just standing there actively listening with his arms crossed.
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He's never gonna give up that apprentice agenda.
Kory
Kory!! I LOVE DICKKORY SO MUCH!!!
When I think of love, they are the epitome of it. I didn't know it was possible to feel love through paper until I saw them. One look at the chemistry is overwhelming.
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"Questions about what's right and what's not, I'll always have them. Questions about my loving you? No! I do. Very much."
Dickkory love is stronger than Dick's moral ethics and Dick's moral ethics?
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I've never seen Dick love anyone as much as he did Kory. There are issues that came up ofcourse. I'm pretty sure there was an anti-alien sentiment among the general public (real life?) that affected them and on top of that the Batman office wanting Dick back so they just ripped him away from the titans and rewrote a whole new love story for them while trashing Kory for it but when the public's reaction and Dick's "he's so perfect everyone wants him so let's play around with love interests for him" aside, they were the king and queen of love.
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What I love about their relationship is Dick loved Kori for who she was, not how she looked. And Kori loved Dick for who he was and not how he looked. On both sides, sometimes all people see of them are their beauty not their personality or strengths or being.
Barbara
Barbara. The reason I held off on writing this.
My feelings about Barbara are complicated.
She and Dick used to be my OTP. I loved them so much I actually hated Kori for a bit, thinking that Barbara was so much better-when I was solely in the fandom. But oh how the table have turned. Very recently the feather broke the camel's back so my feelings about the two of them have changed.
Long story short, they're better off friends. But my favorite moments come from mostly short haired Barbara comics.
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This Barbara was AWESOME. She was so chill and cool and funny. She would be smart but not in a demeaning way to others.
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Also Batgirl 2000 comic Dickbabs was so sweet (below)
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Apollo/Midnighter
love them!
I think Midnighter would totally seduce Dick into a frenemies with benefits arrangement. I mean he's halfway there.
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But aside from the usual flirting, Midnighter really, really, REALLY respects Dick's fight skills. I'm sure you've seen the panels of that already but since posts have a 30 image limit I'mma skip over that to the other reason: his greater-that-meta-human tenacity. Things and circumstances that take out metahumans, Dick surpasses through sheer will power and dedication.
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So I mostly ship Dick/Midnighter but Apollo would probably join in too at some point.
Constantine
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Never getting over how John-I don't do things I don't have to-Constantine saved someone because their body was hot and and their butt looked good. But later on in the comic he talks about how cool he was and what he describes Dick as is when asked about him is:
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Additional exchange:
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Tiger
His relationship with Tiger is AWESOME!!
It reminds me of his batman Dick relationship with Damian. Snarky and affectionate.
I ran out of image space :'0
But Dick basically gets Tiger-Spyral's number 1 and most loyal spy-to abandon the agency they work for, turn coat, and hunt them down to burn the oragnization into the ground instead. They're literally so funny. I loved Dick and Damian's cute banter and Tiger is just Damian aged up but meaner lol.
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bloodymary83 · 2 days
Text
X-Men ‘97 as addictive as Morphine!
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At first I honestly thought people were reading way too much into it. That Morph and Wolverine are just best friends. You can have a close relationship with someone without being attracted to them. Tween girls just don’t understand that you can have a platonic love.
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BUT THEN, someone pointed out on Reddit that the ship name for Morph and Wolverine would be Morphine and now I want it to happen. How hilarious would it be to see on a bunch of peoples blogs “I <3 Morphine, “My OTP is Morphine”, “Morphine 4-Ever!”, “I wish I had a love like Morphine”. MAKE IT HAPPEN DISNEY!!!
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moonlitapollo · 11 days
Text
Capturing the Heart of the Sun: I
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I've been reading a lot of manhwa and webcomics so this is inspired by those isekai manhwas and will hold similar cliches.
This is my first original fic posted on here using OCs, and I've been experimenting with perspective here too. Usually I write in 2nd person, this fic is in 3rd. And it'll switch between POV of Y/n and the 'protagonist' Maya, maybe some short scenes with other characters. I'm trying new things so please be kind lmao. Anyway, I've had a lot of fun working on this fic and the !! world-building especially. there's a map if anyone wants to see it haha
fixing masterlist links (inc. main blog) later <3
Series masterlist
Full masterlist
SERIES WARNINGS: YANDERE THEMES, abusive behaviour, lots of stalking, violence, mentions of sexual assault, character death (Will Add chapter warnings)
This chapter is 6.5k.
Once again clarifying this whole fic is experimental bc I wanted play with this trope and POV. Future chapters will have 2nd person (Y/n’s, reader’s POV) a lot more
Chapter warnings: yandere and dark themes throughout, mentions of death, mentions of assault, harassment, mentions of incest
---------
Transmigration wasn't something Maya had ever expected to happen to her, and certainly not on a regular day. She wasn’t hit by a truck, she wasn’t in a coma- there was no risk of dying in her life at all. Save for the risk of boredom. As her friends were busy studying hard at prestigious institutions, Maya had stayed in their small town, alone. The world had moved on from their highschool days, when she and her friends could spend days together. They rarely even messaged her these past few months. 
Maya had tried moving on too; she’d been working part time jobs, helping out around her small town where she could, but her life was empty. Dull. Her sole reprieve, the modern era of the internet, truly was a marvel, and more so when it allowed bored women to indulge in fantasies. The men of her town could hardly compare to the dreamy gentlemen of CAPTURING THE HEART OF THE SUN, her latest otome game obsession. 
Maya proclaimed herself a top class master of otome games, and CHS (for short) was renowned as particularly difficult. It was an old game, and technology had since advanced to more immersive features. It was a game where the system famously worked against the player, and bad endings were all too common- as such, it was rarely played anymore, certainly not on the PC version. Even the gamemakers had moved on to using VR, abandoning their work of art due to its lack of popularity. But for a top class master, it was…admittedly more difficult than she was used to.
A challenge was exciting, it gave her something to look forward to after long shifts, after conversing with the boring townsfolk day in and out. Maya had finally achieved the ultra rare gold master romancer’s badge, awarded to players who unlocked every good ending. She fully deserved that top class master status- she was the first one to unlock this badge, and the remnants of the CHS forum were in uproar, begging Maya to share the final ending that they couldn't unlock. It was too good a twist, Maya could never spoil this ending- the hidden route of the protagonist, Y/n, and her best friend?? Not once had she expected this outcome, but admittedly, the two were an adorable pair. 
It’s worth noting that many of the CHS love interests leaned towards completely psychotic, obsessive styles, hence why bad endings were so easy to achieve. Maya wasn’t proud to admit she’d had nightmares about some of the male leads, with their sick tendencies and frankly irresponsibly dangerous outlooks on love, it had made going back for their good endings even more of a challenge. 
The mix of fear and the usual swoon-worthy romantic scenes was enough to keep Maya hooked on playing. And none could ever come above the otp of CHS- it might have been the easiest route to achieve, and usually players unlocked this route first, but it held a special palace in Maya’s heart- perhaps for this reason. 
Helios and Y/n were undeniably a perfect pairing. He was gentle, smart, fair, and put her needs above everything- he’d long abandon the duchy to be with Y/n. And more importantly!! He was the only male love interest who never, not even once, showed any signs of yandere behaviour . A healthy relationship through and through. Maya suspects the game’s system made this route the default and easiest to lure players into their sick and twisted world. She’d seen rumours on the forum that it was the beta before the developers had decided on a real theme, but they were too attached to let Helios go. 
So after achieving her master status official badge, Maya went back and relieved her favourite route. Helios' good ending would always have a special place in her heart. 
Maya had awoken to a blank white space- she’d say room, but there were no walls, not in sight, just white, blinding light- to the system detailing her mission. When she first opened her eyes and realised she was not in her own room, no grand thoughts crossed her mind. She had not been hit by a truck- there were scarcely large delivery trucks in her town, and the country roads were a little too small to let anything isekai-worthy down their tracks. She didn’t exactly have any enemies either. All she could remember was falling asleep to the comforting soundtrack of the game after completing her favourite ending. 
Welcome!
There is currently no player of CAPTURING THE HEART OF THE SUN. 
For the game system to run smoothly, the game requires a player. 
We have decided to test a new immersive program, wherein you, the player, are involved directly in the game’s events. 
You will proceed to guide the game to an ending of your choosing. 
Beware of bad endings! 
Wait, I get to play as Y/n?? 
You will proceed as Phoebe Cato, daughter of Baron Cato, ensuring the female lead reaches a happy ending! 
Maya squealed in delight. Playing as Y/n maybe wasn't the best option anyway, because that would mean she wouldn't get to meet the lovely Y/n. This way she would be working as Y/n’s best friend to lead her to happiness! Oh, Maya knew exactly which route she would be guiding Y/n down. She’d get to see the pair together!! She’d get to attend their wedding and- 
Wait, system, what do you mean beware of bad endings?
As part of our fully immersive experience, we’ve added incentives to help players avoid bad endings. We do not view bad endings as a badge to be won, and strongly advise that you avoid bad endings. 
Incentives?
The player will receive damage to their health (in the real world form of LIFESPAN) if they pursue a bad ending. If the player reaches a bad ending, their health will be depleted entirely. 
I COULD DIE?!!
We hope these incentives will keep you focused throughout our immersive world. 
As our top and most loyal player, you were selected to test our new immersive update! 
Congratulations!
As a tester I’m telling you not to kill your customers! Fuck!! Can I refuse?!!
Refusal counts as a bad ending. Would you like to give up? 
WARNING: THIS WILL DEPLETE HEALTH ENTIRELY.
NO! NO! FUCK YOU! 
Fine, so all i have to do is guide the characters down the plot and events of the game? To reach an ending? Any ending I want?
CORRECT. WE STRONGLY ADVISE AIMING FOR A GOOD ENDING. 
And what if I’m killed whilst playing?? Since I’m not Y/n, that’s not a bad ending, right?? 
WARNING: PLAYER DEATH WILL RESULT IN BAD ENDING. 
You realise this is a yandere otome game, right???? Most of the characters slaughter the whole country, and you want me to avoid dying?! How can I play as Y/n’s best friend and not die?! She’s a big target!!! 
WE PICKED YOU DUE TO YOUR MASTER PLAYER STATUS. WAS THIS INCORRECT?
The system was getting snarky damn…If I say yes do I get to go back home?
No. Proceed with IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE TESTER ?
I don't have a choice, do I? ….Proceed. 
Note: the system will be available for support and questioning when character PHOEBE CATO sleeps. We wish you success! 
LOADING….
LOADING….
LOADING….
Maya was going to murder the gamemakers if she ever got out of this world. Oh, they were  not ready for the lawsuit she would throw at them. First, she knew that there was only really one route she could take. Lucky for her it is her favourite. And luckier still, Helios’ good ending was the easiest to achieve- that, and he was the non-yandere route. That meant she had a much better chance of survival! 
Note: before a love interest route is confirmed, events of all routes may take place! Be careful to avert the system’s MATCHMAKING EVENTS to avoid unwanted routes.
What the fuck. When people said the system was working against the players, they meant it for real. That’s the same as saying the system is actually trying to kill me! 
Maya opened her eyes. Above her the curtains of Phoebe's four-poster loomed down, the bright ceiling looked menacing. The walls, no matter how far away they might’ve been, seemed to be closing in. She was going to be sick. 
Maya thrust the covers off her body, noting the light silk nightgown she wore, and leapt off the bed. 
“Lady Phoebe!” A chorus of voices exclaimed. 
Maya wasn’t quite sure how she knew which way to go. Sure, the room’s layout was shown in the game, but her feet were moving almost automatically. She reached the toilet (thank god this game was designed with modern toilets) and hurled into it whatever Phoebe had eaten the night before. 
“My lady!” A worried voice shouted. Maya could feel gloved hands on her shoulder, on her back. They were soothing, gentle. “Grace, fetch a doctor immediately!” 
Maya hurled again after looking at his face.
The realisation of who this man was, who she was allowing to touch her so casually. The butler held her hair away from her face, a concerned frown etched into his features. 
“Don’t!” Maya ordered the maid, voice hoarse. “I’m not sick I just-” 
“My lady, look at the state you’re in!” The butler pressed. “You’re getting paler by the second, please, lady Phoebe, you must see a doctor.” 
Maya narrowed her eyes. “I’m not sick.” She repeated. “It’s just, the sight of you makes me ill.” 
The butler’s hands dropped to his sides, shocked. Of course, Phoebe was never this aggressive. And this slimy bastard was used to getting what he wanted. 
“My lady, whatever I may have-” 
Maya cut him off, seething, “Get out. Grace will be replacing your duties. I never want to see you near me or my quarters ever again.” 
“Lady Phoebe, please, there’s been a misunderstanding! You can’t-!”
“If you don’t want to be removed from our service entirely, you will do as I say, Julian. Now, get out.” her glare unwavering, the butler finally left the room with a lowered head. 
Maya smiled to herself. There! The nauseous feeling was all gone! 
In the game, Julian was one of the love interests. As Phoebe, Y/n’s best friend,’s butler, he was always there during meetings. He was always the one to greet guests for Phoebe. And something in his sick and twisted brain thought that gave him the right to claim Y/n as his own. Even in his good ending, he was a perverted bastard who constantly humiliated Y/n, forcing them to wear revealing clothing at formal events, and even coerced Y/n into indecent acts with him in public. In his bad ending things were even worse. He assaulted and humiliated Y/n, ruining her public image and family name, before kidnapping her away to be his slave in the countryside. It was a route that made Maya sick to the stomach even thinking about it. The end had shown the public believing Y/n had taken her own life out of shame, when in reality the lead had been suffering under the control of Julian. 
Maya hoped that her actions would mean he’d never see Y/n again, but she’d certainly keep an eye on it. There was no way she’d ever let things take that route. 
She headed to the sink, rinsing her mouth and cleaning up as best she could in these unfamiliar settings. Staring at the mirror was the dainty face of Phoebe Cato, a bright and cheerful young lady. She was the daughter of Baron Cato now; the family was new-money, and to be so closely associated with the daughter of a marquess like Y/n was unusual. Her father was a wealthy merchant from the south of Apollon, the port-town of Oran, who traded the land’s goods overseas and became filthy rich as a result. The Cato family was new to high society, but Phoebe’s mother had excelled at social events, and with their money they could afford to send their child Phoebe to the same prestigious education the other nobles enjoyed. It was there Phoebe had befriended the admirable Lady Y/n. 
Maya finished dressing with the help of one sole maid, Grace, who was now her chief maid. 
“My lady, are you sure you’re feeling well?” Grace asked cautiously. Clearly she was afraid Phoebe would blow up at her like she had Julian, but Grace, as far as Maya knew, was not a deranged individual. “I’m concerned if you don’t treat your illness, you won’t be well enough to attend Lady Y/n’s ball…”
Her ball! 
“Her…birthday ball…?” Maya asked carefully. 
Grace smiled, clearly thinking she was convincing her, “Yes, exactly! And Lady Y/n would be devastated to have you miss it, she has been preparing for months. Please, my lady, consider seeing the doctor. If you’re worried about telling the lord, I promise to keep it a secret.” 
Maya hummed, as if considering. “I believe I am feeling better,” She saw Grace frown. “But I promise if I feel at all unwell, I will return home and rest immediately.” 
“Home?” Grace furrowed her brows, “My lady, are we going out?” 
Maya grinned. “Of course, we must visit Y/n. How many days until the ball?” 
“Three days, my lady.” 
Now she had some idea of a timescale. Y/n’s birthday ball marked the beginning of the game’s plot, and so, the beginning of the events. Was this the system giving her time to adjust? Time to prepare? That seemed awfully considerate. If only Maya would be able to remove all the love interests in those three days, she sighed. 
But she shouldn't be so down- she’d already basically removed Julian! She was already one step closer to reaching a happy ending with Helios.
Sitting in the carriage, Maya took her time to observe the scenery of the land. It was quite stunning. Truly something only fiction could produce. There was something magical about the countryside here; it wasn’t like home, Maya thought. It wasn’t mundane, boring. Objectively, it might’ve looked quite similar- sprawling acres of grass and gentle hills- but somehow, it felt different. It felt alive.  
She made sure to run through her plan too. She would visit Y/n, fangirl internally about the beautiful female lead, have tea together because something so quaint sounded like so much fun- Maya certainly wouldn’t be missing the opportunity to play rich and avoid death. But most importantly, she would try and convince Y/n to alter the guest list for her birthday ball. First, she needed the third prince removed. He was Y/n’s ex-fiance, and another disturbing route in the game. The parting had been on amicable terms and so the two families were still close- the marquess family was always a strong supporter of the crown.��
And second, she needed to convince Y/n to invite her soulmate, Helios Astonan. As Maya recalled, he originally wasn't invited simply because the two hadn’t met before, and because the marquess family had not ventured east all that much, and so hadn’t really crossed paths, outside of official royal events. 
Luckily Helios Astonan was the son of the Aston duchy, and so his standing was entirely appropriate to attend Y/n’s birthday ball. Some of the other love interests would not be on those lists for sure. 
Arriving at the Orbois estate was something else indeed. And Maya had thought the Cato mansion was extravagant! Truly, the difference between born nobility and the bourgeoisie was evident here. Maya feels faint as she remembers this is their simple capital residence, as nobility would spend much of the warmer season closer to the capitol. The Orbois territory was only a short distance away, to the south of the capitol Solis, did they really need all this extra land and fucking palace to save them that extra distance??! 
Rich people. If things didn’t go to plan Maya would be rallying up a revolution, that’s for sure. 
The carriage stops just outside the main entrance, as Grace exits to inform someone of her arrival. The novels and such never truly focus on the amount of waiting. Oh, to have phones and drop Y/n a simple message. 
The carriage door soon opened again, the Orbois butler, who lead the two of them to a reception room, before he disappeared again with a bow
She could just picture Julian’s slimy grin right now, and hoped sincerely that he was having a miserable time back home.
The butler soon returned with Lottie, Y/n’s personal maid.
“Lady Cato, I’m sorry to say Lady Orbois is feeling unwell and is unable to receive any visitors today.” Lottie doesn’t make eye contact. Suspicious. Y/n wasn’t ill in the game- it clearly stated she’d been waiting impatiently planning for the ball for the week leading up to it. “Might I offer you some refreshments before your departure?” 
“Is Lady Y/n resting in her room?” 
Lottie stammers out, “O-of course, my lady, where else would a lady rest when she is ill? B-but you cannot visit her!! She insisted on no visitors today.”
A lie, clearly. But if Y/n isn’t in her room, where might she be? Maya knew exactly where she was- she certainly wasn't ill, but perhaps she was stressed. And in that case, Y/n usually spends the day hidden in the gardens. Maya was fairly sure that’s what was happening here too. And if that’s the case, Y/n normally went alone; Lottie didn’t know where she was, and was simply covering for her as instructed. 
“Right. I will be leaving then. No need to escort me out, I've been here many times.” Maya spoke smoothly, hoping her tone came off authoritative enough that Lottie would leave it be. 
It worked. Lottie bowed, “Of course, my lady. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” 
Maya might’ve said that, but being a transmigrator as of today, she didn't exactly know the layout of the Orbois mansion. And she couldn't very well ask Grace, who had also never been here to show her the way. She’d thought it would be easier than this. Surely the gardens were not so hard to find?? She just needed one door on the ground floor, and that would be it, right?? 
If Grace noticed she was lost- it was evident, she’d opened three random doors in the hallway alone- she didn’t comment. Julian would’ve had something to say, a mocking smirk on his face, as if he knew the Orbois mansion better. He probably did, creepy bastard. 
The next door she opened was another grand fail. The Orbois library. The library was three floors of literary heaven. A perfect, peaceful place for studying and reading too. This was where Y/n took her private lessons, with another deprived monster, her tutor. 
Now, the library naturally overlooked the gardens, to help create that peaceful ambiance Maya so adored. If she weren’t on a mission, she would grab a book and plop down right here. But overlooking meant windows, and windows in such a large mansion were surely big enough to fit through, dress and all.  
She wouldn’t be climbing out of the window if she weren’t desperate, okay? But this was a desperate time. Soon enough one of the servants was bound to notice her carriage still hadn't moved and come looking for their unattended guest. She needed to get into the gardens to find Y/n immediately. 
Maya pulls a chair over underneath the window, wincing at the scraping sound it made against the wooden flooring. Desperate times. Apologies to the staff. 
“My lady…” Grace wavers. 
“Don’t worry! It’s basically the same as a door.” Maya assures. Grace still looks uncertain. Perhaps she’s right to be alarmed, but only because she likely thinks Phoebe has gone insane, looking at her actions today.  “Fine…Well, wait for me by the carriage instead, then. I’m just going to look around for Y/n, and then we’ll be going home.” 
Grace sighs, defeated. “Very well, my lady. I assume you don’t wish me to tell the servants of your actions here?” 
Maya grinned sheepishly. 
Grace bowed, clearly disapproving, but left her alone nonetheless. Maya returned to her all-important task. Shit, the chair was too far away. She clambered back down, looking around for inspiration. If she moved that stool on top of the chair, then, surely, that would suffice?
Maya got to work right away, heaving the stool up onto the chair. That was secure enough, right? She gave it a little shove, a quick wobble test. It rattled a little, the clunking sound of wood against wood. But it didn’t fall. Right. She probably wouldn't fall off climbing up like this? 
“What on earth are you doing?” A voice demanded. 
Maya thought it such a shame that CHS didn't have any voice actors, for she couldn't recognise anyone without seeing their face. These transmigration novels always brushed over that, didn’t they? Stupid plot holes. As if every protagonist with white hair and a beautiful face was recognisable- in the isekai world, that’s really quite vague. 
She turned to face the man, sigh caught in her throat at the sight of him. When would she meet someone who wasn’t a deranged psychopath? 
She prayed to meet a man who didn’t want to make her hurl and hide on the spot (the butler not included, he never did anything wrong, but he didn’t make much of an appearance in the game). 
In front of her could only be the cold figure of Beau d’Orbois, Y/n’s younger brother. He was strikingly beautiful, an air of elegance surrounding him, his dark eyes boring into her; cold, unattainable. He was the kind of man that belonged in a painting, surrounded by other works of art, someone that truly fit his name. She knew it was him, the chilling fear for her own life under his gaze only confirmed that. A balance to his stunning looks: his disgusting personality. 
Not only was he simply a horrible person, but Maya had, regrettably, discovered the hidden route in CHS of Beau. An incest route really wasn’t necessary. Another cold and twisted individual wasn’t necessary. 
“I…have you seen Y/n?” Maya was at a loss. Perhaps if she distracted him with a question he wouldn’t interrogate her in her own actions. 
Beau’s eyes narrowed. As Y/n’s obsessive younger brother, he was exceptionally hostile to anyone going near his darling sister. “I asked what you were doing.” He states, cold as ever. 
Maya felt like she was sweating, cold, nervous sweat from having to face too many psychopaths in one day. “I-uhm, well, it was quite warm in here, so I…I was just trying to open a window…”
Beau didn’t look satisfied. “Weren’t you here to bother Y/n?” 
“Well, she’s refusing visitors-” Beau looked far too pleased. “-and I thought maybe if I opened some windows it would cool things down, I mean, it’s no wonder she isn’t feeling well when it’s so-” 
The smug look in his eyes fell away, replaced by panic. “She isn’t feeling well?! Why hasn’t anyone told me about this?” Beau hisses. 
Maya feels nauseous again. She recalls how much Beau adores fawning over his sister, how much he enjoys seeing her weak and frail. And now she thoroughly regrets telling him of his sister’s fake illness. 
Beau’s eyes snap back to her, “Why are you still here? Y/n is refusing visitors, she’s sick. Get out.” 
Maya tries her best, “I was worried…” 
“It’s not your concern. Leave.” He stalks closer. Maya is sure he’ll drag her out of the estate himself if it means he gets to keep his sister’s company all to himself. 
She darts out of the way, laughing nervously. “I was on my way out anyway, no worries.” 
Beau follows her out of the room. So he really is going to force her out? It’s scary, like being chased by a predator. Maya doesn’t dare stop moving, and luckily this time, with Beau herding her, she reaches the main entrance without delay. 
“Well, um-”
“Did that maid say where she is?” Beau demands. When Maya doesn’t respond right away, he presses, “She’s in her room, yes?” 
She nods, too scared to try lying to his face. He’d catch her for sure. “Um, my maid is waiting in the gardens so I’m just heading that way…” Maya blags the excuse, but trails off midway, for Beau has already disappeared. Well, he’s not going to be searching the gardens when he believes Y/n to be in her room, so she’s safe, right? 
Maya leaves through the main door, quietly thanking the doorman. She then peers around for onlookers- none- and begins to dash around the side of the mansion. If this was the only way to the gardens, so be it. As long as she got there before Beau realised Y/n wasn’t in her room. 
Maya makes it to the main gardens, pausing only briefly to marvel at the wondrous layout. Fuck, is this family rich. Now, think, Maya, where is the hidden gazebo?? It was hidden away in the Orbois maze, and Maya knew she had no chance of finding it by the main maze entrance. So how did Y/n normally get in?? Think! Think, Maya! 
It’s to the right of the third fountain, one with the small dolphins, Maya reminds herself, dashing to the third fountain at the end of the long avenue. Thank fuck for the trees around here, she really hoped that no one was cleaning the windows and seeing her ridiculous behaviour. Now from the fountain, there should be a small cluster of trees. 
And from there, look away from the hedge (the edge of the maze) and walk until you can no longer see the trees, which, jeez, that must’ve been a trek, they went on forever. And then, finally, turn towards the hedge and look for a pink ribbon. 
Maya found it, and, just like she had when she was playing as Y/n in the game, she tugged on it, sighing in relief when it opened- a little gate disguised as part of the hedge. From there, it was straight down the right. 
Maya dusted off her dress and fixed her hair, before stepping into the clearing, thanking her obsessive game-playing for remembering this ridiculous route to Y/n’s favourite hidden spot. 
“Y/n!” She called out, walking up to the legend. Keep the fangirling on the inside, Maya, you can do it. “I thought you’d be here.” 
“Phoebe!” Y/n exclaims, face brightening. Maya noticed she looked rather glum.
“I would’ve been here sooner, but someone told Lottie to turn away all guests, so it took me a while to find you on my own…” 
Y/n smiles playfully. She gestures to the seat beside her. “If I knew you were visiting I would’ve given different instructions.” 
Maya sits down, eyeing the picnic basket and snacks Y/n had laid out on the table. Clearly Lottie didn’t know she was here, and none of the other servants either, so she must've brought them out here herself. Legend. 
“Of course you can have anything, Phoebe.” Y/n chuckles. 
Maya doesn’t waste her time, gleefully enjoying the spread of sweets- she’ll get to the tea soon. Rich people, bringing a teapot out in a picnic basket?? She supposes hydroflasks weren’t quite a thing here. But with Maya’s dreams all laid out like this, it’s easy to forget why she’s here in the first place. Not that she would. She can’t, she could die. A harrowing reminder- why not make it her new daily mantra? Focus, Maya. 
“So why are you pretending to be ill?” Maya asks, pouring the two of them some tea. She stares at Y/n, watching the way she hesitates to answer, the long sigh. She looks nervous. 
“I…I’m scared...” Y/n finally admits, eyes closed as though she’s physically holding back her tears. Maya’s heart wrenches to see her beloved Y/n like this. She never knew Y/n was so stressed out about the ball, she always seemed so excited. 
“Y/n, trust me, the ball will be a huge success. Everyone already loves you, and they will only love you even more after!” Maya assures her. 
Y/n gives a shaky smile, like she’s trying her best to show her appreciation. She hasn’t done enough yet. Maya feels guilty, but she does have her own agenda too. “Look, if you're nervous, why not shorten the guest list a little? I mean, just remove anyone who might make you uncomfortable! Any feelings of awkwardness, gone! Like, uh, why not get rid of all the old men attending, and all of the princess’ little minions, and uh, the third prince? I mean, do you really want him there? You should definitely uninvite him.” 
“He’s kind.” Y/n hums. No, Y/n, he is not!! He absolutely is not!! “And I haven’t spoken with him in a while.” And that drove him completely insane!! Don’t even bother! “And I can’t uninvite the princess’ followers, that’s half the ladies in Apollon.” 
“It’s your ball.” Maya points out. 
Y/n sighs, “I think I’m just going to be ill for the next four days…years…I could just live here, I’ll sneak out for food, they won’t find me…No one will.” 
Maya feels unsettled by that- it’s supposed to be a joke, she knows it is, so why…? “And miss your birthday? You were so excited!! You can’t!” 
“Father wouldn’t be that mad if I just stayed at home from now on- Beau can handle social events well enough, and-” 
Beau is exactly the problem with doing that!! Maya remembers the runthrough when she deliberately skipped out the main events, and it led to more and more Beau screentime until his twisted route was triggered. She can’t let that happen. 
“No!” Maya grabs Y/n’s hands, they’re cold- shaking?! Is she really ill? Or just cold? That nervous? Maya worries, “...If you're not excited anymore, why not invite more people, new people? Wouldn’t that be exciting? You can invite so many new handsome men- I’ve heard a lot about the young Duke Aston recently! The rumours say he’s charming, and funny and…” 
Y/n doesn’t look like she’s listening anymore, a distant gaze held in her eyes instead. 
“Maybe it should be a female only ball….” 
No, the soulmates needed to meet! 
“What? And snub half the country? Y/n, just uninvite the third prince, and switch him out for Aston- I mean, I want to see if he’s anything like the rumours.” Maya frowns, “At least think about it?”
“I will talk to my father.” Y/n nod slowly, still looking distant. Y/n and Beau are surely siblings, for this is a similar cold feeling- of course, without the feeling like you’re about to be stabbed. “Father would worry if I were ill for that long…” 
And so would that psycho!! 
“Y/n, I can be by your side the whole night. I swear, it’ll be fun.” Maya speaks. She makes a risky move, “Remember your 16th birthday? It’ll be an even better night, I’m going to make sure of it!” 
Y/n smiles wistfully, considering. Phew, the game only mentioned it in passing, Maya has little idea what actually happened. 
“And if anyone annoys you, or you get bored, or tired, or anything- we can hide out here! You can say you feel ill then! Just please, your birthday should be special, fun!” 
“...You have to stay with me the whole night, please?” Y/n stares, hopeful. A little pitiful. It’s heart wrenching, Maya is going to faint. 
“Of course I will!” Maya smiles, pushing the tea towards her. “Now, drink up, eat up, we’re going shopping once we’re done here!” 
Y/n seems to slowly perk up again, be it through the sweets or the nonsense conversation. Maya can confidently say the female lead lives up to the hype. She’s stunning in every way. Funny, though a little more reserved today than Maya has seen before in the game, her personality shines through still. 
The two of them sneak out with the basket empty, save for the teapot, of course. Picnic essential. They head back towards the house to drop the basket off and find Lottie, so they can leave to go shopping. The butler takes the basket out of Y/n’s hands straight away, bowing deep for the female lead. As he should. She needs to subtly find out his name, because he is going on a short list of people she tolerates in this world. 
Maya is glad to have Y/n leading them this time, not getting lost, because that’d be crazy. She admires the way Y/n carries herself- perhaps it’s the noble upbringing, but she is elegant, beautiful. She looks powerful. And yet, today, her face looks vulnerable, fragile- Maya is worried, she never knew Y/n to be like this about a ball. 
“Y/n!” Shit. Beau grabs ahold of her shoulders, pulling her into a tight embrace. Where did he even come from? He buries his head in her neck, Maya swears she can hear him inhaling, ew. His eyes snap to her, a piercing glare. Shit, shit, he definitely thinks she lied earlier, which she did, but it was different!! “Why are you still here?” Beau directs this at Maya, notably, by the harsh and cold tone he uses. As if talking to an insect lingering. “You said you were leaving.” 
“I ran into her on her way out. We had tea in the gardens.” Y/n answers, far too gentle with this psychopath. She ruffles his hair adoringly, but Beau catches her wrist. 
“You were outside? In your state?!” He shoots another glare at Maya like this is her fault somehow. Y/n catches this one, and sends her brother a disapproving stare. He falters, acting like a wounded puppy. He sighs, giving in. “And you’re going to rest now, correct?” 
“Actually, we’re going shopping.” Y/n smiles, she moves to remove her wrist from his grip, and, of course, he doesn’t budge. Y/n frowns, but it’s playful. “Come on, Beau, I’m feeling much better, I promise.” 
“We’ll see what the doctor has to say about that.” He grunts, tugging Y/n by the wrist now, in the direction Y/n assumes is towards the doctor. 
Y/n drags her feet- it’s a little comical, how casually Y/n is treating this monster. Maya knows how angry her refusal must be making him, and she has a sneaking suspicion he’s pushing all that anger towards her. 
“He’ll say I’m completely healthy, I’m sure.” Y/n groans. 
“You were outside in the cold even when you were ill.” Beau argues. “It’d be a miracle if that dimwit didn’t make you worse.” 
“Hey!” Y/n and Maya both exclaim. Beau’s glare hardens. 
“And now you want to drag my poor sister out shopping!” He laughs, as though it’s something insane to suggest. Y/n going outside with someone other than him really might be his worst nightmare. Maya wants to vomit again. “Shopping! I won’t allow it.” 
He’s dragged Y/n a considerable way by now, with Maya awkwardly tagging along despite the constant glares to stop. Y/n is huffing, clearly annoyed, but not as annoyed as she should be. 
Beau stops in front of a grand doorway, knocking only once and proceeding to throw the doors open in a fit of anger. “Father!” Shit, he’s got their father involved? “Call a doctor immediately, Y/n is feeling unwell.”
“Y/n, darling, you’re feeling unwell?” Her father, the marquess Orbois, all but tosses the documents he was studying to the side, sending an aide to fetch the doctor as fast as possible, and rushes over to his daughter. 
Y/n’s father doted on her, she was utterly spoilt. He was protective, naturally, but only ever caring, only ever respectful. In the many routes of the game, the poor man had been slaughtered numerous times, for ‘getting in the way’- he always tried to protect Y/n. He truly loved his daughter, you could see it in his eyes. His gaze was warm, but filled with concern. Whereas Beau’s were alight with anger, and a flicker of smug satisfaction that he’d controlled the situation once again. Maya wanted to slap him. Y/n’s father would dote on her entirely, giving her anything she wanted, but he wouldn’t let her risk her health. Not after their mother had died so young. It really was a smart move on Beau’s part, for Y/n couldn’t argue against her father, not now. 
“Father! I was feeling unwell this morning but it’s cleared up since I took a rest in the gardens, I swear, I feel much better.” 
“How could you rest with that parasite clinging to you?” Beau scoffed. 
“Beau.” The marquess scolded, but the boy didn't apologise, nor look at all regretful. “However, my dear, you do need to rest up properly. You can’t become ill before your birthday, now, that would be a tragedy. You’ll miss everything I've prepared for you!”
“Father, I-”
“That’s the end of it, Y/n. Beau, take her to her room. And Phoebe, dear child,” he smiled gently. One of the few good people in this game, really. “I understand you are worried, but I assure you our doctor is capable. Y/n will be feeling much better after some rest, and will write to you when it’s ok to visit. Take care now, dear.” 
Maya sighed, defeated. She shared the same look with Y/n, but only for a second, before Beau tore her away, his arms around her shoulders, his hands pushing her head to lean against him. He turned his head once, eyes mocking as he stared at Maya. I won, they screamed. 
Maya could only hope next time she really would have an opportunity to slap him. 
But for now, she had to retreat.
This would indeed be a challenge. 
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flynnarts · 2 months
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I LOVE THESE GOOBERS (📺🦋)
CW: Spoilers and Swearing
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(G.I.F's by @asmodeus542 ) So I was on a call with my friend @minkschasijasi , and I was fucking SQEALING. StaticMoth is my fucking OTP and they are so adorable in these scenes. Like the hug, their duet, the way Vox leads Val in a little drop move in their dance and when they come back up they are fucking just- Val with that comforting gesture is so fucking yes. Their commentary througout the episode, (Vox mostly) and the LOOKS Val gives- The expressions that Vel makes through everything (her hair fucking slays) I love the goobers so damn much I will cry over them because I love them so much and I SWEAR. Vox is just a silly sad man who I love and he's so immature but so perfect and I love him so fucking much and I swear to whoever is up or down there I love them all and UGHHHHH. He just needs attention, a huggos, a guy to tell him he's doing okay and he's amazing and I just love him so much his character his voice actor his everything even his personality and I UGH. Valentino too, like I love him so damn much his character design his personality his voice he's just my favorite whiny piss baby. I love how Vox cared enough to drop everything in his schedule (Ep 2) for Val, although it was probably because he knew Val would be a handful I still love their fucking guts and I want to give them all the best gifts, hugs, words, head pats, and UGHHHIEONIOEFhoiH VIVZIE I SWEAR. You gave me the BEST hyperfixation I had since BoyWithUke. Thank... god? Lucifer? Vox? Val? Whatever. Thank something that I don't need this to get out of depression, mostly because I've been happy lately. If I'm ever depressed though, I know all I need to do is turn on some BWU, get some ice-cream, grab my procreate to draw fanarts, call my broshimiskies, and just DIE in front of watching this show. I love the Vees they're my favorite beans and I just love and they're so amazing and they're the best things to ever happen to me since BWU and that's saying a whole lot like I bawled at his last concert and I haven't been able to feel anything close to that since now when I'm just staring at the screen I swear I love all these goofy goobers so damn much and this is starting to turn into such a hard to read rant but what the fuck anyway. I Love this show, I love the characters, I love the community, I love everything. How dare the cliffhanger, like Lilith has been in Heaven? That probably confirms that Eve was the one in those flashbacks. Speaking of, Lucifer fucking SLAYED that scene with Adam. Like the whole "I Fucked both your wives" Joke was amazing, and that reminds me of when Vox just screamed and did *that* on the table, and Val and Vel just looked so dead but so loving at the same time and they're so amazing. I love that they're amazing and I swear to fuck that I will die on this hill. StaticMoth is my OTP, the Vees are my main bois and girls; I love everything else as well. HuskerDust comes in a close second though.
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youngpettyqueen · 8 months
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please... Beejhawk with 20...
20: "kiss on a scar"
BJ brushes his thumb over the pink skin under Hawkeye's eye, feeling the difference between it and the rougher skin lower on his cheek. The burns have healed well, setting into fresh pink scars around his eyes and on his nose that will probably fade in the next week or so.
"Looks like it's healing nice," He tells him so, "In a week nobody will be able to tell anything ever happened."
Hawkeye opens his eyes as BJ's lowers his hands a bit, only so that he can rest them lower on his cheeks, closer to his jaw. "And you said it wasn't noticeable." He teases.
"That was a clever lie for your vanity," BJ replies, smirking, "And you didn't believe it anyways."
"Were you ever honest about anything?" Hawkeye asks, dramatic, but still teasing going by his smile, the glint in his eyes, "Did you even mean it when you called me the prettiest thing you ever saw?"
"I never called you that," BJ correct him, "I think you just want me to call you pretty." He accuses.
"Guilty," Hawkeye grins, "Go on."
BJ chuckles, rolls his eyes. "You're pretty," He tells him agreeably. Then he leans in, and presses a soft kiss to the bridge of his nose, "Very," A kiss to his cheek, under his eye, "Very," To his other cheek, same spot, "Pretty." He sits back, his grin softening to an affectionate smile.
Hawkeye looks like he's going to melt in his hands. "You sure know how to treat a lady," He hums, looking quite content with himself, like a happy cat in the sunlight, "I think I could use another round of that."
BJ's more than happy to oblige, ducking in and peppering kisses all over Hawkeye's face. His forehead, between his brows, over his eyes. Till Hawkeye starts to laugh, smacking at his shoulder as BJ bundles him into his arms and keeps going.
"Beej!" He crows, laughing, helpless under an onslaught as BJ tips them over and into the cot. And then he doesn't say anything at all, because BJ captures his lips and keeps them very well-occupied.
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donnatroyyyy · 2 months
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A (very long) list of my (semi) unpopular DC opinions
The Batfam shouldn’t work together as a whole big group as vigilantes. Whenever that does happen it ends up being character suicide for AT LEAST two of them and also usually ends up minimizing all of them to one of the skills/traits they’re good at (or the archetypes the writer wants them to be). The only exception to this is if it’s a long arc covering an actual catastrophe where each issue covers a duo or trio within the big group. Otherwise they should stick to no more than 4 ppl at a time in a team up. Also, this obviously doesn’t apply to them as civilians, they’re literally family obviously they’re gonna hang out as a group.
The Teen Titans (2003) is the best writing but (one of the) worst teams. On the other hand the original Teen Titans run and NTT run are the best teams (imo) but have either really bad or really mediocre writing. We as a society need an OG TT or NTT run written well.
Roy struggling with a heroin addiction has so many more layers and nuances to it than struggling with alcohol because as a non-meta hero most of his fights were against something drug-related. As opposed to alcohol which is now seen as a normal thing for soldiers/heroes/warriors to fall on as a crutch, this medium uses alcohol addiction with every other character. Roy’s addiction to heroin would literally be an opposition to all that he’s ever stood and fought for, all that his family and friends ever fought and stood for, and way more interesting because of that.
Garth (like Donna) is one of the most powerful and interesting characters but is never given enough panel time. However, unlike Donna, writers would rather write him out of the teen titans before they actually write a good interpretation of him. And I don’t know why but his role in the Aquafam too has been dwindling with time.
Garth’s openness about his inferiority complex and his inferiority complex in general need more panel time, it’s one of the most interesting thing to come out of the OG TT run
This is a complicated take because it’s literally two opposites in one take, but the main difference in characters as seen in old comics vs. now is two things. One, the writing of characters was much better, much more realistic, and much more nuanced in old comics. Two, when there is a well-written character in modern comics its usually a more show not tell character so everything is shown to us through actions and stuff rather than straight up words or them psychoanalyzing themselves in their speech bubbles and that just doesn’t work with modern audiences because media literacy is a dying art. Also, there’s the variable of the influence of fanon over how characters are written in comics but that’s a whole other post.
Roy and Donna are literally THE OTP like I don’t even want to hear it, they’re literally DC’s percabeth.
Every single Teen Titan had an inferiority complex, some were just easier to see.
Selina and Bruce and Talia and Bruce are two very different relationships that can’t be compared. Also they will always live side by side till the end of comics, this love triangle was one meant to last, and it will.
Jason Todd as we know him right now should get the YJ Roy Harper treatment, we need to find out that he’s a clone and the real JT is somewhere in Africa working for UNICEF or something, that’s the only way to fix his character.
Also, ignoring the top one, if DC doesn’t want to commit to that because they’re cowards, they should at least not make him a part of the Batfam yet, it’s too soon for either side.
Kara Zor El is the perfect character to be a white lantern, her arc literally matches up perfectly with each of the rings, and she’d wield it incredibly
Kyle Rayner is top 3 GLs
In my opinion, Diana is best written when the most important thing to her in the world is the world itself. Like, usually I hate the whole “hero would sacrifice u, villain would sacrifice the world” thing cuz it mostly doesn’t really apply, but to her it absolutely does. Diana would sacrifice the closest person to her for the world in an instant if it was for the sake of the world. And this isn’t like an angst thing because they all know it and are all ok with it.
Also, Diana is one of the most if not the most powerful characters in all of DC, if DC did a Deadpool kills the marvel universe kind of thing they should totally use her because she is sooo powerful. (Afterthought: that’s why I hate most of her appearances in anything JL because they underpower her soooo bad)
I say this as a batfamily Stan, the batfamily is the worst family in all of DC and sadly the one that gets the most attention.
The OG TT are the epitome of superheroes in the sense that each and every one of them defines every part of a superhero spectacularly and always has.
Kory needs an arc where she leaves everyone and everything for a while because as of right now, not only do the writers only ever see her in relation to others, but she sees herself that way. She needs an arc where she finds herself in relation to herself, who SHE is. Away from the love triangle, and the titans, and the Titans, etc.
Babs is a better character outside of the love triangle than she is when she’s in it. (Also a better character as Oracle but that only really unpopular amongst writers)
Every single woman character in DC is written in relation to the men in the comics, even WW. The only exception is Oracle, not Babs, but Oracle, which is actually so twisted considering that the creation of Oracle as a character came hand in hand with an event that literally inspired the cloning of the phrase “fridging”
BOP is one of the best teams
Harley Quinn shouldn’t be a hero yet, she was abused for over a decade, we need to see more of her struggle to undo all of the manipulation and heal from the abuse as well as try to undo all the damage she’s done. The Animated Series is the best version of her arc but it’s still not good either.
We as a fandom(s) need to normalize the ability to consume and enjoy things we don’t necessarily agree with. For example, as I’ve stated before multiple times, I absolutely hate any kind of abusive Bruce, however, I still read those long posts about it and I still read fics where dck punches him cuz he’s an abusive asshole, it’s okay to consume media that you don’t necessarily agree with. And same with fanon versions of characters, I HATE coffee-addict Tim, I’ve still enjoyed hundreds of fics with him in them though.
Damian Wayne is the most compassionate member of the batfam and one of the Keats likely ones to willingly kill
Blue devil and kid devil have arguably the most interesting story and tragedy in all of DC and the only reason they’re not given a lot of attention is because their tragedies have to do with something we don’t like to see: the wrongdoings and flaws of heroes, especially ones we like.
Speed Saunders should’ve continued as a character
Hal Jordan should’ve stayed evil for a while, the end of the parallax arc sucks and is a stupid cop out because they weren’t ready for a fully new GL. I don’t think he should’ve stayed the villain forever, but maybe for a few years, especially if that meant they would’ve ended the arc better.
Mera is more powerful than Arthur, always has been and always will be.
Wally West does see Barry Allen as a father figure and vice versa, it’s okay to see someone as a parental figure when you still have parents, especially when your parents are (canonically) borderline emotionally abusive and/or neglectful.
Any iteration of ANY hero being abusive is the worst writing ever because what the actual fuck, I’m sorry, but what happened to the whole they’re literally fucking heroes part??
There are so many characters that deserve solo series (or even mini series) but don’t get them because all the series are already being taken up by bigger characters (looking at you batfam)
So many characters get mischaracterized for the sake of other character’s stories (again, looking at you batfam)
Anyone who thinks Superman is boring either doesn’t understand him as a character or hasn’t read enough stuff with him in it (I recommend All-Star Superman and/or American Alien)
Anyone who relates to the Joker needs to turn themselves in at the nearest police station. (Unless it’s LEGO Joker, we like him)
The LEGO Batman movie is unironically some of the best DC media to ever exist
Atlantis and Paradise Island should be allies (especially once Diana, Arthur, and Mera come into the picture), I don’t know why they’re not
Lex Luthor is one of the most despicable villains because he’s a realistic villain, which is much scarier
Kon should be the next Superman
Connor Hawke should’ve stayed Tim’s age and Tim’s friend, it makes the most sense timeline-wise plus I think their dynamic was super cute.
Comic writers not making Roy openly refer to Ollie as his dad even though they’ve been father and son since they’ve debuted basically is actually so crazy to me
These next few are about Talia Al-Ghul because I love that woman:
Talia Al-Ghul Pre-Morrison was one of the best and most interesting characters in all of DC and that isn’t just my opinion, she was really popular amongst fans and writers for that exact reason
However, Morrison’s damage to her is near irreparable
BUT, if DC did want to repair it, I genuinely believe she’d be the best character they’d have character-wise and it would probably pull in a bunch of new fans
But even if they don’t, Talia Al-Ghul is one of the most important characters in all of DC and comics in general because she’s literally the documented history of WOC in media (especially Arab and Asian women) as well as their relation to white men in media. Her character and how it changes is directly tied to mainstream views on WOC at the time.
Talia Al-Ghul is literally of “I Bet On Losing Dogs” by Mitski, personified
Dinah Lance is the perfect example of a complex character done right and interpreted wrong/not interpreted enough.
If anyone should be the therapist within the hero community it should be J’onn or Red tornado, those are the two that make the most sense.
Helena Bertinelli is more important to the batfam than Jason Todd is.
Cassandra Cain shouldn’t be portrayed as mute anymore, it doesn’t make sense for her character or her arc.
The worst thing to happen to Poison Ivy’s character is Harley Quinn.
Mera is made to be a mother, whether to her own kids (Garth included) or as a mother figure to other kids.
On the other hand, Stephanie Brown wasn’t ready and doesn’t/didn’t want to be a mother, she gave up her baby willingly and will almost 100% not go out to look for her.
Lady Shiva’s appearances 99% of the time are out of character for her, the whole “training with Shiva” thing is also OOC for her, and Cass even existing is OOC for her. The reason that this continues though is because she’s been transformed from an actual character into a character tool.
Stephanie Brown and Cassanadra Cain are a good duo and anyone who hates on one but likes the other misunderstood both of their characters.
Dick hating Jason for what he did to Tim IS in character of him, and, in my opinion, correct of him
The rise in people who don’t like heroes’s pacifism is concerning. People calling Bruce a bad person because he doesn’t kill is concerning. People viewing Clark as boring because he’s a good person is concerning. People liking straight up villains more than they do heroes is concerning.
Anyone who recommends mister miracle should also tell them about the TW in the first few pages
Kingdom come isn’t that good, especially to non-Christians
Big Barda needs her own run. We need a Bug Barda run that covers everything from her origins to where she is now, and we need it done by a female writer who’s good at complex and heavy stories
Some of the most hated comic writers are some of the best at what they do
Chuck Dixon is just as much a blessing to any character he writes as he is a curse
Marvel’s comic writers and artists 80% of the town do a better job with their characters and their arcs than DC writers and artists.
DC should have sensitivity readers because the amount of racism in these comics is insane
It’s okay to put down a comic/run because you don’t like the art, it’s your time no one’s gonna judge you
Alex Ross’s art is actually nice, people just like hating
The Trinity should never be shipped with one another
Steve isn’t important to Diana at all, he’s barely in any of her comics actually, he’s less important to her (or at least to her character) than fucking swamp thing
Batfam is better smaller
It’s better to read the first appearances of characters, it helps you understand them better.
Lois Lane is the DC version of Susan Storm, aka the blueprint of women in that company’s comics, but also one of the most forgotten women in that company’s comics
Comics aren’t going to go anywhere arcwise for the characters long term, that’s the whole point. Batman will always have a robin. Love triangles will always be love triangles. They will all always stay young.
Old campy comics were better than modern comics.
Cheshire isn’t a redeemable character and shouldn’t be one. Women in comics should be allowed to be straight up villains and stay that way.
Cheshire having Lian is OOC. Cheshire leaving Lian is a racist trope.
Asian and Arabs are treated horribly by DC.
The New 52 is actually a good place to start for new readers, it was a good idea, but it should’ve just been an alternate universe (like mcu is to 616 kind of) or something (and it should’ve been down with the supervision of anyone who isn’t Dan didio)
DC has some of the best world building in the history of modern day media/literature especially considering how many facets of this world there were/are to build
Team rosters that are constantly changing are better than stationary ones unless they change too much/too fast
Canon is hypocritical 90% of the time, most times canon clashes and crashes and doesn’t make sense, so don’t worry about it, read a comic, count what you want to be canon as canon, throw the rest into to the “never existed” pile
I’m sorry to tell you guys this, but it isn’t an opinion, it’s an unpopular canon fact, one that even I don’t like: Dick Grayson likes pineapple one pizza
Something that I hate that been on the rise a lot lately is the fact that the fandom is so okay with character being sexualized just because they like how the characters look, I feel like we should keep our stances on this as they are with all over-sexualized characters.
Villains of the week are actually so fun, even more then the big villains sometimes.
JSA needs a comeback please and thank you (I’m begging atp)
Cassandra Cain shouldn’t be Orphan, ever, it makes no sense for her to take the name of her abused. The same way it doesn’t make sense for Jason to become red hood.
Complex characters who are dumbed down once can be dumbed down and mischaracterized every time after that, and this has been done A LOT.
The YJ shows is very much overhyped
The fact that DC overpowers their characters makes them more interesting, not less
Selina was right and in character when she left Bruce at the alter. She was not right and in character when she hid Helena from him, she wouldn’t do that.
Bruce Wayne is more fun to read when he has a pipe and fun colored robes, please give him back his pipe and his fun colored robes.
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cameliawrites · 11 days
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Kanej Fic Recs: The "Figuring Out Intimacy" Trope
If you're anything like me, you're a glutton for very specific fic tropes applied to your very favorite OTPs (and we all know my OTP of OTPs is kanej). To this end, ao3 tags are your best friend. When you see that delicious combination of tags like "emotional hurt/comfort" and "healing" and "pining" with some sort of moody, vaguely poetic title, that's the good shit right there. That is a MEAL, and you are about to feast.
Anyways. I'm getting off track.
I come to you today with more than just an offering to the potluck; I am here to open up the doors to the whole damn buffet. That's right - FIC RECS. Specifically, fic recs that scratch the particular itch for "post-canon fics where Kaz and Inej figure out how to touch each other, but really the Physical Armor is always symbolic of the Emotional Armor that they have to learn to lower if they hope to ever really Be Together." Do you know what I'm talking about? If you know, you know. It's kanej figuring out intimacy. It's touch, but it's about the way they touch each other's souls. It's a fandom-classic fic trope. FEAST AWAY. (And feel free to reblog and add any of your own favorites! This is certainly not an exhaustive list, just some favorites of mine that fit the bill.)
They're all complete, they're all canon compliant (I had to set some limitations because my list was getting out of hand lol), and they're listed in order of rating (T, M, etc.), but otherwise they're in no particular order, and the summaries and/or most of the excerpts are those provided by the authors on ao3!
Can We Stop? by thegoldenkneazle (Rated G, 220 words, drabble)
Excerpt:
Kaz immediately drew back, rolling over onto his side of the creaky bed to create space between them. “Are you okay?” he asked, dark eyebrows drawing together.
Every Time We Touch by Pokemon67 (Rated G, 1k words, oneshot)
Summary: "Inej hadn't been exaggerating. It wasn’t easy for her either."
Excerpt:
She couldn’t quite recall how they’d ended up here, in Kaz’s room, on his bed. She was perched on his legs, right in front of him, and if she raised her head she could look into his eyes count the little flecks of gold the light always teased to her were there. 
Uncharted Waters by insignificant457 (Rated T, 5k words, oneshot)
Summary: "One step on the long and winding road to intimacy."
Excerpt:
Perhaps Inej should be insulted that she’s been penciled into Kaz’s schedule, fit snugly in between a Crow Club shareholders’ meeting and a parley with the Liddies, but when it comes to taking steps forward in their relationship, romantic spontaneity is not exactly something they can afford.
Council of the Tides by blacktag189 (Rated T, 15k words, multichap)
Excerpt:
With each tiny step forward they made, the urgency to be pulled out to sea still built. She couldn't ignore the brutal truth in that - that no matter how much he gave her here...one day everything would align just right and she would leave. But today wasn't that day.
Discover the Rest by Silver_89 (Rated T, 4k words, oneshot) (note: restricted to ao3 account holders)
Summary: "Post Crooked Kingdom fic where Kaz and Inej have made some progress with touch but touch is not the only progress Inej wants to see from him. She wants to know him too."
Excerpt:
Inej didn’t share much about her time at the Menagerie...And yet she had shared that she struggled with touch too. He understood why. But she didn’t know why he was the same. I will have you without armor, Kaz Brekker. Or I will not have you at all. It was time he tried taking it off.
All Flowers in Time (Bend Towards the Sun) by laurie_ipsum (Rated M, 10k words, multichap)
Summary: "Does this fandom need yet another Kaz and Inej figure out intimacy fic? Probably not, but I did it anyway."
Excerpt:
Kaz wants all his firsts. It’s written in his eyes, on his face, in every line of his body. She can tell it terrifies him. It terrifies her, too.
One Thousand and One Nights by Trogdor19 (Rated M, 11k words, multichap)
Summary: "One new touch, every night…"
Excerpt:
He dips his head, his cheekbone brushing against hers so quietly it’s like the way she moves. So silkily between shadows no one’s ever quite sure it happened. 'Wait for me,' he breathes. The letters barely given enough air to shape them.
The Trouble With Wanting by A_nonnie_mouse (Rated M, 6k words, oneshot, part of a series)
Summary: "Inej begins to reckon with her own armor so she can have what, and who, she wants."
Excerpt:
“Kaz.” She was frustrated at his self-deprecation. “Please understand. My mind wants you. My heart longs for you. My body…” She struggled for words, the shame rising again, threatening her eyes with tears. “My body isn’t entirely convinced something horrible isn’t going to happen again. This wasn’t because of you. You understand that, don’t you?” 
show me where my armor ends (show me where my skin begins) by kingsandqueensofthebarrel (Rated M, 25k words, oneshot)
Excerpt:
“You’re something I want, Wraith,” he says, his tone all business like. “And I don’t stop until I have what I want.” “That could have sounded romantic.” “It’s a fact.” She hums and squeezes his hand.
collision course by cameliawrites (Rated M, 10k words, oneshot) (shameless self-promotion)
Excerpt:
Inej adjusts to Kaz the way that winter adjusts to spring: she thaws, and thaws, and thaws—and then she utterly melts.
you're a bandit like me, eyes full of stars by sarathedreamer (Rated M, 54k words, multichap, part of a series)
Summary: "Kaz and Inej learning to be with one another after Crooked Kingdom (events in Rule of Wolves might be mentioned in later chapters but you'll be warned!) Basically a slow burn filled with angst and fluff, and little plot :)"
Excerpt:
She blushed and felt a smile tug at her lips, so she looked down at his hand, held up in front of her like an invitation. His fingers were barely shaking. Inej looked back up at his eyes, asking a silent question once more, and Kaz nodded after a short hesitation. She gently cupped his hand in hers, fascinated by the softness of it, by the way two of hers were not quite enough to hold one of his. No one but she could know how graceful Dirtyhands’ weapons were under his gloves, and that was another one of his secrets she would gladly keep close to her chest.
Things We Can Never Do by rainstormdragon (Rated E, 3k words, oneshot, part of a series)
Excerpt:
They had done this before more than once. First words, then their hands on their own bodies. Gasped encouragement and shared fantasies. “Tell me what you’d want to do,” he urged her, not moving even a hair’s breadth toward her, giving her the safety of the space between them. “Tell me what you’d want me to do.”
Closer by lilieswho (Rated E, 7k words, oneshot)
Excerpt:
There is a deep desire crawling under Inej’s skin. It’s a feeling she’s begun to grow used to by now — the feeling of wanting someone, wishing for their touch and hoping they wish for hers back. Not someone’s, no. Kaz’s.
If you've made it all the way to the end of this rec list (hi!! thanks!), you should absolutely reply to or reblog this post with your favorite "kanej figure out intimacy" fic, whether it's on this list or something else! :) Support your local organic pasture-raised fic authors, etc. etc.
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IOTA Reviews: Transmission and Deflagration (The Kwamis' Choice)
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Well, it only took until almost halfway through the fifth season, but we're finally getting a two-part episode that isn't a season finale. There have been a few episodes I think could have benefited from having an extra part, like “Cat Blanc”. So obviously, after all this time, there has to be a reason for putting a two-parter here. The story told here has to be big. It has to be huge. It has to be something that will alter the very way we see the plot and these characters, and—it's more Love Square stuff. God dammit...
Let's get into the tenth and eleventh episodes of Miraculous Ladybug's fifth season: Transmission and Deflagration
“Transmission” starts with Marinette having another depressive episode, which seems to be worse than usual, with her offering her Miraculous to Tikki so she can choose someone else. While Tikki tries to remind her of all the good she's done as Ladybug as footage from earlier episodes plays, Marinette points out how she's a terrible Ladybug, once again referencing how she lost the Miraculous because of her feelings for Adrien.
Tikki: You’re overreacting, Marinette!
Marinette: Really? Then, how come I lost the Miraculous I was entrusted with all because of love? Love only ever causes problems. I’ll never fall in love again! Love is weak! And I can’t be sad about it; otherwise, I might get akumatized!
Okay, this is just getting ridiculous. We're ten episodes into the season, and whenever Marinette brings up her failure at the end of the last season, it's the same song and dance: She feels guilty about it, she needs someone to try and make her feel better, and she doesn't change anything about the way she and Cat Noir operate. If it isn't that, it's a complete strawman or character who we know already hates Ladybug like Chloe or Lila calling out Marinette for her failure specifically so any negative feedback she gets can be easily brushed aside. The whole point of a hero having to comprehend a major failure is to see how they deal with the consequences to their actions and find a way to improve to make sure nothing like that ever happens again. If Marinette came up with new ways to strategize with Cat Noir, or seriously reevaluate the way she sees Adrien that isn't just brushed aside, I'd get it. Instead, all she does is whine about how much her life sucks over and over, which is the same problem I've had with Adrien for the past few seasons.
And once again, for a show with the lyrics “The power of love always so strong” in its opening, it seems like the writers want to make a bigger point in favor of showing how love can only ruin things. Yes, getting emotional can cause someone to make more impulsive decisions, but at the same time, feelings of love and kindness can get good results, like Ellen Ripley's maternal instincts motivating her to save Newt in Aliens. The problem is that we never get a lot of arguments as to how love can benefit the heroes, not only when we see how much it screws up Ladybug and Cat Noir's partnership, but once again, how Marinette's romantic feelings for someone led to her greatest failure. The closest we get to an argument in favor of love is whenever Marinette and Adrien's friends try to make their OTP come together without considering if it would actually make things better or not.
Speaking of which, after the episode's obligatory pointless Chloe line that's only there so Selah Victor can pay her rent that week, Ms. Bustier asks Alya to deliver Marinette's homework to her, only for Nino to convince her to have Adrien do it instead. Somehow, she thinks this minor favor will help Marinette and Adrien realize their true feelings for each other. Because it's not like Alya learned that she shouldn't choose who she thinks Marinette would be best with last episode, right?
Marinette and Adrien talk and it seems like they're starting to grow a little closer, but Tikki and Plagg panic, trying to intervene so they don't know each other's identities. The attempt fails, but Marinette kicks Adrien out anyway. It's a pretty somber scene, so let's cut to something stupid instead, like Marinette and Adrien's classmates throwing a party under the assumption that Adrien simply delivering something to Marinette means they'll get together now.
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All of you are really gunning for the Biggest Idiot Award today, aren't you?
Of course, even though she went along with one of these weird “force Marinette to do something she doesn't want to” schemes before in “Crocoduel”, Zoe seems to be the only one with a smidgen of common sense.
Zoe: Alya, did you hear Marinette’s voicemail message?
Alya: Yeah, but that was before, Zoe.
Zoe: “Before”? Before what?
Alya: Before when Marinette was a complete wreck.
Nino: But Alya sends her the perfect mechanic.
Alya: Adrien!
Nino: He’s fixing her up as we speak.
Rose: Wow! When they come back to school, they’ll finally be an item!
Marc: A perfect plan!
Zoe: But... you guys don’t actually know for sure.
Alya: Trust me. This is it this time!
I'm starting to think that maybe Marinette should reconsider who she chooses to be temp heroes once she gets the Miraculous back.
Adrien starts crying as he leaves Marinette's place, which attracts the attention of Monarch... who then immediately backs out as soon as he senses him, transforming back into Gabriel. Meanwhile, Tikki and Plagg discuss Marinette and Adrien's situation.
Plagg: Sugarcube! Having to force them to choose between love and their mission is just awful! Maybe Master Fu was wrong to choose them.
Tikki: No, they’re made for each other. Love is what gives them their strength.
Plagg: But the impossible part of that love is destroying them, and I know a thing or two about destruction.
Tikki: (sighs heavily) What can we do?
Plagg: We must free them of that impossible choice. We must... free them of us.
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Yep. This is the titular Kwamis' choice. They seriously think that Marinette and Adrien's romantic problems are more important than them being superheroes, so their best option is to just take away their Miraculous even though Monarch still has fifteen more of them. I'd be more forgiving if this was towards the beginning of Marinette and Adrien's superhero careers, but this is Season 5, where the stakes have never been higher thanks to Monarch's arsenal. Oh yeah, I also forgot to mention that MARINETTE IS STILL THE FUCKING GUARDIAN, AND TAKING AWAY HER MIRACULOUS DOESN'T CHANGE A THING! IT'S NEVER EVEN MENTIONED IN EITHER EPISODE, SO HOW THE HELL DO YOU FORGET SOMETING THAT IMPORTANT?!?!
It doesn't even make sense that only now are Tikki and Plagg against Marinette and Adrien actually getting together when they were never shown to have any problems with it in earlier seasons, and just last episode, Plagg encouraged Adrien to go after Marinette after doing so as Cat Noir didn't work out. It comes across as the writers struggling to come up with new ways to have opposition to the Love Square, even if this idea somehow leads to a minuscule amount of progress in that department. Yeah, you figure that out...
Also, it's pretty weird how after four and a half seasons of Marinette suffering from the burden of being Ladybug, only now does Tikki decide to relieve her of that responsibility, but only because of how it affects her love life.
We get another scene showing how stupid Marinette and Adrien's friends are as they talk about how happy Marinette and Adrien must be now, interspersed with scenes of Marinette and Adrien crying their eyes out. Just like that one scene in “Evolution”, I don't get the setup. Is this meant to be a joke, or a serious moment? After Nathalie takes a call for Adrien telling Nino that he can't be bothered at the moment, Gabriel comes into the room to comfort him, giving him an Alliance ring in the process.
Tikki and Plagg talk to their respective holders and tell them how they feel that the burden of being heroes is crushing them. Marinette and Adrien obviously bring up the situation with Monarch, but as soon as their Kwamis mention that not being superheroes means that they can pursue their love lives with no stress, they immediately take off their Miraculous and give them back. After five seasons that this episode confirmed happened just under a year, and this is what causes them to give up their Miraculous: a bad case of heartache. We're supposed to see this as the breaking point that causes the two to not want to be superheroes ever again? They don't consider the innocent lives that could be in danger, or the fact that this heavy burden will most likely be forced on two new and inexperienced schmucks who will struggle even more than they did thanks to Monarch possessing powers of the other fifteen Miraculous.
I'm sorry, but I don't see this as an emotional scene. All I see is what I saw with Adrien in “Kuro Neko”: these characters simply giving up because of how much they're prioritizing their personal feelings over the lives of others. If this was something Marinette and Adrien came up with and made an agreement to quit at the same time (even choosing their own replacements), I'd sort of get it, as they'd at least be on the same terms, but neither of them ever learn the other quit until later on in the episode.
After Adrien breaks down even more, we learn that the whole reason Gabriel hesitated to akumatize Adrien the last time was because he didn't have an Alliance ring on, so now that he does, he's taking a mulligan. However, the Akuma is stopped at the last minute when Adrien sees the homework he was supposed to give Marinette, so he runs off as his negative emotions fade. Instead, Monarch chooses to akumatize someone else with five different Alliance rings.
Monarch: Rejoice, dear Kwamis! Five Alliances enables as many Miraculous powers to transfer at the same time! This villain promises to be exceptional! (laughs manically)
Pretty sure you hyped up Style Queen the same way three seasons ago, yet you still didn't get the Miraculous then, so I wouldn't gloat too soon.
The next scene with Marinette and Adrien is actually a really nice one. Marinette starts stuttering as usual when she tries to talk, but Adrien comes up with another idea: He'll ask a series of yes or no questions, and Marinette can raise her right or left hand to answer them. Adrien asks Marinette about her feelings for him, and Marinette accidentally answers no before changing her mind. Before Adrien leaves, he asks Marinette if she wants to spend more time with him in the future, to which she accepts. This scene was handled really well, and nothing really felt forced here.
Back with Alya, she and the others are once again coming up with a plan to get Marinette and Adrien together (because none of them have lives outside of the Love Square, I guess), when Nora suddenly calls.
Nora: Geez, sis! You never pick up the phone when I like, actually need your advice!
Alya: I couldn’t pick up. I’m at school!
Nora: Yeah, right. So, you see, I had no choice but to deal with it myself.
Alya: Oh, no... Nora. I told you before, you gotta talk before you act!
Nora: Yeah, but I did talk, like, I said stuff in front of Kouki's bros.
Alya: Nora! Not “talk” like that!
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Yeah, outside of a few references to Nora trying to call Alya earlier in the episode, I didn't skip anything here. We're just thrown into this plot with little to no explanation as to what's going. What Nora and this Kouki guy were arguing about, much less what Nora said to his friends is never explained. I don't even known if they're supposed to be in a relationship or not. It's not like in “Sandboy” or “Oblivio” where the motivation for how the person got akumatized was only explained near the end of the episode. The episode acts like we're supposed to know who Kouki is and why he and Nora are fighting when this is the first time Kouki has ever appeared on this show.
As the conversation goes on, Tikki chooses Alya to be the new wielder of the Ladybug Miraculous and Plagg chooses Zoe to be the new wielder of the Cat Miraculous. Okay, outside of Zoe being the only one in this episode who isn't a complete idiot, I can see why Plagg would choose her, since she has experience as a superhero, and her identity wasn't exposed. As for Tikki choosing Alya? Yeah, Alya did a good job as Scarabella in “Hack-San”, but she doesn't mention that A) She and Cat Noir still needed Marinette's help to stop Robustus, and B) Alya's already had her identity exposed twice, to the point where she was the one to suggest she not be trusted with one before Marinette lost the other fifteen Miraculous at the end of the last season. Alya's not a bad hero, but these factors don't exactly make her an ideal successor to Ladybug. Also, it's pretty dumb how the whole reason Marinette and Adrien quit was for romantic reasons, yet the whole reason Alya blew her cover last season was for romantic reasons (Rocketear).
Back with Adrien and Marinette, the former plans to leave, but is interrupted by the akumatized form of Kouki, named Kikou.
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Kikou's design is... I mean, it's not terrible, I guess? Putting aside the fact that this is the second Akuma in the series to go with the “black boxer” stereotype (who is also a dumb brute like Anansi was), the gold jewelry is a decent touch, and it makes sense that he has the five Alliance rings to show off his wealth. As for his powers, because he has five rings, he has five different powers, the Tiger Miraculous' Clout to power his Gum-Gum Pistol-esque punches, the Turtle Miraculous' Shelter to protect his head where the Akuma is obviously hiding, the Horse Miraculous' Voyage to move around quickly and make up for his size hindering his speed, the Ox Miraculous' Resistance to protect the aforementioned Shelter, and the Mouse Miraculous' Multitude to clone himself with. This is the Akuma that really made me realize that the gimmick of every Akuma this season having the powers of whatever Miraculous Monarch gives them is just an excuse to half-ass writing any new Akuma powers in favor of the same fifteen abilities the other Miraculous have.
Kikou attacks the city, but Alya transforms into Scarabella, soon being joined by Zoe, AKA, Kitty Noire.
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Kitty Noire's design is... pretty weird, all things considered. The green lipsick just doesn't look that good, I don't get the green hair extensions, and why are they eyes like that when even Lady Noire's eyes stayed green? At the very least, the hair looks marginally better than Catwalker's, and I like the detailing on the suit itself.
While Scarabella and Kitty Noire quickly get to know each other, Marinette and Adrien get used to being civilians again pretty quickly as they watch them fight off Kikou, the two new heroes struggling to keep up with Kikou's five Miraculous powers. Of course, Marinette and Adrien only look mildly concerned, not even regretting their choices in the slightest.
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Our heroes, ladies and gentlemen.
Scarabella uses her Lucky Charm, getting a parachute, which is totally different from the kind used in the final episode of the first episode. Scarabella and Kitty Noire taunt Kikou, Scarabella drawing Kikou's fire while Kitty Noire recruits a bunch of firefighters, who then get some paint from the art store Socqueline runs. The firefighters then load the paint into their truck's hose, which is then used to fill up the parachute. Kitty Noire cuts the rope, and the paint blinds Kikou, and as soon as he deactivates his shield, Scarabella breaks his headgear, freeing the Akuma.
Scarabella de-evilizes the Akuma, sort of helps Kouki and Nora make up, uses Miraculous Scarabella to fix all the damage, while Marinette and Adrien compliment the new heroes from afar before promising to meet up at school tomorrow.
The first episode ends with Gabriel's Alliance recording the unusual data in two Alliances, meaning that Scarabella and Kitty Noire's identities have already been exposed... even though Tikki should have known this since “Jubiliation”. Yeah, you all know where this is going.
THE BIGGEST IDIOT OF THE EPISODE IS... TIKKI
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While the competition was tough, Tikki was able to get the win for going along with this asinine plan in the first place that prioritized the personal feelings of two people over the fact that Monarch was at his most dangerous. Not only that, she forgot Marinette was still the Guardian, she forgot that Alya's identity was already exposed twice, and that even if she didn't know the Alliance rings were a front for Monarch's plan, forgot that these hi-tech rings track the everyday movements of its users, not even telling Plagg this before he chose Zoe.
The second part, “Deflagration”, immediately starts off with Kitty Noire saying that Ladybug and Cat Noir have nothing to feel guilty about even though they essentially abandoned Paris when Ladybug was shown to be getting backlash for her failure, but of course, that isn't mentioned here.
Kitty Noire: We’ll accomplish our mission just like they did, because the goal we all share is to defeat Monarch, isn't it?
News Reporter: Or perhaps Ladybug and Cat Noir renounced their mission so they could finally live their love story?
Scarabella: They were never in love or in a relationship, and neither are we.
Kitty Noire: (in a flirtatious tone) So far anyway!
I'd make a “The Ambiguously Gay Duo” joke here, but we all know Alya is already in a relationship.
Alya and Marinette meet up, the former congratulating her successor on another great job. The two talk about Adrien, and Alya once again encourages Marinette to focus more on pursuing a relationship with him, no doubt planning another stupid party in her mind.
We then get a scene that actually reminds the audience that Chloe and Zoe are supposed to be sisters. I understand if you might have forgotten, but don't worry. I'm pretty sure the writers did too. Of course, I think the writers might be running out of new ways to make Chloe mean to someone, because this time, she just yells at Zoe for being near her and not being in the “half-of-a-sister zone”. In order to appease her sister and make sure she doesn't call their mom, Zoe offers to wash all of Chloe's shoes. Plagg talks to Zoe about possibly standing up to her sister.
Plagg: How about I Catacylsm that sister of yours instead?
Zoe: It’s pointless, Plagg.
Plagg: Zoe, you can't let them treat you that way; no one speaks to me like that! Just ask the T-rexes... That is, if you can find one! Because they're not so smug anymore now, are they?
Zoe: It’s best to stay out of trouble in this family if I'm going to protect my secret identity.
Plagg: You start by giving up cheese, and then you end up giving up on dignity, freedom, and justice!
Zoe: I feel like you like to blow things out of proportion, don't you?
Plagg: Yes... especially when I’m starving.
Talking about standing up to your mean sister, contemplating murder while casually discussing genocide. Same thing, right?
We cut to Gabriel, who's over the moon about the recent revelation regarding Scarabella and Kitty Noire, even dancing a little. He tells Nathalie and heads to his lair to plan his next scheme, but not before chatting with Emilie's body once again. Gabriel transforms into Monarch and gives himself the powers of the Bee, Mouse, Rooster, Ox, and Horse Miraculous, traveling to the school himself.
Meanwhile, we cut to the Resistance, where we see Max has set up a system where, through the use of the Alliance rings and their phones, the members can alert the school to whenever there's an active Akuma... even though one of the features included in the Alliance includes an Akuma alert (Multiplication), and there's also been an Akuma alarm since Season 2 (Riposte). So once again, this brave and totally important Resistance has contributed absolutely nothing. Okay, there are some other parts, like some of the members planning to fight off the Akuma with paintball guns if there's no other option. You know, this is proof that this show takes place in France, because if this was America, they would most likely have actual guns.
At lunch, Marinette and Adrien get closer, to which Lila uses as an opportunity to manipulate Chloe into trying to break up the moment, but not before we get a joke where Chloe needs Alliance to define the word “generous”. Okay, I'm not sure if the joke was that Chloe is so selfish, she doesn't know the meaning of the word, or if the writers are now resorting to using “dumb blonde” jokes for Chloe now, which totally isn't a cliche that was overused twenty years ago to the point where there was an entire movie starring Reese Witherspoon made to subvert it. Either way, NOT FUNNY, DIDN'T LAUGH.
Chloe tries to ruin the moment by telling Adrien Marinette is in love with him, but he's not having any of that. She tries telling jokes that are supposed to be unfunny, they're funny, but it lacks the charm of something like Hank Hill attempting to tell “yo mama” jokes. Zoe stands up to Chloe, which pisses her off so much, she willingly accepts an Akuma from Monarch (currently invisible thanks to the Rooster Miraculous), turning into Sole Destroyer.
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Sole Destroyer is... wow... Just... WOW... they didn't even try with this one. At least Miracle Queen made sense as an upgrade to Queen Wasp, but this? They literally just took Sole Crusher, whose design resembling Chloe made sense thematically in that episode, gave her a new pair of sunglasses, some more gemstones and spikes, and made her eyes glow as if she was a character in an episode of The Nostalgia Critic. Why go to this effort to make a new Akuma when so little is done with the new design? Wouldn't it make sense to bring back Antibug, given Chloe has been against Ladybug since the end of Season 3? As for Sole Destroyer's powers, it's just Sole Crusher's magic kicks, only instead of growing bigger in size after absorbing each victim and making her more of a threat, they transform into singing shoes. You know, guys, it just dawned on me how... how weird this show is. Kinda goofy...
Alya and Zoe attempt to transform, but Monarch, using a combination of the Mouse, Bee, and Rooster Miraculous' powers, stuns the two and steals the Ladybug and Cat Miraculous from them. Plagg attempts to Cataclysm Monarch, but Monarch uses Resistance to block it, immediately going to unify. Before the process can be completed, both Tikki and Plagg use Lucky Charm and Cataclysm respectively, Tikki summoning a trash can with the side effect of creating a new Eiffel Tower, and Plagg destroying the Cat Miraculous. Doing so ends up creating an endless cycle of things being created and destroyed, and unlike in “Dearest Family”, they don't reuse footage from “Style Queen”.
Marinette gets the trash can, and realizes what's happening, and while Adrien and Nino plan to have the Resistance try and stop Sole Destroyer, Marinette works on making her own Ladybug costume. Monarch orders Tikki to tell him what the hell's going on, Tikki explains that since Plagg destroyed the Cat Miraculous, he lost his only method of communicating with the physical plane, and all Monarch needs to do to get what he needs is to take back the Lucky Charm Tikki created. Just then, Marinette arrives, dressed up as Ladybug, and seemingly having the Lucky Charm in her hands, only for Monarch to steal it, unifying into Monarbug.
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Given how stupid he looked as Shadow Noir last season, it's not exactly surprising to learn that Gabriel looks just as stupid unified with the Ladybug. The red and black polka dots just don't go with the black and purple. The one thing I'll give them credit for is that the eyes look kind of cool.
The Lucky Charm turns out to be a fake, and Nino jumps in to save Marinette from being hit with Venom. The rest of the Resistance also arrives, somehow having beaten up Sole Destroyer off-screen and turning her into a battering ram. Monarbug undoes the Akumatization, but Rose, Ivan, and Kim dogpile Monarbug, leaving Adrien to steal back the Ladybug Miraculous for Marinette.
Marinette transforms back into Ladybug, and uses Miraculous Ladybug to fix the damage and fix the Cat Miraculous. While Ladybug fights Monarch, she learns that he reforged the Miraculous before Monarch uses Multitude and Voyage to make his escape, swearing that he'll beat Ladybug someday, “We'll meet again, Spider-Man”, yadda yadda yadda.
Tikki and Marinette talk about finding new holders, only for Marinette to choose to take back the Miraculous, figuring that since Monarch doesn't know their identities (once again forgetting what the Alliance rings can do), that's the best option. Plagg takes back the Cat Miraculous and goes to say goodbye to Zoe, reassuring her that she was still brave enough to stand up to Chloe, because I guess to hell with the people who somehow managed to restrain Chloe while she was Sole Destroyer. And so this episode, and by extension, this two-parter, ends with Ladybug and Cat Noir talking about how their Kwamis saved the day... even though they were the reason Monarch almost won in the first place.
THE BIGGEST IDIOT OF THE EPISODE IS... CHLOE
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In addition to somehow not knowing the definition of the word “generous”, she failed to come up with a good comeback against Marinette, chose to get akumatized to get revenge, failed at that, betrayed Sabrina and Lila, her only allies, for no good reason, and somehow got defeated off-screen by a bunch of civilians with no superpowers, not even getting to fight either of the new heroes, including her sister.
But yeah, in case you can't tell, these episodes were pretty bad. The entire premise of Tikki and Plagg deciding that Marinette and Adrien's love lives were more important than stopping Monarch was a hard pill to swallow, especially since their replacements didn't get to do anything outside of a single Akuma fight. You'd think that with the buildup Zoe got standing up to Chloe, she'd at least play a role in stopping Sole Destroyer, but instead, she and Alya are benched for almost the entirety of “Deflagration”. It's also really dumb that the ending tried to make them out to be the MVP's of the fight, when their idea was what caused Monarch to almost get the Miraculous.
Even Marinette and Adrien didn't really make a lot of progress here. All they did was talk a little, but even after “Deflagration”, not much else happened. Yeah, Adrien stood up for Marinette, but they still haven't officially started dating yet, even when they had every reason to after giving up their Miraculous. It's still better than nothing, but after four and a half seasons, I think we're allowed to want a little more development with the Love Square Wouldn't it have been interesting to see Marinette and Adrien try to start a relationship during their brief retirement, only to struggle to maintain it after becoming superheroes again? We're almost halfway through the season, and the Love Square is still progressing at a snail's pace. Then again, I guess it's better than nothing at this point.
“Transmission” was pretty boring, all things considered. Other than the first act, nothing really happened. The Akuma fight was like the others, just with two new heroes, and Marinette and Adrien got to bond for a few minutes. Nora and Kouki's drama wasn't interesting, and it wasn't even properly explained like the motivations of other Akumas.
I will say that “Deflagration” was the better of the two, if only because Marinette, Adrien, and Gabriel made some smart choices here. Unlike in “Evolution” and “Destruction”, there's no gloating or wasting time. Monarch cuts straight to the chase, and Marinette comes up with a quick plan to trick him with. Also, while I still don't really care about the Resistance, I like the idea of the civilians standing up to Monarch, and think it was executed better than it was in “Heroes' Day”. Even Sole Destroyer got a few reactions out of me for how exaggerated her facial expressions were. I don't know why they decided to give her One Piece levels of weird faces, but kudos to the animators on that front. Of course, Sole Destroyer was still one of the most pointless Akumas in the show's history, as you could take her out of the episode and nothing would have changed.
Overall, while I appreciate the effort to try and tell bigger stories, this was a really weird choice of an episode to make a two-parter.
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Hello!! Happy late Christmas! I just love your writing- your soooo talented!! ❤️
I was wondering how the yandere bat boys would react to a (willing) darling being jealous of their "cannon" romantic interest? Like Dick's darling being jealous of starfire or Barbara, Damian's darling being jealous of raven, ect...
...or maybe there's a surprise twist where the romantic interests are also yandere for the darling... and maybe they're not willing to share 😉
I can’t help but imagine that fans of all the heroes ship them with other heroes/heroines (sometimes even the with some of the villains) and the batboys are no exception to this, hence the darling coming across some of the ship/OTP stuff regarding their respective batboy and feeling insecure about it. Maybe they were comfortable with the ‘love interests’ who are the most popularly shipped with whichever batboy but now feel a sense of discomfort when in their presence. Maybe they were even close to said ‘love interest’, more like friends with them but now they can’t help but feel some type of way after seeing everything they’ve seen regarding the ‘love interest’ and their batboy.
Their insecurity and jealousy get the best of them, it would especially weigh on the darling if they themself weren’t a hero or vigilante, able to be out in the field with their batboy and the ‘love interests’. Not only to be able to see the respective batboy and ‘love interest’s’ interactions outside of what they already see and to be able to pick up on what the fans take as more than what it is, but to also be able to connect with their batboy by being a part of the hero and vigilante lifestyle with them.
No matter how much the darling were to try to keep their worries and insecurities to themself, their batboy will find out. There’s not a lot you could keep from them after all.
Dick is pretty close with all his exes but his darling means the absolute world to him and he wouldn’t do anything to mess it up, especially since they are willing. He can come off pretty flirty and that could certainly fuel is darling’s worries but he would never betray them like that, not when he’s already got the bestest thing he could ever wish for (that’s you!). But when Dick picks up on his darling acting a little off, more drawn back and closed off, he knows something’s not right and he doesn’t like it. He’ll try to find out what it is without directly asking his darling, he doesn’t want to set them off or cause them to shut down with him, so he’ll see what he can come up with on his own. He’ll be paying closer attention to you and your behavior. It’s when Kory or Barbara is around that he notices you keeping more to yourself, even when you use to have no problem interacting with and getting along just fine with them before. Once he’s gotten the idea of what’s going on then Dick will sit you down and talk about it. He listens intently while you begrudgingly open up about what’s been on your mind lately. He doesn’t take his attentions off of you for anything and when you’re done talking, probably voicing how stupid you think you sound, he pulls you into a tight hug and just holds you close to him. He’s worked so hard to get you to be where you are with him to begin with, he would never forsake it for anything or anyone. There may have been a past with Kory and Barbara (along with others) but you’re his and he’s all yours now and there’s nothing that could take him away from you. He’ll shower his darling with all the love, affection and spoiling the are more than deserving of. He’ll prove his love to you, every ounce of it but you may not be able to walk for a few days, maybe even a week afterwards.
I could see Dick reaching out to Kory and Barbara for advice on what to do or how to go about talking to his darling, just overall some girl advice. Maybe Kory or Barbara hit him up to ask him about how it went or maybe they had brought it to his attention in the first place. They would particularly be worried if the darling had been on good terms with them only to have started acting a little differently when around them recently. That’s when Dick lets them in on what had been going on, maybe cracking a joke or something about being shared between them and his darling only for Kory or Barbara to joke back that it wouldn’t be him that they wanted. And that they wouldn’t be too into sharing either. Normally that wouldn’t have bothered him if it wasn’t for the the way they said it or the underlying threat to their words. Dick’s ears would perk and he would realize that he’d have to keep his darling real close otherwise Kory or Babs would steal them away from him. Like hell he would let that happen.
Jason is pretty closed off, the only real person outside of Roy, Bizarro, Kory, and maybe Artemis that he felt like he could really try and be himself with was his darling. It took a lot for him to open himself up and bring them into his life, he had been terrified of how they would react, what they would do, if they would leave him but they willingly accepted him and stayed. That was truly the happiest he ever felt. So when his darling suddenly started being withdrawn and staying to themself, Jason was scared shitless that it had finally sunk in and they were preparing to up and leave him. He’d be a little hesitant to confront them, not really wanting to hear the words he’s only ever heard in his nightmares being said for real. But he also knows he just needs to rip the bandaid off, so he confronts you all the while anxiety floods his entire being. He’s mentally and emotionally preparing himself to hear those dreaded words and have one of his worst nightmares play out right in front of him for real, only that’s not what he gets at all. Instead he’s thrown for a loop as you open up about how insecure you’ve been feeling towards Kory or Artemis and how scared you are of him deciding to be with them instead. To say he’s taken aback is an understatement, Jay is completely confused. Albeit, he is relieved that it wasn’t his worst fear but still he was at a loss. Had he done something to make you think that? What could he have possibly done to make you think Kory or Artemis was better than you? Had he not been giving you enough of the attention and love you deserved? What could he do to make this all better? What could he do to make you feel the absolute love and adoration he held for no one else but you? All Jason can do is pull you to him, crushing you to his chest and just clutching you close. God, he thought he was gonna lose you, that he would have to force you to stay but thankfully that wasn’t the case. He was going to show just how much you truly meant to him, so much so that wouldn’t ever question your worth or place in his life again.
I feel like Kory’s or Artemis’ interest/obsession would have been brought up earlier on, probably completely unknown to the darling but Jason was well aware of it. He’d pick up on how much more time and attention Kory was putting into them, how much she constantly wanted to be in their presence. While Artemis would talk about how Jason didn’t deserve the darling, how they needed someone better to take care of them, protect them and love them more than he could. She’d have no problem questioning him and whether he was capable of being what they really needed, or if it was her who should take his place instead and be what the darling could truly count on. Either way, Jason isn’t putting up with it and he will throw hands or pull the trigger. He’s not just going to lie down and let anyone take the best thing in his life away from him.
Tim would pick up on his darling’s behavior pretty quickly. He always watches them out the corner of his eye and is very aware of even the slightest change in them so he’d know something wasn’t right probably before his darling even came to the conclusion themself. Not only would he pick up on something being wrong in general but also what may be affecting them. He’d take up being more outwardly affectionate with them, giving them all his attention and just overall spending more time with them before he confronts them about how they’ve been acting and feeling lately. When you tell him that you’ve been feeling pretty jealous of Stephanie or Cassie recently he can’t help but inquire why. He’s racking his brain trying to think of what he did or when he did it to make you think he would want anything more than a work partnership with either of them. Sure, did he have a past with both girls? Yes, but he had you now and you were all he wanted or needed anymore. You had nothing to worry about regarding Stephanie or Cassie, Tim was all yours and no one could ever come between you and him. But Tim would vow to do better by you, he wouldn’t hold back on showing all his love and adoration for you. You would feel just how much he genuinely and truly loves you, so much so you’ll drown in it all, unable to feel anything other than his love for you.
Now regarding Stephanie and Cassie having their own obsession for Tim’s darling, Tim would be very on edge about it. Just the thought of anyone, let alone people as close to him as Steph and Cassie, taking his darling away from him is enough to give him more anxiety then he’s already got going on. But the thought of his darling being so much happier and better off with either of them is something that would haunt Tim to no end. He’d become insecure himself but he’d do everything in his power to keep his darling away from Stephanie and Cassie, ensuring his darling wouldn’t abandon him for them or anyone else for that matter.
Damian would be similar to Jason in that his darling was one of the few people he felt he could bring his walls down for and open himself up to them. He’s afraid of them realizing how truly damaged he is and deciding to leave him because of it, leaving him alone and heartbroken (not like he’d let that happen). So when he notices them acting unusual, becoming closed off especially towards him, Damian’s immediate thought is that they’re going to abandon him. Something must have finally sunk in or it’s hit them that he’s not worth their time and love anymore. Either way, he’s panicked for what’s about to come but he does the most to keep himself in check cause if you’re going to leave he needs to be quick to act. Damian wait until he’s got you all alone before confronting you but before you can explain yourself he’s already bombarding you with how much he loves you and what all he’s done for you along with other things. How could you think of leaving him when you’ve been the best thing he’s had for the longest time? What did he do to not be enough for you anymore? Did you ever truly love him to begin with? Do you hate him? It would have to take his darling hugging him or kissing him to get him to shut up and once he does they speak up about how they’d been feeling recently, about how insecure they’d become over Raven and his close relationship. Now it’s Damian’s turn to hug/kiss his beloved darling but he’s not doing it so much as to shut them up but out of relief and happiness at the fact that they hadn’t even thought about leaving him. He tells them that he is solely and utterly devoted to them and only them, he couldn’t want for anything more than what they already give him and their mere existence. That he would do absolutely anything for them and that there are already somethings he has done for them that they don’t know about but that’s not here or there. Raven is only a friend and that’s all. His darling is the only beloved in his life and that’s how it will always be. He’d vow to never make them feel like anything less than what they are and they are everything to him. Damian would do anything to prove his complete and utter adoration and devotion to his darling and he is extremely devoted. After everything’s calmed down and the two of you are basking in one another, he would tell you with absolute conviction that if you were to ever leave him, he wasn’t going to give up on you or getting you back. He’s completely serious and you know that but that’s what you love about him.
Damian would feel completely betrayed if he ever knew that Raven was obsessed with his darling and wanted them for herself. Like maybe there could have been some kind of agreement but that’s completely off the table now. He’s well aware of what Raven is capable of but he wasn’t lying when he said he’d do anything for his darling, even if that means putting and end to someone he once called a friend. He wouldn’t want it to come down to that but if it did his darling was of the utmost importance to him and that’s what he would fight for.
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