#sorry for the wall of text anon but i love the divide between faves and meta as much as i hate it

[saltprince]

I still genuinely believe that playing Granblue for love is the most enjoyable way to play it, as in, I got into the game because of specific characters and then fell in love with more of the world

But I also have to believe there's an incredible sense of vindication in loving a character who's also just objectively good in the meta? Like, you love them and they're good and you can use them to beat difficult enemies, you can fight "with" them in a sense

Like, I'm happy when someone in the hivemind mentions building a party out of blorbos and it working well. I love that and I'm happy to hear it. There's soul and heart in it and not just grinding for the sake of grinding

Then again, I'm a pretty low level player and I know I'm not built for the HL stuff

I think everyone has their own reasons to play gbf or any game, but it's easy to lose sight of the fact different types of players exist (and the (mutual) contempt or even gatekeeping that often follows in its wake).

Personally I do need a strong incentive to pick up a game. I was on and off gbf for years until Sandalphon hooked me fully-- but I had my eye on a bunch of other characters even before him, I just needed a push.

So perhaps shockingly I am also into gbf because I love the characters, I just swing back and forth a lot between objectives.

At the end of the day it's about how you have fun. Progression isn't linear nor is it required.

I kind of ended up writing way too much in response so I'll put it under a read more.........

So like, as someone who's fairly high up in the content and does things both for meta and faves?

The thing with meta is that for most of all characters, it shifts over time. Characters fall in and out of meta or may get new alts that are or aren't meta. Even characters everyone thinks of as top tier have places where they aren't that great. Don't get me wrong, it's definitely awesome when your fave is meta-- but designing teams around your fave to make them perform alongside or in spite of meta is vindicating too. I really think any character can perform in general content.

Generally meta isn't the damning end-all it may seem, far from it. I think meta only has chokehold on 2 things. Racing (getting the most points, either for events like Unite & Fight or something like racing for points for chests in raids) and whatever the 'true' endgame content is at the time. But even for those, there are always options, and as time goes on we get more resources to work with, making teams more flexible.

That said, I do enjoy figuring out teams for specific fights like they're puzzle pieces. I get more enjoyment when I fit my favorites in there, but initially the reward is in figuring out a team to begin with. I'm a bit in between faves and meta, though lately I've been leaning much more into my faves. I find that I'm okay with running 1 fave on a team if the meta makes it possible for me to run that character, and then I'll gradually slot in more faves when I can. But that's me. My whole wind team frontline for endgame is faves, and arguably only 1 of those, Seofon, is true meta for some of that content. (Yes I do love Kaguya for her design). Outside of that frontliner team, I'm able to run even more faves!

I also enjoy building teams to make the lives of my friends easier, I can either run raids for them or help them figure out teams, often including their faves when I can. I'd go as far as to say that most of the game can easily be played with your favorites, with more and more restrictions starting to apply the higher you go in terms of difficulty. And that's okay. You don't have to play those. Or you might eventually play those and figure that yeah, if it's just for this fight, the team doesn't matter that much when it helps you get things to invest into your faves. It might even let you discover a new favorite if you experiment.

It's good to know the type of player you are and play the way that works for you. Like me, this can also change over time or depending on your mood. There's no reason to bother with HL content or break your head over things that aren't fun. If you enjoy logging in and playing your Omega raids with your faves and signing back out, great. If you find yourself wanting to take on Bahamut with your faves, also great. Hell, if you sign in just to look at your home screen character, sigh lovingly, and go to sleep, also also great.

gbf does get pretty grindy if you let it, but it can be spaced out or made easier, too. Personally I let my game run on full auto 95% of the time, designing teams around this in order to make my faves stronger and content easier as I go. If you struggle to come up with your own teams, store-bought (youtube,wiki,guides) is fine.

I'll admit my own main problem is time, I struggle to keep up with the world I fell in love with and may not have the time or patience for that for a while. So I really enjoy seeing the activity on Icha's blog for that reason and staying in the loop through that.

At the end of the day it's about how you have fun. Progression isn't linear nor is it required.

#saltprince replies #i lack faves in so many elements ngl #sorry for the wall of text anon but i love the divide between faves and meta as much as i hate it #oh god I typed SO much ermmmmm oops! #I've tried to stop typing 5 times now enough is enough #funnily i never even considered myself a wind player #yet here we are i guess #this just shows how my brain works #instructions unclear sorry if you wanted me to swoon over sandalphon #i'm swooning in realtime as he kills my raids

[everyhowlmarksthedead]

OPEN WOUNDS.

Ezekiel “EZ” Reyes x Reader

Anon asked: how about an imagine in which you an ez fight because of emily

Chapter index

Chapter three ; part one

Word count: 3k

Thanks to my lovely beta reader @chibsytelford 💘

Author comments: I hope you all enjoy. I have to divided it in two parts 'cause this chapter has 5k, so the second part while be posted tonight. Gif credits: @angels-reyes.

Tag list: @starrynite7114 ​ @chibsytelford ​ @dazzledamazon ​ @mara-mpou ​ @sammskellington ​ @gemini0410 ​ @1-800-imagines ​ @briana-mishell24 ​ @sassymox @wrcn9fvlcver 💥 (if you wanna be tagged, send me a message!)

“What's a ‘Samcro emergency’?” You ask, sticking your head out the door.

“Shit, (Y/N)! You scared me!” Taza is breathing fast, leaving in the background his task of packing some clothes. He frowns at you, trying not to laugh whilst sitting on the bed with crossed legs. “Sons of Anarchy”.

“I know them”.

“We have to go to Charming. Some days. Maybe three”. He explains continuing with his bag and his stuff.

You sigh nodding without asking any other question. Taza pulls apart the bag, sitting close to you with an arm on your shoulders. You know you can't go, and it's not about feeling helpless or scared, but somewhat lonely even with all the animals around you in the ranch. 

“EZ isn' comin'”. Che finally says.

He doesn't like the idea of you two being somekind of friends again. He doesn't like the idea of him trying to recover you. And he doesn't like the simple idea of him being next to you. But Bishop took the decision of letting him take care of you, while they were in Charming. Taza leaves a kiss on your temple, surrounding your neck with his forearm to put you closer.

“Usually we don't text or call while we're on the road, but I'll. I'll, at least, send you some messages, okay? And if anything happens I wan'ya to call me”. You nod with pursed lips in a soft smile. “I would take you with me, if I could”.

“It's okay, Taza. Club decision”. You joke on him with those words that Bishop always says.

“Yea', club shitty decision”.

┅┅ ┅ ┅ ┅┅

Yes, you were expecting something like that to happen. Taza is hitting Ezekiel's back against the wooden wall, with the cuffs tangled in his shirt. Nose almost touching nose, and EZ's hands raised to head height on air. Gaze away. Waiting for the threat and maybe a punch.

“I'm gonna tell you something, prospect. If you bother her, annoy her or make her cry, I'm gonna stab you so many times that you will look like a strainer and then, I'll use your blood to make an Apache ritual”.

You're rubbing your forehead heavy with eyes closed and an arm crossing in the other. You know he's talking serious. He will do it without doubting or feeling bad. It's been two months, but Taza just was trying to protect you at his own way.

“You're a prospect, taking care of the Vice's kid of your club. Not the miserable ex-boyfriend who broke and buried her heart without giving a shit”. Without let him go, the oldest turns to the huge doberman sitting on a corner. “If he comes closer, you fuck him up, Rico”.

“Taza, I'll be okay”. You say, when you know it's enough for both by placing your hands on his shoulders to pull him away. “You're gonna be late”.

EZ puts his clothes on well, licking his lips whilst picking up the plastic bag on the floor, to walk towards the kitchen and run away from him. You help the vice-president to wear the vest, making sure he has everything that he needs. Then, he leans to you cupping your cheeks on his hands as he always do before leave the ranch.

“Call me whenever you need it”. He says, keeping your gaze with his. You nod, before being kissed on your forehead by him. “I'll be back in three days. Juan, Alonso and José will come to help you with the animals. And you also can call Vicki, if you can't find me, okay?”

“Okay... It's okay, go”. You chuckle nodding again, hugging him for some long seconds.

The dog follows you to the porch, supporting your shoulder against the white wooden column, with a melancholic smile on your lips watching how the man gets ready to leave. Turning on the motorbike and looking at you one last time, before go. When he's far enough, you make a sign to Rico to go back inside.

Closing the door with a heavy sigh, you walk towards the kitchen where EZ is. You want to tell him that you're sorry about Taza' attitude, but you're not and also you're not the type of girl who lies. Opening the fridge, you grab a beer with your gaze on the prospect placing the food on the counter to prepare lunch.

“You don't have to cook fo' me, Ezequiel”. You say softly, opening the bottle to have a sip.

“I wanna do'et”. He shrugs, turning at you with a dearly and ravishing smile that makes you spit out the beer, starting to cough with an evident lack of air. “Hey, hey! You okay?”

Rico starts to growl showing him his sharp teeth, when the prospect comes more closer than the dog thinks is necessary, standing between both. EZ walks away with hands raised whilst you recover, nodding energetically.

“Do—Don' worry”. You say finally having a deep breath. “So... What 'you gonna do?”

“Best veal ribeye from pops”. He answers opening the paper to show you. “He said it's your fave'”.

“Pops knows me well”. Supporting your forearms against the counter you have a look of it. It's huge. Enough for both.

“So do I”. EZ adds, taking off of the bag a small glass jar with some kind of sauce. You know what it is. Sweet tangerine compote. The last time you tasted it you were still going to high school.

With pursed lips, you take from his hand to open it, smelling it with eyes closed. The aroma brings you back too many memories. The prospect is staring at you, adopting the same position as you, but with an elbow nailed on the counter and his cheek resting over the fist. Your eyes meet his, with the same goofy smile on your face.

He's trying. He's trying to be the man who you fell in love with. The last two months have been like a little odyssey between Ezekiel trying to please you constantly, and Taza silently judging. At least, you know that Emily has not approached him again, nor have they had any contact. She tried. Angel told you. And his little brother blocked her number and told it to Miguel. That's why Taza let him be around you. Because he's really trying to get you back.

“I thought you could like it”. EZ says getting up to find a pan.

“Yea', it's... a great surprise”.

“What if you set the table in the meantime?”

“Sure”. Clearing your throat, you nod.

It's the first time in almost three months that you're alone in a house. Doing everyday task as if you were a couple again, but you're not even sure when it's going to happen. It's kinda painful and stressing, 'cause you would like to give him a hug at least, as you used to do before he fucked up everything.

“(Y/N)?”

“Uh?” You ask shaking your head going back to reality.

“The table”. He laughs, making you blush.

┅┅ ┅ ┅ ┅┅

The day has been something strange. You can't remember when was the last time you laughed so hard, after seeing EZ running away from some rebels chickens, who tried to bite him for catching an egg. Between beers you shared some old memories of your childhood and it was really like if nothing bad happened. But the reality was that you were falling into pieces internally the whole time, remembering the words that Taza told you the night he found you. “No men deserve your tears, unless they are of happiness”. 

It's half past eleven when the movie ends. Rico is sleeping next to your feet, resting on the table. Your shoulder is touching EZ's softly and you're about to fall asleep too. He gets up of the sofa, grabbing the empty bottles of beer to clean the little mess you two did between drinks and popcorns. Rubbing your eyes with your knuckles, you lie down placing your hands over your stomach with a loud yawn coming out from your lips.

“You sure you wan' me to leave?”

“Umpteenth, I'll be fine, EZ. I have Rico and I'll set the alarm”. You nod rolling your eyes.

“Okay, but call me if you need it”.

“I will”. Getting up, with the dog imitating the move, you guide the prospect to the front door. “Good night”.

“Good night”. He says doubting for a second, till he finally leans towards you placing a hand on your back to press his lips on your temple.

He close his eyes as you do, focusing on the gesture. Getting longer than expected. One of your trembling hands travel to his nape, surrounding it tightly with your fingers. EZ takes another step closer to you, wrapping your back with his arms. And you want so bad to run away from him, but you also want to stay 'cause it feels like you're at home again. His smell melting with yours, your breaths matching. Sinking your nose on his collarbone and his fingers getting tangled on your tufts, Rico starts to growl. Saved by the bell.

“Fucking dog...” EZ snorts pulling you away so slowly that it hurts.

“Fucking Emily”. You reply with a jolly smile, raising both eyebrows.

“See you tomorro'”.

“See ya', Ezekiel”.

┅┅ ┅ ┅ ┅┅

The sun hasn't even risen when you hear the doorbell ring. Rico barks at you, licking your face as you can wake faster. You growl at him getting up by your hands and pulling away the hair in your face. The dog runs out of your room, listening his paws going downstairs. You follow him, turning on all the lights on your walking, till reach the entrance. Setting off the alarm, before it can start to sound loudly, you open the door. EZ is back and your heart jumps, hoping that nothing bad happened.

“Is Taza okay?” Your voice sounding desperate. He nods to calm you, coming in.

“But the club needs us. Well, they need me, but you can't stay here alone”. He says carrying a huge and black cloth backpack in his left hand. You notice then that he isn't wearing the Mayans' vest.

“What do you mean?”

“Take some clothes, we're going to Charming”. EZ replies, leaving the bag on the sofa and having a seat next to it.

You don't know if you're excited or scared. Eight hours of a motorbike trip. You're not ready for that. But again, club decision. So you go back upstairs to keep some clothes and necessary stuff on a bag, hanging it in your shoulders after changing your pajama for some comfy jeans and a long shirt. Before go, you also check that Rico has food and water, till the day laborers come to the ranch to take care of the animals.

Putting on your jacket, you walk towards Ezekiel bike, tying your hair in some kind of unmade braid. He whistles at you, making you turn confused.

“We're going in your car, we can't get the attention of cops”. 

You sigh somewhat relaxed, nodding and running till you reach him, guiding the prospect to the garage where your old Mustang is parked. Throwing the plastic cover to a corner, you unlock it with the control. But before you can sit on the pilot seat, Ezekiel takes the key.

“I drive, you sleep”.

“Bu—”.

“You don' know the road”. Good point. 

Once the Mayans' backpack is kept on the floor of the back seats, the younger Reyes turn on the car. You know how much he likes to drive it and he's gonna take advantage of it. He steps the gas, enjoying it like a child, while you turn the radio looking for some music. It's going to be a long trip and you know you won't cross big talks, so you suppose it's gonna help. Even so, you fall asleep faster than you thought, lying on your seat with both legs curled on it.

A finger tours your temple down to your cheek, in a soft and slow touch, pulling a brist of hair behind your ear. You stir gently on your seat feeling how your body starts to awake, licking your lips sleepy and opening gradually your eyes. EZ is staring at you with no gesture on his face, lying on his own seat, till his smile appears as a flash.

“Where are we?” You ask getting comfy, covering your mouth to silence a yawn. 

“Next to Lost Hill”.

“What time is it?”

“Almost nine. I have to put gas and I thought maybe you wanted to eat something”. He answers you, taking off the key from the groove.

“Yea', sure”. You nod opening the door, letting the fresh air bristle your skin. It's a little cold, but nothing that you can't handle with.

Walking inside the fuel station, you continue through the hallways till the fridge grabbing some prepared coffees, before looking for something to eat. Choosing some sandwiches and two bar of chocolate, you continue your steps towards the counter.

“This and... forty dollars for the Mustang”. You say picking up your phone to pay with it.

Cleaning a small rheum, the prospect throw over the counter a big packet of Skittles. You turn at him, who has a big smile on his face. It's been almost five years since you've eaten them again. The first time and the last was with him. In Santa Madre. Clearing your throat, you put the phone above the dataphone, while EZ takes the bag.

Even if the coffee is cold, makes you feel better, lying on the hood of your car against the front glass.  The youngest Reyes is standing close to you, doing the same and smoking a cigar, while he has his eyes on the road.

“How much is left?” You ask giving a bite of your sandwich.

“Five hours, more or less”. He says sitting on the hood with crossed legs, throwing away the cigar and giving the last sip to the cup.

“I know how to get to Stockton”. 

“I drive, (Y/N). Don't insist”.

“You can't drive for eight hours, EZ”.

“Who says, uh?” He asks turning at you with an eye almost closing because of the sun.

“I don't know. Maybe the cops? The doctors?” There's sarcasm in your voice, making him laugh lying his back next to you.

“What do I win?”

“Don't punch you”.

“It's an offer I can't refuse”.

“I know, I'm irresistible”.

“That's true”. He agrees, getting up to give you the keys. “The charter of the Sons' in Stockton will escort us. You drive till then”.

“What about Oscar?”

“He's already at Charming”.

“Oh... Okay”. You nod getting up and throwing into the trash the food packaging.

Even if you know the road to that city, you use the gps on your phone to avoid rush hour traffic jams and maybe finding a shorter way to go to. It's been a long time since you drove your car for more than thirty minutes, that you forgot how good it feels. The windows down, the fresh air stirring your hair, with an elbow nailed on the door and your cheek above the palm of your hand. Some latin and soft music sounding, evolving the Mustang, and EZ humming the lyrics to avoid the silence between both, even if sometimes seems like he want to tell anything enough to break it. It's the first time, without counting the last day, that you two are together and alone since three months ago. And you have a lot of words stuck in your throat, but you're not capable of saying something. You love his voice, he loves yours, and you used to talk for hours. You missed that. 

Sideways, you can see EZ opening the Skittles, making you smile for a thousandth. He throws a few in his hand, offering you as many. Changing your arm to hold the steering wheel, you raise yours on air. All the candies go straight to your mouth, chewing them.

“Do ya' remember that tim—”.

“That time you almost die”. You can't help but laugh hair, putting on your sunglasses well, nodding with your chin. “Jesus Christ... I didn't know if I should cry, laugh, or what”.

“Angel was scared as fuck!” He breaks in laughter too, shaking his head after that. “Good times”.

“With you almost dying?”

“You understand me, baby”. He says, knowing instantly that it wasn't the most appropriate word to use, by the gesture on your face. “Sorry, I...”

Silence. You sigh licking your inner lip, biting it gently. It doesn't make you feel uncomfortable, but you're trying to take your time till your heart is fully healed to let him come in again. Turning up the volume of the music a little, you focus all your attention on the road, only talking to him if you need to drink water or check something in your phone.

And, by following the instructions that Bishop gave to Ezekiel, you stop on the first fuel station of the town. The seats change, sitting back on the other to let him continue to Charming being escorted by the SOA charter of Stockton. You're pretty excited, looking on your phone how you're getting closer to your destiny so you could see the crew, but most important, Taza and Angel. Shit, you need them right now a lot.

#mayans mc x reader #mayans mc #mayans mc imagine #mayans x reader #ezekiel reyes #ez reyes x reader #ez reyes #ezekiel reyes x reader