#we wanted mind controlled Eugene

[deramin2]

Orym's argument against Ludinus Da'leth and the Ruby Vanguard is essentially "The purpose of a system is what it does."

This is a systems theory coined by Stafford Beer around 2001. He posited there is "no point in claiming that the purpose of a system is to do what it constantly fails to do." It does not matter what someone tells you a system does if it does not reliably do that. The things it does consistently do are the actual purpose of the system.

Ludinus (and Liliana) claim the purpose of the Ruby Vanguard's violence is to free Exandria of oppression from the gods. Orym's point is that they have not consistently protected anyone from oppression. They consistently murder innocent people, indoctrinate vulnerable people into doing terrible violence (including children), support a ruling class that dominates the population through mind control and eugenics, and seek to release a predator so terrifying that the warring alien gods and native primordials worked together to seal it away as a threat to both of them.

So the logical conclusion is that the purpose of Ludinus' system is not to free anyone from tyranny, it's to install himself as the tyrant. And it does not matter what Ludinus says it's for or even what he believes it's for. The purpose of a system is what it does. And Orym has been personally and repeatedly victimized by what it does. Why wouldn't he keep reminding them of that?

Add onto that, the Ruby Vanguard is a death cult. They lure people in with believable lies. They use propaganda to control how people view them and to convince people to support them. Liliana has been groomed into a true believer who genuinely thinks what she has been told is true and that Ludinus' system does what he says it will. She has been convincing other people of this for years. Not because she's an inherently bad person but because everyone generally tries to convince others that what we believe is true. It is actually dangerous to let a cultist try to talk you into the cult's perspective. That's why Orym shuts it down.

Orym was already on edge but it's fully in a breakdown after FCG's sacrifice. One more iteration of Ludinus' system consistently murdering the people he loves. But he still told Imogen he wants her to have a good relationship with her mom again. He wants Liliana to make it through the other side of this. But that has to involve consistently stating the reality of what's happening against what she believes.

Ludinus believes in the rapture of the revolution. Burn everything to the ground on a fundamental level and a new perfect society will grow, with him to guide it. The reality is that kind of power vacuum consistently leads to horrific violence and conditions often get much, much worse. Especially for vulnerable people, who often do not survive. A lot about the gods' relationships to mortals probably needs to change, but this an incredibly dangerous gamble to fix it.

The purpose of a system is what it does. Any suggestion otherwise is cold comfort to Orym's family in the ground.

#POSIWID #critical role #critical role spoilers #critical role meta #critical role campaign 3 #Bell's Hells #Orym of the Air Ashari #Ludinus Da'leth #Liliana Temult

[mads-nixon]

Hey Mads,

I saw your requests are open. Could i please request a Dating Eugene Roe headcanon? Thank you 💕

Dating Eugene Roe Headcannons

Eugene Roe x Reader

Masterlist

A/N: My first ever BoB fic was about Gene, so he holds a special place in my heart. Thanks for requesting! I loved writing these!! this is about the fictional portrayal of easy company on the show. nothing but love and respect for veterans on this blog!

So you and Gene meet in Aldbourne when Easy first gets moved there in September of 43' (you meet in october).

You're sitting in a coffee shop reading in the corner, and he thinks you're easily the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen.

Being a shy guy, Gene doesn't say anything to you the first time he sees you. He just subtly glances at you from his spot across the shop.

Turns out, he isn't as subtle as he thinks and you totally notice the staring but don't mind it because you think he's very handsome.

You come into the shop every saturday morning, and every Saturday morning, he's there as well. After a few weeks of sneaking glances, you decided enough was enough.

You walk over and introduce yourself to him, and BOY does he go red when you say that you've noticed him.

Despite the awkwardness of the beggining of the conversation, things fall into a steady rhythm, and you find yourself enjoying his company.

Gene's very soft-spoken and respectful (the BEST listener in the whole company if you ask me)

You get to know each other a little bit, and when you have to leave, you write down your address on a table napkin with a grin, telling him you're free the next day at 6.

The next day, he shows up to your house at 5:55 with a bouquet of roses, wearing his dress uniform. He offers you his arm, and the two of you are off to Swindon for the night.

It ended with a sweet kiss under the stars at your porch (there was no light on because of the black-out being in effect)

from there, it was history, and you soon fell for the cajun medic, and he fell just as hard for you.

Whenever he gets weekend passes, the two of you go for day trips to Swindon or London, strolling down the streets softly talking.

In London, you take him to Crystal Palace Park, where you lay out a soft blanket and have a cozy picnic. Your head lays on his lap, and he gently runs his hands through your hair as he talks about his family back home.

You LOVE hearing the different stories of his grandmother and her healing abilities. It only makes sense that Gene would become a medic to help people, following in her footsteps.

As his training continued and the concern of Sobel leading the company grew, Gene began to bottle up his anxieties and distance himself from you slightly.

I feel like Gene is the type of guy who wouldn't want to tell you his problems because he doesn't want to add to your plate, so he suffers in silence.

You confront him about it and he sighs before telling you everything about Sobel and how incompetent he is. (you hate him with a burning passion...possibly more than Eugene does, but it's close.)

Sunday dinner with your family becomes a weekly thing as time drags on. Your dad was hesitant to bring an American into your house, but he likes Gene more than he ever would have thought.

I'd like to think that Eugene buys you small trinkets that reminds him of you (idk where this came from but it's in my mind now)

OKAY...JEALOUS GENE IS HOT, MAN

we all know he can get fired up (after moose get's shot, he rips Dick and Harry a new one), but what gets him really fired up is when he's jealous

Some nights when you're out at a pub, men will make passes at you despite him sitting right there...boy it grinds his gears.

I have a feeling he would just sit there silent because if he opens his mouth, he knows he wouldn't be able to control himself (imagine his *angry* look after Sobel screws up the training mission in curahee) .

You notice and reach out for his hand over the table, trying to calm him down. "I'm going to get us some drinks," you squeeze his hand before getting up.

Gene's eyes follow you as you waltz across the room, and he takes a deep breath.

His gaze falls to the table for a moment, and when he turns back to you, he sees red. There's a British soldier at the bar who's all up in your personal space and is getting closer every second. Eugene can see the discomfort all over your face.

He shoots up from the table and quickly makes his way over to you, wrapping an arm around your waist and pulling you behind him as he faces the guy.

"Do we have a problem here?" He asks, looking down at the man with fire in his gaze.

The Brit cowers instantly, taking his drink off the table before walking away. "No, sir."

Even through the man was super annoying, seeing Gene like that is incredibly hot, and you turn him around and kiss him.

He calms down pretty quickly after that.

Whenever they have to leave for Upottery, you share a sweet goodbye filled with tears (a lot from you and a few from Gene), and promises of writing.

You keep in contact through letter for the whole duration of the war, and the second he can leave after it's over, he comes straight to Aldbourne and asks you to marry him.

Tag List: @liptonsbabe @footprintsinthesxnd @bucky32557038ww2 @flowers-and-fichte @merriell-allesandro-shelton

message or comment if you want to be added to the tag list!

#band of brothers #hbo war #band of brothers fanfic #band of brothers imagine #band of brothers x reader #band of brothers imagines #eugene roe #eugene roe x reader #eugene roe imagines #eugene roe headcannons #band of brothers headcannons #hbo war headcannons #gene roe #eugene doc roe

[riotlain]

TWD crushing on (an Oblivious) Reader

YOOO WE KINDA DUMB

upset there isnt alot of twd x male reader fics that arent smut but anyways

my very select few men💀💀 i might do a part 2 i just wanted to post

THIS IS A NWLNW BLOG!! WOMEN DNI

Daryl Dixon

Our man Mr. Daryl Hiding His Emotions Dixon 🫶🫶

Its fine you didn't notice at first

He seems like he kinda hates you from how quiet he is. Quite the opposite

Being quite in love with someone who isnt a woman is kinda just like. Not processed in his mind??

He didn't know how to feel at first

But eventually he confessed to Carol about how he feels (she suspected something but anyways)

To be honest he had a plan to ask you out

But was extremely extremely hesitant

"They prolly don' even like guys" He'd say

I think both of yall are oblivious

It was a group effort to get yall together

Like all these long ass runs, leaving gifts saying it was from the other

You probably had to be the one to confess ngl

Glenn Rhee

Glenn aint too obvious. Thats what he tells himself atleast

Hes very obviously crushing on you. The only one who cant see it is you

He'd pull harmless pranks, compliment you, help you around, usually adding on a lil wink for lil extra

Yet you still didn't get it. You just thought he was being a goody good friend

Especially since its a bit hard to find any queer folk that like you around here IN FUCKING VIRGINIA/GEORGIA

"You look nice today, Y/n." *Shitty Glenn wink* "Oh thanks man!"

Your obviousness is apart of what Glenn absolutely loved about you though

It gives him time to really think out his lil confession

Which took a while but he had it down! Flowers!!

Who doesnt like flowers??

Well Glenn originally planned to give you flowers. That was until Eugene let it slip that he likes you one time💀💀

You ended up interrupting Glenn like mid confession just because you knew

Simon

Negan teases him for his obviousness

Simon would yell it to the top of his lungs if he must (he probably has to)

Always gives you any ice cream or first shot of a drink

He also always has his arm around you or is LITERALLY FLIRTING WITH YOU

You couldnt tell tho. he looked gay and homophobic to be honest.

So you just didnt say anything

Simon, running out of ideas, asked Negan for any ideas

Since its, Negan what do you expect? Something cute and romantic?? No

SHOW OFF YOUR SEXUAL PROWESS OF COURSE‼️

So with this in mind Simon approached your room with some drinks and did what he does best!

Sexual jokes about his dick and such seeing if you'd take the bait

You didn't you just got a bit flustered and laughed along

Until yknow he actually just went with the impulse and kissed you

FINALLY YOU GET THAT HES LIKE IN LOVE WITH YOU

Owen (Wolf)

The king of being either really obvious or the complete opposite

Depending on your guy's situation then heres the various ways itll go down

Owens a prisoner in Alexandria? He'll tell you nearly everything about him. Along with the fact if he gets out of there hes taking you with him!

How romantic!!

If youre apart of the Wolves then you have for sure caught his eye!

He'd do anything for you and I mean anything! Well as long as he's yknow still in control of the situation.

You cant ignore him either. He'll make as much noise as possible for you to go back to talking to him.

Owen will try to stalk you to see what you like

Or try to get that info out of you through a weird interrogation

You dont notice though. If anything youre a bit weirded out that this kinda crazy cult guy is like asking you your favorite color but anyways

Eventually in the middle of one of these investigations hes just gonna kiss you (probably quite roughly too)

"I like you. So youre mine now." "I- Ok sure??"

#simon twd x reader #twd x male reader #twd x reader #daryl dixon x male reader #daryl dixon x reader #wolf twd #owen twd #glenn rhee x male reader #glenn rhee x reader #the walking dead x reader #the walking dead x male reader

[captain-lessship]

Crow

Request: Could you do one for Wednesday Addams x a mischievous shapeshifter/Loki-esque male reader?

A/N: I wrote this reader to be a sort of prankster. I honestly wouldn’t mind writing more for this version of reader if a lot of you want me to. I had fun with this! Thank you for requesting <3

A bird was  perched in the rafters listening to her type in her type writer. It  had been up there for a while, just listening. 

 Boredom struck the crow, causing it to float down to her, landing on her desk, looking at her. Black eyes scanning.

Her eyes never left the typewriter, “You know it’s not polite to lurk.” 

The bird cawed at her, before slowly shifting, black smoke covering parts of the creature as arms grew from its wings, feathers shrinking up into skin. It grew in size, parts of it twisting and snapping, returning to a human size and shape. With a caw like laugh, it spoke. You spoke.

“C’mon Wednesday! Let’s do something.” You swung your legs as you sat on the desk.

“Such as?”

You gleamed at the fact she even was thinking about it. It took a lot to get the love of your life to do anything non-melancholic. “I was thinking we go on a nice walk and I heard that they are having a party down by the lake?”

“Enid told me.”

You decided to add something for Wednesday, “With parties, comes bonfires, with bonfires, scary stories.”

“I believe I am following.” She said, a glimmer in her eye. 

You grabbed her hand pulled her up from her chair, spun her around. “Let’s go, come on.” 

She barely smiled at your affectionate action, moving to her jacket. You straightened your varsity jacket from your old school and re-tied your shoes. 

You had gotten expelled because of your prank. You played basketball and the opposing teams mascot was a leopard. You decided that it would be funny to shape shift and it was:

Until someone called animal control and you got shot with a tranquilizer dart. 

You and Wednesday carefully walked to her balcony, you looked to Wednesday, “Do you want help getting down?”

“I will take the drain pipe.” She said, throwing her leg over the ledge. You watched her carefully as she slid down. You, wanting to show off, flung out your arms, the same black smoke covering you. This time, as long, black shimmering snake, you entered the drain pipe, slinking through and coming out the at the end. You stopped at Wednesdays feet, looking up to her.

“I love the look but I prefer when you can talk to me. Even if you make no sense.” 

With a somehow loving hiss, you shifted back into your form Wednesday knew and loved. It had taken you two years, a lot of near death experiences and patience for you both to be like this with each other. 

You had started out hating each other. She stepped on your tail while your were in dog form and you hated her from that moment til you were forced to interact because of educations worst attributes: Group work. 

Slowly, you forgave her and became some resemblance of friends, to true friends, to confidant, eventually ending as lovers. 

You fell first. How could you not? Her sarcasm, her misdirection and her bluntness is what you need. You had realized this when you ended up biting a supposed-to-be-dead pilgrim’s arm. 

Wednesday fell in love the next year, you were sitting, as a crow, in a tree. You were watching over Eugene, whom you both considered a younger brother like figure. Wednesday fell in love with the your passion, your resilience, your slight arrogance. 

Many were amazed when they saw you, arm draped over Wednesday’s shoulder, walking and laughing with her and her looking happy about it. You both made sure to take care and understand each other.

Wednesday didn’t like extravagant displays of affection and you had a need for physical touch. So you two went with the shoulder position and hand holding. Her hands fit perfectly in yours and she was surprised when she noticed this. 

She remembered that her father told her people are made to interact, physical or not. She loved holding your hand but she also loved watching you from afar. 

You loved pulling her into hugs and you loved listening to her do anything. Typing, walking, talking and her heartbeat. 

You could find each other in a dark room if you were asked. That’s how you described it to other people. 

With in a few minutes, you both could hear the laughter of your school mates and light. You both stopped, Wednesday looked at you.

“Story of the Evergreen Woodsman?”

You smiled, you teeth glowing in the faint firelight that shined through the tree. 

“It will be the performance of the century!” You said, slowly backing away further from the party. You began shifting.

Wednesday walked through the trees, surprising everyone.

“Oh my god, you came!” Enid said from her place beside Ajax. She motioned the girl over. Wednesday sat beside her.

“Did I miss anything?”

“Nah,” Ajax said, “We are just kinda chilling. Make a s’more.”

Wednesday grabbed the stick and bag of marshmallows the Gorgon handed her. She began toasting one when Xavier stood up.

“Alright alright, we all know the tradition, stories. Know who wants to tell one.”

There was a pause before Wednesday handed her the flaming marshmallow to Enid.

Xavier looked at her, “Try not to scare us to bad.” He laughed as he went to go sit back down.

Wednesday took his spot, facing the party goers.

“In these woods, a long time ago, there was a logging camp, before Nevermore was there and before the Gates family bought it.”

The winds slowly blew, making the reflection of the moon in the water shiver and shake. 

“One man, Todd Gragg, was a dedicated lumberjack. He would show up early and stay late. He worked hard and helped everyone and he was well liked, except his co-worker, Jason Luke. Jason hated Todd and was plotting how to get a leg up on Todd.”

You snapped a couple limb, catch the attention of only a few.

“Jason finally saw a way: Todd always sharpened his axe after his shift. No one was around. The plan was to damage the axe after Todd was done with it.” 

You slowly moved forward getting to where you could move quickly. 

“Todd sharpened the blade, once satisfied, he slammed it down into the stump. He stood up and began walking away, Jason quickly walked to the axe and tried to pull it from the stump. It wasn’t coming loose. He tugged hard, pulling with all he could.”

You stomped loudly, making everyone look around.

“It came out of the stump.”

Another stomp.

“It flung from Jason’s hands..”

You ran out of the tree line, screaming “Right into my head!” 

Screams ensued, a few stood to run, only realizing your laughter. You were doubled over, laughing your heart out as you return to your normal size.

“You shoulda seen the looks on your all faces.”

“C’mon you two!” Enid said, still shaky from the scare. 

You grinned a Cheshire grin as you walked to Wednesday, throwing your arm around her shoulder, “We got them real good, cailín álainn.”

#wednesday #netflix wednesday #wednesday imagine #wednesday x reader #wednesday x you #wednsday addams #wednesday addams x male!reader #Wednesday x reader #wednesday Addams x male reader #enid sinclair #male reader imagine #male reader #comedy #storytelling #pranks #shapeshifter #shapeshifter!reader #established relationship #romance #romantic relationships #physical touch #ajax petropolus #xavier thrope #Parties #bonfire

[sofwa-fitzzherbert]

" Dark Traveler" Moongene concept for the Tangled New Moon AU!

Hi everyone! After 3 years... I finally have for you Moongene design 2.0 (see my original here). I started working on this in January 2021... I can't believe how long this took me, but it's finally finished! 😭😭

I've kinda left the classic Moongene AU behind and fully dived into our New Moon AU (hence only half of the Moonstone :P)

I thought about how Eugene would be able to come up with something a bit more fashionable than a black unitard, and eventually would be able to change his outfits on the go. I had a good dozen of outfit designs on my mind, this being one of them - a combination of his usual outfit with the vest plus the winter outfit, but I also kept some of the elements from my first Moongene design. I have also designed a new sword for him - black rock imbued with the Moonstone's power. I just didn't want him to have the Shadowblade, he deserves something a bit more epic looking 😌😌

One key aspect of Eugene's arc in the AU is him coming to terms with having such massive power. Initially he very much struggles to control it, but with the help of Rapunzel and their lil' reptile buddies, Eugene learns to control his emotions, and with that, his powers.

We all know that the Moonstone is the opposite of the Sundrop and is incredibly destructive. But just as the Sundrop has a dark, corrosive side to it, I thought about the Moonstone also having a light side (ying and yang). With Eugene's will to protect, he would eventually be able to summon opal-like crystals as a shield. So the black rocks would be summoned mainly for destructive purposes, and crystals for defending and preserving (hence the crystals on his armour).

So yeah! I hope you guys like this one! If you would like to learn more about the AU or anything feel free to send asks! And then I will disappear for another 3 years... 🙃

#moongene #new moon au #sofia draws #tangled the series #tts #eugene fitzherbert #tangled new moon

[paintyoureyeswithavividmind]

close to home | chapter sixty five

close to home | chapter sixty five

plot: the reader meets a new threat

series masterlist

Pairing: Eventual Daryl Dixon x f!reader Word Count: 2,968 Warnings: violence, blood, typical twd, character death A/N: thank you for reading!!

The meeting was a good distraction for you, though you were annoyed when Michonne targeted Magna and scared the council into voting no--aside from Daryl, of course. You’d told him you liked Connie and Kelly and wanted to stay. And he knew how much you disagreed with Michonne on not taking anybody else in. He did, too. 

You were looking for Rosita because you needed someone to confide in when you found her and Eugene talking about going on a quick run. 

“Can I come with you?” You asked. 

“Oh… I didn’t think you’d be up for it, or I would’ve asked.” Rosita said. 

You shook your head. “I need the distraction today. And I wouldn’t mind leaving here for a little while.”

“Daryl coming?” Eugene asked. 

“Probably not. He’s got too much to do with the farming expansion. Is it overnight?”

“We’re hoping not, but pack like it will be.”

You nodded and told them you’d meet them at the gate in a few. You quickly found Daryl and told him you were going out, which he was hesitant about. “Are ya sure ya wanna go out there right now?” He wiped the sweat from his forehead. “I was thinkin’ we could cook or somethin’ and stay in?”

Your heart melted and you grabbed his hand. “You are the perfect husband, Dixon. But I wanna get out of here for a few hours. I just wanna get my mind off things. We might end up staying overnight, so don’t panic if I’m not back until tomorrow.”

“What are ya even doin’ out there?”

You shrugged before giving him a hug. “Something about a radio thing, I don’t know. Besides, I’ll be with Rosita and Eugene. I’ll be fine.”

“You, Rosita, and Eugene against the world.”

You smiled and kissed him. “I’ll see you soon. I love you.”

Daryl kissed you again and then one more time. “I love ya more. Be safe.”

You kissed him one final time, promising to be safe, and then you walked away. As you did, you could hear Aaron mimicking I love you more, be safe and Daryl telling him to shut the fuck up. It made you laugh for the first time today. 

***

Eugene was a good hundred feet in the air, and you shielded your eyes from the sun to watch as he climbed over the top. Once up there, he wouldn’t need too long to set up the radio. With him up there safely, you looked at Rosita as she worked on the mechanical stuff down here. 

You walked toward her and watched her tweak some of the controls. If there was one thing you admired about your close friend, it was how smart she was. 

“Hey,” You said quietly, even though you knew Eugene was entirely out of earshot. “If I tell you something, will you promise not to freak?”

“That’s never a good sign.” She didn’t look up as she spoke.

“I think I’m pregnant.”

Rosita paused and looked up at you. “What?”

You glanced back at Eugene and stepped back, lifting your shirt up so she could see the swell. “It looks like it, right?”

“How did you not even notice that? How hasn’t Daryl?”

You lowered your shirt and shook your head. “It happened within a week. My pants fit fine three days ago, and now they’re tight. And he’s been tired with all the work; we haven’t had sex in a few days.”

Rosita started mumbling in Spanish and then started laughing. “That definitely looks like a baby bump to me, babe.”

You sighed and rubbed your forehead. “I was afraid you’d say that. How am I even supposed to know for sure?”

“Maybe you could radio Jesus? They have equipment there. When was the last time you got your period?”

“A few months ago, but it was always on and off since the start.”

“Does Daryl know?”

“No. Just you and Judith.”

“How the hell does Judith know?”

You laughed. “She walked in on me looking at it and remembered Michonne when she was pregnant.”

“Well, it does look like a bump. You were pregnant before, right?” Her question was hesitant. When you nodded, she continued. “You’ll show a lot quicker than. You’re probably not that far along then. You’ll need to tell Daryl soon unless you want me to help you out with that situation if you know what I mean.”

“No,” You shook your head. “If it has a heartbeat already, I can’t risk an abortion. Who knows how fast a baby would turn in there. Oh, God.” 

Rosita smiled and threw her arm around your shoulders. “You’ll be alright, babe.”

“Hopefully. Don’t tell anyone, babe.” 

You and her returned to work on a few things, but it wasn’t long before you heard Eugene yelling about a herd coming. When you looked, it was a lot closer than you expected. You swore as you and Rosita started gathering up your supplies. 

When the horses took off, you yelled at Rosita, “Get the supplies from the wagon now!”

You heard a clang and turned to see that Eugene had knocked the ladder over. You cursed under your breath and grabbed it, trying to prop it back up. But he must’ve panicked because he jumped the rest of the way down. To avoid him hitting it, you swerved but lost your balance, and the metal ladder slammed down on your shin. 

“Fuck!” You screamed as the fire spread through your leg. You looked down at your exposed leg and saw a deep cut, with blood already soaking into the ends of the cut-off pants you were wearing. You looked at Eugene and Rosita running over. 

“My knee,” Eugene swore. 

“(Y/N), you okay?”

You struggled to stand up, and after Rosita gave Eugene a shovel, she helped you. “Did it hit your stomach?”

You shook your head, and the two of you followed after Eugene. “Good, one less walker to worry about.” She said. 

“Not funny!" You yelled, but despite your situation. and the impending herd, you laughed. 

***

You were on the run until well past sunrise the following day. You’d managed to have a few minutes of downtime here and there, trying to find somewhere to hold up in. But they just kept coming. And you couldn't risk them tracking you back to Alexandria.

The three of you were out of water, and you’d lost your supplies a while back. Eugene’s knee was still hurting, and while your shin wasn’t bleeding anymore, it was severely bruised and swollen, and every step hurt like hell. Rosita could barely keep herself standing, let alone Eugene.  

You were all desperate, so when Eugene offered to sacrifice himself and then admitted his feelings towards Rosita--which you wished you weren��t around to hear--Rosita forced him to keep going. 

But at every turn, they kept cutting you off. You had no idea how they were still trailing you after so long. It was like they were hunting you. 

“Here, here!” Rosita yelled. 

You slid down a muddy hill as Eugene and Rosita came beside you. She was immediately flinging mud onto both of you, and you worked quickly to help. Then you all laid back, and you tried to still your heartbeat when you heard the walkers approaching. 

At first, it was just the groans and shuffling of their feet like usual. But then there was something else. Something that made your blood run cold and changed the way you thought of walkers entirely. 

Where are they…They must be close…Don’t let them get away.

***

“Don’t leave us out here, please, please.” You begged as you stumbled into the hole in the ground. 

“I have to. I’m going to lead them away and get help. I can make it faster without you two.”

“Please Rosita…” You were delirious, exhausted, and lost a decent amount of blood. And you were probably pregnant.

Your friend slammed the trap door closed and you and Eugene were left in darkness.

***

Daryl had ended up going with Michonne to escort the newcomers to Hilltop. He didn’t want to; he tried to refuse, but he knew Michonne needed him. So he left a note on your pillow for when you came home and went with her. 

The next day, when he arrived at Hilltop, after hearing the message from their scouts on the road about Rosita arriving without you and Eugene and that the two of you were missing, he didn’t wait a single second before getting a group together and going out to search. 

***

Pressed shoulder to shaking shoulder, you and Eugene clasped hands as you heard the herd go by once and then a second time. You could hear the whispers, the groans, and you couldn’t unclench your shaking hand from Eugene’s. They were looking for you. 

You were being hunted.

***

You and Eugene were cooped up long enough to make you think you would go crazy. You didn’t have any food or water and haven’t slept. 

It was nighttime when you heard something familiar, and you strained yourself to listen. It took you a second before you realized what it was. 

“That’s Dog.” You breathed out. 

You heard him whining above you and scratching, and then you couldn’t stop yourself. “Daryl! Daryl, I’m here!” You yelled, ignoring Eugene, shushing you. 

“(Y/N).” It was Daryl. “Move the hay, come on, guys.”

You heard the floorboards creaking, and then bright flashlights shone directly onto your face. Daryl dropped his light and reached down, hooking his arms under yours and lifting you out. 

“Thank God,” Daryl breathed in your face as he hugged you.

“We need to leave. We need to leave now.” You cried, grabbing his vest. “We have to run.” 

“What?”

“The herds coming,” Eugene said. “They’ve been through here enough to keep us trapped.” 

Daryl stared down at you and pushed your messy hair back. “What the hell are ya two talkin’ ’bout?”

“They’re looking for us.” You whispered because you couldn’t say it any louder. “They’re hunting us, Daryl.” 

Your husband shushed you and brought you into a hug. “No one is huntin’ ya, just been out here a bit too long.” 

“No! Listen to us. They’re coming back. We need to go now!” You were desperate as you pulled away from him. “Daryl, they were whispering.” 

“What?” Jesus asked. 

You turned to look at them. “I know it sounds crazy, but look at us! We know how to get away from herds. They were talking. They were looking for us.”

“We should get you guys back…” Aaron said, and from his tone of voice, you knew he didn’t believe you. None of them did. 

You turned to look at Daryl and grabbed his hands. “You gotta believe me. I know how it sounds. You gotta believe me.”

Before he could respond, Dog started barking, and your blood went cold. You looked at Eugene, and he was shaking again. Then behind him, you could see the herd approaching from the open windows. 

“There’s no way that’s the same herd,” Daryl said as he moved to look out the window. 

“They got us cut off.”

Eugene kept repeating the word no repeatedly, and you started hyperventilating. Your body was shaking uncontrollably, and you were shaking your head. Daryl grabbed your arm and titled your head up. “Come on, I need ya with me. Are ya with me?”

“I wanna go home, I wanna go home.” You cried. 

“We goin’ right now, stay with me.” 

***

Daryl’s mind raced as he set you on the abandoned car beside Eugene. Your face was pale, and you shook so hard he didn’t know what to do. Your eyes were glazed over, and the look of pure terror was too much for him. He quickly put his vest on you, knowing it wasn't enough to keep you warm or to get you to stop, but he hoped it was enough to calm you down.

“It doesn’t make any sense. They shouldn’t have double-backed like that, and they definitely shouldn’t have followed us to the barn.” 

Your hands clamped down on Daryl’s arms, and he looked at you. “They’re hunting us.” You whispered to him. 

His mind was a mess, and he didn’t know what to think. Both you and Eugene were terrified, more terrified than he’d ever seen either of you. But it didn’t make sense, just like Jesus said. 

When Daryl offered to stay behind and lead the herd away, you went frantic and jumped down from the car. “No, no, Daryl, don’t leave me. Don’t. You have to stay.”

But he ignored you and forced you over to Aaron. “You keep her safe. You get her back to Hilltop.”

Aaron held you as you tried to push him away and get to Daryl, which broke the archer’s heart. But he was doing this to keep you safe, to keep you moving. And if the herd kept following, no one had a chance. 

“I’ll keep her safe.”

***

“We have to go back, we have to go back for him,” You cried for the millionth time as Aaron shoved you into a crack in the wall.

“He’s going to be okay; he’s done this before.” Jesus told you. 

You cried harder and shook your head. “You don’t understand… you're not listening to us!”

When your feet hit the ground, you tried to make a break for it, but Jesus stopped you before you could. 

“Use the wall; there’s gotta be a gate,” Jesus said. “How are they still following us?”

He pushed you along until you came to a gate, and Aaron had you pulling yourself over within a minute. You carefully dropped down, winced from the pain in your leg, and looked around. You couldn’t see any walkers from the fog, but you could hear them. You went to grab your bow but remembered it broke while you were on the run, and you’d tossed it. 

You looked through the gate to see Aaron and Jesus trying to get Eugene up, but they couldn’t. Then you saw the walkers behind them.

“Guys!” You yelled, grabbing onto the metal bars. There was no way you could climb back over to help them; you were too short. 

They took down the first wave of walkers quickly, and that was when you heard the whispering. You started shaking again and saw Eugene do the same. 

“Get over the fence now!” You screamed. 

A hand grabbed you waist and you screamed again, and swung around with your knife raised. But it was Michonne, and she blocked your arm before you could hurt her. 

“Michonne!” You cried out. “We gotta get the gate open now. They’re coming.”

You both grabbed the gates as Michonne yelled for Eugene to push and then two of the newcomers were there helping to pull. You couldn’t remember their names but you were more than thankful to see their faces. 

When the gate finally pried open, you heard Jesus yelling for Aaron to get you all out of there. You started screaming for Jesus to come, but Michonne held you back. “He’ll be fine,” She said. 

“No, you don’t understand! You don’t understand!” You cried, trying to pull away from her grasp. “Jesus!” You screamed. 

You broke out of her grasp just as a walker dodged your friend and pulled a knife, stabbing him in the back. You pushed yourself through the gate as you screamed for your friend and ran toward the walker that killed him. 

It used the same move on you that you just watched, and you ducked and spun, slicing open his side. You moved fast as you jumped on its back and rammed your machete into its neck. You both fell together, and you took the machete out, stabbing again and again and again as you cried. 

You heard arrows flying, and you saw another walker approach you. You jumped up and twisted the machete in your hand, ready to fight, when an arrow pierced its skull, and it fell to the ground. Behind it, you could see Daryl’s silhouette in the fog. 

He ran up to you and cradled your face. “Are ya okay?”

You nodded and looked around. All of you were still there, and you looked at Aaron kneeling before Jesus’ body. Then you turned back to Daryl. “They killed him. A walker stabbed him.” You cried. 

“(Y/N), ya hands.” 

You looked down at them and saw what he saw. It wasn’t walker blood. It was fresh. You turned around to see your group realizing the same thing. 

Daryl walked over to the closest body and knelt down. You followed him because you couldn’t stand to not be next to him. He looked at the walker, and you both saw the stitches on the back of his head. After calling over Michonne and getting the rest of the group, Daryl pulled off the skin. 

Only it wasn’t the skin. It was a mask. And when Daryl rolled the body over, it wasn’t a walker at all. It was a person. 

Then you heard it again. 

They’re trapped.

Circle around.

Don’t let them slip by.

Keep them together.

Lightening and thunder clapped above you and you grabbed Daryl’s arm, pulling him away from the body. 

“We have to go now!” You yelled over the thunder. 

“Go, now!” Michonne said. 

“Go with Eugene,” Daryl told you. 

“No!” You shouted, “Daryl, Michonne, we go together!”

“Now (Y/N)!” Daryl screamed at you. “Get out of here!”

A hand grabbed your arm and pulled you back as you stared at Daryl. It was one of the new women, the one with the tattoos. She pulled you away toward the gate, and one of the other girls raised a bow and started firing. 

You looked at the woman with the tattoos. “Thank you for coming.”

When you turned back around to look, Daryl and Aaron were dragging Jesus’ body out, and Michonne quickly followed them out and locked the gate behind her. Then, you all ran. 

#daryl x reader #daryl dixion x reader #the walking dead daryl #daryl fanfiction #daryl dixon x reader #daryl x y/n #daryl dixon #twd #daryl twd #daryl x you

[tangledbea]

A hill I will die on is the fact that the brotherhood were an amazing concept but there potential was wasted. I would have loved to see more of them but unfortunately they were only used when convenient for the plot.

I know for a fact that Adira falls into this, and I suspect the rest of the Brotherhood do, too: I was told by crew that they didn't know what to do with Adira. That they invented this cool character to fill a specific niche, but didn't know what else to have her do. That's why she was so in-and-out of the traveling party. That was why Cassandra's animosity towards her ended up being an animosity towards Rapunzel instead. And I suspect -- knowing what we know about the showrunner -- that dear CS was scared that people would like her more than Cassandra, just like how people liked Varian more. (Not everyone, obviously, but that he got such a big and loud fanbase clearly didn't sit well with Mr. Executive Producer.)

I also suspect that, if they didn't know what to do with Adira, they sure as hell didn't know what to do with the rest of the Brotherhood. That's why the Mind Trap is such a weird and poorly thought-out concept. (I maintain that the fact that a mind control device can be handed over to someone under its influence is insidious, but also backwards.)

Anyway, I'm not nearly as into the Brotherhood as a lot of the people who are active in the tags, but I agree that they're an amazing concept with wasted potential. There also should be more than four of them.

And also, unpopular opinion, but Varian isn't a part of the Brotherhood, just by association. He's got nothing to do with it. Neither does Eugene. Just because their dads are indoctrinated doesn't mean that they're going to follow suit. Neither one of them knew anything about it before the events of the series, and I somehow doubt they'd look at the Brotherhood now and say, "Yeah, I want to be a part of that!"

#Tangled #Tangled the Series #Eugene Fitzherbert #Varian #TTS #The Brotherhood #Answered

[scoobydoodean]

yeah… The angels are my favorite characters but even the “good” ones lean heavy towards amoral. Except Samandriel! Who Dean immediately liked. Definition of a skill issue

Dean LOVED Samandriel. And made love to Anna. And you know who else Dean immediately trusted? Ezekiel/Gadreel—specifically because Cas vouched for him. So what's all this about Dean hating assorted angels just because Cas likes them.

And then I have to ask myself who we can actually be mad at Dean for not liking. Am I supposed to be mad at him for not liking Uriel or Zachariah or Michael or Lucifer or Raphael? Are we rewriting history so that Dean is the one who killed Balthazar and not a paranoid Cas? Or maybe Dean should have been nicer to canon homophobe Hester who blamed him for all of Cas's problems because she had no actual clue wtf was going on. Or maybe Dean wasn't nice enough to Hannah, who literally ordered Cas to kill Dean because SHE was jealous and wanted Cas to prove his loyalty was ONLY to heaven. Or maybe he should have been nicer to Noami who tortured and lobotomized Cas for millennia and tried to mind control Cas into beating Dean to death.

I mean when EYE look at "Dean vs Angels" what I mainly see—besides the few who, like Cas, genuinely love humanity—is a bunch of jealous, homophobic asswipes who at best think Cas is gross to deign to even acknowledge the autonomy of a human. Large swaths of them hate Dean's guts and want him to die because he didn't roll over for them in season 4 like the mindless little robot they wanted him to be after their little eugenics program, and they spend the rest of the show screaming and crying about it like toddlers. Then there are the ones who are murderously obsessed with Cas and therefore rabidly jealous of Dean. Then there's an even larger swath that hates Cas's guts and wants him to die (not surprising given Cas murdered the bulk of them and then a few seasons later, made the rest unceremoniously drop out of heaven).

If they don't want Cas dead, they do want him to be loyal to heaven ONLY. Dean is not the one who didn't want Cas to have relationships outside of him. That was various angels—who literally tortured Cas at various points for caring about Dean, starting as early as season 4. Dean has been beaten to a bloody pulp more than once by an angel because those angels did not want Cas to have relationships.

#mail

[vampirevatican]

so let's talk...

they cloned tyrone (spoilers and all)

SUBLIMINAL MESSAGES

"it's in the water", "straighter is greater", "i got that ruckus", "got damn! fried chicken", "grape juice", the shot of an old american dream like poster, depicting a white man, til it pans out to the ghetto.

the movie hints to it's audience from the start that this? this shit runs deep. yeah everyone is carrying on like normal, so does the movie, and no one bats an eye until it's deliberately pointed out. for me it says a lot that i can only convey or remind folks with in the way fontaine treats junebug in the first half.

hood niggas don't wanna be hood niggas.

and that right there is exactly fontaine. not only to just the brother he lost, but extended to junebug, yo yo, charles, his momma. sure he a product of his environment but he ain't got much of a choice and that's depicted when he does everything he can to get to the bottom of what the fuck is going on up 'til he literally loses control.

EXISTENTIAL CRISIS

seeing another you. loosing complete autonomy while being conscious of it.

what slick and 'taine saw? enough to make any human question the fabric of their reality, if they're real, if their memories are really theirs, how much can they recall in those memories and if they are recalling everything. when slick saw fontaine again and when fontaine first faced his previous body. 'taine's drive was figuring out if he's really him. hell as he was grappling with the chaos that it brings in his mind, what does he say when he finally snaps out of it?

im me.

as humans our lives, decisions, etc. come from some peace of mind that we have autonomy. the fact that we can say and do as we please, even if it's within a boundary, is enough for us to feel some kind of calmness in the thought that we have power over ourselves. can't control the world around me, can't do big shit, but i can do this. the little things.

all i could think was, 'but what if there's another you.. an original you.' and when his autonomy was put into question, him backing off like that and accepting it is a form of nihilistic defeat. he can't do shit but what he's always done, and if that means he or anyone else he loves doesn't die? then it's something he deals with, until it's too much to bear.. until the cycle of everyday (that he now knows is a cycle) weighs heavy and the only thing to pull him out of it? junebug. the good memories of his brother.

THE CLONES AND TIME

i had this originally titled and future, but the point here is the original/old fontaine and his plan.

i feel that old fontaine made that deal not just because of ronnie, or the decayed blood he has to wipe up, i feel like that's part of the defeatist mindset he has. he decided the "can't beat em, join em" route was better. that assimilating to what white folks have wanted since fucking eugenics was better, even if it's not he reasons that joining is better than just dying out.

"assimilation is better than annihilation."

ofc, our fontaine, doesn't believe any of that bullshit. that the whole operation is fucked. old fontaine says that it's something they both know but i agree and disagree... they both know that's what white america wants. for old fontaine if that's enough to not have another incident like ronnie? good enough but our fontaine?? he's got junebug he's thinking about, other little kids in the here and now, the dreams that yo yo had and still has, everyone in the hood who wants out but just can't seem to get out.

CONTROL GROUPS

"tyrone... ain't that you?"

now i didn't grow up in the hood,or rather the projects, but i was near it. small knit group, everyone knows each other more or less.

the drug dealer, the pimp, the pastor, the kids, the aunties/grandmas/mamas/misses.

in the black community we all know someone like that or have heard of them, and the end of the movie shows this. it's more than just a call back and a chance to play a hit by miss badu.

these regulars? they're the control group the second in command was talking about. they're the ones that don't quite get the same treatment as the experimental group (i.e yo yo, biddy, junebug etc.) they're key players to making the ecosystem (experiment/operation) run smoothly. which is why the convo of fontaine deciding to go with slick and yo yo is integral to the ending and vice versa.

to break the cycle, the system? everyone's gotta rally together. country wide. (in movie context ofc)

#.⁠｡⁠*⁠chitchat💭━♡ #they cloned tyrone #they cloned tyrone spoilers #okay im done. im off the soap box.

[theteasetwrites]

The Beginning Is the End Is the Beginning

Chapter 97: Under the Gun

❧ Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Female Reader ❧ Era: Season 11 ❧ Pronouns: she/her ❧ Warnings: language, violence, lots of guns, scary situation, injury, basic TWD stuff tbh ❧ Word Count: 5.2k

❧ In This Chapter: It will take some effort to convince Daryl that you're capable of helping at the Commonwealth. Of course, who is he to stand in your way? A deadly trap ensnares you all, and confronting Governor Milton is going to be more challenging than you'd anticipated. Blood will be shed.

❧ A/N: So um ok Tumblr was being weird last night, so when I tried to schedule Chapter 96 to come out at midnight PST, it actually came out three hours earlier than that, so technically THIS is the first post of 2023! Cool! Anywho, um yes I know reader is being stupid look I need her to be stupid ok? Sometimes she can be stupid, as a treat. It would be boring if she was always perfect and made the right decisions. Also Daryl gets to be stupid all the time in the show let her have this. Oh and stream Under the Gun by Sisters of Mercy because a) it's a banger and b) it inspired the vibe of this chapter and some of the lines (but I couldn't fit some of my favorite lines like "you can set the controls for the heart or the knees and the meek will inherit what they damn well please" that line is 🤌🏻)

The crate you carried was heavy, straining your aching back, but you’d risen early that morning to help load up the bus. The plan was to bring as many people as possible back to the Commonwealth, with emphasis on finding the missing children, Eugene and Yumiko, and taking down Pamela, whatever that may entail.

You had a plan of your own. Well, not so much a plan, but a conviction. You hadn’t spoken to Daryl yet this morning, and you knew he’d object, but you were headstrong about one thing: you were going with them.

Perhaps you weren’t in the best physical state to be going, having delivered a baby exactly a week ago. Still, you’d put together an argument in the incredibly likely case that Daryl would refuse to let you come. It didn’t matter what he wanted, though. You wanted to see Pamela get taken down. You wanted to see everything the Miltons and the Commonwealth stood for crumble. You wanted to be a part of it. 

Was it stupid? Yes. You were aware.

“Here’s the last of the supplies,” you said, handing the crate to Maggie. She stood at the back of the bus, loading it up. “There’s plenty of ammo, mostly M855’s, or whatever those big guns use.” Your knowledge of guns was reluctant and minimal, and you much preferred your axe, which you’d been so lucky to find tucked away in a crate in one of the houses, along with Robin’s spear and Daryl’s bow. For what you were about to do, though, you’d need guns. 

“Thanks,” she huffed, checking the crate before sliding it in. “You talk to Daryl yet?”

Maggie knew, of course, but Daryl didn’t. He assumed you’d be staying to watch Robin and Wes, which, admittedly, sounded like a much better idea than what you had in mind, but there was such a strong urge to see justice restored, to be a part of it, to help make history.

“No,” you said. You turned as you dusted off your jeans, eying Daryl, who sat upon the deck of the town hall. In his arms was baby Westley, bundled up in his blue blanket, with his bear hat poking out. Robin and RJ sat beside him, each peering over his shoulders to look at the baby boy. “I know he’ll be upset.”

“It’s your choice,” she said. “You’re a grown woman. He can’t tell you what to do, you know.”

“I know, it’s just… I hate arguing with him about this kind of stuff. And if I do go, I don’t want him to be worrying about me the whole time, getting distracted.”

“He’ll live with it.”

You made your way to the town hall, where others had also gathered as they prepared to board the bus. Daryl had handed Wes to Robin, who was eager to hold him. 

Daryl nodded his head to you, his face a portrait of confusion. “You should be in bed,” he said. “Ain’t you tired?”

“Aren’t you?”

He hadn’t slept in days, of course he was tired. More tired than you, and you’d just given birth. Everyone was tired, but the sooner you got to the Commonwealth, the better.

Chewing his bottom lip, he eyed you suspiciously. “You ain’t goin’,” he said. 

Your eyes widened as you scoffed. “Yes, I am. I’m not missing this.”

He moved further from the earshot of others, gently but firmly holding your arm to take you with him. “I need you here.”

“That’s ridiculous,” you said, even though you knew it really was quite reasonable. Still, this is what you wanted. “I want to be part of this. I mean, how else am I supposed to write down what happened in my journal?”

“Woman, you just had a damn baby.” His voice raised, becoming more impassioned. You could see in his eyes that he was scared, that even the idea of something happening to you because your body was weaker than usual made his eyes go cloudy. “How in the hell are you gonna be able to fight?”

He had a point, and you knew that, but your need to see this through eclipsed whatever lingering pain and weakness you felt. Your body was healing well, you were healthy. Daryl had spent nine months making sure you were able to have a successful birth, and you did. It wasn’t traumatic, you were lucky. Twice. Your luck hadn’t run out, either. You were sure of it. 

“I can fight if I need to,” you said. “I will fight.” 

There were few things in your relationship with Daryl that caused contention. Rare were your fights, your lovers’ quarrels. Daryl had a temper that came out at unexpected times, but he never hurt you, or said anything that shattered your heart beyond repair. The vast majority of the few heated arguments you’d had over the years followed this pattern—Daryl urging you to stay home, safe and sound, and you refusing. 

So far, every one of these arguments ended the same: Daryl giving into you. 

“I’ve almost lost you too many damn times, (Y/N),” he said. “I ain’t almost losin’ you again, or worse.”

You knew his overprotectiveness came from a place of love, but it could be suffocating. Daryl clinged to you like you were a teddy bear, but that was his way. He was always so loyal, and his love was deep and at times overwhelming. Sometimes, you wondered if he really didn’t want you to leave, or if he was just so used to protesting that it became second nature. 

In any case, you were, as Maggie had reminded you, a grown woman. Daryl could argue till he was blue in the face, but the final say was yours. 

“I’ve almost lost you so many times, too,” you said. “That’s just how it goes. I can do it. I feel fine… I’m going with you.” 

With a deep huff, he squinted his eyes, the morning sun having begun to pierce them. Yours, however, were noticeably wide, like two big doe’s eyes. It was subtle, of course, but you knew what you were doing. It might’ve just been instinct at this point. You could’ve not cared enough to get Daryl’s approval. You could’ve just gotten on that bus with him and not asked at all for his permission, but you didn’t want to fight. You wanted Daryl to be on board with your decision, and if anything got Daryl to cave, it was your wide, pleading eyes. 

“You’re gonna be the death a’me one day, woman,” he huffed. “All right, but you gotta promise to stay right by me. No splittin’ up, and don’t strain yourself too much, just for my peace of mind, all right?”

As much as you were reluctant to admit it, you did love when Daryl appeased you, when he showed his soft side by giving into you. He really did love you, and that was always so apparent to you. You’d never known anyone to love you as much as he did. 

“Thank you, honey,” you said, wrapping your arms underneath his to hold his shoulder blades as you hugged him. He didn’t stiffen at all anymore, not even in public. He just held you back, his hand tangling in the hand on the back of your head. “I promise I won’t do anything reckless.”

He scoffed, causing you to pull away and look at him in mock offense. “What?” you asked. “You don’t believe me?”

“Not after what I saw last night,” he said. “When ya went lookin’ for the kids. Never seen ya so… scary.”

“I scared you?”

“No, jus’... Saw somethin’ crazy in your eyes.” He thought back to that moment you pushed him away from the door, and he chuckled a little to himself. “Maybe I was a little bit scared of you.”

You lowered your head as you felt the blush begin to bloom in your cheeks, but his hands caressed your jawline to lift your head back up. 

“Ain’t a bad thing,” he said. “I kinda liked it… I love my crazy woman.”

You let out a loud snort, and he broke into a wide grin, always amused by your little mannerisms. “Stop it,” you laughed. “I was worried about the kids.”

“I know, I was, too. Just ain’t ever seen ya like that. You’re always so damn sweet.”

“Well, it’s good to know I can still surprise you.” You leaned in to peck his lips, but he didn’t let you pull away, instead pulling you closer to deepen your kiss just a little. 

There wasn’t much more time to stand around, though. When the bus was loaded, it was time to head for the Commonwealth. 

You said your goodbyes to Robin and Westley, leaving them and the Grimes children in the care of Nabila. 

The bus took you to the same train you’d hijacked just the other day. It was rather convenient that one of the Commonwealth prisoners was himself a train conductor before being taken into custody. 

Of course, you brought along your journal. Well, the thirteenth or fourteenth volume. You’d gone through so many journals over the years, keeping track of both personal events and the ones that you considered history. The Commonwealth was at least six hours away by train, going at full speed. You’d have plenty of time to catch your future readers up to speed. 

Date: April 17, 2021

Time: 1:45 PM

We set out at 8 AM, now we’re nearing the place where the border between West Virginia and Ohio once was. The primary objective of this mission is to return the Commonwealth citizens who were unlawfully imprisoned and sent to the labor camp at Alexandria back home. At that point, it should become clear that Governor Pamela Milton is a corrupt tyrant who must be removed from power. 

I must be honest in saying that I don’t know what will happen to Milton, but I don’t think killing her is the best solution. Years ago, I thought Negan should’ve been killed after the Savior War, and I still stand by that, but Milton isn’t like Negan. She is weak on her own, posing little threat. What’s dangerous is her power, her greed, and those things are fueled by her influence over other people. Without that influence, she’s weak. We’ve already gathered support from the Commonwealth Army at Alexandria, and I am willing to bet that once the citizens of Commonwealth realize where their missing loved ones have been taken, they will turn on Milton, too, and there’s strength in numbers. 

I am unsure of the future for the Commonwealth, but whatever it is, it must be better than how it is now. 

You paused for a moment, no longer able to continue your mostly factual account. Instead, you turned the page to reveal a fresh one. You’d never been too good at separating your personal entries from your historical ones, but in a way, you found it comforting. Perhaps one day someone would read about your life, too.

It’s been a week now since Aaron, Lydia, Elijah, and Jerry left the Commonwealth with the hopes of bringing supplies back to Alexandria. They weren’t there yesterday, when we got there. I am starting to worry. Daryl tried to tell me that it would take much longer for them to get to Alexandria, considering they took a wagon. I know he’s right, he’s always right, and so damn rational sometimes. I almost like it better when he’s irrational, but he keeps me grounded, which is good. My hope is that perhaps they will reach Alexandria while we’re away, and maybe we’ll see them there when we get back. 

I know I shouldn’t be here. I should be home, with Robin and Westley. The thing is, I want to be here. I want to be part of this. I haven’t told Daryl, because I know he’d worry, but I do feel tired, and still a bit weak from the birth. I know I will read this back someday and think, “God, you’re such an idiot,” and I (or you) would be right. 

I’m an idiot, but at least I’ll get to see Pamela taken down. At least there will be reckoning for the lives she destroyed. That’s why it matters to me. 

Daryl told me something funny yesterday. He told me he’d take me on a “vacation” once all this is over. I don’t know where he’s getting that from. We can’t just up and leave the kids, but I have to admit, there is something tempting about the idea. It would be really nice, just the two of us for maybe a week or two. I’ve got no idea where we’d go. Daryl said we could just hop on his bike and drive somewhere. I’d like to go to France, or Italy. I know it’s impossible, but just for the record, it’d be nice to see the Eiffel Tower and all that. Well, if it’s still there and hasn’t fallen apart or anything. I wonder if French walkers are different from American ones. Could that be possible? Perhaps their groans have an accent. I’d like to find out someday, though I know I never will. 

By the time the train arrived at the nearest Commonwealth depot, Princess had rigged a radio signal to contact Mercer. She informed you all of the news—Eugene’s trial deemed him guilty, but Mercer and the other Commonwealth soldiers that followed him were keeping him in hiding, safe from Milton’s forces. 

Mercer promised to meet Princess and your group at the gate, letting you all in. You had an in. The only problem was, here you sat just outside the gates, waiting. You counted thirty minutes on your watch. 

Negan voiced your own concerns: “Hey, we are sittin’ ducks,” he said. “He ain’t comin’ and we can’t wait.”

As much as you hated to agree with Negan, you did. Silently, but you did. 

Itching to get inside, you peered through the bush that blocked view of your group from the guards. There were only four, that should’ve been easy to get through, you figured. But if they shot, you knew their bullets were tracked. It would draw attention to any of the other Commonwealth soldiers that weren’t on your side.

“Guys, please,” replied Princess. “Mercer’s gonna show up.”

Daryl kept an eye on you from the side, always keeping you in his sight, as he said he would. “We’re runnin’ out of time,” he said.

“I’m gonna head around,” said Carol. “Try to find another way to slip in.”

“How many are there, (Y/N)?” Maggie asked.

You squinted through the bush, trying to cover any blind spots in case you missed any. “Four.” You made the signal to Connie—four soldiers. 

“We could take ‘em,” said Maggie. 

You turned back to keep an eye on the guards’ movements. Their guns were drawn, but they were low. They were, unfortunately, doing their job. With what you knew from Daryl about the Commonwealth Army, a lot of them didn’t do their jobs. You really wished these guards were more negligent, solely for your group’s benefit.

They were so attentive, in fact, that they must’ve heard someone’s whispers, or perhaps a movement. They began to approach the bush.

“Those guards go missing,” said Rosita, “clock’s ticking on us.”

“Hey,” you said, still in a whisper, but noticeably a lot more urgently. 

“Hold on a minute,” said the foremost guard. “Did you hear that?”

The others held still, quiet. If your heart was beating any faster, you swore it might’ve become audible. 

You kept your hand on your axe, just in case. There was a perfect space between the armor plates, just at the base of the neck. You could drive the tip of your axe through it quite quickly, without having to draw your gun. A silent kill was always better. 

Mentally, you prepared yourself to strike, to take a man’s life, something you had always been uneasy with, but the voice that came from one of the guard’s radios saved you the trouble of the inevitable moral dilemma. 

“Sector D, gather all available units,” the grainy voice said, “and report to the east gate immediately. Mercer needs bodies to deal with an incoming swarm.”

A herd was the last thing on Earth you needed, but at this moment, it was, dare you say, incredibly convenient. At the very least, the Commonwealth’s walls were well-fortified, and their army was equipped to deal with the possibility of a herd getting close. There was no way it would get inside.

The guard spoke into his radio, “Sir, does that include tunnel H?”

“Yes,” the now slightly exasperated voice responded. “That includes tunnel H.”

“So are we supposed to just… abandon our post?”

Please. 

“Goddamnit, soldier, it’s locked!” the voice replied harshly now. “We’ve got it covered on this end. Stop wasting time, move!”

Oh, God, you thought. That sounds serious. You exchanged a look with Daryl, but he didn’t look worried. He nodded to you, his face a resolute sculpture of heroism. Well, to you, anyway. He made you strong with just one look. You’d be able to last a while longer before you’d need that reassurance again.

“All right, let’s move!” said the soldier. “You heard it, move!”

Your eyes diligently followed the four guards’ moves, and when they boarded a jeep, starting the engine, you breathed a sigh of relief. The vehicle drove away, out of your line of vision, and you turned to face the rest of the group, nodding as you said: “I think we’re good.”

“You sure?” asked Daryl. 

You turned back to confirm. “Yes,” you said firmly. “We need to move now.”

Tunnel H was the destination. Daryl knew it ran underneath the city, and it would lead you to the center. If the radio communication was anything to go by, the tunnel wasn’t guarded. Luck was on your side.

Maggie led the way in, the others following. Daryl stood guard, vigilantly looking out for any hostiles. You kept your word, staying with him, but when you began to make your way into the dark corridor, he pulled you aside, his hand holding yours.

“Hey,” he said quietly. “Always together, right?”

“Always,” you agreed.

Tunnel H was more like a sewer, with dripping pipes and soaked floors and a foul stench permeating in the air. Quite literally, you were seeing the dark, festering underbelly of the Commonwealth. 

Guns drawn, you traveled deeper, until you reached a ladder attached to the wall of the tunnel, with the letter 2 printed on it. According to the plan, that was the closest entrance to Union Station, where Pamela was more than likely to be.

Indeed, it took you there.

You came out from the underground in a maintenance room, then filed slowly, cautiously, one by one into the station. 

The Commonwealth citizens moved first, eager to make their stand against Milton. They were led by Tyler Davis, the young man who’d been the first to stand against Pamela. He’d been sent to Alexandria not long after Daryl’s encounter with him at the Halloween Masquerade.

You came through next, but it was quiet, empty. It didn’t feel right, but Tyler and other Commonwealth citizens were already in the center of the station, above which were balconies that wrapped around the perimeter, looking down to the first floor. 

“Somethin’ ain’t right,” Daryl said behind you. You could feel it, too, so you kept your gun drawn. 

Daryl studied his surroundings, and his suspicions were confirmed. Padlocked chains were laced around the handles of the doors that led to the outside. Your eyes followed his, and a sinkhole formed in your stomach.

“Come on guys,” Tyler called out to your group. “We’re almost there.”

Daryl only had a moment to register the trap, but it was too late. “Get down!” he bellowed, instinctively grabbing your wrist and pulling you with him as he scrambled into one of the alcoves of the corridor. 

All the while, a rain of gunshots came from the second floor balconies above the station. You caught a glimpse of Tyler and some of the others meeting their fate, pulverized by bullets. The men shooting in the balconies weren’t armored. They were in plain clothes, not unlike the men who jumped and kidnapped you. You figured they must’ve been agents for Pamela, loyal to her and only her, not the people of the Commonwealth.

The group became split several ways, with some taking cover underneath the stairs, others scrambling underneath benches and archways. Across the corridor from you and Daryl was Maggie, tucked away in the opposite alcove. You took stock of where the others went, making mental notes to not lose anybody in the chaos. 

In the span of just thirty seconds, the once quiet, empty station became a battlefield, with the enemy firing rounds of .50 caliber bullets in merciless succession. Glass shattered, screams erupted from those who had been hit, or were still clinging to life. You swore you even heard the men shooting at you cheering for each other, encouraging one another to “take them out.”

In times like these, whatever reservations you had for firing back were squandered. They were trying to kill your people, and doing it with glee. Your position wasn’t ideal for shooting back, but the guards were mobile, with little coverage on the balcony. They had the advantage of being above you, but you had the cover. 

You shot at one man, attempting to make his way down the stairs. Another shot went through a man’s torso, while Daryl’s went through a head. His aim was always better.

You aimed to shoot another one of Milton’s cronies, but the trigger was stuck, and you remembered now one of the reasons you hated guns so much. “Shit,” you murmured, then raised your voice to say, “My gun’s jammed!”

Happiness is a loaded weapon.

Daryl only pushed you back behind him, then shot again. “I got it!”

You felt powerless now. All you had was your axe and a few knives, and you wished that, somewhere along the way, you’d learned to use a bow. Daryl had offered, but you found it somehow cliche that you’d learn the same weapon as your husband. Go figure.

In the meantime, you’d keep a sharp eye out behind Daryl, looking out for any windows, but there were none. At least, not from this angle. It was absolute bedlam, a circus of blood and bullets. Time seemed to move so fast—explosive bolts, ten thousand volts, a million miles an hour. 

You weren’t just under the gun, you were under at least twenty of them, cold, silver pipes spitting hot molten metal, all for an idiot, chosen to hold the highest card, wielding a power much too immense for any living human being to have.

That’s when you saw her, the governor herself. Eyes wide, you were transfixed on her, her shocked face. How could she have any shock? She didn’t deserve to feel such a thing. She’d created her own reality, built on the backs of people who had been made to believe that this was how things were, that things were worse outside the walls.

She made the ultimate mistake when she tried to take your home away. She should’ve known better, after what she knew about your people. She underestimated Alexandria, and that would be her fatal mistake. 

When you thought of all the damage she caused, the lives she’d ruined, your hatred rose like bile in the back of your throat. You could taste it on your tongue when she kneeled down beside the guard Daryl had just shot, and picked up his rifle. 

Your lips agape in confusion, you exchanged a look with Maggie across the corridor. She looked for a moment, taking a deep breath before stepping out from the alcove, her body almost fully unprotected as she shot up at the balcony. 

Volleying between Pamela and Maggie, you noticed that the governor had her sights on her, your friend. Your best friend. She’d always been your best friend, and you weren’t about to lose her. You’d lost too many friends. 

Your inner voice was muted, everything was, except the beating of your heart. Something, maybe pure stupidity, or maybe heroism, or something in between, propelled your body forward, sliding across the floor, into the line of fire. Your gun now dropped, you pushed Maggie back behind the wall, with the intention to get yourself there, too.

Intentions were always nice, in theory. 

Your ears popped open when one single gunshot seemed to resound above all the rest. You didn’t feel pain at that moment. You only saw blackness, and heard a faint, bellowing, pleading cry that echoed through the station, lulling you into some kind of unconsciousness.

“No!”

He launched himself across the tile floor, his scream having silenced the barrage of gunfire. Your head in his hands, he murmured under his breath, “No, no, no, no, no…”

It all came back again, flooding back. 

“Wake up, (Y/N),” he said, his hands gently shaking you to no avail. “Wake up!” he roared. 

Maggie looked on in shock, her eyes wide and her lips agape. Carol emerged from underneath the stairs where she’d hidden, seeing what happened, Daryl knelt by your bleeding body. 

“We gotta go!” he cried out, his voice faltering, but still strong. 

Machine fire broke out as Carol took the opportunity of the confusion to shoot at the remaining goons. Negan and Maggie joined to fire up at the balcony, forming a human barricade around you. 

He begged, pleaded, for you to wake up, to tell him what he needed to do, to be alive. You were breathing, but barely. There was blood beginning to show beneath you, but he frantically looked to find the source to no success. 

More gunfire, more blood. A million thoughts raced, and yet there was nothing, blankness. All he knew was you needed help, and in his panic, he cried out again, this time more in anger than in fear. “We gotta go!”

He lifted his head to turn, trying to locate some exit or something that could help. The answers had to be somewhere. 

His gaze fell upon Ezekiel across the station, himself hidden behind a broken glass partition. He peered over the top, looking in horrified confusion at your near-lifeless body, strewn on the cold, bloody tile. 

Daryl didn’t meet his eyes, he only spotted the fire extinguisher just behind him, strapped to the wall. “Throw it!” he bellowed, pointing to the device. 

He procured the auxiliary handgun he’d haphazardly tucked in the waistband of his jeans, an occasional habit you often scolded him for, half-joking that he was likely to accidentally “shoot his dick off.” It would come in handy now.

Ezekiel flung the extinguisher into the air, though not without slight confusion at Daryl’s orders. It made sense when Daryl raised his gun, narrowing his eyes to point, aim, and shoot at the flying canister. The shot was enveloped by a plume of grey that soon shrouded the whole station, a kind of smoke bomb. 

The rest was a blur, quite literally. 

Daryl knew he could carry you, if just from the sheer panic and need to get you help. He tucked both arms underneath you, one at your shoulder blades, the other under your knees. With a great expenditure of strength, every last bit of it in him, he hoisted you up. The air was thick with smoke, gunshots still raining from somewhere, but he was invisible. 

His own vision, though, was compromised, and frantically he turned in each and every direction to find a way out, until a voice called to him. It was Maggie, or maybe Carol, or maybe Diane, he couldn’t quite tell, it didn’t matter. “Daryl! This way!”

Emerging from the smoke, they came out into the open air, into Union Square. They veered off into an alley, with Ezekiel leading the way. Something about a clinic, that’s all Daryl heard. That’s all he needed to know. 

He tried so hard to keep you stable in his arms, but it was hard. He struggled to keep you up, your body weighing him down. Still, he didn’t let you fall.

“The clinic’s not far now!” Ezekiel called out, pointing in the direction. In that same direction, a large military jeep had approached, blocking the way through. The group staggered momentarily, until Ezekiel called out again, leading them down another path that jutted from the alley. “This way!” This way!”

This time, a black van. No way around, no shortcuts. “Fall back,” Ezekiel said.

It became clear when Daryl looked back, when they all looked back. Troopers were at the other end of the alley, but they weren’t shooting, they weren’t concerned with your group. They instead placed Commonwealth branded partitions, and chain link fences. 

“They’re not following us!” Carol said. 

And then he heard it. He didn’t want to hear, didn’t want to believe it, but it was hard not to know just what it was. 

Magna must’ve heard it, too. “Wait! What is that?”

Snarling, wheezing, rattling, growling. 

That’s when they started flooding the alleyway, and they all realized where they were: the slums. This was where the poor lived, the lower classes. They were driving the herd into the home of the Commonwealth’s poor, where once you lived. It was evil, and it had Pamela Milton written all over it. 

“They’re penning us in!” shouted Ezekiel. 

They weren’t just walking, though. They were climbing. 

“What the fuck?” said Negan, watching the lone walker rise about the rest, climbing upon the abandoned cart as it approached. 

Daryl saw it, too. He didn’t care. He took a glance down at you, still unconscious, still barely breathing. 

Somewhere in the chaos, Eugene and Max had found your group, and Luke and Jules emerged from the herd, barrelling towards them. None of that registered to Daryl, though, who quickly jumped back into action. 

“Move! Move!”

They rounded another corner, where more walkers were flooding in. Carol was observant, though. “Cat ‘em off!” she cried. “We got that alley! Clear a path!”

The labyrinthian alleyways they ran through seemed to dead end after dead end, with the dead literally blocking the end. Carol guided Daryl as he carried you, taking out walkers with the others to clear a path. 

He squeezed through, between the corner of a wall and the impending herd. He sidestepped, narrowly escaping the clutches of a walker, whose rotten hand came much too close to grabbing you. 

For a moment then, your eyes seemed to flutter open, just for a brief moment. He kept moving, losing his breath but never giving out. He looked down at you, a small burst of relief, but you looked so weak. 

Still, you recognized him, how could you not? In the haze of your stupor, you mumbled his name. Looking back, you saw past his arm—a stampede of walkers tripping over each other, flooding into the alley, but not following you. 

That was the last thing you’d see for several minutes, during which you swore you heard him say, “I’m here.”

~

Thanks for reading! Likes, comments, and reblogs of any kind are always appreciated!

Series Masterlist Next Chapter ➳

#daryl dixon x female reader #daryl dixon fanfiction #daryl dixon x y/n #daryl dixon x you #daryl dixon fanfic #daryl dixon x reader #daryl dixon #the walking dead #the walking dead fanfic #the walking dead fanfiction #twd fanfiction #twd fanfic #twd #norman reedus fanfiction #norman reedus fanfic #norman reedus x reader #norman reedus #the beginning series #theteasetwrites series #theteasetwrites fanfiction

[romerona]

The Worm

Surviving the game and losing yourself in the way.

"Don't go underestimating the power of a small force, it may be the only thing that can slip through the cracks."

ROSEMARY BLACK X OC!SNOWMALE.

ROSEMARY BLACK X PRIMROSE EVERDEEN.

"Rosemary Black, district 10, the youngest ever victor in the Hunger Games. Don't let her age fool you, she a force to be reckoned with, known for her cunning wit and speed she managed to-"

"I remember her… I found it hard to believe it then and still find it hard to believe it now."

"Well, then you know that with the right motivation, she's unstoppable."

Rosemary Black × OC!SnowMale? // Primrose Everdeen?

A/N: There would be a few inaccuracies but please, remember this is a fanfic. I'm unsure If I will match Rose with anyone yet but I'll think about it as the story goes.

Masterlist.

Next

[BLAZE RAFFERTY]

Rosemary has always liked horses, despite their ferocious power and wild nature, they were graceful and beautiful. As a poor girl, Rose was confined to watch them from afar whenever a wealthy folk decided to take them out for a walk, Rose used to think that she’d probably never be able to interact with one, but here she is, gently offering her hand to the horse, waiting to see if it allowed her to touch it which it did.

Gently caressed the coat of the chariot horses, which stood proudly with their fancy and shinny decorations waiting for the parade to start. Rose was unaware of its breed, but she could not help but appreciate its beauty and how different it was from the horses in her district.

She thought of how the horse was there to be part of the spectacle made for the Capitol elite, just like her, and the comparison struck her deeply. Like the horse, her ‘beauty and grace’ if she has any, can be appreciated by the people of the capitol, but at the end of the day, she was ripped away from her home to be just an accessory meant to entertain the masses.

As she looked at the horse, she felt a sense of kinship and empathy towards the creature, realizing that they were not so different after all. They are pawns, used and abused by their masters to fulfil their own agendas, they both share the same fate, with no control over their own lives.

“Are you ready?” Asked Eugene coming next to her to pet the horse. He was wearing a similar costume to hers only his a tad more masculine. He looked good, and the costume made his styled red hair stand out, no doubt he’d catch some attention.

Even if I’m not it doesn’t really matter, does it? Rose wanted to say that, but instead, she sent her tribute partner a smile saying, “As I’ll ever be,”

Rose was trying to stay somewhat positive in her gaze of nervousness not only for herself but for him as well because even if he looks calm she knows he is just as nervous as her.

Eugene smiled, he looked down at her and nodded, motioning to the cockpit of the chariot before offering his arm in an overly theatrical manner with a grin, to which Rose couldn’t help but laugh. “Shall we?”

“We shall,” Rose intertwined her arm with his and let him lead her. Once on top, Pearl and Lennox came to tell them how to act when they were making their debut, as they spoke to them Rose let her eyes travel along the other tributes, each looking as… dazzling as the next one. Rose felt slightly lightheaded as a thought struck her mind; they all looked incredible… at least for the Capitol standard, so how the hell was she supposed to stand out? Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“Hey,” Eugene squeezes her shoulder forcing Rose to snap her head in his direction. He takes hold of her hand, something is coming to learn that is a thing he does often, and sends her an understanding look. “Together, right? No matter what?”

Before Rose could even mutter an answer or even think about it, the horses began to move causing Rose to momentarily lose her stability as the tributes enter the streets of the capitol.

Rose feels a mix of emotions as people cheer and wave around her but if she has to describe it with one word It would be overwhelming, knowing that all eyes are on her and that this is her time to make the Capitol's elite take interest in her makes Rose feels out of her element… But as the cheers grow louder and she oddly feels the excitement of the crowd, her nerves are replaced with a sense of determination and importance.

Rose went to use both her hands to wave at the crowd when she noticed one of those hands was still latched with Eugene’s, Rose felt slightly embarrassed but she chuckled when Eugene grinned and winked at her before using their interlaced hands to wave.

It was goofy but definitely something that would grab attention, so, she decided to play along and faux her ‘joyful’ laugh as if she was enjoying herself, as if she was enjoying being there. Both are untrue but the audience doesn’t have to know that.

As the chariot goes on, people get louder some pointing at them and chuckling, others cheering their names, Rose, in between her waves and fake laughter, saw a few that ‘Aww’ them. Rose only hopes this reaction stays for as long as she’s in the games.

At some point, Rosemary caught sight of herself on a large screen, and for a moment she was awestruck. Not to be pretentious but goddamn! She’s never looked this good in her life. Pearl deserves praise for this look, even her wild hair complemented her form. She wonders if her family likes it, and she wonders if maybe her friends like it too... Rose quickly shakes her head, no time for that now...

Soon, the parade was coming to an end. And Rose and Eugene as well as the other 22 tributes found themselves in the City Circle. Rose looked about at the prestigious-looking citizens as the horses stopped right up to President Snow's mansion.

Snow stands to make his welcoming speech, just like he had for the past games. Rose hardly listened to him, she only regarded him, his presence was weirdly perilous. At long last, the chariots were making their final rounds before disappearing into the Training Center.

The doors had only just shut when Rose and Eugene were engulfed by the prep teams, all of whom excitedly praised them about their debut.

Leto smirks proudly at Rose, or rather at her hair as he takes one wild curl pulling it softly. “This hair of yours was the main character, wasn’t it?”

“And you wanted to cut it off,” Rose couldn’t help but say back.

Leto looks at her, a small smile shoving away the smirk, “Why yes, but only because I believe it has a mind on its own… good thing your hair and I came to an agreement.”

“You seem to be the only one who can actually manage it, my grandfather would be jealous.” Rose smiles back, feeling comfortable for the first time around her prep team.

“Please, keep the compliment coming, I adore it.” Leto smirks and comes back as he helps her out of the chariot while Lennox, who was sporting a similar smirk, helps Eugene.

“I think it is us who deserve the praise,” said Lennox, making Pearl nod in agreement as she helped Rose out of one of the ornaments.

“Yes… but the person is what makes the outfit,” Pearl gives Rose a comforting squeeze and a wink.

Caine comes up, his own excited smile on his face, “Oh, my Panem. It’s wild out there. I swear I heard at least a dozen people talk about the cuties from 10. If not more.”

“Definitely more,” mutter Allen coming up to them however his eyes were roaming the other tributes making Rose do the same, unsurprisingly no one was looking at them for more than a couple of seconds. As if they were only curious about the two tributes that cause that uprise only to discover it’s just two youngsters barely worth their attention.

“Let’s continue this conversation In the penthouse, okay?” Caine swiftly took Eugene and her by the shoulders and ushered them to the luxurious elevators with one last goodbye to her prep team Rose let herself be guided away.

“Good job out there, that’s what I was talking about,” said Allen as soon as they stepped foot into the glass elevator.

Rose was slightly nervous as the elevator began to make its way up because she felt as if she was going to fall off at any moment. She refused to look at anything other than the metal door because heights, while not a big weakness it's surely a sensitive spot for her.

“I’ve been conversing with a few influential people and they seem to like you, of course, there’s a lot of hesitation and restraint so you’ll have to work their sympathies to get them to be fully convinced to bet on you,” Allen continues leaning against the crystal window, “After that, I’ll try and do miracles,”

Rose scoffs, sparing him a glance.

Much to her relief, they arrived at District 10 suit, their home for the next week. Much like everything else in the Capitol, the suits were as large and luxurious as everything else, however, all Rose wanted to do was lay down and sleep which unfortunately didn’t seem to be coming in a while. After her much-needed shower and change of clothes, Caine was knocking on her door telling her to come have dinner.

As Rosemary makes her way into her meat, which is the most delicious thing she has ever eaten, she listens to Allen, Caine, Pearl and Lennox go on about their strategies. In a way, it was comforting to know that even now people can care for her survival, genuine or not. While drinking her green juice, because Allen wouldn’t let her have Wine, Rose regards the servers, this were young people dressed in white tunics, they move wordlessly to and from the table, keeping the platters and glasses full without even having to ask them to.

These are Avox. Rose only knows that because one time, when Hugo had taken her to the edge between 10 and 11 to fish, (an illegal spot) she had spoken on a fantasy of just leaving District 10, about taking everything and going about free only for her grandfather to snap at her saying that her fantasy was a crime in the eyes of the capitol and if someone were to hear her speak like that she’ll be turned into a tongueless puppet, or better known as an Avox.

“Oi, put on the opening ceremonies,” Lennox tells one of the Avox offhandedly gesturing to the screen in the living room. Lennox was slightly annoying for Rose but whatever it’s not like he’s her Stylist, she really lucked out with Pearl who was calmly taking a slice of cake.

Wordlessly, the Avox do as told, and soon they were watching the replay of the ceremonies. They all look as good as Rose originally thought but honestly, her and Eugene's performance, not to mention outfit, was really outshining everyone else.

Good. She only has to keep this goofy, joyful persona up for the games, can’t be too hard, right?

“You know what you should do?” Pearl says to Rose quietly as Lennox and Caine ramble about the other tributes' outfits.

When Rose turns to her expectantly Pearl continues, “You should watch the past interviews of the past victors, like Finnick Odair, people love him, watching his interview perhaps can help a little.”

Maybe it will.

———

The next morning was the first day of training out of three, after a hearty breakfast, Allen told them what to do once they were with the other tributes training which was basically ‘Don’t show many skills until the last training day, the private session that’s when it counts, instead try to learn something new, try and learn basic survival skills if you don’t know any’ before sending them away to be eaten by the wolfs.

Lovely. As if she’s not nervous enough to meet face-to-face with the others. As they (Caine included) were ridding the elevator down, Rose couldn’t help but take Eugene’s hand, it was the first time she had initiated the hand-holding thing, and as much as she was embarrassed about it, she didn’t really care either. Eugene didn’t seem to be pushing her away so that’s a relief.

The doors open into the one and true training center, stepping out, Rose looks at the enormous gymnasium filled with various weapons and obstacle courses and then her eyes settle on the circle of tributes, 1,2 and 4 career districts, looking healthy as ever while the other 9 district tributes look malnourished, nothing to be surprised about, they were all wearing clothing with their district number pinned on their shirt. The tension could be cut with a knife.

A few tributes turn to them but just like the night before no one really spared them a second glance and Rose doesn’t know if that is good or insulting.

Suddenly a tall and athletic woman named Atala steps up and begins to explain the training schedule. Experts in each skill will remain at their stations. They will be free to travel from area to area as they choose, per their mentor's instructions. Some of the stations teach survival skills, others fighting techniques. They are forbidden to engage in any combative exercise with another tribute. There are assistants on hand if they want to practice with a partner. It sounded as if she had made the same speech over and over… perhaps she has, who knows just how many games she has seen through.

As soon as Atala let them go train it was no surprise when all the career districts chose the deadliest stations, showing just how good they were at it. Show-offs.

Rose looked around the stations, she noticed most tributes went for easy ones, climbing, some chose camouflage, and the most daring chose the gauntlets and sparing.

Rose turns to Eugene who has his eyes on the climbing station, she nudges him, “Go on, I’ll try hammocks making or something,”

“Okay, I’ll see you later,” said Eugene before leaving her.

It was really odd to Rose that she felt a bit disappointed when he left, it was odd because Rose had only known him for two days time and she already formed some sort of dependency on him.

She shook herself off and swiftly made her way to Edible insects where she learned that when it has a hooked-tale, bright colours or more than eight legs it’s probably not consumable. Then, she first thought that maybe she could improve her fish hook-making, then she figured knot-tying could be a good one but Rose felt she knew enough… she wanted to try sparing but backed down when she saw the tribute from 1 and 2 laughing at a boy who just got thrown down by the trainer, so instead, she decided to try something she had never before done, slingshot.

When she arrived at the station she was glad that not many tributes were there, only the girl from 7 and a boy of 5. She smiled at both of them and waved a shy ‘hello’ The boy from 5 greeted back, a bit stiff but at least he said hi, the girl only spared her a glance.

After being told the instructions, each took a slingshot and began to practice. Rose remembers all the instructor's movements, the arm and hand positions, keeping her wrist straight but not stiff, after her first five shots, Rose came to the conclusion that she was surprisingly good at it and just how much she enjoyed it, definitely not the best, (like the guy from five who had great pulse), but not bad either (unlike the girl from seven who had giving up after the first three shots,) or at least that’s what the trainer said.

Still, even after the two tributes were gone, Rose remained there, practising. She came to learn the importance of using different types of slingshots, such as their size, shape, weight, and materials. The instructor kept helping her when needed, which after two hours was hardly needed. All she had to do now was practice.

After another hour or so, Eugene found her and dragged her away when it was time for lunch much to her dismay but she figured she couldn’t stay there forever…

“How did it go?” Rose asks sitting on one of the long tables, just in between the tributes from 4 and 11.

Eugene shrugs, his eyes settled on his tray “It was hard but I figured it out, and then I moved to Axe’s.”

“And how did that go?” Rose asks, taking a bite out of a tasty-looking apple.

“Could be better if it weren’t for the watchful eye of the Gamemakers,” Once again he shrugged, before asking. “What about you?”

Rose frowns at him in confusion, “What Gamemakers?”

“Those Gamemakers,” Eugene points at the open doors of the gymnasium, where a few men and some women dressed in deep purple robes were speaking with an instructor.

“They have been watching us this entire time?” Rose asks loud enough for a few tributes to turn their head, Rose simply smiles at them before turning to Eugene in confusion and surprise.

Eugene huffs a chuckle as he nods, “Yeah, they’ve been sitting on in the elevated stands that surround the gymnasium taking notes and whatnot… did you seriously not notice?”

“Obviously not,” Rose rolls her eyes, she eyes the Gamemakers laughing at something an instructor said.

“Don’t worry much, if Allen didn’t tell us maybe it’s not that important,” Eugene said as he sipped his juice.

Rose looks back at her half-eaten apple, all hunger gone. “Or maybe it is, why are they here in the first place?”

“I…listen, I don’t-"

“Obviously because they are here to assert us, you dumbasses," Said a voice from behind Rose.

Rose's head snapped to where she heard the voice, there, at another table, was the boy from 1, Blaze Rafferty, with a shit-eating grin, sitting with his district partner, Xury Ashbluff who snorted.

"Honestly, 10 I know not to expect much from lower districts but fuck!" Blaze scoffs brassily, "There's really not much of a competition this year, isn't it?"

"Maybe just like the usual ones," Xury shoots a glance at 2, who just like the rest of the districts have been watching before sending Rose yet another condescending look, "But other than that not at all,"

Rose pursed her lips, it'd be smart to just turn back and ignore them, not to engage, not to put herself on their bad side and simply be laying low until the arena, "Y'all can go shut yall's trap, ain't no one talking to you."

"What?" Scoffs Xury, she seems slightly confused but Rose knows that it's not because she didn't understand her more like she wasn't expecting backtalk.

Eugene was quick to say "Nothing-"

"No, no. This is quite interesting," Blaze, with a smirk, stood up from his seat and Rose watched him walk towards her and hold back a gulp when he took a seat to her side, facing her, it was then that she noticed just how massive he was. "I've never seen an animal talk before, and now I'm curious about what it got to say, so, go on, bark!"

At first, Rose couldn't help but look away from him as he continued to stare at her, his eyes holding mirth and arrogance, but his words ticked her off. She could feel Eugene's eyes pleading with her not to, a part of her brain was also loudly yelling to back down and get into a fetal position, and another part wanted to just cry and cry but ultimately, her mouth and brain didn't connect.

"I meant to say..." Rosemary gazes up at him sporting a grin of her own, "Is that y'all sure do talk a bunch for someone who looks like your mama gave birth to out her ass!"

There was a stunned silence, a pin-dropping quiet, and for a few moments, no one made a sound. The tension in the air was thick and uncomfortable. But then, someone let out a nervous laugh, a small sound that broke the stillness. A few more chuckles followed, and soon the air was filled with muffled giggles.

However, before Rose could even react, she was being lifted into the air by her shirt, like a doll by a giant, which was almost comical. But there was nothing funny about Blaze's grim expression, "You weak little worm, just wait---"

The peacekeepers were quick to intervene, their presence immediately shifting the atmosphere. They removed Rosemary from Blaze's iron grip as they pushed him away, with his face red with displeasure he grunted in annoyance. "Let's see if in the arena you have just as much bite as bark, 10."

Well, shit shit shit.

"Alright, lunch's over let's go back to training," Atala announced, causing the group of tributes to stand and walk into the gymnasium again.

As they walked, Rose could feel the stares of a few tributes, but the ones who just seemed to burn her were the stares of the Gamemakers, the ever-penetrating inquisitive stare was practically making her skin sizzle. But she wouldn't for the life of her glance back up at them.

"I done messed up, ain't I? Rose mumbles as Eugene all but drags her the farthest away from the careers.

Eugene hums in agreement as they arrive at Edible Plants station before he turns to look at her, his eyes echoing the exasperation of his tone, "Why the fuck did you do that for?"

"I... I don't know," Rose mumbles, she glances at Blaze and Xury, both glaring right at her from the Axe’s station. Blaze's glare, however, seemed like he was planning her death to be a slow painful one. "I just couldn't let him talk to me like that,"

"Fuck, Rose, the careers will have us on their kill list now, no doubt 'bout that,"

Rose groans, she is well aware of her life-threatening fuck up.

A/N: Blaze’s face claim is Alex Høgh Andersen.

#fanfiction #the hunger games x reader #the hunger games x you #the hunger games x y/n #the hunger games fanfiction #the hunger games fic #the hunger games fanfic #hunger games x reader #hunger games fanfiction #finnick odair x y/n #peeta mellark x y/n #primrose everdeen #president snow #katniss everdeen #peeta mellark #catching fire #district 10 #finnick odair #haymitch abernathy #tigris #snowmale #oc tag #fanfic

[thepro-lifemovement]

Can you give me some arguments about abortion and eugenics with black Americans in mind? My older sister is pregnant with her second child and everyone (our mom, her child’s father, our aunts and grandma) are pushing for her to have an abortion. She’s a great mom but she’s young and we’re poor. My moms also delivering ultimatums like she’s not helping her like with her son. I can tell she doesn’t want to but she feels a lot of pressure. I just want to help her feel supported and there’s another way.

Hello! I'm sorry your sister is being pressured into an abortion. That's horrible and completely unfair to her. Keep offering her emotional and moral support. I will link other resources to help support her and her children.

Margaret Sanger, Planned Parenthood's founder, was a known eugenicist who wanted to supply birth control and abortions to the black community because she believed their children would be burdens to the nation.

But Sanger's preferences went beyond race. In her 1922 book "Pivot of Civilization" she unabashedly called for the extirpation of "weeds . . . overrunning the human garden"; for the segregation of "morons, misfits, and the maladjusted"; and for the sterilization of "genetically inferior races." 

Sanger's own racist views were scarcely less opprobrious. In 1939 she and Clarence Gamble made an infamous proposal called "Birth Control and the Negro," which asserted that "the poorer areas, particularly in the South . . . are producing alarmingly more than their share of future generations." Her "religion of birth control" would, she wrote, "ease the financial load of caring for with public funds . . . children destined to become a burden to themselves, to their family, and ultimately to the nation."

Following Sanger's death in 1966, Planned Parenthood felt so confident that it had safely buried her past that it began boasting about "the legacy of Margaret Sanger." And it began handing out cutely named Maggie Awards to innocents who often had no inkling of her real views. The first recipient was Martin Luther King--who clearly had no idea that Sanger had inaugurated a project to set his people free from their progeny. "We do not want word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population and the Minister is the man who can straighten out that idea if it ever occurs to any of their more rebellious members," Sanger wrote to Gamble. Had Dr. King known why he may have been chosen to receive the award, he would have recoiled in horror.

She also referred to people as "human weeds":

In promoting birth control, she advanced a controversial "Negro Project," wrote in her autobiography about speaking to a Ku Klux Klan group and advocated for a eugenics approach to breeding for “the gradual suppression, elimination and eventual extinction, of defective stocks — those human weeds which threaten the blooming of the finest flowers of American civilization.”

Here is more on how Planned Parenthood would target the black community.

Here is an article on Abortion’s Devastating Impact Upon Black Americans.

Planned Parenthood puts 86% of its abortion facilities in minority neighborhoods.

In the Black community in particular, abortion rates have become so high that abortion is a public health crisis. As Live Action News’ Danny David reported in 2016, “Relying on statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the National Center for Health Statistics, and the Guttmacher Institute, the team of researchers concluded that abortion is responsible for… 61.1% of black American deaths, and a shocking 64% of Hispanic/Latino deaths – making abortion by far the leading cause of death for blacks and Hispanics/Latinos.”

One of my favorite pro-life activists is Dr. Mildred Jefferson, the first black woman to graduate from Harvard Medical school.

She also argued that the abortion industry was targeting the Black community. “Blacks suffer more from abortion because what looks like help is actually striking against them,” she said in 1977. “Blacks are fewer. They will disappear sooner.” This prediction has been sadly prescient, as Black women get a disproportionate number of abortions, the highest rate among all women, and in some cities, like New York, more Black children have been aborted in recent years than were born.

I'd recommend you read that article about her. She's an inspiration in the movement.

Here are some black pro-life organizations:

I would urge you to call 211 to figure out what resources are available to your sister in your local county.

You can see if your local Catholic church has a St Vincent de Paul which will give your family free food upon request and help pay a bill if needed. I know Baptist churches also offer financial assistance, if needed. You can save money on bills by getting food for free from food banks, as well. Visit or call your local crisis pregnancy center about what services they can offer to your sister. I know many pro-life centers will give her free baby items and baby clothes, and I know some offer mother support groups.

Here is a master list of available pregnancy resources:

Make sure she knows she's not alone and there are people out there willing to help support her. Keep offering her support! You're doing great! I'm sorry your sister is dealing with pressure from family to abort her baby.

Let me know if you need any other information! Hoping you are able to find helpful resources to help her choose life.

-Sarah

#abortion is racist #resources #pregnancy resources #thanks for the ask #ask #asks #sorry for responding late

[walkingstackofbooks]

Hippocratic Oath + Julian's Genetically Enhanced Status

I love how in Hippocratic Oath (4x03), Julian is so determined to help the Jem’Hadar, and so optimistic about what he could do. (Although his tendency to overestimate his abilities is also poking through here, I’m sure there's something to be said about that… not now, though)

But last time I watched this episode, it was without knowing about his genetic enhancements - and so this time round, it really struck me how much that might play into what he's thinking. When watching The Abandoned (3x06), I wondered how the discovery of the Jem’Hadar being genetically engineered must have given him mixed feelings. We see in Dr Bashir I Presume that he considers the use of “monster” to describe himself acceptable, and we know that through Earth’s history, the term “augment” conjures up the picture of the most brutal and violent humans. If Julian has ever worried about his potential to become a genetically-enhanced killing-machine, what must it feel like to come face to face with a genetically-enhanced killing machine?

The Jem’Hadar have not appeared in an episode since The Abandoned (their presence in The Die Is Cast is only assumed), and so are probably not at the forefront of Julian’s mind, despite the Dominion becoming somewhat more of a threat. Now, however, a year later, we get to see assume Julian once again has to wrestle with what that slight kinship with himself means to him. For obvious reasons, as written, the script doesn't allude to Julian's own enhancements - but I think it’s interesting to explore the assumption that, on some level, he already feels more pity for these people than he does revulsion.

And in light of that I think it changes slightly why he is reacting to Miles the way he does. I mean, I do think primarily his anger is directed at the fact that people have died – in a manner he thinks could have been prevented, and he had been willing to risk his own life for that possibility. In addition, when he tells Miles it had been his choice to condemn those men to death, and Miles replies that he did it to save Julian, I think Julian feels very uncomfortable with the fact that anyone should have to die to save his own life. His desire to be a hero is also coming into play – not just for the Jem’Hadar, but also to be able to triumphantly rid the Dominion of their soldiers! But I think he also is taking it more personally then might be assumed if you didn't know his back story.

We know what the Federation think of genetic engineering. And because of the Eugenics Wars, augments like Khan are talked about in a very similar manner to the way people - and in particular, Miles – talk about the Jem’Hadar. Miles calls them killers, bloodthirsty, unable to change, and for Julian, Miles’ own unchanging view of the Jem’Hadar - no matter that Goran'Agar, unlike the others, is starting to break the mould - echoes what he thinks of augments. Or what he might think of augments. Julian is unable know how his friends would treat him, but this is kind of testing the waters. Obviously, the situations are far from the same, but the fact that Miles’ fear of these genetically enhanced beings overrides any care for their survival - or really any compassion full stop! – must sting. Not to mention that, while Miles seemed to have regret over destroying Julian’s work and disobeying orders, I don’t see that he regretted leaving the Jem’Hadar to die.

Julian's indignation is definitely about the fact that the Jem’Hadar have no control over who they are or what they are, and as soon as he sees any indication that they're capable of change he wants to help them because, as they say, he's a Federation Doctor who is compassionate. But I don't think it lessens this episode at all to say that maybe some part of him is thinking, “By your logic, I should be a killer. But I'm not. And maybe the Jem’Hadar don't have to be either.”

And maybe also, “If Miles doesn't trust me in my judgement as a doctor and a senior officer,  even while he believes I’m fully human, there's no way he'd ever trust me as an augment.”

Or, “I have no control over who I am or what I am, and if you knew who I was… I think you would hate me.”

Or, “Will there come a day when you condemn me to death?”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scenes that especially made me Feel This:

BASHIR: [The Jem'Hadar are] not animals! They're people being used as slaves! And this is their one chance at freedom. O'BRIEN: And what are they going to do with that freedom? Stop being so naïve, Julian, and look at them for what they are. They're killers! That's all they know how to do and that's all they want to do. BASHIR: But they have the potential to be so much more. 

Hippocratic Oath 28:02

O'BRIEN: I wish things could have been different, Julian. BASHIR: So do I. O'BRIEN: And I'm sorry I had to destroy your work. BASHIR: You didn't have to, Chief. You had a choice and you chose to disobey orders, override my judgment, and condemn those men to death.

Hippocratic Oath 43:13

#Julian Bashir #genetically enhanced Julian Bashir meta #Hippocratic Oath #DS9 Hippocratic Oath #my trek musings #sorry I just had FEELINGS about this #and for once they actually made it onto a page! #well #mostly #i find feelings never quite manage to turn into words and remain fully intact #WSB

[bestworstcase]

What characters do you think are bigger than their stories? Like, their original stories act almost like a prison, stopping them from reaching their true potential?

scream laughs in the Entire Cast of TTS 💀

which. it’s a disney princess cartoon, of course the character writing isn’t good—except, in a lot of individual episodes in s1-2, the character writing is actually really fucking good, and even in s3 when the narrative finally cratered in on itself there are traces, fingerprints, pottery shards of a story that could have been incredible if it were not doomed from the start by the fact of it being a disney cartoon.

like.

the writing team behind tts looked at rapunzel. looked at tangled. this disney princess story about a girl who grew up alone in a tower with nobody but a lizard and her viciously cruel, manipulative, abusive kidnapper, this girl who in the film is portrayed as a pure, sweet, innocent ray of sunshine. right.

and they went: the ray of sunshine is a shield she does not know how to put down, and this girl learned ALL of her social skills from an emotionally abusive manipulator, and now she’s a princess and a myth and a miracle and there is only one person in this story who can meaningfully tell her no.

and then they went: let’s give her a best friend who’s a little bit older, ambitious, hard-working, socially deft, and common. let’s make that best friend her lady-in-waiting on top of being a maid, and miserable in both those roles because all she wants is to be a guard like her dad. and let’s really lean into how she cannot say no to the princess, who learned 100% of her social skills from mother fucking gothel.

the core conflict of every single keyframe episode in this show is about the slow and painful death of that friendship, by rapunzel’s hand, until cassandra goes fuck this and literally! LITERALLY! steals rapunzel’s destiny, steals her structural role as the protagonist of the story, and throws herself into the arms of an Actual Demon because the demon is the first!!! person she’s ever!!! met who treats cassandra like she’s worth anything outside of being an appendage of the lost princess. and it tailspins from there, but like—HELLO!?

rapunzel the disney princess of all time. she barbecues her best friend’s hand with a rotting curse by accident and then has a whole episode about aggressively Not Apologizing. cassandra ends up apologizing to HER! for lashing out after HOURS! of rapunzel trying to corner her into talking about it. (note, not in a protagonist-centered-morality way: the episode begins with putting the reality that cass is disabled now because of rapunzel front-and-center, portrays rapunzel’s anger at cass as irrational and unfair, and makes a point of having cass say she’s still angry at the end; all of this is meant to be the death knell of the friendship and the next thing that happens is the arc where the Actual Demon befriends cass by being nice to her.) it’s fucking GREAT.

honorable mentions to: eugene “afterthought” fitzherbert, lance “he’s the funny black guy so him getting gruesomely almost murdered is about eugene’s romantic woes actually” strongbow, varian “convenient plot device” lastname, queen “the only alive mom in the series, we’ll throw her a crumb of characterization once every other season” arianna, adira “couldn’t figure out what to do with her in s3 so we wrote her out and then turned her into a mind controlled mook” lastname, and zhan tiri “all the depth and complexity of soggy cardboard” the ancient evil demon who nonetheless managed to be THEE best part of season three. and the separatists of saporia. and sugracha (best disciple). and tromus. and lady “we cast laura fucking benanti as a pirate anti-monarchist revolutionarybut we’re not going to let her sing, or appear in more than three episodes” caine.

#what makes tts so special is #no matter WHO your fave is #1. you think they were done dirty #and 2. you are right

[bwobgames]

Previous First

"Ever since that encounter with the creepy doll, he's been afraid of death.

This explains what Marigold says, that he did things like he was following a list. Wife, kids, house, money, multiple projects and hobbies

He's afraid he won't have the time to do everything life has to offer"

"But if he can make himself inmortal, he won't have to worry anymore. He will be able to do everything without a hurry"

"With this house, he could live forever"

Ángel seems in deep thought

"But don't worry! I know how to un-purpose a house!"

"You can do that?"

"Yes! It's how I got out of the last house"

"Every house has a 'heart', so to say, an object that represents what the house does"

"In the last house, the room repating house, it was a map"

"Do you see where I'm going with this?"

"Oh, so in this house is...."

"Exactly! Then, after we deal with Eugene, we just have to destroy it!"

"..."

"...I see"

"Huh?... Is Ángel okay? Never mind, of course he's not okay"

"Do you think we should tell anyone else? Make them remember as well?"

"Um, I don't know..."

"I mean, it's not nice to have the memory of your own death. But I think people would like to know nonetheless..."

"Maybe just Nadia for now, I think Coli is targetting her this time.

He said some weird things that worry me"

"Oh, so we could lure him in"

"We can do that, but we have to be careful with the bombs"

"I saw 4 controllers, so there's 3 bombs that we don't know of, and going around trying to find them would waste us a lot of time"

"Wait, in fact, I'll just e-mail a bomb defusing team to come here"

"They won't get us until after the storm, but they'll get here eventually, right?"

"Technically, we could just leave"

"Not in this storm"

"Maybe with enough blankets we could"

"I mean, if we manage to not forget until the morning, then we will"

"What would his plan be when it's day? Repeatedly kill us until is night again?"

"I wouldn't put it past him"

"Ángel"

"If this doesn't work, if I forget again and Vivi's book gets lost forever or something of the sort"

"I want you to leave"

"No"

"Wait, listen to me. This isn't some self-sacrifice thing

Go get help.

Even if it's the police, even if you have to dress in your silly dominion outfit to get them here

Even if it takes you days, weeks or months"

"What will happen here, then? Am I supposed to just go knowing he's going to kill all of you over and over again?"

"Yes, it's a sacrifice that needs to be done if it gets us out of here"

Ángel takes a deep breath

"... I understand"

"But we won't have to do it. We'll catch him. We'll finish this"

"That's what I want to hear"

#adding post-answer response already because all of you already got it when i gave the information of a heart being a thing #so yeah. you know the answer #the one you were all waiting for!! #detective beebo #I FORGOT TO ADD THE RESULTS OF THE LAST POLL LMAO

[disco-elysium-via-polls]

🎵 Whirling in Rags, 8 AM

3. "Yeah, keep telling yourself that. I know for a fact there's still plenty of drugs out there."

TITUS HARDIE - "No, there aren't. Some little shit and his dad are doing speed. Boo-fucking-hoo. The stuff's probably from Jamrock."

EUGENE - "Whatever you've seen is peanuts. Look at the big picture, man. The place is a paradise -- and all thanks to Hardie boys!"

TITUS HARDIE - "Theoretically, of course. We're just talking politics here. My answer to your drug accusation is: *How dare you? Go fuck yourself!*"

KIM KITSURAGI - "Not quite yet, Mr. Hardie. There were eight sets of prints on the crime scene. There are only seven Hardie boys here."

"The eighth Hardie -- the one who's missing. She runs the thing, right?"

TITUS HARDIE - "My answer is: *fuck off*!" He takes a step closer. "Mind your own business. There is no *eighth Hardie*. I run this goddamn scene!"

SUGGESTION [Easy: Success] - Finally, you got something out of him. This could prove useful in the future.

ELIZABETH - "Aaaand here we go. Back to the usual." The woman sighs.

SHANKY - "I know, I know!" The little man raises his index finger excitedly. "Fattie walked on all fours. He's so fucking fat he left two sets of footprints."

FAT ANGUS - "Go fuck your mom, Dennis."

ELIZABETH - "That's more like it, boys." She turns to you. "You heard him, it was Angus on all fours. Anything else you need to know?"

Task complete: Confront Hardie boys about drug trade

+30 XP

Level up!

We've learned something. Let's go back and approach this from another angle.

2. "I want to talk about the hanging again."

TITUS HARDIE - "Again? Just get the dead guy's autograph -- since you're his biggest fan."

SHANKY - A burst of laughter in the room; the little guy is the loudest. "Good one, Titus!" he fawns.

Skipping ahead slightly...

(Address Titus.) "No, but seriously -- who calls the shots around here?"

TITUS HARDIE - "Who do you fucking think does?" He sounds more amused than angry.

AUTHORITY [Medium: Success] - He's so sure it's him -- but it's not that simple. There's someone above him (or beside him?) sharing the leadership. Hard to say who...

We now have a new option.

6. "It's the eighth Hardie boy. The one who's missing. The big dick."

GLEN - A moment of silence. The long haired one breaks it: "Titus, no one was thinking..."

+5 XP

AUTHORITY - That's it. There's some kind of power issue they don't want to admit -- and the missing Hardie is involved.

TITUS HARDIE - "No, no, no..." He shakes his head: "FUCK NO! The big dick is right here, asshole! You're looking at it!" He grabs his crotch. "Right fucking here!"

ELIZABETH - "Disregard the outburst, officer." She gives Titus a condescending glance. "None of the boys have any more comments on their power relations. That night they acted as one. That's all."

Back to the main hub.

3. "I talked to Joyce. The merc you hanged -- his friends are coming for you."

TITUS HARDIE - "Yeah?" He doesn't seem worried. "By friends you mean his squadmates from Krenel?"

EUGENE - "Wouldn't wanna beat up his grandma." There's snickering in the room. Some of the men put their beers down.

EMPATHY [Formidable: Success] - Titus did his best, but his men are a bit unsettled.

"Yes, they are forming some kind of *tribunal* -- and they're coming for you."

"Forget I mentioned it, it was probably nothing."

KIM KITSURAGI - "This is what happens if you take the law into your own hands. Other people start doing it too."

GLEN - "Let them come!" Blondie yells across the cafeteria. "The Hardie boys are right fucking here!"

TITUS HARDIE - "You heard the man -- right here." He points to the ground. "We're armed, we got the whole district behind us and Glen... Glen is fucking *crazy*."

ALAIN - "Yeah, a well oiled murder-machine!" He punches blondie on the shoulder.

"This Krenel is bad news. You know that, right?"

"The mercenaries are armed with automatic weapons."

"Joyce said they've gone rogue. Nobody is controlling them."

"Okay." (Conclude with a shrug.)

TITUS HARDIE - "Pft!" A spray of beer. "So were the local gangs. The fuckin' *Barmy Army* and the Madre scum. You've been out there. Seen any around?"

ALAIN - "Yeah? Where are they now, huh?" He points South. "Sent back to Madre in an airtight cargo crate."

KIM KITSURAGI - "These people are trained military professionals. Special forces, as you said. They're not a gang, or a *Barmy Army*."

TITUS HARDIE - "No, they're not. They're un-coordinated and drunk. We know more about them than you think."

2. "The mercenaries are armed with automatic weapons."

TITUS HARDIE - "We got weapons of our own." He cracks open his vest to give you a glimpse of his holster. "We got Ister 50s, Zielegers, Glen's got a nock-cannon at home..."

"Will they pierce ceramic armour?"

"Well if Glen has a *nock-cannon* at home I guess you'll be alright."

TITUS HARDIE - "I guess we're gonna see, aren't we?"

"See what? That they don't?"

"For your sake, I hope you're right."

TITUS HARDIE - "Yeah, like you've been up against ceramic armour..." He takes a sip of beer to bide his time, then tries to get the last word in.

"You haven't even seen the whole suit, right? I've seen the whole fucking thing and it didn't make him immortal."

3. "Joyce said they've gone rogue. Nobody is controlling them."

TITUS HARDIE - "Big fucking surprise..." He mutters. "They hire psycho scum, arm them to the teeth and let them loose in the city. What do you think is gonna happen?"

4. "Okay." (Conclude with a shrug.)

TITUS HARDIE - "What do you mean *okay*?" He jerks forward a bit.

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