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(fyi, this was supposed to be a test i wasn't gonna post, as you can now see, i clearly decided against not posting it)

Design by @mellozheist !!!!!!!

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such different vibes in last episodes

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certified jizzie post

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If Ren ever wins he should be Mars and Martyn should be its moon Phobos

Martyn means dedicated to Mars, God of war

Phobos is on a direct collision course with Mars

Such absolute dedication will result in downfall (looks over at Secret Life)

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“How d’you care so little?” Joel fumes, eyes ablaze as he paces around the shattered glass and splintered wood of his car. It's pretty well decimated, and he's been growling and frothing about it in Gem's ear for an hour now. 

She prods testily at the soft, upturned earth carefully covering their pitfall. “It's not that I don't care,” she huffs, jumping back when the dirt crumbles a little under the toe of her boot. She glances up at Joel, who is practically shaking with rage. He can't keep his eyes off the dumb car. “You know, you really could've fixed it by now.”

Beat of silence. Then, pouting and everything, he grumbles feebly, “Shut up, Gem.” 

There's no heat behind it. If anything, her words seemed to have knocked the wind from his sails of war; he's slumped against the car now, arms crossed as he glares to the side dramatically. God, he sure does put on a show, she thinks with an overwhelming wave of affection. 

It's not that Gem doesn't care. But she can't get this feeling from the four mangrove walls of her stupid barn. She can't even get it from winning. So they can burn down everything she owns, take every last life she has to spare. In the end, none of that is tangible. None of that is what matters. This is a game, and games are meant to be played. That’s what counts for her. Why should she take issue if the universe works as it was so lovingly intended to? 

All she wants to leave behind is a trail of blood and ruin as she puts up a fight. She wants to leave her mark on this world and all the people it holds. She wants to make it hurt, once she's allowed to. She wants to play the game well, exactly how she was made to play it. She cares about that. 

Gem cares, too, about the love she dredges up along the way. She thinks of her hands set to the backdrop of a blood-caked cloak, of long brown hair curling over her fingers as they dig in tight. She thinks of the sharp edge of her sword pressed against pale skin, and the thud of knees hitting the ground. All of that meant something. It still does, she believes, in certain ways. 

“I care,” she says, feeling oddly self-conscious. Maybe it's because she knows Joel now: he can't stop caring. It explodes from every pore in his body, an inescapable curse. It's been his undoing, or so she's heard; he's easy to anger, but if you ask her, he's mostly just… easy to love.

It’s this fact that has her saying quietly, “Just… I gotta pick and choose, you know?”

She's not like Joel. There's only so much room in Gem's chest, and it's permanently occupied with a bleeding, open wound. It takes up a lot of her as she skirts around it, giving its raw, frayed edges a wide berth. Joel has an infected hole in his heart too, but his preferred method of dealing with it is tearing it wider with his bare hands.

“Yeah,” Joel drawls absently, scratching his cheek. “Never been quite good at that, I reckon.”

Gem gets that. It must be hard, holding everything so tight that it rips you apart. The thought of losing that much agency has a venomous, stinging feeling crawling down the center of her back. But… 

“You're doing it right now,” she points out, gesturing vaguely at his poor car. “You could've gone on a rampage, if you wanted.”

He scoffs. “Trust me, I wanted."

“You didn't though.”

Joel blinks. “Guess I didn't.” The answer is simple, but leaden with something that has branches so complex, it nearly consumes his words entirely. Gem can't name the something; she lacks the history she'd need to do so. Even so, his face is remarkably… light? That's a word for it. Maybe he's finally cut the infection from his own wound.

She hums in lieu of response, turning her gaze back to the trap. Whatever is draped over Joel's mind, she hopes it doesn't render him too docile. The game stops for nothing, and it deserves to be played to its fullest, Gem thinks, no matter what's left standing come judgement day. 

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What I am gathering from current fandom discussion

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fun fact im actually more of a comet!joel truther but i also REALLY like the idea of Jupiter and i just HAD this image of Jupiter's red storm being a big fuck off eye in the now changed night sky after his win that i did my first ever joel fanart (wild considering how long I've been a fan lmaoo).

kept it simple for ease because i needed to go to bed. enjoy!

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He was indeed fast and furious.

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the life series winners but its that one saiki k scene

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c!Joel in the first episode somehow acting more awkward than normal and unlike the last few seasons his partner doesn't leave him once, despite his bad jokes and clumsiness and complete lack of social awareness Gem stays and talks back and she does not leave and has he ever experienced that before? Permanence? Company? A friendship not built on bribes or desperation but genuine kindness

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Beautiful pair of posts to see one after the other today

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Y era un domingo en la tarde, fui a los coches de choque tiririririririririri 🎺🎺🎺🎺🎺

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make it WILD

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have u ever seen a man so beautiful you started crying

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Invisiblings! Shadow and refraction

Just them

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Joel with his drivers license rocking up to 6 traumatised winners and Cleo after telling the Watchers he could escort himself

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winners