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tanadrin · 3 days ago

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Sorry about the long ask, but what do you think about this claim: i often see marxists (and adjacent groups, blah blah) say that the united states (empire) is about to collapse or is gradually declining, something along those lines, and specifically with regard to its economy, military and ideology. For example, i was watching a video hosting Richard Wolff, and he claimed that the united states is being replaced by china as the global superpower; he compares the situation to the historical rise of the united states relative to the british empire that slowly took place in the 19th and 20th centuries. I think his comparison is slightly flawed (imo hes comparing apples to oranges here), but in the broad strokes he might be right? I also remember seeing a pretty respectable maoist on here claim the us military is failing. Idk, i would like to hear your take

This answer got real long, so I added a cut. The short version is "people who say things like this are living in a fantasy land, and you can safely ignore their opinions on anything else as a result."

The United States is not the USSR in 1990 or Somalia in 1994 or Rome in the fifth century, or anything similar. Failed states are absolutely a thing, and they're fascinating (and often quite depressing!) historical case studies, and the United States looks nothing like a failed state. It's not even about to collapse in the sense of "suffer a prolonged period of sharp economic decline that forces it to drastically reduce its presence in the wider world and curtails its power in influence." It's not even about to collapse in the sense of "experience significant regime change." The U.S. economy is, overall, doing quite well. There is no significant popular unrest. There is no elite appetite for revolution. There are not competing centers of power that would rather see the status quo burned to the ground than their rivals get power. You might want the U.S. to collapse, and you might not, but the idea it is about to is pure fantasy.

I think before we get to any other specific claims about the United States' position relative to other countries, it's important to note that claims of impending American collapse are, like claims of impending civilizational collapse or Paul Ehrlich's claim of worldwide hunger or breathless claims that the war in Ukraine is going to escalate into WW3 any day now, IMO affective claims about how the speaker feels about the world: there is a certain class of person who, whether out of nihilistic glee, hope of revolutionary change, or simply untrammeled anxiety sees the signs of collapse all around them, Doom-Is-Nigh streetcorner prophets who are emotionally invested in the idea of collapse, for whom the idea of collapse would often justify some pillar of their politics. If, after all, the US is a failed state about to be toppled by its own decadence, this would justify their inordinate degree of contempt for the US.

On another recent post someone phrased claims like this as often being more about "what would be necessary for someone's politics to be justified," and I think that's an important part of it! In fact I think "affective claims about the world being distorted into factual claims about the world bc they are what would be necessary to justify someone's politics" is a fully general phenomenon, regardless of political orientation. There are much milder forms of it than out-and-out doomerism, though of course the absurdity of doomerist claims to this degree make it really hard to take someone's claims about the state of the world seriously.

About the specific claims here:

Re: China: China has experienced terrific growth since the end of WW2, and that's great! A country of over a billion people should by any reasonable metric be one of the largest economies on Earth, and China is, it seems, taking its inevitable place internationally as an economic powerhouse. It's a big country with a ton of people, and it's terrific that it has been able to lift so many people out of the grinding poverty that prevailed throughout much of the country in the 20th century. But like a lot of middle-income countries it seems to be having a ton of trouble, for significant institutional reasons, transitioning from an industrialization-focused economy to one driven by consumer demand and consumer spending. AIUI (and I am so, so far from an expert; mostly I just read what folks like @argumate post from other sources), China has a lot of debt dragging down its economy, and weak consumer demand. China is still much poorer than the United States on a per capita basis, and though it has a large military, is much less capable of projecting its power beyond its borders. It has aspired to increase its economic and diplomatic influence through the Belt and Road initiative, but returns on this project have been decidedly mixed, and China's military and strategic focus remains decidedly confined to its neighborhood. It wants to absorb Taiwan and protect its interests in the South China Sea, and prop up North Korea and such, but it's not able to or interested in, like, fielding large carrier groups that routinely sail up and down the world's oceans or conduct invasions of distant countries like the U.S. is able to. N.B., I'm not saying those invasions are good, just that the U.S. can historically, if it wants, invade and occupy basically any small-to-medium sized country on the planet in a few weeks, and that's not the kind of capability China has, or--AFAICT--is interested in developing.

The British Empire comparison is also, I think, very misleading, and gets at something I find frustrating about a lot of modern Marxists: they want to fit everything into the model of 19th century capitalist imperialism, when the modern global system doesn't look too much like that anymore. Mostly countries like the United States, if they have economic interests in a country, don't invade and reduce the country to a status of colony to extract raw resources from. The Cold War supported a fair bit of regime change in the service of commercial interests, even in the aftermath of post-WW2 decolonization, but nowadays the tools used to develop and enforce the international order preferred by the Status Quo Coalition (which is led, but not commanded by the United States) are much more indirect. They don't involve directly administering colonies, which is significant because colonialism is, for the states that run it, expensive as hell. Sure, it's great for commercial interests--but it's often more a drain on state finances than anything else. I have come around to the view that colonialism was as much an expression of wealth as it was a means to acquire more. Britain was always a small-but-wealthy island country whose empire was much, much larger than its metropole. The vast majority of the population and wealth controlled by the United States is within the fifty states which comprise the core territory of the United States. This isn't Britain with a far-flung overseas empire which is expensive to administer and a minority of Britons on the island itself--this is a country whose wealth and industry is built on a population of 350 million or so which identifies as American first, which speaks English and votes for President and congress. Most of the United States' actual imperial possessions are tiny archipelagoes these days that are economically marginal, or else military bases overseas--these do not generate American wealth and power, they are expressions of it. For the United States to collapse like the British Empire did, it would have to lose control of California and Texas and the Midwest or something like that--which is a goofy-ass fantasy, because if the United States federal government disappeared tomorrow, I think the vast majority of the 350 million or so people living in the present borders of the United States would support re-establishing the United States federal government. Americans like and support the country they live in! This is very different from the subjects of the British Raj, or even the people of Australia and Canada, who had begun to develop their own identity (and thanks to distance from the metropole, completely divergent economic and political interests).

"The U.S. is an empire analogous Britain" is only true if you squint from very far away and don't care about the specifics of history, economics, or politics. But I think again the way to understand this claim is partly affective. If the U.S. really is the second incarnation of the British Empire, then you can cast a lot of disparate conflicts that otherwise don't fit the mold under the aegis of a broad anti-colonial struggle. It also facilitates a certain sort of base campism that some people love to indulge in--the NATO-is-always-evil-so-anything-NATO-doesn't-like-is-good angle, which has a lot of self-described leftists backing in to saying that Putin's Russia is somehow an antifascist or anticolonial force for good in the world.

"The U.S. military is failing" is pure cope. There's no country or active coalition of countries that's even remotely close to the U.S. military in capabilities. Though there is always going to be a stream of waste and corruption and medium-sized bureaucratic fuckups streaming out of the U.S. military, it remains without peer simply by virtue of one of the largest economies on the planet being willing to spend like 4% of its GDP on military stuff. The EU or China might in some counterfactual world be able to field a similar military if they spent a comparable amount, and had similar strategic aims, but they won't and they don't, so unless U.S. foreign policy drastically changes and military spending is slashed as a result, I don't see that changing at any time in the near future.

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whateversawesome · 20 hours ago

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Spy x Family Ch. 109: Is Donovan Desmond an Alien?

No, he's not.

Although Endo could go the "alien" route, given the story, I doubt that he will.

The human mind is fascinating. So, a better explanation for Melinda's declaration is that this is the way she's dealing with her fear. It's not normal to be scared of her husband; she knows that. So, what would be a good reason to be afraid of him? Of course, that it's not really him, that he's an alien!

Her mind is trying to protect her. Anxiety is a way to protect us, and a lot of the times the mind throws strange fears and phobias to distract us from the real problem. In this case, it's her marriage. She's clearly in an abusive relationship and she wants out, but probably she can't divorce that man because of many reasons.

My guess is that Donovan Desmond changed after the war and because of that, their marriage deteriorated to the point of becoming an abusive relationship.

Before, I used to think that the marriage between Donovan and Melinda was a marriage of convenience, but now I think there was affection between them. It's hard to accept that someone you love has become abusive, so Melinda, who is into the occult, probably found an explanation (or more like a justification) for it. It's easier for her to think that someone she loves is an alien than for her to accept her husband is violent towards her and their children.

A lot of her mental health problems would probably be solved by a divorce, so she wouldn't be under her husband's control. However, given her status and the times (divorce was not very socially acceptable back in the 60s), she probably thinks divorce is not an option. On top of everything, her children are in the middle of it.

It's a complicated situation.

About Twilight

A good therapist would never tell their patient what to do. Their job is to help the person see the things they cannot see, and to empower them to make the best decision for them.

Twilight is not a therapist but he is a smart man. I think that he'll be capable of seeing what's behind Melinda's alien theory. The question is: what will he do with that information?

The most convenient thing for Operation Strix would be a reconciliation with Donovan Desmond. That would be the fastest way for Twilight to finally reach Desmond. However, that would also put Melinda at risk. Twilight is a spy, but he's also a human being, and most importantly, someone who has gone through domestic abuse as a child. So, I would like to think that even if he feels tempted to push Melinda into a reconciliation, he won't.

But, we'll see...

#spy x family #sxf #spy x family manga #twiyor #loid forger #yor forger #melinda desmond #spy x family analysis #spy x family meta #spy x family chapter 109

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skyfallscotland · 3 days ago

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🐉 ONYX STORM PROLOGUE, CHAPTERS ONE & TWO MY THOUGHTS: (god bless the dutch 🇳🇱)

So not totally verified yet, but it seems legit. This is absolutely the scene I expected us to be starting with, and despite the translation it does read like Rebecca. Thank you so much to @thestarseternaal for sharing it with me! You can find it here.

Ok, let's fucking goooooo! 🤘

· That trigger warning list? "The death of an animal" 💀😬 The "descriptions of sexual acts" though, thank god, though it's not looking promising for the two of them so far.

· Garrick and Bodhi KNOW?! Ok that I didn't see coming?

· "I can't blame him for wanting to know what he is" ANDARNA 😭 "I'm as much in the dark as he is, and you trust me." 😭 I want to hug the baby

· "Magic feels different when I change colours. When I used my power, it was like the venin transformed, weakening-" Ok so confirmed, she's the solution they're looking for *sigh*

· It's going to be unfortunate if the allies we're seeking are just Poromiel, and I think they are given both the excerpt prior to the prologue and the fact the Target edition map had only a few places in Poromiel on it and no Isles. I guess we're not looking for Andarna's family over there until books four and five? 😞

· Wait...what? Leadership knows what Andarna is? Everyone knows? Who TF told them? I was certain they didn't see? I can't believe we spent all this time worrying about people knowing she was a baby when she bonded and y'all just told everyone she was a super special rare breed right off the bat. SMDH.

· Aotrom's only 22? 😭 I'm older than Aotrom? RIDOC and him are the same age, that makes so much sense!!

· TAIRN CALLS XADEN "THE DARK ONE"? 😭 I feel like I'm not going to like Tairn much this book, and I feel like he's gonna ☠️ but that's for my theory post.

· "His soul is no longer his own" "That's a bit dramatic." VIOLET I LOVE YOU 🖤

· "You mean whether I'll support you in the thousand ways you want to face death to heal someone who's beyond redemption?" Oh Tairn...why do I get the really, really bad feeling you lied about Naolin?

· The truth-sayers have let Caroline Ashton off the hook? Hmmmm suspicious. Everyone's evil, I just know it.

· "Devera and Kaori will be back soon. They’ll straighten out the command structure once the princes have signed a treaty that hopefully grants us grace for even leaving in the first place." Ummm princes plural? So I guess Cam hid for nothing? Well not nothing, but he's...back with his fam? Also why would they be signing shit? Where's the damn king?!

· "The rarest signet, which appear once per generation or century, have been documented twice simultaneously with an equal counterpart, both during critical times in our history, but only once have the six most powerful walked the Continent at the same time. As fascinating as that spectacle must have been, I would rather not witness it again in my lifetime. – A study of signets by Major Dalton Sisneros" Ok could be a weird translation but I'm confused by this. The counterpart thing could be either a rider and a venin (ie. one of the venin can distance wield and we're getting a distance wielder) or dark and light, ie. shadows and light. Also six like the first six and they all had partners within themselves? Three pairs? Or? What even were their signets because I can't believe we've NEVER FUCKING ASKED? I've literally never seen that mentioned and it seems...so fucking relevant.

· Perhaps a more outlandish theory, but I think the venin with the silver hair who distance wields might be Xaden's mother. I'll elaborate later, but 😬😬

· Ok well, 1. I'm fucking crying already, and 2. "Even if I reached the rank of Maven, led armies of dark wielders against everyone we care about, and if I had to watch every vein in my body turn red because I had drained all the powers of the Continent, I would still love you. What I’ve done doesn’t change that. I don’t know if that’s even possible." That's a little bit storm in the quiet, I love it when the vibe is proven ✨correct✨ 😭 @justallihere

So all in all, 1. As expected, every excerpt, hint, and thing we've thought about it over in one-two chapters, 2. This is going to hurt so bad and I think it will go as I expected, and 3. I'm still not ready 😭

Send help 🥺

#onyx storm spoilers #onyx storm #fourth wing #the empyrean

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ooooo-mcyt · 2 days ago

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One thing I think is really underutilized in fanon is how ambitious Jimmy is.

Like, I get it, he's the fandom pathetic sillyguy, but Jimmy wants for so much.

Jimmy is reckless, not because he's stupid or doesn't care about staying alive, but because he's unsatisfied with playing slow and safe.

Yes, that has..historically gone poorly for Jimmy. The canary curse followed him for four seasons, and even now, it still seems to hover over him, which makes him even more frantic to prove he's more than the role he's been put into. Jimmy is a person who literally burns with unfulfilled ambition, who almost always goes out fighting.

He wants to be taken seriously, to prove himself, to be the hero, the victor, he doesn't want to sit back and play it safe, and he doesn't want to keep failing. Jimmy is a character with so much understated burning desire for more, and it fascinates me so deeply.

#trafficblr #traffic smp #solidaritygaming #it's a traffic jam

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nosyp · 1 day ago

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HEAR ME OUTTT the boys hearing mc listening to cpr- you know which one ☠️😭🙏 PLSSSS

AAAAA ABSOLUTELYYYY Honestly, this was supposed to be general for all songs but my a/n probs caused sum confusion😭 I'll do it again but briefly :)

First years

Deuce would be so flustered, trying to act casual but failing miserably. He would likely avoid eye contact and stammer nervously, because he's so unsure how to react.

Ace would be a mix of teasing and being flustered. He’d make bold, teasing remarks but inside, he's secretly a little embarrassed. He might crack a joke or two, but you can tell he’s trying to hide how awkward he feels. Like "omgwhyaretheylisteningtothisomgomgomg"

Sebek is very confused but ngl, also intrigued. He’d be questioning the song’s intent and would likely give you a long lecture about how it doesn’t align with his values (even though he’s secretly curious about it).

Epel would be a bit caught off guard at first, blushing furiously. He’d try to act tough about it, maybe even try to tease you back, but you can tell it makes him a bitt.. weird. He’d probably give a little huff and say something like, “That’s a bit much, don’t ya think?” while trying to hide his embarrassment.

Jack would be so awkward. He wouldn’t understand why you’re listening to something so suggestive, and he'd try his hardest not to react in a way that makes it worse. He’d probably give you a shy, “Uh, I don’t know about this…” before hastily walking away, trying to keep his cool but clearly flustered.

Second years

Riddle is visibly flustered but he's gonna try to keep his composure. He’d be stern, maybe scold you lightly for your “choice” in music, but he’s definitely intrigued. He wouldn’t openly admit it though.

Ruggie's dying inside, either trying not to laugh or let his embarrassment show. He’d act like it’s no big deal, shrugging it off with, “You really know how to pick ‘em, huh?” but secretly, he’d be low-key flustered. His tail might twitch or he might shift his weight uncomfortably, trying to play it off as no big deal, even though it is kind of a big deal to him.

Azul'd be the most fascinated at first, trying to keep steady. His mind would immediately start calculating how he could leverage this situation for his own benefit. But inside, he’d be a nervous wreck. He might lean closer and say, “You certainly have... interesting taste. But I suppose that’s part of your charm.” His words would be smooth, but the redness in his cheeks would give him away.

Jade's very intrigued, probably wouldn’t react outwardly but would watch you with a calculating gaze. He’d likely comment on how "interesting" your taste is, his smile never quite reaching his eyes.

Floyd finds it hilarious. He’d be practically rolling on the floor laughing, making playful comments about it. His teasing would probably make things more awkward for you, though he’s definitely entertained.

Kalim would be oblivious at first but then would start laughing because he thinks it's hilarious and cool. He’d maybe even ask you to teach him the song if he’s feeling extra curious.

Jamil is TRYING to be calm, but there’s a hint of concern in his eyes. He’d probably raise an eyebrow and ask if you were okay. He’s a little wary but will respect your taste while keeping a cautious eye on it.

Silver would be confused and slightly embarrassed, definitely not sure what to say. He might make a quick exit or awkwardly sit in silence until he gathers his thoughts.

Third years

Cater laughs it off with a playful smile, finding it hilarious but not fazed. He’s the type to send it in his group chat and joke about it, but he’s lowkey impressed by your taste. Like damn, he didn't know you had that in you

Trey would try to act calm, though his slight smirk tells you everything. He’d likely comment with a playful but reassuring remark, maybe even pull you aside to chat about the choice of song later.

Leona would pretend to not to care, but his eyes would narrow and he’d mutter something like, “Tch, whatever,” but you can tell it got his attention, especially if it’s something he didn’t expect from you.

Vil would be very eeh... about it, possibly giving you a look of mild disapproval. He’d comment on how interesting your taste in music is and might offer a 'better' suggestion to you to make you stop listening to the horrid lyrics you call 'music'.

Rook finds it fascinating, to say the least. He’d probably compliment you on your "taste" with an overly dramatic flourish, and he might even ask if there’s more to your musical preferences than meets the eye.

Oh boy, Idia would absolutely freeze, wide-eyed, caught in the act. His face would go beet red, and he'd start panicking, unsure how to respond. He’d stutter out something like, “W-wait, you—y-you like this kind of music? I-I mean... it's... it's fine, I guess. Totally normal.” His anxiety would skyrocket, and he'd try to hide behind his hair or fidget with his phone, pretending like he didn’t just hear what he heard. But deep down, he's kinda intrigued.

Malleus would be genuinely curious and a little perplexed at first. He might not fully understand the song’s meaning but would definitely notice the emotions behind it, like the lust. His usual calm demeanor would stay intact, but he’d be intrigued by your music selection.

Lilia would find it hilarious and probably tease you a little. He’s not fazed by it, but he might make jokes about how you’ve got a bold side to you that he didn’t expect.

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monsters00km · 3 days ago

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It is definitely on both sides. I was mainly talking from my experience in fandoms. Where a lot of times people who are just enjoying the media are not spreading hate. It's the people who decide to have some sort of take are usually putting something down. And I don't mean in a I'm critiquing the media kinda of way, i mean in full hate kinda way

I don't like or try to interact with anyone who is like x is better than y bc of this. Those posts usually have hatred within it.

As for what you're saying to begin with. I agree. Fully. Characters have limits based on what we are shown. I think what is interesting about Arcane is they push that specific limit with pretty much every character. And the fascinating thing about life is you don't really know how people will react in their moments of greatest dispare. And thats what makes storytelling so hard and complex bc you have to show that it makes sense while also showing how far some will fall.

And that's one of the things I like about Arcane. I think they do that well. They show us who these characters are at their core. And they take that and push the character to an extreme. And show how that core manifests at that point. And it's so real to have that explored in the way of corruption. As in, the characters themselves are acting in a way they believe is right/in a manor they would act. But us as the viewer sees they are not. Bc they have been blinded by grief/rage/despiration/etc. And so they are like a corrupt version of themselves.

And i think it is so interesting for them to also show that sometimes we can pull ourselves out of it. And we will never be the same person again. But we can move forward with who we are.

Also, sorry. I didn't know you were german. Im an American who loves history and who is noticing one to many similarities between pre ww2 Germany and the USA today. I think more Americans should be called that word. But that doesn't mean I should throw it out to anyone. So sorry, my bad.

"Caitlyns redemption arc isn't very good."

Maybe she doesn't have a redemption arc.

May be Arcane isn't about redemption.

May be Arcane is about flawed characters who are neither good nor bad.

May be Arcane is a show that shows us that good people can do horrible things and how our society and the people we have or don't have as support can shape that.

Good people can become horrible. Not because it is innate within them. But because of their life experiences.

#arcane #jinx #silco #caitlyn kiramman #vi

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caramelc0rgi · 2 days ago

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I probably already wrote something about this but I will never stop talking about how badly written X-men Dark Phoenix is. If Dark Phoenix has zero haters, then I’m dead.

I absolutely despise how everyone in that movie villainizes him. Charles made a lot of mistakes, yes, especially when it comes to hiding what actually happened to Jean’s parents but it just seems so out of character from everyone to suddenly turn on him?

They blame him for Jean’s problems, for her not understanding herself, and it’s like no one takes a second to acknowledge that maybe Charles is just a guy trying to do his best. The worst part is, he’s always the one who’s giving—guiding, supporting, and protecting—but no one ever really checks on him. The people who should understand him the most (his students, his closest friends) seem to disregard him completely in this film. And it’s not like he’s some invincible figure who doesn’t need help; he’s clearly struggling, but no one seems to care. They just let him flounder, and that makes it feel like everyone’s turning their backs on the person who’s been there for them from the beginning. Charles was literally still mourning the death of his sister and Hank basically tells him how everyone should be afraid of him for the things he did.

In Dark Phoenix, Charles becomes a villain of sorts, but it feels like the movie’s creators didn’t know how to make this change feel earned. Instead of evolving his character in a believable way, they just throw him under the bus to make the stakes feel higher. The whole movie seems to forget the complexity of who Charles is and the positive impact he’s had on these characters. Rather than giving him a solid, well-deserved arc, the film turns him into someone who’s not only flawed, but also pretty unlikable. It’s a shame because, in the end, Charles is one of the most fascinating, multifaceted characters in the X-Men universe, and Dark Phoenix did him a major disservice by treating him so poorly.

And the worst part is, the movie doesn’t show anyone stepping up to help Charles. He’s not given the kind of emotional support that he has so often given to others. You’d think that after everything he’s done, someone would be there for him. But no. Instead, he’s left alone, isolated, and vulnerable, with no one offering him the same kind of empathy he’s given them for years. It feels like the movie forgets the essence of his character—the wise, compassionate leader—and replaces him with a broken, almost unrecognizable version of himself.

Anway, this movie is ass. Paris proposal was the only good thing about this movie. That, and Erik was slaying with that look of his

#cherik #michael fassbender #james mcavoy #charles xavier #erik lehnsherr #x men #x men dark phoenix #i hate this movie with a passion #paris proposal #paris proposal stay winning #I will never forgive them for writing Charles so poorly in this movie #dark phoenix writers when I catch you

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cotton-fae24 · 15 hours ago

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Hello everybody! Surprised to see me post something not Seabird related? Well sometimes drawing the same things over and over again gets a little tiring, so to clear my head (and to remind myself to draw legs once in while) I’d tried to draw other owl house stuff. During this break times I’d actually end up drawing other owl house creators Au’s, and I decided to clean up these drawings together and compile them into one big illustration. Think of this post as a sorta tribute to creators that inspire me. And don’t worry, Seabird part 3 will still come out Monday.

First up, the Monster high AU by @dazeddoodles

As the title suggests, it’s an AU that combines the G1 Monster high with the Owl house series. I was a huge Monster High fan when I was younger, so this AU was a real treat. I’m really sad they decided to discontinue it, as I think this AU is really cute. I love the designs too, Raine is my favorite. I kinda just wanted to draw some cute interactions, a young Eda and Raine interacting, Gus and Willow giving Hunter “a hand’ and Amity flirting with Luz (in her own way). Drawing this AU was a lot of fun and did inspire me to rewatch some of the old Monster high specials.

Pittwins AU by @nikolutke

This AU is much darker. The idea of the story is what if Hunter and Luz weren’t resurrected at the end of the series and wandered around the Boiling Isles as ghosts. I love Nikolutke designs for Ghost Luz and Hunter, they’re both haunting and really sad. Plus the idea exploring the Owl house characters reactions towards the death of a love one is really fascinating concept. I kinda explored that idea with these drawings, in this case Eda and Darius reactions. I feel like Eda would be out of her mind with grief, as she was forced to watch Luz’s death first hand. I think she’d feel a lot of guilt too, thinking she failed to protect Luz. I also wonder if Kings Titans powers allows him to see the dead, could be possible. As for the other illustration, I think Darius would probably isolated himself and grieve quietly, contemplating what he could of done differently, and if he could have saved Hunter in time.

The Gilded Cage by @catboymoments

I’ve been fan of both their next gen au and this one, but I decided to post one about the Gilded age au. The basic idea of this AU is the classic “What if Belos found Luz instead of Eda” concept. A lot of these AUs tend to go the route of “Luz becomes Belos 2.0” as someone who loves Luz, I’m sad people just think she’d just instantly become a villain if left unguided. I’m really that this AU went into a different direction and actual kept Luz’s personality and made Luz someone who’s trying to help the Isles and wants to protect her friends from Belos wrath. The one on the left is Lilith and Luz interacting, I like to think Lilith sees a lot of Eda in Luz, and makes her think of the good times before everything got complicated. The one on the right is Luz and Hunter, with the former trying to convince the latter to question Belos control. I love in this AU that despite Belos attempts to put the, against each other, they still have each others back no matter what! Their siblings no matter what universe they’re in!

And of course the classic (pun intended) The Mythology AU by @turquoisespace35

This AU is Huntlow story set in Greek mythology. Hunter in this AU is the half human-gorgon offspring of the human Caleb and gorgon Evelyn. Willow is sent to his location to kill him but (of course) they fall in love instead. The story has a lot of twists and turns, so I suggest you check it out if you haven’t already. The left drawing is Caleb and Evelyn interacting together. I don’t know if this work but I like to think the two were able to somewhat interact with each other by Caleb looking through mirror. I of course had to draw the love birds Hunter and Willow interacting together. The one on the top right is a little bit of a spoiler but I decided to draw Lilith and Edalyns in their goddess forms, I love that Lilith plays the role of Athena and acts a caretaker to Hunter. I drew her getting a little emotional about Hunter finally being free, as any cool Aunt should.

And to those who are just hear to see the Seabird AU, here’s a preview drawing of part 3 of chapter 10. I don’t think Edas really enjoying this part though lol.

Anyway, hope you guys this more unusual post, I just wanted to draw something a little different this time and pay tribute to some of the artists that have inspired me.

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aropride · 16 hours ago

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fascinated and distressed by chase's disordered relationship with sexuality + his emotions abt his own trauma & abuse

thru the beginning of the show he doesn't even realize he's hot despite being objectively attractive. when he finds out he's hot he then realizes people pretend to be interested in him as a person in order to have sex with him and gets super upset about it

he starts having a bunch of meaningless sex as a coping mechanism when cameron leaves him. and also a lot of other times. whenever something bad happens, basically, he starts going out with a bunch of women, just to feel something, presumably

^to the extent where hes known within the hospital as a slut. and has had sex with an insane amount of nurses. as well as presumably women who are not at his place of work.

he says doing this made him hate himself so he stopped. it's the b-plot for an episode and then he's back having meaningless sex again by the end of the episode

even his coworkers know this about him. and have called it out, masters even says she thinks he doesn't respect women bc, in her words, he's with a different one every few days or maybe he finds comfort in meaningless relationships

goes back to having meaningless sex within weeks of getting stabbed. which is really bad for wound healing reasons too. genuinely it seems like such compulsive behavior for him considering he keeps doing it even when its objectively not only a bad idea but actively dangerous

house even directly says he's "a serial slut" because he's "terrified of intimacy." incredibly accurate assessment

his relationship with his sexuality reads so heavily as someone who thinks they're not good for anything else

see also: dr. fawn response

general passive willingness to go along with anything- when cameron says they should have sex in s3 he's surprised and then he just kinda goes along with it. not bc he didn't want to bc he obviously did, but he's just generally very much someone who does whatever other people want him to do. i feel like he and cameron both tend to seek validation thru sex in an unhealthy way that i'm still gnawing on like a dog with a bone i have to go rewatch s3 to really articulate it though

he has a sort of desperation for praise and approval especially from anyone he views as an authority figure. he does whatever authority figures tell him out of this idea that it'll bring him approval and therefore safety

like no matter what house does or says to him he doesn't argue or retaliate or anything. even when house punches him he collapses on the ground in pain and then just keeps talking about the patient like nothing happened.

the scene in 3.10 after house punches him where he's in the ddx room and house walks in and throws the file at him and chase is startled and tries to pretend he's not. and he looks up with this huge fuck ass bruise on his jaw swallows heavily and pretends not to be upset. and house asks if he got that looked at as if he wasn't the one to give it to him and chase just swallows and says he's fine. dr fawn response :(

#text #i still have a few episodes left Worried im gonna post this and immediately soemthing else will Happen that is relevant here #avian i stole the phrase 'dr fawn response' from u its really good its been bouncing around my head for several days #chase #robert chase #house md #Implication here being i think he was sexually abused at some point. idk if the Writers intended that #but i'm looking at him with my eyes and thinking about him in my brain and it's very clear to me #house spoilers #analysis

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umbrellajam · 12 hours ago

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#yesss i love all the fights <3333 #and YEAH the flipped roles in the rr fight!! one of the many reasons i love that one especially sfdsfsdfs #dick's usually the one storming off!! that's HIS thing!! tim's the chase-you-down-clingy one!!! EXCEPT SUDDENLY NOT ANYMORE #bruce dies & there's a HOLE IN THE WORLD & everybody's tried-and-true roles get scrambled & everything is chaos #tim's suddenly doing all dick's moves & dick's stuck in bruce's shoes (literally. bruce's shoes bruce's cape bruce's costume...) <- yessss, I love this

#and then just ahhhhh i'm obsessed with the psychology from dick's pov #your dad just died & you're grieving & what are you doing? you're re-running your biggest fight with your dad ever #the fight you never really resolved. the one you never got to talk about #and what do you do as you symbolically re-run this fight??? you take your dad's side and not your own #you can't tell him he was right and you can't apologize and you can't ever talk to him again #but you can take his side. suddenly his side of the fight feels so much reasonable than it used to #and it's just. psychologically. it's so so soooo fascinating to me. (via @silverwhittlingknife)

YEAH and it's like, is he doing it consciously?? how much is he thinking about these parallels consciously vs. skimming past them bc he's distracted and overwhelmed and it hurts too much and he's always seen himself in Tim to a degree and he's run his own firing over and over in his head so many times over the years and surely the worst part was Bruce rejecting him and as much as telling him he wasn't good enough, so if he remembers to tell Tim, "things are changing but I still need you" out loud he'll at least have done better than Bruce and it'll be fine, it'll be fine right, Tim will understand because he has to understand.....

anyway there's so much there and we never see it addressed from his perspective and it drives me a little crazy lol. and Tim doesn't know to make this comparison bc I don't think he's actually been made privy to the exact circumstances of Dick's firing as far as we know? and (a) the idea of Dick telling him about something as fraught as that without Tim knowing to pry for it (like he did about everything else) is....dubious lol, and (b) if Tim dug it up in Bruce's files or something I feel like he definitely would have thought about it, at some point over the years but especially during RR

*putting them both in a snowglobe and shaking them* I know I've said it's fine you two didn't really talk about this but TALK GDIT

thinking about the swathe of Tim & Dick disagreements that can be broadly patterned, "Dick is more openly distraught and ends up chewing out Tim before stalking off, while Tim's left standing there like 🧍‍♂️"

New Titans #61 (A Lonely Place of Dying, Part 4) Gotham Knights #26 (Bruce Wayne: Murderer? Part 10) Nightwing (1996) #110

and the sort of opposite, where Tim is more openly distraught and they end up physically fighting each other

Nightwing (1996) #139 (The Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul, Part 6) Red Robin (2009) #4

anyway no deep thoughts, I just love them and I'm rotating their arguments in my brain at all times, lol

(bonus: the direct reverse of the first category, with Tim more openly distraught with and chewing out Dick before stalking off, leaving Dick standing there like 🧍‍♂️)

Red Robin (2009) #1

#like I still do think it's fine in canon that they skated past it bc they're repressed goobers #but *I* want them to talk so. they should do it for *me*.#lol #maybe Tim DOES end up prying about it after he comes home to Gotham #like if Dick wanted him to be his own vigilante so much he can at least tell Tim about how and why HE did it #or maybe Dick manages to make himself bring it up #Dick and Tim #Dick Grayson #Tim Drake #Bruce Wayne #dcu #batfam #DC Comics panels #DC meta #Red Robin #post tag #comics reading tag

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jupiterswasphouse · 16 hours ago

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The thing about being around nature is that the soil of the ground that you walk on and around will grow new things, things will die off, things will fall, but generally the structure of the earth beneath you will not change all that much from your perspective, even over years and years, unless something big and/or deliberate happens. But then, as you observe things closely, you realize that the smaller animals all around us must see things a little differently. Ants make complex series of tunnels and create miniature mountains, same for some termites; Hundreds, thousands, even millions of other creatures make their homes in tiny holes in the ground or dig to navigate the world, from tons of parasitoid and eusocial wasps to spiders to lizards to rodents and the list goes on; Mud daubers and potter wasps, amongst others, relocate bits of dirt piece by piece to build their nests; Large animals dig pits in the ground that equate to vast valleys or even sometimes lakes to the smaller things in our ecosystem; The mushrooms and plants spread their roots through the dirt, further complicating the labyrinths found beneath the soil. It's fascinating to think about, really—Landscapes are changing so drastically all the time, but only for those small enough to see it.

#Wasp House Buzzing

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shiny-jr · 2 days ago

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Please yap away about your new Empyrean series~! I’ve been watching a bunch of videos and reading about Genshin Impact so I can better understand the world and dynamics you’re planning to write about and absolutely fascinated with everything~

Is there a specific dorm you’re looking forward to writing about or possible side arcs/missions in between the MC meeting the different Archons like the events in Twisted Wonderland? Were some of the dorm leaders easier to place as the different Archons elements than others and if so who did you struggle with?

Oh god, where do I even start? How much is too much to say? I don't want to spoil whole parts. I haven't actually written anything for it, but I do certainly have ideas. Ideas that have been accumulating slowly but surely.

Uh, I think first thing's first, none of the TWST cast are going to be just human. How unfair would it be if, say, Riddle was an archon (god) and Ace was just human? Kinda unfair. Which is why all the characters are going to be something else. I'm still figuring some of this part out.

Keep in mind, my knowledge of Genshin Impact extends as far as Inazuma and no further. Anything I know beyond that was through tiktok, that is it. So I'll be taking heavy inspirations from the first three regions.

Pairing the element to a character wasn't too hard actually. So first I focused on the archons, and I looked at the dorm leaders and what they stand for and what type of magic they use.

We know Riddle uses a lot of fire magic based off his SSR Dorm Uniform card. Additionally, the color scheme just went well with his hair color and the roses and all. At first I thought it seemed uncanny, because how could a green region based off of Britain be symbolic of the pyro element? Well, then I considered that since it borders Savanaclaw, it could make sense.

For Leona, I took into account the volcanoes that act as a natural border between his land and Riddle's. Additionally, his unique magic made it a very easy choice. I mean, turning things to sand? Slapping Geo on it and calling it a day.

On Azul's, I was actually torn. I know it seems like an obvious choice of hydro, but listen, at first I actually considered giving Kalim hydro due to his own unique magic. Then I thought maybe Azul would get cryo, but in my mind, leaving the other elements to the remaining characters just didn't make much sense. So, ultimately, Azul won the hydro element.

Giving Kalim the dendro element just happened to coincidentally align with the Sumeru region's main element. I wanted to give Kalim the next best thing if he couldn't have hydro, which was dendro. As I see it as a very "good" element with positive qualities, which he deserves.

Vil was one of the others that gave me trouble when assigning him an element. For a very brief moment, I considered giving him dendro, but that just didn't fit the sort of aesthetic I had in mind for him. Then I remember what his home region is supposed to look like, if it's similar to Epel's, it's snowy, right? So cryo was the next best option. I think it actually fits him well, if I do say so myself.

Idia was the last character to give me trouble. For a while I really was not sure about giving him the anemo element, as he just seemed like the complete opposite of Venti and his ideals. However, the longer I thought about, the more I came to terms with it. Wind doesn't have to mean just freedom. Wind can be very terrifying too, like what we see in Stormterror's Lair which is the sort of aesthetic I imagined when I finally assigned him anemo.

I mean, duh, of course Malleus was getting electro. What else did you expect? I mean, there was a second where I considered giving electro to Idia, but then giving anemo to Malleus didn't sit right with me. Electro was ultimately the best choice for this archon. It's constantly used in the games around him, he has control over it, it just made sense to give him this element.

Any other characters that are not archons will have their elemental type be based off the region they're from. HINT HINT. For example, Riddle may be pyro as he is the archon, but at least one person in Heartslabyul will not have the pyro element.

#shiny speaks #empyrean twst au

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zylokv · 3 days ago

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KEY TO CHAOS — myoui mina

❝ you're my spouse on paper, however you're not my responsibility.❞

synopsis — revelation at its finest.

word count ! — 6,4k

— myoui mina x reader !

notice — heavily inspired by @neoplatinum, aswell as cozuzi and a bit of queen of tears.

disclaimer ! — this story is a work of fiction. the portrayal of characters, events, and relationships does not reflect the real lives or personalities of any individuals mentioned. themes of infidelity and emotional conflict are explored, but the intention is not to glamorize toxic behavior.

series masterlist !

part four !

the event is in full swing, laughter and chatter filling the air as people mingle. mina’s family spared no expense, of course. the garden is illuminated with twinkling lights, tables laden with food and drinks, and a small orchestra playing softly in the background.

hiro sits on my lap, his small fingers curiously tugging at the bow tie around his neck. “you don’t like it either, huh?” i chuckle, loosening my own tie to match.

hiro rests easily in your arms, his tiny hand clutching at your tie as if it’s the most fascinating thing he’s ever held.

“you’ve got quite the grip, little man,” you murmur, watching him curiously. “must’ve gotten that from your mom. she’s got the same tenacity—doesn’t let go of an argument either.”

hiro gurgles in response, his wide eyes fixated on you, and you laugh quietly. “oh, you think i’m kidding? wait until you’re old enough to see her in action. your mom’s like a storm, and you—” you brush a finger over his soft cheek, smiling. “you’re the calm after.”

“you’re really something, you know that?” sana’s voice interrupts gently from beside you, and when you glance over, she’s watching you with a faint smile.

“what can i say?” you reply, shifting hiro in your arms and giving her a wry grin. “he’s an easy audience. laughs at all my jokes.”

sana chuckles, reaching out to pat your shoulder lightly. “that’s because you’re talking about mina. everyone knows you’re a sucker for her.”

“oh, absolutely,” you say, pretending to whisper conspiratorially to hiro. “don’t tell her, though. she might start taking advantage of it.”

hiro babbles in agreement—or maybe dissent—and sana outright laughs this time, a soft, genuine sound that surprises you.

“you’re good with him,” she says after a moment, her tone quieter now. “and with mina.”

“i do my best,” you reply, glancing down at hiro again. “though sometimes i feel like i’m just making it up as i go.”

“well that's parenthood,” she teases, her hand lingering on your shoulder for a moment longer before she steps back, letting her gaze drift to the koi pond.

hiro coos again, and you look down to see him reaching for sana. “see? even he thinks you’re alright,” you say, grinning.

“well, he’s got good taste,” sana quips, but there’s a warmth in her smile that’s hard to miss.

as much as i’m enjoying the moment, i need a break. handing hiro over to sana, who happily takes him, i excuse myself and wander through the dimly lit paths of the estate.

my steps lead me to the side garden, quieter here, the sounds of the event muffled. i’m distracted enough that i don’t notice the figure until i bump into him.

“watch it,” i mutter, stepping back and glaring. it’s sehun.

his smug smile makes my blood boil instantly. “well, well,” he drawls, brushing off his suit. “if it isn’t the perfect spouse.”

“why are you even here??” i snap, already regretting not avoiding him.

he pulls a usb drive from his pocket, twirling it between his fingers before tossing it at me. i catch it, glaring at him.

“consider it a favor,” he says smoothly. “you saved me and my family from that scandal. think of this as my way of saving your life.”

my grip tightens on the usb. “what’s on here?”

“answers,” he says cryptically, his smirk widening. “but be careful. you might not like the questions.”

“why shouldn’t i knock you out right now?” i growl, stepping closer.

he shrugs, completely unfazed. “because you’re smarter than that. besides,” he adds, his voice dripping with fake sincerity, “i’m thankful. truly.”

without another word, he walks off, leaving me standing there seething and confused.

shaking my head, i pocket the usb and head to the bathroom. splashing cold water on my face, i lean against the sink, trying to make sense of what just happened.

eventually, i make my way back to the party. sana’s still there with hiro, now gently rocking him in her arms. she looks up as i approach, frowning slightly.

“you okay?” she asks, her tone laced with concern.

i hesitate but nod. “yeah. just… ran into someone.”

“seems like it rattled you.” she raises an eyebrow, watching me carefully.

“it’s nothing,” i lie, taking hiro from her arms and holding him close. but my mind’s already spinning, the usb in my pocket burning like a brand.

before i can dwell on it further, i feel a pair of familiar arms wrap around my waist from behind. “there you are,” mina murmurs, her voice low and warm against my ear.

i turn slightly, and she’s looking up at me with a smile that sends a rush of warmth through my chest. her lips brush against my jaw, lingering just a moment longer than usual.

“i missed you,” she says softly, her fingers tracing lazy patterns against my shirt.

“didn’t think i was gone that long,” i joke, but my voice comes out a little breathless.

“too long,” she counters, tugging me closer. her gaze flickers to hiro, and she presses a soft kiss to his forehead before turning her full attention back to me.

“you look stressed,” she observes, her hands sliding up to straighten my collar, a hint of mischief in her eyes. “maybe you should take a break from the party…”

“baby,” i start, but her lips are already brushing against mine, silencing whatever excuse i was about to make.

it’s quick, fleeting, but the promise in her gaze as she pulls back makes my pulse race.

“come find me later,” she whispers, her tone leaving little room for interpretation.

hiro babbles in my arms, pulling my attention back just enough to keep me grounded, but mina’s touch lingers like a ghost, her warmth impossible to ignore.

-----

the faint click of mina’s heels echoed through the penthouse as she stepped inside, her posture as poised as ever, though a hint of fatigue lingered in her movements. the day had been long—meetings at the myoui corporation rarely allowed for anything less—but the sight before her was enough to soften the sharp edges of her mood.

you were sprawled on the living room floor, hiro in your lap, both of you surrounded by a colorful mess of building blocks and toy cars. hiro squealed with laughter as you made exaggerated engine noises, pushing a tiny car toward him.

“incoming! brace for impact!” you said dramatically, making hiro giggle so hard he toppled over.

mina leaned against the doorframe, her arms crossed, her lips curving into a rare, genuine smile. “hard at work, i see.”

“very important business,” you replied, glancing up at her with a playful grin. “hiro’s been giving me driving lessons. apparently, i’m a terrible driver.”

hiro chimed in with a cheerful babble, as if to prove your point, sending another car skidding across the floor.

mina chuckled softly, slipping off her heels and stepping closer. “sounds accurate.”

you feigned offense, placing a hand over your chest. “et tu, mina? my own wife, siding with the critic!”

hiro clapped his hands, clearly entertained by your theatrics. he made grabby hands reaching for mina.

she scooped him up effortlessly, holding him close. “hi, baby,” she murmured, her voice tender as she kissed his cheek. “did you miss me?”

hiro nodded enthusiastically, wrapping his tiny arms around her neck. the sight made your chest ache in the best way—a moment of softness amidst the chaos of life.

“you two looked like you were having fun,” mina said, glancing at the mess of toys.

“he’s a harsh boss, but the pay’s great,” you quipped, getting up and stretching. “all smiles and giggles.”

mina gave you a knowing look, her eyes softening. “you’re good with him,” she said quietly, almost as if the admission surprised even her.

you shrugged, trying to downplay the compliment. “he makes it easy.”

hiro yawned then, rubbing his eyes, his energy finally winding down. mina looked at you, and you nodded toward the nursery. “i’ll handle it,” you offered.

“let’s do it together,” she said, surprising you.

the two of you guided hiro to his room, the bedtime ritual filled with whispers and soft laughter. once he was settled, you kissed his forehead and stood back as mina brushed his hair gently, her expression unreadable yet serene.

when you stepped out, closing the door behind you, mina sighed lightly, the sound breaking the quiet of the hallway.

“we need to leave soon,” she said softly, slipping her arm through yours as you walked back to the living room. “the party is this weekend, and i don’t want us scrambling at the last minute.”

you chuckled. “scrambling is my middle name. but don’t worry, we’ll be ready.”

mina gave you a small smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. she glanced toward your office door, her fingers brushing her wrist. “i don’t know why, but… i’ve had this strange feeling all day. like something’s coming.”

“something good, i hope?” you joked lightly, trying to lift the mood.

“maybe,” she said, but her gaze lingered, just for a moment, on the small desk in your office, where a single usb drive sat, unnoticed. then she turned back to you, shaking her head as if to dismiss the thought. “let’s just enjoy tonight.”

you nodded, squeezing her hand. “sounds like a plan, boss.”

her smile grew, and with that, the two of you settled into the evening, unaware of the weight the future would soon bring.

-----

the gentle hum of the yacht’s engines barely masks the murmur of conversations and clinking glasses. you’re on the upper deck, sharing light banter with sana and momo while trying to stay out of the spotlight.

“you’re really not built for this scene, are you?” sana teases, her eyes flicking over the polished crowd below.

you shrug. “never claimed to be.”

momo chuckles. “at least you’re honest. i’d say you’re doing fine. no one’s thrown you overboard yet.”

just as you’re about to retort, a familiar voice interrupts. “wow. never thought i’d see you here.”

you freeze, the playful smile on your face faltering. turning slowly, you find yourself face-to-face with kim jennie, her expression a mix of surprise and amusement. she’s dressed in something sleek and black, the kind of outfit that screams understated elegance.

“jennie…” her name feels heavy, like saying it aloud makes everything from the past resurface all at once.

“i didn’t know you’d climbed so high up the social ladder,” she says, her tone dripping with curiosity and something else—something smug. “this isn’t really your scene, is it?”

before you can respond, momo steps forward, her eyes narrowing slightly. “who’s this?”

“an old friend,” jennie answers for you, her gaze fixed on you, like momo isn’t even there. “we go way back.”

“really?” sana crosses her arms, her protective stance almost comical if it weren’t for the tension in the air.

you glance between them, your heart racing. “it’s fine. jennie’s… not a threat.”

jennie’s smile widens, and she steps closer, her voice dropping just enough to be intimate. “not a threat? you wound me.”

“what do you want?” you ask quietly, trying to ignore the way her presence makes you feel—conflicted, nervous, and a little exposed.

“what i’ve always wanted—to talk to you.” she glances at sana and momo with a faint smirk. “unless your new bodyguards don’t approve?”

“bodyguards?” sana scoffs. “oh, please.”

jennie chuckles, leaning in closer to you. “you’ve changed,” she murmurs, her voice soft but teasing. “but not completely. you’re still nervous.”

“i’m not—” you start, but she interrupts by wrapping her arms around you, pulling you into a sudden, unwelcome hug. “i missed you,” she says, and for a moment, you forget how to breathe.

that’s when mina appears.

the tension on the private deck feels suffocating, the hum of the yacht’s engines doing little to mask the storm brewing in mina’s sharp gaze. she stares at jennie for a moment, her confusion evident before her expression morphs into something closer to disdain.

“and you are?” mina asks, her tone icy, the slight tilt of her head exuding condescension.

jennie’s smirk falters for a fraction of a second before she recovers, her voice dripping with forced confidence. “kim jennie. i’m sure you’ve heard of me.”

mina blinks, her lips curling into a mocking smile. “oh, should i have? forgive me. the name doesn’t ring a bell. are you someone important?”

you glance between them, your heart sinking as you see jennie’s composure start to crack.

“important enough,” jennie replies tightly, her smirk struggling to hold. “but i suppose not everyone keeps up with those at the top.”

mina chuckles softly, shaking her head. “the top? darling, if you were anywhere near the top, i’d know. you’re barely even a blip on the radar.”

jennie’s expression hardens, her pride clearly stung. “funny, coming from someone who didn’t even know about their partner’s past.”

mina’s smile vanishes, her eyes narrowing. “and what exactly are you implying?”

“oh, just that your precious partner and i were engaged once,” jennie says smoothly, her gaze darting to you for maximum effect.

the air grows colder. mina’s laugh is low and dangerous, her hands slowly crossing over her chest. “engaged?” she repeats, as though the word itself is offensive. “to you? now that’s the funniest thing i’ve heard all evening.”

“it’s true,” jennie presses, taking a small step forward. “but i suppose they didn’t think you were worth knowing the whole story.”

mina’s eyes narrow to you, her rage sharpening like a blade. “engaged?” she spits, her voice teetering between disbelief and fury. “you were fucking engaged? not just a little girlfriend, but a full-blown fiancée?”

“mina, it’s not what it sounds like—”

“so, it is true,” she cuts you off, her voice low but seething. she turns back to jennie, her disdain reaching new heights. “you were engaged to them? how quaint. and yet here you are, clinging to their shadow like an embarrassing footnote.”

jennie bristles, her smirk dropping entirely. “careful, myoui. you might want to check your facts before acting so high and mighty.”

mina’s laugh is low and menacing, her fists clenching at her sides. “you think this is a joke? i could ruin you, kim. i could make sure the entire kim family crumbles beneath their precious name. your little corporation? gone. your face? wiped from every corner of the industry. you’d be lucky if you could scrape by selling knockoff jewelry on the street.”

“oh, come on,” jennie presses, stepping closer. “don’t be so mad. you didn’t think you were their first, did you?” her smirk deepens. “although, i’ll admit, i thought i’d be the last.”

“get out,” mina says through gritted teeth, her voice trembling with restrained fury.

jennie straightens herself, trying to retain some dignity she had left. “oh, mina. you’re so predictable. it’s almost boring.”

before anyone can stop her, jennie leans in, her lips brushing your cheek in a deliberate, calculated move.

the world seems to stop for a second, the touch burning like a brand.

and then mina snaps.

before anyone can react, mina grabs a glass of champagne off a nearby table and tosses it in jennie’s direction. the liquid splashes across her pristine black dress, and jennie lets out a shocked gasp.

“are you fucking insane?!” she roars, lunging toward jennie. you barely have time to grab her arm, holding her back with all your strength.

jennie steps back, scoffing slightly when she sees the tainted stain in her designer dress. “relax, mina. it’s just a goodbye. no harm in that, right?”

“goodbye? goodbye?! you’re about to say goodbye to your fucking career!” mina’s voice shakes with fury, her arm trembling in your grip. “let me go,” she snarls at you, her glare cutting like a blade. “let me fucking handle this.”

“mina, please,” you plead, your heart racing as you glance around, thankful that the deck is private. if anyone had witnessed this, the headlines would be catastrophic.

“you like making a scene, don’t you?” mina sneers. “well, here’s your fucking scene. you can explain to everyone why you’re soaking wet—and why you’re about to be thrown off this goddamn yacht.”

jennie’s eyes widen. “you wouldn’t—”

“try me,” mina snaps, stepping closer until she’s nearly nose-to-nose with her. “because right now? I’d love nothing more than to see you flailing in the fucking ocean.”

“mina, stop,” you beg, grabbing her arm.

“no! they don’t get to walk away like this!” mina turns her glare back to jennie, her voice dropping to a deadly calm. “you have five seconds to leave before i personally make sure the kim name gets wiped off every relevant ledger in korea.”

jennie chuckles, raising her hands in mock surrender. “well, this has been… entertaining.” she glances at you one last time, her smirk returning. “i see your taste hasn't changed”

and with that, she saunters away, leaving behind a storm of rage and chaos

“you listen!” she rounds on you, her hands shaking. “what the fuck was that? were you seriously just going to stand there like an idiot while your ex has the audacity to put her hands on you?”

“i didn’t ask her to—”

“but you didn’t stop her either!” her voice cracks, raw and vulnerable beneath the anger. “do you know how humiliating that was for me? do you even care?”

you open your mouth to respond, but her words keep coming, unstoppable and cutting.

“and her—the audacity she has to act like you’re still hers? does she not know who the fuck i am? do you not know who i am?” she steps closer, her eyes burning into yours. “because i can remind both of you. i’ll make her regret even looking in your direction, and you—you better start know where your loyalties lie, or so help me—”

“mina,” a voice cuts in, and you glance to see momo and sana standing nearby, both wide-eyed.

momo whistles low under her breath. “holy shit.”

sana, meanwhile, places a hand on your shoulder, her expression a mix of pity and slight amusement. “good luck,” she murmurs, patting you twice before stepping back.

mina turns to them, her glare making both of them tense. “what are you looking at?”

“nothing,” momo says quickly, raising her hands in surrender. “absolutely nothing.”

when they leave, mina’s shoulders heave with her rapid breaths.

“i can’t fucking believe this,” she mutters, her hands running through her hair as she paces. “unbelievable.”

you stand there, unsure of what to say, the weight of her anger settling like a storm cloud over the two of you.

“mina,” you say softly, careful not to push too hard.

“you don’t need to waste another second thinking about her,” you continue. “she’s nothing compared to you, mina. you know that, don’t you?”

mina exhales sharply, crossing her arms as she paces. “it’s not about her being nothing—it’s about the audacity. she thinks she can just—just touch you, talk to you like that, after everything? and then act like i’m the one overreacting?”

you step into her path, gently catching her by the shoulders. “you’re not overreacting. she crossed a line, and you had every right to put her in her place.”

mina’s gaze flickers to yours, searching your expression for something.

“but,” you continue, “i don’t want you to carry this anger. it’s not worth it. let me handle her from here, legally and otherwise. you don’t need to waste your energy on someone so beneath you.”

she huffs, her frustration ebbing slightly. “and what if she tries something again?”

“she won’t,” you say firmly. “i’ll make sure of it. if she does, she’ll regret it in ways even she can’t imagine. i’ve handled worse than her, mina. trust me.”

mina’s lips press into a thin line, but the tension in her shoulders eases just a little.

you guide her to the seating area on the deck and gently sit her down, kneeling in front of her. “you’ve been carrying this whole night on your shoulders, haven’t you? dealing with guests, smiling for appearances, and then this? you don’t have to do it alone, mina.”

she exhales, leaning back slightly as she studies you. “you think you’re so smooth, don’t you?”

you shake your head. “I’m not going to let her get away with this.”

mina lets out a low, humorless laugh. “you think she cares about laws? she’s shameless.”

“then i’ll make her care,” you reply, your voice hardening. “if she tries to push her luck again, i’ll file a restraining order. Hell, i’ll drag her through court for every slight against you. I’m a lawyer, mina. i know how to win, and i’ll do it for you.”

mina stares at you, her anger simmering down into something else—something softer.

“and another thing,” you add, stepping even closer. “you’re worried about her touching me? don’t be. i didn’t ask for it, and i sure as hell didn’t want it. you’re the only one who has a place in my life, mina. not her. not anyone else.”

mina exhales sharply, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. “you always know exactly what to say, don’t you?”

for the first time all night, a genuine smile tugs at her lips, even if it’s faint. she reaches out, her hand brushing yours. “you really are lucky i married you.”

“luckiest person alive,” you reply, standing and offering your hand.

she takes your hand, rising gracefully to her feet. “fine. but don’t think i’ve forgiven you for not telling me about her being your ex-fiancée.”

“i’ll make it up to you,” you mumble, squeezing her hand lightly. “as many times as it takes.”

“you’re dangerous,” mina mutters, but there’s a hint of pride in her voice.

“only when someone messes with you,” you reply, leading her back inside.

-----

you’d never been one for early morning jogs, but with hiro gone with sana, as well as mina gone working for a few hours, it seemed like a good way to clear your head. sweat dripped down your temple as you trudged up to the penthouse door, already regretting not bringing water. as you reached for the handle, your eyes snagged on a package sitting neatly on the doormat.

a box.

not just any box—fancy. clean lines, rich leather accents, and a ribbon so perfectly tied it looked like it had been crafted by angels.

your first thought? "is this a bomb?"

but then again, what kind of assassin spends that much on aesthetics? shaking your head, you muttered under your breath, “no way someone’s going full james bond to take me out. right?”

after a long, overly dramatic stare-off with the box, you picked it up and carried it inside.

“okay, you’re being ridiculous,” you said, setting it on the counter. “it’s probably from mina. or…. mina..?” you trailed off, suddenly unsure.

peeling back the ribbon, you found a letter on crisp, expensive paper, no signature, no name. just a simple line:

"for you. something that matches your worth."

“cryptic. love that,” you muttered, fishing through the box.

and then, your heart stopped.

a pair of ferrari car keys rested snugly in velvet, gleaming like they held the secrets of the universe.

your jaw dropped. “no way.”

half-jogging, half-sprinting, you grabbed your phone and bolted to the building’s parking level. a sleek ferrari sf90 sat under the dim lights, its pristine red exterior practically glowing.

“holy shit,” you whispered, fumbling with the keys. a quick press, and the car chirped in response.

it was real. it was yours.

sliding into the driver’s seat, you couldn’t resist pulling out your phone, snapping a picture as you grinned like an idiot, one hand on the steering wheel. you sent it to mina with a simple caption:

"look what showed up today!"

mina’s reply came fast. "you bought this? without telling me?"

your fingers hovered over the screen, your excitement faltering. “wait. mina didn’t you buy it?”

before you could type more, your phone ringed. it was her.

“hello?” you answered, still grinning.

“you didn’t buy it?” her voice was calm, but there was an edge—cold, sharp. “then who did?”

“i thought it was you,” you said, scratching your head. “i mean… it’s my dream car. you didn’t—?”

mina’s silence was deafening. then: “why would i buy you a car and not tell you?”

“uh…”

“and why would someone else buy it for you? who?” she demanded, her voice dipping into that dangerous, territorial tone that sent a shiver down your spine.

“mina, i don’t know!” you said, defensive. “it came with an anonymous note! look, i’ll figure it out. but isn’t it gorgeous?”

“that’s not the point,” she snapped, and then, softer, with a touch of embarrassment, “i didn’t even know it was your dream car.”

“well, now you do,” you teased lightly, though her reaction had your heart sinking just a little.

she exhaled, clearly annoyed. “don’t touch it until we figure out who sent it. i don’t like this.”

“seriously?” you whined, slumping in the seat. “you’re going to make me leave it here?”

“yes,” she said firmly, then hung up before you could argue.

sighing, you stared at the car’s flawless interior. “well, this sucks,” you muttered, reluctantly stepping out.

as you walked away, you couldn’t help but glance back, a pang of longing twisting in your chest. whoever sent this wasn’t just rich—they had taste. but something about it didn’t sit right.

and mina’s unease? it wasn’t going anywhere.

-----

mina’s office was immaculate, its minimalist decor reflecting the precision with which she managed her empire. she leaned back in her leather chair, phone still clutched tightly in her hand. the call with you had ended minutes ago, but the sharp edge in her voice lingered, echoing in the silence of the room.

“dahyun.”

the door to her office creaked open, and dahyun stepped in hesitantly, clutching a tablet. her composed exterior betrayed a flicker of unease as she caught sight of mina’s expression—cold, calculating, and ever so slightly unsteady.

“yes, president myoui?” dahyun’s voice was even, though her fingers tightened around the tablet.

mina didn’t look up immediately. her nails tapped against the desk in a rhythm that matched the clipped cadence of her words. “i need you to go to the penthouse. now.”

dahyun blinked, processing the suddenness of the order. “to… your penthouse? is there an issue?”

mina’s gaze snapped up, and dahyun stiffened under the weight of it. “someone sent them a car,” mina said flatly. “a ferrari.”

“a car?” dahyun echoed, momentarily thrown off. “as in—”

“a ferrari sf90,” mina interrupted, the words laced with a bitterness that made dahyun’s stomach churn. “in red. parked at the entrance of my penthouse.”

dahyun’s jaw tightened as she nodded. “understood. i’ll—”

“find out who sent it,” mina continued, her voice cutting through dahyun’s attempt to speak. “i want every detail—who, how, why. and i want their connections traced. personal, professional, everything.”

“of course,” dahyun said quickly, her pen already moving across her tablet.

“also…” mina’s voice dipped, a hint of something darker curling around the edges. “reach out to ferrari’s local representatives. find the top five models—not just any. the best. i want them bought, prepped, and delivered within the week.”

dahyun froze for a fraction of a second before nodding. “for the penthouse garage?”

mina finally leaned forward, her elbows resting on the desk as she steepled her fingers. her expression softened, but only slightly, as she murmured, “for my spouse. but make sure they know it’s from me. no anonymous packages, no surprises. understood?”

“understood.” dahyun turned to leave but hesitated at the door. “president myoui, if i may—do you believe this is a threat?”

mina’s gaze flickered, just for a moment, betraying the undercurrent of unease she so carefully concealed. “if it’s not a threat, it’s a provocation. either way, i don’t take kindly to either.”

dahyun nodded and exited swiftly, her heels clicking against the marble floor.

alone once more, mina stared out the vast glass windows of her office. her reflection gazed back, a mask of calm, but beneath it, her mind raced. who would dare try to undermine her like this?

she tapped her phone against the desk again, lips pressing into a thin line.

whoever it was, they’d soon learn what it meant to challenge a myoui.

-----

you toss your phone onto the couch after finishing the call with mina, her cold tone still lingering in your mind. grabbing a towel, you wipe the sweat off your neck, muttering to yourself, “ferrari drama—what even is my life now?”

the shower feels like a reset button, washing away the lingering tension. when you step out, you grab your phone again, scrolling aimlessly through your messages. your thumb hovers over sana’s chat. she’d probably have something sarcastic to say about the whole ferrari thing, and honestly, you kind of want that right now.

how’s hiro? terrorizing everything already?

it takes less than a minute for her to reply.

of course. he takes after you. he’s currently declaring war on some poor stuffed giraffe.

you chuckle, shaking your head as you pace around the living room, still drying your hair. boredom creeps in, and before you know it, your fingers are typing again. yeah, and i have some drama to tell you. drama? oh, you’re coming over. hiro misses you anyway.

you don’t need more convincing. grabbing your keys, you head out, opting for a casual drive to sana’s place.

when you arrive, you open the door quickly while it swings open. hiro waddles toward you, his tiny hands outstretched.

“there’s my guy!” you scoop him up, laughing as he babbles something incomprehensible. sana leans against the doorframe, watching with a smirk.

“wow, i can tell you spoil him,” she says, closing the door behind you.

“can you blame me?” you joke, setting hiro down as he toddles back to his toys. you flop onto the couch, letting out a dramatic sigh. “so, where’s momo?”

sana shrugs, plopping down in a chair across from you. “dunno. she said something about errands. why, you miss her?”

“not particularly,” you say, smirking. “besides, i came here for the better company.”

“flattery will get you nowhere, and i'm saying that to momo,” she quips. “so, what’s this drama you were dying to tell me about?”

you lean back, running a hand through your hair. “someone gave me a ferrari.”

sana blinks, then bursts into laughter. “wait, wait, hold on. someone gave you a ferrari? what are you, a lottery winner now?”

“i wish,” you say, shaking your head. “no idea who it’s from. it just showed up at my doorstep with a fancy box and a key.”

“and you just… took it?” sana looks at you like you’ve lost your mind.

“what was i supposed to do? leave it there and risk someone else taking it?”

“wow.” she leans back, crossing her arms. “so, let me get this straight. someone mysteriously sends you a car, and instead of thinking, ‘this is sketchy,’ you think, ‘free ferrari’? you’re unbelievable.”

you shrug, grinning. “what can i say? i like nice things.”

hiro, oblivious to the conversation, crawls onto your lap, clutching a toy car in his tiny hands. “look, hiro already approves,” you say, holding up the toy. “he’s clearly a car enthusiast, just like me.”

sana rolls her eyes, laughing. “you’re both ridiculous.”

“ridiculous? or ahead of the curve?” you shoot back, bouncing hiro gently on your lap. “you’re just jealous no one sent you a ferrari.”

“oh, please.” sana leans forward, resting her chin in her hand. “even if someone did, i wouldn’t be dumb enough to actually drive it. what if it’s, like, a bribe or something?”

you snort. “a bribe? for what? to win over my nonexistent loyalty?”

“i mean, you are a lawyer,” she says, smirking. “who knows what shady deals you’re unknowingly part of?”

“says the woman who’s friends with someone who owns a ferrari.”

“correction—mysteriously owns a ferrari,” she quips, her grin widening. “and for the record, you’re lucky mina didn’t immediately torch the thing out of spite.”

you pause, recalling mina’s initial reaction. “oh, she was mad.”

“mad? understatement of the year,” sana says, leaning back with a knowing look. “you know, if i were her, i’d be freaking out, too. mysterious car, anonymous gift, my partner looking all cute— it’s a recipe for disaster.”

“cute?” you repeat, raising an eyebrow.

“oh, don’t let it go to your head,” she says, waving you off. “i’m just saying mina’s reaction is totally valid. i mean, who wouldn’t feel a little threatened?”

“right, because i’m so irresistible,” you joke, rolling your eyes.

“hey, your words, not mine.”

hiro clung to your neck like a koala, his little hands tugging gently at your shirt. you sat back on the couch, settling him on your chest while sana perched on the armrest, her gaze curious.

“okay, spill,” she said, crossing her arms. “who sends you a ferrari? is it someone trying to one-up mina or what?”

you snorted, running a hand through hiro’s soft hair. “god, i hope not. mina was already ready to storm the gates when i told her about it.”

sana leaned closer, her voice dropping conspiratorially. “so you really don’t know who sent it? no guesses?”

“none.” you shrugged, trying to seem indifferent even though you could tell sana was practically vibrating with curiosity. “it’s probably nothing. mina doesn’t even want me driving it. she said she’d ‘take care of it.’”

“take care of it?” sana echoed, raising an eyebrow. “that sounds ominous.”

“it’s mina. ominous is her second language.” you smirked, glancing at hiro, who was now dozing off. “besides, it’s not like i’m keeping it. mina thinks it's ridiculous. I'd say she's just jealous.”

sana shook her head, her laugh light but tinged with disbelief. “you’re way too chill about this. if someone sent me a ferrari, i’d at least want to know who thought it was worth it to give me something like that”

“that’s because you’re nosy,” you teased, adjusting hiro carefully. “i’m just trying to survive mina’s jealousy and keep the peace.”

sana rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide her grin. “whatever, mystery car owner. just know, if it were momo, she'd be driving that thing straight out of the city before mina even got a whiff of it.”

“yeah, and she'd probably crash it before she hit second gear,” you shot back, earning a playful swat to your shoulder.

as the playful banter subsided, you glanced down at hiro, whose peaceful face was a stark contrast to the storm of events swirling around you lately.

“he’s really got you wrapped around his little finger, huh?” sana remarked softly, watching you.

“yeah,” you murmured, your voice fond. “can’t say i mind, though.”

sana smiled, her usual mischievousness giving way to something warmer. “you’re good with him. i can see why mina fell for you.”

you glanced up, surprised by her sincerity, but she quickly waved you off with a smirk. “don’t let it get to your head. you’re still a pain.”

“thanks, sana,” you deadpanned, shifting to lay hiro down gently on the couch.

the conversation fizzled out as you both sat in comfortable silence, the weight of the day settling in. still, you couldn’t help but feel that the mystery surrounding the car—and the sender—wasn’t over yet.

-----

you’re sprawled on the living room floor, glasses perched low on your nose, dressed in an old white t-shirt and grey sweatpants that have seen better days. hiro sits cross-legged beside you, his tiny hands fumbling with the colorful puzzle pieces you’ve been trying to help him with.

“it’s this one,” you say, pointing to a bright red piece. “look at the edges. see how it matches?”

hiro scrunches his face in determination before carefully slotting the piece into place. his delighted squeal is worth every second of the struggle.

“genius,” you declare, dramatically clapping your hands. “einstein would be jealous.”

“you really know how to hype someone up,” mina’s voice floats from behind you.

you glance over your shoulder to see her leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, an amused smile on her lips. she’s dressed in a sleek coat and tailored pants, every inch the composed heiress, but the fondness in her gaze softens her usual edge.

“hey, if you’ve got it, flaunt it,” you shoot back, pushing your glasses up. “though between the two of us, i’m not sure who’s rocking this look better.” you gesture at yourself, all rumpled and casual.

“no contest,” she quips, stepping into the room. “you win. i love when you wear your glasses"

hiro toddles over to her, raising his arms for her to pick him up. she obliges, balancing him on her hip with practiced ease.

“i need to head out,” she says, her tone casual. “dad's been missing hiro, and i thought… why not?”

you nod, stuffing your hands into your pockets. “i've heard. but good luck getting him to sit still in the car. he’s been full of energy all morning.”

“i think we’ll manage,” she replies, leaning in to brush a kiss against your cheek. “don’t work too hard while we’re gone.”

“me? overwork? never,” you joke, watching as she heads for the door.

the door closes behind them, and the apartment feels eerily quiet. you linger for a moment, staring at the spot where they stood, before heading to your office to skim through some briefs.

but as you sit down, your eyes fall on a small usb drive resting near your keyboard.

you’d forgotten all about it.

you pick it up, turning it over in your fingers. it’s nothing special—just a plain black drive—but your mind immediately goes to sehun. he’d handed it to you a week ago with a cryptic smile and a vague, "but be careful. you might not like the questions."

curiosity gnaws at you as you pick it up and plug it in. the screen flickers, and a folder opens automatically, revealing a list of files.

you scroll through, your frown deepening with every name you read.

dec7_met.docx.

p.i_report.pdf.

report_m_final.zip.

a strange, creeping unease settles over you as you spot a file named

{redacted ;)}

your chest tightens.

clicking on it reveals more files: a string of emails, blurry photos, and video clips. your heart pounds as you scan the dates—one in particular standing out.

{redacted ;)}

hovering over a video file, you hesitate. the cursor trembles, and every instinct screams at you to stop.

but you don’t.

you click.

the screen darkens, and the video starts to play.

-----

end of part four.

a/n — i'm so sorry for publishing late lmao i've been busy with school because for some reason school already started and we have no break ;-; AND ITS ALMOST MY BDAY GRAHHHHHHH

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trustmypoison · 2 days ago

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Stray Kids with a therapist!partner

Requested? Yes!

Request: ‘I absolutely loved the little drabble/reaction that you did for Seventeen on if their s/o was a teacher, so I was curious if you would be willing to do something similar and horribly self-indulgent for me? Would you be willing to do something similar for either Seventeen, Ateez, or Stray Kids on if their s/o was a therapist or working to become a licensed therapist?‘

Is really fascinated by how easily you seem to be able to give great advice - Hyunjin, I.N.

I don’t think you could be in that sort of career and not naturally be pretty good at giving advice. It’s not that he wants to make you work outside of work or anything, but he really values your perspective on things, particularly because of the experience you have. So sometimes, he’ll approach you and ask what you think about a situation that he or one of the members is going through. Trust that he knows how to read the room and not ask on a more taxing day, but you really are his first thought when he runs into a problem.

Worries about the downsides, such as burnout and vicarious trauma - Chan, Han

It’s very clear when you’ve had a hard day because you’ll come home and just need some time to space out. I’m talking about taking a super long shower (which he knows you do sometimes to sneak a good cry in during) or just going straight to bed, though you aren’t sleeping. If you don’t self-isolate, you can still be pretty distant on those days. He’ll do what he can to comfort you, but there are so many things you can’t really tell him details about. Now and then, he’ll ask if you really like your job and want to continue with it because he worries about how it impacts your own mental health sometimes.

Encourages you to continue your education and specialize in something you’re passionate about - Minho, Seungmin

I know where I live, licensed therapists have to do some continuing education every year. But if you have an interest in a particular topic in therapy, he’s encouraging you to focus on it and perhaps start specializing in it. It could be trauma, or learning disorders, or addiction, etc. It doesn’t matter to him as long as it’s something that you really enjoy. If you get another certification or degree, he magically always has a frame for you to put it in. I fear everyone that he’s ever met knows he’s dating someone who has what he considers to be a really important and special job.

Respects that work often drains your social battery and helps you recharge - Changbin, Felix

These guys seem pretty extroverted, but even the most extroverted people still need a little downtime to recharge. So when you come home on a Friday afternoon after a long week and ask to stay in, he totally gets it. He understands that you’re spending a lot of your social energy on your work with your patients and don’t have much to give when it comes to going out for dinner or drinks or anything else really. Really doesn’t mind camping out on the couch with some takeout, a bunch of blankets, and a movie.

#stray kids #skz #stray kids x reader #skz x reader #stray kids reactions #skz reactions #stray kids imagines #skz imagines #chan #minho #changbin #hyunjin #han #felix #seungmin #jeongin

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zepskies · 3 days ago

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Aww here we go!! 😍 👏🏽👏🏽 I've been very excited to see what you'd do with Russell, considering your affinity and talent for writing our favorite law enforcement boys. This was just as twisty and exciting as I thought it would be!

“Extra fluffy for you, Mr. Russell,” Rosa, the maid, would say every morning with the brightest smile.

loll what I'd give to make sure he's got everything nice and fluffy. 😏

(A hot tub in the back, huh? Wayne, stop giving me ideas for ESC one-shots. 🥵🫠)

Providing answers didn’t come easy for the older Shaw, however. In fact, it had always been sort of a problem for him – even in the past. Especially in the past. Russell never lied, but he did omit things. Important things. On purpose.

Ooh yep! You really picked up on aspects of Russell's personality that I felt inherently when I was watching (studying) him, but hadn't consciously put into words. 👌🏽

All they had was them. They were friends. Best friends. Always competitive, but friends nonetheless.

It's also so interesting (and crazy) how little Russ and Colter know about each other now as men. There's got to be shades of who they were when they were younger, but it's bittersweet in a sense. And now they're both trying to suss each other out like lone wolves that are kinda sorta friends. 😂

Of course, there's still that "I thought you killed our dad" for 20+ years -- on Colter's end. 😅

“Yeah, well, let’s just say in an ideal world this, uh, woman would be part of that exit,” Russell said and sounded purposely casual as if he didn’t care the mission was successful or not in the end, omitting yet another thing – he did care. He cared a fucking lot.

Okay, this whole thing with the reader is fascinating. Because why does he have to go through all this trouble to find her if they've been a thing for 10...12...14...20-something years?! (Love how the number in Russell's "memory" just kept getting longer. 🤣🤣) It feels so sketchy all around, and oh so intriguing. Why haven't they seen each other in so long? Were they...

And if she's still "in the game," how does Russell think he's going to get her out and settle down with him? 😏

I'm full of questions, but I know you have a brilliant master plan for all of this. I've noticed this about the most recent stories you've created, but you're so very good at writing these law enforcement/military men paired with heroines that share their world, almost the "same foxhole" type of deal. Except for that his heroine partners usually outrank him. 😏

I tend to go the opposite route, partly because I'm interested in the dynamic between these kinds of men and a "civilian," but also because I don't think I'd be able to do the "same foxhole" trope justice. So that's something I really admire about you as a writer. 💜

The push and pull banter between Colter and Russ in this chapter was also so fun to read lol. I could literally quote every moment because it was all so well-written and priceless. And it just kept building up the mystery of the reader and why Russell is doing all of this, right up until that awesome cliffhanger!!

This first chapter hooked me right in -- can't wait to dive into chapter 2 next! 🤩🤩

The Exit Strategy – Part 1

Summary: Russell is ready to hang it all up and retire, open up a brewery, and enjoy the rest of his civilian life. However, there's one important thing missing before he can take the big plunge. Luckily, he knows just the right person to help him find it.

Pairing: Russell Shaw x Female!Reader

Warnings: +18, language, mystery, a tinge of angst, humor & brotherly banter, one tiny surprise 🤓

Word Count: 5.8k

A/N: Happy holidays, guys! Enjoy 🎄❤️

Main Masterlist || Series Masterlist || Tag List

Part 1: This Is Not a Pipe

The heavy truck door slammed shut behind him as Russell slid into the passenger seat with an exhaustive sigh. Colter’s big pickup was parked right next to his beautiful Chevelle in that same old motel parking lot in Virginia.

Russell hadn’t moved – yet. Well, sort of. He’d been away on assignment in some frosty region for a couple of weeks. He wasn’t allowed to say where exactly he’d been, and he knew better than to put it into writing, so let’s just agree he was at the North Pole looking for Santa Claus.

He could’ve ended up anywhere he wanted once he touched ground in the States again, but a very appreciated phone call from a former colleague made the decision for him. Besides, Russell knew this particular motel well. The coffee was more than decent and got the job done, the owner and employees were nice, comforting, and, most of all, trustworthy, and there were always fresh towels.

“Extra fluffy for you, Mr. Russell,” Rosa, the maid, would say every morning with the brightest smile.

Oh, and they had a hot tub in the back…

“Thanks for coming, man,” Russell extended his greeting without glancing at his younger brother once. He could feel Colter’s scrutinizing eyes on him, though, drilling for answers. Granted, his request had been rather unusual, so Russell understood where his younger brother’s ever-frozen furrowed brow stemmed from.

“Yeah, uh, sure,” Colter replied with a polite smile as he started the car and rolled out of the lot.

Ah, yes, politeness…

That was what they were at, although it was progressively improving. It was only the third time the brothers were seeing each other since they had reconnected. And while the last two encounters had given the Shaws some well-needed time to talk things out and build trust, Colter was still naturally wary of his estranged sibling. As was Russell.

“So, what’s this about? You were pretty vague on the phone. You in trouble?”

That finally caught Russell’s full attention. He quickly shook his head, causing his hair to fall into his face. “What? No! No… No trouble,” he swiftly assuaged his brother with a dismissive hand gesture and a lighthearted chuckle. “Just need your help tracking down an old friend of mine, is all.”

Colter quirked an eyebrow at that. “Another Army buddy of yours?”

“Uh, something like that, yeah,” Russell replied rather mysteriously and didn’t even try to conceal the fact that he was hiding something more behind his ambiguous answer. But Colter only intensified his stare at him and wouldn’t let go that easily. Russell knew that. After all, they were related.

Persistence was a Shaw family trait. Another survival skill, if you will.

But this time, Russell wasn’t hiding a big government secret (or maybe he was). No lives depended on this particular mission (or so he thought). He wasn’t protecting a client, a company, or even his dubious employer (but someone else). He wasn’t choked by an NDA or about to save someone in grave danger (as far as he knew).

No, if anything, it was the fact that Russell didn’t know how much he could or should share with his brother. They were related, yes. But, technically, they hadn’t seen each other in decades, so they weren’t just considered merely estranged but strangers. Russell had always been aware of that fact, and Colter was beginning to catch on.

Especially during this mission.

See, once upon a time, the two hadn’t been just brothers. After moving to the cabin, societal contacts became scarce for the siblings. All they had was them. They were friends. Best friends. Always competitive, but friends nonetheless.

How much did they really know about each other now, though? How much of the old was still there?

“So, who are we looking for? What’s the guy’s name?” Colter asked, suddenly eager as he jumped into gear. He had always been restless, even as a kid, which fondly reminded Russell of their childhood.

But how much was he still the Russell that Colter once knew?

Well, Russell, on the other hand, remained calm and ruffled a casual hand through his beard. “Well, she’s, uh–”

Eyebrow cocked, Colter snapped his head to the passenger seat where his brother started to squirm. “Oh… Oh, so it’s a she,” he emphasized with a small grin. “Now I think I get it.”

There it is. I knew it, Russell thought with an internal sigh. In order for this mission to work, he knew he had to reveal some things. Private things. Things about himself and his life. Going in, Russell knew he couldn’t ask Colter for help without giving him something.

Their father had loved tests (and so did you – but that’s another story…). Russell always thought it had been the professor in him. So, Russell saw this as a test as well.

Could he trust Colter? And more pressingly, considering some long held accusations of murder, did Colter trust him?

A clear of Russell’s throat cut right through Colter’s chuckle. And then, the eldest tried his best to give no reaction at all. “Yes, she’s a… woman, but hold your horses. It’s not what you think, okay?” Colter lifted his eyebrow once more, causing Russell to heave another exhaustive sigh. “Fine, alright? It’s exactly what you think.”

Well, close enough, Russell thought. He knew Colter couldn’t even possibly imagine the reality in his wildest dreams.

Usually, Russell was an expert in avoiding uncomfortable questions. He was a pro at ditching answers and keeping secrets, even under torture and duress. However, there was just something entirely unique about dodging questions posed by little brothers.

And Russell saw it as a perfect bonding opportunity. He wanted to fill the chasm between them that their father’s death had caused – once and for all. But he couldn’t lie and say he wasn’t walking around on eggshells most of the time – something that reminded him of you again.

Learning from past mistakes, Russell wanted Colter to experience the fun side of him. The one that brewed his own beer, cared too much about his car, and had weird tastes in food. He chose to leave out the rest – the dark stuff and the very best stuff, too.

After all, Russell was good at omitting things.

Colter chuckled triumphantly. “Does this mean you’re finally giving up on Reenie?”

Amused, Russell let out a snort. “Ha! You wish… First things first, alright? Let’s just see how this thing pans out. It’s kind of a long shot. You know that exit plan I told you about?”

“Yeah, you wanna open your own brewery, right?”

He cared a fucking lot.

“Really? Okay.” Colter scratched his jaw and gave his words some thought. Then he offered a small, yet kind, smile. Honestly, Russell didn’t know what he had expected. “But, you know, if you want me to find the future Mrs. Shaw, I’m gonna need more information to go on. A name, last address, or a-, uh, a picture, maybe?”

“Well, name’s not gonna help you much in this case.” Your first name might’ve been shareable intel, but your last name was of the highest classification. “Her last address that I know of was in Berlin. And while I do have one photo of her, it’s not meant for your eyes, brother,” Russell said with a firmly territorial look that still carried a mischievous twinkle, revealing the exact nature of the photograph to be indeed inappropriate.

Russell had one naughty photo, yes. But he had a whole giant box of others, too.

Colter’s eyebrows met above his nose as he licked his lips. Customarily, people gave him more details when they needed him to find someone. But then again, those people usually weren’t his brother. “Do you know anything about this woman? How long have you two dated?”

“Uhm… not that long,” Russell supplied with a clear of his throat before mumbling the rest of his answer, hoping his beard would swallow most of his words. “Ten years. Give or take…”

What is time anyway if nothing but a concept, right?

Colter blinked at him and almost steered the vehicle off-road before gripping the wheel a little tighter. “I’m sorry… Did you just say ten years?”

“Well, might be more like twelve,” he admitted finally. “Well, anyways, saw her last three years ago.”

“Wow, okay, uhm…” Colter became quiet for a moment, speechless probably, the tiny bits of information running on a loop through his mind. He figured his brother still had lived a life while they hadn’t been speaking. Of course he had. He just never thought about what that life might have entailed, aside from classified military operations. “So, you’ve dated a woman for twelve years…”

“Fourteen.”

“…haven’t seen her in three, and know basically nothing about her?”

Russell snorted a laugh. “Yeah, I know. Ridiculous… Not even sure the name she did give me was her real one,” he said. It was a joke. He did know the name. He knew everything there was to know about you. So, maybe he did lie – sometimes. “But it’s the job, you know? It’s-, uh, it’s complicated.”

That part was true. Truer than he could ever possibly describe in words.

“I guess so…” Colter sighed, and Russell could hear the growing frustration. “So, she does what you do?”

Russell nodded. “In a way, yeah…” And Colter knew what that answer meant – he couldn’t say more. Again. “But don’t worry. We won’t have to turn over every stone on the face of this planet. I have a general idea of where she lives these days,” Russell provided. “One of my, uh, associates was working a job with her not that long ago. That’s how I found out she’s back in the States.”

Colter nodded in acceptance, knowing it was no use to try and prod more answers out of his brother. “Alright. Guess that’s something. So, where are we headed to?”

Russell then flashed him a grin with newfound determination sparkling in his green eyes. “Falls Church.”

The short drive had remained quiet for the most part. Colter refrained from asking more questions, knowing he wouldn’t be able to get straight answers out of his older brother in one form or the other. To accentuate Colter’s assumption of receiving non-answers, Russell mostly stared out the window with an intensity that had Colter believe his brother was counting trees when, in fact, Russell was pondering what he would, could, or should tell Colter.

Of course, Colter could also always ask more questions about their elusive father, but he didn’t do that either. Sure, one could say he was curious. More than that even.

What did Russell really know about his death? Their mother? Their family? Their work?

Another time, he kept telling himself throughout whenever he stole glances at his long-lost sibling. It was too soon. What was the point when Russell was so clearly reluctant to share anything at all?

Thus, there was nothing left but silence among peaceful woods and dense foliage till Colter pulled his truck over curbside in the idyllic town center of Falls Church.

Patiently, he waited a moment for Russell to open the floor and tell them their next logical steps. He tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, blew raspberries, clicked his tongue, and waited and waited and waited…

Nothing.

If Colter didn’t know any better, he would’ve thought someone carved a lifeless wax statue out of his brother and planted it on his passenger seat. Russell’s entire body stood motionless, only a set of green eyes flickered alive every once in a while and swayed out the windshield in search of something – or someone.

“So, what’s the plan here?” Colter asked with a clear of his throat. “You just wanna stay here and wait till she accidentally runs across the street?” It was meant as a joke, but to Colter’s dismay, Russell remained dead serious.

“That’s exactly what we’re doing,” the older Shaw confirmed and squinted his eyes at the busy street. Again, he had omitted a few things. In his mind, Colter didn’t need to know why Russell knew to be in front of the post office at exactly 15:03 (UTC–4) on a Tuesday.

Colter snorted a laugh. “What? C’mon, that can’t be the plan… Do you know how many people live in Falls Church? Or in the general Washington metropolitan area? We could be here for days. Weeks even…” The younger Shaw then switched fully into work mode, grabbing his phone from the Bluetooth car mount. “We’re never gonna find her like this. You got a phone number, maybe?” But before Russell could answer, Colter replied himself, shaking his head at his own silliness. “What am I even asking? Of course you don’t.”

Russell only smirked at that. Restless, he thought again.

“What about an old one? Maybe even that would help. I could call Bobby, Reenie… You got anything? Nothing?” But the younger Shaw’s questions apparently stumbled upon deaf ears. “Russell? Russ? Are you even listening to me? I’m trying to help you here. You could at least–”

“Found her!”

Russell almost jumped out of the car as his voice rang with sheer excitement. His heart was beating a mile a minute when his emerald eyes landed on the target. It felt like the very first time all over again.

Granted, the first meeting didn’t go so smoothly – there had definitely been some bumps (all on his part). Then again, he expected this next meeting to go a little roughly too (again, all on him).

“Wait, what?!”

Russell downright beamed. “Told you this would work.”

Colter only scoffed under his breath, the familiar competitiveness crawling back to the surface. “Yeah, well, beginner’s luck, okay?”

One boot had nearly touched asphalt before Russell remembered this wasn’t a situation that required him to storm in guns a-blazing – not even covert. Gentle hands, he reminded himself and swiftly closed the car door again, falling back into his seat. His lungs deflated.

Colter, on the other hand, was more confused than ever. “What-, uh, what are you doing?” Half-amused, his brow furrowed a bit more. “If you’ve found her, go talk to her. Where is she? Who is it?”

Curiosity could only be contained for so long. Colter wanted to know who had been a part of his brother’s life for almost as long as he had. He felt this was a key piece of information that would cause the first domino to fall. And then, revelation after revelation about Russell’s past would unravel.

Basically, Colter was waiting for the big epiphany. No pressure.

Russell vehemently shook his head. “Can’t. At least not like this. I need more intel first. You need to find out her name, and then we need your guy Bobby to get onto this.”

And yet again, guess what? Yes, Russell was, indeed, omitting things.

“Me? Why me?” Colter blinked at him. Surprise, surprise…

“‘Cause, obviously, she’d recognize me,” Russell pointed out. Again, omission. Like he had explained earlier, it was a real problem…

Colter exhaled a deep sigh. “Okay, and I’m guessing you’re still not gonna tell me why we’re doing all of this, right?”

“Nope.”

“Yup, thought so.” Still not convinced, Colter narrowed his eyes at his clearly paranoid brother. Maybe paranoia ran in the family. Not to point fingers – he recognized it in himself, too. “Do we really need to go through all that trouble? I mean, you’ve known that woman for, what, fourteen years, you said? Isn’t that a little extreme… even for you?”

Fifteen, Russell corrected in his mind. Close to sixteen. Nineteen max.

“Just trust me, okay? It’s necessary,” Russell reassured, knowing those words bore some weight. Hurriedly (he was getting antsy – this was a time-sensitive issue), he pointed a finger out the window to the sidewalk across the street. “You see that woman walking into the post office? That’s her.”

“What, the brunette in the flowery dress with the golden cross necklace? That’s her?”

“Yup.”

“Wow, okay…” Surprised didn’t come close to explain how Colter felt. He had expected… different. His brow almost met his hairline, but he still tried his best to conceal his wonder – to no avail.

Suspiciously, Russell leaned back in his seat and assessed his brother’s demeanor with a small glare. “What?”

“Nothing.” Colter threw his hands up in surrender, swallowing. “Just… She doesn’t really seem like your type.”

Amused, Russell stifled a chuckle. “And what exactly do you think is my type, little brother?”

“I don’t know…”

“What, you think some nice Christian girl is too good for me?” Russell deadpanned. Admittedly, he enjoyed bantering with his little brother. It reminded him of what he had missed out on for years. This was what he had wanted and longed for since he had left the family at eighteen.

Well, “left” wasn’t really the right word for it now, was it? It implied a voluntary act, and his leaving wasn’t so voluntary.

“That is exactly what I’m saying,” Colter countered, laughing. “It’s just, you know… dental hygienist in a motel hot tub springs to mind.”

“Okay, alright… You done?” Russell huffed, shaking his head. He refrained from showing his honest amusement. “You’re gonna follow her in or not?”

“Alright, I’ll go,” Colter finally agreed somewhat enthusiastically and jumped out of the car, swiftly following the woman inside. After all, he was curiouser and curiouser…

Russell kept his eyes trained on his younger brother until Colter vanished inside the post office. Now, it was out of his hands, only hoping his little brother wouldn’t blow it. Chances were high he would. Not that Russell didn’t have some faith.

He just had more faith in you.

Colter spotted you picking up mail from a PO box and decided on a plan of action in a matter of seconds. After all, he was quick thinking on his feet and the best at what he did. That’s why he was here. That’s why Russell had picked him for the job, right?

As you made your way back to the door, Colter eloquently intercepted you without disturbing the crowd. Another thing he had learned from his father.

He bumped straight into your shoulder and almost tackled you to the ground by the sheer force of his sneak attack. The mail in your hands scattered to the tiled floor like autumn leaves, and as Colter bent down to help you pick it up, he took a peek at your name on a postcard.

“Oh my God, would you look at that… I’m so sorry, Miss–,” the younger Shaw apologized clumsily, “Nora Laurier.” He uttered your name with a suave smile as he handed you back your pile of letters. The flirt in his eyes, however, he only added for Russell as revenge for Reenie. “Beautiful name.”

Your hands lingered on the letters between you for a moment as you took in his features and tall stature. It left you with a strange haunting of familiarity.

“Thank you,” you finally said with a hint of a smile as he let go of the mail. “Be more careful next time.”

“I will. Sorry again.” Colter chuckled with blushed cheeks and watched you leave. He waited till you had passed the row of windows before exiting himself.

He was a good actor, too.

Antsy, Russell almost bit his lip bloody as he stared the post office down till a migraine began to form. God, what he wouldn’t pay for some X-ray vision and super-hearing. He could be downright Superman with that – and the hero always got the girl.

His heart dithered anew with longing as you walked out – it took his breath away. You always did that, and you did it well. But then, you stopped short for a mere second, which wouldn’t have caused a civilian to raise a single brow. But Russell did.

“Shit…” he mumbled in the silence of the truck and lowered himself down to the dashboard. He watched you reach for your phone in your purse and call someone as you headed down the street.

Eventually, you stopped three houses east and finished your call in the shade of a tree next to a busy (and noisy) bus station. Russell caught your eyes drifting back to the doors of the post office, though, just as his little brother walked out and jogged towards the car.

“Shit, shit, shit!” Russell ducked even further down, hitting his head in several places. “What did that knucklehead do?”

The driver’s door opened as Colter casually slipped inside. “Got a name,” he announced victoriously. Part of his happiness emanated from gathering yet another puzzle piece of his mysterious brother – meeting you. “She goes by Nora Laurier now… And she seems nice. Way too nice for you, actually…” As he drifted off, his eyes searched for the elder one before finding him almost kissing the floor mat. “Russ, uh… What-, uh, what are you doing down there?”

“What the hell did you do?” Russell’s tone was both snappy and frustrated.

“Whoa, what d’you mean what did I do?” Colter waved off defensively. “I did what you told me to do!”

“She made you!”

“She did not make me,” Colter brushed off with a laugh, quite confident of his own skill set. They’d had the same teacher. He would know if you had suspected anything.

“Then why did she wait and look after you, huh?” Russell pointed out in annoyance.

Colter’s lips itched to break a smile. He couldn’t help it. It was the perfect opportunity to teach his flirt of a brother a well-needed lesson. “Well, maybe I caught her eye… piqued her interest, you know?”

Russell cocked a brow from below, his stare lethal. “Did you flirt with her?”

Colter hesitated for a moment. Mostly for dramatic effect. “I-, uh… You told me to get her name. ‘Sides, I told you Reenie was off limits.”

“Oh, so this is about revenge? Very mature.” Russell frowned. “She still there?”

“Where?” Colter stretched himself a bit as he looked out the windshield.

“Tree. Bus station.”

An amused smile formed on Colter’s lips as he spotted you. “Oh, yeah. I see her. I don’t think she suspects anything. She’s not even loo-… No, uh, wait… Yup.”

“What?” Russell’s brows drew together as he rose a little from his crouched position.

“Yeah, she’s definitely looking over here.”

“Well, stop looking down,” Russell hissed through gritted teeth. After a deep breath, he spoke in a calmer, more advising tone, “Pretend I’m not here.”

“Trying to, trust me… Should I wave at her? Smile?”

“Are you nuts?! Just look ahead. Pretend you’re getting a phone call.”

Colter did as he was told and held his phone to his ear. “She’s still looking,” he informed with a pressed smile, barely moving his mouth when he spoke.

“Okay, what’s she doing now?”

“There’s a-, uh, there’s a car coming and pulling over by the bus station. Dark gray Audi A6. Virginia Plates. Yankee-Papa-Charlie-5824,” Colter said as Russell hauled a pen from his pocket and began to jot down the plate numbers on his left palm.

“Copy that.”

He’d memorize them anyway, but one could never be too safe. He could get a concussion in the next hour or so (most likely because of you), and then what?

“Okay, she’s getting in,” Colter narrated. “Driver’s in his late-thirties. Male. Glasses. Medium height. Medium build… I think you could take him,” he added with a teasing grin.

“Shut up,” Russell retorted. “Are they gone now?”

“Pulling away from the curb and… Yep, they’re gone. Headed south down the road,” Colter affirmed.

“Alright.” Russell popped back into his seat with a sigh and some sore muscles. He had been sure he’d heard a few bones crack while he’d been cowering down there. He might be finally getting too old for these missions. But that was part of the reason why he was here in the first place – retirement was calling. And Russell wanted to fill the chair next to him on the porch.

“You good?” Colter checked and choked the small laugh that wanted to escape upon the ruffled sight of his older brother.

“Yeah, go ahead and follow them. Just keep a low profile,” Russell instructed. “On our way, you might wanna call your op analyst, too. See what he can find out.”

“Alright,” Colter agreed somewhat reluctantly but still tailed the sedan. “You sure this is a good idea?”

“What d’you mean?” Russell said mindlessly, keeping his eyes focused on the target vehicle.

“Us… stalking your ex-girlfriend?” Colter noted with a cocked brow. “And her potentially new boyfriend?”

Russell only laughed at that. “We’re good. Trust me.”

Admittedly, though, a small part of him wondered (and worried) if this was all real. Maybe Nora Laurier wasn’t your real name, but it might be your actual new one – one you’d adopted as a safety precaution after you’d left it all behind. Maybe you had finally done it and retired, found a perfectly normal guy, and settled down – just without him.

Or:

Maybe you were still in the game, after all.

Russell was hoping it was the latter. Otherwise, he could probably expect a hefty restraining order in his future, but he wasn’t about to tell Colter that. Not until he knew for sure.

The Audi parked in front of an organic grocery store a few blocks down. Colter chose a spot across the parking lot, keeping a reasonable distance with the perfect view. Russell watched as you and Unnamed Man #1 sauntered into the store, an arm slung tightly around your waist and a smile on your face.

While on the phone with Bobby, Colter could tell that the sight of you in another man’s arms stung. “Okay, uh, thanks, Bobby.”

“What’d he say?” Russell fired as soon as Colter had removed the phone even just an inch from his ear.

“Uh, well, there’s some bad news,” Colter revealed hesitantly and licked his lips, not knowing how he was supposed to break his brother’s heart. “Bobby ran the plate number through the DMV. It’s registered to an Aiden Laurier.”

“Laurier?” Undeniably, Russell’s heart flinched at the connection. “Maybe a brother. Cousin…”

Or a colleague, Russell’s mind stubbornly added.

Colter bit his lower lip hard before he spoke, “They’ve been married for two years. I’m sorry, Russ.”

A hand comfortingly patted Russell’s shoulder. A part of him wanted to scream heavenward, but something else inside was gnawing on him.

He clicked his tongue. “No… No.” Sure, one could argue that denial was always the first step of grief. “No. No way she married sweater-vest John Mulaney over there.”

“I’m pretty sure she did. Bobby sent me the marriage certificate,” Colter countered and showed him the screenshot on his phone.

Russell glanced at it for a short second, not even bothering to waste more time on fake news. He shook his head. He knew better.

“Nah. I’m not buying it. You need to go in there and tell me what you see.” He sealed his words with an encouraging pat on the shoulder.

Colter exhaled deeply. “Russ, I-, uh, I think you need to let this go, man. You’re starting to… Never mind.”

“No. Go ahead. Say it,” Russell prompted with some thunder in his voice. “I’m reminding you of Dad, don’t I?”

Colter only twitched his shoulders. “I mean, yeah. A little.”

Russell’s head bobbed in thought before he met his little brother’s eyes. “You really don’t see it?”

“See what?”

“The post office, the road crew over there, the-, the fake documents?”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“C’mon… Just think about everything Dad taught us, huh?”

Was Colter really not getting it? Russell found that quite hard to believe. He had known his little brother to be as sharp as a whip. While Russell didn’t always have the nicest things to say about their father, he could admit the old man had prepared them well for life. Well, one life at least. This one.

The nomad life, the odd jobs that required them to have a particular set of skills like Liam Neeson.

Colter shook his head. “I have no clue what you’re talking about, Russell.”

Russell let out a sigh and leaned back in his seat. “Alright, if you don’t see it, you don’t see it.” A smirk twitched in the corners of his lips. “It’s your funeral, brother…”

With narrowed eyes, Colter pursed his lips. “Alright, just tell me one thing, okay?”

“You know I can’t tell you anything,” Russell reiterated and brushed his beard.

“I know. I know… It’s not that kinda question,” the younger Shaw reassured.

“Go ahead,” Russell relented and curiously looked at his brother.

Within a second, Russell could think of a million questions Colter might want to ask him, but this hadn’t been one of them:

“In the past three years, how many times have you thought about her? And I don’t just mean ‘crossed your mind’ every couple of months. I mean ‘seriously thought’ about her?”

“Hmm.” Russell pondered for a moment before replying, “Every damn day.”

It wasn’t a lie, no omission of anything, and Colter could tell. You were the first thought that popped into Russell’s still groggy mind when he woke up and the last one every night that fluttered across his weary eyelids. Obviously, he didn’t give Colter the soppy answer, though.

“Fine. I’ll go,” Colter softened his stance. “You owe me,” he added with a pointed finger before setting foot outside the car.

“I do owe you. Anything you want, brother,” Russell agreed with a broad grin. “How about we start with a full case of my homebrew, huh?”

Colter danced gracefully through the aisles, spying through canned goods and boxes of cereal. He watched you carefully select fruit with your husband, move through the dairy talking about “organic” and “locally sourced” till you landed on a few choices of toothpaste and finally strolled to the cash register.

Everything seemed boringly normal and ordinary. You chatted with the cashier. They handed you a coupon, which you slipped into your purse. Your husband paid with his credit card (which carried the same name matching the DMV records), and both of you left the store with two paper bags in your arms.

Once through the sliding glass doors, you stopped and turned to your husband. “Darn, honey, I think we forgot the milk.”

“You want me to grab it?”

“No, I’ll do it.”

“Okay, I’ll wait by the car and load the rest of the groceries.”

Now, Colter found that odd. He had watched you spent at least five minutes in the dairy aisle. How could you forget something as basic as milk?

As you hushed inside, your husband sauntered back to the car, and Colter followed you back in. You passed right by the dairy and, with a few looks that resembled a scan of your surroundings, you slipped past the door that led to the restrooms.

Waiting a beat, Colter went in after you. But you were long gone – just not to the restroom. An ‘Employee Only’ door that led to a dumpster alley outside was just falling shut.

Granted, Colter had a bad feeling about this. It was the same feeling he always got shortly before walking into a trap. In his defense, though, you were not a seven-foot-tall, 300-pound kind of guy. He wasn’t about to be ambushed by Shaquille O’Neal, which is probably why Colter didn’t find it necessary to pull his gun.

In hindsight, he should have.

The narrow alley was quiet and empty, except for some trash littering the ground around the dumpsters. It was closed-off, too, wedged between buildings with no view to the parking lot or nearby streets.

And then, something hit him. Or better yet: You hit him. With an elbow to the face and a stiff, flat palm to his throat, Colter stumbled forward before you gave him the final blow and knocked him off balance, tackling him to the ground.

Pressing his cheek into the rough and unforgiving surface of the asphalt, you jumped on him and restrained his arms tightly behind his back. While he squirmed to get out of your hold, he didn’t use as much brutal force as you expected he would.

“Shit,” he muttered below you, his voice muffled by the gravel. A light chuckle escaped him. “Okay, you got me.”

“Sounds about right,” you agreed with a smirk and tightened your grip on his arm.

Then, Colter heard a gun click above him. Hoping to see his brother, he looked up – only to find your husband with a weapon in hand as he stared down the barrel.

“Ah, I think you broke my nose,” the younger Shaw mumbled with a groan.

“Good. You’ve been following me. Why?” you prompted sternly. “Who are you? Who are you working for? Jafari? Mueller?”

“Listen, I-I think you’ve got the wrong idea. I’m not who you think I am,” Colter argued with a strained voice. What the hell had Russell gotten him into? “This is just a big misunderstanding.”

“Uh-huh.” You could only roll your eyes at that. How many times had you heard that line before?

“Let’s hood him. Get him to the Market,” your partner suggested. “We’ll see if he talks then.”

“No, really,” Colter insisted, growing a bit more uneasy. He had no idea what the Market was, but it didn’t sound pleasant. “You know my brother.”

“Who’s your brother?” With your elbow, you put more pressure on his back.

“Ow, alright…” Colter groaned once more as the pain intensified. “Looks kinda like me. Think two decades younger. He was in the Army, so probably didn’t have long hair and a beard. Uh, kind… green eyes? No? Doesn’t ring a bell?”

Colter watched your brow furrow in his periphery as he squinted upwards. He could see the gears starting to turn in your head. You just needed one final push to put all the puzzle pieces together.

“If it helps, my name is Colter. Colter Sh–”

“Shaw,” you shot like a missile. Your jaw plummeted to the ground, your heart springing right out with it. Your grip on the man caught between your thighs loosened, hearing Colter’s sigh of relief before you heard his voice.

“Hiya, sweetheart.”

Your head darted up, the man beneath you long forgotten. You swallowed as your eyes landed on an all too familiar face – even when it was covered by a bunch of hair that had never been there before. The heart-crushing smile was still the same as if it had been ripped straight from an old photograph you had of him.

“Russell?!”

Part 2: This Is a Russell Mission

Quite the entrance! Writing Russell reminded me somewhat of Plastic Hearts Dean (minus the addiction problems unless you count lying) because of all the wild overthinking 😂

If you enjoyed this story, then I'll gladly keep working on its prequel. Was a bit nervous to post this since I filled in some family history gaps myself 😅 I also dove into the books a little and added some things that kinda fit their "show" personalities.

Please let me know what you think and if you'd be interested in a young soldier!Russell series 😉🤍

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