#...i realised that all of my other character sets for this event so far have been pride flags and then this is just arm jhfjksdhdfjkd

[kinnbig]

KP Anniversary | Favourite Supporting Characters [2/?] | Arm

[snowthedemonfox]

So we got some screenshots for Ep 3, and I'm going to talk about some things I've noticed + some theories

I went off for over an hour in the bunnydoll burrow's VC talking about everything I noticed, but I'm realising writing it all down would be a smarter move, cause I know I'd forget it. If I've missed anything you think is important, let me know! I'll edit this post with new notes.

Let's start with the first screenshot, because that just makes the most sense:

The elephant in the room is the realistic human hand. I don't doubt this is the scene that has some level of blood and gore in it. We can't see what the hand is connected to, but whatever it is, it seems to be taller than Pomni and Kinger. They're both looking up, and the camera angle is facing down towards them both.

We can see 2 heads hanging from the wall behind Kinger, and what we can assume to be a 3rd behind the desk behind the hand.

One of these heads, as many have pointed out, seems to resemble Pomni. The face is entirely white, what I can assume is an eye seems to be the same size as Pomni's, and you can see that familiar looking hair on the side.

Even the other two things we see look like other members of the cast!

The head to the right of Kinger looks like Ragatha. It's got the hair, and even the face looks to be made of actual fabric, like a real doll. It seems whatever these things are, they're meant to look like more 'horror' versions of the characters.

(Side note, but if I had to guess, if Glitch releases a 3rd sticker sheet for episode 3, I wouldn't surprised if we got a new set of icon variations for the main cast. But instead of candy, we get these horror versions instead. I think that'd be cool, and I really hope that's what happens.)

You could even go as far to say the 'human' hand we're seeing is from the horror version of Kinger. Like I said before, the camera is looking down at them. Why would it be looking down? Because whatever's looking at them, is attached to the wall.

Moving onto other details in the room, we can see there's a chair behind Pomni with some kind of light on it. At first, I thought this might have been the tape recorder from the February trailer, but you can see the tape recorder is on a desk, not a chair.

And while there is a desk in the room, whatever is on there doesn't look like a tape recorder. It looks more like a photo, or some kind of radio.

The giant 'M' on the rug. We know the ghost lady's name is Martha Mildenhall, so this probably implies she owns the mansion the gang are exploring. Why would she need their help, though? Maybe whatever force is moving the hand in the screenshot, is some kind of 'evil' ghost, and that's why Pomni and the others are there to help. There's evil ghosts inhabitating the mansion, and Martha needs help to get rid of them. It's simple, it's your basic video game quest, it seems like a normal adventure plot that Caine would come up with.

There seems to be something behind the chair, but I can't make out if it's a door, some curtains, or some kind of closet. The lighting isn't doing me any favours. Either way, I doubt it's important to the episode, probably just background decoration.

As for my other thoughts that aren't as related to the screenshot itself, I do believe that everyone is going to be split up. Obviously Kinger and Pomni are working together, but I'm still not sure if Jax would be hanging with Ragatha & Gangle, or if he'd be off doing his own thing. As for Zooble, I'll get to them later.

And this might just be me looking into things too much, but it almost looks like one of Kinger's eyes is focused entirely on whatever is behind the camera, while the other isn't focused at all. Like he's half paying attention to the 'danger' he and Pomni are in.

But that's really all I have to say about the first screenshot. Let's move onto the main event:

Again, let's get the obvious out of the way: new Zooble design! They've got some new parts, like the arms, unicorn horn, and the blocky yellow and pink thing, but also some old parts, like the bluish-green ring, and their classic black and white antenna. So far, I like this design! I'm happy to see that they've decided to mix things up a bit. Not my favourite design, but still decent. They've got good taste.

Before I talk about Zooble and Caine, I first want to talk about the location they're in. At first, I thought this might've been Zooble's room, but looking closer, it's obviously not. Then I thought it was that little desk area at the end of the dorm hallway.

But nope, the hallway has different plants, picture frames, wallpaper, and no chairs to be seen. The plants we can see look similar to those seen in Caine's resturant realm from Ep 1, so I think I can safely guess that this is a new location, made specifically for him and Zooble to chat.

Speaking of that, I think that's going to be the driving point of Zooble's character development this episode. Something is going to convince them to join the future adventures, and it seems this will be that something. We know thanks to the AMA, that Zooble not going on adventures is important to their character, so having their episode focus on this topic makes sense.

What I can assume happened to lead up to this interaction is this:

Caine announced the adventure, and just like in both Ep 1&2, Zooble immediately expresses that they are not interested, and walks off. Caine can't really do anything about it yet, so he focuses on everyone else. Explains the rest of the adventure to them, and sends them on their way.

He then catches up to Zooble before they reach wherever they planned on going, and teleports them both to this new room. It looks almost like some kind of waiting room, or a room where they're both supposed to talk things out. It's got the comfy chairs, wall art, I wouldn't be surprised if there's a little table between them.

Zooble, obviously, is not impressed. They don't care about Caine's adventures, and want nothing to do with whatever he has planned for them in the meantime. Caine, on the other hand, just wants to figure out why Zooble doesn't want to go on his adventures. He spends so much time figuring them out! Just for the humans! Why won't Zooble participate!?

This very likely evolves into an argument between the two. I like how Caine is clearly angry in this screenshot. It's nice to see him show some more variety when it comes to emotion!! Zooble doesn't care for whatever Caine is saying, and Caine just wants to understand why they don't care.

Something happens, maybe they do talk it out, maybe something else, but by the end of the episode, Zooble decides that maybe going on a few adventures isn't that bad. I think it's way too early to guess what happens in that huge timeskip, but for now, this is the best I've got.

I feel Zooble's arc in this episode might touch on a few topics, like how while they might think staying by themselves all day and doing their own thing is better for them, isolating themselves isn't doing anyone any favours, and that, for lack of a better term, going 'outside' every once in a while can't hurt.

... and that's pretty much all I can think of to say regarding these two screenshots! I'm sure we'll get to learn more as the episode release gets closer, but I'm excited to see how things turn out!! :3

[mi-i-zori]

A Tiny World - 2

CoD - 141 x Snail (OC/Fem!Reader)

SYNOPSIS : Stardew Valley time with Snail, Gaz and Price.

Warnings : None. But please read the Author’s Note below.

Author’s Note : Snail is an OC that can be read as a Fem!Reader - I do my best no to describe her too much, but may sometimes say that she’s small (height) and has long hair.

I do not give anyone permission to re-publish and/or translate my work, be it here or on any other platform, including AI.

OC Masterlist

Main Masterlist

A Little Snail Under the Rain - Masterlist

Aside from Animal Crossing, Snail really likes playing Stardew Valley.

Actually, scratch that. She loves it.

She bought the guide to make sure her farm is as efficient as possible. She planned it all thoroughly, from the kind she chose at the very beginning, to the animals and crops she wanted the have, where she would put them, and so on.

She’s got a part of her land fully dedicated to mystic trees associated with mushroom logs, because it wouldn’t be her farm if she didn’t make a gargantuan amount of profit based on them mushies.

The chickens, ducks and dinosaurs are all on one side of the road situated at the bottom of her farm, while the cows, goats and pigs are on the other side. All the tools she needs to make cheese, mayonnaise and dried resources are placed right next to each other, not far from the ponds. All the products she makes are close to a selling box, so she can sell everything right after collecting it.

She’s working really hard to offer tons of void mayonnaise to Kroby so she can ask them to be her roommate. For now, she’s got a cat named Mochi that’s always sleeping on her bed and proudly wears a green top hat she got on St Patrick’ Day.

Believe it or not, Price loves to watch her play. The whole setting of the game reminds him of the time he used to spend at his grandparent’s farm in the English countryside, all those years ago. He remembers helping them with all kind of crops and animals, and running across their land and the nearby village with other children his age. Good, simpler times.

He also has to admit that the way she organises her findings in the museum by colours is extremely satisfying to watch. And seeing her get all excited when she finally finds something new to add to her collection is also pretty endearing.

She also got Gaz to play too !

They help each other out with their farm - they’ve become pros at it, at this point. Both their greenhouses are filled to the brim with ancient fruits, which immediately go into an army of kegs to be brewed into wine. They make plans on how to deals with the upcoming seasons together.

They also switch consoles to help each other with the tasks they like the least. Snail isn’t really fond of going into the mines - she’d rather enjoy the rainy days and go fish and forage all around the game. Kyle, however, enjoys doing challenges into the mine more that running around trying to look for resources. So they efficiently help each other to level up and fill the chests on their farms with everything they need, sprawled on top of each other on their beds in a comfortable silence.

They rule over every single event in the game.

And they absolutely love gossiping about the characters - to the point that other soldiers on base think they’re actually saying mad shit about real people.

They don’t bother correcting them. Their confused faces as they realise they’ve been talking about marrying or divorcing three people in the same week make it all worth it.

It gets a good chuckle out of the team.

[porcelainseashore]

Into the Ether (14)

Series Masterlist

Pairing: Vampire! Toreador! Leon Kennedy x Fem! Reader

Summary: At the all-night events cafe you run, you’ve become acquainted with an elusive patron, Leon, though you can never remember the last moments of your interactions together. After a harrowing encounter, a love-hate relationship develops between the two of you as you grapple with your newfound status in a world of darkness and investigate the reasons behind the untimely attacks.

Content & Warnings: 18+ Resident Evil x Vampire: The Masquerade crossover, horror, mystery, romance, slow burn, strangers to enemies to lovers, angst, fluff, eventual smut, swearing, smoking, alcohol, drug references, non consensual blood drinking, blood bond, vampire turning, violence, injury, mild gore, torture, religious themes, minor character death, RE ensemble, VtM concepts.

Author's Note: Drug and mild gore references ahead. I’m back from sailing around the Norwegian islands, which made me realise how much I missed outdoor activities, especially in the summer! As I’ll be engaging in more of that and playing in two VtM campaigns, I have less time for writing overall. So, I won't be able to update this fic regularly, though I intend to finish the story. For everyone who has been following me this far, thanks a million for your support! I hope you continue to enjoy my writings, however spontaneous they may be ❤️

Taglist: @admirxation @angelstargel @miss-oranje-disco-dancer @delulusimps @g0thesqe ✨

AO3 Link

Chapter 14: Renegade

It was the first time you’d jolted violently awake, no sweat, your body frigid and gray. Your eyes snapped to the digital clock by the bedside, its angry red numericals burning white spots into your retina. The sun had already set, but it was still early. Leon hadn’t moved a muscle.

Quick steps along the stairs, your feet were light and hurried, as you peered around the apartment to check if everything was in order. It was. 

You fiddled with the remote, opening the shutters so that you could view the night sky. Was it intact too? Shades of lavender spread across the horizon, merging with rich indigos in the encroaching darkness. You could already spot a multitude of faint stars emerging in the background. A pale crescent moon hung overhead. 

Nothing seemed out of place, but you couldn't shake the uneasiness that had plagued you since rising from your slumber. No, wait, that wasn’t right. You remembered dreaming, but you couldn’t recall what about. It wasn’t normal for corpses to dream, was it? You were sure it wasn’t the Abyss or the Beast speaking to you, so were there other causes that Leon hadn’t known and informed you about?

Instead of pursuing it any further, you grabbed a blood bag from the fridge and emptied its contents into your mouth, not even bothering to use a glass. You would’ve hunted tonight, but Rebecca had required both of you to be present in advance to prepare the ritual chamber before the prisoner would be brought in.

You heard him lumbering down the stairwell, lethargic and sluggish, like he’d willed himself to wake up before his usual time because of you. Leaning his weight against your back, he snaked his arms around your waist, mumbling incoherently into the crook of your neck, “Nervous about the appointment?”

Placing one hand over his grasp and the other around his head, you massaged his scalp languidly as he hummed with satisfaction. “Just a bad dream,” you sighed, downplaying the pervasive, ominous feeling that had lingered.

He twitched, an obvious sign of his concern about what you had revealed. “Hmm, that doesn’t usually happen; not that I’ve heard of anyway.” His voice was nonchalant, but you could detect an uneven stammer at its edges.

Turning you around to face him, he tilted your chin towards him, his eyes veiled with worry. “Do you wanna talk about it?”

“I would, but my mind’s coming up blank,” you admitted in frustration. “It just feels like something’s gonna go wrong.”

He drew you in, clinging to you staunchly as he whispered against your chilled skin, “I’ll keep you safe, I promise.”

“I know,” you whispered back, your crisp breath tickling his collarbone. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“I know,” he echoed.

You allowed yourself to melt fully into him, savoring a moment of peace where time seemed to be suspended. Both of you understood they were rare and hard to come by in these nights, especially with your journey ahead. 

When you breathed again, he hoisted you up effortlessly, carrying you in his arms as he returned to where you came from. He excused it as “snoozing for a bit longer” in bed, though you did anything but. 

And all too soon, it was time to go, but his scent and mark on you still remained.

━━━━━━━━━━━

“Oh, I’ll handle that,” Rebecca said, taking the unusual apparatus out of your hands as she set them aside. “No offense, but they’re kinda delicate.”

She handed you a bunch of trinkets and a musty cloth with occult sigils imprinted on it. “Maybe you could lay these out instead? Just follow the shape in this diagram.”

You studied details on the page she was pointing at a leather bound manuscript, attempting to replicate the same design on the floor. Leon was busy speaking with Jill, placating her as she grumbled about not being allowed to be present at the scene when the ritual took place. 

Rebecca had insisted on you being her guide and for Leon to keep watch outside, so there would be no interference. After all, it was the two of you who were personally assigned by the Prince to take on this task, and not the Sheriff. The fewer people around in the ritual chamber, the better chance Rebecca had of completing it successfully.

“I actually learnt this ritual from a Tremere Thinblood, well, I guess they’re all just Thinbloods to the Prince,” she revealed, smiling wistfully as she mixed the contents within an apparatus. “I just tweaked it a bit so that you could focus on specific memories, piecing them together, rather than relying on the whims and fancies of what the Kindred deemed as important.”

“You’re not called an expert for nothing,” you pointed out, smiling back at her while you worked. “What happened to the Thinblood anyway?”

You weren’t optimistic, after all, the Thinbloods or Duskborn were those whose blood were too diluted from Caine to be considered as part of ‘normal’ Kindred society. They were the weakest, but also the most lifelike of all vampires. Jealousy and fear made them direct targets of everyone else, particularly the Camarilla.

She heaved an audible sigh, pausing her intricate preparations for a moment. “Destroyed by the Scourge, along with his sire.” 

Though she could not voice her opinion on the matter, you could tell that she did not agree with the outcome the Prince had dictated. From what Leon had told you, the Scourge reported directly to Wesker and was somewhat regarded as his personal executioner. It was also a backup option in case Jill ever strayed from her loyalty. In this case, weeding out the Thinbloods was one of their duties, and that made your disdain for the Prince grow.

“It’s a shame, since he was so talented,” she added quietly, just loud enough for you to hear. 

You threw her a sympathetic glance, mouthing an apology which she acknowledged gratefully. Then, she walked over to check on how you were getting on before asking, “You ever been on a drug trip before?”

“What?” you choked, slightly taken aback by the sudden change in subject. “Um, sure, yeah…?”

“Great, well, this is something like that,” she continued as if it were part of everyday conversation. “I’ll be incapacitated, so you’ll need to make sure that I’m where I’m supposed to be while in Memoriam. As you’re my only link to the tangible world, I’ll need your reassurances every now and then through voice and touch. That’ll prevent me from slipping away.”

You nodded. It sounded easy enough.

“And, uh, you’ll have to watch the timer,” she instructed, handing over an analogue alarm clock to you. “It is absolutely crucial that I’m back and awake by the 15-minute mark, otherwise weird shit starts to happen.”

“Like what?”

She shrugged indifferently. “Mental trauma at the very least.”

You guffawed in disbelief, realizing this was no joking matter. “And at the very worst?”

“Permanent torpor.”

“Jesus!” you blurted out. “Rebecca, are you—”

“I’ll be fine.” She squeezed your shoulder, seemingly still in good spirits. “Just remember to start reviving me a few minutes in advance.”

“Everything alright back there?” Leon called out, eyeing your discussion curiously. Jill had disappeared.

“Yeah, we’re good to go,” Rebecca commented with a thumbs up sign.

Eventually, Jill returned with the prisoner in tow, scarred and dragged around by the chains. He was no longer thrashing about like what you had witnessed in the video recording, but mute, as his will had been broken. You could see it in his listless eyes; he was a slave who had accepted whatever fate befell him. It sickened you to the core that Jill had tortured him to the extent that Final Death was considered the most peaceful option. However, if what Rebecca had promised was correct, you knew you had made the right decision.

“Hunnigan and I will be watching from the monitors,” Jill commented gruffly as she bolted the prisoner in place to a reinforced anchor on the floor, positioned just in the middle of the markings you had made with the materials provided to you earlier. “So you better not try anything funny, usurper.”

It was a pointed remark aimed at Rebecca, but the Tremere took it in her stride, offering nothing but a polite wave as Jill exited the room.

“Ladies,” Leon nodded to the both of you courteously. “I’ll be on the other end of this door. Stay safe, please.” The last word was drawn out, almost pleading, as the blue of his irises flickered, holding your gaze.

“We will,” you asserted, as he tore his eyes away from you, reluctantly closing the door behind him with a secure click.

You followed Rebecca, making sure you stayed by her side every step of the way. Lighting a row of candles on the altar table, she held out the apparatus containing the liquid she had prepared, chanting in a language that sounded ancient and otherworldly — none that you could recognize. The liquid thickened and congealed, sizzling as she clutched the apparatus close to her heart, using her fingers to stir the contents as the black concoction clung to her skin like tar. Steam rose from it, and though it appeared to be scalding hot, she was not affected. She did not burn nor yelp in pain. Her eyes glazed over white, glowing like a jackal’s at night.

The captive mourned aloud as she drew symbols on his face, as if he were crying for the loss of his unlife and knew that his Final Death was near. You felt terrible for him then, but you suppressed the urge to stop the ritual, knowing that whatever awaited him at Jill's hands instead would be far worse.

Finally, Rebecca took a lit candle, dousing its fire into the liquid which sparked a brilliant white flame, so dazzling that it hurt to look at it. There was a deafening whoosh and smash as she flung the apparatus to the ground in front of the captive, and he lit up like a bonfire, just like the one you had seen the night you died. However, there were no smoke or screams. Like an illusory magic trick, the Kindred had vanished into thin air, leaving only pale gray ashes in his wake.

She looked at you knowingly before sinking to her knees as you accompanied her. Feeding the ashes hungrily into her mouth, she devoured them whole as though it were her last meal. Powered dust swirled around the room, glittering under the dim sources of light. The more she stuffed into her mouth, the more she coughed and gagged, but she didn’t let up. The ashes decorated her chin like parched chalk and the rot of death, flaking and peeling off as others took their place. 

Soon, she slackened, her movements stuttering like a malfunctioning machine as her body turned rigid. Her eyes rolled towards the back of her head as she slumped into your outstretched arms. Gently, you laid her down within the marked out area where the Kindred had been confined earlier.

“I’m here,” you murmured, holding her hand as you kept an eye on the clock.

There was no response. If you didn’t know better, you would have thought she was a mummified carcass, a relic waiting to be found and entombed in some museum halfway across the world. You reassured yourself that this was just the beginning, and you didn’t need to worry yet.

Time seemed to pass by excruciatingly slowly, like the fluid from an IV drip gradually entering the body through a network of catheters and needles, the effects of which you could never feel until it was too late. Every so often, you stroked Rebecca’s hand, verbally reminding her she had a place to return to. However, you were met with blank silence, and it seemed as though you had gone crazy and were talking to yourself.

By now, the ten-minute mark had been reached and there was still no sign of her coming back. At the moment, there was enough buffer time for you to revive her, and you prayed that this wouldn’t end up any worse. 

Tapping her cheek lightly, you called out, “Rebecca? Can you hear me? There’s only five minutes left, you need to start waking up.”

At first, you merely coaxed her, but as each minute passed, your taps and voice grew more urgent. However, she remained out cold. Why was she taking so long? What was holding her back?

Three minutes remaining. Not good.

You broke out into short, rapid little breaths. “Come on, Rebecca?” You were shaking her lifeless body now. “If you can’t find the rest of them, just leave it!”

Two minutes. Shit!

Your heart raced in fear and your nerves fired up as you doubled down on your efforts to bring her back into the real world. Nothing was going to stop you from doing so.

Meanwhile, Leon had been waiting patiently outside the chamber. So far, things were mind numbingly boring and quiet, which was good. Why Rebecca had requested him to physically stand watch at the location baffled him. There wasn’t anything the cameras wouldn’t be able to catch, and not to mention, the security systems in Elysium were top-notch. However, she seemed to trust Kindred instincts more.

Then, he heard some noises coming from inside the room. Focusing his senses, he heard your frantic voice yelling at Rebecca, trying to rouse her from her comatose state. Before he could head in to help you, the light beams flickered, as if the power had been cut for a split second. 

He glanced up, noticing that someone had killed the cameras. They weren’t blinking red anymore. His muscles tensed, instinctively shifting into a combat stance as he readied himself for the incoming intruder. 

Just as he predicted, a blurred figure from the corner of his eye whizzed past. Sharpening his reflexes, he timed his move, reaching out to grab the culprit by their arm. All at once, he came face-to-face with the last person he wanted to be stuck in a corridor with.

“Ada? What the hell?” he snarled, finally piecing together the last parts of the puzzle. “I should’ve known…”

“You never should’ve underestimated your sire,” she tutted coyly, running her other hand up his chest provocatively.

He recoiled from her touch in disgust, throwing the hand he had seized back at her. “The Prince will have your head for this!” he hissed.

“Resorting to threats now, are we?” she laughed derisively. “Well, don’t worry, I can always counter with my own.”

Grazing a stiletto fingernail along the pulse point of his neck, she leaned in and whispered suggestively, “If you and your childe want to live to see another night, you better listen to what I have to say.” 

She cocked her head, peering behind Leon at the door as she narrowed her eyes. “And from the sounds of it, she doesn’t have much time…”

“We should go in,” she decided, stepping forward, only for him to block her path.

“Ada, I don’t know what fucking mind game you’re playing, but I swear to god, if you so much as lay a finger on her, I will—”

She sighed in vexation, interrupting him as she patted his chest condescendingly. “Relax, big boy.”

Taking his hand, she pressed it against the touchpad, and the door slid open. Instantly, they were greeted by the sore sight of you desperately trying to revive Rebecca. There was only one minute left before she would be in trouble.

“For fuck’s sake—”

And that’s when you looked up, your eyes darting between the two Kindred in a mixture of complete shock and confusion.

“Ada?” you exclaimed. “Leon? The fuck—”

“Ada!” A voice next to you screeched, choking and sputtering as if she was recovering from nearly drowning underwater. “You… Heisenberg… the Baker boy… you’re planning a coup. But why?”

30 seconds. You shut off the timer. That was close, way too close.

Despite the chaos and her accusations, you’d never been more relieved to see Rebecca back to life. You pulled her in hastily for a quick hug, before turning to the rest for a much-warranted explanation.

“We only have a few minutes until Jill storms in. Hunnigan is stalling her, so I’ll make this quick.” Ada sauntered towards you with cat-like grace, while Leon trailed behind watching her suspiciously. “The Prince is getting too big for his own shoes. Even I know that the benefits of working with the Anarchs, as long as they’re kept at an arm’s length, outweigh the cons. Unfortunately for Wesker, greed will be his downfall.”

Squatting down beside you and Rebecca, she stated, “You see, I just happened to stumble upon his plans to exterminate every single one of the Anarchs here in Raccoon City, so that he can rule uncontested.”

Nodding in Leon’s direction, she addressed him, “All the time you spent with them, along with his sending you as his emissary, allowed him to gather valuable information about your friends from you.”

He shook his head in abhorrence, huffing, “You’re saying, he used me as a spy?”

Instead of responding directly, she mentioned, “Of course, to keep up appearances, he couldn’t actually have you defecting to them. Though with the increase in SI presence recently, he sensed an opportunity to redirect the threat towards Heisenberg and his crew.”

Idly inspecting the apparatus that Rebecca had dropped when she fell unconscious, she chucked it aside when she found nothing of interest. “Foolish and reckless,” she criticized. “So we’ll give him a taste of his own medicine.”

“And you expect us to trust you?” Leon spat, his jaw clenching and unclenching as he glanced between the door and Ada.

“No,” she replied simply. “But you still have a boon to pay, and your missing vessel.” She flashed you a malevolent smile as Leon drew closer, situating himself between you and his sire defensively. 

Before Rebecca could speak her mind, Ada cut in, “Your Primogen is ready to finish what Glenn started if you decide to take matters into your own hands.” That caused her to shut her mouth and sink back in defeat.

So, there were others in the Camarilla who were in on this as well, you figured. In spite of the odds, you pushed back, detesting the woman’s methods from the start. “Let me guess, you have something to threaten me with too?” you jeered.

Leaning in, she sniffed your neck deliberately and simpered, “Mmm, I can smell him on you. How wonderful it must be to still enjoy such humanly pleasures…”

“Ada…” Leon warned, but she waved him off dismissively.

“With you, my dear, I wouldn’t need to lift a finger,” she gloated confidently. “No one’s going to believe a fledgling, especially without proof. And even if they do, would you really choose to endanger your beloved sire for lying?”

She was relentless, refusing to wait for your answer as she questioned rhetorically, “Or are you particularly fond of Wesker? Seeing as you know what he’s capable of.”

It was true that you held nothing but disdain for the man, given how he had treated you from day one, setting you up to fail with his ‘tests’ and what he had done to Leon with Sherry. Maybe it was time for him to go, you found yourself agreeing with Ada, in somewhat abject horror. But were there really any better candidates to take his place?

“Think about it,” she said, getting up as she ambled towards the side of the room. Fishing out a device from her pocket, she aimed at a metal grill in the ceiling and fired a shot. A grapple hook attached itself to the grill and she yanked it down.

“What’s in it for you?” you asked.

She gave you one final smirk as she turned towards Leon, winking at him. “I’ll be in touch very soon.”

With that, she clung onto the grill, blinking up into the crawl space above as she secured it back into its original position.

At that very moment, Jill burst into the room with her Doberman in tow, growling ferociously at the three of you. Her hand had morphed into a monstrous claw, sharp enough to dice anyone into pieces and ready to tear the place apart. “Someone had better tell me what the fuck is going on!”

Rebecca was the first to respond, “I had some difficulties in Memoriam. Leon had to assist his childe in getting me back safely.”

“The cameras were cut,” Jill fumed, not backing down as she scanned your reactions for answers. “Hunnigan seemed to have a rough time bringing them back online.”

“We were kinda busy down here,” Leon claimed, already well-versed in the art of omission and partial information when it came to any form of interrogation.

“You better watch your step, smartass,” she cautioned, still not fully buying Leon’s half-truth. Her eyes gleamed dangerously. “I’m going to investigate this matter myself, and if I trace anything back to you… Carlos here is gonna have a field day ripping your goddamn balls out every night for the rest of your unlife.”

At this, her Doberman let out a series of sharp, piercing barks as it wagged its tail enthusiastically. You bristled at her threat as something within you snapped. Without thinking, you sprang up, shielding Leon with your body, almost hissing in defiance. However, Leon reined you in, his face plastered with alarm as he grasped your arm, knocking some sense into you.

“Oh, so the little diva wants to play, huh?” Jill grinned viciously, her claw twitching with anticipation.

“She meant no offense,” Leon said calmly, attempting to relieve the tension between the two of you. “Besides, you wanted the report from Rebecca?”

A diversion. He had always been a clever one.

Leon exchanged cursory looks with the Tremere, who got the hint and cleared her throat before piping up, “I know who’s behind it. They’re all Sabbat members.”

“Bella, Cassandra and Daniela,” she rattled off the top of her head.

Whatever tall tale Rebecca had come up with seemed to work as Jill relaxed her stance, quirking an eyebrow at her. “Lady Dimitrescu’s childer?”

“Yes,” Rebecca affirmed. “Beneviento’s involved too.”

“That Ugly-Ass Psycho Doll?” Jill remarked, shifting uneasily. “Hm, explains the Dementation, I suppose.”

She straightened up, her feral eyes sweeping across the room one more time before issuing a set of commands. “Right, clean this mess up, and then you and I are gonna have a talk with Hunnigan to see if the info checks out,” she directed to Rebecca.

“As for pretty boy and his harlot here, the Prince wants to see you, stat.”

Your temper flared at the insult, but you bit your tongue in an effort to suppress it. With that, Jill turned to leave. Once she was a safe distance away, you whispered to Rebecca, “Did you just lie about all those Kindred? How did you come up with that?”

Her blue-eyed gaze met yours. “Because it wasn’t exactly a lie,” she explained carefully. “They appeared in his memories too.”

━━━━━━━━━━━

It turned out that your meeting with the Prince this time was more of a private affair, so instead of the greenhouse, you found him lounging on an opulent and richly-textured couch in the presentation room. He sat there regally, sipping on an artisanally crafted chalice with feigned indifference, not even bothering to acknowledge your presence when you and Leon walked in. 

The Scourge stood diagonally across from him, monitoring your actions intently. He was keeping watch while Jill was busy with the previous technical hiccup and questioning Rebecca. You didn’t have a clue as to why the Prince had requested this meeting, but nothing he wanted could be good news.

The man in question bided his time, draining the chalice to the last drop at a leisurely pace, making you and your sire stand around and wait like idiots in utter silence. Finally, he spoke up, his voice laced with sarcasm, “Ah, not maimed yet, I see. Congratulations are in order.”

It took you a moment before you realized he was talking about you.

Before you could react, Leon had stepped forward, crossing his hand over his heart as he bowed in veneration. “My honorable Prince, how may we—”

However, Wesker saw through his bullshit. His patience waned at Leon’s obvious attempts at sweet-talking his way out of the situation. Brandishing the empty chalice in your direction accusingly, he remarked, “Your fledgling seems to be making quite a name for herself.”

Your mouth ran dry. What Leon had warned you about during your big fight with him came rushing back. 

“I don’t want to be ordered by the Prince to destroy you.”

“If you step out of line, he will ask me to.”

You had been too careless in your dalliances with the Anarchs, and naturally, word had gotten around, as well as back into the viper’s nest.

Leon hung his head low in submission, averting his gaze. “Prince, I can assure you, I have put a stop to the issue at hand.”

Ignoring him, Wesker smirked, “Like sire, like childe.”

“Do you have any idea what I do to traitors of the Camarilla?” he asked as the Scourge shifted slightly, his dual curved blades glinting under the fluorescent lights.

A mere glance from Wesker at the Scourge caused him to back down. “Go on, why don’t you take a guess?” he beckoned you.

Although an immobilizing fear rippled through your body, you still managed to cough out, “Final Death?”

At this, Wesker bellowed with laughter. “Oh, no, no… that would be far too merciful for the likes of such filth.” 

“Wouldn’t it be more appropriate and resourceful for me to have my scientists conduct their work on them?” he suggested, tapping on his chin thoughtfully. “Or perhaps I should string them up in a cellar somewhere with their limbs chopped off, and have them bleed out into my waiting cup, hmm?”

You noticed the way he had emphasized ‘them’ sounded more like he meant ‘you’.

Placing his chalice on the side table, he leaned forward with his hands in a steepled position and grinned deviously. “I mean, all these marvelous reviews have left me wanting to have a taste…”

You gulped at his insinuation, your hands trembling as you tried to conceal them from his sight. Then, you felt Leon nudging you protectively behind him.

The amber of Wesker’s eyes glowered through his shades. “And why do I get the feeling you’re not telling me everything, Leon?”

“My trusted Sheriff has her suspicions that you’ve not been fully cooperative on the case,” he alleged, looking to your sire for an answer.

“The information turned out to be more difficult to acquire than expected,” Leon explained guardedly. “But I have provided Jill with everything I know, and so has Rebecca.”

Truth be told, you were in two minds when Ada had approached you with her request. However, the way this meeting had unfolded caused the hatred you harbored for Wesker to grow exponentially — so much so that you said nothing when Leon was lying through his teeth. You had taken your stance.

There was a long, agonizing pause as Wesker considered his words. “Very well, you’ve made your bed, Leon. Just be aware, we will find out whatever it is you’re hiding…” he trailed off before stating in a deliberate tone, “You of all Kindred should know how much I love personally gutting traitors.”

Angling his head towards you, he warned, “One more misstep and we’ll see about that drink I am dying to have…”

You nodded feebly, preparing to take your leave with Leon who was ushering you out hurriedly.

It was only when you had reached the door of the room that Wesker tutted, “I’m not quite done with you yet.”

Like a sly predator toying with its prey, he had lulled you into a false sense of security, only to yank it away at the last minute. Whirling around, you caught a glimpse of the diabolical uptick in his lips as a side door slid open. 

A slender blonde woman with a layered, cropped haircut walked in apathetically, seemingly oblivious to the tense atmosphere that permeated the space. She was dressed in a fitted beige blouse, olive khaki pants, and lace-up utility boots. An arctic blue scarf adorned her neck even though the temperatures within Elysium were well-regulated.

You heard Leon's breath hitch as he suddenly gripped your hand with a vice-like hold. The woman smiled placidly at the two of you, and it was then that you could see the blank stare in her glassy blue eyes. Was she—?

Wesker flung his arms open dramatically, as if unveiling a prized possession. “Ah, Sherry! How nice of you to join us.”

[itsnotamatterofif]

Oooh sure, I went down the Leccywatt route if that’s okay! I’ve never written 24!Lectra before, so I hope this is okay :D was a fun new thing to try. I hope I wrote them in character, please ignore any egregious OOC-ness.

✨Want a mini fic? Send me an ask!✨

His placement at the door to the shed has become muscle memory, these days. Admittedly, Killerwatt is used to this kind of monotony - enjoys it, actually. The silence means a significant lack of rabid fans trying to scrabble for an ounce of Electra's precious time, or press demanding answers to inane questions they could have simply asked the last interviewer.

The quiet is relaxing, calm; he must admit, he's getting a bit too used to it at this yard. For all its uncouthness, the rolling stock here are simple, and once they managed to control themselves around Electra, most of the engines are either polite or civilised enough to leave them be. The few that aren’t have been dispatched by Killerwatt personally enough times for them to know better and to learn from their mistakes.

Much like the yard outside, the electrics shed is quiet. Most of the other components are off today, required at various events and shows around the capital, but Electra requested Killerwatt personally to remain by their side whilst their other aides took care of business. As expected, frankly, as Electra is still recovering from the damage sustained in that race against the rusting tank engine and that foul-smelling diesel.

Watching Electra stretched out in front of the large floor to ceiling window, half repaired wiring sparking in the shadows cast by their own frame, he knows he should have stepped in.

In the light of the setting sun, their silhouette is one that ought to be framed; a picture of elegance, with their legs stretched out to one side across the chaise longe whilst leaning on their elbow. Volta had very excellently secured them a very nice shed, far away from the rest of the rabble, with a beautiful window that looked out onto the city before them that glittered like stars across the valley, and Electra was incredibly fond of gazing at the view as if it were a piece of fine art.

“I can feel you watching me, my sweet,” Electra suddenly calls, voice as smooth as glass, and it knocks Killerwatt out of a trance he didn’t realise he was in, “can I help you with anything?”

“Nothing, syr,” Killerwatt confirms, voice as even as he can make it, “merely wondering if you were comfortable.”

“As I can be.” Electra slowly swings to their wheels, stretching out their damaged leg carefully as they do so. “You sound as if you were deep in rumination, Killerwatt - I’m interested to hear your thoughts.”

He needs to remember this. There is no lying to Electra.

“I was thinking about how quiet it is,” Killerwatt states - a half truth, admittedly, but not a whole lie, “and how grateful I am that this yard has learned its place - you need rest, Syr, and you wouldn’t get that with a rabble at your door.”

“Quite right, too,” Electra adds, voice distant as if lost in thoughts of their own, and they take one last long look out the window before making their way over to Killerwatt’s post. Even hobbling slightly, they’re a picture of elegance, of style, LEDs faintly glowing in the stark white light of the room. They tower over Killerwatt as they get closer, angled face casting sharp shadows beneath them, and Killerwatt has to hold a breath as to not shudder from the closeness.

Every component wonders if one day they’ll be lucky enough to have Electra’s eye, even if just for a beat of time. Volta received a grateful kiss once, at a previous championship, and she did not silence herself about it for weeks.

“How lucky is one then, to have such an attentive security guard to teach them as such?” They tease lowly, one spindly hand reaching up to stroke Killerwatt’s jaw agonisingly slowly, “I fear I do not tell you how I appreciate you as regularly as I should.”

There’s that smirk on their face, akin to a fox toying with prey, that makes Killerwatt’s internal systems speed up and whir.

“It is enough to know that we are appreciated,” Killerwatt returns modestly, and hopes to whatever Control is out there that his body does not betray him, “I am simply doing my job, Syr.”

“And you do it ever so well,” Electra purrs, before they put shift their weight, and hiss in pain as their sparking leg objects to the pressure, “apologies, I think-“

“Apologise not, Syr,” Killerwatt interrupts, holding his arms out for Electra to lean on, “can you move?”

Electra cracks a pained smile, the barest hint of a guard coming down. “I got over here, did I not?”

He daren’t offer to help, but the fact that Electra allows him to lead them over to the chaise lounge is telling in and of itself. They never accept help, especially when offered, but apparently their repairs are going so slowly they have no choice. Tenderly, he helps them sit, and they groan in relief as the weight leaves their leg.

“That blasted injury is giving me more jip than anticipated,” Electra hisses in frustration, “that ignorant oil truck has dues owed.”

Killerwatt frowns, concern shooting through them. “Shall I summon Wrench-?”

“No, no,” Electra utters, shaking their head as they hiss through their teeth, “I shall be fine, simply a connection that gets caught in the plexiglass, it will right itself eventually.”

They reach out, laying one delicate hand over where Killerwatt is gripping the couch, and the contact is simmering, sizzling, although Killerwatt isn’t sure if that’s not just his internal computer beginning to work overtime.

“After all,” Electra continues with a smile, strangely genuine, “aren’t you enjoying the quiet?”

[aphroditeslover11]

Hi what do you think about a Neil Lewis with a actress reader? Like they met before and he has already a crush on her and then he watch movie and see her ?

Another tought (not q request just something in my head) so I'm from Göttingen, an we have here q tradition if someone has his PhD they have to kiss the Statue of the goose Maid ( "Gänseliesel") he is not common with this tradition and so when reader ask him when he is planning do the kiss he assumed she wanna that he kiss her

I hope this is something along the lines of what you were thinking of. I’m not at my best at the moment so I’m sorry if there are any glaring errors. I hadn’t written for Neil before, but he’s actually very fun! Thanks for your request. Also, that is a fabulous tradition, it might get slotted into one of my other Oppie requests, I’m not sure yet though as it’s in the idea phase at the moment.

A Surprise Encounter

A/N: the classic films mentioned are all free on BBC iPlayer, go and give them a watch! I also have no idea where the store is, so I made it up.

Neil was absolutely beside himself when the invite arrived in the post. A new film that he couldn’t wait to see was premiering soon, it was low budget but contained a few big names who had decided that they wanted to promote the more independent side of the industry. He had been asked to attend an event aiming to promote smaller video shops like his rather than the huge, commercial ones that were taking over. When he read that you and the director alone were going to be on the panel he felt like he had never been luckier, finally a chance to meet his favourite actress in the flesh. Although he did admire your talents, he’d be lying if he didn’t admit that he also found you wildly attractive.

The next few weeks were spent planning everything. He rewatched a few of your films so that he could ask some decent questions of you at the press event and reading every article that he could on the making of your new one, a biopic of Julie d’Aubigny. He went out and bought a new suit for the occasion, had his hair cut. As far as he was concerned, there were going to be no disasters, not when he was going to meet one of his idols.

~

The day of the event had finally come. All of the invitees, including Neil, had been piled into an auditorium where they had been given an early viewing of the film, then being moved into a press room with rows of chairs set out in front of a platform. He was happy with his seat, about half way back in the crowd, not too conspicuous but with a good view of the stage. The previous hubbub died down as soon as the panel made their way up, the director taking his place, yet Neil’s eyes were fixed on you. Your hair was down and curly, framing your face, and that smile that everyone always talked about. You were wearing black heels a red dress that dipped down just enough to give a small view of your cleavage. He was transfixed.

Questions started being asked, the general types of how you had enjoyed working with the rest of the cast and what you had taken away from playing your character, some conversations were had about wanting to make sure that the smaller side of the film and cinema industry wasn’t dwarfed in the future. For some reason, all of the eyes in the room suddenly focused on Neil, it was only then that he realised that he had drifted off, his arm leaned on the armrest of his chair in such a way that you had thought he was asking a question.

“Uh, the gentleman in the blue suit there, do you have a question?” The sentence was coming from you, quickly drawing him out of his reverie.

“Um.. yes,” he never was much good at thinking on his feet. “I know that you’re promoting this film today, but do you feel as if classic cinema has been forgotten. My shop specialises in older, more hard to find movies and… well, yeah,” he trailed off. He was like a deer in the headlights, speaking as if he was full of terror. A few people around him were scoffing and hiding their laughter. Great, he had embarrassed himself in front of you.

“Actually, I do think that we’ve forgotten about classic cinema. Not only the thrillers and comedies, but for me the least talked about are the romance films. I grew up on Astaire and Rogers musicals, I know some people don’t like them and find them a bit politically incorrect know, but they still have a special place in my heart. If you think about their influence on modern cinema, we wouldn’t have ‘Sleepless In Seattle’ if it hadn’t been for a 1939 film ‘Love Affair”. What was your name?” Why the hell did you want to know who he was?

“Neil Lewis.”

“And where’s your shop?”

“California, its called Gumshoe Video.”

“I’ll pop in next time I’m in town, maybe you could give me some recommendations.” And that was the end of that conversation.

~

About three weeks later everything had returned to normal. Neil was back to running the store and the gang were still practically living there. It was a completely normal day when Lucien, who had been manning the counter, came around to the back to find him.

“Neil, you might want to come inside, there’s a customer asking for you.”

“Can’t you handle it?” He just wanted a bit of time to himself, making is response more huffy than he had intended.

“Trust me, you want to come and see this.”

He followed Lucien back into the shop, only to be caught in shock as he saw you standing there in front of him, dressed a lot more casually than the last time he saw you, but still with your hair down in its beautiful curls. He never thought that you would actually make true on what you had said, but here you were.

“Is there anything that I can help you with Miss y/l/n?”
“I came by to see if you had any suggestions for me, you know, classic films like you said you specialised in.” You actually seemed a bit nervous, though he had no idea why. “And please, call me y/n.”

“Right, y/n,” it just felt so right when he said it. “What kind of thing are you looking for, any genres in mind?”

“I always love a romance movie, the press don’t know yet but I left my boyfriend last month after he cheated on me. I’m down here to get away from it all, so a romance to take my mind off everything would be good, yeah.” He could see the sadness behind your eyes as you explained.

“He must have been an idiot then,” he said, immediately regretting it and walking past the stunned Lucien towards the romance section, beckoning for you to follow.

“So, you said that you liked Astaire and Rogers, but have you ever seen ‘The Sky’s The Limit’?”

“I don’t think I have, no.” He reached out for the dvd, showing you the front of the case.

“It’s Fred Astaire and Joan Leslie, came out in 1943. A musical about a fighter pilot who falls in love with a girl who wants to make it as a journalist, sounds like the sort of thing you might be looking for.”

“I think I’ll take that then, sounds perfect.” Something lit up inside him, you were smiling and it was because of something that he had done.

“Right, I’ll go and sort out a membership card so that you can rent it then, do you have any ID on you. Driver’s licence or something?” You followed him over to the till, rooting around in your bag to find what he had asked for. He busied himself, quickly handing over the card and the movie.

“What do I owe you?” you asked, reaching for your purse.

“Nothing, it’s on the house.”

“Are you sure, because…”

“Yeah, in return for having me at that panel a few weeks back. It was amazing.”
“Well, in that case can I pay you back in another way?”

“What do you mean?”

“Maybe we could watch the film together?”

“That sounds like a fair means of payment, I think I’ll accept.” You slipped him your number, telling him to call when he was free before walking out of the store, Neil wondering what the fuck had just happened.

[timetodiverge]

TL:DR: a brief treatise on learning to love Ahsoka for the gifts it gave us, rather than its shortcomings

Reasons why I struggled to like Ahsoka on first watch:

-my Rebels-fan brain constantly chanting WHERE IS EZRA WHERE IS EZRA WHERE IS EZRA; every episode that ended without him had me screaming

-the portrayal of Ezra as some noble war hero/wise Jedi instead of the little shit devious street urchin thief who, after four seasons of growth, pain, and temptation to turn darkside, turned into an IGnoble war hero with the potential to become a wise Jedi

-the show's habit of far-too-casually dropping facts that emotionally wrecked Rebels fans (ALL the Wrens died on Mandalore?? Could we maybe explore that a bit?? Dave do you remember when you had Sabine collapse into what she thought were her mother's ashes, and the depth of her relief when she realised her family was still alive and she still had a chance to make things right with them?? DO YOU???)

-the show's refusal to recap/reference insanely important events from Rebels and The Clone Wars (Mortis Gods, Trials of the Darksaber, Vader v Ahsoka and Ezra rescuing her via the World Between Worlds, Ahsoka's entire existence, etc) that would have made Ahsoka, Sabine, & Hera's importance in the larger Star Wars universe much more comprehendible for non-Rebels & TCW fans

-watching Sabine, who only ever wanted to be a valued, equal member of a family & team, and who was already incredibly skilled (art/warfare/mechanics), belittling and limiting herself trying to play the part of Jedi Padawan

-the wasted potential of show that could have truly explored how non-Jedi&Sith engage with the whole spectrum of the Force (e.g. other force users such as Nightsisters, loth wolves, purrgil, and non-force-sensative people such as Sabine), instead ultimately championing the light-dark binary and the traditions of the Jedi order (which many of us have little respect for) such as the Master-Apprentice relationship

Reasons why I now adore Ahsoka and would defend it to the death:

-the breath-taking care, love, and attention the production team put into every tiny detail (the sets, the costumes, props, the MUSIC, the background art, the ships and weapons, my god the detail!!)

-the shameless centring of diverse, layered female characters and the exquisite, subtle performances of Mary Elizabeth Winstead & Genevieve O'Reilly

-a mature exploration of how traumatic events e.g. wars may technically "end", but don't end for everyone: Ahsoka and Sabine are still traumatised ex-child soldiers mourning people they desperately loved but had complex & unresolved issues with; Hera still has zero boundaries between being a soldier and her personal life. And this PTSD has very real consequences to the narrative

-the show ultimately resisting the urge to choose a plot-twist Ezra reveal (e.g. turns out Thrawn and Ezra are now buddies/Ezra is the new big bad/Ezra was Marrok), which may have been more interesting but would have deprived us of the wholesome Ezra reveal we actually wanted

-Eman Esfandi giving us the most successful animation-to-live-action transition since Katee Sackhoff's Bo-Katan, and being so perfect in his mannerisms and behaviour that it was almost worth the wait (and looking so much like Ezra's father in Rebels!!)

(...unless you include Chopper, whose transition was actually 120% perfect)

-ultimately refreshing and levelling-up the potential for mature and diverse Star Wars narratives, like Andor did, but instead of leaning away from SW tropes and traditions like Andor, digging deeper into SW tropes and history, and linking non-mainstream-SW-elements such as the Nightsisters of Dathomir, the Mortis Gods, the World Between Worlds, and the existence of other galaxies

[scapegoated-if]

If you're not too sick of hearing opinions about this yet lol, I admit that as a brown woman I was a tad disappointed when I first saw that the MC could only be white. But most IFs only let you choose skin colour and it doesn't have any effect in-game anyway, so I was open to seeing how it would turn out. And I can confirm I'm now 100% on board and obsessed with your WIP 🤩. Honestly it's such a gem, finding it made my day!

Firstly, it's really well written. I love the variety in choices that you've given us and also how the flirt options can be subtle, sometimes just physical gestures. It feels realistic. I think you really capture the vibe of the time period as well. I love all the little name drops, not just of people but places and events too.

Character wise I ADORE Vince 🥹, I love the longing and both of them trying to hold back (and failing in my game lol, I definitely replayed to see if something would happen in the hotel room if MC doesn't hook up with Fleur). Not to mention the clear soft spot he has for the MC (I'm definitely team “he's in love with MC”). Will we ever hear any of the songs he’s written about her that he's “lost count” of??. I really like Penn too, and I'm intrigued by Leon (don't worry I'm not going to beg for him to become an RO lol). I thought the scene where MC is trying to distract him from his book by poking him in the face and fixing his eyeliner whilst he ignores her was cute, lol. It shows their comfort & familiarity with each other in a realistic way.

I'm so intrigued by the cliffhanger too… (this was literally my face when I realised the demo ended there: :o). It already shows the need for the genderlock, and for what it's worth I love genderlocked female IFs so I hope you don't get too much grief over it. I'm especially excited to see how the MC’s gender affects her experiences.

I was surprised that the MC was from Europe (I'm British!), I wasn't expecting to see Top of the Pops name dropped in an IF lol. It's honestly refreshing since I'm so used to seeing it reversed with American protagonists in a European setting (if you've played the Choices app, most of the books set in Europe somehow have an American MC lol). It's interesting that you mentioned the immigration protests in the UK will be mentioned in-game, since my grandparents immigrated from India in the 70s.

Sorry this is a very long & rambly message…I can't wait for the next chapter, I'm desperate to know what happens next 😭!!

Never apologise about anything (unless you insult me, then I will need a formal apology and financial compensation--I'm joking, mostly). I'm sorry about the race-lock, I do know it's frustrating! But thank you for giving my IF a chance nonetheless; I'm glad it was worth it.

I'm glad you find everything realistic so far. I'm really excited for the next chapter, because the next stop after New York City is California, baby! Laurel Canyon in the late '60s will be so fun to write.

It's also good to hear you think there's enough of a range of options! It's hard to know what's overkill and what's not enough, so I'm relieved.

There's a lot of songs coming! Songwriting for this story has been so challenging, because I really try to write in the style of '70s songs. Sometimes I write them on the train, sometimes I write them in thirty seconds for the sake of while I'm writing (it probably shows--I hate some of them so bad, they're so corny, which is on brand for some of the music at that time, goodness).

And I promise no one is giving me grief, I'm more than happy to answer anything. There's so much I'm itching to cover, you have no idea!

Stay groovy!

[water-lily-val]

“The Reason is You”

Synopsis: Hiori was never one to really celebrate his birthday. Maybe this year it will change.

Pairing: Hiori x Quinn

Word count: 4.3k

Cw: OC X CANNON, and they were roommates, slight suggestive, quinn and hiori having a friends with benifits relationship initially but both want more, alcohol, knife briefly mentioned, hiori having bad parents, small violence, slurs, may be ooc, i think this is all i hope.

A/N: Happy birthday my little blueberry baby! I hope a life of happiness, freedom and games await you. I know im a day late to his birthday but this is my first fanfic ive completed and i thought it would be fun to post it here. This is an Oc x Cannon story so it might not fit everyone’s taste, and if he is out of character please let me know so i can get a better grasp of his character :3

Hiori Yo has never been one to celebrate his birthday. The fact that the boy sat cross legged on his gaming chair in front of his gaming setup, the only sound to accompany the otherwise desolated sight would be the sound of Yo clicking away at the buttons of his console as he played another round of Monster Hunter, trolling children that were far too young to be playing this kind of game, and were staying up far later than they should, should have said enough about how lonely his birthdays have become.

In fact, Yo had grown to despise his own day of birth. For starters, he wouldn’t have been born if his parents hadn’t been so desperate to produce a child of enhanced physique. But there was more than meets the eye. Yo despised any event that required him receiving presents. Maybe as a young, naive child, he would anticipate his celebrations, always so eager to unwrap his immaculately wrapped presents that his parents had gotten for him. But with age comes wisdom, and soon the childish anticipation Yo had for his birthday faded away as the realisation that his parents never loved him, and only loved his potential, set in. He should have seen it sooner, the way they ignored most of his actual requests for a console or some games in favour of giving him new socks or soccer cleats. To his parents, Yo is nothing more than an extension of their legacy, a tool to achieve what they couldn’t as athletes. They never loved him for him, so what's the point of celebrating the day they brought him into the world? Or at least that's what Yo thinks anyway.

Besides, he's grown accustomed to the quiet nights, spent with no one else but him as he spends his birthday as he would any other normal day; playing games. I mean with him being 23 now and having moved out from his parents’ house, his nights could finally be quiet without being constantly bugged about soccer. Even now all his parents do is wish him a happy birthday every year over text and send him some money for soccer equipment (let's be honest we all know he’s going to spend that birthday money on games), and actually Yo likes it better that way. Nothing like spending his birthdays like this, in the way he's always wanted to since he was a teenager; just him and his games, with no disruptions from the world.

And it was all going so well too, till the sound of his doors turning snapped Yo out of his recreational zone. That's odd, no one should be coming over at this time. His roommate, Quinn, said he would be at a family dinner and would only be home the next day, and Yo wasn't one to interact with people unnecessarily, so an invitation was unlikely. Pulling off his headset and leaving his beloved gaming setup, Yo grabbed the metal bat Quinn had so carelessly left in his room the day before, and crept to the closed door of his bedroom. Soundlessly, the birthday boy made his way out the room, inching towards the wall that separated the hallway of this 2 bedroom apartment to the communal area. Pressing his ear against the wall, Yo could make out some hushed voices, clumsy shuffling and ungainly footsteps.

Yo could tell whoever had entered his sanctuary had intended to be silent, but were not doing a very good job at it. His grip on the bat tightened as he leaned in closer to listen. The words were not the clearest, but some words of conversation did make their way to his ears.

“Careful! We don't want to alert him!”

“Yer one to talk. Ya both loud and a clutz.”

“Does this really have to be a secret? Can't we just waltz in?…”

“No! And be careful! You're going to ruin it!”

Yo cautiously raised the bat to his shoulder, getting ready to defend his apartment from the perpetrators who have let themselves in. The moment he heard footsteps approach his hiding spot, Yo took a step out and swung.

“HOLY CRAP—“

A yelp sounded out as the man before him bent over backwards, narrowly avoiding the hit Yo swung the metal bat at his head. His deep blue hues widened as he recognised that Irish accent and that tuff of auburn that bled into sun blonde hair with streaks of seasick green and cerulean scattered throughout.

“Quinn? I thought ya said yer at a family dinner!” Yo gasped, rushing to grab onto the arm of the boy to prevent him from falling backwards as Quinn balanced himself in a limbo position, before immediately flinging himself back upright with a laugh.

“Well, I lied. Hell man. Why would you swing at me? With my own bat too? You dare use my spells against me?”

Quinn jest, chortling at the Harry Potter reference he used as he noticed the familiar metal bat in his roommate’s hands. Yo glanced between Quinn, and the other men in the room, all of whom Yo now recognised as his friend, before looking back down at the bat in his hand he just tried to swing at Quinn with, before breaking out into his own little giggle at how stupid he must have appeared to all the men in the room at that moment.

“Sorry! But maybe next time don’t sound like yer break’n in!” Yo chuckled as he doubled over, lowering the bat he held in one hand, with his other still holding onto Quinn’s arm. The adorable sight did earn a sigh from Tabito Karasu and a small chuckle from Yukimiya Kenyu, while Isagi Yoichi, Kurona Ranze and Otoya Eita just watched on in amusement, setting down the cake, presents and decorations down on the dining table.

“Baw baw bawwwww.” Eita humed, making the sound of a buzzer as he formed the letter ‘L’ with his fingers, only to receive a hand to the back of his head for trying to egg on the moronic behaviour of the two.

“Well it's good ya didn't hit Quinn, but can ya lovebirds quit bickering? Since the surprise is spoiled, might as well come and cut yer cake now Yo.” Tabito hollered, handing his longtime friend a plastic knife while Quinn pushed the boy over, his hands on his shoulders as Kenyu opened the box of the cake for him to slice.

“S-surprise??? Huh? W-wait! I thought I said I didn’t wanna celebrate my birthday?” Hiori panicked, waving his hands about in a defensive manner, still a bit disoriented from all that had transpired in the past few moments.

“Well—“ Kenyu chucked awkwardly, trying to explain on behalf of the group, before Yoichi jumped in, effectively cutting him off.

“Its Quinn’s idea.” Yoichi immediately started, pointing an accusing finger at Quinn, who shot him a glare.

“Hey you agreed to it too!”

“It was still your idea to start with.”

“Then why are you throwing me under the bus?!”

They bickered, much to Eita’s amusement as he egged them on, with Kenyu stepping in to try and stop them from going into a full on brawl right here and now. Tabito just stared on, an exhausted expression playing on his face as he rolled his eyes at the idiocy, rubbing his temple with a sigh.

“We know that, but it does feel weird weird if we don't at least get you a cake and some presents.” Ranze started, tugging at the sleeve of Yo’s grey hoodie to get the birthday boy’s attention.

“Quinn said that so long as it was small and with close friends, you wouldn’t mind.” Of course Quinn would say that. That boy has been pestering Yo about his birthday ever since he found out when it was. His incessant insistence on the fact Yo just can't do without a proper birthday party really drove Yo up a wall, especially in the days leading up to his actual birthday. Yo had had about half a mind to just whack his partner over the head with his soccer ball just to get the message that Yo absolutely did not want nor needed a birthday party into that dense skull of his. Quinn will ever fails to irritate Yo with his ideas does he? But just as Yo was about to let out a small groan at the persistence of his roommate, Ranze continued with something that caught his attention.

“He also said you deserve to have a good birthday that would be just about you and what you want for your birthday.” He hummed, repeating the word ‘birthday’ twice as he popped a cone shaped hat that wrote ‘birthday boy’ in bold blue letters adorned with glitter and pom poms all around the rim onto Yo’s head. It was tacky and the bright blue colour made it flashy, sure, but somehow, Yo couldn’t find it in himself to hate it. Ranze’s words stuck with him, even long after the boy had patted his back and walked away to try and help Kenyu break up both guys. “I… deserved it?…” Yo thought to himself, taking the atrocious looking hat off his head, taking a long and hard look at the unnecessary and gaudy decor, tracing the bold glittery font and watching as the glitter stuck to his fingers, before smiling to himself, letting out a small giggle. Of course Quinn would think that. That rich ray of sunshine really doesn’t have anything going on in his head besides wanting to see others smile does he?

Yo’s celebration was an interesting event to say the least. Before he could even enjoy a slice of his cake after blowing out the candles, Yo felt the weight of two hands at the back of his head, and one at the back of his head, and before he knew it, his head was getting bashed into the cake the twins, Liliam and Valentino, had so graciously taken the time to bake for him.

“What the hell?” Yo gasped, wiping the cake off his face as he spun on his heels to find Quinn, Tabito and Yoichi behind him, howling with laughter. Tabito had his head to the sky as his hearty laugh boomed and resounded against the four walls of this tiny apartment, while Quinn and Youchi stood there, doubled over with Quinn’s hands on his knees and Yoichi’s hands holding his stomach as he wheezed like a spoiled kettle.

Yo huffed as he watched his three friends guffaw at how absurd he looked with his face full of cake. “Why you!—“ Yo seethed as he looked up, face full of the sweet and love-filled pastry. The birthday boy made for a rather hilarious sight with his face fully smeared with the white frosting and cream coloured pastry. Quite a large portion of it was stuck to the frosty tips of his front bangs too. In retrospect, Yo should have known that if Eita was using his phone to film something, that suspension should be aroused. Then again you can't blame the poor boy for giving his friend the benefit of the doubt that he just wanted to record a sweet first memory for them to reminisce about in the future. In a fit of rage, Yo grabbed a chunk of the cake that was smeared across his face and chucked it straight at Yoichi, narrowly missing his shot as Yoichi dodged his hand by a hair’s breadth with a speed that only an athlete of his caliber could possess to be able to play well on the field. “Woah! Hey, it's just a joke!” Yoichi yelps as he borrows Tabito as a human shield, making the tall man take the next fistful of cake from Yo to the face. “Why yer….” He grumbles, before wiping both the cake on his face, and Yoichi’s smug grin off his face by shoving the chunk of cake right back at him, causing them to start throwing it at each other, much to everyone else’s amusement. But cake isn’t the only thing they are throwing. They are throwing slurs too. (It will seem Slursagi is back at it again… smh)

“Fight fight fight!” Eita cheered, his tone monotonous as he continued to record this golden memory. Pissed by his friend’s blatant ignorance of his temper, Tabito threw a chunk at him too, hitting Eita squarely in the face. “Yer shut yer pie-hole unless ya wanna get hit too!” Tabito snapped

Amidst the chaos, (that Eita is gladly filming on his phone, egging them on to keep fighting as he did back with the top 6) Kenyu gently taps Yo on the shoulder, offering him a soft towel to wipe his face clean, to which Yo graciously accepts. Yet before the towel could even reach his face, Quinn’s rough hands gently grasp his chin, pulling his sapphire orbs to meet Quinn’s burning amazonite ones. Even though Yo has seen those eyes countless times before, he can't help but find himself being drawn to it, almost like those eyes had some crazy leveled magic stats, cursing Yo to be forever lost in those gorgeous moss coloured eyes. He simply couldn’t pull away, not even if he tried. Yo wanted to question his partner, ask ‘what the hell was he thinking?!’, yet those words died in his throat as he laid eyes on the coy smirk playing on the boy’s plump lips, Yo’s own mouth only managing a quiver in place of words.

“Was his lips always this plump?….”

“Is that a new shade of orange lipstick he bought?..”

“Has his cologne always smelled like that?….”

“Was Quinn always looked this hot?….”

“Have his eyes always been this dreamy?…”

Yo was in his own world, the sound of squabbling from Yoichi and Tabito fading into the background as Quinn leaned in just a little closer, his warm breath fanning Yo’s increasingly reddening face. With Quinn being in such a proximity, Yo couldn’t help but focus on all of Quinn’s delicate features, features that no one else, not even Yo, had ever noticed before. The colour of his eyes that demanded his attention, every small curvature of his lashes that seemed like they were hand crafted, the way his orange lips curl into a grin that could only rival that of the cheshire cat, the way the smell of his cologne threatened to overwhelm all his senses and attack his respiratory system, god, it made Yo feel something. Sure they were roommates, friends with benefits, but has Quinn always been such good eye candy? It's a good thing he hasn’t wiped the cake off his face. If Quinn could see how flushed his cheeks were behind the cake smeared on his face, Yo will never hear the end of it!

“Is he really going to kiss me??? In front of everyone? Right now??” Yo panicked internally, his cheeks becoming impossibly more warm that he was sure he was running a high fever. Not even his frosted tips could conceal just how red the tips of his ears have gotten. Yet, Yo couldn’t bring himself to pull away, to push Quinn away. Instead he found himself closing his eyes, his pouty lips left ajar as he anticipated taking this leap into the next phase of their relationship.

“Boop! Gotcha nose!” Quinn’s euphoric laughter sliced through the silence in Yo’s mind, pulling the boy back to reality as he felt the cool frosting land on the tip of his nose. When he opened his eyes again, he found that not only had Quinn just wiped the custardy frosting off Yo’s lips, but that he had also smeared it back onto his nose! The audacity of this man! Here he was thinking they would have a break through in their relationship, and all this clown did was smear more cake onto his face?! Unbelievable!

But the way he licked the remaining frosting off his thumb in such a smooth motion… his have lidded eyes glancing at Yo with such a smug look… Quinn was really testing the resolve of the poor guy, and unknowingly, Yo was losing terribly. In a huff, Yo swiped a fresh batch of frosting from the cake and smeared it onto Quinn’s nose in retaliation.

“Haha! Pay back!” Yo snickered, flashing him a shit-eating grin. That boyish grin of his… though it might not be the best smile in the world (who am i kidding this little silly definitely has one of the best smiles in the world), it was just so… Hiori. The way the genuine joy of being around Quinn and his tender nature could be captured by a simple smile made it so unique, so him, that Quinn couldn’t resist the twinkle in his eyes.

“How about we all just stop?… At the rate all of you are fighting, Kurona is going to finish off all the cake….” Kenyu sighed, his voice finally knocking some sense into the 5 other men. After cleaning themselves off, all 7 men could finally sit down and relax and enjoy whatever was left of the cake. To be honest by that point you could hardly tell it was even a cake to begin with, all that was left in place of the once stunningly decorated cake was just piles of mush and icing.

“If the twins see what you've done to their hard work, they are gonna be after your heads ya, ya?” Ranze muttered with his mouth full, shoving another forkful of cake into his mouth. He practically looked like a hamster that was storing food in its mouth with the way his cake filled cheeks bulged.

By the end of the night, all that was left of the party was just empty paper plates once filled with the sweet pastry, empty gift wrappers, and a mountain of presents from various other friends like Nagi Seishiro, Reo Mikage, Itoshi Rin and the twins, alongside the original presents from the other men in the room, all of which, for once, were things Yo actually wanted or had requested for before, like a PS5. Along with the, presumably— dead, bodies of his friends as they laid passed out in his dining room or on the couch, probably from drinking too much of the alcohol Eita had brought to celebrate the first birthday of Yo’s that they have ever been apart of. Even the only sober people, like Kenyu and Ranze, have long gone home. Ranze had plans, and Kenyu had work tomorrow, so they both left early. In all honesty Kenyu bailed on being the ride home for Eita and Tabito, who were either drunk or downright wasted from drinking too much (Karasu drank a lot because Oyota got carried away and dragged him down too), hence why they, and Yoichi, are crashing at the apartment for the night. Now the only ones left sober (to some degree), would be him and Quinn. As Yo laid a blanket on his friends to keep them warm, Quinn’s drunken words snapped him out of the peace and quiet his mind had finally been able to achieve after all the festivities.

“Hey Yo?…” Quinn slurred a bit. He was drunk, but still coherent enough to respond properly, so he wasn’t that far gone.

“You're cute… like really cute. I'm not super into guys, but I'd let you hit…”

“Ya already let me hit, ya dumdum.” Yo chuckled. Quinn was always more chatty when he was drunk, well more so that he was sober, which would mean a lot since his mouth never seems to stop moving.

“I know… but like… I want more, you know?” Quinn babbled drunkenly. This boy will never stop giving him a heart attack will he?

“More like?….” Yo asked cautiously, warning himself not to get ahead of himself like earlier. yet he couldn’t help the warmth creeping up his neck as he waited with baited breath for his answer. Quinn surely wasn’t into men right?…. They were just physically, no strings attached.

“I mean you’re so nice… so friendly… makes me feel bad just being fuck buddies with you only…”

“I wanna be more… like… romantic more….”

Yo’s heart nearly leapt out of his mouth. No way. There is just no way. He's just drunk. There is no way Quinn actually wants that, right? He's just spouting nonsense! Oh please don't do this to him, not to his poor heart on his birthday…

“Stop saying that. Ya don't know what yer talk’n abt’. Yer just spout’n drunk’n nonsense.“ Yo huffed, his cheeks visibly pink now.

“No… I'm not…. A drunk man’s words are a sober man’s thoughts you know….” Quinn giggled, definitely gidy on the alcohol.

“Ya don't know what yer saying. I’ll believe ya when ya can tell me how many fingers I’m holding up.” Yo sighed, walking over to his roommate to tousle the blue and green streaks in his bleach damaged hair.

“Ten…”

“Quinn, I'm not hold’n up any fingers….”

“Four….”

Yep he's definitely gone.

“Quinn…”

“At least kiss me first….”

Yea Yo might be running a high fever now for the second time today. That's bold, but then again, Yo should have expected that considering how wild Quinn’s mouth can run. Should you ever need someone who will say the most out-of-pocket and filthy things, Quinn is your man.

“No, yer drunk. I'll kiss ya when ya sober up and ask me again.” Yo sighed, idly playing with the boy’s hair as he got lost in thought, allowing himself to fantasise for a bit about how great it must be to actually be able to kiss the Quinn Akunome. Would his kisses be soft and precise, prioritising pleasure and comfort and the enjoyment of being with each other, or hard and sloppy, with no actual goal in mind other than to feel him flushed against him? Yet Yo catches himself thinking this, and shoos all those less than appropriate thoughts into the back of his head. No, Quinn is his friend, and he's drunk. Yo should not be thinking about him in that light. But then again Quinn…. NO. YO, NO. NOT RIGHT NOW.

Quinn, oblivious to his friend's internal turmoil and moral battle that he is losing against himself, effortlessly grabs Yo’s attention again with another drunken request. “Then at least play Monster Hunter with me…. I promise I can still kick your ass even if I'm drunk!”

“Fine. Yer on, pretty boy.”

And that's how Yo found himself at 3am on the day after his birthday, next to a man absolutely drunk off his ass, spamming away at the brand new consoles Yo had gotten as a present as they try to defeat each other in a one on one PvP. Actually it was more of Yo absolutely crushing Quinn considering the boy is drunk out of his mind right now and can barely even see the buttons of his console right, let alone know how to play and defeat Yo in this state. But it didn’t matter to Yo. The way Quinn’s laughter filled the room, blending in seamlessly into the game’s soundtrack just made Yo realise how much Yo enjoyed being around him. Be it as a romantic interest or a friend, Yo simply couldn’t see his life without Quinn in it. The bastard had managed to worm his way into Yo’s heart and embedded himself far too deep into his life for Yo to try and weed him out now. But it's not like Yo wants him to even leave in the first place. He's more than happy to let Quinn have eternal residence in his heart.

As Yo defeats Quinn for the nth time tonight, much to the drunk man’s frustration, Yo lets out a boisterous laugh as Quinn throws a small fit like a child who was denied permission to get a toy, whining about how he would surely defeat Yo in the next round.

“Whatever ya say Quinn.” Yo sighed, patting the disheartened fella on his back before gently pulling him into his embrace, allowing Quinn the much needed rest from the amount of drinking and partying he did. “Ya can try again tomorrow…”

The shorter man protested for a bit, trying to pull away from Yo’s firm grasp, before finally resigning to his fate in Yo’s muscular arms and resting his head on his shoulder, closing his eyes with a satisfied sigh.

“To my one and only sadistic bastard… Happy birthday Yo…”

Yo sighed, carding his fingers through his fried hair, slowly lulled his roommate to sleep as he hummed a soft, soothing lullaby. Truly, there is no better birthday present Yo could ask for right now. This boy, for all his weird antics and shenanigans he gets them into, would always be his rock, his shoulder to cry on, and the reason Yo can smile again so candidly. Quinn has been there throughout everything, and Yo can only hope he will continue to be there in the future, be it as a friend, as a support, or even more. It is now virtually impossible for Yo to imagine a future that doesn’t have Quinn in it, and frankly, he doesn’t want to. Everything he could possibly want or need is here, in his arms. He couldn’t ask for anything better as a birthday gift. Maybe, for Hiori Yo, there might be a reason his birthdays are still worth celebrating and looking forward to, and that reason is him. With that newfound perspective in mind, Yo finally allowed himself to lean against the couch, with Quinn’s head still nestled cozily in the crook of his neck, and closed his eyes, letting the familiarly welcoming call of sleep wash over him as he fell into tranquil silence, his breath and heartbeat falling perfectly in line with Quinn’s.

“Yer right… thank ya… my one and only.”

[zahri-melitor]

New(ish) Comics:

Birds of Prey #13: That was a clever use of Cass to finish the storyline. Kelly Thompson's generated enough good will from me at this point that yeah, I'd consider her as one of the strongest Birds of Prey writers since Dixon and Simone, though Sean McKeever probably still edges her out (McKeever had a stronger lead in though to work from, and so many people barely distinguish his work from Simone's).

I'm interested to see where Thompson takes them from here. I certainly still have quibbles (I would love to see a commitment to using Barbara as Oracle only appear on page; I do think Thompson is having way too much fun trying to play with ALL the characters and needs to focus a bit more on the ones she has already), but I'm never disappointed by the title? I enjoy myself.

Batman #152: I've got to say, as someone who has also played around with Darkseid powers, I enjoyed that Bruce acknowledged on page that Omega Beams do weird shit on occasion, revolving around what Darkseid wants, and that Bruce would in fact be cautious of them in ways other people are not. I'm not sure as a story it accomplishes a lot as an an Absolute Power tie-in (mostly I think it's just keeping Bruce out of the way while other characters get focus in the main titles), but I did appreciate the use of the Batman #79 callback to the Beach Holiday Of Explicitly Taking Time For Ourselves While The Children Are Dealing With Drama, because Bruce and Selina and holidays at the beach and on cruises is a long running theme together and I never hate seeing it pop up.

Putting the Birds of Prey Absolute Power set up into the back of this made sense in terms of comics pricing and keeping the number of event comics contained, but also probably needed to be better signalled. Read this AFTER BOP #13.

The Boy Wonder #5: and Juni Ba caps his story off.

This was sweet! In the spectrum of non-canonical or dubiously-canonical retellings of origin stories, I think this straddled the line pretty well, particularly in how it was explicitly pitched as a story someone was telling. Some of the resolution in the final issue was a bit pat for me (in terms of we all moved forward and solved things), but the focus stayed where it needed to be (on Damian and Damian's connections), and plenty of the implications were significantly creepier than Smol Damian here realised.

This would sit happily beside the Demon Trilogy as a quasi-canonical Al Ghul story. I think Dennis O'Neil would have appreciated it.

DC's I Know What You Did Last Crisis #1:

Honestly my opening thought on this was 'why did anyone offer Dan DiDio a writing slot'? Because, I've read a bunch of DiDio's work, and part of the situation with him at DC has always been that he's a mediocre writer that wouldn't rate a title if he hadn't already been working in editorial/management. His credits don't actually contain any stories and titles that people are big fans of, and a lot of his work was done collaboratively with stronger writers (if you're writing with Keith Giffen, I suspect Giffen is handling a lot of the actual plotting work and charm).

Okay rant out of the way:

Batgirl-COIE story: I don't mind this, but I feel like if I were going to pitch a Barbara story at this point I'd want it more in communication with Barbara Randall Kesel's work. I'd have Barbara acknowledge the Krypto stuffed dog and maybe bond with the kid over "I had a teddy called Supergirl". Also, this is...very early for 'Waylon likes kids'. Like, decades too early. Croc's characterisation feels far later than when this story is set.

Dr Light-Millennium: It's not bad as a horror piece, but as a few other people have noted, I feel it wastes the aspect of 'the Manhunters are hidden among us' inherent in their portrayal in the event. Nice moment spent with a few characters who don't get much page time though.

Birds of Prey-Final Night: this very much feels like a missing tie in! Which we didn't get, because BOP had the Manhunt mini instead during that period. Ashley Allen has a good grasp on the time frame and events going on for this. My one quibble is having Dinah working in Gotham here, as Barbara still was focusing on world-roaming problems at this point over local ones, but otherwise, it slotted in very nicely.

JSA-Zero Hour: This is fine. I will say the quip about "the number of Bat-people" for Zero Hour feels a bit thin. You mean, Batman, Nightwing, Robin, ... Huntress and Spoiler? Steph has barely had her second ever storyline, the only person in Gotham who trusts Helena is Tim, JPV is busy dealing with having been insane, and Dick's been home for five minutes. They literally just finished a multi-year event about how Bruce didn't have the support he needed.

Nightwing-Infinite Crisis: it's just sad and pathetic that Dan DiDio remains so mad that his staff rebelled and wouldn't let him kill Dick Grayson. It was almost two decades ago. Why are you still having a tantrum about this publicly? It's not even worth addressing the characterisation, as it's just an attempted take-that that makes him look worse.

Scarecrow-Blackest Night: ...if you're going to set something at the Monarch Theatre maybe take 5 seconds to check the wiki about what was happening with the location around the time of the story. It was not a functioning movie theatre, folks, and we're just prior to The Carpenter's Tale. I dunno. This one felt like a waste of the setting.

Lex Luthor-Final Crisis: look I don't enjoy Final Crisis, but this is incredibly set during Final Crisis. This feels like pretty solid Lex characterisation and introspection, and I'm sure he hates that he's hallucinating a Superman to talk down to.

Midnighter-Flashpoint: I dunno, the characterisation feels off for both Pyg and Midnighter. It's fine, but I would have preferred another story that really felt like a missing backup from an event.

My general overarching opinion? Most of the writers could have used a bit closer attention to context for their stories, if you're playing "this is set during". That's something people can check.

The Warlord #66: I just checked and we are so close to halfway through volume 1 of the Warlord! They simply do not commission 133 issue runs plus annuals of random conspiracy titles anymore. Anyway this week in Skartaris Mongo Ironhand remains the worst. Also Mariah and Mikola finally get to talk to each other and Mariah tells her lost werewolf fencing instructor lover that she's actually now got the hots for an ex-gladiator with a spiked mace for a fist. (Oh, Skartaris)

There is tragically very little discussion of communism. Get back to preaching about the benefits of communism, Mariah!

Also we fight a demon (who transformed from the Gollum creature like...30 issues earlier), Mariah tricks him into stabbing himself in the eyesocket with a trick sword, Jennifer defeats him with magic, they throw the magic book the demon was using into a volcano vent to destroy it, and the men are largely all useless.

Thank you, that has been our back in pre-history LOTR rip off of the week.

[project-sekai-facts]

how do you think every group is now compared to their arc one end event?

Genuinely the growth is amazing. Like MMJ going from their first gig to doing TV shows, concerts and full-time work, Leo/need deciding to become pros to actually getting signed, Wandasho saving the park and then leaving it in good hands and choosing to move on, N25 gradually healing and Mafuyu leaving her abusive situation, VBS doing their first attempt to surpass RW to… discovering that the entire town had kept the death of one of the organisers under wraps and lying to her psuedo-niece for years, getting beat down by that woman’s brother immediately after learning that what they’d been working towards this entire time was essentially a memorial concert, having to rethink everything, losing half their team and then they guy who caused that immediately leaving the country but they didn’t lose their resolve!

Honestly I think most of the progression was really good. Most units had good pacing and progression and what they couldn’t get in a unit story by anniversary probably happened in a mixed event. My main issues are that VBS was a bit poor in the pacing department but I dunno how far in advance the decision to make all arcs end on their second 4th rotation banner was made because VBS got hit hard by having their first arc take two full rotations. Like you can really tell where most units had a few events that weren’t really part of an overarching plot before picking up on their second arc properly (eg Mafuyu’s mother not being a major plot point until quite a few events after Footprints), but then VBS went straight from first gig in Power of Unity to “Nagi is dead we’re just not saying that in the text yet” in their next event. Especially Light Up the Fire was SO long and if we had more events maybe it wouldn’t have had to be that way. I still think their development was alright but compared to other units it’s a bit underwhelming. Their individual character arcs were handled really well though.

I think that’s another thing. The individual character arcs were probably more impressive to me than the unit arcs. Especially with characters like Honami, Rui and Mafuyu for more obvious examples. When you read the main story and their first events, and then read the conclusions to their character arcs (or, the ones that I consider to be that: Little Bravers, Pandemonium, Sayonara to my Persona), the change is really obvious and it’s really nice to see them healing from past trauma. Honami is braver and doesn’t let people walk all over her anymore, Rui learnt to be loved and have friends, Mafuyu realised that she needed to stop pretending and leave her abusive mother. These are just three of twenty but they’re some of my personal favorites.

I’ve kinda rambled on about anything other than the question now haha. But yeah I think the progress is really good. While some of the first arc enders probably felt like there could have been more, this second set really had that more. Mostly. Every unit had at the very least a satisfying and proper conclusion and left room to work with going forward, so I’m looking foward to seeing where we go from here.

[adozentothedawn]

Six-song soundtrack

Rules: If you're tagged, make a new post with links to music and/or lyrics describing the following:

An event that defines your character's past

How your character sees themselves

How others view them

Their closest relationship (platonic or romantic)

A major fight scene

End credits song

Tagged by @solas-backpack-mug (and others but I never got around to it and now I forgot, sorry :( ), thanks!

Favaen (with Emblyn making a guest appearance)

So this was hard, on the one hand because I didn't really have anything on hand and on the other because when I went looking I suddenly had a bunch for the same point.

The Shore - Basia Bulat

Dakara Hitori Ja Nai - Christina Vee (Little Glee Monster)

Rise and Fall - Black Water County

We'll Meet Again - Laura Brehm and TheFatRat

Burn It Down - Vixy and Tony

Like The Dawn - The Oh Hellos

Throwing a tag towards @adraveins and @stylishanachronism for some good music recs. 👀

An event that defines their past

(This was so hard to limit, holy shit)

The Shore - Basia Bulat

There is no one who will take me by that shore Close to the smoke, far from the fires of your harbour But if I am awake this time I'll know All over your eyes, a storm is rolling over, rolling over

Emblyn, dearly regretting her decisions.

Oh you can take away the divine my dear And comb your hair And I won't mind at all Even when the thought's behind I came just to remind you I love you so

And while she does regret a lot, this one thing she clings onto.

How they see themselves

Dakara Hitori Ja Nai - Christina Vee

(an english cover translation)

Once I hated everything Sadness seemed my destiny Couldn't see the beauty all around me (If only) my future spans in front of me A crossroad branching endlessly The road is paved, the course is set I'll grab my dreams, the time is now

Favaen used to have severe emotional management problems and had no idea what to do with herself, a problem she eventually worked out with the help of her mentor and mother figure.

But those empty words are not a plan Lucky stars don't care So don't rely on counting them I'm thinking way too hard about my past I gotta push myself, I'm facing my worst fear, oh Don't care if I'm crying (I'm crying) I'm flying (I'm flying), I made my mind up Trust me, I will keep trying I'm stronger than I know (I'm stronger now) Don't care if I'm lonely (I'm lonely) It's only (It's only) the end of the old me It's time to let her go Say goodbye! (Say goodbye, say goodbye!) Love never lies

She is inherently optimistic because she made the decision and effort to be. Despite her past (both personal and Emblyn's) still on weigh on her, she does her best to move and make the future a better one.

How others view them

Rise and Fall - Black Water County

Listen here, tell me dear What have you now got to fear? Took you long to realise Take it one day at a time verse You've been wasting the minutes In the hours of your days Look around and you'll find That it's just another way

But there's something on my mind That I need to leave behind So tear the page, hit erase 'Til the day you hear me call Make a promise that you'll be The best to rise and fall

Favaen makes herself a turning point for the people around her. An opportunity to do better, to move on, to be someone you's rather be. Be that for Edér who ties himself to her in turn with such a force he literally sails across the ocean on the vague hope it might save her, or for some random bandit who gets to make the choice to leave, live another day, and never see her again.

Their closest relationship

We'll Meet Again - Laura Brehm and TheFatRat

This one had a lot of options, both in relationship and song (Edér being a good contender for example) but I realised I already had this one saved and it's too good not to take so Eothas it is. This is probably pretty self explanatory.

Suddenly you're nowhere to be found I turn around and everything has changed Looking for a way to work it out I'm trying to find some peace to navigate Everything we wanted turned to gold (Turned to gold) The path we chose, the future on our side Never thought I'd do this on my own (On my own) But now I wield the sword you left behind Dark for the sunrise Clouds for a blue sky Space for the travelling star Strong from the inside You're still my life-line I feel you wherever you are The oak tree where I met you And the writing on the statue I still remember every word you said I'm not a soldier, but I'm fighting Can you hear me through the silence? I won't give up 'cause there will be a day We'll meet again

Fight Scene

Burn It Down - Vixy and Tony

This was kinda hard for different reasons. I eventually landed on this one because it fits her as a character and is energetic and inspirational. Some expamples:

The legend of the firebird Is one of transformation If you dare to take the journey And you give the wolf his due Let the flame inspire For you are your own creation Throw your fear upon the pyre And let it rise as something new

So you think you don't burn bright enough? I tell you it's not true Burn it down, burn it down, burn it down Throw your fear upon the fire and burn it down Throw your voice out to the wind Feel the heat upon your skin As you hunger, so begin Burn it down

End Credits

Like The Dawn - The Oh Hellos

(The Oh Hellos are such a treasure trove for this)

I was sleeping in the garden when I saw you first He'd put me deep, deep under so that he could work And like the dawn you broke the dark and my whole earth shook I was sleeping in the garden when I saw you At last, at last Bones of my bones and flesh of my flesh, at last

Imagry of how Eothas kept Emblyn's soul with him repaired it over time and how she was eventually reborn as Favaen with pieces of him holding her together, making them essential soul twins.

You were the brightest shade of sun I had ever seen Your skin was gilded with the gold of the richest kings And like the dawn you woke the world inside of me You were the brightest shade of sun when I saw you

Being a form of soul twins it made Favaen absolutely miserable to be apart from him (something he didn't consider at all as a possibility cause he is in fact, not very smart) and eventually officially joining the clergy was an incredible relief for her.

[moira-shears]

Cloud and Tifa's Relationship and What it Means to Final Fantasy VII

It's no secret that Final Fantasy VII is a popular game, it always has been ever since its release in 1997. At the centre of this classic is our protagonist, Cloud Strife, a character so famous that even someone who's never played the game would recognise. With his large sword and handsome character, Cloud is one of the most iconic video game characters of all time, even making guest appearances in games such as Kingdom Hearts and Man at Arms creating a replica of his iconic Buster Sword.

Then there is the heroine of the game, a woman called Tifa Lockhart who is equally if not more popular than Cloud himself. However, if it weren't for her role in the story, there would be no Cloud and therefore no Final Fantasy VII.

Within a story, the protagonist is the leading character, the one whom the audience stays with from dawn until dusk, and none in the narrative of Final Fantasy VII fits that description better than Cloud Strife. After all, he is the character you play as for the majority of the game, but behind his status as protagonist is Tifa Lockhart, the heroine of the game without whom, Cloud would not be whom we all know and love. For it is she whom Cloud sets out to impress by travelling to Midgar to become a SOLDIER First Class, a fact slightly altered under the water tower where they first made a vow so sacred only they ever knew about it - a night under a stary sky. It was there that Cloud made his promise to Tifa that if she were ever in the face of danger, he would come to her rescue, put upon him by the woman whom he'd been in love with from a young age. That night, Tifa realised she was in love with this boy who presented himself as being ordinary, just like any other boy his age, the kind of love that makes you want to be by one's side for eternity.

Years later, unbeknownst to Tifa, that promise was fulfilled, when Sephiroth, the man Cloud once looked upon as a hero betrayed the village of Nibelheim, burning it to the ground in a rage of violent anger. They became all they had left of their childhood and thus is the reason only Tifa could awaken Cloud from his comatose state. Had it not been for Cloud, Tifa wouldn't have survived Nibelheim, and had it not been for Tifa, Cloud would have been comatose forever, and therefore the world would have ended had neither of these events taken place. Cloud is the only one who can defeat Sephiroth and in turn, help save the planet, therefore Tifa is important to him.

Now, the lifestream sequence brings to light the love Cloud harbours for Tifa. By allowing her to explore his subconscious, Cloud is making himself completely vulnerable. Remember, your subconscious is home to your deepest darkest secrets so normally, you wouldn't want anyone exploring it, so for Cloud to allow Tifa to explore his own is a big deal, showing the amount of trust he has for Tifa. Trust is an important part of any relationship, especially a romantic one, and the trust Cloud shows for Tifa is far greater than what a child could show their parent (I, for one, would never allow my parents to explore my subconscious). Within the lifestream sequence, we learn many things about Cloud, including of course, his motivation for joining SOLDIER - Tifa. Ever since the accident at Mt. Nibel when he and Tifa were eight and nine, Cloud has wanted to better himself for Tifa, to be capable of saving her, hence his motives for joining SOLDIER, he wanted her to notice him. Therefore, if Tifa is removed, you have no Final Fantasy VII, because Cloud's story is built upon Tifa, Tifa is his motive, and Tifa is the reason he's the character we all know and love: Cloud Strife, the boy from Nibelheim who defeated the great Sephiroth and saved the world of Gaia. None of this would have been the case without Tifa Lockhart, his childhood friend and the only one capable of salvaging Cloud from the darkness of his mind.

Without Tifa, there is no Cloud, therefore to say something such as 'Cloud's love interest is player choice' or 'Cloud's in love with Aerith' is to undermine the meaning of his character, and what she means to him. Cloud and Tifa have a beautiful romance and if removed, there would be no story, as it is vital to weaving it. This is, in fact, part of what makes it so beautiful, as well as the fact that it's the best relationship you could have whilst still being realistic.

There are many reasons people love Final Fantasy VII, but it wouldn't be the story we all know and love today were it not for the romance of Cloud and Tifa.

[fairys-book-reviews]

The Revenant Games - Margie Fuston (8/10)

I'll start this off by saying what i thought prior to reading it. Cos i wrote what I thought down so i could do this lol

What grabbed my attention first, was the name. The Revenant Games, Revenant tends to mean someone come back from the dead, and well, I've always loved books with aspects like that. Then, the cover. It's not exactly too original, in fact on the same day I bought this book, I bought another book with a similar format on the cover. Yet it still intrigued me. I've never been too interested in stories with games and the such (Like the Hunger Games and many others like that), but vampires and witches? Resurrection? Immortality? All are in my top five favourite things, only ones it was missing was polygamy, LGBT+ stuff, and the fae.

And now, to the actual book. I wrote this last night, directly after finishing it (at 11pm).

I must say, I didnt start reading this book with high expectations. The reviews....hadn't exactly painted the best picture. Nonetheless, after reading, while those bad reviews did have points, for me the good outweighed the bad.

Many reviews stated that this was blatantly copying The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins), just with witches and vampires. Honestly? They're right. The first thing I noticed when reading, is that the writing style was suspiciously similar to The Hunger Games. The way she met Emerson? In the woods, suspicious, sorta watching. Her sister, whom shes doing this all for? Liked by everyone, probably favourite kid (definitely favourite kid). Love triangle between Dude Who Helped Her That One Time and Guy From Home That She Maybe Liked For ages. The actual games were a bit different, but the bare bones were highly similar. But either way, lets get into the characters.

First, our main girl. Bly. She's the least favourite in the family, and she's highly stubborn and freespirited. And honestly, it was rather refreshing to have a female main character whom instead of being like all those 'not like the other girls' girls, refusing to wear fancy stuff, she REALLY wanted a dress, and a ribbon, and a lot of that 'shallow' type stuff. Either way, except for the first part, set a year before the books events, her goal remains the same, with a bit of flexibility in the end. Her goal is to bring her sister back to life, as she blames herself for her death. And honestly? Only development of note that Bly gets is realising she wasnt rlly in love with Guy From Home, she just sorta fantasised about him, and that she has a vampire kink.

Next, Elise. She's not really included in the book, we dont really get anything but memories of her, stories of her. She's our main characters dead sister, and the cause of Bly participating in the games. She's put on a pedestal, likely because when a characters dead, only alive in memories, people tend to say they are better than they were.

Emersons next, and honestly? I don't much like him. At the start I did, but as the book is from Blys perspective, and she mostly just fantasised about him, we saw him in the light she did, where she idolised him. As time goes on, flaws become more apparent. He's cold, rather selfish, and i Just dont like him. Bly shouldve taken the vampire prize instead.

Kerrigans pretty cool. He's a vampire and Blys main love interest. And you know whats amazing? This fucker aint a 200+ yr old dating a teen!!! Bodily, he's 18. But otherwise, just in his early to mid twenties!! (heard others say he was 24, but i dont quite remember). He's got a backstory, and hes got a pretty cool personality. He does that sort of thing I do, where he wears masks of personalities. Cant really say much more without spoilers.

Last person I'm gonna mention is Benedict. Benedict appeared about 3 times, only for maybe a page each time. Benedict is by FAR my favourite i just love him.

Other characters of note that I cant really bother talking about and dont have much to say about are Donovan (Kerrigans brother, hes got some stuff at the end but its all big spoilery stuff), Nova and Vincent (Twins, theyre pretty cool, in Bly and Emersons team in the revenant games), and Demezela, a fuckass witch (I HATE HER GUTS AGH)

Next, we're onto worldbuilding Many people had problems with aspects, like the origins of witches and vampires, but honestly? The characters dont know what happened, not the humans or the vampires or the witches, so why should we know? Others also have issues with the games themselves. They say why would the vampires and witches encourage humans to hunt them? Well one big reason, is immortality. They get bored. They want to feel alive. So they risk their lives. And they want the blood of the enemy side. Theres many other reasons it could be, but on the side of vampires we hear the boredom side a lot.

And onto the plot. So, I wasnt really into it at the start, although by page 30 I was honestly quite enjoying it, although Bly was infuriating at times. Vampires, witches, murder...its cool. Also at the beginning Kerrigan sorta flirted with Vincent and Emerson so bonus points? There were some scenes that sorta meant nothing to the plot but i loved them anyway. Vampires? Making out? Bites? Sign me up, am I right?

Havent been doing brilliant recently but this has been a great distraction, even if it only took me three nights to read (i went to bed at 11pm i swear!!! Reasonable time!!!)

Overall yeah, I really enjoyed the book

Note: It's a series, book 2 isnt out yet

[nerdwithabirb]

In Praise of Bluey

I haven’t been on Tumblr in a hot minute because life marches on and I forget about some of my socials for a while.

Anyway, today I’m doing something a little different in the form of a longass rambling post so if you read to the end, you’re great and I hope all of the dogs you meet want you to pet them. (If you’re not a fan of dogs, insert whatever your favourite animal is.)

I’m not a parent. I will most likely never be a parent. I got my tubes removed almost two years ago now, by choice, because of medical issues that would impact a pregnancy, and sociopolitical issues I don’t want to bring a kid into. If I decide I want children, I will adopt them. But for now, my nephew is enough to get my fix of hanging out with kids.

With that said, I adore Bluey. It’s a masterpiece of animation, especially as far as modern kids’ shows are concerned.

Conflict Resolution and Realistic Characters

I find that many modern children’s shows are, for lack of a better word, sterilized. They don’t seem to like to show any sort of conflict. Bluey shows conflict. The Heeler sisters get frustrated with each other, with their friends, with their other family members. Bluey herself can be bossy and vindictive at times, occasionally bullying her sister Bingo, her cousins Muffin and Socks, and her classmates. Bingo is shy and sensitive and has a love of nature, but she runs into problems standing up for herself. 3 (later 4)-year-old Muffin behaves like an average toddler: absolute chaos, but not trying to be bad on purpose. Chilli and Bandit aren’t perfect parents - they get frustrated and sometimes hurt their girls’ feelings as a result. But they all learn from their mistakes, and they’re not afraid to admit when they’ve done something wrong — even the adults.

I grew up with an emotionally abusive father who was always too afraid (or too many beers deep) to form a meaningful connection with me. He’d belittle me for being interested in the arts and actively bullied me when I passed my driving test instead of congratulating me at all. He’s never apologised for any of it. Bandit is the dad I never got to have: he’s entirely devoted to his wife and daughters, even when it humiliates him. He’s not afraid to own up to his mistakes and learn from them.

Chilli reminds me of my own mother in a lot of ways: witty and sarcastic on the outside, completely losing her marbles on the inside because she’s afraid she’s not a good enough mom. Like my own mom, Chilli has a passion for drawing and encourages her daughters to keep practicing. She’s warm and welcoming and gives great hugs. She’s got both jokes and sage advice. And she sets out to right all the wrongs - my mom apologises to me all the time for stuff that happened years ago. (I love you, Mom!)

Tackling Serious Subjects and Different Family Dynamics

Another thing Bluey does absolutely spot-on is addressing serious subjects tactfully and in a way kids can understand. In the episode “Copycat,” Bluey starts her morning annoying the hell out of Bandit by copying everything he does. Things take a turn for the serious when the pup finds an injured budgie and rushes to the vet with her dad. The little bird doesn’t make it, which crushes Bluey. To cope, she plays out the events of the day in a game, but budgie-Bingo doesn’t get the memo and acts all better. Bluey realises that, like the budgie dying, Bingo derailing the game is out of her hands, and she comes to accept it.

In “Dance Mode,” Bandit steals Bingo’s last French fry. She’s given three chances to activate Dance Mode on her family, but gets all of those taken from her as well. Poor little Bingo is absolutely heartbroken when Chilli asks her an important question: “Does your outside voice sometimes say yes, when your inside voice is saying no?” As an (at the time undiagnosed) autistic kid who often struggled with speaking up and asserting myself growing up, this hit me like a ton of bricks.

“Early Baby” tackles premature birth with Bluey’s classmate Indy, “The Show” nods to Chilli having had a miscarriage, “Grandad” emphasizes that aging parents still need to take care of themselves for their adult children.

“Flat Pack” is an allegory for evolution, faith, getting older, and the struggle that is putting together flat pack furniture.

“Sleepytime” and “Baby Race” show some of the more everyday aspects of growing up, like sleeping independently and learning how to walk, all set to beautiful arrangements of classical pieces (Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter” from The Planets and Bach’s “Prelude in C Major,” respectively). And I won’t lie, as a nightmare-prone kid who was super attached to my mom, both of these episodes hit me hard too. I can’t watch either of them without getting a little misty-eyed.

In a more general sense, and regarding different family structures and dynamics, secondary characters like Judo, Winton, and the Terrier brothers are all shown with single parents. Rusty’s dad is in the army and, as a result, away on deployment for long stretches of time. But none of these things are made out to be a show or a spectacle or something bizarre, just a fact of life: different kids come from different backgrounds. I can guarantee that if a same-sex couple were to be introduced, it would be in a way that feels natural, like one of Bluey’s or Bingo’s classmates saying “My mums/dads are here to pick me up!”

Humour and Art-Related Ramblings

The character designs are simple and memorable. They have extremely expressive faces and movements despite being made of basic shapes like rectangles and ovals. The animation is smooth and fluid while embracing the “cartoony-ness” of being a cartoon. Everything is colourful but not to the point where it feels like a rainbow exploded on your screen. The backgrounds are simple, but not TOO simple, and many settings are nods to actual places in and around Brisbane.

Joff Bush and anyone he collaborates with on the soundtrack can convey everything from the beauty of nature to a boring workday via music alone, whether through arrangements of classical and folk music or original pieces. Bush isn’t afraid to use a variety of instruments, from a delicate music box in “Charades” and “Mount Mumandad” to a rambling banjo in “Grandad” and everything in between.

The humour is amazing, especially for children’s media. There are a few jokes that are clearly aimed at the adults in the room, like Bandit’s Polaroid camera going off in “Bob Bilby” when Chilli arrives with her tandem bike, or his discussion with Fido about getting a vasectomy/neutered in the original cut of “Perfect.” Bingo innocently asks Bandit questions about where babies come from in “Takeaway” and “Daddy Putdown,” though he always dodges the questions. “Dad Baby” is all about the struggles of pregnancy from the perspective of Bandit carrying Bingo in an old baby harness and it’s frankly hilarious; despite not being a parent myself, I have a nephew and I’m in that magical spot in my twenties where several of my former classmates are having kids left and right. There are well-timed fart jokes (“Daddy Robot,” “Fairies”) and slapstick moments (“Dad Baby,” “Born Yesterday”).

Conclusion

Bluey is a show that people of all ages can watch and learn from. It has heart, humour, and lovable characters. Its natural conflict resolution teaches its audience to be better people through showing rather than telling. It’s a beautiful show and I’m unashamed to watch it as a childfree adult.

[lykegenia]

Come Night, Come Morning

Fandom: The Wayhaven Chronicles

Characters: Mason x Olivia Greene

Rating: T (can anything with Mason be less than T?)

Warnings: None

My contribution to @wayhavenficexchange for @ejunkiet - just a little bit of fluff set after the main events of Book 3 but before th MC goes back to their apartment. I hope you like it!

Now with AO3 link!

--

He remembers when he didn’t stay. And more, before that, he remembers when he didn’t care at all, when Wayhaven was just another mission – another too-loud, too-bright spot on a map, ripe with humanity, to be endured and then escaped like one of the tactical seminars Adam always insists they attend. Looking back at those first days, it’s hard to see the slow, inching change in him, the pull in his chest that led him to the sanctuary of having Olivia sleeping at his side. Her heartbeat is steady, her breath a roll of slow, even waves that ruffle his hair where it lies against his collarbone.

He doesn’t mind the sensation. In fact, he’s lulled by the reassurance of the motion, the measured swell of her ribcage with every inhale. She’s alive. Defiant but impossibly outnumbered, the image of her on the auction house stage is something he can’t get out of his head, and with it lingers the rage that welled within him, white hot and sharp as teeth, at the sight of all those covetous bastards in the room shouting over each other for her blood.

Birds are singing outside the window, the dawn chorus in full throat. So far out into the wilderness it’s deafening, and though he prefers it to the roar of car engines on the morning commute, the sheer vastness of the sound normally has him chaining cigarettes until the little fuckers decide they’ve had enough of screaming at each other for the day.

And he didn’t notice it.

Now he has, the tumble of song fills his ears, but not to the usual point of pain, and with the rhythm of Olivia’s pulse undercutting it, it’s even almost… tolerable. He can pick out threads in the tapestry to appreciate their melody. The realisation brings a frown to his features, and he turns further into her embrace, unsettled.

There’s been a growing awareness of the calming effect she has on his senses, but along with all the other changes in his moods – he ran out of cigarettes a week ago, he stayed to not disturb her sleep, and they didn’t even fuck first – this sudden burst of understanding reminds him too much of other things. In the past, his memory barriers have slipped, and every time the first early warning signs were always altered behaviour and senses blurring into confusion. This doesn’t feel exactly the same, but then there’s no other name for the tightness in his chest when he looks down at Olivia, either.

His movement has disturbed her. As she shifts, a moan rises from her throat and a fleeting smile touches his lips. Over the past few months he’s learned various ways to draw that sound from her, but this morning he has no interest in such exertion. He brushes his lips over her forehead instead.

“Sleep, sweetheart.” She’s had a rough few days, between the debrief over the auction and the slew of new training she’s been drafted into for her promotion to full agent. “I’ve got you.”

“What time is it?” she mumbles.

“Early.”

He turns slightly to better pick up the change in her heartrate, the barest quickening of her breath that he doubts anyone else would notice. That he does has ceased to be a surprise.

“Tell me what you’re thinking?” he asks, stroking a hand over her back.

There’s a small inhale, fingers twisting in the sheets. “You stayed again.”

At one time he didn’t – wouldn’t have considered it. He covers with a lazy smile.

“Would you rather I hadn’t?”

“More like I’m scared I’ll get used to it,” she admits.

Inside his ribcage, his heart clenches at the loneliness laid bare in those words, so strong that for a moment instead of a reply all he can muster is a phantom yearning for tobacco.

“I might get used to it myself,” he replies, once the moment has passed.

She sits up, eyes him warily. For an instant, struck by the tangles her hair has gained in sleep, he’s tempted to pull her into his lap and see how much wilder he can make it, but while he shifts against the pillow he doesn’t act on the impulse, only waits for her to decide if they’re going to talk about this uncertain, dangerous thing between them.

She breaks his gaze. “What about when my apartment is fixed?”

He hasn’t been thinking about it. He lives in the moment, because in his experience moments are all you get.

“What about it?”

“Never mind.” A fleeting smile. “It’ll feel weird going back after spending so much time here.”

Silence falls between them as she turns towards the window, the dawn light plenty for his vampire eyes to pick out fine details as it catches against dark eyelashes and the tempting curve of her lips. Who says she has to go? He never has the inclination to stay and he doesn’t ask others to stay either, but he’s used to her, to the calming if unexplainable effect she has on his senses. Instead of letting the words slip unguarded off his tongue, however, he focuses back on his observations, on the tremor in her heart that tells him as much about her mood as her half-turned away expression.

“If there’s something you want to say, sweetheart, I’m right here.”

“Hm?” She blinks. “Oh, no – it’s nothing. Just thinking.”

Lie.

He smooths a hand down her spine, under her pyjama top, her skin no more than a tingle against his fingertips.

“I don’t think there’s time for that, sunshine,” she chides gently. “Not with everything Adam has planned for me today.”

“Pity. But I wasn’t thinking about that.”

One dark eyebrow lifts. “Who are you and what have you done with Mason?”

I can think of other things, you know.” He smirks. “It’s just more fun not to most of the time.”

With a fond sigh and a roll of her eyes, she wriggles towards the side of the bed, only halting when he brushes a hand over her wrist.

“We don’t have to get up yet.”

“You want to cuddle?”

He manages to make his shrug look casual. “If you want to call it that.”

There’s another moment of wary scrutiny, but his open arm is an invitation she chooses to accept, and he catches her smile as she snuggles down with him once again. As her weight settles against his chest, right where she should be, he allows the contentment to escape in a sigh. He remembers when he didn’t stay, and this is much better.