#2nd person comes across as very confrontational
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harleehazbinfics · 8 months ago
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Sly
a/n: im brushing up on how to write for lucifer. i missed him 😭
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During the fall of man, there was chaos among the order of the angels. With heaven's very own Lucifer being the catalyst of it all, it had sent all the elders in a frenzy and leading to his eventual fall from grace.
You were but a child when it all happened. They all used his name as a threat, to scare off angels that dare defy the rules. However, you didn't quite understand why he was condemned from heaven for merely dreaming, and why couldn't he be redeemed by asking for forgiveness. Isn't that what your principles were? You confronted your mother about this, but in fear that she would lose you she begged you to stop speaking about the matter.
From then on, you stopped talking about it. Up until a fateful occurrence.
You were rushing your way towards your office, a tall stack of papers in your arms and as you guessed it, rushing when you can't even see in front of you is a really bad idea.
"Oops, I'm sorry! I'm really sorry!" You cried holding the remaining paper in your arms. The person who bumped into you used their magic to lift sheets of paper off the ground and back onto your stack.
"Oh, it's fine. What's the rush?" A familiar voice of a man calls while he was helping you.
"I need to bring this report to the virtues. Hopefully, the meeting hasn't started yet," you explain, "Thank you, Sir Michael! Would you like to walk with.. me.. there..?"
You look up at the male in a daze as you figure out it wasn't Michael at all. Though they look similar and act the same way, it definitely wasn't him. He wore a distinct white top hat with a snake coiled around the base with accents of red, you trailed down to his face seeing his apple cheeks and awkward sharp toothed smile from being mistaken for his brother as he clutched onto his apple cane.
"O-oh! I'm terribly sorry for not noticing, Sir Lucifer!" You apologized, cheeks heating up from embarrassment.
"Oh it's fine. I get that a lot," he chuckles charmingly.
You blush at your mistake and how irrefutably handsome he was. He has a kind smile that seemed to wane ever so often with how downcast his eyebrows fell. It was as if he felt uncomfortable being here.
Your tug your lips into a thin line before cheerfully saying, "Is there anywhere in particular you're going? I'd love to be your escort!"
He seems dumbfounded at how an angel was kind enough to talk to him so candidly. Weren't there tales about his disobedience spread across of heaven? If this matter didn't require his attendance, he would have never come at all. However, seeing your gentle kindness made it seem worth while.
"Oh, couldn't possibly bother you. Aren't you late for a meeting anyway?" he refuses gently, pointing at the papers.
"Oh, it's fine!" you blush, "I'd be honored to spend some time with you!"
He quirks his eyebrow at you with a smug smile, making you splutter at your mistake, "I meant--as your guide! Yes! I don't have those kinds of intentions towards you! I apologize if it seemed that way!"
He gives you an attractive laugh and uses his magic to lift the paper off your hands and levitate beside you. Saving you the trouble of carrying them everywhere. He gestures his hand forward and replies, "Then shall we?"
You beam him a smile and escorted him to his meeting room, while giving him an update on the changes that were made since he's been gone. He looked less tense when you first bumped into each other and even chimed a joke or two in your conversation.
Not before long, you arrived at the door now carrying the paper in your hands. Giving him a big smile while he carefully walks forward to the door.
"It was nice talking to you, Sir Lucifer," you say a blush adorning your cheeks which he found adorable on you.
"I enjoyed our time together, (y/n). Hopefully, we can meet again someday," he replies with a smile of his own.
You gave him one final smile and started to walk down the hallway. But before you could take your 2nd step, he says something that made you blush from your cheeks to your ears and nape.
"By the way, you can just call me Lucifer. I'm divorced," he calls with a flirtatious smirk before entering the room.
His gesture makes you blush from the top of your head to your toes at his comment, calling him sly in your head. You shake your head trying to gain your composure as you trotted to your office. But it doesn't wipe the stupid smile you had on your face.
🔗All OTHER Lucifer Fics Taglist:
@bonnie-02, @marxo5, @whaatttlaufey, @froggybich, @rybunnie, @midorichoco, @bontensbabygirl, @janey, @akiqvq, @wonderlandangelsposts, @spoiled-slutt, @preciousbabypeter, @roboticsuccubus83, @simbalioness, @reachthestars, @atlas-rin, @luc1fersducky, @lovestruck-enby, @azullynxx, @delightedtosee, @s2tng, @cherry-4200, @aria-tempest, @lvstyangel, @0strawberrysorbet0, @corvid007, @kaminarithebest, @selvyyr
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daisynik7 · 1 year ago
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Win a Date with Takada-Chan! Part II
Pairing: Aoi Todo x f!reader
Rating: Mature
Word Count: ~5.3k
cw: switching POVs (reader is in 2nd person, Todo is in 3rd), reader described as having hair, reader has curves, mentions of food/desserts, suggestive dialogue, sexual tension, explicit language, suggestive touching
Summary: The second half of Takada-Chan’s big group date is underway. Or so you think.
Author’s Notes: Here’s the last regular chapter of Idol Fan Wars. Stay tuned for the Epilogue, coming soon. Divider credit to @/saradika. 
Previous Chapter | Masterlist | Epilogue
Tag List: @iwillbiteabitch
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Todo’s warm breath on your ear wakes you up. “Hey, baby. We’re here.” Baby…? Did he just call you baby?
And did you just get aroused by him calling you baby?!
Right. It’s all part of the act. Though he only whispered it to you. Why would he call you baby if no one else is listening? Before you can analyze it any further, he stands up to exit the bus, you following right behind him. Once you’re outside, he puts his arm around your shoulder as you wait for all the other fans to exit. “Did you have a good nap?” he asks.
You nod, reveling in this unusual closeness. “Yes, I did. Thanks for letting me sleep on you.” You peer up at him to give him a smile. “You’re surprisingly very comfortable.”
“Well, you can sleep on me anytime,” he says, rubbing your arm affectionately. All his little touches are gentle and sweet; there are butterflies in your stomach. It’s not what you expect from him. 
Takada-Chan leads them into the studio. You find out your favorite security guard’s name is Haru, and you chat with him as you walk. Todo still has his arm wrapped around you, not speaking. Occasionally, he’ll pull you in a little closer to his body when you start to deviate slightly away from him. 
As part of the group date, the fans get to stand on set and partake in an official Takada-Chan photoshoot. As she gets ready in her dressing room, her manager comes out to offer a buffet of food and refreshments. This includes a variety of sandwiches, chips, and even a chocolate fondue fountain. You go straight for dessert, filling your plate with strawberries and marshmallows galore. Todo stacks three roast beef sandwiches on his plate. Still feeling disgruntled about your confrontation with the other winners, you and Todo keep to yourselves as you chow down. 
“Is that all you’re going to eat?” he asks, inspecting your plate full of chocolate covered strawberries. “It’s all sweets.”
“Oops, I guess it is. I can’t help it; I’ve got the biggest sweet tooth,” you explain with a half shrug.
“Here. At least have one bite of real food.” He holds one of his sandwiches in front of your lips. “Open.” 
The demand catches you off guard. Nevertheless, you obey and open wide. His lips curl into that signature smirk as you take a big bite. “Good girl.”
You look away from him, flustered, as you chew the food in your mouth. Why does this seem so erotic? It’s just a sandwich. It’s as if those two words uttered from his lips unlocked a deep desire in you. Avoiding his gaze, you indulge in a chocolate covered strawberry. It’s messy, sweet, and decadent. 
“Is it good?” You answer him with a silent nod, noticing how his eyes linger on your mouth. “You have some chocolate on your lip.” He reaches out to you before you can even process his comment. He swipes the pad of his thumb slowly across the corner of your mouth. Before he moves away, you grasp at his hand and surround his thumb with your lips, sucking off the chocolate. You gaze into his eyes as you slowly pull his hand away, making sure to make a loud pop when you release him. 
Under his breath, you hear him growl, “Fuck.”
“Shouldn’t let it go to waste, right?” There’s a naughty glint in your eyes. 
He steps closer to you and says in a low voice, “You’re so bad, you know that? You can’t just do things like that in public.” 
“But we have to give these people a show, right?”
Suddenly, his expression changes. He looks hurt. “Is this all just an act to you? Kissing me, falling asleep on my chest, sucking my fucking thumb like that. Is all this still just pretend?”
“Isn’t it?” you respond, confused by his reaction. 
He doesn’t say anything at first, only stares at you with an odd expression, almost like he’s disappointed. Finally, he asks, “Is that how you feel?” 
How do you feel? After everything that has happened today, there’s no doubt in your mind that you’re attracted to him. The kiss, the affectionate touching, the way he called you baby and good girl. Is this how he is as a boyfriend? You never imagined there could be this side of him. This is something you could get used to. But you and Todo still didn’t know each other well. Your relationship started off as a silly rivalry full of name-calling and squabbling. How can you become a couple after a few chance encounters? 
~~~
After what feels like forever, she stammers, “I’m not sure how I feel.”
Todo can’t help feeling dejected. He jerks his head away from her and stuffs his mouth with one of his sandwiches. How is he supposed to respond to that?
“Todo,” she starts.
“It’s fine,” he grunts. “Forget I said anything.”
They eat the rest of their food without speaking, a strange atmosphere between them now. It’s not like he’s mad at her; how can he be? They’ve been bickering rivals up until now. He can’t expect her to fall for him after one kiss and a few cute pet names. When he really thinks about it, he hasn’t been the nicest or most chivalrous person towards her. Checking out her ass and pulling on her braids doesn’t really scream out Prince Charming. If he’s going to win her over, he has to be better. He needs to do something unselfish and kind. She’s already done enough for him, it’s time for him to do something for her. 
After several more minutes of waiting, Takada-Chan comes out of her dressing room, ready for the photoshoot. She’s beautiful in a red polka dot dress with her hair up in her signature pigtails. The fans watch in awe as the photographer directs the pop idol to do different poses against a white backdrop. After a couple of pictures, the crew switches the backdrop while Takada-Chan changes into a different outfit. This repeats for a while, with the idol’s outfits equally as epic as the last, classic pigtails still in place. 
The photoshoot lasts about two hours. When the last pictures are taken, the photographer and Takada-Chan motion to her fans so they can all take turns getting their own personal photos with the idol. Many of the winners pose for solo pics rather than with their guest. 
Todo and his pretend girlfriend haven’t said much to each other during the photoshoot. She seemed too mesmerized watching Takada-Chan. It was adorable watching her eyes widen with delight at each pose the pop idol struck. He still isn’t sure what to think after their last conversation.
When it’s time for their photo, Todo walks toward Takada-Chan. When he sees that his “girlfriend” is still staying in place, he furrows his eyebrows and waves her over. She shakes her head. “You should get your own pic, it’s fine.”
“I want you in the picture,” he demands. 
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, come here.”
Takada-Chan giggles in the background. “You two are too much. Cuteness overload.”
She takes her spot on the other side of Takada-Chan. The photographer points her camera. “Ready?”
“Let’s do a little heart this time!” the pop idol suggests. She puts her thumb and index finger together. They follow suit. 
“Fantastic! Takada-Chan’s team will email this out to the winners in a few day’s time,” the photographer informs. 
The singer gives a temporarily farewell as she makes her way back to the dressing room to get ready for the second portion of the group date. 
Todo notices his girlfriend clutching at her stomach, taking labored breaths. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know, my stomach hurts all of a sudden. I think all that chocolate is catching up to me.”
“What?!” he yells out.
“My tummy,” she murmurs. She looks up at him with pitiful puppy dog eyes. How can someone in this current state still be so adorable?
He glances around the room in a panic. “Well, what do you need? Do you want some water or medicine?”
She holds onto his arm as she rubs her belly. “It feels like a really bad cramp. I’m so dumb. I get like this sometimes when I eat too many sweets on an empty stomach.”
“I told you to eat some real food!” 
“I know! You were right! I should have listened!” She buries her face in her hands as she doubles over. 
Todo bends down to put his arm around her. “Are you going to be okay?”
Through her hands, he hears her mutter, “I don’t know.”
~~~
Takada-Chan reappears in her outfit from earlier in the day. When she notices you and Todo kneeling, she hurries over. “Are you okay?” 
There’s a painful pang in your stomach again. This is what you get for stuffing your face full of chocolate! You’ve always had a sensitive stomach, but this is just cruel and unusual for it to be happening right now. 
Todo stands up and explains, “My girlfriend isn’t feeling well.”
The idol gasps. “Oh no! Is there anything we can do for you, sweetie?”
After a few deep breaths, you stand up straight and say, “I think I should just go home.”
“Should we take you to a hospital?”
“No, no. It’s not serious. A hot compress and some bed rest will do the trick. I’m so sorry Takada-Chan.”
“I’m sorry there isn’t much we can do to help you. I’m going to miss you at our dinner.” Your heart beats faster at the idol’s kind words, but even that isn’t enough to ease you from this misery.
“I’ll come with you,” Todo states, concerned.
You turn to him and exclaim, “No! Please, Todo. Go to the dinner. I’ll be fine. Really!” There’s a heavy weight of guilt sweeping over you. You don’t want to take him away from his precious Takada-Chan over a little tummy ache. You grip his arm tightly and reassure him. “I’ll be fine. I promise. Just have fun, okay?”
The pop idol can’t help herself. She lets out a squeal. “Seriously, cutest couple ever!” 
Todo opens his mouth but doesn’t say anything. He bows his head to stare down at the floor. What is he thinking right now? Is he afraid to look at you? After a few more seconds, you hear him mutter, “Okay.”
You’re relieved when he agrees to stay. There is no reason for him to leave the dinner for you. It’s not like you two are an actual couple. You would hate to have him resent you for missing out on this once in a lifetime opportunity. 
Takada-Chan tasks Haru, her security guard, to take you home. At first you refuse, already guilty for putting this burden on everyone. After plenty of coaxing from the singer, you concede and follow Haru out, Todo and the Takada trailing behind you. She sends you off with a warm hug and a “feel better soon.” When you stand in front of Todo, he looks at you with a neutral expression. 
“Have fun at dinner,” you say, with a weak smile. 
“Yeah, okay.” Unexpectedly, he reaches out to tuck your hair behind your ear. His fingers slowly trail down to your chin. It’s intimate and tender. Just for a nanosecond, you think about kissing him again.
You turn away before you can do anything. Haru is already holding the door open to the backseat of the car. As you slide into the vehicle, you hear Takada-Chan and Todo chatting as they walk back towards the studio. There’s a feeling of jealously as you watch them together. Are you jealous that Todo gets to dine with Takada-Chan? Or are you jealous that Takada-Chan is going out to dinner with your boyfriend? You don’t even know anymore. 
The twenty-minute car ride to your house is mostly silent, except for best security guard ever Haru checking in every so often to make sure you are as comfortable as you can be given your current condition. When he pulls up to the driveway, you give him your most gracious thanks and head into your home. After you prepare a hot compress, you head straight to bed, curled up in a fetal position.
You groan out loud. This really must be karma for lying to the world about your fake relationship. And maybe karma for leading Todo on, giving him such a half-assed answer when he asked you how you really feel.
Aside from the cramping, there’s tightness in the pit of your stomach. You think about all that has happened today. Why did you kiss him? Fall asleep against his chest? Suck on his thumb?! What the fuck were you thinking?! You didn’t do it to tease him. It’s different than the time at the café. You had no malicious intentions this time. Your body just acted on its own. He was being so lovey-dovey and sweet, you got caught up in the moment.
The act. Is this all just an act to you? Is all this still just pretend? The sting in his voice was so apparent when he asked you those questions. The hurt look on his face when you answered is ingrained in your memory. Why did he react that way? Does he not want it to be pretend anymore?
Maybe there was intention behind every touch and whisper today. And not just for Todo, but for you too. Even though you kissed him to prove a point, you’ve always desired to feel those big lips against yours. You didn’t mind him holding you the way he did; in fact, you were comfortable with him. And you definitely didn’t have to put his thumb in your mouth, but you can brush that off as just a little moment of weakness.
Is it still an act if you wanted to do all those things? If you still want to do those things? And with Todo, of all people? The man who you thought was the bane of your existence the past few weeks? As you lie in bed, stomach still aching, you can’t help but feel a more pleasant sensation as you fantasize about him. His sexy smirk, that low growl in his voice. His beefy arms that can engulf you in the most amazing embrace. Those big lips that can swallow you whole. That overwhelming confidence that makes you believe in every word that comes out of his mouth. The eccentric attitude that keeps you on your toes. 
Maybe Sara is right. She always is. 
You like him.
~~~
He misses her. 
They’ve been in the party bus for thirty minutes, travelling to Takada-Chan’s favorite sushi restaurant in the city. He’s not particularly enjoying the subtle jeers and snickers from the other fans, who of course found out immediately that his “girlfriend” had to ditch him out of the blue. 
They’re all just assholes, Todo doesn’t have the energy to deal with them right now. How is he just realizing what a sausage-fest these events are? 
He sits in the same seat as earlier in the day. It’s empty without her cuddled beside him. He could have sat next to the pop idol, but he doesn’t feel like socializing, much to his own surprise. His mind keeps focusing on her.
He takes his phone out of his pocket and pulls up their chat. The familiar picture shows up on his screen and he can’t help but grin at it. He’ll never get over how cute it is. The rest of their messages are from a week ago, when she asked him to go with her on this group date. He stares at his phone, contemplating if he should send her a text to check in. In the end, he decides against it. She’s probably sleeping, he thinks.
At last, they arrive to the sushi restaurant. Todo makes sure to sit next to the pop idol this time. Normally, he would be starstruck and speechless being in such close proximity to Takada-Chan. However, he’s too distracted thinking about his girlfriend.
Girlfriend. He loves the way that sounds in his head. No quotes, no “fake” or “pretend” in front of it. Just girlfriend. He wants to keep calling her that. 
As the rest of the dweebs gather around the table, Takada-Chan starts speaking to Todo. “Such a bummer about your girlfriend. I hope she’s okay.”
“Yeah, me too.” He drums his fingers against the table anxiously.
“You seem distracted. Are you that worried about her?”
“I guess I am. I wish she was here right now.”
She flashes a warm smile and agrees. “Me too. Maybe she wishes you were with her right now too.”
Todo’s eyes widen with realization. Could that be true? She practically begged him to stay for the dinner. Maybe out of guilt. Could this be an opportunity to show her how he feels about her? To do something nice and prove his worth? 
“You should go to her.” Even in reality, Takada-Chan is his voice of reason. 
“You’re right, Takada-Chan. I have to do something. This is my chance to really show her the type of man I can be!”
She pumps her fists up with a bright smile. “That’s it, Todo! You got this!”
He gets up and bows deeply to the pop idol. “Thank you, Takada-Chan. Thank you for everything.” 
As soon as he exits the restaurant, Todo dials her number. No answer. He calls three more times with no success. Thinking quickly, he texts Yuji.
Todo: Brother, I need your help.
Brother: hey, what’s up?  
Todo: I need Sara’s number. 
Brother: did something happen on your big date? Is everything ok
Todo: I’ll tell you later, just give me her number
Yuji texts Sara’s phone number, to which Todo immediately calls. “Hello?” she answers. In the background, he can hear the sound of clinking plates and the distinct chatter of a party.
“Sara, it’s Aoi Todo. Yuji gave me your phone number.”
“Todo? Why are you calling me?” 
He explains the situation, then says, “I tried calling her, but she isn’t picking up. I’m worried about her. I’m going to buy some porridge for her right now. Can you give me her address?”
She doesn’t respond right away. Finally, she states, “I can’t just give you my best friend’s address.”
Todo expects this type of response. It was Sara who caught him staring at her best friend’s ass in that mini skirt. She probably still thinks he’s a pervert.  He can’t blame her for being protective, but he’ll be damned if he can’t see his girlfriend tonight and feed her some porridge. “Please. I’m almost at the porridge shop right now. I just want to bring it to her. I want to do something nice for her.”
More silence, until she relents. “Okay. I’ll give you her address. But I’m coming too. I’m almost off work. I’ll meet you there in thirty minutes.”
Todo breathes a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Sara. Thank you.”
“You better be on your best behavior, mister!” she warns.
“I will, I promise.”
Luckily, there is a well rated soup shop near his current location. He buys a large bowl of plain rice porridge to go. As he makes his way to train station, he stops by a convenience store to grab a few Pocari Sweats. If she’s feeling nauseated, she might be vomiting; she’ll need to replenish her electrolytes. He also buys matcha green tea ice cream. At the café, he remembers her mentioning how much she loves matcha. Even if her sweet tooth is what got her into this mess, he hopes that the ice cream will be a nice treat to settle her stomach. 
As he pays, he notices a stuffed turtle plushie displayed at the window. At the Meet and Greet, when she was chatting away with Takada-Chan in her dressing room, she pretended to own a pet turtle named Nobu. Maybe she’ll like this. 
He boards the train heading in the direction of the address Sara texted him, bag of goodies in hand, determined to show her what he’s capable of. Sara is already there when he arrives, hands on her hips, lips pursed, eyebrows knit together. A defensive stance. “Good evening, Todo.” Her eyes narrow as she says his name.
Todo is not the type of person to get scared. This is well known fact. But even he can’t help but falter slightly under this intense gaze. It’s like a mama bear protecting her cub. “Hello. I brought some stuff for her.” 
He lifts the bag up for Sara to see. She glances at it, then her gaze averts back to him. “So, what’s the deal? Do you like her or something?” 
Wow, very straight forward. Todo clears his throat and stands tall. With as much confidence as he can muster, he confesses, “Yes. I like her.” Saying it out loud makes it real. There’s fluttering in his abdomen, giddy and excited. 
“We kissed today,” Todo admits. Sara’s eyes widen with surprise, but she remains silent. Listening. “We got confronted by some other fans. Said we were faking being a couple to get Takada-Chan’s attention. She thought it would be a good idea to kiss to shut them up. Maybe it was all just for show, but I felt something there. I feel something between us. I know I’ve been a jerk and a pain in the ass, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes to show that I can be a man worthy of her.” 
He draws a long breath and exhales slowly, waiting for a reaction from Sara. Suddenly, her expression softens as reaches into her pocket for something. A key. She grins at him. “It’s about time. I’m just surprised she made the first move, considering what a horndog you are. No offense.” She jingles the key in her hand. “I tried calling her, but she isn’t picking up. I’ve got a key to her place, so we can just head in and check on her.”
“Wait, that’s it? You looked so intimidating just a few seconds ago.”
Sara laughs loudly. “You thought I was intimidating? Oh man, I’m flattered. I just had to make sure your intentions are pure. Don’t think I don’t know about the naughty conversation you two had at the café. Or the fact that I caught you red-handed checking her out.” She glares at Todo as she warns, “I’m still keeping my eye on you, though. Better behave yourself.”
She unlocks the front door and gestures to follow her inside. He immediately puts the matcha green tea ice cream in the freezer. Sara side eyes him and asks, “Did you get that for her, too?”
Todo rubs the back of his neck. “Yeah. She told me she likes matcha, so I thought she’d like this.”
“I’m impressed. She will definitely like that.” He mentally pats himself on the back.   
He watches Sara approach a closed door and knock on it gently. She calls out her best friend’s name softly. When there’s no answer, she quietly opens the door and heads inside. 
Todo’s heart starts racing. What is he going to say to her? Should he confess to her right now? If she’s still feeling ill, he wouldn’t want to unload his feelings onto her. It might cause her more stress. 
He grabs the bag with the porridge and turtle plushie, ready to go. Waiting for the right moment to make his entrance. 
~~~
Sara’s voice calling out your name startles you awake. When you open your eyes, she’s kneeling on the ground beside the bed. “Hey, are you okay? We’ve been trying to call you for the past hour.”
You rub your eyes and yawn. “Yeah, I’m feeling okay.” Once you process what she said, you ask, “Wait, what are you doing here?”
“I heard you got sick from eating too much chocolate. You can be so lame sometimes,” she chuckles, ruffling your head. 
“Who told you?”
“Your boyfriend.”
That gets you sitting up immediately. “Todo texted you?”
“Yeah. He was so worried about you. Even bought you porridge and green tea ice cream.”
“He had all that delivered? For me?”
“No, dummy. He’s here.”
“Todo is here?”
Sara nods with a devilish grin on her face. Then, she gets up and walks out of your bedroom. You hear her speaking to someone, but you can’t make out what they’re saying. You hear heavy footsteps approaching. Todo stands in the doorway, holding a bag. “Hey.”
Him standing at the entrance of your bedroom makes you self-conscious. If you knew he was going to be here, you would have worn some cuter pajamas. Instead, you’re wearing boxer shorts and a raggedy oversized t-shirt that has been through trying times. You’re also currently braless. You pull the blanket up closer to your chest. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be at dinner with Takada-Chan.”
“I was worried about you. Wanted to make sure you were okay.” He stays standing in the doorway.
“Sara told me you bought me porridge. You left your date with Takada-Chan just to buy me some soup?” 
“Yeah. I guess I did.” After a few seconds of silence, he asks, “Can I come in?”
Something about him asking makes you feel at ease. Maybe he can be a gentleman after all. “Sure.”
He sits on the floor, cross legged, beside the bed. There’s a small tray you keep in arms reach by your dresser. You grab it and lay it out on your bed. 
“It might not be as hot. Just let me know if you want me to heat it more.” He places the bowl on the tray and hands you a soup spoon. 
This is really sweet. He’s being really sweet right now. 
The porridge smells amazing. You drop the blanket slightly as you lean forward to enjoy the soup. There’s still a bit of steam that comes out when you remove the cover. It looks heavenly. After the first spoonful, you hum in satisfaction. “This tastes amazing.” 
Todo smiles as he leans back onto his hands. “I’m glad you like it. Are you feeling better?”
“Yes. Sleeping and a hot compress helped. And this porridge is really hitting the spot.” 
“Is it really that good?”
“Yeah! Here, try it.”
He contemplates for a few seconds before crawling on his knees to move closer to the bed. You hold out a spoonful, your other hand underneath to prevent spillage. He leans his head forward and opens his mouth as you feed him. 
This feels very intimate for some reason. You see his Adam’s apple move up and down as he swallows. “It’s good,” he says. 
You eat the rest of the porridge in silence, Todo watching you from the floor. Once you’re all done, he puts the empty bowl in the bag and reveals the cutest turtle plushie you’ve ever seen. “I also got you this. Thought you might like it. You can name it Nobu.”
This is too much. You feel like you might explode from the cuteness overload. He hands you the turtle and you squeeze it against your chest. “Thank you so much. You’re really sweet.”
He smirks, a blush creeping to his cheeks. “I wanted to make sure you were okay.” He leans against the side of the bed, hands tucked under his chin, eyes focused on you. 
“But you skipped the dinner with Takada-Chan. Are you upset?”
“Of course not. Didn’t feel right to be there without you anyways. I want to be here with you.”
You raise a brow at him, giving him a playful smile. “Then, I guess this means we’re friends. Even though you told me we could never be friends.”
Suddenly, he gets up and kneels on the side of the bed. The mattress sinks from his weight as he leans in closer to you. “I don’t want to be friends.” He’s centimeters from your face, though he remains still, waiting for you to make the first move. 
Maybe it’s the fact that he skipped a dinner with his “future wife” to bring you porridge. Or the fact that you’ve been yearning to rediscover how his lips feel against yours. Or maybe it’s because you like him. You actually like him. 
You set Nobu the turtle aside, afraid for what he might be exposed to in the next few minutes. 
You wrap your hands around the back of his thick neck to close the gap. The kiss is messy, sloppy, and hungry. He swirls his tongue in your mouth, desperate to taste you. The blankets covering your body are pushed away, exposing you completely to him. You hear him growl as straddles you, hands sliding down to your waist. His touch is firm, but gentle all at the same time. You can’t help but moan into his mouth as he slides underneath your shirt. 
He breaks the kiss as soon as he reaches your bare chest. “You’re not wearing a bra?” He’s breathing is heavy. You smirk at him as you shake your head no. 
“You really are a good girl, aren’t you?” he whispers in your ear, scattering wet kisses all along your neck, brushing his thumb over your peaked nipples, causing you to moan louder.
From the doorway, you hear a loud, “AHEM.”
Immediately, you unwrap your legs from around his waist. When did you even do this?!
You both distance yourself from each other and turn to face Sara with her arms crossed, glaring. Todo grabs the blanket that was tossed aside and pulls it to cover the both of you.
“Did you two just forget I was here? The door is wide open, you fucking perverts.” She walks to the end of the bed and bends over to pick something up. “And right in front of poor Nobu? You two are really despicable.” 
You burst out in laughter. Todo slowly hops off the bed and sits back down on the bedroom floor, muttering a guilty, “Sorry.”
She walks back towards the door. “I’m not trying to be a cockblock or anything, but maybe you two should establish what your relationship is first. Are you rivals still? Friends? Fuck buddies? Let’s be adults about this, shall we?” 
She steps out of the room, swinging the door closed. Before it shuts all the way, she yells, “I’ll be right outside if you need me!”
You bury your face in your hands, embarrassed. “I’m sorry.”
He chuckles. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pounced on you like that.”
“I wanted it too. I mean, I still want it.”
“Don’t tempt me. I’m trying to be a gentleman here.” He leans forward to rest his head against the edge of the bed. “You should get some rest. We can talk later.” 
You study his face and reach out to delicately trace his scar with your fingers. “How did you get this?”
He holds your hand against his cheek and nuzzles into your palm. “Training, when I was a kid. Is it ugly?”
You smile at him. “Not at all. It’s actually really sexy.”
“Oh yeah?” he says softly with an eyebrow raised. He gives you a naughty smirk before pressing his lips to the inside of your wrist. It sets your skin ablaze.
“Todo, maybe we should take things slow. There’s still a lot we don’t know about each other.” 
With his eyes closed, he hums in response as he continues to kiss you. 
“Are you even listening to me?”
“Yes, I am. We’ll take things slow. Whatever it is you want, I’ll do it. I want to know everything about you.” His lips move to the back of your hand, placing soft kisses between each of your knuckles. “I want to be with you. And not as an act.” 
“I want to be with you, too.” 
He looks at you with an affectionate gaze, his lips touching your skin. Your breathing staggers as the tightness in your chest intensifies with each delicate kiss. 
“Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I also got you some matcha green tea ice cream,” Todo mentions, in between kisses.
Maybe taking things slow will be a lot harder than you think.
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pearlprincess02 · 10 months ago
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selena gomez and justin's composite chart houses
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1st house: the composite 1st house rules the relationship itself and your outward identity together. It shows how people view your relationship, and how you come across together.
libra 1st house : libra is the sign of relationships, so having the composite 1st house in libra is the most natural position for a relationship of any kind (even enemies!). you can come across really well together, and seem good together, whether personal or professional. you may seem like a charming couple, diplomatic and aware of your surroundings, and avoid fights as much as you can, preferring compromise. but this can lead to problems and resentment if you’re not being open with one another, and indecision can also be an issue.
1st house ruler in 8th house: usually, this person’s childhood is rocky and not the greatest.  the 8th house rules over occult things which might be considered taboo from general society (dark matters), so these people could have seen things that were inappropriate for their age very early in their childhood and secrets of their family that were generally hidden. because of the vulnerability that was created from their exposure to occult things so early on in their life, these people are reserved and often ‘hidden’ in a room full of people (whether intentionally or not). these people also try to avoid confrontations and prefer to deal with problems in a more sly or twisted manner to get what they want. 
jupiter in 1st: with composite jupiter in the 1st house, you can greatly enjoy this relationship/partnership, and you can feel good when you’re together. you may each have more opportunities together than apart, and you can work together to expand your lives in new ways and have new experiences. you can have a more optimistic outlook together, and you can open up doors together than may not open alone.
2nd house: the composite 2nd house can show what you value in the relationship, how you approach money together, and how secure you are in the relationship together.
scorpio 2nd house : with the composite 2nd house in scorpio, you may be able to acquire a lot of value and financially together, and this can be a good professional placement, but you do need to be mindful of not trying to control one another through your money and resources. one of you may be in control of the finances, or even dominate with your values, but this can lead to issues down the road. there may need to be a transformation of your values together.
2nd house ruler in 2nd house: this indicates a person who is financially complete in the sense that they have it all - a house, a car, a pool, a good stable job, etc. so, they could have a well-respected or top position in society, especially in the financial ladder. this also indicated a person who is a bit of a foodie because they enjoy good, luxurious food. they might also have a good face (and great eye sight usually) and voice which can be used to lure in large audiences (in public speaking) and even their family members, this could be why these people are likely to receive a lot of financial benefits from their family members. if ill-placed, this placement could mean the person will have challenges in gained wealth and might have medical concerns related to the eye and/or face. 
pluto in 2nd house: you both bring dramatic and profound transformation into each other’s lives when it comes to changing each other’s sense of values and priorities. this often manifests as bringing dramatic loss, change, and rebirth in your finances. you can help each other release insecurities related to lack of abundance and in doing so, you can inspire each other to bring out your power and confidence in manifesting abundance in new ways. this relationship can help you both draw wealth into your lives but also transform and redefine what wealth means to you both. you may also help each other transform your beliefs about power and authority and the priorities you give these concepts.
3rd house: the composite 3rd house can show how you are together in your immediate environment and what you focus on together day-to-day. this is a house of communication, so it can also reflect how you communicate in the relationship, and what you can think about together.
sagittarius 3rd house : with the composite 3rd house in sagittarius, you can be a pair that is quite optimistic, focused on the positives together. your view may be wider together than apart (depending on other placements), and you can expand your daily lives and immediate environment, and open your minds. you may find communications to be light and fun between you. you may focus together on the big picture.
3rd house ruler in the 1st house: this placement allows a person to gain in life through personal efforts. individuals are hard-working and try to become self-dependent from a young age. indicator of a personal establishment, such as a business. this placement is also considered good for their siblings. they could be famous and you could experience fortunes through your siblings. as the 3rd house also indicates short-distance travels, these individuals could often travel in close proximities to their home. gives a person bravery and courage, but if ill-placed, could indicate a revenge-seeking nature. if ill-placed, this placement could indicate health issueswhich start during a young age, but may improve over time. 
north node in 3rd house: you help each other advance and evolve by inspiring each other’s ideas. through your communication with each other you can both transform each other’s viewpoints. you may be in each other’s lives to help each other understand your purpose in a unique new way. through communicating your thoughts and beliefs you can inspire each other to take risks. you can find freedom and liberation to break free from insecurities and doubts. this relationship can help you both find the validation you always needed to work through your preconceived ideas. you can help each other embrace your true gifts and move toward pursuing your destiny together because of open, direct communication.
4th house: the composite 4th house can show how we connect emotionally, what we build together from the ground up, and what the base of our connection is (since this is the bottom of the chart).
capricorn 4th house : with the composite 4th house in capricorn, you may feel more emotionally responsible for one another in the relationship (even to a degree in a professional one). you can be more traditional, mature, and cautious together, and may have to work on forging a balance between internal and external focus. the base of your connection together may be to create a solid internal and external foundation.
4th house ruler in 5th house: the native may have been encouraged in their early life to express themselves freely and creatively. their mother may have been someone who used art a lot as a medium for self-expression and she may have influenced the native to do the same. they may find that they have a gift with children and that there tends to be a caring, symbiotic relationship between themselves and other children. towards the end of their life, it is important for them to connect with their inner child and have as much fun as they can. 
uranus in 4th house: you both fill each other’s homelife with excitement. this relationship is full of surprises, and you can bring eccentric and unusual changes to each other’s home and family. you may have an unconventional view of family and your family ties may seem shocking and unusual. through this connection you can help each other dramatically change your views of love, nurturing and home. this is an intense relationship, and you can have shocking and unconventional views about what home and family means. this relationship can also help you both break with tradition in some dramatic way. you can help each other break with social conventions related to security and stability at home.
neptune in 4th house: you are both likely to bring healing and mystical connection into each other’s lives when it comes to home and family. this relationship brings out your unconditional love for each other particularly when it comes to creating a shared sense of home. your mystical and spiritual connection influences your desires for security and stability. you may share an understanding that your family connections and relationships with mutual friends who are like family is rooted in a spiritual mission related to emotional healing. this relationship can help you both become more open to sharing your spiritual side when you are in the comfort of home. you find rejuvenation when you’re in the comfort and privacy of your own shared space and may find it easier to let your guard down and strengthen your emotional ties to each other. this connection can help you both express your unconditional love for each other, and you can encourage each other’s creative expression especially in the comforts of home.
pallas in 4th house: you both work together to easily solve problems related to home and family. you may share a passion for housing issues or stand out as advocates for women, children, and families. you can both find unique solutions to housing and family issues because you see patterns and connections that others miss. through this connection you are both able to help lead others who are working on setting a solid foundation. you may stand out as an advocate who helps others find security in the midst of family crises. you may help each other find unconventional solutions to problems related to home and family conflicts as well. this relationship can help you both become more confident in pursuing your ideals and mission related to home, stability and family connections.
5th house: the composite 5th house can show how we express affection, what we love and take pleasure in together. this house can bring creative energy into our relationships and allow us to express creatively together. the 5th house also rules children, so they can be impacted by the composite 5th house with someone you have children with.
aquarius 5th house : with the composite 5th house in aquarius, you can enjoy doing things that are unusual and outside of the box together, and can experiment. you can push each other outside of your comfort zones and try out what's new and different. you can express affection in unusual ways, and may not be too outwardly affectionate in personal relationships. if you have children together, you can encourage them to be independent individuals.
5th house ruler in 4th house: with this placement, the family tends to be very important for the native’s ability to express themselves. they may take part in hobbies or creative activities that allow other members of the family to join in or the native’s interests may be linked to their culture. the native’s children are a strong source of their emotional security as are their romantic partners. the native’s romantic partner may be someone who grew up in the same area as the native or the same country. 
saturn in 5th house: in your relationship maybe you can not show your love, your affect to yourselves as a couple. maybe you can have fertility problem as a couple (it is not certain but a possibility). also your love can hold on longer than you think because it’s rock solid.
6th house: in the composite chart, the 6th house can show how you approach daily life and the mundane together, how you work together (whether professionally or personally), and the general health of the relationship
pisces 6th house: with the composite 6th house in pisces, you can focus together on doing things in your daily lives that you feel have some meaning, or that you’re both emotionally connected to. If that is lacking, then you may struggle with connecting in your daily lives. sacrifice may be a part of your daily lives, and that may be your automatic reaction when issues arise in the relationship, but this may cause further issues and stress for both of you. boundaries may work better.​
6th house ruler in 4th house: routine is often centred around the natives family and home life, the importance of routine was likely to be taught in the home. routine may provide the native with a sense of emotional security and can prove to be important in the native’s retirement years. the native may be inclined to work from a home office or studio and may even specialise in work that is relating to the home such as renovation or interior design. the native’s work may be done with their family and can often be continued into retirement. when it comes to pets, it’s likely that the native’s pets will be considered one of the family and is often vital to the native’s sense of emotional security. their pets may bring out the native’s more nurturing side and can often be important to the native in the years before death. health and fitness may be very important to the native’s sense of emotional security and illness are likely to affect this. illness is likely to make the natives find it difficult to feel grounded. it’s likely that illness is experienced by the mother which may be passed on.
lilith in 6th house: you can help each other find your authentic routines and practices that help you express your creative inner power. through this relationship you empower each other to break with tradition. your work, routines and daily habits may be highly individualized. through this connection, you can inspire each other to share your rebellious and quirky nature in the ways you help others. your daily plans and regular routines and even your diet and lifestyle may embody autonomy and independence, you both refuse to conform to the status quo. you also resist being limited by highly rigid schedules or routines that require conformity.
ceres in 6th house: composite ceres in the composite 6th house can mean you show support for each other in small ways. you may need to nurture the relationship regularly or on a daily basis, and it doesn't have to be big. this can be especially helpful for a work relationship.
celeb's masterlist / moodboard / 7H - 12H
crd:
1h + 1h ruler + composite jupiter in houses
2h + 2h ruler + composite pluto in houses
3h + 3h ruler + composite north node in houses
4h + 4h ruler + composite uranus in houses + composite neptune in houses + composite pallas in houses
5h + 5h ruler + composite saturn in houses
6h + 6h ruler + composite lilith in houses + composite ceres in houses
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jankydem · 6 months ago
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I got a random impulse to draw your ocs in the outer science mv so here I am asking for death orders and references, no rush though man.
So uhh.. I went a bit coocoo. :3
My ass honestly didn’t know if you meant ALL of my ocs so.. erm.. I just did this just in case ☹️🙏
Quick word- My au is set in a campsite (with a giant cage preventing them from escaping, and beyond the fence is a whole PIT. Like in The Promised Neverland. So that’s why folks were found in certain places.)
I’m also sorta sorry for not drawing their ACTUAL deaths, im still working on backgrounds and such and I didn’t wanna spend all that time on allat stuff.. I’m a lazy boy. (That’s aslo the reason why I’ve only shown the characters I haven’t draw, at the bottom is extra info for the characters that were previously drawn beforehand)
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Haru Ito; Died to a blow to the head with a rock, was found in the forest. Reason he got killed- his murderer and himself started arguing and it turned into a fight. He was killed near the lake and was then dragged to the forest. (Chapter 1)
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Yori Shiomura; Execution consisted of running through all types of movie genre’s before eventually being crushed by a stage light. (Chapter 1) (His execution is called “Lights, Cameras, Failure!”)
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Kellise Akerele, Caleb Harris; Kellise was stabbed (not much of a deep cut) in the stomach, then was tossed into the lake and couldn’t get back up due to her weakness, Caleb was separately murdered in his cabin seemingly in the middle of conjuring up a plan to try and get the remaining survivors to escape. They were both targeted for being ‘scary’ to their murderer. (Chapter 3)
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Matsunari Chiko; Her execution consists of her waiting tables, falling over, then getting fucking CUTLERY thrown at her until she eventually dies. (Chapter 3) (Her execution is called ‘Slip Up!”)
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Yasuyuki Kaneko; Yasuyuki got a sketchy letter to go to the dining hall late at night as the mysterious person (claimed) to be the mastermind, Yasuyuki, wanting to confront the mastermind and not being in the right headspace, went to the dining hall. He had a yelling match and a fight with his murderer before said murderer slit his stomach open and dragged him to a tree, then proceeded to hang him. His body was found in front of the forest near the gym cabin. Reason he got killed- The murderer just wanted to kill him because he was annoying to her (Chapter 4)
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(These are all of the survivors minus Kenji)
Other characters
Keiko Hayashi; Was found with two nails in his hand along with a stab wound in the middle of his chest. His body was found in the camps library. Reason for murder- Was purposely overstimulating his murderer. Purely trying to make him panic. (2nd chapter)
Kyran Kadokawa; His execution consists of him having to jump across wooden furniture (such as wardrobes, chairs or tables) and after god knows how long of jumping fell off and fell into the lava that was yes indeed the reason he was avoiding the floor and needing to jump on furniture in the first place. (Chapter 2) (His execution is called “Floor Is Lava!”)
Miyu Datai; Her execution consists of basically getting so beat up by a bunch of Monakumas to the point that she looks ‘ugly’, then, she gets a view of her late boyfriend, looking down at her with disgust. She reaches out to him and he just turns around and walks away as she calls out to him before being decapitated by another Monokuma. (Chapter 4) (Her execution is called ‘Love Comes In Many Ways.’)
Togunaka Momoru; who said he died?
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASSSSEEEEE LET ME KNOW! Also im so sorry for not being able to draw their deaths/executions I very much lack motivation at the moment :( also I totally didn’t use this as an excuse to tell y’all about their deaths/executions either… noooo wayyyy 👀
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yujo-nishimura · 10 months ago
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The Rescue - Part 2
Comment: We had the escape, now comes the rescue. ;) This is another idea I had with original characters, please bear with me since I will soon write something again with a 2nd person.. - Also I am very tired today and this was not supposed to be that short... :( But I am still writing the setting...
Warning: Buggy x OC, Sir Crocodile x OC, a little bit of angst and fear, violence since it is the great pirate era...
Words: 512
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In a secluded corner of Loguetown, two men huddled together, their bodies and heads concealed beneath long capes to hide their identities. Being wanted pirates in a marine stronghold, they understood the importance of not drawing attention to themselves in their usual attire.
"The execution is scheduled to be held in two hours. The prisoners have likely been taken and will be paraded through the city towards the scaffold. As we know, the damn marines revel in their cruel public spectacles," one of them spoke in a hushed tone, while the other man, his face partially revealed as his cape slipped, nodded attentively, revealing a distinctive red nose.
"We must make our move now to arrive in time.” 
"Indeed! But, Captain, do you have any plan other than simply barging in?" the second man inquired.
A moment of silence hung in the air, and the Captain, with a sigh, admitted, "Truth be told, I have no better plan than a direct attack. However, this execution involves only small fries, so I don't expect heavy marine security. It may even be more of a spectacle for them to witness the death of two women, rather than the usual foul-smelling male pirates we encounter at sea."
The other figure nodded in agreement, and slowly turned around, carefully surveying the surroundings from their concealed spot.
"Then let us go, Captain. The streets are currently clear, and we can reach the scaffold in no time. We shall wait there for her, seize the opportunity, and swiftly escape the city!" they whispered in unison.
Both men stealthily emerged from their corner, cautiously navigating the streets, ensuring they remained unseen and undetected.
Across town, a tall man with slicked-back dark hair and a fur coat made his way towards the same destination. Walking alongside him was another muscular man with dark skin, short white-blond hair, and dressed inconspicuously in black clothes. The presence of the person beside him was enough to draw attention, thus there was no need for the other to keep a low profile.
"Isn't that Sir Crocodile? The former Warlord of the Sea?" whispered some passersby as they observed the scarred face and golden hook adorning his hand, unmistakably revealing his identity. Undaunted by the stares and murmurs, Sir Crocodile knew that his mere presence not only caused a sensation but also instilled fear in the townspeople. He had no need to disguise himself to achieve his objectives; he preferred to confront danger head-on. And he knew that no one could stop him. 
"Why are we here, Boss?" the companion next to him asked, his question tinged with a hint of uncertainty.
Crocodile replied with authority, leaving no room for further inquiry, "We're here to rescue a former comrade of mine from death row. That's all you need to know."
The companion seemed to grasp the situation and they continued their journey in silence. As the city clock tower came into view, displaying 8:00 am, Crocodile knew they had a mere two hours remaining.
"Let's hurry up!" he suddenly declared, urgency permeating his voice.
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animationstarlover1983 · 11 months ago
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Fnaf system reboot au
Vanessa Arrington relationships: family, friends, enemies.
Explained: a list of all the people Vanessa is familiar with in her life and what her relationship with that person is like.
Ps: because this is a au certain lore and facts from the games or other things will be changed, this version of Vanessa is different from her game counterpart.
1st: family
1. Vincent Arrington/her dad: as a young child Vanessa idolized her father, to her he was the closest thing to a superhero in real life, her dad worked as a chief firefighter, they were extremely close and loved each other very much and liked each others attention, Vincent was quite goofy, fun loving and energetic but was also responsible, diligent and stubborn, he also really liked people thinking he was n cool as a firefighter, sadly at age 10 Vanessa lost her father due to a forest fire during a summer camp vacation (his body was never found), this incident would cause her to develop trauma and anxiety and for the next 3 years she would grieve but eventually she learned to accept what happened and try to move on and remember all the good memories of her and her father. (Fun fact: his character is inspired by Peter b Parker from Spider-Man into the spiderverse/across the spiderverse, and bandit from bluey).
2. Veronica Arrington/her mom: Vanessa and her mom were always close, but when she was 10 after her dad died she and her mom were distant for the next 3 years, but after working out their problems they eventually fixed their relationship and became close once again, Vanessa often visits her mother whenever she can usually when she’s off work, Veronica is also aware of what happened to Vanessa post pizzaplex incident and tries to help and support her daughter in any way.
3. Gregory: during the events of the system reboot au Gregory (with no memory or recollection of himself) is found by Vanessa and Freddy in utility tunnels, Vanessa offers to watch over him until his parents or guardian come to find him, as days pass the 2 of them genuinely begin to bond and develop a sibling like relationship, after vanny manages to fully take over Vanessa body and kidnaps her Gregory promises to save her and stop both glitchtrap and vanny, one by one Gregory manages to free the pizzaplex animatronics from glitchtraps malware and so for their help to save her, eventually Gregory learns that in order to save Vanessa he has to play all 3 princess quest arcade machines in order to destroy vanny he has to destroy her vanni mask and the vanni network, after accomplishing this Vanessa is saved but not before vanny attempts to kill Gregory but before she can Vanessa gets in the way and blocks the killing blow causing her to fall into a comatose state, once she woke up she was grateful and decided to let Gregory to stay with her and watch over him, they like to read books together and sometimes do arts and crafts and play video games, she even brings him to work to see what projects she works on, her nickname for Gregory is brownie bean due to his brown hair and eyes.
4. Glamrock Freddy fazbear: 3 years after Vincent’s death Vanessa’s mother got the idea to bring her to the pizzaplex for her 13th birthday, while first she wasn’t into the place but that all changed after she met the glamrocks and especially Freddy, at first she just saw him as a robot but after genuinely growing to like him and seeing him understand her pain she began to actually care for him and saw him as a 2nd guardian, Freddy was sometimes a bit protective of Vanessa (just like with Gregory) and always appreciated her visiting the pizzaplex, he also tries to keep her out of trouble from anything, during the pizzaplex incident when trying to rescue Vanessa from vanny, Freddy confronts her but vanny in her real/digital form holds Vanessa hostage and threatens to kill her if Freddy doesn’t comply, Vanny eventually hacks some corrupted staff bots to disassemble Freddy, fortunately Freddy managed to disconnect his head from his body, he also used his coding/hacking features to disconnect vanni from the pizzaplex network and finally erase her from the pizzaplex, after the pizzaplex incident Gregory took Freddy’s head back with him as they waited for Vanessa wake up and recover, after a few weeks Gregory, helpy and Quinn/tape girl decides to fix Freddy’s body as a surprise for Vanessa to make her feel better, Freddy now stays with Vanessa and Gregory and helps in any way he can, they like to buy him outfits in order to disguise him they also gave him a database on cooking and medical skill, Vanessa even came up with the idea to make one of their basement rooms into Freddy’s new room (it’s basically a makeshift version of his former room at the pizzaplex, sometimes they also like to play chess (they can sometimes get a bit competitive against each other), Freddy’s nickname for Vanessa is starlight (like how he calls Gregory superstar).
5. Quinn Thompson/tape girl: Vanessa and Quinn have been childhood friends for as long as they can remember, around their high school years they both began to develop romantic feelings for one another, when they became college roommates they officially started dating each other, at some point they both got jobs at silver parasol, while working on the Freddy fazbear virtual experience Quinn discovered glitchtrap and made tapes for future testers but soon discovered that glitchtrap attached himself to her logs so she tried to delete them but couldn’t and decided to fragment them instead but not before glitchtrap began a digital consciousness transfer, trapping Quinn in the game and made tape 16, soon enough Vanessa was asked to beta test the game and managed to find all the tapes, glitchtrap attempted to start a digital consciousness transference but it didn’t work, at some other time when glitchtrap got his followers to created a arcade version of help wanted and transfer it to the pizzaplex, at this point glitchtrap had created vanny a digital AI network phantom to possess Vanessa’s body, in the end both glitchtrap and vanny were defeated Quinn was able to escape the game and return to her body, she eventually let Vanessa, Gregory and freddy stay with her at her home.
6. Helpy (animatronic): when Vanessa began working at the pizzaplex and was staying at the fazplex tower apartments she met helpy, helpy helped train Vanessa for her job as a security guard and the 2 of them became good friends, during the pizzaplex incident Helpy was a key figure in helping Gregory free the pizzaplex animatronics and was immune from being corrupted by the glitchtrap virus, after the pizzaplex incident Gregory had managed to sneak him away from fazbear entertainment and he stays with his new family, he often helps with technical support and is a great emotional support friend.
7. Candy cadet: after the pizzaplex is shut down Gregory, Vanessa and Freddy sneak back into the pizzaplex and find candy cadet in the old Freddy fazbears pizza place and decide to repair/repurpose him as a house caretaker/helper and security warden, after being repaired and upgraded his ai becomes sentient/self aware allowing him to develop a personality, he’s very responsible and sarcastic, and creative, he gets along with other animatronics and he acts a guardian figure to Gregory and Vanessa, he still tells stories and helps whenever Gregory or Vanessa are hanging nightmares and stuff.
8. Thales: after the pizzaplex incident Vanessa and Gregory decide to adopt a pet so they go to a shelter and find a Labrador retriever named Thales, Thales acts as a emotional support animal for both Vanessa and Gregory (fun fact: Thales was a actual dog mentioned in the fazbear frights books)
9. Jinx: before the events of the pizzaplex ever happens Quinn had adopted a black cat that had always stopped by her door for food every day, now living with Vanessa she learned to be comfortable around her as well.
10. Fritz: before getting Thales as a pet Freddy didn’t completely trust Gregory and Vanessa with a dog so he. Got them a pet goldfish that he named Fritz as a beginner pet, he’s been well taken care of and loved by them ever since, they even made him a special bowl connected to wheels so he can move around.
2nd: friends
11. Luis Cabrera: Luis has been one of Vanessa’s friends since childhood and he always had a crush on her, even though she’s already dating she still values Luis as a very close and good friend and Luis appreciates that, he along with Quinn also called Vanessa ness, luis is also one of Vanessa’s friends that know what truly happens at the pizzaplex because he was told everything and he and his friends decided to keep what they learned a secret.
12. Lisa Jameson: Lisa is Vanessa best friend, they first met in 5th grade, at first Vanessa was a little scared of Lisa because of her tough and somewhat wild nature but they eventually learned they have a lot in common, Lisa also now works at silver parasol studios with Vanessa.
13. Daniel Rocha: Daniel is another close friend and coworker of Vanessa, Daniel and ness get along very well even though Daniel is known to complain and be a bit short tempered a lot but ness does think it’s a little funny, Daniel also knows what happened at the pizzaplex because he was also a victim of glitchtrap who got digital consciousness transferred by him and vanny but after being saved/freed he and the others decided to keep what happened a secret.
14. Steven Wilson: steven is another friend and coworker of Vanessa, he was introduced to her by Daniel and they became good friends.
15. Raha Salib: Raha is another good friend of Vanessa and another coworker as well, she and ness get along very well and sometimes love to hang out with each other, she and ness also love taking cooking lessons with chica at the pizzaplex.
16. Cheryl Mazely: Cheryl is another childhood friend of Vanessa’s and a fellow coworker, Cheryl loves hanging with ness and the other girls to do stuff like shopping or going to cafes and stuff.
17. Tristan Mazely: Tristan is another friend of Vanessa’s and another coworker, Tristan met Vanessa as a child since he’s Cheryl’s twin brother, Tristan also knows about what happened at the pizzaplex due to being another digital consciousness transferred victim by glitchtrap, after being saved/freed he and his friends decide to keep what happened a secret.
18. Nora Wu: Nora is another friend/coworker of Vanessa, she and ness met in college and became friends and coworkers. Nora also knows the truth about the pizzaplex incident due to being another digital consciousness transfer victim by glitchtrap, after being saved/freed she and the others decided to keep what happened a secret.
19. Mark cho: mark is another friend and coworker of Vanessa, they first met when they began working and became good friends.
20. Jimmy Campbell: Jimmy is Vanessa’s friend/boss, Jimmy originally worked at the fazbear Funtime service but after it was discontinued he found a new job at silver parasol studios.
21. Anna kwemto: Anna is Vanessa’s friend/boss, Anna can be strict sometimes but knows how to have a good time with her friends and coworkers, Anna originally ran the fazbear Funtime service but later became the new project manager of silver parasol studios, one time Vanessa even babysitter Anna’s kid for her.
22. Glamrock Bonnie bunnle: Vanessa has know Bonnie ever since she first started visiting the pizzaplex at age 13, he would teach her how to bowl and play the guitar, and even teach her how to always get strikes.
23. Glamrock chica henny: Chica was always Vanessa’s favorite animatronic even before she started visiting the pizzaplex, chica would teach Vanessa how to cook and bake and they would share recipes and they became bcff’s (best chef friends forever), Vanessa got her like of cooking and baking from chica.
23. Glamrock foxy pyro: foxy would always let Vanessa go on his rides for free to test her target shooting skills, he even taught her how to get the secret pathways to all his rides.
24. Roxanne Delwolf: Roxy is a very close friend of Vanessa, she’s the one who inspired Vanessa to wear rainbow hair extensions and purple nail polish, they also share a love for fashion and beauty, they also love to give each other makeovers and teach each other about mechanical and engineering.
25. Montgomery Kralligator: Monty and Vanessa are good friends, he gives her free lessons and teaches her his secret technique to golfing, at first Vanessa was a bit afraid of Monty but eventually grew to become very close to him.
26. Sunrise side/daycare attendant: sun and Vanessa are very close and friendly towards each other, sun is the one who got Vanessa interested in arts and crafts and creativity, he also loves sharing many stories with her, whenever she stayed at the daycare sun always helped her if she was having trouble sleeping or something.
27. Moondrop side/daycare attendant: moon and Vanessa never really had a good relationship until after the pizzaplex incident (considering he did used to work for glitchtrap and try to kidnap and kill her), but she eventually forgave moon for everything he did, he gives her advice on dealing with her fears and stuff, he also reassures her that fear is not something to be ashamed of and that everyone has fear.
28. Dj music man: Vanessa is a big fan of the dj, they both share a love for music and creativity so they get along very well.
29. Cassie: after the pizzaplex incident Gregory properly introduced Vanessa to Cassie and they became very close, they share a similar pain of losing their fathers and the vanni mask, they leave that they have a lot in common and bond a lot.
30. The blob/tangle/cluster: originally the cluster was a monstrous amalgamation that wanted to just destroy everything that opposed it but after being tamed and reasoned with he became a friend to the pizzaplex animatronics, when vanessa first met cluster she was extremely anxious and afraid but eventually she grew more comfortable with them.
3rd: enemies
31. Dale Richer: Dale was originally the manager of silver parasol games who helped in the creation of glitchtrap and offered up his employees Jericho (Jeremy), Quinn/tape girl and Vanessa as tools to him in exchange for a spot in glitchtraps cult of followers (Jericho was the only one who glitchtrap fully corrupted himself) , Vanessa didn’t personally know him that well but she never really liked how he treated her or his worker, unfortunately for him he met a brutal end to the blob/tangle.
32. Jericho (Jeremy) Jane: originally Jericho was the tester working on the Freddy fazbear virtual experience before Quinn and Vanessa, after testing Jericho was driven crazy by the glitchtrap virus and then became obsessed with it to the point where he cut his own face off but the virus kept him alive, Vanessa had never interacted with Jericho she had just heard about him and what happened and how Quinn was next for testing and if anything happened to her she would be the one to test the game.
33. Landon prout: Landon is the pizzaplex director and project manager who was in on glitchtraps plan to use the pizzaplex as a murder and experimental den, he’s also responsible for local resident disappearing, he also helped in Vanessa getting a job on the pizzaplex security team, he doesn’t show any interest in Vanessa (or anyone in that matter) and only views the staff and animatronics of the pizzaplex as pawns, in the end his ego gets him caught and arrested.
34. Tiger rock: when Vanessa first visited the pizzaplex she got lost in the utility tunnels and was found by Tiger rock who had tried to trick her and kill her, luckily with Freddy’s help she managed to outsmart and destroy Tiger rock, Tiger rock seems friendly at first but he really just trying to gain your trust to stab you in the back later.
35. PDB/patient 46: Vanessa doesn’t personally know patient 46 but they are the reason why Vanessa got a job at the pizzaplex on the security team and for getting her a apartment at the fazplex towers, they are also responsible for the disappearance and deaths of her many therapists and for spreading the glitchtrap virus throughout the mall, after being saved she believes that patient 46 is the one responsible for her being possessed by vanny.
36. Glitchtrap: glitchtrap was the sinister mastermind behind the entire pizzaplex incident and responsible for the disappearance and death of 9 local residents, glitchtrap was the creator of vanny and the VANNI security mask unit that was used by both class V fazbear technicians and possibly security guards, glitchtrap was both emotionally manipulative and physically abusive to his followers including vanny so whenever she was possessing Vanessa’s body she would get hurt (without even realizing), glitchtrap only sees his followers as tools for his goals and other people as pawns, Vanessa and glitchtrap have never personally interacted before but after being saved/freed she has developed bit of a fear for him, she eventually learned of glitchtraps crimes and even realized that he was the one responsible for Jeremy going crazy all the problems at the fazbear Funtime service/dlz shipping solutions (corrupting many of the workers with vanni mask), because glitchtrap is a AI anomaly he can’t comprehend human emotions, empathy or compassion only fear, manipulation and cruelty especially towards his own followers or anyone who disrespects William afton and his memory, glitchtrap also influenced/corrupted 3 of Vanessa’s friends and put them against her and Gregory, he also specifically created vanni to make her target Vanessa as a host body, he also targeted Gregory and tried to even have vanny kill him.
37. Vanny/vanni: vanny is Vanessa’s tormentor, causing her unforgivable pain and trauma for 6 months (such as claiming her first and only child victim in her body, committing many criminal acts while framing her, and stealing her identity, and for destroying something to her that meant more to her than her own life), the truth is Vanny deeply envies Vanessa for everything she has (family, good friends, a happy and successful career, likable) because vanny is nothing more than a tool to glitchtraps eyes and plays 2nd place to patient 46, vanny always wanted to have a close relationship to glitchtrap who she viewed as a father figure but he never saw as anything but a tool and is both emotionally manipulative and physically abusive towards her, vanny was specifically created to be Vanessa’s polar opposite and hate everything Vanessa loves, Vanny can’t stand the thought of Vanessa being happy and sees her as a nuisance so she vows to make Vanessa’s existence as horrible as possible and steal her identity for herself, whenever vanny is possessing Vanessa’s body she wears a left sided pigtail with purple hair dye, red lipstick and face paint, she sometimes even adds green contact lenses to fool people into thinking she’s Vanessa (but some people can tell that it’s not ) she also traps Vanessa is a vivid horrific nightmare of princess quest and for Vanessa to wake up she must beat the nightmare and also sometimes vanny physically abuses her body (giving her cuts and bruises), she even went as far as to break her left leg and place Vanessa into a comatose state, in the end Vanny let her own insecurities and sadistic nature get the better of her and it ended up with her losing to a child, a robot bear and the women who she couldn’t stand above anything else, Vanessa and Gregory learn that vanny had other vanni mask and even temperely possesed Cassie at some point and was influencing others who had vanni mask, at some point vanny does return to get revenge on glitchtrap for her abuse and mistreatment and does manage to permanently destroy him and indirectly save Vanessa and Cassie as well, but because she destroys him she fades away permanently as well, before she fully disappears she admits to Vanessa that she never liked her because she had everything that she always wanted but also admits she still doesn’t fully like her and dies.
Extra
38. Jimmy Marshall: Jimmy was the first and only victim vanny claimed when she possessed Vanessa’s body, Vanessa doesn’t fully remember Jimmy but she is aware that he was one of the local residents that went missing (fun fact: Jimmy was the name of the kid in help wanted 2 during glamrock Freddy’s minigame cold storage).
38. Vanessa’s friends: for as long as she can remember Vanessa has always had these “special friends” of hers that have always sticked by her side since the very beginning (supposedly imaginary friend), but after vanny invaded her mind they’ve stopped appearing to her ever since, she still holds many good memories of them and it’s possible that they could one day come back to her.
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supekitchen · 1 month ago
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Replying from my Boys specific blog here, thank you for responding! I get the way you feel that way about Becca and Billy's relationship. It just doesn't feel like her character gets called out enough for what she did to the man she supposedly loved so dear, and her trying to justify it in some fucking martyr like speaking. As if Billy can't be trusted to do what he wants with his life. He had a right to know!
I feel like you said where she just wasn't the kind of girl who could or wanted to deal with Billy's myriad of issues. When the going got tough, she got going and left Billy in the lurch to hate himself over it. Becca always seemed to strike me as the type of dog owner to buy a breed like a wolfdog or a tibetan mastiff and expect it to act like a labrador retriever. Why not just end the relationship or, you know, TALK to your husband about how his behavior problems are concerning her and try to work through it together like a team? Or a partnership? Instead of throwing it into his face a decade later after he questions your ludicrous decision making? And maybe it's a very uncharitable way of reading it, but I think her ease in choosing a child she conceived out of SA over her loving but troubled husband had in no small part to do with said husband's not very buried daddy issues and childhood trauma and his not being too hot on the idea of having any of his own. Or at the very least, very touchy and sensitive about it. And instead of ever addressing this with him, chose to run away rather than confront these uncomfortable questions that may involve a break up. But that's what I get out of it.
Not to mention why she chose to fake her her death, sell herself and more importantly Ryan to the same company that caused all of this in the first place and have clear intentions on making another (more "controllable") Homelander out of Ryan, and create all of this suffering to her loved ones when could and should have just gone into witness protection I'll never know. She put Butcher, her family, and even Ryan through so much grief and pain and trauma for no reason all because she couldn't be honest with what happened to her and give the ones she loved the respect, agency and trust to handle that information. Same goes for the sheltering that ultimately damaged Ryan and his ability to be able to function as a person. Another reason why her and Vought's whole hideaway plan was doomed to failure. She should have come clean, gave him an ultimatum of either going into WP with her or ending it there, let him make his choice, and then go into protection. That would have prevented the entire 2nd season and her own death had she just used her head!
Billy deserved better and I'm still mad that they never had him start coming to terms with how Becca screwed him over and allow him to be justifiably angry at her. She clearly never trusted or respected him enough to be there for her when it mattered, even when he was willing to move heaven and earth for her. And she never did the same for him. Every time I try and analyze Becca and her choices, it all comes across to me that she was very weak willed and afraid of confrontation and I personally can't stand emotional cowardice. Which makes it hard to stomach whenever she and the topic of her and Billy's relationship is brought up in a positive light in either the show or in fanfiction.
To summarize, I think Becca was a very cowardly character and the story would have been better had they highlighted this and shown this for the flaw it is rather trying to make her like this amazing saintly woman and that Butcher's the one in the wrong for wanting revenge and justice for what had happened to her.
Sorry for the very long (and ranty) response, but I have a lot of thoughts on Becca Butcher and how the story deals with her and Butcher's relationship. I'm glad that you're trying to take what went wrong with Billy's previous relationship and show how it should have been with Addison and I'm interested to see how it goes in your story. I had stopped reading before cause I was disappointed by how fast it jumped from the characters being on tentative good terms to warm friends with the start of the series plot.
Can you talk about your thoughts on Billy and Becca's relationship? From what I've read from your comments and notes, you're not a big fan of them together and it's rare to find others besides myself in the Boys fandom willing to be critical of this ship and especially Becca herself in regards to how it turned out.
Yeah I can certainly try! I don’t speak on it a lot I don’t think because I’m not about to argue with someone I don’t even know and I’m not going to put down someone’s ship. I wouldn’t say I’m not a fan of them together, I love how Billy loved her and he did - I would say I’m not a fan of the way people put her or their relationship on a pedestal just like she said not to and they were clearly toxic for each other.
My feelings have a lot of different aspects - one I think she’s just badly written, I mean she’s totally fridged and there’s no basis in my opinion for her to be amazingly perfect? (Not that any woman has to!) So I don’t get why people think that. Two - my feelings while I’m watching emotionally are kind of different from my more academic opinions and are also different from Addison’s feelings on it - which in my head I’ve really gotten into so I can write my story authentically.
I will say additionally I have a degree in psychology and I’ve been in a happy successful relationship for 27 years (so far) from 16-43 so I know a little bit about what it takes. The things we have been through together and come out still completely committed and fully loving each other…
Emotionally, she annoys me and that’s just me. They’re trying to make her look like some amazing mother but the first chance she gets she’s spouting how she just ‘acts’ like ‘Carol fucking Brady’ like what? How is that in any way being a good mom. And I hugely disagree with her over sheltering. And she just wishes she was doing nothing on the couch smoking weed and eating Cheetos like huh? That’s the first thing she wants to say to Billy after 10 years? The way she acts about it rings so weird to me. Now BELIEVE ME I absolutely do those things too and enjoy it when my child is good for the night but I would never say it like that or think like that nor would that ever be my first conversation with my husband after hiding from him for a decade.
Billy was shown often (except for one weird one off line) to be there for her and love her but her whole attitude and the ease with which she left him leads me feel she was in it for a good time and not much else. The conversation about the spice girls concert is ridiculous. I can’t even fathom making my husband do something like that that he’s not into. We absolutely both have things we like to do together and then we have our own things too. Why would she force him to go to something he hates like that? Especially when she has her sister to enjoy it with. I don’t get it at all and it’s not how a relationship works.
In the fourth season the Becca hallucination tells Butcher that he shouldn’t betray Hughie even to save Ryan, there would be another way. And that’s what should’ve happened after she was r*ped. She left Billy because he would’ve gone on a rampage if she told him?? She thinks he wouldn’t if she disappeared? (He did.) How does that make sense. There’s always another way. Just like she says. I cannot even for a second imagine doing what she did to my husband. And yes I understand Billy has major problems but he was never shown to be beyond love and support. I don’t think she supported him as a partner at all. She was there because he was hot, sexy, he worshipped her and he took care of her. How did she take care of him, ever? I have a lot of Billy in me on the inside and I’ve said some very choice things in private messages but I won’t say them here haha <3
Now Addison is a better person than me, though of course she doesn’t know any of those examples, but she loves Billy unconditionally even though it’s going to be really really hard but her view of Becca is through Billy’s eyes so she really respects and protects that vision for Billy in a way and I kind of like exploring that too :) Latest chapter out here 🖤
hope that kind of makes sense, and thank you for your ask. just my thoughts and all ships should be happily whatever the shipper wants them to be because a ship can be anything
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refroged · 5 years ago
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@obiwoman ​ tagged me in this - thank you!! and sorry it took me a little while lol
Are you staying home from work/school? yep! my university stopped in-person classes 2 weeks ago, so i’ve been home for those 2 weeks!
If you’re staying home, who is with you? my family! i usually live with my parents and younger brother, and my older sister came home from Toronto last week because she lives alone and was worried about being isolated for a long time
Who would be your ideal quarantine mate? uuh idk! i love my sister but she’s also extremely “healthy” in a very performative way which is stirring up some of the v unhealthy guilty attitudes towards food that i struggled with when i was younger:( so she’s maybe not the ideal quarantine buddy? i started seeing someone before all of this happened! and i like her and i wish i could see her more rn! not wishing we were stuck together for like, 2 months or whatever though lol! so idk! idk! i don’t think any single person can accomplish what the range of human interaction im used to like, provides for my brain lmao
Are you a homebody? i think so! although its not always by choice! i like a social gathering of the ‘close friends hanging out’ variety, but i appear to have befriended many borderline-frat-bros recently so im lacking in the social engagement that i like best:( so mostly i just stay home. straight people parties exhaust me lmao, and im tired of being concerned about alcohol poisoning or weed-induced anxiety. also don’t know how to ask people i like to spend time with me so moslty! i just stay home!
An event you were looking forward to that got canceled? yeah! i had a poster presentation for a research project the week everything got cancelled, so i was a little disappointed about that! i was also supposed to see a production of paradise lost in late april and also maybe go to paris that week, which are both noooot really going to happen at this point:( AND i was supposed to go over to someone’s place and she was gonna cook for me and i was gonna try to hype myself up and maybe kiss her so IDK!! kinda bad timing lol!
What movies have you watched recently? aaaah recently i watched The Farewell, Okja, and Horse Girl! and i was super late to the party but i did watch The Shape of Water for the first time not long ago too
What shows are you watching? i’m watching Altered Carbon rn! also rewatching Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt in the background while i like, brush my teeth or chop onions or whatever lol! i finished rewatching ATLA 2ish weeks ago, and i’m considering a rewatch of LOK too 👀
What music are you listening to? uuh i’ve been listening to a lot of Courtney Barnett the past few days ! i mostly listen to music on the bus and i. am not really on the bus much these days lmao.. i listened to New Order and Spoon in the car the other day as well i think!
What are you reading? mostly stuff for class:( i’m not allowed to read anything else until i catch up on my class reading! i’m making my way through Hanif Kureishi’s The Buddha of Suburbia rn, and i read Coriolanus like 5 times this month for an essay lol. i also found a printed copy of “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” that i had put up in my cubicle last summer, which is now taped above my bedside table lol so i have been reading that poem a lot, if that counts!
What are you doing for self-care? hmm im cooking more for sure! playing animal crossing! allowing myself to be unproductive, which is something i definitely struggle with! and i am TRYING to drink more water but ooooh my god am i bad at it lol. i also just spent more money than i should’ve on art prints bc im in my bedroom more than ever before and i want nice things to contemplate :)
i’m gonna tag @hale-of-stiles-heart in return! if we’re mutuals (or even if we’re not mutuals!) and you enjoy/don’t mind being tagged in things, let me know (like sincerely! let me know)! i feel bad bothering people out of the blue, but if you want to do this say i tagged you! i really really mean it! or like tell me so i can tag you next time lol
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everafterfrisk · 2 years ago
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Here we go again Folks and today I'll be dissecting the popular topic of "Ruby isn't affected by anything across the volumes"
-I'm gonna be honest and say this claim is pretty much BS
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Volume 3
- Ruby falling to the ground in sadness after seeing Penny's Dismantled Body
> Was mortified by Pyrrha's Death at the hands of Cinder
Volume 4
In the DC Comics(which take place during the events of Vol 3-4)
Ruby showcases alot of uneasiness and self doubt
▪︎I.E being worried about how Yang felt back at the end of Volume 3
▪︎Believing that she herself can't go on without her team backing her up
▪︎Questioning if she can truly make the right choice
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"No One is truly alone".
"What you can do and Who you are-- These are Two very different things".
"No Person is Lesser for Being Alone,
You miss them but You aren't incomplete without them"
"They may bring Forth the Best in You
But the Best still Belongs to You".
- Episode 2 - Ruby is shown having Nightmares about the events of Volume 3
Vol 5
-After the battle with Tyrian, Ruby was upset that she indirectly got her uncle poisoned as well as not being so welcoming about team JNR joining her as the Problems got increasingly worses
"I should've never brought you guys into this"
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But the Most powerful scene in this Volume for Ruby is her talk with Oscar
Where she tells him that how distraught she felt about Pyrrha's and Penny's Deaths & wished she could've gotten to know them better
Proclaiming that if she were have died, Pyrrha and Penny would try to keep fighting no matter the obstacle
As she then says that moving forward is what she has to do in order to protect who she cherishes left
Which parallels Issue #6 of the Comics
"Even When it's Hard---
--Just Live".
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Which leads to the 2nd Strongest scene for Volume 5 Ruby
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The Letter Scene
"Believe me when I say I know it can feel impossible. Like every single day is a struggle against some unstoppable monster we can never hope to beat. But we have to try…"
As Ruby is writing a letter to Yang about how although the World may seem bleak and while things may be painful in the long run, With the right people working together for a good cause can make an extraordinary change no matter how small it seems at first
Also Ruby LITERALLY TEARS UP DURING THIS SCENE
The Silver Eyes Activated after Ruby had a PTSD flashback of Pyrrha's Death when Jaune was going to clash with Cinder in the battle of Haven
■ Ruby was seen shocked by Weiss's fatal injury from Cinder's Spear strike
Volume 6
■ Felt a little Betrayed by Ozpin's Secret after Jinn revealed the Truth
■ Her Silver Eyes Activated When Blake was almost at death's door against the Apathy
■ Confronted Qrow about his lack of willingness to keep moving forward during "Lost" & "Stealing from the Elderly" Episode
Wanting him to view Team RJNR as people who can fight alongside him instead of just being a bunch of children who needs to be protected
"Just because you don't have an idea, doesn't mean we're out of options! Oz hasn't been here to tell us what to do, but we still managed to get this far anyway. We've been in bad situations before, and we don't need an adult to come save us or tell us what to do. We just did it our way! And I say we do it our way. And if you think you can keep up with us "kids"... we'd be happy to have you"
"We're all in this together, and we're all going to do the best we can. That's all anyone can do. And I know it's what you've always aimed for. We would've come whether or not you'd let us, so stop talking like we're your responsibility! We're not! But we could still use Qrow Branwen on our side"
Volume 7-8
■ Immediately felt guilty about lying to Ironwood about the Other stuff that happen with Ozpin
■ During Her Talk with Qrow, She even questions if she even knows what she has been doing was the correct decision
■ Ruby pleads Harriet in the "Ace Ops vs Team Rwby" to stand down and join her team in saving the citizens
■ Stood in Confusion and shock after witnessing a Silver Eyed Grimm Hybrid
■ in Volume 8 Finale,
Ruby is seen shedding a tear during her fight with Neo(Supposedly as a result of Yang's death)
---> in the Vol 9 sneak peek it showcases Ruby's POV where she was having constant anxiety attacks throughout the fight against Cinder
And in the Volume 9 Chapter 1 Sneak Peek Clip
Ruby breaks down and Cries to herself reflecting upon the events that have transpired
So Yeah I think this pretty much sums up how much these events have had an Impact on Ruby's emotions
(She ain't just Happy all the time and Ignores all the tragedy, if anything she tries using it as a Coping Mechanism of some sort in order to move forward & keep her mind away from the Darkness)
Hope yall Enjoy
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bcdwhcre · 4 years ago
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This is my 2nd time I'm sending a request I'm sorry this'll be my last ansjsj
Can you do a Hanji x reader where the reader and Hanji are best friends in the scouts and the reader has feelings for Hanji so they tend to act a little flirty? But the reader is actually Levi's sister and Levi finds it so obvious how much the reader loves Hanji so he just teases for her it? Hanji then overhears the reader talking about her feelings and boom! Confession! ^^
“Confessions,” Hange x Reader
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Girrrrl send as many requests as you like, I don’t mind at allllllllll. Hanji Hanji, I love her and I know I spell it how it is in the dub its a habit. my apologiesssssss.
Summary: Levi’s younger sister has a crush on Hange and he finds it real obvious, teasing you until you end up confessing.
Warnings: none
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Growing up wasnt easy. You and Levi were left to starve and then trained to be full on machines, learning how to fight and defend before you were even ten years old.
Levi had tried his best to protect you, he still does to this day as the both of you worked in the scout regiment and were each made Captains.
The more time went on and days were spent all together in the room, drinking and eating. You found yourself having a big crush on Hange, you liked her confidence and the way she’s driven to the Titans and wanting to learn about them. It was crazy but you liked it.
You would even admit that you were in love with her. You would spend your days off with her, learning about her discoveries, her theories and even spent time with her when she had caught two Titans and did research on them up close.
The way she was in love with her work, the way she dedicated herself to the two Titans and was absolutely fascinated with them, even if it almost killed her on numerous occasions- it just all made you fall in love with her more.
You were in deep.
It wasn’t long till Levi had caught on, he knew you better than anyone and the way you stared at her from across the room or the way you listened to every word she said as she rambled on about pointless stuff that you knew nothing about.
He knew you had a big crush on her and he teased you about it for months on end. He made sure to be the annoying big brother that bullies his sister with jokes about how you’re soft for her, how you practically drool over her when she speaks to you.
“Just shut up, Levi.” You groaned, sitting inside his office as he laughed, shooting more playful jokes your way.
It had made you grow frustrated with your brother, he was a pain in the ass to deal with and now that he knew that you liked your fellow comrade, he couldn’t help but bug you about it.
It was entertaining to him, this was the only time he got a good laugh during the awful times of working and risking your lives to protect others.
“C’mon, it’s funny.” He rolled his eyes at your attitude but laughed about it shortly afterwards.
“It’s only funny to you, dumb ass. Why don’t you stop being a lonely old man and go find someone.” You said sarcastically, making his eyebrows furrow and shoot you a dirty look.
“I don’t need anyone. All I need is myself and you, remember that.” He simply said but you knew why he was never interested in finding someone for himself.
Levi holds up this giant wall that is three times bigger than him. He acts cold, he acts like he isn’t phased by anything but deep down, everything hits him like bricks. He convinced himself that being alone was a better option as a Scout instead of setting himself up for heartbreak and risk loving someone just to lose them to Titans.
He convinced himself that nothing was more important than family. Than you, as his little sister. He didn’t need anything else but you, losing you would be losing himself entirely.
“I’m grown, I can watch myself.” You scoffed, crossing your arms over your chest and he shrugged his shoulders.
“Eh, you still remind me of the five year who cried all the time.. You still cry all the time.” He joked, making you roll your eyes.
“So, are you going to tell Hange or should I?” Levi spoke up again, bringing the topic right back on the table and you groaned dramatically.
You didn’t want to talk about it any longer, the fact that a simple crush was being held over your head was annoying enough especially it being done by Levi. You wanted to punch him in the face and you were tempted to do it at this very moment.
You knew you couldn’t bring yourself to tell Hange your feelings, in the back of your head you were convinced she didn’t go in that direction, that she didn’t like women but some times it was questionable but the paranoia had lingered over you which prevented you from even thinking about telling her.
While you argued with your brother, Hange had walked down the hallway to actually look for you to help her with some theories she had in mind. She wanted to run them by you because you were the only person that showed interest and actually gave her good advice.
As she walked by Levi’s office, she overheard your voice and stopped in her tracks when her name was brought up in the conversation.
“Are you going to tell Hange or should I?”
She raised her eyebrow, tell her what? She was confused as she stood by the door, her ear up to the crack to listen to more. She hated to be nosey but she couldn’t help it when she was brought up.
“How am I supposed to tell her? It’s not as easy as you make it sound, Levi. This could either ruin our friendship or not.” You hated this, you hated the topic and you wanted to move on.
But Levi being the annoying asshole he was, he edged on and on just to watch the pure irritation on your face just for his amusement.
“C’mon, it’s not that hard. Just open your mouth up and speak.” He smirked, resting his arms on the desk as he leaned forward.
“You’re just a scary chicken.” He teased, making Hange almost giggle under her breath at the childish nickname he gave you.
But the more she stood there, the more she was intrigued with the conversation and wanting to listen to more. She had glanced down each side of the hallway to make sure no one was near or walking down to blow her cover as she continued the sneaky act.
“God, you’re so irritating. It’s not that easy for me to walk up to her and say I’m in love with you. Keep teasing me about it and I’ll kick your short ass.” You threatened him, making his laugh only grow louder.
Her eyes widen at the confession you let out. You were in love with her? She couldn’t process it or think clearly but it had definitely made her heart pound inside her chest and adrenaline run through her veins.
As you got up from the other side of the desk, telling your brother that you were leaving as he continued to giggle like a school girl. Once she heard your footsteps come closer to the door, she had practically ran down the hallway and go around the corner.
She didn’t really know what to do, should she bring this up to you? Should she just get this over with and confront you? She didn’t know and all that thinking she did, she didn’t realize you walking down the hallway in her direction until you startled her by turning the corner.
“Oh shit!” You jumped, making her jump and drop the files she was holding in her hands.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t see you.” You admitted shyly, your cheeks growing hot as you kneeled down to scatter up the files and hand them back to her.
“It’s okay, actually- I was looking for you.” Hange abruptly said then quickly shut her mouth, that’s not what she wanted to say- now the topic was at the front of her mind.
“Oh? What about?”
“Uh, I had some theories but first I kind of wanted to get something off my chest.” She said, fixing her glasses and met your gaze with a almost worried look that made you become paranoid.
“I didn’t mean to um, listen in but I heard you and Levi talking.” She finished, making your eyes go wide and suddenly your cheeks were as red as a tomato.
“Ahh, um.” You didn’t know what to say, you started to stutter and started to look around the empty hallway to avoid her stare.
This is not what you had in mind about confessing to Hange. You couldn’t help but think if Levi was behind this sick plan, it wouldn’t be surprising if he did- he’s a selfish asshole after all.
As you stood there quietly, Hange had began to worry and clung tighter onto the files in her hands. She didn’t really know what to say and that’s coming from someone who is always talking and rambling about something.
But as she stood in front of you, watching you get all flustered up, it gave her a bit of a confidence boost to lean down and press her lips on yours, catching you by surprise completely.
You weren’t expecting this, your anxiety made you think of the worst in every situation but here she was, kissing your lips and it made your heart skip a beat at the small kiss.
When she pulled back, both of your faces flustered up and red- she had given you a cute smile and gestured you to follow her.
“C’mon, I have some theories to tell you.”
You were confused, thrown back but you followed her back to her office and she noticed how you were still quiet, probably even overthinking the small kiss you two shared.
“I hope you know that me kissing you meant that I like you too.”
.
.
.
Soft soft soft🥺
• Main Masterlist •
• AOT Masterlist •
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Note
Is there any past tmnt moments/episodes/movies you like to imagine rottmnt style?
ooooooooh yes yes yes yes yes a good ask a very good ask (taps fingers together excitedly)
First and foremost, the 2007 movie with some alterations. Where as I could see RISE Raph taking on a Nightwatcher Persona (Red Angel of Preventing Harm anyone?) and I could see RISE Leo living in South America to continue his training, there are some alterations I would have to make
2007 Movie Verse
1st of all, Leo isn't all angsty and sad. he's loosing his mind. He probably had a bunch of rock 'brothers' aroudn to talk to and argue with as he laughed manaically. Adn the reason *he* didn't return home when he was supposed to was because he didn't think his brothers wanted him back, he thougth he had failed and deserved to be all alone. The only reason he did return home was cause April (on a school trip) convinced him to come back atleasat for some super exclusive jupiter jim item he had preordered ahead of time. And when he sees how happy his brothers are to see him he stays purely out of guilt without acknowledging his own feelings and still feeling guilty about Splinter giving him the leadership role
2nd of all Raph isnt' angry and angsty the whole time. Raph still becaomes the Nightwatcher as I said, but he also feel so guilty about his decision to go agaisnt his fathers wishes that he tries to make up for it by being overly optimistic, which becomes worse when Leo gets home because Raph is upset he's not leader anymore but doesnt' want Leo to know he feel sthat way. SO instead of glaring at eachother and making snide comments They're being overly " OH HI BUDDY! BIG GUY! BIG RED!" with eachtoher. And of course there's still the fight which almsot plays out the same way, except instead of blaming eachother their blaming themselves
Mikey becomes a cooking youtuber. He started off making great good on it but foudn he only got more views when he messed up so he continuously puts up videos of him failing while cooking which affects his self esteem but becuase it helps makes money he keeps doing it :c he's sad
Splinter is wracked with guilt when he realizes he never shoudl fo send Leo away and though he puts on a brave optimistic face for his sons, he regularly retreats to his room to sleep and eat carrots to make himself feel better (why carrots? he doesn't deserve the sweet embrace of ice cream)
And ,of course, theres mah boy Donnie. His mental health is suffering, he's having meltdowns more and spends more time in his room. Seeing his family so different makes him feel alienated and he wants to blame Leo for the change but because he knows its not Leos' fautl and he's not sure how to deal with his emotions he spends more time playing video games by himself and only talking ot Shelldon (who often acts as a go between between him and his family cause he can't handle alot of social interaction at the moment)
In the end, everyone confronts thier guilt to themselves and eachother and help eachother heal :3
2003 Series (my personal favorite)
For this i love to imagine the "Shredders Strikes back" arc (which is the infamous "Leo goes through the window" scene for this series happens) Which is super interesting cause of the events leading up to it would be different. I'm not sure how yet. Maybe They're spying on the Foot Clan? Maybe The Foot Clan is spying on them as they have a sleep over at Aprils either way Leo ends up running to the store alone to pick up a itme which leads ot the Foot Ambush and Leo, being Leo underestimates the fight and makes a bunch of jokes. which slowly become more and more frantic as more foot show up. Then of course Shreddy shows up and does his thing adn bam window scene. And of course we keep the "Tales of Leo" episode which is more humorous and heart felt
I'd also want to use Good Genes arc which....wont go into details for reasons (dont look at me like that)
of course, I'd have to do a "Across the Universe" Arc (which includes SAINW cause haaha Donnie torment) which would basically play out the same except I can see Mikey's arc being alot more "OK I GET IT YOURE SUPER HEROES I WANNA GO HOME!!!" and Leo spending five minutes on his phone weeping casue " DIDN'G THEY HAVE THE INTERNET IN FEUDAL JAPAN!?" and Raph whose more anxious adn probably needing some comfort from Hawk (was that his name? HEEL BHNA FANS) not too sure about Splints, he'd probably be nuts going rabid
I woudl also try to incorporate as many Casey epsides as humanly enough, cause 2003 Casey and Rise Casey are differnt but similar enough I'd love to do that character study
OOoh then theres imagining the justice force as Yokai rather then just super heroes
triceratonnnnnssss
HUNNICUTTTT
RRRRRRRR
I would of cousre incorporate a Fast Forward episode, where instead of the Turtles "gotta go home!" it'd be more "these annoying ass holes have been in our timeline for four hours and you've ruined our advanced intelligence with our memes, our self esteem with your technology and our mental health' and kcik the turtles out of the future with a mighty YEET
oh and a dinosaur arc of course
so much potential
2012 (series)
haha no
never
can't make me
I guess that's it for now, might add to this later. I hope this answers your question! Thank you so much it was so interesting to think about!!!!!!
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whump-a-la-mode · 4 years ago
Text
Villainsicle | Part 12
At long last... comfort. Villain deserves it and I am so sorry to them and to every reader of this story.
Sorry that this took so long. I got sick (not COVID) and work kicked my ass, but at long last, it is here!
Counselor tries to help Villain take a bath, but ends up forcing them to confront a buried fear. Comfort ensues.
Taglist:
@whatwhumpcomments
@sola-whumping
@professional-idiocy
@trappedgoose-in-a-writblr-room
@literally-just-kirby​
@teachunks
@daydreamed-snippets-2nd-blog
@sunflower1000
@lightdrinker-blog
CW//Superhero whump, villain whumpee, non-sexual nudity, non-sexual stripping, bathing, restraints, flashbacks
Villain struggled.
Well, perhaps it was less of a struggle. Struggling had a purpose, a clear drive and direction. Villain’s erratic movements had neither-- they could be perhaps described more succinctly as twitching. Erratic twitching, their hands balling and unballing to fists, their muscles tightening for reason unknown. Not all at once, but periodically.
It wasn’t a nightmare, Counselor was certain of that. Nightmares were fast, coming on all at once in a wave of panic. There was no panic in Villain’s movements, just stress. Muscles and nerves wound as taut as they could be.
They considered waking them. Trying to comfort them. But there would be little point in that. Not when they would simply be waking up to a cold hospital room, experiencing just as much stress in wakefulness as they had in sleep.
So, Counselor waited. They prepared, all while watching Villain, ensuring that they stayed steady. That they were okay.
In the end, getting the bath ready took almost an hour. Inherently, it didn’t have to. By all logic, they could have simply turned on the water and awoken Villain. They would have been cleaned all the same. But that wasn’t what this was about, not entirely.
So, they prepared. The base had only one bathtub in it, and, more than luckily, it was far better than they ever could have asked for. It had originally been acquired for use by Engineer-- Leader’s spouse-- who, as a wheelchair user, found getting into a tub far more convenient than configuring a shower chair.
Of course, Engineer never went for the bare minimum. If there was something they could tinker with, they wouldn’t hesitate for a moment. Thus, the tub now possessed as many handles and supports as could possibly fit, not to mention the filtration system designed to keep the water temperature consistent practically indefinitely. It was the latter that allowed Counselor as much time as they needed.
In the end, once the tub was filled with sufficiently warm water, the bathroom had become littered with towels, rags, and as many combs as were in storage. Not to mention enough soap to clean a warehouse.
It was only when all that was gathered, when the water temperature was perfect, when everything was ready, that Counselor awoke Villain.
They opened the door to their hospital room, doing so as slowly and carefully as they could manage. They walked across the tile to their patient’s bedside in the same manner, taking care not to disturb them.
Villain’s hands clenched into fists as they fought against the fabric restraints holding them down. It wasn’t a conscious movement, but it was nerve wracking nonetheless.
They reached forward, flinching back for a moment as Villain twitched again, before placing their hand on their shoulder. Gently, they shook their shoulder, speaking:
“Hey, hey. Hey, can you get up for me?”
After a moment, Villain’s eyelids fluttered, before finally opening. Their eyes stared out, unfocused, before coming together to gaze up at Counselor. The latter put on the kindest smile they could manage.
“Good morning.” They chirped. Villain blinked a few more times, their eyelids seeming awfully heavy. Counselor felt bad about waking them, but they hadn’t exactly been having a restful sleep.
Again, the patient blinked. At last, their eyes focused.
The bedframe was struck with such force that Counselor could practically feel it, just from proximity. They leapt back, only to hear the sound again as Villain yanked once more at their wrist restraint. A thousand images flashed back in their mind-- images of buildings collapsing, of server rooms exploding into shrapnel and smoke. Images of what Villain used to represent in their mind. Aggression and destruction.
Their heart skipped a beat, before its beating increased considerably in speed.
Villain was a villain. At least, they were at some point.
Counselor took a moment, fighting to steady their breathing, before returning to the bedside. Though loath to admit it, the restraints on Villain’s wrists made them feel far better.
“Hey, hey, Villain.” They did their best to return their smile to their face. Villain had stopped struggling, but their fists remained balled. “It’s okay. Hey, you’re okay.”
A pair of nervous eyes turned to them. At least, they thought that expression to be nervousness.
“Are you okay?” They spoke, slightly louder this time-- perhaps Villain simply couldn’t hear.
In an instant, Villain shrunk back onto the bed, their gaze darting away.
“I’m sorry for waking you up. Are you feeling okay?”
After a brief pause, Villain nodded, though they didn’t seem all too convinced. Counselor supposed that that was all they were going to get.
“Okay. Medic is busy today, so I’m going to be taking care of you today. I ran a bath for you. Do you want to take a bath?”
They almost opened their mouth, before going back, firmly pressing their lips together.
“It’s okay. You can talk. Do you want to talk a bath?”
“Okay.”
It wasn’t a very committal response, but they needed a bath. The dirt and tears streaked on their face were certainly only the beginning of it-- the rest simply covered by their hospital gown.
“Do you think you can walk?”
“Yes.”
Counselor hated just how much they hesitated as they reached for the restraints. Still, nervous or not, they were doing this. They undid the straps, letting them dangle from the bedframe. They placed an arm around Villain’s back, expecting to having to help them up, but they turned out to need minimal aid to do so. They did, on the other hand, need some help to get to their feet.
They could help but furrow their brow. When they’d arrived, Villain had been sick, sure, but at least had some strength. How had they gotten worse?
“Okay, the bath is just a few doors down. You can lean on me if you need.”
They just nodded. The two moved to the door, yet when Counselor reached for the handle, Villain froze. Even as the door opened, they refused to take another step, or so much as budge.
Counselor frowned, holding the frightened person closer to themself, practically whispering:
“It’s okay. Medic is all the way on the other side of the building. They’re asleep.”
That seemed to do the trick. Villain moved forward. The bath was only a few doors outside of the medical wing, and as they entered the room, the sheer warmth in the air was palpable. Counselor closed the door behind them, before helping Villain over to a wall and releasing their hold on them. They didn’t seem to need to lean on the wall at the moment, but they figured that it couldn’t hurt.
“I have some clean clothes for you when we’re done. Um, I don’t have to look, if you don’t want.”
“It’s fine.” Villain muttered-- the first real complete thought they had spoken so far.
“Okay. Take your time.”
They nodded. At some point, they had changed from their normal clothes to a hospital gown of sorts. It wasn’t exactly a complicated garment, but taking it off took a moment-- on account of Villain’s nervous, shaking hands. Still, they managed, hanging the gown over a towel rack.
“The bath is all ready, then. Whenever you’re ready.”
Villain nodded again, seeming intent on doing little more than agreeing. They approached the side of the bathtub, stared at the water, and broke.
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The washing room was cold.
That was what Villain had always thought of the room as, anyways. The washing room. A structure with concrete walls and a metal floor that dipped every few feet to allow for a drain to be embedded in it. Whatever else it was used for, they didn’t know.
But, to them, it was the washing room.
They kept their head low, staring down at their wrists pressed firmly against the floor, just ahead of their folded knees. At some point, days or perhaps decades ago, their wrists would be secured to the flooring for their baths. Now, they knew better. They knew it was easier not to struggle.
By all accounts, they should have gotten used to it. Regardless of Trainer’s other... behaviors, they were dedicated to keeping their Assets well taken care of. That meant a bath, every day of every week of every month of every year of every millennia.
Their head swam.
They wished they could get used to it. To the cold metal floor, and the chill in the air. But they couldn’t.
For a split second, they heard a valve unlatch and water flow through a hose. Next thing they knew, the ice struck them, biting at every inch of exposed skin, tearing and breaking.
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With an almost robotic suddenness, Villain’s arms jerked upwards, wrapping around their torso. A horrible shiver ran up their spine, spreading to the rest of them as well. Their teeth clenched together, their jaw quivering, their eyes gazing somewhere else, somewhere that wasn’t in the room.
“Villain? Hey, hey. It’s okay. You’re okay, you can take as much time as you need, you-”
None of the words reached them. They had left the bathroom as soon as they had looked into the water.
Again, they shivered.
For a moment, Counselor looked at them, mind spinning but running on empty. In this state, touching them probably wouldn’t do much good. They looked so cold...
Counselor’s gaze moved to the bathtub.
From one of their piles of rags, they clutched a piece of fabric, saturating it with the warm water filling the tub. As gently as they could manage, they draped the warm thing over the back of Villain’s neck, letting water droplets dribble down their exposed back.
Villain blinked, their eyes once again fixating on something real.
“Are you alright?”
They nodded.
“Are you sure?”
Another nod.
“The water is warm. It’s okay. I promise. Do you want to get in?”
“Yes.”
“Do you need any help?”
Villain shook their head as the rest of their body experienced one last shiver. They stepped into the water first, one foot after the other. The nonslip pad firmly secured to the bottom of the tub ensured that they had no issues sitting down. For a second, they seemed almost instinctively to kneel, before they moved to a sort of sitting position instead. They held their knees to their chest, as if trying to conserve warmth.
That hardness, that tension in their muscles, only seemed to stay for a moment. Then, like dye dissolving in water, it seemed to slowly dissipate. Not gone, but lessened.
It was working.
“I’m just going to try to get some dirt off of you, okay? If you ever want me to stop, just say so. Is that okay?”
“Yeah.”
Their voice, too, seemed to have relaxed, just ever so slightly, as if their vocal cords themselves had been tense beforehand.
Counselor began.
Had this been a regular bath, simple soap and water would have easily sufficed. This, however, was not a normal bath.
Sweat and tears and general filth had managed to accumulate over their skin, carving dark marks throughout. Blooming from their chest, as well, a half-healed scar was surrounded by dried blood that had been there for far too long.
With a small pitcher, they took water from the tub, pouring it over Villain’s body and rubbing with a washcloth. Their movements were gentle, as much as they could make them, and it seemed that wherever their washcloth moved, tension would dissolve like snow under sunlight.
It was in that manner that they cleaned the dirt, the tears and the sweat, the blood and the muck. The bathwater threatened at points to turn brown, but such attempts were quickly thwarted by the filter that continued to run with its subtle background flicking sound.
After several minutes of this (or, probably, more like half an hour), Counselor felt that enough tension had dissipated that, just maybe, Villain would be able to talk back. And they certainly had a lot to talk about. Without stopping their cleaning, they spoke, their voice blending in with the subtle movement of the water:
“How are you feeling, Villain?”
“The water is warm.” It was almost slurred.
““Does it feel nice?”
“Yeah.”
Counselor took a new washcloth, wetted it, and moved it to Villain’s cheek, carving a patch of cleanliness through a lifetime of dirt. They leaned into the touch.
“Were you scared, earlier?”
“I... I think so.”
“Do you want to talk about why you were scared.”
“I- Um, I don’t... I don’t like baths.”
“Do you know why that is?”
Some of that tension returned, in their neck.
“I don’t know.”
“That’s okay.” Counselor smiled. “Do you like this bath?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m glad.”
Villain hummed something, but if it was meant to be words, the message didn’t get across.
“Villain?”
“Mhm?”
“How have you been feeling, recently?”
“Um... I’ve been feeling fine.”
“You don’t have to be formal with me.” Taking care to avoid their eye, Counselor drew the washcloth between the bridge of Villain’s nose and the corner of their eyelid. They couldn’t help but feel that the marks, here, were mostly from tears. “You can tell me how you’re really feeling. I want to help.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve been feeling... sick.”
“Yeah. I think that’s why they moved you to the medical wing.”
“I don’t want to be there.”
“I know.” Counselor gave a sympathetic frown. “The sooner you get better, though, the sooner you can get out of there.” They put down their washcloth, picking the pitcher up once more. With one hand, they pushed the Villain’s bangs back, protecting their face at the same time. With the other, they poured a steady stream of water onto their hair. “What has the sickness been like? Is it like a cold?”
“No. It’s not a cold.”
“What is it like?”
“Like... Like I’m tired. And cold.”
“All the time?”
“Yeah.”
“When did you start feeling like that?”
Villain looked to Counselor, for the first time making direct, sustained eye contact. Counselor took a handful of shampoo, beginning to lather it into their hair. Again, they leaned into the touch as if it was their lifeline.
“Counselor?”
“Yeah?”
“Medic is making me sick.”
They finished their lathering, pouring another pitcher of water of their hair, washing the soap out into the tub below.
“Medic is making you sick?”
“Mhm.”
“How... How are they making you sick?”
“The food. They’re putting something in the food.”
Counselor felt like freezing, but knew that doing so would send Villain back to hiding in their proverbial corner. With their hair clean, they moved to rubbing soap over the rest of the skin, which had now been marginally cleaned off.
“Villain.” They frowned, again. “Do you have any special dietary requirements? Or do you need any medications?”
“No.”
Counselor pursed their lips into a thin line as they rubbed a thin film of white soap onto Villain’s shoulder blades.
“Medic told me that you needed special food. That it was the kind of thing that needed a doctor’s care.”
Villain nodded, a single hand balling into a fist.
“They’re making me sick.”
They finished rubbing the soap along their back, and briefly washed their hands on a cloth before picking the pitcher back up to finish rinsing.
“I believe you.”
“Y- You do?”
Warm water ran down their front.
“I do. And when we’re done here, we’re going to get you some real food. Then I’m going to give Medic a piece of my fucking mind.”
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genuflectx · 3 years ago
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Axiom’s End
This is a little review of an AMAZING book I just finished reading that exophilia lovers (and just sci-fi lovers in general) may enjoy to get in on, if not already! 
Parts of this review will have spoilers, but I will place the spoilery review under a cut (though some basic plot premises are discussed before the cut, they are not major spoilers)! So if you want a quick review read on, and for the more detailed spoilery review check under the cut. It includes a small snip of one page of the book to hopefully entice you.
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When it comes to books my search for truly engaging alien novels has been... a waste of time at best. And this story here simply didn’t pop up under my searches for, er, alien human romance novels, so you likely won’t find it by searching that either. I only discovered it by seeing the sparse fanart of it on Tumblr, which made me read it’s synopsis on wikipedia and wonder how on EARTH I had not come across this yet, as a terato blog.
So, Axiom’s End is a first contact story, but it is character driven, and all the characters (especially the main cast) are emotional and well developed. However I have a warning some may want to heed; it is existential and is aware of it. If you can’t handle a heavy feeling of dread, which several chapters tend to exude, might not be the story for you.
Do you like creepy, deathly still dragon-insect-robots with questionable morals staring you down? Ohhh boy, I sure do. The main alien character, Ampersand, and his species, are not humanoid. They are in the sense of having two arms two legs two eyes, etc, but otherwise are distinctly different and alien and- did I mention Ampersand is 9 feet tall? And some of his species are even taller? Woof. There aren’t any re-colored humans with four arms and a six pack here.
Through the story the main human Cora plays as Ampersand’s interpreter, being the only one who has the means to understand him. That means they are required to be rather... close. The juxtaposition between her human inflections and idea of ethics greatly clashes with Ampersand’s own blunt way of speaking and concept of right or wrong. When you’ve lived so many hundreds of years and have advanced nearly beyond comprehension that’ll do it to ya. How she and the alien get along and what the talk about is something I’ll leave under the cut. All you need to know is I friggin’ loved it. Best thing yet, book 2 comes out this October and is open for preorder!!
NOW, SPOILER TIME:
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^ Random page of the book of Cora and Ampersand speaking. ^
Ellis wanted to make this species nearly incomprehensible to human values, and god did she do it, and somehow even managed to do it while still making you love-hate them. Ampersand (and by extension his people) are so clinical and “logical” that they will lie by omission and not say sorry when found out, because if it benefited him why should he? Though we don’t dig into the other aliens’ personalities much, so I’ll focus on Amper.
Ampersand is hundreds and hundreds of years old, living through torture, surviving an alien planet, suffering the feeling of death when Cefo killed himself (and, later, when the 2nd one dies). He is, beneath a cold exterior, damaged and emotional, perhaps at first even attempting to pretend he wasn’t (through cold indifference) until Cora challenged him. He is manipulative, a walking contradiction, and at the end of it all, hiding his vulnerability. As an example, at one part closer to the end he lashes out when Cora is angry at him, and later expresses, to the best of his species abilities, a regret for his anger. So he KNOWS he has emotional flaws, but doesn’t start really admitting them till maybe ehh 75% into the book, roughly.
As we move through the story he goes from being so afraid of Cora that he keeps a ten foot distance and freezes when she looks at him, to not needing to be told twice before curling up beside her on a hospital bed. Even if he didn’t see humans as persons, he clearly did not want the planet to be destroyed by his people, and that does show a level of empathy for humans outside of Cora. Or... it could all be coldly logical to him (humans pose no real threat, thus, it would be illogical to warrant a genocide of the Earth- or is that just what he might tell himself?).
As you read you’ll begin to feel like Cora. The back and forth feeling of wanting to know more, of wanting to apply humanity to Ampersand and his people, but then getting ice water in your face when his actions remind you that he is in no way human. We may never fully understand the depth or shallowness of his empathy, and perhaps the closest thing comes in his immediate response to Cora of I do value you and his carefulness with petting her to comfort her. Though, even then, this statement does not express clear cut emotion. “Value” to Ampersand is not “value” to a human. Is she valued as a thing/asset or as a person? 
Also to make this clear since you came all this way for spoilers. Though I don’t know just how deeply it goes, or how synonymous it is to human romantic relationships, Cora and Ampersand become a thing by the end. The closest they could come to a romantic relationship, at least, with Ampersand bonding to Cora and snuggling up with her on a bed. 
I yap about Ampersand enough (he’s cool but not the only main character!!). Cora has her own traumas and issues outside of Ampersand. I imagine they will be expanded further in the second book, as in the first book her family trauma is mostly directed around she and her aunt. She had feelings and painful memories of her father, but in book 1 her father is a distant person, affecting the course of the story but she’s too far away (and busy) to have the means to confront him. And the rest of her family are in custody till the end, leaving them as a motivation for Cora, though nothing she can deal with immediately due to their distance. So while she has a LOT to go through book one is very alien-focused, with parts dedicated to Cora and her aunt, and her father as a far-off figure who changes the story but is never directly there in front of Cora. However, with the synopsis of book 2 already out, it’s clear her father may become even more of a plot point, with Cora being made to meet Nils’s informant.
Not only do I love this story as a terato fan, but it’s the only book I have devoured in three days. It kept me wanting to know what would happen next because I was so attached to everyone. Ellis is very thorough and this world is huge- a cumulation of a 10 year old story she’s had, only come to fruition in 2020. I CANNOT wait for book two! It comes out THIS OCTOBER and I will absolutely be pre-ording it!!
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bittykimmy13 · 4 years ago
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The Candescent King (GT Story)
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Premise: Sequel to "The Clandestine Queen". Andres returns to the hotel and is forced to confront the reality of Lorelei's life as a trinket.
Hi, I am now fully obsessed with Andres and Lorelei and I would die for them.
Warnings: dehumanization and threat of sexual assault
The print / trinket universe belongs to me and the lovely @little-miss-maggie​ / @marydublin5​ <3 Y’all have her to thank for the ending scene! The story almost ended much differently :’)
(( Read more about the print and trinket universe here! ))
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 He had certain expectations when he returned to the Onyx Citadel Hotel for the fourth time in two years. It was nightfall when he arrived. The lobby was decorated tastefully in black-and-white to honor the winter tournament. He headed straight for his suite rather than stop and interact with the other arriving players. As expected, the staff had already dropped off his belongings in the room.
However, she was not there.
He had known this day would come eventually, so why was there an involuntary chill running down his spine when he thought of the most obvious answer for her absence?
Moving mechanically, he went for the door. He had to be certain.
The elevator ride down, his thoughts were an odd mix of racing and frozen. He wasn't upset, he assured himself. He had no reason to be. They had both known this day would come, so why did it bother him so much? He battled his confusion as he made his way through the lobby. In the center, he saw some familiar tournament players gathered around a chessboard loaded with trinkets. He averted his eyes, striding for the front desk.
"May I help you, sir?" asked the woman behind the counter.
"Where is the trinket?"
Her friendly smile wavered with confusion. "I'm sorry?"
He sighed. "I don't recognize you. My name is Andres Soto. I have competed in the last three semi-annual tournaments. The staff knows to place the trinket known as Queenie in my room along with my luggage. But she is not there."
"Oh! Aren't you the reigning champion?" When he didn't respond, she pursed her lips and frowned in thought. "Queenie... The orange-haired gal? I apologize, sir, but she isn't available."
The chill in his spine should have dissipated now that he had an answer. But it stayed locked in place. "I see."
"Shall I put in a request at the bar to have another trinket sent to your room, Mr. Soto?"
"No." Andres started to pull away, but he supposed he owed it to Lorelei to at least ask. "Tell me what happened to her. A careless guest?"
The woman blinked, then gave a startled laugh. "She's not dead, Mr. Soto! She's just occupied."
Relief and frustration mingled in his gut. "Occupied? Why wasn't she sent to my room?"
"I'm terribly sorry. There was a massive change in management and employment in the past couple of months. I suppose whoever was making your... trinket arrangements must not have passed on the instructions. I'll be sure to let the bar and restaurant know that Queenie will be prioritized to you once she's available."
"You're going to make me wait," he deadpanned rather than asked. You know I'm the champion, and you're denying my request? He clenched his jaw to keep the comment in. It would only cause problems. His tone and expression, however, worked wonders.
Her voice became even more placating as she pointed across the lobby. "If you'd like to see her, she should be right over there," she said.
Andres shoved himself away from the front desk without another word and approached the small group gathered around the center board that had been set up. Two players, three eager observers. Plenty of room for him to see. He walked up with his hands in his pockets, eyeing the board with a sneer. He had made it a point to never be in the vicinity of a game of trinket chess, and it looked precisely the way he had imagined.
It was the most trinkets he had ever seen gathered so close together. Thirty-two were on the table, each of them scantily clothed in colors that reflected their team and designated piece. Red pawns. Yellow rooks. Green knights. Blue bishops. Purple royalty.
In no time at all, his eyes zeroed in on Lorelei. She was the queen, naturally, wearing sheer black lingerie with purple accents.
And she spotted him, too. He suspected she would be smart and pretend not to recognize him, but to his surprise, she threw a minuscule hand over her head and waved it enthusiastically. Her stance was unsteady, a carefree grin plastered on her face.
Drunk.
"Hey!" she called. "Tall, dark, and scary! Hi! I had a dream about you the other night!"
Very drunk.
The players and the small audience followed her gaze with confusion. Their eyes widened when they realized who had come to observe them. He gave the faintest nod of acknowledgment, ignoring Lorelei's whoops for attention.
"Gentlemen," he murmured.
"Soto." Theo Jackson, the man playing black, did not bother hiding the irk on his face. Andres couldn't blame him; coming in 2nd place twice in a row did that to a person. "Thought you'd decide this little tournament was below your rating by now. What are you still doing, coming back here?"
Andres shrugged. "I like to win. But don't mind me. Carry on."
They settled back into the game. He tried to watch with a neutral expression, but at least any visible disgust on his face was to be expected from him. Lorelei was a mess, nearly stumbling into the neighboring square every time the board was jostled by the players' movements. The bishop beside her kept grabbing her arm to steady her.
The trinkets were plucked up and moved like pieces. Each one of them looked either frightened or entirely checked-out. But when they were captured by the opposing side and taken off the board, their relief was visible. That was, except for the pieces Jackson captured. His hands had a tendency to wander to his captured pieces while he thought of his next move.
Being the queen, Lorelei was likely to be in the game for the long haul. Andres thought about walking away. The front desk woman had promised the trinket would be delivered to him later, but something kept him rooted there. It was a strange stab of betrayal, having gotten to know her and now seeing her debase herself. It wasn't her fault, but he had the urge to correct obscenity nonetheless. Especially considering how hell-bent she seemed on getting herself killed.
"Psst." She turned around and waved both hands up at Jackson. "Listen! You've got an opening right there, and you don't see it, do you? You're blowing it. Move me to A4, c'mon!"
"Shut the fuck up." Jackson forcefully turned her back around and flicked her between the shoulder blades, sending her onto her hands and knees.
The bishop gasped and leaned down to check if she was alright.
"No, don't help her," Jackson snapped. The bishop straightened immediately. "Little bitch needs to learn her place."
Lorelei's shoulders wracked and she caught her breath. Andres was a live wire of tension, trying to talk himself down from lunging in and taking her away. The tension eased as she stood up and rolled her shoulders as if nothing had happened. Meanwhile, the player on white looked remarkably nervous, staring at the board and obviously mapping out the plan Lorelei had offered.
Jackson went quiet, doing the same. Then he snorted, "Whaddaya know." He plucked up Lorelei and moved her to A6. The game was over in less than three moves after that.
Lorelei was the piece to catch the king in checkmate. She skipped over and looped her arm in his, raising her eyebrows at Jackson. "See? What did I tell you?"
"That's not right," the other player spat. "You had help!"
Jackson scoffed. "As if this was a real match. Besides, are you insinuating that a fucking trinket helped me? I was going to move her there anyway."
"Fuck you, I was about to have you cornered." The other player stood up and stormed off. He wouldn't last long in the tournament with a blatant temper like that.
"Who's next?" Jackson declared.
"I am," Andres said before anyone had time to take a breath.
He slid into the seat, glancing down as the pieces dutifully rearranged themselves where they belonged. Lorelei stumbled back to her spot and smiled right at him. At least she didn't wave or yell for him. He had seen her on a board plenty of times, facing him, but never like this. He could see the trinkets on his side casting wary glances up over their shoulders at him, trying to get a read on their current master. One split second of eye contact was all it took to make them face forward again.
Lorelei, in her idiotic state, turned to face Jackson and planted a hand on her hip. "I hope you're ready to get your ass whupped," she said.
His expression darkened, and Andres wouldn't have been surprised if she was broken in half right then and there. But Jackson slid a smirk to Andres. "Am I sensing some history here? Oh, Soto. You've always acted like some kind of moral paragon. No wonder you turn down every drink with a trinket. You've only got eyes for this little bite, huh?"
Andres regarded him coolly. "She was delivered to my room one night against my wishes and has plagued me ever since. Are we playing or not?"
"No one's stopping you from starting."
Sighing, Andres leaned forward and studied the untouched board. He knew Jackson's strategies well enough to put him away swiftly, but he would need a different approach this time. His hand automatically reached for the board, but he paused when he remembered these were not carved pieces of wood. Hiding a wince, he tapped one of the pawns on the back. The young man spun around and looked up, eyes wide under Andres' shadow.
"You, move to E4," Andres ordered.
The pawn swallowed hard. "I-I'm sorry, I-I don't know where—"
Gathering nonexistent patience, Andres tapped the board. "Move here. Two spaces forward."
The pawn hurried to obey, eyes trained down.
Despite his attempts to focus on the game itself, Andres couldn't help but wonder what each of the white pieces on his board had done to land their fate. Murderers, traitors, those who had no place in society. He glanced across the board at Lorelei, who was swaying to music that wasn't there. She perked up when they locked gazes, and he was almost saddened by the strange hope in her eyes. With her inhibitions decimated, it was all too clear how much she trusted him.
He glanced at the pieces on the board again and wondered, How many innocents?
His thoughts shattered when Jackson snatched up a pawn of his own without warning, seeming to savor the way the girl whimpered and squirmed in the tight pinch of his fingers.
"Settle down, darling," he crooned. "You're expendable. The game will be over for you soon." When he set her down on the board, she hugged her arms and trembled, tears streaking down her face.
Andres tore his eyes away from her. Nothing he could do.
He made foolish moves from then on, but they were perfectly calculated. His primary goal for once was not to win; he only wished to capture the queen. It was child's play to reach Lorelei, considering any player's strategy would focus on protecting the king. He ordered the pieces where to go, pointing and nudged if he needed to. When he captured Jackson's pieces, he made them walk to him rather than snatching them up.
Jackson smirked each time Andres refused to grab the trinkets, making a show of picking up his own pieces and taking an unreasonable amount of time to decide his move. He held them in his palm, toyed with him while deep in thought.
Finally, Andres captured Lorelei. He had to resist the urge to pluck her up. Jackson would undoubtedly notice the special treatment.
"Come over here," Andres said, beckoning her to move among the other pawns and the knight he had captured.
"Yessir." She pranced over to him, giving a clumsy twirl and making a rude gesture at Jackson so that only Andres could see it. She took a seat behind his side of the board, and he paid no mind to the triumphant smile she aimed up at him.
His next strategy was to make it a point to capture as many pieces as possible. Once he had a small crowd of black pieces on his side of the table, it was easy enough to discreetly drop a hand over Lorelei and sweep her away from the others. He moved her to his lap under the table. With people watching around him, slipping her into his pocket would be too noticeable. He let her go on his thigh, praying she wasn't foolishly drunk enough to fall off. He could feel her tiny weight, along with the slightest tremble. Not from fear, though—he had a feeling she was giggling to herself.
From then on, it was business as usual. He managed to corner Jackson and capture the king despite his seemingly sloppy plays at the beginning. With the queen gone, anyway, there was hardly a contest.
Huffing, Jackson glared at what remained of his chess pieces, as if they had anything to do with his loss. Then he turned that irked look to Andres. "You really shouldn't be here," Jackson said. "You know you're gonna clean up. Give someone else a chance, would you?"
"Maybe you should work on your strategies," Andres returned.
Before Jackson could snap back, someone from the group piped up, "Mr. Soto, can I play a round with you?"
He shook his head. "I'm going to my room to relax before the opening social." He cupped a hand around Lorelei so that she smoothly fell into his palm when he stood. He strode away, arm relaxed at his side, and his fist closely loosely.
He waited by the elevators until he could catch one alone. When the doors were sealed, he lifted his hand and unfurled his fingers enough to see her. Lorelei sat up and leaned back on her hands, a flirtatious smile on her lips that was entirely unlike her—at least when she was with him.
"Hello again," she slurred. "My hero."
"You're drunk," he said. "How disappointing. I was hoping we could play a few matches tonight." He shook his head, observing her unfocused eyes. "It would not be fair to you."
She waved a hand at him. "Ah, don't be so dramatic. I was on bar duty before the tournament players started arriving. I'm fine."
The elevator came to a stop. Lorelei scrambled to the edge of Andres' hand and vomited over the side. Some landed on his shoe. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and smiled sheepishly at his unimpressed expression.
"My bad," she said. "I swear I wasn't aiming there."
Breathing out sharply, he exited the elevator and headed for his suite. He took her straight to the lounger by the coffee table, laying out a pillow and setting her down on it.
"Sleep it off, Señorita Lorelei. I have a social I must attend. Will you be fine in three hours?"
"Probably." She stretched her arms over her head and laid asprawl. "And for the thousandth time, call me Lore."
Despite the state she was in, he imagined she wouldn't stay drunk for long. Trinkets rose back to soberness much quicker than natural people. Andres wasn't sure if it was an automatic side effect of their size or an intentional feature of their engineering to ensure they couldn't soothe themselves with inebriation for too long.
He stepped into the bedroom to change his shoes. As he headed back for the door to leave, she waved her hand to get his attention.
"No blanket?" She pouted. "I'm cold, you monster."
He rolled his eyes. "Shall I tuck you in and sing you a lullaby, too? You are demanding tonight."
"That's what you get for treating me like a person, Señor Andres. Now I've got all these sick and dangerous thoughts in my head about wanting to be comfortable."
"Well, stop it."
"No, sir. They're my sick and dangerous thoughts, and you can't take them away. Besides, you owe me."
He dug through one of his bags beside the coffee table until he found a silk handkerchief. "I saved you," he pointed out.
"Out of the kindness of your heart? Please. You owe me because you're going to get me in trouble, making me magically vanish like that. In fact, I'm sure there is sheer chaos downstairs over a kidnapped queen. They'll think I'm a runner."
"I'll tell the front desk I collected you." He braced his hands on either side of the cushion and leaned over her. "Would you like to write a script for me? Should I say you are too enchanting to resist, and I needed you all to myself tonight?" He dropped the handkerchief over her.
She squirmed under the fabric until she found her way out—which took twice as long as it should have. "Perfect, couldn't have scripted it better myself. Try to sound like you mean it, though." He snorted and started to pull away. "Wait!" she said. "Speaking of saving me. Can I tell you about the dream I had about you? Very quick."
He sighed. "What?"
"I dreamed..." She lowered her voice to a whisper, forcing him to lean closer. "That you stole me away from here. And we played chess day and night. And you still never beat me. It was lovely."
He didn't know how to feel or what to say. She had never been like this. Never said anything like this. And the way she looked at him... Her little eyes bright and naive over the edge of his handkerchief. He did not enjoy this drunken version of Lorelei Weaver. Not in the slightest.
"Sleep it off," he murmured again. "I want you ready to play when I get back." Then he made his escape.
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The moment she started to come to, her face flushed. She couldn't remember everything with clarity, but she remembered enough to be embarrassed. Groaning low in her throat, she sat up and used the corner of the handkerchief to wipe the dry crust from the corner of her lips. Maybe if Andres wasn't too disgusted with her, she could wheedle a drop of mouthwash from him.
Footsteps thudded toward the room. She glanced at the clock on the wall. It had been roughly three hours since she passed out. Straightening her back, she smoothed her hair down and folded her hands on her lap. Although her head was clear, it ached.
"Oh, good," she said when Andres stalked into the room. "I thought I had only hallucinated seeing your grumpy face. How bad was the social? Did they make you..." She shuddered dramatically. "Mingle?"
"Well, you clearly feel better." He approached the lounger and didn't bother kneeling for her sake. He never did. More of the looming type. "What did you think you were doing, getting drunk like that?"
A faint, scalding smile perked on her lips. "I was forced to. The guest I was lucky enough to get saddled with likes his trinkets good and giddy. Is that fair enough for you?"
"Fair enough." His expression didn't change, other than something at the back of his eyes that was too far away to see. "It's good that you're fine now. They want to see you downstairs at the bar to make sure you have not escaped." His hand dove for her.
"Wait!" she cried. He paused, frowning. "I've had enough today. I'm not in the mood to be manhandled any more. Can't you... lay your hand down or something?"
"Why?"
"Easier on my ribs and my ego, believe it or not." She pressed her lips into a tight line and glowered straight up at him. "Doesn't seem like too much to ask for you to lay your damn hand down."
Looking like a kid forced to eat his vegetables, he dropped his hand beside her. She climbed on, and he swept her up not a moment after she settled. She grabbed at his fingers to keep from tumbling off. Already she missed the safety of the handkerchief, but the warmth of his skin was a fair substitute.
They didn't speak as he took her downstairs to the bar, where a few players were sipping on drinks, laughing, cutting up. She adopted her usual pose on her knees, shoulders back, eyes down. From her glances, she recognized a few of the players—both from her days as a human and from her evening of being their queen piece in the lobby.
"Here she is," Andres said to the bartender. "Satisfied?" He thrust her out in his open palm.
The bartender lurched back, looking from Lorelei to Andres, stammering. "I'll get the manager. Would you like a drink while you wait, Mr. Soto?"
"No."
As the bartender walked off, the man seated closest scoffed. "Well, that's a damn shame."
Theo Jackson. Lorelei kept her head turned away as if there was any hope that he might not recognize her.
Apparently tired of holding her, Andres lowered her to the bar counter. She nearly asked him to pluck her right back up, ribs and ego or not. She couldn't help but look at Jackson, going cold at the lust in his eyes as he tipped back his drink and reached for the other that had been laid out for him.
"What shame?" Andres asked boredly. She wanted to scream at him for indulging Jackson.
Jackson pointed at her with the hand that held his scotch. "Pretty little thing like that, and you don't even have a drink to put her in. I knew you swiped her. Figured you'd at least be putting her to good use."
"Mr. Soto." A woman interrupted, approaching from the other side of the bar and putting her hand out to shake. Andres had to step to the side to reach her. "It's a pleasure to meet you. Now, about the trinket. An employee is retrieving a case. You are welcome to enjoy your regular trinket during your stay, but it's required that she remain in the case when you're not around—"
"Yes, yes, I know the rules."
Despite that, she went on. Lorelei edged closer to where Andres had moved, feeling exposed. A second after the dreadful sensation came over her, a hand shot across the bar and snatched her up. Jackson covered her scream before she could let it loose, bringing her further down the bar, further from Andres. He hushed her gently, pinning her to the counter and keeping her muzzled. His fingers were cold from the chilled glass.
"What's the trouble, darling?" His voice was much sweeter now that he wasn't playing chess. "Soto doesn't know how to treat you right. And you've got my attention. Isn't that wasn't you wanted, pulling that cool little move during my game?" He brushed a fingertip along her side, controlling her with only one hand while the other lifted the drink to his lips for another sip. "You must get played with a lot at these tournaments to know the game so well."
While she squirmed and tried to buck her way free, he leaned down closer. The stench of whiskey wafted around her.
"Why don't we go up to my room, and I show you a thing or two in return?"
He reached under her lingerie. She bit the fingertip covering her mouth. It was barely anything, but he flinched all the same and allowed her to scream.
"Stop!" she yelped.
"What are you doing?" Andres barked.
A shadow descended upon them. The drink was swiped to the ground, Andres' hand crashing into it like a freight train. Glass shattered. The pressure of Jackson's hand vanished. Lorelei scrambled backward on her hands and rear, gasping for breath as she watched Andres and Jackson come to blows.
Jackson shoved Andres into the bar, making it rattle like an earthquake. Lorelei ducked down and covered her head, peeking over her knees as Andres landed a brutal punch to Jackson's stomach.
"Stop!" the manager screamed, backing away to the other side of the bar. "Stop now! Or we'll get security! You'll be arrested!"
Andres grabbed the front of Jackson's shirt and then shoved him away, seething.
Coughing, Jackson leaned on the bar. "What are you, a fucking sympathizer?" he spat, face contorting with disgust.
"Not in the slightest," Andres growled. "But she is mine."
"Mr. Soto," the manager said in a quavering voice. "You could be disqualified—"
"No," Jackson said. "No. I'm not pressing charges or reporting this or anything. I wanna face this fucker during the finals."
A very confused-looking hotel employee walked up holding a glass trinket case. Andres pulled away from the bar and snatched the case before reaching for Lorelei. There was no waiting for her to climb on this time. He closed her in a fist and stormed off. Even over the sound of his footsteps, Lorelei heard the manager offer Jackson a complimentary trinket for his troubles.
All the way to the room, Andres did not lift his fist from his side. She couldn't help but tremble, replaying the events of the fight over and over in her mind. These weren't the carefully calculated moves of a chess game; this was chaos. Utter chaos that she had never expected to manifest in him. She had gotten so used to his collected prowess on the board that she hadn't imagined what he could do in a physical fight.
He entered his suite and put her down on the lounger. She wasn't surprised at all when he immediately began setting up his chessboard on the coffee table. She would have asked him to do it if he hadn't.
"One match before bed," he said. "I need to rest before the first round tomorrow."
Lorelei stayed quiet, hugging her knees as she watched him arrange the pieces. With each clack of wood on the board, she pictured him driving his fists into Jackson. He glanced at her every few seconds, looking like he was working himself up to say something. Then he would think better of it.
Finally, when the board was ready, he spoke.
"Did I frighten you?" he asked without the smallest measure of apology.
"Does it matter?"
"Are you too distracted to play?"
"Never."
"Then it does not matter."
He walked around the coffee table to the lounger and reached for her. He stopped short and turned his hand over beside her, offering his palm instead. She chuckled mirthlessly and scooted over to climb on. "Well, look at that. He can be taught."
She took the white team and started the game. In no time, she felt at home among the light-up squares and smooth wooden pieces. There was no rust to shake off from her strategy. No uncertainty. Since his second visit, she had been given a reason to keep her chess mind sharp.
He, however, was the one who seemed distracted as she paced around the pieces. She was well on her way to beating him in less than twenty-five moves.
"Your move," she declared when his expression stayed distant for too long.
He blinked at her, then pushed a hand up his face with a heavy sigh. "Lorelei..."
"Lore."
"Lore. When I said you were mine..." He heaved another sigh. "I want to make something perfectly clear. I hope you don't really have any fanciful ideas about me taking you away from here. I will not put myself at risk like that."
She pursed her lips and pointed at the board. "Your move."
He rubbed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger, then slumped forward with his elbows on his knees. "Listen to me, Lore. This is the last time you'll see me here. You understand?"
She did understand. She understood that this was the first time he had seen her life outside the safety that his visits provided. She understood that he had seen the aftermath of a regular afternoon on bar duty for her. She understood that he had seen what people like Jackson did when they got their hands on her. She understood that none of it was enough to make him take the risk for her.
"This tournament is far below your rating," she said, folding her hands behind her back and strolling along the edge of the board away from him. She peeked back over her shoulder. "I was surprised you showed up at all."
"I have you to thank for my improved rating. But you are correct. I have no business at this tournament anymore."
She turned around, wishing so badly that this didn't hurt the way it did. "Then why are you here?"
His eye contact did not waver. He straightened up and looked down at her. "Because you are the best I've played in my life. Perhaps the best I ever will play. I am determined to beat you before the tournament is over. I have lost sleep over you, Señorita Lorelei. I would like to sleep soundly again. Please don't ruin it with your fanciful thoughts."
"They're my fanciful thoughts, Señor Andres. And you can't take them away. They're all I have." She pointed at the board once more, determined to memorize every last turn of their final games together. "Your move."
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The morning after the tournament finals, Lorelei awoke unsure of her surroundings. She wasn't in the hotel room. Not in the cylindrical container the staff supplied Andres. She should have awoken to the sound of housekeeping knocking at the door, but instead she heard a cacophony of voices.
Motion caught her attention. Swaying. Footsteps.
Realizing she was in a pocket, she all but shot to her feet to get a look at who was holding her. Had Andres left her outside the room for some random guest to sweep up and torment? That didn't seem like him, even if he had been particularly sulky during their last night together when he still failed to beat her.
Bracing herself, she peeked up from the coat.
A familiar face. His dark eyes shot from the phone in his hand to the fact poking out of his jacket. Andres shot her a sharp look, then typed away at his phone. He lowered it enough for her to see.
"Don't get excited. This is not a rescue, I'm stealing a private tutor."
She had only half a second to read it before his hand filled her vision. He pushed her back down, one finger pressing her belly as if to tell her stay. Then his hand withdrew, and his steps resumed. Her heart hammered as the sound of an airline announcement caught her ear.
Finally, he had made a move she did not predict.
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aelaer · 4 years ago
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First: welcome home & I hope you get the sleep you need to get back into your routines! Second: it's Feb. 2, a significant day to our beloved Stephen Strange. I know you're exhausted right now, and the timing is poor--but perhaps when you're up to, you could write a little one-shot about his feelings all these years later (is it 2022 or 2023?) on the anniversary of the accident that changed his life forever. Can't think of anyone better suited to write it! xx
This was sent a year ago but last month I planned to have it out for Feb 2nd, hah.
For canon, he comes back in 2023 in what I think was likely after Feb 2nd, so realistically he can address the anniversary again in 2024. It'd feel like only 3 years for him while, in actuality, it'd been 8. But when it comes to his experienced time versus actual passing time, Stephen's pretty messed up without the Decimation already (I'm not sure how I feel about the name of the "Blip" yet.)
The prompter also requested first person after I asked for more details, and I haven't ever written Stephen in first person so I thought I'd give it a go. I know first person isn't everyone's cup of tea, but if you're willing to give it a shot, call me very obliged.
Warning for canon compliance :P
——————
Staring Back In Time Rating: G (well, other than language)
An entry from the memoirs of Doctor Stephen Strange, Earth's Sorcerer Supreme, during his time as the Master of the New York Sanctum, several months after the Battle of Earth against Thanos:
February 2, 2024
Calendars don't mean as much as they used to. Once upon a time my life was ruled by the calendar. Consultation here, surgery there, society dinner over the weekend. Dates were important and generally set without change once marked down.
It doesn't work that way as a sorcerer. I keep a schedule, of course, one that marks down classes with apprentices and adepts and meetings with other Masters, never mind all the business outside of Kamar-Taj. But I learned early on that these set times shifted occasionally to accommodate the emergencies that the order often had to quash down, and it became obvious that as a Master, my schedule was more of a hopeful guideline than anything set in stone. Flexibility was a necessity.
Ever since my return to the living, keeping anything resembling a set schedule has been more of a laughable dream. Earth being the center of two universe-changing, Infinity Stone-powered events in a matter of hours did serious damage to the fabric woven about reality across the planet, and the Masters of the Mystic Arts are going to be dealing with the multidimensional repercussions for years to come. Nothing is predictable in my day-to-day anymore.
My relationship with time was fucked the moment I confronted Dormammu, so I can't say it's a large surprise that calendars have become mostly irrelevant.
If someone had told me that I, Doctor Stephen Strange, a man of order and precision, would learn to live with such unpredictability, I would have laughed in their face. But I'm not the man I once was (and thank God for that; that man was a dick). However, it's also because of this change that I didn't realize the day until it was nearly done.
I was reviewing my schedule for tomorrow, which I had set up on Google Calendar (Google had, naturally, survived the Decimation just fine, but like most other non-vital services, had many of their upcoming products delayed for years. But their email and calendar services continue to work great). Tomorrow's a Saturday, which means nothing in my world. My work continues on. The threats on our reality care little for weekends or holidays.
Still, it was only during this review, shortly before I planned to retire for the night, that I realized that today is February 2nd.
I won't ever forget the day, of course. It was both three years ago and eight years ago—or perhaps many lifetimes ago would be a more accurate description, though I lost track of time in both of my major journeys with the Time Stone. One day I'll write about them. Not now, but one day. Both memories are still too fresh.
The memory of the day of the accident, though? It feels both like yesterday and centuries ago. Some parts of the day are engraved in my memory like a film. I remember the last surgery down to the individual conversations. Christine's "thank you". Nick's watch. The cling of the bullet as I dropped it onto the tray.
I can remember my last conversation with Billy, too, in the car. Every damned word. But the drive itself is fuzzy, even in my head with my memory. I remember it began to rain during the drive, not beforehand, and I know the road was narrow and two-laned. I know I avoided a direct route to avoid traffic, driving first into Jersey before heading north and crossing the river again. But the rest is forgotten to time, or perhaps to trauma.
I was told that Billy was the first to call 9-1-1 as he heard the tearing of metal and shattering of glass before the connection was lost. The driver I hit—I learned much later that she escaped with only minor injuries—called a couple minutes later. But it was out in the mountains, dark, and raining. It took them hours to find me and extract me from the car.
Funny. Never thought I'd ever write about one of the worst days of my life like this. But I was told early on that personal journals were encouraged for all who stay in Kamar-Taj. Something about its therapeutic benefits was mentioned at some point. I only picked up the practice once I learned that each gifted journal was inaccessible to others until the time of their death, and after I mastered the art of enchanting a pen to write the words I spoke. Unfortunately this journal appeared to others after the Decimation, but Wong has reassured me that no one read it and it has since disappeared again from public view. 
Still, the point is that, one day, someone just might read this—account of a man who was part of an effort to save the universe. And it is difficult for a reader to judge my actions if they don't know how I was the one who ruined my life. My driving was reckless and stupid. I was running a little late, but it wouldn't have mattered in the long run had I been fifteen, twenty minutes, thirty minutes late. Not really.
Then again, I suppose it would have. I certainly wouldn't be here right now.
One could say that the accident and everything that has followed is some sort of penance for my hubris as a surgeon. I enjoy my newer abilities—quite a bit—but the responsibility that has come with them has not come without its own hardships and sacrifices. Perhaps the worst of the sacrifices were the ones I was unable to prevent others from performing, all for the sake of the universe.
Those sacrifices were made willingly, but I cannot help but feel responsible for them, regardless. 
During my first winter again returned to the living, when the days grew colder and my hands ached in the bad weather, and the only thoughts to accompany the pain were bitter, another thought was born. I was tempted, for the first time in a long time, to give it all up, restore my fine motor skills with channeled magic, and go back to the world I once knew, for a life much, much easier than this one is now. Even with all the troubles that had cropped up as people tried to reorganize a world that doubled in size overnight, it was miles away from the difficulties we were facing in Kamar-Taj.
Their sacrifices—the fates I pushed so many people towards—quelled the idea quickly. It did little to ease the physical pain or sting of guilt, but it lifted the temptation. And ever since that day, I have considered the situation and I don't think I will ever be tempted by the idea of giving up my duties for an easier, pain-free life again.
And I suppose that counts for something.
——————
(Hey look, my interest in geography's leaked again.)
I've always wondered where Stephen actually crashed mostly because New York City is *flat* and those mountains were *very much not flat*. I figured out the bridge that he crossed to get out of the city (there are like, 21 bridges that lead out of Manhattan) was the George Washington Bridge, and it leads to New Jersey—but that's not necessarily useful because it can quickly turn back into New York state if you turn north. We also know he crashed down into a body of water, which *might* be the Hudson, but also might not, but that the body of water is to his left, which narrows it down a bit. But again, not much. And the site of his crash is so dark in the videos and screenshots that I can barely tell what's on it. It looks like a bridge and some industrial building, so the Hudson's a good guess, but otherwise? Well, basically I turned on the topography part of Google maps and started searching.
The 202 on the east side of the river just north of Peekskill (again in New York) matches the movie road's windiness, height, and closeness to the river, and even has a bridge that could be just to the north of the crash site. Unfortunately the railing's off and there's no industrial building thingy by the bridge. It also makes the route out of the city via George Washington Bridge make no sense. Like the Stark Industries area in LA in the films, it's probably a completely fictional landscape.
But as I wasn't able to find a better locale that was still close enough to NYC to direct an emergency helicopter to, my headcanon for this scene is that he left via George Washington bridge to avoid some major traffic or something, crossed the river via the 287 a bit further up north to get back to the east side of the river, then went up the 9 to the 202. Unless someone who lives in the area can find the actual road he was driving (if it's real), this is what I'm gonna go with. (And if someone DOES please let me knowwwww). Funny enough, I don't see him getting led to *his* hospital totally unrealistic, because he'd need a very talented orthopedic surgeon with a specialty in hands to come in, and generally speaking a patient can be helicoptered to another hospital where such a surgeon is available. If Stephen is working at the Metro-General, it's likely they can afford a large cast of talented surgeons. So I don't think Nick was necessarily the lead surgeon in his case, just one of many necessary surgeons.
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pawthorn · 3 years ago
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I posted 1,119 times in 2021
257 posts created (23%)
862 posts reblogged (77%)
For every post I created, I reblogged 3.4 posts.
I added 1,498 tags in 2021
#critical role - 511 posts
#cr spoilers - 284 posts
#caduceus clay - 163 posts
#criticalrole - 129 posts
#campaign 2 - 118 posts
#campaign 3 - 91 posts
#exandria unlimited - 61 posts
#the mighty nein - 53 posts
#dimension 20 - 45 posts
#dorian storm - 43 posts
Longest Tag: 139 characters
#well yeah we could have put you in an accellerated program and had you skip a few grades but would that have really helped you as a person?
My Top Posts in 2021
#5
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[Image: Protected Kevin Hart meme with "Laudna" holding "Dorian" and staring down "Some Random Corsair"]
Back off her sweet boy.
637 notes • Posted 2021-12-03 04:48:03 GMT
#4
Taliesin's characters all suffer from competency syndrome.
What I mean by that is, they're good at convincing the other characters and the audience that they have things figured out. That they know how the world, or at least how their world, works. Percy thinks of himself as the only grown-up, even as he makes bad and self-destructive choices. Ashton laments 'has no one crimed!?' while not actually criming very well themselves. Molly declares that 'the truth is vicious,' and Caduceus insists honesty is usually the simplest and best strategy, while Taliesin shakes his head lovingly at what idiots they both are.
But because each is so firmly rooted in their beliefs, they come across as having their shit together, as being people that don't want or need guidance and advice. They handle themselves, and have private panic attacks along the way. Other characters rarely call them out on their BS. Percy literally had demonic smoke pouring out of him before Vex confronted him. Molly died, struck down by his own blood curse, before anyone could make him question himself.
Taliesin's character's have always been studies in hubris. He ends up taking some of the biggest risks in the game because his characters think they know what they're doing. Things often work out alright, but when they don't, as with Molly, the results can be catastrophic. Think back to Caduceus and Vokodo. Cad was convinced he’d figured out something about the entrance to Vokodo's layer. He swam close enough to test his theory, and got caught. If Fjord hadn't been close at hand, if Marisha hadn't rolled a natural 20 for Beau's search, the situation would have been dire. And yet Caduceus’ judgement was never really questioned. (Love that for him. Baby boy.)
And so I’m very interested to see what happens with Ashton. Because there is obvious, visible trauma there. And their outlook, the outlook that the word friend “implies a level of trust that isn’t necessarily healthy…” that outlook has to change at some point, by the very nature of the game. So far, the group has followed them, and no one has questioned them, not even Laudna But-how-did-they-die Laudna.
I wonder how long it’ll take the group to confront him, to challenge or question him, and what outside circumstances might push them to do so...
732 notes • Posted 2021-11-27 19:45:36 GMT
#3
Been thinking about Dorian and Jack of all Trades.
I've seen a lot of people point out that Dorian's insecurity and anxiety is a unique choice in a bard, because stereotypically, bards are full of empty-headed bravado, but BUT look at this feature:
Jack of all Trades: Starting at 2nd Level, you can add half your Proficiency Bonus, rounded down, to any ability check you make that doesn't already include your Proficiency Bonus.
This creates a really interesting dichotomy. Because most of the time, especially out of combat, bards are super competent. They're skill monkeys. Put a survival or history or athletics check in from of them, and they're probably going to do well.
But it's a facade.
Because even though the skills are there, the base abilities are often not. And that's where Saving Rolls come from. The rolls that matter, that can make or break a game.
It feels like Dorian is keenly aware of this.
When other characters look at him as helpful, reliable, valuable, he gets uncomfortable, because he knows, he knows that eventually, he will slip up. That there will be moments when the fakery falls away, when the core of him is tested and found lacking.
It's a really relatable feeling, for me at least, and I love that it's fully supported by the mechanics of the game. I'm really enjoying Dorian's story so far, and I hope we get to see a lot more of it.
885 notes • Posted 2021-11-24 13:12:47 GMT
#2
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You'll believe a cow-man can fly...
1075 notes • Posted 2021-05-01 19:38:28 GMT
#1
Aaaaargh I have THOUGHTS about Aabria Iyengar and player agency.
Not character agency. Player agency.
"I'm going to let you tell me what happens here."
What a powerful phrase. It shows trust and confidence in her players, yes, but it also shows trust and confidence in herself.
Aabria knows that, no matter what outlandish thing the players manifest, she can cope. She can make it work. So you get all these moments of players really shaping the story, even outside of their characters (like the character intros in ExU, or when Danielle helped narrate the action at the familiar shop in MisMag.) The story has more color and life because more voices are speaking into it.
Watching the way she runs a game has changed the way I think about running my own. I hope I can be brave enough to apply what I'm learning from her.
3053 notes • Posted 2021-07-15 11:53:51 GMT
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