#Biggest Boat Fair Show | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

starkenobi · 14 days ago

Text

The White Wolf | Bucky Barnes x reader

masterlist — warnings: fantasy; romance; werewolf!bucky; pirate!reader; prince!bucky; stark!reader; soulmates.

Summary: She's one of the greatest pirates of her time, bringing chaos throughout the human kingdoms... Until an unfortunate event changes her life completely. And the white wolf makes sure to be definitive.

The salty breeze of a typical hot day, the clear blue sky mixing with the deep blue ocean as they meet on the horizon, the sun at its peak illuminating and guiding the way. A moment of calm that Y/N wouldn't trade for anything, the feeling of belonging that only the sea could provide her.

Of course, things weren't always easy, the life she chose constantly provided an adrenaline rush, the need to fight to conquer what she wanted. Gaining fame early on, she rarely needed to worry about surviving. Not when the supernatural was on the same side, being the biggest client for her services. Dealing with other humans was one of the least of her concerns and for the Phantom crew.

There was some truth to the rumors circulating on land. Y/N Stark had renounced the golden spoon in which she was born, preferring to take possession of a ship and embrace the title of pirate. With her money, power and influence, she became one of the worst nightmares of the entire kingdom, making sure to leave her mark of chaos while plundering the rulers and their court. The pirates of Phantom enjoyed destroying the royal plans, getting in the way, especially when the royalty pursued the supernatural.

To further fuel the rumors, a new commander - from the royal guard of the largest kingdom to declare war on Y/N - was chosen for the mission to arrest the pirate. Tony Stark, her twin.

This should have been the sign that she should be more careful and prepare for the time when she'd have to face her brother. However, Y/N still had a fondness for him and memories of their youth were her weak point. But, certainly, no one expected that the always fair commander Tony Stark would attack during a storm, with no intention of taking the Phantom crew members to prison or alive, especially his own twin. 'You are a disgrace' were the only words the male Stark said before shooting the pirate he once called sister. The commander's cold, emotionless face was the last thing Y/N saw before she was swallowed by the dark waters of the sea.

"Man overboard! Attention, starboard!"

What should have been a calm routine patrol, with all the peace agreements between the four empires, quickly became a day of uncertainties. Under the watchful eyes of Captain Natasha, the crew members quickly moved to save whoever was overboard, placing the body on the deck. A woman. Natasha frowned, watching Clint - her faithful second-in-command - approach to see if the woman was dead or not.

"What is it, Clint?" The redhead arched an eyebrow, taking a few steps closer when she noticed the paleness on her companion's face. "Is she still alive?"

"Yes, she’ll need care for dehydration, maybe she was at sea for a couple of days..." Clint swallowed hard, raising the arm he was holding and showing the unconscious woman's wrist "She has the mark, Tasha."

The big white wolf appeared on the deserted beach, its paws leaving a trail in the sand. However, what caught Y/N's attention the most were its teeth bared in threat. James Buchanan Barnes was angry and didn't seem to want to talk. The pirate rolled her eyes, soaked from head to toe and exhausted from the effort she had made to get there. She couldn't believe that the so-called prince of the beautiful lupine kingdom was so temperamental.

Sure, Y/N stole a small boat and tried to leave, but, in her defense, she had unfinished business to resolve outside of that island of wolves. It wouldn't be a mark she had since birth, which the wolves say is the symbol of a soulmate, that’d make her lower her head and accept orders. Y/N was a pirate, the greatest pirate at that time, it was her obligation to maintain her status and avenge her crew.

“No, that’s absurd!” The pirate grumbled in disbelief as she felt Bucky grab her clothes and drag her across the sand. “Bad boy!”

However, the pirate's complaints were ignored no matter how much she screamed and struggled, the wolf being much stronger than the human. Crossing her arms, Y/N stopped screaming but continued to complain, determined to maintain her dissatisfaction even as she began to be dragged through the soft grass that led towards the castle. Bucky only released her when they were close enough to the prince's two best friends, Steve and Sam, who were waiting for them with a huge smile on their faces.

“Of course you’d find this all amusing.” Y/N rolled her eyes, hating how easily the two helped her up from the ground. Breaking away from them, the pirate tried to maintain what little dignity she had left, trying to clean her clothes from the salt water, sand and grass in vain. “I can’t believe I’m a prisoner in this place.”

A growl interrupted her chatter, Y/N didn’t need to look up to know who it was. “So being my soulmate is the same thing as being a prisoner, Stark?”

The pirate's ears turned red, quickly turning on her heels to face Bucky, she exclaimed in a high-pitched tone. "That's not what I meant!"

The prince rolled his eyes, choosing to ignore it, taking one of her hands and walking in silence. The two friends fell behind when they realized that Bucky had followed the path to the secret garden, knowing that the couple needed privacy at the moment.

It wasn't the first time Y/N had tried to leave, with a series of failed attempts, all of them looking like the clear act of a lost person. And that was what the pirate could be classified as, it was never easy to suddenly recover part of one's memory. When she was taken to the hospital wing, she remained in a coma for weeks, causing a commotion even when she was unconscious. Because, as if it wasn't enough that the prince's soulmate was a pirate, she was also human.

But it didn't matter to Bucky, who made visits late at night in the hope that she’d wake up and finally meet him. The news of who the unconscious woman was arrived like a meteor, or rather, it arrived through a messenger from the aquatic people who - with a certain delay - warned about the great pirate who chose to protect the magical world from others of her own kind. Bucky felt his chest fill with pride, knowing that his soulmate was a good person despite so many atrocities collected under her belt.

However, Y/N woke up with no memories, amnesia even stealing her name. Each day was a new discovery, of what she liked, what she knew, what she couldn't stand. Bucky was always by her side, the days turned into weeks, which turned into months, the two of them naturally drew closer like magnets. Almost eight months had passed when Bucky was abruptly woken from his sleep, Y/N tossing and crying in the middle of a nightmare, the memories returning like a terrible storm.

From then on, the pirate had changed drastically, somewhat confused because of her personality from when she had no memory clashing with the past. She seemed to fight against the feelings she had developed for Bucky, in a stupid attempt to return to the pirate life and get revenge on her own brother. But, at the same time, Y/N seemed not to want to complete such a thought, always leaving clues about her escape plans.

“You need to leave the past in the past, sweetheart.” The wolf finally broke the silence, both of them sitting on a bench that overlooked the beach in the distance. “I already told you, I don’t want to keep you here, we can organize for you to continue your mission to help the supernatural… But in the right way.”

“Do you think humans will leave it behind too when they find out I’m alive?” She replied, but without aggression, staring at the horizon with a certain sadness.

Bucky sighed, resting his forehead on her shoulder, squeezing their still intertwined hands lightly. "We are connected, they will respect you. Even if I have to make them kneel again."

Y/N didn't answer, she knew the prince would fulfill any promise he made, he’d use the power he had in his hands without thinking twice. And that was what Y/N feared, she didn't want Bucky risking himself and putting the island in danger because of her. She needed to make a definitive choice.

The famous pirate Stark was truly dead. Two years later, Y/N lived happily as the wife of Prince James Barnes, proudly bearing the mark of her soulmate on her arm. Secretly working with Natasha, Clint and Steve to continue the mission of protecting the supernatural, the magical kingdoms united to also fight against human laws - with the help and knowledge of Y/N. Things were going well, they were gradually gaining more security and strength, conquering space in human territory. Of course, far from the big cities it was still extremely difficult, but everyone had hope that everything would improve.

Everything was going well, until Y/N made a mistake.

“So you’re alive!” the great commander Tony Stark growled in disbelief, the revolver in his hand pointed at the ex-pirate, who refused to pick up her own weapon. “I should have known you were behind all this.”

“Tony, please, I have nothing to do with this mess.” Y/N muttered, raising her hands slightly in a sign of surrender. Her eyes calculated a possible escape, but she was once again cornered by her brother. “I’m not that woman you killed anymore.”

Tony laughed mockingly, without any humor, and without saying anything, pulled the trigger, hitting one of Y/N’s arms. She let out a grunt of pain and surprise, her body crashing against the railing of the huge bench. “Do you want me to believe that you didn’t kill these people? You didn’t plan on stealing important files and scriptures for personal gain? Wasn't it enough to have stolen everything from our family?”

“Damn it, Anthony! I was in a secret meeting with these people, until a traitor from the current human government attacked us!” Y/N said, feeling sadness mix with pain, her eyes unfocusing for a moment.

“Once a traitor, always a traitor.” Tony spat the words, ignoring what she was trying to say.

“Shit, can’t you see that this was an ambush to create a war between humans and the supernatural?”

Y/N screamed. Tony aimed the revolver again, but what neither of them expected was an aggressive growl to break the moment and a huge white wolf to appear, jumping on Tony without thinking twice.

The royal commander swore, trying to defend himself from the attack with his own fists. In the midst of the fight, the man managed to retrieve the revolver despite the wolf’s bites and scratches. Y/N, who had frozen in shock, moved without realizing it, throwing herself to protect the wolf from the new shot.

A howl of pure despair and then Y/N saw nothing but darkness.

The sky blended with the blue of the ocean, the salty breeze caressing her face and messing up her hair, the sun illuminating and leaving a certain glow on everything it touched, the scent of the flowers that took over the entire garden. A smile took over Y/N’s lips, closing her eyes to enjoy that moment of plenitude. Of peace. The feeling of being on solid ground was soothing, the sea became just a second home.

“For a moment I thought you had run away.” Bucky’s voice sounded beside her, making Y/N open her eyes to look at her beloved.

Y/N smiled knowingly, sighing when the wolf pulled her body into a tight hug. “That’d be ridiculous, James, you have that wolf radar that would locate me in an instant.”

“Right.” Placing a kiss on his wife’s neck, Bucky took a deep breath before murmuring. “Your brother woke up.”

“How is he?”

Bucky shrugged. “So far he has accepted that he’s no longer fully human.”

Y/N wanted to cry in relief, but she only allowed herself to turn around and kiss him on the lips. “Thank you for saving him.”

The truth is that Bucky, at first, never imagined that one day he would save Tony, not after the way he met him and the second attempt to kill his own sister. However, it was impossible to deny his beloved's request, especially when she woke up in tears begging to give Tony a chance and that it had all been just a communication error. Well, besides the fact that Steve had taken an interest in the human. Something about soulmates too.

That night of the ambush, Bucky didn't attack the commander to kill him, he wanted to capture him to get answers. It was months of turmoil until Y/N recovered, but any family fight they had to resolve was interrupted by a war between humans and the supernatural.

Unfortunately, Y/N decided that she’d settle the war with her own hands before it really started, something about pirate honor - even though she hadn't been one for years. Bucky thought he would lose her forever. Until Tony showed up almost dead with a Y/N in a similar state, the Stark brothers went together to fix the mess they claimed to have caused. Everyone disagreed, but something the Starks had in common was stubbornness. The result was the fall of the human royalty and the Stark brothers receiving the bite to survive their injuries.

“Anything for you, my moon.” Bucky smiled mischievously, making Y/N roll her eyes despite her blushing face.

“Bad dog as always.” Y/N retorted to hide how much her beloved’s words affected her.

With a growl of false irritation, the wolf pulled her in for another kiss, full of affection and whispered against Y/N’s lips. “I love you.”

“I love you too, my sun.”

The two remained there, enjoying each other’s presence, and Y/N for a moment felt grateful for all the choices she had made, even the wrong ones. Because everything led her to James.

comments, likes and reblogs are welcome and appreciated! thank you for reading and supporting my writing 💜

note: english isn’t my first language, and i don't mind if you call me inbox or dm to point out errors or typos. but please be kind!

#bucky barnes x reader #winter soldier x reader #romance bucky barnes #fantasy au #werewolf!bucky barnes #starkenobi writing #marvel fanfiction #fluff bucky barnes x reader #fantasy bucky barnes #prince!bucky barnes #wolf!bucky barnes #marvel fic #marvel fanfic #bucky barnes fic #bucky barnes oneshot #bucky barnes fanfic #bucky barnes fanfiction

54 notes · View notes

66sharkteeth · 6 months ago

Text

Weekly thoughts, ep 179. Caution for spoilers, bigger than usual!

Oh man, I'm glad this episode went over...for the vast part positively haha. I think it's kind of ironic that the character I always joked about only having 8 fans turned out to be the biggest deal in the story lately. I've been kind of down lately, so I'm glad this episode went over well with the majority of readers.

I WAS super nervous about this episode though- I know people sometimes have strong feelings about fake-out deaths, and there are a couple of comments expressing that (which, fair), but the vast majority seem just to be happy Desmond's still alive. I did also promise I'm cooking something with this twist, but it looks like 90% of the comments already know what that is, though I won't 100% confirm yet haha.

The only thing I wish got a little more recognition was the actual interactions with Lyss and Nia, which I thought were really fun haha. But I get the Desmond reveal stealing the show. I know at least a few people really didn't like Nia this episode and how aggressive she was. Which... Hm, I dunno. This is how she's always been to Lyss, who she is still working hard to get over thing she's done in the past. Much like Lyss getting over her biases against blanks, Nia's in the same boat with humans. She only even recently started liking her dad again. She's just a very head-strong and heated character, and I get if that's not everyone's thing, but I always make sure she never crosses a line unless it's called for, or if she does, she gets reprimanded for it (like when Rex called her out back in ep 151).

For the actual episode though, aside from the reveal, one major goal for this episode was just get rid of any chance of misunderstanding trope. It's a big thing I don't like in stories and I even made Nia 4th wall break about it a little haha

No misunderstanding tropes in this comic, only fake-out deaths!

Anyway, I always kind of write Nia to be the character who says what the audience is thinking and I think that was more clear than ever this week lol (down to "you pick now to have impulse control?"). Basically, I have a lot of fun writing Nia.

I think that's it this week. I'm glad people enjoyed this one, I really needed that small win this week. :'D

#city of blank #nia #lyss #desmond #weekly thoughts

52 notes · View notes

wishwingalpha · 1 year ago

Text

I drew were I think Joel and Lizzie’s fragments would apear. I know they don’t actually glow out of cloathing/shoes— but I wanted to show where they were. (Yes they are falling in the void, shhh it can be different colors they are glowing.)

Explanation;

Lizzie has two fragments, one from last life and one from secret life. I hc that she fragments more easily and hers are much larger than pretty much anyone else’s. (Other than mumbo)

Her fragment from last life is on her back for the amount of times she was backstabbed/ betrayed in the series. (Obviously I couldn’t draw her back and her face so.. too bad-?) but I imagine that the fragment covers the majority of her back.

The fragment from secret life is on her face almost like tears. This was the heartbreak of no one coming to her party, and how the rest of her series played out after that was quite tragic to be fair, she never really got any revenge or closure.

—

Joel are e v e r y w h e r e.

He’s been on every series and never won so he’s just got a bunch. Most of his fragments are small because I don’t think the watchers would get much from him. The only times they get to feed off of him is usually because of the loss of his wife, only sometimes from a team mate. He isn’t usually close to people in most series, just causing chaos.

3rd life’s fragment is on his foot. I did this because of the kinda funny way he dies trying to put the fire on his house out but dies in the process. So yeah— he kinda just stepped in the fire. (Fairly small fragment cause he ain’t got no friends)

Last life is the neck because of how he always had it out for people, putting a target on him. (Again no friends except for scar but they barely counted as allys) ((lmao I didn’t know where to put this one really ))

Double life is his hand. I did this because boat boys and it’s like he’s rowing the boat (idk that’s my reasoning) I imagine Etho has one on the opposite hand because they are rowing the boat together <3 ( you get it right? They both have an oar to row the boat with) This was the first time Joel has a meaningful alliance, and it’s bigger than the first two fragments.

Limited life is his chest/heart. I felt that this was when Joel had the biggest connection with his team and was completely distraught when Jimmy died. The watchers were eating that shit UP. ( the fragment reaches out to his arm that’s why it looks like there’s six. I totally DIDNT make a random one somehow and am making an excuse for it being there)

Secret life is on his face, matching his wife, how cute. This was because of all the heartbreak he endured in the episodes including and following the wither-warden battle. He loses Lizzie, Jimmy, and mumbo all in one day and then on the last episode is the reason that Scott is able to kill Bdubs when he accidentally shot him. Overall just real sad times for him. And not even that— he dies to Scott once again, the one person he wanted dead the entire episode.

His fragments grow larger each season as he grows closer to the other players.

—

Edit— yes I know the fragments don’t look how they do canonically, but they look cool so shhhh. Also the ones I said are small but don’t look small in the picture, also just mistakes.

#eyes and ears #life series #traffic smp #secret life smp #mcyt #mcytblr #mcyt fanart #trafficblr #traffic series #ldshadowlady #smallishbeans #eaefragments #eyesandears

97 notes · View notes

pinkeoni · 2 years ago

Text

Joyce’s Aunt Darlene

In season one, we get a throwaway line from Lonnie regarding Joyce’s Aunt Darlene—

We don’t hear a lot about her specifically, but there’s a lot of context clues that actually tell us a lot about her.

This line comes up when Joyce and Lonnie are discussing how Joyce has been seeing and feeling Will, which Lonnie remarks is all in her head.

When Lonnie compares her situation to Aunt Darlene, Joyce becomes defensive. I’m not like her.

Lonnie’s solution to Joyce’s situation is to see a therapist, or even, religious intervention.

So here’s what we know about Aunt Darlene given the context in the scene:

Joyce has an Aunt Darlene who used to see things that weren’t there and had delusions.

They both talk about her in the past tense, indicating that she might not be around anymore

Neither Lonnie nor Joyce speak about her with a particular fondness

The solution to Darlene’s situation was either handled with doctors and/or a pastor

Now, it’s possible that Darlene just has a mental illness, and Lonnie brings her up as a point of contrast to the audience between them, Joyce is not like Darlene.

Unless, Darlene’s mention here is actually supposed to be a point of comparison, in which this line could point to Darlene:

I mean, with how this show works, I think it’s fair to question if there’s more behind Aunt Darlene.

Where is Aunt Darlene?

I’m gonna answer this question first because I think it will lead well into everything else.

We know that Darlene was likely diagnosed with some kind of mentall illness, likely schizophrenia if she was seeing things that no one else was seeing. It’s possible that Darlene is just living somewhere at home, but especially in the 80’s when mental illness was a lot more stigmatized, I’m wondering if she was institutionalized. I did point out earlier that Lonnie and Joyce speak about her in the past tense, as if she isn’t around anymore.

What mental hospital is mentioned earlier in the same season? And then gets brought back in season four?

I think Aunt Darlene might be in Pennhurst.

Here’s what I’m thinking: Aunt Darlene either witnessed something regarding the Upside Down, and/or she has powers.

I think about this line from season two regarding Will’s true sight visions:

“Let’s see if he’s a wizard or a schizo.”

Another point in season two is a line thrown in about El’s “Crazy great aunt Shirley,” and El being a character who we know for a fact has powers.

If powers are passed down genetically, it would make sense for some of her family to have some. Aunt Shirley was probably in the same boat as Aunt Darlene, and their abilities of sight was misinterpreted as mental illness.

Right now what I’m thinking is that Darlene either had a true sight ability similar to Will, and/or she was able to see into the future. Whatever power she has is definitely related to sight. I think too about this line spoken by Will in season three:

If that isn’t the biggest “I have prophetic powers” indicator then I don’t know what is.

I’m honestly leaning more in the camp of her having powers, but if she’s being compared to Joyce, it would also make sense if she only witnessed something related to it, and was called crazy because no one believed her.

This would reflect Victor Creel’s situation pretty well. He was witnessing something supernatural of he was seen as a paranoid schizophrenic by others. The earlier reference to religious intervention makes me think of Victor as well. I know that Lonnie meant Joyce should just talk to the pastor and not have an exorcism done, but the small mention still draws a connection. It’s possible that whatever Darlene was seeing could have been misinterpreted as divine hallucinations.

If she does have powers, I think it likely that HNL would know about her. I’m still working on a post that talks about the possible connection between HNL and Pennhurst, but I think Victor’s residency in Pennhurst is enough to see a possible connection between both institutes.

So here’s what I think happened to Darlene (Maldonado?):

Darlene was either seeing something with her powers, and/or she witnessed something supernatural that no one else saw

She was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia and sent to Pennhurst

It’s possible she might have been dangerous similar to Victor, or possibly percieved as such

She likely still resides at Pennhurst

I think it might be possible that we might even see Darlene in season 5.

This is just theoretical, but especially it both her and Will have powers, I could see him meeting her and learning more about where his powers come from as a likely possibility, or another character visiting her in Pennhurst and learning more from her. She wouldn’t have a whole storyline, probably just a cameo in one episode.

tagging: @heroesbyler

#stranger things #stranger things theory #joyce byers #will byers #lonnie byers #byers family #byler #<- target audience #will byers has powers

202 notes · View notes

svperluminous · 3 months ago

Text

All of Finnegrin's speaking lines by episode by scene, including the characters who interact with him.

Under cut because it's a big chunk of text.

5.06 - Bait and Switch

Scene: Ezran first comes to his office

Finnegrin: I'm not best known for hospitality. Don't usually like uninvited guests. But the waves be gentle today, and so is my mood. Name's Finnegrin. What can I do for you, lad?

Ezran: I'm Ezran, king of Katolis. I've come to your fair port because I need a ship. My friends and I are racing to stop a great evil before it's too late, and time is running out. Can you help us?

Finnegrin: You say you're a king, eh? Then where's your crown?

(Ezran hands him the crown)

Finnegrin: Hmm... (bites into the crown)

Ezran: Hey!

Finnegrin: (laughs) It's made of steel. It's worthless.

Ezran: It's not worthless, it's really important to me. It's made from my father's sword.

Finnegrin: Sentiment's worth even less than steel here, lad.

(Ezran is sad)

Finnegrin: Don't look so sour. King or peasant, don't matter to me so long as you're offering something of value.

Ezran: But I don't have anything else.

Finnegrin: Oh, come now, I don't think that's true. Come here, look. See that ship? She's the fastest in my fleet. Well, second fastest. (chuckles) I'd name you her captain for the right price. I'll give you the ship for that glow toad.

Ezran: What? No. What could you possibly want with Bait?

Finnegrin: It's not really the glow toad I want, it's what I'll catch with it. Sea leviathans, lad. With this one on my line, I wager I could reel in the biggest leviathan in the eastern sea. Imagine the gold that could fetch.

Ezran: No. He's my friend.

Finnegrin: Hmm, you drive a hard bargain. Fine. I'll give you the ship for half the glow toad. But I choose which half.

(Ezran shakes his head)

Finnegrin: All right, all right. Let me sweeten the deal. On your way. (he sweeps a crab off of a chest) What's in here may not be of much value today, but I think you'll see the potential for growth. In time, it'll be worth three times the value of your glow toad friend.

Scene: Soren comes to the office

Finnegrin (to his crab): Oh, you're squeezed in there tight. Due for an upgrade, aren't ye?

Elmer: Sir. You have another--

Finnegrin: Deadwood. Get this one a bigger shell. Something roomier, but not lacking in style.

Elmer: Aye, sir. You have another visitor. Says he's here on "really big business."

Finnegrin: Fine, fine. Send him in. And who might you be?

Soren: Name's Smort Longpocket. Nice port you got here. A little small for my taste, but love the vibe. So... word around the market is that you're the type of guy who likes doing business. Big business. Legal or not legal.

Finnegrin: You heard right.

Soren: Now I've got some goods on my ship that I think might interest you. Goods I got by doing crimes.

Finnegrin: What goods exactly are you sellin'?

Soren: Let's just say these goods are so good, they should call them "greats."

Finnegrin: Hmm...

Soren: (chuckles) What do you say you and I take a walk to my big business boat and you can see for yourself, hmm?

Finnegrin: Fine. Show me your wares. Of course, you understand that if you're wasting my time...

Soren: I'll never be welcome in Scumport again. (laughs) Got it.

Finnegrin: Quite the opposite. Waste my time, and you'll never leave Scumport.

Soren: (chuckles nervously)

Finnegrin: Lock the door, you useless hunk of flotsam.

Soren: My man, it's just a quick walk. There's no need to...

Finnegrin: I always lock up.

Elmer: Squid, sails, a hammerhead's tail.

Finnegrin: I know how it goes.

Scene: At the market

Finnegrin: (grunts) Back to the tower. Now!

[5.06 recap before 5.07]

Finnegrin: Deadwood, ready my ship.

[5.07 Sea Legs]

Scene: On the deck of Sea Legs

Finnegrin: (flips a coin) Tails.

Finnegrin: Take 'em to the brig.

Rayla: (grunts) No!

Finnegrin: Keep the boy separate. I've got special use for this one.

[5.08 Finnegrin’s Wake]

Scene: First conversation with Callum

Finnegrin: (humming) ♪ The sea shall bow to me ♪

Callum: Tell me where my friends are.

Finnegrin: Your friends won't be springing to your rescue. One of them's already gone. Traded me something I wanted, and now she's free as a bird. Look at you. Slave to your friends, your loyalties, your pride. I can give you your freedom, though. I just want one thing.

Callum: Yeah? What do you want?

Finnegrin: A spell. One dark magic spell, boy, and you go free.

Callum: Never. I don't do dark magic. I will never help you.

Finnegrin: (sighs) I see. Seems you're the type that needs persuading. Deadwood! Get over here, you teak freak!

Scene: Second conversation with Callum

Finnegrin: Listen, boy, this ain't that complicated. You're a dark mage. All I'm asking for is one spell.

Callum: I'm not a dark mage.

Finnegrin: You take me for a fool? You stole the wind right out of my sails.

Callum: That was primal magic. I don't do dark magic.

Finnegrin: Never?

Callum: Never.

Finnegrin: You're crying innocent but in your eyes I see guilt. What have you done that's got you so twisted up inside, huh?

Callum: I did one spell. One. I just... I turned some chains into snakes. I had to, to save my friends.

Finnegrin: Oh, how noble. Just one spell and you never thought about dark magic again?

Callum: Uh, well, I've just... I've read a lot about it. But not only dark magic, all kinds of magic. Your kind, too. I've read about the ocean, and the tides, and how...

Finnegrin: Well, maybe in all that reading you found what I'm looking for. Few years ago, a human took down Avizandum, king of the dragons, with dark magic. And I want to know the spell that did it.

Callum: Why?

Finnegrin: Simple. I want to kill the Archdragon of the Ocean... Domina Profundis.

Callum: No. I'm not going to help you murder the Archdragon of the Ocean.

Finnegrin: Murder? You know, when you say it like that, you make me sound like a bloodthirsty fiend.

Callum: Oh, I'm sorry, do you have some kind of nice reason for wanting her dead?

Finnegrin: (chuckles) Sea Legs had a sister. She was my loyal pet, my steed, and my ship for 40 years. And I loved that crab. Out in the deep, she could take sea leviathans and krakens with her own two claws. Well, Domina didn't like that, said the deep sea was under her protection. But that ain't freedom. And so I challenged her domain and she took everything from me. She let me live but she told me if she ever saw me more than a mile offshore she'd drown me. Me. The fearsome Captain Finnegrin. Ships turn and flee at the sight of my flag. Any sailor who docks at Scumport pays their due. But if I cross the great Domina Profundis, she'll make flotsam of everything I've built. So long as she's out there, I'm never truly free.

Callum: (chuckles)

Finngerin: Something funny?

Callum: Listen to yourself. You think you want freedom, but you're just trying to control the entire ocean.

Finnegrin: You think I want control, do you? I'll prove you wrong right now. There's a decision I've been mulling over, and I'm going to let you make it for me.

Scene: On the deck

Rayla: Callum. What is he doing to you? Let him go!

Finnegrin: Control the prisoners, Deadwood, or I'll chop you up to make a new mast.

Elmer: Sit back down.

Finnegrin: Big dumb hunka wood-if-he-could.

Soren: Hey! He's actually doing a great job. I'm very under control.

Finnegrin: You all care about justice, right? Well, one of you stole my glow toads so one of you has to pay. Now the old-fashioned price for stealing is the thief's hand. So, boy, which of your friends is losing a hand? I give you that choice.

Callum: No. I won't pick.

Finnegrin: Oh, you will, or I'll take a hand from each of 'em.

Ezran: Take my hand. I'm the one who stole from you.

Rayla: No, take mine. I almost lost one before, so suppose I'm due.

Soren: I've got the biggest, strongest hands, don't you want one of mine? Huh? Huh?

Villads: I can get on fine without a hand. Hooks are in fashion these days.

Finnegrin: What is wrong with you people? You bunch of barnacle brains all want to lose your hands?

Elmer: I do not understand. A hand will take weeks to regrow.

Soren: No, buddy. It'll take way longer than that.

Callum: See? So long as we protect each other, so long as we love each other, you can never control us.

Finnegrin: Charming. Really tugging on my heartstrings. Think I feel a good cry coming on. (cuffs unlock) They'll do anything for you, so surely you'll do anything for them, won't you? Go on.

Finnegrin: You've done this before. Turn their chains into snakes and then you can all overpower me and sail to freedom. You have all the power and control here. If you care so much about them, set them free. Is it such a big deal dirtying yourself with a little dark magic?

Ezran: Stop! Just take my hand, that's all you wanted, isn't it?

Rayla: Don't do it, Callum. Not again!

(Rayla frees herself, Finn casts Venus Frigoris on her)

Callum: Rayla!

Finnegrin: Hurts, don't it? That's your blood freezing in your veins. Now you see what keeps everyone on my ship in line. The chains, well, they're really just for show.

(Callum punches him)

Finnegrin: You shouldn't have done that.

(Elmer punches Callum)

Scene: Back in the captain’s cabin

Finnegrin: That was quite a display. All that talk about how love makes you stronger, but the second you see that elf girl in pain, you completely lost yourself.

Callum: What are you doing?

Finnegrin: Oh, don't worry. The cage is for his protection. This way, he lures us a leviathan but doesn't get eaten. The one getting thrown into the sea serpent's hungry mouth is your elf girl.

Callum: (grunts) No, no, wait! A dying breath. Blood filled with hatred. And a unicorn horn. That's the dark magic you want. Just... just let her go.

Finnegrin: (tongue clicking) Oh, my poor lad. That deal was no longer on the table.

Callum: No!

Scene: Back on the deck

Finnegrin: What did you think you could do, boy? I control everyone on this ship. Everyone.

Rayla: Callum!

Callum: (exhales sharply) Do not ask how the ocean's blue... or why the tides their time do keep. To love is simply to know this... The tides are true, as the ocean is deep. (casts the spell)

Finnegrin: How?

Callum: You don't control anything. But then, you already knew that, didn't you? Because it's the secret of the ocean itself. The arcanum.

Finnegrin: Impossible.

Callum: You helped me figure it out. I thought it would be about controlling the tides, or fighting the currents. But... it's the opposite. The ocean arcanum is accepting that there are depths you can't see. Parts of yourself you can't understand. And things you can't control. You know what I'm saying is true because you were born knowing it. No matter how much you try, you'll never control everything. And that terrifies you.

Finnegrin: Oh, you're wrong, boy. I can control you.

(Callum choking and gasping)

Finnegrin: You see after all that, I win because this worthless lump of timber obeys me no matter what.

Soren: Stop! You don't have to do what he tells you. He calls you names and says you're worthless, but you do everything he says. Why?

Finnegrin: Because he knows his place. Doesn't even have blood to freeze, but he'll still do what he's told. Like this... Deadwood! Hit the handsome loudmouth.

Soren: (grunting) He deserves dignity!

Finnegrin: Oh, if you say so, I can treat him real dignified-like. There he is, the great Sir Splinters, Lord of the Logs. Look at him, he's got a face only a carpenter could love. Again!

(Soren grunts)

Ezran: Soren, stay down.

Finnegrin: This is over. Again!

(Soren groans)

Elmer: Why do you keep getting up?

Finnegrin: Again!

Soren: (groans) I know... what this is like. I know how you feel. He's cruel... but you don't have to be.

Finnegrin: What are you doing? I didn't tell you to stop. Hit him again. Do it, you pathetic rotting husk. Do you hear me, Deadwood? Deadwood!

Elmer: That is not my name.

Finnegrin: Unhand me! I own you! I control you! You are mine! Deadwood, put me down! Deadwood!

Elmer: My name is... Elmer.

(Finnegrin screaming)

#the dragon prince #finnegrin

9 notes · View notes

popculturebuffet · 1 year ago

Text

Top 20 Animated Episodes of 2023 Part 1

Hello all you happy people! It's now 2024, and with 2023 behind us it's time for my faviorite yearly thing on this blog: my top 20 episodes of the year list!

For those of you new to this tradition or needing a refresher, each year I take 5 episodes each (or less if the show had less), from the various shows I watched that year, and then slowly wittle it down from a massive pile to the 20 best, split into two digestible parts, and let you all enjoy the results. It's one of my favorite things as it gives a nice, personal, wide berth of what happened in that year, gives this blog something unique to do, and allows me to touch on shows I haven't covered yet or may simply not get to for some time, if ever.

2023 was a mixed bag for me, both professionally and personally: It started.. with a kick in the teeth as my cat Stewie died after living a long, fufilling life of looking mildly pissed at everything but still being cute.

He was a good cat and his loss is something I still haven't fully gotten over a year later.

It was a harbringer of change: with Stewie's death we finally moved out of the house I lived in pretty much my whole life, and into a smaller, nicer and far better apartment with my own mini office in my room even and all my children/books/children returned to me. It's taken 6 months but I feel like i've fully settled into my new, wonderful home.

And towards the end of this year as the loss of Stewie still stung all this time later, I got another great change with the addition of Maddie

Maddie was the dog of a close friend of the family who had to go into a retirement home. She needed a home, and now has one in my room looking morose, licking my face and occasionally going under the bed for hours at a time like the cave goblin she is. She was a much needed bolt of sunshine in this storm of a year. I do metaphor good.

So with all these c-changes, how did this blog fair? Suprisingly great but not entirely in tact. Quality wise I do think I did some of my best work this year: I tackled the first apperances of every spider-man, woman and pig in into the spider-verse, the movie itself, finally web swining around a bit thanks to kev with a little more spidey planned for this year, with a tie in for Kraven later this year that's exactly what you think it is. I finally got to do an x-men month, covered rocko's modern life static cling for pride month, and in one of my finest hours, got to do a retrospective on one of my faviroite fairly recent comic strips breaking cat news with the help of my friend emma. Her sponsorship meant I got to cover something great and while few people have read it, i'm happy just to have it out there.

In addition to that I covered Tugs, an osbcure UK series and spirtual brother to thomas the tank engine that involved state mandated death dates for boats, pirates, and eleven minutes of explosions. I finally got to enjoy the madness that was the Telltale Sam and Max Games, with Save the World in the pocket and Beyond Time and Space wrapping up next week. And biggest, best and brightest of all I did a retrospecitve on little shop of horrors, finally seeing both the stage play and original corman film, as well as little shop. And someday i'll have recovered from seeing little shop.

The delay on that though brings me to the other shoe.. this year my productivity was in the basement and my week was at an all time low. Several reviews got delayed, from stewie's death leaving me unable to work for a few days for damn obvious reasons, to the move frequently taking my time or leaving me off balance. Not only that I didn't plan my time off for the move well, so I was left having to rearrange my whole schedule. It's why both pirate month and pride month, proud institutions on this blog, were reduced to a week and a three part special, something I wasn't remotely happy with. Things kept slipping by, and in general it wasn't my best year for getting shit done. I realized i'd simply taken WAY too much on, and thus have scaled back to ten reviews instead of 12 a month, and may scale back further if necessary: i'd rather these reviews be their best and get put through a spellcheck than be glad it's done only to realize I have nother thing that's due yesterday.

Not helping were towards the end of the year, a massively loud noise from my computer fan that made it hard to concentrate, something that's hard for my adhd ass in general let alone with a giant whirring fan that nothing can out loud, and having finally solved tha tproblem thanks to my dad's help.... then having my wrist go out, and while it's recovered now, it meant an extra week off, which sounds nice and was in places.. but was mostly spent in pain or asleep to escpae the pain till I got things to help with that. Then after a nice christmas, a lovely few days after... I got a cold, which spent up a large chunk of my vacation in a sick coma.

I apologize a bit for all the venting as you can tell this year's been a long one. I came out the otherside well with a loveable dog and a great new work/living space, but it was a bitch getting to here.

Thankfully animation wise, the industry wasn't in as MUCH turmoil this year. It still wasn't great: We got more cancelations with Lumberjanes and Phoebe and Her Unicorn announced formally dead before arrival had even started, and cancellations for Inside Job, Star Trek Progidy and Praise Petey, the last two seemingly in limbo as a result, with only one getting saved. While it wasn't the cancelnado of last year that wrecked many a service and nearly ended me, it was still pretty bad and Warner showed zero signs of learning from their lessons: after taking a few months off thinking the heat died down they tried canceling coyote vs acme.. only to then nakedly start a bidding war, making what they were really doing with most projects obvious: making them unaviliable.. and then starting a bidding war for other streamers. I'm not upset many of these shows are on other streamers as their safer from Zaslav there, but it shows just how nakedly greedy, transparently corrupt and blatantly fraudlent Warner Bros Discovery has become.

While the sales of the brilliant Merry Little Batman and sure to be great Batman: Caped Crusader to amazon are GOOD as Amazon has learned what animation means, it unmasks warner as simply doing all this tax writeoff shit to make money.. and then often forgetting to even sell the shows, not carring if no one's buying and just shrugging off someone's heart and soul being cast into the void. The loss of Final Space and Close Enough STILL stings and hasn't gone away even with the maker of the former both having found a way to finish the story and move on with his life.

The cherry on top of this shit sundae is Zaslav, no shit, saying the decision to shelve Batgirl, a movie that was entirely done and could've had the elseworlds label slapped on it if they didn't want it in the DCU, BRAVE. Yes that.. really happened.

It wasn't just Zaslav fucking up this year though, as other execs certainly tried their hardest or were arm and arm with him: The biggest blunder is obviously the strikes which while not affecting animation for the most part, was still a long dark night of the soul that was entirely the fault of executives not wanting to give up the precious theorietical money they could make once AI gets to the point it can create actual things, nor the likenesses of DEAD PEOPLE they should have no right to. Exec behavior was at it's most disgraceful this year... I don't know how that bare somehow got lower but that's the hellscape we're in with both zaslav and iger beign part of the corprate hydra that kept rejecting any deals presented and tended to flip the table and leave in a huff , leaving the negotations for weeks at a time till it became apparent that no amount of veiled threats of starving them out.

That said the strikes... were a net positive: they were long, brutal and threw tv off and delayed a show or two.. but it was well worth it. It helped show just how much actors and writers of all pay levels are needed, got them badly needed pay increases and protections and left the door open to help fiddle with AI protections as while AI isn't remotely good at creating scripts, that's never stopped execs from promoting something anyway. Despite MANY attempts to demonize the strikers, frame them as hollywood elites despite the fact the bulk were just trying to live on and were putting their liveleyhoods at stake to make sure they had one, or paint them as the bad guys.. it never worked. The public held firm, the strikers held firm and deflected most attempts with solidarity, with said big fish they tried to use as propoganda.. instead gladly donating to help the strike keep going. Fran Drescher and co fought hard, and the result is a slightly better hollywood.

And that hope for a brighter future really radiated this year: while Animation is still in flux in places, a lot of the networks hit hard by corprate dumbfuckery last year started to regrow: Netflix, after a year or two of rapid cancellations and baffling decisions, finally regrew it's animation divsions: Outside of Inside Job, most cancelations were shows that really weren't the best idea or execution to start with, and most hits got renewed, with them even picking up Star Trek Prodigy for another season and likely as many as they can carry. They pivoted more to adult animation with hits like Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, Pluto, Castlevania Nocturne, Carol and the End of the World and Blue Eyed Samurai, the latter three I wish I got to but i've heard are incredible.

While WBD was still BURNIN DOWN THE HOUSEEEE, it snuck in a few hits with My Adventures with Superman and tons of great stuff I did'nt get too like Scavengers Reign, the beginning of the end for Craig of the Creek, Fired on Mars, and Hair Love, while having a suprise banger in the form of Tiny Toons Loonveristy, proving just how to reboot a classic property once again. Not only that the finale movies for Venture Bros and Metalocalypse came out, which given the last year was a huge fingers crossed thing. But both came out, I got both on blu ray, and got neat posters with them in the bargin and both closed up two of adult swims best series in the way they richly deserved. We also got an Urkel Christmas Movie. I guess.

Amazon continued it's own building: in addition to the dark knight picups mentiond, Invincible and Legend of Vox Machina both had amazing season 2's, with Vox Machina picked up for two more seasons to close it out proper and a Mighty Nein spinoff, with a Belles Helles Spinoff all but guarnateed at some point, and Hazbin Hotel after a truly agonizing year of waiting for someone to announce they had it, finding a perfect home for the happiest place in hell.

Finally, the indie scene, already thriving blew the fuck up. For the first time I nominated six diffrent pilots from various indie creators who all did a fucking great job: Godspeed, Lackadaisy, In Limbo, Atlas and the Stars, and Swift Spark and the Defensive five all had impressive showings and I regret not watching Lackadaisy in time to support it, but I can't wait to see what it brings to the table and to see all of these shows make it to series, not to mention up coming ones like ToonrifiqTariq's "Hey" that are likely going to come out next year.

It's a strange time for animatoin.. but one tha'ts proven you can make your own way, that the big coprations are trying and that in film.. is at one of i'ts brightest: while there ere some stumbles we had masterpieces like Nimona, which also made disney look horribly stupid for homophobically canceling it, Across the Spider verse (which needed to treat it's animators better but still deserves mention), and TMNT Mutant Mayhem.

It was a hell of a year and I can't want to share the best of it with you. And as a result of such a good year there's a few firsts: This is the first year with Anime included and if you want to know why i'ts taken so long it wasn't snobbery.. I just.. plain forgot to watch the ones I DID want to watch the past few years. That's... really it. I usually prefer reading the manga, as it's both faster and less time consuming, and Some of the best often aren't on the streaming platforms I do have. Pluto and Scott Pilgrim got by by being adaptations of something I love with all my heart a piece and thus coudln't bear myself to miss, but I might try to vary up my viewing more next year. I do want to check Zom 100 out at some point.

Anyways the other is that I allowed two dtv movies in here. Now this is with a caveat: It has to be directly linked to an existing animated series, a sequel, a prequel, etc. It's something I never really thought about before, but makes sense: While Radiant is the Blood of the Baboon Heart and Army of the Doomstar were both considered for my film list too and are films.. their the proper conclusion to their stories. Not only that with Pluto's inclusion on this list, we have a series that had episodes only about ten minutes or so shy of both films runtime, so I figured fudging the rules like this was fair. I would've included Craig Before the Creek, but I want to wait to watch it when it comes on HBO Max next month.. and buy it on Physical as I don't remotely trust WBD to keep digtial copies up forever anymore. And really it feels in the spirit of things like operation zero back in the day or in both metalocalypse and venture bros own histories, all this and gargantua 2 and doomstar requieum.

Okay now that's settled this years list is intresting as while there's a decent amount of returning shows most haven't been on this list before. Of the nominees the only returning shows are The Legend of Vox Machina, Invincible, Helluva Boss, The Great North, Miraculous and Big City Greens, with mainstays like Tuca and Bertie and Close Enough sadly gone thanks to WBD being pralines and dicks. Thus our shows competing are an eclectic mix of returning combatants, one for sadly the last times, revivials of old shows, reboots of old shows, two limited series, and a handful of spectacular pilots

These are the shows that I got to see this show and thus entered the running, all sorted by platform since.. there's a lot.

Amazon Prime: The Legend of Vox Machina Invincible

HBO Max: YOLO: Silver Destiny Clone High Tiny Toons Looniversity Adventure Time : Fionna and Cake Aqua Teen Hunger Force My Adventures with Superman Disney+: Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur The Owl House (Final Year) Kiff Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir Big City Greens Hulu: The Great North Futurama Bob's Burgers The Simpsons Netflix: Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (Limited Series) Pluto (Limited Series) DTV: Venture Bros: Radiant is the Blood of the Baboon Heart (Special) Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar (Special)

YouTube: Helluva Boss Godspeed Lackadaisy In Limbo The Amazing Digital Circus Atlas and the Stars Swift Spark and the Defensive Five

So with our nominees in clear view, who shined the brightest, who didn't and whose going to yell at me over my choices? find out under the cut!

FULL SPOILERS FOR MOST EPISODES ON THIS LIST. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED

20. The First Episode (Atlas and the Stars, Pilot)

"Sorry for dragging you into this man. You don't have to trust me but I promise to make this up to you, I swear."

Coming in just under the wire as the last released episode on this list, it's placing is just a fun concidence, we have The First Episode... the pilot for new series Atlas and the Stars. You can watch it here

youtube

So it's come up soon but the reason I put MOST episodes on the spoiler warning.. is this pilot and another on the list, I really DON'T want to spoil much as both rely on you watching it, this one in paticular not revealing what the show's premise will be from here on out, instead telling the parallel tales of Atlas, a human from a dying planet who hyjacks a space ship to acheive her dream of endless freedom in the stars, Atmosphere, a shy loveable alien embarking on his first day regestring ships at a space port, and Quasar, the lord of a mysterious planet who keeps having to sacrifice.. somethign to a portal to keep it alive... and it can't keep up forever and his beligeured assitant nebula. ALl of this comes togeter in a beautifully animated, well active and creative sci fi adventure with one hell of a hook from where it goes form here, awesome character desgin work and some neat sci fi tek in Atlas' googles. Miranda Toomey used every inch of whateve rbudget she had to make this and it turne dout gorgeous, and I can't wait to see the next episode in this and how this story progresses. It's well done, gorgeous, heartfelt and engaging and I recommend you go watch it before we move on to our next entry.

19. Radiant is the Blood of the Baboon Heart (Venture Brothers, Finale Movie) "All you need to know is the person who gave birth to you loves you, I promise you that"

From a start to a finish we have Radiant is the Blood of the Baboon Heart, the long awaited and thankfully came out with a dvd and everything ending of the Venture Brothers. It's shockingly low on this list, but as much as I love this series.. it came out in a tight year with some even better finales, and had the burdern of having to cram in a season's worth of content, even with the cuts they made, into an 84 minute film.

The results are still excellent: Radiant is a fun, frantic race to the finish line that satisfyingly answers a lot of the series biggest questions: Who the boys mom was, how Monarch and Rusty are related, can HELPER fire a shot gun, will Hank and Dean reconcile... all the closure we needed in a tight 88 minute story that also includes classic hip hop traick it's takes 2, magnetic shenanigans, Hank using giant novelty checks for money, dermott using a piss filled super soaker, dean thinking he's a vampire, a halfway house for supernatural heroes, and Mantilla, one of the series most delightful villians and one I really wish we'd gotten proper time with. It's a joyous reaffermation of what this series is about, has nice moments for most of the best cast members, including Brick Frog my beloved, and ends on a mostly satisfying note. It also gives us a golem made entirely of pants and isn't that the greatest adventure of all?

18. "Lights, Camera, Sparks?!" (Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, Episode 5)

"You've known him for three f***ing days!" "Is that all it's been?!" Scott Pilgrim Takes Off was an easy faviorite this year and given my longstanding love of the Scott Pilgrim comics and like of the movie, it wasn't a huge shocker i'd love whatever the anime turned out being. I was pumped from the announcement, worried it'd just be "the movie but animated" when the cast was announced.. and then over the moon when it turned out that no, the cast was all coming back but the take on the franchise was all new.

What we got wasn't the straight adaptation that was pitched.. and was all the better for it. If you haven't seen Takes Off.. please do it's fantastic, I did a whole review on it, go, and if you won't then this is your last warning as I can't really talk about the episodes of it on this list without getting into spoilers as it's one of those series where the first episode twist.. defines the rest of the show.

Okay we good. So the first episode progresses as normal, a few tweaks to let you know this is it's own universe, enough character moments to show that even with the film voice actors the main cast is closer to the comics..... then Scott seemingly dies.

From there things go off the rails, and that's where the magic kicks in: While Scott's still key to the story and turns out, naturally, NOT to be dead, instead kidnapped by a mysterious portal, Ramona takes the lead, with us getting to know her better now she's the pov character instead of the guy worshipping the ground she skates on. While Ramona was fleshed out in the comics, the series gives her more to do as she solves this mystery. It's intriguing, it's fun, and it gives Mary Elizabeth Winstead the chance to play a more fleshed out version of the character with more sides to her than "aloof".

What the series also does well.. is go the fuck off the rails. Matthew uses his newfound confidence to punch gideon out of all his companies and fancy suits, Gideon becomes the best worst couple with julie, and Young Neil becomes a spacey moron who assumes the mysterious person writing a script based on how the story originally went is his sleep paralysis demon. The series has a lot of great character, animation and development as Ramona's forced to .. talk with her exes instead of her new boyfriend punching most of them for her.. but it can't be forgotten it's also delightfully nuts, easily the goofiest this franchise has gotten and i'm here for it.

That brings us to "Lights, Camera, Sparks?!", easily the biggest shit post of the entire series, and one of the funniest episodes of the year easily. While the previous ones are a bit melancholy in tone with the goofy stuff as a nice side dish, fitting how scott pilgrim rolls, LCS is just one long farce with Ramona struggling to get any detective shit done while Wallace wrecks envy and todd's relationship, Edgar Wright but voiced by Kevin McDonald slowly looses his mind, and Neil gets into various shenanigans while only being a quarter aware of anything going on, including what was in the script his sleep paralysis ramona from the future wrote.

The setup is simple: Toronotwood is making a film based on how scott's story usually go, again ghost written by a mysterious sleep paralysis demon, and hired Lucas and envy to play scott and ramona. Lucas got can...something for dating a 30 year old who looks like a high schooler, so now i'ts todd clumisly shoved into Scott's clothes. Wallace is also there, having throughly humilited the notoriously straight actor playing him out of a job and letting his ego grow 15 sizes that day.

What follows is a mocumentary masterclass as Envy and Todd can't stop being horny for two seconds, Wallace making out with Todd and being his bi awakening reading them to constantly "run lines in his trailer", Neil is hilaroius and you will repeat everything he says and Ramona is left bobbing around unable to actually get any answers.

This all leads to a delightful explosion as Todd falls in love with Wallace, Wallace is a callous dick, Wallace sicks his stunt doubles on Envy, Ramona is sicked on them, and everyone is confused, all cumilating in todd binge eating poutine and crying, an option I wish americans had but alas we are poutineless while Matt shuts down the production then sputters like a kid who got a lucky punch in on his bully when he finds out Scott is alive. Also Knives and Stephen get a meeting with him leading to the greatest musical of all time.

As you can tell this episode is very stupid and I love it. It's just 100% nonsense the whole way through, letting Wallace do something since the only main character who isn't Ramona he interacts with is in the future right now. There isn't much to disect, i'ts just pure comedy gold with props to both Kirean for really nailing a more douchestastic wallace and especially Brandon Routh who has shockingly deep comedic chops. A great episode and a nice break before we dive full speed into just where Scott went.

17. Lackadaisy (Pilot Episode)

Old Man River! That seems far too austere a name for something made of mirth and rage. O, roiling red-blood river vein. If chief among your traits is age, You're a wily, convoluted sage.

Is "old" the thing to call what rings the vernal heart of wester-lore? What brings us brassy-myth made kings. And a preponderance of bug-type things. To challenge titans come before!

O, demiurge to a try at Avalon-once-more?

And what august vitality in your wide aorta stream. You must have had to oversee alchemic change of timber beam to iron, brick and engine steam!

Your umber whiskey waters lance the prideful, sober sovereignty of faulty-haloed temperance, and wilt her self-sure countenance; Yes, righteousness is vanity. But sport's for imps, not elderly.

So if there's a name for migrant mass of veteran frivolity That snakes through seas of prairie grass and groves of summer sassafras; a name that flows as roguishly as wild waters, fast and free, It's your true name: Mississippi.

That beautiful poem opens up Lackadaisy, thank you wiki so I didn't have to transcribe that whole glorious thing, as a roustabout cat in 1927 St. Louis names rocky spends the first few minutes playing fiddle, basking in the glorious moonlight and waxing poetic about the mighty missisipi. It's a beautiful opening that shows off the series deft animation and MIssouri setting, something that makes me want to learn more about my own state's history. It's clear from the word go a LOT of love and research went into this setting, and given creator Tracy Butler had started Lackadaisy as an even MORE lavishly drawn webcomic.

Lackadaisy has a simple setup: three cats working for the titular saloon, Rocky, our dreamy narrator and mild loon, Freckle, his grumpy sidekick whose perhaps a bit TOO good with a gun, and Ivy, a peppy girl who takes jabs at Rocky and flirts with Freckle. I .. I ship the fuck out of it. These two are adorable. The three are robbing a body for canadian hooch but have to deal with the deathly serious and deathly hot, Mordecai Heller and his much more excitable, jokey and bloodthristy associates Serfafine and Nico Savoy.

The short is mostly a tense back and forth between both parties as our heroes barely surivive, we get a lot of good Ivy and Freckle content and Rocky saves the day by hyjacking a goddamn steam shovel and loading it with dynamite while waxing poetic and laughing madly. If that's not enough to get you to check it out if you haven't, I have clearly failed in some way as Lackadasiy is excellent and like Atlas and the Stars, leaves me wanting more of this cast. I'll defintely be reading the comic and plan to at least try to get the print editions coming up soon, as the pilot does a good job of showing who these characters are simply by action.. but leaving you questioning WHO they are and how they all ended up in a failing saloon, and why say Mordecai spares Ivy towards the end. Whatever it is I only want more of this, and am so happy those of you who weren't late adoptres like me helped get us a full season 1. Thank you so much and I can't wait for this show to show up here again. It's gonna be a riot and Micheael Kovach steals the show any time Rocky speaks, while SunWongCho is just... amazing as Mordecai and gives us a great antagonist to work with, a classic mystery man whose side your not sure who he's on, you just know he's a threat when he shows up.

16. Simon Petrikov (Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake, Season 1 Episode 2)

Does somebody jump for joy? Does somebody cry? Now that I'm not part of that sadness? Does somebody want me now? Now that I can’t fly? Now that I'm not part of the madness? Part of the madness?

Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake surprised the hell out of me in the best way possible. See while I never stopped caring in SOME way about adventure time, my dropping off mid series after ... THAT happened in Breezy, only coming back occasionally for an episode or two, the orgalorg arc and the finale, I really wasn't interested. I did enjoy the two episodes of Distant Lands I saw, Stakes was excellent and Together Again felt like a more fitting final chapter to the series. Both didn't feel like continuation of the story: Stakes was a coda giving us the Bubbline content CN denied us and Together Again is an Epilogue, set at the very end of Finn's story.

So I was kind of.. Meh on Fionna and Cake's announcment. I wasn't against it but I'd just never really cared about these two, with the series having made two great episodes about them (and two more I hadn't seen at the time), but the whole "created by a creepy old guy" part of it always held me back from fully embracing these two. I was badly hoping they'd throw away the whole fanfic conceit and just move on.

They didn't do that.. but Fionna and Cake not only found a way to revitalize that, but reminded me WHY the original series was so strong. Fionna and Cake grew up with the original audience, a piece about metafiction, fandom, growing up, and depression all made wonderful and really stretching the property as far as it'll go and i'ts unexpected season 2 greenlight makes me all too excited.

The thing I was most excited for though.. was still greatly done. Alongside Fionna and Cake getting a slice of life makeover thanks to Simon going back to "normal", we get some closure for Simon who ended the series seemingly fine: Betty is gone, but he's sane, Marcy gets her real dad back, job done right?

Adam Muto, Adventure Time's ep from season 6 and the archeticht of most things from Rebcca Sugar's leaving till present day, disagreed, planning a simon special for distant lands before rewriting it for this series. And it points out something a lot of fans noticed about this ending: it's.. not okay. Simon lost betty AGAIN, and is now trapped in a world he never made.

And the series makes this into his arc, how does he fit into this world, and what he tries to do to escape it instead of dealing with it. Simon Petrkiov paints a picture of where Simon's been in the 10 year time jump between Come Along With Me and his debut in this series, Simon Petrikov.. and it's a deeply depressing picture.

Simon's a living exhibit on the humans floating island, unable to connect with his fellow humans as he can't relate to them in any way shape or form. He's a 20th Century man and their 24th century men and women. Not helping is an overzealous, or sweet fan girl he keeps shooing away who just CAN'T understand that the man who wrote Fionna and Cake.. ISN'T the same guy making toast in a fake apartment and watching Cheers every day. The Ice King was PART of simon, but they were never the same person and every reminder of the hell the poor man went under, the things he did, the people he hurt just reminds Simon how far away he is from home.

Not helping is something all too common with depression and trauma, something I know all too well... Simon won't open up to people. He doesn't get help (and as we learn via a minerva bot in the finale Therapy was ALWAYS there for him), and he keeps space from the surrogate family he does have. He dosen't want to "ruin" marcy finally being in a good place and thus barely calls her, content to just visit and pretend things are okay. Finn TRIES reaching out.. but while he's older, wiser, and beardier now, and to my delight still with Huntress Wizard (and in headcanon in a throuple with Flame Princess, but that just me. ), but he's still an adrenline junky raised by a loveable manchild who can't quite relate to someone like Simon, who just wants his old life back.

All this is punctuated by the return of Rebecca Sugar, who sings the beautiful and tragic "part of the madness" which sums up where Simon is: he's normal, he's who HE wants to be.. but the world simply feels like it rejects him, when really he's just as much rejecting it. Instead of trying to find some calm in the storm of this life and admit he needs help.. he chases betty, trying badly to get her back even though it just.. isnt' possible.. and causing this series as a result. He just can't let go.. but the series shows him he has to if he wants to truly live.

15. Miraculous World Paris : Tales of Shadybug and Claw Noir (Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir World Special 4) | In the daytime, I'm Gabriel Just a normal man, with a normal life But I have a secret I must keep at any cost Or all hope will be lost. Miraculous! Fear is a cage! Hear the message, answer the call! Miraculous! Yes, you can change! The power of love will free us all! Miraculous!

Yeah after two years of watching it, Miraculous Ladybug actually made this list. I'm shocked i'ts both this high AND this good. See while i'm a fan of Miraculous Ladybug, most of the fandom is more a fan of what it could be, the potetial it'd have if Thomas Astruc hadn't been the one mostly running it for 5 seasons and running it straight into the ground into the molten core of the earth. The Recent film, while far from perfect, felt like more what the series SHOULD'VE been, with the secret id bullshit resolved by the end of what's essentially movie/season 1, Gabe given more depth etc.

So i'ts ironic that in the same year the show itself, via it's spinoff specials gives us ANOTHER universe that's way better than the mess they've made of the main timeline with Miraculous World Paris. Mirror Universes are nothing new, to the point Kev and I have a whole series on mirror universe episodes featuring this very special planned, starting later this month.

With Ladybug's lack of subtley, misuse of good ideas and goofy incompetence, I assumed this special would be at best goofy fun with overblown multiverse and mirror universe tropes. Instead... it's the single best episode of the shows run, a truly moving piece that made me enjoy mirror universes again the same way Fionna and cake has made me enjoy AU's again

Miraculous knows just the right way to make evil counterparts: instead of the earth 3 versions of Marinette, Adrien and Gabriel the complete opposites of our heroes or just "Evil, Evil and less of a prick", Shady Bug, Claw Noir and Betterfly are all the same people we've come to know, simply gone down a diffrent route. Gabe is a better person, having STARTED as his earth 1 shitheal self working with his earth's eviil shadow overlord supreme... the loss of his life somehow changing this course. Instead of using the butterfly miraculous to try and bend the world in shape to get his wife back, he honors her legacy as Betterfly, helping others, something that seems IMPOSSIBLE for our gabe to consider without an ulterior motive.. but all too plausible if he just let go of his ego and his wife and let her die in peace instead of holding her in a dome coma and fighting teens. If he accepted he can't control something

Likewise Shadybug is Mari if Alaya hadn't befriended her, if Chloe just kept bullying Mari and Mari never stood up to her, the bullying just made her worse. If her parents WEREN'T there to support her: the bakery and her room is.. but it's very clear her alternate parents just aren't the loving duo our Mari's are. This is the kind of Mari that would've easily become an akuma.. but instead becomes something WORSE thanks to Supreme, a mysterious entity linked to the guardians, very heavily implied to be earth 3 Master Wu, who gives out the miraculouses to those who can tighten his grip on earth, and selected Mari and an Adrien who never went to school and thus never got out of his shell and is even MORE distant form his dad due to Gabe's new job as his pawns.

It results in a tearful battle as our heroes are both forced to TRUST the best life version of their nemisis, and battle what easily could'e ben them, while their counterparts find out , after Shadybug tries the wish thing, that supreme was using them and their lives are being drained by overusing their powers, explaning why the regular miraculouses limit our heroes to one use of their powers and limited timing. This is what happens otherwise and Monarch is all too happy to take advantage of that. There's more to this special, a lot more I can't wait to explore in april, but needless to say Miraculous World Paris.. is what I wanted from this series: a creative, tightly told, heartbreakingly well done superhero story with tense action, creative uses of the kwamis, and good character stuff for BOTH versions of our protagonists. I'ts a true masterwork and I wish THIS is the show we got more consistently.

14. The Amazing Rudy (Bob's Burgers, Season 14, Episode 2)

"I kinda walked away on dinner with my dad and her boyfriend and dad and his vicky for the first time which I guess how family dinners are gonna be from now on and I guess technically... I ran away"

It's weird but despite my deep love of the Great North (Which for the first time since it's debut missed the list this year, but damn did it have a good one, even if season 4 had to wait for 2024), until this year I wasn't consistently watching it's sister show Bob's Burgers anymore. I liked Bob's, I loved the movie, I had nothing against it. But any time I tried to get back there'd be an episdoe that just took me out. So now while I won't watch every episode, I still watch most, as the show is good as ever, if not on a comeback after a few seasons apparently felt (if TV Tropes is a good indciator) as very hit and miss. Season 14 is fantastic and it's no surprise it's second episode ended up being one of the series best.

The Amazing Rudy is something completely different in tone and staging, with a more melancholy peanuts style soundtrack, a somber tone and more muted humor. It fits perfectly, as the episode isn't centered around the Belchers this time but Louise's best friend, future husband and morality pet Rudy. The show has had secondary character spotlights before, Rudy getting a few himself, but usually the Belchers are still front and center and one of them still plays a major role in following this character around. For instance a few episodes later we get "bully-leive it or not" a zeke spotlight episode, but one where the other three kids are still very present: Zeke and his shameful past are the focus, but Louise and Tina still figure heavily into the plot, louise nearly bullyign Zeke's former bullying victim thinking the guy bullied zeke and that's why zeke freezes up seeing the guy, while Tina guiding the kid around is what kicks things off. The two aren't the focus, but it still feels like a bobs burgers adventure, helped with a bob subplot where he grapples with Jimmy Pesto, now played by Eric Bauza after a long absence thanks to his previous actor being an insurrectionist which lets face it Jimmy totally also was or at the very least thought about before finding the air fair was too much.

Here the focus is on Rudy to the point it feels like an episode of a Rudy spinoff show that does not exist but we now all want it too. It's still in Seymour's Bay (Which I forget is the name of the town this show takes place in as mostly people we know are in wonder wharf or on ocean avenue), just following Rudy as the lead instead. The Belcher's show up, in the middle of a bob's burger's episode we'll never see about Gene getting good grades and thus getting baked potato lasagna, a recipie he made up and assumes "everyone else must enjoy" is part of the reward, with the payoff him realizing he can't force someone to love his abomination, but he CAN have their portions. Being Rudy's closest friends and future wife it makes since there the ones he talks to when he goes to the mall with his dad to get a magic trick for the night and a snappy hat when he crosses them.

The Belcher's presence also hammers home what Rudy's dealing with though and that's.. a loss of family. Rudy's Parents are divorced. This isn't a new fact as it's come up casually in the past: being the kids Teddy, i.e. the person closest to them in their age group to be clear, not the person who defintely has passed by the restraunt at night every night and just.. stares in the window. But being the kids most prominent supporting character, with Jimmy Junior and Zeke a close shared second, we've gotten to know him: his parents divorce is amnicable, he alternates weekends, and they've both moved on. We haven't really seen his mom but Rudy seems just fine with her and with his dad being his primary caregiver, is a bit closer to him, as shown in this ep as the two are adorably in synch and have their rythm.

See Rudy didn't LOOSE his mom or dad, both are still very present.. but he lost the three of them as a family and until recently had their monthly "We're still a family' dinner", what, as we learn in a heartbreaking montage i'll get too shortly, was a monthly family dinner and became a way to show that both his parents still loved him and still liked each other even if they weren't together. The problem is while a well meaning gesture, both parents have started bringing their partners, which is fair but makes it less a family dinner.. and more Rudy stuck with four adults having a hangout who accidently forget he's there. While I never went through one of these as a middle schooler when my parents broke up, I know the type of event Rudy deals with all too well: it's mostly adults, there's no one to talk to and your alone. Granted I was fine with it because I just.. read whatever book I brought anyway, but rudy is a social butterfly, an awkward awkward butterfly, so he has no idea how to handle this, or really deal with it.

His one ace in the hole is a magic trick, from his faviorite shop, the same one we saw in the magic episode way back. See while Rudy's love of being a magician is another character trait that's come up, this episode gives weight to it: Rudy got into magic not just because he dearly loves it and the person at the shop gladly mentors him and supports his talent, but it's seen in a montage of previous dinners that any time his parents started fighting, before and after divorce, a simple trick reentered the night and reminded them what's important.

Naturally the trick, done using a glass of drinking water and some tablets, goes wrong, and while Rudy's parents encourage him to try again and no one really is mad at him or upset it went wrong and spilled everywhere, he feels utterly humiliated, something we all went through as kids: you screw something up and while your parents don't make a deal out of it, you just can't. Hell I still have that problem. So combine that with already not wanting ot be here and Rudy bounces, his parents not aware he's gone.

Naturally, given the earlier setup, he bounces to the Belchers. And it's easy to see why: The Belchers are a loving, wonderful family, and Bob and Linda not only gladly let Rudy join, but engage with him in a way Rudy's parents simply forgot. Rudy's parents aren't callous... adults simply make mistakes and in likely trying ot make sure rudy's okay with both their partners being there, their partners feel good, the million other things they got going on.. they talked over Rudy. It's what makes this work: we feel for rudy, but it stings more that this isn't some problem with an easy fix. There will be plenty more dinners where he's wallpaper and plenty more times they likely forget him without meaning to. The trick COULD'VE helped.. but it failing was a reminder it was just a distraction from the fact his parent's aren't a family anymore, just two people who share a kid, loving him and caring about each other.. but what little bit of what he had before the divorce is just gone.

Brian Huskey's voice as he gives the monologue I used for this episode's quote is just heartbreaking.. you can feel the kid just.. relaizing he can't just run away from it. It's just.. how things are. HIs sad revelation of this just hits, Louise's "Oh boy", and Rudy sounds on the verge of tears.. we've seen him mad, we've seen him kinda sad.. but never like this. Just a child realizing things won't be the same and he has nothing to do but go back to it.

Thankfully as bob and linda mindly panic after realizing "oh god this child just ran and his parents don't know oh god", Louise knows what her best friends need and offers to walk him back. not only is the moment shiptastic.. it's sweet. Louise gets Rudy is having a hard time with all of this and needs some support, needs someone his own age there to talk with and to help deflect attention. And to punch out anyone on the way who tries to hurt them with brass knuckles, which naturally linda gave her as santa. After all he IS from the streets. It provides a pretty morose episode an utterly sweet ending as the two walk back, Bob couldn't be prouder, and Rudy.. for now at least.. isn't alone among his own family anymore. He may never have what he had back.. but he's gained someone pretty good along the way.

13. Watching and Dreaming (The Owl House, Season 3 Episode 3, Series Finale)

"Eda, King, Thank you for Everything" "Right Back atcha kiddo" "Weirdos?" "Weirdos"

The Owl house was the best show of the 2020's and while it had some stiff compettion this year, it still hasn't been surpassed. It was hilarious, had a wonderfully built messed up world with lots of thought, deep character arcs, and was sadly cut short way too soon, but will never leave the hearts of those of us who loved it.

So thankfully they stuck the landing, as Watching and Dreaming was a worthy conclusion to the series. After the decent but easily weakest of the three season 3 specials "For the Future", Watching and Dreaming is a nicely packed finale that wraps up the series wonderfully and while it leaves me wanting only MORE, MORE DAMN YOU MORE, as the series always had, it's a good note to end on while Dana gets the hell out of mouseton for a while.

It was also the last episode of a show I covered as it came out, with an attempt to do so with legend of vox machina adding way too much to my work load this year to really work out, and as a finale to that.. it was just as welcome.

Watching and Dreaming spends it's first third on the Collector, and while there is a bit of disconnect between what he puts our heroes through and where he left off, with Luz once again hving her anxieties reinforced via a horrifying puppet show, the show quickly recovers as the big three are reunited after two long episodes and several long months in and out of universe: Luz has her other mom and little brother back, Eda has her kids back and King has her family back. We also get a quick show of just how far they've come since the pilot as each one easily bodies the collector's games... and leaves him wondering why they won't play fair, why this isn't working. It takes three people who had to learn their lessons the hard way through tears, isolation and learning their life was a lie, to teach the boy god empathy and unveil that at his heart.. he's just a kdi who REALLY didn't know what he was doing was awful.

Unfortunately just as the collector learns friendship, belos POSSESS THE TITAN'S CORPSE ITSELF and plans to do .. something.. genocidey and after an attempt to just forgive him fails, the only thing our heros have is each other, with Luz's friends aka our other heroes busy saving allt he puppets with their new starry pjamaed pal.

Luz gets a last minute somewhat asspully upgrade, but it's all three together that defeats belos. It's an epic finale but one that nicely focuses on who Dana intended as the core of the series: a child who found her place in another world and learned responsibility and to forgive herself, a witch who learned to forigve and let others in, and a titan who learned empathy, all kicking that blobs ass. And then curb stomping it. It's a moving, fast paced, excellently animated finale with a fun time skip epilogue to tie it all together. Owl House may be gone... but it'll never be forgotten.

12. Army of the Doomstar (Metalocalypse, Finale Movie)

"I am a wheel in the gear of the Klok. I feel not my mortality".

The other adult swim finale movie this year and the one that had the harder road. While Venture Bros got it's movie offer at the same time as cancelation, it took Brendon Small a decade, a whole ass album designed to be as close to a finale as he could get without a lisence and a LOT of campaning to finish his story to get here. Metalocalypse ended just as the final verse of blood, metal and stupidity was about to be written, and it was thanks to Small and the Fans themselves that we finally got it with this movie.

Army wraps up 4 seasons and another movie, a movie I dearly loved when it came out and still do, with an epic. It's darker in tone as the metalocalypse that begun at the start of the series is almost here and Nathan Explosion has a full on existential crisis trying to write the song that will save the world, having no idea how and not helped by his disasterous attempted propsoal to abigail while on a lot of wine and xanax (Props to small for ending a pretty disliked subplot exactly the way it shoudl without just.. tossing it out for time or some shit AND making it tie perfectly into the plot). The films dives into the overexpecations we put on creatives to MAKE US MORE DAMMIT, and how hard that actually is.. but also how fans.. are something to treasure and not spit in their face as our heroes have the whole series, seeing them more as parasites than people.

It maintains the series ballance of having an epic story.. but not sugarcoating that these guys are fucking morons with Nathan charging into a funeral on xanax and telling everyone, Pickels having ot literally be everyone's mom, and Pickles ordering a last meal fo rnathan of cool ranch diritos and choclate milk. The shows as goofy as ever, but adds a heart that's been only glimpsed on occasion as our heroes are allergic to feelings, as our heroes must save the world. We also get some kickass metal music as always, with SOS being a standout, giving us one last awesome dethklok performance and song as our heroes rally the world to show them their not alone.. and they never were. An epic, hilarious, and well done film that manages to cover all the bases it needs to and wrap everything up in 96 minutes. Pretty brutal.

11. The World Vs Scott Pilgrim (Scott Pilgrim Takes off Episode 6, Series Finale)

"Hey, because I'll have a lot of trouble saying it later, let me say it now: I love you, Scott. And I run away from the thing that I love. But what I've done in the past doesn't have to define me. Help me keep remembering that, okay?"

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off was a thrilling watch but there was one worry I had as it went.. sticking the landing. It set up a compelling mystery, to the point I genuinely wasn't sure who would kidnap scott as while the twins DID have to show up and were likely involved.. it just didn't fit that it was them. It being their robot who being a robot has never eaten anything, thus never eaten meat and would have none of the bilogicial weaknesses of a human, was brilliant as it is hilarious bonkers.

Who sent the robot.. was even better as it turned out to be Scott himself, a twist that told me everything was going to be alright. Specifically this is a scott who lived what this story would've been: Scott beats the exes, gets the girl, and they have a happy relationship and then marriage for 15 years, having become their best selves. The thing the series challenges though .. is if they can STAY better versions of themselves. It's something the other versions didn't really WANT to poke at because it makes the ending less happy: if they don't end up together, what's the point of all this. Yet.. relatoinships break up. Hope Larson, the real life inspriation for Ramona, divorced Brian Lee O Malley. The relationship COULD fail and where would that leave them.

As it turns out.. not great as Ramona bailed when it got hard while being vauge as usual, and Scott spiraled hard into his worst habits, moving in with wallace, again, and rather than figure out where he wen twrong.. wanted to hit undo on what he felt was a sunk cost, a relationship he put his heart into only for it to seemingly fail, even if he still had a chance to save it. Hence the brilliant and only not making this list because this year was paccckkked with good episodes, 2 Scott 2 Pilgrim before this. It also helps the takes off scott spedrun his charater development as future him is everything Scott tries to ignore about himself, his laziness, selfishness, short sightentess and very stupid brain, as a person he really can't ignore because that person kidnapped him because he took a joke Wallace made seriously.

So Scott naturally motors with the help of Future Wallace and Older Ramona, who was indeed the sleep paralysis demon and like her ex husband really sucks at plans, but gives Scott a lift home. So.. everything good? Ramona Grew, Scott Grew, Scott acknowlegeds he never should've dated a literal teenager... we goo dright? Right?

Thing is as this episode reveals midway through... Older Scott REALLY didn't want his past self to take the gamble that he could do it the right way and instead of giving himself tips.. gave himself anti kissing nanites so he and ramona can't kiss, the two naturally thinking it's the exes. We get a great opening here as scott confronts each of them, having only kinda witnessed their changes.. and most don't care. Even Gideon's moved on to Julie, his perfect match and a pariing I can't belivie I love and fits perfectly: their both the worst, and together their awful. Brilliant.

The two seemingly don't solve things.. but thankfully Old Scott is more than willing to show his hand.. as even older scott. Even Older Scott is terrifying, taking some of Scott's good traits.. and making them into something nightmarish. After his failure to change the future, not considering that

Instead looses his mind, training himself in video games and the martial arts for 10 years, all to counter everything his friends and the exes can do... all so he can KILL EVERY LAST ONE. Scott's worst nightmare across all realities has come to past, he's an evil ex.. and the evilest ex of all. Well in terms of power and madness, Gideon still put a bunch of women in jars because they broke up with him who Matt hopefully let out in this timeline.

We get a great fight as the utterly jacked, utterly terrifying even older scott, who nicely resembles evil ryu from street fighter and has pixel effects ala movie!gideon, cleans house, with Ramona wondering if she should just.. leave all this. It's only realizing that's literally all she does that gets her to realize she want sto fight for this, even if it ends poorly, and Scott, already all in, helps her.

Ultimately it's not the duo who win their future this time.. but Ramona's own future, what could be, even older ramona, saving her past self via fusion, a super mode (Just like Sonic 2.. or 3.. or dragon ball.), and some words of encouragment, giving EOS another chance and Scott the beautiful words above.

It's a powerful message and one that's real: it's hard to change.. but it's even harder to get change to stick. You just have to keep remembering it.. and keep trying. No matter how bad things seem.. you can make it better.

This is all helped by the beautiful ending, a pixel version of god only knows as everyone, exes now included, gets to live their best life and we last see Ramona as she dons what we finally find to be her natural hair color, blond (with some highlights because, hey, it looks badass), ready to face the future)... and the best worst couple hyping a sequel that will never happen, but frankly it'd be werider if they didn't, A truly spectacular finale to what may be the best version of this story.

#scott pilgrim takes off #lackadaisy #atlas and the stars #metalocalypse #the venture bros #the owl house #bobs burgers #miraculous ladybug #animation #2023 #best of 2023

26 notes · View notes

orangepanic · 10 months ago

Note

Sorry if this is an odd question but what lead you to the Iroh Asami ship? I've always been interested in hearing how it came about!

WELL! In this essay I will…

It’s not an odd question at all though. Why are you frothing at the mouth over a tiny kids’ cartoon ship that sank over a decade ago and breaks up the biggest pairing in the fandom, Orange? Are you mad? Who does that?

Okay but look at them 🥹

My interest in Irosami was initially a rage-based aesthetic. I love Asami. I really admired her courage in standing up to her father and being willing to lose her whole cushy life in the process. That takes serious guts. This isn’t a fighter! She’s just a random girl who hit the wrong guy with her moped. But she always steps up. She does everything right. And then she gets treated like absolute crap!! My poor baby. Why is nobody choosing Asami to love?

Right on cue, enter buff buff hero man. I think I actually shouted when Iroh showed up, not out of Zuko nostalgia but because finally here was Asami’s love! Way to upgrade, girl. He’s gonna save the world and buy you dinner and make love to you all night long on his big phallic boat.

Then I started watching Iroh. He never smiles. He’s always tense. We don’t see him eat or sleep. He’s constantly shifting strategies so is clearly smart but without an ounce of it used for self-preservation. There’s something sad about him. He just keeps getting the crap kicked out of him trying to save people. And I start to think Iroh might need love just as much as Asami does. Maybe more. How must it feel to be named General Iroh of the Fire Nation? The weight of that history.

So by the end of the season they were married in my head. Just two young people handed more than their fair share of responsibility and poisoned legacy and doing everything they can to redeem their family names and do right by the world. I think they’d understand each other. I think they’d be kind to each other. I think they’d poke each other in the side to make them laugh and kiss each other breathless and hold one another in the dark when it all seems like too much. I think they’d deserve each other.

And I find that way more compelling than canon.

#irosami #tlok #iroh ii #asami sato #fandom thoughts

18 notes · View notes

winterviolet1 · 2 years ago

Text

Enhypen reaction: Places they take their S/o on a date

Sunghoon:

It wouldn't be a surprise if Sunghoon did take you out on an ice skating date. As the ice prince he is. Sunghoon would love to teach you and enjoy the time with you as his s/o on the date.

"I got you, trust me you'll do just fine love"

Heeseung:

I see Heeseung taking you out on a beach date. He would pick the prefect time when no one is around so it just be you and him. Enjoying the time with you on the beach date was all more worth it when he manage to get a day off.

"How do you enjoy the date Hun, I know we don't get to do this often so I wanted to make this worth while for us"

Sunoo:

Sunoo would do a home date. But instead of hanging out inside the house. Sunoo would take you outside for an backyard date. While you were out, Sunoo wanted to surprise you as he set up the surprise. When you came back, Sunoo smiled and took out to the backyard to show you your surprise.

"I hope you don't mind this, I thought we could have our date here as it would just the two of us alone without anyone bothering us"

Jay:

Jay would take you on a boat ride on your date. He would already handed you a bouquet as he takes you over to the boat you two are gonna take.

"What do you think of the scenery Hun, this was something new I thought we both would enjoy"

Jake:

Jake had planned a scenery picnic date. He was able to get a day off so he could take you on this beautiful date. Jake packed up you favorite food and drink when the two of you arrive to the area.

"I picked this area cause it was beautiful, but your more beautiful then the scenery love"

Jungwon:

Jungwon would be the type to take you to a fair for your guys date. Jungwon would so proud cause he would play a game so he could win you the biggest prize. Towards the night, Jungwon would take you on the ferries wheel so you two would share a kiss at the top.

"Did you have fun babe, I hope you like the prize I got you!"

Niki:

The classic arcade date. Niki knows you would have a grand time playing games and win prizes at the arcade with him. When you two took a break from gaming, both of you order some food and had some lunch.

"I hope your enjoying yourself love, maybe our next date we can be a picnic date or something"

#enhypen jay #enhypen reactions #enhypen sunoo #enhypen jake #enhypen jungwon #sub enhypen #enhypen sunghoon #enhypen niki #enhypen heeseung #enhypen scenarios #enhypen fluff #dates #enhypen imagines

72 notes · View notes

izzysillyhandsy · 1 year ago

Text

Re: The Deathbed Conversation

Assuming for a moment that Izzy was completely honest and meant what he said (and it wasn't more like a last service to Ed, telling him what he needed to move on) - and assuming Izzy was 100% objectively correct and not shouldering all the blame out of misguided guilt, and what he told Ed happened, exactly as he told him.

Then what exactly did happen in those 20-30 years of Ed&Izzy?

Blackbeard… it was us. You, me.

Ok, but when did it start? Did Izzy and Ed meet as young men, did they create Blackbeard together (as in coming up with the name, the aesthetic, flag design, the silly little spikes on the ship, etc)? Did both of them agree that this scary, inhuman monster could be their safe space, their ticket to survival?

Or did Izzy join in later, when Blackbeard was already established ("When you made me first mate...")? Did Izzy kill the former first mate?

How much of Blackbeard is Izzy? How much came from Ed? Was Ed in any way forced into this? Was Izzy in any way forced into this?

I fed your darkness… Blackbeard.

Great, but how? What kind of power did Izzy have over Ed? In the show, very little it seems - at least as long as Ed is certain that Izzy'll always be there (he seems very afraid of Izzy leaving, at least when he's not distracted by Stede).

The only time Izzy seems to have any influence on Ed in S1 is in Ep8, when he is (kinda) feeding his darkness with Ed being at his most vulnerable. I really don't believe for a second that Ed was actually threatened by Izzy - as in "Izzy physically harming or killing him". At most, it was a threat of abandonment or withdrawal of affection/love.

Is that what it was? Was Ed so alone, did he feel so unloveable that Izzy was the only constant/love in his life? And did Izzy threaten to leave/withdraw that love if Ed didn't "perform", at least in public?

But then we have the retirement plan - and Izzy going along with it so easily... and the way they interact which seems so familiar and playful. I just don't feel "forced companionship". I feel long, complicated marriage. And Izzy's undying loyality.

Was Ed really so insecure and unstable that a few well-chosen insults could tip him into darkness - over and over and over? For decades? From Izzy??? With the way Izzy looks at Ed, does everything he asks, obviously adores him?

What did Izzy say to him, every time, for all these years???

For years, I egged him on, even though I knew you'd outgrown him, but the truth is… I needed him.

Ok, Izzy knew that Ed had outgrown Blackbeard. But that implies that for some time (probably years and years) Ed hadn't outgrown him yet. At the beginning, and for some time, Blackbeard seems to have been at least somewhat useful for Ed and Izzy (both of them are respected, relatively wealthy and alive).

But what does "outgrown" mean?

Wasn't it just Ed getting bored (and depressed) after years of the same old stuff? Or was it traumatic for him to be forced into this violent persona over and over again, and he was finally ready to be just Ed and feel secure in that?

But do we really think Ed went into a different mental state every time Izzy "egged him on"? That his whole personality changed every time they raided a ship (and Blackbeard didn't even kill anyone)? Is this supposed to be a Jekyll/Hyde situation?

Ed himself says that his biggest problem is that all the fun and adventure have gone - he doesn't even have to be on the boat.

How does that fit in with "feeding the darkness" and "egging him on"?

I understand Izzy needing Blackbeard (as in their shared fuckery, not "Blackbeard" as a separate person to Ed - "you and me" is unambiguous) and everyone else staying a step back. I also understand that Izzy wanted to keep Ed to himself in a way. In the end, Izzy (rightly) realized that that wasn't fair to Ed.

But are we meant to assume that Izzy wouldn't want the "real Ed"? Or that Izzy is insecure himself - as long as there's Blackbeard, Ed needs him. Without Blackbeard, does Izzy think that Ed will inevitably see how boring and useless Izzy is and leave him?

What's going on with these two? (a co-dependant relationship where both are bringing out the worst in the other at times. But that's not what Izzy said)

Well, going with Izzy's words as truth, it seems to me that:

for many years, Blackbeard did both of them more good then bad

some years ago though, Ed wanted more/got bored/wanted a softer life/wanted to be "just Ed"

Izzy held onto Blackbeard because he enjoyed being the only one who really knew Ed, and he didn't want to share him (and potentially lose him - which actually happened so he wasn't wrong)

Izzy held onto Blackbeard by feeding Ed's darkness and preventing him from being "a regular dude"

I have no idea how exactly Izzy fed Ed's darkness - by making him feel unloveable and worthless? By sharing in/encouraging violence and making it exciting and an escape from depression?

the only darkness-feeding moment we see in the show that worked (and "better" than expected) was after Stede left, and we can safely assume that normally it didn't escalate like that

I think the threat was Izzy leaving Ed (by withdrawing all affection) and insinuating that if even Izzy doesn't want Ed, noone else will

in that situation that was like pouring oil on fire

before that though, it might have worked in a "us against the world" way

something like "you'll never make it alone in this cruel world, stick to what you know"

like Pop-Pop said - Ed's good at being Blackbeard/violent (and at nothing else)

Does that make sense? I don't know. I tried to make it make sense by writing this but... the big question in all this is still how did Izzy do this for decades (this guy must be really good at darkness-feeding).

Ed as Blackbeard was like a rockstar - was it all just a show, Ed an empty, manipulated shell and Izzy the brains behind the operation?

Or maybe Izzy did lie to Ed to make him feel better, after all.

#ofmd #ofmd s2 spoilers #izzy hands #edward teach #ofmd meta #i call this meta - it is desperation #how? why? when? what?#the death scene is gonna kill me

17 notes · View notes

crowtrobotx · 1 year ago

Note

I'm on a huge Kris x Karl kick rn please tell me more about these two losers I love them

Anon. Beautiful anon. I am so sorry this is late lmao. I wanted to actually give you something in response to this ask, not just muse for a few sentences. I hope you enjoy this ficlet (is it a ficlet if it's over 2k words??? whatever) involving the aforementioned losers, and I'm so very glad you love them as much as I do. :) ******************************************** Tunnel of Love Pairing: Karl Heisenberg x OC Setting: No Village AU, maybe set in Check Engine's universe if you've read my fic Genre: Mostly humorous fluff Warnings: Swearing if that ain't your thing, some heavy petting but nothing I'd classify as too intense. ;) Word count: 2243

“Next. Next, please.”

Kris could scarcely think of a worse summer job than manning a boat ride at the county fair, and she couldn’t blame the exasperation evident in the teenager’s voice as he tried to explain a laundry list of safety precautions to the already-too-handsy couple boarding their swan-shaped vessel. The line staggered ahead lazily as the enticing smell of funnel cake wafted from somewhere nearby. She wondered, if only for a moment, if she could convince Karl that eating more fried monstrosities was a better idea than getting in a completely non-seaworthy watercraft with peeling paint and God knew what staining the moist cushions, but given the way he was already bouncing on the balls of his feet to see how many more couples were ahead of them, she abandoned the hope all too quickly. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to, or that she was afraid of water - quite the contrary, under normal circumstances she would have agreed to it with no reservations. If you ignored the questionable sanitation, a slow boat ride through a quiet, dark tunnel sounded almost divine. But these weren’t normal circumstances; she was exhausted. How long had they been here? Twelve hours? How many rides had Karl dragged her on against her will, how many cheap beers had she downed to quell the anxiety of getting into a giant metal death trap over and over again? The ride looked exceptionally dark against the backdrop of the neon carnival lights, the distant ferris wheel in particular drenching the night sky in a sort of kaleidoscope effect that sent Kris’s already uneasy stomach churning. The larger problem, though, as she saw it, was that they were the oldest pair in line. By at least two decades. They were the only middle aged couple in a sea of overly horny teenagers and they looked like lunatics - particularly because Karl also had the “overly horny” part covered. Kris had swatted his hand away from her backside more than once now, the cover of night blessedly shielding her burning cheeks and ears from prying eyes. The line moved again. She shuffled forward, arm in arm with Karl, trying to look as small as possible - a feat that was next to unthinkable given the gargantuan stuffed puppy tucked under her free arm. Yet another ingredient in the stew of her agitation, her boyfriend had made it his God given goal the second they’d arrived to win her the biggest prize possible. It was cute, at first - adorable, even. Karl had scrutinized each game at least twice, asked her opinion on each of the potential spoils and finally landed on the strength-tester after some intense negotiations. “But there’s bigger stuffed puppies at the basketball game over there - don’t you want one of those?” “Babe, they’re bigger than me - are you gonna carry it around? Besides, these ones have bow ties, and everything’s better with a bow tie.” It had been a partial truth. Mostly Kris didn’t want to see Karl get dunked on - literally - by someone half his age. The last thing she needed was him dedicating the following year to avenging himself and trying to become a sports phenomenon with knees that sounded like snapping crab legs every time he stood up. He’d made her laugh, at least, as he put on a show of exaggerated stretches and warm-ups before his attempt. Kris had expected him to fail, to be honest. Karl was strong but she knew most of these games were rigged. Still, she didn’t have the heart to kill his excitement and if he wanted to go for it, who was she to stop him? If he couldn’t do it, she’d happily settle for a more manageable sized prize - perhaps one of the tie dyed teddy bears - and she’d nearly looked away when he’d at last swung down the hammer against the block. She supposed she shouldn’t have been surprised when the bell rang out. Kris had gestured slack-jawed at the black and white puppy with the purple bow tie while Karl grinned like a smarmy tomcat.

Her poor therapist was going to hear another earful of musings about why exactly she’d fallen in love with this greasy asshole - no one could explain it, least of all her. “I think we’re next,” Karl’s excited voice barely restrained to normal levels. “That kid up there chickened out at the last minute.” Probably because they realized these boats are one splinter away from sinking, Kris thought miserably. She turned her head over her shoulder and grimaced at the hordes of teenagers waiting behind them - bright eyed and fashionable and looking nothing like her, with her ever darkening under eye circles and Karl’s ill-fitting oil stained hoodie thrown over her shoulders.

“Oh boy,” she said, straining to match his energy. At last they stepped forward onto the dock, its wet surface shimmering under the cascade of surrounding colors. The ride operator, the only person who looked even remotely as tired as Kris, turned a dead-inside gaze toward them. If he had any thoughts about the weird older couple hopping on a ride notorious for awkward first kisses and wandering hands, he blessedly kept them to himself. “You’ll have to leave the stuffed animal here, ma’am. You can pick it up when the ride is done.” “Oh, yeah. Thanks,” Kris’s arm practically cried out in relief as she plopped Karl’s oversized gift down next to a collection of other toys and purses left behind for safekeeping. “How, uh, how long is this thing? Usually?” The kid sniffed. “I dunno. Five minutes, tops. That is, if no one falls overboard and we have to stop it for an hour.” “Great.” Karl nudged her, practically vibrating with excitement despite the banality of it all. He’d pushed his sunglasses up into his hair, apparently deciding that it would be too dark in the tunnel even for him with them on. His eyes were almost brighter than anything else around them, and Kris nearly felt like complimenting him until he opened his stupid, annoying mouth. “Bet you a corn dog I can get you off before we come out the other end.” The ride operator sighed. Kris wanted to drown herself.

“Please keep your hands and feet inside the ride at all times and in a place where we can all see them. And please no inappropriate displays…” he sounded like he wanted to get hit by a stray meteor at all costs.

“Define inappropriate.” Kris had known Karl would say something once they got up here but she hadn’t been sure what. She rolled her eyes and elbowed him in his soft midsection, earning a snicker and a feigned offended exclamation. “I was just asking!” The operator stopped their boat with his foot just long enough for the pair to clamber in. Karl, ever ungraceful, managed to splash water onto the floor when he flopped down next to Kris with zero regard for the integrity of the vessel. He flung an arm around her shoulders and waggled his eyebrows suggestively as the boat lurched forward, setting off into the black light filled tunnel ahead at a lopsided angle. “You’re obnoxious, you know that?” Kris booped the end of his nose with her index finger and pretended to be more interested in the neon paint on the walls than him. “Yeah,” he said, proudly, before scooting a touch closer. “And you’re pretty.” Was he…. Oh no, was he being romantic? “Tell me something I don’t know.” Kris leaned back a bit, forcing Karl to lean in even further. The sounds of the carnival outside began to deaden the further in they traveled, until all that was left was the lapping of the water against the sides of the boat and the crackling sound of public domain piano music warbling out from hidden speakers. To her horror and private delight, Karl decided to put his mouth to use on something better than cheesy pick up lines and infodumping about motorcycles and cars for once. He brushed aside her dark curls from the shoulder closest to him and set to work leaving hot, open-mouthed kisses on the exposed skin of her next while Kris subconsciously shifted, the ache in her feet from walking all day replaced by an ache of another sort, higher up her body. Jesus Christ. She was mad. Mad that she’d agreed to this, mad that she was letting him act like a hormonal sixteen year old on a shitty fair ride, mad that she was getting into it. She had been a respectable person, once. Then her lizard brain had taken over and she’d gotten the hots for her mechanic, and with every passing day she was turning into more of a clown. “Karl–” it came out breathier than she would have liked– “Karl, stop. We’re going to– oh – we’re going to get in trouble, you buffoon.” “Who’s gonna tell,” he murmured against her ear, before tracing her jaw with chaste kisses and bringing a hand up to turn her face to him. “You don’t think they have cameras on this thing?” “Sure they do,” Karl shrugged, “but you think anyone’s actually watching? These guys don’t get paid enough to give a shit.” He was probably right about that. Before Kris could come up with another excuse, Karl captured her lips in his own and settled his hands near her waist, filling her senses with him. She sighed and surrendered herself to the action, too tired and too stupidly in love to fight it. She threaded her fingers through his silvery hair and dragged him closer, pretending to ignore the victorious smirk she felt him pull while his scratchy beard undoubtedly reddened her skin. Jackass. Whatever hastily painted designs littered the walls of the tunnel, neither of them noticed. Kris decided that because the fair was closing in an hour anyway, it wouldn’t matter if they got kicked out - she’d already indulged so much today, what was one more thing? She slipped a hand underneath Karl’s collar and toyed gently with his chest hair, earning a deep growl in response. “Two can play at that,” he muttered before quickly sneaking up the back of her shirt and unhooking her bra with practiced ease - much better than the first time, when Kris had thought he was about to burst into tears trying to figure out how it worked. Some engineer. “Karl!” “What? I’m just following the rules. He said nothing inappropriate - inappropriate would be if I tore your clothes off and did what I’m actually thinking of doing right now. No one’s gonna know I just gave the girls some room to breathe…” “Fuck you.” “Please do, doll.”

Stupid, stupid man with his stupid unkempt beard and his stupid uneven grey hair that he cut himself while drunk in the bathtub. She was angry at how much she liked him. Furious. Kris decided that when they were done sucking each other’s faces off, she was going to throw him overboard in the nasty ride water and make a comment about how he needed a shower anyway. She dragged him in again, with such force that the boat wobbled this time, and let him content himself with his wandering hands and probing tongue. She hated to admit she was enjoying herself. Maybe, maybe, if he behaved, she’d even admit that he’d been right about this whole thing. He’d never shut up about it, but maybe he deserved it… just this once.

The moment never came, though. All too soon the light at the dock beamed around the corner and he pulled away after one last kiss, punctuated by a nip on her lower lip. Kris gasped as if coming up for air, and to her horror she subconsciously leaned after him, trying to capture the moment before it slipped away into the night. She practically crawled into his lap, ignoring the self-satisfied look on his face. “That’s not fair– Karl, you can’t do that to me and just– get back here!”

“Ma’am, please don’t make me call security on you.” Kris froze. When exactly they’d pulled up and stopped, she wasn’t sure. What she was sure of was the fact that there were now a bunch of judgemental teenagers looking at her, someone technically old enough to be their mother, on top of someone who looked like he’d been pulled out of a dumpster, and her hair was undoubtedly askew in such a way to make it obvious what they’d been doing. Karl exited the ride as if nothing was amiss and clicked his tongue in mock disappointment.

“Yeah, pumpkin. So sorry about her, can’t take her anywhere,” Karl gestured in Kris’s direction with a smug grin that made her want to punch his throat. “Let’s get you home to sleep off those beers. You’re kinda obsessed with PDA, you know that?”

Kris clambered out of the boat, quickly snatching the stuffed puppy and tucking it back in its rightful place under her arm, patently refusing Karl’s outstretched hand. The swan boat’s faded eyeball regarded her in a way that was somehow both lifeless and mocking, as if it had seen so many such instances over the years but never got used to them. Her cheeks flared as she stormed past into the yellow glow of the night ahead, ears roaring so loudly it almost drowned out her partner’s guttural laughter.

“I’m going to skin you alive, Karl Heisenberg.”

#asks #karl heisenberg x oc #karl heisenberg #karl heisenberg fanfic #resident evil village #resident evil fanfiction

17 notes · View notes

yrys-copihwesfv · 5 months ago

Note

failure; fear; guilt

Failure:

Sooo, Yrys has had a lot of moments that would count as failures but he generally doesn’t care. Like, he’ll pick himself up and carry on with the mentality of either “it doesn’t matter that I failed, it’s just important that I tried” OR “even if I failed, I learned or grew or somehow improved from the experience”

But then shit hits the fan and people start dying, and he’s not the WoL with all these fancy abilities, he’s just Some Guy with the Echo and he can’t do anything to stop these super powerful enemies from coming in and hurting people. And each time, a bigger enemy shows up and it goes from being a case of protecting a city to protecting a continent to protecting the world and he Can’t Do Anything. And I think every time someone dies, that becomes his new biggest failure because it means he hasn’t been able to improve from the last time. And he can usually move past failures but every time someone loses their life because he either wasn’t there or wasn’t good enough to save them, it stays with him, and then he just bottles it all up and keeps that facade of optimism up because if he tells anyone, he’s scared they’ll feel like they can’t rely on him anymore and that’ll just validate everything he’s been thinking already.

Fear:

On an existential-y level, he’s scared of not being needed, scared of letting people down, all that jazz. On a much more physical and present level, he’s terrified of large bodies of water. He grew up surrounded by forest and it was a long time before he saw the sea and just the sheer vastness freaks him out. He’s scared of how deep it can go and how quickly conditions can go from calm to dangerous. Whenever he has to go on a boat to get somewhere, he immediately goes below deck and stays there until it’s time to get off again. He’s also not a fan of swimming. He can tolerate swimming in lakes if necessary but he refuses to swim in the sea unless it is literally a case of life or death - and even then, it would have to be someone else’s life at risk, he would rather take his chances with whatever danger there is on land than go into the sea. He is very vocal about this fear. Put him near the sea and he instantly turns into a whiny toddler.

On a similar note, he’s not scared per se of wide open expanses but he’s not comfortable with them. Steppes or deserts or generally places where there’s no trees or dense foliage unnerve him, kind of like a liminal space, it just feels wrong.

Guilt:

Yrys is most guilty about not being dragged to the First. He couldn’t stop his friends going through traumas there and when they came back as changed people, he had a weird kind of survivor’s guilt that it wasn’t fair that he got spared that trauma. He spent a lot of time basically glued to Ryn (and to a lesser extent, A’linhbo) trying to make himself as useful as he could to make up for not being in the First. He was sort of coming to terms with it by the time everyone went to Ultima Thule and, yet again, he was rendered useless there and history basically repeated itself. He’s still trying to come to terms with everything that happened and how, yet again, he wasn’t able to share the burden and lighten it for his friends

#asks #character development #me: yrys

2 notes · View notes

ejzah · 2 years ago

Text

A/N: Oh goodness, it has been a long time since I visited this story. I hope that this addition will make up for it. Parts 1 and 2 linked below.

***

An Error in Judgment, Part 3

“Go ahead and say it,” Deeks prompted, chin propped on his fist, which balanced on the open window of the Challenger. He could probably easily count the number of times he’d sat in the vehicle since his start with the team. When Sam didn’t respond, he tilted his head just enough to see him out of the corner of his eye. “I know you want to.”

“And what would that be?” Sam asked mildly from beside him.

“I told you so.”

Sam huffed softly, and Deeks imagined his half-smirk.

“That wasn’t on my mind at all,” he said.

“Really.”

“Ok, I might not be the biggest fan of you and Kensi’s PDAs, but that doesn’t mean I think you should have been split up or on probation.”

“Really?” Deeks repeated, this time in surprise. He twisted in his seat, wincing slightly as the seat rubbed his hurst and jacket against his still-healing burns.

“Yeah.”

“Well, I guess it must suck to be paired up with me all the time,” Deeks allowed, mostly joking. The last few days had shaken things up though and it was hard to be certain of much. Besides the burning injustice he felt every single time he caught one of Kilbride’s smug, knowing smirks.

“Hey now, you know that’s been over for years. I might joke about it sometimes, and yeah, you do get on my nerves, but so does G every other minute. Point is, you’re a good partner, you’re a good teammate, and you’re an even better investigator,” Sam told him, the confidence in his voice making Deeks shift uncomfortably. “Kilbride’s actions were done with obvious prejudice and a lack of consideration.”

Sam reached over, squeezing Deeks’ shoulder firmly, almost painfully, but was reassuring.

“I know it’s hard, and it’s not fair, but you and Kensi can handle this. You’re going to prove that he was wrong, and the rest of us will be right there with you.”

“Thanks, man,” Deeks murmured, touched by his confidence and support.

“Just don’t give him more reason to come down hard on you,” Sam added. “Cause we sure as hell can’t take months of you two moping around without each other.”

Deeks grinned, shaking his head. “I’ll do my best.”

***

“Hey, everything ok?” Rountree asked, going for casual, but missing the mark a little. Kensi glanced up from her phone, having taken the opportunity to check her texts as they left a witness’ home.

So far, Rountree had remained pretty quiet about the change in partnerships. Kensi wasn’t sure if he just didn’t want risk incurring someone’s wrath by rocking the boat, or if it was his own way of showing support. Either way, she felt guilty that Kilbride’s punishment for her and Deeks had trickled down to him and Fatima.

“Yeah, uh, just checking in with Deeks,” she answered. “And Sam.”

“Anything new?”

“Nope, no movement,” she responded. Normally, she would call Deeks, take the opportunity to flirt a little or just catch up with him. It wasn’t that she couldn’t control herself, but now she was keenly aware of everything she said and did in relation to Deeks. She didn’t know how closely Kilbride was monitoring them.

She didn’t mind being separated from Deeks that much either. They were used to different pairing as needed, and she enjoyed working with Rountree and Callen more. No, the part that burned, that worried her, was the long term outcome.

If Kilbride decided to change their partnerships permanently, or worse, send one of them to a different location, Kensi wasn’t sure what she’d do. She’d thought the Admiral was fair minded underneath his gruff exterior and mercurial personality. She’d convinced herself that despite the way he often belittled Deeks, Kilbride respected his skills and what he brought to the team as an investigator.

Now, she was beginning to think Kilbride had used locker room incident as an excuse to confirm his beliefs about Deeks. And possibly use it as an excuse to force him out.

Squaring her chin, Kensi silently vowed to herself that they wouldn’t let him win. She and Deeks would tough out this rough period, and prove Kilbride wrong.

Bolstered by her anger and determination, she gestured to Rountree. “C’mon Devin, let’s go talk to the wife.”

***

Part 1

Part 2

#ncis la fanfiction #densi #marty deeks #kensi blye #Sam #Rountree #angst #drama #an error in judgment #part 3 #ejzah fanfiction

16 notes · View notes

daebakinc · 2 years ago

Text

Pretty Woman Pt. 5

Pretty Woman AU

Pairing: Kihyun x Reader

Word Count: 4.6 K

Synopsis: Rich business man, Kihyun Yoo finds himself lost driving in Los Angeles. Stopping for directions he meets you, a prostitute on Hollywood Boulevard. What starts as a one night stand soon becomes a weeklong proposition, as Kihyun needs arm candy for his visit in the city of angels.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

~Admin V

You’d never been on a boat before, yet alone a yacht. Kihyun assured you the speed would be so it wouldn’t feel like you were on water. He said it was like a large moving club.

He decided to wear the tie you got him. Shyly, you showed him you got a dress that matched. To your surprise, he loved it, and told you in Korea couples actually wear the exact same outfit, so matching colors was in the realm of Korean culture.

You could never get over his reactions each time he saw you, be it all dressed up in the blue chiffon or in nothing. He always looked at you like you were the biggest prize in a fair. The gown and his tie looked great together. Your makeup was in light shades of pink to offset the blue, and your hair was almost identical to how Minhyuk set it up.

The party was starting late. The two of you arrived to the dock after ten o’clock and the yacht would be setting sail at eleven.

Your mouth dropped upon seeing the yacht. It looked like a mansion on water. Everyone you saw was in formalwear like you and Kihyun. They held champaign flutes and laughed. You could see chandeliers inside the yacht from windows.

It was a bit overwhelming to be around so many people. Last night it was just Hyunwoo and Jooheon. Tonight was a much bigger crowd, and you weren’t sure how well you could fit in. Remembering how Kihyun was this morning in the store, you tried to calm your nerves. Kihyun would protect you. He told you to stop fidgeting and smile.

You held onto his arm tightly while you both walked around the deck. Kihyun smiled politely and nodded to other guests, so you did the same. An older gentleman came into view.

“There you are, I’ve been looking all over for you.” The two men shook each other’s hands. Kihyun introduced you, then gave an introduction of the man.

“This is my lawyer for the company, K.Will.”

The man handed you a champaign glass and an uncomfortable shiver ran down your spine. You recognized his name from the dinner last night and thought about the story Kihyun shared in the tub. He must have been the other idol caught in a scandal.

A woman who looked both incredibly expensive and bored appeared next to him. “This is my wife.”

She didn’t even attempt to make her smile look genuine, and shaking her hand was like handling a dead fish. However, a celebrity passed you all, causing an authentic smile as she called after them, leaving your little group.

K.Will made a comment about how she loved said celebrity and asked Kihyun if an important person they needed to help them take over Honey Bear Records was at the party. When Kihyun confirmed because he invited this person, K.Will grabbed his shoulders excitedly, exclaiming his love for him. He then excused himself to follow his wife.

Once he was out of ear shot, you looked to Kihyun. “Real sincere guy.”

“He’s a lawyer. Would you expect him to be any other way?”

“You could freeze ice on his wife’s ass.” You’d never met such a frigid bitch, leave for the store clerks who refused you.

Kihyun chuckled, “We’ll try that later.” He again took your arm in his and escorted you inside the yacht.

Your eyes widened once inside. It somehow got bigger from the inside. The lighting was dimly lit, giving a romantic atmosphere. Some waiters walked around carrying drinks and hors d'oeuvres. There was a bar, a food buffet, small tables and chairs, and even a dance floor.

In the middle of introducing you to a group of women he seemed familiar with, another gentlemen tapped Kihyun’s shoulder taking his attention, leaving you with the ladies.

The ice-queen syndrome seemed to be customary in this world. One of the women looked you up and down with a sneer. “So, you must be the flavor of the month.” She turned away from you.

Another woman looked embarrassed. “Don’t mind her. What she means is, Kihyun is a very eligible bachelor. He’s very sought after to land for marriage.”

This was the reason Kihyun hired you. These women were jealous you were on his arm. And if they sought to marry him, that would be a lot of romantic hassle which Kihyun wasn’t here for.

Your eyebrow twitched up as you looked to both of them. “Well, I’m not trying to land him. I’m just using him for sex.”

The apologetic woman’s face turned red, and the snob turned with her mouth gaping. That caused you to smirk then excuse yourself to the bar.

Kihyun joined your side. “Sorry for the interruption. Care to dance?” He offered his hand.

However, before you got the chance to take it, more people came up to talk to him. Naturally, he was polite and talked with them, but again leaving you to fend for yourself. You decided to check out the buffet and found a small table to stand at.

Watching Kihyun in conversations and shaking hands, it seemed like he was some kind of royalty. It wasn’t just women after his attention. Everyone wanted a piece of Kihyun. You thought of Minhyuk’s expression when seeing Kihyun’s name on the credit card. He was like a Korean Kennedy.

A group of women were gossiping across from you, which you assumed was about your comment of using Kihyun for sex. You didn’t give them another thought, especially when the reality was that Kihyun was using you for sex, and once he left town, you’d never see these people ever again. As you watched him with the people crowding around him, you noticed that every one of them had the same hard frigidness about them. There wasn’t a doubt in your mind that if Kihyun wasn’t rich or successful, they wouldn’t give him a second thought.

Finally managing to escape the gathered entourage, he walked to your little table. “My apologies.”

You popped a mini quiche in your mouth and shook your head, to signal it was no problem. “That’s why we’re here right?”

He looked relieved and nodded his head in agreement.

Smirking and lifting your eyebrow, you commented, “Good thing we got rid of your tension before the party, huh.”

The stare he gave you was hard, but he had a playful smile with his tongue between his teeth. “How about that dance now?”

You were able to take his hand this time and he took you to the dance floor. At this point, you were not surprised that among Kihyun’s many talents was dancing. He spun you, dipped you, pulled and pushed you from his embrace. Being with him like this was fun. He pulled you close as the music became slower.

You looked into his eyes, and you couldn’t help but think, he didn’t belong with these people. He didn’t seem like them. You couldn’t imagine if it had been any of them picking you up the other night, that they’d be shy about getting to sex and wanting to talk, or buying you the whole breakfast menu, or even paying a store to suck up to you. They were all plastic; fake like Barbie Dolls.

“What are you thinking about?”

“You.”

His face lit up to your answer and a smirk fell in place. “Really?”

“These people are your friends?”

He looked around then back to you. “I spend time with them, yes.”

Looking around as well you sighed, “Well, no wonder.”

His eyebrow lifted and he looked at you curiously. “No wonder what?”

“No wonder you came looking for me.”

Both his brows furrowed to that, but he didn’t say anything else and continued dancing with you.

When the song finished, Kihyun took you to the upper deck of the yacht. You could see a view of the city from the water, but you were also far enough that you could also see some stars.

The important person Kihyun had invited came into his line of vision.

After assuring him you could entertain yourself, he walked over to the man. At least this one seemed nicer than who you’d met so far as you watched the two of them. He reminded you a bit of Changkyun.

You heard your name being called and turned your attention to a smiling face.

“Jooheon!” you beamed. “I didn’t know you would be here.”

He smiled at you then looked over your appearance. “Wow. You look amazing.”

Blushing, you tucked a stray hair behind your ear. “Thank you.”

“What brings you here tonight.”

You motioned in Kihyun’s direction. “I’m here with Kihyun.”

A dark shade filled Jooheon’s face.

“How about you? Are you enjoying the party?”

A smile came back on his face. “Actually, I’m here to play in the house band.”

“You play, really?”

“Yup, not just the fancy CEO.” Both of you chuckled to that. “I play the drums. You wanna see the setup?”

“Oh, I should stay with Kihyun.”

That put a gleam in his eye. “He’s busy schmoozing. Besides, we’re on a boat out on the water. It’s not like he’d lose you.” Still not fully convincing you, Jooheon pulled on your hand. “Just five minutes.”

Looking over to see Kihyun still occupied, you finally agreed.

Jooheon escorted you back downstairs to a small stage area where some instruments were set up. It wasn’t a full drumset like you were expecting, but much quainter.

“It’s so cute.”

Jooheon laughed at that. “Cute? Not rugged and manly?”

That made you laugh, too. “Sorry, no. Maybe if you play something?”

His face lit up to the challenge.

Then you realized that maybe it wasn’t a good idea. Classical music was currently playing on speakers, and him playing would probably cause a scene. “I didn’t even think, I shouldn’t have suggested it.”

Looking completely unbothered he moved to sit behind the set. “No, it’s fine.” He situated himself and grabbed drumsticks. Quirking his ear to the music, you saw him counting time, then he began drumming along to the classical song. It was one of the coolest things you’d even seen.

A small crowd started gathering around him. When the song finished everyone, including you, clapped for him.

He put his sticks down and came back to your side. “Still cute?”

You shook your head. “Very rugged and manly.”

“Would you like to try it?”

“Playing the drums?”

He nodded.

“I’d rather not embarrass myself.”

“Ah, throwing the tentacle at Hyunwoo was too much for you then.” He had a sheepish smile.

Playfully smacking him, both of you laughed. “I’ll have you know that was my first time ever eating with chopsticks.”

“Noooo,” he replied sarcastically.

Putting your hands on your hips you glared at him. “I think I did pretty good for my first time. And I refused your pity fork!”

He laughed harder to that. “Yes, you did very well. But, I wasn’t the one who got you the pity fork. That was your boy, Kihyun.”

At the mention of his name, you looked to see if he’d made his way back downstairs. You found him, but he was in the middle of a conversation with K.Will. It didn’t look like a heated discussion, but Kihyun didn’t look happy having it.

“I hate that guy,” Jooheon sighed.

You looked at him wide eyed. “Kihyun?” Not that you could blame him. He was after all trying to take his company.

“K.Will.”

That piqued your curiosity. “Do tell.”

“Have you met him?”

“Just introductions.”

“And what did you think of him?”

The uncomfortable shiver came back to mind. There was definitely a negative vibe.

Jooheon could see it in your expression. “Trust your gut on that.”

Other men holding instruments came out to the small stage.

“Guess that’s your cue.” You were a bit disappointed. You were having fun with Jooheon.

“It appears that way.” He gave a small wave and went back to the drumset.

Looking around again, you didn’t see Kihyun, and decided to find another standing table to watch the band. As they played, you enjoyed their sound. You wondered if this band was part of the company. Is that why Jooheon got so upset? Would he be one of the groups Kihyun was going to sell off?

You smiled, even laughed a little when Jooheon pointed a drumstick in your direction. You made a show to dance a little to the music.

“Having a good time?” K.Will was now standing next to you.

Smile still in place, you answered honestly. “I’m having a great time.”

“Must be very different from Hollywood Boulevard.”

Your smile fell and your blood felt cold. “W-what?” You couldn’t look at him and focused on Jooheon.

“Kihyun told me everything.”

What. The. Fuck.

“So, when he heads back to South Korea, perhaps you and I could get together.”

What the fuck. What were you supposed to do? Right now you were playing the role of arm candy. Making Kihyun look good. You weren’t in hooker-mode. You weren’t ready for him to come at you like this. You didn’t want to be in this conversation. At the end of the day, you got to choose your Tricks. K.Will wasn’t one you’d choose. If you said no though, would he make a scene and expose you?

“Sure, why not?” Your robot self was back.

He chuckled happily to himself then rested his hand on your shoulder. His thumb stroked up and down, causing your skin to crawl. “Good, why don’t we do just that. I’ll be seeing you.” Letting go of you, he walked away.

Your heartbeat raced as panic took over. You looked up and saw a group of women gossiping. Were they talking about you? Did they know your secret? Why would Kihyun hire you then tell people? Were you just a game to him? You wanted to leave. Needed to leave.

Unfortunately, the yacht was still out on the water. You had no place to go. Ignoring everyone around you, even though you had a growing suspicion they knew you were a prostitute, you rushed to the women’s bathroom.

It was small, with only 2 stalls and one sink, but there was a plush chair across from the sink, so you sat in it. You were planning to live in it until the yacht docked.

An older woman came into the bathroom. She looked concerned the second she saw you. “Are you alright, dear?”

Not feeling like speaking you just shook your head.

“Seasickness?”

You nodded in response hoping it would get her to leave you be.

“I have some Dramamine. Let me get you a glass of water.”

She left the bathroom. At least she didn’t seem to know what you were.

When she came back, Kihyun was with her. He rushed to your side, kneeling down to your level.

“You’re not feeling well?”

How could you feel well? Looking at him filled you with disgust as well as a new sense of rage. This apparently helped to make you look seasick.

“I’m fine.”

“We’re docking in 30 minutes. We’ll get off right away.”

He informed you that he had to bid farewell to the other party goers and left you alone.

You thanked the woman as she handed you the water and medicine.

When the yacht landed, you very much did not want Kihyun near you or touching you in anyway, but because he thought you were sick, he insisted on helping you to walk to the limo. During the ride back to the hotel he kept asking how you were, and the only thing you could manage that wouldn’t cause you to blow up was “I’m fine.”

Finally you were back in the hotel. “Are you feeling better?”

You just wanted to get into the bathroom away from him. “Fine.”

Kihyun huffed. “You’ve been saying ‘fine’ all night. Can I get another word please?”

Turning your attention from the bathroom door, you turned giving him your nastiest sneer. “Asshole. There’s a word.” You slammed the bathroom door and leaned against it. Then you thought, why should you hide? Already calling him an asshole, he deserved to have his rich, spoiled self knocked on his ass.

Opening the door, you made yourself calm before speaking. “Tell me one thing, why’d you make me dress up?”

He looked completely unbothered by your name-calling and outburst. “Well for one thing, the occasion called for it. You saw how everyone was dressed tonight.”

The fact that he seemed oblivious to your anger brought it on stronger inside you. “No. What I mean is, if you’re going to go around telling everyone I’m a hooker, why make me dress up?”

He looked slightly taken aback, but didn’t answer.

“That way, when creeps like your lawyer come up to me and make a pass, at least when I’m in my own clothes, I’m ready, I’m prepared.”

The surprise was now gone from his face. “I didn’t know K.Will approached you. I’m very sorry that he did that at all. I’m not happy with him, but he is my attorney. I’ve known him a long time. He thought you were some kind of a corporate spy working for Honey Bear.”

That was his excuse? K.Will was his friend so it’s okay? “Are you my pimp now? Think you can pass me around to all your little rich friends? I’m not some little toy.”

The frustration was clear on his face. “I know you’re not a toy.”

You walked away from him not caring what else he had to say.

“I know you’re not,” he called your name, his voice getting louder. “I’m speaking to you. Come back here.”

Facing him, you let the anger seethe out from your gaze.

“I hate to point out the obvious, but you are, in fact, a hooker, as well as my employee for the week.”

Was he serious? He thought he owned you. “I’m not your anything! I say who. I say when. I say . . .” You were so mad you couldn’t think straight.

Kihyun interrupted you, his voice still raised. “I refuse to spend the next 3 days fighting. I said I was sorry, I meant it. End of discussion.”

Disbelief washed over you. No where in the conversation had he apologized. And oh no, he didn’t want to fight so he got to end the argument? To hell with that. To hell with him. “Having money doesn’t give you the right to treat people like you’re better than them. You apologized? The fuck you did. Well don’t worry, you don’t need to worry about arguing for the next 3 days.”

He mumbled some snarky little comments, but you weren’t listening. You looked around the closet for the cocktail dress and Michelle Obama. Once finding them and draping them on your arm, you collected your boots and hooker-wear.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m leaving. I’m done. I want my money, and I’m gone.” Reaching under the bed you grabbed your bag.

There was no response from him, but you could feel him staring at your back. “We still have the rest of the week.”

“You made it very clear how you treat your employees and regardless of what you think of me, I fucking deserve better than that. I want my money.” Crossing your arms, you stared at the wall, not daring to look at him.

There was no more conversation. After what seemed like a long time, Kihyun walked out of the bedroom and left you alone.

You looked at the bed where he tossed a large sum of bills. $8,000 could really change your life. But you were so pissed off at Kihyun. You didn’t want to take anything from him you didn’t truly earn. Didn’t want him having an excuse like you owed him something. You still had the $700 from the first night, which would suffice. Ignoring the money, you walked out of the bedroom, ignored Kihyun playing with papers at the desk, and left the hotel room.

Why was the elevator taking so long? You pressed the down button again in case it didn’t take the first time. The door to the penthouse opened. You looked straight ahead, pretending you didn’t see Kihyun walking toward you.

He angled himself to be slightly between you and the elevator. “I’m sorry.” His voice was quiet, reserved. “I wasn’t prepared to answer questions about us. I was stupid.” He sighed. “And cruel. An asshole as you said. I didn’t mean it. You absolutely deserve to be treated better than how I treated you tonight.” He took another long exhale. “I don’t want you to go. Will you stay the week?”

His apology seemed sincere, but you couldn’t dismiss your anger so easily. Still not looking in his direction, you asked, “Why?”

From the corner of your eye, you saw him looking down, as if he were ashamed. “I saw you talking to Jooheon Lee tonight.”

“So?” Was that it? He thought you were gonna turn on him and expose his plans to Jooheon?

“I didn’t like it.”

His response caught you off guard and you finally looked at him. “We were just talking.”

A small smirk appeared on his face. “I didn’t like it.”

The elevator binged and Hyungwon smiled, stepping slightly out the doors. “Going down?”

Kihyun looked to you. It was your decision. He wouldn’t stop you if you wanted to go, but he already told you that he wanted you to stay.

The confession that he was jealous of Jooheon lifted a small bit of anger, but not all of it. However, he did finally give you an actual apology. Could you give him another chance?

Looking at Hyungwon, you shook your head. The taller man’s face fell, taking in the situation. He stepped back into the elevator and the doors closed.

You exhaled to steady your voice from sounding shaky. “You hurt me.”

He looked into your eyes. “Yes.”

At least he was acknowledging his fuckup.

“I’m not ready to forgive you.”

“I understand.”

Your glare into his eyes was hard. You wanted him to make no mistake that what you were about to say was a threat. “Don’t hurt me again.”

He nodded in understanding and offered to take some of the things in your arms to carry back into the hotel room.

Once everything was put back in place, Kihyun moved as if to leave the bedroom.

“If you want my forgiveness, you’ll sleep in the same bed with me tonight.”

Surprise was on his face, but he stopped moving.

“You’re allowed to sleep in the bed you’re paying for. We do have sex. I don’t know why you can’t sleep next to me.”

He opened his mouth to answer then closed it.

“Are you embarrassed to sleep next to me?”

“No.”

You raised your eyebrows waiting for his answer.

“I didn’t want to bother you. I’m not good at sleeping.”

That put a smile on your face for the first time since the party. “You’re not good at sleeping?”

“I have trouble falling asleep, always thinking about work and what I need to do in the morning. Then I can’t get comfortable in bed and toss and turn. Then if I do finally fall asleep, I’m such a light sleeper that if I snore, I wake myself up.”

Your anger was starting to melt away. How could you be mad when he was this cute and endearing? “You won’t bother me by sleeping in the same bed. Or not-sleeping laying next to me.”

He gave you a firm look, making sure you meant it and weren’t just being nice. But you’ve never minced words with him yet. Why lie?

Kihyun helped you out of your dress, and you helped with his tie.

Once the two of you were ready for bed, you both got in facing each other. Neither of you closed your eyes to sleep, but looked at each other. Even with the lights out, you studied the contours of each other’s face.

“You’re so beautiful.”

Glad your blush couldn’t be seen in the darkness, you weren’t sure what to say.

“Can you explain it to me?”

“How I’m beautiful?”

He gave a low chuckle. “No. How you came to be in this profession.”

No one had ever asked you how you became a hooker.

“I guess it would start when I was younger. Not being a prostitute, just the story.”

He watched you curiously, never taking his eyes off yours.

“Everyone in my family constantly said that when I would be older boys would be all over me. I’d have so many boyfriends. Even my grandfather. He taught me a few ways to get rid of them if they didn’t take ‘no’ for an answer.

“In middle school I expected to be popular with boys, but I wasn’t. They liked my friends, but never me. I felt so disappointed. Why wasn’t I living up to the hype I’d always gotten? So in high school, when a boy finally liked me, I didn’t care about his personality, just that I’d finally have a first boyfriend.

“He was older, and he wanted to go out here to California. I followed him. Next thing I knew, I was here with no money or friends, or even him. I worked at a few fast food places, and parked cars as a valet, but it wasn’t enough to make rent. I was too ashamed to go home.

“One night I ended up in this 24-hour diner, and a group of hookers were there, sharing details about the Tricks they just turned and how much money they’d made. Tired of my third week of living on ramen, I decided to do it.

“I was so scared the first time. I shook the whole time and was awkward. I didn’t know what to do and ended up crying. But eventually, I became friends with some other girls who gave me tips and I got myself a few regular clients. I could pay rent and eat something that didn’t need to be microwaved.” Saying it out loud, your life sounded so pathetic to you. “No one plans this. It’s not a childhood dream anyone has.”

His gaze was piercing. That power was back, pulling you in. “You could be so much more. I saw you tonight. You lit up every place you stepped on that yacht. Even at dinner last night. You have so much charm. You don’t hold back what you’re thinking. You’re not afraid to be yourself.”

Those were not compliments you’d heard from anyone else. Of course being a sex worker came with negative comments all the time, but even before that, back when you were home. “When people put you down enough, you start to believe it.”

Looking at you for a moment, a small smile formed on his face. “I think you’re a bright, very special woman.”

You could see he was being sincere. Fighting a yawn, you answered. “It’s easier to believe the bad stuff.”

He held your gaze for a few more moments then reached for your chin like he had in Façade. “Why don’t you sleep.”

“Okay.” You reached up for his hand and held it in yours, closing your eyes and letting everything fade.

#kihyun #yoo kihyun #monsta x #kihyun fic #monsta x fic #kihyun scenario #monsta x scenario #kpop fic #kpop scenario

21 notes · View notes