#Chapter 912

[zorostiddiesaretheonepiece]

[algumaideia]

Ace was só nice :)

Why Luffy didn't tell them he was his brother?

Zoro and Luffy alone without supervision = problem

[zorobae]

The One Piece live action is really great! I couldn't help but binge it all in one sitting. I'm really awed and kind of relieved ngl.

There are changes to the story of course, but major scenes are kept nearly one-to-one to the manga. Most changes are fine, others are questionable, some are even better imo. Like giving Nami and Kaya more time together? I loved that. More importantly, the characters are very much the same characters we know and love. My Zolu heart is especially happy. I absolutely adore Iñaki and Mackenyu as Luffy and Zoro. Mind you, I was disappointed at first that they didn't make Zoro follow Luffy as soon as he did in the manga (I'm pretty sure I've made more than one post about how much I love the way Zoro joins Luffy) but the way Zoro vowed to follow Luffy forever at a later point in the story was totally worth it. They made quite a big deal of the wound that Mihawk gave Zoro which I really liked. Also, we got a scene where Luffy straddles and hugs Zoro which literally made me fall off the couch in shock/joy lol (it took them 912 chapters in the manga to hug!). I also really appreciate how much sweeter they've made Sanji so far. He's flirty but not in the same overbearing way as he is in the manga. And knowing that Taz did all of his own stunts made his fighting scenes smh more impressive to me. All the fighting scenes looked great actually.

Probably the most praiseworthy thing about this adaptation are the performances. Even as someone who knows the Strawhat's backstories, seeing Mackenyu or Emily or Taz cry made me inevitably emotional, too.

One thing I didn't like is how much screen time was spent on Koby and Garp and well, just the Marines or other side characters in general. The Strawhats are what I'm here for and I'm pretty sure we coulda reached the Grand Line in 8 episodes if they hadn't "wasted" so much time on characters I don't care about. But tbf, I assume this is something that other fans might like; seeing more of the other side, so to say. The pay-off for that story line was a good one, tho, I'll give it that.

tl;dr: I would totally recommend the One Piece live action~

[class1akids]

9th Popularity Poll Recount results

The big change:

AFO jumped to the 18th place !!

Dynama made top 50 (Bakugou lost about 150 votes)

Full results:

1 - Bakugo (23,312) 2 - Deku (18,488) 3 - Shoto (13,478) 4 - Dabi (6848) 5 - Hawks (5755) 6 - Endeavor (4973) 7 - Kirishima (4827) 8-Iida (3420) 9 - Uraraka (3315) 10 - Shoji (3279)

11 - Monoma (3204) 12 - Kaminari (2767) 13 - Aizawa (2745) 14 - Shinso (2720) 15 - All Might (2499) 16 - Toga (2263) 17 - Shigaraki (2255) 18 - AFO (2106) 19 - Jiro (1879) 20 - Sero (1613)

21 - Rody (1268) 22 - Mic (1121) 23 - Tokoyami (912) 24 - Momo (801) 25 - Mirko (723) 26 - Shindo (721) 27 - Tsuyu (587) 28 - Chronostasis (566) 29 - Hagakure (561) 30 - Tamaki (517)

31 - Mirio 32 - Overhaul 33 - Mutant lady from the Paranormal Liberation Front 34 - Mineta 35 - Shishikura 36 - Mustard 37 - Nejire 38 - Mr. Compress 39 - Best Jeanist 40 - Kacchan brainwashed by Mahoro

41 - Nagant 42 - Ashido 43 - Stain 44 - Geten 45 - Ojiro 46-Horikoshi 47 - Twice 48 - Dynama 49 - Gentle 50 - Nemoto

51 - Edgeshot 52 - Flect Turn 53 - Bakudog 54 - Tokuda 55 - Tsukauchi 56 - Fukidashi 57 - Fatgum 58 - Aoyama 59 - Yoichi 60 - En

61 - La Brava 62 - Dekusheep 63 - Setsuno 64 - Natsuo 65 - Shirakumo 66 - Shotocat 67 - Honenuki and Kudo 69 - Hatsume 70 - Magne

71 - Kodai 72 - Mutant from the PLF who took off his arm in chapter 370 73 - Eri 74 - Gang Orca 75 - Nighteye 76 - Tetsutetsu 77 - The Bakugo that Horikoshi drew for Okamoto's birthday 78 - Deku in Mirko's costume 79 - Fuyumi and Spinner

81 - Star and Sato 83 - Burnin' and Mera 85 - Mt. Lady 86 - Ms. Joke 87 - Ordinary lady 88 - Midnight and Cementoss 90 - Rin

91 - Skeptic 92 - Inasa 93 - Hound Dog 94 - Anpanman 95 - Kendo 96 - Koda 97 - Kido 98 - Melissa

99 (12 votes) - Rappa and Majestic and Shinomori

102 (11 votes) - Camie and Bakugo's sweat sphere

104 (10 votes) - Dark Shadow, Tensei, Hawk's eyeliners, Beros and Aizawa's mustache

109 (9 votes)- Inko, No. 13, Mandalay, Deku's freckles

113 (8 votes) - Gran Torino, Koichi, Imamura the editor, Kaibara, Wolfram

118 (7 votes) - Kinoko, Mitsuki, Manual, Reiko, Shiozaki, Shoda

124 (6 votes) - Sun guy from the daycare, Bruce, Awase, Sokiru, Zookeeper, Powerloader and the U.A. robot that carried Rei

131 (5 votes) - Bakugo's gauntlets, Setsuna, All Might's mom, Flower bakugo, Nezu, Rei, Illusionroki, Tsuburaba, Baby For One, Bakugo's quirk and the support item All Might gave to Bakugo

142 (4 votes) - Pony, The Shie Hassaikai's boss, Slime Todoroki, Nomu, Hercules, Aoi Hana, the female hero who got licked by Stain, Intelli, Deku's cheek, Jiro's bass, All Might card

153 (3 votes) - Recovery Girl, Kuroiro, Nana, Curator, Y-san from Chiba, Mon, Muscular, Gojo Satoru, Crust, Kurogiri, Okamoto, Shishido, Tameda, Keriage (bakugo's friend), Miyashita, Baby Shoto, Kurumada, Toya (not dabi), Yanase Takashi, Yokoyari Mengo, Shinso's friend from 1-C, Abandoned Bakugo, the electric villain from USJ who defeated Kaminari, the skull-mask guy from the PLF, Kamui Woods, Super Dog, Tokoyami reacting to Illusion Hawks in chapter 380, Bakugo's tie, Bakugo's hero costume knee thing

182 (2 votes) - One For All, Roboco, Death Arms, Twice (the kpop one), Bakugo's shoulder scar, Horikoshi's hands, Wash, Deku's gloves, Shoto's ice leopard, Deku from the Midoriyas (not Izuku Midoriya), 1-A, kids from Masegaki, Nine, Kota, Redestro, Ganriki, Banjo, Itejiro, Todo Aoi, Pino, Takahiro, Giran, Katsuma, Agoyamato, Fuwa, Tamashi Moko, Sansa, Curious, Everything All Might loves, the girl who was with Kashiko Kashi, Tomura's mole, Dragon Kirishima, Sanctum, Rokuhira Chihiro, the civilian with the All Might shirt, Sato's chiffon cake, Kacchan Eri, Tabe, Fujino Shiroha, Fatgum's sidekick, Lady from the PLF's violet squad who was hiding her mouth, mutant-like PLF member in a suit holding a katana, Trumpet, Kashiko Kashi, Demi-human lady, the pork cutlet bento All Might made, Mineta's sticky balls, Moca, Deku's shoes, Kaminari's scar, Ochako holding flour, Roro Soul, Lala Soul, the star man from chapter 1, Garaki, Deku's Chiikawa

(TL by Rukasu on Twitter)

[slylock-syl]

Comforting as always, DT-

Chapter 7: Re:Gain >Pages 911 - 912<

>Previous >Next

>Beginning

Ko-fi | U/S Official Discord (15+)

[antimony-medusa]

Ao3 Wrapped

I like numbers so here I am delving into my works again!

__

Overall stats for 2024!

User Subscriptions: 218

Kudos: 1,703

Comment Threads: 376

Bookmarks: 479

Subscriptions: 126

Word Count: 186,620

Hits: 186,620

That's a decrease on most metrics, but my word count is very comparable to last year, and I had no idea my subscription count had broken 200! Cool! Especially as I wrote some kind of out there fics this year, I'm very touched by that people want to stick around. I feel like I also do kind of absurdly well for comments, so thank you guys for that.

Fun Stats: 

Fics Published: 25, including one on anon, for 186,620. This is down from last year's 31, but my word count last year was 198,621, so we're pretty damn close!

Number of One-Shots: 22— It was another year of going hard on exchanges, and that encourages one-shots! Of those, 14 were under five thousand words, so I'm pretty pleased with my objective of learning to write short was actually enacted, when I was experiencing deadline pressure!

Number of Multi-Chapters: 3 total, and one still unfinished. I didn't start any new ongoings and leave them unfinished this year, but I still have multiple languishing from 2022, and I didn't finish the one of those I was working on this year, so— augh. I need to stop doing events and finish some of those ongoings! But events are so good...

Number of Inspired Works: 3, because I participated in recursive exchange, where you write fic inspired by other people's fic and art! One of those was inspired by an animation, which I'm very proud of.

Longest Fic: You Blew Me Into Stardust (42,846 words), my beloved mech au. I did two fics for the aufest reverse bang, I also wrote Trying Hard Not To Smile Though I Feel Bad (16,254 words) for Aufest, which is a college au! The minimum for that event was 5k so I— went overboard a bit.

Shortest Fic: I just posted it actually, that's How To Make The Secret City’s Speciality Dessert - Roasted Brown Sugar Oranges And Buttermilk Ice Cream  (912 words), that's a zine fic where we had a 1250 word maximum! I love this fic, and I'm so proud that I managed something short.

Most Kudosed Fic: Gonna Have It Out Like Fight Club, which is a bit unfair because that one has been acquiring kudos since 2022, and is now at 213 kudos. My poor neglected child the mafia fic I HAVE THE REST OF THE FIC OUTLINED I just keep writing things for events instead of writing you.

Most Viewed Fic: That's Gonna Have It Out Like Fight Club, with 2,220, but again a bunch of those are from last year, so probably my biggest fic is Trying Hard Not To Smile Though I Feel Bad, my 13-things-I-hate-about-you Niki & Ranboo au, at 1,457 hits. That one I honestly did not expect to get as big as it did, but I guess people like the comedy.

Most Subscribed Fic: Gonna Have It Out Like Fight Club, with 82 people wanting to know how that one ends. I"M SORRY. I"LL FINISH IT I PROMISE. I did notice my subscriptions to fics overall fell— people were still subscribing to one-shots last year, and this year I guess people realized that was not panning out.  

Most Bookmarked Fic: okay so it LOOKS like it's Gonna Have It Out Like Fight Club at 73 but I can count dates so I can tell that only 28 of those are from this year, wait I forgot about private bookmarks. Hm. Well anyways the one I'm sure was bookmarked this year was Things Could Be So Easy (If You Let Them), my first real intentional shot at writing QPR emduo with a proposal, and boy having THAT unlocked was a delight. That one has 52 bookmarks.

Most Used Fandom: Dream SMP with 13 fics, and SMPEarth in second place with 5. I wrote 9 different fandoms this year, technically.

Least Used Fandom: this is A MULTIWAY Tie as Internet & Social Media (Anthropomorphic), Murderbot Diaries, Books of the Raksura, Original Work, Origins SMP, and Parkour Civilization are all at 1 fic.

Most Used Rating: Teen, 18 fics. I wrote my first two explicit fics this year, both for exchanges!

Least Used Rating: Gen, 1 fic.

Most Written Relationship: Technoblade & Phil Watson | Philza, 10 times, UP FROM NINE LAST YEAR I'M DOING BETTER.

Most Used Additional Tag: hilariously, it's a tie between Comedy and Grief/Mourning, both with four times.

Most Frequently Used Characters: 

Philza (16)

Technoblade (15)

Ranboo (Video Blogging RPF) (6)

Niki | Nihachu (5)

Tommyinnit (3)

Ghostbur (Dream SMP) (2)

Tumblr (Anthropomorphic) (1)

Jade (Books of the Raksura) (1)

Moon (Books of the Raksura) (1)

Archive of our Own (Anthropomorphic) (1)

Last year I was really startled that Tommy didn't make the list and well. I am not immune to Tommyinnit. He's back again.

Last Year’s Stats

And here's my stats! Tag me if you do this too, I like to see numbers!

[biscuitboba]

Thinking about zolu again :)

Ch. 213

I can't stop thinking about this line: "Oh hey, Zoro. Long time no see!"

Long time no see? Luffy how did you even come out with that conclusion?? You literally just woke up. It's almost like his brain knows? He even started to question his own words, "long time no see??" not just once but twice. It's like deep down he's thinking something along the line "huh, why did i think of that?" (he was asleep for 3 days mind you)

And luffy, you also haven't seen your other nakama for quite some time too right? (by logic) like where's your "long time no see" to the rest? (im overthinking this i know, but what's new?)

Ch. 912

So yeah, the hug.. Chapter 912 of one piece you will always be famous! Definitely my top 5 favorite zolu moments:D

Ok so while i'm at it, idk but i just love luffy's perception of time when it comes to zoro. Wano wasn't even the longest time where they had been apart, but they act like they haven't seen each other in 1234 years! (Also luffy's lil blush? the smile?? the excitement??? "it's been FOREVER" ????) like, i don't know, i just think that the captain adores his first mate very muchh!

[whining-ylthin]

Recovered pict-capt of the moment when Lugft Huron, Tyrant of Badab and Chapter Master of Astral Claws, surrendered himself to Chaos, 912.M41

(original audio: Max0r - "An Incorrect Summary of Ace Combat 7")

[cherubispunk]

UP IN YOUR ARMS (PROLOGUE) -Noir!Joel Miller x AFAB!Reader

summary: the begining of it all tasted like whiskey and ciggeretes. But smelled of the interrogation room.

a note from Lucy: Helllooooo my lovely Joel Miller enthusiasts! i'm here again, and so are you, with yet another joel au series. this time with a historical twist. wiil it be completely historically accurate? probably not? are we here anyway because its joel fucking miller? yes. yes we are. fair warning, some dark contant will be in later chapters, so if that isnt your cup of rosey lea, feel free to scroll away. if it is, then sit back, relax, enjoy a dry martini and some blues or jazz music on vinyl, and lets have a wild time. Also, a huge thank you is due to @ramblers-lets-get-ramblin for convicting me to post this. Love you cherub! xxx

playlist

wc: 912 Warnings: 18+ MDNI! DARK CONTENT! 1940s!au, no outbreak, no use of y/n, age gap (reader is in her early 20's and Joel is in his 40s), allusions to Smut, smoking, use of pet names such as doll, cursing, being arrested, interrogation scene, references to violence, ww2 references, probably an unhealthy relationship between reader and joel, mentions of blood, let me know if ive missed any warning out that should be tagged.

series m.list | m.list

“Okay,” Detective Granger sighs opposite you, “Let’s try this again.”

Your knee bounces rapidly under the chrome metal table. If it weren't screwed to the floor it would surely rattle with your antsy movement. Your eyes fall to your lap, the dress you wore tattered with a mix of blood, dust and the smell of Joel’s aftershave. A smell you wish you had with his physicality.

“Please state your name for the record.” He asks. Again. From the moment they put you in cuffs, shoved you in the back of a cop car, and brought you up to the station, you had not uttered a word. Maybe you were scared, or maybe it was the principle of the fact. But the idea that Joel was a few rooms over – not at arm's length – it made you yearn for his touch. To be under the rough pads of his fingertips once more. Weather it be in a grimy motel room, or even the fucking Canary Club back in the cesspool of Boston. 

But you sighed, knowing you aren't going home anytime soon without giving them something. Joel told you to spin it. Tell them the truth with the twist he promised would work. Leave you unscathed. 

So you tell them your name. And then your occupation once they ask for that too; “Singer.” 

The detective looks at his co-worker, raising his brow. He nods back at him, believing you. If only you could unleash the insults that curl and cinder at the tip of your tongue. 

“Okay,” Granger tips his head to the side in acknowledgement of the fact your answers are the truth. What leverage would you have to lie if the very thing you are about to spill is an ever so slight twisting of the truth?

You watch with unblinking eyes as he places a black and white picture upon the table, between you and his now folded hands, “Care to tell us who this is?” 

It’s Joel. You knew they knew that. They just need to confirm their suspicion for the record. For the jury. The court. Your impending trial. So you take a second to study it, hold back a smile at the very sight of his broad shoulders, his tarnishes, creased dress shirt that clings to him like a second skin you wish to ravish him off. Even in the stale air of an interrogation room, through the captured image of a blurred mugshot, he makes the fire in your loins kickstart. Memories of joyrides, money, sex, motel sheets and speakeasy rendezvous. 

You give them a nod, sitting back in your seat.

“Who is he?”

“It’s Joel Miller. ‘Says it right there.” You tap the mugshot with your index finger to prove a point, kissing your teeth with a smug smile. “Or can you pig’s not read?” Venom spills from your words like maroon wine from a shattered glass. 

Detective Granger bites his tongue, leaning forward over the table, hands grasping the lip of it as he stands up, knuckles bleached white under his own grip. 

“Don’t think I ain’t above sending you to a cell with a shiner to your pretty lil’ nose, Doll.” He glared. It didn't seep any deeper than skin though. Didn’t rattle your bones that way Joel’s voice would when he called you a pretty ditzy thing that one time. If he were here the detective's teeth would be splattered across the tile of the floor for saying that. Daring to call you what he did, turning it into something that made your lip curl in disgust. 

“Oh, I'm sorry, Mr, Detective.” You pouted, tilting your head at him, doe eyed, sarcastic innocence wrapped around your tongue’s words.

His fist descended down upon the table with a slam, making you flinch. Much to your own dismay. “Just answer the damn question!” 

“Was he your boyfriend?” 

“No.”

Joel was no mere boyfriend. 

He was your lover. Your life. Your glue that mended cracks seen by no other. The man that undressed you and wrapped you up in his warmth. His Texan drawl. Unravelled you between your thighs. Made you lust for anything he did. He was air in your lungs, the smell of cedarwood and musk. Metallic blood on your collarbone and gravel under a cars worn in tires. He was the leather of your car seat. The Egyptian cotton of your sheets. 

But this was where the lie began…

“He was my jailor.” 

Detective Granger’s eyes narrowed as he looked down at you, your eyes finding him behind the wisp of your lashes. The glassy shine of a tear slipping from your waterline. He furrowed his brow, his thin lips pressing into a thin line below his bushy moustache that curled at the ends. The nostrils of his bulbous nose flared and his jaw ticked under the clenching of his teeth. Once more, you looked into your lap at your folded hands.

He sighed once more, adjusting his grey suit trousers to sit down, holding his tie to his beer belly as he did so. “Can you tell us what happened? Leading up to the crime?” His voice was softer and he winced at the sound of your sniff. How you were so timid all of a sudden like a deer in headlights. 

You nodded, swallowing your own saliva, the walls of your oesophagus grating together like coarse sandpaper. And then you spoke. “I met him when I was living in Boston.”

[chososchalupa]

wish that it was me

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

The last person you wanted to see at this meeting was your older brother. The same brother who left you in the hands of Chuuya Nakahara and the Port Mafia years ago, but all you can see now are the pleading eyes of Osamu Dazai begging for forgiveness.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

Chapter eight - Memories

wc - 912

chapter nine

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

The two of you sat in awkward silence for awhile before Atsushi spoke up, “You know, Dazai does care a lot about you”

You glanced up from your phone to look at him, “Huh?”

“I heard you and Chuuya talking. Dazai does care about you”

You chuckled at his words while looking around the room, “Sure looks it”

“He-”

You narrowed your eyes as he began speaking, “Atsushi. I have no interest in talking about this with you of all people. Osamu hasn’t reached out in years, do you understand how it makes me feel to see him act like a big brother to you when he hasn’t even made an effort for me?”

Atsushi opened his mouth to respond but you continued,

“I mean, look around! He has pictures of you guys scattered all around this room and not a single photo of me and him.”

“He has one in his wallet,” Atsushi said in a soft tone.

“Huh?”

“A picture of the two of you, he has one in his wallet. I asked him about it when I noticed it”

You weren't sure how to respond, Dazai kept a photo of the two of you with him?

“I was upset for you when he told me he had left you behind. I know what it’s like to be abandoned, trust me”

Your eyes softened as Atsushi continued,

“I don’t agree with his choices but you have to understand why he did it, right?”

You shook your head, “I would have helped him”

Atsushi gave a small smile, “You know you couldn’t have”

Atsushi was right, even if you didn’t want to admit it. You would have only made things harder for Dazai.

“He has photos of you guys in here too,” Atsushi said as he stood up from the couch and began walking towards the kitchen. 

You quickly followed him towards the fridge that was covered in photos, “That is you, right?” Atsushi asked, pointing at a photo in the center.

It was a photo Mori had taken of the two of you when you had first joined the Mafia, 

“Come on, just one picture!” Mori pleaded as you and Dazai looked at eachother with bored expressions. 

“No, thank you” You spoke, going back to brushing your doll's hair. 

“Aren’t you too old to be playing with dolls?” Dazai asked, a smile playing on his lips as he teased you.

“Shut up” You glared back

Mori sighed, the two of you had been bickering all day and he was simply sick of it at this point. 

“The least you two could do is give me a smile. I’ll even buy you a new doll!”

Mori’s words caught your attention as you set your current doll down and gave him a smile.

“Perfect! Now Dazai, smile with your sister, please!”

Dazai rolled his eyes before flashing a big grin.

Mori snapped the picture quickly, knowing the smiles were going to go away any second. 

The smiles you both wore were very obviously fake, making you laugh slightly as you nodded, “Yeah. We were so young”

You continued looking over the photos, most of them were of Dazai’s days in the Port Mafia, over half of them included you. 

“I’ve never asked about this one,” Atsushi stated, pointing at a small photo of you, Dazai, and Chuuya. 

“Oh my gosh” You giggled, “That was after my first mission with them. I don’t even know how Osamu got this”

The photo was of the three of you all asleep on the floor of Mori’s office, you remembered that day so well. 

“Would you guys please stop arguing?” You asked, walking ahead of the fighting boys you were stuck with all day. 

Mori had sent the three of you out on a mission, it was simple enough but it was very late by the time you got back. 

“Chuuya started it” Dazai whined, pushing Chuuya slighting

“HUH? I did not” Chuuya responded, pushing Dazai forward causing him to bump into you. 

You tripped forward and glared at the two boys behind you, “I am never doing this again”

The three of you had finally made your way into Mori’s office, only to find it empty with a note on his desk. 

“Be back soon, make yourselves comfortable” it read

You groaned before sitting down on the floor, 

“Why the fuck are you sitting on the floor when we have chairs?” Chuuya asked

“Comfy”

Dazai looked between the two of you before joining you on the floor, “Come on, Chibi. Get down here”

Chuuya rolled his eyes before sitting beside Dazai. The three of you talked about the mission until sleep overcame all of you. You awoke to the sound of a camera flashing, Mori standing above you all with a smile on his face.

“I apologize for waking you, I just had to remember this moment” He laughed, causing the two boys to wake up. 

“How was the mission?”

Atsushi laughed as you finished the story, “Mori takes a lot of pictures, huh?”

You nodded, “He said it was his way of trying to give us a “normal” childhood, so we could have memories to look back on”

“And i’m glad he did” You heard from behind you, “The only good thing the man has ever done” 

You turned to see Dazai standing beside Chuuya, who was holding several bags from the shop down the road. 

“I told you I didn’t forget about you”

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AO3

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[dwntwn-strnlo]

WHEN I

ⅰ. 𝐋𝐔𝐑𝐊𝐄𝐑

❝ᵐᵃᵗᵗ ˢᵗᵒᵖ ᶠᵘᶜᵏⁱⁿᵍ ˡᵘʳᵏⁱⁿᵍ❞

·.★·.·'¯'·.·★★·.·'¯'·.·★.·

↳ ˢᵒᶜⁱᵃˡ ᵐᵉᵈⁱᵃ, ⁱᵐᵉˢˢᵃᵍᵉ

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🄽🄾🅆 🄿🄻🄰🅈🄸🄽🄶 . . .

❝i've been thinkin 'bout you . . .

. . . do you think about me still?❞

ᴛʜɪɴᴋɪɴ ʙᴏᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ - 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘯

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐈.

chapter one

❝𝐋𝐔𝐑𝐊𝐄𝐑❞

💫

·.★·.·'¯'·.·★★·.·'¯'·.·★.·

↳ ⁱⁿˢᵗᵃᵍʳᵃᵐ

veraaaprince

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veraaaprince summer 🫡😋

tagged // nicolassturniolo , trinity_west , macsimpson , matthew.sturniolo , christophersturniolo , jennnnyfoster , nathandoe8 , madifilipowicz

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nicolassturniolo OKAYYYYY

↳ veraaaprince WOOOOOOOOOOO

username ate

username did you fall off the door

↳ matthew.sturniolo yeah and she died

.   ↳ veraaaprince fuck you

.      ↳ matthew.sturniolo i can still hear her annoying little voice sometimes

macsimpson she screamed the whole ride and everything

↳ veraaaprince ok.

↳ christophersturniolo wasnt it a kiddie ride too?

.   ↳ matthew.sturniolo probably shes a little scaredy bitch

.       ↳ veraaaprince yall suck

madifilipwicz PRETTYYY

nathandoe8 the popcorn 😕

↳ username i wouldve cried

.   ↳ trinity_west @christophersturniolo cried like a litttle babyyyyy

.       ↳ matthew.sturniolo its true he did

.       ↳ christophersturniolo what the fuck

username i need friends like this

↳ username real

jennnnyfoster mother

↳ veraaaprince mother

username matt replying to everyones comments but not making his own smh

·.★·.·'¯'·.·★★·.·'¯'·.·★.·

↳ ⁱᵐᵉˢˢᵃᵍᵉ

vera ; prince 🕺

matt ; matty ratty 🐀

chris ; kristof 🦌

nick ; nick jr 📺

trinity ; trinny winny 😋

jenny ; jenn city 🌆

mac ; cheesy 🫶🧀

11:27 pm !

prince 🕺

matt stop fucking lurking

jenn city 🌆

seriously

like what you doin bud 😭

matty ratty 🐀

Dont call me bud

and im not

kristof 🦌

then what are you doing

matty ratty 🐀

Commenting like the rest of you?

prince 🕺

mm i dont think so ☝️

nick jr 📺

matt.

matty ratty 🐀

Nick.

nick jr 📺

shhhh

trinny winny 😋

can i change his name

pls

pelase

please

cheesy 🫶🧀

literally why

kristof 🦌

no

kristof 🦌 changed matty ratty 🐀 to lurker 🥷

lurker 🥷

Chris I fucking hate you

prince 🕺

LMFAO

trinny winny 😋

what the fuck.

kristof 🦌

maybe be faster next time idk????

jenn city 🌆

i love this

lurker 🥷

Love what

jenn city 🌆

bullying you

loved by nick jr 📺

lurker 🥷 left the chat!

cheesy 🫶🧀 added lurker 🥷 to the chat!

cheesy 🫶🧀

stop being a fucking pussy matthew

emphasized by kristof 🦌 and jenn city 🌆

prince 🕺

oh boy

trinny winny 😋

woah there 😧

nick jr 📺

calm urself 

lurker 🥷

Someone pls change my name back 🙏

kristof 🦌

NO 🙅‍♂️🔕👎❌

trinny winny 😋

we'll do it if you turn off your goddamn caps

lurker 🥷

Uhm

No

prince 🕺

matt PLEASE

turn off your caps

lurker 🥷

get out of here vera

cheesy 🫶🧀

HE TURNED THEM OFF

nick jr 📺

oh my

jenn city 🌆

whipped 🤨

lurker 🥷

excuse me?

jenn city 🌆

you heard me

trinny winny 😋 changed lurker 🥷tomatty ratty 🐀

matty ratty 🐀

thanks ig 

kristof 🦌

literally get over urself kid

prince 🕺

thats crazy

trinny winny 😋

ok im done omfg

im going to bed

matty ratty 🐀

me too

nick jr 📺

yeah get outta here

cheesy 🫶🧀

oh boy

read 12:01 am !

💫

. . .

A/N

oh boy

idk how i feel abt this but

irl chapter next!

[chaotic-neutral-knitter]

I saw this post going around and got really curious as to how OP came up with their numbers because I could not replicate them at all.

I was going to reply directly but it was getting very very long and I didn’t want to wade onto someone’s post with a bunch of my own stats bc it seemed rude, so I’m putting my response here.

I’m going to preface this by saying that I’m fully in the camp of “write because you like writing, not for an audience response” because if you don’t like the process of writing, there is no level of audience response that will make writing worth it. But. I’ve seen a lot of folks agonize over Ao3 stats and get stuck in the weeds on Ratios™. And I think there are a few really common misconceptions around what these numbers mean.

The rest of this is going to be under a readmore to spare y’all but basically it’s a breakdown of trying to calculate my own percentages like the OP in the original post and then dialing down into why hits != readers.

Here’s the stats from one of my fics as of today, May 1st 2023. I am by no means a prolific or widely known fic writer - I happen to be in a big fandom and writing for for the main pairing in that fandom.

completed multi chapter fic, rated Mature:

So this one has three chapters, 2736 hits, 436 kudos, and 146 comments. Kudos divided by hits is 16%.

“Oh no!” I might say, seeing this. “Only sixteen percent of people liked my fic enough to leave a kudos? Either my stuff is shit, or fic-readers are a bunch of lazy fucks who don’t appreciate the work I’ve put into this. Either way, I’m mad now!”

But (and I say this with a lot of love in my heart, I promise) that’s silly. Not just for the philosophical reasons of writing what makes you happy and not caring about the response. It’s silly because it’s wrong.

On a multi-chapter fic, each person who finishes it is responsible for at least 3 hits but can only leave 1 kudos. Dividing the total hits by 3 gives you 912 hits. So, once you’ve corrected for number of chapters, the percent of people who have hit kudos is 47%.

“Holy shit!” writer-me says, “I’ve published original fiction in my university newspaper, original fiction that I poured my heart and soul into btw, and if approximately half of the people who read it  sent me a little heart emoji, I would have died and gone to heaven. Fic readers are the Nicest, Most Generous, and Most Beautiful readers on the planet and I am so grateful to be in this community with them.”

But! 47% is still wrong. Here’s why.

Hits != Readers

I don’t how other people do this, but my process of reading a fic is often like this (each step is one hit):

open link from someone else's rec, try to click "mark for later"

realize I'm logged out. sign in to Ao3, go back to fic and click "mark for later"

come back to read fic, generating at least one hit per chapter

open a second tab so that I can write a comment as I go (again, generating at least one hit per chapter)

finish fic, create bookmark, and then navigate back to fic to mark it as read so it's taken off my marked for later page

if I really liked the fic, I'll end up opening it back up in a tag many times so I can rec it to people by sending them the link

if I really really liked the fic, I'll come back and read it again (this is doubly true for explicit fic, btw.)

I think I’m on the high end of generating hits, but it only takes a few of me to really dial up that hit counter. And most people are going to do one or two of these things - I’d argue that it’s pretty rare for someone to leave just one hit on a fic unless they nope out of it in the middle.

Formula for calculating number of readers from number of hits:

There isn’t one. And it would take a much better mathematician than me to make one. Because this is way more complicated than dividing by chapters. Most readers leave more than one hit - especially if they like the fic a lot. Short fics and explicit fics are more likely to be read multiple times.

“But what if I crave validation?” writer-me complains, irritated with math-me for not downloading statistics software, shoving a million Ao3 fics into it, and producing some kind of bullshit linear regression. “What if I constantly see people with higher kudos/hits ratios than me? This is all very optimistic but it really doesn’t jive with my deep seated belief that everyone secretly hates me all the time and they’re too nice to tell me about it. Do they hate me? They probably hate me, right? Tell me if you hate me.”

To which I say, listen very closely, writer-me. You can either decide that AO3 stats mean something and lose your damn mind deciphering what they mean, or you can be like that kid who got an avocado for christmas and say “it’s a avocado comment!! Thanks!! :D”

And that kid seemed pretty happy.

[onepiecebdays]

september 15th - tsurujo

debut chapter: 912

recent chapter: 1116 (cover story)

current age: 55

affiliation: okobore town

bounty: none

[malarkgirlypop]

MEDIC! Part 26 (Donald Malarkey x Fem!OC)

Well hey gang, I have been so busy I left Emily all alone. But got some inspo and finished the chapter. I don't think the inspo was that happy but oh well whatever floats my boat apparently. Babe learns in this chapter that he is a feminist! He's so sweet! We love him! George also is a cutie, and so are Don and Emily. A bunch of cuties in this chapter, I tell ya.

Based on the HBO show and the actors who portray the characters, not hate to anyone involved.

Tag list: @next-autopsy, @panzershrike-pretz, @xxluckystrike, @bucky32557038ww2, @b00ks1ut, @footprintsinthesxnd, @paula-912, (please tell me if I missed you seriously)

I buried my face into Don’s chest as the light streamed through the cracks in the curtain. I hadn’t felt more rested in years. His arms held me close all night, shooing away all the monsters that lurked in the corners of my mind. For once I had dreamt, and it had been a pleasant dream. Not that I can remember exactly what happened, but the anxiety that normally tightened in my chest when I woke wasn’t there. Don wriggled under me, his hand coming up to cup my cheek. His fingers pulled me gently to look up at him. I smiled sleepily at him, my eyes still half closed.

“How did you sleep?” Don asked, looking down at me. 

“Like a baby!” I couldn’t help the giddy laugh that fell from my lips. My stomach doing somersaults. This had been the first time we shared a bed. Sure, we slept in close quarters in Bastogne, but in a hole with two other men in the freezing cold. So it was quite different to share a warm bed under a roof, with just the two of us. 

I grinned up at him, feeling so loved. I couldn’t stop smiling. Don’s eye glanced down at his wrist, where the watch sat on his arm. 

“SHIT!” He blurted sitting up, causing me to fall off his chest and onto the bed. I face planted into the mattress groaning. 

“What?” I asked annoyed, as he flung himself out of the bed, throwing the covers off me in the process. 

“We are moving out today! We are moving out now!” He said as he hastily got dressed. My eyes widened, looking at my own watch, fuck we were going to be left behind if we didn’t get a move on. Don pulled on his pants hopping around the room, one leg in and one out. He hopped on one foot trying to jam his leg into the pant hole. He wobbled around trying to keep his balance. I watched him fall in slow motion, his foot caught in the hole, as he tumbled to the ground. I burst out in giggles, the image of him falling replaying in my head. The more I thought about it the harder I laughed. 

“Em, stop laughing and get dressed!” He hurried me, but I could barely breathe, let alone get out of bed and get dressed. He joined in, unable to suppress his own laughter. 

“I’m crying!” I said in a high pitched voice through tears of laughter. I moved from off the bed still laughing as I got dressed, having to stop when the giggles became too much. I took a deep breath finally composing myself. I packed my things away into my bag, and pulled on my shoes. 

“I’m gonna grab my bag. Save me a seat.” Don said, placing a kiss on my forehead, before leaving out the door. I nodded as he left. 

I made my way onto the street, the men getting into the trucks. I spotted Lieb and the others loading into the truck. I moved faster towards them, Lieb saw me giving me a wave and pointing at the bench beside him. 

“IT’S MY DOG! SHE’S TAKING MY DOG!” I looked over my shoulder in fright from the loud voice that boomed over the noise. My eyes fell onto Lew, as he harshly threw his helmet to the floor while he yelled. I watched Winters and Lip in front of him looking sorry for the man. I didn't get to wonder about what that was about, as Christenson walked past me, his hand landing on my shoulder pulling me from my focus on Lew. 

“Let’s go Em!” He yelled, giving me a firm pat. I nodded, heading in the direction of the trucks. 

Lieb offered me his hand pulling me up into the bed of the vehicle. I sat down beside him and Web, saving a space for Don. He arrived shortly after, climbing into the back and sitting down beside me. I heard the men talking amongst themselves. 

“Sarge, what do you have in here? Germans?” Garcia said, heaving Bull’s rucksack into the truck.

“Hey, Perconte. You got a lighter?” I heard Ron’s voice carry over the rest of the noise. I glanced over, seeing him standing with a cigarette hanging off his lip. 

“No, sir. I don’t smoke.” Perconte told the Captain. I tilted my head, I know he doesn’t smoke but he does in fact have a lighter. It clicked, Perconte and Ron were very similar. As everyone knew Ron was very sticky-fingered, taking whatever he wanted without a care. But over time I had noticed that Frank was the same, however only a few people had picked up on his stealing habits. He quietly collected many things, watches, medical supplies, scissors, anything really. You would never see him take anything though, he was very sneaky in his ways. Then you would go through his things and find an accumulation of nicknacks. George told me when they first landed on D-Day that Frank went around collecting all of the watches off the dead German soldiers. By the end of the week both of his forearms were ticking so loudly George could hear it in his sleep.  

It made sense that Frank was reluctant to give up his trusty lighter to the Captain who was notorious for not giving things back.    

“Where are we headed?” Frank asked.

“We’re going to the Alps. Let me see that lighter.” Ron demanded casually, knowing that Frank did have a light.

Frank sighed, reaching down into his pocket, pulling out the lighter and handing it to Ron. 

“The Alps?” He asked again. I didn’t know where we were supposed to be going, but by the sounds of it, the men hadn’t been told the same thing. 

“Yeah.” Ron confirmed, lighting his smoke. 

“That near Berlin, sir?” Bull asked from beside him. 

“No.” Ron replied. 

“That’s in Bavaria.” Webster said from behind the Captain. I couldn’t help but chuckle, he just always looked so lost. “The birthplace of National Socialism.” Webster informed the men who didn’t seem to care for the piece of trivia he had blurted at them. 

“So that mean no drop into Berlin?” Luz asked Speirs, throwing the baseball he had into his glove on the other hand. We were supposed to be dropping into Berlin? Because I don’t know if I would’ve made it, not being parachute trained and all. Would I have been left behind? 

“No drop into Berlin. Hitler ordered the Waffen SS to hole up in the mountains and repel all invaders.” Ron raised his voice louder for all the men around to hear him. “He wants them to start a guerrilla war.” Ron told them men as he puffed on his cigarette.               

“Invaders.” Bull grinned. “Damn, I like the sound of that.” He strode off, probably in search of his own platoon. George climbed into our truck as well. Perco stood hanging off the framing, eyeing up the Captain. 

“They’ll die, the last man trying.” Ron said. He turned, walking away. 

“Sir.” Perco called him. 

“What?” He asked, swinging back around to face Frank.

“My lighter.” Perco said, extending his hand. He knew all too well that if he let Speirs get away with it now he would never see it again.

Speirs did a double take of the lighter he had in his grasp. Not looking all too keen on giving it back. Perco stood his ground, hand still out stretched. 

“All right. Nice lighter.” Speirs said, begrudgingly throwing Frank back his possession.

I settled back into my seat, talking with Don who sat beside me as we set off again. We fell into easy conversation with each other and the men who sat close by. 

George and Perco told Don how they snuck back to the barn we had been to previously to get more eggs. I laughed loudly saying that George was probably trying his luck again with the German woman since I wasn’t there to drag him away. He denied it adamantly, but from the twinkle in his eye I knew I was right. 

The men started singing loudly, they were all very excitable about going to the new destination. It was starting to feel like this was all almost over and hopes were getting high again. There was more joy, less sadness in the eyes of the men. We weren’t cold, or hungry. No one was dying, we weren’t being blown to pieces by Kraut artillery. We had showers and beds, roofs over our heads.

“He ain’t gonna jump no more!” The men bellowed as we bounced along in the truck. “Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die. Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die. Gory, gory what a hell of a way to die. He ain’t gonna jump no more.” I laughed as Don sang in my face, a bright smile on his lips. I was being nudged by George from across the truck, he was as usual egging me on to sing. 

“Christ was strapped around his neck, connectors cracked his dome. Suspension lines were tied around his skinny bones. The canopy became his shroud, he hurtled to the ground, and he ain’t gonna jump no more.” I made a face, listening to the lyrics. It was such a happy tune but the lyrics were about a man hurtling to his death from the plane. 

“Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die. Gory, gory, what a hell of a way to die. Gory, gory what a hell of a way to die. He ain’t gonna jump no more.” I joined in on the chorus, the men seemingly very pleased at my participation as George hooted and hollered. 

“He hit the ground, the sound was ‘SPLAT’, his blood went spurting high. His comrades, they were heard to say, ‘A hell of a way to die!’ He lay there, rolling ‘round in the welter of his gore, he ain’t gonna jump no more.” My eyes widened as I listened, jesus why is this song so violent? 

The men sung the whole song, with great enthusiasm. I on the other hand was a bit traumatised by the lyrics. 

“Hey Em!” George yelled over the rumble of the engine, I nodded leaning in further to hear him speak. “What does ‘pop that pussy’ mean?” I pulled back to look at him, to ensure I had heard him correctly. 

“I’m sorry?” I said shocked. 

“The other day, the song you sang, you said ‘pop your pussy’.” George asked, eyes wide like a small school boy. 

“Oh!” I remembered, finally putting together the pieces of what the hell he was talking about. It all finally hit me. I keeled over in fits of giggles. He had told O’Keefe that he would understand when he was older, but in reality George didn’t actually know. 

“Oh George!” I laughed, patting him on the shoulder. “Sweet innocent George.” I teased, pinching his cheek. 

“I am not innocent, I’ll have you know.” He exclaimed, shooing away my hand from his face. I laughed harder. 

“What do you think it means?” I asked, seeing if he had any inkling at all as to what it meant. 

“Well I know that pussy is in relation to the.” He paused a blush rising to his face. “Well you know the-” He motioned with his head down my crotch. “You know!” 

“Ok yes I know what you mean, continue.” I wanted him to stop jerking his head towards my privates. 

“But I don’t know what ‘pop that’ means.” George confessed. I bit my lip trying to suppress my laugh, why did he look so serious about this? 

“Ok so ‘pop that pussy’, just means to have sex. But I think it’s like a certain position.” I said, trying to remember what it actually meant. George nodded along. “I think it’s from behind.” I raised my eyebrows sending him a joking wink. There was a pause as we looked at each other before we both burst out laughing. 

“George, why did I have to explain that to you!” I complained while we giggled. 

“Well you sang it!” He explained throwing the blame back onto me. 

“You egged me on!” I threw it right back at him. 

“Yeah I just wanted to hear you sing!” He protested. I stopped straightening. 

“Why?” I asked. 

“You’re a good singer, I like listening to you.” He confessed. I blushed, pushing him gently.

“Stop, you’re so cute.” I said, hiding my face in my hands.

“I only heard you that one time, and now I want more!” George said. 

“Stop it!” I giggle, hitting him. 

“No, I don’t sing. Not for people. I just sing in the shower.” I shook my head. 

My mum always tried to get me to perform for people but I always got the worst stage fright. I think she was just so proud of me and wanted everyone to see me shine, but I hated being the centre of attention. She also begged me to sing at her funeral but I was barely functioning so I didn’t sing as she asked. I feel so guilty about it now. She always begged me to sing, much like George and I always said no. I think she would’ve asked me to sing for her even if I was terrible. 

“You would sing for me, right?” George asked, my heart felt heavy in the moment. The interaction reminded me so much of my mother. I guess this was my opportunity to take back my guilt. 

“I would sing for you anytime, George.” I lent my head on his shoulder, taking his hand in mine. His arm swung around my back pulling me in. 

“Ah, I knew you would.” He said, giving me a tight squeeze.     

My butt ached from the hard seats and bumpy ride. I was so bored, we had been driving for ages. Lieb had given me some of his gum to chew since I was starting to feel motion sick. Least the scenery was nice to look at, I pointed out every animal I saw like I was five again. 

“Oh cows!” I yelled pointing to the field we were passing. “Say hi to the cows, Don.” I waved over at them. “Hi cows.” All he did was laugh at me. 

“When are we going to be there!” I sighed defeated. I needed to pee, but we hadn’t stopped in ages, and it was hot sitting in the sun. I was so tired and just wanted to get off the truck to stretch my legs. 

“I’m sure we will be there soon.” Don said, resting his head on my shoulder. 

“Hey Don?” I asked, dipping my head down so he could hear me better. He hummed in response. 

“What makes you happy?” I let the question fall from my lips. I didn’t mean for it to be so deep, but it came out before I could stop it. 

“That’s a good question.” He said sitting up and facing me. 

“My family, my friends, you. You make me very happy. Sunny days. Pancakes in the morning. Going on walks. Kissing you. The sounds of birds chirping. Making you laugh. Your happiness. What else makes me happy?” He thought out loud. I couldn’t help the blush that rose to my cheeks. The flutter in my chest only grew faster, from all his sweet words. 

“Waking up with you in my arms, but that’s more than happiness. It’s love. You make me love everything. I don’t know how, but the days seem brighter, everything seems sweeter. The colours all seem so vivid. You just seem to make everything better, more brilliant.” I was grinning now like a mad woman, my face hurt from how hard I was smiling. Don moved forward, placing a kiss to my cheek. I just about swooned off the truck. 

“Hey love-birds, knock it off will you, you’re making me sick.” Lieb kicked at us from across the truck. I poked my tongue out at him in response. The other men joined in around us throwing out complaints. But all with smiles on their faces.   

I stood out by the trucks as they cleared the buildings. I felt torn in my feelings. I hated that we had to kick them out onto the street, but what if they supported Hitler’s views I didn’t feel too bad. I watched the families exit the building looking around for their next move, they sent glares in my direction. I lent against the truck waiting for the men to tell me it was clear to go inside. A family passed by me, the parents spitting at my feet. I looked at them, disgust clear on my face. The mother of the family glared back, I watched as she noticed that I wasn’t a male, her face contorting into a look of determination. The woman was quick, darting over to me, I didn’t even get a chance to react as she took me by the collar of my shirt. 

“Du bist keine gute Schlampe!” She cursed in my face, I didn’t need to know German to figure out she wasn’t saying anything nice. “Du solltest verdammt noch mal sterben!”

“Hey, what the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Babe shouted as he marched closer. The woman loosened her grip, but was still staring me down. She spat in my face, I flinched back, recoiling from her. Babe didn’t even have time to grab her before she scurried away. I wiped her spit from my cheek feeling repulsed by her actions. 

“What was that all about?” Babe asked, bending down slightly to make sure I was ok. I shook my head, confused myself. Did she think because I was a female that she could accost me so easily? 

“I have no idea. Is the building cleared?” I asked just wanting to go inside and wash my face. Babe nodded. He led the way inside. 

I had asked Babe not to say anything about the situation he had witnessed, he had complained, saying the woman needed to be dealt with. 

“Babe we are only staying the night, we took their houses from them, in an aggressive manner. Other than spitting on me she didn’t really do any damage. It’s fine, just leave it.” I tried to calm down the red head, as he frantically paced back and forth in the small room. He had been so wound up, looking ready for a fight. He had threatened before to go and find her and bring her to Speirs.  

“What about we go play some cards, I think Luz and Tab said they were going to play.” But it was no use. He was so angry for me. I think he was even angrier because I wasn’t. It was terrible to say but as a woman, in any time, it was something I was used to. We are always taught to be pleasant and polite. It was unbecoming to be overly emotional. It was normal to be harassed and assaulted, and just to be ok with it. It was normal, something we got used to. It made me so sad to think about the percentage of women who were assaulted every year, and that there were no repercussions for the assailant. I didn’t even realise it before but I had belittled the things she did to me. She only spat in my face, it could’ve been worse, I’m not physically injured so I’m fine. But I was still assaulted, she had manhandled me, and then spat in my face. I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face. I wasn’t angry. I was sad.

“Babe.” I uttered softly, he stopped his pacing noticing the change in my tone. 

“Let’s just go.” I had given up. 

“But-” Babe started. I shook my head softly, my brows knitting together. 

“It’s done. I don’t want to think about it anymore.” My voice said softly, it didn’t even sound like my own voice. He nodded, sighing. 

“Oh, Babe, it’s ok.” I tried to reassure him, taking his hand in mine. 

“But it isn’t.” Babe countered. 

“No you’re right. It isn’t, but I’m used to it.” I gave him a small sad smile. I almost burst into tears seeing the realisation wash over his features. As if everything clicked into place for him. He understood what I meant, and what that meant for me. That he couldn’t protect me, not always, as much as he wanted too.

“Let’s go.” I whispered gently tugging at his hand still clasped in mine. He nodded gently, following behind me.

------------------------------------

Chapter 27

[thegoddessseris]

INTERLINKED chapter 2

I'll tell your secrets to the stars

oc! Xaden Riorson's sister! insert.

Summary: Xaden's little sister finds herself having to survive in the war college of Basgiath, between new truths and the rediscovery of what she really is.

TW: death, fight.

World Count: 912

A/N: All rights to the characters and plot of the book go to Rebecca Yarros, however you have no right to republish or rework this story.

Also out on wattpad!

Masterlist - previous chapter

«a nightmare is just a dream: it cannot harm you directly. But it wears you out from the inside. Slowly. And if you carry that nightmare with you when the sun is high, you risk dying. Don't be fooled. We create our own nightmares»

—page 18 of Eris' diary.

Wood.

I could feel the wood against my fingertips as I gripped the axe tightly and shook it back and forth, repeatedly. I used a lot of strength, a strength given by an emotion that I couldn't put my finger on.And he screamed in pain and cried and trembled and begged me to stop as the ax collided and penetrated his body again and again, but I was in a sort of trance 

I was sweating. My breathing was labored, my eyes wide and fixed on my goal, my mouth slightly open.Blood splattered my face and the clothes I was wearing, making the scene even more graphic and terrifying than it already was.The weapon struck the man's head continuously and insistently, opening his skull and killing him.

Once I let go of the weapon I looked at the helpless body beneath me.There was nothing left of that man.Yet, I felt no sensation, no sense of peace or remorse.I didn't feel anything. Outside the small house I was in, everything was calm and regular, and life went on as normal. My hands were shaking: I didn't know if it was from the adrenaline or from what I had just done.

My heart pounded against my chest, my soul curled in on itself with shame, shame that I had managed to carry out such a violent act without fear or repentance.

"No, no, no, no! I didn't mean to!" I screamed, stumbling backwards and landing on the ground, eyes wide and tears streaming down my cheeks.

"It was all your fault.. what did you do.." my brother's voice said, like an echo, before revealing himself in front of me."

I didn't want to" I replied in a faint voice, while tears flowed from my eyes like a raging river."

It's all- your fault.." his silhouette said, before being pierced by a sword in the chest. Mother's sword.Blood dripped from his mouth as the life left his eyes.

"NO!"

I woke up with a start, with tears streaming down my face and my breath hitching. My legs were shaking, but I didn't care, I needed air.I slowly moved the covers off my body, sitting on the side of the bed, then standing up and tiptoing towards the door.Once outside I immediately relaxed at the sight of the stars, sitting in a hidden corner. If someone caught me out now, I'd be in a lot of trouble.I tried to breathe deeply, keeping my eyes closed, to calm my heart that was still pounding in my chest, threatening to jump out."You can't sleep too?" said a voice next to me.I think I had a heart attack.But when I turned to look at him, I found a similar face."And who the fuck are you?" I said, taking out my dagger, getting up on the ground and walking away from him."Hey hey! Okay, I'm Ridoc! Fourth wing!" He said, raising his hands.And then, I realized. He was little Sorrengail's teammate.What was he doing here at this time of night? And what did he want from me? Wait, what time was it?

"What are you doing out at this hour?"

"What are you doing out at this hour?"

I winced when we asked the same question at the same time. What the hell?"I could not sleep." He immediately answered."Me neither." I replied, before looking at him carefully: he has dark brown hair that flops against the brown skin of his forehead as he moves. He's not very tall, i think just one inch more than me.Christ, everyone in this quadrant is too beautiful. Men, women, even a chimpanzee would look sexy if he walked in here, probably.

"Nightmare?" He asked, and I flinched again. He noticed, nodding his head towards me. "You're sweaty and I can tell you've been crying, plus you look like you just woke up" he explained looking at me.I didn't respond, simply preferring the option of turning my head to the other side, then raising it slightly to be able to direct my gaze and look at the stars.He was silent for a while, and as soon as I started to think that maybe he would go away, he raised his head to look at the stars, and spoke."I have them too" his tone was sweet, vulnerable. Hearing that warmed my soul. In a place like this, where any vulnerability or form of humanity was despised, seeing someone show it made me vulnerable too."It's shitty" I whispered, but my attention shifted when I saw him lower himself, and sit on the ground, looking at the sky decorated with thousands of stars. So I sat down too, at a safe distance, with the dagger still in my hand.

No words, I didn't even give him a look. That night no one found us out late and yelled at us. That night, I spent hours sitting next to what could easily have been my enemy during the day. He could have killed me, but he didn't.And I wasn't worried that this would somehow get out or make people realize how fucking weak I really am.

I know he won't say anything, because now, he knows my secret, and I know his. And here, in this quadrant, is perhaps the worst a cadet could have:

We are human.

[ao3feed-gelphie]

Pas de Deux

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/b1YkKeD by agentduke A step for two. Words: 912, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Fandoms: Wicked - All Media Types Rating: General Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: F/F Characters: Elphaba Thropp, Galinda Upland Relationships: Elphaba Thropp/Galinda Upland Additional Tags: Bisexual Elphaba Thropp, POV Galinda Upland, Lesbian Galinda Upland, I'm Sorry, References to The Nutcracker, Song: A Man Without Love (Engelbert Humperdinck), Gelphie, Angst read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/b1YkKeD