#Did I use this as an opportunity to rave about my ships? .... yes | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

natsubeatsrock · 5 years ago

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"Why do you hate Nalu fans asking for angst?"

Who actually believed I was done talking smack about Nalu?

I feel like I haven't been clear enough on this. Normally, I'd say something like this because fandom ignores my arguments about something. While that's not untrue here, looking back on my discussions of the Nalu fandom's desire for canon situations of angst, I feel like I can be a bit more clear and direct as to why I don't like it.

A lot of what I've said makes it seem as though I don't like or appreciate angst as a whole. Sure, I say I don't hate angst, but I worry that my explanations make it sound like a cover to rag on Nalu for even potentially having angst. I want to explain the issue I have with the cries for Nalu angst in a way that shows I can appreciate angst.

Let's start with a couple of ships outside of Fairy Tail. The first is one that my long-time fans may recognize. In an earlier rant from around the time that Fairy Tail was ending, I briefly touched on Beauty and the Beast and how Belle and the Beast transformation is something Nalu fans wanted out of Mashima's treatment of the END situation. However, I hinted at how their ship is an example of good angst and I want to talk about it more.

At the beginning of the movie, Belle and the Beast start not liking each other much. However, a change happens when she is told to leave after breaking the Beast's one rule. Before she can get too far from the palace, Belle is saved from a pack of wolves by the Beast. As she's cleaning his wounds, they start to come to more of an understanding of each other. As shown by lyrics of and scenes shown during the song "Something There", they start to come to an understanding of each other that leads to romantic feelings.

By the time we get to "Beauty and the Beast", it's clear that they both have feelings for each other. Despite the Beast confirming he loves her, we don't get a confession from Belle until after he supposedly dies. However, it's important to remember that her confession comes off the heels of a defense of the Beast from villagers, the rest of their relational progression and the timer set by the falling rose petals. Her confession comes just as the last petal falls from the enchanted rose. In other words, she came to truly love him at the last possible moment and it may not have mattered if he died at that moment. Of course, he does live and they can be a couple.

The second example comes from one of my favorite anime, Toradora. (I'd use Clannad for a similar reason, but I know this one off-hand better.) It's a bit of an understatement to say that Taiga Aisaka and Ryuji Takasu start on the wrong foot. It's established fairly early on that much of their initial goals are to get the other's best friend to end up with them. However, as they spend time together, they end up growing closer to each other. As early as episode 2, Ryuji goes from annoyed at not having enough rice because of Taiga's presence to disappointed at having too much rice in her absence. But then, Ryuji gets into an accident and it becomes clear that Taiga has stronger feelings for him that she's letting on.

As the series progresses, we see evidence of them growing closer together and the idea of them becoming a couple is made to seem more realistic. It's not that we can't tell if they like each other at this point; it's that we're not sure how things will play out. It turns out that, during their class trip, Taiga takes a spill of her own and unknowingly confesses to Ryuji. He outright confirms that he has feelings of his own but struggles to tell her how he feels. A bunch of shenanigans happens between then and the end of the series, but they do end up together at the end of the series.

I explain the stories of the couples in this way for an important reason. In each of these stories, the angst does draw people closer together. However, there is a sense that the relationship was already progressing that way, to begin with. Angst was used as the medium to draw feelings out of characters they might have already been on track to have. Chances are that they could have gotten into their relationship without the angst. However, it works very well to see their relationship progress as part of the resolution to the tension of the story. Depending on how a writer spins it, it can work well.

Mashima did not do this with Nalu. Not he didn’t do it well with Nalu. It didn’t happen.

What I will say is that there wasn't a lack of moments that could have been used to draw out romantic feelings for each other. Here's a list of a few moments I can think of off the top of my head after the Galuna Island arc (at which point they're more familiar with each other):

Lucy being captured by Gajeel during the Phantom Lord arc.

Natsu on the brink of losing against Gajeel, also Phantom Lord.

Lucy getting captured during the Edolas arc.

Lucy saying "it's more fun when we're together" on Tenrou Island.

After the Naval Battle in the Grand Magic Games.

Lucy getting captured (again) during the Grand Magic Games.

The epilogue of the Tartarus arc.

Natsu realizing the guild was dissolved at the beginning of the Avatar arc.

Natsu almost dying after Aquarius came back.

Natsu almost dying (again) after fighting Gray.

The end of the fight with Acnologia.

There are a couple of other moments I probably could have added, especially from the anime and the sequel, but these are some of the moments that Mashima could have used to bring Natsu and Lucy closer to a trajectory of a romantic relationship. It's even canonically hinted during a few of these moments that he could have done exactly that.

However, the resolution for each of these moments came and went. Natsu and Lucy were friends before they happened and they didn't seem to be anything more than friends after them. I don't feel as though there's any real reason to think that anything else could cause some well of romantic emotions that has yet to be untapped to spring.

This has been outright confirmed for me by Mashima's writing of the final arc of the main series. Natsu nearly dies in front of Lucy. Twice. And the most we get from the whole thing is a "thanks for helping me get in the guild" a year later? I know Evergreen mentions that she might like him, but that's shot down and ignored almost as soon as it was brought up.

Are we supposed to believe Nalu would have stopped a rampage from END? Or that, even if it did, Mashima would use the opportunity to make clear that Natsu and Lucy did have romantic feelings for each other? Chances are, we'd get a moment where Natsu remembers the importance of his friends and remember who he is. Are we shocked that this was literally what happened in canon when he did lose control of himself? Or how Dragon Cry did a similar thing, despite prizing Lucy more than other members of the guild?

At this point, I guess someone could look at this and come to the conclusion that Nalu was just a product of Mashima's bad writing. Nalu is romantic but was handled poorly. If Mashima were a better writer, this would have handled better. And as someone who recognizes that, despite having great ideas, Mashima's not a great writer and isn't always able to make them work in the best ways possible and has even made a similar argument with Gruvia...

NO!

Not even a little yes.

At least my argument on Gruvia is couched in a recognition that it's the only ship of its kind that Mashima's done. (People who compare Gruvia to Reina and Musica get the bullet.) I don't see the things I'm arguing isn't great about Gruvia in any other Fairy Tail ship. You can't make the same argument with Nalu and angst. If you do, you're not paying attention.

In just the last arc, we got two clear examples of this in Gajevy and Zervis. Not just in the "you could argue that this is what Mashima was building these ships up towards throughout the series" sense that's very real about both of these ships. In the current events of the arc, he advanced both relationships after they had angsty situations. Gajeel confessed his love to Levy as he was almost killed by Bradman. Mavis and Zeref came together just as he was defeated and they ended up dying together.

Depending on how you interpret it, Gruvia also got the same thing in the same arc. Jerza has had a similar thing going around it with the Tower of Heaven and Nirvana arc. Fan interpretations of plenty of other favorite ships in Fairy Tail are near dependent on the idea that a person came to love someone more after something tragic happened surrounding them, including a number of my favorite ships. Heck, Mashima did this with all three of the ships involving his main characters in Rave Master to some degree or another.

As much as I don't love every aspect of Mashima's writing, this isn't a symptom of that. The fact is that Mashima didn't use ANY moment that Natsu or Lucy have seen the other in angsty situations to show clear romantic feelings for each other. No kisses, no confession, no anything. Given that he's done that with arguably every main ship he's shown interest in both his big series, I can't help but think that Mashima's either trying something completely different with this ship or isn't ever bringing them closer to being a couple. Either way, I don't see how Mashima putting them in one more magical situation of angst is somehow going to push them over the proverbial edge and make them canon at this stage in the series.

In Conclusion:

I don't hate angst. Nalu is just wack.

#fairy tail #anti nalu #angst #this was a long time coming #we should have been harsher about this #i'm not responding to any more hate messages

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crqstalite · 4 years ago

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Epoch.

(n.) a particular period of time in history or a person’s life.

for MER 2020. day 3, mass effect + andromeda. set in 2185/6 + 2819.

23:45. sent november 13th, 2185.

>> video recovered.

>video playing.

"Hey Dee--No that's wrong. Shepard? Kodelyn? Commander? Fuck. Y'know what? No script."

[inhale and subsequent exhale. camera shifts to focus on dark haired woman in alliance clothes.]

"Shepard. I don't know whether to believe the rumors or not. For nearly a year they've said that you're alive. Hell, Alenko came back a while ago from Horizon, shell shocked saying that Anderson was right. Don't even know how I'm supposed to feel about that."

"Feels like everything fell apart when you died. I lost my best friend, I lost the first ship I'd ever served on. I lost basically all of my contacts. The only person I'm still even in sort of contact with was Joker, but that was nearly...two years ago? I see Alenko whenever he's on the Citadel, but he's clammed up. Won't say a word about you, about the Normandy, about anyone but his current assignments in the Terminus Systems. I think he's in denial."

[dry chuckling. sighs.]

"We're all in denial, by the way. I wanted to go after Liara, find what she knew. Apparently she set up shop on Illium, but by the time I got there, she was gone. No one would tell me where she was. Alenko said Garrus was with you, so that's some solace if you're still out there. You know he'd follow you to hell and back after what you did with Saleon for him."

"I still don't believe you're alive. I saw the reports. Saw the whole debacle over what attacked the Normandy. Good old Council, still denying everything. There's no way that was the Geth. They're only claiming that it was because they don't want to start a mass panic over what they don't know and can't fathom in their peanut sized brains. I'm going to biotically smack Sparatus into next week if he claims Reapers don't exist again."

[muffled conversation]

"The real reason I'm making this video is because the Initiative is taking off in a bit. I know, it moved fast since my dad got shut down over SAM. We're set to take off in the next two weeks, so everyone's cleaning up shop. Farran has had his apartment cleaned out since we got clearance for the arks. He's always been on board to head to Andromeda."

"I didn't want to leave at first. I helped the best I could before I headed off to Therum with Liara, but I thought that's what was here for me. The Milky Way is my home. Then the Geth attacked and I saw you again. Then I decided I might just be a career soldier like my dad always wanted. I'm trained as an adept, you know. I was happy on the Normandy. Helping Liara with research, going out to uncharted worlds with you. I had my best friend and new friends all around me. It was far from perfect, especially with Hackett throwing mission after mission at us, and then Virmire..."

[rustling of datapads. gets up, paces back and forth. sound is viable, but accompanied by the sound of socked feet on linoleum.]

"Then you died. Then I didn't have a purpose anymore, sitting in that escape pod for nearly a day, acting like a child. Rocking back and forth, crying to the point I couldn't even really see or breathe. I didn't want anyone to touch me, hell I went out on my own to search for you. I got lost. Tali found me, throwing pieces of the Normandy around like a raving idiot searching for anything that would point me back to you."

"After that, I threw myself back into helping my dad. He was disgraced for SAM -- I'm sure you know that bit by now. Everywhere on the Citadel reminded me of you. Everywhere in the Milky Way reminded me of you. I had to get out of here, and acting like the rest of the galaxy didn't exist sounded like it would be the best course of action. Somewhere completely new, somewhere I could wipe the slate clean. Start over. Be happy again."

[laughs. sigh of disappointment. looks over to clock.]

"Joker came to me in...late 2183, I want to say? Said Cerberus -- yeah Cerberus of all people, those guys mixed up with the marines? -- had you. Said they were rebuilding you and he had proof. I denied him, didn't believe him. I knew he'd taken your death the hardest, that he blamed himself for it. I said things I shouldn't have. I know I can't justify it that 'I was in a bad place'. I hurt him, I know I did. Then he was just...gone. Completely off the grid. Anderson couldn't track him down. Your sister disappeared after that as well."

"I felt so alone. Farran tried to comfort me. Didn't work. The Initiative was tangible again, and I didn't see dad for a while. I had never been so ready to leave before. Now looking around, the empty room, the severed ties with anyone else in the Alliance? I ask myself if I'm doing the right thing or not. Whether leaving it all behind is the right decision."

[more muffled conversation. swiping of another tab before returning to chair and sitting down.]

"Look. If you are with Cerberus, I know you're doing it for a reason. Maybe you're a mole or something. Tearing them apart from the inside out. If you're alive, shit if you're even a little alive, please send me something. Confirm it, please. So I can reconsider all of this if I have to. I'd do anything to fight by your side again. Stop me before I make the most irreversible mistake in my life, Shepard. Kodelyn, please. Andromeda is full of opportunities, but you were everything to me. Alenko can mope all he wants, yes I knew about that, but you were my friend first, my sister first. You gave me so much, and now I can't pay you back."

"We can talk about Cerberus if that's what you want. We can talk about whatever's going on. Anything you want. I won't judge."

"Please. Come home, Shepard. I need you."

>video playback ended.

>>video archived.

23:56. november 13th, 2185.

>received november 14th, 2185.

>>opened july 8th, 2186.

16:18. sent july 8th, 2186.

>>video recovered.

>video playing.

{crackling. mumbled words. indecipherable. recorded on omni-tool.}

{clearing procedure}

{video stabilizing}

[woman appears. dark haired. recognized as commander shepard of alliance navy.]

"Fia. Hi."

"This is an entire year late. I know. I was too late, I think. I don't know. Any records of the Myungs were erased from the Citadel databases. I just recently got access to classified and personal files back, yeah long story I was arrested for a couple months. Reinstated as of a few minutes ago."

[mumbled conversation from male voice behind subject. ignored.]

"Find Vega, get him prepped for Mars. We're going in quick and quiet but tell him to be ready if things get hot."

[video refocuses.]

"Earth was just attacked. The Reapers are here. Sparatus is going to eat whatever a hat is in Turian places for denying their existence all these years."

"The suicide mission against the Collectors was a success. They're no more. But the Reapers...shit I just watched them take out Vancouver. We're getting reports of other attacks all over the planet, more in the Sol system by the hour."

[woman pulls helmet out. video focuses.]

"Shit shit shit shit. If it's any solace, my parents are alright. My brother is as well. Lali's onboard with me. As far as Dr. T'Soni and Lieutenant Johansson are concerned, we don't know. Last we heard they were on Mars, fighting their way to the archives for anything to fight the Reapers with. Staff Commander Petrakis has been off the grid for a couple months now, not a word out of her since the collector base assault. Major Alenko doesn't know where she is, but we know we need to get in contact with her, and in turn Garrus and the others if we can. We need every force we can get."

[clattering noise sounds. more cursing.]

"Fia. I'm so sorry. I heard AI took off a few months back while I was under house arrest. I know you're probably gone, and I wish I'd seen it before. My omni-tool code changed back late 2185, security risk so close to the base assault. Lawson was worried after Horizon that brass would come after me. I'm so damn sorry."

[incoming call on another line.]

"Please. If you get this, be careful. I don't know if the Reapers will come after the Initiative. Be ready for anything. They will not stop at Earth, I know that much. Tell your father, Garson, anyone to be ready for whatever comes your way in Andromeda. I've always loved you, sister, best friend. You know that. I’ll always be with you, wherever you are."

[incoming call.]

"Be careful, tabula rasa. There's another galaxy out there, and if you all are the last humans out there after all this goes down, make us proud."

[incoming call.]

"Don't let the cycle take us again."

>video playback ended.

>>video archived.

16:25. july 8th, 2186.

>received august 22nd, 2186.

>seen august 30th, 2818.

>>opened june 1st, 2819.

"So the Reapers were real then," Cora says, turning to the Pathfinder, deep in thought, "They were in such a hurry to deploy us because whoever funded the Initiative--"

"They knew the Reapers were coming. We were humanity's Noah's Ark," Fiametta Myung responds, shutting off the blue and white display in her father's old quarters. Stepping back, she runs a hand through her brown and purple hair, "And now? We don't even know if Earth survived all of that. And Shepard..."

"It's been six hundred years. I get the picture," Cora muses, "You said Dr. T'Soni travelled with her early on though? You think you might be able to get a message out to her?"

"If I could, I think we would've got one first from either her or Shepard. Either with the destruction of the galaxy or one of victory," Frustrated, Fiametta sits down on the edge of the bed, "Cora, forget that T'Soni might still be alive. Do you think there's a chance the Reapers could come for us?"

"All the way in Andromeda?" The commando shifts her posture, crossing her arms and leaning against the desk, "If you want my opinion, it's a flat I don't know. You worked with her closer than I did. Any Reaper information I heard about was secondhand accounts from you."

"Great. I'm flying blind again. Tann is going to have my ass if we know about this and they show up in a couple months to finish the job," Fiametta drags a hand down her face, flopping back on the bed unceremoniously, "I'm the worst pathfinder to ever pathfind. First my dad dies, then every planet in uninhabitable, can barely reunite all the races, can't find the Quarian ark, and to top it off, nearly lost the whole Hyperion taking Meridian."

"Well I was going to say that if they did...well we could get a headstart on them? Start bunkering down before they find us, so they don't catch us off guard like they did the Milky Way," She says, gesturing to the computer. That made sense. They probably hit Earth so hard because they hadn't been ready. Fiametta scoffs inwardly, damn War Council never took Shepard's word for anything and now they'd paid for it dearly. Her tone is still concerned, but softens, "And don't say that. First, who knows if they managed to take down the Reapers anyway? Second, we don't know jack about what's going down in the Milky Way right now. Anything could've happened, and we could be worrying for nothing. You found Meridian, we took Meridian and took down the Archon. Hell you made every viable world habitable for generations to come. What's a couple more to add to the list of achievements?"

"Cora, the Archon was one dude. The Kett retreated, probably to gather more forces. These Reapers? They've been in this cycle for fifty thousand years, probably since the beginning of time. The Protheans weren't the first to be wiped out, and they might not be the last either," Fiametta curses under her breath, "We aren't prepared for war. We've barely got enough forces to fight off the remaining Kett, much less another wave of space cthulus. We're explorers, not an army."

"It took us six hundred years to get out here. Maybe it'll take the Reapers a whole lot less, but we've still got time if they do. I'll requisition Tann for more forces on the edge of Heleus in a few years time if you're still really worried. We just need to establish a foothold first and then we can have patrols out."

"Now you're making me sound crazy," she notes, "Forget the Reapers for right now. Just stick a pin in it, Cora. I'm rambling, you don't have to pay attention to me."

"If that's what you want," Cora chides, striding over to the bed, "Hey. You've done a damn good job at colonizing Heleus. If anyone can take the Reapers, it's you."

"It's Shepard, actually. She was the one with a Prothean cipher in her head," While Cora sputters at the news, Fiametta chuckles, "Early 2183. Feros. Thorian. Some asari. I wasn't there for it. Just... stressed about finding this all out now."

"She was really important to you, huh?" Cora questions, gears still turning in her head, "She'd be proud of you. Just like your father would be."

"Hope so," Fiametta answers, sitting up to face her second in command. She doesn't know if it's true, but if it makes Cora feel better about their situation, she can at least pretend to take the praise in stride. Her heart hurts, Shepard had always been there to guide her through the worst of it. And now? She was all alone, pathfinding without a path to follow, "C'mon, let's get out of here before Jaal tears the Hyperion apart looking for me."

Cora nods approvingly, a smile crossing her features. As the other woman leaves, Fiametta stands again. She pulls up the UI with a few swipes, scrolling back to the message. She watches it again. Shepard hadn't looked all that well in those final moments. Bloodied and bruised, torn BDUs. Arrested? For what? Working with Cerberus? Hell if this so-called suicide mission was so successful, they should've given her a medal like they did after the Skyllian Blitz. Johansson -- that was Annika. Petrakis was Brione. Vega, she hadn't heard of a Vega before. Alenko...that meant Kaidan had been promoted after she left.

She misses them. Six hundred years separates her from the people that knew her best.

Six hundred years separates her and Shepard. Her best friend. Her everything at one point. History would remember them for their sacrifices. They’d better remember her sacrifices specifically. Maybe she should try to get in contact with Dr. T'Soni. If Shepard's message made it to them in-transit, maybe with the Nexus' connections she could get her own out to the Milky Way. Find one of Shepard's descendants, or one of the species that hadn't been entirely destroyed if Liara's research had been truthful when they had been working together.

Her hand hovers over the UI, considering. Her old life had ended. She hadn't woken up a tabula rasa, but instead had changed Heleus for the better. She hopes.

Staying in the past wouldn't get her anywhere.

>video saved. june 1st, 2819.

>>removed from active messages. june 1st, 2819. archived by pathfinder fiametta myung.

#mass effect #mass effect oc #oc #original character #fiametta myung #kodelyn velasquez #cora harper #pathfinder ryder #mass effect andromeda #mass effect andromeda fanfiction #mass effect andromeda oc #mass effect relationship week #original female character #eye of the storm #merweek2020

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yiangchen · 6 years ago

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post 6x02 bellarke (4,346 words).

okay, so a few things. first, i wrote this after watching 6x01 and 6x02 when they were leaked, so i hadn’t read the 6x03 synopsis to know that the only ones going back to the ship were bellamy, octavia and echo.

also, yeah i’m well aware that there’s going to be a rave, not a ballroom dance, but in this fic, it’s a ballroom dance.

lastly, this is not in any way realistic in terms of what i really think we’ll get this season for blarke. i have hope for /something/ this season, but definitely not all of this.

oh, and one more thing! if you want to cry, listen to “happiness does not wait” by olafur arnalds on repeat while you read. hope you enjoy!

tagging @traitorwhoyoulove <3 because she wanted to be tagged!

don’t go, you’re half of me now

It took ten stitches to close up the wound on Bellamy’s leg. Clarke felt each one of them even though it wasn’t her skin being pierced.

Now, she sits on a chair beside his bed in the infirmary. Neither of them have spoken a word to one another since it all went down, but after a long while, Bellamy is the first to speak.

Before he thinks better of it, he reaches out to brush his fingers along the bruises that mare her neck. He swallows. “I’m so sorry, Clarke.”

Her eyes flutter shut, staying closed just a moment, even once he’s dropped his hand. “At least you weren’t in your right mind. I was when I—”

“You were trying to stop me from going after Murphy,” Bellamy cuts in, brushing her off. That isn’t something she should feel guilty for. If anything, he’s grateful she slowed him down to save Murphy. The guy hasn’t exactly been empathetic. It’s admirable that she still instinctively rescued someone who hasn’t been giving her the light of day.

But that wasn’t all that Clarke was referring to, and so she shakes her head, the guilt setting in and making her eyes water. “No,” she says, soft. “Not just that…”

Bellamy doesn’t have to ask what she means. He can still feel the contact her hand had made with his cheek weeks ago. “Clarke…”

Her bottom lip trembles. Part of Bellamy wants to reach out to steady it, and he instantly feels guilty about it.

Another traitor who you love.

“I know you said you weren’t mad at me,” she says, tears in her eyes now that make her voice waver, “but you should be.”

Bellamy sighs, shaking his head. “The only thing that I am is confused.”

“Confused?”

“You called me every day for six years, and then you left me to die in the fighting pits.”

“I’m so sorry, Bellamy.”

“I know you are. I’m not asking for an apology, Clarke.”

“Then what are you asking for?”

“An explanation, I guess. I don’t know…”

Clarke sighs. “I was just so scared.”

A muscle in Bellamy’s jaw starts working at that. “It was more than that.” He brings a hand to his cheek, where she slapped him.

Clarke’s eyes fall away from his. “You broke my heart,” she admits, not looking at him.

It’s since been mended, but he’d asked for the truth, and the least she can do is give it to him.

Raven, Echo, Murphy and Emori are my family.

Sometimes, she still fears he doesn’t see her as family too, but then she looks at him, sees his lips part, and he’s looking at her in that soft, broken way he does, and she knows.

She’s one of them. She never stopping being one of them. And though the others hate her right now, Bellamy doesn’t. He’s still here, right by her side, making sure she feels included, caring for her, looking out for her. All those things tell her she’s part of the family. And if not theirs then his.

“Clarke…”

She finds herself lost in his pained, watery gaze. “It’s okay.”

“Nothing about this is okay, Clarke.”

“Maybe not,” she amends. “But I know something now that I didn’t then.”

Bellamy’s heart nearly stops. Does she know that he—?

“When you promised me you’d keep Madi safe, you meant it.”

Bellamy releases a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. Oh.

“You kept her safe, advised her, and I know you would have done the same had I listened to you.”

Bellamy opens his mouth, closes it. “Why didn’t you?”

Clarke swallows.

“I raised Octavia pretty much all on my own, so trust me, I get feeling like you’re the only one who can protect them, Clarke. But...did you really think I hadn’t thought things through? That I wasn’t going to protect Madi with my life?”

“I didn’t know what to think, Bellamy. I wasn’t really thinking at all. I didn’t know you anymore, and it was like—” Her eyes water further, voice breaking suddenly. “It was like I couldn’t breathe.” She shakes her head. “I couldn’t breathe.”

“Clarke…”

“You had always meant safety to me, and in my panic, suddenly you didn’t, and I just couldn’t breathe.”

Bellamy reaches for her hand. Clarke’s eyes flutter closed.

“And now?” he asks softly.

She opens her eyes into his, head cocked to the side. “Now what?”

“Do you feel safe with me?”

Clarke’s lips twitch with a watery smile. “Yeah. Of course.”

“You sure?”

Clarke nods. There are a lot of things she’s not sure of, but Bellamy isn’t one of them.

“Ms. Griffin,” a voice says then, breaking them from the moment. She turns to see a nurse approaching them. “Our leader has sent for you.”

Clarke nods again. Before leaving, she turns back to Bellamy. “I’ll see you in a bit.”

“Be careful.”

Clarke smiles at him, a closed-lip one that has his eyes softening. “I will,” she says, and before she loses her nerve, she leans in to press a kiss to his cheek; a silent apology, a promise of never again, and an I’ll see you later all in one gesture.

She means to move away the moment her lips leave his cheek, but she lingers. His eyes have fluttered closed, and he’s making no move to pull away. She means to. She really does.

But then his nose brushes hers and her forehead presses to his own, and she just gets lost in his warmth. In him.

And she swears she hears him whisper her name, soft and just for her, before someone clears their throat from behind them, and Clarke instantly pulls back.

It’s Raven. She’s got her arms crossed over her chest and an angry glare in her eyes that has Clarke needing to get the hell out of there.

“I’m um—” Clarke fumbles with what to say, flustered as she backs out of the room. “I’m gonna go.”

And then she does.

Bellamy just swallows, and when he finally finds the courage to look at Raven, he winces.

“What the hell did I just walk in on?”

“She just,” he brings a hand to the back of his neck, nervous, “came by to check up on me.”

“So have I, and I’m not planning on kissing you.”

Bellamy sighs. “Raven—”

“I’m gonna go check on Murphy. Echo’s on her way to see you now.” Raven heads for the door, stops a moment to look back at him. “You know, your girlfriend.”

Bellamy averts his eyes, a muscle ticking in his jaw. When he looks back, she’s gone, and as he waits for Echo, he knows he’s screwed.

Burying his feelings isn’t something he can do anymore. Even when he’d tried in the past, he knows he must have been so obvious—the boy who unapologetically wore his heart on his sleeve. Though that part of him has been missing these last six years, there was a day he felt a faint glimmer of who he used to be return to him. Uncoincidentally the very same day that Clarke returned to him. He remembers feeling like he could finally breathe again, like his heart was beating for the first time since he lost her—since he left it behind with her on Earth.

And maybe he should known what that meant, but he didn’t. Not until now. Not until a few moments earlier when he’d been breaths away from kissing her, knowing without a doubt, that she loved him too.

He tries (fails) to ignore how cold he feels in Clarke’s absence. How his heart doesn’t beat quite as easily. How it feels weaker.

Clarke Griffin isn’t just another traitor who he loves.

She’s the woman he loves more.

…

Bellamy doesn’t want to go.

When he hears that they have to attend a goddamn ballroom dance, he just does not want to go.

“They’re trying to get us to let our guard down,” he tells Miller as he adjusts his tie in the mirror. Yes, you heard that right. A tie.

Thirty years of his life Bellamy went without wearing one, but here he is. It’s one of the many things he’s doing and already regretting. Bellamy could (should) have stayed with Echo, but Miller had wanted to make up for lost time, and Bellamy didn’t want to turn down the opportunity, but part of him knows this is also because he needs space to think about...things, and he is decidedly not acknowledging that for the time being.

Miller arches an eyebrow at him. “They’re not the Mountain Men, Bell.”

“No,” Bellamy agrees, running a hand through his hair. “But they remind me of them.”

“Just try to relax.”

Bellamy sighs. He can’t.

When Clarke came back from meeting with Russel, their leader, she’d had more questions than answers. He hasn’t had the chance to really talk to her about it alone, neither of them sure how to be around each other after what almost happened, but he knows her, and when she’d said the people here are happy, between the look on her face and the way in which she said it, he gathered she had only been trying to convince herself of that.

He gets it. Monty found this place for them, and she wants so badly for this to turn out to be everything he thought it would. That they can live the life he wanted for them. Bellamy wants that too, more than anything.

But he just can’t shake the feeling. There’s something off about these people. More than the eclipse-induced psychosis they’ve been subjected to. Even just wearing their clothes has him on edge. The party is meant to make them feel safe, and that’s exactly why he doesn’t.

“You ready to head out?” Miller asks.

With one last look in the mirror, Bellamy runs another hand through his hair, feeling guilty that the nerves in his stomach have nothing to do with his girlfriend and everything to do with his best friend.

“Yeah,” Bellamy nods. “Let’s just get this over with.”

…

The first time Bellamy sees Clarke in a dress quite literally steals his breath away, and he swears for just one moment, he really does forget how to breathe.

(Okay, maybe it’s not the first time. He has seen her in a dress before, but that was different. Then, she appeared before him as a grounder. As someone he couldn’t recognize. Now, she’s just Clarke.)

And she looks beautiful.

It’s not so much the dress—a simple navy blue halter—as it is her, with her strikingly blue eyes and the way her blonde waves frame her face. He’s never seen her look so herself. So Clarke Griffin that it has his heart thumping against his ribs.

Just then, she catches his gaze from across the room, and Bellamy knows she already caught him staring at her, slack-jawed, so there’s really no point in trying to pretend he hadn’t been.

But he does anyway.

That’s when Echo appears before him, and he feels another pang of guilt at the smile she sends him. His heart is still beating furiously, but it’s from Clarke and not her.

“Hey,” he sighs, knowing what he has to do. “Could we go somewhere and talk?”

Before she can answer him, they’re swept up in the first dance of the night.

After, he tells himself. Just get through the dance.

Only that proves to be quite difficult when they switch partners midway through the song, and suddenly, Clarke is in his arms.

From the look on her face, he guesses she hadn’t expected that he was the face she’d be met with either.

“Hey, princess,” he manages after a moment.

Princess. Clarke ducks her head in a laugh. “You calling me that because of the dress?”

He gives her a look that says you know why I’m calling you princess, amusement in his eyes that make her heart beat a little faster, her chest a little warmer, but that isn’t what he says, and the words are out of his mouth before he can stop them.

“You look perfect.”

Clarke’s lips part at that, and his do too when his brain catches up to his heart, realizes what he just said.

It doesn’t help that with his leg still injured, he’s not the best on his feet, and they’re far closer than they should be, so she can keep him steady, but now she’s too close. Too warm.

Everything about him is so fucking warm. His gaze, his hands, his breath.

And she just wants to be warmer, but he can’t be the one to do that. He’s not hers to have like this. Before she knows it, her eyes are watering. His brow furrows in concern instantly and that really doesn’t help either, so she runs, flees the room.

But of course he follows because he’s Bellamy, and it just upsets her further.

“Clarke,” he calls after her. It’s just the two of them, out in the hallway.

She turns to face him, exasperated as she shakes her head. “What?”

Bellamy’s chest rises and falls with a breath.

The six years he spent without her he’d learned to use his head, but she’s back now. She’s back now and he’s realizing more and more that she brings out who he used to be: the man who acted on impulse, with his heart.

He opens his mouth, closes it.

It has her eyes watering and his heart breaks. He reaches out to her, against his better judgement—because it’s Clarke and he just really can’t fucking think when he’s around her, never learned how—and she pulls away from him.

Don’t.

She doesn’t say it, but it’s clear in her watery gaze, how her bottom lip trembles, and she walks off before he can say anything. His heart screams at him to go after her, but this time he doesn’t follow, just watches her go, hands in his hair.

…

Clarke doesn’t say goodbye to Bellamy when he and the others head back to the Eligius III ship, but she does watch him go—long enough to see him turn back to look at her.

(And it just breaks her heart further.)

…

Bellamy breaks up with Echo that same night when they stop to set up camp for the night.

“You said nothing would change.”

“I’m sorry.”

“What changed, Bellamy?” she presses. He swallows, and Echo just nods. “You never told me.” At Bellamy’s furrowed brow, she explains. “That you were in love with her six years ago.”

“Because I didn’t want to be,” he admits, voice thick with the memories. “Losing her almost killed me. I didn’t want to talk about it.”

“You thought she was dead for six years, Bellamy.”

“Time did nothing to ease the pain.”

Echo doesn’t often cry, but he swears he sees the firelight glinting in her watery eyes. “I thought I did.”

You were just a distraction. He doesn’t say it—would never say something so cruel—but it’s the truth, and they both know it. They were over before they began.

The fire is warm, but Bellamy has never felt colder.

…

When Bellamy returns to Sanctum, he can hardly get to Clarke fast enough.

He was told she was in the art studio, and that’s where he’s headed now, practically sprinting through the halls—well, as close to sprinting as his leg will allow him—but when he reaches the door, suddenly it dawns on him what he’s come to do, and the nerves set in. It takes him a solid few minutes to gather the courage to knock.

“Clarke,” he says when he does.

She doesn’t answer the door, but he hears her call his name in question from somewhere inside. “Bellamy?”

“Yeah, it’s me.” He runs a hand through his hair. “Hey, um, there’s something I need to talk to you about. Can I come in?” A beat, but she doesn’t say anything. “Clarke,” he says, the excitement building in his chest now starting to fade into worry.

“I’m working on something at the moment. Can it wait?”

“I…” Bellamy falters. “I guess, but Clarke—”

“What do you want from me, Bellamy?” she asks suddenly, exasperated.

“You,” he says, without hesitation.

“I—what?”

“I broke up with her, Clarke.”

He can practically hear her heart pounding. “Why?”

Bellamy huffs out an incredulous breath at that. “Because I want you...” he sighs, leans his head against the door and allows his eyes to flutter close, “Only you.”

There’s a long pause before her words break his heart. She sniffles and he knows she’s crying, but what he doesn’t know is that she has her forehead pressed against the wall too, eyes closed. “It’s too late.”

“Clarke,” he says, voice breaking on her name.

“Please just go.”

She’s begging now, further breaking his heart, but he does what she asks and goes.

…

Clarke didn’t mean it.

Telling Bellamy it was too late had been one of the hardest decisions she ever had to make, and she didn’t mean it, but she had to.

She knows now that love isn’t weakness but a strength. That he makes her strong. She knows she’ll always be safe with him, but she fears that he won’t be with her. Leaving him to die is easily her biggest regret, and she of course doesn’t intend on doing it ever again—because she knows now that he cares about her too—but she knows, and has known for some time, that she can’t always save the people she loves.

She couldn’t save her dad, or Finn, or Lexa. All of them are gone, partly because of her. The best thing for Bellamy right now is to let her go before he gets too close and it gets him killed. She doesn’t think she could take that.

So, she told him it was too late for them when everything in her—her heart—screamed at her to just let him in. She told him it was too late for them, so he would let her go.

But Octavia is certainly not helping with that. As soon as the word spread about Bellamy’s breakup with Echo, she just couldn’t help herself.

They’re all seated around the fire now. Murphy and Emori are cuddling against a log, Clarke beside him (aside from Echo, he’s the only one that has let up on verbally attacking her), and Madi at Clarke’s side. Across from them are Bellamy and Raven, and much to Bellamy’s annoyance, his sister, who (to Bellamy’s further annoyance) is wasted.

Bellamy has only had two or three. He’s slightly buzzed, and it’s certainly not enough to take the edge off.

“I mean, we all saw this coming, did we not? He let me send the woman off on a suicide mission.”

That does it, and Bellamy rises to his feet, storming away. He’s not just going to sit here and listen to this.

“Where are you going, big brother?” she calls after him, the nickname stopping him in his tracks. His shoulders tense up.

He exhales sharply through his nose, eyes closed. “Anywhere but where you are.”

“I was just about to tell a story,” she goes on, and Bellamy knows that she’s smirking without looking at her. “Starring you and me.”

He turns and glares at her. He was right. The corners of her mouth have settled into a smirk, eyes taunting him. “Octavia,” he warns.

She turns her attention away from him, gaze landing on a certain blonde. “And featuring one Clarke Griffin.”

Bellamy’s eyes widen. “O—”

“Did Bellamy ever tell any of you the real reason why he poisoned me?”

“Octavia, please.”

“Actually, Bell,” Murphy cuts in, “I’d like to hear this story.”

Bellamy rubs a hand over his face.

“Anyways,” Octavia slurs, and Bellamy shuts his eyes. “There were a lot of things I did to piss Bell off. First it was the fighting pits. Then it was marching my people into sand storms with razor blade winds. Obika. Banishing the devil—or wait, sorry,” Octavia laughs, shaking her head. “Bellamy’s ex girlfriend. I get the two mixed up sometimes.” Madi snorts at that and Clarke sends her a look that has her covering her mouth. “Anyways, where was I…?”

“Echo’s banishment,” Emori fills in, reluctant.

“Right.” Octavia sits down her cup. “Executing the defectors. The worms—”

“Can you please just get to the goddamn point?” Raven cuts in.

“I was about to, but I really do appreciate the enthusiasm. We’re about to get to the good part.”

At that Bellamy’s eyes find Clarke’s, and he swallows, but he can’t look away. Neither can she, even once Octavia goes on.

“All those things made Bellamy angry, but he didn’t do anything that would risk my life. So, what would you all guess changed his mind?”

“The war,” Murphy says. “He had to take you out so it’d be safe enough for Madi to come into power.”

“He didn’t do it for me,” Madi says. “Indra was initially supposed to be the leader in Octavia’s place. Not me.”

“We’re getting off track here,” Octavia says. “Poisoning me had nothing to do with the war. Not really. Of course, I’m sure that was part of the reason. To save you guys,” she motions drunkenly in Raven, Murphy and Emori’s direction. “But he never would have poisoned me if it hadn’t been for something else.”

Everyone just stares at her blankly, brows furrowed, except for Bellamy and Clarke who are still looking at one another. Bellamy because he knows and Clarke because she just can’t figure out what the hell is going on.

Hey, I know this is hard, she had said to him, but she was willing to destroy the last survivable land on Earth just to win a war. Not to mention kill the people we love.

And he had nodded, agreeing with her.

He lied.

Bellamy lied.

“Or rather, someone else.”

Bellamy swallows again.

“I planned on sending the eggs of the worms into the valley to take out Eligius, and Bellamy and Clarke thought they could stop me. Only they thought I was sending the worms, not their eggs. So, when I found Cooper dead in the room where we kept the worms, I knew it was Bellamy and Clarke that got her killed, planning on framing her for letting the worms out accidentally, but when I found them, I only had Clarke arrested and sentenced to die, thinking I could use it as leverage to get my way. If I had power over her life, Bellamy would never stand against me again, but I underestimated him. Because that’s exactly what he did.”

Clarke’s lips part at that, eyes watering.

Octavia turns her attention to Clarke, and it draws Clarke’s eyes to her. “For you.”

Clarke’s chest rises and falls with a breath. If only she’d known. She’d have known sooner how much he cared. She’d have never left him.

“Not just another traitor who my brother loves, as I’d said to him,” Octavia goes on and Clarke’s eyes widen, “but the traitor he loves more.”

Bellamy runs a hand through his hair. Clarke feels like her heart is about to burst from her chest when she finds the courage to look at him again and he’s still looking at her.

She hesitates a moment, then rises to her feet and slowly makes her way over to him, gradually picking up the pace with each step until she’s right in front of him. She opens her mouth, closes it. A watery breath of air escapes her—one that sounds a lot like a sob and nearly a laugh at the same time—and then she’s taking his face in her hands and kissing him, soft but sure, and a little desperate too, but she doesn’t care. Not when he kisses her back instantly, just as desperately, bringing his own hands up to cradle her cheeks.

Clarke pulls away all too soon. “I want you, too,” she breathes, for just him to hear, and she’s close enough to feel his breath hitch. She presses her forehead to his, voice nearly cracking when she says, “It’s always been you.”

Bellamy sniffles. “But you said—”

“I lied.” Her lips twitch with a watery smile. “We’re even now.”

Bellamy’s responding weak laugh has something warm swelling in her chest. Something that she hasn’t felt for some time now. Hope.

And she realizes in that moment that he’s never letting her go, but maybe, just maybe, that’s okay.

Because she’s never letting him go either.

“Technically, you’ve lied more than once,” Bellamy reminds her.

“Well, I never lost faith that you’d come back to me,” Clarke says with a smile, brushing her nose against his and leaning in to kiss him again. “So, hopefully that makes up for it.”

“It does,” he murmurs, just before meeting her halfway.

Clarke’s heart beats with those three words. She thinks back six years ago, when she’d told him to hurry instead of how she felt. She thinks back to each day he was gone. Each day she regretted never having told him.

“I love you,” she says.

Bellamy pulls back to look at her, and he has that closed-lip smile on his face, the one he reserves just for her, when he says it back. “I love you.” The adoration in his eyes has a smile breaking out on her face. “I love you so much,” he says again, softer this time.

Clarke is about to kiss him again when Octavia’s voice interrupts the moment. ��My work here,” she slurs, swaying on her feet as everyone laughs and watches her start back towards the capital, “is done.”

Clarke leans her forehead into Bellamy’s chest, laughing, and he wraps his arms around her, pressing a kiss into her hair.

Somehow, no matter what is going on with Sanctum, he knows that with Clarke in his arms, solid and warm and his, everything is gonna be just fine.

#bellarke #bellarke fanfiction #post 6x02 #s6 #the 100 #the 100 spoilers #my writing #canonverse

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littlemisssquiggles · 6 years ago

Text

RWBY Squiggle Scripts #010: The Beauty of Dance.

miggy97 asked “ I’m starting to think that Oscar’s love for Ruby will be similar to Uraraka’s love for Midoriya: he’ll be in denial of it for a while, but then once he realizes it, he’ll try to conceal those feelings entirely, because he believes it will result in pain for both Ruby and him since he expects to merge with Oz soon

@miggy97 That’s not a bad theory Miggy. I actually have the opposite hunch where it’s Ruby who is the one to slowly realize how she feels around Oscar but would be reluctant in pursuing those feelings knowing Oscar’s fate while combatting with her own reluctance to trust Ozpin again. A lot of fans’ impressions of Ruby Rose is that she isn’t the type to focus on romance and relationships. As always, this squiggle meister has a differing opinion. I actually do think that deep down Ruby wants that romantic life---the fairy tale that’s full of charm. She just hasn’t really been given much of an opportunity where she can express that type of interest, y’know what I’m saying?

This is why I shared this RWBY Remark once upon a time. As I said in my last response, Ruby has never had any romantic suitors. It’s hard to tell how Ruby would truly react in a romantic situation when the series hasn’t really put her in that type of scenario before. The closest thing was the ball back at the Vytal Festival but even then, Ruby’s involvement in that was completely omitted. I feel like when it came to the dance episodes, only her teammates: Weiss, Yang and Blake were given subplots as part of those episodes.

We had Weiss pursuing Neptune as her potential date to the dance. We had Blake be approached by Sun and ended up going with Sun. And while Yang didn’t have a date, she still had her important role of that subplot by helping Blake through overcoming her stress induced insomnia over Torchwick and the two even ended sharing a dance together at the ball as a result of their talk which I think is what sparked folks to start shipping them.

But Ruby. Ruby in the dance episode was more akin to a young child being dragged to a social gathering by their older peers or an adult. And since she’s not used that type of environment, she mostly just spends her night alone in the corner or in the company of her comrades when they’re free enough to come talk to her.

As a matter of fact, that is exactly how it was. Ruby just stood mostly in the corner for most of the dance episode. No one asked her to dance nor did she herself seem interested in joining the festivities. Till this day, that still kind of bums me out. All the more reason why I appreciated Professor Ozpin approaching Ruby and talking to her. I always enjoyed when Oz would approach Ruby with words of wisdom and his advice to her in V2 will always be my favourite moment between them.

I mean, we still didn’t get to see Ruby loosen up and bust a move with anyone or even by herself but…I guess you could say she was a little less apprehensive of the joining the festivities after Oz talked to her. Or so I’d like to think.

All the more reason why I’m looking forward to the Atlas Arc from V7. I feel like Atlas will give us a second opportunity for the heroes to have some well-earned downtime. I am still holding onto the prospect of the heroes reuniting with Team FNKY. Neon invited Yang and Weiss to go partying with her and Flynt back in V2 so I’m hoping the CRWBY didn’t forget that detail and we’ll get an episode of V7 dedicated to the heroes just dressing down and going clubbing in Atlas with Flynt and Neo.

Let FNKY treat RWBY and JNPR to a night out and take our heroes to FNKY town so that they can have some fun with FN!

I want another episode where we get to see our heroes change outfits again. Not just Team RWBY this time but JNPR as well inclusive of Oscar with a nice causal look.

Do you know what could be super cool? What if…Flynt and Neon end up taking RWBY and JNPR to a roller disco club in downtown Atlas or something? With roller-skates being part of Neon’s design, I figured second to raves, she and Flynt must enjoy going rollerblading as well and what better place to combine rollerblading with music and dancing than a roller disco?

If my memory serves correctly, I also remember Neon pointing out that Weiss and Yang should try out rollerblading since it’s super fun. I mean, yeah sure, she was only saying that to partially taunt Yang but…I’m still holding her to that. Rollerblading + Partying = Roller disco.

The CRWBY could even have that as a future episode of V7 and fittingly title it ‘Panic at the Disco’. Boom! C’mon CRWBY! I just would love to see an episode where FNKY invite the heroes out to dancing and rollerblading but while her teammates and friends are having fun, Ruby is rather reluctant about joining them. As a matter of fact, she’s the most abrasive about dancing. Even Oscar is surprisingly eager to join in on the dancing.

By my Pinehead headcanon, Oscar Pine is an astonishingly good dancer and even though he’s never skated in his life, he picks up on it really quickly and makes a positive spectacle of himself wowing everyone on the dance floor with his impressive footwork. He and Neon even share a dance at some point and while this is going on, Ruby just watches on alone in the corner. She’d been pretty reluctant to come onto the dancefloor no matter how many times her friends tried to sway her into it.

And somehow spotting Oscar laughing while dancing with Neon made her feel even more out of place. So Ruby just retires from the dance floor room just in time for Oscar to spot her leaving. This of course, encourages him to go after the Silver Eyed Girl. I would love for a moment like this to be done in a future episode of RWBY because it’s another golden chance for our Rosebuds to bond. Picture a scene like this:

JNPR and WBY are out on the dance floor with Flynt and Neon having a blast. Meanwhile Ruby is sitting out in the corner watching her friends enjoy themselves without her. At some point, Oscar skates over to join her in the stands after spotting her leaving.

Oscar: Hey you. *takes a seat next to Ruby* So…I…couldn’t help but…uh…notice you sitting here all by yourself.

Ruby: Yeah well…I…couldn’t help but notice you on the dance floor back there. Didn’t know you were such a great dancer.

Oscar: *bashfully* Thanks but…I wouldn’t exactly call myself a great dancer. My aunt was the real great dancer.

Ruby: Oh? *smirks amusedly* Was she the one who taught you all your moves?

Oscar: Well…not all my moves. *chuckles lightly* But yeah, Aunt Em and I used to dance a lot back on the farm. After my uncle passed away, it… broke her heart and... Em was really, really depressed for a while. She used to say dancing was what brought her and Uncle Henry together so dancing solo just made her feel...lonely.

I actually didn’t like dancing at all at first. Didn’t think it was for me. But I changed my mind soon after I saw how happy it made Em feel to have a dance partner again. I'd never forget the night I told her I wanted to learn how to dance. It's the brightest I saw her smile since my uncle was alive.

Ruby: That's really sweet of you.

Oscar: *bashfully* Hey… it's not that big of a deal. The least I could do after she took me in, right?

Ruby: Do you miss her a lot? Your Aunt Em?

Oscar: Every day. But Em's always been a tough ole gal who could take care of herself and she taught me to be the same way. But, being here tonight just reminded me of all those times we would just...get together and dance till the cows come home. Makes it feel a bit like home.

Oscar trailed off smiling to himself. But when he noticed Ruby looking at him, he blushed and looked away suddenly feeling embarrassed.

Oscar: *nervously* Ah---sorry if I'm rambling. *clears his throat and laughs awkwardly* I'm surprising chattier tonight.

Ruby: No, no it's ok. It's nice to hear you talk about your family for a change. *smiles at Oscar, resting her hand on his shoulder* I'm glad you're having fun, Oscar.

Oscar returns the small smile but then frowns as he remembered Ruby’s reluctance for the evening.

Oscar: But...you're not, aren’t you?

Ruby: *frowns sadly* No. I'm completely out of my element here. Why'd we have to come to a roller disco of all places? How is dancing going to help us on the battlefield?

Oscar: Well…dancing is actually good for team building. Two or more partners learning to trust each other and move in sync. When you look at it like that, it actually makes dancing the perfect exercise, don’t you think?

Ruby says nothing. She knows Oscar is right in his words however doesn’t admit it. She just continues to pout grumpily while avoiding his eyes. Oscar presses on.

Oscar: Listen Ruby, I know we're huntsmen trying to save the world but there's more to life than just fighting, y'know. We just spent the last couple of weeks fending off villains and Grimm and it's only going to get harder from here. Which is…all the more reason for us to appreciate the smaller, quieter moments like this, right? Who knows when we might get a chance at some actual downtime again? I know it's not your element but...I hope you can still have some fun at least. Maybe we can even dance together.

Finally Ruby looks up at Oscar, her expression incredulous.

Ruby: You mean…you and me? Dancing? You’re asking me to dance?

Oscar: *a little too eagerly* Yes! I---I mean…*blushing slightly* Only if you want to.

Ruby: I…

Ruby bit her lip nervously.

Ruby: *talking softly* ...I…don't know how to dance.

Oscar: What?

Ruby: I don’t know how to dance. I've...never done it before. Well...actually I tried it once. Back at combat school. But I didn’t know what I was doing and I ended up twisting my ankle and falling flat on my face. The guy I was dancing with started laughing at me and then everyone laughed at me. It was the most embarrassing moment of my life and I never danced again after that.

Oscar: Well… that changes everything. Now you're definitely getting up and dance.

Ruby: *shocked* WHAT! Didn’t you hear me? I'm not a dancer! I'll make a fool of myself!

Oscar: *enthusiastically* No you won’t. I can teach you how to dance. Besides if a 14 year old farmhand like me can become a huntsman, you, Ms Rose can definitely dance.

Unfortunately, Oscar’s eagerness is still not enough to sway Ruby who still appears apprehensive. So Oscar tries a different approach. He looks Ruby square in her face with a boldness she has never seen from him before. Oscar then smiled at Ruby, his hazel eyes radiating a genuine kindness and sincerity that left Ruby strangely fixated.

Oscar: Hey, you’ve helped me out so many times during our battles. Let me return the favour this time. All I’m asking is that you trust me. Please?

Oscar then extends his hand in a gesture for Ruby to accept his proposal. For a moment, Ruby just stares blankly at Oscar’s outstretched hand. She’s still very much reluctant but when he eyes returned to meet Oscar’s face still radiating that kind willingness, alas, the red rose conceded.

Slowly, Ruby accepts Oscar’s hand and he cups it gently as he slowly began to lead her onto the vibrant dancefloor with its multi-coloured lights and blaring music. To further prove that he was willing to accommodate for Ruby’s anxiety, Oscar moved extra slowly as he helped Ruby onto the floor, careful not to pull her too hard so she wouldn’t think he was dragging her.

Eventually the two managed to blade their way onto a nice quiet spot, far from the other dancers but still close enough that they can hear the music. Oscar stood facing Ruby. He still held her hand and gave it a small reassuring squeeze when he noticed that Ruby was still looking very self-conscious. It was admittedly little odd for Oscar seeing Ruby this tense especially since he had grown so accustomed to her righteous bravado.

Ruby: *very nervously* I…promise me you won’t laugh if I fall down, okay?

Oscar: *reassuringly* Aunt Em used to say this about dancing. The job of a good partner is to be a great support. If you fall, I'll just catch you. Besides I plan on laughing with you, not at you.

Oscar flashes Ruby a warm smile. Ruby had to cup her cheeks a little bit as she felt a sudden warmness creep up on her. It was weird but all that nervousness soon washed away as she returned to smile to Oscar. With Oscar taking the lead, the two then started.

And scene.

What do you think Miggy? Also, hey @xstonehill, would a scene like this work for you as well? I remember you pointing out Oscar reaching out to Ruby a lot throughout V6.

I think dancing---especially the Rosebuds dancing together is the perfect chance to help build trust between them. Part of dancing is about synchronization. Learning to follow your partner’s lead and/or move in complete unison with them as part of the performance. Dancing is a terrific way to build closeness in a relationship---be it platonic or romantic since it encourages intimacy. Growing closer to your partner and getting more in tune with them to better build on your trust with them which aids in the dance.

I think dancing could be a surprisingly great thing to have Ruby and Oscar bond over. We never saw Ruby dance before. As a matter of fact, we know of her apprehension towards dancing from V2. All the more reason I’m hoping the CRWBY Writers make Oscar a good dancer---or at least a more confident dancer so that he can help encourage Ruby to loosen up and trust in him to be Ruby’s partner; both in and off the battlefield

Think about it this way. Oscar has proven himself to be very good at breaking down some of the walls that Ruby likes to place herself behind when she’s attempting to be all nonchalant about the issues that plague her.

Oscar is always eager to reach his hand out to help Ruby. That's actually good since it's a nod back to what Oz told him back in V4.

As we saw in V6, Ruby's happiest memory with Oscar is the time he helped her back in V5. That dojo scene meant a lot to Ruby and was what solidified her liking of Oscar. I would love for another opportunity where Oscar once again helps Ruby through a moment of insecurity and gets her to open up to him.

Having Oscar and Ruby dance together and learn to trust through dance is an interesting way to help them grow as a team. We're used to seeing Ruby take leadership a lot especially after V6.

It'd be great if through dancing, Ruby learns to let Oscar take the lead for a change and trust in him. Perhaps Ruby trusting Oscar's leadership through dance will encourage her to trust his guidance on the battlefield. Not saying that Ruby doesn’t trust Oscar. However I have noticed some minor moments that made me think that Ozpin’s isolation might have soured Ruby's bond with Oscar. Not a lot but enough that it's a bit noticeable in her expressions especially compared to last season and the start of this season.

Ruby learning to open herself up more to Oscar and trusting him through an unorthodox activity like dancing, using that a metaphor for their friendship could be surprisingly brilliant if executed.

Plus imagine if, dancing is what inspires Oscar and Ruby’s tag team move on the battlefield. Picture this:

Ruby and Oscar are cornered against their enemies. As their foes close in on them, Ruby turns to Oscar at some point and says "You ready to try our new move, partner?"

Oscar smirks knowingly as he offers Ruby his hand and replies "May I have this dance?"

And just like that, the Rosebuds execute their tag team move which is literally a dance. A duet of perfectly timed movements moving in sync to an imaginary beat that only Ruby and Oscar are in tuned to. After all, it is their dance. Their Petal Dance.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know Pokémon did it first but…but C’MON! I swear if we ever got a RoseGarden tag team move and it's pretty much a dance between Ruby and Oscar inspired by them learning to trust each other through dancing for the Atlas Arc, happy would not even begin to describe how ecstatic I'd be to see something like that done canonically.

But as always, these are only just my ideas. A squiggly Rosegardening Pinehead can only dream.

~LittleMissSquiggles (2019)

#miggy97 #squiggles abswers: rwby #oscar pine #ruby rose #oscar and ruby #rwby rosegarden #rwby rosebuds #squiggles scripts: rwby

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strrne · 6 years ago

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Give Me a Signal, Ch.7

Chapters: 6/?

Word count (so far): 18880

AO3 Ch.1 Ch.2 Ch.3 Ch.4 Ch.5 Ch.6

Summary: When Padmé Amidala is unable to contact Coruscant while negotiating a loan on Scipio, the Senate suspects trouble, and sends Anakin Skywalker to go check on her. Of course, the resourceful senator isn’t really in any trouble – don’t flatter yourself, Rush Clovis – but there’s definitely some brewing.

(or; rewrite of the tcw S6 Clovis arc; anidala + gen)

Anakin had not wanted to punch Clovis. He had wanted to kill him. It was as plain as that. Most of the time, he just hated the man. But at that moment, for whatever reason, he had wanted to end him.

If he had not sensed Padmé coming and snapped out of whatever episode he'd hurtled into, who knows what could have happened. He couldn't recall half his actions, or a quarter of Clovis' words – all he remembered was the blind fury.

And at what? Anakin stopped to consider for a while, trying to think through his enduring anger. The man had done plenty of things, and didn't seem to know what was good for him, but what had he done so far that merited... death? This wasn't two years ago, and thank the heavens of Iego, the rage Anakin felt now could not remotely compare to – did he really want to go there?

A punch he could have maybe justified to himself, maybe even to Padmé, if he hadn't known what he had meant to do.

Or did he know? The worst part was that he didn't – and wouldn't ever. He was already too far removed from the situation – that was mostly blank to him now anyway – still vaguely angry, but no longer bathing and reveling in the sensation.

He wasn't even sure if he was more or less ashamed now that Padmé wasn't here. As soon as she'd appeared, he'd truly and genuinely regretted his actions – or rather, been forced to acknowledge the regret. And once she'd gone, he'd wanted to keep on regretting, so as to make sure he'd never snap like that again. But now he wasn't sure what he was feeling anymore. It was certainly unpleasant, but he couldn't quite place it.

Anakin felt like he shouldn't have needed Padmé for this, but he was already a little confused whether the Jedi dogma dictated one try to identify their feelings and then ignore them, or just ignore them, and... feel harmony instead, or something.

”It's that Jedi Knight, isn't it?”

For once, Anakin really wanted her to say yes – in public. In front of the Chancellor, all the politicians, Republic representatives – and… banking enthusiasts? – that had gathered at the spaceport to see Clovis off back to Scipio. In the earshot of Bail Organa and another senator Anakin didn't recognize, who had somehow missed Clovis's whispered words that he could hear crystal clear from a distance. Just in time to see him arriving, give him a warm smile, take his hand and pull him into a kiss. In front of all these people.

Wow, his fantasies had gotten tame these days. And yet, it was still the wildest, most surreal thing Anakin could imagine. Especially when reality played out quite differently.

”Anakin!” Padmé exclaimed as she first saw him coming, too surprised to greet a 'Master Jedi' or 'General Skywalker'. Clovis whirled around – the rest of the crowd did too – but it was Clovis's face that Anakin was gauging; his intentions, his sensations that he was assessing through the Force. The man was not afraid of him. He believed Anakin to be a raving lunatic and completely unfit for his chosen profession – and a part of him washalf-expecting to get hit again, on the spot – but he was not afraid, for whatever reason.

Good? Bad? Anakin didn't know – he was used to being feared, or at least respected, on the sliding scale from 'ever the Jedi, so mysterious' to awe-induced fear and envy. And he took that respect as a half-given from all his enemies – the lack of it was always something of a personal insult. So to have this man still scoffing at him, after he'd introduced him to forces from within less mystical than the one with a capital forn… bad?

Then again… maybe that just meant Anakin had not been quite as close to snuffing the Living Force out of him as he'd thought. Maybe he had just punched him, taken a punch, and the control table had imploded on its own. It wasn't as though he had found that many black tufts of hair while cleaning up the table. So... good?

”Master Jedi,” Clovis greeted, and Anakin had to give him credit for putting up a masterful faux diplomat face. And whereas Obi-Wan had lately pointed out that he owned a pair of eyes, the Senators apparently didn't – many of them seemed delighted at the General's surprise appearance, for whatever reason. Especially the Chancellor, but he was always happy to see Anakin. ”We didn't expect the honor.”

Padmé's expression altered between confused and hopeful as Anakin returned the greeting with a nod, then stopped before Clovis and held out his hand. Clovis took it, as though out of some ambassadorial reflex. Anakin had half a mind to keep and keep shaking it and involve his other hand too, like Clovis had been doing to his wife for weeks, but he was already disgusted enough with himself.

There was nothing he actually wanted to say to this slime pile of a man – so he didn't – but if Clovis could make grand public displays in the name of whatever, so could he.

Clovis, a little puzzled at Anakin's wordless gesture, nodded in response and said, ”And thank you for all your assistance, Master Skywalker… on Scipio.”

That last addition prompted a few snickers and awkward looks. Either the politicians were not as discreet and subtle as they prided themselves in being, or Anakin just sensed their amusement through the Force. His plight on Scipio had been widely holovised, named as a problematic factor in the now-moot loan negotiations and used as a political argument, so of course that was hilarious. At least now everyone's eyes had been opened. There was about as much diplomacy and cordiality in the air as in a droid fight ring in some dank cave on Tatooine.

After the incident, Padmé had decided to step down from her role as negotiator for a new loan contract and recommended her friend Bail instead, to a disappointed but understanding Chancellor Palpatine. She had cited her personal history with Clovis as being an interfering factor and (in her professional and cautious politician's language) alluded ever so subtly to Clovis's inappropriate advances, probably making it seem like the blame was on her and her inability to reconcile with their last encounter. The Chancellor had then appointed Senator Organa and an assisting junior Senator to go to Scipio for a fresh round of negotiations and an extended diplomatic visit instead, while Padmé would still be hailed as one of the two heroes who discovered the data needed for the Five's conviction. And also suspected, alongside Clovis, of providing false data and potentially soon leading the Republic to ruin. The world of war finances was scary and complicated.

Anakin knew that the personal part of this ordeal could've by now been over. That is, if he hadn't developed an obsession with Scipio's holo tower and almost taken the opportunity to stow away on this very ship.

Not yet. He wanted all of his tools in prime condition, and for once, he needed to make one of those 'actual plans' that Obi-Wan was always nagging him about. He wondered what his Master would say if he knew he was going to make this rare exception for the sake of, technically, committing a crime.

Unceremoniously, his worst enemy was shortly packed into a ship and shipped off to Scipio. As they started to head back, Anakin sensed that Padmé wanted to talk, but Senator Chuchi apparently required Padmé's attention with greater urgency, and the Supreme Chancellor, in turn, wanted a word with Anakin.

”What a lovely gesture, Anakin,” he praised, placing a wrinkly hand on his shoulder. They were trailing behind the rest of the party, as the elderly Chancellor's movements were slow. ”I know you're not fond of the man. And when you consider the circumstances of his acquisition of the data file… oh, I myself worry whether he is to be trusted. But do not we all want to believe in second chances, hm?”

Anakin's handshake, to be sure, had not been for the sake of giving Clovis a second chance – more along the lines of pettiness, feeling superior, and maybe impressing Padmé, or at least making the handshake the last interaction she'd witness between the two men.

”Yes… we'll see,” Anakin muttered. Maybe the gesture had been a little too public for his taste.

”Please don't mistake my public endorsement of Clovis for my private confidence in him,” the Chancellor clarified, sliding his hand from Anakin's shoulder along the side of his arm, and giving a smile. ”I pray for this success and continued redemption, but between you and I, should any slip-ups transpire… ” He tutted and wagged his finger while still smiling. ”We will not hesitate to take drastic action.”

Anakin was inclined to agree.

”What was that all about, Anakin? Earlier today?” Padmé finally inquired. Somehow, between her busy schedule and the demands of his job, they had not found a private moment until this late at night at her apartment. Anakin wasn't quite sure whether she sounded appreciative – of the handshake, or his entering through the balcony, or what he was (not) wearing at the moment in a hopeful spirit – but he'd soon find out.

”I… felt bad,” he lied – or did he? ”And I guess… I wanted to provide him one last opportunity to… you know… spill the beans on me. I didn't want to hide like some coward.”

”They would have never believed him over you,” Padmé scoffed, now walking his way, looking his way, and certainly looking at his relative lack of attire, but very deliberately pulling a shawl over her shoulder-exposing nightdress. Anakin made a pout. ”He's a traitor, you're a war hero; he shrewdly maneuvered his way to the top; you were wrongfully imprisoned…”

Anakin was starting to deeply regret the handshake. The gesture in itself had done nothing but soiled his hand with treachery and smugness, but to have it generate this many prolonged conversations over Clovis, who was finally gone from their lives forever – except...

For a moment, he reconsidered his plan to go to Scipio. Why go closer, when he could be farther? In a rare moment, he remembered one of Obi-Wan's lessons, and a boring one at that, which was to look inward in a moment of agitation and ask the Force for an answer. Even as Padmé's tone gradually softened and she made a few concessions – still a nice gesture, perhaps you meant well – Anakin instead turned away for a moment, closed his eyes, and listened.

Obi-Wan's Force signature was especially bright tonight – worried, but… different somehow. Anakin wasn't quite sure, because he'd often been accused of making everything about himself – but it felt like his Master was thinking about him. About... him and Padmé? But Anakin had no time to dwell on what juicy secrets Obi-Wan believed he'd learned.

But the Force didn't seem intent on giving answers… and Anakin never been much good at meditating. He only saw the reception tower. But that was not the Force – that was a man-made, unmystical, different kind of Galaxy-wide connective tissue. Mechanical, more grounded. Sure, he was great at both, but the two had little to do with each other. One couldn't use the Force to fix the reception and no matter how good the signal, its capacity was insignificant compared to the power of the Force.

At least, what he saw didn't feel like a Force vision. But if he was already obsessing about something, could he even recognize a vision if it woke him up at night and bit him in the nose?

With his human senses, Anakin had actually heard most of what Padmé had said, as he slid back into reality, without the more mystical kinds of answers. She still loved him, needlessly apologized for something – still found something to criticize him for – and was now staring at his bare chest and swallowing.

Without wanting to, Padmé – or rather Senator Amidala – found herself contacting Director Clovis through her holoprojector in two days' time. She half-expected the message to not go through, but it did – of course it did, because Anakin was still the best at what he did even when he couldn't do his best.

”Padmé!” a flickering blue figure greeted her, his voice many things at a time – surprised, tired, elated, caught off-guard.

”Hello, Clovis,” she said, a little too coldly. ”I thought it polite to inquire – in a professional and cordial spirit – whether the negotiations are progressing smoothly?”

She had briefly holo'ed with Bail yesterday, the signal a little more unstable at the time. He had informed her that he and the junior Senator were only just settling in.

”Uh,” Clovis uttered, eyes tracing circles on the floor, hand scratching his neck. ”T-to be determined.” He gave an awkward laughter, still not meeting her eyes. A faint hum of interference seeped into the signal.

”Clovis, is everything alright there?”

He gave a brave smile.

”I… I do wish you were here, Padmé.”

Padmé sighed. Technically, she had officially pulled out of the professional side of things, and this was the reason. She had called Clovis of her own volition, against her better judgment, and if this is what he wanted to reward her with, if this what he wanted to have a discussion about, then so be it.

”Clovis, we talked about this. Your behavior during your stay here was inappropriate. I apologize for leading you on and for using you in the past, but frankly that is all the more reason not to bother with me, and instead focus on the demands of your new position. I almost filed a complaint on you, but I–”

He laughed again – now hollowly, snidely.

”And you would have been believed.”

Padmé tilted her head defensively.

”This was a mistake, Clovis. Good night.”

”No, wait!” he suddenly pleaded.

Padmé inclined her head, almost startled, wondering just how many moodswings this man would undergo in the space of a few minutes. But as he hesitated, opening his mouth to speak several times only to back down, Padmé had to take the opportunity to instead make her message clear once and for all.

”Clovis, despite… everything, I want to support you professionally, and I want you to succeed professionally. But I'm not going to be drawn into some imaginary love triangle when there's barely enough love here for a single one-way line.”

Clovis looked hurt – and maybe something else – scowling silently from under his brows.

Padmé had meant her words – the supportive and the hurtful. She knew that underneath that superiority-inferiority complex and his obsessive tendencies, her old friend possessed many great qualities. But she also knew that even had she not been with Anakin – Anakin. Why was it that the constant mention of her husband – or 'the Jedi Knight' – worried her the most?

To be sure, Anakin's anger issues had given her lots of concern in the past, and recently. But suddenly it struck her that Clovis had, at the very least, hit him back. And if Anakin could not get his obsession under control, Clovis would soon be in a position to hurt him again – more subtly – or vice versa – less subtly. Just what would it take for this man – for any man – to start to embrace their best qualities, instead of the very worst?

#anidala #Anakin Skywalker #Padme Amidala #anidala fanfiction #The Clone Wars #uuuggh again quickest edit ever so i apologize for any errors #and also the very very slow pace we have going #cause i like to... dwell on stuff i guess #i promise this is still going somewhere #kinda starting to hate the title it's kinda cheesy #but even that's gonna play a role #other than the dumbest pun ever #this is such a tonally weird story tho #some comedy there #angst here #yeah anyway thanks for reading everyone!!!! <3 <3<3 #star wars #fanfic

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sienna27 · 7 years ago

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TWD Spoilers - Dead Or Alive Or (8x11)

This is not a cheery post so unless you’re in the mood for grumbling, look away!

First, that’s awesome how they made Tara a fucking moron. I mean, could we go one story arc without someone either playing the Raging Avenger (Carl/Rick/Morgan/Michonne/Daryl/Rosita/Tara) or a Complete Pacifist (Morgan/Jesus/Carol/Gabriel/Eugene/Ezekiel)? I get it, feelings are hard, and they’re a little bit harder in the Apocalypse, but Christ, they play these same storylines over and over, year after year,and it really kind of feels like there are OTHER stories to tell. You know. And we finally get to a moment where Rosita and Daryl are working a hundred percent off intellect and not emotion, and here comes freaking Tara to play Bonehead of the Week! Yes Tara, we know you want Dwight dead. We all want Dwight dead. It’s not the time! He had just proven himself to be INCREDIBLY ‘helpful’ with the swamp escape route, and then you go run him off like an asshole. Oh but wait, that finally presented an opportunity for him to truly prove to her that he’s on their side. Who gives a shit!? She and Daryl still plan on killing him at the end, so *shrug* to that big revelation. It just raised another moment of making me actively dislike a character that I was previously fond of. I honestly felt this sickening turn in my stomach seeing her pull out her gun, and all I could think was, ‘nope, you do this, I’m done here.’ This might have been another thing coming out of the comics, but either way, they keep ruining people. Eugene used to be Amusing/Annoying but basically likable, if not frustrating. Now tonight he’s a Full On Piece of Shit Douchebag and I am fine with him getting tossed in the oven because I don’t even have a general level of ‘fondness’ for him anymore. Like if he’d died last year at least I’d think, ‘oh that sucks.’ Now he deserves whatever he gets. Fuck him. And Rosita, even if she’s using her brains again she’s still not redeemed from the Raving Bitch cycle she went through all of last year. I don’t blame her for Olivia, that was Glenn all over again, but I do blame her for Sasha. She got her captured and killed, and she was hateful to her all the way to the end. So again, don’t really care what happens to her anymore. King E was a fun likable dude, but then his little pity party he threw himself when he refused to help his people deal after the massacre. Not a fan at all, of grown men throwing themselves pity parties. Don’t care if he had borrowed a vagina by the time Gavin died. I just see him now as weak willed and I have no vested interest in his survival. Perhaps some people might think I’m being a little harsh writing so many of them off for having ‘foibles,’ but you can’t build a show around people who are already Anti-Heroes (having to kill just to get by in the world) and then then make the ‘good people’ lack basic moral fiber outside of the killing. What the hell am I rooting for? Assholes and idiots. Super. Basically, they’re kind of burning me out on Team Family.

And back along the lines of stupid, oh, oops, we killed another doctor. Because doctors are Red Shirts in the Apocalypse. I get that at this point it has to kind of be an inside joke for production that they kill ALL the doctors, but as a viewer it kind of takes you out of the moment watching them CONSTANTLY murder every doctor, always KNOWING that they’re mother f’ing doctors. There are no more schools! The doctors you have now.... that’s all the doctors. Ever. But yeah, kill them all. I was kind of cranky already when I watched tonight but this is one type of stupidity that has genuinely angered me since the pattern emerged. This is TWO doctors now that the Saviors have put down like there’s a frigging Doctor Tree and they’ll just go pluck another one. But wait, there is no Doctor Tree. And now there are no doctors. 😑

Also along with that scene, so Gabriel’s the blind one, yet Carson couldn’t keep track of the whole TWO people standing around him, and that’s why he gets shot. Totally believable.

Maggie. The LC crap tainted her. I was afraid it would happen, and it did. I tried to watch her but then the character was being obnoxious too, (let’s give rations we don’t have, and fun prison perks to the people who will slit your throat the second they’re given a chance, super great leadership) so I ended up muting her because I don’t care to listen to her talk anymore either. And I absolutely think that the Savior dude (don’t even know his name) who tries so hard to play nice with her, is going to end up being the first one to turn on them and kill someone in the camp. Fingers crossed for the J-man...but I know that’s not going to happen.

Anyway, I know this was kind of a bummer review but I really wasn’t in a great mood while I was watching so I was already viewing with a negative slant, and honestly I thought the show would make that better but it really just made it worse. I think I would have been okay with the episode up to the halfway point, because that’s when all the stupid/obnoxious shit started happening. Also the caryl reunion didn’t help because AGAIN, they showed the whole thing in the teaser! WHY?! I mean, why? Why?

Why.

At this point, they have literally shown us every single moment they’ve either shared together, or has been ‘intimated’ about the ship, in a teaser. Every moment. And every time I think, ‘they’re not going to blow their whole wad, they’ve got more on the reel.’ Except they don’t. They just keep blowing their wad. So if that’s the plan of the Einstein Monkeys working in marketing, I don’t feel the need to watch any longer for them. Seriously. Because eleven episodes into the season, I am one hundred percent positive that if they’re going to have them screwing by season’s end, that we’ll just see that on an official website release plastered all over YouTube. So why waste my time continuing to watch all this other stuff that’s bugging me? Again, I know I’m grumpy tonight but it feels like the right thing to step away now before I genuinely sour on the show. Right now it’s still individual characters that are fading to black for me. I still love Daryl and Carol, Rick and Michonne. Not much more, admittedly, (Aaron/Morgan) but I don’t think outside of Morgan, those other five will be going anywhere anytime soon so I’d like to come back to their world when I feel like I'll enjoy being there. That’s not happening on our current path.

And Carylers, I’ll still be writing (I really do have an update for this week) and I’ll be here doing my little photosets and if anything happens, please do let me know. It’s not frustration about the ship driving me away so don’t add me to the Debbie Downer negativity list, because that’s not it. It’s the larger arc that’s pushing me off. I just need Negan, et al, to be gone, and take whatever collateral damage is going with them, away, and we can all start fresh with something new in season nine. So, adieu for now. And anyone sticking with them, I honestly hope you enjoy the rest of the season :)

#caryl #caryl positivity #sienna watches twd #twd season 8 #twd dead or alive or

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officialthiamlibrary · 7 years ago

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Welcome to another profile on Behind the Screens, giving you personal insight on who your favorite creators are and what they do when they aren’t wowing you with their creative ability.

Hiya! I’m popping out of my writing cave to share with you the greatness of another artist, Glitter-cake20, also known as Sammy. You’ve probably seen her awe-inspiring manips, gifs, incorrect quotes, and stories floating around your dashboard. In our talk, she shares her #1 guilty pleasure ship, creates her optimal Teen Wolf Puppy Pack spin-off, and lets us in her creative process.

Sammy! Why don’t we start off simple? Tell us about yourself. The catch: the word count is either to or less than the number of letters in your two favorite Teen Wolf episode names. (ex. Raving + Galvanize = 19)

Memory Found + Smoke and Mirrors = 25

I’m really lazy. I like reading. I’m great at killing zombies on Xbox. I have blood in my coffee stream. I have resting bitch face.

Ooh, what makes these two your favorite?

Memory Found because i feel like that is really where Theo learned to be selfless. He fought with Liam knowing he could get killed or taken, and then later he literally sacrificed himself for a pack that wanted him dead.

Smoke and Mirrors - the entire Mexico trip was great but the part that really stood out in Smoke and Mirrors was when Berserker Scott had Liam pinned to the wall and Liam said “Scott listen! You’re not a monster, you’re a werewolf like me” which parallels to earlier in Season 4 when Scott had said that same thing to Liam. It was just beautiful because it showed how Liam had accepted himself as a werewolf. Also, Derek evolving was just wow!

And how did you come to the Thiam fandom? What about them drew you in?

You know, I had just created a twitter account and I was just following few accounts for Teen Wolf, kind of just bopping along with all the other popular ships, and then someone made a post about “OMG what was THAT” and I opened the video and it was Theo and Liam making glorious eye contact, and I was never the same again.

What drew me in the most was that Theo was so vulnerable when Liam brought him back. He was once such a badass and now he was suddenly latched on to Liam - just made my heart melt. And Liam is my boy, but he made me so angry when he was mean to Theo! Like no boo, that’s not how Scott raised you!

Lately, there’s been exclamations from our pack about Thiam bleeding into their real lives (like, seeing their relationship in every movie/song or experiencing story plots in real life, etc.), have you felt this sensation recently? If so, in what ways?

Yes! I was sitting at a coffee shop writing the other day, and this adorable couple walked in. My brain immediately went “That’s Theo and that’s Liam” And I’m like, what is actually wrong with me? And literally every epic movie quote is now about Thiam, I’ve actually done a bunch of edits about that, which I will share for the Thiam Movie Fest.

Omg! That totally happens to me all the time, everywhere!! Since you see Thiam in anything, would you say they’re your #1 guilty pleasure ship? If not, what are your guilty pleasure ships, couples where you don’t care who knew or who disagreed, you ship them regardless?

Oh gosh I’ve had many. Stalia was one. I really liked the dynamic, in the same breath I was also pining for Stydia. I loved Jethan when that teaser came out. Briam, although I don’t think anyone would disagree. Brett and Mason! And even when Scott and Allison broke up I was like, no but Scallison. I literally ship anything.

If you could build the ultimate paintball/laser tag team from any five characters on Teen Wolf, who’d be on your team and why? Twist: now, choose one Teen Wolf villain who’d be your secret weapon, provided they don’t double-cross you first, mwhahaha.

Mmm okay…(this actually makes me excited!) So for paintball, first of all I’d choose Corey for his ability to disappear and strike from a position unknown to our opponents. Then I would pick Theo, he’s proven to be quite strategic and cunning in mapping out a plan! Peter, because he just no objection to kicking ass, any time any place. Kira, because she can divert the paintballs with her sword (and yes in my mind they would allow her to take the sword onto the field, shh). Braeden, because she’s just a total badass and I just love her. And for my secret weapon I would choose Jackson so he can paralyze the opposing team with his Kanima venom!! Ha!

Jackson would be a total knockout secret weapon. The game would be over in seconds lol! Let’s jump into your works. Like @da-smiley99, our artist last week, you also create a little bit of it all: drabbles, gifs, manips, and incorrect quotes. For you, which would you say is your favorite art form? How do you balance creating them all?

I really love doing the incorrect quotes, they are fun and I enjoy looking for gifs to match!

Whatever inspiration hits first is what I will do, most of the time its manips/aesthetics that I do for other writer’s work. I love appreciating and promoting what people have created because I know the effort that goes into it. There are still so many works I would like to do an edit for!

If your creative process for these pieces was a person, describe him or her to us. What do they do? Wear? Listen to? How do they handle conflict?

She’s running around in a pink fur coat, stilettos, champagne in hand, chocolates stuffed in her cheek yelling “OH MY GOD!” at everything. I imagine her in a clothing store, the clothes being ideas, and she’s just grabbing everything pilling it onto her arm in a heap, eventually losing her balance and falling over. So when the shop assistant (my family) is like “Mam, you need to calm the hell down” she just runs to the next store, her champagne spilling as she wobbles down the sidewalk in the way-too-high stilettos. She probably listens to Taylor Swift in her pink drop top.

And what’s hers (and your) writing Kryptonite? How do you two battle it?

With regards to writing -I come up with the most amazing and original idea for a story and I manage to write one mind blowing paragraph and then I’m stuck. That’s why I take so long to create a story, it just takes me forever to get inspired again. I have a few WIP’s and I don’t know what to do with them!

Creating comes pretty easy and I haven’t had many hiccups while editing. I just suck at making video edits and I honestly wish I was better at it because I have so many ideas! I usually fight writer's block with generous amounts of wine.

If you did become that video-making mastermind, which one of those ideas would you explore first?

I always wanted to do an AU vid of Thiam just living life you know. Id also like to do a “trailer” for these amazing fics that’s been written, kind of like what was done for Airplanes!

I sense a perfect opportunity to practice your videographer skills, mentally, of course! Say you were the Jeff Davis of the Puppy Pack Teen Wolf Spin-Off. Describe your very first and last scene of the pilot episode? How would you put your personal touches on those two scenes?

Personal Touches: A-class lighting because we suffered enough with the ever loving darkness of Teen Wolf. I’d like to see the characters develop more of a personal style, Liam would probably wear more ‘jock’ outfits as he plays varsity lacrosse now. I’d love to put Theo in shorts for a change, maybe an early morning kitchen scene where he is wearing boxer shorts…okay I’m getting distracted.

Eeek! Okay so, the Opening scene would be Theo, Liam and Alec running from hunters, Theo has Liam by the arm, he pushes Liam and Alec into his truck and ducks in behind them. They speed off. Then he starts yelling at Liam “Are you crazy, Li?! I’m getting real tired of saving you!” (que fandom freaking because he is calling him “Li” now) and then at Alec “And you! What the hell did we tell you about sneaking out with Liam!?” Liam and Alec are just out of breath trying not to laugh at Theo. Theo calls Mason to confirm that they are fine.

Closing scene: Liam flops down on the couch in the McCall house, next to Theo (because that’s where he is staying now) “So, uh, thanks for coming to get us today”. “You’re an idiot” but Theo smiles. “How did you find me anyway?” Liam is twiddling his thumbs, “Tracked your scent” Theo gets up abruptly and leaves. Yup it’s going to be a slow burn!

Oooh, and which TW characters would you bring back as cameos or minor characters?

Frikken Danny! I feel like the guy deserved better. So definitely Danny. I’d make him the supernatural privy teacher at the high school. Brett would also come back -as a ghost haunting Liam, especially when Li gets angry then Brett would just be in the corner jabbing insults at him and the pack would look at him like he’s crazy when he yells at the wall to shut up. Scott would make regular appearances. Deaton, Argent and Melissa would be regulars, and I think a guest appearance by Jackson because for some reason they are going to need a vile of his Kanima venom. Kira’s going to come looking for her sword at one point. And Isaac shows up with Scott a few times.

I agree with you about Danny; we needed more of him! We should petition to get you in the writer’s room because I need your ideas to happen!!

How about gifs/manips specifically? Where does your inspiration for those stem from?

I would think of a scene that I really would have loved to happen and then I try to match it as best I can using existing material. Sometimes i would just be scrolling through gifs and I’d be like “oh wait! This with this is perfect!”

Ooh, up for a quick demonstration? Let’s pick one of your favorite fanfiction scenes lately. Which images/thought processes would stick out to you? Any specific gifs come to mind?

So let’s take Airplanes 28 for example. The scene where Liam is weighing up all his options about how to deal with his feelings and Theo asks what his problem is. I would use the scene from S6 in the locker room where Liam is punching the locker, it had a few different shots of Liam being frustrated. For Theo’s part I’d use the scene form 6x16 where he actually says ‘what is wrong with you”. Then I just use the app to edit and merge them and voila.

That’s pretty neat. I didn’t even know you could use apps to mash gifs together! If someone wanted to get started with creating manips/gifs, what advice/steps would you give them?

If you’re doing it from your phone, like me, you have to firstly find the right gif app preferably one that does video to gif and vice versa. There are a few that work really well, so hit me up if you want more detail! I’m also still learning so if anyone has any suggestions let me know.

We’ve chatted about your art for Thiam. Do you also create outside of the Thiam fandom? Original Fiction/Artwork? Other Fandoms?

I used to write and draw when I was younger, the Thiam fandom actually got me back into all of that! I don’t have any of my earlier writing works anymore but I still have drawings.

Aww, can you remember what you liked to write back then?

It was all fictional stories, mostly horrors! I loved writing scary stories, short or long and I would sometimes freak myself out a bit, especially late at night. I remember the one was about a guy whose car ‘broke down’ on a deserted road and he went looking for help at an old farmhouse and couldn't figure out why the people were so weird towards him, so after a few days he left, walking back down the road and he came across his car completely wrecked, his dead body hanging halfway out the door...he was a ghost haha.

Looking ahead, what’s one piece you’re working on that you’re dying for the pack to see?

Yes! This is a snipped of the AU I’m doing for the Movie fest:

-“That’s him,” Corey said nodding in Theo’s direction “that’s the Judo champ”,

By the time Liam realised he had been staring it was too late, Theo’s head was tilted to the side, an amused grin spread across his face as he looked down slowly at this abdomen and then back up at Liam. There was no reason for Liam to deny that Theo Raeken was gorgeous, that he looked like a demigod in the golden light of the street lamps, but this was not the time for these kinds of thoughts. ‘Get it together Liam’, he shook his head as if to rid his mind of Judo Boy.-

I will also attempt some manips for this piece!

Ooh, intriguing. How dare you stop there! I guess we’ll just have to wait until next week, smh. One final anecdote before we wrap up?

Characters often find themselves in situations they aren’t sure they can get themselves out of. When was the last time you found yourself in situation like that and what did you do?

The PA of our department at work tried to sell me sex toys from this ridiculously expensive catalogue and tried to make me have a sex toy party for my birthday because she would get a free gift and commission for it. First I said, but my friends and family ain’t about that life, and she’s like “No I’ll just invite all my friends it's fine” (to my birthday?? Okay bih). So then I said I’ll think about it hoping she’d forget. She didn’t. Eventually I told her that I’m not doing anything for my birthday but thanks.

Oh no, she didn’t! It was your birthday smh. You’re stronger than me! Not only would she convince me to throw the party, I’d have bought at least two things from that freaking catalogue haha! Well, we’re coming to an end, but first, what’s next for you? Both in life and in the creation world?

Career wise I’d like to do a few courses, and really start going into the direction of what I really love, which is anything creative, instead of just doing a 9-5 to pay bills, you know? So I’m going to look for a way to bring these two worlds together so that I can always do what I love. Fandom wise, I really want to do more writing, explore different characters and ships!

And, we’ll be over here, looking forward to more of your writing! Finally, Is there anything else you’d like to say? The floor is all yours. Dance away!

I hardly get to writing my own ideas so I’m reluctant to say that I'll take prompts for fics and frankly I take so long to write that it will be disappointing, however, if someone has a scenario/idea for an incorrect quote, manip or aesthetic requests, I’m all for it! I would love to do it! Other than that i just want to thank this entire fandom, you guys are keeping this ship sailing and its beautiful! Keep doing what you’re doing!

Aww, thank YOU for writing, creating, and giving us a lens into your world! I’ll be looking forward to the day you gift us with all the Thiam videos haha. From there, we give you Glitter-cake20.

As always, you can keep the conversation going; respond to any of her thoughts, ask more questions, send a prompt, or simply swing by for a chat with Sammy anytime. To dive into her works, check out her Tumblr. You can also find her on instagram!

Tumblr: Glitter-cake20

Ask Box: glitter-cake20

Instagram: @spraybitch_chrisberry

That’s all for now, so stay warm, amused, and tuned for next week’s Movie AU edition with @underthegallowws.

Over and Out <3

Get involved in the Behind the Screen series! Have a Thiam Creator you fan over, from any platform (AO3, Tumblr, Wattpad, Instagram, FFN, etc). Please send us their names. Bonus points if you include any questions you’re dying to ask them. Likewise, if you as the creator, would like to be a part of the Behind the Screens series, give us a shout too! We’d love to get to know you, as well.

#thiam #teen wolf #glitter-cake20 #officialthiamlibrary #behind the screens

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freereignastarwarsstory · 5 years ago

Text

Chapter 16: Foreshadowing

Disclaimer: We (@zazabelle and @draksisreborn) own nothing but our OCs. Star Wars belongs to Lucasfilm and Disney. Please review and enjoy this latest installment.

The shadow raised the glass to her lips.

She enjoyed the burning feeling as the liquid slid down her throat, but she pointedly let the darkness within swallow the giddiness of the drunken state, leaving her with only the fleeting moment of calm. She’d sated that pit within for the time with her offering, but the drinks were never enough… Never enough.

The shadow stood, her long dress rustling, as she sensed a presence approaching. She let her hand slip away from her now empty glass, and left it to the air. It hovered for a moment before being guided back over to the counter space in her private quarters.

The door to her room slid open, the dim lights from the hallway casting colors of gray into the shadow’s room. As well as the shadow of a creature with horns.

“Aemay,” The shadow spoke with her sharp but flowing accent, “Have you ever heard of knocking?”

“Yes.” The Zabrak woman responded.

The shadow did little more than shake her head; she was used to the girl doing as she pleased, “Aren’t you supposed to be somewhere, Inquisitor?” she added sarcastically.

“Yes.” She responded again, “But I lost the target once they left the spaceport in Nar’Shaada and their movements have been irregular so I came back to collect Myros for his assistance tracking the youngling…”

The shadow sensed the pause in her voice, “...And?”

“I believe there’s someone with her. Another sensitive.” Aemay pressed a button on her wrist comm and an image blinked to life from the holo-projector in the center of the room, “He’s old enough, mistress, to be one of the fallen.”

The image was of the youngling with odd markings, accompanied by a Mandalorian from the looks of the armor, and a human male with blonde, slicked-back hair. The three of them appeared to be walking past a slum-located alleyway. The shadow flicked her finger and a button on the projector’s console clicked, beginning a scan of facial recognition. The shadow noted that nothing popped up on their database for possibly surviving Jedi or apprentices, but the screen did read a match in a different category.

“Cenden Sondron, Imperial nurse… and you say he’s Force-sensitive?” The shadow asked.

“Yes, mistress. Is this going to be a problem?”

“No.” The mistress of shadows said as she turned, “In fact, this makes your job much easier.”

Her attention flicked back to the screen as another match came up in the facial search.

“Was this image taken on Nar’Shaada?” She asked Aemay.

“No mistress. This was taken back on Tiss’sharl. I would’ve taken my opportunity on Nar’shaada if the youngling had left the ship. Why?”

“Because a match just came through the Holo-network on Tiss’sharl’s bounty. It’s not a public bounty, looks to be a personal quarry, but it seems as if someone else is hunting this little mercenary group.” The mistress of shadows mused, “You find this hunter, you’ll find his prey,” she turned to the young assassin, “And our own person of interest shouldn’t be far behind.”

Aemay nodded before the shadow continued, “Do not waste Myros’ time with this. It’s one child. Use the talents that got you this position in the first place.”

As she spoke, the mistress strolled up to Aemay. The shadow’s piercing yellow eyes met with Aemay’s light brown ones. She’d remembered a time when she’d had color in her own eyes, and thoughts behind those eyes. Maybe there’d been ambitions there too but it had been so long since she’d heard a voice calling her forward towards purpose. And even longer since she’d listened to that voice.

She hated Aemay.

Aemay hated her.

That’s the way it would always be between mistress and assassin, yet they’d never do anything else but loathe eachother out of fear of punishment from someone who knew what to do with hate much better than either of them did.

“Be careful my dear. Come home successfully.” The shadow said as she lifted the young girl’s chin.

“I will. Thank you.” Aemay left the shadow to once again become invisible in the darkness.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Nek’s feet pounded down the ship’s corridor, his split shadows growing about him in the red lights lining the wall of emergency backup power as he ran for the engine room.

The entirety of the ‘Raving Titan’ vibrated like a tuning fork that had been struck by a hammer, as the ship’s hyperdrive had been knocked out as it was attempting to jump. It was a wonder that hadn’t been blown to pieces…

“NEK. HOW’S IT LOOKING DOWN THERE!?” Soron’s voice blasted through his comlink just over the sound of the buzzing ship.

“WORKING ON IT!” Nek yelled back as he half-slid half-jumped down the service hatch ladder to the lower levels of the ship.

“GET US OUT OF HERE! AND HAS ANYONE SEEN VIS!?” Soron continued, but Nek didn’t respond.

A horrible smell of smoke and water vapor filled the engine room compartments as the ship attempted to cool the overheating hyperdrive but couldn’t quite compensate for the heat and pressure build up in the engine compartment, he’d have to first relieve the pressure before the cooling system could attack the overheating in the engine and make it’s way to the hyperdrive…

Nek scrambled to one of the overhead compartments for his wrench set, yanking open the metal cupboard,

An arm fell out.

Nek shrieked and jumped back in surprise only to find the arm attached to Vis.

“VIS!? YOU NEARLY GAVE ME A HEART ATTACK.”

The girl had squeezed her small form into the tool’s cupboard; her freckles were shifting about in a frenzy of colors and her wide eyes were filled with terror, “NEK. IT’S HAPPENING AGAIN. We’re all going to dddiiiiieeeeee…” She lamented as she tried to shrink herself down even further into the tube-shaped metal cabinet.

Nek climbed up onto the stool to look inside, “We’re not going to die! I just need to get to the wrenches back there!”

WHOOSH- TING!

He was knocked backward off the stool as a wrench suddenly flew out of the cabinet and struck the engineer straight across his face.

“Ahhhh,” Nek hissed as he rubbed his jaw and picked up the wrench, “Thanks!”

Taking deep breaths to calm his shaking hands, Nek tightened the wrench around some bolts holding the cooling system together. Prying several of them off, more smog mixture proceeded to explode from the holes of the damaged coolant system but it wasn’t enough…

Suddenly a shadow loomed behind Nek. Moving through the smoke, a soft blue glow permeated the gloom. Nek jumped as a metal claw grabbed his shoulder and yanked him back.

BX slammed his three-fingered hand in between the slats of the coolant tube, prying the sides apart and allowing smog to now pour out of the system, relieving the pressure in the engine.

Nek watched as the droid then proceeded to stride towards the control screen and tapped the screen a few times, evidently redirecting power from the engine to the hyperdrive. Not exactly what Nek had been planning on doing but it worked just as well and just as fast. Maybe faster. The engineer squinted suspiciously at the droid, observing BX as he contacted Soron telling their captain they were safe to jump. The blue light now dulling in the droid’s chest.

The ship lurched and the control panel near BX flashed the signal that the hyperdrive had been activated. Lights flickering, and they jumped to hyperspace.

In the now quiet and not battle ridden path of in-between space, Vis’ cries could now be heard over the still vibrating ship. Nek took a step towards the cupboard where she hid, but BX was already there. Opening the doors, the droid looked inside.

“See? We didn’t perish as you suspected.” BX’s deep metallic voice rumbled.

Vis sniffled and smiled.

“You know, this reminds me of when Soron found me. Except I had been hiding behind a ventilation system panel…” BX explained as he helped the girl climb out of the small space and, surprisingly, began to recount the tale of when and how Soron had discovered him in an old Separatist ship.

After their encounter with the bounty hunter Cad Bane, BX had needed repairs so Nek took it as the opportunity to install the data table design into BX’s chest, including wedging that old lightsaber in there. Now they could access information from the holocrons back on Vis’ temple moon using their orb. Nek didn’t really know how it worked, he’d just installed it, which worried him for several reasons.

Ever since the installation, BX had been acting… Well in technical terms, Nek could only describe the behavior as weird. It was still BX. He talked in the same way, responded to questions in the same way, still had his compulsions when things weren’t organized right, there was just this extra… something to it. Like BX but more, alive?

Nek figured it maybe had to do with the kybercrystal possibly interfacing with BX’s original system? He’d meant to ask Cenden or Vis or just run his own tests, but that’s hard to do when for the past week and a half you’ve done nothing but almost die.

Beebs had not made any idle threats. For the past week (weeks plural according to the various planets and star systems they’d been across) the crew of The Raving Titan had been on one smuggling mission/money retrieval after another with some of Beebs’ more… difficult customers. So far, their crew handled everything from the ground. With Cenden’s foresight and Vis’ ability to see where people had been, they’d been able to successfully locate everyone they’d needed to and “persuaded” everyone without involving Vis or endangering their ship… Until today.

This last client was VERY set on keeping their dues out of Beebs’ reach AND they had ties to the mining guild. The aerial attack on The Raving Titan had been a surprise even to Cenden’s grasp of foresight. And Vis’ warning of, “Something’s going to happen,” wasn’t exactly helpful.

Nek’s wrist comm blinked with an incoming message, “Hey Nek. How’s everything looking down there?” Lerti’s voice came through slightly garbled.

“As good as it can look after that whole mess of a grab and go.” He responded looking around the compartment still swirling with smog.

“BX reports that you were, quote ‘No help at all.’” Lerti said with a smile in her voice even through the static that was breaking the message slightly.

‘Odd.’ Nek thought, ‘That sounds like interference… but there can’t be interference while we’re in hyperspace.’

The thought wasn’t a deep revelation, just a quick passing observation that was instantly replaced with a dozen or so other thoughts immediately upon conception.

“Of course he reports that because he did my job for me, but you don’t hear me complaining,” Nek snarked, looking over where the droid sat with Vis, the droid listening to her talk sullenly at the floor, her freckles a deep blue. “By the way, I wanted to talk with Cenden about BX, is he still at the lower gun?”

His question was instantly answered as Cenden came over the comms, “Please tell Vis to meet me in the upper deck training room.”

“We only have one training room Cen.” Lerti responded.

“Now, please.” The way Cenden said “please” made Nek think it hurt something inside Cenden to say it.

Vis obviously overheard the conversation and rose tentatively from her trench coat bundle on the floor to hurry out of the room. This left Nek alone with BX.

He watched the droid for a few moments, trying to see something more. A difference in the way he moved, a difference in the way the whine of his operating system sounded in the silence, a difference of… anything.

Slowly, Nek reached out his hand the way he’d seen Cenden and Vis do when they were attempting to feel something. He closed his eyes and focused. ‘Feel something… Feel, anything. Come on Nek.’ He urged himself.

Wait… Maybe he did feel something? A change in environment? Like…

Nek jumped as he opened his eyes and BX stood right in front of him. The enormous commando droid was looking down on the small Devorian man, seeming to observe him the same way he’d been moments before.

Nek blushed, “Uh, hey BX. How’ve your system functions been since I installed the data table?”

BX cocked his head, as if he didn’t understand the questions before his head gave a slight twitch, “Systems have been functioning properly.” Was the only response he gave before he turned and strode towards where Vis had ran off.

“So when Force stuff happens you’re allowed to act all weird and distance, but when I do that I need ‘to pay attention and stop daydreaming’? Pssf.” Nek said to himself with a roll of his eyes and got back to work on the engine.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

“Vis! Pay attention and stop daydreaming!” Cenden snapped at me.

All of the little threads I’d been stringing between people on the ship suddenly snapped back to my mind with enough “force” to actually cause me to wince, “Sorry…” I mumbled. He knew that’s not what I was doing. I just couldn’t believe everyone was alive! I was sure something was happening today that was just going to be the pits…

“Vis! Again!” Cenden snapped one more time as I realized he’d been talking to me.

“Sorry.” My vision snapped back to the sparring room we stood in on the ship’s upper level where I’d been receiving my lesson in combat and Jedi-stuff from Cenden.

“Stop saying sorry just do it. Listen or leave, don’t pretend to be here if you’re not.”

“Do or do not?” I said recognizing the frame of reference.

“Yes. You know that one do you? Well then you probably recognize this one: ‘Fear,”” Cenden emphasized, “‘Leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate leads to suffering.’ Fear, by its nature is one of the greatest roots of evil actions as it causes one to focus only on the desire to survive without thought to the Force’s will. Emotions cloud sound judgements in general, but especially fear. Which is why your actions today cannot happen again.”

Something twitched inside me, “But I have good reason to be afraid of being a ship UNDER ATTACK! My entire family died in a fiery crash! And I’m not scared of me getting hurt! I’m scared of you guys getting hurt!”

From the look on Cenden’s face, I knew I’d said the wrong thing the moment it came out of my mouth. Thinking back, I remembered from a lot of the studies I’d done in Jedi philosophy that they valued the whole “feel nothing and be one with the Force” thing a LOT. And seeing as my freckles had turned the bright mixture of yellow and red, I was NOT doing a good job with that.

“Sorry. Wait! Not sorry! I mean I am sorry, I’m just I’m not saying it again! AH!” I tried to shut myself up.

He sighed, “We’ll talk about that later. For now, Lerti? BX? You can come in now.” Cenden said, sensing their presence outside the door.

As Lerti walked in she looked kinda… embarrassed? Why? Because she’d been caught listening in? She should’ve known by now Cenden was good enough to know that! I actually hadn’t noticed Lerti so much as I’d heard the little song the kybercrystal was playing from inside BX’s chest. The little bit of crystal liked his new home and it was nice to hear the song!

“Alright Vis. We’re not shifting schedule just because of a little attack on zhe ship. We’ll be continuing to practice fighting techniques without weaponry. Remember to gather the Force around you as you move, it will help your movements be quicker and more precise.” Cenden explain for the thousandth time as if my guide hadn’t totally helped me kick his butt back at the temple!

Lerti took position in front of me.

That’s when the world started swimming a little around my vision as my adrenaline suddenly spiked again after having lulled a bit from ALMOST DYING just a while ago!

I took a breath.

My hands waved slowly through the air and my guide pulled in, swirling through my mind and muscles and then settling over Lerti and her mind and muscles. I felt her body tensing and relaxing with each breath.

She felt familiar with the stance, and it was odd to sense her sensing me in her own kind of way, seeing my stance and movements, and attempting prediction.

Lerti was supposed to try to hit me in three different ways and I was supposed to use any of the stances Cenden taught me to block or attack. Despite Cenden’s thousand-reminders streak, I could already sense I’d need a thousanth and one more of those pointers.

‘I may have kicked his butt once, but I’m pretty sure you’re just letting me learn this one on my own, huh?’ I thought to my guide. It was annoying to know you were going to lose before we’d even started.

“Ready!” Cenden called.

‘Shouldn’t think like that.’ I thought as I crouched lower.

“Set!”

‘Don’t think. Just react.’

“Go!”

My body swelled with the Force.

I spun about where Lert’s fist sliced through the air. My shoulder undamaged.

‘She’ll spin, her leg will knock me down. Don’t let it hap-’

Lerti spun and her leg hit me clear across the chest.

The world around me went gray and fuzz for a moment and panic spiked through me as the wind was knocked from my lungs. I felt the Force gather about me to console my defeat. I felt it attempting to put air back in my lungs as I wheezed and attempted to smile.

“I- I knew that would happen…” I pushed out of my compressed lungs from my place on the floor.

Lerti reached down to help me up and I felt the bruise forming on my chest even through my armor chest protector I had donned as she helped me to my feet .

“Knowing somezing in advance doesn’t mean squat if you can’t react to it.” Cenden chastised, “We’re going to try somezing else.” Cenden ushered over BX.

“BX is going to try to hit you.”

“Cool.” I responded.

“You will follow zis pattern: right, left, duck. Right, left, duck. With this knowledge in mind, you can focus only on reaction rather than prediction.”

I nodded. We’d practiced these movements before and despite BX being an enormous… metal, killing machine… Well Cenden thought I could do it, so I can! It makes sense to practice against commando droid models too! BX said he was designed to be able to fight Jedi! ...Wait.

“Alright! Take your positions.” Cenden commanded. I fell into stance and BX did the same.

‘The little song in his chest washed over Vis and she found her voice attempting to imitate the sound flowing about her head.’

I shook my head and I noticed I was humming. It was the hum of one of those songs that didn’t exist. Just something that danced into my head every once and a while…

“Ready!”

‘Focus. Right, left, song. nO! Dodge!’

“Set!”

‘Right, left, duck! Rightleftduck. Riledu.’ I was humming again.

“Go!”

The Force swirled about me as I exploded into action.

BX held nothing back as he swung.

Right, left, duck. Right, left, duck.

The pattern did not fail and neither did my mind. I resonated with the movements and somewhere in the distance I could feel Lerti’s surprise and Cenden’s approval and Soron’s annoyance and Nek’s boredom, and Chol’s sadness…

I hummed the sound as I moved, I flowed with the movements. I was finally here.

The sound suddenly became deafening in my ears. The sound of the kyber.

‘Rightleftdodge. Rightleftdodge. Riledu. Riledo. Hello.’

My face was impacted.

Cool spike of metal pounded through my jaw and I sprawled out on the floor.

I blinked in surprise but couldn’t even cry out in pain… It wasn’t fair! I was in the zone! I’d been distracted by that voice! ...A voice. Where did that come from?

My vision finally cleared and I saw Soron walking by the training room talking into his commlink. He felt concern for me and stress towards the voice on the phone, “Yes, Beebs, we got your quarry and we’re heading to the next rendezvous point now,” he covered the commlink with one of his clawed hands, “Hey guys? Could you put some pillows on BX’s claws or something? Thanks. Yes! I’m still here!” He said as he moved on.

I heard a hiss slide between Lerti’s teeth, “I’ll go get some ice.”

“And apparently we also need pillows.” I could hear the eye roll in Cenden’s voice.

I gave a raspberry sound in defeat, and winced at the stinging warm pain in my face.

The cool night air flew past me in chunks as I cut through it’s invisible ranks. The lightsaber I’d found back in my temple sputtered and spurted in my hand. The cracked kyber inside it’s hilt pumped light to the blade like the beat of a heart. That’s what all kyber felt like to me though, heartbeats.

I was standing on the flat roof of The Raving Titan.We were on some planet called Sicemon, which I was told was also called “the grass planet” as most of its surface was covered in rolling hills of tall grasses, even in the northern and southern hemisphere. We were here waiting for Beebs’ guys to rendezvous with us and go to our next mission.

After Cenden’s training session which consisted of BX giving me the experience of an extreme pillow fight against a droid, I’d decided to come up here to get grounded again. No space travel for five years and suddenly I was a professional star-system jumper was not great for the ol’ noggin.

It felt odd to be on my own with my guide in this moment. I’d been so involved with my new crew, adventuring around the galaxy that I’d forgotten the feeling for a time. The feeling of focused loneliness, and some part of me knew it wasn’t healthy, but I liked that version of loneliness. There was a good version to every bad feeling. That’s what it felt like anyway… There was a balance.

‘I’m not afraid of the ship crashing. I’m being… shrewd! Yeah, that’s a good word. Shrewd. Purposeful fear focused on avoiding a problem.’ I thought to myself as I continued the practice of pretend fighting.

The Jedi didn’t believe in fear. Well emotions in general. Using the Force out of fear, or anger or surprise would be wrong… But what if I use the Force just ‘cause I’m happy?

‘I’m happy to be here with my guide and it’s happy to be here with me! Right?’ The Force swirled about me in agreement. I laughed and spun about at the response, my lightsaber making a green arc of color about me. Slowing down, I left the saber;s hilt retract and I stared off into the inbetween, watching the invisible Force swirl about existence in waves and ripples. Dancing about like the wind.

“What was that warning all about today?” I asked as I reached out and ran my fingers through my invisible friend. “I know it’s hard to communicate sometimes, or sometimes it’s best if I just figure out stuff for myself but this felt important! Was the attack on our ship the important thing?”

In the dark, starry sky, I felt my hand enclosed around another invisible something; a feeling. The Force handed the feeling to me like a grandma handing over a precision family heirloom; a little bit of the future.

I sat down cross legged and began to unwrap the feelings-ball in my hands. I don’t really know how to describe any other way that that. In the in between space where your eyes can see nothingness and your feeling look like colors, I pretended to unwrap a package from the Force.

I watched my freckles shifting about in colors, and I watched a lot of red, yellow, and purple. Anger, fear, and questions. But about what? Best to play it out.

Igniting the lightsaber again, I stood and swung the blade about in the air to get a feel for some characters.

The Force swirled around something behind me. A person.

I squeaked and spun around to face my sneak-attacker. My lightsaber switching off.

Soron.

I breathed a sigh of relief, “Hey Soron! Wassup?”

The ol’ captain was standing a ways off still next to the hatch to the roof, so he probably hadn’t been standing there long.

He shrugged, “Nothing, just coming to check on you,” he walked over and I could see him squinting in the darkness, “How’s your face?”

“Eh it’s fine! It was cool getting punched by a robot! Besides, in the heat of battle, there’s no time to worry about bruises, only victory.” I said that last part like some old war veteran whispering dramatically about his days in the field.

Soron chuckled at that and looked out over the moonlit horizon. Probably noticing how the grass under the planet’s one moon kinda looked like rolling waves, or maybe not. It’s hard to tell sometimes how other people thought about stuff.

I liked how Soron treated me. He acted like… well kinda like my mom. He genuinely cared about me and my well-being which I imagine wasn’t normal coming from a hardened mercenary, and based on how the rest of the crew acts around me. But I would get to them. They’d be happy and laugh at my jokes just like him, and it’d be great!

He looked back down at me, “You closed the blade.”

“Huh?”

“Your lightsaber,” he pointed down at the hilt resting in my hand, “When you thought you were under attack, you closed the blade, why?”

“Uhhhh, well I didn’t want to hurt you?”

“You didn’t know it was me.”

“I didn’t want to hurt anyone?”

“Good.”

At that he smiled and I smiled back. Why did this feel like what I expected Jedi training to be like? Deep conversations about nothing that would equate to something later?

“What was she like?” I said as I sat down, “Your sister?”

Soron sighed and sat down next to me. He’d told me about her after Nek had mentioned it in passing. It made sense that the captain had some ties to another Force-sensitive considering his interests and beliefs.

“She was… incredible. She was by far the alpha twin, but we kept each other in line. We were a great team, and she never left me out of anything. Despite her calling to the universe and her abilities in the Force, she always included me.”

“Did she teach you to talk like that?”

“What!?” He laughed.

I felt my freckles turn light red, “I mean, all deep and stuff. Ya know, ‘cause she was Force-sensitive?”

He let out another deep laugh, “Ha! You know, despite my lack of abilities to use the energy of the universe to chuck people across the room, I do consider myself to be very Force-sensitive!”

“Really!? Why?” I asked with genuine interest. This was so cool.

“Well, because I pay attention.” he shrugged, looking out over the fields again, “I’m sensitive to the planets I visit and the flora and fauna they produce. I’m sensitive to the glint of stars, and the glow of suns. I’m sensitive to the feelings of other people around me, especially if they want to kill me. I pay attention to things, just like you do. And all of those things are connected to the Force. So, yes, I consider myself to be just as Force-sensitive as my sister ever was, just in a different way. And in the same way that you’re connected differently.” He concluded by closing his eyes as a breeze blew through his words, carrying the thoughts along the currents of wind.

“Wow… You’re much better at this.” I responded also closing my eyes.

Without even needed to ask what that meant, Soron replied, “He’s that bad, huh?”

“No… He’s just the tough love sort of teacher, without the love part.”

“Any idea on why he’s like that?”

“Eeeehhhhh no. Everytime I start playing out his story, my brain starts feeling all blocked. It’s like he can sense when I’m trying and gets in my head which is annoying that the Force lets him do that to me.” I said while giving a stink eye to the air.

“Well then, maybe your guide doesn’t want you to know him in that way yet. Maybe he needs to tell you himself…” he paused, “Vis?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you trust Cenden?”

The question hung in the air for a moment as I tried to sort out how to respond to that.

“Um… Yes? Well I mean, I trust all of you guys right? Enough to have barely known you and get and on your ship and let you put me in danger and stuff!” I responded firmly.

“Yes, true, but do you trust him? As an individual? Not as our group, but just him?”

“Well… I think so. I dunno. There was this thing I sensed when I first met him and he blasted me across my temple ‘cause I was winning our fight. It felt, angry? Or ashamed? ...Why are you asking anyway?”

“Just making sure I guess. You’re apart of my family now and I want you to feel comfortable with whatever and whoever you’re dealing with. Even if that’s another family member.” Soron affirmed.

“Dangit. You’re just the best. I don’t even know you, and you’re like the coolest grandpa I never had.”

“Grandpa?” Soron mused.

“Fine fine! Great uncle! My point being I wish you were the one teaching me how to get beat to a pulp and not Mr. Grumpy-Angry Man.”

“I don’t know how much Force stuff I could teach you but how’s about I teach you some hunting strategies sometime, Shistavenian style?” Soron said as he leaned back on his arms.

“YES! I’D LOVE THAT! WH-”

My words cut off as something twitched in the Force just as Soron’s head also suddenly shot up and peered into the horizon. Small flashes of light could be seen coming from over a hill in the distance. They disappeared as quickly as they’d been seen, but somehow the wind began to feel different.

The breeze picked up again and Soron stood. Nose to the air, his superior sense of smell working in time as he began to search for something on the breeze. A pit dropped in my stomach as my guide swirled about me in warning. Everything around me became very loud, and it felt like everything was moving about me.

“My guide says something’s happening. I think it’s one of those bad-somethings.” I watched as he didn’t respond but continued smelling the air. After a moment he flashed his commlink on.

“Chol, we’re about to be ambushed, get the engine’s prepped.” Switching his gaze towards me he snapped, “Vis get inside now.”

“Okay!” I didn’t argue as I stood and began to scramble towards the hatch.

“What!?” I could hear Lerti’s voice come through the comm, “Are you sure it’s not just Beebs’ guys here to get their quarry?”

“I’m not sure. But I smell a lot of smoke off in the distance, smells like burning fuel but it’s far enough away not to be seen. This isn’t an Imperial controlled planet and there’s not a town around us for miles. Beebs’ men may have been stopped from reaching us I don’t know! Something’s up and I’m sure it’s-”

The sound of a ship suddenly appeared overhead. The wind whipping around us as a blinding spotlight suddenly shone down from above. ‘The ship had been cloaked?’ I wondered as I made it to the hatch and opened in.

Looking back I realized Soron wasn’t moving, but he also wasn’t armed… Wait. Where’s my lightsaber?

I heard the blade ignite and sputter in Soron’s hands, the glow of green becoming like an aura around him. He took up a stance similar to what Cenden had shown me and squinted up at the light. Above the sound of the whirring engines I could hear Soron reconnect his commlink.

“Lerti, it’s something else alright. And you’re not going to like it. I think it’s him. Is it time for running, or revenge?”

#Free Reign: A Star Wars Story #Free Reign #free reign chapter 16 #star wars #star wars fanfiction #zazabelle9200 #zap #draksisreborn #foreshadowing #fanfiction #star wars rebels #star wars clone wars

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ursafilms · 5 years ago

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The House is Somewhat Unfriendly to its Occupants

Chapter 1 – Sale No Longer Pending

My wife and I sold our San Francisco home. Hallelujah! Huzzah! Thank God. Much as we loved Kooktown, USA, it was time to move on.

A sense of NO REGRETS came over me, as I reflected on a 30 year life in the State Formerly Known as Golden.

The house, a 3400 square foot split level neo-deco beauty designed by Frank Lloyd Wright protégé Aram Torrossian, sits in the made-up neighborhood of Clarendon Heights. The exact address is 310 Twin Peaks Blvd.

And perhaps the location’s monikered connection to a certain TV show created by David Lynch should have alerted us to the next 24 years. A run of comic, tragic, and coincidental events that had me wiping the sweat off my brow all the way, and up through the official closing date of . . .

. . . Friday the 13th. With an added bonus of A FULL MOON.

****

Don’t misunderstand. The house was not a construction disaster replete with Escher-like structure and sitting on an Indian (Cherokee Not Hindi) burial ground. Not at all. The property inspector who examined it before we bought raved about its structural integrity. In particular, the use of concrete and rebar to fortify floors and to support walls. He also fell in love with the countersunk bolts that secured the foundation and resisted earthquakes.

Prior to finishing, he pointed to a component of the build that included a support beam running the length of the storage facility just off the garage.

“Balances out the stressors on the top three floors,” he said.

“Uh, okay,” came the brilliant reply.

310 Twin Peaks was a design and engineering dream. I’ve included a photo at the conclusion of this introduction. Most important, it solved a dilemma Lee and I had regarding renting office space.

Our previous house, a cozy Marina-style home in the Noe Valley neighborhood of San Francisco, had three bedrooms, a kitchen, dining room, living room, and one bathroom all on one floor. Perfect for the two of us and an occasional guest.

Not so great for running my business, I was an independent film and video producer at the time, out of one of the bedrooms. Subcontractors coming and going; equipment in the garage; and a client meeting or three during the six years we lived there. I parked a coordinator at a spare desk once in a while as well. Not good for privacy.

In 1993, Lee suggested I rent an office somewhere in the city, which I did not want to do. If I had to go away from the house to work, I’d never see my wife, an unacceptable situation.

And this meant the hunt for a new house commenced and the very first of a series of disconcerting events sat just ahead of the stern of the good ship, George.

Bear in a mind a few facts as this unfolds.

1. We started looking for a new house in 1993. We didn’t buy, or take possession, until late 1995.

2. I was working on Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” when the search began. It turned out to be a fitting starting point.

3. Lee and I are HUGE fans of Halloween. It might be our favorite Holiday.

310 Twin Peaks Blvd. Seems harmless despite the odd connection to the odd David Lynch show of the era. Yes? No?

Chapter 2 – The Nightmare Before Escrow

In the Autumn of 1992 the Mouse (Disney) hired me to work on Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” To that point, the biggest job of my production career. It also served as the house-buying inception point because Lee and I took the opportunity of Yours truly having a somewhat normal schedule (Monday-Friday, few weekends) to be squired around by Joan Foppiano and Vickie Tucker, the World’s Greatest Real Estate Agents.

And that’s not a false claim. They got us into our house on 28th Street in Noe Valley, no small feat considering we looked at 48 properties before deciding on this particular one, and yes I kept track. They would get us out during a down market two years later, and in Guiness World Record time, subjective as that sounds.

All of this would get us into . . .

310 Twin Peaks Blvd.

But first, Tim Burton.

Or, should I say, Halloween.

For those readers who don’t know “The Nightmare Before Christmas” or “TNBC” as insiders called the film, it was a creepy stop-motion feature that involved a skeleton in a tuxedo named Jack Skellington, who decided to hijack Christmas.

Yes, I’ve heard all the Grinch comparisons. Leave me alone.

I am looking at this in hindsight. I worked on a movie that made a lot of people uncomfortable and entertained at the same time. And that is exactly how the coinciding search for a new house felt when we discovered 310 Twin Peaks Blvd. in the Spring of 1993.

To that point, with the patient Joan and Vickie, we had looked at about a dozen properties and none of them seemed right. Too small. No truly separate room to run the business.

If a house had an in-law unit, very popular in the Bay Area . . . must be a lot of in-laws looking to be banished to the backyard . . . , it either needed $100,000 in work, had never been permitted, or did not afford more privacy than Lee and I had in the Noe Valley residence.

One weekend in mid-April of 1993, we were schlepping, actually being schlepped by Vickie, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. We pulled up in front of what appeared to be an overgrown weed and vine infested lot. We exited the car.

“I really like what they’ve done with the place,” I offered.

Vickie laughed her “If I Only I Could Beat My Clients With An Ax Handle I Would” laugh, and dragged us up four flights of moss covered brick stairs. She gave us the tour, which included the following highlights, sure to close any quick sale.

1. The kitchen, admittedly a good-sized one, still had the original cabinets, floors, walls, AND (BONUS!) oven from 1939. However, the faucet was a Moen.

2. Water damage covered the entire north wall of the kitchen, a result of an ongoing second floor patio leak.

3. The washer and dryer were definitely from 1972, but the Maytag repairman had left his business card taped to one of the lids, so we had that going for us.

4. All the upstairs bedrooms (three) had bits and pieces of broken glass on the floor.

5. The downstairs powder room contained the ORIGINAL FIXTURES, which the seller consider a plus as that little fact was called out in the abstract. Abstract is real estate speak for flyer.

6. The garage, at 400 square foot had been designed to accommodate a single car, because it was constructed in the late 30’s when most families were lucky to own one. However, no adjustments had been made over the years and the garage had only enough room for a 1939 Hudson.

“We’ll take it!” I exclaimed. “Okay, maybe not.”

“I hear the Mini is a nice little car,” said Vickie.

After that comment landed with a thud, we moved onto the separate room, which would serve as my office. It’s location? The bottom floor of the house, just off the aforementioned garage.

****

Four hundred square feet. One wall entirely of mirrors. Wall-to-Wall carpeting that had seen better days, but just needed a cleaning. A storage closet next to it completed the floor.

And the high points. You could get to it without entering the front door of the house. AND no other common areas or rooms existed on the same floor with it.

“Again, where do I sign?” I asked, hoping the earnest tone of my voice would convince Vickie of my intentions.

“There are a few things to consider, first,” she said, and won Understatement of the Year from Dr. Paul Ehrlich, PhD in Hyperbolics.

“Oh?”

“Yes, let’s start with the previous owner’s suicide . . . on the property.”

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delightfullydismal · 7 years ago

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Travis Touchdown x Holly Summers

An old man looked out the sandy shores of Santa Destroy. Just yesterday it had been clean, without a soda can or burger wrapper to tarnish its porcelain sand. Now, all he could see was barbwire fencing and giant metal stars. He didn't have a name for them, but he recalled seeing the same ones in "Saving Private Ryan" as they stormed the beaches on D-Day. He thought they looked like oversized children's jacks. "Those damn assassins and their pitiful games," He shook his heads, "Just a bunch of millennials that need to grow up and get real jobs." Out of the corner of his eye, he spied a group of heavily armed men. Men armored like a S.W.A.T. unit, but with black camo print. <Bunch of nancy boys> the old man thought. It didn't matter what loon they sent to fight these goons, the goons always got their limbs sliced off and ended up bleeding all over the damn place.

"Bravo team in position, awaiting the signal from Mother Goose." He heard one of them speak into his earpiece. "Hey!" the old man called out. One of the S.W.A.T. members turned his head up to the boardwalk. "Yes, you. You know he's gonna fucking gut your sorry ass. Probably bleed enough out of you to turn the damn ocean red. How much are they paying you for this shit? It can't possibly be enough sonny boy." The military man may have found time to reply with some sort of quip, had Travis' beam katana not just cleaved the poor goon's head from his shoulders. A fountain of blood then erupted from his neck. Travis held his stance; He was not the least bit sick of bathing in blood. The other S.W.A.T. members charged at him like a stampede of bulls blindly charging at the sight of a Matador's cape. With a flurry of slashes Travis mowed down the onslaught of goons. More S.W.A.T. came with their guns drawn. and ready; They too were cut down. As Travis shook the blood from his beam katana, a voice chided him from above. "Damn nancy boy, get off my beach!" The old man continued to shout from the pier, now that the killing had momentarily ended. "This ain't a damn theme park for sociopaths! Take you're homicidal rage and silly dick waving somewhere else!" "Dick waving?" Travis Touchdown said sarcastically, not the least bit phased by the old man's scolding. "Old Man, a true killer doesn't carry a sword to flaunt what he has. Its about what he takes." Travis kicked the sand off his shoe with the tip of his katana, and then pointed the blade menacingly at the old man. "And right about now, I'd say I'm a second away from taking that blathering head off of your scrawny little neck!" "So you do have a tiny pecker! Knew it!" The old man shouted back. "Wha-" Travis said as he began waving his hands in distress. He had just realized that his blonde accomplice and perpetual antagonizer, Sylvia, was making her way up the beach to him. Given the playful smirk her luscious pink lips were making, she had obviously overheard the old man's ravings. "You've got it all wrong!" Travis pleaded. "You've got a tiny pecker, sure as dirt! I've seen your type. You wear them 'animu' shirts with the slutty cartoon girls on them cuz all you want to do is play with some cartoon girls' boobies. Get a real job ya bum!" The old man finished mocking Travis and went on his merry way. "Oh, poor Travis. Did the old man not like you leaving a mess on his beach? I think he shouldn't be saying such awful things about your "little private". I'm sure he's very cute and adorable." Sylvia began to coo over Travis' package, going so far as to assertively cup his pants. Travis quickly put several feet between himself and Sylvia, pushing her hand aside in the process. "I don't have time for games, I came here to win. So the target, who is she?" Sylvia ignored Travis, pulling out her compact mirror to freshen up her face. Travis tapped his foot, growing tired of being led along like a mutt on a leash. Sylvia made sure her eyelashes were seductively long and black before looking up at Travis and addressing the question she had been given. "The association does not share that info Travis. Not for the Sixth Ranked Assassin, at least." Sylvia replied. "And why is that?" Travis continued, visibly annoyed. "She pays good money. Loose lips sink ships. All that bullshit." Sylvia gave up trying to explain the finer points of her job to Travis as she heard him give a long sigh. "Look, Mister Hot Shit: Did you come here to mingle? Take a walk on the beach? See the big blue ocean with those wide puppy dog eyes?" Travis shook his head. "I did not think so." Sylvia added, her tone a bit softer. "Your target is just ahead, at the northernmost side of the beach. I suggest you bring a change of pants, no?" "Won't need them." Travis said as he lifted his beam katana. "Tell the clean up crew to get ready. This ones going to be messy."

"UAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH" The last of the goons fell to his knees. He resembled more of a heap of blood and guts now than living person. Travis tread lightly, making sure not to step over any of the damn mines that had littered the beach. He didn't need to walk far though, he could already see his target. "Do you know," The short haired woman before him began before turning to face him,"what it is like to feel true fear." Travis looked her up and down. Her shorts and camo top were both cut deliciously low. A shame about the tits though, at best they were B Cups, and that was being generous. Still, he'd give her an 7 out of 10. An 8 maybe he thought as he admired her strong Russian affect and features, he did have a soft spot for Soviet Sexpots. "I wouldn't know, I've never felt fear." Travis replied. "Never? Not even in the countless times where you've faced death. Not even when you've robbed life from others, watching it drain from their eyes." The woman continued to rant. She was taking her sweet time with this. If only she'd get to the damn point. "I don't ever think about death. And I'd suggest you spend less time spouting off about it too. People die. People kill People. If you spend to much time thinking about it, you're likely to die yourself." Travis was getting sick of shooting the shit. Number Six was still enjoying their battle of wits, however. "Sympathy?" The black haired girl chuckled. She brought a hand from behind her, revealing a couple of grenades. "That's sweet of you my little tulip. You really are as green as they come, so adorable." "Enough!" Travis sprinted at the dark haired assassin with his sword raised over his head. Halfway to reaching her, he felt the ground give out from beneath him. He fell almost twenty feet before landing flat on his ass. "Goddamn..." Travis said as he rubbed his sore back. He was so busy ignoring his opponents idle banter that he had forgotten to watch his step. "Silly little tulip. Enjoy the flower bed I've dug for you." Travis looked up in time to see a black dot above him, whistling as it fell. It landed in his lap with a thud. He picked up the foreign object and instinctively dropped it the moment he realized what it was. "Shit!" Travis cried out a second too late. The grenade exploded and sent him flying several feet upward inside the sand pit before tossing him ass up in the grit. He spat sand from his mouth. "Oh Travis, if you're still alive can you do me a small favor. Catch!" "BITCH!!!" Travis shouted as he tried to claw his way out of the pit in time, only to be smacked in the head by several lobbed grenades. He quickly ran up the collapsing wall of the pit and dug his fingers into the unstable precipice of the sand trap. Struggling to pull himself up, he gained a lucky push of moment from the exploding grenades, enough to thrust him out of the hole and once more into a faceful of sand. Number Six shook her head. "Oh little tulip, you certainly can take a beating can't you?" <God> Six's heart melted to butter as she watched this adorable hunk shake off mortal wounds like they were just playful punches. She bit her thumb to suppress the urge to let out a moan. <Fuck. He's too dumb to just die, and too handsome to live. I'd better kill him now before this overgrown ape gets any cuter>. Travis knelt on one knee, putting his weight on his sword to stabilize himself. "You know, if you weren't such a ruthless killer, I'd almost say I liked you." Travis grunted as he felt several broken ribs scream in protest.

"Oh, do you mean 'like' like?" Six teased.

"You know, I take that back. Right about now, I'd say I've got a hard on for you THIS BIG!" Travis charged at the clever Ruskie. He smirked as he closed in for the killing blow, his opponent hadn't even armed another explosive, how careless.

*THAWP* Travis buckled to the ground, having just felt the cold caress of Six's metal leg burying itself into his weak man flesh with several tons of pneumatic force. "You...bitch..." Travis reeled on the ground. He was simply too weak to fight. Six had already claimed her victory over him, now she was just flaunting it. "Tsk tsk, do you need me to give you an ice pack? Maybe a bit of heat would do better." Travis felt a gentle hand on his cheek. He could see Six looking down on him, kneeling down to comfort him. "What good is an assassin that can't kill a man... don't tell me you've gotten soft on me Six." "Mm... maybe I just wanted a taste of your blade." Travis could feel his belt unfasten as Six shoved her hand under his pants. "You wouldn't deny me such a simple pleasure, not in exchange for your life?" Travis smiled. This was perfect. "My Master *cough* taught me exactly how to handle beautiful women like you." Travis said in a sultry voice.

"Oh, was he a ladies man?" Six asked.

"Not exactly." Travis replied. He quickly kicked Six in the chest, using her recoil as an opportunity to spin her around and put her in a full nelson. In one quick motion he flipped her backwards over his head, pile-driving Six into the sand. Six was light headed, dizzy. She eventually came to moments later only to find Travis now over her body. "Someone looks happy to see me." Six said as she once again reached for Travis' rather large tent. Travis would have protested, had he realized what Six was groping was not his flesh. Before he could think he immediately tore off and flung his pants. Before they hit the ground the pair of grenades tucked inside the groin exploded and tore his jeans to shreds. "Fuck. Not looking forward to that conversation..." Travis muttered to himself. He quickly saved face and turned to Six, who was too dizzy to pick herself up off the ground. His katana was held steady, and pointed at her face. "This is how it ends, my tulip." Six looked up at him. Her eyes were steady, she feared nothing. Travis paused. In that moment, Six saw his weakness. "You can't kill a woman. Pathetic. How can you call yourself a killer." Travis stared back into Six's tiger-like eyes. If he let Six go, he could not expect to sleep tonight knowing that he was Sixth in rank. He may not be able to sleep at all. "So tell me, Lucky number Six, why you'd rather die here than live to kill again. I told you I don't fear death, Six. I don't plan to die soon either. What makes you so eager." "Maybe..." Six began. "Maybe I want to die before I lose..." "Lose?" Travis scratched his head. "Lose what? Your rank?" Travis immediately found his ears being assaulted by a cacophonous sound. The sand of the beach flew in every direction and filled his nostrils and mouth. When his tears finally cleaned enough sand out of his eyes, he saw an Apache helicopter flying out to sea. Six was nowhere to be seen. "Well well well, I see you've kept things rather tidy. My boys will be happy to have so little work today." Travis turned his head to see Sylvia stroll up to him. She forcefully shoved a pair of worn denim jeans in his hands. "I suppose I don't need to tell you that I am, as always, right." Travis looked back out to the ocean. The helicopter was just a black dot in the sky now. Even that dot was slowly fading out of sight. "You don't want to hide your shame? There is a lady in your presence after all, Travis." Sylvia mocked Travis. Her time with the assassin had been one of the perks of her profession, and she had grown rather fond of the big brute. "Her name." Travis said coldly. "Excuse me." Sylvia replied, the question had caught her off guard. "What was her name." Travis repeated. His sword was lowered at his side, like a flag at half mast. "Oh." Sylvia regained her sassy composure. "Well, I suppose I don't have to hide that anymore, Mr.Sixth Ranked assassin. Her name was Holly Summers, born in-" "No. Just her name." Travis interrupted. He took out a wad of cash from his pocket and threw it at Sylvia's feet. "For the pants." He said dryly as he walked down the beach. "Where are you going? You have an appointment to make Travis. Number five does not have a great deal of patience." Travis replied to these concerns with a dismissive wave of his hand as he continued to walk down the beach.

Travis arrived halfway down the beach, and dug a hole two feet deep with his hands. He turned off his beam katana and dropped into the hole. He spent the time covering the hole with dirt trying to think of the proper words to say. "Holly...I'm sorry." He spoke as his fingers dug into the wet sand. "I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to tell you that I loved your soul. I...I loved you." Travis knelt by the sand. Was this really over. Was this how the life of an assassin ended. Not with a sword through the chest, or a bullet in the brain, but an arrow to the heart? Travis pulled himself to his feet only to see Sylvia waiting for him. "You're pulling out already? How typical of a buffoon." Travis simply nodded in response. "Well then. As your manager, I have certain powers at my disposal. I don't just arrange these little meet and greets, I'll have you know I can plan all sorts of sorties." "Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Travis replied weakly. Sylvia shoved a manila envelope in his hand. "I don't know, you tell me Mr.Ex-Assassin." Travis opened the folder and scooped out an unassuming black flip phone. He smiled, weakly, and chuckled to himself. "You know, a manager with your kind of talent is wasting away in a shit job like this." Travis said coolly. "Your telling me. I'm simply drenched in sweat from being in this infernal beach in stockings and jacket." Travis gave a small chuckle as he watched her brush off the sand from her Jacket. Then Sylvia marched up to Travis and thrust her finger into his chest. Travis winced. "Look here Travis, if you're going to take this seriously I don't want to see any of this three-day-waiting-period bullshit. You wanted to take a walk on the beach, no?" Travis' face lit up with a smile. "Just call her." Sylvia added as she walked off. Travis went to the contacts list on the phone, and selected the only contact in the address book. "Hey, I'm sorry about earlier. I know a great pizza place down the street. Pizza and a movie at my place?" On the other end, the whir of helicopter blades made hearing anything quite impossible. "I...I can't hear you. Text me Travis!" "Yes Ma'am!" Travis ended the call and began pressing buttons on his phone. As he walked up the stairs back to the pier, he saw an old couple sitting on the bench. "Is that the nice young man you keep ranting on about dear." The old lady asked her husband. "Yes dear, that's the queermosexual with the tiny pecker right now." the old man replied. Travis simply shook his head and kept walking. "Fucking old people." He muttered to himself before happily texting Holly on his cell phone. "Dear, do you want to screw like rabbits on the beach?" The old lady asked her hubby. "Doris, I thought you'd never ask!" the old man said as he quickly hopped to his feet and helped his wife to hers.

#no more heroes #holly summers #travis touchdown #fanfic

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janeykath318 · 7 years ago

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Five Times Jim Lost Clothing In the Line Of Duty

#my fics #genderswap #mckirk #crack fic

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natsubeatsrock · 7 years ago

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My Incredibly Unpopular Thoughts on: Nalu II

Consider this post an OVA. After three years of infrequent posts in this series, I’ve made 13 editions of the series, which, incidentally equates to the number of episodes in a seasonal anime. (And yes, that means the Naruto post all count as one post to me.) So, now that the series is over and I at least hope that someone is interested in seeing more actual analysis against Nalu from me, I’ve decided to bring back this for one more go around.

Keep in mind that the point of this series is that I have a really big post devoted to my thoughts on a subject that I’ll refer to so I never have to talk about it again. A lot of this has and involves analysis but, as the name should imply, it’s clearly and obviously biased. For the most part, I explain my biases but I don’t make it a habit to apologize for having them. If you’re unconvinced, there are plenty of people more popular than me for disagreeing with me.

This should go without saying but read “My Incredibly Unpopular Thoughts on: Nalu” before reading this if you haven’t already. I don’t think this post leans as heavily as many of my other series-type posts do. However, I think it’s important to have a basic idea of my thoughts on Nalu and its fandom before going into this post. Not to mention, it’s one of my favorite things I’ve ever written for this blog, so...

You know, I'm not even sure if I wanted to do this. If you can't tell, I've been pretty chill about Nalu and very transparent about why. I feel as though I shouldn't have to make too many more posts about Nalu considering I don't see it as canon. I've been wanting to retire this series with the previous edition focusing on my favorite character for more than a year. And to be blunt, I wouldn't make this if it were just me talking about how canon Nalu isn't.

However, I've seen a few things that, even though I've addressed them in posts since the end, have pushed me close to the edge. The thing that really set me off has been a realization I, and other Fairy Tail analysts, have come in rewriting the series I already said in an earlier post. And trust me, I’ll get to that soon enough. (read: it’s close to the last thing I talk about)

But let's start with an easy one; I don't care about Twitter sketches. I don't mean that in the sense that I don't find enjoyment from seeing pictures Mashima puts on Twitter. Many are really good and one of the main reasons I got a Twitter was to see his tweets. I've reblogged tons of them, both original sketches and recolored versions and his original Stone Age comic is one of my favorite things he's done for the series.

I mean that in two other ways.

One: The sketches mean nothing to me in regards to if the ship makes sense or is canon.

The fact that Mashima draws Natsu and Lucy in XYZ situation means nothing about them actually being in XYZ situation in the actual series. After all, the series is over and the sketches have little if any bearing on the series. Your ship isn't canon because Mashima drew them for fun.

And I know someone is going to respond with something like, “You wouldn't feel that way if Mashima drew one of your ships.” You know, despite the fact that I said literally nothing about the Pocky Day sketches which involves Graylu.

So, I'll use an example of one of my low-key ships: Natsu and Mirajane. Earlier, Mashima did a drawing of Mirajane and Natsu building a snowman together. And this past Valentine’s Day, he drew Mirajane giving a gift with Natsu giving one for White Day. You know what that means about their romantic prospect to me? Nothing! As cool as it is that he did it, the Natsu x Mirajane ship is still as out there as it would have been otherwise. I ship Natsu with Lisanna over her sister for a reason.

Two: I don't care about the sketches enough to bring this kind of thing up every single time Mashima draws Natsu and Lucy in the same picture.

Everytime Mashima draws them together, someone comes into my inbox and tells me how stupid the Nalu fandom is for thinking that whatever wacky situation Mashima puts them in. Look, I've been in this fandom for long enough to know how this works: Mashima does literally anything Nalu related and it's praised as proof of Nalu as canon. This was always the case with even stupid developments in chapters. Now that those are gone, I'm not shocked the fandom moved to the only thing Mashima puts out for the series.

These exact same things are my thoughts on the Nalu/Gruvia kids from the NYCC trip. There are three quick differences I wanted to add.

I get that Mashima didn't draw other ship kids but that's only because he wasn't asked to.

The kids where a was waste of an opportunity to ask Mashima a question about the series, as thegreatrhapsode has proven with his list of 100 alternate questions.

(I also came up with another 80 or so on some papers I can’t seem to find, though many of mine are more about Mashima and his works than about Fairy Tail.)

As a fun warm-up for rewriting the series, I’ve been working on a scenario for them to exist and meet which will come out eventually. And, as I reiterate multiple times in said scenario, it’s only a hypothetical.

Now, despite talking about this in at least three prior posts, I want to talk about the Nalu ending.

IT'S NOT CANON!

There is no clear and established relationship canonically proven to exist between Natsu Dragneel and Lucy Heartfilia. I can't believe that this is an issue for so many people. There was no confession. There was no kiss. Honestly, I don't even think Lucy thanking Natsu is or even should be considered romantic.

One of the annoying schools of thought surrounding this ending is that Natsu and Lucy are canon, but aren't in an explicitly romantic relationship. That they clearly love each other, but they wouldn't kiss or stuff because that would be out of character. I've even seen people say Natsu chickened out of a confession.

I'm sorry? Are we talking about the same Natsu? I don’t mean that in the sense that there aren’t times where aspects of characters aren’t up for debate. I mean that in the sense of “What convinced you that this was the right context for such a line of questioning?”

I don't think it's impossible for characters to be fearless and headstrong in some situations but timid and scared in another similar situation. I'm one of those people when it comes to performance versus public speaking. But Natsu hasn't been shown to be this kind of person when it comes to romance. Frankly speaking, romance isn't really an explored aspect of Natsu’s character. There are jokes about him and Lucy being a couple and Lisanna jokingly proposing to him, but that's not really grounds to believe he would be shy to confess to her. In a special edition magazine, it was even revealed that Natsu isn't even really interested in romance.

And then there's the other question from Comic-Con: Who do you think Natsu would end up with?

Again, this was a waste of a question. I know that sounds harsh and it’s a question that many people in the fandom may genuinely want to know. But was there literally anything more important that we could have gotten asked? Between two people, there’s a list of near 200 issues with Fairy Tail that were left unresolved at the end of the series. Even if it’s not about the plot hole ridden, contradictory, pseudo-success that Fairy Tail ended up becoming, you don’t want to know anything else about Hiro Mashima the person? I’ve read other works by him and I’d love to know more about Rave Master or Monster Soul or even the more recent Starbiter Satsuki.

That aside, as I said in the past, this was more conjecture than definite. This wasn’t, “Natsu will absolutely end up with Lucy later on in events after the end of the series”. If anything, this was “It’s most likely that, were the series to continue past the ending, Natsu might end up with the literal only female he could reasonably get away with forming a relationship with that isn’t Erza.” (I say even as I ship Natza. #multishipperprobz) He was later asked who Natsu would end up between Lucy and Lisanna and the answer was that it’s complicated. In other words, it’s not definitely in Lucy’s favor, as (and I only mention this because someone will inevitably bring this up if I don’t) it isn’t definitely in Lisanna’s favor.

But, let’s put all those actual facts aside for a bit and genuinely assume that the Nalu fandom is right about this. They’re not, but let’s assume they are. Mashima’s hilariously roundabout way of addressing the elephant in the room that is whether or not Natsu and Lucy are in a romantic relationship is outright confirmation that they are in fact a canon couple. I want you to consider how terrible this should actually be considered for the Nalu fandom.

Pretty much since I’ve been a fan of Fairy Tail, the expectation for Nalu was that they were definitely going to be canon in the series. There was near constant speculation of how and when this would happen. I even mentioned a few times Mashima could have made it canon if he wanted to when I broke down Nalu. The big one I remember, and one I even mentioned in that post, was when Natsu was coming back after the second time skip. This was right around when I started reading chapters of Fairy Tail weekly and actually seeing this made it seem like the fandom really cares about this ship happening.

Obviously, there was no confession at that time, obviously, that wasn’t the first time the fandom reacted in such a way and, obviously, the clamor for such a moment didn’t die down with time. There were plenty of instances where this thing would happen, pretty much up until the last chapter of Fairy Tail. Even going through old chapters of Fairy Tail, I can (only sort of) see where and when people who thought that Nalu was endgame would want a confession to be followed up.This was a big reason people were willing to put up with Fairy Tail despite knowing better. On top of all the terrible arguments used for defense of Nalu, the clear baseline assumption for a lot of it was obvious: “We [the people against Nalu] are all going to be proven wrong in the end”.

So, what does it say that the creator of the series comes out months after the last chapter and say that they end up becoming canon later on in events we don’t get to see? Shouldn’t that make the Nalu fandom seem mad? After 11 years worth of canon material, you couldn’t bother to give the fandom a proper, in-series ending?

In the last chapter, we got 5 pages devoted to Mashima’s Zervis AU, positive signs towards Elfgreen and even a shoutout to Kinabra (it’s probably not as bad as people might think), but Natsu or Lucy can’t even get a thought bubble alluding to their potential romantic feelings that “were totally obvious and you’re blind if you can’t see this”. Every other ship in the Big 4 got, at least, a step forward. Even if you want to argue that what we got from Gruvia or Jerza doesn’t matter considering the Century Quest is a serious step back, Nalu didn’t even make a step forward, to begin with. If anything, it took several steps backward.

This is an incredibly unfair comparison for multiple reasons, but let’s look at the end of Fullmetal Alchemist (or Brotherhood for you anime fans). One ship’s hilariously awkward statement near the end of the last chapter of the series before going on a long journey was definitely supposed taken to be a love confession. And, surprise surprise, it was actually taken to be a love confession in series. On the last page, there’s a picture of their family. (I don’t mention names because I’m trying to keep some mystery for those who don’t know.)

And, because I apparently need to beat this point into the ground, let's talk about Mashima’s plan for Nalu. I feel like I shouldn't have to make any more discussion about this. But I’ve seen someone who said that Mashima’s words on Nalu mean that his plan might be to make them canon later on. In a post a two months after the end of the series. So if you think I was jokingly making a stupid argument with that open letter, you're sorely mistaken.

First off, we found this out during the last arc of the series. There's no way he could have made Nalu any type of reasonable romantic development given that Natsu and Lucy weren't simultaneously conscious during the chapters the afterword in question came out. And if you want to go by what volumes were released around that time, the latest one in the main series had Natsu groping Lucy.

Again.

Keep in mind that assumes that there was enough for them to reasonably even end up in a romantic relationship with by the end of the arc anyway, which, of course, I don't think considering two months before, then I explained why Nalu was terrible in the prequel to this post. And of course, there was plenty of time for them to develop a romantic relationship in the five or six interactions they had in between then and the last chapter.

But consider that this is getting away from the main issue at hand: Mashima’s word on Nalu. He wasn't planning on writing them as a couple originally. And that isn’t just worried about how wasn’t planning on making more of the series past Phantom Lord. He said that their current relationship was somewhere between friends and lovers. That doesn't mean they'll go from friends to lovers. If anything, that means Natsu and Lucy have a relationship close to being siblings, where they care about each other a lot, but not in a romantic sense.

This is probably also a good time to beat my favorite dead horse again: “Natsu should (have) apologize(d).” Mashima is willing to admit that Natsu and Lucy have a really important relationship, to the point that his fans recognize that and want it to be romantic. Why would it make sense to cause a big break in that relationship, recognize that tension exists because of it, and do nothing about fixing it in any context? Now, consider how much of a failure this looks like when you're writing them as a close-knit relationship.

I’m sorry, how is this better than Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon or the Inuyasha ship, WatchMojo folks?

And none of this is even why I've decided to make this post. This is all just extra stuff I've had on my mind before and during the writing of other smaller posts about Nalu. Some of this even came up while I made this post. But those are all small fries compared to the thing that really tipped me off.

This past May, I started going through how I would rewrite Nalu. I figured that, since the ship wasn’t going to be canon anyway but was still popular, there had to be some way I could work them into a romantic relationship. While it was part of the reason I got into rewriting the series as a whole, I realized that I wasn’t going to get very far doing this well. Not because I didn’t like the ship in the original Fairy Tail. But because it would make no sense to put them together given their character arcs.

That’s right. Nalu works against the individual character arcs of Natsu and Lucy.

Look at it this way: if you’re going to focus on Lucy as a character, you should focus on her membership of Fairy Tail. That was her dream at the start of the series. If you're going to on Natsu as a character, you should focus on his search for Igneel. That was his dream at the start of the series.

You see the issue?

Now, this wouldn't be that big of an issue if this changed through the series to a point where they realize they want to be with each other. But in Tartaros arc, they double down on their individual goals. While Natsu’s dreams are dealt with later in that arc, the reason Lucy tracks the guilds whereabouts in the next arc is that she still wants to be with them.

I have more I want to say about how it was handled and how I'd fix it another post, but this is too important to leave for later. Not only was Nalu terribly undeveloped. Not only was it never meant to be canon. Not only is it not canon. Even if it was meant to happen, it would work against both of their supposed character motivations.

There are definitely more things I can talk about. For instance, there’s the double 180 the Nalu fandom pulled where the fandom agreed Natsu and Lucy are definitely in love and would have a kid, shifted to saying that romantic stuff like that would be OOC for them, and shifted into saying they’d have a potentially kinky physical romantic relationship within the span of a few months with no self-awareness whatsoever. But at the end of the day, what would be the point? You know, other than sharing my thoughts with the world? I mean, for all I or anyone else can say about how this ship utterly fails in multiple different aspects, people will still believe Nalu is amazing and canon. There's very little I or anyone else can actually do about it.

The Nalu master list is aesthetically nauseating, but it's more popular than the Nali one. Consider that my post about Nalu not being the original plan has only a fraction of the notes that other posts about that not being the right interpretation do. Many of the points I've torn apart regarding Natsu’s lack of apology are still being used as if they're totally fine. I’m willing to bet there are more posts about how Nalu is actually canon than there are likes/reblogs of my post about how Nalu isn’t canon. (For reference, the number is 12.)

This isn't a Nalu exclusive kind of thing considering I said similar things about Gruvia and Nali last year, but it's still annoying to see my least favorite thing in anime continue to be defended against all odds and reason. A while back, I even saw someone who made a chart about how much of Fairy Tail was pointing towards Nalu, as a teaser for a video they’re making. This series isn’t labeled “incredibly unpopular” for nothing.

I said this in an earlier post, but the anti-Nalu camp isn’t giving me much to enjoy either. I get it, I clearly still don’t like Nalu either. However, the way this fandom has been doing since the end of the series has been annoying. I get that the Nalu fandom is annoying, hypocritical and near unbelievable plenty of times. I’ve seen plenty of stupid with my own eyes and much of part 1 talks about my issues with the fandom. However, I’d love to learn more about why the actual ship fails for so many people then how so many people fail at convincing them.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that I’ll stop finding things to talk about Nalu-wise. A while back, I saw someone make a post about when Lucy could have fallen for Natsu. Next week, a list of 13 Fairy Tail chapters where I think you should have given up on Nalu happening (11 chapters which are in the main series and two special chapters) will be posted in the anti-Nalu tag in response. While some are obvious picks like 416 and 545, a few are places where Mashima could have helped Nalu’s case be more airtight but didn’t.

One of the big first steps to my rewrite of Fairy Tail is how to reconcile the aforementioned “Nalu problem” and I have a few things I have to get to before that. And with the final season of Fairy Tail coming, my own rereading of the series, and more rewriting of the series, I’ll definitely come up with more incredibly unpopular thoughts on one of the most popular things in Fairy Tail.

In Conclusion:

Nalu is trash. It’s not canon, it shouldn’t have been canon and be aware of anyone who would be willing to argue otherwise.

#fairy tail #anti nalu #anti nalu fandom #nalusgonnanalu #i'm back and i'm pissed off #at EVERYONE!#for the record #this only took two weeks to write #i spent months working on FITAGAPEOInTP #and it's about the same length #also happy holidays!#while you're here #i did see the twitter pics #and guys #come on #the series is over

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fitnesshealthyoga-blog · 5 years ago

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New Post has been published on https://fitnesshealthyoga.com/disney-wonder-alaska-cruise-recap/

Disney Wonder Alaska Cruise recap

Sharing our thoughts on our Disney cruise experience to Alaska! We took the Disney Wonder from Vancouver to Glacier Bay, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan. I’ll share our full packing list in an upcoming post if you’re planning an Alaskan cruise!

Hi friends! Happy Monday. Hope your week is off to a great start! I’m finally sitting down and taking the time to write out our thoughts on the cruise. I have so much to say! I hope you’re ok with a super long post, but the TLDR version is that we absolutely loved our Disney cruise… and already booked another one. 😉

When we initially booked our cruise, I have to admit that Alaska wasn’t my #1 choice. I’ve never been on a cruise before, and I figured that my first one should be somewhere tropical or European. We booked our trip with my friend Betsy and her family, and she mentioned that so many people say Alaska is breathtaking and we should give it a try. Plus, it would give us the chance to be a little cold since Tucson would likely be scorching hot. So, we went for it!

We traveled to Vancouver and arrived a couple of days early just in case we got stuck on the way. (I highly recommend doing this, so you don’t miss the boat!) We had a blast in Vancouver, and then Monday afternoon, we boarded the ship to spend seven incredible days sightseeing, relaxing, enjoying family activities and eating so many delicious foods. We traveled with Betsy and her family, and had the best time with them! While the boat was sailing away from the dock, they had a party on the top deck with frozen cocktails, live performers and ice cream for the kiddos.

In pure Disney fashion, everything was over the top: the dining, the performances, the activities, excursions, etc. I know Disney does it right and many people have told us once they did a Disney cruise, they never wanted to cruise with any other cruise lines. After experiencing it ourselves, I can completely see how that happens.

I tried to segment this post into blocks, so it wasn’t just one rambling Disney cruise rave, so here are some of the things that stood out:

Alaskan scenery:

The scenery was absolutely stunning. On either side of the boat, we could see vast forests, glaciers, bald eagles flying (!), whales, and icebergs. Titanic taught me that icebergs are bad, but we sailed through an entire garden of them, so there ya go. We had the opportunity to see landscape and wildlife that we’d otherwise never experience. Now that I’ve been able to experience the true beauty of Alaska, I’d love to visit again some day.

One of my favorite stops was the Mendenhall Glacier. It lightly drizzled as we hiked down to a beach, and the girls played with sticks and splashed in puddles while we watched herons fly overhead.

(P refused to be in this photo because she was very busy gathering rocks)

The Disney Cruise dining experience:

For Disney cruises, here’s how the dining works: you have reservations (either first seating at 5:45 or second seating, closer to 8) at the main restaurants each night. We sailed on the Wonder, so the main restaurants are Tiana’s, Triton’s, and Animator’s Palace. They have you on a rotation, so you can experience each of the restaurants, and you have the same server the entire time. We really got to know our main server, Pipa (the girls LOVED her) and she always knew what we wanted to drink and got the kiddos’ food served extremely fast. (I could always count on her for dinner recommendations, too, so many times I asked her what I should order and she chose the best stuff for me!)

At each restaurant, they had a different theme each night (a Mardi Gras night, Frozen-inspired menu, lobster night, etc.) and you could choose from various appetizers, salads, soups, entrees, and desserts. I was blown away by the variety they offered! On our specific cruise, they served over 10,000 meals per day, and the quality was outstanding.

(Smoked salmon in some form in every single meal. YOLO)

You also don’t have to eat at the sit-down restaurants if you don’t want to! You can dine at one of the quick spots (Daisy’s De-lites serves salads, sandwiches, build-your-own bowls, fresh chopped fruit, and soups), Boiler Bites (hot dogs, mac n’ cheese, chicken tenders, fries, etc.), and Pinocchio’s (different types of pizza!), eat at the buffet (Cabana’s is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and they have EVERYTHING) or you can get room service. All of this is included. They also had a “fancy” coffee shop on board for specialty drinks, called Cove Coffee, and a quick coffee shop where you could also get super healthy smoothies. A couple of times, I ordered a smoothie with almond milk, vegan chocolate protein, kale, spinach, cinnamon, and ice. The specialty drinks and coffees are extra (so is alcohol), but I didn’t find it to be super overpriced. My smoothies were $5 when they’d usually be around $9 at Whole Foods.

(Yes they totally put a Donald Duck on my decaf almond milk latte)

(Living the Mickey bar life)

For most of the days we were there, we did breakfast at Cabana’s – it was so nice to wake up and eat without having to order anything or wait for food to be cooked – lunch at Daisy’s (the girls would usually get sandwiches, or pizza from Pinocchio’s, and a giant fruit platter) and dinner at the sit-down restaurant.

Each of the sit-down restaurants had something magical about them. At Tiana’s, Tiana herself was actually there walking around (and the girl spoke exactly like her! She was wonderful) and live music, complete with a Louis crocodile playing the saxophone. Triton’s felt like the fanciest among the three (but you could still go in leggings and a Disney tee), and Animator’s Palace had Sorcerer Mickey one of the nights. They also gave us special placemats that we could draw people on, and they took the placemats from the entire restaurant and ANIMATED our drawings and had them dancing to a song on one of the many screens in the restaurant. It was so incredibly cool!

Entertainment on board:

They have full Broadway-style shows on board, including musicals, comedians, and musicians. We saw three live Disney shows on the ship, including the Golden Mickeys (my personal fave), Frozen, and Disney Dreams.

They also have two movie theaters playing different movies (including new releases!) all day. The Pilot and Liv saw Captain Marvel, the Pilot saw a late show of Avengers: Endgame one evening, and we all saw the new Aladdin movie as a family. They also have a movie screen on the top deck, where you can lounge on chairs with blankets and eat soft serve ice cream while you watch a show. The ice cream machine was a HUGE hit with the girls. You can literally walk up and make yourself a cone at any point during the day.

We may or may not have played every single Bingo round on the ship. We didn’t get the 7k prize but did win a Disney cruise picnic blanket in one of the raffles. 😉

We went to the gym pretty much every day! It was such a treat to work out together since that can rarely happen at home. We waited until after breakfast, so it wasn’t crowded, dropped the kiddos off at Kids Club, and got in a workout.

Kids’ Club:

Kids Club was a game-changing experience. The girls absolutely loved it, and many nights after dinner, Liv was begging to go back! I felt like it was a perfect balance. The Pilot and I had a couple of hours together each day, and we still spent a ton of time together as a family. The girls usually went to Kids Club after breakfast while we worked out, and again in the late afternoon for an hour or so before dinner (usually while we played Bingo haha).

They have three Kids Clubs on the Wonder: the nursery (for babies and toddlers who aren’t potty trained), and for older kids + potty trained over 3: the Oceaneer Lab, and the Oceaneer Club (which has a play structure inside). They also have a special area for teenagers (I think it’s called Edge). The kids can go from the Lab to the Club via a hallway, and they wear GPS Disney bands the entire trip. When they scanned our card to pick them up (you use one card for everything: to get into your room, to pay, to pick kids up), they can see on their screen exactly where your kids are. “Olivia and Penelope are in the Animator’s room on my left playing with hula hoops.” It was brilliant.

Characters often visited the Kids Club to play games and do activities with the kids. The girls saw Anna, Elsa, Stitch, the GI Joe guy from Toy Story, Captain Hook, and Belle, all in Kids Club. They baked cookies, did a Friendship Rocks show with Minnie and Mickey, had a luau party, and played so many fun games. We didn’t take advantage of this, but they’ll also feed your kids if they’re there during a meal!

Room:

We went with the Deluxe Oceanview room, but for our next cruise, we’re getting a verandah since the difference is only a couple hundred dollars. This way, we can sit on the patio and drink wine after the girls are asleep.

We thought the couch was a regular pull-out bed for the girls to share, but turns out, it’s a bunk bed! Our Stateroom Host, Anissa, would transform it from couch to bunk beds every single day.

Extra Disney touches:

There were definitely special Disney touches during the trip. Each night, we’d come back to the room, and during turndown service, Anissa would create towel animals and leave chocolates. One night, she completely changed the girls’ bedding to princess bedding, and they were STOKED.

The app was also fantastic. You can only connect to it when you’re on the ship’s Wifi, and it enables you to see exactly what’s going on all day, receive messages and updates (like your child can asked to be picked up from Kid’s Club and they’ll send you a message), and texting with others on the ship, complete with Disney emojis. It was extremely helpful, especially as first-timers. I always knew what shows and entertainment were available and could scope out dinner menus in advance. They also had full deck layouts and the weather in each of our stops available in the app.

One night, I lost a diamond earring. I was getting dressed and dropped it, and heard it clank around the room. I spent about 20 minutes searching but couldn’t find it. I let guest services know, just so they would make sure no one went in and vacuumed. When we went back to the room after dinner, I saw Anissa in the hallway and she said, “Your earring is on the glass tray by the closet.” She totally went in and found it for me!

One of the guest service team members chose us as their “special family” during the trip. (I’m not quite sure how this works but I think they each randomly select a family to surprise with goodies). Each afternoon, we’d come into the room from the day’s adventures or excursions and treats would be waiting for us. There were muffins, cheese boards, and cupcakes. It was amazing.

I was blown away by how many character greetings and events they had on the ship. The girls got to see maybe 4x the characters we see at the parks, with way shorter lines.

They also had dance parties (like the Pixar Pals party) in the atrium that were a blast.

Gratuities:

This was something I didn’t know a lot about, so I’m posting it here in case anyone is taking a Disney cruise! While you’re on the ship, you don’t pay many gratuities. (I would just pay an extra couple bucks here and there for specialty drinks.) At the end of your trip, they charge your account around $13.50 per person per day. They split this amount between the different people who take care of you and scale it accordingly. (Like our head server got more of this amount that the assistant server who only got our drinks.) They also leave little envelopes if you want to tip extra. This way, you can be sure to tip an additional amount to the people who went above and beyond (and found earrings for you, etc.).

I’ll do another post with the excursions we chose + my packing list in case anyone is planning a similar cruise!

So, tell me friends: have you been on a cruise? What’s the #1 spot on your travel list?

xoxo

Gina

*This post isn’t sponsored in any way and we paid for all travel and accommodations. We used Costco Travel and highly recommend it! <3

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whimsicallyenchantedrose · 8 years ago

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Under the Apple Tree--Chapter 2

Ship: Outlaw Queen

Rating: T

Synopsis: After being hit by the Olympian Crystal, Robin was transported to Seattle, unable to return to Storybrooke or any magical. When it was clear he had no way to return to his family, Robin finally decided to bury his broken heart in work–founding a landscaping business, Sherwood Forestry. Fifteen years later, Robin receives an order from the last person he ever thought he’d see again, making him realize that hope never truly dies.

Previous: Chapter 1

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~

Rayna Miller stepped into her heels and then gave herself one last look in her vanity mirror. Makeup carefully applied, chin-length near-black hair neatly coifed, power suit both professional and distinctly feminine. Rayna nodded at her reflection, pleased with the effect. She looked every inch the confident and capable business woman.

Good thing, too. This morning she had, quite possibly, the most important business meeting of her life. Not that she’d had all that many business meetings in her life. The daughter of an extremely successful real estate mogul, Rayna had never needed to work a day in her life.

But Rayna wanted to work; wanted to support herself; wanted to make a name for herself. She didn’t just want to be known as the daughter of the late Henry Miller. She wanted to be known for her own accomplishments.

From a young age, Rayna had loved baking, loved the way various and sundry raw ingredients could be brought together to form something new, something delectable. Desserts involving apples were her particular favorite. She made an apple turnover that was without parallel.

In fact it was that very apple turnover that had started Rayna on her current career path. She’d made the sweet, flaky dessert for one of her father’s business associates when he’d dined with the Millers, and the man had raved over it.

“Young lady,” he’d said, “you could create your own catering business with dishes such as this!”

And so she had.

Not long after Henry Miller passed of a sudden heart attack, Regina had used a portion of her inheritance money to open “Apple of My Eye Catering Service.” She could make a mean lasagna when the situation required it, but she far preferred the jobs that required her to simply provide dessert for her customers.

Which was why this business meeting was so very, very important.

One evening, after a full day spent in the kitchen, she’d collapsed onto the sofa and sighed deeply. “I am so sick of having to make full meals for everyone,” she’d groused. “I got into this business to make dessert.”

Her brother James looked up from the book he’d been perusing in his arm chair in the corner and shrugged. “So make dessert.”

Rayna rolled her eyes. “Make dessert? Like it’s just that easy? Yes, I’m sure my clients would be thrilled if I simply refused to make them entrees for their catered special occasions.”

James sighed, that familiar tragic look coming into his blue eyes once again. “Rayna,” he’d said, “life is far too short to waste on a job you genuinely don’t enjoy. If it’s baking that fulfills you, find a business venture that allows you to focus on that.”

James had been right. Oh, the two of them tended to roll their eyes and snark at each other more than anything else, but Rayna knew her brother cared about her. His suggestion that she find a job that allowed her to focus on her passion simply would not leave her.

And so, when Grandma’s Kitchen had opened not more than three blocks from her spacious home, the solution had come to Rayna with startling clarity. If she could talk “Grandma”—Rayna still didn’t know the woman’s first name—into partnering with her, she could sell her own brand of apple-based desserts at the restaurant. It really would be a win-win for both women. Rayna could focus on the delicacies she preferred and Grandma would have a premiere line of desserts that could make a name for her café. Grandma had been skeptical when Rayna first proposed the idea, concerned a wealthy heiress couldn’t be counted on, but Rayna had finally worn her down.

This morning at 9:00 sharp, she was to meet Grandma to make her pitch. It was quite possibly the most important meeting of her life. It felt as though her entire future rode on this meeting.

Satisfied that her appearance exuded precisely the mix of confidence and down-to-earth-ness that Rayna was looking for, she stepped from her bedroom and into her spacious kitchen. The large basket full of crisp Granny Smiths on the counter beckoned to her, and Rayna pulled on an apron and set to work to begin peeling. She had a rehearsal dinner to cater this evening, and she needed to spend every free moment she had making the necessary preparations if she was to be ready in time.

She’d just started in on the second apple when the doorbell rang.

Strange. She wasn’t expecting company. Who could be bothering her at this time of the morning?

Rayna shrugged, rinsed off her sticky hands, pulled her apron over her head, and made her way to the entrance foyer. Opening the door, she found herself face to face with a man dressed simply in jeans, a tee shirt and sturdy work boots.

“Regina?”

For a moment, Rayna simply stared, her heart racing for a reason she couldn’t understand. There was something so very, very familiar about this man. With his warm blue eyes, his sandy-colored hair, touched with gray at the temples, his scruff, there was just something about him…

“Regina?” the man said again taking a step forward. “Is something the matter?”

Rayna shook her head and put her hand out, stopping the man in his tracks. “There is no one by that name at this residence. You must have the wrong address.”

She saw a brief flash of confusion and intense pain pass over the man’s handsome face before he took a deferential step backwards. “Apologies, my lady,” he said. “I…I…it’s just that you remind me of someone I once knew quite well.”

She peered at him for a moment, the feeling of déjà vu coming over her stronger than ever. “No harm done,” she said beginning to close the door. “I hope you find this woman you’re looking for.”

The man stepped a foot into the door way, effectively blocking her attempt to shut him out. “Pardon,” he said, “but I’ve made quite a mess of this. Allow me to begin again. I’m Robin Locksley of Sherwood Forestry.”

He looked at her intently, as though hoping his name and title might mean something to her. “Nice to meet you,” she said crisply. “I don’t mean to be rude, but why are you still on my doorstep Robin Locksley of Sherwood Forestry?”

The man furrowed his brow. “Did you not order an apple tree from my nursery?”

Rayna’s eyes narrowed. “Yes. I ordered an apple tree,” she said in her most regal and imperial tone, “but it was not to arrive until tomorrow.”

“I assure you,” Robin said, “your order was to be delivered this morning. My secretary is quite diligent in her job. Now, if you would kindly show me where your tree is to be planted?”

“I’ll be happy to,” Rayna said, eyes narrowing, “Tomorrow morning at 8:00 am sharp, just as I ordered.”

“I’m afraid that’s quite impossible, Miss…” he looked down at his work order, “Miller. The tree has been uprooted and must be planted today lest the roots dry out.”

This couldn’t be happening! Not today, not on the day of her meeting with Grandma! Not when her entire future hung on this meeting!

“You don’t understand!” she said, a hint of desperation in her voice. “I cannot deal with this today. If I miss my meeting….This is my one opportunity…She already believes I’m just a useless heiress. If I cancel…Please. I can’t fail! Not again.”

Robin’s eyes softened and his hand came up to cup her cheek. To Rayna’s intense confusion, she found the gesture comforting, familiar. “No one believes you will fail,” he said, a gravelly note in his warm voice. “You can do anything you put your mind to, and I will do anything in my power to assist you.”

Rayna’s eyes widened at the tender, supportive words. She was quite sure she’d never met this man in her life, but something about him pulled at her, made her heart race, stilled her self-doubts.

“Do we…” she said breathlessly, “do we know each other?”

Robin glanced aside for a moment and then looked back at her with a sad smile. “I assure you. There’s no way I’d forget knowing you Reg…er…Rayna Miller.”

Something crackled between them, something deep and true and lasting. Something that spoke of forever. Rayna held his gaze for a moment before she blinked and took a step away. She couldn’t deal with this…weird connection with the literal stranger on her doorstep.

Instead, she focused on the problem at hand, desperate to make something make sense again. “Look, I don’t know where, but somehow along the way there was a miscommunication. I have a vitally important business meeting in half an hour, and if I cancel, if I’m late, the perfect career opportunity will slip through my fingers. I simply cannot have my tree delivered this morning. I can’t be here with you.”

“It’s no problem really,” Robin said. “Simply show me where the tree is to be planted. I’ve no need for your presence.”

“I will be gone most of the morning,” Rayna said. “I will not be here to pay you when the job is done.”

Robin shrugged. “All the better. It’ll give me an excuse to call on you again. Perhaps we might discuss the matter of payment tomorrow at the time you believed the delivery was to take place? Perhaps we might even have cause to celebrate the successful completion of your business meeting today.”

Rayna eyed the man skeptically for another moment. Something inside told her she could trust this Robin Locksley, could trust him with her life, let alone the planting of her apple tree. “Very well,” she said. “Return tomorrow at 8:00 am sharp, and I’ll have a check ready for you. Maybe…maybe if you’re not too busy, you could stay for a fresh apple turnover and we can get to the bottom of this mix up.”

Robin bowed slightly, tender smile on his face. “I shall look forward to it.”

Notes:

--So, I’ve decided to set an update schedule for myself. This story will be somewhere around 8-10 chapters long, and I’ll update every Tuesday. I seem to work best under a deadline, so this ought to motivate me to keep this story going.

--Back to the story! Clearly something odd is going on here! Regina not only doesn’t remember Robin, she doesn’t even remember her own identity. Just what’s happened over the last decade and a half, and why it is that Regina believes she’s Rayna Miller, the caterer, rather than Regina Mills, the mayor, will be revealed in due course.

--In fact, we’ll start to get those answers in next week’s update! We’ll not only follow Robin to his breakfast meeting with “Rayna” the next day, but Robin will also meet his rather reclusive neighbor, someone who can be very, very useful in helping Robin “wake up” his soul mate.

--Also…curious about Rayna’s brother, James? Don’t worry; we’ll learn more about him as well!

Tagging a few who I talk to frequently and might be interested: @flslp87 @hellomommanerd @linda8084 @snowbellewells @kmomof4.

#oq ff #oq fanfiction #my fanfiction #under the apple tree

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fernfmp2019 · 6 years ago

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Icelandic Folklore Asmund and Signy

LONG, long ago, in the days when fairies, witches, giants, and ogres still visited the earth, there lived a king who reigned over a great and beautiful country. He was married to a wife whom he dearly loved, and had two most promising children-a son called Asmund, and a daughter who was named Signy.

The king and queen were very anxious to bring their children up well, and the young prince and princess were taught everything likely to make them clever and accomplished. They lived at home in their father's palace, and he spared no pains to make their lives happy.

Prince Asmund dearly loved all outdoor sports and an open-air life, and from his earliest childhood he had longed to live entirely in the forest close by. After many arguments and entreaties he succeeded in persuading the king to give him two great oak trees for his very own.

Now,' said he to his sister, `I will have the trees hollowed out, and then I will make rooms in them and furnish them so that I shall be able to live out in the forest.'

Oh, Asmund!' exclaimed Signy, `what a delightful idea! Do let me come too, and live in one of your trees. I will bring all my pretty things and ornaments, and the trees are so near home we shall be quite safe in them.'

Asmund, who was extremely fond of his sister, readily consented, and they had a very happy time together, carrying over all their pet treasures, and Signy's jewels and other ornaments, and arranging them in the pretty little rooms inside the trees.

Unfortunately sadder days were to come. A war with another country broke out, and the king had to lead his army against their enemy. During his absence the queen fell ill, and after lingering for some time she died, to the great grief of her children. They made up their: minds to live altogether for a time in their trees, and for this purpose they had provisions enough stored up inside to last them a year.

Now, I must tell you, in another country a long way off, there reigned a king who had an only son named Ring. Prince Ring had heard so much about the beauty and goodness of Princess Signy that he determined to marry her if possible. So he begged his father to let him have a ship for the voyage, set sail with a favourable wind, and after a time landed in the country where Signy lived.

The prince lost no time in setting out for the royal palace, and on his way there he met such a wonderfull lovely woman that he felt he had never seen such beauty before in all his life. He stopped her and at once asked who she was.

`I am Signy, the king's daughter,' was the reply.

Then the prince inquired why she was wandering about all by herself, and she told him that since her mother's death she was so sad that whilst her father was away she preferred being alone.

Ring was quite deceived by her, and never guessed that she was not Princess Signy at all, but a strong gigantic, wicked witch bent on deceiving him under beautiful shape. He confided to her that he had travelled all the way from his own country for her sake, having fallen in love with the accounts he had heard of he beauty, and he then and there asked her to be hi wife.

The witch listened to all he said and, much please ended by accepting his offer; but she begged him to return to his ship for a little while as she wished to go some way further into the forest, promising to join him later on.

Prince Ring did as she wished and went back to his ship to wait, whilst she walked on into the forest till she reached the two oak trees.

Here she resumed her own gigantic shape, tore up the trees by their roots, threw one of them over her back and clasped the other to her breast, carried them down to the shore and waded out with them to the ship.

She took care not to be noticed as she reached the ship, and directly she got on board she once more changed to her former lovely appearance and told the prince that her luggage was now all on board, and that they need wait for nothing more.

The prince gave orders to set sail at once, and after a fine voyage landed in his own country, where his parents and his only sister received him with the greatest joy and affection.

The false Signy was also very kindly welcomed. A beautiful house was got ready for her, and Prince Ring had the two oaks planted in the garden just in front of her windows so that she might have the pleasure of seeing them constantly. He often went to visit the witch, whom he believed to be Princess Signy, and one day he asked,

`Don't you think we might be married before long?'

`Yes,' said she, quite pleased, `I am quite ready to marry you whenever you like.'

`Then,' replied Ring, `let us decide on this day fortnight. And see, I have brought you some stuff to make your wedding-dress of.' So saying he gave her a large piece of the most beautiful brocade, all woven over with gold threads, and embroidered with pearls and other jewels.

The prince had hardly left her before the witch resumed her proper shape and tore about the room,, raging and storming and flinging the beautiful silk on the floor.

`What was she to do with such things?' she roared. `She did not know how to sew or make clothes, and she was sure to die of starvation into the bargain if her brother Ironhead did not come soon and bring her some raw meat and bones, for she really could eat nothing else.'

As she was raving and roaring in this frantic manner part of the floor suddenly opened and a huge giant rose up carrying a great chest in his arms. The witch was enchanted at this sight, and eagerly helped her brother to set down and open the chest, which was full of the ghastly food she had been longing for. The horrid pair set to and greedily devoured it all, and when the chest was quite empty the giant put it on his shoulder and disappeared as he had come, without leaving any trace of his visit.

But his sister did not keep quiet for long, and tore and pulled at the rich brocade as if she wanted to destroy it, stamping about and shouting angrily.

Now, all this time Prince Asmund and his sister sat in their trees just outside the window and saw all that was going on.

`Dear Signy,' said Asmund, `do try to get hold of that piece of brocade and make the clothes yourself, for really we shall have no rest day or night with such a noise.

`I will try,' said Signy; `it won't be an easy matter, but it's worth while taking some trouble to have a little peace.

So she watched for an opportunity and managed to carry off the brocade the first time the witch left her room. Then she set to work, cutting out and sewing as best she could, and by the end of six days she had turned it into an elegant robe with a long train and a mantle. When it was finished she climbed to the top of her tree and contrived to throw the clothes on to a table through the open window.

How delighted the witch was when she found the clothes all finished! The next time Prince Ring came to see her she gave them to him, and he paid her many compliments on her skilful work, after which he took leave of her in the most friendly manner. But he had scarcely left the house when the witch began to rage as furiously as ever, and never stopped till her brother Ironhead appeared.

When Asmund saw all these wild doings from his tree he felt he could no longer keep silence. He went to Prince Ring and said: ° Do come with me and see the strange things that are happening in the new princess's room.

The prince was not a little surprised, but he consented to hide himself with Asmund behind the panelling of the room, from where they could see all that went on through a little slit. The witch was raving and roaring as usual, and said to her brother,

`Once I am married to the king's son I shall be better off than now. I shall take care to have all that pack of courtiers put to death, and then I shall send for all my relations to come and live here instead. I fancy the giants will enjoy themselves very much with me and my husband.'

When Prince Ring heard this he fell into such a rage that he ordered the house to be set on fire, and it was burnt to the ground, with the witch and her brother in it.

Asmund then told the prince about the two oak trees and took him to see them. The prince was quite astonished at them and at all their contents, but still more so at the extreme beauty of Signy. He fell in love with her at once, and entreated her to marry him, which, after a time, she consented to do. Asmund, on his side, asked for the hand of Prince Ring's sister, which was gladly granted him, and the double wedding was celebrated with great rejoicings.

After this Prince Asmund and his bride returned to his country to live with the king his father. The two couples often met, and lived happily for many, many years. And that is the end of the story.

( from The Brown Fairy Book , by Andrew Lang )

#folklore

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