#Even though in Amita's case

[londonlingo]

Terms for different familial relations

Here’s a list of words in various languages that refer to different members of your family that don’t exist/we don’t use in English:

La pubilla (Catalan) = the eldest daughter

O/A caçula (Portuguese) = the youngest child

O primogenito/ a primogenita (Portuguese) = the eldest child

Avunculus (Latin) = the maternal uncle

Matertera (Latin) = the maternal aunt

Patruus (Latin) = the paternal uncle

Amita (Latin) = the paternal aunt

Also various cultures call people older than yourself as uncle/aunt as a sign of respect/kindness. For example, kids in Brazil will often call adults tio/tia even though they are not related.

I believe Russian does this but as I don’t speak Russian please feel free to leave a comment talking about this. The same is the case for different desi cultures. Please shed some light in the comments.

[xivu-arath]

How well regarded are your guardians among their own class?

Are they a member of any Orders/Posses/Dens?

ah this is a fun one!

oni-42 is a perfectly average hunter, which is an impression she really works hard at, but it's also simply the case that she's neither terrible nor amazing at anything and so is just kind of... well, she's definitely a hunter! got good precision aim and a great wrist for knife throwing but so do 99% of hunters. the only noteworthy thing might be that she's admired/pitied for taking on more than her share of long, boring patrols in the wilds away from the action, overseeing supply routes and such

she hasn't caught on yet that even if she put no effort in, she still wouldn't stand out nearly as much as she feels she must. rip

kostya is the kingslayer and handles most of the heavy lifting of plot stuff in my personal canon, and so is highly regarded by titans and guardians as a whole. but he also falls into a lot of common problems and traps that most titans tend to, self-sacrifice and putting their duty and purpose well above their own lives, so I can see other titans watching his progress with mild concern, hoping he'll get through it as they have and not blow up early. tbh he should be in an order and it would likely help him but alas I've never settled on one

amita is... controversial. they're undoubtedly a skilled warlock and have published their own treatises and papers on the nature of the light, and studied it intensely with ikora... but they also are the leader of a school of thought that sees the light as a gift that will one day be returned to the traveler, and treats all risen as an inherently ephemeral existence, destined to end. they're not popular with the vanguard, but aren't influential enough to have raised the alarm that osiris did back in the day. they're old enough and well known enough to have petty theoretical drama with all the other cool warlocks though! (and with mara, who does not appreciate a reef heretic becoming a guardian and then coming to the awoken's aid multiple times)

they're also a sun singer, for the Themes

omen-5 is... closest to a warlock, but so old that class boundaries are quite hazy and diffuse to xem. xe is a good research partner and can be very helpful if found and corralled into specific questions, but mostly xe is known as the weird courier risen who gathers bones and will talk your ear off about any and all facets of the natural world. due to being my official twq character, xe is ostensibly a member of the hidden

[riddikulushq]

IC INFO:

Character name: Emmeline Vance Age & Birthday: 20 & September 23rd Gender & Pronouns: Cis-Female & She/Her Occupation: Curse Breaker, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Auror Support (But wants to pursue Alchemy) Blood status: Halfblood Previous house: Slytherin Previous Affiliation: Order of the Phoenix Face claim: Amita Suman Traits: +Creative, Resourceful, Determined, Caring, Proud, Observant -Desperate, Impulsive, Impatient, Reckless, Deceptive at Times

TAKEN BY ELIZA

CHARACTER SUMMARY:

Born to a pureblood father and a muggleborn mother, her father broke generations of pureblood heritage and tradition, severely mistaking the backlash his choice would bring. Emmeline was raised according to pureblood standards that her father still believed in. Therefore she came to eventually dislike her own mother. At Hogwarts she fit in with the usual suspects among the Slytherin crowd, never thinking of another path.

It wasn’t until she lost her father to the war that her view began to shift, slowly until eventually she had found her place within the order. Even though she still struggles to this day, the witch is no longer the one she was before the war and before joining the Order. Emmeline is torn between her old life and that of the new world, so very used to the fight around her. The witch still has some connections among those on the other side of the war, yet eventually came to terms with the side chosen.

After the war she returned to her position of a curse breaker, finishing her training before settling into her seat within the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, helping the aurors with cases requiring the aid of a curse breaker, and with that opting out of working for Gringotts's instead. During the war, though, her love for potions and alchemy has only grown with the witch now very much considering embarking on a new journey all together.

[evermorehqs]

CATCHING MY BREATH, STARING OUT AN OPEN WINDOW

Saaliha Finkelstein is based off Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas. Saaliha is a 25 year old human, pharmacist, and uses she/her pronouns. She has no powers. Saaliha is portrayed by Amita Suman and she is open.

CATCHING MY DEATH, AND I COULDN’T BE SURE

For as long as Saaliha could remember she was told to be handled with care. Most of her early memories consisted of her overbearing and overprotective father, Dr. Finkelstein running a series of tests and examinations to ensure she was in perfect health. Those check ups only became more frequent and irritating as Saaliha started growing up and became more rebellious and impatient. All she ever wanted was to be like a normal kid and spend her days in the playground instead of her father's dreary old practice with only the patients for company. Her life was beginning to feel so lonely and drab that she couldn’t take it anymore, not another second of the soul sucking realization that at thirteen years of age she hadn’t so much as stayed up past curfew. She was restless. Then one cold November evening Saaliha finally decided that enough was enough and she would run away leaving this awful town and her stubborn father in the dust. She packed a bag and planned an escape, out of her bedroom window with the help of her bed sheets but when it was time to go she missed her footing and fell to the ground with an awful thud. That was the worst thing that could have ever happened to her, because it made her Father even more insufferable and even worse, it made him right. That Saaliha was not ready for so much adventure. Furious at her for trying to leave and even more upset that she had gotten hurt he vowed to never let her out of his sight again, and began to treat her wounds at his own practice. Truthfully, she could have benefitted from proper anesthesia and a surgeon as her fathers sloppy handiwork left Saaliha with permanent uneven scarring on her body in the places where the garden decor met her skin. Stitched back together and healing from some sprains and a broken arm, Saaliha retreated to her prison in shame after what she had done. Waiting for her life to become even more intolerable, her hopes and dreams began to wither away like decaying flowers in a vase as she realized it would never get better than this. Luckily she had been wrong. Saaliha spent seven more years in the desperate clutches of her fathers grasp, unable to escape and taste the freedom and joy in Evermore, until she met Jack Skellington. Upon a routine check up for Jack, Saaliha met the novelist in the reception of her father’s practice and they instantly connected. She had never met anyone as charismatic or passionate before, it rekindled the fire inside of her heart to leave that dreadful house and follow her dreams. However this time she was more calculated with her exit and slipped her father something extra into his evening glass of whiskey. Once he was out cold for the evening she dashed out the door and never looked back. He’s come looking for her many times, begged and pleaded for her to come home even though they both knew it would never be the case. And finally, after all these years Saaliha is free to live the life she deserves trying not to dwell on the past.

I HAD A FEELING SO PECULIAR

❀ Alice Liddell: It’s so strange to think that Saahlia could find a friend who is just as curious and full of adventure as she is. However naive they are, two heads are most definitely better than one! ❀ Violet Parr: She’s so quiet its almost like she’s invisible but Saahlia is familiar with noticing things people tend to overlook. And maybe that would be just enough for Violet to come out of her shell. ❀ Beau Max: Saahlia didn’t think she would ever have anything in common with Beau, but it turns out he is a beacon of knowledge and pleasantly surprised her.

THAT THIS PAIN WOULD BE FOR EVERMORE

[swanimagines]

Browsing Freddy's instagram's comment section causes me deep embarrassment. Especially with pics he has put of his girlfriend...

Like sure, I understand that it would be nice if he put a pic of you and called you his darling but please don't go to his instagram and be like "she's not your darling, I'm your darling, break up with her and be with me, I'm better than her" 🤦🏻‍♀️ What, do you expect him to break up with Caroline and maybe wait for a while so he could date you when you turn 16? And other half screams that he's cheating on Zoe or that he should be with Zoe/Jaylen because she's better than Caroline?? Oh god.

And yeah I know Freddy/Caroline probably doesn't take them personally but like... it's still super disrespectful and actually really mean to say such things and people go way overboard with those comments.

And yeah, same thing with every other celebrity. I'm just tired to see fans who think it's right to comment on their personal relationships and berate their partners just because you're jealous? You can fantasize all you want and dream that you actually were their partner but please don't push it on them, it's fantasy and the cold hard truth is that it most likely will never be reality. I might be cynical when I say that, but if you're not a celebrity yourself, you most likely won't even befriend them, let alone date. You wouldn't like it either if your partner constantly got comments from other people being like "OH BREAK UP WITH Y/N AND BE WITH ME, I'M BETTER THAN THEM!!!11"

Just be happy that Freddy is happy. And if you really wish he could fall in love with you someday, start by not spamming him with comments where you say that Caroline isn't good for him and you would be better 😅 He most likely wouldn't appreciate it if you got on a date someday in the future should he break up with Caroline and he got to know by some way that you were one of the most active people who spammed him with NOTICE ME NOTICE ME BREAK UP WITH CAROLINE AND BE WITH MEEEEE

---

//edit: Aaaand people who got hurt by this, I'd advise to read this again. I did say that "You can fantasize all you want and dream that you actually were their partner"...

It's different to dream and fantasize about that and to actually go to your celebrity crush and telling them that their partner isn't good enough for them and that you'd be better... I just think that's really rude to go up to them and say that. Also in the end, you're crushing on their public image, you don't know if you would have a crush on them if you knew them irl. Like of course Freddy shows only his best side publicly, because any visible faults would easily be attacked but everyone has faults, nobody is perfect.

Also I didn't say that even if you did end up befriending Freddy, he wouldn't like you 😅 I said that he probably wouldn't appreciate it if he befriended you or ended up on a date with you and he would find by some way that you've been active with your messages where you have berated Caroline while he's been dating her.

I've said some pretty bad and embarrassing stuff myself on the internet, last time last year and I almost immediately regret saying them after I've posted them, but I've never gone on people's instagrams and been rude to them in any way. You might think that Freddy's flattered when you say that you want him to break up with Caroline and begin to date you instead, but in truth you hurt Caroline by that = you hurt Freddy too (even though I know they probably aren't affected that much because they know a lot of Freddy's fans are really young, but in any case it can't feel nice either).

Again, imagine you're dating Freddy and he puts an image of you on your birthday. The comment section has three kinds of people, 20% of them congratulate you and say you're cute together, 30% say that Freddy should be together with Zoe/Amita/whoever is his character's romantic interest in a movie/show and not you and the rest spam him with YIKES YOU'RE WITH Y/N?????? OH NO THEY'RE NOT GOOD FOR YOU, THEY'RE SO UGLY AND JUST NOT COMPATIBLE WITH YOU, I'M BETTER THAN THEM, DUMP THEM AND DATE MEEEEE INSTEAD!!!

Would that feel good? 😅 I know I wouldn't feel good about that, though I probably would learn to ignore it but it would sting at first.

[rora-s]

The Derivative Chapter 15: Seventeen

Chapter 1 <- Chapter 14

I came trudging into my uncle's office and threw my backpack down in his chair. The three men within the office gave me a concerned look. “Trouble adapting to college life?” Charlie inquired.

I let off a breath leaning on the desk “college students are better but no less annoying than high schoolers�� I declared “I just talked to a girl in one of my classes who asked and I quote ‘are you visiting on a high school field trip?’” I mocked the girl's squawky voice.

Don chuckled slightly “well you are sixteen. Not a lot of kids your age running around these halls”

“She sees me every other day in our class. She borrowed my pencil once” I exclaimed indignantly.

“Ah it seems this fair student was wrapped in her own world to the point of tuning the rest out” Larry declared.

“Yeah or she’s just an asshole” I muttered then glanced at the computer screen on the desk “is that some kind of code?”

“Yes it’s a rolling code for a car remote” Charlie explained, holding up the remote in question in his hand. “It’s actually part of a kidnapping case”

“Kidnapping?” I questioned.

Don sighed and shot his brother a look “yeah it’s a case we’re working.”

I nodded, resisting the urge to ask if I could help. Just then my phone alarm went off. “I have class” I sighed, turning off the alarm and grabbing my backpack.

“I’ll walk with you,” Don offered. I nodded and waved farewell to Charlie and Larry as we exited the office. We only got a couple feet from the door before Don was talking again “so your birthday is this weekend.”

“What? Really? I had no idea” I replied sarcastically.

Don scoffed “I was just wondering if you wanted to do anything? I mean just me and you could hangout or we could have a barbecue at the house with everybody. Whatever you want” he shrugged.

“Uh yeah a barbecue would be cool” I murmured the grip on my backpack tightening a bit.

“You sure?” Don asked. I glanced over to see him looking at me with mild concern in his features.

“Yeah fine” I assured him as we reached the door to my classroom “it’s just…” I hesitated “don’t worry about it it's nothing”

“Okay” Don nodded “have fun on your field trip” he teased.

“Ha ha very funny” I muttered a small smile on his face. He turned to leave and I ducked into the classroom. There was a sinking feeling in my gut and another feeling that I couldn’t quite place and didn’t really like.

________________

3rd POV.

“And no, no contact, in almost seven hours” Don murmured looking at the board set up in the war room. “What the hell are they after?”

“I still think Erica Logan has to be the key” Megan declared standing up as Don began to pace the room. “This kind of radical shift in behavior? There has to be some sort of trigger.”

“Trigger?” David questioned from his seat “like what?”

“I can tell you what a textbook would say,” Megan explained. “Statistically, it’s things like a near-death experience. A person can exhibit an extreme shift in behavior if they survived a plane crash. Another could be a person who’s told they only have a month to live, may act on fantasies of an alter ego.”

“Doesn’t fit, though in this case” Colby objected. “The autopsy would have flagged that.”

“All right, so what else?” Don inquired leaning on the table.

“Uh, parental instinct” Megan offered “the perception of a serious threat to a child.”

“That also doesn’t fit” Colby spoke up again “I mean, her father said she doesn’t have kids, right?”

Don thought about his talk with the man for a second and the pictures in the house realization hitting him “but there was a brother, right?” he asked, gesturing to David who had also been there for the interview “the old man said she practically raised him.”

“Yeah,” David nodded in agreement, sitting up in his seat.

“A younger sibling could be the trigger, if they had developed that kind of relationship” Megan agreed.

“Younger brothers can definitely be a trigger, trust me on that one” Don stated with an edge of humor before going back to business mode turning to David “why don’t you go talk to the old man see if you can get an address on the son.” the agent nodded and started grabbing his things “I mean, I want to get everything we can on this kid, right?”

Colby grabbed his things and followed David out of the room. When it was just them Megan turned to Don. “Speaking of parental instincts, how's that daughter of yours doing?”

“Abby? She’s fine” Don shrugged.

“Really? I mean it can’t be easy being a sixteen year old kid in college” Megan voiced.

Don scoffed “she complains less about it than she did about high school so” he shrugged.

“Well since she’s in a house full of men. Why don’t you tell her if she ever needs a woman’s advice she can have my number” Megan offered.

“Thanks” Don smiled at his partner before she turned and left. Don shifted some files and thought a bit to himself. He’d never thought about it before but Abby was constantly surrounded by guys. The only female influence in her life right now that he could think of was Amita. Was that why she had been so weird about the barbecue?

Don doubted it. Maybe he was just coming to weird conclusions. Maybe the barbecue wasn’t even an issue and she was just preoccupied with the class she was about to walk into when he asked. No, she had a look on her face that told him she wasn’t happy about something. He just had no idea what and now he had to figure it out.

As he turned to leave the board caught his attention again. Parental instincts could change behavior. He thought that was a bit of an understatement.

_______________

Abby POV.

“Oh come on Charlie it couldn’t have been that bad.” Alan objected from the kitchen as the mathematician sulked at the dining room table.

“Actually, I truly can’t explain how awful it was,” Charlie muttered as Alan came out and sat a mug of hot tea down in front of his son and two plates of cake, one for him and one for me.

“Oh, I don’t understand it.” Gramps grumbled “You and Amita. You always got along so well.”

Charlie shrugged “I’m just as confused as you are”

“Yeah well, maybe it’ll be better next time, hmm?” Alan suggested as I just ate my cake and read quietly.

“Yeah, I don’t think there’s going to be a next time in the future” Uncle C sighed as my father entered the house through the front door.

“No, no, you do not give up.” Alan objected. “You never give up”

“Who’s giving up what?” Don inquired.

“Charlie. He blew his first date with Amita” Gramps informed.

“And he’s being very pouty about it,” I added, earning me a small glare from my uncle.

“I wouldn’t say that I- I blew it, Dad or that I’m pouting” the professor objected. “I mean that’s…” he trailed off as Alan gave him a look “yeah, maybe I blew it.”

“And are pouty” I chimed in and got another half hearted glare.

“Wait, what happened, buddy?” Don asked, shedding his coat.

“It’s just we found out that we really don’t have much to talk about outside math” Charlie explained as Gramps got to his feet.

“And you can’t talk about math because?” I questioned.

“Well it’s our work and we want to talk about more than just work” Charlie muttered.

“Oh, man.” Don sighed “Yeah, I know about that. Maybe it’s an Eppes thing you know? When Terry and I started dating, the first thing we said was we weren’t going to talk about work, right? You know, not a word.”

“Don’t say it’s an Eppes thing cuz that curses me too” I complained.

“Hey last I checked your last name was still Calvin so you get exempt” Don pointed out.

“So, how’d you work it out?” Alan inquired, handing his eldest the beer he had just retrieved from the kitchen. “With Terry?’

“Well, I mean, she’s back with her ex but..” Don murmured.

“That’s really very encouraging,” Charlie grumbled sarcastically.

“I didn't mean it like that” Don objected with a slight chuckle “I’m sorry. It’s different with you guys. You’ll work it out.” Charlie just let off a breath. “Meanwhile, I’m hitting a wall with this case.”

“You haven’t found them yet?” Charlie inquired.

“Found who?” Alan asked as Don headed back into the foyer to grab his file off the table.

“A mother and her eight year old daughter, kidnapped.” Don informed heading into the living room with his file.

“That’s horrible,” Alan declared.

“This is the same case with the car key code thing?” I asked.

“Yeah” Charlie replied with a nod as the three of us stood to follow Don into the living room. I brought my book and slice of cake with me.

“Who took them?” Gramps questioned.

“I don’t know yet” Don explained sitting on the couch “I mean, we got this one suspect who’s a bookie, and we think there’s some connection, but we got these files off his computer, and they’re impossible to analyze”

“What are you looking for in here?” Charlie questioned, going to look over the file Don offered him as I sat on the couch next to my father. .

“Well, I mean, the people who financed the operation.” Don explained “this guy’s been running bets through a website called Statswire that dead-ends at a URL in China. And with all the money he’s pulling in and paying out, we can’t tell the difference between the backer and bettors.”

“Well these abbreviations may be names and dates” Uncle C suggested looking the file over “but the numbers in this column here 35-17-11” he muttered as Gramps went to look over his shoulder. “23-17-5, 24-12-3 ½? Yeah I’m assuming that they’re part of some sort of odds making, but they just appear to be at random and they can’t be.”

“You’re right. They’re not random” Alan voiced as I shifted my cake away from my thieving father.

“What are you talking about?” Don inquired.

“Where’s that paper?” Alan muttered standing up and going over to a stack of newspapers “this weekend’s football scores.” he stated grabbing the paper he was looking for and coming back over as we all huddled over the file to look. “Let me see. 35-17-11 here.” he pointed to the newspaper “the Packers beat the Vikings 35-17, and the spread was 11”

“Whoa,” Don murmured.

“Nice catch Gramps” I said with a slight smirk.

“Thank you. 23-17-5. That here, Niners in San Diego, five-point spread, right?” Alan found another “24 to 12 was the Jaguars over the Colts. Huh?”

“Let me see that” Don took the paper and looked it over.

“3 ½ was a ridiculous spread” Gramps commented “I took the Jaguars and made a hundred bucks”

“What, you have a bookie?” Don questioned his father in surprise.

“Busted,” I murmured.

“Should I have a lawyer present?” Alan replied.

“No, I’ll let you slide.” Don murmured looking back over the paper. As I chuckled lightly.

“Wait a minute. If this column is the point spread, I can use it to calculate the ratio of winners to losers” Charlie explained “and potentially trace the payouts and the money flow.”

“Yay teamwork” I murmured.

“Says the girl who sat there eating cake the entire time” Don pointed out. I just shrugged with a smirk.

_________________

3rd POV.

Don got out of his car with a sigh. He was relieved that she had at least thought to text him this time. As he made his way across the grass to his daughter she glanced up at him before her eyes became fixated on the ground.

He sat down next to her in front of the head stone. After a moment of silence he finally spoke “what’s wrong?”

“Why do you assume something’s wrong?” Abby replied, still not looking up at him and she fiddled with her blinders in her hand.

“Because I know you well enough now to know when something’s bothering you” he replied softly. Abby shifted but didn’t speak. “You know if you don’t want to have a party or something for your birthday that’s fine. It’s okay if you don’t even want to celebrate it but I’d like to know why” he explained.

“It’s not that I don’t want to celebrate it” Abby objected. “It’s just-” she took a shaky breath “I suddenly have people to celebrate with and I’ve never had that before because-” she cut off.

“Because what?” Don encouraged.

She took another deep breath “last year we sat here and I told you how much I love and miss my mom now I’m sitting here and- and I’m just mad at her. I’m mad because she didn’t tell you about me. Didn’t let us meet sooner because I spent nearly sixteen years of my life not knowing you, or Grandpa, or Uncle C and because I want to have that stupid barbecue with you guys and I wish I could have had that sooner but-” Abby cut off again and tears rolled down her cheek. “I’m never going to see her again and all I am is mad at her”

Don wrapped a gentle arm around Abby pulling her closer. “Listen Abby, the last year of my life spent with you has been an incredible time. We’ve gotten to know each other and despite some preconceived notions I haven’t managed to screw up being a dad too bad. Right?” Abby scoffed at the last statement, sniffing back her tears. “That said I was a very different person years ago when I met your mother. And the truth is I don’t know if I could have been the father I would have wanted to be to you all those years ago. Heck I’m not even sure I’m the father I want for you right now.” he bit his lip pausing before he continued “not having you in my life all these years… it hurt and when I found out honestly I was mad too but- but I know your mother loved you Abbs and she only did what she did. She only kept this secret because she loved you and she thought it was the best for you.”

“I know,” Abby sighed.

“And now we do have each other and the rest of my crazy family,” he muttered, making her laugh a little. “It’s me and you kid and I’m not going anywhere”

“Thanks dad” she murmured sniffing back tears “but I’m still mad”

“I know,” Don murmured, pulling Abby into a hug “but I’m sure you’ve been mad at your mom before. She can take it and one day you’ll figure out how to forgive her, trust me.”

Chapter 16 ->

[amerrierworld]

Birthday Buzz

Ocean’s 8 - one shot

For anon :)

Summary: It’s your birthday and your fellow team of eight didn’t hesitate to go full out for the party. Especially not a certain blonde biker who’s had her eyes on you all night.

Characters: Lou x fem!reader, the Ocean’s gang

Word Count: 2,074

Warnings: swearing, fluff, drinking. also, uh, kinda nsfw ;) 

You could barely hear yourself think. The music was loud and your feet were killing you. You’d long discarded your heels, and you were sitting by the bar on one of the high stools to relieve the pain that was in your toes. 

Still, you were happy. You were sipping on a drink and watching as Tammy tried to showcase her classic ‘mom-moves’ on the dance floor as Daphne and Nineball cackled at the sight.

Your fellow heist ladies had all come together for your birthday, which made you over-joyed. Lou had made her club exclusive for one night, all for your birthday. The nine of you had partied, drank and danced long before anyone else was allowed to show up. 

There was a bag of presents safely behind the bar you hadn’t yet opened. As the night wore on, and the club opened to all extended friends and dates who had been invited, the space slowly filled up with dancers and drinkers. 

A live band was playing on stage instead of the usual DJ, and the decor had been changed for your birthday. Haphazard balloons were strewn about with your name written sloppily on a big banner. You wore a pin that said ‘BIRTHDAY GIRL’ in big swirly pink letters on your dark red dress and you had a tiara that the girls had given you as a joke. You danced around with it for a while before it flew from your messy hair and you hadn’t been able to find it since.

“Enjoying yourself?” You turned and saw Debbie Ocean standing next to you. You grinned widely at her and lifted up your glass in response. 

“Never better, Debs,” you shouted back over the music. “I can’t believe you all did this for me. Seriously.”

“Oh god, you’re not a sappy drunk, are you?”

You huffed and stared at her in disbelief. “Oh no, god no, I would absolutely never in a million years!”

Debbie laughed and came up to order a drink from the bartender.

“But like, actually though,” you continued. “This is too much!”

Debbie shrugged. “It was all Lou’s idea, really. She went to the moon and back to get you this whole evening. Had to bribe Tams to get a babysitter just to come out here, and promised Constance and Nine free dinner.”

You blushed and shook your head. “Really? God, I can’t believe she’d do that for me.”

“Yes you can,” Debbie retorted playfully. “We’ve all seen the way you guys look at each other, not to mention what you two get up to in the bedr-,”

“Fuck off, Ocean,” you growled, though your eyes were twinkling.

She smirked at you. “All I’m saying is, the ladies and I are just waiting for a proper wedding invitation, alright?”

With that, Debbie sauntered off in her blue party dress, giving you one last salute of her glass before disappearing into the crowd. 

You shook your head and scoffed at her figure walking away from you, finishing your drink before moving onto the dance floor again. 

-

Lou had been keeping an eye on you all night, making sure nothing was happening to you in case you drank too much, or exerted yourself on your special day. She was surprised how well you were holding up, considering she’d made sure you could barely walk by the time you had to get ready for the proper birthday party. 

You had insisted Lou didn’t get you anything for your birthday, and she seemingly obliged. The only birthday present she gave you was her hands and mouth before the party. Which she gave to you over and over again. But then again, she was a con, which made you believe that she probably wasn’t done with you yet.

Despite wanting to be by your side dancing and laughing, Lou had to keep her club in check as well. It was an unbreakable habit. Part of her felt guilty that she had to work to keep the party going, but also relieved because she knew the place like the back of her hand, meaning that your group could party in peace with people that they all knew instead of going around slummy bars in other parts of the city. 

It also meant that you had access to all the booze that Lou had to offer, since you were the birthday girl and she was the owner. 

Making sure that all invited guests had been checked off the list, Lou let herself breathe for a moment and follow you with her eyes. She was mesmerized by you, even as you were talking animatedly to Amita, hands flailing and cheeks flushed like you’d run a marathon. 

Her gaze raked over your figure, not a curve left unseen under the tight material of the dress you were wearing. It was a very good look on you, and Lou grinned at the memory of her convincing you to wear it tonight. 

She then set her shoulders and made her way into the crowd, determined to enjoy the rest of your special night by your side.

-

A warm hand came to wrap around your waist and you didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. You could recognize from the smell of leather and that distinct perfume who was pressing up against your back instantly, swaying to the music. 

“Having fun?” Lou purred in your ear. The music from the band seemed to slow into a comfortable swinging rhythm, and Lou took full advantage of it. 

“Mhm,” you grinned. “Best birthday ever.”

The lights were flashing neon where the dance floor was filled up, but it was still dark enough for Lou to unhurriedly press her lips underneath your ear. You sighed at the feeling and leaned further back. 

“I’m glad you like it,” Lou said. 

“I more than like it, Lou. I’m so happy right now I could die.”

“I hope you don’t mean that. I still had plans for when we got back to the loft.”

You snorted and turned in her arms to wrap your arms around her neck. “If you didn’t want me to die, you shouldn’t have said I had free range of your bar tonight.”

“Hm, I guess you’re right. No more booze for you tonight then, missy.”

You pouted dramatically and Lou laughed, her face lighting up in that way you loved so much. She was wearing a red velvet suit to match your dress, with rose gold jewelry adorning her neck as well as a silk black tie that tucked neatly into her cleavage, constantly drawing your eyes down. 

You lifted a hand to wrap around the tie and Lou’s eyes visibly darkened.

“I’ve always liked you in suits and ties,” you murmured.

“Oh yeah?” her voice was almost a growl. Her hands trailed daringly lower to rest on the curve of your hips, playing with the fabric of your dress.

“Yeah,” you said. “I might even wanna wear some of it sometime.”

Lou’s eyebrow quirked up. “And what’ll I wear then? While you’re prancing around in my wardrobe?”

You shrugged and flashed your teeth at her. “We can always go dress-shopping for you.”

Lou grinned back at you with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Never in a million years.”

You pouted again. “Not even for my birthday?”

“The only clothes involved with your birthday, young lady, are the ones that are going to end up on the floor,” Lou said, pulling you flush against her body with her lips trailing along your neck. Your knees trembled at the feeling.

“Let’s go back to my place, baby, before the others get there,” Lou murmured softly in your ear. “There’s still time to have a little more fun.”

“Hm, but we gotta get a cab and stuff,” you responded stupidly.

“I'm still sober, darling. I can drive us back,” Lou said. You looked in her eyes and saw the want in them, so you nodded, and hurried off to find your shoes before meeting Lou out front to get on her bike. 

-

Now that you were home, you moved to the kitchen to pour Lou and yourself a proper drink as you were sobering up by the minute, only to be stopped by two firm hands pressing you against the countertop, lips attacking your neck feverishly. 

You moaned at the feeling of Lou’s warm lips leaving a trail from your collarbone up to your mouth. She pulled away to press a firm leg in between yours and you gasped at the feeling. You grabbed her tie and pulled her closer, mashing you lips together until neither of you knew how to breathe anymore. 

“I want you,” you said softly. Lou’s hands trailed across your cheeks lovingly and she smiled at you, eyes crinkling behind her makeup. 

“But I already gave you so many birthday presents today, baby,” she argued, her Australian lilt coming in stronger now that she was aroused. You groaned in frustration and grabbed her ass, pulling Lou’s body fully against yours, grinding up against her. Lou’s jaw dropped in shock at the feeling and one hand came to tangle in your hair and pull, hard. 

It felt dirty, humping with your clothes on like this. But you were still a bit too buzzed and lovestruck to care. 

And horny. Don’t forget horny. 

Lou pulled away, breathless, her hair a mess. She took a gulp from the drinks you had poured before looking at you.

“Go upstairs, before the others get here. I want my way with you in peace and quiet,” she ordered. Your head swam with arousal whenever she took control over anything and you nodded meekly. 

“But who says that we were gonna be quiet, Miss Miller?” you said cheekily as you sprinted up the stairs. Lou wasn’t far behind, shedding her blazer and leaving it on the kitchen countertop as you opened the door to the bedroom. 

You stopped in your tracks.

Lou wasn’t usually one for romantic gestures, but you supposed it being your birthday, she decided to go full out. There were rosy lights lit up around the room and a bouquet of roses on the bedside table filling the room with sweet scents. On the bed were a selection of toys that you no doubt had a choice from. You blushed as you recognized some of the ones you had used only that morning. 

“Happy birthday, baby girl,” Lou murmured in your ear before appearing in front of you and capturing your mouth with hers. Her hand pressed something in yours and you looked down to see two tickets to a live show you’d been dying to see for weeks, wrapped in a neat little bow. Your mouth opened in shock and you looked up at Lou, who took the opportunity to kiss you again, pushing her tongue into your mouth. 

You’d have to thank her with words later, because no matter how special the gift was, your mind was somewhere completely different. Lou led you to the bed and pulled away to take a deep breath. 

“Take your pick,” she said, nodding to the collection on the bed. You’d already made up your mind, but to feign innocence, you glanced at the assortment. You were impressed; there were a couple of new ones you hadn’t seen before. 

But instead you met Lou’s eyes again and grinned before grabbing the black silk tie around her neck. Her eyes widened in surprise as you lifted and twisted it around so it was blocking her vision. 

She chuckled as you pulled at the knot, tightening the blindfold. You pushed her onto the bed, straddling her and kicking your heels off in the process.

As your hands began working on the buttons of her vest, hers blindly began working on the ties of your dress and you smirked as she cursed under her breath, failing miserably. Her ministrations were stopped when you attacked her neck by surprise, nipping and sucking. Hands trailed low before slipping under the waistband of her pants and Lou’s grip slackened in defeat. 

As soon as she gave in, and suddenly let you have control, you knew you’d won this round. You couldn’t help but smile a little at the sight of her as you worked to make her come undone.

A happy birthday indeed.

A/N: I said I’d give it a ‘few days’ but I couldn’t resist just posting it now, so here you go :3 the gays ask and so I deliver. Let me know what you think <3 

[tinumiel]

Thoughts on Shadow and Bone

obviously, spoilers, ALL THE SPOILERS BELOW....

What they nailed:

Alina Starkov. I really loved Jessie Mei Li as Alina. She’s fresh, genuine, and she has the cutest smile ever. I’m usually not a fan of adding elements that aren’t in the original material, but I loved how they incorporated Jessie’s ancestry into the story and made Alina half Shu-Han. Not only does it make 100% sense, with Alina being from an area with a lot of Ravkan/Shu-Han interchange, but it also respects both the actress and the story rather than saying “Oh yes, Alina’s looks slightly asian now”. I loved how she was portrayed, I felt like she was a blank canvas that slowly filled with color as her story progressed, and Jessie really brought her to life.

The Darkling. First things first. I love the Darkling, in case that wasn’t already obvious. And I love Ben Barnes, in case that wasn’t obvious either. For some reason, it seemed like the show creators really wanted to rub the “he’s the BAD GUY” powder in my face, but joke’s on them, because Ben Barnes portrayal really added to the tragedy of his character, to everything that he’s been through and to the corruption of his ideals. How he went from an outcast wanting to stand up for himself and his people, to a tyrant fueled mainly by vengeance (if they wanted to make him less sympathetic so badly, why on earth would they include that flashback scene? How lonely he was, how manipulating, how driven. Also, how plainly hot he is.

Darklina. On the same note, the chemistry between Jessie Mei Li and Ben Barnes is insane. There were only a couple of Darklina scenes, but they were so powerful, that I find it hard to believe even non darklina shippers didn’t feel it. To be fair, I’m a Darklina fan (I’m actually a Nikolina fan, but Darklina is my second favorite), so I guess there might be a slight bias on the subject. Just as they were trying too hard to state the Darkling was evil, they tried too hard to make Darklina less appealing (like, they took away the whole Darkling’s real name element, what was that about?). But the actors had such good chemistry that despite whatever attempt the creators might have had to make it clear Darklina is “wrong”, it flopped. They had the best romantic chemistry. Even when they were fighting. Shivers.

The Crows. Flawless. Perfection. Chef kisses. Every single one of my traumatized teenager found family members was perfectly introduces, portrayed and everything was perfectly set up for Six of Crows storyline. Kaz Brekker? Flawless. Freddy Carted had all the aesthetic. Maybe they could have shown more signals of his phobia to being touched, but I guess we’ll see more of that next season. The scene of Kaz vs. Darkling? Didn’t even know I needed it. Of course the one person that could have outsmarted the Darkling would be the Bastard of the Barrel. Kick his shadow summoner ass, baby. Inej? An absolute queen. Her devotion, her faith, her skill. She was simply perfect. Amita Suman is gorgeous and she’s exactly how I pictured Inej to be. Kit Young? He brought the personification of chaotic energy that is Jesper and elevated it to a new plane of existence. Jesper was perfect. His loyalty, his cockiness, his skill, but also his weaknesses, his addiction, his playful side. God, he was amazing. 

Nina and Mathias? Nothing to say other than I love them your honor. I loved that they stuck to Nina’s body type and casted a curvier actress. And Mathias? All tall and blonde and stubborn? My sweet, dumb himbo. Their chemistry was amazing too. The scene in the whaler’s cabin? Even better than I imagined it in the books.

The visuals. The Fold. Ketterdam. The keftas, Os Alta, Tsybeya. It was all so beautiful. Ketterdam was almost just as i imagined it. The fold was even better. I think the one mark they missed was the Little Palace (where’s the golden dome?) and Bahgra’s hut (which wasn’t a hut, it was a cave). The Grisha power. The shadows controlled by the Darkling, the light controlled by Alina, Genya’s tailoring, the Summoners in general. It all looked so cool

Special shoutout to Milo the goat. You brought all the cuteness to the Crows.

What they missed:

Mal. Yes, yes, I know a lot of people are very defensive of Mal because he’s the “good guy”. But my thoughts regarding the character and how lowkey toxic he is belong to another post, because this isn’t about Mal in general, but about Show Mal. I think Archie Renaux did great with what was handed to him, but he was handed a pretty dull deck. I had the feeling I was going to like show!Mal much more than Book!Mal. In fact, I didn’t even think it was possible for it to be differently, but it was. I was rolling my eyes at Mal more times in one season of the show than I did in all three books. I saw none of his charming scenes, his womanizer moments, his sarcastic comments that landed so well with the situation. Mal’s sense of humor was one of the key factors that make me like the character to some extent in the books, and I felt none of that in the show. They wanted so badly to show him as this Mr. Right Person for Alina, that it was like that was his only personality trait. They really did Archie Renaux dirty because I’m sure he could have done wonders if the writers had included just a little more of Mal’s humorous side.

Malina. Kind of goes hand in hand. Just like with Mal, I won’t go into why I dislike the ship as a whole, but why I felt like the show missed the mark on it. It felt so incredibly forced, like they were trying to shove it down the audience’s throat. The actors had great chemistry portraying best friends, but I felt 0 romantic chemistry. Look at Kaz and Inej, they never once adressed their relationship directly, and yet the chemistry was still there. So then it seemed like they tried to compensate that by throwing in all those flashback scenes, but you can’t construct a ship solely on that, because we are not following that story, we’re following the present story. The thing about Malina in the books, is that the readers could actually decide for themselves whether they liked it or not, while in the show they were pretty much forcing you to. Also, I felt like they missed Alina’s initial crush on Mal while he didn’t really see her that way at first. If they had included that, maybe it would have seemed a little bit less forced rather than having Mal make heart eyes at her from the first moment.

Zoya. I was low-key disappointed of her because I missed a lot of ehr coldness, her superiority and her elegance. Zoya was this powerful, ambitious grisha, proud, cold, charming, sassy. While they gave her most of her lines from the book, I felt like the show reduced her to simply a local mean girl pinning for the Darkling, with little self control over her emotions, when we know in truth no one had a better control over her emotions than Zoya, and that it takes a lot more than two punches to trigger her. I wanted to see more of the #Queen and less of the #Meangirl

That was pretty much all. The rest of the secondary characters were all good, I just didn’t mention them because I focused on what really popped out to me. I’m excited for season 2, especially to see the Ice Court Heist, and, of course, to see the arrival of our lord and savior Nikolai Lantsov (all though I am terrified of his casting because he’s just one of those character you NEED to be perfect).

[aion-rsa]

Shadow and Bone Review: Netflix Adaptation Brings the Magic

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This Shadow and Bone review contains no spoilers.

Millions of readers worldwide love young adult fantasy fiction, but even the most wildly popular titles—Sarah J. Maas’s Throne of Glass series, Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunters books, Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games trilogy, and many more—are generally written off as “guilty pleasure” escapism, shallow, meaningless stories for people who just aren’t ready to take real literature seriously. (Barf.)

Part of this reaction likely stems from the widespread public backlash to the few young adult fantasy series to gain mainstream popularity, like the Twilight saga or the aforementioned Hunger Games. But, in truth, the dismissive attitude toward these stories most often feels like straight-up misogyny. After all, this is a genre that not only tends to be most openly appreciated by women but also one that unabashedly centers complex female characters in its stories. Often several of them at the same time!

Therefore, the arrival of Netflix’s Shadow and Bone is exciting enough for its own sake: It’s a propulsive story with great characters set in a fascinating, fully realized fantasy world. But it’s also something of a statement: That this sort of fiction—and the women who both champion and most frequently star in it—have an important place in the world of genre storytelling. And, thankfully, this is a series that more than lives up to the pre-release hype.

Leigh Bardugo’s bestselling Grishaverse novels are full of the sorts of details that tend to make for great fantasy television at its most basic level. There’s a war-torn kingdom battling both foreign enemies and an ever-expanding literal darkness, a complex system of magic that both empowers and alienates those who possess it from the bulk of society, and a girl looking for a place to belong who must ultimately claim her own power. (Quite literally in this case.)

Read more

TV

Shadow and Bone: Why Netflix Cast Its Fantasy Adaptation With Relative Unknowns

By Kayti Burt

Books

Twilight: What Was The Deal With Jacob and Renesmee?

By Nicole Hill

In the kingdom of Ravka, elite magical soldiers known as Grisha can manipulate matter at its most fundamental levels, allowing their orders to control specific elements like fire (Inferni) and water (Tidemakers), solid objects like metal or textiles (Durasts), and even various aspects of the human body (Healers and Heartrenders). The primary story of Shadow and Bone follows Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li), an orphaned soldier and map maker whose mixed-race heritage has often left her feeling out of place in the only country she’s ever known. (The decision to complicate Alina’s racial background is one made specifically for the Netflix series, by the way, and it’s a great choice.) But when her childhood best friend Malyen Oretsev (Archie Renaux) is named as part of a military unit ordered to cross the deadly Shadow Fold —literally a giant wall of darkness full of monsters that’s hundreds of miles wide—she unleashes a power she never realized she herself possessed. Alina, you see, is not just a Grisha, but a legendary Sun Summoner, whose powerful light-based magic could destroy the Fold forever.

Whisked off by the mysterious General Kirigan (Ben Barnes), the commander of Ravka’s Second Army—a.k.a. the one with all the Grisha in it—to learn to use her newfound abilities, Alina finds herself separated from Mal and everything she’s ever known. Thrust into a world she doesn’t understand and with powers she can’t entirely control, Alina will have to decide whether to trust Kirigan, with his equally rare shadow-based abilities and promises that they can change the world together.

The Netflix drama actually combines two of Bardugo’s book series into one—the fantasy adventure trilogy also titled Shadow and Bone, from which this adaptation takes its name and the bulk of its plot, and the more heist-oriented duology called Six of Crows. Since the latter technically takes place several years after the former, chronologically speaking, the Netflix series invents a prequel plot for key Six of Crows characters Kaz Brekker (Freddy Carter), Inej Ghafa (Amita Suman), Jesper Fahey (Kit Young), and Nina Zenik (Danielle Galligan) that ties them all more firmly into the main Shadow and Bone story.

If you’ve read Bardugo’s books, your mileage is likely to vary on how you feel about this choice. For the most part, it works, even if it takes several episodes for the Crows crew to feel like they aren’t having a completely different adventure on a totally different show. Jesper and Inej particularly benefit from the additional backstory provided here, and Galligan’s Nina is every inch as delightful as anyone might have hoped. Viewers who have not read Six of Crows may struggle to understand precisely what motivates Kaz, but his complicated relationship with Inej is almost compelling enough to make up for it.

In fact, one of the most striking elements of Shadow and Bone is the care it takes with all its central relationships—potentially romantic or otherwise. One of the criticisms most frequently leveled at popular YA fiction is that their stories are often flimsy excuses to create love triangles for fans to fight over. (See also: Gale/Katniss/Peeta, Edward/Bella/Jacob, etc.) But this series actually goes above and beyond in this department, adding a depth and nuance to Alina’s relationship with Mal that isn’t always present in the novel—and has nothing to do with romance. (Though, reader, I ship it a lot.) That same care and thoughtfulness is applied to pairings throughout the show’s canvas, and it’s truly wonderful to see.

Netflix has also clearly spared no expense in its creation of Bardugo’s fictional world, from the dense, crowded streets of Ketterdam to the magic-filled training grounds of Os Alta’s Little Palace. This is a universe that not only feels carefully thought out but fully lived in. Sure, Shadow and Bone might have done a better job of explaining the specifics about how these locations all relate to one another (Kerch is actually a separate country! West Ravka is not!) but it’s hard to be but so angry at something that generally feels like the pages of a beloved story come to life.

cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });

It’s true, Shadow and Bone is not a perfect adaptation of Bardugo’s novels. Several important secondary characters barely seem to merit a mention onscreen here (sorry, David Kostyk), and the rushed sequences at the Little Palace generally leave most of the secondary Grisha and their abilities feeling sadly interchangeable. And the series doesn’t always do the greatest job explaining the basics of Grisha life for casual viewers—I’m not sure it ever really spells out the differences between the various orders, nor does it go into tremendous depth about why things like Morozova’s stag exist. Yet, as a whole, the series feels often feels downright magical, a thrilling adventure that always remains firmly anchored in the story of the complex heroine at its center. Bring on Siege and Storm.

The post Shadow and Bone Review: Netflix Adaptation Brings the Magic appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[ververa]

Bruised hearts

@misssmephisto thank you for help with the title <3

Tammy x fem!reader

You're the youngest member of the Ocean's family. It didn't really give you a better choice of your life path than being a criminal like all the rest. Well, of course you could be like other people in their early twenties. That's what your grandparents, as it was them who brought you up mostly wanted for you. Go to the university, study the medicine or any other subject that wouldn't be connected with crime. Your grandmother kept on saying that she'd always wanted you to be a doctor. To have a normal, non criminal life, but you were too stubborn. You wanted to show them, especially your father, what you're capable of. Though it didn't exactly go smoothly. The plan you had failed miserably and you ended up in jail just as your aunt did.

There wasn't a way to escape that fix. Even the group of lawyers, that your grandparents had hired, wasn't able to help you avoid the troubles. 

"I'm too young to go to jail" you used to laugh, but the court didn't care about your age. You're 19 and sentenced to 5 years in prison. There was no point in fighting. Actually you're hurt too much to even think about it. Your friends, partners in crime set you up. It wasn't that you didn't do that. You did rob the bank, but you didn't do it alone. However, all evidences were against you and so the jail became your new place of stay.

You didn't have an easy time there. Everyone knew who you're and they didn't like you at all. 

At the beginning you're a mix of cynicism and confidence. The fact that you couldn't keep your mouth shut didn't spare you from getting into a few fights, in which they beat the brains out of you. Also being young and pretty had a huge impact on their actions. 

Luckily for you the court agreed to conditionally release you after 2 years. Mainly because of the poor state of your health. The reason didn't really matter. For you the most important thing was the freedom. You're going to be free again, on certain conditions of course, but everything was better than that hell. 

Your parents were death, grandparents were done. They didn't believe the rehabilitation could work in your case and didn't even want to try it, so they sent you to your aunt. 

Well actually they'd sent your aunt to pick you up. She didn't have a choice and was basically forced to take you, which made everything worse for you. You hated being a burden, but there you were. Standing outside the building and waiting for her. You're dressed in a black pair of jeans and a pink hoodie. Normally you'd never wear something that's not black, but well that was what your lawyer had brought you from your grandparents' house to wear. It was of course your grandmother's idea to buy you that pink shit, but did you have a choice? So, you put it on. You were well aware that you looked nothing, but ridiculous in that pink clothing and with your black eye, but lip and tattoos on your hands that were still visible despite the long sleeves your hoodie had. You could feel the guards looking at you, but luckily your aunt arrived and finally you're able to hide in the car. 

There she was - Deborah Ocean in person.

"You decided to change your style or something?" she joked looking at you "Also what happened to your face?"

"Well, that shit is what grandma has sent me" you pointed to the hoodie "And my face… let's say that people in jail don't like me"

"Okay. I get it. Well, when we get home I'll give you something, so you can take off that piece of shit… and we'll take care of your face too"

You smiled. It's been a long time since you had seen each other, but your bond was so strong that no time could empoverish it. Debbie was your godmother and since your biological mother died she was far more. She was the only real mother figure you had ever had. And being close to her alone made you feel a bit more safe and calm. Though you still couldn't forget about your negative experiences from prison. 

"You look like a shit" Lou stated as soon as you entered

"It's nice to see you too"

"Oooh, come here" she pulled you into a hug

"Ow!"

"What? What's wrong?"

"Well, I had my ribs broken, but it's a long and boring story"

Lou looked at Debbie, but said nothing.

"Anyway" began your aunt "We're going to stay here for now. I'll show you your room. Lou, could you give Y/N something else to wear?"

"Sure" she nodded

"We're going to meet with the rest today. So you'll meet the whole squad" Debbie said leading you to your room

"Cool"

"And we'll need to lay down some rules"

After Lou gave you some normal clothes you decided to go to your old place and get yourself your own stuff. It took you more than you expected, so when you finally came back it was already the evening. You entered the warehouse and slowly closed the door not realising that the place was full of people. You turned back ready to head out to your room and you froze. You stood there dumbfounded with your mouth full of gum, (which you couldn't help and needed to buy, simply because you had forgotten how it tastes) and the group of 7 women, from who you knew only 2, was looking at you.

"Who the fuck are you?" asked the one with dreadlocks

"Guys" Debbie started coming towards you "This is my niece. Y/N" 

"Niece? You mean… she's Danny's daughter?"

"Yes, exactly" Lou answered moving to stand next to you "Y/N, meet our squad. Nine Ball, Amita, Constance, Rose and Tammy"

"Hi…" you said

"Okay. It's time to establish rules. Y/N is now living here, though she's not allowed to be around the heist or any other things like that. You hear me?" she looked at you

"Yes, boss" you nodded 

"Why? I mean is that an overprotective mothers' thing or what?" asked Constance

"Not really" said Lou

"She just got out of jail and we don't want her to go back there, right?"

"Yeah" you chimed in

"So, you're allowed to help here, but you can't leave and you know… just don't break the law and try to be invisible"

You did as you're told. You acted as if you weren't there, though it turned out to be harder than you assumed at first. They let you help, of course, but not in the way you'd want to. They treated you more like a servant who was doing all the donkey work. They were hungry? You're there to buy and bring the food. They needed a transport? You're there to drive them anywhere. It got to the point that you're taking care of Nine Ball's sister and taking Amita's mother to the doctor, because Debbie needed them at that time. The only one who wasn't using you seemed to be Tammy. She was always so kind and you found it strange. You're so used to being treated badly by everyone that you simply didn't know how to act around her. It was hard to explain, but even though you're done and frustrated with all the rest, when she appeared you're just happy. You're so genuinely happy that you couldn't stop smiling, which probably made you look like an idiot. 

It was one evening, when both Nine Ball and Tammy were staying at your place for the night. You're supposed to share your room with Nine Ball. It was fun, but only at the beginning. After some time you're done. As you got out of prison you wanted space. You craved privacy and peace more than anything, so you left the room and went out to the balcony. You're enjoying the night and your own company, when she appeared from nowhere. 

"You'll catch a cold" you turned back and saw Tammy

She was dressed in a white T-shirt, black jogging pants and a long grey cardigan sweater. Her blonde curls were falling on her shoulders and she looked even more adorable than usually.

"What are you doing here? It's late you know"

"I can't sleep" you smiled weakly "I just you know… don't like sharing room with anyone I guess"

"Why? I mean… well when I was younger I really liked spending nights at my friend's. You know we had pyjama parties" she smiled at the reminiscence

You didn't say anything. It was hard to talk about jail, so you preferred not to talk at all.

"Nice tattoos by the way" she said 

Only then did you realise you're there only in a T-shirt and shorts that were exposing your ink-covered hands and legs.

"Thanks" you said shyly

"Does each one of them has a special meaning?"

"Probably…" you shrugged

"Okay. You're part of a "don't ask, don't tell" culture. I get it"

"No. I mean yes. I mean not exactly…" you started rambling

"It's okay. I'm fine with it. We don't need to talk if you don't want to"

"No. I mean I want to just I… I'm not like me since I got out. I'm still trying to get used to being free, but it's hard when all I'm doing all the time is being a kind of servant"

"You're not a servant! Well, I was going to ask you if you'd like to help me with... you know the fence's things" she laughed "I thought that since you cannot really be around heists maybe you'd like that"

"I would love that" you said happily

"So, have you ever worked with any fence before or… am I your first?" Tammy asked arching her eyebrow playfully

"Oh, well, yeah… I guess I did. Though you're the best of them all"

" You're sweet" she smiled and wanted to say something more, but her phone called "I'm sorry, it's my son"

"It's okay"

Tammy smiled apologetically and pick up the phone. Listening to her talking with the kid made your heart melt. She was so kind and caring. She was perfect and just by listening you could say she was a great mother. 

"We want to tell you something" Lou said that evening when you're all gathered in the living room of the warehouse

"Yeah?" Constance began

"What's up guys?" Tammy asked

"So…" Lou continued

"We're together" Debbie finished for her 

"We know that already" Amita said

"You do?" Lou looked at us

"Told you, you're a little family with your dear daughter Y/N" Nine Ball affirmed

"Ooo guys, but I was always curious" Constance began

"Curious about?" Debbie asked 

"Who's the top?"

You almost choked with the juice you're drinking.

"Are you okay?" Tammy asked

You only nodded not being able to speak. 

"I am" both Debbie and Lou said at the same time

"I don't want to listen to it" you said standing up and making your way to the balcony

You stood there for a while alone, before Tammy joined you. 

"You alright?" 

"Yeah. Just listening about my aunt's sexual life is not my thing"

Tammy laughed

"I see"

"By the way" you began "Your kids are really lucky to have such a mother like you. I mean you're for sure a great mother. You're so kind, caring and patient"

"Thank you. But I think I'm nothing special. I mean I'm like all the other mothers. Yours is the same probably"

"Actually no. My mother died when I was a kid"

"Oh my god. I'm really sorry. I didn't know" 

"It's okay"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure"

"How it happened that you ended up in jail?"

"Well it just probably that I'm attracting all the possible problems and I tend to trust wrong people… and you know it kind of scares me. I don't want to go back to prison, but knowing me…"

"Not this time, sweetheart. I'll keep an eye on you and nothing bad will happen"

There were only 4 days to the heist when the babysitter, who were taking care of Tammy's children got sick. 

"Deb, I can't stay. I need to go and take care of my children" Tammy said collecting her things 

"You cannot work not being here" Ocean stated

"I know that. I'm really sorry, but I have to go"

"Tammy, we need you here. I need you here"

"My children need me too. I'm the mother. In responsible for two living human beings, who are too little to stay in their own"

"Y/N will go" Debbie said as you entered the room

"Will go where?" you asked confused

"You'll go to Tammy's house and stay with her kids for a few days"

The word 'kids' hit you harder than anything. You had never been responsible for any other breathing creature other than yourself and the thought of not only one, but two little kids scared the shit out of you. The three of you stood there in an awkward silence for a few minutes. They're both looking at you with anticipation. Debbie's look was nagging. She didn't hear a 'no' too often, so for her it was rather obvious that you must agree. It was different with Tammy. She didn't want to push you into anything, definitely not into staying with her children, who she knew can be bratty at times. She was looking at you and you could say she's worried and stressed. How could you say no to those beautiful, brown eyes? How could you say no to the woman that you absolutely adored?

"Okay. I will" you agreed

"You will?" Tammy exclaimed

"I will" you repeated

"I don't know how to thank you"  Tammy said when you're on the way to their school

"You're welcome TamTam" you said and realised that you actually used the nickname "Oh shit. Sorry. I…"

"No no. It's okay. You can call me 'TamTam'. I like it" she smiled 

You reciprocated the action and nodded.

"Aren't you afraid of  you know… leaving your kids with me?" 

"No" she answered "No" she looked at you "Why would I?" she asked frowning

"I was in jail…"

"So what?"

"Usually normal people…"

"Sunshine, I'm the fence. I'm definitely not a normal person" she laughed "Look, we all make mistakes sometimes, but it's normal. We're only humans after all"

"But…"

"I'm more worried about you than them. I know they'll be safe with you" she said placing her hand on top of yours

"I'll be fine" you smiled looking at her hand. 

"I hope so" she said lightly squeezing your hand

The kids ran to their mother as soon as they saw her. 

"Hi guys" Tammy greeted them

"Your back!" a girl exclaimed

"We've missed you" a boy said shyly 

"Oooh, I missed you too" she hugged them

"Mommy! Mommy! Bella invited me to her birthday. Can I go?" the girl asked excitedly

"I think you can…"

"Ooo I won the competition for the best drawing"

"That's great sweetie"

"If May can go to Bella, can I go to Matt?"

"Sure buddy"

You watched Tammy listening to her kids rambling, before she finally managed to cut them off.

"Hey! Hey guys! We'll talk about it all later. I want you to meet someone" she turned back to look at you "Mabel, Max this is Y/N"

And in one second all their attention was on you.

"Hi" you said

"Hello, I'm Mabel" the girl smiled sweetly, just like her mother always did

"It's nice to meet you" you smiled back "And it's nice to meet you too" you moved towards the boy, who seemed to be shy "I'm Y/N" you offered him your hand

"I'm Max"

"That's a cool name"

"Thanks" 

"Listen, I need to go back to the town for a few more days and Y/N is going to stay with you"

The kids nodded. 

"Let's go back home, okay?"

"Can I sit in the front seat?" asked Mabel

Tammy looked at you questioningly

"Sure" you said 

"Thank you" Mabel said happily 

"You're welcome"

You sat at the back seat with Max, who got really interested by your tattoos. So you started telling him various stories about each of them. You got so absorbed that at first you didn't notice Tammy looking at the two of you in the rear-view mirror. But when you did, oh man, that huge grin on her face. Your eyes met in the mirror and the only thing you could do was smile shyly, as you could feel how your cheeks turned pink. 

"When will you come back?" Max asked

"Soon. Mommy will be back as soon as possible" Tammy hugged the boy and kissed the top of his head "Come here" she addressed Mable "Be a good girl and help Y/N take care of your brother, okay?"

The girl nodded and then took her brother home leaving the two of you alone. 

"Y/N, I don't know how to thank you"

"There's no need to thank me"

"I promise I'll make it up to you. If anything happens call me. I'll be calling everyday. They can be bratty, so if anything don't go easy on them"

"Don't worry. I'll handle everything"

"I know you will"

"Okay. You should go back, it's getting late and we don't want you to drive at night, do we?"

"Of course not" she smiled

Tammy came closer and hugged you. She wanted to kiss your cheek, but at the same time you wanted to say something more. And that's when it happened. Her lips were on yours. 

"Oh fuck, TamTam, I'm so sorry" you immediately stepped back terrified of what had happened

"First don't curse. Second, it's okay. It wasn't your fault. Well actually it was nobody's fault. I don't know if we can even talk about any fault. Never mind, have a good night sweetheart. I'll call you when I'm back at Lou's"

You only nodded not trusting your voice. You waited until she drove away and then entered the house. You touched your lips remembering the gentle touch of her lips. You wanted to memorise it, knowing that it was the first and probably the last time when you were that close. 

Tammy's kids were simply adorable. And you couldn't help, but like them more and more with each day. 

They're siblings, but they're completely different. Mabel - was older. She's 7 and definitely was more outgoing than her brother. She was a little chatterbox and it was impossible for anyone to outtalk her. Of course you're the exception to this. It was only thanks to the fact that you knew a few different languages and your ability to talk in them amazed the girl to the point when she was just silent and wanted to listen to you instead of talking. 

Max was completely different. He's 2 years younger than Mabel. And if you hadn't knew better you'd say he's just shy, but with all the experience that you had after being in prison you knew almost at once that he was bullied. You tried to talk with him about it and wanted to find a way to help him, but he closed up feeling too insecure. 

"Mabel, do you know who's bullying your brother?" you asked the girl one evening

"I'm not sure, but I think it's the PE teacher. You know Max doesn't really like to play any sports… and the man is just rude"

"Did he talk about it with your parents?"

"He tried and told our dad, but he told him to stop blubbing. You know, our dad sometimes get really nervous…"

It took you some time to finally got to the boy. He told you everything about the teacher, who kept on poking fun at him, because he was smaller than other boys and didn't like playing with the rest. When you found out that Max got a suspension, because of that arsehole you seethed with anger. 

You didn't really think it over. The next day you just called your friends - two muscular men - and went to school. You didn't need to try to hard, as the two men accompanying you were enough to scared the shit out of the guy. You just put things straight. 

You knew it helped when you picked the kids up later that day. Max was talking all the way back home, not giving his sister a chance to cut him off. He was so excited and happy. 

"You're so much better than our dad" Mabel said when you're sitting in the living room "You took care of Max. You never yell and you're not rude towards mommy..." she counted as you're getting ready to brush her long hair

You didn't know what to say. Luckily for you Max rescued you - stating excitedly that Tammy's calling. She was doing it every evening. It was a kind of habit - her checking on children and partially on you too. You're usually brushing Mabel's honey hair and just listening to them talking. But that time it's different. Instead of calling on the phone Tammy used Skype, so Max put his laptop on the coffee table right in front of you and Mabel. 

They're telling her about their days, how it's at school and so on. But you stayed silent. You're still thinking about what Mabel told you and were definitely too focused on the girl's hair to even notice that Max climbed onto the sofa and hugged you from behind. You're already used to. He was doing it basically every evening, though Tammy hadn't called on Skype before. For her it was the first time to see the three of you like that - you on the sofa with Mabel sitting on the floor, between your legs, so that you could have a better access to her hair and Max - almost completely leaning against your back, with his tiny hands embracing you in a hug. That was absolutely incredible for Tammy, because her son hugged nobody, but her. When you're finally done with Mabel's hair you looked up only to see Tammy starring at you with something that you hadn't seen in her eyes before. 

"It's time to sleep" she stated still looking at you

"Noooo" "We don't want to" the kids started complaining

"Hey, guys no. Your mom is right. It's late and tomorrow you both have school. It's time for bed" you said

 They exchanged a knowing look and went for a hug. You hugged them both and soon they disappeared in their rooms.

"What?" you asked seeing Tammy's surprised face

"Nothing. Just you… I don't know how you did that, but my kids adore you"

"That's my charm" you joked

"I have no doubts it's that" she smiled

 You blushed and you're sure that your heart skipped a beat.

"You should get some sleep too, TamTam"

"Yeah, probably. Well, my charming lady, I'll come to see you tomorrow"

Tammy couldn't remember the last time she left her children for that long. She missed them and that was something normal, but missing you? She was confused because of the feelings she couldn't identify with anything she had felt before. 

The evening of the Gala finally arrived. Everything was ready. They were ready. 

Tammy was on her position, completely focused on her task until she saw you. Her eyes widened as she noticed you dressed in a black suit. You smiled at her and for those few seconds nothing around her matter. 

"Ask her out already" Nine Ball whispered passing next to her

"It's about the time" she heard Lou's voice

"I don't know what you're talking about" she said readjusting a headset in her ear

"Are you kidding me? Are you seriously that oblivious to it TamTam? Can't you see it?"

"Geez Lou! See what?"

"The way her face lights up every time she sees you"

"Ladies, can you postpone this talk?" Debbie spoke up "Also, we need to talk TamTam"

"Deborah Ocean, stop it, right now. Don't stress Tammy out"

"I'm only saying that if she's into my niece, we need to talk about it"

"Can we maybe focus and stick to the plan?" Tammy asked

"Don't think you can go without it, TamTam. That's not how things work"

You didn't really participate in the heist. You're there only for a few minutes, as you helped Lou get in the building. You let them work and waited till they're done. You wanted to pick Tammy up. She didn't ask you to, but you just felt like that. And just because you could you did it. Sitting in the car you got a bit impatient, but when you finally saw her again you came to the conclusion that the sight was worth it. She looked gorgeous in that long, black dress. Even more beautiful than usual, which you thought was impossible.

Tammy spotted you immediately. She was approaching you and your eyes were glued to her figure. 

"You look…" you didn't have a chance to finish, because she cut you off with a kiss

For a few seconds you didn't know what was happening. You needed a moment to process things, but when you finally did you happily kissed her back.

"Will you stay with me?" she asked

You weren't able to speak, so you only nodded and she smiled again.

"I want all of you tonight" Tammy said gently pushing you on her bed

You let her take off your jacket and watched as she was stripping off the dress. You felt great. Amazing actually, until she reached and wanted to take off your shirt. That's when you freaked out.

"Wait. No. I can't…"

"What?" she asked confused

"I…"

"Did I pressure you? It's too fast? I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I didn't mean to…"

"No" you cut her off "No. I promise, you didn't pressure. It's just… do you remember our talk when you said I'm a part of a "don't ask, don't talk" culture?"

"Yes" she nodded

"It's not I didn't want to tell you. I wanted to, because I trust you and you… you're always so nice and caring. And you make me feel safe, but it's hard. I don't want you to change your opinion about me…"

"Sweetheart, I could never" she leaned in and kissed your forehead "Look, we don't have to do anything now. You can tell me about it whenever you're ready and want to. Okay?"

"I want to tell you now"

"Okay"

And you did. You opened up and welcomed her to the darkest side of your mind. You told her about everything that other inmates had done to you. How they're harassing you under the showers. How the guards made you strip for them and how they're touching you. You told her about each time you were trying to fight back and got beaten. You confided in her completely. 

Tammy barely managed to stop her tears from falling. 

"Honey, I'm so sorry that it all happened. But you're safe now. I'll never hurt you. I'll never disrespect you… if you let me I'll always love you"

Instead of responding you slowly took off your shirt. 

"You sure?"

"Yes" you whispered

"If you change your mind just tell me and I'll stop"

You nodded and Tammy kissed you deeply. 

You let her explore every part of your body. She made sure you're comfortable with being completely exposed to her and looking at you with awe start saying how perfect and beautiful you're. To prove her point Tammy made sure to kiss every inch of your body. She showed you what real love feels like and that was truly amazing. She smiled fondly seeing that you're about to pass out from exhaustion. And so she pulled you close to herself and let you sleep almost completely on top of her. Falling asleep to the steady beat of her heart felt incredible. And you're pretty sure that she was everything you may ever wanted in your life. 

But it was too perfect. It couldn't last forever, could it?

The problems started in the morning. A sudden noise woke you up. You opened your eyes only to see the empty bed. You groaned slowly getting up. You were too sleepy to look for your clothes, so you put on one of Tammy's lovely sweaters. As you're moving towards the door you heard Tammy's voice. She's arguing with someone

"What are you doing here?" she asked

"I'm living here. That's my fucking house!" you heard a male voice and realised it's her ex husband that she was arguing with

"No it's not. It's not your house any more"

"It is!!!"

"Shut up. You'll wake up the kids"

"I want to wake them up. It's time to play with daddy"

"Ow god. You're drunk"

"I'm not drunk!"

"I told you to stop yelling"

"Don't tell me what to do. This is my house! You hear me bitch?"

"Watch your language jerk" you said standing beside Tammy 

"Who the fuck are you?"

"Here we go again" you rolled your eyes

The man looked at you then at Tammy. 

"You slut!" he yelled "You cheated on me!"

"What? Are you insane?! You're not my husband any more"

"You think you can leave me just like that?" he moved in Tammy's direction and she instinctively took a step back

He looked as if he wanted to hit her and that's when you acted. You stepped between them and pushed him back. 

"Get out of here" you said

He looked at you, but didn't move. 

"Do you need me to spell it for you or what?"

"You think you're something special for her? That she loves you? You're nobody! You're her toy. A slut like her…" he didn't finish, because something inside you snapped and you punched him

"Y/N!" Tammy screamed

"You bitch! You broke my nose!" he yelled

You didn't think about the consequences your act may have. How could you foresee that he would go to the police?

In your situation it meant only one - coming back to prison. 

Two police officers came and took you when Tammy was at Lou's. They immediately handcuffed you and then made you put on an orange prison uniform. 

"You happy to come back? They're missing you" one of the guards said before locking you in cell

You said nothing. You weren't able to speak, as you're slowly cracking from inside. The thought of coming back to that hell was paralyzing you. You sat down on the floor and curled into a ball. All bad memories were back and you couldn't stop thinking about what had happened. You could already feel the pain that was going to come again. But the thought of that wasn't the worst. The worst was your second guessing what happened between you and Tammy the previous night. She wasn't really talking to you since you hit her ex husband and it made you feel insecure. You're on the verge of tearing up, when suddenly someone opened your cell. 

"Get up! You're leaving"

You shook your head. You didn't want to go. You didn't want to go back to that hell. As the guard was approaching you the tears began to flow. You closed your eyes for a mere second trying to compose yourself and then suddenly he uncuffed you. You looked at your free hands and then at the guard. 

"You're free" he stated

 Was it a joke? You didn't know what was going on, but followed the man to the exit. 

There she was. Tammy in all her glory. She was waiting for you and as soon as she saw you she moved towards you. When she embraced you in a tight hug you couldn't hold it back any more. All the stress and fear of the possibility of going back to prison made you broke down. 

"Shhhh. Hush baby" Tammy soothed "Hush. Everything is alright"

"I-I thought…I'll never see you again. I t-thought they'll take me back to that he'll" you sobbed

"Oh honey, did you really think I'd let them do that? I promised you to keep an eye on you, didn't I?"

You chuckled at the memory

"Yes" you nodded

"Also, I hope you know that when I asked if you'll stay I didn't mean only one night" she smiled and kissed you

[fruitso]

Anemone: Eureka Seven Hi-Evolution Analysis + Theories!

Okay, so here are my thoughts/ramblings on what’s going on in “Anemone: Eureka Seven Hi-Evolution” and what it means for the series and the future. Obviously spoilers, so read below at your own discretion.

The biggest question for anyone going in who is familiar with the series is: where are we? The world we see is obviously NOT the one we’re introduced to in the first film. This is an Earth that is not covered by the scab coral, so is it from the past? An alternate dimension? It’s similar to the alternate Earth we see in Eureka Seven AO (there’s even a Generation Bleu sign in one of the backgrounds), though there aren’t any LFO or IFOs.

Now, this film does establish that alternate worlds exist, so that latter option isn’t too far fetched. However that doesn’t explain why certain characters like Anemone and Mischa exist in this world, while others like Renton or the rest of the Gekko crew don’t. And if you recall from the first film, there were posters of Anemone around, so SHE clearly existed in some form in that world.

And then there’s Dewey. He’s the biggest clue to what is really going on, since he is the one with seeming knowledge about these alternate worlds. It’s not entirely clear yet what his deal is, or even how he got there. The last time we saw him, he’d been attacked by the Silver Box’s red ribbons, but appeared to be okay afterward—if a little shaken. From what Dr. Bear says, they found Dewey shortly after the scab coral began appearing in their world, and Dewey mentions something about being caught up in it. So was Dewey somehow split into two worlds following the events of the Summer of Love? And what’s going on with his eyes when he releases himself at the end? I assume we’ll find that out in the following film (though I’m guessing it has something to do with Silver Box), but as to how he arrived in this world, I have a theory, which also ties into what’s going on with Eureka.

So when explaining what’s going on to Dr. Bear and Anemone, Dewey talks about a Child of God being chosen to be sacrificed, and that where he came from it was Renton who was chosen and subsequently killed. It’s hard to tell whether Dewey is simply mad at this point, but he does go on to talk about how the Child of God was sent to show God’s mercy, but not to use that power for evil. He also says that the child fell to the “witch”—the witch being Eureka. However there’s later a discrepancy, at the end of the film when the scab coral mutates into that monstrous form, Dewey tells Dr. Bear that the Child was “swallowed up” by God’s power and then abandoned when he tried to demonstrate that power “fairly”. Before he kills(?) Dr. Bear, Dewey says that since the Child won’t do it, HE will, and then proclaims that the incarnation is “complete” and that the world will be overwritten by him. So I think it’s safe to say he was lying about Renton dying—or he was unclear about what happened to Renton. However this still doesn’t explain what he’s talking about, since Renton was only a kid when the Summer of Love happened. Unless the ‘sacrifice’ he’s talking about was when Eureka went through Acperience…

Okay, so this point is muddled partly because the first film did such a poor job of providing clarity, but this is what I think happened. In the first film, after the Summer of Love, Eureka is placed within the custody of Facility Guard—that universe’s version of the Gekko State. The purpose of the Guard is ostensibly to keep a watch over Eureka, but Holland plans on going rogue and taking her and the Nirvash away from the Federation. Now either before or after this rebellion, the Gekko arrives in Bell Forest where Renton is attending a middle-school/military academy while his adoptive parents, Charles and Ray, are taking vacation. Eureka and the Nirvash crash into Renton’s home, just like in the series, and presumably that’s when Renton decides to join the Gekko. Renton ends up developing feelings for Eureka and wants to ‘free’ her like she did for him, and so they somehow end up trying to go through Acperience. How and why is never clear (though according to Eureka’s dialogue in the second film, it’s because they went to the Silver Box, though the first film doesn’t clarify this) but afterward Eureka ends up in her scab form, at which point Holland forbids Renton from contact with Eureka and he runs away.

SO, this is probably what Dewey is talking about when he mentions that the Child was “swallowed up” by God’s power, since during the Acperience we see that Eureka’s arm begins mutating and threatens to swallow up Renton. But how he could be aware of this is unclear, as is what Dewey believes is the ‘proper’ use of God’s power. (I’m also assuming “God’s power” in this case is the Nirvash, and/or the Amita Drive).

Speaking of Acperience and Eureka, this is also an important point of divergence between the two films. In that first film, we saw that Renton stopped the Acperience when he grabbed the Amita Drive before Eureka’s arm could swallow him, and afterward discovered Eureka had reversed into her Scab form. BUT in the second film, when Anemone finally confronts Eureka, she claims that she did kill Renton when her arm swallowed him, and that she woke up alone in her scab form. At that point Eureka says she began to use the Silver Box’s power to dream up alternate realities in an effort to bring Renton back to life. We’re then treated to a montage of various scenes and images from all the entries in the Eureka Seven franchise—the series, 2009 film, AO, Hi-Evolution, and even the video game and manga! (I have thoughts on this, but I’ll get to them later)

This is apparently why the scab coral were taking over Anemone’s world, as each dream Eureka tried to conjure into existence ended up forming more of the scab. However it’s shown that Eureka was wrong: Renton didn’t die. At the end of the film, the Nirvash type Z appears out of an egg (which Dewey calls the “Guide to Nirvana” and apparently its “final form”?) which Eureka feels is calling her, before the scene transitions literally to another world where we see Renton holding up the Compact Drive (and also wearing his costume from episode 50).

So what I think this means is that Renton and Eureka went to the Silver Box where they were sucked into Acperience. Renton managed to get them out, but a part of Eureka was absorbed into Silver Box, and that part believed she had killed Renton and thus fell into despair, and at that point started dreaming up those alternate realities. This somehow began manifesting in Anemone’s world as giant scab coral which began to overtake the planet. Dewey somehow ended up in that world and taken prisoner, where he revealed that the scab’s core was Eureka. Thus dubbed “Eureka Seven”, the government formed ASSID and Anemone’s father found a way to enter the scab’s consciousness through “diving” technology. He, and a team of girls labeled the Super Six tried to infiltrate and destroy the scab through the inside, but each of them were absorbed by the scab, later manifesting as the cores of the giant mech Nirvash X which appears to defend the scab coral from attackers.

Now at this point, what is still unclear is what happened between the end of Hi-Evo 1 and this film; when we left Renton in the first film he was on his way to reunite with Eureka (and the text tells us this would occur within 18 hours). It was also before Charles and Ray were to attack the Gekko to kill Eureka on orders from the Federation. But at the end of the second film, after Anemone and Eureka escape the Command Cluster and/or Silver Box, the crew of the Gekko as well as Charles and Ray appear from the destroyed scab coral, as well as the girls of the Super Six. However Renton is still apparently on another world. So why did the Gekko and the Beams appear? My theory: it has something to do with the Eureka that Renton managed to rescue from Acperience. In the first film, we clearly see that Eureka was conscious after Renton pulled her out from the scab. And when we left things off in that film, the Gekko was about to be attacked by Charles and Ray, like we saw in the original series. So I think something happened with Eureka when Charles and Ray infiltrated the Gekko which absorbed them all and transported them into the scab coral forming in Anemone’s world. Of course this raises the question of what happened to the Eureka of that world, and how far the “Eureka Seven” scab coral was spreading—was it just Anemone’s world, or were more realities affected?

The answers I feel all lie with Silver Box and the nature of all these alternate worlds. There’s still a lot about Silver Box that we don’t know, but it’s clear it can reveal and affect multiple worlds. When Adrock stops the Summer of Love event, he sees a vision of multiple planets and an infinity symbol which morphs into a cube. At the end of the second film when we transition to Renton on the other world, we see that same cube again briefly, but red. Could this be similar to the Quartz from AO, which allowed the scab to travel to alternate dimensions? Adroc does say something about what he sees being the “true world”.

And this ties into the montage when Eureka talks about the realities she created. Dewey mentions that these worlds are garbage remnants created by a false God, as opposed to the true worlds. I don’t think this is supposed to mean that all the previous entries in the Eureka Seven franchise are ‘false’; when we see the worlds that Eureka came up with in the scab coral, they’re just random scenarios from the series that have nothing to do with the other entries. However I think when we see that montage, it’s supposed to represent the alternate worlds that Eureka saw when she was within the Silver Box, not necessarily the ones she created, because she says that no matter how many times she dreamed she couldn’t bring Renton back to life, even though Renton never dies in any of the other E7 entries.

So what will happen next? Well I think it’s clear that Eureka is going to take the Nirvash Z and use it to find Renton, which supposedly will bring them to ‘Nirvana’. What is Nirvana? My guess is that it’s something that will tie into all the alternate universes. Dewey says that God doesn’t destroy a world he creates, but rather “washes away the evil society and rebuilds it”. This sounds a lot like the Limit of Questions, which in the original series was explained as an event which would collapse reality if too much sentient life existed in the same space, and I imagine that Dewey’s role in the next film will be to bring about a similar event across all the alternate worlds.

[gldngrl7]

Binge Rewatch: Numb3rs

Part of the reason I decided to binge rewatch Numb3ers is because I mentally checked out during its final, shortened season. Probably because I was watching something new and shinier.

Bingeing sometimes helps me see things I didn’t recognize on original week-by-week viewing. Here’s some thoughts:

Charlie & Amita: are probably one of the best portrayed romances I’ve seen on television . They give you just enough flirty-flirt, with a smidge of will-they-won’t-they and then put them together. Then they’re just together and the whole show doesn’t fall apart. Also she’s never just the love interest. Oftentimes she’s the lynchpin to solving the case, her own computer and combinatorics skills not just adding to Charlie’s skills but complementing them. Relationship drama comes from within not without. Will her Indian parents accept him? Should his father move out of Charlie’s house once she moves in? They NEVER broke up and there was NEVER a (serious) love triangle. Refreshing.

Larry Fleinhart: far and away my favorite character and the show was slightly lesser during those periods when Larry would get his wanderlust on. Larry was always so philosophical and conveniently insightful that I often wondered he wasn’t meant to be a deity-type character. God living life among mere mortals for the sheer fun of it all, occasionally throughout the generations needing reminding that’s there’s still some good down here — even amongst all the bad. He always had the right thing to say at the right time in a way that, on binge-watch, seems supernatural. And Peter MacNicol portrayed him with delightful nerd charm that made me want to protect him all costs. The ending of the romance between Larry and Meghan when actress Dianne Farr left the show broke my heart because it was beautiful.

I loved that they consistently showed that Agent Liz Warner recalled Charlie’s mathematical applications over time — even going so far as to suggest using a previous application to solve the current problem. She was his best student.

Fun fact: Dylan Bruno, who played math challenged Agent Colby Granger, graduated with a degree in engineering from MIT. David Krumholz, who played Charlie Eppes (boy genius) was notoriously bad at math in real life.

Some of Don Eppes’ character arcs felt a little flat because they hyper-focused on his career while simultaneously trying to make him seem like he was more than just his career. In the finale he asks his girlfriend robin to marry him. But they worked so hard to make sure his own romance take over the whole that it seemed downright deprioritized. Sonin the end it felt like two people getting engaged not because of any great passion , or even because they have so much in common (he’s religious, she’s not) but simply because they are always in each other’s circle. So...they’ll probably be together until death do them part. But meh.

The true love story in this show is obviously the relationship between Don and Charlie. Though five years apart in age, they graduated high school the same year. Don was an athletic baseball player somehow living in the shadow of his genius younger brother. Charlie hero-worshipped his brother who always seemed to be trying to get as far away from him as possible. Don purposely asked the girl Charlie had a crush on to prom. When we meet them years later, their mother had fairly recently passed away and they are barely on speaking terms and have a non-existent relationship. Charlie becomes a consultant to Don’s FBI team and over the years often sacrifices opportunities to continue working with Don. In one beautiful scene where they’re in a joint therapy session Charlie admits, “I love working with my brother”, which allows Don to admit the same. By the end, you know that these two are bonded for life by more than just blood.

I love that this show presents a genius who is emotionally and socially functional without sacrificing his nerdiness.

Hey! women can be smart too!

I love that they recognize Charlie’s limits by utilizing others when needed; like Charlie’s rival who specializes in deep set theory (Colin Hanks), a genetics specialist, Larry’s physics and cosmology knowledge and others

As expected with most shows set in LA, they play fast and loose with the nature of time versus traffic.

This is a show I would love to see revived for a season - just to see them all come together again and see where they all are now. Charlie & Amita and their four kids (one set of twins, obvi). Don and Robin with their one, carefully planned, totally adored child who is now exhibiting signs of mathematical genius (like her uncle Charlie). Allen happily living in the renovated garage and loving being a grandpa. Or maybe he remarried. Don is now the SAC and Liz is running his old unit with Nikki as her 2IC.

[tarisilmarwen]

Tari’s Top Twenty OTPs - #5

OTP: Charlie/Amita

Fandom: Numb3rs

Charlie: A genius mathematician from a very young age, Charlie is often more comfortable relating to numbers and equations rather than people.  He’s idealistic and cares intensely about his family and friends, but can also be a stubborn workaholic who shuts himself off to work obsessively on a problem, especially as an emotional coping mechanism to ignore some pain he’s going through.  He’s enthusiastic and excitable, always ready to spew several dozen words of explanations about math theory... though not always to receptive audiences, lol.

Amita: Also a brilliant math genius, we start the series with Amita working under Charlie, who serves as her thesis adviser.  Amita is much more extroverted than Charlie, warmer and more emotional, though she shares the same passion and enthusiasm for math.  She often functions as a voice of sanity and stability for Charlie and after she graduates becomes one of his closest friends, collaborators, and partners.

Together: Charlie and Amita quite clearly had feelings for each other from the beginning, which pretty much everyone could see, but because of the mentor/student relationship they had at the time they didn’t pursue it.  After Amita’s graduation and a good half-chunk of the show with her working alongside Charlie as his friend and companion, however, the two awkwardly worked their way into what eventually became a very stable and happy relationship.  Amita is a warm, caring presence in Charlie’s life, often comforting and encouraging him, and Charlie often gave her very helpful advice when she came to him for personal problems.  They would frequently work together on Charlie’s brother’s FBI consulting work, putting both their brilliant minds to the task and enjoying every minute of it.  Their interactions tend to be playful and lighthearted; they clearly enjoy each other’s company.

How I Got Into The Fandom: Gosh, I don't even remember at this point.  I think Numb3rs was just one of the regular shows my family kept up with and I just fell into it.

When I Started Shipping Them: I think I sort of shipped it in the, “Yeah okay they’re totally gonna be a thing.” regard in Season One, but Season Two was when they really started ramping up the Ship Tease and emphasizing how well the two related to each other.  And so like a sucker I fell.

Why I Love Them: Aside from having many of the relationship dynamics that appeal to me (Brooding Boy Gentle Girl, Geek Boy Stoic Girl, Playful Banter, etc.) Charlie and Amita do something rather unique: They actually resolve the UST and get together in the middle of the series.  This almost never happens for me.  Usually I have to go through endless UST and dancing around each other and it is so frustrating because I just want to see to the part where the two can actually be a couple and kiss and cuddle and be adorable together and most shows never reach that place.  Charlie and Amita do, and it is wonderful and they are as precious and fun to watch as ever post-hookup.

Three Favorite Moments:

1. "It all turns on a dime...”

Season Five’s finale ends in the most wonderful way possible.   Having rescued Amita from being kidnapped by a creepy cultist (who wanted her for her math skills, naturally), Charlie and Amita are walking the CalSci campus, cherishing and treasuring each other’s presence with the full knowledge that they almost lost each other playing at the forefront of their minds.  Charlie starts waxing poetical, calling back to the conversation they were having before Amita got unceremoniously grabbed, tying in together some of the underlying themes that had been a constant throughout the season.

And then he kneels down, taking her hand and producing a little velvet box.  He looks up at her adoringly and says those classic words, “Will you marry me?”

The episode closes out with the smile that’s tugging at Amita’s face, with a tableau of the two against the archway of the campus as the pop love song filters in and we fade to black.

2. Magic.

Charlie is very much a rationalist, dismissing the supernatural and extrasensory and other things he can’t explain through science and numbers.  This extends even to stage magic, which Charlie views with a bit of a sense of cynical skepticism.  Nevertheless, after he and Amita have helped solve the case of the week--involving the world of stage magicians, naturally--Amita drags him out to his own private little magic show, with her as the centerpiece.  She’s borrowed an air fan, a suspension system, and dozens of rose petals, and tells him she’s going to show him what she finds so special about magic.

And so she turns on the fan and rises up into the air, with flower petals blowing softly all around her, delight shining from her face.  And Charlie can’t help but find it in his heart to get wrapped up in her passion, and enjoy how she loves it, even if he can’t understand the appeal himself.

3. Surprise kiss.

Amita comes to Charlie’s office with a personal dilemma, having trouble figuring out how to help a kid in crises she knows.  Charlie looks uncomfortably towards his chalkboard, not quite sure how to help her, and just kind of casually throws out the suggestion for Amita to ask her grandmother.  Amita lights up, this apparently being just the right thing to say, just the right advice for him to give, and as he’s turning back around she surprises him with a quick, grateful peck right on the lips.

Charlie goes quite braindead, and can only stare after her as she thanks him and rushes from the room. :)

[missmarquin]

Magnetic, Ch. 4

In the future, romantic attraction is literal: each person is fitted with an electromagnetic bracelet which will pull you to your soulmate. It's hard, wondering who's out there for you. It's harder yet, when you have to come to understand yourself first.

CONTENT WARNING: Smut.

Read here on Ao3, where it’s formatted better!

Polarization

‘Polarization density also describes how a material responds to an applied electric field as well as the way the material changes the electric field, and can be used to calculate the forces that result from those interactions.’

….

This wasn’t how this was supposed to go, Otabek thought.

He’d finally made a choice. He’d finally grown a pair and hopped a plane to Moscow last minute. He’d finally tell Yuri that he loved him, and that he was stupid, and that he’d waited too fucking long to do this.

And then you know, he’d sweep him off his feet, finally kiss him and-- Well, Yuri was supposed to respond positively, because that was the dream, right? It wasn’t like you could deny the destiny bracelets, or whatever.

Otabek realized just how stupid he was, the moment that Yuri slapped on his bracelet, feeling the pull that tugged between them. The look of surprise and utter betrayal that flashed across his face.

Currently, Yuri was stomping around the kitchen, muttering angrily under his breath. Setting about a kettle of water for tea. Otabek watched from his seat at the kitchen table, one leg folded across the other, his hand rubbing at the back of his neck nervously.

Yuri bothered, because Otabek was the one that liked tea. Maybe that meant something. That thought wavered the moment Yuri slammed the pot onto the burner, turning to him suddenly.

“You lied,” he hissed. “How could you--” he started, but then paused, closing his eyes and rubbing at them. Then he let out a frustrated grunt.

“Yura--”

“Are you telling me that yours has been active since mine was turned on?”

Otabek swallowed thickly. “I-- uh… yes.” And Yuri just blinked at him, waiting for him to explain further. Otabek sighed. “I wasn’t expecting it,” he said quietly. “So when it did, I just kind of freaked--”

“Is the idea of being with me so terrible?” Yuri suddenly asked. His voice was about as small as Otabek suddenly felt. Couldn’t Yuri see-- didn’t Yuri know--

Well, probably not, Otabek reasoned. Yuri was incredibly bright, but tended to overlook things quite easily. “Yura,” Otabek said, standing up from the chair, going to him. “How could you possibly think that?”

“Well I--” Yuri started, the answer clearly rehearsed, but then he paused. “Wait, what--”

But Otabek was already pressing a hand against his cheek, his fingers tightened and pulling Yuri down to him. Yuri let out a cry of protest, his hands grabbing at Otabek’s arms to try and stop. Yuri might have had him in height, but Otabek was stockier. He pulled Yuri’s face to his, pressing their lips together.

And just as he expected, Yuri pulled away, pushing at him. Otabek refused to let go of his face though, his fingers still cradling his jaw firmly. “Yura,” he said, “It’s okay--”

“This has got to be a fucking joke,” Yuri said. Otabek could see the tears welling up in his eyes and oh no, Yuri was the world’s ugliest cryer, he didn’t want to see--  “I mean you couldn’t possibly-- you’re making fun of--”

“It’s okay,” Otabek interjected. Yuri snapped his mouth shut, his fingers still gripping his shirt tightly. Otabek rubbed his thumb along his jawline gently, trying to reassure him. “Yura, it’s okay,” he repeated.

“But… but Amita,” Yuri whispered, like uttering her name would somehow change things between them. Like her name somehow meant something, in that moment.

“I think that we both know she isn’t you,” Otabek replied.

“What the fuck does that mean? Beka, you were going to marry her.”

“You know better than anyone how my family is,” Otabek said quietly. “You know, Yura, how I didn’t want to leave. And when they arranged our marriage, how I couldn’t say no. And how--”

“Are you implying that you’ve liked me for what-- years?” Yuri shook his head, disbelieving.

Otabek only sighed softly, pulling his hands away from his face. “What was I to do? My parents have done everything for me,” he said sadly.

Yuri was about to say something when the kettle went off, the shrill whistle cutting through the air. Yuri wiggled out from Otabek’s grasp to pull it from the stove. Otabek watched as he poured the water into a cup, then as he placed the kettle down and wiggled around the tea bag. And then Yuri just stood there, staring at the counter, thinking.

Otabek didn’t like it when Yuri thought. Yuri was dangerous, when he thought. “You know, it’s not fucking fair,” Yuri finally said, letting out a bitter laugh. “I’ve loved you since I was like fourteen, but I’ve always thrown it to the side, because I’ve thought that you would never--” He stopped abruptly, his hands gripping the countertop so tightly that his fingertips turned white.

“But now you’re telling me that that wasn’t the case,” he finished with.

“For what it’s worth,” Otabek said, “I didn’t know until I left.” At that, Yuri turned around, giving him this look and Otabek couldn’t hide the wince that crossed his face. “You were a teenager, when I left,” he huffed. “We were teenagers. I was seventeen, and it was weird okay? I didn’t want to put a label on anything, but then I went back home to Almaty and everything just kind of…”

“Kind of what?” Yuri couldn’t hide the snark in his tone.

“It just lost its color. It was like my world was suddenly gray and the only thing that would have fixed it, was if you were there.” Well, that had sounded better in his head, but Otabek was too far into his monologue to stop. “Because I… well, you know. Love you, and all that.” It wasn’t the most articulate love confession, but it was very Otabek at least.

“Oh.” Yuri sounded like the wind had been knocked out of him. That was a good sign. Yuri slipped his fingers into the handle of the mug and brought it to Otabek, before plopping into a chair at the table. Otabek followed suit.

“But Amita…” Yuri started again, before trailing off.

“She knew.” Otabek’s voice was so quiet, that he wasn’t sure that Yuri had even heard him at first. He cleared his throat and then continued with, “I mean, she uh-- I wasn’t able to really hide it from her, I guess. We had an understanding.”

“You faked it pretty fucking well,” Yuri said.

“It wasn’t… fake,” Otabek’s tone was careful. “We loved each other, but we weren’t in love with each other. If that makes sense. I was still trying to sort things out though, so I was just happy that we worked.”

“But then…” Yuri motioned to his bracelet. Otabek twisted it nervously. The tug was softened to a dull hum, probably because they had found each other. “And then hers…”

“She was the one that broke it off.” Yuri knew that, but his face was unreadable. “But not because of the reason you would think.”

“She did it because of how you felt, didn’t she?” Yuri asked quietly.

Otabek thumbed at his mug for a long moment, before taking a sip. “It’s pretty pathetic when your fiancee tells you to go after someone else. Especially when it’s a man.”

“Otabek, I--” But Yuri paused, biting his lip. He looked so young like that. So young and unsure, and like he was about to burst at the seams. “I’m not actually angry at you.”

“I know you aren't’. If anything, I’m angry at myself.” Otabek sighed as he said it. “I shouldn’t have hid this from you.”

“No, you shouldn’t have,” Yuri agreed, a slight frown tugging at his lips.

“But try to see it from my view.” Yuri looked at him, listening. “I had spent years bottling this shit up, and then yours is activated and-- I mean, suddenly everything I wanted was right there, you know? I had just come to terms with being myself.”

“Yeah, sorry that I fucked that up for you,” Yuri said sarcastically, his eyes narrowing.

“That’s not what I meant--”

“Yeah, yeah, you went and found yourself. And then everything went to hell.”

“Yura, it hasn’t gone to hell--”

“Why are you even here?” Yuri finally asked, crossing his arms over his chest. It was an honest question, his tone carefully calculated.

And Otabek knew that this one answer would be it. His mouth was as dry as the steppes that he’d ridden his motorcycle through. His next words would either make them or break them, and the latter was just not a feasible option.

“Because a life without you, isn’t a life at all,” Otabek said after a long moment of reflection.

Yuri blinked, and then blinked again. And his face turned red, his cheeks splotched and ruddy as his next words sputtered. “Jesus fucking christ Beka, you can’t just say shit like that.”

“What is it that you want me to say?” Otabek asked, trying his best to keep a pleading look off of his face.

“Say it again.” Yuri’s voice was quiet, wavering just slightly, like he was afraid that Otabek would somehow change his mind. That he’d realize that this was a mistake or something, like he was afraid. “Say it again, and say it properly.”

Otabek suddenly realized what exactly it was the Yuri wanted. He wanted reassurance. He wanted Otabek to show him that this wasn’t some joke, that he wasn’t playing him. Otabek  pulled himself from the chair and dropped to his knees before Yuri.

“I love you, Yuri,” he said. His hands found Yuri’s knees, squeezing gently, playing with the fabric of his pants. “I’m pretty late to the game, but I’ve always loved you.”

Yuri regarded him for a long moment, and then he said, “Get off the fucking floor, you fool.” Then he stood, holding his hand out and helped Otabek up. Yuri didn’t let go though, holding his hand tightly, rubbing his thumb across the back of Otabek’s hand.

“You know,” he said, “I’ve imagined this scenario a thousand different ways over the years. I never would have thought it’d end with you on your knees for me.”

Otabek could think of other things that he’d rather do while on his knees in front of Yuri, but he forced a crooked smile across his face. Reaching up, he ran his thumb across his cheek, rubbing away the moisture there. Yuri wasn’t crying, but a few tears had slipped free.

“You’ve always responded positively to worship,” Otabek teased.

“Oh? Is that what you were doing? Worshipping me?”

“There are far better ways, I’d rather worship you with, especially if I’m on my knees.” The words slipped from Otabek’s mouth before he could stop them, and Yuri turned bright red, the intent not lost on him.

“You’re an absolute moron.”

“Yes,” Otabek agreed.

“But you’re my moron.”

“Always,” was Otabek’s reply.

“And you’re sure that Amita is okay with this?”

“Amita lives in the United States, married to another man. She has no standing.” Otabek was teasing, of course, but it didn’t stop him from reaching out and brushing some of Yuri’s hair behind his ear. Anything to offer some modicum of comfort, really.

“Let’s go to sleep,” Yuri finally said, stopping Otabek in his tracks. “I’m tired, you’re tired, it’s been a long day. I’m fucking exhausted and this is a lot to take in.”

Otabek dropped his hand sheepishly. Yeah, rest, that was a good idea. There was plenty of time to talk about this. “I’ll take the couch--”

“Absolutely not,” Yuri said. He’d already pulled away and grabbed the mug. He frowned at Otabek, as he poured the tea down the sink. “Bed’s big enough for both of us.”

Otabek swallowed thickly. “Right,” he managed weakly.

“It’ll be like old times.”

Otabake closed his eyes, dragging a hand down his face. “Yura, it’ll be nothing like old times,” he finally said. And he looked back to Yuri, he found the man smirking back at him with amusement. He’d been teasing him!

“Yeah, you’re right. It’ll be like new times,” Yuri said, walking over to Otabek who hummed lightly in response. Yuri grabbed at his hand, yanking him toward the room. He could practically feel the blood roaring in his veins.

But it was a good roar, and it felt like Yuri was leading them to their future.

…

Yuri couldn’t sleep.

This occurrence wasn’t so uncommon, really. A lot of the time he couldn’t sleep-- be it the sore muscles, his aching back, or late-night thoughts of what his life was and could be. But this time, the source of his insomnia was sleeping next to him, snoring gently.

It shouldn’t be awkward. Yuri and Otabek had shared a bed tons of times before. Of course, it’d been a few years, but shit shouldn’t change, right? Except that it had, and Yuri couldn’t stop thinking about it. So, he sat on the edge of the mattress, wringing his fingers slightly.

It was weird, how you could want something and expect to never have it, but the moment that you could, shit get weird. Yuri had waited his entire life, to be able to tell Otabek how he’d felt, and that was good. He was glad.

Now came the added complication of Otabek loving him back.

Which, shouldn’t even be a complication, right?

Yuri jumped slightly when he felt a warm hand press against his shoulder. The mattress sunk under Otabek’s weight as he shifted. “Yura?” he murmured sleepily, pressing his forehead against his shoulder. Still half asleep then, Yuri surmised. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I’m just thinking.”

“You never think,” Otabek said. He shifted again, moving to swing his legs over the side and sit next to Yuri properly. “You always do. What’s bothering you?”

“I love you,” Yuri answered, and he saw Otabek’s frown in the moonlight that filtered in through the window.

“Yeah, I know,” Otabek replied. His hand swept down Yuri’s shoulder and then arm in a comforting gesture.

“Do you though? I don’t mean in a ‘yeah I’ve kind of liked you for awhile’ way. I mean in a ‘my heart literally stops at the sight of you’ way.” Yuri couldn’t help the way that his voice cracked slightly. “It’s one thing for you to say that you love me too, but is it on the same level?”

“Are you serious?” Otabek breathed. Yuri frowned; Otabek’s tone was caught between amusement and breathlessness. The older man couldn’t help the chuckle that bubbled up from his throat and for a moment, Yuri’s heart clenched that same fear from earlier. The fear that this was some massive and utter joke, that Otabek was just stringing him along until he got tired of it, because there was no way that he’d feel the same about him and--

Otabek’s weight shifted again until he was kneeling in front of Yuri. His hands slid up to gently grab his face and Yuri couldn’t help but lean in. He was taller, this position slightly awkward, but--

“How could you possibly think that, Yura?” Otabek asked, his thumb ghosting across Yuri’s cheek lightly. “How could you even entertain that my feelings aren’t the same? For years, you’re all I’ve ever thought about. Fuck, the woman I was going to marry left me because of my feelings for you.”

Yuri swallowed over the lump in his throat. “Beka, I--”

“I realized it too late,” Otabek said, leaning upwards, pulling at Yuri slightly. “But I’m here now, Yura. I’m here now, and I’m not going away. I love you--”

“Would you just kiss me already?” Yuri snapped in a harsh whisper.

Otabek immediately complied, rising up to press their mouths together. This wasn’t like the soft peck earlier in the kitchen, innocent and chaste, the one that Yuri had pulled away from. This was full of longing, Otabek gripping his jawline firmly as his other hand slid around his waist, pulling Yuri closer to the edge of the bed.

Yuri didn’t pull away from him this time. He pulled him closer, like he was trying to lose himself in Otabek. His lips were soft and chapped, but they felt better than anyone else. And he’d kissed a lot of people in his life. Otabek’s hand moved from his jaw to the back of his head, grasping gently as he changed their angle, running his tongue along the seam of Yuri’s mouth.

Yuri gasped, his lips falling open. Otabek licked into him, and Yuri moaned, and it seemed like all of his blood rushed south. He’d dreamed of this, imagined this in so many different scenarios, but the reality was so much better than he could have ever wished. Yuri responded in kind, his hands reaching up for Otabek’s face, caressing the skin there. Then they flitted over his hair, gripping lightly as he kissed back.

Otabek yanked at his hips, pulling him nearly off the edge of the bed to press their hips together and Yuri panicked momentarily because--

Otabek paused, pulling back. “Yura,” he breathed, the moment hanging between them.

Yuri swallowed, wanting to crawl into the bed and die. It was stupid, how hard he was, so quickly. It was hot, too hot, the room was suddenly sweltering and his pants tented and too tight because he didn’t wear proper underwear to bed. Otabek was there, his eyes dropping to his lap and then back up.

“Yura,” he repeated, looking like a starving man in a desert, his eyes half-lidded with lust and--

Jesus fucking christ. Otabek had palmed him through his pants, the thin material in the way, but no enough to make the touch anything but phenomenal. “Is this okay?” Otabek asked, and Yuri practically whined, moving to grip his hand to keep it there.

“Okay?” Yuri snapped. “You’re asking me if this is okay-- you’re such a moron.” He canted his hips upward. “Obviously.” He moved to pull Otabek’s face back up to his, but the other man pulled away, leaning back on his heels.

He a hand down Yuri’s side until it paused at the waistband of his pajama pants, thumbing the fabric there. The other was still cupped around his hardness, not squeezing but there, just holding him. And if Otabek didn’t fucking do something, Yuri was going to literally combust.

“Beka,” he started, but almost immediately lost his words when Otabek gave him a rough squeeze and let go.

“Yura, what do you want?” It was a sincere question. Not one uttered in sultry tone, during the heat of the moment. It was an honest question, with Otabek peering back at him like he was afraid that Yuri would say no. As if.

“Beka, please,” he pleaded, lifting his hips slightly. Otabek hesitated before helping him slip the pants off. The cool air was like a balm on his hardened length, but then he saw the look on Otabek’s face. Like he was drowning in the sight of him, his lips parted slightly as his hands gripped Yuri’s thighs tightly.

“I don’t get on my knees for just anyone,” Otabek said quietly, and Yuri felt his voice hitch and his heart skip a beat. “I would never do this for anyone but you, Yura.”

Yuri practically yelped at the feeling of Otabek licking up his length, before wrapping his hand around the base. His grip seemed unsure, hesitant, as he tried several different applications of pressure. And then it clicked, what Otabek had meant.

Of course he’d never do this to anyone else, he never had. Yuri would be the first and only, and suddenly his heart swelled slightly at the idea. He reached down, wrapping his hand around Otabek’s, as he said, “Like this, Beka.” Not to tight, but firm, showing him how to pull the foreskin down.

Otabek’s head dipped again, and Yuri felt wet heat engulf the tip of his cock. He hissed at the sensation, his other hand slipping down to sink into the soft curls on Otabek’s head. He usually slicked his hair back, but Yuri liked it like this-- wild and unruly, coiling around his forehead.

Otabek’s tongue swirled around his head and Yuri groaned, barely stopping his hips from bucking upwards. The other man hummed, slipping for of his length inside his mouth, sucking gently and--

Fuck, Yuri was already close, he was already so close and it wasn’t fair. He wanted this to last forever, he wanted this to never end. His fingers pulled at Otabek’s hair tightly, as the other man pulled back, only to dip down again, twisting his hand around the base slightly.

Otabek wasn’t even undressed, and Yuri was reduced to a mess next to him. From the heat of his mouth, to the heat of his gaze he just-- And then Otabek looked up at him, his lips stretched around his cock, his eyes half-lidded and pupils blown wide underneath his long eyelashes. Yuri gasped at the sight, at the pull of his hand, at the way his tongue slid along the underside of his length.

Yuri remembered the first blow job he’d ever given, and it wasn’t like this. It had been awkward and terrible, and his experienced partner hadn’t been patient with him. Otabek was different though. Otabek didn’t even seem to be trying, running on instinct. Perhaps this is what made the difference, this overwhelming feeling of love. Yuri bucked his hips slightly, unable to stop and Otabek groaned around him, and it wasn’t fucking fair how good this was.

“Beka,” he hissed. “I’m so close--” he tried to warn, his grip on Otabek’s hair tightening. The other man doubled down on his efforts, sucking harder, pressing faster. Swallowing him as deep as he could without choking before pulling off. He kissed the tip, sliding his hand up and down, before swallowing him again.

Yuri felt the telltale tightening in his gut, and he crashed over the edge almost immediately, his hips jerking slightly towards Otabek. Otabek moaned around him, swallowing without a thought, and Yuri couldn’t think of anything hotter, he decided.

He hissed at the last lick that Otabek gave him, before pulling off, his lips tracing around his lips as he--

“Fuck,” Yuri groaned, falling back to the mattress in a melted heap. He could feel it, spent all the way down to his bones. The bed sagged under Otabek as he climbed back in, leaning against the headboard, and pulling Yuri’s head into his lap.

Yuri shifted from his grasp though,  straddling his hips with ease. Otabek’s hands found his hips quickly, squeezing, thumbing the soft skin there. His face so full of love, that Yuri wanted to paint a picture of it forever. Otabek only proved that he could still wreck him; that he could wreck him over and over again.

Yuri’s hand reached up, slipping just under his shirt, ghosting over the hard muscles he found there. “You’re over dressed,” he said, pulling the fabric up. Otabek helped him ease off the shirt.

“You’re still in your shirt,” he countered, but Yuri hushed him. His hand slipped across his skin, his fingers running along his collarbone and across his chest. Over a nipple, teasing it slightly, and Otabek shifted his hips under him, his hands tightening their hold.

Yuri hummed at that, a small smile crossing his features.  “Did you ever sleep with Amita?” It was a question with an answer that didn’t really mean anything, but curiosity poked at him.

And judging by the look on Otabek’s face, the other man didn’t like the thought of it, or him asking. “Yura, that’s not--”

“I’m only curious,” Yuri interrupted. “I mean, she’d be fucking stupid to ignore this,” he said, settling his hips closer, slotting them together to where he could feel the hardness underneath him. More impressive than he would have thought, and honestly his mouth watered with want.

“Yes,” Otabek groaned, and Yuri paused. “What I mean-- er-- Amita.” Yuri liked the fact that such a simple movement could render him literally speechless. “It wasn’t like this, though,” Otabek continued with. “I couldn’t be--”

“Damn right,” Yuri said, leaning closer to him, his face only a hair's breadth away.  “She wasn’t me, right?”

“Yura,” Otabek sighed, and he closed the small gap between them, kissing him again. One of his hands slid down Otabek’s abs, dragging his nails across the spattering of hair underneath his bellybutton. And then southward, hesitating at the edge of his pants.

Otabek let out a frustrated grunt, and Yuri practically swallowed it, his tongue snaking out across his lips. And then he pulled back, pressing their foreheads together. “Are you okay with this?” he breathed, his hand cupping Otabek’s length through the fabric of his pants.

“Fuck,” Otabek replied.

“Not yet,” Yuri laughed. But Otabek was already lifting his hips, his hands scrambling to pull down his pants before Yuri could protest. And it wasn’t that Yuri didn’t want to, oh he so did. But he wanted to take his time, he wanted to pick Otabek apart and put him back together. And really, they had all the time in the world.

He shifted his hips back slightly, looking down between them, where Otabek stood at attention. Yuri had seen his fair share of dicks, but this one was perfection. Thick and cut, dark like his tanned skin and already weeping at the tip. Otabek took Yuri’s staring as hesitation, already ready to put a halt to this and--

Yuri wrapped his hand around him tightly, using his thumb to spread the slickness that had already gathered there. Otabek threw his head back so fast that he cracked it against the headboard. Yuri paused to look at him, but the other man didn’t seem to even care, his gaze trained on his hand and what it was doing.

Yuri let go for a moment, licking at his hand, before gripping him again. This time the slide of his hand was slicker, easier, and he twisted his palm over the head of Otabek’s cock lightly. The legs under him tensed slightly, and he could hear Otabek’s ragged breathing. Like he was barely holding on.

“Yura, that isn’t-- I’m-- It’s not fair,” he whined, and Yuri smirked.

“It’s not a contest,” he cooed, “There’s no prize for lasting long.” His hand tugged once, twice more, and then the other went to cup his balls. Otabek bucked his hips into his hand, and with one more twist of Yuri’s hand, he jerked slightly, coming all over his fingers.

Yuri couldn’t help but feel smug about that, he supposed, because the entire thing had lasted maybe two minutes. And it didn’t matter, because it was good, it had been so good.

Otabek shifted, pulling Yuri towards him for another kiss, this one sweet and quick. Yuri grabbed at his shirt, wiping at Otabek-- much to his protest-- before settling into his side. Resting his head against his chest, not caring that the both of them sweaty and tired and in need of a shower.

Otabek’s hand found his scalp, pressing against it gently. Yuri hummed lightly, sinking into the feeling of his fingers carding through the silky strands of his hair. This wasn’t new, they’d done this in years past-- but Yuri had never realized just how much he had missed it. Missed this closeness. Craved it.

“I wonder what Grandpa will say,” Yuri muttered, a silly thought.

“Yura, can we not talk about him right now?” Otabek’s chest rumbled with his words, underneath Yuri’s cheek.

“He’d be relieved,” Yuri continued, not caring for the other man’s request. “He always thought you were a good one.” When Otabek didn’t respond, Yuri pulled away slightly, glancing up at him. “It was hard for you, huh? With your parents and everything.”

Otabek’s hand paused in his hair. “You have no idea,” he said quietly. “I was so determined to make them happy.”

“I know they’re devout and all--”

“Yura--”

“But, if God was so against something like this, then why do we exist?” The question tumbled out of his mouth with hushed urgency. “Isn’t he the one who made us for each other?” Yuri wasn’t religious, and Otabek barely was, but tradition was as thick as blood was, where he came from. “I mean, you aren’t planning on just leaving--”

“I already promised you, I’m not going anywhere,” Otabek said, hushing him.

“But you’ll have to go home,” Yuri said, as it suddenly sunk in. Otabek might have shown up on his doorstep, but he wasn’t from there.

“I would think it’s obvious,” Otabek huffed. “My home is wherever you are, Yura.”

It was such a cheesy line, that Yuri couldn’t help but chuckle. “What a fucking sap.”

“Yes, but I’m your sap.” The words mirrored his from earlier, where he proclaimed that he was Yuri’s moron. Which led to the memory of Otabek before him, proclaiming that he’d be the only one he’d ever get on his knees for. Yuri’s legs were still jelly at that particular display.

“You sure know how to make someone happy,” Yuri sighed, content.

“And are you?”

“Obviously.” Otabek let out a breath of relief as Yuri pulled away from him, making an excuse about setting his phone alarm for the morning.

Yuri [2:13AM]: Your advice was fucking prophetic, Katsudon.

Yuri [2:13AM]: Otabek showed up on my doorstep tonight.

Katsudon [2:14AM]: Otabek?

Katsudon [2:14AM]: Wait, why would Otabek…? Katsudon [2:15AM]: WAIT.

Yuri smiled, imagining Yuuri’s face, as he realized exactly what he meant.

Katsudon [2:16AM]: Is this… are you good?

Yuri had been typing a reply, when Otabek muttered something tiredly. “I know it’s about four years to late, but I love you, Yura.”

Yuri’s toes curled at the words.

Yuri [2:18AM]: Yeah, everything is fucking perfect.

[elizabeth-mitchells]

One Of My Girls (Ocean’s 8 ot3 fanfic)

I wrote ocean’s 8 fanfiction !!!! I couldn’t stop myself!!! debbie/lou/tammy .... here it goes.

basically i said “ tammy is debbie's ex who had an affair with lou while debbie was in prison “ and then i said “after ocean’s 8 the 3 of them go crazy for daphne and fight for her attention therefore making eachother jealous“

The first one to notice Debbie’s change in demeanor was Lou. She wasn’t paying much attention to her, but Debbie was holding her arm and at some point had started to slowly dig her nails furiously into Lou’s skin. “Oh it’s driving you crazy, isn’t it?” Lou laughed, sourly, she was incredibly bothered as well. Debbie’s eyes were fixed on the scene on the other side of Lou’s place. Tammy was backed against a wall and Daphne was talking to her at an unnecessarily close distance. “I almost miss the time that Tammy wanted to kick Daphne’s ass for even showing up here.” Right on cue, Tammy let out a great laugh and as she calmed down Daphne’s eyes stayed firmly directed at the soft pink lips of the woman in front of her. “Oh fuck off.” Debbie shook Lou’s arms of her grasp and moved towards the other side of the room with as much determination as only Debbie Ocean knew how to pull off. “Chill.” Lou whispered, as she slowly started to follow Debbie while cautiously fixing her necklaces and letting her eyes roam Debbie’s figure as she walked.

Daphne had proved time and time again that she was far smarter than anyone in the world ever gave her credit for. And when she first got a taste of the attention of a woman, she was overjoyed to continue playing the game. Tammy was a box of surprises for everyone, pulling out tricks that no one sees coming from her. In her middle-class mom style, Daphne didn’t expect her to be the one to defy her. But there they were; weeks later and both enjoying the unexpected boldness that would come out of Tammy at certain times. However, Daphne wasn’t still aware of being in the presence of someone that overshadowed everyone else in confience.

Debbie reached the couple, with Lou still trailing behind her. And her mere presence was enough to bring the two apart. “Daphne.” Debbie said, with a tense smile on her face – her eyes saying more than enough. When her objective didn’t move a muscle, she continued. “Kluger.” She said, more forcefully this time. With that, Debbie tilted her face in a signal to make Daphne go elsewhere. Debbie’s face remained almost motionless, and it still unnerved Daphne slightly, but regardless, she made a series of gestures that meant she was about to challenge Debbie. She flipped her hair, stood straighter, fixed the neckline of her dress and put on a picture-perfect smile. She was a second away from opening her mouth when her eyes trailed behind Debbie Ocean’s imposing silhouette. There, deadly silent, stood Lou, slowly shaking her head. Her usually assertive blue eyes were unusually expressive and almost comically opened. Even beyond Lou, Daphne was able to catch sight of the rest of the women in the place. Rose and Amita were wildly shaking their heads and gesturing with their hands. Beside them, Constance was making rather worrisome gestures that signaled to Daphne’s possible death. Even with her back turned, sitting on the sofa, Nine Ball was slowly shaking her head, too.

Daphne looked down, put a piece of hair behind her head and walked away with a barely whispered “excuse me, ladies.” Then, Debbie didn’t even turn around to see her walk away and she knew she would. She stayed with her head held high and her characteristically cold smile in place. A second too late she turned to Tammy, and only watched her retreating back. Daphne and the rest of the girls, now safe from Debbie’s wrath, watched amused as Tammy ran up the stairs, followed by Debbie, followed by Lou. “Do you think there might be a metaphor hiding in that?” Rose asked.

Now there was a closed door separating the three of them from the rest of the world. Lou remained leaning against the door, her arms crossed, her head tilted – seemingly unconcerned by the situation. Though, the big frown on her face was an obvious indicator of her worry. As well as her racing heart, a common occurrence when she was in the presence of either one of the other two women standing there with her, let alone both of them at the same time.  On the other hand, Tammy was incessantly walking around the small room. She was gesturing with her hands and entire arms at that point. Meanwhile her mouth moved, opened and closed, but she couldn’t find her words yet. Lou and Debbie both noticed she was angry, obviously. Debbie herself felt slightly preoccupied if she were to be honest; she relaxed her shoulders and her features softened, which in her case was much more alarming than to see her tense.

“So, now you do want me.” Those were the sharp words that managed to make their way out of Tammy’s lips. She was breathless then, as if finally letting out the weight of those words had simultaneously hurt and relieved her. Some tension that she hadn’t been able to let go of since Debbie found her again suddenly dissolved. Still at a safe distance away, Lou cringed, the spoken sentence was, to her, as sharp as Tammy had probably intended. But, as usual, Debbie didn’t even flinch, didn’t even took a second to answer. “I always want you.”  Her velvet voice was a lasso that seamlessly catches anyone’s attention, no matter how badly Tammy wanted to resist it. Lou didn’t felt jealous to hear that, she felt equally as compelled by the words. “You are one of my girls.” Debbie said, but if anything that further angered Tammy, taking the other two by surprise when she exclaimed “Oh! ‘One of your girls’! You mean your heist team of girls or…”

Tammy perhaps took too long to come up with a sentenced poisoned enough she considered worth spitting out. But that happened to be more than enough time for Debbie to kiss her. In that kiss, like every other one they had ever shared, Tammy tasted all that Debbie was and no one ever saw. It tasted like power, secrets and ambition; as much as it was thoughtful, genuine and so full of love that Tammy worried she wouldn’t be able to breathe afterwards. Debbie put her hands on Tammy’s cheeks with the utmost delicacy, and after a few seconds one hand started to gently stroke her face, moving towards fallen strands of soft blond hair and finally to rest in the back of Tammy’s neck. Years of history, of longing, passion and lost time were swirling in Tammy’s mind, until a silly thought interrupted the moment. She was so, so sure that Lou was still standing there, leaning against the door, a smirk firmly placed in her face and not at all looking away. It made a familiar smile break into Tammy’s lips and butterflies that were Lou’s blame to set flight in her stomach.

Once the sweet kiss ended, Debbie was still impossibly close to Tammy, her hands happily lost, moving through her hair. Then she whispered, loud enough for both of the two other women to hear, “One of my girls” she said, accentuating each word with a mystifying amount of possessiveness and love that none of them really could put into words. “Alright?” she finally asked. And Debbie was more than content to receive Tammy’s soft “alright” whispered in response. As well as Lou’s amused answer:

“Yes, sir”

[booksandwords]

Eve of Destruction by Sherrilyn McQueen

**Spoiler Warning** Because I want to talk the major moment for me.

Series: The League: Eve of Destruction, #1 Read time: 1 Day Rating: 5/5

The quote: She was exquisite violence. There was no other way to describe her. Normally, Jinx Shadborne wouldn't have given her more than a casing glance. But she was possible to ignore. She wore competence and war like an accessory. Her posture bled experience, especially since she was in this dive hole, alone. With no visible weaponry. — Jinx Shadowborne (also the opening lines)

When I see Sherri is releasing I new story I'm happy. 😊When I see that it's for The League series I'm ecstatic.🤩 And man oh man, Eve of Destruction did not disappoint. 😍😮 It is definitely one for the fans. It slaps you in the face with history and lore and some of it is seriously… wait what? How has it taken that long to come out? The biggest wtf for me is that in some way shape or form Jayne is related to Fain's son, Talyn. It's not much but it's there. If you have read Born of Defiance and remember Talyn's uniqueness you will know why I say this. Like Talyn, she's a Winged Batur, through her Grandmother.

We meet Jinx Showbourne and Eve Erixour in a dive bar, he's looking for a source, she's looking for a drink. Jinx protects her something he does frequently. Eve's current project is saving her younger sister Jayne from a League prison, a feat considered impossible. Jinx is a rebellious little huge assassin working against The League from within. Jinx and Eve aren't necessarily sweet together but they are explosive and all chemistry. Willing to break the rules and risk death for each other. Both of them are protective older siblings though for slightly different reasons. There is a line I really like "You do realise, Evelita Ixtara Erixour, that with the number of kills on your balance sheet that you'd only be one rank below me if you were a League assassin, right?" Jinx is a Second Rank Assassin, one kill of First Rank. That says so much about her, about not just her deadliness but what she does when painted into a corner. Given Hyshian culture their dynamic could be kinda interesting, it depends on how heavily ingrained her culture is in her. How much she can give up and the difference between their cultures.

The beautiful endearment for the story is zarana Euforian for Lady, also Mi amita for my dearest. Euforian appears to be based loosely on a Spanish dialect. I'm not even sure we've met Jinx's race before. So that's a thing. And Jinx is a Prince which I believe I knew from Born of Rage which ends with him going bloody.

Guess who makes a guest appearance? One Nykyrian Quikiades and Syn but not in person. But I'm wondering if we just saw something that got him thinking about starting it. If we did I'm wondering what happens to the other players. Kyr is also still around and still being threatened on the regular, so you know, the more things change the more they stage the same.

This is another novella playing with Andronian lore. We actually get decent passages of Andronian, more than we're seen in a while.

As a side note Jinx and Eve both have rather amusing profiles on Sherri's website. As is the norm, it's in the details.

As range as it might sound a bit odd I want Bête's story. She is deadly, terrifying and protective. That last feels a little unusual for an active League assassin. Ditto Savage.

I say this is only for the fans but in all fairness, if you just wanted a taste of this universe to see if it's something you might try. It is standalone and doesn't make assumptions on your knowledge of the verse.

So where does this set in the wider scheme of things? This is before the Sentella is established, Jayne is only 17. I would suggest somewhat parallel to mid parts of Born of Blood, in a similar way to Cloak and Dagger and Born of Silence. But it is set quite some time before Born of Night. Apparently it fits in before Born of Rage. Meaning this is to date the League work set the furthest back in the Ichidian Universe. To my understanding at least I am happy to be corrected. This is a novella that sets up much of the background for Born of Blood the much-awaited story of Jayne and Hadrian, due for publication in 2024 (atm everything in Sherri's publication order is fluid).

I can't be objective about Sherri's writing anymore. If I ever could be. But this was a joy to read I adore this universe and I always like learning about new characters. New times in the world. Finding a whole other generation to explore, which I will call gen 0 or gen .5 for now, is beyond exciting. The story is well written and like Cloak and Dagger and Fire and Ice well suited to the shorter format.

Read for Dymocks 2022 Reading Challenge. Filling the prompt: "Otherworldly" Is this kinda cheating? Eve of Destruction is a novella but it's Sherrilyn McQueen's first release in so long. As a loyal Paladin it is my duty to promote this any way I can. Using it to fill a prompt is one way, I may also use the upcoming Shadow Fallen (also McQueen) for this.