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grailfinders · 4 years ago

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Fate and Phantasms #157

Today on Fate and Phantasms we’re making Emiya Alter! No, not that one, the one they gave a really dumb nickname to.

Anyway, Demiya is a Vengeance Paladin to take down anyone who would threaten humanity (and protect himself from mind control nonsense) as well as a Hexblade Warlock to project whatever blades he might need straight into enemies. I know he made the deal with Alaya, but it made him good with swords, so it’s probably fine.

Check out his build breakdown below the cut, or his character sheet over here!

Next up: Man’s worst nightmare

Race and Background

Despite your arguments to the contrary, you’re still a Human, giving you +1 Strength and +1 Dexterity. You also get proficiency in Insight to be a better investigator, and the Fighting Initiate feat, because paladins don’t get the Archery fighting style normally. This gives you +2 on ranged weapon attacks.

What was it that turned you to the path of Alterness? Whatever it was, it made you a Haunted One, giving you proficiency with Investigation and Arcana, as well as a healthy hatred for anything Kiara-based.

Ability Scores

You’re good with guns and small swords, plus you fight shirtless, so make sure your Dexterity is as high as possible. Second is going to be Charisma. You’re a pretty scary guy, we need it for multiclassing,and it’ll help you shoot good later. Your Wisdom is also pretty good, thanks to your built-in mental protection. You’re too affected by your Alterfication to get affected by anything else. Your Strength isn’t that bad, you do use melee weapons too at times and we also need it for multiclassing, but your Constitution is rather low. Kintsugi is very pretty, but it’s not a great way to build a person. Finally, we’re dumping Intelligence. It’s less that you’re dumb, more that you just absolutely don’t care about stuff enough to get scholarly on most subjects.

Class Levels

1. Paladin 1: Paladins get better hit dice and the martial weapons we need for that Fighting Initiate we got, so we’re kinda stuck starting there. First level paladins get proficiency with Wisdom and Charisma saves, as well as two paladin skills. Intimidation is pretty self-explanatory, but you also get Athletics. Look, you’ve got pretty good abs, they had to come from somewhere.

You also get a Divine Sense, letting you sense threats to humanity nearby, and Lay on Hands for a bit of free healthcare for you or whoever else you touch. You get 5 hp of healing per paladin level per long rest, and you can use 5 points from that amount to heal a poison or disease.

Yeah, first level isn’t particularly in-character, but it’ll get better later.

2. Paladin 2: Second level paladins get another Fighting Style, so grab Close Quarters Shooter from the underdark UA for sick melee ranged attacks. This negates the disadvantage caused by making a ranged attack near hostiles, your ranged attacks ignore all but full cover, and you get another +1 to ranged attack rolls.

You also learn how to cast an prepare Spells using your Charisma. You can either use your new spell slots for, y’know, spells, or for a Divine Smite to add on extra radiant damage to a melee attack. Ranged attacks in melee range don’t count, sadly.

As far as prepared spells go, Detect Evil and Good can help hunt down baddies, ditto with Protection from Evil and Good.

3. Paladin 3: At third level, you can at long last devote yourself to Vengeance!, giving you the spells Bane to trip up foes and Hunter’s Mark to stick some serious damage onto your enemies over time. You also get Channel Divinity once per short rest that you can use in two ways.

Abjure Enemy spends an action to force a wisdom save (DC 8+charisma mod+proficiency) or one creature is frightened for up to a minute or until it takes damage. While frightened, it can’t move. On a success, the creature’s speed is halved for a minute or until it takes damage.

Alternatively, you can swear a Vow of Enmity as a bonus action, giving you advantage on attacks against a nearby creature for a minute or until it hits 0 hp.

You also get Divine Health, making you immune to disease. Like half your body is gold, it’s not like sniffles are a big concern at this point.

4. Paladin 4: Use your first Ability Score Improvement to grab the Crossbow Expert feat. There’s a lot of overlap with Close Range Shooter, but you can now attack multiple times per turn with a crossbow, and you can use your bonus action to attack with a hand crossbow if you attack with a one-handed weapon with your main action. Unfortunately, that’s the one kind of crossbow that won’t work with warlocks, but for now it’s fine.

5. Paladin 5: Fifth level paladins get an Extra Attack, letting you attack twice per turn anyway! Making great use of feat you just got.

You also learn second level spells! Your freebies are Hold Person and Misty Step. Admittedly neither are really in character for you, but if you want to power game Hold Person gives you guaranteed critical hits on the held person, which is super busted when combined with your smites. Food for thought.

Otherwise you can use Magic Weapon and other smites to make normal swords into fancy magic swords.

6. Warlock 1: Bouncing over to warlock for a bit puts you in a pact with an even fancier magic weapon: a Hexblade. You might not have a soul any more, but you do have a Hexblade’s Curse, which you can put on one unlucky bastard as a bonus action once per short rest. The target’s cursed for 1 minute, during which: You add your proficiency to damage against the target, crit on 19s, and you gain HP equal to your warlock level+your charisma modifier when they die.

You also become a Hex Warrior, turning one non-two handed weapon into a charisma based weapon instead of dexterity or strength. You can also use this on any kind of weapon made with your pact weapon feature later.

Finally, you get Pact Magic, which is pretty similar to your old magic except it recharges on short rests instead of long ones. While the spell slots don’t blend like other multiclassing builds, you can use warlock slots to cast paladin spells and vice versa.

Speaking of warlock spells, you get Eldritch Blast to summon gunfire and Sword Burst to summon swords right into people. You also get Cause Fear because that’s most people’s natural reaction to you and Expeditious Retreat to stay in archery range. Just because you can fight in melee range doesn’t mean you should.

7. Warlock 2: Second level warlocks get Eldritch Invocations. Like usual, we’re saving one for level three, but you still get Armor of Shadows now for free Mage Armor on yourself. Now you can finally rip your shirt off and make Kintoki jealous!

You also learn Comprehend Languages. Alaya probably wouldn’t drop you off in someplace without giving you the language to get around, right? Right?

8. Warlock 3: Your pact boon, as you can probably guess, is the Pact of the Blade, letting you summon pretty much any melee weapon you could want as an action. It also counts as magic for overcoming resistance, making the Magic Weapon thing from earlier pointless.

That invocation we were saving becomes Improved Pact Weapon, which expands your pact weapon choices to pretty much any ranged weapon you could want and it gives any weapon you make +1 to attacks and damage.

Honestly there aren’t that many second level spells that I think really fit Emiya as a warlock, but Blur is nice. If you’re going to be nameless, you might as well be faceless too, I guess.

9. Paladin 6: Going back to paladin for a bit lets you create an Aura of Protection, adding your charisma modifier to any save you or allies within 10′ of you make. It’s not an enormous buff, but a +2 is a +2, take what you get.

10. Paladin 7: Seventh level vengeance paladins are Relentless Avengers. When you hit a creature with an attack of opportunity, you can move half your speed as part of the reaction an ignore opportunity attacks. Like a lot of paladin goodies, this doesn’t pair well with your guns, but you do have swords as well.

11. Paladin 8: Another ASI at last! Bump up your Charisma for better saves and spells.

12. Warlock 4: Use this ASI to become Tough for an extra 24 HP now and another 2 each level. If you want to get in close, you’d better be able to take a hit. Also, you’re part gold. Sure it’s a soft metal, but it’s still a metal. That’s worth a few HP.

You also learn True Strike because I’m really hoping you’re aiming those things, and Shadow Blade for yet another sword you can summon.

13. Warlock 5: Fifth level warlocks get another invocation and a third level spell. Spirit Shroud makes all your swords a little bit sharper, dealing extra damage to and slowing down creatures in a 10′ radius. You also get Eldritch Smite, which burns through warlock slots to deal extra force damage, and can be used with ranged weapons.

14. Paladin 9: Ninth level paladins also get third level spells, like Haste which adds to your AC, bumps up your speed, and gives you and extra action for the duration. When the spell ends you have to take a turn to chill, but it’s totally worth it. You also get Protection from Energy, which... I mean if someone’s throwing around acid arrows, yeah go for it. Otherwise you can get more smites and Elemental Weapon for more fancy weapons.

15. Paladin 10: Tenth level paladins get an Aura of Courage, preventing allies in it from being frightened. I’d be more worried about charms, but honestly your wisdom save is pretty good at this point.

16. Paladin 11: Your Improved Divine Smite means you can add radiant damage to melee attacks even when you have no spell slots to burn; unfortunately that’s still just melee attacks, not ranged attacks.

17. Paladin 12: At seventeenth level you can finally use this ASI to bump your Charisma up past the point where your dexterity started, meaning your attaks finally get a bit more accurate thanks to being a Hex Warrior. This also bumps up your spell effectiveness and all your saves.

18. Paladin 13: Thirteenth level paladins get fourth level spells, like Banishment and Dimension Door. You also get access to yet another new smite for yet another new sword.

19. Paladin 14: Your last mainline paladin goodie is a Cleansing Touch, spending an action to end a spell affecting yourself or a willing creature charisma mod times per long rest. You’d think this anti-Kiara protection is coming late, but to be honest you probably should be level 20 to take on a Beast of Humanity.

20. Paladin 15: Your capstone level makes you a Soul of Vengeance, letting you make opportunity attacks on a creature affected by your Vow of Enmity if they try to attack anyone. Again, this only affects melee attacks.

Pros:

Mixing your Hexblade’s Curse and Vow of Enmity together means you’re really good at dealing crits with basically four times the odds of critical attacks each attack compared to your regular fighter. This is especially good for a character that can double smite like you can, dealing serious burst damage easily.

You also deal consistent damage with a +14 to hit and several different ways to stick more damage onto your attacks, like the afforementioned curse, Hunter’s Mark, or Spirit Shroud.

Thanks to your warlock slots recharging on short rests, you can go ham on smites a bit more than most people could, making your Unlimited Lost Works available to you more than other paladins.

Cons:

You’re a paladin specializing in ranged attacks. Admittedly the only things really making you a ranged fighter are your fighting styles, which can easily be changed, but if you’re playing to character you’ll find it a bit harder to use your paladin features.

Another reason staying at range is a good idea is your Concentration saves are really bad, with a total of +0 and no way to improve them.

Starting as a paladin but then adding in hexblade later means you have something of an awkward beginning, with your first couple ASIs not really contributing much to your character, with those first few mostly making up for your weaknesses rather than playing to your strengths.

#fgo #Fate Grand Order #Emiya Alter #D&D 5e #DND #Warlock #Paladin

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mostlycompetentwriter · 4 years ago

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Limitless - Chapter Six

F/M Pairing: Y/N x Johnny (side pairing: Y/N x Jaehyun)

Word Count: 4K

Warnings: mentions of violence, and language

Genre: Hogwarts AU! Fantasy AU!

Summary: “The first years, please note... that the Dark Forest is strictly forbidden to all students” - Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone)

Taglist: @jae-bread, @lanadreamie, @do-you-like-riddles, @ki-aechan, @the-usernames-i-like-are-taken, @dru-shadow, @completencttrash, @haechans-sunflower, @neocultech-baby, @jaectizen, @yutamist, @lunavbm, @seriousballoon, @lerissa, @kickin–it, @nekojohndo, @n0teanoshade

“Time will not slow down when something unpleasant lies ahead” - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

In a complete turn of events, when I entered the Great Hall this time, I surprised everyone in the room when I walked in the direction of the Slytherin table to sit down next to Johnny Seo.

There was a pervasive silence, and it seemed that every eye had turned to observe this unexpected situation. But I wasn’t bothered by their intrusive stares; instead, I reveled in the attention because I wanted as many witnesses as possible to watch me as I extended the figurative olive branch.

“How are you, Jeno?” I asked the dark-haired student sitting across from me.

However, in place of a formal greeting, Jeno’s response was nothing more than the image of his mouth falling open in shock. “What are you playing at, Y/N?” Johnny muttered, pushing aside his empty plate as he glared at me.

“Nothing,” I replied. “I’ve just been thinking about our conversation from my father’s banquet.”

“Ah!” Johnny chuckled. “You’re coming to tell me that I’m wrong.”

“No,” I countered. “I actually took your words to heart, and I’m willing to concede certain points.”

“Oh?” Johnny smirked. “Care to elaborate?”

“You’re right about the hypocrisy,” I informed him. “But I’m not the only one guilty of its implications.”

“Is this your way of turning things around on me?” Johnny asked.

“I just think you should give it some consideration,” I said, and I tried to ignore his incredulous laugh. “But,” I growled, “I want to call a truce between us.”

His laugh broke off immediately, and it was Johnny’s turn to be caught off-guard, appearing just as ridiculous as Jeno when he gaped at me. “Truce?”

“I’m sure you know what it means,” I said, taking a moment to revel in my own self-satisfaction. “Perhaps I was insensible before, but my brother is fond of your cousin, and I think we should try our best to get along.”

But for a moment, I wasn’t certain that Johnny was even going to acknowledge my suggestion. After all, even if I was willing to apologize for my behavior from before, there was no guarantee that he would accept my sincere expression. And I held my breath when he released an exaggerated sigh. “I guess you don’t feel any remorse from our conversation? Doesn’t it bother you that I had to point out those flaws?”

“I’m grateful for your honesty,” I said, measuring my words with astuteness. “Sometimes, it takes the intervention of a friend to help a person understand the consequences of their actions.”

“Friend?” Johnny repeated with a scoff. “Y/N, I’ve tried to be friends since our first day of potions together, but you’ve made that very hard for me.”

“Well, consider this a change of heart,” I said, and I held out my hand to him. “Shall we shake on it?”

Johnny rolled his eyes, but his palm was warm against mine. “I’ll consider this an open invitation.”

“Whatever that means,” I grumbled, and I pulled away from him with a smile. “See? Even I can be surprisingly civil.”

“We’ll see about that,” Johnny said, and I could feel his gaze on me as I left the Great Hall without another word.

The rumors were swift, pervading the Castle and all its students no matter what year they happened to claim. But I wasn’t surprised to discover that people were talking about my wiling compliance to entertain Johnny Seo. And I fully expected for someone to confront me about the conversation, but it was still later on when I was finally approached about my burgeoning relationship with Johnny Seo - a seemingly unusual request for neutrality between us.

“Did something happen between you and Johnny?” Jaehyun asked, and I looked up from my textbook to see that he was looking straight at me with an inquisitive stare, no longer concerned with the lines he was expected to write for his transfiguration assignment.

“Just some stuff that happened over break,” I said, stretching my arms out above my head as I dismissed my homework with an exaggerated sigh.

“What kind of stuff?” Jaehyun pressed, and I took a moment to consider why he was so interested.

“He said some things about my mom,” I admitted. “It bothered me because he was right.”

“Oh,” Jaehyun murmured, and he seemed relieved by the confession. “I guess I wasn’t sure what to expect. Everyone keeps talking about you and Johnny.”

“It was a surprisingly useful conversation,” I said. “He pointed out some things that nobody has ever really asked me to think about before.”

Jaehyun was quiet as he observed me. “Is that okay? You aren’t bothered by what he said?”

“I can handle Johnny,” I told him with a smile, which he returned after glancing at the ring that I wore on my index finger, glittering enticingly below the lights.

“It looks good on you,” he remarked to change the conversation.

“Yeah,” I agreed, holding out my hand to admire the diamonds. “This is beautiful, Jaehyun. You didn’t have to get me anything expensive.”

“I wanted to buy it,” Jaehyun insisted. “You mean a lot to me.”

I averted my gaze at his sincere words, and I could feel my face warming under his close scrutiny. “I feel bad because I didn’t get you a gift.”

“Trust me, Y/N,” he said with a chuckle. “You give me more than you could ever imagine.”

“But I want you to have something concrete!” I insisted, and Jaehyun’s expression slowly morphed into something more serious as he leaned in closer across the table.

“You could always give me an answer.”

“Answer?” I repeated, and there was a strange amount of tension in the air between us as his eyes locked onto mine.

“Y/N, I like you a lot,” Jaehyun confessed. “But before you misinterpret my words, I want you to know that my feelings aren’t exactly platonic.”

I shivered because, of course, I understood what he meant, but I had never been propositioned in such a way before. “Jaehyun-”

“Let’s go out on Friday,” he interrupted as if sensing that I was uncertain. “I want to take you somewhere in Hogsmeade, and you can think about what I’ve said and how you feel.”

I pondered his simple request, wondering if it was possible for me to think about those things. And I had never really thought about those kinds of complicated feelings, even if Jaehyun made me want to start considering them. But he always made things easier for me, and I found myself nodding along as Jaehyun’s relieved smile captured the moment with a gentle exhale.

It wasn’t surprising to have the attention of my classmates directed on me when I walked into the potion’s classroom. Especially when Johnny was already waiting at our usual table, and he wore a self-assured smirk as I sat down next to him. “I got a head start on the assignment,” Johnny said, and he slid his textbook closer to mine where I noticed he had already crafted several notes in the margins.

“Oh? And how did you know what we were making today?” I asked, and I allowed my fingers to follow the words as they filled out the pages.

“I told you,” Johnny said. “I’m one of Professor Zhang’s favorites.”

“I still don’t understand why he chose you,” I remarked, even while I couldn’t help but admit that the favoritism benefited me in this class.

“Well, since we’re friends now or whatever,” Johnny said. “Maybe you’ll start realizing that I’m a lot smarter than you want to give me credit for.”

“I’ll give you credit when it’s due,” I said with a cheeky smile. “This looks more like cheating to me.”

“Cheating?” Johnny scoffed. “I like to consider it as taking advantage of an opportune situation.”

“Uh-huh.” I grinned. “Did you feel the same way when you cheated to beat the Gryffindor team at their tryouts?”

“That wasn’t cheating!” Johnny sighed. “Honestly, Y/N, you’re making a big mistake by thinking so low of me. One of these days, you’re gonna regret dismissing my natural talents because of your own ego.”

“Is that so?” I asked him. “I’ll certainly let you know when I have a change of heart, friend!”

“Ditto,” Johnny muttered, and there was an unmistakable lilt to his interjection that matched the playful smile breaking the corners of his eyes.

“But I do have one question-” I started, but I was unexpectedly interrupted by a flock of fifth-year girls who rushed into the classroom at once, surrounding our table with giggles.

“Is it true, Y/N?” one of them asked. “We heard that Jaehyun asked you out!”

“I don’t think it’s any of your business,” I said, and I was entirely unimpressed with their invasive demands, even if I was concerned with the sudden disappearance of Johnny’s playful demeanor.

“He said so himself,” they continued. “The two of you are going to Hogsmeade together!”

“I guess it’s true then,” I muttered, but I was far more concerned with the sullen look written across Johnny’s countenance.

“Everyone’s talking about it,” the first girl said, but she was graciously dismissed upon the arrival of Professor Zhang who sternly instructed everyone to sit down.

The girls smiled and leaned in together to whisper in low tones, and I waited until they were gone to discreetly check on Johnny whose rigid posture was concerning.

“Johnny,” I whispered, and it was a muted tone that demonstrated some amount of caution, but I didn’t know why I felt the need to approach Johnny with such uncertainty.

“Whatever, Y/N,” Johnny growled, and he pulled our cauldron closer to the edge of the table. “Let’s just get this done.”

His statement was final, and I fell into a long stretch of silence as we worked together without another word.

I had always been impressed by Hogsmeade: the quaint little shops, the rustic vibe, and the feeling of intimate comraderies around every corner of the bustling streets.

It was the perfect way to spend an evening out of the Castle, shuffling through the snow next to Jaehyun as he talked about his Quidditch team’s upcoming match versus Slytherin. “We’re prepared this time,” he assured me, stopping outside of the Three Broomsticks with a smile. “I love coming here.”

“It’s warm,” I noted, and I was surprised by my body’s willing compliance when Jaehyun wrapped an arm around my waist to lead me inside.

“Most of my friends sit at the back,” he explained, guiding me through the other tables and friendly couples. “It’s more private.”

I nodded in agreement, finding simple pleasure in the quiet alcove, waiting for Jaehyun as he briefly left me alone to bring us back two butterbeers. The frothy beverage had delighted my tastebuds when I tried it Jisung for the first time, and it might seem cliché, but I was glad to share the sentiments of my Hogwarts classmates who all seemed to love it.

“I hope you’re comfortable,” Jaehyun said, and he had already consumed most of his drink as he turned to look at me. “Have you thought about what I said before in the library.”

Oh.

I swallowed hard, bringing my own drink down against the table. “It was really sudden,” I tried to explain to him. “We haven’t been friends for long.”

“Ah!” Jaehyun said, snapping his fingers as if he understood. “You’re worried about the timing. Is it moving too fast for you?”

I hesitated because it would all too easy to tell Jaehyun that I wasn’t ready for him, but the problem then became: would I ever be ready for him? “I don’t know,” I told him truthfully, and he nodded.

“Some people take longer to decipher their feelings,” Jaehyun agreed. “How about this? I’m relieved that you know how I feel, but I would never pressure you to reciprocate. Instead, maybe we can try a simple relationship? We’ll basically do the same things from before, but I can give you space to figure out what you want.”

“That sounds too good to be true.” I laughed, and Jaehyun smiled as he leaned in closer.

“It’s just that, I actually know it’s moving really fast, but I’ve been worried about Seo a lot these days,” Jaehyun said.

“Johnny?” I repeated with what surely resembled a quizzical look. “Why?”

“I guess you are bad with feelings,” Jaehyun said. “Y/N, I think it’s obvious to a lot of people that Johnny likes you, and after you talked with him the other day in the Great Hall, I thought he might’ve convinced you to try things out with him.”

“Try things out?” I gasped, and the idea was almost scandalous to me. For months, I treated Johnny as a barely tolerated acquaintance, but the moment I act civil and agree to be more amiable, everyone assumes something far more consequential. “Johnny and I aren’t like that.”

“I hope not,” Jaehyun said. “Not that I would try and stop you if you did have feelings for him, but I want to take my chance before it’s too late. The last thing in the world I want is more regrets, and you’re someone I would definitely regret if I didn’t try to show you how much you meant to me.”

I was struck by his sincerity, and I didn’t even question him when he applied a tight grip to my hand. “Thank you,” I said. “Honestly, it’s been confusing lately, and I know part of the problem is me.”

“You’re not a problem in my eyes,” Jaehyun said, and I squirmed under the weight of the compliment.

“Are you gonna keep doing that?” I asked him.

“What? Singing your praises?” Jaehyun chuckled. “Why? Does it not suit you?”

“Something like that,” I said, studying him from the corner of my eye. “You’ll wait for me to decide?”

“Of course,” Jaehyun said. “I’m a very patient man, Y/N. Take all the time that you need.”

It was, admittedly, relieving to hear him say that to me, even if I was still confused about my feelings. But anything I might’ve said to reassure him at that moment was vanquished from my mind at the unexpected entrance of Haechan and Chenle who were both crying and screaming when they ran to our table. “Woah!” I said, unprepared for Chenle to grab the sleeve of my robe.

“We have to help them!” Chenle said, and it took me a moment to gather my bearings long enough to grab him by his shoulders.

“Help who?”

“Haechan, you need to calm down,” Jaehyun said, and I was surprised by his gentle touch as he hugged Haechan closer. “What happened?”

“It was my fault!” Haechan said. “The older kids told us that we had to do it! They said it was a first-year initiation, but they took us to the Forbidden Forest and there was an attack-”

“And attack!” I screeched, standing up from the table with my adrenaline pumping.

“W-we were attached by a werewolf!” Haechan said, and it was at this point that I realized the entire room was watching us. “It bit Mark, and it tried to hurt Jisung-”

“My Jisung?” I interrupted, and there was a disorienting sensation of fear eclipsing my heart in an icy grip. “Haechan, is Jisung hurt? Where is he? Why is he not with you?”

I was on the verge on a panic attack when I let my instincts takeover, running from the Three Broomsticks with Jaehyun’s voice calling my name. I knew that it was irrational to jump into action without all the information, but I tended to take things to the extreme when it involved the members of my family. And I was marching across the snow-covered streets with one purpose: to protect Jisung and ensure that he was safe.

“Y/N!” Jaehyun growled, and I could barely feel his hand wrap itself around my arm as he pulled me to a stop. “It’s fine, Haechan said that Johnny helped Jisung make it to the infirmary! He wasn’t actually bitten!”

I spun around on my heel at the mention of Jisung. “If he’s fine, then why is he in the Infirmary?”

“Haechan said that he was freaking out and they wanted to make sure that he calmed down,” Jaehyun said, and I noticed Haechan and Chenle sprinting in our direction. “I can tell that you’re about to do something irrational,” Jaehyun said, and he gripped my chin in his hand as he forced me to look into his eyes. “Stay with me, okay? I’ll take everyone to the infirmary and you can see Jisung.”

I managed a nod, clutching to Jaehyun’s sleeve to ground myself as he wrapped a reassuring arm around my waist. “Did you say that Johnny helped him?”

“He saved him,” Haechan said, shuffling next to me as our group traversed back to Hogwarts. “I don’t even know where he came from, but he was there just in time.”

“Not soon enough to help Mark,” Chenle whispered, and his face was awash with fresh tears.

I shivered at the reminder, feeling a pang of regret for not worrying about Mark who was actually hurt in the attack, and everyone knew what happened when you were bitten by a werewolf. “Does he understand?” I asked. “He has to know that everything will change.”

“I don’t think so,” Chenle replied, and that only made everything worse because when Mark was finally told what would happen to him each full moon....

“Taeyong must be devastated,” I whispered, and Jaehyun’s response was to hold me tighter against the force of the cold wind.

The chaos had died down by the time I was sitting next to Jisung at his bedside, allowing my step-brother to cry into my shoulder as he apologized over and over again for leaving the common room so late at night. “I’m so stupid,” he said, and I shook my head as I ran my fingers through his hair.

“It’s okay,” I tried to reassure him, but at the exact same time, Mark started screaming from the bed further down the line and I could feel Jisung crying even harder.

“He’s in a lot of pain,” Jaehyun said, trying to keep his voice quiet, but I’m sure Jisung heard him.

“I can’t believe this happened,” I said. “In the time that we were gone...”

I trailed off because I couldn’t blame Jaehyun for bringing me out of the Castle. It’s not like either of us anticipated for this to happen, and I was just grateful that Jisung hadn’t been hurt, even if my heart broke for Mark.

“The fifth years who put them up to this will be punished and sent home,” Jaehyun said. “But they’re not the only ones.”

I shivered at his warning. “Are they gonna punish Jisung?”

“They were technically caught out of bed after hours,” Jaehyun replied. “I don’t think it’ll be severe, but the kids will probably get detention.”

“That’s ridiculous,” I scoffed, slowly rocking Jisung back and forth in a soothing motion.

“You’re telling me,” Jaehyun said, but then he frowned when he noticed someone approaching from over my shoulder. “I guess I owe you for everything you did tonight, Seo.”

I swallowed hard at the mention of Johnny, looking over Jisung to find him watching us with blood still painting the front of his shirt. “Yeah,” I added, finding it difficult to meet his gaze. “You don’t know how grateful I am that you helped Jisung.”

“Johnny was the best,” Jisung sniffled, pulling away from me with tear-stained eyes. “He knew the spell to get rid of the werewolf.”

“I think that’s pretty advanced magic,” I remarked, and Johnny scoffed.

“What? You’re still underestimating me?”

I frowned at his harsh tone. “No, but I’ll do anything to show you how much I appreciate what you’ve done.”

Johnny glanced up at Jaehyun for a brief second before returning his attention to me. “Be careful when you say things like that to me, Y/N,” Johnny said. “I’m liable to hold that against you.”

“What do you mean?” I asked. “If it wasn’t for you, then Jisung might be hurting even more.”

“I’m glad I saved him,” Johnny said. “I wish I could’ve helped Mark, but it’s a good thing that I was patrolling that area. Prefect duty and all.”

“I’m sorry if you’re angry at me, Johnny,” I said, referencing our earlier confrontation. “I meant it when I told you that I wanted to be friends.”

Johnny’s expression softened, and he studied me with an inquisitive look. “Can it be a favor?”

I startled at the question. “What?”

“I don’t like it when people owe me,” Johnny elaborated. “I didn’t save Jisung for you to feel indebted to me. I saved him because he’s a good kid and none of them deserved what happened tonight. But if you’re in the mood to give me the time of day, I hope you might consider meeting me tomorrow night outside of the Slytherin common room.”

“Oh?” I remarked, wincing at Jaehyun’s harsh exhale. “Yeah, I can meet you.”

“There’s something I want to talk about,” Johnny said. “But it’s better to have this conversation in private, and you can have more time with Jisung until then.”

“Sure,” I agreed, loosening my hold on Jisung when he started whining about my strength.

“I’m still talking to the headmaster about everything,” Johnny said. “He’s not convinced that I’ve told him the truth.”

“I still don’t know the truth,” I said, looking around the rest of the infirmary where dozens of familiar faces flitted in and out of focus.

“I guess we’ll talk tomorrow about what happened,” Johnny said quietly, excusing himself with a bow of his head, and I watched him join the headmaster near the sectioned-off area where Mark was being attended.

“He’s got something up his sleeve,” Jaehyun said, and he sat next to me on the bed to give Jisung’s shoulder a squeeze.

“I’m not worried,” I said, and I decided it was best to change the topic. “How are Chenle and Haechan?”

“Fine,” Jaehyun murmured. “They were sent back to bed, but I doubt they’ll get any sleep tonight.”

“And Mark?”

Jaehyun sighed. “They’ll tell us more in the morning.”

I shook my head because it wasn’t a satisfactory answer, but Jisung was tugging on my sleeve for attention. “Will you stay with me tonight?”

“Of course,” I promised him, but it was less out of obligation and more because I needed his comfort just as much to try and forget this horrible night.

#nct fanfic #nct johnny fanfic #johnny fanfic #johnny seo fanfic #nct imagines #nct scenarios #nct fantasy au #nct series #johnny imagines #johnny scenarios #nct hogwarts au #hogwarts au #mostlycompetent #limitless

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dreamylyfe-x · 4 years ago

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Reactions: 11x03 Frances Francis Franny Frank

While I feel like I’ve said a million words about this episode already I still have a lot more to say, so...

* To start: I think there’s a lot about this episode to recommend it. I think it plants seeds I fully expect to see grow over the rest of the season. I think it might have the first real hint of the ending. And I think it did things with two characters I often do not enjoy that made me enjoy them. So full credit on that front.

* Father Lip and his extremely tricked out baby room is delightful to me. I have come full circle on Lip. I was pretty exhausted by him in the later seasons, but this season I’m just like... You’re doing ok, Lip. Keep figuring it out.

* And look. I live in a country with universal health care so a huge portion of this episode is like watching a horror movie to me -- but a horror movie that takes place on Mars, where you’re just like “This is TERRIBLE. You guys should get off of Mars.” Give up everything to save your baby because that’s the only choice afforded you. I really want someone to tell me that isn’t actually a thing that can happen to people. I fear no one will.

* Gallavich: Enter fucking. In an entirely new way! I don’t think I paid this enough mind my first trip through the episode because I was too focused on things like “Did he just call him a dirty convict?” -- but there is so much going on here in terms of what we’ve ever seen of their sex life. Overt dirty talk, choking, Mickey on his back... And while it goes off the rails FAST, I do like the energy of Mickey’s move to switch positions because it reminds me of their play-wrestling in season five, a dynamic I think is very real and very indicative of a loving relationship between two teenaged boys. Ex-teens now, but it still works.

* Ok, but... Like Ian looks honestly freaked out and that is... um... interesting. I reblogged @gallavictorious ‘s post earlier on this scene which I recommend. In general Ian’s reluctance makes sense to me, but I still get a level of unease that surprises me. They may never comment further (I don’t expect them to), but. It’s notable to me.

* I still like the intimacy here. The rolling around together on their tiny bed and everything. I dunno. Even with all the conflict, they still seem in sync with each other.

* watching from my app with captions is helpful. Debbie isn’t that crazy. She asks someone to take Franny to school and then Ian and Mickey say yes to taking Carl to work which is reasonable for her to assume means they’re taking Franny. But... Liam quickly points out that this has happened to him before.

* For the second week in a row there is something happen on this show I am more interested in than the Gallavich story. And it’s Frank. WTF.

* Kevin REALLY needs to watch Better Call Saul.

* Oh my GOD does it feel like classic early-season Shameless, having Mickey and Kev in a scene together. I approve. I am in for more of this on every level. Actually, at The Alibi in general, Mickey feels so deeply familiar. But also, does Kev REMEMBER he’s had his keg robbed before? They taped him to a chair, for God’s sake.

* It is flat out magical realism to tell us Mickey doesn’t work out.

* So on second viewing I think the emasculation of Ian at the hands of the retail giant is more clear. I still find a lot of the misogynist language tough to listen to in that context. Honestly, there’s something about the whole concept of emasculating that bugs me because of what it suggests about gender. Doesn’t mean that it’s not a very loaded thing for Ian to be experiencing, though.

* I really don’t have much to say about Carl the Cop. I think they are taking the position that the cops are the worst, but this is also one of those things I don’t find entertaining.

* You know who I DO find entertaining? Sandy. And she’s a pretty great girlfriend.

* I cannot even tell you how low my tolerance for Frank generally is. This is may be the only episode where I’ve enjoyed him.

* I like the fact that Debbie keeps entering rooms yelling “FRANK GALLLLLLAGHER” a la Mickey in season one with Ian.

* Ok, so... Yeah. I just don’t like how mean Mickey and Ian are to each other in this episode. I don’t like the rubbing the salt in the would when Ian quits his job. I don’t like the fighting. @fiona-fififi wrote a comprehensive post about their physical fighting and it’s well written and I do not disagree... but I hate it when they hurt each other like this. I’m just not here for it.

* V is the voice of the show here. Like, this is what they want to hammer home. And her speech is a good one. But I’m still just not enjoying how dark this one got. I DO get why Ian is not rushing to forgiveness because man did Mickey go in on him at a vulnerable moment.

* Ok -- I said this before but I’ll repeat it. There is something in the scene with Frank and Franny makes me feel like we’re getting foreshadowed hard. They really hold on his confusion and he seems unnerved. Disorientation is normal for Frank. But he seems to be signalling in the moment that what he’s experiencing isn’t normal. Hmm.

* Seriously. The American health care system is a nightmare. It should be the title of a Ryan Murphy series.

* I honestly think Presley Schrader is doing a great job in this episode. Ditto Christian, who doesn’t have a lot to do, but nails Liam’s long-suffering resignation.

* Second viewing, I found Debbie more sympathetic, but I feel like we don’t get nearly the sense of her “running everything” the way we did with Fiona, so her frustration with her siblings seems extreme. Also, Sandy clearly disapproves and I think they intend for us to see Sandy as a voice of reason.

* I have a lot more understanding of Lip yelling at Debbie than I ever had of him yelling at Fiona, which is maybe indicative of not feeling like her load is as heavy.

* Milton continues the proud tradition of random Gallagher acquaintances who are fundamentally decent and helpful. He goes into the Parthenon along with Ryan and Barb. Because YES, Lip is pouring a lot of time and money into a house he doesn’t own, and apparently he didn’t make ANY arrangement about that. Milton doesn’t have to do what he does. But apparently he’s just a good guy.

* This is very random but I’ve read so much from people complaining about mask use on TV right now -- how people take them off when they should most be on -- and I enjoy the fact that Shameless is at least nodding to why someone isn’t wearing a mask.... But Tami had the absolutely best and most convincing reason. * So we close on Gallavich as we found them (RIP anyone who is home at that particular moment) -- fucking and fighting about the Jonas brothers. I really like what @pathoftheranger had to say about that scene so I think that’s going to be the bulk of my comment. Just... well. They seem to have moved through some stuff. I guess we’ll see where they’re at come January.

#Lord #so long #I still have dishes to do #shameless season 11 #shameless speculation #shameless 11x03

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fanfictrashdump · 3 years ago

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Universe in a Jar, 6 - Phase 4 fic

Recap: Some days ago, I reblogged this post about the magical trio. And then my brain went off on a monumental tangent and, I wrote Universe in a Jar.

Characters: Stephen Strange, Loki, Wanda Maximoff, Wong, OC

Rating: T?

Warnings: Language! Mentions of sexual encounters, sarcasm, terrible storytelling, and typos prob.

Summary: Baby-sitting beings arguably more powerful than him goes awry for Doctor Strange. He knows one person who can possibly keep them isolated and out of trouble. Well, he knew someone who could… he hasn’t seen them in decades and for stupid reasons.

Previous Chapter

WARNINGS: Language, fighting, mentions of death, Stephen with a kitten

Stephen dragged his sneakers through the loose dirt of the beaten path as he meandered, handful of tools hanging limply from his hands. Every now and then, he'd stop and take a survey of the land before continuing for no other reason than he could. He was delaying his arrival at the small, cornflower blue barn just beyond the hill. Despite the fact that he had been doing mindless farm chores non-stop since they arrived at the Hale Estate and this was the first time Seph had ever physically asked him to help with something. Persephone needed him to take a look at the tractor, a small one for her moderate crops. He knew it was merely a ploy to get him out of the house and away from the ticking time-bomb of a witch, but he was dreading the hell out of it, all the same. It wasn't because he thought he couldn't do it–he grew up on a farm in a small town of very rural Nebraska; he knew how to fix a tractor. It wasn't even that he thought his hands would betray him (not that she had even considered that a possibility. Seph knew that he was the most dexterous of the lot, shaking hands and all). He just really hated it.

As he approached the well-worn wooden structure, he shuffled the tools to fish the key to the padlock out of his pocket. With a loud clang, the lock sprung open, evidence of needing a little greasing apparent in its ear-shattering metallic whine as it turned open to be removed. With little more than a huff, he tugged one of the leaves open to have a staring contest with the four-wheeled piece of equipment that he'd most likely lose.

Then, there was a noise.

Tossing the wrenches and clamps onto a nearby work table, he shuffled around the small shelter, looking under tables and in buckets, until he found the source in the wheel well of the tractor. Smiling, he kneeled on the floor before sitting cross-legged, watching the wheel well with interest until out from the shadows, a little tuft of ginger emerged.

"I don't suppose you're the mechanic," he jested, only to be replied by a determined meow. "Tractor elf, then? Here to fix things while we sleep?"

The ginger tabby, sure as any creature he had ever encountered in this or any Universe, padded across the dirt floor and clambered into his lap. It took less than a minute for the kitten to begin purring or for it to continually bump its head affectionately against his awkwardly jarring hands. Stephen was careful, a notch forming between his brows as he focused on gentleness and applying appropriate pressure, in not suddenly squeezing. Not that the kitten was paying any mind. If anything, the sudden spasms in his hands were met with increased rubbing and the occasional batting of one tufted paw on his hand, pulling it closer to its dirt-stained face.

"I've known you for forty three years." Stephen glanced over his shoulder to find Seph leaning against the open barn door, arms crossed, grin on her face. "Every single time you're sent to do something you don't want to, you always end up with an animal in your lap. How does that even happen, Stephen?"

He shrugged. "I'm just a lucky guy, Peep."

The kitten had scaled up his t-shirt and anchored against his chest. One paw rested on his chin while his hands held the creature up against him. Even from several feet away, Seph could hear the loud, buzzing drone of purring of the cat's delight, warming her insides at this portrait of happiness.

A mew of contentment echoed in the barn, the sorcerer having buried his fingers in the orange fur and tickled down its spine. Stephen chuckled in response, making an altogether too soft noise at his new friend. "I didn't know you kept a barn cat."

"I don't. That little guy is from the Smith's farm down the road. Their barn cat, Cooper, was knocked up. This little stowaway comes and goes. Never lets me touch him, though." Her amusement was apparent at watching Stephen Vincent Strange, Sorcerer Supreme, Surly Man Extraordinaire all cuddled up to an orange tabby, melting under its quiet meows. She dropped to her knees beside him, brushing her hand under the cat's chin and quickly realizing it was not her touch the kitten wanted, as it burrowed further into Stephen's chest. A little laugh escaped her. "I think you have a barn cat."

"I don't have a barn." The response was automatic.

She snorted. "Yeah, you do. I can see it from here."

Stephen lifted his gaze from orange fur to the run down barn across the way and then the house it lived behind and sighed, dropping his chin back onto the kitten as in comfort. He didn't exactly know what to say to that, if anything at all, but Seph didn't let him suffer for long.

"What did you make of the house?"

The question prompted him to close his eyes and fidget in place. "I didn't go in. I sat on the porch for hours, held the key. I couldn't do it."

"Stephen, that's your–"

"I know. I know. It's just… their ghosts… I can't–"

She drew an arm around him and pulled him into her body, relishing in the little sigh and the untensing of his shoulders as he settled into the crook of her neck. "Empty houses are not that scary. I promise." He nodded minutely. "I'll go with you."

"You don't have to."

"I know. I'll do it, anyway."

A stretch of silence surrounded them, broken only by the white noise of purring. "Are you sleeping with Loki?"

Seph laughed, turning her head to kiss Stephen's crown. "Are you?"

His brows pulled together and his mouth twisted. "Not regularly, no."

"Ditto."

"So, you have."

"Have you?"

He rolled his eyes and groaned. "Look, I'm not judging you, I'm just–"

"Comparing yourself. Which is stupid–"

"I know, I shouldn't–"

She continued as if he had said nothing. "–because I also sleep with women. There's no chance in hell you two break the top ten."

Stephen scoffed, though the corner of his mouth turned up. The kitten in his arms shuffled with the vibration and settled back into another comfortable position. "Do you have to be such a dick?"

"Learn how to use yours and I wouldn't have to." With a grin, she kissed his crown again. "You know you have to sleep with me to be ranked, right?"

A dusting of red covered his cheeks. "Yeah."

"Just making sure."

The little ball of orange fluff stretched luxuriously, untangling from Stephen's arms just enough to wander and drape itself across the place where both of the humans' thighs touched. Seph gently traced one of the fuzzy ears with her fingers, watching them twitch at the contact before the feline pushed its face firmer against her touch.

Stephen could only smile to himself. He could understand the feeling��initial apprehension, weary observation, eventual surrender. Persephone was an intense person and sometimes it was scary to exist within her same aura until she showed that she was there to be gentle. He supposed he could always feel that she was a little different. Her powers made sense to him now, and he could admit that his child's intuition was not great at discerning that the odd feeling he perceived when she was in a mood was not apprehension or annoyance but power.

"I've messed up a lot of stuff with sex." The words slipped out before he had even noticed them.

"Oh, I am well aware. I went to college with you. And med school."

A wry laugh echoed in the barn. "Such a dick."

"Stephen, we were each other's first kiss. First naked look at the opposite sex. First to tell when anything remotely interesting happened to us. And then, we fell into a world of magic and aliens. I think we'd survive." Stephen remained quiet beside her, merely shuffling a little further into the warmth of her half-embrace, making her smile secretively at the softness of the action. "You know she didn't mean it, right? Implying that we were being useless."

He nodded a bit. "I know. She's just upset about her family."

"She doesn't know you. She doesn't know how much it hurt or how their ghosts haunt you. You also didn't have to go that hard on her."

"I know, but what was I supposed to do, Peep?"

"Tell her that you know exactly where's she's coming from. You know her pain better than anyone. Why is it so hard to make that vulnerability known?"

He straightened up, gaze falling to the far corner of the barn to avoid looking at her. "Because who would fucking trust me, then?"

Seph snorted. "Honestly? A lot more people. Half the people we went to school thought you were either a robot or a sociopath. Being an unfeeling thing doesn't lend you credibility, it makes you look like a maniac."

"I don't think that's–" A crash made the two of them start. "What was that?"

She shook her head. "I don't know." She gently pried the kitten off their legs and set it down on the barn floor before jumping to her feet. "Sorry, buddy. Noises need attending. You can catch a nap later."

She waited for Stephen to similarly right himself before the two took off in a sprint towards the house. The pair slammed the kitchen door open to find everything in a disarray. Tables upturned, flowers on the floor, knickknacks broken and a dozen or so people in black, military style uniforms fighting against Wanda and Loki.

"What the fuck is going on?" Persephone yelled over the sounds over fighting.

"Former employers, long story," Loki hissed through gritted teeth.

Seph watched as Loki turned one of their glowing batons against the soldier to presumably electrocute them, only to give a startled gasp when they disappeared in a cloud of stardust.

"Little help, Seph!" Stephen grunted, trying to subdue one intruder while the Cloak kept another off his back. She stood frozen in panic. He did a double-take on her still form. "Pretend they're me and try to kill them!"

For a moment she blinked at him in surprise before another growled chorus of her name roused her. Despite almost killing Stephen several times within the course of the month, Persephone was not good at managing that part of her abilities on command. And, even when she did, the abilities were fleeting, at best. Concentrating, she latched on to whatever feelings of rage and desperation she could scrounge up, feeling the world slip away from her as her eyes began to glow. The two soldiers attacking the Sorcerer were suddenly surrounded in a glass prison. Wanda had four soldiers strung up from red threads of magic like marionettes and slowly moved them across the room where they joined Seph's prisoners. Loki, deciding he had had enough of niceties, was going around the living room, wielding a baton like a sword and dispatching of anyone who came too close to him.

"Are you OK?"

She flinched at Stephen's hand on her shoulder, her eyes still fixed on the boxes with rapt attention.

"Peep, talk to me."

"I'm OK." Her voice sounded both hollow and too dynamic, echoing eerily.

Strange nodded. "You know how I told you earlier not to open the veil? Well, maybe disregard that and throw these guys elsewhere?"

There was a beat of silence before she responded. "I don't have to." She clapped her hands together and both boxes collapsed into nothingness. '

Stephen swallowed thickly, squeezing her shoulder once to try and ground her. "Where'd you–?"

"Antarctica. They might die." She said it so matter-of-fact that it was almost worrying.

"I assure you," Loki started, "they won't. They will be found within a few minutes, if not already."

"Hey." Stephen bent at the knees to level his eyes to hers, though she stared right through him. "Let go of it. You're OK." She blinked at him but her expression turned from blank to furrowed brow. "That's it. Come back." He rubbed up and down her arms, feeling the air shift around him like oxygen was coming back into the room. He looked up at Loki and Wanda. "Do you know where they got in from? This place is warded to the teeth, I find it hard to believe they found a crack."

"Are you telling them or shall I, dear?" Loki offered with a wide smile that didn't quite catch their eyes.

Wanda fidgeted before groaning. "They knocked at the door. I opened without checking."

"It's OK." Seph leaned against Stephen, clenching her eyes shut against the migraine starting to brew at her temple. "It's happened to me before. Not with anyone who wants to kill me but, y'know, religious groups who make me want to kill myself. I have–have contingencies." The last of her words came out slurred.

"You're not looking so good, Seph." The witch rushed over to help her sit on the sofa, full mothering mode on.

"I think I just overdid it." She sank into the cushions, letting out a steady breath before trying to get back up. Stephen promptly pushed her back down. "I need to move the house."

"You're not doing moving of any kind right now." Persephone frowned at what she had deemed his doctor voice, though was having trouble deciding which of the two Stephens was the one she needed to be glaring at.

Loki frowned. "Strange?" He got a hum of acknowledgment back, the sorcerer too busy pretending he wasn't worrying over Seph. "Who's that on your jeans?"

"What?" Stephen looked away from the sofa and glanced down. Hanging off the bottom hem of his right pantleg, a tiny ball of orange fur batted at the playfully swishing Cloak around his shoulders.

"That's his barn cat," Seph supplied, a drunken giggle in her voice.

"Precious." Stephen rolled his eyes at the glittering smile of the demigod, though it turned into more of a wide-eyed stare when he continued, "Didn't know Midgard kept Flerkens."

Wanda tilted her head. "What's a–oooh, that's different." She grimaced at the split jaw and tentacle-like features attached to the mouth, batting at the Cloak.

"Stephen," Seph started, "I take it back. I'm not OK, I'm hallucinating."

Strange drew a deep breath, closing his eyes and letting the air filling his lungs soothe him. "No, mom. I don't want to be a farmer. I want to be a doctor and move to New York city. And now you got a fucking alien following you around, you dipshit," he muttered angrily, before bending down. "Hey, no eating the Cloak!" The tentacles retracted, jaw fused back together and a kitten was once more sitting on the carpet. "I should've stayed on the fucking farm."

#marvel #mcu #mcu fanfiction #marvel phase 4 #marvel phase four #doctor strange #stephen strange #wanda maximoff #wong mcu #loki mcu #original character #flerkens #TVA #universe in a jar #i just love the farm life tbh #you can tell i do not thrive in cities

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clove-teasdale · 7 years ago

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tick tock newlyweds

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

A/N: not a challenge! NEW YEARS PART 1. FINALLY THE 30th OF DECEMBER ON FIC TIME. End of the year. this is it y’all. get ready for the first part of this three-part fic (or it might be two idk, we shall see tomorrow). Thanks @brooks-schreave for the rp. OKAY, THERE MIGHT BE ERRORS OR TYPOS ON THIS IDK. SORRY. have some fun with awkward crooks conspiring in 3,334 words <3

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

Columbia had always been a pretty sight at night, but it was very different from Angeles and it’s lively lights.

The only downside to such an active city was that the light pollution from it made the sky slightly less admirable, making the natural light a little duller. Standing next to Nate’s black Jeep, I watched the city and the sky to compare. This will be the set of stars when the New Year comes. I smiled at the thought but then my mind wondered if Nate’s car would be able to blend in for our purposes. My “date” arrived a few minutes after I’d started to consider how the night would go in general, carrying a bag in his hand and offering a small wave with the other.

“Ready?” I watched as Brooks shoved his things into the trunk. My dress was already on a hook inside the backseat alongside my other stuff.

“Yeah,” I ran a hand through my hair--the feel of it different, but not new. “I straightened it.” It hadn't taken too long with Eloise's help. She'd agreed to cover for us. Mostly me since I'd told Jacinda and the rest of my maids I'd be having a sleepover with her that night.

If anything went wrong, she'd have to handle it and she said she would as long as I explained later what the whole mystery outing was. I loved how she always agreed with my crazy plans without question. She deserved some baby carrots.

Brooks lifted both eyebrows at my new look as if impressed before walking over to open my door. “I like it.”

I smiled, getting in. “I brought a hairbrush for yours.” I would never repeat the hand incident.

Once he'd walked over to his side of the car and sat in the driver's seat, he took a cap from his back pocket and put it on. Some glasses and a grin were added as he said, “No need. I'll be covered.”

I smirked at the absurdity of his disguise, but honestly, there was only so much we could do to hide. “I hope you take it off when we arrive.”

“You don't like it?” His jaw dropped, eyes turning to the mirror as he mumbled, “I think it's cool.”

Laughing was inevitable on my part. “You don't use that for a party.”

“I’ll replace it with a party hat when we get there, promise.”

Silence settled for a while as the drive began. With it, the awkward feeling I’d been having around Brooks the day before returned. Ever since the Christmas Ball incident and our talk about it, my head had been unable to forget. We’d agreed on it being a mistake, and after yesterday at the roof it seemed like we could try going back to normal...but part of me became more and more aware of my wish for the 'mistake' part to be, well, a mistake in itself. I’d even started to ask myself how much I really liked him. Was it one of those simple crushes I got back in high school? Because I had always managed those before.

Brooks, I’d realized, had grown to become more awkward in the years I was gone. It was hard to notice on the first day of my arrival, as arguing was still the first language between us, but it became more and more obvious with time and since the kiss, it showed in volumes.

His hands tapped the steering wheel before he asked, “Music?”

I continued to fidget with the ring on my finger even as I spared him a glance. I hoped spinning the old golden band with a garnet would help release some of the anxiety I felt, but wasn’t too sure it was working. By this point, it was a sort of a personal tradition to wear that ring around this time a year. My dad had passed it down to me as a New Year's gift when I was twelve.

Apparently, it had belonged to my grandmother--her red birthstone encrusted on the old metal as a gift from my grandpa for their 50th wedding anniversary. Their official wedding had been big, a 27th of January once upon a time. It was everything you could dream of, as Twos loved to show off, but my grandparents always took it a step further. They also had a smaller ceremony beforehand. Just family.

According to what they had always retold, they kissed as the clock stroke midnight, commemorating a new year. That was the date they considered their anniversary. My grandparents had loved making things romantic but in the most dramatic of ways...meaning they loved one-upping people that much. The story had been crazy enough that it made me want to wear the ring at midnight every year after that.

Focusing back on the present, I tried offering Brooks a small smile. “Uh, yeah, sure.”

He didn't focus on it much, immediately averted his gaze and reaching to turn on the radio. I looked away as well, but as the first lyrics came out, I couldn’t help and drift my sight back to him to gauge his reaction.

...walls stood tall painted blue But I'll take 'em down, take 'em down and open up the door for you.

Flailing to reach for the button as our duet song rang out, he changed stations quickly.

--we've lost our minds I don't care, I don't care if they call us crazy Runaway to a world that we design.

I wished my seat would swallow me, focusing ahead and pressing my lips together as he changed it again with an “Ugh.” Then screamo music blasted and he just gave up. I did so too, closing my eyes with a sigh and leaning forward to turn it off. “Silence never hurt anyone.”

“Debatable.”

I let Brooks handle the brunette receptionist that welcomed us at the counter of the hotel. “Hello, how may I help you?”

“We need a room, please.”

“Aw, a romantic getaway?” Oh, for the love of...

My “romantic partner” did his best to get over the embarrassment as fast as possible. “Uh, yeah, sure.”

Nothing went past this one though and as she spotted the ring I couldn’t help but fidget with, she asked, “Newlyweds?”

“Yes?” was what Brooks decided to go with, but I could see the alarm written on his face. He was definitely screaming inside as I was.

“Adorable. Last name, please.”

We hadn’t considered what to say. A mistake on our part. Our plan had many flaws, but then again it was planned in one day. My mouth opened to say something, anything, but it became one of those moments when they ask you to say something and you suddenly blank out on the list of those you know. The conversation I’d had with Eloise as she straightened my hair was the only inspiration I could think of.

“Crooks,” I blurted out at the expectant lady. Brooks only gave me a confused look.

“Right. Mr. and Mrs. Crooks.”

This is embarrassing.

"You two are just the cutest. Here's your key.” She handed it over and, thankfully, Brooks took it without any weird looks in my direction. “Breakfast is at 7 to 9. Happy New Year!”

We wouldn't make it to breakfast, but Brooks quickly pushed me towards the elevator. After pressing the floor our card mentioned, he asked, “Crooks?”

I cleared my throat, focusing on the walls around me. “What? We needed a name.”

“Where did that even come from?” The elevator opened and I took my chance to flee.

“Um…” I lowered my voice. “Eloise..”

“Were you discussing criminals with her or something? I thought that was our thing.” His joking was as strained as my laugh when he followed.

“Yeah, obviously." He really didn’t need to worry about me replacing him.

Arriving at the room, he inserted the key and held the door open for me. I turned on the lights and froze at the sight “Shoot..”

He stepped in right after. “Wha-? Oh. Oh.”

We both blinked at the single bed in the room. Newlyweds. “Guess next time we should go with cousins.”

He gave me an alarmed look. It was back to internal screaming it seemed. With a sigh of resignation, he said he would take the floor. “It’s not carpeted,” I mumbled back.

“I'll deal with it.” He ran over to the closet and placed our bags away, taking a look at his watch. “We should change.”

5 hours until midnight.

“Ready?” Brooks called out, knocking on the bathroom door.

I stared at my reflexion in the mirror, the golden embroidery of my dress laughing at me--metaphorically speaking, of course. “Just a sec...”

The zipper was still on my lower back. Another one of the things I hadn’t considered in my hurry was that no matter how much of a pretzel my arms tried to be, I couldn’t reach up high enough to close this dress.

The silence was too long for Brooks. “Clove? I'm sure you look very nice, can you come out now? We've gotta go.”

“Um…” Come on, come on... I let my hands fall to my sides with a sigh. “I should’ve gone for the purple strapless.” He didn’t say anything as I leaned on the door. “I... kind of need some help.”

“Did you fall?”

“What? No.. I need someone to zip up the rest of the dress.”

His pause made me want to stay in the bathroom the rest of the night. “I can help.”

“Okay…” I took a moment as well before reaching for the doorknob and opening the door. “It’s a nice dress, just not the easiest to zip alone.”

He made a spinning motion with his hand, saying, “Turn.”

I did as he asked and felt his hand take on the zipper as he set his other one on my back to pull it up. His voice was quieter as he added, “You're good.”

“Thanks.” I turned around with a quick nod, trying to smile as a sign of gratitude, but I could feel my nerves skyrocketing. “I guess we’re ready then.”

He avoided my gaze and checked his watch again. “Yeah, it's almost time.”

I gave him a once over. Now that his cap was off, I could see his hair was down, sweeping over his forehead. Kind of all over the place, so little messy if you will, yet being a guy that meant... “You look nice.” With the well-fitted maroon suit that had black lapels to match his tie, he was bound to catch some eyes tonight.

An awkward smile was all he offered as he opened the door for me. “Ditto.”

It was pretty early for the party to be that pumped, being only 8 pm, but the more people were excited for the New Year, the less they would care about a prince and a selected strolling next to them.

“Four hours until midnight. Remember, we're looking for Harrison Levi.”

I stepped out of the car with his help. “Excited?”

“No.”

How cheerful, I thought but pressed my lips together to stop myself from saying it out loud. “What do you mean “no”? It’ll be a New Year. Something to look forward to.”

“I don't know if you've noticed, but I've never been more stressed in my life.” He offered his arm and I took it with a nod when he asked, “Shall we?”

As we walked inside, hundreds of people surrounding us, I pointed out, “You seemed excited before.”

He didn’t look in my direction. “Keep walking Clove.”

“Fine.”

Three hours until midnight.

Our game plan ended up being to search for Levi first. Even though we had no idea of how he would be towards us, we hoped we could convince him of helping out in some way. We’d accept anything at this point.

Brooks had gotten a considerably recent picture of him as a reference point, and as we talked he agreed with me that the man was probably pushed to resign when his career was barely starting. That meant his annotations hadn’t been for safekeeping, but for research like ours; not something that would’ve been welcomed on the King’s cabinet.

It had taken us an hour of pacing around the party, pretending to be a couple talking about whatever, before I spotted Levi from afar and nudged Brooks. “Is that him?”

Brooks stopped looking around the room to focus on where I had pointed at, checking his picture for confirmation. “I think so. How do we approach him?”

I considering how the talk could go. “If he never agreed with the fixed raffle and all of that, maybe we’ll be able to ask him about it directly...or is that too risky?”

“How about we just try to make normal, honest conversation with him and then show him the journal to see how he reacts.”

“Fair enough. Do we wait until he’s a bit more caught up with the party or now?”

“No time like the present. Which one of us should go?”

“Shouldn’t we both go?”

“Right. Dynamic Duo.” He reached for my hand and walked us off to the white-haired man standing near the bar, calling out for him over the crowd, “Great party.”

The man took a swig of his beer. “It's alright.”

“Think you’ve done better before?” I grinned.

He shrugged. “It's too happy.”

Brooks spared the lively place a glance. “That's bad?”

“It's fake, son. Parties should be sad.”

What a jolly old man. He’d make a great Santa.

Brooks asked why he thought that only to get an even gloomier response after Levi finished his drink. “Then it would be reality. It's interesting to see people hide behind a holiday.”

I raised eyebrows at his view and exchanged glances with Brooks when he gave me a questioning look. “What a misfortune…” clearing my throat, I shifted, “Though I do agree what brings joy shouldn’t be a holiday, why bother hosting a party for something you consider unsatisfactory?”

“I don't consider it unsatisfactory, per se.”

“What do you consider it?” Brooks asked.

Levi stared at him before grabbing another drink from a tray. “None of your business.”

I tilted my head. “What would make it our business? It is merely the inquiry of an opinion.”

“You speak far too formally, young lady. Lighten up, will you.”

When Brooks laughed, I jabbed my elbow into his side, half-glaring as I muttered, “Sorry, it’s an old habit that comes and goes when I’m around people involved in politics.” It was a stupid habit I’d gotten when younger actually. Being around people that worked with my dad always put me on edge and I made dramatic word choices.

“I'm not in politics,” Levi argued.

Brooks raised an eyebrow. “Weren't you?”

Levi faced him. “Aren't you?”

What? “You think we’re politicians?”

“Not you, dear, but him,” he pointed his glass to Brooks, “Get a better disguise, princeling.”

We watched him walk away without another word.

“Well, I guess that was our mistake. I told you we should’ve waited until later tonight.”

He turned in my direction. “What difference would that have made?”

Ticking off fingers, I listed, “It might've been darker, he could've been more tired, more distracted and maybe even a little drunk.”

“He seemed pretty drunk already. We'll find him again, don't worry.”

I worried anyway. The best way to start the year would be by having another lead. Thankfully, he liked my suggestion of finding his office. We would need to take a look around to find it though.

“Hopefully, it won't be too crowded--” I began to say, eyes skimming over the space as I spoke. His office would be around a closed off area, a hallway further down the house that wouldn’t be too crowded during a party. As I scanned around, I made eye contact with a confused politician watching us with narrowed eyes. Sort of recognizing his face myself, I realized he could recognize us too if he got closer and kept staring, so I changed my sentence midway and pulled Brooks into the group of dancing people, “--on the dance floor!”

“Nice save, darling.”

Turns out you can cringe at yourself. “This was a horrible idea.”

I was not entirely unaware of Brooks’ hand playing with the back of my dress as we danced. Still, I told myself it must be a habit of his. Something he did whenever he danced with someone and didn’t notice. Part of me hoped that wasn’t true, however. “We'll be fine. But only if you let it.”

“I don’t have the best track record with parties…” Punched a guy once. Pushed someone into a plant when I noticed they were about to puke in another. There was also the time I threw a drink at Cooper when he was annoying. Brooks hadn’t been too wrong when he said I was kind of aggressive.

He held me relatively close as we danced, his head next to mine. “It's the afterparties for me.”

I laughed a bit at that, wondering if my breath brushed his ear as his own did mine. “You last all the way to the afterparties, do you?”

“I'm pretty successful at parties. No one bothers me and I can keep to myself. It's after then that things go wrong for me.”

“Hmm, why is that?”

“Don't mess with me.”

I frowned but clenched my jaw when I realized what he was talking about. The kiss had been after a party. “I see you were on a different page than me.” Not meeting his gaze, I found myself feeling upset. “You have no right to be mad at me.”

“I'm not mad at you, Clove.”

“Then?”

He hesitated. “We've already talked about this.”

“We did.” A mistake. I focused on his shoes. “But you're the one who brought it up right now. I thought you were joking.”

“I-I am,” he looked down too, “I always am.”

My voice turned small. “I hope not always.”

The look in his eyes was hard to read. I couldn't place what it was before he replaced the expression with a smile and joked, “Not always. I'm a pretty boring guy.”

I managed to smile back for a brief moment, but everything felt off. We were trying so hard to go back to normal. Time after time, we weren't succeeding... I didn’t plan on giving up if he didn’t either though, so I smiled again. “Hey, you're part of the British Scooby gang. That's worth something.”

“Right. Which part of the Scooby gang are you?”

I only thought about it for a moment, trying to remember the show. “Velma.”

“I'm shocked.”

“I want to be the one who figures out the mystery.” Maybe I will. “That was usually her.”

“No way, it was totally Fred.”

Cocking my head to the side, I considered it. “Well, actually, out of all the group, the two of them were the ones that usually put the clues together.”

“How fitting.”

My head unnecessarily pointed out Fred and Velma were only friends on the show. “Yeah...do you consider yourself to be Fred?”

“I think I'm more a Scrappy Doo,” he admitted with a laugh. “Shouldn't have been there in the first place.”

“How dare you say the talking dog wasn’t essential?” I laughed, rolling my eyes. “Just don’t forget we already established you were needed for this to work, unlike the talking dog. There can’t be a Mrs. Crooks without a Mr…” I trailed off, regretting the sentence with a blush. “Anyway, how long till midnight?”

He checked his watch. “It's almost 10. Wanna try our luck with Levi?”

“Almost two hours away.” I nodded in approval. “Alright. Maybe we should start with showing the journal first this time.”

He nodded back. “Have you seen him?”

I searched the faces in the room. “I bet he’ll be wherever the dark cloud of pessimism is going.”

Brooks made a pretty good guess. “Where's the bar?”

#//fics #//not a challenge #//crooks #//new year's #brooks tag #eloise tag

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merigreenleaf · 7 years ago

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OC Tag (#3 - Blythe)

I guess I’ll do this for the rest of my MCs, but I’ll do them once a day or something like that so these posts aren’t all at once. Here’s Blythe’s and I’ll do Dray, Etri, and Sol later this week. I’m not tagging anyone but if you want to fill this out, consider yourself tagged! (I am tagging @lynnafred so you see this though.)

GENERAL

Name: Blythe Bladedancer

Alias(es): "Blythe Bladedancer" *is* her alias despite her using the name something like 90% of the time and her nickname to her friends being "Blade." Her real name is Dreihda Soldat. ("Soldat" is her title as a Protectorate; Protectorates traditionally don't have last names because the title is more important.) She never liked her real first name and once she became a carny she picked a nickname, partly because that's what carnies do and partly so that the aunt she ran away from couldn't find her. To make things extra complicated, once she takes Adair's new surname at the end of book 2, her name still has titles in it- she's officially "Healer Dreihda Travellarri Soldat" but she tends to just keep using "Blythe Bladedancer." I can't blame her lol.

Gender: cis female

Age: 20

Place of birth: Silveridge, Concordia. (She was born in the capital city but her father traveled around a lot as a Protectorate when she was a kid. Protectorates guard art and artists and are as close as this culture gets to soldiers.)

Spoken languages: Because of her training/upbringing as a Protectorate, she's fluent in at least three. Two are Concordian and Galenvoy, but I haven't named the other countries on the continent yet to figure out the other languages available. She also picks up some Montglacian from Etri.

Sexual orientation: grey-romantic heterosexual

Occupation: Healer. She starts off an assistant healer with a carnival troupe, then joins another troupe later as the lead healer.

APPEARANCE

Eye colour: dark brown

Hair colour: dark brown

Height: 5'10"

Scars: You'd think someone trained with weapons from childhood would, but nope. Healing magic has always given her body the ability to heal almost instantaneously, even before she could actively work this magic.

Burns: Ditto here. It would take a lot to burn her and not have her skin immediately fix itself.

Overweight: no

Underweight: no. Blythe is muscular and in incredibly good physical shape.

FAVOURITE

Color: earthy colors, generally dark greens, browns, and deep reds.

Hair colour: She thinks having a favorite hair color is silly. It’s just hair.

Eye colour: She's also answering this with "it's silly" but she absolutely loves Etri's blue-green. She just won't admit it because that would be admitting she’s had a crush for a while.

Music genre: No real preference. Part of her carnival act is dancing with swords (hence her alias) and as long as she can do that, she doesn't really care.

Movie genre: n/a for the setting

TV Show: n/a

Food: there's a chocolate pie-like dessert that I haven't named yet that Adair manages to bribe her with at the start of book 1.

Drink: probably water. She's boring like that lol

Book: Mostly she just reads books about plants and herbs and the healing patterns that other healers have come up with. (Healers work their magic by tracing specific patterns onto specific spots of the body.)

HAVE THEY

Passed university: She's a fully licensed healer, so I suppose that's a yes. She learned on the job from another healer, though, not formal schooling.

Had sex: yes

Had sex in public: no

Gotten pregnant: no

Kissed a boy: yes

Kissed a girl: no

Gotten tattoos: She has a flower on her ankle in remembrance of her father (it was his favorite plant) and I think she might have something marking her status as a healer but I haven't yet decided what.

Gotten piercings: No. I think she's tried but piercings close up too quickly because of her healing magic. Ooo, this is making me realize that she probably wears clip on jewelry though!

Had a broken heart: not romantically, but yes when her father died. They were very close.

Been in love: Not until Adair came into her life and she realized that crap, she'd fallen for him and Etri.

Stayed up for more than 24 hours: fairly often in her position as a healer. No matter how late she goes to bed she’s always up with the dawn being super awake and it annoys the CRAP out of the other dorks.

ARE THEY

A virgin: no

A cuddler: not really, but Etri and Adair like cuddling and she won’t turn them away either.

A kisser: also not really

Scared easily: No way.

Jealous easily: I'd say no. She's too busy trying to live her own life to care what other people are doing.

Trustworthy: Very. She feels very strongly about her oaths as a healer and the confidentiality that goes with it and is bluntly honest to everyone anyway. She’ll never lie and she’ll do exactly what she says she’s going to do.

Dominant: heck yeah. She's the character who wants to make sure everyone else is in line and doing what they're supposed to be doing. The other dorks tend to defer to her decisions.

Submissive: This woman has never been submissive a day in her life.

In love: I suppose she'll reluctantly agree that yes, she is. She loves her two dorks even if she thinks they're ridiculous and hopeless half the time. Most of the time. Okay, all the time.

Single: nope

RANDOM QUESTIONS

Have they harmed themselves: Blythe... takes risks. Not for no reason, but if someone is in danger, she's going to put herself into a dangerous situation to get them out regardless of who they are. This is partly because she's almost invulnerable and partly because she takes her role as healer very seriously. This happens with rescues and it happens with healings when she puts too much of herself into them. Basically she always has to be a hero.

Wanted to kill someone: LOL! Let's just say the vows of a healer are all that keeps her from going off and punching people on a regular basis. Some people are just so dumb they deserve to have some sense knocked into them.

Ride a horse: I feel like Blythe tried to learn this when she lived in a different country as a teenager and didn't like it much. I think she's too stubborn to let another intelligent being have a say in where she goes lol.

Have/had a job: Yup, she's been a fully trained healer for probably a little over a year. She also has an act with a carnival troupe where she dances with blades and knives, and she shares a knife-tossing/juggling act with Etri. Later she becomes one of Adair's sentinels (bodyguards/spouses) and that's sort of an extra career right there, but Etri handles most of the sentinel responsibility so she can focus on being a healer.

Have any fears: Just about the only thing that scares her is the thought of something hurting her family and not getting there in time to help them. Honestly, though, I think she's afraid of her own heart half the time. She's certainly had a long-term fear of becoming a sentinel. (Then it happens and you can’t pry it away from her lol.)

FAMILY

Sibling(s): She’s an only child but years ago she and Firedrake decided they were siblings-by-choice. They both constantly wonder why they made this choice lol

Parents: both dead. Her mother died when she was a baby and her father died when she was a teenager. Sometimes it's risky being a Protectorate, depending on the job you're assigned.

Children: not yet, but she does in a few years with Adair and Etri.

Pets: At the moment just Adair's cat. She bemoans having the cat around all the time but she actually really likes cats.

#writing #writeblr #tag game #writing tag #about my characters #unexpected inspiration series #about my ocs #my writing ramblings #character bio #UI POV: Blythe

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jmcmxciv · 7 years ago

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Get to know me

Tag game! Rules: you must answer these 85 statements and tag 20 people

Tagged by @stellagetides, thanks wifey! Even tho you didn’t tag me first...... I’m not tagging anyone bc this was hella long and i don’t want any of y’all to hate me but if you feel like doing this, obviously go ahead!

THE LAST: 1. drink: peach ice tea 2. phone call: my sis 3. text message: a friend 4. song you listened to: Beth Ditto - Fake Sugar 5. time you cried: this morning, watching the OB finale. i was NOT ready for any of it

HAVE YOU EVER: 6. dated someone twice: eh, sorta but not really. i wouldn’t really call that dating so, no. 7. kissed someone and regretted: yup 8. been cheated on: no 9. lost someone special: yeah 10. been depressed: nah 11. gotten drunk and thrown up: unfortunately

3 FAVORITE COLORS: 12. black black black when it comes to clothing 13. purple 14. orange

IN THE LAST YEAR HAVE YOU: 15. made new friends: yes!!! 16. fallen out of love: no, i’ve been head over heels for katie all this time 17. laughed until you cried: i always cry when i laugh, i’m a weirdo i know 18. found out someone was talking about you: yes, when @czasemsraczkaczasemnie showed me the texts between her and Alice when she was on her way to see me in Krakow. that was a wild trip hahahhaah 19. met someone who changed you: i believe everyone we come across in life change us in some way so yeah, definitely 20. found out who your friends are: i don’t know honestly. i guess nothing that big has happened that it would’ve made me rethink my friendships in any way 21. kissed someone on your Facebook list: yeah

RANDOM: 22. how many of your Facebook friends do you know in real life: i don’t accept anyone i don’t know at all but most of them are still just acquaintances. so i really know maybe half of them. 23. do you have any pets: my mom has a dog who i affectionately call a Little Idiot 24. do you want to change your name: nah i’m cool with it 25. what did you do for your last birthday: CRIED BC I HAD JUST SEEN LANA DEL REY IN THE FLESH WHAT THE HELLLLLL. but anyways, that was at midnight on my birthday and on my actual bday i raved at a techno party in a thunderstorm and that was pretty cool. until the festival was interrupted for a few hours which made me miss Sampha and Goldfrapp and half of The xx. but it was still cool altogether. 26. what time did you wake up: about 10 27. what were you doing at midnight last night: watching Glow with my sister 28. name something you can’t wait for: for my thighs to stop being sore. me and my sister downed a few beers before we entered the festival area on sunday and for some stupid ass reason we thought it would be fun to try to squat on one leg and then try to get back up. which was impossible obviously bc i do not exercise ever but yes that happened. a lot. and i’m in a lot of pain now. please, do not ask. i do not know. 29.When was the last time you saw your mother: a few hours ago 30.What is one thing you wish you could change about your life: i would love to start uni this fall instead of having to wait yet another year bc i didn’t pass, again. it sucks so hard knowing exactly what you want to do for the rest of your fricking life but not being able to bc you didn’t pass the exam you thought you had aced. #foreverbitter 31. what are you listening to right now: Au Revoir Simone - Somebody Who 32. have you ever talked to a person named tom: yeah 33. something that is getting on your nerves: right now? me being so damn bitter over me not starting uni this fall. like, just get over it already??? 34. most visited website: i wish i didn’t have to say this but it’s the truth so, tumblr 35. what do you like about yourself: i’m kindhearted and always put others before myself. and also, my taste in music is 6/5 36. favorite food: carbs in general but pizza and chinese are always my go-to’s 37. hair colour: dirty blonde with lighter blonde highlights/sorta ombre 38. long or short hair: shoulder length 39. piercings: ears 40. blood type: i don’t know even. we tested it at school once and i was AB i think but i’m pretty sure i messed it up somehow 41. nicknames: jess if you don’t speak finnish and jesu if you do, plus a bunch of dumb ones my family calls me 42. relationship status: a single pringle 43. zodiac: leo 44. pronouns: she/her/hers 45. favourite tv show: ORPHAN BLACK ORPHAN BLACK ORPHAN BLACK damn i’m gonna miss that so much. Bones is amazing as well and so are Got, AHS, HTGAWM, JtV and HIMYM and yes i definitely picked them bc i love acronyms 46. tattoos: not yet but i have a couple of ideas 47. right or left handed: right 48. surgery: haven’t had any 49. If you could choose to be an animal, what would you want to be? I’d wanna be a tiger bc they are fricking gorgeous 50. sport: i watch hockey and sometimes ice skating if i happen to flick through the channels when it’s on. i don’t really enjoy doing any at the moment. except tipsy squatting apparently. 51. vacation: what are you asking really? my last vacation? or my ideal one? i have no idea so i’m just gonna say that my mini euro trip this summer was amazing and next i’d like to go anywhere i haven’t been before. my goal in life is to see as many places as i can 52. pair of trainers: again, what are you asking??? my favorite ones? how many i own? what? i don’t know what to tell ya man

MORE GENERAL: 53. eating: love it, not eating anything right now unfortunately 54. drinking: i would be drinking water but i left my bottle somewhere and i’m too lazy to get up from the couch. but dehydration is cool too so no problem. 55. i’m about to: i should go to sleep but chances are i’m just gonna keep refreshing tumblr until i pass out. if i ever finish this, thank you a-lice for making me suffer 56. waiting for: this thing to be over 57. want: money and world peace. not necessarily in that order. and actually, if you just give me world peace i’m happy without the money. 58. get married: definitely 59. career: i wanna be speech language pathologist so baddddd and i wanna specialize in post-acute brain injury rehabilitation

WHICH IS BETTER: 60. hugs or kisses: both are great obviously but i’m gonna say hugs 61. lips or eyes: ummm eyes i guess?? i don’t know??? 62. shorter or taller: i really do not care, except that maybe if a girl is a loooot shorter than me i’ll feel like a giant and that’s not something i would necessarily enjoy 63. older or younger: preferably about my age but it doesn’t really matter if we click. i wouldn’t date anyone under 20 tho 64. nice arms or nice stomach: i literally do not care at all. all arms and all stomachs are nice and i will fight anyone on this. 65. hook up or relationship: relationship all the way 66. troublemaker or hesitant: hesitant, but i sometimes make trouble unwittingly

HAVE YOU EVER: (why are there two different parts for this?? just asking) 67. kissed a stranger: yeah 68. drank hard liquor: unfortunately, yes 69. lost glasses/contact lenses: nope 70. turned someone down: yeah 71. sex on the first date: i wouldn’t plan on it (okay i forgot this was have you ever so edit: yeah) 72. broken someone’s heart: i don’t think so 73. had your heart broken: kinda yeah but that was super dumb and i’m 1000% over it 74. been arrested: not yet but if i ever enter the US again i probably will be. the smooth criminal that i am 75. cried when someone died: yeah 76. fallen for a friend: sorta yeah but only briefly

DO YOU BELIEVE IN: 77. yourself: sometimes 78. miracles: not really 79. love at first sight: no 80. santa claus: sure 81. kiss on the first date: why not 82. angels: girls? angels? absolutely

OTHER: 83. current best friend’s name: i don’t really have a best friend 84. eye colour: greenish blue 85. favourite movie: WONDER WOMAN was amazing and also i love carol and the handmaiden. hidden figures was good too. somehow i’ve forgotten the names of all the other films i’ve watched in my life so i’m just gonna go with the four. plus, i’ve definitely seen mean girls more times than any of you combined and this is something i’m legitimately proud of. no joke.

#you really shouldn't tag me in these unless you wanna see me ramble on for hours and hours #short answers? not my thing #and also this took wayyyy longer bc i got fixated with making it more.... readable i guess #and also there were some numbers missing so i had to add my own #bc apparently i take these really seriously #you're welcome #tagged

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monkeysatemylastrolo · 7 years ago

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tagged by: @eruthiawenluin rules: you must answer these 85 statements and tag 20 people tagging: Ugh. Do I have to? Umm... @wingslovesfiction (because she leaves lovely comments on Trading Places, and I’m dumb enough that I only made the connection that it was her who followed my on tumblr yesterday and now I’m really curious to find out more- without pressure, of course). @denugis , @loukasenna , @fangirlfromtartarus , @rain-cloud-15 , @bernalheights , @heart-shivy , @novakev , @indianmongoose and... I dunno. I hate tagging people. Anyone who wants to do it. And none of these people are under any obligation, either.

the last 1. drink: Water 2. phone call: Student Finance 3. text message: T^T (To a friend, about her issues with her bf) 4. song you listened to: 'Kick it up a notch’ from the Starship soundtrack (by Team Starkid) 5. time you cried: ...Umm... I honestly can’t remember? I hate crying, so I don’t do it unless under extremely dire circumstances or to see if I can still make myself cry (used to act a lot). 6. dated someone twice: Never. I am AroAce to the core. 7. kissed someone and regretted it: See above. 8. been cheated on: Ditto. 9. lost someone special: January 2015. Nan. 10. been depressed: Never, I think. There was a period of a few months back during secondary school which, looking back, I could have been? But I don’t really know. 11. gotten drunk and thrown up: Never. Don’t drink alcohol.

3 favorite colors 12. Purple 13. Red 14. Yellow

in the last year have you 15. made new friends: Yes. 16. fallen out of love: Nope. 17. laughed until you cried: Most definitely. 18. found out someone was talking about you: In a nice way? Yes. In a nasty way? I don’t think so. 19. met someone who changed you: Probably? How would I know how much I’ve changed? 20. found out who your friends are: Meh. Don’t believe so. 21. kissed someone on your Facebook list: Nope, nope, nope and nope.

general 22. how many of your Facebook friends do you know in real life: About half? Maybe more? Are lot of them are people from secondary school I haven’t spoken to in donkeys years or distant family. 23. do you have any pets: Of my own? No. My family back home, however? Pretty much an entire menagerie. 24. do you want to change your name: Nah, I’m good. 25. what did you do for your last birthday: Indian restaurant with friends. 26. what time did you wake up: Today? First at six, then at seven. Slept through the alarm set for half six. 27. what were you doing at midnight last night: Convincing myself to sleep. 28. name something you can’t wait for: My trip back to England at the end of next month. Three whole weeks!!! 29. when was the last time you saw your mum: In person? From Dec 2015 to January 2016. Her and two of my sisters flew over to visit for the Christmas holiday. 31. what are you listening to right now: The sound of my typing. 32. have you ever talked to a person named tom: Considering one of my brothers is called Tom, would’ve been kind of hard not to. 33. something that is getting on your nerves: Other than the constant bad news from around the world? Grading, I reckon. I hate test weeks. 34. most visited website: Tumblr. 35. hair colour: Brown. The Sun is slowly turning the outer layer of my hair blonde, though. Feels very strange. 36. long or short hair: Long. 37. do you have a crush on someone: Nope. See question six. 38. what do you like about yourself: I pretty much never get lonely. 39. piercings: Nada. 40. blood type: Nada. 41. nickname: Cockle to the folks back home. Coco in Japan. 42. relationship status: Eternally single XD 43. zodiac: Sagittarius 44. pronouns: She/her. 45. favourite tv show: Supernatural. Mostly ‘cos of Sam. 46. tattoos: Zilch. 47. right or left handed: Right. 48. surgery: Never. The only one in my family to never need to go to the hospital for myself, actually. Wasn’t even born in one. 49. piercing: Why is ‘piercing’ any different from the ‘piercings’ of question 39? Is there some special magical power people gain depending on the number of piercings they have? 50. sport: I suck at sports. All of them. I did used to enjoy Netball, tag rugby and indoor hockey at school, though. 51. vacation: As in actually going somewhere? If single days count, Nagoya. If longer is needed, Osaka and Kyoto. 52. pair of trainers: Black. 53. eating: Yes please. 54. drinking: Squash, smoothies and various flavours of juice. Usually water though, ‘cos taps are readily available almost any time. 55. i’m about to: Try to crack on with writing chapter 37 of Trading Places before tomorrow’s set of grading consumes my soul. 56. waiting for: Dinner time. 57. want: To be able to speak, understand, read and write Japanese (and maybe every other language in the world, too) without ever needing to study. I’m very lazy. 58. get married: No thank you. Again, see question six. 59. career: Currently teaching English in Japan. Will hopefully be doing that for a long time, but you never know what will happen in life. 60. hugs or kisses: Neither if I get get away with it. Hugs if I’m forced. 61. lips or eyes: In what capacity? I guess I’d rather keep my eyes that my lips if I had to lose one. 62. shorter or taller: Huh? Like, do I prefer shorter or taller people? In that case, who cares as long as they’re nice? 63. older or younger: FOR WHO?!? Humans or animals? Siblings? Friends? I DON’T GET IT!!!!! 64. nice arms or nice stomach: Is this do I have? (In which case, no) Or do I like? (In which case, who cares?) 65. hook up or relationship: Neither. 66. troublemaker or hesitant: Depends on my mood and who I’m with. Never a horrible or huge type of trouble, though.

have you ever 67. kissed a stranger: Ew. Yuck, no. 68. drank hard liquor: Nope. 69. lost glasses/contact lenses: Of course. 70. turned someone down: Yes. It was one of the most awkward things ever. This was back before I ever heard about aromanticism or asexuality, so I had to try and make him understand that I just don’t understand (or have ever felt) that kind of attraction. 71. sex on the first date: Why are so many of these about icky relationship stuff? 72. broken someone’s heart: Doubt it. 73. had your heart broken: Nope. Unless you count it being broken by watching the way some of my favourite characters (esp. Sam Winchester) get treated. That’s the beauty of Aromanticism. 74. been arrested: Nope. Have been to prison, though. (Fear not- I was five, and my best friend’s dad worked at a prison. He used to take us to the (then empty) prison gym one evening a week so we could muck around with the equipment. I will never forget the size of that trampoline.) 75. cried when someone died: Yes. That’s what happens when it’s your sister. 76. fallen for a friend: Again, how is this ever going to apply to me?

do you believe in 77. yourself: In what context? 78. miracles: Sometimes. 79. love at first sight: I dunno. 80. santa claus: It is illegal to answer no to this question. 81. kiss on the first date: *stares blankly into the camera* 82. angels: Honestly? I go up and down on this one. In theory yes. But I don’t always remember to focus an any kind of relationship with God, so my doubt kicks in far more often than I’d like.

other 83. current best friend’s name: Real life? Chesky. Tumblr? Eru. 84. eye color: Blue-green 85. favorite movie: Too many to list.

#About me #Welcome to my brain #Seriously though #Why were so many of these relationship-based?

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lucasflanagan-blog · 8 years ago

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The Best Movies of 2016 According to Me and Only Me

I love movies. I love talking about them, talking shit about them, arguing about them and writing about them. This new blog I'm starting is my attempt to get back to basics with what I like to write about the movies I love and hate and everything else in between the highs and lows. Oscar Sunday is the perfect opportunity to discuss what I loved best about this past year. I saw many movies and still somehow seemed to miss a great deal of what I suspect might be worthwhile movies to check out. This stands as a testament to the strength of this past year -- the strongest in recent memory. But let's cut through the bs and get down to it.

First off, I want to highlight how strong a year this was for the horror genre. Something happened and horror movies -- a whole mess of them -- delivered in a legit way. Cooties was the best horror comedy I've seen since Shaun of the Dead. Rainn Wilson ruled nearly every minute of that movie. Adam Wingard did some interesting things with The Blair Witch and while that movie didn't entirely work, it's still a nice entry on Wingard's resume. The same goes for James Wan with The Conjuring 2. Not perfect but still a solid movie. 10 Cloverfield Lane and Green Room might not exactly be horror movies but they both slipped into the genre rather nicely while never being hampered by traditional genre trappings. The Mind's Eye was an extremely weird and crazy as shit little telekinesis movie. The Witch was a terrific exercise in slow building dread while still hiding so much more underneath the surface. Light's Out and Don't Breathe were, on the surface, more traditional fare but over delivered in every conceivable way. Specifically, Don't Breathe which always zigged when you expected a zag. Lastly, The Autopsy of Jane Doe and I'm not saying anything else about this movie except: SEE THIS MOVIE! There is one more horror movie to talk about but it nearly snuck into my top ten and will thus be discussed in this next section.

Now, getting closer to the main course. In trying to pare down to a top ten, I was shocked at how many movies I was originally considering. This speaks to two things: How many great movies I saw this year and how close some of them were for me. Dr. Strange is definitely the craziest Marvel movie I've seen to date. Lion surprised me with how touched I was by what, on the surface, was a traditional, sappy, awards-bait story. Dev Patel was magnificent in showing the turmoil of going twenty-five years without finding your way home. Hidden Figures was the feel good movie of the year. Fences was crushing and while imperfect in it's pacing and constant tendency toward monologues, which is never great to watch on screen as opposed to seeing it live, the highs were really, REALLY high. Hacksaw Ridge was Mel Gibson's most complete effort as a director since Braveheart and while pretty standard, it was still a handsome production. The Lobster was definitely not for everyone and I'll definitely not be able to recommend it to anyone I know but for me, it totally worked. I found this movie hilarious at times. Is something wrong with me? Don't answer that. Next up is The Wailing, a Korean horror movie about...well, it's a Korean horror movie. It's about the Devil? Maybe? Whatever, the movie was nuts in all the best ways.

This next group of movies is still in the same boat but were either made by some of my favorite directors or based on or part of something else I adore. Nicolas Winding Refn is a polarizing figure. I find the man to be a genius behind the lens and The Neon Demon felt like him summing up his career to this point while still projecting how he feels about the industry in general. Everybody Wants Some was marketed as a spiritual successor to Dazed and Confused and while that's a fairly accurate tag, the movie speaks more to the bonds of friendship and new love. Linklater is as good a filmmaker as there is working today. Everything he does just works for me. I feel like we speak the same film language. The Jungle Book surprised me. Rudyard Kipling is one of my favorite authors but this movie didn't look special to me in any way upon it's release. Word of mouth led me to an eventual viewing and I was stunned. It's one of the most useful applications of CGI I've ever seen in a movie. Nailed it. Oh Rogue One. I really don't know how this didn't make my top ten list. I love Star Wars and this easily ranks as the third best Star Wars movie ever. The best depiction of Darth Vader ever. Holy shit. Midnight Special made me cry. Hard. On an airplane. In front of a lot of strangers. Michael Shannon is in the discussion of greatest actors of his generation and kills it in this movie. Joel Edgerton has quickly become one of my new favorites and Jeff Nichols is the best filmmaker in the business right now. And finally, the final movie to JUUUUUUST miss making the cut. Arrival. Awesome, quiet, meditative movie and when the pieces of it's puzzle finally fall into place, you're left stunned in the best possible way. And next up for Denis? The Blade Runner sequel. Get psyched.

And now for my top ten. (Note: The top three movies were so close and are constantly playing leap frog. As I'm writing this, I still don't know which is going to be number one for me. And yes, I know it's February and nearly March. Don't look here for sense.)

10. THE HANDMAIDEN

Chan-wool Park is a madman. His movies are impeccably designed, ultra violent and perverse as hell. This one was no different. Easily the most gorgeous film of the year and full of twists, innovations, titillation and drama. I respect it more than I love it but I respect the living shit out of this movie.

9. DEADPOOL

Unlike any superhero movie we've yet seen. Violent, sexually deviant, foul-mouthed in the most horrible way but also smart, superbly written, hilarious, violent, sexually deviant and foul-mouthed in the most horrible way. Deal with it prudes.

8. THE INVITATION

Ahhhh The Invitation. The most contested movie of the year in my house. My wife hated it which killed me a bit. It'll undoubtedly be brought up in our divorce proceedings. Karyn Kusama reminded me of Hitchcock in this movie. Actually, the best ode to Hitchcock since the man himself. She is now on my list of directors whom I see no matter what. What's it about? Who cares? Karyn Kusama directed it.

7. THE NICE GUYS

Shane Black is a legend. How did this movie get ignored this awards season? Not even for it's script? Maybe the tightest script of the year. For sure, the best dialogue. Gosling and Crowe should spend the rest of their careers working with each other. Amazing movie.

6. NOCTURNAL ANIMALS

Another on the list of: HOW DID THIS MOVIE GET IGNORED? Tom Ford is carving out a hell of a place for him in Hollywood. A Single Man was amazing and now with Nocturnal Animals, I suspect studios will be hot after Mr. Ford. Also, how can you go wrong with the three best actors working today in the same movie? Shannon, Gylenhall, and Adams all crush here. Such a nasty slice of noir. We haven't seen noir willing to go full noir like this in a long time. I honestly can't remember the last time I saw one willing to be pitch black like Nocturnal Animals. I love when filmmakers don't give a shit about what an audience might think or like and just go out and make a fucking movie.

5. MANCHESTER BY THE SEA

This is a tough one. It's also another movie that is hard to recommend because it's so soul crushingly sad. But it's also funny and somehow life affirming. It's a great piece of character writing and solid directing by Kenneth Lonergan. Michelle Williams continues to be excellent while Casey Affleck continues to be the best Affleck. Anyone else wondering what Live By Night would have been with Casey playing the lead?

4. 20TH CENTURY WOMEN

And again another member of the WHERE IS THE LOVE CLUB. Mike Mills wrote the best script of the year. I'm willing to debate but there is really no debate. This was the best written movie of the year. Mills is an amazing talent. And then he went and cast so many people I love. Billy Crudup is great. Greta Gerwig, my wife now understands why I have such a crush on her. She is impossibly cool. Elle Fanning is going to be one of the biggest stars in the world very, VERY soon. Remember that. And finally, Annette Benning has never been better. She was robbed! And this is where things get messy/interesting/crazy/nonsense-y?

3. HELL OR HIGH WATER

Whoah. This movie was number one on my list for a very long time. Ben Foster gave one of my favorite performances of the year. Jeff Bridges was funny and badass at the same time and Chris Pine was incredibly authentic as a man willing to put literally everything on the line for his family. This was noir and a western at the same time and that ain't easy to pull off. Impeccably written and basically told two separate stories about varying degrees of brotherhood at the same time while still having plenty to say about the haves and have-nots. About ownership, not only about tangible things but also about one's life. I have a brother who'd I'd rob banks for and maybe that's why this movie spoke to me so sweetly but I loved it all the same.

2. LA LA LAND

This was the most inspiring movie of the year for me. I loved every second of it and maybe down the road this will be remembered by me as the best. I don't know, I have yet to receive my time machine. Gosling is as charismatic as actors get and ditto for Emma Stone. They're both likable nearly to the point of annoyance. Chazelle is a great writer and even better director. He allows his movies to breathe while still managing to fill them to the brim. It's a high wire act few can pull off.

#1 MOONLIGHT

This one was just different. I've never seen anything quite like Moonlight. It's the movie which stuck with me the longest after seeing it. I saw it over a month ago and not a day goes by without me thinking about it. The story is timeless and new at the same time. The way Barry Jenkins shot this movie feels revolutionary to me. Everything was shot in hyper color and then drab. Things shoot into and out of focus. It's like seeing a movie with all of your senses. Mahershala Ali gave my favorite performance of the entire year. He was nothing short of extraordinary. Everything about this movie was extraordinary. I liked it upon leaving the theater. I liked it more the following day. I loved it a few days later. And where Hell or High Water and La La Land were, in many ways, equally extraordinary, they were maybe just the best versions of their respective genres that we've seen in years. Moonlight defied genre to just be unforgettable.

Enjoy the show everybody.

RIP Bill Paxton.

Love each other.

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