#I know it’s being irrational but why on earth does this happen to begin with? | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

skyland2703 · 1 year ago

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Write an ending without a beginning and Javelia? Possibly?

I was about to go down the lane of tragedy™️ for this one… and then I decided what better way to write my one true ending for Javelia—

“Feelings are… hard… Ollie.” Amelia smiled ruefully at the boy in blue hoodie, sitting next to her on the airplane seat, holding her hand.

He shrugged, and looked out of the window, a beautiful sunset had colored the sky in blue and pink hues, with a peeking golden in places, and clouds littering the horizon. It looked breathtaking, and if he were in this moment with anybody else— his mind wandered particularly to Aiyon, the Rafkonian loved the sunsets of Earth from the bottom of his heart— he’d have liked to share a kiss. But not here, not with Amelia. It wasn’t the time.

“Feelings are hard, Amelia” he nodded, a smile spreading onto his face.

“When did you know?”

“I’ve known for a while. Even if you’re here with me, you’re talking about Javi, thinking about Javi, or talking to Javi… your heart isn’t even here at all” he almost laughed, and then gently caressed the top of her palm, then looked into the distance, “I don’t blame you either…”

“You’ve been having feelings for someone else too, haven’t you?” Amelia asked, shaking her head, softly. She knew exactly who it was, she knew exactly how these things had happened— she and Javi had grown particularly close during such investigations, itself.

Ollie smiled, good naturedly, “like you said… feelings are hard”

Amelia closed her eyes, and rested her head on the extremely uncomfortable cushion of the airline’s economy class seat, and groaned. They’d decided to take this little “trip” to Hawaii so they could bond over, once again, renew their relationship, but it hadn’t even started, and they were on the verge of breaking apart.

“Did you ever… think of… cheating, Ollie?” The thought had crossed her mind numerous times. She remembered that time she and Javi had almost drunkenly fooled around, and stopped themselves just in time from the thought of Ollie. She wondered if Ollie had ever done something of the sort… that had been her very first doubt, what had caused her to enlist Javi’s help in her relationship, what had landed the two of them at such crossroads— with their best friend.

“I…” he frowned, “I’m not gonna lie, there were moments where it got dangerously close to that… but I never cheated on you, Amelia. I Never would.” He smiled, “even if I don’t love love you, I still love you. And I can never even think of hurting you that way”

She smiled, “I want you to know that I feel the same way, Ollie”

“I know” he smiled, “I just wish we had had thid talk before we got onto this plane… AND booked that honeymoon package.” He laughed.

“Hey” she punched his arm gently, “I’m teleporting back to Javi the second we land— and we’re getting Aiyon TO Hawaii after that. Just cuz we aren’t together anymore, doesn’t mean we can’t be happy” she winked.

“Does that mean it’s an official breakup?”

“It’s an official breakup. And it’s absolutely jot messy at all— Annnnd I’d thought it’d be so much messier….” She chuckled.

“You know… so had I— thank you for being so understanding. I thought you’d be all angry and irrational” be wriggled his eyebrows at her mischievously.

“Well, fuck you”

“Oh Aiyon will—“ his lips twisted in a sly smirk,

“TOO MUCH INFORMATION, AKANA”

…

The flight had been awkward, really, really awkward, in a lot of places, but it was still better than it would’ve been had they not broken up, and continued in their now loveless, and even more awkward relationship. They were better off as friends, and with her stealing her airline issue cashew nuts in the small flight,

The Realisation that she had been in love with Javi for almost as long as she could had hit her repeatedly on her head, every time she thought about Javi— and she wondered why she had continued with Ollie for so long. Why was there a need to hurt the both of them, in the process, why was breaking up such a stigma, if it were this easy…

“Where are you, Javi?” She’d texted Javi as soon as she had gotten off at the Hawaii Airport, and readied to teleport back to where Javi was.

Javi’s reply was prompt, “hey Amm! All good? How was the flight?”

"Where are you"

"Still at the airport"

"Good"

“Wh—“

“Explain later. I’m coming back. Stay there.”

And then she had promptly ignored all texts he had sent her, panicking and asking her why was wrong, if everything was okay, if Ollie was coming back with her or not… Ollie must have texted Aiyon, but she wasn’t sure if Aiyon would tell Javi. They hadn’t particularly revealed anything to Aiyon either, but a part of wondered maybe he would know— maybe both the boys would be able to put two and two together.

She wanted to surprise Javi. She wanted to surprise him so bad. She needed to be in his arms, when she told him that she loved him.

…

Javi had stayed at the airport, sitting on one of the cool metal benches, where he had left Ollie and Amelia to board their flight at. The bright morning sun had faded into a dim glow, bathing the entire lounge in a yellowish-orange tinge, warm, soothing, and Javi's heavy heart told him that he should head back home... the girl he'd been in love with for three years, was long gone, and in another corner of the country, by now, with someone else... and why was he still there?

After the happy couple had boarded the flight, Javi had found himself sinking into one of the chairs, at a loss of words, not knowing what to do, feeling overwhelmed. And he'd sat there that way for who knew how long...

Until Amelia's text had come in... and then he knew exactly why he was still there. The Morphin Grid had set something up. She was coming back... there was something wrong, something that had happened, and she needed him right there.

He closed his eyes, his mind gently cascading over all the memories of him and Amelia together. There was something in the air, a little October chill, a little tinge of the fall, a little bit of warmth.

Then he heard the familiar whirring noise of a teleportation beam. It was distant, but Javi could place exactly what it was for... Amelia was here. She'd teleported to somewhere people wouldn't notice, and she was here... she was right here. His heart felt like it would come up into his throat.

He stood up, as he heard footsteps approaching him. There was a whole cacophony of noises around the world between them, but he knew her footsteps. He knew every rhythm by heart. And then, there she was... Standing in the same red jacket he had bid her goodbye in, a mere few hours ago, sunglasses pushed upwards, over her head.

Their eyes met across the distance, and he saw a blush move up her cheeks, as well as blood rushing into his own. Awkwardly, nervously, he raised a hand to wave at her. Just as awkwardly, she tilted her head, as if to take all of him in her, and keep the vision of him imprinted in her heart and soul.

And then she broke into a run. Javi had barely a second to process what was happening, and to brace himself, when she jumped into his waiting arms, wrapping her own around him, and he, while trying to maintain his balance, lifted her off her feet, and started spinning her around in the air, while still hugging her. He didn't need words to understand what had just happened between them— her expression, her gestures were enough to explain it all.

When he finally put her back onto the ground, he saw tears shining in her eyes, like a kaleidoscope, glittering in the evening glow.

"I love you Javi. I love you so, so much" she said, breathless, waiting for his reply.

"But Ol—"

"He knows." her smile was so wide, it could encompass entire galaxies, "It's you and me, now. You and me forever"

"No ifs and buts?" he asked, gently, her infectious smile was starting to spread onto his face too, and she shook her head, "I'm sorry for all that drama, but no, seriously, I'm all yours, baby. I promise"

He leaned forward and gently pressed his lips against hers for the briefest moment. It was so gentle, so tentative that for a Amelia thought she had only imagined it— but then Javi was kissing her again, harder this time, passionately; her hair reached up into his hair, fingeres grazing through the soft locks, while his reached around to cup her face in his palms, frozen in time, and frozen in the moment... Nothing else mattered, nothing except the fact that they were together, together at last.

"I— I love you too" he croaked, gasping from breath from their kiss, and as they reluctantly broke apart, he placed his forehead against hers, and his fingers gently entangled with hers, "I've loved you from the beginning"

Ao3

#Javi Garcia #Amelia Jones #Javi x Amelia #Amelia x Javi #Javelia #dino fury #power rangers dino fury #power rangers #cosmic fury #power rangers cosmic fury #fanfiction #my fanfic #GOD WRITING THIS HAD MY HEART IN MY THROAT #i wish everyone could see that thirty chapter fanfic in my head that led up to this #maybe id write that too someday #but for now y'all know how it ends :D #THAT IS HOW MY BBIES JAVELIA GOT TOGETHER #BAHAHAHAHAHAHAH #too many emotions

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inosukeslefttoe · 2 years ago

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i’m pulling this shit out of my ass and all the emotions i’ve been having because i decided to binge devilman crybaby today. I first saw it in 2020 during the pandemic and decided it was one of the best pieces of media i’ve ever consumed. i was worried that my opinion of it would’ve changed by now BUT IT HAS NOT.

it honestly just such a beautiful piece of media,, i think i could talk for hours so i’m not even gonna mention the aesthetics and soundtrack and imagery and references and just focus on like. feelings.

THE CAT SCENE. became so much more obvious and important this time around. basically. akira is the cat and ryo is the one crying. we all know about akira empathy abilities and his weird “you’re crying too” when it seems clear that ryo ISNT and that he has no feelings. EXCEPT HE DOES !! he doesn’t know it at the time but deep down inside him is the ability to feel sadness and therefore the ability to love. tbh i think the reason he didn’t believe in either of those things at the beginning was because they’re both just so. human. ANYWAYS the way that akira sobs upon the cats passing despite the fact that he Knew it was gonna die mirrors how ryo cries for akira in the end. ryo knew akira was human and that he would eventually pass,, AND THEN HE EVEN FUCKING FOUGHT HIM TO THE DEATH AND KILLED HIM ?? yet he still cried over his corpse. and like ,, that literally makes no sense because HE KILLED HIM HIMSELF so why does he cry ?? why does he mourn this weak human that he knew was already dead ?? BECAUSE HE HAS FEELINGS. HE HAS STUPID MESSY IRRATIONAL HUMAN FEELINGS. OF LOVE AND HEARTBREAK AND SADNESS AND LOSS. and i think that might be part of what scares him the most. he lived his whole life thinking he was emotionless and superior and strong,, and as long as he had akira by his side to be the emotional one of the group he’d be fine repressing all his shit. but now akira is gone and he’s left to sit in his feelings and except the fact that he HAS them and that he’s a little bit more human that he thought. oh and also i just think that for someone who always talks about how the strong beat the weak etc etc ,, it seems a little silly for ryo to fall in love with akira who is the softest and (no offense) physically weakest baby boy out there. he literally had this coming.

the baton scene !! this one didn’t hit quite as hard as the cat scene but i still want to talk about it because i <3 repetition. i think it’s supposed to symbolize how throughout his life akira tried and tried and tried again to get ryo to feel his feelings and be able to give and accept love. no matter how many times he tried and failed, akira never gave up and still loved ryo because that’s what people do with those they care about !! and i think it just breaks my heart that ryo couldn’t accept the baton until after it was too late.

oh yeah and this is possibly my favorite development and new thought after my rewatch. um. so yknow how ryo doesn’t have any memories of being satan at first. i think that maybe this means that he could possibly not remember other things too. this might be a bit of a stretch but i feel like the point of being a demon or being trapped in hell is to yknow ,, BE IN HELL sooo ,, where i’m going with this is that i think that ryos hell and punishment from god is to be thrown into different variations of earth with different variations of humans and in all of them he finds akira and falls in love with him and only knows it until it’s too late. and THATS why akira/all the akira variants can tell him that he IS in fact crying, because they know with their magic empathy abilities that he DOES love them more than anything. i might be off but i love to torture myself <3 but like ?? it sorta makes sense especially with god rebuilding the world after ryo destroyed it. like what happens to ryo ?? where does he go ?? back to hell ?? back to earth ?? i personally like my little theory

i have never read the bible fully but i wanted to mention how i think it’s so interesting how all the religious imagery is like ?? flipped if that makes sense ?? like the imagery of akira vs ryo makes it seem the opposite of how it should be. and i wonder if this also applies to other scenes with more obscure imagery or references like the miko donkey scene ?? idk but i might look into it more. i think they did this because it’s supposed to show how nothing is ever truly black or white with humanity. emotions and love and sadness and just people in general are all so multifaceted and can’t really be explained with any exact science. by switching up seemingly obvious imagery and confusing the viewers a bit i think they show how everything is just on a huge greyscale

okay i think that’s it for now but i WILL update this if i have another thought

#devilman #devilman crybaby #akira fudo #ryo askua

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a-small-batch-of-dragons · 4 years ago

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Mute

Prompt: I absolutely adore your writing! Could I ask for a request too, please? I was thinking of a back-and-forth between Janus and Logan, just lies after truths after lies, until one snaps and accidentally causes the other to lose the ability to speak? Since they can both technically change the reality around them. Either the recipient becomes forcibly mute or the very angsty "sowed up mouth" method. Whoever caused the other to lose their speech freaks out and tries their best to fix their mess while apologising. Either a platonic or romantic ending -whichever you decide- but with at least a happy ending please? - willowaudreykeyes

Thanks for the prompts, babe!

Read on Ao3

Warnings: sympathetic janus, logan gets his mouth sewn shut but it's okay we fix it

Pairings: can be platonic or romantic I don't care, but we hit logince, rociet, lociet

Word Count: 2922

He doesn’t even remember how it started.

Or, an argument between Logan and Janus spirals dangerously out of hand, and powers in the Mindscape are sometimes more curses than blessings.

It hadn’t been something Thomas knew about, it hadn’t been a group discussion—he doesn’t think the others know where they are. Virgil is probably in his room, Roman is working in the Imagination, Patton is baking with Remus.

He doesn’t remember how it started.

He does know how they got here.

“I fail to see what use this is,” Logan had grumbled, standing up from the library table, “I will be better off figuring this out myself.”

“Oh, yes, of course, because that’s always gone so well for you in the past.”

Logan’s eyes had flashed with anger he still denies he has. “I fail to see what gives you the opinion that you have any right to complain.”

“Because I’m certainly the one saying that I’ve done all my best work alone.”

Janus had smirked cruelly as Logan shoved his glasses back up his nose and pointed a finger at him. “Your track record, may I remind you, has certainly shown that.”

Janus had thrown his head back and cackled, filled with mirth that sat like rot in the pit of his stomach. “And yet I managed to do so much more in the few times I appeared than you.”

“Oh, like that’s the same thing.”

He had held his hand to his mouth in a mock gasp. “Why, Logan, surely you can’t be insinuating that you think the others are incompetent. How hurtful, what on earth would they say?”

“I did not say that.”

“But you meant it, didn’t you?” Janus had morphed his expression into a mock pout. “They’re all so slow, so irrational, all they do is get in the way, they’re so irritating.”

“You’re attempting to convince me that I said something I did not,” Logan had said firmly, “it will not work. The meaning of my remark, as you are aware, was that you, as your role in the videos, have an easier time disrupting the flow of conversation that I do as a member of the main cast.”

Logan had ignored—or perhaps not noticed—the subtle tightening of Janus’s fist. He had simply sniffed and looked down his nose.

“And even then, it’s a surprise you haven’t been more capable.”

Janus had bared his teeth. “Yes, because obviously, you could’ve done better.”

“Oh, please.” Logan had tucked his notebook into the crook of his arm. “Can you name one of your haphazard schemes that actually worked?”

Janus had gritted his teeth as Logan opened the notebook and began to read down the list.

“Your attempt to get Thomas to lie to Joan failed when Roman started to believe that lying was wrong as well, leading to Thomas discovering your true identity.”

“By all means,” Janus had growled, “keep going.”

“Most notably, your attempt to get Thomas to go to the callback backfired quite spectacularly—something that wouldn’t have happened in quite the same fashion had you actually let me participate—“

“Keep talking, Logan,” he’d said again, inching closer to the nerd, “that’s a wonderful idea.”

“—and of course, led to what is the most disruptive event in recent memory,” Logan had continued, undaunted, “the wedding.”

Janus hadn’t even bothered with words this time, reaching for the notebook with a growl. Logan had tucked it away before he could reach it.

“Tell me,” he had said, “was it worth it? Knowing how much it cost us?”

“Surely,” Janus had growled back, “then you know it’s not because you didn’t do your job well enough.”

Logan had stiffened. “What are you talking about?”

“Well surely you haven’t realized that the reason I was able to make it into that video in the first place,” Janus had said smoothly, sliding back into the ‘villain’ persona Logan has so graciously cast him in, “was that you were so painfully easy to replace.”

“Falsehood,” Logan had said lowly.

Janus had raised his hand again. “Oh, so you did notice. Splendid. Then you know that when it comes to pushing blame around the Mindscape—“

He had leaned closer.

“—you’re where we should be looking too.”

“I am—“

“Easy to overlook,” Janus had sung, prowling around Logan in a circle, “easy to silence. And surely there’s no correlation between when you attempt to override the others and when Thomas gets hurt. You want to talk about my failures? Then let’s not forget getting the others trapped in Patton’s room, shall we?”

Logan’s fists had tightened. “That’s not—“

“After all,” Janus had continued, speaking over him to illustrate his point, “if I’m to blame for knocking all the dominos down, you certainly didn’t give me a hand setting them up.”

“As if that in any way equivocates to what you did,” Logan had spat, the emotionless facade finally giving way as he whirled of Janus, “I did not use, manipulate, and lie to get the others to do what I want.”

“Oh, of course you didn’t.”

“And if I did, my lies would be nowhere near as comically obvious.”

“Ah, yes, of course you’re never comical.” Janus had tapped Logan’s flushed cheek. “The possibilities of you being a joke have always been…infinitesimal.”

Logan had bared his teeth as Janus chuckled. “At least my concept of a joke never hurt anyone.”

Logan’s mouth had tugged up cruelly too.

“Setting Remus loose on Thomas when you knew he was already upset, pushing the others to follow on whatever path you decided was best. And let’s not even start on what you did to Roman.”

Janus had flinched.

“Have you ever apologized?” Logan had shaken his head. “For everything that you’ve done to hurt him?”

“Have you?”

The room had dropped several degrees.

Janus had dropped the villain persona, staring directly at Logan.

“You want to talk about hurting the others, hurting Roman,” he had said lowly, “what do you think it is that you do?”

Logan had opened his mouth to speak but Janus had raised a finger.

“No. Do you know how much you’ve hurt him? Over how many years you’ve made him ashamed of who he is?” He had shaken his head. “I know I’ve hurt him. But you don’t seem to recognize it.”

He had looked Logan up and down, mouth curled in disgust.

“Maybe I’m not good enough at my job for your liking, but I sure was good at yours.” He had raised an eyebrow. “Maybe they wanted you silenced permanently. They did press the ‘skip’ button, after all.”

He had looked for the shadow of the bruise on Logan’s neck.

“And it was so easy to replace you. To silence you properly.”

He had turned away, not bothering to look at Logan’s face.

“Maybe I should do them a favor and keep you quiet.”

There had been a strangled gasp behind him.

“Oh, what,” Janus had drawled, turning around, “did you finally realize you don’t have a smart comeback for…”

The room had frozen.

…so that’s how they got here.

Janus, standing a few paces from Logan, turning back to face him, the sharp quip dying on the edge of his lips as his mouth drops open in horror, staring back.

Logan, his eyes wide, shining with unshed tears, glasses blurred and obscured by the bright light shining from the golden stitches that sew his mouth shut.

Logan raises trembling hands to his mouth, feeling the stitches, tears rolling down his face. His fingers disappear into the bright golden light as he fumbles with his mouth, until he realizes that he can’t.

The strangled scream lingers in Janus’s head long after Logan shrinks into a crouch on the floor.

No.

No, no, no, no—no, not Logan. Not Logan.

“Oh, god—“ Logan’s hands keep pressing fruitlessly against his mouth— “no, oh, god, Logan—“

He runs back, ready to crouch and pry Logan’s hands away before he hurts himself, chest splitting open from the ache of hurting the poor thing like this.

He doesn’t think it could hurt more.

Like so many other times today, he’s wrong.

The instant Logan catches a glimpse of him moving toward him, he shoves himself away, scrambling backward until his back hits the wall. Eyes wide, breathing as heavily as he can through the stitches, utterly terrified.

As he has every right to be.

“No, no, Logan,” he murmurs frantically, “no, it’s okay, I’m not trying to hurt you—“

Does it matter that you’re not trying? You certainly were earlier.

“—I promise, Logan, please, I’m—I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to—“

Through the pants, the sobs, the shakiness of his chest, Logan huffs, disbelieving.

“I didn’t, Logan, I promise.” Janus drops to his knees in front of the crying man. “I—we went too far. I’m sorry, I didn’t know this would happen, I didn’t mean to, please—“

The poor thing presses himself further against the wall. Janus swallows, feeling guilt press hot and heavy against the underside of his tongue. He reaches out, trying desperately to show him that he’s sorry, he didn’t mean to, he doesn’t actually believe anything he just said, he’s nothing but a liar, a horrible liar, please—

“I didn’t mean it, Logan, I promise, you’re—you’re not replaceable, I don’t want you silenced, the others don’t hate you, they don’t want you gone, I’m sorry—“

Slowly, too slowly, and not slowly enough, Logan’s breathing begins to settle. His eyes lose that awful whiteness and he slumps a little against the wall. His cheeks are damp, his glasses knocked askew, but he stares at Janus and slowly, slowly, nods.

“L-Logan?”

Another nod, a little less hesitant.

Janus’s shoulders slump. “Oh, Logan, why does it always end up with you being the better person?”

A tiny quirk of the eyebrow, nowhere near Logan’s typical sass levels, but it’s enough. It’s enough. Enough to make a weak smile come to Janus’s face.

“Can I come over, please? Can I come help?”

Logan nods, still wary as Janus shuffles across the floor. Before he makes it all the way there, he tugs off his gloves and stuffs them in his pocket.

“There,” he says quietly, wiggling his fingers to get used to it, “don’t want the fibers getting caught on anything.”

Logan’s wide-eyed stare tells him he knows why Janus really took the gloves off. Something Janus confirms a moment later.

“And I want you to know that I mean it.” He reaches forward. “Can I touch?”

Logan still flinches when Janus runs his thumb carefully over the cruel stitches sewing Logan’s mouth shut. He winces as he takes in how taut the thread is, how many stitches there are.

“Oh, Logan, I’m so sorry,” he mumbles, “does it hurt very badly?”

Another miserable nod.

Then it clicks.

Logan.

The one who submits least to the Imagination. The one who tethers himself tightly to the fact that they are metaphysical, they are subjective, they need not subject themselves to real-world consequences of whatever nonsense the other Sides pull.

Logan still has the stitches.

It threatens to break Janus’s heart all over again.

“Oh, sweetie,” he murmurs, cupping Logan’s face and slipping his glasses to the top of his head, “I’ve hurt you more than this, haven’t I?”

For indeed, if Logan is too upset to remember how to pull himself out of turns of phrase, then the poor thing is distraught.

“Shh, shh, it’s okay,” he murmurs, gently wiping away Logan’s tears, “it’s okay, sweetie, I’m not going to hurt you, it’s over, I’m not angry, I’m going to take care of you.”

And oh, the way Logan pushes shyly into his hands feels warm.

“Does this help, sweetie, is this alright?” At Logan’s nod, he moves, tucking Logan’s legs across his lap with his other hands. “Come here, yes—that’s it, shh, I’ve got you, you just focus on me.”

Logan’s eyes fall closed and a muffled whimper comes from his throat.

“I’ve got you, sweetie, I’m right here,” Janus murmurs, still cupping the poor thing’s head as it leans into him, “shh, shh, let’s get you a little calmer before we have a look, okay?”

Logan gives a huff of ‘what do you think I’m trying to do?’

“I know you know that, sweetie,” he chuckles, lifting Logan’s head to gently knock their foreheads together, “you’re clever. Our resident brain cell.”

He wraps one hand around the back of his neck.

“It’s just like what you taught us, remember? Object impermanence. This won’t last forever. I’m right here. You were so brave, you are so brave, so wonderful, so sweet…just give yourself time, sweetie, it’s okay.”

Logan relaxes a little in his hold as he keeps talking quietly. The poor thing gets over his hesitation and buries his face shamelessly in the crook of Janus’s neck.

“Shh, shh, that’s it, sweetie, easy now—“ Janus cradles him as he sets his glasses out of the way— “I’ve got you. I’m right here, sweetie, I’ve got you. It’s almost over, now, you can do it, shh.”

Another muffled noise from Logan.

“You’re not easily replaceable,” Janus says firmly, “you’re not unwanted. You’re not a joke, the others know how much you care about them, how much you help them, how important they are to you, how important you are to them.”

He tilts his head to press a kiss to Logan’s temple.

“How important you are to me.”

The golden light dims, sputters, and vanishes.

“…sweetie?”

Logan pulls back, carefully rubbing his fingers over his stitch-free mouth. He opens and closes a few times.

“Ouch.”

“Are you alright, sweet? I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to—“

“I know,” Logan says quietly, “I’m sorry too. That…escalated very quickly. I did not mean the things I said either.”

He squints.

“Oh, here—“ Janus passes him his glasses.

“Thank you. But that’s not why I—what were we arguing about, to begin with?”

Janus huffs a laugh. “I had been meaning to ask you that question.”

“Well, whatever it is, it must not have been very important.”

There’s a moment of silence.

“I’m sorry too,” Logan repeats after that pause, “you are not just a villain, you are not incompetent, and you…you are not to blame for everything that has gone wrong.”

Janus chucks him lightly under the chin. “Neither are you.”

“I know that, intellectually, and yet…somehow, it remains difficult for me to grasp.”

“Because even though you’re Logic, sweetie,” Janus says, “you’re Thomas’s Logic.”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

“Because Thomas is, frankly, something of a dumbass.”

It startles a laugh out of him at any rate.

“I mean, that also makes you a dumbass.”

“Oh, I’m perfectly aware.”

Logan’s smile is wonderful. “What is it that Roman is quite fond of saying?”

“That he’s pure of heart, dumb of ass?”

“That’s is.”

“Well, it’s true.”

“It is.” Logan frowns. “Even if he’s far more intelligent than he gets credit for.”

Janus nudges him. “I hope you know that you can be big of brain and dumb of ass at the same time.”

“Ah. I see.”

There’s another moment of silence as they reflect on what’s been said. Then Logan nervously adjusts his tie.

“Speaking of Roman…”

“I was about to say.” Janus gives his knee a pat. “Shall we see if we can find him?”

“I believe his business in the Imagination should be done.” They help each other to stand, Logan keeping a grip on Janus’s sleeve. “Should we check his room first?”

“I think so.”

Roman, of course, swings open the door with a cheerful greeting, the role of the pompous prince firmly in place until he takes in their tear-stained faces and he melts, dropping the act almost immediately.

“Oh, my darlings,” he coos, cupping each of their faces in a hand, “what’s the matter? Why do you look so upset?”

“May we come in, please?” Indeed, poor Logan looks as if he’s about to melt into Roman’s arms. Janus can’t talk, though, he’s about to do the same.

“Of course, come on, let’s get you sat down—“

Roman bustles about the room, fetching them a glass of water, sitting on his bed with them, almost bursting into tears himself when he hears what’s happened and promptly telling them they’re going to spend the rest of the day right here, in comfy clothes, watching ridiculously obscure documentaries until Patton and Remus call them down for dinner. They keep a hand on each other at all times, laughing at Janus’s snarky responses to awful narrators, Logan’s quick corrections when the information is out of date, and Roman’s impersonations of the strange wildlife. Roman’s room is pleasantly noisy and they wouldn’t have it any other way.

He doesn’t remember how it started, but he will always remember how it ended.

Curled around each other, in the warmth and safety of the people who care about him.

General Taglist: @frxgprince @potereregina @reddstardust @gattonero17 @iamhereforthegayshit @thefingergunsgirl @awkwardandanxiousfander @creative-lampd-liberties @djpurple3 @winterswrandomness @sanders-sides-uncorrect-quotes @iminyourfandom @bullet-tothefeels @full-of-roman-angst-trash @ask-elsalvador @ramdomthingsfrommymind @demoniccheese83 @pattonsandershugs @el-does-photography @princeanxious @firefinch-ember @fandomssaremysoul @im-an-anxious-wreck @crazy-multifandomfangirl @punk-academian-witch @enby-ralsei @unicornssunflowersandstuff @wildhorsewolf @thetruthaboutthesun @stubbornness-and-spite @princedarkandstormv @your-local-fookin-deadmeme @angels-and-dreams @averykedavra @a-ghostlight-for-roman @treasurechestininterweb @cricketanne @aularei @queerly-fluid-fan @compactdiscdraws @cecil-but-gayer @i-am-overly-complicated @annytheseal @alias290 @tranquil-space-ninja @arxticandy @mychemically-imbalanced-romance @whyiask @crows-ace @emilythezeldafan @frida0043 @ieatspinalcords @snowyfires @cyanide-violence @oonagh2 @xxpanic-at-the-everywherexx @rabbitsartcorner @percy-07734 @triflingassailantofmyemotions

if you want to be added/taken off the taglist, let me know!

#dragonbabbles #fic #sanders sides #roman sanders #logan sanders #janus sanders #deceit sanders #sympathetic deceit

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leviiattacks · 4 years ago

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No One Sticks Around | Levi Ackerman

note :: this was a request i just quickly wrote it because i managed to find some free time at 3am GODDD crying so hard rn i’m so upset over chapter 138 like i am in tears over it and school work T___T please i literally cried writing this because 138 made me so upset gn i’m a mess rn but if aot ends the way i think it does then idk maybe it won’t be that bad.

pairing :: captain!levi x cadet!reader genre :: angst, angst, ANGST word count :: 1.2k

warnings :: canon typical violence i guess?? not even really violence honestly but mentions of blood etc

He never understood why everyone had to leave him. Never understood why departure had to be defined as death. Never understood what he had done to be the one to witness each and every casualty caused by this misery but never become one of the bodies in the never ending bloody pile.

Living to be invincible wasn't as great as people made it out to be, neither was being as good as immortal on the battlefield.

Sometimes, Levi would look at his reflection and tell himself he had the urge to drop dead. He then would carry on to tell himself he knew he wouldn't be able to do that. He didn't want that really. All he ever wanted was to escape this cave of bloodshed.

The world was caving in and he couldn't do anything about it. No matter how powerful he was he couldn't. All he could do was watch in horror as he saw everyone else slowly die out.

He promised not to grow attached, there was no reason to grow connections or friendships.

Farlan and Isabel were bitter reminders of that.

That day he learnt death was worse when there was a shared familiarity between souls. Part of him died when he found them drenched in the damp downpour. Their blood soaked into the concrete beneath them.

The day he returned from that expedition he reeked of failure. He scrubbed his skin till it became red and he told himself to get a grip. Never grow attached Levi, no one sticks around. Those words remained stuck in his head .

But, he was stupid and made the same mistake again.

He had to redo the promise he made to himself again when he needed to put Erwin's life on a scale right next to Armin's. Another piece of him passed away when Erwin murmured his thanks. Silently, under his breath he told Levi he was grateful for all that he had done.

Levi didn't think he was grateful for it at all. In denial, he thought it was all a formality, after all, the both of them had been through thick and thin together. Erwin probably thought the least he could do before his death was to offer his thanks, that's how Levi saw it all.

Erwin died in his arms. He felt him sag and remain limp, he sensed his breathing falter and he shed a tear when it proceeded to discontinue.

When he returned from that expedition he scrubbed at his skin till it scratched and itched in irritation. He needed to be clean, needed to feel safe, needed to reassure himself that everything was okay. Everything would be okay if he followed his advice this time. Never grow attached Levi, no one sticks around. From then on those words rang in his head twice as often.

But, he was never able to learn in the past so what happened next served to be no surprise at all.

Present day.

He's only gone and done it again.

He's grown attached.

He knows it's wrong to choose you over Jean, he curses himself when he's fighting through his tears asking himself why he's being irrational and risking his own life for you, the weakest member of the squad physically, you've always been a hindrance when it's come to teaching combat. Somehow you scraped it into the top ten all those years ago because of your intelligence and problem solving skills.

As the years have passed you've also made yourself at home in one of the tiny crevices of Levi's heart.

Levi knows Jean is a greater aid to humanity than you, he knows it, he knows it, he knows it.

But, he can't go through the devastation of loss again.

His body acts before his mind can stop him, he darts to your rescue as Jean watches on in terror wondering why his Captain is acting illogically and picking you over him.

You're trying to look him in the eyes, telling him it's okay he can leave you behind and take Jean instead, "MY TIME IS UP. LOOK AT ME LEVI." Screeching and wailing the Earth is coming down to the ground around you.

He can't make himself look at you, he's not willing to change his mind.

Grunting in pain he stubbornly releases you from the grip the abnormal has on you, you're still screaming as you fall down the drop with him, your ear-splitting cries tell him he's made the wrong choice, but as he zips through the foliage aiming to return back to your base he eases up at the way you howl. It comforts him. He's sick and twisted for letting it have that impact on him, he feels like a monster but you're still alive, that’s all that matters. You'll return alive and he'll be able to shelter you from harm’s way.

"Don't let his death be in vain." He whispers the sentence into the shell of your ear and you freeze, his voice is cracking and you hold onto him tighter. You squeeze him in your suffocating grip and sob into his neck, you've both lost a comrade who shouldn't have died today.

By the time the two of you have reached safety he's still afraid to let you go, he hates himself for falling in love with you because the gap between the two of you can't be bridged. You're bound to die if you don't work on your strength and if you don't pass away before him it'll be because he'll stupidly sacrifice himself for you.

Trembling as he cautiously lets you off his back you ask him the long awaited question, "Why did you pick me over him?" Voice breaking up you attempt to keep your cool and find the reasoning behind the foolish decision he made back in the forest.

Levi turns to you hesitantly, his eyes are glazed over with tears and he doesn't know how to explain his selfish urge to you, in the moment he just knew he had to save you, knew he needed you to keep going.

Then he blurts it out without stopping to think of the repercussions of his words. "I'm not the kind of man to confess."

His hoarse voice tenses midway through, he has to cough in-between the sentence but his words are still able to sink in. They hang in the air and then what he means hits you.

You're worth more than humanity to him.

He loves you.

You nod acknowledging what has been said. "Your actions have told me as much." is all you can manage to choke out.

His eyes flick to your face, he's trying to memorize your features off by heart, he needs to commit them to his memory, he can't afford to forget how you look.

"Dying isn't an option for us." Your voice is soft and fragile.

He takes a hold of your hand and begins to draw circles atop your palm.

Edging closer to him at first you lean in to offer him a hug and tell him everything will be alright. Brushing his hair out of his face and stroking his scalp time passes excruciatingly slow

Gazing at you he Releases a shaky breath and unexpectedly grabs you by the shoulders lunging forward. His lips smash into yours, you give into his hold and the apprehension drifts away. Kissing him back you whimper into his mouth, you’ve never kissed anyone before but it all feels so right with him. His hands fly to the back of your neck tilting you deeper and you oblige. It feels like you’ve lived just to share this moment with him.

For now, he won't have to go back and scrub at his skin till it grows red.

For now, you have him and he has you.

Grow attached Levi, no one sticks around.

#levi #leviackerman #snk #aot #attack on titan #attack on titan levi #aot fanfiction #levi headcanons #levi x reader #levi x y/n #levi scenario #levi fanfiction #levi angst #aot angst #leviiattacks

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sokkastyles · 4 years ago

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I've seen arguments that the scene where young Azula tells young Zuko about Azulon ordering Zuko to be sacrificed is her "warning" her brother out of concern, but that's...not what happens in the scene. Even if this was Azula showing concern for Zuko in her own way, she still terrorized him, but also you have to totally ignore the context to claim that she told him because she was concerned for him.

Young Azula: [Sing-songy.] Dad's going to kill you! [Seriously.] Really, he is.

Young Zuko: Ha-ha, Azula. Nice try.

Young Azula: Fine, don't believe me. But I heard everything. Grandfather said Dad's punishment should fit his crime. [Imitates Azulon.] "You must know the pain of losing a first-born son. By sacrificing your own!"

Young Zuko: Liar!

Young Azula: I'm only telling you for your own good. I know! Maybe you could find a nice Earth Kingdom family to adopt you!

Young Zuko: Stop it! You're lying! Dad would never do that to me!

Not only does Zuko not believe her (and this scene is the origin of "Azula always lies," showing Zuko's awareness that he can't trust his sister and his confusion over her attempts to manipulate him), but he's visibly frightened by her words, and his fear brings her visible glee. He tells her to stop and she keeps going, clearly enjoying the affect her words have on him.

And when she says it's for his own good, these are words that Azula often uses on Zuko, to manipulate and control him. They are also the red flags of an abuser. Azula does this to Zuko throughout the series, presents herself as an authority who only says or does things for her brother's "own good" to deflect blame and make him look like the irrational one. This is gaslighting. What she says about him finding a nice earth kingdom family to adopt him isn't out of concern, either, but to emphasize that he is not wanted by his family and to take pleasure over torturing her brother with this.

And Azula knows she's doing this. Yes, she's a young child here. Yes, she also is a victim of Ozai's abuse. But she's perfectly aware that she is hurting her brother and she's also aware that her cruel behavior is not socially acceptable. Which is why she tries to hide it from her mother.

Ursa: Your father would never do what to you? What is going on here?

Young Azula: I don't know ...

Ursa: It's time for a talk!

I'm not sure what certain Azula defenders would have expected her mother to do here, when coming upon one of her children terrorizing the other.

I do think that Azula here had already begun to see her mother as against her, although I think that was Ozai's doing. While Ursa tried to teach her children proper behavior, Ozai was love-bombing Azula for displaying cruel behavior, particularly towards her brother because her father taught her that her worth was dependent upon being better than Zuko. Since Ursa tried to protect Zuko, to Azula that would mean that Ursa must have hated her. Why else would Ursa give affection to Zuko, who according to the worldview Azula had internalized, deserved to be hurt? So she begins to see her mother as an obstacle to proving her own worth, which involves putting down and proving herself better than Zuko. This is shown in her reaction to Ursa's disappearance the next morning.

Young Zuko: Where's Mom?

Young Azula: No one knows. Oh, and last night, Grandpa passed away.

Young Zuko: Not funny, Azula! You're sick. And I want my knife back, now. [Zuko tries to grab it, but misses as Azula quickly moves out of the way.]

Young Azula: [Tauntingly.] Who's going to make me? Mom?

That last line really emphasizes the relationship between Azula, Zuko, and their mother. And you can see Zuko's expression change to one of fear as he realizes that his protector is now gone. Azula is gloating because she thinks she's won, which is why the first thing she does when her mother leaves is to take her brother's knife and use it to taunt him, to emphasize to him that he is no longer protected. Of course, the tragedy is that Azula also lost a parent who genuinely loved her and tried to protect her from Ozai, something that she does not yet understand, but I think that by the last episode, when she cries over the vision of her mother in her mirror, she does on some level understand what she lost that day, but it's buried under a lot of resentment, hate and trauma.

#zuko #azula #ursa #ozai #atla meta #abuse cw

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letterboxd · 4 years ago

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Chaotic Bisexual.

Shiva Baby writer-director Emma Seligman tells Ella Kemp about expanding her wildly cringey short film into an even more anxiety-inducing feature, why Virgo and Taurus make the perfect producing pair, and the eternal conflict of being a good Jewish girl.

“If I can skip a bris to see E.T., I like movies!” —Emma Seligman

It sounds like a strange riff on a guy-walks-into-a-bar joke: a girl walks into a shiva and bumps into her secret ex-girlfriend, then her sugar daddy, then his shiksa wife, oh, and their baby—yet the payoff is so much more rewarding.

Filmmaker Emma Seligman’s debut feature is a new kind of teen classic: 78 non-stop minutes teeming with well-drawn traits and tropes that define the best coming-of-agers, the best Jewish comedies and the best day-in-a-life psychological roller-coasters.

Shiva Baby began as a grad project—a short film of the same name—and Seligman’s feature-length embellishment impressed at last year’s virtual editions of SXSW and TIFF, where it was quickly snapped up for international distribution. In a way, Shiva Baby was perfectly tailored to the times we were living in: Danielle, our reluctant heroine, is trapped in a claustrophobic family event she can’t escape, as people from her past and lies about her future make their way deep under her skin.

Fred Melamed, Rachel Sennott and Polly Draper in ‘Shiva Baby’.

Shiva Baby is very much the product of a wry school of emerging filmmakers who understand excruciatingly mundane horror and pin-sharp comedy as intimate bedfellows. Seligman’s writing finds a way to flesh out gloriously caricatural Jewish relatives, probing and overbearing and irrational. She does this both through dialogue and a visceral, haptic aesthetic that lurches in and out of focus visually, and has a nails-on-chalkboard unease sonically.

Coming in hot with a 4.01 average rating, Shiva Baby is striking all sorts of discordant notes with film lovers. “Combines some of my biggest anxieties: being asked if I have a boyfriend as well as what my plans for the future are and people talking with their mouths full,” writes Muriel.

The film’s “bisexual chaos”, which hinges on a haywire performance from Rachel Sennott as Danielle, opposite Molly Gordon’s overachieving ex-girlfriend, Maya, is also one of its great strengths. Glee star Dianna Agron is the shiksa threat, Kim, while Danny Deferrari is Danielle’s hapless benefactor, Max. If that’s not enough? Polly Draper, Fred Melamed and Jackie Hoffman are also just there.

What do you think defines a Jewish sense of humor? Emma Seligman: It’s morbid usually, and darker—generally uncomfortable and cringeworthy. I think about Curb Your Enthusiasm or Seinfeld, and A Serious Man. It borders on, “Is this funny at all?” I think Jewish humor leans into the darkly funny British sense of humor. I’m Canadian, so I feel like I’m halfway between the UK and the US in terms of their sense of humor.

Was it always your intention to make a comedy that feels like a bit of a nightmare? You’ve mentioned Black Swan and Opening Night as touchstones… Because I came from a short film, the question when expanding into a feature was, “How are we going to keep everyone interested in this day?” It’s got to be a significant day, it’s got to be that this young woman’s life has completely changed from this day. So what is it that changes? Why are we watching it? I watched a lot of movies that took place in one day, one of them was Trey Edward Shults’ first film Krisha. And then from there I realized that anxiety and this scary psychological feeling is a great way to have the audience stay there.

I watched Opening Night because there’s a shiva in it, but it was more the lobby scenes that were so claustrophobic and tense. And then each step of the way with each department, we were like, okay, it’s gonna be tense, but then we got to music, I was like, okay, this has become a full nightmare. Initially, I was just like, it’s got to be tense, but by the end, I was like, well, it does feel like a nightmare to a young woman sometimes.

Because you mention that, I have to ask whether you’ve seen Bo Burnham’s Eighth Grade? I have, it’s incredible. It’s so funny, they’re both coming-of-age [films], and one of them is about a fourteen year old and then the same sort of feeling exists when you’re 22. When you’re fourteen is when it begins, and when you’re 22 you’re sort of at the end of it and you’re like, “Oh, I thought I figured out what I was supposed to do when I started feeling insecure this way at fourteen about sex and boys.”

Diana Agron and Danny Deferrari in ‘Shiva Baby’.

Let’s talk about Rachel Sennott, who you have describe as your “Virgo rock”. What do you bring one another in your creative partnership? She’s a hustler, and she sets goals like nobody else. I think she moves very fast, and I’m more detail-oriented. I don’t know if the movie would have happened without her because she was like, “What are the goals to achieve this film?” After we made the short film, she just kept checking in with me. She goes well beyond what an actor does, which is why she’s an executive producer, because she was very, very invested in seeing the movie get made.

I think she pushes. We joke that she brings me out of my depression and I help calm her down. I feel like Taurus is a little more chill. Virgos are also earth signs, but they run on a faster frequency. So I think I calm her down, especially when we’re writing and bringing it back to structure. But she’s way funnier, she’s able to give jokes so quickly. We balance each other perfectly, for sure.

Do you think your partnership with Rachel is the kind of partnership you could see yourself maintaining throughout your career? Definitely. I think it’s important to have a good friend and also a young woman. She’s got different career goals from me, but they’re aligned. And we’re not in competition with each other. I feel so grateful because so much of the time I feel like the world does make you feel like you’re in competition with your friends that are trying to do the same thing as you when you’re a young woman—or just maybe in general.

Rachel Sennott and Danny Deferrari in ‘Shiva Baby’.

Her character in Shiva Baby completely subverts the idea of a “nice Jewish boy/girl” which can be a trope in movies, but also very much a real thing in life. Is that something you consciously wanted to subvert, or did it come organically from the story you wanted to tell? I wanted to contrast that idea of a “nice Jewish girl” because every nice Jewish girl or boy has a sex life. I felt the sort of nice Jewish girl stressors on me were completely opposite from the NYU art school sugaring worlds, and hookup culture broadly. My family is such a huge part of my life and I think that those two sets of pressures are completely contradictory; to be a good girl or boy and have a stable career ahead of you, and to be finding, even if it’s at the very beginning, your eventual partner, or to just be in a relationship. And I felt like in school, no one wanted to date, everyone was hooking up. So many of my friends are sugar babies. I tried it super, super briefly.

I felt like the world was telling me to be like “an empowered, independent, sexy woman who doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her, and doesn’t abide by any rules”, and I was like, “This is the opposite of being a nice Jewish girl!” And I just felt like those two things were screaming at me. So I did want to play on that. But I don’t even think it’s playing, just because that felt like what I was trying to battle within myself. And I think a lot of young people do, whether they’re Jewish or not. That’s their family’s expectations. And then the world is like, “But don’t care and don’t commit…”

Writer-director Emma Seligman. / Photo by Emma McIntyre

But then you still have to go home to your parents at the end of the day and they’re going to tell you what to do… Exactly.

What would you want viewers to take away from Shiva Baby about the sugaring community that you feel has been maligned in the past? I’m not a sex worker, so I don’t want to speak on behalf of this community, but I definitely feel like there hasn’t been many positive portrayals of sex workers. So I just wanted to show someone—because I knew so many friends of mine who did it—who enjoyed it, or purposefully did it and didn’t feel bad or shameful about it. I think maybe a lot of people think that it’s always something that comes out of dire circumstances. But whether that is the case or not, I think there’s a lot of people who enjoy it and enjoy what they do like any other job. So I just hope that they’re able to sort of widen their scope of what a sex worker looks like and acts like. Every sex worker has got a family, friends, a full robust life, as we all do.

It’s time for your Life in Film questionnaire. Can you give me a few must-watch Jewish films for people who don’t know where to start? Fiddler on the Roof, Yentl, Keeping the Faith, Kissing Jessica Stein, A Serious Man. Definitely Uncut Gems, and Crossing Delancey.

Shiva Baby has been described on Letterboxd, variously, as “Uncut Gems but make it chaotic bisexual”, “the most stressful Jewish movie since Uncut Gems”, “the chaotic successor of Uncut Gems”, “if Krisha and Uncut Gems had a baby”, and, of course, “Uncut Gems for hot Jewish sluts”… Amazing, I love that. Extremely nice comparison.

Who is your favorite promising young woman? Not Emerald Fennell’s film, but a young creative or performer who you think is making waves. I love Hari Nef—I think she’s amazing and am really excited to see what she does next. I loved her so much in Transparent and Assassination Nation, and I don’t understand why she hasn’t been the lead in a million movies.

Molly Gordon with Rachel Sennott in ‘Shiva Baby’.

What should people watch next after Shiva Baby? Those Jewish movies would be a great start. And then Krisha, although I think a lot of people have seen it especially if they’re on Letterboxd! But then those Jewish romantic comedies, and then Obvious Child, all those movies are very sweet and endearing and helped me make it.

Separate from film, if it’s shiva-related then Transparent. If I didn’t have Transparent I don’t think I would have seen world of grounded, nuanced Jews that I could do comedy with. It would have been more in the Curb vein, which is also amazing, but a little more schtick.

What was the first film that made you want to be a filmmaker? My parents are huge movie buffs so I’m not sure there was one moment, but I will say that when I was six there was a re-release of the 20-year anniversary of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and I was at a horribly packed bris and my uncle was like, “Fuck this, there are so many people here, I can’t even breathe. Let’s go see E.T.” That was the first moment where I was like, if I can skip a bris to see E.T., I like movies.

Related content

From Short to Feature: Rob’s list of 2020 films that made the jump

Jewish Cinema (non-Holocaust): Amelia’s list of films “for when u want to celebrate your heritage but don’t want to have to think all too deeply about the Shoah”

Best Directorial Debuts of 2020: suggested by Letterboxd members, featuring Shiva Baby

Follow Ella on Letterboxd

Shiva Baby is now in select theaters and on VOD in the US. Film stills by Maria Rusche.

#shiva baby #emma seligman #jewish filmmaker #jewish director #directed by women #rachel sennott #jewish film #jewish movie #transparent #uncut gems #hari nef #e.t. the extra terrestrial #obvious child #krisha #trey edward shults

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azucanela · 5 years ago

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HOME PT. 1 | ZUKO

HOME MASTERLIST

SUMMARY: In which Zuko has a chance to go home.

WORD COUNT: 2.9k

WARNINGS: blood, weapons, fights, death threats

A/N: we love zuko in this house, also send stuff into my ask box im bored and need ideas to write kashdkfkjasdhlf

When Zuko was banished, it seemed that Ozai was more upset that Y/N intended to go with him, than at the pain he had caused his son. She was a talented firebender, capable of defeating even Azula, his prodigal daughter, in an Agni Kai. Her tactics and strategies, despite her young age, proved effective time and time again. She had the makings of a great General for the Fire Nation Army, and Ozai saw it as a waste for her to search for someone who would likely never be found. Not when Y/N L/N had so much potential.

Y/N just saw it as proof that Ozai never truly cared for his son. His recognition of the impossible task he had bestowed upon his own child.

At the end of the day, her loyalty lied with the prince, so she set sail alongside him and his Uncle, in search of an avatar that had been gone for a century. They had known each other since they were children, when Ozai had taken interest in her natural talent for firebending. She had been raised alongside Zuko and Azula, training with them. But as most knew, Azula had an affinity for inflicting pain to those around her in her free time, so when the time came for a sparring match between Y/N and Azula, the results were deadly.

Ozai decided Y/N would stick around a little longer when she managed to beat Azula that day.

Zuko had never been competitive, not like Azula was. Though he’d asked her for tips on how to improve, and she’d graciously assisted him. And so, a friendship blossomed in the fire of their youth. She became his sparring partner, and as they grew older, his right hand.

She never regretted stepping onto the boat with Zuko the first day of his banishment. But she was beginning to regret ever speaking with him in the first place. He had no goal other than finding the Avatar, it was his sole purpose at this point, even after nearly three years of searching. But there were moments in which she found him rather… peaceful. He was almost the same boy who Y/N had played tag with as a child all those years ago. And in these moments, when she caught a glimpse of the real Zuko, she couldn’t help the warmth that blossomed in her chest each time they had an actual conversation.

One that wasn’t about his never ending quest to find the Avatar.

The conversations they had in the middle of the night, when sleep failed to reach them. The ones they never mentioned when the night was over. Because what happened in Zukos’ room at night, stayed there.

Y/N had only ever needed to knock once and Zuko was opening the door to his room on the ship. She gave him a tight lipped smile as she slipped inside, hoping no one noticed because they both knew what it would look like from an outside perspective. Not that she cared what others thought. What happened between her and Zuko was their business, though nothing ever really happened. He would try to make tea, they would dump the tea because of how bad it tasted, Y/N would remake the tea, and then they would talk.

Sometimes she wished it was more than that though.

It was a foolish dream to have, she recognized that as she took the teapot before he could even make an attempt to boil the water. “You couldn’t sleep either?” She asked as she began to heat the water with her firebending, holding the pot above her free hand.

Zuko scoffed, sitting back on the mat he referred to as a bed, “no, I just knew you’d be awake.”

Y/N frowned, “you should’ve gone to bed.” She places the tea leaves into the steaming pot, moving to sit with her legs crossed, across from him on the floor.

“And put the entire ship at risk?” Came his response, his brow raised.

Y/N laughed lightly, “what are you talking about?” Her head tilts as she looks at him in confusion, grabbing the two solitary teacups on his desk.

“Last time you were left unattended you nearly blew up our only means of transportation.” He deadpanned.

She rolled her eyes, looking to him as she spoke, “that was one time-”

Zuko was smiling now, “remember the time you nearly killed that man with a cabbage cart because he-”

“Okay! I get it, you can stop now.” Y/N exclaimed, cheeks warming as she recalled the event. She handed him his cup of tea, and for a moment she could even forget that the only reason that they were on the ship in the first place was to find the Avatar, for a moment she could forget that Zuko had changed

His hand grazed hers as he took the cup, mumbling a small, “thank you,” before he took a sip. Looking out the small window of the ship, he realized he would never forget his banishment. His home. He quickly brought his attention back to Y/N, only to realize she was already looking at him.

She brought herself closer to him on the floor, “what are you thinking about?” She recognized the look on his face, the nostalgia, the pain.

If he was honest, he was now thinking about the small amount of space between them since she’d moved to be seated beside him on the mat. Though he responded, “home.”

Y/N hummed in response, taking a sip of her tea, “you miss it?” She asked.

Zuko scoffed, “that’s a dumb question. Of course I miss it. Why wouldn’t I?” Y/N was tempted to tell him that he shouldn’t miss the home that cast him aside for thinking of the best interest of the people. The home that was ruled by the man who scarred him for life. The man he still seeked validation from.

Instead she shrugged, placing her tea onto the floor of his room, “well I don’t.”

His head snaps up, eyes meeting hers, he looks to her incredulously, “what do you mean you don’t? We’ve been away for so long!” He exclaims, his temper beginning to show. It was rare for him to explode at her like he tended to with other crew members, Iroh had pointed it out to him, and though Zuko shut him down quickly, nobody could deny the accuracy of the statement. But they had grown up there, together. All of his happy memories, all of his dreams, his past and hopefully his future, were all there. Had that all meant nothing to her?

“The Fire Nation was never my home, Prince Zuko.”

He almost flinches when she uses his title. And she quickly changes the subject, though she can feel it lingering in his mind as they have their tea.

She ended up falling asleep in his cabin after they talked for the rest of the night, awakening in the room she internally groaned, knowing what it would look like when she set foot outside of his room. Being on this ship for so long, she knew her fellow crewmates were looking for some gossip to spice up their lives a bit. Looking around, Y/N realized he wasn’t there. She brought a hand up to rub her temple she sighed when she sat up, deciding she’d go back to her room and get dressed before heading up to the deck.

They’d been coasting around Earth Kingdom waters that recently been put in Fire Nation control, and as she entered the deck of the ship, Y/N realized they had docked on one of the piers. The sea of people around the market made her wonder what the area could have to offer as she turned to look back on the deck, where Iroh had been seated with his Pai Sho board, along with several other crew members loitering in the area. “Good morning Iroh,” she said with a smile as she made her way towards him, “do you happen to know what we’ll be doing today?”

He smiled up at her, gesturing for her to take a seat as he responded, “well Prince Zuko was not very pleasant this morning, so perhaps something more violent.” He took the teapot on his side, “you should probably go look for him before my nephew does something unwise.” Iroh explained with a sigh, refilling his cup.

Y/N gave him a tight lipped smile, suddenly grateful she hadn’t gotten comfortable and taken a seat when he’d offered it, “of course. He likely intends to do something irrational and stupid.” She cracked her knuckles, aggressively securing her dagger at her side as annoyance bubbled up inside her, “I’ll see you later Iroh.”

She decided that if thugs hadn’t attacked him yet, she would, stepping off the ship and into the crowd. She slipped between the people with ease, making her way to some of the stands, shopkeepers yelling out deals as they tried to sell some of their products.

And then Y/N got distracted. It started out with a new dagger for her growing collection, then a new holster for said dagger which was now strapped to her leg along with the weapon. Would you look at that, with all this new stuff she was getting she’d definitely need a bag to carry it. Right? Right. Then it was some rare tea leaves for Iroh and new cookbook for the chef that lived on the ship, though it only served as a reminder that she was yet to eat.

Making her way towards the part of the market that specialized in foods, the aroma filled her nose. Holding the strap of the bag tighter as she maneuvered through the busy market as she’d spotted a stand with a variety of foods. Y/N inhaled deeply, taking in the sweet smell as she reached the stand before picking out what she wanted to purchase. In the corner of her eye she saw cabbages and couldn’t help the smile that found its way onto her face. Bringing out her small pouch of money, she went to hand the shopkeeper some coins, but the old woman shook her head.

“The young man over there paid for your things already Miss.” She explained, “scary guy. Just shoved this bag of money at me and told me to keep the change while you were on the other end of the stand shopping.” Though she ended up pointing in the direction of this elusive ‘young man,’ Y/N already knew who it was as she turned around and saw Zuko brooding against a wall in one of the emptier parts of the market.

She sighed, “thank you ma’am. Have a nice day.”

The old woman nodded, and Y/N put the foods into her bag as well, grateful for the variety of pockets within it as she made her way to where Zuko stood. “She had cabbages. I’m shocked you didn’t attack her.”

Y/N rolled her eyes, “where have you been all morning?” She pulled two of the bite-sized pastries she’d bought from the old woman, handing one to Zuko that he begrudgingly accepted as they began to walk down the empty street before taking a bite out of her pastry.

“Around.” Came Zuko’s response as he ate the small pastry. “I just wanted to browse the marketplace.” Y/N took another bite of her pastry as she listened, fighting the urge to roll her eyes.

She scoffed, “Zuko, I swear.” They were entering a plaza, with a fountain in the center, “it’s my job to know where you are. I’m here to make sure you don’t die during your search for the Avatar, because I’m your right hand, remember?” She exclaimed, hoping he hadn’t noticed that she got side tracked in her search for him,

“You were my right hand. At home. Not that it was your home.” He corrected her pointedly. It was quickly becoming clear that her statement had bothered him, and he wasn’t going to let this go.

She looked at him incredulously, throwing what was left of her pastry at his chest, causing him to roll his eyes and throw what was left of his own at her face, though she dodged it. Y/N raised her brows, taken aback by this statement and action. He continued to walk as she stopped, dead in her tracks, “oh, is that what this is about? Because if you wanna talk about that we can-” A deep exhale escaped her, followed by silence.

Zuko’s brows furrowed, “what? Don’t wanna finish the sentence?” He asked as he turned around, only to find that she had a knife pressed to neck, and was surrounded by a group of men.

Of course it had been thugs.

One of them reached to the pouch on her side, yanking it from its place on her belt while the other looked up to Zuko, “you’re going to give us your money, or your little girlfriend is gonna die.” He threatened, pressing the knife harder onto her neck, drawing blood.

Inhaling sharply, Y/N managed to let a bitter laugh escape her despite the situation, “in case you didn’t notice, we had just been arguing. I doubt he has a problem with my death at this point.”

Zuko glared at her, “could you shut up for one minute?” He exclaimed.

“Oh, I think I’m about to be shut up permanently but okay Zuko.” She replied, a sarcastic smile on her face as he narrowed his eyes at her.

He quickly returned his attention to the thugs, who had exchanged looks due to the strangeness of the exchange they were witnessing. “Here’s what’s actually going to happen. You are going to let her go, and if you don’t, you’re going to die.”

The man with a knife against her throat laughed, “and how are you gonna manage that?” He asked, his four companions moving forward to form a circle around Zuko, weapons in hand. “We’ve got the upper hand.”

“Well, I’m not going to kill you. My little girlfriend will. And,” Zuko paused, eyeing the men surrounding him as he cracked his neck, “you don’t have the upper hand. Not while I have Y/N.”

The man was about to speak when a dagger suddenly pierced his leg, causing him to yelp in pain, dropping the knife he’d held into Y/N’s free hand. She threw the blade in Zuko’s direction and he caught it with ease as he dodged one of the men that lunged at him.

Y/N kicked her captor’s injured leg, causing him to fall to the ground and allowing her to slip her bag off of her shoulder, wrapping the strap around his neck as she rammed the hilt of the dagger onto his head, effectively knocking him unconscious. Turning around to assist Zuko, she had a deadly realization.

One of the men was missing.

Everything happened rather quickly after that, she extended her hand, preparing to begin firebending at the man that was attempting to sneak up behind Zuko, except no fire came out. Instead, a whip of water extended from the fountain, slamming him into a nearby building.

The other three men exchanged looks, stopping their movements momentarily, then taking a few steps back before breaking into a sprint in the opposite direction.

Y/N was still staring at her hand in shock, though her eyes soon rose to find Zuko staring at her as well, the look in his eyes unreadable. A shaky breath escaped her, “guess that conclude your search.” She swallowed nervously, squeezing her eyes shut as she continued, “you can go back home now.”

“We should get back to the ship.” Came his response. “You need medical attention.” Moving towards her, she took a step back.

“Zuko-”

“You aren’t the Avatar, Y/N.” He stated firmly.

“Really?” She exclaimed, disbelief clear in her voice, “because it sure does look like I am. No one else is capable of bending more than one element!” She pointed out.

Zuko shook his head, “the Avatar is an Airbender. You were born and raised in the Fire Nation.” He rationalized. “It’s not possible for you to be the Avatar, even if the Airbender is dead, the next Avatar would be from one of the Water Tribes.” Zuko opened his mouth to continue speaking but Y/N cut him off.

“Zuko.” Her voice came out as a whisper. “What are you doing?”

In that moment he is silent, and she wonders if he’s reconsidering his choice. In actuality, a million thoughts are running through his mind, maybe he could fake her death? Tell them that she died in this town, let her live out her life in peace while he continued a false search for the Avatar. Maybe this was a fluke, or there was a Waterbender hiding in the shadows that saved their lives. Or maybe he was in denial.

The only thing he was sure about was that Y/N wasn’t going back to the Fire Nation a prisoner.

“Protecting the only home I have left.”

Because sometimes home isn’t a place. It’s a person.

You can imagine their shock when they discovered the last Airbender.

a/n: are there two avatars? maybe. is the reader a dual bender? maybe. will we ever find out? idk

#zuko x reader #prince zuko x reader #zuko #zuko atla #avatar the last airbender #atla #lok #legend of korra #prince zuko #prince zuko atla #atla x reader #avatar the last airbender x reader #iroh makes an appearance #zuko atla x reader

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dreamiesdotcom · 4 years ago

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fireworks | l.jn

Summary: New Years are chances for drastic changes, so every year you make Jeno promise to never forget several things before the clock strikes 12. Now and then he makes a note to recall all the things he's sworn on, except one: that one time that never really left his mind at all.

Word Count: 2.3k

Life was a little complicated back then, if a little harsh. He was just getting used to having his brother — stepbrother, really — and the only person he knew was Na Jaemin, whose only friend was Lee Donghyuck. That's three new people he's met in four days, and he was so overwhelmed he hid in his bedroom for a day straight.

You come in a little later, and even then he knew you were a force to be reckoned with. The stubborn Lee Donghyuck was in some way caught in your strings, and Renjun (who he's very intimidated by) allows you to pinch his cheeks — what kind of power, right?

It all starts from when he was 12 years old, newly moved to the Neighborhood, on the 23rd of December.

The first shift was when the year ended and another began, welcomed by the brightest set of fireworks Jeno's ever watched. Amidst it all, Jaemin invites all of you to go and hang-out, having already asked your parents way before he asked you all. You had pointed at him then.

"Don't forget to come, okay, Jeno?" you tell him, head slightly tilted. "We're friends now. I would seriously be upset if you don't show up!"

"Sure but uh, my parents— what's that?"

"Nana's got it under control, and well, pinky swear!" you link your pinkies together, and you offer him a sweet smile. "You break the promise and expect me to cut your fingers off."

Donghyuck's friends... are quite scary, per se, but he made a promise that night. His heart raced quickly at that thought, and he shakes slightly, but another round of fireworks burst up the sky, and this time it's much more brilliant, even more radiant, and as all of you exchange smiles, he knows that he's made friends as well.

###

Something about Jeno is astral, you concluded. He just doesn't believe it.

"You see that Jen?" you asked him one of the many times you've asked him to stay up with you. He remembers the honeyed-laughter you let out then, "That's the brightest star in the sky as seen from Earth, and it's called Sirius."

He couldn't form words then. He didn't know what it was that got him so stunned, but he knew that it was something beautiful; whether it's the stars or you.

He remembers what makes his heart go wild: "And to me, if I was the Earth, that'll be you. You're my Sirius."

Jeno hoped it meant something. He wished that it meant as much to you as it did to him because he keeps on losing sleep dreaming of how hypnotic you look, mind void of anything else aside from redamancy. He hopes it means something even after he realizes that it's just like you to associate people with celestial bodies.

"Renjun's like the moon..." you sighed wistfully, chin resting on your palms. "He seems so far away, distant and mysterious. He's the type of person you never truly know... but sometimes, a person always makes effort to glance at it more often than the others. That person knows less of his mystery and more of his misery, at that point."

"And that person, I suppose, is you? You know him the most."

"And I... the things you're implying!" you groaned. "Stop fooling around, Hyuck."

The clock moves closer to 12, and Jeno decides that it's now or never — he asks a question: "If at one point, you have to choose; would you rather have the moon or the stars?"

"I would rather have them together," comes rather too quickly, way too mindlessly. "The stars would be lonely without the moon, and it goes both ways."

"But—"

"No one's more than the other," you shrug, turning to face him. "You overheard it, didn't you? Well, don't worry about it."

Guilt washes over his face, and you shake your head slightly as you raise both your hands to cup his cheeks. It's quiet for a moment just like the way it's always been when the world holds their breaths, counting down and anticipating the last number. That space has somewhat always been empty, the one that makes him think — this silence is the type that echoes, the type that feels cold. It emphasizes all his feelings.

"You're still my Sirius, Jen," you whisper, and if you weren't so close, the fireworks would've drowned your confession. His eyes flutter at the warm feeling your words give him. "You'll always be my favorite. Now, promise me that you won't ever question that."

He nods and makes his promise, but it doesn't mean he stops being anxious. What if one day, you look up at the night sky and realize that you preferred the moon over Sirius, after all?

"I can see the hesitance in your eyes," you say even softer this time. The fireworks subside, just like the loudness of his heart, but then as if in sync they start up again — the fireworks and his heartbeat. You smiled, and both of them returned much stronger than the last. "Please don't doubt me."

It's alright, he concludes. He realizes that he doesn't need to be your favorite. Just as long as he has you — because that's what he wants the most at the moment. He wants you all to himself for as long as he can have you, and you looked so lovely that he almost tells you that and the galaxies of words occupying his mind since summer two years ago — he wants to say them slowly so you won't forget, so that he closes the tiniest distance separating the both of you that feels so big despite being unnamed, a haunting chasm that spreads further every shuddering breath —

But he doesn't.

###

It certainly is illegal.

How it happened is a little bit crazy — well, not really, but just like most of Jeno's irrational decisions, it starts from Donghyuck's stories and then boils down to his curiosity. Flash forward to right now, an unexpected but welcomed masterpiece in front of you, Jeno admiring the painted wall with delight and proudness ebbing through his veins. Around him, spray paint cans lie empty, some half-full.

'Hyuck and Renjun does it all the time, and they've never been in trouble,' Jeno said.

'You're dumb and I can't believe I'm letting you do this,' you replied.

But why should you stop?

Jeno looks regal when he's breathless like this, adrenaline sparkling in his eyes like the golden glitter staining his eyelids. This side of him is nowhere soft — it's too passionate, too unknown, too beautiful to not be overwhelming. You manage a muffled call of his name.

An instant before 23:59 turns to zero, the year beginning again. You spend half of that minute staring at each other, somewhere along the way a force pulling you so close to him.

"I need you to swear on it." you manage to say between the blurs. "Promise me we'll always stay like this."

Ten, nine, eight

"Promise." He says, raspy, pinky finger entwined with yours. He cups your cheeks, gentle, just carefully watching. He smiles. "You and me, like this, forever."

Seven, six, five

His stare is firm, but at the same time, it's so gentle. It's as if he's seeing you in a new light and he wants to miss none of it, not even a split-second. Your eyes flutter shut.

"Can I kiss you?"

Four, three, two

Your heart beats aggressively against your chest, your toes curling in your shoes out of nervousness. Despite that, you nod your head enthusiastically, something he always found so endearing.

"Of course, yes, please."

One

Fireworks burst into sparkling reds and golden yellows, both in the night skies and your hearts. Your lips each a lustrous star, crashing together ever so softly, sparkling like luminous spheres about to go supernova — the kiss a cyclopean shift to the Universe's plan.

###

People change all the time. Friends are people. It's only normal to drift apart a little, right?

After all, it doesn't matter if you don't hang out as much as then. It's reasonable, honestly. Donghyuck's been immersed in his music these days, Jaemin spends most of his time hanging around the dance studio and bothering a certain boy named Jisung (bless his heart for not murdering Jaemin yet) while Renjun's busy... doing his thing. Hell knows what he's been up to, but the last time Jeno's seen him, he has an overwhelming amount of books stacked on his table ("It's a queue, Jeno. I'm reading the next one after this once I finish!"), and he just hopes he doesn't take three years before finishing all those up.

"Why is it that it's so hard for them to make time to be normal friends?"

"It's hard for them to make time to be normal people, what do you expect?" you roll your eyes, turning off your phone and then sitting right across from him. "We'll meet next Sunday, anyway. Let's give those people hell from us both!"

From outside, the world celebrates a new incoming year, but for some odd reason, you two stayed inside his room. Light seeps in from his open window, seeping golds and violets and reds, occasional greens, and other colors. All it does is remind him of that kiss. It sends a flush on his cheeks, especially when you leaned to press a kiss on his forehead, ever so careful.

Jeno would like to believe that it was out of random, but he felt like at that moment, you knew something he didn't.

"Promise me something, yeah?" you asked, nervous. "Promise me you'll never forget that I love you."

"I pro—" he says as if a routine, but then he halts. "You what?"

The fireworks stop, and the both of you knew that it only takes a little seconds before they ignite again. You looked up to meet his gaze, mustering up courage, and making your voice silvery and clear.

"I love you," you said, shaking. "So fucking much, Jeno. Now promise me."

He stays in stunned silence for a little, and then he pulls you into a hug so tight neither of you ever wanted to let go. His breathing was shaky and so was yours, a feeling as unstable and as sweet as the kiss you two shared right after he whispered an answer, "I promise."

And that was enough for you to know that he loves you too.

("I feel cheated that you never told me. We could've been doing this for years," he nags later once you're spooning in his bed, his chest pressed against your back. You break into laughter then, still coming down from the high of sparkling lights and pure euphoria.

"We're just in time, love. There's no need to rush when we have an infinity ahead of us.")

###

It's easier to remember moments that passed like headlights on highways at full speed when all is said and done. If that makes sense at all, maybe that could be the reason why he just realized it now that neither of you two got to tell how much you wanted to be so much more than friends who confessed to having feelings for each other. You never clearly talked where you should stand.

If he were to say his truth, he'd say that there was way more than to how you looked against the bright lights exploding and the towns of stars. There's way more to you than the way you made his heart beat, skip, and ache. The truth is, you were heavenly. It made his heart do all the things it could do so he's unable to speak. The truth is, he knew where it was going, and he didn't want to travel that road. The truth is, he's been falling for the longest time, but the truth is not important.

Because not even the truth could have given you the freedom to have a choice, he says in his mind.

"Promise me you won't forget me." You looked so gentle close to him like that, skin reflecting moonlight and flares. "Please, baby. Promise me."

But it's the last thing he ever wanted to do. He doesn't want you to make him swear to never forget you — you have forever waiting ahead, and you're walking down that road hand-in-hand. Why does he need to promise to always remember when there's no reason he'll forget? It's the last thing he needs. He'll have you next to him every day and there would be no hour that expires where he doesn't hold you, no second that passes that he doesn't feel like he loves you.

He didn't want to have to promise that because people only ask to be remembered if they're planning to leave.

Jeno closes his eyes, lowering his head. "Don't do this to me."

Still, after the most painful kiss he ever had, it lingers both like sugar and poison at his lips, your name, and a promise. A promise he never wanted to make.

"We'll see each other again..." he whispers, painfully fond. "For now... for now, we'll take some time and wish that the Universe brings us back together...If the Universe doesn't do it for us, then I will. I promise."

He recalls the night before, then all the previous others that stands out with vibrant colors and the love of his life. He crosses his fingers and wishes that sometime somewhere, you look up to watch fireworks but see Sirius instead — and it reminds you to come home.

#nct dream #nct dream imagines #nct dream x reader #nct dream blurbs #nct dream drabbles #nct dream oneshots #jeno oneshots #jeno imagines #jeno x reader #jeno angst #jeno scenarios #jeno fluff #lee jeno

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dreamsclock · 4 years ago

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Like I’m surprised no ones said this yet but....what if Dream has a history with the contents of Schlatt’s book? How much has he known about necromancy, and has he ever brought anyone back before? Despite how long he’s been in there, no one has really discussed how the resurrection’s going to actually happen.

Could a person resurrect themselves? Because that could explain the immortal!Dream hc. he isn’t, really, he’s a guy, but he keeps coming back, like a glitch in the matrix. he keeps stitching himself back together until he’s unrecognizable. It could be like a respawn almost, maybe there’s a certain way to use it for infinite respawns, though the ones after a last canon life are different. technically, he’s human, but he knows he’s wrong, he’s dead, and every time he comes back he feels like he’s desecrating his own body. maybe he doesn’t know how to make it stop, to really die. Perhaps he made an inbetween type place for comfort for the feeling of resurrection, made it his own fantasy and guided the occasional lost soul.

He was Cornelius, stuck in Karl’s innocent game, suffering a scarring and traumatic death that was never really taken seriously, lost whatever family he had, crawled out of his mediocre grave, and was left to start from scratch away from the place he called home, just like he told Tommy to do every day. The mayor (idk name) even called him ‘the old and wise’ despite catboy confirming he was physically younger than the mayor himself

He was Hubert, (I’m assuming this from how ranbutler was treated but idk) who was worth nothing to the man he served, not allowed to speak, not to be seen or heard, was not called by his name, and treated less than dirt. This could be part of his history with the egg (why he was worried when he saw it, said the prison has to be finished sooner, seemed to know what it was) as well as additional trauma from being denied human rights (literally billiam said his butler wasn’t a person), and completely subservient and powerless to a cruel force. He projects this onto Tommy in exile and it makes his prison time and relationship w the warden so much worse. It also makes sense with how he’s not talking

Think of how many times Dream could have reset himself. I usually don’t like these hcs cuz I prefer to think he’s human, flawed and capable of feeling, but this technically wouldn’t make him immortal I think. Yes, he’s ‘living forever’, but it could also be that after a certain point he can’t come back anymore, and then death’s looming over him again and it’s so absolutely terrifying and earth-shattering be for so long he seriously considered himself above death itself, a god, but he isn’t. Perhaps it’s because he loses the book, and he is frantic, stuttering when Wilbur asks for tnt, fighting against his own friends. He’s erratic until Schlatt offers him the book and he’s just so desperate for control over his life and death, and he switches sides so quickly because no one, not tommy or Wilbur or sapnap, is as important to him as this power

I think Dream would realize eventually that because of how many times he’s died and because of how he’s never had to accept the inevitability of death, he has an irrational fear of it. There is also the frustration that he should act immortal and god-like, because he has that power, right? He should be cold and unfeeling, hardened, so why does it keep hurting every time he uses his ‘blessing’. Why does every life bring him more pain than the last. As he deteriorates in prison, he could begin to see this power as a curse, and that someone as horrible as him doesn’t deserve life in the first place, and he sets out to find himself true ‘peace’ What if he breaks and admits everything, and everyone blames him because ‘you did this to yourself’ as well as see it as an excuse why nothing they do will ever hurt him, ‘he can’t feel it, he’s an immortal corpse, he doesn’t have to worry about pain’ which would hurt if it wasn’t him who who gave himself the power and he didn’t know how to fix it

He’s using magic to create an artificial respawn, you could say, and it really makes you wonder how ethical any of this is. Should dead things stay dead? Would it really be right to bring Wilbur back, seeing what happened to Dream? Of course they both deserve help and a second chance, but this isn’t natural

sry for the long ask or if I repeat myself I just thought of this and wanted to know ur opinion,,,

YO this is such an interesting take !! it combines the idea of immortality and humanity really well — he’s human, but at this point he might as well not be, and he can’t face his imminent death either. the questions that would be raised about death would be such interesting ones, too, i feel like you could do a lot with them considering how close some characters are to dying permanently with only one life left.

there would also be parallels to be confronted between wilbur and dream, because loads of people would want to revive wilbur, of course, because he’s wilbur....... but then again, doesn’t that mean dream also deserves another chance? or should they let wilbur stay dead?

#> my asks !!#dream smp analysis #-> my analysis !!#tw death #tw resurrection #tw corpse #tw discussion about death #tw immortality

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purplerose244 · 3 years ago

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Irrational - Chapter 6: Okay

BACK WITH ANOTHER ONE!! 💙💙💙

Here’s the sixth chapter for the @spacecampweek, for the prompt “You’re okay”, the one that makes all Space Campers’ heart beat faster! 🥰🥰 I had fun on this one, lots of overthinking Seamus while Krel tries to be sincere 😙

Enjoy! 💕💕

Summary: "I need to talk to you" With a message like this how could someone blame Seamus for being worried out of his mind? Considering how little he was proud of his past and how much it felt like he was never going to make up for it, it felt like the natural conclusion of the upcoming discussion was going to be a breakup. ... he and Krel were not a couple though?

Read it on the AO3

Tarron: Hello Johnson

Tarron: Are you free now, by any chance?

Tarron: I require your presence

Tarron: …

Tarron: I need to talk to you

So, Seamus was panicking. Those few little messages in rigorous grammar had been sent more than an hour ago, and he had been unable to think about anything else ever since. Today’s impossible amount of homework? Forgotten. Logan chatting to him about the latest Fist to Face game? Never heard of it. The fact that his dad had forgotten his lunch in the fridge and tonight he was going to be absolutely unsufferable to the entire world him included? Didn’t even phase him.

All he had allowed himself to do was lay down onto his bed, stare at his ceiling covered in those familiar fluorescent stars and contemplate the universe. Or his life. Or how he was going to deal with it from now on if Krel was going to break up with him.

“… wait a second. Hey, wait a second!” Suddenly he got up, sitting onto his mattress with crossed legs. “He can’t break up with me! We’re not even together!” He stood up, bouncing lightly, the biggest smile over his face. “Krel won’t break up with me because we’re not a couple! That’s it! What a relief! Eheh… yeah, that’s not really good news, but still.” He sighed, scratching the back of his head. “At least whatever this is it’s not for that… is it?” He widened his eyes. “Can he break up with me as a friend? Is that a thing?!” He slowly let himself fall down onto his seat again, gaping helplessly. “Oh gosh, what is going on anymore, how do you do relationships again??” He was so happy Steve wasn’t there witnessing his breaking down and teasing the heck out of him.

His eyes fell onto his phone, left untouched over the nightstand. There was only way to find this out, no matter how terrifying it was. Seamus took a deep breath and picked it up.

Me: Sounds serious

Me: Alright man, be there in ten

Tarron: Thank you

This guy was even taking the time to thank him. Him, the arrogant Krel Tarron, the one who had always taken every chance at showing teachers how to do their jobs, so he didn’t have to thank them for accidentally teaching him. Something was definitely off, and Seamus wasn’t completely sure he was looking forward to finding out.

That being said, he had been called to Krel’s house. By Krel. He would have not been able to stop himself from going… and his feet had already left his house for the Tarron’s residence.

Yeah, he was weak. And terrified, but he could deal with one feeling at the time.

During the entire trip his unfortunately very well-trained mind was systematically replaying his life ever since he had first met Krel, wondering what exactly the matter at hand was and if it involved something he had done – his pessimism said yes, his optimism said pessimism had a point. It turned out there was almost too much material supporting that theory into his head, between all those racist remarks from the very beginning, the numerous deadly glares because of his A+s, calling him a cheater, cheering Steve from that time he was about to punch him saying to “knock him back to wherever he came from” – if only time travel was real and he could go slap himself. Sure, after the Math Duel they had started to get along. Sure, he had made lots of effort to improve himself in order to show Krel that he was thankful for what he did. Sure, he had joined their group of friends several times at this point even engaging in a few conversations with Pepperjack – what in the world this Earth Invaders was the coolest thing ever. It was all shaded under the massive jerk he had been as a first impression though, something he was never going to be able to shake away.

When the retro style house appeared around the corner, Seamus was struck by the feeling that something was meant to happen in there, and he was in no way mentally prepared. All he was hoping for was that he could still be friends with the Cantaloupian, in order to at least pretend to dream that one day he might grow a pair and ask him out. Yet his brain was being mean. It only replayed Krel’s scowl into his mind when the Math Duel had been proposed, again and again.

Before he knew it or wanted it, he was in front of the door, sweating bullets. He didn’t want to, maybe he was still in time to back down and run at the speed of light, pretending that he had fallen asleep or that his dad had demolished his house because of an A-… which wasn’t unlikely.

Too late, force of habit had him press the doorbell. It ringed inside of his brain as well, making him realize that this was it. There was no coming back.

It had been nice having a genius as a friend.

“… hello Johnson.” A single brown eye peaked from the barely opened door, like he was checking for intruders. Krel looked so distressed, his hair was a little messy as well. “Thank you for coming with such a short notice, I know it must’ve been quite bothersome for you, especially when your father is involved.” It was wrong, so wrong, Krel wasn’t supposed to feel this unsure and diffident. He was supposed to feel confident, in control, happy. “Really… thank you.” A second thank you. No, this wasn’t only worrying anymore, this was straight up a problem. Something the blonde was apparently a part of, which didn’t help his current anxiety.

“Uhm, no worries.” Seamus was let in. It was dead quite inside, grandpa Tarron was definitely somewhere else, or he would have heard him from outside – same with Aja… and Mrs. Tarron… and Mr. Tarron, alright this family was all genetically loud. “Are we alone?” Wow, an occasion like this and he was going to be dumped, his usual luck.

No, not dumped, not… probably… hopefully.

“Varvatos is out for his usual chess game with the other geezers, Aja is currently participating to the event called ‘girls time’. As for the Bla- parents, mine, they are not… here.” He was scratching his palm, a tic Seamus had never seen on him before. “Would you like some liquids for hydration?”

That made him laugh a little. This guy was so weird it was adorable.

“Trying to be a good landlord by offering drinks, Tarron?” Krel looked at him and smiled a little, shrugging. Seamus laughed again. “I’m good, thanks.”

“Good… good.” The brunette took the deepest breath, walking towards the couch, gesturing for him to follow. The air was getting tense, something Seamus would have never wanted around the guy he liked. It seemed important he followed through though. “Johnson?” He was right next to him, but the blonde still hummed affirmatively. “There is something I need to tell you. Perhaps I should’ve addressed this right away, when we had started to get to know each other better, but it… it is not an easy thing to do for me.” Again, he was scratching the palm. “I hope you understand.”

Oh.

Oh gosh.

Oh gosh Seamus was right. Krel totally wanted to dump him… as a friend.

He knew it, he should had known right from the beginning that nothing was going to make his situation better. He had screwed up big time right away, there was no way someone as smart and cool and beautiful – alright Johnson chill – as Krel could ever want to stay close to him. He had clearly reached his limit with him, all the patience he could had given to him, now he was finally going to ask to never see him again.

Seamus clenched his fists over his knees. Dang it, he wished he was angrier about this, he wished that his usual mood would have gone out by now just to vent his frustration, the fact that he wasn’t good enough just like dad had always said.

He couldn’t. He cared about him more than that, he didn’t want to upset him even more.

“Alright, I’m all ears.” He really didn’t want to be, but for him he was going to endure.

Krel looked down, almost as he was struggling to gather his words. For someone this brilliant and with no filter whatsoever, it was really weird to see.

“Where do I start… this is something that does not have anything to do with you, I hope you know this. It is not that I do not trust you, I know you are a good person now.” Wow, really? The good old ‘it’s not you it’s me’? He might had as well kicked him in the ankles and screamed that he was never going to date jerky blondes with problematic fathers – huh, that actually ruled Steve out too –, pity was the last thing he wanted. “The matter is far more complicated than you could think… it’s… ah kleb, when Aja did this it has not looked nearly as difficult!”

Mind explosion. Seamus gaped, almost choking with air.

“Aja? Aja did something like this?” His brain was starting to melt. The Cantaloupian nodded without looking at me, as it was something normal. “With Steve?!”

“Yes, and she did not hesitate for a sekton. I wish I had her resolve right now.” Why and how and when and where and how did Aja actually break up with Steve?! There was no way, not only the Palchuk would have called him a million times to have him console his sorry butt, but such a juicy gossip not way would have not reached Mary’s ears by now – and if she knew, the entire town knew. “Perhaps this is because she never had problems finding people to hang out to, she was always very well liked, even back home.” His inside scream stopped. Krel was gloomy again. Seamus slapped himself for thinking that even now, with those big sad eyes and a rare vulnerability in him, he was really pretty. “While I do not want to risk losing the few people I have, they came almost by accident. Alas, it would not be fair to keep this from you… especially from you.” Oh. The marvel, the way his cheeks were slightly red, his eyes adorably timid.

It really was easy for someone like Seamus to be pleased. Maybe he could take it. He could take this moment, this outstanding view of a completely different Krel into his heart, to conserve after everything was to end. There was no way he wanted for him to suffer because of his mistakes, not again, and if that meant not being friends anymore, that was fine.

It wasn’t, but it could be. Maybe… hopefully.

Seamus was going to slap himself for this as well, later, but right now he couldn’t help it. He grabbed one of his hands, holding it between his with a smile.

“Ever heard about ‘few but good’?” Krel was looking at their united hands, looking baffled, shaking mindlessly his head. “Here in Arcadia you have friends, people that care about you. It doesn’t matter what came before, it’s about here and now.” He swallowed, caressing the back of his hand. “And… and even if something put a distance in between, they would still care. Trust me, you’re that likable.” He really hoped he wasn’t saying too much.

It looked enough. Everything would have been enough given that beautiful, relieved smile.

“Thank you.” Krel looked at him, straight into his eyes with those wonderful brown irises of his, lips trembling slightly. Seamus took a mental breath. This was it, it was happening. In a moment everything was going to end. He didn’t want to, he didn’t but- “The truth is… I am an alien.”

It felt like a pop. All fears and grief and acceptance he had gathered until now, growing larger and wider like a weird motivational balloon, they all exploded altogether by the aid of a single quill.

It took him a moment. A minute, a few seconds, it was hard to tell.

“… huh?” He was still holding his hand, and Krel was staring with fearful eyes. “An illegal alien?”

“No… or rather not completely, I am still a little confused by your concept of ‘legal’, the last time the term had been presented to me by Jim Lake and his friends it was not properly explained.” Somehow in his mess of a head knowing Lake and his group was involved was the only thing that made sense – weirdness happening, skinny legs definitely was in it somehow. “Anyway, I am an actual alien… although the term is quite offensive, for me and for the entire extraterrestrial population, the actual denomination would be Akiridion… but we can, uhm, we can talk about that later.” Krel sighed, his shoulders sinking. “I am truly sorry, I know I’ve kept this for a long time. Not many are aware of this, and I could not tell you until I knew I could trust you but even then-”

During his complete mind blackout, the only certainty was that this guy was speaking words to him. It was only in a brilliant moment for his highly complimented brain that Seamus Johnson managed to find his way back to this world, to realize exactly what was happening. The guy he liked was blabbering about something involving space, the situation was a ton less tense than it was before, and there was nothing threatening his relationship with the Cantaloupian.

In other words…

��Wait, so you’re not dumping me?!?” Krel widened his eyes – was that a blush again? Seamus bit his tongue. “I mean, I thought… you still wanna be friends?”

“Of course, why wouldn’t I?”

What a rational and normal question. Seamus was starting to feel really stupid now about himself.

“I don’t know! It sounded serious and I thought about all possible scenarios, the fact that I literally called you cheater only because you’re good at math and my dad was absolutely horrible to you and… I don’t know, all the rest.” The blonde pressed his lips together. “It made sense.”

“No it did not!” His hold tightened, Seamus didn’t think his heart could beat any faster. “Whatever you brain has been up to, cease this instant! You are supposed to be smart enough to measure up with me!” His face was close. They both realized it at the same time, suddenly letting go and looking in opposite directions. “I-I mean… you are one of my best friends, Johnson. Sure, you made some mistakes in the past, but you are doing your best to be a better person.” Ah, that tone was too much, Seamus had to look again. Good idea, he was smiling again. “And if it makes you feel less self-conscious, I have way more good memories of you than bad ones.”

I did help. Although this guy could had said something like “You are a mediocre math student but I have saved you so you now must show loyalty towards me” and that would have done it. Again, he was weak, and even if that would have been one massive hit to his pride, he would have bled his inferiority complex all over to have at least another moment with him.

… holy mole, maybe he liked Krel a little more than he had thought.

Seamus breathed in. Then he released a massive sigh of relief, because he liked Krel a lot, and he didn’t want to part ways. He had never wanted to, even while trying to be the mature one and accept his fate. At last, he was still here.

“My gosh Tarron, you sounded so serious in your message! I was so worried!”

“You cannot hear written messages Johnson, I fail to understand how you could’ve caught that intention into my texting.” Despite the mockery, there was a lighter tone into his voice. “I was equally concerned myself, I truly didn’t want to lose you, no matter the situation. I cannot comprehend how Aja managed with Steve so easily.” Ah, Staja was still going strong then, good for them. “I guess back then the abduction helped breaking down the news, it is hardly something you can avoid in such a situation.” Yeah, that made sense, with an abduction involved… “And with Steve almost falling to his death, Aja’s reveal was mostly a matter of chances.” Falling to his… death? “Thinking about, it was less about sister’s resolution and more a necessity… what? What is it?” Krel was giving him a confused look, only fair to an equally confused stare.

Freed from the stress of the worry, Seamus’ brain had managed to reboot, finally coming back to its senses as his crush was explaining the situation to him. About an alien abduction, about a fall from a spaceship apparently, how Aja was also a… a…

“… you’re an alien.”

Krel blinked at him.

“I thought I established that already.”

“Sorry, it’s just… it’s kinda coming to me only now, give me a moment.” He pressed his hands over his eyes, breathing in deeply, then he pulled it all out. Krel. His friend, his crush, was an alien. An actual alien. “… don’t take this the wrong way, okay? Because I trust you, I know you don’t joke around and you’re usually even too serious and literal. But this feels a little unreal, or either something you’re making up to turn my long-lasting dream of interacting with the extraterrestrial world true. Which I thank you for, but I really don’t understand why.”

He got a frown out of that, which was better than what he had expected since he knew Krel didn’t like when people didn’t believe him or listen to him. The guy – alien or, what did he say before, Akiridion? – hummed softly, looking around, then he lightened up. He took out something, a protractor by the look of it, showing it to him.

“I have very concrete proof, though it might be quite surprising. Please stay calm, okay?” Seamus nodded, not really sure what to expect. Krel pressed something over his protractor, there was a sudden light what in the- Oh. Oh. “There, this is my actual form. Well, my Akiridion form, I do not mind my human form at this point, it is almost like another side of me. This is to tell you that my appearance was simply that, the real Krel is always here, I hope this is a given for you.” He felt himself being observed. “Johnson?” He felt himself being poked a little. “I told you to remain calm, what are you doing? Is this a human reaction? Are you sick perhaps?” Not that hearing Krel worried about him wasn’t nice, but his thoughts resided elsewhere.

Like the fact that in the house of his crush, this apparition had materialized. There was a glow in front of him, pulsing blue of energy that almost made him look away. Beyond that there was a creature, taller than the one before, even more given the mane of glimmering hair raising up as without gravity. His body was dark but luminous, like space covered in stars, able to shine through despite the darkness. His eyes were blue through a black world, like far away dashing planets.

Seamus gaped, feeling like he forgot to breath for several minutes. It was ridiculous falling in love all over again, right? Right, of course. This was fine, perfectly fine, nothing to be this amazed b- Oh holy everything he had four arms, he was an al- Akiridion with four arms, screw everything his amazement was off this house’s roof and there was nothing he could have done about it.

His brained had switched off again, the little traitor. When it came back, Krel was looking at him with deep worry, something he never would have wanted for him. He needed to speak.

“… you look like a fairy.” Dang it, the traitor again, where was his filter?!

Krel blinked with those unbelievable eyes of his.

“What is a fairy?”

“Oh, huh, uhm…” Seamus swallowed, pondering if it was even a good idea and deciding that what in the world, he was talking to his friend who was a freaking extraterrestrial, rationality was officially out. “Uhm, do you have, like, legends and stories where you come from?” Krel nodded. “Well, a fairy is like a mythical creature, invented, that doesn’t exist.” Ah, he could already see the frown forming, his thoughts going somewhere like ‘I am right here you soolian’. “They are like magical beings coming from the forest… of such an ethereal beauty they cannot be real.” He almost breathed those last words, because they were almost too true all of the sudden.

The Akiridion widened his eyes, which was a sight. He was frozen, taken back, then he slowly melted into a smile. The first smile Seamus had seen of him in this form. It was as beautiful as ever, something that made him feel so lucky that Krel had trusted him enough to show him thi- Holy, freaking, mole, were his cheeks glowing? Was that an alien blush?!?

“Thank you.” Too many thank yous today, and his crush was an alien. It made sense in the fact that it didn’t make sense. “Truly, for being fine with this.”

Seamus grinned, holding his hand again. It felt a little warmer than before.

“One of my best friends is an Akiridion, how could I not? This is the dream!”

Krel beamed at him, going for the hug, making him gasp.

“You are a really good person. I knew it.” His voice was sweet. Everything felt immensely warm. The blonde was almost too overwhelmed by the fact that his crush had two arms plus to hug him to fully realize that his heart had not beat. Perhaps it was an Akiridion thing, he really wanted to know. They pulled away after a while. Krel’s cheeks were glowing again, Seamus suspected his own weren’t doing much better. “Uhm, I will take it you have some questions.” He looked away, and it was adorable to see.

“Make that some something like a thousand.” Seamus laughed a little. “Would that be okay?”

“Yes of course, you deserved to clear all the doubts you might have.” This was too good, Krel was an Akiridion, still his friend and he had another reason to spend time with him while daydreaming about his hopeless feelings. This day had been amaz- “Perhaps we could go on a less secluded place? Aja might come back soon, and I have not told her about my intention to tell you just yet, she might berate me over the fact that I did not want her to tell Steve before.” He could totally picture it. It made him snicker. “Would Sam’s be okay? Or another place maybe? Just the two of us?”

Today Seamus felt like anything other than his usual perfect student self, because his mind was struggling unbelievably. He looked up, crossing those eyes again, that embarrassed and hopeful expression of his over his brand-new appearance.

He swallowed, hoping his last brain cell wasn’t going to betray him.

“Is… is this a date?” Glowing blush at maximus.

“W-well, let’s just say that this reveal was not the only reason I wanted you to come this urgently.” He went to scratch his palm again, his glowing blue palm. “Before I could try any kind of courting ritual I wanted to be sure you were going to accept my current form… accept me, for who I really ma.” He looked at him, sending him pure shivers. “Is this okay?”

This was a dream, it had to be. That, or maybe this was the outcome, the reward at turning his back to who he used to be, in order to be a good person. Enough for an amazing person.

He was speechless. Then, faster than his insecurities, the blonde kissed the Akiridion’s forehead and hugged him again. He could feel him trembling a little, then embracing back, as much as he could. Seamus had never felt this happy before.

“Of course, it is.” He closed his eyes, grinning so much his cheeks hurt. “You’re okay.”

You’re perfect, Krel.

#space camp #toa space camp #kreamus #toa kreamus #krel x seamus #krel tarron #seamus johnson #toa #tales of arcadia #toa 3below #3below #fanfiction #fic #toa fic #toa fanfiction #space camp week

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heidi891 · 3 years ago

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Thor in “Ragnarok” = Loki in “Thor”

I know that my theory is not considered canon... But it explains why Thor is suddenly acting so OOC. He’s basically experiencing what Loki did in the first “Thor”.

There’s a huge difference in the beginning though. Loki lets the Frost Giants into Asgard and later that fuels his guilt and self-hatred. On the other hand, Thor discovers that Loki is still alive. He feels deceived and betrayed and more heroic in contrast to Loki’s ‘villainy’.

Loki discovers that Odin haven’t told him the truth about his origins. It devastates him. Similarly, Thor discovers that Odin lied that he’s his firstborn. He’s not as emotional as Loki, but he’s shocked and hurt. I think he doesn’t even realise how deeply wounded he really is.

Their internal crisis manifests differently because of their different personalities. As an INFJ, Loki falls into Ni-Ti loop. He’s alone, but he’s also alienating himself from others. Unfortunately he doesn’t rely on his secondary function: Extroverted Feeling. He focuses on his tertiary function - Introverted Thinking - and he’s overthinking everything. He starts believing in things that are not necessarily true - that Odin favours Thor, that he’s not loved, that he’s a monster and that he has to prove his worth by commiting genocide. Eventually he falls into the grip of his inferior function: Extraverted Sensing. He becomes a caricature of his brother whose dominant function as ESTP is Se. But Loki cannot use this function properly (since it’s inferior) and he becomes unusually impulsive. His decisions - like sending the Destroyer to Earth - are rash and irrational. Although he’s avoided violence before, he desperately wants to fight Thor now.

On the other hand, Thor falls into Se-Fe loop. He doesn’t stop and think about what’s happened, he neglects his secondary function: Introverted Thinking. He doesn’t come up with a rational plan, he desperately wants to do something, because ‘that’s what heroes do’. Of course, he’s wanted to be a hero before, but now he seeks validation, he wants to be seen as a hero. His inner rational compass doesn’t balance his call to action and desire of validation from others.

Thor (2017): You know, go ahead. Stay here and get drunk and enslave people for that lunatic. Keep drinking. Keep hiding. But me... I choose to run toward my problems and not away from them. Because that's what... Because that's what heroes do.

He runs towards his problems without thinking, because he wants to be seen as a hero. Even if it doesn’t make any sense.

He falls into the grip of his inferior function: Introverted Intuition. However, Thor’s story is about a hero who must win in the end, not about spiralling into villainy like Loki. In the grip of Ni:

He blames Loki for everything.

He predicts Loki’s betrayal. Thor seems more cunning, but Loki’s motivation isn’t villanous. Thor expects betrayal because of Ni grip, not because it’s logical. What’s more, if Thor was more rational and ‘normal’, he probably wouldn’t be betrayed at all. But he is and then he is unnecessarily cruel. He believes Loki betrays him over and over again, even though it’s not true.

He becomes detached from his surroundings. But it turns into mystical experience when he sees his father and realises what power he possesses.

He comes to the conlusion that the only way to defeat Hela is to destroy the whole Asgard. It’s Loki who does it in the end, but it’s Thor’s idea and Thor’s decision. In some other, not Thor-friendly film this could be seen as villanous action of someone who cannot deal with family drama.

I’m not saying that Thor becomes a delusional villain. But he’s experiencing severe stress.

Loki actually acknowledges their similarities:

Loki (2017): It hurts, doesn’t it? Being lied to. Being told you’re one thing and then learning it’s all a fiction.

Some people argue that when Thor tortures his brother, Loki decides to change and ‘become a hero’, while others see his return as resignation and ‘knowing his place’ as inferior brother. However, I believe that in that moment he realises what Thor experiences and why he’s behaving like that - because Loki did it too, six years earlier. He knows the stress, the delusions, the urge to hurt someone he loves. And since he’s a bit healed and he’s more surprised by Odin’s love than by his lies, it’s easier for him to understand Thor, forgive him and be there for him.

Loki (2017): I’m here.

#mcu #thor #loki #thor: ragnarok #loki meta #meta

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leviackermanscleaningbuddy · 4 years ago

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BTS DRABBLE-Taehyung

What happens when you reach a breaking point with your best friend? And what happens if maybe you’re a little bit in love with said best friend? Okay, so maybe you were a little bit stupid. And maybe you were a little bit crazy. But things always work out in the end. Right?

Tags: BTS, Bangtan Boys, Bangtan Seonyendan, Bulletproof Boy Scouts, Beyond the Scene, BTS Drabble, Angst, Fluff, Kim Taehyung, V, Taehyung, Taehyung x you, Taehyung x reader, Best Friend AU

Genre: Angst, with a fluff ending

Title: Maybe

“I can’t do this anymore. It’s so stupid. And I hate it!” The words tumble from your mouth before you can do anything to stop them, but they’re freeing, and honestly, you hadn’t wanted to stop them in the first place.

“(Y/N)....” Your best friend, takes a cautious step toward you, as if he’s approaching a dangerous, unpredictable wild animal. “Let’s just go back inside....”

“No!” You shout, and then you laugh, because damn, does it feel amazing to finally stand up for yourself for once. “No.” You repeat, slightly more subdued this time, as you stare back at him. “I don’t want to.”

“(Y/N)” He sighs your name, as if you’re a petulant child, and takes another step in your direction. “You’re going to freeze out here.”

Okay. So maybe you were a little drunk. And maybe you were being a little irrational. And maybe, you were actually starting to shiver, as the rain continued to cascade from the night sky. And maybe you were feeling a little stupid-standing at odds with your best friend-in the dark, wet alley behind the bar.

But no. You weren’t going back inside. Not this time.

“I don’t understand you, Taehyung.” You stumble over his full name, not used to the way it feels crossing your lips, as you stand your ground, watching him advance toward you, sneakers drenched, dark, curly hair starting to flatten to his forehead.

You laugh again, swinging the pair of discarded heels in your hand, as you do a full circle in the alleyway, looking up and letting the rain drip freely onto your face. And then you’re coming to a stop, and you’re facing him again, and and the desperate, clawing anger and hurt and betrayal is forcing its way up your chest and out your throat once more.

“I don’t understand you.” You repeat, hair now dripping icy streams of water down your bare shoulders and back. You hadn’t thought to bring a coat. “All you do is talk about her.” Your voice is thick, and suddenly, you’re swallowing hot tears, and your words are growing unsteady. “And she’s not even good to you. You’re always venting to me about her, but for what? Why are you staying? I could be so much better for you than her, Tae! I give a damn!” Your fingers are splayed across your chest, and there it is, all out in the open now.

“I know, (Y/N).” Taehyung says, and his voice is placating, and the look on his face makes you sick to your stomach-sympathetic and pitying and altogether grotesque. He reaches out a hand, and his fingers brush the wet, chilled skin of your arm. “Let me call you a cab....”

“No.” You wrench away from his touch, and your heart is loud in your ears, and you can’t look at him anymore. “You’re just saying that because you want me to shut up. Look, Taehyung.” There it is, his full name again. You shoot him one last fierce glance as you turn to head in the direction you think the front of the bar is in. “When you actually want to say that to me, and mean it, you know where to find me.”

“(Y/N)!” He calls out your name, but you don’t look back, bare feet slipping on the slick, rain covered cobblestones.

Look. Maybe you hadn’t gone about it in a sane way. But maybe, just maybe, you had meant every single damn word you had said.

*******

At work on Monday, it takes everything inside of you to focus on the stack of paperwork that lies piled, waiting for you, in a large, gleaming, ivory tower on your desk. And by the third cup of coffee of the morning, you’re not sure whether you’re focusing, or whether you’re floundering.

Maybe you have the worst hangover ever, in the history of hangovers. Or maybe it’s the fact that Taehyung hasn’t texted you, at all, since the night of the incidence. Or maybe, it’s simply because the office coffee is shit.

Whatever the reason, you’re struggling.

And the appearance of a certain dreaded someone in the doorway of your office, makes everything seem suddenly, very much, worse.

“Shit.” You swear under your breath at the sight of her overly glittered shoes appearing in the edge of your vision, a direct contrast to the drab carpet, as you sigh, and putting aside the paperwork you had been staring at for the last hour, manage a small, polite smile. “Eve. What can I do for you?”

She steps inside your office space, seeming to mull over the degrees framed on the wall, before she finally turns to you, an overly fake and patronizing smile stretched across her red lips. “Oh, (Y/N), I actually came to talk to you about the Lueber Case.”

You grind your teeth, as she sits down in the chair opposite your desk, and begins to inspect her long, manicured nails. “Okay. What about it?”

“I’ve decided I’m passing it off to you.” Eve states simply, still not looking up from her nails, although you swear her lips pull back in a malevolent gesture, that’s probably meant to show her rhetorical fangs and intimidate you. She finally looks up at you, as if realizing you’re there, and more important than her present manicure. “I’m bored with it.”

Something inside of you boils at her words, and you bite your tongue, because the only thing you can think of saying in that moment is something along the lines of, ‘Just like you’re bored with Taehyung?’

Your boss smirks, tossing long, ebony hair over her shoulder, as she leans toward you slightly. “So? Will you take it?”

You know she’s only asking to be polite. She knows that you have to do exactly as she asks.

And maybe, it’s the smug look on her face, or maybe it’s the fact that she’s treated your best friend like shit for the last two years, or maybe it was the fact that you were simply done doing what she said, but for whatever reason, the next word out of your mouth caught you both by surprise.

“No.” You said firmly, pushing aside your pile of paperwork, as you took her full on, her eyes darkening and brow furrowing at your obvious noncompliance as you stood, placing your hands palm down on your desk. “No, I will not take your case, Eve.”

“Excuse me?” The woman in front of you stands, lips pulling downward with anger as she regards you coldly. “What did you just say to me?”

“I said.” You take in a deep breath, steeling yourself, before looking her directly in the eye. “No, Eve.” You feel your own rage and anger, tucked inside for two years, start to erupt to the surface, like magma kept beneath the earth’s crust for too long. “I will not take your case. And I will not,” You step out from behind your desk, catching her by surprise, as she takes a sudden haltering step back from you. “sit by anymore, and listen to my best friend tell me how you treat him like shit.”

Eve’s eyes narrow at your words, but you hold your ground, as she steps toward you once more, bringing you nose to nose, as she hisses out between clenched teeth, “You little bitch. I knew you had something to do with his sudden silence.”

Maybe you were a little caught off guard to hear that Taehyung hadn’t called Eve either. Or maybe you were just feeling lighter, getting everything off your chest finally.

But for whatever reason, her words made you smile, and you couldn’t help it as you let out a slightly, shocked laugh.

“He didn’t call you either.” You laugh again, suddenly feeling a million times lighter than you had that morning.

“Shut up.” Eve snaps, eyes dark with fury, as she backs away from you toward the door, waving her trembling finger in your direction. “You’re fired. You hear me, (Y/N)?” Her voice has risen in volume, and she’s practically screaming at you from the doorway now. “You’re fired, (Y/N)! Get the hell out of my firm!”

Maybe you were crazy. Maybe you were absolutely insane.

Because, picking up your purse, you walked past the frantic and enraged Eve with a smile, leaving the office for the last time, feeling amazingly more light than you had an hour earlier.

******

Taehyung still hasn’t contacted you.

But maybe, just maybe, everything might turn out to be okay after all.

Because he still hadn’t contacted Eve either.

Sitting down at the table in your apartment, you carefully lift a mouthful of noodles to your lips, blowing on the hot food, as you reach for the newspaper you had discarded there earlier.

Scanning through the job listings, you hum a meaningless tune to yourself, as you dare to the take the first bite of your ramen.

Maybe that was a mistake.

“Ouch. Shit!” You swear, the boiling noodles burning your tongue, and subsequently your throat, as you swallow hard, before stumbling out of the chair and to the kitchen, gasping to try and cool your mouth, as you turn on the tap and, not bothering with a cup, lean over to put your lips beneath the cold stream of water.

Straightening up after a few relieving seconds, you turn off the faucet, and glancing down at your sweater, which is now stained with a large watermark down the entire front, you swear once more. “Dammit. Good one, (Y/N).”

There is a knock at the door.

Glancing up, caught off guard, you carefully make your way back to the front room, and cursing your landlord for not including a peephole, you sigh, before reaching down to pull open the door.

Your mouth drops open at the sight of him. Because maybe, you had thought, deep down, that you’d ruined your friendship, that he’d never speak to you again. And maybe, the sight of him, standing there in your doorway, hands dug deep into the pockets of his favorite plaid pants, has your heart beating just a little faster than normal.

“Hey.” He offers you a rueful smile after another moment of silence, tilting his head slightly to the side, as his swath of dark, curls tangle cutely over his forehead and brow with the movement. “Can I come in?”

You swallow, and nodding, step to the side to allow him into your apartment, self consciously tugging at your still wet sweater, as you close the door behind him, and follow him into your living room.

“Are you always just wet?” Taehyung asks teasingly as you come into the room, and face him, standing awkwardly at arms length from each other, as if not sure what to do next.

Your mouth goes dry at his words. Dammit. How did he know how much he affected you? Was he really asking.....

Taehyung motions to the stain of water down the front of your sweatshirt, and your cheeks flame, as you pull back from your previous thoughts. “Oh, um.” You wipe a hand down the watermark, and bite your lip, avoiding his gaze, and hoping you aren’t blushing as much as you think you are. “You caught me at a bad moment.”

There is silence again, you looking at the carpet, his hands still in his pockets, as he moves awkwardly from foot to foot, and you recognize the same sneakers, now dry, that he had been wearing that night.

“(Y/N)...” Taehyung finally breaks the quiet with your name and a heavy sigh, just as you start to speak as well.

“Taehyung...”

You both stop, unsure of who should go first, and finally, reaching up to rub at the back of his neck, Taehyung chuckles softly, before motioning for you to continue.

Maybe you’re just feeling bold, or maybe you’re tired of keeping things in, but whatever the case, you’re caught off guard by what you choose to say next.

“You didn’t call Eve.” You blurt out, immediately noting the strange look that crosses your best friend’s face at your words.

He sighs, reaching up once more to rub at the back of his neck, a habit of nervousness he has done ever since you have known him. “No, I didn’t.”

“Why?” You ask, before you can stop yourself. You’re in too deep now. Might as well face the music.

“Well, because...” He hesitates, dark eyes finally looking into yours once more, mouth twisted into a serious line as he considers. “You were right. I put up with shit I shouldn’t have, for a long time.”

You watch him for a moment, normally handsome, carefree features pulled into something tighter, pinched, worried.

“You didn’t call me either.” You say next, quietly, softly, almost as an afterthought under your breath.

“I know.” Taehyung doesn’t look at you now. “I was scared.”

You’re surprised to hear the words leave his lips. Kim Taehyung, as far as you know, has never been scared of anything, in all the years that you have known him and been by his side. Not through primary school, not through high school, not through college.

No, Kim Taehyung is fearless.

But maybe, just maybe, you had never considered that you might be the one thing he was afraid of.

“Why? Have you seen me?” You joke, trying to lighten the sudden serious mood, not sure how to hand this side of your best friend. You motion to your wet sweatshirt. “I’m a disaster.”

Taehyung lets out a laugh, though it is not his usual, and a lot less humorless, as he brings his eyes up to yours once more, and your breath catches in your throat at how serious he is, pupils dark and wide surrounded by the warmth of his irises. “I was scared you wouldn’t want to talk to me.”

“I always want to talk to you.” You shrug, tilting your head curiously, as you wait for him to explain.

He sighs, and reaches up to rake a hand through thick curls. “I know. And that’s the problem.” He offers you a slightly rueful smile, and takes a small step toward you. “You always want to talk to me. And I’ve taken advantage of that. And I should have been listening instead of talking, (F/N).” He breathes in, and suddenly, you realize how close he has gotten in the past several seconds.

You swallow, but hold his gaze, fingers twitching at your side, because damn, in that moment, do you just want to reach out and take his hands in yours. “Listening to what?” You breathe out, scared to disrupt the space between the two of you.

“Listening to my best friend.” His lips pull up into half a smile, and you’re distracted for a moment, by the way his dark eyelashes brush his tan cheeks when he blinks, and the way his pink, full lips form his words around bright, white teeth. “You were right, (F/N). I just didn’t want to hear it, so I kept coming up with excuses. But.” He reaches up carefully, and lets his fingertips, feather light, brush down the skin that covers your cheekbone. “I wasn’t in love with Eve.”

“Oh.” You say stupidly, not quite sure what to say in the moment, and slightly overwhelmed with the smell of his cologne washing over you, and the way his thick knit sweater frames his wide shoulders, and the way his fingers feel against your skin.

“That’s all you have to say?” Taehyung grins suddenly, and chuckles slightly, before letting his fingers trail down your face to your chin, as he tips your head back so that you’re looking directly up at him. Something in his warm, caramel irises changes as he watches you, darkening and swirling, pupils suddenly blown wide. “Where’s all your brutally honest and snarky wisdom that you’ve always used to put me in my place right now (Y/N)?”

You shrug halfheartedly, heartbeat loud in your ears. “I don’t know. Now that you’re finally listening, I don’t have anything else to say.”

“Better take advantage of that.” Taehyung teases in a low tone, although the joking doesn’t quite reach his eyes, which have dropped down the length of your face to your lips.

Your heart feels like it’s going to pound out of your chest, as he tightens his fingers slightly around your chin, keeping you in place, as he leans toward you, slowly, his lips parted only barely, as his gaze flicks up once, to meet yours, before he leans even closer than before.

He’s so close, his lips are almost brushing your own, your whole body feels as if it’s quivering with anticipation, and the feel of his balmy breath washing over your face, is almost enough to destroy every last shred of will you have.

Maybe you’re feeling especially bold. Maybe you’re just ready for the years long wait to be over. Or maybe the need to kiss Kim Taehyung is just too damn much.

But whatever the reason, before he can close the last centimetre between the two of you, you’re leaning into him and ending the space between the two of you, and your hands are going to the back of his neck, tangling into the ebony curls there, as you pull your body flush against his.

You have never kissed anyone whose mouth fit yours more perfectly than your best friend’s.

It’s hard to breathe, the feel of Taehyung’s soft, silken lips on your own, the way his tongue darts out, hot and liquid, to trace the shape of your mouth, it’s all making you feel lightheaded and dizzy and way too sure that this is all a dream.

He pulls back from you, slightly, just to catch his breath, and there is a brief moment of nothing but heavy breathing between the two of you, foreheads resting against each other, lips swollen and scarlet from the kiss, and then, without warning, he leans into you once more, and murmurs into the corner of your mouth, “I love you.”

You can’t help the smile that slides across your lips at his words, and turning your face toward him, you curve your mouth around the shape of his jaw, and breathe back in reply, “I love you, Kim Taehyung.”

He grins, you can feel the motion against your skin. “I know, (Y/N).”

Maybe it’s the way he says it. Or maybe it’s the way the words echo in your head, as he covers your mouth with his once more. Or maybe it’s simply because he’s your best friend and you can tell he’s serious.

Because, no maybe about it, you know he means it this time.

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thenightling · 4 years ago

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In defense of Tom Sturridge (Already!?)

Apparently Tom Sturridge needs defending from our own meager fandom... already...

Disclaimer: Though it is looking more and more likely that Tom Sturridge has the role of Morpheus in Netflix’s Adaptation of The Sandman this has still NOT been confirmed. We are still riding on pure speculation. However, I will defend the man.

Though it is not officially confirmed that Tom Sturridge will be playing Morpheus in The Sandman there are already people in the fandom complaining about the casting. (See the Neil Gaiman’s Sandman Facebook group. The one with over three-thousand-members that I left.)

In this post I will be addressing each and every complaint that I have seen thus far.

And you wonder why they’re keeping the cast a secret from us for so long? This. This behavior would actually be worse if you knew for certain who was in the cast.

When these negative reactions are in regard to who “might” be playing Morpheus, without any actual footage, or even images of him in character, they were wise to keep it a secret from us.

Now, let us begin.

1. “He looks too much like Robert Pattinson.” The hatred of Robert Pattinson is bizarre and irrational. It is as if a great deal of the population cannot separate him from a character they despise. The irony is Robert Pattinson never liked playing Edward Cullen anyway. He did it strictly for the money. And as far as vampire fiction goes, there is far, far, worse out there than Twilight. Twilight is not good but there is worse out there. It seems the hatred of Twilight is almost a knee-jerk reaction- a compulsive raw contempt against anything that appeals to teenage girls. I do not like Twilight but I do not irrationally hate an actor just because he was in the films. So what if Tom Sturridge resembles Robert Pattinson a bit? You’ll condemn an actor because of his bone structure? Because he “Kind of” reminds you of a man who played a character you don’t like? Really? I thought most of this fandom were grown ups.

2. “He’s too young to play Morpheus.” The casting call was for men between the ages of twenty six and thirty six. Tom Sturridge turns thirty-six this year. It’s true that a man in his forties or even a youthful fifties could probably play Morpheus perfectly well and Morpheus did have crows-feet wrinkles in the first issue but to condemn an actor based on his age is merely ageism. In this day and age a man can look any age with the right makeup. Look at the lead in the silent film of Faust, directed by F. W. Murnau (Director of Nosferatu). It’s impressive to know a thirty-six-year-old played elderly and youthful Faust in that film, and that was back in 1926.

3. “He’s too old to play Morpheus.” ...Seriously? What did you want? A CW teenager or early twenty-something college kid as the ten-billion-year-old dream lord? Yet again, I know a man can pretty much play any age with the right makeup. All else is ageism, even my cynical statement about the CW, that’s ageism.

When Lestat the musical was on Broadway the actor who played Lestat was forty, the woman playing his mother was only about two years older than him.

The actor playing Barnabas in the original Dark Shadows was in his forties. The character was (According to Dan Curtis) only twenty-five when he became a vampire. The woman playing his mother was only five-years-older than him.

Tom Welling was still in Smallville as pre-Superman Clark Kent and he was older than the actor who played Superman in Superman Returns. With good acting and makeup age doesn’t really matter.

4. “He’s a terrible actor.” The man has about ten acting credits in total according to IMDB. Most are bit parts and two are from when he was ten and eleven-years-old respectively.

Are you judging him on roles he had before he hit puberty!?

I have my doubts you ever saw him act in anything yet. You’re probably leaping to conclusions because the pictures you found of him are a stoic pretty boy with beard stubble.

5. “If he’s playing Morpheus that’s automatically a deal breaker. I’m not watching.” Okay. Okay, fine. Don’t watch it. You don’t have to. No one is making you watch it. However, you should be aware that Neil Gaiman watched the auditions. He had a say in the casting. If Tom Sturridge is playing him than this is the man HE chose. If Neil Gaiman doesn’t know who should play Morpheus, than no one does. I thought James McAvoy did an excellent job in The Sandman audio drama and I will not automatically assume Tom Sturridge is a bad actor just because there are people pre-determined to hate this.

6. “He shouldn’t be played by a white man. It indicates that The Endless are all white and white people rule the universe.” Morpheus likely will still have his bone-white (not human-white) skin from the comics (and I hope, the black void eyes with star pupils). This was pulled off successfully with the Frankenstein monster in Penny Dreadful, with his own inhuman skin and yellow eyes.

Morpheus’ bone-white skin, improbably thin build, and black void eyes are supposed to be without distinct race. He’s not a human being. He’s not Caucasian. He might be played by a white man, yes, but the actor was chosen based on talent, not racial background.

I saw the casting description. Race was not a factor. Since actual non-human / humanoid entities devoid of distinct racial background were unavailable, the show simply had to make do with a human being, instead. The real Endless were unavailable or refuse to act. You know how temperamental anthropomorphic personifications can be.

7. “He’s not thin enough.” Okay, look. A lot can be done with CG. I don’t want an actor killing himself for this role.

Back in 1976 David Bowie was close to ninety-pounds when playing Thomas Jerome Newton in The Man who fell to Earth. He was so under-weight that the wardrobe department had to buy his clothes in the children’s department of a store. Yes, the character was really that thin in the Walter Tevis novel that the movie was based on. But in the book Newton had hollow bones, like a bird, David Bowie, however, is a human being, not an alien. And Tom Sturridge is a human being, not an anthropomorphic personification.

When David Bowie played Newton he was on a diet mostly consisting of cocaine... He could have easily died. Thankfully Bowie cleaned up later, but he was not in a healthy state when he was in The man who fell to Earth. We do not need a return of The Thin White Duke. Not like that.

For a human to reach Morpheus’ comic book weight- that might require very unhealthy behavior, it would potentially be dangerous. This is something they can adjust with camera tricks and computer effects. He does not need to look like he’s dying.

8. “They should find an actor whose cheekbones stand out.” See above...

9. “He doesn’t look anything like Morpheus.” I am certain you have not seen him in costume yet. Neil Gaiman has (hypothetically speaking). Let us trust the author and believe that his character looks the way he intended. Remember how Henry Cavill went from Superman to The Witcher.

10. “I wanted Henry Cavill to play him.” ... What?

Have you... have you read Sandman? Henry Cavill is under contract to do The Witcher. He needs to stay buff for that role, and you want him to play “rake thin” Morpheus? Yeah, a lot can be done with CG but Henry is an action hero actor. He can act. He’s a good actor. But this is probably not the right role for Henry Cavill.

11. “He looks like an American Youtuber.” He’s not either of those things. Stop judging by appearances.

12. “He’s too pretty to play Morpheus.” Stop judging by appearances.

13. “He’s not attractive enough to play Morpheus.” See above...

14. “He’s too short to play Morpheus.” / “I heard he’s only five foot three.” / “I read that he’s just five foot eight.” According to Google and IMDB he’s 5′10. That’s the same height David Bowie was. That’s average adult male height. If they want him to look taller that’s easily done. Remember, Tom Cruise was The Vampire Lestat.

It’s just lather, rinse, repeat, when it comes to fans. Every adaptation the same thing. “Tom Cruise can’t play Lestat.” (Anne Rice apologized for leading that charge, when she saw him in action). Or “Michael Keaton is too wholesome to play Batman.” or even “Ryan Reynolds should never play Deadpool after what he did in Wolverine.”

People never learn.

Just give Tom Sturridge a chance. The casting isn’t even official yet. And if he is Morpheus- try and wait to actually see how he plays the role before you decide he’s the worst thing to happen to The Sandman. A few publicity photos don’t tell you what he is capable of as an actor. You might be pleasantly surprised.

#Tom Sturridge #The Sandman #Morpheus #Dream of The Endless #Neil Gaiman #Neil Gaiman's The Sandman

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dascarecrow · 4 years ago

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Hi, all. First post so please have patience and don’t judge too harshly.

So I absolutely love and adore the hit web animation known as RWBY from Rooster Teeth. The first time I saw anything for it was the teaser at the end of the Season 10 finale of Red vs. Blue and I was instantly drawn in.

So I’ve followed from the series from the beginning and decided to dedicate my first post ever to a topic regarding RWBY that I find quite fascinating.

A recurrent idea I’ve seen throughout Tumblr is the idea of Oscar Pine’s Fairy Tale inspiration being that of the Little Prince. I quite like this idea and will go into depth about my thoughts and feelings about it in this post. Fair warning I haven’t read the actual story so if I get anything wrong or inaccurate I apologize.

Just for those who don’t know, the story of The Little Prince is as follows. A pilot crash lands in the desert and meets a young boy who reveals he’s a prince from a different world entirely. The prince tells the pilot the story of how they reached the moment they’ve met. A major part of the backstory is how a rose grew on the Prince’s planet and the two fell in love. The rose was vain and demanding but truly cared for the Prince. The Prince loved her despite her demands but eventually felt he was being taken advantage of by her and set out to see the universe. During his travels he met many different adults who embodied different criticisms of society. The Prince eventually made his way to Earth and landed in a desert before finding rosebushes, which left the Prince heartbroken because he thought the rose he knew was unique but now he saw that she truly wasn’t. After finding the rosebushes the Prince met a fox who helped him come to a realization about his rose, in that the love and care he had for the rose did make her special after all. After the meeting with the pilot the Prince meets a snake who offers him a way to return to his home by biting him. The ending is essentially the Prince allowing himself to be bitten by the snake but it’s left deliberately ambiguous as to whether or not the Prince did return home or simply died. There’s more to be certain but these are the main points.

Anyway, on to the main stuff.

One of the main themes of RWBY is the usage of different Fairy Tale inspirations in their characters. I have seen several posts about how Oscar’s Fairy Tale inspiration is that of The Little Prince, particularly from MiraculousCoraZone and LittleMissSquiggles, who I would recommend looking up on Tumblr. These posts lay out good talking points for how and why this is the case and I decided to throw my hat in the ring for it.

I like this idea tremendously for a few reasons. The first is that the fairy tale itself is a more obscure one to the extent that I discovered it through the posts that presented the idea. Second is that it would be thematically resonant with Oscar’s personal journey of wanting to be his own person and helps to set him apart from Ozpin who is meant to be the Wizard of Oz. The final reason is that I am a hopeless shipper and this theory let’s me indulge in my personal favorite ship of the series, Rosegarden.

One of the things that stands out about RWBY is that it doesn’t play the fairy tale inspirations straight. For example Weiss is based on Snow White but rather than a vain and cruel queen for her stepmother she actually does have a family that loves and cares for her but is too consumed by their own faults and failings to properly tell her this. Similarly Blake is based on Beauty from Beauty and The Beast but shows what happens when the Beast is completely rejected. So if Oscar is inspired by the Little Prince what would be the deviation for him?

My belief? What if the Little Prince met the pilot before he met his rose?

Now, let’s go into all of the characters who could tie into this and how.

The Prince

The Little Prince of course is seen to be Oscar himself. This is supported by Oscar’s personal journey. The Prince before he met his rose mainly tended to the soil of his little planet which is similar to Oscar being a farmhand. The Prince was prompted to go explore the universe through the actions of the rose he loved and while Oscar is similarly prompted it’s not by a rose but by the old pilot, who in this case would be Ozpin. Oscar is the newest incarnation of Ozpin’s eternal and reincarnating soul throughout the ages and inherits the role of uniting humanity and fighting Salem. Now Oscar isn’t like the Prince at this point, as the Prince was innocent and cheerful but also possessed of wisdom when he met the pilot. Oscar by contrast is more weary and reluctant to follow the role he’s been given, largely unwilling to abandon the life he has now despite dreams of being more than a farmhand. Ozpin is the more optimistic of them at this point and is the one who prompts Oscar to set forth on his journey. It isn’t until he meets his rose that Oscar starts showing true warmth instead of the resignation of following Ozpin.

Cue Oscar’s first meeting with Ruby where the Young Prince finally meets his Rose. Oscar is taken by her right away, amazed and enamored with her Silver Eyes. The early interactions between the two can easily be read as those of a budding romance, at least on Oscar’s end. One of the biggest moments for the two is the scene in the dojo where Oscar breaks down, overwhelmed by everything, and Ruby reveals the pain she’s been holding inside of herself before noting that Oscar is greater than he thinks.

Now this is where the pilot’s presence helps the Young Prince and turns the story from it’s path. Oscar gets into thinking of Ruby as a truly special Rose, the greatest Huntress at Beacon, an ephemeral being one might say. Ozpin is quick to curtail these thoughts, acknowledging that she was indeed gifted in some ways but also noting that Ruby is ultimately only human. Not a figure of some glorified ideal that she can never truly live up to. The pilot sells the idea that while Ruby is a special rose she isn’t special for being a rose.

And this idea actually does resonate with Oscar. He cares for her a great deal and will even fight against Ozpin to help her but he doesn’t hold her to some elevated pedestal. When Ruby chooses to hide the truth from Ironwood he clearly disagrees with the course of action and speaks with her about his doubts. He’s respectful and doesn’t automatically treat her actions as inherently wrong and his own concerns as right by default. Oscar never gives any indication that he’s going to go against Ruby’s decisions despite his concerns because he trusts and respects her, in a sense he knows how to love his rose which was a lesson the Little Prince learned the hard way.

A key part of the Prince’s journey is that he meets other adults on other planets and discovers them to be absurd, irrational and self absorbed to ridiculous extremes. Oscar, throughout his own journey, finds nearly every adult member involved in the battle against Salem to be highly dysfunctional at best or outright corrupt at worst. Leo, Raven, Ironwood, they all eventually wound up turning against Ozpin for their own selfish reasons. Even Qrow, otherwise the most loyal member of his Inner Circle, coped with his tragedies through alcoholism and violently turned against Ozpin when he discovered the truth. Oscar dismally discovers all of this through his own eyes, especially while Oz is absent.

We’ll get to the fox and snake in a moment but for now let’s switch tracks to another character.

The Pilot

Ozpin takes the role of the pilot and at first seems to be a complete defiance of the pilot’s role in the story. The pilot’s journey in the original story was recognizing the inherent cynicism and pessimism in adults and coming to realize he was no better. Ozpin at first seems to outright reject these notions, seeing the best in humanity and believing they can triumph and overcome anything through working together. But as the story goes on it shows that he’s arguably more broken than any other character the battle against Salem. He knows all too well that full truth of what humanity faces could and more than likely would completely break anyone who discovers it so he hides the truth from his allies and allows them fight an impossible enemy that he knows can not die in war that will never end.

This ties into how Ozpin subverts the pilots role. The original story had the pilot as a passive figure, someone who is told a story and reacts to that which occurs to what is right in front of him. But Ozpin is different, he tries to be a mentor to the Young Prince that is Oscar. He is the one that pushes Oscar forward and encourages him to go forward. But eventually Oscar starts to push back against him and tries to choose his own path rather than follow and defer to Ozpin. In these times, such as the battle at Haven or when the truth was revealed to the others, Ozpin tries to overpower Oscar and assert his own authority. Contrasting how the pilot in the story came to see his own faults and failings and sought to regain some of the lost cheer and light that goes with childhood innocence by seeking the Little Prince once more, Ozpin is so consumed by the notion that people simply can not rise above the darkest truths of the world that resolves to never share anything that isn’t needed.

This is where Oscar as the Prince enters his journey. Oscar is able to return to Ozpin some of the faith and hope for humanity that he had long since forgotten, much as the Little Prince did for The Pilot. Ozpin begins to defer to Oscar and help him along, acknowledging the truth that Oscar shows him.

This is ultimately the purpose of the bond between the two. The God of Light set Ozma’s reincarnations to make it so he was never truly alone but with Oscar there is a wall that stems from Oscar’s worries for his own identity and Ozpin’s cynical outlook on humanity’s virtue. The two souls are meant to merge, with neither claiming dominance as Oscar fears but to work in harmony. Ozpin fails to do this but he does impart an important lesson to Oscar regardless of his other failings.

The dojo scene. As mentioned above Oscar begins to see Ruby is greater than she truly is, that she is a special and ephemeral Rose. Ozpin, who has the benefit of the ages he’s lived, dissuades Oscar from this belief. Not only because Oscar’s belief is patently untrue but because Ozpin has seen first hand countless others like Ruby. Fairytales of Remnant all but confirms that Ozpin has lived lives where he met other Warriors with Silver Eyes and possibly other Roses. Ozpin knows that while Ruby is a special Rose she is not special for being a Rose or for having Silver Eyes. Ozpin extols that Ruby is indeed a fine Huntress and has traits that raise her high but she also is lacking in other ways and imparts this to Oscar who can see her as the Rose that he will know in this life and no other.

The Rose

Ruby is the Rose that the Young Prince falls in love with, as we’ve already covered. The story of Ruby as the Rose the Prince comes to love differs in that The Prince has already met the Pilot by the time he meets her. Ruby is quite joyful to meet Oscar personally, even before she meets Ozpin yet again. This highlights a key difference between Ruby and The Rose. The Rose was vain and demanding, wanting the Prince’s care and attention however she could get it. Ruby freely offers of herself a comfort that Oscar desperately searches for throughout the series, that he is his own person and not simply another life that Ozma has to suffer through. In this way Ruby subverts the Rose’s role.

Another subversion happens in the dojo scene when Oscar breaks down and questions how Ruby can possibly be okay with what has happened. The Little Prince felt his Rose took him for granted, choosing to look at her harsher words instead of her kinder actions. Ruby goes against and openly reveals another side of herself, showing how overwhelmed and hurt she feels by everything that has happened. Oscar, the Young Prince, sees the side of his Rose that the Little Prince wasn’t able to and he comes to know her far better. The tragedy of the Little Prince and his Rose was that they loved each other but were too young to know how to be in love. That is not the case here as Ozpin’s advice to Oscar leads him to temper his own enamored beliefs. So when they time comes and they do come to love each other, if they ever do, then they will know how to be in love.

The final aspect of Ruby’s role as the Rose is her hiding the truth from Ironwood. Oscar is not pleased with her doing so and speaks his mind to her about how he sees it as a hypocrisy given Ozpin’s own actions. The Rose chooses to put her own desires ahead of the Prince’s freely given support but instead of wallowing in his own grief about it Oscar actually speaks to her as an equal. He has his concerns but never for a second does he consider going against her for what she’s done. He fervently believes in Ruby and isn’t going to let one moment of self concern change that. Ruby and Oscar excitedly speaking with another about finally revealing the truth shows how much they honestly care for each other. Ruby made the choice to hide the truth but she won’t make the choice to reveal it if Oscar won’t agree with her. The two are utterly joyous at being on the same page with each other.

The Snake

This one is about the only character I can’t solidly determine a counterpart for. If you go with the interpretation of the snake as killing the Prince then Salem would take the role. If you go with the idea that the Snake kept its word and returned the Prince to his world then the role would go to either Hazel or Emerald. Hazel would be fitting as it subverts the Snake’s intention of freeing the Prince’s soul from his body because Hazel is well aware of Ozpin’s ability to reincarnate and it would be thematically fitting for him to begin his redemption by freeing his current life from Salem. Emerald would be fitting as the Snake’s actions, if altruistic, would be a Samaritan’s act and Emerald could begin her redemption by helping to free Oscar.

The Adults

On his journey the Little Prince met several adults who embody criticisms of society. Oscar actually encounters counterpoints for these adults on his own journey.

Ironwood embodies both the King With No Subjects and The Narcissist. The King gives orders but they are only orders that can be followed and he adjusts his commands to fit the situation. Ironwood similarly demands everyone follow his orders but doesn’t recognize others refusing to follow them as anything other than them being enemies. He also refuses to adjust his methods even after they have failed him countless times before. This ties into his role as The Narcissist as it’s shown that Ironwood is motivated by the desire for personal validation and a refusal to admit his own flaws. Ironwood countless times has acted with the conceit that he is the one people should follow for no other reason than that he says so. Oscar comments on this, noting he does believe in Ironwood when the General asks him for validation “But not only you”. Oscar refuses to see Ironwood as the only one with answers the need or the only one fighting against Salem.

The Drunk is embodied by Qrow. Oscar first met him in a bar and their first interaction consisted of Oscar getting Qrow home after he got drunk. The Drunk drinks to forget his shame at being a drunkard. Qrow goes into a destructive spiral after discovering the truth, claiming that meeting Ozpin was the worst luck of his life. Qrow is actually able to break through his own pessimism and give up on drinking.

The Businessman is embodied by Jacques. The Businessman endlessly counts and catalogues the stars so he can own them all, unable to see their beauty. Jacques made the Schnee Dust Company the most powerful in Remnant but at the cost of the traits that initially made it so great to begin with, such as integrity and honor. Jacques opposition to Ironwood’s increasingly drastic methods isn’t motivated by altruism or how the General is hurting people but because of the profits he losing because of the General’s actions. Jacques can not see value in anything other than the company he stole away from it’s rightful inheritors.

The Lamplighter is embodied by the Atlesian Military. The Lamplighter blindly follows orders to put out and relight a lamppost for his whole life because a whole day is only a minute on the planet he lives so he has to do one of the other every thirty seconds, rather than just leave the lamppost lit. The Atlesian Military, and especially the Ace-Ops, are blindly obedient to every order Ironwood gives them regardless of their personal feelings or morality on the matter. They actually break away from the mold in that every order they are given, every justification they come up with to try and explain why they are in the right, is just slowly pushing them further and further towards breaking away entirely.

The Geographer is embodied by the Happy Huntresses. In the story the Geographer is meant to be a diatribe on how pointless it is specialize in something in a contemporary world. The Huntresses are seen to be as going against the grain in Atlas, choosing to help Mantle rather ignore it and left the military to do so. This unquestionably shown as a good thing, as the right thing to do. May especially sees it as more important to protect Mantle as Atlas has always had the means to protect and support itself while Mantle struggles to get by.

With all of that said there is one final character to cover and they could be the most important one in Oscar’s journey as the Young Prince.

The Fox

Yes Ren is the character I feel could be the Fox. In many ways Ren is the most composed character of the main heroes, generally being far calmer and trying to have his head on straighter. I say trying because in many ways he is far more emotional than the rest, trying to bury things down until they boil over. The other members of RWBY and JNPR have had meltdowns and blowups but they are especially notable with Ren because he’s normally more composed. He and Jaune are the only ones who gotten suicidal in their reckless meltdowns but where Jaune cooled down after getting overpowered in his Ren stubbornly insisted on fighting even if he got himself killed. So why does Ren fit the role of the Fox?

Because my belief is that he’s growing into that role still.

In “Fault” Ren has a meltdown and posits that RWBY and JNPR are just kids in over their heads and that the adults involved are better suited to handle the problems they are dealing with. This patently shown as false as Ironwood and the Ace-Ops barely know what they are doing any more the heroes do. One of the themes of the Little Prince is how adults try to pass themselves off as mature and reasonable but ultimately are little better than children because of how far they take their flaws.

Ren witnesses this in “War” where the Ace-Ops argue with JRY about allowing them to try and rescue Oscar from Salem. He comes to realize that the adults who should be able to get a handle on things are better at it than the children that are being condemned. This leads to two moments that are resonant with the Fox’s role in the story.

When Ren declares that “No One Is Replaceable!”

In the Little Prince the Fox is able to help the Prince come to terms with his heartbreak over his Rose not being as special as he thought. The Fox claims that you are responsible for what you tame. The Prince tamed his Rose, he cared for her and loved her, and so she was special because she was his. Special not because she was a rose but because she was his Rose.

Ren’s declaration carries similar sentiments. Oscar is important to them because he’s their friend. They need no other reason to work to save him. The Ace-Ops don’t see this, they refuse to see it, and they condemn JRY for believing it. Which leads to the second moment.

Ren’s Semblance evolving and letting him see the true emotions of the Ace-Ops.

One of the most powerful lines in the story, something that sticks with me personally, is the Fox declaring “It it only with the heart that we can see rightly.” The Fox states that it is only by looking with our heart, by choosing to do what is right, that we are able to anything of true importance.

Ren can see the Ace-Ops deepest, most well hidden feelings. He sees their hearts and he beseeches them to listen to what they are trying to ignore, trying to fight against. Because it is the only way they will be able to grow and evolve to their full potential.

And when Ren reunites with Oscar he will be able to see the heart of the Young Prince. And the heart of the Rose that The Young Prince loves. And he’ll be there to guide them so they know how to be in love.

Okay that was a doozy. But hey I hope it’s one heck of an opening act and the beginning of many posts to arrive.

#RWBY #Rosegarden

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