#I love making some guys and putting them in mortal peril

[keydekyie]

bird-induced peril

After endless struggling with the composition and values of this, I actually really had fun doing the linework. I'm trying to do actual lines more often these days, and combining it with the more painterly style I favor. Comes out with a nice sort of illustration look that makes me happy.

here was my final value study I did before starting to line it.

[lulublack90]

Prompt 29 - Flirting Under Fire

@wolfstarmicrofic May 29, word count 557

They were pinned down. The Death Eaters had cornered them. Their intel had been bad, there were so many of them. How did they know? He had no idea how many of their side had made it out, but he and Remus were now barricaded in a back room of the factory. They couldn’t apparate out of there and their only exit was through the door they’d just come through that currently had at least ten Death Eaters trying to break through their defences. 

Sirius looked over at his friend and saw him shaking. His eyes were darting about searching for an escape that didn’t exist. Sirius reached out and grasped Remus’s hand in his. 

“We’re going to be okay,” He put on his best Sirius doesn’t care about the crazy murderers trying to kill them face. It didn’t help, Remus was spiralling. Sirius had to keep trying. 

“When we get out of here,” He started.

“We’re not getting out of here, Sirius,” Remus snapped. 

“Pessimist. When we get out of here, I’m making you pancakes with chocolate chips in them.” He grinned. Remus loved chocolate and pancakes, so why not mix them?

“What for dinner?” Remus had closed his eyes, trying to calm himself down. 

“Oh, no baby, for breakfast.” Sirius grinned at him. 

“You think we’ll be in here this long?” Remus’s breathing had levelled out again, and he opened his worried eyes to look at Sirius. 

“No, sweetheart, first I’m gonna take you to bed.” He winked. 

“Really, Sirius, are you trying to flirt with me while we’re in mortal peril? Sirius, it’s not funny.”

“You’re so pretty when you’re angry,” Sirius batted his eyelashes. 

“Merlin, Sirius, you’re such a pain.” Remus huffed as he shoved Sirius. 

“Oh, Remus do it again,” Sirius wiggled closer, making Remus laugh quietly. It had worked, Remus had calmed down and was thinking clearly again. 

“I know what you were doing, thanks.” Remus said, just as something boomed against the door, making it rattle in its hinges. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, I meant every word I said.” Sirius cooed as he turned to look worriedly at the door. Whoever was out there started shouting and yelling. More bangs sounded but further away. 

“Ha, ha, Sirius,” Remus rolled his eyes. Sirius snapped his head back. 

“I meant it, Remus,” Sirius said honestly. He leaned over and cupped Remus’s face in his hands. “I meant it,” Remus stilled and cupped Sirius’s face. 

“Are you serious?” He asked, wincing after the words came out, knowing exactly what Sirius was about to say. 

“Since the day I was born,” Remus groaned. “But yes, Remus, I am deadly serious.” He closed the gap between them and kissed Remus on his lips, just as the door flew open. 

“Really guys, we’re out here fighting Death Eaters, and you’re in here making out?” James chortled as he stood dramatically in the doorway with smoke billowing behind him like some sort of action hero. 

“What can I say Prongs, watching Moony handle a wand does things to me.” He smirked, feeling extremely cocky. Remus snorted and Sirius kissed him again. “Come on, Moony, I promised you pancakes.” He took Remus’s hand again and led him from the room they’d been trapped in and out into the night to apparate back to Remus’s flat.

[berenwrites]

Quiet - Stranger Things - Steddie - G

Rating: G | cw: none | tags: D&D, future fic, Corroded Coffin made it, Eddie lives, fluff

Prompt: Love is sitting in comfortable silence together doing their own thing (@steddieasitgoes)

A/N: Written for @steddielovemonth day 6. I love the idea of Corroded Coffin being a big name, but still being nerds at heart, so this is what I went with.

Also on AO3 | All My Other Stranger Things Fic

Quiet: But Far From Idle

Eddie tapped his pen against his lips as he tried to come up with a dastardly trap for the D&D campaign he was writing. He could use the laptop, but he’s old school and he likes to write things out by hand. It gave him a chance to doodle at the same time.

The fact D&D had made Corroded Coffin relevant to the youth of today rather than finding them via their music was ironic, but he was not arguing with it. It had been Steve’s idea to record one of the band’s campaign sessions and put it on YouTube with clips on TikTok because D&D had become popular again. The band were still touring, still releasing albums, but the social media thing had brought in a whole new generation of fans.

Their new album was nearly ready for release, so Eddie was writing a campaign that incorporated some of the themes from it. Part fun, part advertising. Their record company had been thrilled by the extra attention and had even planned time into their upcoming tour for filmed D&D nights to keep the fans happy. Writing D&D campaigns was now almost as important as writing new music.

Eddie was having a ball.

He glanced over to where Steve had the other end of their dining room table with various large pieces of paper spread everywhere. Steve had a pink hairband pushing his silver-fox hair back to keep it out of his face and his glasses were perched on the edge of his nose. There was a red pen behind his ear and a green one in his hand, and his tongue was poking between his lips as he concentrated.

It was all utterly adorable.

While Eddie planned fantasy, Steve was going over venue security for the beginning of the tour. Steve took the band’s security very seriously. They had a professional team these days to handle everything, and Steve let them do their jobs, but he always insisted on checking. Gone were the days when their only security was Steve in the corner with his baseball bat. However, Steve couldn’t let it go. It was a hang-up from the Upside Down days when they had had no one to rely on but themselves.

They had both almost died, so Eddie could very much understand Steve’s need to make sure those around him were safe.

Steve liked to go old school with paper and a pen as well, and from the looks of it he had found quite a few things wrong with at least one of the venues. The printed plan was covered in red notes. Eddie smiled to himself, knowing that nothing would ever get past Steve.

“Need anything, Sweetheart?” he asked as Steve changed pens while glaring at the venue plan right in front of him.

His husband looked up, blinked, and then smiled.

“No, I’m good, thanks,” Steve said. “How’s the campaign going?”

“They will not know what hit them,” Eddie replied with his best evil grin.

“They never do,” Steve said, glancing back down at the sheet of paper he was currently studying. “You should have a t-shirt made with the old hell-fire logo to make sure everyone knows you’re a demon,” he added as he circled something in red.

Eddie laughed as he lost his husband back to his self-appointed task. He took out his phone and made a quick note to ask Liz, his assistant, about t-shirts before focussing down on his notes again. Steve always had great ideas. It was one of the many reasons Eddie loved him with all his heart. He counted himself one of the luckiest guys on the planet as he went back to quietly planning how to put his best friends into mortal peril.

All My Other Stranger Things Fic

[silviakundera]

Love's Rebellion ep 4 -8 watch comments (warning: these are my raw thoughts, so can be critical. don't read if that will upset you.)

I am enjoying the drama now less than in the first 3 episodes. I think it's that I have limited patience for nice characters pretending to be menacing. I'm ready for them actually to be communicating with each other and working off the same page.

I can see that he's becoming soft for her, since she's so obviously a nice person (and because of seal thingy we know he canonically has a pure heart). But I want more sexual and/or romantic tension than what they are giving so far. ML has made some effort but I'll be honest, I'm feeling nothing coming back from the FL actress. (i.e. nothing in her micro expressions & body language)

Gonna try to fast forward thru things.

Fox clan prince has been introduced. He doesn't like women; he only loves himself. So there is our first grey character.

Episode 5

It's so dumb that she believes in the fake death curse that I refuse to acknowledge this is happening

They are finally turning on some romance but guys, slow mo and mid music is not the answer. Just ask them to both ACT like they're falling in love.

The Great Sect dicks are being dicks, except 1 junior good boy

Young Dragon Lord is still a bro. Very appealing loser.

Episode 6-8

Continuing the situation where she's a nice person, but there's little in her individual performance that indicates she likes him that way. While it's clear that he has started falling for her.

Fox guy is just annoying. Sorry to all fox fans out there.

ah, memories of Super Sus Shifu. Why did ML of the canonically pure heart plead guilty? 🤔 The reason is gonna be some noble idiocy, I'm sure.

More contrived misunderstandings. The writing is forcing her to be annoyingly foolish. Why would she assume he is only after her pearl when he's never been the slightest bit interested in it?

This thing where they are always at odds for petty reasons, a fake-ass enemies to lovers, is wearing thin. Real enemies to lovers, I like. This stuff isn't to my taste. I am not a determined-to-dispute, bickering to lovers trope fan.

Now everyone's in mortal peril from boat lady, the demon elder of Evil Path sect. Sadly, she also bores me.

I like ML and FL ok (when they are getting along) and I do like Dragon bro. Add in fox and demon jiejie and 💤💤💤

Ugly cgi gremlin makes another appearance

ML shows up finally as backup. But will this just end up another annoying misunderstanding?

So after he rescues her and puts her necklace back on, they actually have a mutual romantic moment!

She's finally figured out he's a Canonically Pure Heart™ who is all bark, no bite

Now can you just get along for multiple episodes in a row???

There is absolutely no reason to forgive duplicitous fox boy and not wipe his memory and kick him the fuck out. 😑

On the plus side, we are finally getting some warm vibes back from her

oh how nice, poisioned hot pot. The fox betrayed them AGAIN. And once again he just says shit and FL lets it go. 😒

We actually get a moment of her appearing attracted to Shao Cang! 😯

I still attest that you don't need lense flares, slow mo, or tinted filters to communicate affection. Just acting. Someone ring Richard Li, he can show you how it's done.

I have enjoyed objectively worse & lower budget dramas, but somehow LR isn't clicking in with me. It somehow doesn't have that cdrama feel that compels me... Perhaps I'm not hooking into that emotional sincerity; so many things are constantly happening but they feel like noise and I don't have emotional resonance from the episodes. Characters are frequently picking at each other & prodding at each other, which fills up time on screen but that's what it all feels like... filler. Somehow the vibes remind me less of a cdrama and more about the fantasy adventure genre of tv series that were being aired on Sci-fi (Syfy) network and the BBC circa 2005 - 2015. And tbh I mostly watched those shows because of fandom participation and fan outputs, not for the media product on its own.

I've commented before that cdramas finally introduced me to "good guy" characters that I wholeheartedly love and see as badass. But these leads aren't that style of protagonist. This isn't Xie Lian, Shen Qiao, Tang Fan, et al. So I'm left wishing that FL and ML were more ruthless, calculating, and grey.

[hautsreadsmarvel]

Back-to-back issues of “the Fantastic Four”! (1961, issues 8-9)

Issue 8 is basically about the Thing, and that means it’s a delight.

Reed is working on a project and refuses to let the Thing get near or learn anything about it; this spate of apparent ostracization pushes Thing over the edge and makes him desert the Four briefly.

Villain is a guy who can hypnotize others by making effigies of them from radioactive clay and then maneuvering them like puppets. Not going to bother with most of the plot, but the Puppet Master has a blind daughter, Alicia, whose sharp senses can not only pick out the Invisible Girl’s heartbeat, but also can sense the personality of a person thru touch. She “can sense a gentleness to [the Thing]--there is something tragic--something sensitive!”

Of course, by law of irony, the project Reed was working on was a way to restore the Thing’s cherished human form. The Thing is still the only way to squeeze any personality out of Reed, but I’m starting to enjoy their interactions.

And this is the point at which Thing becomes more than just one of the few multi-dimensional characters - he starts to change! He’s willing to show his heart in this moment, expressing worry that under the Puppet Master’s spell he might’ve hurt the same kid he often threatens to smack around during their spats.

Obviously, Alicia’s attracted to him, and her acceptance of and affability towards him will likely change him up some more, too.

The action is alright. It turns out that Reed is immune to bullets (if eventually exhausted by the deformations they cause on impact), which tragically means that beloved Reedball was meaningless.

Similarly tragic is the high likelihood that Johnny Storm has mesothelioma. The explanation from the next issue on “how” he flies only really explains how he rises into the air (once again I assert his thrust must come from pyrokinesis) but it’s full of a lot of other nifty explanations re: him training, studying, and managing his time to optimize use of his power. Love that shit.

In Issue 9, Reed (presumably) buys high and sells low, rendering the F4 so broke they sell off their headquarters and have their vehicles rendered down to parts sold as memorabilia. It’s so funny to me that the guy who is regularly proclaimed as one of Marvel’s “smartest people in the world” apparently sucks at stock market. Also interestingly, Reed brings up the notion that there is a cost of operations for the F4, which, obviously duh, but I didn’t think that’d ever come up (maybe because these early comics are obviously targeted at kids and logistics don’t seem like a good match for that, or maybe because it’s a “realistic” subject and that doesn’t seem to be a high priority for these mags).

Immeasurably “based”, Thing. Horrid showerthought - if these comics were just coming out today, the Torch would absolutely be speaking contemporary teenslang.

Alicia really is causing character change! Thing and Spider-Man, the only two beings in this universe who have experienced any evolution so far. Speaking of, our next Spider-Man issue is… TWENTY TWO ISSUES AWAY? NOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooooooo (spoiler: Spider-Man continues being peak)

They get an offer from Hollywood to star in a movie about themselves for $1M (equivalent to $10.6M USD today). The producer turns out to be Namor (who looks simultaneously uncanny and sharp asf in a suit), who legitimately funds the film via recovered sunken treasure, and fuck me the love triangle is back

Anyways this is all just a ploy to put everyone who isn’t Sue in mortal peril. Much as I liked the earlier parts of this issue, there is a fantastically racist depiction of a “tribe” (think Zulu stereotype, I’m not snapping a picture of that shit)

Aw c'mon Namor. Why you gotta be so sexism. Don't say "female" like that, Namor.

Anyways at the end of the story, he does give them the money, as promised. A little weird since he patently expected his schemes would kill three of them off, but that kind of honor redeems Namor a little from the earlier genderisms. Great first half to issue 9, prejudicial content bogs down the second half. Hoping to see more Thing growth (and other character developments in general), less Reed-Sue-Namor affection contest (unless it resolves into a throuple, which obviously won't happen), and less -isms.

[gellavonhamster]

reading the post-vulgate, part 1 (the merlin continuation)

"The eldest was called Gawain, the second Gaheriet, the third Agravain, and the fourth Guerrehet" no fucking way they're in a different order again. When will it end

if Merlin knows everything that will happen, why does he go on about how he won't tell Arthur who the knight destined to destroy the kingdom is because he doesn't want to kill a child? A lot more children are going to die because this bitch is refusing to be specific

finally Yvain is Morgan's son again, this was Bothering me

Mordred hit his head as an infant so hard that the scar remained for all his life. This is potential for his brothers making jokes in the vein of "and that's why he is like that" later

in this version, the father of Sagremor the Unruly is also called the Unruly, making it their surname, I guess, which is funny, even though at a later point in Chapter 59 the narrator changes his mind and says that it was Kay who gave Sagremor this nickname

big fan of the fact that Mordred and Sagremor are raised together - there's something cute about a doomed-by-the-narrative goth and a reckless fun guy being childhood friends. And then one of them kills the other :)))

oh, the May babies are rescued in this one! Nice

brief glimpses of some fairy drama as the lady who was girded with the sword that Balin could remove "owed allegiance to the lady called the Lady of the Isle of Avalon" and the one that wanted her killed for killing her father was the one that helped Arthur take Excalibur from the hand in the lake

"In this place will meet in battle the two most faithful lovers of their time" sounds like Lancelot and Tristan will be each other's lovers and the battle in question will be their meet-cute

"For [King Lot] is the one in my land in whom I would have trusted most in great need, and for whom I would have done most" buddy, you slept with his wife.

Gawain is eleven years old when he swears to kill Pellinor for killing his father! And the adults at the funeral praise him for such noble intentions! God!!!

yesss this version supports my headcanon that Yvain's animal-befriending powers are a result of Morgan experimenting with various magic while she was pregnant with him

seriously, would everything that eventually happens had ever happened if Merlin wasn't walking around telling people "you will kill him, and you will kill him, and one of these two boys you're raising will kill the other", thus making everyone think it's inevitable?

you know what would've made reading this easier and more enjoyable? If I cared about Balin

according to this one, there should be 150 Knights of the Round Table

I like that Guinevere is being referred to as "valiant"

"for no adventure that may happen, unless mortal peril is to come of it, may a knight who is sitting at table stir before he has eaten" is a good custom, more contemporary jobs should follow it

Tor's mom is great (loved it when she rebuked Merlin and everyone laughed) and I can't wait for Gawain to kill Pellinor

Kay being described as "a good enough knight, but not as good as the others" lmao

my brain refuses to perceive young Bademagu. This is a middle-aged man with (at least?) two adult children

“Now come forward and see a king’s daughter wield a sword” is one hell of a line

yelling @ the maiden/mother/crone ladies making fun of Gawain being short

I imagine Gaheris here speaking in a very patient voice that simultaneously verges on hysterics because he's so fucking exasperated

I thought this text might change my opinion on Gaheris for the better, but then the matricide part came, with "But it was his opinion that the lady should be blamed and humiliated" and "Then he put his hand on his sword and wished to kill his mother, but he would leave the knight, because he seemed too handsome and valiant, and he was disarmed", and nope, still hate that guy

like what the fuck is WRONG with you!!!

oh I am seething right now

"for they were tired, although they had not yet done anything" meeee

[novaauster]

Three-Dimensional Characters

I did it. I’ve cracked the code.

I figured out what dimensions (or graph axes) people are talking about when they say “three-dimensional characters”. It’s “what they know about themself”, “what they don’t know about themself”, “what they show to others” and “what they don’t show to others”.

Like this!

So, for example, let’s take Katniss Everdeen. Fantastic character, iconic book series. What does she know about herself? That she loves her sister and would do anything for her. That’s the opening knowledge of the book, everything hinges on it. That makes her an active character, because she has this core of belief about herself. 

She shows that she’s angry at the Capitol. It’s imminently important to her that she do so, it makes her feel like she has personhood in a system that’s trying to strip it away. She fights and fights some more, and does not make compromises.

Of course, she doesn’t know that her anger at what is being done to her and her sister, while completely justified and probably her only available coping mechanism, actively harms her chances of survival. Like, a lot. She cannot play along, she cannot make allies (except for Peeta, who puts up with a lot because he knows she can fight better than he can), and thus she is a pretty bad leader. Even so, she makes do and starts a revolution anyway, because most people are just as angry as her.

And, finally, she doesn’t show (to other characters, not to the reader) that she’s terrified. She and her entire home district are in mortal peril, and she’s like sixteen. She doesn’t know how to protect Prim besides fight for her, and she fights so hard and so uncompromisingly that she gets in her own way. It’s an internal conflict and it makes her seem three-dimensional and very human.

These four things are kept in mind in every scene, and get specific based on each circumstance (and they’re a sliding scale too, especially on the “show” axis, she obviously trusts some people more than others). They even change over time somewhat, because she’s a dynamic character. So, yeah.

I’m gonna do the same thing for the characters I’m writing rn under the cut

Keshiro from Empty And Become Wind! He’s so fun and silly and goofy. He knows that nothing can get in the way of his duty as a Raqkesh, and he doesn’t know how to treat his own personhood, outside of his duty, with his charges. He shows that he’s kind of a funny bitch, if someone can’t understand some aspect of his identity (being an airbender, being a Raqkesh, being an agender man, what have you) then he thinks it’s hilarious to lie to them and confuse them further. He shows, to the people he trusts, that being a Raqkesh is a dead-serious thing and violence weighs on a person in the abstract. He doesn’t show, unabstractly, that he’s in pain.

Din from Empty And Become Wind! I love him so much, he’s just a Guy in Situations. He knows that he’s perfectly able to live the life he currently has, and he doesn’t know that he’s gay and the world is a lot bigger than the homophobic little Fire Nation towns he’s been in all his life. He shows that he’d like to meet someone that isn’t absolutely fucking incompetent, and he doesn’t show that, despite the haters, he is capable of whimsy and curiosity.

And those things are all on display during the scene that they meet! Din is guarded because he’s meeting someone who could, to quote popular Disney animated film Aladdin, show him the world and he doesn’t know if he trusts that, Keshiro is being a funny bitch but when someone’s actually in danger he steps up and even risks using airbending to help, and he might tell Din about his charges and the spirits, but he only references his own past (mentions Ther) when it’s imminently relevant that he explains why not having OSHA is bad, actually.

That’s why they’re so fun to write!

[brakken-spideyverse]

The next part of my review-marathon on the path to No Way Home is...

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

The opening segment of this movie might be the best undiluted dose of ‘Parker Luck’ we’ve ever gotten. 

From our first glimpse of Peter on his scooter, you are taken on such a ride of mishaps and triumphs, only for the rug to be swept out from under him at every turn. It finds an excuse to get some Spidey-swinging action with the brilliant moment of “he stole that guy’s pizzas”, which highlights the levels Peter is taking to keep this job, but doesn’t undercut his heroism as we follow up with saving the two kids. The cut from Peter’s blank stare after getting fired from the pizza place to him getting fired at the Bugle is simply masterful.

It pulls no punches as we see Peter get pushed into the dirt more and more, all the while keeping Spider-Man above all that, until eventually his powers fail him and the superhero comes tumbling down to Peter’s level. And then we get Spidey in the elevator – the Raimi films keeping up this trend of strong one-off moments and characters that give so much personality to the world. The elevator could have been a 10-second gag, but we linger on the awkwardness and get a humorous reminder of the human beneath the mask.

Let’s talk about Alfred Molina’s Octavius. From his first scene, there’s a lingering arrogance about him – this subtle impatience beneath his niceties that so perfectly allows us to believe his turn from well-meaning scientist to the rampaging Doc Ock. It’s so well done in fact, that the inclusion of the inhibitor chip ends up trying to fix an issue where there is none. It’s as if the filmmakers feared we wouldn’t believe the character turn, so they very deliberately explain to us that if the chip breaks, the arms gain control. It’s a shame, because we’ve already seen the voice-in-the-head done so well in Spider-Man 1. Now we see a pattern emerging that too easily paints the villains in a sympathetic light - they have the ‘fallback’ of them being manipulated. Even so, the film evokes a nice symbolism by the end, where the arms represent Otto’s unfeeling, scientific mind, and Peter appeals to the man behind it. His arc is very well-crafted, and let down only slightly by giving the arms too much identity early on.

The part of this movie that loses me on rewatching is Spidey’s encounter with Doc Ock at the bank. I love this fight, I love Ock saying ‘butterfingers’, I love Aunt May’s involvement. However, it does feel contrived that Ock reaches through the crowd to grab her, and that he’s at the same bank in the first place… and once again we get this odd lack of acknowledgment of events – Aunt May was put in extreme danger after Peter seemingly flees, and the whole ordeal is hand-waved into a single line in a much later scene.  I could get into other, finer details, but here’s what throws me about the bank scene on a larger scale:

Peter has just witnessed the return of someone he now understands to be incredibly dangerous. Someone responsible for the deaths of multiple people, and the creation of an unstable, city-destroying device. The last time he saw this man, Octavius chose to attack Spider-Man rather than risk stopping his experiment, and now, he has put the most important person in Peter’s life into direct and conscious mortal peril…. then, two scenes later, Peter decides to stop being Spider-Man.

I understand that a factor of this is that he’s losing his powers, but there is so much at stake here, and Peter’s not stupid. This is the city. This is Aunt May. Yet I feel like Peter acts more selfishly here than his choice that got Uncle Ben killed. Here, he gives up his powers for Mary Jane and a normal life, despite knowing the immediate and very real threat posed by Octavius. He makes that choice.

And I want to focus on that. He makes that choice. ‘We are who we choose to be’. And Peter, in the first movie, chose to be Spider-Man. It’s the defining piece of that movie, but fast-forward to this one, he needs to be told by his college physician that actually, no, he can un-make the choice… just to eventually make it again. The movie implies this is a new realization, but for me it’s frustratingly cyclical.

And the broader problem I have with this is, it’s not really about the choice! Yes, he’s given the pep talk from Aunt May, and after the apartment fire he acknowledges that he can’t save everyone as Peter Parker. These are great scenes. But his powers refuse to return – refuse to account for his great responsibility - until Ock puts MJ  in danger. Only when his personal life is once again put into peril - now the film allows him to be back. The apartment fire is meant to show us his will to act on what’s right, and his commitment to doing so despite his situation in life. Aunt May’s words, and Peter’s reflection on Octavius reinforce the notion of sacrificing selfish dreams to do good for others. It’s what redeems the villain, and saves the day. I feel like there’s so much focus put on this side of things, on the choice to sacrifice, that what the movie is saying about balance gets kind of lost in the epilogue.

Ultimately, Peter’s powers returning are about him finding equilibrium in who he is, and this is something he can’t do alone. The first movie’s opening narration tells us that this story is ‘all about girl’, and this one ends with MJ telling him that he shouldn’t live as ‘half of himself’. It’s lovely, it’s heart-felt. “Isn’t it about time somebody saved your life?” is such a beautiful line, I just wish we got to linger on that atmosphere a little more. I wish they could have shown that his powers hadn’t fully returned until that moment, to really let the importance of it sink in. Maybe this film could have done with some closing narration like the first, or maybe we didn’t need the ending swing here and could just leave them together, I’m not sure. I’m certainly torn on the final shot of MJ, her expression hard to read.

It’s also frustrating because by this point the movies have delivered an image of MJ that’s quite shallow when it comes to relationships. In the first film, she went from Flash to Harry in an instant, then quickly became interested in the thrill of Spider-Man, going so far as to claim she was in love with him. Yet after one flowery speech from Peter, she’s tilted in his direction. And here, she’s been together with John for who knows how long, but is still willing to kiss Peter behind her fiancé’s back, before leaving him at the altar. This is shown to be a consistent character flaw for her - and that’s okay! It’s good that she’s not perfect, and the movies touch on her backstory to give us some understanding to that… but it’s only ever touched on – we don’t ever get time for her to unravel her family issues, or see the story address the way she jumps from boyfriend to boyfriend. She is left in that shallow insecurity, and it becomes hard to applaud the core theme of balancing one’s life, when the person making that claim has not been given the chance to become balanced herself. Can we definitively say that she and Peter are right for each other? Does the movie even want us to? Either way, it trips itself somewhat.

Meanwhile, Harry’s story is more or less left in the weeds. Norman’s ghost appears, evoking an implication that Harry is going mad. But Harry unequivocally denies the ghost’s wish for revenge, which is followed up by the discovery that his father was a mass-murdering psychopath. The eerie build-up and menacing music foreshadows Harry will take up the mantle in some fashion, but… why? He’s just shown he isn’t interested in vengeance, and the death of his father at the hands of his friend can now be understood as a hero killing a villain. This set-up could have gone in many directions, but before even touching on Spider-Man 3 it leaves this odd open ending. And I find it interesting how moments like this have seemingly escaped the ire of ‘sequel foreshadowing’ that more recent movies like TASM2 have received.

The final thing I want to note is Spidey’s personality. In the first film, he’s mostly a standard hero archetype, which works well. Even so, he did get in the occasional quip. We had “let mom and dad talk”, and “it’s you who’s out, Gobby”, and heck, even “Cheese!” when he’s posing for his own photos. These worked because the scenes allowed for these moments of levity – for the audience and for the character. In the second film, dialogue from Spidey is very narrative-focused, and almost clinical ‘hero talk’. He lectures kids on not playing in the streets, later informs Octavius he’s pulling the plug on his machine. Peter is allowed to be comedic, but it’s as if once the mask is on, the jokes are off. The one scene where they permit Spidey to be a little bit quippy... is the bank scene. “Here’s your change” is cute, but when faced with a mentor-turned-murderer, the levity in Spidey’s character feels misplaced.

I could get more granular, but ultimately, this film does a lot right as a sequel. On revisiting the trilogy, I find my regard for the first movie overtaking this one to a degree. Which I am okay with, as there is plenty to be enjoyed in both.

One final thing - the fight on the train is incredible, and deserves its place in the hall of fame.

-

-

Rating:

[kmomof4]

Clipping an Angel’s Wings: An Outlaw Queen Story in the Universe of A Family Affair Chapter 5

I’m on time this week!!! Yay me!!! We are almost to the end of our journey but there’s still some important things that need to happen first! Trigger warning for mentions of miscarriage in this chapter. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

All the love and appreciation to @hollyethecurious​ @jrob64​ and @betweengalaxies2​ for all their help in making this fic the best it could possibly be! I couldn’t have done it without them!

Rating: M (language, smut, mortal character peril)

Words: 8363 of approx 47,600

Tags: Inspired by Skin Deep The O’Hurley’s by Nora Roberts, Smut, Stalker, Hollywood, Mentions of Miscarriage, Minor Character Death, Enemies to Lovers

On ao3 From Beginning/ Current Chapter

Series on ao3

Tagging the usuals. Please let me know if you’d like to be added or removed.

@hollyethecurious​ @winterbaby89​ @snowbellewells​ @stahlop​ @resident-of-storybrooke​ @jennjenn615​ @kingofmyheart14​ @profdanglaisstuff​ @branlovestowrite​ @thisonesatellite​ @ultraluckycatnd​ @flslp87​ @whimsicallyenchantedrose​ @let-it-raines​ @shireness-says​ @kymbersmith-90​ @darkcolinodonorgasm​ @bethacaciakay​ @searchingwardrobes​ @ilovemesomekillianjones​ @teamhook​ @aprilqueen84​ @qualitycoffeethings​ @superchocovian​ @artistic-writer​ @donteattheappleshook​ @doodlelolly0910​ @seriouslyhooked​ @tiganasummertree​ @lfh1226-linda​ @xsajx​ @klynn-stormz​ @jrob64​ @wefoundloveunderthelight​ @zaharadessert​ @elizabeethan​ @xhookswenchx​ @gingerpolyglot​ @allons-y-to-hogwarts-713​ @sailtoafarawayland​ @justanother-unluckysoul​ @veryverynotgoodwrites​ @jonesfandomfanatic​ @deckerstarblanche​ @the-darkdragonfly​ @batana54​ @purplehawkcaptain​ @k-leemac​ @motherkatereloyshipper​ @apiratewhopines​ @killiansqueenofthejollyroger​ @onceuponahookandswan​ @meat-pie-with-sauce​ @cosette141​ @pirateprincessofpizza​ @xarandomdreamx​ @fleurdepetite​ @hookmecaptain​

Under the cut, unless Tumblr ate it.

“Do you mind being recruited into the family?”

“Is that what we’re calling it?” Robin asked, walking into the room, a towel wrapped around his waist. There was a suit hanging in the closet that he didn’t want to even think about. Much less put on.

“Dad said you need to be in Graham’s suite an hour before the ceremony,” Regina informed him, doing one last sweep to make sure she had everything to get herself and her sisters ready for the big day. “Just what is it that guys do before a wedding?”

“State secret,” he said, sitting on the bed, “and no, I don’t mind.”

She turned toward him on the bed and almost lost her train of thought. He was still wet from his shower and the bare chest and low slung towel around his hips made her breath stutter and heart rate increase. Down girl.

“What did you think of Graham, Robin?” she asked. “I met him at Ruby’s premiere last summer, and I know you only met him last night, but I just wondered what your impressions were.”

“Looking out for your sister?”

She shrugged. “It goes with the territory.” She may not look like a mother hen, but when it came to her family, beneath the ice cold exterior, she was a marshmallow.

“Dependable, conservative, honorable,” he mused. “He won’t hurt her.”

“That’s what I think, too,” she agreed. “And Ruby?”

“A free spirit, a bit scattered, loving, theatrical.”

“That’s Ruby. It doesn’t seem like they have anything in common, and yet…” She looked at him trailing off. “They fit. They just really seem to fit.”

“They balance each other out,” he agreed. “So what are you worried about?”

She shrugged again. “She’s my baby sister.”

Robin chuckled wryly. “By how many minutes?”

“Time has nothing to do with it.” She said it with such offhand certainty, he was sure she’d been asked the question many times over the years. “She is my baby sister. She’s always been the most trusting one, the most loving. Emma’s so… solid. Strong. And I have enough meanness in me to keep my head above water. But Ruby, she dances her way through life- no pun intended- never worrying about anything, always ready to jump head first into whatever life throws at her. I don’t want to see her lose that wide-eyed, wondrous view of the world.”

“I think your sister knows what she wants and exactly how to make it work,” he reassured her.

“So do I,” she murmured. “I guess I’m just being sentimental.”

“Why don’t you come over here and be sentimental?” he asked, a salacious smirk on his face.

“I thought you were waiting for breakfast,” she replied, a matching smirk lifting the corner of her lips.

“I hate to wait alone.”

She sighed. “If I get back in that bed…”

“Yes?”

“I’ll be late heading downstairs.”

“And we can’t have that can we?” he asked, rising from the bed and stalking toward her.

“Robin,” she warned, holding her hand out. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him, capturing her lips with his own. She moaned as she opened to him, her tongue dueling with his. He held her close and she thrilled to the flex of muscle under her hands- a reminder of how strong he was.

She giggled against his lips. “Something funny?” he asked, pulling back. Her eyes were happy and it made him smile.

“No,” she promised him. “I just feel safe. So wonderfully safe.”

“Safe’s not the only thing I want you to feel.”

“Oh, no?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “What else?”

Love, trust, devotion. It frightened him how those were the first thoughts he had and how quickly they came to him. He didn’t say them out loud, however. “Why don’t I show you instead?” He lowered his head toward hers again when there was a knock at the door. He groaned in agitation.

“You just had to have breakfast didn’t you?” she groused. “I’ll get it. Hold that thought.”

He got back on the bed as Regina walked into the sitting room. Looking around the room, he pictured a home with her. Not hers and not his, but theirs. A home they made together. When you loved, you thought about the future and everything that went with it. He wanted Regina to be his wife with all the traditional trappings that he’d never had use of before. The thought should have terrified him, but instead it almost amused him. He wanted the world to know with his ring on her finger and her ring on his. Robin Locksley, family man. Suddenly, somehow, it fit.

He knew he needed to tell her. She would probably balk. Thinking about it made him smile a little. Persuading Regina Mills to marry him might just be the toughest nut he’d ever cracked.

“Robin?”

“Yeah?”

“Would you come in here for a moment, please?” He could hear just a bit of tension in her voice. He pushed aside his musings and grabbed the robe, wrapping it around himself as he walked into the other room. He saw them the moment he came in. A dozen blood red roses sitting on the small table next to the door. Her face was as white as the card she held in her hand.

“He knows I’m here.” Her voice was steady, she was thankful for that. “He says he’d follow me anywhere.”

When he took the card from her, her fingers were like ice. “He says he’s waiting for the perfect time,” she whispered. He scanned the card and saw the name of the florist shop, Game of Thorns, in the corner.

“He just made his first mistake,” he murmured. “Who brought them up?”

“A bellboy,” she said, still in a daze. “I didn’t even tip him.”

“Stop that.”

His voice brought her back. She knew she wouldn’t get sympathy from Robin, or soothing words or empty promises. She didn’t want them. She wanted answers.

“He’s here, isn’t he?” she asked him. “Maybe in this hotel.”

“Sit down.” He tried to take her arm, but she backed away from him.

“I don’t need to sit down, I need answers.”

The knock on the door made her jump, a terrified squeak coming out of her. Robin moved to the door and looked through the peephole.

“It’s just room service,” he informed her, opening the door. He scribbled his name on the tab then followed the waiter back out to the hallway, looking left and right before entering the room again. “You could use some coffee,” he said, moving past her to the tray.

Her knees may be wobbly, but she refused to sit down. “No, answers,” she insisted. “And for some reason, I feel like you have them. You knew he’d be here,” she accused.

“Yeah,” he admitted, ignoring her protest and pouring two cups of coffee.

“Yeah?” she scoffed. “You’re not one to elaborate, are you, Robin? How? Sixth sense? Gut instinct?”

“Any of those would do,” he agreed. “I expect him to go where you go. But he also said he’d be here in the last few notes he sent.”

Regina’s jaw dropped. “And you didn’t think I should know about that?”

He met her dumbfounded stare steadily. “If I thought you should know, I’d’ve told you. Why don’t you eat something?”

The numb feeling was gone, swallowed up in fury. She very deliberately picked up a plate from the tray and let it drop, the dish shattering on the floor.

“Just who the hell do you think you are?” Her voice carried a venom he hadn’t heard from her before. “How dare you treat me like some brainless, gutless female who needs to be led around by the nose? I had a right to know he intended to follow me! That things would be no better here than they were there.”

He could follow his temper or he could control it. She was furious and he’d let it carry her as far as it would. “I handled it my way,” his words clipped and forceful before taking a sip of his coffee. “That’s what you pay me to do.”

She took a step back in shock. How could she have forgotten? She paid him. This was only a job to him. She straightened up and glared at him. “I expect to be kept informed of your progress, Locksley.”

“Fine,” he said, picking up a piece of toast and spreading it with jam.

“I’ll just leave you to your breakfast,” she snapped and spun toward the bathroom to grab her things. Coming out again, she shot a glare at Robin that would’ve had Will shaking in his boots, but which Robin completely ignored. She crossed to the sitting room when his soft voice reached her.

“Regina.” There was a thread of warning in that single word and it stopped her in her tracks. “You might as well sit down. You’re not going anywhere by yourself.”

“I’m going down to Ruby’s room,” she informed him, icily.

He raised an eyebrow at her. “You can try to leave this room,” he replied. “You won’t make it. I’ll take you down myself as soon as I’m dressed.”

She glanced at the door of the room and back at Robin, catching the look in his eyes. She was almost angry enough to take her chances, but dropped down into the seat behind her instead.

~*~*~

Robin entered the small cramped shop and was immediately assaulted by a barrage of sultry floral scents. There were three other customers in the store, and one very harried man behind the counter trying to take care of all of them at once while ignoring the shrill ringing of the telephone. It was complete chaos.

Robin looked around as the man hurried to and fro between customers.

“Are you going to buy flowers or just look at them?” the man finally asked several minutes later.

Robin turned toward him to see him piling papers on the counter. “Pretty busy today,” he commented.

“You’re telling me nothin’,” the man exclaimed. “Saturdays mean weddings, my clerk is home sick, my daughter and her boyfriend are in town,” the man pulled a face that made it perfectly clear to Robin exactly what he thought about that situation, “and too many people are dying.”

Robin’s brows rose to his hairline. The man looked sheepish. “Funerals. Lots of them this week.” Robin nodded in understanding and pulled out the card that came with the flowers this morning.

“This you?” he asked.

“Game of Thorns, Moe French, Proprietor,” he read. “Says so right there. I’m Moe, what can I do for you?”

“A dozen red roses were delivered to the Plaza Hotel this morning. I want to know who sent them.”

“Who sent them?” he exclaimed. “Are you kidding me? I don’t have time for that!”

Robin pulled a twenty out of his wallet and held it up in front of the man. He sniffed indignantly. “I don’t take bribes. You have a twenty, buy twenty dollars worth of flowers.”

“Fine. Check your receipts? Dozen red roses, Plaza Hotel about ten this morning,” he reminded the man.

He grumbled, but opened a box full of the day’s receipts. “No red roses for delivery to the Plaza this morning.”

“What about yesterday?”

“You a cop?” he asked, his eyes narrowing.

“Private.”

He flipped through more receipts until he held one up. “A dozen red roses to the Plaza Hotel for delivery this morning, Suite 1203.”

Robin held his hand out. “Let me see?” The man handed him the receipt. Robin exhaled with a huff. “Paid cash.” Cash meant no signature and no name.

“I got no problem with cash.”

“What’d he look like?”

“What’d he look like?” he parroted. “I don’t know. I wasn’t here. I already said my daughter and her boyfriend are in town this weekend. I was at home with my family. The clerk that’s home sick today took the order.”

Robin cursed under his breath. “Surveillance video,” he said, looking up at the cameras stationed around the place. “Can I see the videos from yesterday?”

“Sure,” he agreed. “It’ll be tomorrow before I can get it to you, though.”

Robin pulled out his card. “I’ll be heading back home to California tomorrow. Can you email the footage?”

“Sure,” he said, taking the card. “Robin Locksley. Let me get through all these weddings today, and it’ll be in your inbox tomorrow.”

“Thanks.” Robin turned to go.

“Don’t forget your flowers,” Moe reminded him, handing him a bunch of carnations surrounded by greenery and baby’s breath.

“Thanks.” As soon as he walked out, he handed the flowers to a lady passing on the sidewalk and continued on his way.

~*~*~

“Three more hours,” Ruby said, excitedly. “Why didn’t we get married in the morning?”

Regina chuckled at her sister’s exuberance. “It’ll be afternoon before you know it. Come sit down,” she urged, patting the sofa beside her. “Think about something else.”

“How can I think about anything else?” Ruby asked. “I love him so much, Regina.” The glow of love on her sister’s face made Regina smile softly. “I can’t wait to be his wife.”

“I know,” she replied, rising and moving toward Ruby. She took her hands, forcing her to still. “I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’re happy.”

Ruby spun away from her, looking at the door. “Where’s Emma? Shouldn’t she be here by now?”

Regina laughed. “She’ll be here as soon as she drops Killian and Henry off with Dad.”

Ruby turned back to her sister and the two of them sat back down on the sofa. “So, tell me about Robin.”

“Oh, he’s…” Regina shrugged and wouldn’t meet her eyes. “He’s… fine. Just, uh, a man…”

Ruby’s brow furrowed. “Just a man?” she asked. “Come on, Regina. This is Ruby. I’ve seen you with just a man before.” She took her sister’s hands in her own. She couldn’t remember ever seeing Regina this flustered. “You seemed so happy last night. You were glowing.”

“Of course I’m happy,” Regina deflected. “My baby sister is marrying a man I’ve decided is nearly worthy of her.” Ruby rolled her eyes at the baby sister designation then turned abruptly serious as she looked directly into her sister’s eyes.

“Hey, what’s wrong, Regina?”

“Nothing,” she assured her. The nerves on Regina were palpable and Ruby’s excitement for the day suddenly turned to worry for her older sister. There was a knock on the door and Regina’s head snapped toward it and her hands tensed. “Make sure who it is before you open the door. Don’t want an overenthusiastic bridegroom coming in here.”

Ruby rose with a serious look at her sister and moved toward the door.

“It’s Emma,” she said, looking through the peephole. Between the two of them, they’d get to the bottom of what was bothering their sister.

“Why aren’t you fat yet?” Ruby joked with a laugh as she opened the door.

“Because I still have five months to go,” Emma replied with a grin. She came in and dropped the garment bag she held on the chair. “Why aren’t you getting ready yet?”

“Because the wedding’s not for three hours.”

Emma put her arm around Ruby and addressed Regina. “Just enough time,” she asserted. “Think we can whip her into shape?”

“Yep,” she agreed. “At least it will get her to stop her pacing. The guys with Dad?”

“I dropped them at Graham’s door. Mom is getting her hair done and Dad was tuning the banjo. I can’t wait to see Henry in his tux,” she continued. “He looks like such a little man. He’s annoyed we’re only renting it, though. By the way,” she said, coming over and wrapping her arms around Regina, “I like your Robin.”

Regina rolled her eyes, but managed a small smile. “The possessive pronoun’s a bit premature.” On impulse she moved to the phone. “I know what’s missing here,” she said, dialing room service. “Yes, I’d like a bottle of champagne, three glasses. Dom Pérignon ‘71, please. Yes, Ruby Lucas’ suite, thank you.”

Emma’s eyebrows rose. “It’s only eleven.”

“Who’s counting?” she asked. “The Swan triplets are going to celebrate.” Her eyes suddenly filled with tears. “Oh, God,” she breathed. “Sometimes I miss you both so much, I can hardly stand it.”

In an instant, they were together, holding each other close, just like they had been in the womb. Ruby sniffled, Emma soothed, and then to her sisters’ complete surprise, Regina broke down completely.

“Oh, baby,” Emma cried, lowering them all to the sofa and casting a quick concerned glance at Ruby. “What’s wrong, Regina?”

“Nothing, nothing,” she protested, wiping away her tears. “Just being overly emotional. I’m just so happy to be here with both of you, Emma with your beautiful family and Ruby starting one of her own.” She paused and took a deep breath. “Maybe if things had been different…” she trailed away. “But no,” she continued, straightening her spine, “I made my choices, and now I have to live with them.”

Emma swept Regina’s hair away from her face. “Is this about Robin?”

“No… yes. ” She lifted her hands and then dropped them helplessly. “I don’t know.” Her breath hitched. “I hired Robin to keep an overenthusiastic fan at a safe distance,” she said with a shrug, still trying to downplay the situation. “But now I’ve fallen in love with him, and…” She lifted her head, her hand covering her mouth, a look of fearful wonder on her face as she looked at her sisters. “I just said it out loud.”

“Did it help?” Ruby asked, her voice so gentle, it made Regina want to weep again.

“Maybe? I’m being an idiot.” She wiped her face and rose to grab a tissue. “And I’ll be damned if I walk down the aisle as Maid of Honor with red and puffy eyes.”

Ruby grinned. “That sounds more like Regina. And besides, if you love him, it will all work out.”

Regina sent Ruby a watery smile. “Always the optimist.”

“Absolutely! Emma found Killian, I found Graham, so now it’s your turn.” Her face turned speculative. “Now, if we could just pin down David.”

Regina laughed. “Now you’re really reaching. If there’s a woman out there that can put a hobble on big brother, I’d love to meet her.” She started at the knock on the door, but brought herself back quickly. “Must be the champagne,” she said, moving toward the door and looking through the peephole, “Whoops, that’s not all. We have a love-sick maniac out here, too.”

“Graham? Is it Graham?” Ruby asked, halfway to the door already.

“Oh, uh-uh,” Emma said, hooking an arm around Ruby’s waist and dragging her toward the bedroom. She may be four months pregnant, but she was still agile. “We’re not risking any bad luck. You get in there,” she continued, pushing Ruby into the bedroom. “Regina and I can transmit any messages.”

“This is silly,” Ruby said, wrinkling her nose.

Regina shrugged as she leaned against the door. “I’m not opening it until you’re all the way out with the door shut.”

Ruby rolled her eyes. “Ugh, fine.” Once the door was shut, Emma planted herself in front of it and nodded at Regina.

“Just over there,” she directed the waiter. “And you…” she put a perfectly manicured finger to Graham’s chest, “not a step further.”

“I just want to see her for a minute.”

Regina could feel the love, the nerves, the longing coming off of him and she shook her head. He hadn’t changed into his tux yet and was dressed like the executive he was in khaki pants and a button down dress shirt. He was the furthest thing she would have imagined for her free-spirited, bohemian sister, and yet, they somehow complemented each other perfectly.

“Look, I have something for her.” Used to getting his way, Graham stepped forward, but Regina moved in front of him easily. “I’ll be in and out before you know it.”

“You won’t be in at all,” Regina corrected him. “Seriously, Graham, we’re theater people. You won’t find a group more superstitious. Do you really think you’re going to get past us? You’ll see Ruby at the church.”

Hearing a stirring behind the door, Emma grabbed the knob. “I’m sure you’re too much of a gentleman to try and get through both of us.” Deploying the ultimate weapon, she placed her hand on her middle. “Or should I say, all three of us?”

Graham was suddenly doubtful of the ultimate success of his plan. He wanted to see Ruby, if only for a moment, touch her, reassure himself this was all real. He’d managed to get past both Marco and Killian, but he knew now he was out of his depth. “Would you give her this, please?” he asked. “It belonged to my grandmother. I was going to give it to her later, but I’d like for her to wear it today.”

“She’ll wear it,” Regina promised, taking the small box from him. “Oh, and Graham?”

“Yes?”

“Welcome to the family.” She shut the door in his face and leaned back on it. “Anymore of that, and I’d be blubbering again.” She nodded at Emma. “Let her out.”

Ruby was halfway across the room in the next second. “Did he give you something? What is it?”

Regina opened the box and saw a silver heart made of diamonds on a thin silver chain. “Oh,” Ruby breathed, taking it out of the box. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

“And it’ll look even more beautiful against your dress,” Emma said, running her finger along the stones. “Here, let me clasp it for you.”

Ruby turned and fanned her face. “Now I’m gonna cry.”

“No,” Regina insisted. “No more tears.” She popped the cork on the champagne with a flourish and filled the three glasses. “We’re going to get a little drunk- well, two of us are going to get a little drunk, and Emma’s going to have half a glass. And then, between the three of us, we’re going to create the most beautiful bride to ever walk down the aisle at St. Pat’s. Here’s to you, little sister,” she finished, raising her glass.

“No,” Ruby demurred, tapping her glass to Regina’s and then Emma’s. “Here’s to all of us. The Swan triplets. As long as we have each other, we’ll never be alone.”

~*~*~

At Regina’s insistence, she and Robin caught the red-eye back to LA Saturday evening. New York hadn’t been the haven she’d hoped it would be. With the wedding over and Ruby and Graham off on a Caribbean honeymoon, Regina could only think about getting home.

What could she say to Robin? She felt betrayed by his silence, yet had she, by her unwillingness to listen to his reports, asked for it? Was she so weak, so cowardly that he felt he had to shield her from everything? For only one brief time in her life, she had not had her hands firmly on the wheel, in control of her own life. Because of fear, she’d all but fully relinquished that control again and it was time to take back the helm.

Robin wondered how long it would take her to unfreeze. She’d been cool, aloof, distant all through the wedding and reception. He had no choice but to accept it. Yet, when he’d seen her walking down the aisle in a beautiful red gown in front of her sister, he’d wanted to carry her off somewhere, anywhere.

He wondered what it’d be like to stand where Graham had stood this afternoon and see Regina walking toward him in a gown of white lace. To hear her make the promises her sister had today. To make promises of his own.

They were almost ready to land and Regina dozed restlessly beside him. Couldn’t she understand he did what he did for her? To give her a chance to relax, if only for a little while. No, she didn’t understand and he couldn’t explain. Maybe if he was one of her leading men with a script he could memorize. But he wasn’t. He didn’t have the words. All he had were the emotions.

On the way home in the back of the limo, Regina’s leg moved restlessly.

“I’d like to see all your reports by noon tomorrow.”

“Fine. I have the file at the house.” Streetlights flashed in the windows but there wasn’t enough light to see his expression.

“And I’d like an update of anything you found out in New York.”

“You’re the boss.”

“I’m glad you remember that.”

He wanted to strangle her. He thought of ways that were quick and quiet, but instead he simply sat back and bided his time. Once they were back inside the house, she walked regally past him toward the stairs without a word.

“Something eating you, angel?” he asked, grabbing her arm as she reached them.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She looked pointedly at his hand on her arm and then back at him. “Will you excuse me now, Robin? I want to take a nice long bath.”

No one did it better. He had to give her that as he watched her climb the stairs and then walk down the hall to her room. She could, with a look, an inflection, slice a man in half without leaving a drop of blood.

He thought he was calm. He thought he was in control. Until he heard the lock click on her door. Then the rage he’d been holding back all day clawed free. He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t even think. He moved to her bedroom door and kicked it in.

She wasn’t often speechless. Regina just stood there, the jacket of her pantsuit already off and laying across the chaise lounge at the foot of the bed. She’d seen fury before, real and simulated, but she’d never seen anything like what blazed in Robin’s eyes right now.

“Don’t you ever lock a door on me.” His voice was low and quiet after the crash of the splintering door.

“I want you to leave.” Her heartbeat thundered in her chest, but she raised her chin at him defiantly.

Robin chuckled darkly. “Haven’t you learned, angel? We don’t get everything we want. I’m here to stay. You’re gonna have to do a hell of a lot more than turn a key to keep me out.”

When he moved toward her, she stiffened but refused to retreat. She was done backing away from anything, even him.

“You wanted to slap me down, and that’s fine,” he barked, moving into her personal space. “But I’ll be damned if I take it from you for doing my job.”

“I won’t be treated like a fool, or a weakling,” she shot back. She took a deep breath. “You knew he was going to follow me to New York. You knew I’d be no safer there than I was here.”

“That’s right,” he confirmed, pointing in her face. “I knew and you didn’t. And you had one night when you didn’t toss in your sleep.”

“You had no right…”

“I had every right,” he interrupted. “I have the right to do anything, everything necessary to keep you safe. And I am going to keep on doing it, because there is nothing that matters to me more than you.”

Regina gasped. She’d seen it in his eyes. Beneath the rage and frustration, but hadn’t been sure she could believe it. “Is that…” She trailed away and took a fortifying breath. She couldn’t let her voice tremble now. “Is that your way of telling me you love me?”

He stared down at her, a great deal more stunned by his pronouncement than she was. He hadn’t meant to throw it at her like a threat. He meant to coax her along until she realized she needed him. But patience was never his strong suit.

“Take it or leave it.”

“Take it or leave it,” she murmured before she blew out a long breath and wrapped her arms around his waist, snuggling into him.

Robin exhaled with profound relief. He buried his face in her hair and wondered how he’d ever survived without her touch. “I guess that means you’re taking it.”

“Yeah,” she breathed into him. “I’ve been trying to figure out a way to make you fall in love with me so you wouldn’t walk away when this is all over.”

“I’m not going anywhere, angel.” He found her lips and made it a promise. “Let me hear you say it. Look at me and say it. No lights, no script, no cameras.”

“I love you, Robin. More than I ever thought possible. It scares the hell out of me.”

“Good,” he said before kissing her again, harder. “It scares the hell out of me, too.”

“We’ve got some things we need to talk about.”

“Later,” he said. He was already pulling the red cami she wore out of the waistband of her slacks.

“Later,” she agreed, doing the same to the shirt he wore and pulling it off of him. She smirked appreciatively. “Want to take a bath?”

“Yeah.”

“Before?” she laughed, stepping into him and peppering his jaw with her kisses, “Or after?”

“After,” he affirmed before he pulled her to the bed.

It had been frantic and passionate before, it had been soft and tender, but now there was love- felt, spoken, and answered. She’d stopped believing that she could ever have this, love, respect, acceptance, understanding. She mewled under him as his hands, mouth, and tongue mapped every curve, every inch of her skin. He buried his face in her hair and held her close as if he realized, too, what a gift they’d been given.

She thought he trembled. She ran her hands along his back and felt the quick tensing of muscle. She didn’t want to soothe it. She wanted him just as she was- stunned, a little afraid, and deliriously happy. In an uncharacteristically possessive move, she ran her hands all the way down his back and then back up again. He was hers. From this moment, he was hers. There would be a tomorrow with Robin. There would be a lifetime of tomorrows.

He didn’t search for her. He never knew he wanted, needed someone to share his life with. Still, he had found her, and she was everything. The perfect complement to his rough and tumble exterior and the other half of his soul that he never knew he was missing. She was his mate. There was something primal and yet profoundly soothing in the word. It meant someone to share passionate nights with, someone to wake up with on lazy mornings, someone to reach out for, to protect, cherish. Someone to build a future with.

He looked down at her, the soft lights of the lamps making her skin glow. “So beautiful,” he murmured. “Not just here,” he said, tenderly stroking her face, “but here, too,” he said, pressing an open mouth kiss to her sternum. “Inside.”

“No, I…”

“Don’t contradict the man who loves you,” he admonished her. He laced his fingers with hers and brought them up to his mouth, kissing the pad of each finger. He didn’t know how to show her how he felt. He wasn’t used to pampering. Romance was for the movies or for books. And yet, he needed to show her the feelings he had were so far beyond desire, he couldn’t measure them.

When he made them one, they clung to one another, exquisite pleasure their only guide as they carried one another into the dark.

~*~*~

“Thank God it’s Sunday,” Regina moaned, sinking into the whirlpool tub filled to the brim with fragrant bubbles. She laughed when she caught the look on Robin’s face. “You’re supposed to enjoy the bubbles, not scowl at them.”

“I don’t know what it is about women and bubbles…”

Regina shrugged. “They’re decadent and they smell nice.”

A mischievous glint appeared in his eyes. “Well, if it’s the bubbles that keep you smelling good enough to eat,” he admitted, “then I guess I can endure them.”

The tub was plenty big for two, but she hadn’t considered the amount of bubbles and water needed when adding another person. The water nearly reached the rim and the bubbles came up to her chin. He grabbed her arm and pulled her toward him, both of them slipping under the water. They came up, hair and faces covered with the fragrant mess, laughing like children.

Robin hadn’t lost his grip on Regina’s arm so he kept pulling her forward as he wiped his face with the other. She straddled his thighs and rocked into his rapidly hardening length. She caressed his face tenderly and sighed.

“What?” he asked.

“I just never thought I’d have this,” she murmured, brushing his lips with hers. “I love you, Robin.”

“I love you, too,” he said, kissing her tenderly as he slipped into her warmth. He thrust into her slowly, she could feel every inch of him along her walls. On top of him, her breasts were just above the water line. He licked and laved the sensitive skin as the pleasure sent her higher and higher, her orgasm coiling tightly in her belly. The water sloshed over the edge of the tub as their rhythm faltered, clinging tightly to one another as they climaxed together.

Regina drew in a shuddering breath as she was rocked with aftershocks. She could still feel him throbbing within her, his head buried where her neck joined her shoulder. Her head rolled as he brushed sweet and soft kisses along her pulsepoint and collar bone.

“I never thought I’d have this, either,” he whispered into her skin in between kisses. “It was never something I considered. Never something I wanted. Until I met you.”

She pulled back and looked at him. The love in his eyes made her catch her breath and her eyes fill with tears.

Robin reached up and caught a tear as it slipped down her cheek. “Don’t cry, Regina.”

“I can’t help it,” she said on a watery exhale. “The happiness inside has no other outlet.” She surged forward and captured his lips with hers in a passionate kiss that seemed to go on forever.

“I guess we should get out before I turn into a prune,” she said when they finally parted. She rose and Robin caught his breath. She was utter perfection, her raven locks brushing her shoulders, the honey almond tone of her skin positively glowing with rivulets of water running down her body back into the tub. He flipped the lever to drain the water and rose with her. He placed his hands on her hips and noticed the chill bumps on her skin.

“You’re cold,” he observed, grabbing a towel from the rack and wrapping it around her. “Can’t have you going back to work tomorrow with a sniffle.”

“I never have a sniffle, it’s in my contract,” she quipped right back at him as she wrapped a towel around him.

“Once we’re married,” he began, stepping out of the tub, “the rules of the bath are gonna have to change. Bubbles are fine, but they have to be unscented. It’s one thing for the staff to sniff, but we can’t have the kids wondering if their father wears perfume.”

“We’re getting married?”

She’d just taken about half a dozen steps back. He could hear it in her voice. He turned back to her to see her stock still, her face nearly drained of color.

“That’s usually what people in love do, angel,” he pointed out. “There a problem?”

She cut her eyes to the side before answering. “Well, you haven’t exactly asked me.”

He moved to her and rubbed his hands across her shoulders and down her arms, looking her square in the eye.

“Well then,” he murmured, “allow me to correct that.” He sank down on one knee and looked up at her. “Regina Louise Veronica Swan…” he trailed off and Regina had to giggle at the confusion on his face. “Swan or Mills?” he asked.

“Either works,” she choked out.

“Regina Louise Veronica Swan, will you please marry me?” he asked.

Regina’s face fell and Robin felt his heart stop in his chest.

“Before I answer,” she began, her voice shaking slightly, “there’s something I have to tell you first.”

Robin rose and looked into her eyes. A deep and lasting pain dulled the sparkle he loved in her brown eyes.

“You want children…” she murmured.

“Yes,” he drawled, nodding slowly. “Don’t you? Or does a husband and kids not fit the image?” He couldn’t keep the bite of hurt out of his words.

She looked at him, anger flashing within the despair in their chocolate depths. “My parents raised four children on the road. There’s nothing more important than family, not a career, and certainly not an image.”

“Then what is it?” he asked gently.

“First, let me say there’s nothing I’d love more than to marry you and start a family.” She turned away from him and entered the bedroom, discarding the towel and wrapping herself in a red fluffy robe. Robin moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing a kiss to her neck. She relaxed into him and sighed before pulling away and facing him. “Could you sit? This would be easier for me if you would sit.”

He moved to the chair and sat down. The hurt and fear of what she had to say were waning, but the look on her face had him tensing anyway.

“There’s something you need to know before we go any further,” she informed him. “If I had listened to Mom, I would have told you before now, but…” she paused briefly and took a deep breath. “Here we are.”

“Regina, if you’re trying to tell me you’ve been with other men…”

She interrupted him with a bitter laugh. “Not exactly. That definitely doesn’t fit the image, does it? But I only slept with one other man before you. Surprise,” she said when he simply stared. She moved to the window. “I was almost twenty when I met him. I’d been in Hollywood for about a year and a half, doing commercials, taking acting classes, I even had a part time job selling magazines over the phone. I kept telling myself it was only a matter of time, and I believed it, but it was tough. Oh God, it was so tough being alone.” She clasped her hands in front of her and her eyes were far away, lost in the memory. “Then Will called and said he’d gotten me a test for a small part on a feature. Lawless, my first real break. The producer was…”

“Samdi Facillier.”

She stared at him dumbfounded. “Yes, how did you know?”

Robin shrugged. “A lot of movie buffs might, but the fact is, I already knew about him. He came up in your background check.”

“You did a background check? On me?”

“It’s standard, Regina,” he assured her. “I run a check on you and maybe someone comes up that you’ve forgotten about or didn’t think to mention. Like Samdi Facillier. He’s clean, by the way. Been in the UK the last eighteen months.”

“Standard,” Regina murmured. “I see.”

“What difference does it make now? So you slept with him.” He shrugged. “You needed a break and he could give you one. It was years ago and I don’t give a damn.”

Regina’s eyes widened and every muscle in her body tensed. “You think I slept with him to get a part?”

“I’m telling you, I don’t care,” he said, standing and reaching for her.

“Don’t touch me,” she snapped, pulling back out of his reach. “I don’t have to sleep with someone to get a part and I never have. I may have made a grievous error that I’m still paying for today, I may have given much more of myself than I should have, but I’ve never prostituted myself.”

“I’m sorry,” he said gently, taking her into his arms despite her protests. “I’m not doing this very well. What I mean to say is that whatever happened between you doesn’t matter.”

She laughed bitterly again. “Oh, it matters. Believe me, it matters.” She relaxed into him, resting her head on his chest, letting him hold her. “When Will called to tell me I got the part, I was so happy. I knew it was only the beginning.” She swallowed hard and took a deep breath, so thankful to have his arms around her, supporting her, helping her get through this. “Samdi sent me a dozen roses, a bottle of champagne and a lovely letter of congratulations. He said he knew I was going to be a star and suggested we have dinner to discuss the film and my career.”

Robin stroked her back trying to soothe her. He wished he could see her face, look into her eyes as she told her story, but something told him that she needed his touch more.

“Of course, I agreed. He was one of the top producers, riding a wave of three box office smashes. I knew he was married, but I didn’t think twice about that.” The self-derision, the self-disgust in her voice broke his heart.

“Regina, it was years ago,” he tried again.

She pulled back and looked at him, tears in her eyes. “There are some things you never stop paying for,” she whispered before resting her head on his chest again. “We were just going to have dinner, as colleagues. God, he was charming.” The memory still hurt, but the pain was dull now, covered with scar tissue. “The dinners kept coming, the flowers. He knew so much about the business, the people. Who to talk to, who to be seen with. All of that was so important to me then. I thought I could handle it.” Her breath hitched. “The truth was I was just a naive young girl on her own for the first time.”

“I fell in love with him. I believed everything he said about he and his wife living together for appearances only, that a quiet divorce was already in the works. About the two of us making the best and brightest team Hollywood had seen since the golden age. The whole thing might have run its natural course as I got a bit smarter and he a bit bored. But before that happened, I made a mistake.” She paused and Robin held his breath. “I got pregnant.” She swallowed heavily. “You didn’t find that in your background check did you?”

Rage hit but he smothered it. “No.”

“He had enough money, enough influence to keep it quiet. It wasn’t an issue very long.”

He was struggling, fighting desperately to keep his anger at bay, keep himself under control. As he’d already said, it was years ago. There wasn’t anything he could do about any of this now. “You had an abortion?”

“That was what he wanted. He was furious. I guess any man would be when their mistress- and that’s what I was really- turns up pregnant and threatens their very comfortable marriage. Of course, there were no plans to get a divorce and marry me.”

“He used you,” Robin spit out, tightening his arms around her. “You were a kid and he used you.”

She nodded into his chest. “Anyhow, I told him he could go to hell, but I was keeping the baby. Things got ugly then. He threatened to destroy my career if I didn’t play his way. There’s no use going into what was said, but the affair was over and my eyes were wide open.”

“You’re still hurting,” he murmured into her hair.

“Yes,” she acknowledged, “but not for the reasons you might think. I thought I loved him, but once the glitter washed off, I knew I never had. I called my parents. I was ready to run back to them and leave everything behind. I bought my plane ticket. Robin, I don’t know what I would have ultimately done once I was thinking clearly.” She paused again and took another deep breath. “That’s the worst part, not knowing,” she whispered. “There was an accident on the way to the airport.”

Robin shut his eyes, guessing what came next. He bent down and picked Regina up bridal style and walked over to the chair, sitting down with her in his lap. He held her close, her head tucked under his chin.

“Nothing major,” she continued, “the driver had a couple of broken bones, and I… I lost the baby.”

Her breath caught on a sob and Robin shut his eyes, willing the tears in his eyes not to fall.

“I lost the baby,” she cried, “and I tried to tell myself it was for the best, but all I could think of was that it never had a chance. I was only six weeks pregnant. Six weeks. There, then gone. Will pulled me out of it. Got me back to work almost as soon as I was out of the hospital. Everything clicked for me, then- the parts, the people, the fame I’d always wanted. All I had to do was lose a baby.”

“Regina,” he murmured, kissing her head. “There’s nothing I can say. Nothing I know how to do.”

“There’s more.”

“No more.”

“There’s more you have to hear,” she insisted, her head still buried in his chest. “When I lost the baby, there were complications. The doctors told me it was possible for me to have other children, but it wasn’t something they could guarantee. Possible. Only possible. Not even probable. There might never be another baby, another chance. Do you understand?” she asked, finally pulling back enough to look at him.

“Are you going to marry me?”

Regina’s face was slack and he wanted to cover it with his kisses, his love. “Robin, did you hear what I just said?” she asked. “I said…”

“I heard what you said,” he interrupted. “You might not be able to have children. I want them, Regina. Yours, mine. But first and foremost, I want you. The rest is up to chance.”

The stunned wonder in her eyes made him want to hold her close to him for the rest of his days. “I love you, Robin.”

“Good. Let’s get married tomorrow,” he urged her, only half joking.

“No,” she said, putting her hands to his chest. “I want you to think about this. Really think about it. A few days, at least.”

“I don’t need a few days,” he asserted, “I need you.”

“I feel like I owe it to you. Please, Robin. Just a few days.”

“A very few days, angel.” He held her close again. “I’m never going to let anyone hurt you again.”

She smiled before kissing him soundly. “Let’s go to bed, Robin.”

He stood from the chair with her still in his arms and carried her to the bed. “I like that plan.”

~*~*~

Late Sunday night, Robin sat in Regina’s office in front of his laptop. Regina slept soundly across the hall after the day they had spent in bed and he wished he was with her, sound asleep and holding her in his arms.

He rubbed his face in frustration. What in the hell had he been thinking asking for the surveillance footage? He had no idea what time the order had been made and had been fast forwarding through Friday’s footage for the last hour. Moe had been in the shop until mid afternoon, Robin could see him moving about behind the counter, but once he left, he slowed the speed down and started paying more attention to the customers. He knew it was a long shot, but perhaps he’d recognize someone from the studio or Regina’s life on the footage. Not long after Moe had left, Robin noticed a man on the street. A man with a very familiar profile. No.

Robin’s eyes narrowed as he sat up and moved closer to the screen. The footage was digital, but it was definitely not the best. The man came in the shop and moved to the counter before Robin could positively identify him. His mouth hung open and he scrubbed his hand down his face in disbelief.

Surely not.

It couldn’t be.

Will Scarlet stood at the counter of Game of Thorns late Friday afternoon. He didn’t want to believe it. Will was a friend. To them both and Robin knew just how hard it was to make and keep friends in this business. Yet how well did he really know Will? He hadn’t known about the gambling until he dug it up. Was it possible that an addiction could have led him down this path now?

Robin sighed. He was being stupid. The next step was to see where Will was this weekend. Doppelgangers were a real thing and it was certainly possible that someone who strongly resembled Will Scarlet lived in New York City. He opened his contacts and found Will’s number.

“Answering for Will Scarlet.”

“I need to speak with him.”

“I’m sorry. Mr. Scarlet is unavailable until Monday.”

“Make him available. This is important.”

The voice became very prim. “I’m sorry. Mr. Scarlet is out of town.”

Nerves skimmed down Robin’s spine. “Where?”

“I’m not at liberty to say.”

“This is Robin Locksley calling for Regina Mills.”

The voice suddenly became much more conciliatory. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Locksley. You should have told me who you were. Mr. Scarlet is out of town this weekend. Should I have him call you if he checks in?”

“I’ll catch up with him Monday. Where is he?”

“He flew to New York on some personal business.”

“Yeah.” He bit off an oath as he hung up. It was personal alright. Very personal. This was gonna hurt. And it was gonna hurt deeply.

~*~*~

Thank you for reading and sharing! Next week everything gets tied up! Sneak peek will be up on Tuesday! Until then, y’all!!

[fatechica]

El CANT DIE. If the suffer brothers make her sacrifice herself after all the shit they put her through it’s over for them. People will riot and go crazy (I’m people).

But honestly, her dying it’s such a stupid idea, putting the fact that if she dies it would 100% DESTROY me aside. She deserves a happy ending just like everyone, with her mom and dad, her siblings, friends and her boyfriend who has loved her since he first met her plzzz

She’s totally going to save everyone again, so I demand that she stays happy and healthy in the end or else 👊

EL CAN'T DIE NO SHE CAN'T. I WON'T ALLOW IT ANON. NOPE NO WAY IN HELL. I'M PEOPLE TOO AND I WILL RIOT GOD DAMMIT.

But, ugh, yeah, no they can't kill off El. For one, it's just mean to have her fight all this time only to die at the end? Like her sacrifice would be the entire point? Get the fuck out of here with that.

But, secondly, it would go against the entire 80s nostalgia pastiche the Duffers so dearly love to lean into. Were there a lot of bittersweet endings in 80s movie and TV? Oh yeah, sure, not doubt. But the predominant tone was: bad guys lose, good guys win and the main characters get their happy-ever-after. Maybe some of the people supporting the hero on his/her journey don't make it, but those aren't the super central people to the story.

So, yeah, I'm almost positive El isn't going to die - it wouldn't be very "Spielberg" of them and man do they love riffing off Spielberg.

(This also extends to Mike, by the way, who is almost 100% safe in his role as the hero's love interest. At worst, the love interest ends up in some sort of mortal peril, but the hero saves them at the end just when things are at their most bleak moment.)

[alirhi]

10 Sebastian roles as boyfriends

Because... I'm bored and I feel like it. 😂 Probably some spoilers for, like... everything? So yeah... That.

Putting it under here for easy scrolling:

10: Chase Collins

Who doesn't love a goofball? In the first half of the movie, Chase is basically perfect. He's sweet, funny, not all caught up in his ego, and actually pays attention to what the girls around him are saying, not just to what he wants to hear. If not for the whole... it was all an act to get close to Caleb and try to steal his magic thing, Chase would actually be a damn good high school boyfriend. He's adorable and would be a fun date, but he's also only 18 so best not to start making long-term plans lol. Also, y'know... the whole psycho revenge/power grab thing.

9 Jack Benjamin

Y'all. Y'all. Words cannot describe how much I love Jack. Pretty sure I've made this clear. As a person/character in general, he's absolutely in my Top 3 - not just of Sebastian's characters, but any character ever. ❤ But as a boyfriend? Boy's got baggage. It's what makes me so protective of him, but seeing as how he's trapped in the closet thanks to his overbearing homophobic family and the insane expectations heaped on him, as the show left him, he can't handle an honest relationship. He's too easily influenced by all the wrong people, poor babe.

8 Chris (Destroyer)

On paper, undercover cop sounds cool and exciting, but even if you ignore the fact that he, y'know, dies... Chris got in too deep and kinda lost the mission, so to speak. Best case scenario, you're his sexy partner and in on it all with him and end up on the lam for the rest of your lives. Worst case, this man lies for a living, so can you even trust him? And... yeah. The whole dead thing. Chris is hot af but getting involved with him is a recipe for disaster.

7 Ben

Min and Hathor have mercy, I love Ben! He's smart, he's snarky, he's caring and loyal... he's an absolute disaster. He's another one who seems allergic to honesty, until his lying and avoiding nearly kill his girlfriend. Not exactly relationship goals lol. Everything before totally was, though! Ben's adorable, and I love how he stayed up all night to protect his girlfriend (from a ghost/demon thing... with a baseball bat. I said he was smart, not perfect, okay? XD points for effort lol)

6 Mickey Henry

I. LOVE. MICKEY. Oml I love Mickey. He's a spazz and - even more so than Ben - an absolute disaster of a human being, but I love him. Pros for dating Mickey Henry: he's fun, he's carefree, he'll cook for you even though he's kinda bad at it lol, he loves his son and wants to be a good dad, he wants his partner to be happy and to love life as much as he does. Cons, and the reason he's not higher on the list: He's a pushover; easily influenced by the toxic people in his life, and it gets him into a lot of trouble. Being easily influenced by toxic dumpster fire of a human being Chloe almost lost him the partial custody of his son that he barely even had. He's an absolute sweetheart, but he's a complete man-child, and dating him would often feel more like raising him.

5 Frank "Suffer Buddy"

Come on! You know he and Mickey had to be back-to-back - they're practically the same character! 😂 Frank is Mickey... slightly more grown up. He's still a disaster, but he's respectful of boundaries, he's caring, he's funny in a dry, witty way that I just adore, and hoo lordy that man is a giver! 🥴🥵 Honestly, if he didn't smoke and didn't ditch Daphne in the middle of a party hours away from everything familiar to her surrounded by strangers to go do drugs, I'd call Frank perfect. He listened, he respected her wishes, he tried to keep some distance between them when he found out she'd gone on a date with his best friend (it failed utterly and brought us to the "damn that man's good with his mouth" portion of the movie lmao but still)... I don't have a whole lot of experience with men who actually give a shit, okay? So Frank is like a goddamn unicorn to me lmao. But that drug thing... That keeps him at the bottom of the Top 5 for me. Sorry, bb

4 Bucky

I can already hear everyone on here raging at me for placing Bucky so low on this list, but hear me out: I love this man. I love all four iterations of this man. Flirty 40s Bucky was a doll (fun date, not commitment material). Post-POW camp 40s Bucky had a fire to him that set me on fire. The Winter Soldier can choke me any damn day. Unf. And TFATWS Bucky... Oh, lady above, 2023 Bucky is a gem! He's sweet, snarky, and broken. He feels utterly, wretchedly alone in the world, and everyone around him, including his only friend, is telling him to "man up" and "make amends" for shit that was never his fault to begin with, rather than helping him come to terms with all that he's suffered and all that he's survived. Bucky needs and deserves love. A relationship with him would be so solid, if he found the right person... But it would take a fuck ton of work. He needs someone strong, patient, and more stubborn than he is to prod him until he finds a better therapist and actually opens up, and to keep him on track because even good therapy comes with homework. He does have to "do the work," Sam was right about that much, but he was way off base with what that "work" is. Bucky needs help and understanding, and he would be an amazing boyfriend... if he found someone with the strength to help him weather his nightmares and flashbacks, and help pull him out of this PTSD pit he's been in since 1943.

3 Chris Beck

Big brains turn me on, okay? 😂This man is an astronaut and a surgeon! Yes, please! Come here, you sexy genius! He's smart, he's funny - pretty sure Sebastian is incapable of playing anyone who's not delightfully snarky lol. He's pragmatic when he needs to be but there's also nothing he wouldn't do or risk for the ones he loves. This man is husband material and I cannot be convinced otherwise! So why isn't he #1? Cuz of the whole... spending years in space, thing. Super cool job and I'd be his biggest fan on the ground, but god damn, I would miss him while he's away!

2 TJ Hammond

Look, I'm gender fluid and he's a little bit bi 😂😂😂 Let me have my fantasy, okay? TJ's definitely got a lot of shit to work through, but love brings out the best in him. Before that fucking closeted shitbag broke his heart and stomped on it for good measure, TJ was clean and sober for months, he was happy, he was playing piano again, he was pulling himself together. Not only would he be an amazing boyfriend, but his partner would get the extra joy of getting to watch their love and devotion to him be the thing that saves this beautiful man's life. It's not healthy overall to tie your self worth and will to live to a relationship, but if he found the right person who would be there for him through all of life's shit and stick it out, I think he'd be okay. Even after his lowest point and without the support of his family, TJ still had a dream and he still chased it. He's not just the sweetest person to ever grace our screens, but he's ambitious and business-savvy, too. Keep him off drugs and watch this man take over the world, I'm telling you!

So why is TJ only #2? Well, besides the fact that he's like 99% gay and I have no bits he'd be interested in lmao, there's also the fact that this guy owns my heart:

1 Will Franklyn

And not just because we get to see him wet and mostly naked lol. Will is fucking perfect. I would die for this man... because he's already shown that he would die for his love. He almost fucking did, and they weren't even together yet! He's smart and very aware, he's a writer so we'd get to bond/geek out over books together, he's not all full of himself (self-deprecating humor ftw!) and he's willing to help a total stranger despite actual mortal peril, just because it's the right thing to do. Fierce, intelligent, sassy, strong-willed, and a flawless moral compass? YESYESYESYESYES! Forget boyfriend - let me MARRY this man! 😍🥰

[steve0discusses]

Yugioh S5 Ep 21: Joey Takes A Snack at that Cray Sauce

Hey guys! The 17 yo cat with kidney disease I was out of town watching lived to see another week (she was a very good girl). Which means now I can get back to the good stuff. This episode is brought to you by the colors red and orange, and I hope you like this color, and I hope you like this after effects they CGId onto this volcano.

Anyways, they first have to do this familiar ledge fall, because, it’s Yugioh, and if there’s a bunch of lava, Tristan wants

in

that.

And then Joey decides...hey you know what? I’m gonna jet. And...it’s not the first time he’s pulled a wild card and been unpredictable, I mean none of us can really forget that time he decided to get murdered by Mai instead of going in a straight line towards the end boss last season, but this time it was kind of funny how it was hastily composed.

And off he goes, folks.

As he left, Tristan was like “Ya dummy!” and Tea was like “nono, we gotta encourage him--run Joey! You can do it! See? Now he’s gone.” and it’s like...Tea is either trying to kill Joey with her support or honestly thinks that’s good support and I can’t fully tell which she is.

(read more under the cut)

It’s at this point that Grandpa has the gall to say “Did any of you happen to catch the lore? I fell asleep during that part.” Just like my Dad when we watch any movie as a family.

Meanwhile, maybe 100 ft away from them, Joey is in mortal peril but it’s Joey, so he’ll be fine. Don’t worry about it.

In fact, this episode seems like it would have been a better arc if it stretched out more episodes because the Joey neglect happens so quickly and out of nowhere that it’s...less organic than your average children’s show. Honestly it’s kind of funny how fast the fall of Joey Wheeler happens this episode. And I think it could have been a fun interesting time if it was handled better but youknow...it’s crammed into one single episode and you’ll se what happens.

As Yugi ruminates a cool thing that would have been really interesting this season--like running into more rando’s from other periods of time than just Alexander--Tea looks across the lava highway and was like “found it.”

Back at the dragon situation, Joey starts opening his heart to this dragon and it’s like...did they originally intend for Seto Kaiba to be here? Because I guess Joey uses Red Eyes a lot, but I also skip a lot of the card games, so when I think “who likes the dragon card?” Joey is not the first one I think of.

That and like he got over his Atlantis dragon card like hella fast, right? Like totally already over that?

And also if you thought Joey would pull out his other dragon to try and communicate or get a hold of this dragon like...nah.

Back at the fort, these guys decided to ditch Joey to get to this sword at the top of a volcano to solve the riddle, and what follows is some weird ass canon.

As I’m pulling up my Google Doc with my deathcount on it, Tristan decides this is the time he won’t freakin die and turn into a robot monkey for 15 episodes.

And he makes a huge ass green dragon. You’d think this MASSIVE dragon would do more in this episode, but nah. Although he pulls out Massive Dragon, it’s like kind of worthless, so he mostly puts it back in his pocket.

And then Tea pulls this elf chick out and it’s freakin hilarious because look at her giant elf.

Like Tea is not a small person! Are Yugioh monsters all 12 ft tall???

Yugi is also all ham about fusing with his dude now. It knocked him out a couple episodes ago, but Yugi is so keen on destroying his body that he’s back in clown town. And like...took his Grandpa for a ride, I guess, although I’m pretty sure Summoned Skull has wings.

Course, Summoned Skulls insides are his outsides...and I dunno if you’d want Summoned Skull to give you a big hug and carry you around. Summoned Skull just seems like he’s sticky.

And, once they make it to the top of the volcano where the plot sword lives, we first have to visit this plot twist of the century.

YEAH.

OUT OF NOWHERE.

THIS EPISODE IS NOT LONG.

Aaaaaaand now Joey is going to try and kill everyone here. I did not skip anything, PS, Joey dipped off-screen.

PS, everyone’s reaction to “I will kill you!” was a whole lot of rolling their eyes at first being like “Joey, stawp.”

So, now that Joey’s randomly possessed by this dragon, we get a peek into what Joey’s brain zone looks like. It’s a whole lot of nothing in between his ears.

Consistent to S1 actually, when we had a bit of a Joey Brain Zone moment. It was a blank void there, too.

So apparently Joey decided, back when he was confessing his love to Red Eyes Black Dragon, that he would jump on it’s back to calm it down--and it just...fused with him. So...now he’s a dragon.

Sure, I guess. I mean...there’s really no limit on what a Duel monster can’t do, so I’ll allow it.

The team tries to just say “ah screw it” and pull up this sword themselves (you can kind of see it in this shot) and the sword just slurps into the dirt even more out of spite. Seeing that there’s a bit of a time limit, Grandpa pulls this one out of his back pocket.

Yo, Grandpa’s not even possessed. Hey, remember that time that Grandpa nearly died giving Arthur Hawkins the last of his water back in Egypt? Remember that?

Like uh, you can definitely tell this was made by a different team that may not have gotten that cue card. It may have been lost in the mail. Either way, kind of a hilarious heel turn on Grandpa’s personality here, although it does make logical sense to save most of the kids from sacrificing one kid. It’s just...that kid is Joey...so...that’s like his adopted Grandson, right?

So Yugi does something very on brand for Yugi and invades a brain.

And like...obviously Yami and Yugi would say no to this. They would never do this. Not after all the dozens and dozens of times they have sacrificed the world and everything for their best friends.

But...maybe just this one time we can kill Joey? As a treat?

So uh...Yami hella vaporizes Joey with his new powers. Luckily, Joey Wheeler has Shaggy Doo energy and just...he survives it for some reason. I don’t know why he isn’t dead, maybe because the dragon made him stronger? Eh, don’t do the math (on any part of this episode).

So Joey gets up and is like “I know the answer to the riddle!” As the sword kinda melts into the volcano and Gramps is like “Well we’re dead, actually, so no one cares!”

And Joey’s like “Look!” and he hops onto the back of the Red Eyes Black dragon and reveals this random thing:

Because it turns out, that the dragon was the real problem and not this volcano with a sword in it.

Which youknow...could have been cool if this episode wasn’t so many insane plot points so quickly. Kind of a lot of episode here. This episode could have been a whole season of a show.

Like how long was Joey Possessed by Marik in S2? Like 5 or 6 episodes? And you can see how much more successful it was at selling the story although it was a lot of the same themes and ideas. Pacing is important.

And then Joey passes out from the suit juice.

Which is when we get one more Alexander cameo, just kinda watching them leave and onto the next arc of their little journey.

They sure did put a lot of eyeliner on Alexander the great, and, being real...he may have actually been wearing a hell ton of dope eyeliner when he was alive, so this could be historically accurate, for all we know. Those old marble statues used to be painted, after all. Maybe they had dope Yugioh eyeliner down to his cheekbones? One can wish.

And like if you ever get the time--seeing what those marble statues looked like with paint on it is so freakin goofy and fun, I love it. I love that for 600 years we thought those marble statues were supposed to be naked and white but it’s like, nah man--this guy’s just wearing a skin tight breast plate and when you paint it, it’s so garish it’s like a freakin clown outfit.

But anyway, that’s all for now! Hope y’all have a good weekend, and as always, here’s a link to read these in chrono order, if you just got here!

https://steve0discusses.tumblr.com/tagged/yugioh/chrono

[heraldofcomingdawn]

Leaving Immortality Behind

It turns out, Rex Lapis wasn’t really dead.

Xiao wants answers.

(A missing scene of sorts, for that first confrontation.)

WC: 4,006

General Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Father-Son Relationship, Xiao Centric, Xiao Needs A Hug, Adepti Found Family, Xiao's Karmic Debt Causes Him Pain, Minor Childe/Zhongli,

happy birthday, to my baby yaskha! i almost didn’t finish this in time, but i did it for him!

It took three days to find him.

It wasn’t that the man in question was difficult to find. How could it be, when the Conqueror of Demons had spent millennia by the man’s side, had witnessed his many human forms over the years and could spot the minute differences between him and the other mortals? When he could feel the charge in the air whenever the Geo Archon was near?

No, it was more like a small - yet still significant - part of the younger Adeptus had been purposely avoiding looking too hard. 

Well, he found him.

Part of him wanted to pretend he hadn’t seen him, wanted to turn the other way just long enough for the ex-Archon (and wasn’t that a punch to the gut Xiao hadn’t fully processed yet) to make his leave, so he could spend yet another night pretending his emotions weren’t currently battling inside of him, conflicting and confusing. 

He’d thought he’d be relieved.

He was relieved.

But Xiao was also angry and betrayed and confused and upset, and it was such a whirlwind of unexpected emotion that he wanted nothing more than to manifest his jade spear and tear it all to shreds. He scoffed at himself; emotions were so insignificant to someone who had lived as long - and through as much - as someone like him. They were trivial matters he thought himself to be above, yet here he was, feeling like he was drowning. 

“Eager to leave, Conqueror of Demons?” Moon Carver’s words still echoed in his head, as he settled into a sitting position amongst the green tiles that made up his current perch. 

Very much so. 

Perhaps it had been the wrong thing to do, to leave without ensuring Liyue Harbor was truly safe, but how was he supposed to face the other adepti and pretend like something sharp wasn’t sitting in his throat after the Tianquan regaled them all with the details of her dream with Rex Lapis? 

Rex Lapis, who until that very moment, they all believed to be dead. 

The very same Rex Lapis who was currently enjoying dinner at the table below him -  very much alive - and sitting across from a red-haired man that set his nerve endings on fire with the strange energy that radiated off of him. Energy that wasn’t so unlike the miasma that dripped off monsters and demons sent from the Abyss. 

His eyes narrowed as he took in the details of his Archon’s companion and tried to ascertain whether he was a threat to his Lord or not. The red-haired man laughed loudly, blue eyes crinkling in delight at something Xiao hadn’t heard. He waved a hand towards a young, blue-haired allogene and requested something in Liyuen that would have confused Xiao even if the other man’s accent hadn’t been so atrocious. 

Come and get what?

His train of thought went no further as he heard Morax gently correcting the other man’s pronunciation, and oh Celestia above, his heart clenched. 

He was alive.

Xiao had spent several days believing that the man who saved him, who was the closest thing he had to family in this strange new world, was dead. He had also blamed himself for a brief moment - and anger had coursed through him when it was the traveler who came and delivered the news, rather than his own keen senses realizing something was amiss - because what good was a Vigilant Yaksha, a sworn protector of Liyue, if he couldn’t even protect the very Archon he owed his life to. If he hadn’t even known until it was too late. 

Tendrils of pain snaked around his wrists and brushed at his temples. 

He clenched his hands into fists, willing the burden of his karmic debt to stay away for just a moment longer, but it persisted. Perhaps this was a manifestation of his guilt, an all-consuming wave of bitterness and regret at not being there when the Exuvia fell. Perhaps it was his senses warning him that the man sitting across from Rex Lapis - Childe, his Lord had called him - wasn’t as innocent as his pink-dusted cheeks portrayed him to be. His fingers wrapped around the phurba dagger he wore around his neck as he watched them interact.

Whatever apprehensions he held toward Childe were slowly abated as they both listened to Rex Lapis regale them with the story behind the name of their meal (and oh! Come and Get It was the rice bowl they were consuming. 

How absurd - why can’t mortals just call it what it is?)

It was familiar territory, however, to listen to the man’s long-winded stories of his nation’s history and its people that he clearly loved, and it soothed the sharp edges of Xiao’s grief as leaned back and let the former Geo Archon’s soft lilt and smokey timbre wash over him.

Rex Lapis was alive.

Despite his warring emotions over it - and the betrayal he could taste like iron on his tongue - it would have to be enough. He could find a measure of comfort in the scene before him. 

The sun was nearly set now, the sky a rich twilight blue. 

There were a few stars out, pale white and barely visible, but still present enough to make out the constellations he had long ago memorized. The bustle of Chihu Rock was beginning to die down as merchants packed up their wares and bid each other goodnight. Soft laughter to the right of him crescendoed as the doors to the Third Round Knockout were pushed open and people filtered out, their faces warm and bellies full of whatever food and spirit they had indulged in. 

Lanterns were being lit now, their warm yellow light casting away the shadows that threatened the corners of Liyue’s streets. The smoke that had been gently billowing from an opening on the blue-shingled restaurant across from him had died down, as the owners - the blue-haired allogene and an older man - began to close up for the night. 

“Xiangling, take this to Granny Shan before she goes home for the night, will you?” the older man asked his daughter, handing over a takeout container. 

“You got it!” the blue-haired allogene returned, her voice young and full of life. She hurried out the door and paused at the only occupied table left, smiling down at the seated patrons who were finishing their meal. “No rush, you guys! I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Rex Lapis poured himself another cup of tea in response.

“What’s in the bag?” Childe asked, as he tried to fish out the last piece of meat in his bowl with the chopsticks he was gripping entirely wrong. Xiao’s eyes narrowed at the sight.

“Leftover pork and spring onion dumplings!” Xiangling replied, already walking away. “Dad doesn’t like food to go to waste and Granny Shan is such a sweet lady,  don’t you think? Who else better to give them to?”

“I couldn’t agree more.” 

This was Liyue at it’s finest, safe and full of warmth. 

For a second he can almost pretend he doesn’t hear the harrowing voices screaming for death or feel the pain that’s thrumming up to his forearms now. He can almost ignore the memories that threaten to overtake him every time he allows himself a moment of peace. 

The few days he thought Rex Lapis to be dead had blurred together. There had only been the steady weight of his spear in his hands and the familiar darkness that surrounded him whenever he donned his yaksha mask, as he lunged tirelessly and with a fervor that had worried the other adepti, as he seeked out every last demon and monster that dared to cross Dihua Marsh. 

If any of them had been responsible for his Lord’s death. . .

He should have been better.

Eventually, Cloud Retainer had caught up with him and all but pecked the jade spear out of his hand. He had scowled at her, hands shaking with exhaustion as he held the tip to her long neck and dared her to come closer. 

“One has been searching for you, Vigilant Yaksha.”

“One has found me.” Xiao returned, his voice sharp and mocking. 

“Put down your spear.” she commanded, looking down at him. “Rex Lapis’ death weighs heavily on us all, but one does not leave behind a trail of bodies like you have been doing.”

They stared at each other for a moment longer before he allowed the weapon to disappear in a flicker of light that reminded him of tiny crystalflies dispersing into the sky, but otherwise remained silent. 

“We must head to Liyue Harbor and seek council with the Qixing.” Cloud Retainer informed him, eyes narrowed as she studied him intensely. “It would be wise of you to come with. Their disrespect for Rex Lapis has gone too far - one should quash them for allowing such a thing to befall our Archon, but for them to sit idly by and do nothing while the Exuvia is stowed away. . .” 

Xiao hadn’t been able to withhold a wince at the words. 

Cloud Retainer’s voice softened at that. “If Rex Lapis has indeed been assassinated, then Liyue is in great peril, Baby Yaksha.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“We must not allow further disaster to bestow itself upon the land Morax loved - one promised to keep it safe, did we not? Rest for now, tomorrow we shall leave for the harbor.”

She hadn’t left him, but instead guided him to the top of Mt. Aozang where she dwelled, and left him to his own devices after gently pecking the top of his head. He had sat in a stone chair for the rest of the night, staring at Rex Lapis’ name carved into the table, and mourned the end of an era. 

His grief - his pain - had been for naught, hadn’t it?

“I have to get going now, xiansheng.” Childe’s voice cut through his thoughts. He straightened up a little and watched as the red-haired man stood up and smoothed out his grey jacket. 

“I understand.” Rex Lapis replied, his voice solemn. 

Childe grinned down at the man and reached into his pocket, pulling out a pouch Xiao could only assume was filled with mora. “Oh, don’t look so grim! I’d love to stay and chat a little longer, but there’s some business I need to take care of, before I leave.”

“Business that requires the stars to keep watch?” his Lord returned, and Xiao could detect a hint of knowing bemusement. “Very well.”

“Oh, sneaky! You know I can’t disclose Fatui business to you, Zhongli. The walls have ears, after all.” Childe laughed and Xiao’s annoyance at this man’s audacity for speaking to his Lord in such a way was derailed when he spoke Rex Lapis’ other name.

Zhongli.

So this was the name he’d chosen to introduce himself as, this time around. It wasn’t a new name, by any means, but it had also been a very long time since Xiao had heard Rex Lapis - Zhongli - refer to himself as such. Not since Guizhong was still alive. 

He watched as Childe paid for the meal and bid Zhongli goodnight, before making his leave towards Feiyun Slope. His crimson scarf flared out behind him and the metal grommets that decorated the fabric glinted in the lantern light. He thought he could make out the faint trails of wispy black smoke that followed him, almost caressing him like a soft breeze. 

There was something dangerous about that man and he thought to follow him, if only because Xiao had vowed to never allow demons to walk amongst the people of Liyue. Childe was most certainly mortal, but Xiao would never again allow his failure to dictate the future of the harbor.

Except he hadn’t failed, had he?

Because Rex Lapis was very much alive, with his chin resting on his hands as he watched the retreating form of Childe with a solemn look on his face, his abandoned cup of tea no longer producing steam. 

His grief had been for naught indeed. 

And the relief that had followed had been short-lived, almost immediately giving way to his anger. The same anger that curled in his stomach now as he thought of how Zhongli had been silent ever since the big reveal. There was a part of him that had hoped the Archon would seek him out first, to explain just why he had faked his death without letting the yaksha - or any of the adepti, for that matter - know beforehand. 

Yet three days had already passed and still nothing. 

“You might as well come down now.” Zhongli’s voice cut through the silence, his back still to him, and Xiao startled. “I think we’ve both put off this conversation long enough.”

Xiao stood up slowly and stared down at the other man. Zhongli had yet to turn around and truly acknowledge him, still staring in the direction of Feiyun Slope and his departed friend. He jumped down from the rooftop, landing on his feet with the lightest thud, and approached the table.

Zhongli looked up at him once he had taken Childe's place. 

This was a new mortal form Xiao had yet to see, but the locks of amber-tipped hair that framed his face and the eyes that shone like Cor Lapis that were present in every form Rex Lapis had taken, were the same. He eyed him warily, debating with himself whether he should speak first or not - whether he would even be able to produce the right words. 

“Hello, Xiao.”

“My Lord.” he whispered back, bowing his head.

“There’s no need for any of that anymore.” Rex Lapis smiled gently. “I am simply Zhongli now.”

Something inside of Xiao crumbled. “Zhongli.”

“It is nice to see you well.” 

The sharp feeling in his throat was back and he forced himself to swallow it down. He tried to take a breath, but it came out broken and staggered. Shame burned on his face at his unintentional show of weakness and he bowed his head lower. 

“Oh, Xiao.” Zhongli breathed out and his eyes were sad. “Let us take a walk, it has been a while since I’ve traversed the streets of Liyue with you by my side.” 

Their walk was directionless as far as Xiao was concerned. He trailed half a step behind Zhongli, eyes downcast, as he tried to compose himself. Anger was an easy enough emotion to grab onto, justified enough for the situation, and didn’t leave him floundering and vulnerable the way addressing his hurt did. 

He stopped suddenly and clenched his hands into fists again. The tendrils of pain were growing in intensity and he used them as a way to ground himself. Despite his anger, despite Zhongli’s desire to give up his throne, he was still the Prime Adepti, still his Lord, and still deserving of respect. Yelling at him, as cathartic as it would be, was pointless. “Why,” he began, then stopped to clear his throat, “why didn’t you tell me. Tell us.”

“I couldn’t.” 

Xiao raised an eyebrow and stared him down, refusing to accept that as an answer. 

Zhongli sighed. “I fear my answer won't satisfy you." 

"All I ask for is the truth." 

"I suppose I can give you that." Zhongli mused, but his expression was pained. He looked towards Mt. Tianheng and gestured to the other side of the bridge they were on. "Indulge me, first? I would like to finish our walk."

Xiao nodded.

They reached the peak soon enough. Zhongli stood at the edge of the mountain and took in the sight of Liyue Harbor. The outline of the wharf stood proud against the backdrop of the black sea, bathed in silver moonlight that reflected shapeless patterns on the rolling waves. The wharf was the pride of Liyue, the reason the land prospered as it had. 

It was a beautiful sight, even dark as it was with all the workers and merchants gone for the night, the last of the lanterns burned out. The Golden House glimmered to the right, that same silver light glinting off the metal finials that adorned its roof. In the far distance, the rock formations of Guyun Stone Forest loomed over the water. 

He shivered at the sight. 

The horizon was a beautiful one, carefully cultivated over millennia of hard work and bloodshed. The tendrils of pain wrapped themselves around him now and he held back a wince by sheer will alone, as he took in the stone spears placed by Rex Lapis himself. They kept the fallen gods pinned in place but the cost of their defeat still raged on as demons spawned. 

It was his duty to take care of them, one he did with honor, for he would give all he had in service of the man who’d freed him. Even if the Archon had passed before him, for this was the land Zhongli loved - fought for and created - and Xiao refused to let harm come to the only home he had ever known.

Behind them and to the left, the mountain peaks and ruins stretched on, crumbling rock structures that had been formed by hand long ago, now weathered and eroded into an open book that spoke of the nation’s history. 

Eventually the silence was broken when Zhongli decided to speak. "I think, if given the chance, there are many things I would do over," he began, "but I do not regret any of them, for when you've lived a life as long as I have, regret is something that can consume you.” He looked over to the ruins. “Even stone will eventually erode away."

Xiao stayed silent. 

"Saving you, however, is something I would do again and again."

"My Lord -" Xiao cut himself off. "Zhongli." he tried again, but it felt wrong to address him as such. Either way, he didn’t have words. 

Zhongli turned to look at him and gestured for him to step closer. He obliged and stiffened when the Archon placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it gently. "I am sorry for the grief I put you through. I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but it's also something I would do again."

Xiao winced. 

"The truth is, Xiao, I'm tired."

"I don't understand."

"I have watched over Liyue for nearly four thousand years. I've been alive for much longer than that. Eventually, you start to wonder when it's going to end. I have seen Liyue grow and prosper in ways I hadn't thought possible. I have watched Guili Plains crumble into the ruins they are today when once. . .once, they were home. Now it is a place no one else remembers." Zhongli's grip slackened. "Liyue doesn't need me anymore."

"Zhongli-" Xiao began, alarmed. 

"Breathe, my baby yaksha, breathe." Zhongli chuckled lightly. "It is not as you think - Liyue has simply grown past the need for Archons. It is ready to stand on its own two feet."

“I’m not -” he began, but gave up. “So you faked your death.”

“I believe that if I had simply stepped down, the Qixing would never truly step up. No, I needed to kill off the idea of Rex Lapis for good. The people of Liyue needed to understand that this was truly the end of an era.”

Xiao couldn’t stop the anger that laced his tone. “You felt this wasn’t something I - we - deserved to know?”

Zhongli’s smile turned bitter at the edges. “Before I could truly step down, I decided a test was in order, to see if Liyue was truly ready. I must admit, I did it simply to quell my own anxieties.”

“A test?”

“I wanted to see if the Adepti of Jueyun Karst and the Qixing could work together to protect the land, if the time ever called for it, or if the adepti would simply decide their contract with Liyue - their promise to protect it - would end with my death.”

“Osial?”

“Unexpected.” Zhongli admitted, and he looked towards Guyun with amusement. “Still, I had forced Childe’s hand and I expected something grandiose from him - that he was able to lift the seals that kept Osial imprisoned is impressive.”

“Your dinner companion did all of this?” Xiao asked, warily. “And you asked him too?”

“A bit more nuanced than that, but yes.”

“I see.”

Silence fell over them again as Xiao mulled over everything. “Speaking of your dinner companion. . .” he began, remembering the traces of miasma that had clung to the man like wisps of smoke. Zhongli’s expression turned downcast at the mention of his friend and Xiao faltered. 

“He will be gone tomorrow.”

“Pardon?”

“I am pleased he indulged me in one last meal.” Zhongli smiled grimly. “Even after I used him as a pawn, he still dined with me. I have no doubt the betrayal stings him, but tomorrow he’ll leave for Snezhnaya and I do not know if he’ll return.”

Xiao let the conversation drop. There was no point if the threat would be gone tomorrow. He would simply keep an eye on his potential return and wait till then. He wondered if Zhongli could not sense the darkness that surrounded the man, or if he simply chose to ignore it. Neither would surprise him. He was cursed - blessed, some would say - with the ability to sense demonic energy and the stench of the Abyss. 

It was the same for the other Yakshas, was the reason Rex Lapis had tasked them with fighting the demons that formed from the anger and hatred of the fallen gods, but now only he remained. If Rex Lapis - Zhongli, now - could not sense the darkness, Xiao would watch it for him.

The pain heightened and this time, he couldn’t keep silent. 

“You are in pain.” Zhongli said matter-of-factly, for this was nothing new to them. Eventually the pain would overtake him to the point where he could no longer see and all he could do was persevere and wait for it to end.

“It is manageable.”

“Do you still have pain medicine?”

“No.”

“Do you wish for me to get you more?”

“Yes.” Xiao lied, because even after all these years, he still couldn’t find it in him to tell Rex Lapis the truth: that the pain medication he so laboriously made for him never seemed to work. The pain in the Archon’s eyes, as he watched the younger Adeptus suffer as a result of his own victories, hurt worse than the karmic debt that burrowed itself into his flesh and demanded retribution. “I would like that.”

Zhongli hummed. “I will prepare it in the morning. For now, when was the last time you slept?”

I don’t need to sleep.”

“Perhaps not as much as a mortal does.” the ex-Archon mused. “But it is still something one can indulge in.”

“It can wait another night.” Xiao deflected. “I still have questions.”

Zhongli shook his head and exhaled lightly. He sat down on the grass and adjusted his coat, so he wouldn’t sit on the embroidered fabric and patted the spot beside him. “If it’s any consolation, I won’t go anywhere.” He locked eyes with Xiao and smiled when the yaksha laid down with an annoyed huff. “You can ask me in the morning.”

“I’m still angry at you.”

“I know.” Zhongli murmured, shifting a little so he could place his hand on Xiao’s head. Gloved fingers carded through strands of teal hair gently; rhythmically. “I know we still have much to talk about, but we have all the time in the world. Sleep, my baby yaksha, and know I’ll be here for as long as I am able.”

Sleep would not cause the pain to abate - if only it was that easy - but for the moment, it became manageable. For the moment, his anger dwindled and took a backseat to the contentment that bloomed in his chest. For the moment, the world was safe. 

If only because Rex Lapis was still here with him.

Tomorrow could wait. 

--

a/n: maybe one day ill write the full length chili fic i set up in here.

[queenofspades6]

Injured (Loki x reader)

Summary: You were badly injured and Loki is extremely worried.

Warnings: Angst. Fluff. Protective Avengers.

AN: Another fanfiction of one of my favorite characters, Loki Laufeyson! I hope you’ll enjoy! Link to my Loki Series: Just a Midgardian where you go to Asgard with Loki and Odin is willing to make your life a living hell.

***

You and the Avengers were on a perilous mission. A monster was attacking New York and destroying everything in his path. There were already more than fifty dead, and the whole city was starting to panic. So obviously when you and the team discovered that someone was threatening people’s lives, you had to intervene.

Your main goal was to kill the monster and then come back at the Stark Tower.

At first, you thought it was going to be easy, yet, you changed your mind when suddenly you felt a sharp stick tearing your belly apart. You dared to look down at your stomach and noticed your jacket soaked in blood, the tip of a sharp weapon sticking out of your abdomen. A sudden wave of warmth enveloped your body.

“Tony!”You yelled, already feeling all your strength leaving your body.”I’m down! I am losing a lot of blood! Help, please!”

“Hang on, Y/N, I am coming!”He declared through the comm, running at your rescue.

“Tony, I won’t-I won’t make—”

Dripping with sweat, you felt your body relaxed, and your vision started blurring.

You heard someone called your name, and then, everything went black around you.

***

Loki was sitting on the sofa, reading a book, with a cup of tea on the table. When he heard footsteps, he knew the Avengers were back home. Still not looking away from his book, he just stared at a page without really reading. He didn’t want to look as if he was eavesdropping, even though he was.

“We’re home, Reindeer Games!”Tony shouted, heading towards his room.

A book open in his hands, the God of Mischief waited a few seconds and looked up at the team discreetly.

“Where’s Y/N?”He suddenly questioned, searching for you with fear in his eyes.

The Avengers were purposely avoiding his gaze, and peeking at him awkwardly.

“I won’t repeat ! Where’s Y/N?”Loki uttered, standing up and closing brutally the book in his hands.

The team exchanged some afraid looks.

Who was going to tell Loki what happened?

Thor took a step towards his brother and forced a smile.

“Brother… Lady Y/N is…”The God of Thunder tried articulating, looking down.

“Tell me! Where is Y/N? I demand to know!”Loki shouted, his face becoming red with fury.

He clenched his fists and threw violently his book on the ground.

With obvious pain in his eyes, Thor couldn’t cross his brother’s gaze.

Anger was rising in Loki’s body.

Was Y/N dead?

Without thinking, he took his brother by his shoulders and shook him wildly again and again.

“Tell him, Point Break.”Tony muttered, getting closer to Loki.

“Is Y/N dead?”The God of Mischief asked, his body slowly tensing.

“No, she will be bett—”Thor began to reply, but Stark interrupted him.

“No more lies.”Stark interrupted Thor, giving him a serious and painful look.

“Tell me, mortal!”Cried Loki, marching dangerously towards Tony.”Is she dead?”

“Not yet.”Stark whispered, shrugging and forcing a smile.

“She won’t last the night.”Steve declared, his eyes clouded with tears.

The God of Mischief’s face fell down. You were hurt. He was going to lose you.

“Don’t pretend to care for Y/N, Reindeer Games.” Tony provoked him, giving Loki a long and cold stare.

Although Stark was too proud to admit it, he was angry with himself for letting you be hurt. He was supposed to look after you, to protect you, and he failed. He could have saved you, but he failed. Tony needed someone to blame for his powerlessness, and Loki was the perfect culprit. He was taking his anger out of the God of Mischief. It was easier to blame someone else than to confront the truth.

“I care for Y/N. Dearly.”Loki declared, staring at the void of the room.

“Oh no, you don’t, Reindeer. You were just pretending! You wanted freedom and power, so you used her for your own interest!”

“I care for Y/N.”Loki repeated, clenching firmly his fists and frowning.

“Lie! You’re a monster, Loki. No matter what you do, the only person you serve is yourself! So why still pretending? To keep your conscience? If you have one.”Tony mocked, rage rising in his body.

Steve headed towards Stark and put his hand on his shoulder.

“Stark, stop.”Captain America muttered under his breath.

Shivering, Loki stared at Stark, eyes filled with venom.

“Maybe I am the monster parents tell their children about at night, maybe I am a murderer and a liar! Maybe you’re right!”Spitted the God of Mischief, his muscles tensing.”Maybe I don’t deserve to live, but don’t dare to say that I don’t care about Y/N! Because I care for her! More than I want!”

“Oh, you care? You? The God of Mischief caring for our little Y/N? I don’t believe you! Why would a monster like you appreciate Y/N, if not to hurt her? You didn’t deserve her friendship! She is too kind and loving, and you… You’re the villain of the story, Loki, cruel and merciless. No redemption this time.”

Tony was too close to Loki. Only one step separated them. Stark raised his hand and Steve stopped him before hitting the God of Mischief.

Loki’s face broke down. A few drops of sweat beaded on his forehead. His cheeks were red and his palms were moisty. Taking a deep breath, Loki stared right at Tony.

Stark glared at the god, and at his greatest surprise, he didn’t see anger in Loki’s eyes. It was something Tony didn’t expect. Something much deeper.

Sorrow and regret.

Tony couldn’t speak. Maybe Loki cared after all.

“You’re right, Stark. I am a monster, and took the lives of innocent people. I am not asking for forgiveness. Send me back to Asgard if it’s your wish or lock me in the worst prison for all I care! But don’t tell me I don’t care for Y/N! I-I—… She was the only one to reach out to me, to be kind with me even knowing for New York. Y/N treated me like a human being, she made me feel like maybe life was worth living…”

Loki’s eyes were clouded with tears. Tilting his head, he wept his tears quickly, hoping the others would not notice. He was the God of Mischief after all, he couldn’t cry. And especially not after a mortal.

“Loki?”Thor asked, raising his eyebrows.

The God of Thunder didn’t know what to do. He had not seen his brother cry for hundreds years ago, and seeing him so vulnerable, so fragile, so human, it made Thor’s heart breaks.

“It’s fine, Thor, I don’t feel anything.”Loki lied and sat on the sofa, head in his hands.

With wide eyes, Natasha was observing the god with wonder. Here was the God of Mischief that tried to take over the world though, he looked so human, so exposed. Natasha had a hard time believing it was the same god that killed innocent people in New York. Steve and Thor were looking in awe at him. They weren’t used to see Loki like that. Like someone who had feelings.

Shrugging, Tony walked towards Loki, regret in his eyes.

“Loki, look I am sorry.”Stark said, clenching his teeth and putting away his pride.

The god closed his eyes for a moment and sighed.

“Don’t be. You were right.”He declared, not daring to look at the team’s gaze, and nervously scratching his fingers.

Iron Man gave him a questioning look. A smile slowly appearing on the god’s lips, he stood up and was ready to confront the Avengers.

“You were right, Stark, I don’t care about Y/N. I don’t care for her.”

He grinned and walked in the room, catching the glances of the team.

“In fact, I don’t care for Y/N. I love her. Judge me if that pleases you, but it won’t change my feelings. I love Y/N from the bottom of my heart. Coming from a murderer, it must not value anything though, I-I want to see her. Please. Please, let me see her. If she’s going to die, I want to be here for her and then, you’ll do what you want with me. Give me back to the SHIELD or lock me, whatever you want, just let me see her.”He pleaded with honesty in his eyes.

“Come here, brother.”Thor declared, embracing firmly his brother, with tears falling on his cheeks.

“Thor. Stop it. That’s-That’s humiliating!”

“Come on, Reindeer Games, I am taking you to her.”Tony said.

Loki smiled and followed Stark through the elevator, and then to another room. Tony opened the door, let the god enter and closed the door behind him.

Letting you alone with Loki.

***

Tony didn’t trust the God of Mischief, yet, he knew Loki’s love for you was sincere. He saw the same loving eyes in different people, and he may not have loved Loki, but he cared about you. That was all that mattered.

“Tony. You really left Loki alone with Y/N? I am not reassured. We should keep an eye at him.”Natasha stated, taking something to drink.

“I am not too fond of Reindeer either, but he won’t hurt her. He loves her, Nat, the God of Mischief is really in love.”Tony replied, sipping his glass of scotch.

“Stark is right. My brother won’t lay a finger on her. I have never seen him so caring and loving. Lady Y/N really brings out the best in Loki.”Thor uttered, a proud smile appearing on the corner of his lips.

“Guys! You really think that’s healthy for them to be together? Loki is the God of Mischief after all.”Banner pointed out, his hands filled with files and studies.

“Y/N is not in love with him.”Declared Steve, frowning.”That’s obvious. She was probably staying with him because he was alone, and she didn’t want him to feel lonely and abandoned.”

“Don’t be so sure, Captain, Y/N and Loki have much more in common than we think. I won’t be surprised if she loves him back.”The God of Thunder announced happily, thinking that if you’d marry Loki, you would be his sister in law.

“I am not certain, she’ll survive through the night. Her wounds are deep and even if her body can heal, she has very little chance of surviving.”Tony muttered, feeling pain in his chest.

You were pretty close with Tony. He was like your best friend, and the two of you understood each other. Stark was afraid that Loki would break your heart. And if he did, he would be dead.

“We need to give her rest.”Said Steve.”Maybe she’ll survive. We need to hang on that hope.”

“Sorry, Cap’, I don’t believe in hope, only in science. I am goin’ to check on Y/N.”

Tony didn’t wait the others answers to head towards Y/N’s floor. He hoped you were still alive. Speeding up, Tony arrived in front of your door. He inhaled once and then exhaled deeply.

Fearing the worst, Stark walked towards your bed and found Loki asleep next to Y/N. He checked your pulse, and sighed in relief.

You were still alive.

Tony analyzed your body, and instantly, he knew something was wrong. Or at least strange.

Why was your pulse faster than last time?

You were badly injured, so you should have had a very weak pulse. Curious, Stark quickly lifted your top to examine your wounds. Open-mouthed and wide-eyed, he noticed your deep wounds had suddenly disappeared. You only had a small scratch with a few drops of blood.

You were going to survive.

How? What had happened?

Tony peeked at Loki, and instantly he knew.

Magic was involved. Obviously.

This time the God of Mischief had used his magic for the greater good instead of killing with his gifts. That was how you healed so rapidly. Loki healed you, and by seeing his face, Stark could say the god was pretty exhausted and weak. It must have cost him most of his strength. He had done it to save you of an inevitable death.

Maybe Loki loved you after all.

More than they could think of.

***

If you love that fic, this one is for you too.

⬇️⬇️⬇️

You accompany Thor and Loki to Asgard. You’re all excited to finally see that wonderful place, but what happens when you notice you are only a human among Gods? How can Loki ever love you, a Midgardian, part of the Avengers?

⬇️⬇️⬇️

https://queenoffanfictions.tumblr.com/post/621090392400625665/just-a-midgardian-loki-x-reader

[auredosa]

dude the penny dialog also makes malistaire sound like the type of person to risk himself and his life to save his students. she said he raised a troll to drain the life out of it to REGROW A DAMN LIMB then raise the troll from the damn DEAD to fight and save them. like BRUH how hardcore. but i imagine that would leave some turmoil and some ptsd for the guy, a fear of losing his students by him not saving them in time.

Well, with great power comes great responsibility, yeah?

Death is one of the most dangerous schools of magic there is. You need to have a certain amount of accountability to put not only your own life, but the lives of aspiring wizards on the line when you teach them necromancy.

Do you ever wonder if there was a class in session when the death school was thrown into Nightside? Do you think he knew?

Malistaire taught them all the danger of toying with morality. He taught them how to hold a wand and bend the powers of life and death to their whims. How you can't decide when your time comes, and most of the time, you don't see it until it's too late. They were terrified of death, terrified of him, and he taught them not to be afraid.

He promised that no matter what, he would always be there for his students in mortal peril. For some time, he kept true to his word. His strength and power were not for hurting.

They learned everything from him.

They trusted him.

He loved each and every one of them.

Then the earth shattered like a broken heart, the floor caved from beneath their feet, and they were never seen again.

[vexing-imogen]

the persistence of 10/10

read from beginning | read on ao3

They all say their goodbyes at the Sun Tree as the midday sun tries to break through the chill in the air. Keyleth wishes they could stay together a few days more, but they’ve all got their responsibilities, and she especially needs to return to Zephrah. Besides, it’s not like they ever go very long without seeing each other. Vex and Percy’s anniversary is coming up, and Kaylie’s graduation isn’t too far behind. And Keyleth’s magic makes it easy enough for her to just pop in for a visit if she’s ever feeling lonely.

Still, saying goodbye to family is always hard.

She’s sending Grog and the gnomes home to Westruun before leaving for Zephrah. They’re just waiting on Pike. Vex had pulled her aside, just out of earshot, about ten minutes ago, promising that they’d be quick. Keyleth can’t read lips the way Vex can, but she can tell that it’s an emotional conversation. Pike is definitely crying, and she’d be willing to bet her antlers that Vex is too.

“Copper for your thoughts?”

She turns to Percy with a shrug and a smile. “Oh, you know,” she says casually. “Just happy that everything turned out okay.”

He nods in agreement, relief evident in his eyes, his smile. “We would have made it work,” he says. “If things had gone differently. We would have found a way to make it work, I have no doubt.” He sighs deeply. “But I am so fucking glad we don’t have to.”

Keyleth leans her head on Percy’s shoulder, wraps an arm around him. “I’m gonna miss you guys.”

He chuckles. “Aren’t you coming back in two weeks for that banquet?”

“That’s not the point, Percy.”

“I know.” He’s quiet for a moment. “We’ll miss you too.”

A light clanking announces Pike’s arrival, and she beams up at them, despite her red-rimmed eyes and runny nose. “Okay, we’re all set. Sorry to keep you guys waiting.”

“I would quite literally wait forever for you, Pike,” Scanlan says, taking her hand. “But it will be nice to be home.” He turns to Keyleth, Percy, and Vex with a grin. “I love you guys, but let’s keep the mortal peril to a minimum next time, alright?”

Vex rolls her eyes. “We love you too, Scanlan,” she says, only mildly sarcastic

“See you guys soon,” Keyleth says, concentrating on the tree in Wilhand’s backyard and opening the portal for them to run through. Grog is the last one through, and then the portal closes and they’re gone.

“I guess it’s my turn,” she says after a minute.

Vex wraps her in a tight hug, and Keyleth feels a tear drip onto her collarbone. “Thank you,” she says. “For...everything. I told Pike the same thing, I don’t know how I would have gotten through this without you all here.”

“Anytime.” She catches the scent of blood still in Vex’s hair, and the question is spilling out before she can fully think it through. “When you were in there did you, um, did you see...”

A nod. More tears.

“What did he-”

Vex shakes her head. “I can’t right now,” she says, her voice catching. “Ask me again in two weeks?”

Keyleth nods. She can do that. She can wait. “Yeah. Two weeks.”

She kisses Vex on the cheek, gives Percy a proper hug, and then turns to the Sun Tree. “I’ll see you soon,” she says, even as she’s opening the portal to Zephrah and stepping through. She turns just before it closes, and watches Percy take Vex’s hand and start leading her home.

=============================================================

“Percy? Can I tell you something?”

It is far, far later than she was intending to start this conversation. Her plan had been to tell him while they were washing the blood from her hair, but Vesper had been fussy, and he’d spent most of the time she was in the bath trying to get a cranky toddler to nap. After that, it had been a snowballing of interruptions and inconveniences and responsibilities, and quite frankly, she’s feeling a little annoyed with the universe in general right now.

It’s late now, though, near midnight. They’re in the library, Vex stretched out on one of the couches, her head in Percy’s lap as he reads and plays with her hair. He marks his page and puts his book down at her question, turning his focus entirely on her.

“Of course, dear,” he replies, his voice soft. “Whatever you need.”

He thinks she wants to talk about Vax and the temple. Which...well she does, eventually. Just not right now. It’s too fresh, too new, she hasn’t had time to sort out how she feels about it just yet.

“It isn’t about Vax,” she says, and the hand in her hair pauses for just a moment. She takes that moment to sit up, kneeling on the couch beside him. “Um, do you remember our last night in Emon? Before this whole amnesia fiasco. Do you remember what I told you?”

He smiles. “I do. You told me you had a secret to share, but that you wanted to wait to tell me until we were home. And alone.”

“Well, this certainly qualifies, doesn’t it?” She bites her lip, not sure why she’s suddenly so nervous. They’ve discussed this. They want this. They’ve been trying for this. A lot. “Percy. I’m pregnant.”

“Really?” His voice cracks, eyes filling with tears. He’s staring at her with an expression of such awe and happy disbelief that it steals her breath.

“Yeah,” she confirms. “I realized I was maybe halfway into our trip, but I didn’t want to just blurt it out in some hotel room. And then, well. I forgot that I was for a few days.”

“It might have been for the best that I didn’t know?” he says, slightly manic. “That may have actually been what tipped the scales and sent you running.”

She ducks her head. “You’re probably right.”

“You would have come back.”

Vex looks up at him, at her husband. Her wonderful, charming, delightful bastard of a husband, who looks at her like she’s the sun. The man who has vowed to love her and care for her and protect her, and has never once broken that promise.

There are no words she can offer him in this moment, so she simply kisses him. Lets him pull her into his lap so they can celebrate the life they’re building, the family they’re growing.

She’s never going to forget this.