#I mean do you see those outfits and stage design

[atalana]

actually you know what, while this isn't something i had an issue with in the movie (and honestly the costume designers for wicked did an incredible job), i do wanna talk about elphaba's stage dress bc i think the tumblr lesbians will have fun with it!

so like i made a post a bit ago about how i literally only have one gripe with the wicked movie and it's that every glinda outfit was pink (probably for marketing purposes, but stage glinda is incredibly varied in her colours, and she only has one pink dress, alongside a white, a yellow, a green, and two blue dresses)

but i didn't really go into how elphaba is, in her own way, just as colourful!

because if you read interviews with susan hilferty, the original costume designer for wicked, she talks about how the primary thing she wanted to play with was the idea of these two as earth and sky

glinda comes from the sky, both literally in terms of her first scene being in the bubble, but also that is who she is as a person, bright, airy, expansive. she gets so many colours because she represents the rainbow, and whenever her and elphie are put in contrast, she gets the light side as is fitting for the show

(i did mention this in my glinda post too, but in the show the school colours for shiz are blue and white, which they do conform to, but while every other student is wearing blue and white stripes, glinda is dressed entirely in white and elphie entirely in blue)

but to the point of this post! you then get elphaba as earth. i've seen posts around about how elphie's magic is so strong because she's more connected to the world around her, and that's not only true but something worked into her costume design! hilferty talks about mica and geodes being an inspiration here, elphaba comes from the earth and is an intrinsic part of it, she may not look like much from the outside but she holds an incredible beauty inside

and so her dress is designed to look black from a distance, but it's actually not! it's dozens of layers of different dark colours, that shine and catch the light in different ways

(these dresses are also all slightly different because she mentions they made each dress for the actress who would wear it, each one is unique to fit how that person plays elphaba)

it also to me represents her public vs private image, people like glinda who've seen those layers to her knows she's a beautiful person inside and out, know how she could be seen and loved and appreciated for her complexity and depth, but no one looks that closely. they see from a distance, and they see what they want to see - a wicked witch in a black dress

(especially poignant given how colourful oz is and how no one else, no one 'good', ever wears black)

and i genuinely do love the details put into elphie's movie design, i'm a big fan of victorian style costuming and she's got a lot of those elements (plus the amount of detail and complexity put into dresses that are entirely black should be commended)

but i wanna show off her coloured dress too, because it means the world to me

[keezybees]

HOW DO YOU DRAW SO FAST OMGGGG

I worked really hard on it tbh haha. A few years back I went through a long period of intense perfectionism where I slowed down to a crawl (like five comic pages in 4 months). I finally decided that that wasn't working for me, and so I started implementing my motto: shitty is better than incomplete!

Basically it's about the idea that it's more important to me to get the ideas and stories out there than it is for them to be perfect. I have a lot of stories I want to tell, and there's only so much time for me to tell them. It helps to remind myself of this as much as possible!

As for technical tricks, I do a few things that really help:

Draw a lot! Practice is truly one of the number one ways to improve speed, as annoying as it is to accept

I don't zoom in too far

I only use 1 brush at 1-2 sizes for inking (outside of specialized stuff like stippling)

I put hard limits on a lot of stuff--how much shading I do (if any), or what shape my comic panels are (only squares, no diagonals or weird shapes), for example

My characters (comic characters especially) all have pretty simple designs and outfits

I write down every idea for an illustration that I have, even if I'm not ready to tackle it yet. That way when I have a chance to sit down, I've got a whole list ready to go and I'm not waffling around in the concept stage

Finally, I've learned to accept my imperfections as a neat part of my art! It's not easy, and I slip back into bad habits sometimes, but I try my best to see every misplaced mark or color that bleeds outside the line as proof that a human hand made this. I don't spend a lot of time correcting mistakes or painstakingly trying not to make them.

Here's an example from Hello Sunshine, where if looks fine from far away, but if you zoom in a bunch, you can see all kinds of little "mistakes." gaps in the ink and color, the line of Alex's ear doesn't match up, very sketchy linework where their faces meet, haha.

But then when you zoom out even a little bit, you a) don't notice those things nearly as much, and b) I think it gives it a kind of traditional charm. Just because you CAN use ctrl-z doesn't mean you HAVE to.

Anyway I hope that helps!!

[sarawritestories]

I Wanna Be Yours Chapter 2

Xaden Riorson X Lydia Aetos

Summary: Lydia Aetos Longs to be a Ballerina, her father has other plans, and has conscripted her to the rider's quadrant with her childhood friend Violet. Reuniting with her brother he only gives her two orders. Do not bring up wanting to dance and stay far away from Xaden Riorson. Both of his orders go ignored.

Chapter Summary: Lydia is drowning in the memories of her past, and trying to get her footing at Basgiath.

A/N: I'm so sorry that it took me this long to get out. I loved chapter 1 so dearly I was struggling to make sure Chapter 2 was just as good!

I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed writing it! I promise it won't be super long like this for every update I was just going through some things and fighting some insecurities!

Word Count: 9,235 (I wasn't going to have you all wait this long just for a short fic

Chapter 1 I Wanna Be Yours Masterlist

My breathing becomes rapid as I wait to go on stage. The anticipation before a performance has always been the reason for my heart racing and my nerves are heighten. The warmth of a larger tanned hand enveloping my own instantly quiets the noise in my mind. “You look like you’re ready to crawl out of your skin, Dove.” I smile and look at Lian, my dance partner, my love. His warm brown eyes, twinkling under the mage lights. He smiles and it’s so disarming and causes butterflies to flutter in my stomach. “You are radiant.”

I giggle, and smooth out my dance dress the flowing skirts various shades cobalt that stops at my knees. The bodice having an intricate design of silver swirls against the blue corset like top. “You say that every show.” His free hand plays with one of the lose curls framing my face, the rest of my hair in a tight ornate bun. I take in his form; his outfit matches mine in hue with his pants various levels of blue with a simply white tunic that reveals some of his tone chest the silver pendant you gave him wrapped around his neck. “I have to say, Lian, you’re not so bad yourself.”

Lian chuckles as He lifts my hand to his lips, pressing them to my knuckles specifically where the ring he had given me resides. “I mean it Lydia. I love-

The music swells in the auditorium the melody, the indication I need to appear. “See you out there, Lover Boy.” He releases my hand as I begin to leap onto the stage and into Fourth position. Feeling Lian’s warm gaze upon my body, causing my cheeks to redden. I begin the routine.

My movements are fluid, my turns sharp. Seraphina’s words in the back of my mind, “Keep those feet pointed, arms straight, girl.” Her raspy voice rings in my ears as I correct my feet and my arms. Allowing the music to enter my body once again. I am its puppet, the symphony my puppeteer.

I swirl my skirt whirling around me the shades of blue looking like rippling waves around me. And I begin the movements that lead to my big leap when I notice one of the musicians hit the incorrect note. Seraphina always said to not let the musicians’ mistakes be your downfall on the stage. Heading that advise I push through tampering my annoyance I run and take in the air. My grin big, my legs stretched wide, I feel as though I’m flying, and in this moment one thing rings true, there will never be a more freeing feeling than this.

 The other musicians’ notes turn sharp and out of tune, and the disruption despite what I was taught causes me to stumble my landing. I hiss as my ankle rolls, causing my body to collapse to the ground, but I don’t think about the pain as screams erupt from the theater.  Tanned Hands are instantly on my waist hoisting me up and the familiar smell of soap and ocean waves crash tells me its Lian. I smell the flames before I see them. “Lian, we have to get out of here.” My voice trembles as fear begins to consume me.

Flames erupt around the theater as the ground shakes before us Lian grabs me closer to me. "I'm sorry dove," he whispers.

 "For what?" He presses his forehead to mine. Panic laces my voice as he grips me tighter, his thumb grazing against my hip in a soothing manner. Confusion washes through me at his behavior, we should be trying to leave to get out of here. “Lian, you’re scaring me.”

 "I love you more today than I did yesterday." He murmurs in my hair. My chest feels heavy like someone is applying all their weight over my heart at his words. I can’t breathe. He looks at me expectantly and my stomach gets a sinking sensation.

I shake my head as tears pool in my eyes and begin to run down my face, as I cup his cheek, "Why does this feel like a goodbye?" I cry out while he waits patiently waiting for me to finish his statement. The sounds around us muted by the intensity this conversation has become.

"Finish it, dove. Please." The banisters above us crash, and the flames lick my skin as he grips me closer to his chest. “We don’t have a lot of time.”

 I tremble, and press his lips to mine quickly, "I'll love you more tomorrow than I did today." He kisses my lips once more, just when the stage collapses, he pushes me out of the way. The warmth of his touch lingering on my skin as I watch him get consumed by the hole where the stage once stood. Arms wrap around me, hoisting me up and dragging me to safety. I begin to thrash and scream, calling out to him, "Lian, LIAN!"

My Screams the only sound in the burning auditorium.

“Wake up, Lydia! Wake! Up!” Dain’s voice breaks through the darkness and my eyes open with a jolt and I sit up. My eyes can’t seem to focus, and I don’t recall where I am, Dain’s hands grip my shoulders, and my gaze quickly moves to my brother. His eyes hold concern in them, his brows furrowed, “You were just having a dream.” His thumbs rubbed my shoulders, “You were out for two days.”

“Two days.” Memories of golden yellow eyes and how the blue daggertail bowed to me. A dragon had bowed to me! I lived to tell the tale of my first interaction with a dragon.

 I slowly lift my hands and wrap them around his wrists as though I need proof, he is really with me. His eyes glance at my hand and spot the silver band with a swirls throughout the band and the initials LD engraved in it. “I didn’t think he would let you keep anything after mom left.” His brown eyes meet mine.

 I quickly remove my hands with a scoff. “The General doesn’t get to dictate what I keep and what gets thrown away. Even if he thinks he does.” My mind goes back to watching as he destroyed one set of my pointe shoes. I smile, what he didn’t know on that day, that in my bag, the new pair I had bought from the traveling market were there.

Dain releases my shoulders, pinching the bridge of his nose, “Lydia he is only trying to protect you.” He lowers his hands and shoots me a glare, “As am I.” His tone is clipped.

I blink and my lip curls, “What’s that supposed to mean?” I cross my arms.

My brother leans against his chair, also crossing his arms a familiar stance we have taken over the years. One that only led to one of us screaming and the other either with tears, or a broken nose. Dain’s nose has never looked the same since. “Are you aware whose dragon it was that you enticed?”

Rage consumes my body, “You want to ask that again, Brother?” I quirk a brow at him.

“No.” His tone is just like the general’s, too much like him.

“You know I don’t know, so don’t be a condescending prick and just tell me.” I begin to stretch my legs under the blankets my feet naturally pointing. The numb feeling shifting into pins and needles my legs has been in one position for too long. I need to get up…I need to practice.

“That was Xaden Riorson’s dragon, Lydia.” Dain snarls. “And you bowed to it, like it she was some all-powerful being. Do you know how that makes the Aetos family look? Did that even cross your mind?”

I turn to sit at the edge of my bed, my hand gripping the end so tightly my knuckles turn white. “You’re joking, right?” Anger begins to bubble; my face begins to heat up and I can feel the tears beginning to build. “A dragon approached me. In most cultures, bowing between two parties is a sign of respect. I was thinking of how I could come out of that situation alive.” Dain’s lips formed into a tight line shifting in his seat. “I thought about my life. I wasn’t thinking about who that dragon belonged to, how embarrassing it was for you. I sure as fuck did not give a shit about our family reputation.” I rise noting that I am still from my clothes from the parapet. Finally taking in my surroundings I notice the rows of beds someone brought me to the female wing. “What time is it?”

“We have about 2 hours before formation.” Dain says rising from his own scene. “I need you to lay low. Please for the love of the gods, please lay low. Don’t attract any unwanted attention, do not bring up the dancing thing.” He grips my arm, his fingers digging into my skin. “This is the most important one so pay attention. Stay away from Xaden Riorson.”

I snort and yank my arm back, “I have no interest in being near the one person in this place who would probably want to see our heads on a spike, thanks to the action of our father.” Pushing him out of my way I grab my bag that is lying beside my bed. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get ready for the day.”

I left the female wing before he could get another word in. I manage to find the showers on my own and wash off the grime that I have been sleeping in. Letting the water cascade down my skin, I rub my face my mind wandering from that interaction with the blue daggertail. To the nightmare I woke up from. Lian. My dance partner, my lover, my best friend. I twist the ring on my finger absentmindedly, it’s been months since I last had a dream about him. Tears well up in my eyes.

The rays of the sun warmed my skin as I began my stretches, Lian lying on the blanket in front of me. The sun is hitting his tan skin, his eyes closed, a smile on his face. As though he didn’t have any care in the world, except to be here with me. Finishing my stretches I rise to my feet and lift my teeth on my tippy toes. My bare feet sink into the plush blades of grass. I raise my leg above my head.

I begin to hum, and the tune shifts me from the prairie we are having a picnic at and morphs to the theater. My hums soon are replaced by the sweet sounds of the orchestra. I move my leg down pointed behind me. My movements fluid as my feet carries me through the stage. Leaps precise arms tight, various faces in the crowd, that I don’t pay close attention to. I begin my pirouette. I’m to do five spins for this routine, the most I have done. Putting myself in position I smile out to the crown and stumble, brown hair the same as my own, a smile that Dain inherited are looking back at me. It’s not that my mother is in the crowd that causes my movements to falter. Her eyes, seeming to glow in the dim lights of the theater and their color, gone were the warmth and comfort of her blue eyes. Her gaze now cold, hard and the vilest shade of red.

Hands gripped my waist pulling me tightly, fingers beginning to dance at my size as laughter begins to bubble up my chest.

“Lian!” I squeal as he spins me around, always knowing exactly when I need to be pulled from my thoughts. “Put me down! I’m rehearsing!”

He presses his lips to my ear, “You’re always rehearsing, Dove. We’re outside let’s enjoy our picnic.”

“I don’t like dealing with the wrath of Seraphina.” I murmur as I lean into his touch.

“I have a gift for though. Don’t you want to know what it is?” I whip around to face him, and he chuckles at my wide-eyed expression.

“My Love, if you want my attention, start with gifts.” He leads me back to the blanket and sits me down. “I have something for you too.”

“Me first,” he tucks what he has behind his back. Lian's curly brown hair becoming wild with the soft summer breeze rolling through. “Close your eyes, Dove, and hold out your right hand.”

I quirk a brow but obey, closing my eyes I stick out my right hand. It feels like hours have gone by though it has only been a minute at most before his soft hand holds mine. The cool bite of metal sliding down my finger until it reaches my knuckle. I open my eyes and gasp. The engraving work on the ring is beautiful, the swirling design reminding me of shadows and in the center where the shadows should my initials reside there. LD.

I look up at my partner and smile, “Lian D- He silences me with a kiss one filled with so much passion it makes me dizzy.

He pulls away, “Do you like it?” He murmurs over my mouth.

“No.” His face falls before I kiss his nose, “I love it.” Lian’s grin takes my breath away. “My turn.” I press a hand to his chest, “Sit back, and close your eyes.” Lian sat back on his heels and closed his eyes. I dig through my bag until my fingers grip the chain, pulling it out revealing the oval pendant with my name in the center. I crawl to him and gently place the chain over his head and place the necklace down gently around his neck.

Lian opens his eyes, and looks down to the pendant. His thumb grazes over the engraving of my name as though he was caressing me. My body responds to the sight of it as if his thumb was grazing me, tenderly. He looks up at me with a smile, “Now you’ll be near my heart forever.” Lian grabs my waist and pulls me on his lap. “Happy Anniversary, Dove.”

I press my forehead to his. “Happy Anniversary, Lian.”

“Lydia?” Violet’s voice rings through the bathing chambers.

“I’m in here,” I call out, her footsteps echoing through the chamber.

“Are you okay? I just ran into Dain.” Her voice is hesitant, she knows my feelings for my brother as well as I know about hers. “He seemed upset.”

“He can get in line.” Shutting off the water and grabbing my towel to dry off. “I don’t need a lecture about how he is a good person. I’m not interested in that.”

“I know what today is.” My hands still, “I’m not here to talk about Dain. He’s being an ass.” I wrap the towel around my body and step out. Violet’s blue eyes with flickers of amber were warm. “I’m sorry.” She engulfs me into a hug as I swallow the tears threatening to fall. “He would be so proud of you, Lydia.”

Today would have been our two-year anniversary. I should be at the dance studio with him rehearsing. Yet here I am in Basgiath and Lian…is gone.

Lian’s absence has hurt me in more ways than one. After our one-year anniversary he vanished. At least when my mother abandoned me, she had the decency to leave me a note. Late nights at the lake, stolen kisses backstage, his arms wrapped around me so tight the colonel’s wrath couldn’t find me there. I long for those moments once more, but clearly, he didn’t. His words the day we exchanged gifts ring in my head, “I’ll get you out, Lydia, you’ll never have to deal with your father. I’m going to set you free.”

He didn’t keep his promise. He left me behind without so much as a second glance. Freedom. My mom longed for it, Lian promised it.  I’m growing to detest the idea of freedom if it means the people I care about most fucking abandon me for it, leaving me to a cruel fate.

Confined. Controlled. Caged.

What good is freedom if it means stepping on the backs of the people one loves just to get there?

My feeling of sadness contorts to anger as I slowly pull away from Violet, she has never once abandoned me and is confined in this brick cage as I am. Violet doesn’t deserve my anger, though the sympathy in her eyes told me I could, and she would let me. I refuse to be my father or my brother and take my out-of-control feelings out on people who do not deserve it. Straightening my spine I give Violet’s hand a gentle squeeze. “Hard to be proud of someone, you actively abandoned with no word as to why you left.” I release her hand and swallow once more forcing the lump lodged in my throat back down to the pit of my stomach where it belongs. Where all my unwanted feelings belong.  “I’m going to get dressed and we can head to formation.

Violet nods, her eyes still glittering with concern. I quickly moved to change into the leathers that were near my bed this morning. Wrapping my hair in a tight bun I stick the two hair pins in. I link my arms with hers and give her a smile, a performative one, but a smile all the same.

Formation was a blur even as I am currently looking for a seat during breakfast, thinking back I can’t quite remember anything other than the list of names of those that did not make it yesterday, and everyone’s eyes on me. Kind of like they are now, though I have never been a stranger to eyes upon me, I wish it was for my ability to dance and not because I survived an interaction with Xaden Riorson’s dragon. And arm drapes around my shoulder, “Welcome back to the land of the living.” Ridoc’s voice is a welcome joy from the ominous stares burning holes in my skin. “Come, we’ve already scooped up Sorrengail.” Before I can counter, he is brining me to the table with Rhiannon, Violet, and a man who’s skinny, sandy curls lay atop his head.

Sitting at the open seat next to him the handsome man, he held out his hand, “Sawyer Henrick.” There is a twinkle in his green eyes, his freckles a stark contrast with his pale skin.

I grip his hand and give him a warm smile, “Lydia Aetos.”

Sawyer winks, “You know, you’re a lot prettier to look at than your brother.”

Heat creeps up my skin, as I release his hand. “Thanks, I guess.” I take a sip of my drink, “He is an eye sore.” Sawyer spits out his drink all over Ridoc as he chuckles, while the latter groans.

“How are you feeling, Lydia?” Rhiannon changes the subject as Ridoc continues his grumbling.

I think back to Xaden’s onyx eyes boring into my skull, or the heat from the Blue Daggertails nostril’s grazing against my neck as if a gust of warm summer’s wind was caressing me. Her yellow eyes staring at me, assessing me, for what? I’m not sure and I hope I wouldn’t find out considering who her rider is. The fear surges back up but a hand gripping my own brings me to the present. Soft, tiny, Violet, I look over to the youngest Sorrengail, “I’m alright. Nothing a few days rest couldn’t solve.”

“So, that interaction with that dragon…”Ridoc pulls my attention to him, “What was that all about?”

I shrug, beginning to devour my meal, not caring how the food tasted as I discover how hungry I am, “I truly wish I knew. I have never met a dragon before her.”

The table falls silent in contemplation. I shift in my seat and feel the familiar prick in the back of my neck. Glancing up Onyx eyes look at me in cold assessment as he eats his food, his stare never breaking from my own. I give my performance grin, the one that makes the audience fall in love with me the moment I step on the stage. Slowly raising my hand, I lift my middle finger to him.  His eyes lower and he tilts his head ever slightly ignoring the person who is chatting away in front of him. I give him a playful wink and break eye contact though I can feel his eyes on me.

“Well, should we call you the Queen of the Dragons?” Ridoc quips as the table chuckles with him and I hunch my shoulders slightly, embarrassment trickling through my body. “I mean I have never heard of a dragon that has bowed to a human in that way before. It must mean she’s destined to rule them all.” Ridoc smiles at me as I ball up my napkin to throw at him.

“Absolutely not, I would much rather you all call me twinkle toes than that.” I sip my water as the entire table, Violet included, give each other playful looks.

Collectively and in the highest decibel above screaming yell, “Twinkle Toes!” Before erupting in laughter and I can’t help but join in. I forgotten what it felt like to be surrounded by people that I connect with so well and enjoy their company. Sitting with them wiping my tears from laughter that causes my stomach to ache is a welcome reprieve from the dark corners of my mind where I usually reside.

“Mind if we join?” A man’s voice pulls the group from our bubble and back into reality. I lift my gaze and it feels as though ice has been poured over my head. The man’s eyes the same shade of brown as his, his hair like the curls I ran my fingers through countless times, lips I’ve kissed on numerous occasions. His face has the same shape as Lian’s, they could have been twins. My gaze shifts lower to the relic that peaks through his leathers and that’s where the similarities end, and the sound of my heart shattering thunder in my ears.

“Not at all We have space,” Ridoc scoots down, Lian’s look-a-like allows his handsome friend that had a matching tattoo along, with blonde hair and blue eyes, to sit closer to Ridoc and he sits in front of me. I swallow down my surge of emotions tears threatening to fall as the man smiles at me.

Ridoc takes over with the introductions, saving himself for last. “And who might you two be.”

The blonde-haired male eyes locks on Violets, as he smiles and I notice that her cheeks are red as he holds out his hand to her, “Liam Mairi.” Violet shakes his hand and averts her gaze. Sliding his hand from hers his fingers lingering slightly from her fingertips. Clasping the man’s, in front of me, shoulder, “This right here is Bodhi Durran, a second year.”

Metal clashes as my utensils falls on the plate, “I’m so sorry.” I rise to my feet acutely aware eyes are on me, “I just realize I need to do some things before class starts. Please excuse me.” I smile at Bohdi vision beginning to blur as tears rise, “It was lovely to meet you.” I turn and briskly walk away before anyone can call me back. Running down the hall and into the female wing of the dorms I reach my cot and sob in my pillow. Memories of Lian I have since buried deep rising to the surface:

“Lydia Aetos. My muse.” Lian smiles as my hips grind against his, “My dove.” His tanned hands slide my dress up my thighs they slowly reach my chest palming my cleavage resulting in a moan from me. “Who sings such pretty songs in pleasure.” He sits up and I adjust accordingly as I ride him.

“I love you.” I whisper, my eyes lidded, “I love you Lian Durran.” My fingers slide through his dark curls as his lips find mine and claim me.

A hand clamps over my mouth as I’m hoisted from my cot. My back presses against a hard back a dagger at my neck as hands grip my legs to prevent me from kicking. “Shh, Twinkle Toes. We’re going to take good care of you! I scream resulting in the hand clamping tighter around my mouth.

I lash around as Jack Barlow and his cronies begin to carry me down the empty corridor. “Jack,” the one struggling to keep my feet together groans, “Can’t we at least have some fun with her before we get rid of her?” My body stills at the implication. I know I’m in danger, but fear keeps me frozen in place.

Help

Help

Help

I am incapable of calling out to help as the duo pulls me into the shadows. They pin me to the wall, and I beg my body to move, will it to do anything besides tremble, I think of Dain, and the dream of a better relationship with my brother, of Violet whose kindness has brought me from the brink of insanity by her friendship. I think of Rhiannon, Ridoc, Sawyer, Liam and even Bodhi, friendships I’ll never get to see grow because I know one thing is certain.

I am going to die today.

Jack presses the knife to my skin keeping my head in place with his hand. “I’m going to make sure you feel the humiliation I felt on the parapet that day.” He whispers in my ear as he grazes the knife across my neck, hard enough to break skin, though not hard enough to kill. As if he was a predator toying with his food, he lowered the cold steel down to my chest where the leathers we received protected me from taking any reputable damage. “You are such a pretty little thing.” Bile rose in the back of my throat at his words. “You’ll be even prettier drenched in your blood.

“But you sai-

“Even I wouldn’t stoop that low.” And with a quick movement of his hand Jack slit the other cadet’s throat. I screamed his palm muffling the sound. His cold blue eyes meet mine, “Now where were we?”

“What do we have here?” A low voice causes Jack to turn, yanking me to his front. Hazel eyes meet mine and I take a moment to take in the person in front of me. His dark black hair with short curls allows the sharp angles of his face to stand out. His high cheekbones and perfectly set nose this man is handsome and right now his mouth is set in a firm line, “It’s not nice to hand a pretty lady in such a way.”

“I’m handling a pest problem.” Jack simply states.

The man smiles and its devastatingly beautiful. “Allow me to correct myself.” His large, calloused hand wraps around my forearm and maneuvers me out of Jack’s grasp with ease. All the while gripping the collar of Jack’s jacket, “You will not touch her or come near her ever again. “Do you understand?” Jack nods a snarl curling at his lips as the man releases him. “Good not run along, you’ll be late for battle brief.” Jack makes sure to level me with a glare as he walks down the corridor. The mystery man turns towards me and smiles, his eyes scanning me, locking in my neck where the warmth of my blood clings to my skin. “You’re hurt.”

“A simple scratch, it will be gone in the morning.” I look to the corpse lying behind him and he glances to where I’m staring, “Better than being that guy at the moment.” The man snorts as his gaze lands on me once more. He nods as though the answer is good enough for him as I reach out my hand, “I’m Lydia.”

His eyes light up in recognition, “Aetos right?” I sheepishly nod my head as he takes my hand and places a soft kiss on my knuckles, “A pleasure. You are much nicer to look at than your brother.” He releases my hand and I laugh.

“I see my brother has made quite the name for himself.” I quip as I fidget as silence fell between the two of us.

“Come on Cadet, we will be late for battle brief.” The man extends his arm for me to loop through and as my hand pressed into his muscled arm, he led me down the hall.

I look back to the body on the ground, “Um shouldn’t we take care of him?”

Garrick chuckles, “Don’t fret, Pretty girl, someone will dispose of him and his things. “Death is pretty commonplace here.” I feel his eyes are on me. I glance back in his direction to see a playful smirk on his face, “I like your eyes. How one is brown, and one is blue. Its about as unique as having a dragon bow to you.” He quirks a brow as I groan looking up at the ornate ceiling above. “Word travels fast here.”

“So much for going through these three years undetected I guess.” He hums in agreement, and I take a moment to study him as we go down the stairs. “So does the pretty boy have a name?”

The man winks at me, “He does.”

“Well, I can’t call you my hero forever,” I smile, the sadness of a former love fluttering away, as I shamelessly flirt with the man in front of me.

He whistles, “You’re good, Aetos.” He releases my arm only playfully nudges me. “My name is Garrick. Feel free to keep calling me your hero though. I won’t mind.”

I laugh, “You’re a shameless flirt.” I counter as we approach a classroom, students from every year begin filing in.

Onyx eyes meet mine, his nostrils flare slightly at the sight of me with Garrick but his lips remain in a tight line as a warmth breath grazes my ear, “Takes one to know one, Pretty Girl.”  I whip my head towards him as he stands to his full height and walks into the room without so much as a goodbye. Though he is quick to wrap what I now see as a tattooed arm around Xaden causing the Wingleader to break eye contact with me.

“Hey, are you okay? You ran off pretty quickly at breakfast.” Ridoc’s voice rings out as I find him with the others at the entryway.

“I’m fine, just needed to catch up on work.” Ridoc nodded as we all entered the large classroom with chairs that rose all the way up to the rafters. Every student in Basgiath could be sat here. The ornate look of the room takes my breath away as it reminds me of the theater I once used to frequent with my mother.

“Everyone, take your seats and we will begin.” A woman projects her voice from where she stands, at what can only be described as a stage. I’m once again reminded of the fact that I am no longer a dancer. This is not a theater. I am to become a rider. This is Battle Brief.

Waking up early, I quickly change into my leotard and tights that I sneak past my father’s nose. The last week has been a challenge to say the least. I have been struggling to gain my footing, Dain’s constant quips and critiques, the intense class schedule. Finding reasons to get up and keep moving has been a challenging one for me. Familiar dark thoughts overriding my brain my father’s words ringing in my ears. Somedays I am able to quiet them other time they were yelled in high decibels causing me to curl into a ball in my cot.

Worthless. Pathetic. Disgrace of a child.

Wrapping my pointe shoes around my ankles tying them securely I begin to tiptoe toward the Gym where there are full length mirrors.

Grateful that no one is around, I begin my stretches, my feet pointed outward, I lower my body. I focus on my breathing as I plie I reach one arm out in front of me the other above me and I sink lower once more.

Inhale

Hold 2, 3, 4

Exhale

I rise on my exhale and do this a few more times trying to keep my breathing even and the dark thoughts at bay. To keep from those feelings consuming me entirely as they have in previous years. And I begin to do my routine.

“You need to get up, Lydia.” Lian whispers as I turn over and cover the pillow over my head groaning. “Dove.” His fingers graze up my bare spine.

“Go away.” I grumble pulling the covers over me tightly.

Lian continues his tender strokes, “Is it happening again?”  He gently removes the pillow from my head to reveal my tear-stained cheeks. “The dark feelings returning.”

I nod my head, “It feels like my body weighs a ton. I just want to lay in bed.”  Lian proceeds to pull the covers off me and before I can begin to scold him, he kisses the bottom of my spine spine and leaves soft pecks all the way up to the base of my neck.  “Lian.” I warn.

“I’m not going to do anything, not like that anyway.” He chuckles as his firm hands begin to rub the tension from my shoulders. “Seraphina can rehearse with the others today.”

“You should-

“I would never leave you behind, Dove.”  He continues to massage my back and reaches a knot that elicits a groan. “I’m going to set you free, baby. I promise.” A small smile emerges on my face, “There she is.”

My spins become sloppy as memories of Lian bubble up.

I would never leave you behind. But he did.

I am going to set you free. Yet, I’m still in a cage.

I love you, Dove. Then why did he leave?

I lose my footing as I leap, and my ankle rolls before I can fall to the floor calloused hands grip my arms. My body stiffens as I see the rebellion relic, followed by the scent of leather and mint. My eyes gaze up to meet the Gold flecked onyx of Xaden Riorson. “What has you up this early?”

I writhe out of his grasp, “Why do you want to know?”

Xaden quirks his scarred brow, “I’m your Wingleader, Kitten, it’s my job to know why my cadet is not only out of bed but why she is in…whatever it is you’re wearing.”

I look down at my pointe shoes followed by my pink tights and leotard, “I’m a dancer. This is dance attire.”

His eyes graze down my body and a shiver course down my spine at his ogling. “Why are you here?”

“This space is for all cadets, Wingleader.” I begin to continue when he presses a finger to my lips.

“No, no. Why are you here in Basgiath?” His thumb idly swiped my hip the tenderness of the action pulling me from my stupor. As I whack his hand and step out of his grasp. “I mean it is pretty obvious you don’t belong here, Kitten.”

Through gritted teeth, “Well the fuck aware, Riorson. I also recall telling you my name is Lydia.”

He takes a step closer, gripping my chin he forces me to look at him, “Tell me something, Lydia. Why did you bow to Sgaeyl?”

Sgaeyl. That is the name of his dragon. Beautiful. Just like her. “Out of respect.”

“You didn’t have to.” He murmurs getting close enough that I have no choice but to look up at him. “Most people would have ran away.”

“I’m not most people. I prefer keeping my flesh intact not becoming a pile of ash.”  I pull one of the hair pins from my hair pressing it to his chest forcing him to take a step back. “Tell me, Xaden, why did she bow in return?”

He hums in contemplation, and I scowl. He bends down at the waist, so our faces are inches apart from one another. My heartbeat quickens at him being so close to me, warmth pooling in my belly as his beautiful face closes in on mine, our nose near touching. “Now where is the fun in answering that, Kitten.” His face contorts into a look of confusion. “You’re crying.”

I press my hand to my cheek to find tears there. The dark thoughts hit me like a wave crashing over a rock, unlike a rock, I get swept up in the current:

Useless, Pathetic, Annoying. Traitor

Traitor

Traitor

Traitor

I wrap my arms around myself and take a step away from the Wingleader. The warmth his body provided was now gone. “I have to go, if I want to change and make it to formation in time.” I turn acutely aware I am putting my back to him as I scurry off back from the room. Finding a vacant hallway, I slide my back against the cool brick, rubbing my chest. The words are becoming all-consuming, and I allow myself to succumb to the darkness. The words playing in a loop as though it was playing through a faulty record player.

Worthless

Worthless

Worthless

Words are so cruel but have been my constant companion when people I care about were so quick to leave me. Abandon me. Brennan, my mom, Lian, even Dain is guilty of abandoning me. It’s hard to not let the vile words keep me down when the most important people in my life constantly leave me. At some point the words that would pop up as fleeting thought began to take root and seep into my brain as something factual the moment, I found that letter on my bed. The moment I learned that I wasn’t worth fighting for, wasn’t worth defending.

Dain’s betrayal stung the most when he would stop defending me against our father when it came to my dancing and has since tried to snuff out the one good thing in my life with him.

“I highly doubt you’re good enough to make a career out of it. This is a fine hobby sure, but you need to realize that he expects you to train to be a warrior.”

A chunk of my heart deteriorated that day. Dain has never once seen me dance, for him to say that hurt. For him to then reiterate that last week stings more. Nothing has changed and I was hoping that being here away from our father would give us the chance to mend things. The hope now since squandered since I yielded my practice challenge after the first punch. He said I was embarrassing him and making father look like a fool.

Maybe I am a fool. Fool for falling in love with a performer who the moment things became complicated had left without an utterance of goodbye.

Foolish for thinking I could have a career in dance with my father carrying me like a marionette doll. Foolish for thinking him and I would ever have a loving father daughter relationship like I witness Violet have with her father.

Foolish for thinking I’m good enough to fight for, to love, to be cared for.

Foolish

Foolish

Foolish

Stray tears turn into stream of sobs as I tuck my knees to my chest and bury my face in them. I don’t care how loud I’m being, or how emotional I am. I just want the ache in my chest to disappear, for the heaviness of my existence to lift from my shoulders. For someone, anyone, to pull me from the depths of my darkness so that I may be able to breathe easier, to feel less burdensome.

My vision blurs as I allow the thoughts to rip me apart, the sounds of footsteps causing me to lift my head. Finding a tall figure hovering over me as my vison gives way to the tears, I don’t register the hands that lift me from the ground only the comforting smell of Leather and mint before falling asleep allowing the exhaustion of my episode to welcome me with open arms.

“Lydia!” Violet squeals jolting me awake, I look to see I’m on my cot. The other women filtering through. “You missed formation, I was so worried about you.” Her frail arms wrap around my neck and I’m quick to embrace her back not only because I needed her comfort but also to keep her from falling. “Were you asleep the whole time?”

I shrug, “I honestly am not sure how I got here. I was practicing in the gym before anyone had woken up. Next thing I know I am waking up to you.” She nods and a pang of guilt hits me like a dagger, I know that someone had brought me back here during my meltdown. Violet has enough to worry about on her own, she doesn’t need to be worried about me as well. “Was Dain mad?”

Violet bit her lip and her cheeks became rosy, “He was,” She looked up as though she was trying to pick the best word from a shelf. “Agitated.”

Shit.

“He was angry. I didn’t mean to miss formation. I just didn’t wake up.” I sit up and grab my leathers. Preparing for the fight I will inevitably have with my brother. “I will be surprised if he doesn’t just kill me before the year is over. That way he doesn’t have to worry about me ruining his image.”

“Well, what if I said that I have something that gives you and I an edge.”  I pause and turn to my friend. She holds up a book in her hands the scrawl so familiar.

The Book of Brennan

“How?”

“Mira must have kept it after Brennan died.” Violet shrugs and her eyes shift as if for a moment she was back home, and her brother was still alive. I reach over and grip her shoulder and she physically shake off the memories. She gives me a smile, “We’ll read this after classes. If we are even late to one. I fear Ridoc is going to become lost.”

“Can’t have that. I’ll change quickly and we can go.” She nods with a smile and the vacancy in her eyes dissipating. And I turn to go change, wishing there was something I could do to keep Violet safe from the horrors of this world.

I’m going to murder Violet.

The brisk cold air of the night still reaching my bones even with my cloak on. I cling the material tighter to my chest as I cross the courtyard hoping I blend in with the dark shadows of the night. I shouldn’t even be the one out here tonight. After reading Brennan’s guide to surviving Basgiath, Violet took it upon herself a few days ago to find out who our first challenge partners were. In turn she knew of a flower that grew in a tree near the lake that would give herself an edge next week. She had asked if she should get enough for two people, but I refused.  I had no intention of fighting anyone next week but that even if I did I would not need it.

Violet didn’t intend to have a flare up before she set off on her little escapade tonight. These past few weeks have taken a toll on her body even though she would never say anything. Dain and I knew she is suffering in silence, stubborn just like her mother. Though tonight she couldn’t even get out of bed. Her silvery blue eyes pleading as she asked if I would go get the flower for her. Even gave me a rough sketch of what I was looking for. Not being able to deny the minx anything I agreed and now out in the abnormally cold evening for summer my knee flares in pain, something that occurs when weather shifts, I sustained an injury during a performance when I first started dancing and now, I’m acutely aware of when we are getting a storm, or when General Sorrengail is having a fit. The abnormal chill causes another shooting pain to my knee, and I grit my teeth swallowing the pain.

The tree comes into focus and my mind drifts back to simpler times.

“Dain! I can’t its too high.” I scream clinging tightly to a branch closing my eyes to avoid looking at the daunting distance from the branch to the ground.

“Lydia, I promise I’ll catch you.” Dain voice calls out. “I promise I won’t let you fall.”

I peak an eye open and his arms only slightly bigger than mine are wide open ready to cling onto me should I decide to jump down. “I’m scared.” I whisper.

“I’m your brother, my job is to protect you. I just need you to trust me. Can you do that?” I nod my head and take a steadying breath as I ease my grip on the branch. Shifting in a seated position the skirt of my pale pink dress shifting with me. “That’s it. Now jump!”

I close my eyes and take that leap a shrill scream erupting from my throat as the air whirled around my ears. Arms gripped my shoulders and knees.  “See,” Dains voice; a soothing balm over my fears, “You are safe. So long as I breathe, I will always keep you safe, Lydia. I promise.” I latch my arms around his neck and squeeze him tight.

“I love you, Dain.”

Another cold breeze kisses my cheeks as I’m brought to the present, where it’s not warm and sunny, but warm with the looming threat of rain above. Where my brother and I are not close and may as well be strangers. The only person who would protect me from the monsters lurking in the shadows being myself. I shake the looming thoughts reminding myself that I am here for a task.

I lighten my steps to keep them quiet and not draw attention to myself. To further ease my worries of being caught as I loom closer to the tree, I imagine that I’m not a cadet out past curfew in a war college I want nothing to do with, but instead a wraith dancing across the stage, undetected from the royal guards. The orchestra’s melodies were one of short beats that matched with footsteps, a dark undertone to build the tension for the audience, as though I may be caught.  My movements highlight my ability to flip and contort my body, in place of my normal languid long movements.

My feet move on their own accord as I dance with a face covering to conceal my identity, for if the guards realized there was an assassin on their grounds, they would likely kill me. In swift movements, as though I’m galloping toward the tower, where my sworn enemy waits for me at the top. I stretch my body as if I was on my tiptoes I would be able to reach the man who was destined to be my enemy. Who became my lover instead. Lovers destined to be apart, who against the odds found moments to be together. The music roars in my ears as the short beats of the music shift to one of longing and passion.

I place my foot in the slot made for my dance shoes and begin my accent my lover waiting for me at the top of the tower. The music rises in tandem with my ascent and dramatically I falter on a step acting as though I lost my footing. The music in tandem with the music building to a climactic moment, the audience gasping thinking I will fall. As gracefully as slid, I pushed my body back against the set piece and continued my ascension.

My forehead collides with a tree trunk, and I yelp in surprise. Reality rearing its hideous form from my beautiful daydream to reveal I am halfway up the tree. How I didn’t hit any other branches takes me by surprise, but I continue, keeping my eyes peeled for the flower Violet needs.

Spotting the delicate looking but also dangerous plant I settle myself on a large branch that supports my weight and I gather a few of the buds and place it in the vile that the youngest Sorrengail sibling provided for me. Once I gather enough for Violet to use, I place the vile in my pocket and set to lower myself from the tree where I hear voices. Lying on my stomach keeping myself flushed against the tree branch as three cloaked figures come into view.

The three lower their cloaks and my heart stops. The pink hair of the marked one that destroyed Violets shoulder at our practice round of challenges. Garrick’s curls appeared from the cloak along with his annoyingly handsome smirk. Finally, Xaden Riorson, and in the moonlight, I can’t deny that his beauty whooshes the breath out of me. I especially try to keep the fact that his body close to mine when I ran into him at the gym plays across my mind periodically and heat pools in my stomach at the though of his hands on me and his lips…

The shuffling of more feet pulls me from stupor as more marked ones approach, I know because most have opted to not wear any coverings and let reveal their relics with pride. I scrunch my brows; this meeting is against the codex. The marked ones are not supposed to congregate in groups larger than three. A ridiculous rule, as these children are paying for the crimes of their parents but regardless a rule they are actively breaking. I pray to whatever gods can hear to keep me hidden. Xaden only needs to look up to see I’m there to expose that I’m listening and because of who I’m related to; he has grounds to kill me for simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

I am going to murder Violet.

As the group of Marked one’s settle is when Xaden’s voice booms in the courtyard. “Alright, let’s get started.”

A person in the back of the group perks up, “I am having a difficult time with History.”

Imogen snorts, “Because of the dates, or because of the lies?” I roll my eyes at her, I may agree that I don’t believe what they are teaching is accurate especially after talking to Lian last year but to stupidly question out loud in the open where anyone could hear is foolish and the quickest to get yourself executed for treason.

“Both.” The young man mutters. Movement on my leg causes me to jolt and I clamp a hand over my mouth to prevent me from shrieking as I look at my leg only to find my leg hidden in the shadows, and it almost feels like the shadows are caressing my leg as if in comfort. Feeling my heartrate regulate I lay back down in my position and try to remain quiet as Garrick answers the young boy.

As the hour ticks by I learn that Xaden is helping the marked ones get through their time here. They like me didn’t ask to be here but must make the best of the dangerous situation their parents unknowingly put them in. My eyes constantly find Xaden’s figure through this meeting and how he looks almost fatherly, the way he’s standing, and the words of comfort and advice causes my chest to tighten. Xaden is more of a loving father to these people than my father ever was to me. Once again, I felt movement against my leg only to find darkness and my brows knit in confusion.

“What of Lydia Aetos and Violet Sorrengail?”  A girl in front quips up in front and my blood runs cold.

“What of them?” Garrick questions back in a tone that can only be described as a warning as he crosses his arms.

“Their parents are the reason we’re here against our will. When do we get to punish them for their crimes? It’s clear we can’t touch Dain, but surely, we can take out the twinkle toed princess?”

“Lydia Aetos and Violet Sorrengail, are mine to handle.” Xaden says with cool indifference though his tone edged on being scolding. “I will remind you, Cadet, that Violet and Lydia didn’t ask to be here either. Violet was studying to be a scribe and you’ve all seen Aetos dance. Neither of them wanted to be here. They are trapped in the same position as we are by the exact same people.”

“You plan on sparing them?” The girl retorts her voice bordering on shrieking. “My mom and older sister are dead because of them. I think taking their children evens the score.”

“Fall in line, Cadet. The two girls are not your kill. I said I am going to handle it. Believe me no one has more reason to hate those two than me.” A sinking feeling wraps me into a state of paralysis. The memory of his hands on me shatters like glass, of course he has every reason to hate me for what my father did. Of course he would want to settle the score, blinded simply by the fact that he’s attractive, I forgot how lethal he is.

The silence permeates over the courtyard, “If you don’t have any other questions then we’re done here.” Imogen commands her nose in the air. “Make sure you go in groups of three to not raise suspicion.”

The group begins to disband in their merry groups of three murmuring about the happenings of this meeting. Imogen and Xaden left together as Garrick waved them off leaning against the tree, watching them go with ease. Silence falls leaving the creatures of the night to sing their beautiful melodies. It almost lulls me to sleep as Garrick’s voice breaks me from the trance, “Have a good night, Pretty Girl, and good luck.” He pauses as my heart thunders out of my chest, and chuckles pushing himself off the trunk of the tree, “You’re gonna’ need it.”  He begins to walk away, and I’m left alone in a state of confusion.

I wait a few minutes to ensure that everyone has left before I make my descent. Landing on the grass with a soft thud, I take a moment to admire the moonlight reflecting the rippling waves, a smile on my face in the beauty of it. Pulling my gaze away from the water I attempt to lift my leg to walk only to find it won’t move. Looking down tendrils of darkness are wrapped snuggly against both ankles keeping my feet planted to ground. I attempt to move again and almost scream out when a low chuckle emerges behind me, whipping around my wavey hair falling over my shoulder as I meet Gold-flecked Onyx eyes and my heart falls into my stomach as Xaden’s figure emerges into the moonlight. A slight tilt of his lips as he crosses his arms.

“You’re not where you’re supposed to be, Kitten.”

To Be Continued!!

Some I tagged that wouldn't let me link if that happened I'm so sorry!

Story Tags: @milswrites @lady-of-tearshed @marvelsmylife @sherayuki @misslady246

@thelov3lybookworm @a-frog-with-a-laptop @randomperson1234sblog @garricks4thwingqueen @leastlikelytoachieve

@clayme123 @sweetsformysoul @nickishadow139 @bada-lee-ily @andreperez11

@pit-and-the-pen @demi321win-chester @aelincaddel @nighttimemoonlover

Enjoy!!

[ggukiepie]

the agreement (drabble i)

pairing: jungkook x fem. oc

tags: smut, fluff, college!au, fuckboy!jk, this is a flashback !!!! how it all began for our ooyg couple <3, mentions of cheating (brief)

warnings: kissing, fingering, a lil bit of breast play, protected sex, missionary, oral, multiple orgasms

word count: 5k

a/n: surprise !!! wrote this way long ago, here we get a glimpse of oc and jk's dynamic as friends <33 enjoy ! can be read as a standalone / part 1 / part 2

..••°°°°••..°°••….••°°..••°°°°••..

Jihyo forced all of you to have a picnic—to sit on the grass and not at some table like you all usually do. Especially since midterms just ended. Said everyone needs a little breather, some change of scenery. She assigned things to bring. Said she wants to have a picnic for the vibes. Or the aesthetic. You're not really sure but you comply nonetheless (and Mingyu threatened all of you to bring the stuff you're assigned to bring, or else you're not allowed in his car anymore). You think she's doing something cutesy like this because you all haven't seen each other in a while, been so swamped with exams and projects to submit.

You're sitting on a red and white picnic blanket—brought by Jihyo of course—enjoying the food brought by Jimin and Jungkook. It's just take out, really, but it's the effort those two boys did that make it a little special. You're in charge of the dessert and you can't wait to eat the cookies you baked.

You're wearing a dress to complete the vibes, one with a floral design and a sweetheart neckline. It doesn't really differ from your usual outfits but you don't mind. You feel the sun shining down on your shoulders as you're listening to Jungkook and Mingyu bicker about who's turn it is to wash the dishes.

"Stop fighting!" Jihyo finally says as the two start picking the pepperoni off the pizza and are chucking it at each other. Jihyo's not really mad because you can see she's trying not to smile, not to laugh, too enamored with Mingyu. They recently had just gotten together so they're still in the honeymoon stage. But you think they're endgame and will be like that forever. You wish you had a love like that. You're not looking for it now though, you know it'll come at the right time.

What stops Mingyu and Jungkook bickering is Jimin shouting that it's time for dessert. You laugh at your friends as they all make a grab for the tupperwares where your baked goodies are. You make good cookies. It's one thing you're proud of. You've made enough for everyone so you remind them of that. Still, it doesn't stop Jungkook and Jihyo from fighting over the last cookie. You only have a small piece for yourself. You have some extra back at your place, for you and for a certain someone who always asks for extra.

"You have more right?" Jungkook whispers from beside you. The others are busy eating and chatting away so they don't hear you both.

You smile and nod your head, too shy to say anything. You've always been like that with Jungkook—shy and speechless. Caught off guard. Even though you've been friends for a year and he's been nothing but nice to you. It's just the natural charm he has, which is why he has a lot of girls falling for him. You get them, even though you don't feel the same way.

Jungkook and you aren't as close as he is with Mingyu. But you're close enough that it's not weird to walk to class with him alone, or to grab coffee together before meeting up with your other friends.

Or for him to follow you right back to your apartment, trailing behind you like a puppy because he wants some cookies to take home.

"You going to the party later?" Jungkook asks as you're putting cookies in a ziplock bag.

"Mhm," you hum. "Not like I got a choice. Jimin said we all had to go or he'll leave the group chat."

Jungkook laughs with you. Jimin is dramatic like that but you both know he never means his threats.

"I can pick you up? I'll be in the area later anyway."

You laugh and roll your eyes at him. "Got another date, huh?"

Jungkook has the audacity to look shy, hand coming to scratch the back of his neck as he thinks of what to say.

"You know I don't date. But yeah, got some thing with some girl. She's in that English class we have together."

You hum in acknowledgment. You don't know which girl he's talking about but it's typical of Jungkook to say something of the sort. You all know he doesn't date. Doesn't believe in love or whatever. You're not really sure. But that's Jungkook and you all love him nonetheless. He's caring and observant, always looking out for his friends, but every boy must have a flaw.

His is not believing in love. You think it's a flaw because you do believe in love and believe that everyone is supposed to experience it. Not platonic love. Romantic love. Butterflies in your tummy, hand holding. All that shit.

Eventually Jungkook leaves your apartment with a ziplock full of cookies. He hugs you before you go which leaves you a little flustered, even though he says hello and goodbye with a hug always. He's cute, you can't help it.

You clean your apartment the whole afternoon, then study with the remaining time you have left while having dinner at the same time. Jungkook says he'll pick you up at 10pm and he's a pretty punctual person. You have an hour to get ready and you do just that. You think you've worn too many floral dresses this week so you change it up a bit by wearing jeans and a cute flowy top. It's still you, so you're happy.

You hear a knock on the door and open it right away, getting a little breathless at the sight in front of you. Jungkook's in all black, as usual, and he unbuttoned his polo almost halfway so you get a good view of his chest.

"Hi," he greets, leaning in automatically to hug you. He smells like fresh laundry with a hint of vanilla perfume. It's probably from the girl he was with earlier.

"Hey," you greet back.

"Ready to go?" he asks. You nod your head and lock your door. You notice him looking you up and down so you furrow your brows, suddenly conscious with what you're wearing.

"Is there something wrong, Kook?"

Jungkook seems to snap out of whatever thought he's in as he shakes his head. "No," he laughs. "Just noticed you're not wearing one of your usual dresses."

"Oh," you simply say. You feel your cheeks heating and there's nothing you can do to stop it. "Just wanted something different for tonight."

"It's nice," he says quietly, hands in his pockets as you both make your way to the party. Jungkook switches sides with you on the sidewalk, makes sure he's walking on the outside. It's a sweet gesture. It's something he always does so you're not phased.

The party is in full swing, loud music playing and people are already drunk. Jungkook doesn't leave your side till you see your other friends. You're three shots in when you finally spot Jimin.

"Hi!" Jimin slurs as he makes his way to you and Jungkook, pulling you both in for a hug. He smells like tequila and you can't help but cringe. "You guys are here!"

The three of you take another shot, per Jimin's request, before he drags you to the other side of the house to meet his friends. You lose sight of Jungkook after that. You don't really mind because you're having fun, dancing with Jihyo, playing beer pong with her, Mingyu and Jimin.

The fun lasts till you bump into Eunwoo.

See, you and Eunwoo dated for a while. Probably just for three months. He was such a gentleman, so sweet and caring, that you were absolutely blindsided when he decided to break things off.

It's been a month since then. You're kind of over it, but it's pretty hard to get over a guy like Eunwoo. Still, he walks up to you the moment he spots you in the crowded room. Makes some small talk. Stands too close.

"How are you doing lately?" He has to lean in to speak and you can't help but feel flustered.

"Been okay," you say simply. Don't want to update him about your life anymore. There's not really a point.

"Listen—" he starts to say.

"Babe!"

You take a step back in surprise, the voice is high pitched and shrilly and you don't recognize who it is. A pretty blonde girl walks up to Eunwoo, wraps her arms around his shoulders and plants a big fat kiss on his cheeks.

"Been looking everywhere for you," she purrs.

"Just talking to an old friend," Eunwoo says, and the girl finally looks at you.

"Oh, hi!" she slurs. Can smell the alcohol right off her. "Didn't see you there. My name's Binna, I'm Eunwoos' girlfriend." She sticks her hand out and you shake it, trying not to let your eyebrows raise in surprise. It's the fact she didn't ask for your name which puts you off.

"We've been dating for two months now," she continues to say.

Okay, now your eyebrows raise in surprise. Well. You know what that means and suddenly you can't breathe, chest constricting and hands turning clammy. You say a quick goodbye and run off to the other side of the house. You try to look for a room that's not locked nor occupied.

You and Eunwoo broke up. It's been a month. He's had a girlfriend for two months. Do the math. Do the math. Do the math.

Maybe Jungkook's right. Maybe love isn't real.

"Ugh," you groan, barging into a tiny and dark room. There are washing machines on one side and dryers in another. The silence helps you calm your nerves a little bit.

You weren't that upset over the break up, but now you kinda are. Can't believe you weren't good enough for Eunwoo. Can't believe he cheated on you. Can't believe you didn't notice it. Didn't even have a gut feeling.

"Okay," you say to yourself. "It's okay. Life goes on. He wasn't the one and that's okay." You down the drink you've been holding and cringe at the strongness of the alcohol. Mingyu makes the worst drinks, but it does the job.

Your peace is interrupted when the door to the laundry room suddenly opens, makes a loud sound as it slams against the wall, and in comes Jungkook.

He doesn't see you so he literally crashes into you since he's running inside the room. You would've fallen were it not for his quick reflexes, one hand going around your waist and the other behind your head to save you from bumping into anything.

"What the fuck, Jungkook?" you almost scream.

"What the heck are you doing here?" he says right back.

It's silent for a moment as you both look at each other. Eventually, you roll your eyes and step away from his hold, choosing to lean on one of the washing machines. "Long fucking story."

You watch him as he hops up to sit on one of the dryers. "Well, I've got time."

You look at him weirdly. "Why are you here anyway?"

He shrugs, swings his feet in the air. "Was running away from some girl. She was weird."

You laugh and shake your head. Typical Jungkook.

"And you?" he asks.

You sigh, looking down to pick at a loose thread of your top. "Bumped into Eunwoo. Met his girlfriend. They've been dating for two months."

"Oh," Jungkook breathes out. It's silent for a moment.

One, two, three, four, five, six—

"Oh?" he says again. "But you guys broke up last month?"

You look at him pointedly in reply, too scared to verbalize anything. He gets it though, could see the recognition on his face.

"Do you want me to punch him?"

You scrunch your nose in disgust. "Ew, no. Don't do that, Kook. I don't want to deal with him anymore. No point anyway."

"Cheating sucks," he mumbles. You nod in agreement. "S'why I don't date." It's a little tidbit he shares about himself and you try to mask your surprise. Jungkook doesn't share much about himself.

"Should probably do the same," you joke.

"But you always date," he laughs.

"I do not!"

"It's literally your thing!"

"Dating is not my thing, Jungkook!"

You bicker back and forth for a while, you don't even know what you're both talking about anymore. But laughing with Jungkook eases the heartache in your chest so you don't mind.

"I just think it'd be fun," he explains, "and it'll help you forget about that douchebag. I hope you don't think I'm forcing you. I'm really not," Jungkook explains, a smile gracing his face. "You don't even have to answer me right now. Or—"

"Let's do it," you say, interrupting Jungkook. His eyes widen and it makes you laugh. You don't think you've ever seen him look so caught off guard.

"Are you sure because—"

"Yes, Kook! Need some change in my life. Maybe I shouldn't date for a while. I've never done anything like this before, so I want to try." You nod to yourself in affirmation.

He shrugs at you. "It's just hooking up. No strings attached."

"No strings attached," you repeat. "Just a one time thing," you mumble as Jungkook walks to where you're standing.

"We can say stop anytime, ok?" Jungkook says. His lips are so close to yours that you can feel his breath. "Just tell me."

You nod your head in reply, too speechless and distracted by the fact that his lips are so close to yours. It feels so exhilarating, the thought of almost kissing someone like this. No romantic ties or whatsoever.

"Words, sweetheart."

"Yeah," you breathe out, licking your lips in anticipation.

"You're so cute," he giggles, leaning in even more to nudge his nose against yours.

"You gonna kiss me or what, Kook?" you complain instead, to hide the fluttering feeling of your chest.

"Are you that eager to kiss me?" he teases.

You've never talked to him this close, noses bumping into each other, lips so close you could feel it move when he talks. You don't sleep with people you're not in a relationship with, but you suppose now is a perfect time to do otherwise. Cheating does suck.

Jungkook finally leans in and presses his lips against yours. You shiver at first because the first thing you feel is the coldness of his lip rings. Then you shiver even more because his lips feel so damn soft against yours. You feel his tongue licking your lips, asking in silent permission to let him in, and you do so willingly without any fight in at all.

You hear him grunt against your mouth when you finally tangle your tongue with his, and you yelp in tiny surprise when he grips your waist and effortlessly lifts you up to sit you on the dryer behind. He shuffles between your legs and pushes himself closer to you if that's even possible. His hands start roaming your body—your legs, your waist, your back. You feel hot all over and you pull at his hair to try to ground yourself.

You can't help but pout when he leans back to take a breath of air, and you realize you're breathless as well. Jungkook laughs at your pouting form, mumbling a quiet cute which has you rolling your eyes at him again.

"You're so bratty," he laughs, his hands rubbing up and down your waist mindlessly. "Maybe next time I have to teach you a thing or two about having manners."

"Who says there's going to be a next time?" you joke, but you look Jungkook in the eyes and he looks serious.

It's his turn to roll his eyes. "Come here," he simply says, and you don't fight him anymore as he goes back to kissing you. You feel him tugging at your top. "Can I take this off, pretty?" he asks. You simply nod and he takes it off from you quickly, eyes blowing out at the sight of your bare chest.

"Wow," he breathes out.

"They're just tits, Kook," you simply say, but you can't help but feel your heart racing at the look he's giving you. Like he wants to eat you whole.

"But you have nice tits," he replies back, eyes not leaving your chest. You start getting self conscious all of a sudden, had never had a guy in this position stare at your body for this long. You start bringing your hands up to cover yourself.

"Hey," he tuts, frowning so heavily his cheeks are puffed out. "Don't need to hide. It's just me." He gently brings your hands down and smiles at you, which makes you giggle in return.

"Don't think we can take our time here though," you say after a while. "Has to be quick."

Jungkook nods to himself, picking up your discarded top only to put it back on you. You look at him confusingly. You thought he'd just agree to a quickie given the place you're both in.

"You're right," he says. "We can go to your place?" he asks you.

You're too stunned to speak so you nod your head and hop down from the dryer. Jungkook interlaces his fingers with yours and you both walk back into the party only to leave the house. You try to ignore the stares you're getting, or the people whispering to each other as you and Jungkook pass by them. You're glad you don't bump into your friends.

It's silent as you walk to your apartment, but it isn't awkward. You feel his thumb rubbing your hand in a comforting matter, and it erases all doubts you have in your head. You're just here to have fun.

Eventually you get inside your apartment and you squeal the moment the door closes behind you both, because Jungkook picks you up and throws you over his shoulder. Walks quickly to your bed and drops you on it, kneeling right between your legs.

"Hi," you breathe out.

"Hello to you too," he says with a playful glint in his eye. "Now where were we?"

"We stopped right here," you say, feeling brave all of a sudden as you remove your top and throw the clothing somewhere behind you.

Again, Jungkook stares at your chest and licks his lips. "Right," he whispers. Then he makes eye contact with you and the lust and desire is suddenly gone. "We can stop anytime, okay?" he repeats his statement from earlier. "Like just tell me anytime and—"

"I get it, Kook!" you laugh, moving your leg to nudge his ribs which makes him laugh as well. "I heard you the first time." You continue poking his tummy with your foot.

"Okay, okay!" He grabs your leg to stop it from moving, brings your foot in front of his face. "Even your feet are cute." Then in sheer horror, he places a tiny kiss on your big toe.

"What the fuck!" you scream, trying to get your foot out of his hold but he's too strong. "Do you have a foot fetish or something?" you say through your laughs.

He apologizes but he doesn't look sorry one bit.

"Can we fuck, Jungkook?" you whine.

"Okay!" He smiles at you as he leans over, saying nothing else as he finally kisses you again. His hand slithers up to cup your boob and your back automatically arches in response. Then Jungkook kisses your cheek, down your jaw to your neck, then encloses his lips around your nipple.

"Oh," you moan out. You tug his hair again—it helps keep you sane. "Feels good."

Jungkook continues sucking your nipple, his other hand playing with your neglected breast. "Gonna take the rest of your clothes off, okay?" he says against your skin.

"Please," you whimper.

He smiles at your pliant form. "Seems like you do have some manners."

You're too fucked out already to talk back, just simply watch him as he removes your jeans and underwear. He moves down the bed to be eye level with your cunt and places a gentle kiss on your clit.

"Kook," you whine. "Please."

"Since you asked so nicely," he mumbles. He flattens his tongue and licks from your hole up to your clit, enclosing his lips around your bundle of nerves and he sucks. Hard.

"That feels so good," you breathe out. You don't think a guy has ever given you oral this good. You might even pass out from the intense pleasure you're feeling. You get it now. You get why a lot of girls fall for him. Why a lot want to sleep with him. You don't care that in this moment, you're just like the rest of them.

(Or maybe you're not. Jungkook did say your friendship with him won't change.)

You feel him nibble slightly on your clit and it sends your eyes rolling back, hips meeting his mouth to practically hump his face.

"What the fuck," you moan out just as Jungkook slides one finger inside you, curling it instantly to look for the spot that'll drive you insane.

He finds it right away and you see stars. "Can I come?" you whisper. "Please, please." You don't care one bit that you sound so desperate right now, you just want to feel that release. Want to feel good. Want to let go.

Jungkook detaches his lips from your clit and smirks at you. "Go ahead, pretty girl. Want you to feel good."

You close your eyes and pull at his hair even harder. You're so close to climaxing that you barely hear Jungkook moaning.

"Fuck," you say out loud, finally reaching your release. You feel the pleasure at your center, then it spreads down to your legs and up to your arms, all the way up to your head that you feel a little dizzy. Jungkook doesn't stop fingering you, and you're not even embarrassed that you can hear how wet you are down there.

"Okay, okay," you finally whimper once you start feeling the oversensitivity. You nudge him with your foot and he places one last kiss on your cunt before sitting up.

"How was that?" he asks proudly. Were it not for the mind blowing orgasm you just received, you would've rolled your eyes at his smugness.

"Like I died and went straight to heaven," you hoarsely reply.

He rubs your leg soothingly. "Still wanna continue?"

You nod your head and he smiles at you, then starts removing his clothes. You watch him silently and thank yourself for saying yes, because what the fuck, Jungkook's built like a Greek god.

And his dick is so pretty, too. You don't think you've ever described a cock as pretty until today. It's thick and long, the tip just resting a little bit bellow his belly button. It's leaking a bit too, could already see the precum, and you rub your legs together at the thought that Jungkook found pleasure in eating you out.

He comes back to bed and places himself on top of you, muscled arms caging your face.

"You good, pretty?" he says while smiling down at you.

"Yeah," you breathe out, feeling his heavy cock resting on your thigh. "Wanna suck you, though."

Jungkook chuckles at you in reply, head bowing down to nip at your neck. "No can do, sweet girl. Gonna blow my load the moment you suck me. Swear."

You pout at him and are about to talk back when he cuts you off.

"I know you're pouting. It doesn't work if I don't see it," he says against your neck.

"Fine," you mumble and he laughs again, body so close to yours that you feel the rumble in his chest.

He presses his lips against yours once again. You're so lost in the kiss that you don't realize his hand has been sliding down your body, rubbing your clit gently only to insert two fingers inside you.

"Kook," you moan against his lips.

"Just wanna make sure you're stretched out enough."

You're getting so close to climaxing again, but it feels like Jungkook already knows your body so well. He withdraws your fingers right when you're about to come. Even has the audacity to look cheeky when you huff at the loss of his fingers. You watch him get a condom from the back pocket of his jeans as you catch your breath. He rolls it on his cock before joining you in bed again, and you easily part your legs for him.

"Gonna go slow, okay?" He brings a hand up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind your ear. "If it's too much, just tell me."

"Okay," you simply say, and he starts pushing his cock inside you. It's a tight fit, that you can tell, especially the head as it's the biggest part. God, he's so big. But you take it like a champ anyway, try to even your breathing until he slides all the way in.

"Holy shit," he groans, head dropping to tuck it in the crook of your neck. "You feel so good."

You get him, you really do. Jungkook fills you up so well, it's perfect, and the longer you feel him inside the faster the pain subsides.

You start rubbing his back gently. "You can move now, Kook. It doesn't hurt."

"Gimme a sec," he moans, busies himself with kissing your face instead. "Seriously." He looks at you in the eyes, his doe ones all blown out. "I might not even last long, it's embarrassing," he huffs.

You giggle at him. "Don't worry about it, silly. There's going to be a next time, like you said."

He smiles down at you, dimple popping out and nose scrunching. "Good," he mumbles while leaning down to capture your lips in his. Finally, he starts moving his hips. Slowly at first, just so you both get a good feel of each other.

Then his thrusts start getting a little bit faster and you can feel him so deep, even deeper when he puts your legs over his shoulder.

"Yeah," he groans, mesmerized by the way your tits bounce at each thrust. "There definitely needs to be a next time."

"Please," you start begging again, not really sure what you're begging for. Jungkook just glides in and out so easily because you're so wet. You feel your stomach tensing along with your thighs and you just want to come so badly again. You hold Jungkook's face in your hands and pull him down to kiss him.

"Wanna come," you pant against his mouth. "Please, Kook. Need to—"

"I got you, pretty," he grunts. "Come for me, ok? Wanna hear your pretty moans. Wanna feel your little pussy tighten around my cock."

His words edge you on even more and before you know it you're climaxing for the second time. Your legs start to shake and you let a few tears out at the ecstasy.

Jungkook prolongs your orgasm by fucking you some more. It's pure bliss you feel as you lay beneath him, watching the way his eyebrows scrunch together, feeling the cool metal of his necklace hitting your chin in time with his thrusts.

"Coming," he moans out and he delivers one hard thrust, so hard that you feel the tip of his cock deep in your belly. "Fucking hell," he curses. He thrusts turn short and slow, up until he finally stops and collapses on top of you.

It's silent for a moment as the both of you catch your breath. It's not like you did anything out of the ordinary. Didn't even switch positions. But you've never felt pleasure like this before and you're pretty sure Jungkook feels the same.

He brings his head up to look at you, tired smile gracing his face. He looks so good like this, just tired and spent but happy. "Hi," he whispers.

"Hello," you whisper back. He leans down and kisses you again, but this time it's slow and gentle. Like he wants to savor the moment. He asks in between kisses if you're okay, if you're not hurt, if you enjoyed, and you reassure him each time.

He pulls your body against his and you lay your head on his chest, your breathing slowing down in time with his steady heartbeat. He rubs up and down your back soothingly and it makes your eyes feel heavy. You feel Jungkook turn his head to kiss at your hair, and it makes you snuggle into him some more.

"Wanna shower?" he asks against your forehead.

"Sure," you hum. But neither of you move. "Give me like a minute. I can't feel my legs, I think."

He laughs and pinches your sides. You wiggle in his hold and try to escape, but Jungkook just tightens his arm around you. "Fucked you pretty hard, huh?"

You roll your eyes even if he can't see you at the moment. "You're so cocky about it."

He doesn't say anything else as he kisses your forehead one last time, then sits up and drags you into the shower with him. He just hugs you from behind as you both stand under the showerhead, letting the warm water wake you both up. You were a bit nervous at first agreeing to shower with him, thinking it'd be awkward since the thought of showering with someone is intimate. But it's not. You both stay silent as you lather each other in your shower gel. Jungkook even asks if he can wash your hair and you lean against his shoulder as he massages your head.

When you're both clean, he leans in to kiss you. You get so lost in it that you let him have his way with you again. Pretty soon he's kneeling down on the bathroom tiles, mouth on your pussy and tongue flicking against your clit. You come quickly, tired and spent already from a while ago, and when he stands up to kiss you, you ask if you can suck him off. He says yes, and you find yourself on your knees this time. You learn soon enough that Jungkook's a head pusher. But he does it so gently. Maybe he's just as spent as you are. He comes pretty quickly as well, and you swallow it all up and smile at him after.

You both get dressed and are in bed again, right in his arms. Jungkook feels warm and sturdy but also soft. Your eyes start to close and you drift off to sleep.

Jungkook isn't beside you when you wake up the next morning. Instead, you find a note on your bedside table.

Have a lot to do today. Sorry I dipped. Didn't want to wake you.

-Jungkook

P.S. - I stole two cookies :D

[shankss-magnificent-ass]

Imagine being a new member of the Red Hair pirates eleven years before the main plot

Benn: This is Hongo, the ship's doctor

Hongo: And who is this ravishing creature?

Benn: down boy, this is the rookie that Shanks dragged home.

Hongo: Oh you poor thing.

You: Shanks picked me for my combat abilities

Hongo: you must be strong then.

You: admittedly my strength is nowhere near the boss's level, but I can go toe to toe with a rear admiral in a fight.

Hongo: I see

Uta: don't sell yourself short, I watched you spar with papa, and he was getting winded. *Makes those grabbie hands that signal she wants you to pick her up*

You: thank you, and who are you if I might ask. *Picks her up*

Shanks: that is Uta, my adorable daughter.

Uta: I'm papa's favorite, and don't you forget it, I'm also the ship's musician.

You: really, what instrument do you play?

Uta: *gestures to her throat* my voice box, I'm a singer.

You: I eagerly await your next performance then.

Uta: wait no longer, places everyone! *Claps her hands*

Hongo, Yassop, and Lucky Roux: *scamper around to clear a spot and set up a stage for her*

You: (ಠ⁠_⁠ಠ) ???

Benn: *scoops Uta out of your arms and carries her to the stage*

Uta: (⁠｡⁠•̀⁠ᴗ⁠-⁠)⁠✧ a song for the newbie *starts to sing*

Yassop: *puts a chair under you and gently pushes you into it*

Shanks: *moves his chair next to yours and leans in* isn't she so cute?

You: yes, she has such a beautiful voice. Do you and your men usually allow yourselves to be controlled by the whims of a child?

Benn: ... Yes, but only because we want to

After the song

Uta: *chilling in your lap* what'd you think?

You: you're an exceptionally talented singer, you must put a lot of work into it.

Uta: of course, practice makes perfect.

You: and you seem to have everyone here wrapped around your little finger. They must love you very much.

Uta: yes... I think they feel guilty, since my parents are dead.

Shanks: it's not that

Yassop: at least not entirely

You: I figured you were adopted.

Uta: what do you mean?

Shanks: how could you tell?

You: because she's talented,

The crew: (⁠(⁠(⁠;⁠ꏿ⁠_⁠ꏿ⁠;⁠)⁠)⁠) ....

You: *quickly adds* at something besides fighting and debauchery.

The crew: *laughs*

Shanks: wow, already making cheap shots at your captain on your first day aboard. It's true, she's talented, she gets it from her mother. We do our best to make sure she's provided for, but there are still some areas we are lacking in.

Uta: yeah, like shopping

Benn: we take you shopping, literally every time we make port.

Uta: Yeah! But it is always to sleazy back alley joints where everything is second hand and not the designer shops that have cute new clothes. All because of papa's ugly mug has a bounty on it. Plus none of you have any sense of style, and can give me useful feedback on my outfits.

Shanks: well that's true, hey! You shouldn't call people, especially your poor father, ugly!

Benn: I have always wanted to take her to those shops too, our little girl would look so cute in those nice clothes.

You: I can take you, I don't have a bounty, and I know a little about fashion.

Uta: *looks over your outfit* your fashion sense, outwardly, appears to be less offensive to the eyes than papa's.

You: uh, thank you.

Shanks: Offensive? What about my outfit is offensive?

Uta: your shirt is wrinkly and stained, and your pants!... Don't even get me started on your pants.

Benn: allow me, they look like you made them out of someone's grandmother's couch.

Shanks: alright, thank you I get it.

You: *grumbles* Sandals are a little worse for wear as well.

Uta: *giggles*

Shanks: y'all are teaming up on me

Benn: yeah guys, he's only got one arm, it's downright unsporting.

List of Up-and-coming works

Support me on Kofi and Patreon

[minamorsart]

🌌✨The Empyreal Within character designs of Lotor, Allura, and Ven'tar! I might do Honerva and Zarkon next, we'll see! This is part of an upcoming project that I am super excited about and will reveal in time!!! 💜

Explanations of the outfits below! I thought about them a LOT hehe.

18 year old Lotor: these designs I am the most pleased with! Lotor's official design in the show is very different from the rest of the Galra, which I believe is significant to him venturing further away from the precedents established by his father and cementing his own individuality. However, as an adolescent it makes sense that he would still wear Galra attire, hence the bulky armor (to make him look bigger since he is smaller than the average Galra) and red and gold colors which appear to only be worn by the royal family. I like to think that the insignia on his chest is a symbol for royalty, but is also exclusive to Lotor's identity, as no one else wears that particular insignia in the show. And despite wearing clothes specifically chosen to represent the Galra Empire, I can also picture him wanting to incorporate his own personal tastes, so there are accents of purplish-blue (as blue is part of Lotor's color scheme) and the addition of his waist cape, both of which represent his growing desire for change and independence.

Mid-20's Lotor: this is during the many years of his banishment. I imagine him hopping from planet to planet, concealing his identity as much as possible while adopting a more humble lifestyle and pursuing his passion for exploring. It is during this isolated pilgrimage that he does a lot of introspection, self-actualization, and gains self-confidence both as a man and as the Galra prince. But before that happens, the lack of identity really shows in his clothes -- lots of neutral colors (with a hint of desaturated blue), absence of any insignias or designs that would connect him to any culture, whether Galra or Altean. These clothes in particular were inspired by Jedi ponchos and Sasuke from Naruto: The Last, and perhaps are worn while Lotor is on a desert planet for a short time! And just like with his armor as seen in the show, he has started to wear gloves to cover himself up almost completely, indicating his avoidance of vulnerability and getting close to others.

Ven'tar: for her fortunately I didn't have to change much about her character design! She is Lotor's age when they meet and the only other change I made to her was to take away her big cape so that she appears younger. Since her planet and species name is not revealed in the show, I want to come up with one myself. Caelifera is the scientific name for grasshopper, so I'm thinking I could do something with that!

11 year old Lotor: this design is also taken directly from the show, so I didn't have to do much there :P The cloak he wears in the little doodle is inspired by the one adult Lotor wears in S6E4. In this case, however, it is several sizes too big for young Lotor and drags on the ground.

Allura: sadly we don't know much about Allura's life on Altea, however in S1E9 we get to see tiny snippets of different stages throughout her life and her good relationship with her father, so I used those as references! I gave her braids, short puffy sleeves, and a slightly shorter skirt to give her that innocent little princess look, and then used the colors from her dress in the show to create a cuter and more childlike aesthetic!

If you read all of that you're the best 😆🙏 I'm definitely by no means an expert in character design and have lots more to learn, but I had a lot of fun coming up with the original designs! Especially Lotor's, but no surprise there hehe. I studied many different Galra armor and clothing featured in the show worn by Lotor, Zarkon, Honerva, and Galra commanders. More than anything I just really wanted to see Lotor wearing something different for a change 😂 and then everything else took off from there!

[skykidsam]

Early Season of Radiance Lore

Some spoilers below, but no pictures and no specifics about quests. Buckle up, this is a long one!

I know we were all very much looking forward to a Resh season. Thankfully this new season does already spice up our lore a good bit. It is still in beta stages, though, so we all know that means some details are subject to change. Still, let's discuss what we've seen so far. I am going to do my best not to spoil the specifics of the individual quests and just focus on lore - still some spoilers will be inevitable.

First and foremost, the thing to know about this season is that it involves dyeing things. This also means that we are potentially getting a sneak peak into how our ancestors used to dye their clothes and other items.

The process for finding colors and making dye is interesting. We've learned that the main source for color, at least in this season, comes from releasing colored light from dark plants. These dark plants glow the color of whatever light they hold, and once burned, they release butterflies who now carry this colored light. Once you summon the butterfly, you can transfer the light to yourself.

(Fascinatingly, this colored light only appears to be attached to the "body" of the butterfly, as in the connecting point between the wings, and not the wings themselves; however, the light does still change the color of the whole butterfly.)

We also learn that some colored lights appear less frequently than others (examples including possibly green and cyan).

Upon exploring the new area, we also notice some interesting details. One of the first things I noticed was that there are lots of pots with small, unburnable dark plants, very similar to the ones in Prairie Caves. The next thing I noticed was a few pipes with dyed water pouring out of them like waterfalls.

The last thing I want to mention before getting to my own thoughts and questions is this: We get to see the dyeing process and it's not exactly what you might expect.

When dyeing items, at least for ancestor spirits, these dyes are combined in a large pool of water. The dye pool begins to change color and sparkle. Then, when ready, the ancestor spirit accepts this color into themself. It appears the color enters their core, much like how the butterfly carried the color in their core, and that color spreads to the desired garment (and if multiple colors are used to color multiple parts of the outfit, those colors are not necessarily combined into a mixed color - instead, they are assigned to their designated parts of the outfit in this process).

So now... thoughts, theories, and questions.

First! AHH yay!! We get to dye things!

Next, regarding collecting color from dark plants. This is a chicken vs egg moment for me that really just adds to a longstanding discussion about butterflies and their relationship to dark plants.

We know burning regular dark plants releases butterflies at least some of the time. We don't necessarily know how those butterflies got there. Were they lured and trapped in the blooms like a carnivorous plant? And if so, thinking about color specifically, did the butterfly carry the color when it was trapped, or did the color transfer to the butterfly afterward from within the plant?

Building off of that, do butterflies carry the light, or is it within them? Does a red butterfly count as a dark creature (since red is the color of darkness), or is it simply a light creature carrying a red light?

And what exactly is the process of summoning a butterfly and transferring the color to yourself? It seems simple and painless, it's as if the butterfly simply "dropped" the light into your hand. That also indicates that somehow, this is a form of light that we can handle directly (without the need of a candle or a container, although we do use containers to store them).

Also, what makes a color less common? It it produced less? Less accessible? Who knows?

Regarding the unburnable dark plants, we have another interesting situation. It's been a mystery as to why Prairie Caves has pots with unburnable plants, and now we have even more! Luckily, I think this gives us a huge clue as to why they're there.

We know that in this new area, many of the pots are likely used for storing colored lights. In Prairie Caves, there's another key hint located on the wall - a couple of fireworks staffs.

So there are a couple of theories, in my mind. Firstly, it's very possible that dark plants simply overtook these pots and fed on the light within after they were abandoned. Another theory, though, is that perhaps our ancestors grew and cultivated dark plants specifically for the colored lights at some point.

Why are the plants unburnable, though? Idk, petrification, maybe lol.

In any case, this whole season provides a bit of evidence that perhaps our ancestors did burn dark plants for various reasons.

As for the pipes with the dyed water, I still don't fully know what to make of these. It's unknown whether these pipes are meant to be this way or whether this is a leak, but one thing is for certain, we've got a new example of how some pipes could have been used in Sky's infrastructure.

They give the same feeling of pollution as the leaky pipes in Wasteland and Eden, in my opinion (although they are objectively way prettier). I do wonder, though, if this was also a part of the downfall of Sky's old civilization. We know our ancestors took too much light from the light cycle, but what about colored light? Where does that fall into the mix? If collecting colored light from dark plants is the easiest way of obtaining it (for any purpose, including dyeing things), that means there was a direct incentive to cultivate darkness. That shifts the social and political dynamics of the old civilization somewhat.

And the very last thing - perhaps "accepting color into oneself" is a way to make the gameplay and animations a little simpler, or it could give us an idea of how this light is actually distributed. To me, this looks like it helps solidify people's theories that even our clothes are made of light. But also, to be fair, we've only seen this animation on ancestor spirits so far, so it's possible the dyeing process is a little different when you're, well, alive.

[ladykailitha]

Royal Pain Part 4

Hello! I am loving the response for this story. Thank you so much. In this one we get pouty Steve and chaotic Eddie.

Enjoy!

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

***

To say Steve was vibrating out of his skin would be an understatement. Eddie had really killed it on stage. He was a little unsure about the music itself, but watching Eddie play said music got him on his feet and bouncing to the beat.

The rest of the band was great, too. But Eddie was electric. Like he was born to be in front of an audience. There was a passion to their sound that made all the music on the radio sound rote and boring.

Steve and Robin followed Miranda to the backstage.

The security guy eyed Steve and Robin warily. “Who you got there, Mandy?”

Miranda looked over her shoulder. “They’re with me. They’re friends of Eddie’s.”

The security guards eyes narrowed. “And if I call Eddie, he’ll tell me the same thing?”

Miranda rolled her eyes. “Always so fucking suspicious, Callahan. What you think they’re holding me against my will to get to Eddie?”

Callahan opened his mouth, probably to agree when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to see Eddie standing there.

“Let them through, Cal,” Eddie growled.

“Right away, man.” He moved aside and let them in.

As they walked Eddie explained, “Sorry about that, for some reason this asshole thinks he’s security for Metallica or some shit.”

They got the “green room” that already had Gethin already with the rest of the band, chilling.

“You were right, Gare,” Eddie said as he strutted into the room. “Cal had them held up in security.”

Gareth rolled his eyes. “I thought so. I’ve talked to management about getting someone else to do door duty, but they think he’s the best.” He waved his hands sarcastically.

Steve snorted. “I was at a store like that once,” he said moving further into the room. “Was so sure being extra super cautious was better anything else, because anything else was just being lazy.”

“Yes!” Brian said. “He gets it!”

Steve smiled.

Robin grinned at him, “Was this Scoops or Family Video?”

Every head in the room turned to Steve and Robin.

“Wait, wait, wait,” Eddie said. “Do you mean to tell me that you two lovely individuals worked at Scoops? In those ridiculous little sailor outfits?”

Robin and Steve looked at each other and shrugged.

“Yeah,” Robin said. “Steve hated the hat.”

“My hair was too thick for it sit properly on my head,” Steve grumbled, “so the damn thing kept falling off!”

Robin smirked and eyed him sidelong. “And you’re sure it had nothing to do to the fact that you thought it hid your best feature and you couldn’t get any bitches?”

The whole room laughed as Steve blushed. “Snitch.”

Robin laughed. “Love you, babe.”

Steve stuck out his tongue at her before turning to the room. “You guys all coming out to drinks with us?”

Eddie saluted. “All cleared for drinking. Except are dearly beloved designated drivers, Gareth and Miranda.”

Steve grinned. “Great! Robin and I took an Uber here, so we don’t worry about who’s driving home tonight.”

Everyone nodded.

“You two are going with Jeff and Miranda,” Gareth explained. “And Gethin is coming with the rest of us.”

Steve felt a pool of disappointment settle in his stomach. But he could see the logic in the match up.

“Sounds great!” Robin said cheerfully, bumping Steve’s shoulder with her own.

Eddie winked at Steve. “Don’t worry, big boy, we’ll have plenty of time to socialize once we get to the club.”

Steve had suggested a nearby club for their after party because the last thing he wanted to do was try to get to know Eddie better surrounded by people that judge the ever-loving fuck out of him. Because yeah, Steve loved giving stereotypes the middle finger, but he wasn’t immune to the snide remarks and sneering looks he got from people on the regular.

So he was really relieved when Eddie agreed to the change in location. He just assumed he would be going with Eddie to club and was a little cross when he found out they weren’t. He tried not to let it bother him as they all walked out to the parking lot.

Robin bumped his shoulder again, clocking his mood immediately. He smiled at her, but he knew it was weak. God, he was such a loser. He was quiet in the car as they drove to the club. Standing in line, his mood started to improve as Eddie turned his full attention on Steve.

“So what did you think of the music, Stevie?” Eddie asked once they lined up.

Steve thought about lying and saying how much he loved it, but he knew that would only get him into trouble later.

“I’m not really familiar with the genre to know for sure,” he said instead. “I would love for you to educate me though, broaden my horizons a bit.”

Which was apparently the right thing to say because everyone was nodded their approval.

Eddie positively beamed at him. “I’d love that! When would you like to meet up for that?”

Steve laughed delightedly. “Sundays are a no go, I have dinner with Dustin and his wife Suzie, but I close up my shop every day at eight. So really any time after that.”

Eddie grinned. “Is Monday at nine okay? What time do you open in the morning?”

“I don’t open until ten,” Steve said brightly, “so nine on Monday sounds fantastic, we can order in and make night of it.”

Eddie bounced on the balls of his feet excitedly. “I’m so there. Text me your address.”

Steve pulled out his phone and did just that. “There you go.”

Eddie pulled out his own phone and smiled at the new message. “There I am.”

Behind him Gareth and Gethin were making gagging noises.

Jeff smacked the back of both of their heads. “Ignore the children. Their mother didn’t raise them right.”

Robin laughed as Steve shook his head.

“It’s like Dustin and Mike all over again,” he said, resigned.

“Who’s Mike and Dustin or Dustin and Mike or whatever?” Brian asked.

Eddie bounced up and down. “Ooh, ooh! You’re going to love this Bri! Dustin and Mike are Nog and Tayr respectively.”

Brian’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head. “No way! You know Nog and Tayr?”

Steve scratched his cheek and half shrugged. “If those are their D&D characters then sure, I’ve known them for ages.”

“Stevie here used to babysit them!” Eddie said excitedly.

Steve blushed. “More like made sure they didn’t kill themselves doing some stupid ass shit while their parents worked to make sure they had a roof over their head and food in their bellies. But yeah, good kids.”

They got into the club where the music was loud but not overbearing, the lights were dimly lit but not so dark you couldn’t see and the atmosphere was hopping without being oppressive.

In short, it was Steve’s favorite place to go.

Soon even the Corroded Coffin boys were bobbing their heads to the music as they drank and danced the night away. It was a fun evening that ended too soon if you asked Steve.

But the thought of Eddie coming over on Monday is was kept Steve from pouting all the way to the cars.

“You two are coming with us, pretty boy,” Eddie said with a grin. “Bri and Jeffie and Mandy aaallll live in the same general area so they go home together. Which means Gareth takes you home!”

Gareth who had wisely gotten the address to their apartment before they got drunk off their asses just shook his head fondly. With the help of a mildly tipsy Gethin, the two managed to get the three drunks pilled into the back of the car without much fuss.

Robin wisely sat between the two boys so they wouldn’t do anything they might not recall in the morning as she wasn’t as drunk as they were.

Eddie got dropped off first much to Steve’s chagrin. Robin kept slapping his arm every time he pouted.

Gareth just shook his head every time he caught them in the rear view mirror doing exact that.

Gethin and Robin helped a very ineberiated Steve up the three flight of stairs to their apartment.

Robin thanked Gethin and got Steve into bed. She flopped down next him and murmured. “We are going to regret this in the morning.”

“Not if I don’t wake until noon,” came the mumbled response.

“Smart.”

*

Eddie woke up the next morning with his head pounding a rhythm in his brain that was outside his usual Sunday morning hangover. The place Steve chose for them was outside Corroded Coffin’s usual wheelhouse, but it was fun.

The type of thing that Wayne had suggested he do. He was still planning on going to the park today for some doodling, but last night was good. Really good in fact.

He could tell that Miranda and Robin had become fast friends and he loved that. With Brian and Gareth not having romantic partners, Miranda often felt a little on the outskirts of the band. But if Robin and Steve kept coming to their shows, Miranda would have people to chat with.

He got out of bed and staggered to the bathroom to take a cool shower and shave. Once he felt mildly human again, he made some coffee and had cereal for breakfast.

He cleaned the apartment and did dishes. Once he was satisfied with the state of the place, he pulled on a loose t-shirt that had the sleeves cut off, making sure the tattoo was covered and applied sunscreen, even going as far as to put another bandage over it, to protect it. He just needed to get out and get fresh air, but not at the cost of ruining his brand new tattoo. Then he packed up his drawing pad and art pencils and walked to the nearby park.

It wasn’t really a park. At least not one maintained by the city, but rather a strip of green in an otherwise grey landscape of hell. There were always kids kicking around a soccer ball and teenagers laying on the grass smoking weed.

It was Eddie’s favorite spot to just doodle and people watch. He just let his hand and mind wander as he free-handed a bunch of sketches. He wasn’t sure how long he sat there just enjoying the breeze and the sounds of the city, muted around him.

He felt the growl of his stomach and looked at his watch. He had been sitting there for three hours. Yeah, it was time to eat. He put away his art stuff into his bag and hoisted it up on his shoulders. He felt really lucky today; he didn’t get hit with a soccer ball, he didn’t get harassed by Karens and the cops didn’t come by to scare the teenagers off.

Eddie got the fast food joint and ordered his lunch. He happily munched away while he visited the band’s social media. And if he grinned at the two new followers on their TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter accounts, you didn’t see shit.

He walked back to his apartment and let himself in. He went to go to the bathroom and as he was washing he hands he realized that he had made a grave error.

Eddie had done everything to keep his tattoo safe, but had neglected the rest of him. His cheeks, his shoulders, and the back of his neck were all bright cherry red.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck!”

He dialed Steve up immediately. “Steve, I think I fucked up our appointment this week.”

“What happened?” Steve asked, more worried then disappointed.

“I protected my new tattoo when I went out to draw,” Eddie explained, “but forgot about the rest of me.”

“Let me text you where I’m at,” Steve murmured, “so I can check out the damage and see if we need to reschedule your tattoo appointment, okay?”

“Yeah,” Eddie said letting out a shuddering breath. “Thanks, man. Sorry about all this.”

He could hear the smile in Steve’s voice when he said, “Hey don’t worry about it. We’ll figure this out, I promise.”

Eddie agreed and hung up. How could he have been so stupid? He even had the sunscreen out for the tattoo for fuck’s sake. Why didn’t he make sure the rest of him was covered, too?

His phone trilled in his hand and he looked down at the message from Steve.

He supposed there was one silver lining in all this. He got see Steve a day earlier than planned.

***

Part 5 Part 6  Part 7  Part 8 Part 9 Part 10  Part 11 Part 12  Part 13 Part 14  Part 15  Part 16  Part 17  Part 18 Part 19  Part 20  Part 21 Part 22  Part 23  Part 24  Part 25 Part 26  Part 27  Part 28  Epilogue

Tag List: @spectrum-spectre @estrellami-1 @zerokrox-blog @artiststarme @swimmingbirdrunningrock @gregre369 @pyrohonk​ @renaissan-vvitch @goodolefashionedloverboi @chaoticlovingdreamer @maya-custodios-dionach @messrs-weasley @val-from-lawrence @plyerice27 @thedragonsaunt @chaoticlovingdreamer @sapphirecobalt-1 @a-little-unsteddie @i-must-potato @danili666  @carlyv @rozzieroos @wonderland-girl143-blog @itsall-taken @justforthedead89 @emly03 @bookworm0690 @aizawa-emma @redfreckledwolf @thesuninyaface @bookbinderbitch @yikes-a-bee @littlewildflowerkitten @scheodingers-muppet @archermightbegay @hallucinatedjosten 

[sadhornydemons]

Rapid-Spoiler-Season-Speculation: Apology Tour/Ghostf*ckers

Caution: some references are made to other spoilers, so proceed with caution if you wish to avoid.

Apology Tour:

Alright, I'll admit, this episode I think I understand the least, so I'm sure I'm completely off the mark in even attempting to make sense of it.

Cake will be served, and it's clown Blitz version. Heart on an item in the back, heart on the knife. How many years has it been and she's still obsessed?

WHATEVER this is, Blitz didn't just stumble into it, I wonder if some type of invitation got him there.

Blood/red stained sheet for unknown reasons.

I think I'm the only one who preferred the earlier design, but guess I just have a type.

WHAT. DA. FUCK.

Yeah, of course, this is when my imagination starts churning.

Did Stolas reach just the perfect amount of drunk before his Spotify breakup playlist reached Olivia Rodrigo, causing him to throw on last year's Halloween costume and portal himself to his ex so he could express himself properly?

No, Stolas had an entire stage prop production prepared. That or we haven't seen the full extent of his magic conjuring abilities.

(same outfit, I'm keeping my eye on the spiked collar 'cause it's new to his wardrobe)

I don't know what could bring this on. At first, I thought it was a dream sequence, but the spiked collar turns up in a later scene. Maybe I just haven't accepted that my fav character could be an asshole?

Screenshots of Blitz, sheet is now a hoodie, we really don't know what he's looking at in this particular scene.

I don't think this is a full scale concert, though. Probably more of a private event. Maybe Verosika was planning a gathering of the 'We Hate Blitzo' fanclub, but Stolas was the only one to RSVP.

If it is, a public concert, I mean, I can just imagine the headlines:

Prince Stolas shocks audience members by appearing as the opening act in Verosika Mayday's concert, preforming his original ballad, 'Imp Dicks Aren't Worth the Heartbreak'.

And if it is a regular event, there's the possibly Blitz attended on purpose..to apologize about things? (hence the title) I don't know, it just all seems too weird.

As poster bleucaesura noted, Stolas is on his couch in this scene. The red stained sheet, presumably with Blitz under, stand before him. Stolas's collar is spiked, so this seems to happen after the musical number.

This is mainly all the info we have this episode, but looking ahead to future ones, I'm thinking this is gonna conclude the majority of the Stolitz angst. Or at least the current ones.

As many have noted, this season has been following a pattern of focusing on, and occasionally resolving Blitz's relationship problems. Unhappy Campers introduced Barbie properly, adding more details to the fire incident. Oops and Mammon's Magnificent Musical Mid-Season Special added to that by focusing on him and Fizz. Full Moon and Apology Tour seem to be based around Stolas and then both Stolas and Verosika, fitting since it's comparing people from his love life.

Hence, I believe the next episode will instead prioritize Blitz's relationship with M&M:

Ghostfuckers:

The IMP mobile is totaled and appears spray painted. Therefore, guessing this scene must take place first:

But what would cause "a life on the run", as Blitz puts it, unless he wasn't completely serious?

And I'm not sure if the hooded folks, "Come out, we've got your surrounded." scene was edited in before this or not.

There are those clouds in the background and it seems to call for a more scary scene, or at least until he checks his watch.

(actually those could all take place in previous episode or the ones to come, for all we know!)

Blitz wears a bad disguise rather than using an asmodean crystal. We could read too much into that because maybe Blitz just LIKES coming up with disguises, but in other spoilers, we see Blitz using a book for portals.

The enemy is doing bad things to the character's mental health, bringing about their worse fears. In reference to Blitz, I wonder if this is this is where those scenes come into play:

Interesting how it's edited like Blitz watching a filmstrip of his life, complete with a decorative frame.

Shown in a different style, I wonder if this flashback will also be used:

And, (if my earlier theory is wrong), this has to appear somewhere:

We see a flashback to a younger, longer hair Millie (not unlike her wedding photo):

(and it looks like outside a ship? Hey, maybe pirates really did have port windows!)

Which may be used to match up with this fight:

This, however, is hopefully, just another hallucination:

Okay, for the rest of this episode, one can't really speculate because the (looks both ways cautiously) storyboards leaked last year reveal a good chuck of the action and dialogue. So without getting TOO into that, for those who want to avoid getting too spoiled, I'll conclude this episode may turn out to be a fun, scary, but with admittedly triggering subjects, that showcase Blitzø's messy and occasionally obsessive relationship with Moxxie and Millie.

...and possibly new issues with Loona? Something is hinted out, but I might get into THAT speculation in the last two episodes.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

For family day interactions, what about meeting Vil’s dad and realizing “oh wow so that’s where Vil gets his looks from?”

[Consider this interaction sort of a follow-up to this one!]

Daddy? Sorry. Daddy? Sorry. Daddy? Sorry/j

Family means Nobody is Left Behind or Forgotten.

"Is that you, Vil-senpai?"

The words had left your mouth before you had the chance to rein them back in.

He, a skilled pretender, kept his head turned away, not reacting the slightest bit to his name. In his cream-colored tracksuit, sneakers, baseball cap, sunglasses, and mask, Vil was just another face in the crowd. A seemingly ordinary boy, even when those around him started shifting, their heads whipping this way and that.

Then came the murmurs: "Vil? As in, Vil Schoenheit? Where?!"

"Oops." You covered your mouth with both hands, realizing your mistake. To speak his name in public was to attract attention--and potential ilk. "False alarm, my bad!!"

The disappointed onlookers retreated, returning to their families. You took the opportunity to elbow your way closer to Vil, cautiously keeping your volume low.

"Senpai...!"

This time, there was a slight incline of his head, the darting of the eyes to the side to meet yours. You couldn't see the shape of his mouth behind the mask, but you wouldn't misplace those striking violet eyes and golden hair anywhere, try as the dark lenses and the hat tried to hide them. He nodded, and you recognized the signal: Follow me.

Vil peeled off from the bustling courtyard and to a quiet corner, the light of the sun hidden by a jutting angle of the school building. You trailed after him obediently, stopping only when an older man surpassed you, his strides long and elegant. He sported the same outfit as Vil, right down to the designer sunglasses. The man seemed to smile at you as your paths crossed, his eyes twinkling.

Who is that...?

You ducked into the meeting place to find Vil and the stranger already waiting for you. In the presence of his severe beauty, the question clung to the roof of your mouth.

"You've picked a rather inopportune time for a social call, potato," Vil sighed, slipping his mask and glasses off. He brushed flaxen locks away from his forehead, slick with sweat.

"Sorry! It was just funny seeing you in the whole 'I'm trying to blend in' get-up," you said sheepishly. "I'm so used to seeing you openly flaunting full glamour."

"As Rook would put it, 'why deprive the world of my beauty?' But deny it I must this time. I would be hounded relentlessly without this disguise."

"Gotcha. I won't make the same mistake again!" Your gaze briefly fell upon the masked man beside Vil. Clearly not a crazed fan or a paparazzo, from how calm Vil was around them. "I'll go--see you around campus then?"

"Ah, this is a friend of yours, Vil?" the stranger finally piped up. "Chasing them off so soon? You haven't even introduced us yet."

"Excuse me. Where are my manners?" Vil cleared his throat. "Potato. This is my father. He goes by the stage name Eric Venue--but to you, 'Mr. Schoenheit' will do. Father, this is a schoolmate of mine."

"Huh, Eric Venue?" Your brows scrunched. You were sure you had heard Cater gushing about an Eric Venue's resume: an extensive filmography, and many lucrative appearances and deals. "The... big star? That's your dad?!"

"The one and only." Vil placed his hands on his hips. "Be honored that you get to meet my father in person, one-on-one. You would not wish to know how much money that would normally cost."

(He didn't have to say it, but you knew in your heart that, whatever the value was, it would make Azul's eyes turn into thaumark signs.)

Eric--no, Mr. Schoenheit--laughed, a pleasantly low rumble. "My reputation precedes me! Don't mind my Vil, he's always been a bit of a proud one.”

Taking your hand in his, he gave it a firm, friendly shake. He lowered his mask and flashed a pearly smile. “Charmed."

“It’s nice to meet you too, Mr. Sch…”

Your brain short circuited when he revealed the entirety of his face. There were no words to describe his beauty.

It was a mirror to Vil’s—or rather, Vil was a mirror of him—the rich colors and symmetrical arrangement similar. Time had allowed his features to deepen and mature, like the aging of a fine cheese or wine, lending him a regal, refined presence. He was like a kindly king that had stepped out of the pages of a storybook or a dream: far too handsome for the real world.

“What’s the matter?” Vil asked, smirking at your silence. “Grim got your tongue?”

“I, uh…” You swallowed, seeking out what few words you had left. “I can see where you get your looks from, Vil-senpai.”

“Hahah, I didn't know your friend was such a comedian, son!” Mr. Schoenheit warmly laid a hand on Vil's shoulder. "No, I'd say my Vil here's the fairest one of them all."

"Please. You flatter me--and you humble yourself." Despite his prickly vocabulary, there was warmth to Vil's tone. A joking sort of energy he didn't typically wear.

You gaped at them in awe. Their combined star power was so raw, so intense, oozing with natural charm. Just standing before them made your legs quake, aching to kneel in a subconscious act of respect. The hand Mr. Schoenheit had shaken still tingled, as though he had touched you with magic.

"I'll never wash this hand again," you muttered, absentmindedly rubbing at your wrist.

"Oh no, you'd better," Vil warned sharply. "What will become of your personal hygiene if you don't?!"

"There are better ways to remember this occasion," Mr. Schoenheit suggested with a grin. He produced a pen from his tracksuit, brandishing it like a sword. "If you'd like, I could give you my autograph. How does that sound?"

"Wow, really, sir!?" You glanced at Vil, who seemed just as shocked.

"... If father offered it, then I don't see why you should turn down his generous offer. Just find something for him to sign that's NOT on your body."

"Uh, okay!! Er... Hold on a sec!!"

You furiously dug around in your pockets, praying that there was something viable there. Your fingers soon came upon a crumpled piece of paper, which you fished out and smoothed to the best of your ability. It was thrusted at Mr. Schoenheit with pleading eyes.

Vil made a face. "Is that a receipt from Mr. S's Mystery Shop?"

"It was the closest thing I had on hand," you mumbled.

"It's not even in good condition..."

"That's quite alright! If it makes my fans happy, then I'm here to oblige."

Mr. Schoenheit gently plucked the paper from your grasp and set to scrawling his signature upon the receipt. Even his signing was beautiful--elegant and flowing, not a single moment wasted.

When the receipt was returned, his name, penned in a flowery cursive script, graced you. Suddenly, the wadded up paper once destined for the trash bin was worth a million thaumarks. You squealed, hugging the signature against yourself.

"Thank you so, so much, Mr. Schoenheit!"

"My pleasure. It's always a joy meeting fans--and, of course, meeting Vil's bosom buddies. Please continue to support him, will you? That would make me the happiest father in the entire world." Mr. Schoenheit smiled at you again, and you felt stars imploding in your vision, your legs going from muscle and bone to jelly again.

"Y-Yessir!!"

"Wonderful! Now that that's settled, you'll have to excuse us." Mr. Schoenheit replaced the elements of his disguise and hooked his arm in Vil's. "I've been looking forward to catching up with my son. We have a big day ahead of us!"

"Y-Yes, I understand! Please enjoy your time together!"

You bowed on instinct--like a subject to their sovereign. Your head raised again only when you were certain the two had passed.

Vil and Mr. Schoenheit's backs were to you, backs that passed for those of ordinary people in those matching cream tracksuits. But there was the unmistakable aura they radiated. Golden as a new dawn, mysterious as a violet-colored sky.

A king, and the prince descended from him.

The autograph burned in your palm. Your new treasure, the result of this memory: a private audience with the king and the prince.

[artemisandhersilverbow]

I'm still not over Taylor's Fortnight MV... to say it's my favorite visual work she's done would be an understatement. As with all things on this album, she did her research. Her incredible DP - Rodrigo Prieto - who has shot The Man, Cardigan, and Willow MVs. As well as, Brokeback Mountain, The Barbie Movie, Killer of the Flower Moon, etc.

There are so many ways to parse the story of the Fortnight video, but I will mostly focus on Taylor's use of mirroring to make some of the video's larger points.

I am a queer former film student so I wanna note that that's the bias I'll be writing from. If that disinterests you, no worries! This just may not be for you.

Love that we start with silent film era titles. One is black, one is white, perhaps a ying yang visual or simply representing the original album + the anthology. Could also be the light + dark of her two sides represented by Taylor and Post Malone.

The vertical alignment shift in the word Fortnight is interesting because the other time i noticed her doing this was in the closing poem for TTP with, "Some stars never align." Would be cute to have it like a nod to screenplay scene heading: INT. FORT - NIGHT

We start with Taylor, virtually still, but singing. She's handcuffed to an askew bed frame - sans mattress - with bars resembling a prison/cage.

The mirroring she's doing here is reminding us of "real life" Taylor's outfit at the 2024 Grammy's, but with the addition of white gauzy gloves + garter belt (like on tour), it reads more bridal, more bed sheet. That similar clock necklace is set to, best as I can tell, 9pm.

And she's got enough hairpins to... idk... make me spin out? Her make up evokes a little Clara Bow, Greta Garbo, legends of the silver screen, etc.

Taylor stops lip-syncing. Breaking the fourth wall, with direct eye contact, she's forced a "Forget Him" pill and unshackled from her bed prison. Unlike the next instance we get this match shot, it feels like she's telling the audience she knows we're watching and her look has a "this is what I'm forced to do" anger charged to it.

Also, the pill itself seems to break Taylor's reality from here on out. She "forgets him," but perhaps also becomes a different him herself.

She walks over, in her wacky funhouse of a prison room - skewed angles, upside down doors (those who enter from the left walk on the "ceiling" - to an actual mirror. But this mirror looks more like a one-way mirror. Meaning that the subject can see themselves, but so can others they can't see on the other side. Usually so the subject can be observed.

Still appropriate to break the fourth wall as though we are watching her in a way she can't return.

She wipes her face to reveal Post Malone's tattoos under the veneer of her prerfect facade. Once done, she utters the first "I want to kill her." She wants to "kill" Taylor TM?

I'll basically be going forward assuming that Post Malone is established in this mirror shot as a representation of Taylor, perhaps her True Taylor underneath the engineered perfection. This door/portal splits her in two on entry. From one white-clad figure to two black-clad ones. Kind of like the splitting of a prism.

Instead of exiting this upside down asylum, she goes deep into a department - perhaps the Tortured Poets kind. We get an awesome match cut/panning transition where Grammy dress referential Taylor morphs into a Victorian mourning dress. One very similar to the dresses on stage during Folklore during Eras (at the bottom of post). Perhaps also a nod to Emily Dickinson herself.

The way they design the set to make it so her asylum and office are connected feels like a not so subtle call out on how she feels about her chosen industry. Not quite a cheery take on the Lover House for ex. Time also becomes a little bendy, irrelevant when she does this portal walk.

When she enters she sits at a mirrored desk, morphing into Post Malone's silhouette. To the side we have faceless writers, also dressed in black older fashions, that seem to go on for infinity like a mirror trick.

Taylor sits down to start writing, Post Malone is already typing. They're both in black with embellished collars. We see that she has a top sheet with typed words, but under they're blank. Post has a pile next to him, along with his fountain pen, which perhaps are fully done b/c placement on the other side of him. Their desks are also arranged ever so slightly different. So Post-Taylor is a typing machine, Taylor needs to catch up...

But then Post Malone looks up to create this awesome mirrored match cut.

Taylor and Post-Taylor get to work, singing the chorus, camera cutting on their lines in mirror shots respectively.

We see a typewriter jam the same lines from the song, but specifically "I LOVE YOU." Granted, we can't be 100% sure whose typewriter it is, but we see Taylor type "Love You." Perhaps they're mirroring each other in even this task.

Eventually their stories starts leaking blue and orange/gold ether which prisms out to reveal "The Story of Us."

Really great shot of the infinity vanishing point effect from the unidentified crowd, how they're positioned makes them look like they're mirroring all of us watching/sharing our opinions.

This is where I'll stop for Part 1 because it's not ok how late this album has been keeping me up.

But a couple of things to start:

Taylor using very strong, very consistent mirroring techniques to create distinctions from narrator, character, and audience. Even the music is mirrored in the chorus with Post Malone's repetition.

By both wearing the face tattoos under a perfect exterior (the face we know her by), and immediately separating into two characters - one with her face/gender expression as we know it and Post-Taylor who now wears the face tattoos we just saw/is also sporting the face and gender expression we are familiar with him. It's Taylor TM the Brand vs Hidden (in plain sight) Identity Taylor.

Her typewriter emits an orange/golden glow from all of her repeated "I LOVE YOU'S," while his emits blue. Together they're creating the next story vignette: "The Story of Us."

One basic read for this is that Taylor could be owning her male POVs that come up in her songs (Folklore we're looking at you). Another read I have is that Taylor TM is writing the love song framework expected from her as an artist while Post-Taylor injects the devastation, anger, emotion, the heavy blues we often unearth from a song we originally thought was upbeat, romantic, unassuming. And considering these mirrored halves, I think that aligns with her own messages about her music, that people will always going looking for paternity tests - the publicized romance pulled from what we think we know about her. But perhaps the assumed truths of a song could be, and often are, driven by your gendered expectations - "Girl loves boy, sings about that." The hidden in plain sight Taylor subverts what the surface level shows.

The True Taylor is an unrecognizable author. And that writer is producing the meat of the work.

Additionally, I love that she's wearing a dress that feels taken off the Era's stage.

Folklore in particular was a really different writing era for her. She presented the characters and stories as fiction and all the sudden an unknown male collaborator — William Bowery — gets credited on it. I'd love if the message, in part, was hey I'm actually my own male writing partner. Regardless, her other half/POV was able to allow her to write truths so long as they remained unrecognizable.

But she's wearing the mourning dress, looking over at her hidden true half, looking over anxiously. And then begins to write. They're half the story that makes up the whole, one needing the other to tell the story they want to tell. Perhaps it's a call out to Folklore in particular as a solution to being limited by expectations of her signature diaristic-like songs' perspectives. Using it as a way to tell a version of the truth from a POV society or the powers that be in her life would accept it from — not Taylor TM as she is/who she's known to be.

More generally, the "male pov" and the male pronouns, just seem to be called irrelevant smoking guns in the game of knowing the unknowable - what her work, a lot of her work, is referencing specifically. These two writers, as presented, are still both Taylor. Them's the rules here. Ok, see you in PT. 2!

[taldigi]

since Yui is a girl would that mean only Yosuke, Kanji and Teddie would do the drag competion or does she join in and do a drag king outfit? much to consider

I love having the girls crossdress too. Total missed opportunity tbh. I have all the 2nd years doing it in Retransmission and that was soooo fun to design!

think there's humor in her coming out on stage looking just like Yu playing up that "king" persona. Or a hearthrobbier version (we have chad narukami at home.)

I also think that it'd be a cool reflection point for her, too. Is it a chance to be Yu again? Does it still fit who she is or perhaps is it dysphoric in some sense? Disorienting? Does acting like Yu weird out her current version of her friends? Does Yosuke become an little more bisexualé?

.. another angle is... If Yosuke doesn't feel the need to perform his heterosexuality so much and has a thing for Yui (or is it possibly already in a relationship with her?) how many of his antics change? Sure he'd probably suggest the group date cafe, but would he still sign the girls up? but this is also a ng+ scenario, where Yui can step in and say "hell no- if you want to see a cute girl in a bikini you can just ask me!" and pspspsps him away from those sign up sheets.. (but you know, equilibrium and all so Teddie does it anyway but still.)

That's the fun of NG+ aus I think

[starshine-valley]

WHY I’M BATSHIT TERRIFIED FOR VBS, WXS AND NIIGO’S REDESIGN: HOW THEIR COSTUMES PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN THEIR RESPECTIVE GROUPS!!

Vivid Bad Squad:

Vivid Bad Squad are street performers and this plays a role in how their costumes work. Their costumes are their outing clothes. Like i’m pretty sure it’s the clothes they wear when they go out and all that stuff (i could be wrong but that’s what i’ve seen so far). It fits because they’re street performers. They don’t need to have some grand costume AND ESPECIALLY NOT MATCHING!! Yes, they are a unit but those are their outing clothes! You don’t match with your group of friends every time you go out. Of course, you can and that’s perfectly fine but it takes away from the entire group’s trope (?? I dunno if that’s the right word) which are street performers. People who you just see singing in clubs, cafes, the street, etc. They don’t need to be matching, they don’t need to wear grand outfits because they’re street performers. They don’t need to change into their outfits unlike MMJ who are idols and L/N whose entire sekai and aesthetic focuses on school (the same is said for MMJ whose Sekai revolves around being on stage). Their Sekai is centered around Vivid Street and you don’t typically see street performers having matching outfits on street. They don’t really follow a certain theme, they sing in their own clothes. They have no reason to change. Hopefully, if my points even made sense, that the vbs outfits will also be their outing outfits. Also hopefully they still keep the aesthetic of the original outfits cause it really fits the vibe of vivid street.

Wonderland x Showtime:

Their unique costumes serve as their costumes. On the Wonder Stage, they’re acting, they’re preparing for a show, it’s similar to how one doesn’t wear the same clothes when they rehearse and when they do a production. The uniqueness of each character’s costumes is important not only because of their unique and bizarre personalities but because in stage, you can’t have a matching outfit with another person. It, of course, can follow a theme of what to wear (pajamas or other stuff i’m forgetting) but it really has to be different or differ in some way. Take the Heathers in the musical for example. Their outfits look similar but still have something standing out. Their shirts, skirts, the design and colors differ! WxS had perfect costumes, not only because it differed from the other members’ costumes but because it’s just so bright and colorful! The exact type of neon and eye catching colors that you would see in a theme park! Adding on to the connection to sekai, Wonderland Sekai is filled with bright colors! It’s wacky and silly! WXS MIKU HERSELF LOOKS LIKE A THEME PARK MASCOT!! Their costumes are over the top because some plays are silly! Especially plays with the intent of making people smile!! This group centers around making people smile! Their wackiness as theater performers has meaning! Especially since their expounding their horizons they gotta keep the uniqueness and variety!! Also please still make wxs! Miku goofy 🙏🏻🙏🏻

Nightcord at 25:00:

Nightcord has a similar theme to them that being dark colors. Notice how they’re pretty much wearing school attire or resembling school attire. It makes sense. They’re a group that haven’t met each other in real life. They go to school (in Mafuyu’s case i guess?) and then go on Nightcord. Unlike Vbs, they don’t wear their outing clothes since they have never met nor have they worked outside of Nightcord and unlike wxs, they don’t need to go with major costumes that make them unique (the dull colors tie in with the empty Sekai too). While they do kind of have matching attires, i’m more worried if they’ll keep the dark and dull colors. Like i’ve said before, the dull colors reflect with the empty sekai. So it’d be better if their prominent colors are very briefly seen in their new designs. The problem with MMJ being like this is because A) Idols typically still identify and define themselves as a certain color (take the love live franchise for example) and B) for Nightcord’s case, the majority of black in their outfits really tie into empty sekai. Perhaps, less black could benefit in the story they’re telling (Mafuyu’s mask crumbling), maybe a sort of dark grey would do. But Nightcord is still dealing with the problems and struggles of what each of them had went through. That tying in with the aesthetic of the empty sekai really amplifies the feeling of darkness or dullness.

These are just my opinions! Obviously i could be exaggerating or reading too into this but I promise I am not complaining! I feel like new outfits are cool ideas and signify the new beginnings of each group. It’s just that with after the MMJ, i’m quite hesitant on how they’ll go about with the rest of the units…

[elektrantchios]

a millon reasons | b.b

pairing: gn!mutant!reader x bucky barnes

summary: Sam, Nat, Bucky and y/n all go on a undercover mission together. where y/n has to trick a mod boss. Bucky and y/n fight the whole time until things take a turn.

word count: 2.1k with song lyrics

warnings: angst, swearing, kind of haters to lovers, little fluff at the end, mentions of past and current violence,

a/n: this has took me far to long to write and I’m very sorry for that but my inspiration has finally come back to me and I finished this! Actually missed writing for marvel too! Might be a little different from the request hope that’s okay <3

Requested by @caritobbg

MASTERLIST REQUEST

It was just his luck the one morning he woke up early enough to have swim before he left for a mission, you’d be there too. Sat on the edge of the pool at the deep end, your feet dangling in the water. Reading a book with a German title.

Rolling his eyes he looked away from you and began swimming laps. There was something off about you, maybe it was the fact that you were a mutant, maybe he’d never really knew. After doing five laps he looked up again and you were gone, your book lay in the spot you had been.

He turned in a full circle looking for where you could be, did he miss you leave? Are why leave the book?

“What you looking for Barnes?” you smirked making him jump.

He gave you a hard look studying you, your skin had taken on a shinely scale look, your pupils had turned thin. “You were watching me?”. He swam further away from you.

You laughed a sweet sound, he froze. You cringed at what you unknowingly did, you mentally made a note to push yourself harder in training. “That would mean you were interesting. Which you aren't’”. You swam with grace to him, “Nervous about the mission, Barnes?”.

“Would you stop calling me that!” he snapped.

You blink, “James then? Has a nice ring to it”.

He opened and closed his mouth.

You smirk again, “Well James i’ll see you later”, you lowered yourself fully into the water and swam away.

Bucky watched you flip through another book in the jet, he couldn’t understand how you got through them so quickly.

“Are you listening?” Sam asked at you.

Not looking up you nodded, “I need to distract an arms dealer called Mike Burr, Ideally with my voice” you turned a page, “You guys are gonna want to wear those blockers Stark made, the metal is basically the only thing that can block my mutant powers”. You put the book down giving all your attention to Sam. “I got this and you guys have got me” you smiled showing off two pointy teeth, “this is gonna be easy”.

“We’re in luck you’re not as well known as us” Nat said nodding to the siren”

“Good to know my training worked” you noted.

Bucky tilted his head, “and what exactly was your training, you never said”.

You met his eyes smirking, that was his first mistake.

“Well growing my power first off, sadly control was never really on the curriculum” Before he could comment she continued, “then French, German, Spanish and of course Russian, very basic. Sorry Nat”.

Nat just laughed, shaking her head.

The siren laughed too, it wasn’t as high as it was in the pool. “Then basic fighting. I’m very flexible” you winked to Bucky.

He looked away annoyed, looking to Sam to see his take on you, but of course he thought Sam was laughing too.

“Any more questions James?” .

In the back of the La Rue, Bucky stood by the stage door while you got ready. The colour of your outfit studied your skin tone so much even Bucky had to compliment you. Still he blamed the Siren part of you, that part was designed to lure people in.

You met his eyes through the mirror. “Something you like, James?” You grinned. You turned in your chair and faced him, “Or do you see me as a threat?”.

“How do I know you’re not?” he asked, for a moment the smile fell, you blinked at him then turned back to the mirror.

“You’re so serious, it’s getting old” you muttered rolling your eyes, With a loud thud you kicked the chair back. “Then again, it was never young”.

You both looked at each other, maybe it wasn’t the siren part that lured him in, all he wanted to do was hold you close. “You guys ready?”.

You moved first, gracefully Bucky thought, you were always graceful. “Yeah we’re going out now” you spoke to Sam through your ear piece.

The first night passed by unsuccessfully, Burr was at the club but showed little interest in you as you were just serving drinks. You knew Bucky was annoyed the mission was let down, it wasn't done in one night, you were thankful that you didn’t have to share a room with him. You actually nearly cried tears of joy when you were put in Nat’s room.

Normally you were fine sharing a room with whoever but something about Bucky rubbed you the wrong way. He hated you and you knew it, sometimes you would look up and just see glaring at you.

Honestly you knew you didn’t help the situation much, but it brought you a lot of joy annoying him. Calling him James was your new favourite thing.

Nat kicked the side of your bed making you mutter something obscene. She chuckled, shaking her head, “The guys have invited us to their room for a drink”.

“You mean Sam did” you corrected him, “Bucky wouldn’t invite me if his life depended on it”.

Nat huffed, still smiling, “let's see if a few drinks won’t loosen you both” she winked.

You hummed not believing her.

Just as you expected Bucky just watched you while Sam and Nat chatted loudly to fill the empty silence, you were more open to talking than Bucky was. It wasn’t fair to Sam nor Nat, they didn’t have a problem with you.

Thinking that you got annoyed, you didn’t have a problem with Bucky, he was the one with the problem. Scoffing, you looked down.

“What’s up with you?” Bucky shot in your direction. Sam and Nat grew quiet.

You raised your head. “Huh?”.

“Huffing and scoffing in your corner”.

“Supposed to glaring and brooding in yours” you shot back. His moment of shock gave you a rush to go on. “I think it’s about time you tell me whatever I’ve done to piss you off so much”.

He sucked in his lips.

“Go on” you hissed through your teeth.

“I don’t trust you. You were trained to draw people in and destroy them. Why should anyone trust you?” He spoke like they facts.

This time he took your moment of shock to carry on.

“You said so yourself you have no control over your power. You said it wasn’t taught but how long have you had to learn? I think you like the power you have”.

“Buck-” Sam finally spoke.

“No” you cut him off, “Let him finish”.

Shock came over Bucky again. The calmness in you was a surprise, but he carried on, “You are impulsive and arrogant, I think it’s likely Burr will discover who you are and you’ll put us all at risk”.

“Well thank you for your opinion on my skills and training, James” you stated face unmoving. “Don’t worry I’ll be out of your hair soon” everyone looked at you confused. “I have been contacted by another group, a bit more secret than the avengers and I’m going to take them up on it. Lucky for me they like impulsive and arrogant mutants”.

Nat called after you as you left the room.

Everything Bucky said was true, you were impulsive, arrogant and a mutant. When you first got the offer you pushed it aside, happy where you were in life, helping the world with a team you loved.

But after tonight you were done. Your whole life had been about embracing your mutant gene and the powers it had given you. Yes you admitted to yourself your control was a weak point, but you knew when and when not to use it, or really who to use it on.

I could have this whole world in the palm of my hands, you thought. I could have them all begging for freedom. I could- no you stopped thinking. That was not who you were, you wanted and you do help people.

The more you thought about Bucky words the more they hurt. You would get this mission done and never see any of them again.

The next night you sat again before the mirror in the dressing room of the club, you were dressed in another eye-catching outfit, maybe even more so than the night before.

The door behind you softly opened, “I’m not in the mood James” you said loudly. Bucky still walked in, frowning.

“How did you know it was me?” He asked.

You rolled your shoulders, “your footsteps, I can tell who's who”.

“I want to apologise about what I said”.

You stood from the chair looking at yourself one last time, “what’s been said can’t be taken back, I’ll be gone soon so none of this matters”.

The lights made it nearly impossible to see into the crowd but you knew that Burr was out there, the music you had picked slowly started.

You're giving me a million reasons to let you go

You're giving me a million reasons to quit the show

Your voice came out soft and luring, just what you needed, as the song went on you could feel your power in the air, the call stretching out from the stage.

I bow down to pray

I try to make the worst seem better

Lord, show me the way

The song boarded on being too personal, you were still cut up about what Bucky had said, no matter how much you told yourself he didn’t have to like you, it didn’t help. It wasn’t your actions he hated, it was who you were.

And if you say something that you might even mean

It's hard to even fathom which parts I should believe

Can't you give me what I'm needin', needin'

His words still stung, Steve had told you stories about Bucky, a kind Bucky, so those words were even more of a shock.

Every heartbreak makes it hard to keep the faith

But baby, I just need one good one

Good one, good one, good one, good one, good one

I've got a hundred million reasons to walk away

But baby, I just need one good one, good one

Tell me that you'll be the good one, good one

Baby, I just need one good one to stay

By the end of the song, you felt the tears on your cheeks, the lights had lowered giving you a wide view of the crowd in one smokey corner at Burr. You made a point to meet his eyes before retreating into a private room, through your ear pierce you heard Sam tell you Burr was making a room to follow.

Nat and Bucky were moving into their places, sitting down on a velvet couch they kept their eyes locked on the door. After a few moments Burr entered. You smiled, nodding to the spot beside you.

'To what do I owe the pleasure?’ You asked sweetly.

He joined you, his hand resting on your knee. “That was quite an act”.

“You’re too kind” you shook your head, getting closer, “it was just a song”.

“A very personal song, No?” He spoke flatty. You smiled dropped for less an a second. He had gotten too close, too fast. One hand held your jaw and the other scraps something around your neck.

The moment the lock clicked in place you felt it, your power pulled from you. A human scream left your lips as you fell to the floor. Try as you might, you couldn’t get the collar off.

Burr stood high above you, watching you fight and panic. He threw something to the floor by you, the same blockers the team was wearing. “Did you think I wouldn’t recognise a munt when I see one”. Your whole body went cold, he knelt down lifting your chin with his finger. “What a pretty price you’ll bring to me”.

You refused to cry, it went against everything you stood for.

He grinned, somehow even more pleased. “Or maybe I’ll keep you to myself, I could rule the word with someone like you”. You smashed your head against his, he swore and hit the fall behind him.

You jumped to your feet and towered over him, pressing your foot down onto his throat. “Or maybe I’ll sell you” you spat, “I will not be the puppet for anyone else ever again.

The door to the back room was kicked open by Bucky who came running in holding up a gun. His face relaxed incessantly seeing you were okay. All the fire fell from your body seeing him. He ran to you, pulling you into his arms.

Next came Nat and Sam who put Burr into cuffs. They found the key and unlocked the collar from your neck without disturbing you and Bucky. “You’re okay” wasn't a question he already knew.

“Basic training” you shrugged.

[misscammiedawn]

I have been tasked by EllaEnchanting to create a stage hypnosis routine

So let's preface this, I am going based on my love of the aesthetic of stage shows. I am aware of the discomforting ethics and bullyish attitude of the real world acts. It's a weird situation where the fantasy is alluring but the reality kind of makes me uncomfortable and that is a weird line to walk when stage shows are a real thing primarily and the fantasy is mostly held in the aesthetics.

In order to reconcile that I'll peak behind the curtain and say how I would approach it if it were a routine I ran at a hypnosis convention (I have considered doing this more than once).

The Lovely Assistant would be a plant and in complete collaboration with the hypnotist. They will act as a convincer and it means that the fantasy of the recruited assistant can be there for the audience without being dubious.

The volunteers would have been selected prior to the event and told the content warnings of the 5 acts and given the option to edit or opt out. They may not know how the acts will pan out but there'll be some element of control.

See the thing is that selecting "random members of the audience" is part of the convincer of the stage show environment, the idea that the all powerful hypnotist can weave their spell over anyone. Though there's tricks to get the right people and weed out the ones who won't work out. I would perform a routine like this at a hypnosis event. I don't need that element of the show.

Plus it'd save some time in going through the selection element of the show.

So let's get the show going.

--

Pre-talk.

The first part is to introduce The Dazzling Dawn to the audience. I've been meaning to update her outfit so just imagine wavy red hair, ruby red lipstick to match an equally garish crimson outfit punctuated by a top hat.

The pre-talk segment of a normal hypnosis show is part of priming the audience. Every word that they say is designed to train the audience's expectations. I've researched a number of different speeches and been able to point out stuff like language that introduces ways of processing suggestions to the audience and helps them identify theirs, ending with a claim that makes every member of the audience feel more confident that their version is the correct one.

In a real show this only needs to hit those who are eager/curious/interested. But it'll act as a convincer.

I've seen people do small little routines like the magnet fingers or "follow my words - touch your nose, touch your chin" etc moments to condition the audience to follow suggestions and then when they throw a curve ball by saying "touch your middle finger" while touching their index finger you get to see who is visually following and who is verbally following.

Hypnotism and mentalism are even more fun when you know how they work in my opinion.

Anyway. The convincer for my act would be selecting a lovely lady from the front row who is dressed casually enough. Bring her up, ask her name, run a quick induction and show how susceptible she is.

Now I can't physically be both the lovely assistant AND the dazzling hypnotist. I wish I could be, but I can't.

Incidentally I have an assistant persona too thanks to a Paul Dini Zatanna comic. The Sensational Sunrise!

But for this let's just imagine this assistant is one of my partners, already briefed on the routine.

Dazzling Dawn would bespell them for the audience and enthrall them to be a devoted assistant who may only say one phrase for the entire act "Yes, Miss Dawn!" which would be lovely for skits where I could be looking for a prop and ask my lovely assistant where it is only for her to shrug and chirp "Yes, Miss Dawn!"

Comedy is essential to an act like this.

We must let our imaginations work out how I would ethically get my lovely assistant into her new outfit. I am imagining her wearing it under what she is already wearing and going behind a screen and "transforming" but in reality it may just be a "leave the room and come back" moment.- I'm limited by the fact these ideas are ones I've tried to think of for a convention space. But I like imagining the walk behind a screen thing.

Huzzah. Pre-talk complete and now I have a delightful assistant who is pre-loaded with a single phrase.

Induction

Next is to select my audience members. I'd be upfront with the audience that the 5 or so people are pre-selected and negotiated with. Then I'd start the inductions by explaining that if someone consents to have my lovely assistant behind them I'll have them stand behind and delicately stroke their temples (obviously this would be arranged prior to the event and scrapped if no one was willing to commit to this bit) and repeat the word I say.

So as you stare at the hypnotic focus I will tell you that you're becoming more and more focused, and when I say focused my lovely assistant will whisper "focused" in to your ear to help you anchor that suggestion as we go on.

So I say "you grow more and more focused" and my lovely assistant will say…

"Yes, Miss Dawn."

…right.

Okay, we can work with this.

The idea will be for me to do my induction with Assistant husking "Yes, Miss Dawn…" in a hollow and empty hypnotized voice, making my every sentence more enticing and agreeable.

Mixing comedy with actually hot things? Yes.

Once the volunteers are all set in their lovely soft and susceptible states it will be time for the first skits. I will emphasize that all suggestions will last only for the duration of the show. That is important and will be pre-negotiated. For the sake of skits I want suggestions seeded early in the act to come back for payoff later.

I also think it would be a good idea to suggest my volunteers play different "characters" for the act. A brat, an overly enthusiastic extrovert and Sleepyhead.

Sorry, I meant someone who is so comically easy to trance that them dropping at seemingly inappropriate (but actually planned) moments would be part of the act. Perhaps get some splash damage of suggestions not meant for them.

So Sleepyhead. Though not neccessarily THE Sleepyhead. So we will use lower case sleepyhead for them. But I guarantee I am imagining the real one as I type this.

One of the initial suggestions will be a siren call. The idea will come back later, I think I'd go for the brat for this one because at any point for the remainder of the act I could start singing and they would lose all their resistance would fade away and they would be drawn to approach me.

Once we have enough rapport on the "stage" it would be time to start the actual skits and routines.

Skit 1

The first skit is called "It takes a village to fractionate a volunteer"

The idea would be to have everyone look to their left and hear what the person to the left says and then turn to their right and flip it for the next person in line.

"UP" "Down" "Up" "Down" "Up" "Down" "Yes, Miss Dawn."

"Down" "Up" "Down" "Up" "Down" "Up" "Yes, Miss Dawn."

Every time you are told Up they wake up (still following the skit programming) and every time they hear Down they drop again. Assistant would go along with it and sleepyhead would go up and down every single time.

Just have that wave along a few times and switch it up with different words. "Sinking/Rising" "Lower/Higher" and such.

To make it more fun I think I'd add in a round of holding out a hand and raising up and dropping down. Just a way of getting the chorous of volunteers to get everyone trancy.

Skit 2

At this point I'd count everyone down to start off "3-2-1 aaaand go!" at this point four of my volunteers would begin while Sleepyhead will drop in to trance from a countdown. I'll ask my lovely assistant to wake her up and she will go and have a side skit.

For this one I want to highlight the personalities of our volunteers. Bratty and extrovert especially.

I dunno. Dancing skits or something?

Meanwhile assistant will be trying to wake up our sleepyhead by lightly rousing them and saying "Yes, Miss Dawn" to which the sleepyhead will echo the phrase and slip deeper in to trance. The assistant becomes frustrated and tries harder to wake them and the more aggrivated her "Yes. Miss. DAWN." becomes the deeper the sleepyhead becomes.

At the end of the main skit I'll walk over and fix this and return the sleepyhead to their chair and thank my lovely assistant for trying.

Skit 3

I'd have them all hold their hands on an object, let's say an orb, and have them put their freewill inside of it. As long as they are touching the orb they get to have their freewill but the moment they let go they'll drop into a powerfully obedient trance and their will shall belong to the one holding the orb.

Then I'd let them all act out trying to keep their hands on the orb while avoiding me and I'd end it by using the siren song to cheat and summon my sleeper agent and have them bring me the orb of their free will.

At the end of the act I'd hand it off to my lovely assistant. What harm could it do, she can only say "Yes, Miss Dawn." (this is forshadowing)

I'd tell my volunteers that every time she says "Yes, Miss Dawn." that just tells your empty wills that Yes, Miss Dawn is a correct thought and you are all too happy to do what she says (for the remainder of the show).

Skit 4

With the amount of comedy we have had so far I feel like something that is actually salacious would be appropriate for now. It's important to not undermine my own dominance by making everything go comically wrong if only for a single scene.

Skit 5

And when I snap my fingers you and the audience will imagine I did something really impressive.

I am joking because I ran out of stamina for the post, but I have used that suggestion before. It's fun.

Ending

I would thank the audience and my volunteers and lovely assistant. They all did so well. Take a bow, Assistant, "Yes, Miss Dawn!"

I'd release her from her spell and let her come back to herself for her to see what she is wearing and go HARUMPH! and realize she has the orb still and commands the volunteers to "get her" in which the volunteers would restrain the hypnotist within their comfort and Dawn would quickly rattle off a "And you'll all awake free from all suggestions knowing you did so well on 3-2-1!" moment.

And that would be the true end of the show <3

Though there'd be some after-show aftercare, I'm sure.

I kind of ran out of stamina while writing but as we noted I am in surgical recovery.

[foxydivaxx]

Zosan: End of Paradise Chapter Chapter 3

Warning: Mentions of rape, prostitution and major character death.

The stage was set. Sanji arrived at the club, a hotspot for Marcus's regular hangouts. The plan was straightforward: Sanji would revert to his former persona as a hooker. His revealing outfit - denim shorts with ripped sides and a cropped vest - was designed to draw attention. He had also dyed his hair black and cleverly concealed his curly eyebrows, a potential giveaway to his true identity. As expected, heads turned as he made his entrance, but Sanji just smirked and ignored the stares. He was accustomed to the attention.

Meanwhile, Zoro had already arrived at the club, sitting at the bar and smoking a cigarette. Mihawk had briefed him on the mission specifics, including the arrival of a special someone. Zoro suspected it might be Sanji. And then, the boy made his entrance, earning a flurry of stares. Zoro's jaw dropped - Sanji looked different, but those striking eyes were unmistakable. He couldn't help but think Sanji looked incredibly hot tonight. Shaking his head, Zoro refocused on the mission. He was there to back Sanji up and intervene if things turned sour, which was likely in the Mafia world. Noticing one of the politician's guards eyeing Sanji, Zoro made a mental note to keep an eye on him, prepared to take him down if necessary.

Sanji settles in beside Marcus, flashing a charming smile. "Hello, Senator. Lovely to meet you, sir." He exudes friendliness, carefully concealing his true intentions.

Zoro positions himself nearby, listening in on their conversation while keeping a watchful eye out for potential dangers. He's determined to protect Sanji, even if it means taking out any threats that might arise.

"Ah, hello, Mr...?" Marcus begins.

"Yonji," Sanji replies, using his late brother's name as a cover. It's a distasteful necessity, but Sanji knows it's essential to blend in and survive in the shadows when dealing with men as ruthless as Marcus.

Marcus nods, seemingly oblivious to the danger sitting beside him. "Pleasure to meet you, Yonji."

Zoro notes with satisfaction that the bodyguards are distracted, not paying attention to the potential threat Sanji poses. He thinks to himself, "Amateurs. Who hires such incompetent men as bodyguards or bouncers? They should be hyper-vigilant, not so easily caught off guard."

Marcus asks, entranced by Sanji's charm, "So, what brings you here, Yonji?" Sanji flashes a sly smirk, thinking to himself, "Marcus is precisely as described - naive, reckless, and indulgent. He's the perfect mark."

Sanji responds, "A little fun never hurts, Mr. Senator. And I heard this is the place to be for a wild time. You do enjoy letting loose, don't you?" He winks, knowing he's got Marcus right where he wants him.

Marcus starts to ask, "How did you -" but Sanji cuts him off with a chuckle, "Gossip travels fast on the streets, Senator. You know how it is."

Zoro watches the exchange with a mix of admiration and disbelief. He may not have the patience for Sanji's smooth-talking tactics, but he can see why Sanji excels at this kind of work. The guy has a natural talent for manipulation and a deep understanding of the underworld's inner workings. Zoro makes a mental note to trust Sanji's instincts and let him take the lead in situations like this.

Sanji's voice was laced with deceit as he whispered, "How about we have some fun, Marcus?" Taking the Senator's hand, he led him to a secluded room, his intentions far from innocent. The plan was to isolate him from the crowd and strike when the moment was right. Bribes had already been paid to ensure the security guards and club staff would turn a blind eye.

As Sanji disappeared from view, Zoro's sharp instincts kicked in. He noticed the bodyguards trailing behind and knew he had to act fast. He followed them, his eyes fixed on his targets.

Meanwhile, Sanji lured Marcus into the empty room, reserved for the club's most illicit activities. "I heard you have a taste for the forbidden," Sanji purred, shedding his jacket and straddling the Senator's lap. Marcus was transfixed, his eyes frozen on Sanji's seductive charm.

Sanji's smirk grew wider as he savored the power he held over others, particularly men. But outside the room, the guards exchanged uneasy glances, their instincts screaming warning. They didn't know who this enigmatic figure was, but something told them he was a force to be reckoned with.

As the guards closed in, Zoro unleashed his deadly precision, his sword slicing through the shadows with swift and silent efficiency. The sound of clashing steel and cries of pain echoed outside the room, sending a chill down Marcus's spine.

Sanji's grip on the Senator tightened as he pulled him back into a kiss, a kiss that concealed a sinister intent. Unbeknownst to Marcus, this was no ordinary kiss - it was a kiss of death, sealing his fate. Sanji's smirk grew wider as he reveled in the chaos outside, knowing Zoro was taking care of the guards.

As Sanji pulled away, Marcus's eyes widened in horror, his body beginning to succumb to the poison. "Surprised, Senator?" Sanji taunted, his voice dripping with malice. "You should be. Your drink was poisoned tonight. I just needed to lure you here and serve it to you. Makes my life easier."

Marcus's words were reduced to a mere whisper as he struggled to breathe, his lungs suffocating. "Y-you..." Sanji's evil grin broadened, his eyes blazing with a vengeful fury.

"Years ago, you and your comrades tortured a street gang for stealing from you," Sanji hissed, his voice low and menacing. "You murdered them all, except for one. You left him alive, raping him to death. And yes, I was that child."

The darkness in Sanji's eyes seemed to deepen, his whisper dripping with a chilling intensity, as Marcus's life slipped away, consumed by the shadows of his own brutal past.

Here's a rewritten version with a darker and more suspenseful tone:

Sanji's eyes blazed with a fierce determination as he vowed, "I will not rest until you and your friends suffer for what you did to me." Just then, Zoro entered the room, his sword still sheathed, a silent sentinel.

"Thanks for the backup, Marimo," says Sanji as he lights a cigarette . Zoro’s gaze is fixed on the Senator's lifeless form. "Well, that was quick." Sanji retrieved his jacket, his movements swift and calculated.

"Let's get out of here," Sanji said, his voice low and urgent. The two boys swiftly retreated, their footsteps echoing through the deserted club. Once they reached the parking lot, they slid into their car, a temporary sanctuary.

As Zoro pulled Sanji close, the younger boy rested his head on his shoulder, a moment of respite from the darkness they had unleashed. But the silence was short-lived, as the weight of their actions settled in. They had survived tonight, but the consequences of Marcus' death would soon unfold. His friends would hunt for the killer, and Sanji and Zoro would need to remain vigilant, always looking over their shoulders, waiting for the other shoe to drop.