#I think there's also one called the devils claw maybe? might be too evil the spaceship I'm going for though

[kihaku-gato]

FELLOW PLANTBLR PEEPS I SUMMON THEE

Who can recall some funky forms/builds of irl seeds with their dispersal? I’m working on trying to sketch out a spaceship that’s gonna be based off of a seed (symbolism of seeds traveling for miles and miles away from their homeland).

I got the two obvious ones to explore with (fluffy dandelion seeds and Maple samaras) but I KNOW there are some other funky/unique seed dispersal structures out there, but for the life of me I can’t remember them, and google thinks I’m asking for seeds of unique heirlooms when no, I need the uniqueness to be of the seed structure itself!

[august-anon]

Tickle Monster

sequel to Tickletober 2020 Day 13 - “Wake Up!”

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Someone on ao3 asked about a sequel to that fic literally in October of 2020, and mentioned it again in Jan of this year, and I’m finally posting this. I am so sorry this took ages, whoever you were, I hope you enjoy this lol

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Fandom: Gravity Falls

Ship(s): Gen!!!!!!

Characters (lee/ler): Lee!Ford,Mabel,Dipper,Stan, Ler!Ford,Mabel,Dipper,Stan

Word Count: 1720 words

Summary: Dipper and Mabel complete their mission, distracting Great Uncle Ford, with flying colors. Unfortunately for them (and for Stan), Ford knows how to fight back.

[ao3 link]

ALSO: warnings for some light angst in the beginning because apparently i can’t write Ford as not angsty lol

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Ford sighed as he watched Stanley go, that lost, desperate look still in his eyes. He really didn’t know what to do to help him at this point, and that hurt more than Ford had been prepared for.

It seemed that he just kept failing people.

He started this whole thing. He came to Gravity Falls in the first place. He brought Bill into this world. He was foolish and naive and power-hungry enough to listen to Bill’s lies. He built the portal Bill wanted, not considering the dangers. And he failed to protect his family, Stan especially.

And now his own brother could barely remember him.

Ford forced himself out of his thoughts as he moved toward the refrigerator. He said he’d make breakfast, so that’s what he’d do. Eggs could be easy enough, maybe even omelettes? Or perhaps pancakes, they were probably easy, right? They were just flour and eggs… and maybe they had some sugar in them? He’d figure it out.

He let out a bitter smile as happy, childish laughter rang out from the attic. Stan was a far better great-uncle than he was, even with his lapses in memory. It wasn’t really all that surprising to Ford.

Ford hadn’t really made all that much effort to be good with the kids, after all. Yet another failure of his.

He continued to struggle with breakfast, his bowl of pancake batter looking more like foaming grey sludge than anything edible. It seemed his multitudes of knowledge didn’t extend to cooking. He was debating starting over, maybe trying to actually find a recipe somewhere in this old shack, when he heard tiny footsteps thundering down the stairs.

“Great Uncle Ford!” Twin voices rang out.

Ford turned away from the counter, plastering a smile on his face that was probably more of a grimace. Dipper and Mabel slid into the kitchen on socked feet, giddy and giggling. A far cry from the tear-streaked faces he saw when he checked on them at night, making sure they were still there and alive, and finding them curled together in one of their tiny twin beds, clearly shaken by nightmares.

“Hello, kids,” he said. “You’re rather awake for the early hour.”

Mabel gave him a mischievous grin. “We’ve been tasked with distracting you.”

Ford furrowed his brow. “What--”

The two launched themselves at him and Ford’s eyes went wide in shock. He reached out to catch them so that they wouldn’t slip and hit the floor (tile floor and heads did not mix, Ford remembered that well from tussling with Stanley back in the day), but in doing so he overbalanced himself, toppling backwards and taking the kids down with him.

Before he could even begin to process what had just happened, and just what Mabel had meant by distracting him, he had two tiny bodies on top of him, pressing him into the tile. They had matching devilish grins focused on him, and Ford wondered what the hell Stanley had told them, and whether or not he needed to get up and run.

“Grunkle Stan told us about a monster that you might not have in your journals,” Dipper said, leaning forward.

Ford scrunched his face up in confusion. Was this just a distraction, as they said, or was Dipper telling the truth? Just as he opened his mouth to ask for clarification, Mabel leaned forward as well.

“Yeah, yeah! It’s such a cool monster, too! You know what it is?”

Ford shook his head, playing along. “No, what is this monster?” Perhaps if he placated them, he could get back to making breakfast before Stanley came back down and saw his pitiful progress.

Dipper and Mable exchanged an evil glance and grinned down at him. They raised their hands, fingers shaped in claws and wiggling wildly, and Ford felt a spark of recognition run through him. His eyes widened before they even answered.

“The Tickle Monster!” They shouted in unison.

And then, before he could even blink or think to defend himself, he had four tiny hands wiggling into all sorts of sensitive places. Ford tossed his head back against the tile and snickered quietly, trying to keep the worst of his laughter in. He couldn’t let two children best him!

But Mabel’s fingernails were wreaking havoc on the nerves of his ribs and neck, and Dipper’s fingertips digging into his sides and stomach weren’t serving him much better. He forgot how uncoordinated he got when he was tickled, not having been subjected to it since before Stanley got kicked out when they were younger. His hands were flailing everywhere, unable to latch onto either twin and save himself from their playful torture.

“No no no, you’re doing it all wrong,” a voice called out from the entryway. 

Ford felt a mix of dread, excitement, and anticipation fill his belly when he saw Stanley standing there. It only grew when he saw the spark of recognition in his eyes as he stalked closer.

“You gotta do it like this,” Stanley told the kids, and unceremoniously stuffed his hands into Ford’s armpits, scribbling away.

Ford howled, curling in on himself as best he could with two almost-teens still sitting on top of him and Stan looming over top of them all. He cackled madly and he could feel the tears building up in his eyes the longer the playful torment went on. It was so embarrassing, so humiliating, so…

Fun.

It felt kind of nice to let loose and laugh like he was, something he hadn’t done in a long time. The fingers driving him insane left him with no chance to overthink things as he usually did. All he could do was laugh and squirm and gasp for air.

The tickling abruptly halted and Ford sucked in a much-needed breath. He was naive to think it was over, however, because Stanley only grabbed his wrists and pinned them above his head before grinning at the kids. A nervous, playful, fluttering feeling filled his stomach, and he shot a look down at the kids.

“Have at it,” Stanley said.

Dipper and Mabel laughed before darting forward, burying their hands into his armpits. Ford was lost to his hysteria once more, only this time it was worse. His hands were pinned, he could even pretend like he was trying to defend himself from their dancing fingers, and he was too weak from laughter to tug his hands back.

Just when Ford was finally reaching his limit, he tilted his head back and made teary eye-contact with Stanley. Stanley gave him a smirk and a wink before releasing his wrists and setting Ford free.

Ford shot up, still laughing, and tackled Dipper and Mabel to the ground, careful to cushion their fall and avoid any injuries.

“Do you know what’s even worse than a Tickle Monster?” He asked, voice hoarse from the laughter his vocal cords were no longer used to.

Dipper and Mabel were giggling and squirming, clearly having picked up on where this was going, but neither made an attempt to escape. They shook their heads.

Ford raised his hands, fingers curled threateningly into claws, just as they had done to him. “A six-fingered Tickle Monster.”

Dipper and Mable squealed as his hands darted forward, the two soon lost to childish shrieks and cackles as he tickled away. The wide grin still hadn’t left Ford’s lips, even as his cheeks and eyes began to dry from his own mirthful tears. He even let out a few more chuckles at particularly silly sounds the kids made.

Maybe he wasn’t such a failure with them, after all.

But there was still one thing missing from their morning full of laughter. Ford turned around, slowing his ticklish assault on the kids, searching out Stanley. He stood at the counter, a new mixing bowl in front of him, making something that looked a lot closer to pancake batter than Ford’s attempt was.

Oh well, can’t win them all.

“Don’t think you’re off the hook,” Ford growled playfully.

Stanley froze, his body tense, and he slowly turned around to face Ford, a nervous smile spreading across his lips. His hands were raised in surrender, and he looked ready to bolt at any moment.

“You were just so sad this morning,” Stanley tried to reason with him, “I thought the kids could help cheer you up.”

Ford raised an eyebrow. “If I remember correctly, you were rather melancholy earlier, as well.”

They stared each other down, trapped in their little stand-off as Dipper and Mabel giggled quietly behind Ford. Then, Stanley tried to bolt, but Ford was much faster, the two of them crashing to the floor in no time. He quickly got Stanley pinned underneath him.

“Any last words?”

Stanley scowled (though Ford could see the amusement dancing in his eyes, so he wasn’t too worried), but Ford never actually gave him the chance to speak. He dug his fingers in, skittering around with no rhyme or reason as he mentally catalogued Stanely’s tickle spots. Eventually, he settled on Stanley’s ribs, the left side, the second rib from the top (that always used to get him screaming), as well as the little patch of skin on the right side on Stanley’s stomach, just a couple inches under his ribcage (that always used to get him begging for mercy). Stanley yelled and burst out into wild laughter, shoving at Ford’s hands but being too weak to stop him.

“You little--” Stanley started to yell through his laughter, but Ford cut him off.

“Ah ah ah, there are children present, Stanley.”

Stanley only cackled louder. Though that could have also been due to the fact that Ford had upped his tickling.

But speak of the devil and he shall appear, for the kids chose that moment to again make themselves known. Dipper attached himself to Ford’s back, shoving his hands into Ford’s armpits and clumsily tickling away. Mabel, on the other hand, launched herself into Stanley’s chest and started scribbling away at his stomach and sides.

Alright, Ford thought. The kids want a tickle fight? I’ll give them a tickle fight. And he dove back into the fray.

Needless to say, breakfast soon became brunch and the Shack was filled with laughter for a long time to come.

[drivingsideways]

Hey talk to me about your top three favourite kdrama women. What makes them special? What's a fic you would like to write about any one of them?

Mystery anon! :D What a lovely ask. 

I’m going to cheat a bit and divide my answer into characters I loved a lot, but do not want to write fic about, because I think the canon gives me what I need; and characters that I loved a lot but NEED TO BE RESCUED ZOMG.  (My fic writing impulses are 50% spite and 50% fix-it )

Caveat being that I’ve still watched only maybe a dozen kdramas, so I’m pretty limited in my knowledge!

Characters that I love a lot, but have very zero fic impulses toward:

Han Yeo-jin from Stranger/Secret Forest: What a delight! What an iconique character! Is there anyone like her? NO. LSY-nim gives us a delightfully complex character, and Bae Doona knocks it out of the park in every single scene, so I’m just happy to be along for the ride. I think what makes Yeo-jin special for me is the intrinsic place of empathy that she operates from.  I think “righteous” is a word that often comes with negative connotations (self-righteous, for eg), but I do think she’s one of the most righteous-in-the-good-way characters I’ve watched in kdrama or any drama. I’m tired of stories that portray goodness as “boring” , as unworthy of narrative breadth or depth, and I love that Han Yeo-jin comes to us like a breath of fresh air in our particular dystopian narratives hellscape. She’s good, but never naive. She’s righteous but never cruel in her moral certainties.  I think that LSY nim, in the second season especially, gave Yeo-jin the kind of arc that character deserved when she’s forced to really dig deep into herself to figure out how she’s going to live in the world in the face of a deeply cutting, deeply personal disillusionment, and I’m really hoping for an S3 to see how that plays out further. 

Goo Hae-ryung from Rookie Historian: Ok, I will admit this may be rose tinted glasses view due to this show being my gateway drug into kdrama, but c’mon! She’s a reader! and a Thinker! And loves her wine! She’s plucky! She’s cute! She’s got a wry sense of humour! She’s got principles! She’s got a solid common sense to her that somehow doesn’t get in the way of her dreaming BIG! Oh dear, doesn’t she sound like the Mary-est of Mary Sues? Good for her.gif,  I say! Anyways, Shin Se-kyung is unutterably charming in this (AS IN EVERY SHOW OMG GIRL) and I just have a huge fondness for free-spirited heroines who get to tramp through the narrative changing the world as they do! 

Lee Ji-an from My Ahjussi: I’ve never had my heart broken more OR restored by any single character. IU is *phenomenal * in this, I think she really stepped up to what the script demanded from her. Ji-an’s weariness, her fear and vulnerability, her prickliness, her anger and her bitterness, and how, despite everything, she fights : GOD. Just. Again, what I love about the writing in this show is that it’s deeply empathetic without being cloyingly sentimental. I think a less, hmm, imaginative writer/PD might have focused on the Lee Ji-an the victim, and while the show definitely tells you in no uncertain terms that she is one,  of both circumstances and a cruel society, I think it refuses to take away her agency over her own life.(Lee Ji-an when we meet her is too busy hanging onto life by tooth and claw to indulge in self-pity, but we also see the toll it takes on her not to be able to say “this is too heavy a burden for me to carry myself and it isn’t my fault”; the show I think approaches Dong-hoon from the opposite side- his emotional isolation is partly a result of his own choices, but he doesn’t see it yet, and so his journey is also about letting people in and sharing the burden, but also recovering his own agency over his life. It’s an interestingly gender-bent arc, which is one of the things I love about this show. )

Ok, can I please add one more?

Hwang Han-joo from Melo is my Nature: She just felt SO real to me. She’s someone who doesn’t have the spectacular brilliance of either Jin-joo or Eun-jung, and struggles with accepting her limitations but not allowing herself to be defeated by them? I love her struggles as a mother, as a working woman in a sexist industry, a woman who’s perhaps having to rethink and reimagine what she wants from romance. I love that she’s a little silly, a lot kind, and an optimist, and just. I just think she’s the bravest of the three, tbh, and I LOVE HER AND I WOULD WATCH A SPIN OFF ABOUT JUST HER (i shouldn’t have faves among the three i know, BUT I DO, IT’S HER, IT’S HER.)

Ok! On to the next section! And I’m going to cheat again because I can’t stop at three. SORRY. NOT SORRY. 

Characters I love and SHOULD write fic for if I weren’t such a tired and lazy bunny:  

Song Sa-hui from Rookie Historian: Oh, girl, girl, GIRL. I love how she fights to snatch her freedom from the jaws of the patriarchy. I love that she unapologetically centers herself while doing that, because she knows that nobody else will.  I love that she’s prickly and calculating. I love that she’s smart and knowledgeable. I am SO HAPPY that she got to carve out a little bit of freedom for herself, even if it also is exile to some degree. She *should * be Emperor Jin’s Prime Minister and steering the ship of state, while also carrying on a tumultous affair with Queen Min Woo-hee, while ALSO commiserating with Emperor Jin about his boyfriend Historian Min Woo-won’s regrettable tendency towards Principles (TM) and masochism-but-not-in-the-fun-way. (This takes up much of his time which is why Song Sa-hui is running the country, of course. It works out well for all concerned, well, except her dad, of course.)

Song Ga-gyeong from Search:WWW: What’s NOT to love about our brilliant, beautiful, emotionally tortured gay icon? Nothing, absolutely nothing. I loved how the show allowed her to be flawed and make bad decisions, and then allowed her to make better decisions and regain control of her life. What I do need to do, of course, is see the CANON LOVE STORY between her and Cha Hyeon through to the end. It must, of course, include at least one baseball game, a lot of tequila and messy beach kisses. 

Oh Ji-hwa from Beyond Evil: Oh boy, this year’s runaway hit cleared the extremely low bar for standard crime/ thriller shows by leaving more than one of its female characters breathing and with all limbs intact, and got called feminist for it BUT it didn’t do justice to any of them in any meaningful way and that never hurt more than in the way they sidelined Kim Shin-rok’s talent by not giving Oh Ji-hwa anything much to do. She’s a tough as nails cop, a loving sister, a devoted but unsentimental friend-and by rights SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE HEROINE OF THIS SHOW. My secret fic fantasy is to rewrite the show entirely by making her , and the two other female characters in non-antagonist roles- Yoo Jae-yi and Im Sun-nyeo- as the central characters, as they investigate a serial killer who targets women.  It’s the only acceptable version of this done-to-death (ha!) genre, I have no idea what the Baeksang jury and tumblr fandom is smoking when they hype the show so much, I want none of it. 

Jung Sun-ah from The Devil Judge: I love her rage, her spite, her passionate defense of women, her style, her sexiness, her rage, her rage, her brilliance, her tenaciousness, her smartness, her clothes, her refusal to hate herself for everything she is and chooses to be, her ambition, her comfort wielding power, her EVERYTHING. Dead, her? NOT IF I HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT IT. Here’s what *really * happened at the end of canon- she gets out of the building by planting that lady-like but still deadly gun against Kang Yo-han’s temple and making him lead her through his own “secret escape route” or whatever the fuck it was the show wanted us to believe. From there on out, it’s all sunshine and beaches, and scheming and waiting for the right moment to strike again-though of course, this time around, she also has to reckon with vigilant, tenacious cop Soo-hyun -another character who REALLY didn’t die for manpain reasons and had the good sense to leave her gay best friend to follow his psychopath boyfriend to Switzerland or wherever it is that star crossed lovers in kdrama land meet up on the regs these days- anyways, Soo-hyun and her are in this catch-me-if-you-can epic transnational honest and cute cop-and-beautiful sexy villain chase and yes, they WILL kiss (and more) AND IT WILL BE GLORIOUS. 

*whew *

Thanks for coming to my TEDTalk.

[perse-persecution]

more dream smp skin symbolism

I can go on and on about this, and so I will! I’ve already talked about how Tommy, Sam, Dream, and Quackity have skins that highlight who they are, especially in the prison. But it’s not just them that have this, it’s almost everyone in the SMP!

Some characters have stayed fully human throughout the SMP, never gaining wings or scars or anything that was permanent, like Tommy or Tubbo, or even Niki, really. There are others too! (Tubbo really was just hurt emotionally, he stayed human even though he made bad choices, and never really went too far[I’m counting Ghostbur as a human even though he was see-through because it’s Ghostbur. His skin is a ghost.]) And some characters have inhuman traits like wings (this is only Phil but y’know) or horns, or they just don’t have any human attributes on them except for their faces.

And some just have glasses that hide their faces, or roses that change color. Or a mask!

Niki- You might call me out, saying that ‘Niki wanted to murder Tommy with Jack and has no inhuman traits, so your idea is flawed!’ but Niki got over it. Niki is baking again, Jack burned his house down. Niki may not be Tommy, but she’s never gained horns or covered her face.

Jack- Jack has his headset and that comes with glasses, and that hides his eyes. That’s what makes him inhuman to me, and we never see his eyes. He’s always hidden from everyone, even slightly, and he’s not human. His response to Tommy’s death is great and very human, celebrating and then realizing it really wasn’t what he wanted-but then again, he still clawed his way back from hell through pure spite and anger. That is not human.

Eret- Eret has glasses as well, hiding their face, and that plays well into the ‘never meant to be’ bit, but might not work in the long run, but it still does! Eret is still lost in the past, really, trying to make up for it. He’s built a museum and wrote books upon books and apologized so many times, but the glasses are her way of keeping the betrayal with them, always reminding them of the fact. They aren’t human, they’re still trying to make up for battles long gone through keeping the past from being long-gone, and such they are the past.

Hannah- Hannah definitely isn’t human, the roses on her arms changing colors and being attached to her being the main reasons why, though there is still some symbolism even with that. With the Egg, Hannah tried to fix the egg with roses, taking stacks and stacks with her. She tried to give them to it, and was trapped in a hole. The symbolism here is that Hannah uses nature to fix her problems, and fixes the nature that’s wrong (fixing the server!!) and adds to it in ways that pleases her (all the red roses). She tries to fix everything with them, and when they all turn against her she goes with them into the Egg’s control.

Badboyhalo- The devil skin is a bit literal, considering the events of the Egg, but it still works before that too! Bad’s always been the ‘devil’ to Tommy and maybe Quackity I guess, shouting at them when they curse and never playing into some bits. But when the Egg takes control, the red accents on his skin turn white, and that shows that he feels like he’s doing the right thing, that it’s all to help Skeppy, but the devil skin shows that’s it’s not, and he’s the real devil here.

Skeppy- Speaking of Skeppy, he’s always been just a diamond with a derpy face, and that sums up everything that Skeppy did before the Egg perfectly. He’s bright and pretty sharp, in some ways, but but still hilarious and comedic to a fault. Diamond with a derpy face. But then the egg came along, and one, changed his skin from blue to red, and two, got rid of the highlights that made the diamond itself pop. There’s much, much more red on him that any of the server members, Ant, Ponk, and Punz just getting red eyes, and Bad having none at all, the red on him turning white. It makes sense for Skeppy, the one with the most red, to be the most under the Egg’s control, and for Bad, who has no red, to be angry at Skeppy, later, for spending so much time with it. But the highlight removal made Skeppy look just like the Egg. Made him pretty much just fade into it, become one with it. The derpy face is still there, though, symbolizing Bad’s hope for the blue Skeppy to come back, though the rest of Skeppy seems to symbolize the opposite.

Technoblade- Techno has always been an anarchist in royals garb, and throughout everything on the server it shows that he has one goal (anarchy) and he will do everything to get it, even be used as a tool and ‘just as the blade’ (the Red Banquet) (also being in royals garb). He’s inhuman because though he has had character development, from mocking Quackity at his execution setup even though it was, like, his execution setup, to complimenting Sam on the prison, even though he knew it was a trap. Even though he claims to be closed off, he’s become such great friends with Ranboo and cares too much about Carl and his wolves than he says he does. He calls Dream a sentimentalist, but even though he knew he would be getting out of the prison, he still gave hope to Dream by means of the toilet. That shows another part of his inhuman-ness. He’s a pig. Pigs are friendly, sensitive, and intelligent, according to Google, and this fits Techno well. He tries to give hope to Dream, was friends with Tommy, is friends with Phil, Ranboo, and Niki, and that goes into the next bit. Sensitive. Technoblade is very sensitive to being used just as the blade, and it goes vice versa as well. He was genuinely touched when the Syndicate through him a birthday party and Ranboo gave him the new axe to replace his last one. He’s also very intelligent, using a Totem to get out of death and collecting mass amounts of withers ‘just for decoration...for now’.

Ranboo- Ranboo is pretty easy, like c’mon. Enderwalk and Ranboo, the white side and the black side. Easy. BUT WAIT. THERE’S MORE. The white side is more commonly as the friendly side (even though enderwalk is just Ranboo with different motivations) and yet the white side has a red eye, a color that literally gets people riled up. It shows that even when Ranboo is not in Enderwalk, he’s not happy-go-lucky. There’s something dangerous with him, and Wilbur picked up on this! He didn’t want to talk to Ranboo, comparing him to ‘the weird neighbor kid’ who ‘had something in his basement’ and was ‘going to put a spatula right through my skull!’. There’s something off about Ranboo even when he’s not Enderwalking, and that’s shown by his red eye and what people like to refer to as tear scars on that side of his face (even though the enderman side would be the one burned by it) But speaking of Enderwalk, the black side has a green eye, Tubbo’s color, and the color that is used as friendship a lot. It shows that, for Ranboo, Enderwalk isn’t some evil being, he isn’t plotting to kill people, he might be meeting with Dream, but so was Techno! And he’s not inherently evil. And Wilbur adores Dream! And Ranboo stated that he wasn’t inherently evil. Enderwalk is just Ranboo with different motivations. He was Enderwalking through the whole Disc War finale, holding his fourth book, but made no move to help Dream-but he made no move to help Tommy and Tubbo. (Enderchest was also in Dream’s possession vault, so Ranboo obviously wasn’t fully trustworthy to Dream) He stared up at Dream as he rose to go to prison, but that was it. And Enderwalk Ranboo was also at the Banquet! He was holding an axe at some point (maybe when the lava came down, I can’t remember) but he never interfered. He was just up on the balcony. Ranboo wouldn’t interfere either, he’d be to scared too, he’s a people pleaser. Techno, Quackity, and Purpled aren’t. Enderwalk isn’t Ranboo in what he does, as Ranboo doesn’t really remember it, but they are the same in their reasonings and how and when they would do something.

Phil- Phil had wings in the first moments when he joined the server, and then protected Wilbur with them and so they were damaged. Phil had a very warped idea of what had gone on before he came through Wilburs lies, and I feel his inhuman-ness spans from that, and the fact the he kept that warped idea and went too far with it. He thought that Wilbur didn’t want L’manburg to exist, because he thought that Wilbur won the election, and so even after he was dead, and after the whole Butcher Army, Phil’s instinct (as well as Techno’s) was to just blow it up, get rid of it, because that was what his son wanted and it would send a message to the people. He said himself, to Jack, that he started blowing up countries when he was forced to kill his own son, but he could have stepped away there, because Wilbur really wasn’t the constant in the situation. Wilbur hadn’t chosen to blow up the country because he didn’t like it anymore, he was going to blow it up because Schlatt ruined it for him, and that Phil didn’t understand. That’s why he’s inhuman, since he chose to kill Wilbur, he wasn’t forced. Phil’s gone against peer pressure and orders before when he saw that they were wrong, and that was also by a relative, Fundy. He loopholed his way out of house arrest, he could have jumped away from Wilbur, or just put him in stone so he wouldn’t die. He’s inhuman because he made choices that were because of events that didn’t exist, because he was living in an alternate world, really.

Wilbur- Wilbur doesn’t have inhuman features. A clear face, no scars, and a beanie. His jacket and morals have rotted in the dark, but he’s still pretty human, though his opinions on Dream and L’manburg change every second. The white streak in his hair is supposed to represent stress, I think, and well, it’s Wilbur. He made a fancy revolutionary outfit and never washed it once, because he was too devoted to L’manburg to let go of it, or anything connected to it, for a single second. Then came Pogtopia, where he ditched everything in favor of clothes that blended in with the cave walls. He insulted the revolutionary outfit, and kept the trench coat until he died. Then, Revivebur had the bandage across his arm because he ran to the train too fast, showing how desperate Wilbur was to get out from death. He’s changed so much, and his changes are real, unlike Dream’s, as Dream has kept the same skin, but Wilbur hasn’t. He’s changed physically, and has gotten more and more torn outfits every time.

Ponk- He has a face mask that hides everything but his eyes, and I feel that shows his way of making sure you never know if he’s joking about something or not. He joked about how much time Sam spent with him, even though Sam hated the egg, and still tried to keep a keycard even after Sam was going to chop of his arm (and did so) for them. He has a chaotic nature to everyone, trying to prank Foolish right now and wearing red contacts only so the Eggpire would leave him alone. He made a Road Trip joke as his toast at the Banquet, and it was totally in character! His mouth being hidden makes it so that he can be joking and you’ll never see it coming.

Schlatt- The-the guy has horns. He’s a goat. Loud, (the EMPEROR of the GREAT NATION) cross eyed, (Schlatt is drunk for his introduction and his death, he is totally cross eyed). I’ve also seen people put him down as a ram, and that reckless ‘they want me to get them president, I’ll be my OWN president!’ and then tearing down the walls, executing Wilbur and Tommy, things that were so surprising and came out of nowhere they just about-they jus-they just rammed into us head on! He’s inhuman because he wants to be powerful (the BIg Man Gym) and wants to use the people around him to show his power, and is so reliant on them that he has no power at all.

Fundy- He’s a fox, and ha been compared as a ‘backbiter’ and ‘foxheart’ many times, and while those are viable ways to go, other parts on his skin, earlier, show some other things. In L’manburg, Fundy was the only person who had a different outfit from the others (at that time) and didn’t get any position in L’manburg at the end of the war, just being called Wilbur’s ‘little champion’. He had a crayon suit, and wasn’t respected by Wilbur at all, and when Schlatt came along and finally seemed to recognize him as someone who was valuable, Fundy shed the revolutionary garb quick, burning and building and leaving Niki quick as well. He might not be constantly switching his skin, like Wilbur, but after L’maburg he never was on aside for long enough to get a uniform other than L’manburg, his regular skin, and the aprons for the Butcher Army. He’s a fox that switches boat, and that makes him inhuman because everyone else is firmly on a side, against sides as a whole, or the thing everyone hates and is on his own side (Which is Dream).

Karl- Karl is very human, as he has a funky sweater and a normal human skin. But that skin changes when he gets back from time travelling, and when he is in the Tales. He’s like a chameleon, his skin fitting the environment in the Tales and the Inbetween, but the important bit is that when he gets back to the present he’s a very bright, multicolored blob. In the Inbetween he has an all white skin, in the Other Side it’s all black, and in the Masquerade specifically he kept to blues and purples, I think, as those were the colors his mask was. Him being a chameleon in the Tales also fits well with how he just fits right into the story, like an added fisherman, or a cameraman, or just another guest-the only ones he doesn’t fit in with are the ones that are closely tied with the real present. The Haunted mansion had Connor and Glatt in it, and Karl really just interrupted their fun. In The City That Went Mad, Karl was the narrator, and The City That Went Mad has been mentioned SO many times, Quackity being a descended from Helga and Ponk being descended from Jack the potato farmer. In the present, Karl stayed with Schlatt through the Pogtopia era after being the judge of the debate, and I have no idea why other than because he didn’t know what to do.

Purpled- Purpled is pretty much implied to be an alien, but for all skin measures he looks perfectly human, ignoring that everything he wears, and his eye color, is purple. I like Purpled, and the fact that he switched sides the same way Punz did, and used almost the same words Punz did, but he’s still so much different and more human? In a way? Than Punz, in how he reacts to being called a hero by Foolish, or joining Pogtopia the second he was going to be killed, since Manburg didn’t line up to his ideals anyways. Purpled isn’t the hero, he’s really just a background character for most of the lore, coming up a couple of times, but he’s not really too important, and he and Quackity know this, Quackity used it against him to try and get him to join Las Nevadas! He tries his best to be a hero and always falls short, not being able to save Foolish, having to join Las Nevadas, and that’s what makes him inhuman, because he’s trying. He tries his best to be the good guy, unlike Tommy, really, right now. Tommy knew breaking into the prison to kill Dream wasn’t the right thing to do, he said it himself! Tommy said he didn’t want to be a hero in response to Techno, but he’s still the protagonist. Purpled is trying, and we’re starting now to see that in full, and see how inhuman he really is because it’s not paying off.

Punz- Punz is like Purpled, until he’s not. He was hired to Manburg to fight for Schlatt and he did! He did fight for Schlatt, and had no qualms with it. He betrayed Dream to help Tommy and Tubbo, and then joined the Egg. He’s not the most human character, despite looking it, and he’s quite inhuman in the fact that he’s never been the hero. He was bribed by Tommy to help give him pearls and blaze rods in the first disc skirmish, and now was bribed to save them from Dream one last time! Punz wouldn’t do that if Tommy hadn’t given him money, he would have stayed neutral, and I feel that shows his inhuman-ness.

I’ll be doing Puffy, Connor, Calahan (maybe), Alyssa (maybe), Antfrost, and others as well as some more analyses soon!

[shebeafancyflapjack]

Defrosting Grumpy Three (a Season 8 meta)

I keep thinking about how Season 8 of Classic Who is almost like the first one the show has to a ‘season long arc’ that I don’t feel gets talked about enough. Obviously everyone knows it as “the one where the Master is in every story” but I feel like there is a subtle character arc for the Doctor in this season as well which is tied to the two main characters introduced in the first episode; the Master and Jo Grant.

I’m not the first one to point out that out of Three’s five seasons; this is the one where he’s at his most grumpy and short-tempered. I know a lot of people point to this season as reasons for why they don’t like Three and I totally get that, he’s a real git sometimes, in particular the first and last stories. There are moments where he’s asking for a slap and, no, I’m not talking about him claiming to be buddies with Chairman Mao and a Tory MP. Because I would’ve thought it was obvious that he drops those names purely to gain trust of these people who don’t trust him (at least that’s my headcanon because it doesn’t fit with the anti-capitalist, anti-pollution, anti-imperialist writing). Just him being constantly ungrateful to the Brigadier, snapping at Jo, or just being childish in the most ‘kid throwing a tantrum’ way possible.

But it’s easy to get why. By Season 8 he’s been trapped on Earth for we can assume at least a year. New Who fans who’ve seen the Power of Three and saw how crazy Eleven went when he tried to stay on Earth to study the cubes just for a few days/weeks know the Doctor can’t stand staying still, especially in one time and place. In his first season he could be short-tempered but slightly less so. In Spearhead he’s quite polite and motivated, though that could be the most pleasant form of Post Regeneration Trauma he’s been through. Plus he had Liz, who you can see he immediately clicked with. A fellow genius who finds herself out of place or treated a little unfairly as a female scientist surrounded by men, both of them willing to sass the Brigadier when he deserves it. He also still keeps trying to fix the TARDIS, as if convinced this won’t be as permanent as the Time Lords intended.

But by Season 8 (or you could say even before that, in Inferno) his attempts clearly haven’t succeeded past slipping into a terrifying parallel universe, and now cabin fever is setting in. And Liz, his science bud, has gone off and left. And while it’s sad we didn’t get a goodbye between the two of them, her passing remark towards the Brigadier about the Doctor just needing someone to pass him test tubes and fill his praise kink maybe implies that, at least from Liz’ POV, they weren’t as equals as Three thought, or she didn’t feel that fulfilled working with him, even if she did appreciate him as a friend. 

So enter Jo to replace Liz, who is everything Liz wasn’t. Liz had to study and work her way to her position; Jo is a spoiled girl who got to play spy by sheer nepotism. She failed A level science and doesn’t have the same sharp-wit he and Liz shared. Three is mean to her even before she introduces herself as his assistant when she only tries to help, and doesn’t hide his disappointment when she tells him. Perhaps it might also be that she reminds him of his companions before Liz; she’s cute and perky like Zoe and also loyal and determined like Jamie, even though she lacks Jamie’s physical strength and Zoe’s genius. Still, she’s young and he might not want to put her in danger the same way he nearly lost his previous young companions many times in the War Games.

When Three goes to the Brigadier to try to get rid of Jo, the Brig is far more smug than in the previous season, as he seems to have worked the Doctor out by this point. Their little moment at the end of Inferno where Three insults him and tries to escape only to then come back with his tail between his legs acting all buddy has shown him who Three really is; that this whole grumpy shtick of this is just a defence mechanism while he’s so out of his depth. I like to think the Brig hoped Jo would soften him up, to bring out the compassion that was more overt in his previous incarnation, as well as just pass him test tubes and keep tabs on him. His knowing smile when he watches Three try and fail miserably to fire her seems to prove his point.

In the same story we also have the Master showing up for the very first time. He was created to be the ‘Moriarty to the Doctor’s Holmes’. These kind of ‘foil enemies’ that pop up in so many stories, where you have a villain who is supposed to be a perfect match in intelligence or skill to the hero, are more often than not presented as ‘what the hero could have been’ if they chose to be evil rather than good; the Master is no different. And even though it’s not established until the next season that the Doctor and Master used to be friends, there’s clearly an underlining fondness in their banter which hints at past feelings as well as mutual respect. It says quite a lot that Three is more relaxed and friendly during his conversations with the Master half the time they talk than he is with the humans he’s meant to be saving, or even his own close friends. Because, for all their moral disagreements, the Master is his own kind and his only link - other than his broken TARDIS - to the rest of the Universe. 

In almost every story of S8, after the Master has revealed his evil scheme only for the Doctor to point out how it will backfire on him, they have to work together or form some kind of alliance of convenience. In Claws of Axos, the Doctor outright pretends to betray his friends and elope join forces with the Master to escape, only for it to be a trick in order to defeat the Axons. But considering Three’s attitude in this season, it’s a very convincing act as much to the audience as to the humans. And then in Colony in Space, the Master offers the Doctor half-ownership of the Universe....and the Doctor clearly hesitates! Yes, the Master tempts him with the persuasion of ruling ‘in the name of good’ but Three has to take a moment to remember what a slippery slope that line of thinking is. He’s so tired of being trapped, sick of being leashed by the Time Lords, that the Master comes along as a devil on his shoulder at his most vulnerable point. Considering the last story involves the Master summoning the actual Devil (or close enough) and is also where Three’s temper seems to be at its peak seems all too fitting.

It’s also interesting that the Master’s greatest fear that appears in the Mind of Evil is an image of the Doctor laughing maniacally over him. It’s the closest we get to an image of Dark!Three in the show. To contrast; the Doctor’s greatest fear isn’t the Master, it’s the eruption from Inferno. Seeing the Earth swallowed by flame - not because of an outside force like the Daleks or Cybermen, but by humans themselves. It’s easy to imagine him wondering why he even bothers with them when they’re their own worst enemy.

(Side note; apparently the Evil Overlord in the Inferno parallel world IS the Third Doctor, according to the Expanded Universe, though I haven’t read up on this. We were robbed of seeing Pertwee play an evil Doctor.)

So while this is going on and the Master is playing his games with the Doctor while also tempting him, intentionally or not, to the ‘dark side’, we also have Jo at his side. And Jo takes all of the Doctor’s snapping and mood swings like a pro, and is very quickly overwhelmed with a lot of the stuff she’s faced which that she didn’t know she was signing up for - being hypnotised, captured by aliens, taken to alien worlds in the far future etc. She screams as most companions did at that time, but because it is what you would expect from a girl fresh out of school and throwing herself into something she clearly didn’t properly prepare for. The Doctor has to save her a lot, more than often because she tried to help only to get herself captured. As much as he does warm to her - because he’s not immune to how adorable she is - it serves to prove his point. Even when he finally gets to leave Earth for a day, she’s too frightened to want to leave the TARDIS. What good is she to him?

Now she continues to prove she has her uses. She has her escapology skills which get them out of a few tight spots. Depending on the writer, she can turn into an Emma Peel-esque agent capable of self-defence and subterfuge. And she’s always patient with the Doctor, no matter what mood he’s in, and extremely loyal. She’s also kind and compassionate with every side character she comes across. There seems to have been a backlash to these kinds of qualities in female characters in the past twenty years or so, what I like to call the Cinderella critique, where if a woman is kind and generous more so than smart, sassy and sword-wielding she’s seen as ‘weak’. Jo is always there at the Doctor’s side when he’s managed to get hurt or knocked out (Three took a lot of naps, anyone else notice this?). Even after he does whisk her away to another planet and nearly don’t make it back, she could easily throw her job away if it was too much, but she sticks with it because you can see that she wants more than anything to be useful and do good for her world - it would be another two season until she found what her own passion was with being an environmental activist but this is where she wants to start.

But it’s not until the end of S8 that we see Jo’s greatest strength and how it saves Three when every other defence he had was gone. He’s spent most of that story chastising her for believing in magic and superstition, as well as anything else he can find to snap at her for like criticising the Brigadier even though he does the same thing all the damn time (this could be seen as a ‘I can insult my bro but you can’t’ moment but it’s still not pleasant). But when he learns the Master is preparing to sacrifice her, he runs in to save her despite knowing it’s a suicide mission. He also gives a cold exchange to the Master when told he’s a ‘doomed man’. 

Oh I’m a dead man! I knew that as soon as I walked through those doors so you better watch out! I have nothing to lose, do I?

It’s a telling line that, behind all his patronising and abruptness, he’s reached a point he doesn’t feel he has anything left to keep going. He’s lost his freedom and his knowledge of time travel; but he’ll die before letting Jo die or letting the Earth burn again. When Azal claims the daemons gave humans knowledge, Three responds: Finally he’s turning his anger on the one who deserves it to save the one who has been his friend, even at his lowest points, for the past several months, while still showing his disappointment in what he’s seen of humans living amongst them:

You gave them knowledge to blow up the world and they most certainly will. They can poison the water and the very air they breathe. 

When Azal appears, he nearly makes the Master’s greatest fear come true by offering his power to the Doctor instead. And the Doctor looks horrified, immediately doing a Jon Snow and refusing it. Unlike when the Master offered him power before, he doesn’t hesitate for a moment, even though Azal’s powers could probably get his TARDIS working again in a snap. He looks almost scared at the thought of possessing something like that. Perhaps his dark persona in that other world became that way because he did take such an offer?

Azal prepares to kill the Doctor for refusing his offer, which is where Jo saves the day by offering her life for his. A lot of people dislike this ending for the idea of the villain being destroyed ‘by the power of love’ more or less, but this was a lot less common a deus ex machina as it is in New Who. The Doctor explains how it works when they’re free as:

Azal could not accept a fact as irrational and illogical as Jo being prepared to give up her life for me.

Three says it as he’s just as baffled, if also amused, by it as Azal was. Why would Jo give up her life for him? Compare that with when Ten has to give up his incarnation to save Wilf, how he rants that Wilf isn’t important but he has ‘so much more’ to give. Even the Doctor wrestles when it comes to sacrificing himself for others sometimes but Jo did it without a seconds thought, made even more illogical given Three’s often harsh treatment of her. But one thing that is obvious is that Three’s grumpy face is gone; he’s smiling for the rest of the episode, looking at Jo with quiet heart eyes, and letting her drag him into the maypole dance, conceding that she was right and there is ‘magic’ in the world. 

Much like Rose was the companion Nine needed after the Time War to enjoy seeing the Universe again and appreciating life, Jo serves a similar purpose in S8 in that she gradually reminds the Doctor through her actions of the strengths in being brave, kind and selfless. She and the rest of the UNIT family are there to remind him of the goodness in humanity and that we’re always learning and trying to improve; as Three says to Azal that ‘they need a chance to grow up’. Jo is the angel on his shoulder to contrast the Master as his personal devil; right down to having her dressed in the sacrificial ‘virgin’ garb opposite the Satanic Master to cap the season off.

Three still has his sour moments after this but he’s far less cantankerous going forward and sweeter towards Jo especially, praising her bravery and learning in future, just as Jo also grows more confident in her abilities and enjoys her adventures with him. He seems far more relaxed on Earth and less desperate to get away because of the people he has around him that make it worth staying around for. Three’s morals and loyalty to humanity might not have been so firm had Jo not been there to ground him, especially with the Master constantly there almost holding out a hand to him offering freedom and excitement. Like all good companions, she saves the Doctor as much as he has to save her, in more ways than one, which she doesn’t get nearly enough credit for. And it’s what adds to the heartbreak of her eventual exit because of the effect she had on his life.

It’s just one of my favorite tropes when a character gets better and softens or becomes kinder not because they had to ‘change for someone else’ but because they were inspired by them, especially if it’s the person they underestimated the most.

[mersuperwholocked-lowlife]

Prompt List

So, I decided to make an official prompt list. So, when I open requests, you can use a prompt from here, or just send me whatever you want. You can check out what I write before

1). “This is who I am, I know I’m a monster but I can’t change who I am.”

2.) “What’s a motto?” “I don’t know what’s the motto with you.”

3.) “How many fucking times do you think I’m going to let myself go through this again?”

4.) “Do you know what it’s like to go to bed every day to escape your demons only to find new ones haunting you?” 

5.) “Dude, that was crazy! I didn’t think that would work.” “Me neither.”

6.) “Are you sure I can’t punch him in the face?” “Yes“ “Damn it.”

7.) ”I don’t need your forgiveness, and I’m way past asking for your permission”

8.) “It hurts me that you can lie to me so easily. It hurts that you always lie to me. When can I have the truth? Is it too much to ask for?”

9.) “I’ve been telling her not to, it’s not my fault that she’s a prick and can’t do shit when she’s told to.”

10.) “Do you ever think about everything you’ve done in your life? How do you not hate yourself?

11.) “I’m not proud of much, but I’m proud of you.”

12.) “If you’re here, and he’s here, then who the hell is making all that ruckus in my bedroom?”

13.) “Please forgive me.”

14.) “Let her. Let her kill me. Let her hurt me. I deserve it.”

15.) “P-Please hold me.”

16.) “That is false.”

17.) “I-I can’t remember what I did yesterday or what I did today. I-I don’t know where I am.”

18.) “You were supposed to be my friend. You were supposed to be my family.”

19.) “Own up to who you are. Never let anyone shoot you down.”

20.) “As Sir Isaac Newton once said, ‘The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

21.) “I thought dragons came after virgins… so why aren’t they after you?”

22.) “Being insanely smart has its downs.”

23.) “You said you’ll always be there for me. You lied.”

24.) “Yes! I’m a real person! I have real people’s feelings!”

25.)  “It’s us, always and forever.”

26.) “I have to pick between the only people I’ve ever cared about, and whoever I don’t pick dies.”

27.) “Why are you always running away from me? I’m not that bad!” “You’re the devil in a white suit.”

28.) “Can we please stop this? W-We’s always fighting. I-I don’t even know what we’re fighting about.”

29.) “I hope you learned your lesson, next time I won’t be there to save your ass.” “W-What are you talking about? What do you mean you won’t be there?”

30.) “Eres un idiota.” “Did you just call me an idiot in Spanish?” “What?! I would never.”

31.) “But why does this matter? I can guarantee you that I’m never gonna use it.”

32.) “Doesn’t it bother you that we can never be normal?” “Maybe it did. But now, being different is better.” 

33.) “So, if you’re so good with kids, then where the hell is mine?” “That’s not fair.” “It’s your fault.”

34.) “I’m too tired to care.”

35.) “I don’t want to kill you. But I will. Because my family is more important. So again, leave. Now.”

36.) “Danger’s my last name!” “I thought it was (Y/L/N)?”

37.) “I-I can’t find anything of my meds. Not my anti-depressants, not my pain killers, not my anxiety meds. I-I can’t stop shaking.”

38.) “I have to write a 4-page long argumentative essay.” “Well, you are good at arguing.”

39.) “But you tried. That’s what counts. Not everything is a success.”

40.) “Ugh, it’s you again. Didn’t you die last year?” “No, that was fake.”

41.) “Don’t do that!”

42.) “You’re so stupid! I hate you and your stupid little face!”

43.) “What the hell?! You’re supposed to be taking an exam right now! What the hell are you doing here?!”

44.) “Did I stutter?”

 45.) “Let go of my pie. Now.”

46.) “You’re sneaking out, aren’t you?”

47.) “How many times must I tell you? No drinking before dark.

48.) “So, you have a metal arm? That’s exciting.”

49.) “Do you think that I’m gonna leave you? You’re stuck with me, with us forever, no matter how much you hate it.”

50.) “Uhm, am I going crazy, or do you also see that horse?”

51.) “You’re not who I thought you were. You’re better.”

52.) “Are you sure you two aren’t related?”

53.) “There are literal monsters, roaming the streets, and you’re telling me to stay calm?!”

54.) “I know this may be hard for you to believe, but there are ways to solve your problems, without violence.”

55.) “Well, I didn’t expect that.”

56.) “You look like you need a hug, kid. What’s on your mind?”

57.) “Please don’t! She’s a child!” “So what? Many children die every day, why should yours live?”

58.) “I said to blend in! Not dress like you just killed someone!”

59.) “You’re lying.” “That makes two of us

60.)” Well, this is awkward.”

61.) I uh, think I might be pregnant.”

62.) “Do you want me to kill somebody for you?”

63.) “I thought you were dead?” “Yeah, guess I was hell to put up with. Even for Hell.

64.) Prove it to me. Prove to me this world would be better without you. ‘Cuz it won’t. Let me show you how much you mean to me. To us. Just please, get down from there.”

65.) “Let me help you cook before you burn down my house.”

66.) “I’m not scared of you. You’re like a little puppy!”

67.) “I want you to come with me, not anyone else.”

68.) “Do you know each other?”

69.)   “I hate you.” “I know. But you need me.”

70.) “Isn’t it a beautiful day to create some chaos?”

71.) “I’m not drunk enough for this.”

72.) “Welcome to Vampire 101. Don’t get caught by hunters.”

73.) “Please don’t hurt them! They’ve done nothing wrong!”

74.) “I’m doing the best I can! I don’t know how to drive!”

75.) “I heard screaming, are you okay?”

76.) “Hey! Are you telling me I’m bad at my job!”

77.) “I really don’t care.”

78.) “I can’t remember. I wish I could.”

79.) “Watch your language!”

80.) “Hey, I can’t find the scissors, can we use your claws?”

81.) "Minutes. We only have minutes till it's too late.

82.) "Just be careful. I don't want a call at 3 AM from the hospital saying that you died.

83.) "What do you want?! I'm playing Mario Kart!"

84.) "There's a light at the end of the tunnel." "Yeah, it's called hellfire.

85.) "Who gives a rat's ass about Chemistry?!

86.) "Oh my god just your voice makes me wanna die!

87.) "Why the hell is there a 72-inch teddy bear on my bed?

88.) "None of us here have a life, so who the hell is texting you at 10 PM?

89.) "I just want it to end? Can't you just leave me to die?!"

90.) "Okay, he keeps giving me the evil eye."

91.) "I've been stabbed more times than days I've been alive."

92.) "Did you cut your hair?" "No, I got stabbed by a knife."

93.) "Please save me."

94.) "A shady ass mansion and 6 weird ass kids, what could go wrong?"

95.) "Oh my god they are dating! You owe me 5 bucks!"

96.) "No! There's something wrong with me, everyone always leaves me!"

97.) "Why is there a 5-year-old in your hands?"

98.) "Oh yeah, I'm pregnant."

99.) "So, I'm a witch, my dad's a hunter, and my mom's an evil coven leader. Talk about a messed up family."

100.) "You know what they say, the kindest one is the most broken one."

101.) "I've got all the time in the world for you."

102.) "I-I didn't kill him."

103.) "You're covered in blood."

104.) "Took years, but I finally have the courage to say it, I love you. Will you go out with me?"

105.) "Well, I'm never working at this coffee shop again."

106.) "I accidentally drank dish soap."

107.) "He's kinda hot."

108.) "Are you drunk? Again?"

109.) "I can feel myself, fading away."

110.) "Don't stray away from me, I love you."

111.) “It’s a hard life but I had you. And I’d never give up that.”

112.) “Don’t move! One wrong step and you’ll die!”

113.) “You are good enough. Don’t doubt yourself.”

114.) "Do you smell something burning?" "Dude, that's your hair."

115.) "I just feel so numb, a-all the time. S-So fucking numb."

116.) “He saved my life, (name). You keep saying everyone else doesn't forgive him. I know you’re the one who doesn't. Stop acting like you're the high and mighty merciful one. I’m going to find him, and you’re not gonna stop me,”

117.) "I love you, why are you pushing me away?"

118.) "Why is nothing I do good enough for you? Every time you look at me, it's like you're just staring at a steaming pile of disappointment. Why do you always think you're better than me?"

119.) "I-I know you're there. Just please let me out."

120.) "You're gonna kill me? With what, reckless driving?"

121.) I'm listening to you, I have been fucking listen to you!"

122.) "Know that you are good enough,"

123.) "I'm sorry that I was a dick. Just please, don't leave."

[teenwolffan-with-nolife]

Prompt List

Check out What I Write before requesting

1). “This is who I am, I know I’m a monster but I can’t change who I am.”

2.) “What’s a motto?” “I don’t know what’s the motto with you.”

3.) “How many fucking times do you think I’m going to let myself go through this again?”

4.) “Do you know what it’s like to go to bed every day to escape your demons only to find new ones haunting you?” 

5.) “Dude, that was crazy! I didn’t think that would work.” “Me neither.”

6.) “Are you sure I can’t punch him in the face?” “Yes“ “Damn it.”

7.) ”I don’t need your forgiveness, and I’m way past asking for your permission”

8.) “It hurts me that you can lie to me so easily. It hurts that you always lie to me. When can I have the truth? Is it too much to ask for?”

9.) “I’ve been telling her not to, it’s not my fault that she’s a prick and can’t do shit when she’s told to.”

10.) “Do you ever think about everything you’ve done in your life? How do you not hate yourself?

11.) “I’m not proud of much, but I’m proud of you.”

12.) “If you’re here, and he’s here, then who the hell is making all that ruckus in my bedroom?”

13.) “Please forgive me.”

14.) “Let her. Let her kill me. Let her hurt me. I deserve it.”

15.) “P-Please hold me.”

16.) “That is false.”

17.) “I-I can’t remember what I did yesterday or what I did today. I-I don’t know where I am.”

18.) “You were supposed to be my friend. You were supposed to be my family.”

19.) “Own up to who you are. Never let anyone shoot you down.”

20.) “As Sir Isaac Newton once said, ‘The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

21.) “I thought dragons came after virgins… so why aren’t they after you?”

22.) “Being insanely smart has its downs.”

23.) “You said you’ll always be there for me. You lied.”

24.) “Yes! I’m a real person! I have real people’s feelings!”

25.)  “It’s us, always and forever.”

26.) “I have to pick between the only people I’ve ever cared about, and whoever I don’t pick dies.”

27.) “Why are you always running away from me? I’m not that bad!” “You’re the devil in a white suit.”

28.) “Can we please stop this? W-We’re always fighting. I-I don’t even know what we’re fighting about.”

29.) “I hope you learned your lesson, next time I won’t be there to save your ass.” “W-What are you talking about? What do you mean you won’t be there?”

30.) “Eres un idiota.” “Did you just call me an idiot in Spanish?” “What?! I would never.”

31.) “But why does this matter? I can guarantee you that I’m never gonna use it.”

32.) “Doesn’t it bother you that we can never be normal?” “Maybe it did. But now, being different is better.” 

33.) “So, if you’re so good with kids, then where the hell is mine?” “That’s not fair.” “It’s your fault.”

34.) “I’m too tired to care.”

35.) “I don’t want to kill you. But I will. Because my family is more important. So again, leave. Now.”

36.) “Danger’s my last name!” “I thought it was (Y/L/N)?”

37.) “I-I can’t find anything of my meds. Not my anti-depressants, not my pain killers, not my anxiety meds. I-I can’t stop shaking.”

38.) “I have to write a 4-page long argumentative essay.” “Well, you are good at arguing.”

39.) “But you tried. That’s what counts. Not everything is a success.”

40.) “Ugh, it’s you again. Didn’t you die last year?” “No, that was fake.”

41.) “Don’t do that!”

42.) “You’re so stupid! I hate you and your stupid little face!”

43.) “What the hell?! You’re supposed to be taking an exam right now! What the hell are you doing here?!”

44.) “Did I stutter?”

 45.) “Let go of my pie. Now.”

46.) “You’re sneaking out, aren’t you?”

47.) “How many times must I tell you? No drinking before dark.

48.) “So, you have a metal arm? That’s exciting.”

49.) “Do you think that I’m gonna leave you? You’re stuck with me, with us forever, no matter how much you hate it.”

50.) “Uhm, am I going crazy, or do you also see that horse?”

51.) “You’re not who I thought you were. You’re better.”

52.) “Are you sure you two aren’t related?”

53.) “There are literal monsters, roaming the streets, and you’re telling me to stay calm?!”

54.) “I know this may be hard for you to believe, but there are ways to solve your problems, without violence.”

55.) “Well, I didn’t expect that.”

56.) “You look like you need a hug, kid. What’s on your mind?”

57.) “Please don’t! She’s a child!” “So what? Many children die every day, why should yours live?”

58.) “I said to blend in! Not dress like you just killed someone!”

59.) “You’re lying.” “That makes two of us

60.)” Well, this is awkward.”

61.) I uh, think I might be pregnant.”

62.) “Do you want me to kill somebody for you?”

63.) “I thought you were dead?” “Yeah, guess I was hell to put up with. Even for Hell.

64.) Prove it to me. Prove to me this world would be better without you. ‘Cuz it won’t. Let me show you how much you mean to me. To us. Just please, get down from there.”

65.) “Let me help you cook before you burn down my house.”

66.) “I’m not scared of you. You’re like a little puppy!”

67.) “I want you to come with me, not anyone else.”

68.) “Do you know each other?”

69.)   “I hate you.” “I know. But you need me.”

70.) “Isn’t it a beautiful day to create some chaos?”

71.) “I’m not drunk enough for this.”

72.) “Welcome to Vampire 101. Don’t get caught by hunters.”

73.) “Please don’t hurt them! They’ve done nothing wrong!”

74.) “I’m doing the best I can! I don’t know how to drive!”

75.) “I heard screaming, are you okay?”

76.) “Hey! Are you telling me I’m bad at my job!”

77.) “I really don’t care.”

78.) “I can’t remember. I wish I could.”

79.) “Watch your language!”

80.) “Hey, I can’t find the scissors, can we use your claws?”

81.) "Minutes. We only have minutes till it's too late.

82.) "Just be careful. I don't want a call at 3 AM from the hospital saying that you died.

83.) "What do you want?! I'm playing Mario Kart!"

84.) "There's a light at the end of the tunnel." "Yeah, it's called hellfire.

85.) "Who gives a rat's ass about Chemistry?!

86.) "Oh my god just your voice makes me wanna die!

87.) "Why the hell is there a 72-inch teddy bear on my bed?

88.) "None of us here have a life, so who the hell is texting you at 10 PM?

89.) "I just want it to end? Can't you just leave me to die?!"

90.) "Okay, he keeps giving me the evil eye."

91.) "I've been stabbed more times than days I've been alive."

92.) "Did you cut your hair?" "No, I got stabbed by a knife."

93.) "Please save me."

94.) "A shady ass mansion and 6 weird ass kids, what could go wrong?"

95.) "Oh my god they are dating! You owe me 5 bucks!"

96.) "No! There's something wrong with me, everyone always leaves me!"

97.) "Why is there a 5-year-old in your hands?"

98.) "Oh yeah, I'm pregnant."

99.) "So, I'm a witch, my dad's a hunter, and my mom's an evil coven leader. Talk about a messed up family."

100.) "You know what they say, the kindest one is the most broken one."

101.) "I've got all the time in the world for you."

102.) "I-I didn't kill him."

103.) "You're covered in blood."

104.) "Took years, but I finally have the courage to say it, I love you. Will you go out with me?"

105.) "Well, I'm never working at this coffee shop again."

106.) "I accidentally drank dish soap."

107.) "He's kinda hot."

108.) "Are you drunk? Again?"

109.) "I can feel myself, fading away."

110.) "Don't stray away from me, I love you."

111.) “It’s a hard life but I had you. And I’d never give up that.”

112.) “Don’t move! One wrong step and you’ll die!”

113.) “You are good enough. Don’t doubt yourself.”

114.) "Do you smell something burning?" "Dude, that's your hair,"

115.) "I just feel so numb, a-all the time. S-So fucking numb."

116.) “He saved my life, (name). You keep saying everyone else doesn't forgive him. I know you’re the one who doesn't. Stop acting like you're the high and mighty merciful one. I’m going to find him, and you’re not gonna stop me,”

117.) "I love you, why are you pushing me away?"

118.) "Why is nothing I do good enough for you? Every time you look at me, it's like you're just staring at a steaming pile of disappointment. Why do you always think you're better than me?"

119.) "I-I know you're there. Just please let me out."

120.) "You're gonna kill me? With what, reckless driving?"

121.) "I'm listening to you, I have been fucking listening to you!"

122.) "Know that you are good enough."

123.) "I'm sorry that I was a dick. Just please, don't leave."

[ariainstars]

It’s Time for Rey to Grow Up

So, our all-time favourite Emperor is back, what a surprise. Or not? Why isn’t he “really gone”? What is his purpose?

Palpatine is known for his patience. He always waited until the fruit was ripe to pick. Is he after Ben Solo perhaps, now that Snoke is gone?

I don’t think so. Snoke impersonated Ben’s inner darkness, and he chose to destroy him.

Palpatine was more impressive and powerful than Snoke, more vicious, manipulating, more viscerally evil. Does anyone honestly think that he’s after our dreamy-eyed space prince? I don’t.

He’s after Rey.

Rey is extremely powerful and untrained. Ben always tried to keep her close: remember how he said “The longer she is free, the more dangerous she becomes.”

Dangerous for whom? For him? For the First Order? For herself? For the galaxy at large? He offered to be her teacher, to “show her the ways of the Force”. Luke, too, said that she needed a teacher, but he refused to apply to the task. He promised her three lessons and gave her only two.

Let’s consider these scenes.

Rey attacks a defenceless old guy. Ever the pacifist, Luke pulled the staff from her hands with the aid of the Force, lowering all his guard before her: at which she lights the sabre which used to be his and stands over him menacingly.

Rey hits Kylo over the face scarring and disfiguring him for life. She is defending herself and she’s angry because he killed the man who was a father figure for her, but how long did she know Han? Maybe a day. Contrarily to his son, who knew him all of his life and was coerced by the head of a criminal organization to prove his ultimate loyalty with an unpardonable crime.

Rey trains with the Skywalker legacy light sabre. She cuts a rock clean in half, which slides down to the cart of the hapless Caretakers. They don’t get hit by a hair’s breadth. Rey doesn’t even look down to them.

Kylo only is aggressive when he wears his mask. On meeting Rey, he does not hurt her but immobilizes her through the Force.

As their duel begins, he rotates his light sabre almost playfully. The gesture is everything but aggressive; he doesn’t look at all like someone who goes for the kill.

Snoke said that Kylo was “bested by a girl who never held a light sabre”.

Excuse me? He’s watching her in fascination. Why doesn’t he strike?! Kylo’s not losing. He’s letting her go on purpose. (Another parallel to “Beauty and the Beast”. Sorry about the trope. :-)

After the Crait battle, he could send the entire forces of the First Order after “that old piece of junk”. He’s the Supreme Leader now and he has a unique chance to destroy what little is left of the Resistance. But he just watches Rey leave, crying silently.

The Throne Room battle: Ben concentrates and meditates for a second to collect his strength.

Rey screams and attacks, aggressively.

As he meets Luke, Ben is aggressive, too, but his posture is ducked. He’s deeply conflicted although he’s meeting again with the man who pulled the rug from under his feet by first separating him from his family at young age, and then (if briefly) contemplating that to kill him would be the best solution.

In “The Rise of Skywalker” he only has a brief scene in the teaser trailer. His light sabre is ignited but instead of killing his opponent, he just shoves him to the ground.

Is that someone Palpatine would go after? I don’t think so.

What with believing (or suspecting for a long time) that Rey is Luke’s daughter, admiring her for being a kick-ass woman, and seeing a sweet cinnamon roll in her whose destiny it is to turn the villain’s heart, we are refusing to see the truth: Rey is much more aggressive and dangerous than Ben ever was.

Remember: Snoke was in Ben Solo’s mind ever since he was conceived, but he only submitted to him after his uncle’s betrayal. Aggressive? Violent? Murderous? Ben Solo rather seems someone who has endless patience. But even the most patient person snaps, if the pressure is too strong.

Rey herself said “I need someone to show me my place in all this.” Luke refused to show her that place. Ben offered her a place by his side, but she rejected him. Just try to imagine for a moment what would happen if Palpatine offered to be her master.

The Rule of Two still applies. Palpatine can’t act on his own: he needs someone by his side, and he always wanted the most powerful Force user there was. Rey doesn’t know him. Like everybody else, she believes him to be dead. And if they met, he would certainly not tell her “I’m the old Emperor”; Palpatine always had subtle means to tell half-truths in order to manipulate somebody to his own ends.

Rey comes from a desert planet, she’s an ex slave, she has no family, she’s a scavenger and mechanic. “Anakin” means “without a family” (no kin). Rey’s parallels with Luke are few: she’s much more like Anakin.

If we consider the balancing rule of the Force, “darkness rises and light to meet it”, this also goes for the contrary. Now that light has risen in Ben, dark must be rising in Rey at the same time. She just doesn’t know that yet. Rey believes she’s doing the right thing, the same trap Anakin, Luke and Ben fell into in their time. At least Ben questioned his choices; Rey never does.

The irony of the situation is that Ben is now, politically, in the role Palpatine used to be. But can anyone imagine him ruling the galaxy with an iron fist? The thought borders on ridiculous.  He killed Snoke because he had abused him and Rey, not because he wanted his power.

Rey has never really let go of the past, of her illusion of the Jedi’s glory, of her desire to find a father figure; her time on Ahch-To amply showed that. Ben, who knows her mind, told her so to her face. And Palpatine used to belong to the Jedi, even if he wasn’t one; he knows everything about their ways, and about the political past of the galaxy.

Obi-Wan told Luke about the Republic from his own point of view, drawing a picture that Luke and his friends desperately tried to restore. It was assuredly better than the Empire, but watching the prequels, we see a decadent, stagnant society on the brink of its downfall, with the Jedi willing to pursue war for years to maintain the old order (i.e., keeping their power), never accepting new impulses, and merely paying lip service to their duty to compassion.

Ben was right telling Rey that the past needs to die and that the galaxy needs a new order. Maybe not the way he was imagining, with the two of them ruling: but the galaxy certainly does not need to go back to what used to be. Luke and his friends already tried to restore the past, and failed. Why? Because the system didn’t work in the first place.

Yet Palpatine is not dead. In one way or another, the old devil came back. And I’m sure he knows whom he wants to get into his claws. Not the volatile, vulnerable, insecure last scion of the Skywalker family, but the uncompromising, judgemental Force user who was never warned about the dangers of her power.

That’s why I am quite certain that Rey will not have to save Ben in Episode IX; he will have to save her. Or at least, he must try.

Remember: this is his story. The Skywalker man always becomes protagonist only in the third instalment of a trilogy, finally deciding about his own fate. Episode IX is named “The Rise of Skywalker”, which assuredly does not hint at Rey: it would be stupid to make the grand revelation “oh, she’s a daughter of Luke’s after all” now, with all that was said and done to prove she’s not.

Ben needs to finally man up, to become the hero of his own story. If anyone can save the day, it’s him and not her. Out of love for her, perhaps; but I would find it infinitely better if he also acted out of love for others. (Yes, I’m a Reylo, but I have never believed that “true love” means the girl must inspire the man to be a better person for her sake. If anything, this dynamic must be reciprocated.)

Whom will Rey trust, ultimately? Whom will she choose?

The seemingly harmless, mild-mannered father figure who Palpatine can so credibly interpret, as he already proved during the time of the old Republic?

The assuredly not saintly, but immensely preferable Supreme Leader, who has repeatedly proven that he’s the only person who understands what Rey is going through, and has always done everything in his power to protect her?

Will Rey grow up at last, or will the lure of the “Jedi’s glorious past” and of the father figure (Palpatine) be stronger than the goodwill of a man who accepts her for what she is, no matter how often she attacked him verbally and physically, or left him alone when he would most have needed her (Ben)?

Ben Solo has learned his hardest lessons. Rey’s are still to come. She can’t be that good, strong and virtuous without difficulties or consequences; it was all too good to be true. The Dark Side lurks, and it’s already calling to her. She hasn’t done evil until now, but she also never was in the same situation as Ben - trapped, isolated, manipulated. She judged him, just like she judged Luke later on; she does not know what it means to be in their shoes. And I think it’s important for her to make that experience, because she needs to learn that she has no right to look down on someone.

We never learned why Rey’s parents gave her away when she was still small. According to Ben, who read it in her mind, they sold her for drinking money. Sure, some parents are horrible. Some fans suspect that she might have unknowingly killed them through the Force, and that this was why they never came back. Which would make a lot of sense; but I believe it would make more sense to assume that they noticed their daughter’s strange powers and were frightened by them, their fear made worse by the fact that there was no Jedi around whom they could have asked for advice.

Rey means well, but she is naïve and she knows too little about her own powers, and their temptation. Ben tried to protect and instruct her from the start, and he always was honest with her. Palpatine would know how to subtly make her believe that by using her powers unconditionally she would do the right thing: her eyes would gradually turn yellow, and she wouldn’t even notice. Palpatine would assuredly not tell her that he uses the Dark Side, and he would not appear to her in his demoniac true looks. Snoke’s evil was clearly to be seen, but Palpatine has amply shown that he knows how to come off as harmless and well-meaning while operating only in his own favour. And Ben would be the only person capable of pulling her out of his trap: because he’s as strong as she is, because he knows how her mind works, and mostly, because he used to be in a similar situation.

The moment Kylo Ren took off his mask, he showed us his true face: arrogant, but ultimately harmless. Almost all the crimes we saw him commit he carried out with the mask on his face, as if he didn’t really want to see what he was doing. The only crime he committed being forced to look was Han’s murder; it also was his last. He never killed again except in self-defence.

What’s behind Rey’s mask? Rey introduced herself saying, “I’m no one.” Are you indeed, Rey? Or have you simply not taken off your own mask yet?

Luke Skywalker himself, the last and strongest of all Jedi, said that your raw power frightened him.

I know that many people dislike the sequels, but for the most part, in my experience it’s because they don’t understand them. They haven’t realized or accepted that the whole saga is a work of art in itself, not a trilogy that was good and is now being copied over and over to make money out of it. Both prequels and sequels have their own arc, their own story to tell.

A lot of viewers, both fans and antis, see Rey as Luke 2.0 (although some pretend that she’s a Mary Sue) and Kylo as Vader 2.0 (albeit grumbling that he’s a whiny sissy).

But this last trilogy is about balance. Rey cannot be the heroine and Kylo / Ben cannot be the villain. They’re both equal parts good and evil. They are not like Luke and Vader and never were meant to be. They’re characters of their own, in their own place, with their own story. The culmination of the saga is still to come. And looking at the facts, beyond prejudices and expectations, it looks like it won’t be pretty. Maybe love will see it through, but there will be the devil to pay before that - literally.

This happy ever after, still hoping it will take place, will be bitterly fought and hard-earned.

[starlightinhumanform]

The Art of Love: Chapter 10

Fandom: She Ra (2018)

Ship: Glimadora 

Summary: It’s chemistry again and Adora is missing, leaving Glimmer to wonder where she is. Glimmer has to face Weaver, Cat, and her feelings by herself. 

Warnings (for this chapter): Some descriptions of mild emotional distress/anxiety, Mild language (please tell me if anything needs to be added)

Genre: High School AU, Angst with a Happy Ending, Rivals/Enemies to Lovers, Eventual Fluff

A/N: As always, all notes mean so much to me (especially reblogs). I always love getting feedback and questions so feel free to drop a comment, send an ask, or add something in the tags! Hope you enjoy my dears~  Love you all 🖤✨

Ao3    The Art of Love Masterpost    Fic Masterpost    Fic Request Info

Glimmer’s feet shuffled on the laminate tiles as she dragged herself to fourth period. She could tell by the quickly thinning crowd that the passing period was almost over. She couldn’t bring herself to move faster- or to actually care. She had fallen asleep in her last period and had been forced to scribble down the half an hour of notes she had missed in the last three minutes of class- and then a minute or two of passing after that.

Her mind was a fog and the only lamp that occasionally shone through the dense clouds was a grumble of frustration. Glimmer couldn’t decide if she should blame her sleep deprivation on Ms Weaver or if it was better to somehow twist the situation onto Adora. Her brain suggested the third option of it being her damn fault for being so distracted the whole night and spending so much time on being a drama queen instead of actually doing work.

Glimmer let out a huff as the bell screeched. She glared at the door down the hall, behind which Weaver was almost surely cackling out some Disney villain laugh as she marked Glimmer late.

A large part of her was highly tempted to turn around and spend the entire period lurking in a corner of the art studio. She had dropped off the model that morning (By some miracle, Weaver hadn’t been there) so Adora could still present it and get points for them.

She stopped walking and tapped her fingers against her thigh. It was only a ten foot walk to the class but, god, at what cost?

She was jarred into movement by a security guard speeding past her on a bicycle. He was shouting at the empty hallway- something about, “COME ON PEOPLE, KEEP MOVING,”- as if he were policing Times Square and not just Glimmer as she slouched her way past the empty row of monotonous doors.

Glimmer huffed and sludged forward, pausing to glare at the disappearing guard before wrenching the door open.

“Glimmer you’re-“

“Late, I know,” she grumbled the inevitable end of Weaver’s sentence.

Glimmer could feel Weaver’s raised eyebrow without even looking up.

“Keep doing this and you’ll get-“

“Detention. I know.”

The other students were watching the exchange like they were waiting for a bomb to go off- tick tock tick tock. Glimmer was sure that if it were just her and Weaver, the woman may have actually lost it and begun screaming at her.

She settled into her seat, resolved not to let Weaver bother her today. She was too tired to give a shit.

Weaver paused before conceding to simply shake her head and move towards the middle of the room.

Glimmer hazarded a glance upward only to see Weaver surveying the room with a wicked grin, hands pressed together like a praying mans’; as if she was showing off the wicked red claws of her nails. It made Glimmer sick.

“So class, I have a surprise for you,” Smug, purred, smooth with jagged edges; Weaver reminded Glimmer of obsidian as the woman soaked in the sounds of hopelessness coming from her students, “I’ll be checking your projects today to see what you have done!”

The class groaned in unison and the girl in front of Glimmer began whisper yelling at her partner across the room- as if that could do them any good now. Glimmer would have rolled her eyes if they didn’t feel so heavy.

“I know, it isn’t wonderful?!” Weaver’s shark-toothed grin widened as she acknowledged her doomed class.

Glimmer felt bad for the kids in the room who didn’t have a hyperactive, annoyingly insistent partner who had in on Weaver’s evil plans- so basically everyone else.

Now that Glimmer was thinking about it, she hadn’t seen said ball of energy when she had walked in. She turned and was surprised to see Adora’s seat glaringly empty. Glimmer fought back against the wave of disappointment that hit her. It’s not like this was a completely bad thing- it meant that Glimmer would actually be able to concentrate. And Weaver would be more likely to give Glimmer credit for her work instead of immediately assuming Adora had done all of it. So yeah, it was all good. Except... She said she’d see me at school...

Glimmer internally sighed at her own pathetic foolishness; she was getting way too soft.

She allowed herself another glance back, as if Adora would’ve suddenly appeared there in the three second break between her stares.

Another wave hit her, this time a cascade of apprehension. Adora was not the type to skip class and Glimmer’s mind was quick to fill the fog in her head with worries. What if something happened to her? What if she passed out? What if she passed out because I kept her up all night? What if she got hit by a car? What if I hit her my car?? Wait no... I don’t have a car. But what if she’s trying to avoid me?

Glimmer’s mind slapped its hand down on a proverbial bell- Yep! She’s try to avoid you!

Glimmer could feel the sensation of sickness growing in her stomach and rising to her chest. She wanted to bury her had in her hand as a stupid emotional groan began clawing its way up her vocal cords.

“Hey, Glimmer,”  A snarky voice purred above her.

Glimmer growled as she looked up into Cat’s smirk, “What do you want?”

Cat gave an over the top pout, complete with big eyes and crinkled forehead, “Why, I just wanted to make sure you were ok.”

“I’m fine; leave me the hell alone,” Glimmer spat.

“All right, all right. You just looked a little,” Cat waggled her fingers, which only added to the insult of her airy, pretentious voice, “dazed-out there.”

Glimmer was suddenly aware of the movement around her- nearly everyone was already sat down with their partners or were at least taking a seat as she looked around.

“Also, I kinda need that seat,” Cat wrinkled her nose at Glimmer and pointed at the chair she was in.

Glimmer turned her head and to the side to see Cat’s partner Scylar beaming at her. Scy was a tall-ass wrestler with a loud punk style; if Glimmer’s brain was dazed enough to somehow skip over Scy throwing herself in the seat next to her (the girl never did anything without enthusiasm), then Glimmer had to be really out of it.

She stumbled out of her chair to move out of the way, “Oh right... I’ll just- move to the back then, I guess.”

Cat waggled her fingers in a wave as she slipped gracefully into Glimmer’s chair, “See ya later.”

Glimmer blinked at the girl for a second before realizing she had froze again. She took a step back, just trying to remember how to move. See ya later... see ya. See ya.

The words bounced around in her head like the little metal ball in a pinball machine- dink, dink, dink. Every time they hit the walls of her skull, I knew conspiracy dawned upon her. What if she knows that Adora was with me last night? Dink. What if she’s trying to get revenge? Dink. What if she told Adora not to come to class? Dink. What if Cat knows I, well that I, you know, abut, you know, Adora. The thought made a little ding! sound this time before ricocheting back even stronger. 

“Uh, Glimmer?” The arch in Weaver’s eyebrow was sharp enough to cut a steak with.

She blinked again, bringing her eyes into focus. She had made her way to the back of the classroom but had failed to actually take a seat. Looking around, the seemingly the entire room had eyes on her. Her face burned and she lowered herself into the nearest seat. Adora’s seat.

Adora should have been there; Glimmer needed Adora to be there. Glimmer felt pathetic in every sense of the word. Only a few days ago, she had wanted to keep as much distance between her and Adora as possible. And now she was useless without her. It was strange and it was wrong and it shouldn’t have been happening but there she was, simmering within herself as the class moved forward without her. She needed the assurance that letting Adora in was the right thing to do, that she hadn’t scared Adora off. She needed the simple hope that Adora didn’t hate her. Why shouldn’t she? You hated her for months; you called her a lair and a fake. Why shouldn’t she hate you?

Glimmer resisted the urge to grumble at herself to shut up. Sometimes her brain really did deserve to be yelled at, though.

The class was moving again, sifting through the maze of chairs to grab their projects. Glimmer followed suit as best as she could to meld into the crowd this time after the embarrassing space-out that had happened only a couple minutes before.

Ok but consider this. Glimmer rolled her eyes internally as her mind began rambling again. What if she does hate you- so what? You thought that she hated you for a long-ass time; why does it matter so much if she actually does now? It honestly might be a good thing. It’ll help you get over that stupid crush.

She kept moving forward, trying to ignore the words floating around in her head but it was so much easier just to argue back. Was she just adding to the noise? Yes. Was it satisfying to tell the devil in her ear that it was an idiot? Oh definitely. Consider this- you’re the one that’s so obsessed with Adora and maybe if you stopped worrying about her for a second, I could find something else for you to yell at me about for no good reason.  

It struck Glimmer just how much Adora had taken over her life; she had spent the whole day thinking and worrying about the girl. She was just a crush after all; it was ridiculous. Ok so Glimmer thought she was gorgeous and funny and smart and definitely the weirdest person she had ever met but in the best way possible? It was crazy to get this obsessed. Glimmer took a deep breath as she lifted her model off the counter, resolved to relax and go about this whole situation like a “normal” person. One problem. She had never crushed this hard on someone before. She had no idea how to act.

She settled back into her seat- Yes, it was her seat; Adora wasn’t here right now and that meant her seat rights were revoked. Glimmer snorted at her sleep-deprived mind as it continued to crack into smaller and increasingly hysterical pieces.

Glancing around, it was clear that the rest of the room was occupied. Weaver was stalking from partner to partner, leering over each of her victims with the sadistic joy that only a high school science teacher could possibly possess. The groups that weren’t being judged were either trying to throw together styrofoam balls or were praying. Glimmer was pretty sure that neither of those would help at that point.

Glimmer decided to take advantage of the surrounding chaos and grabbed her phone from the pocket of her backpack. She opened her conversation to Bow, ready to dump all her problems in her messages and hope she wasn’t blowing up his phone in middle of a test. Oh well, that’s a problem she could deal with later-

Hey hey hey. Ok so I’ve a problem

Well more like a question. But it’s questions about a problem

...hi? What’s going on lmao

You haven’t texted me since you sent me that weirdass text at like two in the morning

What were you even doing up then??

Oh good you are here ;)

What do you mean?? You were up too loser??

Oh my god just tell me what your ~problem~ is

Ok um sooooo

Yes?

SOOOOO

YES

WHAT

Glimmer moved a hand over her mouth to muffle the giggles that were escaping. Bow’s dramatics always made her laugh and she happened to be uncharacteristically bashful about this certain topic.

So I kinda have a big fat crush

The giggles disappeared very suddenly and Glimmer dug her teeth into her bottom lip as she watched the little blinking dots march in their message bubble, waiting for Bow’s response. Fortunately, he didn’t take long to reply. Unfortunately, Glimmer didn’t quite like his answer.

Is it Adora?

Dfydfgdgthkl how??

Look no one hates someone for no reason as much as you hated adora UNLESS you actually love them

Ok so Bow had a point and maybe he was right and she should have realized it earlier, but “love” was taking it several steps too far.

Also that text you sent last night was so lovestruck I could practically see the hearts in your eyes

I literally just said it turned out ok that you gave her my number?? Because YOU were freaking out??

Yes but you said it with love <3 <3 <3

I hate you

And it’s NOT love. I just like her

Sure...

Glimmer very nearly put her phone away with a huff before remembering that she accidentally had a reason for texting Bow to begin with.

Shut up, anyways do you know where Adora is?

Ooo you missing your girlfriend?

Glimmer’s face would burned red even if Bow hadn’t taken the low dig and called Adora her girlfriend. Because that was the dream, right? Because that’s exactly what she wanted but what she could never have. Because Bow didn’t know the ache in her chest, the pain he was causing. Because he was her best friend so he should know what was going on and how much everything had changed. Because she just wanted to tell him everything and ask him what the hell she should do, but there was something keeping her from telling him and maybe if she could just ask for help, she would know how to solve all her problems. And because yes, she missed Adora and the feeling was so much stronger than it should’ve been.

She glanced around herself, positive that someone had seen her face glowing as bright as a stop light. Everyone was preoccupied with their various crises, leaving Glimmer to her own in peace. Unfortunately Weaver was only two rows away and was drawing closer and closer to where Glimmer sat slumped. She would have to finish up her conversation quickly then.

I’m just wondering why she isn’t in class ok? Nothing more

If you don’t know then I’ll find someone else to ask

Jeez ok

Glim I’m sorry for teasing you

But no I don’t know where she is. Sorry :/ 

Yeah ok. Ttyl my dude 

Glimmer let a puff of air escape slowly from her nose as she zipped her phone into its pocket. Her head felt like a bag of bricks tied to the end of her neck, her eyes just as heavy. She was slumped severely in the chair, so low that her shoulder blades were pressing into the middle of the seat and if she scooted forward a couple more inches, she’d probably slip off entirely; the idea of how much her mother would disapprove of her posture almost drew a laugh from Glimmer.

She debated whether or not it was worth it was worth it to fall asleep. Weaver would be standing over her, glaring with disgust in only two minutes or so, and she would therefore be risking whatever humiliation that would come with Weaver’s disgust. But, mmmm, two minutes of sleep? That might be worth it.

Glimmer was just shifting to plant her head on the desk when the classroom door exploded open. In the doorway stood a slightly sweaty Adora beaming, as always, as if she herself were the sun.

All eyes flickered over to her simultaneously, staring with confused and maybe amused expressions. Adora just grinned wider, apparently in response, “Hey everyone!”

Weaver stood up straight, freezing to look Adora up and down. She seemed confused as to what to do next. The girl continued to stand in the doorway for a moment, seemingly completely comfortable in the situation. The edges of her ponytail were frayed with baby hairs sticking up at odd angles that framed her reddened face. Her breathing was heavier than usual and the blades of glass plastered up her legs combined to give the impression that she had come directly from running.

Adora strode forward, “Sorry I was late! Soccer event with all the captains!”

So Cat did know where she was.

“Oh, I guess that’s ok then,” Weaver unfroze but still seemed somewhat unsure as she turned back to what she had been doing before Adora had burst in.

Adora made her way to the back, stopping only to give Cat a small wave, and sat down next to Glimmer. Her eyes were sparkling and the only signs of any sort of sleep deprivation were the dark circles that contrasted sharply with her pale skin tone. Her energy level was no reflection the amount of sleep Glimmer knew she hadn’t gotten

“Hi!”

“...hi?” Glimmer really wasn’t sure what she was supposed to say. That was usual. What was unusual was that Adora seemed to be expecting her to say something.

Adora was sitting next to her and just a minute ago, Glimmer would have sworn that’s exactly what she wanted but now she had doubts. Adora was just so loud. Her energy made white noise roar in Glimmer’s head and her voice thundered in the empty space between Glimmer’s thoughts. And her smile, god her smile, it was the brightest thing Glimmer had seen all day and it made her eye smart; it felt like a hand had gripped the bottom of her heart and was pulling it down, stretching out of shape and digging crescent nail marks into the flesh. That smile was all that she wanted and all that couldn’t live up to.

Adora cocked her head to the side and let the smile drop slightly, looking more like a puppy than ever, “Is something wrong?”

Glimmer shook her head and took the easy option, “Nah I’m just tired.”

“Oh ok,” Adora seemed to debate on something for a second before regaining her grin, “Me too honestly.”

It managed to draw a snort from Glimmer, “Really? I could not tell by the way you came bouncing in here.”

“I had like, way too much sugar. Anyways, what’s going on?” She turned her head from side to side to look around the room and causing her long ponytail to whip in either direction with the momentum.

Glimmer sat up from where she had ducked down to avoid Adora’s weaponized hair, “You were right. Weaver’s going around checking all our projects.”

Adora pumped her fist, moving her elbow towards her body and dramatically sweeping her head forward, eyes closed, as she did. It was undeniably dorky and it was undeniably cute.

“And our project is great,” Adora stared down at the pile of wire and clay that was beginning to look to Glimmer more and more like some strange “aesthetic” torture tool used by a Pinterest girl the 15th century. Of course, Adora was looking at it with the same starry-eyed expression that she always wore when looking at Glimmer’s art.

Glimmer shrugged, “It’s ok, I guess.”

Adora feigned offense, “Excuse me, I put my heart and soul into that clay.”

Glimmer couldn’t help but break down into giggles. She was so tired and Adora was so dumb and Glimmer couldn’t exactly explain why but every joke Adora cracked became the funniest thing she had ever heard.

Adora grinned back at her, “But really, you should give yourself more credit. It turned out great and I know that it’s not thanks to me.”

Ugh, of course she had to go and make it all “wholesome.” Glimmer debated if it was worth it to say something back. It would be so much easier just to brush it off; so much safer. She had already crossed too many lines last night, the only solution was to go back to normal today. But she couldn’t even remember what normal was.

Glimmer glanced down at her hands. She had been unconsciously worrying at her nails and now her cuticles were beginning to turn red. She looked back up at Adora, “Look though... I wouldn’t have been able to get it done without you and I’m actually really glad you insisted on coming over.”

Adora smiled with the brightness and warmth of the sun, “I am too.”

Glimmer was in the process of absolutely melting under Adora’s affections when Weaver stalked to a halt in front of them, effectively freezing her back together, “So, Adora how did it turn out?”

Glimmer turned to Adora, watching her eyebrows scrunch together as confusion slowly drew across her face, “Well Glimmer did most of the work...”

Glimmer was beginning to wonder if this ‘innocent curiosity’ was something Adora put on just for Weaver. She wasn’t stupid, she certainly didn’t actually like Weaver and she had to know that there was something going on between her and Glimmer.

“...so why don’t you talk to her about it?”

The end of Adora’s sentence snapped Glimmer sputtering out of her thoughts, “Wait what? No, sorry?”

Weaver pivoted on her heels to face Glimmer, “Well then, what do you have to say?”

Glimmer glanced at Adora with wide eyes trying to convey the message of What the hell? Why would you do this??

Adora gave an encouraging smile and nodded. Very helpful.

“Um well,” Glimmer dragged her eyes from Adora (who was still giving that somewhat infuriating smile) to Weaver, “It’s a model of bismuth. The particles or painted to look like a sample of bismuth. That’s about it.”

“Very well then,” Weaver sniffed and began leering over the mess of purples and grays.

Glimmer could have sworn Weaver hadn’t been that critically focused on other groups but, then again, she hadn’t really paid much attention to what Weaver had been doing until moments ago.

Weaver continued to glare over the project as Glimmer continued to hold her breath. After far too long, Weaver moved away with nothing more than a “humph.”

As the click click of Weaver’s heels moved to the other side of the room, Glimmer deflated into her normal slump, “I swear she hates me.”

Adora squinted in the direction of their teacher, “I still don’t see why she’s such a bitch to you.”

Glimmer’s eyebrows shot up without her consultation, “I was not expecting you to say anything that... strong.”

Adora shrugged without giving a response, still grimacing towards Weaver- whatever that meant. If it meant anything at all. Maybe it didn’t. Maybe Glimmer was just taking a simple stare to mean way too much. After all, Adora was sleep deprived and apparently coming down from a sugar high. It would make perfect sense for her to space out. So that settled it; Glimmer was reading into too much, that’s all-

“I swear one of these days she’s going to say something shitty to you, and I’m just going to lose it.”

Oh. Glimmer could feel her heart rate spike like it was trying to reach the sky. That sounded nice, that sounded like maybe- just maybe- Glimmer wasn’t reading into it too much. It sounded almost protective and normally that would make Glimmer gag, but somehow this wasn’t normal.

But of course her only reply was to let out a nervous wheeze, “Why on Earth would you do that??”

Adora shrugged again, “I don’t like the way she treats you.”

Glimmer didn’t like the strength in Adora’s eyes. It wasn’t the level of contempt that led to bloodshed, but it was certainly more emotion than Glimmer deserved or would ever ask for. It made her uncomfortable; she didn’t understand why Adora would be so angry about something which, in the long run, probably wouldn’t matter.

She gave another awkward giggle, “It really isn’t a big deal.”

Adora opened her mouth to respond and Glimmer was almost grateful when Weaver began speaking from in front of her desk. Something seemed to switch off in Adora, her expression relaxing as she turned to face the front of the room.

“I can’t say I’m surprised but a lot of you really need to get to work,” Weaver hissed out a tsk noise between her teeth, “You only have a few days left to get this project done. You have about fifteen minutes left in this period and I expect you all to be focused that entire time. All right get to work.”

The class dissolved into noise as chairs were scrapped across the floor and notebooks were grabbed with the fevered terror that can only be inspired by a looming due date.

Adora reached across the desk to open one of the class-set laptops. She brought up the presentation she had been working on yesterday, the same pastel rainbows and soft pink theme. It sparked a strange sort of déjà vu in Glimmer, the exact same situation as yesterday but with so much less hostility. The dissonance was enough to make her head spin, but she couldn’t help but enjoy the difference.

Adora turned her head, mirth poorly concealed in her smirk, “Can I help you?”

Glimmer blinked quickly, suddenly aware that she had spaced out staring at at Adora, “Oh, um, sorry, no. I was just- no I’m fine.”

“You sure?” Adora was very obviously struggling to keep her smirk from dissolving into a full smile. People talk a lot about feeling butterflies in their stomachs but to Glimmer it felt more like a hundred tiny grasshoppers jumping out of time with one another.

She swallowed but her mouth had gone dry and she wasn’t sure when that happened. She tried to piece together a sentence that a normal human would say, “Yeah, um, I’m good. But what about you? Ya know, do you need help with the project or, uh, something?”

Adora seemed to pause for a moment, once again having to switch to a different setting. She looked almost disappointed and Glimmer still didn’t have any idea what was going on.

Then Adora’s face did something else Glimmer was not at all expecting. Her expression lost all of the playful cockiness it had held only a second before, shifting into what Glimmer could only describe as timid- maybe even embarrassed, “Um, yeah, actually. Could you draw some more things for me to use in the presentation?”

Glimmer didn’t understand Adora’s apparent discomfort. She flipped open a sketch book and grabbed a pencil, “Sure; what do you need?”

“Just another a sketch of it unprocessed or something like that would be great!”

Glimmer was beginning to learn that Adora’s stupid sunshine smile was somehow even warmer when you knew you were the one that had caused it.

The next few minutes went by quickly. They sat mostly in silence, both content in their own work. Sometimes Glimmer would glance over, catching Adora staring at what she had been drawing. Every time she did, Adora would give her a tiny sheepish grin before ducking her head away. Every time she did, something unfamiliarly soft would fill her up from her toes to her cheeks that she could tell were turning pink.

When the bell rang, Glimmer argued that the main reason she didn’t want to move was because she was just too tired, but she could tell it was a flimsy excuse of a lie and she hardly even cared.

Adora stood up, looking down once she had grabbed her backpack, “See ya!”

Glimmer sighed as she watched Adora bounce away from her. See ya.

[magaprima]

Part 3 Episode 8

Wait SABRINA IS TRAPPED IN THE STONE IN BETWEEN LILITH AND LUCIFER. PARENT VIBES AGAIN?? LIKE GO TO HELL LUICIFER, BUT I’M HERE PARENT VIBES FROM LILITH. So they’ve all be trapped there decades apparently? And Sabrina has gone back in time to save herself? Wait, they’re stuck in a loop? Wait, what’s HAPPENING???

So lots of time has passed and now Sabrina is free she’s finding hell in chaos, because in the story at the beginning we’re told the Pagans fought off caliban an took over earth for themselves and everyone is dead?

Hell was invaded by the archangel michael and all the devils are gone and everything’s gone to shit and Sabrina is walking around where everyone is fucking dead, including Salem. 

But not Ambrose he managed to make a safe haven out of the Kinkle mines. He still has the time egg so we might be able to undo all this I think

Ooh big confrontation with Blackwood, but I’m less enthused about this episode because Lilith, Zelda, Hilda aren’t alive at this point, so it’s just Sabrina fighting alone and I always find that less entertaining for me.

And now Blackwood has snapped the necks of Sabrina and Ambrose but oh no he’s not he’s trapped in a dream by Batibat because Sabrina released her on him. Nice tactic

So Sabrina has done a Back to the Future and is warning everyone to fuck off quickly before Blackwood arrives

Also Sabrina is realising Hell is pulling her away from what matters so maybe Lilith’s unborn child shall rule unchallenged? That would be nice

Zelda has been saved and has woke up and apparently has the answer to everything. But Hilda hasn’t resurrected from the Cain Pit and Zelda is insistent because she’s seen the future and knows Hilda lives

EVERYONE IS AROUND THE CAIN PIT CALLING ON THE TRIPLE GODDESS AND IS SAYING THAT SATAN IS A LESSER GOD, THAT THE TRIPLE GODDESS IS THE ULTIMATE DEITY OMG YES. wait, hang on zelda, Lilith told you Satan wasn’t a God. So don’t say this is new info. Yep, they’re calling on Hecate, the ultimate of Witch Goddesses. I am loving this scene because it’s the magic I was raised with and I am LIVING for it. 

Zelda is asking for powers from Hecate rather than from Satan! OMFG she’s game changing. I am loving this because it’s saying witches were blinded by Satan’s trickery and promises and turned their back on Hecate, the original one to give them power and I am just YES I AM HERE FOR THIS. I think even Lilith is here for this, especially as I headcanoned that my Lilith got her powers from Hecate and not Satan, so this fits in VERY nicely with my headcanon theories

Sabrina is defending Ms Wardwell about the shooting Zelda thing, so I think she presumes that Lucifer was involved, 

THEY’RE PUTTING ALL OF GREENDALE UNDER A SLUMBER SPELL LIKE FREAKING SLEEPING BEAUTY

So Robin has brought Mary to the Pagans for the sacrifice, but I suspect, since he was just with Sabrina etc, this is all a trick

Mary is calling out a lot of religious christian stuff much like the scottish policeman did in the Wicker Man. I feel this is too much of a reference not to be on purpose. And now Mary is being eaten by the Green Man, absorbed. But I’m not buying any of this. I don’t think it’s really Mary

The Green Man is rotting because that ain’t no virgin. So it’s not Mary. Ah, it’s the disease and decay witch!!! Glamoured as Mary. And Sabrina wiped the real Mary of the memories she was given and the whispers she was given by Lucifer

Zelda sending everyone to drive every last Pagan Monster from the place. The coven are going crazy for it. Having a grand old time

Hilda has caught up with the woman who turned her into a spider and caused her to kill Dr C. So she’s made the poppet and she is going to torture the fuck out of her. You go, Hilda, you go! And then she snaps the bitch’s neck.

Omg, Prudence just full on killed the God Pan. Hardcore

The Aunts getting upset about Sabrina having to be Queen of Hell. 

OMG SABRINA HAS GONE AND SAVED HERSELF FROM THE TIME LOOP SO THERE’S TWO OF THEM. SHE’S GOING TO HAVE ONE IN HELL AND ONE ONE EARTH???

I feel this second power-hungry Sabrina is gonna be the daughter Lilith never had, haha. 

‘Lilith in your last act as Regent, will you prepare our young Queen?’ Last act as Regent, but definitely not last day in power. 

DR C IS ALIVE. HILDA DIDN’T MURDER HIM. SHE JUST COCOONED HIM. 

However, Dorcas and Agatha are both dead. Prudence found them butchered in a cupboard. The poor woman is broken and she thinks if she’d killed Blackwood instead of bringing it back none of this would have happened, which is true. NONE of it would have happened, because Lucifer couldn’t have jumped. She blames Ambrose because he’s the one that stopped her killing him

So now Zelda is running the Order of Hecate. And Mambo Marie says there’s a bigger evil coming and they need to prepare to fight it. Zelda just asks if that means she’sn staying and then they snog.

‘you’re the glory and pride of satan, the face of the hell bound hordes. Strike down your enemies by tooth and by claw, bathe your skin in their blood. Every Queen must be made battle ready, every girl must prepare for war. Gird your loins, let nothing touch you let no MAN hold power over you. And when they cry out for mercy, the Moringstar must show them none’ Lilith is telling Sabrina while she gets her ready for her coronation. This sounds more supportive than resentful and like she’s teaching her. I’m hoping this means that we are going to continue the Satanic Godmother role thing, especially as Lilith is getting her ready in a very gentle way. There’s definite maternal energy there which I HOPE gets explored

“Your crown and throne await you, first lady of pandemonium, maiden of shadows, behold the Queen, Sabrina Morningstar” Sabrina puts her hands on her shoulders there and it’s all touching and tactile and there’s definitely something supportive and familial there. And Lilith is carrying Sabrina’s sibling, so that does make them family officially now. Now THAT part I like.

But I do think having two Sabrinas is a major cop out from the writers. Also Lilith has way better hell fashion going on. And I don’t like the implication that this means we’re not going to have hell in the show anymore, which means we won’t have Lilith in the show anymore, especially as Sabrina openly said ‘we’ll never see them again. Lucifer, Lilith, Caliban....who needs them?’. Well, I need them. One of them. Bring them back.

 But then Sabrina has created a time paradox so shit will hit the fan hugely. So I imagine Lilith will have to sort shit out again. Ambrose is like what if the aunts find out but Sabrina says they never go to hell. He says what about Lucifer and she says he’s such a narcissist he won’t notice and then Ambrose has the killer argument

‘What about Lilith? Lilith notices EVERYTHING’. He’s not wrong. Sabrina even admits it

“Lilith could be a problem, yeah....”

So I presume that means Lilith is gonna be back

Sabrina 2 is being crowned and Lilith and Lucifer do look like parents waiting for her. But they kind of are, because this is secondary sabrina, she’s the Morningstar, not the Spellman so....? But Lilith is so going to notice this isn’t the usual Sabrina. Sabrina-obssessed with her mortal friends- Spellman spending 24/7 in Hell? Yeah Lilith is gonna click

And now Blackwood is doing something with Agatha and his kids, because Agatha apparently isn’t dead. Wait he’s summoning ELDRITCH HORRORS TO USE HIM AS THEIR VESSEL??????

the beginning of the end? The end of all things??? Right, Lilith, get that fucking mark off him right the hell now

[mydisenchantedeulogy]

Run Devil Run [Chapter Four] Lesser of Two Evils [Karma Akabane]

Like instructed, Yukie went out on Saturday to meet up with Karma. He was outside the station waiting on her, she concluded, resting his back against the wall outside the station, too occupied with his cell phone to notice her steadily approaching. She immediately made herself known by standing in front of him and waving in his face.

Once their eyes met, she smiled gently.

“Not too bad, right?” Yukie gave him a slow turn and allowed him the chance to look her over.

Karma was honestly surprised; she wore down her ivory hair in adorable curls and painted her lips a glossy pink.

“Color me impressed. There is actually a cute girl beneath all that denim and plaid.”

She puffed out her cheeks in aggravation. “Maybe you just didn’t notice because you’re an idiot.”

“Sticks and stones,” Karma rebuked with a shrug. He slid his cell phone into the pocket of his black jeans and stepped away from the wall, coming to a halt beside her. The naïve pout on her face only made his smile widen.

Yukie saw this and rolled her eyes. She turned her attention to the front of the station and puckered her brow. Why did he want her to meet him here? Taito was a famous game center in Shinjuku; otherwise a hotspot for teenagers rolling in their parent’s money. She had a hunch as to why, but knowing the red head, she figured she’d better humor him by asking questions.

“What are we doing here? I know that you have some elaborate plan cooked up. This is just a cover, right?”

“And you say we are not always on the same wavelength; thick as thieves. But I’m glad you asked,” Karma remarked teasingly. He took her by the hand and began to pull her into the center, much to her dismay. Karma led her to a claw machine and slid behind her, pointing over her shoulder at an item to the back of the glass case. “I want that.”

He was referring to a game console with an emerald green covering. It was the only handheld left, but Yukie was certain Karma already owned one. She snorted in amusement. “Avarice is a sin, you know? I can only imagine what you plan to do with two.”

“I had originally planned to sell it off to some poor idiot for more than I bought it for, but I decided I’d rather you have it. We can play together via connect, instead of you trying to be a backseat gamer,” Karma stated. He really couldn’t stand that.

Yukie felt her face heat up. He really has it in his head that he and I are going to continue seeing each other. She wasn’t doing much to protest against this idea, but she also didn’t want to be seen with him and jeopardize her shot at making it big. It sounded terrible – like she had no heart – but aspiring for more was better than going back to what she had; absolutely nothing.

But, that was a completely different story.

As of right now, Yukie was finding it hard to believe that Karma would test his luck and his money just to get her that handheld. The chances of him wining were not in his favor; about 30 percent. Weight and size of the item were two opposing factors he needed to be careful of.

“I don’t know, Karma. It doesn’t look easy. Neither of us really have the money to waste either.”

“You don’t believe that I can do it?”

She frowned; of course she did. Something like this, however, was pushing it. The thought was all that mattered to her, but deep down she wanted one of her own. No more watching over his shoulder or waiting for him to die just so that she could get a turn. Yukie felt awful, because she wanted Karma to know that she would never doubt him. Before she opened her mouth to answer him, however, he rudely interrupted her.

“No problem, because I don’t think an idiot like me can do it either. That’s why I’m not going to.”

“Then how are you going to get it?” Yukie narrowed her eyes in annoyance. He was really something else.

“Someone else is,” he clarified with a grin.

Yukie puckered her brow.

She can be so clueless sometimes. Karma huffed a sigh of displeasure; good thing he liked her. “Guess I better explain it to you. So, while I was on suspension I came here just about every weekend and wrote down all of the games that raked in the most cash, on top of the prizes that drew the most attention; I wasn’t lying when I said I was going to sell them off at a higher price.”

His smile never faltered as he continued. “Unfortunately, a no talent fool like me doesn’t have the skill for such a plan, or the money to waste on it.”

“It’s not like you just to give up,” Yukie pointed out. Her eyes met his for a brief second. “So … out with it then. Who is the sucker?”

Clever girl, he thought with a controlled laugh. “Hide is his name, and he is something of a legend around here. Then again, the only ones who call him that are delinquents. His sister is the operator who adjusts the catchers, and whenever Lucky Hide wants something, he just takes poor old sister’s master key and takes it. No one has ever seen him do it, but he was nice enough to tipped me off – I have a way with words.”

She wasn’t buying this. Even so, there was nothing to be done about it now. Like she had said before; no matter the cost, Karma always got what he wanted. It would take something equivalent to a nuclear blast to stop him.

“So we ask. Then what? He just gives hands it over to us for no charge at all?”

Karma shook in disagreement. “A tool like him; no way. He will ask for something in return. Equivalent exchange right? And I know just what to offer him.”

She was curious now. Yukie wanted to know, but once again, before she had the chance to ask, he took her soft hand and led her further into the center. Karma stopped near a relatively new machine with bright flashing lights and pulled her close. Anyone else and she would have knocked them out.

“He might try to run if he sees me,” he explained once she narrowed her eyes at him. Gesturing with his finger, he continued. “That’s him over there; the one with the beanie.”

Yukie took a peak. The teen was strangely everything that she had expected him to be; a delinquent with a loud mouth and a fierce appearance. She frowned in annoyance as she watched him natter offensively with his just as crude seeming friend. Others around shot them uncanny looks, but they ignored it.

I know the sort of angle he’s playing. Drop in a seemingly attentive girl and even guys like this will do anything to impress her.

It made sense now. Karma asked her to wear something girlie for him; girlie and cute was Hide’s type.

“This kind of tactic is called honey potting; it’s a mean way for a person to get what they want,” she explained with a sigh. “But, he’s a mean person for using his father’s position as an employee of this center to steal what he wants.”

“You up for it? Our little game.”

I stopped playing these retaliation games a long time ago. Karma just has no empathy for others, no matter how unclear the situation is. She was no saint either. At one time she loved to play too. Karma gave her all the attention and all the praise she thought she ever needed. It was wrong, but she loved it. Just once more … but on my terms.

“Appeal to his interests. Is that the angle?”

Karma smirked – he was a little devil; so clever and manipulative. “That’s right. And the objective is the lesson. The console is just a bonus.”

She faked an innocent smile. “Tell me everything you know.”

--

From the information she was given, Yukie built a quick profile for her character. She knew that Hide liked cute girls; defiant was too strong an approach to take. Dimwitted was too annoying – she honestly didn’t have the tolerance for this one anyway – but easy to impress was right on the money.

This was poles apart from her actual personality, but she knew that she could do it; she was fairly good at playing roles. Her brief performance in the last school play was said to have been very convincing. All it took was a little inspiration to draw from, and given that she had friends with two very different personalities, she had this in the bag.

Timing was all she needed at this point.

Yukie waited in hiding until Hide’s yellow haired friend won an object from the claw machine and sprung. She could work with this, even though Hide was not the one who had won. Timidly she approached them, coming to a rest behind the target of her mission, and tapped him on the shoulder. An expression of admiration twinkled in her eyes.

“Sorry to bother you but could either of you tell me whe––

She purposely cut herself off and redirected her eyes to the small toy in the yellow haired teen’s grasp. “Oh wow! You won something from one of these things? I’ve never had the talent.”

He took the bait and smiled with a hint of arrogance. “You bet, sweetheart. It only cost me a single swipe from my player’s card.”

“More like his entire savings,” Hide snorted.

His embarrassed friend shot him a scowl. “Lay off man. Not in front of the babe.”

“I’m impressed,” Yukie lied. “The chances of winning one of these machines is pretty low. I hardly ever waste my time on them, even though the prizes inside are to die for.”

Hide smiled; she was too cute. “It’s all talent. I bet I could win you anything in here for the right price.”

Now it was her turn to act embarrassed. She held her breath a few seconds until her face warmed up, then shook her head. “For me? That’s really nice and all … but I don’t want to be a nuisance. You see I was looking for my friend; he told me he’d be in and out, but it’s been nearly 20 minutes since I last saw him.”

His smile widened. “I totally understand. It’s hard to pull away from this place; the games are pretty fun. But hey … I can wait near the entrance with you until he shows – maybe even get to know you a little better.”  

Yukie gently laughed. She locked her arms behind her back and shifted her hips naively. “I’d appreciate that. You did offer me a prize after all; I know just the one.”

“Lead the way, babe.”

She took his hand and led him over to the machine she and Karma were in front of earlier. Fortunately, the game console was still inside.

I know what I have to do, she thought with a frown. It was the lesser of two evils. But man do I want it.

With a low groan, Yukie forced another smile and laid her finger against the glass.

“That’s the one; the emerald handheld. I’d do just about anything to get my hands on it.”

Hide knotted his brows. This would be a challenge. Did he really want to do this? She seemed like such a sweet and innocent girl. He slid the card he used to collect points on from the pocket of his baggy jeans and offered it to her. “Take this up the counter and get you something to snack on.”

She took it and slipped off. By this time, she knew that Hide was going to cheat. He never swiped the card before he gave it to her. How did he intend to play without points? Cheat, obviously.

Yukie stood by the food bar and watched him from afar. All she needed was the proof to call him out on. She waited for him to make a move, but he just stood there. This confused her – his actions – so she returned to his side and cleared her voice.

Hide jumped like he’d been caught. He almost had been – his drive to fit in almost won.

Passing back his card, Yukie bowed her head. “Let’s be honest with one another. You were going to cheat, weren’t you?”

Hide widened his eyes. How could she have known? He never told anyone. The only person who knew about the key was some junior high student that jumped him behind the station one afternoon.

“That red haired brat. He told you about me, didn’t he?”

Yukie nodded in agreement. “He’s … someone I used to be close to. Kind of mean, isn’t he?”

Kind of an understatement. She sighed in disappointment. “The plan was to sucker you into winning me the game console, but unlike him I chose not to take advantage of you like that.”

“You know that I have been stealing. What now? Do you plan on turning me in?”

He was surprised when she shook her head in disagreement. She really was too sweet. What could she want?

“Name your price,” Hide said with a sigh. “You want that game console right? I can get it for you; for your silence.”

Yukie shot him a glare. “I want you to stop. Whatever reason you have for doing it can’t be that important. You could get caught or worse; get your sister fired.”

He frowned – his big sister was the world to him. I knew it was a possibility, but I never thought I’d get found out. If she knew, and the junior high brat knew, then maybe he wasn’t as careful as he thought. Hide just wanted to be known for something; he wanted friends who liked him for just being himself.

Tears filled his vibrant colored eyes. Did he really just schooled by a pretty girl?

“I won’t tell if you promise to stop cheating,” Yukie continued. She waited for his reply.

Hide offered his hand. “You have a deal. I’m Hideyoshi by the way; Hide for short.”

“My name is Yukie,” she introduced with a smile.

He shook her soft hand. Heat spread across his face.

So cute.

Yukie released him and locked her arms behind her. This was pretty awkward now. She forced another smile and decided that she’d better meet up with Karma. He would probably boo her for doing the right thing, but she didn’t care. A part of her felt good for helping out Hide. The other part … well, it wanted the console.

She groaned to herself and mentioned to Hide that she needed to be on her way. Before she left, he asked if she’d like to come back and play games with him sometime. Yukie happily said yes.

Meeting up with Karma in the food court, she explained the situation; how she couldn’t take something that was stolen. She opted not to mention that she made a deal with Hide, but she assumed that maybe Karma already knew this.

He didn’t seem to care – though he did call her Little Goody Two-Shoes for not following through with the plan. Yukie glared at him and helped herself to some of his lunch.

“Guess it can’t be helped,” Karma mentioned with a sigh. “I have to deal with you being a backseat gamer until you get a handheld of your own.”

Yukie frowned. He really was pressing this issue. She decided not to comment on it though. All she wanted to know was what Karma thought about Asano. Was he in love with her? Was he pushing her to become a Virtuoso because he wanted her to stand by his side?

She really wanted to understand. Then again, she really didn’t. How was Karma supposed to know? He and Asano weren’t even friends. And though Karma was very observant, she questioned his sincerity. She had a decision to make now; the lesser of two evils.

“Regarding our conversation last night,” Yukie mentioned out of the blue. She took a deep breath. “I … want to know your honest opinion about Asano, but not until I ask. Give me some time to figure it out.”

Karma agreed with a nod. “Suit yourself. But you may not like it.”

She said nothing out loud. At least I know it will come from the heart.

If only she knew that at this time, someone who knew her – someone who knew Karma – saw her. This same someone took a picture of them together, then left before either of them noticed.

What a can of worms this would open up.  

[all-of-the-imagines-for-eve]

United We Stand ~ Sweet Pea (Part 7)

A/n: Haven't updated this in a MINUTE, huh? Well, here's to the continuation ig lol

Word Count: 2537

MASTERLIST

Alene completely disappeared.

The first day Sweet Pea tried not to think about it but after an entire week passed where he saw absolutely nothing of her, he was worried. The others, who had classes with her, said they didn't see her in class. She wasn't coming gone to the trailer. THE trailer, because it wasn't his anymore. It was theirs. Except that now that she was gone it was just a place he lived, not the new kind of home they'd built together.

He hadn't even realized how much of his life was her. It was weird to sleep without her figure against his, her warmth and breath felt against his skin. Without waking up to see her face or hear her voice. Even just knowing that she was okay or being sure that she was well rested and had something to look forward to or smile about or a moment to relax and that no one had picked on her to much. Or... worse.

He was going out of his mind with worry. He got so desempate that he went to her dad's house. He knocked on the door, ready to face the worst, only to be surprised when a tired man that seemed ready to fall apart answered.

This was not the same man that had wrenched the door opened the night Sweet Pea had taken Alene away from this house, but he did have the same face. Did the Devil Man have a righteous twin?

"Uh... are you Alene's dad?"

The man looked up hesitantly, his shyness reminding Sweet Pea of how Alene used to be when they first met. It made him uneasy and he found himself readying for a jump scare or some sort of attack. "I have to say yes, don't I?" His eyes watered and he whimpered. Sweet Pea shifter uncomfortably. "She's gone. Been gone so long. Probably killed herself and it's all my fault. I'm such a terrible father. I wish she would come home. Place is so... empty without her. I miss her. Martha..." the man moaned miserably and Sweet Pea turned and walked away. She wasn't here. He didn't know who Martha was but Alene definitely wasn't here.

He hated to think about her in that house, getting beat on and touched and used in every way and then made to feel bad for the person who was ripping away at her with his claws. How evil does someone have to be to turn her disappearance into an occasion to talk about himself? He hadn't even asked if Sweet Pea knew anything, or asked why Sweet Pea was there or how he knew her. No, he was fishing for reassurance that he wasn't a terrible father. He was fishing for a compliment, an ease. It sickened Sweets. No wonder she stayed. She pitied him. She was too pure for her own good.

He waited until Monday, planning on going to the police after school if she wasn't there again. He'd been avoiding it because if anyone would be considered when a South Side-friendly North Sider went missing would be the Serpent who asked about her... but her safety was worth him being stereotyped and over analyzing and run through the wash.

Conveniently, that was the day he noticed her.

He hadn't realized it, but recently she'd worn more decisive colors. Black and purple and neons and pastels. Lively colors that drew the eye and made her pop out. Today, she wore one of her old shirts: a beige, long sleeved sweater and faded grey-black jeans. Turns out she had had a bunch of jeans that had just worn out over time, not one pair she wore every day. It hadn't been an issue before, but now she faded into the walls, keeping her head down and her body small and she weaves and bobbed and dodged and stayed hidden.

His eyes went wide. How had she backtracked so much from where she had been before?

...What had happened to knock her down?

"Lee!" He called, trying to maneuver through the crowd to her. The girl froze, her body responding without her permission. That voice, that name. It wasn't within her power to resist it. And once she saw his face? It was over.

He found his way to her, his hands hovering between them, wanting to touch her, but not sure if she wanted him to.

Spoiler alert: She VERY MUCH wanted him to.

He looked around at the most students who were giving them side eyes and slowing down to try and hear their conversation. He swallowed. "Can we... talk?" He looked at her desperately.

"What do we have to talk about?" She asked. Her eyes met his and he realized that despite her skill of blending in and fading out, she hadn't really backtracked at all. She still had all her confidence, she was just using it to hide.

His face twisted in hurt. "Lee-"

"Don't call me that," she snapped. He stepped away from her. She might as well have slapped her. She just needed a distance. She needed space. She needed him to stop saying that name with that voice, low and soothing and full of concern. It was too painful, too distracting. To him though, it seemed she was cutting that last string that held them together. They were worryingly far apart and he couldn't even begin to reach her.

His lips parted but no sound came out. He closed his mouth. She clasped her hands behind her back to try and keep hold of her self control. Finally he found his words. "So that's it?" His teeth locked together and the edge of his jaw pressed against his skin, working and grinding.

She looked around at the students too. Yeah, this wasn't a good place. "Let's go somewhere else," she said quietly. He followed numbly after her as she guided them outside, to the football field that was abandoned during school hours. The bell rang in the distance but neither of them much cared. Honestly school could suck it.

When they stopped, she stayed facing away from him. Her eyes were watering and her hands, now clasped in front of her, were shaking. His words ran through her head again and again as she swallowed her own words she was so desperate to say. That's it, he had asked. As if it was up to her. As if SHE had been the one to say that was it for them. SHE had not said that they would not work. Put this space between them that was killing her. She had hid, doing everything she could to be invisible in this school once again. And when she was really hiding, it seemed Sweet Pea was the only one who could see her. What did that mean? Maybe it didn't mean anything! Maybe she was just so desperate for an alternative ending to this story that she was searching for something that wasn't there.

Maybe she'd been a fun experiment this whole time. Could he solve the puzzle? Could he figure her out? Could he find a North Sider that wasn't complete shit? But then he'd gotten too involved and now...

Sweet Pea swallowed as he went to say her name to get her attention and then thought of her snapping at him not to say it. She didn't want him to call her Lee but he couldn't bring himself to call her Alene. He couldn't do that, it would be final then. "Hey," he croaked. He closed his eyes. "It's not easy for me to open up to someone that isn't one thing or another. I used to think this world was black and white, and then you cake along and became this gray area that scared and intrigued me and I was so drawn to you." He took a step closer. "So I'm not good at this. This gray area. This word thing. Opening up and turning what I'm feeling into explanation. But what I said, it... I didn't mean that we would never work. I meant... I meant that seeing you look so North Side terrified me because, what if you realize what South Side Serpents really are, you know? We're not always butterflied and safety nets. We're not always big and strong. We don't always win. We're not heroes. We do bad things and get involved with bad people. I mean, Tall Boy for one. The Snake Charmer." He flinched at the memories of the two people he never wanted to see again. "What I'm saying is that you're so... good. You deserve to be happy and safe and sure of where you are, and you can't have that with me. And I'm terrified you're going to realize that."

Lee turned slowly to face Sweets and both froze upon seeing each other's expressions. Both of their eyes were watery and her hands were shaking as he wrung his wrists. They were falling apart.

"This is ridiculous," Lee groaned. "Let me tell you now, I know you're not perfect. That the Serpents aren't perfect. But I was willing to work to make it work, imperfections and all. You aren't a safety zone, Sweets, you're my-" she cut off, suddenly realizing that they'd never officialized anything. She was so stunned that something came out of her mouth that she had been trying not to say. "I love you." Her eyes widened and Sweet Pea didn't move a single muscle, trying to process. "You're not perfect and you're not all good. But what the fuck ever!" She looked at him, her words growing louder. "I'm NOT a princess. I'm a prisoner. Cheryl is a princess. Betty is a princess. I'm trapped in this stupid world I want nothing part of, looking for a reason to escape. YOU are that reason, Sweets. You want to know what was going on when I was with all those North Siders? I was enjoying a joke. A temporary phenomenon." She stepped closer to him. "I went deep into hiding since we've been apart. Kept my head SUPER low and took absolutely no risks. No one else could see me, Sweets. I disappeared. I was invisible again... to everyone except you. I think I knew. I avoided you so much because I was scared you wouldn't see me like everyone else, even more scared that you would. But you saw me and it's so much better than I thought it would be." Her eyes closed. "I get it if you don't feel the same but-"

Sweet Pea rushed her. Their lips met and his hands pulled her close. She went tense, freezing, and then even so slowly responded. Her lips worked with his, her hands reaching up and tangling in his hair. They fused together, and to anyone watching it wasn't completely sure where one stopped and the other started. It was heated, their bodies lighting on fire. It was impossible to move, breathe, or even think because the sizzling and burning that made it impossible to part also made it unbearable to stay together. She shivered and his hands tightened on her.

Finally it ended. Mercifully. Unfortunately. The fire was terrible except that it was also life giving and cleansing. It super charged them and wiped every other emotion off the table. It was painful and it hurt oh so good.

When they did finally stop kissing, they didn't stop touching, keeping the fire alive. Their foreheads pressed together, their noses brushing and their breaths mixing. "I love you too," Sweet Pea whispered. The words were huskier than usual. Still smooth though, soft and gentle and full of ease and warmth. He suddenly dipped down, kissing her again. "I love you." Another kiss. "I love you." Each fast kiss came with little confessions between them, over and over again until they were laughing, Sweet Pea weak at the knees and Lee trying to wipe the tears that wouldn't stop. "Don't cry," he begged quietly.

"These are happy tears," she comforted him. "I don't think I could stop them if I tried." She laughed. "I AM trying, so-" Another laugh.

Sweet Pea smiled. "We're so dumb," he groaned. Lee groaned in agreement, her forehead pressing on his chest.

Lee leaned back, looking at the world around them. The sun seemed to shine brighter, the colors more vibrant and the movements of cars and wind-pushed plants smoother and more natural. She leaned away from him, grabbing one of his hands with two of hers. He rose an eyebrow and she winked. She sat down in the middle of the field, tugging him until he sat down next to her. "Lay down with me," she asked him, patting the grass. He did so, his expression unsure but curious. On instinct he put his hand under his head, his arm sticking out. She smiled, laying on her side right next to him, scooting as close as possible. The arm that was between her body and the ground she slipped under his folded arm, laying on top of their arms. Her other arm went over him and the leg on the same side of that arm went on top of the leg that was closest to her. Without thinking about it he put the other leg on top of the one she'd placed on top of his. His free hand moved down to allow his thumbs to trace her bare arm. The arm she had under his, under her head, she bent to brush her fingers through his hair or across his shoulder.

It was comfortable. So comfortable it surprised Sweet Pea. She moved closer so that her ear was pressed against the connection between his arm and his chest. She hummed. "I can hear your heartbeat."

He smiled. "How did you learn how to do this?"

She blushed. "I read a lot of books. And watch movies." Her smile was soft. "My mom used to tell me stories, snuggling up with me when Is have panic attacks. She said this was the most comfortable position she'd ever found to cuddle in...." The more she talked the quieter her voice got.

Sweet pressed his lips briefly to her forehead. "You never talk about your mom," he quietly noticed.

"She left," Lee answered. "I don't blame her, my father is... terrible. Tried to take me with her but I wouldn't go. He begged me not to." She flinched and Sweet Pea held her tighter. "I'm glad I didn't go. Despite everything... I look like her. He used to call me Martha."

Sweet Pea's eyes widened. "Your mom is Martha?" He felt sick.

Lee nodded. "Yep." Her words grew strained. "He used to say I was just as pretty as she was."

"I love you," Sweet Pea said.

She smiled. "I love you too."

With the sun above them and the grass under them and their words between them, they were cocooned in soft safety. Nothing existed outside of them. It was just them, here, now. Lee's past was dark and demented, but her present was good and her future seemed to be looking even better. Nothing else mattered.

-

Story Tag List: @shookyungsoo

FTL: @chipster-21 @alexa-playafricabytoto @bitchyseawitch @justanotherdaydreamersoul @wolfgirlxslytherin

[girlobsessed21]

The 100 6x06 analysis: A night-without-blood, only tears

Loved this episode. We got a glimpse of the old Bellamy, albeit small, but he was there. The pacing was better. We finally got to meet Sheidheda. And, I called it in my predictions post last week, Clarke Griffin’s coming back. 

Is it weird to watch this show knowing Bob and Eliza are married? Not for me, I separate the characters from the actors easily. Just once again, I’m thrilled they found their happily ever after. Please check out the wedding gift donation.

Madi crossing to the dark side

Obviously, this is the worse to come out of the whole body-snatching ordeal. Josephine couldn’t care less about her new daughter. Although Gaia is Madi’s teacher, she’s still her subordinate. Without any guidance, sweet little Heda falls straight into the exploiting claws of her evil predecessor. 

I didn’t think this would rise so soon, but I fear we might have a new Bloodreina on our hands. The Sanctumites killed Madi’s mother, she will retaliate with full force and who could blame her. If you took mine for self-serving reasons, I’ll want vengeance too. 

Somehow, I still think those machines strapped to her head is Josephine’s handiwork, wanting something from the flame. Or maybe it’s a way to pull Madi back from the dark hole she’s fallen into. 

Either way, it looks like she’s becoming a villainous character who wants revenge and I hope she succeeds. Russel may have goodness inside, yet he still murdered an innocent person to bring his daughter back. Ryker, on the other hand, is a quizzical one.

The 100 episode 6 - Return of the cockroach

We all knew he would take that deal but, as expected, terms and conditions apply. Clarke’s dead, there’s nothing they can do about it. Teaming up with Josie means they get the Sanctumites’ help with survival and he earns eternal life. 

It makes sense for him, Clarke wasn’t his favorite person and what’s done is done. Obviously, he knows convincing Bellamy will be a lot harder.

That was all of our reactions. And then he goes and spoils it all by saying some stupid like it’s what Monty would have wanted. Oomf the trump card. No violence, no eye-for-an-eye, just look forward and do better. Oh, and it’s what Clarke would have wanted too.

In some twisted way, he’s right. His way saves everyone else including Bellamy and the planet or moon or whatever. Both Murphy and Josephine’s manipulation this episode is vulgar yet brilliant. Richard and Eliza, you killed it.

Meanwhile, in the woods, the badass trio is being summoned

May I just highlight this line: “Forty vestil virgins and a side dish of none of your damn business.” Man, I love Diyoza too bits. And Xavier. And Octavia. And I hope Marie gets that Emmy nomination because she deserves the hell out of it.

So, Diyoza learns about Gabriel’s rebellion but refuses to join in order to save her daughter’s life. She’s not your conventional mother hen but the way she looks out for Octavia and her child is a clear depiction of her ability to care. 

How did Xavier know Diyoza is expecting a girl???

There are tons of rumors that Xavier is Gabriel. I don’t think he is. Or rather, I hope he’s not. I want Gabriel to be an anomaly as much as he “lives” in one. Perhaps he can only exist inside it because of his age? But he’s calling them for a reason and I bet that reason is “death to primes” and Clarke’s resurrection.

I’m still sticking to my time travel theory of Diyoza meeting Hope and Octavia facing off with Bloodreina. I’d love to see what Xavier’s battles might be. Also, I’m pretty sure these three’s journey is the conclusion to all of their problems and the Blakes’ reconciliation. The villains of earth become the heroes of Sanctum was foreshadowing, I'm certain.

Abby, wtf is wrong with you?

How on earth does she not see through the inconsistencies in her daughter’s behavior? Echo figures it out before she does for heaven's sake. And after everything they’ve done in the past, she decides it’s alright to resurrect the man she loves at the cost of someone else.

Will she resort back to drugs after this too? Clearly, she can’t deal with the thing’s she’s done. Turning Jake in. Becca’s lab. The dark year. And now she’s doing it again. All because her daughter tends to think it’s okay and doesn’t want to lose her. Open your damn eyes, Clarke would never ask you to do something that selfish.

Raven and Ryker

Can someone please shut Raven up. Her self-righteous attitude this season is sickening. She did bad things too. Asking Clarke to kill Lexa. Sacrificing Murphy so Finn could live. Refusing to give Abby medicine for radiation poisoning. Has she forgotten? But worst of all, she left the hard decisions up to Bellamy and Clarke and now she’s mad because they made them.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the piece of her mind she gave Ryker. But the condescending way in which it’s done is annoying. He clearly needs to hear it and she touched where it hurts. Is it wrong to like him and hope he survives? Out of all the primes, it seems like he and Gabriel are the only ones with a conscience. Russel’s is debatable.

They are not gods. What makes them so special? Knowledge? Intellect? Wisdom? And creating a realm of worship so people would sacrifice themselves for you is revolting and everything but divine or remarkable.

Yes, Echo gets a narrative!

The woman is smart, dangerous and loyal. So far, she’s been nothing but Bellamy’s girlfriend and subject, so I’m glad she finally got a storyline of her own. I’m sure the mercy kill of the guard was used purely to show her compassion, which her boyfriend questioned a few episodes ago. Many people still do not like her. 

Being an amazing spy, she extorts Jade for information and figures out that Clarke’s gone. Her natural inclination is to attack which Bellamy, to my surprise, shoots down. That look in her eye suggests she’s not done though. She’ll probably save Jade’s life in exchange for being a double agent. Which could be a great asset to our heroes.

Tasya Teles said that her favorite dynamic of the show is yet to come and that Echo is bisexual. I can see the two of them partnering up and that’s a team I both route for and ship. They’re equals, they have similar backgrounds, they’re caring in a complex way. Why not be those things for each other?

In the end, it all boils down to Bellamy and Clarke

Bellamy’s tears, tears, and more tears this episode was heartbreaking. Don’t hate me, it wasn’t as convincing as, “We can’t lose Clarke, we can’t lose her!” or “I left her to die and we all die anyway!” though. Why is his mourning stressed this way? Maybe because he lost someone he loves like Russel suggested.

Acting out of anger, he tried to choke Russel for killing her and I imagine the following stopped him: “You have such a big heart Bellamy... but to make sure we survive, you have to use this too.” Especially because he later states that we survive, it’s what Clarke would have wanted.

Tears welled in my eyes when he told Madi. And that hug gave me painful father-daughter feels. At least he’ll try to keep his promise to Clarke and take care of her. Bellamy, you better, that girl is taking a wrong turn. Even if I agree with her cause, following a venomous lead will land her in scorching hot water.

I really would have loved to see Miller, Jackson and Jordan's grief too. And it looked like Spacekru didn't care much after she saved their lives countless times. That scene was underwhelming, truly.

Now, as I predicted, Clarke appears in Josephine’s dreams when she finally sleeps. Which images haunt her? Roan, Abby, Madi, Lexa, Bellamy. I saw tweets of other’s but those were clear to me. Accompanied by Abby, Bellamy and her own words to Lexa. The most important people in her life, right?

I knew this would happen, something obviously went wrong with the insertion or Clarke is just a fighter. I don’t think it has anything to do with synthetic nightblood. Josephine, honey, you’re in for the wildest and scariest rollercoaster ride of your life. Clarke Griffin is a force to be reckoned with and she won’t stop until her prison break is successful. 

I cannot imagine the experience of living in your own mind to be pleasant. Especially not while fighting Josephine Lightbourne for power. Poor, poor, Clarke.

Bellamy was the first to notice Josephine isn’t Clarke and I’m sure he’s gonna realize that she still exists too. The devil will let something slip or act weird and he’ll pick up on it. Either that or Jade informs Echo. Once he solves that puzzle, he will stop at nothing until she returns to him. But Bellamy, please keep your eye on Madi throughout, do not follow in Abby’s footsteps.

Will Clarke’s dreams hold a confession of feelings? Will Bellamy confess to Josephine? Will there be any sort of confession?

Last week someone called my Becho theories typical. Fine, I may be biased but I only write what I see on my screen and if you disagree, I’d love to know why.

[paimaniagalaxia]

Hunted: Aftermath Part 2

Aftermath Confrontation

Written by: Paimania Galaxia and Jordanthecat11

Summary: After things settle down at the Daemonium mansion, Tyrone gets sent to Alphonse’s pawn shop to work there. Where he meets up with Margo Magic, as she has been working for Dandy before his plans began for the Daemoniums. As this leaves a very bitter taste in the magician toon’s mouth, as she does not believed Dandy has switched sides.

JordantheCat11

A day has passed since the event of Beelzebub’s attack.  Things were much more peaceful now that Kitty had been saved and given a new look.  And a really good one, too, Tyrone had to admit.

Speaking of which, the 23-year-old cat boy was making his way to Alphonse’s shop to start his first day on the job.  He was grateful that Dandy, his master and father-figure, put him to work as an alternative way to pay his debt.  So much better than killing or hurting people, that’s for sure.

Paimania Galaxia

Speaking of Alphonse, the Death, the Grim Reaper of Hell: Was cleaning out some old potion glasses with a dirty rag. As much as he wanted to get out and smell the roses, he liked being cooped up in a small space. Hell was too vast and big for his liking, and settled down after being summoned to kill his 'master'. He gets summoned like any other demon, this time was an animator-- Let's say no one remembers them anymore.

His assistant, Margo Magic was counting stock in the shop. She was assigned to work here with Alphonse as well. Selling her soul to the Devil after she captured her alter ego, Penny The Playful Demon. Making a deal to be her more beautiful self, but had to stay and work. Alphonse was nice, a bit on the cold side, but not bitter and cruel. After working a few days here, things seem to have brightened up.

JordantheCat11

After a few minutes or so, Tyrone turned over to the corner and spotted a small building straight ahead of him.  The sign was in bold, gothic letters and its presence gave him a slight chill down his spine.

“This must be the place,” he said to himself before walking up to the doorstep.  He took a deep breath before opening the glass door and stepping inside.  He looked left and right to see where the shopkeeper was.  “Hello?  Anyone here?”

Paimania Galaxia

"Over here at the counter." Alphonse answers with a cold tone. As that is how he usually spoke. His red dotted eyes peer over at Tyrone. "Ah, you must be the new employee Dandy has sent for me. Tyrone was it?"

JordantheCat11

Tyrone turned his head toward the direction of the counter.  “O-oh, yes!  Yes,” He replied, walking over to the counter before reaching out to shake his employer’s hand.  “Tyrone Davidson.  Pleasure to meet you, sir.”

Paimania Galaxia

"Alphonse Reaper..." Alphonse replies monotone like and takes Tyrone's hand. His bony grip was ice cold when being touched. "It is a pleasure to have another new face in here... We don't get many that come in here..."

JordantheCat11

Tyrone was a bit surprised by how cold Alphonse’s hand was.  But then again, since he was mostly made of bones, it made sense.

“Well, I’m honored,” He said sincerely.  “I’ve served Satan for a few years now, so I think I know what I’m getting myself into.  Just let me know what you’d like me to do.”

Paimania Galaxia

"You can help Margo count and stock the shelves... And by the way, I've been working with him for CENTURIES... This whole change of personality is new. And might bring some misfortune... I can feel it..." Alphonse warns Tyrone bitterly.

JordantheCat11

“Uh...uh-huh,” Tyrone replied hesitant.  “I’ll, um, take your word for it.  Thank you, sir.  And, where may I find Margo?”

Paimania Galaxia

"Over here there kiddo!" Margo calls out as she waves her hand. She was holding a pen in her hand.

JordantheCat11

Tyrone followed the sound of the woman’s voice.  She was quite taller than he was and dressed like a magician.  But she also seemed quite friendly.

“Oh, hi!” Tyrone said, heading over to her.  “Pleasure to meet you, Miss Margo.  I’m Ty, short for Tyrone.”

Paimania Galaxia

"And you can call me just Margo Ty." Margo smiles happily and points to some boxes. "Care to take out those trinkets out for me. I've already counted them out.

JordantheCat11

“Sure thing,” Tyrone replied, going over to the pile of boxes.  He took one out and used his claw to cut through the packaging tape.  Then he opened the box up to the trinkets that Margo mentioned.

Tyrone carefully picked them up one to make sure he was careful not to break or drop them.  “Here you go!” He said as he handed them to Margo.

Paimania Galaxia

"You can stack them, I'm kind of cataloging over here." Margo replies back as she starts to count another shelf, with her back turned away from the demonic cat.

JordantheCat11

“Ah, right, sorry,” Tyrone said, laughing nervously.  He probably should’ve paid better attention before opening his mouth.  That was a problem he always had, even as a child.  But even so, at least Margo was there to correct him so he could do things the right way.

He made sure to categorize each item according to their labels and the height of the shelves.  They needed to squeeze in just right so there was enough room for each row.  Once the first box was done, he moved onto the next.

Paimania Galaxia

"Sorry, I'm still a bit on edge every since I've spoken to Dandy... Or Satan, or whatever his name is. I hope I never see his ugly mug again." Margo spoke bitterly. Her first meeting with the 'darling devil' didn't go down smooth like ice tea. It was hot and painful... She had no warmth for that devil whatsoever.

"I don't know what you and Alphonse see in him. Like he'll ever change."

JordantheCat11

Tyrone turned his head to her as he continued stacking the shelves.  Guess whatever deal she made with Satan wasn't a good one.  He could empathize, since he, too, was forced to do his bidding until he decided to team up with him and the Daemoniums to stop Beelzebub.  He wanted to keep believing that he changed for the better.  That he really was sorry for all he did.  And he still did.

"Look, I get it...you made a deal with him that pretty much made you his prisoner," he said.  "I know what that's like, but I'll spare you the sob story and just get to the point.  Yes, he did horrible things.  Yes, he's the literal DEVIL, who's meant to be evil, ruin your life, and all that shit."  He sighed.  "But...he saved my life.  A lot of people's lives actually.  It's...incredible."

Paimania Galaxia

"I'll believe it when I see it happen." Margo states bluntly.  As much as she wanted to believe in Tyrone, it didn't feel right. Even if Dandy gave her form back, she had a 'little bit of him' inside of her. It made her ache of what he might do whenever he feels like it. Maybe even use her to hurt the family she keeps abandoning, and now she can never see them again. She didn't want to share her sob story to Tyrone, since he wasn't sharing his.

"Look, whatever he did. That's fine for you, he is still a 'bad guy' in my book." She retorts back before turning away. Scribbling away onto her clipboard she was writing her pen on.

JordantheCat11

"Whatever you say," Tyrone replied, opening up the next box.  She may not believe him through words alone, but when the time's right, he knows Dandy'll be able to prove it.  Honestly, he wouldn't mind if his master actually showed up this very second to check up on him.

Paimania Galaxia

"HELLO DEMONIC MAFIA CREW~!!" Dandy kicks the door open with a big smile on his face. The darling devil sighs happily before stepping in as Alphonse's slivering tail closes the door. "It does have a nice ring to it, since Mento runs the 'Mafia Crew', why not copycat it for ourselves for our little rag tag of souls that I currently own!"

"Way to make an entrance there sir..." Alphonse glares a bit at the sudden appearance of his lord.

"I always make the best when appearing in any story Alphonse!" Dandy remarks back before fixing his bowtie.

Margo looks at Dandy with wide eyes and a sour frown. As she crushes the pen in her hand out of pure rage, lowly growly to herself.

JordantheCat11

Tyrone couldn't help but chuckle when Dandy made his 'dramatic entrance.'  Though they were often much at times, he was still good at it.

"Morning to you, too, Master," he said before noticing ink dripping out of Margo's hand.  It looked like she broke her own pen, but hearing her growl made him realize that maybe this was too soon after all.  "Margo?  Are...you alright?"

Paimania Galaxia

"Peachy..." Margo hisses underneath her breath. She was seething with rage and hated it-- Since she was showing this negative side to a new toon she just meet. Wasn't a good look on her at all.

"So how are things running? Sold anything, got anything that was pawned off?" Dandy asks Alphonse.

"Just the usual piece of jewelry after a messy divorce, and guns and deeds to farms... That sort of thing. I kind of miss reaping souls, but they all go either up and down nowadays. No need for my kind ..." Alphonse groans a bit annoyed. "Sometimes I think I was just made to look cool and run a shop as an extra."

"Ya got your chance, so... Where's Maggs at? She isn't still mad, is she?" Dandy whispers to Alphonse.

Alphonse looks over at Margo and then back at Dandy. Frowning with his usual displeased look.

"She is looking as pissed off as your wife." Alphonse comments.

"Oooh... That bad..." Dandy groans a bit as his ears flop back.

JordantheCat11

"M-Margo," Tyrone said, heading toward her.  He didn't want to see her angry like this.  He could tell she was trying to hold back, but it was hard for her.  "Do you wanna take a break?  I can finish cataloguing for you after I'm done with these boxes."

Paimania Galaxia

"Y-Yeah... I need a break. I need to wash off this ink..." Margo sighs before walking away, she sets down her clipboard onto a shelf. Leaving it half way on it. As she makes her way to the backroom, going upstairs as that lead to Alphonse's apartment. Since that was the only workable sink in the bathroom.

"So... Seems like Margo still thinks I'm still Mr. Horrible!" Dandy walks over to Tyrone, chuckling before the clipboard hits his head. "Oow... Stupid long-legged wench..."

JordantheCat11

"You know...you could apologize to her," Tyrone replied, as seeing the two demons still at each other's throats made him feel a little uneasy.  "I know you're trying your best to improve.  And I've seen progress.  But now you need to prove it to her because I can tell she's still hurting."  He bent down on one knee to meet Dandy's height.  "Is...that too much to ask?"

Paimania Galaxia

"Not it ain't Ty..." Dandy sets the clipboard to the side, pushing it away so it won't fall again. "I was very harsh, quite literally. I left her chained up and gagged for a long time." He admits and fully regrets it with his voice choking up a bit. "I'll go talk to her... It better be quick since I have to help Bow at her shop. Thought I'd popped in really quick to say hi-- But this turned into an apology fest."

JordantheCat11

"Sorry," Tyrone said, pulling Dandy in for a hug.  He felt bad for bringing him into this, but he felt like closure was needed so things wouldn't be so stressful while working.  "But I appreciate you doing this for me.  Just do the best you can and I'll be behind you all the way."

Paimania Galaxia

"I can do this on my own. Just me and Margo." Dandy declines Tyrone's offer to go up with him. "But thanks for the support either way." He pats Tyrone's head before feeling he was let go. The darling devil then dusts himself off and sighs, as he makes his way up the stairs in the back of the store. Ready to confront the Miss Margo Magic.

JordantheCat11

"Well, alright," Tyrone said, letting Dandy go so he could return to his work station.  He gave one last glance at the devil as he headed upstairs.  "You can do it, Dad..." he whispered to himself.

Meanwhile, Margo was washing the rest of the ink off her glove under the warm water.  She almost forgot how powerful her strength was when she was angry, and boy did it show.  She then turned off the water and sighed, staring at the mirror with an exhausted look on her face.  She felt bad for getting mad in front of Tyrone, but it was hard not to when HE was around.

Paimania Galaxia

Soon there was a knock at the door, it was light but left a nice ring to it. A pretty 'wooden' melody someone might say. Dandy gives a few clears of the throat, to signal to Margo that he was here.

JordantheCat11

Once Margo heard that knock on the door, her head shot up.  She wondered who it could be.  Her first thought was Tyrone, since he sounded like he felt bad for her.  She didn't mean to make him worry and wanted to tell him she was okay.

But as soon as she opened the door, she saw no one but the Darling Devil himself.  She leered at him.

"Oh...it's you," Margo said nonchalantly. "What do you want?"

Paimania Galaxia

"I don't have to come in. You can just slam the door into my face if you like. If that, well makes you feel better." Dandy grins a bit before sighing. "Listen... I know we had a rocky start. Chaining ya up and hanging you up like a Christmas ornament wasn't one of my best ideas... But, I do have to admit something, I did break your promise. The Daemoniums did get hurt... So the deal's off." The then pulls up Margo's contract and engulfs it into blue flames. "Yer soul doesn't belong to me anymore, you can go..."

JordantheCat11

Margo blinked a few times.  "You...you what?!" she exclaimed in shock, anger, and a bit of amazement.  He was setting her free, which brought a heavy weight on her shoulders, but she was more focused on the fact that he hurt her family.  "You...how?!  Why?!"

Paimania Galaxia

"Look, I made a deal with Beelzebub and things gotten hectic okay!" Dandy shouts back. "I just wanted to do my job as Satan, Lord of Hell-- To prove to my subjects that I'm not some devil-damned weak leader okay! My wife could run Hell better than me..." He starts to tear up. "I saw why you like them so much... They really care about one another, I'm sorry... Just go. Yer not wanted here. You don't like me, nor will you ever do! No amount of apology is ever going to change your mind, I'm still the 'bad guy' to you..."

JordantheCat11

Margo couldn't believe her non-existent ears.  Even seeing Dandy cry was absurd.  Was he really doing this now?  Blaming himself for everything?  She didn't want to jump to conclusion that Tyrone had been right all along, but she couldn't stand to hear him beat himself up.

"Stop!" Margo said, feeling her own tears coming on.  "Just stop, okay?!"  She sighed, pinching her fingers against the bridge of her nose.  "Alright, fine!   I forgive you, just...stop crying, okay?  Now you're making me feel bad."  A sob crept up in her throat.  "I'm...I'm sorry I held a grudge.  I just...it hurt knowing that I left my family without saying goodbye.  And the fact that you kept me from seeing them again hurt even more.  So I couldn't help but be mad, okay?"  She wiped her tears away with her sleeve, smudging it with her mascara.  "But if what you say is true and you really want me to leave...then I'll go.  But let me ask you this...are they okay now?  Every one of them?"

Paimania Galaxia

Dandy was shocked to hear her say that she forgave him, even the two were sobbing after watching a trainwreck or something. They both felt hurt and bad for what they did. At least the devil was relieved to hear her accept his apology, and sighs. "Yes... They are okay. Some things changed here and there, but ya can check it out yerself... Before ya go, go and tell Ty that I've moved myself to meet with Bow. I'm running late as is."

JordantheCat11

Margo was relieved to hear that the Daemoniums were alright.  And whatever changes happened after escaping Beelzebub, she would embrace them.  Because she loved her family too much not to.

"Mmhmm," Margo nodded.  "I will.  Thank you, Dandy."  She picked up her feet and started heading down the stairs before turning back to Dandy.  "Oh, and tell Bow I said hi," she said with a smile.

Paimania Galaxia

Dandy returns Margo with a soft smile back. "Well, catcha on the flip side!" He gives a wink before snapping himself away. Diving into an ink puddle before that disappears along with him.

JordantheCat11

Margo giggled, finally finding that sense of humor within him. Then she made her way back down to her workstation to join Tyrone before leaving the shop for good.

-The End-

[varvesivy]

Idk if you’re taking prompts, but if you are, could you do Natasha Romanoff/Maria Hill after infinity war? Like how Natasha deals with all the stuff that happens? - from anon

(ok so anon prompted me and then tumblr ate it but fear not! i have it saved in my google docs. anyways let’s continue.)

oh yeah i’m always taking prompts! just might take me awhile to fill them sorry.

anyways since i’ve seen this prompt get done a couple of times/to avoid being repetitive, why not throw a soulmate AU into it?

——

This is new.

Out of all the things she’s done since she’s defected to S.H.I.E.L.D.- fighting Steve’s war friend, holding a staff with an infinity stone, whatever the hell Budapest was- she’s never experienced this before.

Being buried alive is something she never wants to do again.

And it’s not that she’s ever really feared it either; she’s never thought of herself as immortal, per se, but Maria’s said Natasha has cheated death one too many times to be considered natural and that Natasha’s almost like Liho the cat, with her nine lives.

Natasha agrees. Not only because she and Maria have been bonded for past a decade, but also because Maria’s right.

The smell of forest soil overwhelms her senses slightly as Natasha claws her way out of the helltrap Thanos has put her in; she needs to get out and get back to Steve and Bucky and Wanda and everyone else so that they can send Thanos’ purple ass back to space.

Instinctively, she checks the mark on her left wrist, letting out a sigh of relief when she sees the swirl is still a bright red.

Maria’s still alive, wherever she is.

(she prays she’ll never have to see the mark turn black, because if it’s black then-

well, she doesn’t want to think about it.)

She sees lighting strike down from the sky, presumably due to Thor and that gigantic axe he’s somehow summoned from probably outer space. It’s still a little mind-boggling to think of- stones that, when combined, could probably annihilate the entire universe.

But, the Avengers will win. The Avengers have to-

And the world stops.

The mark turns black.

—-

Natasha stares up at her bedroom ceiling at the Avengers Compound - not the ceiling she’s used to seeing, the one in an apartment a couple of blocks away that they had shared - and counts to ten.

Thirty seconds later, she drags herself out of bed.

Her blonde hair is tousled and she yanks it into a ponytail, changing into workout clothes and climbing out of her window, landing on the ground with a slight thud.

Daylight’s barely started to peek through the trees, and it’s slightly chilly- perfect conditions for running herself to exhaustion.

She checks her mark, a habit she can’t seem to kick.

It’s a dark orange.

(the same color as yesterday, the day before, the week before, the month, it’s been so long since she’s seen Maria’s face, felt her touch.)

As she starts her run, her mind wanders with the steady thumping of her feet against the ground-

(“Steve, what happened?” Natasha asks, her voice laced with panic and she has to ask again when he doesn’t answer, “What happened?”

“They’re gone.”

That’s all he says.)

-she navigates through the forest surrounding the compound, being careful not to step on any of the bugs-

(Days pass and her mark steadily lightens, just like Steve’s- he takes it as a good sign, clinging to a shred of hope that Bucky is okay, somewhere, anywhere - but Natasha can’t help but think that they’re both being idiots and they’re gone.

She takes it into herself to do some research, trying to find out more about dark orange soulmarks, if they’re any different than black ones or if she’s just in denial.

News articles tell her the soulmates of those who died in the Decimation (she thinks it’s a dumbass name) also have dark orange marks as opposed to the normal black, and apparently there are academics working around the clock to see if there’s any significance to it.

She still doesn’t have answers.)

-dodging through the trees somewhat numbs her as she focuses on breathing in and out, feeling her calves burn slightly from the uneven terrain.

She just wants Maria back.

(Is that so much to ask?)

—-

“What do we do, now that they’re gone?” She hears someone ask.

Steve has dragged her to something resembling an AA meeting, almost like group therapy, after he’d noticed Natasha hadn’t slept in two days.

“We need to move towards acceptance,” the group therapist says, like he knows something they don’t. “Accept that our loved ones are gone.”

Steve gets up, his chair scraping against the floor, leaving the room.

Natasha follows.

Outside, she finds Steve leaning against a wall, his hands in fists and she can see he’s desperately trying not to punch the wall.

“For what it’s worth, I thought what he was saying was complete bullshit,” Natasha says.

Steve clenches his jaw. “Bucky isn’t dead. The soulmark says so.”

He rolls up his sleeve, looking at the dark orange star etched on his skin.

“They haven’t confirmed anything yet. You know that,” Natasha replies, subconsciously rubbing her hand over the swirl on her left wrist.

“Are you saying you’re ready to let Maria go?”

Natasha looks at him, narrows her eyes, and leaves.

—-

For all of her training, she still doesn’t know how to handle this.

Academic papers come out debating the significance of the dark orange soulmarks - she had no idea academic discourse was even a thing - but not one of them can give a definitive answer.

And she doesn’t dare step foot in the apartment she used to call home.

Liho jumps up nimbly onto the couch where she’s sitting, the black cat crawling into her arms as she stares off into the distance. He purrs softly, rubbing his tail under her nose.

Natasha scrunches her face, bringing a hand up to stroke the cat.

(“Natasha, I swear that cat is the devil incarnate,” Maria says, swatting Liho away from her food. “He steals more food from me than you do.”

“He’s a cat, Maria. I’m sure there are more evil entities out there,” Natasha replies, patting her lap while they’re outstretched on the couch. “Liho, c'mere. You can have some of my sushi.”

Maria glares at him as he struts towards Natasha. “I swear you love that cat more than me sometimes.”

“Not physically possible,” Natasha murmurs, worming her hand out of Liho’s warm body and grasping onto Maria’s hand.

They watch TV for a couple of moments before Natasha turns her head sideways, leaning in and catching Maria’s lips.

“I don’t do that to Liho,” Natasha murmurs when she leans back.

Maria chuckles; finds Natasha’s other hand and holds onto it. She leans in, her mouth just ghosting Natasha’s ear.

“Good.”)

—-

Maybe she doesn’t ever move on.

(She’s not supposed to.)

The soulmark isn’t black, after all.

——

gosh this was rushed... even though this prompt has been sitting in my inbox for a good month or three anyways sorry for the sucky prose and whatnot.

if you want to you can prompt me? i still have some other asks to get through but i’ve got some time this week :D

[a-notebook-of-stories]

4th Story: The Silent Boy

On a cold wintery night, there lived a boy who was mute. The boy wasn't born as a mute; he just chose not to speak. No one knew the reason; the many people who asked him were all told the same answer - the boy just suddenly stopped talking.

The boy grew up in an orphanage from a young age. He was adopted a few times - and was sent back not too long after. Now, the boy is 15 years old. And he currently has a new family - his third adopted family - after the first two gave up on him after 2 weeks of signing the adoption papers.

When the boy was first adopted, his first adopted family insisted he were to go with them. To them, the boy was a love at first sight. They thought they could handle a boy who was only 8 years old, and also a mute.

But that family only lasted about 2 weeks with the boy before sending him back. When they were asked why, the family just fled, leaving the boy alone again at the orphanage.

The second family that adopted the boy, adopted him 3 years later. The boy just turned 11 years old, and he still chose not to speak. This time, the second family thought they could grow, love and accept the boy for being a mute. However, the second family only lasted a week with the boy.

The second family dumped the boy at the front of the orphanage and rode off - never to be heard of again.

So the boy continued to live in the orphanage. Still alone. Still being a mute.

One day, not shy of the boys 15th birthday, a really nice couple came forward wishing to adopt a child after their own son took his life. This couple, settled on the mute boy. The couple chose to accept him, with the intention to love and provide for him. And maybe, get him to speak again.

So the boy settled down with this couple as his third family. The boy was probably expecting to be sent back within 5 days - as his previous 2 adoptions never lasted long.

But alas, 3 months went by in a flash! The boy slowly felt a little something, warm up his chest.

Perhaps this might be love?

Perhaps this might be happiness?

As the boy grew content and comfortable with his new family, the more he didn't realise what was to come.

3 months was a long time. The longest the boy ever had a home for. So the orphanage called weekly to see his condition, in this third family.

The couple did thought it was a little bit odd for an orphanage to call weekly, checking up for a child they had let go. To the couple, how pitiful was it that a boy who is a mute have been dumped twice growing up! It is so sad!!

The couple loved the boy as their own, even if he remained silent. The boy nevertheless has sensed their love and wanted to do something nice in return.

So the family celebrated the 4th month of the boys adoption into their loving circle.

The boy anticipated this day in advance. He was ready to surprise his parents that kept by him for this long; the family that hadn't abandoned him like the previous two.

So the night of the celebration after dinner, the boy swelled up all his courage he had for his surprise, for his parents.

"Thank... you."

His parents suddenly stopped what they were doing and stared.

The boy looked confused so he took another deep breath to repeat himself:

"Thank you."

A sudden horror swept over the parents face. Their smiles turned into a state of shock - face paled.

Now the boy was really confused.

He opened his mouth again, but his parents dropped everything to slam his mouth shut.

The boy soon turned frantic.

Why? he thought.

After all this time... why?

The boy was suddenly held back against his will. His father held him tight in a lock by the back. The boy could see - his father was screaming something to his mother. His eyes were wide, and terrified with fear.

The boy could see his mother momentarily disappear, and when she came back, she came back with an item. The boy saw what looked like a ball of thread in his mothers hand.

The boy struggled in confusion. His father held him tighter, echoes of him yelling something to his wife. The boys mother, through tears and struggle, inched closer and closer to the boy with the thread in her hand.

The boy resumed to struggle.

THWAK!

So the father ended up hitting the boy at the back of his head, knocking him out.

The boy was floating in and out of consciousness.

What was happening?

Why?

WHY???

When the boy finally regained consciousness he found himself lying on the kitchen floor. He was covered in blood. It was not his blood... so whose?!

The boy got up and looked around. It was eerily quiet, and the atmosphere felt denser than before. There he saw seated was his father, his chin rested against his chest. Was he sleeping?

No... he was dead!

But how?

Why?

The boy touched the body and his father slouched onto the table with a thud. There, the boy saw a knife skewered into the side of his fathers neck.

His father was stabbed.

The boy stumbled back, tripping on something, making him fall.

He looked at what tripped him and gasped.

It was his mother.

His poor mother who cared for him layed in a pool of her own blood. Her guts skewered and trailed by her, like a barbeque platter! She had giant lacerations and wounds all over her body, like some wild animals had been gnawing at post mortem.

The boy wanted to scream but he couldn't.

Why?

The boy touched his face. His hands soon fell onto his mouth. There, he felt the threads.

The thread his mother held, were on his face.

The boy scurried awkwardly to the toilet. Tumbling aghast, he needed a mirror. He needed to see.

The boy saw his face.

Sunken eyes.

Blood splats and stains.

And where his mouth was, were threads.

No wonder he couldn't scream!

His mouth were sewn shut!

The boy screamed.

Well, he tried to.

The only sound that managed to come out was a high pitch wail his throat could give.

Why?

Why? he thought.

Why?

Why??

All I said was a 'thank you!'

The boy cried.

He sobbed uncontrollably. Black ooze trickled down his face instead of tear, frightening him further.

The boy fell back, scratching at his own face and his sewn mouth.

But to his horror, instead of hands, there were claws.

Nails long and stricken with blood, the boy shot up. Again, he looked into the mirror. But what he saw reflected back was not his face.

Whose face is this?!

The boy couldn't think. So he fled the toilet.

It was like the night never skipped a beat. The front door was suddenly blown down, with explosive prowess that you could only see from an action movie.

Men in robes came running through. Mysterious men they were indeed.

The boy became frantic once again.

He growled at them; clawed at them. Like a beast, the boy soon became uncontrollable.

The men in robes surrounded the boy. One man then took out a book. An ancient book, its cover was leathered and encarved onto it was an ancient writing not known to man. It was a book that resembled... a grimoire.

All of a sudden, the boy froze. He couldn't move anymore. The men in robes surrounding the boy started to chant. The boy felt his skin crawl. Burning.

"By the Lord of Light, We, the Servants of Heaven who has roamed the Earth for centuries to protect and cast out all evil, banish you back to the depth of hell, Demon!"

The boy muffled out a wail.

Why?

Why? he thought.

Demon? Me??

The floor of the house glowed red, and a devils pentagram appeared.

It was then, all came to a still for the boy.

It was if the boy was watching a movie - flashes of his life appeared like a reel in front of his eyes.

He could see himself slaughter his parents who treated him so well in this life. He could see the tears of his mother, who reluctantly sewed his mouth shut.

Then, the boy saw images of something else.

He saw fire, death and hatred.

It was his life, in the pits of Hell.

It was the life he gave up, because he wanted to be human.

The life he gave up had a price you see. He could live as a human. But for him to do that, he had to pay a price.

That price per se, was his voice.

A voice that should never he heard to human ears.

A voice that should have never been heard in the first place.

The boys voice was a curse.

A curse, when heard would reveal his true identity.

A curse, in which once heard without proper protection, would kill.

But you see, the boy had lived as a human for too long.

The boy was first reborn as a human baby. And as a baby, you won't remember your first thoughts, right? Nevertheless memories of your past life!

The boy had forgotten that if humans heard his voice, his true self would appear. And when humans see his form, they must die.

The boy had forgotten all of that. All of that he forgot, until the night he got sent back to Hell.

The night the mute boy spoke, was when his identity was revealed.

But unlike the last two families that abandoned him, he killed the third.

Regretful as he was, he couldn't remember in the time before the slaughter.

Oh how the boy, who was actually a Demon, regretted.

- The End -