#I’d just feel bad if I got anyone sick tho

[ocdhuacheng]

You miss one (1) physics class in grad school and suddenly you’re three semesters behind got your bachelors degree revoked and have forgotten what a particle is

[mcrdvcks]

Down Bad - Chapter 5

Chapter Summary: After the events on Kamino, the squad lays low, completing small missions for Cid.

Word Count: 12.9k+

Pairing: Hunter x fem!Jedi Original Character

Notes: so this is a short (not really tho it's around 13k words) interlude between bad batch season 1 and 2. there are a few different short stories, pretty much all of them fluffy. but if you do not like sicknesses or illnesses (they are not described much, other than sneezing, coughing, and stuffy nose) i suggest you don't read the end of this. enjoy!

Series Masterlist - Chapter 4 → Chapter 6

AO3 Link For Chapter

Amina walked onto the Marauder, as Omega glanced up from her datapad. “Hey, Omega. Want to help me with something?” Amina shook the small box in her hand.

Omega got off the chair in the cockpit, “yeah! What do you need, General?”

Amina chucked, “well, I need to dye my hair again.”

Omega raised an eyebrow, “that’s not your natural hair?”

“Nope. My natural hair color is brown, but since most people know who I am, I died it to an auburn color. But the dye is fading so I thought I’d try a new color.” She shook the box again, “it’s black, so not a big difference, but anyways, do you wanna help me?”

Omega's eyes widened with excitement at the prospect of helping Amina dye her hair. "Sure, I'd love to help!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with enthusiasm as she practically bounced over to where Amina was standing. "I've never dyed anyone's hair before. This is gonna be fun!"

Amina chuckled at Omega's excitement, feeling a warmth spread through her chest at the younger girl's infectious energy. "Glad to have you on board," she said with a smile, holding out the box of black hair dye for Omega to inspect.

Omega eagerly took the box, examining it with intense curiosity as she read the instructions printed on the back. “Wait,” she looked up at Amina, “won’t Hunter get mad?”

Amina shrugged, “if we can get it done before the boys get back from getting our supplies, they’ll never know until they see the final results. We just have to be careful to not ruin the refresher.”

Omega grinned mischievously, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "Sounds like a plan! Let's get started."

The two of them made their way to the refresher, leaving their weapons in the cockpit. Once inside the small refresher, Amina spread an old towel over the floor to catch any drips, while Omega eagerly tore open the box of hair dye.

"So, how does this work?" Omega asked, peering at the instructions on the back of the box.

Amina took the box from her and quickly skimmed over the directions. "Looks like we just mix these two bottles together," she explained, holding up two small tubes of liquid. "Then we apply it to my hair, wait for a bit, and rinse it out. Simple enough."

Omega giggled, her excitement bubbling over as she eagerly grabbed the bottles of dye from Amina. “Alright, let’s do this!”

Working together, Amina and Omega mixed the two liquids according to the instructions on the box, creating the black hair dye. Omega carefully sectioned off Amina’s hair, using clips to keep it out of the way as they began the process of applying the dye.

“You have a lot of hair.” Omega said, starting to dye the lowest section of her hair.

“Yeah. I don’t think my hair has ever been this long. I kept it short because of the Jedi’s rules.”

Omega nodded, her brow furrowing slightly in concentration as she carefully applied the dye to Amina's hair. "What were the rules?" she asked, her curiosity piqued as she worked.

Amina chuckled softly, the memory of her Jedi training bringing a smile to her lips. "Well, there were a lot of rules," she admitted, her voice tinged with amusement. "But one of them was that Jedi weren't supposed to have attachments. Relationships, especially romantic ones, were discouraged."

Omega's eyes widened in surprise as she processed this information. "That sounds... kinda lonely," she remarked, her tone thoughtful as she continued to work on Amina's hair.

Amina nodded, a hint of sadness creeping into her expression. "It could be," she agreed quietly. "But it was also about avoiding the temptation of the dark side. Attachment can lead to fear, and fear can lead to anger, and... well…” Amina sighed, “they tried to keep me and Anakin apart, but it didn’t go well. They realized that we were stronger together, so they stopped trying to keep us separate. We didn’t see each other all the time when we were padawans, because we had different masters, but we saw each other when we were both at the Temple.”

Omega finished the first small section, “I guess I never realized how hard it was.”

Amina smiled, “it’s alright. It’s all over with now. All we can do is move forward.”

---

Hunter and the rest of the squad walked back onto the Marauder, finding it empty. The absence of Amina and Omega was immediately noticeable, and a sense of unease settled over the group as they exchanged worried glances.

"Where are they?" Wrecker asked, his brow furrowed with concern as he scanned the interior of the ship.

"I don't know," Hunter replied, his voice tinged with worry. "They were here when we left to get supplies."

Tech looked in the cockpit, “Omega left her crossbow and Amina left her lightsaber. So, either they went somewhere close by, or are still on the ship.”

"They wouldn't have just left without telling us," Echo remarked, his voice laced with concern as he scanned the interior of the ship.

"No, they wouldn't," Hunter agreed, his brow furrowing with worry. "Which means something must have happened."

Wrecker's eyes widened with alarm as he glanced around the empty hangar. "What if they've been captured?" he suggested, his voice filled with dread at the thought of his friends being in danger.

Hunter's jaw clenched with determination as he considered Wrecker's suggestion. "We need to find them," he declared, his voice firm as he turned to face the rest of the squad. "Tech, see if you can track their comms. Echo, check the surrounding area. Wrecker, with- ”

They heard muffled laughing coming from down the hall as Hunter walked over, with his helmet under his arm. He stopped in front of the refresher’s door and knocked hearing Amina let out a muffled curse.

Hunter's brow furrowed with concern as he heard Amina's muffled curse from behind the closed door of the refresher. Without hesitation, he knocked again, this time with a sense of urgency in his rap on the metal surface.

"Amina? Omega?" he called out, his voice tense with worry as he waited for a response. He heard another round of muffled laughter from within the refresher, followed by the sound of shuffling feet.

The door slid open slowly, revealing Amina and Omega standing side by side, both with guilty expressions on their faces. Part of Amina’s hair was covered in black dye, and there were splotches of the dark liquid on her forehead and cheeks, while Omega had streaks of dye on her hands and arms.

Hunter's eyes widened with surprise as he took in their appearances, a mixture of amusement and exasperation crossing his features. "What in the galaxy are you two doing?" he asked, his voice a mixture of amusement and concern.

Amina glanced sheepishly at Omega before meeting Hunter's gaze. "Uh, we were just... dyeing my hair," she admitted, her voice tinged with embarrassment as she gestured to her half of her head covered with dye, while the other half remained up in clips.

Wrecker came up behind Hunter, his brow furrowed in confusion as he held his blaster, but then he burst into laughter. "Dyeing your hair, huh?" he chuckled, his deep voice booming through the hallway of the Marauder. "You two had us worried sick! Hunter was about to send out a search party!”

Hunter glared at Wrecker before turning his gaze back to Amina and Omega. Amina’s face held a smirk, “I guess we are pretty important, aren’t we?” Amina said, holding her hand out for a high-five as Omega air high-fived her.

Hunter's glare softened slightly at Amina's smirk, unable to suppress the fondness that warmed his chest at her playful demeanor. He couldn't help but admire her resilience, her ability to find humor even in the midst of uncertainty and danger. As much as he tried to maintain a stern facade, he couldn't deny the affection he felt for the spirited young Jedi.

"Yeah, you two definitely keep us on our toes," Hunter replied with a chuckle, returning Amina's high-five with a gentle slap of his hand against hers. "But next time, maybe give us a heads up before you disappear. We were starting to worry."

Amina grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she exchanged a glance with Omega. "Noted," she said, her voice filled with amusement. "We'll try to remember that for next time."

Omega nodded eagerly, her brown eyes shining with excitement. "Yeah, we promise!" she exclaimed, her enthusiasm infectious as she flashed a bright smile at Hunter and the rest of the squad.

“Now, come on, Omega. Let’s ignore them and finish up. I don’t really think a half-and-half look is going to be good on me.”

As Omega and Amina resumed the task at hand, Hunter and the rest of the squad exchanged amused glances. Wrecker was still chuckling to himself, a wide grin plastered across his face as he shook his head in disbelief.

"I swear, those two always find a way to keep us on our toes," Echo remarked with a smirk, his tone filled with amusement as he leaned against the wall of the hallway.

Tech nodded in agreement, his expression thoughtful as he adjusted his glasses. "Indeed. Amina's presence has certainly added an element of unpredictability to our missions."

Hunter couldn't help but smile at the camaraderie shared between his squadmates. Despite the challenges they faced on a daily basis, moments like these reminded him of the bond they shared, the sense of family that had formed between them.

"Yeah, well, let's give them some space to finish up," Hunter said, gesturing for the rest of the squad to move away from the refresher. "We can catch up with them later."

The squad dispersed, leaving Amina and Omega to finish their impromptu hair-dyeing session in peace. As they worked together to apply the dye to Amina's hair, their conversation drifted to lighter topics, their laughter filling the confined space of the refresher.

Once they had finished applying the dye and rinsed it out, Amina stepped out of the refresher with a grin, her hair now a sleek shade of black that contrasted beautifully with her brown skin. Omega followed close behind, a proud smile on her face as she admired her handiwork.

"You look amazing!" Omega exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement as she admired Amina's new look.

Amina smiled gratefully at Omega, a warmth spreading through her chest at the younger girl's enthusiasm. "Thanks, Omega. You did a great job," she said, reaching out to ruffle Omega's hair affectionately.

Omega beamed at the praise, her cheeks flushed with pride. "Anytime, Amina. I had a lot of fun," she said.

Amina smiled warmly at Omega, feeling a sense of gratitude wash over her. "I had fun too," she admitted, her voice soft with affection. "Thanks for helping me out."

Omega grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Anytime," she said, her tone playful as she reached out to give Amina a playful nudge. "Just let me know if you ever want to try out any other hair colors. I'm always up for a new adventure."

Amina chuckled, shaking her head in amusement at Omega's boundless energy. "I'll keep that in mind," she replied with a smile, ruffling Omega's hair affectionately. "But for now, I think I'm happy with black."

As they made their way back to the cockpit, Amina couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment settle over her. Despite the lingering threat of the Empire and the uncertainty of their future, she found solace in the camaraderie she shared with Omega and the rest of the Bad Batch.

As they entered the cockpit, they found Hunter and the rest of the squad waiting for them, their expressions a mix of amusement and relief. Hunter's gaze softened as he took in Amina's new hair color, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his lips.

"Nice hair, General," he remarked, his voice warm with approval as he gestured to Amina's sleek black locks. "I like the new look."

Amina grinned, a warmth spreading through her chest at Hunter's compliment. "Thanks, Hunter," she said, her voice tinged with gratitude. "Omega did most of the work."

Omega beamed at the praise, her chest puffing up with pride at the acknowledgment from Hunter. "It was a team effort," she said proudly, her eyes shining with excitement.

“Now, Omega, how about we get some food? I’m starving.” Amina suggested to Omega.

Wrecker perked up, “food?”

Hunter held out his hand with a few credits as Amina shook her head, “I don’t need credits.”

Amina's refusal caught Hunter off guard, his hand lingering in the air for a moment before he withdrew it, a puzzled expression crossing his features. "You don't need credits?" he echoed, his brow furrowing with confusion as he glanced at Amina. "Why not?"

Amina waved her hand, “mind tricks. Although, I consider it to be more like persuasion. And if needed, womanly wiles.” She patted Omega’s back, “come on, let’s get some food.”

“I would li- ”

“I’ll get you food too, Wrecker.” Amina called out, cutting him off, as her and Omega walked into the streets of Ord Mantell.

---

Omega sat on the stairs of the Marauder, fiddling with her comm. They were on a mission, a simple grab and go. The squad went to go get the crate as Omega and Amina stayed with the ship. An idea popped into Amina’s head as she jumped out of the ship holding her lightsaber.

“Want to have some fun? Grab some twigs or rocks and throw them at me.”

Omega's eyes widened with excitement at the prospect of a game. "Really? That sounds like fun!" she exclaimed, eagerly hopping to her feet as she scanned the area for suitable projectiles. Spotting a pile of small rocks nearby, she quickly scooped up a handful and turned back to Amina with a wide grin.

Amina grabbed a thick ribbon she uses to tie up her hair as she blindfolded herself. “Throw when ready!”

“Are you sure?” Omega asked, taken aback by Amina putting a blindfold on herself.

“Yep. This is how we trained at the temple. Move around if you’d like, I promise you won’t hurt me.” Amina turned on her lightsaber, twisting it in her hand as the blue light shone.

Omega hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should really throw the rocks at Amina, but the Jedi's reassuring smile put her at ease. With a determined expression, she wound up and threw the first rock, aiming carefully to avoid hitting Amina.

Amina listened intently, relying on her senses to anticipate the trajectory of the rocks. With a graceful spin of her lightsaber, she deflected the first one effortlessly, the rock bouncing harmlessly off the blade and clattering to the ground.

Encouraged by her success, Omega threw another rock, this time with a little more force. Amina reacted swiftly, deflecting the rock with ease as she moved gracefully around the forest floor, her movements fluid and precise.

As the squad walked closer to the Marauder, with Wrecker carrying a heavy tote, they saw Amina blindfolded, twirling around as Omega threw varies objects at her.

"What in the galaxy are they doing?" Echo muttered, his brow furrowing with confusion as he watched Amina gracefully deflecting Omega's projectiles.

Wrecker chuckled, the sound rumbling deep in his chest as he adjusted the weight of the tote on his shoulder. "Looks like they're having some kind of training exercise," he remarked, his eyes following Amina's fluid movements with interest.

Tech, ever the analytical one, squinted as he observed the scene. "It appears to be a form of sensory training," he observed, his tone thoughtful as he studied Amina's blindfolded form. "A test of her ability to rely on her other senses, particularly her connection to the Force."

Hunter nodded in agreement, his gaze fixed on Amina as she continued to move with grace and precision. There was something mesmerizing about the way she moved, a fluidity and confidence that spoke to her years of training as a Jedi.

"Should we... interrupt?" Echo asked hesitantly, glancing uncertainly at Hunter as he gestured towards the blindfolded Jedi.

Hunter considered the question for a moment, weighing the pros and cons of interrupting Amina's training. On one hand, they were on a tight schedule, and they needed to get moving as soon as possible. But on the other hand, he didn't want to disrupt Amina's focus or inadvertently cause her harm.

Before he could make a decision, Amina seemed to sense their presence, her movements faltering slightly as she turned towards them, the blindfold still covering her eyes.

"Hey, guys!" she called out, her voice bright and cheerful despite the blindfold. "Just finishing up some sensory training with Omega.” The girl threw two rocks at Amina as she spoke, her lightsaber cutting them in half.

The Bad Batch approached cautiously, their curiosity piqued by the sight of Amina twirling around gracefully, her lightsaber slicing through rocks and twigs thrown by Omega with precision.

Hunter stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Amina with a mixture of admiration and concern. "Sensory training, huh?" he remarked, his voice tinged with amusement as he watched Amina's fluid movements.

Amina nodded, a grin spreading across her face as she continued to deflect Omega's projectiles. "Yeah," she replied, her voice slightly breathless from the exertion. "Just trying to stay sharp."

Omega threw one last rock and twig as Amina took off her makeshift blindfold. “You did good. But not good enough, young one.” Amina playfully said.

"Aw, man," Omega replied, her tone playful as she stuck out her tongue at Amina. "I'll get you next time, General."

Amina chuckled, her heart light with amusement as she watched Omega's playful antics. Despite the challenges they faced on a daily basis, moments like these reminded her of the joy and camaraderie she shared with the rest of the squad.

---

Cid’s parlor was a bit busier than usual today, so Amina took it upon herself to do some bartending for extra credits. AZI was her helper, or really more like an annoyance, but she made the drinks quickly and to everyone’s liking.

Cid walked behind the bar and threw a piece of clothing at her, landing on her face as Amina pulled it off. “Put that on.” Cid said.

Amina looked it over, grimacing. “What… is it?”

“It’s a dress.”

Amina scoffed as Cid walked away, throwing the so-called dress underneath the bar. She wasn't exactly thrilled about the idea of wearing a dress, especially not one that seemed to have been picked out by Cid of all people. With a shake of her head, she leaned against the bar, glancing around the bustling parlor.

AZI hovered nearby, its mechanical whirring filling the air as it scanned the room for any potential troublemakers. Despite its somewhat grating presence, Amina couldn't deny that having AZI around provided a sense of security, especially in a place as rowdy as Cid's parlor.

"So, are you going to put on the dress?" AZI chirped, its voice tinged with curiosity as it floated closer to Amina.

Amina rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. "Not a chance," she replied firmly. "I'd rather wear my Jedi robes than whatever monstrosity Cid picked out for me."

AZI let out an amused beep, its sensors flickering with amusement. "Suit yourself," it said, its mechanical voice filled with amusement. "But you might want to reconsider. Cid can be... persuasive when she wants to be."

Amina arched an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips. "I'm not afraid of Cid," she declared, her tone confident. "I can handle whatever she throws at me."

As if on cue, Cid returned to the bar, a mischievous glint in her eye as she approached Amina. "So, did you try on the dress yet?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Amina shook her head, her expression unapologetic. "Not interested," she replied, her tone firm.

Cid chuckled, leaning against the bar as she regarded Amina with amusement. "You're a stubborn one, aren't you?" she remarked, a hint of admiration in her voice. "I like that."

Amina raised an eyebrow, taken aback by Cid's unexpected compliment. "Uh, thanks?" she replied, unsure of how to respond.

“But since the rest of the gang is out, you are working for me.”

“I’m not working for you. I’m not even getting paid other than the tips. I’m doing this because I’m bored.”

Cid tapped her long nails against the bar, “how about I pay you and you put on the dress?”

Amina arched an eyebrow, “alright, maybe. How much?”

“15 credits for the night.”

“No way, I’m worth a lot more than 15 credits. 60.”

“25.”

“40.”

Cid sighed, “deal. Put on the dress.”

Amina groaned, “why? It’s an ugly dress.”

“Because you’re bringing the mood down here with those rags of yours.” Cid said, her eyes roaming over Amina’s clothes. She looked down at her raggedy poncho and back up.

“Okay. I see your point. But it’s not that bad. And how do I know you’re not lying to me to try and get some of these mercenaries to get handsy with me?”

“You don’t trust me?”

She scoffed, “no. I don’t trust Trandoshans.” She looked outside, noting it was almost nighttime and the squad and Omega should be back from their mission in a few hours.

“Fine, think of it this way. You putting on a dress, means more tips.” Cid said, making the money gesture.

Amina rolled her eyes at Cid's persistence, but she couldn't deny the logic in the argument about potentially increasing her tips. With a resigned sigh, she relented. "Fine, but I'm not wearing it for long," she grumbled, reaching under the bar to retrieve the discarded dress.

Cid grinned triumphantly, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she watched Amina begrudgingly retrieve the dress. "That's the spirit," she declared, her tone cheerful as she leaned back against the bar.

As Amina slipped into the dress, she couldn't help but feel self-conscious. The fabric was scratchy against her skin, and the cut of the dress was far too revealing for her liking. She tugged at the hem, trying in vain to cover more skin as she shot a glare in Cid's direction.

Cid chuckled at Amina's discomfort, her laughter ringing out through the bustling parlor. "Looking good, General," she teased, her tone playful as she surveyed Amina's appearance.

Amina scowled at the nickname, but she didn't protest. She knew that Cid was just trying to get a rise out of her, and she refused to give her the satisfaction.

With a resigned sigh, Amina straightened her shoulders and plastered on a forced smile. "Happy now?" she asked, her tone dry as she turned to face Cid.

Cid grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she nodded in approval. "Ecstatic," she replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Now get back to work. We've got thirsty customers to serve."

Amina rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction at having successfully negotiated with Cid. She may not have gotten the best deal, but at least she wouldn't have to endure the dress for long.

As she moved behind the bar to serve the next round of drinks, Amina couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the back of her mind. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but something about wearing the dress made her feel vulnerable in a way that she wasn't used to.

Pushing aside her doubts, Amina focused on her bartending duties, determined to make the best of the situation. She may not have liked wearing the dress, but she refused to let it affect her performance.

Hours passed in a blur of activity as Amina served drinks and engaged in idle conversation with the patrons of Cid's parlor. Despite her initial reservations, she found herself enjoying the lively atmosphere, the camaraderie of the mercenaries and smugglers providing a welcome distraction from the trials and tribulations of their daily lives.

She was waiting for the parlor to clear out and the Bad Batch and Omega to come back so she could escape, hopefully with a lot more credits than they’ll get from the mission.

And because she’s close to cutting one of Cid’s arms off.

Just as Amina was about to give in to her mounting sense of unease and make a hasty exit, the familiar sound of footsteps echoed through the parlor, drawing her attention towards the entrance. With a sense of relief, she watched as Hunter, Echo, Tech, Wrecker, and Omega made their way inside, their weary expressions a testament to the challenges they had faced during their mission.

Omega ran behind the bar to Amina, “woah, that’s new.”

Amina let out a huff, “yeah, I know. Cid made me wear it. But I got some credits out of it.”

Hunter approached the bar, his gaze lingering on Amina for a moment before he spoke. "You look... different," he observed, his tone careful as he studied her appearance.

Amina shifted uncomfortably under Hunter's scrutiny, suddenly self-conscious in a way she hadn't been before. "Yeah, well, Cid has a way of convincing people to do things they don't want to do," she admitted, her voice tinged with annoyance.

Hunter nodded in understanding, his expression sympathetic. "I know the feeling," he replied, his tone rueful. "Cid can be... persuasive when she wants to be."

"Well, at least I got some credits out of it," Amina added, trying to lighten the mood. "And I didn't have to wear the dress for too long."

Hunter chuckled, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "That's one way to look at it," he agreed, his tone playful. "Although, I have to admit, you do look good in a dress."

"Thanks," she replied, her voice soft. "But once I get out of this thing, I’m going to burn it with my lightsaber.” Amina reached down on a counter behind the bar and pulled out a small bag of credits, “I think there’s around 400 in there.”

Amina rubbed her japor snippet, looking up at him, “And I still don’t understand why I couldn’t go on the mission.” she muttered.

Hunter looked up from counting the credits, “you had a nightmare last night, I didn’t want to risk it.”

“Come on, a nightmare doesn’t make me a liability. I have them all the time.”

"Amina, it's not just about the nightmare," Hunter began, his voice gentle but firm. "It's about your well-being. We can't afford to take any unnecessary risks, especially when it comes to the safety of the squad."

Amina sighed, her frustration evident in the furrow of her brow as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I know you're just looking out for me, but I'm not made of glass, Hunter," she protested, her voice tinged with irritation. "I can handle myself, nightmare or not."

Hunter reached out, placing a reassuring hand on Amina's shoulder. "I know you can," he replied softly, his gaze meeting hers with unwavering intensity. "But I can't help but worry about you.”

Amina's expression softened at Hunter's words, a warm feeling spreading through her chest at the sincerity in his voice. Despite their occasional disagreements, there was no denying the bond that had formed between them over the past few months, especially with what happened after Kamino.

"I appreciate your concern, Hunter," Amina said, her voice softening with gratitude. "But you have to trust me. I can handle whatever comes my way."

Hunter nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I do trust you, Amina," he assured her, his grip tightening slightly on her shoulder. "More than you know."

Amina felt a flutter of warmth in her chest at Hunter's words, a surge of affection welling up inside her as she met his gaze. There was something about the way he looked at her, something that made her heart skip a beat every time their eyes met.

Before either of them could say anything more, they were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching from behind. Turning around, they saw Tech and Echo making their way over to the bar, their expressions somber as they joined the conversation.

"Everything okay?" Tech asked, his brow furrowing with concern as he glanced between Amina and Hunter.

Amina nodded, offering them a reassuring smile. "Yeah, everything's fine," she replied, her tone light despite the lingering tension in the air. "Just having a little chat with Hunter here."

Echo arched an eyebrow, his gaze flicking between Amina and Hunter with a knowing look. "Ah, I see," he said, a playful grin spreading across his face. "Talking about your feelings, are we?"

“Yeah, I was talking about me and Omega going on a shopping spree.”

Omega looked up at Amina, “have you ever been shopping?”

“Nope. But it’s worth a try.” She picked up another small bag with around 500 credits, “there’s got to be some nice shops around here somewhere.”

Hunter’s eyes widened looking at the second bag of credits. “Where did those come from?”

“You really think I’d give you all the credits I earned wearing this stupid thing?” Amina said, walking out with Omega from behind the bar, “no way. I deserve to get some new clothes and maybe some Nectrose Freeze if we’re lucky.” She patted Hunter’s chest plate as her and Omega walked out of the parlor and out into the streets of Ord Mantell.

Hunter turned around on the stool, his gaze lingering on the doorway where Amina and Omega had just exited Cid's parlor. There was a softness in his eyes as he watched them leave, a warmth spreading through his chest at the sight of Amina holding Omega's hand.

Echo and Tech exchanged a knowing glance, their lips quirking up in amused smiles as they observed Hunter's reaction. It wasn't often that they saw their stoic leader display such obvious affection, especially towards someone outside of their squad.

"You think he's got it bad for her?" Echo whispered, his voice barely audible over the din of the parlor.

Tech shrugged, adjusting his glasses as he studied Hunter's retreating form. "It's possible," he replied thoughtfully. "There's definitely a connection between them, whether he wants to admit it or not."

---

A few hours later, Amina and Omega walked back to the Marauder, where Echo said they were now, the two of them holding 3 bags each.

She honestly had no idea what to expect, the closest she got to shopping was watching Padme shop online for dresses.

As they reached the ramp of the Marauder, Amina glanced over at Omega with a grin. "I can't believe how much stuff we got," she exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement. "I can't wait to show everyone."

Omega's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she nodded eagerly. "Me too! I can't wait to see what you got," she replied, her voice tinged with anticipation.

With a shared giggle, the two of them made their way inside the ship, the bags of clothes and trinkets swinging from their arms. As they entered the main living area, they were greeted by the rest of the squad, who had gathered around the holotable, deep in conversation.

Hunter looked up as Amina and Omega entered, a smile spreading across his face at the sight of their overflowing bags. "Looks like you two had a successful shopping trip," he remarked, his tone warm as he gestured towards their haul.

Amina nodded eagerly, her excitement palpable as she set her bags down on the floor. "We found some amazing stuff," she replied, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm. "You won't believe the deals we got."

Echo arched an eyebrow, his gaze flicking between Amina and Omega with curiosity. "I'm sure it's all very exciting," he said, his tone dry. "But did you happen to find anything useful? You know, like supplies or equipment?"

"Actually, I did, I can be responsible occasionally," Amina said with a playful smirk, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she glanced at Echo.

Echo raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Amina's confident tone. "Oh really? And what did you find?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

Amina reached into one of her bags and pulled out a small datapad, holding it up triumphantly for the squad to see. "I managed to pick up a few supplies that I think will come in handy," she explained, her voice tinged with satisfaction. "Some medpacs, extra rations, and a few spare parts for the Marauder."

Tech's eyes lit up with interest as he took the datapad from Amina, his fingers flying across the screen as he examined the inventory. "Impressive," he remarked, his tone approving. "These supplies should help replenish our stockpile."

Amina grinned, her chest swelling with pride at Tech's praise. "Glad I could be of assistance," she replied, her voice tinged with satisfaction. "I figured it couldn't hurt to be prepared, especially with everything that's been happening lately." She reached into one of the bags and threw 3 detonators at Wrecker, “thought you might like those.”

Wrecker caught the detonators with a grin, his eyes lighting up with excitement as he examined the explosives. "Thanks, Amina!" he exclaimed, his voice booming with enthusiasm. "These will definitely come in handy."

Amina chuckled at Wrecker's enthusiasm, pleased to see her efforts being appreciated by the squad. "Glad you like them," she replied, her tone warm as she watched Wrecker inspecting the detonators with childlike curiosity.

---

The Marauder flipped upside down as Amina piloted the ship, much to Tech’s dismay who sat in the co-pilot seat as they flew away from a swarm of pirates.

"Would you mind keeping us right side up?" Tech asked, his voice laced with a hint of urgency as he adjusted the controls in a futile attempt to stabilize the ship.

Amina grinned mischievously, her fingers dancing across the controls as she expertly maneuvered the Marauder through the chaotic space battle. "Where's the fun in that?" she replied, her tone playful as she evaded another volley of blaster fire.

Tech let out an exasperated sigh, his frustration evident as he struggled to maintain control of the ship. "Fun?" he echoed, his voice tinged with disbelief. "This is not fun, Amina. This is reckless and dangerous."

Amina shrugged nonchalantly, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she glanced over at Tech. "You worry too much, Tech," she teased, her tone light despite the gravity of their situation. "We'll be fine. Trust me."

Echo let out a chuckle, “I’ve missed Skywalker flying.”

Amina laughed, “see, someone appreciates my flying skills!”

Wrecker let out a whoop of excitement as he fired the Marauder's cannons, sending a barrage of blaster fire towards their pursuers. "This is what I call a good time!" he exclaimed, his voice booming with excitement as he reveled in the thrill of battle.

Omega bounced in her seat, her eyes wide with excitement as she watched the space battle unfold before her. "This is so cool!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with awe as she cheered Amina on.

Tech, however, was less enthusiastic about their precarious situation. "Cool or not, we need to focus on getting out of here in one piece," he reminded them, his tone serious as he scanned the ship's scanners.

“You think I’d let me die? No way, Tech. But at least let me have some fun.”

Wrecker let out another whoop of excitement as he fired the Marauder's cannons, sending another barrage of blaster fire towards their pursuers. "Keep 'em coming, Amina!" he shouted, his voice booming with excitement as he unleashed a relentless assault on the enemy ships.

Amina grinned, her heart pounding with exhilaration as she pushed the Marauder to its limits. Despite the danger they faced, she felt alive in a way she hadn't in a long time. Flying had always been her passion, her escape from the chaos of the galaxy, and she relished every moment of it.

Echo glanced over at Tech, a wry smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Looks like Amina's having the time of her life," he remarked, his tone amused as he watched her expertly maneuver the ship.

Tech grumbled under his breath, his frustration evident as he struggled to keep up with Amina's erratic flying. "She's going to get us all killed," he muttered, his voice tinged with irritation as he adjusted the controls once again.

Amina patted Tech’s shoulder, “relax, Tech. I’m an expert flyer. If I can survive pod racing, and fighting General Grievous, I can survive a few pirates.” She flew the ship downwards in space, as the pirates continued to shoot, “ready for hyperspace?”

Tech glanced nervously at the rapidly approaching ships on the sensors before turning back to Amina. "Ready as I'll ever be," he replied, his voice tense with apprehension. "Just make it quick."

Amina nodded, her fingers flying across the controls as she plotted the course for hyperspace. With a flick of a switch, she engaged the hyperdrive, and the stars outside the viewport stretched into streaks as the Marauder jumped into lightspeed, leaving the pursuing pirates far behind.

As the ship hurtled through hyperspace, Amina let out a relieved sigh, her shoulders sagging with exhaustion as the adrenaline of the battle began to fade. She glanced over at Tech, a grin spreading across her face as she nudged him playfully.

"See? I told you we'd be fine," she teased, her voice laced with amusement as she leaned back in her seat.

“Yes, your flying techniques are…” he adjusted his goggles, “not very technical.”

“It’s all about feeling Tech.” she replied, bumping his shoulder.

Tech grumbled under his breath, adjusting his goggles as he muttered something about reckless piloting techniques. Amina couldn't help but chuckle at his exasperated expression, finding his disapproval oddly endearing.

"Relax, Tech," she teased, nudging him playfully with her elbow. "We made it out in one piece, didn't we?"

Tech huffed, his irritation evident as he shot Amina a sideways glance. "Barely," he replied, his tone dry. "But I suppose I should thank you for not getting us all killed."

Amina laughed, the tension of the battle melting away as she basked in the afterglow of their victory. "You're welcome," she replied, her voice light with amusement. "Just doing my job as the best pilot in the galaxy."

Tech rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Modest as always," he remarked, his tone fond despite himself.

As the banter between Amina and Tech continued, Hunter watched them from his seat across the cockpit, a soft smile playing on his lips. Despite the chaos and danger they had just faced, there was a sense of camaraderie among the squad that he found comforting.

Echo glanced over at Hunter, his gaze lingering on the captain for a moment before he spoke. "You seem awfully quiet over there, Hunter," he remarked, his tone curious.

Hunter shrugged, his attention still focused on Amina and Tech as they traded playful barbs. "Just enjoying the show," he replied, his voice tinged with amusement. "It's not often we get to see Amina in action."

Echo nodded in understanding, his lips quirking up in a smile. "True," he agreed, his tone thoughtful. "She certainly knows how to keep things interesting."

Wrecker let out a booming laugh from his seat behind Tech, his enthusiasm infectious as he clapped Amina on the back. "That was some top-notch flying, Amina!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with admiration.

Amina grinned at Wrecker's praise, her chest swelling with pride at the recognition from her squadmates. "Thanks, Wrecker," she replied, her voice tinged with gratitude.

Omega bounced in her seat, her eyes wide with excitement as she looked around at her family. "That was so cool!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with awe.

Amina gave Omega a high-five, “why thank you. Maybe one day I can show you Boonta Eve on Tatooine.”

"What's Boonta Eve?" Omega's question hung in the air, prompting Amina to smile fondly as she considered how to explain the significance of the event to the young girl.

"Boonta Eve is a big race that happens on Tatooine," Amina began, her voice filled with excitement as she recalled the memories of watching the event with her brother Anakin when they were younger. "It's a podrace, where pilots from all over the galaxy compete in these incredibly fast and dangerous vehicles called podracers."

Omega's eyes widened with fascination as she listened intently to Amina's explanation. "Wow, that sounds amazing!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with awe.

"It is," Amina agreed, her tone nostalgic as she thought back to the exhilarating atmosphere of the podrace. "The sounds, the sights, the speed- it's unlike anything else. Anakin and I used to watch the races together when we were kids. It was always the highlight of our year. It’s also how we got our freedom.”

“Freedom?” Omega asked again, “why would you have to race for freedom?

“Me and Anakin were slaves.” Amina answered casually.

Echo turned around to face her, “what? General Skywalker never said anything about that.”

“Yeah, we were slaves before Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan came to Tatooine. And Anakin didn’t really like to talk about it.”

"I'm sorry, Amina," Hunter said, his voice gentle as he reached out to place a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I can't imagine what that must have been like for you and Anakin."

Amina offered Hunter a small smile, her eyes shining with gratitude at his words. "Thanks. But I don’t really remember much. I was 8 when they brought us to the Temple, so I didn’t spend much of my life as a slave. But enough about my boring life, how about a game of dejarik, Omega?”

Omega's eyes lit up with excitement at the prospect of playing dejarik with Amina. "Yes, please!" she exclaimed, bouncing in her seat with enthusiasm. "I love playing dejarik!"

Amina chuckled at Omega's eagerness, her heart swelling with affection for the young girl. Despite everything they had been through, Omega's boundless enthusiasm never failed to bring a smile to her face. "Alright, let's do it," she said, gesturing towards the dejarik board with a playful grin. "But be warned, I'm not going easy on you."

Omega grinned, her eyes sparkling with determination as she settled in front of the dejarik board. "Bring it on, Amina," she replied, her tone confident. "I'm ready for anything."

---

“Your destiny lies with me, sister. Like it always has.”

Amina stood her ground, her lightsaber held in front of her. “I write my own story.”

Vader took menacing steps forward, the ground shaking, “Join me and we can rule the galaxy together.”

“No.” she said firmly.

Vader's mechanical breathing filled the air, a menacing sound that sent shivers down Amina's spine. She stood her ground, her grip tightening on her lightsaber as she faced off against the dark figure before her.

"You cannot resist the power of the dark side," Vader growled, his voice echoing with a cold certainty. "It is your destiny."

"I will never join you," Amina declared, her voice steady despite the fear that gnawed at her insides. “I may not be a Jedi, but I will not fall.”

Vader's mechanical hand tightened around the hilt of his lightsaber, the crimson blade humming to life with a menacing glow. "So be it," he replied, his voice dripping with malice as he raised his weapon to strike.

The two combatants circled each other warily, their lightsabers casting eerie shadows against the walls of the darkened chamber. Amina could sense the raw power emanating from Vader, a palpable force that threatened to overwhelm her. But she stood her ground, her resolve unwavering as she met his gaze with steely determination.

"Your resistance is futile, sister," Vader hissed, his voice laced with contempt. "You cannot hope to defeat me."

Amina clenched her jaw, her grip tightening on her lightsaber as she prepared to strike. "I don't need to defeat you," she replied, her voice steady. "I just need to survive."

With a roar of rage, Vader lunged forward, his lightsaber flashing as he unleashed a flurry of strikes. Amina met his attacks head-on, her movements fluid and precise as she parried each blow with expert skill. She could feel the heat of the lightsabers as they clashed, the sound of their duel echoing through the chamber.

With a upwards move, she sliced the eyes of his helmet as he kneeled down in front of her. Instead of bright blue eyes staring at her, they were a vengeful yellow. “Anakin.” She whispered.

Vader's expression twisted into a sneer, his lips curling in disdain. "You cannot save me, Amina," he growled. "I am lost."

But Amina refused to be deterred. She reached out with the Force, her mind probing his, searching for any trace of the man he used to be. And amidst the darkness and despair, she found a glimmer of something else—a spark of longing, of regret.

"You still care," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the hum of their lightsabers. "You still feel.” She turned off her lightsaber, “Padme died knowing there was good left in you. And I agree with her, I know it’s there somewhere. And I will find it Anakin, I promise.” She stroked the outside of his mask, kneeling down in front of him.

She thought the yellows of his eyes started to disappear when she felt a sharp sting in her gut. She looked down to see his red lightsaber through her stomach as he turned his saber off and she fell to the ground.

Amina quickly sat up on the Marauder, something that seemed to happen every time she fell asleep. No matter what happened in her dreams, she always tried to turn him, but it never worked.

And never in her dreams did Anakin actually deliver the final blow like in this one.

She glanced around the dimly lit interior of the Marauder, her eyes landing on the familiar forms of her companions. They were all asleep, unaware of the turmoil that plagued her mind. Amina ran a hand through her hair, trying to steady her racing thoughts.

"Another nightmare?" A voice broke through the silence, and Amina turned to see Hunter watching her with concern from his spot across the room. His expression was soft, his eyes filled with understanding.

Amina nodded, her throat tight with emotion. "Yeah," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "It was... intense."

Hunter moved closer, his footsteps barely making a sound on the metal floor of the ship. He settled beside Amina, his presence a comforting anchor in the midst of her turmoil. "You know it's just a dream, right?" he said gently, his voice laced with reassurance.

“I don’t know about that.” She pulled her legs to her chest, “me and Anakin have these… Force gifts. We have vivid dreams, but it’s so hard to tell if it’s just a dream or a vision.”

Hunter listened to Amina's words, his brow furrowed with concern. He had heard her speak of her Force gifts before, but he couldn't imagine the weight of carrying such a burden- especially when those gifts manifested in haunting nightmares.

"Yeah, I get that dreams can feel pretty real sometimes," Hunter said, his voice quiet as he tried to find the right words. "But you can't let them consume you. You're stronger than that."

Amina nodded, her gaze distant as she wrestled with her thoughts. "I know," she replied softly. "It's just... hard to shake the feeling that there's some truth to them."

Hunter reached out, gently resting a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, we're here for you," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. "Whatever you need, we've got your back."

A small smile tugged at the corners of Amina's lips, grateful for Hunter's unwavering support. "Thanks, Hunter," she said, her voice tinged with warmth. "I appreciate it."

The two of them sat in companionable silence for a moment, the gentle hum of the Marauder's engines filling the air. Amina leaned into Hunter's touch, finding solace in his presence as she tried to push aside the lingering echoes of her nightmare.

Eventually, Hunter broke the silence, his voice soft but determined. "You know, we could always try talking to Tech about your dreams," he suggested. "Maybe he could help figure out if there's more to them than just... well, dreams."

She shook her head, “I can’t tell anyone about my dreams.” Telling anyone that Anakin became Darth Vader would put them in more danger than her being with them.

"Okay, I won't push it," Hunter said, his voice gentle as he gave Amina's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "But just remember, we're all in this together. You don't have to face whatever's troubling you alone."

Amina offered him a small smile, grateful for his understanding. "Thanks, Hunter," she said, her voice soft but sincere. "I really appreciate it."

As the two of them sat in companionable silence, Amina couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for the bond she shared with her fellow clones. They had been through so much together in the short time they had known each other, and yet they had always remained steadfast in their loyalty to one another.

But amidst the warmth of their camaraderie, Amina couldn't shake the lingering sense of unease that clung to her like a shadow. She knew that her nightmares were more than just figments of her imagination—they were visions, glimpses of a future that she desperately hoped to avoid.

Lost in her thoughts, Amina barely noticed as Hunter turned to look at her. "Well, it's getting late," he said, glancing towards the viewport where the faint glow of distant stars could be seen. "We should probably get some rest."

He went to stand up when Amina grabbed his forearm, “could you…”

Hunter turned back to look at Amina, his expression softening as he saw the earnest look in her eyes. He settled back down beside her, his curiosity piqued. "Could I what?" he prompted gently, giving her a reassuring smile.

Amina hesitated for a moment, her gaze dropping to her hands as she tried to find the right words. She could feel the weight of her request hanging in the air, the vulnerability of baring her innermost thoughts to another person almost overwhelming. But Hunter's presence was a comforting anchor, a steady presence that made her feel safe enough to voice her fears.

"Could you... stay with me?" she finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Just for a little while?"

Hunter's smile widened, a warmth spreading through his chest at the sincerity in Amina's request. He reached out, gently taking her hand in his own. "Of course," he replied softly, his voice filled with reassurance. "I'm not going anywhere."

Amina's shoulders relaxed slightly at his words, a small sigh escaping her lips as she leaned into his touch. She could feel the tension slowly melting away, replaced by a sense of calm that she hadn't felt since before her nightmare had begun.

"Thank you," she murmured, her voice barely audible as she closed her eyes, allowing herself to savor the warmth of Hunter's presence beside her.

As Amina slowly fell asleep, she sleepily wrapped her arms around Hunter’s waist and placed her head on his chest as she drifted off. Hunter remained still for a moment, his heart pounding in his chest as he felt the weight of Amina's head against him. He could hear the soft sound of her breathing, steady and rhythmic, as she slipped into slumber.

Carefully, Hunter shifted his position, adjusting himself so that he could wrap an arm around Amina, holding her close. He could feel the warmth of her body against his own, a comforting presence in the darkness of the ship. For a moment, he allowed himself to simply bask in the intimacy of the moment, savoring the feeling of being so close to her.

---

Amina blew her nose on a tissue, walking out of the Marauder to see Omega sitting on Gonky going over the types of Imperial ships as “homework” from Tech.

"Hey, Omega," Amina greeted warmly, her voice carrying across the open space. "What are you up to?"

Omega looked up, her face lighting up with a smile as she saw Amina approaching. "Hey, Amina!" she replied cheerfully, setting aside the datapad. "Just doing some homework from Tech. He's been teaching me all about the different kinds of Imperial ships."

Amina nodded, her interest piqued. "Sounds interesting," she remarked, taking a seat beside Omega on Gonky. "Mind if I- ” Amina brought the tissue to her mouth, sneezing 3 times.

Tech walked over from the ship holding his datapad, “from my calculations, you’ve had this so called ‘cold’ for 3 rotations. And you’ve used 12% more tissues every day.”

Amina chuckled weakly; the sound muffled by the tissue pressed against her nose. "Yeah, well, I guess you could say I'm a bit under the weather," she replied, her voice nasally as she sniffled. "But don't worry, I'm sure I'll be back to my usual self in no time."

Tech nodded, his expression thoughtful as he continued to analyze the data on his datapad. "It's just... unusual," he mused, his fingers tapping against the screen as he processed the information. "Your symptoms seem to be persisting longer than anticipated, given your usual resilience."

“Well, it’s not my fault you have mutations that allow you to not get sick. I’m the unlucky o- ” Amina sneezed into the tissue again. “Unlucky one.”

Tech raised an eyebrow, his gaze flicking from his datapad to Amina and back again. "Indeed, it does seem that you're experiencing some rather inconvenient symptoms," he remarked, his tone laced with curiosity as he continued to analyze the data.

Amina nodded, a frustrated sigh escaping her lips as she tossed the tissue into a nearby waste bin. "Tell me about it," she muttered, rubbing at her nose with the back of her hand. "I feel like I've been hit by a speeder."

Omega frowned, her expression filled with concern as she watched Amina's discomfort. "Is there anything we can do to help?" she asked, her voice soft and earnest.

Amina shook her head, a weak smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Thanks, Omega, but I think I just need some rest," she replied, her words punctuated by another round of sneezes. "I'll be fine."

Hunter stepped forward, his gaze lingering on Amina with a mixture of worry and affection. "Maybe you should take it easy for a while," he suggested, his voice gentle as he reached out to touch her shoulder. "We can handle things here."

"Oh, please. I was on Naboo when whatever his name was released the Blue Shadow Virus. This is nothing," Amina quipped, her voice tinged with playful sarcasm despite the discomfort she was feeling.

Hunter couldn't help but chuckle at Amina's response, admiring her resilience even in the face of adversity. "Fair enough," he conceded with a smile. "But still, maybe you should take it easy for a bit. We don't want you getting any worse."

Amina rolled her eyes playfully, but the concern in Hunter's voice didn't go unnoticed. Despite her efforts to downplay her illness, she appreciated his caring nature. "Fine, fine," she relented with a sigh, giving him a mock glare. "But only because you asked so nicely."

Hunter grinned, relieved that Amina had agreed to take it easy. He knew she had a tendency to push herself too hard, especially when it came to fulfilling her duties as a Jedi. But even Jedi needed to rest sometimes, and he was determined to make sure she took care of herself.

Tech, ever the analytical thinker, couldn't resist chiming in with his own observations. "According to my calculations, rest is indeed the most logical course of action," he remarked, his tone matter-of-fact as he consulted his datapad.

Amina sighed in mock exasperation, shooting Tech a playful glare. "You and your calculations," she teased, shaking her head with a smile. "Sometimes, I swear you forget that we're not just numbers on a screen." She tapped on his datapad, “have you ever looked up at the sky? Do you know what clouds look like?”

Tech raised an eyebrow at Amina's playful jab, his expression unreadable as he glanced up from his datapad. "Of course, I know what clouds look like," he replied, his tone dry. "But I fail to see how that's relevant to our current discussion."

Amina chuckled, shaking her head in amusement at Tech's literal-mindedness. "It's not," she conceded with a grin. "I just think you could use a little more... spontaneity in your life."

Tech arched an eyebrow, considering Amina's words for a moment before responding. "Spontaneity is an inefficient use of time and resources," he remarked, his tone matter-of-fact. "I prefer to rely on logic and calculation to guide my actions."

She shook her head, "I swear one day I'm-" Amina's sentence was cut short by another bout of sneezes, two in quick succession. She sniffled, feeling utterly miserable as she struggled to keep her symptoms at bay.

Hunter's expression softened with concern as he watched Amina, his brow furrowing with worry. "Maybe you should head back inside," he suggested gently, his voice filled with genuine concern. "You need to rest."

Amina nodded weakly, conceding defeat to her stubbornly persistent cold. "Yeah, you're probably right," she admitted, her voice hoarse from all the sneezing. "I hate to admit it, but I think I'm beat."

Omega frowned, her worry evident as she watched Amina's discomfort. "Is there anything we can do to help?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine concern.

Amina shook her head, a weak smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Maybe some Karlini t- ” Amina trailed off, it was something Padme had made for her whenever she visited, a Nabooian specialty.

Omega hopped off Gonky, “what’s Karlini?”

“It’s a tea from Naboo. Padme always was stocked up on it, and whenever me and Anakin would visit, she would always have some ready. But we can’t get any since it’s mainly sold in core world planets. Som- ” Amina sneezed again before letting out a few coughs. “But it’s okay, I don’t want tea.”

Or rather she doesn’t want tea that’s not Padme’s.

"Would it help if we tried to find some?" Omega asked, her voice filled with determination. "I mean, we travel to different planets all the time. Maybe we could track some down for you."

Amina smiled weakly at Omega's offer, touched by her friend's thoughtfulness. "Thanks, Omega, but I don't want to put you guys through all that trouble," she replied, her voice still hoarse from all the sneezing. "I’m just going to do some meditating and see if that’ll help the healing process.”

Hunter watched Amina with concern, his brow furrowing as he took in her weary appearance. He knew she was stubborn when it came to accepting help, but he also knew that she needed to take care of herself if she wanted to get better. "Are you sure you don't want us to at least try to find some Karlini tea for you?" he asked, his voice gentle but insistent. "It might not be as much trouble as you think."

“I don’t want to drink tea that’s not from Padme,” she admitted, a tad harshly, before turning around and facing him. “Sorry. It’s just… I never liked tea, but Padme said that I’d love the one she had. And I did, but when I tried making it myself it was never the same.”

Hunter listened to Amina's words, his heart aching at the pain evident in her voice. He knew how much Padmé meant to her, how deeply her loss had affected her. And he understood why she was hesitant to accept any substitute for the tea that held such sentimental value.

"I understand," Hunter replied gently, his voice soft with empathy. "I'm sorry, Amina. I didn't mean to push."

Amina glanced up at Hunter, her eyes filled with gratitude for his understanding. Despite the distance she had tried to maintain, she couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort in his presence. He had a way of making her feel seen, of easing the weight of her burdens with just a few simple words.

"It's okay," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know you were just trying to help."

Hunter nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Well, if there's anything else you need, just let me know," he said, his tone warm and reassuring. "I'll be here."

Amina offered him a grateful smile, touched by his unwavering support. "Thanks, Hunter," she replied softly, her voice tinged with warmth. "I appreciate it." Amina walked onto the Marauder and sat down cross-legged on the floor. Hopefully a good mediation will connect her to the force more, and it’ll be taken care of. Then she could breathe properly.

---

A few rotations later and she felt no different. The squad had gone on a mission while she had stayed behind on Ord Mantell.

But as she finished her meditation, she stood up feeling a little shaky and dizzy. She leaned against the wall of the Marauder and took a few deep breaths as she felt a light gust of wind and a whispering voice.

Amina turned her head to look behind her and found nothing. Either she was starting to hallucinate or Anak- Vader, was trying to make a connection with her through the force.

“Amina.”

She made a shushing sound, “why are you so loud?”

“Turn around sister.”

Amina shuddered at the vocoder and the coldness surrounding her. But even with that coldness she felt warm, “last time I saw you in my dream you tried to kill me.” Amina placed her cheek against the wall of the ship, the cool metal feeling good against her skin.

“You’re sick.”

Amina stuck out her hand and made a talking motion with her hand, “blah, blah, blah.” She felt a hand on her upper arm, and she glanced behind her, and there he stood, clear as day. “Man, this hallucination is good.”

Vader's mechanical breathing filled the air, a harsh reminder of the man he had once been before he had succumbed to the lure of the dark side. “You’re sick,” he said again.

Amina rolled her eyes, her irritation momentarily overriding her fear. "Yeah, thanks for the update, Captain Obvious," she retorted, her tone sharp with sarcasm. "I'm well aware of the fact that I'm not exactly firing on all cylinders right now."

Vader's expression remained impassive, his gaze unwavering as he studied Amina with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "You should rest," he suggested, his tone surprisingly gentle despite the mechanical rasp of his voice. "You won't get better if you push yourself too hard."

Amina scoffed at Vader's advice, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "And what do you care?" she demanded, her voice tinged with bitterness. "Last time I checked, you were more interested in cutting me down than offering me sympathy."

“I can feel you from across the galaxy. Where are you?”

Amina let out a laugh, “as if I would tell you. You’re gonna,” she made a whooshing sound, “me. No, thank you, sir.”

Vader's mechanical breathing filled the air, a harsh reminder of the man he had once been before he had succumbed to the lure of the dark side. “You underestimate the power of the Force,” he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of amusement. “I can find you, Amina. It’s only a matter of time.”

Amina raised an eyebrow, her skepticism evident in the quirk of her lips. "Is that a threat?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Because last time I checked, I wasn't exactly quaking in my boots."

Vader's expression remained impassive, his gaze unwavering as he studied Amina with a mixture of curiosity and concern. "You should rest," he suggested again, ignoring her jab. "You won't get better if you push yourself too hard."

“Like I said, no, thank you, your majesty. I don’t take orders from you. Now, can you get out of my head?” Instead of a response, she heard mechanical breathing, “come on. You may be a Sith, but you can’t hold this connection for much longer.”

She blinked and felt lighter, turning around to see no Vader looming over her. She still wasn’t quite sure if it was really a force connection, or a wild hallucination.

Amina slowly walked down the ramp where the group was gathered, her steps faltering slightly as she fought against the dizziness that threatened to overwhelm her. She could feel the eyes of her companions on her, their concern palpable in the air as they watched her with furrowed brows.

Hunter was the first to approach, his expression filled with worry as he reached out to steady her. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked, his voice soft with concern. "You look a little... off."

Amina blinked at him, her vision becoming blurry and reminiscent of a kaleidoscope. Her hands came up to his face, patting his cheeks gently. "I didn't know you had two heads," she murmured, her words slurring slightly as the dizziness threatened to overwhelm her.

Hunter's brows furrowed with concern as he gently grasped Amina's wrists, guiding her hands away from his face. "Hey, come on, let's get you back inside," he said softly, his voice laced with worry. He wrapped an arm around her waist, supporting her weight as they made their way back towards the Marauder.

The rest of the squad followed closely behind, their expressions filled with concern as they watched Amina's unsteady steps. Tech stepped forward, his datapad already in hand as he analyzed Amina's symptoms with clinical precision. "It appears that Amina's condition has worsened," he remarked, his tone matter-of-fact as he consulted his data. "Her symptoms are consistent with a viral infection, possibly exacerbated by her recent exertions."

Hunter helped her lay down on one of the bunks as Amina looked to the side, at a space that was empty. There he was, standing there looking down at her with his arms crossed over his chest and his loud mechanical breathing. Was she hallucinating? Should she comm Obi-Wan? Or would he get angry at her like Anakin seemed to be right now?

Hunter followed Amina's gaze, his brow furrowing with confusion as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing. But all he saw was an empty space, devoid of any presence except for Amina lying on the bunk, her eyes wide with fear.

"Are you okay, Amina?" he asked gently, his voice laced with worry. He reached out, gently brushing a stray lock of hair away from her face as he searched her eyes for any sign of what she was seeing.

Amina blinked, her gaze unfocused as she tried to process what she was seeing. She could still feel the weight of Vader's presence, the coldness of his stare burning into her soul. But as she looked around the empty bunk, she couldn't find any trace of him.

"I... I don't know," she whispered, her voice trembling with uncertainty. "I thought I saw... someone. But they're not here."

Tech stepped forward with his datapad, his expression serious as he analyzed Amina's symptoms. "I believe she might've contracted Dantari flu," he announced, his tone matter-of-fact as he consulted his data.

Hunter's brows furrowed with concern as he turned to Amina, his expression filled with worry. "Dantari flu?" he echoed, his voice tinged with concern. "Isn't that... serious?"

Tech nodded, his gaze focused on his datapad as he continued to analyze the data. "Indeed," he replied, his tone clinical. "The Dantari flu is a highly contagious viral infection that can lead to severe respiratory symptoms, among other things."

Amina groaned, her head spinning with dizziness as she tried to process the information. She had heard of the Dantari flu before, but she had never experienced it firsthand. And from what she had heard, it wasn't something to be taken lightly.

"What do we do?" Omega asked, her voice tinged with concern as she looked to Tech for guidance. "Is there a cure?"

Tech nodded, his expression serious as he continued to consult his datapad. "There are treatments available," he explained, his tone measured.

Hunter's brows furrowed with concern as he considered their options. "So, what's our next move?" he asked, his voice steady despite the worry gnawing at his insides. "Do we need to find a medic?"

Amina shook her head, “maybe just some medicine? I don’t need a medic; it would bring unwanted attention.”

Hunter nodded, his gaze flicking between Amina and Tech as he considered their options. "Alright, let's see what we can do," he said, his voice steady despite the worry gnawing at his insides. "Tech, do you have any idea where we can find medicine for the Dantari flu?"

Tech consulted his datapad, his brow furrowing with concentration as he analyzed the data. "There's a medical supply shop a few blocks from here," he announced, his tone matter-of-fact. "They should have what we need."

“Alright, Tech, you and Omega can go get some medicine, Wrecker and Echo, see if you can’t find any water or food. I’ll stay here with Amina.”

As the squad dispersed to carry out their assigned tasks, Hunter remained by Amina's side, his concern for her evident in the furrow of his brow and the gentle touch of his hand on her shoulder. Amina leaned against the bunk, feeling the weight of her illness pressing down on her as she struggled to keep her eyes open.

"You don't have to stay," Amina murmured, her voice hoarse with exhaustion as she glanced up at Hunter. "I'll be fine on my own."

Hunter shook his head, his expression resolute as he met Amina's gaze with unwavering determination. "I'm not leaving you," he replied firmly, his voice filled with quiet resolve. "Not when you're like this."

Amina offered him a weak smile, touched by his steadfast loyalty. Despite her stubborn insistence that she could handle things on her own, she couldn't deny the warmth that spread through her chest at the thought of having Hunter by her side.

"Thanks," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper as she closed her eyes, allowing herself to rest against the soft fabric of the bunk. "I appreciate it."

Hunter went into the refresher and wet a piece of cloth with cool water. He came back and brushed Amina's hair off her forehead before gently placing the cloth on her skin. The coolness of the cloth provided some relief to Amina's fevered brow, and she sighed softly, leaning into the soothing sensation.

"Thanks," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper as she opened her eyes to look at Hunter. "That feels nice."

He smiled and nodded, “I’m going to go keep watch until the squad gets back.” Before he made it far, Amina gently grabbed his wrist.

“Can you stay?” She asked quietly, scooting over on the bunk towards the wall, “you make a pretty good pillow.”

Hunter hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering between Amina and the door of the Marauder. He knew he should keep watch, especially with Amina feeling under the weather, but her quiet plea tugged at his heartstrings, and he found himself unable to resist.

"Sure, I can stay," he replied softly, a warm smile spreading across his lips as he settled onto the bunk beside Amina. He shifted slightly to make himself more comfortable, his arm instinctively wrapping around her as she leaned into him.

Amina sighed contentedly as she rested her head against Hunter's chest, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat a comforting presence in the midst of her illness. She closed her eyes, allowing herself to bask in the warmth of his embrace as she drifted off to sleep.

For a while, the only sound in the Marauder was the gentle hum of the ship's engines and the soft rustle of fabric as Hunter shifted slightly to get more comfortable. He glanced down at Amina, a fond smile playing at the corners of his lips as he watched her sleep.

Despite the circumstances, there was something undeniably comforting about having Amina in his arms. He had always felt a strong connection to her, ever since they had first met on Kamino all those months ago. And now, as he held her close, he couldn't help but feel a sense of peace wash over him.

As the minutes turned into hours, Hunter remained vigilant, keeping a watchful eye on the door of the Marauder as he held Amina in his arms. He knew he should be focused on the task at hand, but he couldn't shake the feeling that being here with Amina was exactly where he was meant to be.

Eventually, the rest of the squad returned, their arms laden with supplies and medicine for Amina. Hunter helped them unload the supplies, his gaze never straying far from Amina's sleeping form as he kept a protective watch over her.

Tech quickly got to work, administering the medicine to Amina and monitoring her vitals with his usual clinical efficiency. The rest of the squad hovered nearby, their expressions filled with concern as they waited for any signs of improvement.

As the hours passed, Amina's fever began to break, and her breathing eased as the medicine took effect. Hunter breathed a sigh of relief, his shoulders sagging with relief as he watched Amina's color return to her cheeks.

Amina stirred slightly in Hunter's arms, her eyelids fluttering open as she blinked up at him in confusion. "Hey there," Hunter greeted softly, his voice gentle as he brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face. "How are you feeling?"

Amina smiled weakly, her voice hoarse from sleep as she glanced around the Marauder. "Better," she murmured, her gaze drifting back to Hunter's concerned expression. "Thanks to you."

Hunter smiled, a warmth spreading through his chest at Amina's words. "Anytime," he replied softly, his voice filled with sincerity. "I'm just glad you're feeling better."

The rest of the squad gathered around, their expressions filled with relief as they watched Amina slowly sit up in bed. Echo offered her a glass of water, which she gratefully accepted, taking small sips as she regained her strength.

"Thanks, everyone," Amina said, her voice stronger now as she looked around at her friends. "I really appreciate all of your help."

Wrecker grinned, his expression filled with genuine warmth as he clapped Amina on the back. "No problem, General," he said, his voice booming with enthusiasm. "We're just glad you're okay."

Omega nodded in agreement, her expression serious as she met Amina's gaze. "Yeah, we were worried about you," she admitted, her voice tinged with concern. "But I'm glad you're feeling better now."

Amina smiled gratefully at her friends, feeling a surge of warmth in her chest at their unwavering support. She knew she was lucky to have them by her side, especially in times like these when she needed them the most.

"Well, thanks again. But I think I’d much rather get shot at by Separatist droids than go through that again," Amina remarked with a weak chuckle, her voice still raspy from her recent illness.

Hunter couldn't help but smile at her attempt at humor, though he knew firsthand just how serious the situation had been. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that," he replied, his tone lighthearted as he glanced around at the rest of the squad.

Wrecker let out a booming laugh, clapping Hunter on the back with enough force to nearly send him stumbling forward. "You hear that, Tech?" he exclaimed, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Amina would rather face a whole army of droids than be laid up in bed."

Tech rolled his eyes, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice as he shook his head. "I highly doubt that Wrecker," he retorted, his tone dry as he adjusted his goggles. "But I suppose it's a sentiment we can all agree on."

Echo nodded in agreement, though his expression was more subdued as he surveyed the small group gathered in the Marauder. "We should count ourselves lucky," he remarked quietly, his gaze flickering to Amina with a hint of concern. "Not everyone gets a second chance."

"More like a twenty-second chance," Amina quipped, her voice laced with a hint of amusement as she glanced around at her squadmates, her eyes lingering on Hunter for a moment longer than necessary.

Hunter couldn't help but chuckle at her remark, a warm smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he met Amina's gaze. "Well, let's make sure you don't need a twenty-third," he replied, his tone light but filled with genuine concern.

tags: @callsign-denmark

[max--phillips]

It’s always them damn Germans

He looks like he could be related to Ben Stiller

That seems a bit unfair don’t u think . They don’t have fancy catapults and horses n shit :/ imperialism never changes

Yeah I’d wanna go home too if I was stuck in snowy mud surrounded by dead bodies in Germany and home was [checks notes] Spain

Anyway I don’t like Commodus . Joaquin Phoenix is good at playing assholes with the worst possible vibes

This dude just wants to go see his wife and kid he doesn’t need all this goodness gracious

That was a terrible interaction

Oof lmao

OOF

LMAO BITCH

yikes

SICK

Very samurai-movie esque

This guy is having a terrible time

Oof. OOF

That’s a monkey on a leash?

Maximus is like “I think I’m in hell actually”

Nothing worse than queer giraffes

Casual bondage in the background?

He’s like . This is lame basic bullshit and I refuse to participate

Love his weird umbrella

I love that this was the height of entertainment . If it wasn’t deemed unethical at some indeterminate point it probably still would be

Rip Scribe

Not a bad team they got goin there eh

Ah, questionable late 90s/early 00s CG

This dude is in over his head lmao

Lucila deserves to throttle this guy tbh.

Does anyone at all know his deal yet

Already seeing some parallels with the trailer we got lmao

Maximus is like . Can’t wait to ruin the emperor’s whole fucking year. Despite the Sisyphean torture I’m being subjected to

I wonder how truly historically accurate this is. Like we already know the shirtless thing but anyway

Why are you so close to his face. I don’t like that

Lead! Maybe? Probably. The Romans loved lead

Commodus: 🥺 / Lucila: 😒

That actress must tell that story all the time. “Yeah I licked Gerard Butler’s face once”

Holy Eyebrows

Ooooo a lady! Titty armor tho :/

Rip lady 😔

Ooooooh SNAP

The people have spoken Commodus

“It vexes me. I’m terribly vexed.”

Now that is a fucking shot

Snake?????

LMAO

Nothing better than free bread and violence

Oh that guy!

That’s a damn tiger

That is one unhappy baby

Rip tiger :(

I love that Maximus breathes and the praetorian guards appear to threaten him

LMAO THE BOOING AT COMMODUS

Oh omg

I know this is deliberate but GOD I fucking hate Commodus

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm these vibes are terrible

There is a bizarre tension between Lucila and Commodus that I do not like. It is beyond jealousy or anger or contempt it’s just weird.

Well that would explain that. Anyways

Amen sister

This kid is like “shit just got awkward and I would like to leave”

SNAKE

Considering Hans Zimmer worked on both of these. This feels very proto-Pirates of the Caribbean

I’ve been in one of those very tight spiral staircases and gotta say? Not a fan. Didn’t like it

Aw man Hagen :(

This poor fucking woman

Did you though? Did you really?

Oh my god. Oh my god holy shit LMAO HOLY SHIT

Dude he fucking did it. Even poisoned and on the brink of death that little freak didn’t stand a goddamn chance

Lucila I think this would be a great time to take power for yourself . Tbh. Just a little. As a treat. Like yeah Republic etc etc but yknow.

Aw man Juba!!

[teen-cups-au]

Teen Cups - Plot Notes Part 9

Beginning of the comic | Previous | Next

Cuphead is playing poker at the casino. He seems down.

The Devil: What’s wrong?

Cuphead: I better not think about it, I wanna stay focused…

The Devil: How about we take a break then?

They’re sitting at the bar. Henchman flies to give them a drink.

Henchman: Here you go!

Cuphead: Thanks dude.

Henchman: You’re welcome! Is something wrong? You look awful.

Cuphead: Well…

The Devil: Let us be Henchman! You got work to do!

He brings his attention back to Cuphead.

The Devil: So… What’s on your mind?

Cuphead: My brother… He’s getting worse… For some time now, he barely has the time to heal, and he’s getting sick again. And we…

He pinches his lips as a tear rolls on his cheek. The Devil pats his shoulder.

The Devil: Take your time, boy.

Cuphead takes a sip of his drink.

Cuphead: We saw in the news that most patients are getting sick more and more often, and they can end up being sick all the time… I’m pretty sure it’s what’s happening to him!

The Devil: Yeah… Must be hard seeing him suffering non-stop, huh?

Cuphead: I try to stay calm in front of him every time he has difficulties to breathe… But even when I manage, deep down I’m freaking out… Just hearing him cough makes me panic… And he doesn’t have any break currently… I’m so scared that something happens… I feel guilty for being here and risk that something happens to him while I’m not there-

The Devil: Hey, hey now… It’s totally normal that you take a break sometimes. You need to take care of yourself if you wanna take care of him.

Cuphead: But he needs more support than I do!

The Devil: *sigh*

Yanno, if it’s that bad, I’d be happy to do something.

Cuphead: Like what?

The Devil: Anything. My powers are endless. I can simply heal him.

Cuphead: Really?!

The Devil: Not for free tho, that’s the rule. But it won’t be hard for you to make up for it.

Cuphead: I’ll do anything! Tell me!

The Devil: Play poker. Win, and I’ll heal your brother. And since you’re my favorite customer- Heck, you’re a great friend of mine! I’ll also help you be in ideal shape again. Burn all that fat that’s ruining your charm for so long!

Cuphead: You…

*sob*

You are the best! But… What if I lose?

The Devil: It’ll just be money, as usual.

Cuphead: Deal!

The Devil: Great. You just need to sign this contract.

The Devil makes a contract appear, as well as a pen. Cuphead grabs it and signs it.

The Devil: Alright. Once you’ll feel better, let me know and we’ll start-

Cuphead: Now!

Cuphead gets up.

Cuphead is holding cards of an 8 and 9 of heart. He looks at the table showing cards of a 10, J and Q of heart, and two other 10. He’s keeping a neutral face.

Cuphead: *thinking* A straight flush… There’s no way anyone can beat me.

The readers can see his eyes through the glasses. They raise, as he checks on the Devil, who’s rubbing his cards with his thumb.

Cuphead: *thinking* He’s nervous. He’s doomed! I can’t believe it… Mug… You’ll be fine!

He puts new chips in the middle of the table.

Cuphead: I raise.

The Devil: Hmm… I follow.

He places his own chips.

Cuphead: *thinking* Alright, he probably has four of a kind. All your struggles are over, Mugman!

He puts his cards on the table happily.

Cuphead: Okay, I got a straight flush! Thank you so much for your help bud’! You can heal Mug right now, right?!

He gets up, leaning on the table, all excited. Chauncey lifts an eyebrow.

Chauncey Chantenay: Huh?

The Devil grins.

The Devil: Actually, I thank you!

He shows his own cards, revealing a royal flush. Cuphead’s smile instantly disappears. He sits back down.

Cuphead: What the fuck… It’s so rare, almost impossible!

The Devil: Almost, exactly. Too bad, you were so close, my friend! But fate decided that you and your brother now owe me your souls.

Cuphead changes colors (bad ending colors). He frowns in total confusion.

Cuphead: WHAT?!

Chauncey Chantenay: YOU OFFERED THE KID SUCH A DEAL?!

The Devil chuckles.

The Devil: You really should read before signing anything, Cuphead! Oh! And did I mention the bonus clause?

Cuphead: What… clause…?

The Devil: Your dear brother just got promoted to permanent illness. Until I get his soul after he passes away.

Cuphead: You… YOU LIED!!!

The Devil: Ya should have known better by dealing with me.

Cuphead: Mugman doesn’t even know about it, it’s so unfair!

The Devil: Again, I’m the Devil. What did you expect? However! You can free at least your brother from going to Hell when he’ll pass away by working for me your whole life long and in your afterlife. Or you can just sacrifice yourself to free your brother as soon as you do.

Cuphead: Wha… How can I be sure you’re not lying again?!

The Devil shrugs.

The Devil: You’re free to take the risk.

Cuphead stares at him in shock. He sighs.

Cuphead: Okay… I’ll work for you…

The Devil: Also, if I ever see you try to destroy the contract, I’ll kill you right away, and Mugman’s soul will be mine, whatever the circumstances.

Cuphead leaves the Casino. Chauncey Chantenay follows him to comfort him.

Chauncey Chantenay: Cuphead, wait!

Cuphead: Why did this happen… ?

Chauncey Chantenay: It happens...

Cuphead: But I thought I was smart enough to not get tricked like that !

Chauncey Chantenay: Remember what I told you. Mentalism isn’t 100 % accurate. It CAN help, but people aren’t robots programmed so that everyone always acts the same as we expect.

Cuphead: I’m way too naive… I can’t believe- I… I’m actually trash ! I thought I finally found something I nail in life, and I failed at that too !

Chauncey Chantenay: Don’t blame yourself. The Devil exists for way longer than us, he’s got a huge experience. It’s no wonder he tricks even the best ones.

Cuphead: What will happen now… ?

Chauncey Chantenay: I don’t know… If you need anything, I’m here, alright ? I owe you my support at least.

Cuphead: What do you mean ?

Chauncey Chantenay: Well I… I kinda encouraged you to play, by teaching you brain tricks.

Cuphead: You’re not the one who sold your bro’s soul to the Devil.

Chauncey Chantenay: Cuphead, you’re still too young to-

Cuphead: OH SHUT UP ! I’M WORSE THAN A KID, I GET IT !

He walks faster to go home alone.

[darklight-owl]

Okok. Might be a long ramble here but I cannot see Desclark working as a relationship really in the way Desran would be

Cause Desran works under the assumption that Des is using Randall, and that Randall is infatuated/ genuinely in love with Des. But des doesn’t give a fuck about him or what happens, because at the end of the day he doesn’t care. Randall is a means to an end. I can see them sleeping together but that’s bc Des sees it as a way to get closer to him. Kind of cat and mouse type beat to keep him hooked as an addition to the whole revenge plot.

But I cannot see Desclark working as a romantic or sexual relationship. It’s more like a fucked up kinda codependency to me. I can’t see Des falling in love or trying to sleep with Clark, and I don’t see them even like. Kissing or anything unless they were both very VERY drunk or something. And no matter what I don’t see Clark intentionally or knowingly cheating on Brenda, or even thinking about it. I’d imagine he would feel sick even thinking about it

Alright. Thoughts on how it works on both sides.

Desmond is pretty deprived of intimacy. He’s got Raymond, but it’s a working relationship. He’s essentially alone in the emotional support and needs catagory, because even though Raymond would be there when needed, Des wouldn’t let himself be that vulnerable. And I also don’t see him as particularly affectionate (I think he’d get embarrassed asking for it). Thus in the physical department he’s touch deprived too (dead wife rip). As far as we know he doesn’t have too many close friends (Raymond doesn’t count.) and people like to feel needed! It’s a nice thing! And des already has his whole I Feel Superior To Other People Intellectually thing.

On Clark’s side. His wife is gone. His butler is gone. His friend is dead. His son isn’t speaking to him. I believe it’s said that he doesn’t go out often (in a conversation with an npc. Might be making that up tho). Like yeah he has Beth but she’s his maid. She’s not there in the way that he needs her (though I think she would be! She gives Rosa vibes.) guy who is all alone with no support system. Emotionally he’s fucked over. And he had nowhere to vent his feelings because he can’t tell anyone. He’s being threatened by Des for months on end. But in a Desclark scenario I imagine it becomes something like Stockholm syndrome (I touch on this just a little in GS but. Not in the way I want to go into it). It’s not that he’s in love with des, but that he’s internalized a lot of what Des has said (that it’s his fault, that he just has to keep quiet, that he can’t talk to anyone, etc). So to him it becomes Less Bad. Descole only threatens him when he disobeys/talks back/doesn’t do what he wants. Therefore it’s Clark’s fault for speaking out. It’s always his fault, Descole is only keeping him in line. Illogical, yes, but it’s a way to rationalize it for himself. And most of Clark’s work during that time is just holing himself in the study and doing paperwork or something. Des takes care of evacuations and everything related to the specter, so that’s some worry off his chest. He views it in a fucked up ‘he’s taking care of me’ kinda way. And eventually he gets kind of complacent in doing what Des wants just to not have to go through the threatening. All he has to do is sit and work and not talk to anyone and he’ll be fine! But yes, that means Des is the Only Person He Can Talk To. Fucked up sort of attachment forms to Descole. Yes he’s impersonating his butler, but Des provides him meals and cleans up and does things to take care of him! Des cares! Clark is shown to display fauning responses (though he doesn’t have much else choice) to Des (getting Hershel’s help, and during the episode of them talking). His method to protect himself isn’t to fight or to run away, but to appease the threat.

And I’d imagine des ends up feeling a bit of sympathy for him. An archaeologist with no family or emotionally support system does sound kinda familiar huh. And he ends up feeling bad for doing all of this to him (he can recognize that part at least. That Clark’s spiraling has a lot to do with his own actions and behavior, and that intentionally or not he’s sort of conditioned Clark to just take what he’s given.

I don’t think they’d even get too affectionate and they sure as hell wouldn’t be really romantic lovey dovey or whatever, but I think they’d take care of each other in the way that they can. Clark worries about Des when he notices it’s been a while without him (then gets upset with himself for caring) and des continues his duties as a butler (and if it’s more than just pretending, who’s to say?)

I think it would hit particularly hard for Clark without Descole around. I think Des could quickly move on (albeit missing the intimacy that comes with a close relationship), but shit like that would Fuck Someone Up. I explore this a lot in GS, that Clark has become used to Descole doing things for him. Enough so that he finds it difficult to regain his autonomy. He’s used to having everything decided for him, that all he has to do is obey and everything is fine, but with Descole gone he’s shoved into Being A Person and Being A Mayor all over again. But now he doesn’t have a guide. He doesn’t have anyone to tell him what to do. And no one knows what it was like to be in that situation, and he feels guilt for being upset when his wife and butler were literally kidnapped for months on end. Who gave him the right to miss the guy that hurt him so much?

Anyways. Yeah. Those are my thoughts on Desclark.

OHHHHH MY GODDDDD YES!!!!!!! THEY REALLY ONLY HAVE EACH OTHER TO ACTUALLY TALK TO DON'T THEY-

God I love this sm actually. Like Clark starting to rely on Des and believing the bullshit manipulative stuff he tells him. Des kind of seeing himself in Clark- DES SEEING HIMSELF IN CLARK HOW HAVE I NEVER THOUGHT OF THAT JESUS FUCKING CHRIST. Clark having to recover from that Weird Situationship afterwards. Wow there's a lot of good stuff here omg /gen

[andvys]

hi babe im back after reading part 13 and i loved it! i know you said you weren't satisfied with it but for me it was perfectly calm and sweet after all that stuff that happened recently! here are some of my fav moments

Idiots. 

well said babe!! they don't deserve you

“You didn’t seem okay before you left. Did we– was it too much?” 

what the fuck do you think. ugGHHHh

“Fuck,” he mumbles, cupping the back of his neck, he looks up into the dark sky, “you fucking idiot.” 

oh! he thinks! 😭

“I’d rather deal with you than love,” you mumble bitterly as you stare at Michael Myers on the TV.

SHE'S SO ME

“You’re not Michael Myers.” 

i can imagine the fake disappointment in her voice and the confusion on eddie's face 😭😭

“See, this is why she’s my favorite.” 

YASSS I LOVE MAX SO SO MUCH 🫶🫶

He regrets what he did before, what was he thinking? 

no bc for real eddie what were you thinking?? (i definitely didn't find the last chapter and the steve eddie sandwich hot)

“You seemed to enjoy kissing him.” 

BAHAHA THE EXPOSING

You can’t even help it, you chuckle at his anger, “I fucked two guys at once, one was a guitarist and the other was a drummer, they looked so good and their di–” he cuts you off by smashing his lips against yours, kissing you possessively again. 

SHE'S SO SASSY 🫦🫦

“I’m taking Henderson to the mall, he wants to buy some last minute christmas presents,” he chuckles, “do you wanna come with us?” 

aww now im in a christmas mood! i also want to buy presents:(

She furrows her brows in confusion, “what do you– oh!” Suddenly, her eyes are wide open and she gasps, cupping her hand over her mouth, “no fucking way,” she mumbles as her facial expression twists into a mortified but amused one. 

I LOVE ROBIN THAT WAS LITERALLY MY REACTION TO THE LAST CHAPTER

“Did your boy toys get sick of you?” 

im swinging through the screen rn

“You take Eddie and fuck his friends while you’re at it too! First Steve and now Robin too?” 

damn wish i had the opportunity to have all 3 😁

“Jesus Christ, girl!” You exclaim, rolling your eyes at her as you finally turn to face her. Her cheeks are red and her eyes are wide open, “shut the hell up,” you mumble in annoyance, “anyone ever tell you that your voice is fucking annoying?” 

AAAA I LOVE READER HAHA

“I just want to be free… like you.” 

oh wait i feel bad for her kinda

She shrugs, “I’m not proud of it but yeah, I guess so.” 

yeah i guess so- GIRL 💀

"Hey," you mumble, "have you ever considered that you might not be into men?" You ask, catching her off guard.

READER IS UNHINGED 😭 i mean good for her but- "hey btw i think you're gay" THAT'S SO ICONIC 😭😭

i think this chapter was absolutely perfect 🫶🫶 also! i just saw your post about witch!reader 👀 i am intrigued... ;) and how are you today? honey anon <3

hi bby🥺 you just put a smile on my face! thank you <3 i’m so happy you liked the new chapter!!! & thank you for the feedback, reading your fave moments always makes me so happy 😭

the disappointment on her face when she said “you’re not michael myers” is so funny to imagine 😂

ALSO YES MAX>>>> she is one of my favorite characters!

“swinging through the screen”😂

omg reader could easily have all 3…..😌

reader just says whatever she wants, she has no filter, especially when it comes to people like chrissy. she really made chrissy think tho, girly spent all night thinking about readers words 😂

and yes omg! i really wanna write something with witch!reader (maybe a fic where she finds powers through her grief after “losing” Eddie…. he is obviously not actually gone)

And i’m good! i finally got starbucks today! how are you, love? 🫶🏻

[helv-ete]

Tag Game To Better Know You! Send this to people you'd like to know better

@apersonwholikeslotus thanks for the tag!!

What book are you currently reading?

I don’t read books that often unless I have to, but rn I’m reading A Christmas Carol bc I’m watching through most all of the film adaptations and I wanted to compare it to the book. After watching ~50 Christmas carol movies in like 2 months it isn’t really anything special.

What's your favorite movie you saw in theaters this years?

I only saw a couple movies in theaters this year, but the first thing that came to mind for this was Sonic 2 which was NOT a good movie by any means but I saw it w my friend on the day it came out while we were on vacation and it was hilarious so I’m gonna have to go w that.

What do you usually wear?

Some sort of cargo pants or slacks, a sweater or hoodie, and converse or docs depending on the weather.

How tall are you?

5’7

What's your star sign? Do you share a birthday with a celebrity or a historical event?

I’m a Virgo and idk abt celebrities but I have the same bday as miku binder Thomas Jefferson and those planes hitting the twin towers.

Do you go by your name or a nick-name?

I just go by Ezra on here but irl I go by a shortened version of my birthname bc my parents won’t let me change it so technically both?

Did you grow up to be become what you wanted to be when you were a child?

Well, I’m 15 so I don’t think I can rlly answer this question yet, but ever since I was a kid computer science has been my realistic life plan and I’m on track to do that so kinda.

Are you in a relationship? If not, who is your crush if you have one?

I’m aroace and I don’t desire any sort of relationship at all so no.

What's something you're good at vs. something you're bad at?

I’d like to think I’m pretty good at writing and art and I am not good at talking to people online or irl.

Dogs or Cats?

Cats out of the two, but tbh I don’t rlly like any animals all that much.

What's something you would like to create content for?

I’ve wanted to draw stuff for Ted Lasso and Bojack Horseman for a while now but I can’t draw old ppl or horses very well (I’m trying tho)

What's something you're currently obsessed with?

Seinfeld. Obviously Hetalia and by extension history (specifically Dutch + German) but every year around this time I get rlly into a popular adult comedy for several months, permanently altering my psyche and this year that is Seinfeld. I feel like my brain noticed that my life is going absolutely insane rn and decided it was necessary to deploy the SpIn.

What's something you were excited about that turned out to be disappointing this year?

Ap European history. All last summer and the end of last year I was like “omg I cant wait to take ap euro next year it’s gonna be so fun I love European history and I’ve heard the teacher is awesome” and then the year starts and she keeps getting sick and by October (abt 2 months into school) she’s only been in class like half the days. So obviously everyone in the class starts getting rlly annoyed bc this was obviously not at all planned for at all as we’d been doing world history II work we’d already done last year the whole time, we are barely learning any new content, and our grades weren’t getting updated so a lot of ppl were failing the class. Then, the teacher misses 2 weeks straight of school and we’re all confused and annoyed. This goes on until one morning I’m eating my animal crackers and my dads like “hey did you know [teachers name]” and I’m like “yeah” and he’s like “oh well she just died” so then we spend like a month trying to get things back in order and getting tossed around the history department like a hot potato with anyone willing to teach us. Then like a week ago we finally got a permanent teacher and apparently we are like 2 months behind on content and we have to do a whole unit this week and a bunch of reading over break to maybe be ready for the ap test in may.

Are you religious?

No, my parents aren’t religious so I never have been.

What's something you wish to have at this moment?

Free time. I have so many projects and tests this week it’s crazy. It’s ~9:30pm my time as I’m writing this and I’ve used pretty much all my free time since I woke up making this post.

@rownavi (if they ever end up seeing this lmao) & @grimanonrexwrites

Srry if you’ve already gotten this!

[kirencer]

Since I’m evil I’m sending angst!

“If you want to leave then leave! I’m not going to stop you!”

(i cried while writing this because i’m a lil BABY. also ty for the request,,, it’s the only one i’ve gotten 🥲)

CW: mentions of divorce, definitely Spencer’s past abandonment issues flaring up, relationship issues, happy ending 🥰

wc: 951

It’s freezing when I walk towards the living room. It’s felt like this for weeks. Spencer doesn’t speak to me as often.

He’s effectively given me the cold shoulder, and I’m freezing.

So much that I need warmth or a shoulder that won’t be barred away like a treat just out of reach. If I can’t get that from Spencer, then I’ll take a break.

Penelope would love a sleepover.

I stand by the couch, a bag slung over my shoulder, and my hand tracing over a dent on the coffee table.

Spencer had missed work that day for me. We were cuddling on the couch, kissing, when he got a work call. The sound scared me so bad I fell back and got a concussion. Spencer told his boss that he’d quit before he ever left me at home hurt, and then took me to the hospital to make sure I was fine.

Heat bubbles by my eyes as I feel the tears melt through the stoic expression I had tried to have. They slide down my face soundlessly. Any sobs I could have produced were silenced by the lump in my throat.

What had happened to us?

There used to be so much love and laughter. Spencer never used to fail at making me happy. He would try everyday to make me fall in love with him again and I would try the same. We would both succeed, day after day, week after week.

When did he stop trying? Because I know that I haven’t yet given up. When did Spencer decide that paperwork was softer than my embrace and when did he start to ice me out?

He’d never made me feel so cold before. His love always warmed me up like an eternal flame. Every time we locked eyes I would be doused in gasoline and set aflame with the most wondrous kinds of love.

It couldn’t be the end of the honeymoon phase, Spencer had told me before we even started dating that he believed every day would be a honeymoon with the right person.

But who would honeymoon in Antarctica?

Am I not the right person?

I hear Spencer's footsteps behind me and I wipe away my tears with my palms, sniffing deeply as I stand up.

Spencers seen me cry plenty of times, he’ll know that’s what I’ve been doing.

Good.

In a sick way I want him to see how much he’s hurt me.

“I’m going to Pen’s for a couple days,” I say. I’m surprised I could even talk.

“You’re running away?” Spencer’s voice breaks on the the last syllable, and I think it breaks with my heart.

I struggle with what to say. I’m not running away but, If i’m being honest, I am. I’m running away because I don’t know what else to do. “Why not? You haven’t spoken to me in weeks!”

“If you want to leave then leave! I’m not going to stop you!” Spencer jolts back. I can't stop the way the tears spring back again.

I was getting tired of the cold but this, this is far worse. It’s the warmth and the heat of our love turned to the max and I’m melting under the burn of it.

“You think I want to leave? I’d give anything to stay, Spencer. What I want is you to be home at night. What I want is to know if you even love me anymore … if you even want me anymore.”

Spencer opens his mouth and closes it again. His face crumples like the paper plates I had eaten on all those days he wasn’t home and I didn’t feel like cooking because of it.

“Men are nearly twice as likely to develop a major depression after divorce,” Spencer stares at his mixed matched socks and I don’t know what to say to him. A tear stains his lighter sock into a dark gray. His voice is small and he sounds like he hasn’t slept well lately, “Please don’t leave me.”

I walk towards him and I wrap my arms around him. He buries his head into my neck and I can feel tears drip against my skin, and a soft hiccup as Spencer grips my shirt as if I’ll disappear if he lets go.

“I don’t know what to do, Spencer.”

“Stay.” He asks, more than says. “I’m so sorry. I’ve hurt you and I’ve made you want to leave, I promise I’ll be here more.”

“I don’t want promises, Spence, I want you.” Spencer's tears cool down the fire and his hold keeps me from freezing.

“You have me. You always will,” Spencer presses a kiss to my shoulder, “Even though we’re not married, a uh, ‘divorce’ would kill me. I’ve lost a lot in my life, but for you to leave would be it. I — I know it’s wrong to tell you this because then if you ever want to leave you feel like you have to stay but you deserve to know I care.”

My hand rubs against his back. Spencer is breathing softer, and so am I. My hastily made bag is dropped to the floor, forgotten in all but the fact that it’s on my toes.

“I love you. Even if you leave now, I’ll still love you.”

“Good thing I’m not leaving. I don’t want to, and you lied when you said you wouldn’t stop me so…” I pull away a bit to look at his face. He’s a bit tear stained, and his eyes are rimmed with red, but he’s here and he wants me.

I press my salty lips to his. The kiss is melting.

It’s warm.

(the event isn’t over yet for a while!! be sure to follow and send in a request. maybe even send some feedback!! it’s a lil late tho so i won’t get to any until tomorrow :]]])

(ps. would anyone want me to start a taglist? i might but i’m not sure)

[greensaplinggrace]

honestly THANK YOU for saying all that abt baghra bc i thought i was going crazy from not liking her??? bc i haven't read the books and only summaries of them on wiki and like. i dunno why ppl like her actually even in the show bc this guy, her son, is like "i wanna make the world better for us grisha" and she's just like "no." even tho he sees that she's MAKING HERSELF SICK from suppressing her powers! she's literally like in bed coughing in the flashback yet seem much healthier at the little palace. also like after everything, after her disapproval, after the fold, after centuries of waiting for the sun summoner.. he never abandons her. he makes sure she's cares for. he doesn't harm her. and i have to wonder if baghra has ever thanks him for that, for just not leaving her alone. like i dunno how im suppose ro believe aleks is a heartless villain when he still cares for his abusive mom like this. like has baghra even told her she loved him (honestly she reminds me of a classic emotionally unavailable asian parent but maybe that's just me). also im wondering if baghra ever told aleks that he had an aunt.. bc like.. now that u bring up her isolating him it's like hmmmm...

not at me being like alina... why do u trust the bitter old woman who literally beats u with a stick and verbally abuses u every chance she gets.. just bc she showed a bad painting... like.. pls use two braincells to see that who u figured out as his mother... is also using his protection..

like baghra could've upped and left with alina. but no. she stayed bc she knew she was safe under aleks's protection.

alsoim just impressed that after his first friend tried to drown him and harvest his bones... he didn't go into hiding???? he still wanted to make a safe heaven for grisha!!! HE STILL WANTED TO PROTECT GRISHA EVEN AFTER HIS GRISHA FRIEND TRIED TO KILL HIM FOR HIS FUCKEN BONES. like... this is the guy im suppose to believe is the villain???

honestly i feel like part of the reason why LB's plotlines seem so bad and disconnected (and sometimes outright racist but that's another rant) and why darkles is disproportionately more violent and villainous in the later books is bc she didn't expect the darkling to be so popular and wanted to stick with her guns of making him the villain. but also wanted the money from aleks's popularity. but like you can't have ur cake and eat it too.

Well thank you for sending this ask! It's very sweet and very passionate. I'm glad you liked my post! I didn't put as much thought into it as some of my others lol. I kind of just talked. But it was nice to be able to finally talk about some of the problems I have with both her character and the fandom/author's perception of her.

HERE is the post this is referring to, in case anyone's wondering.

👀👀 You've hit the nail on the head for so many things, here!

Baghra is extremely emotionally unavailable, basically to the point of neglect. She's also verbally and physically abusive, traits which I doubt were only reserved for her students and not her son. Baghra claims she would do anything to protect him, but I've known a lot of parents who have that mindset and yet still harm their children because they think it's "good for them".

Aleksander stays at Baghra's side for years, and even when they're opposing each other she's never too far away from him. Idk if you've read the books but he does eventually hurt her. And as much as I don't like Baghra, I think his actions were horrid. But I'm also honestly kind of surprised it took him so long lmao.

Yeah I mean, in terms of isolation, let's not forget that she never wanted to introduce him to his father, either. Baghra's sense of eternity clouds a lot of her judgments on relationships, which means she views most people as dust and therefore teaches her son to as well. The problem with that is that he's a growing child, and he needs those social and emotional attachments for healthy development.

I would bet quite a bit of money that Baghra has either never told him she loves him or she has told him so few times it's practically forgettable.

And everything becomes more complicated because so many of Baghra's actions are understandable because of her life and her history, but the impacts they have on the people around her, especially Aleksander, are permanently damaging. And the fact that that's never gone over in critical depth in the books or how it's glossed over in fandom is just very disconcerting. Like, acknowledging Baghra's failings doesn't mean we're excusing Aleksander's actions, it just means we're holding Baghra liable for her own. Which the fandom should be doing, considering she's the epitome of an abusive parental figure.

And Alina trusting Baghra over Aleksander is even more confusing! Especially in the show!! This is the woman who beat her and abused her and tortured her friends when they tiny little children (and who probably still does so now that they're adults). This is the woman who mocks you and harasses you and insults you on a regular basis. Why does Baghra revealing she's Aleksander's mother make Alina change her mind?! Like fuck, I'd just feel bad for Aleksander. No wonder he kept it a secret, I would too! And that painting is enough evidence?! Really?! A random painting shown to you by this abusive mentor that's been making your life hell. That's what you're going to betray your new lover over?

The friends trying to harvest his bones thing is a good point, too. I think Aleksander, especially show Aleksander, is incredibly idealistic. I think he cares too much for others - those he's deemed worth his care (a sentiment given to him by Baghra). Despite everything she's tried to teach him about hiding and abandoning others and never caring and never doing anything to help or reach out or connect with people, Aleksander still continues to do so. It's likely because he never got it from Baghra growing up, and so is desperate for those emotional needs to be fulfilled elsewhere.

His turning point, when Baghra tells him it was understandable that those kids tried to kill him because the world is such a hard place for them - that's crucial. And the reason it's possible as a motivating factor is because of that idealism and that desire to help and that desire to be everything his mother isn't. Baghra tells him this trauma he just experienced was because of the oppression of his people, and instead of following her lead and accepting that, going into hiding and abandoning everybody to their misery, he goes I can do something about that. I can make it so this never happens again. Which is usually how trauma like that combines with one's core personality traits at a young age, especially when there's none of the essential support systems in place to aid in recovery (ie, the role Baghra should have been filling but wasn't, because she decided to exacerbate the problem instead).

And yeah, one of my biggest problems with the ham-fisted "beating you over the head with a sledgehammer of evil deeds" look-how-bad-this-character-is! portrayal of the Darkling in the later books comes from the impression I get that Bardugo doesn't trust her readers. She's so desperate to have us hate this character and think him an irredeemable villain, not trusting any of her readers to engage critically with a morally gray character, that it feels quite a bit like condescending fucking bullshit. Which ew, I know how to engage with literature, thanks.

She really does seem to look down on a large part of her fandom, and imo, the infantilization of the female characters in her books seems to carry over to her impression of most of her female readers as well. Which is why the Darkling's character arc gets fucking destroyed. But he's still a good cash grab, of course, so she'll shake his dead corpse in front of the fandom for money every time she wants something from it.

Also! Another reason I think her plotlines feel disconnected (I'm sorry Bardugo I respect you as a person, but shit-) is because the writing in SaB is just bad. I mean, nevermind the absolutely nauseating implications of the way she portrays the Grisha as a persecuted group who's situation is never actually fully addressed as it should be, considering Grisha rights is what her main villain is fighting for (imo for a series called the Grishaverse, LB seems to be pretty anti Grisha), but her characters and story alone are just wrong for each other. They don't fit together.

And the ending is one of the main pieces of evidence in that regard! You can’t say the ending where Alina isn’t Grisha anymore is her “going back to where she started” when she’s always been Grisha. She just didn’t know she was Grisha because she denied that part of herself that she was born with.

Alina is reluctant to move forward or change, she struggles with adapting, and she’s very set on the things she’s grown attached to throughout her life. She also has some latent prejudices against the Grisha, and so denies the possibility of being Grisha for those reasons as well.

Alina’s lack of powers in the beginning of her life because she willfully doesn’t learn about them to avoid change versus her lack of powers at the end of the book when she’s accepted them and then they’re stripped away from her by outer forces are two entirely separate circumstances. You can’t make a parallel about lost powers and lack of Grisha status bringing her back to the start when she was always Grisha and she always had powers and she simply refused to come to terms with it because of personal reasons.

The first situation is an internal conflict that indicates a story about growth and a journey of self acceptance. Denying herself the opportunity to learn about her heritage and to find acceptance with a group of people like her because she’s tied to the past and because of the way she was raised is the setup for a narrative that tackles unlearning prejudice and learning how to connect with a part of her identity that was denied her and learning how to grow independent and self assured. It’s the setup for a different story entirely. The second situation is an external conflict that centers around the ‘corrupting influence of power’... for some reason.

In a world where Grisha do not have social, political, or economic power and they are hunted, centering your heroine’s journey of self acceptance and growth around an external conflict about... the corrupting influence of power (in a group of people that don’t actually have any power?!) just doesn’t work. It is literally impossible to connect the two stories Bardugo is trying to push in Shadow and Bone without seriously damaging the main character’s developmental arc.

The only way a narrative like this would work, claiming that she has gone back to where she started, is either a) if the Grisha weren’t actually a persecuted group and instead were apart of the upper class, or b) if the one bad connection between the two instances is acknowledged - that Alina denied a part of herself crucial to self acceptance and growing up, and that losing her powers at the end has also denied her. It is a tragedy, not a happy ending.

Alina suffered because she didn’t use her powers. She grew sick. It was bad for her. This was not a resistance to 'the corruption of power and the burden of greed', it was her suffering because she couldn’t fully accept herself.

Framing the ending as a return to the beginning can’t be done if you don’t address how bad the beginning was for your main character. You brought her back to a bad point in her life. You regressed her. This should be a low point in her arc. It should be a problem that’s solved so she can finish developing organically or it should be something that is acknowledged as a tragedy in it’s own right, for the future the world (the writing) denied her.

This is a ramble and it makes no sense and I’m really sorry, but my point is that Bardugo put the wrong characters in the wrong story. The character arc required for organic development doesn’t match the story and intended message at all. The narrative doesn’t fit the cast. She's got two clashing stories attempting to work in tandem and she ends up with both conflicting messages that fans still can’t comprehend in her writing and an ending that doesn’t suit her main character to such an impossible degree that it’s almost laughable.

So yeah, there's a few reasons why I think the story and the plot feels so bad and disconnected. I hope you don't mind me making this answer so long! 😅 I was not expecting to write this much.

[gswharang]

Hey everyone! I am Belle and as a heads up this is a queued post bc I live on like the opposite timezone of basically anyone in the US so this site is opening before dawn on fri for me and I have work. I'll try and hop on fri night, otherwise I'll get back to everyone on my sat! Anyway, I'm excited for this rp to open, I love surreal and horror. 🔥 My hobbies include writing gremlin bois and oscillating wildly between regular capitalization and lapslock. Also ToF/genshin (hmu if u play tho). This is Noh Harang, resident gremlin, morally ambiguous and in the trade of plots that verge on the wrong side of functional. Here is his about and profile page which has the more relevant of information, but I’ll drop some additional quick facts under the cut along with some attempted plot ideas! If you want to plot just like or dm + I have a discord on request if it’s easier to plot there (i usually prefer it A Lot, so if you want me to add you just drop your user in my ims and when i get online later i can add 6v6 ). 

if you want the full gist of why he is the way he is i’d rec reading his bio + checking his profile page, bc this is like: scenario, i'm trying my best, but my best is never good enough 😔 if not, ig you'll have to go by this image:

was born in ulsan, his dad died when he was pretty young and was largely raised by his mom w help from other family members. he is  ✨inspired ✨ by sharp objects (bc i Love it), only less murder-y, but his mom has FDIS (munchausen by proxy) and it influenced his emotional development a lot. 

moved to the island as a teen when his mom remarried, which meant there were new and exciting doctors to visit who weren’t suspicious of her yet. cowabunga, dude. spent a lot of time in his room drawing when he was ~sick~

he’s decently smart, and he did go onto uni for art, but then he got pissed at someone else and sabotaged their assignment by breaking into somewhere he shouldn’t have been and prob broke like 4 school rules in the process and was kicked out his second year. so he never finished. good life choices? check. clearly.

he is vindictive and revenge-driven and will act immediately on those feelings without considering the consequences on getting caught. harang in the moment is always like: i will definitely not get caught. and the narrator is like: that bitch did, in fact, get caught.

is he a good person? no. does he try to better himself every day? also no. memes aside, he does have good qualities but he’s def not sugar and spice and everything nice. if you enjoy complicated, emotionally wrought, and sometimes dark plots 👀 👀 👀 pls come to me, that is what i’m weak and design my chars for.

he’s a webtoon creator/artist. he’s into horror, esp supernatural/paranormal horror. his webtoon is similar in storyline/vibe to something like stagtown? but his art style is different. he takes inspo from junji ito of course. likes consuming horror media/projects as well.

obsessed with herbal tea, has So Many flavors in his apt. 

really into vinyl, though he usually collects based on cover artwork first and music second. likes playing atmospheric music when he’s making art.

he smokes, his favorite is cherry tobacco. they’re bad for his body but he’s pretty sure his body was basically destroyed in his youth so what does it matter anymore anyway?

he has a weird vibe but he’s good at covering it. will default to auto-mirroring people’s gestures and personalities around him without super realizing he’s doing it. if you spend enough time around him though it fades, it’s mostly done for people he doesn’t interact w regularly. 

he has long hair, and yes, that is a personality trait

he’s not always the nicest person but he’s also not mean for the sake of being mean. it can take him a while to emotionally connect to people. he doesn’t frequently get into romantic relationship because of it, def finds casual to be easier. his sense of love and how it should be expressed is ✨very off ✨

can turn himself into a victim in 4 minutes flat (i_got_it_from_my_mama.mp3)

he hates doctors, not in a take it personally sense, more just going to the doctors and being treated sense. will avoid going to the hospital At All Costs. 

can be manipulative, and isn’t always the most empathetic person (in this house we support morally grey chars 👏 )

plot ideas -- tbh i often prefer to like talk apps and come up with something organically, but here are a few ~general ideas~ that might be nice to have, and a few that could be starting off points if we’re really stuck.

an ex that was messily resolved and there's some baggage there is always fun. would love if it imploded due to reasons on both their ends rather than like one person being the Saint and the other being a Villain. I want mutually assured destruction and angst tyvm.

conversationalists. they live in the same area and keep running into each other, harang takes frequent smoke breaks outside for instance. but the strange part of it is there’s no real set schedule, and they just keep running into each other even though they're leaving at drastically different times every day. could be fun if they know some deeper pieces of each other’s life without knowing the like basics of each others personalities (like an inverse of basic friends, unbasic not-friends, if you will)

a bff? like we really click together and even though you make bad life choices and are lvl 500 dumb sometimes i’ll still help you with whatever mess you invite upon yourself. can go both ways, of course.

me, sweating and running out of plot ideas i’m brainstorming on the spot, someone who’s into harang’s webtoon. ofc it would need to be ✨developed ✨ so it could be interesting, but yes. OR his anti!!! OR a mix and they're obsessively into it to the point of being creepy. a creepy stan stalking a creepy artist, creep² if you will

i Am a fan of antagonistic plots, i think they’re really fun, esp when both chars are kind of catty about it and it’s not just one being the ~evil~ one, tho i don’t have any ideas on how to get there but if someone really wants one and to figure out a reason why i’m down!!!!

okay i think that’s it i’m out of ideas, but i’m v excited to plot and write so pls don’t hesitate to let me know if you like something or have another idea or wanna create something organically 👀

[greetings-inferiors]

I’m actually curious about how many of these apply to me (I’m telling the truth (I think))

I am not a good liar, i think that telling the truth is better in almost all situations.

I do remember lying

I think c++ is quite intuitive! If it weren’t for exams I’d be learning it

I am really annoyed that I have to choose what clothes to wear, I literally do not care about what I am wearing at all, I’d much rather wear a uniform. The one bad thing about sixth form so far. I do think I have great style, but that’s probably just because I think I look great in anything (did you know I have great self esteem lmao)

My wardrobe is full of… clothes

I actually had my first kiss in primary school (well, it depends on what you consider a first kiss. First kiss with non family? A girl kissed me out of nowhere in year 3 or something (and gave me an allergic reaction but that’s another story) I got dared to kiss someone in year 6 at a pool party and I ain’t no chicken, but I had my first actual romantic kiss 5 years later in year 11)

I watch doctor who and that’s about it. Everything else is animated. I watch a fair few musicals tho

I have stood outside a sex shop in Spain before, didn’t go in though

Shoes on carpet just feels wrong, I take my shoes off asap

My room is not decorated with 3D printed baubles (my room is mainly knicknacks, and two walls are painted white and two walls are painted yellow, my favourite colour :3)

Never had a gooseberry

I have climbed a tree before, but only relatively small ones, and never completely vertical ones

I shave, but only when I remember to. I think facial hair looks horrible and I’d shave body hair if it was in any way convenient. At least shaving facial hair is quick, easy, and painless.

I have no fucking clue what mine or anyone else’s eye colour is. I’m already colourblind so it’s difficult to tell, but it’s just such a weird part of someone’s body to memorise. Like I see someone’s face all the time, I see someone’s hair all the time, but I only see their eyes for a split second when we happen to lock eyes, and I’ll only ever think about their eyes if I’m specifically staring into them. Add that to the fact that I find it really difficult to recall images, and I have no idea. I can remember certain people’s eye colour but that’s not remembering what their eye colour looks like, but that they’ve specifically told me and I’m close enough to them to commit that to memory. I couldn’t tell you if they were lying to me or not. If someone asks what eye colour they have and I can’t check I’ll normally guess based on their hair colour (blonde? Probably blue. Brown? Probably brown.)

I think glasses are so cool and make people look really good but I’ve never really had bad enough eyesight to warrant them. One time I faked bad eyes to get glasses but hated wearing them so much that I just didn’t wear them. They not only were a hassle to wear, I’d forget them, they’d hurt my ears if I wore them for too long, etc., but they’d also hurt my eyes because wrong lenses are bad for you. If I could have lenseless glasses specifically made for me to be comfortable I might wear them, because that’d be sick

What's an outrageous lie about yourself that is actually very believable?

hmm, this is actually way harder then i thought... you somehow have to come up with a false assumption about yourself.

maybe a better way to to that, is to ask anons to send you assumptions, and then filter out the ones that are true. but i don't have enough anons for that.

ok, let's try to do this together, anon! i believe in us!!

step 1: just general lies and falsehoods

i am a good liar

i definitely remember lying before

c++ is an easy language, and totally doesn't scare me

i have a good scene of style/fashion for my clothes

my closet is full (has more then 2 items) of clothes i actually like

i had my first kiss in highschool

i watch a lot of live action tv shows

i've never been to a sex shop

i wear shoes inside my house

my bedroom is decorated with a lot of 3d printed baubles

i hate gooseberries

i know how to climb a tree

i shave regularly

my eyes are green

i wear glasses

(i came up with this list by first making facts, and then inverting them)

now you have to tell me which ones are the most outrageous and believable!!

[everythingisawayoflife]

things i love reading in my favorite kind of sickfic: sick!peter parker & irondad!tony

i read a lot of sickfics but i don’t think there’s any character i read for more than peter parker. my boy’s been thru a lot and i feel like he never gets any chances to rest. so when i read a fic where a cold or something slows him down, i can breathe easier. plus, it allows me to further develop what tony and peter’s relationship was like offscreen since they didn’t spend much time together onscreen (damn u russos, why couldn’t we have had the daily lives of peter and tony?) so, tldr, i read a lot of peter sickfics and there are certain things that writers add to their stories that make me gush and inspire me to write my own stories!! so take this list and do with it what you will!

starting off the list, i really really love when author’s make peter hide being sick - it’s so in character for him, y’know? like he’s always hiding SOMETHING and he’s really bad at it so it just seems fitting he’d wanna put up a front and act like his body isn’t kicking his ass

when shit goes down in the middle of the night - usually that formula is peter goes to bed early, tony is a lil suspicious but not a lot, peter’s havin a hell of a fever dream, friday alerts tony, tony goes into straight up dad mode like its a common formula but a great one

when harley makes an appearance - he’s not in a lot of them but i think a harley x peter siblings dynamic would be excellent in some of these

when peter stays at stark tower for some reason - most times may is out of town (other times she’s dead and WAY TO GO GUYS YOU DIDN’T HAVE TO MANIFEST THAT ONE) but when may is out of town, peter becomes tony’s problem and sometimes hilarity ensues

tony and may co-parenting - just a delightful little thing - i once wrote a fic where tony knew may in college (and may or may not have dated her) and peter found out. it was inspired by the fact marisa tomei and rdj dated for a little irl but i trashed it

tony having to rescue peter mid-patrolling shift - you get unlucky with ONE KNIFE and suddenly the world ends

peter staying at the Stark Cabin and getting sick there - which reminds me i have a fic like that that has been collecting dust i need to write chapter 3 whoopsies

peter getting sick on the road/out of town

APPENDICITIS - that’s it i just really like appendicitis fics although i’d never wish that on myself or anyone cause i know that shit hurts

when peter has vivid fever dreams - boy’s been thru a lot even before infinity war so it makes sense he’d have traumatic dreams but someone will always be here for him when he wakes up

those petermj fics when he climbs through her window either injured or worse and she has to figure out what to do - mj’s smart tho she always knows how to fix it

when someone else besides may or tony takes care of peter - some good potential peter watchers include: natasha, pepper, ned, cap, sam & bucky, and various others but that’s just my quick list

peter doing something stupid while sick like babe please do not swing across new york chasing a petty thief if it means you’re gonna vomit inside your suit it’s zendaya’s biggest fear

or, peter doing something stupid that makes him sick like falling in the hudson river and his heating didn’t work or i read one where he went ice skating at the stark cabin and fell in, poor peter lmao

i read one where peter got poisoned at a stark gala and crashed through a glass table but it never got established whether it killed him or not and the way it left me hanging like c’mon

when it gets a lil angsty - peter reveals some kind of underlying issue when he’s sick and/or delirious like he’s been working himself sick or he’s just not doing well mentally yet tony is there to pick up the pieces and connects with him on some level

those fics where tony and peter don’t know each other very well yet since he just started working for tony but they connect while peter’s down with a cold

when morgan tries helping peter like i wish they could’ve had a big brother and lil sister relationship

okay thats all - i know there’s more but that is my general little list of things i love since i do a lot of those. also hey fellow fic writers, if ur fic has any of these in it, please recommend them to me thx i love you

[dreamwritesimagines]

okaaaaay, here comes another proposal. and hmm, okay, don’t get me wrong, Anthony’s proposal (if we can even call it that) was horrendous. but Pierre’s proposal was so….shallow and well, selfish. i’m sorry but it made me cringe so bad. even his compliments feels so shallow. i’d take a poem compared to this thanks. and the mere fact that he suggested to get married in Gretna Green is so selfish? like does he not see how much it would make things worse for Cherie? a daughter of a duke? and yeah sure, blah blah who cares what the Ton thinks but no matter how you look at it, this doesn’t benefit anyone at all? and it’s like, he’s not even seeing the consequences it would have on her, let alone considering how it would affect her. “leave this all behind, leave your father behind” is so…wrong??? it sounds so wrong?? like he doesn’t even think about her brother, her best friend, the life she’s grown to have in London. Pierre is just thinking about him and how this would benefit him if they were to marry. and it leaves such a bad taste in my mouth. like telling Cherie to “leave this all behind” instead of “come with me, we can start a new life” speaks volumes imo. he’s not even saying anything remotely close to romantic like “I will do my best to give you happiness and be the best husband” or something of the sort. i think Pierre is aware how heartbroken she is. and i feel like he’s taking advantage of her heartbreak so so much bc he’s in a way, giving her an ultimatum like: say no and you will stay here and face all this heartbreak or marry me and leave it all behind. 

honestly, the more i compare their proposal, the more i’m thinking that Anthony’s was *slightly* better??? which trust me, i want to smack myself for saying that bc Anthony’s Business Proposal™️ was the most painful thing i’ve ever witnessed. but like, at least he promised Cherie a good, comfortable, stable life?? LMAAAOOO Pierre didn’t even come close to saying that he will provide for her, protect her and give her the life she deserves bc well…he really can’t if you look at it logically. like, if he can’t give her love then what else can he give? and he offered her nothing at all. not even a promise to try and make her happy.

LOVE AT TENTH SIGHT. Percival you comedian. but, god, that conversation was Intense™️ Cherie had a point and she had every right to call out the duke about choosing for her etc. i was with her up until she said that Percy didn’t know Cassie. bc when we come and think about it, she knew so little about what her mother and father were like before her and hell, even before Elias was born. the courtship, the better parts of the marriage, Cassie being pregnant with Elias, like, there’s so much she doesn’t know. so i don’t think her words held that much weight in that regard. and like, this is going to sound so bad but Cherie only truly knew her mother after what happened, and i feel like the rumors changed Cassie in a way, so it’s so so sad to think that Cherie didn’t really know her mother before the rumors, only after. and it breaks my heart thinking how Cherie probably never got to see Cassie be so carefree and glow and laugh bc as much as i believe she saw her mother happy in Paris, i don’t think it was true happinessbc i feel like even years later, Cassie still carried that heaviness of what happened in London and the divorce. and maybe she just hid it so so well bc she didn’t want her only daughter to bear witness to it as much. and correct me if i’m wrong but i feel like Cherie only saw the weight of it when Cassie got sick bc by then, she really didn’t have the strength to hide it anymore. Cherie saying the duke didn’t know Cassie wasn’t wrong per se, but it’s not true either. bc Percy knew a different version of Cassie as did Cherie. and sadly, Cherie didn’t get to witness the Cassie that Percy knew, and Percy didn’t get to witness the Cassie that Cherie grew up with.

but that disappointment line tho, Ouch™️ Percy felt that to his core. but omg, i know this isn’t the time to joke but Percy kinda just told her to “go touch some grass” ksksksksks sorry, sorry, but no, the conversation wasn’t going anywhere tbh. they would just end up screaming at each other.

Iona and Lucie chilling by the tree <3 also, Hugh’s casual “I was.” had me giggling like a school girl. like mhmm he’s been spending time with Kenneth, love that, yes, good for him.

“Is there a whisper in your head telling you this is a mistake?” HUGH. THANK YOU. YOU GENIUS. that’s such a good question! i swear him and Cecily are the only people who have braincells in this story so far sksksk i feel like it definitely runs in the family, mother’s side i feel. but god what Hugh said about him not wanting to visit her in Paris is so true it hurts. just thinking about Elias and Cece going there and every time they do they just see the life and joy slowly leave Cherie. like i can picture her getting weaker day by day and they will see that with each visit. like they’d notice the change each time and it would really be such a sad thing to see. so i’m glad Hugh was blunt about that. bc it genuinely would be so painful for the people who care about her to witness the physical effects of the heartbreak Cherie will deal with every single day when she marries Pierre. also, yes, she’s heartbroken here in London, but at least she’s got friends and family by her side. she doesn’t have that back in Paris anymore, unfortunately.

THAT CUTE MOMENT WITH CECILY AND ELIAS. ugh my heaaaaaart. also side note, why am i picturing Anthony just begrudgingly following these two around like a Best Man Bodyguard™️ so he can keep an eye out when they sneak around, just mumbling to himself like “just one more day, and I don’t have to act chaperone anymore, just 24 more hours…” like that image is so funny to me. but anyway, i’m so glad Cherie saw that and made her snap out of it. like she really was trying to convince herself that this idea of marrying Pierre was the best shot she’s got or that it was even a good idea in the first place.

“I think that’s the only right decision you’ve made in a month.” LUCIE. I LOVE YOU. she is so right and she should say it. i’m popping a bottle of champagne, i am celebrating bc we’ve finally gotten the Mustache Man™️ out of the picture yay!

“You don’t use me or mother as a weapon.” …..i didn’t even think about that omg. that’s so..true. Cherie really did have a moment of selfishness back at the duke’s study. bc she didn’t even consider Elias’ side of it and how he would feel. and like, i feel so sorry for Elias bc you can see his pain about this. he’s so so sooo torn. for one, he knew how much it hurt Cassie, and in turn, hurt Cherie as well. but he also saw how the duke was like after that. so it’s so painful for him to see them but heads when he saw how this affected everyone.

THE WALTZ. YES. YES. YES. Elias picking it all while being oblivious as fuck might actually have been in our favour here. like, he chose waltz bc obviously he wants to be close to Cece, what he didn’t take into account is the fact that his best man and Cece’s maid of honor would be close to as well. “Why would I think about anyone else? It’s my engagement ball.” aaaah Elias, your Lovesick Chaotic Ass™️ is everything. he said “this is for me and the love of my life, no one else” and as he should lmao.

i’m sorry if this is too much but ANTHONY TAKING HIS GLOVES OFF WHEN HE SAW CHERIE WAS GLOVESLESS AS WELL??? THAT WAS SO FUCKING HOT???? he really wants that Naked Handholding™️ so baaad. YOU HARLOT LORD ANTHONY BRIDGERTON!!! THAT WAS VERY SEXY OF HIM!!! why did I find that sooooo frickin attractive help??? i’m so down bad for this man lmao. but pls his smile when he found out Pierre said no. and i love how Cece was the one who told him. love seeing this frienship grow.

aaaah i’m going to cryyyy Anthony quoting Cherie’s questions way back when they first danced together. i’m so emotional. CECILY THIS IS ALL THANKS TO YOU BY THE WAY. FINALLY RATTLED THIS MAN AND MADE HIS BRAINCELLS FUNCTION. like now he is finally showing her the little things as to why he cares bc hello, remembering every single detail of the night you two first danced counts as something surely?? i actually am just asdfghj!klalskdju!fvhebnwo!jkgfvin™️ my way into this whole waltz. this whole interaction is just making my heart soar. you’ve made us suffer with all the angst that the littlest moments of softness just make me explode. i cannot deal with this !!!! Anthony’s breath hitching whenever she touches and squeezes his shoulders !!! their banter !!! Anthony being open about how he can’t take his eyes off her !!!! Anthony being so down bad !!! their conversation about honesty and just !!!!!!! the whole parallel of their first dance and this dance just everything about this is so Chef Kiss™️ !!!!!!!

now i’m praying that this will finally make Cherie question things at least. like her seeing Anthony running out of the ballroom after their dance mirroring what she did when they first dance, surelyshe can now at least start doubting her thoughts of this being unrequited. also, also, their whole questioning portion, i feel like Anthony was just waiting for her to ask him how he feels about her. like give him an opportunity to say it. like that’s such a lovely thing bc he’s not, pushing himself to much onto her anymore. he’s being patient finally and letting her steer the convo. but alas, he’s left enchanted and breathless instead. amazing as always! <3 and OMG WEDDING DAY NEXT CHAPTER?? AAAH i can’t wait to see where this goes next!!!

– TM Anon™️

Omg hi darliiiing! ❤❤❤

Wait omg I haven’t thought about it that way! ❤ But yes, Pierre offering her to go to Gretna Green if her father insists on not giving them his blessing was actually a bit selfish because that would change everything in Cherie’s life in a bad way! It would be yet another scandal and the Ton is already very willing to jump on assumptions about her 💔

like telling Cherie to “leave this all behind” instead of “come with me, we can start a new life” speaks volumes imo. he’s not even saying anything remotely close to romantic like “I will do my best to give you happiness and be the best husband” or something of the sort This is a great point! 😱 He just offers her some kind of escape but what about afterwards? 😏

HOLD ON HOLD ON-

Anthony’s business proposal was better?! 😱

I mean Pierre wouldn’t be able to offer like half of the luxury as Anthony can, that’s for sure 😂

Oh you’re absolutely right! ❤ I think Percy and Cassie were completely different people before the divorce 💔 And just like you said, Cherie only knew Cassie after everything happened💔

I do think Cassie was more like, more assertive than Cassie and had a worse temper than Cherie, but I think on some part, they have a lot in common❤ Cassie, just like Cherie loved to laugh and was mostly carefree before the divorce ❤ And after the divorce and everything, Cassie that Cherie got to know and was raised by had so little in common with Cassie Percy married 💔

“go touch some grass”  LOLLL OMG YES?! 😂

Hugh has been spending most of his time with Kenneth ❤ And I love Iona and Lucie together! ❤

just thinking about Elias and Cece going there and every time they do they just see the life and joy slowly leave Cherie. like i can picture her getting weaker day by day and they will see that with each visit. like they’d notice the change each time and it would really be such a sad thing to see. OMG EXACTLY!

Like, Cherie would slowly change in a marriage with Pierre and not even in a good way, it would be so heartbreaking 💔

Oh the mental image of Anthony following them and grumbling 😂

Cherie was going to say yes to his proposal if she didn’t see them❤ So she kind of owes her future happiness to Elias and Cece 😂

Lucie is the voice of reason😂❤

Cherie really did have a moment of selfishness back at the duke’s study. She did! She most certainly did, and I think it’s really good that Elias let her know, because that was really thoughtless on her part, to drag him into that argument just to use him against Percy 💔

THE WALTZ, THE WALTZ!

Elias didn’t think about anyone else at all and he was right 😂 It’s his wedding so he is only focused on Cecily and being close to her ❤

Lovesick Chaotic Ass™ OH I LOVE THIS DESCRIPTION😂❤

Anthony taking his gloves off yessssss😏 I mean in his defense, it would be rude if the lady’s gloves were off and he kept his own BUT…

He wasn’t thinking about social rules, that’s for sure 😈

That’s totally all Cecily! ❤ He had to step on the breaks and not overwhelm Cherie after everything, and Cecily made sure he understood how important it was for their future and their relationship❤

And he remembers everything about their first danceeeee❤

also, also, their whole questioning portion, i feel like Anthony was just waiting for her to ask him how he feels about her. like give him an opportunity to say it. like that’s such a lovely thing bc he’s not, pushing himself to much onto her anymore. he’s being patient finally and letting her steer the convo. THIS! DEFINITELY! ❤

Cherie is setting the pace now, not him ❤ And he’s going to have to learn how to not always be in control and to let her have it instead ❤ I think it’ll be such a new experience for them both 😂❤

Wedding next chapter! ❤❤❤

Thank you so much love, you’re amazing! ❤❤ You’ve made me so happy with this! ❤❤❤

[caleiiiii]

mcyt subway au pt 4 - ELECTRIC BOOGALOO

check out the master post here !

halloween

phil lets everyone dress up for the halloween weekend as long as they wear the nametag and hat

tubbo dresses up as a bee (it matches the pin on his visor :D)

tommy tries to “dress up” as schlatt, but gets denied as soon as he walks in the door

wilbur, the shift lead, decides that tommy can just. wear a sheet over his head with the eyes cut out

he has to wear the hat and nametag on the sheet tho

wilbur, quackity, and fundy decide it would be hilarious to all wear their uniforms backwards

hats, shirts, aprons, pants, it’s all backwards

wilbur asks fundy if hes gonna wear his fursuit (this is before the philza smackdown)

fundy is Not Pleased 

the dream team + karl dress up as hogwarts students

instantly the favorites from all the kids who come into the store

technoblade dresses up as a vampire 

isnt allowed to ring people up because of the fake fangs

eret dresses up as a king, also attempts to wear those like 5 inch platform heels

the reason he cant is because he kept hitting his head on things

niki dresses up as wednesday addams

phil told her she wasnt allowed to keep the crossbow on her :(

schlatt just shows up in his everyday clothes

when quackity asks who hes dressed up as schlatt just responds

“God”

no one else asks any questions

the proofer incident

one time tubbo was sick and couldn’t work his shift

everyone else was busy so phil let tommy and wilbur work it alone

since tubbo always bakes the bread, tommy had to do it

(for context, you have to proof bread before you bake it so it rises)

so tommy placed all the dough in the proofer to proof

but he didnt set the timer right

cut to a few hours later

the two are just finishing up a big rush when wilbur looks into the proofer

“tommy, you do know how to set the timer on the proofer, right?”

“what timer?”

tommy looks into the proofer

its just

dough

so much dough

(when you overproof dough it gets really big)

wilbur starts CACKLING 

tommy just. stares

they run out of bread that evening

languages

tubbo asks niki to teach him german one night

niki decides to hang up a bunch of sticky notes on items around with the store with the german word for it

fundy and quackity begin to do the same for dutch and spanish respectively

phil tells them as long as its in the back room he doesnt mind

speedrunning sandwiches

dream is hella good at making sandwiches

prides himself on being pretty damn good at his job

one day he hears rumors about a worker from another subway store who is super fast at making sandwiches

dream, curious, asks what location and decides to pay a visit to this newfound competitor

when he gets there, he meets illumina

the guy is just so fast at making sandwiches

dreams internal monolouge: “oh, this is my new rival”

as illumina is making his sandwich hes just like. mentally taking notes

he starts going to the other subway like about 3-4 days a week

everytime he asks for illumina to make his sandwich

every single time

time skip to two ish weeks later or smth

dream has made way too many google docs and spreadsheets over this

once he was editing it on the company computer and sapnap caught him and just stared in horror

he goes into the subway to order another sandwich and asks for illumina again

as dream is paying illumina kinda asks

“hey, so uh, is there a reason that you come in here like every day and always request that i make your sandwich?”

dream just. Freezes

its a weird conversation

the kitten incident(s) -an expansion on an idea by @trademarked-but-not-really !

schlatt, despite the façade he puts up, is a big softie

one time he finds a tiny kitten on his way to work

in a split second decision he just. brings the kitten to work

places the cat in his cubby behind his sweatshirt

during his lunch break he goes to the back room to play with the kitten

quackity catches schlatt holding the kitten and baby-talking it

“who’s a good kitty? you are! you-”

“uh, schlatt, what are you doing?”

quackity gets so much blackmail

“if you tell anyone about this you’re dead.”

quackity uses his blackmail to get out of so much stuff

after that incident, schlatt gets better at hiding the kittens

there are still some slip ups tho

phil: “is that cat hair on the floor?”

schlatt, hiding a kitten in his apron: “no... hopefully”

after his shift he always brings the kittens to the local animal shelter

he also volunteers there during his free time

one time niki comes in to adopt a cat and walks in only to see schlatt holding 3 small kittens

one in each hand, and another climbing up his shoulder

they just -stare- at eachother

needless to say, another person gains blackmail on schlatt that day

trade-offs

tommy, tubbo, and wilbur haggle and trade doing certain tasks

mainly sweeping the store and stocking the chips display

these trades get VERY intense

“i’ll start on freezer pulls if you sweep and mop” “only if you do prep work tomorrow” “deal!”

“i’ll let you bake bread and cookies if you also stock the chip display” “ugh, fine”

one day phil comes in to do inventory just to see the three boys standing by the task list screaming at each other

luckily only bad and skeppy were in the shop

schlatt and wilbur origins

when schlatt  first started working at subway, he always got paired with wilbur on shifts

(this is before tommy and tubbo started working at subway)

they got along like a house on fire

they always made up bets to complete while they worked

on their first shift alone they decided to play a hellish rendition of “the floor is lava”

whoever lost had to buy the others meals for a month

skeppy and bad agreed to be the referees for the day

they took extra chairs from the back and placed them around the shop so they could get around without touching the floor

they even put chairs behind the bain (the area behind the counter)

after they set everything up, the game began

from then on, they spent the whole day perched on chairs

customers were

very confused

to say the least

many tasks were done poorly or not at all in an attempt to win the bet

the two survive until the end of the day with no major failures

in a last ditch attempt to win, schlatt made a dramatic final speech and pushed wilbur from the chair he was standing on

skeppy recorded the whole speech

unfortunately, wilbur hit the floor just as phil arrived

the manager in question was PISSED

wilbur and schlatt were banned from working together in the future

feel free to send my asks about this au!! also, if you write/draw anything for this au, please tag me!!! i’d love it see it :D

tag list :)

@i-am-a-wizard @eva-ticket @oakskull @thesmpisonfire @trademarked-but-not-really @orange-is-salty-tm @pixelatedrose @hollow-hypocrite @astrono @nootella23 @hot-dumbass @jen-dot-net @karlljacobs @gearstorm @nico-nat @marvel-snowbaz

[crybabykiko]

I just came across you nsfw with Osamu and I really enjoyed it I was wondering if You could do one for Kita?

Hi love! This is for u 💕 and all the kita fuckers worldwide- myself included bc I’m in love with him now 🥺

NSFW Alphabet - Kita Shinsuke

Nsfw below da cut g

gn!reader focus in this hoe

A/n: ty @honey-makki for being my partner in degeneracy and my wife ilysm bc she can read when I can’t

𝕬 - 𝕬𝖋𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖈𝖆𝖗𝖊

Will feed you a full meal. His way of making sure you’re cared for is keeping you well fed. He will cuddle you and spoon feed you himself if he has to, as long as you eat every single bite. He has a routine for everything, aftercare is no exception. He runs you a bath, then, while you soak, he cooks. Will make sure to throw a hoodie in the dryer before heading to the kitchen so it'll be warm for you post shower. Then he feeds you and holds you, playing with your hair or your hands until you fall asleep.

𝕭 - 𝕭𝖔𝖉𝖞 𝕻𝖆𝖗𝖙

You already know what the fuck is going onnnn! Kita is honestly so well sculpted that it really doesn’t matter but let’s talk about his back/shoulders. He’s so mf broad and it's very sexc of him. He’s also very fond of when you cling onto and scratch it up…. delicious

He loves your hands. He loves to hold them, especially when he’s looking straight into your eyes as he drills the hell out of you- he’ll lift one up and kiss it bc ✨romance✨

𝕮 - 𝕮𝖚𝖒

Oh he’s going to fill you so full of cum that it pours out of your ears. He has a big breeding kink, and huge loads to match. But he’s also very healthy and takes good care of himself so his cum isn’t bad on your tongue on the off chance he hasn’t already cum inside you 600 times prior to finally doing so in your mouth. And he’s going to kiss you after- very sexc of him.

𝕯 - 𝕯𝖎𝖗𝖙𝖞 𝕾𝖊𝖈𝖗𝖊𝖙

Lost his virginity in a barn. Got a tick on his ass of all places. The barn isn’t the secret tho... the tick is.

𝕰 - 𝕰𝖝𝖕𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖊𝖓𝖈𝖊

When you got together- he was definitely a virgin. Had only gone as far as MAYBE second base. But you used that to your advantage, because you’ve essentially built him up and trained him to be PERFECT for you. You also helped him find out what he likes and what makes him feel good too. Sure there was a lil’ corruption involved, but in the end you’re both very happy with your sex life.

𝕱 - 𝕱𝖆𝖛𝖔𝖗𝖎𝖙𝖊 𝕻𝖔𝖘𝖎𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓

Full on mf wrestling mating press. He’s going to have his cock so deep inside of you that if he even pushed a bit more his body is gonna go in too. Then he’ll just live there. He’s fine with that.

𝕲 - 𝕲𝖔𝖔𝖋𝖞

Unintentionally so. Every once in a while, you’ll both giggle or laugh because you have to reposition when you start to cramp up or you accidentally hit him in the face when tying to pull him closer or something. But he’s a firm believer in the whole “if you can’t laugh with the person you’re having sex with you shouldn’t have sex with them” addage, so he’s very grateful for those light moments.

𝕳 - 𝕳𝖆𝖎𝖗

It could definitely be neater. He isn’t abysmal, but he is hairy and could stand to trim a tiiiny bit more often. He’s just very low maintenance down there. As long as it’s clean he's good, which is both true and a decent place to start but pls tell him to get a little off the top of you know what I mean.

𝕴 - 𝕴𝖓𝖙𝖎𝖒𝖆𝖈y

He’s! So! Loving! He’s always going to go the extra mile to make you feel special. He likes to keep things on the softer side I’d say 8/10 times. He prefers to make love instead of just fucking it out- but if you get into an argument or he’s frustrated, he will happily go hard… but still with candles and a massage. Also I said it already but he’s gonna hold your hands while he demolishes you- interlaced fingers and all that cute shit even tho you’re getting railed.

𝕵 - 𝕵𝖆𝖈𝖐 𝕺𝖋𝖋

His grandma is one of those old ladies that’s like “don’t do that you’ll go blind,” so poor baby was a lil pent up before he got older. Now, he still doesn't do it often, but he does it once a month or so as part of his routine. He uses coconut oil because he likes the smell and that it melts easily.

𝕶 - 𝕶𝖎𝖓𝖐

Breeding, listen it’s just embedded in country boys to fuck and fill. He is no exception.

Spanking, moreso as a way to direct you. Moving too much? slap to stay still. Changing positions? Slap to get you moving. Just wants to see you jiggle? Yeah that too. Motivational slaps also come into play when he wants you to know you’re doing a good job.

Auralism, He LOVES to hear you. The sound of your breath, your moans, the way you chant his name when you’re close… he eats that shit up. It feeds his ego and boosts his pride. He also makes a lot of noise himself, mostly really deep moans but there’s a sprinkling of praise throughout too.

𝕷 - 𝕷𝖔𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓

He needs privacy. So he’s definitely one to want to keep it at home or at least somewhere secluded and away, where he knows only you and him are there and will know about it.

𝕸 - 𝕸𝖔𝖙𝖎𝖛𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓

He doesn’t care how he does it, but his number one priority, is making sure that you cum. Kita is a giver. And he will make sure to give you whatever you want from him.

𝕹 - 𝕹𝖔!

He’s not into SUPER rough stuff. He’s not vanilla, but he is the kind of guy that sees sex as “lovemaking” so he’s not gonna punch you in the face or throw you around like a ragdoll. It’s just not his style. Of course if it's what you want, he will… but never expect him to ever bring it up or do so on his own.

𝕺 - 𝕺𝖗𝖆𝖑

Ok so- he's… teachable. I’m not gonna lie, he would start off as absolute trash. But the good thing about him is how adaptable he is, and how willing he is to learn. You’d have to have him work at it a lot but once he gets good he’s great. He’ll love the feeling of accomplishment he gets from you getting off with only his mouth- it does wonders for his pride.

𝕻 - 𝕻𝖆𝖈𝖊

It’s very even- until he starts to get close. When he’s close he’s going to speed up so much that you have to brace yourself against anything that’ll hold you. He is definitely a headboard grabber too.

𝕼 - 𝕼𝖚𝖎𝖈𝖐𝖎𝖊

He likes to take his time with you. For that reason, he isn’t a huge fan. You would really have to convince him that it's worth it. He doesn’t see the point in instant gratification, and thinks you should be patient. Good things come to those who wait and all that Kita stop being so stoic and rail me at the farmers market challenge

𝕽 - 𝕽𝖎𝖘𝖐

Lmfao you think this mans is really gonna go for a public or semi-public scene? Think again. Now, he’s into sex outdoors sure, but only in your fenced in, enclosed backyard. He’s not letting anyone see you point blank periodt, you’re for his eyes only.

𝕾 - 𝕾𝖙𝖆𝖒𝖎𝖓𝖆

Excellent self control. He can hold off on cumming for as long as you need him to. Usually he’ll tap out himself after you’ve gotten through at least 3 of your own highs- but his record is 6. Has a super long refractory period tho- so he does things this way to make sure you get everything you need in one go.

𝕿 - 𝕿𝖔𝖞

He actually likes using toys on you. He has a bunch of different plugs and vibes that he uses to suit the situation. He prefers to use a hitachi wand on you while he’s fucking you, but all the others he uses for foreplay- or after to keep you full to the brim of his cum.

𝖀 - 𝖀𝖓𝖋𝖆𝖎𝖗

You both tease each other absentmindedly. He doesn’t know why he gets so turned on by you scrubbing the floor on all fours (that’s why), but he does. He also doesn’t understand why you think its hot when he cuts firewood in winter or wipes his forehead with his shirt during the summer. He thinks he’s gross and sweaty- but you can only think of a million other ways to make him sweatier.

𝖁 - 𝖁𝖔𝖑𝖚𝖒𝖊

Listen we stan. He’s not quiet in bed by any means, but he’s not overly loud either. He’s the type who takes deep breaths and then on the exhale let’s out a moan from deep in his chest- you know the one. And he does that shit on purpose. Not really, but he does think of it as his way of letting you know that he feels as good as you feel. Will also 100% hit you with the “is that it baby? Is that the spot?” While you’re practically turning into jello underneath him bc he absolutely knows that’s the spot he just likes to make you say it.

𝖂 - 𝖂𝖎𝖑𝖉𝖈𝖆𝖗𝖉

Wants to recreate the sex scene from tthe notebook with you. He can’t explain why, he just has an unexplainable urge to suck your face off in the rain and then proceed to raw you after peeling all the damp clothes from your body. Please oblige him.

𝖃 - 𝖃-𝕽𝖆𝖞

He’s got the thickness. Not coke Can thickness but like… you remember the Alaskan bull worm from ep of SpongeBob? Well he’s the whole worm, not just the tongue. I’m going to hell for that reference but ya he has a nice dick. The perfect thickness and and I’ll say a pretty good 5.5-6 inches worth. It’s also very veiny on the underside which- yes I love that.

𝖄 - 𝖄𝖊𝖆𝖗𝖓𝖎𝖓𝖌

Normal sex drive, since you tend to do it at least 2 times a week. He only seems to get a little needier when you CAN’T have sex regularly- ie, one of you is sick or you’re away from each other. When that happens, he’s a little edgier than usual, can snap sometimes but not often.

𝖅 - 𝖅𝖟𝖟

He’s the type to get a second wind after. He’ll only go to sleep after he makes sure all your aftercare needs are met, and even then, he’s only going to power-nap it for maybe 10mins. He’ll stay still and cuddle you while you sleep, but he’ll most likely watch tv or scroll through his phone while you enjoy his warmth. Every once in awhile he’ll give you a kiss while you stir.

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[loth-wolffe]

hello there! um, so. I saw that You'd marry Fox and my first thought was that I'd ABSOLUTELY love to hear Your hc on him 🥺🥺🥺

GENERAL KENOBI sorry I had to

but hi sweets! i would absolutely lOVE to share my hcs on him with u my love<3 🥺

so this goes for u my sweet nonnie.

(also this turned out to be extremely longer than I thought it would be bc apparently I don't have any self control lmao. enjoy ✨)

first of all, fox is tired. VERY.

so this isn't any kind of news right, but I just think that because of this, he doesn't have both time or energy for so many things. He carries Coruscant on his back, literally, so there are two (2) kind of fox in this life. 1. he wants to destroy you bc he's all pent up with all this stress or 2. he's a soft baby.

speaking oF SOFT BABIES

listen. contrary popular belief, I really think fox is a lil softie who just wants to feel loved by you but he does mask it very well tho. (not me making headcanons of everyone being soft) BUT ANWAYS. I mean, there's different levels of Softness™ ofc, foxie can be softer than wolffe but less than cody, I don't know if u got me but uh huh, pretty much.

so now that we have clarified that fox is a lil babey I have these amazing soft hcs for him alright now hear this:

he absolutely loves baths

it's a plus if he's the lil spoon. he loves to just relax, his back touching yours as your fingers shampoo his locks, curling and uncurling in them and scratching his scalp. he sometimes rants about his job and other times he just listens to your soft, quiet voice as you talk him about your day and he feels this peace and so so loved.

in this same train of thought I can assure you that fox loves sleeping above you

MOSTLY if he's had a bad day. he loves cuddling with you and be the small spoon. his favorite times are at night when he comes home from a long shift and collapses onto you after he showers quickly, your fingers on his hair and his head on your chest as he listens to you read whatever book you're currently reading. whenever he thinks of home, he thinks in this exact scenario.

i feel like, during very very though days, maybe when he loses a brother (that doesn't happen thAt usual unless there's something like, a fucking gigantic animal trying to destroy both Coruscant and the chancellor or that kind of stuff) and he would feel this lump in his throat that only tightens when he feels you squeeze him in your arms, and kiss the top of his head but he also feels so relieved because you're there, with him, and when you whisper that you're not going anywhere he just, feels like he was falling only to be catched by you.

he aDORES so much when you visit him at the office

at first he was very apprehensive because he didn't really want to mix his work and his love life, and if thorn or anyone found out he would nEVER hear the end of it. (they eventually did find out and always tease them but I'll talk about this later).

so anyways, fox was kinda nervous and at first he didn't even let you take off his helmet and rushed you to leave asap. ofc you didn't take it personally, and just said a lil hello, told him you'd be staying late at work and that you loved him and that was that. maybe left a kiss just a cm or two down the modulator and said your goodbyes (since I read this post, the thought lives rent free in my mind and if I could I'd make a different scenario for every clone using that post and that post only bc I just love it SO much. thank you murdy for your service, I will always be in ur debt)

anyways, after that you stopped by a little more and he ended up yEARNING for your visits, letting you sit on his desk or lap as he worked and you talked about this new gossip or whatever and he just breathed you in or took a few glimpses of you from time to time, stealing a kiss or two and letting go a few "uh huhs" and "oh yeah?" for you to know he wAS listening.

other times you go for a quickie and yeah

NOW. the troopers that tEASE HIM.

they are aLWAYS joking about when are you coming to see fox again, and make kissing sounds and are always like "your s/o is really hot commander" and sometimes he shuts them up and other times he feels this pRIDE swelling over his chest because he loves you so and you're his.

but that doesn't mean he doesn't get jealous. foxie my mans is v insecure sometimes, lemme tell you. he doesn't know why you picked him and the first time you told him he's beautiful he gave you this deadpan expression and went "I literally look like a million others." my baby doesn't know he's one of a kind and that you love him for who he is, so when he sees, idk, thorn making you laugh, he becomes very self conscious.

but like, he sort of suffers in silence and won't EVER let you know he's afraid you might change him for another, but you know bc he always f word you very hard and deep and literally destroy you but he would also be a bit more attentive than usual.

but then again, fox is also a giver.

he always comes home with whatever is missing from your fridge or this one candy you love so much, and he always makes caf for you before heading out, he likes to pass by the medbay or wherever you're working at a minute or so before your shift ends just so you can go home together.

he doesn't like pda and is very Private but like I said before, he will always be ready to help you if you need him.

this one time you fell sick very badly and he stopped by almost every few hours and commed you every hour to make sure you were alright. you got slightly annoyed but you found very endearing how much he cares for you. besides, you were rEALLY ill, so yeah.

and let's not forget that one time he was on patrol close to your apartment and you commed him to ask him if he knew where the flour was or whatever (truth was you just wanted to hear his voice bc you were feeling down and wanted to cheer yourself up.) and he caught on your sad tone and well, the point is that he ended up going all the way to your place just to give you a soft kiss on your lips, shrugging and saying something like "I forgot my comnlink" because clones can't lie for shit but he didn't want to tell you he couldn't focus in his job if you were sad:(

SO ANYWAYS, these are my commander fox hcs, thank you for sending this lovely ask baby. (don't know if you were expecting like, general hcs on him or hcs of him with you or? heh)

lemme know if I agree or don't or if you wanna punch me bc fox is nothing like that, or if you have some amazing hcs u wanna share or wanna ask me or idk idk

u know I love hearing from you guys and talking with u as well 💖