#I’ve felt everything with him and I’m so grateful that I have that ability to feel and most importantly that I have the ability to love and

[bop-shop]

tiktok: quokkalover56

[ivorydragoness44]

Warren Peace x Reader: Interest

Word Count: 766 Warnings/Notes: Slightly confused Reader, mention of growing embarrassment (brief), friends asking a lot of questions, implied crush on Warren Peace. Cute moment with Warren. Summary: The Reader is a little late to lunch, but just before they make it to their table of friends, another student asks them out. How will the group of friends react to the news?

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  It was not usual for you to be a little late to lunch. Sure, it was only by a few minutes, but you were hungry.   With your lunch finally in your grasp, you made your way around the tables already occupied by the normal chatter of other students. Normal may not have been the best word choice for minors with super human abilities, but it was for you. Most days.   You caught Layla’s attention as you neared the table. Her friendly smile, however, was lost to you as your view became obstructed.   Halting with a piercing squeak of your shoe, you waited in confusion.   “Hey,” he said. A student that you recognized from a few of your classes stood in front of you.   “Hi,” you gave a small smile in acknowledgement.   He took a moment’s breath and scratched the back of his head. “Um…”   “Is everything okay?”   “Do you want to go out with me?”   Your eyebrows shot up. “What? I-I mean, no. No, thank you.”   A strange mixture of emotions bubbled around and you made a mad dash around him before the heat of embarrassment from a few fumble of words spread. With long quick strides, you finally made it to the lunch table.

  Is being a teenager always like this? Why were emotions so complicated some times?   “What was that about?” Layla asked, bringing you out of your thoughts.   Setting down your food, you took a deep calming breath and sat down beside Warren. “Oh, um, he asked me out.”   A page crinkled to your right, but your friends were otherwise quiet.   Layla leaned forward, her pigtails swaying slightly over her green salad. “And?”   “And I said no.” Confident. Self-assured with your decision, though seemingly small in comparison to other more pressing issues, felt good. And why shouldn’t you?   “Good for you,” Magenta nodded in agreement.   “But why?” Zach asked, his nose scrunching in his bewilderment. “Do you not like him or something?”   “It’s not that simple,” you said between bites of your food.   “And why not?” He pressed, making you laugh a little.   Patting a napkin over your mouth, you sighed quietly. “Well, firstly, I’m not going to go out or date someone that I don’t like, or not interested in. Heck, I’ve barely talked with him.”   Layla and Magenta nodded slowly. “Sounds reasonable enough.”   “Any other reason?” Will asked, peering over Warren’s hunched form.   You laughed, “What, you want a detailed list or something?”   “That sounds a bit excessive,” Warren smiled into his book.   “Unless the list is for myself, out of curiosity and to better understand my own reasons and stuff.”   “And what would you put on the list for that guy?” Ethan asked, pulling your attention away from Warren.   It was nearing on hilarious by how invested they were about such a short conversation. If it could even be considered a conversation.   “For one thing, he never returned the pen he borrowed from me, and I saw him break it while fiddling with it. So, there’s that.”   Will burst out in laughter. “Is that why you don’t want to date him? Because—”   “No,” you stopped him. “I just don’t like him. Especially in that way. If I’m not friends with, or just can’t even imagine myself holding his or anyone’s hand, then I’m not going out with them.”   “Oh,” Will looked down, “sorry.”   “No biggie,” you smiled reassuringly, before returning to what remained of the food in front of you.

  Curious concerning friends. You were grateful for that. They each showed it in their own ways. And as invested as they had become, you were relieved that neither one of them had asked one question in particular. Who are you interested in?   Your eyes drifted from your lunch to the inky text in front of Warren. “Good book?”   Glancing over at you with a smile, his voice was soft, warm. “Yeah. It’s the third in the series.”   “Cool.”   As your eyes both pulled away from each other, you caught movement from under the table. The motion was slow and short. Had you been deeply involved with something else, you might have missed it entirely. Warren had lightly bumped your knee with his.   Could you ever decipher if he was flirting with you or just being a delightful silly friend with gestures like those? You were not sure. But one day you would know, and you hoped that it was both. Why not?   Smiling to yourself, you nudged your knee to his twice. Though as you retracted, his knee met yours again and remained there.   This should be interesting.

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Hi! Thank you for reading! I seem to be writing more Warren Peace now lol I have other ideas/WIPs that I'm working on, so I hope you're ready for that.

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Part 2 to this fanfiction

[mrs-snape5984]

“I will follow you into the dark…”

“If there′s no one beside you, when your soul embarks, then I’ll follow you into the dark. (…) The time for sleep is now. But it′s nothing to cry about, ‘cause we′ll hold each other soon in the blackest of rooms.” (“I will follow you into the dark” by Death Cab for Cutie)

Trigger warning: My thoughts of despair can be quite dark. If anyone has difficulties with reading these things, please skip the next five paragraphs.

I’m struggling with ME/CFS for 1,5 years now and my life, as I knew it before, has changed drastically. Damn, I’ve lost so much…so much I’ve taken for granted, although my life wasn’t easy before this disease, either.

The small things in life, which have always felt so naturally, are gone for me. Driving my car, being active with my three children, going to work, taking care of my household, meeting my friends and family, making a phone call, taking care of myself, watching TV, listening to loud music, reading more than just a few pages of a book, drinking a glass of wine, leaving the house or even my dark room in general….everything was just taken from me by this fucking bitch of a disease, called ME/CFS!

I feel so stupid for having regarded these things as a matter of course….and I would rather relinquish the things I’ve gotten instead: The pains, the fevers, the lack of orientation when I’m leaving my darkness, the fatigue, the brain fog, the disability of comprehending things, the hypersensitivity to dealing with noises and lights, the lack of understanding from others…the list seems to be endless.

Every little thing too much results in another “crash” of my disease…and it’s getting worse every time. I’ve lost some friends over this period of time, my children have lost their active and funny mother and on some days, I’m trying to fight the thought away, that I’ve lost the sense of purpose in my life.

It’s only going downhill from here…further down into the darkness, which is now the only stability in my life. I’ve lost the grip on myself…the understanding of who I really am. What is left of myself?

Sure, I still haven’t lost my sense of sarcasm and my rather dark humour. I’m also sure, that I’m still an empathetic person, who’s interested in other’s thoughts and feelings. And maybe that’s exactly, what I should rely on. These are parts of my personality, which this goddamn disease ME/CFS hasn’t stolen from me.

The other thing, no one, not even ME/CFS, could ever take from me, is my love for Severus Snape. Since 21 years, I’m clinging to him, letting him comfort me and console my troubled heart and soul. He’s the one, who’s following me into the dark…being my unwavering companion in these rough times.

When I commissioned @madfantasy for this stunning piece of art, we’ve talked a lot about the meaning behind it. Mani, my dear friend, I’m beyond grateful for your understanding of the feelings, which I wanted to express with this artwork. I’ve never met anyone else in my entire existence, who had the ability to grasp every nuance of my emotions, transforming them into something so powerful…so creative…so beautiful!! You are such a gem of a soul and my heart swells with joy for being counted as your friend. I’m sending you my love! 🖤🖤🖤

🖤 Severus & Julia 🖤

[risingscorchingsuns]

Happy Trans Day of Visibility, everyone! From Hikaru and I to you!!

As I was drawing this, I kept trying to think of a good caption to post it with. I���ve always been known for my words, after all. But for once, I’m at a bit of a loss. It’s a big day for me, but it also just feels like an average Sunday.

I sketched and re-sketched this over and over again, trying to get everything exactly right. It didn’t turn out perfect, but honestly, I like it better that way. Hikaru isn’t exactly the same as me, but a LOT of him is drawn from reflections of me- his experiences with masculinity and transness are a prime example.

This is my first TDOV being fully out, and openly, publicly transitioning. It’s been a difficult year. I’ve faced unimaginable feelings of loneliness and isolation, and kinds of hardships I had never even imagined. Being someone who doesn’t Fit in a small area like mine has left me with a new appreciation for the ability to pass, or my lack thereof. I’ve felt kinds of loneliness and rejection that I had never even fathomed possible before I came out.

But more importantly, I am more in touch with myself than I ever have been before. Knowing myself, knowing Leon, getting to be Leon, is an unimaginable experience. I feel like me for the first time. It took me eighteen years to discover myself, and another two to be confident enough to live it. I still have a long way to go. But I’ve made so many connections, so many friends. I love myself, thoroughly and wholly, for the first time. I’m proud of who I am, and I’m proud of who I’m going to be. It is such a privilege to wake up every day, and know that I’m Leon. I am a self-made man, and I am so proud to be trans. I am proud to be visible. I am proud of who I am, for the first time. It’s scary, and it’s new, and it isn’t easy. But I love being Leon, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I’m so grateful for this space, for this little corner of demon slayer tumblr I’ve found myself on. I am so unimaginably grateful that I’ve managed to make so many amazing connections in the short time since I made risingscorchingsuns, and nothing makes me happier than having a safe place to be me, and to share the things I love. I love Hikaru, and I love Demon Slayer, and I love all of you guys. Thank you for being here, for reading my silly rambles, for making me feel like I can make something worthwhile. (Seriously, nothing makes my day more than being known as “the Rengoku Mutual”. It makes me happy stim every time I think about it. That fucking rules.)

Anyway, this is getting away from me a bit. Apologies, this post is a bit more emotional than my usual long analysis posts. It’s a big day for me, and I feel really lucky to be able to share it with you guys.

Happy Trans Day of Visibility!!

We are here, and we are real, and we are proud!!

Trans Joy!!! For now, and forever!! We are beautiful!! 🏳️‍⚧️

Love,

Leon 🩵🩷🤍🩷🩵

[serickswrites]

Lonely Place of Longing XII

Master list here (includes chapter links, character bios, and summary)

Warnings: scars, referenced near death experience, angst

Halle had never felt so stupid in all her life. Dylan never loved her. Was Dylan even capable of love? He had been alive for over a hundred years of course life had become boring. Dylan needed a source of entertainment and Halle cursed herself for falling for it.

But even as Halle thought that, she couldn’t help but feel heartbroken. Even if none of it had been real. It had felt real. And it had been real for her.

She made a promise to herself that she wouldn’t stoop to Dylan’s level and be so cruel. She would be professional. She would still take care of Dylan to the best of her abilities, even if Dylan was essentially scum of the earth.

“No better than Owen,” Halle muttered to herself as she made her way to the briefing room. She walked slowly to be sure she wasn’t going to run in anyone. She hadn’t seen or spoken to Dylan in two days and she was going to have to see him now.

“Ah, Halle, thanks for joining,” Thomas said as Halle shouldered open the door to the briefing room.

“Sorry I was late, I was checking our supply inventory.” Halle quickly hurried in and took a seat at the table.

She tried to not let her eyes find Dylan. But her traitorous heart couldn’t help but look. Dylan stood in the corner, arms crossed tightly over his chest. His eyes were red rimmed and his lean face was puffy—unusual for Dylan. He looked as though he hadn’t slept since Halle left his room days ago. He didn’t look at Halle or any of the team assembled at the table. Was this all that were going to be allowed to go after Owen?

“Now that we are all here,” Thomas began, “I’m going to actually turn this over to Dylan. He has experience with Owen. It’s one of our advantages right now. So please, listen carefully. All our lives depend on it.”

Dylan didn’t move from his corner. Had Dylan even been paying attention? Halle could see the rest of the team get restless. Finally, Dylan spoke. “Owen is unlike any enemy you’ve faced before.”

“I’ve been on plenty of missions where we faced off against weapons. We did just fine,” Helena sneered.

Dylan turned and gave Helena his full gaze. “Owen isn’t like them. He’s much, much more powerful.”

“How do we know that you won’t join his side?” Another teammate—Benjamin—called out. It was a fair question. But Halle knew the answer without Dylan having to say. Dylan had no choice. And Owen didn’t want Dylan any more than Halle did.

Dylan didn’t respond. He surveyed the team gathered at the table, his eyes not resting any longer on a team member than necessary. He stared when he finally reached Halle. Halle refused to be the one who looked away first. If Dylan could toy with her heart like that, she could show Dylan how unbothered she was.

With a sigh, Dylan spoke again. “I have no desire to work with Owen ever again. Not after everything he has done—to the world and to me.” Dylan raised his shirt so that his scarred abdomen and chest showed. “Some of these are from other missions. But this one,” his fingers ghosted along a sickle shaped scar that stretched from his mid sternum to his left shoulder, “is from when Owen escaped and I tried to stop him. So no, I won’t be joining Owen in this lifetime.” Dylan let his shirt drop.

Dylan had said a mission went sideways years ago. That many people had died. He hadn’t lied. But he hadn’t been completely honest with her. He lied. Always. He had always been lying to her.

“Just listen to Dylan, he is our expert on Owen. Listen. All our lives and quite honestly the fate of the world are depending on this. So don’t fuck it up.” Thomas’s voice was biting and full of frustration.

“Thank you, Thomas,” Dylan said and sounded genuinely grateful. He ignored the angry whispers that whipped around the table. “As I was saying, Owen is unlike any enemy you have face. He’s….he’s like me. My powers are more similar to his than any enemy you have ever faced for against.”

“Then we’re sure to win because you’re always getting hurt,” Benjamin snickered.

Dylan ignored the comment and continued. “Owen has two distinct advantages over our team. The first is that we are going to try and take the fight to him, so we will be fighting Owen in his own home. And the second is that he is insane. Like really insane. And that makes him more unpredictable than any other enemy. It is going to take all of us cooperating completely to be able to take him down.”

Halle lost track of everything that was said in the meeting. It didn’t really matter to her. She wasn’t going to be actively pursuing Owen. She would be where she always was: behind everyone in the relative safety of the base camp the team had set up. She would only deploy to front lines if Dylan couldn’t be brought to her. And she was perfectly fine with that. She wouldn’t have to follow Dylan into battle. Wouldn’t have to watch him use his monstrous powers.

And she wouldn’t have to worry. Dylan didn’t love her, didn’t care for her. And so she didn’t have to feel that way any longer. Halle repeated the mantra over and over throughout the lengthy meeting. Thomas spoke often and Halle paid more attention during those parts than when Dylan spoke.

By the time everyone was dismissed with the order to be ready to move out in six hours, Halle realized she still wasn’t sure of her role. Perhaps she should have paid more attention.

“Dylan,” Halle said gruffly as she approached the weapon. Dylan never left his corner. He coolly surveyed Halle with his icy gaze. “What exactly am I supposed to do?”

“Weren’t you paying attention?” Dylan’s voice was cold.

“It didn’t seem relevant to what I would be doing, so no. I won’t be joining you on the battle line. My job is to keep you alive. And I will do my job.”

“Will you?”

Halle could have sworn she saw something besides cruelty in Dylan’s gaze. But the moment passed and Dylan looked as cold and flat as ever. “Of course. I will do my job. I always do my job.”

“See that you do, Halle, because this all hinges on me. And I can’t take out Owen if you don’t do your fucking job.”

“I always do my job,” Halle said angrily. She stepped in very close to Dylan, craning her neck so she could make eye contact with Dylan. She hated Dylan with every fiber of their being, but it didn’t mean she wouldn’t do their job. She was a professional. “And you better remember that, Dylan, because I am the reason why you are still alive. Never forget that.”

Before Dylan could reply, Halle spun on her heel and left. She would ask Thomas exactly what she would need to be sure was in her med kit. She didn’t need Dylan giving her orders. He was just a weapon. Halle would only ever take orders from her fellow humans. As she left the room she could have sworn she heard Dylan’s murmured response, “I never will,” but couldn’t be sure because the words sounded so soft and miserable, sounded like the Dylan she had fallen in love with. The fictional Dylan. Not at all like the Dylan she knew to be real.

Tags: @beomsstudio @mousepaw @keeper-of-all-the-random-things @eyehartart @corbytheking

@seysposts @cosmic-butterflys @wormjerky @godnessofmagic

@daddyslittlestgirlll

@thatlittlefirestarter @defire @jthecalmone @shook-skull @sagencrafts

@theforeverdyingperson @bilightningwhumper @cryptid-potato @fox-fox234 @deepfriedpan

@4-err0r-4 @half-duck @bigmiki @amberconnverse636 @penguin4473-blog

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@xo7-parad0x @whumpandcomfort @kazekunai @pedro-pedro-pedro-pedro-pe @soul-of-a-local-bard

@dragonkales @kitarajy-kari @carosbee @celestialsoyeon @knightinbatteredarmor

@kay-kayxb177 @alwaysjaywalking @decayanddie @demetercabingreen-thumb @never-enough-novels

@whump-a-bear-workshop @sizzlingtigerwerewolf @urmum-11 @velcrostrip @rattypop

@lexiebiss-blog @whumplump @geozone430 @jumpywhumpywriter @hufflepuffwritingstuff2

@anightmarishwhump @steh-lar-uh-nuhs @st0rmm @ay5ksal

[techn0cel]

My thoughts on Seung Hui Cho and Emily Hilscher

Hello everybody, I would like to start this post off by saying I’m very grateful for all the recent attention I’ve been getting on here. I don’t expect much engagement on this post but I want to share my thoughts anyways because it’s a very interesting topic. Today, I will be discussing one of the most popular and creepiest things about the Virginia Tech shooting which is Seung Hui Cho’s “obsession” with Emily Hilscher.

if you are unaware of who Emily Hilscher is, she was Cho’s second murder victim. Emily Jane Hilscher was an 18 year old freshman (born June 2nd, 1988) studying animal sciences at Virginia Tech. She was described as outgoing, friendly and imaginative by friends and family. Many people believe she was the first to die but that was debunked as she was alive for 2 hours before succumbing to her gunshot wounds. One last thing I mention before I start sharing my thoughts, Emily had a 19 year old boyfriend named Karl Thornhill, who was also a gun enthusiast just like Seung Hui Cho. Remember this because he plays a role later.

In earlier VT reports (circa April 2007), it was stated Seung Hui Cho was apparently “crazy in love” with Emily Hilscher and wanted to be in a romantic relationship with her. However, Emily had rejected him and Cho became enraged with her specifically, hence why he targeted her first. Emily’s friends deny these rumours and can’t recall her even being aware of Cho’s existence. It is still a mystery after 17 years if the two really were together or not, which could explain another motive for one of the worst school shootings of all time.

I had heard multiple interpretations of their potential relationship but I will be explaining the story that caught my eye. Reminder: everything I’m about to say aren’t facts and just how the story goes. Unfortunately, I lost the original source material a couple of years ago so a few details might be fuzzy but I’ll try to explain to the best of my abilities.

Cho (around 2006) often visited an animal shelter due to his love for animals, anti animal cruelty and potential veganism. Emily was a volunteer at this same animal shelter and over time she started to talk more with him to which he didn’t say much but listened to what she said. As the months passed by, Cho started to develop a huge crush on her and genuinely believed they were in a relationship. Cho began to stalk her and show up at her doorstep unannounced, he would send her weird messages on Facebook as well. Cho eventually found out she already had a boyfriend and was angry at Emily for “leading him on”. After this, Cho threatens her, makes sexual comments towards her and tries to isolate her from family, friends and boyfriend to which Emily cuts him off entirely. This was around the time he was planning the shooting and decided she would be the first to die for rejecting his advances. On April 16th 2007, his intent was to rape Emily first before killing her but didn’t follow through with that because of Ryan Clark interfering. He didn’t have enough time and so he just ran off after murdering Emily and Ryan. Many Virginia Tech shooting “fans” either believe Emily was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and that the rumours are bogus or that Cho did had an obsession with her. However, the stories do add up with Cho’s personality and it’s proven he had stalked women multiple times leading up to the massacre. It’s not out of character for both students to meet in an animal shelter, Emily was a kind person and would’ve felt bad for Cho since he was a loser with no friends. The only thing really stopping people from believing these rumours are Emily’s friends claiming she never talked about a “Seung Hui Cho”. Law enforcement couldn’t find any evidence to hint Emily knew Cho.

I’m in no way saying Emily’s friends are 100% lying but female victims of stalking by men are usually afraid to speak about the abuser to family and friends. She might’ve never mentioned him to her friends because Cho was clearly a mentally disturbed and dangerous man. There are many other reasons why Emily potentially could’ve stayed quite about her relationship with Cho which include fear of being judged/not believed or guilt. It also makes sense Emily’s friends DID know but didn’t want to make themselves apart of this whole thing. Being questioned in even some connection to a school shooting is terrifying, so I don’t blame them too much if they did really know and were just lying.

Cho was quite familiar with the WAJ hall area as we know, he had a previous stalking allegation from a woman that lived in that same building (November 2005). However, I need to acknowledge the other side’s arguments, Cho easily could’ve just saw Emily that morning walking to her dorm room and decided to kill her. Cho didn’t have to have a reason other than “practice”, It’s possible Cho never knew her. Something frustrating about this case is that every time you think you know something, there are a billion plot holes that can’t be explained easily. One of my mutuals told me they didn’t think Cho even knew of her existence before April 16th 07 and that it was a random attack. He was also 4 years older than her and was a senior by the time she started her first year. Virginia Tech is a massive school, having a population of over 20,000 students.

Remember when I said to keep Karl Thornhill in mind? Yeah apparently a few people who research this case believe Seung Hui Cho was aware of him as well. Karl Thornhill was briefly a suspect but was quickly ruled out as the shooter, he hasn’t made any interviews about what happened and it’s unknown what he is doing today. All we know about him is that he feels partially responsible for Emily’s murder.

“Karl’s been taking the situation very hard,” said Tori White, 19, a friend of Mr. Thornhill’s family, in an e-mail message. “He kept thinking that if he had just kept her in the car for a minute or two longer she’d still be here. I think he feels a bit responsible, though by no means is it his fault.”

The theory I personally believe, is that Cho was aware of her but she wasn’t aware of him. I believe Cho did like her but didn’t know how to express it, his previous love interests were either random girls he was stalking or completely made up in his head (Yes, I am looking at Jelly..).

Cho couldn’t take rejection and presumably wanted to have sex before he died, he hired a prostitute to dance for him but never actually had sexual intercourse with her. The woman claimed Cho was even “bored” during the session. Seung Hui Cho in general, is a very contradicting person and doesn’t make much sense even to someone who has been researching him for years at this point. We will never truly know what the hell was going on in his head and there’s such a lack of answers in the whole case. Obviously you don’t like to question people who lost a good friend, but VT university covers up so much stuff about this event that it’s hard not to. There really wasn’t much reasons for Emily to lead Cho on, considering she was in a seemingly perfect relationship with Karl. The two always cuddled on the couch watching movies on Sunday nights and were high school sweethearts.

In April 2012, this idea of Cho being obsessed with Emily was revisited in “Massacre gunman's deadly infatuation with Emily” written by The Standard. Emily apparently wrote on her MySpace page "I live, love and get booted (high, stoned or drunk) but eventually that will change... I now have a wonderful guy who is hopefully going to change all of that." somewhere before October 2006.

Liviu Librescu has been awarded for his heroism and talked a lot about outside of those weird Virginia Tech shooting forums online. However, I still believe Emily is arguably the most important victim of them all because she brings up a whole conversation of misogyny. I’m not saying Cho was 100% an incel or that was why he killed her, nor am I saying the other 31 lives didn’t matter as much because of course they do.

I think it’s important for women not to get involved with controlling, mentally ill men like Seung Hui Cho, it never ends well and your life always comes first. If you or someone you know are in an abusive relationship, male or female, please call a domestic abuse hotline. Stay safe out there everyone and thank you so much for reading!

[lontarkata]

Crimson Moon

Based on JK Rowling Archives of Remus Lupin at Pottermore, merely fiction, Written by Tiri Tirtha.

December, 1970.

In a Little town, Scotland.

The Lupin’s House

Remus sat across the fire grate; the weather was all snowy white. The cold started to feel like tiny needles leading to his back. He stared at the gleaming red embers, focusing on how it sounds when the lumber gets burned and crackled.

The crackling sound was a very unpleasant sound to hear. It reminds him of his cracking bones, and he recalls the pain he must endure during the event. He finally decides to sit near the window, watching the snowflakes falling and touching the glass. His favorite brown blanket wrapped around his body, embracing him in a warmth he never truly had.

“I’ve tried my best, darling!” it was Lyall’s voice. Upstairs, his voice sounds crack in between frustration and anger. “I’ve tried everything I could! I sent letters to all my fellows who were best in alchemy, potion, and anything. I beg them in any possible way to find the cure!”

“Maybe you haven’t done enough!” Hope was nearly shouting; her voice sounded muffled. “Remus is getting bigger, Lyall. He’s becoming more dangerous than we could ever handle!”

“I know. I understand your point, Honey. “ Lyall sighed, the sound of sliding chair upstairs was audible.

The house is relatively tiny yet cozy for the three of them to live. The walls and floors are made of good quality wood. Bedrooms are all upstairs, left only the kitchen, dining room, and the fire grate where Remus was.

“Now, listen to me, Lyall..” she said firmly. “I love him. I love my son like every mother does, but Remus is magical. I don’t know whether I should blame myself for feeling afraid of him for the last five years, or I should be grateful for having him alive and suffering every month.” Hope breaks into tears.

“Oh, darling. My beautiful lady, I’m grateful to have you as my wife. I promise you, I promise we’ll get through this together, okay? I’ll give whatever it costs to find the cure.”

“Promises don’t keep us safe, Lyall. It’s just a matter of time before we die in our son’s hands! He lost his mind every time he turned into that monster!”

“He never was a monster, Hope! Bold of you assume him as a Monster!” Lyall hissed.

“That is a monster possessing my son’s body! That is a monster in the corner of that room, curled up in the darkness every full moon! It was Evil! Soulless!”

Lyall was stunned; it’s all called his memory back to when he said the exact words to Fenrir Greyback about their pack, as werewolves, ‘soulless, evil, deserving nothing but death.’ A deafening silence filled the air, but Hope's sobbing remained.

“It’s all my fault.. My Son is suffering every month for the rest of his life because of me. I’m a terrible father, Hope! I would rather give my life for my son if I could!” Lyall wept and tried his best to make it less audible.

Tears escaped from Remus’s eyes, he heard everything from the couch. His hearing ability is such a curse for him. Sometimes, he listened to her mother crying all night or his father begging on the phone to someone.

He watched the snowflake rain down on a cabin across the house, a small, dim cabin. Remus bit his lower lip and rubbed his eyes. He felt like a burden to this family, knowing and doing nothing for his household except being a disgrace. He wiped the tears from his freckles cheeks when he heard someone coming downstairs.

It was his father, “Beautiful, isn’t it?” he said with a slightly forced smile. Remus didn’t answer; he just turned around, stared at him, and frowned. “Winter?” Lyall once more asked.

The Sun no longer bathes their house with warm light; it’s all cloudy grey, “No. I don’t really like winter. It’s cold, bleak and lonely. “

Silence: It’s all silence after the word ‘Lonely.’ Lyall knew how desperate his son faced loneliness for a half-decade, so he had no words to say.

“Aight, boys! Ready to camp?” Hope came with a basket of food and three bottles of milk. “Remus, put your sweater on, or you’ll get cold.”

“Okay, we gotta get going now, boys!”

Remus can see his mother’s red and puffy eyes; he gives her a smile and walks towards her. “Let me help you, Mom. A Lady should never carry something too heavy.”

“Oh, that’s my boy!” exclaimed Lyall. “I taught him that, so that you know.” he whispered to Hope,

The woman can only give his husband a single glare and giggles. Tonight is a full moon; Hope and Lyall always make scenarios to make it seem alright. For the last two months, they pretended to be camping together.

Three of them will go to the cabin; Lyall used to tell some wizarding world and his wonderful times at Hogwarts. Hope will only listen and give him some interested reactions. Remus had already heard the story repeatedly and never complained when his father told the same story.

They walked into the small cabin across the house; it looked dim and nearly empty. Only a floor mattress and some blankets are left in the corner of the room. Scratches were almost in every wall, covered by rough paint polish, which Lyall always did after the full moon.

The walls were earthy brown, so if there were any blood splatter, it wouldn’t be visible enough. The cabin has a window next to the door where they came in. It was covered by iron bars. Remus hates this room; he hates the smell of paint, the wet wooden floor, and his blood, which failed to be thoroughly cleaned on the floor. He swallowed hard, trying to be grateful to survive death and have loving parents.

Hope rolled out a carpet and sat on it. She tapped his side, “Come here, boy. Let’s eat some snacks.”

Lyall followed her lead; he sat on the other side and started grabbing an apple. “So, what are we going to talk about tonight, Remus? Have you ever heard about the poltergeist?”

They both made so much effort to make it like regular camping when it was only two hours before he transformed. Remus held his bitter, clenched his hands, and sat in the middle of his parents. He looks pale under the moonlight.

“I wanna know about the banshee, Dad. Or your other Hogwarts life as a student.“ Remus always wants to go, to Hogwarts. He always craved friendship. At least, a friend. But he knew his condition was extraordinary, which is not possible for him to go to any school in the world.

Remus laid on, along with his parents, and Lyall began the story. Instead of listening, Remus’s mind was somewhere else. He can hear his mother's heartbeat getting faster, anxious, worried, and terrified. Meanwhile, his father sounded slower but still faster than usual.

Remus wondered, is there any universe where he is an ordinary boy? Can he have an incredible journey without feeling like a monster for everyone he loves? Is there anyone in the world who will love him more unconditionally and with no fear?

The guilt he felt every month was enough to tear him into pieces, and the pains he endured every time he transformed were never a good friend of his. No one on earth would be glad and grateful to have such a person like him; the thoughts kept hunting him in every sleep he could get.

Time passed; it was only five minutes before the full moon. Hope and Lyall rosed up to get ready. Hope gave Remus a long and deep look; she caressed his hair and kissed him on the forehead.

“Remus, no matter what happens, Mommy always love you. Okay? I love you, son.”

Remus heard her heartbeat getting faster and faster; he thought she was afraid of him.

Liar. Liar. Mom is a LIAR.

“Mhm,” he just nodded.

Lyall hugged him for a very long time; his eyes were always teary every time he did this. He caresses Remus’ cheeks, “You are the strongest little soldier, Remus. I’m so proud of you. We will be out here, waiting for you until everything is done.”

No. I never want to be a soldier.

I don’t want to be left alone. Dad, I’m afraid. Mom.

He saw his parents walk towards the door; he felt the room getting smaller and smaller. It made it hard to breathe. The air was freezing, the sky was dark blue, and the silver moon began to show itself. Arrogantly shimmering alone, letting the dark sky dazzle with the light.

The silver light slipped through the window and door when it still opened, reaching every corner of the room and showering Remus with fear. He shivered, frightened of the moon, scared of the living monstrous evil inside him.

“NO…MOMM… DADD. “ Remus screams, staring at his parents standing in the middle of the door, cautious and petrified.

He knees on the floor, feeling unbearable pain all over his body. Lyall swung his wand, casting a silencing spell with tears dripping down his cheeks. Hope behind him closed her mouth shut to hold her sadness's bitter sound.

“Dad… I’m afraid..”

“Mom.. I’m sorry..”

Nobody will hear him, not even a little bug in the corner of the room. He saw his parents close the door tightly; a magical spell locked it so no one could open it. Remus started losing his mind.

There was a terrible snarling noise. Remus’ head was lengthening, and so was his body. His shoulders were hunching. Hair was sprouting visibly on his face and hands, curling into clawed paws. Blood dripped to the floor, cutting his human muscles into wolfish body form. He turned into a soulless, and wild creature. A painful howling was deafened, the world would never understand his language of agony, not even his parents, not even the mist that slipped into the room.

Remus has died a dozen times; he healed hundreds. But his soul left nothing but emptiness. Maybe his mother was right: he is soulless, he is evil, and he deserves nothing but death. The idea of life becoming such a lavish that he never should touched.

He banged himself to the wall, scratching it rough, getting frustrated because he was separated from humans to bite. So he bit and scratched himself instead. It left a long and deep wound on his body; the silver moon was illuminating the warm crimson liquid running down to the floor. He was bleeding to death, but the full moon was still there.

Howling, banging himself to the wall, scratching, it’s all on loop all night. His parents are waiting out of the cabin, full of anxiety and worry. They hugged each other in front of a little campfire to warm their bodies. Lyall was always on standby with his wand in hand, Hope with a bat and silver net. Just in case the cabin wasn’t strong enough to hold Remus’ in there.

The night goes by; the moon no longer emits its light. The sun begins to rise and paints the dark blue sky with its warm orange. Lyall rosed up abruptly after he awoke from his accidental sleep, followed by Hope, who startled and grabbed the bat beside her.

“Is it done? It’s done, isn’t it, Lyall?” Hope’s eyes were red; her face was tired.

“We slept, Hope! We shouldn’t left him too long in there! It’s dawn!” Lyall walked towards the door and swung his wand.

He opened the door, the darkness covered the room. A point of light was gleaming from his wand, his nostrils full of the smell of blood, it was pretty intense.

“Remus?” Lyall’s voice was gentle and a bit tremble.

Once again, he swung his wand, and this time, every cracked wall and broken lamp went back to their first place, repaired. The single light bulb was burning quite brightly. Letting a hideous scene of a thin boy covered in blood curled up and naked in the corner.

“Oh, Remus! My Boy!” Lyall rushed towards the boy, kneeling to grab his tiny body. “It’s over, Remus. That’s alright, Dad’s here.”

Hope followed with a shuddering look on her face; she looked around the room; it was all crimson red, the blood splattered everywhere. It’s been five years since the first time Remus transformed, but not even once she got used to the scene.

“Hope! Give me the potion! Quick!” the wand floating above Remus’ wound, Lyall worked on a spell that tried to cure the deep cut on Remus’ limb. But it doesn’t work, Remus’ wound keeps bleeding.

Hope was panicking. She was trembling when she handed the potion to Lyall. Remus grimaced in pain; his eyes closed, and he couldn’t even move his body. But he murmured something in a low voice.

Lyall furrowed his eyebrows and tried to catch any word Remus spit from his mouth. He leaned closer to Remus and heard,

“Die… “ Remus’ heavy breathing sliced through Lyall’s soul, “Let me die instead, father.”

Lyall bit his lower lip, holding the tears from escaping. “Stop saying nonsense, Remus!” he stroked his son’s hair, allowing Remus' small face to be seen clearly.

He dripped the potion essence onto Remus’ wound, making him grimace even louder. Remus’ wounds gradually recovered, stopped the bleeding, and left a long diagonal scar on his chest.

“You should let me die, Father. You shouldn’t save my life!” Remus cried, while clutching Lyall's bloodstained blue shirt. “The pain is enough to kill me inside! I hate the Full moon! I hate every inch of my body! I could’ve hurt you; I could’ve hurt anyone who loves me!”

Lyall couldn’t hold the tears any longer; he wrapped his arms around Remus and hugged him deeply. “I’m sorry, Remus. I’m so sorry, son. I’m sorry..” he repeatedly said the same word to Remus in his arms.

Remus whimpered, cried out loud, the silencing charm no longer muted him. Hope joined them, wrapping her hands on her husband and son. The little boy sobbed and let the world hear his anguish. The unbearable distress and soreness. The affection and love he got from his parents never was the purest fondness experience. Yet, it’s powerful. Enough to be a reason he could breathe a life.

[sequinsmile-x]

Buy the Promises

It gets harder to keep the promise as time goes on, as Emily goes from his girlfriend to his fiancée to his wife. He wants nothing more than to put Elizabeth in her place, to stop her from hurting her daughter in a way that only she could. 

AKA The three times Aaron doesn't tell Elizabeth off, and the one time he does

Chapter 1/4

-x-

Hi friends!

This was an idea that very quickly turned into a four chapter fic. I really hope you like this, and the normal mommy issues that come along with Elizabeth being involved.

I have the rest of the chapters planned out so they should all go up over the next week or so around my other fics/updates.

As always, please let me know what you think <3

-x-

Words: 2.8k

Warnings: Injury/hospitalisation

Read over on Ao3, or below the cut

Emily curses under her breath as she shifts in the bed, her hand pressed against her immobilised shoulder as she breathes through the pain. 

“Shit,” she says, leaning back against the pillow behind her, gritting her teeth as the wave of pain starts to dissipate. 

The takedown was supposed to have been simple enough, but they’d misjudged where the unsub was hiding in the abandoned warehouse they’d tracked him to. He’d pushed Emily into a wall with enough force that her shoulder had dislocated, forcing itself out of its joint as her head also connected with the wall, leaving her with a concussion.

There’s a quiet knock on her hospital room door and she looks up as it opens, smiling softly at her boyfriend as he walks in, concern painted across his features as he looks at her. He’d been so worried at the scene, immediately by her side as he instructed the rest of the team to chase down the man who’d hurt her. She was grateful that they were still in DC, that this hadn’t happened on the other side of the country, because she knew the flight home would have been rough on both of them. That any jolt would make pain shoot through her and Aaron would have to watch, wholly unable to help her in any way other than holding her hand. 

“Hi honey,” she says as he walks over, offering out her good hand to him, linking her fingers with his as he sits on the edge of the bed, “What did the doctor say?”

He squeezes her hand and reaches out to tuck some of her hair behind her ear. He knew she wasn’t going to like what he was about to say. 

“They said you have to stay tonight,” he says, pressing his lips together to stop himself from smiling when she reacts in the exact way he knew she would, a mix of disappointment and defiance spreading across her face as she scoffs. She opens her mouth to refuse it, to insist that she is fine to go home, but he cuts her off before she can, “I’ve spoken to Jess, Jack is already asleep so I’m going to stay here with you all night,” he says, smiling as she pouts, something he knew she would deny if he pointed it out, “Keep you company and out of trouble.” 

She can’t fight her smile, too much pain medication in her system to allow her to, so she nods instead, “I guess thats an acceptable compromise,” she says, removing her hand from his to tug at the collar of his jacket, pulling him in for a gentle kiss. She smiles as she pulls back, “Love you.” 

“Love you too sweetheart,” he replies, warmth spreading in his chest as he says the words, the ability to do so, to be so open in his affection for her still new enough that every time it was liable to take his breath away. 

They’d been together for four months. It was a type of happiness he never thought he’d find again, a type of love he didn’t think existed. It felt like a dream sometimes that they’d found each other after everything they’d both been through, a chance at a happy ending neither one of them thought they’d have. 

He clears his throat as he pulls back properly, his eyes fixed on her face as he tries to measure her reaction to the next part, well aware that it likely wasn’t going to go down very well.

“There’s something else,” he says carefully, his smile tight as he carries on, “Your mother is here.” 

Her eyes go wide in a way he’s sure would be funny in other circumstances and her mouth falls open, making her stutter for a moment before she finds her voice, “What? How? Why? You’re my emergency contact.” 

“I know, sweetheart,” he says, his hand landing on her thigh, the weight of his palm a comfort through the scratchy sheets, “The nurse said there was a mix-up with your file.” 

She rolls her eyes and groans, the sound turning into a pained one as she leans back and her shoulder hits the mattress a little too hard. He shushes her comfortingly, a sound she’s sure he’d find irritating if it was anyone other than him, his comfort something she sought out not something she avoided, and he cups her jaw, letting his thumb move back and forth on her cheek. 

“Any chance I can get away with not seeing her?” She asks, sighing when he raises an eyebrow at her, “Right, of course not. Because of everything about her,” she blows out a breath as she tilts her head to look at him properly, “Want to go hide somewhere?” she says, lifting her hand to reach up and run her fingers through his hair, “I wouldn’t blame you.”

Elizabeth didn’t know they were together. She was the last person they had to tell, and he didn’t take Emily’s reluctance to do so personally. He knew their relationship was beyond complicated, that there were many layers to it that he wasn’t even privy to yet. She wanted to protect their relationship, he knew that, and he would wait as long as she needed to.

He chuckles as he stamps a kiss against her forehead and then her lips before he pulls back, “I think I’d be a shitty boyfriend if I left you at the mercy of your mother.”

He stands up, suppressing a smile when she frowns at the loss of contact, and he walks over to the door, briefly popping his head out to let the nurse know to let Emily’s mother in. He walks back over and sits in the chair next to her bed, keeping a respectable distance so they wouldn’t get caught out. He feels himself itching to reach out for her hand, to link their fingers together so he could remind himself she was fine, that he still had her here with him. He knew he’d be hearing the scream of pain that had left her as her shoulder dislocated for days, the sound still echoing around his head. 

The door opens and Emily immediately tenses, forcing her to blow out a steady breath as her mother steps into the room. 

“Mother,” she says, smiling politely, “You didn’t have to come down here, I’m sorry they called you. I know you’re busy.”

“Nonsense, Emily,” Elizabeth says as she walks into the room, “I got a call that my daughter was in the hospital, of course, I’m going to…” she drifts off as she seemingly notices Aaron in the room, “Agent Hotchner, I wasn’t expecting to see you here,” she looks back and forth between Emily and Aaron and she clears her throat as she sits in the chair on the opposite side of Emily’s bed, “It’s nice to see you, despite the circumstances.” 

He smiles politely at her, his eyes flicking to his girlfriend, her discomfort clear to him even if it wasn’t to Elizabeth, “You too, Ambassador Prentiss.” 

Elizabeth hums as she looks back and forth between them, “So, do you always make a habit of sitting with your agents when they get injured at work?” She asks, clasping her hands together on her lap, “Although, I suppose it’s the right thing to do when they don’t have a spouse of their own or children, otherwise, they’d just be here by themselves.” 

Emily doesn’t have to look at Aaron to sense the protectiveness flowing off of him like cologne, the need to shield her from any kind of harm, even something as simple as passive-aggressive comments from her mother, stronger than usual. She knew he was carrying some guilt from not being able to stop her from getting hurt today. It was something that lingered from when Ian had torn through their lives, something that made itself known every time she got hurt even a little bit. His reaction to things as simple as a papercut or a blister from new shoes more aligned with the injuries she’d suffered then, the love he now had a name for trapped inside his chest at the time with nowhere to go. 

Later when he’d ask, she wouldn’t be able to explain what makes her reach out for his hand, why she links her fingers through his and makes a point of squeezing them in full view of her mother, but she does it. Love and affection, and no small amount of painkillers, making her braver than she’d felt in a long time. 

“Actually, Mother,” she says, looking back at Elizabeth, “Aaron is here because he’s my…” she drifts off, the word boyfriend always seeming so juvenile when she thinks about what he means to her, “We’re together.” 

Elizabeth’s only physical reaction is a slight raising of her eyebrows as she looks at Aaron and then at her daughter. She clicks her tongue and clears her throat, “I see,” she says, her lips pressed together, “You’ll have to accept my apologies, Agent Hotchner, Emily doesn’t tell me much about her life and I didn’t know that you two were…dating now.” 

Emily stops herself from rolling her eyes at her mother’s obvious attempt to bait her, “Well,” she says, squeezing Aaron’s hand in what she hopes he takes as a silent request to stay quiet, “We don’t exactly see each other a lot, and I don’t remember the last time you called.” 

She actually did remember the last time her mother called her. It was months ago, and it hadn’t been a social call but a request to go to an event she was hosting. It was shortly after Emily’s first date with Aaron, the giddiness from it all still lingering under her skin, his fingerprints still tattooed against her hips and thighs. She couldn’t help but wonder if she had a different relationship with her mother, if they’d been what each other had always wanted, she would have told her. If she would have sat on her couch and gushed over the new guy she was seeing to her mom and shared in her excitement for what she knew was the last relationship she’d ever be in, the feelings she’d had for Aaron for years confirmed by the first press of his lips to hers. 

“The phone does work both ways, Emily,” Elizabeth says, and Emily feels Aaron’s hand tense around hers and she squeezes again, briefly looking at him and shaking her head every so slightly. 

“Do you have any assignments coming up?” Emily asks, changing the conversation on purpose, wanting to move things along before Aaron marks his first meeting with her mother as more than just her boss by telling her off. 

By the time her mother excuses herself to leave Emily is relieved that it will just be her and Aaron again, the tension Elizabeth always brought to a room something she could do without on her best days, let alone when her head was aching and her shoulder was immobilised. Aaron shows her out, ever the gentleman in a way Emily’s sure should annoy her, and for a moment she’s alone. She rests her head back against the pillow and blows out a steady breath. She pinches the bridge of her nose and groans, the pulsing in her head that had been made worse by her mother’s presence making her want to do nothing more than sleep. 

“Are you okay, sweetheart?” 

She opens her eyes, groaning as the bright hospital lighting makes her head hurt even more and she smiles softly at him as he sits on her bed. 

“I’m okay,” she says, sighing, “I’m considering having Pen break into the hospital’s systems and fire the nurse who called my mom,” she says, her lips curling into a smile as he chuckles, “But I’m okay,” she looks at him and can see the stress that was still lingering in his jaw, the concern for her that was still in his eyes, and she smiles softly, “You know what I need though?”

He furrows his brow, ready to jump up and get whatever she wants, “What?” 

“You to climb into this bed with me,” she says, her smile getting wider as he immediately tries to argue with her, something she cuts off as she wraps her hand around his, “Please? You know I sleep better when we snuggle.” 

It’s a dirty trick and she knows it, the way he sighs as he leans forward and presses his forehead to hers a sign that he knows it too, “Em, baby, I don’t want to hurt you.” 

She cups the back of his head and stamps her lips against his, “You never could,” she says softly. There’s a beat of silence before he nods and she smiles widely, kissing him again before he stands up. 

He slips off his shoes and is careful as he climbs into the bed, both of them ignoring how she winces when she settles against him, the movement enough to jolt her shoulder. She sighs contentedly as he wraps his arms around her and she smiles when he kisses her temple. 

“Better?” He asks, his lips still against her skin, and she nods, turning her head to press her forehead into his neck. 

“Much better,” she replies, settling further into his embrace, into the comfort he always provided just by being there with her. 

“She didn’t even ask how you are.” 

She frowns, her brain not quite able to keep up, the pain and the medication catching up with her, exhaustion slowly taking over, “What?” 

“Your mom,” he says, holding her slightly tighter but still managing to ensure he doesn’t hurt her, “She didn’t ask how you are.” 

“Oh,” she says, chuckling mirthlessly, “Yeah,” she tilts her head to look at him, “She never does really. If she did we might get dangerously close to actually talking instead of just speaking.” 

He clenches his jaw, irritation at the mother of the woman he loves burning him from the inside out, “I always knew things were difficult between you,” he says, running his fingers back and forth over her arm, trying to press comfort into her skin, “But she was rude to you, sweetheart. The dig she made about you not having a spouse, and the comment about the phone going both ways. She’s your mother, she should-”

She can feel him getting worked up, the need to look after her, to protect her, coursing through him so strongly she can almost feel it. His love for her passing from his chest into hers as he sits behind her, his arms around her as they provide the anchor she never knew she needed. She cuts him off, her hand on his cheek as she encourages him to look at her. 

“Honey, my relationship with her has always been complicated. This…is as good as it’s ever going to get.” 

He frowns again, “But you deserve better.” 

“Maybe, but-”

“Definitely.” 

She presses her lips together to stop her smile from spreading, her cheeks already aching with it, “Even if I do, it’s not going to happen. She’s never going to change and I had to accept that a long time ago in order to maintain some kind of a relationship with her.” 

He sighs, “So you just accept the way she speaks to you?”

She hums as she nods, “And you’re going to have to too,” she says, and his frown deepens, outrage painted into the fine lines on his face, in the dark circles under his eyes that she can see in more detail when she’s this close. She cuts him off before he can say anything, “I don’t need you fighting my battles with her, Aaron. I’ve been doing it myself for as long as I can remember. What I do need is for you to be there afterwards,” she says, her hand cupping the back of his head, holding him in place as she looks deeply into his eyes, “Help me paint over any cracks she may have created.” 

He hates it, hates that she’s asking him to just sit back as her mother of all people continually hurts her, but he knows he has to. He was never one to deny her anyway, his desire to be exactly what she needed him to be something that had been around long before their first kiss. 

“Okay.” 

She smiles up at him, “You promise?” 

He nods, leaning in to kiss her quickly, his reply escaping even though he’s unsure if he’ll always be able to stick to it, “I promise.” 

She smiles and kisses him before she settles against him again, “I think I need some sleep.” 

He kisses her temple and runs his hand up and down her arm again, “You get some rest,” he says softly, “I’ll be here when you wake up.” 

“You promise?” She asks again, her words more slurred this time as she finally gives in to the pull of sleep. 

“I promise,” he repeats, well aware that was one he was able to keep. 

-x-

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[elemit]

A Gift, A Curse

A story in which we discover just how damned an ascended vampire can be, and just how far you will go to save the spawn you loved.

Read in full on AO3

dead dove/not beta read

fic warnings: Abuse, Angst, Biting, Blood and Gore, Blood Drinking, Bondage, Dom/sub, Dubious Consent, Food Restriction, Hate Sex, Horror, Mental Coercion, Mind Control, Rape/Non-con Elements, Rough Sex, Sexual Coercion, Torture, Total Power Exchange, Trauma, Vampire Bites

Chapter 17: Hope

You wake up to a clear head and reach automatically for the cup of blood that has been placed beside the bed. Astarion has already left for the day. Your sleep was deep and undisturbed, but as soon as you awake your mind drags you back to the last things you saw before bed.

That flash in his eyes. Perhaps it is only hope twisting yet another knife in your gut, but you think, pray, know that it was him, deep down, clawing briefly to the surface. The Astarion you once knew. The Astarion who loved you.

Your resolve is set, and you know you have to act fast, before your bravery can falter or your hunger can distract you. You have to appeal to that part of your husband that so recently made an appearance. 

You dress yourself, giving the mirror a wistful glance before you leave on the hunt for the man that you love.

You find him in his study, sitting at the desk from which Cazador once ruled his coven. The words tumble out of your mouth as he turns to see who has entered his sanctuary; before his dark red gaze can wilt the courage that you have scraped together to face him. 

“Please, Astarion, if there is any part of you still in there, just let me go. I can’t do this. I don’t want to do this. This isn’t how I thought our future would be.”

He laughs at your supplication. “Don’t be stupid, darling. You’re mine, remember? And that means your future is mine to decide. Your actions are mine to decide. I’ve told you time and again how lucky you are that I chose you as my consort.”

“I’m not your consort, I’m your spawn.”

“You are my wife. And we’ll be together forever, darling. I can promise you that.”

“How can you say I’m your wife when you make me— when you treat me like a whore to offer up in whatever business dealings you are undertaking!”

“Oh, please. You should be grateful that I can still see some use in you. It’s not like you have any magical ability to speak of anymore.”

You freeze. 

“How... How do you know that?” you ask in a low voice. Even you didn’t know that; not really. You’ve seen the signs, of course, but you hadn’t wanted to believe them to be true. You wanted it to just be a temporary effect of the new hunger that plagues your every waking moment. He smiles at your reaction to his words.

“I had an inkling. It seems that in draining every drop of your blood when I transformed you, your powers were taken from you. You see, I realised that some of my newfound powers felt strangely… familiar. It seems that what was once yours is now mine. I always had some magic myself, of course, but never anything like yours. Not until now. I suppose what they say is true: sorcerers really do have magic in their very blood. You will still have some magical residue, I imagine, from the single drop of blood that I fed you?”

This is too much. Too far. There was so much of yourself that you were willing to give up for him; friends, principles, dignity, life. But your magic was what made you you. It felt like it was your very soul. And now he has taken that too. Astarion gives a sympathetic pout, but you see the twisted pleasure dancing behind his eyes. 

“My little spell-less sorceress,” he croons. Then he murmurs words that you once knew and waves his delicate pale fingers in a pattern that is somehow now foreign to you, and you find yourself lifted from the floor, held aloft by the telekinesis spell that had once been your own.

“Just let me go,” you whisper. “You’ve taken everything from me.”

“Everything you are, everything you have, everything you ever will be is mine. Why by all the gods would I ever let you go?”

“Please,” you say, voice breaking.

“Don’t cry, darling. Come here,” he says, and he moves his hands, and you float over to him. He places you on the floor by his feet, guiding your head with his hands to rest upon his lap. He strokes your hair gently, and you think back to the last time you sat in this position, basking in the warmth of the drawing room fire on the night before you were wed. You had been so full of hope.

“There, there, little love,” he soothes. “You can sit with me again today. I haven’t been paying you enough attention, have I? That’s why you’re acting out like this. It’s ok. We’ll make it work.”

He pretends not to feel the hot tears soaking into the rich fabric of his trousers. You think to yourself that hope is a hellish thing.

[fizzyxcustard]

Okay, hear me out. I just finished the last chapter and I don’t even know where to begin.

1. I can’t even describe how much I feel for Amy. Like, I understand why her parents want to keep her with them and safe and why Lucas is supporting that, but that just adds to her feeling of being powerless. She needs to get that control back, especially after something as traumatic as kidnapping and being held hostage, she needs to feel that she is in control, that she makes the decisions and that those around her trust that she knows what’s good for her. I know her parents’ and Lucas’ decision comes from a place of love but still.

2. I’m totally in love with Ros, she understands and knows. I’ve really really enjoyed her character throughout this series. I keep rooting for her and Amy to become good friends, I really like their dynamic, especially since it sometimes feel like Ros is the only one that’s on Amy’s side and supports her decisions. Love that!

3. I have questions about Lucas though. So he blames himself for what has happened to Amy twice now and is convinced that’s it all his fault etc. Does he think it’s his fault as in personally or his fault because of the MI-5? Now that a baby is in the picture, is he going to quit the MI-5? Because I don’t think we’ve seen him ( I might be wrong here) really questioning his job and giving it a serious consideration to quit. He’s quick to break things off with Amy in stead of quitting the job. Maybe he would be less inclined to constantly blame himself if he chose a different career, what do you think?

4. I also love the idea of Amy continuing to work there, only as an analyst. She’s proven that she has a keen eye and is very perceptive and sharp, and I think this role has further contributed to her growth and being more comfortable in her own skin and abilities. It seemed to me that she really enjoyed doing what she did, more so than at her previous job. I’m also eager to see how her relationship with Ros develops further.

Sorry if this is too long, you don’t have to respond to everything if you don’t want to. I was just left with lots of thoughts after reading everything 🌸

Honestly, love, don’t apologise at all for the length of this ask. I’m so grateful that you read Covert Eyes and have a lot to say about it. It’s amazing!

Lucas questioning his career choice is something that will be coming up in the future. It’s something I did think on, and may possibly bring up in a one shot that takes place after the main events of Covert Eyes. Lucas blames himself personally for things that happened to Amy due to his involvement with Sarah Caulfield.

I have the next chapter and some of the chapter after that drafted. I just didn’t post due to a lot of negative feelings around this fic. But Ros does become even more personally involved with Amy and the baby.

Ros was a character I disliked at first in the series, but grew to really like her. I’m actually quite a fan of Ruth from the series, but felt Ros’ character worked better in helping Amy develop her confidence.

Again, thank you so much for reading this fic and being such a supportive friend with it. ♥️♥️♥️♥️

[marwhoa]

request: Could you possibly write another rottmnt leonardo x y/n? About the aftermath of them exchanging numbers? Maybe like them hangout at night like a little cute midnight date

🝮 “ the treasure’s treasure ”

rise!leo x g/n

author’s note: i’ve been contemplating for a while whether chair-ry would get a sequel ,,, It’s hard to live up to your very first fic :))) !!! also i’m so tired rn

word count: 3.5k

Sitting upon a park bench, someone was sharing a conversation with the moon and stars, patiently anticipating the arrival of a special someone they had met earlier this week.

“ You should have seen him,”

They said, shaking their head as the wind blew in a manner that could have been taken as the luna above laughing alongside.

“ He said to me, ‘Catch you on the flip side!’ and leapt into a portal. What’s worse is I actually laughed, but he wasn’t there to see. ”

They weren’t speaking to any particular person. In fact, maybe it wasn’t the sky they gave their words to. Perhaps their conversation was with themselves, and the moon simply happened to listen in. Antsy fingers rose up, gingerly holding their new brooch. While the index finger began tracing the oleander’s rim, their other hand was holding up their phone to see a notification, “ running late! “

“ Pft—how do you run late with the ability to teleport? ”

Pocketing the phone, you were smoothing out your clothes when a hand reached out and took yours, twirling you towards him and dipping you. Your heart skipped a beat as your eyes met a familiar shade of cerulean.

“ Can’t a man lose himself to time in the practice of ‘dress to impress’? ”

Your breath hitched in your throat as you clung to the silly boy who smiled brightly at how much of an upper hand he had here.

It was summer, so you were a bit confused by the leather jacket he donned. Underneath was a plain short sleeve—blue, shocker! And a pair of denim jeans. Rather plain, no? Not like you were focusing on that though.

“ Don’t drop me! ”

In some kind of mixture between laughing and screaming, your hands held on for dear life, and Leo decided to dip you a bit further, just a tad bit lower.

“ Oh no, my grip—it’s slipping! ”

He teased, busting out laughter as you screeched “ don’t you dare!! “ The moment you both shared was lighthearted, pulling you both closer. Grip loosening, you momentarily reminisced upon the many, many messages you both shared back and forth over the days leading to today. It was your idea, actually—sticking your neck out for your hero in green. The relief that you felt when he agreed was tremendous.

He brought you back up to your feet, letting go and resting his hands against his knees while laughing up a storm. You wiped tears from your eyes and caught a bit of his contagious laughter.

“ Kee—keep this up—Pft—a-and we’ll wake the whole neighborhood, Leon! ”

There was a quip or two resting on his tongue, urging him to tickle you with all his funniest jokes, but nothing could have made him interrupt how it looked when you laughed and smiled. You truly were framed as though you were “ the world’s precious treasure”, and boy had he no idea how to show the universe how grateful he was for a chance with you.

“ Wouldn’t want that, Y/N. ”

You didn’t even seem to mind who or what he is. He could tell just by how you held his hands and said his name, the way you looked at him—just, everything. It had only been a week, and already he was head over heels. Just how magical are you?

“ So, what is this special thing you said we had to see? ”

Right, as the initiator, that makes you the leader as well. With a shy smile, you waved your hand in a “ follow me ” motion and left the black bench to follow the park’s path. It was only a few more steps until you turned off path. Despite being confused, he trusted you enough to follow blindly.

Only, he was confused when you both finally made it to your goal. The park had a lake, and sure it looked nice—but only during the day. At night it was more like an eerie void of inky black. It was only the two of you, framed by the rustling of branches, crunching of rocks under your feet, and the light sloshing of the water against the shoreline.

“ I know I’m drop-dead gorgeous, but not exactly looking to be murdered just yet, Y/N. ”

Joking, he leaned into you with a nudge. One push later and you were spreading a blanket you brought along the ground.

“ Oh hush, who would want to kill you anyways? Too easy! ”

His gasp was reward enough. Beside you he sat, as both of you shifted your attention to the water.

“ Now, we wait. ”

You responded, pulling up your legs to your chest. One of your arms laid atop it, and then you laid your head against it. Leo leaned backwards. His legs stretched out and crossed while his hands planted behind him, supporting his weight.

“ wait for what? “ he asked after the cloud of awkwardness passed and room for speak opened. You hummed, insisting he was more than capable of waiting. Taken as a challenge, he immediately accepted and the minutes turned to an hour as you both talked about any and everything.

About him, his brothers—little extras added since you had heard a lot of it already through your daily texts and video chats. Since trading numbers, you had both talked to each other so much. Perhaps a few hours of a sleep were omitted, but who cares? The hours spent together was so much fun. Calls while cooking, calls in the morning, even some calls where you both slept together. There was even one that lasted even through a teeth-brushing montage ((prior to this, you never would have expected someone to be able to make a contest out of that, but never had you ever done your brushing routine THAT quickly.)) But in return, you shared even more little tidbits about yourself, your family, etcetera.

The longer you both went, the more similarities you were able to discover about the other. To say it lit a flame of hope in your chest was an understatement.

Eventually the conversation fell into nonsense, little games of truth or dare, “ I Spy “, and even would you rather. That had served to be… quite interesting.

You and Leo had leaned down, laying in the blanket and staring up at the sky. Arms. Crossed, forearms as makeshift pillows behind y’all’s heads. After growing tired of I Spy, Leo snapped his fingers in a “ gotcha! “ moment.

“ Would you rather get a paper cut every time you turn a page or bite your tongue every time you eat? “

“ Really, would you rather? ”

“ Are you admitting defeat? ”

“ What! You can’t ‘win’ would you rat—oh forget it. ”

You groaned out loud, dragging your hands down your face to ready yourself for this. There were some rocks under the blanket, embedding into your back, so there was a long second of contemplation as you mindlessly moved them and laid back down. With a drawn-out exhale, you turned your head to look at him.

“ Well, either is so messed up, but I think bite my tongue—I do it accidentally a lot already. Might as well up my odds. What about you? ”

Leo chuckled in a way that could only spell out trouble—or a devious loophole.

“ Papercut. Why? Because,”

He holds up his phone, shaking it.

“ Internet, baby. No page turning necessary. ”

“ No fair! And, you’ll never be able to read a real book without cuts. ”

“ I’m prepared to make that sacrifice. ”

Scoffing, you crossed your arms dramatically and tapped your fingers against your forearm. What’s a good question you can ask? A real conundrum—with no loopholes!

“ Ah! Would you rather have a pause or a rewind button in your life? ”

This one throughly perplexed him. Either that, or the “ hmming “ was just him messing with you. You had your answer already, but his was what you were more curious about.

And his response only made you more curious.

“ Rewind, definitely, ”

He sits up, turning on his side and resting his head into his palm while his elbow digs into the blanket.

“ I’ve found a sound I wouldn’t mind hearing on replay. ”

“ Oh yeah? ”

You asked with sitting up, hands laid behind your back to hold you up. The statement was spoken with an intonation practically begging him to continue. Alas, he didn’t seem to catch on, so you followed it up with,

“ And what’s that? ”

“ Ah, ah, that’s not how the game goes. It’s my turn. Would you rather have everyone able to read your mind or for everyone you know to have access to your Internet history? ”

Immediately you were laughing in an incriminating way, averting your gaze anywhere but the questionner. Oh god, both were such mortifying scenarios.

“ Oh shit, that’s horrible, Leo. You’re the worst at this game! ”

“ I think you mean the best. ”

“ Eeeeek, okay, internet history. I can just clean it up! ”

“—No erasing, either! ”

Cue the hitting, as you lightly hit him with your fists!

“ No fair, no adding clauses afterwards!! ”

Leo laughed all the while, taking your light little barrages.

“ What about you, tough guy! ”

“ Internet history, but definitely deleting stuff. ”

“ YOU!! ”

With an “ oof! “ Leo was pushed over onto his back by you, further pinned down as you took your rightful throne upon his chest. It was hard, likely due to the plastron he had. While you weren’t putting all your weight into him, you were still sitting on him enough for him to be slightly inconvenienced.

“ Someone is a sore loser.”

Groaned Leo in a low voice as he accepted defeat.

“ No, you are. So, my turn! Would you rather… ”

There were a few seconds filled not with your voices, but rather with the chirping of bugs filling the space. What was a good question… Ooh, perfect!

“ Would you rather find true love today or win the lottery? Knowing you, you’ll say—“

“ Lottery—“

“ Ah-hah! I knew it. ”

“ I would rather win the lottery because I already found loved. ”

There was a…

A fondness—a sweetness and a comfort—in the air immediately. It felt akin to that of moments in movies when two character would, or /should/, kiss, and that feeling only deepened as you lowered your gaze to meet his. Leo’s voice had said that so… So gently, so lovingly.. His eyes filled you with a warmth, an addictive sight that you almost couldn’t look away from.

But still, you did. To calm your thundering heart, you looked away with a breathy laugh.

“ Wow, that sure was… Just, wow.. ”

Your eyes trailed to the water, noticing it was finally time. Leaning up off him, you brushed your clothes of any dust, and crouched to pick up some rocks near the blanket. Leo had risen up to a seated position, watching you curiously.

“ What about you? ”

He asked sincerely, eyes on you as you looked down. The collected rocks were rolled in your hand as you contemplated your own answer.. You held out your open hand, gesturing for him to give you his.

“ I think… I would choose the true love today, just to… Make sure it happens, y’know? Don’t want to get too cocky and lose a good thing. ”

As you took his hand, there was a little spark and a bit of heartbeat skipping, but pretty easy to ignore. In his palm, a sizable pebble was placed.

“ A rock? ”

“ For skipping. That’s the real surprise the whole time. What we were waiting for. ”

“ Ah yes, waiting to skip rocks, I’m really swooning over here. ”

“ Not that, you dumdum! What comes after. Just—throw it with me, okay? ”

Nodding, you both stood up, reeled your arms back, and began the countdown

Three,

Two,

One!!

And off the rocks went, skittering along the water—his faster than yours, amazingly so—but that wasn’t supposed to be the focus. The true point of it all was what happened with each tap to the water’s surface.

Lines of orange, like plane runways lined with neon hues, streaked and bloomed with every touch. By the time the rocks twirled and blipped through the lake, sinking down to their new home, the orange lights had fanned out into the air like teensy fireworks. Zipping from here and there, the little balls of energy bobbing and plinked along the water—awakening their neighbors until nearly the entire area here was covered with the little buggers.

“ Fireflies? ”

Leo inquired, amazed at the sight. It was a genuine reaction, not masked at all for any “ cool guy act ” or a “ more mature act ”. No, you were getting the exact response you hopped—the orange reflecting in his eyes, the toothy grin, and the playful glint when he turned back to you.

“ Not quite. ”

You shook your head and held out your hand, clicking your tongue as one would to a cat. By the first click, some of the closest little sprites were already skipping over to you as though copying the rocks bouncing past them earlier.

“ They’re like, little balls of warmth, little sun sprites, see? ”

They were tiny, too small for their heat to hurt. It was more of a welcoming warmth tickling your hand. Their little frames would roll and bump into each other, rubbing themselves all over your hands. That’s probably fine.

Leo stuck out a finger, reaching to poke one, then freaking out as it zipped in a spiral-motion up his finger and arm.

“ AH—! I, I mean. Act, just acting, haha.. How did you find these…? ”

“ I was waiting for you to ask! ”

You plopped back down onto the blanket and patted for him to follow. More of the sprites were surrounding you, and thankfully it seemed that their fire wasn’t a spreadable kind.

“ That word you said to me last week, yokai? I know you said, ‘Oh you’re a human, rah rah rah, no need for you to know!’—“

“—I don’t sound like that—“

“—hush, anyways! I think they’re yokai, don’t you think? I looked the word up when I got home, supernatural beings! ”

He could tell you were pretty pleased with yourself.

“ Y/N, I only said that to keep you safe. Need I remind you who needed to be rescued by a handsome blue knight? ”

He puffed out his chest, even flexing a bit. One little sprite appeared to be trying to copy him, but given their circular bodies, you weren’t too sure.

“ I already said thank you, and you can’t blame me! Who seriously just ignores something so—so, so groundbreaking! I mean, yokai? They’re fictional creatures, except now nonfiction because I saw them, I was chased by one! So, yeah, excuse me for looking into it. ”

Shrugging, you crossed your legs and leaned forward. Hands on the blanket, palms facing up, you invited the sprites to hop on or off. Soft giggles followed their little brushes against your hands.

“ Right, still doesn’t answer how you found these guys? ”

He followed your example, watching them curiously twirl his digits—thicker yet fewer than your own hands. It seemed like one of the little guys was putting pieces together as it flipped back and forth between your hands. In the end, they bobbed over to you, and Leo muttered a “ going to cry about this later ” playfully.

“ Well, I found them way before the ‘chairable incident.’ ”

“ Ooh good one, is that what we’re calling it? ”

“ Thank you, and yes—no interrupting, mister Leonardo! ”

“ Hey, that’s mister Leo to you! ”

“ Pft—well, I always through they were fireflies or pollen, but after that night you dropped me off, I was curious! So, I came here again and again, stirring them and trying to call them over. “

Y/N’s eyes were scouring over the little guys, turning to the water to see the others. It seemed they were searching for something.

“ Hmm, well anyways, it took a while, but the other day when I did it, one of them came over to me! Seeing them up close made it all make more sense. ”

Leo had noticed you looking around and followed your gaze. Alas, he gave up soon after realizing he didn’t know what to look for. Silence joined you both, sitting right between while your focus was on the cute little sprites. Some had already rolled back to the water. They seemed to float on top, similar to how oil and water “ mix ”. Few remained though, leaning into your hands, climbing your legs, or rummaging through your hair specifically. Leo had a hat, a beanie, and one sneaky little guy did manage to squirm on inside of it.

Your attention only shifted as a little purple sprite slowly bobbed over. It was hard to see them in the inky water, but this special little guy had a flickering ability. Whether the others did too was anyone’s guess, but this one! He only flickered in and out, illuminating with the fiery orange and then fizzling into the camouflaging purple. He was the first to come check you out when you tried calling for the little creatures.

“ This is Blinker! He’s a little special, isn’t he? ”

A tad bit bigger, he rolled and fluffed up in your hand—only stopping when Leo leaned in and reached his index towards him. Blinker ignited immediately, bobbing and then spiraling up Leo’s finger just like some of the others did.

“ Wow… Well, you sure know how to plan a first date. I have some real competition, huh? ”

He slouched over, resting his head against the palm of his hand while watching you with a lazy grin. Blinker had already began burrowing, slipping up into the sleeve of Leo’s jacket.

“ Oh? You sound like you’re wanting a second date already. ”

Copying his position, you grinned in a way that could only be saying “ oooooohhh, you liiiiikeee meee, don’t you? ”

“ Ah,”

A sound like a cough and he was casting his gaze to the right side, as though something away from you was much more important. His left hand moved to cover his cheek, and you recognized it all instantly. He was blushing, wasn’t he!

You leaned forward, taking his wrist and holding it away from his face. His attention was back on you, with big blue eyes staring, waiting.

“ I knew it, you’re blushing! I made you blush, mister handsome knight. ”

He stuttered then held his tongue, looking away. Didn’t even try to deny it! He was blushing, you made him blush!

There was a warmth surfacing on your cheeks, especially upon seeing his other hand move to take your other one. He didn’t make any eye contact, but your fingers were interlaced. Now one hand cuffed his wrist while the other hand locked with his hand.

“ O-Oh.. ”

You muttered, leaning back a bit to sit. After some silence, your handcuffed motion loosened, and he didn’t waste any time. His other hand was slowly lacing with yours. Sitting cross-legged, you both reflected each others sitting position while your hands rested between, holding the other fondly.

“ Mm.. I, maybe I wouldn’t mind a second date. ”

It was your turn to avoid eye contact this time.

“ Really? I’m glad. ”

His voice was softer than you had yet to hear it. So little time, yet already you were seeing newer sides of him. The sprites were floating around you both, basking both of you in warm golden hues. A summer breeze rustled the trees as they leaned in, anticipating the next move. Crickets sung their music, and the waves bumped the shore as if coming closer to see the moment. It was as if the whole world came to see, see who their treasure had chosen.

All the imaginary eyes were resting on you both. They were overjoyed to see the special one, the treasure’s treasure.

Everything dispersed as you gave a nervous cough. Both of you looked away, recoiling your hands and wiping them against your clothes.

“ W-Wow! T-The time, right? ”

“ Time? Oh, yeah! Yeah, it’s so late, I should get you home before it’s too—is it cold to you? Wow, so chilly! ”

Scrambling for your things, you both hopped up and waved goodbyes to the lake’s lights. Leo held up his hand, flicking his fingers until a blue shimmer enveloped his index finger. The stripes on his face shone as he reached out and traced a portal in thin air.

“ A gentleman would never let you walk home! ”

You leaned forward to walk through the portal, but were tugged back.

“ Ah—! No, uh, you can’t. I um, you’re. ”

He was trying to come up with something, then settled for clearing his throat and holding out his hand.

“ Safety reasons, portal passengers have to hold my hand. ”

Part of you felt like that was a lie. The other part of you knew you weren’t a portal expert. And another part of you maybe just wanted to go along with it regardless. So, you gave him your hand. He gently pulled you close to his chest.

The world held its breath as the two of you met each other’s eyes. There was so much emotion. You looked at him with something that he couldn’t yet pinpoint, but god he was addicted to it.

Please never stop looking at me like that, he thought, as his arm moved to rest along your waist and hold firmly. Through the portal, you basked in the familiar tingles and tickles, giggling as you both stepped out at your door, in your home.

“ How did you know—? ”

“ From our video-chats. Remember when I said you talk too much when it’s late? “

“ What! I thought, I thought you just meant—what else have I told you?! ”

“ Er, don’t worry about it, seeya! ”

“ Wait! ”

He was quick to try and leave the same way he had once before, falling through a portal, but you were quicker. Grabbing onto him, he stared wide eyed and quickly closed the portal as you both thumped against your floor. His hand was holding your waist securely, mentally condemning you for such a reckless move.

On the spot, you chuckled nervously and tried to come up with a reason to have stopped him…

“ Ah, er…. W-Wanna stay for, um.. Dinner? ”

[iridescent-petrichor]

inkpot gods

Pairing: Jaskier x Reader

Warnings: reader kills four people, a little graphic, reader and jaskier both get injured

Words: 5.3K

A/N: hi!! i rlly hope this fic like . makes sense?? it's four in the morning and i couldn't get this idea out of my mind but i hope the jumping around isn't too disorienting

Oh what, these? These aren't tears

It's just the rain that wasn't brave enough to fall

You tried to calm the tears streaming down your face when you heard Jaskier approaching, quickly wiping your eyes with the back of your hand when his footsteps stopped just beside you. Shifting your weight so you sat facing away from him, you blinked back the tears that continued to threaten to spill.

“There you are,” His voice was gentle, already noticing something was wrong. Despite his boisterous personality, he was always able to tell when to take a more tender spirit. “Everything alright?”

You nodded, still refusing to look at him knowing full well your eyes would give you away.

“Love,” Jaskier took a careful seat beside you, gingerly placing a hand on your knee. You couldn’t help the slight smile pulling at your lips from the pet name he used. Jaskier rarely called you by your own name, opting towards more poetic and affectionate names. While neither of you had taken the step towards anything official, it wasn’t hard to see how close the two of you had gotten.

“I’m fine.” You insisted, though the crack in your voice betrayed you.

“You don’t have to be, you know.” He said, staring at the view ahead of the both of you. Before you stood a wondrous mountain view, something worthy of one of Jaskier’s songs, especially with the sunset painting the sky with deep oranges and reds.

There was a beat of silence before Jaskier spoke again.

“Think of your tears as the rain.” Your brows furrowed, giving him a confused look. “Your tears are just the rain that wasn’t brave enough to fall.”

“Is this some piece from a song you’re writing?” You ask, wiping away the fresh tears that were now streaming down your face.

He laughed, moving his hand from your knee to rest over your shoulders. “I’m trying to say that there’s strength in crying.” Now risking a glance towards you, his eyes softened at the tears glistening in your eyes.

“I don’t feel very strong.” You responded, voice hoarse.

“But you are.” When you didn’t say anything, Jaskier pulled you closer, the comfort of his embrace making you sigh in relief. “You’re stronger than you know.

And what they hear isn't laughter after all

It's just your voice learning for once to stand up tall

Your laughter rang through the crowded tavern, music to Jaskier’s ears. He’d made some offhand comment about Geralt’s hair that you could no longer unsee, looking back at the witcher who had been grabbing a fresh ale before you turned back to the bard before you.

“Your laugh is the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard,” Jaskier said, his voice so soft you felt your heart swell in your chest. He looked at you as if you held the stars in your eyes, the smile on his face was contagious.

“After all these exhausting days, it’s nice to laugh again.” You said, leaning back in your seat, visibly relaxing.

“It’s like a breath of fresh air. Like,” Jaskier sat forward, reaching to you to put his hands over yours. “There’s this cruel world that wants nothing more than to break us down, and in spite of it, we continue to laugh, we’re still grateful for the fortune we have!”

“In spite of everything we’ve gone through, we can still hole up in a tavern and I can listen to you play music until the sun sets.” You continued, his eyes lighting up at your words.

“Well, I have people to entertain, dear heart,” Jaskier said, grinning from ear to ear. “That does include you.” His thumb rubbed over your hand, a movement you weren’t entirely sure he was even aware of.

By the time Geralt had rejoined the table, your face hurt from how much you were smiling. Jaskier had a keen ability to keep your mood up even in the worst conditions. With his infectious laughter and poetic pep talks, you knew you always had a light in your life to keep you going.

And when the rain came down

When Jaskier found you laying in the mud, rain pouring down over the both of you, he screamed for Geralt louder than he’d ever screamed in his life. You were unconscious, the blood from a cut on your head running down your face, mixing with the rainwater.

Geralt was too far off from the group to defend them when a monster stumbled across the two of you. In your attempt to get it away from Jaskier, you ran off the beaten path deeper into the forest.

He lost you in the downpour, barely being able to see two feet in front of him. Despite the ever-present danger of the monster that had been there only moments ago, Jaskier stumbled blindly through the woods until he found you.

“Geralt!” His voice was hoarse from yelling, desperate for his friend to hear him.

Jaskier knew the importance of timing, and he used all his strength to pull you back to the path, barely registering Geralt’s thundering footsteps that grew louder by the second.

“Jaskier.” Geralt’s voice went in one ear and out the other, with Jaskier continuing to bring your limp body through the woods, muttering pleas under his breath.

He only stopped when Geralt placed a hand on his shoulder, looking at the witcher with glassy eyes.

“You have to help her.” He begged, barely holding it together.

Without another word, Geralt bent down to pick you up, lifting you with ease. Jaskier trailed behind him, squinting to see ahead of him through the dense rain while Geralt brought you to a safe and dry location to fix you up.

Despite his outwardly calm demeanor, Geralt was moving quickly, trying to get through the forest to the inn you were all staying at for the night, glancing down at the blood running down your face every few seconds.

I made a vow out to the dark

Please let her live just one more day

For the first time in Jaskier’s life, he prayed.

He sat by your bedside, praying to any god that could hear him, anyone that was listening, to do something to help you.

You lay before him, a blanket covering you. Geralt was off on the other side of the room, concocting a potion that would help you. It was a delicate balance, and he was focused more than ever to create something that wouldn’t do more harm than good. The cut on your head was hastily cleaned and bandaged, but neither of them could tell what the extent of your injuries was.

“Please,” Jaskier whispered, eyes screwed shut with his hands clasped tightly in front of him. “Please just let her live. Just one more day, please, I’m begging you.”

On the other side of the room, Geralt raised the potion, holding it up to the light and swirling it around. The movement caused a faint glow in the bottle, and Geralt brought the potion back down in front of him, grabbing one final ingredient.

'Cause she is so much more than all her scars

And if she doesn't have the will

“She can’t die,” Jaskier muttered, voice breaking. “She can’t.”

“She won’t.” Geralt’s voice didn’t sound very certain. There was something in his tone that made Jaskier’s heart drop. After knowing the witcher for so many years he was able to deduce even the slightest changes in his attitude, and Jaskier could tell how worried Geralt was under his hardened exterior.

He finished mixing an herb into the potion, setting it to the side while Jaskier spoke.

“She’s endured so much, Geralt.” There was a faraway look in the bard’s eyes. “Everything she’s gone through; all her scars, all her pain… It can’t end here. It can’t be for nothing.”

“It’ll be okay.” Geralt crossed the room, standing in front of you. He knelt down, gently pulling your mouth open and pouring the potion down your throat.

“Is it working?” Jaskier asked when he set the empty bottle down. Nothing had happened yet, but Geralt let it slide seeing how nervous he was.

Still, the witcher said nothing, staring intently while the potion worked its magic. Your veins glowed a faint blue color for a moment before it died down, the silence between the two men was deafening.

But it seems the whole world does I'll stay because

I will be the man my father never was

As he stared down at you, the first person to make him feel comfortable with his emotions, he couldn’t help but think back to a moment between him and his father when he was a child. The tears on his face were long forgotten with the memory playing in the back of his mind.

“Julian!” His father’s booming voice echoed around the room as he looked down at his crying son. “Stop your whining, you need to man up! No child of mine will be caught sniveling like a little girl!”

Jaskier sniffled, wiping the tears from his eyes to no avail. He took a shuddering breath, hiding his face behind his hands. A broken lute sat before him, smashed by his father during an argument about where the boy’s future was going.

“Julian, now!” His father’s voice rang through his ears, and after a couple more moments, he was able to catch his breath, angrily swiping the tears out of his eyes.

He had barely managed to compose himself, long enough that his father lost interest, going off to find something else to be angry about.

Before he left the room, slamming the door on his way out, Jaskier could hear his father muttering about his worthless son. Still, he forced the tears back, biting his lip hard enough to draw blood to keep his sobs at bay.

When Jaskier looked at you, he remembered the first time he performed in front of you. The way you looked at him while he danced around the tavern was forever imprinted on his mind. There was so much adoration in your eyes, and you were smiling wider than he’d ever seen. Afterward, you’d told him how much you loved his singing, and he felt such a resurgence in confidence in his music that he hadn’t felt since he was very young.

And what you hear is not silence

It's just the trees waiting to hear what next you'll hum

On a quiet evening on the road, Jaskier had stopped strumming his lute. You noticed his shift in emotion, slowing to walk by his side. The three of you were traveling deep in the woods on your way to the next town with Geralt perched on Roach as per usual while you and Jaskier walked down the dirt path behind him.

“Why’d you stop?” You asked quietly, nudging the bard lightly to get his attention. He seemed lost in his thoughts, staring up at the night sky with a heavy sigh.

“It’s quiet.” He said, dropping his gaze to look around at the expanse of trees. The only other sound around you was Roach’s hooves hitting the ground. “I don’t want to disrupt that.”

“Oh Jask,” You could see a hint of a smile at the use of the nickname, something you picked up after his constant use of pet names towards you. “That’s not just silence.

He turned to you, slowing his walk with a look of confusion on his face.

“It’s the trees waiting to hear your next song.” You grinned, gesturing towards the open woods. “The world just wants to listen to your music.”

Jaskier laughed, his gaze falling to the ground.

“Please,” You persisted when he didn’t move to grab his lute. “I want to hear it.”

With a slight reluctance, Jaskier grabbed the lute he’d maneuvered over his shoulder, adjusting it in his hands. He began strumming the instrument, a soft tune echoing through the trees as he hummed the beginnings of his next ballad.

You couldn’t help the smile gracing your face, hanging on to every note he sang.

And what you see is not the dark

It's just the gods upturning inkpots

'Cause they know what you'll become

Not long after that evening, the three of you had set up camp not long after the sun had set, walking a few minutes off the dirt path to steer clear of other travelers.

Geralt was fast asleep not far from Roach, while you tried to relax in your own bedroll close to Jaskier’s.

It didn’t take long, however, to notice Jaskier sitting upright and staring out at the darkness around him, eyes darting around the woods as if he would miss something that would leap out and attack him. You frowned, scooting closer to him, apologizing quietly when he jumped at your movement. Stopping when your bedroll was touching his, you placed a careful hand on his shoulder, giving him a worried look you were sure he couldn’t see in the dark.

“You alright?”

He didn’t respond, still looking out into the empty night. “Do you hear that?”

You stopped for a moment, listening.

“No?”

He turned to you with a start, eyes wide with fear. “What if there’s something out there?”

“Then Geralt will handle it.” You nodded to the witcher a few feet from you, hand resting on his sword in his sleep.

Jaskier didn’t respond, but you could tell he was still on edge. An idea popped into your head, and you shifted in your seat, preparing to give the storyteller the gift he’d given you so often.

“The dark out there,” You pointed, watching him follow where your hand led. “It’s the gods upturning inkpots just for you.”

His brows furrowed, still looking out where you’d pointed.

“See, they know what an artist you’ll become. They’re giving you the proper materials.” You grinned when you saw him relax slightly, moving closer to you.

“The world, the gods, everyone can see what you’re going to become. I can see it, too.” Your voice was quiet, now, the moment becoming startlingly intimate.

“Can you, now?” Jaskier smirked, trying to ignore his increased heartbeat at the lack of distance between the two of you.

With an overconfident nod, you moved your hand over his shoulders. “Of course I can.”

And to those gods I will speak bluntly

We've an accord

If you ever touch or harm him

Your scream pierced the air when you saw a stray arrow flying through the air, striking Jaskier in the side. When you turned back to the bandit who sat atop his horse, bow still at the ready, your eyes darkened.

It didn’t take long to deal with him, reaching up to slice a dagger into his chest before he could reload his bow, barely paying him any mind as he slid off the horse, rushing to Jaskier’s side.

“Geralt!” Your voice carried through the air, praying it reached the witcher who wasn’t much further down the path.

Cursing under your breath, you ripped the cloth from your sleeve, pressing it onto his wound around the arrow to stop the bleeding.

The sight before you broke your heart into pieces, looking down at the bleeding bard. Someone who was once so vibrant, so loud and eccentric, rendered practically silent.

“Geralt!” You called again, voice cracking. Your hands were covered in blood, seeping through the fabric of your torn sleeve. The thought of it being Jaskier’s blood made you nauseous, but you persisted, shutting your eyes tightly and cursing again.

“I swear to you,” You muttered, opening your eyes just long enough to send a glare to the sky, addressing any god that could hear you. “If you allow him to die you will never know peace for as long as I live. You have to save him. You cannot let him die. You can’t.”

Please rest assured

That you might not fear a man

But to a woman by the end you'll kneel and plea

By the time Geralt reached your side, you were still hovering over Jaskier, the body of the bandit not far from either of you.

“The rest of his group are on their way, I can hear three more bandits.” He said, shifting his focus to Jaskier’s wound. “Deal with them, I’ll handle Jaskier.”

You nodded, standing shakily. “Don’t let him die.”

There was a fire in your eyes that stared deep into Geralt’s, and he knew there would be hell to pay if any more harm came to your bard. He unsheathed one of his swords, handing it off to you.

“Go.”

And with his word, you were off.

The three bandits barely stood a chance against you, your blood boiling with the fear of losing Jaskier and the anger of what had been done to him.

You gripped the sword tighter in your hands, seeing one of them approaching. He grinned when he made eye contact with you, unaware of how little life he had left.

By the time you were finished and making your way back to Geralt, the final man left was bleeding out off to the side of the path, propped against a tree with blood pouring from a deep gash on his leg.

“Please,” He begged, looking up at you as you passed. “I beg of you, save me.”

You looked down upon him, grimacing at the sight. His eyes were filled with hope when you approached him, Geralt’s sword still stuck inside the body of a bandit not far off.

It wasn’t until you picked up the axe just out of his reach that the hope faded from his eyes. He didn’t have enough time to beg once more for his life before you brought the axe down over his head, barely flinching when he went limp. You stepped away, pulling the sword out of the corpse that lay bloody in the grass and walking in the direction Geralt had gone.

When you finally found Geralt, who had laid Jaskier onto a bed, handling the wound as fast as he could, he looked up at you.

You gave him a blank stare, letting the sword fall from your hands with a loud clatter, walking to the other side of the room to work on a potion that might help Jaskier. The witcher knew without having to ask that the blood slashed across your face wasn’t your own. Once he gathered you were uninjured, he turned his focus back to the bard before him.

'Cause I'm more than what my mum told me to be

When you thought back to the man pleading for his life, you were reminded of what your mother had always told you when you were younger.

“Y/N,” Your mother sighed when she saw you enter the house covered in dirt, a wide smile on your face that slowly faded at her reaction. “Wash up immediately. It’s not ladylike.”

To avoid an argument, you quickly washed up, wiping the dirt from your face and putting on a clean pair of clothes.

“I wish you wouldn’t play in the woods so often.” She continued once you reappeared, gathering dinner for you and her.

“But it’s fun?” You were truly confused why she had such a problem with it, it’s not like dirt was permanent - you could wash it off any time.

“It’s not ladylike. It’s uncivilized.” Your brows furrowed.

“But then why are the other boys in town allowed to play in the dirt?” When the question left your mouth, the look on your mother’s face made you regret even asking.

“You will never have a respectable life if you continue down this road. You’ll never find a good man, and you’ll just be a hag living alone for the rest of your life.” She didn’t even have to raise her voice to get her point across, the sentence striking deep into your heart.

You sat in silence for a few seconds before you nodded, trying to push away the insecurity burying itself deep within you.

Looking down at Jaskier taking shallow breaths, you blinked back tears, handing Geralt the potion you’d made. With your anxiety steadily increasing, you watched Geralt pour the potion into the gaping wound.

“And now?” You asked, watching the magic cling to Jaskier. It looked similar to a web, pulling at the edges of the wound, working to close it.

“We wait,” Geralt said, leaving the room to give you privacy. He knew you weren’t going to leave Jaskier’s side anytime soon, so he retired to his own room to rest for the night.

He was right - you planted yourself in the seat beside the bed, eyeing the lute that lay on the floor, unscathed.

And I can hear her sing

Jaskier as he lay in bed, felt so far away from the world he was so used to. It was as if he was in a dreamlike state, but he could distantly make out the sound of his own lute. The first few notes caught his attention, strumming carefully.

It wasn’t until he heard your voice singing quietly that he felt some strength return to him. The sound of your singing was so faint and almost distorted that it felt like he was underwater, sinking further and further away from the land of the living. He could barely make out the words you were saying, but it felt so familiar all the same.

With a massive strain of effort, he pushed himself forward, trying with all his might to get back to you.

And I know she's giving up

With you still laying on the bed, the blue glow from Geralt’s potion long gone from your veins, Jaskier couldn’t help the anxiety building in his chest.

“She’s getting weaker,” Geralt said, and Jaskier swore he felt his heart tear into pieces.

Trying to push back his fear, Jaskier knelt by your bedside, taking your hand in his with the utmost care.

“Please, my love.”

You didn’t move, didn’t even flinch.

“I need you,” Jaskier’s voice cracked painfully, a tear rolling down his face when he blinked. “Please stay with me.”

And I don't know what to do, how to help her

How to bring her home

Jaskier, stuck in a dreamlike state, pushed through the feeling of being underwater with your voice just beyond his reach. He had used up all his strength and was now floating in limbo with nothing but your soft voice filling his senses.

The pain was too much that he’d begun to panic, worried he wouldn’t be able to make it home to you. He wanted nothing more than to wake up, to see you smile, to hear your laugh, to be able to hold you in his arms.

He wanted to tell you he loved you.

He needed to tell you he loved you.

When your voice broke, he realized you were crying.

It brought a newfound strength to his body, fighting harder than before to get out, to wake up.

To get to you.

And I can hear him break

You knew you weren’t awake, that you weren’t conscious. You could practically feel how close you were teetering on the line between life and death, trapped in a void-like limbo. Your whole body was numb, the feeling of floating disorienting you.

It was so quiet you almost missed it, but you perked up at the sound of Jaskier’s voice echoing around you. It was so faint you had to strain to listen, unable to make out the words he was saying.

Still, it brought you an odd source of comfort. Even so close to death, Jaskier was still right there, waiting for you. It was a reminder of what to fight for. Something - someone you knew you had to fight for.

You could hear the way his voice broke, and you forced yourself to push toward the source of the sound, knowing you needed to get back to Jaskier no matter what.

And he doesn't understand

Jaskier, doing everything he could to get back to you, was strengthened by hearing you muttering soothing words. You’d stopped singing at this point, instead telling him how he was going to be alright. How you’d make sure of it. How you weren’t going to let him die. Anyone listening would’ve thought you were confident in your words, but Jaskier could hear the way your voice shook almost imperceptibly, fighting back the fear in your heart.

He would never understand why you were so scared of the idea of losing him - you’d mentioned it before on other days when he’d had brushes with death and danger. You told him about how much you needed him, and he couldn’t understand why someone like him was so important to someone like you. He had always wondered why you cared so deeply for him, but it wasn’t something he wanted to take for granted.

So, pushing on, he forced himself to move forward, your voice echoing around him louder than ever.

And I wish that I could take his hand

But where I'm going is for me and me alone

Still trapped in limbo, you bit back the pain you felt, forcing yourself to move closer to Jaskier’s distant voice. You had barely started to make out what he was saying; he seemed to be talking to Geralt about your condition.

“Is it working? Geralt, is anything even happening?” He sounded angry, angrier than you’d ever heard him.

Geralt had responded, but he was so far away you could barely hear him.

“I cannot lose her!” You heard him yell. The pain in his voice pulled at your heartstrings.

Continuing forward, you wanted nothing more than to take his hand in yours and tell him everything was alright. That you were alright.

Though, you weren’t sure if that was true or not at this point.

Another part of you knew, as well, that this was a journey you had to survive on your own, especially if you wanted to see him again.

And I can hear her sing

Louder than ever now, Jaskier could hear your singing. It was a ballad of his that you always told him you loved. It warmed his heart that you knew it so well. You were strumming along on his lute - he remembered when he taught you how to play when the two of you had spare time, which you often did as Geralt was often alone getting coins for the group.

Every part of his body was in pain, but with every note you played and every word you sang, he knew he had to get back to you.

He continued, fighting his way toward the sound of your voice that echoed around him, trying to ignore the ache in his side with every movement.

If I don't make it back from where I've gone

Just know I loved you all along

Jaskier was still talking - he was always good at that. When your limbs felt like jello and every step took every ounce of your energy, you let yourself focus on his calming voice.

For a brief moment, you wondered what would happen if you didn’t make it back. You were so weak you almost let yourself sink back down, falling closer to the line between life and death when Jaskier caught your attention once more.

“Please, Geralt. Please save her. I need her, I can’t-” His voice broke harshly, and you knew nothing would stop you from getting back to the bard that had found himself in your heart.

If I don't make it back from where I've gone

Just know I loved you all along

Jaskier’s finger twitched, and he was starting to feel his surroundings once more, bit by bit. The void state he was in began to fill with color. Your voice was unwavering, now moving on to humming random tunes while you plucked the strings of his lute, unaware of how close Jaskier was to waking up.

He was still unable to force his eyes open, but he could feel the world around him a little better by the second.

The warmth of the blanket laid over him, the light wind from the open window beside him, it all started to creep back into his senses.

After all, you’d been trying so hard to bring him back, he might as well try to do his part.

If I don't make it back from where I've gone

Just know I loved you all along

You made your way closer to where you could hear Jaskier, the desperation in his tone making you more determined than ever.

Ever so faintly, you swore you could feel someone grab your hand, so gently that you instantly knew it was him.

“My heart,” Jaskier whispered, the sound echoing into your soul. “Please wake up.”

The world around you started to fill your senses, so quickly that it was almost overwhelming.

Just as you began to come to, lightly squeezing Jaskier’s hand as a silent indication that you were there, the only thought in your mind was how there was no way in hell you were leaving Jaskier again.

If I don't make it back from where I've gone

Just know I loved you all along

Jaskier blinked awake, squinting at the sudden amount of light.

He barely had enough time to get his bearings before you wrapped your arms around him. He made a noise of surprise, blinking a couple more times before he realized what was going on. Still weak, he brought his arms up around you to return your embrace, letting himself relax in your arms.

“Y/N,” His voice was quiet, but you heard him clear as day, tightening your hold on him.

You finally pulled away, giving Jaskier a shaky smile, whispering a hello that made him grin. Quickly, you wiped the tears that had spilled from your eyes, his gaze softening.

“You’re alright,” You almost laughed, saying the words mostly for yourself than him.

(Loved you all along)

When you managed to open your eyes, Jaskier’s hand still firmly in yours, his breath hitched. He would later tell you it felt like the world slowed down around him the moment he saw your eyes open.

You tried to sit up in the bed before Jaskier hurriedly ushered you back down, not bothering to swipe at the tears from his eyes, too focused on your presence to even notice.

“Of course you were too stubborn to die.” He muttered with a wet laugh.

You barely nodded, still regaining your strength.

“Never scare me like that again, Y/N.” Jaskier’s voice lowered, suddenly very stern. “I can’t lose you. I really can’t.”

“I know, Jask.” He couldn’t help but smile at the nickname, hearing you say it with so much love that he could practically feel your adoration towards him.

Ever so gently, he pulled you into a warm hug, burying your head in his neck.

“I needed to get back to you.” You explained, voice muffled in Jaskier’s hold. “I wasn’t ready to leave you, not yet.”

Jaskier’s brows furrowed, though you hadn’t seen it.

“Why me?” The words came before he could stop them, and he regretted them for only a second when he felt you pull away only for you to maneuver yourself so your forehead was resting against his.

With Geralt long gone, wanting to give the two of you privacy to talk, you sat with him in the silence, comfortable in his presence in a way you could only be around him.

Breaking through the silence was a whispered confession, only to be heard by the both of you.

“I loved you all along.”

[heydorothea009]

Bread on Toast - A Future Man Fanfiction

Josh Futturman and his fellow coworker and best friend, Liv Branson, get roped into saving the world as time traveling saviors with, what were thought to be, video game characters, Wolf and Tiger. Not only are Liv and Josh completely incompetent, but they are also emotionally inept- will this cause the destruction of mankind? Only time will tell.

Warnings: strong language, alludes to sexual content, ⚠️emotional⚠️, cliffhanger ass ending

A/N: It is with great sadness that I announce that this is the last chapter. Of this season. YAY! Fear not, I am currently 3 chapters away from wrapping up the season 2 installment and will be back in about a month!! Thank you to the readers for sticking around, this fanfiction has meant the world to me and I’m grateful for all the support :) ENJOY!!!!! YEYAH 🗣️🗣️

Chapter 11: A Date With Destiny

Two people appeared in front of them. One of them, a woman, was yelling, “Bomb, bomb, bomb! Get it off me!”

Josh grabbed Liv and dragged her behind the kitchen wall. “Bomb, bomb, bomb!” He yelled. Wolf sprung into action, immediately jumping on the woman and trying to disable the bomb.

“Don’t move!” He commanded her.

“Just chop my arm off!” She wailed.

“Stop moving, if you breathe wrong this blows.” Wolf said urgently. Tiger followed Liv and Josh behind the kitchen wall, all bracing for an explosion that never came. “Clear!” Wolf called out.

“Fuckin’ skull cunts tagged me just as I jumped!” The woman shouted.

“Dingo, what happened? Where’s the rest of the team?” Tiger asked, emerging from behind the wall. Liv and Josh also walked out, eyeing someone with a hood over their face, struggling to get it off. They looked at each other with wide eyes to see if they were looking at the same thing.

“Dead. Just like you, I just watched you die.” The woman, Dingo, said, pointing at Tiger in disbelief.

“Guys, is anybody else noticing the hooded slave?” Josh asked.

Wolf gasped. “That’s no slave!” He rushed over to the person, removing the chain from around his neck and throwing the hood off. The man underneath gasped in the fresh air. “Owl!” Wolf cried excitedly.

“Wolf! Much obliged.” They pulled each other into a tight hug.

“Pre-myrmed Owl!” Liv mouthed to Josh excitedly, giving him a thumbs up.

Owl turned to Tiger, who looked like she might cry if she had the ability to. “Tiger!”

“Owl!” She gasped.

“My good friend.” They pulled each other into a tight hug.

“How are you alive?” Tiger asked, voice full of awe.

“Dingo saved me from a Biotic necro chamber, I’ve been tortured in and out of consciousness for about three weeks.” Owl said.

“So one of you must be Avoid-The-Tunnel.” Dingo looked at Liv and Josh.

Josh nodded and stepped forward to shake her hand. “Welcome to our time.”

Dingo looked him up and down. “The greatest warrior in history?”

“This wee boy?” Owl also studied Josh. “I’m going to ‘69 with him?”

“Oh Jesus.” Liv snorted from behind Josh, turning Owl and Dingo’s gazes to her.

“And who are you?”

“This is Avoid-The-Tunnel’s friend, Liv.” Tiger said.

“Well, we-“ Josh and Liv both started.

“Friend who is a girl who he gets gross with sometimes.” Tiger corrected herself as she pat Liv on the shoulder. Owl and Dingo seemed to accept this answer.

“Josh, you’ll have to explain to them…what happened.”

Wolf said. “You know, with that thing Liv said. Anomaly or something.”

“Oh, uh, yeah, I guess that makes sense.” Josh said.

Josh found a whiteboard and had Wolf help him bring it down the stairs (Wolf carried it while Josh kept a hand on the side so he felt like he was “helping”).

Josh explained to Owl and Dingo everything that had happened up to that point, the dance battle in ‘69, James Cameron’s house in 2023, telling Kronish about his future in ‘85, and the new fucked up 2017. Owl and Dingo chowed down on Wolf’s hors d'oeuvres as they listened.

“So,” Owl held up a hand like he had a question. “In your timeline you didn’t take the bridge to steal the TTD?” He asked Tiger and Wolf.

“No.” Tiger shook her head. “No, we took the tunnel but it was a trap, DMC gas.” She said sadly. Liv took the marker from Josh’s hand and wrote above the timeline Josh had drawn “Timeline A: Dingo A - gassed in tunnel, Owl A - Brain eaten by myrm”. “They picked us off one by one until we dropped to our knees just choking on death.”

“Biotics have a mutated p36 immunosuppressant gene that renders them immune to all poisons.” Owl said to Josh and Liv.

“We know, Owl.” Josh said. “We used that same principle to get all of our coworkers to shit themselves in their formal wear.”

“So the bridge was also a trap?” Tiger asked, making a realization. “We were always doomed? This whole time I thought I’d made the wrong call but there was no right call to make.” She sounded slightly relieved. “Well, I…that makes me feel a lot better.” She smiled. “That is a load off.”

Owl grabbed the marker from Liv’s hand and erased Josh’s timeline. Tiger began to explain to him their plan to get into the Kronitorium. “So, we kill Kronish, blow up the building with all his research inside, no innocents die, future saved.” She said.

Owl began to write down a complicated equation on the board.

“I’m confused. And maybe it’s because I haven’t slept in 4,000 fingers, but why are we planning an infiltration op when there are only six of us? We have enough nukes to level this city.” Dingo snapped, walking up to look at what Owl was writing.

“No! No nukes! We’re doing this lean and clean from a moral standpoint .” Wolf interjected.

“Since when are you anti-blowing shit up?” Dingo narrowed her eyes at Wolf. Liv grabbed Josh’s arm, he could tell she was tense. He was too.

“Truth be told, I’m transitioning out of demolitions. I’m really more of a chef these days.” Wolf said happily.

“What the fuck’s a chef?” Dingo asked, coming off extremely rude.

“You see what we had to deal with?” Josh muttered to Wolf.

“Quick question!” Owl turned around from the board. “Since we are in possession of a TTD, why not go back to when Kronish was a newborn?” Tiger visibly tensed as he asked this. “Babies are supposedly soft and helpless. They’re quite killable, almost unfairly so.”

“Perfect! Easy skull smash.” Dingo said.

“No!” Tiger said, a little too quickly. “No baby killing.” She reached up and rubbed a gold locket that no one had even noticed she’d been wearing until that moment.

Owl shrugged, but Dingo narrowed her eyes at Wolf and Tiger, frowning. “I don’t know who these two face pirates are, but you’re not the Tiger who took an anal rod to the gut and you’re not the Wolf who took a nosedive into a firebog.”

“We went through this, Dingo. The small alteration in the space-time continuum brought them to a new spectral plane. It’s not that complicated.” Owl said. Liv looked at Josh with her brows raised. Maybe he really was a genius like Tiger had raved about.

“No, not that, they’ve changed.” Dingo snapped.

“Hey, you watch your rat hole.” Tiger narrowed her eyes right back at her. “I have half a mind to come over there and wash it out with soap, young lady.”

Wolf looked over at Liv and Josh, brows knitted together in a confused way. Liv shrugged and Josh shook his head, they didn’t know either.

“Jokes on you, I don’t know what soap is.” Dingo spat.

Wolf was feeling tense too. “Owl, why did you eat my olive tapenade with your bare hands?” Josh stared up at the ceiling with his jaw clenched. “The serving spoon was right in the dish!”

“Hey man,” Owl said calmly and coolly. “I just learned what a fork is.”

“Okay! Alright, alright, look,” Josh butted in loudly, startling Liv. “I see what’s going on here, okay? Some of us are from Timeline A, others from Timeline B.” He put his hand out to Tiger and Wolf on his right and the other to Dingo and Owl on his left. “But you have to remember, we’re all here for the same reason. We can’t have these factions tearing us apart. What we need right now, more than anything, is to come together.” He knit his fingers together.

“Cum? Together?” Owl repeated.

“Come together.” Josh nodded.

“Charge in.” Dingo rubbed her hands together.

“Yes-“ Josh realized what she’d said, his face fell. “No!”

“Tensions do need to be released.” Tiger said. Wolf nodded, folding his arms seriously.

“Um! Like all together?” Liv asked in a high, awkward voice.

“What part of ‘cum together’ doesn’t make sense to you?” Dingo asked in a snobby voice. “Fuckin’ idiot.”

Liv squinted at her. “What if I don’t want to ‘cum together’.”

“It’s team building and tension releasing Avoid-The-Tunnel’s friend who’s a girl who he gets gross with sometimes.” Owl said.

“…it’s Liv.”

“You two,” Wolf said loudly, pointing at Liv and Josh. “Go upstairs and do your thing,” he ordered.

“Uh, Wolf-“ Josh started.

“We’ll take care of business down here.” He said.

“But the team building!” Owl complained.

“It’s fine!” Tiger raised her voice again.

“Go fuck upstairs before this turns into a whole thing.” Wolf said to Liv and Josh. Josh grabbed Liv’s hand and they slowly started to back up the stairs.

“Josh-“

“We’ll just hide in my room until they’re done.” Josh muttered. As soon as the door to Josh’s room closed he checked three times to make sure the door was actually locked. “We don’t have to actually.” Josh said, going and sprawling out on his bed.

“Have to what?”

“Have sex. We don’t have to, we can just be in here.” Josh said. Liv gave him a little smile.

“Josh, what about the tension release? What about team building?” She teased, mocking Dingo. “She’s kinda annoying isn’t she?” She cuddled up next to him. “And a bitch? Did you hear her down there? If she didn’t have the strength to tear my throat out, I’d have kicked her teeth in.”

“I didn’t want to say anything, but Dingo is already getting on my nerves. I think I hate her” Josh whispered as if she might hear from all the way downstairs. Liv gave him a fake surprised face.

“I’m gonna tell on you!” She giggled quietly, hitting his chest lightly with the back of her hand.

Josh chuckled. “No you won’t.” He placed a kiss on her cheek. They laid there in silence for a few seconds, hearing some scuffling from downstairs.

“What do you say to a quick charge in?” Liv asked, looking up at him from her spot laying on his chest. She felt Josh’s chest rise quickly.

“I would say yes.” Josh said excitedly, obvious that he’d been waiting for the go ahead. She sat up and Josh followed, a glimmer of arousal in his eyes.

Liv pulled him by his collar over to her again, kissing him deeply, cupping his cheeks in her hands. Josh’s tongue met hers, the heat of their tongues melding as they got more and more desperate for each other. His hands slid around her waist, holding her protectively. Her arms strung themselves around his neck as she moved into his lap, wrapping her legs around his waist. They broke apart for air looking longingly into each other’s eyes. Their lips softly collided again, Josh kissing Liv breathless. He held her like she was a precious glass vase, touched her so gently, kissed her like he needed air, whispered her name like it was the only one that he knew.

Liv knew that there, in that moment, she was utterly in love with him.

Liv trailed after Josh down the stairs, adjusting the robe Josh had given her, fluffy and white, like the one Wolf had on the day before. They were met with Tiger, Wolf, Owl, Dingo all sprawled out on the couch in matching ones. Owl had an arm around Destiny the sex doll (no one knew where she’d come from nor how Owl had found her).

“Fucking finally.” Dingo complained. Wolf gave them a sly smile, but didn’t say anything. They’d definitely heard everything from their spot on the couch.

“Alright, tensions released?” Tiger asked, standing up. Everyone nodded. “Wolf?”

“Check.”

“Dingo?”

“Check.”

“Owl?”

Owl was caressing Destiny, the sex doll’s plastic face. “What’re you doing after this mission?” He asked the doll.

“Gonna call that a check.” Tiger said, side eyeing him.

“Future Man?”

“Check?”

“Liv?”

“Check.”

Tiger nodded and strolled over to the white board where Owl had drawn up an elaborate map of their plan. “There’s gonna be a lot of security.” Tiger said as Liv took a seat next to Wolf. Josh sat next to her, putting an arm behind her on the couch.

“We’ve got a lot to catch up on,” Wolf whispered to Liv with a teasing smirk. Liv playfully shoved him.

“Hey!” Tiger snapped at them. Wolf and Liv sat straight up and stopped bugging each other.

“Ooh, you guys got in trouble.” Josh said in a quiet singsong voice. Tiger shot him a glare that shut him right up.

“We’re not getting anywhere without hand access. There’s biometric hand scanners throughout the building. Lucky for us, I got us a set of prints.” She held up what looked like a glove made out of glue.

“Who’s…hand is that a mold of?” Liv asked.

“Stu’s.” Tiger said. “He’s fine, don’t worry, I told him not to come into work today. Okay, Alpha team will clear civilians from the building, drawing out Biotic forces. The only problem is, it’s a suicide mission. Either one of us is going to have to sacrifice ourselves or Destiny has just found her destiny.” Everyone looked to Owl, who was trying to hold Destiny’s hand.

“Good riddance to Destiny!” Josh said.

“Team Alpha will consist of Dingo and I.” Tiger said. Dingo fist pumped the air. Tiger pointed to the lower part of the map. “Meanwhile Bravo and Charlie, they’re gonna enter from underground. Bravo is gonna set charges throughout the building,” Tiger pointed to different locations across the map. “Bravo will consist of Wolf, Josh-“

“And Liv!” Wolf interrupted.

“Yes, and Liv.” Tiger suppressed a small endearing grin as she looked over to Wolf slinging his arm around Liv’s shoulders excitedly and patting Josh on the shoulder. “Charlie, aka Owl, will go deep into the core using his genius to kill the power.” She tossed Owl the glue glove. “You’ll open the impenetrable security doors which will give us access to Kronish himself. Once we get the signal from Charlie that the doors are open, Alpha Team will blow up Destiny, killing all the Biotics in the lobby. That will give us a window of a few minutes before reinforcements jump in. We use it to rendezvous at Kronish’s lab, kill Kronish, set the final charges, and jump back to the future.”

“Um,” Josh raised his hand. “Where do we go at that point?” He asked, pointing between him and Liv.

“You guys are coming with us, aren’t you?” Tiger asked blankly.

“To the future?” Liv shook her head.

“No, we can’t- I mean, we have our whole lives here.” Josh said.

“What lives?” Wolf asked.

“Ooh, burn.” Dingo snickered. Owl chuckled.

“You don’t belong here, you said it yourselves.” Wolf said.

“No, I mean, I have to go and make things right with my parents and…Liv…well, your life didn’t really fall apart but…you know, we should probably stay here.” Josh rambled. Liv shrugged and nodded.

Tiger sighed and shrugged. “Then I guess you sneak out as civilians.”

“Or maybe as janitors.” Wolf said.

Liv and Josh looked at each other and shrugged. “Yeah, I guess that makes the most sense.” Liv mumbled.

“World’s greatest warrior posing as a lowly janitor.” Owl said to Josh. “Where does your brilliance end, Avoid-The-Tunnel?” He reached behind him into the couch cushions and pulled out an energy drink labeled “JOOSH”.

“I wouldn’t drink that.” Josh held out a hand to stop him. “It’s like 10,000 volts to your brain.”

Owl looked at the drink and back to Josh. “Oh. Okay.” He put the can in his robe pocket.

“Kronish labs opens at 7am.” Liv said. “What time is it?”

“6:45” Josh said.

“Great, Wolf, you get the C-4 from the sewer and we’ll strap it to the charge doll.” Tiger commanded. “This is it, this is our one and only chance.”

Tiger and Dingo waited outside the lab behind a pillar with binoculars. Tiger had pushed Destiny off in an electric wheelchair and she wheeled into the lobby, absolutely stuffed with bombs. Earlier, Liv had scrawled “Evacuate the building in 10 minutes or I’m gonna blow! :)” on a piece of lined paper and taped it to the doll. Dingo and Tiger watched as Destiny wheeled in an immediately caused panic amongst the people inside. Alarms began to blare as people started booking it towards all the exits. A mob of elementary schoolers ran out of the building, probably from a field trip.

Tiger squeezed her eyes shut and touched the locket around her neck, silently praying to a God she didn’t believe in that all those kids would make it out safely.

Meanwhile, entering from underground just like in Tiger’s plan, Liv, Josh, Wolf, and Owl walked quietly through the tunnels, stakes high. Josh looked around nervously, reaching for Liv’s hand and intertwining their fingers. Red lights were blinking throughout, signaling to them that Destiny had caused the disturbance they planned for.

“Should we set some charges somewhere down here?” Liv whispered.

“Not yet, I’ll tell you when…” Wolf said as he walked slightly ahead of everyone. He stopped and looked around, realizing they should probably start doing just that. “…wait actually, when.” He muttered, pressing a detonator against the wall and setting the timer. Josh rolled his eyes. Owl was in his own little world about 20 feet behind, studying a singular brick on the wall. “I see some doors, Owl, we need the hand.” Wolf said in a low voice, catching Owl’s attention. He held up one of Destiny’s hands high above his head, the glue glove wrapped over it. He sprinted past the other three and to the biometric scanner.

“He’s…quirky.” Liv said under her breath.

“I think he might’ve had the ‘JOOSH’ I told him not to drink.” Josh said. As the three of them sauntered through the doors, Owl held a hand out to Wolf.

“It’s been an orange, soldiers.” He said, and Wolf grabbed his arm and nodded in response.

“Wait…orange?” Josh raised an eyebrow as Owl held a hand out to Josh.

“Honor, it’s been an honor.” He said. “Isn’t that what I just said?” He shook Liv’s hand politely. “M’lady.” He mocked a curtsy to her.

“Um, thanks Owl.” Liv didn’t know how to respond to that. Owl saluted them with Destiny’s glue hand.

“I love you.” He said to the three of them and waddled away like he’d shit his pants. He looked even stupider in the leopard print jacket he wore that said “SAVAGE” across the back. Josh and Liv stared after him in disbelief.

“Is he alright?” Josh whispered.

“He’s a genius, that’s how they are.” Wolf whispered back, patting Josh on the chest and charging down the hall. Josh looked to Liv with a concerned look.

“I’m pretty damn sure he drank that energy drink.” He huffed as they took off after Wolf.

Back upstairs, Tiger was surveying the lobby with her binoculars.

“Alright, all the ‘innocent’ people who we ‘can’t let die’ are out. Can we blow this shit up now?” Dingo snapped impatiently.

Tiger slowly nodded, bringing a walkie talkie up to her mouth. “Alright, Alpha’s ready to bl-“ before she could finish, she spotted a little girl hiding behind a pillar inside. “Wait, wait, wait, wait, we are not clear.”

Dingo made a frustrated noise and snatched the binoculars from Tiger’s hand. “What the fuck?” She spotted the little girl. “One fucking youngling?!” She seethed, pulling the binoculars away from her eyes in one aggressive motion. “The fate of humanity’s in the balance here, what are you doing?” She hissed.

“No,” Tiger touched her locket. “I gotta get her outta there.” She started to march inside. Dingo chased after her.

“What the fuck are you doing?!” Dingo grabbed Tiger’s shoulder roughly. “What the fuck is wrong with you, Tiger? You talk funny, you care about younglings, and you don’t smell like dirt anymore.” Dingo looked her up and down as Tiger protectively held her necklace. Dingo scoffed. “This time has turned you into a monster. And why do you keep touching that strangle chain?” Dingo’s hand shot out to grab the chain.

“No, no, no!” Tiger fought against her. “Dingo, do not take my baby!” She said through gritted teeth. The locket had been a gift from Estelle Kronish, something she promised to treasure forever. Dingo snapped the chain from Tiger’s neck, prying the locket open. Tiger stood there, stunned, unsure of how to explain what was inside, pictures of Estelle and Elias. Dingo slowly turned her gaze up to Tiger again, a sneer on her face.

“‘You’ll always be a member of the family’?” She looked between the locket and Tiger. “‘Love, Estelle and Elias Kronish?!”

Tiger bobbed her head from side to side. “You know what, when you read it out loud it doesn’t sound great.” Dingo narrowed her eyes on Tiger, inching closer to her, looking ready to attack.

“What do you think your future’s gonna be like?” Josh asked Wolf in a hushed tone.

“I dunno, it’d be just as strange for me as it would be for you guys.” Wolf said, glancing over his shoulder. “Nothing to do but adapt.”

“Easy for you to say, everywhere you go everyone loves you.”

Wolf smirked to himself. “That they do, but hey! Don’t sell yourself short.” He handed Josh a detonator as they approached a beam. As Josh set it up, Liv looked around protectively. She heard the clicking sound of Josh pressing it to the wall and setting the timer. Wolf slapped Josh on the shoulder proudly. “Way to find the weak axis of the I-beam. Adapting already, see?” He looked at Liv. “Good pick.”

Liv looked at Josh with a small grin knowing full well that the day before Wolf had been judging her. Josh gave her the same small grin before peering around the corner. His body tensed, signaling to Liv and Wolf that danger was coming. He turned back and smashed both of them behind the beam, holding his arms out of either side of them protectively, as if that would shield them from any harm. The Biotics who stomped past them were too busy staring straight ahead to even notice them. Josh felt Liv’s chest heave against his as she sighed with relief. Josh looked at Liv and pressed his forehead against hers as he gave a sigh of relief too. Wolf was pressed into the corner behind Liv.

“Listen, I love both of you, but this isn’t really a kissing opportunity.” Wolf whispered. “Although that might be kinda hot-“

Josh and Liv both turned their stares up to Wolf. “Seriously?” Josh pushed away from the wall.

“You’re both very attractive people who I don’t mind seeing kiss.” Wolf shrugged nonchalantly. Josh rolled his eyes as he moved into the next room and up the stairs and Liv chased after him. Wolf took a couple large steps and caught up with them.

They set several more charges. “The pupils have become the masters.” Wolf patted them both proudly on the back.

“Who would’ve thought I had a knack for explosives?” Josh set the timer off on a detonator, winking at Liv.

“Not me,” Wolf started up another flight of stairs. “I never believed in you. I thought you were weak and had bad plans.” Josh sighed as Liv gasped.

“Wolf!” She hissed.

“I’ve heard that before.” He muttered. They came to a door, Wolf pressed his ear against it.

“But you’ve been more dedicated to this mission than anyone else, and Liv really liked you.”

“You met me before you met her.” Josh pointed out in a flat tone.

“Yeah, okay, but she liked you so I had to tolerate you. But now? I really like you.” He looked back at Josh. “I want you to know, if you did come to the future with us, I’d take care of you, like you took care of us.” Josh could recognize softness in his tone and his face, it was the way he spoke to Liv. He really meant it.

“Wow, Wolf,” Josh felt emotional.

“I know,” Wolf opened the door and stealthily walked through. Josh looked at Liv, who looked back at him with the same emotion filled eyes. Josh opened his mouth the day something, but decided against it, slipping his hand into hers and walking through the door and into a dark hallway.

“You know, all I can think about since I murdered myself is that I don’t belong in this time any more than you and Tiger do.” Josh said quietly as he and Liv tiptoed behind Wolf.

“Me too, I keep wondering what this time’s version of me is like.” Liv said quietly.

“I feel like a man out of time.”

“Exactly. But woman.”

“It’s a weird feeling, right?” Wolf lightly chuckled.

“Yeah.” Liv and Josh responded at the same time.

“It’s probably why I did all that coke.” Wolf said, turning a corner. They both nodded, muttering in agreement. “I’m just kidding, I did that because it was awesome.” He grinned over his shoulder at them, making them both laugh quietly. Josh looked at Liv, hand still clutching hers. He looked up at Wolf, who sauntered up to the big, impenetrable doors.

“Liv,” He whispered so Wolf couldn’t hear. “What if we went with them?”

“To their time?” Liv whispered back.

“We don’t belong here.” Josh looked at her with pleading eyes. “And they’ve said how it will be better in the future once we’ve stopped Kronish. I want to go with them, but only if you’re there.” He brought their intertwined hands up, putting his other hand on them.

Liv nodded quickly. “Okay! Okay, let’s do it.” She whispered, a wide grin spreading across her face. “I’ll follow you wherever you go.” Josh’s eyes filled with ecstasy and joy.

“Hey,” Wolf gruffed. “These are the doors.”

Josh and Liv caught up with him. “Wolf. We’re gonna do it.”

“We’re gonna go with you guys back to the future.” She gave Josh a little grin at her reference. Wolf’s eyes lit up. “We’re done being janitors.” She squeezed Josh’s hand.

Wolf looked at them with an enthusiastic glint in his eyes as he raised the walkie talkie to his mouth. “Bravo’s at the Kronish door. Charlie, what’s your ETA?”

They were met with screaming from Owl. “Physics! Inertia! Why have you forsaken me?”

All of their faces fell instantly. “Owl. Come in, Owl.” Wolf responded as calmly as he could. No response. Wolf hit the side of the walkie talkie with the heel of his palm. “Owl, do you copy?”

Owl answered in a high, girly voice. “Yes, how may I help you?” He dropped his voice to a low octave. “Yes, I believe I’m supposed to have an orgasm.” He answered in his girly voice. “Oh yes, right this way.”

Josh looked at Wolf with a concerned face, hoping this was normal, but judging from the way Wolf looked just as concerned, it couldn’t be good.

“Will this orgasm do?” Owl asked himself. He lowered to a low octave again. “Yes, it will!”

“Is…Owl…cumming?” Liv asked as Owl moaned loudly on the other end.

Wolf shook his head. “No, he’s been myrmed.” He sounded distraught.

“Again?!” Josh cried.

“Goddamn necro chamber!” Wolf growled. “Every freaking fucking timeline.” Owl was still wailing. Wolf paced away, halfway down the hall and turned back. “A myrm eats its way through your brain lobe by lobe.” Wolf explained as he paced back to Liv and Josh, who stood in shock, confusion, and terror. “If he’s having an orgasm this intense, it can only be because the myrm is chewing on his amygdala.” He saw the way Liv winced. He leaned down to her level, assuming she didn’t know what that meant. “That’s the brain’s clit.”

“Oh yeah, that makes sense.” She shivered with disgust.

“She’s squeamish.” Josh tightened his grip gently on her hand. Owl continued to moan through the walkie talkie.

“So you went back to the 40s to slit his throat as a baby, that part makes sense.” Dingo was slowly advancing on Tiger, rage burning in her eyes. “Then what?”

“Well, then…one thing led to another and you know how it goes, I kinda ended up raising him.” Tiger kept her distance.

“Was that before or after you sent him on the floaty box with his secret charging mate?” Dingo squinted her eyes.

“It’s called a boat and it was after.” Tiger snapped. “Or before, depending on how you view time.”

Dingo barred her teeth. “How many chances have you had to kill Kronish and not done it?”

Tiger stopped and thought for a moment. She started to count on her fingers. “Oh…yeah…”

Dingo aggressively slapped Tiger’s hand down. “The answer should be zero! You’ve gone fucking soft!” She barked. “You goddamn traitor, I’m not following your plans anymore,” she tried to grab the walkie talkie from Tiger’s belt. “I’m in charge now!” They fought against each other, Tiger tried to pull it from Dingo’s grasp, but snapped it in half. In retaliation, Dingo kicked Tiger through the window and into the lobby, landing her in a mess of shattered glass. Tiger’s head shot up to assess her situation. Remaining Biotics marched single file towards her. Tiger craned her neck to look at the scared little girl, who was still hiding.

“Sweetie, you gotta get out of here, the grown ups are playing.” She said as gently as she could, trying not to scare her further. “Go!” The little girl nodded with wide eyes, standing up and running through the exit. Tiger heaved a sigh of relief.

“Give me the detonator.” Dingo stepped through the broken window menacingly. Tiger grabbed Dingo’s arm as she tried to swing a punch, throwing her into the Biotics, making them topple to the ground like dominoes.

Tiger ran for cover, watching Dingo struggle to stand. She set off Destiny, throwing herself behind a wall as she blew up everything in the lobby. “Owl!” She panted into the walkie talkie. “Owl, open the goddamn doors, I had to blow Destiny early, Dingo turned on me.” She heard nothing. She let out a frustrated groan as she punched the wall, taking off in the direction she hoped led to the doors that Wolf, Josh, and Liv would be at.

“Fifteen brain bombs just blew downstairs, Biotic reinforcements are gonna be here any second!” The Bravo team heard as someone charged down the hall.

“Tiger?”

“Shit…” Wolf hissed, trying to throw his body weight against the doors. “These doors must be impenetrable, there’s no way we’re blowing through this.”

“Wait, you said that Kronish doesn’t let anybody into his lab, right?” Josh asked Tiger. She nodded. “You know what he does let in? Possums.” Everyone stared at Josh, brows pinching together. He pointed to a small chute next to the door. “Guys, the incinerator chute. That’s our way in!”

“No, as soon as they arrive they’ll make straight for Kronish, we’ll be overrun.” Tiger shook her head, face paling.

“Yeah, but not if you hold them off.” Josh said. “Look, all you gotta do is give me enough time to climb up the chute, set the final charge, and kill Kronish myself.”

“What about me?” Liv asked.

“Liv, you can’t come with me, you’ll be with Tiger and Wolf.”

“What? Why?” She asked loudly, voice verging on breaking.

“Liv, it’s dangerous.”

“And the Biotics aren’t?”

“I appreciate your offer, I really do,” Tiger said. “But you've got, like, what, one kill notch on your belt? And evil you did most of the work, let’s be honest.”

“No.” Josh shook his head. “If someone’s gonna kill Kronish, it should be me.”

“Josh!” Liv’s voice broke.

“With that door sealed your only exit is down into the fire.” Wolf said. Josh slowly processed his own plan.

“…it’s a suicide mission.” Tiger whispered. “No coming back, no do-over, no tomorrow…” Liv looked more and more distraught.

“Josh, no!” She grabbed his shoulders.

“You’re gonna die.” Tiger added.

“Yeah, okay, look, I’m realizing that.” Josh brushed Liv’s hands off of his shoulders and walked a couple paces away.

“Josh-“ her eyes were welling up with tears.

“When you guys invited me to come to your future, that meant everything to me, but I don’t think that’s what’s meant to happen. Destiny isn’t something that just arrives on your doorstep from Japan or wherever, it’s something that you seize in the moment, the moment where you realize you have to murder/suicide your former boss and mentor.” Wolf and Tiger looked at each other while Liv began to shake, tears spilling from her eyes.

“What about me, Josh?” She cried.

“Yeah, what about Liv?” Wolf asked in a hushed tone.

Josh closed his eyes and exhaled softly, trying not to cry. Liv meant everything to him, she always had. He couldn’t have her dying because of him. He didn’t know what would happen to her.

“We can take her with us.” Wolf said quietly, Tiger narrowed her eyes at him.

“No we can’t.” She hissed.

“Yes we can!” Wolf wrapped an arm around Liv’s shoulder protectively as they shook harder while she cried.

“I don’t want to go with you guys without Josh!” She pushed herself away from Wolf, running into Josh. “I want to be with you, let me go with you.” She buried her face in the crook of his neck. Josh wrapped his arms around her tightly. Wolf gave Tiger a look, signaling they should let them say their goodbyes. Tiger drew out a blaster and her and Wolf stalked down the hall to give them space.

“Liv,” Josh whispered gently, pulling her away so he could look at her. The heartbroken look on her face shattered him. “I don’t want you to die because of me.”

“But Josh, then we’ll die together.”

“We’re not Romeo and Juliet, okay? Look, I think you should go with them- I know what I just said, but, if it truly is a better future, that’s where I want you to go. I care too much about you Liv, I just…I don’t want you to have to die because of me.”

“Josh. I can’t.” Liv whispered, lip quivering. “I can’t without you.”

Josh nodded, tears falling from his eyes. “I know.” He exhaled shakily, trying to cover it up with a laugh. He shook his head as he looked at her. He loved her. “I don’t want to die.” He shook with sobs, pulling Liv tight against him. “Liv, I don’t want to die.” They held each other, crying and trembling, racked with sobs. Tiger and Wolf could hear them, breaking both their hearts into pieces.

“You don’t have to.” Liv whispered, inhaling shakily, pulling away and wiping her tears. “You don’t have to die again Josh, because I won’t allow you to. You’re going to kill Kronish and then you’re going to climb right back down that chute, I’ll make sure there’s no fire at the bottom, you can trust me. You’re going to sneak out as a civilian like Tiger said earlier, and I will too after helping Tiger and Wolf with the Biotic reinforcements and sending them back to the future, okay? We’ll live a normal life here in this timeline. This is our chance to start over, and you’re the only person who I want to do it with.” She held his face, wiping his tears. He wiped her tears away and nodded.

“Okay, okay, I can do that.” Josh pressed a kiss to her forehead. He reached into his pocket, pressing something round into her hand. “When that thing’s light turns green that means Kronish is dead, the final charge has been set, and I’m coming back down. You make sure that Tiger and Wolf get the fuck back to the future and that they don’t come back for us no matter what.”

Liv looked down at the red light staring up at her from the round object in her hand. She wasn’t sure what it was, but she’d seen Wolf give it to Josh. “Okay.” She whispered, wiping away a stray tear, looking into his eyes. She looked to the side to see Tiger and Wolf looking at them, eyes full of grief and pride.

“I’m proud of both of you.” Tiger said, taking a step towards them.

“We’ll get her out safely, Josh. One way or another, I promise.” Wolf nodded towards him.

“We’ll never forget what you did here.” Tiger made her way over to Josh, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You’re not Future Man, you’re something much better. You’re Josh Futturman.” She pulled him into a tight embrace. Tiger never hugged anyone. Josh sank into the hug, holding back tears again. She pulled away and turned to Liv. “And you, you were the most pleasant surprise I’ve ever received,” She smiled at her, wrapping Liv into a tight hug. “Future Man’s friend.” She said fondly. “I’m glad you stuck around.”

Wolf gave Josh a small smile. “I know we’ll never get a chance to switch dicks back, but I’m cool with that. It was never about the dick, it’s about the warrior’s mane. And you’ve earned every last hair.” Before Josh had a chance to react, Wolf placed his hand on the back of Josh’s neck, pressing their foreheads together. Wolf repeated his last sentence in Na’vi before letting go and turning to Liv. “Liv Branson, I know we’re not saying goodbye just yet, but you are my best friend.” He enveloped her in the world’s tightest hug as she began to cry again.

“Wolf, I love you so much.” She cried into his chest.

“I see her in you. Sigorn-E.” Wolf said. That made Liv cry harder and hug him tighter. “I’ll never forget you Liv, never. I hope every time you and Josh fuck, you think of me when you see my penis on his body.” Liv pulled away.

“Wolf, I think you should be done.” She sniffled, wiping her tears away.

“Yeah Wolf, that’s kinda weird.” Josh said.

Wolf pat Liv’s head, looking down at her with a small, endearing smile. “Okay, okay. Go give him a kiss.” He gestured his head towards Josh. Liv threw her arms around Josh’s shoulders and pulled him in for what could be their final kiss. It was tender and gentle, Tiger didn’t even feel the need to throw up, she just looked at Wolf with softened eyes. Wolf was welling up with tears. Dingo was right, they had gone soft. But they didn’t give two fucks.

Josh pulled away slightly, tucking some of Liv’s hair behind her ear. “I l-“ The floor rumbled.

“Fuck!” Tiger yelled. “They’re here.”

Josh gave Liv a quick peck on the forehead. “I’ll tell you after.” He stroked her cheek one last time as she rubbed her hands up his arms. Wolf helped to boost Josh into the chute.

“I love you!” Josh heard Liv desperately call to him as he started his perilous journey up towards Kronish. The chute door slammed, leaving Josh alone.

As the chute door closed, Wolf put an arm on Liv’s left shoulder. Tiger’s hand landed on her right shoulder.

“Hey you three!” A voice behind them barked. Tiger pulled a blaster from her jacket, concealing it against her body, shooting Liv a side eye. Liv reached for the blade on her belt. “Don’t you know the building is being evacuated?” They turned slowly to see three Biotic scientists approaching them. Wolf reached behind him, grabbing something from his belt.

“Puck chuck!” He yelled, throwing a circular blade into a scientist's throat. Tiger leapt over them, stabbing the one grabbing his throat in the back.

“Gut knife!” She screamed. The other Biotics shot their blasters at them.

Liv stabbed one of them in the stomach. “Gut knife!” She yelled, copying Tiger. Tiger repeatedly stabbed the man.

“Gut knife, gut knife, fucking gut knife! Fuck you!” She screamed. Wolf kicked the third Biotic through a janitor’s closet door, grabbing an unattended mop and snapping it over his knee. The Biotic tried to advance on him but Wolf stabbed the jagged side of the wood straight through his stomach.

“Science wand!” Wolf yelled, pushing the dying Biotic to the ground. He tossed the mop end to Liv. “Liv! Heads up!”

Liv caught it, driving the splintered wood into her dying Biotic’s stomach. “Not just a janitor now, bitch.”

“More for the gobulator.” Wolf growled, helping Liv to her feet. Liv saw the blood on her hands and shuddered.

“Let’s not kid ourselves.” Tiger said, handing Liv a blaster from her belt. “I didn’t think you had it in you, kid.”

“Guys, we need to make sure we get the fire at the bottom of the incinerator to turn off.” Liv begged. “I promised Josh, he doesn’t have to die-“

“We heard, we’ll help you.” Tiger said. “Don’t worry, Liv.”

Blaster shots whizzed past their heads as they ducked. “So much for stealth mode.” Wolf threw a mine at the reinforcements making their way down the hall. Wolf grabbed Liv and the three took off down the opposite end of the hall.

“We’ve gotta draw them away from the door!” Tiger yelled as they turned the corner, just as the explosion happened.

In the chute, Josh was awkwardly shimmying his way up to Kronish’s office, taking longer than he expected it to. “I thought this would be easier.” He panted, gritting his teeth. He grabbed onto a vent, trying to help hoist himself up, but his knee slipped, making Josh’s heart stop. He only slid down a tiny bit before he was able to stop himself, but that was enough to scare him. His heart was pounding in his ears as he took in shaky deep breaths. “I’m okay, I’m okay, I’m okay,” he repeated to himself over and over. He looked down into the fire way down before him. “God, it’s hot.” He leaned his head back against the metal, chest heaving. “Why didn’t I just play Madden?”

Having escaped the first wave of Biotics, Tiger, Wolf, and Liv crept through a door that led through another maze of halls, this one split three ways. The lights weren’t as dark in this one, making it feel less ominous. Their blasters were drawn, heads on a swivel. They heard the hum of blasters behind them and saw the laser points on the walls.

“Fuck!” Wolf shouted. The doors in front of them opened, swarms of Biotics on the other side.

“Go!” Tiger screamed, grabbing both Liv and Wolf and running straight down the hall, away from the Biotics closing in on them from the other halls. As they ran, the Biotics fired at them.

Wolf shielded Liv with his body as he turned around to shoot back, but he was struck in the collar bone. “I’m hit!” He cried. Liv fired her blaster around him, taking down a single Biotic. They fired at her, hitting her in the arm. She cried out, Tiger grabbed her other arm but was immediately hit in the leg and stomach. She began to keel over.

“No!” Liv screamed, wrapping her good arm around Tiger. Wolf yelled as he was hit in the back. Liv grabbed him with her bad arm, wailing in pain. Tiger, Liv, and Wolf stumbled their way to a closet with a heavy iron door. Liv heard the beep of a bomb timer being set and watched as Wolf dropped a mine to the ground. Tiger shot several blasts behind them as they made their way to the closet for cover. Blasts flew past them, knicking their shoulders and sides. As soon as they passed through the threshold, Wolf fell to the ground. Liv and Tiger worked together to shut the heavy door, Liv pulling the latch shut and holding it. The door buckled as the explosion went off, Liv and Tiger holding the latch closed together. Liv sank to her knees panting and holding her arm.

“Fuck…” Wolf breathed out, rolling to his side.

“We have to make sure the fire gets turned off.” Liv heaved.

Tiger handed her her walkie talkie. “Owl.” Was all she managed to say.

“He’s myrmed.” Wolf winced in pain as he tried to sit up.

Tiger’s eyes darted between Wolf and Liv. She slammed her fist against the door. “Son of a perf cock!”

Josh spilled out from the chute into Kronish’s giant office. He scrambled to his feet, readying his blaster. The office had cement walls, neutral colors, it felt cold and like a prison, or like a very uninviting IKEA show room.

“Mr. Futturman,” Kronish said politely. “I’ve been expecting you. Where’s Ms. Branson? I thought she’d at least be with you.”

Josh’s heart sank. “Oh my God, you’re evil now.” His blaster hummed as it warmed up, pointing it straight at Kronish. “Damn it, why couldn’t you have just been happy eating your conch fritters?”

“But I was, Josh, I was!” There was a tinge of sadness in his voice. “As happy as a conch, which is like a clam, only much more delicious.” Kronish smiled, but there was no usual Kronish joy behind it. Josh adjusted his hand around his blaster, gulping. “Leslie and I were living our dream far, far away from here until one windless, fateful day just north of the Isle of Lamu.” Kronish’s face fell slightly. “My dearest Leslie brushed past a rusty nail and contracted a staph infection, simple, treatable, but we were a five day sail away from the nearest hospital.” Josh held his blaster steady, shaking his head, eyes full of despair. “In Somalia.” Kronish added.

“Oh God,” Josh whispered, heart sinking further.

“By the time we reached dry land, the love of my life expired right in front of me and there was nothing I could do about it.”

“Please,” Josh begged. “You have to make this easier for me.” He lowered his weapon

“But there was something I could do about it,” Kronish continued, a glint of power in his eye. “You told me! The power to eradicate pain and disease forever lay within me. I could make it so that no one ever had to watch a loved one be taken away from them ever again. How could I not pursue such a noble path?”

“Owl, come in Owl.” Liv said for the eighth time. Nothing. “Owl! Team Charlie! Somebody!” She cried.

“Liv, there’s no use.” Tiger muttered, slumping next to Wolf, who was holding the wound on his collar bone. Tiger reached over and pressed her hand to his wound, trying to staunch some bleeding. Wolf winced and groaned.

“You know, I don’t remember Dingo being such an asshole.” Wolf said in a low voice.

“Yeah,” Tiger chuckled. “She was right though, we have changed.” She looked up at Liv, who was standing over them. “For the better. I like who we’ve become…which is why it sucks we’re about to die.”

Liv violently shook her head, screaming into the walkie talkie. “Owl!”

Wolf rested his head against Tiger’s, holding his hand to hers, closing his eyes. He opened them and they landed right on his gobulator. He sat up straight and immediately winced and moaned in pain. “We don’t have to.” He gruffed. “Tiger, it’s time for Beaver’s Razor.” He said, looking over at her.

“What- what’s that?” Liv asked. Tiger looked at him, eyes lighting up.

“Wolf, you’re a genius.”

Josh had his blaster raised towards Kronish again. “Look, I’m sorry about Leslie, I know that you loved him so much, and you guys used to really get after it sometimes. But the truth is, every time and every timeline your work leads to the creation of the Biotics who destroy all of mankind.” Josh slowly walked closer to Kronish as he spoke.

“No!” Kronish pointed a finger at him. “I kept the research, all my research right here under this roof, I shared it with no one!” He pointed to a case full of his research and vials. “I will never do that, I am dedicated to good, to ending pain.”

“I know that you are,” Josh said, lowering the blaster slightly. “But this is already happening. I’ve tried really, really, really hard not to kill you. Okay. It’s been my number one goal. I’ve tried to change you, I’ve tried to control events, but it doesn’t work.” Josh rambled, getting closer to Kronish as he backed away. “This is where we end up.”

“You’re wrong, Josh, I’ve been careful.”

“It doesn’t matter how careful you’ve been, okay?” He caught sight of Kronish’s monitors of the security footage. All he could see were Biotics charging into the building. “Look! Don’t pretend you don’t see what’s happening down there. This is the army that your cure created.” Kronish looked at the monitors, watching Biotics breaking down doors. Kronish shook his head, eyes growing horrified.

“…I wanted to heal the world.”

“I know you did.” Josh said gently. “And in another life you were another kind of great man where you were strong and caring and warm and supportive.” Josh’s voice broke. “And that’s what makes this so much harder.” He raised his blaster again.

Liv and Tiger held the door shut as Biotics began to pound in the door, the bolts on the latch starting to loosen.

“It’s now or never, Wolfie.” Tiger said in a strained voice.

“Okay!” Wolf readied the gobulator, spilling the small bombs through the gap in between the floor and the door. Tiger pulled Liv away from the door, watching the bombs go spilling out and into the hall. “Say hello to your little friends!” Wolf shouted, pressing a button in the small box, and diving to shield Tiger and Liv. A massive explosion shattered the door and the walls around.

“You’re not a killer, are you son?” Kronish asked calmly.

Josh had his blaster pointed straight at Kronish’s head. “Today I am.” He said sadly. “And you have to die.”

Kronish didn’t say anything, he just looked down at his desk. “Tomorrow, to demonstrate my breakthrough to the world,” he opened a chest on his desk. Josh’s grip tightened on his weapon and he shifted on his feet anxiously as he saw the chest holding a gun and a small box inside. “I was going to inject myself with a needle filled with microdoses of 100 of the world’s deadliest diseases.” He opened the smaller box, inside sat two syringes filled with fluids. He held up one of them for Josh to see. “And then, dramatically, save myself with my cure.” He held up the other syringe. “It would have been fantastic theater.” He said with a glum smile. “Tonight’s performance will have a different ending.” Without warning he stuck the needle full of the microdoses into his neck, shocking Josh, who watched in horror as Kronish grunted and yanked the needle out.

Kronish motioned for Josh to step aside, to which he did, watching and realizing as Kronish made his way over to the chute, that he had just killed himself for Josh. He slowly followed behind Kronish, lowering the blaster.

Kronish let out a huff as he dropped his cure down the chute and into the fire. “That stings.” He said, trying to keep an air of positivity in his voice.

“Okay, we broke the Beaver’s dam.” Tiger panted as she wrapped an arm around Wolf.

“Biotic flood comes next.” Wolf said through gritted teeth, hobbling out of the closet.

“Owl, come in Owl. Owl, come on, you’ve got to shut off the fire to the incinerator.” Liv begged into the walkie talkie. “Please Owl, please answer me.” Silence.

“Skibidibop.” Owl said.

Tiger and Wolf both gasped, they were both fully convinced Owl had died. Liv let out a strangled mix between a sob and a laugh. “Owl, Owl, are you there?”

Owl answered, singing some sort of garbled gibberish. “Owl, are you at the control panel? Shut down the power to the possum chute!”

“Skibidibibidibop.” Owl answered.

“…was that a yes?” Liv looked at Tiger and Wolf, who just shrugged. Wolf’s eyes widened as they heard something small clank against the floor and start rolling towards them.

“DMC!” Tiger gasped, the air filled with fog.

“Oh shit,” Wolf started to hack. “I really thought this was going to work.” Liv waved her hand around, trying to clear the fog, starting to cough too. It felt like her lungs were closing in and she couldn’t breathe.

“No!” She managed to yell through her hacking. “No!” Tiger looked around them with wide eyes, completely unaffected by the poisonous gas. She touched her face in disbelief, and looked down at her hands, waiting to see them crack and start to bleed, but they didn’t. She was fine.

“Help…” Wolf’s voice came out strangled. The round object that Josh had given Liv rolled out of her pocket as she fell to her knees, fighting for air. It flashed from red to green. Tiger knew what she had to do to save not only Wolf but Liv too. They couldn’t leave her to die. She pulled out the TTD from Owl and Dingo.

“I’m sorry, Josh.” Tiger whispered, firing it up. Liv struggled for air as she weakly turned her head to Tiger, hearing what she’d said. Tiger grabbed Liv’s shoulder and Wolf’s arm. Biotics rounded the corner as the TTD began making its signature buzzing and whirring sounds. Sounds that Liv knew all too well.

“No!” She managed to scream out. “No, Tiger, no!” Light flashed around them, and she felt the familiar sensation of her limbs feeling like they were getting torn from her body.

Watching Kronish die was one of the hardest things Josh had ever had to see. The life draining from his eyes was haunting. Josh had sat with him underneath the possum chute, trying to keep the conversation light hearted, telling Kronish of the Kronish Ball, and the famous chocolate balls.

“How…whimsical…” Were Kronish’s last words before he exhaled his last breath. Josh bowed his head in mourning, a single tear falling down his cheek. Kronish never deserved to go through the things he did. Josh stood and set the final charge, heading towards the incinerator chute. He was met with the heat from the flames down at the bottom.

“Oh God, Liv,” Josh let the door slam as he nervously paced away, raking his hands through his hair. Had she died? What happened? She promised to shut the flames off.

“Joosh!” The voice screaming from walkie talkie scared him half to death. Owl. He hadn’t died yet.

“Owl, Owl are you there?” Josh responded.

“Thirst hyped! Brain plunged!” Owl yelled back. So he had had the energy drink. “Skibidibopbopboo!”

“Owl, do you copy?” Josh shouted. Owl sang in response. “Owl, listen to me, okay? You need to cut the power right now to the possum incinerator chute! Shut it down right now! Right now! Or I’m gonna burn alive! Do you understand- do you copy?”

Nothing. “Skibidibop.”

Josh nodded. “Good enough.” He climbed into the chute, glancing back at the detonator counting down to the explosion. He had 15 seconds. He started to reverse crawl down the chute, praying the fire would shut off any second. When the detonator exploded, it shook the chute, making Josh lose his balance and start to plummet down, down into the flames that hadn’t shut off yet.

“I don’t want to die!” Josh screamed as he manically grasped the metal walls for anything, anything that could stop his fall. Just as he felt the heat get stronger, the flames shut off and he tumbled down into the coals and singed possum bones. He gasped for air, the wind having been knocked out of him. “I’m not dead! I’m not dead!” He cheered, rolling off of the hot coals and kicking the metal door to the incinerator open. Owl lay in front of him, very much dead. A hammer was stuck in the control panel, the lights around it flickering. “Thanks Owl,” he panted, giving him a quick salute before taking off down the hall. He could hear the charges set earlier start to go off. As he ran for his life, he prayed that Liv was okay and would be waiting for him outside.

It was just like in Biotic Wars, and Josh had never run so fast in his whole life. The charges caught up to him quickly, he could feel the debris from the explosions gaining on him, hitting his back. He retraced his, Liv’s, and Wolf’s steps from earlier, running out the way they came in. He sprinted outside, greeted by the coolness of the outside air which contrasted with the heat from the explosions. Windows shattered, spraying glass everywhere as the building collapsed. Josh turned around to watch the tower crumble with one last final boom.

“I did it!” He gasped, falling to his knees and throwing both hands into the air. “I did it!” He looked around, waiting to see a certain girl come running to hug him. But he saw no girl. He saw no one. “Liv?” He called. “Liv?!” He called louder, spinning around. He turned back to the crumbled and burning building. “No. No, no, no, no, Liv! Fuck!” He scrambled to his feet, starting to run towards the rubble and damage, ready to go rake through it with his bare hands to find her. “LIV!” His lungs stopped working as a vicious lump formed in his throat, he was in utter shock and the immense feeling of grief washed over him as he realized something had happened to her. He couldn’t formulate words.

Someone grabbed the back of his shirt roughly, slapping a handcuff around his wrist. “I heard you ‘did it’, huh?” Skarsgaard. He forced Josh to his knees. “Mind if I quote you on that?” Josh let out a defeated sound, feeling a single tear roll down his cheek. “I’m assuming you’re calling for Liv ‘Pastman’ Branson, huh? We can’t find her. Shame I never got to meet her.” Skarsgaard said as Josh’s head hung in sorrow. “Sorry for your loss, but you’re going away for a long time, Futturman.”

I don’t expect anyone to understand what I’ve done. Please believe me when I tell you, I’m not the person they’re saying I am, or the person that you think I am. I’m someone else entirely. I know that sounds confusing and I wish that I could explain it. But what I know to be true is a burden I have to carry alone. Maybe not for that long or maybe for the rest of my life. All I can do, in my own way, is try to make things right. Sometimes I feel like I’ve spent my whole life pretending to be a hero, so when the time came to be one in real life, I went for it. I really did. Which is why I have to go. I love you, Mom and Dad. I’m sorry.

Gabe held the letter in shock. A check with Joosh’s entire net worth and keys to their house were also in the envelope. Gabe called out for Diane.

“Cupcake! Cupcake, we’re going home!”

One Year Later…

Alamore Asylum wasn’t so bad. Skarsgaard actually ended up being one of the sweetest men Josh had ever met, paying Josh constant visits and chess matches every week. In this timeline, Skarsgaard wasn’t a detective, he had been a parking officer, but after he traced Tiger’s steps from Stu Camillo’s house to Kronish Labs, he’d gotten a generous promotion.

The part that was torture was the fact that he was alone with his own thoughts. His imagination would run rampant with thoughts of what happened to Tiger, Wolf, and most importantly, Liv.

Josh thought about Liv every single day, he even dreamed of her every night. He dreamed of memories with her. Most times they were simply sitting back in the janitor’s closet that was their designated hang out spot back in their Kronish Labs days. It shattered his heart to wake up to find she wasn’t there. He couldn’t shake the thought of Tiger and Wolf too, wondering what became of them. It gnawed at him everyday, wondering what happened to the three of them, wondering if they all perished in the “terrorist attack” that Josh had caused.

That’s what the media called it, a “terrorist attack”, even going as far as to nickname him “Little Boy Blew”.

Skarsgaard moved his chess piece. “Check. Mate.” He smirked at Josh cockily. Josh sat on the other side of the chess board in his cell.

“Uh, I don’t think that piece moves like that.” Josh said.

Skaarsgard tilted his head and studied the board. “Oh, right. That’s the horsey.”

“No…that’s the pawn.” Josh chuckled.

Skarsgaard chuckled along with him, leaning back in his chair. “Speaking of pawns, I take it no word from your time traveling pals?” Skarsgaard had figured out about Tiger and Wolf’s dicking around in time back in the 90s when Tiger gave him a matching three slices down his other cheek to match the ones she’d given him back in ‘69.

“Oh, hey, look, I blew up that building completely on my own.” Josh lied nonchalantly. “You sat through the whole trial.” His heart ached as he lied for the millionth time, thinking of Tiger, Wolf, and Liv.

“Some friends.” Skarsgaard scoffed. “They leave you locked up while they’re free to robo-surf and hunt sport gators in a beautiful unknown future.”

Josh’s face fell slightly. “No, this is what I signed up for.” He said solemnly. He hoped that that’s what they were doing. He just hoped they were alive, but he’d never know.

“Hm.” Skarsgaard nodded, thinking over what Josh had said. “Well, I better get going. The widow Santiago’s coming over for dinner. Pretty soon her belly’s gonna be swollen with meatloaf.” He smiled.

“Vince,” Josh smirked at him. “Are you…are you sweet on her?”

“Time heals all wounds, Futturman.” Skarsgaard smiled wider. “Oh, by the way, I clipped this article for you.” He reached into the pocket of his suit coat. “Looks like your folks are putting good use to your Euros.” He handed Josh a newspaper article.

“Joosh Community Center Opens Fourteenth South American Location”.

Josh smiled, looking down at the picture of his parents surrounded by children holding toys and sports equipment. As Josh read, Skarsgaard stood up, stopping before he walked away.

“Does it ever bother you that everyone thinks you’re batshit crazy?” He asked.

“I know the truth. That’s all that matters.” Josh said.

“Reminds me of someone I used to know.” He nodded.

“Santiago?”

“Vincent Skarsgaard.” He smiled fondly at Josh. He knocked a knuckle against the glass separating them. “Next week, Future Man.” He winked and walked away.

Josh gave a small, grim smile and nodded, moving the chair he sat in back to the corner of his cell. He walked to his small bulletin board and stuck the article on it. He was proud of his parents, he wished he would have known that the last time he would have seen would’ve been in front of the police station. He never texted them that he was going to be late that night. He missed them dearly.

He sighed as he walked to his bed, laying down on it, resting his hands behind his head and staring up at the ceiling. No Biotics, no weight of the world on his shoulders. Just Josh Futturman, doomed to be alone in his asylum cell. He let his eyes close.

Behind his eyelids he saw flashing lights and heard buzzing, the same way the TTD would. Josh’s eyes shot open, unable to see a single thing through the bright, flashing lights. It was the last thing that he remembered before blacking out.

End of Book 1.

Picture the song “Don’t Look Back” by Boston playing epically

[taylortruther]

sorry to vent but i honestly am just so damn tired atp of having to desperately cover everything in disclaimers and constantly perform outrage just to be allowed to exist in fandom spaces now as a black fan. like my original mindset was just that it’s disappointing but i don’t and can’t expect celebrities to perfectly mirror my values, and with all the actual problems in my life and the world - including racism that actually affects my real life AND things i have the ability to potentially do something about - i wasn’t going to spend my time and energy being furious that a pop star i’ll never meet is fucking an edgelord i’ll never meet either. like i’m sorry but i already compartmentalized all this YEARS ago and have zero expectations of celebrities so it’s just whatever to me. if taylor herself was spewing racist comments or if matty was actually some white supremacist nazi and not just an intentionally provocative edgy douchebag it would be different, but TO ME PERSONALLY the actual situation as it is is just not that serious and not worth my outrage.

but am i, one of those ‘poc fans’ everyone is constantly falling all over themselves to declare themselves supportive of and ‘safe’ for, allowed to feel that way as one of the people actually targeted by that idiot’s dumbass comments? NOPE! you best believe people were FURIOUS that i thought i could get away with not performing Angry Black Woman Rage for them every single time i want to simply engage in my hobby and discuss fun things, or analyze surprise songs, or express empathy for taylor in any circumstance, or just do anything that isn’t ranting 24/7 that she’s terrible and racist and irredeemable. so now every time i want to do any of those things i have to write 6000 disclaimers that yes taylor is awful and no i don’t like matty just so overwhelmingly white fans won’t yell at me that i’m not really black (an accusation i’ve now gotten three separate times), or that i’m hurting other poc by “condoning racism” (which i have not done), or that i’m so far up taylor’s ass i would still stan her even if she personally called me the n-word (the final straw that made me turn anon off probably for good) and idk it’s just…not fun being here anymore now that everyone is just going to treat me like a doll who’s only here for them to virtue signal with (and ‘virtue signaling’ is a terrible term but like that is truly, genuinely what a huge chunk of this fandom is doing rn), claiming to obsessively care about my feelings and fandom experience so they’ll look good but then berating and scolding me every single time i step a toe out of line and try to express my own opinion or commit the grave sin of Enjoying Taylor Swift On My Taylor Swift Blog. like sure taylor disappointed me but it’s other (again, overwhelmingly white) fans who have completely ruined being here and made it a miserable chore to be a black fan, not her. atp I just want her to drop him and everyone to forget not bc he sucks but bc i just want to be allowed to exist peacefully on my own blog again, without having to constantly walk on eggshells so the people who ~care about marginalized fans~ won’t come call me a stupid brainless bitch who lets taylor manipulate me because i’m a self-hating racist. i’m just so tired.

i am tired too and i am really grateful to you for writing all this out (i hope it felt a little cathartic) because i 100% AGREEEEEEEEEE. the way this fandom acts anytime they start talking about uplifting poc will never not be weird to me and i think you explained why perfectly.

[lovelywritinglady]

Forget pt.1

Suguru Geto x fem!Reader

Angst, fluff

How you and Suguru Geto got together. And the first of many parts going over a timeline of how it all fell apart. How your love grew and how it went away after the years.

Your pov

Sitting in my clans house I began overthinking about the past. I’m grateful about where I am today as clan leader, but I can’t help but look bad on the past and the certain people I’ve lost. Where did it all go wrong? I’ve been asking myself that every day since he left. What exactly happened that caused him to change. All of those promises and declarations of love and loyalty are now dust in the wind. He use to be so sweet, caring, and kind. But from what we’ve heard, he’s now killing innocent humans and any sorcerer that doesn’t agree with his ideology. The man I knew would have never killed innocent people. He would’ve done whatever he could to save them. I remember him telling me how beautiful he thought they were. Was that all a lie? I don’t know the truth anymore and I don’t know if my Suguru is still there. My only comfort now are the beautiful memories him and I shared. If I could only go back to the days where he was mine and everything was simpler…

Years Ago in Jujutsu Tech…

Coming back from a mission covered in blood and cuts was not my idea of a good day. It was a tough mission that me and Suguru Geto were suppose to go on. Except he forgot, which is strange to me because we were both told in person about it yesterday. My guess is that he found a piece of ass that caught his attention. So much for friendship I guess. I feel slightly jealous that a random person could get his attention more than his actual friends. I dismissed my anger and went to get my wounds healed. I decided not to be angry too much. He was a kind person only when he wanted to be, hell he’s one of the strongest aside from Gojo. He probably thinks it’s beneath him. What an ass.

After I got my wounds healed, I went back to my room to take a needed shower. On my way there I thought about how the mission went and what I could do better next time. I need to rely on myself and my abilities more and I need to stop hesitating. I’m to be the next leader of my clan by some miracle. My father has no living brothers or any male heirs that have his abilities and my mothers abilities, so I’m the only choice he has. I have to be perfect or I’ll disappoint my entire family.

Just as I was about to reach my room I head rapid footsteps approach me. I turned around to see who they belonged to and to my surprise the flake himself showed up. Geto ran up to me with an apologetic look on his face and a box of some sorts in his hands. I felt like going in my room and locking my door, but knowing him he’d probably stand there knocking until I opened the door. So I turned to face him and began questioning his whereabouts.

“Where the hell were you today?” I questioned

“Sorry l/n, I was out today and lost track of time.” He spoke in labored breathes

“I’m sure you did, good night Geto” I spoke turning to open my door.

“Wait, here I got your favorite candies.” He spoke

“I would have preferred if you actually showed up today for the mission we had together. No worries though I handled it by myself” I deadpanned

“Please just take them as an apology.” He pressed

“Fine, just promise me that you’ll show up next time or tell me you aren’t coming. I’d rather not rely on someone who won’t show.” I said

“Fair enough, I’m still so sorry for flaking out on you” he apologized

“You’re forgiven, good night Geto”

Just as I was about to open my door and get some much needed sleep, I felt him grab my writs and pull me into a hug. I froze as he’d never hugged me before. The only touching we had done was accidentally brushing each others hands or helping each other up during missions. It felt good to be in his arms. I’m still so mad at him but I can’t help but feel so safe. He pulled away and looked into my eyes and my told me goodnight. He then walked away to his own room that was a few doors down. I care for him in a way I don’t think I should. My feelings aren’t something I’m proud of because there is no way he would feel something like that for me. He’s more interested in girls and killing curses to settle down for one person. I’m most likely going to be in an a arranged marriage anyway. I shook off my feelings and went into my room finally getting some much needed sleep.

The next day I walked into the cafeteria and saw Gojo and Geto stuffing their mouthes with their breakfast. I got my food and joined them. I didn’t make eye contact with Geto. I felt a sense of awkwardness in the air. I ate my meal as quickly as I could do to avoid conversation, but my desires were cut short when I heard an annoying voice speak.

“Soooo y/n how’d the mission go yesterday” Gojo spoke in a sing song tone

“Successful” I responded

“Sorry about keeping Geto yesterday, he was helping me with something yesterday” he spoke

“What things?” I questioned. I noticed Geto get visibly uncomfortable, which made me slightly angry.

“Well if you must know. This girl has been calling me nonstop and so Geto here volunteered to distract her for me” he said casually

“Hey!” Geto exclaimed slamming his hands on the table.

“What that’s what you did yesterday” Gojo said innocently

“Ah, so that’s what you were doing yesterday.I guess I was right. Can’t say I’m surprised Geto. Just wish you told me the truth you ass.” I spoke harshly

“L/n I’m sorry I-“ Geto began to speak

“I don’t want to hear it Geto, just tell me next time you’re not going to take care of your responsibilities instead of lying. See you later Geto.” I said while standing up and going to the training field. I needed some time to think about my feelings and what the hell was going through that boys head. I’d never know.

Suguru Getos pov

“Shit this is the last time I do any favor for Gojo. It my fault for accepting, but he threatened to say something to L/n that I would rather say to her myself. Selfish arrogant bastard. I still don’t know why I’m friends with him. I guess it’s because him and I are the strongest. Yeah, maybe that’s it or maybe I just like his company. Whatever it is Gojo Satoru is someone I consider a friend who just so happens to have blackmail on me. I guess I better act quickly. He’d definitely say something vulgar to her and that’s the last thing that I want.” I think to myself

“Heyyyyy Suguru?” Gojo whined

“Yes?” I questioned

“You should ask her out you know.” He states

“I hate that you know I like her.”

“I’m confused on why you do. Why settle for one girl huh?” He questioned

“Because unlike you, I’m not a womanizer. At least I try not to be. And I like her, she’s a strong woman with a kind heard. She’s also fierce when it comes to killing curses. I also find her extremely beautiful inside and out. So what’s not to like?” I stated

“True I guess. You do know that she’ll be a clan leader when she gets older, right?”

“Yes I know. But I can’t help the way I feel about her. I want to feel her, know her, grow with her, and be by her side.” I spoke honestly probably saying more than I should to Gojo.

“Is it because she saved your ass that one time?” Gojo questioned

“Fuck off!”

“Whatever man, as long as your happy” he spoke honestly

“Thanks, I just hope she doesn’t hate me. She might now because of yesterday. I tried making it up to her by getting her something, but I was stupid enough to believe that would work.”

“Nah man you gotta woo her and take her out. Spoil her a little you know.” Gojo said while stuffing rice in his mouth.

“Like you know anything about that.” I scolded

“True I’m not into dating, but I do know how to woo a woman,Suguru.” Gojo spoke

“I think I can figure it out on my own. L/n and I have been friends for a long time. I just hope she feels something for me too. Anyway I’m gonna go do some training”

“Why, we’re the strongest Suguru” Gojo spoke

“I know, but there is nothing wrong with a little training. And she’s not too far behind us you know. She’s way better at physical fighting than both of us combined. We’re only strong because of our techniques. I said

“Heh true that. Don’t overwork yourself Geto” Gojo spoke

“Yeah I won’t. See ya later.” I said while standing up to make my way to the training field.

I waved goodbye to my idiot friend and made my way to the training field. I needed to clear my head and make a plan to explain my feelings to her. Even if she didn’t want to be with me like that. I wanted her to know that I would always want to be near her, to grow beside her, and to see her become head of her clan. I want to see her succeed. I never imagined I’d ever care for anyone this way. I almost want to laugh at myself for how whipped I am for this girl. Gojo was right though. My feeling started when she saved my life. She risked hers to save mine form a powerful curse when we were first years. I was strong back then, but not as strong as the curse I was fighting. She managed to kill the curse and save me from getting killed. Ever since then I’ve desired her.

After a few minutes of walking, I was almost at the training field. I planned on just doing some light exercises and working on my technique a bit. As I was walking up, I saw her. She was there too and my heart felt like it was racing out of my chest. She looked so fierce and beautiful. I couldn’t help but stand and stare at her beauty. The way she moved was like water. She was graceful yet strong. I don’t know how long I stood there like an idiot but I was taken out of my trance when I heard her call my name.

“Hey Geto what the hell are you standing there for” she yelled

“Just watching. May I join you?” I questioned trying not to sound nervous

“Yeah, if you can keep up and no cursed energy” she spoke back with a smirk on her face.

One hour later…

“I give up you win” I said said holding my stomach that she just hit with her full strength.

“I told you Suguru, you can’t keep up with me. Your ability is slightly stronger than mine. But when it comes to actual combat you are simply inferior to me.” She spoke nonchalantly

“Yeah, very true” I groaned trying to get up.

“Mmm”

“L/n I’m really sorry for yesterday and this morning. I had no intention of hurting you.” I apologized again.

“It’s fine Suguru I already forgave you. Besides I just kicked your ass, so I’m doing much better.” She smiled which made me smile with her.

“L/n do you maybe want to go into town tomorrow? There’s this uh coffee shop I’ve been wanting to try.” I ask nervously

“Hmm, I don’t see why not. As long as your buying” she spoke

“Sure, it’s a date then” I say then realizing what I just said. I looked in her eyes to see if I made her uncomfortable but she didn’t seem fazed by my suggestion at all. She almost looked happy by it, but maybe that was my imagination.

“See you tomorrow Geto” she said waving me off with a small smile.

“See you tomorrow, L/n” I said with a small blush grading my features excited to spend the day with her tomorrow.

Thank you so much for reading❤️ this story will have multiple parts. I haven’t decided how many yet so stay tuned. Very slow updates.

Please feel free to request, comment, and reblog

Click here to see what I’ll write for and click HERE to see my master list.

•I do NOT own any characters except y/n•

-L.W.L

Part 1, Part 2

[forleejehoon]

[Interview] Lee Je Hoon for 𝘔𝘌𝘕 𝘕𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦 April issue — English translation

Translation by @forleejehoon. Please do not repost/share full or in parts without credits.

Lee Je Hoon is an actor that shines. There's plenty of inner glow coming from him – instead he wishes to become a light that's impossible to replace.

Taxi Driver 2's popularity is respectable. Apparently each episode garners over 10% of watch ratings.

I'm grateful just for the fact that season 2 was able to come out, as soon as the broadcasting started it got good reactions so I didn't know what to do with myself. It felt like being greatly compensated for the many hours I've spent filming.

It was intense since the shot of Kim Do Ki's back at the very beginning.

The very first line in the script director wrote was "Do Ki working out in a prison cell". One has to devote themselves to the scene, of course. (laughs) While thinking 'it's my last time showing my skin' I prepared for it diligently. Today at the promotion shootings, I'm flashing the little that remains of my abs. (laughs)

Kim Do Ki is a character that keeps changing his personas to punish the villains. You had to embody all these different characters in one project and although it's something to boast about as an actor, wasn't it difficult?

I filmed everything very happily while enjoying all of it. The difference between the personas is big so I worried a lot about what it's like for the viewers to watch it on screen. I thought a lot about how I should make it feel more continuous, too. Despite the times when I didn't feel content with my acting, I gained confidence since luckily everyone is enjoying watching it. For season 2 I filmed with the mindset “let’s play even harder”.

In the documentary Another Record: Lee Je Hoon you revealed to actor Lee Dong Hwi about your wish to do comedic acting. This time you happened to fulfill it to your heart's content.

In my case, I have no talent of making people around me laugh. Because of that, me doing comedic acting always felt far-fetched. In this project I formed a nice ensemble with the rest of the cast as well as the script was interesting and funny.

So this was a new challenge for you?

To be honest, I'm not an actor who's skilled in adlibs. If in the past I was someone who acted out the script exactly as it was written, now I have let my abilities come to surface and let them be seen. If I see some part in the dialogue or the script that could be filled, I express my ideas, so I play [characters] while contributing to the script.

As an actor you must've changed quite a bit?

Honestly there were times when even the act of familiarizing myself with the dialogue and simply acting felt like it was too much. Now as a person who's a narrator of the story, I feel the responsibility to lead projects. Once again it's the battle with time for filming sites. "Ah, why didn't I do this then", "why did I miss this" – I don't want any of such worries to remain so I have to distribute everything within the given time.

I could feel this passion of yours fully at the promotion shoot today, too. Felt like watching some sort of silent drama.

Promotion shoots aren't that different from when I'm acting. There aren't many chances to show myself equipped with cool and flashy jewelry. Now that I've left a memory of this new image of myself, I feel like I’ll be able to pull it off it in a future project. Through such collected experiences, I feel like I muster up courage to take on new challenges.

In the 4th episode a country boy Lee Je Hoon ordering around in Chungcheon satoori surprised the viewers with freshness, too.

It's the same for me. For Chungcheon people it'll look lame for sure. Despite that people have watched my trying self with affection. Through this opportunity both as an actor and as Lee Je Hoon I've acquired another thing I can do. If I happen to visit Chungcheon I shall try using it. (laughs)

I believe Kim Do Ki could become a character of a lifetime.

It can happen. It's truly fascinating to have been able to show so many varied personas in one piece of work. Although while I was acting I had thoughts like "other actors could pull off this role way better", but as long as it's Taxi Driver's Kim Do Ki – I think I can do it the best. Other actors substituting me wouldn't work. Of course there are better actors. But as much as it's hard to imagine [other actors playing as Kim Do Ki], Kim Do Ki is a character that I love and cherish.

Out of the entire bouquet of Kim Do Ki personas, who would be the closest to ordinary Lee Je Hoon?

To be honest, there isn't a single one that's similar to me. (laughs) Someone who's intelligent, someone who's humorous – both of these sides can be seen in little parts in me but even that would be an exaggeration.

To the viewers it feels cathartic to watch how the villains are punished. Was there any moment that felt the most satisfying for you personally?

Rather than action scenes, I think I felt the satisfaction when relaying a deep message.

What kind of message could that be?

Although I can't reveal any spoilers from the second half of the show, the most I can say is that in English you can express it as “memory” or “remember”. In season 2 these are the keywords that keep reappearing. "Do remember" is always what it ends with. In each episode it’s the crimes that are handled and the absurd reality of them. So such a message is the foundation of Taxi Driver.

Looking at your filmography including Taxi Driver, there are quite many works that are box office successes or are award-winning. Should I say that you have good luck with projects, or do you have a good eye when choosing them?

I do have my personal standards when choosing a project to work on. I want to do such projects that stay in viewers' hearts and minds for a long time. Not the ones that have no retainment value. It's good if fun is all that the experience of watching a movie gives, however there's nothing I'd need anymore in life if I can only be someone that leaves an effect on people's lives. Although I myself am an actor, when it comes to movies I have this same preference. Because I too get influenced by the works I watch.

Ahead of you there's the movie Escape that you'll star in together with actor Koo Kyo Hwan. In the 42nd Blue Dragon Awards you revealed that you'd "like to act with Koo Kyo Hwan once" and now it's a reality. Did your comment make any influence in the casting?

I was curious myself so I asked the production team. They said it did have an influence. I'm a lucky fan. (laughs)

Now that you have actually worked with him, how was it?

Although the movie is already a masterpiece, since I'm acting together with Koo Kyo Hwan it will shine even brighter. Once again I realized how an actor is an important part of a movie. Although we didn't talk too much, I have a partner with whom I can exchange feelings and the dialogue. Even though I haven't met Koo Kyo Hwan in private settings, the way we matched together felt like smooth sailing.

Let's talk about the days when you dreamt of being an actor. You dropped out of university and at 25 years old started attending Korea National University of Arts. Even before that, you were in the theater scene but then entered a university again – was there any particular reason that made you decide like that?

I decided I wanted to act and hung around the Daehakro [Arts Theatre] when I was 21-22 years old, somewhere around that time. I’ve experienced acting for only about 1-2 years and believed I could make a decision. Whether I really have the talent and interest to pursue such a road. But as time went on, I still couldn’t find answers to both of those questions. I didn’t give up and in order to fulfill my dream completely I thought I needed some kind of opportunity to reach the finish line.

But the people you’ve worked with are very sure [about your talent]. Director Yoon Sung Hyun, while recalling the filming for Bleak Night, has observed that you’re a born actor, as well as actor Park Jeong Min has said that you’re an actor who has great inner charge of pathos-energy. You’ve been getting such comments since the rookie days, doesn’t that make you a natural?

I’m not too sure about this. When someone discovers me, something inside of me seems to bring out some things in them – I can imagine hearing comments like that. Directors and writers cast me so it’s possible that the director adds more focus onto me. My presence can come out when lighting directors shine their light onto me. No matter how well I can act or how confident I am, it’s the fact that such people exist or else I couldn’t shine as an actor.

It’s been around 17 years since you’ve debuted in a short film Litmus of Truth. Maybe it’s because I didn’t see current you being that different from Architecture 101’s Seung Min but I didn’t really think you’ve had such work experience.

Wow, it’s been this many years. Come to think of it, I’ve set up a production company with the people I’ve worked with on Litmus of Truth. (laughs)

It’s been 2 years since that, right? Since you’ve set up a production company named “Hard Cut” together with director Yang Gyeong Mo and producer Kim Yu Gyeong.

That’s right. If there comes a time when, willingly or not, I wouldn’t be able to act, I’ve tried thinking about what kind of job I could do. Will I be able to do another job, do I want more burden. But I didn’t have much of a choice. Even if I couldn’t act, I still want to be someone that’s present in the filming site. I could be someone that generates ideas, or I could be a maknae that holds the light reflector. That’s why I’ve created “Hard Cut”, there are many things I’m learning about myself. How much I actually love movies or what kind of acting I should show from now onwards. The things I couldn’t see before are now right before my eyes. When it comes to making movies, it doesn’t matter from which position or what I do – I have the will for anything.

I’m wondering about what kind of concerns does an actor of 17 years have.

Instead of having concerns I believe I should be putting much of continuous efforts. There are many things that I still don’t know and things that I still lack in, however I have great desire to make good movies. Suddenly I thought to myself what would I answer to this question if 10 years from now I’m asked a similar one – in the future I’d like my answer to be the same as today. I wish to be an actor that feels such thirst [to make great movies] persistently.

Are there any moments that felt monumental?

When it’s a national holiday? (laughs) When it’s a holiday, they broadcast special selection movies. Whenever a movie I worked on is chosen to be shown, I’m very thankful. There are movies that are box office hits, or that have a good message behind them, whatever the reason – all of them are works containing great meaning.

What adjective would you like there to be in front of your name?

An actor that’s impossible to replace. Isn’t that truly the greatest praise.

In brackets I’ve personally added more context to help understand the meaning more clearly.