#Oooh another cliffhanger

[ratcatcher0325]

A Fraction of Justice (Chapter #34)

Chapter #34. What's this? ✨🎄Has Christmas come early?🎄✨ Nope, it's still tomorrow, but hey, while you wait for Santa to visit, you can read about tiny little grumpy guys! In this chapter, Nat makes a mess, Alexander's mad about it, and someone draws blood. This is sounding like every other day in their lives at this point.

Previous: Chapter #33

Next: Chapter #35

Word Count: 4,192 Read Time: Approx. 40 mins

CW: Blood? I guess? It's like a drop of blood, people. Don't worry!

Btw, DM me if you wanna be added to the tag list!

___________________________________

A Fraction of Justice

Chapter #33: Kinstugi

[Natalie’s POV] 

I’d kissed him. And the second I did it, all I’d wanted was to do it again. He’d been so warm lying there in my hand as he slept. His mess of hair, no bigger than my fingernail, was so soft on the surface of my skin. I recalled the electric feeling that had pulsed through the tip of my finger when I glided it over the length of his back, trying so hard not to wake him. 

Over the time I’d had with him, I’d gotten used to learning how to handle and interact with someone so much smaller. How to temper my voice when I was near to not startle or overwhelm him. I’d had to memorize the right amount of pressure to pinch beneath his arms so he didn’t slip through my fingers, without bruising his skin. I’d learned how to keep my fingertips steady when trying to brush a stray lock back in place on his head, or to tap his shoulder without too much force when I needed his attention, and he was wholly engrossed in whatever he was reading. 

Though he was never particularly fond of being handled, I swelled with pride thinking about how much more relaxed he was now, cradled in the palms of my hands, than when we’d first met. 

I could feel my pulse thundering in my ears just thinking about those icy blue eyes gazing up at me from inside my gentle grip. 

I was now in a similar position to admire him, as I sat up in bed, my feet touching the carpet below. I leaned over my bedside table, taking in the sight of a man, snuggled up on his own little mattress, not much bigger than the palm of my hand. 

He slept peacefully, curled into himself with his head resting on his tucked arm, his other, draped over his side and dangling just off the edge of the bed. His covers, once pulled taught over his shoulders, had been kicked past his knees, gathered in a lump at the foot of the bed. His hair fell in his closed eyes, his lips, tinier than any part of me, were left slightly open, his chest rising and falling a fraction of an inch with each breath.

What a brilliant mind and a brave little heart. How did he not just fall apart? I couldn’t imagine life in his position. How unfair it was. How constantly humiliating. I would’ve probably just laid down and died by now, if I were in his shoes. 

You’re so much stronger than me, you know that?

As I gazed down, he twitched in his sleep, his nose crinkling slightly as his fist clenched and relaxed. 

I sucked in a sharp breath. His fitful movements reminded me so much of that first time I’d set him down in the drawer on that stupid, fuzzy, pink sock. I could recall him begging to be left out on the desk and me not even bothering to listen. God, so much had changed between now and then. 

As I watched, he tucked his arms closer to his chest, his brow furrowing even more, while his lips turned down slightly into a grimace. He slid his feet further down the length of the bed. It took my eyes a moment, because the movements were so tiny, but the little twitches of his body, I realized, were actually him shivering from the cold. 

Without hesitation, I pinched the fabric on either side of his bed, and gently lifted the covers, lowering them back down over his shoulders. He immediately gripped the comforter, curling into a ball, still trembling. 

You know, I have a much warmer place where you can sleep… 

The thought came instantly, and surprised even me. I could picture him, clear as day, nestling inside my chest, bright blue eyes peering up at me before curling up and falling asleep there. The image alone made my face burst with color and I couldn’t help but draw my hand back in a flinch of embarrassment. 

As my left hand recoiled, my fingers knocked the corner of his bedside table, kicking it off balance, and sending its contents sliding to the wooden ‘floor’ below. 

CRASH!!!!

The tiny ceramic mug and saucer shattered on impact. 

Shit!

He jolted upright, brow furrowed, eyes wide and chest heaving. As guilt washed over me for waking him so suddenly, I sat there, frozen and dumbfounded.

He looked around himself, trying to discover the source of the noise. His eyes flashed quickly to the floor below, now littered in ceramic fragments, but they soon wandered, to his left, where, caught in the act, my right finger and thumb still clutched his comforter and lingered dangerously close to him. 

He looked back down at the mess, back to my fingers, and then for the briefest moment, locked eyes with me, before turning away swiftly. I couldn’t help the heat rising to my cheeks as we both pretended not to notice the awkward tension in the room. He’d clearly made up a narrative in his mind for what had just happened. I tried to say something in my own defense, but the words just stuck behind my clenched jaw. 

As if on cue, we both frantically tried to busy ourselves with cleaning up the little broken pieces of ceramic. 

Alexander swung his legs over the side of the bed, but before resting his feet on the floor, I sucked air between my teeth, stopping him in his tracks. 

“Careful! I don’t want you to step on any of the pieces!” 

He rolled his eyes, firmly planting himself on the floor with gusto, and rising to standing, “I’m not blind, Natalie, I can see where and where not to watch my step perfectly well, all by myself.” 

I sighed, trying not to take it personally. Turning my attention to the task at hand, I licked the tip of my finger and pressed the pad down on the first tiny piece, before a little voice cut in down below.

“What do you think you’re doing?” 

Was that some sort of trick question? “… Just picking these pieces up?” 

“Are you coating them in your saliva? Don’t do that. That’s disgusting! Are you not going to reassemble it later?” 

As someone who was supposedly not blind, how could he not see that this tiny mug was smashed to oblivion? 

“Dude, these pieces are absolutely tiny, how else am I supposed to pick them up?” 

He huffed, clearly dissatisfied with my answer,  “Get out of the way, just let me do it.” He took an unsteady few steps forward, careful to avoid the sharp pieces, before batting at my fingers and shooing me off. 

Seeing I wasn’t budging, he ignored me and bent down to pick up a piece. I could see it pained his knee. I winced. 

“Hey, don’t strain yourself—“ 

“I’m fine, stop worrying about me all the time…” he reached for a particularly gnarly piece with a razor’s edge point. I couldn’t help myself, I swooped in and pinched it between my fingers before he could.

“Hey!!” He scowled, clearly incensed. 

“I’m just saying, this is super sharp… it looks awfully big compared to your hands. It’s easier if you just let me…” as I held it before him, comparing his size to it, his hands flew up to snatch it from me. 

I pinched the piece tighter between my thumb and my forefinger, just as he wrapped his little fist around it. His brow arched, as he scowled up at me. 

“Let go!” He pulled back, hard, but his little effort did nothing to sway me. 

“Look, I’m not trying to be an asshole here, I just don’t want you to accidentally—“ not listening to me, he pulled on it again, this time really leaning his weight against me. I could see him boil as he couldn’t so much as move me an inch. I pulled back in response, not hard. Or at least, I didn’t think so, but it broke his grip anyway, and he lost his balance, falling backwards as he let go of the piece. I gasped. 

Too far now to fall back on the mattress, his arms swung in the air as he tried to steady himself. I slipped my free hand behind him just in time for him to collapse into the cup of my palm. I muttered my sincere apologies as he recovered against the wall of my hand. 

He grimaced at me, “Don’t want me to what? Accidentally cut myself??” His face broke into a self-satisfied grin, as he crossed his arms over his chest. I couldn’t help but follow his gaze, down to my fingertip. 

Having successfully wrestled the piece from his tiny grip, and being distracted by his fall, I hadn’t noticed that the sharp little edge had managed to slice my finger open, and a bead of crimson liquid now bubbled to the surface. 

“Mmm, what was that, again? You were worried I might accidentally hurt myself??” He was over the moon. 

“Okay, alright.” I sighed. He kept beaming up at me, his crooked little smile lighting up his features. I kept going at his insistence, “You win. You were right. I should’ve shut up and just let you do it.” 

“Will you repeat that again and let me record it?” 

Little nightmare. I broke into a grin, shaking my head, “You were right. You’re almost always right. I should listen to you more often, but I’m just a big dumb, clumsy human. There, ya happy?” 

He pushed himself up and away from my hand, eyes gleaming. He was about to retort when I noticed the drop of blood was about to overflow and drip down the side of my finger. Letting the ceramic piece clatter back down to the table I stuck my finger in my mouth and sucked to staunch the blood. 

Upon seeing this his face twisted in disgust, “Again, with the licking! Stop with the licking. That’s disgusting! What is wrong with you?”

I smiled, arching my brow. Taking my finger out, I addressed him again, “Oh? What did you say? You think this is gross?” I approached him with my spit covered finger. 

He shifted his weight back, on the defense, “Natalie… don’t you dare…” 

I kept coming closer, “What about this is gross??” He backed away as I kept closing in the space. 

He’d retreated as far as he could, when he collapsed on the bed, trying to squirm away. Getting desperate, he grabbed a pillow and hurled it at me, of course it had no more consequence than a cotton ball. Then he threw the other. He was mumbling protests, warning me not to get any closer, but I could see the smile that briefly played on his lips before he tried to hide it behind a deeper scowl. 

Before he could scramble over the opposite side of the bed, I’d managed to almost pin him against the headboard, my fingertip floating just an eighth of an inch or so over his chest. 

Suddenly, looking at him, sprawled on the bed, little ribcage heaving as his neck arched, his eyes wide and his breath panting, I felt like we weren’t just playing a stupid game anymore. The air between us was electrified, and I could feel the heat rise in my face. He flushed too, swallowing hard, gripping the sheets beneath him into balled fists. 

Then suddenly, “Y-you’re bleeding again…” his voice was strained, tight. 

Shit. He was right. I pulled back, cradling my finger to keep blood from spilling. I crossed away from him and grabbed a bandaid from the bathroom, making sure to wash my hands before I returned to the bedside. 

He was right where I’d left him, though his posture was slightly more relaxed. He watched quietly while I struggled to open the packaging with one hand, that smug little grin still on his face. 

I ignored him, all while he stared on, delighting in my failure. Finally, he cleared his throat. 

Sighing in defeat, I offered him the bandaid and my mess of a finger. He sat up, eyes aglow. I was never gonna hear the end of this was I? 

He gripped the paper package between two hands and with some effort, managed to rip it in two. Then, taking my bloodied finger in his lap, he rested his whole hand over the top of the bandaid, keeping it in place on my wound, while he reached beneath and pulled at the tab. He ripped it away in one graceful motion, even if it took him the entire length of his arm to do it. Then, he tackled the other, switching hands. Without looking up, he addressed me. 

“… It’s best that I do this for you. If I’d left it up to you, it would be a crooked, uneven mess with irregularities and folds in the bandaging. And guess who has to deal with that, up close and personal, on a daily basis? Don’t flatter yourself, this is in my own best interest. I’m only doing this so I don’t have to have my skin forcibly exfoliated by uneven edges.” As he spoke, he very gingerly and precisely folded one adhesive edge along the side of my finger, and then the other, wrapping them neatly with no overlap. I could feel my heartbeat in my finger tip, as it quickened. 

It wasn’t often that he touched me. Not willingly and not for this long. He checked his work with nimble fingers, and seeming satisfied, he held my finger between his two hands, before looking up at me. 

Suddenly, he let go, casting his gaze down and clearing his throat, “Done.” He mumbled simply. It was as though he only noticed the intimacy of his actions after the fact.

“Alexander?” I gently guided his chin with the tip of my thumb, “Thank you. That was very sweet of you.” 

He went bright red, he shifted in his seat, “That wasn’t— I’m not sweet. I told you I did it to benefit myself.” It’s like he had an instant angry button.

Uh huh. I smiled at him. His brow furrowed. 

“What??” He snapped, “What are you looking at me like that for?” 

“Always gotta be on the defensive, huh?” 

“Well in my experience with you, it’s highly necessary. Shall I harken back to just a minute ago when you tried to slather me in your spit??” 

“Alright, touché. Look. I’m sorry about accidentally waking you so suddenly…” 

He furrowed his brow as if to say, “…and?” 

“And for fighting you on cleaning up… And torturing you with germs. I owe you. It wasn’t exactly the best morning. I know we’ve got a lot of work to get back to…” 

“Yes, finally! I thought you’d never ask!” He sat up and rubbed his hands together enthusiastically. 

“Wait—“ 

“Ugh!!! He groaned and immediately collapsed back against the bed. Always with a flair for the dramatic, with this one!

“Hear me out. I’d like to make it up to you with something I think you’ll be really excited about. Would you be willing to come with me out of the apartment for a little while?” 

************** 

Leave? As in… Outside? The last time we’d done that had been an utter disaster. 

Looking up at her face, though, that gleam of excitement in her eye, I couldn’t help feeling giddy too. This was new territory for me: Surprises. Well, I should say, surprises with positive connotations were a new phenomenon. 

I realized that even as recently as a few weeks ago, my stomach would’ve turned in knots at the very idea of allowing her to whisk me away to wherever she wished, and, being utterly powerless to stop her, filled with dread that it would culminate in some kind of sick joke, with me as the punchline. 

But… now?

I knew at my very core that I trusted her. Despite her stupid, tasteless jokes and misplaced worry, I knew her delight was genuine and that she really wanted to brighten my day. What a strange feeling to admit that to myself, even if only inside my own head. 

I trusted her. If she wanted to take me somewhere, I’d let her. If she told me it was worth looking forward to, I believed her. 

Did the concept of leaving these familiar walls behind for a world filled with unpredictable, disagreeable and altogether unintelligent humans frighten me? Though I’d never admit it out loud, the answer was yes. 

It was a big world out there. I knew that now more than ever before. 

But I’d be okay. 

I chose to trust.

I swallowed, “Okay.” I shook my head in the affirmative.

“Wow. Really??” 

“What? Do you want me to go or not?” 

“No, of course I want you to… I just. That was way easier than I thought. No interrogations? No million follow up questions? You’re like… cool with me just surprising you? You feeling alright?” 

“You act as though I’m some sort of rigid automaton incapable of deviation from the norm! I can be spontaneous when I choose to be. All I will say is that this had better be worth my time to pull me away from my work like this.” 

“The boring old case documents aren’t going anywhere, and I promise, you’ll love it. Get ready and I’ll meet you back here in a few, okay? Oh! And hold on…” She suddenly rose from the bedside and disappeared into the bathroom again. The sound of water running briefly hit my ears before she returned, a damp washcloth in hand. “Stay still…” she plucked up my two pillows, that had been tossed in self defense, between her fingers and set them aside, before clutching either side of my bed in a loose grip, and lifting it up off the table’s surface. I clung to the bed sheets as she suspended me and my entire bed in the air with little effort. She smiled at me, I tried to focus on keeping my heart rate down. 

Using the wash cloth, she carefully gathered all the shattered ceramic into a dusty pile. Once satisfied that the place where my bed usually lay was free of any debris, she set me back down. I breathed a sigh of relief. 

She pinched the pile of broken tea cup inside the towel and lifted it off the table, and after wiping with the damp edge for anything left, she looked satisfied, “That’s what we should’ve done in the first place, huh?” 

Then I wouldn’t have gotten to bandage your finger. 

The thought rose to the surface, unchecked. I used a hand to brush my hair out of my eyes and shake it off. It unfortunately didn’t dissipate until she finally rose from the bed to get ready. 

I wasn’t sure how much more my cardiovascular system could take these constant adrenaline spikes. I sucked in a clean lungful of air, before pushing to standing, and grabbing my crutch for balance this time, I made my way to my vanity to ready myself. 

As I washed my face, the cool water breathing fresh life into my pores, I couldn’t stop wondering just what she had planned. Was it another outdoor excursion, perhaps to a nearby park, to admire the snow on the trees? Or maybe something simple and domestic, yet still novel for me, like taking me to the grocery store and having me help her pick out her next recipe? I didn’t find the prospect of being around that many humans particularly thrilling. My mind was still abuzz when I heard her re-enter the room, her muted footsteps giving her position away, as she asked if I was ready. 

Now in a fresh pair of black joggers and a sky blue sweatshirt, (how I loathed the endless parade of elastic pants and thick, unflattering lounge wear) I turned to face her. She stood before and above me, her hands in the pockets of a lavender winter coat, a thick scarf spooled about her neck in circular layers. She laid her hand flat for me, and once I settled in the middle of her palm, my crutch over my lap, she lifted me up. She held me before her breast pocket, and my heart quickened again, remembering the recent, embarrassing bout with that region of her body. 

Still, traveling in there, where I could see and stay upright was much better than being shoved into a side pocket or purse. I shuddered at the thought. 

She pinched the breast pocket open, showing something else, shiny and plastic, stuffed inside. Seeing my confusion she clarified, “It’s a hand warmer, you know, to keep you nice and cozy…” 

I scoffed, “You don’t have to coddle me…” She pressed a thumb into my back and curled her fingers around me until my legs dangled free, as she held me about the middle. 

Slowly she lowered me into the pocket, as I continued, “I’m not that susceptible to— Oh- Oh my….” It felt amazing. 

Warmth radiated from the plastic packaging, creating a cocoon of comfort on all sides. My muscles relaxed immediately upon being fully placed inside. 

“Thought you’d like that…” She smiled to herself. Points to Natalie, she was right for once. “Come on, let’s go…” She smiled down at me. I nodded, hugging the fabric edge of the pocket to my chest as I folded my arms over the lip. She started to walk through the apartment and out the door. 

It filled me with far greater joy than I dared to admit to see the world from this incredibly high vantage point. It was much lower than her point of view, I knew, but it was still a significant upgrade for me. I used this marvel to distract me from the soft undulation of her body against my back and the thumping of her heart which I could still feel through the thick fabric of her clothes. 

She opened the door and we were greeted with an icy blast of wet, whipping wind. The second we were outside, the fingers of her left hand rested over the pocket, her index lightly caressing my elbow, “You alright? Warm enough?” The bare skin that was exposed to the elements was far from comfortable, but the rest of me was so delightfully warm that I answered in the automatic affirmative to her question. 

Soon we were sheltered from the elements inside her car. She was careful to adjust her seatbelt to keep it from crossing over me. Then, we were off, the machinery of the vehicle rumbling in the freezing air as she navigated the snow and ice on less traveled roads. 

I admit, the vibration of the car, the steady rhythm of the drum that was her heart, coupled with the delicious, manufactured warmth of the pocket made me extremely sleepy within just a few minutes of driving. I blinked hard. Fighting to stay awake. 

I woke up to her fingertip caressing my head, “Hey, good morning, Sleeping Beauty… we’re here.”  Who knows how long I’d been out. I squirmed in place, embarrassed I’d been so easily lulled to sleep. I rubbed my eyes and did my level best to wake up as she removed the key from the ignition and the great beast of machinery grew quiet. Using the textured fabric for purchase, I clamored my way back to an upright position. 

“Where’s here?” I choked out, the muscles of my face still coming to. I felt that sick twist in my stomach again. What was I about to walk into? 

Well, to put it more accurately, what was she about to walk me into? Did my palms feel sweaty? Was I nervous? Or excited? It was hard to tell. I craned my neck to look out the windshield, but it was no use. It was snowing again, in white, fluffy sheets, obscuring our view of anything beyond a few feet in front of the vehicle. 

“Come on, I’ll show you.” What was it?? Why was she being so cryptic? I shouldn’t have been worried, should I? My heart thundered in my chest. 

In a blur, she exited the car, and we were thrust out into the storm, I braced for the snowflakes to sting my eyes, but when I opened them, I realized I was being shielded by a cupped hand. Thank you, Natalie. All I could see was down below: the length of her woolen coat, down, down further, far, far away to the snow crunching under her boots. What a long and terrible fall that would be. 

I watched as snow and concrete transitioned to the aluminum threshold of a door. The clear tinkering of a bell greeted us as those snowy boots landed on a maroon welcome mat and creaking hardwood floors. 

I could hardly take it anymore. Where were we?!? 

In the same breath, she lifted her hand away, revealing our location to my cautious and curious eyes. 

No... Way…

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[kalifornia1025]

The Red Circle Pt. 3 (SPOILERS)

*Cutely drops my notes* 

John’s REALLY struggling with the tech. I almost feel bad for the guy (almost).

Aww the episode starts off with John asking the gang (Mariana & Sherlock) if they’re okay after finding a dead body. Always nice he checks in with them!

“The good doctor here” SHERLOCK COMPLIMENTING JOHN

Imani’s back, yay!

Oh no, poor Imani…

This exchange:

Imani: “Sorry about this” (sending another red circle pic)

Mariana: “No no no-don’t be sorry”

Sherlock: “Yes you musn’t it’s fantastic”

John: “Sherlock”

Gregson and Mariana are formerly meeting!

THE MUSIC IN THIS CASE OMG ITS SO GOOD!!!

John, you’re playing Italian Mob style music to “capture the mood”?? What happened to “not wanting to stereotype?!”

JOHN JUST REPLACE THE MIC GODDAMNIT

“Ahh do I have a PTSD friend?” John’s new method to making friends apparently 

Mariana’s right this is stupid just GET A NEW MIC!! You can still keep the old one, John!

I now have a mental image of Sherlock staring wide-eyed at a big tv like he’s in a trance and I LOVE it

Aww possible future movie nights with a new tv!!

DONALD TRUMP JUMPSCARE

Wives of Cheshire comeback HA!!

“Oh you out of your trance are you?” Seriously how mesmerized was Sherlock to the tv for John to make this joke TWICE?!

Mariana discovers the next clue, awesome!

Sherlock: “I don’t seem to have (seat)belt”, Gregson: “What a shame” Gregson you’re such a salty bitch and I love you for it

Poor John trying to get around copyright stuff

“That’s a good start, you did knock and you did say please-“ another sweet moment of Sherlock getting better with social norm stuff

Wow John is REALLY stressed, and Sherlock is NOT helping

Hehe Sherlock is an iPad kid confirmed

I’m starting to love John calling Sherlock ‘Sherls’

“What’s the Site manager like? Is he…she…they?” John says nonbinary rights

John: Ah I’ve stepped in piss”, Sherlock: “Show me the urine”…um what???

You really can’t catch a break your shoes, huh John?

I’m listening to Sherlock and John talk about possibly reaching down into toilets in order to solve the case…man I love this podcast

John: “You’re doing the next one”, Sherlock: *sharp inhale* “fine” tbf Sherlock this was YOUR idea

“The Patreon numbers are gonna collapse” no such thing sir I’ve checked and we’re all here and loving this

Sherlock: “Imani would you perhaps like to have a go?”, Imani: “No”, Sherlock: “Bugger” I love how quickly he says it

Neuralizer mention! I love the Men in Black movies so much

OOOH, John and Sherlock making the realization at the same time!

Sherlock why do you always have a gun??

NOT THE CHIPMUNK VOICES DURING AN EPIC MOMENT

“English pigs, wot?” John sounded so genuinely confused by that

AHHHHHHH CLIFFHANGERS, THE BANE OF MY EXISTENCE!!!!!!

Okay as painful as that cliffhanger is, this case is getting GOOD! I’m loving it. It’s definitely jumping up to my top five fave cases from the podcast. I was not expecting the case to be as silly as it is, and I’m absolutely relishing in it. I love the irony of John insisting this case is gonna be a bad one when I’m loving every minute of it! Alright everybody, now we just have to not die from waiting on the last part…see y’all next week!

[bengiyo]

Love for Love's Sake Ep 7 Stray Thoughts

Yesterday, the game started falling apart around Myungha, and it was scary as hell. His latest mission was to get Yeowoon to 100,000 IG followers. After getting help from Sangwon's mom, Yeowoon's stalker came out of hiding and tried to snatch Myungha's phone. Sangwon berated Myungha for his behavior, and Myungha is being more direct with Yeowoon. We left on a pretty effed cliffhanger where Myungha has 24 hours to decide if his grandmother or Yeowoon should die, but I know my boy will defy fate.

In my feelings about my grandmother again. She also gave me advice before the end.

Episode 7: Choices

Yeowoon brought the apricots! 😭

I was wondering how they would use the countdown clock, and I like the choice to knock him down to 15 days. I almost wonder if the game isn't actually falling apart and this is designed for the drama.

That was a little fast, but showing Myungha choosing to abandon happiness in a vacuum but choosing Myungha in a real scenario is excellent. He didn't even hesitate.

Even if he's mostly inviting the friends over because he's worried about Yeowoon, Myungha is so right that you have to work on your friendships too. You can still have couple time later, but you gotta keep your friends involved.

I like that Sangwon and Yeowoon still pick at each other.

You love your blorbo, but do you trust him? Will you be vulnerable with him?

Oooh, I like the pen as a reward for changing anything. It's giving Vlad saying he wants to write the ending.

Yeowoon asking all the right questions, and leading to the heart of it. Happiness is more than a momentary surge of feelings from a nice treat or a kiss. It's grounded in emotional security with those we value.

Now you're making your blorbo cry! Where is Yamada? She needs to come yell at this broody boy, too!

I usually hate these kinds of breakups in romance stories, but I like the way Myungha's cowardice plays into the game mechanics for this one. It's reminding me of Lito in Sense8.

Deleted? What did you write??

I love seeing the world literally fall apart because Myungha can't be emotionally honest with Yeowoon.

Another great cliffhanger.

This has been so excellent. It's so enjoyable having a show with clear character writing and a good understanding of its core conflict. The original trailer really didn't set me up for this, but this has been a very pleasant surprise. I am thriving.

[goldenharmony]

Gosh sorry to send sudden asks but I find interesting the fact you're waiting to buy the art book just today I got my Mem-cho and Kana figures! I am intrigued about the 4 chapters only left... I wonder if AquKana can be canon I really hope so, twitter is being kind of a doom feelings well... Fingers crossed I already got the figures I would love to buy the artbook too but depends on the ending, just like you said I really related to this

Oooh which figures did you get?

4 chapters being left does make me feel a bit anxious about Aqua's fate, especially after that cliffhanger. But the final arc is called "Towards the Stars and Dreams". His date with Kana in Ch 151 has a major focus about dreams, and dreams are fixated once again in Ch 161. Both conversations bring up Aqua's dream of being a surgeon, and the mutual desire for both Aqua and Kana to pursue a relationship with one another.

While I had my issues with the last quarter, OnK Twitter has been too doomposting for me. The last straw was people insisting that Ruby was just like Airi...

I've only spent money on 2 AquaKana keychains when it comes to OnK merch, so at least it won't be a huge waste of money if somehow the last 4 chapters somehow make me regret those purchases LOL. But I always wanted to buy some real anime merch, and buying the artbook seemed perfect for it.

[imaginespazzi]

SOMEONE(you) COOKED HERE. WOWEEEE Mommy HOW DO I EVEN BEGIN THIS REVIEW THIS IS YOUR MAGNUM OPUS. Also sorry this is so late, work is crazy and all of my favorite fics updated last week. Do you, pb524830, and pboogerswbb have some kind of conspiracy to release on the same date?

May 2033 ~ A few minutes ago ~ (YA I WISH IT WAS ONLY A FEW MINUTES BETWEEN CHAPTERS AS WE'VE BEEN IN PAIN)

Stephie is so fucking cute I can't handle it. Just picturing her in a huge bed covered in a hoodie saying “Go away Mama. I’m mad at you,” I can picture her so vividly

"A craving to have Paige there too, a craving for the two of them to be cradled in the blonde’s strong arms, a craving for this almost perfect picture to be complete." -> Azzi lets get real your arms are much stronger than hers lol

Have I mentioned that you have made me do a complete 180 on Azzi -I lowkey didn't really love her early in the story (blasphemy I know). You know how to build a character arc thats for sure.

"they’ve always been hers." -> Ok this made me think about the phone call on Paige's wedding day and with the context we have now that is low key so gut wrenching for Azzi.

“she’s like family?” -> GIRL SHE YOUR DADDY

The verbiage of 'keep miss buecks forever' is making me laugh I am picturing her in a little closet under the stairs like harry potter 🧙🏿‍♂️

“how you don’t know?" -> I cry 😭😭😭😭😭

April 2027 - You know I'm always excited for some juicy Olivia content.

"The thing is that Azzi knows she can survive -can even succeed- without Paige- but she doesn’t want to." -> hmm I am wondering if this is a little glimpse into some of her reasoning for turning down the proposal. That she might cease to have her own identity and accomplishments recognized, a fear that she would be known as Paige's WAG and nothing more? Something Olivia was super happy to be known as 🤣

Ice's excitement about Azzi's plan is crushing me

Just a little while longer baby. I’m coming to you. Forever. -> TOO LATE BITCH

The glazing of Paige's hotness this chapter- those unrivaled ads really got to you eh? I mean I guess its not glazing if its true!

Oooh finally some Polivia action. Sex scene please🤣🍑🍑

May 2033 - No notes!

Wow this has really been the longest day ever

This conversation is so cathartic thank god finally

I have no notes on this conversation because it was very satisfying and honest and both of them have valid points lol

May 2027 - Tristan and Olivia should get together it feels right

Ok it has always made me laugh when you get asks being like HOW WAS STEPHIE MADE.. as if it would be anything but a one night stand with a dude

Sometimes you need to get laid in a drunken rage, and sometimes a penis is just right there 🤷🏻‍♀️

Azzi… keeping a baby because you don't want to be lonely is very much not a reason to keep a baby. I mean it worked out for ya but jesus christ!

Alright so I am so happy we finally got the reveal of this sequence of events… I think I pretty much predicted that Azzi getting pregnant was a direct result of her finding out about Olivia, but I absolutely LOVE how you added the factor of her deciding to keep the baby because of the engagement announcement. Just adding another way Paige is pretty much responsible for Stephie's existence. WHEN IT COMES TO 5 YEAR OLD STEPHIE, PAIGE, YOU ARE THE FATHER (crowd screams, Maury shakes Paige's hand)

One thing I was curious about - when we first meet Olivia after P's goodbye presser, she talks about how Paige kept them on the DL for months because she didn't want Azzi to find out and wanted to tell her first. Does Paige think the engagement announcement was Azzi's first time hearing about Olivia? Did she not give her a heads up in between Azzi seeing her with O and the announcement? Cold blooded 😬

Ok this was far too long and I have nothing left to say except the ending of this did leave me feeling optimistic, whereas the cliffhangers leave me feeling empty and sad lol. I vote Paige makes her decision quickly and the rest of the story is pure fluff the end bye love ya. 🤱🏻🤱🏻🤱🏻

OMG BABES I AM SO GLAD TO SEE YOU! I figured you were busy and I wouldn't get a live reaction this time but I'm so happy you're here <3

And lmao no we don't plan it but great minds and all that I guess...

Okay starting by calling me out....I see

Stephie is the actual loml like I'm so attached to this little kid

You're right, you're right Azzi's arms are definitely stronger but hey Paige's are pretty nice too

Awwww I'm glad I've been able to write Azzi in a way that made you like her again. She's definitely changed a lot in the last couple of chapters and has grown as a person in this fic.

Paige is really just Stephie's pet she wants to adopt

I like your break up theory :)

I'm just a girl who likes pretty girls...thank you Phee and Stewie for those ads

POLIVIA OH MY GOD DON'T MAKE ME GAG. Just writing them all cute made me gag a little, I couldn't do anything more without offing myself.

Writing the chapter was pretty cathartic; felt like a long time coming for them.

Listen as much as it pained me to write about a man....it was inevitable like truly nothing else was gonna make sense to the plot.

Never say Azzi hasn't made spontaneous extreme decision in her life...she will simply point to her fucking child.

At the end of the day, not by blood, but but destiny or fate or something like those things, Stephie exists because of Paige. They're tethered your honor.

Yes it was but that's not necessarily how Paige wanted it to happen.

[satancopilotsmytardis]

Oooh, another Bitch Me chapter!

Oh poor Dabi. He missed the others so much. Oh god, the tension is terrible. Nobody is having a good time with this.

Shigaraki is trying to make things go back to normal. Well, as normal as they can manage after that. But Dabi can't deal with that and it just makes everything worse because things can't go back to normal. Not so suddenly. Not when there is no "normal" to go back to.

Shigaraki is so angry at himself because he hurt Dabi. He hurt him and he doesn't know how to fix this, doesn't know if it can he fixed. God this is a mess.

WTF did AfO say to Shigaraki??

Oh. Shigaraki is scared that he will hurt the others too. That's why he's distancing himself. He thinks if he lets Dabi spend time with the pack without being around, maybe it will get better.

Neither of them are okay. Dabi thinks he did something wrong and Shigaraki thinks he's a bad pack alpha.

Dabi is trying so, so desperately to be good. To do everything, anything to get Shigaraki's attention again. This is terrible :(

Oh, oh they're fighting. Is this the kind of big argument you mentioned? Oh I hate this. I hate this so much. Why are you doing this to them Tanco?

Though the difference between born wolf and turned wolf are very interesting.

Also really cool that the League is on Dabi's side. They lived with this, but they also saw what the Bitching did to Dabi. They know it's wolf culture, but they're family. They wouldn't want to choose, but if they have to, it comes to their personal opinions, doesn't it? And Shigaraki already hurt one of their own, no matter how "necessary" it was.

Dabi is choosing the League, because they're his pack. He chose Shigaraki, because he is pack too. He wanted so, so badly to make this work.

I'm 100% convinced that AfO is behind this. Shigaraki wss clearly uncomfortable with everything going on. He was also clearly scared of AfO.

This is a mess. This is terrible. Why would you leave us at this cliffhanger? Like, I know the big fight happens next and I know that Dabi was knocked out for most of it in canon too but god damn it.

Dabi saw his father in Shigaraki's actions and was ready to burn it all down. Oh he must feel so betrayed.

Amazing chapter as always.

This is the fic where they SUFFER

Shigaraki is definitely mercurial in this one and Dabi will be out for the Kamino fight just like in the anime, so you can look forward to next chapter picking up from there!

Thank you so much for commenting, I'm glad you enjoyed!

[thesecondlight-luna]

when I get stuck in a au story

“Oh hey insert blog here has started posting their new au on their blog that they have on Ao3 and are posting one chapter a day so we don’t over load and cram all the reading in one sitting. This I great I have been wanting to read this but couldn’t start it as I have had no spare time to read during the day. I can read this on my way to swim!”

Day 1

“Oooh this is really good I’m so happy I can read it a little at a time!”

Day 2

“It only getting even better they next chapter will be so good!”

Day 3

“Ooooooh chapter 3 is so good I wasn’t able too read on my way to swim so I’m reading it before I go to bed …. You know I have some time right now finding the Ao3 link I could read another chapter….. yea why not.”

2 hours later (with me doing a few things in between because i forgot a homework thing that I needed to do)

“Aaaaaaah!!!!! It is so good let’s read the next…. Oh that’s all of the 12 current chapters and it’s… O-O, 23:00 oh I did the exact thing that they started posting it on tumblr to help us avoid…… Oooops.”

in all honesty it was so good I enjoyed reading it so much I can’t wait for chapter 13 as it had a big cliffhanger at the end. But yes I get a little hyper focused when reading and will end up reading for hours without realizing I have done this with a lot of books and AUs on tumbler though -_-

[sidecharactersdomatter]

Thoughts I had during TGCF S1 Ep 10

-Previously on TGCF…

-Another recap on the Ban Yue mystery, like in Ep 3

-I mean who wouldn’t fear the snakes, I know I wouldn’t

-She’s coming into the pit

-Oooh she cast a purple illuminating flame and is levitating down safely

-San Lang got protective again

-Kemo still resents her

-She saw Xie Lian and San Lang

-Oh yeah that was San Lang

-So many fallen Ban Yue soldiers

-Oh that line was sad

-Yeah it was all San Lang’s doing

-You mean he’s a follower at your temple

-I love how the perceptor’s stoicism is portrayed in the English Dub

-Another spell cast to remove the Pit’s barrier

-We’ll find out soon enough

-Hi Fu Yao

-Yeah you’re not gonna like it anyways Fu Yao

-Oooh scattering flames

-So many dead people

-You’re still excusing the murder???

-I wasn’t kidding when I said Fu Yao isn’t great at crowd control

-He is beating her to a pulp

-She’s asking for forgiveness while getting her skull bashed no…

-Thank you Xie Lian

-He knows her

-Thank you Fu Yao

-That’s her name

-Aw she’s clutching his sleeve

-Oooohhh!  Plot twist!

-We’re about to hear it dude

-That’s a really old compass

-She’s holding his hand and he’s patting her head my freaking heart!!!! 

-Oh San Lang smiled because XL’s alias used ‘Hua’

-*Sees the black trail of smoke at the foot of the cliff*  Oh No!

-I mean, he kind of is insane after what he’s been through after Xianle fell…

-No Baby Ban Yue it’s dirty

-Oh No! Vomit trigger warning for this episode people

-No it is not for the frail at all

-D-don’t keep eating it

-Aw she’s so hungry…

-She was so young…

-Xie Lian raised her more than her Yong’An father did (and to some extent her late mother)

-Aw the small dance

-That explains the tripping over the bootlaces death

-Aw the scene where he covered his eyes with his hands it’s like he was about to play Peek-a-boo with Ban Yue, (he really is father material okay)

-Fu Yao rolled his eyes again

-That really does explain a lot

-Aw San Lang liked his explanation

-It was still a good choice after all Xie Lian

-Oh she has tears in her eyes

-Take it easy with the ‘Bad Cop’ routine Fu Yao

-I don’t think she is shifting the Blame

-Woah mystical bindings

-Oh no a scorpion snake

-Thank you San Lang

-Oh no there’s more of them

-She can’t dispel them

-Wait did San Lang manipulate the snakes for a sec???

-Well that’s bad

-Aw great another cliffhanger and it’s the most stressful one yet!

-Oooh I never heard Hong Jue play at the End of this Ep!

2 Eps left to go people! 

[whovianwatchingstartrek]

A Whovian Watches Star Trek for the First Time: Part 103 - Spirits of the Blue Forests

Star Trek: Discovery - Season 1 Episode 8 - Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum

Oooh, Latin title! Running it through translate, it appears to mean "IF you want peace, prepare for war" which is a bit ominous!

We open with the Discovery launching a surprise rescue mission of another Starfleet ship under Klingon Attack. The Mission is however a failure. The other ship is lost, and Discovery has to Spore Jump out of there. Despite the Spore Drive's great speed abilities, the Klingon invisibility ships are just impossible to target until they make themselves visible, which is an difficult problem that I can't wait to see how they think around.

Meanwhile, Paul seems to be having some after effects from being plugged into the Spore drive. We know from last episode that Ripper's DNA had some weird time effect on him, and now he appears to have a bit of confusion, and accidentally refers to Sylvia Tilly as Captain. A hint at the future perhaps? Well, later in the episode we get some more details about what he's experiencing, but I can't figure out if it's time related, or multiverse related or just entirely in his head. I need more to go on.

After the aforementioned battle, we find out that Starfleet Command has asked discovery to go to a planet called Pahvo. Saru, Michael, Ash make up this the ground team, and the plan is to study the planet's unique vibrations to make a SONAR system for detecting the cloaked Klingon ships. I'm not 100% sure how a Sonar System is supposed to work in the vacuum of Space, surely the vibrations would need matter to be carried across. Either way, the planet is absolutely gorgeous. I love the blues.

I actually really enjoy this trio working together. Now that Michael and Saru have made up, they bounce off each other pretty well, they have some fun banter with eachother across the scenes of them exploring the planet, and have a really nice balance of personalities. They encounter some Ethereal creatures, and now the team are required to make official first Contact. Michael mentions that there is an official protocol for that now, which is certainly going to make things a lot easier than in the days of Archer making it up as he went along. While Saru is off trying to communicate with the creatures, Ash and Michael have a moment of bonding by the fire. They want to be together, but as long as there is a war, they'll be kept busy and as soon as the war is over, Michael is going back to prison. It's a very important problem for Michael's future, and we get an interesting look into both her Ash's moralities in this scene. And also a kiss, which is also nice.

The Pahvans initiate a telepathic communication with Saru, who then crushes Michael and Ash's communicators and goes mad at trying to keep the team on the planet. Ash takes command and decides to distract Saru while Michael tries to contact Discovery.

Also, throughout the episode we keeping cutting back to the Klingons. The Klingon leaders are trying to torture Admiral Cornwell, but apparently the Torturer has other plans. The Torturer wants to defect to the Federation, and launches a plan to escape with the Admiral. They move to assassinate the leadership as they escape, but are caught in the process and end up in a faux fight with eachother to avoid recapture. The torturer knocks Cornwell unconscious, and uses it to feign her death, and dumps her unconscious body in with a bunch of real Klingon bodies. I'm not sure where their arc is going, but I will say it's first time in Discovery that the Klingon side of things has properly held my attention enough to fully work through my difficulties with subtitles.

We're left on a cliffhanger of the Pahvans summoning the Klingon Flagship, because they don't understand the reality of war and want to bring harmony, and Discovery is left to protect them.

I really liked this episode. The Pahvo stuff was really nice, I love delving into these characters. It was a lovely episode for Saru, and how he's entirely motivated by keeping the Pahvans out of the war is beautiful. Apparently, this was the first time he had lived without fear, and his reaction to having that taken away is heartbreaking. The character development on Michael and Ash was amazing too. I love this kind of character focus episode.

[theveganearper]

Wayhaught Angst

Alright, I’m back with another fic talks topic. Oooh, we got a name for it. Hashtag, fic talks. I’m talking about angst today. When I read angst, I’m like OOOOH SHIT IS GOIN DOWN. I read a Wayhaught fic recently (as you do) and I came across one angst scene where Waverly’s been dealing with lots on her plate regarding work and bills and life in general and Nicole notices something that makes her upset because she feels that Waverly is being careless but boy was it a great bit of angst to read. I’m like, YES! The work I’m talking about is from Cam, who’s just flipping... holy cow level of amazing. It’s actually from Cam's Everything You Need To Know series. So good!

I feel like if angst is done in the right way, where it doesn’t get borderline verbally abusive, it’s so good to read. I love when you get the miscommunication bits in fic. With Wayhaught fics we often get something with lots of angst more specifically in enemies to lovers fics OR we get a cute and fluffy fic. But when you get that balance of angst and fluff? Buddy, chefs kiss! Best of both worlds. And when it ends a chapter on a little angst cliffhanger? Hook n real, you’ve got me. But I love Wayhaught fics that have angst because it adds a little something. I like showing the imperfections in relationships especially with communication because then it’s like, yeah, not every relationship is rainbows and sunshine all the time and communication is the biggest reason why things get..."angsty". Waverly has a fire to her personality and Nicole can be very calm which I love because… Have you ever argued with someone that's totally calm and it’ made you angrier? I feel like their arguments would go in that direction haha. Anyways, Angst was on my mind because I’ve been writing it. I can be a bit self deprecating with my own writing and angst is one of the criticisms I wrote for myself on what I could write better so I’ve been writing lots of it lately. It’s been a little angsty in my Apple notes. So, there ya have it. The inspo for this fic talks. Until next time beautiful people!

[cdyssey]

Elsbeth (1.09) Reactions:

Spoilers beneath the cut!

OH, Arian is the guy who plays Stewy on Succession… haven’t watched Succ yet, but fun!

Ivy and Joe’s bond would be sweet if he wasn’t about to be the next celebrity culprit fjekfjsj

Elsbeth: “It’s kind of eery, isn’t it? She looks so peaceful.” / Kaya: “Dead people usually do.”

oooh, he killed the wrong person. fun twist.

“You doing an interpretive dance or do you have a theory?” Gdjsjsjs, I love how deadpan Kaya is.

“You know, I think I can see someone wanting to kill that woman.” GJDJFJDJD.

“If I wanted to be duplicitous and obstruct justice, I would have stayed a lawyer.” the one liners are so fucking funny tonight. My god

Elsbeth trying to communicate with Wagner via paint swabs, lmao.

Joe’s bar looks so goddamn cool. I would happily have an overpriced drink in there.

Both Elsbeth and Kaya holding the phone, their hands brushing. 🥺 (shut up. I’ll take what crumbs I can get.)

half of these write ups just end up being me salivating over Elsbeth’s wardrobe, but anyway, that red coat 😍

Super enjoying the pacing of this ep’s investigation. feels organic.

whoa, I didn’t know that about bartender rings!!!

Arian/Joe is so charming.

I love watching Elsbeth figure stuff out—like walking on the wet floor and taking a print. It scratches a lovely puzzle solving itch.

Claudia is a great supporting character. Really appreciate how her presence allows us to see Wagner in a more complex light. For him, the bottom line is protecting her.

New Kaya tidbit! She apparently dated a bartender before… who turned out to be a psycho.

LOLOL, elsbeth spitting out the drink the young bartender made.

“Frothy, colorful, but complicated.” yeah, that’s elsbeth.

This moment between Elsbeth and Joe is so real and so good, and it’s another fine example of one of my favorite recurring elements of the show—the way that Elsbeth strives to empathize with the people she’s pursuing.

Not only does she typically understand them, sometimes she even knows exactly where they’re coming from.

“I was so angry. I wanted to hurt that nasty kid. I wanted to do something.” Like, look at this quote! Elsbeth is bright and wonderfully weird, yes, and she has her inner darknesses too. But here’s the crucial thing—not in spite of her brightness but alongside it. It’s such a compelling combination of traits, and it’s a dynamic that the show has explored in incredible ways already.

Re: Joe threatening Elsbeth: One day, I wonder if the show will eventually play with Elsbeth constantly pushing culprits’ boundaries. Hhhhhhgh. What if one of them snaps?

This ruse to trap Joe is a lot, lmao.

“Claudia will kill me if anything happens to you!”

FULLY thought that Wagner was about to get shot. ☠️

“Maybe that’s why I got the job, and you didn’t.” killer line.

“And you can go back to Chicago now.” ELSBETH AND KAYA’S FACES IMMEDIATELY FALLING.

AND, FUCK, WAGNER REQUESTING IT!!! GOD GOD GOD.

FUCK, THAT’S A GOOD AND ANGSTY CLIFFHANGER.

ANDRÉ DE SHIELDS IN THE NEXT EPISODE?!!!?!

this was a fun penultimate episode. arian moayed killed it, and I loved the cliffhanger ending. really sets the stakes for the finale.

[scoonsalicious]

Erm hi, I went for a trip… and came back to this wonderful chaos that is happening in Unwanted. WHAT????!!!! You have had me pulling at my hair, frowning at my phone, and tearing at fictional characters that only existed in 3 parts. PARTS! Not even chapters… what is happening…

Firstly, I need a Tony. I need a Tony that is like Pocket’s Tony. The back story… is *chef’s kiss* and we all need someone like that watching over us with just love and adoration and support and ❤️

Secondly, while I’m absolutely livid at Bucky… my soft heart for him can’t wait for his redemption. But he better wise up and just shake his head a little more to put his brain in place. And of coz that snippet of C26 I think… please don’t break my heart anymore… don’t break Pocket’s anymore 😔

Thirdly, WAIT WHAT SEQUEL? please don’t end unwanted on a cliffhanger… I’ll LITERALLY DIE I NEED SOME SORT OF CLOSURE AND A TIME TO CATCH MY BREATH before falling head first into another one of your beautifully crafted, exceptionally written works.

Okie, thank you for listening. Please leave me at this corner and ignore my rambling. I love you I love your writing okie bye

- 🌗

Oooh, where did you go? I hope you had a good time! We all need a Tony like Pocket's Tony, ngl. Someone who believes in us, who looks at us and sees the potential we have to be our best selves, and lets us nurture it, while providing unwavering love and support. I want that for all of us, and I want all of us to be that for someone <3

Bucket's been in heavy therapy since Pocket went away. He's a little bit assy in Chapt 25, but he's getting some horrible, unexpected news, right along with Pocket, and he's seeing just how horribly his actions have hurt her. It's kind of a come-to-Jesus moment for both of them, and going forward, we're only healing! No more heartbreak (at least not from Bucky!)

There will not be a cliffhanger to set up for a sequel, I promise! There will be a couple of oneshots after, and I'm going to work on a new series in between, but the sequel, as it stands, is going to cover the events of Infinity War and Endgame from Pocket's perspective. Unwanted will remain a standalone story with its own happy ending. I love you so much, and I'm so grateful for you!

[grigori77]

Critical Role, Campaign 3 Episode 59

Okay, so cliffhanger payoff time, then? Where did they jump to? What's happening? Are they okay? Or are we winding back the clock? Are we FINALLY going back to the other three? I've been so worried for WEEKS now ... honestly I'm desperate to know what's happening with Imogen and Co after Matt pulled THAT CLIFFHANGER but ... yeah, part of me REALLY needs to finally know if the others are okay too ...

But first ... the intro ... oh the nerves of the WAIT ...

Sam ... what the hell, man? Dear gods what is WRONG with you? Oh, a reveal? Ah ... yeah ... okay then ... WHAT?!!!

"Swollen Riegel" ... (snort)

Yes, Candela Obscura is COMING!!! Cool ... looking forward to THAT one ...

Travis sending Sam away from the table for being too distracting is so on point ...

Okay, so here we go ...

"With THIS half oh Bells Hells" ... oh? OH?!!! Is it? Is this it, then?

Yes! It's them! Finally! But also AAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!! How are they gonna handle this now they're missing the others? Especially LAUDNA?!!! O.O

Damn ... Liam rolling sweet AGAIN, how I've missed that ...

Marisha: "I've got the maps now, bitch!" XD

Compass points and landmarks ... hmmm ... so where are they? 18 is a good History roll ... oh, so there are THREE possibilities here, then ... but ... hmmmmm ... so they ARE on a different continent ...

Issylra? Hmmmm ...

Trying to hear Imogen ... nothing ... oh gods, Laudna, hang in there! She's okay! We promise! If I could hug you I would.

TWO sending stones? Hmmmmm ... let's see how THIS goes ... ah shit, not the D100 again ...

Trying AGAIN?!!! Oh boy ... and ANOTHER roll ... crap ... DON'T DROP IT!!! Oh man ...

Ashton has a little giggly tantrum ... yeah ...

And Laudna can't get hold of ANYBODY ... gods this is PAINFUL even though we already KNOW they're okay ... man ...

Pate ... at least there's a little creepy adorable comic relief to be had ... "miniature drone VR experience" ... lovely.

Clearly DOWN is not an option, then ...

Up is forest ... yup, looks better. Go that way.

Hard climb, though ... hmmm ... Laudna's Featherfall as a safeguard is SMART, as well as the Immovable Rod ... oh, and Ashton has his fancy Earth Genasi advantages too ...

GEYSERS?!!! SERIOUSLY, MATTHEW?!!! COME ON!!!

Oh fuck yeah ... Laudna REALLY needs to stay away from THAT shit ...

Oh no ... something MOVING?!!! Right now? Nooooooo ...

And Marisha has completely forgotten about her Spiderclimb ... "I haven't played this character in MONTHS!!!" No shit!

A guest? Already? Wait .. AIMEE!!! OMG!!!

She's talking like a New Yorker from the Heights ... a dwarf? Oooh ... oh, she a total punky VAVAVOOM dwarf ... cute ... yes, VERY cute! I like her already.

"Just don't" ... yeah. XD Never get too much if that.

Help them up, help them up! Liam: "I start hauling you up with my massive halfling muscles."

Mona. But probably not. Hmmm ...

Laudna relocating her knee in such a matter of fact way is just ...

Waaaaaaaaiiitttt ... oh my GOD ... does this mean that ALL the Ruidusborn have just been bounced around in all kinds of new places by this mess?

He left her AT THE ALTAR?!!! The bastard!

Climbing on as a foursome ... oh thank fuck THAT'S over snd done with ...

She has booze! Nice! Just perfect!

Ashton: "How are you feeling, now we're no longer hanging off a cliff." Laudna: "Oh, I still feel like I'm hanging off a cliff, in my head."

Wow ... this place sounds like it's probably REALLY NICE in the day ... and they STILL don't know where they are ...

"What YEAR is it?" And none of them actually KNOW that to begin with ... XD

"Grassy knoll"? (snort)

So no real time has passed ... phew ...

Mona meets Pate ... here we go ...

Laudna: "Behave yourself." Mona: "Yeah, eyes up here." Pate: "I don't have eyes."

There's a leyline nexus point up ahead? Intriguing ... and there's a town up there too ... yes, go there! Civilisation! That's what you need ...

BIIIIIIIIIIIIIG fucking mountain ... Nice landmark ... but not enough to point them to where they are yet ...

An ocean? Hmmmmm ...

Pass Without A Trace so they don't have to go slow ... Aimee (in a bad Aussie accent): "Let's do some bad math ..." Matt: "Bad METH?!!!" XD

Campfire? There's a fire ... hmmm ... what's all this then? Matt: "The saddest little campfire you've ever seen."

Pate being sneaky on his scout ... hmmm ... a cart ... and some kind of an elk? Hmmmm again ...

Liam makes a Princess Mononoke reference ... :3 I love these geeks so much ...

Heading in to introduce themselves ...

Another new guest ... here we go ...

And they're just SHOOTING THEIR CROSSBOW blindly off into the darkness! Oh dear ...

Wow, this guy is REALLY skittish ...

A half-elf, really skinny one ... oh yes, TOTAL nerd type. Yup.

Spells? He's got SPELLS?!!! A LIGHTNING BOLT?!!! AT FIFTH LEVEL?!!! REALLY?!!! TEN D6s? Bloody hell ... 47 points of lightning damage to Mona? Halved af least, but STILL ...

Everybody CHILL!!!

And then Laudna just shoots an Eldritch Blast warning shot ... oh dear ... oh, truce? Okay ...

Fucking hell, and they have NO HEALERS right now ... oh HE HAS Cure Wounds at least ... thank fuck ...

Bor'Dor Dog'Son? Hmmm ... to Laudna: "Are you dead?" Laudna: "Well it's ... complicated ..."

So he's from Wildemount? Hmmmm ... so HE'S been zapped somewhere too ... and he was looking after his sick brother too. Not good ...

So his magis powers are a NEW THING ... very suspect ... yes, that's just weird ...

Not a HUGE amount of food ... but Ashton has cheese, apparently. So ...

Oh yeah, I'm not even remotely surprised that Bor'Dor us creeped out by Pate ...

I FORGOT that they'd put people in the Hole ... yeah, they're now definitely DEAD ... hmmmm ...

Oh, wine? That's cool ...

The reindeer is named Ratchet ... yeah ...

There's something out there in the trees ... great ... we really don't need this right now ...

Yet again for Orym's freakishly high perception ...

Emily? A THIRD guest? Okay ...

"Greenpeace clipboard person"? An elf from the Shadowfell? Hmmmmm ... but a very geeky seeming one ... oh, she's strangely gothic but also NOT ... and she's CONDUCTING A SURVEY?!!! Wait ... she's COBALT SOUL?!!! Damn! Oh, they're a TRAINEE ...

A "sourceless" voice?

Mona's really name is Denise? What?

Weird ass talking book ... Dynios ... oh, it's a mage trapped in a book ... hmmm ...

So they got "Shunted" ... okay ...

Hahaha yeah ... "sassy book" ...

Orym (shouting into the trees): "Is there anyone else out there right now? Just wondering?"

Taking the survey then ... hmmmm ... this'll be a trip ...

Prism? Cute name. Cool ... I think she's completely adorable. :3

Yeah, crazy Orym acrobatics ...

Oh, so it's Deni$e ... yup ... that's about right.

Ah yes ... the "dead woman" in Laudna's head ... and here comes Pate ... oh boy ... "I'm Pate de Rolo, and I'm really horny." Oof ...

"How would you RATE YOUR EXPERIENCE with the Apogee Solstice?" Yeah ...

Something ELSE is coming now ... something DRAGGING ... okay ... that's probably not good ...

Yay! Form of Dread! Creepy plant woman nightmare visage! I love it! And it shares Bor'Dor so much he scream-pukes ... as something comes out of the forest ...

Matt: "And that's where we're gonna take a break!"

Liam: "We've been travelling with the Ring girl for months! He's brand new!" XD

Back again ... with "the Breakfast Club" ... XD

Prism has a RAVEN? Awww ... "Mother"? Hmmmm ...

Battlemap! Yes! Wow .... pretty ...

I love it ... instead of Sam's flask we now have Marisha's fan ... :3

Veiny vine creatures? Charming ...

ROLL INITIATIVE!!!

This is luke some freakish Poison Ivy minion stuff ...

Orym hacks (miss) and slashes (hit!) ...

Laudna: "Kill him with FIRE!!!" Firebolt! Yeah! 32 points of Fire Damage ... but these things are FURE RESISTANT?!!! But they're plants! "Ah ... fire ... fire may have FAILED!!! DON'T kill it with fire!"

Deni$e RAGES?!!! She's a barbarian! Nice! She boots it away ... and punts it RIGHT AT Bor'Dor! Oops ... time for payback! XD

Now ASHTON Rages too! Yay ... fancy mystical trippy Raging! Nice ... BOOM!!! And a WORMHOLE STRIKE?!!! Awesome ...

Fuck! Additional sneaky surprise angry flower attacks! Not fair! 14 points of poison damage ... from ONE strike? Double not fair!

Laudna throws Silvery Barbs to try and save Bor'Dor from getting battered ... nuts, no joy! Ouch ...

Riposte? Cool ... AND he gets to SAVE himself after all ... or not ... NO!!! Orym gets battered ...

Prism trying her magic FOR THE FIRST TIME?!!! Oh shit ... Steel Wind Strike? Cool ... holy shit and SHE CRITS on her first hit! AND her second! Bloody hell ... 29 TWICE?!!! 58 points of damage! Fucking hell ... AND SHE GETS THE HDYWTDT!!!

Prism: "How's that for a field test? Because they're plant's, right?" Laudna: "The best jokes are the ones you have to explain!"

Bor'Dor is terrified and gets thd chills as he freezes ... but instead accidentally makes some kind of crazy ice attack! Ray if Frist! Cool ... 14 points of Freezing damage! Sweet!

And then he curls up into a tiny non-threatening ball ... awwwwwww ...

Orym pulls a Bait and Switch with him and goes on the attack! Miss ... boo! Then HIT! Nice ... Action Surge! Yes!

Wither and Bloom! Yesssssss ... Laudna trashes the remaining creatures and gives the hit dice back to Orym! Cool ...

Yes! Dwarves have poison resistance! Sweet! Deni$e swings and hits HARD!!! Added sneaky attack for the win! Sweet! And then she trips the fucker up with her whip! Nice ...

Ashton hits it while it's down! 12 damage on the first hit, 15 on the second ... and he knocks it away into the cart too ... oh yeah, the cart is TRASHED!!! Oops ...

Aimee: "It's not demoralised?" Matt: "Oh, I've been demoralised many times in my life and still stood up."

This nasty fucking thing can HEAL ITSELF by eating the rottng corpses it's devoured ... yuck ...

Fuck! Orym has just been SWALLOWED?!!!

Prism sends Dynios into the thing and uses Dimension Door to teleport him back out again! Orym is IMMEDIATELY saved ... that was AWESOME!!!

Prism: "How's THAT for a field test?" Liam (laughing): "Not another bad joke but THE SAME ONE!!!"

The stench overpowers Bor'Dor and he just PUKES again ... Matt: You can get up snd move, you know." Utkarsh: "Nah." Matt: "I respect that!" XD So he LIGHTNING BOLTS the fucker ...

More awesome Orym acrobatics! Nice ... First hit misses but second hits HARD!!! 17 points of damage ... and it's the HDYWTDT!!! Yay!

Laudna pulls Chill Touch on the last one. And then two Eldritch Blasts! POW POW!!! Sweet ...

Deni$e inflicts 34 points of slashing damage ... but she's also poisoned! Aaaaargh ... oof ... charming ... and yet she STILL gets the HDYWTDT!!! Wow! She full on DOMINATRIX attacks this thing with her whip and just KILLS the fucker. I love it ... XD

Laudna skitters over to Bor'Dor in THE SCARIEST WAY ... "Are you okay?" Seriously?

Ashton and Deni$e are immediately bonding now over both being total badasses. :3

Laudna: "You don't have to be so abrasive!" Pate: "I don't know how else to be! You made me like this!"

Ashton is correct, an exploding glyph at THE MOUTH OF A CAVE is a BAD idea ...

Sheep are QUIET animals? What sheep have YOU been hanging around, mate? Liam: "The other group did goats, we can't do that too!"

Oh god ... creepy booby-trap talking corpses ... this is so fucked up ... and it keeps getting worse with EACH new suggestion ... this is turning into a nightmarish freakshow ...

Discussing what happened at the Solstice ... and Prism knows all about Ludinus because she's Cobalt Soul ...

The old question again, what are they coming next?

Bor'Dor has to keep checking the tag on his potato sack to remember where he's from ... XD It's quite adorable in a really pathetic way.

Liam joking that the corpses are very much like the animatronic Presidents at Disney Land ... LOL

Wow ... is Bor'Dor and Prism staying up on watch turning into a meet-cute? I mean they're both so adorably dweeby ... :3

Next watch is Ashton and Laudna ... here we go ... am I gonna cry now?

Ashton: "This us what we do, we bring everybody back. There is no failure in this." Whoo ... that is one HARDCORE PROMISE, Greymoore.

Laudna sends Pate go find Ratchet again.

Deni$e knows Gilmour ... wait ... DARIAX?!!! He's on a wanted poster? ORYM'S on a wanted poster? So SHE knows Dariax? Holy fuck ... HE is the ex? Bloody hell ... O.O

Orym: "What I'm SUPPOSED to say us we're gonna find our friends and sort this out. But I'm having a tough time believing that."

Waking up ...

Prism suggesting CRAFTING a Sending Spell ... hmmmm ... I am NOT confident about that right now ...

Breathtaking view ...

The Ascendant Bridge Mountain ... the Sunderpeak Valley ... oh, Vasselheim? Wow ... they are FUCKING FAR AWAY INDEED ...

Orym: "It's not an imaginary horse, it's an IMAGINARY imaginary horse."

Heading for the town, then. Slogging away chewing jerky.

Matt: "And THAT'S where we're gonna end it for tonight."

New group to continue for the foreseeable, then ... and I LIKE them ...

[octoberobserver]

Thanks for the tag @tinyarmedtrex!

How many works do you have on ao3? - 79

What’s your total ao3 word count? - 796,627

What fandoms do you write for? - Currently IT (2019), Good Omens, 9-1-1, Our Flag Means Death, Spideypool, The Last of Us, The Righteous Gemstones

What are your top 5 fics by kudos? -

Have Happened (Stranger Things - Steve/Nancy/Jonathan)

Say Anything...Except That (Spideypool)

(Ain't Nothin' Like) The Real Thing (The Falcon and The Winter Soldier)

The Flag Means More (Our Flag Means Death)

Life is Short(er than Eddie Kaspbrak) (IT/Reddie)

Look Up (Spideypool)

Do you respond to comments? - Yep I do :)

What’s the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? - Ooooh I tend to write happy endings, but I guess you could argue Say Anything...Except That is angsty 'cause I haven't finished it and left it on a bit of a cliffhanger...oops. Sorry!

What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? - Most have happy endings but one of my favourites is probably my Reddie fic Blind(ing) Date 

Do you get hate on fics? - I have once or twice, but nothing too bad, thankfully

Do you write smut? - Lol yep

Do you write crossovers? - I think Spideypool counts technically?

What’s the craziest one you’ve ever written? - Probably Say Anything...Except That. It has a LOT of Marvel characters that interact

Have you ever had a fic stolen? - Not that I'm aware of, no.

Have you ever had a fic translated? - Yeah, a few :D

Have you ever co-written a fic? - I have collaborated with my friend yep

What’s your all time favourite ship? - Oooh that's a tough one. I think it changes all the time, but one constant is always Reddie. Though they're not my longest-shipped.

What’s a wip you want to finish but doubt you ever will? - I refuse to admit it's Say Anything...Except That, so I'll go with my One Day At A Time series. Sorry!

What are your writing strengths? - I think I can write witty dialogue and banter between characters

What are your writing weaknesses? - Definitely description

Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic? - I would love to, but I don't speak Spanish or Irish fluently so don't think I'd do a great job haha!

First fandom you wrote for? - I think it was Harry Potter back in the day? Probably Romione followed by Wolfstar.

Favourite fic you’ve ever written? - Oh wow that is a real tough one! I have so many favourites, tbh. If I had to pick a more recent one though, it would be my Reddie fic A Stubbornly Persistent Illusion 

I'll tag any of my followers who wanna partake :D

[mdhwrites]

I feel like something funny about people saying S2B was written with the shortening in mind, and so they had little time to spend, is that the majority of the time travel plot in Elsewhere Elsewhen is rendered redundant by Hollow Mind. The Savage Ages not being that bad, Philip always being a jerk, the Collector being revealed: all accomplished by the trip into Belos's mind and memories. The only thing the time travel thing does is explain why Belos hasn't gone after Luz, and set up Luz's arc of guilt for the rest of the series. Seeing that Belos is at his core pathetic and being beat up by Lilith was great, but he's also played completely seriously as a threat for the rest of the show. Even Luz's encounter against him in King's Tide draws more on the events of Hollow Mind then in Elsewhere Elsewhen.

I personally think Elsewhere Elsewhen is the worst episode of the show. It solidified that Lilith wasn't someone you could take seriously anymore and a whole new character, it ruined anything interesting about Belos' rise to power, it uses just a DUMB time travel mcguffin to have its plot, there's very little actually entertaining about it besides Luz's little jokes here and there, it RUINS the Isles in my opinion and anything interesting about them and... Yeah. It's a complete fucking waste of time. (It also introduces BS trauma for Luz which made me make a writing lesson blog about trauma in fantasy stories you can find here.) And I was saying that BEFORE Hollow Mind because... Yeah. Hollow Mind was always coming. It's impressive how redundant Hollow Mind makes Elsewhere Elsewhen but also, Elsewhere Elsewhen only has two minutes of screen time that is actually important. That progresses the narrative, in part for much of what you said. Though I do want to point out that the episode never paints him as pathetic. Physically weak perhaps but he somehow manages to trick the ex-head of the EC and Eda's apprentice with a bare bones scam and gets away almost scot-free for it. But that is not the larger problem. The problem is that the stinger at the end of Elsewhere Elsewhen is a waste. Of. Time. Let's actually talk about stingers for a moment and their uses and why Elsewhere Elsewhen's is the worst kind. First, of course, what is a stinger? It's a small thing at the end of the episode that is usually at least slightly disconnected from the rest of the episode and often serve as cliffhangers. This can be done in multiple ways like just five seconds of showing someone is watching, cutting away for a minute to a different character and what they're doing, etc. like that. Amphibia and TOH actually both start using them in S2 of their shows (just another WEIRD connection between the two where it feels like TOH is badly copying Amphibia's homework) and Amphibia does it better. Amphibia mostly does the building tension form of a stinger. This is because the stinger only ever is about Frobo (I haven't actually gotten to him yet, still only halfway through S2) and once with King Andrias and his chess board. Both are hinting towards future villains and have a tone of a looming threat but incorporating them into the episode would be awkward and so they're placed at the end as effectively a cliffhanger. TOH tried to do this in their first episode of S2 with the scrying potion. It was dumb and obviously just a fake out to be like "OOOH, BELOS! Luz won't see him again until S2B!" It's... Not as effective as Amphibia showing Frobo emerging and starting to follow the Plantars. I will give that the stinger of creepy Luz back home with Camila IS a good version of this sort of stinger. Another version is just moving the plot along. This is one that TOH does a lot more and to mixed effect. Escaping Expulsion, Them's the Breaks and Elsewhere Elsewhen (theoretically) are three I can name off the top of my head if you count them. The first is just functional. It gets the point across but also feels anti-Isles because sure, someone with enough money tooootally couldn't recruit enough greedy people to make their own army. The abomatons are totally a new concept for this place. Second has the problem of being ALL the plot we get on that front when there was so much more you could do with Raine and his rebellion. And Elsewhere Elsewhen, besides the issues I'll bring up soon, has the problem of making the reveal of Belos is Philip in Hollow Mind, which is done shockingly well, weaker. You can also use stingers to help add clues to a mystery and the like which creepy Luz theoretically does. I could probably also cite Gravity Falls but I haven't watched enough of that show.

All of these... are actually good uses of Stingers, at least conceptually. They have a function to the narrative. The version of Stinger that Elsewhere Elsewhen is... Is the only one that doesn't. It's the Stinger for the audience. It serves no other purpose than to give the audience information and shock that will HAVE to be gone over again. Notice that the rest of these are pieces of information that would be troublesome to tell in the main story. They're not vital but they foreshadow, expand or move a tertiary element forward. Philip being Belos was never something Luz wasn't going to find out. It's too big and it's too important. She would have always found out about the Collector too since Belos works with the little guy. These were elements that were ALWAYS going to be covered and in a grand and spectacular way. And you know what? THEY WERE!

In Hollow Mind, they just ignore the fact that they've already revealed all of this information to the audience and go the whole nine yards to make the reveal as big as possible. It's a good reveal even. But the audience doesn't gasp because they already knew. And for what purpose? Well... To post on Twitter about it. I'd really like to be nicer about this but that's really it. It's a Stinger purely to give the fans something to talk about. It doesn't serve any other purpose. AT BEST, if you're REALLY invested already, you get excited for Luz to find out herself. But if you're that invested (or invested enough to talk about this with more than a fellow fan)... You probably didn't need to be pandered to. You'd have rather gotten either those two minutes back or just had the entire episode focus on something ACTUALLY plot relevant. Which, I do want to admit one thing: It really fucking sucks that Elsewhere Elsewhen is filler because it's one of the way too few episodes dedicated to the effort of making Luz a way home, especially for how important Luz claims it is to her. Talking about the bad job they did with the portal door plot, or just how bullshit magic becomes in S2B simply to get rid of the Titan's Blood, are different blogs. For now... Elsewhere Elsewhen is a bad episode that is a waste of time. And the fact there are two episodes in S2B that I can call a waste of time is a real rough spot for the show to be in when at this point, yes, the shortening should have mattered. But really... Just look at the show. They were never going to prioritize in ways that made sense for needing to tighten up their story. Not when they've never had proper priorities. Last note: I am actually out of asks. This may lead to me slowing down with blogs, we'll see. *shrug*

[movietimegirl]

Oooh, another cliffhanger. Crosshairs is starting to come around.