#Others would mae their life a bit harder | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

legacygirlingreen · 3 months ago

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Something About You || Captain Rex x OFC (Mae Killough)

Pairing: Captain Rex X Original Female Character (Mae Killough); mentions of @leenathegreengirl's PabuVerse characters!

Word Count: 8,800

Warnings: Mention of troubled past (think Henry the 8th vibes honestly). Tooth rotting fluff honestly - they are so freaking cheeky and sweet its painful at times.

AN: Hi friends! Part Two of Rex & Mae's story is finally out! I have already started working on a part three, but for now, I recommend going back and reading part one if you haven't. If you have, full steam ahead! Massive shout out to my dear friend @leenathegreengirl for her amazing art featured in the cover and the full image at the end! Seriously, I cannot thank you enough for bringing them to life! Linked below is Part 1, as well as bit more info on Mae! Anyway without further ado...

PART 1 || Mae Bio || Mae Q&A || PART 3

Masterlist

Shimmering, translucent waters stood in stark contrast to the stormy, eerie oceans of Kamino. Rex had never understood why anyone would choose to spend time by the sea until he followed the others down to the beach. The warm, sandy shores, cool shade from swaying trees, and pristine waters that caressed his skin were indulgences he hadn’t known he craved.

Initially, he had donned a pair of stretchy shorts tossed his way by Hunter, only to appease Omega. She had appeared at dawn, eager to reveal the island's delights. Rex found it hard to refuse her, especially since her hair shared his distinctive hue, a welcome departure from the standard brown of the Fett genome.

As he and Omega led the way, the path through the trees opened up to a breathtaking vista. The refreshing scent of salt lingered in the air, waves lapped peacefully against the shore, and birds called to one another. Flowers crowned the bushes lining the treeline, and the warmth of the sand beckoned. Amidst it all, a figure glided gracefully over the waves.

Rex was captivated, the sunlight dancing off the water and illuminating porcelain skin. He barely noticed Omega cup her hands around her mouth, her voice ringing out as she called, “Mae!”

Startled, the figure with damp red hair turned toward them, waving before diving into the water. Rex’s heart raced for a moment until he spotted her head reemerging, breaking the surface with a splash.

“Isn’t it amazing? The locals call it surfing. Mae’s been trying to teach me, but it’s harder than it looks,” Omega chimed in, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Rex could only manage a small nod before following her into the sunlit paradise.

As Rex helped set down the box of assorted items he had been given before their journey, he focused on arranging the space according to Omega's enthusiastic instructions. He laid out a few blankets on the sand, turned the crate upside down to create a makeshift table, and propped up some tarps for shade. She had even designated a hammock in the trees for her grumpy brother, Crosshair.

The murmurs of the island's residents drifted around them as more of Omega's brothers and their companions arrived to soak up the sun. Rex felt a twinge of unease; it was a rare luxury to relax, and in truth, he hardly knew how to embrace it. The sound of footsteps in the sand and something being driven into the ground behind him intensified his brief moment of concern.

“Ready to try it again, Omega?” came a cheerful voice that stirred memories of the previous night. He had awakened to find several of his brothers and Omega peering down at him, and he couldn’t help but feel a hint of disappointment that she had slipped away during the night. Now, she stood before him, clad in a skintight black mesh fabric reminiscent of his armor's undersuit, and he was suddenly acutely aware of her curves.

Last night, he had tried not to stare, captivated instead by her bouncing red curls as she spoke. But today, avoiding glances at her figure would prove to be a challenge.

“What do you say, hun?” she asked, her syrupy-sweet voice cascading over her plump lips, completely capturing his attention.

Rex initially hummed in response, thinking she was addressing Omega, but it quickly dawned on him that her gaze was fixed on him. Both she and Omega were watching him expectantly, and he felt warmth rising in his cheeks. “Oh, uh—”

“Mae asked if you wanted to try! It’s lots of fun!” Omega chimed in, her excitement palpable as Rex contemplated her suggestion. He swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his hesitation in his throat as he glanced at the surfboard. Surely it couldn’t be that difficult, could it?

“Omega, I think the Captain could use some rest and relaxation, not a workout—”

“I’ll do it!”

The words slipped from his lips in a rush, surprising both Mae and himself. Standing there, he fiddled with the hem of his shirt, uncertain about what he had just agreed to as he awaited her response. Blinking away the shock of his own outburst, he caught Mae's smile, her palms gliding over her hips before she gestured toward Omega.

“Oh, wonderful! Omega, darlin’, could you grab one of the extra boards from over there? Preferably one of the bigger ones.”

Clearing his throat to stave off any potential voice cracks, Rex attempted to recapture the lighthearted banter they had shared the night before. “Are you calling me fat there, Doc?” he quipped.

Her laughter was as sweet as he remembered, her head shaking in amusement. “Not at all, Captain. You’re far from it—though I might suggest taking off your shirt,” she added casually, stepping away to assist Omega.

Confused by the sudden need to consider her opinion on his physique—a fact he had never questioned, given the demands of war that had kept him in peak shape—Rex caught the lingering gaze of Hunter. A smirk danced on Hunter's face, the side devoid of tattoos, as he gestured toward Rex. “Best not to keep her waiting, Captain. It’s not every day a pretty lady asks you to strip.”

“You coming?” Mae asked, prompting Rex to glance back over his shoulder. He nodded briefly and, without another word, tore off his shirt, stepping into the sunlight. As his bare feet sank into the warm sand, he caught the sound of Hunter snickering behind him and tried his best to tune it out.

“How would you rate your balance?” she asked, her gaze searching his own for a genuine answer.

“Fairly decent, I suppose,” Rex shrugged, unsure how balance could be measured, his hand rubbing along the nape of his neck.

“I can work with that. We’ll start on land,” she explained, gesturing to the board propped beside her. Assuming she meant for him to pick it up, he was surprised by how light it felt in his hands. Mae tucked her own under her arm and headed closer to the water's edge, and he followed her silently.

“Any reason we’re starting on land?” he asked skeptically.

“Well, it’s easier to practice the movements here, where you’re stable, before trying them on the water. Don’t worry—I think you’ll be a natural,” she said with encouragement as she set the board down in the sand. Rex followed suit, placing his board a few paces away from hers.

He watched as she lay across her board, positioning herself vertically on her stomach, and mimicked her stance.

“Alright, I’m correct in assuming that GAR conditioning has made you quite familiar with push-ups?” she asked, glancing over at him as she propped herself up on her elbows.

“Yes,” he replied, recalling the rigorous training the clones had undergone since their youth, which continued throughout the war.

“Perfect! That’s half the battle,” she said with a smile. “I’ll walk you through the motion if you want to follow along—”

“Right,” he said, placing his forearms down on the board just like she did.

“So, when you’re paddling out, you’ll want to push over the sides of the board until you’re on the wave. From there, pull your hands back to your sides and place your palms flat on the board near your chest,” Mae instructed. Rex followed her directions without hesitation, eager for her to continue.

“Perfect! This part should be easy for you. Just do a push-up and hold yourself on your toes,” she said, demonstrating the movement. Rex watched her lower body lift effortlessly off the board, then shook his head and mimicked her.

“Now, this is where it starts to get tricky, especially on the water. Move the leg you want as your back foot and place it near your other knee, keeping your toes on the board while maintaining your balance,” she explained. Rex observed as Mae positioned herself in a way reminiscent of a ‘mountain climber.’ He copied her movements, nodding for her to go on.

“Okay, now take your other leg and place your foot between your hands, keeping your knee bent.” She executed the motion with impressive speed, tucking her small frame up onto both feet and holding steady as she waited for him to catch up. As Rex did his best to follow suit, she nodded and pushed herself into a standing position, prompting him to quickly do the same before she could offer more guidance. He realized that while the movement felt straightforward on solid ground, it would be much more challenging on an unstable board in the water.

“Great! I knew you’d be a natural. Do you want to try it on your own to see if you’ve got it down? Then we can head out,” she said, her eyes sparkling with encouragement. A part of Rex wondered if his ability to grasp the movement had genuinely impressed her.

Running a hand through his hair, he nodded and lowered his body again under her watchful gaze. Doing his best to recall the movements from memory, he felt confident in his performance. Just as he focused on where his front foot landed, he felt gentle fingers graze his jaw, guiding his face forward.

“Looks perfect, but remember to keep your gaze forward. Looking down can throw off your balance; focus on where you’re going, not where you’ve been…” she advised, her fingers retracting as swiftly as they had brushed against his skin. A warm flush spread across his face as she pulled away, leaving behind a lingering sensation that felt almost electric.

Using his strength to push himself up, despite the brief lightheadedness from her fleeting touch, he soon found himself towering over her again. A bright smile lit up her face, revealing her white teeth as she nodded at him. “Perfect! Let’s try it in the water,” she said, nudging his shoulder before disappearing to sit in the sand.

Curious about her sudden retreat, he watched as she took a small strap from the back and wrapped it around her ankle. He mirrored her movements in silence, noting how her gaze wandered over his frame. He knew there wasn’t much she hadn’t seen before. She was a doctor, and one who had worked with clones before. His tan skin and frame hardly differed from those around him. However, he knew his scars might be different as they told his own unique story. He felt her eyes linger on the center of his chest, where a bullet had almost claimed his life.

Red hair dramatically bounced as she realized she’d been caught staring, her eyes darting away at the last moment as she pushed herself off the ground. Rex had always been attuned to the movements of others, a skill honed over years of watching targets and surveying for danger. Her hurried movements now lacked the grace he had admired before, leaving him to wonder what thoughts occupy her mind.

Before he could linger on his thoughts, she sprinted toward the water, and he hurried after her, eager to keep pace. “Come on, Soldier!” she called back, her voice ringing with excitement as she dove into the ocean, vanishing beneath the waves. He followed suit, delighting in the refreshing coolness of the water against his skin. Carefully placing his board atop the gentle swell, he watched it bob as he stood near the shore, waiting for her to reappear.

“Do you want to try standing up here before we head out further?” Mae asked, suddenly popping up on the other side of the board, her arms gracefully shifting as she positioned herself. Assuming her suggestion came from a genuine desire to see him succeed, he nodded and hoisted himself up in the shallow water while she held the edges steady.

He immediately felt the difference of being in the water and approached the motion of standing with extra care. Once his feet were firmly planted, he rose with as much grace as he could muster. The board rocked beneath him, and when he looked down, he saw Mae beaming as she released her grip, allowing him to fully experience the push of the waves. With a joyful splash, he jumped back in, swimming close to her as she applauded. “I think you’re ready to head out and try it for real!” she said, her enthusiasm shining through.

With a nod, he watched as she effortlessly pulled herself onto the board and demonstrated how to paddle out. As soon as he grasped the motion, his gaze drifted to the captivating scene before him: the ripples of her arm slicing through the water, the sunlight glinting off her wet red hair, and the curve of her figure as she paddled ahead, her black swimsuit accentuating her silhouette.

Perhaps it was the thrill of being able to gaze without interruption, but he couldn’t help but watch her throughout their journey into deeper water. When she turned around and effortlessly hoisted herself up on the board, he quickly glanced away, not wanting her to catch him staring. He remained horizontal, moving closer and propping himself up on his elbows, ready for her to explain.

But she seemed completely absorbed in her desire to catch a wave, laying back down and paddling away, leaving him behind.

His brown eyes carefully tracked her movements, admiring the ease with which she glided through the water. She rose as if it were second nature, standing tall atop the wave as she distanced herself from him. To his astonishment, she even had the audacity to walk along the length of the board while riding it, only to leap off into the shallow water moments later.

Knowing it would be a moment before she returned, he pulled himself into a seated position and settled in to wait. Even though he understood the movements, he still felt a twinge of unease about trying it without her guidance. As she paddled closer, she grinned and waved, and he couldn’t help but mirror her smile. She looked truly at peace—much happier than the day before, when exhaustion and stress had weighed her down. Now, she radiated lightness and joy, enjoying the water not as a task, but as a pure source of delight. Perhaps it was a type of relaxation he could come to understand in time.

“How’d you do that?” he asked once she was close enough for him to see the dimples in her cheeks.

“What, walking?” she replied casually.

“Yeah, it looked so effortless,” he complimented.

“Practice. Time. Definitely not a move for beginners like you. Speaking of which—” she nudged her head toward his board, “are you ready to give it a shot on your own?”

“I suppose. I can already tell paddling is going to be quite the arm workout,” he said, gesturing as she let out a light laugh.

“It is! How do you think I got these guns?” she said playfully, flexing her surprisingly impressive bicep for someone her size. Unsure why he felt compelled to comment, he was even more taken aback when a cheeky remark slipped from his lips.“Whoa there, Ma’am! Do you know how to handle a loaded weapon like that?”

From shock at his quick remark to a teasing smirk, she shot back, “Not sure, Captain. Why don’t you come over and give me some firearm training since that’s your area of expertise?” Her laughter rang out as she turned away, leaving him momentarily speechless, mouth agape. He blinked in disbelief, a smile creeping onto his face despite himself. “Well, I do have a few tactical moves up my sleeve,” he called after her, trying to regain his composure.

She glanced back, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Oh, really? I’m intrigued!”

With a newfound determination, he pushed off the board and paddled toward her, his confidence slowly building. “Alright, just remember: I’m an expert in this field,” he teased, aiming for a lighthearted banter as he caught up with her.

As they floated side by side, he couldn’t help but admire the way the sunlight danced on the water around them, mirroring the playful energy between them. “Most important part of handling weapons is making sure they are properly maintained” he asked, raising an eyebrow, gesturing to her arms as the woman caught on to what he was insinuating with a laugh.

She laughed again, the sound like music in the salty air. “Oh of course, Captain! Might I need to pass your expert inspection…?”

He grinned, enjoying the playful tension between them. “Absolutely! I take my inspections very seriously,” he replied, feigning a serious expression that quickly broke into a smile.

She rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress her laughter. “Well, I hope you’re thorough,” she said, inching a little closer on her board.

“Thoroughness is my specialty,” he quipped, feeling a rush of excitement. He studied her arms, the sun casting a warm glow on her skin, and added, “You’ve clearly put in the time. Those guns are impressive.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere, Captain,” she replied with a wink, leaning back slightly as if to give him a better view. “But can you keep up with me when it comes to the real action?”

“Oh, I think I can handle a little competition,” he shot back, his competitive spirit ignited. With that, he paddled ahead, urging her to follow. The chase was on, and the thrill of the moment filled the air. As they raced across the water, laughter and splashes followed them, the sun warming their skin and the ocean breeze carrying away any lingering doubts. He felt alive, invigorated by both the challenge and her presence.

There was something refreshing about the way he could be both playful and straightforward with her. Rex couldn’t recall the last time he’d flirted so unashamedly with a woman—certainly not for the simple joy it brought him, rather than with the aim of a quick hookup. But as she surged ahead in their race toward the shore, her board catching a wave and propelling her effortlessly forward, he found himself grappling with a revelation: he was flirting with Mae.

She was the same charming doctor who had shown kindness to Echo and every man he’d sent through Pabu. The woman who had welcomed Aiko and made her feel at home. Everyone seemed to hold her in high regard, and Rex had quickly come to appreciate her even more after catching glimpses of her past. There was a depth to her that drew him in, making this playful exchange feel all the more significant.

Silencing the nagging voice inside him that questioned “why,” he attempted to stand, following the motion he’d practiced. His feet barely made contact with the board before he found himself sliding off into the cool water. Breaking the surface, he spotted Mae watching him with a playful smirk. “You put your front foot down first—that’s what made you fall off the back,” she critiqued, her tone light as he blinked, processing her words. It dawned on him that she was right; he had indeed led with his front foot.

“You need to establish a firm foundation first,” she continued, offering a smile. “That said, it wasn’t a bad first attempt. I’m sure we’ll get you there in no time.” Her encouragement wrapped around him, igniting his determination to improve. He wiped the water from his eyes, feeling the coolness of the ocean embrace him as he grinned back at her. “Alright, then. Let’s try this again.”

Mae nodded, her enthusiasm infectious. “Just remember, start with your back foot, and try to keep your weight balanced on the board,” Taking a deep breath, he swam back to the board, climbing on with renewed focus. He steadied himself, recalling her advice as he positioned his feet carefully this time. As he prepared to rise again, he glanced over at Mae, who watched with an encouraging smile.

“Ready?” she called, her excitement palpable.With a nod, he paddled out with the wave gaining momentum. As he felt the board finally catch along its pull, he pushed up, this time leading with his back foot and shifting his weight more deliberately. For a brief moment, he felt the board stabilize beneath him. Just as he thought he might actually succeed, the wave surged, and he wobbled precariously.

“Keep your core engaged!” Mae shouted, her voice cutting through the splash of the waves. He concentrated, trying to maintain his balance. But just as he thought he had it, the board tilted, and he found himself slipping again. This time, he fell with a splash, but as he broke the surface, he couldn’t help but laugh. Mae burst into laughter too, her joy infectious. “You’re getting closer! Just a bit more practice, and you’ll be a pro.”

“Yeah, if I don’t drown first,” he joked, paddling back toward her, needing a moment as he found the paddling to be a bit more draining than he’d anticipated.

“Can I make a suggestion?” she asked after a moment. He nodded, slightly puzzled, as she drifted closer. Pulling herself onto the board beside him, she abandoned her own board for a moment. Her hands lifted to his shoulders before sliding down to his elbows, gently raising them. “You can extend your arms to help stabilize yourself, but you’re really tense,” she said, her voice calm and encouraging. “You need to relax a bit…” She moved her hands back to his shoulders, her fingers gliding along his skin in a soothing manner. Gradually, he followed her advice, allowing the tightness in his shoulders to melt away under her gentle touch.

As he relaxed, he felt a warmth spreading through him, both from her touch and the shared moment. “How’s this?” he asked, trying to gauge her response. Her fingers flexed for a moment before disappearing from his body. “Much better,” she replied, a smile brightening her face. “Now, focus on your balance and the rhythm of the water. You can do this.”

He took a deep breath, feeling the gentle rocking of the board beneath them. “Alright, I’ll give it another go,” he said, determination bubbling up within him.

“Just remember to keep your core engaged and take your time,” she added, her hands pushing off his board as she returned to her own once more. Offering a reassuring grin she told him. “You’ve got this.” With her support, he began to paddle once more. Pushing himself up again, leading with his back foot and extending his arms out for balance. This time, he felt more stable, the water beneath him less daunting.

“See? You’re doing great!” Mae cheered, her enthusiasm infectious.

For a brief moment, he found his footing, gliding over the gentle waves with newfound confidence. But just as he began to believe he had mastered it, a larger surge bumped into the board. He wobbled precariously, and before he could adjust, he tumbled into the water once more.

Emerging with a splash, he laughed, shaking his head as he glanced over the top of the bobbing waves.��Hey, every attempt is a victory!” she called out, her laughter mingling with his own as she paddled closer. “You’re making more progress than you realize. Let’s try again!”

𓇼 ⋆.˚ 𓆉 𓆝 𓆡⋆.˚ 𓇼

Returning to shore with a lighter air around him, he followed behind the doctor as she insisted they should take a break, claiming she was tired. Deep down, he knew her suggestion was really for his benefit. Rex had severely underestimated how draining the activity could be. Still, he felt a swell of pride for the progress he’d made.

“You looked a bit awkward out there, Rex. Surfing is harder than you thought, huh?” Hunter joked as they approached the spot where the rest of the group had gathered.

“I don’t see you out there giving it a shot,” Rex shot back.

“I value my reputation, thank you very much. Can’t have people watching me make a fool of myself like some people,” Hunter replied, a playful smirk on his face. Rex scoffed at the insinuation, laughter bubbling up between them.

“Oh hush, he’s doing great. Although any more sun and you are going to start burning there Captain-” she nodded towards him as she held a bottle of what he assumed was some sort of sun protection.

“You’re one to talk,” he said, gesturing to her cheeks, already flushed from the sun despite the sunscreen she had applied.

“Some of us are just a bit less immune to solar radiation,” Mae replied, raising an eyebrow with a playful smile. “But if you wouldn’t mind, I could use some help with my back.”

Rex felt a swirl of excitement and apprehension at her request. Part of him relished the idea of being close enough to touch her, while another part worried about what that might mean. Yet, she had already touched him several times, each encounter feeling casual and comfortable. Taking a deep breath, he chose to embrace the moment. “Not a problem, ma’am,” he said, trying to sound confident.

“Well, aren’t you a charmer?” she giggled, her fingers deftly grasping the zipper of her wetsuit and tugging it down from her sternum to her bellybutton. As she slipped her arms free from the material, Rex stepped forward, his gaze instinctively dropping to the ground to avoid staring as she applied sunscreen to her front.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed her being particularly careful, making sure every inch of her chest was covered before moving on to the rest of her body. She bent at the waist to lotion her legs, her bottom brushing close to him as he struggled to keep his focus on the lapping waves instead of the fact she’d shoved her quite round bum near him.

“Alright, you’re up!” she said with a playful giggle, waving the bottle of sunscreen. Rex raised an eyebrow in confusion.

“Me?”

“Your back!” she clarified, gesturing toward him. Suddenly, it struck him that she intended to help him out before he had a chance to return the favor. Turning around, he felt her step closer, the warmth radiating from her as she placed her palm on his right shoulder. The unexpected touch made him jump, eliciting a soft snicker from her as her delicate hands began to rub the lightly fragrant lotion into his skin.

Instantly, he felt the tension he had been holding since the start of the war begin to melt away under her nimble fingers. She moved with purpose, ensuring the lotion was absorbed without lingering too long, her hands gliding across the expanse of his back. When she finally withdrew, he turned to reach for the bottle, but she looked up at him with a bright smile and tilted her head slightly, saying, “Lean down for a second.”

His eyes widened in confusion as she gently cupped the side of his head, her thumbs brushing the tips of his ears. Unsure of her intentions, he choked slightly on his own saliva, which had been pooling in his mouth, and stammered, “What—?”

“Ears are one of the most common areas to develop melanoma,” Mae explained, reminding him that she was a doctor. Her intentions were purely clinical; she aimed to highlight a vulnerable area prone to severe damage. Clearing his throat, he looked down into her eyes and noticed a delicate ring of gold encircling her blue irises just before she met his gaze.

“Good to know,” he said, and as she nodded, he felt compelled to add, “Thank you.” She acknowledged him with a slight bow of her head before handing him the bottle and turning her back to him. Her long red hair cascaded down, obscuring part of her shoulder. He gently tapped her shoulder and gestured, “Uh, you might want to—”

“Right,” she chuckled, gathering her hair into a makeshift ponytail, pulling it out of the way. Just as he was about to place his open palm against her back, something caught his eye—a scar, almost like a brand, marred her right shoulder. It was unmistakably intentional.

He felt a surge of curiosity mixed with concern, racking his brain for a moment as to why it looked so familiar. His gaze lingered, and she turned her head slightly, asking, “Something wrong?”

Rex hesitated briefly before placing his hand in the center of her back, rubbing in the sunscreen gently while his mind raced, trying to recall where he’d seen that marking before. As he moved his hands lower, he felt her shiver at the contact just above her swim bottoms.

“Sorry,” he murmured, catching the airy, uncertain response from her. “You’re alright, hon,” she reassured him, though the warmth in her voice didn’t quite mask the hint of tension.

In that moment, the marking and her accent struck a chord within him, illuminating details of her past he hadn’t anticipated uncovering. The realization weighed heavily on him, a deeper understanding forming in the quiet space between them.

Killough. Rex recalled reading about them in the archives as the war progressed. Despite the Republic’s diminished presence in the Outer Rim and the overwhelming focus on the droid armies, he was aware of the criminal activities lurking in the shadows of the conflict. The Killough Clan was notorious—a wealthy and well-connected crime family deeply entrenched in the region. They frequently associated with the Pykes, the Hutts, and other dangerous organizations. Why else would she bear a brand from such an organization unless…

Fingers lightly grazing the burn, Mae turned away abruptly, her eyes flashing with an unreadable emotion as she stepped back from him. “Thank you,” she said, avoiding his gaze. Rex might have probed further, perhaps even flirted, if he hadn’t just stumbled upon a revelation that made his stomach sink. Surely she couldn’t be connected to them. Right?

“You’re welcome,” he replied, tension hanging thickly between them. The weight of the realization that he’d pieced together her past hung over them, a shadow neither could shake. For how the man perceived her reaction, it was clearly a painful subject, possibly even incriminating. And for her, he sensed that she feared he would judge her based on it.

This unspoken tension made their quick exit easier, each of them looking for an excuse to escape.

As Rex stepped away from the group, he struggled to reconcile the fun, flirty doctor he had been enjoying with the unsettling possibility of a darker past. The contrast left him feeling uneasy, and he needed time to process it all. Just as he made it to the treeline of the beach he heard a raspy voice say, “go away,”.

Crosshair.

Rex had forgotten the sniper had settled into a hammock away from the others in this direction. Not wanting to confront his prickly personality amid an internal crisis, he almost muttered “gladly” in annoyance as he stepped away.

“Problem…?” came Crosshair's voice, tinged with an unexpected concern as Rex turned to see him leaning over the edge of the hammock.

“You all— I mean, someone has to know… how—” Rex struggled to articulate his concern, the words eluding him as Crosshair’s dark eyebrow shot up in interest.

“I can’t believe you let Stitches lure you into her death trap she calls surfing,” Crosshair remarked, either attempting to deflect the conversation or tease him while he was vulnerable—Rex couldn't quite tell.

“And I can’t believe you all are letting a woman connected to a criminal enterprise roam freely, let alone neglect to warn a guy—” Rex shot back, his frustration bubbling to the surface.

Crosshair's sharp intake of breath and equally hostile tone cut through the air as he dropped to the ground beside Rex in the blink of an eye. “What did you just say?”

Caught off guard by the sudden transition from teasing to menacing, Rex straightened, irritation bubbling within him as he realized the enhanced clone had the height advantage.

“I said you’re all either ignorant or reckless for allowing a woman connected to the Killough Clan to roam freely—” Rex retorted, his voice steady despite the tension.

“I’d recommend you keep your mouth shut about things you don’t understand and that don’t concern you—” Crosshair hissed, his tone icy. Rex clenched his fist, anger bubbling beneath the surface, but pressed on.

“It does concern me. I’ve spent all day in the company of a woman—”

“Mae. Her name is Mae,” Crosshair interjected sharply.

“Mae” he corrected before continuing, ”Who’s walking around with a brand from one of the most dangerous criminal organizations in the galaxy,” Rex shot back.

“Like I said, stop involving yourself in things when you don’t know the whole story,” Crosshair warned, taking a step back, eager to distance himself from Rex before the tension escalated further.

“But-”

“Don’t you think one of the first things Tech did when we saw that scar was investigate? We’re not fools. We know better than to get involved with dangerous people, especially for Omega’s sake. As for why she has that scar, that’s not my story to share. But I’d advise you to think very carefully before you disrespect a woman who’s spent the better part of a year cleaning up your messes without you even realizing it.” With that, Crosshair turned on his heel and walked away, leaving Rex momentarily speechless.

Glancing back at the water’s edge, Rex saw Mae standing waist-deep in the waves, her smile radiant as she demonstrated to Omega how to push up on the board. The memory of her gentle touch lingered in his mind, alongside the uncomfortable realization that Crosshair had been right: she had given him no real reason to worry. He didn’t know the full story, but he wasn’t about to find comfort in the words of a sniper with a blood-soaked past tied to the Empire.

Rex knew he had to be cautious; survival depended on it, and that instinct was not something he could simply switch off. Yet, as he watched her vibrant red hair catch the sunlight, he felt a growing urge to extend some grace until he had more clarity.

𓇼 ⋆.˚ 𓆉 𓆝 𓆡⋆.˚ 𓇼

The sun was beginning its slow descent over the water, casting a warm glow on the beach. Most of the group had retreated to clean up before dinner, leaving Rex alone with Hunter as Omega waved goodbye over her shoulder.

“Someone should stay down here to make sure she’s okay,” Rex said, nodding toward Mae, who was now sitting on her board, watching the sunset with her back turned to them. She had kept her distance from him for most of the day, perhaps still affected by the moment he’d touched her scar or by his argument with Crosshair. Whatever the reason, he had retreated into himself since then.

Trapped in his own thoughts, Rex found himself trying to piece together the fragments of her past. Could she have been a slave? Maybe she was the child of an advisor? Or perhaps she had been tangled up with a former lover...

As he glanced out at the silhouette of her figure breaking the horizon, a thought struck him: what if he simply asked her? She had been honest the night before about her experiences in the RAR. If she opened up it would certainly ease his own mind.

Spotting the board he had neglected earlier, Rex paddled out to meet Mae on the water. She was much further away than before, and it took him significantly longer to reach her. As he got closer, he noticed she still hadn’t taken her eyes off the sunset. With her legs drawn up on the board and her chin resting on her knees, she seemed lost in thought. Without her wetsuit, the pink of her shoulders stood out against the fading light.

He was certain she had sensed his approach, yet she remained silent. Uncertain of how to begin, Rex felt a wave of regret wash over him for seeking her out. What if she was angry? What if he had crossed a line and she needed space? The confidence he had felt just moments ago seemed to dissipate, leaving him anxious and unsure. Surely, things hadn't shifted from wonderful to tense so quickly.

He cursed the Kaminoans for programming him for war rather than for navigating human emotions. Throughout his life, he had been led to believe he wouldn’t need to engage with civilians, leaving him unprepared for moments like this. The decision to forgo pleasantries now felt like a misstep. Though he was a free man in many ways, he would eventually need to connect better with civilians.

In the past, he had mostly adhered to regulations, interacting only with a select few—like the Senator’s handmaidens or some hired help at the 79s. He remembered Jesse’s girl, the one who had gotten pregnant, whom he had helped off-world after the war. But those brief encounters hardly made him an expert in emotional matters.

“I don’t blame you, you know,” she said, her tone firm yet laced with a palpable dejection.

“Wha—” he started, but she turned abruptly, locking him with a gaze that made even the battle-hardened captain shrink under the intensity of her eyes.

“Please, don’t pretend you don’t understand. I know you saw it. I’m fully aware of what that mark signifies. I had hoped you would be the kind of man to ask me, rather than fleeing as if I personally were the one who committed those crimes,” she began, and in the brief moment she paused to run her hand over her hair he started to reply.

“So that means you—”

“I’m not finished,” she interjected, her voice steady but infused with a quiet strength. He nodded, letting her continue. “Have you ever been on your own, Rex?” she asked, her gaze softening as she studied his features.

“I—uh, well, no. I can’t say I have. I’ve always had someone. My brothers, our Generals. There was always someone there,” he admitted.

“It’s not easy being alone at such a young age. I found out he was going to sell me off to some associate to be his bride. I endured years of abuse, watching my mother and every bride he took after, killed for giving him daughters. But learning I was to be ‘gifted’ to a man fifty years my senior was the final straw. When I escaped, I went to the one place I knew they’d be too afraid to look for me.”

“Coruscant,” he filled in the blanks, understanding how she had become part of the Republic.

“I always wanted to be a doctor,” she continued, her voice tinged with longing. “I felt a sense of purpose when I patched myself and my sisters up. But medical school is expensive, and I left everything behind when I fled. I enlisted so I could study for free, to see the stars, knowing that it was too close to the Republic for them to ever find me again.” Mae closed her eyes, a soft breeze tugging at one of her damp curls before letting it settle by her shoulder once more.

“I—” he trailed off as she opened her eyes again. The fading light cast a silvery hue to them, momentarily captivating him and causing him to lose his train of thought. Regaining his composure, he pressed on. “I’m sorry for running off earlier. You have to understand, I’m a soldier. I’ve been trained to be hyper-aware of danger, even when it comes in unexpectedly beautiful forms.”

“Is that your way of saying I’m pretty, Captain?” she teased, a playful smile breaking through the tension and bringing a moment of ease between them.

He chuckled softly, a warmth spreading through him. “Perhaps it is. But it’s more than that. It’s how you handle yourself. You’re strong, and that’s what caught me off guard.”

Her smile widened, and she leaned in slightly, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. “So you’re saying strength is attractive?”

“Absolutely,” he replied, his tone earnest. “In my experience strength like that, it’s a rare quality. Most people hide behind walls, but you seem to embrace your experiences. That and admittedly-“ he looked at her with a smile before saying, “you are very candid,”

She tilted her head, considering his words. “Well, it hasn’t always been easy. But I’ve learned that there can be strength in vulnerability.”

Rex felt a shift in the air, a new understanding forming between them. “I’ve always been told to keep my guard up, but maybe there’s something to letting it down sometimes.”

“Exactly. You don’t have to carry the weight alone,” she said, her voice gentle yet firm. “We all have our battles, Rex. Sharing them can lighten the load.”

He nodded, feeling a sense of relief. “Then maybe I can start by sharing a bit more… that is, if there was someone willing to listen..?” His tone conveys a question rather than a statement as her eyes flash with understanding.

“Good,” she said, her smile returning. “I would be honored,” the redhead told him as he turned away, suddenly bashful at the notion.

“Remind me to give you my comm channel when we get back,” the man said, his gaze fixed on the horizon where the sun just began to peek over the water. Darkness would soon envelop them, and he knew they should return, but a part of him yearned to stay.

The weight of the moment hung in the air, inexplicable yet significant, as if the atmosphere crackled with unspoken energy. He felt a flicker of hope at the prospect of friendship and the stability it could bring—especially with someone who had been quietly supportive without him even realizing it. Memories of Crosshair’s words flashed through his mind, mingling with the insights he had gained the night before.

“Hey Mae?” he called, drawing her attention from the fading sun to him. She lifted her head from her knees, a curious hum escaping her lips. “Thank you,” he said, sincerity threading through his voice.

He wasn’t entirely sure which part of her kindness he was acknowledging—her honesty about her past, her compassion towards his brother, her understanding of his nature, or the lightheartedness that made him feel at ease. Maybe it was simply the way she made him feel like just a man, watching the sunset with a remarkable woman. Regardless of the reason, he felt compelled to express his gratitude.

“Anytime, Rex,” she replied, brushing her hair over her shoulder with a soft smile. “But we should probably head back,” she added, letting out a gentle sigh.

“Yeah,” he agreed, stealing a glance at her. The sun had kissed her skin, giving her a warm glow. “You’ve been out in the sun all day. It’s definitely time we get you back.”

With that, they leisurely began to paddle back toward the shore, neither in any rush to end their time on the water. Eventually, as the shoreline beckoned, they reached the shallows. Rex and Mae hopped off their boards, the cool water swirling around their ankles as they walked back to the beach.

Just as they were about to step onto the sand, Mae paused, her fingers sifting through the sand below. A delighted sound escaped her lips as she unearthed something.

“What is it?” Rex asked, intrigued. He couldn’t help but find her childlike excitement endearing as she examined her find.

“Your armor—it's blue, right?” she asked, holding up the small object in her hand, a glimmer of curiosity in her eyes. He nodded as she held the small object up to the fading light, revealing a blue fragment nestled between her slender fingers. Unlike typical glass, it had a frosted appearance, giving it an almost ethereal quality. “It’s called sea glass,” she explained, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “It forms when fragments of glass get smoothed out by the sand, making them soft to the touch instead of jagged like broken shards.”

She handed it to him, inviting him to examine it more closely. The color mirrored that of his blue armor, and it was indeed as smooth as she described. Yet, despite its beauty, Rex found himself puzzled by her delight over what he considered just a piece of discarded glass. Rex turned the sea glass in his hand, admiring its color and smoothness, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that it was just an oddity. “It’s beautiful,” he said, trying to match her enthusiasm, “but why are you so excited about it? Isn’t it just… trash?”

Mae laughed softly, her eyes twinkling. “That’s where you’re wrong! It’s not just trash. It has a story—it was once something else, maybe a bottle or a jar, and now it’s something new. Isn’t that kind of magical?”

He looked at her, contemplating her words. There was a profound depth to her appreciation that he hadn’t considered. “So you see beauty in… broken things?”

“Exactly! Just like us,” she said, her voice sincere. “We all have our own scars and stories, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find beauty in them despite the pain they once caused.”

Rex felt a flicker of understanding ignite within him. “I guess I’ve always focused on the damage itself rather than the possibility of finding beauty in it.”

Mae smiled, a gentle encouragement in her gaze. “It’s okay to feel that way. But remember, just like this sea glass, we are still here. Resilient and shaped by what we’ve endured into something entirely different,”

He handed the sea glass back to her, a newfound respect for its significance growing. “Thanks for sharing that with me. I suppose I needed a reminder.” She beamed at him, tucking the piece into her pocket as they continued their walk along the shore back towards her home, leaving the beach behind them.

𓇼 ⋆.˚ 𓆉 𓆝 𓆡⋆.˚ 𓇼

The following morning brought with it the realization that he had to return to the stars and the mission that awaited him. After saying his goodbyes the night before, he decided to slip away quietly before anyone else woke up. He neatly folded the blanket from the sofa where he had slept and grabbed his bag, casting one last glance down the hall at Mae’s closed door. He knew she was likely still asleep, just as Echo and Aiko were in the other room. He didn’t want to disturb her; she seemed to be someone who rarely got the rest she needed.

Pabu in the early morning light was just as beautiful as it had ever been—quiet, warm, and inviting. It felt like home, even though he knew he shouldn’t allow himself to get too comfortable here. Yet, he understood why the others had found a sense of belonging.

Each step back toward his ship felt surprisingly lighter. After sharing his private communication channel with the talented doctor the night before, he left the decision to reach out in her hands. She had thanked him for finally showing his face after all the clones who had passed through her care on his behalf. He felt willing to let their friendship develop at its own pace, however that might unfold… for now.

Just as he caught sight of his ship’s outline, he heard the sound of light footsteps pattering behind him. Assuming it was Omega sneaking away to see him off, he turned, ready to greet the young girl. Instead, he found himself face-to-face with a pair of bare feet on the stone and a shock of vibrant red hair.

“I heard the door close—” Mae began, her eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief as Rex’s surprise quickly faded into a nod.

“I didn’t mean to wake you,” he said sheepishly, his shoulders slumping as he realized he hadn’t been as quiet as he’d hoped.

“It’s okay. Someone should see you off, right?”

“I suppose,” he replied, setting his bag down for a moment, his mind racing with questions about why she had chosen to come out.

“I also forgot to give you this last night,” she said, stepping closer, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. When he didn’t respond, she rose onto her tiptoes, gently placing something over his head and letting it drape across his chest. Pausing for a moment, their eyes crossed one another. Her checks flushing at the recognition he was watching her closely. With that, Mae stepped back to allow him space once more, and he caught a light whiff of something feminine. Not exactly floral, but certainly reminiscent of the aromatic scents of the island tangled with perfume.

Remembering why she’d stepped close to him in the first place, his hand south the item. It was the same piece of tumbled glass from the night before, but now it had a small hole at the top, threaded with a cord that extended to a leather band. “I thought you should have a memento from your first time on Pabu, and the blue matches your armor,” she explained as he turned the sea glass pendant over in his hand, marveling at its beauty and the thought behind it.

Rex held the pendant up to the soft morning light, the frosted blue glass shimmering delicately. A wave of warmth washed over him as he realized the significance behind Mae’s gift. “It’s perfect,” he said, his voice sincere. “Thank you for thinking of me.”

Mae’s smile widened, her excitement infectious. “It’s a reminder that even broken things can become something beautiful.”

He nodded, his fingers gliding over the smooth surface of the glass. As he reflected on his words, thoughts of her filled his mind. Mae came from a perilous past, having faced terrifying and uncertain situations that could have easily shattered her spirit. Yet here she stood, illuminated by the morning light, bare feet planted firmly on the ground, dressed in her nightgown—radiant and resilient. There was a strength in her that captivated him, a reminder that even in the face of adversity, one could emerge beautiful and stronger.

The pendant felt weighty yet comforting in his hand. “I’ll cherish it,” he promised. The gesture felt like a connection, something he could carry with him no matter where the stars took him.

“I hope it brings you memories of this place, of your brothers and your friends,” Mae said softly, her gaze lingering on the pendant before meeting his eyes.

“It already does,” he replied, a warmth blossoming in his chest as he took a moment to appreciate her kindness. “This whole trip has been more than I expected.”

Her expression shifted, a hint of vulnerability peeking through her cheerful demeanor. “I’m glad. It’s nice to know you enjoyed your time here.”

“More than I can say,” he said, feeling the weight of the moment. “You’ve made this place feel like home, even if just for a little while.”

Mae’s cheeks flushed, and she looked down for a brief moment before meeting his gaze again. World spinning, butterflies in his stomach as he looked back at her. His gloved hands stroking the smooth surface of the pendant between his pointer finger and thumb as he looked down at the way her expression showed a hint of longing amidst her resolve. Clearing her throat after a beat between them she said, “You should get going, though. I didn’t mean to hold you up,”

“Right,” he said, reluctantly picking up his bag. “I guess it’s time for me to ship out.”

As he turned toward the ramp, he felt a twinge of regret. “I’ll keep in touch,” he assured her, glancing back.

“Promise?” she asked, her tone laced with hope.

“Promise,” he confirmed, feeling the weight of that commitment resonate between them.

With one last smile, he turned and began walking away, the pendant resting against his heart—a tangible reminder of their shared moments. As he sat down in the cockpit, he couldn’t help but look back one last time, capturing the image of Mae standing there, the morning light framing her in a golden glow. She’d moved further back under the large tree at the top of the Island’s hill, leaning against its low hanging branch as she lifted her hand into a wave.

Starting up the engines, Rex felt a renewed sense of purpose. The journey ahead may be uncertain, but with the pendant as a reminder of his time on Pabu and the connection they had forged, he felt ready to face whatever awaited him among the stars. And if he found it way back to Pabu in the future, perhaps he could enjoy a few more slower moments in the midst of his chaotic life.

To be continued...

Again shout out to my friend for this amazing image!

#pabu au #captain rex x oc #captain rex fanart #captain rex #captain rex is really hot guys #mae killough #clone wars #the bad batch #tbb oc #tbb fanart #tcw #tcw oc #tooth rotting fluff #surfing #my friends art #star wars is so much better with OC's #look at my lil ginger girlie go

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fancytrinkets · 3 months ago

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veilguard impressions

spoilers ahead. a list of my opinions and impressions as I play this game

basic starting notes after having played for 30+ hours

overall I am having fun playing this game

there are things I like and things I don't like. these are subjective and I don't think everyone is going to share these opinions or agree with me

I am not going to give an overall opinion of how much I liked it until I've finished playing

things I like so far

the way the characters look. I do like the character design style quite a lot

seeing characters from the books and stories: the crows from Tevinter Nights; Felassan from The Masked Empire; Maevaris from the comics and Tevinter Nights

the look of returning characters that I've met so far. I honestly think Dorian looks FANTASTIC. I do wish Morrigan and Isabela looked a little bit older in their face textures, but overall I love the look. (For Morrigan I'm also willing to let it go by imagining she can magic the subtle signs of aging away or something like that)

exploring scenes from Solas' past in the Crossroads

the Portal-style open-the-way-forward puzzles are fun because they're new (not sure how they'll hold up on multiple replay; could become annoying, I imagine)

that Rook has a unique conflict in their backstory, based on faction, and other characters mention and react to it. it feels like a solid way of rethinking the playable origin-story from Origins

the continuity with DA2 in having Varric as the narrator, speaking over beautifully illustrated backgrounds during some transitions

the continuity with Origins in having cutscenes of the antagonists play during transitions

combat related: I like the chained moves being mapped to buttons; I am still getting a feel for them; I imagine it would be harder if I didn't have an xbox elite controller with paddles, mapped to the ABXY buttons in addition to the buttons themselves

combat-related: using the bow is pretty fun. I never like archer builds, but I'm enjoying rogue plus bow a LOT. the smooth transition from blades to bow and back is great

not as much inventory management: I have spent plenty of my gaming life customizing swords while comparing them to every other sword in my inventory. I'm okay letting this stuff get simplified for me

Dorian DOES know Emmerich previously, a fellow necromancer, and I appreciate that!

Mae having been kicked out of the magisterium and the Lucerni disbanded a year before the present, and Dorian being the magister on the inside for the Shadow Dragons. That played out in a way that was pretty close to what I anticipated based on what we know of Tevinter politics

things I dislike so far

some of the companion conversations feel like they've been workshopped for a generation that's much younger than me — which is fine, but there are some things the characters say to each other that strike me as... well, YOUNG, and not the kind of dialogue I'd write if it were me

I'm also ready for varric to step aside as a character in game. while I appreciate his narration, I'm finding his pep talks and advice to be a little grating. though, depending on how I feel at the end of the game, I might find some fanfic inspiration in this feeling, so I'm actually not salty about it, just noticing my own reaction here

I'm finding I choose characters to accompany me based on who can prime and detonate the specific combat moves; and that feels limiting in a way that I wasn't expecting. I often pick one character who feels relevant to the mission, then default to whomever can prime or detonate for them

I totally missed the "customize your Inquisitor" side panel at the start of the game. disappointed enough at having generic FLavellan show up that I quit my first Rook and am now replaying on story mode to catch up to all the time and plot I lost

things I haven't formed a full opinion about yet

the combat overall. it is VERY different from all previous games, and I'm honestly not even comparing it to previous titles in the series because it is a whole new thing. the dodging and chained moves remind me of Elden Ring, but I find Elden Ring combat is more satisfying for me. the explosions and pacing remind me of the Borderlands franchise, but Borderlands was also more satisfying for me. I don't love it OR hate it. I'm kind of in the middle, I guess. Though, like I said, I'm fond of the bow

the Veil Jumpers. (I chose this background with my first Rook before I quit to replay.) I think I get what the writers were going for. Solas unleashes some new weird shit and the Dalish start checking it out and then recruiting more people to investigate. that feels reasonable to me. also, even though the mood is cheerful, it's clear a LOT of them are dying. I appreciate that because they are running around poking at unstable magic and malfunctioning old relics... but yeah, the cheerful mood and the "can do" vibe feels a little off to me in a way I'm not totally sure how to explain. it's almost like the writers realized the past games had written the Dalish into a really weird corner where they were "stuck in the past" but also uneducated about so much of their own history. and now they are trying to remake them into a newer, more "fun" group of people. it's just... a thing I notice

the choice between Minrathous and Treviso. I haven't seen how this plays out in the endgame yet, but I'm expecting a break or betrayal from Lucanis after choosing to fight with Minrathous instead. (I was planning to romance Neve with my first Rook, so that choice seemed important; I'm going to make the same choice with my remade Rook, as a Shadow Dragon whose home is Minrathous) So... yeah, I'm kind of hoping Lucanis will unleash an unholy mess upon us based on that choice. It feels very Mass Effect, but if the Virmire survivor lived and was changed by the experience of being abandoned by Shepard. I am hoping it goes poorly in the later part of the game, but you know, we'll see...

companion characters. I am reserving judgment until I've finished the game and of course I've spent more time with some than others due to the recruitment timings. at the moment I'm personally most fond of Neve, Davrin, and Taash (though I just met Taash, so will need more time to solidify that opinion. I think she's going to be my remade Rook's romance instead of Neve). I like Lucanis; he doesn't feel like a personal favorite, but I like him. Harding is fine; overall she's a bit too sunshine for my tastes, but I like her well enough. I will probably like Emmerich more as I continue to play. I feel like I just met him. Bellara is the one I'm struggling with most, but I think that's connected to my mixed feelings on the Veil Jumper faction in a way I haven't figure out entirely yet

the story arc overall. I don't have a handle on how I feel about what's happening and so I'm reserving judgment on until it I've completed the game for the first time

#veilguard spoilers #fancytrinkets reviews veilguard

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teriwrites · 1 month ago

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2024 Writing Wrap-Up

Happy New Year!!

As per tradition, every January 1st, I go back and collect all of my writing from the previous year and collect it into one monstrous mega-document and get to review all that work (and all the words) that I've done through the previous year.

Total Wordcount: 183,611!

I anticipated hitting my annual 100K goal, due to the two novels I was working on, but I really didn't anticipate to wind up with so many words! I really felt like I did basically zero writing outside of knocking out most of Beyond Alder Creek's second draft and powering through The Blind Oracle's first, and those two do make up the majority of those words, but still! So many words!

While that feels like a huge accomplishment, I will say that I feel like my relationship with writing and other creative work has felt a bit off the past year or two. The kind of 'off' that could simply be growing pains, as my ability to critique my own stuff surpasses my ability to make it, but also probably due to other aspects of my life right now bleeding through. I'm sure that, as I'm working harder to tackle said other aspects in the coming year, eventually that'll settle the frustrations here, too.

But that's not to say that I'm not both so excited and so proud of how much I've gotten done this year. I made it a goal to push myself to be more honest, more cringey, more 'weird' with my writing this year. And in some ways, I think I'm actually starting to see that peeking through. There are some projects I literally can't even share highlights from this go round because they're a bit too personal for public consumption lol

But hey, I wrote over 180,000 words this year. There's still plenty left to share!

So here ya go! Some highlights for 2024!

Mae Vodo wasn't a hero, yet. That would come in time. A time when her name would be known across Lore, when her robes would be spun of magical silk and adorned with medals of achievement, when even sovereigns would bow in deep respect. But for now, the only folk who knew her name were the stablehands of the keep, and the only magic she spun was the dancing lights to entertain herself after dark. (Tales of Lore)

“If the Undernell knows the Warden wants us away from their manor, we’ll have to outsmart their aversion in order to find it.” Winnie closed her eyes. She might’ve counted to ten, tried taking in a deep breath, anything to settle the coil in her chest. But her patience was spent. “How, exactly, do we outsmart a cave?” Edea piped in, “If we convince it that we are not aiming for the manor, perhaps it will let us through.” That made about as much sense to Winnie as anything would’ve, she supposed. Although it conjured up the image of three dimwits marching through caves, talking loudly about how much they didn’t want to find the Warden’s estate. Not exactly subtle. (Beyond Alder Creek)

The innocent ignorance of the kingdom's most powerful, their authority a facade in the horrible knowledge he'd been cursed with. Fate cast him from their comfort like a shadow from the light. He saw death in their pleasure; even skulls appeared to smile. (The Blind Oracle)

Nicotine steeped in her veins, its soothing poison filtering her flyaway thoughts, blunting their sharp edges. Not a cure for the insomnia, more likely an instigator, but if Juniper was going to lie awake staring at the ceiling all night, she’d have rather done so without a hurricane for a brain. She’d take the artificial stimulant over the natural kind. (Untitled, but Don't Smoke, Kids!)

“At least grab something to drink before you go. The library is such a dry part of the Halls.” “I think that’s intentional,” Madoc fired back jokingly. “For all the paper?” “Great for parchment,” Fin agreed, “terrible for hair. I prefer to do my reading in the courtyard.” He pulled at one of his curls, extending it to its end before letting it go. It sprung back towards his face, regaining its shape. (The Blind Oracle)

Do they have any secrets? A pretty big one, yeah. It’s called The Plot. (in which Teri fills out a character sheet for TBO)

Shiloh could've been the first to enter the sanctum in a century, and nothing around them would've appeared any more abandoned. Few people worshipped the god of Death, they reasoned. Especially during such times when They kept so busy that to live felt like open rebellion. (A Conversation with Death)

“I would request assistance in my quest for vengeance.” He said it with the nonchalance of asking for directions. The Oracle answered with the same casual tone. “And what would best assist you in your quest?” “Knowledge.” “And what do you have to trade?” Taliesin didn’t so much as flinch. Winnie studied his back, wondering if he’d hidden anything of use on him, or if he was truly showing up to this powerful fae empty-handed. “All-Knowing, what would you request of me in return?” The porcelain face’s expression shifted into one of amusement. The Oracle was fond of Taliesin, Winnie realized. She knew him, and found him endearing. Winnie would be shocked at nothing after this. (Beyond Alder Creek)

- Boys will be boys, if by that you mean being inducted into secret societies, having existential crises, breaking into historic sites, crying a Lot, and going on a little vacay~ (Badly explained wips: Castle on the Hill)

Every vision they'd seen, every glance into the future. As he'd suspected, or maybe as he'd feared, all overlooked the danger they faced. Whatever power granted the Oracles their sight, it singled out Madoc alone for its cruelest glimpses. Visionary or not, coming forwards with Brevorn's betrayal would cast enough doubt over his intuition. Augurs of old had been killed for less. Staring at the surface of the table, he weighed his options. Death being hailed as a traitor, or death knowing himself to be a coward. "Some choices," he muttered. (The Blind Oracle)

Despite their obviously being overheard, Taliesin continued his attempt to convince Winnie to make a deal. To his credit, he spoke in hushed tones. Not as much to his credit, the Dawn guards snorted derisively with each attempt. (Beyond Alder Creek)

"The categorization of intellect as a superpower is constantly subject to debate," Henry Weldt said, pushing the registration packet back across the table. "And I object to mandatory labor on the grounds of a genetic mutation, regardless." Henry's father slid the papers over again, forcefully. "We've been over this. Your guidance counselor confirmed with the local defense league recruitment. Your IQ alone classifies you as a power holder under the current regulations. Like it or not, it's your civic duty to register at the age of 18." Crossing his arms, Henry stared down at the Department of Superhuman Ability's logo in disdain. He said nothing. His father sighed, running a hand through his thinning salt-and-pepper hair. "What will it take to get you to sign the damn paper?" "Nothing." Henry shrugged. "I'm not signing it." (Villain Origins: Doctor Illusion)

Just before Madoc thought he’d never be able to twist his face out of its smothering, plastered-on smile, a familiar face looked down at him. “Gareth!” Madoc blinked back his surprise. Overcoming his shock, he blanked. “I didn’t realize they allowed guards to attend the ceremonies.” Madoc’s little brother — though ‘little’ was relative, he’d been forced to admit once, begrudgingly — pressed a finger to his lips with a chuckle as he extended his hand. “‘Guard’ nonsense! That’s actually Syr Gareth of the Bright Blade.” With a quirk of his eyebrow, Madoc looked pointedly at the borrowed, embroidered doublet constricting Gareth’s wide shoulders. “According to?” “The Master of Ceremonies.” “And who, exactly, told him to call you that?” Gareth pulled away, clapping his hand to Madoc’s shoulder. “Can’t take up too much of your time! Wouldn’t be fair to the other Seers.” “Oracles, Gareth.” “Them, too!” With a curtsy, Gareth dashed to congratulate the other boys on their accomplishment. (The Blind Oracle)

Curiosity was a daytime sentiment. Under the midnight pitch, Juniper’s innards coiled in apprehension. (Untitled)

When she had first learned that the fae were required to be entirely truthful, Winnie had taken it as a good sign that she could trust their word. But the longer she traveled in these strange lands, the more she realized that there was a lot of space to manipulate truth without ever coming close to honesty. (Beyond Alder Creek)

Madoc pondered over what he’d seen as he made his way to the quietest wing of the Halls. The court, with its unbridled rage. The stoic guards, silently allowing the onlookers to take the stand. The terror of the man. His innocence. Guilt twisted in his midsection. What had the man been accused of to earn his fate at the hands of such ire? What had Madoc done? Was it his rightful punishment that the man endured on his behalf? Were the screams torn raw from his throat a mere mockery of the justice they sought? What had Madoc done? What act could have drawn the line from rioting mob to legitimized vigilantes? Why had the guards looked on? What would he do? Madoc stopped in the center of a hallway, suddenly breathing very hard. (The Blind Oracle)

The perpetual grin of Their skull seemed to widen. Mirth lifted the tone of Their voice into something like a smile as They said, "Child, I am Death." Shiloh had prepared a speech for their confrontation with the god of Death. They'd spent days polishing the wording, fixing turns of phrase and spinning eloquence from their plain request. Even along their walk, they'd repeated the words like a mantra, one of very few assurances that they could follow through with this. Nothing of it remained. Instead, Shiloh simply said, "No." "No?" "You can't be Death." The figure cocked Their head, gentle amusement coating Their words. "And why is that?" Later, Shiloh would blame their impudence on the shock. Frowning, they sat up still further, resting their weight back on their extended arms. "Because you're so… lively." "To the living, Death is crypt and grave." They waved a hand, turning Their head to acknowledge the sanctum's transformation. "To the dead, it is but another stage of the cycle." (A Conversation with Death)

A knock against the door startled Madoc into taking a step forwards. Even this near the edge of the balcony, the height of it swam through his head. He saw fires razing, smoke rising. With a blink, it cleared. "Sitting out here and contemplating your annihilation all alone?" Fin asked as he joined him, immediately choosing to fully rest his weight against the railing. "Thinking about theirs," Madoc said with a nudge of his chin to the people scrambling below. "How noble." (The Blind Oracle)

"If I promise not to say anything…" Natalie trailed off hopefully. A sigh escaped me before I could catch it. "That'd be breaking at least half a dozen codes, and, no offense, but I really don't know you-" A shriek interrupted my sentence, cutting me off. I barely managed to dodge the careening hourglass before it flew past, shattering glass against the wall. Natalie was already halfway to the door. She froze shortly before reaching the register lane. I crossed the store from the opposite direction. "Why'd you do that?" I asked, not bothering to hide the exhaustion in my voice. Natalie couldn't move, thanks to my immobility spell, but she could still talk. "You're going to kill me!" "I am not going to kill you!" Seriously, what was up with Typics? "Honestly, Natalie, do you even want to remember all of this?" Silence. But not the silence of contemplation. "You do?!" "It's kind of cool!" (Arcane Affinity)

Humanity tore a rift in the fabric of the Beyond. So be it. Winifred Pewitt would burn it in its entirety before she let it rob her of her brother. (Beyond Alder Creek)

You will stand in one of the washrooms of the Halls. A basin sits before you. You grip its sides as you stare into the mirror hanging above. A beast regards you from your reflection. Its eyes will be bloodshot, each red vein streaking across the white. Its hair is matted, clinging to its stricken face. You stare hollowly into your own eyes and don't recognize the wild feral creature looking back. Dazed, your sunken hazel eyes host a wildfire, your jaw slacks, agape. The sight will bring a laugh bubbling to the surface. You can't contain it, a choking, gurgling laugh. You see a flash of your throat as the hood of your robe falls to your shoulders, and a gasp tears the drowning chuckle into a sob. Tears will stream down your face. You watch them fall in the mirror, watch them slide down your cheek, drip off your chin. You don't look to see where they fall. You don't look down at the basin. But as your hand comes up to wipe the streaks from your face, it will be stained with red. Nausea will drive you to dry heave, and as you hurtle forwards, your gaze will land on the basin below. Its once-clear waters are cloudy with spilled blood. Red marks your hands, your robes, pools across the tile of the floor. You will scrub at your hands. The fresh blood has washed away, but dried stains cling more stubbornly. You scrape at the skin on your hands. Even where the red of blood fades, red from the irritation takes its place. In the low light, it's difficult to discern the two. Nobody will disturb you as you work, but you will hurry anyway. It is only a matter of time before your deed is discovered. You return your focus to the scrubbing. The robe will have to be discarded entirely, and the tiles thoroughly cleaned. You will not think of what's happened. You do not think of the body, still laying where it fell. (The Blind Oracle)

Ahead, Taliesin’s pace never shifted, his posture fixed as ever. But Taliesin would look at home walking on water. The Beyond molded to fit him, its landscape embracing him into its entirety. (Beyond Alder Creek)

So much had happened since those early days in the stables of the keep. Back when heroism meant parades and giving orders and confidence. Mae didn't have much confidence left. And with all of it stripped away, where did that leave her? The thought of a parade, of an extravagant feast catering to her every whim, left a sour taste in Mae's mouth. Images of grateful expressions made way to angry ones, grieving faces reflecting the horrors that had ravaged the countryside. Mourning deaths that Mae had failed to prevent, where her powers hadn't been enough. Where her magic clashed with the enemy's, and the fallout only ever seemed to rebound onto the innocent. (Tales of Lore)

There'd never been such dark circles engulfing someone's face. Tired hazel eyes stared back at him from the depths, any fire of hope for himself long extinguished. Where once he'd seen glimpses of fate's chosen vessel, now he only saw an empty man. He looked so alone. This was all he'd ever been. A will-less, witless fool who escaped his promises to avoid responsibility for himself. Madoc couldn't look for long. The last he saw of himself was a disgusted sneer smearing across his face. (The Blind Oracle)

#writeblr #writing #my writing #writers of tumblr #writing wrap-up 2024 #writing wrap up #tw blood #dude we've got it all this year #and by 'it all' i mean So much existentialism #anyways enjoy

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twunny20fission · 1 month ago

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Books of 2024

Here are the books I read in 2024, with some thoughts on each

“The World We Make” by N.K. Jemison. A sequel to a book I was looking forward to, but found a bit disappointing. This one was fine. It really made the first book shine by comparison. The series was supposed to be a trilogy, but the author didn’t want to do it anymore. So this one felt rushed.

“Sweet Tooth, Book One” by Jeff Lemire. Visually great and well-written. Didn’t blow me away, but felt worthwhile. I’d like to read the next in the series, but it’s harder to find.

“Pageboy” by Elliot Page. This is one of those memoirs where you think, “well, they definitely didn’t hire a ghost writer.” Page is not a skilled writer. The stories he lived through were enough to be good nonetheless.

“Moon Knight, Vol. 1: The Midnight Mission” by Jed McKay, et al. Pretty tame for such an interesting character.

“Moon Knight, Vol. 2: Too Tough to Die” by Jed McKay, et al. Meandering, with a rushed ending. Meh.

“Safe & Sound” by Mercury Stardust. How to take care of a lot of stuff around your house. It was inspiring and affirming. Not a lot of it was necessarily useful to me presently. But it was still good.

“Usagi Yojimbo, Vol 6: Circles” by Stan Sakai. I love everything about Usagi. This is a strong volume.

“Evvie Drake Starts Over” by Linda Holmes. A great time. I took a swing on a type of book I don’t normally pick up, and I’m extremely happy I did. It’s a romance novel, but not AT ALL a bodice-ripper. A modern, thoughtful, realistic novel about an adult woman falling in love. Super good.

“The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck” by Mark Manson. Nowhere near as good as I wanted it to be. Very bro-ey, and not particularly resonant.

“Ms. Marvel Vol 5: Super Famous” by G. Willow Wilson, et al. A very middle-of-the-road entry in Wilson’s Marvel volumes.

“Making It So: A Memoir” by Patrick Stewart. Outstanding. Exceeded every expectation, and my expectations were high. Even the less-than-flattering elements of his life were handled well.

“Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant” by Iman Vellani, et al. This book really hung its hat on “Iman Vellani got to write this one.” Which is great, but it wasn’t a spectacular book.

“An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us” by Ed Yong. Very disappointing. It could have been very cool, but it was not.

“poyums” by Len Pennie. I dislike 95% of all poetry I've ever experienced. This book is in the other 5%. Even when I didn’t understand it (either because it was in Scots, because it was poetry, or both) it was great.

“Ms. Marvel Vol 6: Civil War II” by G. Willow Wilson, et al. Good art, mediocre plots, pretty decent dialogue.

“Camp Damascus” by Chuck Tingle. I listened to the audiobook, but I’m counting it. This was engaging start to finish. The creepy parts were good, and the sense of fun that the author brings to things was apparent throughout.

“Mighty Nein Origins: Beauregard Lionett” by Mae Catt, et al. None of these Origins books were great standalone stories. This one was *pretty* good.

“Sourcery” by Terry Pratchett. Another great entry in what might at this point be my favorite book series. Like ever. After I reckoned with the fact that I’d never read another Douglas Adams book, I figured that part of my brain would go fallow. Thank goodness for Sir Terry, and thank goodness he was so prolific. This one was exciting and emotional.

“Three Novels,” by Samuel Beckett. I don’t get what he was trying to do here. Beckett’s plays work for me. Whatever this was did NOT. I tortured myself into finishing it, after a months-long break.

“Star Trek: Lower Decks #1” by Ryan North, et al. Really enjoyable. You have to come into the book with a knowledge of how Lower Decks works. Which I have, and it was great. Ryan North has never missed.

“Survival Street” by James Asmus, et al. As with any good satire, this was hard to “enjoy.” It was too sharp an implement, but it was very well-executed. The idea is that the S*same St*eet m*ppets are real, living, immigrant people. And when the tyrannical government takes over and de-funds PBS and basically all non-propaganda children’s TV, they go HAM.

“Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros. Very glad I picked this one up. I get caught in the “do I really have bandwidth for a long book, or to start another series right now” of it all. But this one was worth it. But I wish it had been a little less infatuation-obsessed. The romance makes sense, and is even relevant to the plot. But the “oh, how could I ever have denied myself the exquisite pleasure of having this person’s skin under my fingertips” is just…blegh.

“The Adventure Zone, Vol. 6: The Suffering Game” by the McElroys, et al. The comics are not as good as the podcast. Part of that opinion might be nostalgia for the golden age of “about 10 years ago.” But it’s how I feel. This one fits in nicely with the others, which is to say it’s competently written and arted. There are one or two great bits per book, but overall it’s fine.

“Wyrd Sisters” by Terry Pratchett. I look back on every Discworld novel with a sense of it being the best one and not as good as at least one other one. My favorite is constantly in flux. This one stands out for its treatment of the magic of theater (and greater magick of headology) and its deeper insights into the witches.

“A Wizard of Earthsea” by Ursula Le Guin. I should have read this sooner. It pretty much holds up, though the style is clearly of a type that no one really uses anymore.

“Priestdaddy” by Patricia Lockwood. Bit of a disappointment. It was like reading a clever blog of an autobiography. I didn’t really hold together well. A lot of it was entertaining, but it wasn’t Great.

“Legends and Lattes” by Travis Baldree. Right up my alley. A very cozy, thoughtful story in a kind of hand-wavy fantasy world. Really enjoyed it.

“The Theory of Everything Else” by Dan Schreiber. Wasn’t exactly a narrative, wasn’t exactly just a list of facts & curiosities. It was okay. I feel like Schreiber is at his best in the audio format, in the company of other weirdos.

“Pyramids” by Terry Pratchett. Very cool expansion of Discworld. I’m hoping it is a foundation to something ahead, as I liked the characters and the new elements of the plane.

"Iron Flame" by Rebecca Yarros. A stellar second entry in the series. It was infuriating how engrossed I was for the last 150 or so pages especially. The spicy scenes still seem to be...too much. They stick out as an insanely different experience than the rest of the narrative. Look, I liked the book a lot. I had a hard time telling certain characters apart sometimes, and some of the narrative bits were too confusing until they weren't. This series is A Lot.

Metrics!

Total books: 31 Total (non-graphic novels and other picture-heavy books) pages: 6450 Total pages: 8403 Highest-rated: Making It So Lowest-rated: Three Novels Very Glad I Read It Award: poyums Honorable Mention: Evvie Drake Starts Over Glad It's Over Award: The World We Make Most disappointing: Three Novels

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levis-coffeecup · 8 months ago

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chapter 23| Sanctuary

WC-4.9k

Summary

The underground is filthy and dark. Dim lights, dull alleys, and desperate hearts. A place Levi knows as well as the back of his hand, and a place he would do anything to get out of.

Chapters of life roll by and with the turn of a page, things drastically change. In front of him is the opportunity to live on the surface. And the flimsy bridge that he has to cross. From an uncivil criminal to a disciplined soldier.

But life on the surface seems tougher amidst all the mockery, civilities, and the gaping hole left in his heart, after the demise of his dear friends Isabel and Farlan.

Content/Warnings

canon- compliant, canon-typical violence, spoilers for No Regrets OVA, descriptions of PTSD, grief, depression, heavy angst and themes, strong language, self-hate, physical assault.

Author’s Note

Hi guys!!!!

It's been long, and I'm so sorry for the delay. So much has happened in the past 4 months... I've completed an intense internship, graduated and gotten broken up with even though I wasn't even in a relationship LOL.

But I've got good news now! I'm almost done with the entire fic (only 2 chapters left). And from next Saturday, I'll be uploading a chapter every week again (Every Saturday)!

Song for this chapter is Flightless Bird, American Mouth by Vitamin String Quartet

Hope you enjoy!

Chapters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18��19 20 21 22 23

Masterlist | Playlist | Other Works

FEB 848

Birds chirp as the sun wakes from its slumber. Making the night fade, as it lazily appears past the horizon.

A gentle breeze slips through the window, tousling the white curtains. And sunlight enters, landing on Levi's eyes, stirring him from his sleep.

The hearth dimly glows from the fire he was stoking at midnight. And his bed is warm and messy.

Mae is pressed close to him, her back to his chest, and his hand around her waist. And she sleeps like a log, with the sound of her soft snores filling up the space.

Long gone are the days when he used to stutter at every word he uttered. The bumpy rushes of adrenaline have now softened. And the giddiness he would face when he had to see her, has now been replaced with comfort.

He pulls her closer to him, feeling the rise of her belly with every breath she takes.

She has finally saved up the money and bought her own clinic. The place is good and close to home too.

Life has been going good. They're doing well together.

And Levi spends a few more minutes lazing around, steeping in how sluggish the morning feels.

Mornings with Mae are usually like this. Lazy and slow. They cuddle for a little while after they wake up, and then they cook breakfast together.

But today, he has a mission to go to. Slowly his senses come to wake.

The scent of blood faintly mixes with air, and he looks down to see Mae's dress stained. She's menstruating, and her blood has blotted the white sheets as well.

"Mae," He pokes her shoulder, but she's in deep sleep.

"Mae," he calls a little louder.

Groggily one of her eyes open.

"Hmm," her morning voice is hoarse.

"You're bleeding... go change." he nudges, as he gets up to make his side of the bed.

But sleep still hangs heavily on her eyelids.

And Levi's words fall on deaf ears.

"Wanna sleep some more," she whines. Eyes still shut, and drowsy. There was an emergency at her clinic yesterday, she came home very late.

"Mae," Levi urges again as he flattens out the creases on the bed, "It'll get dirtier the more you sleep, just get changed and sleep again."

"I know.. But I'll clean it later", she turns away from him, annoyed. Her body hurts a bit, and she's so sleepy, she's hardly able to keep her eyes open.

"It's harder to take stains out the longer you wait... It will take me 5 minutes to clean it now."

"I'll scrub extra hard." she mutters, pulling the blanket over her face.

"You hardly scrub anything," Levi grumbles, throwing a snide remark about the general state of the house. There's dust everywhere, and there's a few dishes in the sink that have been lying dirty for 2 days.

Mae gets up now, sensing the annoyance in his voice. She props herself on her elbows and her eyes squint as she slowly adjusts to the brightness. "I've been busy Levi... "she mumbles. "The clinic has been taking so much of my time..."

And Levi grunts in response. He knows she's been busy, And he understands why the house is a little messier.

But his temper still rises at the site of her laying, making a bigger mess this very moment.

Maybe it's the stress of the mission today. Maybe it's how lazy she is being. He doesn't know what's making him snap so badly, but at this moment he just wants to be right.

And compassion slips so easily from his resolve. He's usually patient, but he can't stand messes that can easily be avoided.

"I know it's hard, but it's not hard to get up now and change the sheets Mae..." he growls. "The sheets are white, and you're staining it this very moment goddamnit!" Frustration catches the ends of his words.

But her stomach aches, and her head hurts, all she wants is a few minutes more, before she gets up. She hardly has the energy to catch all of Levi's words.

And Levi's brows furrow. Her aloofness is the final straw.

Time ticks loud, yet slow. "Get up I'll clean it myself," he commands, and the voice that comes out is the one he uses at all his soldiers.

He starts tugging on the sheets, and Mae feels it slip past her body. All she wanted was to sleep for a few minutes, and Levi wouldn't even let that happen.

"What's your problem?" She gets up agitated.

"I'm taking the sheets to clean them."

"I'll clean them in a while, what's the need to do it now?... Especially when you have a mission to go to." She almost yells and her face contorts into anger.

"Because it's getting on my nerves." he seethes through his teeth,

And Mae scoffs exasperated, as she starts pulling the bedsheet out too.

"You're so difficult at times. Do you know how hard it is to love you?"

Regret fills her mind as soon as the words slip past her mouth.

And Levi's eyes widen, his body tensing. Her words hit a weak spot.

Her words aren't far from the truth. And he has nothing to say to her. Maybe that is why it hurts so much.

And he's quick to turn to his feet. Hiding the fresh wound of her words, away from her.

Mae follows after him. 'Levi, Levi, sweetheart," she calls out.

But he successfully ignores her. Hurt immeasurably by her words. He picks out his clothes from the closet. And closes the bathroom door shut.

He finds comfort in the shower, where he doesn't have to see her anymore.

When he steps out, he's already sporting his Survey Corps uniform.

Mae stands in front of him. A new bed sheet has been put on the mattress and the old one is bundled up in his hands. She tried to clean the stain in the kitchen sink, but with no success.

But Levi's eyes are cold now, and he sports the same face he puts on for the rest of the world.

The tension in the room is constricting. It was such a trivial topic, who would have known it would escalate so quickly.

"Levi," she pleads. But it feels like her voice only annoys him further.

"Listen to me please." She drops the stained bedsheet, and she rushes behind him. But nothing can stop him now. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean those words," she apologizes.

She didn't mean for it to come out, he thinks.

He rushes down the stairs, and Mae stares at him with remorse.

There's still 2 hours left before the Survey Corps arrives at Trost and leaves for the mission. And Levi has nowhere else to go.

She decides she'll make him his favorite breakfast.

But he picks up his bag and boots.

The door slams shut.

________________

The wind rips past Levi's ears, as his horse gallops past the open fields.

A few red flares went up, then there were two purple ones. Too many titans have attacked the east wing.

And Levi finds himself steering his horse away from his squad, towards the besieged area. He has to make sure the titans don't penetrate the formation further.

Grass fields stretch for miles in front of him. There's hardly any trees around, for him to use the ODM gear on. And he also doesn't know where he'll park his horse. Because some time soon, he will have to be in the air, suspended with the cords of his ODM gear.

The wind blows in his face and the afternoon sunlight feels warm against his skin for a blissful moment. But soon the atmosphere turns into something grim and sinister. And Levi's horse almost panics. Raising its forelimbs up in resistance.

The smell of blood wraps around like a thick blanket. In the distance, he can see a few titans devouring his comrades. They've all gathered between two tall trees, and he hopes he can find someone alive, hiding behind a tree's dense canopy.

He maneuvers his horse forward. And as soon as he reaches close enough to the titans, he launches himself into the air.

The grass is stained red, and corpses are littered on the ground. Some slumped against the tree trunk.

And Levi winces

Seems like everyone's dead already. It was useless, coming here.

A titan turns towards him, and he pulls out his blades. The wind propels him forward, and he flows like the breeze.

The way he moves is an art that could be studied.

It comes naturally to him, and he pivots mid air, effortlessly reaching its nape, and slicing it. More titans turn towards him, as the first one falls to the ground,

They swat recklessly, and Levi dodges their wonky arms with ease.

4 down 3 more left. There's not an ounce of panic in his body. His hand reaches down to grab another blade, but it's met with nothing.

He quickly scans the tallest tree around him, and lands on it. To a spot where the titans can't reach him. And he looks down to find his ODM gear empty.

He's running out of blades. And far in the distance he can see his horse galloping away from the chaos of the titans.

Tch, what a big blunder.

The only thing saving his life at the moment is the height of the tree. And he clicks his tongue, disappointed at his carelessness. He should have borrowed some extra blades from his squad before coming here.

Titans accumulate around him, like moths to a flame. It will be hard to escape through them even if he had all his blades restocked.

And if things are going according to plan, then the rest of the Survey Corps must be somewhere in the North East, way ahead of him. They probably won't even see his flare.

Nevertheless, he uses his purple flare. Hoping someone finds him worth saving.

Time ticks slowly, and he is forced to play the waiting game.

Death stands a meter away from him, trying its best to grab him. And he's left with nothing... but the rotting corpses of his comrades and his thoughts. And he's so helpless, call it his own negligence or bad luck

He sits down on the branch. At least he's distracting the titans from wandering further into the formation.

Exhausted, he slumps. Rotting in the scent of his dead comrades. As the events of the past few hours fill up his idle mind.

He was waiting at the stables, sitting on a wooden stool next to his horse's stall.

He had nowhere else to go. The streets were filthy and soon they would be swarmed by people bustling to earn their daily bread.

It had been an hour since he had been sitting here. And Mae didn't come to bother him yet.

He didn't know if that thought hurt him, or kept him calm.

Maybe she was on the road searching for him.

He threw another glance at the Trost Clock Tower.

It was 7:45 am. Just 15 minutes left, before the Survey Corps entered Trost and he left with his squad. He had never felt so eager to step out of the walls.

And he fiddled with the hem of his cloak, to kill time.

Heavy footsteps pounded the footpath, and his eyes met with Mae's.

She had changed into a fresh pair of clothes, and she carried a tiffin in her hand.

Her face morphed into that of relief as her eyes landed on him.

"Levi, she breathed.

Beads of sweat rolled down her forehead, she was panting.

He could tell she ran, to be here as soon as possible.

"Levi," she huffed, keeping her hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath. "I washed the sheet ... it didn't take me too much time."

All he wanted was to keep the house cleaner for her.

But the argument wasn't about the sheets anymore. Her words had cut deeper.

They still rung in his head, making it ache. Deep down he'd always known that he was a pain in the ass. And maybe what hurt was the fact that she thought so too.

"Levi," she tried to grab his attention. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said what I said."

And in a childish attempt to protect his own heart, he turned the other way around. A part of him didn't even know how to face her. He was the one that was hard to love after all, not her.

"Come on now, it was such a silly fight! I know what I said wasn't silly, but I got breakfast for you, since you didn't eat anything." She kept the tiffin on his lap. "Don't go on a mission empty stomach please."

But he placed the tiffin, next to his stool, on the floor.

The next time Mae's voice reached his ears, it was wispy. He could tell she was on the brink of tears.

"Please just look at me." Her words teetered on the edge of a plea.

But Levi remained callous as usual. Even if he's miserably hurting on the inside, he pretends to act unbothered. At least that way, he looks strong.

And Mae felt her heart sink from his constant rejections...

She sat down on her knees, between him and the pavement. Hoping that he looked at her at least once. "Am I annoying you? Do you want space? Just tell me you need space, but don't leave me hanging in uncertainty Levi, please."

Partly, he himself didn't know what he wanted. It always took him a while to figure out what he was feeling and why he was feeling so. And he surely didn't want her to see through.

Fortunately, luck favored him today. The clinking of the city bell broke the floundering moment. His facade stayed put. And he got up without an ounce of remorse, to put a saddle on his horse.

And Mae slumped, looking down at the ground, time had run out, and Levi seemed unbothered by all that she had done so far.

Her belly hurt from the cramps. And her heart felt dizzy with guilt . "Levi," she turned around, with the last of her hope.

She didn't want him to leave for the mission on such a bitter note.

But he was already in front of his horse. Waiting to get away from her.

She rushed towards him.

"Levi." Tears started filling up her eyes. He could tell by the subtle change in her voice. "Please say something...Tell me that I'm full of shit."

Her hand latched around his wrist, begging. And her voice cracked with a tinge of pain. "I love you," she confessed.

It was a tradition She always told him she loved him, before she left for a mission.

But Levi didn't turn around, he just shook her hand off, and got on his horse. His vision steered at what lay ahead of him.

The sound of his horse marching partially covered the sound of her silent sobs.

Like a hammer striking a fragile mirror, the fact that these might be his last few moments on earth sinks into his mind.

And he tries hard, to think of all the good times. But all the lovely images of her smiling morph into those of her begging him to forgive her.

Someone like him knows how fragile life is. One moment a person is next to him, and the other moment they are gone. And how he wishes he had turned back around, and kissed her.

The titans below him, drool. Stretching on their tippy toes to reach towards him.

And desperately, his eyes scan through his surroundings, ardent for a solution. But all he sees is two more titans wobbling his way.

Every time he comes back from the battlefield, worn out and tainted with blood, all he wants is to see her, and hear his name from her mouth.

But now that feels like a distant dream.

And if he dies today, then the last memory Mae would have of him, is of him ignoring the shit out of her.

The thought makes him die a little. And he would trade an arm and leg to meet her one last time.

Because her love is so strong, it paralyzes him to the core. Her love is so persistent, it makes him want to live for a 100 years in this shitty world.

Some days it's the only thing that makes him fight harder.

And if he dies today, then she would have to live without knowingthat she's the best thing that's ever happened to him.

His mouth runs dry at the thought, and he starts drumming his fingers, anxious. There's so many things that he wishes he could have told her.

But he'll only be able to survive three days without food and water on this tree top. And it'll be pointless to step down even at night without a horse.

The smell of rotting corpses gets stronger. And maybe it's fair for him to die in such misery, after how much of a failure he's been.

He slumps against the tree trunk.

His hope goes down faster than the setting sun.

And it's almost as if God has listened to his prayers, when a tiny dot approaches closer and closer in his direction.

It's silhouette becomes more prominent, and Levi squints to make sure his mind isn't playing tricks on him.

The Survey Corps cape flaps with the wind, victorious.

And Levi feels as if a new heartbeat has come up in his vacant chest. He stands up on the branch.

Soon he can distinguish the familiar set of brown hair, and the wide rimmed glasses.

Hange, his heart brims up with relief.

The world has given him another chance. And even though he knows he's not good enough, in no way is he not taking up this offer.

It's not often that life is so kind to him.

He waves his hand at Hange. And with how empty the landscape is, they are able to spot him with ease.

The flock of titans remain distracted, their primal gaze set on Levi's lean frame. And Hange finds it fairly easy to get up on her horse, and dart towards the branch Levi is on.

They swoosh past two titans, landing on the spot next to him.

Luckily their horse doesn't panic and run in the opposite direction.

"Hange," Levi sighs in relief. In this moment he feels like he could hug them out of sheer gratitude. "How many blades have you got?"

"Not a lot, there's only three." And there's 7 titans surrounding them.

"Three will do," his voice is determined. And he launches himself into the air, ready to slay the titans in front of him

He would fight against the world to see her again.

________________

The weather is lovely today, filled with the mellow rays of the setting sun. Birds chirp around the corner, and the streets are quiet, devoid of the usual chatter that flocks around at this hour.

It's 6 in the evening on a Thursday. And there's only one thought on Levi's mind as he strolls through the lanes of Trost.

His heart skips beats, out of both nervousness and excitement. And the bag in his hand feels heavy, filled with fresh ingredients that he's just bought from a fancy market.

The walk to Mae's house is surprisingly short. And there's not many things that Levi feels excited about in life. But surprisingly this dinner is.

He stares at the familiar wooden door, thinking about her face, when she sees the candlelight dinner and the food he's made for her.

There's steak, and cheese. And he's also got her some freshly baked strawberry pastries and chocolates to help with her menstruation.

He picks the keys from his pocket. Their jingle sounds like a melody to him. And a rare smile tugs on his lips, as he twists the knob.

He has to remind himself to catch a hold of himself.

The door creaks as it slowly opens, and all the excitement in Levi's heart sinks to the floor. Mae is sitting on the couch, with a puffy face and half of her blanket scattered on the floor.

His eyes widen and he curses under his breath. It's a Thursday evening, she was supposed to be at work. But she's in front of him instead, in the middle of a sob session.

The air feels thick. And the sight of her sobbing makes his heart hurt. Nevertheless he dares to step in.

He slips off his boots and places them on the shoe rack. The keys to their house jingle in his pocket. And the sound of his footsteps is oddly comforting.

And Mae frowns the longer she looks at him. Little did she know, that the sound of his movements was all her hurting heart needed

The past four days have been hell for her. Levi didn't come to see her. It was as if he's disappeared.

And the only source that kept her from believing that he had died, were the rare few people who saw the Survey Corps enter in the thick of the night.

And so she was forced to take a day off today, unable to function with the uncertainty of where their relationship stands.

A fresh tear slips past her eye. And Levi places his bag full of groceries on the center table, extremely jittery himself. The candles he bought for the dinner will probably go to waste. But there are more important matters that require his attention, such as her miserable condition.

He knows he's the reason behind it, and quietly he takes a seat on the other end of the couch. Fingers tapping profusely against his knee, as he racks his brain for what to say.

And Mae seems apprehensive as ever. Looking up at him, through her clumpy lashes, with her arms folded against her chest. He never knew it was possible for her to look so angry yet sad at the same time.

"A-are you still b-bleeding?" He hesitates.

"It's gone now, doesn't last more than 4 days for me." She rebuttals. And as much as the coldness in her voice scares him, Levi knows it's his chance to make it up to her.

Timidly, he scoots closer to her, his hands reaching for her face. But she pushes them away.

It's been 5 days since their fight. She thought that this was the end for them. And now he just shows up as if nothing ever went wrong between them

"What took you so long?" she grumbles pissed. But the tears in her eyes betray.

And with a lot of courage, he pulls her head into his chest. "I'm s-sorry... I was too embarrassed to face you... b-because I was s-such an asshole. "

"Embarrassed?" She scoffs as she looks up at him. "And here I am losing hair over whether you'll come back... or leave me forever without any explanation." Her face has turned red, her nose is stuffy, and her eyes are so glossy. He swears they will be swollen the next morning.

"I'm sorry." His voice is heavy, laden with guilt.

A part of his mind hates himself. She deserves so much better than him. The thought runs mercilessly in his head. He just wants it to stop, but he can't escape it.

And it's ironic indeed that the only person he trusts enough to silence his doubts, is also the person that causes it. Mae

He tucks some of her hair behind her ear. "D-do you think I'm being selfish, by keeping you all to myself?" His voice is low, and he looks away from her, as he lays her insecurities down. Bare in front of her.

Her eyebrows furrow, and she tilts back to look at him. "What do you mean?"

"I know it's not easy for you, t-the arrangement we have, I'm too busy... You see me once every three months... I don't know, it's just something I often think about."

And Mae frowns. It's a wound that keeps resurfacing, no matter how hard she tries to make Levi feel loved.

At least he's letting her know how he feels though. That's progress.

"Levi," her voice is gentle. And her patience with him melts every ounce of doubt in his mind. "Loving you is hard, but it's also something I love doing... It's something I do willingly."

All her resentment almost fades away when she's met with the vulnerability that swarms his eyes. She's so close to forgiving him, but then the anxiety of the past four days comes haunting back to her.

"You put me through so much pain ..." She pushes against his chest and turns her back toward him. " I thought you wouldn't talk to me ever again... I know I shouldn't have said it's hard to love you... But I was mad, I didn't mean it. You could have at least told me that you need space and that we'll be fine? But you just left me hanging for like 4 days straight."

The pain in her voice is haunting, and out of desperation, his calloused hand wraps around her upper arm. Turning her around until her palms land on his chest, and her head rests on his heart.

"I'm sorry, I- I was a prick, I felt awful at first and I didn't even want to look at you... maybe because what you said was so true."

And then he cups both of her cheeks, cradling her. "I didn't think about how much me staying away would hurt you... I should have been more understanding."

His face is so close to hers, she can see every scar and scratch on his face. And the way he looks at her is so apologetic and genuine. She would have never thought he was capable of showing so much emotion.

She closes the distance between them. Desperate for a kiss.

Their flaws have started coming out now.

Mae is messy and always leaves the bedsheets undone when she leaves her bed. And Levi has a habit of seeing flaws in everything, always pointing out the smallest mistakes. From the salt in the soup she made, to her cleaning skills... even on days when she doesn't want to hear it.

Mae cries a little too much when she misses her parents, and Levi becomes a total workaholic when the deaths of his comrades haunt him.

Slowly their colors are coming out and what is left is the true image of what they are...

In their raw, most vulnerable form.

Their gaps and shortcomings. Turns out they aren't as much of a perfect fit and not every part of him interlocks with hers like a jigsaw puzzle.

Levi pulls away, admiring how pink Mae's lips look from all the kissing. She's alive and so is he. He couldn't be more grateful.

Another tear slips past Mae's eye. This time it's a happy one. And she rests her heavy head on his chest. "Thank you for telling me how you feel, I know it's hard for you, and I appreciate that, Levi"

They've found home in each other. And home doesn't have to be perfect, home just has to be warm.

And Levi caresses her hair, as he kisses the top of his head.

"I-I love you." His voice comes out confident. And he glides his thumb against her cheek. It's not a feeling he's ashamed of anymore. "And I don't ever want to lose you."

And Mae's eyes widen. She never thought he would say it out loud. But if he has, then he must truly mean it.

In the split of a second, her lips crash back into his. Her heart jolts, and in her sheer enthusiasm, she tackles him to the couch.

He lands on his back, with her hands on his chest and her thighs straddling his hips.

Instinctively, his arms snake around her waist, keeping her safe. And a flurry of I love you too's leave Mae's lips as she pecks his lips again and again.

The room falls away.

Something electric sparkles between them. A desire that can't be explained.

He kisses her again, and again, and again. He never wants to stop.

His hand slips past the hem of her shirt and he squeezes the warmth of her skin. The shyness that once held him back, doesn't bother him anymore, not when he's reached so close to death's gates.

And Mae freezes for a second. With her eyes wide, and her face flushed red. They have never gone this far before, and she squirms for a second.

But she can't even budge. Curse Humanity's Strongest and his strength.

And Levi's eyes glint with fondness as he pauses and cups her face. "Should we stop?"

The familiarity in his voice is all it takes to put her at ease. And Mae finds herself settling in both of his palms.

A part of her is afraid and inexperienced, but it's also Levi she's with. He's been with her through everything. And there's no other person she'd rather do this with.

Slowly she relaxes into him as well. And his other hand reaches the back of her neck, guiding her into another kiss.

"The curtains are closed right?" He whispers amidst kisses.

And Mae just nods, too stumped to answer.

His hands rove all over her frame, and she tugs on his hair as the kiss turns more passionate.

The obstruction, named clothes, falls off effortlessly. Landing on the floor in an untidy mess. The outside world ceases to exist for a moment, and Levi and Mae ease into intimacy they've never experienced before.

To all those who are still reading this book, despite my erratic updates, you have no idea how grateful I am to still have you here!

To all those who have lost interest, I don't blame you at all.

Just incase it wasn't clear enough, this was the chapter where Mae and Levi get intimate (for the first time). I wouldn't be going into more detail of explicit scenes than this. So if anyone's reading for smut, this is your sign to click off. Also if anyone's wondering why are they getting intimate after 2 yrs of dating, then that's because I think Levi would have a lot of apprehensions when it comes to sex (because of his mom being a prostitute). So I would think it would take him really long to get comfortable with the idea of doing it.

Lately I've been thinking that I've been writing Levi a little off character lmao. (since the past few chapters lol). But let me know what you think about it, I might make a few tweaks later, when I'll edit the whole book.

This chapter might seem like a filler, but very soon things are going to pick up pace, and after that there's no going back lol. I wanted to show a little bit more about Levi and Mae's relationship before the plot of AOT starts.

Let me know what you thought of this chapter! Constructive criticism is also appreciated. Also if there are any grammatical errors please let me know lmao.

I'll be seeing you very soon! (On Saturday)

Taglist: @keijikunn @evas-leslas @leviackermanmyhero245 (message me if you want to be added)

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moonstruckme · 9 months ago

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hey mae, i’m just going to vent a little:’) don’t feel the need to respond to this, i just would like to get some thoughts out lol

i’ve been so extremely lonely lately, i don’t have many friends that i hang out with and i’m not close with my family so it feels as if i have no sense of community. the few friends that i do talk to all have their own community that it seems like i’m not welcome in. they all have boyfriends and friends other than me that they see quite often, which there’s nothing wrong with that but it’s extremely disheartening when they hang with their other friends constantly but can never seem to make time for me. i just feel like i’m kind of just..here? i guess? i don’t do anything besides work or sit on my phone because the internet is the only way i can find community and it makes me so sad. i’m 19 years old, i feel as if i should be out having fun with friends or going on dates with people but instead i’m just kind of floating through existence because it feels as if there’s no place for me to settle and plant roots. i wish i had just one person who would sit and weather the storm with me:’)

Hi lovely! I know you said I don't have to respond and I'm not going to give you advice you didn't ask for, but I hope you know that you do have people who really care about you. Sometimes our perceptions of these things can be a bit skewed, and I have no way of knowing if that's the case with you and the people in your life but it's always something to keep in mind, sometimes people are just showing you love in ways that you have a harder time picking up on or that are different than the way they show it to others. Wishing you all the best angel and I'm sorry you're feeling so down <33

#mae's asks

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paalove · 1 year ago

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You’re taking prompts!! 🤩 would you write some AkkAyan? Maybe during university life dealing with Akk’s internalised homophobia and figuring out what his and Ayan’s level of comfort is in terms of being open about their relationship? Or something like that I don’t mind at all I love your writing!

oh wow, you prompted this in april - guessing i got caught up in essays and updates and, of course, The Vanquished Beast (dissertation) haha, sorry about the Months-Long-Wait. this will go up on ao3 sometime this evening, but im trying to post something else today as well, so it might be a little while! {edit: now up on ao3!}

anyway, this might be the only thing i ever write that actually goes with our skyy2's Bad And Incorrect Ideas re: akkayan's university plans. fhbdhbdh

....

It’s a nice bench, under a little roof, and Aye points that out as he drags Akk by the hand and adds, “That makes it perfect to sit with a laptop under.”

“Ohh,” Akk nods, smile wide and confident, “What would I use the laptop for, huh?”

Aye shrugs and turns back to him, looks at the sun on Akk’s face and thinks about how pretty he is, but doesn’t answer.

Akk answers himself, anyway, saying, “Probably for working on. I wouldn’t be video-calling anyone, right?”

He’s nearly laughing at his own joke, but it’s Aye’s joke too, so he’ll allow it – he wanders around the bench and back into Akk’s space again.

“That’d be redundant,” he agrees.

Catching his hand, Akk stands over him with light in his eyes and says, “How would it be redundant?”

Aye’s glad he asked.

With a hum, he twines their fingers together properly – Akk doesn’t always catch them right, trapping two of Aye’s together, because his hands are bigger and just that little bit clumsier, but Aye can always fix it – and as he’s watching their hands he explains, “Well, you’re always going to be wearing one Bluetooth headphone, and we’ll always be in each other’s ears. A video call at the same time would probably make a weird feedback loop.”

Akk snorts.

He doesn’t disagree.

This is how they’re handling it – or, well, he’s pretty sure they’re handling it? Aye isn’t having the best time, thinking forwards, and every couple of days he calls his mae, or Akk’s parents, or Akk, or sometimes Thua or the guys, and asks if he’s making a stupid choice, but the choice is made and Akk’s university wouldn’t take a registration this late anyway, so the choice is made.

But Akk doesn’t seem like he’s as freaked out as Aye, or even as freaked out as he was, and that’s because they’re handling it like this; the jokes about how they’re going to manage being attached at the hip from five thousand nine hundred and ten miles away-

Okay, Aye hasn’t told Akk he’s memorised the specific number.

And he’s so grateful for the difference between when their terms start, because it means he gets to bother Akk and make him learn the city with Aye, and they can kind of pretend they haven’t decided to make everything way harder than it needs to be. Like they always do.

Eventually, Akk says, “The time difference is six hours in the summer and seven in winter, we won’t always be awake at the same-“

“-You included daylight savings when you looked up the time difference?” Aye grins, delighted.

Akk’s busy sputtering and trying to deny it when-

“Hey, man!”

He drops Aye’s hand and turns.

This doesn’t alarm Aye at first – they aren’t actually physically glued together, no matter what Thua might say.

Or Mae.

Or pretty much anyone else they know.

But they aren’t and it’s not weird to drop the hand you were stroking to have an entirely separate conversation with… someone.

Who is this guy?

Akk is nodding a lot as they speak and calling him phi, but Aye doesn’t recognise him, and Akk’s classes haven’t actually started yet, so he isn’t quite sure where this guy could be from.

Again, not literally attached, but-

“And your friend…” the senior is suddenly turning to him, expression open. “You must be from a different faculty, right? You weren’t at the welcome meeting.”

“Oh, I don’t go here-“

“-This is Aye,” Akk agrees, taking his hand again – which would be good except for what happens next – and adding, “And I’m so sorry, he actually has to meet up with someone,” and before Aye really knows what’s happening he’s been pulled away and out of sight.

He’s still looking over his shoulder at where they just came from when Akk stops, so abruptly Aye crashes into him.

Akk tries to step back; not allowed, so Aye winds an arm around his waist as quick as he can.

Clearly there’s a very serious issue.

Obviously they need to be hugging for this.

When he looks up, Akk’s face is pained, and Aye can think of half a dozen things that could be the issue but he won’t press-

“I’m sorry, I don’t know what my fucking issue is, I shouldn’t have-“

“-It’s fine,” Aye says, but apparently he will press because Akk needs it. “What was that about?”

Because if Akk didn’t know, if he was confused, that would have been ‘I don’t know why I did that’ – if he’s talking about ‘my issues’, he’s in self-hating mode, so he must have some idea.

That thought process has Aye nearly reaching a conclusion, and his heart clenches because he doesn’t want Akk to hate himself over that, but it’s for Akk to say, not him.

Slowly, Akk closes his eyes.

Aye puts the other arm around him, because he might go into escape-mode at any moment. Not allowed.

“I started thinking about introducing you as my boyfriend,” he says to Aye’s shoulder, “And then he actually asked. And I just- it just felt like I was back at Suppalo.”

“Akk-“

“Sorry.”

“Akk,” Aye tries to interrupt, intervene, because Akk sounds like he thinks Aye’s mad at him, and yeah, sure, he thought Akk was past this stuff, but that doesn’t mean he could ever be mad at Akk for it.

But Akk doesn’t wait, repeating, “Sorry,” and awkwardly, slowly adding, “I don’t even want people to not know about you. I like people knowing you’re my boyfriend. It’s nice.”

Which is definitely a cue for Aye to hug him tighter and stare up at him with all the devotion he had learned to tone down in school settings – reluctantly, and only with frequent reminders from their friends, but he had learned. Emergency situations are different, though, and Akk’s sad.

That’s the most emergency a situation can be.

Akk meets his gaze and gets visibly caught in it, does that thing where he tries to close his eyes but can’t for long because he just wants to stare back.

“It is nice,” Aye agrees. Carefully unwinding one arm, he reaches up to stroke Akk’s head and says, “But it’s not something you owe me.”

Face filled with disagreement, Akk shakes his head and repeats, “I don’t know why I’m like this now.”

Aye doesn’t either, doesn’t know what to say to it all, but even though he’s not always as smart about this stuff as he used to pretend, there was someone in his life who really was, once. The answer comes to him from a memory.

He swallows against the feeling.

“Uncle Di told me, once, that problems come back around once you’re ready. So you can prove to yourself that you’re stronger than before.”

Akk hums, and Aye feels it in his chest too.

“What,” Akk starts, swallows, and continues, “What do you think that means for me? Now?”

Aye thinks…

Well, he’s pretty sure it’s for Akk to know, and to decide, and they can talk about it seriously and they can talk about it for a long time, but it’s been a couple of minutes since he’s seen Akk smile.

Ignoring all his thoughts, then, Aye says, “Hm… well, I think that because last time you ended up stealing a car about it, this time it has to be more. At least a bus… maybe you could steal a truck?”

“Aye,” Akk laughs, beautiful and embarrassed.

“Could you steal a truck?”

“Why would I steal a truck-“

#akkayan #the eclipse #the eclipse the series #robfic

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ladykailolu · 1 year ago

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We need to talk about the bastard trio more again 🥺

Imagine how pressed Gyro must feel to see Sadie Mae be much more cheerful and open to people who aren’t him or like him

Like, she’s more soft around Johnny, (side note: Johnny watching his boyfriend fuck these other men must be like -_-)

She’s clings to M&M and Godot whenever they’re around

Shows maybe he’s the problem, not her

Cause again, she’s not as stand offish and mean as she always seems in these asks. She’s only like that when it comes to family stuff and when she’s on the streets, her stand offish thing is a front she puts up.

She’s a sweet girl on the inside, and she’s very chill while being “perfectly wretched”

If you watched Cruella, her personality is very similar to Estella as well as a bit of OG cruella de vill from the animated version (accept she loves animals)

At first, Gyro probably doesn't see that his attitude towards Sadie-Mae and his non-existent relationship with her mom is the problem. He probably chalks Sadie-Mae's moody behavior up to be cause by her childishness. Johnny, however, sees something very different. It's only when Johnny talks with Gyro about Sadie-Mae and speaks his mind does Gyro begin to listen. He's slow to realize why Sadie-Mae is how she is, and in the end (after the kidnapping), it's like Gyro has turned over a new leaf and tries harder to take an active (and kinder) role in Sadie-Mae's life.

Can you imagine Godot saying something dark in his usual cryptic, poetic way, and when Sadie-Mae hears it, she like instantly understands and agrees with him? I just thought it was funny to have a young 30-something year old man say something dark in a poetic way, that most other adults don't understand, then there's this little 7 year old girl who hears him and goes, "Yep, I understand exactly what you mean. That's just the way life is." Like, ???????? A little girl has gone through it???? It worries Godot a little bit. Then there's M&M who realizes how dark things are getting and tries to introduce a bit of sunshine with tea and confections.

Is Sadie-Mae like Miranda Priestly from the Devil Wears Prada? She's a very chill, soft-spoken person who carries authority, is feared, and takes no shit from others. She can be standoffish and snobby. Tell me more about this dichotomy of Sadie-Mae. What does she mean by "perfectly wretched"? I believe you also said that she would find Jake Marshall amusing. Does she get along with him just like with Godot and Johnny?

#sadie-mae tinsley maddlin #gyro zeppeli #johnny joestar #godot #godot ace attorney #ace attorney godot #prosecutor godot #diego armando #meredith meringue #M&M jjba #jjba oc #ace attorney #gyroxjakexgodot #the tall dark and handsome trio #lady k answers #oreocookiezzz #asks

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starfiresyugiohocs · 2 years ago

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OC Profile: Nana

Full Name: Nana Mutou. Nicknames: Sunbeam (by her grandparents), Na-chan, BaNana. Aliases: N/A. Nationality: Japanese. Birthplace: Domino City, Japan. Gender: Female (she/her). Sexuality: Lesbian, possibly polyamorous. Age: 18-20 years old. Birthday: November 7th. Star Sign: Scorpio. Occupation: Psychology & Fine Arts student; counter clerk at Kame Game. Voiceclaim: Mae Whitman

Hair Color: Red, with blonde bangs. Hairstyle: Goes a bit past her shoulders, absolutely wild and untamable, very thick and has just that little bit off spike and fluff to it. Her bangs fall in a similar manner to her brother's and grandfather's, just without the spikiness. Eye Color: Aqua blue. Skintone: Deep tan. Notable Features: Being a 6'3" giant in a family of hobbits is pretty notable. Excess amount of freckles all over, pierced ears. Outfit Style: Very vibrant and/or pastel colors. Loves jeans that she's painted or has embroidery on them, and graphic tees. Very comfy and easy to move around in. Also has a ton of workout clothes. Accessories: Anklets are a big thing and she still wears friendship bracelets.

Personality: Bright and bubbly personality. Easily excitable, especially when it comes to her friends. She wants to be a positive influence, always encouraging others to reach their full potential. Lot of warmth and compassion in her heart. Still tends to be a bit lonely, thankful for the dear friends she's made but she struggled with making friends outside of her group. Gets flustered very easily. Mom Friend 24/7. Constantly looks out for everyone. Protective of her little brother, always trying to stick up for him. Very determined, can be a little stubborn at times. Has a harder time managing stress but is thankful for her psychology classes to help give her some blueprints. Hobbies: Painting, drawing, making jewelry, jogging, baking, reading comics, collecting knick knacks (i.e. fun mugs). Habits/Mannerisms: Tugging at her bangs when she's nervous, snorting when she laughs, smile through the pain, bear hugs and spinning people around when excited. Likes: Cozy games, watercolors, animated movies (esp Ghibli films), being at the beach, board games, summer, fireworks, festivals, butterflies. Dislikes: Driving, egotistical people, the cold, snow, first person shooters, writing essays, when it's pitch dark. Favorite Food: Oyakodon, cookie cakes. Least Favorite Food: Cold soba.

Deck: Elemental Heroes. Signature Card(s): Elemental Hero Lady Heat. Ranking: Isn't as active in the tournament scene herself, and just tends to enjoy the game. She doesn't have near the win streak Yugi and Yami have, and I don't think she's ever beaten her Grandpa, but she's got a few wins under her belt!

Parents: Asami Mutou (deceased) and Hanzo Inaba (absent completely). Was raised by her grandparents, Solomon Mutou and Hina Mutou (nee Shimada). Sibling(s): Yugi Mutou (younger brother). By extension, she also comes to view the spirit of the Puzzle, Yami, as her brother as well. Extended Family: I would say consult the family tree, but it's pretty straight forward and she doesn't really have any. Pet(s): A Shiba Inu named Taro. Love Interest(s): Ishizu Ishtar, Nami Izumi (credit: @icychill) Extensive Relationships: See page here (coming soon)

History:

Born as the eldest child to her parents, with Yugi following after two years. Her father disappeared from their life not long after her brother was born and she doesn't have any real memory of him and is happy enough not needing to seek him out.

Grew up with a group of friends very dear to her and she developed deep bonds with and are the exact reason Yugi craves that connection with people; he saw the example from her.

Their mother passed away when Nana was eight and Yugi was six, leading to them living with their grandparents at the game shop full time; they'd been helping watch after them since they were little after all.

Yugi finds the Puzzle a year afterwards and while Nana tried solving it herself, found it was better to let Yugi try (mostly because she got frustrated)

Started up college not long before the first fic and is excited to become a therapist so she can help others!

#oc tag: nana #oc profile: nana #yugioh ocs #ygo ocs #yugioh #ygo #wow i actually figured out nana's parent situation #yes i know technically yugi's mom is alive in the manga but like #do you ever see that lady #i saw her twice ever. once to yell at yugi about socks and the other time she was with gramps when he got discharged at the hospital #you never see her #as far as i am concerned that is a ghost

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umalvie · 2 years ago

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beneath the keep reading line is a cheat sheet for the kyoshi warriors and the freedom fighters (names given with the surname first where applicable), including canon members of both groups, that will be useful if you have a hard time keeping track of them

Kyoshi Warriors

Ikeda Suki (14-15)

Founding member of the Kyoshi Warriors

Nonbender

Trans girl

Mae Bongseon (14-15)

Founding member of the Kyoshi Warriors

Nonbender

Cis girl

Very serious but Chae-won and Suki can make her crack

Secretly kind; hides this behind resting bitch face

Often misses the joke

Blunt and direct

Willing to try if you are

Has a soft spot for Suki and Chae-won especially as well as the other Kyoshi Warriors

Middle child

Sun Chae-won (14-15)

Founding member of the Kyoshi Warriors

Nonbender

Cis girl

Bright and optimistic

Jokes around a lot

Loves to gossip

Gets frustrated easily despite her optimism

Swallows her harder to accept feelings often

Self-sacrificing

Would do anything for Suki and Bongseon

Oldest daughter

Murakami Hana (14-15)

First member to join the Kyoshi Warriors after their revival

Nonbender

Cis girl

A bit of a gossip

Somewhat selfish but not ill-intentioned

A very normal teenage girl

A hard worker

Very affectionate and fond of the other Kyoshi Warriors, especially Yihwa

Sometimes gets on Suki and Bongseon’s nerves, but at the end of the day is on good terms with everyone

Youngest child

Ra Yihwa (12-13)

Newest and youngest member of the Kyoshi Warriors

Nonbender

Cis girl

Forgetful

Whiny

Loves fashion and simple things like that, wishes she had more time to partake in those interests

Somewhat bitter about how fast she’s had to grow up due to the war

Endearing in how young she is

Middle child

Adachi Nabi (16-17)

Nonbender

Nonbinary girl

Shy but firm

A really good listener

Has good life advice

Doesn’t live in the moment enough

Strict with herself

Scolds the others a lot but does so out of love

Second oldest daughter

Eun Ha-yoon (17-18)

Nonbender

Cis girl

Sarcastic

Moody

Easily embarrassed

Can be self-centered

Protective of the younger members

Butts heads with Yi-seul frequently but in the way where you know they’re close

Youngest daughter

Nijima Yi-seul (17-18)

Oldest member of the Kyoshi Warriors

Nonbender

Cis girl

Usually calm and rational, but Ha-yoon brings out her irrational side

Serious

Has a reputation for being “cool,” Ha-yoon wants to expose for not being cool

Jaded

Seemingly wise, actually inexperienced emotionally in terms of things like romance

Really protective of the younger members

Oldest daughter

Ishikawa Kyuri (14-15)

Nonbender

Trans girl

A go-getter

Always trying to prove herself

Watches out for Yihwa a lot because she’s the second youngest member of the group

Bolder than she should be

Brash at times

Just wants to feel useful because she’s secretly very insecure

Only child

Hwangmok Ara (15-16)

Nonbender

Cis girl

Reserved but quite funny when you get to know her

Fiercely loyal

Not a big talker unless she’s cracking jokes

Lowkey judgmental

Best friends with Mi-yeon

Middle child

Choi Ye-rin (14-15)

Nonbender

Cis girl

Tries to act mature no matter what

Needs Xanax before Xanax exists

Stresses herself out easily

Is soothed by Yi-seul’s presence

Has OCD before OCD diagnoses exist

Very cool in a fight, though

Knows a lot of random trivia facts

Oldest daughter

Suzuki Mi-yeon (15-16)

Nonbender

Cis girl

Really smart

Loves animals a lot

Super traditionally feminine like in a girlboss way

Grows on people like mold

Would die for Suki actually

Super chatty

Highkey judgmental

Middle child

Freedom Fighters

Jet (15-16)

Founder of the Freedom Fighters

Nonbender

Cis boy

Smellerbee (12-13)

First recruit

Nonbender

Trans girl

Longshot (14-15)

Nonbender

Trans boy

Selectively mute

The Duke (8-9)

Nonbender

Cis boy

Pipsqueak (18-19)

Nonbender

Cis boy

Snips (13-14)

Firebender, earthbender mom and a firebender father (product of rape)

Cis girl

Snarky, sarcastic

Butch

Always gets the last word

Petty to her core

Deeply smart

Loves her friends but feels embarrassed admitting it

A pretty good bender

Earworms’ little sister

Mammoth (11-12)

Earthbender

Cis girl

Boisterous, lager than life personality

A good sense of humor

Hates cooking

Has a green thumb

Loves flowers and knows what they mean

Tigress (14-15)

Nonbender

Trans girl

Quiet but fierce when provoked

Observant

Sensitive to other people’s moods

Gets frustrated when people are illogical or irrational

Former rich girl

Knows a lot about the arts

Stink (12-13)

Nonbender

Cis boy

Princess’ twin. Contrary to his name, he doesn’t stink

Well-mannered, polite

Always looking out for others

Doesn’t like to get messy as a first resort, but will if you drive him to it

Good at espionage type stuff

Princess (12-13)

Nonbender

Cis girl

Stink’s twin. Ironically, she’s the one who often stinks

Grungy, rude

Loves violence

Slaps people around affectionately

Quickfire (15-16)

Firebender, nonbender mom and a firebender dad (dad was the product of rape)

Nonbinary boy

Quiet because he’s confused

Shoots first, asks questions later

Definitely a follower

A little stupid, but he’s got the spirit

Has a protective streak

A decent bender

Canines (13-14)

Nonbender

Cis boy

Finicky and a bit fussy

Fiercely loyal, almost to a fault

Shy at first but warms up to be quite bold

Not an idea man, but he has a lot of heart

Doesn’t like to get dirty

Fairly self-confident

Brainless (11-12)

Earthbender

Cis girl

Zones out a lot causing her to sound dumb at times, hence her nickname

In truth, she’s not dumb at all; she’s just easily distracted

Has a forceful personality

Incredibly loyal to her friends

Quick witted with insults and comebacks

Really hates eating her vegetables to Pipsqueak’s dismay

Quite childish because of her young age

A pretty good bender

Earworms (15-16)

Earthbender

Cis boy

His nickname is because he’s deaf

Has a good sense of humor

A weird guy

Loves all kinds of worms

Utilizes strategy over skill

A very okay bender

Snips’ older brother

Bugs (14-15)

Latest recruit

Nonbender

Cis girl

Exceptionally weird

Knows odd trivia and loves to share it with the group

Clumsy

Loves bugs

Definitely morbid

Gets graphic in her threats

Puts on a tough girl act often

#utterpok

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giftfromtherivergod · 7 months ago

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1, 4, and 12 for the DA protag ask game ^_^

you are always and forever my favorite <3

What would your Warden generally think of your Hawke and your inquisitor?

Since I have multiple Wardens and Inquisitors, this will be... fun.

Everly Cousland looked at the trash heap that was Kirkwall and washed her hands of the whole mess. She didn't really approve of the shit Elle Hawke got up to, but she acknowledges that in an impossible situation, you can only do the best you can.

Emmaline Aeducan thinks everything Elle Hawke did was wrong, and that she could have done it better. Emmaline thinks that about everyone on this list though, so it's not personal.

Mae Surana is dead. She has no comment.

Emmaline Aeducan is, ironically, dealing with dwarven business the entire timeline of the Inquisition and Trespasser. Orzammar is a tossed hammer away from a civil war and she can't get her head above ground for five minutes before someone else needs help and only she will do.

Everly Cousland is very sympathetic to the things that Niora Lavellan is trying to do, recognizing a kindred spirit. She too was made to carry a burden too heavy when all hope seemed lost and those in power faltered in the face of something earth (or sky) shattering. Ferelden backed the Inquisition to the hilt, so said their queen.

Everly Cousland actually gets to meet Hestia Trevelyan very soon after the Inquisition is formed, and was predisposed to like her, given that Hestia's older brother Bartholomew was a scribe in King Alistairs service. They were not friends, despite their surface similarities, but they respected and understood each other, as two women of noble lineage, and as warriors thrust into difficult circumstances. Hestia would always write to Queen Cousland first when the Inquisition was going to be operating on Ferelden soil, and Everly would be forthcoming with information when the Inquisition dealt with the rest of the Ferelden nobility. Ferelden backed the Inquisition, both diplomatically and martially, but the two women never fully trusted each other. Everly always had a keen sense of when somebody was lying to her, and when rumors of Hestia Trevelyan being a blood mage began to circulate, Queen Cousland was not a least bit surprised.

Everly Cousland ends up pitying Thisbe Lavellan. It's plain to see that this poor girl was in over her head, and was being inexpertly managed by the Left and Right Hands of the Divine. She trusts Leliana enough to commit some soldiers to their cause, but does nothing more to support the Inquisition.

4. What would they think about each other’s love interests (if they romanced someone of course)

Everly, Emmaline and Mae all kissed Alistair because I'm basic as hell. Elle Hawke has no opinion about him whatsoever. Hestia, Niora, and Thisbe think he's very sweet.

Elle is utterly devoted to Anders, which endears her somewhat to Everly and would make Emmaline judge and mock her mercilessly were they ever to meet. Anders might be her boy through and through as all her Grey Wardens are, but Emma knows that Anders is ten pounds of issues in a five pound bag. Hestia was a rebel mage, so she liked Anders well enough. Niora and Thisbe didn't know enough about the man to pass judgement, and Thisbe thinks he has pretty eyes.

Hestia kissed and eventually married Cullen, and all the wardens are judging her. Elle, who disliked Cullen on sight and only grew to hate him more with each meeting, is judging her even harder.

Niora was married at the start of the Inquisition, to Armand Trevelyan. He is and always will be the love of her life. Everly and Emmaline like him on principle, since he is also a Grey Warden. Elle is kind of annoyed by their relationship, not because she objects to Armand, but because Niora and Armand are so in love and endlessly supportive and utterly perfect for each other. In the back of her mind, she kind of wishes that her relationship with Anders could be like this, easy and loving and uncomplicated. She'll never ever admit it, not even to herself.

Thisbe kissed Solas, but after he left to be a genocidal idiot the Inquisition, she repaired her heart and found new love with Blackwall, now known as his true self Thom Rainier. Everly and Emmaline judge her choice in men, because Solas is the worst far too old for her, and Thom Rainier isn't much better. Everly will admit that he's much sweeter to Thisbe, but Emma hates that he pretended to be a Grey Warden, and will thus despise him forever. She's like that. Elle had no opinion on Solas, beyond thinking he was a bit snobby for someone that supposedly grew up in the middle of nowhere. She likes Thom though, and thinks he and Thisbe are good for each other.

12. Do your protagonists share the same opinions on blood magic?

More or less? Emmaline and Everly are only exposed to violent maleficar, but they are also exposed to Morrigan, who at the very least teaches them to look at an individual first and not treat a whole group as homogeneous. Mae was the only one with hard and fast rules about it, she refused to use it because she knew how easily it could become a crutch.

Elle knows, technically, that it's bad, but she's used it a handful of times and never saw it as any different from other magic. Anders is the one who freaks out about that, not her.

Hestia is actively a blood mage, though she hides it and loathes herself for using it. Time after time, telling this truth has broken the trust with everyone around her, and she tries to quit for good. But in a desperate situation, when all other options are exhausted, she'd rather use blood magic to save people than give up and die. It almost ruined her relationship with Cullen, but their friends stood up for her and made sure Cullen knew he was being an ass. He forgave her.

Niora is in the same boat as Elle, in that she knows blood magic is dangerous and the shemlen fear it, but she's much more interested in turning herself into animals anyhow. Thisbe feels the same as her sister, and can only be grateful that Niora would rather be a bird.

#kaydear #using a readmore because this got fucking LONG #thedas #trevfam #everly cousland #emmaline aeducan #malealei surana #eleanor hawke #hestia trevelyan #niora lavellan #thisbe lavellan #otp: this is how it ends #otp: stories of you and me #otp: on loving a prophet #otp: as harmless as a kiss #otp: i wished for you #otp: nothing on my tongue #ships #otp: best days of my life

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jijipeaches · 1 year ago

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Hi! I'm Jillian Mae, you can call me anything. But before I tell myself I just want to let you know that this is my first blog. At this time let me tell you a little bit of information about Jillian. May you be happy and understand my short story for you.

To tell you more about myself. I live in Brgy. Solong, Can-avid Eastern Samar. It is a rural area but full of nutritious crops and most of our area are farmers. I grew up with gratitude to my family. We are not rich, we are not poor either. I'm the kind of idealistic woman, I really do love arts like music, drawing, dancing, designing interior and exterior house all just about art.. If I remember, I think I have an awesome childhood, all we want we get. But as we grow older, I notice why do I feel different from them? Why do all my cousins seem so easy to make friends with other? Why do I always feel so quiet? I don't even have a friend at least one?. Fast forward in 2017 of course that's at the level of curiosity. As a teenager, I try to find out where I belong?, Who am I?, What should I contribute, or what should I do to do to love someone else?. I was so happy, I made a lot of friends, I became better known throughout our campus because of my friends. But as long as I think I don't belong to it, why don't I really enjoy it? Why is my real personality coming out?. It seems like it's not right to please everyone else. Then, I say Lord, I'm so tired. I also saw in their eyes that were full of bitterness, hard hearts, wounds and problems that I just realized that they were rebels but the advantage of them is smart and really good in academics.

When I became a senior highschool, I started to stay away from them. It's changing, but I have to get away from toxicity. There I was more into who I was? And at the age of 18, it was funny, that I knew I was an introvert. Why am I gentle and modest. There I also saw myself in the mirror that I had suffered from depression and suicidal thoughts, so I was looking for validation for other people because I couldn't find it within my family. Because we were a broken family and it was harder to admit to me that they had their family. But now that I'm 20 I found myself forgiveness and acceptance not only for myself but for others. There I realized that when I was lost, the Lord was just there and I now understand why I need to get away and grow more of what I have because God preparing me for the upcoming breakthrough and the purpose of me Why did he raise me.

I share this to you because, in the world that is full of problems, I am strengthened by the time and will be strengthened by the coming. I wrote this not because it's my blog, but for the young people who wandered away, young people were full of questions. I just want to tell you that if I miss it, not by shouting but by faith. Because of the emergence and forgiveness I was released from the darkness, pain and the chaos of my life back then. If I had been able to handle my challenges as a teenager, you would be able to now make more powerful resources to make you stronger 💪.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

September 08, 2023

Padul-Ong Festival 2023 in Philippines

By: Hellotravel

The Padul-ong Festival is the province’s way to pay homage to its Patroness, the Blessed Virgin Mary. The capital city of the province, pronounced as “bo-rong-gan”, was derived from the Waray-waray word “borong” which means “fog. The festival commemorates the day they received the image. It depicts a mythical presentation on how the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary was inexplicably transported to Borongan City all the way from Portugal. The festival also illustrates the legend of a mysterious “Lady in White” who allegedly visits the Hamorawan Spring regularly.

According to the locals, the Lady in White has been blessing the spring waters with miraculous healing powers. Every September 7 or 8, Borongan City celebrates an early morning mass in a quaint chapel at Barangay Punta Maria. The mass signifies that the Padul-ong Festival has officially started. From the chapel, the small image of the Blessed Virgin Mary is transferred to Rawis Port. The first part of the festival which usually starts at 5:00 in the morning is the fluvial procession where boat owners can join along with the official boat carrier of the small image across Rawis Bay.

The image is then paraded through the town going to Borongan Cathedral. At the Borongan City plaza, you can watch the re-enactment of the transportation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It tells the town’s old legend on how the image was brought to the Philippines. Celebrate with the Boronganons, join the procession and be amazed at the colorful costumes of the performers while enjoying the lively beat of the drums during the street dancing parade.

Reference/Resources:

Hellotravel (2023). Paduol-Ong Festival 2023 in Philippines. Hellotravel. https;//www.hellotravel.com

#inspiration #home

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casualpersonapersonpeach · 3 years ago

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Slashers rough nights & comfort drabbles

In a sappy mood 😌 here are the slashers having a tough time and you comfort them and remind them you love them.

Brahms Heelshire:

Brahms has been in quite an upset mood today. He was more quiet than usual and you try to figure out why. He was sitting on his bed with his shoulders hunched and fiddling with his hands. You started to piece it together when you realise it had been grocery day. Malcom.

You understand how jealous Brahms feels whenever Malcom makes his delivery. He flirts with you a bit. You walk up to Brahms to hug him. Deep down Brahms knows that you don't like Malcom like that. He's just worried that you would leave him for somebody better- somebody who is less broken than him.

When you cuddle up to him and tell him how much you love him, he looks up at you, smiles and he cries a little. Out of happiness though, he just wanted to be reassured. He looks at you and whimpers "i love you" and kisses you on the head.

Daniel Robitaille:

Daniel had been feeling very lonely. He was wondering how you'd been doing, if you had been missing him as much as he'd been missing you. You had been out of town, and you were on your way home to surprise Daniel with an early arrival.

If only you knew how much that would mean to him. That you had been thinking of him. That you missed him. You park your car and make your way to your home. Daniel felt a little startled when he saw a shadow walking to the door. From your silhouette he knew it was you.

When you enter, you find Daniel to be flustered. He can't help it, he's so excited to see you and you look as good as ever. You hug him and give him a kiss on the cheek. "Did you miss me baby?" To which he replied "yes i really did". He couldn't contain his joy. You lean into his chest and whisper "i love you". He leans his chin on your head. He couldn't feel more relieved. This is peace to him in it's highest form.

Michael Myers:

It had been a long night for Michael. He had been in his regular bloodlust centered night routine. That night had been more strenuous than usual for Michael and he was feeling frustrated.

He came home to find you asleep. It was 3:30 in the morning. He felt like breaking down from the high stress that had been brewing for a while now. He had hoped you were awake to comfort him. Knowing you were asleep made him cry harder. He didn't want to disturb you though.

He hid under the blankets and held his hand over his mouth to muffle the sound of his whimpering. Tears are rushing down from his eyes. This happens to him sometimes when he feels overwhelmed with his life. You wake up from instinct and turn to face Michael. You bury his head into the crook of his neck and gently whisper to him. "I love you Michael. It's all okay". You knew he just sometimes preferred comfort, but to not talk about it.

Thomas Hewitt:

It was a hot afternoon under the texan sun. You had been inside helping Luda mae with the chores and Thomas had been outside lifting heavy objects.

Thomas, like the other slashers often feels guilty for the life you have with him. He gets frustrated with himself. He wishes he could give you so much more than this. He wishes neither of you had to work so hard to survive. He wonders if you are truly happy.

A few tears fall from his eyes. By now it's time to go inside, the sun is setting. As soon as Tommy sees you walking up the stairs he rushes to ask you how you are. He lets you know how he's feeling. He needs reassurance. You look at him with tears now in your eyes. " I love you more than anything in this world. I couldn't imagine sharing my life with anybody else". With that, you hug him and all concerns flee from his mind for now.

Bo Sinclair:

Bo has been feeling low on his confidence lately. He didn't feel like his usual self and he didn't really know how to deal with it. Bo didn't usually cry, but today was an exception.

All his insecurities and self loathing suffocated him. He felt lower than dirt. He usually pushed it aside and didn't make any deal about it. Today was probably the worst he had felt in a long time. All his regrets were haunting him too.

When you find him crying he initially turns away. He didn't want you to see him like this. He tries to tell you he's okay but he's choking up on his words. You sit down with Bo, and you knew it might take some time for him to open up with this. But you were willing, and he wanted to tell you, he just didn't know how. As soon as Bo does, you're ready to shower him in any affirmations and "i love you's" as he needs. It won't solve the entire issue, but he appreciates so much that you aren't judging him in such a vulnerable state and are comforting him.

Vincent Sinclair:

Vincent has been having a tough day with his art. He is doubting his talents and ridiculing his work. Today his vision just isn't coming to life how he had hoped for.

He is questioning his entire ability. Feeling that dreadful spiral that most artists endure. He wishes his art was good enough, forgetting all the times he had ever been proud of his art.

You had found him like this in his workspace. You could immediately tell what was happening. "Vinnie, it's alright. Your art is incredible. I think you need to just take a little break from it, come step away from it with me honey". He knew you were right, he'd feel better after a good rest from his art. You take him to the kitchen for a lunch break and you are reminding him how much you love him, and how amazing he is. He feels much better now.

Lester Sinclair:

It was a stormy night in Ambrose. Lester had been working through each day and has now fallen into bed with a heavy heart. Lester isn't one to usually feel discontent with his life, but on the occasion he wishes it were different.

He felt like he might not be enough for you- he lived in a very small town, he ain't rich and he knows that most people don't respect his job either. He knew you had been used to living in a big bright city.

When you came into the room, you saw Lester and immediately worried. You sit next to him with your hand caressing his back as he lays his face into a pillow. He felt a little ashamed. When he tells you how he's feeling, you immediately reassure him. "Lester, you've given me so much. All the love in the world. A happy home. You've given me peace. I couldn't ask for anything more. I love you endlessly, everything about you is so perfect to me. I love our life together". He couldn't be more grateful for somebody like you.

Bubba Sawyer:

Bubba had been feeling exhausted from working and from being insulted by his family. He wishes he were able to run away from it all. He knows he can't leave his family. He just wants to be able to rest and feel appreciated.

When Bubba walks into your shared bedroom, you can already tell how and why he is upset. His once exhilarated demeanor has now dimmed down into a sad and quiet one.

This isn't the first time Bubba has wanted to leave, so you try to comfort him as best as you can. You pull him into your lap, stroking through his hair. "Bubs, I wish I could make you feel better instantly. I wish you weren't treated like this. You deserve so much more and I wish I could be more helpful. But I love you so much, I am here for you Bubba". You knew it was a situation that couldn't change, so you try to stay hopeful for Bubba's sake. He cuddles into you with a smile on his tear stained face. He loves you too.

Jason Voorhees:

It had been a really rough day for Jason. There had been more campers wandering around the lake than usual. He had been tired from chasing them around and trying to keep them away from you.

You had been in the cabin all day, Jason didn't want you to go outside today. He's worried about putting you in danger. After he's done, he comes back to your shared cabin. After rough days like this, Jason often feels immense guilt that this is your life with him- having to hide away from people, not being able to see your friends/ family often. He feels like he's taking a lot away from you.

But when he walks through the door and sees you eagerly waiting for him, he can't help but run into your arms embracing you. When you look up at him, the first thing you say to him is "i love you". He is wildly blushing under his mask. He pulls you in tighter to signal how much he loves you too.

#brahms heelshire #michael myers #thomas hewitt #bo sinclair #vincent sinclair #lester sinclair #daniel robitaille #jason voorhees #bubba sawyer #x reader #halloween #friday the 13th #the boy 2016 #texas chainsaw massacre #house of wax

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frankiekatt · 3 years ago

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Wowy hii, saw that you're writing for slasher, so here I am!

Can I plz have some hcs about any slashers with s/o, but their s/o is a literal gremlin, like they're not serious at all, always joking and annoying people around, but sometimes might be quite soft and quiet.

Thank you and have a nice day! ❤️

This was fun to write lmao

Warnings: Sexual harassment, NSFW, murder, blood, canabilism

Characters: Thomas Hewitt, Bo Sinclair, Lester Sinclair, Billy Lenz, Stu Macher, Michal Myers

Slashers With An S/O That Never Takes Anything Seriously:

Thomas Hewitt:

Thomas is a little overwhelmed by your personality at first.

He’s a quiet and reserved man who’s never had any kind of friends, so goofiness and jokes can make him feel uneasy at first.

But!! He gets used to everything very quickly!!!

Thomas loves everything about you and he finds you to be incredibly charming.

He can get a little anxious when he sees you annoying Hoyt because he doesn’t want his uncle to do anything bad to you in irritation/retaliation.

Your jokes are always a stress reliever for him, since he spends most of his days in a dark basement, surrounded by blood and gore. Your humor just shines a little bit of light on his day, and he loves you for that!

While Luda Mae and Hoyt might not like the fact that you never take anything seriously, Thomas finds it relieving. At the beginning of your relationship, Thomas was terrified of losing you because he thought you would be terrified of all screams, murder, and cannabilism, but he was pleasantly surprised to see that you didn’t pay much mind to it.

Thomas’ family mostly saw you as a clown, but Thomas could only ever look at you as the brightest ray of sunshine that has ever graced his life.

After all, he was the only one that saw your softer side.

Your soft and quiet side mostly shone through during the evening. Something about the sunset and cicada chirping calmed your heart.

You would often take Thomas by the hand and lead him outside to sit on the front porch with you, so the two of you could cuddle and watch the sunset together.

Thomas was always so used to your voice, because you loved to talk about anything and everything, so your temporary quiet nature was new, yet comforting.

During these moments, there didn’t need to be any talking between the two of you. You deep emotional bond allowed you both to communicate through actions.

You would lay your head on Thomas shoulder, stroking his chest, and Thomas would wrap his big arms around your smaller frame, resting his masked cheek against the top of your head.

This was Thomas’ way of saying, “I love you, you’re the best thing in my life,” and your way of saying “I could never live without you.”

Bo Sinclair:

You’re gonna annoy the fuck out of this boy

Sometimes you both wonder how the two of you even got together, but the nights you and Bo spent pleasuring each other, going round after round, reminded you both how. (Your both just sexy okay its that simple)

Bo was a serious guy, so he was a little miffed that he was always the one having to take the lead in everything since you just couldn’t stop making a joke out of everything.

Sometimes you would actually make him really irritated due to your tendency to irk people endlessly, so he would have to step away to cool off and blow off some steam.

Sometimes he would yell at you in anger, which always made him feel like shit after, so he tended to stalk off to his shop to calm down before speaking to you.

You would have to go see him a couple hours later to wrap your arms around him from behind and shyly apologize to him.

He favored these moments the most.

Your voice quieter than usual, focusing on just him, touching him gently.

He would always accept your apologies, of course, and would let you know by kissing your lips softly.

Bo liked to take advantage of your softer side by lifting you up by your waist and setting you on the hood of whatever car he had been working on and kissing down your neck.

As revenge, Bo liked to draw out his teasing as long as possible. Kissing down your neck, chest, stomach, massaging your pussy through your skirt, palming your breast roughly.

It gets to a point where you just have to tell him, “Bo, I need you to fuck me.”

And he would oblige.

He would take you right then and there, on the hood of the car.

The metal beneath you was always shockingly cold, making you shiver against Bo’s chest.

“You cold, Darlin,” Bo would ask teasingly as he pulled your panties off. “Don’t worry, I’ll warm you right up.”

He would spend hours licking your pretty pink pussy if he could. He licks and sucks and kisses your most intimate part until you're shaking and crying above him, begging him to fuck you sensless.

After he’s satisfied with your helplessness, he’ll lean back up and ram himself inside of you. There have been many nights where he has taken you gently and slowly in his garage, holding your hand with every thrust, kissing your sweet lips to quiet your whimpers, but tonight was different. There was a primal need shared between you two. Bo wanted to let his frustrations on through loving you, and you wanted to be taken hard and fast.

When the two of you are done, you lounge around inside the car to catch your breath, holding hands. Everything seems so perfect.

Until-

“Hey, Bo? What did the toaster say to the slice of bread?”

“.....”

“I want you inside me! Eh ha ha..”

:////

Lester Sinclair:

!!!!!

You like constantly joking and never taking things seriously? He does too!!

Lester would find you absolutely hilarious. Every joke you cracked would have him doubling over in laughter. Which would make you double over in laughter. Which would make Lester laugh harder, because now you both have the giggles and both of your laughs are just too infectious.

Everytime the two of you would go to Ambrose to visit his brothers, you guys would annoy the hell out of Bo and Vincent. Bo just wants to be left alone to work in his shop but instead he’s stuck listening to you tell a 40 minutes story about how you burnt dinner last night.

And Vincent just wants to be left alone to paint and sculpt but instead he’s here listening to Lester crack jokes that are a.) not funny and b.) don’t make any sense. -_-

Your and Lester’s trailer is always filled with so much love and laughter and the two of you could not be any happier.

You both have your own soft and quiet moments that hit at random times.

Sometimes it happens when the two of you are play fighting in the living room, howling with laughter. You both fall to the floor, wrestling and giggling until the both of you run out of breath and just gaze at each other as you lay on the carpet.

“You look so cute,” he giggles.

“No, YOU look so cute!”

“W-well!!! I love you!!”

“Uhm...well...I love you MORE.”

And it just turns into an argument about who adores the other more.

Billy Lenz (1974):

The perfect couple.

Literally.

The two of you are always joking around, cackling and goofing about every little thing.

Billy has finally found his soulmate and he could not be happier.

He two of you prank the sorority girls together, making sex sounds in unison to sound even more vulgar.

Everytime you crack a joke, you get worried Billy is joking because of how hard he’s laughing.

“Umm Billy you okay? It wasn’t even that funny.”

“HA haha...piggy makes me laugh...Billy loves your jokes.”

Needless to say, your relationship is filled with smiles, laughter, and praise.

Billy will tell you you’re the funniest person he’s ever met and he wants to keep you forever.

You tell Billy you love how much he laughs at your antics and that you can’t live without him.

It’s impossible to annoy Billy. It’s just not feasible.

Any time you try, he’ll just giggle and pat your head, telling you you’re his ‘favorite piggy ever.’

He LOVES when you annoy the sorority girls thoug!

Hearing you moan and squeal and speak so sexily vulgarly to Barb and Jess makes Billy so proud. And horny.

Almost all of your sexual encounters are filled with complete silliness.

Sometimes, however, the joking and cackling subside. The two of you will just be chilling, nothing else to do, and you just feel the need to profess your love for your boyfriend.

“I love you so much Billy.”

Billy will look startled at your sudden outburst, before he breaks out in a huge grin, launching across the room to tackle you into a hug.

“Billy loves you too! Billy loves you more than anything!!!”

Now the rest of your day will be spent in Billy’s arms, whispering sweet nothings to each other.

Stu Macher:

Match made in Heaven!

Stu loves to joke around.

He hardly ever takes anything seriously.

He annoys everyone.

And once he meets you? It's love at first sight.

The two of you are always in detention because you guys just cannot shut up in class. You are always disrupting something.

But you know what that means!

Detention dates <3

As long as the two of you together, Stu couldn't care less about where he was.

He and Billy appreciate your habit of not taking anything seriously because once the murders start occuring, you don't think too much about it, never asking questions or arousing suspicion around your boyfriend and his bestie.

When Billy had told Stu his plan to kill Sydney, and asked him if he was going to kill you as well, Stu’s heart sank.

He remembers when he was dating Tatum, just a few months ago, before he broke up with her for you, he had no qualms about killing her,

But you?

He loved you. You were his other half. The one person who understood him, who accepted him. He could never hurt you.

“Nah dude. I’m leaving her out of this.”

That night, he sneaks through your bedroom window to see you.

“Stu! (where the hell have you been loca) What’re you doing here?”

The sparkling smile you flash at him and the love swimming in your big, beautiful eyes makes him feel even guitler.

He feels bad that you’re dating a serial killer. He thinks you deserve better, but he would never let you go.

“Hey babe! I just missed you!”

You rushed over to him, dressed in kitty cat pajamas, and hugged him tight. He had only snuck through your bedroom window a couple of times before, and they had all been planned. Seeing him in your room as a surprise made your heart burst with happiness.

Stu led you to your bed and pulled you up onto his chest to cuddle you. It was late, and the both of you were tired. Stu just wanted to lay with you in silence, appreciating your presence.

You didn’t feel like releasing your usual high energy at the moment. Right now, you just wanted to fall asleep on your boyfriend’s chest, listening to the sound of his heartbeat.

Michael Myers:

Girl

Michael does not appreciate your antics.

Annoying him is easy, but you would never know that.

He keeps his emotions very private, so when he is annoyed he’ll just stalk away from you.

He does not think you’re funny :(

He does enjoy your quiet moments. He likes to come home when your energy is low.

He’s usually covered in blood when this happens, so you clean him up without cracking a joke which he appreciates.

You’ll turn on a movie for the both of you, and Michael lets you cuddle up with him.

He does like you, he just doesn’t want you to know that...

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