#Sorry for making it a two wolves joke. I don’t know how else to format it.

[lcdid]

There are two wolves inside you.

One is certain of your complex system status and knows that you are going through immense life changes and trauma. It is acutely aware that, somewhere, you are splitting, more than you think you are, and wants to open up that part of the system to recovery.

The other denies that the things you are going through are affecting you, and is confident in the fact that you are “built different.” There are no newly-discovered splits, and thus no splitting is going on. Nothing is happening, what are you talking about?

You are us.

[choerrypuffs]

the element of substance.

pairing: earthbender!jeno x avatar!reader

genre: fluff, angst

word count: 5.2k

author’s note: jeno’s chapter to my 00 line x avatar series! also this is important - i wanted to clear some things up since i noticed a few of you were confused with jaemin’s chapter. this series is formatted like a dating game. you pick a route with a character (00 line) and then once you finish that route (the fic), you go back and pick another one. the stories have nothing to do with each other, like wiping clean the slate! (this message has also been posted on the masterlist to avoid further confusion)

additional: check out the art that the lovely and EXTREMELY talented steph ( @aqiaquas​ ) did for this fic here! 

Your journey to the Earth Kingdom has not been kind to you.

Everything is so dry, and for lack of a better word, so earthy. No matter how much water you drink, your throat still feels like sandpaper. The food you eat somehow always has the slight aftertaste of dirt. Plus, the weather is horrendous. Most people would enjoy it, since it’s a pleasant springtime warmth, but you’re from the North Pole. Winters are harsh, and summers are practically nonexistent there, which means any rise in temperature is absolute misery for you (you are dreading your eventual trip to the Fire Nation). 

You’re about a couple of hours away (by foot) from the Earth Kingdom’s capital, Ba Sing Se, where you will have to consult with the Earth King to find yourself an earthbending master. You don’t really know if marching into the most populated city out of all of the four nations, demanding a conference with the Earth King and asking for an earthbending master immediately is the best approach, but it’s not like you have any other idea or someone else to tell you otherwise. 

You’d never realized how awful it is to travel alone. Not having a person to just interact normally with is something you didn’t know you would miss so sorely. 

Currently, you’re in a neighboring harbor town to restock your supplies. The goal is to get to Ba Sing Se before the sun sets, which means you don’t have time to dilly-dally. Just as you hand over some coins to pay for your food, you feel a sharp shoulder crash into your own, making you stumble a few steps to the side. The coins are knocked out of your hand and fall onto the dock, some probably rolling off the dock and into the water. Clutching your throbbing shoulder, you turn around to glare at your perpetrators. 

“Hey!”

It’s a group of four brutish-looking thugs. Their stares are murderous as they hone in on you, like a pack of rabid wolves. However, you don’t back down. “Watch where you’re going, assholes. And if you won’t, then at least have the decency to apologize when you run into someone.”

The tallest one, bald and sporting a beer belly, takes a step toward you. As he snarls at you, he reveals two rows of rotting teeth. “What did you just say, bitch?” 

“I said, apologize,” you hiss back.

You can barely get the last word out before he seizes you by the collar and nearly crushes his nose against yours. His breath smells exactly how you expected it to smell―like a decomposing animal. Your eyes water at the stench, but you still manage to glare up at him. 

“You wanna fuckin’ die?” he screams in your face, spittle flying everywhere. 

Right when you’re about to create a giant wave and wash all four of them away, there’s suddenly a pale hand wrapped around the wrist of the thug. Taken aback, you can only gawk at the handsome stranger coming to your aid. The stranger’s hair is as black as midnight, just like his eyes. His expression is calm, but there’s something about his naturally piercing gaze that makes you feel slightly intimidated. 

The stranger forcibly removes the thug’s hand from your collar and throws him with such force that he flies toward his other three lackeys and hits them like a projectile. The four thugs are knocked out in a heap, like a pile of smelly dung. 

You feel your jaw drop at the stranger’s almost inhuman strength as he dusts his hands off like nothing happened. “That...that was amazing.”

There’s annoyance on his face as he turns to look at you. “It was getting in the way of business. Also, next time you cause a scene, could you do it in front of another stand?”

You feel your temper spike again. “Does everyone in this town just have terrible manners?”

The stranger opens his mouth to respond, but the elderly woman who had been working the food stand you were at comes up from behind him and smacks him hard across the head. “Jeno, stop being rude. This young lady has already been through enough today.” 

The stranger, Jeno, pouts like a child as he rubs the back of his head. The elderly woman smiles apologetically at you and hands you the bag of food you were planning on purchasing. “Here you are, my dear.”

“Thank you,” you say shyly, ducking your head in gratitude. “The money―” 

“Don’t worry about that. Think of it as an apology for my tactless grandson.” She waves you off.

Jeno rolls his eyes but doesn’t try to defend himself. However, you’re already on the ground, picking up the scattered coins. Once you count them, you realize one is missing. That was the last of your funds so you have no way of fully paying her back now. Frowning, you hand the elderly woman the coins that are left and walk over to the edge of the dock. 

“Give me just a second.”

You’re not sure how deep the water is, but luckily, there’s no current. Since the water is calm, the chances of the coin not being swept away into the ocean forever is still plausible. Taking a deep breath, you hope what you’re about to do works. 

You hold your palms out and slowly lift them. The water surrounding the dock rises with your hands, creating three walls of water around you. You lower your hands, but the water continues to ascend as you search for your coin. Despite your efforts, all you find are pebbles, weeds, and fish. 

Just as you’re about to give up, there’s a glint in the corner of your eye. When you turn, you see the missing coin drifting about, entangled with a weed. You plunge your arm into the water without hesitation and extract the coin out. You wipe it dry with the hem of your shirt, not at all bothered that your entire sleeve is dripping wet. Lifting your arms again, you gently bring the water back down, not even making a splash. Satisfied, you smile and walk back over to Jeno and his grandmother.

“There you go,” you say cheerily, holding out the last coin. 

The two are both staring at you with absolute astonishment. Jeno is a little more subtle about it, but his grandmother is gaping at you. And it’s not only them, everyone on the dock is staring at you. You suddenly wonder if it was such a good idea to bring so much attention to yourself because they will definitely have questions now. Even though you’re not trying to hide the fact that you’re the Avatar, you don’t exactly want to announce it to every place you go.

“So you’re a waterbender,” Jeno states flatly.

“How’d you know?” you ask sarcastically.

“It’s rare that we see a waterbender around here, and such a powerful one at that,” Jeno’s grandmother marvels. 

“Why are you here anyway?” Jeno asks, crossing his arms. “The Water Tribe isn’t exactly known for their sociability and penchant for traveling.” 

“I’m going to Ba Sing Se,” you answer vaguely. 

“For what?”

“Why is this any of your business?” you shoot back, mirroring him and crossing your arms as well.

“Because I’m also going to Ba Sing Se,” he responds. 

“What?” Your eyes widen.

“I’m going to pick up a new shipment of fruit,” he explains. “See how easy it is to tell someone your business when you have nothing to hide? You, on the other hand, haven’t even told us your name.”

You glare at him. “It’s Y/N. Sorry, I don’t like to tell assholes the story of my life.”

Jeno’s grandmother watches you two go back and forth, a scheming smile on her lips. She places her hands on both of your arms, making you turn to look at her. “Perfect! You guys can go together.”

“Don’t even joke about that, Gram,” Jeno chides.

“I think I’d rather go with those thugs from before,” you grumble.

“Ba Sing Se is much more dangerous than you think. You’ll want someone to watch your back,” Gram insists.

“I think she can handle herself,” Jeno snorts.

“I assure you that I can handle myself,” you correct.

“Oh, won’t you put this old woman’s anxious heart to rest?” Gram bats her eyelashes. “Even if you don’t need any help, my Jeno needs someone to look after him. Something bad always happens when he goes to Ba Sing Se.”

“Gram,” Jeno says sharply, a warning flashing in his eyes. “that’s enough.”

She immediately quiets down, shrinking back a little. You scowl at Jeno, even though he’s already starting to look guilty. “Don’t talk to her like that.” 

“This has nothing to do with you―”

“Actually, it does. Because you just found your new traveling buddy.”

You know for a fact that Jeno isn’t normally this quick of a walker. He’s just doing this to annoy you, and it’s working, but you’re too busy trying to keep up with his pace to really give him an earful for it. You’re actually working up a sweat trying to match his long strides with your somewhat shorter legs.

“Can you please―slow down?” you wheeze, finally able to muster enough breath to speak.

Jeno doesn’t even have time to answer when your foot catches on a pesky rock and you come crashing down onto the dirt road. You land hard and it knocks the air (the little that’s left) out of you. Groaning, you can only mumble a soft ow as you sit up.

For the first time since you two left, Jeno turns around. He walks over to you and lowers himself onto one knee, taking your arm and putting it around his shoulders as he helps you get up. “Are you okay?”

“No thanks to you,” you mutter, wincing when you put weight onto your legs. The skin on your left knee has been completely scraped off and you’re bleeding through the material of your pants.

“I’m sorry,” he says genuinely, looking remorseful. “I’ve been...on edge today and it was wrong of me to take it out on you.”

“Well, I haven’t been exactly helpful in calming you down, now have I?” you snort. 

“No, I was rude to you first. I deserve it.” He shakes his head.

The two of you fall quiet. Your arm is still around his shoulder and one of his hands has naturally found itself on your waist. Clearing your throat, you awkwardly step away from him and let your arm fall limply to your side. “Um, thanks.”

“Can you walk?” Jeno asks, eyebrows furrowing in concern as he eyes your knee.

“I’ll manage,” you reply, bouncing around to gauge the pain. It hurts way more than you expect it to, but you try to play it off like it doesn’t. Your pride as the Avatar has slightly been hurt at the fact that a mere knee scrape has managed to take you down.

However, Jeno is extremely unconvinced. He frowns as he watches the blood seep through your pants every time you put weight on that leg. Turning, he squats down and puts his arms out from behind him. “Get on.” 

“What?” you ask, still not understanding. 

“I’ll carry you.” 

“You’re going to carry me for the entirety of the walk to Ba Sing Se?” You raise an eyebrow. 

“Yes,” he answers simply. 

“You’re not very good at making jokes,” you snort. “Let’s just go before it gets too late.” 

“I’m not joking though.” His head swivels around to give you a puzzled look.

“You’ll die of exhaustion! Even if you’re freakishly strong,” you exclaim.

“I appreciate the concern,” he chuckles, “but I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t think I could do it.”

“Jeno, it’s really not that serious. I can walk,” you sigh.

“We’re going to argue pointlessly, only to have get on my back anyway, so can we just get to that part?” He mimics your sigh.

It’s clear he won’t have it any other way. The stubborn part of you wants to resist until the very end, but you’re losing daylight fast and yielding is your only option. Grumbling, you reluctantly climb onto his back. You’re surprised by the broad expanse of it and how secure you feel when he carries you. Jeno’s slim fingers grip your thighs firmly as he adjusts you before beginning to walk again. 

You wrap you arms around his neck and press your cheek against the space between his shoulder blades. When you breathe in, you can only smell him. Jeno’s scent is dizzying mix of sandalwood and soap, dulling your senses like some sort of drug. For a guy that works at a stand that sells fish, he smells way too good.

“So, what’s up with you and Ba Sing Se?” you blurt, trying to distract yourself.

“Why is this any of your business?” he asks, copying your words. 

“You can’t expect me not to ask. Your grandma was super worried about you going and you just said you’ve been on edge all day. Do you owe people there money or something?” 

“I thought we had an understanding that we weren’t going to ask each other questions,” he answers curtly. 

“What, you don’t trust me? I thought we had a bonding moment back there! You’re literally carrying me on your back,” you whine.

“So tell me why you’re going then.” 

You hesitate, not sure if you should reveal the truth to him or not. If push comes to shove, you are extremely confident in your ability to kick his ass so it’s not like your safety is compromised. Jeno doesn’t really seem like the type of person to constantly run his mouth either, so you doubt that he’ll instantly tell everyone. Shrugging, you decide to just go for it. 

“I’m the Avatar,” you say casually, “and I’m going to Ba Sing Se because I need an earthbending teacher. See how easy it is to tell someone your business when you have nothing to hide?”

Jeno stops in his tracks. His arms slightly fall slack, and you think he’s about to drop you, but they regain their strength quickly. His head turns to the side so he can look at you with bewilderment. “What did you just say?” 

“I am the Avatar,” you repeat slowly, watching the cogs turn in his head.

There’s a beat of silence before your declaration registers.

“You―wait―why would you just tell me that?” he splutters. 

“You asked!”

“So you just answered? What if I tried to kill you right now or something?” he demands. “How could you be so reckless? Try to lie at least!”

“First of all, you must be out of your mind if you think you can kill me. Second, I wouldn’t have told you if I didn’t think you were trustworthy. Can’t say you feel the same towards me though.” You roll your eyes. 

“I am actually speechless right now.” Jeno shakes his head. 

“That’s right. You’re carrying the Avatar. Relish in it,” you say proudly. 

“I’ve never seen an Avatar as rash as you,” he mumbles. 

“Hey! Put some respect on my name,” you protest. 

He snickers and you slap his shoulder. “So, now am I worthy enough for you to tell me what your deal with Ba Sing Se is?” 

“I just don’t have good memories associated with Ba Sing Se. It’s not as mysterious as you think. It pales in comparison to what you just told me,” he sighs.

“Are you an earthbender?” 

Since he worked at food stand in a small harbor town, you assumed he wasn’t but you weren’t so sure about that now. Considering the fact that his expression grows stormy even at the mention of Ba Sing Se, it’s clear that he was―at one point or another―deeply linked to it.

“No,” Jeno answers a little too quickly.

Such an obvious lie, but you decide not to push it further. He probably won’t tell you much more anyway. In the end, you two are just strangers.

Somehow along the way, you fall asleep. 

You don’t really remember when or how, because the two of you had a constant stream of conversation (mainly facilitated by you) going. All you know is that you’re currently being shaken awake. Jeno is bouncing you against his back like a baby, trying to jar you from your slumber.

“Y/N, we’re here.” 

Rubbing your eyes, you blearily try to grasp what is going on. Jeno is walking down a busy road and from the way he is confidently striding, he has a clear destination in mind. The two of you get stares from the locals, but he pays no attention. 

“Where are we going?” you ask, yawning. 

“To pick up my shipment of fruit and get your wound treated.” 

“But that still doesn’t answer my question. Where are we going?” You’re a little more alert now, knowing that you’ll have to meet with the Earth King soon.

“My supplier’s house. He’s a friend of mine,” he explains, “his name is Doyoung.”

“Is he going to be okay with me barging in?” You raise an eyebrow.

“As long as we’re in and out of there quickly. He doesn’t like people dirtying his place.” 

“Well, he just sounds like a bundle of joy,” you say wryly. 

“Doyoung is a nice guy. He’s just a little...prissy,” Jeno chuckles.

The two of you walk for just a little longer before he stops in front of a cozy and humble-looking mudbrick house. He sets you down at the doorstep so he can knock. You’re a little wobbly since it’s the first time you’ve been on your feet in hours, and you realize just how long Jeno has been carrying you. To your utter shock, he’s barely broken a sweat.

The door opens shortly after Jeno knocks and the prettiest man you’ve ever seen in your life appears. Pale, luminous skin with delicate features and dark hair that fans his face perfectly. His angelic expression is quickly ruined when he sees you. “I didn’t realize you were picking up strays now, Jeno.”

You sigh. Why do all of the handsome men you meet lack manners?

“She’s not a stray, Doyoung. She was, er, at the stand and told Gram that she was going to Ba Sing Se, so Gram made me escort her here,” Jeno explains. “Her knee is all scraped up, so can you treat it?”

You bite back a tiny smile, noting that he didn’t reveal your identity. 

 “I really don’t want to, but I know you’re not going to leave me alone until I do. Come on in, I guess,” Doyoung grumbles, stepping aside to let you in. 

Jeno grabs your arm and helps you hobble over to one of the chairs in Doyoung’s living room. As he does, Doyoung begins rummaging around in a different room. He comes back with some sort of salve and a roll of gauze in hand. 

“Jeno, your fruit is in the storage in the back. Go get it while I take care of this situation and don’t forget to organize everything back to the way it was,” Doyoung orders.

You really don’t want Jeno to leave you alone with Doyoung because he kind of scares you, but Jeno doesn’t get your signal and leaves. Doyoung squats down in front of you, examining the scrape on your knee. Most of the blood has crusted over, but it’s still extremely tender and raw. He squeezes the salve onto his fingertips and applies it onto the scrape in slow circles. The salve must have some sort of numbing effect because it stings way less than you expect it to.

“So what was the actual reason Gram sent you with Jeno to Ba Sing Se?” Doyoung asks nonchalantly.

“Pardon?” You blink.

“Did Gram really tell Jeno to escort you here?”

“Well, uh, it was kind of the opposite. She wanted me to escort him,” you admit. “I guess to protect him, since he’s not an earthbender.” 

He snorts. “And who told you that?” 

“Jeno did.” 

“And you believed him?” He raises an eyebrow.

“No, but what choice do I have?” 

“Good. Because Lee Jeno is the strongest earthbender in the Earth Kingdom,” Doyoung states. “And probably the worst liar, so you’d be a fool to believe him.”

Even though this revelation should shock you to your core, you’re not that surprised for some reason. You’re mostly just confused. “But why did he lie?”

“Because he doesn’t bend anymore.”

“And why are you telling me this?” you ask warily.

Doyoung looks you in your eyes.

“Because Gram wouldn’t have sent you here if she didn’t think you could help him.” 

It takes Jeno a very long time to come back from the storage. When he does, he’s carrying a large crate and his chest is heaving. He looks more exhausted than he did when you were on his back. Doyoung is not fazed at his state. 

“Everything better be in the exact same spot like it was before,” he warns. 

“Why would you put the crate in the very back when you knew I was coming to get it today?” Jeno whines.

“The workers put it there, and who am I to stop them?” Doyoung shrugs. “Anyways, get out of my house.” 

You get up with your freshly bandaged leg and walk over to Jeno. “We need to talk.”

“Not in here, you don’t,” Doyoung interrupts.

Jeno nods toward the door. “Let’s get out of here first.” 

Clenching your jaw, you yank open the door for him and follow him out. Once you’re a good distance from Doyoung’s house, Jeno turns and faces you. “What did you want to talk about?”

You look around. Doyoung lives in a rather secluded area, and there’s not much around except for the rocky terrain that surrounds it. You make sure Doyoung’s house isn’t in the line of fire before walking up to Jeno. You take the crate out of his arms and set it on the ground, about five feet away from him, before climbing on top of it and sitting cross-legged.

“Be my earthbending teacher.” 

Judging by the look on his face, he’s been expecting it. His arms hang limply by his sides, like he’s already accepted defeat. “What did Doyoung tell you?” 

“Lee Jeno. You joined the Dai Li, Ba Sing Se’s most elite secret police force, at the age of thirteen. Your abilities were so exceptional that you became their leader on your eighteenth birthday. You were at the forefront of countless successful operations and cemented yourself as the Earth Kingdom’s strongest soldier. However, you abruptly resigned after leading the Dai Li for two years and left Ba Sing Se to live with your grandmother in a small harbor town. You swore to never bend again and live the rest of your life in obscurity.” 

Jeno laughs harshly. “So he told you everything. Figures.” 

“Why did you stop bending?” you ask softly. 

“Because I was nothing more than a weapon to them. Because I was losing my humanity. Because I didn’t want to be a pawn anymore,” he whispers. He sounds so broken, so angry, so hurt. “Nothing good ever happens when I earthbend, so I stopped.”

“Do you hate earthbending?” 

“Gods, I wish I did,” he says bitterly. 

“Then stop denying what is natural to you. Earthbending is in your blood.” You grasp his arms. 

“No.” Jeno steps away from you, like your touch is hurting him. “Doyoung may think that you can be my savior or some shit, but you can’t. I won’t ever bend again, okay? So, please. Let’s just leave.”

You straighten your back. “Alright. We can leave. But only if you can get this crate out from under me.”

He sighs. “Y/N―”

“It’s a simple task, really. If we’re going by brute strength only, you’ve got me beat by a landslide. You could just pick me up and throw me off,” you point out.

Jeno looks at you like you’re a toddler throwing a tantrum, but nonetheless starts walking toward you. He almost gets to you before suddenly coming to a skidding halt. When he looks down, he sees that his legs are covered in ice. You had pulled the moisture from the ground and frozen it. 

“But we’re not going by brute strength only, now are we?” you tease in a sing-song voice.

“Y/N, this isn’t funny,” he says seriously. “Neither of us have the time to be doing this right now.”

“I know. It’s just strong enough that you can’t punch your way through it, but it could be shattered instantly if, let’s say, it were hit by a relatively large rock?” You tap your chin, pretending to ponder. 

“Why are you doing this?”

“Because I’m selfish and I want you to teach me earthbending,” you reply.

Jeno says nothing, clenching his fists. You can tell he’s starting to get irritated. 

“I can do this all day,” you say breezily, examining your nails. You try your best to look as flippant as possible, doing everything in your power to rile him up.

“Y/N, this is the last warning.” His voice is low. 

“What, are you actually going to do something?” you taunt.

The pebbles around Jeno slowly begin to levitate. You can literally feel the ground tremble as he gets angrier. He forms the pebbles into one big rock and uses it to destroy the ice. Once he’s free, he stomps his foot on the ground and tosses a perfectly round boulder in the air before kicking it directly towards you―or rather, directly towards the crate so he can knock it out from under you.

You quickly pull a tendril of water out of your canteen and use it as a whip to destroy the boulder before it can reach the crate. It makes a loud crack noise when it hits and the boulder shatters into tiny pebbles again. You suppress a yelp when the ground suddenly begins to move. The crate is sliding forward, picking up acceleration as it (and you) speeds toward Jeno.

You suck out as much water from the ground as possible and manage to create a small tidal wave, pushing it at him. The force of the water knocks him back and onto the ground. You quickly freeze the crate in place, stopping it in its tracks. When Jeno sits up, you can see the joy in his face. That mischievous, almost child-like sparkle in his eyes when you two spar head-to-head. The love for earthbending that he tried so desperately to hide.

He begins gearing up for his next attack, but you don’t do anything to retaliate. Instead, you unfreeze the crate and take the hit. You get thrown onto the ground, but Jeno makes sure your fall is cushioned. You scrunch your nose up when you realize you’re covered in mud. 

“Why didn’t you avoid it?” Jeno asks, helping you get back up. 

“Because my job here is done,” you shrug, trying to wipe the mud off (but you end up smearing it into your clothes).

“What do you mean?”

“I just wanted you to remember what it feels like to bend,” you smile sadly. “I wish you could see the look on your face when you earthbend, Jeno.” 

“I―”

“I have to go, but remember this. You are an earthbender, not a weapon.”

After the fight with Jeno, you go straight to the palace to request an audience with the Earth King. Luckily, they were already expecting you so you don’t have to convince people that you’re the Avatar. Since it was pretty late, the king insists you spend the night and that he will speak to you about an earthbending master the next day.

When you wake up in the morning, you’re whisked away by the maids. They give you Earth Kingdom robes since your old clothes are still drying and braid your hair before taking you to the throne room. There, the king informs you that your earthbending master is currently in Omashu, the second largest city in the Earth Kingdom, and will be there for some time so it would be best for you to go to him. The king tells you that transportation to Omashu will be provided by his army and that you embark later this afternoon, which means you have about three hours to kill.

You laze around in your guest bedroom, unable to really focus on anything. Your mind constantly goes back to Jeno, no matter how much you try to distract yourself. 

I hope he made it back to the harbor town safely.

Shaking your head furiously, you chide yourself for worrying about him. You did what you could, and now he isn’t your problem anymore. You’re the Avatar; you don’t have time to be thinking about some boy.

Yet...

“Avatar Y/N?” 

You jolt up when you hear the maid’s voice. “Yes?” 

“Your carriage has arrived.” 

Cringing, you want to tell her that it’s a little bit of an overkill to travel by carriage, but you don’t want to make her life more difficult than it is. You get out of bed with a sigh and open the door. The maid bows politely, but you’re not looking at her. Instead, you’re looking at who’s behind her. Unable to control your surprised squeak, you cover your hand with your mouth. 

“Why are you here?” you ask, muffling yourself. 

Jeno awkwardly rubs the back of his neck. His cheeks are flushed and there’s sweat beading on his forehead. He looks frazzled and out of breath, like he’s been sprinting. “I, uh, talked to the king. He granted me permission to go to Omashu with you and teach you alongside the other earthbending master.” 

“But―you―” You can’t even form words. 

“You were right.” He talks for you. “I love earthbending. When we sparred, I felt like the void in my chest was filled. Something just...clicked. It was natural. You can’t fight something that naturally comes to you.” Jeno smiles at you. A warm and radiant smile that makes you feel tingly. He holds his hand out. “Thank you, Y/N.”

When you place your hand in his, you feel the same way you did when he was carrying you. Secure. The tension in your body instantly melts away and you subconsciously step closer to him, grinning. 

“Guess you just found your new traveling buddy.”

“Oh, by the way, Doyoung got this letter in the mail from Gram today. It’s addressed to you and she specifically told us not to open it.” 

take care of my grandson, avatar y/n

- gram

[thecrenellations]

Return of the Thief Notes, Part Two: The Book of Pheris, Volume 2, Chapters 1-5

Notes from my first read, October 2020. (Part One | Part Three | TaT)

Contents: Me losing my mind in multiple ways each chapter, helpful links, nighttime garden cousins, an Irene pun, notes from my second read, “mwt is just like going for it,” and “this is so fucked up and heartwarming.”

Format: Page number. My thoughts (Context?)

Volume 2

Illustration

Book 2 bro

Now we’re caught up and changed forever by lots of things

What printer’s apprentice made this?

Elephants!

Chapter 1

175. me too, Costis, me too. I am so tired. (it’s hard to sleep when your brain and heart and everything are fizzing because you’re reading Return of the Thief for the first time and a new Queen’s Thief book for the last time) 

176. Klimun + Gerosthenes vibes [moon doodle]

Holes in documents. That’s cute

Gen!!! <3

Wtf Ansel was hoodwinked!

177. The Queen waited

They’re ridiculous

Hi Pheris

Wtf he stole her earrings for Melheret?!?

178. Excuse me??? What is this book (sleeveless leather tunic)

He still roams!!!

Tattoos!

179. a sentence I never fucking expected to read ever “The absence of tattoos…”

180. that’s interesting

Stacked like kindling wow oh dear

181. She wants him to move in lol

Lol sorry Ion

Did she just want them to leave the room?

182. I can’t with this… I can’t. Why is sex symbol Relius canon. (the play that featured him! It’s great, it’s great, it was just a lot to take in!)

Silver crown?

183. Cleon! Rude!

Did they call Costis to deck him?

Queen scene!! <3

184. This is an epic. Abt Costis. Dirty stranger

185. he’s “the high king”

Lol

187. prophet (Pheris sure makes Costis sound like one)

Shut up Piloxides

188. resources for war! (book launch foreshadowing part two! She talked a lot about this kind of thing as well, and recommended the book Alexander the Great and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army)

189. “we”

What were you gonna say (Gen almost says something to Costis part one)

193. RIP The Magus Archives … it was not to be. Yet.

194. Melenze’s doorstep. Why? Bc Melenze is Ferria’s dog. (idk dude that line from ACoK has just never left me)

195. This is … a big war

196. Oh gen

Nighttime garden cousins.

Chapter 2

197. wtf did Relius think of that play

Also … not a peep from the sacred mountain huh

198. wtf will happen with Cleon

with Erondites

with THE MOUNTAIN

a lot going on

everyone was in that room but Kamet! So close!

199. Cute Fordad + Gen friendship (I never said these notes would make me look smart)

Same 2 T + R! :) It’s not them is it? (I NEVER SAID THESE NOTES WOULD MAKE ME LOOK SMART)

Poor Teleus

200. gdi Gen

Excuse me? Is he worried for Pheris??? (taking his tablet)

They trust each other! C’mon!

Sure he has reasons

202. oh dear. :( that’s … the worst cover story

Also falling

203. wow almost like a story huh

Ula’s altar :(

Why haven’t we had a Gen and Costis scene IN THREE BOOKS

205. I just … I don’t know if he’s just miserable or if it’s all a plan. I feel like I should know it’s all a plan. But he really feels like he has far to go. He’s just a mess and the same and so different. (having a small Gen meltdown)

205. he did give him the gun

Odd that he missed Quedue

206. he’s gonna bite them (buckle up! it’s abdication time!)

207. Power. Power. Power. Power.

Thx 4 the editorializing Pheris

208. Gen is making choices. That’s a choice.

209. There’s KoA down the drain

Aaaand he’s Eugenides

“Eugenides stared into the future”

The page of like 3 different tumblr posts: Trophy husband, Library, No! yes!

210. make sure he doesn’t leave lol

211. Pheris :(

Also fucked up timing for Irene

I love them

212. again with the birthday book

He’s still the king in the narration

Go on the roof! So close!

213. EUGENIDES IS ALWAYS APPROPRIATE my motto

Viper! Bastard!

Oh shit. I love them.

214. “our treaty” “our queen”

AAAH! Wedding night!

Asked her to leave!

Smash Erondites and peace out, literally

215. a frank talk

HE SAID IT.

216. The Bructs?

Wait is this his grandfather (taking a moment to remember all about Susa)

Also that’s Costis territory

217. who is this lion

218. #3 to Gen.

219. hmmm ring

There’s been a lot to unpack wow.

Did this happen, Pheris? Pheris?! 

220. Atté atté!

(Dear reader: for some strange reason, I completely forgot about taking notes on the final pages of this chapter. These notes are from when I reread those pages a few minutes later.)

Erondites full cup to brimming

The Pherises…

We must think of others before ourselves … occasionally

I do not like Orutus

Don’t fence Costis in! Does this count as prison? No (I had a square on my bingo board for “someone ends up in prison” ... but it turned out to be for someone else)

221. damn Costis

Aaah

Costis …

Irene… your jokes (I mean, it’s a joke, but also it is very real for her.)

SHE SAID IT!

My heart

222. where is Relius going?

SPYING

What you see and what you think it means (I love these instructions/this quote so much)

So are Susa + Erondites 2gether or what (listen ... proximity generates meaning in these books)

Also, like

What can

I say

WHAT CAN I SAY (Hell yeah! Never more glad to be wrong about the magus)

[page long list of doubles and parallels - from Cleons and Pherises and Ions to god-character and character-character connections]

Also the fact that in KoA and TaT Relius was like … oh … no … I just live a gentle life being friends with my king and queen and being scholarly. But no. He’s SPYING and TRAVELING MYSTERIOUSLY and has MANY LOVERS and also has been WITH TELEUS ALL ALONG and there is a PLAY written about him and he has a ~messenger~ network and PLAYS THE FLUTE and DOESN’T MAKE HIS BED and DISLIKES MATH and oh and he’s VERY HANDSOME! (Yes I was losing it, I hope my note from after the poem helps show some of the feelings behind this rant.)

Fucking … Wine shop. Should have known.

Chapter 3

224. ominous

Hello magus!

Sophos … babe (his impatience!)

225. Magus … cool your socks that’s your bff (he’s just describing Helen’s dead body! Fun!!!!)

In the van

That was good I love them

Why is it Couples Hour?

226. finally we’re out of the capital of Attolia

Ok they’re so cute

She was NEVER Helen in ACoK narration! 

Also – Pheris. This is all Pheris. (Pheris plus information others told him!)

227. Bringing each other up to date – that’s their thing. Talking forever

All this talk of shooting Therespides

228. EX FUCKING SCUSE ME (time to learn a lot about the country of Eddis)

He was 15! (or almost 15)

He didn’t know! Or did he!

The MoW!

All thru Pheris

Fuck you magus

When did he know

229. EXCUSE ME

The emeralds?

Assumed the worst?

That classic quote about little to do with winter but with “seducing other people’s lovers”

230. yeah Sophos that’s a lost cause (“spare me my blushes”)

Also she didn’t answer you

What are they laughing about (the generally nameless men we’re learning many things about this chapter)

233. Gen I think it’s fair to say that was a mistake

234. wtf Gen

GEN! he just. Had those. (the jewels!)

Her crown

I cannot

235. Gen!

237. Crash

Her CHANGES

238. THESE TWO

239. called annux

Yeah it’s like … a family meeting (the war council)

Bring your father to work day

241. Oh no.

Stenides! Boagus!!!!!!!

EDDIS!

Wolves! Lol

mwt is just like going for it

243. aww

Eddis > Boagus > Gen

244. Yeah I’m with her on this. (“if that doesn’t frighten you, it should”)

Chapter 4

245. Gen and Magus scene yes!

Two people affected by his long hair (Gen and the magus? I think?)

Pheris are you there?

Gen … you used to wish yourself out of existence

Wow

Hair vanity

Yeah also battlefield

Ion is a darling tbh

248. Is he. Is he going to fight all of them

Also they are all his cousins huh

AULUS! I liked you!

Same, Hilarion

Taking a page out of Costis’s book?

You have definitely seen it before. (I mistook his lie for truth!)

Will Costis hear about this? (please)

249. #4 to Gen!

Pheris where are you

Why doesn’t the Continent want to conquer them (do I get partial credit for this)

A tattoo!

250. “Do not offend the gods”

Honestly … too bad Helen DIDN’T do this

251. he said he’d give all he had

I’m sure there are rules

253. Just men? :( (let everybody fight him!)

Ornon is back! I mean, of course he is

Also yea they practice

HELLO ORNON

A house being built … or one knocked down. Nice

Is Teleus in on this?

254. Pheris called him my king!

255. I wanna know which guards though

:( he’d been faking

Kicked him in the head (ouch)

256. “when he fell”

I … don’t like this

He never gives up. The thieves don’t have limits. They have flash points.

Stepped on his hand

“Enough Gen” – what Irene said?

257. :( :( :( :( :( :( :(

The magus. I forgot he was there.

The magus said … nevermind …

The magus is probs very into this as a cultural thing. Also he was talking to the MoW

Pigeon. The sky. :( Like in TT (OH BOY, THE SKYYYY)

If there was a god, Pheris would see…

258. They’ve, they’ve been through a lot.

Oh god what’s next

259. I … no. not in his arms to the palace.

The palace where….

The stairs…

They are all 3 lookers. Basilisks and brass and lead

I hate this. But I love this.

I will someday see this differently.

Ah yes… the grunt. Approval.

260. Honestly, this is so fucked up and heartwarming. These books.

Lol don’t defend Hilarion, we know him

Eddis visits him.

Attolia watches him.

261.WTF Gen. I knew it. Why.

Crying or laughing? Crying? :(

How does this not undermine her now that he is her king?

But … what he wouldn’t do for her.

262. “he did fine”

This book is like… Reasons Gen Says Sorry

So, so… - Helen

GEN!

263. I am right. I am always right. It’s a curse.

Helen :( :( :(

The amount of times these people have seen him beaten.

He’s like … self destructive, but in a way that gives himself more power. Which he hates.

Gen, let them in. Let them in.

Chapter 5

264. honeycomb

OH NO. is it happening?

266. I’m just supposed to accept this?!! What does it mean?!

267. … a my king moment … important

But like … now can he fight?

Caryatid? [doodle after I looked it up]

268. Teleus!

C’mon Teleus. Everyone you love or respect loves him!

Honestly Pheris and Teleus … not a duo I expected

THESE TWO ARE SO DEDICATED TO TELLING HIM THAT! Ok I should chill. At least he said “may.” These are like … Pheris’s life lessons.

Honestly… I love that Teleus likes poetry, or at least likes it for Relius.

269. Lol Legarus. It’s been years! I mean, I guess that was a big deal for him… (almost being executed is a big deal for most people.)

Does he not love Gen because of Relius? Because Gen manipulated him? Because he keeps sending away his successor? Why on earth not! Hop on that train! (...)

It’s interesting that their relationship is the one that touches Pheris, not Gen and Irene. Hm.

Also … “Idiot.” The parallels.

“relatively gently” (it’s so good)

~Teleus here to talk about love~

This book is full of surprises.

270. That is NOT the bright side, Gen (“I could use my newfound authority to insist on going into battle”)

271. BUNNY! Wtf is a wineglass warrior

Very cute everyone, good job.

Still sad about Helen’s tears.

271. Gen. Don’t say these things. [volcano doodle]

272. SEE I was worried about this! The doubt!

I am not ok

This is TOO MANY Eddisian Revelations (Lader time)

Yeah. Wow.

273. Cleon x5

I … his grandfather

No.

Baby Helen begging

How did Pheris get this scene

Gen chose Cleon for his plan

275. IRENE WITH THE STATS!

276. lol Gen

My brother Sounis!

277. Missing Relius club.

Where is he though

Yes! Sophos Gen food fight!

Grapes!

“Wisdom”

He’s “the king” here and in KoA bc that’s the story but also that’s who he is to Pheris and Costis

278. So how did that Irene and MoW meeting go anyway?

How does Aulus know???

Thief short story! Probably terrible to reread, oh no

279. Are … are Aulus and Boagus together???! (“his slightly smaller partner”)

This feels … potentially traumatic … but fun? Idk

Fleece

280. This dang book. No rules!

The chandelier! So dramatic!

Mwt had … a lot to put into this one. A lot. A lot.

283. “not the Thief he was chasing”

284. The queens! The salute!

He can’t give this up.

Official Worries:

100,000 soldiers heading towards Kamet

Re: Lyopidus, Gen called Sophos his brother. Helen apparently might BE his sister. Temenus and Stenides are also going to a war where 9/10 will probably die.

Also

the MoW could have been a king if he’d stolen Helen’s throne. A lot there.

why does this book have the vibe of the library post, my comic from 2010, the king and queen interactions here, and the military tactics dream

[beyondrecognition]

A story that @instantwaffles told me

You are sitting in a restaurant waiting for your date. She's late but you don't mind because she warned you ahead of time. Her name is Bonnie and you met her on a really weird dating site. It was apparently a site for people who loved fictional beasts. Not in a sexual way but in like a story kind of way. It was strange, but enjoyable so you decided to go on a date that the site set up for you.

 You had talked with Bonnie for a few months before meeting. You took her to a nice restaurant in a downtown area, she loved the experience. You found her a little off sometimes, but it was endearing.

This is the next time you decided to meet up, she picked the place. She said it is "one of her favorite fangs". She makes a lot of dumb little monster jokes like that.

You look around and see a waitress glaring at you. You vowed to start getting more sleep after thinking she had four eyes for a second there.

The waitress walks over and rudely asks "wat'd ya want to drink?" You blink. It seems like she's trying to speak around a mouthful of fangs.

"Uh... do you have sweet tea?" She nods.

"Sweet tea please" She nods again and turns to the seat across from you.

"And you?" You turn to see that Bonnie is sitting across from you.

"Ummm.... I'll have the usual, Muffy," she tells the waitress.

The waitress smiles softly at her and nods before handing you both a menu and strolling off. You watch her legs as she leaves, not in a creepy way, but it's almost as if she has more than two legs. You shake your head and look up at Bonnie. She's smiling brightly at you.

"Don't mind her. She's not a fan of wolves." You tilt your head in confusion before you remember. The online dating test, you had gotten werewolf. It was a little strange that Bonnie had apparently told the waitress the result of that, but you move past it. After all, Bonnie was really into the whole monster thing.

"I'm really glad that you decided to come here with me. I know how hard it is for you to embrace your heritage." You look at Bonnie.

"My... heritage?" She nods before stopping suddenly.

"Sorry... is that insensitive?" You shake your head, and she lets out a sigh of relief. The waitress brings out your drinks, and you take a sip of the sweet tea. It's a strange reddish color and tastes amazing. Bonnie's drink is clear blue and steaming. It's in a crystal glass that reminds you of a large shot glass. She takes a large gulp and sighs.

"That burns so good." You raise an eyebrow.

"What's in it? Can I have some?" Bonnie blushes and shakes her head.

"It's uh.... it's not quite safe." She ducks her head and you wonder what the hell she's drinking.

"Uh... what... what's in it?" She shakes her head, still staring at the tablecloth. You feel guilty for making her feel bad, but you're honestly worried for her safety. You sip your sweet tea and a chill creeps up your spine

"It's ah... it's okay. You don't have to tell me." She giggles softly and looks up at you. Her golden brown eyes catch you off guard and your heart feels like it's squeezing itself.

"You're so sweet. I knew my mom was wrong." You're not entirely sure what she means but you smile anyway. It's just one of those times that feels a bit off. You put your worry aside and decide to trust her. She smiles at you before cracking open her menu and scanning it. You decide to do the same. The food seems to have a theme. Monster theme again. You decide that the restaurant is really corny. Bonnie closes her menu and sets it down.

"Do you want to spilt a fried platter? It's a lot of food." You scan over the fried platter. Eyes, and tongues, and ears, and jowls, oh my. You mentally roll your eyes.

"Sure! Sounds good. "

"Oh it is. Normally, I order it but I can never finish it." You grin at her. She gesticulates more than anyone else you've ever known and it's adorable. The waitress is back, Bonnie orders your food and the waitress leaves again. You sip your sweet tea, it tastes even better than before somehow. Bonnie chugs the rest of her drink and licks her lips. The food comes out faster than it should have. Bonnie digs right in but you look down at the food in dismay. Either the restaurant has gone all out and made the food overly realistic, or those are real eyes that your girlfriend is chewing on. You gag slightly and hide it behind a cough. Bonnie looks up at you and for half a second you swear her eyes are grey.

"What's wrong?" She asks. You shake your head.

"Suddenly I'm not feeling so well."

"Oh no!" Bonnie leans forward and places her hand on your forehead "you don't feel warm. You feel cold. That's not good. Do you need to go home?"

It's all you can do to not scream. Up close Bonnie's eyes are definitely grey. A red ring surrounds her pupils. Her blonde curly hair falls in waves and drapes careless over the possible tongues. You gasp for air. It feels like your lungs are collapsing You glance over at the waitress who is hovering by the counter. Fangs stick out of her mouth and four eyes blink at you in distain. Her two arms hold more drinks for you and Bonnie. Her two other arms lay at her sides. Four legs keep her standing.You look back at Bonnie

"Hey... what's... heeeeeey..." The room spins around you and you hear Bonnie shout something in gibberish before you black out.

 You wake up on a squishy couch. The ceiling above you is cracking in some places and chipped in others. Bonnie appears over you suddenly.

"You. Are a human." She doesn't sound mad, he sounds shocked, amazed even.

"How? Why? How?" You blink at her.

"Wha...?" You reply.

"You're human! How did you find that site? Why did you go out with me? How are you alive after drinking that sweet tea?"

You twist your head sideways. Her eyes are brown again

"Wha... what?" You gulp down a breath "what are you?" She blinks.

"I told you! I told you before we started dating."

You think back to that godless site. What was it that her description had said?

Something with venom...What was it...

Bonnie sighs.

"I'm a venavore. I wondered why a werewolf would be interested in me. Normally werewolves are only into their own kind."

She looks a little hurt, you reach up and lightly touch her cheek. She shivers slightly and her eyes flash grey.

"Stop that." You whisper. Her eyebrows scrunch together.

"What?"

"Stop changing your eyes" She blinks and her eyes are sad.

"My eyes aren't really brown"

"I know. Leave them unchanged."

She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. When she opens them again they are grey and red and beautiful. You grin.

"Are you disappointed that I'm human?" She shakes her head.

"Just scared"

"Why?"

"Because I'm a monster." You shake your head.

"I'm not scared. I think you're pretty cool." She looks down at you.

"R-really?" You nod then pause.

"You don't... eat... people... right?" She giggles and shakes her head.

"I think this will be okay."

She nods.

_______________________________________________________

Sorry for any awkward formatting. Thanks to @instantwaffles for telling me a sweet story when I was down. Many many loves.

[beabaseball]

beauty and the beast review [’out-of-context spoiler’ warning]

So I saw Beauty and the Beast last night and I actually had some pretty clear thoughts on it! I’m still not fully sure how to get a format for movie reviews, so suggestions would be helpful if you have any thoughts on that!

Overall, I wasn’t super excited about a new Beauty and the Beast ‘live-action’ movie when I first heard about it; it wasn’t my didney favorite as a kid and as much as I liked to defend it, it never really had much for me personally, so I ended up going in without seeing many of the designs or any of the trailers. I just knew the basics that most people already knew when going in: emma watson, cgi, gay lefou, and the story being a ‘darker take’ on the tale.

Honestly, I was very impressed with the changes to the story that this adaption made. The added backstory to the Beast and the Witch were the most key things: showing that the Beast wasn’t a spoiled eleven year old orphaned prince (who honestly wouldn’t have deserved to be turned into a beast and his whole household cursed, no matter who he turned away) but someone older and capable of making his own (cruel) decisions, albeit influenced by the ages and things that had happened to him in life.

Other things that made me quite happen in the story was how the relationship had been changed to make it very clear that it was not stockholm syndrome (something which has been put out-of-context in Beauty and the Beast narratives of the cartoon, when it’s Lima Syndrome if anything) but that Beast and Belle do genuinely have shared interests, and once they are able to talk, they do begin to grow and change as people beside each other. The biggest point to this is the infamous library scene, which detractors say is a false gift because ‘it was already there to begin with, he didn’t actually give her anything except show her where it was,’ and which fans say is Beast trying to cater to Belle’s interest. Instead of it being muddily worded, this time, the Beast simply brings Belle to the library, and upon seeing her interest in books, says ‘well, it’s yours then,’ making it clear this was not planned, but simple surprising correspondence of interest. As much as the servants are certainly in on trying to make Beast and Belle into a ‘thing’ to save themselves (understandably), once Beast and Belle actually do form a connection, the servants quickly lose their control as the two tear off on their own direction.

Finally, one thing that I was very surprised about was the amount of black actors in the movie. The vast majority are background characters, but two prominent servants are revealed to be black at the end of the film, one of them explicitly very beautiful, and the village Father who runs the little library Belle borrows from is black. Several other villages are also black, and there are several end-game mixed romances. Cons where cons are due: most of the black actors were servants which has connotations I don’t think I’m qualified to speak of, I can’t remember if any of the black characters notably spoke to each other, and none of the well known lead characters are black. Still, the casual inclusion of non-white was definitely something refreshing to see, and a trend I hope continues until it’s no longer startling to see multiple named back characters who aren’t playing the martyr-esque perfect magical side character meant to bring out the best in the protagonist/God.

Finally, the issue that I think people were most contentious about: Le Fou.

If you asked our childhood selves, I don’t think any of us would’ve expected walking into a remake of Beauty and the Beast where the character we planned on watching closest was Le Fou.

To get the final verdict out of the way: I personally prefer a Beauty and the Beast that had Le Fou as an explicitly gay character with a flawed portrayal than to have a Beauty and the Beast without a gay Le Fou at all. I think it would have been immeasurably worse to have Le Fou continue to be a gay stereotype bumbling along beside Gaston than to have had Disney not attempt something, but this is my personal opinion, and I do have a lot of reservations.

First of all: I don’t think Le Fou was explicitly gay in the film. We knew from interviews beforehand, but going into the film itself? It felt more like they were trying to hint at it than anything. The only moments Le Fou does anything ‘explicitly’ gay is when it’s played for laughs, particularly in the scene where Le Fou whips up the crowd to praise Gaston. He’s treated better than his cartoon counterpart--he has brains and charisma, and is treated and viewed more as Gaston’s right-hand rather than a bumbling lackey, but the root of the problem still remains that, in trying to keep true to the basic narrative (Belle goes to Beast, Gaston and town follow, Gaston tries to kill Beast) they have also left Le Fou ineffectual and unabe to deviate from his ultimate role as a side character who could vanish from the plot with no consequence. Just because he’s more charismatic and his comedy comes from his snarky muttering than his foolishness doesn’t mean he’s given any more plot weight than before--and that does make me sad.

It also makes me sad that it wasn’t more explicit and the only moments that were explicit were jokes. If I were a child or uninformed adult walking in, I’m not sure if I would realize that Le Fou was in love with Gaston, despite Josh Gad’s admirable acting. I wish there had been more opportunities taken in the movie to make this more explicit, but Le Fou comes across as someone who’s trying to get Gaston to focus on other ladies… not on himself.

And on the level of those outside the movie theater: Howard Ashman was a lyricist for Beauty and the Beast, revitalizing Disney and notably writing the eponymous song featured in the film (Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme, Beauty and the Beast). Ashman was gay and severely ill while working on Beauty and the Beast, dying in 1991 of AIDs shortly after it was completed without ever seeing the final product. For two decades after the death of the man who helped revitalized Disney, in 2017, Beauty and the Beast should absolutely have a gay character in it, and perhaps Le Fou was indeed a good choice for that!

But the fact remains that Le Fou is named “the crazy/insane” one, is the only character in a miserable, abusive relationship, and in a film where we get not one but multiple happy straight couples at the end, the sole gay person is left alone and miserable in the climax except for a single blink-and-you-miss-it scene (that I did almost miss due to being in the middle of blinking and so I didn’t even see his face and I just kind of assume it was him because of costuming) and then is never mentioned again.

So I don’t know what Howard Ashman would’ve wanted. I don’t know how any of his surviving loved ones may feel. I am glad that there was a gay character. But I think that they could’ve given a stronger tribute and homage to a man who helped this company so much, who died a miserable death to a miserable illness, and who created the words to a world that children like him will continue to grow up in.

I know it would be difficult without ‘altering’ the movie’s basic plot too much, but even just little things might’ve gone over well: Belle’s father finding Le Fou afterwards and comforting him, perhaps, both having to leave behind the people they loved for their own good and the good of those around them. Having some background utensils being gay as well to take the entire strain of representation off of Le Fou. Even just lingering with him a little longer at the end would’ve been appreciated.

I’m glad he was there. But I wish he was a little more.

...finally, some things that are closer to nitpicks:

Beauty and the Beast clearly demonstrates the difficulties with having live animals and CGI animals, re: the live action horse being surrounded by all those goddamn wolves and just bein super chill. Because they’re CGI wolves. It ends up looking like the world’s least startle-able horse, even in scenes where you really really think the horse should be just. Screaming.

Emma Watson appears to be in a separate room from all other characters throughout the entire movie. Part of this is because sometimes she is, as she has the most parts in the movie with only CGI characters to act off of, and entire scenes where she’s expected to just sit there looking impressed at the thin air (see: be our guest). The problem comes with what I’m assuming is a directorial decision to also have her act like she’s completely ignoring the townspeople half the time earlier on in the film, and then later saying that she feels like she’s shunned by them. We do have one scene of bullying, but unfortunately it’s overshadowed by everything else, and when you put it together, it looks like she had to film the whole movie but the end in a completely different room from everyone else.

Lastly:

...seriously, you can tell those wolves were not the priority for the animation team, oh holy hell.

TLDR: overall good film, liked the plot changes, conflicted but supported about le fou, i realized I didn’t mention Gaston but that was just because he was so seamlessly in that I totally blanked, y’all did fucking great with Gaston, nitpicks about wolves and CGI that I’m sure the animation dept. would like to Explain Why We Did That, M’AAM and I trust you all i’m sorry. It’s just. The wolves. And please give Emma Watson irl people to bounce off of. Please. She does so much better with that. You can’t just force her to look bemused but affectionate all the time, it doesn’t work.

3.5/5 thumbs up. Pretty good but not stellar for my taste, but worth a gander if you’re curious.

[flynnraider-blog]

angst bros 4 lyfe

who: Leonardo Flynn, Damian Briggs tagged: @brigadierbriggs​ what: Leo and Damian attempt to bond where: Tavern when: 02/08- 02/14 word count: 4211 ish warnings: no formatting and time stamps because what is effort

[2017-02-08 11:57:09 PM] Ro (is trash): Leo sat at a table in the back of the tavern, running his finger over the rim of his glass idly. He’d invited Damian here on a whim, wanting to get to know him more if he was going to be hanging around Sophia as much as he was. But Leo had forgotten to factor in his lack of conversational skills into the mix and now he was quietly panicking, part of him hoping that Damian would never show. It would be easier on his heart, at least. [2017-02-09 12:01:12 AM] Di: The tavern. It was a joke. Had to be. His whole life was a fucking phenomenal laugh. A recovering alcoholic at the tavern. Then again, he'd been there every day that week without so much as a second thought. He couldn't put his finger on what about today made him all that more desperate for a drink, only that no amount of cigarettes could kill the longing. He breathed in as he stepped into the tavern, ignoring the sting of the scent of liquor before locating Leo and sitting across from him. "Hey." [2017-02-09 12:09:48 AM] Ro (is trash): Looking up abruptly, Leo tried for a smile. “Uh – hey,” he gave awkwardly, cursing himself inwardly. Should he give his hand to shake? Would that be weird? What did you even do in this kind of situation? In the end Leo just wrapped his hands tightly around his glass to prevent any weird movements. [2017-02-09 12:10:44 AM] Di: Sitting, Damian raised brow at the weirdness of his body language then smiled. "What'd you need, Leo?" He asked with a pleasant if sterile smile. [2017-02-09 12:20:36 AM] Ro (is trash): Shifting in his seat, Leo smiled back. “I just thought we could try to get to know each other a little?” It ended up coming out more like a question than he had originally intended. [2017-02-09 12:21:39 AM] Di: "Because of Sophia? Or your deep burning curiosity in me?" Damian grinned. [2017-02-09 12:56:14 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo simply shrugged. “A bit of both I guess. Can you really say you aren’t the slightest bit curious about me?” [2017-02-09 12:56:42 AM] Di: Damian shrugged and breathed out, hunching over a little. "You're your own business, Leo." [2017-02-09 12:59:03 AM] Ro (is trash): Finally, somebody who had some sense in them. “”I couldn’t agree more. But for the sake of Sophia, we should learn to get along. She has some idea in her head about us questing together as one big happy family.” [2017-02-09 12:59:42 AM] Di: He snorted, "I'm sure she'll drag Daphne along as well." Damian leaned back, "IT's not a bad idea. Start a party. Form a guild once we get there." [2017-02-09 1:01:07 AM] Ro (is trash): He raised a single eyebrow. “Daphne?” Clearly Sophia had been busy. “The more the merrier, I guess,” he grumbled, not really meaning it. “Having a larger variety of classes should be useful.” [2017-02-09 1:02:32 AM] Di: "She is a druid," Damian tapped his fingers against the table. "Eventually we'll probably bond. I can be her dog in a more literal sense after that." [2017-02-09 1:03:36 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo choked on the sip he was taking. “I – you’re a werewolf then, I assume?” he asked, regaining his footing. [2017-02-09 1:04:27 AM] Di: He laughed and nodded, shrugging a little. "Liked the idea of being changeable to the moon. Might bite me in the ass in a few days... Could you do me a favor Leo?" [2017-02-09 1:05:41 AM] Ro (is trash): The sudden change of pace took him off-guard. “A favor? What kind of favor?” he countered suspiciously. [2017-02-09 1:06:48 AM] Di: "The full moon is coming up, you and Sophie should high-tail it out of here... and the favor is can you take Daph with you? Watch out for the mouthy little brat?" [2017-02-09 1:08:11 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo observed the other man through narrowed eyes. “And go where? Surely the main town is going to be safer than some random forest where the wolves are gallivanting about?” [2017-02-09 1:09:46 AM] Di: "Somewhere where the NPCs would be more in your favor. Like the Mage's palace shit or the Elves homeland BS." Damian murmured, "IF you left within the day, you should be okay." [2017-02-09 1:11:36 AM] Ro (is trash): “You really think the elves want anything to do with me? Unless this is a thinly veiled way to get the two others there while I just rot outside,” Leo snorted. He didn’t appreciate being told what to do with his own sister. [2017-02-09 1:14:24 AM] Di: "Well, you- Sophie's an elf." He pointed out then rubbed at his face. "Most players haven't left this area, Leo and not everyone will be as careful as me." [2017-02-09 1:16:24 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo regarded him coolly. “I suppose I could take the onboard a ship with me. On the water we’d be away from everything.” [2017-02-09 1:16:47 AM] Di: "That would be the most reasonable... Are you a pirate?" He asked after an awkward beat. [2017-02-09 1:18:13 AM] Ro (is trash): “Yup. Figured it made sense, growing up on the coast.” He explained with a shrug. Figuring he should at least put some effort in, he turned it on Damian. “You?” [2017-02-09 1:20:04 AM] Di: "Fighter." He cracked his knuckles then laughed, "Starting to regret it though. All I want is a damn bow." [2017-02-09 1:21:42 AM] Ro (is trash): “Good luck with that. I can’t imagine a fighter is going to have much success with a bow,” Leo said lightly. “But I can’t help but agree. Close range is not turning out to be something I enjoy." [2017-02-09 1:23:39 AM] Di: "I don't mind the close range, I just... I was real good with a bow. Well I haven't grabbed one since my twenties." Damian huffed. "Fuck I'm old." [2017-02-09 1:44:04 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo’s interest was piqued. That was the first personal thing Damian had shared. “You were an archer back home?” Hesitating, he couldn’t help but add “How old are you anyway?” [2017-02-09 1:47:40 AM] Di: "I did say all I want is a goddamn bow, didn't I?" He laughed a little, "Ironically Archer was my mother's maiden name." He hummed a little, "And yeah, I was back in the day. Before I hit my thirties." [2017-02-09 6:30:39 PM] Ro (is trash): Leo whistled lowly. “I can barely imagine surviving my twenties let alone hitting my thirties.” [2017-02-09 6:32:54 PM] Di: Damian laughed and rubbed his face, "I guess I felt that way once. Angsting on the fire escape while avoiding Tony." [2017-02-09 6:34:45 PM] Ro (is trash): “I can’t imagine you hiding to avoid anyone. Who’s Tony?” [2017-02-09 6:35:35 PM] Di: "My ex." He breathed, "From a long ass time ago." [2017-02-09 6:37:15 PM] Ro (is trash): Leo paused. The tone of voice he’d used hasn’t been a friendly one. “Seems not even big bad veterans are free from relationship regrets. Pity.” [2017-02-09 6:42:31 PM] Di: "I mean," Damian rolled his shoulders, "At the time I was neither a veteran nor a big anything. Bit of a twink honestly." [2017-02-09 6:43:56 PM] Ro (is trash): Leo bit his lip to try to contain his laughter. “Now that I’d pay to see. You kind of own the large and scruffy thing like you were born into it.” [2017-02-09 6:45:12 PM] Di: His laughter bellowed through him and he shook his head. [2017-02-09 6:48:16 PM] Ro (is trash): “Alright, alright,” Leo threw up his hands, trying to scowl. But he couldn’t help his small smile. “What ever happened with this… Tony?” He said the words like they were bitter in his mouth. [2017-02-09 6:50:47 PM] Di: Damian raised his brows up high and looked at him. "Have a problem with my ex?" He teased and leaned back, "I went home. It seemed as good as an excuse as any to break it off." [2017-02-09 6:52:34 PM] Ro (is trash): Leo simply grumbled in response. This is why he didn’t get friendly with other people. “Went home? As this conversation drags on I become increasingly aware of how little I really know about you.” [2017-02-09 7:02:05 PM] Di: "I'm from Michigan. I grew up in a little tourist trap till my dad died then moved to Ann Arbor with my mom and her wife." Damian leaned in. "I have... a step-brother who rightfully hates my guts and like one friend. Two with Sophie I guess." [2017-02-09 7:05:55 PM] Ro (is trash): That was a lot to take in. “Michigan…” Leo rolled around the name in his mouth. “Sounds… exciting. I’m sorry about your dad, though.” It came out stilted and awkward, unsure about how familiar he should be. “I’m sure the situation with your step-brother isn’t as dire as you’re making it sound, though. I have like, one friend. And that’s if Sophia counts.” [2017-02-09 7:07:17 PM] Di: "Oh, but it is." He breathed out and shook his head. "I'm sure you have more than one friend. What about the mage?" [2017-02-09 7:09:01 PM] Ro (is trash): Leo sucked in a sharp breath. “Yeah, no. No. That’s…. just no.” No was a understatement. Bei took off like a bat out of hell, there was no way they were anything remotely close to friendly. [2017-02-09 7:11:47 PM] Di: His eyebrows shot up and he leaned in, sniffing him. "Weird." [2017-02-09 7:12:30 PM] Ro (is trash): Leo leaned back quickly in response, expression middy offended. “Did you just…. sniff me?" [2017-02-09 7:14:54 PM] Di: "I guess wolves can sniff emotions now or something." [2017-02-09 7:15:15 PM] Ro (is trash): "...do I even want to know what you just smelled on me." [2017-02-09 7:18:31 PM] Di: "Regret." Damian shrugged and wrinkled his nose. "Also lots of booze here." [2017-02-09 7:19:57 PM] Ro (is trash): “Regret is… an accurate way to put it.” Leo left it at that. “But one would expect that, it is a tavern. I’m used to it I guess, worked at a bar back home.” [2017-02-09 7:24:42 PM] Di: "I mean I'm no stranger to lots of booze but it's different." Damian breathed out, "When you're trying to stop I guess." [2017-02-09 7:26:12 PM] Ro (is trash): Leo caught his meaning. “I… apologize. I didn’t know. We could go somewhere else?” [2017-02-09 7:26:41 PM] Di: He snorted, "Nah. I might as well, ya know." [2017-02-09 7:27:18 PM] Ro (is trash): He raised a single eyebrow. "You really think Sophia is gonna like that answer?" [2017-02-09 7:28:11 PM] Di: "Like what answer?" Damian asked. [2017-02-09 7:45:25 PM] Ro (is trash): "She'll get all righteous and Oh Damian please, you can't go," he tried to mimic her voice best he could. "I worry about you." [2017-02-09 7:45:51 PM] Di: "I am so confused right now man." [2017-02-09 7:46:24 PM] Ro (is trash): Leo just shook his head. "Forget it. What were we talking about again?" [2017-02-09 7:46:53 PM] Di: "Bei." He laughed. [2017-02-09 7:47:45 PM] Ro (is trash): Leo grimaced. “This isn’t anything to say.” [2017-02-09 7:48:17 PM] Di: "He thinks poorly of himself." Damian breathed after a moment. [2017-02-09 7:48:52 PM] Ro (is trash): “Yeah, well he clearly doesn’t think too highly of anybody else either,” he couldn’t help but snort. [2017-02-09 7:51:00 PM] Di: "Leo... when you're fucked up, your entire view of the world is twisted." [2017-02-09 7:51:52 PM] Ro (is trash): Fuck. This wasn’t what he had planned on talking about. “Yeah, well, he isn’t the only one with issues. It’s not an excuse.” [2017-02-09 7:52:34 PM] Di: "No, but excuse isn't the same as an explanation." Damian shrugged."Fucked up people are bad at communication." [2017-02-09 7:53:43 PM] Ro (is trash): “He must be really fucked up then. Because his communication is nonexistent. And that’s saying something, coming from me.” Leo himself was bad at the whole feelings thing but this was a whole new level. [2017-02-09 7:54:25 PM] Di: "He's a vet. We're all real fucked." He huffed. [2017-02-09 7:56:28 PM] Ro (is trash): Leo just scowled and glared at the wall. “I can’t be blamed for something I didn’t even know.” It wasn’t fair for him to be expected to keep that in consideration when no one ever even told him. [2017-02-09 8:03:33 PM] Di: "No. You're right. You can't and I'm not blaming you." Damian replied, "I'm just... saying have a little consideration. Not a lot. Just... maybe ease up on the stink of disappointment." [2017-02-09 8:05:36 PM] Ro (is trash): Leo bristled. “I’m not disappointed. I’m angry. Upset. Hurt. Any or all of the above. I told myself I’d never let myself be treated like that again.” He crossed his arms defiantly. “If he wasn’t interested he could have just said so. I’m a big boy. I can handle it.” [2017-02-09 8:06:43 PM] Di: "You're right, he could have said so." Damian looked at him. "Did he?" [2017-02-09 8:07:16 PM] Ro (is trash): “Did he what? Say so? I think it was pretty damn obvious.” [2017-02-09 8:08:32 PM] Di: "How so?" [2017-02-09 8:11:01 PM] Ro (is trash): Leo went silent. He didn’t want to get into the details with somebody he barely knew. “Trust me. I know. He was terrified at the damn sight of me. I think I said something, I dunno.” [2017-02-09 8:12:49 PM] Di: He nodded and leaned forward, hand on his chin as he leaned on his elbow. [2017-02-09 8:14:39 PM] Ro (is trash): “It’s just… whatever. He’s clearly not interested and I did something wrong, let’s just drop it.” [2017-02-10 1:04:24 AM] Di: "Or he is interested and you both fucked up." Damian said softly. "which is allowed by the way. I guess you just have to decide if you want to live with that." [2017-02-10 1:11:53 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo regarded him evenly. “Last time I thought someone was interested regardless of the signals I got it very wrong.” [2017-02-10 1:14:56 AM] Di: "Last time I fell in love with someone it was so inappropriate that you'd have shat your pants if I told you," He replied without skipping a beat, "But that's not going to keep me from hopefully falling in love again some day." He didn't mention that first he'd have to go through the trouble of falling out of love. Of getting rid of the tight chested problem that burrowed in his core. "Sometimes, you fuck up Leo. Now you're over sensitive to reading things. It's easer to ask." [2017-02-10 2:06:29 AM] Ro (is trash): “A story for another time then,” Leo replied with eyebrows raised. “I know how that feels.” Sighing, he played with his glass. “I don’t even know how to contact the damn guy. Lord knows he doesn’t want to hear from me.” [2017-02-10 2:09:30 AM] Di: "Don't stress." He chuckled, "This place has a way of bringing people together. Just... be open to it. To talking it through even if it doesn't feel easy or good or comfortable." Damian licked his lips. "I wish that someone had told me that running didn't solve shit. That it hurt more people than it helped." He looked at him, "So now it's my job to tell you." [2017-02-10 2:17:16 AM] Ro (is trash): “You sound like the dad I never had,” he said with a small smirk. “Or at least, the one that wasn’t a pezzo di merda.” Leo corrected as an afterthought. “I make no promises, but I’ll keep it in mind. Tone down the general grump and all that.” [2017-02-10 2:19:12 AM] Di: He laughed and shook his head. "Sophie insisted on calling me papa orzo? So I guess it's a fad. Dad Damian." [2017-02-10 2:22:22 AM] Ro (is trash): “Papa bear? Jesus, sounds like her. I got saddled with Da Vinci so consider yourself lucky I guess.” Leo looked at Damian with a wicked glint in his eye. “Hey, got any dad jokes?” [2017-02-10 2:23:30 AM] Di: He snorted, "No. But I told your sister that while Twinks are not snack foods, they are full of cream on occasion." He sipped his water after delivering that line with a straight face. [2017-02-10 2:25:00 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo choked, thankful he hadn’t been drinking anything. “Wow okay that is not something she needs to hear. Please tell me you're fucking with me.” [2017-02-10 2:25:31 AM] Di: "Nope." He popped the p, eyes glittering with amusement. "She called me papa bear, Leo." [2017-02-10 2:26:58 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo gave him a once over with a critical eye. “…Well is she wrong?” [2017-02-10 2:28:07 AM] Di: "Probably?" Damian shrugged as he thought back, "Honestly I can't remember the last time I had sex." [2017-02-10 2:30:14 AM] Ro (is trash): “Ugh, this is so not something I want to talk about with you. And it just makes me think about my nonexistent sex life too,” Leo grumbled. [2017-02-10 2:32:51 AM] Di: He snorted and shook his head. "Fix things with Bei and i'm sure you'll get some action." [2017-02-12 1:58:16 AM] Ro (is trash): “Fixing things with Bei is not all about getting myself laid,” Leo rolled his eyes. “It’s about not having some guy hating my guts wandering around. That can only go poorly.” [2017-02-12 1:59:32 AM] Di: "I doubt he hates your guts." Damian laughed, "He's more the hates his own guts type." [2017-02-12 2:03:24 AM] Ro (is trash): “Ah, finally something we share in common,” Leo grumbled while he fiddled with his drink. [2017-02-12 2:03:45 AM] Di: He stared at him for a long moment. "Leo?" [2017-02-12 2:06:14 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo looked up at him, eyebrows raised slightly. “Damian?” [2017-02-12 2:07:37 AM] Di: "If you like the guy?" Damian said leaning forward, "Really liked the guy then you should make an effort. Because I've met Bei. Down to his core, he's something good. If you don't, then apologize and move on. But leave the man alone if ain't something." [2017-02-12 2:09:13 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo frowned, hands tightening and knuckles going white. ”I should apologize? I should leave him alone? That’s rich considering he came onto me.” [2017-02-12 2:10:10 AM] Di: He held up his hands. "I'm not saying he didn't. I'm saying that whatever happened, both parties had a hand in fucking it up. Miscommunication takes two buddy.' [2017-02-12 2:15:20 AM] Ro (is trash): His scowl only deepened. Leo wasn’t interested in sitting around to be told he’d done wrong when he didn’t even know what the fuck was going on. “I think I should go,” he stated blandly, reaching for his inventory to pay Jonathan. [2017-02-12 2:17:00 AM] Di: "Hey," Damian grabbed his hand, "I'm not trying to be an ass." He whispered, "I just think... Maybe it doesn't matter what I think." He released him with a thin smile. "I should stop putting my face in other people's business. I'm sorry." [2017-02-12 2:21:59 AM] Ro (is trash): “I’m just not so keen on everyone telling me to fix shit when he bailed on me,” Leo said bluntly. Yeah he felt like he’d done wrong, but ultimately Bei was the one who took off. That sent a very clear message. [2017-02-12 2:23:12 AM] Di: "Do you want me to talk to him?" Damian asked. "Cause I'll probably see him again when he runs out of death sticks." [2017-02-12 2:24:31 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo laughed incredulously. “And say what, exactly?” [2017-02-12 2:24:58 AM] Di: "Hey Bei, I don't know what happened with Leo but he's upset you bailed out of no where and doesn't understand what went wrong?" [2017-02-12 2:26:07 AM] Ro (is trash): "Well if you say I'm upset then I just sound like a pansy." he grumbled. [2017-02-12 2:26:38 AM] Di: Damian rolled his eyes at him and punched him in the arm. "Stop being such a fuck boi." [2017-02-12 2:28:17 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo yelped at the hit. "A fuck boi? That implies I'm getting a lot more ass than I am. And not my sad record of one boyfriend - kind of." [2017-02-12 2:29:15 AM] Di: "Kind of?" He asked, brows shooting up. [2017-02-12 2:30:26 AM] Ro (is trash): “It was like 4 months. He wasn’t gay. And had a girlfriend.” [2017-02-12 2:31:44 AM] Di: He patted his back, "Could have been worse." [2017-02-12 2:32:56 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo hunched over and scowled. “Yeah, thanks. I’ll keep that in mind while I’m dealing with my trust issues and emotional wounds from the trauma. I’m sure it’ll help.” [2017-02-12 2:38:17 AM] Di: He fell quiet for a long moment, watching him before sniffling. Holding out his arm, Damian pulled up his sleeve and tapped against the ink on his arm. "If you look closely enough, you can make out some of the cigarettes burns. Not many. He didn't have to do it often to make his point." [2017-02-12 2:41:52 AM] Ro (is trash): Leo peered over, observing quietly. Staring down at the table he ran his fingertips over the grain of the wood. After a while, he opened his mouth hesitantly. “He didn’t need to do anything physically to make his point. He just liked to keep me waiting, prove he was in control. Throw me out of his apartment at random times, leave me waiting for hours at a coffee shop…” Leo trailed off. [2017-02-12 2:43:19 AM | Edited 2:43:24 AM] Di: He nodded quietly before reaching out to squeeze his hands. "Sorry I assumed..." Damian fell quiet. "That he led you on, not that. Not gas lighting." [2017-02-12 2:47:45 AM] Ro (is trash): “I mean, I probably should have done something about it, like left maybe, before… before his girlfriend showed up one day.” Leo winced. That was not a pleasant memory. [2017-02-12 2:48:22 AM] Di: "Leo," Damian whispered, "My mom died and I didn't leave." He shook his head. "It's never that easy." [2017-02-12 2:51:58 AM] Ro (is trash): “…yeah, yeah it’s not.” He admitted eventually. It all seemed so obvious when he wasn’t in the situation, but Leo knew it was different at the time. “Don’t tell Sophia. She doesn’t really know that much about it.” [2017-02-12 2:59:49 AM] Di: "I won't." He shook his head, "I know... something like that, it's private." [2017-02-12 3:00:40 AM] Ro (is trash): Trying to lighten the mood, Leo attempted a small laugh. “She’d probably hunt him down and tear his eyes out anyway. Can’t have her going to prison.” [2017-02-12 3:01:13 AM | Edited 3:06:28 AM] Di: "Are you kidding me? I'll do it for her. Or just send him giant dildos at work." [2017-02-12 3:04:12 AM] Ro (is trash): “Giant dildos- “ he sputtered with a laugh. “That would do the trick. Too much of an attack on his violently masculine heterosexual persona. He’d probably combust.” [2017-02-12 3:06:12 AM] Di: "Or anal beads?" He laughed loudly, "A gag or something? Get into the real freaky shit as you go along." [2017-02-13 12:04:55 AM] Ro (is trash): “Okay, now I’m going to combust. Jesus, you don’t do anything halfway.” [2017-02-13 12:06:56 AM] Di: Damian waggled his brows. "I'm a real sexual fiend." [2017-02-13 12:07:46 AM] Ro (is trash): "Yeah, I really get that from 'honestly I can't remember the last time I had sex'" Leo said with a roll of his eyes. [2017-02-13 12:08:22 AM] Di: "I can't. Part of it having to do with a missing limb, but ya know." [2017-02-13 12:09:16 AM] Ro (is trash): He immediately sobered up. "I'm sorry. You doin' okay?" [2017-02-13 12:11:30 AM] Di: He snorted, "Yeah I'm fine. But when you're an amputee, people are either grossed out or way to into it." [2017-02-13 12:19:35 AM] Ro (is trash): "Way too into it?" Leo repeated in disbelief. "Jesus.... there are some weird people out there." [2017-02-13 12:19:57 AM] Di: "Waaaay," Damian replied as he shook his head. [2017-02-13 12:25:58 AM] Ro (is trash): "Sorry you have to deal with that man. I assume you just tell them to fuck off?" [2017-02-13 12:27:00 AM] Di: "Pretty much." He huffed. [2017-02-13 1:05:11 AM] Ro (is trash): "Hey, at least you have it back in game?" he tried, going for optimistic. [2017-02-13 1:06:11 AM] Di: "For now." Damian laughed, "It's fine. I'm okay." [2017-02-13 10:31:47 PM] Ro (is trash): "For now? You planning to do anything that's going to result in loss of limbs?" [2017-02-13 10:32:59 PM] Di: "Getting out of this game for one." [2017-02-13 10:33:44 PM] Ro (is trash): "Ah. Well, take Sophia with you on the way out, will ya?" [2017-02-13 10:34:17 PM] Di: "You too," He nudged him with his shoulder. [2017-02-13 10:36:37 PM] Ro (is trash): "Yeah, me too," he agreed with a small smile. Honestly, he put Sophia's well being over his own. [2017-02-13 10:36:59 PM] Di: He stared at him a long moment and patted his back. [3:14:29 AM] Ro (is trash): Sighing, Leo flagged down a waiter. "I should probably go. Sophia will be wondering where I am by now." [3:16:38 AM] Di: "Good night, Leo." [3:18:39 AM] Ro (is trash): "Night, Damian." [3:19:16 AM] Di: "Good night."